sweethymns | Mι∂ηιgнт ιη Ƥαяιѕ

Cafe it is!

[ And down he goes, meandering through vined paths and wine-red brick buildings, through narrow arches and high, high towers that have clocks ticking up its sides. Occasionally, someone recognizes him and waves— "a date, Gus?"— to which he answers with a finger at his lips, a not-so-subtle "shh!" ]

You're in for some harsh competition, we've got some of the greatest food in the world!

[Huh. How many people know him so casually? Interesting... Iona follows Gus closely, still trying to get a good look at everything although she tries to avoid looking at other people since she's a little self-conscious? Girl out of time after all and who knows if there's magic in this world. The tech's already unfamiliar and new, she doesn't know how much more out of depth she can feel.]

Harsh competition, huh? Well, I'd definitely struggle against the greatest, but my co-worker could probably be considered a worthy opponent.

Nooooooo no no no! No talking about your coworker right now, not allowed!

[ A hand goes up to stop her, heels skidding on cobblestone right as he strides up towards his destination. ]

You know that saying about all work and no play too, right?

Haha! He got under your skin after what happened last time, huh?

[~~HE'S RIGHT BEHIND HER HE CAN HEAR YOU, YOU KNOW...~~ The young witch muffles her laughter with one hand, shaking her head.]

Don't worry, I know what you mean, but...

[ before pressing a finger against his nose playfully.]

I make it a point to have my fun work for me.

[ HE CAN PRETEND... the tap to his nose placates him, though. He's so easy... ]

Really? Well, good thing I'm a hard worker! Après vous, mademoiselle.

[ A sweep of an arm, and he ushers Iona towards the door of the cute cafe.

(And from the second-story bookstore across the street, Claude glances out the window and watches his brother be...his brother. Sigh.) ]

Edited 2015-06-11 02:14 (UTC)

[Oren is following Iona, quietly, stealthily, and completely invisible to the naked eye. He's been observing their new environment with interest. He's been through the 1800s after all back when he solely served Jacqueline Berna Oakes. Ah, but the technology wasn't this advanced back then. For once, he's truly experienced something new, what with this traveling to a new dimension and all-...

... His head turns to look across the street and for a moment Claude might see a silvery glint? Just a trick of light, haHA.

... Ah. Oren's connected the dots in terms of both men's appearance and the fact that he just happened to be right there...

Well, but of course. He sees Claude. But he won't say anything and he won't let himself be seen. Iona wanted to have fun and Oren, as much as he found Gus irritable, won't ruin that for her.]

Edited 2015-06-11 02:34 (UTC)

[Being none the wiser, Iona follows Gus into the cafe. Maybe it's because it was the late 1800s France or the mixture of the strange technology, but either way Iona's very much in love with the atmosphere already.]

Oh, wow! This is wonderful!

Do you go here often, Gus or do you have other preferred haunts?

[ The interior is quaint, the walls littered with paintings of different parts of Paris— amateur, but with sufficient heart. Wooden furniture is supported by brass and copper, legs carved like tendrils and some embossed with complicated designs. A curious mixture of organic and inorganic.

Gus pulls up a chair for Iona, and then settles into the seat opposite her. ]

I come here often enough, so ignore everyone if they start talking to me.

[ His voice drops into a whisper. ] Especially ignore the ones that call me "Auguste", and if I tell you we should get going, we should get going. Ok?

[(Gus... Ever feel like you're being stared down at, like lasers are shooting right through you, but you don't know where it's coming from, but it's there, right in front of you behind Iona...)

Iona, with brows slightly raised, nods in agreement. So his full name is "Auguste," huh...?]

I'll try to keep one eye closed.

[She's had her fair share of shady interactions since her cafe does attract those sorts. She is hoping however, that she just hasn't gotten herself into something she can't get out of.]

[ Does he ever feel like the iron fist of justice is looming over his head??? The answer is yes, but he's trying so valiantly to ignore it.

He's also trying very hard not to ruin a date by potentially meeting up with someone who would love to run him over with a car. So far, so good. ]

Don't worry too much! You're safe with me.

[ Please let this be true. But here comes the menu, and he hands one over to Iona with a reassuring smile. ]

What do you want? Everything's on me, of course.

Ah, magic words to my ears. ♥ [She looks through the menu, very much intent on just having fun.]

Well, I definitely have to have a cafe au lait. Gotta see how it matches up... Oh, but of course! An apple tart.

[She's a strange girl; so far she's been taking everything in stride whereas normal people would probably freak out by the change of scenery and the implication of looming trouble... But it was obvious to the Aubert brothers that she was never normal to begin with.

When she makes her order, Iona leans on her elbows just ready to chat it up.]

So you're well known around these parts?

[Okay, so not the most comfortable question to ask...]

That's kind of like my grandmother. I feel like, no matter where I go, one way or another, she's already been around.

[ Gus's order is sufficiently toothache-inducing: a choux, a Napoleon, and a chocolate croissant. Obviously he doesn't think much of being a guy who orders a ton of sweets for himself.

Her question has him tap a finger against his chin in consideration, but she moves on and he sees that as an opportunity not to answer— in some ways, the brothers are very much alike. ]

So your grandmother's a big traveler, huh? I bet you have some of her adventurousness going for you, too.

[She chuckles at that last remark.]

Maybe? But I don't know if I'll ever match up to her level of wanderlust. [Or maybe she will when she gets older. But that seems so far away...]

I think I'm like her in that I want to leave an impression on people though although we do it in different ways.

Well! You're good at that— leaving an impression, I mean.

[ Their coffee comes, and with it, their pastries. It looks and smells just as good as you'd expect, and Gus wastes very little time in digging into his own croissant with relish. ]

One: you're a knockout. [ don't eat and talk at the same time, Gus... god. ] Two: you're a knockout. [ GUS?? ]

I... Wow. Heh. Thanks!

[Yeah, that would be better if he wasn't eating and talking!! That said, being called a knockout does have more of an effect than she expected. If she were to be completely honest, she had gone along with this venture out of curiosity and Gus just happened to give her the chance (and he was cute, cute like a puppy). It's not that hard to blindside her though.

Um, yes, focus on the apple tart girl; she takes a bite and it's wonderful.]

I'm used to "cute," but I think "knockout" is a first.

[Knockout mode, to her is when she dresses for drinking with her college friends or going to the beach, not in this conservative dress Oren put her in.]

Then you haven't been talking to the right people. Or maybe they're all too shy, huh?

[ Read: he's not shy. At all. He's never had time to be, or he never felt inclined. Always hurtling himself into things full-speed, that's Auguste Aubert for you.

He splits his choux in half— hazelnut filling— and plops one end on Iona's plate. Sharing is caring. ]

Stick with me, you'll hear it all the time. ♥

I wouldn't want to get too used to it.

[She takes the choux and pops it into her mouth. Also delicious. Or maybe food just tastes good with good company.]

Words like that should always be special! They're best when they come and hit you out of nowhere.

Yeah? Then i'll just have to keep on trying to surprise you!

[ What a trooper. It turns out that he won't have to try too hard, though, judging by the sudden presence of about 3 other men in black suits and jackets that are too long for the weather; it's like they're not even making an effort to be subtle.

Gus looks over his shoulder, sees the group, and mutters a short "ugh" under his breath. ]

—Hey. Speaking of: how good are you at running?

[Iona feels Oren shift behind her, but she herself, sits rather still, finishing her cafe au lait. It was alright, but she feels Oren's is better... Ah, right.

She'll be fine. Oren just needs to follow them.]

How fast do I need to run?

Pretty fast?

[ There's a clatter of chairs, and one of the men gestures towards Gus and says, with finality, "Monsieur Aubert"—

—and that's his cue, with a last shovel of his Napoleon into his mouth and a kick of his chair to the nearest assailant's face. ]

—Time to leave!

[ A motion to indicate 'follow me', and Gus grabs Iona's arm and rushes her to the back of the cafe (this is something that the owners have dealt with before, they sigh and look towards the front door for Claude to show up: they know he will, to pay for the damages). ]

[Holy shit.

Yeah, she's in a deep pit of trouble now, isn't she? Iona almost trips, but manages to avoid it so she can match her pace with Gus. She's really grateful to Oren for the simple dress now. Anymore layers and she'd have been tripping all over and be a real burden (although if they're gonna have to keep this up, she might as well rip off the skirt).

She yells at Gus as they get out to the back.]

Alright! I didn't mean to have someone get actually HIT in the face, but sure! That happened!

Friends of yours?!

Edited 2015-06-11 08:49 (UTC)

Best friends!

[ He says, but his expression's hardened, brows furrowed in his first genuine frown since they've met: his features almost flatten in concentration as his mind maps an efficient escape route, vivaciousness cast aside in favor of practicality. His tone remains light, though, in an effort not to frighten Iona. ]

...Stay in front of me, don't show them your back!

[ He bursts through the back door and out into a small alley, swerves the both of them down a dark corner and into a spiderweb of smaller sidestreets.

If she hears a 'click', that's the sound of him undoing the safety of the pistol he'd kept tucked in the back of his pants. ]

[OH C'MON.

Well. Can't say that Iona isn't willing to adapt to life or death situations. She listens to him, but takes a deep breath herself in between those microseconds of pausing. She needs to let her magic run through her veins so that her spellcasting, should she be forced to do so, can be powerful and accurate. Accuracy, being more favored here. The innate magic mixed with the crystal's energy in her right arm courses throughout her being, like electricity being lit up and her pace becomes sharper and quicker.]

Are you sure you're gonna be okay?

[She asks about him, instead of herself, oddly enough. Because if worse comes to worst, she'll be...]

Also, let me guess; police ain't helpful in situations like these?

Edited 2015-06-11 09:02 (UTC)

—Don't really want to rely on them, actually!

[ That would entail a lot of messy things on the side, and no, it wouldn't be particularly helpful. It would entail having to sort out the good cops from the bad cops, and which faction his family has influence over, and it always turns into a lot of breaking and purging that Gus, most of all, doesn't want his brother to get mixed up in. Because he inevitably does— it's all the dirty work that falls into Claude's lap, and Gus'd like to avoid that, if he can.

There's a gunshot, and a piece of stone falls from the wall where a bullet hit, a few feet away from Gus's head. He doesn't flinch, and keeps on running up a flight of stairs. ]

I'll be alright, we can split up at the next intersection!

I'm beginning to see why it's hard to keep a date 'round these parts for you!

[She means it as a joke really! She flinches at the gunshot, but keeps going up the stairs as well. At his next stated course of action, she yells back flabbergasted.]

Split up?! Are you sure about that?!

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so totally not here

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