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[formidable]

Private AU/PSL RP, set anywhere from 1879 alternate history France to 21st century North America. A tale of two brothers and the witch and her golem who gets entangled in their lives. Urban fantasy, steampunk, magic, guns, and coffee collide. ➤ PART I ➢ "La Caravane".

Comments

[pragnanz]

[ After a beat: ]

Ah. Oren told me not to.

[ NOT REALLY, NOT IN THOSE WORDS, BUT HE'S GOING TO BULLY OREN A LITTLE. ]

1/2

[oren]

No.

[infusion]

[Iona's cheeks puff up at Claude's attempt to be facetious and thus he gets a poke on the cheek for the insolence.]

Even if he did, he listens to me. And I say you get to visit.

[pragnanz]

[ He takes that poke, but will absolutely continue to be a facetious asshole. ]

I see. She's got you whipped, Oren. I see who holds the dominance card in this relationship.

[ Claude... ]

[infusion]

[Oren... Isn't going to try to defend himself in this situation. Probably because what Claude says is mostly true. Iona sighs...

And continues poking his cheek.]

That's kind of in his nature Claude. Find better people to antagonize, will you?

[pragnanz]

My apologies.

You both make it so easy, I can't resist.

[ JEEZ... but here he is, stepping back out into the hall to head out of this place. ]

[infusion]

[Rolling her eyes, Iona follows him into the hallway. Maybe she'll tell the brothers that Oren was a golem someday.]

Did you grow up here before living on your own?

[pragnanz]

[ Ugh, talking about himself, specifically his past.

Best to make this sound as uninteresting as possible. ]

Occasionally. It was on and off, but yes, for the most part.

[ Riveting, Claude. ]

[infusion]

[She plays with a stray curl of hair as she continues studying the mansion interior.]

I lived in a place with a housekeeper and some other servants that Grandma hired for a while. It wasn't a big mansion like this, but it was nice.

[Iona on the other hand, continues to have no trouble gradually and steadily letting people know about her.]

[pragnanz]

Mm.

[ Her forthrightness with herself is fine with him, if it entails that she won't ask about his personal details: it's easier. ]

You didn't want to stay with her? Your Grandmother, I mean.

[infusion]

Ah, well, she can't sit still for one thing. She wouldn't have been able to stay.

[And she couldn't not after what happened.]

I'm old enough to live on my own now. With Oren of course! He's still teaching me magic.

[pragnanz]

[ Somehow, he finds that funny, and he laughs. ]

If she wasn't using the house, surely you could've kept it.

[ A strangely practical reaction. Utilitarian. ]

[infusion]

[She chuckles, shaking her head.]

I don't need a big house! I wouldn't know what to do with it. Besides, the apartment's just as nice and it's closer to my university.

[pragnanz]

Shame. You could've had a room to yourself, with cauldrons and pet familiars.

[ Give it a rest, Claude... he looks visibly more relaxed the moment he steps back outside, though, as if the air'd been stifling inside. ]

[infusion]

And with all the pickled lizards and ground up bones I need. I know, I know.

But, nah. I like cozier places. My magic isn't geared towards weird things like that anyways.

[She stretches her arms and gives one look towards the mansion (for Gus), before turning her attention back to him.]

Is your place far? Either way, I won't mind. Like I said, I like seeing the city!

[Especially since she could barely see much after her date with Gus.]

[pragnanz]

It's a bit of a walk, yes. If you'd like, I could compensate for my facetiousness by pointing out the landmarks.

[ hey Iona

did you know that the Moulin Rouge is in Montmartre... ]

[infusion]

[(MUST SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST...) She looks happy at the offer and nods excitedly.]

Please do! Ahhh, I wonder if I can take pictures too, I did bring my phone...

[pragnanz]

[ Well. That's that, so he charts out a route for them to walk through: up the slightly hilly side of town and past the famous chapels, through streets lined with artists and performers, through the Bohemian district, and to the quiet, unassuming street his apartment is on. He's not a huge fan of being social, but this isn't bad; he's just returning the favor. ]

If you'd like. Do make sure to keep them private, though.

[infusion]

[Ooooh, the Bohemian district. All the art is Relevant with a captial 'R' so Iona proceeds to take out her phone.

By reaching down her shirt where her phone was resting in her bra. Yeah. One of those. Oren doesn't comment, but his look is basically going, "DISAPPROVE."]

[pragnanz]

[ He's seen worse, so he doesn't bat an eye— he's been in the Moulin Rouge for reasons that mostly involve dragging Gus out.

But he does look at Oren, and comment blithely: ]

It's a good thing she's invisible.

[oren]

[Lord give Oren mercy if Iona thinks about the Moulin Rouge because of that one goddamn movie...... its gonna happen...]

Would do the same visible.

[pragnanz]

I don't doubt it.

[ He really doesn't... but, well. The chapels are first on his list and that's the direction he heads in, towards greenery that become less and less stifled by the machination of the rest of the city. ]

Make sure not to get lost, please— I wouldn't be able to tell.

[infusion]

Whoops! Give me a sec!

[She snaps a few pictures of some performers, the canvas of a frustrated painter, and several others before trotting up behind Claude.]

Ah, everything they're working on is so great!! The pigments are different as expected, but... Mm hm! I'm definitely inspired. I might just have a good final painting after all!

[pragnanz]

That's right, you paint. A hobby, or an aspiration?

[ Hm. This makes him wonder if he should take her straight to the more Bohemian areas... maybe she'd appreciate that more. ]

[infusion]

More of the former. But that doesn't mean I love it any less! It's a great way to relax and take my mind off things...

[She stands behind one young artist whose brows are furrowed in deep concentration as he tries to capture the hues of the blushing pink roses in front of him.]

Hm... He should try and add some ultramarine. He'd be surprised how much that'd make it pop.