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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".

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[infusion]

Look, it's not...

[Her sentence is cut off short when he mentions THAT place. Her eyes widen and then she turns to Oren who raises a brow, but keeps his thoughts to himself. (He's... Been there. To the alternate version with Berna. That's another story).

Iona whips her head back to look at Claude, her eyes SHINING.]

It exists!?

[pragnanz]

[ Ah... that's not quite the reaction he was expecting, in all honesty?! ]

Y...es, of course. Even I wouldn't suggest going to a fake location. I'm glad you think so highly of me.

[infusion]

No, it's just... I mean, Berna talked about it before, but it's the story that's based on the place that's... Oh my god, I wanna see!

[She looks like she's practically bouncing at the thought of being able to visit.]

Like, don't get me wrong, I get that it's probably not a "decent" place to be, but what the hell right? As long as I'm here and have a working camera...!

[Maybe she'll show her pictures to Monts or even... No, not Hei, he'd be wondering why she was gallivanting about in alternate history anyways.]

[pragnanz]

I'm sure all stories about the place have been greatly exaggerated.

[ Not that he doesn't appreciate her enthusiasm, but of all the things people remember about Paris, of course it would be the Moulin Rouge... why is he not surprised.

He turns on his heels, looks vaguely amused by her enthusiasm. ]

Off we go, then.

[infusion]

Even the Green Fairy Juice??

[She walks beside him this time, hands behind her back, trying to keep her anticipation under wraps.]

Although, I bet it's more active during the nighttime, right?

[pragnanz]

Green Fairy Juice?

[ What are these moderners saying about Paris, all the way in 2015...? Ah, well. ]

...But, yes. Livelier, and far less savory for a young woman, I'd imagine. They'd be doing rehearsals right now.

[infusion]

Absinthe!

But yeah, long story short, someone made up a completely fictional tale set in the Moulin Rouge; it's all good fun! I like it a lot.

[granted it had a sad ending but

She grins to herself as she recalls the Moulin Rouge's eponymous film which is supposed to be made two centuries later...

And thus Iona begins to hum, "Sparkling Diamonds," as they make their way to the infamous theater.]

[pragnanz]

[ That's not too far-fetched: romanticizing happens, and he won't begrudge Iona for it.

When they do pull up to the Moulin Rouge, the club's namesake is swaying gently in the breeze, a red pennant in a dim sky. There are stragglers from the day before, presumably, still sleeping in alleys or waiting for their girl of choice to show up for afternoon rehearsals. Girls linger outside the front door, chatting animatedly to each other about daily trivialities.

It seems plain in daylight: just another building with a bit of glitz and glitter. The lights are off, but they do promise a good time when they turn on, foundations and walls adorned with polished glass. ]

There. Is it everything you've hoped it would be?

[oren]

[Iona's taking a picture of the sign, oohing and ahhhing at how it's actually red and then getting as close as possible to overhear the conversations of the cabaret girls, trying to get a gist of what's been going on.

Oren in the meanwhile is looking up at the sign and a sense of nostalgia settles over the golem.]

Very much the same.

[pragnanz]

[ This isn't the exact replica you'd find in the conventional world— the one in the world proper was built a decade or so after Claude's time, for example— but it does look largely the same, but with brass lining the famous windmill, with canvas pulled tightly over the wings to make them look like functional propellers. A bit of that mechanical edge.

Claude glances at Oren, lifts a brow. ]

I didn't know you frequented places like this.

[oren]

Berna set up shop. Not too far from here. Made jewelry.

Came here for her enjoyment.

[pragnanz]

She sounds like someone who would, your former Master.

Are you going to let Miss Iona wander around inside, or are you averse to bad influences?

[oren]

[Iona is immersed in a conversation between two girls about a troublesome client who was being a stiff when it came to payment so Oren shakes his head.]

Controlling herself. Fine for now.

[And then it occurs to him...]

... Gus. Goes here? Rejections?

[OREN YOU ARE SO MEAN...]

[pragnanz]

Auguste... well.

[ A heavy sigh. ]

He tries. Valiantly.

[ Gus: 100% certified loser. ]

[oren]

[Have Oren shaking his head almost sadly?!]

Always end terribly?

[pragnanz]

Terribly, or with Auguste ringing me in the dead of night to ask me for help, because someone's taken his shoes and jacket.

[ Ah... ]

[infusion]

Oh, so you DON'T come here to have fun. Should have guessed as much.

[Iona bounces back to Claude and Oren looking thoroughly amused at what they're talking about.]

Ah, but Gus has already ventured into the heart of darkness, huh?

[pragnanz]

[ Sidestepping the issue of Gus entirely for now— because it isn't his place to say— Claude lifts a brow.

And tilts his head. ]

What makes you think that I've never come here to unwind?

[infusion]

Wellllll... You strike me as more introverted than anything??

[pragnanz]

And what makes you think that an introvert is incapable of fooling around?

[infusion]

Fooling around or making annoying jabs at people?

[pragnanz]

I admit that I'm more proficient in the latter, but I've a feeling you already knew that.

[infusion]

Ah, well. Whatever a 30 year old man does at the cabaret surely isn't any of my business.

I'm done here! Let's get you back home safely.

[pragnanz]

Ah, is that it? I expected far more fussing on your part.

[ A light shrug. ]

But if you insist. To my apartment it is.

[infusion]

I could fuss, but I've had a few strange and wild Fridays every now and then. [Iona's been getting the full college experience after all!]

Probably nothing on the level of what goes on in there though... Unless you count having to save a friend from being abducted by supernatural forces in Las Vegas as pretty out there.

[YEAH, IT KIND OF IS]