[Milliways]: An American in Paris

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus' flat in Paris is above a little boulangerie in the Latin Quarter, not too terribly far from Notre Dame. It's...very small, and that isn't helped by the musical instruments and half-finished, scribbled sheet music that are littered around the place. Everything is clean, just cluttered. It's a bit stuffy as well, though Orpheus has all his windows open.

As they step into the living room, Orpheus turns to Steve with a smile. "Bienvenue à Paris," he says.

Comments

[golden_lyre]

"I met him briefly," Orpheus admits.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Why is it personal?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus shrugs. "It's in her expression. The familiarity. I didn't ask him about it. I didn't know the painting would be famous."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve tilts his head. "Orpheus. Is it ... you? In the picture?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus laughs. "Gods, no. Why would you think that?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'm trying to understand why it's personal."

[golden_lyre]

He shakes his head. "Personal for him, not for me."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Hm," says Steve and has more wine. "I was thinking something else entirely.

"There are some theories, you know, that it's a self-portrait."

[golden_lyre]

"That would certainly make it personal," Orpheus offers.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"A bit like pulling a joke over on everyone."

[golden_lyre]

"I'm not sure that would have been his motivation, but I wouldn't put it past him."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Was he a prankster?"

[golden_lyre]

"He had quite a sense of humor."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve has to smile. "So strange to think about great artists being...people. Paying bills and making friends and playing jokes. But of course they were."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus chuckles. "Of course. Why wouldn't they be?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"My point exactly. They had ordinary lives instead of just being ... deep-thought thinkers all the time."

[golden_lyre]

"No one can sustain that all the time," Orpheus says. "They'd go mad."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve lays his crossed knife and fork on his empty plate. "I suppose not.

"I'm ready for what's next on the plan."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus waves over the waiter to settle the bill. "All right, then. On to the Louvre."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles his thanks at the waiter.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus thanks him and stands, slinging his guitar across his shoulders and offering Steve a hand up.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes it and rises. He doesn't even give Orpheus a pointed look.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus would have ignored it anyway. He leads Steve out of the cafe and down the street.

"So we can take the Metro or we can walk."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't mind walking." He slants a look at Orpheus. "Do you?"

[golden_lyre]

"Not at all." He smiles back at Steve. "It's not all that far."