[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]

Eventually, Orpheus takes him down a short set of stairs to what looks like a basement apartment and knocks on the door. In a few seconds, a tiny, white-haired Frenchman in an exquisite, dark suit answers and grins at the both of them, greeting first Orpheus and then Steve with two kisses to either cheek.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

That's a new one. Steve shoots a questioning glance at Orpheus, but just says, "Hello, lovely to meet you."

[golden_lyre]

The man speaks no English, so Orpheus translates for him, and the man grins at Steve again, stepping back to look at him and murmuring something quietly in French.

"He says he didn't believe my description until now," Orpheus translates as the man ushers them inside.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles. "Now you know why I didn't tell Bucky about this in a letter."

[golden_lyre]

They're led through a few, twisting hallways into a cramped, little workroom where the tailor has a suit laid out, ready for Steve to put on.

"I think he's just impressed I could do that well..."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Orpheus," Steve says softly--he's never quite sure how to take a compliment--and then is lost in awe at the suit.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus is quite impressed by it as well, and he heads over to the table where it's laid out, telling the man, in French, how beautiful it is.

The tailor waves off the compliment, though it's clear he's pleased, and he smiles to them both, waving Steve over and directing him to stand on the platform in the middle of the room so he can take his measurements.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes off his jacket and hands it to Orpheus, and then climbs up onto the platform.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus takes it and steps back, watching in amusement as the man hovers around Steve, not at all shy about moving whatever part of his body needs to be moved so he can get his measurements. He mutters instructions in French, and Orpheus translates as needed.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve watches Orpheus and watches the tailor, trying to obey his instructions even before Orpheus translates. When someone pushes on your leg it's pretty obvious what he means.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus only jumps in when it's necessary. Mostly he's content just to watch.

He likes to see a master at work, and this man is most definitely a master.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I feel a little like a dress-up doll," says Steve as the tailor (standing on a stool) measures his shoulders, his arms spread out.

[golden_lyre]

"Suck it up, Rogers," Orpheus says. "I had to go through this last week."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve grins at him. "i can't wait to see your suit."

[golden_lyre]

"Soon enough, lovely," Orpheus promises.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve grins again and tries to listen to the tailor's rapid-fire French, even though he doesn't understand a word.

[golden_lyre]

Mostly he's alternating between commenting on Steve's build and telling Orpheus what a lovely couple they make. Eventually, he moves to pick up the suit, offering it to Steve with more mumbled French, gesturing to a door off to the side.

"He wants you to put it on so he can pin the alterations," Orpheus says.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Thanks," says Steve and steps off the platform. He takes the suit with another smile to the tailor and goes into the other room to change.

He comes back a few minutes later, looking sharp.

"Um," he says, smoothing the tie. "How do I look?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus and the tailor are deep in conversation when Steve comes back, but they both stop to stare at him a moment. Orpheus smiles in a way that should be quite familiar to Steve by now, and the old man claps his hands in delight, glancing from one to the other with a gleam of pride and amusement in his eyes.

"Yeah," Orpheus says. "That'll do."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Yeah, Steve knows what it means.

He climbs back onto the platform so the tailor can finish, smiling to himself.

[golden_lyre]

As the tailor bustles around him, pinning the suit where it needs pinning and marking a few places to be let out, he keeps up a steady stream of French, telling a story about a young man he knew after the war, so beautiful it took his breath away, and about the suit he made as a gift for him.

Orpheus translates as well as he can.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve listens, nodding, his eyes on the tailor's face.

[golden_lyre]

The look on the man's face as he describes the suit is almost as fond as when he describes the man. But not quite.

He stops the story after he'd given the man the suit.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve almost asks what happened, but he glances at Orpheus and figures some things are better left unsaid.

"I hope I'll do your clothes justice."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles and translates for him, and the man looks suitably gratified at the compliment, patting Steve's hand as he murmurs his answer.

"He says he hopes they'll do you justice."