[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]

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."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve studies his reflection, his shoulders straight. "I look like a movie star."

[golden_lyre]

"You look so much better than a movie star," Orpheus says, though he translates the comment for the tailor who laughs and claps his hands and gestures for Steve to turn.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve gives a pleased, shy look at Orpheus and does as he's told.

[golden_lyre]

When he's turned, the tailor lifts up the jacket and gives Steve's butt a quick, appreciative smack, commenting to Orpheus with a twinkle in his eye that the line of the suit accentuates the curve.

Orpheus cracks up.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Hey!"

[golden_lyre]

The tailor laughs and waves his hands in a half-apology. Once Orpheus has recovered, he just shrugs and says, "Professional interest, lovely."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"If you say so," Steve says but gives the tailor a (mock) stern look.

[golden_lyre]

The tailor ducks his head and gives a little shrug, then he shoos Steve off toward the changing room again with a mumbled warning not to pull any pins out when he takes it off.

Orpheus almost forgets to translate until the tailor gives him a pointed look.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yes, sir," Steve says and goes into the changing room to carefully take off the clothes and put his own back on.

He comes back with the suit reverently laid over his arm.

[golden_lyre]

The tailor takes it from him, and he moves to lay it out again. He and Orpheus have a quick conversation about when they can com and pick it up, and Orpheus thanks him profusely for getting it done so quickly. He waves off the thanks and ushers them back toward the entrance with a smile.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Now what?" Steve asks Orpheus when they're back on the street.

[golden_lyre]

"Well, we're blocks from Notre Dame, if you want to see that. And then we could get lunch and hit the Louvre?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yes, definitely," Steve says. "I'd love to see Notre Dame."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus takes his hand with a smile. "Come on, then."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve weaves their fingers together as they walk.

[golden_lyre]

It isn't far at all to the cathedral, and it comes into view a bit before they reach it. There are quite a few tourists around, sidewalk cafes, shops of trinkets, street performers.

Every once in a while, Orpheus stops to drop money into a musician's case, but certainly not every one.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve's eyes are wide as he takes it all in.

He stops for a moment to watch a sidewalk artist drawn in chalk.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus drops a little money in the artist's hat as well.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Thanks," Steve says to him quietly. All he has is Army scrip.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus shrugs. "I made my money the same way. The least I can do is share it."