[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]

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."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve puts his arm around Orpheus's waist as they continue down the street. "I think it's great that you do."

[golden_lyre]

"What else am I going to do with it?" Orpheus asks as the come up on the square in front of Notre Dame. There's a line for the entrance, but it isn't long, and it's moving fairly quickly.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I have no idea," Steve says faintly, his head tilted back as he looks at the cathedral.

"Will they let me light a candle inside? There's a few people I'd like to pray for."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus tries not to make a face at that.

"Yeah, there's a place you can."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Good." Steve gets into line. "Do you have any paper on you? And a pen or a pencil?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus pulls a small notebook from one pocket and the stub of a pencil from the other and hands them over.

"Would you be horribly upset if I didn't go in with you?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"No," Steve says, opening the notebook to a blank page. "I'll be fine."

He starts drawing the face of the cathedral.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus nods and points to an opening in the wrought iron fence around the cathedral grounds. "I'll meet you in the garden when you're done," he says, and kisses Steve's cheek.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Okay, sweetheart," Steve says with a quick kiss in return.

He draws all through the line, and once he's inside, buys a candle.

It's almost mystical, to pray in this beautiful sanctuary; and even though he knows that here the war is long over he still prays for his men, the little unit calling itself the Howling Commandos; and for his friends, especially the ones facing trouble and strife.

He feels at peace afterward, and is in a mellow mood when he seeks out the garden to find Orpheus.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus has found himself a spot by a tree where he (somewhat defiantly) is playing a soft tune of praise to Apollo.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve sits near him so he's not in the way as Orpheus' plays, his weight resting on his hands.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles over at him and wraps up the song. Despite not having a case or a hat or anything of that sort, there's a small pile of money in front of him, which he scoops up.

"Lunch?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Lunch." He smiles at the money. "It looks like it's your treat again."

[golden_lyre]

"That's kind of what I was planning, yeah," Orpheus says with a smirk. He pulls a worn, leather wallet from his pocket and tucks the money into it.

"There's a cafe near here that does an excellent Croque-Monsieur."