[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]

"Snails are actually tasty. And not exclusive to France.

"Also, they're called frites here, and are much better than what you've had."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve points to the pomme frites on his plate.

"These are fantastic."

[golden_lyre]

"Everything here is fantastic, lovely. It's Paris."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Fine, fine, I'll take your word on it all."

He eats some more, watching Orpheus.

"Can we get something gooey and decadent for dessert?"

[golden_lyre]

"At the Louvre," Orpheus reminds him. "All the chocolate you'd like."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"That's right. Plans for later."

[golden_lyre]

"You should at least see the Mona Lisa," Orpheus says. "And Winged Victory."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods with enthusiasm. "I hear the Mona Lisa is a lot smaller than you expect."

[golden_lyre]

"It is, if you're expecting it to be large. And there's a barrier around it."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'm not surprised, after it was missing all that time."

[golden_lyre]

"It's still worth seeing, though," Orpheus says.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Oh, of course! I want to see it.

"I had an art teacher who hated it," he says after he eats another bite of duck. "He said it was only famous because it had been stolen, not because it was an especially wonderful work of art."

[golden_lyre]

"I don't know that I would say 'wonderful,'" Orpheus says after a moment's consideration. "But definitely accomplished. And somewhat...personal."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Personal?"

His eyes widen. "Did you know da Vinci?"

[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."