"Yes. So we should dance."

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Evening falls and Paris lights up outside of your hotel window. Nadia and Erin are off doing recon, so it's just Yomi and Rena cooped up inside. Rena sits on a bed, watching Parisians bustle along the streets and filter into restaraunts and bars.
<Yomi> "Sitting here, all cooped up, that's just boring!" Yomi declares all of a sudden, standing up. "Remember how I said there were other reasons for making small talk than just avoiding annoyances? This is out chance! Let's go and ask around about Selene. She's bound to know about all the fun places to visit here!"
<El-Cideon> Rena seems to agree wholeheartedly, getting on her shoes and standing up. "Yes. All those people outside seem to know where they're going. There must be something fun to do in this city. Where shall we start looking?"
<Yomi> "First, we look like we know what we're doing!" Yomi imparts her valuable knowledge. "Then, we just approach those who don't seem like they're hurrying, be polite and ask them for a moment of their time. Then, we'll just say that we're looking for the famous actress, Selene Marchand, and ask how we could find her!" She peers over at Rena.
<Yomi> "Simple? Nadia could teach you better approaches, no doubt, but sometimes the basics work just as well!"
<El-Cideon> Rena nods. "I've never really needed complicated schemes for things anyway. Men would usually just tell me whatever I wanted to hear, back home. Simple works." (OOC: roll GI? Rena can roll her own or aid, your call.)
<Yomi> roll 1d20+2 let's roll separately~
* Hatbot --> "Yomi rolls 1d20+2 let's roll separately~ and gets 18."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 charisma~
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 charisma~ and gets 12."12 [1d20=8]
<Yomi> "Sometimes you need a bit of subtlety," Yomi comments. "Just because men would fall over themselves to tell you what you want to hear doesn't mean they'll tell you the truth. And the same can't work on women, can it? Judging by the situation just what approach you need to take is quite important!"
<El-Cideon> Selene is a frequent source of popular gossip and it's not hard to pick up information just by hassling stray cafe patrons. Yomi has a bit more success at gathering intel than Rena does, perhaps due to the latter's tendency to stare at people. Selene lives in an apartment on the left bank, overlooking the Seine river. It is a frequent hub of parties for the city's artists and intelligentsia and you are quickly directed to it's specific address. (more)
<El-Cideon>  are quickly directed to it's specific address. (more)
<El-Cideon> You get a little background too, though it's mostly just basic detail: heiress to a rich banking family, struck out on her own after some falling out, etc. Mostly people are more interested in speculating on what other public figures she may or may not be romantically involved with, though.
<El-Cideon> "I suppose you're right," Rena admits. "A woman wouldn't be inclined to help me just because of my appearance, like a man would."
* Yomi is quickly bored with that part of the gossip, but smiles politely while trying to weed out the information that she needs. Once they have enough to go on, she confidently proceeds to lead the way, glancing at Rena sideways as they converse.
<Yomi> "And I can't stress enough how a man might say anything you wish to hear just to get what he wants from you, even if it is quite far from the truth. It is quite difficult to trust such information, and you might sometimes need to rely on it."
<El-Cideon> "Maybe. Life was very simple at home and there wasn't usually much that I needed from other people." Selene's building seems like a recent construction, and very modern in its design. The interior is spotlessly clean and art deco fashions are everywhere. You ride an elevator to the top floor as directed by word on the street.
<Yomi> "Life's more complicated out there, but it's also lots more fun!" Yomi says enthusiastically, approaching Selene's apartment to ring her doorbell. "Ah, and a word of advice. You'll do much better if you don't stare straight at people when you talk to them. Trust me! Give it a try today and see for yourself."
<El-Cideon> "So I should look...away from them?" Rena wonders as footsteps approach the door from the other side.
<Yomi> "Try observing me a bit today when I talk to various people, and then copy me?" Yomi suggests, waiting for the door to open. "We'll cover more afterwards, when you can manage that."
<El-Cideon> Selene opens the door; there's the low chatter of party humming in the room behind her. She's obviously surprised to see you--in sharp contrast to Rena, her face is very animated when she speaks. "Oh my! You didn't track a ghost here, did you? Is one of my guests planning to sacrifice me to the devil?"
* Yomi laughs, opening her eyes to the supernatural. "I sincerely doubt it, but I could check! No, we're just visiting. Unless it's a bad time?"
<El-Cideon> Selene still registers to Yomi's arcane senses. Faintly, but she's definitely not a normal human. Nothing else of note is in the vicinity. "No, not at all. Actually--" she lowers her voice, "--it's been a drag of an evening. Imagine attending a birthday party for that one cousin you just can't stand, but you have to smile the whole time anyway? It's like that."
<Yomi> "Oh, I can definitely relate," Yomi agrees, her face twisting. "You can't even beg off, because that would reflect badly on your father. Terrible, simply terrible, especially if the cousin sees past you and is smug about it." She tilts her head. "So how could we help brighten up your evening?"
<El-Cideon> Selene raises an eyebrow. "Well, it was only an example, but it sounds like you understand more than I'd imagined. I'd invite you in since it IS very silly to stand here on the doorstep talking, but as I said, it's not been one of my better parties. I don't suppose there's some *emergency* that might call us away somewhere?"
* Yomi taps her chin thoughtfully, as if nothing happened. "In fact, there is an emergency most dire. Rena needs to learn more about Parisian night life, and who knows what manner of dangers we would get into if we were on her own, without you there to chaperone?"
<El-Cideon> Selene looks at Rena for a moment. "You're absolutely right. Who knows what harm could befall this poor girl while wandering the wilds of the Champs-Elysses on her own? You will simply *have* to have a guide. One moment while I excuse myself, if you don't mind?" Selene closes the doors for a moment, then reappears with a hat and a handbag.
* Yomi has already called an elevator so that they could make a swift escape!
<El-Cideon> "Thank you," Selene says. "Escape is quite worth having all my wine drunk up in my absence, in this case. The guest of honor is a bore, at least, so I can have some hope that things won't get out of control. So...what is it you girls wanted to do tonight?"
<Yomi> "Expanding Rena's horizons, stopping by a club or two that no one from my homeland would be caught dead in, just generally learning more about the city and having fun."
<El-Cideon> "Ahh, I see. Well, I know all the clubs. What sort of place are you looking for?" Selene smiles at Rena. "First time in Paris, I take it?"
<El-Cideon> "Yes," Rena says. "Someplace with attractive men would be preferable."
<Yomi> "It is for me," Yomi agrees, finding herself rolling her eyes. "You really do have a one-track mind, don't you?"
<El-Cideon> Selene laughs. "You're more right than I'd expected. We really *do* have to watch out for this one, don't we?"
<Yomi> "Oh yes," Yomi agrees, shaking her head. "Do we look alright? I couldn't begin to understand the fashions here, so I'll just defer to the expert."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, well, not everyone *demands* you dress in the most cutting-edge of fashions before they'll talk to you, you know. Not even here in Paris! It depends on where we go, really." Out on the street, Selene glances around, as if considering something. "Nothing too fancy, nor too bohemian, I think would be best for your friend."
<Yomi> "There's also the language barrier," Yomi admits. "I'm still learning, but there are simply too many western languages to master in the time I've had."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, yes. Not knowing French in Paris? Unthinkable!" Selene says dramatically. "Which languages do you know? I'm sure I can think of some place with a more international clientele, if communication might be a problem."
<El-Cideon> "German, English, Arabic, and Japanese," Rena says dutifully.
<Yomi> "If you show us a good time, I'll see about making learning French a priority?" Yomi offers teasingly.
<El-Cideon> "A challenge!" Selene declares. "I'll do my best. Hmm, let's see..." Eventually, Selene takes you to an establishment called Le Refuge. It's not much to look at from the outside; hole-in-the-wall bar in a backalley at first glance, but it's somewhat grander inside. (more)
<El-Cideon> Subdued lighting. Haze of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Raucous blur of conversation as patrons try to talk over the music (there's a lady singer on a small stage, crooning a jaunty tune to guitar accompaniment). It's lively, but not low-class. Everyone here is dressed smartly and well-groomed, if not flashy.
<Yomi> "Let's start by getting drinks?" Yomi suggests to Rena, surreptitiously observing her behavior so that she could suggest more things Rena could improve while interacting with others.
<El-Cideon> Selene leads you to the bar; the bartender recognizes her and she gets service pretty much instantly. "What would you like?" she says to you and Rena after making her own order.
<El-Cideon> "I usually just have water," Rena says.
<Yomi> "Something nonalcoholic, then," Yomi muses, "and a martini for me?" She barely hesitates naming her drink, curious about trying one.
<El-Cideon> Selene dictates some complicated concoction of fruit juices for Rena. All of your drinks arrive shortly. "Well, shall we find somewhere to sit down, or mingle?"
<Yomi> "The former sounds good. We could study the place a bit to figure it out, and learn more about Paris from you," Yomi returns, picking up her drink and seeking out a suitable table for their group.
<El-Cideon> There's an empty table against the far wall that would give you a good view of the bar, the singer on the stage, the crowd of people dancing around it, and even the front entrance. Yomi could monitor any angle of the club from there! Clearly the best tactical position, so Selene settles there with the two of you. "So, what brings you to Paris? Aside from hunting eye-candy," she says, with a deferential nod to Rena.
<Yomi> "You might say it's an interest in Tsarist holdouts," Yomi responds, taking care not to have her voice carry past their table. "And certain acts of theft they had committed to support their cause."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes? I remember your other friend mentioning...a stolen necklace, was it? Still hunting for the thief?" Selene sighs. "It must be an exciting life you lead. When it's not utterly terrifying, that is."
<Yomi> "She's pursuing a lead," Yomi affirms. "Of course, if you know anything of their congregation here in Paris, I will pass that on."
<El-Cideon> "Well, I only know what I hear around town. A lot of the old nobility came here after the revolution. They were very big on all things French, those Russian aristocrats, so I suppose it was a natural choice. I haven't had many dealings with them, myself. Oh, there's this one young writer I've met at a few social gatherings, but that's about it."
* Yomi nods noncommittally, and tries her martini.
<El-Cideon> It's pretty nice. The bartender here knows his drinks, clearly. Rena seems to have already drained her glass while the two of you were talking, and is idly scanning the crowd. "So what kinds of excitement have you got into since I last saw you?" Selene says. "Rid the world of any other supernatural menaces?"
<Yomi> "Yes, actually. Demons, which goes without saying, and... do you think angels exist?"
<El-Cideon> Selene's eyes go wide. "Demons? You actually found one this time, not just its handiwork?" She sighs. "There were a lot of things I didn't *really* think existed until recently, I have to admit. Angels, well...I might have second thoughts from time to time--how can you not, in times like ours?--but I believe in the Lord and his servants, yes. Why do you ask?"
<Yomi> "You say that as if they're rare," Yomi says, not quite pouting. "But yes, it was a... crow demon thing. You'll have to ask someone who is actually versed in western demonology about its specific kind. As for angels, I was just thinking. Recollecting passages of the bible. They're God's messengers, and he is quite the wrathful God, isn't he? Fire and brimstone, old testament?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 crow demon, eh?
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 crow demon, eh? and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> "I'm sure I heard of that somewhere. I've had the opportunity to glance through a number of books on the subject," Selene says. "Raum, I think that one was called? I don't remember details, though. It doesn't do to get *too* involved with that sort of thing, as I'm sure you know." (more)
<El-Cideon> "Fire and brimstone, well...the old testament God isn't really the sort of creator most of us look to these days. I know I don't prefer to think of Him that way."
<Yomi> "When you have something out there that the demons themselves fear, something they see synonymous with Fire... that's when I start thinking about God and angels." Yomi shrugs. "But I must be boring you. I know I'm boring Rena."
<El-Cideon> Selene shakes her head. "Oh, no, I was bored before we left. This is positively exotic by comparison. Rena? What about y--" At this point Rena stands up abruptly.
<El-Cideon> "We should go dance. Isn't that what we came here for?"
* Yomi grins, standing up far more gracefully. "Follow my lead," she murmurs to Rena, approaching another table she has spotted earlier, one with a pair of men in their early twenties who couldn't help but glance at their table earlier, and would surely fit Rena's criteria.
<El-Cideon> The two men look up at you as you approach, obviously intrigued. They look like solid, working-class types with some effort applied to respectable dress and good grooming. One has wavy blond hair and a strong chin, the other brown hair and a mustache. Rena follows at your side as you walk to their table.
<Yomi> It is a shame they did not stand up to greet them, but Yomi works with that. "Do you dislike a woman that makes the first move?" she inquires.
<El-Cideon> They're obviously a little surprised at a woman who makes the first move, but: "Not at all," the blonde man says, standing up. "Not at all! These modern times, who's to say a woman shouldn't ask for what she wants, eh?" Their English isn't spectacular, but it's enough to get by here. (more)
<El-Cideon> "I am Marc, this is Oscar. We have the pleasure of addressing...?" he says
<El-Cideon> .
<Yomi> "Yomi," she introduces herself, gesturing to her side. "And this is Rena. It is her favorite song, you see. As it was being played, she simply could not stand it any longer."
<El-Cideon> Rena looks at you for a second, considering, then: "Yes," she confirms. "We should dance to it." It's difficult to tell whether them are perplexed or amused. Probably some of both. (more)
<El-Cideon> "Of course!" Marc says, offering you his hand. Oscar stands and moves to Rena. "It wouldn't due to leave a young lady all on her own, now would it?"
<Yomi> Not too bad for a beginner, Yomi thinks with a haughtiness she can't really back up, taking Marc's hand. "It would be a pleasure," she tells him, allowing Marc to take the lead.
<El-Cideon> He leads you out onto the dance floor and, after respectfully kissing the back of your hand, duly proceeds to cut a rug. He's young and enthusiastic, maybe a little too much so, but he's obviously been on a dance floor before and knows his way around a few routines. (more)
<El-Cideon> Rena's a little stiff out there but, well, at least she's trying. You can tell it takes a lot of direction from her partner to move the right way, even given the fact that he's leading, and she stumbles on occasion, but at least she looks good doing it. It might benefit her to look around more--she has pretty much locked eyes with her partner.
<Yomi> "Observe others more," Yomi quietly whispers to Rena as she passes her with Marc. As long as Rena remembers her earlier advice, she'll keep getting better at it, and thus enjoy it more, too!
<El-Cideon> Rena takes this as her cue to watch you and Marc--which isn't necessarily bad since he's taking you through some wild dips and twirls that it's not bad to incorporate for the sake of variety--but she does bump other dancers occasionally as a result, with some disgruntled looks as a reward.
<Yomi> Those disgruntled looks are the price one must pay for improving themselves! What really matters is what her partner thinks, and if Rena gets easier to lead as a result, he'd surely appreciate it. And with that in mind, while keeping an eye on Rena, Yomi focuses more on her own partner more.
<El-Cideon> Oscar looks pretty happy just to have someone like Rena in his arms, and gladly puts up with her occasional awkwardness. "You're better at this than your friend," Marc says after a quick glance at the other two. "More practice?"
<Yomi> "She is a bit of a shut-in. Really strict parents," Yomi responds with a smile. "I'm just trying to expand her horizons a bit."
<El-Cideon> Another glance at the other couple. Rena would probably manage better if she'd relax her grip a little. Flexibility is important! You don't have to be right up against your partner at all times! "I think you have your work ahead of you, if you don't mind my saying so," Marc says with a smile. "but there is a lot of world out there, I'm sure you will manage."
<Yomi> Once more, Yomi briefly relays her advice as the pairs pass one another. If Rena has someone correcting her while she's doing things awkwardly and can see her mistake and relax, it'd be better than some boring lecture where she might not even see the effects changing her behavior would bring about. "It's never boring or a chore," she returns.
<El-Cideon> "I don't doubt it," Marc says with a laugh. It looks like Rena has trouble keeping all your suggestions mind at once--she might look down to monitor her feet for a moment and while doing so reflexively pull Oscar back into a tight embrace--but at least she's trying.
<Yomi> It's enough for now, then. Yomi needs to know when to pause and let Rena absorb what she has already been told, or she'd start doing more harm than good. Flashing Rena a quick smile of approval when she looks at her, Yomi returns her attention towards Marc.
<Yomi> "I'm new to Paris, if that wasn't apparent," she says, remnants of that smile playing across her lips. "What else is it that you do around here for entertainment?"
<El-Cideon> Rena doesn't tire easily, that much is apparent. "In Paris?" Marc says. "There is everything to do! Arts, music, wine. There is always the cinema. And the city itself is a work of art, of course! We could show you and your friend the sights later, perhaps?"
<Yomi> It would be extremely rude to Selene. "Perhaps," Yomi agrees without committing, and uses a lull between songs to say, "Ah, speaking of wine, refreshments might be in order. I find myself parched."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, of course. What would you like?" Marc says, leading the way back to the bar.
* Yomi decides to try Selene's choice, naming it from memory and leaning on the bar to observe the rest of the establishment.
<El-Cideon> Rena seems to take your departure as the cue for a break as well. You can tell she's sweating a little, so she at least got a good workout. She doesn't seem to want to detach herself from her partner and winds up settling down at the same table as him. (more)
<El-Cideon> Selene's choice was a very specific brand of wine with an elaborately French name you have difficulty pronouncing, but the bartender seems to get the point. Nothing about the rest of the bar leaps out at you as being out of place--for once you can just relax! There are posters here and there advertising concerts, political meetings, that sort of thing, colorful and striking. (more0
<El-Cideon> And while plenty of the patrons do take a close look at you now and then, it may just be that they don't encounter manay Japanese girls in this establishment.
<Yomi> They likely don't get many German supermodels, either. Yomi sips her wine, casually returning the interested looks and smiling or nodding lightly at those who are polite rather than blatant about it.
<El-Cideon> And there are definitely some *polite* interested looks! Marc has a way of loitering that suggests he'd rather keep you to himself, though. "So, 'Yomi.' That's...Japanese, is it? What takes you so far from home? Just came for the legendary beauty of Paris?"
<Yomi> "I like to travel," she responds, adding teasingly, "There's so much of the world out there, after all."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes? I travel around Europe a little, but only for work, as a deckhand. I don't see as much as I would like. Where else have you been?"
<Yomi> "Outside Europe?" Yomi thinks back in recollection. "There was Africa. Such a strange land, so vast and diverse and primal."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, darkest Africa! Of course, it's all colonized these days. It ruins some of the mystique, doesn't it? What did you see there?"
<Yomi> "Not as much as I'd hoped. I mostly stayed in the cities and explored the old Africa and the efforts of colonization meeting one another. I would love to return one day and see the untamed parts as well, however."
<El-Cideon> "You must not have to worry about money, to travel so freely," Marc observes. "I admit I'm envious, but only because of the opportunity to see the world."
<El-Cideon> You can notice Selene still at her table, idly. She seems to have been beset by a pair of fans, though they're being polite enough as far as you can tell. Selene looks to be monitoring Rena as best as she can while answering questions.
* Yomi is quite grateful for that, and doesn't neglect in monitoring Rena herself even as she answers, "Ah, you realized that? I should make more of an effort to keep it to myself. I quite dislike to be judged based on having good fortune."
<El-Cideon> "Ah, yes, and there are many who will. My father was a working man; so am I. There is a lot of talk these days about class conflict and socialism, you know, but I talk with you and it is good to be reminded someone can be polite and decent from any background."
<El-Cideon> Rena's sitting at the table and talking, as far as you can tell. No one's fled in terror or leapt from their seat in shock, so maybe she's getting along better than she usually does?
* Yomi quite approves of this, and wouldn't think of interrupting Rena's practice time. "I know what it's like to work, as it happens! Regrettably, however, my skills were no longer judged necessary back home, so rather than sit around aimlessly in shame, I decided to spread my wings a bit."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yes? What is it that you do?" He sounds like he approves of a woman being productively employed.
<Yomi> "I was employed by our government, specifically under the auspices of the Ministry of Education," Yomi responds. "Unfortunately, there is quite a lot of nepotism involved in the process, and someone better-connected was chosen for the job."
<El-Cideon> "Ah," he says sadly. "Well, that is a problem we share all the world around. How long have you known your friend there? She is German, I take it from her accent?"
<Yomi> "She's ethnically German," Yomi affirms. "I've known her long enough to see her as a friend. "Not everyone can have the parents they deserve, and that's a shame, don't you think?"
<El-Cideon> He nods. "The wrong parents can set someone on a bad path," he says carefully, sounding like he doesn't want to seem like he's prying while actually being curious.
<Yomi> It should be enough to explain any strangeness on her part, but Yomi doesn't particularly wants to dive into Rena's sordid past, merely nodding and getting a refill from the bartender.
<El-Cideon> Marc's more than ready to cover your tab, of course! "So how long will the two of you be in Paris? We could meet up another day, give you and Rena a tour?"
<Yomi> "I have no immediate plans of leaving," Yomi responds. "The day after tomorrow should work well enough. What do you think?"
<El-Cideon> An enthusiastic nod. "Of course, that will be fine. And where can we find you? You are staying together while in the city? Or--perhaps that is too forward of me. We will meet somewhere." He writes down the name and address of a cafe and suggests everyone meet up in late afternoon, when work should be done for the day.
* Yomi accepts the note, the Latin script legible enough for her. "We'll have no trouble finding it," she assures Marc.
<El-Cideon> "I hate to do so, but I think now we should depart. Some of rise with the sun in the morning for work, I am afraid. But I will have a grand tour prepared for you next time we meet. Farewell for now," he says, leaning in to kiss your hand before going to gather his friend.
<Yomi> "It has been a pleasure," Yomi returns, following him in collect Rena.
<El-Cideon> "Oscar!" Marc announces. "We should go home at this time. We have work tomorrow, no? And have surely shown these fine ladies enough excitement to wear them out for one evening. Yomi and I have arranged another outing in two days. We shall tour the city and see the sights. That is acceptable?"
<El-Cideon> Rena nods at this. "Yes."
<Yomi> "How about we get you another drink before we leave?" Yomi offers to Rena. "You liked the last one, right?"
<El-Cideon> Oscar stands up, the two of them make their final Au Revoirs, and they exit.
<El-Cideon> "Yes," Rena says. "It was very sweet."
<El-Cideon> ~