France: 2140

[Sean Aufrührer]

Sure people weren't usually out this early or maybe this late. It depended on which way you were looking at it. Sean was looking at from the latter point of view. Yes he was out and about on this clear crisp, cool, night. It was perfect for walking except for may the time of the day and or night it was.

As Sean walked past the rather large palace he looked up at. It was a tourist trap true, but not for him. One because he wasn't a tourist. And two he had never been in their. And it was closed at one something in the morning. He quickly made his way up the flight of stairs and sat on the ledge, panting a bit he looked down at the street and smiled. He was helping govern this place.

What could he not be proud of. He was the youngest High Council Member. He was close friends with the ruler of France's daugther and he lived in the manor that was convented by many. Life was slow recently. And the rumors were almost unbearably. Rumors of them going after world powers were becoming ludicrous.

He rubbed his pale face. And looked around again, he couldn't help but feel that someone else was there. Most likely the Gard coming to rough him up thinking that he was a trespasser. Wouldn't they be surprised. Afraid of loosing their jobs the would apologies and scurry away. Lets just say that it is not favorable to beat up a council member of Adrian Burr's.

[Blanche Nicodeme]

Tonight had been a fairly short working night in comparison to others. Her act had been scheduled early, and then after the prime of the night was over her employer had dismissed her to go out and get a bite to eat. He had mentioned something about her working too many hours recently, some other little tid bit about a break or a vacation. Within her mind she had scoffed at these words, thinking nothing of them. The female, who’s workplace in the backalleys of Paris illuminated by the crimson lights of nightly mischief, and who had gained a fairly spotlighted position in the shows they performed, knew not he definition of vacation. She could however comprehend food. After eating a small meal at her home she had begun wandering about again, though it went against her better judgement to be roaming so liberally around Paris at this hour. She supposed that if she could withstand the slums of the grand city, then the remainder of it shouldn’t be a problem if she went with logic.

Her feet, graced with extremely high heels which she walked impeccably well in (after all, she had to dance vigorously in them) had carried her to this strange building which she had passed by many times during her adolescence and throughout her time in return to the booming metropolis. Without really paying much attention to what she was endeavoring upon, her crimson heels began to make faint clacks upon the steps of the great structure. Blanche was lost within the sea of her mind, worrying about her employers newfound concern in her career and well being. She wondered if he wanted something, for she doubted he was authentically concerned that she was working too hard. All of that aside she certainly did not feel that she was overworking herself, for dance was not labor within her mind, it was an art form and a pleasure.

The woman journeying up the steps had a certain grace about the way she moved, that which only a dancer or perhaps a divine being could possess. Her appearance was extravagant, as was many of the women who worked in the cabarets. The pale skin of her shoulders were exposed openly, meeting with cerise deep plunge corset with black silhouettes of what seemed to be blossoming trees of some sort adorning it. Blanche’s arms, just as pale as her shoulders and face, were mostly cloaked with evening gloves of ebony satin. Upon her left middle finger was a diamond ring, strictly for decoration. Hanging from her hips was a long and slightly puffy petticoat, consisting of chiffon layering sewn neatly on top of one another with rings of red lace trimming it. It was used as a cancan skirt, hiding the usual cabaret lingerie beneath it. Around her neck was a thick choker, adorned in rubies and onyx gems, only for a Spanish coin to hang down symmetrically at her collar bone. Her rich ruby tresses which reached down to the length of her upper thigh, had been done up in yet another lavish fashion. The hairstyle consisted of a simplistic hair flip, framed with braids which made it look much like two small buns, then pinned back with a decorative comb, bearing a tiny crimson fan that the dancers of Spain usually held. The bottom of the remaining hair which streamed down to its normal length had been curled slightly, while one part of her hair had been left free in the front and crimped to make a decorative form of bangs. It was obvious that her appearance had been inspired by the women of Spain, and that she had been professionally dressed. It wasn't unusual for one that knew The Cherry, or saw her often, for she was always quite dolled up with nice outfits, complex hairstyles, and ruby red lipstick that her other employees inisit that she apply before every performance.

Not weary after reached her destination she was slightly taken aback by the stranger sitting only a mere twenty feet away at the most. She stared for a moment, her luminous (and currently) indigo optics slightly widened. Blanche knew the members of Adrien’s administration like the back of her own hand, and she happened to be aware that the man sitting nearby was of the high council. Though there was barely any indication that she knew who he was she quickly hid it, for Blanche was a master of deception and the queen of masquerades. The ruby haired dancer could appear to feel whatever she willed it, and looked real doing it.

”I didn’t think anyone else would be up here this time of night,” she stated to him, her voice friendly and her tone deep but feminine. Talking to the enemy wouldn’t kill her. As a matter of fact it might even serve as an advantage. And if their was no gain then tough luck she supposed. Though her mind was like a hurricane of anxiety though none to this appeared upon her pale features, one side of her face shrouded with the bangs that had been permitted to hang from the remainder of her hairstyle. Blanche wondered why she had ever been displeased with being able to masquerade her feelings, it was all a part of being an actress.

[Sean Aufrührer]

”I didn’t think anyone else would be up here this time of night,” said and elegantly dress women as she stopped by the sitting Sean. He stood up and smiled. He noticed her out fit. He was to niave to think that she might work in the cabarets. He symply figured that she was an actress taking a break from the set. Even though he had not noticed one when he was making his stroll around this halve of the city.

He had never been to the cabarets. One because he found the men to go thier vile and two he would be way to polite to have the women service him because they were instructed to do so. It would be odd and for him it would make his ego drop. That was the last thing that this man needed.

"Madamosielle," he said taking her hand and kissing it softly. Well mannors were mannors. True he hated the tradition of kissing the ladies hands, some smelt of methoal, and most were sweaty. But hers were covered in a black soft meteral.

As he dropped her hand he looked her in the eyes. The thought of 'wow' floted threw his head for many reasons.. One she was beautiful, two the out fit looked to be extreemly expinsive and uncomfortable, and three the shoes those things had to hurt. He was glade as he had been many times in his life that he was a male. Those shoes looked like a hell on earth.

However the while these thoughts ran threw his head he appeared to be smiling in a frendily distant way. One tha would not make some one cring or squrim but rather a well he seemes like a nice guy type of smile. He had prefected it over the span of his twenty one years on this earth.


"Sorry to inquire your statment but it could be looked at the other way, No one should be at this early." he said. Even though that wasn't his view of things it could really be looked at either way.

"I might just be a tourist waiting in a soon to fabracate line of peopel. But you see i will be here first." he said and smiled at her. It was cheesy he knew but sometimes it got people to laugh. If you state the unexpected.

If one did not know Adrian burr's circle that he surronded him self with it would be extreemly unexpected to think that this young guy was part of the ruleing government official. Looks are deciving. For as he stood thier in a mere short sleeved gray tee-shirt and a ratty pair of old faded jeans, he was a High Council member. From the out side looking in it would seem as though Sean should work as a buss boy at some restorante or as a bell hop at a hotel, not making official decisions.

But then again the was the out siders view of things.

[Blanche Nicodeme]

Generally, Blanche did not judge those who flocked to the cabaret. The dancer had never seen anything wrong with what she her coworkers did for a living. She was but an entertainer like anyone else, and they were an audience. They just happened to be performing a more risqué show than some were accustomed to. A small group of her coworkers also doubled as prostitutes and the way the ruby haired woman saw it, it was their choice to be sex workers, and it was the man’s choice to whether they desired the female’s services or not. It was simply a personal choice and affected no one else. Blanche had turned down the many offers to be promoted to a courtesan, for she would like the prime spot at the cabaret but she was nt searching for any other position than the one she had currently, especially if it included the double of being paid for sex. She found that there were far too many women nowadays who didn’t deserve to be wearing white dresses, all for very spur of the moment decisions on someone they didn’t feel for intensely…or at times there would be no feels at all. The cabaret was a place to let go and forget yourself…at least for the audience. She would confess that it was a good time at Le Chat Noir and whether anyone liked to admit it or not, everyone endeavored on their sins in some form. All human beings incorporated into the tightly woven fabric of society would commit their sins and held them dear. Those who were more open about it were simply more honest than those who shrouded them in secrecy. She happened to be one of the deceitful group. However, one had to consider that those who thronged in the cabaret were the ones that funded her extravagant wardrobe and filled her hefty savings. So perhaps her point of view was slightly biased.

Though she was slightly startled by his immediate manners she seemed used to having her hand…or glove rather…kissed. What was startling was that he was a bit disarming, and she was slightly amazed how calm she was being, despite his position in the world. Though unknown to him, or so she believed, he was the enemy. They were the force which went against so many political ideologies that she threw her head and soul into. Just as she did for her dance. She nodded her head in respect. From his comment she assumed starting a conversation wouldn’t vex him.

”Hm…true. Technically it is the morning I suppose,” she stated, giving him another benevolent smile.

”I tend to think it night whenever I work no matter what the time, as long as the sun has set. Guess being nocturnal has its disadvantages,” she finished simplistically. Blanche directed her cerulean gaze to the large structure overlooking the city with a certain ancient wisdom about it. She was not quite sure how one would describe it, but it gave off an almost serene aura, as many religious monuments did. And this was coming from an atheist. When he mentioned “being a tourist” he received a sociable laugh, finding the whole idea rather amusing.

”Wow. You thought a bit far ahead for a tourist…most of them seem a bit mindless,” she added, her azure optics flickering over to him once more. These eyes which she possessed were colored by mere contacts, for it was quite rare when another would see her without them. She had an unusual eye color, the most singular ones in the world, violet. Thinking this to be a too easily noticed trait she always had contacts covering the scarce shade she was born with, the colors of her contacts either a blue or green. The natural violet tint was already luminous which in turn made her contacts as such. Not only were these contacts used to help her hide physically, but also emotionally. They aided her in her persona masquerade, for her true emotions were never reflected through her gaze because her gaze was not hers. Rather confusing sure but if one thought about it enough it was an advantage.

Blanche could not help but think how much he didn’t remind her of the typical Adrien Burr administration member, or a part of a government establishment at all. It was mostly because he was perfectly normal looking, in dress and in self. After all, the majority politicians were depicted as very clean cut in professional and it was not often you saw one in such a “natural habitat” or “state of being” position. Nonetheless she was positive it was him…she knew the name…Sean Aufruhrer a high council member. The face was easily recognized.

[Sean Aufrührer]

”Wow. You thought a bit far ahead for a tourist…most of them seem a bit mindless,” she said, it made him smile. Yes most tourists did remind him of zombies, or even a mouse that was trained to get threw a maze. Always went the same way did the name thing. It was to be accepted that people would see the Eiffel tower and places like that. Very few people visited the slums of the city. But that was were a lot of the fun stuff did happen.

"Mindless?" he said in a question to confirm what she had said. It was a true statement and rather funny. He chuckled. He wanted to sit down but that would be rude and if Sean was one thing it was not rude, but rather the opposite. He was extremely polite.

"Mademoiselle," he said and motioned to the bench. He tried to think of a nice way to say this. "Beg your pardon but the shoes look like hell would you like to sit down?" he asked and plastered a child like smile on his face. He didn't now if she knew his name. Well she would if she lived here. And since he was under the impression that she was an actress he doubted weather or not she did.

"I am Sean Aufrührer." he said and crossed his arms in front of him. He had no clue whom she was. He wasn't a fan of the cinema. But he didn't plan on telling her that.

[Blanche Nicodeme]

She gave a nod towards his confirmation question, though she considered that it might have been rhetorical. Blanche had to confess that she felt slightly hypocritical with that last comment she had made, even if it had been a mere jest. After all, she had been a tourist more than once in her life and really she hadn’t though of herself as mindless. However, she had noted that some of her fellow travelers could be very irritating, but that was the ignorance of the people themselves not changed by the factor that they had become a tourist while stepping on foreign soil. Within her mind she expelled a tiny sigh. She knew now that she was certainly over thinking things. Finally, after a minute bit of inner debate she concluded that it was best to simply leave the subject all by its lonesome in the depths of her mind, where it would eventually be forgotten. Giving him a friendly smile with his kind offer she nodded once more. She had deterred herself from becoming too comfortable she thought it might seem a bit odd to decline such a thoughtful offer, therefore she capitulated to her own inner manners.

”Surprisingly enough when you have been walking in shoes like these for as long as I have it actually isn’t that bad, but at first I guess you could call it hell. Well, hell for your poor feet,” she stated, sitting down and crossing her legs as was customary of her. It took her a moment to restate what she had just said in her head before she laughed lightly.

”Wow, I’m speaking like an old lady,” she said at a seemingly random point, though truly she had thought about what she had stated before she had simply allowed it to wander out from her lips. Behind closed doors, behind this mask she paraded about in, she was a helpless and certainly not as outgoing as she may have seemed. As a matter of fact she possessed a rather serious disposition that was anything but disarming. That serious yet sometimes-passionate state did not coincide with the lifestyle she had selected and certainly not with her chosen career. Therefore she had created this façade to display to the world, the one that charmed people and usually made it easy for her to talk to. This one was quite different from her stage mask, however, her real personality was certainly further.

Of course, being a member of the resistance and attempting to see where this discussion might turn, she was not going to act as though she knew who he was at all. This witty, easy to talk to, but ignorant and uninformed creature. She supposed that was the image she was targeting, or at least the informed part. Turning her indigo gaze to the council member adjacent to her, she had her same amiable smile carved upon her features, listening attentively as though she had never heard the name before.

”Nice to meet you Sean. I’m Cherry.”

Her statement was casual and conversational, as was customary. Blanche never doled out her real name and this situation was no exception. As a matter of fact, in this situation she was positive that it was primary that he not know her real name for obvious reasons.

[Sean Aufrührer]

"Nice to meet you Sean. I’m Cherry.” She said. But while she was talking about being an old lady or at least sounding like one, he could not stop looking at her. She was almost hypnotizing. He definitely needed to go to the cinema more often. Yes whenever the New Year came around that would be he resolution.

He sat down next to her at the other end of the bench. Even though it wasn't that far away from her. He swallowed, and smiled. Cherry, well that was a weird name. In the back of his mind he thought that a name like Cherry had to be an alias. But that didn't bother him. Why would it he felt totally safe.

"Cherry," he repeated dumbly. "Right Cherry, nice to meet you." he said, manners, manners, and manners. Really they were what his father taught him ever since he could walk. He didn't know that but it is true.

Sean thought about his father. Something that he tried not to do. His father and him became close when his mother died. Sean was 17 when she passed. His father took pity on his son and took him out of Paris for a month where he stayed with his father and distant family for a month. Sean did grow close to his father during that time. Then three years later his father passed. Sean took up his father's responsibility and has since then been known as a high council member. He was grateful that Adrian let him stay in the manor. It was a rare act of kindness.

“You look,” he said, realizing that his statement can lead him down a road of rudeness. “Different, nice but different.” He said and smiled. “Sorry if I offended you.” He added on quickly. But it wasn’t every day that a women walked up to you and had a conversation. Well that was normal but not the way that she was dressed. It was not an every day experience.

[Blanche Nicodeme]

Blanche never gave anyone the name her parents had bestowed upon her at birth unless she fully and entirely trusted them. Even very few members of the resistance were aware of her real name. Her stage name had always been suitable for an alias, for is already served just fine for a pseudonym. Blanche’s employer had dreamed up the stage name after Blanche had become more popular with the crowd and began putting on acts solo rather than being another Cancan girl. He had figured that her hair ushered the name exquisitely, as well as the bright red lipstick she usually wore that stood out greatly against her fair complexion. She had not seen a stage name as necessary but after joining the resistance and finding it dangerous to use her real name, she had found the name to be quite useful even when she was not working. Though she had to confess that sometimes saying Cherry as a name alone was not a way to top off a fairly serious moment. At the cabaret they mostly referred to her in omniscient third person, “The Cherry” rather than simply “Cherry”. She shrugged it off for it functioned nonetheless.

Initially Blanche had been slightly oblivious towards Sean’s stress level. It wasn’t extremely apparent but something in the way he spoke reeked of nervousness. He was being quite polite and in a way it made her a little uncomfortable. She assumed it had been because she knew who he was and that she might have simply been tired. However, it was not until he had said a few additional things did she note that he seemed anxious.

”Thank you very much, I’m not offended at all and anyone who was by such a compliment would be overly sensative,” Blanche assured him with another one of her (kind of) famous friendly smiles. Years it had taken her to train her expressions so that they could operate separately from her emotions and the years of perfection on the “art” had finally paid off. She was positive that if any acting company could see through her eyes, her emotions completely disassociated from the feelings she exposed to those in reality, that they would hire her in a moment. Though she was fairly modest she had to confess that she was very talented in that area. However, the credits for this talent were all towards Maria, the girl who had taken her in on that rainy night in Chicago. The dance student had possessed a particular genius at willing her exhibited emotions. Every now and then one could see the pain hidden deep behind her smile, though the majority of the time Maria had been entirely authentic. It had made her difficult to be friends with at times, because one could rarely read what she might actually be thinking. If one wanted to learn something well it was an advantage to learn from the best of the best. Well…the majority of the time. Tilting her head slightly, part of her ruby tresses concealing half of her façade, she lifting a brow and laughed lightheartedly.

”If you don’t mind me asking, are you alright? You seem a bit uptight,” she inquired in a slightly concerned fashion. He seemed overly jittery, even for a person who might have had a jumpy persona.

[Sean Aufrührer]

”If you don’t mind me asking, are you alright? You seem a bit uptight,” Cherry asked him. He was fine, a little nervous as always but other than that he was okay, find, dandy. Well not really. This women sitting here beside him was well beautiful. He could help but to stare. She seemed to be into him, well she seemed to be any way. But he knew that it was rude to stare so he willed himself to look any where but her. If he did look he might not be able to stop, and well that would be bad.

"No, i am sorry." he said. And grinned. He relaxed and leaned back on the bench. "You want to get a cup of coffee or something?" he asked and then realized the it was not likely that any one would be open at this hour, early or late.

"I mean later on, if i see you around again, or we can arrange to meet." he said. Yes he was asking this stranger on a date. Sean was coming out of his shell. A shell that he had put himself in after his father's death. He didn't plan on asking her out, but it just came out. Rather unplanned. He didn't really expect her to accept. But if she did, it would be a miracle And he would be the one receiving that miracle.

[Blanche Nicodeme]

With his apology she tilted her head a few degrees to the left with a blank expression carved on her features. Though she had fully intended to inquire why he had expressed regret for something, she was easily distracted by his next comment, which seemed to follow quickly after his apology like a line of chicks after their mother hen. A little surprised by the offer she laughed nervously, though she made sure her sudden stress did not appear upon her expression or in any other bodily form.

”Thanks for the offer…” she began with a smile. This very momentary pause she thought would have been the perfect moment in the world of cinema for her to take a drag off a cigarette. An absolutely exquisite real life instant in her opinion. However, much to her dismay she did not smoke and even if she had she currently was not carrying around with her a form of tobacco in any sense though something like a cigar wouldn’t have the same mental image, not even close. Therefore, she simply dealt with her low likelihood to be diagnosed with lung cancer and moved on.

”It sounds like a good idea. Got anything in mind?” she finished casually. Underneath her calm and collected features however were whirlwinds of flowing chaos. Another disordered miasma was being invoked within her mind. Millions of thoughts a minute were traveling through her mind as though they were electrons traveling in wires. She would have to talk to Jude about this, certainly. After all, she would have to have a discussion with him about this entire situation unfolding at the steps of this great monument in the late hours of the night…or the early hours of the morning. Though the idea of manipulating someone with romance was not overly appealing to her.

”You are jumping to conclusions…” she thought, chiding herself sternly.

It seemed that she was being asked out places quite a bit recently. Though the one was certainly a meeting of pure conversation and casual discussion, this offer had the atmosphere of a date. That alone frightened her, even though she would never accept it unless she thought she would get some use from it. She felt rather nasty admitting this factor to herself. It certainly wasn’t that Sean wasn’t kind, not at all he seemed downright pleasant. However, she never allowed herself to become emotionally entangled with those of the other side of the chessboard. That was simply the way things would remain, for emotions always seemed to get in the way of logical means and she wasn’t about to get herself seized and snarled in such a complex trap. If this little outing went through she would have to consult the resistance leader, whether she felt guilty or not.

[Sean Aufrührer]

"It sounds like a good idea. Got anything in mind?” she said. He did a double take. Not that she would see he recovered rather quickly. Did she just except? Yes she did. He thought. Well that was his luck. He quickly thought of his schedule and it was pack, for the most part. But he had some spaces for a quick get together with her.

"Well this Saturday, around noon." he threw up the idea. Why not a little lunch with her couldn't be bad. "If that is okay with you." he said and smiled nicely at her. "Unless you can think of a better time, for your self." he said and leaned back. Thinking about what Natalie might say to him having a date. Well that was a conversation that he might avoid.

((my muse is just slipping away ))

[Blanche Nicodeme]

{\\:: OOC: That is alright, the same thing going on here.}

Blanche hadn’t noted his double take at all. As a matter of fact she was overlooking his surprise that she had excepted his offer completely. She feared the date he might offer, or more the time. After all, she worked almost every night and an evening outing would not function very well. The nights were always mass chaos for the ruby-haired young woman, which was obvious by her random breaks and cancellation of acts…or even an added act. But despite all the turmoil she quite enjoyed the career she had which she had endeavored. It would have been rather effortless to make this situation less complex, simply propose a date herself. However, she did not want to seem rude. Sometimes it was simply best to release the reins and let the horse go on his on, then again, had she ever had the reins in the first place?

Another pleased smile formed upon her pale features with the date he suggested.

”Oh no, you couldn’t have picked a better time. Lunch sounds like a nice proposal,” she said kindly with enthusiasm, happy as a clam that he had picked such a manageable time. Many other she knew would pick some very awkward time, such a seven P.M. Being a creature of the underworld had its prices and her unusual schedule she supposed was one of them. However, she had long since come to the conclusion that the fee she paid was perfectly reasonable and suited her. Disorder and order anarchy…it reflected the way her mind worked.

”Fond of any particular place?” she inquired. This he would certainly have to select, for most of the places she went out were bars and such. She highly doubted that would be what he had in mind. With a swift hand movement she tucked some of her dangling crimson tresses behind her ear, for she had become weary of flipping in out of the way. As she watched his reaction she began to skim her mind, trying to recall if she had ever seen Sean wandering through the backstreets of Paris on any occasion. Even if he had she figured she most likely wouldn’t recollect it, for faces became muddled in her mind due to all the people she saw per day. That was one problem she had, after a while, many faces began to look the same. Still, if she had seen a government official wandering in the underworlds of this city, she would have noticed.

[Sean Aufrührer]

“Fond of any particular place?” Not really. He was raised inside of the manor, and until recently he was oblivious to most of Paris. He loved to city when he could grab something to eat from one of the many vendors, and then walk threw Jardin des Tuileries. But at this hour, late or early, it was not open and would not be for a while. He thought about the places that he ate. And really nothing popped out.

"Well we could meet up here and then get something from the vendor's and walk around for a bit." he offered. "Unless you want to sit down and eat." he said. And taking her to the manor was not an option. Not unless he wanted to loose his head, or worse. He swallowed just at the thought. But then he quickly pushed it from his mind. No one wanted to think about that for to long.

"It is really up to you." he added. He was becoming more comfortable around her. He found her interesting, her outfit was comical, yet provocative. And he couldn't help but to wander what movie she was filming. He cursed himself again for not being into the cinema. He smiled politely as he waited for her answer. He wondered what she would wear to their next meeting. If it was anything like this, it was sure to get a few heads to turn.