I do miss Europe.

[detriments]

WHO: Christine Stanford | detriments and The Shade | foreshadower
WHERE: CC, then Paris, France.
WHEN: TONIGHT WHY NOT!!!
WHAT: Two good friends meeting for the first time in the new world! And having dinner together, why not.
WARNINGS: They may be too classy to handle

[Things weren't all bad, she decided.

The apocalypse had ended. Death had announced itself for a second time, except no part of it had claimed Christine's vitality, merely the life she left behind in the City. Once again she had to abandon her aspirations and start over - but at least this time things were a little more organized to her liking.

She took the first few steps to make details work better in her favor. Then she found herself missing an old friend, and his uncanny ability to take her wherever her heart desired.

As always, Christine presented herself beautifully, dressed to impress, dressed to be impressed. Neck covered by jewelry, earrings dangling from her ears, hair caught up impeccably, nails done and make-up drawn. She waited for him with a purse in her hand, sun still far from setting from behind the buildings. There was little care for that, however - soon it would be time to dine in Paris, and they had arranged their meeting accordingly.

Ah, how she missed Europe.]

Comments

[foreshadower]

[ The Shade was like a man perpetually out of time, and yet perfectly content with being so. When he walked, it was with a smooth saunter that didn't keep up with the same quick steps of most people of the old City, not even for the people here in Cape Canaveral. He often tapped his cane against the concrete, and he observed in a way that was uncanny. Absorbing details was vital, and Shade had enough of a frame of reference to make it all work.

After all, he had two hundred years of reading and observing to draw one conclusion after another, and he'd always shown a great desire for many things, food, company, entertainment, and knowledge being the primary three.

So it was right on the dot, punctual, that he arrived to take Christine, dressed just as well as she was. He was never under dressed, but he often took the extra effort with Christine, and finding clothes was as easy as finding the right tailor, and then nabbing them in the dead of night. Anything could then be altered to the right size, the right style, and Shade's clothing had been out of style for at least a hundred years. He would roll with the changes, but at the end of the day, he much preferred the proper cut of a suit to anything else.

He even held his hat in his hands, when he reached out to knock, ready to whisk her away to Europe, as she'd requested. ]

[detriments]

[She would have preferred to meet him elsewhere, but her living arrangements seemed to ring better than anything the city had to offer as of yet. Perhaps when she got to know her surroundings a bit better, she would select another meeting point accordingly. It wasn't as though she intended to live with three roommates forever, even if one of them was her beloved Renee.]

Shade, [She exclaimed, hand settled on his shoulder before she leaned in for a cordial kiss on the cheek.] I'm so happy you made it.

[foreshadower]

I wouldn't miss this for the world.

[ He kissed her cheek in response, his lips curling up in a smile as he pulled away, his arm reaching out to the small of her back, even while he gently slid his hat back on his head. ]

But now, shall we? I'm certain the world awaits the two of us. No need to make them wait, hm?

[ Once his hat was on, he slid his sunglasses over his nose. ]

Just tell say when.

[detriments]

[Most men would have said the same, she expected. Christine played her cards for nothing less than that.]

There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late - least of all in the old continent. [Her grin was bright but contained, polite and charming as ever.] But I am eager to see it again, I'll admit it.

[She tilted her head.] Shall we?

[foreshadower]

There's nothing wrong with heading out, then.

[ He took her hand, and led her forward, walking smooth as ever, even while the shadows seemed to lengthen, and swallow them. It was a few steps, somewhere in between ten and twenty, and he didn't let go, until they stepped out into the paved streets of the Parisian nightlife.

The clamor was different, the lights, the smells, everything was different than the humid heat of Florida. Chill, but not cold. ]

I'm certain Paris was eager to see us as well, don't you think?

[detriments]

[Truth be told, Christine detested the sensation of going through his shadows. The feeling of being swallowed up, taken into something she had no control over, walking in a void - it was all against anything she was comfortable with. The only reward was knowing what waited on the other side, and knowing she could trust the Shade to take her there.

She wasn't quite in awe when they found themselves in Paris, at long last. It was nothing she hadn't seen a dozen times before, be it during business trips or strolls for leisure. It was a familiar sight she loved, however. It welcomed her as much as she welcomed it.]

And I was just as eager to see it.

Where will you be taking us, then?

[foreshadower]

I was thinking a little place on the rooftop.

[ He pointed, at the building across the street. It was tall, but even still, the sound filtered down, something soft, but welcoming. A few laughs, the soft clink of dishes occasionally ringing out when the bustle silenced itself for just long enough.

He smiled at her. ]

I thought it might give us a view.

[detriments]

I knew I was right to miss your company. And your impeccable taste.

[Her smile was kind, darling, friendly. She leaned her shoulder towards him, wrapping her arm around his, ready to be taken to their place.]

It's amazing - so much has changed, but Paris remains much the same.

[foreshadower]

[ They took off, but the walk was slow. Shade was never in a hurry, ever, but then when you had forever, what was a twenty minute walk? ]

She has always been something of a steadfast presence, compared to the rest of Europe. I can't imagine this city changing, no matter what universe we're in.

[ He did love Paris, despite some of the foul memories that lingered for him. ]

[detriments]

And isn't that a heartwarming comfort? We'll always have Paris, [she remembered fondly, though a little humor seeped into her tone just then. There was nothing romantic between them, and that was a notion Christine didn't have to worry about. For once her friendship with a man wasn't centered around whether or not she held some kind of physical control over him. He was just someone she could talk to about anything.]

[foreshadower]

[ He laughed, knowing the joke well enough.

Then again, with he and Paris, if he didn't have her, who would he have here? ]

Indeed. Us and every other person who loves this city. I believe she may be cheating on us.

[ He said it a touch conspiratorially, but left it at that. It was true, that there was nothing romantic between them. Not that Christine wasn't lovely, but Shade often found that he didn't need to actively pursue it. What came, well, came. When it did, it was grand, and when it didn't, he had plenty else to do.

Then again, he was immortal, waiting ten years between one fling and another was closer to days. ]

[detriments]

[Christine had no answer, just a little laugh, accompanying him down the street and toward their eventual table. Once they got to it, intertwined fingers were where her chin rested, eying the man before her with unspoken interest. It was as though she was waiting to see something happen - if it would happen.]

[foreshadower]

[ Shade was often too brazen with his powers. He never thought to hide it, once he'd taken to being a supervillain -- as if he'd been subtle about such things before. Honestly, with the way the Ludlows had obsessed over him, it was a miracle there hadn't been legends about a shadow killer long before Jay Garrick donned the metal cap and ran like the wind.

He played the usual song and dance, ever the gentleman, but once they were seated, he leaned back, gesturing and pulling over the waiter for drinks, offering Christine to order hers, before his. He went with a red -- and a pastis. Of course he would. ]

I would hate to be someplace where we couldn't have this.

[detriments]

Not all is bad about a good apocalypse, [She smiled, thanking the garçon in perfectly decent French after her order was placed.] As bizarre as the changes are. But then I take it you're quite used to change.

[foreshadower]

From time to time. Normally it's not quite this drastic.

[ He held a hand to his chin, his eyes took on something that was a bit more distant. ]

Normally, it's merely like time passes, and you never notice it, and then all of the sudden, you realize just how different things are now, from how they used to be.

This was more of a sharp kick than a gentle nudge.

[detriments]

I can imagine.

[It fascinates her, immortality. She'd like a taste of it. Of eternal youth, eternal beauty.]

But it shakes things up.

[foreshadower]

It does, and I find that a little excitement goes a long way.

It tends to liven up the hum drum of the mundane.

[ He shrugged. Shade really did go too far out of boredom. ]

At least we won't be bored for a while.