|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Feb 24, 2012 9:20:19 GMT -5
It was the young man's birthday, the Estonian had just turned twenty-one and had been given some time off to go on a trip somewhere, anywhere that he had to choose. Even though it helped that he had also gotten a few tickets to some fashion shows in Paris, that definitely pushed the travel destination towards France. Anyways, while not particularly a fashion obsessed sort, Eduard still found some of the ideas interesting and maybe he would meet some new people while out here. This was his main motivation for currently walking around the streets of Paris, looking at everything that he could. It was exhilarating and somewhat intimidating to be in such a city. But he would have to get used to such a situation, especially if he planned on traveling more often. He would end up in most of the world's major cities at some point or another. Nonetheless, he stopped to sit at a bench and survey his surroundings more clearly. This was Paris, a city he had only heard so much about. So much history and other very interesting things had originated here. And he must admit he was looking forward to eating some of the food that the place was well-known for. The moment he had paused to even contemplate food briefly, he realized that he hadn't yet eaten since getting to his hotel room. He had decided to explore instead. Oh goodness, I really should get something soon. He was going to get some food eventually but for the time being he was simply taking a moment to relax a bit. Eduard leaned back carefully and just watched the action of the city go by seemingly invisible to the scene.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 7, 2012 16:57:58 GMT -5
Francis was wandering aimlessly through the streets of Paris. He had vaguely in mind to stop to a grocery shop at some point (he needed to refill his fridge, sooner or later) but there was still time for that. He didn't have much to do at home, anyway, and even though the weather was still cold, it was a nice day, so there was no reason he shouldn't have gone out for a walk.
Hands deep in his dark coat's pockets, he wandered through the more touristic streets and entertained himself by watching the people visiting the various places. He knew there were people who found tourists annoying, sure, but it wasn't his case. He actually enjoyed watching them handle their huge city maps in order to understand where they had to go - useless to say, he had often offered himself as guide, especially when said tourists were young and attractive. In his younger days, that had been a nice way to approach a number of one-night stands. He wasn't up to that game anymore, though, but he still liked guessing what the tourist needed to know and helping them out.
This was the reason why he stopped on his way, at some point. More precisely, he stopped because he saw a boy sitting on one bench. He was sitting alone, and by the way he was looking around Francis could guess he was a tourist - they had a certain something that never failed to characterize them.
"Bonjour~" he came out, stepping towards the bench "You look like you've been a bit overwhelmed by this city's majesty. People can get a bit confused, before getting used to it."
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 7, 2012 17:29:27 GMT -5
Eduard was simply resting and in a bit of a daze when he heard someone greeting him and approaching where he was sitting. He looked up to see who he guessed to be a Frenchman greeting him. He promptly snapped out of whatever reverie he might have been in and sat up. He didn't plan on having anyone stop take any note of him in this large city but sometimes things worked out in ways there were rather unexpected. Of course he had to think about the possibility of such unexpected events taking place. It all came with the territory of traveling so frequently. "Ah.. Hello. I guess you could say I have been a bit. Still it's been a bit of long day for me admittedly. It's a lot to take in really, but it's great." He responded in kind a bit nervous but grinning slightly. He made sure that he didn't look too sloppy and opted to smooth out his fairly recent coat that he was wearing to keep himself together in the middle of all of this. The Estonian hoped that he wouldn't present himself as too foolish in the presence of someone but he knew that he wasn't that lucky sometimes when it came to interacting with people on the whole. He thought inwardly, "Keep it together..it's not a big deal here."
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 8, 2012 16:25:18 GMT -5
Francis smiled sincerely. The boy seemed surprised that someone had stopped to talk to him - and Francis knew most people didn't look twice at who they met in the street. But still, this made him more convinced that the guy would use some company.
"I hope it was long but in the good sense of the word." he said, coming closer. The boy looked fine - a bit serious, maybe, with those glasses and that unusual haircut, but handsome overall. Then again, how old was he? Francis chuckled, sitting on the bench next to him, remembering too late that he should have asked first. "Hope you don't mind if I sit." he said, when he was already well placed on the bench.
"Soooo... have you been here for long? You don't see many foreigners here on their own if they're just visiting the city." he said. True enough, most people wandered in groups and small herds, as Francis liked to qualify them. The blond boy there seemed a bit different. He stopped talking and waited for the other to answer him. He looked a bit nervous, and Francis didn't want to scare him away or anything. He had been mistaken for a random pervert in the past (especially by British people! What on earth had he done to the British, ah?), and he didn't really want this to happen today.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 8, 2012 18:53:38 GMT -5
Eduard grinned in return at the other man, he really hadn't expected someone to be friendly to him here but definitely appreciated it nonetheless. "Indeed it was a very enjoyable day for its' length at the very least." He said nodding slightly. "No I don't mind at all if you sit," the Estonian said good-naturedly. There seemed to be a bit to say at once in conversing with the Frenchman, but he didn't much mind having to keep up with talking..He paused to relax a little for a moment before answering the Frenchman's question. "Hm, I have been here since quite early this morning trying to stop by plenty of places that I'd wanted to see and I managed to get to quite a few of them," Eduard was a bit glad that he had managed to find all of the places that were on his list to see in the city. He knew that he hadn't much time to go everywhere but ..he had somehow accomplished it. Researching locations and directions in advance really did have its' benefits. "Hmm I might as well introduce myself. I'm Eduard Von Bock, nice to meet you." If he was going to keep company with the other man, he thought it would be prudent to let him know who he was.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 15, 2012 17:46:39 GMT -5
Francis nodded. "Well, seeing Paris takes time, but it looks like you can manage it well!" With that hair and glasses, the boy looked like the kind of guy who could actually make a good plan and stick to it easily. "Although I guess you must be a bit tired. I can imagine how it must feel to spend the whole morning walking from one beauty to the next, here in this city."
He actually did not only imagine that, he remember how it felt like. The first time his mom had brought him to see Paris, he had been so eager to see everything (the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the gardens) that she could barely refrain him from running away on his own. Only the breathtaking view from the top of the Tower had managed to keep him quiet for a while, that time. Yes, Paris knew how to win its visitors' hearts.
"I'm Francis Bonnefoy, nice to meet you too!" Francis stretched out his hand to shake Eduard's, as he smiled brightly. "I'm not sure I can guess where you are from, from your name only." The family name sounded a bit German, maybe, but the accent wasn't German at all.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 15, 2012 19:54:45 GMT -5
Eduard nodded appreciatively,"Hmm thanks." He really did think it was nice of the other man to recognize that he was capable of navigating fairly well. The Estonian also agreed with the Frenchman's assessment of being tired. He sighed slightly before responding. "Indeed, I must say it is tiring but definitely worth the adventure of going to all the different places and some unexpected destinations as well." He thought back to the few times where he had found hidden gems within the city that weren't popular with tourists and talking a bit there. It was a rather interesting experience.
Eduard politely accepted the offer to shake the other man's hand and did so normally. He grinned back in return. "It's understandable. It's not really much of a traditional name where I'm from, which is Estonia by the way." He said calmly, though he was readying himself to have to explain where exactly Estonia was and why it definitely wasn't just some imaginary country. There was a reason for him always preparing the explanation, after all in most of the places he would likely be heading to, folks will likely not have even heard of Estonia. Even if they were from Europe. Which was really a shame and inconvenient. Since one, he loves it a lot and two, it deserves a lot more credit than it gets. But that's really another matter that he shouldn't be thinking about right now. He had contacts to make after all.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 18, 2012 15:44:40 GMT -5
"Oh-oh." Francis chuckled. "I think you're actually the first Estonian I have the pleasure to meet." No, he couldn't recall having known anyone else from Estonia, not that he was aware of. "You know, there is a reason I like talking to all the strangers I see wandering here in Paris, and it's the fact that when you meet someone from another country and you get to talk with them, it's like you were travelling too, if that makes any sense." he chuckled again. He could guess that poor Eduard was probably wondering what kind of bad luck had brought that French lunatic to his bench.
"So, anyway." Francis tried to get back to a more serious expression, but he couldn't help to be amused - at himself, more than anything else "What have you seen so far? If you don't have a guide and you're free, I'd love to show you a few places in the city that are unknown to most maps... oh. Have you eaten yet?" It was well past lunch time, now, but Francis knew people had different eating habits and the boy could as well have been discouraged by the prices in the restaurants in the tourist area.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 18, 2012 17:07:07 GMT -5
Eduard considered raising an eyebrow at the mention of being the first Estonian that Francis had met, but then remembered, pretty small country in comparison to France. Small population in comparison to cities even. Had to keep that in mind. "That does sort of make sense..," he replied good-naturedly a bit confused but mostly following what the Frenchman was saying. "I've seen most of the major attractions, and some unexpected things, however if you could show me some hidden things, I'd be glad to go along..And no, no I hadn't." He admitted sheepishly rubbing the back of his head with a small shy grin. He couldn't help but forget about the time and not to mention he hadn't really seen any of the tourist restaurants that he would be remotely interested in eating at. They had all seemed so..ordinary, almost cliche even. But that was something he shouldn't mention to much of anyone if they wanted to enjoy the area anyways.
He wondered if the other man would be willing to show him somewhere he knew was a good place to eat. But there was no big expectation on his part regarding that.Didn't want to trouble Francis after all..though the other had bothered to talk to him in the first place, who knew where this could be going.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 20, 2012 16:45:01 GMT -5
Francis grinned. "Well I guess you've already seen the tour Eiffel. But if you haven't climbed it yet, I'd definitely recommend you go there in the night. You know, they turn it on like a giant Christmas tree." he said "It's funny." he added, realizing that if he was going to go on with all the thing the boy could see in Paris and when he would have best visited them, he would definitely sound like a boring tourist guide, and he didn't want that.
"But if you haven't eaten yet, then we should definitely go in search for a place where you can fill you belly. Eyes and legs will work better when you're not starving!" he said wisely, suddenly jumping off the bench and standing again. He stretched lightly, almost as if they had been sitting there for way longer than what it had been - five minutes? Ten, maybe? - and combed one strand of hair behind his ear. "So, let's go! I have one tiny place in mind which isn't too far from here! And to be honest, I'm quite hungry too." He had woken up late that day, and since his kitchen was almost empty of food his breakfast hadn't been particularly rich. He had gone out with the intention of grocery shopping, but a lunch out sounded better, admittedly.
Francis waited for Eduard to stand up as well and then started walking along the road, at a relaxed pace but knowing exactly where to go.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 20, 2012 18:29:38 GMT -5
Eduard nodded slightly while he listened to the suggestion to go the Eiffel tower at night and climb it. Maybe he would have to do that later on, that would be a very nice sight to see after all. "Hmm that is true," the Estonian agreed before getting up off of the bench himself and stretching ever so slightly. Sitting like that could cause his limbs to be a little stiff though he was perfectly well otherwise. "Very good then."He smiled at the thought of being shown to a smaller place. Another part of his travel adventures. Interesting. Very much so. Eduard walked alongside Francis quietly sometimes looking briefly at whatever was going on but usually keeping his mind on where the pair were going.He really didn't expect to meet someone who would be willing to show him around. Some people really tend to have some kind of distaste for tourists, he had seen firsthand through observation. Though he was certainly sure that not everyone was like that, clearly as was dealing with Francis being a very good example of a possible exception. He was enjoying himself in this place and didn't regret coming here whatsoever though he had been reminded of his earlier apprehensions about visiting for the shows though somewhat unrelated to his job.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 22, 2012 17:42:18 GMT -5
The place Francis had in mind wasn't far from where he had met Eduard. They walked for a while in silence among the people who crowded the roads in the more touristic part of the neighborhood, but they suddenly disappeared as the two turned into a few quieter streets, and eventually ended up in a part that looked as if it was forgotten by the crowds of tourists, but that wasn't any less beautiful.
"It's amazing how everyone follows the others on the main road and forgets to explore the smaller ones that are just behind the corner." he said waving his hand around. "But! Better for us~" And indeed this was better for anyone who lived there.
Eventually, they reached the place that Francis wanted. It was a very small restaurant hidden in a tiny paved yard. The wooden, tick door and the shape of the windows on the white wall reminded of those old inns where the middle-age travelers stopped for a meal and for the night - although the big sticker with all the types of credit cards accepted showed that they were clearly not in the middle-age. There were a few tables outside, but they were all empty.
"Would you like to sit outside? I think most would prefer to site inside since it's not exactly hot now, but well... you're my guest, so it's your choice~" he said simply.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 22, 2012 18:02:29 GMT -5
Eduard walked alongside Francis noticing the increasing lack of tourists in the streets that they were walking through. And admittedly, he much preferred this type of area greatly One could more appropriately take in the beauty of the city while not being to concerned about being shoved. Or disrupted by the presence of obnoxious travelers. Or by anything that would easily irritate the traveler interested in the less frequented areas of great cities. There were many such potential annoyances after all which made Eduard really and truly appreciative of the current quiet that was this area
"It is rather strange how that is," he agreed with the Frenchman."I would definitely agree," he added with a slight grin, appreciative of all the quiet around him.
Arriving at the restaurant, the Estonian looked at the restaurant which he thought looked rather comfy in it's small size. "I think sitting outside would be quite good." He answered simply, compared to some of the weather closer to his place, this was downright warm and comfortable.
|
|
|
Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Mar 23, 2012 19:25:07 GMT -5
Francis nodded. "Sounds perfect to me!" For some reason, he had expected that the boy would choose to sit outside. After all, Estonia had to be way colder than France and Paris, and he was probably enjoying the good weather. He guided his guest to one of the tables in the yard, gesturing his to take a seat and then sitting in front of him. A waiter spotted them immediately and hurried to bring them a couple of menus.
Francis didn't bother to look at the list of dishes - he already knew what was on there. "I would go for their omelettes with mushrooms, if you like them. They're really special!" he recommended. If the boy was new to French food, omelettes were an excellent start. "And I also recommend that you try some of the wine they've got here!" Well, if the boy was old enough to travel on his own, he had to be old enough for drinking wine too, right? Wine was as important as food in France, if not more. "I hope you don't mind wine, but I believe that any tourist who has the chance to taste some real French wine has to take advantage of it." he explained. Useless to say, wine was one of Francis' greatest passions.
|
|
|
Post by Eduard Von Bock on Mar 23, 2012 20:49:31 GMT -5
Having been guided to one of the tables in the yard, made himself as comfortable as he could while waiting for the menus. He briefly started to peruse the menu, looking for something that he thought would be good. But this was France, nearly everything was likely to be delicious in some fashion. So many difficult choices.
This was about the time he remembered that he was lucky enough to have Francis around to help make a decision. He listened to his mention of omelettes with mushrooms. He did like mushrooms..and an omelette did sound rather tasty right around now.He nodded with a grin."That sounds really great, I think I will have the omelette with mushrooms.." Eduard said glad to have come to a decision which would have taken forever otherwise.
"Wine you say..? That would be a really good idea as well wouldn't it? It couldn't hurt at all to have some accompanying the meal after all," he said. He was fairly open-minded about drinks and didn't mind a good wine with food.He was definitely appreciating Francis guiding him in regards to this. Not like he wasn't capable of making a choice on his own, he was. But the other's suggestion made the process a little less cumbersome.
|
|