Welcome to Gaia! ::

Standing in front of his small shop, he pulled out the key and started to unlock the door. That familiar tired feeling came over him. It kept happening every time he went to enter his store and a few customers had mentioned it wondering if the building had been haunted. Flicking on the lights, he roamed the store and looked over all the artwork and old trinkets that he had up for sale. Everything had come from his home when he had sold it back home, it gave him a large enough sum of money to move and all his family’s possessions became his inventory. Since everything had been owned by the Gastinne’s it was easier to import than other antiques or paintings. Everything had its own paperwork so there would be no shady dealings if he could manage.

Leaning against the counter, he yawned and took a seat on his stool. Laying his head on the counter for a moment, he decided to close his eyes to get a little bit of rest while he pondered over things. That blonde hadn’t shown up the day before and it was a bit sad. He couldn’t stop thinking about how their face was a work of art and, now that nobody was around to see him, he thought he might like to see if he could make a mess of that artwork. He’d gotten tired of the usual men and women he’d met since he’d moved here, all interested in the fact he was a foreigner but not even having any substance to them. Boring, unoriginal, and as he really thought about it, how very American. But there was something hiding behind that doll-like face from the museum, something he wanted very much to know more about. There was substance there, a story untold and maybe a bit sad?

He’d finished the small painting and kept it behind the counter along with all the others he’d done, where he could view them as he pleased and continue to formulate stories for each frozen moment in time. He loved stories of all types but especially the sad ones, it felt close to home and something he could relate to, if only a little.

He’d heard the bell ding as someone entered his shop but it took a moment for him to see them over the taller pieces of furniture. Sitting up, he saw Alexandre and nodded back. “Good morning, I was wondering when you’d stop in.” Pushing his hair back out of his face, he got up and wandered through things towards them. “Thank you, I am still getting things organized as more arrives at the airport. I feel the customs agent has grown tired of my face though I feel like she is getting closer to pronouncing my name right.” Laughing a bit he leaned against one of the small tablets that held a few odds and ends.

“Smells good, is that from a cafe nearby or home-brewed?” He’d been trying out a few local places but most of them used beans that were roasted too darkly or ended up not pulling the espresso properly. Time after time he’d just thrown the cup into the trash before even leaving the cafe. It was a waste but he really hated burnt espresso. At some point, he might get a machine for his place, once he decided if he was staying or not. It was a month-to-month affair for now as he explored the city and tried to make heads or tails of the poorly designed roads.

“Ah it’s not my first name but my last, you may have seen it on the sign in the window as it is part of the name of my shop.” It would be fine to point it out, he’d dropped the other last name to keep things lower profile. He didn’t like the curious looks he got when people asked if he was in the business of dealing with arms. That had come and gone long before his parents or grandparents had been around. “I think I prefer your full and proper name, it has an elegance to it that I don’t really get from most I meet here.” Now that he was standing, he found it a bit amusing how he had to crane his neck down a bit or lean and slouch to be at eye level with them. Very much like one of the bisque dolls he’d seen in the store windows growing up.

“Oh is it far from here? I don’t drive but I have made it a habit to run and carve out some new routes between the places I visit in the city.” He would drive if he could but he didn’t have the proper paperwork to get his car freighted over nor did he have the papers to get a driver’s license here for at least another six months. It was the downside of the Visa he’d chosen, that waiting period as the government here figured out if he was a legitimate business owner. It would have been easy to marry someone but he really hadn’t known anyone in the United States. It would be better if he found someone who worked instead of going through the motions to get paperwork and staying together long enough for his green card to arrive. It had been something he’d been told about by some of the people he knew back home, the ones who had much tighter pursestrings and lower standards.

“Maybe you can show me where it is some time? For some odd reason, I find myself tired when opening up shop and even more so when leaving. People have wondered if this building is haunted and I may start to believe them. On an especially cold night, I nearly passed out trying to fumble with my keys, it was very odd. I wondered if it was a gas leak or something? Do you know about anything odd like that going on?”

“Maybe that wasn’t the right word to say, I am still getting used to some things in English. Unique maybe? But I like it either way.” He nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest. A small fleur de Lis tattoo peaked out from his shifting sleeve. The next bit that they spoke of made him pause as he wondered what way they had meant it. Taking or giving a last name usually meant marriage which would be convenient but at the same time, it could also just be a saying of sorts. Either way, he mulled the idea over and could picture it a bit. He was picky at times but he’d give most people a try even if he never committed really.

“An English name ah that makes sense from what you said in the museum. I feel like I may have heard it before, do you have family abroad? I care very little for my last name but how scandalous you would offer yours to a poor immigrant you just met.” Leaning down and in close, he looked into their eyes. “Maybe I will take that and more? Though I prefer to give.” Dropping back into French, he teased out the words slowly as he lingered closer for a moment. Lifting a hand to brush a strand of their hair out of their face. Those blue eyes reminded him of a summer storm, a stark contrast to his own muddled greenish-brown eyes.

Exhaling and leaning back slowly, he switched back to English as he continued answering their questions. He’d let that whiplash play out and see how they reacted. He knew that he was right about playing on both fields but he also knew here in America some of that was frowned upon. Love was love and he’d get a taste here and there of whatever he could until he was satisfied.

“I own a car but can’t bring it in until I have a license for this country but I can’t get my license until my store has been open and I have proved my business is legitimate. Another six months or so unless something comes up. I could hang myself with the red tape from the bureaucracy of this country. There are faster ways but they are for those who have ties to someone from this country already.” That commitment was something he wasn’t quite ready to jump into though, at least not unless he found the right person because running away after getting his papers was too cliche and dirty.

“I will do my best, I just worry with the snow and ice that I may end up like that man from the end of The Shining.” Miming a shiver he settled back down and against the table he had started by.

It had been an idea but the weight of his name had seemed too difficult to wipe away without a better reason. He had an odd relationship with the past of his family but the name held a place in society he could use and continue to reap the benefits of at times. Some ties were harder to cut but that was neither here nor there. “Ah, maybe I was mistaken then about that.” Tapping his chin, he watched them get a bit flustered from his approach. It was cute and something he wanted to push a bit more maybe in the future. Slowly though maybe, to not scare them away, it would be fun and be a nice change of pace from his usual pursuits.

Noticing the hiccup he smiled a bit as he watched them try to compose themselves. “Not that I mind where I am stuck, there are a lot of new things and people to experience here.” It had been fun so far but that was also because it had been early fall when the weather was still nice. He’d have to order some warmer clothing as the temperature dropped otherwise he might end up with some frostbite over the winter.

“I will just have to find a way to stay warm then I guess, either by clothing or something else.” He could always find someone to warm his bed even if for a night but otherwise he’d look into some of the suggestions they had mentioned even if some of the routes confused him still. It would take time to get used to but he really had no schedule other than the opening and closing of his shop. Everything else floated by lazily as he picked up what he could and learned a bit of the local slang. “Maybe you could bring me espresso the next time you visit, I am here every day from open to close.” Getting back up, he walked around the shop and towards the counter to grab his bottle of water. “You mentioned you painted, what kind of subjects do you prefer?”

It had been the same for him until earlier this year, things had been tied up with expectations and it left him at a standstill until fate decided to wipe the board clean. “A fickle thing it seems when it comes to family.” He’d take a look into things, maybe they were tied in a similar way he had been. His curiosity grew and with it his desire to see how far things would go. It had been a nice change of pace and maybe he still had a bit of luck on his side when they’d walked up to him the other day.

“I like it anyway, as long as the base is good enough. If the espresso itself is made poorly then no amount of syrup or sugar can mask a burnt taste.” Making a face he thought about how terrible his attempt at Starbucks had gone. It had been a waste of both time and money, everyone was too self-involved to even get a nice conversation in passing. Signs seemed pretty good though that he might get to see this smaller man again, even as he could tell they danced around his flirting. It was fun to watch as he sipped at his water.

“I usually get clothes seasonally and rotate through to new outfits each fashion season though I prefer seeing them on the floor instead.” Another tease because sometimes he couldn’t help himself. Pulling out his smaller book of gouache paintings, he motioned for them to come closer as he flipped through some of the scenes he’d done while wandering the city.

“I prefer to paint people, or at least small scenes. Snippets of a story I can try puzzling out long after the moment in time has passed.” Always coming up with reasons and tales to go with each small painting. They were all a little more illuminated than realism, there was that bit of added glow to things and vibrant or bright colors where they would normally be more subdued. It added more life to even the simplest of scenes, a bit of added wonder he felt.

Things that stayed as people entered and quickly left his life, not that he tried to get people to linger after keeping them up all night. Everything moved along as he stayed at his own pleasantly lazy pace, floating through the days and learning what he could about this city. Anything to pass the time until he could get to living in this country though months felt like an eternity when one was being denied.

Another dodge but he’d expected it and didn’t let it bother him. The comment about writing had gotten him to think for a moment. “I puzzle in moments, I never thought of putting it to paper. Just thinking of things to pass the time. My shop is new and not everyone is interested in antiques, I have noticed there are a lot of people here for school and they don’t tend to buy anything. Not that I mind that, the conversations are good enough as long as nobody tries to steal anything.” Occasionally it led to something more in the back of his shop but it was all transient.

“It takes time but everyone who creates has their own focus and that is what makes the experience unique. I would say maybe Baroque would match my use of contrast of light and shadow but otherwise, I have cherry-picked things over the years. There were many trips to the museum when I was young and I enjoyed seeing many of the traveling exhibits as they made their way around the world.”

Flipping through things absentmindedly he pondered a bit about what other things to speak of. He’d stop pursuing the other avenue for now, at least verbally. They looked young but looks could be deceiving, he knew he was a bit young in the face himself. “Do you attend the university here? Or are you more of a professional?”

“I have been to a few museums here, at least the ones I can walk to but I would like to see others.” That or he might see how far he could walk on the weekend when he wouldn’t be opening up shop. Those were the days he ventured farther and tried to navigate this maze of a city. It was easier to get lost and then try and find his way when there wasn’t a time frame he had to work with.

His eyebrow raised, he wondered at their age now. He’d had thought around 22 or maybe as old as 24 but not old enough to both have been a teacher and now returning for more schooling. “I understand that art is an experience, not something to put a grade to but a teacher? That sounds interesting. Botany has been something I learned in passing while working with older paintings of things. After seeing enough vases I started to wonder if there were any meaning behind the flowers other than their beauty.” He had a few books about the language of flowers, it had been something he’d thought might be useful if he decided to pursue someone after a fling.

“University was a blur for me but if I remember correctly I attended it for the classical art and history even if my leanings are a bit more whimsical than they tried to force us all into. I have and probably always will run a shop though what I have sold has changed over the years, it ran in the family so it is all I know.” Long gone were the arms and bloodshed even if everything he sold had been bought with the money made from those past ventures. It was old money, money that still stuck around even though it ran through his fingers like water through a sieve.