theresalwayshope | 32} i hear a melody and automatically, she creeps into my memory...

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32} i hear a melody and automatically, she creeps into my memory...

[PUBLIC VIDEO]

[When the feed clicks on, it's filled with the happiest Allison anyone has ever seen, and a high-pitched squeal of glee.]

WE'RE IN PARIS!

[After the feed jostles with some dancing in place, and a distant, cheery bark from Brownie, Allison manages to compose herself.

Still grinning like an idiot.]

From the looks of it, it's modern, so to all interested parties? I'm not staying on board the ship while we're here. I have family in the city, I'll be looking them up and staying with them. I spent a summer here, so anyone that wants to look for some fun things to do? Hit me up.

...oh, one more thing! I speak fluent French, so buzz me if you want to meet up and need a translator!

[She tosses off a little wave, then shifts off-camera to pick up Duchess and hold her in the camera.]

Say bye bye, ma petite!

[She promptly holds Duchess up in front of her face, and in her squeakiest voice, "Duchess" says...]

Au revoir!

[Beacon Hills Pack]

I'll be staying at the family estate while we're here. You're all welcome there, if you don't want to stay on the Barge. Just let me know so I can tell them how many to expect.

[PRIVATE;Tig Trager]

You know the drill: meet me at my cabin to pick up Dad's gun. If you get into any trouble while you're here, drop my name. And leave me a day open: I want to hang out with both you and Venus, but maybe we could have dinner together one night? Call it father/daughter time.

[PRIVATE;Isaac]

You're staying with me at the family estate.

[PORT SPAM]

[Allison's first stop is the suburbs of Paris, but when she can't locate the estate, a few discreet questions confirm her growing suspicion: nobody's heard of it.

Well...shit.

She heads closer to the city, intent on staying off the Barge until they leave port. With a little quick thinking, fast talking with a local real estate agent, and lock picking, she makes herself at home in a two hundred year old mansion that's still pretty spectacular. She sends a text to the rest of the pack, warning them that they've ended up in a world where the Argents don't exist, and updating them with the new address.

Her first day is spent at the house, getting to know the place and soaking in the quiet. Breakfast on the patio, surveying the city from her bedroom balcony...if anyone does stop by, she welcomes them, but otherwise she just lets herself commune quietly with the city that, deep in the marrow of her bones, feels like home.

For the rest of the trip, she spends most of her time in the city. There's at least a full day devoted to exploring the Louvre, and she makes damn sure she doesn't go alone.

Another day, she shops relentlessly, more likely than not with Lydia and Kira by her side. There are others that come and go, and she's on the spot to offer help with translation when she runs into others that are in need of assistance.

She sees all she can, with whomever she can on this trip. The palace at Versailles is a definite stop, though she avoids the Eiffel Tower for obvious reasons. There are moments, as well, while visiting Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur Basilica, where she actually takes a moment to stop and pray...she even goes so far to take confession at the Basilica, and after she does the bulk of her penance, leaves feeling a lot...cleaner than she did when she entered.

Towards the end of the trip, everyone Allison calls family or friends are invited to her place for a farewell party, where she spends nearly an entire day in the kitchen and shows all of her loved ones from the Barge that Argents can do a lot more than hunt or kill. She dredges up all the best recipes she can possibly remember from watching her mother in the kitchen, along with a few pieces of traditional French cuisine, and puts together a feast to remember, the crowning glory of which is the most decadent chocolate souffle anyone could hope for.

It's a night she'll never forget, and it makes leaving for the ship on her last day that much harder.]

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[Considering she and Stiles were already planning a break from the Barge in Paris, Lydia is both thrilled and a little disappointed. Disappointed because she wanted time away from the Barge. Away from their problems. And time alone with Stiles.

Thrilled because this was meant to be a trip she took with Allison. And because Allison is obviously also very happy to be here and she likes seeing her best friend like that.

So she'll focus on that for now. And-- maybe she and Stiles can find somewhere else to go.]

You remember our plans, right?

How could I forget? [She grins, but after a moment her expression softens.]

We'll take advantage of this trip...but we'll save some stuff to do for next time. You and me, all of France, after I survive Oak Creek and become a werewolf for good.

[Yeah, she was trying not to think about that. But she manages to keep her smile firmly in place.]

Yeah, we will. [And that's just a reminder of why Lydia needs to figure out how to help someone. How to be a good Warden.]

So what do you wanna do?

[Allison doesn't hesitate: lifting her hands, she ticks off her goals on her fingers.]

Shop, Louvre, palace at Versailles, party. Ooh, and a side trip to Béarn if there's time. Henri d'Aramitz was the abbé there after he resigned from the Musketeers. [She smiles and wrinkles her nose sheepishly.] I didn't get to visit last time I was here...Aramitz was my ancestor. He's the guy Dumas based the Musketeer Aramis on.

Of course you'd geek out over the Musketeers.

[Lydia smiles at her then nods. Glad Allison didn't mention the Catacombs. She doubts she'll feel particularly great over there.]

Okay, but we have to make a lot of time for shopping. I desperately need new clothes and shoes. And I plan on restocking on all of my make up.

Edited 2015-05-23 18:58 (UTC)

Shopping was item number one on the list, were you not listening? [She says it with a laugh, fond and playful.] Some of the shopping I did last time was in family-owned stores, but I still know a couple of adorable boutiques we can hit before we just plain go nuts. Trust me, we'll find you dresses, shoes...Lydia, we will even get you into a pair of jeans. I'm not kidding.

Oh, and we're getting our hair done while we're here. There's a salon near the center of the city...

[She trails off, letting out a quiet little squeal.]

Lydia, we're in Paris!

I was listening. But you've been shopping with me, Allison. [She will try every outfit there is. And match the shoes and hats occasionally. And then pick different colors and formulate a new wardrobe right there at the store.]

And I'm not getting jeans. Jeans don't go on my hips. [Nope.] But yes on the hair. And nails.

[And then she allows herself to relax and grin back at her best friends.]

Alors allons jouir! [Then let's enjoy it!]

[Have another squeal, Lydia.]

I have to pack, find my place in Paris--I'm not staying aboard the ship--and I'll meet you this afternoon for lunch and Shopping Installment One?

[Lydia nods, she wants to do some exploring of her own. And maybe find a hotel, too.]

Yep, just let me know where you are and I'll meet you there.

I'll text you soon.

[She grins, cuts an excited little shimmy in her seat, and kills the feed.

Allison has some serious packing to do.]

[ he's still not sure how he feels about her, with the whole werewolf thing. But it seems stupid even to him to hold a grudge against something she cant control and seems to be in control of.]

Enjoy your vacation.

Edited 2015-05-21 14:31 (UTC)

[She's a little surprised to get the text from Vergil, but when she does it makes her smile. Maybe there's hope for them yet, as friends.]

You too, Vergil. Stop by for a visit if you want to hang out! [She adds the address of her "borrowed" mansion for his benefit.

The hand's been offered...she hopes he takes it.]

I may sometime, for right now I am a little busy.

[ It wasn't a flat out no. Progress.]

[The lack of outright refusal does not escape her. She's grinning as she texts him back.]

I'll save you some caramels, just in case you make it. It's not a trip to Paris without caramels.

Maybe.

[ Two days later.]
[ He hated the idea of false hope, and something told him he had given a sparkle of false hope to Allison that he would visit. So, when he woke that morning. ~~(Read as: 2pm.)~~ He had changed into one of his new black and blue suits. Left a note behind in his hotel for those who knew where he was and made one more stop at a bakery, before the taxi he came in stopped outside. As he walked up the driveway, carrying a small box, he sent her another text.]

I am outside, I know I am late.

[Bleu is perfectly capable of getting around Paris on her own, even without money. It's been her base of operations for a long time and although it's changed since she was last there over a hundred years ago she still knows it well. She was revisiting many of her old haunts when she spots Allison in the Louvre and smiles at her.]

Bonjour, ma petite marinière.

Edited (Grammar!) 2015-05-22 11:42 (UTC)

[Allison is moving to a new painting to check out when she hears the familiar voice. Turning, she has to blink for a second, because the last time she saw Bleu...well, she was still blue. She was a lot of fun to shop with in Amsterdam, though, and she seemed to really appreciate Allison helping her find some things that not only fit well, but complimented her skin tone.]

Bleu! Oh mon Dieu...bonjour! Comment allez-vous? [She crosses over to give her a hug in greeting, then takes her hand, admiring the natural skin tone.] You look divine! When did this happen?

[Bleu returns the hug before stepping back and twirling, looking quite stylish -- her skirt, top, and shoes are all from their shopping trip in Amsterdam, although her sunglasses are brand new.]

Merveilleux, naturellement. I managed it a few months ago. Clearly I haven't shown off enough.

What's this you're looking at?

I just got done looking at Da Vinci's John the Baptist. I don't know what I'm gonna look at next. [Her wild, giddy grin melts into something softer.] I'm actually hoping there are a few Rembrandts here...after visiting his house in Amsterdam, it's my way of saying hi. I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time here last time I was in Paris...what are you going to see? Maybe I can tag along!

Da Vinci. [Bleu sighs heavily; that was one who did most of his work without her. The man took literal years to finish his paintings because he was so busy doing everything else. To a certain extent he's the one that got away.] I prefer Rembrandt, and I know there used to be a few of his works here.

I'm going to Montmartre to see how much it's changed.

[Allison perks at the mention of Montmartre. It has no small measure of sightseeing value, but on top of that...]

I was thinking of visiting the Basilica up there. Do you mind if I tag along with you?

Oh, they finally finished that thing?

[Allison's jaw dropped a little at that, but it didn't shock her any more than the kind of things she'd heard Bleu talk about in Amsterdam. They hadn't discussed anything in depth, but she knew Bleu was some kind of muse...and insanely old.

It still knocked her for a loop as she shook herself, then moved closer and lowered her voice with a bemused smile (she couldn't help it, it felt like the kind of thing that you just...treated as a secret, even in a world full of open secrets.).]

You were really here while the Basilica was still being constructed? SeriouslY?

[Bleu looks equally surprised, glancing at Allison with a confused look of her own.]

Sure. They'd only been working on it for, oh, twenty years when I got to the Barge.

[The Basilica hadn't been completed in 1891. But Allison is right; she is insanely old.]

[Allison shakes her head, beaming as she covers her face for a split second to collect herself, then peeks over the tips of her fingers for a moment before letting her hands drop.]

I'm sorry, I just--I come from a world full of werewolves and magic, and that kind of lifespan is just insane to me. I don't know why.

Because humans tend to only focus on what makes sense to them. [She smiles, not meaning any offense.]

You know it was 1891 for me, don't you?

[That makes her eyes go wide as she shakes her head.]

No, I didn't...so wow, the future is a bigger shock to you than the old stuff. That's...current events for you.

[She pauses, then laughs a little, tossing her hair back.]

Now I wish I'd done more than take you shopping in Amsterdam.

Um, I'll...stop by later?

[He wonders distantly if this is their world, if they're going to run into hunters and monsters and shit but - nah, mostly he is thinking about Kira's promise to kidnap him, if that dopey grin is anything to go by.]

[Oh, Allison knows that dopey grin, Scott. She knows it with a wistful sort of fondness, and it makes her smile in return.

She narrows her eyes playfully and points at him through the feed.]

If I see you any sooner than two days from now, I will use every single one of my skills as a hunter to kick your ass. We are in Paris. Everyone better be getting well laid or else I'm gonna riot.

[Oh no, he's blushing. And not making lasting eye contact. And laughing nervously.]

I'm sure, uh, I'm sure everyone's got that on their list. [He still doesn't like thinking of her sleeping with anyone else, but he doesn't get that dropping feeling in his gut when he thinks of her with Isaac anymore, either, so Scott's taking it as a win.]

Anyway, uh, if I don't get a croissant [and he horribly mangles the pronunciation] and like, a whole loaf of French bread at some point, I'm gonna be too disappointed.

[She's mean for poking him on purpose, but she can't help it: he's cute as hell when he's embarrassed. Making him blush and hem and haw will always be fun for her.

She lets him off the hook relatively easily, though, allowing him to change the subject.]

I'll help you get both. Not only do I know a place that makes fantastic chocolate filled croissants [she emphasizes the correct pronunciation], but if I let you order one on your own? They'll treat you like a crass American and probably spit in your coffee or something.

[He grins a little when she corrects his pronunciation, fairly certain he's never going to pull that off.]

Okay, game plan: you order all the food. And do anything that requires, like. Actually knowing French.

I promise, there's only three words and phrases you really need to know.

[Grinning, she ticks them off on her fingers.]

Bonjour, merci, au revoir. That's hello, thank you, and goodbye. Phrases?

Où se trouvent les toilettes? That's 'where's the bathroom?'

Aidez-Moi! That's 'help.'

Finally? Je vous remercie de l'offre, mais je préférerais de beaucoup un steak. It means, 'I appreciate the offer, but I prefer a steak.' In case anyone offers you snails or frog legs.

[He can't help but laugh.]

You know I'm never gonna remember that. Wait, aren't you supposed to tell me frog and snail tastes just like chicken?

Frog actually does kinda taste like chicken! Snails...they taste like bad sushi, without the fish flavor.

Uh, Kira ordered us a pizza after we had sushi.

[So no snails for him, thanks.]

Hey! Bad sushi sucks, but good sushi is amazing! You just need to educate your palette a little. Start with something basic, rolls can be intimidating...like salmon. You know salmon, it's not weird or exotic. You just serve it on sticky rice and...don't cook it.

Her dad made it all, it was probably good, but...

[But it was raw, Allison, how does anyone eat that.]

I hate a whole thing of wasabi. [Grimace.] I thought it was guacamole.

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32} i hear a melody and automatically, she creeps into my memory...

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