InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "tell me do you like?"

Anton von Reiker (germansoldier) wrote in la_vie_rpg,
@ 2008-04-04 21:14:00

Current mood:

uncomfortable

Pardon my French...
Who: Anton ot whomever
Where: Streets of Paris
When: April 04, 1941 - mid afternoon
What: Being a big tourist! And speaking poor French...
Incomplete

Finally! A day off, all to himself, where he could leave the confines of the barracks and the company of his fellow soldiers and wander Paris. They'd been issued some guidebooks to help them around the city, and he really should have brought his with him - but he'd left it behind in his excitement to get out. But how hard could it be to find the wonders of the city? Anton picked a destination that shouldn't be too difficult- he'd go see the famous Eiffel tower. How hard could it be to find a giant iron tower - visible from the skyline? But soon he lost his direction on the streets, and he felt as though the tower was further in the distance instead of closer - so he wasn't doing such a great job.

Feeling somewhat self-conscious about his German army uniform (he was only a private though! Hopefully that wouldn't be too intimidating...) he stopped a passerby, and took out the phrase book he kept in his pocket. His French was dreadful, but he tried, sounding each word out carefully from the printed text in the book.

"Ex-cuse, please. Where is tower of Eiffel?"

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thelittlerose
2008-04-06 06:02 pm UTC (link)

Rosette was merely minding her own business. In fact, she was doing that quite well, having gone to place an order for more of the ivory paper that her clients found attractive for their invitations, along with a more economical white brand that made for an easier burn for her other clients. She - humming to herself an old showtune she must have heard a decade ago - was certainly not expecting to be stopped.

A thrill of fear ran up her spine as she realized that it was a German soldier who had stopped her, but she was careful not to let it show on her face. Relief flooded her when his badly-accented question was made clear to her.

"The other way from this road," she told him, keeping her voice calm and cool out of sheer force of will. Pointing up the road, her tone was near to chiding. Oh, she was tempting fate again. "Up there for a long while, and then if you turn at the Cafe to the left-side, you'll find it in no time."

Which was good, because that was about as fast as she wanted out of this conversation. She knew objectively that not all German soldiers were bad, but it was quite another thing entirely when they were the ones occupying your home.

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germansoldier
2008-04-06 08:13 pm UTC (link)

Anton tried to parse that, but he wasn't sure he understood. He furrowed his brow in concentration, repeating the words to himself.

"Up -" He looked up, wondering how that helped anything. Gray sky, a few clouds. "...left?" He looked towards the left, to the building that was right there on the street, a butcher.

Maybe she thought he wanted something to eat? Did he get the words wrong? "No, no food... the... big... thing..."

He pointed down at the book, which in addition to the phrase, showed a drawing of the Eiffel tower. "To go here, please. You help?"

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ginou
2008-04-10 09:13 pm UTC (link)

Ginou stood in the queue for the grocery store, trying not to listen to the conversation. She hadn't visited the Tour Eiffel yet either, having chosen the practical option of finding work as soon as she arrived in Paris - and then being far too tired on her days off to do anything but rest! And now, with the baby taking up so much of her time yet unemployed..

Her feet itched to follow the young Nazi. Once he figured out which direction to take, that is. Or perhaps she should simply follow the woman's instructions, since they were easily understood if one only spoke the language. It was pretty funny to hear the woman talking to the invader like he was a silly little boy.

The woman behind prodded her back. "Shove up. Queue's moved."

"Of course, madame. Excusez-moi, je te prie."

Rations first, if there were any left, then sightseeing, if there was time, Ginou promised herself.

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germansoldier
2008-04-12 09:22 pm UTC (link)

Anton happened to glance up from his discussion of directions, and noticed a girl in the grocery line looking back at him.

He excused himself from the first conversation and headed towards the grocery store, hoping that he could perhaps get clearer directions from the lady who'd looked his way.

"You - line lady, please - can you help?" He gave her a hopeful smile, and pointed to the picture in the book. "I want to see..."

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ginou
2008-04-20 01:01 pm UTC (link)

Ginou gulped, looked down at the pavement, then back again. He really had been addressing her. She could almost sense waves of disapproval, anger and terror rolling from her fellow countrywomen. If she helped him, even on such a simple matter, would that make her a collaborator? Her stifled giggles of a moment ago were long gone.

"It's down that road, then turn left at the café and keep going," she parroted at speed, pointing over his shoulder as she bit her lip.

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	germansoldier 2008-04-22 07:18 am UTC (link)
	"Down road.. left.. where?" Anton squinted down the road to see if he could make out where she was speaking of. "Forgive... my French, not so good." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ginou 2008-04-22 10:24 am UTC (link)
	"At least you're trying," she mumbled politely. Some of the invaders simply shouted their questions in German - as if volume would make someone understand! - but in this case it was entirely possible that her country accent was as confusing him as much as the language itself. "Left at the café, that one with the blue chairs. I can't see the name from here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	germansoldier 2008-04-22 10:41 pm UTC (link)
	"Blue... chair?" Anton thought he could make out some blue chairs and umbrella in the distance - the cafe! Of course. "Ah! I see, yes. I turn the left- by blue chair? Then...." He smiled brightly, glad to have understood at least the first part of this. He might make it to see the Eiffel tower today after all! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ginou 2008-04-24 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	"Bon chance, monsieur," Ginou sighed with relief. Perhaps now he would go on his merry way and she could get on with buying substandard lard and berating herself for giggling inappropriately at German soldiers! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	germansoldier 2008-04-24 08:55 pm UTC (link)
	"You are - very nice help, thank you." Anton looked down kind of sheepishly. "I come here, not long - not much French. I am sorry to speak your words so bad." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ginou 2008-04-26 08:09 am UTC (link)
	"No problem." Go away! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	germansoldier 2008-04-28 06:43 am UTC (link)
	"Thank you," Anton said one more time, and then started on his way to follow the directions. He gave a little wave as he departed. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ginou 2008-04-28 11:08 am UTC (link)
	Ginou allowed herself a quick glance at the young man's back as he left. German yes, but polite. As Jan had been.. in the beginning. They all thought themselves superior, deep down, whatever their manners. She felt a bristle of pride that they had nothing like the Tour Eiffel in their precious Fatherland though. Let them all see the beauty that France could create. (Reply to this) (Parent)