ɱɑʀiɛ (coveted) wrote in summerview, @ 2019-02-11 16:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, ethan montgomery garland, zmarie roque |
i'm often asked what i do for a living
Who: Marie & Ethan
What: n00b checks out the spiciest restaurant on the island~
When: Recently?
Where: Boudin
Rating: Low!
Status: Complete
Given that Ethan and Elliot were not attached at the hip it meant the elder was able to explore the town of Summerview, wanting to get a good feel of the land before he landed on Jayati to remind her of times long since gone. It would either go very well or very badly but only time would tell, Ethan tended not to worry about things too far in advance. He’d so far familiarised himself with several of the Summerview establishments but curiosity had his booted feet carrying him over the threshold of Boudin as he’d heard from a few locals that it was the place to go to eat if you wanted something spicy. Ethan liked spicy, in more ways than one. Ethan swept the restaurant with his blue gaze before he secured himself a seat and reached for the menu. It wasn’t like he actually required food but appearances were important even in a place like Summerview when the chances of being surrounded by others of your kind were better than say anywhere else. He shrugged out of his leather jacket and settled it beside him as he made himself comfortable. “Be with you in a second, bébé,” the hostess called, warm as whiskey and smooth as honey - or actually, because of her clove-smoking habit (and foreign cigarettes in general, vanilla or rose, whichever flavor appealed to her), it was a little more like nails rolled in honey. And Marie was also more than the hostess. She was the head chef and now, tonight, one of the waitresses - that was apparent, given the tray of multiple plates she was juggling. One customer in the corner seemed to have a black hole of an appetite (the sea serpent, from what she knew), so a lot of food was ordered. There was also no doubt it would all be consumed too - this one had been in here before. Then, a few moments later, she was at the table of the newcomer. “Bonjour,” she greeted, pencil pulled from its hiding place behind her ear. Her features were beatific, the result of a succubus recently fed, pastel pink hair swept up into a bun atop her head. And she was wearing a ‘true love’ t-shirt (the ‘true love’ being a depiction of cartoon pizza, of course - seemed pretty accurate, non?) with a pocketed apron over that, the kind wait staff tended to sport. Her boots were worn-in and comfy, with leggings tucked into them. It was a casual outfit for a casual restaurant - no bow ties or tuxedos here. “What can I get you to start off with, handsome?” Ethan's gaze lifted to the pretty almost otherworldly beauty with the light pink hair and he angled his head as he instantly identified one of his own kind. He'd known that there were others like him in Summerview but he hadn't expected to run into one so soon. Still, good to know. "Well, I'm new in town," he shared with a slow distinct drawl that sounded a lot like his voice had been dipped in honey and could definitely trap you if you weren't careful. "What would you recommend?" Marie almost did a double take. She hadn’t encountered an incubus in a very long time - but she could tell that she’d just stumbled across one now, and it was almost...a relief? Which was strange. She didn’t know why she felt that way. Perhaps because she didn’t want to have to explain what she was. Didn’t want to attempt to convey how much she hated it sometimes. Didn’t want it to keep being a hindrance most of her life, and helpful when she needed to take her place as queen upon the chess board and play spy games. “So you are,” she hummed thoughtfully, rosy red mouth tilting upward in a welcoming smile. “I have not seen you before, so bienvenue. You like spicy food and drink, I hope? The shrimp Étouffée is very good, as is the alligator gumbo. If you want a little pick-me-up as an apéritif, to set your mouth on fire, I recommend the Cajun margarita. It’s one of my favorites.” The Café Brulot Diabolique was another favorite and, literally, coffee on fire. That was usually an after-dinner thing, or breakfast. But no judgment if someone ordered it any other time of day. People with good taste were always appreciated. Incubi it would seem were rarer than Ethan might think them to be, he normally ran across Succubi more than he did his fellow Incubi. Not that he was complaining as it meant he had a much more of an interesting playing field. He wasn’t ashamed of what he was and he definitely didn’t shy away from his true nature but he knew a thing or two about playing the long game. “Oh most definitely,” he agreed readily. “The spicier the better.” He did like something with a bite to it, it kept things interesting. Probably why he and Elliot got along so well, she was nothing if not a wolf with a bite fiercer than her bark. “I’ll go for the shrimp Étouffée and the Café Brulot Diabolique.” Both sounded good. “Good choice,” Marie nodded, marking the order down. “I’ll be right back with that coffee. And a water,” she winked, because certainly he’d need one. Or two. Perhaps she just wanted to engage in a bit of chatter with the newcomer, but she didn’t let any of the wait staff or bartenders handle the coffee cocktail - no, she’d do it herself instead. Hence why, after she got the Étouffée going, she wheeled out the cart with all the necessities to perform a bit of magic. A few bottles, elaborate bowls (fireproof ones), and of course the blue flame. Just sit back and relax, mon cher. “So where are you from?” she asked, beginning to combine the ingredients for the drink. “Someplace...southern?” His accent had that twang to it, a pleasant one. Oh, he fully intended on sitting back and relaxing, watching the Succubus work. Long defined fingers slipped into the dark strands of long hair as he tipped his head to regard her as she went about making up the drink. “Oh you know how it goes,” Ethan shared as he smirked. “Here, there, everywhere. Though home will always be North Carolina.” Her accent suggested to him that she was also a long ways away from home, New Orleans to be exact, especially as the restaurant felt very much like you were stepping out of Summerview and into another place entirely. He shifted to lean forward on the table, fingers interlinking as he continued to watch her closely. “I’m guessing you’re from New Orleans?” “Oui, good guess,” Marie chuckled - because, what, was it obvious? Given the strange version of French she spoke, the way her words were caressed by the bayou, or her restaurant in general with its Cajun theme? A little piece of her homeland was firmly planted within her barbed wire heart, and it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “I have been here a few months. Moved from the French Quarter - it wasn’t exactly working out for me there anymore. And...restlessness, you understand? Hm?” Succubi and incubi tended to leave home early - and Marie fit that trait of the species. She loved her parents, but she didn’t want to keep struggling, never seeming to find her footing after Katrina like they did. So she moved on. The alcohol was added and then lit aflame - with grace and ease, she ladled the fiery mixture into the demitasse cup; the flames would burn out eventually, leaving something strong behind. “Enjoy, mon cher.” “Well, I had a lot of help,” Ethan admitted as he gestured to the restaurant before he collected his drink to take a cursory sniff. It did in fact smell very strong and spicy, just the way Ethan liked it. He’d been a pirate king after all and the alcohol he’d consumed during that time period would have killed a lesser man so bottoms up. It was everything he expected it to be and more and his appreciation was clear in how he let out a slow breath and his eyes widened ever so slightly. “Mm, that’s- That definitely hits the spot.” Elliot would probably enjoy it as well. Marie smiled, slyness and a touch of pride. “I’m pretty good at that. Hitting the spot,” she clarified, collecting the bowls and capping the bottles on her little liquor delivery cart of deliciousness. A bit of a dirty quip, but why not toot her own horn a little. “I’ll be right back with that Étouffée, cher,” she promised, leaving him to have a mouthgasm with the boozy coffee. It was strong coffee too, black, and the spiciness to it mostly came from cloves. “I’m Marie,” she added, with a glance over her shoulder before wheeling off. “Enchanté.” Ethan snorted quietly at the dirty joke and he offered a sly smile of his own in return. “I think that is something we have in common.” He tipped what remained of the drink down his throat and hissed out slowly, wondering if it was normal to want for a cigarette after finishing it. Marie? Ethan filed the name away for mental recall later. “Ethan,” he called over his shoulder with a devilish smile. “Pleasure.” Marie returned with the order of Étouffée; it meant ‘smothered’ in French, and that’s what it was - shrimp with that dark, delicious roux over rice, the Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking prominent flavors (celery, onion, peppers) along with a healthy dose of spice. Mostly garlic and hot sauce, but there were other kinds available on the table as well. If one was feeling particularly adventurous. “Nice to meet you, Ethan,” she set down the dish (and a glass of ice water - he might need that). “There’s some Slap Ya Mama if you want,” a nod toward the few bottles on the side of the table - all Louisiana brands, Crystal and Frog Bone among the selections. “Some people like to really go for the cleansing effect.” Sinuses or bowels? Perhaps both? There was a reason one brand of hot sauce that she knew of was called Butt Burner, but anyway. “If you need anything else, please let me know.” Ethan glanced at the bottles before he reached out to sort through them as he determined whether or not he wanted to partake or do things in moderation. Of course doing things in moderation wasn’t exactly his strong suit. He was an Incubus after all and he thoroughly enjoyed pushing the envelope. “Company never goes amiss,” he shared as he picked up a fork and began to dig into the food placed in front of him. Each bite did feel as though his mouth was being set alight and he hadn’t had this much fun with food in a very long time. Summerview was just full of surprises. “Company I can do. I own the place, so why not?” she teased jovially, settling at the table. The kitchen wouldn’t burn down if she sat for a few minutes - the various dishes warming and roasting and simmering back there would be fine; she had a mental catalogue of everything going on. Marie tucked one knee over the other, toes flexing in her boots. Tonight, when she returned home well past the witching hour, it might be a good time for a hot bath. She needed a soak to soothe her muscles and something to rejuvenate her spirits. “So what brings you to Summerview?” she asked. “It’s not quite as exciting a sanctuary city as the others.” There had been such an influx of newcomers lately too, it was quite intriguing. “Curiosity,” was the answer that Ethan gave. He knew better than to broadcast his true intentions especially when in unfamiliar company. She might be a Succubus but that didn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things. She had her loyalties the same way Ethan had his own. “High population of supernaturals, seemed like an interesting place to come and see what all the fuss is about.” He took another forkful of the food. “And you?” That seemed like a good answer, nice and textbook. Marie wondered how much of it was true - she couldn’t swipe her thumb over his cheek and persuade him to elaborate though; not that she knew for certain, but she had a feeling that since they were the same sect of demon, their ‘extras’ would cancel each other out. Getting to know someone the old-fashioned way. What fun that was, hm? But Ethan was pleasant to look at and so far, made for good company. There was no reason why she shouldn’t get to know him. “My time on Bourbon Street had come to a close,” she shrugged. “I was doing tarot readings and looking into crystal balls for tourists. Frivolous shit. It was not what I really wanted to do. So I came here, to make sure this little island had a spicy food option.” And so far, she hadn’t regretted her decision. There were good times and bad, good and bad people, but she was used to staying strong and not going down without a fight. She was used to having to be resilient. “I can relate,” Ethan agreed with a smirk. He knew too well how for creatures such as them that change was important or things became stagnant and if you were the sort to let people close then they started to ask questions which were not easy to answer. “So, having your own restaurant is what you really wanted to do?” If so it was a fairly simple desire, one that he could not relate to. He was always thinking big picture and prided himself on being several steps ahead of everybody else. “For the most part, yes. The restaurant my parents had was our whole life, until Katrina washed it away,” Marie said. “They never got back into the business after that so I wanted to carry on the tradition of sharing Cajun and Creole recipes with everyone.” It was also something that she could share, where it didn’t have anything to do with her succubus tendencies - didn’t have anything to do with worrying about where her next meal would come from, about how she had to make sure it lasted. Focusing on her food helped sway the focus from how starkly lonely she felt. “And what is it that you do, monsieur?” she asked, watching with gingery eyes, re-crossing her legs and folding slender fingers together to lock on her knees. “A bit of everything,” Ethan answered with a smirk. “I mean live as long as I have and after a while you’re very much a jack of all trades.” Master of none but that particular comment didn’t leave his lips. “Right now however I’m just enjoying familiarising myself with Summerview.” In more ways than one. He rarely worried about where his next meal would come from, mostly due to the fact he had Elliot and she had no issues with making sure he was well fed. He was fortunate that way but then he had earned her trust and more importantly her respect. “Admittedly I’ve never had a passion that would have me opening my own restaurant.” “Well, I suppose it’s not for everyone. If we all had passion for the same things that would be boring, non?” Marie replied, with an amused twinkle there in her gaze. She unclasped her fingers and let both feet hit the floor, standing up. Because she had to return to work, sadly - she ran the place, yes, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be seen by other employees and patrons as slacking off, or not pulling her weight. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked, gesturing toward Ethan’s plate. “I’m just fine as I am,” Ethan assured her as he lifted the drink to his lips and took a further sip. “Don’t let me keep you though this has been… fun, hopefully we’ll get a chance to talk again. Maybe in different surroundings.” The drink placed down, a hand reached out and caught Marie’s before Ethan dropped a featherlight kiss to her knuckles and simply smiled. "Jusqu'à la prochaine fois." |