Elizabeth DeWitt is on an adventure (oiseau_ou_cage) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-12-04 11:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elizabeth comstock, remy lebeau (gambit) |
Who: Remy and Elizabeth
What: Random meeting at a coffee shop
Where: The Cafe, near the park, where the things keep happening. That Place.
When: Recently
Status: Closed and Complete
Rating: PG-13?
Remy Lebeau was smiling as he stepped into the Cafe. He loved That Place, and the ambiance. It seemed like there were always kicked back and nice people here, and plenty of nice people running it. And it was a good place to work on writing, kicking back, drinking some, and plotting ideas long distance with his editors and partners on the comics he was working on. He loved his job, and the fact that he could telecommute save for once a week meetings and then a further once a month meeting made him grin a lot more. It had taken him a long time to get to this level and he was determined to stay there.
Glancing around, he saw it was about like normal, half-busy, and yet still laid back and with plenty of deserted corners. Good, he had a lot of work to do. He glanced down at his folder and then up to the barista, and ordered an extra-strong peppermint mocha with whipped cream, and some bagels. He was going to need them.
Even so, he did love meeting people, and he chatted with the barista for a moment, asking Carlos about his ailing mother, and telling him about his current projects. Then his items were ready and he started toward a table.
Elizabeth was curious about the people all around her. So many were good looking and she now understood the merit of people watching. She sipped her latte and let her eyes go over the moderate crowd until they fell on one particular man. He was tall, like her father, and he had the most beautiful blue eyes. She didn’t know better than to stare, so she did so openly, her fingers creeping toward her sketchbook. This man would make a wonderful portrait.
Remy was used to some people staring, or noticing him. He wasn’t that famous, but he had a certain fandom. He glanced up as he worked, and peered over at the young lady who was watching him, giving her a grin, with those eyes. “Afternoon, miss.” She was a pretty young lady, and he grinned a little more as he looked down again, checking his notes. This story was definitely going to be a good one.
He had a feeling he would need to send more kudos to his editors again. They were helping up his game considerably. And they deserved a lot of the credit they never got.
Elizabeth took his hello as an invitation to start a conversation. “Hello! I’m Elizabeth, it’s nice to meet you.” She scooted a little closer, so she wouldn’t have to shout as much to be heard. When she saw he was drawing, she became even more interested. “What are you drawing?”
Remy smiled as she spoke, and came closer, waving a hand toward the seat opposite him, as was polite. “I’m Remy LeBeau. Nice to meet you too, madame.” He had a vaguely French accent, having been born in New Orleans and raised in Paris, France before coming back to the states as a teen.
“Some notes and corrections on the issue I’m working on right now.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I’m a comic book writer and artist.”
HIs accent sounded a little like the one on the French records her grandparents had bought her. Elizabeth was immediately more interested in him, and desperate to ask where he came from. “LeBeau? Did you make that up?” She laughed a little, because Remy the Handsome fit him, but nobody was really born named that, right?
“Not at all. I was adopted by Monsieur LeBeau when I was a baby. He raised me from then, along with his wife. Made me an American Citizen, and all.” He grinned at her. “They’re both of French descent, and former diplomats. We lived down in New Orleans among de Cajun.” His voice turned a twisty accent at the end, the Cajun sound twisting words to not quite English, and not quite French, both. Of course, most of this information was a matter of public record, and something Remy had repeated a thousand times in small cons and interviews.
His accent sent a shiver up Elizabeth's spine and her hair rose at the end of it. “You're from New Orleans?” That was interesting. “what's it like there?”She was desperate to hear about places she'd never been. It was almost as good as traveling there herself. She would travel someday, but not before she finished college.
His accent smoothed out again as he replied. “Yes. I lived there long enough to fall in love with it. It’s like no other city, sprawling without seeming spread out, like a army that keeps growing, but is made u-p of people who just want to mind their own business, save at party time.” He chuckled.
“At Mardi Gras, everything changes, and becomes more magical, more… involved. It’s something everyone should experience, at some point.”
Elizabeth smiled as Remy described his hometown. “That sounds really interesting. What brought you out here?” She could honestly listen to him talk for hours, even if he was just reading the phone book.
“I work as a comic book artist and writer, and so Los Angeles is where I make my home, most of the time. I just got high enough in doing things that I can telecommute, and so I moved here and am settling in to relax some and enjoy the area. I have a few friends here who are helping me adjust.” Remy smiled to her.
“That sounds really interesting! I’m an artist too, although I’m not a professional.” She wasn’t sure what she wanted to be when she grew up, but artist was definitely something she was considering. “Welcome to the area, I’m pretty new here myself.”
It was nice to meet a fellow artist, though he heard that a lot, really. “Yeah? What do you do, art wise? I mostly draw, but since starting in comics, I’ve learned inking and coloring as well.” He smiled, canting an eyebrow at her.
“Thank you. What made you move here?”
“I draw and paint.” Elizabeth drew out her sketchpad and showed Remy a picture of a cardinal she’d done in colored pencils. “Color is my favorite, I’m more enthusiastic than skillful at art at the moment.” She smiled shyly. Remy’s last question made Elizabeth’s smile fade, and she sipped her latte before replying. “My grandfather died. Now I live with my father. I’ve only known him for a few weeks.”
“Art is something that grows with effort. And you can get better.” He smiled to her, eyes warm. “You have a good hand at lines and color.” He cocked his head to the side and listened. “I’m sorry. Such a loss and change isn’t easy.”
He gently patted her shoulder. “You’ll grow in art and in this place.”
Elizabeth nodded, wishing she had said less about her reason for being there. “Sorry, I’m habitually honest. It’s probably going to get me in trouble someday.” She giggled a little, hoping he would laugh at her joke. “Thank you for the compliment.”
Remy smiled a little. “Honesty isn’t a bad thing. Not at all.” He grinned at her, eyes dancing. “You’re welcome, chere.” He grinned. She seemed to like some of his habits, and that was no bad thing. He nodded. “Truth telling is an art that has been lost by most people.”
Elizabeth smiled brightly, glad he was willing to change the subject. “I guess that’s just how the world is. It’s sad, though. THink of everything we could get done if people were honest.” WHich wasn’t a great segue, but. . . “I would like your phone number, if that’s okay.”
Remy chuckled. “But then we’d be waiting for that a long time.” He smiled a little shaking his head.
“Somehow, we can find a way to make people healthier, but not more truthful.”
Then he blinked. “Ah, sure.” She seemed harmless, and he had a phone that was just a cell, with no addie, so… He jotted the number down and handed it over.
Elizabeth punched his number into her phone and sent him a text so he would have her number. “Thanks. I’m still getting to know people and I’d like to get coffee with you again, maybe we could each show off our art to each other?” She didn’t carry her best pieces with her, the notebook was more for doodles and rough sketches.
Remy nodded as he received it, then smiled. “Friends are always a good thing, yes.” He nodded again. “I have a small co-op where I work sometimes, a studio of several artists. If you like, we could meet there, and you could meet a few other locals too.” He smiled. “I’ll have to check with them and find out when they’re available, of course.”
“That would be wonderful!” Elizabeth said, smiling brightly. “I’ve never seen a real studio before. I was kind of a shut in before my grandparents died.” To put it mildly. She didn’t like that she was so naive, but there wasn’t much she could do about it.
“Sounds like a weird time, and a rough one to adjust to not being like that. “ Remy smiled and nodded, raising an eyebrow as he settled in fully, putting his items to the side as he waved a hand to order some coffee and danishes.
“What do you do with your time?”
“So far? I draw and talk to people. I’m going to take classes at the college in the fall, so I figure I have that long to just get out and get to know people. Most people have been pretty nice so far, which surprised me. It’s a good surprise, though.” She followed his lead, slipping her sketchpad back into her purse. “One of the things I want to do is get a portfolio ready to maybe get into art school. I need a nude drawing for it.”
Remy nodded him, listening, grinning a little as he settled back, drinking coffee. “Can probably get someone at the art studio to pose for you, or give to a list of names of people they use for poses. I’m new to the area, so I don’t know much, really.”
He waved a hand. “Modeling takes a lot of patience and effort. Closest I ever could come was drawing or inking.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I have to admit I was hoping you’d volunteer. You’re a very handsome man.” She grinned sheepishly, hoping he wouldn’t think she was weird.
“Ah, sorry. I’m not much of a model, and not great at sitting still. “ He chuckled. “If you wanted to see me nude, you could have just asked though. That is a different matter.” His smirk was full and warm, and maybe challenging.
Elizabeth blushed brightly but she didn’t deny her desire. After all, she had more or less blatantly asked to see him naked. “I’m sure it’s a sight worth seeing. I haven’t seen a naked man in person before, but I imagine you’d be an above average man to look at.” It impressed her that she got the whole sentiment out without stammering.
Remy chuckled. “All you had to do was ask. You're a beautiful young woman. I'm pretty sure most guys wouldn't mind being naked with you. Which opens the next question. Will you be naked too?”
Remy was curious what this young woman wanted, and even whether or not she knew for sure.
Elizabeth blushed even brighter and giggled. “it only seems fair.” She had the feeling that she'd lost control of the conversation. Was this really what she wanted? Her grandparents would disprove, but Booker probably wouldn't.
Remy chuckled, then. “Well, then, you figure out when you would like to do this, and we can do it, somewhere private like.” Spending a little time with a naked young beautiful woman? Not a bad thing. “We can talk, eat, show off art, and be naked.”
Elizabeth continued to blush, but she nodded in response to his idea. “Maybe next week? We could get dinner at a nice restaurant beforehand.” At the very least she would get a date out of this.
Remy was amused by this whole thing, but also intrigued. Elizabeth was an odd but attractive young woman. “Sounds about right. Maybe Thursday?” He grinned at her, lopsided-like. “Sounds good. I know a great Mexican place.”
“Mexican sounds good. I've had it a couple times but I bet the place you have in mind will have new things to try.” Trying new things was very exciting. The whole evening would be full of new experiences.
“Good. I like the place. How’s Wednesday sound to you?” It was a good day, usually, and he was generally past his deadline of the week by that day. Speaking of deadlines. “I should get to work. But call me so we can schedule a time, okay?” He nodded to her.
Elizabeth nodded and stood. “have a nice day, Mr. LeBeau.” she gave him a small wave and went to get a cup of coffee to go. What a day!