#anywhere

"Ah, be careful. " A warning, "He has his defenses it is said. I did not test them but I have heard that much"

"I do not mind approaching it openly..." Sigh.

"But would much rather strike a bargain than beg permission."

"Do we need to head back to... home to gather some possible material to trade?" Earl offers her

"I did wish to shop, and I know what I may offer... "

"Ah," Earl says "So, forgive, we shop here first, then go back, or shop then go to the Marquis?"

"Well, if we appear well-off, it may well serve us in negotiations."

"Tell me, Sombre Joie - while we are outsiders, how may we aid your cause?"

"If you see this Cyclops, tell him how important his work has been, tell him to muse others and again to inspire. You seem to know him. He has done much good"

Zara nods. "He does good work."

"Other than that, you flicker flash, Monsieur?" Dark Joy looks over at earl "Perhaps sometime I might ask of you a favor to get an innocent to Concordia. One with an enemy here?"

A look from Earl to Zara

Zara nods. "There are places, documents may be forged."

Earl nods "I can drop by here again to help you with that. I reserve the right to learn more of the 'innocent' . Not all monsters wear crowns and some believe trolls naive. Begging your pardon"

Dark Joy sighs "Who am I to be offended?

"Thank Dark Joy" earl looks at the nwo covered paintings, a frown across his face, but he says no m,ore besides turning to Zara, "Ready to go Shopping my lady?"

Zara extends her hand to the other sluagh. "Seek the white Raven, if you come to Concordia. I shall welcome you to my Library, and we may share tea like two civilized Nightmares."

Dark joy takes it "I shall"

A smile, a bow, and they depart!

Shopping is wonderful, with the neighborhood that they could do so safely in mentioned, Zara is free to go nuts in new garb for herself, and her trueheart!

Of course, the problem that might occur to her later is that her haggling skills might be a bit dimmed as she is less restrained in what she wants, not that she makes foolish purchases, but she's going to burn some plastic

She seems rather willing to - Seelie Zara enjoys the best deal, but Unseelie wants the fast pleasure.

Though trying on lingerie requires feedback before purchase... though some are deemed "surprises" that Earl does not get to preview.

Earl ends up blushing furiously more than once.

But he does give his opinions. Between those and the intensity of the blushes , a few purchses can be interesting

Zara also enjoys dressing Earl up - it's summer, so it runs towards linen and stripes. She seems to be drawing inspiration from the Impressionists.

Earl notices that "Impressiont influence? Well, if you like the look of it" Should she suggest undergarments for HIM, he may hit a new shade of purple

But over all, they have a lovely time. Zara enjoys the feel of this or that material, she was not blind to such before of course, but she rarely allowed herself to luxerate so cavalierly

Casual-cool, somewhat dressy - cuffed linen trousers, lightweight blazers, artfully unbuttoned shirt... yes, she's quite pleased with the result.

Zara, herself, leans witchy. Surprising no-one.

"You look magnificent" Earl tells her quietly

"Thank you, Chasseur."

"Shall we pay our... respects to the gent? Or somewhere else first?" He asks

"We could go, aye."

And he takes her arm in his and moves on . he whispers "Think that 'safe to shop here' not included taxi service or rental cars or the like? "

"I think it worth the risk..."

"A mundane taxi, aye?"

"Knight's heart has spoiled me" he admits "But anything like that here would surely be under noble control" So they get a regular taxi.

As Clem would say 'lord love a duck'

The man is not changeling, but by god he should be! The Driver has a beret, a striped shirt, and smokes, or if asked not to smoke, waves an unlit cigarette in his fingers as if driving with two hands was unnatural. His name, Pierre! He looks a little like the late Robin Williams, like a french nephew might have been.

"Out to the country? Good idea, Paris is terrible," he scoffs "Too many Parisians. They think they are so great, they even snub other French. I ask you? WHere is the Fraternity? Mmm? Still, it IS paris, and if not for the Parisians, it would be the greatest city in the world. "

Earl looks amused as the man talks

Zara, too - happy to nudge him to speaking more. They are, of course, two Canadians on Honeymoon, and enamoured of France!

Pierre explains he has lived in Paris for over 12 years "But I am not a Parisian, too new come you see? I telll you, in a hundred years when I am in my grave, someone will trip over my tombstone in a graveyard in that city, curse at my headstone going 'damn invaders'? That's Parisians for you. Now, the people of Rennes? Quirky, but much nicer. Their crepes are unique..." if they sort through the chatter, they'll actually get some useful facts on how to avoid tourist traps, what areas are unappreciated, and where foreigners are most welcome

Zara is a good listener, and Pierre is a font. He will get a good tip - which might well mark them as Americans, in retrospect.

Possibly!

Earl has to ask, "Pierre, forgive me, but the Beret, the scarf? "

"Oh, that" He says as they pull near the hill "It is what the tourists hope to see? what is in their head. So, I give them what they want in their dreams of Paris. Romance I cannot promise. Adventure? Well that must be searched for on your own. But a silly hat , where is the harm?" A wink "Besides, nothing pisses Parisians off more than happy toursists, so I make the tourists happy and have my revenge. It is Pierre who laughs last, oui? " When he sees tip "Mademselle, so generous. I thank you"

"Well, you have made happy tourists! Stick it to the Parisians."

He makes a V for victory sign, and Earl fights a full smile until he and Zara are aa bit of a distance away "Okay. Is it wrong I want to adopt him and make him our own dreamer buddy?"