Paris Platform Newspaper Stand

[Laraqua]

Kiosque à Journaux, Paris, 18:30

Theme Song: L'âme des poètes - Charles Trenet

This rather typical Parisian Newspaper Stand holds a variety of different European, and even American!, major newspapers for purchase by those about to board a train. While there will doubtless be a few newspapers available upon the train the selection here is much greater. The newspaper stand also happens to be run by a rather pretty looking woman in a red beret who seems somewhat uneasy by what is surely the usual hustle and bustle of passengers. Perhaps it's the nervous tension that seems to electrify the air - rising from the same topics that are the headlines on the newspaper. War on the continent with Germany can't be good for France at all. Most people who purchase the newspapers take a quick look and then take them with them with little comment which might be because of the stand's position on a busy thoroughfare or because the French are a little unnerved by the possibilities of the future. Much of Europe is still fatigued from the last war, after all.

[jdd2035]

An interesting noise began echoing through the train station. It was a noise that most in this part of the world would only recognize from the rare American film. The noise was rhythmic a chirping bell tone of Cowboy spurs chiming with each step on the train stations deck. His red leather roper boots were faded and looked to be resoled recently the tops of his boots covered by denim jeans a long sleeve shirt tuck in to them and held up by a belt with an intricate brass belt buckle with the image of a spur and lasso engraved on it all covered by a calf length duster coat and red neckerchief tied around his neck. Slung over his shoulder was his knapsack with saddle bags tied by ladigo straps to it. Topping every thing off was a wide brimmed Cowboy hat weather stained and well trained showing years of loyal service and bent down in the front just so.

But the real icing on the cake was when he leaned over to the antsy lady working the News Paper stand and asked in a heavy Texan accent "Yall speak english lady?"

[Laraqua]

"Yes, monsieur," says the woman politely, though her eyes track his body with a mixture of shock and interest evident in her eyes. Her accent is gentle, Parisian, and smooth on the english syllables. "Are you American? You look like an actor! Are you from the Silver Screen? I have American newspaper here but they are not very recent. It takes several days for them to come all this way to gay Paris." She pronounces Paris without the 's'.

[Raziel]

Fernand walks directly to the counter with little regard and speaks in only slightly off french. "Bonjour madam peux j'achète un journal." He seems distracted and keeps feeling for his breast pocket.

French,"Hello madam, can I buy a newspaper?"

[Mr. Handy]

Elena Orloff approaches the newsstand, carrying her valise. She is tall and slender, with black hair descending to her shoulders, and rather pretty. She wears a stylish black dress, with a lightweight blue overcoat. She has a black fur-lined hat on her head, and her hands are covered by white gloves. She checks her wristwatch and nods to herself. There is plenty of time before the train boards. She is surprised to see what appears to be a genuine American cowboy already here.

[Laraqua]

"Oui, monsieur," says the newspaper stand lady, gesturing toward the massive display of newspapers. She gives the newcomer a faint nod before turning her attention once more the cowboy, obviously happy to serve other customers but more interested in what the cowboy has to say for himself.

The collection of newspapers here span Europe and America though the only current newspapers are French and a few British ones. There are newspapers that focus on socialist news, newspapers that focus on financial news, those prided for their foreign correspondants and those that are more salacious with gossip. There are also a variety of magazines though these are predominately French, British and American. There's a few crossword books and Find-a-Words on a little rack not far from her counter.

[Raziel]

Fernand puts the money on the counter and takes a French newspaper and a German one if available. He then checks his watch and head to the cafe.

[jdd2035]

The French accent put a big Texas grin on Johnny's friend, it always fascinated him to no end the diversity of the voices other people had. "Ya know those news reels that come on before the picture show?" He waited a moment for her to figure out what he was talking about "I was on one of them after winning the Mexican Blackbird long distance race in Ne'Mexico. But as far as actin?" Johnny just shook his head to the negative found a classifieds magazine for horses and breeders finding a specific horse in it he showed it to the lady behind the counter "That's my last champion."

Then in the middle of every thing he ask "What's yer name lady?" He was curious and the fact that she was good looking was not lost on him and it gave more of an opportunity to visit a little longer.

The fact that another lady had showed up and seemed to be intrigued by him was not lost on Johnny and he gave a nod and a tip of the hat to Elena Orloff "Howdy Ma'am." Again the big Texas grin on his face.

[Mr. Handy]

Elena smiles at the cowboy and extends a gloved hand. "Howdy to you too," she says in decent enough English with an accent that's hard to place. "Howdy...that must be American for 'how do you do,' correct? My name is Elena Orloff. And you are?"

[jdd2035]

Johnny took Elena's hand in his callused and scarred hands "Well Texan any way. I'm Johnny, Johnny Rheticus. It's nice t' meet ya Ms. Elena." Johnny chuckled heartedly still grinning while he introduced him self "ifen ya don't mind me askin, where are ya from?"

[Mr. Handy]

Elena shakes Johnny's hand with a firm grip. "Oh, all over," says Elena. "I travel a lot. I was born in Russia, but my family had to leave when I was a girl. The Revolution, you see. I've been living in Paris recently, but it is time to move on once again."

[Nero]

Vergil passed by the stand on the way to the bookstore some steps down the platform, but at that time it was empty. Now the stand seemed rather crowded for it's small facade, but a fourth person couldn't hurt.

He weaved through a couple of people and overheard some English conversation that slightly piqued his interest for it's unusual placement on a Paris train platform, though he supposed that Paris was now an international city after all. At that thought he shook his head, he had a slight problem with the beginnings of this new craze of globalization. All the headlines of WAR didn't ease his feelings of anxiousness. He didn't think himself a racist completely, but he wasn't sure.

[jdd2035]

"I hear theres some purty country in Russia 'specially farther east. Wouldn't mind riddin across it either in a race or just ridin." Johnny mentioned as he paid for the horse catalog and for a local news paper in English. He still kind of lingered near the Newspaper stand but since the French girl had gotten a little busy his attention started to focus on the Slavic accented lady. He was still grinning as Slavic accents tended to interest him. As he was still trying to initiate a full conversation he asked "So why are ya gettin on the iron horse?"

As Virgil passed by them Johnny gave a nod to him.

[Nero]

He walked almost to the counter turning to the cowboy? Yes, a cowboy he thought to himself. He noticed a distinct, almost foreign accent that he knew to be cowboy. He had briefly ran into one of these rough and tumble fellows who arrived at MU to be studied by the psychology department after having a run in with something that drove him to the brink of an insanity and coaxed him to jump. Vergil thought, at the time, that the accent had been produced by the insane mind forcing the stereotype of an American folk-hero. Turns out that it wasn't a stereotype.

He stepped back and towards the couple who were chatting.

"I don't mean to interrupt my lady, but this man looks like someone I have been looking for. You don't happen to be a rare book dealer of sorts, do you?"

[Mr. Handy]

'Of course," says Elena, stepping aside for now. While she listens to the two Americans conversing, she buys a copy of the evening edition of one of the French newspapers, reasoning that it would have the most recent news. The front page has an article about today's announcement of the nonaggression pact between the Soviet Union and Germany, which is the reason for all of the fuss.

Her thoughts - keep out unless you are the Keeper or can read minds!,[i]Comrade Stalin,[/i] [b]Elena[/b] thinks, [i]you clever, clever man. I see what you did. By signing the pact, you've guaranteed that England and France will go to war with Germany, and that we will stay out of it. Let them fight each other and weaken each other while you build up your strength and bide your time, choosing the proper moment to strike. Play your cards right and Europe shall be yours.[/i]

[jdd2035]

As the Slavic lady stepped out of the way for the moment he hollered to her "Yall wana get some grub before the train leaves?!"

Johnny then looked up as an apparent city-slicker approached him and his female companion. Giving a nod and a tip of a hat to the gentleman as he approached Johnny extend his hand in greeting and said "Howdy." Then he furrowed his brow at the question "Now stranger I've been asked if I was a lot of thing but never been asked 'bout sellin books." Johnny chuckled "the best I got are a few first editions of Zane Gray and Owen Wister but they're back home in Texas." Johnny shrugged a bit .

[Nero]

He smiled slightly embarrassed. "Then I must beg forgiveness my friend, for I have mistaken your identity for another. Again, if I may be so rude to interject I heard you mention a morsel of food. May I join you and the lady? If she is interested of course."

[Mr. Handy]

"Of course," says Elena. "I'd be delighted to join both of you."

[Nero]

"That is an interesting accent." He offers a hand to the lady and smiles. "I am Vergil."

[Mr. Handy]

Elena shakes his hand with a steady grip. "Pleased to meet you, Vergil," she says. "My name is Elena. My accent, yes. I travel a lot, so it doesn't sound like any one place. And now here I am, traveling again. So, you are interested in rare books? What kind of books do you like?"