Stranger On The Town

[Julien Roux]

Evening was setting in, the air was thick with night sky, and every pub in the town was alive with lights and sound. Inside these buildings, men and women alike filtered through doorways, chattered at bars, and drank far too much. There seemed to be a celebratory mood dancing about and many were taking this in their stride.
Julien let out a chirruping laugh. He had seated himself on a bar stool beside one of the other regulars at the pub he frequented. The regular, a lonely man in his eighties and of muggle blood, stopped spewing his one-liners and apologised for his needing to make an exit for some family activity he was due to attend. Julien nodded understandingly, soon finding himself alone in his own company. He ordered another pint of ale and began to sup plentifully.
The pub door creaked open.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

The night was young and Keira had no intention of spending her evening cooped up in her hotel suite by herself. It was awfully kind of her sister to book this holiday for her, but Keira couldn't help but feel a little irritated by her sister's efforts. She was in charge of her own life. She didn't need her sister's help.
Pulling on her jacket, fixing her hair and applying another layer of lip gloss, she stepped out into the busy street. Feeling the cold night air brush against her cheek, she embraced the thrill of the night and quickly found herself in a local pub. It wasn't one she had visited before. In fact, she didn't really know where she was at all.
The door of the pub opened with a creak, and Keira seated herself at the bar beside a man who appeared to be by himself. Without as much as a glance his way, she ordered herself a drink.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

Julien became aware of the arrival of fresh company. He smiled to himself, wondering if the girl was a local. He turned to her as she ordered, his eyes twinkling in the most charming manner. "Bonjour," he said, inclining his head a little and making a quick assessment that she was not a local, going by her appearance; most of the women in the pub were in very casual clothes, but this young lady looked like she had really gone to the trouble of making an effort to look good. Though Julien doubted she actually needed any make-up.
"Je mappelle Julien," he paused for a moment, adjusting his leather jacket. Was she even from France? Many travelled about these days from all over the globe. Why, Julien himself had been around the world in his youth. But now he was an aged man. He had lived and learned. He just wanted to drink in the pub and have good friends.
Being considerate of this fact, Julien added "Parlez vous Francais? Je parlez Anglais.." He peered curiously at her.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

Keira had barely received her drink when the man beside her spoke up. She glanced his way, caught slightly off guard by his demeanour. He wore a leather jacket, and the way he spoke sounded strangely familiar and comforting. Usually, Keira would have made a feeble excuse to be left alone and carried on with her night, but she had been by herself in a strange country for several days now, and the man's voice left her feeling safer than she had in a long time.
Keira hadn't made much of an effort to learn French before her holiday, but she recognized the sentences he spoke. She opened her mouth, but a choked sound was all that came out. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "Bonjour," she replied in an accent that clearly wasn't French. Then she smiled. "I'm English. Born and raised in New Zealand, actually," she said, sipping her drink and trying not to stare at the man. She was grateful for the extra layer of make-up she had applied, now, as her cheeks were flushing pink under her foundation. "Are you from around here?" she asked, wondering whether this man was local to the area.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

A gentle smile wriggled onto his face. So she wasn't from around here. His instincts had been right. Julien took another sip of his pint, enjoying the feel of the liquid draining down into his stomach. "I am indeed," he said with his heavy French accent, "I have lived in southern France my life, though I have travelled the world many times around. I have relatives all over the globe." His eyebrows raised as a thought grazed through his mind, drifting like a butterfly in a breezy meadow. "My home is not too far from here." He glanced about her, wondering why she was alone. "Tell me," he began to enquire politely, "do you travel alone?" His eyes motioned over her.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

Keira couldn't help but feel a little weak at the knees when her attractive acquaintance smiled. She shifted a little on her chair, finding it hard to look him in the eye. Feelings of guilt bit at her heart for a moment. This man was extremely handsome, but Keira couldn't help but notice he was much older than she was. She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind as the alcohol began to warm her blood. Anyway, she decided, none of the men her age were very attractive anyway.
"Really? You lead an adventurous life. I haven't travelled much. I'm on holiday here for a week," Keira explained, hoping he would understand enough English to comprehend what she was telling him. Her eyebrows raised to mirror his as he stated his home was nearby, but instead of feeling creeped out she simply chuckled. "Yeah, I'm on my own," she said. Had she not been feeling the effects of her drink on her empty stomach, she might have been more careful about the information she was divulging. She put down her empty glass and bypassed her mental filter. "So, how come you're here by yourself? Surely a good looking guy like you must have a wife," she blurted out.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

Julien tilted his head, intrigued by her behaviour. The alcohol was clearly having an eager effect on her slender frame. "Well," he began, a little put on the spot by her sudden questioning, but not remotely offended by it, "life will do as it pleases, and she certainly did as she pleased." He turned from the girl to drain the last dregs of his drink. His eyes found her again, pleasing to his vision. He seemed almost mournful for a moment. "It would seem I was not entirely what she was looking for. Still," he drew a deep breath, sighing back into the air, "had she not found what she was looking for, I would most likely not be in the company of such a fair young lady, such as yourself."
Julien shot the girl a look. The stirring was hard to ignore. He cleared his throat. He had had a good few drinks already.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

Suddenly realizing how forward she had been, Keira looked away, embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't think.." Keira had by now started on her next drink and was quickly losing the ability to filter things before they shot out of her mouth. What he said next caught her off guard again. He seemed quite confident, though Keira suspected this might have something to do with the alcohol in his system. Strangely, though, she didn't find it uncomfortable at all. In fact, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
Flushing such a vibrant shade of pink that it was visible through her make-up, she allowed herself to feel flattered by his comment. "Well.." She began, unsure whether 'fair young lady' would be the words she used to describe herself. "The drinks might be making it hard for you judge, but I'm not sure I'm as 'fair' as you believe," she lifted the corner of her mouth into a flirtatious smile, biting her cheek to contain her amusement.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

A kink quickly appeared in Julien's eyebrow, bolting it to his face. Was she suggesting what his brain thought she was suggesting? He stared open-mouthed for a moment or two, before catching himself and forcing his jaw back shut. He made to speak, but his voice squeaked instead, so he started again. "Well," was it him or was it getting rather hot inside the building? Julien shifted his jacket, fiddling with the zip awkwardly. Typical male displacement behaviour. There were better things he could be doing with his hands.
"Well," he tried again, but it seemed useless now. His actions were saying more than his words ever could. Compose yourself, Julien thought crossly. Stop acting like a hormonal teenage boy. But that was exactly what he was deep down. Just a young man in pleasant company. A young man talking to a beautiful young woman..
A woman who seemed to have drunk a bit too much for her stature. Time had been swimming past in rippling tides and she had already waded through two drinks. Deciding it rude to order her a third, though he loved the idea of talking further with her, he decided to be a gentleman about the whole situation.
"Do you need.. Ah, what is the word?" he halted as he thought hard through the English dictionary, "escorting home?" Last thing he wanted was something bad to happen to his new rose.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

Butterflies danced around Keira's insides as she caught the man's glance again. Her gaze lingered on his lips a little longer than necessary before she shifted to his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of blue, absorbing the light around them and reflecting it back. A bit like the moon, she found herself thinking, and then shook her head quickly to remove the thought from her head. Realising this looked like a declination of his offer, she spoke up. "I mean, yes I'd love that, please," pausing briefly, she wondered whether or not it was acceptable to have him walk her all the way back to her hotel. They had not even exchanged names, and though Keira's judgement was not at it's best, she was still a little wary. There was something about him, though. Something right that she couldn't place her finger on.
"My hotel's just down the road. It's a bit classy, not something I would book for myself," she laughed nervously, realising that she was rambling and trailing off before she could explain that her sister had booked it for her. She placed her glass on the counter and began to stand.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

At first it sounded as though Julien's offer had been rejected, but then the woman voiced her real feelings on the matter and his face lifted once again into a smile. He stood, offering the charming young lady his arm. "Shall we?" Time certainly seemed to be skipping along at such a quickened pace. The pair headed out from the pub, Julien shooting a quick glance over his shoulder to the bartender. "Merci!" He called out as he held the door for his new female friend.
The street was long and quiet but the walk was cool and quiet compared to that of the pub. It was a clear night and stars peered through the clouds. Julien walked in silence with girl, occasionally beaming her a softened smile. It did not take too long to reach the fancy hotel. It was a place Julien had never been inside of before, and he allowed her to lead him to the reception. Now came the real test. His heart thudded. Would she ask him to accompany her further? She was surely uninterested in him, but then, the way she had been at the pub..
"You make for very elegant company," Julien was not sure if these were the right words. English was not his first language, after all.

 

[Keira Kendall-White]

The two strangers left the bar, thanking the bartender as they left. "Merci!" Keira said to her acquaintance as he held the door open for her. They walked quietly, her eyes meeting his a few times as they ambled along the cool street. Every time she glanced his way, a soft smile spread across her face. There was not much to say, but Keira didn't feel awkward. The silence between them seemed to speak a thousand words. Was it only she who felt this way?
Before too long they had reached her hotel, and Keira led him into the reception. She shifted on her feet for a moment, unsure whether or not he wished to be invited to her room. What was acceptable? And why was she considering inviting an older man to her room? Clearing her throat, she smiled a little and said, "vous avez une très belle jambe." This was not what she had intended to say, but her French vocabulary was limited. "Would you like to accompany me to my suite?" She asked, wobbling a little in her heels and then steadying herself by leaning against the reception desk.
​

 

[Julien Roux]

It was all Julien could do not to crack too wider smile at her misplaced French. It was very sweet that she was even attempting to speak the local language. He still couldn't quite believe what she was asking him, but he nodded wordlessly. Julien noticed her unsteady on her legs and extended an arm around her waist, guiding her through the entrance hall and towards the lift. Once the doors opened and they stepped inside, however, the atmosphere seemed to shift dramatically.
Perhaps it was the faint and aged music singing gently in the background. The tune was smooth and slow. Not typical elevator music at all. Julien pressed the button and the lift began its ascent. It shuddered as it rose through the floors. When it reached the desired level, as the girl seemed to indicate in her body language, the pair stepped out. Julien let her lead him along the corridor. The music still played, but somehow seemed louder now. In fact, once they entered the hotel room, the sound continued. Somebody had left the radio on.
It appeared to be a sign. Julien looked down into her eyes. She was very young and very beautiful. It had been a good few years since he had last spent his time in such youthful company.
The room was dim from the absence of light, but the face of the moon shone through the gap in the curtains, illuminating patches of the floor. Julien took hold of one of her hands, bringing it up to his shoulder and placing it there. He positioned his hands accordingly and began a very slow but graceful dance.
All the time the music played, not once did his hands stray from her waist. His eyes set on her's, they watched each other while they danced. And then, just as the song began to draw to a close, Julien leant forwards, bringing his lips to her own.

Somewhere in the distant lands, a lone wolf eyed a stray lamb. It licked its lips, anticipating the thrill of the chase, the rush of the hunt. It began to descend the hilltop, following silently through the darkness. It moved slow, at first, slow but measured. The wolf began to speed up. Now it had the lamb in its sight. So young and free. So delicious. It began to move quicker, racing, legs pounding the ground. The lamb bleated, knowing the end was near. The wolf was going to catch it. It thundered heavily towards the lamb. One moment the lamb stood with innocent grace, the next, it had been pounced upon.
The wolf, satisfied by its meal, lay down to rest beside the lamb and fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.