We chased our pleasures here

[foreshadower]

WHO: SHADE and YOU
WHERE: Around the City!
WHEN: UHH The week of 11/30 - 12/06
WARNINGS: None likely!
SUMMARY: Classy gents moving around the City like the classy gents that they are!
FORMAT: Tagger's choice!



[A]

[ Frequenting farmer's markets and local butchers was a pastime of the Shade's. It shouldn't be surprising, really, considering how often he was found eating in public. Even when he was there he was often purchasing food to eat as he walked -- sauntered -- through the aisles, almost like a bazaar, half the time. And when he was visiting butchers, it was the other way around, he engaged with them, asked questions, sampled the cuts, and purchased with the eye of an expert gourmet. His voice was always low, but excited, calm and chill, even while he discussed the positives and negatives of the different foods he selected.

They always seemed to like the odd gentleman, when he was around, even if he did only sample the local foods. If Shade wanted something that wasn't grown locally, after all, he just took it from somewhere a little closer. Why bother with shipping when you could walk from one land to another, after all?

The Shade was something of a spoiled man, after all. He didn't think he could live if he couldn't operate the way he did. ]

[B]

[ Although he also haunted other places as well, the museums were a favorite, although there was often a look on his face, like he was thinking. Even if he were retired, he often couldn't help but think about how easy it would be to simply take what he wanted. Oh, was that a Renoir? A fine one at that, too. He could take it easily, was the thing. Temptation was great when you could simply come in the dead of night and simply take it, and not worry about the consequences.

To be a supervillain again.

The worst part was, there was nobody quite like the Flash for him to stand against, and taking a few pretties was only going to go so far. He could take and take, but what good would it do? Something to hang on his walls again? He could simply order something, but it was hardly the same, now was it? It was, at the end of the day, terribly depressing.

But he would live, even as he walked pristine halls and admired works of painters he may or may not have met at some point. ]

[C]

[ Then, of course, there was the damn bar. The bar that Cross had left him, that Shade had no place owning or running. Which meant that he often came and drank, and that the place had taken on an air of extreme class in the time since Cross had left, but Shade barely had anything to do with it. If anything, he owned it, but there was someone else running the damn place. Which was for the best, honestly. Shade was hardly an interested paty. It wasn't like he needed money, either. He practically lived to laze around, after all.

So some evenings, he was found lounging on one of the booths, a glass of his most expensive wine in hand, chatting with whomever came by, and the bar was starting to get quite the collection of usuals. Artists, writers, the sort that were painfully pretentious, and yet Shade truly enjoyed their company, as he chatted, or mingled.

It was good, to get him out and around people, he knew. It reminded him that he was still at least a little human. ]

[D]

[ Free Space! ]

Comments

c;

[withamask]

[ Renee visits bars more frequently than she cares to admit, especially lately. However, the problem with most of the bars in town is that she has the bad luck of bumping into people she knows but would rather avoid.

That's why she finds herself here. While the atmosphere is a bit over the top for her tastes, there's no question that the establishment is nice. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to check up on Shade. To see how well his reformation sticks.

With her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she enters, glancing around. ]

[foreshadower]

[ Shade's reformation wasn't so much a true reformation, as it was leaving the superhero schtick. He often took things because he could, and because it was something he wanted. No other reason than that.

His eyes lit up, when she entered, and he smiled, something a little wry and languid, lazy in every one of his motions. ]

Detective Montoya. What a pleasure to see you here. Drink?

[ He waved his glass, shaking it a bit to let the liquid slosh side to side. ]

[withamask]

[ She looks at him silently for a moment before she nods. Her voice is wary, as cautious as the last time they spoke, but not belligerent. ]

What do you recommend?

[foreshadower]

We have quite the Avignonesi I may be persuaded to pull out of the cellar.

[ He paused, waving a hand, to the seat in front of him. ]

If you would be so inclined to join me.

[withamask]

[ Renee contemplates his offer for a few seconds. Ultimately, she nods again and approaches the seat. ]

[foreshadower]

[ He lounged a bit more, his hand rising to indicate to the waitstaff, who came by to take his order, in which he ordered the bottle of wine, and another glass. ]

How have you fared lately in the City.

[withamask]

[ She sits down, her gaze falling on him as they wait. ]

Fine. [ Please, Renee. Don't be so talkative. ]

And yourself?

b

[psychomancy]

[Museums are one of the few places where she doesn't have a lingering sense of sticking out. Sometimes, the modernity of the City still disconcerts her. she stands in front of a Rembrandt, head tilted slightly as she peers at each individual brush stroke and scribble. She lets out a low hum, considering.]

A far cry from cave paintings, to be sure.

[foreshadower]

Indeed.

[ He agreed, stepping up next to her, hands behind his back. His hat still on, cane resting in the crook of his elbow. He eyed the painting, and then her, a slight smile curling on his lips. ]

And just think what more we will create in another few centuries. It will be delightful, don't you think?

[psychomancy]

[She turns her head slightly and smiles back at him.]

If only we would be around to see it.

[foreshadower]

[ He laughed, a little low, like there was a secret there for him to enjoy. ]

Oh yes, if only. Although for some, perhaps they will find themselves resurrected, and enjoying the works of our descendants.

[psychomancy]

[Gemma takes a moment to consider this, turning back to face the painting. She knows that sort of laugh. It unsettles her slightly.]

You believe in resurrection?

[foreshadower]

Of course! A good friend of mine was once resurrected, and I have it on good authority that he will do so again in the future.

[ The smile said it all. It was confident, and it was knowing. Shade lived in a world where such things were so small, and just a part of how things were.

Then again, a magic ritual had warped his body beyond that of a human, he could have a little faith in the supernatural. ]

A. November 30th.

[swordedpast]

[ As it happens, Archer likes farmer's markets as well. "It seems like an atmosphere more suited to buying food," he might say rather cagily if he's asked. It's just easier for him to relax into the part of himself that actually likes people when planning a meal and picking up its ingredients in an open environment like this.

This time, though, he catches sight of the Shade a stall over from him as he's picking out some vegetables. He stops, and he regards the other man seriously for a long moment, stirring his exceptional memory to recall the last time they spoke, almost a year ago.

Then he makes his purchases and wanders over. ]

I thought you were a supervillain, not a gourmet.

[foreshadower]

[ The Shade, who'd had his nose against a mushroom, sniffing at it to test the flavor, to tell what he could do with it paused, his head turning. He looked right at home, as he pulled his nose away from the fungus, setting it back into the vendor's container. ]

A man cannot be both?

[ he asked it lightly, his eyebrows quirking. Being a supervillain was merely something that he did, it wasn't everything to him after all. ]

I find that food is always worth investing a great deal of time in. Even we supervillains enjoy it.

[swordedpast]

[ Archer looks faintly nonplussed by this reaction. ]

Wreaking havoc and destruction...that's supposed to be what supervillains do. And that sort of goal seems seriously at odds with wanting to sit down to enjoy a nice meal.

[foreshadower]

Ah, but for me, it was to alleviate a scratch that could not be itched. I hardly want havoc, and certainly not destruction! [ For the most part. He'd played the assassin, but that was just a job. ]

People are too interesting, and plenty chaotic on their own! I barely need to do anything to be a supervillain, excuse me, ex-supervillain, I must remind you.

[swordedpast]

[ Archer's puzzled look just intensifies as the Shade goes on. ]

Are you serious? What kind of supervillain even are you? Well, were you.

[ He hesitates, but goes on before an answer can be given-- ]

I don't even agree, in any case. People aren't really interesting. They're usually dull and brutish.

Ah. I guess some are really something, though.

[foreshadower]

And the few that are truly something outweigh the rest of them, don't you think? It makes humanity interesting.

[ He shrugged, either way. ]

I was the type of villain that reveled in the finer things. The truly great creations that mankind has brought to us. The fine art, the literature, the philosophy. I stole. A few things here and there were hardly going to be missed.

[ Well, he always stole things he didn't want that much in public. If he really wanted it, he'd just take it. ]

a

[corviform]

[ Having already picked up the pastries Sharon's particular to (but he's cautious about the amount of sugar. He must always be!), Gil's now taken to roaming the aisles of the local farmers' markets. He hasn't picked up anything yet, but he seems to be in very little of a rush as he strolls through, scoping out the prices and what is worth buying this week. They don't need a lot, but it's difficult to resist a good sale if it means preparing a better meal.

In spite of being bundled up in a black coat, scarf, and gloves, the muss of hair and bright eyes set him apart from the Cityzens, who occasionally stare at him a little longer than he would like.

As he averts his gaze from one merchant, he catches sight of Shade finally and stops in his tracks, visibly surprised to catch the other man here. ]

Shade?

[foreshadower]

[ Shade was standing over a spread of seasonal vegetables, leaning over and inspecting them, a basket in his hands behind him, with a few things already in it. He seemed to stand there like an expert, tipping his head to smile at the greeting, eyebrows rising over the sunglasses on his face.

Oddly, it really wasn't the weather for sunglasses. Just a bit too dark and gray, and yet he still had a pair of them perched on his nose. ]

Gilbert, was it? [ He asked, standing to his full height. Despite the frock and coat, the entire ensemble, it didn't look like he was really bundled, just in his usual clothing. He leaned against the cane in his bare hand. ]

What a surprise, finding you here.

[corviform]

[ Sunglasses are unnerving sometimes, depending on whom the wearer is; Shade is a man entrenched in mystery. Charismatic in his own ways, but ultimately an enigma to Gil. ]

Good afternoon. [ He starts, as it's the polite thing to say. ] I think I should be the one saying that.

[ He somehow never pictured Shade the type to shop for groceries. ]

[foreshadower]

Oh? Why is that?

[ He tipped his head, curiously. He wasn't sure why it was something that someone shouldn't guess of him, but maybe it was the fact that Gilbert didn't really know him, either. ]

You come here often? I don't frequent this side of town too much, but I've been here a time or two before.

[ Shade did happen to come at odd times, however. As early as they opened or right before closing. He was a bit of an odd sort, and he kept peculiar hours. ]

[corviform]

[ Gold eyes gaze past Shade, at the fresh vegetables laid out. There aren't a great many deal of things Gilbert Nightray takes pleasure in, yet a good sale is something one of the odd things he does.

(Really, he's a weirdo.)

He shakes his head before his eyes fall back on Shade. ]

When there's a sale. As winter's approaching fast, that means certain produce won't be as cheap until it's the season for it and if spring alone has reasonable weather. You never know what good deals you might get out of markets like this, which is why it's best to take your time. The produce is usually of excellent quality and it tends to stay surprisingly fresh even after several days in the fridge.

[ He could ramble forever about it. ]

[foreshadower]

[ Shade wasn't one of those sorts that particularly looked for sales, but then again, he was generally edging towards wealthy, thanks to his long lifespan and acquisitions in payment over the years (and his stolen goods as well). He'd even found in the City that it was surprisingly easy to make use of his skills for funds, and that was barely necessary.

After all, the greatest expenses were the home, and he always seemed to have one somehow. ]

I see. [ No, he didn't. ] These days, I suppose it pays to be frugal, doesn't it? I'll admit, I came here for their selection of Rouge Vif d'Etampes pumpkins is rather nice, for the area, and I can't resist having them grown locally.

[ He held up one of the red pumpkins, small and squat in his hands. Shade was the sort that would use a "proper" (read: more pretentious) name for them, and make it sound perfectly natural. ]