2020-06-25 - A Day in Paris

There's something about traveling away from places like Gray Harbor. For one, it's as if Byron could feel the weight of the town slowly wash away from him. There's just this feeling that everything was going to be alright the further the plane got from Gray Harbor. This didn't happen immediately and for a time, despite his best efforts, his mind couldn't help but focus on the disappearances and everything the town used to try and drag him and those closest to him down into its depths. His mind was on those who vanished, his old family home. His /mother/ and her whereabouts as well as, the last minute struggle of finding someone to watch Smog for them. But the longer they remained in flight, perhaps helped with a glass of wine or two in First Class.

It's a good thing that they were in First Class seating. The trip from Gray Harbor to Paris was a long flight that lasted for more than twelve hours. A long restless flight. Obviously, the couple found ways to entertain themselves. For part of the trip anyway. Much of the journey was left to naps or listening to audio books or podcast or watching a movie. And of course, Byron's laptop is brought out at least once to finish off work things before they landed in the hopes to not have to bother with any of that for the remainder of the trip.

After arriving to one of Paris' most fashionable and luxurious hotels, Lilith would find a pile of wrapped presents on their bed filled with everything from a new evening gown, which Byron, of course, expects her to wear for one of their Paris evening outtings. Then there's a new pair of heels, jewelry, perfume. Even brand new underthings. He'd ordered them from shops is Paris and instructed them on how to set the room up making sure that everything was done before their arrival.

For the first day, at least, they had many options: They could try and nap away any jet lag. Or maybe get freshened up and changed as to not waste any part of their French vacation. There is a third option which wouldn't see them leaving the room. At least for a couple of hours.

Byron wanted to cheer Lilith up and it worked, even before they left town. In fact, during the days of preparation in short-term advance of the trip to France, she buzzes around like an excitable hummingbird more often than not. She gets one of those apps that teaches her conversational French in crash course and listens to it while doing dishes, getting ready for work, showering, while doing paperwork, and in the car. Sometimes, she gives herself a break and listens to a lot of thumping club beats or angry rap in the vehicle, though, to be fair. When Byron is home, she pesters him with badly broken phrases for him to grin at and correct.

Honestly, she's not retaining that much given the short span of time, but her pronunciation and play with accent is at least fair to middling for a non-speaker for the sake of sounding like she knows what she's doing. Lilith figures if she can just say a few things very well, that's fine and functional and everyone probably speaks English anyway. But the point is, she has something to fixate and look forward to as a distraction during some dark and paranoid days after multiple disappearances. And that damn well does the trick, especially given the nature of the surprise trip, she's almost constantly bubbly and delightful with the energy of anticipation.

That said, Lilith also never really takes her eyes off Byron much if she can help it. When they're not working, there's a deeply-seeded paranoia that's pretty innate behind the good mood that keeps her well in his very orbit. She's also pretty stringent about checking in more from work, even if it's just with kiss emojis or occasional gif images for kicks. The responses, no matter what they are, they're her distance reassurances she keeps on an unwitting trauma-made internal clock. There's a tension that comes with the high-alert anxiety of worry, no matter what mood someone chooses to be in. It's something that Lilith feels flooding away like a purging of impurities from the system, much like Byron himself feels the lift of weight.

All that talking in the days that lead up, the questions and fidgeting on the plane, the constant excitability... it stops once they land in Paris and turns into a quiet, wide-eyed fascination. She listens to all the foreign language she can't much understand all around, she watches all the people, she looks at all the buildings and imagines so many things, tries to place scenes from movies during the ride. Lilith has been rendered pretty speechless in very adorable and adoring fashion, but at some point, she tells Byron they're going to look at the real Moulin Rouge come hell or high water. He was probably expecting she has the address memorized already (she does).

When Lilith gets into the room, though, she is all noise and coos and gushing words again because there are so many presents to open arranged as a surprise. She takes the time to compliment Byron's taste with each one she opens and draws out, then crawls over the torn paper she's tossed all over the bed to get to where Byron is seated on one edge watching her. With the crinkle of paper, she finally gets into a way to straddle his lap, still wearing the sunny yellow blouse half-tucked into skinny crop jeans she traveled in, sandals kicked out of prior during investigation.

"Do you know..." Lilith kisses Byron with her arms looped around his neck and shoulders, intermittently working out what she's trying to tell him between rambunctious, affectionate kisses, "how very unfathomably amazing you are? Like..." Another kiss, "I don't know what to..." Another damn kiss, "do with you." There's a hum into the next engaging of lips before she makes a growl of overwhelmed half-laughter and aggressive, playful affection, biting at his lip before she draws back enough to make an actual suggestion that's tactical, "I mean I know what to do with you. But I'm doing it later because jet lag. Unless you want a quickie. Here's the thing. We're too wound to sleep, so we should refresh, go down to the bar here in the hotel for a drink and feel the French ambiance, unwind and plan the rest of how we do today."

There's a grind against Byron's lap, though, that indicates she might be down for a quickie before that, though. Because fuck jet lag, right? It's vacation.

After the long flight, Byron uses this time to stretch out his limbs, all the while delighted when watching Lilith tear into those perfectly wrapped gifts. For the flight, he's dressed business casual with a white polo shirt worn beneath a navy blazer while rather than suit pants, he wears a comfortable pair of fitted jeans. At some point during their flight, he did have the chance to take a brief nap while trying to listen to some murder mystery audio book, so while he's not entirely refreshed, he's isn't overly exhausted either.

Stepping into give Lilith a kiss at her forehead once she compliments him on his expensively good taste, he withdraws briefly to pull open the curtains on one of the windows to give them a magnificent Parisian view. It's as picturesque as how Lilith would've envisioned it, especially since their hotel is in the heart of the city. Dumping himself down to settle onto the edge of the bed only to find a Lily straddling his lap, forcing his own hands to snake around her to help keep her steady by resting just above her backside, he stares deeply into her eyes, this rather pleased smile crossing his lips.

He returns her kisses with a gentle touch, never breaking eye contact with the beauty before him. With so many options laid out before them and feeling the nip of her teeth against his bottom lip, his mind is already made up. Leaning in close to nuzzle his bristled cheek against her fair skin, he murmurs, "We have another full day here. We depart for Burgundy the morning after tomorrow. We can regather our bearings and have a full wine tasting trip the following day." It's his turn to nibble on Lilith, taking an ear lobe between his teeth and lips, "What better way to get our blood flowing and our hearts pumping, hmm?"

Lilith sighs pleasure out in a rushing noise that's tinged with humming agreement, because it's a perfectly lovely way to get a rise out of their blood and hearts and bodies. It's a very rational idea, you see. That and Byron has her ear lobe between his teeth before catching and kissing lips take over, her lazy and loose waves of hair brushing at one side of his bristled cheek. After dropping her lashes down over her eyes and petting her hands over Byron's back with cross and dragging catch of fingers and hands in curl, her eyes open to accidentally take in the terrace view from the opened curtains that lay out the heart of the Paris cityscape for her as a viewing reminder of exactly where they are.

Suddenly, the brunette woman grins and whispers some pretty obvious information to the dark haired guy she's straddled on, starting to back off of his lap in slow detaching, "I have pants on. Rather problematic. Skirts and dresses are so much better for quickies." Right before she fully slides off into stand on her own, she kisses and tugs hard at Byron's bottom lip with her teeth to the point of rough despite her slow slink of motion and pretty tease of whisper. Then, once standing, because she's Lilith and even quickies need a little exciting flair, she turns with bouncing skip steps over to where the beautiful Parisian view is to start peeling out of her clothing right there with the scene as a backdrop.

There's no real flair about her undressing, Lilith is actually pretty swift about it. But she points her finger at Byron once her blouse is yanked up over her head, silently and bossily directing him to not only stay where he is, but still, which means he's sitting there nice and fully dressed while she gets to stripping and then posing at the windows for him to up the ante of how lovely the view is for him. And while she isn't so showy about the removal of the clothing, she takes a good moment while giving the man a darling smile to pose and model her bubbly delight over where they are and the view, all amped up with sex and magnetic presence.

When finished with the pants problem very fixed in a Lilith way, she struts straight over to point her finger at Byron again in a 'no, don't touch yet' gesture of silence. Then she leans forward to unbuckle his belt and undo his jeans, putting them nose to nose. He can smell the lingerings of perfume, lotion and shampoo with her nothing more than silken skin and soft hair now, especially once he's freed and she's slipping down to straddle the clothed man with her bare body as contrast, "... c'est bon?"

Byron might have been getting silent instruction not to move and to watch and wait, but once she's over his lap again, what anticipation and excitement has built takes over-- he's not free to the air long because she's quick sinking down to sheathe him with heat and intimacy, hips already jerking forward with moaning buck when she's down. Naturally, the ban of his movement or hands for touching expires the very second he's inside her with Lilith rearing to ridefuck him, right there on the spot surrounded by pretty mess of wrapping paper after her little pose session for play.

Byron had taken French in high school and then again for business, so it's not surprising to him how much of the language he understands from everything spoke around him-- That said, he was never completely fluent in the language, merely conversational. But he has been learning that languages, at the least the understanding of them, have been coming easier for him. The speaking part as well. It's as if he'd learned languages that he barely understood, at least to a beginner level.

While all of that is fascinating, however, the dark haired entrepreneur had a Lilith in his lap right now, so any thoughts of languages have quickly been flushed away from his mind.

That is until she slips off of his lap to venture over before the open window. He would've eagerly offered to help rid them both of that whole 'wearing panties' issue, but when she takes steps away and starts to strip herself of her attire, well, he's not going to complain. In fact, he watches her with rapt attention. She didn't even have to tell him not to get up, when she looks back at him, she will find that he's satisfied enough, for now, to play audience to this little tease.

With her form standing before the window, she was definitely giving him a magnificent view. He's no grinning fool when he watches her, however, there's this spark within his eyes to tell her that he appreciates this performance to go with the ghost of a smile at his lips. Then she's back, her hands working at his belt buckle and the front of his jeans before she resettles herself down in full upon his bared lap, shifting to help her tug at his pants. There's a quick breath caught up in his throat as she eases down on him, the hands at her hips tightening their grip once he's allowed the privilege to touch her.

While he did say that this was one good way to invigorate them both, Byron knows that Lilith has a way to tire a guy out. He won't worry about that at the moment, simply enjoying this intimate moment between them. This was their first trip out of country together in a trumped up luxury hotel in the middle of one of those most iconic beautiful cities in the world.

Lilith really did intend for a quickie, probably in the same spirit and vein that Byron expected. Which really just means... if it's not particularly quick, at least it's quicker than usual? She's not trying to wear the guy out straight off the plane, but at the same time, she is damned energetic with absolute affection and glee over the whole trip and spoiled treatment. It really seems like a shame not to take advantage of all that excess inside her that needs wound down.

Therefore, it's probably not worth noticing or complaining that she's not playing very fair, wanting more and more once they're started-- she starts tempering from riot and rush ride of bodies to pull back just when things hit a wild crescendo. Then she's bidding switch of position with roll and breathlessly gasping, giggling spill of noise, wrapping legs around that lean solid, clothed masculine body for rough draw... then they're building up all over again.

But eventually, they do decide to go down for those drinks to wind their way toward a proper comedown that appreciates the scenery from down in the splendor of the posh French hotel itself. Lilith has changed into a fit and flare summery halter dress in edgy hot rose pink to catch the eyes, complete with matching lipstick and a thin patent black leather belt to match her tall strappy heels. She's telling Byron she thinks they should try and pick at least one museum that doesn't take all day so they can see some history or art for the sake of saying they saw the infamous so-and-so piece or building. She's distracted, they're getting drinks, and she doesn't see the redhead woman coming to yell at her with a southern accent.

"Dizzy? Dizzybelle!"

It's a horrible nickname that kind of sounds like a drunk princess, but there's literally no one that's going to respond to that name in this Paris hotel bar... unless they're caught offguard and not quick enough to recover. Lilith blinks twice and does a bit of a double take and partial turn on her just-seated-stool to look while Byron sets up to order their drinks and it becomes very apparent that it's Lilith being called that. The following 'oh shit' murmur of shock rather confirms it and though she does turn back aboutface like she didn't see, it's too damn late, she's been recognized and they're being ambushed.

The redhead is a bit of a living piece of Jessica Rabbit by way of hair and general figure, but her facial features are a little sharp and foxlike behind all the makeup helping to make her look standout just like the hair and body. There's a mixed-race man flanking her that's tall and handsome, with light skin and green eyes. He's also far more polite with a hand moving over to try and bring the hollering down to suitable for Parisian establishment, "Don't yell, dearest, this is Paris, not New Orleans." He sounds like he's from New Orleans, in fact, and it comes out like 'nawlins'.

It's not difficult for the pair to get lost in the moment where intimacy is involved. Byron almost had the mind to call the afternoon a wash and to simply stay in, wrapped about each other in bed with the view of the Eiffel Tower looming in the distance. Then again, he's been to Paris before, whether on business or hanging out with the young and wealthy friends he'd made back in college. This wasn't new for him. This was, however, a new experience for Lilith and Byron wanted to make the most out of their time here together.

Summer isn't Paris isn't the scorcher that it can be along the Riviera. He changes into a simple white shirt with a relax fit, keeping to the jeans he was wearing earlier as well as the navy blazer worn unbuttoned and a pair of comfortably worn brown Oxfords on his feet. A pair of most likely expensive sunglasses hang off the loose collar of his shirt. It's definitely a far more casual look that what they'd be expected to wear that evening at dinner.

With an arm behind Lilith as they navigate the area, his gaze lowered at his phone as he waits for their drinks to be delivered, trying to find the most interesting museum out of the lot. He doesn't take much notice when some female voice is calling out for a Dizzy, though his gaze lifts noting the accent that goes along with it. This doesn't last too long as he's back to browsing again at the same time as he's leaning over to put in their order, probably ordering some cocktail or other. Parisian stuff. Of course, it would have to be an American to make such a raucous in Paris of all places. Or an Australian, but that's not where the accent is from. Once the order is placed, his attention is drawn back to these strangers, giving them a scrutinizing gaze, before his eyes dart over to Lilith briefly. Either way, he'll greet the pair somewhat once they get near, a sort of smile on his lips, "Is there anything that we can help you with? You're from the States as well, I've noticed."

Lilith may be caught offguard by a blast from her past showing up in Paris of all places, but it's not the same reaction she had to Grant Turner when he showed up in Seattle unannounced. She does grow a bit tense through her bare shoulders, the expanse of her back in the halter dress flexing some in tighten. However, once she knows she's not going to be off the hook and Byron turns to address the approaching and greeting pair, she turns too and gives him a slip of reassuring smile before rising up to properly make greeting and introduction. While she might not be particularly happy to be sighted by the pair for whatever reason, or nervous about it, she seems to actually like these two people well enough.

"I think I'd know that voice anywhere..." Lilith reaches to kiss the shapely redhead woman with brush and return at the cheek before doing the same to the mulatto man in the ascot and stylish light summer suit, "What are you two doing here? I thought you went back to New Orleans, are you here on vacation or..." The brunette woman doesn't finish the question and lets it hang in the air with unspoken 'work' as her other option of inquiry. In fact, the pair of them look very much like high-class escorts now that she's went and dropped that hesitating hint.

The man looks at Byron once Lilith has greeted the pair, as if trying to gauge how much is polite to explain or appropriate in company. It's actually pretty respectful and intuitive, as he's clearly caught on that the woman probably isn't seated with a client given the body chemistry. But it doesn't matter how careful he might want to phrase things because the redhead woman is gushing on in that Georgia drawl with no real consideration or reserve, "Oh, we did, pretty girl, we did. Then we came here. You remember Cooper, he flew us here for a few weeks of entertaining during a business engagement and we just didn't know how to leave. So! The old rich coot put us up in his chateau for the summer while off to China on business. We come into the city when we're bored of being kept. And we..."

The woman is cut off as the mixed race man steps to shake hands with Byron and explains more politely and simply to Lilith, "We are staying seasonally on a long-term business arrangement with many perks." There's a certain charisma to his sudden take charge of the conversation, despite his genteel Creole accent, making proper introduction like a gentleman while engaging the man's handshake, "Laurence Martin, but I go by Laurent. You'll have to forgive Scarlett May, she doesn't believe in manners and thinks it part of her charm."

While playing with Lilith's hair, the redhead Scarlett takes to arranging Lilith's hair like she's the prettiest pet and eyes Byron with appreciation during the introduction, "My, my, my. If I hadn't been so taken with seeing our little pet here, I'd know why she looks absolutely glowing. Aren't you just a piece of tall, dark, and handsome. Those eyes. So intense." Then suddenly, she looks at Laurent to say, "He reminds me of..."

Lilith takes over to step back from the primping and properly lean with loop of arm around the small of Byron's back with affectionate couple pose, interjecting, "This is Byron Thorne. He's exactly the reason I'm supposedly glowing. We're here on vacation together." Because she needs to make it clear to dingy ass Scarlett this is her boyfriend and not a client she's letting spoil her. In fact, because she knows Scarlett is a little loudmouth slow to catch on sometimes, she clarifies, "We live together in Washington."

It's clear to Byron that the pair knew Lilith. They'd approached their section of the bar before he was even back, so that much is known. With the cordial smile that he wears, he does take in their style of dress and mannerism though for the most part, he's subtly studying their features in the case that their faces stood out from somewhere. Byron's been to a lot of places, acquainted himself with a lot of wealthy people. Some in his age range, others far older. Knowing what he does of Lilith, these are more than likely people she'd met during her time as a dominatrix, but in what capacity was their friendship.

He doesn't stare overly long, being good to mask his intentions and serious interest by way of a friendly enough smile when introductions are made. He looked far more casually dressed than even this stranger. This Laurence Martin. But Byron was here on vacation and the suits are saved for far more elegant engagements than walking the streets of Paris in the afternoon. While some of his focus is on Martin, his eyes flicker to Scarlet as well, wondering if that's her real name or one she'd made up. Hell, if either of them are using their actual names currently. Still, he seems somewhat amused, the smile growing far more easy now. Those 'so intense' eyes lock on the red head's when she mentions who he might remind her of. Holding the gaze for a long moment, his attention returns to Laurence, his own grip is a firm one, the smile widening across his lips. "Well, it's nice meeting you both, Laurent.... and Scarlet."

One of the names mentioned is something that Byron's trying to figure on whether he knows or not. He knows a lot of wealthy business sorts. This Cooper, but he doesn't concern himself on it for very long. "Now this. Paris. Is a far cry from Washington." He then goes on to casual conversation, bringing up a curious, "Are you both here for business or pleasure? Or both?"

There must be something exchanged in the way Lilith looks at Laurent because he's more open about answering Byron's question after shooting a gauging look the brunette's way, "Certainly both. Sometimes, in our line of work, the clients like to buy our company and exclusive time for extended periods. I don't know if you're acquainted with Xavier Cooper, you look the type to know a certain kind of man in passing." Laurent apparently figures the name itself explains everything, and if not, it's probably not worth getting into.

While certain clients probably prefer to stay discreet about buying their companionship in whatever fashion, Byron might well know of the man in question. And if he does, Laurent no doubt figures that Thorne knows of Cooper as a wealthy shipping magnate heir that makes no real efforts to conceal his excess and hedonistic tendencies. He's generally known as one of the men's men, the life of the party, and while Scarlett might have referred to him as old, he's only in his fifties and looks damn good for it, very Clooney-esque. Lilith apparently was not kidding about running in very rich, exclusive circles when it came to discreet services, even if hers differed. It's probably little wonder she chameleons so well into Byron's social and public lifestyle for show as needed.

The drinks arrive and Lilith ticks her head toward lounge seating when Scarlett immediately places an order for herself and Laurent while the server is there. The brunette woman just kind of seems resigned to the idea that these two are going to talk and probably say some things of... well, interest. The woman doesn't really talk about what her personal life was so much over the past decade or any old friends of mention, save for that she was pretty bad about keeping most everyone at arm's length. She also seems to be closer to Laurent and only tolerates Scarlett amiably, Byron can see that with shared look and general body language. But it's Scarlett who possibly looks familiar from showing alongside the latina woman in certain cord imagery, though it's a bit hard to tell given she wasn't necessarily the source of whatever Lilith was feeling at that time.

"Come on, let's sit around the loungers under the chandelier and share drinks." Lilith suggests while taking the Parisian cocktail to examine with a small, vaguely embarrassed smile for whatever reasoning when she looks back up at Byron. She very much plans to limit this to a one-drink conversation while they migrate and Scarlett talks all the way to Lilith about shopping she's done today and how the other woman just has to hit a certain shopping district's lingerie shop. She's not the most brilliant conversationalist, she just seems to talk for the sake of talking in that harmlessly annoying, yet charming kind of way. Sometimes, people can make a whole image out of being empty-headed that just kind of works if they're likeable enough.

Laurent makes sidelong commentary to Byron during the migration while Lilith is distracted with the redhead's drawling gush and chatter and constant reaching pets and adjustments of hair and attire and touches on the way, "I'm not sure how you pinned her down and kept a hold of her, you must be a thick-skinned wildcat tamer. Bravo, good man." If Lilith has a glow about her compared to how this man used to see her years ago, that's his own way of complimenting it (and speaking to a knowing of how difficult she can be). He claps hand against Byron's shoulder before settling with leg cross and his arriving scotch.

Of course, Byron's not going to make a big deal about being in the company of escorts. Some of his friends from L.A. and beyond have used their services in the past even if Byron, himself, never had the need. In L.A. he's always had one elegant if not wealthy lady or another on his arm, though for most of that time it was Vivian Glass who occupied that space. This Cooper's full name is revealed and to this Byron nods slowly. Whether he's had actual contact with the man or not is of no importance. The fact that the man is a shipping magnate is notable enough for an entrepreneur like Thorne. If anything, that easy smile on his lips grows at this revelation, "That's some interesting company you keep." Perhaps Byron has heard of the wealthy man's oddities, he did used to run with quite a bit of heirs to huge empires himself, making himself useful to each and every one of them.

With the arrival of their drinks and Lilith leading the way to some cozy seating arrangement, Byron trails behind the two women walking alongside Laurence. Feeling that pat on the back of his shoulder, he turns keen eyes the other man's way, all without losing that soft, rather amused smile. "We have history." Is what he will say regarding Lilith. Now that they are settled into with drinks in hand, he asks, "So you've known Lilith from Miami?"

"Mostly. Funny story, that..." Laurent starts, looking at Lilith tolerating Scarlett, settling in to talk some with Byron before the other woman is piping in too, animated with dramatic expressions and hand gestures. While the pair are seated in the bar lounge as a quadrant, initially two men and two women across from each other, at some point, Lilith herself moves over onto Byron's seat with him to cozy in (and possibly save herself from more redhead fawning and petting). And he learns a lot of things about Lilith's life away from Gray Harbor, or at least the relation and chronology details for a few years.

Laurent explains that he met Lilith in New Orleans when she was twenty-three years old, a new to the city import working as a bar cocktail waitress for tips. She was staying and paying nightly at a sketchy hostel and he told her she could rent a room at his house for the same rate. Naturally, she refused, and it took a full three weeks of him returning to the establishment and pestering her to get her to finally agree after her room at the hostel was ripped off. Turns out, he had a house in the Garden District, already independently escort wealthy himself, and he shared the place with Scarlett, though they weren't always there at the same time. Scarlett was friends with a big-shot madam named Camilla in Miami and had clients there she was earning repor with, she flew back and forth.

It's here that Scarlett pipes in with how Lilith first looked when she came to the house which seems to be the source of the nickname. See, she was wearing a yellow sundress, and with those big blue eyes and curled dark hair, in combo with a doll's fine features and profile, Scarlett thought she looked like Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast and started calling her ma belle while Laurent called her mon fleur. One night, when Lilith was agitated and pretty drunk from a night out, she yelled at Scarlett that she was NOT a fucking Disney princess, but apparently slurred it into saying she wasn't a dizzy princess. Then she succinctly rolled over and passed out, very dizzily indeed.

Laurent takes over and explains that Scarlett was wanting him to come to Miami with her and they made Lilith a bit of a pet project-- they couldn't leave her there, fresh and poor in New Orleans or wandering elsewhere, she was still young and wide eyed, so snippish and surly sometimes, so mad at the world. It's here that Scarlett takes over explaining more importantly they knew how much people stopped to stare sometimes when she walked on the street, no matter what she was wearing or doing. She thought that Lilith should meet Camilla and learn to make money.

Lilith pipes in briefly to Byron that she only went to Miami with them because she was broke and Miami had a beach and they were offering her the same rent. While Laurent and Scarlett seem to be fond of the brunette woman, they really do talk around her and about her as if she really is a darling pet or object. They aren't meaning to do it to be offensive, of course, but it seems to just be a way about these kind of people in these circles-- people have a value that's not necessarily based on who they are as a person. It's the ultimate form of business detachment that people who sell themselves no doubt adapt when it comes to acquaintances and they clearly are the pair that saw the value in her and got her into the whole game by introducing her to Camilla once in Miami.

But soon the drinks are done and there's no quickness for refill by Lily Rose as she's so affectionately called by Laurent, obviously the nickname source for him calling her 'fleur'. The man seems to know her and been exposed to Lilith longer and more personally than Scarlett, he's less overt about seeing her as an 'asset' from the start. That said, he's so genteel and suave and charismatically soft spoken in a way that makes a person hang on the way he presents with that Creole roll on his words, there's no actual telling what he might truly be like. The problem with affable guys like this is that they often have another side that many others don't see, which Byron might himself know in his own way.

"But we do go on..." Laurent stops short of talking about how Lilith was a dominatrix eventually once she got to Miami in the name of discretionary politeness. It leaves an opening for Byron to either interject with questions of his own or look at his watch and make an excuse, since it's apparent Lilith herself doesn't have a lot to add despite being largely the subject of conversation.

Byron doesn't miss the way in which both strangers seem to be talking around Lilith, watching them both with a subtle yet attentive gaze. He doesn't quite let on that he's not amused by some of what is said, wearing this soft grin still. One of his arms reaches to settle behind Lilith while the other lifts the cocktail glass to his lips, taking in slow sips as he maintains eye contact with both Laurent and Scarlet.

Them telling him about New Orleans is something that she hadn't gone into too much detail about. In fact, she doesn't tend to talk about her life away from Gray Harbor if she can help it. Then again, Byron doesn't pry too often. There are things which he, himself, doesn't talk about. "New Orleans is part of where I drew some inspiration for the Masquerade event that we hold annually back home. Partially, it was more mirroring the look and feel of Carnival, but like all of this, it's all in fun."

The story of why Scarlet was calling her Dizzy does bring out some genuine amusement from Byron. All smiles, he turns to face Lilith with humor in his tone, "There's nothing wrong with being compared to a Disney Princess, hon. Dizzy or not," Here, he has to laugh a bit at that, "You'll always be my princess, Your Royal Highness." Leaning in, he presses his lips to hers with a soft, yet quick kiss. No need to make their... guests-- no need to make the others in their group feel awkward.

Resettling back against his seat, Byron says to the pair, "I'm sure that you both would have learned by now that Lilith is no shrinking violet. With or without your... kind doting and opening her up to the world, she would have found her own way. With or without any of us." There's a lift of his brow as he sips from his glass, but this is Byron's way of telling the other two that Lilith is her own person. Not a pet nor a pet project. And the fact that neither of them had anything to do with molding the woman in their presence today. While he might do some ass kissing of his own, especially when in need of investors, at this point in his life, Byron /is/ often called upon as an investor, making him feel that much more powerful in his own right.

In truth, Byron would have /loved/ to have heard tales of Lilith's time as a Dominatrix. Or as told by these two. He might not have been able to still his tongue the further this went along, though he'll often keep his own criticisms polite in manner. It's not his watch that he has to look down at, it's his phone that's buzzing right now. Not a call, but a series of messages. Still, he will use this as an excuse to free them from their current company. "It looks like we're being summoned." Quickly, downing the remainder of his cocktail, he sets the emptied glass on the table as he rises to stand. Reaching out his newly freed hand towards Scarlet and then Laurence once more, he follows up with, "Again, it was a pleasure meeting with you both. Perhaps our paths may cross again and you can tell me the rest of the many stories that you have of your town with Lilith. I'm sure that you have a lot to say."

Turning to Lilith, he moves in for another kiss once she's risen, but also whispers into her ear, "I'll escort you to the restroom if you need some time to freshen up as I take this call."

Laurent and Scarlet rise up with the couple and though the redhead is making protest and asking what room they're in or if they want to come out with them later, Lilith is backing in against Byron before turning her face up for the kiss after a look at his phone. There's a subtle nod at his murmur as she laces fingers directly with his and makes her apologies and promises to perhaps meet for a drink if time allows. Laurent looks at Lilith a long moment after shaking Byron's hand, even while he's speaking to the man himself, "Really, you two go enjoy Paris. Whatever was or might have been for mon fluer is of little consequence when she seems to be happy right now. It was a pleasure, Thorne. Take care of her."

Then to Lilith, he takes her free hand for a kiss before Scarlett latches in for a partial hug and says her loud farewells. When Byron and Lilith are on their way off, they hear her keep talking while the pair goes for another drink, "... we'll have to google him." Of course she wants to google him, she seems the type to want to know who is who with money, but Laurent doesn't say anything more than humming noise in his throat with rumble of distraction. He's still watching Lilith go with Byron for a spell before turning off to order his own drink refill and carry on about the Paris day in whatever regard.

Once a good distance away, Lilith nudges in against Byron while walking to murmur dryly, as if she isn't sure what else to say, "... that certainly gave us something to talk about over dinner." But luckily she doesn't have to cross those bridges now and can take a moment to compose herself and freshen up while he's occupied with the phone, "I'll be right back."

"Your friends were quite entertaining." Byron says with an impish smile as he leads Lilith towards the women's restroom, giving her this time to unwind, freshen up, try to forget running into old friends maybe? "We still have a museum tour to keep our attention occupied until then." He reminds her, before tacking on at the end, "Your Royal Highness." Of course, he's smiling brightly at that, his hand already lifting his phone to view the message. It's probably nothing, the text he'd received. Just a good excuse to get out of what could have been an awkward conversation for the birthday girl.

Before she's allowed to escape him, he pulls her in for another kiss, this time to the temple, then lets her wander. He'll stick around near the hall, his dark eyes shooting across the way to view Scarlet and Laurent as they make their own departure for a moment, then drifting to his phone's screen to tap out a hurried message.

Lilith spends a time in the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror after freshening up and arranging her hair, brows vaguely knit down with some kind of nagging bother despite her general affable cool even when she was quiet during conversation. After pursing her lips briefly off to one side, she steps to look at herself in the decorated full length mirror in a posh primping and seating area off of the bathroom. She does a turn one way, then the other before spinning outright to watch her dress flare during the spin and suddenly when she looks at herself again in the image reflection, she can't help but smile.

She does glow sometimes now, doesn't she? It's a fascinating thing to feel and see on herself. Maybe it's the weight and threat of life in Gray Harbor falling away, or maybe just Byron and the trip itself (which still seems still so unreal) are fully responsible, but... she feels lighter and her self-esteem doesn't plummet with general embarrassment about the company she used to keep. She's in Paris goddamnit and stranger, more unpleasant things have happened, it's certainly not going to ruin the trip or her mood. She has a very beautiful and sexy man standing in the hallway outside the door waiting on her and his playful address of Lilith as her Royal Highness still gives her the girly flutters and makes her feel like a princess.

When she comes out, she steps right in to wrap her arms around Byron's torso and looks up to suggest, "Museum art and tower tomorrow. We'll do some shopping now since it's later in the day and it gives me a chance to look around at the way life moves here. Then we'll come back and get ready for dinner tonight." Lilith speaks like it's decided since Byron's not a first timer and probably has no real preference in what the hell they much do and in which order. That and she suspects that jet lag is actually going to catch up with them at some point and being refreshed for a tourist viewing trek for the day after is probably important, this is the less taxing order of things.

After laying on a kiss, then another kiss with swipe of thumb at the man's mouth to remove gloss smudge afterwards, Lilith lets Byron make the arrangements to the designer shopping district by the most convenient way of transport. But once they're out of the front doors, she tugs him to stop with her so she can draw him into another kiss there on the Paris sidewalk, as well as a nuzzle with whispered words.

"You do make me glow."

Then they're off to occupy with shopping before going up to dress for dinner and calling a new car. While out doing that, though, Lilith won't let Byron go into the expensive lingerie shop with her or see into the bags from that store when she comes out. Because that is Byron's present for the trip, which she's otherwise lopsided smiles and mum's word about. In fact, she hides it down at the very bottom of her luggage while the man is in the shower, right before she goes to join him. The way she's acting, he no doubt knows she's up to planning something and who knows when he's actually going to get that something sprung on him.

This is Lilith, it'd be fair to assume she's going to try to fuck him while sunbathing on a nude Euro beach she found on google or something. Granted, given how the population on nude beaches tends to actually look, this might be less sexy as a concept than a person might think... so maybe not. Anyway, at some point the woman ends up dressed for dinner in the full outfit Byron gifted her with for the evening.

While he's waiting for Lilith, attention no longer focused on her two friends he'd just met, Byron gets to go through the various messages on his phone. And by how many texts he needs to sift through, his phone must've blown up over the course of their time with Laurence and Scarlet. He sends off some frantic responses, taking a look around him before finding a quiet spot along one of the hallway walls so that he's not in anyone's way.

This goes on for a time until Lilith reappears from the bathroom and he casually slips his phone into his pocket to go and meet with her. Whatever conversation he was in just prior is, well, probably not forgotten, but set aside for the time being. Instead, he's all smiles again, feeling her arms around his midsection as he reaches to envelope her in his own embrace as well. No, there's no disappointment to this change of plans. "You're the birthday girl. Everything we do from here on out is up to you." He says before leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead. "Shopping it is." He'll accept her own kisses with debonair grace, his lips quirking with amusement when she rubs off some of the gloss she'd transferred his way.

Byron's not really one to be ashamed of public displays of affection. He's probably the type of man who thrives on it in this 'Look at me' and 'Look at what I've got' sort of mentality. Being drawn into her whisper, he feels the warmth of her words wash over him.

The whole shopping fiasco, that's all Lilith. Though, he will help her pick and choose outfits and the like if she so asks and despite the rudeness of it all, he does join her in one of the luxurious changing room stalls for at least one shop, being as frisky as he's feeling. This carries over to when they are back at their suite and showering to change. Is he really none the wiser to any of her antics? If not, he plays along with it, not wanting to spoil her surprise, though he has a few things on his mind at the moment, feeling the heat of the water cascading over him. With her by his side, he's all roaming hands and nuzzling before they dry off to get dressed for the remainder of their evening.

This is what Byron's saved his tuxes for, escorting Lilith to one of the restaurants overlooking the Tower. "Day one will soon be coming to a close. We have quite the schedule tomorrow before we catch the train out into the countryside... which will be interesting." They are led to their table where drinks are immediately ordered not long after they'd gotten settled in. Looking over at her from across the way, he murmurs, "You are simply breathtaking."

"Thank you. When you look at me like that, I can't help but feel flutters and believe you. You transfix and it makes me feel nigh mythical." Lilith speaks with break into girlishly charmed smile at Byron after she's settled into the chair he pulls out and the drinks are ordered. In fact, she seems almost close to stammer or fluster there for a moment because she pauses to just stare at him for about two heartbeats before recovering to tease the man, "I suppose it could just be the way of your eyes, though. Are you biased because you picked my dress? Are you doing double duty of complimenting your fine taste?"

The beautiful Parisian view the high-end restaurant provides glitters with city night lights and the Eiffel Tower is sparkling just the same in the backdrop through the windows. That said, the brunette woman herself is admittedly a bit of a vision tonight-- the long and elegant strapless wrap dress is pale with ground skimming fall to hem, decorated with soft and dusky florals and accent diamond jewelry. Glossy dark hair is in a stylish loose twist up and away to highlight the bare shoulders and dress-flattered decolletage in a way that suits, and cosmetics make her glow and flush at the cheeks and lips to match her bloom of smile, eyes gently accent smoked to draw focal point.

She should be looking at the menu and deciding what she wants to eat, but after eyeing it all in French, then looking around the room and at the view through the windows, Lilith can't help but land her gaze on Byron once more. Leaning forward some, she reaches for one of his hands across the table to speak more seriously, tone soft with gratitude and affectionate emotion that comes in waves of warmth while she's speaking, "I'm happy. You know that, don't you? You make me very, very happy, deep down. This is all so..." She draws in a breath and briefly looks at the windows again, "It's like walking in a fairy tale. I have to keep reminding myself it isn't pretend anymore."

Lilith's head then shakes subtly before she clarifies with squeeze on Byron's hand, "You have the means to give me everything. I need you to know, though, that you are what makes all of these gifts mean so much. You make me feel the sentiment more than the objects. You're not trying to buy me. You've changed the way I live and look at life. I look forward, not backwards. My past touches me less. I can't express how that feels to me, why it's so important."

There's a breath that's close to overwhelmed, as if she's about to get emotional right there in the restaurant. But in the end right before the drinks arrive, she smiles with an incandescence and speaks with quiet solidity, "Thank you, Byron."

Fine red wine fills their glasses and while they are surrounded by some of the most magnificent views in all of France, Byron's eyes are on Lilith. The twinkling night sky, the Eiffel Tower, they were mere backdrop to her beauty. Thorne might exude confidence in most things that he does, often portraying himself as both confident and successful, there are moments where he lets his own nerves slip from time to time, reminding those around him that he's just like them. Just some guy from a small town in Washington. He does well to hide most of that in this very moment, though there's that teenage infatuation that can often be seen in his eyes whenever he looks on Lilith Winslow.

Sensing her reaching for his hand before she actually does so, the hand closest to her slides slowly in her direction as if attempting to meet her part-way, before he feels the gentle weight of her touch at its back. "That's all that I want for you, Lil. I want you to be happy. You deserve to happy." He then corrects himself, "Not just on your birthday either." It's then that he takes a good look around them, at the Parisian cityscape. It really was all terribly impressive. His lips then crack into a pleased smile, "Biased? Possibly." He even laughs a touch here. "But you look absolutely stunning." Dark eyes seek hers out once again. "I can gift you the clothing, the jewelry. But you make the most of all of my gifts."

It's then that he looks prepared to help her order if she needs any translating or recommendations, but as fancy as this restaurant is, there's at least some minor translations for each of the menu items as it were. After sipping at his wine with his free hand, once his grasp is relieved of the glass, he settles that hand onto hers, especially as she speaks to him from her heart. "You were just as infatuated with me when I was some kid in a crappy town trying to scrape by and make something of myself." This is said as a tease, because he'd always known of his own infatuation of her. "If things turned out differently and while we might not be here per se, once we came back together again, I'm sure however we decided to celebrate your birthday, it would be just as magical."

Lilith draws in a slow, deep breath after Byron is finished speaking and looks at their two hands together before nodding small and decisive with knowing. She opens her mouth a little, as if to say more, but really, all she can do is keep smiling as she looks back up at the man. That's probably all she really needs to convey anything else that isn't coming out. There aren't words for some sentiments and her demeanor and expression says them all.

Slowly, she disengages their hands with a final caressing pet over Byron's knuckles to take a drink and finally work on deciphering what she wants to eat. After pointing with a few questions at things for the man to explain, she decides and the order is placed between the pair of them. When that's finished and they're waiting on food, she settles back to wonder of him with a certain muted curiosity, therefore opening the floor to questions or comments on the chance meeting with her past in the hotel bar.

"What did you think of Scarlett and Laurent? I suppose it's not that shocking to run into them, I'm sure you run into your money or business circles abroad too. Social circles cast a wider world net with money, I've noticed. Do you know Cooper?"

As one would expect from a highly acclaimed French restaurant such as this one, the meal is an enjoyable fare with various courses being prepared starting with some delicious soup. The pair of them make small talk, if anything, before their appetizer arrives and that's when Lilith decides to inquire about his thoughts on her friends from the past. It's then that Byron is mid-sip of his wine, smiling with some hint of amusement as he sets his glass down.

"Scarlet is like some wind-up toy... even more-so than you tend to be some times." He just had to add that last bit, the edges of his lips lifting further. "No, I thought that they were, well, obviously, I have little understanding to their lifestyles but I'm thankful," He supposes, "For their support of you while you were in their company and I trust that they've both been very kind and generous to you while being beneficial." This is when he looks at Lilith across the way, trying to gauge her emotions on sight, the use of his empathy not having come to mind.

"Who doesn't know Xavier Cooper?" Says the business minded man. Though probably most people in the world, especially those of a lower class, might not have heard of the shipping magnate. Unless, that is, they were into 'celebrity' gossip, because celebrities of all sorts tend to hook up with the rich if not famous, traveling in similar circles. "I've met him a couple of times actually. Both in L.A. I can't say that he's one of my inner circle," Whoever those people are... "But I've always thought of him as... an interesting and entertaining guy. Always surrounded by beautiful people." The type of individuals that a young Byron Thorne had always admired, especially when he first stepped foot in this new lifestyle, having changed his own image in L.A. somewhat. Many of his college friends and global peers had thought that he had always been rich. Or, at least, grew up as new money. If they only knew that he'd only come into part of this fortune shortly before he moved to California.

Thinking back on Lilith's past life, however, this brings Grant Turner into his mind and whether their knowledge that Lilith is in France will be a problem. However, not wanting to spoil the mood, he finds no reason to bring it up. Four of his security detail had traveled with them out of country. He had to pay for the company good money so that they were set up with a hotel room of their own as well as for flight accommodations. "They really are quite a pair of characters." He's about to add something more, but keeps those thoughts to himself as well.

Lilith sniffs with mild amusement that's faux irritation when Byron compares one of her hyper wound up moods of excitability to Scarlett's own personal on-switch, "That was a toned down version of Scarlett, she's dingy and loud and annoying, she knows it and makes it her 'thing'. Rich men love her to take to parties and well... fuck. She very much likes that too, possibly as much as she likes money. Problem is, I never found her 'off' switch so... imagine living with that as a housemate. Luckily, we often passed like ships in the night and she wasn't home much."

While eating, she thinks about how to explain Laurent or even how kind and beneficial the pair of them actually were... considering they picked her up and changed her whole life into something else while she was pretty young, wide-eyed vulnerable, and significantly jaded. She lets that opinion simmer and hang with thought, not commenting with return immediately. Instead, she cracks a bit of a smile when Byron explains how he knows of Cooper, who she apparently knows too, "I actually like him. He doesn't care what anyone thinks and lives life the way he wants to live it because he can. He was never my client, but I've met him a few times at VIP clubs and bars from running in the circles he'd call for entertaining while in town and frequenting the same places. He used to call me Poison Ivy..."

Lilith pauses here to drink deep from her wine glass before finishing with a bit of a grin across the table at Byron, "Because I give a man an itch he can't help but want to scratch, knowing damn well it's going to hurt and spread." She pauses, "I told him that made me sound like an STD and he cut it down to just Ivy as compromise." Setting down her glass, though, she addresses her own opinions of the other pair, "Anyway. The two of them..." She wets her lips, "They're sharks, once there's blood or money in the water, it's an opportunity and escort services can be competitive because having a particularly taken rich regular can set someone up for life." After a pause for consideration, she adds, "Mostly, though... that wasn't something they directed at me. But you don't call those kind of people friends, even if you like them, you know? You can't. You have to know you're disposable too. I was an entertaining asset and I'm pretty sure they got some kickback from Camilla for finding me and bringing me to her. I made my own choices, though, I can't much blame them for the turn my life took."

And while Byron may not want to bring up Turner and Lilith isn't saying much about Laurent himself, she does confess to a bit of paranoia concerning the man, happy to see the plates of food coming for the next course as a distraction, "Laurent talks to Turner, though. I'm pretty sure he gets paid a lot of money on the sly to transfer all the client name lists that are supposed to be private behind Camilla's back. It gives Turner blackmail ammunition if any of them are public figures and he wants some strings pulled. I highly doubt that's why we ran into them, but really..."

Her eyes turn to her wine glass being refilled before she lifts it to cheer over at Byron with sudden impish flair to her features, "I'm more worried about choosing dessert and finding room for it in a way that won't have me stuffed sick." The way she's enjoying the plates, though, you wouldn't much think she's slowing down, absolutely shameless about enjoying the cuisine in an authentic French environs at a five star restaurant with a view. And she seems to mean it, she's not all tense or bothered talking about it, or even much dwelling on the idea they may well be stalked on vacation. Because like she told Byron prior, she is happy and she's not letting that slide away, it's easier to do that outside of Gray Harbor, even when it comes to the mundane problems.

"I saw somewhere to stop before we go back to the hotel, but it's a surprise. So you should probably pick dessert when it's time or we'll be here all night while I agonize about choosing."

"I never understood this desire that certain men have of... I don't know, having a clueless, yet beautiful woman on his arm." Byron is not afraid to admit. "I think intelligence is sexy. Now, I'm not going to say that a pretend airhead isn't as much of a threat or a challenge as say, a beautiful lawyer or doctor. If it'as all an act, they definitely have a keen head on their shoulders, but I never saw the appeal." He knows that those women are just good fucks and nothing more. A one night stand.

The discussion on Cooper makes him quirk his brow, "Poison Ivy?" It's not an overly terrible name if anyone's a fan of DC Comics or Batman's rogue gallery, but what she follows up with next makes him laugh, "I was about to say that being infected by poison ivy sounds less than pleasant. Even if Ivy in itself is a pretty name, I will agree with that much." Enjoying a spoonful of savory soup, he has to agree when Lilith calls her former flatmate sharks, "I got that vibe too. That's something I learned to pick up when associating with the likes of..." Easton Marshall, he is about to say, being reminded of their younger years together, but instead, he tosses out, "Well, most of the people I hung out with in L.A. You had to learn to blend in and play their game and to not let them realize just how out of your league this new lifestyle was." The money that Byron was afforded helped a lot to cement that image in many of his peer's minds. "Some of them were sharks. Others, didn't really want to be associated with anyone that they couldn't use, whether it be based on prestige or how much ass someone was willing to kiss." Then something occurs to him, making his brow crease, "Now that I think about it, I wonder if that's the impression people get of me since my return to Gray Harbor."

While Byron would never have wanted Lilith to live the life that she did, she came out of it for the better. Or so he thought, but that sort of lifestyle comes with its own baggage and one such baggage is named Turner. He will nod along, taking another drink of wine. It's then that she mentions Grant Turner by name. Now that he realizes that Laurent and Turner are connected, he makes a mental note to tap his security and perhaps have one of the four tail the escort pair. He doesn't reach for his phone immediately, like always, not wanting to ruin the moment.

"I wonder what would happen if all of that is exposed." He doesn't want to ruin the mood, but gears turn in his mind, "What Laurent can tell us or what we can find out of this client list. It's always handy to have dirt on people with dirt on others." He then considers this, "It might not hurt to have his business looked into, I think, at some point. We are friends with a good number of private investigators." Setting the glass down once more, he he uses that same hand to wave dismissively, "That's neither here nor there and nothing to concern ourselves with while we're on vacation." Even if in his mind, it is something to concern themselves with. But he can't help but having many a troubling thought as of late. He'll let Lilith enjoy herself and he'll deal with the rest.

After their meal and with the offer of dessert looming before them, he orders up some creme brulee and vanilla and rum filled caneles, before she piques his curiosity once more. "A surprise? Well, you know that I don't like ruining a good surprise." In fact, he's often patient when it comes to things like that, never pushy unless it's in play.

Lilith listens to Byron attentively and occasionally nods along a bit knowingly with agreement when he talks about the kind of people he'd run with in LA, comparatively. They've been on different sides of the fence, but still exposed to the same kinds of moneyed public and high end in different ways. But some things are very much the same when it comes to personalities and expectations of the rich. When he comment on what they might be able to do with what Laurent knows and might be willing to say or sell under the right circumstances, though, her expression turns a bit thoughtful with interest. But as they've both stated, they aren't going to let this vacation be ruined by Turner-talk.

While they eat dessert, the woman has a certain growing giddiness in anticipation of whatever she has planned afterwards as a detour on the way to the hotel. And she keeps that surprise all the way up to the car and through the ride a few blocks over to have them dropped off in front of the doors of a stylish, flashing retro Paris downtown nightclub that clearly serves VIPs as much as the dancers inside letting loose to the beat. Reaching to push Byron's tux jacket off before they get out of the car, she explains in brief while the thump of music coming out of the doors beckons, "I am not passing the chance to go to a real Paris nightclub. Leave your coat and tie in the car, shirt cuffs and pants, breezy and beautiful."

Then she lets her hair loose to tousle with wild tumble and leans in to kiss Byron roughly before ushering out of the car with bossy enthusiasm, telling the driver, "We're dancing to three songs, thirty minutes, do a loop." While the outfit and hair adjustments hardly make the two of them look like they're in clubber attire, they're still gorgeous and clearly moneyed and get let right in above the line behind the ropes when Lilith (needlessly) advises Byron to walk in like they own the place so they look like expected VIPs. And once inside, she leads the man straight to the dance floor to absolutely cut free and dance until they're breathless. It might not be his scene, but that kind of wild enthusiasm with the whole ritzy, energetic, flashing Paris nightclub scene?

It's certainly a boon. Besides, like he said, she's the birthday girl. And true to her word, they do three songs before riding back to the hotel where they wind down with gradual, body relishing undress of each other and slow, drawn out pleasure of lovemaking until they can't go anymore. They're blissfully taken to sleep until morning with the lights of Paris twinkling in cityscape out of the hotel windows.