Lights, Music....and Mistaken Identities

[ree]

Setting: Ambrosios Cafe on a sunny but breezy afternoon.

Valencia Buchanen - Mmm, Cake

Rehearsal had been an absolute nightmare.

While Valencia had been recovering from her bout with the Soldier of Destruction and her erstwhile companions, she'd let her performance suffer and that simply was unacceptable. It was also commented upon by her director that her mind really wasn't in Javert's character and that had pissed her off. However, if Valencia was one thing, it was always, always professional. Instead of berating the director about being an incompetent jackass who couldn't inspire a mosquito to suck blood, she'd requested the afternoon off to clear her head and out she went.

Dressed in a long coat with sunglasses, she was hoping she wouldn't be recognized in this part of town. While the musical theater world had its fans, Les Miserables was such a popular musical that word was bound to get out. And yes, she'd been tanned and had facial hair on the poster, there was no mistaking her eyes. All she wanted was a cup of coffee, perhaps a slice of cake, and an afternoon to reflect on what went wrong with the battle and what she would do to change it next time. Valencia hated running from combat but her inner sense of self-preservation had rightly identified when she'd gone too far and really there was only one person to blame for that.

Ouranos.

The woman was like a completely different character. Yes there was a time for cold killing but it hadn't been to tick off the most powerful Senshi of Selenity's court. In Valencia's opinion, she would do better without her warrior persona but she was stuck with it and had to make the best of it. A sign caught her eye, as well as the smell of fresh baked goods. Well, there seems as good a place as any. Ambrosios Cafe, Greek, I'm assuming, or with some influences. So she stepped through the door and approached the counter. She looked neither left or right but focused in on the cashier and the array of baked goods on either side.

"Excuse me, do you have a menu or is it just a selection of the goods in the glass case? I'm afraid I'm new in town and I don't really know the area yet." She slid off her glasses and offered a semi-smile to the young lady there.

[Minxie]

[[ Ciel Ignis --- Well hello! ]]

The day had been relatively quiet, as days went, and Ciel had not entirely found herself enjoying it. The people coming in had been full of tales of the positively supernatural occurrences that had happened in the last few weeks, and she just did not want to know. All of the things they described matched so well with her memories. She couldn't put faces to names, but she knew of a senshi who wielded the power of ice, and one whose abilities were over Earth, and knew of rumours of the fabled and feared senshi of destruction. None of them were her allies, not one, because Ciel knew that as soon as one of them recognised her for what she was, she would be foisted back into position of guarding a princess she might not even like. She just hoped that none of the insanity would happen near here, or near her twin.

She shook herself out of her unpleasant reverie as the bell above the doorway gave out a soft chime, and Ciel put herself behind the counter, a ready smile on her lips. Her jaw nearly dropped as she saw just whom had entered her family's little cafe. Ciel would have been a pretty poor performance student if she had not recognised the internationally recognised actress that had stepped in. The fangirl within the blonde was jumping up and down and casting about for a pen and something to sign, but she kept a tight lid on her excitement - barely.

"Excuse me, do you have a menu or is it just a selection of the goods in the glass case? I'm afraid I'm new in town and I don't really know the area yet."

Even her very speaking voice was perfect. Ciel gave a happy internal shiver, and was about to ramp her usually-welcoming-smile up a notch, when Ms Buchanen took off her sunglasses and half-smiled. The effect shot straight up through Ciel, and straight back down again. She swallowed, and hoped it wasn't too ridiculously obvious.

"We - ah - we have both menus and the snacks here," she said, taking a tight reign of both her performer's excitment and of her hormones, and smiled again. "If you would like to take a seat, I can come and take your order when you've had a chance to take a look, or if you spot anything here you like, I can get you that."

[ree]

Valencia - Well, Aren't you Adorable?

The young lady was certainly polite and Valencia couldn't help but be amused at her reactions. Having seen it before, she knew it was either one of two things: the girl had recognized her from the theater or she found her attractive. Either was an intriguing possibility. Normally Valencia didn't outwardly flirt, she found it took away from the focus of her performance, but since she was trying to branch out and do something new today, she figured what was the harm in it. Folding her glasses and slipping them into her pocket, she made her smile a bit more flirtatious and lowered her tone to more of a purr.

"I think I'll have a look around the cases before I sit, if you don't mind? I'm sure you know just what's been prepared so in case I have questions..." She began browsing the display cases with the snacks. "Are there any Greek pastries you would recommend? I'm assuming from the shop's name that's where you're taking your inspiration. Quite unique really, to find a Greek cafe in the middle of Japan."

Valencia did love her sweets. It didn't really matter what, just as long as it wasn't cloying. And she did love her caffeine. Coffee had been her life's blood the opening tour of Wicked when she'd first gone on as Fiyero. I swear I think I would have developed a coffee vein drip just to keep myself going.

"And what do you have for coffee? I must admit, I'm rather...picky about that, sad to say."

All while she was talking, Valencia kept shooting sidelong glances at the young woman. So it was clear that although she was talking about innocuous things, she was really keeping an eye on her. Mm, very lovely golden hair. From the way it's styled, I'd wager she's a little spoiled, possibly the only girl in the family. Filled with innocence still, the type that never really grew up, and still lives comfortably under the family's wing. If I were to guess. She straightened and gestured to one of the pastries.

"Can you tell me what this one is, miss?"

[Minxie]

[[ Ciel Ignis --- Cannot stop staring... ]]

She knew she was probably staring, but Ciel couldn't quite prevent herself from doing so. She hoped that she at least looked more like an attentive shopkeeper than a teenage fangirl, but she wasn't entirely sure she managed it. At least she could commiserate herself with the knowledge the half-smile she was wearing was entirely natural. Of all the people who could have walked into the store today, one of idols had not been on Ciel's list of people-to-expect. She was beyond relieved that Koray was in class; she could just hear his disapproving mutters as she followed the actress with her eyes, could see the little crease between his brows.

Koko worries too much. She thought to herself, idly tucking some of her hair behind her ear, and wishing she was wearing something a little more elegant than the pale blue-and-white checked dress and little white apron. She felt a little like a housewife. Still, Ciel could comfort herself with the fact it clung nicely to her curves and gave a decent view of her décolletage.

Every time she noticed Ms Buchanen glancing her way, Ciel wanted to giggle and preen like a schoolgirl. She was quite impressed she hadn't, to be honest. She suspected her acting lessons had at least something to do with that.

"Can you tell me what this one is, miss?"

Ciel smiled, moving to the area of the counter the actress was stood.

"That particular one?" She pointed to the one that had been indicated. "Milopita, a cake with apples. It is one of my father's favourites." She smiled again. "I can recommend it with a caramel sauce, to temper the bite of the apple, or we also have icecream if you would prefer."

[ree]

Valencia Buchanen - This is Turning Out to be Much More Fun Than I Thought

"Mmmm, ice cream sounds lovely. Yes, I think a slice of this cake is just what the doctor ordered."

Normally she didn't eat dairy before a performance, it made her throat too thick, but she could never resist things like apple pie ala mode. I suppose it comes from being born in the US where such a thing is common. And the cake did look quite good. She straightened and slipped her glasses into her coat pocket.

"If I could get a glass of water with that, it'd be most appreciated. I'll just take a seat and wait, if you don't mind."

Valencia turned and headed for the tables. There were a few other customers but not too many so she was able to find a small table near the back where she could take off her jacket and drape it over the chair. Underneath she wore a simple royal blue button-down with silver cufflinks in the shape of the symbol of Uranus. It wasn't exactly subtle but she hadn't been able to resist. And whenever asked, she'd always say she just had a fascination with mythology surrounding the planets. She crossed her legs and settled in, looking for all the world as if she sat in a comfortably padded chair in her own room.

She is quite lovely. I haven't had a flirtation in so long, it's amazing I haven't lost my touch. Work had always come first for Valencia but there was something about the young girl that made her want to dust off her old charm and ask her out. I'll have to keep an eye on her and see what she likes. I'm guessing pretty things, considering how she looks but I could be wrong. She's Greek so I wonder if she's been brought up Greek Orthodox...so many questions and so little information. Valencia hid a smirk. That will change soon.

[Minxie]

[[ Ciel Ignis --- EEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee... ]]

It was taking a great deal of Ciel's (not at all famous) self-control not to bounce around the cafe singing excitedly. Instead she managed a little nod of her head and a smile, murmuring 'of course' to the request for water and statement that Ms Buchanen would sit down and wait. She prepared the slice of tart with undue care, scooping the icecream as neatly as the spoon allowed, and used one of the nicer glasses (usually found with an iced concoction or coctail in) for the water.

I can't believe the Valencia Buchanen is here! In our cafe! It's like some kind of awesome j-drama or something! And oh! she's so beautiful up close...

Placing everything carefully on a tray, Ciel took a moment to calm herself, then picked said tray up and carried it over to the table. She smiled as she did so, hoping that her hair was still in place and her lipstick wasn't on her teeth.

"Her we are," she said, carefully taking first the glass, then the plate of cake, then the cake fork and napkin off the tray. "I hope you ..." She trailed off, blinking as she noticed the cufflinks. Under her light powder, her face paled slightly.

Please oh please oh please let this be a coincidence...[i/]

"I - ah- sorry - I hope you enjoy the cake," she said, trying to regain some of her earlier perkiness. "Sorry, your cufflinks surprised me..."

[ree]

Valencia - And the Intrigue Only Grows

Everything seemed to be going well. The sight of the cake and ice cream was a welcome one and Valencia was just about to purr her thanks when her pretty waitress turned pale. She paused, wondering what caused the change, and raised both eyebrows. The fact that the young girl had reacted so strongly to a simple piece of jewelry sent the wheels in her mind to turning. Possibilities danced as she tried to sort through them all.

No. She can't be Uranus...I would have felt it if she were...that was quickly discarded. But if not Uranus, then who? Someone connected to the past. Hmmm, this turned out to be a better idea than I thought. Apparently there truly are no coincidences. Valencia just smiled and tugged on the sleeves of her shirt.

"Oh I'm just interested in Greek mythology and I found these in a little curio shop in London. I thought they were fetching but if they bother you, pretty lady, then I will remove them." And she did so, tucking them into her pocket. Valencia picked up her spoon and tasted the dessert, ensuring to slowly lick her bottom lip in a more than flirtatious (yet still subtle) gesture. "Delicious. I assume everything here is homemade?"

[Minxie]

[[ Ciel Ignis --- Gulp... ]]

She felt like she was gawping like an adolescent again, but Ciel really wasn't able to school her expression any better than she had already attempted. She managed to twitch her lips into a semblance of a smile as Valencia took the cufflinks off and stowed them away. She knew she shouldn't be freaking out, and that in all likelihood it was just a massive coincidence. It was just so hard to truly believe that...

It can't be her... I'd know if it was. ...wouldn't I? I'm sure I would. But then...I've been trying so hard not to think about it that maybe it could be and I wouldn't know. Oh this is too hard!

Luckily Ciel's attention was immediately diverted from her worrying thoughts by Valencia's tongue, and then her question.

"I - ah, yes, yes it is." She nodded. "My father, mostly, does the baking, though often my mother, or my twin and I, help..." She was most glad of the change of subject.

[ree]

Valencia - Innocent (Or Not) Conversation

"Really? Is your family from Greece then? Your accent is impeccable." And being a foreigner herself, she would know. Then again, Valencia had made her career around manipulating her voice so languages weren't a problem. "I hope I'm not taking you away from your work though. Wouldn't want to get you in trouble."

There was a look in her eyes and a smile on the corners of her mouth that "trouble" was everything Valencia wanted to get into. She kept the conversation going mainly so she could figure out what it was about the girl that so fascinated her. I can't stay for too much longer, Anthony will start demanding to know where I went and I find I want to keep this little rendezvous just for myself. She continued to nibble on her cake. If she was going to have to make this visit short, she wasn't going to be denied her sweet.