Strawberry-Cream

Seemingly caught surprised, Sylvaine looks up from the menu.

"Oh, time to order? Ah, pour moi... " another glance into the menu "I take zee swordfish as well, merci."

In this moment, it strikes her as unclever to have breakfasted on her regular Müsli. Too late now. She gives the menu to the waiter with a nod and smile.

Sylvaine gets her attention back to the table with a polite smile, but she obviously listened well enough:

"Ah, une femme médicin?

Excuse me... vell, I zhink I am ere, and if zhat assignment is as simple as you suggest, monsieur Blackburn, I vill be delighted to take you up on your offer for brunch and ear zee details."

She gives a cheerful smile raising the glass of Pommery towards Blackburn that the waiter brought as ordered, before setting it down again.

Sylvaine gives a smile and a nod to James, answering his question first:

"Ah, mais monsieur, vee are all ere, a madame just vent to powder up her nose, je pense. But, alas, vee ave not introduced by now."

She chuckles quietly as he suggests it might have been because the people were too shy. She starts to open her mouth, but then turns to Hector with a bemused grin, listening to his self-advertisement. Well, obviously she would not have to be sorry for him losing his legs. Her smile turns even more cheerful as he addresses her, and she doesn't seem insulted at all, although it's probably not the most common term she'd be called.

"Vell, I already introduced myself, but... je m'appele Sylvaine Cédan. I ave studied a bit of medicine, but I skipped zhat and became a holistic practitionier instead." She can't help a slight grin, looking to Hector. "Alors, I zhink I know how to point a gun so it's not pointing at me, and also I am a Sensai for Jiu-Jitsu. I ave worked a bit with the police, and zhe nice people of the CAPS ici ave allowed me to help zhem a bit as well... which means, at some point, I will ave to arrest you, monsieur le tank, I ope you like handcuffs?"

She gives a teasing wink, before giving her attention to whoever speaks next.

Sylvaine calmly endures the stare, obviously not paying any heed to it - or not irritated by it. She keeps a disarming smile, but then looks to her wine list again. She gives a polite, light, warm chuckle at Hector's request, and astoundingly she honestly does seem to be amused - not on Hector's cost, but because of the (perceived) subtle self-irony.

"I'll ave a café au lait, monsieur le maître... ah, est quand zhe host arrives, I'll take a glass of Pommery, aussi."

Somehow she's curious whether a glass of water will be brought to the coffee or not. It's not customary in america, now is it? While the rest finishes the beverages order, she scans unobtrusive through the room, especially looking for those two curious couriers, but generally trying to get an idea about the people around. She then offers a bit of conversation to Hector as the maître is gone:

"Vell, monsieur, no offense, but I did not zhink you vould be often in zee mood for a vin?"

Her charming smile obviously shows that she's not mocking, but just chatting a bit.

Sylvaine takes a wine list with a thankful nod. She cannot hide the arching of a brow, as she studies the selection. Some good wines, yet from nowhere near where good wines come from... a Haberschlachter Heuchelberg could at least been in the fray. Oh well.

Since the attempt to introduce each other with the group so catastrophically failed, she tries another way this time. She leans slightly over to Nick, with a smile:

"I vould recommend zhe pinot noir, monsieur... or perhaps le premier Cabernet ici..." Goes well with strong meat dishes? Sounds good for Rambo A. With a smile she continues looking to Nick: "You should really chose the wine you like, only snobs zhink you should match your wine to your dish, and not your tastes..." She gives a typically french (or italian, for that matter) wink. Of course, she spoke quietly enough as not to insult the maître. Anyway, it wasn't his fault that americans had to copy guidelines for wine drinking since they lack the intuitive style. She was sure he could give very good by the books advice about wine. On a different note...

"By zhe way, monsieur, I zhink I did not catch your name..."

Partages et regnes.

Sylvaine only nods to the maître d'or indicating she belongs to the group, moving with them over to the table... she cannot hide a somewhat surprised expression, seeing the people who'll be there too. Okay, she isn't that much older, but... a girl? And this Rambo here? And then the other Rambo too? Well... at least it won't be boring.

She smiles somewhat honestly with the latest thought, and before everyone seats she says, her charming accent sparkling all over the words:

"Bien, I zhink vee will be taking zis brunch ensemble?"

She politely, naturally offers everyone a handshake - except Corrie, she gets just a brief wave. She still wears gloves, but her handshake is somewhat firm and warm.

"I am Sylvaine Cédan... from l'Éurope, so I ave to excuse for my bad english..." she smiles brightly and comfortably takes a seat.

Now now... this ex prisoner type that was just passing with a notable amount of attention to her... would be one of the people she probably would not let participate in one of her Jiu-Jitsu courses, since he might well accidentally snap someones arm. Nevertheless, she gives a polite nod back to him.

When he has passed, she finally decides it's time to leave the comfort of the warm armchair - with a short sigh of regret, and the thought that the next person would have the leather already warmed.

She gracefully and vividly gets up (back to to counter the inertia with a bit of activity), but, alas, as turning around to grab her bag she bumps right into... *sound of a die rolling*Corrie.

She immediately turns to her with a warm, apologetic smile and expresses with an ever-so-charming accent:

"Oh, excusez-moi... I must ave been a bit absent minded... my apologies."

Realizing the person she bumped into is but a jeune-fille, her smile naturally warms a bit more. In a friendly, equally natural gesture, she casually places her hand on Corries arm as she lets her by.

Seeing how the time advances, Sylvaine starts to put the magazine on her lap, playfully rolling it together... she taps it onto her knees for a bit, before she finally puts it away.

She watches the bypassers with a smile, then producing a pocket mirror to quickly check whether she was still looking acceptable enough. She wasn't really vain, but used to sporting good looks - after all, why shouldn't she? She nods contently and packs the mirror away again, quickly going over the clothing, then sighing and sinking back in the armchair again... she sure could spend another five more minutes, now that the soft leather was getting warm from her body...

Sylvaine can't help a chuckle. She rewards the constant, somewhat amusing gesturing and winking of the one of them with a bemused smile and a short wink back, before she puts her attention back on the magazine (for a moment), shaking her head slightly.

With a quick check for the time, she rather still sits there a bit in the comfy armchair. Perhaps next time she visited the states she should rent a room here...

OOC: Freeplay, you might want to check the "Geography" thread, there's a link to the Drake down the first page .

Having to admit that she does seem to be a bit early, Sylvaine acknowledges that with a resignative sigh and acquiesces into the cruel fate of having to sink in a comfortable armchair at the side of the hallway, idly grabbing for some high gloss art magazine. Now, if she'd only could convince herself of the hardship she has to endure...

She playfully browses through the magazine, but not really following it, more or less just relaxing and sitting around. She has an eye on the other guests, and wouldn't pass up the chance for a conversation, should it offer itself.

She busies herself this way until about 8:45 or 8:50.

Sylvaine answers with shaking her head to the question whether she'd stay the night.

After having received the answer from the desk clerk (she figures that Sam may be short for Samantha, as Samuel does appear somewhat unlikely), she smiles and waves off with her hand:

"Oh, no, zank you, zhat may not be necessary. I do suppose getting the maitre would include an awful 'assle of more cards avec buttons to press, and I'd only confuse zhem and make zee nice doorman fetch my reservation from the garderobe..."

She underlines the weak joking with a pleasant smile and a soft chuckle, then nods a farewell and turns left... it seems she is quite early, so perhaps, after she found that oak terrace, she could roam about a bit and correct the people's pronounciation of all these très chic french terms they are trying to apply. She chuckles again and shakes her head to herself, she did not remember being so sarcastic. Ah well, as long as it was only in thoughts...

With a cheery smile, she heads the direction mentioned in search of the oak terrace, politely nodding to other guests she encounters (especially if they are older than her, which probably means the majority), and even mumbling a short greeting if they appear to have a friendly face.

Lol how I can see this getting blamed on the next killing spree.

Or even better: "A monster image was overlaying my view of him, and I didn't realize I had a real gun in hands."

Sylvaine ponders for a moment whether it would be appropriate to tip when coming, or when leaving again. Tipping before offers the advantage that the people are benevolent right up from the start. On the other hand, though, it is considered bad taste sometimes and there's also this idea that you ought to earn your reward.

Anyway, she sticks with the european course and just gives the doorman a smile, after having studied the card for a while with obvious curiosity.

"Oh, zhis is very neat, monsieur... "

She tilts the card a little to see whether it has one of those fancy holograms, but oh well. With a final muttered "merci" she steps in, her bag loosely slung over her shoulder, nestled against her waist. She checks her scarf and coat while entering. Since unfamiliar with the place, heading to the reception might appear a good idea for starters. With another charming smile, she addresses a woman working behind the desk.

"Bonjour mademoiselle... I ave an arrangement (fr) dans le oak terrace, would you be so kind as to tell me where I can find it?"

Okay... I'm pretty good at speaking english with a french accent, if I want to, I know how it should sound and how it ought to be pronounced... but fsck, I am swimming on the rail as how to write it.

Could someone give me some ideas? I tried in my IC posts so far, but oh well, I'm not content. I can write better french german than french english . I know how the sounds should be, but just no idea how they should be written.

And I don't want to install a phonetics font, huh?

So help me if you can I'm feeling down!

Help me get my feet back on the ground... err, well, you know .

If all ropes sunder, there's still the option of emoting it *speaks with a charming french accent*, but, marf.

Just as suspected, after the initial terror of the cold, it got better after some minutes of cycling. Having heard that Chicago was pretty bike friendly given american standards, she didn't mourn her decision to take over her bike (yet).

While pondering whether it could be appropriate to purchase some sunglasses as accessoire, the weather did not seem to support this idea. Anyway, being late would not hold too much merit - it wasn't a date after all, but "business". And perhaps even some fun.

Assuming nothing eventful happens on the journey, Sylvaine drives right up to the door, despite the coat getting off rather elegantly. It's of a rather pretty dark brown, not too different from her hair she finds at times, and obviously of superior quality. Her soft, white scarf is slung around her neck and up to the mouth to protect from the cold, but that in such a fashionable manner that it would go for the cover of a fashion magazine too. Well, in fact she had been on Vogue once... but that was for a cover story about alternative medicine. Never mind.

With a charming smile she turns right to the doorman in an engaging manner, and asks: "Excusez-moi, monsieur, but where can I leave zhe cyclette? Zank you very much, mister... Oh, and I ave an appointement avec un mister Blackburn, it is at zee oak terrace, n'est-ce pas?"

edited for filling in placeholder

Since that visit by that certain stranger did in fact not happen yesterday - but 2 AM in the morning - getting up early is harder than usual.

Having decided to skip the current day's programme of conventions and information on ayurvedic cryogenics (what pervert would imagine something like that anyway?) at the Mount Sinai hospital, Sylvaine stands at the window, trying to eat on a bowl of granola while meanwhile phoning her father. She could dress afterwards, for now she'd have to deal with the cold feeling from below her naked feet. While the information wasn't really worth too much, it wasn't few enough to bail out on that appointment either.

And besides, an invitation to the Drake might just be more enjoyable than that convention at the Sinai.

After a quick shower, Sylvaine dresses rather properly, although temperatures around the freezing point aren't so unfamiliar to her. Picking her bag, donning cloak and a scarf while getting downstairs to fetch her bike, the prospect of riding through that March weather makes her shiver in advance. Ah well, it would be better after a few minutes. It ought to be due north, to that Drake hotel, and so she sets out, planning on an arrival approximately 5-15 minutes early.

edited for spelling

Well my view is rather limited too,

since I have the "luck" to live in Kladow, the southwestern part of Berlin. It is Berlin still, and not a long jump to Potsdam. My "culture" so far mainly is the university, and activities that go off from there: reporting for the OKB (Berlin open channel), striking, going out doing class in the subway, and so on.

There are parts of Berlin with a very high percentage of people with turkish origin, like Kreuzberg, Mitte, Wedding. Things aren't as calm there, and you ought to have a friend with you that looks intimidating. Turkish people luckily are more about impression and quarrels with words and status, if you manage to be good with words they'll leave you in peace... yet they are much more likely to whip out a scimitar (well, a knife ) than germans. Some elementary schools in those districts have as much as 60% of turkish people, which of course isn't all that good.

Neo-Nazis I hardly see any, and usually if there is a march that was allowed by the police, there are twice as many people demonstrating against them. Potsdam is a bit worse in that aspect, but I'm not really there, but Brandenburg (the region surrounding Berlin) is known for quite some right wing activists.

People are usually laid back, and there are a lot of foreigners, either tourists or people to stay. Polish people usually deal with electronics and buy old things (or steal cars, sadly it's not only a cliché), there are russian bands trying to gain a footing, and of course there is the asian cigarette mafia, with people selling bootleg cigarettes.

Things like pot you can get at some majorly known subway stations, like U-Bahnhof Turmstraße, walking up and down once suffices to have at least on foreigner address you and offer you what you need.

Berlin has a lot of hip cafés and bars where you can spend the evenings discussing or chilling out, and usually there is some good music too. Let's name the Schwarzes Café in Charlottenburg as a classic (although it doesn't have music), it's open round the clock and quite traditional - for instance, my doctor at the hospital where I did civil service hung out there too.

There are some locations for students for cheap (but very good) food, and then of course there are the usual sights... Potsdamer Platz, Reichstag, Unter den Linden, Brandenburger Tor, you name it.

Sadly I'm unfamiliar with the eastern parts of the city, but it still looks rather run-down and is in a worse shape. I only visit Weißensee from time to time. Most notable difference is that in the east the Tram is still alive and kicking.

Of course, there is the green belt of Berlin, with a lot of people moving there. I could imagine that for a CP setting, the corp zones would be the city's centre and the parts surrounding it, like Oranienburg, Sacrow, Potsdam. It clearly would offer a lot of potential.

As for active "scenes", I am not really part of any, but we have a strong punk scene, with influx from Hamburg (it's only 2 hours away), and also quite a couple of goths. You could beat me for their usual hangouts and locations though, I hae no clue .

Ah well I hope that helped a bit, if you need any specific information, just ask.

We just ignore the 8 points of damage rule.

Too many people got their heads kicked off their shoulders by martial artists.

Hm,

I live in Berlin.

It's definetely not boring, not even in 2004.

Best movies...

The last Unicorn

Petits désordres amoureux

Record of Lodoss war

The Boondock Saints

Interview with the Vampire

Yeah yeah okay and LotR.

TV...

Simpsons, Bab5, Futurama