Blue lips, blue veins

Yuri Drevin. 38. Owner of the gentleman's club Magnifique. (This is an RP blog for redandblackrp.tumblr.com)

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“Dinner? That is quite kind of you to offer. You really don’t have to. I would hate for you to go out of your to make me dinner. Plus I’m sure you have other things to do such as work. Also you shouldn’t put yourself down. You are quite the glamorous companion. I think everyone has a bit of glamour in them,” She explained.

It had been a long time since she had had a home cooked meal or really she said a home cooked meal that actually tasted good. Her mother had taught her how to cook but the meals they had back in Arkansas weren’t the healthiest. They were always full of butter and other fatty substances. Not something an actress who had to maintain her figure could eat. When she did cook it was mostly salads and other simple things. Also the fact that he was a stranger put her off a bit. He seemed kind though. Not like someone who would hurt her but then again could one really tell that about a person just by looking at them?

In the end his kindness won out. “A nice home cooked meal sounds wonderful. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.”

He smiled, delighted by the compliments and the accepting of his offer. He hadn’t actually expected her to say yes since she was so well known and he was so... not well known. Evelyn did seem a lot more down to earth in person though, so maybe he shouldn’t have been so surprised.

“Well, all right then,” he said, nodding. “Then it is settled. It might not be terribly fancy, but I will certainly try to make it delicious. I imagine you have quite the busy schedule, so you can just tell me what would be best for you and I can arrange my schedule accordingly. I would be honored to have you as a guest, Miss Piper.”

He opened the door to the car, grateful the rain had calmed to a drizzle. He got out but leaned back in, pleasant as he said, “You know where to find me, Miss Piper. Thank you very much. I hope the rest of your day treats you well.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:                            

“Now that is a very deep thought. Perhaps you are right. All we can do is make the world butter than we found it,” Evelyn nodded in agreement. “Honestly that is the hardest thing in the world to do though. The world is a hard place and to try change it almost seems impossible sometimes. I think if a person even just makes a small change in the world at least they have achieved something. Like you helping the women who work for you. I’m glad you’re making the world better for them.”

Evelyn blushed at his compliment. No matter how many compliments she received in life she still was not used to it. “You are quite nice my dear man. Thank you for your kind words. I will try my best not to lose touch with reality or lose my convictions and kindness. I could say the same about you sir. You are very down-to-earth and pleasant to talk to. I would love to do this again sometime.”

“I would enjoy that as well, Miss Piper,” he said honestly. “In fact, I’d like very much if you would allow me to make you dinner in exchange for you paying for this taxi. It is the least I can do since you’ve gone out of your way for a stranger. I’m likely not as glamorous a companion as you’re used to, but I am an adequate cook at the very least.”

He hoped he didn’t come across as forward or creepy with the suggestion. He was, after all, a strange man she’d only just met. Even if his intentions were entirely pure (they were), he supposed it was entirely possible she’d be hesitant to trust him. She had her career to think about, after all. It wouldn’t be ideal for her to be seen with some guy like him, and that was disregarding the fact that she might not be keen on spending an extended period of time with someone who might turn out to be some sort of obsessive fan (Yuri had heard stories about those sorts of things).

With those thoughts in mind, he amended, “You are, of course, right to refuse... but the offer is open if you want it.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

Evelyn nodded in agreement. “Yes. We are both very fortunate people. I guess whatever god is out there has blessed us deeply with the amazing luck that we have been given in life. Still though you are sort of right. It’s human nature to think of what else we can obtain. I wouldn’t call it selfish though. I would just call it dreaming. Some are unhappy with what they already have in life but then some people do have so little. I don’t fault them for wishing they could obtain more.”

She on the other hand knew just how lucky she was for what she had and was happy. Or well she was sort of happy. Working as an actress made her happy but when it came to her personal life there were things she wished she could change and obtain. Like a marriage with Vincent that was legal despite the color of his skin. Also the ability to have children with him that wouldn’t led to them being looked down upon and pitied for the fact that their parents were two different races. If she could obtain those two things in life she would be beyond happy.

Again she nodded in agreement, “It’s hard to move past the what-ifs in life but it’s for the best that we do. Sometimes the only thing we can do to make a difference in the world is to fix oneself and sometimes that’s enough.”

“Perhaps...” he said slowly, looking out the window as the car pulled to a stop. “Perhaps our only goal in life as human beings is to leave the world behind better than we found it. It sounds easy, of course, but when we look at the what the world is like, that’s actually a very hard mission. I think i shall work harder to do so. Even if I only make the world better for the women that work for me, I will do it.”

He offered Evelyn a bright smile. “It’s been quite nice to speak with you, Miss Piper. Please don’t take offense when I tell you that you are very down-to-earth for someone who is so famous. It’s very easy to lose touch with reality in this city, no matter who you are, so I do hope you’ll continue to hold onto your convictions and your kindness. The world needs more people who can see what’s happening in it.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“Maybe you’d be dead? Well isn’t that a depressing thought? I’m glad that the events in your life didn’t lead to that. As for the while marriage and children scenario that could still happen. I wouldn’t give up just yet with that. Like I have said before it could still happen to you.” He wasn’t a bad looking man and he was really quite nice. Despite the type of business that he ran he was still quite the catch for any woman.

Evelyn returned the smile, nodding at what he said. “Honestly I spend too much time doing the same. I always think of where I would be in life if I had made some different decisions. I wouldn’t think of daydreaming about your life as a fault. It’s just something that most people do in life. Also the fear of failure is normal to have too. I believe that’s just part of being human. I heard once that it is best not to dwell on the what-ifs in life.”

She thought about his question for a moment before responding. “I am happy that I have met people that I truly love and care about. I am also happy that I don’t have to worry about being able to pay my bills and that I have enough food to eat. I just wish that others could be as lucky as I have been in life, and I hope I can make a difference in people’s lives.”

“I think I too have been very fortunate,” he agreed. “We are both fortunate people. I suppose it’s only human to still selfishly think of what more we could obtain. We’re deeply flawed creatures in that aspect. I think the difference is in those that expect to get all of those things without being happy with what they’ve already gotten. I’m very happy with what I have, even if it’s not all I hoped for. I don’t think I’ll get much else out of my life, but that’s okay.”

The loneliness could be overwhelming at times, sure, but he didn’t consider himself worthy of much else. A family didn’t seem as likely as Evelyn said, if only because he felt he was already past his prime. He was not terribly young now, and he’d never considered himself particularly handsome. He had a relatively good amount of money, though he was far from rich. What did he have to offer a woman? Especially considering his hang ups over a woman he couldn’t even have. It wouldn’t be fair to offer himself to anyone else.

Still, no point in airing those grievances out loud. “I suppose I should do better not to dwell on the what-ifs. It’s never too late to learn something new or to better yourself. Perhaps a difference can be made in the world, even if it’s only to fix oneself.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“Do not be so hard about yourself. You’d probably be a better husband and father than you think. I’m sure that if you had a wife and a child you wouldn’t be a work all the time. You seem like the type who would take time off to spend time with their family. You probably couldn’t work the whole nine to five thing like a lot of people do but still I don’t think you’d be there as much as you are now,” Evelyn pointed out. He seemed like a man who would take care of his family. It was easy to tell he was fond of Eloise and cared about the girl just by the way he spoke about her.

“One man can do a lot of things to change the world and make it better. I read an article in Life once about ordinary citizens who lived in Nazi occupied Europe who took in and hid people who were Jewish. These citizens weren’t looking to be recognized for what they did. They just wanted to make the world a better place. Even people without podiums can make the world a better place to live,” She pointed out. “Of course I have thought of what my life would be like if I wasn’t an actress. I would probably be married to Holt or Coleman or one of the other young man in my town in Arkansas. I would be married to a sharecropper or at best married to the owner of the farm. I would probably have half a dozen children as well. But money was tight for my family so who was I to say no to some big Hollywood agent? It was a way to take care of them after all. What about you? Where would you be if life had dealt you a different hand?”

“Honestly? I don’t... know...” Yuri admitted, humming thoughtfully. “I suppose it would really depend on which point in my life went in a different direction. Maybe I would still be here but married with children and able to hide my accent better because I got a better education. Maybe I’d be a businessman of some kind. Maybe I would be dead. Maybe I would still be in Russia. I can’t say.”

He looked at her, offering a small smile. “I spend a lot of time wondering about all the different scenarios. Probably more time than I should. I think I may spend so much time daydreaming sometimes that I forget who I really am. It is probably one of my faults, honestly. That and I have trouble committing to anything for fear of failure. Whose to say I’d actually have amounted to anything in any different turn of my life? Perhaps this is my best outcome.”

It was a bit comforting to think that, though he wasn’t certain it was true. He supposed he’d never know. “So... are you happy with how things turned out, Miss Piper? Where your life ended up?”

[yuridrevin]

First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes

This is the first day of my life. I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you.

A simple love song for a simple man. This represents Yuri’s feelings towards Vivian.

Failure - Laura Marling

A preacher pushes me aside and asks to wash my sins. I said no, la la, if he made me in his image then he’s a failure too.

This is about how Yuri sees himself. It’s... not exactly the most positive light, obviously. It explores his skepticism with the world and his disappointment with not being more than what he is after his parents fought so hard to make a place for him in America.

Blue Lips - Regina Spektor

They started off beneath the knowledge tree.Then they chopped it down to make white picket fences.

A song about Yuri trying to find his place in life. He knows how hard it is to be a human being now, but he’s making his best go of it.

These Days - St Vincent

Please don't confront me with my failures; I have not forgotten them 

A song about Yuri’s hesitance to act on his feelings about much of anything. He knows he’s wishy-washy and keeps to himself. He knows that he loves Vivian, but he’s not confident enough to tell her. He knows his business is relatively successful, but he’s not brave enough to branch out beyond it.

When - Dodie

Got to get it in my head; I'll never be sixteen again. I'm waiting to live, and waiting to love. Oh, it'll be over, and I'll still be asking when. 

A song about being older and realizing his limitations. Yuri used to dream of more for himself, but it got to the point that he realized he may be asking too much... and yet he still spends so much time dreaming of the person that he could be while trying to accept the person that he is.

Why Try to Change Me Now? - Fiona Apple

Why can't I be more conventional? People talk and they stare, so I try 

Yuri wants to be like a normal man in the city with a normal job and an American accent and a wife and 2.5 kids, but he can’t. He doesn’t necessarily dislike who he is, but he just doesn’t understand how all these things come so easily to others. He doesn’t always realize that what sets him apart from them is a positive, not a negative.

Ghosts of Corporate Future - Regina Spektor

The world is everlasting. It’s coming and it’s going.

A song about Yuri’s relationship with work and finding the balance between it and his personal life.

Trust Me - The Fray

We’re only taking turns holding this world

A song about his distrust of relationships, even though he so desperately wants them. The world was never kind to his family, so it’s hard for him to trust someone entirely. It also is a song that represents how he watched his father work himself to the bone in a dead-end job to try and keep their family above water without a positive outcome. Yuri’s success feels hollow because it couldn’t save his father from his fate.

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“You may not be a spry young man but that doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to becoming a father. I have heard of men older than you having children. I’ve read that men as late as fifty and sixty becoming fathers. For men age does not matter to having children.” Women on the other hand seemed to have a time limit. From what she heard most women didn’t have children after about the age of forty which meant that she had less than ten years to have a child if she wanted one. “Don’t think so negative of yourself. You run a successful business. I think that proves that you’re a better prize than you think.”

The only person that Evelyn had ever seriously considered having a child with was Vincent Grise. He was the only man she had ever had a serious relationship after all and her heart still belonged to him. The fact that their marriage would be illegal in most of the country didn’t matter to her. She still loved him despite the laws and the judgement from society.

“There are some people in this world who will be angry no matter what a person does in life,” She explained. “I think donating some of your earnings to a charity would be a nice thing to do. As for the image of the club? It might show some people that your club isn’t as bad as they think.”

“I do not know if I’d be so good of a father or a husband,” he offered sheepishly. “I’m always at work after all, and it is not really an environment for a child... though Eloise has been at the club before. I make sure she stays in the back though, in my office. She draws pictures there. I keep them on the walls. She’s very talented.” He smiled warmly, unable to help himself. As much as he loved Vivian, he also loved Eloise. He wanted the world for both of them, but all he could offer was the money he gave Vivian for her work. It didn’t feel like enough.

“It’s just as well,” he said, nodding dutifully. “I will go where I’m meant to go and do what I’m meant to do. That is the world we live in. If I can make it better in some small way, I would like to, but what can one man do?” He tilted his head towards her curiously. “You are fortunate to have a podium to speak from regarding your passions, though I suppose it can have its disadvantages too. It makes one wonder what you would have liked to do, had things been different. We take the hand we’re dealt, but surely you’ve thought of what other cards you could have gotten, haven’t you?”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“Well like I have said before when it comes to sex it is a very taboo topic especially when it comes to women. I understand why most women are not willing to go to your club. Maybe as time goes on the world will become a bit more progressive and people will be more willing to go to your club. As for their husbands? I think your ladies have nothing to do with the husbands’ bad behavior. That is all on the husband.”

Evelyn shrugged, “It could last forever if you do it just right. I once received a letter from a madam in Italy. The business that she ran had changed hands several times but it had been open for a couple hundred years. Maybe your business will be the same way. As for Miss Swanson? I don’t think you have to worry too much. She’s a smart woman. I’m sure she’d be fine.” Or she was sure this man would help the woman out as much as he could.

“Do I have any children that I think of as my own? No. Unfortunately I do no. I do care deeply about children though and donate monthly to a couple charities that support children.” Maybe one day she and Vincent would become parents. Maybe.

“I would have liked to have had children,” Yuri said, nearly laughing at himself for sounding so old. “I suppose the opportunity hasn’t quite missed me yet, but I am not a spry young man anymore. Then of course there is the fact that every woman who does not work for me has disdain for me because of my business, so I do not exactly have many callers. I never did consider myself much of a prize anyway.”

He shrugged a shoulder, leaned his cheek onto his fist. He thought of Vivian and how, even if he did have women trying to court him, he doubted he’d be able to find an inkling of interest for them because they weren’t her. He truly was pathetic, he thought, hung up on a woman who had already given her heart away to another. Even if he had passed away, Yuri wouldn’t dare try and take that from her. Besides, she deserved better than some club owner with an accent.

“Perhaps I could donate some of the earnings from the club to a charity too,” he said. “It may help with the image of the club... or it could just make more people angry. It is hard to say.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“True. I would hate for you to feel guilty for being the cause of any scandal associated with me. I’ll be sure to be careful when I go to your club that way I don’t cause any scandal for you or for me. So are you trying to tell me that you’re not unsavory? Shot. And here I thought that you were. I thought I had you all figured out in my mind. But like they say ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover.’” Evelyn pointed out with a laugh. “I think the world tends to judge people a bit too harshly and usually without any proof. I have found that people just look at someone and then think they know everything about them. Unfortunately most of the things they come up with are wrong.” Or at least that had been her experience.

She nodded when he mentioned Vivian. “The world tend to judge single mothers very harshly. The reason why they are single tends not to matter. From the little time that I have spent with Miss Swanson she seems like a lovely woman who does not deserve that treatment and neither do you my dear sir.” The way he spoke of Vivian made her wonder if he was more than just the woman’s boss. They were probably just friends but maybe they were more? She wasn’t about to ask about something that personal though.

Evelyn grinned at the man’s offer. “A free drink and a personal tour of your club? It may not be what I am used to but I have to say that it sounds a bit more entertaining than the other tours that I have been given. I can honestly say that I am rarely offered a tour of a club. Usually when I do take a tour the club just wants to use me as an endorsement so this sounds a lot better than that.”

“Well, you are always welcome, Miss Piper,” Yuri said. “Most women aren’t so excited to see my place. I would like it if more would come though. Perhaps seeing the place and getting to know the people inside would change their perspectives about what goes on inside. It is always so funny to me how my ladies are blamed for their husbands’ bad behaviors.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “It does not matter though. I am happy with where Magnifique has ended up, even if it not how I originally intended it. I doubt it will last forever, but hopefully I’ll be successful enough that I won’t struggle to pay my bills when it closes... I hope that for the ladies too. I can’t imagine what would happen if Miss Swanson couldn’t pay her bills. Poor Eloise...”

He shook his head, running a hand over his hair. “I’m sorry. I almost see Eloise like she is my own daughter sometimes. Do you have anyone in your life like that?”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

Evelyn knew it wasn’t proper to talk about sex especially by a woman. Husbands and wives barely even discussed the subject. It basically was a taboo thing to mention. Evelyn wasn’t like most people though. Sex was a natural thing that a majority of the world did. It was obvious considering the raise in the number of children people were having. Why make it so taboo when there was nothing wrong with it?

“Music clubs are a dime a dozen in this town. I have been to dozens and honestly I can’t even remember any of their names. They’re all the same. Just a bunch of cats listening to the same music. How some of these places stay in business is beyond me. Putting in dancing girls was a smart move. I think that your place has a much better chance at staying open than some of these clubs. Plus I love that you employee so many women that are in need of a job.”

She had seen firsthand just how rowdy his club could get. It wasn’t a place for proper women but she wasn’t proper. How could she be with her political beliefs? “They probably didn’t bother me because they didn’t recognize me. If I go out without makeup and with a scarf covering my head I look like a completely different person,” She joked. “If you haven’t been following my career I can assure you I am used to scandal.” The rumors about her political beliefs. Her criticism of how the government tried to use her for propaganda during the war. The fact that she dated Vincent. Along with many more things. “I am the first to admit that I am not the most scandal free woman in Hollywood but thank you for the advice. I’ll keep that in mind if I ever go back to your establishment.

“Well, even if you are familiar with scandal, I would still hate to be responsible for one,” Yuri offered with a small smile. “I know what it is like to be judged for things. Many think that I am as unsavory as some of my club patrons simply because I run the club. If they got to know me, got to know the women who worked there, they might think differently... but this world that we live in now, it’s very easy to be written as someone or other without much thought put into it. It is easier to make assumptions, I suppose.”

He looked out the window at the passing city, smiling softly to himself. “That isn’t to say everybody does that. I am a very lucky man to have the people in my life that I do. People who see me for who I really am. Miss Swanson in particular is very kind to me, both her and her daughter. I think it is because she understands what it is like to be seen as something different than who you are. She is a good friend.”

He hoped he wasn’t saying too much or implying more than that. He didn’t think Evelyn and Vivian were particularly close, but he still didn’t want Vivian to find out the strength of his feelings and pull away from him. He’d be perfectly content to be only her friend if it meant she stayed in his life.

“In any case, Miss Piper, you are always welcome. Please let me know if you come by. Since you are paying the fare for the drive, the least I can do is offer a free drink or two. I’d be happy to give you a tour as well. It may not be quite the very-important-person treatment you are used to, but I would certainly do my best.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“If it wasn’t your intention to turn it into that sort of place then what made you do it? I’m sure you could make money if it wasn’t that type of club,” Evelyn pointed out. Sure they couldn’t complain about the money but she found it interesting. How could a club that wasn’t intended to serve those types of men turn into that kind of club?

“Sex my dear man. Everything goes back to sex and what society finds decent. More so to what women find decent. You should see the list of rules Hollywood has to follow when it comes to sex in the movies. Once a strap of my bra was accidently seen in a shot. When one of the producers found out we had to reshoot that scene,” She explained. “Things have been hard for a lot of people since the end of the war. Women especially. I’m sure working for you they get paid more money than if they were a teacher or a nurse.” Really the only two options women seemed to have in the world. “I am sorry to hear that about Miss Swanson.”

She had no idea why the woman worked there nor had she asked her. She had figured it was her choice if she wanted to share that information. It did answer a lot of questions she had though. Like why a woman like Vivian who had a daughter end up working in a place like that. “Hmm? Why did I went? Well honestly your club is the last place that the press would expect to find me. It was a nice way to get away and have a drink without worrying someone would take my picture.”

It made him blush to hear a woman talk about sex so blatantly, even considering where he worked. It was definitely something that existed around him, but they never did talk about it too much. It just wasn’t something people did. Maybe he just wasn’t a very bold man...

“I created the club originally as nothing more than a nightclub. I was hoping it could be a place where music could be played. Apparently a music club doesn’t have that high of an appeal in this city though. Perhaps the market had already been saturated. I hired a few girls to dance in the hopes of garnering attention for the club, and it just sort of... happened. I kept having women showing up looking for work, and I wanted to help them, so it continued.”

He did have to give it to her, though. His club definitely wasn’t a place she’d be expected to be at. “I’m glad you were able to find a sort of refuge in my club, though I’m surprised the patrons didn’t bother you. I don’t really condone the behavior but I can’t have my eyes everywhere. We throw out anyone who gets to rowdy, of course... Oh, I imagine I’m making it sound awful, I’m sorry. You are still welcome anytime you’d like to come in, but I’d suggest you be careful. If those people who take the pictures of you find out where you’re at it could cause quite the scandal. I wouldn’t want to harm your reputation at all, Miss Piper.”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“You are? Well your place of business was very different than I thought it would be. Before I went to yours I always heard nothing but negative things about places like that. I am pleased to say that I changed my mind after seeing all those hard working women who are just trying to provide for themselves and their families.” Though there were other ways to do just that. More respectable ways but of course they didn’t pay quite as much as working for this man did.

Evelyn nodded in agreement. “It is a shame that society feels the need to judge people so harshly. And these people who claim to be Christian going against the good book by sending such awful letters to such a sweet woman are nothing but hypocrites.” She knew what it was like to receive rude letters in the mail. Some were about her acting but most were about her politic beliefs.

Looking the man over, she laughed. “Why in the world would someone be afraid of you? I have only just met you and you have only been polite. Maybe they’re just afraid of your business and not you personally,” She suggested. “Mostly Miss Swanson and I discussed the type of people that frequent your business and how odd it was that I was there. She said I didn’t seem the type to be in such a place.”

“My business doesn’t exactly attract the most savory of people,” Yuri admitted, shrugging a shoulder. “When I first started the club, it wasn’t exactly my intention to turn it into that sort of place, but none of us can argue with the money. The women who work there are quite successful, and I try to run a tight ship so no harm comes to them.”

He looked out the window, humming thoughtfully. “People will feel how they feel about the club, regardless. I never understood it, the women who talk so poorly about my employees. Surely it’s their husbands they should be angry at... but I guess it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that the ladies that work for me are able to support themselves. Things have been hard for a lot of them after the war. The men came back and they were chased out of their jobs, and some of their husbands, fathers, brothers didn’t return to support them. That is... that is what happened to Miss Swanson.”

He felt awkward after he’d said that, like he’d shared some deeply personal information he shouldn’t have. It wasn’t as though the fate of Vivian’s husband was much of a secret. Most just tried not to bring it up in front of her for fear of hurting her. “You really aren’t our typical crowd though. What brought you to the place?”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

“To be naturally well-spoken is a very nice talent to have. A majority of actors and actresses have to have lessons to learn how to talk properly and how to behave as well,” Evelyn explained. That hadn’t been the most fun but at least her deep Arkansas accent was gone. Evie Conway ceased to exist with those lessons. Instead she was now Evelyn Piper, a proper woman who knew how to behave in public.

“Don’t worry. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone has made a fool in front of me. You should see how the men behave when I go to a store or to a restaurant.” It was quite entertaining actually. The way they seemed to trip over each other to help her. The way they turned a deep shade of red when she just spoke to them. How they asked her to sign whatever they had in their possession. She had autographed everything from an apple to someone’s shoes. After the shoes incident she had learned to keep a few pieces of paper in purse just in case. Not that she wasn’t honored to sign a pair of shoes it was just easier to sign paper.

Evelyn grinned when she heard where he was going. Club Magnifique. “So do you work at that club or are you the owner? I’ve been there once. Good thing the press didn’t know or else they would have had a field day,” She joked. It wasn’t the type of place people would think she would go to but that was why she went. Who would think to look for her there? It gave her privacy that way. “I believe Miss Swanson, that good friend of yours, was actually the one that served me. She and I had a pleasant conversation.”

“I am the owner,” Yuri said, though it was hard for him to focus on that much when Evelyn was mentioning Vivian. How had they met and Yuri not been told? How had Evelyn been in the club without his notice? He really needed to pay more attention and stop being so caught up in his own business. He felt terribly, terribly foolish.

Well, best to at least not further that foolishness now. He cleared his throat and did his best not to appear surprised as he said, with sincerity, “Ah, yes, most conversations with Miss Swanson are quite pleasant. She’s just a natural ray of sunshine. She is very sweet and very kind. All of the other girls at the club are very close to her and her daughter too. I hate that this town demonizes her so... but then, I suppose they do that with me too. The difference is, I don’t get rude letters in the mail. Everyone is just afraid of me.”

He certainly found Vivian’s situation a worse one too, though still he wondered just why it was that he was feared. He didn’t think he had a particularly scary face. In fact, he found him unassuming in just about every way. He supposed it was the accent, but he didn’t really talk to that many people. Maybe it was just his shyness being mistaken for aloofness. Oh, well... Vivian at least said he was kind.

“What did you and Miss Swanson talk about?”

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

Evelyn grinned at what he said. She couldn’t even hear his accent but with a name like Yuri it was easy to tell that his family hadn’t always been Americans. Then again this country had been settled by immigrants. It made her wonder where exactly his ancestors had been from. She wasn’t about to ask him that though. That was personal and it would be rude if she did. “A family name? Well it’s a lovely family name. Very unique and interesting. Not a name you come across very often.” Or ever. He was the only person she had met with that name.

She couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. By this time in her life she was used to people acting like that when they realized who she was. It was sort of flattering actually. People always pictured movie stars and celebrities as having a private driver and a million servants that did everything for them. Instead she preferred to drive herself or take a taxi. Also the only servant she had was a maid that came to her house a couple times a week. Other than that she liked to think of herself as a normal person who happened to make movies for a living.

“Yes. That would be me,” She smiled at the man. “I have to admit I acted the same way when I first met a celebrity. It was James Stewart and I thought that my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. My words wouldn’t come out either. I’m glad to see that you aren’t that way,” She commented.

“I do my best to be as well spoken as possible,” Yuri offered awkwardly and mentally slapped himself for saying it because it sounded so ridiculous. “I wouldn’t want to make a huge fool out of myself in front of someone so well-known and well-liked. I can’t say I am able to go to the movies very often, but I do enjoy them when I can. I have a good friend, Miss Swanson, who is a big fan of yours.”

Maybe he could get Evelyn’s autograph for her, and one for Eloise too. Oh, they’d just love that!

He didn’t want to just ask her though, figuring that would probably be rude. She probably had to deal with enough rudeness from pushy fans as it was. It didn’t feel right either, considering he didn’t know all that much about her aside from the fact that she was in the movies. Perhaps if he just asked her in a polite way, she wouldn’t mind... He didn’t really have anything for her to sign though, which posed a problem.

The taxi driver cleared his throat, and that was when Yuri realized he hadn’t given him the destination. Well... this was awkward. He had to get to work, but Evelyn probably knew about his club. Most women didn’t like the place, and she’d probably find him to be a creep if she knew that was where he was going... but business was business.

“The club Magnifique,” he said, followed by the address.

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

Evelyn grinned, happy that he wasn’t about to ask her to get out of the cab or demand that it was his. It was storming out and she would much whether be in a cab with a stranger than be out in this rain. California didn’t have rain often but when it did it could get pretty awful outside. It was best to avoid that type of weather and just stay in when one could.

She waved him off, smiling at him. “Don’t worry about the fare. It’ll be my treat. I’ll pay the whole fare.” It was the polite thing to do after all since he was so kind and didn’t kick her out.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Drevin. Yuri? That is a very unique name.” She took his hand and gave it a shake. “It’s Miss Evelyn Piper.” Whether he recognized the name or not she wasn’t sure nor did she care if he did.

He shook her hand, squinting as he registered the name and tried to place it. He had definitely heard it before. Somewhere. “Ah yes, Yuri is ah... a family name,” he said, figuring it better to say that than to say it was Russian. It was always better to say anything than to talk about where he was from, at least it had been in his experience. His time growing up in Los Angeles had continued to soften his accent on his lips, and all he could do now was hope it would go away completely one day.

Then, it hit him where he’d heard her name before. “Oh!” he said, the light bulb going on in his head. “From the pictures! The movies, I mean. You’re... you’re that famous actress! Da nu!”

He’d slipped and used his native tongue out of excitement. He quickly corrected himself. “That is to say, I’m surprised to say the least. I’ve never met a celebrity before. How fascinating!” He hoped he wasn’t coming across too awkwardly. Even in Russian his luck talking to women had been spotty at best. It was a wonder he’d gotten anywhere in life. He’d lamented this to Vivian a few times, and she had just laughed. Oh, Vivian was going to love this! She enjoyed movies very much!

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

[yuridrevin]

ms-evelyn-piper:

Evelyn was starting to regret putting her car in the shop for the day. It needed an oil change and a few other minor things which she is sure could have waited. The sky had been clear this morning though and it was a rare day off for her from filming. On days when she wasn’t busy at the studio she liked to do her errands. Grocery shopping, picking up the dry cleaning, dropping off letters to family at the post office. In her mind it was better than sitting around all day doing nothing. How people could do that was beyond her. It seemed horribly boring if you asked her.

The rain had just started to fall as she stepped out of the door of the shop. She looked in her purse, hopping that she had remembered to pack her umbrella. Rain in California was rare but refreshing. It always made her think of the past being washed away and something new starting.

Sighing when she realized she hadn’t packed it that day, she spotted an approaching taxi cab. Waving it down, she opened the door once it stopped and took a seat in the back.

Seeing the other side open, Evelyn moved over so there was room for the man. No need for him to wait around for another one and get even more soaked than he already was. “I don’t bite my dear sir. I see no reason why we both can’t both share the taxi.”

Yuri stared for a moment, trying to place where he’d seen this woman before. There was something very familiar about her face but he couldn’t quite remember. Had they spoken before? No... no, he didn’t think so, though her voice sounded familiar as well. Hmm...

“Thank you,” he said, though he supposed he’d had just as much right to the cab as she did. Far be it from him to kick a woman out into the storm, of course. “We can share the fare.”

He cleared his throat and offered a smile, grateful that she didn’t seem threatened by him so far. “I’m... I’m Yuri Drevin,” he said, offering a hand to shake, hoping it wasn’t too wet. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss...” If she could just tell him her name, maybe he’d know where he recognized her from.

[yuridrevin]

Rainy Afternoon || Yuri and Evelyn

The sky had been so clear that morning.

Yuri frowned at the downpour, regretting his decision not to own a car. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, partly because he couldn’t afford a car when he first moved in, and partly because the weather was so beautiful in Los Angeles it was seldom any trouble. He didn’t even own an umbrella, though he at least owned a long jacket and hat, which he put on before stepping out of his apartment. No matter the weather, he had to get to work. In fact, if previous experience was any indication, rainy days tended to draw in even more customers to the club than usual. Men would say they’d want to “lift their spirits” or something like that. The only spirits he’d ever seen lifted were the ones in the men’s glasses.

He rushed out towards the street, waving a hand at an approaching taxi cab that pulled to a stop at the curb. He was already nearly soaked through in just the few moments he’d been in the storm, so he was grateful when he threw himself into the backseat of the cab and into the blissful, dry space...

...the space inhabited by someone else.

Another passenger seemed to have spotted the cab at the same time that Yuri had. A lady. Yuri instantly felt guilt for intruding upon her space, but he wasn’t sure if that guilt was deep enough to get him out of the cab and back into the rain. “Uh... s-sorry,” he said, doing his best not to let the words sit too heavily in his accent because it tended to make people uncomfortable. “I thought that it was free.”