Evening 1/5 - The Opera (Zach and Ami)

[Mizuno Ami]

Ami had checked her appearance a a few times before leaving the palace, not something she was used to doing, but she could not fight the nervousness that she felt about her meeting with Zacharie. While her dress for the evening was not quite as formal as what she'd worn for the party, the simple black dress flattered her small form while flaring out a bit half way down her calves. She wore the same silver high heel sandals, glad that her Senshi boots had taught her how to walk in such things. She wore a simple silver necklace with a small diamond drop and matching earrings.

She had let her security detail know of her plans for the evening, though she had felt very awkward about it. She'd also asked them to remain discrete, as she did not want to scare him off. She was not even sure if he knew that she was a Senshi.

The car had dropped her off at the cafe that she was to meet Zach at fifteen minutes before the agreed upon time. While she was sure that Minako or Usagi would probably warn her against seeming overly eager about meeting a boy, much less a not-yet-woken Shitennou, it was simply not in Ami's nature to be late.

She took a deep breath as she entered the cafe and walked up to the counter. She ordered a vanilla chai, hoping that the drink would help calm her racing nerves.

[Zacharie Babineaux]

Zacharie wasn't in the habit of being late to dates, but nor was he in the habit of being incredibly early. Careful timing--it was all in the timing. As much as he hated to admit that he was playing a game, that's all the dating world really was: a very complicated, often risky game. A shame, really, but he'd long since gotten used to it.

He'd left the apartment early enough to hit a flower shop and hail a cab. Getting around in Japan was getting to be easier, especially after he'd developed the habit of writing down where he wanted to go on a piece of paper for the cab driver, rather than trying to say it. It was a simple matter of flagging down his roomate or manager to check that he'd copied the kanji correctly, and then he was gone. There was a map in his room with little notes of kanji addresses tacked to it for the places he liked the most.

He was cheating, and he knew it.

Five minutes before their agreed upon time, he stepped out of the cab and paid the man to wait, before turning to look inside the cafe. Zacharie could see her through the windows, as resplendent in black as she was in blue. He also noted the others in the room looking her over, and allowed himself to smile.

Ignoring the strange looks bestowed upon him for bringing a flower into a coffee shop, Zacharie headed in and stopped before Ami with a brilliant grin upon his face. Screw Japanese custom, he was going to be himself. The man did bow, but in western manner, and presented her with a single white rose tied with sparkling ribbon. "M'lady."

[Mizuno Ami]

She was sipping her chai when he came up to her, completely oblivious to the possibility that anyone was looking her over beyond the possibility of noting that she was over-dressed for a cafe. Ami blushed slightly as she accepted the rose, smiling at his American charm. It was sincere and him, and she did not mind the fact that it was out of place in Japan at all.

"Zacharie-san." She would speak to him in English, knowing that he was more comfortable in that language unless he asked her to speak in Japanese. However, she still felt that the honorific was slight necessary, despite not entirely wanting to use it. Small formalities helped her feel more comfortable.

"It's beautiful, thank you." She dipped her head slightly to breath in it's scent. When she looked up, she was still smiling, but still very nervous. The fact of the matter was that she was rather inexperienced at dating, and had not gone to the others for advice despite the fact that they were much better at this than she was.

[Zacharie Babineaux]

"I'd say it pales in comparison, but I fear that line is too often used in cheesy romances." Zacharie smiled, "It would be apt, though."

He righted himself again and glanced at the board to decide if he could decipher it. He couldn't, but that didn't matter--he knew how to order a coffee. "if you don't mind, my lady..."

The man slipped to the bar and managed to order something to drink without making too big a fool of himself. The waitress just smiled indulgently at his foreign manners--in other words, his lack thereof--and poured him a small cup. After a quick exchange of cash he was back at Ami's side and smiled, "Addicted, I'm afraid. I hope the doctor will forgive me?"

With a wink and grin he offered her his arm and glanced at the door.

[Mizuno Ami]

She could verify that it was indeed used far too often in cheesy romances, but that didn't keep the blush in her cheeks from deepening as he said it, and not because of her secret addiction to said cheesy romances.

When he returned and all but apologized for his addiction, she couldn't help but laugh. As she slipped her arm through his, knowing the custom from movies, she smiled over to him, "So long as caffeine is your worst addiction. It's really far too common, and relatively benign for me to frown upon it." In fact, she was pretty sure she was the only one in her med school class who hadn't become dependent on the stuff.

His little joking comment had gone a long ways towards putting her at ease, and she was very thankful for that. It would be good to enjoy the break the date was providing her, and as they exited the cafe into the cool night air, she was sure that she could fully enjoy the evening with him rather than being paralyzed by nerves.

[Zacharie Babineaux]

The cab was still waiting by some small miracle, and Zach nodded cheerfully to the driver whose eyebrows were raised in just a little bit of shock for whom the man had on his arm. Zach paid that no mind, for Ami was a gorgous woman, and he moved to open the door for her when they reached it. After seeing Ami in, he rounded the car and got in the other side.

Zach pulled a card from his coat pocket and handed it to the driver who now appeared more bemused than anything else. The man read it, nodded and handed it back. "The worst addiction, I promise." He paused then smiled, "Unless, of course, you count show tunes. I'm horrible about show tunes. I know you like the opera, but what are your thoughts on musical theater of other genres?"

[Mizuno Ami]

Ami smiled, finding it sweet that he opened the door for her, despite the fact that her books and movies had taught her this was normal. She laughed a bit, "Modern musical theater serves the exact same purpose as Opera did originally. Though I suppose modern operas are a bit pretentious." That did not keep her from enjoying them.

She blushed realizing that her overly academic answer did not answer his question. "I enjoy musical theater, though not every show. Some... well... some seem kind of... frivolous in way that's a bit too far beyond enjoyable frivolity." She frowned slightly, realizing that sounding like a dork was probably not going to leave a good impression on him.

"Um... which ones are your favorites?"

[Zacharie Babineaux]

Zacharie chuckled faintly to her answer and nodded along, "To clarify, you like musicals whose music has a point, rather than just being sung for the sake of singing?" He leaned back against the seat a little, arm stretched across the back, "I can see your point, if so. There's several I don't really care for for that reason. Inane and... well, not to be crass, but fruity. Being naturally flamboyant is one thing, but turning the level up simply to get attention in the worst way possible..."

He shook his head and flapped his hand, "Soap box. Anyway, so far as favorites... It's trite to say so, but I was always a fan of Phantom of the Opera. Into the Woods and Wicked are among my favorites, as well, and the lesser-known Chess. I tend to like musicals, but they also kept me in work for the past few years."

He chuckled in a self-deprecating manner and smiled, "You?"

[Mizuno Ami]

Ami nodded, glad that he had actually understood her. While she tried not to stereotype, she was rather used to the eyes of blondes glazing over when spoke--though both had gotten much better about it, but Zach understood, and that had made her smile.

"Sometimes it doesn't have to have a point... I mean, there is something to be said for just having fun. But it has to be within reason." She grinned, "Phantom is a masterpiece. There is absolutely nothing trite about admitting to liking it. The levels inherent within the musical are amazing, though the story is barely related to the original book. I'm not sure I'm familiar with Chess though..."

She wanted to know what musicals he'd been in, having not memorized the list though she had researched him. "Les Mis is probably my favorite. It's beautiful and it's message is just... incredible. I also enjoy Rent." That admission made her blush, but she did like the musical. "And... I realize this is definitely in the more inane category, but... Beauty and the Beast. I know, I know it's a Disney musical... but..." She shrugged, not really able to explain how or why she liked that one. It's not like she was admitting to liking Mama Mia!

[Zacharie Babineaux]

"Well there's reason, and then there's Mamma Mia," Zach laughed.

Unable to help himself, his smile stretched a little wider, "Le fantôme de l'opéra, les misérables et de moi? Je crois que tu as une chose pour le Français, mon bonbon."

The accent was thick, undeniably touched by the swamps he'd grown up in, but he doubted she'd know. "I like Rent to a point. It has the same issue that Phantom does for me in that it's a little too over hyped. While both good, there are points where you can over-emphasize the real value or effect of a play. Especially ones so young as those, it's hard to tell if they'll really last like Operas have."

After a moment he added, "And Chess... if you listen to english music at all, you may have heard the song from it which most people seem to know--One Night in Bangkok. Other than that, most people had no idea it existed. It was a bit of a flop when it first hit in the eighties, but it still has it's moment in small theater runs."

[Mizuno Ami]

Ami grimaced slightly and hoped he never learned that she actually had the sing-a-long version of the DVD. Actually, she hoped her sisters never learned that! However, the grimace turned to a deep blush as he spoke in French. "Peut-être. Ou peut-être j'apprécie simplement la qualité."

"Oh, I don't know that it'll last. Rent was, from what I've learned about it, entirely based on a particular social situation of a particular time and place. However, even if it does not have the timeless quality to it of Opera, it did serve a social role by calling attention to injustices and prejudice." She grinned, "After all, anything that promotes liberté, égalité, fraternité is worthy of praise."

"I fear that my education must have been lacking then, for I don't know that song. Though... I'm rather surprised I missed hearing about a musical called chess..." She chuckled a bit at that.

"So... if you don't mind me asking, which musical roles have you most enjoyed? I mean, of the ones you've actually played..."

[Zacharie Babineaux]

"Mmm I'd sing a few lines, but I'm afraid the song doesn't lend itself to accoustic renditions... and I really don't have the voice for it," Zach laughed, "Chess started off in London and did pretty well, but it tanked on broadway and hasn't had a good revival since. It's placed in the Cold War era and centers around two rival chess masters, and American and a Russian, and a woman who happens to manage one but falls in love with the other. It has some great music, really. Perhaps one day there will be a production somewhere close by.. or if you'd like to give it a listen, I do have the conceptual soundtrack."

He smiled a little and leaned back against the seat as the lights of Tokyo drifted past the cab. Traffic was always an issue here, he supposed. "Probably the Balladeer from Assassins as a first choice. That was more fun than I can relate, really, and the cast was great. I actually played Mark Cohen on Rent for a little shy of a year, and did short stints as Sweeny Todd's Tobias Ragg which I really wish had lasted longer. Unfortunately I was replacing an actor for the last few sections of the tour, so I was only in the part for a few performances."

"Your french is excellent, by the way. You continue to amaze me."

[Mizuno Ami]

Ami raised an eyebrow slightly at Zach's protestation that he did not have the voice for it, but since he was a professional musician, she was pretty sure that it was not false modesty. Instead, she commented more on the story, "I assume that both of the chess masters are men?" She smirked a bit at that. "I'd like that... I kind of enjoy chess myself, so it sounds like it could be an interesting concept for a musical."

She glanced back and noticed the car immediately behind them looked similar to the car she'd arrived at the book store in. She figured that made sense, since they were probably keeping rather close. She doubted they were happy about the fact she'd gotten into the cab with Zach to start with.

"Sounds like a rather impressive resume. I'd..." She blushed slightly and looked down, feeling like she was being rather brazen. "I'd love to hear you sing sometime. I mean, live..."

"And thank you. I find languages fascinating. They're... a way... a to express the heart, ideas that are far too deep for words, and while they allow us the freedom to communicate and express ourselves, they also limit us..." She smiled slightly and blushed deeper, "I'm sorry... I can get a bit carried away."

[Zacharie Babineaux]

"No," He shook his head with a soft smile attached to it. "No, I think I get what you're saying. After all, nothing translates exactly, right? The more languages you know, the more concepts that open up to you... and at the same time, nothing is going to translate precisely from what is in one's head."

There was a pause after that and then Zach laughed at himself and rubbed the back of his neck, "See? I have a tendency towards it too."

The man winked and smiled, "All you have to do is ask, m'lady. I'm a little song bird, most days."

Just then the cab came to a stop in front of their theatre. His door was to the building and he opened it, immediately stepping out and then turning to offer a hand to his date.

[Mizuno Ami]

She smiled at both his responses, and while her skin did not return to it's normal shade, the blush did fade a bit. "I'll have to remember that."

She accepted his hand as she stepped out of the cab, still holding the rose in the other hand. A quick glance at the car behind them confirmed her suspicions. That was indeed her detail. She tried not to roll her eyes and turned her attention back to her date.

"And I'm glad. It's nice to be able to talk about such things and be understood." The girls understood her, but that did not mean that they always understood the things that she said. "I... I've never been to an opening night of an Opera before." She looked around, it was fairly glamorous, and despite the fact that she was one of the senshi and the sister of an idol, she never got used to glamor.