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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 14:51:39 GMT -5
That had not been what Armand was expecting Nicolas to ask. "I like symphonies," he said thoughtfully. "Vivaldi. The strings, blues. Frank Sinatra. Honky-tonk piano. Not so old-fashioned, by modern standards, perhaps. But certainly not screeching guitars and amplified drums."
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 14:55:42 GMT -5
"I like that. It reminds me of... folk music," he said. The last time he'd held a violin, trying on a Hungarian tune and adding his own variations. "Without the atmosphere. And it's louder, of course. Deafening." After a pause, he said, "No, that doesn't sound like you. Did you like Piaf?"
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 15:05:51 GMT -5
"I don't dislike her. At her height I was in America, and did not hear much. She would have been very popular in the black-and-white movies here."
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 15:13:07 GMT -5
"I liked the black-and-white movies. Especially the early ones." It was so pleasant and normal to talk to Armand about this that he didn't even realize how much it touched him. "The silents. I liked the talkies with the same actors as from before, but started to lose interest with the new actors. Have you seen - " He tried to think of the title. "The Garbo picture where she dresses as a boy?"
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 16:17:10 GMT -5
"I don't believe so. About what time, do you know? Camille amused me greatly, as I'm sure you could see why."
Armand had liked old Hollywood. Greta Garbo was a beautiful woman, and there was a style and a glamour to it that appealed to him.
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 16:23:12 GMT -5
Nicolas fell very silent a moment. "Ah - hm - well, we got films a bit later - thirty-three? I don't see why. Please tell me."
((I couldn't resist the Garbo shoutout. XD La me. I'm glad you could go with it.))
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 16:34:22 GMT -5
"I was just wondering whether the film you mentioned was earlier or later in her career. Do you know the basic story of Camille? Dumas wrote the original book- it's of a Parisian courtesan who falls in love with a young man named Armand, who is in turn hopelessly in love with her. It's quite tragic. Sarah Bernhardt played the courtesan for years in France."
(( *pets wikipedia fondly* Camille, on the other hand, is something I already knew about and would like to read. ))
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 16:40:03 GMT -5
Nicolas laughed, folding his legs up again. "Yes, all right. I knew the story, but I forgot the name." He tilted his head and continued smiling. "I wondered for a moment if you were trying to reference my allusion to it the other night. I was rather perplexed.
((Camille. Garbo is amazing in Camille. It's one of the reasons I dislike Moulin Rouge!, probably - Nicole Kidman is a bad doomed courtesan. She can't help it. Who can beat Garbo?
Also, I just realized that Nicolas probably likes Ninotchka best. <.<
Also, he referenced it when he mentioned the menstruating/white camellias/etc.))
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 16:49:01 GMT -5
"Oh, no. But you did ask. Hmmm, is that vain of me?"
(( Haven't seen Garbo in that, which might be why I still like Moulin Rouge so very much. ^_^ Still want to read the book. So. Badly.
Yeah, totally didn't catch the camellia reference. Well, I thought of that, but since I haven't seen it I didn't think they were related. If Armand's clueless it's all my own fault.
I can see Nicolas liking Ninotchka. I almost had Armand mention it, but I'm uncertain about the portrayel of Russians vs. Parisians to say anything. Stupid reason, but. ))
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 16:53:55 GMT -5
"I don't think it is. I've never thought of you as vain."
((It's really good. The feminists bitch about it, but they're silly.
I've heard the book is rather melodramatic as far as books go. Still...Bernhardt... I've never read it myself, but I heard a reference made to that in Monsieur Venus which is how I know about it.
Well, I was actually thinking that, beyond the humor, the Soviet portrayal would have cracked him up at the time, and since he's been through all that, it just gets funnier and funnier every time he sees it. He could watch that Nazi salute in the train station over and over again. And. Well. Does.))
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 17:04:22 GMT -5
A low laugh. "You can tell me for certain after tomorrow night."
(( Well, it's Dumas, what do you expect.
I bet. ^_^ ))
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 17:08:36 GMT -5
"I can't tell you for certain now?" There was laughter in his voice, too. When he spoke again, there was, perhaps, a bit of longing in it - not of the agonizing kind everyone he knew had grown so accustomed to loathing. It was almost normal. "Will you leave your hair long for me?"
((Dumas fils right?))
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 17:21:46 GMT -5
"If that's what you'd like." Armand hadn't intended to leave it long, but as Nicolas had specifically asked he could make the concession. "Have you ever cut yours, Nicolas?"
(( Uh-huh. But I'm willing to bet he was influenced by his father. ))
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Post by Nicolas de Lenfent on Jan 20, 2009 17:27:54 GMT -5
Nicolas had to think about this, and there was silence on the line for some time before he had an answer, and very cautiously, said, "No."
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Post by Armand on Jan 20, 2009 18:01:24 GMT -5
"You sound so wary. Do you have a problem with cutting your hair?"
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