(ENG) The Case Study of Vanijeanne

6. Eurydice in Leviathan's Embrace (Part 9 of 10)

The conclusion of their shared meal had thankfully resolved in a more jovial tone, courtesy of Vanitas' light theatrics. Hoping to coast off the improved mood, the couple departed from the restaurant and began their final leg of their excursion. The prickly, cold evening smoothed over with wine served as the perfect reprieve after a somewhat rocky affair.

And magic was in the air.

Rooted trees around them almost seemed to whisper as they watched the couple make a slow ascent through the streets of Paris, a brief walk all that was needed to land them at their destination — the Théâtre Libre, situated at 96 Rue Blanche in the 9th arrondissement.

The woman released a shaky breath as they traversed the staircase and entered the Grand Hall. The early evening was surely turning chillier, but neither that nor the staircase alone were the cause for her breath to hitch in her chest. Gold chandeliers, watercolor paintings all around her, red carpets, a marble staircase — which she guessed led them to the stage — were all making for a full-on sensory overload.

As Jeanne and Vanitas pushed their way through a buzzing, milling crowd, Vanitas' grip on her hand tightened further. Past ushers and red chairs, and through the auditorium, he led them to the far right of the stalls with no hesitation, but rather in a fluid, non-verbal swaying.

The way he walked in front of her now, never letting go of her wrist, protecting her with every step as people bumped into each other on corridors, was making her heart swarm with fascination. A little silly of her, she admitted, even if uncontroversial.

Surely, he aimed for a fulfilling night to the best of his ability. His Parisian pride brimmed at every turn, making her want to fling herself into a corner to admire him from afar. Her gaze on his back, and on the low ponytail adorned with blue, satin lace, could easily have been mistaken for a worship of sorts.

Sneakily, she had even caught a few theatergoers watching him pass by, with a hint of wonder perhaps, a fact she found utterly delightful to witness; she'd already marked that guy as hers, for all the others' misfortune.

Delving deeper into the hall where the performance would take place, the couple was greeted by a stately facade overlooking a scene of expansive red curtains. Rows of red chairs that had been meticulously positioned spanned down the length of the auditorium, only adding to the already sophisticated atmosphere; several high-ranking individuals dressed in attire equally as nice as the couples dotted amongst the seating area.

She watched how Vanitas continued to guide her with bated breath, finally assigning them the left-hand edge of the front row, jutted diagonally to the center of the stage. Once seated, the Knight gazed up at the heavy red curtains, concealing the many secrets surrounded by baubles hanging from the high ceiling, making her contemplate the beauty of spending Christmas Eve in the human world; as if that night could bring all her wishes to life.

Heavily exhaling as she took in the view, Jeanne remarked. "This is such an opulent venue! I have only ever seen one other place that rivals this in elegance."

The man beside her hummed as he traced over the attendees, brows furrowing slightly, unable to hide his curiosity over how many of those faces he could recognize from previous productions.

Vanitas loved the theater.

Growing up among a troupe of itinerant artists had accustomed him to being immersed in such an energetic, creative environment, the influx of nostalgia fully dictating his attention. It felt good to have brought his one-and-only to such a high-end event, a sparkling reminder of how far he'd risen from the humble beginnings of near poverty; the area around them felt almost exclusive, as the first rows were dedicated to regular Libre attendees only.