Safeguard// A.I.

Safeguard • Ashton Irwin A.U. •

Paris was something else entirely. Vibrant was good way of describing it, always full of life and always blinding lights. It was never ending madness but it beautiful in the same sense. I liked the way people rode by on bikes and the smell of coffee, bread and cigarettes always seemed waft through the air no matter the time. I liked the way tourist took in the sights and enjoyed everything Paris had to offer.

It was morning and I was on my way to Lourve Museum of Art in downtown Paris. My hair was down and my coat buttoned tightly against my pale skin. It was still cold, the cold air crawling up the inside of sleeve making my skin raise and shiver deeply. My cheeks were already flushed and I was less than halfway there. Perhaps I would grab a coffee.

I walked a few more blocks before it became vital that I stopped for something warm, I slipped into a coffee shop. I breathed in the warm air, defrosting my cheeks and nose in the process. I kept my hand in my pocket and my other made sure my bag stayed on my shoulder and didn't fall. I didn't need to replace a laptop. My hands were still gloved when I put them on the counter as I made my order. It was lovely how Paris was accustomed to English. I knew French well but I would always be more comfortable with my native tongue.

I paid quickly and stepped to the side and waited for my order to be called as I waited, I considered taking out a cigarette but decided against it when I saw a pair of small children sitting close to me. Although smoking was widely accepted in Paris, I still didn't like to around children. It was more of an American habit and social manner but I didn't care to change it.

My order was called and I quickly grabbed the coffee and took a sip. It was sweet, I didn't usually get it sweet. I drank coffee mostly black but change was acceptable from time to time. I stepped back out into the harsh elements and made my way to the gallery. I was looking forward to it, although I had been living in Paris for months now I had yet to go to many of the world wide known Museums such as the one I was heading to now.

Needless to say, the drink help me keep warm the rest of the trek, although my nose and ears were still painfully cold, the rest of me managed to string along. I jogged up the steps and into the building. It was grand and elegant. There was a very large triangle, the Pyramid of Louvre to exact. It was glorious even in the morning light. I'm sure it really lit up at night.

I went inside and stood in line. I was here on a job, the scheduled it for me already. I worked as an intern at a local art and travel magazine. I loved my job, I really did. Writing, journalism, was something I was good at and honestly, everyone likes things that they're good at. Plus I got to take pretty pictures and go to expensive venues and all I had to do was write an article about it. It was more than a fair deal.

I was at the front of the line now, I smiled and gave my name before slipping my work ID to the man. He spoke in french unlike the woman at the coffee shop. I replied back easily in french also.

"Yes, I work for TimeOut."

He nodded and made a few clicks on the computer in front of him and then he turned around to grab something. It was an temporary ID.

"It's only valid for two days just in case you have to come back to finish the tour tomorrow."

How kind of Martha to throw that in, I thought as I thanked the man and moved out the way. I looked around. The entire place was grand and glittered with beauty. I would say it was easy on the eyes but it wasn't. My eyes didn't know where to look, it a frantic glancing of everything to take in all the beauty that was laid out before me. It was dizzying. I blinked slowly and glanced at a map I had grabbed. I quickly dug out a pen and circled key artworks that I would need to spend more time looking at. Sadly, not all art was created equally. I began my tour, I didn't bother with the tour guide. I preferred to glance around myself and take as much time as I wanted or as little at that matter.