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[Dr. Eric Dufosset had always been a very busy man, between being the scion and heir to a rather prominent French family which came with its own struggles, most particularly looking after the various family members that spent their days at the Dufosset manor.

Beyond that, however, there were his professional duties which took up so much of his times. Between the common clients, those friends of his mother that just needed an ear to talk to, someone to sign their valium scripts without battering an eyelash; right up to the more difficult cases, those mandates of his dictated by the state to be under his care. It meant that sometimes he didn't have the time to be just Eric, as if he was always Doctor or Dufosset and never that sweet spot between the two.

Tonight though, was a different kind of night. He was attending a symposium in Paris and for once not giving his own talk, just there to listen and share experiences, learn from others and more importantly reconnect with some old colleagues. It had all in all been an interesting experience and he was once more enjoying Paris' beauty and distinct culture, different from even France itself.

There was always a part of his life though that was, unfortunately, lacking. While fulfilled in other ways and having had old flames, Eric at times found himself practically desolate. It was hard to make connections beyond his family and patients with a lifestyle such as his. He did, however, have one man who he maintained contact with, a workaholic such as himself. A night of passion that'd been continued only through e-mail and text messages, separated physically by the stress of distance and difficult scheduling.

It continued, tonight, with one such text message. Eric walking along the Champs-Élysées with a smileafter having learned an important titbit of information.]

Monsieur Moran... a little birdie just informed me that you're working in Paris this week, something to do with certain talks occurring between our peoples.
Tell me, do they grant you any kind of personal time or is your work these days akin to slavery?

[ Blake had just got back to his hotel room for a few hours of rest. There were always long hours of research when overseas and he usually preferred when he didn't travel with the Secretary (which was actually quite often). However, this was a trip she'd brought him along on and that meant there was absolutely zero reprieve from his duties for the most part. He couldn't complain though, he loves his job and the way it actually makes visible impacts on the world at times. This particular trip was focusing on climate so there was stacks of papers and half formed binders all around the room with scientific research and phone numbers of scientists and the like.

He drops onto his bed, contemplating if he could actually get in a few hours of sleep before putting together a brief for the Secretary for the morning. Instead, he hears the chime of his phone and he exhales a quite groan and secretly hopes that it's not Nadine insisting he do something right now. He shifts onto his side and he's well aware that he's crumpling his suit but he doesn't particularly care at the moment, he wasn't going to be wearing it again on this trip. A good dry cleaning when he got home and it'd be good as new.

The sender's name drew a smile because it certainly wasn't Nadine. He shifts to sit up and contemplates the answer. In all actuality, he doesn't particularly have any personal time except for this spare time that should be used for sleeping -- but he's had worse situations and at least it wasn't a third world country they were in. This one had amazing coffee. ]

I have time to rest but I can use it how I choose. Work is, however, still very close to slave hours.

[ Never mind that if he just asked Elizabeth, the Secretary would likely grant him anything he wanted barring an emergency. ]

Edited 2017-07-24 03:11 (UTC)

How about dinner? Is that still a requirement of yours or have they made the magical transformation of man into robot already?

I could have reservations made in no time at all. [Because Eric spent enough time alone, he could've taken care of things by himself, maybe eaten dinner all alone in his hotel room but it wasnt nearly as tempting as the idea of having some decent company for once.]

Oh, they wish that they could I'm sure.

I'd like that. I can spare a few hours.

[ Blake smiles at his phone as he sends the messages and while it means giving up some time to rest he'd rather get to see Eric again. It would be a rare occasion and worth the sacrifice in the end he was sure. ]

[It didn't take Eric long to call for reservations, a secluded five start restaurant that they could wine and dine at. Both luxurious and peaceful enough and neither of them should be disturbed by either other people or their work.]

Perfect, meet me at this address.

Wear something nice and leave your work at your hotel, mon amour.

I will see you soon.

[ Blake sat up from where he had laid back on the bed. He makes a quick decision to change his suit and ends up in a dark blue one which he always thinks he looks good in. He contemplates the tie for a few moments and the option of going without one but soon enough a white and blue one is added to his ensemble. He's generally always the best dressed out of his male coworkers and he's a little too vain to do any less. His hair is quickly styled up in his typical way.

When he's finished he gives the work piled around the hotel room a cursory glance and he feels a pang of guilt. There's still plenty he could be doing and probably would be doing instead of sleeping in this appointed rest time had Eric not messaged. Still, Elizabeth would be the first to be pushing him out the door if she knew.

So it's not much later that a taxi drops him off at the address. Luckily, he's not someone who needs security or anything so he's alone. ]

[Eric himself took his time getting ready, showering and redressing in finer clothes than he'd had on before. For a conference a certain degree of finery was expected but he wanted to step up to the plate and make an impression for Blake, even going as far as to splash on a little cologne before he had a town car sent over to make his way to the restaurant.

When he arrives he's standing just beyond the doors of the restaurant, deliberately having told Blake to get there a few minutes after Eric himself arrived so that he could greet the man when he eventually arrived. He stood there, looking expectantly at every cab and car that passed the doors to the restaurant.

He wasn't nervous, but instead eager to have something close to a date for the night. It made a huge change from all the time he spent working and taking care of the various people at home who were dependent on him.]

[ Blake heads toward the entrance of the restaurant once he pays the cab well. He resists the urge to check his phone, after all, he has it set for emergencies only -- only Secretary or chief of staff's messages will ring for now. It's still a bit of a difficult for him to not be checking messages and making sure that he's not only on top of everything but far ahead of it all as well. Things could go sideways so quickly in his line of work.

But, Eric deserved his full attention and Blake deserves this date and this time with him. He knows that in the back of his mind.

So he's quick to enter the restaurant his eyes immediately seeking Eric. ]

[Eric spots Blake the moment he enters the restaurant and stands swiftly from his perch within the entry room to cross over to the other man with a smile, leaning in to swiftly kiss him once on each trick.] Blake... a pleasure to see you again. I trust the world isn't about to end?

[It was a joke, mostly. But Eric did get the impression that slowing the other man down from his work would one day lead to a degree of apocalyptic inertia the likes the world had never seen.

Or so he thought, at least... the bloody French hypocrite.]

[ Blake smiles widely when he sees Eric as the kisses are exchanged and and well the question makes him chuckle a little. It isn't so long ago that part of his job had been trying to make sure the world as they knew it didn't end -- but that happened every few months so... Luckily, this is a much easier task -- not that anything to do with climate relations and such is easy but at least there was no imminent threat to the Secretary's life or the security of the United States. ]

Not today, in any case. [ He quips. ] You chose a nice location.

[Eric grins at the compliment.] Bah merci, Blake... I used to be quite familiar with Paris. Its where I attended my studies back when I was a young man.

[The two of them were lead to a discreet table towards the back, romantically lit with candles.] Wine? Are you allowed to take the edge off your sobriety for the evening? Before you answer I warn you its a huge diplomatic faux-pas to say no to wine offered by a Frenchman.

[ Blake waits until they are led to the table, a smile still on his lips when he takes in the table. It's private, which is nice for a variety of reasons -- Blake isn't as private as he is fully out of necessity but also intensely valuing it as well. Blake settles comfortably at the table, a quick cursory glance at their surroundings only further confirming that the restaurant is both nice and that their table is secluded. ]

I think that if the staff weren't allowed to drink we would all fall off the deep end. [ It's a mild joke and he actually tends to drinking coffee at all hours of the day but a glass of wine or two never harmed anyone. ]

I couldn't possibly turn you down.

[Eric just grins at that.] I know exactly how you feel... not that I should be touting that particular aspect of my profession, but I admit at times the only thing that gets me through a day of difficult appointments is a fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

[Which is exactly what he turns to the waiter and asks for a bottle of. Neither too expensive nor too modest, it was clear that Eric drank wine for pleasure, rather than to make any kind of statement about his own position in the world.] So tell me, rough week? How have my people been treating you and yours.

[ Blake is happy enough with the choice and he smiles at the comment and he supposes that most people need a little bit to get through the days at times. He tended to drinking it for pleasure rather than out of any necessity but he wouldn't be surprised if there were some that had flasks just to make it through the day. He wouldn't judge that too harshly if he knew but luckily enough if there was anyone with such struggles in his circle they were quite good at hiding it. That's a good thing since the press would have been a worry otherwise. ]

Oh, the French are quite even keel as they tend to be. [ Blake gives him a small but wry smile. ] Even with something between our two countries, China has managed to make itself a problem.

[ China was great at making itself a problem. ]