If You Find Yourself in Lutetiae After Dusk: A Traveller's Guide to the City's Darker Corners

Good evening my lovely friends. I hope that you are enjoying the beautiful weather. In the Militiverse, thoughts have turned to holidays. I love city breaks and discovering cobbled streets and hidden bookshops with secrets that make you go ‘Wow…’ 

This evening in the Scriptorium, I am joined not by Mouse or Lady Cora, both have scarpered because of the two egos who have decided that they haven’t harassed me enough today. LOL. 

Please my lovelies, let’s make Emile and Remy feel welcome as they take us on a tour of their Lutetiae.

Remy: Bonsoir les amis. It is a pleasure to show you around Paris. 

Emile: Bonsoir Chérie. We have lived in Lutetiae a long time. We know it intimately. So, join us on a tour of the dark side.

Remy: The dark side?

Emile: Oui.

Remy: Emile, you don’t want to scare them before they even come to the city.

Emile: Mael, who knows the city better, you or me?

Remy: Well, you were here before me, but I know the better side of the city-

Anna: Gentlemen, please, enough bickering. Let’s show our friends a grand tour of your Paris. 

Parks Best Explored at Moonlight

Remy: A walk along the Pont Neuf with the lights shimmering on the Seine. It is magical. Best enjoyed by moonlight and after the midnight hour. 

Emile: It has its appeal. But what about The Promenade Plantée? It is mysterious, a place to get away from the madding crowd no matter what time of year. It was once a railway, part of the Vincennes railway line.

Remy: Oui, but it is closed at night, the gates are locked. The Lake at Buttes-Chaumont at dusk is one of the most beautiful in all of Lutetiae. Sit on a bench with your eyes closed and listen to the birds as they sing, sniff the air…

Emile: It also closes at night. Unless of course you are a Tempus Militibus in which case a locked gate is not a problem. 

Remy: Of course, but there is one magical place that we both agree on, the Bois de Boulogne. A magical space of lakes, gardens, and the beautiful the Château de Bagatelle. It is beautiful to walk around.

Emile: It is also home to one of the crankiest werewolves in all of Paris. 

Remy: Theron is an overgrown puppy.

An Evening in the Company of Gentlemen

Emile: Ah now we move to one of my favourite places in Paris. For the discerning tourist, a night at my club-

Remy: Emile, they don’t want to visit that kind of club. Focus here.

Emile: They don’t know what they are missing. It is where you can express yourself-

Remy: Really? You are not going to tell us your club is about self expression? 

Emile: Depends on your idea of self expression, Mael. But what do you consider a perfect way to spend a night in Paris?

Remy: Let’s talk jazz. In particular Caveau de la Huchette, the best jazz in Lutetiae. One of the greatest jazz musicians, Sidney Bechet played here. 

Emile: Let’s not forget 38Riv Jazz Club. A subterranean club with the coolest sounds in all of Paris. 

It is where the Militibus like to go for atmosphere and good music.

Remy: Now, that is a great club. I am impressed Em. 

Emile: I’m not just a pretty face, Mael.

The Midnight Hour 

Emile: The Midnight hour in Lutetiae, the time just as the magic begins and you can feel the change in the air and in the pulse. 

Remy: When we are not patrolling, we like to walk along the Pont Neuf at midnight. It is the time when the lights shimmer on the river and the city almost reveals itself completely.

Emile: You sense the shift from the evening to the headiness of the witching hour. The streets in Montmartre particularly Place du Tertre, still hum with life, and it is easy to imagine Picasso and Vincent sitting outside having a glass of something fruity and red.

Remy: I love the stairs in Rue du Mont Canis, the light is warm and it is quiet, almost like the old village. It is also a great place to view the city without the crowds.

A Street Best Avoided After One in the Morning

Emile: Mon cœur, do not go to Pigalle after one in the morning.

Remy: Why?

Emile: Well you might have to witness hearing ‘the sunny side of the street.’

Remy: What? 

Emile: Isaac performs there. Most nights, one AM.

Remy: Issy performs in Pigalle? He’s not a performer.

Emile: Exactly 

 If You Must Visit the Catacombs

Emile: The catacombs, well if you insist on visiting, be careful you might just meet a pire or two maybe even lycans or those pesky lutins.

Remy: Em, you’re doing it again!

Emile: What?

Remy: Scaring these lovely people. The combs are full of atmosphere. Day or night. We patrol there a lot, Em is right there are a number of pires, werewolves that live there but they are usually in the unchartered combs.

Emile: One of the best places there that I like is the ossuary, you walk along and see all these skulls piled on top of each other. The ossuary holds the remains of over six million people. Did you know, Remy, the ossuary in the combs was created because the city had a problem with overflowing cemeteries? 

Remy: Oui, the catacombs are fascinating…I would gladly go with any of you, les amis, as a Militibus officer, I am a good guide to have.

Before You Leave Lutetiae

Emile: Mael, I don’t think that our Capitaine would be too happy you leaving your post to be a tour guide.

Remy: We could both be guides. But seriously my friends we do have advice to give you about our Lutetiae. Sous-Lieutenant, be my guest.

Emile: Merci, Lieutenant. When you step outside of your hotel in Lutetiae, you may feel the pulse of the city, but what you may not know is that once you come to our city, she will welcome you with open arms, but…

Remy: You will never leave the same person you were when you came. Paris reveals herself to you but once she welcomes you to her bosom, you will never truly leave the city behind.

Emile: I have lived here since I became a vampire in 1186, I don’t ever want to leave. What about you, Remy?

Remy: I was reborn a Parisian in 1815. So, you see, nobody ever truly leaves. 

I hope you enjoyed tonight’s journey through Paris with two of her very charming Militibus vampires.

Until next time 

Anna