originallutece | ic contact;

[Once already he has tried to send this message, but it seems the second time is not the charm.]

Pardon me, Monsieur Tozier, but in your haste it seems you must have left behind a pair of eyeglasses. I found them underneath the bed, else I would have contacted you sooner. I hope you have been managing without them. How might I return these to you?

[On the one hand: this is mundane and routine, and if this is the man she suspects it is, he doesn't deserve teasing.

On the other hand: how is she to resist?]

you know what, why don't you drop them off at a friend's house for me? She'll be swinging by soon anyway, might as well save you a trip all the way down to Shades Darker.

[For the present he makes no comment on the fact that Richie is apparently a fixture at Shades Darker, the name of the establishment infamous enough that even he has heard of it. This information he shall tuck away for later.]

Very well. At what address shall I find this friend of yours?

[Sorry your bro works at a brothel, man, Ros isn't impressed either.

But she texts her own address, a townhouse in one of the richer areas of Olympia.]

you can just drop it off in the mailbox if you like.

[Because she doesn't actually want to put the good Monsieur to any extra effort.]

You're certain you wouldn't prefer that I give them to your friend in person? Eyeglasses are rather dear.

[If you'd like, she says, and then realizes she ought to be more casual. Hmm . . . she probably oughtn't try his usual lackadaisical way of speaking, though, that won't end well.]

yeah sure! her name is Ros, red hair, freckles, can't miss her.

[He does not yet make the connection between this Ros and the Rosalind Lutece he had hauled from the rundown school. That would come later.]

Notify your friend that I shall arrive within a half an hour.

I will.

[And naturally, she's waiting half an hour later. She looks a good deal better than she did when he rescued her. The bruises are faded, and though she's bandaged, those stitches will come out soon.]

[He is mildly surprised to see Rosalind appear at the door in answer to his knocking. He greets her with a warm smile and a polite tip of his head.]

Madame Lutece, I hope this Easter day finds you well. [She certainly appears to be in better health than when last he saw her.] I am sorry to call on you with such short notice...I trust Monsieur Tozier explained?

He did, yes.

[For all she's absolutely doing this to give Richie shit, it is nice to see Fauchelevent again. She still isn't certain how to think about their meeting, but . . . he was kind, and more generous than most. She still owes him a coat, she realizes, though he'd declined her offer.]

Thank you for coming by. Would you like some tea?

Please, if it would not be too great an imposition.

[Notably, he has on a new coat already, in a style similar to that which he is accustomed to, but with the subtle touch of Olympia in the details. With spring slowly growing, he wears it unbuttoned.]

Of course not.

[It's a rather nice townhouse, he'll notice as he steps in. Rosalind is fairly wedded to her comfort and wealth, and so it's all wooden floors and marble counters. But the kettle, at least, is worn and well loved, battered in no small part by the little animal that's racing around her feet.

(He gets overexcited, see, and rams himself into it. He's doing his best).]

Declaring your loyalty to our fair country, I see? Or just taking precautions if anyone should question you on said loyalty?

[She gestures towards his coat. It's not obvious, but she makes a habit of noticing details.]

Thank you kindly.

[He enters upon her invitation, following where she will lead. Her abode is as different from his as day is from night: where hers is spacious, his is narrow, and where hers is furnished for comfort, his is spartan. Such a house as this he would one day wish to provide for his Cosette, but he has a ways to go before he can make this a reality.]

Hm? No, this is simply what was suitable and available at the right price.

[Moreover, he has an interest in blending in with the masses as much as he can. For the same reason, he has learned to forgo the usual hat, which here is not so ubiquitous as at home. As he follows her within, he removes his coat to carry it over his arm.]

Still: convenient, then, should we have a second wave of riots.

[She shrugs.]

I feel remiss in not offering you a replacement, however. You hardly had to destroy your old one to aid me; it's the least I can do to repay you. And I'm aware you said there was no need, but I do hate being in someone's debt.

You renewed health and spirit are all the recompense I require, I assure you.

[As they pass the threshold of the kitchen, the peculiar creature weaving around Rosalind's feet collides with his own boot. He looks down on it with amusement.]

Well, hello there.

Ah. Darwin.

[She wrinkles her nose down at him, a little embarrassed at how he's nosing against Valjean's boot. There's mild affection in his nudging, though nothing but pure curiosity in how he stares up at him.]

My bizarre little gift from the Natha. He hatched from an egg, believe it or not.

He certainly is a lively companion to have.

[He wonders if Rosalind lives alone, but he refrains from asking. From the pocket of his waistcoat he draws the pair of spectacles that were his reason for calling on herin the first place. He sets these on the table before seating himself.]

Thank you for agreeing to bring these to Monsieur Tozier. I hope it is not too troublesome.

ic contact;

text/misfire | @U.F.

un: rtozier

oh dear

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