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164 » in the water we will sleep
[It is early evening. The people of the Court of Fontaine go about their day as normally as they can; "regular life" doesn't feel like such a distant dream in the air anymore, now that time has passed since the flood and more efforts are focused on proper rebuilding and reinforcing of structures, rather than the temporary cleanup measures in the immediate wake of disaster. While the Gardes may seem a bit on edge as Aether makes his way back into the city...well. In the last while, when have they not? People don't stop being people for very long even in crisis. Tragedies large and small still play out on the various "stages" that permeate Fontainian society. He'll still get mainly cheerful hellos and good-evenings and waves as he makes his way to Cafe Lutece, to his usual out-of-the-way table. Arouet is sure to make quick work of his order.
Against the backdrop of cheerful voices at the outdoor cafe, the whir of the odd patrolling gardemek, and the distant splashes of the Court of Fontaine's main fountain, a letter finds its way to Aether's seat; the postwoman is polite but distant about it, clearly burdened with too many further deliveries to spend any length of time in pleasantries.
The official seal of Fontaine adorns the back of the envelope, pressed into blue wax. Inside is, naturally, a letter; what else might one expect, in a properly thin envelope of standard size and no interesting decoration? The letter itself seems just as unremarkable, at least until unfolded. It is written on official letterhead, and dated two days prior. Whatever else transpires, the penmanship of the sender lives somewhere above critique.
The traveler will find, written elegantly in blue ink:]
Aether,
Good day. I trust your time spent in Fontaine continues to see you in good health and adventurous spirits. To come to the point, I request your assistance regarding a recent, ongoing investigation. Your assessment and insight would be most welcome. Should you arrive outside of regular business hours, please speak with the Melusine at the desk regarding this invitation.
I await you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Neuvillette
Iudex of Fontaine
[After everything, one might expect he would at least forgo the closing formalities. Perhaps he had a reason to keep them; perhaps it is simply a habit too difficult to break after all these years. There is, on the surface and for a measurable distance below it, no real reason for Aether to think anything more of it than Neuvillette writing him a note two days ago to ask for his help with something.
(Is it odd? What cause would he have to think Aether might arrive at all hours? That he could not simply walk into Neuvillette's office himself, or that someone not Sedene would take a prominent shift at the Maison Gestionnarie's main desk - to the point where he writes specifically to suggest solutions to these minor inconveniences if they present themselves?)
Yet no matter the hour Aether chooses to go through the Palais doors, Neuvillette's happenstance-allusions prove true: a different Melusine, lemon-yellow and prone to wringing her hands, waits in full uniform at the main desk, and there are multiple Gardes posted at the entrance and at the door to Neuvillette's office proper.]
Against the backdrop of cheerful voices at the outdoor cafe, the whir of the odd patrolling gardemek, and the distant splashes of the Court of Fontaine's main fountain, a letter finds its way to Aether's seat; the postwoman is polite but distant about it, clearly burdened with too many further deliveries to spend any length of time in pleasantries.
The official seal of Fontaine adorns the back of the envelope, pressed into blue wax. Inside is, naturally, a letter; what else might one expect, in a properly thin envelope of standard size and no interesting decoration? The letter itself seems just as unremarkable, at least until unfolded. It is written on official letterhead, and dated two days prior. Whatever else transpires, the penmanship of the sender lives somewhere above critique.
The traveler will find, written elegantly in blue ink:]
Aether,
Good day. I trust your time spent in Fontaine continues to see you in good health and adventurous spirits. To come to the point, I request your assistance regarding a recent, ongoing investigation. Your assessment and insight would be most welcome. Should you arrive outside of regular business hours, please speak with the Melusine at the desk regarding this invitation.
I await you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Neuvillette
Iudex of Fontaine
[After everything, one might expect he would at least forgo the closing formalities. Perhaps he had a reason to keep them; perhaps it is simply a habit too difficult to break after all these years. There is, on the surface and for a measurable distance below it, no real reason for Aether to think anything more of it than Neuvillette writing him a note two days ago to ask for his help with something.
(Is it odd? What cause would he have to think Aether might arrive at all hours? That he could not simply walk into Neuvillette's office himself, or that someone not Sedene would take a prominent shift at the Maison Gestionnarie's main desk - to the point where he writes specifically to suggest solutions to these minor inconveniences if they present themselves?)
Yet no matter the hour Aether chooses to go through the Palais doors, Neuvillette's happenstance-allusions prove true: a different Melusine, lemon-yellow and prone to wringing her hands, waits in full uniform at the main desk, and there are multiple Gardes posted at the entrance and at the door to Neuvillette's office proper.]
no subject
With Aether, it is.
In some ways, he does not understand, even now. Unmasked confusion overtakes the fierceness in his eyes.]
I would like that very much. It is why I invited you here, although...I would never presume to lay yet another obligation upon your shoulders. What you have already done for Fontaine is more than enough.
[Days ago, in the immediate aftermath of everything - and, truly, it is both a small and a large matter - a letter soliciting Aether's opinion seemed rather prudent. Now it rings of selfishness. Of uncertainty, on Neuvillette's part. Yet he was certain when he penned it that it was a good decision.
Change, it seems, is difficult even for dragon sovereigns.]
no subject
He squeezes the Iudex's knuckles gently, just once, before letting go. ]
...How do you think we should begin? I'd like to examine the site of the explosion myself, personally.
[ Not a strict shift to business — his tone is still very friendly and soft — but a bid to put the more important issues in this situation at the forefront of their conversation. Aether is not necessarily so arrogant that he thinks that he'll find something that the Gardes did not, but then, he has Elemental Sight, and a sense of vision that is somewhat more... human-typical... than that which the Melusines have been blessed with. ]
But I'll defer to your judgment, if you've already hit a lead.
no subject
[Neuvillette does suspect Aether might notice something the Gardes did not, and he suspects it will spring from the traveler's ability to see the world so very differently to someone native to Fontaine. It startles him, quietly, how different he feels now that he has...assistance? Backup? They are things he could very well have had before. Aether, specifically, is the comfort.
A glance at the window only confirms what Neuvillette already knew: the evening isn't getting any earlier. And Aether has, likely, just arrived from somewhere, only to find himself buried in Fontainian issues once again.]
If you would prefer it, we can delay until morning.
no subject
Seems like sound judgment. Morning will be a better time to search. With fresher minds and sharper eyes.
[ Neuvillette seems tired, given his infinite vigil over Fontaine without rest. Sure, he doesn't need rest in the same way that a normal human does, but Aether isn't a normal human either, and he knows full well that even immortal beings need rest. ]
I'll stay here, if it helps? I'm sure any room in the Palais will suit me just fine.
[ With you goes unsaid. Close at hand is implied. ]
no subject
When Aether offers to stay, he looks over abruptly. He isn't quite smiling, but the deep worry has receded from his eyes somewhat.]
Of course. I would offer you nothing less. Would you like me to show you to a guest room now? [A sudden, stricken look crosses his face.] Have you eaten?
[He doesn't know when Aether arrived, much less how much time passed between said arrival and the receipt of his letter. Has the traveler even had the chance to settle in after his journey?]
no subject
[ A brief pause, somewhat pointed. But Neuvillette is unlikely to recognize the reason for his pointedness any more than he recognized the faint implications of his Fontainian colleagues, so Aether makes the question more direct: ]
Are you hungry?
[ This is "worrying about Neuvillette" hours now. Is he hungry? (Do Dragon Sovereigns even get hungry?) Aether supposes that this, too, must be something of a unique circumstance for Neuvillette; in all the past hundreds of years, there have probably not been very many people who were capable of fussing over the Iudex.
But here stands Aether now. Fussing. ]
I'll make you something myself, if you want. I know my way around a kitchen.