milliways_bar | (no subject)

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'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the...stable? There was...not much of anything going on, really. Javert has been sleeping out here for the last couple of weeks, and tonight will be no different. Cheval has been nosing around for his next bottle, so he fetches it from Bar, trying not to yawn too obviously where anyone can see. He also considers another blanket, but it seems indulgent, so does not.

Bar also produces a gift, which he stares at for a moment. This again? But then, he supposes it is the season. He asks the bar to keep them for now, and walks back through the snow to the foal. It may be Christmas night, but it the same as any other to him and he is sure it will stay that way.

Valjean, watching this exchange, follows him out.

[OOC: Merry Christmas, everyone! This post open through New Year. If you want to chuck random animals etc in, go ahead. The more cracktastic the better, say I. If not, no worries - he's taggable at the bar too. Also, I will be tagging up everything I owe as soon as I've wrapped the last few presents over here. <3333 you all!

ETA: I completely forgot to set this up the way I planned. Ah well. Valjean, when I tag him in, is also entirely taggable by anyone. And will probably be in a far more festive mood, lets be honest. Also, feel free to tag each other if you want to be all 'wtf I'm in a stable' to someone else! I'm allgood with that. <3]

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'I would like to hear it someday, if you would tell it.'

He glances towards Javert - who has turned away further at being referred to in such terms as 'good man of faith' - then back.

'Though yes, perhaps now is not the time.'

"Now is not," Teja agrees. "I would not keep secrets from Javert, but he might not wish to hear such things from me. One can easily overstep another's boundaries by telling him too much."

Pause.

Teja considers that yes, actually, he did not need to know that Javert is a virgin, and indeed considers himself such.

"Also, it is your religious feast-day, and not mine; it would be truly rude to invade it with my grudge against religion."

Valjean leans against the wall near the door, and watches the horse a moment. Javert is walking it slowly towards the back wall, still feeding it, so that he might sit down; he will never say it to the man, but it is a strangely peaceful scene.

'We must speak of this again.'

A grudge against religion? Well, he would not dream of attempting to change anyone's mind, but he would certainly like a discussion on the matter.

'How will you spend the day, then?'

"We must," Teja agrees. Whatever he has spoken of with Valljean before, has taken a turn to the better. Teja would not see himself regain any religion, but maybe the rancour and pain might be lessened, by a few wise words from this wise man, or by simply telling him his dire tale?

And then, a short flash of pure happiness crosses Teja's grim face.

"I shall be spending the day with Pyrrha -- she forgave me! I would not even have dared ask, had it not been for speaking of it with you. I shall be spending it with Pyrrha, and with little Egil, our foster-child."

'That is wonderful!'

He grins, and puts his hand on Teja's arm to give it a squeeze.

'I am very happy for you, monsieur.'

And if his chest squeezes tight at the prospect of spending Christmas without his Cosette, none of it shows on his face.

"Thank you," Teja says. "Again, I owe you much gratitude for my happiness. Would you like to have dinner with us tomorrow -- or another day, if you are inundated with dinner invitations for the holiday?"

A good man like Valjean would surely have many that wish him to share their table, happy to have him there with them, and grateful for his existence.

His face settles into its most usual neutral expression, though there is a sidelong glance towards Javert that he cannot help.

'Thank you, Teja. I have no other invitations, but I fear I must decline this one also. Though I thank you for the thought, and of course, hope your Christmas is both joyous and peaceful.'

"We are neither of us Christians," Teja says, "but I hope it shall be. But you are truly welcome with us -- if not today, then another time, soon?"

Pause. He can understand if Valjean wishes to keep his religious holiday in quietness. He might be missing his daughter. Briefly, Teja wonders where Carlotta and her family are, and whether it is even Christmas now for them.

"And at our wedding, also. I would have you there, among those that I value greatly."

He would not presume on friendship, not with Valjean, whose friendliness seems more universal than personal, at times.

'Another time may well suit, thank you.'

He is not used to invitations, and not socially adept - at least in society. But a dinner with Teja and his beloved might not be as taxing. And he does like the man, even if he knows little of personal friendship.

'But tomorrow, I will be here.'

At this, Javert's head shoots up.

'You will not.'

'I will.'

Javert is glaring at him. Valjean holds it easily, and simply looks back at him, the picture of calm.

"That way, you would spend the holiday with one you know," Teja nods.

Even if it is Javert. Valjean is truly a good man, and one of the few that do his faith proud, in Teja's opinion: - to spend a feast-day with one's (defeated) enemy takes some Christian charity!

'Yes.'

It was not the point, but is a good enough excuse. Javert is still glaring, and he holds it still, before tilting his head once and looking back to Teja.

'My apologies. I am being very rude. I thank you again for the invitation, and would be honoured to accept on some other day.'

"I shall speak with Pyrrha, and then leave an invitation with the bar, unless I run into you in person before, as one is wont to do," Teja says.

Valjean had not been rude -- he had merely been busy with Javert -- but Teja would not argue.

That would be even ruder, pointless, and a bad example to Javert.

'That seems in order. I am sure we will see each other soon enough.'

Javert snorts and turns his attention back to the foal. Valjean returns his full attention to Teja.

'And if you need help at the forge, please do say so. I am sure the Inspector has been insisting on working, despite also spending his nights caring for this young horse, and so if you would give him some time-'

'-Valjean!'

'-to rest, I will step into the breach.'

His tone is resolute. He will help Javert; he will free himself. He is single-minded in most things, and this is no exception.

"Indeed, I will gladly accept your help when Javert needs a break," Teja says, "but now that Christmas is past, there will not be as much to do in the forge; instead, I shall start on my charcoal kilns. If you would wish to help with those, also, you would be truly welcome, for I could well use two helpers with that work. There is quite some wood that will have to be moved, and then moved again once it is coal."

'I do not need a break!'

Valjean ignores this entirely, as well as the mutinous expression that follows.

'Of course I will help, and gladly. Just let me know when I will be required.'

"I shall do that," Teja says. "Stacking all that wood is work for more than two men."

He could use even more, preferably those that are strong, and not from later than 1950.

'Is there a time restraint on it? If not, it does not matter how much wood there is.'

He is here, he is strong, he needs something to fill his time. He does not mind how much work there is.

"It must not get wet, of course, and building the kiln takes some knowledge, as the wood must not ever burn, but smoulder," Teja says. "However, one must do it in winter, so if a kiln burns after all, or sparks fly, then the woods cannot catch fire."

'As you say.'

He will do as directed.

'I am sure you will provide instruction. I know you know your craft, and will do as you say.'

Teja looks from Valjean to Javert, and back.

"I prefer explaining to instructing," he says, "for if those who work with me know what is done for which reason, they can tell more easily what is wrong and what right, can correct small mistakes, and tell when a thing is not going as it should so they can call me to their aid. I will tell you how, of course; but I will also tell you why, and what the end result must be."

Pause.

"And I am very far from infallible in anything. If I make no sense to either of you, it may be not because it is too complex, but it might be because I am making no sense. If anything is the matter, please say so, or ask. Those who work for me are men, not oxen; those who fight for me are men, not Molossi."

Valjean smiles again.

'Monsieur, I have never known you not to make sense. Nevertheless, it shall be as you say - and I appreciate your sentiment, of course. Men are not oxen.'

His voice becomes a little quieter at this last, perhaps. He is not sure if it is because of the weight that still takes him, when he thinks of those days long past, or if it is so Javert will not hear. Both, perhaps.

"And I shall never treat any as such, having known such treatment myself," Teja nods. "So, I would rather err on the side of over-explaining, than expect orders to be followed blindly."

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