milliways_bar | (no subject)

'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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"Practical rules, yes," Teja says. "But the underlying ethics are your own. And deserve respect"

As if his house had collapsed, Pyrrha had said. The rabble is all Javert's, and none has a right to poke around in it and told him where he built wrong. Especially as it was the man's own world-view, and not merely some outside beliefs that may be stripped off and replaced like peeling paint when they no longer serve.

'Thank you.'

It is a neutral comment, conveying no particular sentiment of thankfulness, but no coldness neither. He does feel it, but would not want it seen.

'I ask no respect, you understand. It means little to me, these days.'

But no outright declarations of how misled he is - that would be good.

"What would you ask, Javert?" Teja says. "If not that."

'Nothing.'

He can think of nothing he wants from another person. Which is a large problem, as it turns out.

'Mainly, I wish to be left to myself. But it is not for me to ask anything. I understand this, and it is quite right that I should not have this wish.'

He sounds tired now. Emotions always wring him out. And Cheval has finished his milk, so propriety be hanged; Javert moves to the back of the stall, and sits on his blanket.

"I shall do just that then, for the moment, and leave you to yourself," Teja says. "Allow me but a moment, to give Cheval his amulet, before I leave you both to your rest?"

'Do as you will. He is not my horse to say what he does and does not receive.'

Which is to say; yes, that is fine.

Teja takes a simple snake triskele from his belt pouch, and ties it to the foal's halter with a leather thong. It's not made from simple brass, but lovingly cut, filed, sanded and polished from mokume-gane, but Javert is unlikely to notice the difference right away; and when he notices, he isn't likely to care, as he does not consider the horse his.

"I shall leave you to it, now," Teja then says, nodding to Javert where he is sitting on his blanket. "And will see you in the forge, after Christmas."

'You are not opening the forge tomorrow?'

Well. That is disappointing.

'No matter. I will spend the day in the office. The work there is nearly done.'

"I shall spend the day with those that are dear to me -- my Pyrrha, whom I shall marry, and little Egil, our foster-child," Teja says. "But you are welcome to work in the office, if you are otherwise bored."

He did not realise he was to be married, but it is no business of his. And even if it were, he would not care.

'I will. I may try and finish the last of the files.'

He settles back. Cheval puts his head on his leg and closes his eyes; he pets his nose idly, because it is there, and not - he is sure - out of any affection.

'Good evening, monsieur. Be sure to remember to take the sword and knife with you.'

"Then by the New Year, you may explain the system to me, so we can make a simple list for all others to follow," Teja says. "And I have those blades again -- I would not leave them in the stable, to fall into the wrong hands. I shall leave you now, and meet you in a few days. Have a good night, Javert."

He looks at the man and the foal -- they are oddly heart-warming, and if Teja had the polaroid camera with him that he uses to document the pieces he made, before giving them to the buyers, then he might even take a picture of them; but he has not, so Javert is spared.

Instead, Teja merely nods at him, and then leaves.-