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[road_to_calvary]

 Sometime after coming in from his walk, and the conversations held on the way, Valjean leaves a note at the bar.


Mademoiselle Fantine

I hope you are well, mademoiselle. I have been informed this evening that the Thenardiers have come to Milliways, and are even now locked up after accosting you on arrival. Please forgive the forwardness of this note, but I wished to ensure that you are well, and unshaken by their attempts on you. 

I am informed that Security has been well-versed in the nature of these people, and are being vigilant, so please be reassured - they will not be allowed to trouble you further.

I will remain in the bar in the evenings if you wish to speak; you are under no obligation to do so, of course. 

In hopes of your continued well-being

Jean Valjean

Comments

[dreamed_a_dream]

Fantine recieves the note with her lunch, and after squinting at it for a moment, goes off to find Claudia or someone else to read it to her.

Once that has been accomplished, she settles down at a table with her usual sewing basket, watching for the letter's author.

[road_to_calvary]

He arrives back in the bar just in time to see her walk from the person who helped her, and sit down. He takes his hat from his head, and smiles quietly to himself. He should have considered that she probably could not read the note herself.

'Mademoiselle,' he says, when he has approached. Then, he bows politely.

'How are you?'

[dreamed_a_dream]

She looks up with a smile. "I am well, Monsieur. I thank you for your concern. Please join me if you wish."

[road_to_calvary]

'Thank you.'

He sits opposite, hands folded in his lap.

'Gavroche tells me you stood up to them very well. I simply wanted to ensure they did not harm you - and to tell you that every precaution is being taken to make sure it does not happen again.'

There is a moment of hesitation.

'But in all honesty, mademoiselle - I am not sure there is anything that can make a guarantee on this.'

He will never be dishonest with her.

[dreamed_a_dream]

"I understand, Monsieur, and I truly appreciate your concern. There are many here who have offered their assistance and protection. Claudia, a young lady of my aquaintance, even has a sort of firearm that fires lightning! Imagine that!" She's still more than a bit starry-eyed at some of the technology she has seen in Milliways.

"I was pushed into a table, however, there are no lasting affects from that moment. I am well aware that they will likely attempt again to get money from me, but I neither have the money to offer nor the desire to give it to them. I was able to stand up to them and hopefully try to get through to them that I am not as naive as I once was. I have grown in this place, much to my own surprise."

[road_to_calvary]

'Lightning?'

His eyebrows quirk. Remarkable. But when she says she was pushed into the table, they lower again, and further, into a frown.

'I am glad to hear you have no intention of giving in to their demands. You owe them nothing.'

He has had a few thoughts about how to stop them trying again, but there is no need to impart this. And he smiles at her remark.

'I have no doubt you will flourish, and none deserves to more.'

[dreamed_a_dream]

"I am unaware of how it works, but Mademoiselle Claudia knows not only how to work them, but also how to create them. She is quite the young lady." Fantine smiles broadly, but sobers more than slightly.

"I do not know about deserving, however, I thank you for the sentiment. They do not frighten me. There is absolutely nothing they can do to me that I have not done to myself, and there is quite little they can take from me." Fantine shrugs.

[road_to_calvary]

He thinks they could take her life, or her happiness, or both. But he will not say it. She did not know how much worse they became as time went on, and there is no need for her to.

There again, he doubts there is anything worse to Fantine than what they did.

'They will not take anything from you,' he says, again.

Needless to say, he still holds guilt about what she was forced to do to herself.

'I confess though, I find myself especially glad Cosette does not visit here. They have apparently come the time not long after I took her from them.'