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[road_to_calvary]

 
Valjean looks like a new man. He is still greying, of course; he still limps slightly, and makes sure his wrists are covered at all times. But for the first time in months, he does not look as though the weight of the world resides on his shoulders. His usually-benign smile is more broad, and all in all, he is the human equivalent of a dying plant that has been given water: his daughter has come, and he is alive again.

The joy of it is tempered by life-changing fear, of course. But that does not show. He does make a beeline for the bar, where he pens a note.


My daughter, Cosette, has come to the bar. I beseech all those who are aware of my name - please do not tell her of it. It is a favour I can scarcely hope to repay, except in explanation if it is desired. Rest assured, it is for her happiness and safety more than my own. 

She knows me as Ultime Fauchelevent. I beg of you, please do not inform her otherwise. 

Jean Valjean.


He realises this has the potential to be more dangerous. If anyone should choose to use this against him, he has handed them all they need. Nevertheless, it is a chance he must take - he would rather be held to ransom than have the truth blurted out by accident. 

So, that done, he seats himself in the centre of the bar, looking for people he knows so that he may talk to them of this development himself.

Comments

[street_sparrow]

"I met your daughter", Gavroche says with a smile of real pleasure to see Valjean looking so much better. "Don't worry, I didn't."

[road_to_calvary]

The smile makes another appearance.

'Gavroche. Thank you.'

And gets a little broader.

'I knew you would not. Still, I thought it better to ask everyone.'

[street_sparrow]

"Better safe than sorry", he agrees. "Some people might not realize. You're looking well."

[road_to_calvary]

'Yes. Thought perhaps I should have not used my birth name to begin with. Though I did not wish to lie any longer. There did not seem any need, at the time.'

He had already surrendered to Javert. He did not consider the possibility of Cosette arriving also, in those first confused days.

'Thank you. She does make me feel better.'

This is an understatement of a degree even he is not aware of.

[street_sparrow]

"You were a fugitive?" It's asked without judgement, a simple question. "She's a lovely girl."

[road_to_calvary]

He is brought up short at that. He knows he has not told Gavroche the full story, but he has never asked, and it is not something he volunteers to tell.

Nevertheless, he smiles. It is a little more pained than before, because he still finds he wishes Cosette had grown up ugly.

'Yes. She is wonderful.'

She is everything.

'And, yes. I was. Am.'

[street_sparrow]

" - I'd guessed, of course", he says a little apologetically. "The way Javert was towards you, if it wasn't some personal grudge, it could only be that. But he told me once you weren't a murderer, so what you did is your own business."

[road_to_calvary]

'Ah.'

He looks down, and picks some lint off his trousers. And then sighs, and smiles once more. He likes this boy, and finds him trustworthy. The only person who cannot know the truth now is Cosette - and the Thenardiers, of course.

'I stole a loaf of bread,' he says, a moment later.

'I served nineteen years in the galleys for it. Very well, it was done. But then I stole again, and then broke my parole. It matters little, I suppose; the world thinks me dead, and Javert is the only one to know the truth for sure.'

[street_sparrow]

"Nineteen years for petty theft?" He looks askance - but not disbelieving. "I never knew the system could be that harsh. But now you're concerned for Cosette - that she doesn't lose the life you've given her?"

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings," Teja says, coming up to the man after reading the note. Unlike his usual custom, he doesn't greet him with his name.

"You look truly content. I am glad for you."

[road_to_calvary]

'Teja. Good evening.'

His smile widens.

'I feel well, thank you. Did you receive my note, monsieur?'

[ostro_goth]

"I did," Teja says. "May I still use your name when your daughter is not present, or would you have it changed altogether."

[road_to_calvary]

'She is not Bound, as I am. I believe she will not be here so often, so as long as she is not within sight, I do not mind if you use it.'

Asking people to become accustomed to a new one might create more problems than it solves. Not everyone is as accustomed as he is.

[ostro_goth]

"Then that is what I shall do," Teja says. "Do you think Javert will respect it?"

[road_to_calvary]

'I do not know.'

It is a simple answer to a simple question.

'I believe he will. I asked him not to say anything once, if she came here. He seemed insulted that I would need to ask. But I cannot predict him, and have not seen him for some time now.'

A moment's thought.

'Though, he must have seen her at Easter Mass. He said nothing then. So, we will see.'

[ostro_goth]

"He is at work, but says even less than usual," Teja says. "So the building of the church is halted?"

[road_to_calvary]

'Yes.'

He frowns slightly.

'We did fire some bricks, but I barely saw him. He had me leave as soon as he arrived after work at the forge and in the stables, and I did.'

He was rather distracted because of Cosette.

'I suppose we will start again soon. The floor must be laid.'

[electro_kinetic]

"Should I even ask how you pronounce this?" Nori asks, holding a copy of the note and realizing that she really needs to practice other languages in this place. Wearing a very short skirt and very tall wedge heels, she drops into a chair with a surprising amount of grace.

"Also, why does she not know your name?"

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean blinks. As he often does when Noriko announces herself, wearing very little. But he knows better than to comment on that by now, so he merely smiles.

'Good evening, Noriko. It is pronounced fau-sha-le-ven. A silent 't', that is all.'

[electro_kinetic]

Hey, she's covered, and a miniskirt that falls to almost mid-thigh is definitely not the most indecent thing she could be wearing. Mostly, she likes having bare legs; she's got nice legs, and since her arms aren't that great she kind of has few options. And people take to bare legs better than bare other things.

"I used to think I was pretty passable at French," she murmurs. "Hi."

[road_to_calvary]

Given what 'bare other things' might entail, legs are an option Valjean will take.

'You have met Cosette, then?'

He fairly beams. He looks happier than Noriko has ever seen him, by a fair distance.

'I am glad. It will be good for her to have company when she comes here.'

[electro_kinetic]

"Yeah, once," she says, nodding as she watches Valjean's face. His smile is contagious and she has to ask.

"You look really happy to have her here. Like, night and day."

[road_to_calvary]

'Yes. I am happy.'

It radiates off him. He cannot control it, and would not wish to. She is everything to him.

'She is not Bound as I am, and so will come and go. But simply knowing that I will see her sometimes - it is enough to make this bearable.'

[electro_kinetic]

"What, are the rest of us that bad?" she laughs.

[road_to_calvary]

His smile broadens.

'No. The people here are what make it bearable at all. But I would like to be at home, and be with her before she is married.'