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[road_to_calvary]

It is very rare for Valjean to feel vexed at someone. There was the incident in the Gorbeau tenement, when he had to defend his own life. There is Marius. There have been a number of times with Javert, though that tends more towards frustration than anything.

And then there is now. He has tried to walk it off, and succeeded to some degree. Still, his thoughts will not leave him alone. So it is a rather quiet Valjean in the bar this evening, staring at the fish in the fire without seeing them, supper untouched at his side.

Comments

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat occasionally takes advantage of Ellen being distracted to pester other Milliways patrons for food, largely because he can get away with it here. Today was shaping up to be no different when he left her table.

Unfortunately for him, Ellen looked up. Which is why there's now an embarrassed-looking grey-haired young woman lunging at the edge of Valjean's vision; if he turns he'll see her grabbing an indignant-looking heeler by the collar.

[road_to_calvary]

He starts gently - he tends to sink very deeply into his thoughts - but then smiles.

'Good evening, madame.'

He glances at the dog.

'And, monsieur.'

He does not know for sure it is a boy from here, but makes an assumption.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I'm so sorry," says Ellen, looking up from having muttered something to the dog. "I really didn't mean to let him disturb you, but he gets away sometimes- Dogmeat, sit. You've had dinner already today."

The dog's ears assume a disgruntled slant, but he does sit.

"I hope we haven't disturbed you too much."

[road_to_calvary]

'Not at all, madame. I was only thinking.'

He smiles politely, and looks at the dog.

'It is only bread and cheese, but he may have it if he likes. I have no appetite this evening.'

[onceholyknight]

"Good evening, monsieur", Michael says, recognising him from the church as an associate of Javert's - and not mangling the French too badly with a Chicago accent.

[road_to_calvary]

He looks up, and blinks dimly. His thoughts are deep this evening.

'Monsieur,' he murmurs back.

'Good evening.'

[onceholyknight]

He sits himself down nearby - not invading Valjean's space uninvited, but close enough to talk.

"Michael Carpenter. We - didn't exactly meet, at the blessing of the church." e

[vorpatril]

Ivan is also by the fire with a glass of wine and a data pad that he's set down, his days are very full at the moment. He's in uniform though partially unbuttoned as he's finished his shift but has to prepare for tomorrow.

Its nice to grab a moment and he looks up and notices the other man's abstraction and follows his gaze to the fire, "I wonder if anyone ever feeds them."

[road_to_calvary]

His eyebrows jerk up, and he moves his head sharply. He was not expecting interruption - indeed, the world tends to disappear when he loses himself in thought. But it is a valid observation.

'I had not considered it. What do you suppose they would eat?'

[vorpatril]

That look of being lost in thought is one Ivan knows well from his cousin and he tends to associate it with people planning something or in not the best frame of mind,

"Maybe some sort of fish food but maybe they eat the fire itself."

[cook_the_rude]

"Good evening, Monsieur Valjean!"

That is Dr. Lecter, coming up to the fireplace with a glass of wine in his hand.

[road_to_calvary]

His expression does not change in the least. But it was entirely neutral to begin with, so that says nothing.

'Monsieur l'docteur,' he murmurs, removing his gaze from the fire.

'Good evening. How are you?'

[cook_the_rude]

"I am excellent, thank you, Monsieur," Dr. Lecter says.

He settles down in a chair nearby.

"How is the church going?"

[electro_kinetic]

There is a Noriko too; her nearness is marked by the soft click of her heels against wood as she leans over the back of the couch next to Valjean. She's a good deal more covered than she has been in the past, as well as far less casual, but she seems comfortable.

And don't give her that look, she had her clothes cleaned, jeez.

"Forgetting to eat is never a good sign."

[road_to_calvary]

His head jerks up slightly, and his smile is reflexive. But it turns warmer when he sees who is speaking.

'So my daughter always tells me.'

He is too old to learn, perhaps.

'Good evening, Noriko. How are you? You look very sophisticated.'

By her standards.

[electro_kinetic]

She doubts Jean is too old to learn anything new. Then again she doubts Jean is the type of man that would assume age has anything to do with intellect.

"I'm good," she says, and actually means it this time as she sits on the back of the couch, ankles crossed. "I'm job hunting, hence the clothes. I got pulled in a while back when I was dropping off applications." She expects him to be affronted at the prospect of her taking any sort of job, but hey, either way it's not going to stop her. "Like I said, bare arms are acceptable by my time. Bare thighs, not so much."

[fry_sandhu]

There is a small child nearby, playing with a spinning top on the floor.

He spins it, and then crouches down and watches it intently, then spins it again.

[road_to_calvary]

The noise is what captures Valjean's attention. It is a constant for spans of time, and then stops, and then starts again. It is enough to break into his thoughts as he finds himself anticipating it.

He looks over eventually. And smiles at once. Valjean likes children very much, and so he watches the boy play. It is far nicer than his thoughts at present.

[fry_sandhu]

Fry doesn't spot Valjean immediately.

He spins, and he watches. After a little while, he starts singing a little song along with it.

"The washy machine,
Makes everything clean,
But we don't put toys,
In the washy machine.

Spin spin spin
The clothes go in
But we don't put fruit
In the washy machine."

[witchfinder_general]

When Father Harman sees Valjean brooding at the fireplace, he approaches with a little hesitation. Sometimes, people need to be left alone.

"Good evening, Monsieur Valjean," he says. "I hope I'm not intruding on your thought -- please absolutely don't hesitate to tell me if I am!"

[road_to_calvary]

He looks up at once, smiling automatically.

'Father Harman. Good evening. You are not intruding on anything that does not deserve to be intruded upon. Will you join me?'

[witchfinder_general]

"Then I will try and intrude in a helpful manner," Father Harman says, sitting down in the next chair. "What happened?"

Is it too late to jump in, please?

[cute_bruiser]

Molly - the grown one; no suit tonight, but with her jeans tucked into the bright pink boots that are normally part of her costume - is sat a long the bar. Her little Security badge is pinned to her t-shirt (it is yellow and says 'KAPOW!' in big red comic-book font) and she is sat on a stool with her back against the bar.

She might be on duty but she isn't quite paying all the attention she meant to, and her fingers are drumming out an unconscious staccato rhythm on the smooth bartop.

If she keeps this up, Bar's going to get annoyed.

Not at all! :)

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean is not going to get annoyed. He does notice, however, and it goes on long enough that he is pulled from his thoughts. Which is no mean feat, as he has been known to get lost in them for full days at a time, on occasion.

He looks around at one point, locating the source. When he sees the young woman he smiles politely at her. That is an interesting outfit she is wearing.

Re: <3

[cute_bruiser]

She doesn't realise as quickly as she might normally, but she does notice; and Valjean's polite smile is returned with a brighter, sparkier one, green eyes twinkling.

Dude's oddly familiar, actually - not like she knows him, but like he reminds her of someone. Huh.

Her fingers lift from the bar, just enough to flutter in a wave.

"Evening, dude."