(no subject)

[street_sparrow]

London is having a heatwave, and thus so is London Below. Gavroche wanders in wearing as few clothes as could possibly be considered decent (shorts and a vest), no shoes or socks, and sunglasses, then heads out the back door to see what the weather's like there.

Comments

[capture_eternity]

Dorian Gray is outside as well, in a purple silk shirt, admiring the roses in the garden. There are varieties here he's never seen before, but that's not a surprise, given the location.

The weather is fine for it, but not too scorching.

He nods briefly at Gavroche, then looks again, because he likes the idea of sunglasses. They're rather unlike the tinted glasses that his own time associates with the sufferers of syphilis.

[street_sparrow]

He nods back amiably, trying to work out why this man looks familiar.

[capture_eternity]

"Good afternoon," Dorian says, politely. "I like your glasses."

[street_sparrow]

"Thanks! I got them at the Market. They're useful."

[capture_eternity]

"I didn't know there was a market here," Dorian says. "But I'm still new."

[street_sparrow]

"Not here", he says with a grin. "At home. I'm Gavroche."

[capture_eternity]

"No, you're not," Dorian says, before he can stop himself.

Beat.

"Oh, I'm sorry, of course that's your name; how awful of me to doubt that," he then says, looking contrite. "It's just that I ran into little Gavroche the other week, only he was still calling himself Jean-Philippe, poor little thing, and you're clearly not him."

[street_sparrow]

He tilts his head.

"...that was me. I knew I recognized you from somewhere."

[capture_eternity]

"How did you grow so much in just one week?" Dorian asks.

[street_sparrow]

"I've been here for ten years. Milliways plays around with time, sometimes."

[capture_eternity]

"I must admit I haven't the foggiest how that could possibly work," Dorian admits. "I'll believe you. So you're the same little Jean-Philippe I offered to do odd jobs for me?"

[street_sparrow]

"That's me, though I haven't used that name for a long, long time."

[capture_eternity]

"Gavroche is certainly more memorable," Dorian nods.

[runningred]

Jay chuckles as he comes back from a run, wearing only shorts, a sleeveless tee-shirt and runners. "You look as glow-in-the-dark pale as I use to."

[street_sparrow]

"'s what happens when you spend most of your time underground", he retorts cheerfully. "But London's way too hot and it's seeping down."

[runningred]

"I was the same. Use to work at night a lot."

"I can imagine. Come here to cool off? Want a drink?"

[street_sparrow]

"Yes, please", he says, heartfelt. "Something with lots of ice."

[runningred]

Jay orders a big pitcher of lemonade and ginger ale. Best mix he knows for a hot day. "Give that a go. So how have things been with you?"

[street_sparrow]

"Good as they get." He smiles. "'Ponine's going to live, Bossuet... didn't, but that's more something that didn't change than something unexpected."

[runningred]

"I'm sorry about your friend but I'm glad your sister made it. Is she coming here? I'd love to meet her."

[street_sparrow]

"She's staying here permanently now. There's not a lot for her back in Paris."

[runningred]

"She has here and she has you. That's a lot! Hell, I wish I'd had this place growing up. When I was turned into Mini-Me Rae taught me a ton of food tricks that would have saved my ass more than once."

[street_sparrow]

"Speaking of your Mini-Me", Gavroche says with a grin, "I think we met each other's."

[runningred]

"Oh so that little dandelion was you?" Jay grins. "Sorry for anything dumb Mimi me said. I was such a brat back then."

[street_sparrow]

"Nah, he was okay. Didn't trust me much, and I don't think he liked this place, but you don't last long out there being trusting."