College AU Frenchmen!

[road_to_calvary]

 
...this isn't his bedroom. Jean Valjean - dressed in shorts and a muscle T, covered in sweat - rubs a towel over his face, and blinks quite a lot. Then he sticks his head back through the door, and yells, 'Javert!'

'What?'

'Come look.'

Javert - mussed hair, jeans, sullen expression, a scar around his neck - slopes through the door. He also blinks a lot, and doesn't stop the door closing behind them. While Valjean spends his time staring about, his eyes fall on the leaflets nearby. He picks one up, reads it, then touches Valjean's arm to get his attention.

'Here.'

A couple of minutes later, they're staring at each other. Javert shakes his head. Valjean nods, and stretches for the door handle...which won't open. His eyes go wide as he tugs on it, and Javert has to take his wrist to stop him trying to wrench his way out.

'It's OK. We'll just get a drink and wait for it to open. It says here that it will. OK?'

'...OK.'

And so there's two wary young guys at the bar, eyeing drinks suspiciously. Well, Valjean is. Javert is eyeing Valjean, because...well. Just because.



[OOC: AU guys, obviously! Write-up on their background here. You can pretty much do what you want with them, they're only here for a week. This is open until whenever, and they'll each get an independent EP at some point. \o/]

Comments

[never_shall_yield]

He looks at him for a long moment. Then Valjean's wordless plea to be nice gets through, and he looks down.

'Yeah, sorry. Thanks.'

He slurps at his Coke to deflect.

'I don't have 6,000 years to get things put right, though.'

[starrydome]

"No. But luckily, Men often seem to need less time. We all adjust to the lives we have," Elrond says, calmly.

"When my brother made his choice to be a Man, I asked him if he felt any different. And he said, that things - moved faster. Within him and without. Perhaps that holds true for all of you."

[never_shall_yield]

He shrugs.

'I don't know. I have no way to compare, so who can say?'

Valjean though, looks curious.

'Your brother chose? He could have had immortality, and he chose to be a man?'

[starrydome]

"He did. Elros wanted to travel and to found a kingdom. And he did. He lived a very full life and he died a mortal death. And I have missed him every day since our paths forked."

You can hear the love in his voice. And the sadness.

[road_to_calvary]

'Is that what a full life is? Travelling, and founding a kingdom?'

Valjean swirls his 'shake around in its glass, watching the dregs of it stain the sides. And Javert evidently hears something in his tone, because he looks around and watches him, faint concern on his face.

[starrydome]

"He found love as well. He had a family. And he made a difference. Above all else, I believe that was what he wanted, to make a difference no leave a legacy."

Elrond does not seem bothered by the questions.

[road_to_calvary]

Javert looks away from him. Valjean stares into his glass. The pause is awkward for the two of them, though perhaps not Elrond.

Eventually, Javert stands up and says 'excuse me', and heads for the bathroom, while Valjean tries a smile on the Elf.

'Sounds like he was happy. That's good.'

[starrydome]

"I believe he was. Perhaps that is the purpose we all have - to find that which bring us happiness?"

He did notice the silence. And the sudden departure was hard to miss. But elves do not disease advice,especially not when they do not know the parties involved.

And yet - he does not like to see anyone in pain.

"Most who come here," he offers at length,"Seem to find that this is a place that can offer - a respite from the life they know. A place of peace."

And his eyes almost stray in the direction of the bathrooms.

In case someone knows someone in need of such things.

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean quirks half a smile. He does not have to look towards the bathroom to show he gets the message, though he does think of a conversation he had with Javert recently. About how everyone sees the scar, and thinks he's the fucked-up one. But it's better this way, because Javert takes the scrutiny a lot better. Or at least, isn't afraid to tell people to shove it.

'Well, everyone can use a vacation, right? I don't how long it intends to keep us-' and there is some tension in his voice at being Bound, he can't help it, 'but we might as well relax while we're here.'

He drains his glass and sets it down.

'And sure, everyone's always looking to happy. I get that.'

He smiles again, the picture of calm.

'I'd better go see if he's OK. It was nice to meet you. I'm sorry if we're acting weird, this place was unexpected. I'll see you around, I hope?'

[starrydome]

"May the stars light your path, Valjean," Elrond says.

There is little else he can offer. Men must find their way themselves. Even when they appear lost.