( audio o6 )

[desequilibre]

[ He does not know how long he's been gone. Nor an idea of where he has been. That is the worst part. That he could be taken and have nothing at all to account for it, no memories, no idea of what or where or why. Between one moment and the next, time has passed and Athos has too many unanswered questions. The anger that this causes, along with the strain to keep it contained, is evident in his voice when he chooses to address the network. ]

The Russians, the people who were taken, what happened to them?

[ He has to get back to De Chima, to make sure both d'Artagnan and Lucy are safe. But he is in Heropa somewhere and he does not want to waste time. If they are not safe then he will do whatever he can to find them again.

He has a cache of weaponry somewhere. He made sure to hide something in each of the Porter cities. So that is where he is heading first. ]

Is the fight still going?

Comments

[illuminescent]

[And she'll be there, waiting, when he finally does come home.]

[desequilibre]

[ Athos makes it to the clinic a little under an hour later. He had hoped to arrive sooner, but the matter of what had happened with the Russians had arisen. Still, he is quick to remove his hat and leave it at reception, moving down to where he knows she usually takes patients.

Athos knocks, out of respect and because he doesn't want to impose if she has someone with her. ]

My lady?

[illuminescent]

[It's a minor miracle that she wasn't waiting at the door. She wasn't because she loaded herself with paperwork so the hour wouldn't drag, but she hears the knock and she hears his voice and she's flinging herself to the door, opening it, and before she can even take in that he's really here she's already flung herself at him.]

Oh-

[He's there, solid in her arms, and it finally feels right, this feels real.

She's missed him so much.]

Athos, Athos, it is you, you are back.

[And she's not letting go.]

[desequilibre]

[ He twitches like he's surprised by such a display of affection, but then again, it is Lucy. So his arms come up to curl around her, a hand rubbing soothingly over his back. ]

It is, and I am. I never intended to abandon you. [ He'd just been plucked out of this world without permission and then thrown back in it in much the same way. ] But I am glad to see that you and d'Artagnan have not been harmed in my absence.

[ He guides her back by the shoulders to confirm just that, sweeping his gaze over her carefully. ] I only wish I could have brought Porthos as well.

[illuminescent]

Oh-

Oh, yes.

What a balm it would have been to my heart to have the both of you. Although I am not ashamed; you are quite the best thing I have seen in days.

[She wipes her eyes a little, and smiles through it.]

But Paris! I would that you were with me, I think it is the most beautiful city I have ever been in.

[desequilibre]

[ He lets the corner of his mouth lift in a sweet kind of smile. He does not have a daughter, but he feels for her as a father might and to be here where he can help her and protect her is better than the alternative. ]

It must be most changed from the Paris I know, but you can tell me all about it on the walk home. [ He hasn't brought his horse merely because he hadn't been back to the house yet. But the two of them are used to walking the road between the two places. ]

Are you ready to leave?

[illuminescent]

Yes, let me fetch my things-

[She has a very handsome working bag, leather and beaten up and well-designed, and she puts all her things into it and then reaches for Athos' arm after she puts it over her shoulder.]

I think it must be much changed. I went to the Louvre, you know, and it is where they have put all the art, but I can see how it would have been such a palace that your king would have a lovely home.

[desequilibre]

[ He lets her take his arm and leads her quietly and calmly out of the surgery before he replies. ]

I had heard it was a kind of Museum now. [ He announces it like all things, with a vague detachment. Athos hadn't left France stuck in the past, he had tried his hand at research despite how much it pained him. But still, he does not like knowing much. ] It is -- was -- a grand place. The parties would have taken your breath away, I am sure.

[illuminescent]

And I went up, to Montmartre, and I had my likeness drawn by an artist there, although I did not ask it and he did not say until he showed me after.

[She had just been sitting there, quiet, watching the city.]

I should hope that we may go together, one day. I think d'Artagnan was quite saddened that he could not go with me.

[desequilibre]

Aramis would have liked to join you there, I think. [ To Athos it's just a very big hill, unfortunately. ] Did you get to see the Abbey? [ Which gets destroyed in the French Revolution unfortunately :< goddamn :< ]

[ D'Artagnan has already voiced his opinion to Athos and he is not unkind enough to tell Lucy that neither of them have a great desire to see the place of their belonging so changed. ]

Perhaps. Is it much like the cities here?

[illuminescent]

No, but there was the church. It was beautiful.

I should like to meet Aramis. You say he is your brother, and he is the only one I am missing.

[That's important, too.]

No. It is older. It is not so new. It makes this place seem strange.

[desequilibre]

[ SHE IS NEVER ALLOWED TO MEET ARAMIS. ]

He is a devout man. But he cannot resist the smile of a beautiful woman. It is probably best you did not have him for a guide. [ He says this quite jokingly, but he would have to body slam Aramis lbr. ]

I am glad you were fond of it, my lady.

[illuminescent]

I, too, am devout.

[In her own way. She doesn't ever talk about it. It seems strange to talk about Aslan here.]

I think I would be quite cross if he abandoned me for a beautiful woman.

[Lucy....]

[desequilibre]

[ This is precisely why she is not allowed to be near Aramis. ]

You are a good girl, Lucy. [ Perhaps it is too familiar, considering her title. But he is fond and he has missed her. ] He would be charmed by you.

[illuminescent]

I do try, so hard.

[She holds onto Athos' arm a little tighter.]

I do not care who I charm, so long as I have charmed you.

[desequilibre]

[ He wishes, for a terrible and vain moment, that she were his daughter. That this was another life and he and Anne had never parted, had made their way through life as happily as any other.

How many children would they have had? ]

You do not need to. [ Charm him, that is. ] But I fail to see how you could be anything but.

[illuminescent]

Sometimes I am quite a brat.

[This is so rare but occasionally true.]

[desequilibre]

I have never seen it.

[ He's teasing, and it is clear in his voice. Athos does not hide it, not as alone as they are wandering the streets of De Chima. ] Surely you are mistaken.

[illuminescent]

You are meant to agree with all I say!

[desequilibre]

[ A small smile. ]

Even when you are being unkind towards yourself?

[illuminescent]

[She thinks about it, and then she leans on him a little.]

No.

You should always strive to make me be kind to myself, as kind as I try to be to you.

[desequilibre]

Then that is what I shall do.

[ Though, he is much better at helping her see the goodness in herself than he is in accepting there might be some in him. ]

How has the farm been in my absence?

[illuminescent]

Sad?

[She looks up at him, eyebrows up.]

The dogs have missed you. Your horse is despondent. I was inconsolable.

[She's only teasing a little bit.]

[desequilibre]

[ He rolls his eyes in good nature. ]

At least it has not fallen to ruin. How many fights did d'Artagnan find himself in?

[illuminescent]

None in my presence.

[INNOCENCE. THE VERY PICTURE OF IT.]