AU: Terre D'Intrigue - We Need To Talk About Matthieu

[oneman_onevote]

The apprentice that presents a letter at Brix nó Balm de Marsilikos' house is still young enough to be properly called a child, but bears the direct gaze and assured air of one who knows he is meant to stay with House Mandrake.

He waits with creditable calm and quiet for one who knows his vaguely-intimidating teacher is actually waiting just across the street in a carriage, and might arch an eyebrow in no uncertain terms if he takes too long.

(Havelock nó Mandrake's ways are sometimes strange, but it would be unthinkable to question him.)


The letter - when it reaches Brix - is sealed tight, and inside reads simply,

Brix, I need to talk to you.

-Havelock

Comments

[oneman_onevote]

He sits, but does not relax, sitting forward with his fingers laced, and looking thoughtful.

"I am afraid this is rather against protocol," he says quietly, which may not be the most reassuring start he could make.

[gothamsheiress]

"In what sense?"

[oneman_onevote]

"In the sense of speaking about one's assignations," he says.

"And asking you for details of another."

Neither are something he would do lightly.

[gothamsheiress]

Her eyebrows go up.

"All right," slowly.

[oneman_onevote]

"My assignation last night was with Matthieu," he tells her.

"He-" Havelock hesitates very briefly. "I expected him to be nervous, that is quite natural. But the way he reacted to some things..."

He cuts himself off, and glances over. Dancing around the point helps nothing.

"Someone has mistreated him. Recently."

[gothamsheiress]

Her stomach drops.

In spite of the laws of the land, in spite of Elua's precepts, mistreatment by patrons is often a risk -- but more in Valerian and Heliotrope, though, Houses devoted to one form of surrender or another. It is not a risk she has ever associated with Gentian.

"Can you tell me anything else?"

[oneman_onevote]

"I'll tell you what I can," he says, with a sigh.

"'Unsettled' is the term he would admit to, and that the way someone treated him caused it. He seemed to half-blame himself, of all things."

Yes, Havelock is still angry about that.

"You know, don't you, what a visionary he is?"

[gothamsheiress]

A nod, solemn.

"I've had occasion to experience it."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock leans back a little, expression bleak.

"He said that it was not for him to withhold what he sees, where it was sought. Vanity, he called it. He sounded... ashamed."

Rare enough for a Servant of Naamah.

"Someone made him acutely unsettled, then ashamed because of it."

[gothamsheiress]

That sinking feeling in her stomach turns abruptly to a tightness, like a fist closing. She presses her lips together and controls the reaction.

"I forget, sometimes," she says, her voice low, "how young he is." A breath. "It was a patron, then, it would seem."

[oneman_onevote]

"He would not confirm it."

An eyebrow quirks.

"So yes, almost certainly."

[gothamsheiress]

"I see."

A breath in, a breath out.

"In your opinion, is this a matter of heresy?"

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock shakes his head instantly, despite a small part of him that insists yes.

"Matthieu would have been far clearer about that."

Thank Elua for that much.

[gothamsheiress]

"All right."

That's a relief, of some kind.

"I'll call on him and see what else I can discover. At least I can make sure he's all right."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods, thoughtful.

"He probably won't tell you much, but any of his most recent patrons would be helpful. It was most likely a new one, at that."

He can't imagine Matthieu seeing someone twice, after an encounter as uncomfortable as that one surely was.

[gothamsheiress]

". . . A new one, yes."

She's frowning suddenly.

"One unfamiliar with the Night Court, perhaps?"

[oneman_onevote]

His eyes flick to hers.

"Most likely."

[gothamsheiress]

"That narrows down the possibilities a bit."

[oneman_onevote]

"Good."

He rubs his forehead briefly, almost looking tired.

(Assignations are wonderful, as a rule, but worry on top is a little draining.)

Then he slants a glance sideways at her, rueful.

"So, how are you?"

[gothamsheiress]

She huffs a laugh. "I am well. Or was."

[oneman_onevote]

"I wish I had better news to bring," he says, with a nod.

[gothamsheiress]

"I am glad you brought it, though."

She sighs.

"Did you say you had questions for me, as well?"

[oneman_onevote]

He shrugs.

"Only if you knew any of Matthieu's recent patrons yourself."

He didn't want to come straight out with that particular request until she knew the situation.

"Visitors to Gentian rarely visit Mandrake as well, yourself excepted, so I am less likely to recognise any."

On the plus side, though, he is more likely to be able to speak to such patrons without being obviously one of Matthieu's friends.

[gothamsheiress]

". . . It's possible," she says slowly.

"I hate to cast suspicion on my own patrons, but there are too many coincidences for my liking."

[oneman_onevote]

"Oh?"

Please tell him you haven't had similar experience, Brix.