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

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

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A nod, solemn.

"I've had occasion to experience it."

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."

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."

"He would not confirm it."

An eyebrow quirks.

"So yes, almost certainly."

"I see."

A breath in, a breath out.

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

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.

"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."

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.

". . . A new one, yes."

She's frowning suddenly.

"One unfamiliar with the Night Court, perhaps?"

His eyes flick to hers.

"Most likely."

"That narrows down the possibilities a bit."

"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?"

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

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

"I am glad you brought it, though."

She sighs.

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

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.

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

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

"Oh?"

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

Brix breathes in, breathes out, and meets Havelock's eyes.

"I know I can count on your discretion."

"Always."

...Yes, he shared his worries over Matthieu with her.

But she is the only person he goes to. He does not trust easily.

A nod.

"Matthieu and I met a Siovalese lord at Matthieu's debut as courtesan -- Lord Jonathan Grue de Agen. We had a pleasant enough assignation recently, he and I, but I thought perhaps I did not quite cater to his tastes. He was most intrigued by Matthieu."

Havelock nods - then frowns inwardly as soon he thinks back.

"At Matthieu's debut? You both spoke to him?"

It is not usually his custom to attend every party there is in the Night Court, but he went to that one for Matthieu - and accordingly, kept a casual watch on his friends.

(Again: Mandrake House, everyone.)

And there was a man he saw with each of them, he thinks.

"Could you describe him briefly?"