sweethymns | Mι∂ηιgнт Ɠяιη∂

Okay, I know this is coming from me, but let's not get hasty here.

[She IS trying to be low key!]

Whoever or whatever's down there is gonna be nasty if we press on too quickly. And it might be a better idea to do some investigating. Who knows what's been going on behind the scenes now that we have an idea that there's more to the opera building, right?

[ There's a long pause on Claude's end, before he slumps into his seat and winds his fingers on his lap. ]

I'm inclined to agree. There's no moving forward if we're lacking in information.

[ Green eyes closed, he speaks with measured pauses. Considering his options carefully. ]

I have some contacts I can refer to. Some of the architects that worked on renovations of the opera house are clients of mine. Gossip is cheap.

Ask if blackmailed.

[Oren interjects with an interesting suggestion.]

By someone else. Not family.

[OREN!?]

[Iona elbows Oren for that remark, but she seems heartened by Claude's contemplation.]

That's good! I think I can also add that you should make sure the questions are asked outside of the building.

[The witch looks back and forth and then up at the ceiling. Taking a step to the balcony railing she looks up into the rafters and the grand chandelier.]

Can't say he isn't listening right now even...

[ This certainly seems to be something of an incident, if such discretion is required. Claude may have to twist a few arms (literally) to find out what he has to, or, ugh, he may even have to... play nice. The things he does for dubious friendship.

But if someone may be listening in, Claude knows that it's best to act 'natural'. His lips curl up into his usual, practiced smile, and he segues the conversation smoothly into something else, as if they haven't been talking about anything ominous at all. ]

Of course. Confidentiality is key. [ Light, breezy. ] Now, will you be staying for the rest of the show, or will you be—

[ —leaving, is what the rest of that sentence would have been, if Gus doesn't notice the slight swaying coming from above them, the creak of gears turning in a direction they're not meant to. Gus is in-tune with all the sounds and machinations that make this place run smoothly, and he can tell when something's gone awry...

...which is why he yells: ] Everyone, move! [ And points to one of the large rafters in the ceiling that's been partially dislodged, swaying dangerously over their heads.

A warning? He's sure it is, from whoever they heard singing in the basement. ]

[Surprisingly, it's Oren who springs into action first.

Iona was about to leap down from the balcony, but Oren beats her to the punch. He's still unseen and invisible as he speeds towards the direction of the dangling rafter. His charge in the meanwhile tries to keep her composure, instead trying to look in the direction which Gus pointed.

Is there someone there? The shadows and distance between them and the ceiling is considerable and the seconds tick by as the rafter is agitated by someone. There are people below, in the middle of walking out or returning to their seats, some letting out screams as the rafter suddenly drops down.

And onto Oren. The object is heavy, but his Herculean strength is in full display even if he himself is invisible, giving the impression that the rafter is floating a few feet up in the air, giving people enough time to clear the area before he drops it down across a row of emptied seats.

(And his visage flickers slightly, like an aurora of lights, but only briefly, faintly.)

No fatal damage to anyone, but those seats are definitely scraped and the ceiling could use some work now.]

[ Claude almost catches himself saying wait, warning a golem that he knows is perfectly capable of holding his own against... potentially harming himself? He isn't even sure, and the thought isn't welcome. Instead, he blocks Iona's way by situating himself between the balcony and her, subtly preventing her from doing anything that he deems to be 'reckless' or 'stupid'.

Again, he knows that she's far more capable than he is of holding her own, but. Still.

When the threat abates, when Oren finishes setting the fallen rafter aside and the screaming crowd has mostly displaced itself outside the opera house, Claude sighs.

And slumps back down into a chair. ]

A "teeny tiny problem". [ U LIED IONA ]

[JUST A LITTLE?

Iona runs her hands through her hair taking a very deep breath taking a step back from Claude.]

I didn't want to blow it out of proportion.

But yeah.

[She tries to look behind Claude, clearly worried for Oren.]

It's a good thing he jumped in but...

[At this point, was it a good idea to leave Paris?]

It was preferable to you jumping in, I imagine.

[ Tersely, but with finality: "he wouldn't have wanted you to get hurt", is the silent implication. Indelicate, but honest.

Once he steadies his own heart rate (he hadn't noticed it spiking, how embarrassing), he takes a beat to catch up on his breathing. ]

...I'm quite certain that whoever is responsible for this mess is already aware that you two are here, magic cloaking or no.

... Right.

[She exhales softly.]

And it's turning out like I was afraid it might... It won't matter who's in the way.

[A lot of people will be hurt if it got in the way of whoever was hiding in the shadows of the opera.]

Perpetrator. Unknown origin. Interesting.

[Oren has made his way back up to their location. Since the theater is cleared out, there wasn't anyone in his way so he could walk up the stairs quickly.

And his words do have a point.]

Iona. Me. Been in Paris twice. No hint of supernatural. Just us. Now's different.

Yeah... Like, on our side, stuff like that is "normal" in a sense that we're aware that the strange and unusual exist, but here? Really, REALLY out of place isn't it?

Anyways, Oren are you okay? It's been a while since you went all out like that!

[Iona goes around Claude to reach up and cup's Oren's face. It's a tender gesture and oddly personal.]

Do you feel weird? Do you need to go to Berna after we go back...?

... No.

[And suddenly the golem wobbles back and forth and then falls sideways.

Onto Gus.]

Worries too much.

[ As much as Claude shouldn't care about the politics of it all (it's already been made abundantly clear to him that his input is largely worthless in this city), any impending threat is something that should be addressed... if only to keep Gus out of trouble. And harm.

Which is why he straps himself into his resignation, why he sees Oren wobble and feels a flicker of concern—

—until he falls onto his half-brother. Ah. ]

...If you need a place to rest, there are some excellent hotels by the river.

[ So, so dryly. ]

[ Gus, on his end, is a doge pancake. ]

Oreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!! YOU'RE SO HEAVY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ack! Oren, you say that and NOW you're falling over!?

[And truly, Oren is quite heavy... He's made of tougher stuff than humans after all even if he feels human on the surface. Iona does Gus a favor by dragging the golem by the arm and making him lean on her.]

We'll probably have to extend our stay at this rate.

[The witch looks very worried. Problems keep piling up, one after another.]

The Grind should be fine since Monts has access, but Oren...

[Oren needs time to recharge. Berna isn't around and Iona doesn't have her grandmother's expertise when it comes to maintaining him.

It's complicated magic stuff.]

...Is there anything he requires in particular?

[ Doctor instincts, sue him. It occurs to Claude that Oren is a magical being, and that the usual sort of human remedies won't work on him.

How interesting.

But he manages to steer away from his practical desire to see how the golem ticks, and decides upon a more productive, possibly more polite way to approach his companion's maladies. ]

Unfortunately [ he stresses this word... ], the flat next to mine is empty. If you require medical assistance— as outdated as ours is sure to be, for you— it would be convenient if you took up shop there.

He... He just needs rest. Weird, I know, golem and all, but for once, it's applicable. His core isn't as strong as it used to be and...

[Her right hand that supports Oren unconsciously grips his arm.

Iona's eyes show her surprise at Claude's offer. It's... She can't say she expected it really? He'd be more stand offish wouldn't he? Or is she just assuming things again?]

... The flat sounds great, Claude. And if we got a ghoul in the opera to deal with, might as well make a base!

[Her voice returns to its cheery and heartened tone.]

[ The fact of the matter is that he relates to the concept of being tied to someone, having someone be around you and having that presence sometimes be a component of guilt. Iona worries about Oren, that much is obvious: he sees her worry for him in ways that he recognizes to be familial, important.

It makes him sick (not in a bad way, which makes him feel sicker), because he knows that connections are important.

God, he hates relating to people.

After he makes his offer, he turns away so that Iona won't be able to see the way his expression twists just a fraction. She's such a bad influence, why is she making him empathize with people, ugh. ]

...We'll let him rest, then. Auguste, will you be fine on your own on your way back?

[ His brother knits his brows, but ultimately nods. Of course, Gus'd wanted to stick around and explore a bit more, but that would be foolish, even for his standards. ]

Tomorrow, I'll see if I can't find a map of the underground. Something for Oren to look over while he's bedridden.

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