You're fighting as a soldier on their side

[stillaboyscout]

There's been an air of despair in Chicago as of late, clinging to buildings and hanging thick in the air. Even if one has not been directly involved in the affairs of late, they can still feel it. Something is not right.

This has led to Michael Vaughn on yet another run around the city, this time through Grant Park. He's purposely not thinking

Comments

[bringme24601]

Javert has holed himself up in the Conrad Hotel basement for the past few days, so he can't help but hear the piano. Determined to end the infernal racket he goes to find the cookies.

It then occurs to him that he hasn't eaten in days as the crippling hunger finally finds its way to his brain.

But there's a sign. In a language he doesn't know yet. So he whips out his French-English dictionary and begins to translate.

After about a minute, he figures out the gist of the sign and is elated. He can kill two birds with one stone.

He then begins to stuff cookies into his face. Do they taste good? Who knows? He's eating them so fast, his tongue barely has a chance to process them.

He finally speaks in very slow, practiced English, "Thank you. Stop... play."

[cookiesandhugs]

Gladys notices the cookie being taken, and she quickly pulls her hands off the keys and smiles up at Javert. "You're welcome!" she exclaims. "I don't think I've seen you around here before. I'm Gladys."

[bringme24601]

Javert only picks up a few words. He hasn't practiced listening yet. He did manage to catch the last bit. Partially because "Gladys" doesn't sound like it could be much other than a name.

"Good day. You may call Inspector Javert ou--or Mister Inspector."

[cookiesandhugs]

Gladys smiles at him. "Well it's lovely to meet you Mister Inspector." She's not going to giggle at his name. She's not going to giggle at his name. "Bienvenue a Chicago, monsieur Inspector."

Her French is less than perfect, but maybe it's enough for him to understand. She hasn't had the chance to speak for a long time.

[bringme24601]

After stuffing another cookie down his throat he grumbles objection.

"Non! English! Need learn English!"

[cookiesandhugs]

"...Oh." Gladys looks suddenly flustered. "Ah, oui monsieur. Um, I mean. Yes sir Mister Inspector sir." To lighten the mood, she salutes him. He probably won't get it. She's okay with that.

"So, um. You're from France, I suppose. Did you come here by ship, by plane or by swirly time-space continuum disrupter?" she smiles at him again.

[bringme24601]

Javert hears "from France" and "did you come" and just sort of assumes the rest, so the humor is completely lost. He speaks simply, "I come in--eu--rift?"

[cookiesandhugs]

"Ahhhh," Gladys nods. "Oh that thing. Well. Welcome to Chicago, I suppose! Once again. You need as many welcomes as you can get, in my humble opinion. Have another cookie! Do you play piano?"

She looks back at the keys determinedly. One of these days she will be able to play piano for REAL.

[bringme24601]

He was going to have another cookie with or without her invitation, which he probably didn't understand anyway.

He does however catch the bit about the piano, mostly thanks to the visual cue.

"Non. I play not."

[cookiesandhugs]

Gladys nods. "I didn't play either, until I met a very nice man who's teaching me. Maybe he can teach you too? We could practice together. It could be very nice."

[bringme24601]

And Javert really barely picks up any of what Gladys said, and so he just sort of stares awkwardly, waiting for her to either react or leave.

[cookiesandhugs]

Gladys scoots over on the piano bench and pats it. "Would you like to sit?" she asks. "Maybe I can teach you something! Not that I know very much, but." She smiles. "I know some scales!"

[bringme24601]

Javert looks down at the empty spot on the bench and gathers what Gladys is trying to do without even needing to parse her sentence in his mind.

"Thank you for biscuit," he says as he quickly makes a bee-line for the door. No way in Hell is he going to let his dignity fall any further by attempting to play music.

[cookiesandhugs]

Gladys smiles. "Well, you're welcome!" she says. "Have a lovely day!"

She shrugs as she turns back to the keys. Piano isn't everyone's thing. She's not even sure if it's her thing. But she's going to keep trying.