On the Steps of St Fiacre's

[henrik_paulsen]

Before he began working for the Bishop of Southwark, Henrik had been better-acquainted with the dome of St Fiacre's than the interior of the cathedral--but for a brief stint above a bookseller's in Elderwick, he has lived and attended church primarily on the south bank of the Stolen River. St Fiacre's is proximate to the Labyrinth, though, and

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[scarletolj]

Her feet patter down the stairs from the rooms above a bookshop with the echo and creak that speaks of repairs too long ignored. The bookseller angles his melancholy gaze at her as she whisks by with an easy wave; his contracts are already folded away into her handbag next to three letters: one from Nathan, one from Mr. Irons, and one from the Bishop of Southwark.

Scarlet spills out into the streets like a bright pink petal floating in muddy water; the north side of Elderwick is quiet save for the bells of the cathedral ringing out the end of the evening service.

[henrik_paulsen]

The brightness of her catches his eye, and before he recognises her he thinks, what a striking woman!--and then he apprehends that this shining creature is Scarlet, and he thinks, of course. "Scarlet!" he calls after her. "Scarlet, where are you running off to?"

[scarletolj]

Her head turns sharply towards the calling of her name - an unfamiliar occurence in this part of town - resulting in a warm smile for Henrik. She pulls up on her brisk walking to turn towards him and wave. Scarlet has the brief urge to jog over to him, but in the outpouring of church-goers with wandering eyes, she instead waits for the towering man to arrive at her side.

"I've been checking on my properties, but I'd much rather be running to you," she quips with a grin. "I take it you've been genuflecting? I did not think St. Fiacre's called to your faith."

[henrik_paulsen]

"It's not where I might wish to worship," he allows, "But it's a good deal better than nothing. How are you? You look ..." As he casts about for an appropriate word, his eyes light on her smile, and he can't help smiling in return. "You look whole," he says at last.

[scarletolj]

"What a lovely thing to say, Henrik," and it appears that she means it, her dark eyes eyes shining. It occurs to her that the last time she saw Henrik, they were at the Salon. "I am much healed since last you saw me. And you seem much more content than that evening as well."

Her gaze casts about, "Are you off somewhere in particular? Might I accompany you at least part of the way-- unless I would be a nuisance."

[henrik_paulsen]

"I'm only going home for the evening--it's a bit out of your way, I'm afraid. Would you let me accompany you home, instead?" He offers her his arm.

[scarletolj]

Scarlet curls her arm under and around his. "You may accompany me anywhere. I've nowhere to be just now, so lead me about at your whim. I was about to take a constitutional and see where it led me."

[henrik_paulsen]

"Ah! Well--then perhaps we might go to a quiet place, and continue our conversation from the salon?"

[scarletolj]

"Certainly." Her tone is pleasant, but the muscles in her arm tense lightly. "Wherever you might prefer. I am in a much better place to discuss such things now."

[henrik_paulsen]

"You didn't look yourself at all, when we spoke there." He draw her lightly out of the press of pedestrians, inquiring, "You'd said you had properties in the area ...?"

[scarletolj]

"I wasn't myself, or rather, I was at my wits end." Her head gestures towards the bookshop. "I've rooms above the shop there. There's not much in there at present, though. It still needs more repairs before I can let it. It's the closest, really, besides my own House, or a shack in the Flit."

[henrik_paulsen]

"Then we'll go to your house. It's no doubt a more secure and private space for clandestine conversation." With considerably more purpose in his step, he strides in the direction of the Ring. "What is it that brought you to such a horrid state, darling? Your ..." What does he call Lamont? "... gentleman companion?"

[scarletolj]

"Well, I had...recently found the ivy again. So I was recovering from that, and Lamont had arrived the night before, and we'd quarreled. I was so despondent that I could not sleep." They round along Wellsong Way towards the door.

[henrik_paulsen]

"That does sound miserable--I'm fortunate in my quarrels; I do not profess to be otherwise. But you say you're quite recovered ... am I to take it that your relations with Lamont are as recovered as your body?"

[scarletolj]

Her head tilts, considering. "It's an interesting thought - scarred, stained, scabbed...I suppose yes, our relations are repaired. We've had a bevy of misunderstandings, and neither of us behaved very charitably. Lamont is on a very difficult path, and as Theodor said, it is difficult to ask someone to forsake something that they were committed to before you appeared." That might not have been exactly what Theodor said, but it is what she took from it.

They reach the front door and Scarlet sweeps in without attention to Stephan, heading directly for the staircase. Stephan, on the other hand, mumbles a "Mistress" and offers to take Henrik's things if he should wish them stowed.

[henrik_paulsen]

Henrik offers coat and hat, then follows Scarlet to the stairs. If he grips the banister a bit too tightly before ascending, perhaps only Stephan will see it. "Are you pursuing the same difficult path, then? Or will he walk his path, and you your own?"