RP: Shattered Peace

[shh_vector]

Date: 5 June, 2005 (backdated)
Characters: Seti Vector and Julian Avery
Location: Julian's flat at 5th and D
Status: Private
Summary: The promise of a quiet night of reflection is broken by the arrival of Unexpected News.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_vector]

Whatever saucy retort he was going to give, Julian quickly forgot it. Somehow, he knew there was something dreadful, and dreadfully important, about that owl. He was on his feet and over to the window before he even realised he had moved. The owl was obviously a foreign breed. It settled upon the coffee table in front of Seti, helping itself to some cheese. From there, they both could see the name addressed on the front. It read: "To Mr. Alfred de Calais". 'Alfred' was a name that shared a common root with 'Avery'. In other words, it was a codename.

Making it a message from one of his contacts. He snatched up the letter with an almost vicious enthusiasm.

Seemingly mundane news greeted the eye. As he settled his thoughts, however, hidden meaning began to filter into his brain. "The item you had requested is finally available. It is an import, in relatively good condition. It came in two parts. Personal handling is recommended due to the delicate nature of the merchandise. Please come at your convenience to negotiate price and shipment. Thank you for your business, Hélie Charpentier."

The item you have requested... and... ohGods... in two parts.

Carolyn, with... child.

Julian was uncertain just how he ended up sitting on the coffee table with Seti kneeling between his knees. He wasn't certain about much of anything at the moment, except a need to move, a need to leave. "I... I must go. Now... without haste." He attempted to rise but found his legs still a bit unsteady, ending up back on the coffee table.

Never had she seen such a look on his face, comprised of shock and fear and such desperate hope that it left her in no doubt as to the contents of the letter. "Habibi? Julian... love, calm down," she pleaded as he fell back against the table. "Carolyn - it's about Carolyn, isn't it?" He simply stared at her, the parchment clutched in his shaking fingers. Her hands reached out and closed over his, chafing the sudden cold away, and she tried to think of what was best to do now. "Where is she? Does it- no, nevermind, I'll ask questions later. Here," she turned and snatched up his glass of wine and gently held it to his lips, now gone as pale as the letter he held, "drink this, love."

The wine was likely needed, but he might as well choke on it, for how little he managed to work his throat. It was difficult enough to force out, "... de Calais..." Of Calais. "N... Northern France. It... she... it says... she's in two parts, Seti. Two parts, delicate condition... I-I have to go, Seti." In some distant part of his mind, he knew he was being hysterical. He couldn't help it, though. Reality had so suddenly been pulled out from under his feet.

"Julian." Her tone was slightly sharper than she'd meant for it to be, but his eyes had gone wild and she feared what would happen if he wasn't snapped out of this dangerous mood. In his mutterings he'd shoved the letter into her hands and she smoothed out the crinkles with one hand while the other anchored itself on his shoulder. Some part of her whispered that he needed a physical anchor to hold him here before he went flying, heedless, to wherever he thought Carolyn was.

The entire message was a mere handful of coded sentences, but reading over them she could see why he was falling to pieces in front of her. Carolyn had been found, and the child with her. The phrase "in relatively good condition" was worrisome, hinting at something out of place with one or both of them. Yes, this would certainly explain his current state of near-panic, but it bolstered her resolve to make him stay exactly where he was until this fit passed.

Her earlier words echoed ominously through her mind now - You'll be a help to no one, including yourself, if you burn yourself out first. Bring harm crashing down on all heads concerned was more like it.