Appointments

[redjacketthief]

This is the mailbox of your's truely, Arsene Lupin III. I take it that you've come here because you want to talk to me or make some kind of plan. Whatever it is, I'l gladly listen, but I need your name, date, time, and the best way to get back to you. Sorry I missed you, and I'll get back to you soon, okay?


[Please denote if you are leaving a written, voice, or video message and comment here.]

Comments

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

I'm sorry Red. I simply did not know who else to ask.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

[Oh, god. That face! Lupin looks away, blows a plume of smoke as he snorts in amusement.]

Okay. Fine. I'll give it a shot, but I make no guarantees. Just so you know, I forget to eat a lot of times--dunno how you think I can keep something like this up.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

Because you are a nice man.

[The softest chuckle and least smug smile she can manage accompanies the statement.]

It is enough that you will try, Red. Thank you.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...don't thank me until the audience approves of it, Goldie.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

Did they enjoy your performance last night?

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...they seemed to like it okay, but I was looking forward to the duel.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

I'm afraid we will have to take a raincheck on that, Red.

[Her smile sobers and she sags back against the cushions. A moment, then she nods at the daisies.]

He brought me these.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

[He sees the flowers, but remains unimpressed.]

Who?

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

The young man that attacked me. To apologize, and to explain.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...he attacked you, what's there to explain?

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

He'd only just arrived. Literally stepped out of his world and into ours. There was plenty to explain, Lupin.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

All right. [His tone is rough--obviously he doesn't buy it.]

Explain.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

In his world children are picked at random for a gladiatorial battle to the death. It's televised. Entertainment. One boy and one girl from each of the twelve sectors of his city are chosen. There is only ever one victor.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...okay, but he couldn't tell that you weren't violent?

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

The arena where these children fight- anything that moves could kill them. He stepped out of a door and ran into me. I reached up to hold him back by his shoulder. He reacted on instinct.

[An instinct that she would share, were she in his shoes.]

He was being sent into the arena when he was taken.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...Okay, that does explain things.

[There's a lengthy beat. Then:]

I still don't like it. What's his name?

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

Promise to do nothing. He's endured enough.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

Tch. [He's not amused, but he'll accept the terms with resignation.] I just want to know so I can avoid the kid. [Because, even with explanation, he still can't easily forgive anyone that has harmed a friend of his. For a thief that maintained no collection, friends and allies were worth more than any treasure.]

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

[That still wasn't an agreement. She understands, to some degree, but this. This wasn't someone attacking maliciously. This was a frightened child- and she wouldn't stand for recompense on the level Lupin would seek.]

Your word, Arsène.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

[He doesn't want to, not when he's always prepared to lay everything on the line for who or what was his. Whether either of them liked it or not, the Malnosso put them in a unique position--he can't help but include Adele in that category any longer. With her tendency to be everywhere she's not supposed to be, her strange insight, her wonderful yet terrible luck that caused him to label her as a danger in the first place, he should have seen this coming.

After a beat too long he heaves a sigh and flicks off the headlamp.]

All right. I won't do anything.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

...thank you. I know it will be difficult to let this go and...just. Thank you.

[She massages her face with a hand, putting the memory of that discussion behind her. Everything Peeta had said, of his world. Of Katniss. Of little Rue. It still leaves her cold, an hour later. The items offered for his apology only highlight the horror she'd felt, smelling daises and chocolate as he explained. So calm. Resigned.]

Peeta. His name is Peeta and he is very contrite. And very kind.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...I'll take your word for it, Adele.

[Because that was all he wanted to know. He didn't trust this Peeta any further than he could throw him--being as thin as he was, that wasn't very far.]

I don't plan on meeting him. Not for a while, anyway.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

Let it be, Lupin. It was an honest misunderstanding.

[A bloody misunderstanding but, she lives. She's fine. And holds no real ill will- not now that she understands better why he'd reacted like that.]

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[redjacketthief]

...I'll let it be. I just don't like it.

May 4th, afternoon [Video]

[fleurdesel]

Thank you.