inseine | VIDEO ✍ 009 --> Backdated to prior to the Dreamwalking event

[The entire announcement is filtered from Alice Liddell. The initial part of this video broadcast is made via official channels, with the caller ID exhibited simply as SCPD.]

Young women from their teenaged years to their middle twenties are cautioned to keep out of the dark. You have all heard the news by now unless you are blind to the papers. Or unable to read.

Walk in pairs, or keep a sturdy man close at hand. There will be no official curfew yet, but it is not wise to be out alone past dusk.

The Somarium Police Department is also accepting any worthy scraps of information concerning the recent murders. A reward of up to ten thousand credits will be paid to the most valuable spies. The identity of the murderer is top importance. All information concerning this ugly matter shall be sent to Chief Inspector Javert at the Government District Police Headquarters.

[This second message is made in the same backdrop as the first - a clean wall behind a massive, looming, dark and authoritative figure, files stacked beside him on what appears to be a desk. Chief Inspector Javert's jaw twitches subtly, the furrows between his brows lowering a millimeter or two. He is very tired and a touch melancholic, but calm and in remarkable control.]

There is a girl in need of a competent new caretaker. She is well-groomed, Christian, and under ten years of age.

Don't call me about it unless you have time and serious interest. I am not a pawnbroker for children; I will expect a faithful and fair commitment to the girl.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Naomi's response to this call comes much later in the evening. This conversation is more than a little awkward considering how little they have seen or spoken to each other in the last two weeks since Naomi's little 'revelation', but this is for Alice, not herself.]

Well, do you have someone yet?

[Javert's brow gives a gentle twitch at Naomi's tone of voice, and there's a vague pinch at the corner of his mouth. It is, perhaps, one of the first hints to Naomi that the Inspector is paying attention... for once.

For now.

While his thoughts are focused on her.]

There are options. [He watches Naomi with a frown.] I have an idea of it. You will be relieved of your mothering duties before long.

Edited 2011-09-25 02:59 (UTC)

[Well, it's a surprise to see she finally has his attention, but that doesn't mean she'll be any friendlier yet]

I don't mind watching her, but I'd like to tell her immediately when a more permanent solution to this situation becomes available. [After all, Naomi doesn't want Alice to get too attached to her and then have to be relocated yet again.]

It won't be long now. [Javert's eyes reluctantly roll toward the ceiling with a huff.] There are people milling at the door for her. To see such a thing for a parentless girl! Yet nothing for the cases of the dead girls. Ah!--

You will use your charms on her if it worries you. [Reassure Alice, in other words. He folds his arms across his chest.] I know you have it. It won't be hard; I have seen that she is not doing poorly. Tell her she will go with a person she recognizes.

[Thank goodness. As much as Naomi cares for the young girl after their brief time together, the doctor is well aware that sharing such a small condo with both herself and the busy Inspector was not at all near what anyone would consider pleasant, especially with how things have been going as of late. If it felt awkward enough for the doctor alone, she couldn't even imagine how strange it felt for poor Alice.

The woman relaxes though at that news, very slightly. It's reassuring to finally have something to tell the child.]

I've taken perfectly good care of her in your absence. [Her own underhanded dig at him without actually being cruel.] But I will pass the message along when I pick her up today at the church. I think that news will make her very happy.

Edited 2011-09-26 21:45 (UTC)

Did I say I doubted you? [remarks Javert meaningfully with a frown.

He understands very well that Alice's current situation is not the most desirable. However, his and Naomi's opinions differ markedly on one sizable dimension: he is under the impression that his frequent absences will give the girl time and space to recover. Besides, his distance is not to say he is not keeping one eye trained on the church from afar and ensuring no killers end up at her doorstep.]

Does she disagree with the church-stay? She only needs to stand Monsieur the Cardinal's arrangements for a little while longer. Then it is up to her new guardian to continue her Christian lessons. I swore that to Monsieur myself.

And do not be concerned about any badly-timed departures. I will choose a gentleman that has been here longer than me.

[It isn't Javert's absence from Alice's life that the woman so disagrees with. It is his absence from her life, his own wife's, that has put the Chief Inspector on Naomi's bad side.]

Alice is thriving as best as can be expected at the church. It's not exactly the most exciting of places for a girl with as large an imagination as Alice's, but she seems pleased enough everyday when I pick her up. We both enjoy Cesare's company, so the arrangement actually works out rather well. [Javert doesn't realize just how well Naomi likes the young Cardinal's company.]

Good, but I want to tell her myself when the decision is made. You terrify her too badly.

Edited 2011-09-30 03:40 (UTC)

[At that, Javert's expression abruptly changes, a sudden compression of the mouth and eyes. His eyebrow jerks upward and disappears into his bangs.

And then he laughs his queer, silent, mirthless laugh. He counters glibly,]

I should like to see that! What if I tell you your opinion of my front-runner lurks someplace just above how you feel about those fancy rats at the local pet shop? Could you deliver the news gaily?

Edited 2011-10-01 13:28 (UTC)

[Oh please, Javert. You should know by now how well practiced your little wife is in lying.

Naomi's detached, cool expression disappears as a very annoyed sigh escapes her lips, dark eyes rolling back in real irritation with him. Hadn't she just asked if he had had any idea on just who would take in the girl? This is not the day to play head games with her.] Well, who is it?

Edited 2011-10-01 13:59 (UTC)

I did not make final decision, [says Javert curtly.] But I see no harm in leaving her with Suoh. As silly as that boy is, he suits her.

[He snorts, his eyes rolling toward the sky thoughtfully.] My other option is a lone hen in the village. She is a stranger to me, but she strikes me as an honest woman. However... [he grimaces, a pinched and weary expression. He murmurs,] She is a risk. She cannot have stayed here long. What if she is not to last? I will not have that again!

Edited 2011-10-01 14:18 (UTC)

[Explain all you like, Javert. Your wife hasn't been pleased with any of your decisions for weeks now.]

I don't see why that would matter. Tamaki may be an irritatingly enthusiastic young man, but he is the closest thing Alice has to family left. She'll be happy enough living with him.

[And with the information in hand that she called to weasel out of him, Naomi is done with this conversation. Since her internal revelation on her husband's secret affections for another woman, the man's wife has withdrawn from him considerably. She honestly has little desire to even speak to the Chief Inspector beyond this.] ...I need to go. She's calling.

[Naomi has never been one for goodbyes when they were happy together. Now it is just awkward.

She hangs up without another word.]

[What the Devil crawled into her unmentionables?

Javert grimaces at the blackened screen, his lower lip jutting straight out and gaping just slightly in the middle. It bestows upon him a rather sour and miserable expression, one of consternation from an unpleasant surprise. Well, he was about to say that he would be home after dusk to take a late supper and give her the details, but now he will just have to assume he will find her with the girl later, either at their modest home or running amok in her laboratory. Yes, neither Naomi nor Javert were the most romantic or publicly gooey couple in that city, but they certainly spoke to each other much more casually and easily than this.

They usually did, in any case. None of these cold exchanges. No absence of farewells.

But rather than worry the Inspector, it simply strikes the wrong chord. It irritates him. He is already exhausted; he does not need a testy wife attempting to teach him a lesson for Father-Above-Knows-What. He does not have the time to consider it at the moment, and it will have to wait until his work for the day is finished.

With a low, irritated snort, Inspector Javert tosses the phone aside, atop his 'completed' pile of signed reports, and returns his attention back to his case notes. His honor, strong sense of duty and slowly growing conscience depended on a resolution to this case, and he will be damned (again) if he were to let this monster slip from his grasp.]

VIDEO ✍ 009 --> Backdated to prior to the Dreamwalking event

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