Email to R:

[jamesmcginty]

To: AGrandError [@] ParisU

Be safe.

My house is always open to you. Someone kicked in Damian's door and he's a wreck. I would really like to have you here, no matter how late, so I know you're okay.

Love,
J

Comments

[jamesmcginty]

James has no idea where Mervin is and that's terrifying, to be honest, and Damian hasn't replied in hours. So he went out, sensibly enough, to buy food, with lunch packed in his bag to maybe share with R.

Instead, he ran into Dr. Combeferre looking like he was slowly dying from stress with the wounded, and definitely dying from exhaustion.

So he gave his lunch to him, and the man ate without even a comment about it, and ordered the guy to sleep. He can do stitches. He can check pulses. He can mop up and clean. He can't - be a doctor and Combeferre might be able to keep going but that doesn't mean he has to.

He eats a potato that someone was roasting in the ashes of something that had too much pine burned in it. He found someone cooking coffee, and brought a cup of that back to Combeferre, and choked down one of his own. It's the temperature of blood and someone involved with the barricade is having an argument, and Damian still hasn't replied.

[etre_libre]

Combeferre does hear the argument, and that's causing him to stir. He's appreciated the help a LOT, considering everything that's gone on for the last night. Jehan's...he's not letting himself think about the fact that the guard decided to let them know they had him, and is stuck wondering what the idiot was even THINKING trying to cross the lines, he hasn't seen Enjolras in forever, Joly's handling the streets and bringing people through where he can, at a fairly steady rate, but HE hasn't been back in a while, they have Bahorel, unconscious and pale, in the back, several people he's seen at larger meetings but not had time to talk to have fallen, and the last news from the other barricades, brought by people who'd been dragged here were...not good either.

He'd been about to collapse when the help came through, but now, NOW, after a little bit of rest, most of it fairly fitful, though he'd tried, he's jumping up at the sound, sure something is going on, and hurrying over to James as he does.

"What do we have?" He asks, looking grateful, even if he isn't wasting the words.

[jamesmcginty]

James offers him a tin cup. "Coffee. It's not particularly hot, but someone started some. I'm not sure on what's going on." He frowns, glancing up the stairs and out the door of the basement that's been appropriated. "I believe I heard Mr. Enjolras out there. Are you hungry? Someone roasted potatoes."

He'd mention they weren't particularly amazing potatoes, but - well, food first, quality later, right?

[etre_libre]

"You heard him?"That's getting a deep sigh of relief and Combeferre looks especially relieved. "That's good. That's really good. Joly's been coming back and forth...did he bring anybody through I needed to see?" He's more concerned about major injuries at this point. Even things like breaks, he can't do much for anyway. There's other things he wants to reserve the medicine stores he has for.

"You should be the one eating." he says in answer. "You look like you've been through a war." And then the irony of that strikes him and he snorts. "Bad choice of words, I apologize."

[jamesmcginty]

"It's - well, the war's been through me, and I've been trying to duck," James smiles slightly and drains his own cup. "Do you want to go up? I checked someone's stitches and scolded them, brought some water around, and checked on the guy with the fever. It doesn't seem to be getting worse. I'm not -"

He picks up his phone. "No one's expecting me back and - well - anyone who'd want me would probably be messaging me this way."

He looks tired and like he probably didn't eat enough. The cuffs of his trousers are a little damp, and he's wearing a coat with a patch that - probably says it's the one he was shot in. Probably hedging his bets.

[etre_libre]

"I should, if only for a moment, find out the situation there." Combeferre doesn't quite want to see how much worse it is, but well, if they need anyone moved from near the vicinty, better it's him and now than waiting for someone who can be spared.

"I'm not sure how they have ammunition at this point." he adds, sighing. "We had to go with older models, off market to avoid suspicion, but even SO..." Even so, it's a lot heavier of an assault than they'd predicted. "I wonder if...when I get back, unless something's really happened, I'm digging out everything unnecessary they can melt. I'm sure I have a few things gathering dust. And you're taking at least a break."

[jamesmcginty]

"Not really inclined - nothing against -" He gestures up at what's upstairs. "The wounded, I'm willing to step out for, but not that. Call me whatever you want."

He takes a shaky breath. "I . . . Damian's door got kicked in. Last night. He stepped out and had to wait a while, and apparently a crowd went through the apartments. I helped patch it up. Enough, at least, and then there was an officer knocking on it."

He shouldn't pick up the phone again. "And R and my cousin haven't checked in."

[etre_libre]

"That changes everything." Combeferre says to the last, his mind rushing towards what he would probably do if he stopped hearing Courfeyrac. Enjolras had been awful enough not to spot but that? Pretty awful. And Damien...

He's grabbing for his own phone straight away, tapping out a quick message for Joly. "I'll have Joly keep an eye out for the both of them at least, and the people he's got with him. We can probably get it through to just about everyone. Enjolras has the contacts for the leaders at the other barricades too. At least one's fallen, earlier this morning, but..."

But there are still others left and they can cover more ground there. "I'll ask Feuilly too, he'd probably gravitate there. And if anyone else turns up anything, I'll let you know. You should probably get home yourself." He adds, doctor mode taking over. "We have some guard uniforms through the back, in case people need to get away and not be stopped. No one would think anything of that."

[jamesmcginty]

James nods. "I believe Damian's all right. I just haven't heard from him. And it's Officer Javert. The man's never - I don't like him, but he's never been awful."

He stretches his back. "I'll see how it looks. It looked quiet out there earlier, but I'll try and be careful." He frowns and then slides his phone over. "If it gets bad again, let me know?"

[etre_libre]

"Ugh that" Combeferre's not a fan either, not considering a lot of things he knows about the man. "He HAS helped a few of us, a few times when we weren't in open rebellion. Enjolras was mugged once and he didn't stop, Courfeyrac's had...I have no idea but they can stand each other...and he's a valuable hostage if we want Jehan back. But..." and it's a heavy one. "Someone's going to say something he can't ignore soon enough, he's going to snap back and then they'll be clubbing him with table legs and...Keeping him was not the best idea. It was the ONLY one but they're going to turn him into a martyr..." He shakes his head.

"But no, I should have it in hand, but I appreciate the offer. And yes, of course."

[jamesmcginty]

James gingerly pats his shoulder. "Be safe." He tucks his phone away and straightens his coat. "Right - I guess I'm off to pretend to be almost the shortest guard ever. Since I don't have Tom along."

He's more than happy to shed the disguise, to be honest. It's cooled down a little, but there's no breeze at all right now. He'd be tempted to strip down to an under shirt or just sleep in the bathtub.

[grand_error]

It's after dark when Grantaire knocks at James's window, looking exhausted, and dirty, but seemingly unhurt at least. That's something, anyway, isn't it? He's also smiling a little as he taps. At least things could have been worse. Probably.

[jamesmcginty]

James is down to his undershirt when he opens up and grins to offer him a hand. "Hey. Wasn't sure the message made it through."

[grand_error]

"It's been..." R hesitates a little. "Crazy, through the whole city. Might've fried the phone, actually, I think I had it in my pocket when I set off some explosions." Which isn't really a typical way to greet someone, but. At the moment he's a little dead on his feet, but looks...grimly happy enough under the circumstances.

"Sorry I...was trying to do a few things out there."

[jamesmcginty]

James pulls him as close as he can stand with the warm weather. "Want help out of that coat and into the shower? You look exhausted. I wrote to you - about some stuff going on here and invited you over."

He takes a deep breath and shifts so he's not pressing the hinge of his glasses on some of the armor under that hooded coat. "You don't have to apologize? I might be half tempted to drag you off to the coolest part of the house and lock all the doors, but that's because it's a madhouse down there. And I'm damned selfish at times. Are you all right?"

[grand_error]

Were it even a few degrees cooler, R would be popping his forehead on his shoulder,and just keeping it there for a long moment or several. As it is, he does appreciate this well enough, and he nods."That's...I'd appreciate it. We need summer weight robes to work in. I think." It's something to throw at the council and watch them have a stroke over, anyway.

"Well, I'm glad I got here now. Madhouse isn't the word. The barricades were crazy. I'm not sure I can break up any more of them." He adds, quite seriously. "Tomorrow, Arno can take on where I failed. Maybe if it's not their cynical friend,they'll listen to reason."

[jamesmcginty]

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you take these off. Your coat I mean." James nudges him toward a chair. Hood seems to have some buttons, which is easy enough to figure out. "Proper term is robe. I wonder what they'd think of a rainproof light version. Using the thin nylon stuff that pilots use. Probably too loud."

He's babbling and he knows it. "I talked to Combeferre. Got him to rest."

[grand_error]

"Not since I got them,I don't think." R muses "I don't have that many secrets, at least. Some scars, a lot more ink that covers others..." He pauses a moment, trying to think about the way he wants to explain that statement.

"That feels like I should quantify it. I only gave myself the scars on my left hand. And not on purpose. I wasn't exactly good at this." He raises said left hand, flicking out his blade once, then retracting it to pull off. "And yeah, the robes. Tradition, really. Though the other fabric...you would think. I mean we started as an organization in the middle east.I know very few of THEM were going around in anything this heavy. Loud though...they'd probably be with newer. And did you? Good. I was around briefly. They...had their hands full."

[jamesmcginty]

James has found the hooks that help keep the shoulder pieces on for the armor. He'd guess this is a more old fashioned variant, just from what little he's seen of some of R's friends.

"Do you mind if I step in the shower with you? I haven't had one yet. Got home, washed my hands and kind of was flat next to the fan." James pauses. "Just - I think if I leaned on you right now, we'd stick in horrible ways. And I am curious about the ink. If you don't mind me looking."

He pauses. "I could show you kid photos of me, maybe. Mervin was kind of cute as a kid."

[grand_error]

Most of his brothers don't go in for the hood that R's gone with as far as those choices go, that's true. And the sleeves are slightly more...medieval feeling. It was a concession to his own slightly anachronistic tastes when he realized he could pretty much do what he wanted in terms of some bits of styles, anyway.

"That sounds pretty nice, actually." R smiles at the thought. " I don't think I especially want to be alone right now. I saw...a lot of things today. You'd think mass casualties stopped being an issue when you kill people for a living but..." He shrugs.

"Talking about the ink sounds a lot better than talking about that. AND your kid photos. That's probably incredibly sweet."

[jamesmcginty]

James exhales in a huff as he wrestles most of the weight off his shoulders. "The bed fits two. If -" He looks over at R's face. "I'm not sure what you're okay with. But I'm offering because I'm okay with that. And erm - waking up to morning breath or a knife hilt in the morning joke."

He's looking a bit shy and awkward there, with that grin. "And the photos. I don't have a ton. They're - we weren't rich, you know? But - well - you might like it."

[grand_error]

"I'd like that a lot." R laughs at the last bit there. "It's probably more than ONE knife hilt, at the end of things." He admits, smiling. "Sounds like it would be good for me. Whatever you'd like is...there are things that don't have to be rushed or gotten to. I mean, that right there is fantastic."

And he nods at the mention of photos. "Sounds like I would."

[jamesmcginty]

"Do you know how -" James gestures. He doesn't have words for it. "Empowering's the wrong word. How something it is to hear that? I could like - I don't know, trying to get you to eat something and mopping the house at a stupidly late hour."

He pauses to unbutton his braces and tug off his undershirt. Probably might make it feel better if he's wearing about as much as R is. "You okay with me saying that I think you're handsome? And I'm curious about the tattoos?" And the scars under them. "Want help out of your boots?"