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[perdre]

[He speaks with a mildly British accent, mixed with twinges of French in every other consonant. His first instinct would have been to use his native language - the latter - but it's become clear that he'll have more luck being understood going with his father's.]

I... wish I could think of something wrong I'd done. Something that would explain why I'm here and why I have to - fight. [He's having a hard time expressing himself. Peter doesn't... really know what he wants to say, other than that he would very much like to be placed back where he came from.] Then I'd feel there was some kind of justification I could understand.

Anyway, uhm - if there's someone I know out there, is... is there any way I can find them? Contact them? I'd really appreciate any help. I - I have a friend - his name is Frederick, he's a doctor, English, taller than me... [He gestures with a flat hand, above his head. Then he reaches into his pocket to bring a small photograph closer to the camera,] This is the only picture I have of him. I don't have pictures of anyone else.

[With a soft sigh, Peter's shoulders drop. He then mutters to himself, a presence of annoyance in his tone,] Je ne sais pas sur quel pied danser...

Comments

[perdre]

He's fine-! I think. Right now, at least. This was a long time ago.

He talked a lot about you. [There's a beat, and then, expecting her to recognize his name - if nothing else:] I'm Peter.

[affections]

I haven't... ever heard that name before. I mean, I have heard the name, but not-- Freddie hasn't told me about any friend. And he definitely hasn't told me about anyone saving his life, or being in danger.

( There's a dangerous note to her voice; usually she is more careful, more secretive, but this is her brother, the one who she is so terribly protective of. If he hasn't told him about something like that, then he's been hiding things, lying, and if anything that is not something they can afford, not when there are so few people they can count on. )

If anything, anything that important had happened "a long time ago," he would have told me.

[perdre]

[Well, that's. Hurtful. To say the least.]

... Oh. I see. That - this must be really confusing for you, then.

[Does he sound defeated? He should. Confusion is a part of it, too - why would Freddie not mention him? Is he embarrassed or afraid?

There's a pause before he starts again, words slightly stilted.]

It was just - some people tried to rob him and threatened his life, and I just. Helped him. He was all right afterwards.

[affections]

Yes, just a bit. ( Rather crisp.

On the other hand, he sounds so... something, the kind of thing that makes her fingers twitch with the urge to take someone's hand and reassure them, bolster them up. And probably Pepper is right, that she can't know everyone, everything. It wasn't like she'd really seen Freddie for a little while, and radio was hardly the best means of communication for anything like that.

There's a long pause from her, and then a sigh. Speaking of things not being the best means of communication: )

It's a bit difficult doing this over this network thing. Do you want to meet and have a chat?

( A bit gentler, calmer. )

Thank you for helping him. ( Even if it sounds like, perhaps, Freddie was trying to keep a human from realising what he was. Even Freddie should be able to handle robbers, surely? )

[perdre]

[there's a beat, then, carefully - ] You want to see me?

[affections]

That is what I said, yes. Would it be helpful if I were to paraphrase?

( Be nice )

[perdre]

[beat]

Where-?

I AM SO SORRY NOODLES assignmetns :C

[affections]

Um. That's... rather a good question, actually.

I wandered past a place called Cafe NORAH earlier. Hot food, drinks? I feel like we could both use them, truth be told. At the very least this is a prime excuse for a bit of a sugar fix, hmm?

i can never forgive u

[perdre]

[Th-that sounds like a good idea. He hasn't really... had anything to eat since he got here.]

Okay. I can meet you there. [Definitely.] Right away?

i can never forgive myself for typoing "assignments" so we can bond over that

[affections]

Yes, why not.

( She does enjoy bossing people around, where she can get away with it. At least, in this instance. ) Chop chop, Peter.

( And she terminates the feed, expecting him to arrive. Immediately. Immediately, sir. )

magical girl transformation into action

[perdre]

[Needless to say he has some trouble finding that spot, mang, but here he is. He peeks inside but waits by the door, because... he never really got the chance to see what she looks like! And any photos Freddie might have showed him in the past are a blurry memory.

So waiting it is. He hopes she recognizes him somehow.]

magical girl transformation into someone less lame

[affections]

( Thankfully, she did see him in the video, so he might notice someone turning to face him, giving a casual little wave and raising her eyebrows. )

Peter, was it?

( Come here so she can terrify you. )

[perdre]

[He turns to have a look at her, take in her features, remember what he can from Freddie that he can compare between the two. There isn't that much that comes as glaringly obvious, but sometimes siblings show similarities in other aspects, isn't that right.]

That's me. [a hand waves once, lamely, uncertainty in his lips.] Hi.

[affections]

( She's taken the liberty of ordering coffee already, and it's being set down just as he arrives; one for each of them, black with no milk or sugar, though that is being provided separately. And, a plate of chocolate chip biscuits. She needs something to help her get through this.

Perhaps this is the Grumley Way. )

You have scars.

( Interesting. So does she, punctures dappled over her skin, though they're a little more subtle on her arms. )

[perdre]

--yes. [Not what he expected her to say so soon after their first encounter, but he'll take it. He'll also take a little time sitting in front of her, not really knowing what to do with his hands. That coffee looks nice. So do the cookies.]

It's not as bad as it looks.

[affections]

That's never true, Peter.

( Let's be honest, for a brief moment, and never mind the scars that dapple over her skin, may be visible around her joints.

She is going to exhale softly, and then just nudge the plate of cookies closer to him, and one of the coffees. )

Go on. If you are a friend of my brother's, he'd be deeply hurt if I didn't try to make you feel welcome.

( Which makes her behaviour up to this point extra awesome, but it was a shock. )

[perdre]

[O-oh. Maybe Jules really is as fantastically awesome as Freddie describes her so often. Shy fingers pluck one of the cookies and take a small bite, chewing with his focus now on the coffee.]

Thank you - [His mouth is a little full when he says so, hopefully not making him appear to be too crude. He looks younger than he is - like he still has some things to perfect in his manners.

Silence follows gratitude for a long moment. He doesn't really know what to say, but doesn't want to leave the initiative just to her.]

It's really nice to meet you, at last.

[He nods once. That's better than the 'he's more than my friend, actually' that was circling around his thoughts, right? He can... leave that for later.]

[affections]

( A little shake of her head: don't mention it, as she reaches for another cookie, dunking it in her coffee before taking a bite. She's a bit more refined than Peter, at least, but there's a certain earnestness in his behaviour that is appealing, in its own way. )

Likewise.

( She supposes, and the at last certainly doesn't apply, but sometimes compromises must be made. )

How long have you known Freddie? ( Before she takes a sip of her coffee. Sweet sweet caffeine. )

[perdre]

Uhm - years? At least... two. [He nods. Two, at least.]

[affections]

( Years? She hesitates for just a moment with her coffee, before taking another sip, trying to fathom it. )

I can't believe he'd have a friend for that long that I don't know about.

( Not... necessarily doubting Peter, not immediately (even if she is inclined to be suspicious, overprotective) but she is really confused. )

I mean, we don't always see each other so often, but two years.

( Help )

[perdre]

... Yeah, I - I'm sorry about that. I thought he had mentioned me by now.

[Apparently not. He really doesn't know how to feel about that. Freddie, are you ashamed of him? Of them?]

I guess he must have been too busy...?

[Why is he making up excuses for him? Silly, silly Peter.]

[affections]

Peter.

( The poor man is simply radiating kicked puppy, and as Jules has always infinitely preferred dogs to cats, she rests a hand over his. )

My brother is all manner of things, including scatterbrained, but two years? It simply seems out of character, for him.

( Which begs the question as to what his motivation might be for keeping such a fellow hidden, because otherwise she'd at least have heard his name in casual conversation. Oh! Unless... ) Are you a friend of Poppy's? I have an unfortunate tendency to sort of block out anything she says as much as possible.

[perdre]

[Having Jules' hand placed over his is a bit of a big deal for him - Peter wasn't expecting that kind of a gesture from someone who has only just met him, and to whom he apparently needs to prove himself to, seeing as Freddie opened no doors for them. There seems to be a little hope in his eyes when Jules suddenly mentions Poppy, but - no, it doesn't ring a single bell, not even after a concentrated moment of thought. Peter purses his lower lip, shaking his head.]

No, I don't know anyone with that name. At least... I don't think so. Is she a friend from England?

[affections]

( A long silence. Just exactly what kind of game was her brother playing? Because it was definitely her brother she'd seen a photo of, this man knew her name, and not of the pieces were quite falling into place. Who is Poppy? was akin to asking what the sun was, in the universe according to Frederick Grumley (much to her displeasure).

She chews her lip for a brief moment, before she forces herself to stop. It wouldn't do. )

Poppy is his wife. ( Gently, because... because she has no idea what tugging on this particular string is likely to unravel. )

[perdre]

[Well. That shuts him up for a good while, blue eyes transfixed on Jules' features. It's true that Freddie had left an entire life behind when he moved to France to be with Peter, but something of that dimension had completely escaped his wildest imagination.]

His... [He doesn't quite seem to lose his words as much as he simply fails to form them.] I'm sorry - [He frowns, eyes down, trying to somehow put the suddenly scattered pieces together.] His wife? H-he's married?