~30th Dance~

[donttelldaddy]

[The handwriting you're about to see is nothing like Lili's neat, perfect cursive. This looks like someone gave a monkey a quill and told him to write.]

This is Emilie's butler. She doesn't tell me anything until the day before so I'm not sure If you had any plans with her for the rest of the summer, I'm afraid you'll have to reschedule.

[Private - Matthew. Alfred if he makes an effort.]

You should...she never gave me permission, but I don't think it's fair to just...

We should have a chat.

Comments

[Action] THAT NEVER HAPPENED

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

Monsieur Sebastian!

[ Matthew runs up to Sebastian, trying to smile and failing at it horribly. ]

It's - it's good to see you, too, but -- [ A meaningless gesture. ] Lili, how is she? What happened, I don't quite - I don't understand.

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

She's...alive, so, better than expected.

[And now it's awkward. How much is he supposed to say? The gory details of the event don't make for very pleasant conversation, nor do the reasons for it.]

Emilie had a run-in with a dark wizard. One of yours over in England, the Death Eaters.

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

[ Matthew goes completely still, eyes wide. ]

A Death Eater. A Death Eater hurt Lili.

[ Give him a moment to process that. ]

[Action]

[redwhiteandhero.livejournal.com]

[Awkward shoulder-pat?]

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

Mmm. They caught him almost immediately, of course, the Ministry tracks Unforgivable Curse usage...

[Does that make it better, or worse? Sebastian decides he'll just be quiet now.]

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

Why would -? Why would they...

[ Matthew leans into Alfred's comforting gesture, and again, his hand combs through his hair. His mind's blank, numbed down. Right now, he doesn't want to think. ]

... may I see her?

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

Alex--her father's given you his approval, so the healers shouldn't object, if they're not busy.

[Action]

[redwhiteandhero.livejournal.com]

Can I come too?

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

I'm really not the one in charge of deciding that...

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Monsieur Sebastian.

...Alfred, I'm sorry, but may I please see her alone?

[Action]

[redwhiteandhero.livejournal.com]

[SULK.]

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

[ Have another look. ]

I'll take that as a yes.

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

Eventually, Alfred.

[ Sebastian leads Matthew up a few floors to Lili's room. He opens the door to let him inside, casts a worried glance at the unconscious patient, and steps out. Lili's bed is in the center of the room, with her heavily bandaged self in it. Her head and torso are slightly elevated, with her bangs pushed away from her forehead so that a floating roll of gauze could change the bandages on a gruesome split.

Her sleep is anything but peaceful, and that's probably the most notable thing. Lili's breathing is labored at best. She's choking. Struggling for air.

Her father's in the room, sitting in a chair next to the bed, bouncing his leg up and down nervously. He looks up at Matthew, with tired and blotchy eyes.]

Hello, Matthew.

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

... hello, Monsieur Rochefort.

[ The shock hits him full force a second time, and Matthew stands motionless near the entrance, arms crossed over his chest. It's rude not to look a gentleman in the eye when speaking to one, but Mathew can't help it, not this time. All he sees is Lili, Lili hurt, Lili barely breathing. He's so focused that he doesn't realize he's walking towards the center of the room until his knees hit the edge of the hospital bed.

Matthew tries to say something, but he can't, can't even discern what emotion he feels. Underneath the layers of shock, the sadness, the worry, there's this anger, red and hot. But he absently toys with the edge of the bedsheets, smothers the feeling down and away. ( If he touched her now, would she break? )

Part of him begins to wish he asked Alfred to come with him. ]

She... why would anyone...

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head. When he speaks, his voice is scratchy, dehydrated.]

His name's Vincent Fortier. I worked with him. He caught her on her way to Reims.

[Lili's father wipes at his eyes, and gently takes her hand. She coughs and sputters, almost in response.]

They don't know what the curse is that he hit her with, but it's suffocating her. She'll stay just awake enough to struggle for air, that's it.    

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

Oh...

[ Matthew nods, the back of his throat constricting. There's that flash of anger again. He inhales, working his jaw before he speaks. ]

S-she'll... they'll find it, the curse. And she'll... sorry.

[ He gestures lamely, unable to work through anymore words. He does not trust his voice. ]

[Action]

[donttelldaddy.livejournal.com]

[ He nods. They'd figure out a counter-curse. But until then...he wasn't sure he could sit here and watch his daughter being tortured any longer. The desperate gasping was going to haunt him forever, if he listened to any more of it, he would surely drive himself mad. So, Monsieur Rochefort stands up, and heads towards the door. He stops before Matthew, offering a quick hug before he leaves.]

I have to go talk to the healers. See if they've figured out anything yet.

[Action]

[invisicanuck.livejournal.com]

[ Matthew stiffens, but accepts the hug with a small nod. His own father wasn't really one for physical affection, so to receive one from Lili's was -- nice. Different. If it weren't for the circumstances, it would have been nicer.

Not trusting his voice, Matthew only nods wordlessly once again and stares helplessly down at Lili's form. ]