InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Me>you"

Oscar (oscar_ontherun) wrote in vie_en_guerre,
@ 2008-01-20 21:08:00

Who: Oscar, Joséphine
When: Afternoon - Early evening
Where: The streets of Paris
Summary: Oscar is new in town and doesn't have a clue where he is.
Complete
Rating: PG

Oscar winced as he stepped into the light. He couldn’t stand natural light, it made his skin crawl. He took his first steps, already feeling his energy being sapped away from him by the afternoon sun.

Normally he would have left it at least until the light was fading, but the curfew made it difficult for him to move as a civilian after hours.

He walked idly for several minutes, his mind focusing on centring himself. At least it was good for the pain threshold. Eventually, he stepped out of the empty Sunday side-streets and onto the main avenue, comparatively bustling with activity.

He continued down the pavement a little further, but soon stopped once more. Frowning, he looked apprehensively to his left and to his right, trying to see through the crowds that jostled past him.

‘Lost,’ he muttered, craning his neck, searching for landmarks. ‘lost,’ he repeated, agitation rising.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

(Post a new comment)

oh_nurse
2008-01-20 09:16 pm UTC (link)

Joséphine had a day off from work and was enjoying a nice stroll in the brisk afternoon air. The sun was shining and warming her face pleasantly.

As she moved though the crowd, she stopped here and there to chat to people she knew, or to give a friendly nod and wave to strangers. As she was just bidding goodbye to one of her neighbors, she spotted a man who looked rather confused and headed over to try and help.

"Pardon me," she said politely. "Are you alright?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 09:22 pm UTC (link)
	His eyes were too busy looking for some indication of his whereabouts that the young woman caught him by surprise. "A-" he began, searching for the words he was looking for, "Yes, no," he settled on. "I'm lost." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 09:26 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh," Joséphine said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry- I know almost every place in this area. Just tell me what you're looking for and I'll help you find it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 09:30 pm UTC (link)
	He was instantly relieved. Paris was completely alien to him, and getting caught like this in daylight could be lethal. "Actually, I'm not really looking for anywhere in particular. I don't know the city, and I just need somewhere to settle for a while." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 09:33 pm UTC (link)
	Joséphine smiled brightly. "Oh, then you are newly arrived? Welcome to Paris, then!" She offered her hand. "I'm Joséphine Renaud, so now at least you know someone in the city." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 09:43 pm UTC (link)
	He stared at her outstretched hand for a moment. He couldn't remember the last time he'd met someone, at least, under such casual circumstances. Catching himself, he forced his arm to move, reciprocating the gesture. "Joséphine," he echoed. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 09:50 pm UTC (link)
	"And you are...?" Joséphine asked, as she shook his hand. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	He felt foolish. "I don't mean to be rude. My name's Oscar." For a winter's day, it was amazingly clear. He couldn't help feeling under the spotlight. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oh_nurse
2008-01-20 10:05 pm UTC (link)

"Not a problem," Joséphine said. "I realize how disorienting coming to a new city can be."

She smiled again, and released his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Oscar. Now- what sort of lodging are you looking for? If you're only here on a little vacation, you'll want a hotel now doubt.But if you're looking for a more permenent arrangement, there's a nice boarding house near where I live - or oh, you could lease an apartment I suppose."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	Could he risk boarding? The apartment was out of the question, he wasn't supposed to be here. Did he even have enough money? All he had was some German banknotes. Still, he couldn't just refuse. A stray turning down shelter? It would look suspicious. "I don't know how long I'm here for," he lied, "so the hotel sounds like the best best bet for now." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oh_nurse
2008-01-20 10:17 pm UTC (link)

"There's one that has a good view, and is a reasonable price. It's owned by the nicest old couple- they've been married so long, and they're so cute together. So romantic- when people have been together all their lives like that. They even finish each others sentences. Oh, and I hear they have a good breakfast in the mornings..."

Joséphine smiled again. "Pardon me for going on, though. You must want to get settled in. I can walk you there, if you like or - oh, did you have to go get your luggage from somewhere first?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oscar_ontherun
2008-01-20 10:26 pm UTC (link)

He looked down to a tatty bag that hung from his shoulder, roughly sewn together out of burlap with lots of uneven pockets adorning the outside.

"Er," he began with embarrassment, "this is my luggage."

He didn't want to think about the homely couple, but the hotel would do for the immediate future.

"Reasonable sounds good to me." Then, coming to his senses, "I hope I'm not keeping you from somewhere you ought to be?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 10:35 pm UTC (link)
	Joséphine didn't want to make him feel bad about the poor condition of his only bag, so she just nodded slightly to acknowledge that. "Oh no, you're not keeping me from anything- it's my day off, and I was going for a walk anyhow. It's a nice day for a walk, don't you think?" She started leading the way towards the hotel, still quite cheerful. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 10:40 pm UTC (link)
	He winced at that last remark. Following her lead, he made for the inside of the pavement, shadowed by the buildings beside them. He hoped she wouldn't think this too ungentlemanly. "Thank you. I appreciate the company." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	"It's always nice to meet a new friend," Joséphine said. She was curious about Oscar, but didn't want to pry too much - and thought from his lack of luggage he might be in some bad situation. "So - how do you find yourself in Paris?" she asked vaguely, leaving it to him to interpret the question and answer as he felt comfortable doing. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 10:51 pm UTC (link)
	Think man, think. "A change of scenery." Great work. Why would anyone come to a city of war on a whim? "I mean, at least it's not Munich." He elaborated. He hoped conceding a measure of truth would give an acceptable answer. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 11:00 pm UTC (link)
	Joséphine considered this, and nodded. "Oh yes, I have heard that things are bad there- and well, if you want scenery - we still have that in abundance here!" She smiled, and patted his arm in a friendly manner. "Times are tough, but this is still the the City of Lights, after all." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 11:06 pm UTC (link)
	He breathed an inconspicuous sigh of relief. Dodged a bullet. "It's certainly a sight less austere than any I have seen in a while," he noted, before venturing, "Are you a child of Paris?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oh_nurse
2008-01-20 11:13 pm UTC (link)

"Literally!" Joséphine said, then laughed. "I was found on the steps of a church here as a baby, and brought to an orphanage supported by city funds. So maybe it was the city itself that gave me birth- who can say?"

She liked that fanciful notion a lot more than thinking of what might have befallen her actual parents. "And you? Were you born in Munich, perhaps?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 11:18 pm UTC (link)
	He was surprised, maybe even flattered at how well his accent was masked. He guessed his slightly sloppy French drew more attention. "Oh, no. I've been there a while but no, no I'm not German." He would wait to see if she probed further before giving a more conclusive answer. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 11:26 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, I'm sorry- I didn't mean to call you a German if you aren't one. That's sort of an insult these days, isn't it? I didn't mean it as such though. Where are you from, originally?" Joséphine asked. She wasn't terribly good with accents. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 11:32 pm UTC (link)
	"Some of them deserve it," he muttered flatly. After a pause, he decided there was no harm in being honest. "My parents were Irish, but I was born in England." Being exposed to the day was beginning to take its toll on him, and already he was having difficulty keeping up with Joséphine's surprisingly quick gait. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 11:37 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, my - that must be difficult for you, with the war going on and all the bombing over there. Do you worry about your folks? Do they still live there?" She noticed that he was lagging behind a bit, and slowed her steps somewhat. The nurse in her wondered if he was in poor health, and she looked a bit closer at him as they talked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-20 11:43 pm UTC (link)
	They're dead. They must be. You haven't seen them in decades. Sure, you can tell her that. "Um. Well, I wouldn't really know. I haven't seen England in years." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-20 11:48 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh, so you didn't keep in touch? How sad..." Joséphine frowned, looking rather sad indeed to hear that. "Oh, and am I walking too fast for you? We could stop and rest if you need to- are you unwell?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oscar_ontherun
2008-01-20 11:57 pm UTC (link)

He cursed himself. He'd only just arrived in Paris and he was already drawing suspicion. But he couldn't help it, he hadn't spoken to anyone for weeks.

"It's nothing," he said dismissively, referring to England, "I'm sorry. It's been a long journey, I'm a little out of steam is all."

She was beginning to examine him too closely. He snapped his jaw shut and looked determinedly forward.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 12:01 am UTC (link)
	Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it further, Joséphine didn't pry. "Sorry," she said. "I'm a nurse, so I tend to worry after people's heath." (Reply to this) (Parent)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-21 12:06 am UTC (link)
	"A nurse?" he replied admiringly, "That's a very noble cause. Do you work somewhere near here?" (Reply to this) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 12:15 am UTC (link)
	Joséphine smiled. "I love my work - it's so nice to help people, don't you think? When my patients get better, it's the best feeling in the world. I work at the hospital, not with a private doctor." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-21 12:29 am UTC (link)
	He nodded fervently in agreement, "Helping people." he said, as if lost in thought, "It must be hard work. At the hospital I mean, this is such a big city." The afternoon had finally begun to wax, and he could feel his strength return, rippling through his body. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 12:45 am UTC (link)
	"Oh yes," Joséphine agreed. "Very hard work - sometimes, so many patients. But it's very rewarding too. And we're almost to our destination - look, there's my house down there..." She pointed down a street they were passing, but not turning off on. "The one with the lace curtains and the shutters- isn't it pretty? In the summer I have a garden outside." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oscar_ontherun
2008-01-21 12:57 am UTC (link)

He slowed slightly to look in the direction she indicated. It was indeed an attractive looking home. But then, comfort was not one of his specialities.

"Very pretty," he confirmed, "My father was a keen gardener. He always missed having one of his own. When the family moved to London, there was nowhere to keep one, not that we could afford."

She had put him at such a state of ease, that he barely noticed the slip. "He used to keep potted plants in the vestry. Mother always complained when he tried to bring them home."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 01:46 am UTC (link)
	"Why, thank you! It's nice to have a place of my own to take care of- I really love my little house." Joséphine smiled warmly, thinking of potted plants in a vestry. "Was your father a priest, then?" That was where she had heard the word before, as part of a church. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-21 01:52 am UTC (link)
	There was no danger, he thought. It was... good to talk to someone about such things. He had spent years of his life studying other people, trying vainly to understand creatures of the day. Creatures he had nothing in common with. "Yes." It was refreshing to revive worn and distant memories, "He was a very pious man." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oh_nurse
2008-01-21 01:56 am UTC (link)

"Was he nice, though? Some of the priests I've known have been very nice, but there were a few who were convinced that even breathing was a sin."

Joséphine giggled at how silly a thought that was. "I believe in God as much as the next person certainly, but I do not think he wants us to spend our lives walking around in sackcloth and ashes, lamenting how terrible we are."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-21 02:01 am UTC (link)
	Oscar looked away. He himself was one of those men. It was inescapable. "He was very humble," he sighed, "And I've never known another with as much compassion as he." He couldn't be further from his son, he thought bitterly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 02:05 am UTC (link)
	"Compassion - there's never enough of that in the world," Joséphine said. "I always try to be so - it certainly never hurts to care for others where we can." She smiled gently and patted his arm. "And look - here, we have arrived at the boarding house." She indicated the brick building with the little porch they were coming up to. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

oscar_ontherun
2008-01-21 02:13 am UTC (link)

He regarded the sight of the house with a great deal of relief. It would be good to be settled, and he needed to take stock.

Without realising it, the young nurse had picked out an ideal spot for him. Very inconspicuous, and within striking distance of the heart of the city. He would get much out of it.

"It looks perfect," he said, "thank you for walking with me all this way. You really didn't have to go out of your way like this."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oh_nurse 2008-01-21 02:18 am UTC (link)
	"It was no trouble," she assured him. "You looked like you could use a friend. And now you know where my house is, so if you need someone to talk to, or would like to come for a cup of tea and some pastries - please feel free to come and visit." Joséphine smiled gently. "I hope you will be happy here in Paris, Oscar. Welcome again to our city." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	oscar_ontherun 2008-01-21 02:26 am UTC (link)
	How right she was, but how dangerous a game she was playing. If only she knew. "I'd like that," he conceded, "and with company such as yours, I'm sure I will be very content here." With that, he shot her a smile. A smile he hadn't worn in so long. It was brief, but it was there. He turned, and made his way to the porch. (Reply to this) (Parent)