InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Who rocks the house? I DO."

Charlie "Iceskate" Edwards (iceskatecharlie) wrote in la_vie_rpg,
@ 2008-06-03 21:54:00

Who: Charlie and Fancy, others?
When: June 2, 1941, roughly 10:00am (follows this)
Where: The Black Death Tavern (back alley)
Summary: Charlie arrives in Paris, and is to be hidden by Fancy.
Complete/Incomplete: Complete

They were waved through the checkpoint shortly after dawn, and Charlie held his breath and willed his heart to stop beating so loudly. They rolled over cobblestone streets for a couple hours, the innkeeper making a handful of deliveries to keep up appearances for the occasional Nazi officer who passed by.

The cart was navigated into a narrow alley and Charlie was pulled off and a large blanket thrown over him, to block him from view. The innkeeper walked up to a door, waving Charlie closer. He knocked, a series of clips and pauses, and waited.

After a moment, the door opened.

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fancy_lamorne
2008-06-04 01:59 pm UTC (link)

Fancy was slow to be drawn out of sleep by the offensive knocking. She kicked the covers off the bed in frustration as she picked up her watch from the nightstand and studied its face. She sighed, hoping the knocking would go away, she hated to rise before noon. Especially in her own bed. But the knocking did not cease and she rectulantly pulled herself up and grab a fur stole to wrap around her shoulders before heading downstairs.

She opened the door and squinted for a moment as her eyes became accustomed to what morning light made it into the alley. She was barefoot and in her nightgown, and the fresh spring air made her shiver and pull the fur closer against her body.

"Oui?"

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iceskatecharlie
2008-06-04 03:30 pm UTC (link)

Charlie stood in the alley while the innkeeper and the woman who answered the door talked in hushed tones and rapid French. He didn't know what they were saying, but he caught the words pilot and Resistance.

The letter was handed over, and he was ushered inside. The door closed behind him, and he stood in the short hallway, completely unsure of what to do next.

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fancy_lamorne
2008-06-05 01:14 am UTC (link)

Fancy had argued and reasoned to no avail. She stood looking at Charlie, her back sagging against the door. Like a ragged stray scratching at the back door she just couldn't say no. It didn't matter that she had no idea what to do with him now, let alone how to help him get out of Paris. She agreed with the innkeeper she was passionate, and sympathetic to the Resistance. But when Fancy had considered joining up she was thinking more along the lines of licking stamps. This was above her head.

She sighed before reaching out for Charlie's hand and starting to drag him upstairs. She couldn't leave him down here. The only private place was her own bedroom. The American pilot would have to bunk with her until she figured out what to do with him.

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	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-05 04:17 am UTC (link)
	The woman dragged him down the hall, much to his surprise. He stopped after a few steps, yanking his arm back when she tried to continue pulling him. He spun around as he heard the door slam. No going back now. He turned back around to face her. "All right, what exactly is going on? Where are you taking me? Who are you?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fancy_lamorne 2008-06-13 02:33 pm UTC (link)
	Fancy gave the young man a displeased look and then went over and put her hand over his mouth. She whispered, loudly enough he could hear, "I'm the woman standing between you and a Nazi firing squad. We're not alone in this place and I cannot account for other's loyalties. So if you will kindly shut up I'll take you to a room where we can talk." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	He looked at her calmly, pulled her hand from his mouth, and whispered back. "They wouldn't kill me, I'm an enemy pilot. I'm valuable, provided they could get anything from me." He gestured down the hallway. "Lead on, mademoiselle." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fancy_lamorne
2008-06-13 03:46 pm UTC (link)

"You are right. But there are far worse fates than death, Monsieur." she retorted before turning and leading him on. Under her breath, in french, she mumbled, Believe me I know.

She lead him into her bedroom and closed and locked the door behind them.

"And it's Madam not mademoiselle." she corrected. "I have a daughter about your age." She went over to close the drapes and shutters on the window then set about turning on lights in the room. "My name is Fancy.

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iceskatecharlie
2008-06-13 04:02 pm UTC (link)

He looked around the room, and felt more out of place than he had since he crashed. The walls were a rich red with a gold-colored designed faintly imprinted on the wallpaper. The furniture was all a dark stained wood, and the sheets on the bed were rumpled. It was far more richly decorated than the farmhouses and barracks he was used to.

He rubbed the back of his neck, fingers tangling with the chain of his dogtags. He turned to look at her as she spoke.

"Captain Charlie Edwards, US Army Air Corps. Currently attached to the RAF."

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fancy_lamorne
2008-06-13 04:13 pm UTC (link)

"Captain Edwards." She parroted, coming to stand in front of him. "Quite an accomplishment for someone so young non?" she asked, looking him over to see if he had any injuries that needed tending. She was still thinking what she should do next and sadly wasn't coming up with anything terrible useful.

"I am afraid Captain Edwards, that I'll have to keep you confined to this room while you are here. I run a tavern downstairs that many high ranking Nazi officers frequent. Sometimes the even venture upstairs." She tilted her head at him, wondering if he understood her meaning. "So it would not be safe for you to milll about you understand?"

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	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 04:19 pm UTC (link)
	He shifted slightly under her gaze, becoming more uncomfortable by the moment, but he nodded at her question. "I was actually hoping I could get false papers, so I can walk the streets and find a way to contact the RAF, let them know I'm still alive." He paused. "Do you - by chance - know where to get me papers?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fancy_lamorne 2008-06-13 04:30 pm UTC (link)
	Fancy laughed, lightly, not being able to help herself. "I may be new to this Resistance business Captain but I'm pretty sure walking around an occupied city where you do not speak the language is not a very smart plan." But the papers were a good idea. She'd have to look into that. And there, at least, she knew where to start. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 04:34 pm UTC (link)
	He laughed softly when she did, out of habit more than anything. "I may be new to Paris, but I'm pretty sure there's already Americans here. And I'm a quick study, anyway." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fancy_lamorne
2008-06-13 04:53 pm UTC (link)

Fancy walked away from Charlie and headed into the bathroom.

"And you do not think they Germans are watching them? That they do not know there Americans flying those planes up there?" She got a washcloth and ran it under some cool water. "You are young, strong, injured." she wrung most of the water out of the rag and returned to Charlie.

She reached up and held the wash rag against a healing cut on his forehead, she sighed.

"Just stay with me awhile, sil vous plait? Let me give you a safe place to rest, and I'll see what I can do about getting you papers." she offered.

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	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 04:57 pm UTC (link)
	He sighed. She had a point about the Nazis watching the Americans in the city. He didn't move as she ran the damp cloth over his forehead. "Can you at least help me find a way to get a message out? I lost two men when I crashed. Their wives deserve to know that their husbands died, and aren't just rotting in a Nazi prison cell." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fancy_lamorne 2008-06-13 05:11 pm UTC (link)
	"I assume all communications out of the city are being monitored, but I'll see what I can do." She dabbed at his face gently with the wash rag. "If we're going to talk about the deaths of Americans perhaps we should add your name to the list? So if the message is intercepted they won't know to look for you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 05:40 pm UTC (link)
	"We have a code, so if something happens to one of us, the others can tell the families, even if it's from behind enemy lines. The Nazis won't even know we're talking about Yanks." He shifted slightly, back starting to ache from the hours spent curled up on the cart. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fancy_lamorne 2008-06-13 05:49 pm UTC (link)
	"Well that is a start." Fancy said. "You write something up and I'll mail it." "How about I draw you a bath?" she offered. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-13 05:52 pm UTC (link)
	He glanced toward the washroom. As much as the idea of getting undressed in front of a woman he barely knew made him uncomfortable, the idea of a hot bath was much more enticing. "Thank you. That sounds great." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fancy_lamorne 2008-06-13 06:13 pm UTC (link)
	Fancy smiled and left Charlie to go into the bathroom. She turned the water on and started to fill the claw foot tub. While the tub was filling she looked in the medicine cabinet to see what sort of medical supplies she had. She wasn't sure what the extent of Charlie's injuries might be and she wanted to be prepared. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

iceskatecharlie
2008-06-16 03:59 pm UTC (link)

Charlie tossed his pack near the foot of the bed as she walked away. He toed his boots off, took off his socks and tucked them inside. He unbuttoned the flannel shirt he'd gotten from one of the farmers who'd hidden him on his way into Paris, and slowly began to slide it off his shoulders. It had been a few days since he crashed, but his body was still feeling it, and being on the run hadn't helped much either. His muscles ached with a fatigue vaguely reminiscent of summers on farms.

The shirt slid off his hands, and he folded it, laying it on top of his boots. He hooked his fingers under the hem of his shirt and began drawing it up his body. Slowly, carefully, he worked it up to around his shoulders and pulled it off his head.

He'd been so exhausted on the run, he hadn't really taken stock of his injuries. There were bruises over his shoulders and chest in the X-shape of his seat harness, and small cuts on his hands and forearms from flying shrapnel. He pressed lightly on each rib to check for fractures, and was satisfied to learn they weren't even bruised - his muscles had taken the brunt of the force from the harness, and they would heal easier than bone.

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fancy_lamorne
2008-06-16 04:16 pm UTC (link)

Fancy filled the tub with water hot enough to soothe aching muscles but not hot enough to scald the skin. She made sure there was soap and a wash cloth. She set a bath towel on the edge of the sink.

She returned to Charlie in time to see how he struggled removing his undershirt. She watched in humbled silence as the dark purple bruises were revealed to her eyes. Her face was a mixture of sadness and anger on this poor boy's behalf.

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	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-16 04:22 pm UTC (link)
	Done taking stock of his injuries, he turned toward the washroom. She stood in the doorway with an odd look of almost grief with what looked like anger. He smiled slightly. "No broken bones, at least. I'm lucky." He walked towards the washroom. The pants would come off once the door was closed, he decided. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fancy_lamorne
2008-06-16 04:33 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, very lucky." she said, though she did not believe it. Fate was a fickle mistress, Charlie walked away without a broken bone and his crew was killed. Some Jews still lived in this city while some disappeared without a trace in the middle of the night. Some people got away with breaking the law and others were severely punished for the most minor of infractions. And she didn't understand any of it. She couldn't imagine what it must have been like for Charlie, discovering his fallen comrades, having to survive on his own in hostile territory.

She stepped to the side of the doorway to let him pass.

"I think I am going to go out while you take a bath, see if I can find you some more clothes. You take your time, rest. I'll lock the door and I have a key. The only key. I'll bring you something to eat when I come back too. Do you think you need to see a doctor?"

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	iceskatecharlie 2008-06-16 04:40 pm UTC (link)
	He shook his head. "No, I'll be fine. The bruises will clear up on their own." He stepped into the washroom, steam already filling the room. He turned back to look at her. "Thank you, again." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fancy_lamorne
2008-06-16 04:48 pm UTC (link)

Fancy didn't watch him go past, just stared at a stained spot on the wallpaper. She turned her head and looked at him when he spoke however. He towered over her in height, but there was still the lingering of innocence in his eyes. No doubt that wouldn't last much longer, no one stayed innocent for long these days.

"You're welcome. Just try to be quiet while I'm gone."

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iceskatecharlie
2008-06-16 05:42 pm UTC (link)

He nodded. "I will."

As she turned and walked away, he closed the door to the washroom softly. He unbuttoned his pants and let them fall to the floor. The boxers followed, and he gingerly lowered himself into the bath. The hot water felt good against his sore and aching muscles. He sat there, not moving, letting the hot water soak in and work the ache out. After a few minutes, he reached for the soap and washcloth and began washing the crash and the travel from his skin.

He ducked his head under the water, and scrubbed the soap into it. He rinsed it out, and slowly stood up. The water had cooled considerably since he started the bath, but the air of room was still a marked difference. He stepped out and reached for the towel. He took his time drying off, careful to mind his bruises and cuts. He wrapped the towel around his waist, picked up his pants, and walked out into the bedroom.

He folded the pants and put them back in the pack, taking out a cleaner pair. He put them and his Army issue tank top on, and sat down on the bed. He went through the contents of his pack, taking stock of what he still had.

Some clothes, a flashlight, a small journal, his flight suit, and a small personal radio. Not much, really. He packed it back up, and put it and his boots to the side. He laid back and closed his eyes, wondering how long it would take for Fancy to return.

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