InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's only time."

Léon Belmont (ex_the_ambas216) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-09-16 19:37:00

Entry tags:

augustin_laurent, léon_belmont, plot

Léon Belmont; An Audience with Monsieur Laurent
Subject: An Audience with Monsieur Laurent
Who: Léon Belmont
Where: The French Embassy
Warnings: none
Open to: Augustine Laurent, Jacques Belmont

Léon had been meaning to speak to the young man for some time. He had almost brought it up the evening Monsieur Laurent arrived at the Embassy, but the presence of his son at the dinner table and the appearance of politeness kept it from his lips. But Augustine had been in the country long enough now, and it seemed that he could be trusted. He was always helpful, prompt, intelligent in his contributions- almost, in fact, the prefect secretary. Almost, but not quite. There was, unfortunately, the small matter of his family.

"Augustine?" He called, knocking on the door that separated his own office from that of his assistants, aides, and other secretaries. "May I have a word with you? In private?" He asked, opening the door and waiting for the young man to join him, smiling slightly. He did not want Augustine to be anything but relaxed, unworried about the matter they were to discuss.

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-16 02:57 pm UTC (link)

Augustin sat at his desk, already full of papers but organised as he liked. He was reading through reports and sending out items as the Ambassador requested. But his mind was not completely on his work. The death of his father had filled his head and heart since he'd found out. He was still also hurt about what had been said and he thought only that Antoine had tried to slight him. He hadn't visited them yet; he wasn't ready. But soon.

He looked up and smiled. "Yes of course sir." Augustin stood and moved toward Léon's office and walked inside.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-16 05:07 pm UTC (link)

He was sure to shut the door between the two rooms before he spoke again. "Won't you have a seat?" Léon continued in a casual voice, settling down himself. "Nothing to concern yourself, I wished only to speak to you. How are you settling in?" He asked, reaching for the box of thick black-wrapped cigarettes, and opening it and holding it out to the young man, "I am extremely impressed by your work so far, Augustine. Extremely."

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-16 05:13 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you." Augustin sat down in one of the comfortable chairs in front of Leon's desk. He smiled as he took one of the offered cigarettes. "Things are going very well I think. I'm settling quite nicely."

He looked up to the Ambassador and nodded, the smile not fading. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you. I am very grateful you've given me this opportunity to help you, and help the People." So perfect, so rehearsed, the words came to Augustin like a pro. "I would not wish to repay your kindness by doing a job that reflect ill upon you."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-16 05:34 pm UTC (link)

Léon laughed. "There was a time, many years ago, when I sat in an office and said very much the same thing to my own superior." He said, taking a cigarette of his own, and touching it to the flame of the candle on the desk to his left, taking a deep inhalation. "You are a talented young man. The citizens of France would thank you for it if they understood the importance of your work. Until they do, the Commitee will have to pay you for your skills." He said, pausing a long moment.

"There is, however, a matter while I have not brought up with you, but the Commitee demand that I do. Have you spoken to your family of late, Augustine?"

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-16 05:40 pm UTC (link)

Augustin followed suit and lit the end of the cigarette with the glowing flame of the candle. Inwardly oh yes he was sure the Committee would love to know what he was doing with most of his nights. However he liked his head where it was at. "Nothing is more important that the work of the Committee, nor of ours to bring the changes we want in France," he said emotionally.

He paused at the mention of his family and he took a moment before looking at the Ambassador and then shook his head regrettably. "I... there have been... issues that came up and it did not seem prudent to call up on them yet. You see, my father... I'm sorry to say he succumbed to his ill health very recently."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-16 05:54 pm UTC (link)

"Of course." Léon said, agreeing in a tired voice, as if he could no longer bring himself to show too much enthusiasm about the Commitee or the People or any of the rest of it. He rather liked his comfortable London lifestyle. "The Commitee have France's best interests at heart."

He paused a long moment at the mention of the Lord Laurent, taking the time to tap the ash from his cigarette into the silver dish. "I am sorry about your father's passing. But I am afraid I was aware of it before. Your younger brother came to see me, to ask if he could use the church for your father's resting place. I agreed, of course. We must all appear to the English to be friendly, but your younger brother has been... difficult." He said with care.

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-16 06:18 pm UTC (link)

Augustin sat back a little, watching the other man. "They do, yes they do indeed. We are lucky to be given a chance to assist them," he said nonchalantly.

He couldn't help the fading of his smile just a little as talk of his father continued. He frowned a bit. "Aime came to see you... I... thank you for agreeing to that. I want all the best for my father. We didn't see eye to eye in the later years, but he was still my father." Augustin looked up, concerned. "Aime? What trouble? Has he done something wrong?"

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-17 03:57 am UTC (link)

Léon nodded, leaning back in his chair and puffing again on the cigarette. It occurred to him that Augustine Laurent could be another Commitee spy, and his nonchalance only a method of discovering Léon's own disloyalties. "He are honoured by our work." He said with a small smile. "But the Commitee would not like to have us sit here and sing their praises all day. It is a waste of everybody's time."

"Your dedication to your father is touching, of course." He said, although he wondered who Augustine was more devoted to. Then again, if his loyalties laid prominently on his family, then he would not have worked within the Revolution for so long. "Your younger brother... was asked what ship under what captain brought them to England. Now they are here, of course, they may remain, your brothers, but the captain and crew that are ignoring the Committee's rulings must be dealt with." He explained, sitting up again, "Your brother refused to give us that information, even though it would have been exchanged for certain documents..." He said, opening a draw and passing over the parchment over the desk, "I have informed him that without his compliance, I will have no choice but to send this."

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-17 10:39 am UTC (link)

Augustin looked at the man carefully. He had not moved through the ranks of the Committee nor the Revolution for being stupid or irrational. "We do what we can for the betterment of all of France do we not? And you are right. If the Committee wanted praises sung and time wasted we would be want to call them Monarch. I do not like wasting time when there are important things to do." He wondered if the Ambassador trusted him, believed what he said. He believed in the Revolution true but he was loyal to himself and to his family just as much.

He tried not to let his emotions boil over, even at the mention of Aime. "Play devil's advocate here of course, but is it possible he didn't know? With such treacherous captains disobeying the Committee, I wouldn't put it past them not revealing such information? They must be dealt with of course, and I do not excuse my brother's behaviour..." Augustin trailed off as the parchment was removed and handed over to him. Reading it quickly, Augustin wanted to tear it to shreads. This is what Antoine's selfishness had caused. He had worked so hard to get them passage from France, to be safe, and it was beginning to seem for naught.

"This is troubling indeed," Augustin said, the anger just beneath the surface. "I have no right to ask you for a favour, nor would I wish to compromise you in front of the Committee, but would you allow me to speak to Aime at least? Perhaps coming from his brother, he would be more apt to speak. If he does not know the name of the ship or captain, he may still have valuable information." Augustin was already forming a plan in his head. That document and any accompanying information could never see the light of day.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-17 11:14 am UTC (link)

Léon smiled slightly. "Exactement, Monsieur Laurent, exactement." He said, again taking a deep inhalation. "The Committee are nothing more than representatives of the people, not monarchs or god-chosen rulers. They work just as hard for us as we do for them. I do not like to waste their time, just as they do not like it if we waste theirs. So we shall continue with business..."

He tapped off the ash again, taking another drag, letting the young man read the note. "I am sorry you had to discover such matters from me. But as I understand it, your younger brother has had... these sorts of relationships before." He paused again, glancing to Augustine and watching him carefully. "I understand that you brother might not know the name, but your elder brother might. Aimé is more than capable of finding out, if he wants to preserve his reputation. And that of his brother, of course." He said softly, "Perhaps you should speak to him."

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-17 01:10 pm UTC (link)

"That is true," Augustin said, "Very true. We are much the same, working for each other, all doing our parts to make sure our efforts are all working toward the same thing, yes?"

He frowned though, not sure of what to say but careful not to let how troubled he was truly show. "No I am glad to know of it. And no I can't say this surprises me either." He had been a fool to think things might have changed. And now Aimé's at Antoine's behest could possibly threaten them all.

"They are my brothers, but I am shamed of their behaviour," he said, playing the part of the wounded brother well, though it didn't take much trying in some cases. "I will talk to Aimé. Antoine and I do not always see eye to eye, but I can speak to Aimé, get him to see just how severe this is."

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-09-18 03:54 am UTC (link)

Léon nodded again, "That's right." He said, finishing off the cigarette and crushing the end down in the silver tray. "A better France is everyone's goal, at the end of the day. Everyone's apart from the English, of course."

Léon paused, looking at Augustine seriously. "I am afraid they have done rather a lot to shame you, and France. But I have attempted to give Aimé the opportunity to reinstate himself, and you elder brother. Unfortunately it seems that they like to be thought of traitors to their country." He said drily, with a shrug. "One day, my replacement may not look upon their behaviour in such a forgiving manner."

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theotherlaurent
2008-09-18 10:16 am UTC (link)

"Indeed it is Sir, indeed it is," Augustin said smiling. "And of course the English don't like it. They are remiss to not liking much of anything lately I have found."

Augustin sighed and the pained and worried look on his face was no pretense. He had worried this could happen to his family, even with how hard he'd fought and worked to change that for them all. "I saddens me greatly to know this, that they've fallen so far away from the true and good people I know them to be. Aimé, I'm afraid, is too kind hearted and does listen to our brother far too much."

He bristled at them both being called 'traitor' and he grimaced. "You have been far too generous to me, and my family Ambassador. I can not see why you would be replaced; you do very well for all."

He sat back a little more as he quickly thought. "I will go to my brothers and talk to them, tell them of the grievousness of the situation for us all and make them understand."

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