At the Longfellow Inn; New London, Britannia:
Balthazar (to Charles): Hello again. Charles, right? It WAS Charles? Hello again, Charles. Charlie. CHUCK.
Charles (to Balthazar): Um, hello, again, sir. Just... Just Charles is fine. Would you like a table? I'm not sure that we have any available...
Balthazar (to Charles): Nah. I don't want a table, *Charles*. I want information. See... I'm looking for someone. And I'm having the damnedest time finding the motherfucker. Nathaniel Jones. Thin. Dark hair. Don't suppose YOU know him?
Charles (to Balthazar): Um, n-no, sir. I can't say that I do. We get many people through the inn, you see, and it's impossibly to keep track...
Balthazar (to Charles): Did you HEAR me ask about what I think it's possible for you to do?
Charles (to Balthazar): You... You need to unhand me right this second, sir!
Balthazar (to Charles): Ha ha! Yeah? Or what? Listen up, fucker. I know the Injun kid he was with the other day come in here. Chasing after some fucking blonde. I need you--YOU--to tell me what you know, before I REALLY lose my temper!
Charles (to Balthazar): I--I… I don't know anything I can tell you, sir.
Balthazar (to Charles): Is that how it's gonna be, CHARLES?
Charles (to Balthazar): Y-yes, sir.
Balthazar (to Charles): Well. If that's the way you want to play it. FINE.
A couple hours later:
Charles (to Persephone): Oh! Muss Persephone. I didn't see you. You shouldn't be here, miss! Ouch... There was someone here today looking for you and Mr. Joseph.
Persephone (to Charles): What!?! Why not, Charles? I was just dropping off the bread request from Mrs. Esterly. Oh my god, what happened to you?
Charles (to Persephone): Ouch... There was someone here today looking for you and Mr. Joseph.
Persephone (to Charles): Was it that Quentin fellow again?
Charles (to Persephone): Yes, ma'am. Fortunately, there had been a match of some sort this afternoon. Several of our biggest regulars intervened.
Persephone (to Charles): Oh Charles, I'm so sorry that you got mixed up in this. Please stay safe. Give my parents my regards, I'll slip out the back and head to the house by a round about way just in case he's watching. Put a steak on that eye.
Charles (to Persephone): Oh. Yes. Heh heh. Your mother said the same thing to me. I'm alright. A little shaken, but I've had worse.
Persephone (to Charles): … That's… Dear god, are all the boys I know severely broken? Is this really a thing?
Charles (to Persephone): I'm not broken! I was with the Smith gang, and, honestly, I'm trying very hard not to be completely terrified!
Persephone (to Charles): I'm sorry, Charles. I should go.
Charles (to Persephone): I'm sorry, Miss Persephone. I shouldn't have shouted. Would you like me to walk you home?
Persephone (to Charles): That would be moo. Thank you…
A short time later, on the streets; New London, Britannia:
Charles (to Persephone): Very good, miss. Heh. Though, honestly, I'm not quite sure what I would be able to do to help if someone unsavory did show.
Persephone (to Charles): Heehee. Mostly as a distraction while I get the drop on them. :-P
Charles (to Persephone): Ha ha! Oh. Heh. Excuse me. I'm afraid that you're correct. That would be the most useful I could possibly be in a fight. Don't worry. I didn't tell that Balthazar person anything about you. I would never do that... May I ask you a question?
Persephone (to Charles): Of course, Charles. My life is an open book.
Charles (to Persephone): Heh. I know you too well to believe that, miss. What did you mean earlier when you said all the gentlemen you know are... I think the phrase you used was "severely broken"?
Persephone (to Charles): Oh... Well, I'm not sure it's my place to say. Joseph confided in me about his childhood & there were sadly some unpleasant bits. And, then there's Nate & Aiden, both of which also had traumatic childhoods.
Charles (to Persephone): Oh. I see… I hope you'll forgive me for saying so, Miss Persephone, but I really wouldn't consider any of them "severely broken." I'm very sorry to hear they didn't have an easy upbringing, but from what I can tell, they all seem to be decent men who are trying not to repeat any mistreatment they may have received. Sadly, there WERE some people in the Smith Gang who were quite broken. I'm afraid they will only ever be reflections of the horrors they had endured... Oh! My apologies. Heh. George says I've been reading too many social histories lately. At any rate, I had a very happy childhood. Until Mum grew ill that is.
Persephone (to Charles): Heh. You don't need to apologize, Charles. You're absolutely right & I may have been exaggerating just a bit. And, can I just say in all certainty that I am very glad you found your way to our family & out of that wretched gang. I'm also very glad you have found someone to spend time with, who gets you to loosen up from time to time. :-)
Charles (to Persephone): "Loosened up?" Have I really? Your father doesn't seem to think so. He's always shouting at me to use plain English, and not speak like I was reading from a vocabulary primer. When Mr. Balthazar grabbed me, and started walloping me, Mr. Williams, he's the large, bald football fan with more neck than skull, told him to "leave our little gent alone." Hee hee. I don't think anyone thinks of me as "loosened up," miss.
Persephone (to Charles): That's because they lack vision & the subtle understanding of subtext... You're wearing a flower in your lapel & your collar has been unbuttoned this whole time & you haven't once tried to fix it... See? Loosened up. :-p
Charles (to Persephone): Oh! I was working in the kitchen earlier, and it was very hot... I hadn't realized. I can fix it if it's bothering you.
Persephone (to Charles): No, I was just teasing you, Charles. You really should learn to loosen up just a smidgen... Oh, here we are!
Charles (to Persephone): Whew! So we are. I am so very glad that walk was uneventful! Good night, Miss Persephone. Do be careful.
Persephone (to Charles): You too, Charles. I'd hate for you to come to any harm on my account.
Charles (to Persephone): It's quite alright. I would gladly do whatever I could to help your clan. You've been nothing but wonderful to me. I hope you'll forgive me for saying this, but you're the closest thing to a family I've had in a very long time. I should go. Good night again, Miss Persephone. I'll be careful, I promise.
Persephone (to Charles): Good night, Charles.
