OOM: Javert in London for the scond time

[witchfinder_general]

It' the same featureless blue corridor as before, but this time, there are still people about in it.

Nobody, however, is paying any attention to them: two women with papers under their arms are chatting to each other, and a man is wheeling a trolley of scientific equipment into an open door.

Father Harman holds the door of the supply closet open for Javert.

Comments

[never_shall_yield]

He does not understand the Latin, but the concept is familiar enough.

'Yes. Subordinates defer to authority, of course. It is proper.'

He is glad to see Harman get the fearful respect he is due, and would be due even were he not a hunter of vampires.

[witchfinder_general]

Father Harman opens the door to his office, and steps inside.

"I have a spare coat in here," he says, opening a cupboard that is, inside, actually a small wardrobe, the way some people have them in their offices.

He hands a coat to Javert and puts on another himself, the pockets of which he then fills with some things from his desk drawers.

[never_shall_yield]

It is very long on him. He would refuse it entirely if it were not for the need to hide his clothes. But with his hat pulled down and rough cravat straightened, there is also a strange air of familiarity to it.

He looks around the office. It is very...he does not know the word. Everything is very strange and different, and yet it retains the feel of officialdom the world, and all of time, over.

'It is daytime.'

A thought occurs.

'Where is the woman from before?'

[witchfinder_general]

"Angie?" Father Harman says. "She'll be in the lab; but she knows about Milliways now, so she won't be too astonished if she sees you."

[never_shall_yield]

Javert, of course, did not bother to remember her name.

'What did she say? Did she think you were mad?'

[witchfinder_general]

"She saw me go into the supply closet carrying papers and a computer," Father Harman says, "and then come out a split second later carrying completely different papers, wearing different clothes, and having acquired a little bit of a sunburn, which I really shouldn't, but there."

He shrugs.

"It was very obvious I'd been somewhere."

[never_shall_yield]

'...very well.'

He cannot clearly recall the woman's face. He has a brief notion of blonde hair and that is all. It is not important to him.

'I hope I am not keeping you from your work though, Father. I can wait alone if there are things you must see to first.'

[witchfinder_general]

"No," Father Harman says. "There are no current Code Five cases that need to be pursued, so we are all just doing our research and liaising, but I have no appointments today. I'm still trying to get some Code Five ashes shot into space. It's a lengthy and complex project."

He closes the drawer and stands straight. "Shall we?"

[never_shall_yield]

'Yes.'

He is ready to go. And as they walks, asks, 'shot into...space?'

[witchfinder_general]

Father Harman walks along the corridor; they meet a few people who merely say hello almost shyly and pass them without giving Javert a second glance.

"Into orbit," Father Harman explains, "out of the atmosphere, with a satellite, in containers set to explode and scatter the contents once they're at their destination, blowing the ashes throughout the airless void in eternal sunlight. There is no way whatsoever that these Code Fives can regenerate at all, ever."

[never_shall_yield]

'That is good. I would say it sounds efficient, but sending things into the heavens is hardly usual.'

Or possible at all to his mind, though obviously things are much changed here.

'Do your colleagues agree it is the best course of action?'

[witchfinder_general]

"I got the idea in Milliways," Father Harman says.

Of course.

"But yes, they agree it is a good thing for us to try."

[never_shall_yield]

'The place has some uses then,' he murmurs, looking around with studied eyes.

Everything in this place is so bland. He did not notice last time. But neat, and clean; he can appreciate that at least.

[witchfinder_general]

"Would you have doubted that?" Father Harman says, stopping.

He presses a button between two identical, bland sliding doors -- the elevators, if Javert remembers the last time.

[never_shall_yield]

He does remember this time, and does not cause a scene by stating that he would prefer the stairs. He just steps inside, and internally steels himself for the strange sensation he remembers.

'Yes.'

[witchfinder_general]

"Was the place never useful to you?" Father Harman says as the cabin starts its descent.

[never_shall_yield]

'I suppose it has allowed me to avoid damnation a while longer. And the chance to change my fate.'

He looks up, following the numbers that click down.

'Yes, I am thankful for that. Even if the process so far has been difficult. That is as it should be.'

[witchfinder_general]

"Things should not be easy, you think?" Father Harman says.

[never_shall_yield]

'No.'

There is no hesitation in his answer.

'Especially not in something like this.'

[witchfinder_general]

"Why would it be wrong if it was easy?" Father Harman asks. "Would it feel cheap?"

[never_shall_yield]

'Yes.'

It is quite simple.

'A man cannot commit such a sin against God, and expect the journey back to be easy. It would be quite wrong if it were.'

Life was simple enough before, blindly committing all the wrong he did. It is only right he should pay the price now.

[witchfinder_general]

The elevator stops on the ground floor, and Father Harman walks out, expecting Javert to follow him. There are a few people around, but they ignore both of them completely.

[never_shall_yield]

Javert follows, walking silently, taking in the faces of those who pay them no attention.

His mind turns to what he will say to the priest; his stomach clenches with unhappy anticipation, but it is a duty he must fulfill.

'I can find my way if you would prefer, Father. I believe I remember. I do not wish to inconvenience you.'

[witchfinder_general]

"The walk will do me good," Father Harman says. "I spend far too much time at my desk as it is. And I can talk to some of my confratres while you're at confession; at this time of day, there will be some of them about."

[never_shall_yield]

'They are members of your order?'

His eyes flick to the street outside the office building, much busier than on their last visit.

'I do not expect I will be too long.'