Dossier Four

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Henrietta is, for a change of pace, in the coliseum! In one of the empty lion pens off of the coliseum floor, as a matter of fact, practicing her violin in time with a recording of someone playing a piano.

She has a black eye and, half-hidden under her hair, a handspan bruise on the side of her neck. Otherwise, she looks entirely composed.]

Comments

[contract_star]

[Definitely notices the bruise, but he stays silent since he doesn't want to startle her.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Finishes, starts over, and then notices him.] Signore Hei! I hope you haven't been there a long time.

[contract_star]

Ah, not really. I hope you don't mind.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

No Signore, of course not.

[contract_star]

You're quite good. You must have been practicing a lot.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

I want to be good when Signore Jose asks me to play for him.

[contract_star]

I'm sure you will be.

Ah, Henrietta... [How to bring it up gently.] Did you hurt yourself? [Gestures at his own eye.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Covers her eye ldajoiweajdalf] N... No, signore.

[contract_star]

A-ah...it's okay. You don't have to tell me.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Ljdsajdsodasds....wut? She looks up at him in surprise.] ....you... I... ...don't?

[contract_star]

No. It's your own business. But... [Awkward! She's a lot like Bai, before and after she went Contractor.] I'd rather you not get hurt.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[kdfjkslfjd staring because even Signore Jose, while he would actually prefer she not get hurt, sees it as an inevitability.] W... really?

[contract_star]

Well, yes. Is that really so strange? I mean...it's normal to get hurt in this line of work. Especially... [frowns a little] when the people you work with are less than understanding. But that doesn't mean you have to take it. You do everything in your power to keep from getting hurt.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

...we're designed so that any part of our body can be used as a shield. Except our eyes. That's the one spot where we'll die right away. They're working on reinforced eye sockets, but so far, Signore Jose says, they put too much pressure on the brain. So... so... I don't know. [lsdjalksdjaskda]

[contract_star]

[Just stares at her, an unreadable expression on his face.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[dfoiuasdifu she looks at her feet, cradling the violin in her arms gently.] H-he didn't hit me hard enough to damage me like that.

[contract_star]

Who was it? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But I'd like to know.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Almost before he finishes saying "who was it" she says,] Signore Jean. [And then blinks at the rest.] Um. You just have to ask. I-I guess with you... it's like with Signore Jose. I have to answer.

[contract_star]

Have to? [Does not like the sound of that.]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Yes, signore. Triela says we can lie, but we have to answer.

[contract_star]

...I see.

I won't abuse that. I promise. I won't force you to answer anything you don't want to.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Eh?] It's all right, signore. It's not abusing it to ask questions. That's what we're supposed to do.

[contract_star]

Still--I won't.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

But... [Confuuused.] Yes, signore.