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

[fry-face.livejournal.com]

{Just watches and listens, but silently takes note of the black eye}

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Finishes and goes to hit the back button on her little CD player before she sees Balalaika.] S-signorina Balalaika.

[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.

[isolatedguilt.livejournal.com]

[James is there, sort of hanging back. He's not sure if he should get involved]

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[All these lurking people! She stops playing when she notices him.] Ah, hello Signore James. Are you feeling a little better?

[fry-face.livejournal.com]

You're very good. It's lovely. {Congratulations, Henrietta, you got a compliment!}

[contract_star]

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

[isolatedguilt.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. It's... Henrietta, right?

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

No Signore, of course not.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Yes! Are you doing all right, though? There's a kitchen here, I found out, if you're hungry.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[M-meep.] Thank you very much, signorina.

[fry-face.livejournal.com]

Are you self-taught?

[contract_star]

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

[isolatedguilt.livejournal.com]

Really, I'm okay.

[He pauses for a moment]

Are you okay? I mean, your eye...

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Um. [Covers her eye with one hand.] I-it's fine.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

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

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

Signore Jose is teaching me.

[isolatedguilt.livejournal.com]

[Not gonna press it, buuut...]

You should put an ice pack on that. Or a cold cloth.

[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]

Um. [Pokes at it gently and winces.] I... think it'll be all right.

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

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

[isolatedguilt.livejournal.com]

The sooner you take care if it, the sooner it'll go away.

[Have an abrupt change of topic!]

I'm sorry I haven't been able to return those clothes yet.

[contract_star]

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

[fireintothesky.livejournal.com]

[Rolls wid it.] It's all right, really. No one even noticed they were gone.