The Life and Times of René Giraud

Haussmann

(Please note that this scene takes place after the events of The Lost Mansion.)

circa 1854, Paris

Nicolas was getting worried. It was not unusual for René to zone out or to remain in one position for a long while, in silence, but this spell has been nearing a whole day. Also he was even paler than usual, his expression drawn - Nicolas feared he might be in pain. Sure René ate a bite, but that was the sum of his activity, otherwise he spent the day sitting pressed up against their bed's headboard, curled into a ball, occasionally rocking.

For the past hour Nicolas had been alternating between talking to him and cuddling him in silence, in hopes of having him talk, if only to tell Nicolas how he may help.

When he finally spoke up it was so quiet Nicolas almost missed it.

'They tore down another block.'

Nicolas blinked.

'...Oh. Is that what's bothering you? Sure the renovations seem a bit ham-fisted, but I would have thought as an architect you would approve. Is your boss not involved with them?'

'He is' René murmured with disdain 'I'm rather close to leaving him. See, progress and modernism are all well and good, but  I think Gus is in the right when he says that here by 'making the city safer' they do not mean 'keeping its citizens safe' but 'making it harder to build barricades'. Also, people were living in those houses.'

Nicolas kissed his crown.

'I understand. You want to ease their suffering, but René...'

He was cut off by René's humourless laugh.

'Of course it bothers me, how could it not, but that is not why I'm in this state. I'm much more selfish than that. See, it's easy for the government to ignore the complaints of the living, but I cannot ignore the dead. They have been bound to these lodgings for literal centuries and now they are swarming. Wailing, crying, clawing at all they can touch.'

He took a deep, shuddering breath and raised his head an inch.

'Nico, I cannot stand this. If the renovations go on I may have to leave Paris, if only for a while. This is unbearable.'

Nicolas felt a lump of lead settle in his stomach. Leave Paris? Still, he took René's head into his large hands and kissed his forhead.

'Do what you must. I'll be there with you.'