[hr][h1]James & Jeanne[/h1][hr]

The two, with Jeanne taking the lead, slipped out from the emergency exit of the hospital and strolled out onto the cobbled streets of the district. As morning transitioned into noon and appetites were reawoken, the streets became populated once more with students looking for an interesting meal. The Frenchwoman had no particular interest in food, however, and instead, she drew James to a small, enclosed courtyard perhaps a ten-minute walk away. Tropical flowers bloomed in the garden, heavy, fruity scents seeping into the warm air as they convened upon a small, white gazebo.

[b]“Well,”[/b] Jeanne spoke, seating herself. [b]“Was there a complication with my request, James?”[/b]

He sat down in turn and replied, [b]”No, in-fact, I have it right here…”[/b] James took a set of vials wrapped in brown paper and a simple string. He then set it down on the table and took a seat opposite from her before continuing  [b]”... From the reactions of the people in the room earlier, I take it you didn’t tell them I was involved with you in any way?”[/b] 

She took the package in her hand, untying the string to peek at the contents. Her expression did not change, but she did nod, acknowledging some value in his work. Liquid chemistry, indeed, was one of the few things in the world that had not been affected overtly by the Formulizations of the Polymaths. [b]“It is a [i]present[/i],”[/b] Jeanne replied. [b]“I had presumed that if you wished to hand this to me in person, you would have arranged to rendezvous, rather than hunt for me. Are you so eager to see me after all this time?”[/b]

James crossed his legs and rested his hands onto them as he steepled his fingers. [b]”More curious than anything, you could’ve chosen anybody for this task. Why me? Was it because I’m Bang’s roommate or something else?”[/b]

Jeanne turned her face slightly to the side, her right eye peering into his mien. After a long moment, she spoke, more statement than question, [b]“You don’t remember.”[/b]

His mind began to process what she had just said, but as far as he could remember he never met Jeanne or perhaps it was because he had forgotten. James then broke his silence as his curiosity piqued, his gaze fixed towards her [b]“Remember? What do you mean?”[/b]

But as he fixed his gaze, he saw her own expression turn from the faintest glimmer of curiosity to one of crushing coldness. She leaned back, then stood up. [b]“I meant nothing by it. Is that all, Mr. Porter?”[/b]

James stood, he never broke his gaze, never once blinked, for once James wasn’t calm. [b]“Ms. Bordeaux, if you know something about my accident and my past I would very well like to know. As it stands there’s a regrettably large part of my life that I frankly do not remember. You seem like you know me and even treat me as a close friend. What do I not remember?”[/b]

Heightened emotion, however, had never been something that gave Jeanne pause. She favoured him with one last look, and the words that left her mouth were filled with a withering frigidness. [b]“We were friends once. We [i]are[/i] strangers now. Good day, sir.”[/b]

Without the finality of a sword through a length of taut rope, the Frenchwoman strode off, her blonde hair disappearing between the rosebrushes of the cobbled path.

And yet, the tropical breeze carried on her final words.

[b]“We met, six years past, upon the coast of Étretat.”[/b]

He stared out in a daze as his mind tried to process what that meant, this mission has become more complicated than he had originally been told. He adjusted his top hat once again and took his cane into both hands, wringing it tightly at first with frustration before easing himself to let out huff. In his mind came a question, [i]’now what?’[/i]. He shook his head twice and head off to brew over a cup of hot coffee.