007 ⚜ Video ⚜ An apology

[paysdelamour]

[Francis comes on the communicators, a healthy glow on his cheeks that had been missing for the past few weeks - And despite all the scrapes and bags under his eyes from their ordeal, he looks more like he's supposed to. The only thing that looks completely unnatural is the frown Francis has on his face.]

Mesdames et messieurs... I feel I must apologize. I had no idea my plan would fail, and that all of us would be placed through... such horrid things.

[He pauses, looking guilty as he sort of shifts around.]

I apologize. For everything. For the boat, for our capture, for all the suffering you endured... désolé.

[Francis slowly reaches over to his nightstand, and takes what looks like a photograph into his hands. He stares down at it for a moment, before he sighs and looks back up.]

Anyone who has had their clothes torn or ruined because of this - I will fix them. If I cannot fix them, I will replace them myself. That is all.

[And he cuts off the feed.]

Comments

Voice

[starofchaos]

[Louis' voice holds a note of anger, faint traces of humiliation still and also frustration.]

I can't believe those cretins caused so much trouble.

[A low sigh hisses pasts his lips. There's the sound of fingers drumming on a table. When he speaks again, however, his voice is oddly calm.]

But you were not the one that 'sparked' this. Why feel guilty?

Permavideo

[paysdelamour]

Without my enthusiasm in those plans, this whole mess would not have started, non?

[Despite Louis' obvious calm, France still feels unsettled, and it's obvious in his body language.]

... I could have gotten you all killed. I did the same foolish things as I did all those years ago...!

Permavideo?

[femininetomboy]

[ Madoka looks at the screen in silence for a moment, not seeming sad, not seeming happy. She rethinks the past events. She'd been scared, really scared and seen things she never ever wanted to see, but.. ]

Whatever they have done to us isn't your fault. And we were able to gather valuable information in the palace.

[ She smiles, but she cannot look fully positive. Madoka was never good blending out negative things. ]

Permavideo! :3

[paysdelamour]

Non, I meant... making you do all this work, only to have it all go to waste, having to fight, having to put your life on the line...

[It's true they learned a lot about the palace - but how much of it can actually be trusted?]

[Video]

[dreamsonwings]

Don't blame yourself for what happened.

[Short and simple from this woman. Francis was doing a good thing and it was the Rulers who decided to make them suffer.]

Permavideo

[paysdelamour]

...

[He sighs, nodding his head... but after a few moments, he's shaking his head and giving off another sigh, this one more doleful than the first.]

You could have been seriously hurt. A natio- [Francis pauses, to think over his words.] ... a person, such as myself, should protect citizens. That is what we do.

video;

[hyahahacool]

[oh right, he spoke French, Amakusa made a mental note to engage in a conversation with him in that language sometime.. anyways.]

Hey hey, no big deal- not like anyone was killed. [ ;) ] Hyahaha!

It was a pretty < cool > get away though, running from that castle and being chased down- I felt like I was back in the field!

Permavideo, 1/2

[paysdelamour]

It does not matter. They could have been. I placed everyone in needless danger - even your charge.

[Despite Amakusa's cheerful disposition about the whole thing, it doesn't seem to cheer France up very much.]

I have not been so careless since I was a younger man. When I was more... hot-headed, more stupid.

2/2

[paysdelamour]

[But Amakusa does get a little smile from Francis at the last line.]

Ah, did you now? What was it you did before?

[ voice ]

[denies]

[ Ange is just on voice-only as ever - out of habit, partially, but this time she's grateful for it. It's easier to seem just like normal that way. ]

You just thought we could escape like this. All of us did. ... So there isn't anyone to blame for this but our captors.

Permavideo

[paysdelamour]

[Francis is keeping to video, despite his obvious wish to not be seen by anyone. Guilt's a powerful thing.]

Non, Ange. I could have seriously injured someone with my stupid plot... or worse, killed them.

action;

[tomate]

[ Spain knew that France would need a friend after everything that has gone on. He think it better to do this in person than over communicator, so even as France is making the transmission, Spain is walking towards France's home, knocking on the door once he arrives ]

Perma-action

[paysdelamour]

[Francis no sooner closes the compact than he hears a knock on the door. Startled, he makes his way out of his bedroom, quietly opening the door to see who it is.]

... Espagne?

[Video]

[bestamontillado]

I would hardly call it a loss; for all that we're still trapped here, there was quite a bit gained from it.

[Information, clues, a view of the Castle, an idea of internal politics among the rulers... things he'd expected to need MONTHS to get. He's worn and been through the ringer himself, but far be it from him to put up anything other than a good face for this, particularly when there was some genuine victories out of that defeat.]

Although, I may wish to commission you, if it would be no trouble - all I have is my Denizen's clothes, and while they're intact, I'm not exactly fond of archaic Nordic.

I apologize for the lateness.

[paysdelamour]

Yes, possibly dubious information from a dubious woman who would not even tell us who she was, and several scrapes and bruises. Hardly quite a bit gained, wouldn't you say, monsieur?

[Francis sighs deeply. He feels tired, he feels guilty, and despite what everyone is saying he still feels like a complete idiot.]

At least we each seem to have gained something from home, non? [He vaguely motions to the picture he's framed.]

You may commission me, monsieur. I will be happy to provide you with clothes. Would you prefer that I come to you, or would you like to come to me?

action!

[waterformybath]

[Howl quietly pokes his head into Francis' room after the feed.]

I did lose my jacket to some wolves, but I wouldn't blame you for that or for anything that happened to us. It's natural to want to rebel against such rulers.

Action as well, sorry it's late.

[paysdelamour]

[Francis shuts the compact, and sighs as Howl too tries to comfort him. But, he changes subjects - he's tired of talking about it and he simply wants to drop it for now.]

Ah la la, at least I have the pattern still, non? [He gives a weak smile.] I still have your measurements too, so I should have it for you in a few days. I hope you can wait until then.

Voice

[bluesteelranger]

[Renne's terrible at this so expect some garbling, chirps and random button-pushing. And please do not kill him. His English is terrible, so his French is alas, minced beyond butchery.]

Hellow? Who is? Is Rrrrenne. Yeu ma-ke big boat? Mahn-sewer, why yeu saownd sad?

Permavideo, it's easier since he was video already XD

[paysdelamour]

[Francis is actually concerned it's his acting up, so he's trying to figure out what happened up until he hears a voice. He strains to listen, but, he is trying to be helpful.

And don't worry, it can't be any worse than America trying to speak French.]

Renne? Where have I heard that name before?

[He thinks for a moment, stroking the scruff on his chin, before he realizes and snaps his fingers.] Ah, you helped build the boat, non? I was making materials, so we did not really see each other, mais...

Well, anyway, I am Francis.

[He does sort of cringe at his use of French. But, if Renne is having such a hard time with English, it is expected.] Non non non, it is not "mahn-sewer", it is "monsieur". "Mon"-"sieur". [He repeats it to help Renne learn it properly.]

I sound sad because... well, I suppose I am sad myself.

[ video ]

[pawsitively]

[Hey now, wait a second, France. This is not okay.]

It's not your fault! No one would have known that would happen.

[She musters up a tiny kitty smile.] And it wasn't all bad.

Permavideo, sorry this reply is so late!

[paysdelamour]

Mais, there were mistakes - foolish mistakes - which I should not have made, Nepeta. And for this, I am sorry. [He frowns.] I really was hoping to leave this island, so we could concentrate on finding a way home for you, and your friends...

... non, I suppose everyone did survive. Still, I put your lives in danger, and for this, I am sorry, Nepeta.

[Video] - sorry it's tl;dr, but then again, it's America...

[ex_unitedstates491]

[Despite that he also looks a little worse for the wear, America's face appears on the screen. It almost looks like he's partly pouting from his annoyed frown.]

Dude! France! Listen up! You totally did what you thought was the right thing, y'know?! If I had known everybody wanted to bust out so bad, I would've done the same thing! Well, maybe make a way awesome plane instead of a boat, but anyway! [He shows a confident smile now and beats his chest with one fist.]

Look on the bright side! That whole fighting thing and getting stuck in some weirdo nightmare really sucked, but guess what, buddy? We're all still in one piece! [He swings his arms out as if to go 'ta-da' with his body. If he's aching anywhere, he ignores it.] See?! Never been better! You can't let one loss keep you from giving up, right?! The best part is you got people thinking about it more! So what if the big guys try and stop us!? We know their dirty tricks now!

Hey! I got an idea! Tell ya what! Let's do something fun and awesome for everybody! That's what I do when I'm feeling down! Like a big grill party at the beach and a fireworks show or something! Yeah! Aw man, if only China was here; he's always got the big stuff! Hell, we can even make one of them pinata dolls shaped like those creepy things that attacked us! Spain's gotta know what I'm talking about, right? Everybody can let off a little steam and relax! Whaddya say? [He's now beaming at how amazing he thinks his idea is.]

:'| 1/2

[paysdelamour]

Amérique, a plane would not work either - at least, not if what "the World" is telling the truth. [He sighs.] The fact of the matter is, it was not the right thing. There were too many things I should have accounted for, and didn't. Because of this, people almost drowned, people were almost killed twice, people were thrown into those horrible nightmares. I almost hurt a lot of friends, Alfred. I should have prepared more than I did, even not knowing what I know now.

[Francis instinctively looks away on the word "nightmares", refusing to look at America. He's not sure how he feels about America seeing the most frightening, most personally miserable, and most devastating time of his life. He felt equal parts humiliated and exposed. France obviously doesn't want to talk about it, or even think about it.]

[therarestgem]

[she looks quite sad to see this message. poor France. she wants to be with him, to give him comfort. she turns on her communicator quickly]

I will not have you speaking like that, France! Out of everypony here, at least you had a solid idea of escaping!

Permavideo, 1/2

[paysdelamour]

[Francis is rather taken aback by her response.]

Rareté...

[video] /o/ forever late! \o\ aww yeah finals all around

[fools_journey]

... I don't think anyone blames you. [ Minato's pretty quiet when he speaks up over the network to France. He had briefly considered going over to the house Francis shares with Howl, but in the end Minato wasn't sure if his company would be welcome or if he even wanted to leave his own house] We were bound to sufficiently antagonize the rulers at some point. If it wasn't a boat, it would have been something else.

[ Pause. ]

... I'll help with repairs and replacements. Just let me know when you want me over there.

Forever the latest, and permavideo

[paysdelamour]

Ah, non, I understand this now... [He sighs, rubbing his arm a little with his other hand.] Mais, it does not... really help the sorrow I feel, mon cher. I should have planned everything more carefully. If I had...

[He pauses too, not sure what else to say.]

Ah, merci beaucoup, Minato. I will certainly need your help. When would you like to?