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

[waterformybath]

Oh, I see... Still, I'll be fine. I don't mind just wearing this shirt and these pants for a while, though if you have spares of something similar to them that would be nice.

[Sophie is helping Francis? Hmm, she told him that she came to work as his cleaning lady... Maybe her talents included needlework too. Huh.]

[paysdelamour]

You and I may look through them some time, if you would like.

[Darn straight she's helping. :| She's quite nice at needlework too.]

[waterformybath]

[He glances at his feet then back up - actually, he really does want something decent to wear but he didn't want to pester Francis about it while the man was feeling despondent.]

Could we look at them now...?

[paysdelamour]

Shouldn't you keep your attention on the stove, Howl?

[He motions to whatever it was that Howl had started cooking.]

[waterformybath]

[Ack, he forgot! He hurriedly turns back to the stove and quickly scoops out the eggs that had been frying in it. They're a little burnt, unfortunately. He turns the stove off while he waves away the smell of burnt egg.]

I don't suppose you want these... [He can make good eggs, he swears! His apprentice Michael could testify...if he were here.]

[paysdelamour]

[He can't help but let out a little laugh, but it's not really at Howl so much at the situation.]

Ah, they are only a little singed around the edges. At least you are not as terrible at cooking as Angleterre. Nom de Dieu, I am sure he could burn water.

[He gratefully takes the plate of eggs, and digs for a knife and fork. He'll just cut the burnt parts off - they still look relatively salvageable.]

[waterformybath]

[Smiling, he searches the cupboards for something else to make that will complement the eggs. Bread? Toast! Yes, he just needs some butter and jam. And-- oh, why not, he'll make some tea. He would make bacon but this is really just a snack, or tea, if you will. An English-y sort of tea.]

[paysdelamour]

[France is going to go ahead and start eating his eggs. Despite looking like they were terribly burnt, they don't seem to taste bad, because France is eating them, after giving them a bit of salt and pepper. though honestly anything is better than England's cooking]

[waterformybath]

[Howl joins Francis at the table with a plate of toast, enough for both of them, and the kettle (after some fiddling) he has managed to put on the boil. Modern contraptions are amazing things, though his eyes keep flicking back to the kettle, still not quite believing that water can boil without being heated up on a stove or fire of some sort.]

When you say 'Angleterre'...

[paysdelamour]

Ah-

[Francis stops his reach for a piece of toast, sort of dumbfounded as to what Howl is asking.]

... ah! Did I say "Angleterre"? Je, erm...

[waterformybath]

[For his part, he looks quizzical when Francis flusters, and he wonders if he shouldn't have asked the question.]

Is...there something wrong? You don't have to answer.

[paysdelamour]

Well... I am not exactly sure what you are asking.

[France did sort of cut him off in his slight panic moment.]

[waterformybath]

Oh, I meant who is he? Is he here on the island?

[paysdelamour]

Angleterre? Ah... he is on the island, oui. In fact... he lives just next door.

[waterformybath]

Angleterre...England?

[paysdelamour]

[He only nods. What else is there to say?]

[waterformybath]

[Howl finds this amusing. If England is meant to represent a country, does that mean all English cooking is terrible?]

I could give him cooking lessons.

[paysdelamour]

It does not work. Believe me, I have tried.

[waterformybath]

Do you know why he's terrible then? If you discover that, then you may at least improve his cooking.

[paysdelamour]

Perhaps because he does not like to follow my advice? He has always fought with me, since we were children.

[waterformybath]

[That makes Howl pause - Francis and England were once children together? England can't have been a child for centuries. He'd thought that Francis was a normal person like himself. But then, the countries he's met so far have all appeared to be normal people, so why not France (or Francis, as the man had introduced himself).

Assuming that there must be a reason for the different name, he mentally shrugs and puts the matter to one side.]

In that case, he won't mind following the advice of someone other than yourself, right? It might be worth a try if he agrees.

[paysdelamour]

[Francis has found it much easier to introduce himself as Francis Bonnefoy, which he never changes, rather than the French Republic, which has been changed by his people into five different republics as well as two separate empires and three separate kingdoms. And honestly, it's much easier to explain he's a mortal here, where he actually has lost his immortality. If Howl were to ask, this would be the answer Francis gave.

Francis can't help the small laugh that escapes, though he at least tries to cover it with his hand.] Ah! He'll be so angry that I've been gossiping about him. I doubt he will, mais, it is worth a try.

[waterformybath]

I'll ask him the next time I see him then. And I'll try not to mention you.

[With a small grin, Howl takes another bite of his toast. England practically adopted him as a citizen, so surely a bit of help from him wouldn't go unheard? Well, he would see. If the chance ever arose.]

[paysdelamour]

If you want him to have a chance of agreeing, it may be best for you not to mention me, cher. Mais, it is your choice. If you wish to ask, then ask.