INBOX;

[interviewee]

This is Louis de Pointe du Lac. Leave a message.

Comments

text; un:a.bridgerton

[meetatdawn]

M. de Pointe du Lac,

If you are not otherwise engaged on Christmas Eve, my sister is holding a Christmas ball, and it would be lovely to see you again. We have recently obtained a nicer house, and there will be plenty of dancing.

Warmly,
Anthony Bridgerton

text; un: interview

[interviewee]

Anthony,

I would be delighted to join you on Christmas Eve. If I may be bold to ask, may I bring a plus one? He’s missed dancing a great deal.

Yours,
Louis de Pointe du Lac

[meetatdawn]

M. de Pointe du Lac,

Of course. The Ball is open to everyone. I wrote to ensure you would you would feel personally welcome, but you may bring whoever you wish.

Sincerely,
Anthony

[ look maybe louis needs a personal invitation!!! he doesn't know how vampires work. ]

[interviewee]

[It’s cute and Louis loves that he got a personal invitation.]


Anthony,

I thank you for the personal invitation. I am flattered that you would think of me specifically. I hope you might save a dance for me.

Yours,
Louis de Pointe de Lac

[meetatdawn]

M. de Pointe du Lac,

I certainly will, and I look forward to your attendance.

Yours,
Anthony

Christmas Eve Delivery

[cryfrustration]

[Louis receives a present delivered to his room in the Down Public Housing.

The gift contains one of the following (your choice or at random):
• a couple pairs of warm winter socks,
• mittens (fleece-lined wool),
• a knitted bobble hat,
• a small tropical peppermint cake (homemade from a Tyrian recipe--peppermint roll cake with mango compote), or
• some peppermint omnomberry bars (likewise homemade; in the absence of real omnomberries, he's substituted lingonberry and redcurrant).

The hats, mittens, and socks are not homemade but store bought and in a variety of colours and patterns--your choice!

For an optional encounter with the giver, go here.]

Christmas Gift

[wantingmore]

[At some point after finding her gifts, Claudia will either flag Louis down or else leave the small wrapped box at his door (assuming he still lives in Public Housing and is easy enough to find that way). Inside is an expensive-looking pocket watch and chain. On the back is engraved a message: For every precious moment. She's also included a note that reads The time that we have here together is all the gift I could ask for, and I cherish it with my whole heart. Love always, Claudia.]

voicemail

[interviewee]

Thank you, Claudia. The gift is beautiful and your wishes are mine as well. Let's have dinner some time, just the two of us.

christmas gifts!

[sheening]

[ on christmas eve day, daphne has an arrangment of pink roses sent to louis' room, as well as a small wrapped package. inside is a single hand embroidered white handkerchief with a pattern of fleur-de-lis at its corner.

a simple card attached reads, Happy Christmas, Monsieur Louis. I do not know a grand deal about France yet, but I have learned that this symbol is important there? I hope it finds you well. I am glad you have met my family and I. Yours, Daphne Basset ]

Letter Delivered to Bridgerton-Basset house

[interviewee]

Daphne,

You're correct. The Fleur de Lis is important both in France and New Orleans. I deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and considerable craft. The handkerchief is beautiful. And the roses are a welcome spot of color in my room.

Thank you,
Louis

Voicemail (1/3)

[unwillingdevil]

[Louis' has only been gone for a mere few minutes when the first message arrives. It's fairly obvious from Lestat's tone of voice that he's been crying.]

Louis, come home. Please. I did not hide this from you to hurt you. I wanted you to be happy in this place, with a home and a business you wanted.

Voicemail (2/3)

[unwillingdevil]

[The second voicemail comes several minutes later, when it's clear Louis is intending to stay away. Lestat's voice is still ragged.]

Louis, I am sorry that this has distressed you. Truly, I am. I did not wish to cause you upset with this. Please just come home.

Voicemail (3/3)

[unwillingdevil]

[The third comes after about an hour, when it's blatantly apparent Louis is not coming home anytime soon.]

You tell me to share myself with you, Louis, and when I do, you run. You ask for my honesty and then you hate me for what you hear. And you leave me for it, yet again.

Am I truly the only dishonest one of the two of us, mon mari?

[interviewee]

[Louis tells himself not to respond. He almost calls back after the second, but he's determined to hold fast.

After the third, he can't help himself.

Ring ring!]

[unwillingdevil]

[Lestat’s mind is fuzzy. He doesn’t entirely remember his day before the current moment, and he can see the dried tracks of tears down his face. But he doesn’t recall why he might have wept, and otherwise all seems normal — and then Louis is calling, and he puts those thoughts aside. Best to answer and then figure the rest out.]

Allo?

[interviewee]

[Louis is surprised, to say the least, by the casual greeting. Something is off, something is wrong.]

You called. [His voice is stiff.]

[unwillingdevil]

[There’s a long beat as Lestat tries to sort out what’s happening. He can tell from Louis’ tone that he is angry, but he remembers nothing and has no context to work with.]

…and what did I say?

[interviewee]

Where do I start?

[Louis tries to swallow down some of the anger roiling in his gut.]

That you'd rather whore yourself out? That you bled out in New Orleans for me? That I don't want to hear your honesty?

voice; un: Lestat

[unwillingdevil]

[Hey Louis you're gonna get this voice memo entirely devoid of context, while Lestat is actively spinning out in horrified realization.]

She was FIVE. FIVE?!

voice; call

[interviewee]

[Louis has no idea what this is about, so Louis calls back without a moment's hesitation.]

What?

voice; call

[unwillingdevil]

[Lestat is still spiraling a bit even when he answers, but he can focus enough to clarify a little bit.]

Claudia! Claudia was five years old! FIVE?!

[interviewee]

No she wasn't. [Louis is shaking his head on his end.] She was fourteen.

[Which is honestly on them, on Louis's desperation, but he's not saying that out loud right now.]

[unwillingdevil]

No, not -- not your Claudia.

[Your Claudia, our Claudia. That clarification sobers him up a little bit, even while his thoughts are still whirling.]

The Claudia here. The one in this city.

[interviewee]

[Louis tries to follow the train of thought but can't quite figure out what's being said.]

What about the Claudia here?

[And then he realizes,] She was five?

[unwillingdevil]

She was! She was five years old!

[He's sincerely trying to make sense, but this has truly frazzled him in a way that most things can't. It's all the guilt and regret and wistfulness of his knowledge of Claudia with a sledgehammer hit thrown in.]

On her Finder, she said it. There's an image of her there.