The view from the bell tower was more breathtaking without the television screen in between one's eyes. Not only that, but apparently, they were lucky enough to arrive in the middle of the sunrise. Though they faced the opposite direction than the scene with Esmeralda, it just provided them with yet another beautiful, golden scene. Nathalie almost dropped her loaf of bread, only to stumble and gather it up in her arms in the last second.

"Wow," She said, reverence in her voice. "You've seen this masterpiece every day?"

"Yes," He said, smiling a little sadly. "Since I can remember…"

Nathalie inwardly flinched. Oh yeah, just remind him that he's been imprisoned here since forever, why don't you?

She coughed into her hand. "That's an amazing view of this city… It's almost tempting me to live here."

Though there was the whole 'job' thing she had back home. As well as the necessities such as plumbing, civil rights, modern medicine, and whatnot. It may be a Disney-based place, but there were still some things that the 15th century just couldn't provide.

"Is… Is Paris very different from your homeland?" Quasi asked tentatively, trying not to let on how curious he was.

"Well, yeah. Let's just say…" Nathalie struggled to find the words. "Back at my hometown, there are a few less people, and a lot more trees and huge, grassy fields. The air tastes different, and there's a little less noise. The sun shines a lot, there are birds singing, flowers everywhere. All the nature around - you feel like you belong, everything feels peaceful, and alive." Also, technology, junk food and plumbing. Those were the main things. Discreetly, Nathalie turned to check if Quasi had lost interest, and instead saw him staring straight ahead, as if trying to picture it.

Nathalie felt uncomfortable going on about it. She knew the guy was curious, but she felt as though she was bragging, honestly. Why go on about places that the poor guy thinks he'll never see?

Quasimodo's expression was wistful. "Is it far away?" He asked, sounding strangely mystified and… Sad.

She bit her lip. "It's a bit of a journey, in the East."

It felt like the worst possible sin to lie to such a sweet person, though wasn't a lie, technically. She was indeed from the East – East of Paris, that was, all the way East to the French country town of Pont-à-Mousson. It was a 3-hour's drive, really, but that was big by historical standards, right? Besides, she had spent around 47 euros on fuel, not counting the road tolls, and that was far too expensive for her liking.

The man's eyes were fixed on the horizon. "Then… When your home is a place like that, why travel here?"

Nathalie blinked, not expecting the question. "Well, I came here to find someone. You see, I'm half Parisian, and was abandoned as a baby. I want to find my family somewhere here in Paris. It's a long shot, and my chances don't look good, but… Yeah."

Besides, archives and paperwork made such a task easier in the 21st century.

"You were abandoned?" He asked, frowning. "How can it be, when you mentioned a brother?"

"Adopted brother," She said solemnly. "His father – my adopted father, took me in when I was thirteen, and I became a part of his family. I don't know about my real father, but I heard that my mother might be in Paris. So, I thought it might be smart to find her. To find out… Why."

Quasimodo looked down dismally at his own breakfast. "Oh. I was abandoned, too."

Nathalie smiled sadly at him. "So, that's one thing we have in common."

"Maybe," He said, almost bitterly, giving a little laugh to cover it up. "I know exactly why I was abandoned."

The Asian girl winced. Oh great. "You know for sure, huh?" She asked noncommittally.

"Well look at me," He said lightly – too lightly for such a depressing subject. "I wouldn't exactly blame my mother. I'm a monster, you know."

Well, time to get her debate hat on. Like hell she'd let this guy talk about himself like that. "Is that fact, or what you've been told?"

"Of course it's true." He said, looking up at her like she had grown two heads.

"That's what your master has told you?"

"…Yes."

"And absolutely no one has told you otherwise? No one at all?"

"Well… Th-there was… Esmeralda."

"Ah yes, the finest girl in all of France, and quite possibly the most saint-like. Also, romani. Your master says terrible things about her and her people. But he isn't right about those things, is he?"

"Esmeralda is kind. She's good," He murmured, almost to himself.

"Exactly! Jeez, and still, your master has gone and said otherwise. I wonder how many other things he has said that might be wrong? Think about it." Nathalie gave him a meaningful look.

Quasimodo couldn't meet her eyes.

"…He might be wrong about way more than just the 'monster thing'," Nathalie said quietly, and almost proceeded to punch herself there and then.

What a stupid move! 'Oh hi, Quasimodo! Can I barge into your home, eat your food, and basically make an ass of myself? Oh, and your entire life may or may not be a complete lie!'

She really couldn't think straight in the mornings.

The man visibly shuddered and closed his eyes, gripping his loaf of bread. "C-can you please stop talking like that? Please?"

Nathalie had gone way too far. Way, way too far. She was aiming for the metaphorical soccer goal and ended up kicking the metaphorical ball right into the metaphorical commentary booth, probably hitting a metaphorical hit radio announcer right in his metaphorical crotch.

Nathalie had neither the angelic presence nor the tact of Esmeralda, and unlike the Roma lady, wasn't close enough to Quasi to push him that hard.

"I'm sorry," She said, feeling tempted to throw herself off the bell tower there and then for overstepping her boundaries. "That was too personal. I'm so, so sorry."

The man beside her took a deep breath. "It's alright. Just…"

"How am I supposed to believe these things when everything I've been taught says otherwise? Even my name means 'half-formed'." He said, quietly.

Nathalie was going to say that Frollo was the one that called him that, but stopped herself. It was useless to push the 'wake up and smell Frollo's douchebaggery' card if it upset him that much.

"Isn't that a Christian holiday?" She asked, looking thoughtful.

Quasimodo paused, confused. "What?"

"Quasimodo. That's like - isn't it … Quasimodo Sunday, or something? Is it a holiday? Or… Eh, I don't have extensive knowledge of Christian traditions, but I'm pretty sure that's a thing in the Church."

Well, according to Victor Hugo's book, anyway, and Wikipedia. She may or may not have done research about it when she was a teenager, and was at that time interested in the book more than the movie.

"I… Yes?" He said, though it sounded more like a question.

"Then that's another thing we have in common – our names!" The Asian girl declared cheerfully.

There was a silence, in which Quasimodo stared at her in confusion, waiting for her to clarify.

"See, my name's Nathalie – I was named after the day I was… er… given up," She said, sheepishly, before brightening again. "You know, natale domini – Christmas Day!"

Nathalie crossed her arms, and nodded sagely, a grin on her face as she stated her conclusion. "Both of our names mean something in the Christian calendar."

It was then that Quasimodo smiled a big, genuine smile, and everything in Nathalie's world seemed to be a bit brighter.

A/N: So, newbornphanatic, if you like dialogue, then here's a whole chunk of it, haha.

This was originally part of the other chapter, but it went on for longer than I intended, so whoops! At least there was more interaction between these two. I'm itching to try some romance, but Quasi has to get over his romantic feelings towards Esme first. (Poor Quasi... *cough*butPhoebusreallyismadeforEsmeraldaandtheyar eadorabletogether*cough*.)

Also, I have a little headcanon that Quasi has brilliant memory when it comes to remembering the things people say. Years of walking on eggshells with Frollo as a caretaker means that the guy grew up mentally filing away little things Frollo has said, and uses it to avoid upsetting his master. You know, remembering things that would set Frollo off, or things that would distract him. It's a survival mechanism. Hence, he remembered stuff that Nathalie said offhandedly in a conversation they had the other night.

Anyway, sorry for rambling, and thanks for the reviews! You guys are amazing. uvu