Several days had passed since they'd said their final goodbye to the freed slaves and by Noé's estimation they didn't feel like they were even remotely nearer Paris. Unfortunately, they hadn't brought any of the horses; neither Noé nor Vanitas knew how to ride one and it had seemed more prudent to allow the rest of the group use them for their own journey. They would need all the help they could get. Vanitas had been hesitant about leaving the horses and had sulked for a while afterwards, but he'd largely overcome it since. The one thing he and Vanitas had been in complete agreement on was that they would take the bulk of the slaver's money. The rest of the freed slaves had agreed; they were only leaving for a short journey to Lyon while Noé and Vanitas were headed all the way for Paris. Yes, they would certainly need money at some point. It wasn't as much as Vanitas had hoped, but it would tide them over.
At any rate, their journey was taking ages. As far as Noé could tell they weren't following any path that he could make out; it appeared to be nothing but an endless expanse of wilderness. If they had intended to go camping he would have found it lovely but after the storm the soil was still soggy and his feet kept landing in puddles and he was more than ready to find some real shelter; sleeping outdoors was downright unpleasant.
"Are you quite sure you're going the right way?" Noé asked once again. Vanitas claimed they were headed directly for Paris, but Noé had some reservations on how accurate his sense of direction was.
Vanitas let out an audible groan of irritation. "We've been over this. It's going to take time. We weren't exactly close to Paris to begin with, you know."
"I realize that," Noé said calmly, "but it would still be nice to have some sort of estimate. About how close do you think we are?"
Vanitas considered that momentarily as he studied the length of the shadows before them and the angle of the sun in the sky. Noé waited patiently as he did so, carefully dodging a few wayward roots as they continued.
"I suppose another day or two should do it," Vanitas finally said.
"We should be able to manage that then," Noé said with no small amount of relief. "It will be nice to have a warm bath."
"What makes you think we'll be lucky enough to manage that?" Vanitas said with a laugh.
"Well…" He stopped midsentence and realized he had no idea how they were supposed to find lodging. Their funds would cover food, but board? Unlikely. "I suppose we'll need to get work. But we'll need to be presentable for that as well… I suppose we could bathe in the river." There was, in fact, a river not far from where they were; the slavers had made sure to travel near one as a matter of practicality and Vanitas had continued to follow the same one.
"An icy cold river bath. Sounds marvelous. You know, we're already soaked as it is; how is a bath going to help?"
"We'll smell better for one," Noé said, ducking under a particularly low oak branch. "And that would make me happier at least."
Vanitas glowered but didn't say anything to defend himself. They both knew it was true; it wasn't a judgment so much as a statement of fact.
"Fine," he muttered. "We can take a break for a bath if you're so hung up on it."
"Thank you," Noé said simply. It was easier to get his way with Vanitas if he didn't push too much he'd found.
The shoreline was marked by several willow trees, oaks, and a few elms; the river forked off into a deep pond covered in water lilies. The air smelled of greenery and life and if they weren't in such dire straits, this would be an absolutely magical adventure.
Noé hung his clothes on a low branch before carefully dipping himself in the pond. It felt strange and a little unsafe, but he supposed that was simply because he was unused to it. It was also positively freezing as Vanitas had said it would be.
Speaking of Vanitas, he hadn't yet undressed fully. He'd taken his shoes off and had dipped his toe into the water before withdrawing it with a frown.
"You get used to it after awhile," Noé offered.
"There are probably tadpoles or something equally disgusting in there," he frowned. "How can you stand it?"
"All of that is true," Noé admitted. "But the flowers smell nice. Come on, you may as well."
Tentatively he began to unbutton his shirt. When he saw Noé watching him with overt curiosity he flushed red and exclaimed, "Don't look so closely!"
"Oh, sorry…" Noé turned away. They were about to bathe together; he wasn't sure it really mattered if he saw Vanitas undress or not and they were both men anyway. Maybe Vanitas had some scars he was embarrassed about.
That thought immediately made him feel sorrowful because he realized how true it might be. Vanitas had been with the slavers for much longer; what if they had done something horrible to him?
Despite Vanitas's initial embarrassment, he settled near Noé with a hiss at the cold and without any apparent shame. Noé carefully kept his eyes clear of him until Vanitas apparently had had enough, poking him hard in the shoulder.
"What was that for?" Noé asked, annoyed as he rubbed the ache away.
"I didn't mean you can't look at me at all," Vanitas explained in irritation. "I just mean I don't want you looking at me like I'm some kind of puzzle."
Noé had no idea what that even meant, but he simply nodded before allowing his eyes to take in Vanitas's appearance. He could make out the mark of possession, glowing slightly under the water, as well as a scar on his opposing arm that was jagged and cruel looking. It was old, though, so it couldn't have been from the slavers. He didn't stare at it for too long, wary of upsetting him once more.
"Bedraggled" was probably apt enough for both of them, he supposed, but he felt as though Vanitas was going to have a harder time clearing away the grime on account of how long his hair was.
"I wish we had soap," Noé sighed.
"So do I," Vanitas admitted. He suddenly dipped himself entirely under the water and began scrubbing hard at his scalp. Noé figured it was a good enough method, held his breath, and followed suit. The water was surprisingly clear; he could make out rocks and lily pads and, yes, the occasional fish, but it was otherwise clear of anything nefarious. Vanitas's concerns were unwarranted.
When he emerged, he felt much fresher and he took a deep breath of relief. "This is much better," he announced.
"If you say so," Vanitas mumbled. He had emerged right into some lily pads and he was eyeing one that had stuck itself to his head with utter disdain. Noé couldn't help it; he let out a loud laugh.
His laughter came to a quick halt when Vanitas flung it directly at his face with unnerving accuracy.
"Hey!" he sputtered.
Vanitas bore a mischievous grin. "You look good with flowers in your hair," he announced.
Noé stared down at the lily pad in consternation. He supposed the flower upon it was lovely, but…
"There is something that concerns me," Vanitas continued without preamble, shaking Noé out of his musings.
"Hm?"
"This is an odd location," he explained. "Very memorable."
"I suppose so," Noé admitted. He was trying to decide if he wanted the flower to remain in his hair or not.
"I don't mean that we'll remember it later," Vanitas was looking at their surroundings with something approaching melancholy now. "I mean that I think I remember it. We're quite close to Paris if so."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Noé asked hesitantly, finally setting the lily pad aside. "We need to reach Paris after all."
"I wonder if we should have just gone to Lyon. We could have gotten transportation there," he sighed. He sunk lower into the pond until it went right to his chin; he was the very picture of petulant destitution.
"That's what I said at the time," Noé reminded exasperatedly. "You said it was a bad idea. Why was that anyway?"
"Well, for one we'd have to spend money on that transportation, no doubt," Vanitas mumbled. "But mostly… if we did that, we'd be known."
"Won't we be known in Paris as well?"
"Not like that," Vanitas explained. "If we'd gone to Lyon with them, we'd be legends. You singlehandedly took out an entire slave ring." There was mild aw in his tone. "They're going to spread the word regardless, but it's best if they don't see they physical proof."
"I see…"
"Furthermore, the more people who are involved with us, the more people we have to wonder about. They're tangentially related to our affairs. That's dangerous."
"Don't you think that's a little paranoid?" Noé pointed out carefully. "We can't avoid people forever."
"If only we could," Vanitas said contemplatively. "It would make life a good deal easier."
And a great deal lonelier, he left unsaid.
Vanitas's eyes slid over to him, tracing him carefully in the sunlight. Noé had a feeling this was the exact behavior he'd told Noé not to do, but he didn't mind the scrutiny, so he let it go.
"How's your eye?" he finally asked, his tone oddly gentle.
"It still hurts," Noé admitted. Dunking in the water had certainly stung briefly. "But I think it's healing." He could open it without any trouble now and the red around it had gone, though it was still a little puffy.
"It's healing swiftly," Vanitas noted. "But I could make out that much for myself. I meant… what can you see?"
In that regard, progress wasn't going well. "Not much," Noé admitted softly. "Just … movement, I suppose."
"Movement?"
"It's like everything is made of shadow. Hazy, no detail. Things only stand out if they move."
"Almost complete blindness," Vanitas muttered to himself. "I had hoped you would recover your sight as well with how quickly the rest of it was healing."
"I suppose even vampires can suffer permanent injury," Noé mused. "I hadn't realized even this much would recover."
The sadness in Vanitas's eyes left him feeling uncomfortable; he wasn't trying to be some kind of martyr. He was simply trying to accept the way things were now and if he only had one fully functioning eye, well, better than none at all, he figured.
"Noé," he began softly. "I think..." He paused.
"What's wrong?"
"She's not gone, you know," he finally finished, his gaze fixed on one of the lilies. "The vampire I was traveling with, Vanitas."
What an odd and frankly alarming admittance. "You said you killed her," he reminded apprehensively. "Is there something else to it?"
Vanitas nodded reluctantly. "You might remember I said I killed her as much as something like that can be killed. This place… I think I may have dragged you into something you had no business being involved in."
"It's much too late to change that now," Noé pointed out. "You asked me to come and I wanted to come. I've decided I'm staying at your side."
"Mm," Vanitas looked away, seeming softer than he usually did. "I suppose you have."
They finished their bath shortly after that and dried themselves as best they could (not an easy feat all things considered) and got dressed. Their clothes were markedly drier now that they'd had time to simply hang.
They took off after, and Noé wondered about what this area had been like when Vanitas had been here last, and what had caused his sudden melancholy. And how could someone be killed, yet not entirely dead? He wanted to ask, but was it all right to? Vanitas had so many boundaries, most of which Noé was still learning. Furthermore, whatever had happened between him and the other Vanitas had taken a toll on him that much Noé could tell.
The following days went by much as the previous had until they finally reached their destination. Noé all but wept with relief; his feet hurt and he wanted desperately to lie down in a proper bed.
Vanitas's reaction to Paris was decidedly humdrum in contrast, though he'd been quite amused by Noé's awe. "Welcome to the city of flowers," he'd said with a wry grin.
"There's so much here!" Noé exclaimed. "Vanitas, there are so many people!"
"Yes," he answered bemusedly. "You really haven't stepped foot out of that human village of yours, have you?"
"Never," Noé exclaimed as he allowed himself to survey the marvels that surrounded him. Flower shops, bakeries, mimes, there was so much he thought his eyes might pop right out of his head from the sheer excitement of it all.
He may have gotten a little carried away; there was so much to see and his foots kept taking him towards the excitement rather than wherever Vanitas was trying to lead him.
"As glad as I am to see you having fun, we really need to find someplace to stay," Vanitas pointed out wryly after having to drag him away from yet another shop. "Window shopping must surely lose its appeal at some point," he continued as Noé stared longingly at the fine suits.
"I've never cared much about clothes," Noé admitted. "But I would like a spare set right about now."
"We just need a launders," Vanitas sighed. "Now focus up: what skills have you got? We need to find some manner of employment."
"Mm, I baked sometimes," Noé said musingly. "And I helped with blacksmithing."
"Those aren't even remotely similar," Vanitas said in confusion.
"I just did whatever the Bonhommes needed," he admitted.
"So, you're a handyman," Vanitas mused.
"I guess so."
"Well, that's certainly better than no skills," Vanitas smiled.
"What about you?" Noé asked curiously.
"Me? I can cook."
Noé had seen that much from their travels. Considering they'd been working with pretty much nothing, Noé thought his dishes (if they could be called that) had turned out pretty good.
"I'm also extremely good at theft."
That took a couple of seconds to sink in, but when it did Noé exclaimed, "That isn't a job!"
"Oh, isn't it?" he said with a wicked grin before dangling a few wallets before him. "I'd say my skills have saved us a significant amount of time."
"Vanitas!" he wailed, panicking. "We must return those! What if the constables—"
"Relax," Vanitas sighed. "I've never been caught once and the people I swiped these off of are extremely affluent. They'll be annoyed, not on the brink of poverty. Besides, do you want to sleep on the street or in a hotel?"
Noé tripped over his words, feeling quite certain Vanitas was manipulating him, before admitting, petulantly, "A hotel."
"Exactly, and why shouldn't you? You're a great hero, after all," he continued teasingly. "And heroes deserve good beds. Now come on!"
Noé trod after him, sulking, and wondered why he'd even bothered to ask about his own skill set if he was just going to go around stealing anyway. Maybe he was hoping I could help, he considered. Well, Noé would still rather get a more honest job if at all possible. He wasn't sure how long they would be staying in Paris, but more money could only be helpful both in the short term and the long. He'd rather not rely on Vanitas to find appropriate victims as well.
The hotel Vanitas ultimately chose was a rundown little place that promised room and board and very little besides. Certainly not comfort, as far as Noé could see. It was on the outskirts of the city, and Noé had a sneaking suspicion that was why Vanitas had chosen it. Furthermore, he'd struck of a deal with the owner that Noé would help him with his side business of making horseshoes.
"Voila!" he announced when the door closed behind them. "A roof over our heads, some food, and you have a job."
"You're very industrious," Noé stated glumly. "But why am I the only one helping with the horseshoes?"
Vanitas gave him a look. "Because I'll be finding money my own way."
When it looked like Noé was going to object, he continued, "Also, one of us needs to situate himself into the underworld. That means dhampirs, information, sleuthing. Unless I'm gravely mistaken, I don't believe you have those skills."
Noé didn't even know what a dhampir was, so he supposed Vanitas was right, but he still felt incredibly put out. "I want to help," he said, finally taking a seat on the singular, large ratty bed. He supposed it wasn't that bad, but surely they could have afforded something a little nicer.
At that, Vanitas almost appeared fond. "You are helping. I might be the one to handle the initial connections, but you're going to come along eventually; don't worry about that."
Noé nodded, accepting that for now, Vanitas was the expert on these matters. "But why this place?" he finally couldn't help but ask. "It's so…"
"Awful?" Vanitas offered with an amused twinkle in his eye. "Yes, it is, but do you know what this kind of place won't do?"
Noé did not know.
"It won't rat us out. This place is cheap, and clearly aimed at those questionable members of society that need a little privacy. Well, that's us, wouldn't you say?"
"I wouldn't, actually." Noé did not feel like a nefarious member of society.
"You're a vampire," Vanitas pointed out bluntly, "and I've been marked by one. We just escaped some slavers and we're looking for a legendary book. We are nefarious in most humans' eyes by these standards."
"Oh." At least Vanitas hadn't felt the need to point out what had happened to the slavers. They may have been vile people, but Noé knew that taking a life was wrong and… he was no hero, regardless of what Vanitas said.
"When do I start?" Noé finally asked as he flopped on the bed.
"Tomorrow morning. It's only a few hours; you'll do fine."
Noé nodded tiredly. At least he was lying down on something soft; he had to admit that it felt exquisite. "When will you start making your … connections?"
"In a few days' time. I have to scope out the dhampirs in question and refamiliarize myself with the city."
"You keep mentioning dhampirs," Noé said, turning over to face him. "What are they?"
"Right, I keep forgetting." Vanitas lied down next to him, crossing his arms under his head. "They're half breeds," he said bluntly. "The product of a union between human and vampire, held in disregard by both groups. They generally stick with each other and work as information brokers, a bit like a gang, I suppose, although they like to see themselves as an organization."
Noé hadn't ever thought of a human and a vampire having a child, but he supposed there wasn't any reason they couldn't. This bit about them being outcasts sat uneasily with him, though. Once again, he was discovering there was far more bigotry in the world than he'd been raised to believe.
"Why do they work as information brokers?"
"Ah, that part is simple," Vanitas said nonchalantly. "They're unwanted, outcasts, all of that. They're also a fairly large group. As such, they all but rule the underworld, which means they have easy access to information. Lots of people are willing to pay a great sum of cash for that information."
"I see."
"While you're working tomorrow, I'm going to fetch us those new clothes you were so keen on."
Noé wisely decided he wasn't going to ask how Vanitas was going to acquire these clothes.
"I'll just need your measurements." He waved a measuring tape in front of him. Noé had no idea where he'd gotten it. Regardless, it took him no time at all to wrap it about his arms, waist, and everywhere else. Noé had never felt so much like a doll about to play dress up.
"That should do it," he mumbled with a yawn. "I'll have it taken care of tomorrow. Be up by 6:00 and talk to the clerk and he should have your directions."
"So early," Noé moaned before turning on his side, burying his face in an old pillow.
"Hm." Vanitas sounded amused as he settled next to him. Noé wasn't even surprised this time when he wrapped his arms about him and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Don't complain so much; by all accounts, I should be the one who's unhappy."
"Because of your book?"
"I should think so."
"You don't have to get up at 6:00."
Vanitas snorted at that before letting him go, rolling onto his back. "I doubt I'll be sleeping much."
It was true that Noé hadn't observed him getting all that much rest. It was actually somewhat worrying, but he'd had so much else on his mind he hadn't thought to bring it up.
"What's keeping you up?" he asked, turning to face him.
"Mm, nothing much," he lied easily. Noé frowned. "Don't look like that," he sighed. "I'll try, all right?"
Noé gave a stern nod. Then he stretched out, allowing himself to finally relax completely. Well, this was to be their room from now on, and things were certainly more situated than they were before. Maybe some good would come of this after all, even if Noé had some concerns about Vanitas's plans. It seemed to involve a lot of underhandedness that Noé had never once contemplated in his life, but he could allow for the fact that he had never lived in a city. Perhaps this was the norm.
Still, even with his reservations, he was very excited to be in Paris, to have Vanitas at his side, and a new job that would provide some structure, if only for a time. With luck, it wouldn't be long before he was helping Vanitas with the search more directly, and he'd be one step closer to understanding who The Shapeless One was and why he'd been taken away by slavers to begin with.
Author's Notes: They're a little more situated, so now we can begin getting into the underworld and all kinds of new drama. :D
