renard-julien

[renard-julien]

@evelyne-mercier

The city had always sat precariously atop a knife's edge, and the French had known it from the very beginning. Sharing with the Rutherfords was all well and good in theory. Until they eventually realised they didn't want to play nice anymore. And of course, that had been exactly what'd happened, and things had swiftly spiralled out of control since. Now it seemed like the least of their problems.

Because none of them had expected this.

When the bleak news of what'd unfolded reached Paris, his first thought had been the wellbeing of his ex-wife. His best friend was a damn close second, though. Even now. In the grand scheme of things, Julien knew he'd lost comparatively little to some, but as he glanced at the woman sat beside him, it hit home how easily that could change. How the distance made the burden of his concerns a lot fucking heavier now than it had done a few months prior.

"I assume asking you to come back to Paris with me on a permanent basis is a wasted effort?" No doubt. "Well, I'm doing it anyway."

[renard-julien]

There was nothing he could say to that, because Delphine was right. Four children were without a mother who adored them, and that was a tragedy far beyond the limited scope of losing a leader. It still didn't aid his concerns as a Commandant, though. The concern that if she stayed, they would be without any leadership at all soon enough. Oliver had run the criminal side of the empire with an iron fist, and the man he'd known almost two decades had done an impeccable job, but losing the love of one's life so permanently he could hardly imagine. Whether he could ever come back from it at all, only time would tell.

At least his would be home and safe soon enough. Aurélie wouldn't be.

"We have more than enough to spare. It's yours."

The city was a safe haven that none dared challenge. Even now, he knew the Russians would be so busy on the defence just to stay alive, offence was off the cards. They could afford the bare minimum there for now.

"I'll be going back to Paris once my children have their mother home, but Jeanne will join you. And so will her people."

A certifiable army of ex-GIGN.

"You need anything, you call me, all right?"

The only thing giving away that she wasn’t a marble sculpture, was the man speaking to her. Delphine stood pale, unmoving, unbliking, serene, expression devoid of any emotion, face devoid of any sign of life. There was no harder blow that could’ve been delivered to the French Organisation. She was it. Whether they’d survive this or completely unravel - which Delphine had no intention of letting happen - one thing was for sure, the French Organisation as they all knew was dead, along with her cousin. What had emerged through the night was something far more violent and darker. Delphine and Aurélie saw eye-to-eye on almost everything, except Delphine possessed very little of Aurélie’s consideration for human life.

“And she should be home, putting her kids to bed, but things don’t always happen the way they should,” it wasn’t a snap at Julien, more of a bitter outburst of still wrapping her head around the loss. Truthfully, she was appreciative of his presence. An important piece of home, probably unbeknowns to him, he provided a sense of comfort an safety - the way Paris made her feel. “I know the risks of staying, but I can’t leave. Not what I am needed the most, Julien.”

Truthfully, Delphine was afraid, but she didn’t have the luxury to let it show.

“We won’t have time to focus on the business now, I’m going to need to ask you if we can spare some of the funds to fuel our London operation. if we don’t go full force at this, I’m afraid our other enemies might start to get the wrong idea”. She was stating out loud what she was sure Jalien already knew and agreed with, still, it was nice to to have him in the same room to talk.

“...I’m glad Laure’s okay,” Delphine attempted a small smile.

[renard-julien]

For: @delphine-st-clair Dated: April 3rd, 2023.

None of them had spoken to Oliver, because he didn't want to be found.

Julien could hardly blame him for that.

If losing his wife proved to push him to the point of incapacitated, however, then it would be the woman sat before him who would have to step up to the plate in the absence of a leader. Perhaps permanently, if the cards happened to line up that way. A conversation for another day, though, undoubtedly...

Paris needed strong leadership in moments like these, but when he'd heard Laure had been injured, albeit minor when compared to some, he'd made the short journey to London without hesitation. Partly to be with his children whilst their mother was recovering. Partly because not one of them could begin to comprehend the implications this would have moving forward, and he was not about to leave them to fend for themselves. Particularly not Delphine.

Not only had the Organization just been dealt a blow bigger than anything it had suffered since its inception, she had lost family.

The last St. Clair in the business. It was a thought suffocating to all of them, and yet he could scarcely imagine how much it must've struck her.

"You should be in Paris. You're not safe here."