making plans

[heartbeneathastone]

An ordinary Milliways afternoon, drifting on into evening: Marius is sitting in his room, only half attending to the book he has in his hand. His gaze drifts to the snow falling outside-- it's so very picturesque, the way snow in Paris can only be in the earliest hours of the morning, before the bustle of the day tramples it into slush and mud.

Though it can be difficult to tell the shades of difference between Marius's various states of dreamy distractibility-- especially these days, especially since his recovery-- he would confess, if asked, to a sort of restlessness lately, though he would also insist he has no idea why. (Certainly disrupted attempts at spying and ghostly visitations could not have anything to do with it, no, certainly not.)

He tosses his book aside and rises to get a better look out the window, and tells himself that in another minute, he will go find Cosette.

Comments

[lark_in_flight]

No, he hasn't, has he? He didn't live with his grandfather for years before. And they were estranged, and -- and of course it's good that they get along now, it's horrible for family to fight, it's horrible to not talk, but there are so many things Cosette doesn't entirely understand, and doesn't quite like to ask about.

She looks out at the snow, biting her lip unconsciously, and tries to find something that she wants to say.

Grandfather Gillenormand does love parties. He loved arranging their wedding. And that was lovely, because it was their wedding, she married her dear Marius that day, and everything was heaven. But she doesn't know what a Christmas party of his might be, not really. She has a hazy image: candlelight, oysters and pâté, wine, laughing strangers.

"I've never been to a Christmas party," she says, a little at random, leaning against her husband's warm strong shoulder. "Not a proper party, a big one."

Will she like one? Of course she must. It's Christmas, and parties are joyful occasions, she knows that.

[heartbeneathastone]

"They are--" He trails off. "I am sure some of them are very fine. With pleasant company, I am sure they can be quite as nice as any other kind of party."

[lark_in_flight]

Pleasant company is nice! Cosette smiles a little, thinking about her friends, and Marius's, at a Christmas party of candlelight and food and laughter, and...

and...

and every name and face she can think of is here, really. Oh, there's her father, there's Marius's grandfather and aunt, but that's family, that's different; they all live under the same roof anyway.

"Have you --"

There's an idea trying to form at the edge of her thoughts, but she isn't sure what it is; she isn't sure if it's a good one, or if it will burst like a soap bubble, or prove itself to be entirely foolish after all.

"Have you never been to a nice Christmas party? One you liked?"

[heartbeneathastone]

"Well-- well--" It seems a terrible thing to admit, after she's been painting such lovely pictures of Christmas and markets and church bells. "Well, no. I can't say that I have."

[lark_in_flight]

Cosette laughs, suddenly, a brief little tumble of merriment. It's that or feel terribly sorry for him, and she'd rather be merry than sad. "And I've never been to one at all. Oh, what a pair we are!"

She pulls away from him suddenly, to whirl and catch at his hands.

"Let's make our own. Let's have our own, husband. We have pleasant company here, it's Milliways, it's Christmas. We can do what we like. We're married, we're young, we have money. Why shouldn't we throw a party, a proper Christmas party, and enjoy ourselves?"

[heartbeneathastone]

He can't keep from smiling in the face of her happiness-- he even almost laughs.

"Well-- why not? My friends are here, and your mother-- we could not ask for better company than that!"

[lark_in_flight]

"Yes! And there are other kind people too. Lord Elrond, and my friend Mary, and -- oh, plenty of good people -- and my mother may have friends, and Father too, if he comes."

Not that he'll probably volunteer them. He'll smile vaguely and benevolently and tell her whatever you think best, my child. But maybe she can cajole some names out of him, all the same, or perhaps Marius will have a better idea.

She stretches up to kiss him, just a happy impulsive peck, and beams brightly up at him afterwards. Her dear, dear husband. He shall have a happy Christmas here, at least.

"It can be just as large or as small as you like. We'll do what we like."

[heartbeneathastone]

"I would like to know your friends, and your father's. I should know more people here."

His resolve strengthens as he speaks. Yes, he should! There are very interesting people here, he ought to know some of them. After all, it is not so long before he will be twenty-five-- and thus quite entirely grown!-- and he should, he thinks, begin acting like it. Shouldn't he?

[lark_in_flight]

Definitely! And Cosette is seventeen -- why, eighteen before too very long! -- and thus entirely adult too, and certainly old enough to act like it and host parties for as many people as she likes, and bring a proper Christmas to Milliways.

"I'd like you to know them too. Have I met all your friends? I'm not certain I have. There are so many good people here! I'm sure there are lots of lovely people neither of us know. But we shall have a lovely Christmas party. Or perhaps an Epiphany party -- I don't know the precise date here, you know, now that I think of it. Only that it's the season."

[heartbeneathastone]

"That cannot be too much trouble to discover," Marius says. "If it is very near, I'm sure a party for Epiphany could be just as pleasant-- to have more time to prepare. Of course--" He laughs uncertainly. "I have no idea what would need preparation here. I suppose we could ask Madame Bar to conjure up a party this moment if we wished to."

[lark_in_flight]

Cosette laughs too, rather more merrily and less hesitantly. "Can you imagine! She might! She might very well! But no one would have time to prepare. They might have other plans. We ought to do it properly. We can send out invitations, everything one might wish."

Cosette, you're definitely underestimating Marius's friends' willingness to leap into an impromptu party. But never mind; she wants to have fun planning a party, and doing everything properly, just like the adult wife she totally is.

"Well -- well, we ought to plan out the menu, even if Mme Bar can produce it with her wonders! And the guest list, and the decorations. What would you like to do, my darling?"

Because Cosette is going to have so much fun fluttering about planning a menu and preparing decorations and everything, but she knows perfectly well that Marius's role in that is going to be limited to a) vaguely approving of whatever she decides, and b) pinning up garlands where she tells him to, especially if it's somewhere she can't reach.

[heartbeneathastone]

Wait, he has to do something?

"Whatever you require of me, my dear."

[lark_in_flight]

He totally doesn't have to! She just wants to make sure he can if he wants to.

But Cosette is absolutely up for single-handedly planning a party, with her husband to stand at her shoulder looking benevolent and respectable and also getting things off high shelves.

She laughs again, for the sheer bubbling joy of anticipation. (And, okay, a little bit at her husband, but it's with deep affection.) "Very well! Very well, you shall have a very solemn charge, my Marius. Here it is: to tell me who you would find pleasant company there, to tell me if anything else comes to your mind that you would like or dislike, and then to kiss your little Cosette and share a nice lunch with her."

:D

[heartbeneathastone]

"The first two I must consider-- but the last I hope to accomplish without delay."

And so he stoops to kiss her, of course.

[lark_in_flight]

Success! Gosh she's so cunning.

Okay, no. But she is entirely pleased with herself.

And with their new plans for the Milliways Christmas -- and their plans for today, as well.

(She's going to get to plan so many things to make a room pretty and festive and make people happy! Already, she's fizzing with delighted plans.)