#((Neuvi vc Fascinating. Well that's another stack of documents added to my schedule))

[iustitians]

Les Roses de Fontaine || drabble

“… She did what?”

“I swear I’m not making this up, Monsieur Neuvillette…”

“No, I believe you. I’m just trying to imagine how it works to somersault into an escaping thief to capture them.” A shrug. “But if someone can figure it out, Miss Navia can.”

He speaks of confusion and surprise, but both the voice and the facial expression of the Iudex are as flat and fluid as a smooth surface of a lake, perfectly undisturbed, not even by the faintest breeze. The actions of Spina di Rosula have made waves across the Court of Fontaine for many years, also during the time of Mr Callas. After Miss Navia took over… well. He knows that she wishes and hopes to fill in her father’s shoes and do as well as him in leading the organization, but there is no doubt that, since the beginning, she has been adding her own touch and flavor to their methods. For better or worse. As far as the Court’s citizens were concerned, usually better.

Of course, during the time when her father’s name was besmirched, the Spina’s reputation suffered alongside his own — and their actions were looked at quite unfavorably. Ever since the situation was cleared, however, the dramatic tragedy has become a thrilling comedy, and their activity has increased; Neuvillette has not seen it in person often, but from what he was told, the common folk would treat their appearance as a sign that something worth seeing was about to happen. For him, it usually meant an extra trial added to his schedule.

Rambunctious, effective, and fascinating to both eye and soul in the process. Spina di Rosula indeed had much in common with its current President.

“Well, Monsieur Chief Justice?”

“What?”

“I mean… Any plan of action? Any comments?”

He looks at the Garde blankly before he shifts his position, crossing his legs. “Comments?… I’m glad the thief was caught and she did not hurt herself running after him through half the city on high heels.”

“Th—That’s not what I…”

Neuvillette sighs quietly. Indeed, a few times, he found himself having to — being obligated to — reprimand her, be it verbally or through formal correspondence. Most of them, however, simply served to teach him about the true strength of human resilience, more than anything else. He has learned, the hard way, that he was far more likely to submit to and accept Miss Navia’s way of being than she was to adopt his… and over time, slowly but surely, he has begun to realize that he struggles to remember why he even tried.

However, there were a few occasions when things did indeed go a step too far — but for those, the Spina always apologized and offered recompense, and it was extremely rare for incidents of the same nature to happen more than once. Still…

“Was there any damage caused to person or property?”

“Not that I know of…”

“Excessive or troublesome disturbance of peace in the Court?”

“Well… Not in the negative sense, everyone was excited to watch if anything…”

“Ignorance of or disrespect towards the Gardes?”

“Not at all! The Spina handed over the thief to us respectfully and efficiently…”

Neuvillette shakes his head. “Then what should I take action or comment on?”

The Garde shifts nervously, clearly hesitant to give voice to the problem properly. The Iudex watches him, saying nothing, all while allowing the stream of emotions flowing from the man to wash over him — before deeming it necessary to give the man’s thoughts voice himself.

“You and some other Gardes are worried that the Spina is running you out of a job.”

The shocked, wide-eyed stare that serves as the other’s response is all he needs to know his observation was on point. He sighs again, this time with an ever so small yet audible hint of irritation in his voice as a frown furrows his brow.

“Let me make something clear. If the Gardes believe that the Spina is threatening their position, that is a problem with the Gardes, not with the Spina. I know of at least a few cases that Miss Navia and her men took on because the Gardes simply refused,” he continues, his tone even, but commanding, and his eyes fixed on the man before him, making sure he takes in each and every word. “I cannot and will not act against Spina di Rosula for being effective, as long as they do not go outside the law, which they currently do not. I can, however, exchange Maison Gardiennage personnel if their performance is unsatisfactory. Is this understood?”

“Y—Yes, Monsieur Neuvillette. My apologies…”

“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me… An additional trial was added to my plan for today, so I must go and prepare.”

As the Garde disappears behind the door, the Iudex silently shakes his head. What do they expect him to do with Miss Navia when she is right?