sirenspull | 1st Video

[ When the NV turns on, Ella isn't really paying attention to it - though her intention might have been to use it, that thought is derailed by the chatter of several others nearby. ]

No - no no, I don't need - Excuse, me could you please stop pushing baskets at me, I don't want your brochures. Really, I appreciate it but - [ They are totally not listening. ]

No, thank you that's kind of you but could you just ... take... these -- but I - [ Yea, Ella, keep trying to talk over the company representatives. With a clatter, she drops the NV, and it now shows a crooked image of Ella with her arms full of baskets from AGI and SERO both, looking a bit lost, frustrated, and confused. Yet she perseveres! ]

I'm just trying to say - this is really too much so - oh! [ Aaand the bundle of baskets in her arms abruptly topple over when she loses her grip, tumbling onto the floor, papers scattering everywhere. Those representatives? Totally off to harass another newcomer. Help her? That's silly. ]

Could you h- oh, no, of course not, yeah, no walk away, that's just great... thanks. No, thank you,I've got it, not that you were lifting a finger to help or anything...

[ Sighing, Ella kneels to gather up what was foisted into her arms, though she catches sight of the NV recording. ]

... Is it always this...chaotic?

[ Maybe she can give this stuff to someone else. What she really needed was warmer clothing. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You can justify what you're doing as business all you like. But the fact of the matter is what you're doing is blackmail. In a business, at least both parties would come out of it on top, and your little arrangement, only you do.

[ Even if she did keep her word and hide Hattie's NV, it was only a matter of time before Hattie found her, and then Eponine would have money from what she sold, and Ella would have nothing /and/ Hattie would know she was here. ]

Ten minutes. Congratulations, by the way. Looks like you learned from Hattie while you were with her.

Edited 2012-11-09 12:12 (UTC)

[Just a little after ten minutes, Eponine appears at the apartments. She's thin and ragged - perhaps, if she wasn't blackmailing Ella, Ella would feel sorry for her. She makes straight for Ella.]

Madame - do not think of it as blackmail. It is not. I will hide you from Madame Hattie. I promise. If she is bad to me and I am not her step-sister, she must be very bad to you.

[Yep, Hattie. Those slaps and the comments - though you might have apologised - still sting].

This way, I will not lose my house, and you will not have to go back.

[ She does, a little, but yes, the blackmailing and everything does kind of make her a little less sympathetic. ]

Of course it's not. [ She says, albeit grudgingly because fugging commands. ]

Get a job somewhere else. You only bring it on yourself if you stay. Let Hattie learn to survive on her own for a change, and maybe that spoiled brat will learn something.

[ She unclasps her cloak, tossing it towards Eponine. ]

Here. Take it. [ She holds out her sword as well. ]

I can't. She'll report me to the police for... well, I will be locked up for a long time, Madame. I do not want that.

[Because if Hattie has her arrested, Jack will chip in about her treachery to Afterglow and she'll be either imprisoned or enslaved.]

She is spoiled, isn't she? You know, because I fell asleep in her bed, she poured dirty water on me? And then had me wash the bed. That is spoiled, I think. I did not mean her to catch me.

[Eponine catches the cloak, and holds her hand out for the sword. To her, it looks very expensive. But she's surprised. Why is Ella giving her a cloak?]

Madame? Will you not be cold without this? I do not want you to be cold.

[Eponine's been cold, and she wouldn't wish it on her worst enemy - and she certainly doesn't think of Ella as that.]

Do you really think I am horrible like Madame Hattie?

For thinking you killed me? Why don't I just tell the police it's a lie? She can't accuse you of something that didn't happen.

[ As annoyed as she was, she can't bring herself to hate Eponine that much. The girl was desperate and ...unwilling to leave because Hattie was blackmailing her. But maybe there was a way out for her without Ella sacrificing her sanity at the same time. ]

You sure? [ She's genuinely surprised that Eponine was passing up the cloak, considering. ]

All right, I'll keep it then. [ No backsies, Eponine! And as for the latter... Ella studies the girl for a long moment, before shaking her head. ]

Maybe not horrible. I'm sure you have redeeming qualities, and when Hattie is concerned... well you have you reasons.

"I do not want you to be cold. I know it, Madame, and to be cold is worse than hunger. Not even Hattie would I wish to be cold. Well, perhaps, after the water."

She sighs. "If you did, she would know you were here. And then you would go back, and I would go to jail for thieving. She said she'll pay me soon. When she has money, because, Madame, she is poor. I promise, Madame, I will keep you safe. I will hide Hattie's NV so she cannot see you, and I will not breathe a word of you being here."

Well that was certainly nice of her. Though Ella had summerwear still, the cloak would at least help until she could get some warmer attire.

"You know she's going to find out eventually. I just have that kind of luck." She crossed her arms slightly, "Somehow I really doubt just how 'poor' she is."

"You and me both." If Hattie was all of Eponine's bad luck, then she'd be counting herself as a very lucky girl.

"I know it is bad - but I wish you would go back. She thinks you are a better servant than I. I think she misses you because you do what she says and I... Well, no. Madame, thank you for your sword. You know, it will help me keep my room another week. Thank you for that."

She glances out of the window, at the deepening darkness. "Madame, I must go. It is a long way back to my room. But if you need me, I will help you. I promise."

Ella grins sympathetically. At least until Eponine's wish that Ella would go back. "I'd rather die." She said flatly. Really, going anywhere near Hattie, when Hattie knew about her curse was like condemning herself to a slow death.

"I don't doubt that Hattie thought I was a better 'servant', but going so far to say she missed me? That's giving her too much credit. Eponine, you shouldn't let her treat you like that. I'd bet everything I have here, she's lying to you about being poor and using that excuse to not pay you."

... and she really didn't owe Eponine a damn thing, but the thought of someone being in the position Ella had been in back home - and here - she'd want someone to get her out of that too. It's why she fled her home in the first place. "... give me time to look into things here. Maybe I can figure out a way to make things better for you." Like actually getting paid.

She smiles too, and goes to take Ella's hand in her own dirty one.

"Thank you, Madame. But really, I am not worth the bother. Make sure you are happy first. She will pay me, I know she will. Soon."

She looks out of the window again. "Madame - the darkness. I must go. I do not want the monsters chasing me too. Goodbye - for now!"

And with that, she turns and runs as fast as she can through the swiftly darkening streets.

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