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

"Raphael?" never heard of that one. It wasn't often Eponine went to church, and whilst she was there, it was to steal or deliver begging letters, so she rarely listened.

"...Well, so what if it was stealing? I don't care. I got a new dress from it."

A servant's dress as it happened; Hattie had tricked her. And Eponine hated stealing, but she was not going to let some man butt in - even if he was related to God - and tell her what to do. She's well aware that she's bad, but there's nothing she can do about it. She may as well get as much enjoyment from her bad ways as possible.

"You cannot be angry at her for calling you a thief if you are one." Simple really, almost bored. This wasn't a difficult concept. "The same as you forcing Ella to give you something value for your silence isn't business, it is blackmail."

"Well, so what if it is? It has nothing to do with you. If I hadn't done it, I'd lose my room."

She shakes her head. "I've seen the dorms. I don't want to go there. Or the slums. And I WILL if I am fair. It is not how the world works. And I have to play because I will not die. Not now. I don't care about Ella. Just- just leave me alone."

She feels wretched. But she's not backing down, though she's not pointing the sword at him any more. It's by her side.

"It does have something to do with me, as it has something to do with someone placed under my care." Really. Kurt he would have stepped for in the same way. Rue or Prim? He'd be far more heavy handed.

"Where did you get the sword?" He already knew the answer.

She glares at him for a full minute before answering in a bitter voice.

"Ella."

She clutches it tighter, pulling it behind her body. She wasn't giving it back.

Oh she wasn't? Raphael would see about that, he raised a hand, snapping. And lo, took away her ability to speak.

"Return her sword to me, and I'll return your voice."

Eponine didn't quite understand what had just happened. Take away her ability to speak?

She opened her mouth to object - but no sound came out. What had happened? What had he done? She was more than a little frightened, but she still clutched the swodd close. He couldn't really take her voice, could he? Not forever?

"I can yes. And more." He was finished playing. He wasn't going to leave Eponine without something, be he was not going to allow her to profit from threatening someone under his wing.

"The sword."

She shook her head stubbornly.

"I will NOT give it to you." Although, of course, even as her mouth formed the words, no sound came out from her lips. Her hand goes to her throat. Her voice. Gone. She looked at Raphael resentfully. He was going to win, wasn't he?

"It costs $200." She mouthed the words. He seems to be able to read her mind anyway. Maybe he'll understand? "That's how much I could sell it for. If you want it, I want money. And my voice."

"You aren't giving it to me. You are selling it to me in exchange for your voice." Yes, yes he was going to win.

"That is what you call business yes? Force someone to give you something they did not want to give in return for a 'service'?" Raphael could be patient, but he was irked and didn't want to be.

Her shoulders sagged and slowly she drew the sword from behind her.

"Fine. Take it. I don't need it." Again, it's mouthed, but surely Raphael would be able to feel the resentment, the hatred bubbling from her. He has completely condemned religion and all it's teachings to her now. If this is what God did, then she didn't want anything to do with it.

She offered the sword to Raph.

Raphael took the word easily, the sword moving smoothly in his hand - he's well trained with one, after all. He then reached over, softly touching her forehead, giving her voice back.

"I'd recommend keeping your bargain with Ella - after all, she gave you what you wanted, as well as not threatening her again. Understand?"

She glared at him, hate and resentment coursing through her.

"I hate you."

She was going to lose her room, wasn't she? And soon. Money was fast running out. She was going to lose everything, all over again.

"You have what you want. Now get out." Her voice was bitter.

"I do. Have a good evening." And Raphael disappears with a flutter of wing beats, taking the sword with him.

However, about an hour later, just appearing on her mattress will be a stack of twenties, totaling three hundred dollars, tied with a green ribbon, with a silver fish coin resting on it. The coin alone is worth fifteen dollars.

1st Video

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