sirenspull | video 3

Eponine ignores Yosuke's clattering. She doesn't even look up from the table.

"You remember my friend, M'sieur Marius? His friend, M'sieur Enjolras came - and he tried to free the slaves in Afterglow - and I said to M'sieur Marius that I would save his friend and I tried - but he was sold, so I tried to find his papers and I was caught by AGI, and they were going to sell ME - but a man, he pledged for me - so I am free, but Deadpool KNEW and he let me get in trouble. And now AGI watch me - and I cannot go to Afterglow - and it was horrible, horrible. You know? I hated it. I hate me. But it was good money, you know? If you just close your eyes and let them do it... and afterwards, when the men are gone - or even the women when you want a lot - it is horrible. But it is a job with good money. And Deadpool KNEW -and still he keeps Enjolras enslaved. I think it was just for my body he kept me around."

For a moment, he's too stunned to do much of anything. Things click slowly into place as Eponine speaks, and it's almost physically painful to hear. It's like a knee to the gut. There's a horrible, fleeting feeling of sickness that he has to swallow hard on, and it burns as it sinks slowly into his middle. By the time he's sure he won't upchuck his breakfast at how unfair life is, the desire to has been replaced by a burning fist of rage in his stomach and chest.

When he comes back to himself enough to remember the cocoa, he pops the lid off with so much force that it goes flying and bounces off the nearest wall. A fine mist of powder sprays everywhere. Whatever. Who cares about the stupid cocoa?

It takes a whole lot of effort to pry his teeth apart from where they're clamped around his tongue -ew, blood, he didn't mean to bite it so hard- to finally get a reply out. A month ago that would have involved a lot of shrill shrieking and general tantrum material. But Yosuke came back a bit older, and more experienced if not actually wiser yet. So he manages not to completely freak out on the outside the way he is on the inside.

"So, you were dating that guy. And that-"

Nope, he needs to take a deep breath again. The sides of the cocoa tin dent under the pressure as he accidentally squeezes them, and spills more cocoa.

"He let you down. So, he's definitely scum."

Slam! The cocoa gets set down a bit more forcefully than necessary. Yet another cloud of the sugary crystals float up in a plume and coat the surrounding area. Gilbert will be delighted to find this mess later on.

"Was that what you were asking? Because-because that's the answer. If he threw you to the wolves, that's not love. That's just screwed up!"

Edited 2012-12-24 09:31 (UTC)

Eponine looks up in surprise when she hears the pop of the cocoa tub, and watches as the lid hits off the wall. Had she been in any other mood, on any other day, and not so drunk she barely remembers blabbering all of her woes to Yosuke, she would have laughed. As it is, she watches with a casual acceptance, not even registering Yosuke's anger until he speaks.

"I thought he was good. He said he loved me..."

She buries her face again in her arms. She should have known when he said that. Nobody ever loved Eponine, and usually, though it hurt for her to admit it, she could contain the feeling and hide it away in her heart. But drunk and exhausted and all alone again, she gives in and cries.

"He said he didn't know - but he knew I was going against Afterglow - and he didn't tell me. Why didn't he tell me? He said he cared..."

Shit. Apparently that's the wrong thing to say. But it's better than going off on her about fibbing to him that she's found a nice job that doesn't involve prostitution, right? That can wait for a day when she isn't already feeling abandoned and miserable. Besides, one thing she said just before this really hit home. They can argue later. Right now, Eponine needs someone to be on her side.

Yosuke scrubs a hand across his face, smearing a bit of powder on his nose and under one eye. He drops into the seat beside Eponine for a moment. The cocoa can wait, too. He reaches over tentatively, making his touch slow and gentle. He's more conscious these days of spooking people, now that he spooks so easily himself. Eponine never has before, though, so he doesn't worry too much that she'll be uncomfortable with him rubbing her back. So he does it. And hums quietly to her, along with the song that's playing on the headphones around his neck. It's pretty cheesy, actually, but he doesn't think she'll mind. And she always seems to like music. It lasts all of half a minute before he gets anxious to fix it, and angry at the whole thing again.

"Don't cry, okay? We can-wait, maybe you're supposed to cry. Sometimes it feels better."

He slides his hand from between her shoulders, and wraps both arms around her waist from behind. It's the kind of hug that can't be misconstrued. There's no press of her breasts against him, just enough contact to try to convey some sort of attempt at emotional support. Not that she's ever slapped him for touching her before, but given the context it's better not to be confusing about it.

Edited (Wow I can't type tonight sorry!) 2012-12-24 10:05 (UTC)

The music does soothe her a bit, and Yosuke's hand on her back It's like how her Maman used to comfort her when she was little and had grazed a knee, or was pretending to cry to get Cosette into trouble. Her sobs quieten to sniffles as she listens and she even manages a slight 'huh -' - the start of a chuckle, if not the whole thing. Trust Yosuke to hum cheese at her.

And then he hugs her and it's so unexpected that Eponine stiffens for just a moment in his arms. Never, ever has anybody hugged her just for the sake of hugging her, or to comfort her. Oh Yosuke. Her tears swell, and she shifts in her seat so that she faces him, and she flings her arms round his neck, sobbing into his shoulder.

She stays like that for about five minutes (or as long as Yosuke lets her) before her sobs ease up again and she lets go, looking up at him with an embarrassed laugh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean - you're right, Yosuke. Tears are bad."

He almost lets go when Eponine stiffens that way. Oh, crap, he took it too far-woah! The unexpected girl that fills his arms causes him to startle a bit, but his reflex is to hold her rather than to shove her away. He holds her for what seems like a long time, wishing he could do something to help. Her problems are foreign, and they're way over his head. The best he can do is let her get his shirt soggy and try to make her cocoa. It'll have to do for now.

"I don't mind. That's what friends are for, right? Besides, sometimes you can't help it. Once I did this to a stranger, because I just couldn't help it. We're friends now. I guess she understood. Sometimes it's too much to deal with alone. So...so, don't think that you need to. Alright?"

"So I am not the first strange girl you took home?" Eponine chuckles again; it's somehow easier than crying - but then he adds on about not needing to deal with things alone and it feels like she's been punched all over again, because she is always alone. So she looks away.

"It's nothing. It is not such a problem - AGI and, you know? It is just... I was stupid. I should have known that he was lying to me. Why would he love me? He knew I stole from him - people. He knew where I worked. Yosuke, I am stupid, no?"

She wipes her cheeks, ashamed of the tears staining them.

"And that man - that Enjolras - after what I have done - he does not want the help of a girl such as me They spoke as if I was not there, as if I don't matter. Yosuke, I am SICK of the rich people here. I am SICK of being ordered and bossed and yelled at. I am fed up of the monsters at night. I just want to go outside and see the stars. I am FED UP of pretending to be grateful for Hattie's cast offs and M'sieur Gold's work. I wish I were in Paris. There at least, I'd be dead soon enough."

It's hard, to hear her talking that way. It's hard, and it makes the reassurances stick in his throat. Eponine has been strange, but kind. Mostly. When she's not making fun of him. But...she's been gentle. She was almost his first, and when she looks at him, somehow she always claims to see a good man. It's nicer than anything anyone else has ever said to him, and he's not about to let her think it doesn't matter. That she doesn't matter. Because she does.

He knows it's the wrong thing even before he leans in, but he just wants her to stop saying ugly things about herself. He just wants to make her feel better. So he kisses her. Gentle and sincere, and then surprisingly hungry for a moment -it's been too long, but that really doesn't help, damn it! He doesn't mean this as sexual conquest anyway, it's supposed to be a comfort- and then he finally gets hold of himself, eases off, backs away.

"Sorry. I'm sorry. But please don't die. Alright?"

Yosuke jumps up, maybe quickly enough to avoid the smack he definitely has coming to him, and gets back to the cocoa. He gets the milk from the icebox, pours it into a pan, and then clumsily lights the stove, fingers shaking a little. It would be a success, except that when the pilot light ignites, so does the spilt sugar crystals. A big ball of flame erupts on the stove. Yosuke shrieks and jumps backwards, throwing the milk in the other direction. The resulting clamor makes him startle and cover his ears, ducking down foolishly over nothing. Already the sugar has burnt itself out anyway. Everything is fine.

Except that he's definitely ruined everything. Again.

Oh Yosuke.

How the hell do you do it?

If Eponine had not been stunned into silence, she would have laughed a lot at that. But she barely registers the flameball or the scream or Yosuke cowering on the floor.

Nothing else seemed to matter because - he had kissed her, right there on the lips. Eponine's hand goes to her face, and she runs a bony finger over her mouth. He had kissed her. Not her first kiss, not by far. The men sometimes liked it, lecherous leeches that they were, but theirs was always done in the heat of passion, forcing her mouth open so they could explore. And 'Parnasse had kissed her, with one hand tangled firmly into her hair, a knife at her throat or back or elsewhere to keep her still and willing. But Yosuke, he was the first to truly KISS her, and she can only look at him in wonder. Maybe, if France was like Yosuke's world, he would'a kissed her in the same way?

Eponine doesn't know how to react, or what to say. Just as Marius was in Paris, so Yosuke was the bright ray that lightened her darkness in Port. Would Marius ask her not to die? She doesn't think so. He wouldn't notice. It's hard for her to truly acknowledge her shift in emotions - affections - but she knows immediately that she would do what she could for Yosuke as long as he kept her in his life.

Which means, apparently, cleaning the kitchen. She pulls herself up, and still looking either shocked or just blank, finds a cloth and begins to clean.

It takes Yosuke a moment to get back out of his head over the cocoa disaster, but when he does he shuts the stove back off for the moment and goes to collect Eponine.

"Hey, don't worry about that. Sit down. It's my turn to look after your drunk ass. Fair's fair, you know. Besides, magic elves clean the kitchen here."

Okay, so Gilbert might choke him a bit if he heard that. But since he's nowhere around, it's alright. Yosuke takes the cloth from Eponine and tosses it in the sink, then picks up the milk and throws it in the trash. Whatever few puddles and splatters of milk and dusting a of cocoa powder are left, they can worry about that later.

Maybe he'd better just get her some juice. The juice here is really good...

Juice is good. Juice is always good!

Eponine sits when he tells her to, dropping the cloth she had clutched on the floor. Him saying she's drunk reminds her of her gin, and she immediately looks round for it.

"Where is my gin, Yosuke?"
She could really do with a stiff one.

But she doesn't protest further, and instead, watches him pick up his rubbish.
"Do you really have magic elves? I wish Hattie did. There, there is only me to clean the whole house - you see, I am fed up."

She doesn't know what else to say to Yosuke. She feels a bit tongue tied in all honesty. Like nothing she says will be good enough. She doesn't want to upset or annoy him. So she grins shyly, saying nothing.
Oh lord. Drunk on false hope and crushed hearts and cheap gin.

"Why do you stay there, then? If you're unhappy."

The cocoa tin gets refastened and put away, then Yosuke takes a few glasses down from a high shelf. His spine gives a satisfying pop when he stretches it, which is nice after the piggyback business. Then he opens the icebox again and considers their juice choices for the day.

Hmm...there's red orange. He likes that one. Grape, but he doesn't fully trust that not to actually be wine. Since Eponine doesn't need another drink and he's sworn it off entirely, grape is out. There's nothing with melon in it today, and although Gilbert puts up with his requests for aloe he doesn't seem to enjoy it. Westerners a from long ago must not drink aloe. The currant might work...hmm. But apple is probably the safest bet. Hadn't she talked to him about apples once? Yeah, apple will do.

He pours a few of those, and steals a tray of finger sandwiches that are probably meant for someone else. Then he bumps the door closed with his backside and carries it all over to the table. This time he takes a seat across from Eponine after he serves her, and keeps a respectful distance.

"Nowhere else to go. 'T ain't safe to sleep outside here, or perhaps I'd do that. My wages from Uzushio, I try to save just in case of Papa - and to help pay back M'sieur Gold. And that's it. Hattie gives me food and a bed."

She shrugs and helps herself to a sandwich, not even questioning what's in them or where they've come from.

"It is okay, I suppose. Sometimes it just makes me feel... People think I'm stupid and they can trick me. But I know what they're doing."

The idea of people using Eponine makes him grip the glass, hard. It's lucky that these things don't actually break when someone does that, the way they do on TV.

He breathes in and out a few times, not even sure why he's so furious. It isn't as if Eponine isn't letting it happen, but...it's still disgusting. What's wrong with people anyway?

"Who are M'sieur Gold and Uzushio-San?"

She doesn't even notice; she's drinking the apple juice.

"Such strange wine... You do not know M'sieur Gold? He owns the antique shop; he says I am a good fit because by all rights, I am antique. He paid for me to be released - you remember, don't you? But I am fifty thousand dollars in debt to him now; I do not have so much, so I am working off the debt - but I can do afternoons only, because Hattie wishes me to clean in the mornings for her.
Uzushio isn't san - just Uzushio. It's a cafe - M'sieur Xellos owns it, I think. Hattie got me the job there. He pays me to waitress and clean a bit at night. It is a good job; I do not mind it, really."

She helps herself to another sandwich finger, wolfing it down.

"So that guy paid your bail? Yeah, I remember."

He frowns, but loosens his grip enough to take a sip of his own juice. It's for the best if she thinks it's wine, anyway. He won't correct her about that. Though he does think quietly for a bit about this whole mess. It's not worth mentioning it to Eponine yet, but maybe there's a way. He knows a guy who has money to burn, after all.

But there is one thing he can help with, even now.

"You don't have to stay there, alright? You shouldn't put up with it."

She gulps the 'wine' and munches on another sandwich, all the while nodding.

"He is a good man, I think. Well, not good, but not bad. He is nice to me. He sometimes gives me tea."

She munches, her crunching filling the silence. Hope you weren't planning on eating, Yosuke, because that plate is emptying fast.
Actually, she's starting to feel a little bit (a lot) sick right about now.

"Put up with what? Hattie? Yosuke..... you never listen to me. I have said; there is nowhere for me to go, so I must stay. It is not so bad. It is better than the dorms in sector ten, is it? Eleven? I cannot remember. Bad things happen there - murders and men forcing themselves on you - and not for money. I don't want to end up there."

"What dorms?" That's something new, that he's never heard of.

As far as the sandwiches go, he doesn't care. They were for her all along. In fact, he pushes his juice toward her too. She's got alcohol to soak up with things, and he doesn't. Anyway, the conversation would make anyone lose their appetite. Anyone but Eponine, apparently. She always seems to be ravenous.

Even while Yosuke watches Eponine devouring the sandwiches, he's thinking. Running things through his mind to try and come up with solutions for them. It'll take time to set it all up, but it can be done. He's almost sure of it.

"You don't know them? The dorms? Oh, they are not nice - there is darkness proofing, but it is men and women together. All of us, just the poor people who have no money for anywhere else. But it is a bad place. I went for one night, but I couldn't stay. If I had fallen asleep... I would be in big trouble."

She munches another sandwich - but then she gags, just a bit. Perhaos Yosuke will recognise the symptoms.

"Yosuke... may I have a bit of water? I - I think I'm going to be -"

And it's her turn to go vaguely green and look desperately for a toilet. Though, of course, she has no idea where the bathroom is. She has no idea where she is.

So she settles for the kitchen sink. Sorry. She does make it just in time to vomit, though, a strange coloured puke. She coughs and heaves until her stomach feels empty and her cheeks are stained with tears. She wipes her mouth sheepishly, a little bit more sober.

"Yosuke. Oh my - Yosuke, I'm sorry!"

He's still at the table, gaping a bit. Ew...ew. Did she really just...? Aw, man.

He gets up when she starts to apologize, though he goes pale himself the closer he gets to her. He has to swallow hard and close his eyes, but he offers her a shoulder to lean on again.

"C'mon. You need to lie down."

Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh.

Oh he says Eurgh and Ew? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAT? No fair!

She shakes him off. "I'm fine. I'm sorry; I'll clean it."

She grabs a cup and begins to swill the sink, stomach still heaving. The water comes out black, proper darkness water, and she gags. She's a bit more sober now at least, and she blinks.

"Yosuke? We're even now... though I got it in a sink, at least. May I have some juice?"

She grins, and fills th

"Hey, don't-!"

Yosuke shuts the water off before something ugly can slither out of the tap. He chokes, and gags a little himself at the smell. On the bright side, his stomach is empty besides that sip of juice, so nothing comes of it except for him backing away in a hurry. As if puke wasn't bad enough, she added darkness funk to it. Gross.

He clears his throat a little sheepishly and steps back, still pale but also still trying to coax Eponine in the direction of a bed or something.

"Even Stevens, sure. Now c'mon. Let the elves get that. You should lie down. If you don't want a bed at least take a sofa. The best thing is to sleep."

"No - no, I can't lie down."

She does move towards him. "Honest, I'm fine, M'sieur. Yosuke. I'm fine. But I have to go - what time is it? I was supposed to get home hours and hours ago. Hattie will be waiting for her chocolate - oh god, her chocolate bar. I don't even have it. I have to go, Yosuke."

"Uh...okay, but let me get you a cab. It'll just take a minute."

He frowns, not happy to see her go in this state, but not sure how to stop her either. She seems determined. He'll have to settle for making sure she gets home safely.

She sits down. Truly, she feels terrible. Her head's pounding, her stomach is bubbling and there's a sour taste in her mouth.

"You are such a good friend, Yosuke. I am sorry to do this to you. I am, truly."

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inthejunk - 2012-12-31 23:32 (UTC) - Expand

video 3

Re: Hey hey! Don't worry about formatting! I don't tend to!

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Sorry about this!

Never be sorry!! Take your time, hun.

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