sirenspull | [ Video / Action ]

[ The network flips on, with Ella quietly strolling down the stairs. Everything that had belonged to Hattie has finally been put into boxes, ready to be shipped to her evil stepsister whenever she wanted them. Ella is torn on that, but whatever. ]

When I came back to this place I never thought I would be able to get my house back. I have you to thank for that, Meg, so you can consider my door always open to you if you need it. Furthermor- Kyra what are you doing?

[ The NV is set down on a table as Ella enters a living room to find her wolf investigating a set of loose floorboards. Curiosity gets the better of Ella, and in minutes she's pulled said floorboards up, dragging out a small chest with words written in another language. When she opens it, what the NV can see is money. A lot of money,
neatly tucked in tight rolls. ]

I had a stash?

[ And suddenly hearing a noise, Ella jumped, looking over her shoulder. ]

Eponine? Is that you? - is something wrong?

Aye, Madame! It is me - only - would you mind taking the potatoes off the stove? They will boil over and.... and I'm... indisposed.

[ A lame lie, but hopefully Ella will fall for it. Eponine is, of course, NOT on the toilet. No, she's at the top of the stairs, just out of Ella's sight. She had been on her way down to finish the dinner when she had heard Ella talking, and had stopped to listen. A STASH? Of MONEY?

Eponine licks her lips. That money would help her a lot. A lot a lot. And... and maybe she could help Hattie a little? Only, Ella would never give her money. Or give it to Hattie. Had she not thrown Hattie out? So Eponine made up her mind. She yelled and as soon as Ella was safely in the kitchen, Eponine scuttled down the stairs to the chest. That's the most money she's ever seen, and in her sheer excitement, she doesn't even notice Ella's NV still rolling.
She starts to grab the rolls, shoving them into the pocket of her skirt. Unfortunately when Eponine does grab the bills, the sleek, large wolf moves - having been curled up on the other side of the room, watching Eponine neutrally.

A blur of fur, a savage snarl, and Eponine screams, dropping the roll of money she currently clutched as the wolf is on the girl, attacking her arm to make her drop the money. Eponine fights back, hitting out at the wolf to make it let go of her, and trying to wriggle out from under it. But the animal is heavy and determined not to let the young thief go. ]
In a panic - she can feel blood dripping from her arm, Eponine shrieks. ]

ELLA!!! ELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLA! HELP ME!

[ She screams again, and tries to shove the wolf off her, exciting the animal, which pushes Eponine back against the box as she struggles, knocking the NV so the screen goes blank. ]

[ OOC:Purple is Eponine, Blue is Ella! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[in a much kinder tone than he took with Eponine] For her, or for you?

For her. She's not a bad person, she just...

[ She sighs. It was one thing to kick her stepsister out - she'd thought she'd feel a /little/ happy about getting one place she could be herself and free in. But she felt bad about it, and now throwing Eponine out just made her feel worse. ]

It's like she's convinced there are no other options available to her - even when her heart is in the right place, she just...chooses the worst possible actions.

That sounds like a great deal of people I know. Even myself, when I was young. Certain environments-- [hms] Sometimes circumstances shape you to think in a certain way.

I've been there. It's hard to pull out of that.

I can understand that it's difficult to pull out of a situation like that. It's frustrating to want to help someone, and they just...refuse.

[She can't see it, but that makes him shift, slightly uncomfortable.] I don't know if her world is like mine, but... people in those circumstances, they are often made to feel shame for being in that position and further for not being able to get themselves out without help. Charity is weakness, they are taught.

... Do not take my words as excusing her actions though. Merely an attempt to shed light on some things.

That explains the low self image. I don't hate her for what she did - I'm not sure there's anyone I can hate. I don't even hate my stepsister, strangely enough. [ Her feelings for that girl were far more complicated. ]

I can only hope that with enough positive reinforcement to counteract the bad, I can help her get back on track.

And you intend to take on that task yourself? Are you up for that?

[ A long pause, and then a weak laugh. ]

Gods, John, I haven't the foggiest.

But I can't just leave it be. She doesn't deserve that. No one does.

And I wouldn't sentence her to any rehabilitation services this godforsaken place has. God help the people AGI and SERO would prey on from such a place...

[He thinks for a moment.]

You seem to be in possession of quite extensive funds. Are they plentiful to afford the rent for one of the Tower apartments?

I'd be signing a death sentence for her if I sent her to such a place.

I'm not nearly equipped to help, I know that - but impossible tasks never stopped me before. Short of her telling me to stay away from her... [ Well, she won't have a choice then. ]

Rent? I'm not sure for how long - why? Do you need another apartment?

No. Actually, Harry and I are moving out. We've found a place-- I'll tell you about it later.

But obviously Miss Eponine needs help. But cannot be trusted in your household. Providing her with a paid-for place to live is a step removed and is more reliable than providing her with cash. It removes the need to find shelter, and thus opens her up to look into finding her self-sufficiency. If you are able to and would like, you can offer a food budget as well. I'd provide such things on a short-term basis-- three months or so-- to encourage her to go out and find a way to support herself.

There's other options, like perhaps looking into needs-based support that would allow her in turn to look into some trade classes out of the college.

Just some suggestions. I simply hope that if you are eager to help her, you do so without endangering yourself further.

Edited 2012-12-30 01:14 (UTC)

Oh really? Congratulations!

[ It's good that they were able to find a new place. Falling silent at the suggestions, thoughtful. ]

Those are some pretty good suggestions. I'll have to approach her about it when she's calmed down. It was enough of a fight just getting her to agree to let me call an ambulance. [ SHe wouldn't even take te money Ella had offred to let her keep. ]

Don't worry, I haven't done anything to put myself in any danger.

Don't congratulate. Harry picked the place out. It's neon burnt sienna. [The house being such an eyesore offends the real estate mogul in him.] But thank you.

I will worry anyway. Should you need help, you know my number.

[ Okay that gets a laugh out of her, in spite of herself. FFh, really that's what you're offended by? ]

You could always just repaint it. Does the rest of your house meet with your approval?

[ Aw. ]

... Thank you, John, I appreciate it.

... Yes. It's in the farm district. It's an old relic, so it has less force fields and more physical Darkness proofing, which means it works for us. It needs an enormous amount of work, but Harry's taken with it to an embarrassing degree. [hms] Once we've fixed it up some, your welcome to come see.

Of course, Miss Ella.

I'd like that. And once things settle down here, I'd love to invite you and Harry over as well, sometime.

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