sirenspull | Another accidental video - re-entry with a new canon point

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Another accidental video - re-entry with a new canon point

[Dirty fingers brush over the NV screen when it switches on, leaving bloody streaks across the screen. The whole video is vibrating; as the fingers move, a view of the Newcomer apartments from the baseball diamond is clearly visible. Whoever is holding the NV is clearly a newcomer and clearly in some kind of trouble.

After a minute, there's a shallow gasp and a moan; the voice is high pitched, obviously a girl's. The NV falls, and goes black; it's camera down in the dirt. But it lasts only a minute. The owner of the voice goes to pick up her NV, gasping in agony as her hand curls around the device. It's obvious why; there's a hole shot clean through her palm and out of the back of her hand.]

Marius? Marius, where are you?

[The voice has a heavy French accent when she speaks, and just for a minute, Eponine's face comes into view. It's dirty and tear stained. Her hair is a mess, greasy and tangled but that is the least of Eponine's concerns. She's forced herself into a sitting position, and one hand she presses to her chest, - a chest which is bleeding profusely. She gasps again, and sinks down onto the ground and out of sight of her NV.Without anything to support her weight, she can't keep herself upright any more. She knows she's dying, and tears wet her cheeks. She feels sick and dizzy and the world - wherever she is, fades in and out. She needs to see him before she dies. Her breathing is getting more and more shallow. She has to ask his forgiveness.]

Mariussss...

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[If she'd asked him, he wouldn't have been able to explain anyway. Sometimes people had touched his face when he was upset to soothe him, but they certainly hadn't climbed into his hospital bed looking for mutual comfort. It was pathetic, actually. But there wasn't a single thing in his life left that hadn't been broken. And here was something breaking on top of a break. Here was something shattering even while the two of them tried desperately to glue it together.]

You will...I...you...ugh!

[He sat back, and scrubbed at his face again, miserably. His voice comes out as pathetic as he feels this time. Weak and hoarse and defeated.]

I know somewhere else you can sleep, don't worry...

Somewhere else?

[Another tear trickles down her cheek]

You do not want me any more? M'sieur?

[Back to the formal title. Just in case.]

It's not that.

[He pulls his knees up under his chin, and glances away so she won't see the horrified look on his face. Dragging dead deer carcasses around isn't a pleasant memory, but it's worse than that. The bar and his apartment are trashed. Turned completely inside out, destroyed. There's no way Eponine's savings made it through all of that.]

I can't stay there, either.

...Why?

[She's not even thinking about her money; it's only a few hundred dollars. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but everything to her. But she would still rather have Yosuke.]

Has something happened, Yosuke? You must tell me, you know.

[He slumps over, burying his face in his knees. He might have to say it, but he's not ready to look her in the eyes at the same time.]

It's gone. Someone broke in while we were away. The bar is empty, the kitchen is destroyed, and the apartment is...everything is gone. And smashed. We don't have anything now.

Gone.

[It takes a minute for that to sink in, to remember what she had had there. Gone. Everything gone. His home. His living - her things; the new dresses she had bought. The champagne and chocolates. The shoes and the coats and the hat and the books. All gone. Her money. All gone.]

I have nothing?

[Her face is blank. She's shocked. She has no money. She's got no home. But... she has friends? Yes?]

But you're okay, Yosuke? They did not hurt you? That is something, is it not? We can fix your home and your shop. I can earn money. It would be worse if you were dead.

I am, though. I'm so dead. If Fai-sama comes back and sees what I've done to his place... And you and Nill have to move again, and Creed-San doesn't live at his house anymore. I don't know where he is! Who moves away and forgets to tell their so-uh, babysitter?

[He uncurls just enough to glance up, clearly furious and close to tears himself.]

How can you say it's okay? You...you're shot. And still enslaved to someone! And now you're going to have to live with Keigo. I mean, he's a good guy but he's going to perv all over you when I'm not around to kick his ass.

Nothing is okay. In fact, every time I think this place can't get worse somehow it manages! It's not fair!

No...

[She, in contrast toYosuke, adopts a quiet tone.]

No, life is not fair, is it? I am - not enslaved to Monsieur Jesse - he GAVE me a choice, Yosuke. I am not 'enslaved' to him. But to Hattie? I suppose I shall be working for her again. And M'sieur Gold. And M'sieur Xellos - though he at least pays a bit.

[She shakes her head.] Yosuke, I should be dead, twice. I should be sleeping now. And yet - here I am, alive and hurt with nothing. Not a home, not clothes, not even a friend who is not cross with me. You know I do not say it, but -

[Eponine takes a breath, and looks away from Yosuke.]

i hate me. What I've done. Who I am. I should wear a gown and a bonnet and be taught the Bible by nuns and given dolls and food and ribbon for my hair. And yet I have rags and no shoes and I steal and thieve and beg and sell myself because I am first made to by Papa. Is it fair? Is it fair that Cosette has everything, and I have to beg a coin from her? Is it fair she gets presents every day when I have not had a present since I was eight? Is it fair that Marius loves her simply for being beautiful, whilst he does not see me when I help him always?

[She's silent for a minute, before she adds in a dead voice]

i am sorry. That was inappropriate. You have lost a lot. And I have too. And perhaps we do not want to keep fighting; Yosuke, I'm TIRED. But there is another unfair thing. We must fight on anyway. We will do it together. It is still a shelter; we can sleep there. And I will go to Afterglow and ask... And you must get a job. We will have money fast.

[She's still avoiding his eyes. Back to Afterglow or the street corner? She wishes she was dead.]

No, you won't! Why would you do that? The-you don't need to. You don't. The apartment is free because I'm a greeter, and I can bring you things to eat from the bakery. We can both get a job someplace nice. A store somewhere. A bookstore! You can put the books on the shelves and I can run the till or work in the cafe. You don't have to do any of that stuff anymore.

[Whether they're upset with each other or not, Yosuke is sincere in his intent to help her. Practically pleading, in fact. The first try sent do badly, but maybe if they had talked about it instead? Either way, he clearly can't shut up.]

Just don't treat yourself like that. I know it doesn't mean much coming from me instead of that guy, but you are beautiful, alright? You should let someone take care of you instead.

"Because I enjoy it. Why do you think, Yosuke?" Eponine snaps, but then she sighs. "Because we need money and we need it quickly. And I suppose I will have a job for every other hour. And Afterglow pays well, if they'll have me back. I will have to ask Monsieur Jack... And Jesse - I could ask Monsieur for the money, perhaps?"

She laughs. "I would like to work in a book shop - learn how to read properly. I CAN read - but I never practise, really, and it takes me time. But I do not think I can have a respectable job. Who would give me one? AGI have scared people from me, and I have police records..."

She beams though. "Do you really think I'm beautiful? I think you are blind - but I do not care. You are the first to say that to me. I don't care if you lie even to make me happy. I think you are handsome - and the nicest person I have met in Port and in France. And you talk to me. Do not worry, Monsieur Yosuke. I will make this better for me. I will make your heart light as you make mine so."

"The-NO! What the hell? What do you need all this money for anyway? You know the hospital has to take a payment plan, right? There's no need for that. You can...you can work in the bakery. It in a garden. I know a guy who said he needed a gardener. I asked him about you before and he was interested! There's a whole mansion there. You could be happy there."

He's getting upset again, upset that she's going to make the wrong choices and really will all be for nothing. Jesse hadn't asked for anything yet besides Eponine's name, apparently so he could suck her into a web of criminal activities. But the point was, unless he came calling for that favor they had nothing to worry about from that end.

And there was a choice of places for Eponine to stay, a few ways they could make sure she was fed and paid and looked after. Why would she throw that all away for quick money? Yeah, so that was that. He squared his shoulders, looking her in the eye now as he made his argument.

"Stop calling me a liar every time I say something nice to you. It's really uncouth, you know. But if you want to make my heart feel lights, it's easy. Stop hurting yourself and other people. Didn't you learn anything when that wolf bit you?"

"BECAUSE. Because I am FED UP, Yosuke. I am tired of owing people money and favours and - and if I do it for six months, every night, then I can pay every debt I owe. I can pay this bill and pay off Monsieur Gold and find myself a proper house and a proper job."

Eponine is despairing. She doesn't know how to communicate her true feelings. She doesn't even know what they are, really. She's spent so many years fighting back feelings that she finds it difficult now to even acknowledge them. But in truth, it boils down to her own self-hate. She doesn't know how to act around decent people in a decent job on the right side of society. She doesn't believe she has any place there.

Yosuke's telling-off catches her off-guard though. A liar? No, not a liar... just.... for so long she's heard that she's ugly and useless and worthless and worse that it's difficult for her to accept a compliment now. She hates herself so much she just can't see any beauty in herself at all. Eponine casts her eyes away from him, until he asks the question. Then she looks up.

"Yes. Yes, I learned not to rely on anybody else. I do not need anything from any body. I am better off alone. I am SICK of my life being harder because of other people. I let Ella give me a house, and she has the power to make me go. I let Jesse give me a job, and I am to be a criminal. I let M'sieur Gold give me money and I am still in his debt. I let Hattie give me a dress and I end up doing everything she orders of me for free. YOU give me a house and I am left with NOTHING. I am FED UP, Yosuke, with being who I am. And if six months of letting men - women - whoever, do as they wish, then it is a SMALL price for the rest of my life. I can be happy then. I can have a house and stop working for Jesse and perhaps have a bookshop. It is only six months."

And Marius, even now, will never love her. So why should she try to be a lady? Six months more and then her new life as a respectable person can begin.

"That wasn't my fault!"

He pulls his knees up to his chin, though, clearly feeling more guilty about it than he wants to acknowledge.

"I'll...I'll pay you back! Then you won't have to do that sort of thing. I don't need to be in school anyway, and with the Cat's Eye...you know. There's no one who can make me go. I'm 17 now, I'm of age."

Eponine watches Yosuke in silence for a few minutes before she closes her eyes Had she been physically able to, she would have run at this point. Run away and never looked back.

Except, she had to open her eyes again. She's exhausted now, and she looks it. There is only so much a teenager can deal with, and Eponine hit her limit a long time ago. Yosuke upset is something that just needs fixing, and fixing quickly.

"Yosuke?" Her voice is very quiet.
"Yosuke, I'm sorry. You don't have to pay me. I know it's not your fault. I'm just... I'm tired. I am so tired of doing the right thing and getting nowhere. Do you not see? I could be rich if I go to Afterglow, just for six months. And whatever happens to me there; however I am tied and mauled and pawed at, if they whip me or scratch or kiss... It has been so before, and I know how to feel nothing now. But a friend helps, you know. So I can think of you whilst I lie. It helps me forget, you know? We ARE still friends, no?"

His face goes back into his hands for a minute while she talks about being chained and whipped. The only experience he has with anything like that was torture, not sex. It's impossible to imagine someone deciding to be okay with it for a while. The very idea sends a shudder through his body.

But Eponine is starting to sound desperate. And she's not well. He can't let her keep fretting about this.

"I'm here, right?"

He sighs, and unfolds himself. He shouldn't be in her bed. What is he doing? Just because Nill lets him get away with stupid things doesn't mean that every girl will want to put up with them. So he slides down, and pulls up a chair instead.

"You should rest. I can stay here for a while and keep an eye on things for you."

In all honesty, she doesn't mind Yosuke being in her bed. He's a comforting force for her - sometimes - someone familiar and kind. But she doesn't stop him leaving, either.

"You don't have to - you know you have a proper life too, do you not? You don't want to waste it all on me."

Still, all the same, it'd be nice for him to stay. Eponine doesn't want to be all on her own. She reaches for his hand with her uninjured one.

"Will you tell me a story? A nice one? Every time I close my eyes, I see the barricade and the soldier coming for Marius, and the man I shot and - will you help me forget? I am so tired, Yosuke, and these thoughts, and what I am to do keep me awake."

"Too bad I can't just think something nice at you." He answers, which probably sounds a bit insane to people who aren't psychic. But he lets Eponine take his hand. And as he considers her request he remembers asking something similar of a friend not too long ago, when he was afraid to shut his eyes on bloodstained memories too.

"If you promise to stop calling yourself a waste of time, I know just the thing."

"But-"

Eponine begins to protest, but she shuts up. She wants a story and she wants a happy sleep.

"I won't say it. I promise, Yosuke."

"Alright, a friend told me this one once. I was on a lot of painkillers then, so I'm not sure if I'm telling it right but I'll do my best..."

The story is a long tale, and naturally Yosuke misunderstands quite a bit of it. But he does his best, and at the heart it seems to be a tale of heroism and friendship and sacrifice.

It's beautiful. Eponine doesn't interrupt once as Yosuke talks, for a change. Instead, she lets herself be absorbed by the story. Slowly, her eyes close as she calms down and loses the adrenaline from arguing with Yosuke. She stops trying to fight the after effects of the anaesthetic and slowly drifts off. Her cheeks might be tear stained, and she might look a complete mess, what with bandages and iodine everywhere. But Yosuke has probably never seen her look happier or more at peace with the world.

She looks beautiful, just like she always does. But it's nice to see her looking peaceful after everything she's been through recently. He trails off after Eponine drifts into sleep, but he stays for a little while longer. Until someone calls Gilbert to complain that they never got their stupid cupcakes today, and then there's an argument that's better taken outside to be had.

So he kisses Eponine's forehead softly and tiptoes out, proud of himself for not tripping on anything and waking her up just this once.

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Another accidental video - re-entry with a new canon point

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