Grantaire sits alone, at a table reserved for Les Amis' resident drunkard. Occasionally others join him, eager to strike up a conversation about politics or history. Two things that Grantaire has no interest in. Nor is he interested in the revolution. He is a cynic and he knows that even with someone as wonderful as Enjolras leading the rebels, nothing will ever change. Even if they did somehow overthrow the government, those who live in poverty would still lead the same miserable lives. Take his friend Eponine Thenardier for example. She was born into a family of thieves and beggars and con men with no pride or conscience. She's hardly clinging to the scraps of dignity she has left. She goes days without food or drink and has not a penny to her name. A new government wouldn't change her life; she was too far gone into a pit of despair before she was thirteen years old.
Despite his negative outlook on life and his lack of faith in the cause, Grantaire still attends every meeting of Les Amis de l'Abc. Because it gives him the opportunity to see his Apollo. Enjolras is the only thing that makes Grantaire want to keep living.
He looks up from his bottle as Eponine sits next to him. The cafe is rowdy with tipsy students, making it easy for a young woman to sneak in unnoticed. Wearing men's clothes helps too. Eponine takes off her hat and lets her dark tangled hair fall over her shoulders and neck. She sighs deeply and leans her elbow on the wooden tabletop, chin in hand. Her gaze is fixed on Marius Pontmercy, a handsome young law student who is the object of her unrequited devotion.
"Why do you love him?" Grantaire asks, the usual annoyance tinting his tone.
"I could ask you the same" retorts Eponine, nodding her head towards Enjolras.
"Touché"
Grantaire raises his bottle to her before taking a long swig. He resurfaces and wipes his mouth on the backside of his hand.
"If you tell me about your day I'll let you see my drawings" he says.
He makes the same offer each day that he's filled another page in his sketchbook. Eponine nods. She loves art and jumps at the opportunity to gaze upon it.
"Nothing unusual" she begins "Did a few jobs with the gang, same as always"
Grantaire knows that by jobs she means robberies
"And I had a snog with 'Parnasse" she sighs dejectedly.
"You ought to stay away from the likes of him, 'Ponine" Grantaire reminds her for the hundredth time "One of these days he's going to really hurt you"
"I know" Eponine says softly, still staring at Marius "I suppose it's just me hoping that I can stop thinking of Monsieur Marius..."
"I know" Grantaire says before taking another swallow of wine. He's done the same sort of thing, tried to fall in love with someone else. But for him there is only his Apollo, Enjolras and no one else.
"Go on then. I held out my end of the bargain, now show me a masterpiece" Eponine reminds him, nudging his arm with her elbow. She smiles her crooked, broken smile.
Grantaire thinks Eponine is beautiful. He doesn't have romantic feeling for her; she could be his sister. As much as he loathes to admit it, he cares about her alot. He just doesn't see how people can over look someone as wonderful as Eponine Thenardier. And of course that fool Marius never gives her a second look.
He opens up a scuffed leather notebook and slides it across the table to her. On the page is today's sketch, done with a bit of charcoal.
"More Greeks?" Eponine comments, studying a drawing of the Greek god, Apollo, who happens to look alot like Enjolras.
Grantaire nods stiffly, the bottle still at his lips.
"I like it, 'Taire" Eponine says sincerely "They're lovely, all of them"
She flips a page and sees a sketch of herself. She looks beautifully melancholy, with a bittersweet smile. The only thing unrealistic about the picture is the way her hair looks soft and free of knots. The real Eponine smiles softly.
"You drew me too pretty"
"I'm a realist" Grantaire says "I draw things as I see them"
They fall silent for a moment. Grantaire stands, pulls a few francs from his pocket, and exchanges them for his sketchbook.
"Get yourself a meal" he tells her.
She doesn't object and takes the money gratefully. Before he leaves, Grantaire looks at the young gamin.
"Stay safe tonight, Eponine"
And with that, the nearly drunk cynic staggers off into the rainy Paris night.
