too late for second guessing (too late to go back to sleep)
by a charming young girl
act one
goodness knows
the wicked's lives are lonely
His mother gave him the name of an angel, to ignore the fact he was a child of the devil. Gabriel, they called him, a blessing from the Unnamed God.
He was born with green skin.
It's very simple, but at the same time, not at all. From this spiraled a series of rather tragic events, and Gabriel Tholomyès started believing that if the Unnamed God did exist, the deity was laughing at him from up above. He was Fate's personal chew toy.
His mother died after giving birth to his beautiful, crippled sister named Cosette. And his father, Monsieur Tholomyès, was not as caring as his mother was. He didn't like being a part of the family. He loves Cosette with all his heart but she isn't as outspoken as he is. She'd never stand up to their father, and he found himself clinging on to memories of the deceased Fantine Enjolras.
He takes her name, much to his father's chagrin, he supposes. ("How dare you dirty your dear mother's name by taking it as your own? You're a disgrace! You're not even human! You were not her son, and neither are you mine!")
And one day, when Cosette is of age, she declares during dinner, "I think I want to go to Shiz."
Enjolras nearly drops the plate he's washing. Shiz is one of his dream schools, and he's proud of his sister for choosing a good academy to attend. "Hmm?" Tholomyès asks. (He can't refer to the man as his father. He said it himself: they are not family.)
"Having a simple tutor is boring, papa." Cosette replies, "I want to go to an actual school! I want to make friends, and I want to go to balls and parties, have a roommate – "
The pleading in his daughter's voice is enough to make Tholomyès concede, Enjolras thinks. "You know I'd love to send you to Shiz, ma cherie, but I would not be there to look after you, and I cannot risk you getting hurt."
"Gabriel could accompany me!" she exclaims.
At this point, Enjolras does drop the plate as he's drying it, but manages to catch it before it hits the floor. The father and daughter continue talking as if they don't realize he's in the next room.
He can almost hear the smile slip off from Tholomyès' face as it shifts to a thin line. "What?"
"I'd very much like it if he could come, papa." she says, "I'd have much more fun with him there. He is my brother after all."
It's as this point Enjolras decides to leave. He goes back up to his room (the smallest one) and lies down in his bed, reading a book about the Great Drought. It's dreadfully boring, but those are the kind of books around the attic collecting dust, and he's determined to read all of them. He hears shouting from downstairs, but manages to tune it out with information about how food grew scarce, people got hungrier and hungrier...
The door flies open. "Gabriel!"
"Yes, Cosette?"
His sister is sitting in her wheelchair, tragically beautiful in all her glory. She's beaming at him. "Pack your things."
For the first time in a long time, he grins back.
we shall still revere the lessons learned
from our days at dear old shiz
Enjolras has gotten used to the staring and the questions. "No, I'm not about to throw up. No, I'm not experimenting with makeup. Yes, I was born like this." he answers them all calmly, with a smile. He doesn't want to scare people off anymore and have them screaming, but he'll settle for them slowly backing away.
"Gabriel, you will stop making a spectacle of yourself," Tholomyès says, "I sent you here only on Cosette's request." Then, turning to his darling daughter, "And now, my dear. I have a present for you."
Enjolras doesn't pay much attention to the scene of a loving father presenting his daughter with pristine, white slippers, probably straight from the Emerald City. Their father leaves after kissing Cosette's head, and doesn't spare Enjolras a second glance.
He likes to think he doesn't mind, but he actually he does.
"Welcome, new students!" their headmaster announces, "I am Monsieur Claquesous, headmaster here, at Shiz University. And whether you're here to study logic, literature, or linguification, I know I speak for my fellow faculty members when I say we have nothing but the highest hopes for some of you."
Everyone smiles politely and some even clap, except for a group of boys in the corner who are too busy goofing off. He raises his hand and when Monsieur takes notice, Enjolras sees him jump back a little before composing himself. He hears a snicker from a boy in the corner, who laughs along with his friends. "Sorry, but," he says, "I don't believe I was assigned a room?"
People are going on with their own business now; it wasn't an important question after all. "And what is your name?"
He walks over to the Headmaster, bringing Cosette with him, peeping at the list. He can read fast, and it takes a second to realize his name isn't on the list of room assignments. "Gabriel Enjolras," he replies, knowing that the using the name Tholomyès wouldn't make a difference. "I'm here to assist Mademoiselle Cosette Tholomyès. The Governor of Munchkinland pays for my education as well."
Claquesous looks thoughtful for a second before smiling apologetically. "I'm afraid there's been a problem, and you don't have a room," he clears his throat, "Is there anyone here willing to share a room with Monsieur Enjolras?"
One of the boys from the group earlier, the one in the corner suddenly raises his hand after breaking away from a conversation with his friends. "Excuse me, Monsieur Claquesous?"
"Perfect!" the Headmaster says, "I understand that you already have your own private room, Monsieur Courfeyrac? That way it wouldn't be too much of a problem if Enjolras here shared it with you – "
"What?" 'Courfeyrac' is confused, "I never said – "
"I believe this really would be the most convenient accommodation," the Headmaster says before turning to Enjolras, "You will be sharing your room with Monsieur Antoine Courfeyrac here,"
He forces a smile and nods despite the rising bile in his throat. Courfeyrac isn't having any of that, though. "I never volunteered to share my room with this freak!"
Enjolras flinches and the Headmaster looks at Courfeyrac sternly. "You will be sharing with Gabriel, and that is final."
Courfeyrac looks at him with a disgusted face and leaves, grumbling, going back to his friends. If Enjolras is lucky, then he'll be spending far too much time with Cosette to even be talk to boy the entire year. "Thank you, Monsieur Claquesous."
"Of course," the Headmaster replies, "My friend, Toussaint, will help your sister settle in."
The man tries getting the wheelchair with his sister in it, but Enjolras stays. "I believe I'm capable of helping my sister on my own." he says, "We stay together."
"The governor made his concern for your sister's well being quite clear. So, I thought it would be best if she share my private compartment where I can assist her as needed. I'm sorry, Enjolras, but I'm afraid you must leave." he clears his voice, "Everyone, to their dormitories!"
Touissaint grabs the wheelchair and Enjolras panics, closing his eyes. The world turns violent shades of red and black and suddenly he feels the handles of the chair in his hands again. He opens his eyes and releases a sigh of relief.
"Gabriel!" Cosette exclaims, "You promised Papa and I that this wouldn't happen again!"
"Sorry, Cosette." he mumbles, and Claquesous immediately rushes over to him.
"Never apologize for talent!" the Headmaster says, " Have you ever considered a career in sorcery?"
"Sorcery?" Enjolras asks, bewildered.
"I shall tutor you myself, and take no other students. You have a gift, Enjolras! You must use it!" Claquesous says, "Why, the Wizard could make you his magic grand vizier!"
"The W-Wizard?" he repeats, "Monsieur, I do not believe I am that special."
"Oh but you are!"
He sees Courfeyrac turning positively red, angered at the scene before him. Enjolras honestly can't bring himself to care. His mind is still reeling when people begin to disperse. This curse... is actually a gift?
He starts going to his room, trying to follow the general direction Courfeyrac went in as Toussaint gets his sister and they say their goodbyes.
People continue staring.
People continue asking questions.
But one day, everyone will know his name, and he will go down in history.
there's a strange exhilaration
in such total detestation
One day, he enters his room and there's a girl he's never seen before sitting on his bed.
"...Hello?" he says to her, and the girl puts down her book.
"Ah!" she says, her face gleaming with recognition. "You must be the Artichoke!" Enjolras frowns and the girl continues, oblivious to the fact that she just insulted him. "Courf has told me all about you."
"Courf as in... Courfeyrac?"
"Duh, silly!" the girl says, "My name is Jenna. Jenna Prouvaire. Yes, as in Adelina Prouvaire, Gilikinese fashion designer. She's my mother."
Enjolras remains dumbfounded. "I don't know who that is."
Jenna looks at his outfit from up to down. "Obviously not," she says, "Though, I can't blame you. Your skin clashes with everything." She clicks her tongue at him and continues to observe him like an animal in a zoo. "Why did you choose the color green anyway?"
"Excuse me?"
"When you had your skin done – "
"I was born like this."
"Oh." she says.
He decides to change the topic. "Where's Courfeyrac?"
"Courf is coming." she replies, "He's probably with Ferre and Joly, they're his best friends, but they're in a different room."
"...Shouldn't you be in your room?"
"I'm waiting for Fey?"
"Is he your boyfriend or something?"
"Not exactly." she replies, "Do you think I'd date that? He's an asshole most of the time, but I grew up with him, so I put up with him."
Speaking of the devil, the boy in question enters the room. "Jenna," Courfeyrac says, "What are you doing talking to the freak?"
"Don't be so mean, Antoine." Jenna says, standing up from the bed to kiss him on the cheek. "I was making conversation."
"You didn't have to."
"He's nice!"
"He's green."
"'He's' right here." Enjolras says, sighing, standing up from his place. "I'm going to class."
"History, right?" Jenna asks, "We'll walk with you."
Enjolras spots the look on Courfeyrac's face. "No need. It's fine for me to walk there on my own, mademoiselle."
He leaves the room and shuts the door, and as he walks forward he can hear Jenna say a simple, "I like him." and immediately a frustrated groan follows, along with some very loud insults like "He's a freak!" but Enjolras smiles. He's made one friend, he thinks, and that's enough for him to survive.
He arrives in the classroom where Monsieur Valjean (one of his favorite teachers) is waiting for him. Valjean is a Goat, and it makes Enjolras happy that he's learning history from a whole new angle: the side of the oppressed. "Good morning, class! As you know, I am the sole Animal on the faculty. The token Goat, as it were. But it wasn't always this way." Valjean smiles wistfully, "How I wish you could have seen it as it once was. And now..." He sighs. "Who could tell me what set these events into motion?"
Enjolras wracks his brain for an answer before his hand shoots up into the air like a rocket. "The Great Drought, sir."
Valjean beams. "Precisely, Enjolras!" he says, before going onto explain. Enjolras takes down his notes, something no other student seems to be doing. His sister is making heart eyes in the direction of some Munchkinlander... Marius, he thinks, the boy's name is. One of Courfeyrac and Jenna's friends
The pair enter the classroom late. "Don't think I don't see the two of you," Valjean says, "You're both late."
Courfeyrac rolls his eyes. "History's boring anyway."
"Excuse me?" the Goat asks, affronted.
"You're always droning on and on about things in the past. The present is much more exciting!"
"We wouldn't have the world today if it wasn't for the past, Courfeyrac." Valjean says, walking over to the blackboard and flipping it. "As you can see here – "
ANIMALS SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD!
The statement is written across the blackboard in all caps, in a messy scrawl and the class immediately silences. Valjean turns around. "Who did this?" he asks, and no one responds. "Answer me!" No one comes forward still and Valjean sighs. "Very well. Class dismissed."
Marius raises his hand meekly. "Sir, we've got twenty more minutes, it's not time yet – "
"I said, class dismissed!" Valjean repeats.
The students hurry out of the classroom and Enjolras turns to his sister, "You go ahead, Cosette. I'll meet you at our next subject."
"But... Who will bring me there?" she asks.
"I think Marius would be glad to." he winks and she blushes, a grin spreading across her face as she rolls over to the boy. He begins approaching Monsieur Valjean, but the Goat interrupts him.
"Enjolras, don't mind me. Go spend your free time with your friends."
"I have none." he replies, almost instantly. "You shouldn't let statements like that bother you, you're a brilliant professor!"
"If only it were a matter of just words," he says, smiling weakly, "Now go on, make friends if you're so sure you've got none."
He hesitates. "Are you sure, sir?"
"Of course." Valjean replies, "Don't worry about me. You're a very bright young man, Enjolras. I won't let these words bother me any longer. It'll take more than just writings on a chalkboard to stop me."
dancing through life
swaying and sweeping
and always keeping cool
"Mademoiselle Éponine, you must wake up."
She's sleeping, of course. The trip to Shiz is awfully long and she spent the whole night last night arguing with her parents, and most of early morning ranting to her friend, Montparnasse about unfair it is that they're making her switch schools again. "We're here," Parnasse continues, "Shiz University."
She raises an eyebrow. "The name of this place is Shit University?"
Parnasse looks around. It's nowhere near as extravagant as her old school. "Might as well be."
He helps her down from her carriage and she smiles gratefully. "Thanks, Parnasse."
"See you soon, princess."
Montparnasse winks at her before getting into the carriage, presumably to bring her things to her room, and leaves her standing in front of the entrance of the school. There's a boy and a girl walking nearby, so she approaches them after sparing a quick glance at her timetable. "Excuse me, do you know where – "
"You're Éponine Thenardiér!" the girl exclaims, "Nice to meet you! My name is Jenna Prouvaire."
"It's nice to meet you," then recognizing the last name, "I like your mom's dresses. I wear them all the time."
The girl lets out a squeal and Éponine almost covers her ears. "Did you hear that, Courf?" the girl exclaims, "She wears my mom's dresses all the time!" Jenna turns back to her and gives her a hug. "I can tell, we're going to be best friends."
She smiles uncertainly. "It's nice to meet you too."
The boy with Jenna smiles apologetically. "Now, now, Jenna, don't frighten her." he says, before reaching over to get Éponine's hand, kissing it. "Antoine Courfeyrac, at your service."
She blushes. "I'm – I'm – " She stops, her brain short circuiting. "Well, you know who I am." She looks around for a few seconds before biting her lip and facing them again. "Do you know where the history building is?"
"That class just ended," Courfeyrac tells her.
"Oh!" she exclaims, "Well then. Perfect timing, I guess? I think I'll go get settled into my room now, since there aren't anymore subjects left for the day..."
Jenna grins. "Oh, but you must come to the party tonight!"
"Party?"
"It's at the Musain! The ballroom near the school." Jenna says, "You should, like, totally come with!"
She shakes her head. "I think I'll pass," she says, "I don't really do parties much."
"Please? It's for my birthday!"
Courfeyrac rolls his eyes. "It's not your birthday, Jen."
"Shush! She doesn't know that!" Jenna smiles sheepishly, "Please come? It would mean the absolute world to me!"
She contemplates her decision in her head for a few seconds. It would be nice to get some new friends to help her adjust better. "Sure." she finally says, "Why not?"
"Eep!" Jenna exclaims, "This'll be so much fun!"
Éponine forces herself to smile. "I can't wait."
we can dance 'till it's light
find the prettiest girl, give her a whirl
Courfeyrac set his sister up with the object of her affections.
Courfeyrac stopped calling him Artichoke.
Courfeyrac gave him something to wear to the party tonight.
Courfeyrac invited him to the party tonight.
He has every right to be suspicious.
He's grateful though, even if he knows that Jenna probably forced him to do every single thing. He's heard Courfeyrac ranting to his friends about how much he wants to be in Claquesous' sorcery class. It doesn't take much for Claquesous to accept the request of his star student and he promises Enjolras that Courfeyrac will have a starter wand by the end of the day. Enjolras smiled in gratitude, at least he wouldn't be so alone during his sessions with the Headmaster.
He goes to the party, it would be rude not to, and sits in the corner. He doesn't dance because it would just mean humiliation and embarrassment of the highest degree and instead he sits down, alone in the corner. A girl walks over to him and she's shorter than him even if she's wearing heels. She has eyes that color of chocolate and hair that matches, and she looks bored out of her mind. Ah. The princess.
"You have green skin." she tells him, straight to the point. (And he's confused, because aren't princesses supposed to have grace and tact and all that jazz?)
"I've noticed." he replies, raising an eyebrow.
She looks at him for a couple of seconds before shrugging, taking a seat next to him and leaning against the back of her chair. "Doesn't matter anyway." she says, "What's your name?"
"Gabriel Enjolras," he replies, "And you?"
She hesitates. "Éponine Jondrette."
He smiles a little after noticing her hesitation. "That's not your real name, isn't it?"
"It isn't." she replies with a grin of her own, "Your red vest makes you look like a Christmas tree."
"Gee, thanks." he says, "And I know who you are, by the way." He points at Courfeyrac. "That is my roommate, and his girlfriend wouldn't shut up about you the entire day."
"I don't know whether to be flattered or concerned," she tells him honestly, "What do you know about me?"
"I'm forgetting your name, to be honest." he replies, "What I remember mostly is that you're the princess with the 'scandalacious' reputation."
She makes a face, her features scrunching up in a not so attractive way, and he thinks it looks adorable. "Oh, really?" she says, "And why is my reputation so... scandalacious? Is that even a word?"
"I think it's slang." Enjolras is quick to say, "And you were kicked out of your old school, correct me if I'm wrong."
"False." she says, "And I'm not a princess."
"You might as well be." he says, "While Jenna was deciding what to wear today and playing dress up with Courfeyrac, I was flipping through magazines. Don't you live in a castle?"
She shrugs. "Perhaps."
"What is it your family does exactly? I never understood."
"Stuff." she replies simply, "The Thenardiér family is shrouded in secrets." It's almost like she's joking, but Enjolras catches the hint of truth in her tone.
"Ah, so your last name is Thenardiér?"
"Caught me." He smiles, and she continues talking, "Whoever made you wear red probably hates you."
He turns just in time to see Courfeyrac point at him while he and his friends burst out laughing. "To be honest," he says, "I think you're right."
"So it was the roommate." she says, following his eyes.
"Yes." he says, "Which makes me all the more wary that he set up my sister with someone." He gestures towards Cosette and Marius, the latter of which rolling his sister around in an attempt to 'dance'.
"He looks nice." Éponine replies, "That one, I think, is being genuine." She straightens in her seat. "That's Cosette Tholomyès."
"It is."
"If she's your sister, that means you're the son of the governor of Munchkinland." she grins, "And you accuse me of giving you a fake name!"
"I'd rather not identify with my father, the same way he does not want to identify with me." he replies simply, "And don't say you're sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for." he adds the latter quickly, before taking a sip out of his punch.
That cuts her off. A wry smile slowly starts making its way on her face. "I like you."
He nearly spits out his drink. "What?"
"You're cool."
"Thanks?" Enjolras replies, though it comes out as more of a question. "For what it's worth, it was nice to meet you too."
She's beaming at him. Her eyes light up and she doesn't look so bored anymore, and it's very contagious, that smile of hers. He nearly doesn't notice the fact that the corners of his lips are being tugged up by some invisible force that he cannot control. "I should hope so."
popular
you're gonna be popular
you'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports
know the slang you've got to know
so let's start, 'cause you've got an awfully long way to go
Enjolras regrets that he wasn't able to talk to Éponine the entire night, but everyone wanted to talk to her. It was impossible for him to even approach her after their quick conversation, so he retired to his room quite early. He turned the lights off and said a silent prayer to the Unnamed God he didn't believe in that his roommate wouldn't interrupt his sleep.
The Unnamed God chose to spite him.
Courfeyrac practically kicks open the door, turns on too much more light than necessary, and sits down on Enjolras' bed, at his feet, a look of pure suspicion on his face. "You got me into Claquesous' class."
"That I did," Enjolras mumbles in to his pillow.
"Why?" The suspicious look is replaced with one of disbelief, Courfeyrac shaking his head.
"I was lonely." he deadpans, even though it's quarter of the reason why, "Can I sleep now?"
"Oh, don't give me that bullshit." Enjolras sits up, mostly because he knows that Courfeyrac is nowhere near shutting up. They're both quiet for a while, before Enjolras hears a barely audible word. "Thanks."
He immediately perks up. "What was that?"
"I said thank you, alright?" Courfeyrac says, snapping slightly, and normally Enjolras would be mad but he's sleepy and this is the closest thing he's going to get to amiability. "We can be... friends now."
"Friends?"
"Yes."
Enjolras is silent for a couple more moments, as the two of them sit together, the scene shrouded in complete and utter awkwardness. "I must say," the green boy says, "I'm unfamiliar with the concept."
"Basically, it's someone you enjoy the general presence of. You talk to them voluntarily and you exchange secrets." Courfeyrac says it slow, as if talking to a five year old, and Enjolras rolls his eyes at the slightly condescending tone.
"Then tell me a secret," Enjolras says, crossing his arms. It's mostly just to use for future blackmail, if he ever needs it, and because they need to make the entire thing official. "Be honest."
Courfeyrac doesn't speak for a while, as if trying to pick the least embarrassing one. "Y'know Jenna?"
"No, I don't." Enjolras replies, sarcastically.
His roommate shoots him a look. "I'm trying to be genuine here, 'Jolras." he says, and it's weird because he doesn't think anyone's ever tried nicknaming him before. "Well, she doesn't know it yet, but I'm gonna marry her."
"What, so you're going to ask her?" Enjolras asks, intrigued, "I mean, I didn't even know you two were dati – "
"No, no. It's just that. One day. Maybe." Courfeyrac says hurriedly, and his face is red, which makes Enjolras give the slightest smile. It's nice seeing the boy so vulnerable. "Now, you tell me a secret."
Enjolras thinks. He doesn't have any embarrassing crushes or stories when he was younger, his life is practically an open book. There's nothing very interesting about him aside from the color of his skin, so he decides to dive right into the ten foot deep pool. "I killed my mom."
Courfeyrac's eyes widen. "I said share a secret, not give me reason to call the cops."
"No, no, no, no, no!" Enjolras protests, "It's just that, when my mom was pregnant with Cosette, my dad didn't want her turning out..."
"Green?"
"Yes. Green. So, he had her chew these milk flowers and it made Cosette come too soon, with her little legs all tangled. And our mother never woke up. None of which would have ever happened if not for me." he pauses, "So... He hates me."
"What a dick." is what Courfeyrac says immediately, "Like, I know he's your dad and all, 'Jolras, but what a dick. It's not your fault that your mom's dead, if anything it's his."
"Don't – "
"No, you don't." he says, "It might be your secret but it doesn't mean it's true." Enjolras smiles weakly, but it's genuine, and after a couple of beats of silence they both hear a beeping sound coming from the clock in their room. "Woah, is it tomorrow already? And 'Jolras – wait, you don't mind that I'm calling you that, right?"
"It's strange, but it's fine." he says in reply.
"Good, because 'Enjolras' is a mouthful."
"And Courfeyrac isn't?"
"You can call me Courf, then. It's what my friends call me." 'Courf' says, "Speaking of which, now that we're friends, I've decided to make you my new project."
Enjolras groans. "You're not going to give me a makeover, are you?"
Courfeyrac scoffs. "Of course not. I'm leaving that to Jenna." he says, "Don't worry, though. Just follow my lead, and you will be popular."
Enjolras snorts, which develops into a chuckle, which develops into a full out laugh. "You, my friend, are trying to accomplish the impossible."
"I'm the king of popular, I know everything there is to know about it! Surely I can make you popular. Just... Don't be offended. Think of it as personality dialysis. And don't say you don't need it, think of all the leaders and great people in Oz today. Are they smart? Are they brainy? Hell no! They were popular!"
"This is never going to work..." he mutters.
"It's simple, 'Jolras. We can start with the easy things. Like flipping your hair."
"What?"
Courfeyrac demonstrates, flipping his hair with an award winning grin. "You try!"
"No."
"Please?"
"I. Said. No."
Courfeyrac spends the entire night trying to get him to try on clothes, flip his hair and apply numerous hair products to it and everything, practice smiling and basically the entire shebang. It's ridiculous, but Enjolras finds himself laughing. Having a friend might not be so bad.
every so often we long to steal
to the land of what might have been
but that doesn't soften the ache we feel
when reality sets back in
The one time Enjolras tries flipping his hair in public, Éponine Thenardiér catches him.
Just his luck.
"Ew." she says, "Don't do that."
"What?"
"It's just that – you're turning into Courfeyrac, and we already have enough of him in Oz, so don't do that."
"Note taken." he replies, smiling a little.
She smiles back at him and takes the seat next to him. ("Everyone else is sitting so far away from you," she puts it bluntly, "As your friend, I have all the space in the world now.")
"Take your seats, class. Take your seats, please." Valjean announces, going to the front, "I have something to say and very little time. My dear students, this is my last day here at Shiz. Animals are no longer permitted to teach."
"What?" Enjolras shouts, and if it weren't for Éponine pulling him down, he would've stood up.
"Please, Enjolras." Valjean says, a pleading look in his eyes to keep quiet. "I'd like to thank all of you for sharing your enthusiasm, your essays, and your time. It was an honor teaching you all."
Claquesous arrives, leaning by the doorframe. "Oh, Professor. I am so terribly sorry, but I believe we must leave."
"Monsieur!" Enjolras exclaims, turning to face the Headmaster. "You cannot possibly permit this!"
"Enjolras, I have told you this before and I will tell you again, it will take much, much more to stop me from speaking out again." the Goat says, a rebellious glint in his eyes,a and Enjolras nods, unsure of what to do. "You're not being told the whole story. Remember that."
Enjolras vows to avenge him.
He will find out the whole story.
An Ozian official, from the Emerald City, most probably, walks into the class, holding something covered by a cloth. "Good afternoon, students!" The class replies, half-heartedly, still shaken by Valjean's abrupt departure. "More and more everyday with each tick of the Time Dragon Clock in every corner of our great Oz, one hears the silence of progress! For example, this is called a cage!"
He lifts the cloth and inside of it is a Lion Cub. "Yes, you'll be seeing more and more of them in the future." the official continues, as the Headmaster leaves the classroom. "This remarkable innovation is actually for the Animal's own good!"
"If it's for his own good, then why is he trembling?" Éponine asks, and Enjolras hadn't noticed. He was still reeling from Valjean's dismissal, and upon closer observation, he can see what Éponine is talking about.
"He's excited to see you, that's all." the official says, nonchalantly. "Now, come closer everyone and see!" Students gather around the 'cage' and look at the Animal inside of it. "As I was saying, one of the benefits of caging a Lion Cub this young is the he will never in fact learn how to speak!"
Enjolras looks at Éponine. "A world where Animals don't speak? And they're kept in cages too! Look, it's almost as if it's a prison." he asks, panic in his voice. "What are we going to do?"
"We?" Éponine asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Have a problem with that?"
"No." she replies, grinning. "What's the plan?"
"I haven't figured that out yet." he admits, distraught. "Just that – somebody has to do something!"
Upon his sudden exclamation, the entire class starts twitching and doing something that looks like some twisted form of dancing, before passing out abruptly, including the official. "Enjolras..." Éponine starts (looks like the spell left her alone), "What did you do?"
"I don't know! I just got mad and then – "
She rolls her eyes before bending down and pressing her fingers against some random student's pulse, Feuilly, Enjolras thinks his name is. "They're just knocked out. Not dead." she says, before grabbing the cage as Enjolras looks at her. "What? Are you just going to stand there? Come on!"
"Where are we going?"
"The forest!" she exclaims, "For being the top of the class, you're incredibly thick sometimes."
The forest isn't very far, and the two of them make it there in just a couple of minutes. "Careful!" Enjolras says, "Don't shake him."
"I'm not!" she says in reply, and Enjolras nods, still rather frantic and confused
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
She turns to face him, rolling her eyes. "Monsieur, if there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I know my way around." Éponine turns around again, intent on getting to the forest, and Enjolras calms down at her words. He trusts this girl. After reaching some part of the forest, Éponine sits down. "This should be safe enough," she tells him, before opening the cage.
"Yeah." he agrees, trying to go to the Cub, to see if it calms down, but the thing only runs away from him. "It was scared of me." he says bitterly, "Figures."
"I'm not scared of you," she replies, very matter-of-factly. "Okay, you have green skin. So what? Isn't green supposed to be good?" She shrugs. "I mean, we have an entire city full of the color."
Éponine smiles a little, probably in reassurance, walking closer to him as his eyes lock onto hers. If there has to be a moment when he realized Éponine Thenardiér was beautiful, it would probably be this one. Enjolras is just confused, of course, there is an entire gaggle of boys fawning over the 'princess' at school, since when did he become one of them?
He pulls his eyes away from hers. (Those things are too damn captivating.) He looks down and notices a tiny wound near her wrist and frowns. "Did the Lion scratch you?" he says, and he's an idiot because he forgot to say 'thank you' or that he appreciated her earlier sentiment, but the moment has passed.
She looks at the scratch quickly and nods. "I guess so – I must've not noticed it." she shrugs, "It's nothing."
He frowns. "You're bleeding."
"I am?" she asks, and he instinctively reaches out to grab her hand and show it to her.
And then, a spark.
Enjolras isn't sure if she notices it either, if she did, she's doing a remarkable job at hiding it. It's tiny, but it's there, just like the feeling of static, except better. He looks at her and finds the girl blushing, so he pulls away. He doesn't want to admit that he felt better when her hand was in his.
"I should probably go get it checked out then," she says, in a hurry. "Free period was after History anyway, and uhh..." She trails off, looking at him.
"You're right." he says, abruptly, looking anywhere but her eyes.
"Bye."
"Goodbye."
She turns around, walking briskly in the direction of the school. It sounds absolutely pathetic, but he's left just standing there, looking at the space where she once was.
"Éponine?" he calls out, but she's already too far away to hear him.
And just his luck, it starts raining as if the Unnamed God just wanted to let him know that he did in fact have absolutely no chance with this girl.
"There you are, Monsieur Enjolras!" he hears someone exclaim, and he turns around swiftly to face them. It's the Headmaster. "Oh, I have thrillifying news! I've finally heard back from the Wizard, and — he wishes to meet you!" He cringes at the Headmaster's attempt at slang (Thrillifying? Really?) but smiles nonetheless.
"What?" he asks, and to be honest, he wasn't really paying attention. The thought of Éponine is far too overwhelming.
"The Wizard!" Claquesous practically shouts, "He wants to meet you! He asked for you personally."
Enjolras suddenly has a whole different thing to worry about, and he barely pays attention as Claquesous does some spells to stop the rain. ("Weather is my specialty," the man is saying as the rain begins to come to a halt.) The Wizard? Wants to meet him? "He asked for me?"
"Yes! I know how devastated you are about Professor Valjean, but look! A door closes and another one opens."
He hadn't even thought of Valjean until Claquesous mentioned it. He could tell the Wizard about what is happening to the Animals! He'd talk about the concept of cages, how it must be abolished, and how Animals deserve to be able to talk. They need to be able to share their opinions and insights and everything! He beams, too excited about the entire thing. Enjolras is pretty sure if he smiles any wider, his face will fall off. "Thank you, Sir!"
"Make me proud, Enjolras."
He nods his head vigorously. "I will! I'll try!"
Time to go down in history.
so i'll be back for good someday
to make my life and make my way
but for today i'll wander and enjoy
one short day in the emerald city
"Oh, Enjy, I'm so proud of you! We all are! Aren't we, Courf? This is just absolutely splendicocious! Thrillifying! I'm just so jealous of you, getting to go to the Emerald City. You get to meet the Wizard, imagine! I don't think anyone's seen the Wizard before, does that mean you're the first? Tell me everything about the place when you get back!"
Jenna is talking nonstop, and Courf is just nodding his head and smiling. Cosette is there too, but she's more concerned about the fact that Marius hasn't talked to her since the day before. He frowns a little because where is Éponine? but he shakes his head of all these thoughts. How foolish of him to think that she considered him as close a friend as he did. Of course she has other friends.
Enjolras grins at Jenna who just squeals before turning to Cosette. "Will you be alright without me?"
"Of course she will!" Courf interrupts, "She has Marius."
Jenna's face suddenly pales. "Where is Marius anyway?" she asks, "Not here, huh? Cosette, sweetie, maybe he's just not the right one for you or..."
"No! He's the one. It's me that's not right. I probably did something yesterday." his sister worries, a frown crossing her face.
Enjolras sighs. "You can go look for him if you want."
Her face lights up, and he can't help but smile back. "Thank you, mon frere!" she exclaims, "I promise I'll be ready to hear about everything once you return! Have a safe trip!"
And just like that, Cosette is gone. Courf snorts before shrugging. "I'll miss you." he says, barely audible.
"You'll barely notice I'm gone."
"I think the absence of my green roommate will be pretty noticeable." he says, "Nevertheless, we'll survive without you." He shares a quick group hug on Jenna's insistence, and smiles at them both, nervous yet excited.
"All aboard!" the conductor announces, and yet he finds that his feet refuse to move.
Courfeyrac raises an eyebrow. "Well? What are you waiting for?" he asks, and Enjolras ducks his head to prevent either of his friends seeing him blush. "Ah. Who are you waiting for?"
Maybe Courfeyrac is magic, because before he can even open his mouth to reply, he hears someone shout his name. "Enjolras!" and it's Éponine, and she still looks stunning. "I was afraid you already left."
"I was afraid you wouldn't come," he admits, and Jenna is probably fangirling in the background. Courfeyrac is telling her to keep quiet, but a tiny little squeal was released. "I have to go now, though." he says, awkwardly.
"Yes, of course." she says, nodding. "I just wanted to wish you luck."
"Thank you."
He turns to leave already, but suddenly Éponine kisses him on the cheek and he thinks he nearly falls down because whatever tiny little spark he felt in the forest now feels like nothing compared to the lightning bolt that just hit him. Courfeyrac laughs as Éponine smirks a little, "Bye!" she says, as she leaves, and if it's even possible, his face turns an even darker shade of green.
She smirked. She knows the effect she has on him, and he doesn't mind at all.
"Enjolras and Éponine?" Jenna asks, practically screaming.
"It would seem so." Courf replies, amused.
"Just – just – " Enjolras fumbles, "Don't – Ugh. Okay?"
"Gotcha." Courf chuckles, "I can't believe that you're at a loss for words. This is an important moment in history."
Jenna looks at a clock and suddenly panics. "Shit!" she exclaims, "I have to go. Bye, darlings." she says, "Have fun, Enjolras!"
Now that Jenna leaves, Enjolras turns to Courfeyrac who nods his head towards the train. "You'll miss the train, you lucky bastard. I wish I could go, skip classes for a day."
Enjolras shrugs. "You could come with me."
Courfeyrac grins wickedly. "I thought you'd never ask."
They board the train together and when they step off, everything is just spectacular. They're given glasses, green ones, just like the rest of the city, which lives up to its name. It looks positively emerald, everything's green, everything. Her meeting with the Wizard is not until later that day, so they spend the entire time watching shows and going around, buying souvenirs. (Courf buys a necklace for Jenna, and makes Enjolras swear to keep it a secret.)
"Hurry up, 'Jolras!" he says, "We'll be late for your meeting with the Wizard."
"I want to remember this moment." he answers honestly, standing at the corner of the street. "Always. Nobody's staring. Nobody's pointing. I just feel like I belong."
Courf smiles. "Let's make a deal then."
"Of what kind?"
"When we're old enough and out of Shiz," Courf begins, "We'll come back here one day. And we'll bring Jenna, and most probably 'Ponine as well – " he winks, " – but more importantly, we'll just come back here together. This'll be our home. You and I, best friends."
Enjolras can see it perfectly in his mind. "Best friends?"
"Definitely."
"I like the sound of that."
i think everyone deserves the chance to fly
They enter the Wizard's private chair, and giant head greets them. "I am Oz!" it booms, and Enjolras makes a note to make fun of Courf later, because the boy practically wet his pants in surprise. "I am Oz, the great and terrible! Who are you and why do you seek me?"
"Say something," Courf says to him through gritted teeth.
"I am Gabriel Enjolras!" he says in return to the giant head, "This is my best friend, Antoine Courfeyrac, Your Terribleness, and – "
"Oh!" the head suddenly says, in a voice not as threatening as the last one. "Enjolras! Of course, did I startle you?" A tall man comes out from behind the head. "I'm terribly sorry, my apologies. It's so difficult to make out people's heads behind that thing." The Wizard turns to face him, not even fazed by the fact his skin is green. "You are Enjolras, yes?"
"Yes, Sir."
"No need for such titles." the Wizard says, "You may call me Javert." Courfeyrac is observing the giant head, and the giant cloth behind it which is covering something, and Javert remarks upon it, looking somewhat sheepish. "I know, it's a bit much isn't it? But people expect this sort of thing and you have to give people what they want."
Courfeyrac turns to face the Wizard. "Antoine Courfeyrac." he introduces himself, holding out a hand, "I'm happy to meet you."
Javert shakes it, smiling. "Well that's good – I rather like making people happy."
Before he can forget, Enjolras says, "By the way, there's been something I wanted to talk to you about, first and foremost. It has to do with the Animals."
"I know," Javert says, "I know everything, including why you've come. I fully intend to grant your request. Of course, you must prove yourself first."
"And how would he do that?" Courfeyrac asks.
Javert gestures to a monkey in the corner of the room, "This is Gavroche. Everyday, he looks at the birds so longingly. I hope to give him wings."
Courfeyrac snorts. "Preposterous."
"Magic can do anything, young lad." Javert tells his friend, as he brings out a old, dusty book. Enjolras stares at it, Grimmerie: The Ancient Book of Thaumaturgy and Enchantments, it says.
"What funny writing," Enjolras says, "The lost language, yes? The language of spells."
"Correct." Javert confirms, "Don't be discouraged if you cannot decipher it. I myself can only read a spell or two and that took years and years of constant study, however," He points at one of the spells after opening the book. "I believe this one will give Gavroche the wings he wishes for."
Enjolras skims through the spell quickly, then raises his hand in Gavroche's direction. "Ahben Tahkay," he begins, enunciating each word as carefully as he can. "Ahben Atum Ahben. Takayah Entayah Ah Entayah. Tifentah. Ahben Tahkay Ah. Ahben – " Suddenly, the Monkey starts twitching in pain. "Am I hurting him?"
"Just the transition," Javert says, waving his hand dismissively.
Suddenly, the Animal begins to sproud large, red wings and Courfeyrac gasps. "He has... wings." he says, stunned before beaming. "You did it, 'Jolras! You actually gave the damned thing wings!" Gavroche still looks as if he's in pain, and Enjolras winces, knowing that spells are irreversible. There's nothing he can do.
The Wizard suddenly pulls back a lever, which drops the giant cloth Courfeyrac had been observing earlier.
There are dozens of winged monkeys flying behind a cage.
"Wonderful!" Javert exclaims, "Look what you've done!"
"I did that?" Enjolras asks, dumbfounded.
"If this is how you do on your first time out, the sky's the limit!" Javert exclaims, "Such wingspan!" He turns to face Courfeyrac with a positively jubilant grin. "Won't they make perfect spies?"
"Spies?" Courfeyrac asks, confused.
"You're right. That's too harsh a word. More of scouts, really. They'll be able to fly around Oz and report suspicious Animal activity!"
Enjolras almost drops the Grimmerie. "It's you." he says, horror and realization dawning on his face. "You're the one who's doing everything to the Animals! The cages, the reason why they're not speaking anymore. It's all you! You're the reason why Valjean had to be sacked – it's all you!"
"The best way to bring people together is to give them a common enemy," Javert says, matter-of-factly. "And the Animals were perfect for the role."
Enjolras is furious, looking at the Grimmerie as the pieces begin to come together. "You can't read this book at all, can you? That's why you need enemies! And spies! And cages! You have no real power, and you wanted to use me!"
"The world is your oyster now," Javert says, "Not just you, Gabriel, but both of you!"
Courfeyrac is still smiling. "Thank you, your Ozness!"
"No!" Enjolras snaps, "I refuse to have any part in this!"
And with that, he grabs the Grimmerie and storms out of the room, banging the door. He's running up the stairs, to the highest point of the castle, and as his footsteps echo across the stairwell he swears he can hear the booming voice of the great head once more. "There's a fugitive at arms in the palace! Find him! Capture him! Bring him to me!"
i'm through accepting limits
'cause someone says they're so
some things, i cannot change
but 'till i try, i'll never know
"'Jolras!" He's on the rooftop of the palace, sitting on the floor, flipping through the Grimmerie frantically, and his head snaps up to see Courfeyrac waiting at the door. "What do you think you are doing?" He ignores his friend, this is far more important, looking for a levitation spell in the dusty old book. "Listen to me!"
"Barricade the door!" is all Enjolras says in reply, and Courfeyrac lets out a giant sigh of exasperation, using an old door to blockade the entrance. "Look, I just need to go, did you hear what the Wizard said down there? It's all because of him! All of the Animals forgetting how to speak!"
Courfeyrac is having none of it. "Why couldn't you have just stayed calm for once?" he asks, desperation in his voice. "Instead of flying off the handle! I hope you're happy! There are guards all over the palace looking to arrest you!"
Suddenly, the two of them hear an announcement blaring over speakers from the streets below. "Citizens of Oz, there is an enemy who must be found and captured! Believe nothing he says, he is evil! Responsible for the mutilation of these poor, innocent monkeys!" the voice booms, "His green skin is but an outward manifestation of her twisted nature! This distortion! This repulsion! Thiswickedness!"
Courfeyrac takes a few deep breaths. "We all just need to calm down. Come downstairs with me, we'll explain everything." the boy holds out his hand, "Don't be afraid, 'Jolras."
"I'm not." Enjolras replies, his voice shaky. "It's the Wizard who should be afraid of me."
His friend is taken aback. "Look, we can just fix everything, I know we can. You can have everything you wanted, remember? The glory? Standing side by side with the Wizard, everyone cheering."
"I can't want that anymore, Courf." Enjolras says, "Things have changed. I refuse to turn a blind eye to those Animals and work with the very person causing all their suffering." He raises his hand in the direction of another old broom on the rooftop. "Ah May Tay Ah Tum Ditum." The broom levitates, hovering above the floor and Enjolras laughs, relieved, smiling. He opens his palm and the broom comes flying towards him, and he tries riding on it, his feet leaving the floor. "Yes!" he exclaims.
"Oz!" Courfeyrac exclaims, "Enjolras, you can't actually be serious."
"I'm sick of it all, Courfeyrac." he says, "I'm sick of just living by everyone else's rules and expectations, I'm going to go against it all. Just look at me! I've already defied gravity! Everything's just in the colors red and black, that's how I see it. There's a world about to dawn. And all this suffering, this endless night, I'll be the one to end it." He pauses. "And you could do it with me."
"What?" Courfeyrac asks, his throat dry.
"We're the greatest team there's ever been, Courf." Enjolras reasons, "Together, we'd be unlimited. They'd never be able to bring us down. Will you be strong and stand with me?"
The boy is silent.
"Well?" Enjolras asks, "Are you coming?"
Courfeyrac sighs and shakes his head. "Good luck."
"What?" he asks, shocked. "Courf, come with me."
"I hope you don't regret this." he says, "You're my friend. I just want you to be happy." Courfeyrac hugs him, patting him on the back before offering a kind smile. "Now, hurry! The guards are coming soon!"
Enjolras nods in understanding, and flies his broom skyward. The doors burst open, and the guards immediately seize his friend, while others point up at him and begin to yell. Enjolras laughs darkly in return. "Take this message back to the Wizard, if you please," he says, clutching the Grimmerie under his arm. "Nobody in all of Oz if ever going to bring me down." he pauses, "I'd like to see him try."
The beating of his heart echoes the beating of the drums as he flies into the Western sky, never looking back.
Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miz or Wicked. I wish I did!
Author's Note: I don't know if this has been done before, if it has, I swear I'm not trying to copy or anything. The idea just sort of popped into my head. Yes, Enjolras is Elphaba, not Fiyero. And, I know I've disappeared. A lot of you probably don't even know who I am. Change of Heart will not be continued, I think, but I might restart it in the future. I'm not very fond of my old writing. Bleh. Hope you enjoyed this, the second act will be up soon! Review?