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Outcast

Chapter 3: Accepted

Laraine smirked at the 'Gypsy King', "Clopin Trouillefou, eh?" She bowed playfully at his feet, "Oh wise and humble master, please bestow upon me a place of which I can live. It would be most appreciated, my king."

Clopin grinned, playing along with her little game, "Why my loyal subject, I would be honored if you would be able to live with me."

Laraine stood up, shocked, "R-really?"

Clopin rolled his eyes, "Of course not…" He then practically shouted to the whole world, "WHY OF COURSE YOU CAN, MY DEAR!" He smiled, "After all…" He leaned closer to her, poking her with his elbow, "You have a debt to pay."

Laraine looked at him, "A what?"

Clopin smirked, suddenly fascinated with his gloved hands, "Oh, I don't know… because a certain Gypsy King saved a certain damsel in distress?" He looked up in the air, tapping his index finger to his chin, pondering, "Now, I wonder who that could be?" He turned to an imaginary person next to him, "Oh, I don't know. Do you? Of course you don't…" He turned to another 'person', "Oh, Clopin Trouillefou? You don't say!"

Larine sighed, "Well, if that's the way you're going to play, I won't live with you." She folded her arms across her chest and stuck her nose up in the air.

"Fine – WHAT?!" Clopin was shocked. He walked over to her, putting on his best 'puppy-dog' pout, "And WHY NOT?"

Laraine smirked, "Debts are so troublesome, non? I'd rather live with someone I'm not paying off a debt for." She then threw Clopin a rather sheepish grin, "But if the 'Gypsy King' doesn't like it-"

Clopin frowned, turning away and dramatically walking away, "Fine! But don't come CRYING to me if no one takes you in!" He marched away, muttering incomprehensible gibberish that Laraine couldn't hear.

Laraine shook her head, "That man is something else." She looked around and blushed – quite a crowd had gathered to see their little performance.

Laraine awkwardly laughed, rubbing the back of her neck, "Umm… bonjour everyone!"

The people gave her odd looks; some mad that she had upset the gypsy king, others were nervous from the fact that she was from a different band of gypsies than her, and others just had weird-looking facial expressions to begin with.

Laraine bit her lip; having everyone glaring at her was making her very uncomfortable. Just when she was about to melt into the floor from fright and embarrassment, an unknown woman then came out of the crowd and dragged Laraine behind a tent.

Laraine sighed with relief and smiled at the girl who had graciously saved her from total embarrassment, "Merci vraiment."

The girl turned to her – she had thick black hair and vivid green eyes. There was a pink scarf wrapped around her hair and she wore a white shoulder less shirt complemented with a teal-green corset and a long purple skirt with a purple shawl on it with golden coins sewn on the fringe. She smiled warmly at her, "No harm done. I didn't want everyone out there to skin you alive, did I?"

Laraine chuckled and smiled. She then took in the girl's looks and gasped, "I swear! You are the spitting image of my mother! What a coincidence!"

The girl laughed, "Well, I assure you that I am not your mother. My name is Esmeralda." Esmeralda's gaze went suddenly to Laraine's earrings. "If you're going to stay with us, you need golden earrings. That way the guards will be able to know that you reside here, and that you're not a spy. Also, people may not look at you like that again." She motioned to her, "Follow me – I think that I may I have some spares in my tent." Esmeralda led Laraine through the Court of Miracles.

"Wow," Laraine looked up in awe, trying to take everything in. There were people wearing all sorts of colors and designs with all kinds of hairstyles and each and every one of them had a smile on their face. She then looked up and winced – she saw a gallows display, 'Well… they have to keep the place safe somehow.'

Esmeralda then came to a magenta tent and smiled, "Here we are, I'll find your earrings now." She ushered Laraine inside and came to a chest. Esmeralda spent some time looking around but then came upon two golden hoop earrings. She gave them to Laraine and smiled, "There you are."

Laraine smiled, "They're beautiful." She held them up and watched the way the light danced on them. She then took off her silver earrings and put on the golden ones.

Esmeralda nodded, "You look wonderful… umm, what was your name again?"

"Laraine, Laraine Allaire."

Esmeralda smiled, "Come. You must be starving, non? I'll fix you something to eat."

Laraine followed her, smiling gratefully, "Merci Es-"

Clopin was standing in the mouth of the tent, an angry look painted across his face as he impatiently stamped his foot on the ground. He stomped up to Esmeralda and breathed, "WHAT do YOU think you're DOING?!"

Esmeralda and Laraine swallowed.

Clopin's expression changed as he pouted at Esmeralda, batting his eyelashes and putting his arms behind his back trying to get Esmeralda to pity him, "I was the one who was supposed to say that line!"

The three of them laughed together, filling the whole tent with sound.

Clopin smiled a wonderful smile, showcasing his beautiful white teeth. Laraine nearly fainted.

He went up to Esmeralda and put a hand on her shoulder, "Soo… what's going to be cooking tonight? I don't know about you but I am star-ving! And I think the beautiful woman over there is experiencing the same hunger pains that I am. Oui, mademoiselle?"

Laraine chuckled, "Oui, Clopin. I am."

Clopin then clapped his hands, "Dépêchez-vous, Esmeralda! Allons-y!" (Hurry up! Let's go!)

Esmeralda laughed, "I will, I will. Hold your horses." She disappeared out of the tent.

Clopin then turned to Laraine and sat down next to her, scooting closer to her and closer to her.

Laraine laughed, "Do you need anything, Clopin?"

Clopin grinned, "Oh, ma chéri, what I want is right in front of me." He cupped her face with his hand, "And what do you want, mademoiselle?"

Laraine looked at her hands, "What I want is impossible to give my dear, Clopin."

Clopin looked at her, curious, "And what is that, mon Laraine?"

Laraine closed her eyes, holding back her tears, "Y-you don't need to know. It's my burden to bear."

He looked at her, his eyes filling with concern, "But what if I don't want you to bare a burden? Please tell me, Laraine. You don't deserve to be held hostage to such pain as that."

She sighed, "I wish my father could have been… like you and me."

It took a while for it to sink in, but Clopin finally got it. He bit his lip – this was a very delicate subject to talk about. He casually wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him, "There, there. Just look at it this way," He gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, "If it weren't for your father… you wouldn't be the gorgeous, wonderful woman before me."

Laraine sadly smiled, "I guess you have a point."

Clopin was about to say something else when Esmeralda came into the room and smiled, bringing three plates of food.

Clopin grinned, "Come now, mademoiselle. Save your tears for another day. We have a feast to attend to!" He pulled her up and licked his lips, "Esmeralda's meals are always delicious."

Laraine reluctantly sighed, "All right."

Clopin picked his teeth with a stick, "I must say, that was very good. Since when did you learn how to cook, Esmeralda?"

She laughed, "Well someone had to learn."

Clopin chuckled, "True, true." He leaned back, inhaling the fresh air. "Ahhh… today was a wonderful day, non? I fought evil and met a beautiful mademoiselle all in the same day!" He smiled, looking quite pleased with himself. "I must be the luckiest man alive, non?"

Laraine smiled, thinking, "Non, Clopin. I am the lucky one. I've finally found a place where I am not… an outcast."

Clopin smiled, "And why would you be an outcast, my dear? You certainly don't look like one." He stroked his chin, "And you don't talk like one, nor dress like one, nor smell like one. Thus, I have concluded that you are not!" He folded his arms and nodded, "The Gypsy King rules that Laraine Allaire is not an outcast and shall not be treated as such!"

Laraine laughed, "Oh, Clopin, you don't have to make a dramatic production out of it… my word."

"But you're not, ma chéri. The people that you use to live with were crazy. How dare they call you an outcast! What have you ever done to them? You don't look like a monster to me and I don't think you've committed any heinous and infamous acts." He stared right into her eyes and said, "Don't let their cruel words get to you, mademoiselle. People judge too much on looks than what a person's really like. It's silly really, but that's the way the world goes, you know? But... you want to know something?"

"What?" Laraine asked, confused.

Clopin twirled the stick that he used to pick his teeth with his fingers, "They're the outcasts, not you."

Laraine was even more confused, "Why?"

He continued to twirl his stick, "Looks only go so far, my dear. What really counts is what's on the inside… and they're rotten and corrupt inside, whilst you are…" He stopped abruptly, turning to gaze into her eyes.

"Are?"

Clopin smirked, "Why you're Laraine, of course!"

Laraine smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. What Clopin had said was true and beautiful. She walked over to him and hugged him, "Merci, mon ami. Thank you."

Clopin stared at her, "For what? I was only stating the truth."

Laraine nodded, "And the truth is what I needed to hear."

Clopin nodded, smiling, "I see, I see. Then I'm glad I told it to you."

After about a few hours of talking, Laraine gave a small yawn.

Clopin put his hand to his ear, "Hark! Did I hear a yawn?" He smirked, "I see that our beautiful Laraine is getting tired, non? So… let us address the matter at hand, shall we? Who is going to take care of La Mademoiselle, Laraine Allaire?"

Esmeralda yawned herself, "Where do you want to stay, Laraine?"

Laraine shrugged, "Flip a coin. Either one of you sounds fine to me."

Clopin pulled a coin out of his sleeve, "I say 'Heads.'"

Esmeralda sighed, "'Tails.'"

Laraine snatched the coil from Clopin's grasp, "I'll do it." She flipped it, put it on her arm and announced, "Heads."

Clopin jumped up in glee, "I WIN!" He smiled at Laraine and grabbed hold of her arm, "We're going to have so much fun together!"

Laraine sighed, saying with a rather sarcastic tone, "I can hardly wait."

Esmeralda laughed, "Now play nice, Clopin! I don't want to go in there the next day and find Laraine in pieces."

Clopin chuckled, "Don't you worry your little head of, Esmeralda." He winked, "I'll be nice." He pulled Laraine out the tent and smiled, "So… you'll be staying with the Gypsy King, now. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Laraine yawned, "Right now, I just want to go somewhere I can sleep."

He laughed, "Nicely said!" He led her to a purple tent and said, "Now close your eyes!"

Laraine rolled her eyes and then closed them. She shook her head, "And why are you making me close my eyes, oh, Gypsy King?

"Because the Gypsy King said so, that's why!" He pushed her into the tent and whispered into her ear, "Open!"

Inside was a rather nice looking tent. The pillow wasn't moth-ridden or filled with dust. In fact, it looked rather fluffy. The blanket looked like it provided warm and there was a carpet on the floor instead of dirt. There was a large mirror and a chest underneath it. On top of the chest, laid out, were colorful garments of yellow, purple, and blue. There was a blue hat with a yellow feather on top, a purple and blue shirt and black fringed extension that would rest under it, purple and yellow and blue tights, purple shoes with bells on them, a yellow collar-tunic thing also with bells sewn on, and last (but certainly not least) a golden-outlined purple mask. Laraine gestured to it and asked, "Why are those lying there?"

Clopin laughed, "Did I also mention that the King of the Gypsies is also a jester?"

Laraine chuckled, "Well, there's a first for everything, non?"

He nodded, "Oui, there is. AND NOW I believe that we should get to bed. We need our beauty sleep. You, not so much, but me, on the other hand, a lot of it."

Laraine shook her head, "You do not! You look fine the way you are!"

Clopin gasped, "I just suddenly remembered – you don't have a nightgowns or sleeping ware, do you?"

Laraine shook her head.

Clopin opened the tent, "I'll be right back! DON'T MOVE!" He made a wild dash out in the general direction of Esmeralda's tent.

Laraine sighed looking at the pile of clothes on the chest again. Then, something caught her eye. It was… a puppet? Yes, it was a puppet. It looked just like Clopin – except in jester clothes, of course. Laraine looked at it in awe, "It's adorable!" She picked it up and cradled it in her arms.

Clopin came back into the room, "I have your…" He noticed that she was handling his puppet.

Laraine nervously laughed, "Umm… I'm sorry! I shouldn't be invading your privacy like that."

Much to her surprise, he shook his head, "It's quite alright. I'm afraid that petit démon loves affection, though."

Laraine chuckled, "I see." She set him down and turned to face Clopin. "I take it that you have a nightgown for me to use?"

He nodded, showing her a teal blue gown, "It's nothing fancy, but it'll do until I can find you something more… suitable."

Laraine shook her head, "That won't be needed. I think it looks fine." She took it from him and awkwardly said, "Could you… err… turn around, please?"

Clopin gasped, "Oh – yeah – right!" He turned around and twiddled his thumbs. "Just tell me when you're ready!"

Laraine took off her shirt, setting her purse and flute that she had been carrying in sleeves out next to her feet. Off came her dress and on came the nightgown. She turned to face him, her flute and purse in hand, "You can look now."

Clopin turned around, his mouth open. He hastily closed it and quickly mumbled, "You look great!"

Laraine laughed, "Mind if I put my belongings next to yours? We'll probably get up around the same time."

He shook his head, taking his hat and shirt off, "Not at all." He then took his shoes off, "I didn't know that you played the flute!"

Laraine nodded, "Yes, I do. I'll try and remember and play you something tomorrow."

Clopin smiled, "That would be great." He put on a black pair of pants and climbed into 'bed.' He nervously laughed, "Sorry I don't have any other places set up for you to sleep, so you're going to have to sleep with me. Do you mind?"

Laraine shook her head, "Of course not." She climbed in next to him. She smiled, "Next to you is fine. Either that or I freeze to death outside."

He laughed, "And that wouldn't be a good thing, would it?"

"No, that wouldn't," Laraine turned over onto her side. She yawned, "Good night, Clopin."

Clopin rolled over onto his side, "Good night, Laraine. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite!"

Laraine laughed, "Will do, will do." And with a smile painted across her face, Laraine went to sleep, for the first time in her life, happy.

Now wasn't that cute?