TITLE: The Power of Love at the Moulin Rouge
AUTHOR: Lady Sirius
PAIRING: many, in many fandoms
RATING: PG13
FEEDBACK: Of course all rights to XFiles, As the World Turns, Moulin Rouge, etc, belong to their creators, I am just having fun with them, although the characters of Sarah, Washu and Julie are indeed my own.
DEDICATION: To my two beautiful daughters - Katie and Sarah - who inspired me to write this, with great love.
The Power of Love - At the Moulin Rouge
- 9 - Dreams Brought To Life And A Glimpse Of Evil
Nighttime arrives and Darien finds himself drawn to the bright and boisterous Moulin Rouge. When he enters, everything seems to be in full swing. A number of the can-can girls are showing off their talents on the dance floor, either dancing together or with inebriated male partners, while others are leading willing participants to the private rooms upstairs. He is approached by a diminutive woman in a bright pink flouncy dress who offers to sit with him, but he politely declines the invitation, and finds himself a small table where he can observe what is happening around him. He has deliberately not brought his cel phone with him, for it would be impossible to explain the noise if Serena should happen to call while he is here. He knows he should call her, give her an update on the search for Rini, but he can't bring himself to do it. Not yet.
Darien cannot quite bring himself to join the joyous multitude around him. It is not in his nature to be boisterous, for he is a quiet man, and never would have believed that one day he would end up sitting alone like this in this most notorious night club. Serena would die if she could see him or guess what thoughts were running through his head. He watches the can-can dancers as they throw their limbs about in the rollicking dance which put the Moulin Rouge on the map. Their ruffled skirts flash neonly as they whirl, revealing daring glimpses of skin and promises of feminine delight.
Darien's attention is caught by one dancer in particular. He cannot see her very well, but her hair is a lovely shade of red which catches the swirling lights of the dance hall and holds them in the strands. She is dancing with a rather drunken young man who threatens to pull her down with his inability to stand up straight. His curiousity aroused, Darien strains his head to see the girl better, but is forced to move from his table, and jockey for position on the edge of the dancing throng. He still cannot see much for her head is bent toward her inebriated partner in an attempt to separate herself from him. It is only when she begins pulling away from the drunkard in earnest, as he tries to paw at the bodice of her dress, that Darien decides it is time to intervene on the lady's behalf. He carefully pushes his way through the unnoticing crowd and places one firm hand on the sot's arm, saying," I believe this dance is spoken for," and leads the grateful lady away. Then and only then does he get a glimpse at her face, and his heart lurches within his breast as he recognizes the woman of his dream. She is looking at him, equally astonished, for of course Dana recognizes in Darien her mysterious dancing man with the red rose and she is just as shocked as he is.
They stand immobile for several seconds before Dana has the presence of mind to speak. "Th..thanks for your h..help," she stammers, completely nonplused at the sight of this man. He smiles at her and his eyes are warm and brilliant. "No problem," he replies.
He reaches out for her and she takes his arm and now they are moving together in a timeless rhythm that is older than the stars, and follows not the music as presented on the dance floor. They squeeze themselves into a small corner of the room and move to the music which they alone can hear. No words need to be spoken.
Across the room, Mulder sits with the Bohos. Sarah has not come in tonight, saying she does not feel well, but Satie is here as is Toulouse and the Argentinian. The Argentinian is in a temper because he says that Nini has no more time for him since she found a new lover, and he passes out in the middle of his temper tantrum. Mulder is used to this now and thinks nothing of it. He glances around the room, wondering when little Washu will appear. Toulouse smiles at him knowingly. "Do not worry, friend Fox," he says, "she will come out when she is ready. Zidler likes her to make a grand entrance, you know."
Mulder wishes he weren't so transparent. "Actually, I was looking for Dana," he lies. His eyes continue to canvas the room. Zidler is actually sitting with the Duke and his lady tonight (will wonders never cease), and seems to be in a splendid humor, throwing his head back and roaring with laughter at something she is saying. There is no sign of the sullen Mr. Hamilton, for which Mulder is grateful, as he does not trust that man any further than he can throw him. Sarah's father and stepmother are out on the dance floor, having a blast, can-canning with the best of them. They make quite a pair, he thinks, quite a contrast to the quiet Sarah. And then his attention is arrested by a familiar fringe of stiff black hair. His eyes wander down and what does he see but dear old Prince Vegeta himself, tripping the light fantastic with Nini. He caresses her possessively as they dance. Mulder rolls his eyes upward, wondering if this is his idea of gathering information. But at least it is keeping him occupied and out of his and Scully's hair. Now he understands why the Argentinian is so glum. To be thrown over for that ridiculous little man IS rather insulting.
Mulder spots Scully at last, hidden away in a dark corner, dancing cheek to cheek with a tall dark stranger in a tuxedo. Briefly he wonders who this guy is, then decides that Dana will tell him all about it later, if there is anything to tell.
As Nini and Vegeta dance, the wicked woman schemes. She brushes closely against the Saiyan prince, one hand caressing his buns of steel, and whispers in his ear. "I am glad that you are willing to help me," she says, "I will make it worth your while."
"I'm sure you will," he replies, eyeing her. "We should go somewhere and talk about it."
"Yes, I think we should. Why don't we go upstairs?" She kisses his ear lightly, running her fingers through his thick black hair. He is more than willing as she takes his hand and leads him up the stairs to the notorious brothel rooms. Vegeta is thinking that this poisonous woman could be a valuable source of information to him, while she is considering how she is going to destroy the relationship between the Duke and his lady, and claim him for herself.
Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location, a little girl sits forlornly, watching a dozen or so other children playing around her. There are children here of various ages and hues, and they appear unconcerned as to where they are and just how they got there, intent on their assorted games. Rini, however, is very worried about what has happened to her, and she knows that her parents will be going crazy trying to find her. In her lap, an baby lies, a cute little boy. She has been taking care of him ever since her arrival. She wishes she knew where she was, but there are no clues that she has been able to find yet. There is a dark haired woman who stays with them, and takes care of them. She seems nice, but Rini is distrustful of her, for no reason that she can put her finger on. There is something in the woman's large dark eyes which Rini doesn't like, so she maintains her distance, holding on to the baby, and watching for an opportunity to escape.
Washu comes out at last, making a spectacular entrance, and performs vigorously to a wildly cheering throng. When she is done, she approaches Mulder's table, and the Bohos behave like schoolboys, hooting and whistling, crying out,"Mulder li-ikes Washu-u," until Mulder blushes at the attention they are drawing. Washu takes it all in stride, leaning down to Fox for a big kiss before seating herself next to him.
"Liked your number," he greets her. She smiles at him. "Thanks!"
Satie grins mischievously. "Would you two like to be alone?"
Washu tells him to grow up. "I only have a few minutes, then I have to get back to it. Would you like first dance, Fox? I'll request a tango?"
He nods. "Sure. Whenever you catch your breath."
At that moment, one of the Diamond Dogs approaches. She is tall and dark-haired, with soft brown eyes. Mulder recognizes her as Washu's best friend, Setsuna. The newcomer greets everyone at the table with a broad, "Howdy!"
"What's up, 'Suna?" Washu asks.
"Not much," is the reply. "Just come to see if Satie would like to dance. I noticed that Sarah isn't here tonight, thought he might like some company."
"Sarah isn't feeling well," Satie explains, "maybe some other time, thanks anyway, Setsuna."
She shrugs nonchalantly. "No sweat. How about you, Toulouse?"
Before Toulouse can reply, he sees the Duke's lady approaching. She is beckoning to him with one finger. He regretfully declines the invitation. "I must see what Julie wants, don't want to anger the Duke or anything. But I would love to later." He rises and makes a hasty exit. Julie waits for him and they duck into a nearby alcove.
"I can't be gone too long, or he'll get suspicious," she says. "How is it coming? You making any progress on it?"
Toulouse smiles at her gently. "Of course, of course, my dear, I am working hard on it, even as we speak! I take sketches of him all the time, when he thinks I am just drawing the Moulin Rouge."
"It's going to be a wonderful birthday present, Toulouse, I just know it!" Her eyes gleam as she speaks about the love of her life. "I can't wait to see his face when we present it to him."
"I hope he likes it," Toulouse replies. "I am very flattered that you even consider me worthy to paint the Duke's portrait. After all, I am but a humble painter here at the Moulin Rouge."
"Oh, Toulouse," Julie protests, "you are all too modest. You are a very talented artist. That is why I chose you to paint this very special gift. I just love your artwork. And you are our friend as well, are you not?"
Toulouse smiles at her warmly, for he genuinely likes her, and likes working with her. And, for her sake, he tolerates the Duke, whom he has to admit has gotten much better since he met and fell in love with Julie. "Yes, of course," he replies. "But I think the best part of your birthday gift will be the office."
"Yes, the office," she repeats. "It took some doing to persuade Zidler to give up the space, but I just reminded him of who actually holds the papers to the Moulin Rouge, and... well, he saw the light."
"You cannot blame him for being reluctant." Toulouse hesitates, then continues, "After all the circumstances under which the Duke got those papers are still rather painful, not to bring up sore subjects..."
"You know I know all about that, and we've dealt with it, I assure you, Toulouse. But the Duke also put a lot of money into a show which only ran one night, whatever the reason, and he will continue to bankroll the musicals here, so it is only fair that he get an office of his own, to show that he belongs. I'm decorating it personally, including some of your own paintings of the Moulin Rouge, of course. It will be beautiful! And I think it will make a wonderful present for Richard's fortieth birthday, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think so, too," Toulouse agrees. "And he will love it all the more for having come from you."
Julie blushes at the compliment.
"You are very good for him," Toulouse says sincerely. "In fact, I'd say that you're the best thing ever to happen to him."
"No, Toulouse, it's he who has been the best thing in my life," she insists. "I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to him, or to us. I... I don't think I could take it."
He pats her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry about that," he assures her. "Your love is here to stay. I know it."
She smiles at him, then jumps nervously. "Dear, dear, I better get back. Can't have him missing me and getting upset. He worries so about me. I'll be glad when this is done, I don't like keeping secrets from him, even good ones." She kisses Toulouse lightly on the forehead. "Thanks, Toulouse. See you later." He smiles after her retreating back and, whistling a happy tune, goes to rejoin his friends.
When Toulouse gets back, he finds that Setsuna has managed to awaken the Argentinian and they are having a gay old time on the dance floor. Mulder sits with Satie, who excuses himself at sight of Toulouse, saying he must check on Sarah. Washu is also rising.
"I'll be ready in a few," she tells Mulder. "I'll come back and get you."
He agrees with a kiss as she walks off. Toulouse seats himself once more and orders an absinthe from a passing waitress.
"What was all that about?" Mulder wants to know, curious about the conversation between Toulouse and the Duke's lady.
"Oh, nothing..." Toulouse puts on his best innocent face, which doesn't fool Mulder for a second, but he wisely holds his tongue.
"Maybe you can clear something up for me, Toulouse," Mulder says. "I keep hearing bits and pieces of something, but I can never get the whole story."
"What story is that?" Toulouse asks curiously.
"Something about things that happened here at the Moulin Rouge - about the Duke, a poor writer, a singer, money, threats and I don't know what."
"Ah, yes," Toulouse admits, "that is quite a story, my friend."
"Can you tell me about it?"
Toulouse hesitates, but sees no real reason not to tell, for this story is no secret and all the regulars at the Moulin Rouge know it well. If he doesn't tell Mulder, someone else will, perhaps erroneously. And, after all, there are few people who know the truth as well as Toulouse does.
"It all began," he says," when a young man named Christian arrived in Paris to be a writer, and he came to stay at the L'amour Fou..." And so Toulouse relates the infamous tale of the Moulin Rouge to Mulder.
When the story is done, Mulder is speechless. "That is so tragic," he manages to say. "How awful that Satine had to die. Poor Christian!"
"Those times are done now," Toulouse insists, handing Mulder a glass of absinthe and a sugar cube, "let us drink to new times!" At that moment, Washu returns, and she gladly joins them in their toast to new times and new friends.
"Ready?" she asks Mulder, quaffing her drink and running a quick hand across her full lips, and they head to the dance floor. Also on the floor are Nini and Vegeta, Dana and Darien. At the last moment, Reed Hamilton appears, leading Setsuna. The four couples quickly become the focus of attention, as they move to the sultry rhythm of the tango. As Vegeta dances, he watches Washu closely. She returns his stare, looking him up and down, at the very visible swell of his muscles beneath the spandex, and the intensity visible in his glare. Despite herself, she finds herself interested in this unusually garbed man. Dana and Darien have eyes only for each other.
Zidler is his usual jubilant self, as he watches the crowd that watch the dancers, for he likes to see people have a good time. When people are happy, they drink more and spend more on his girls and he is certainly not averse to turning a profit and being happy at the same time. Especially since he is sharing the profit with his erstwhile partner. The Duke manages to catch Zidler's eye, beckons to him, and whispers something in his ear. Zidler smiles and nods and leaves to make the arrangements. The tango ends and, as the couples stand for a moment, catching their breath, Zidler announces that the next number will be a slow dance and encourages all lovers to take to the floor.
Vegeta takes the opportunity to appropriate Washu, Reed snatches Dana, Setsuna grabs Darien and Mulder is left facing Nini, much to his chagrin. He is rescued by Toulouse, however, who requests the honor of the dance and Fox gratefully leaves the floor. He spots the Duke leading his lady out and he smiles to himself. They make a rather handsome couple, he in his black evening wear and she in a full length peach gown. They look as if they were made for each other. He makes a mental note to speak to the Saiyan prince later. He doesn't care for him dancing with Washu, but doesn't want to make a federal case out of it.
Zidler has toned down the house lights, substituting softer shades, which give each couple the illusion of privacy as they hold each other close in the intimacy of the dance. Vegeta leans close to Washu and blows softly in her ear. For some reason she likes it, and snuggles closer to the muscular prince. Dana is doing her best to keep Reed from holding her closer than she'd like to be held, and she keeps sneaking glances at Darien, who is being a gentleman and dancing uncomplainingly with Setsuna, who prattles on to him about her life as a Diamond Dog. Nini caresses her little Toulouse and dreams of the plans she has conspired with Vegeta to make (she has given up any thought of becoming a Saiyan princess when she discovers that a) he is married, and b) he has no money to speak of). She watches the Duke and his lady out of the corner of her eye, their arms entwined securely about one another, their bodies fit snugly together. Soon it will be she who will be feeling those strong arms about her, those sensual lips pressed against hers. Until then... she gives Toulouse an extra squeeze, which pleases him, and he clutches her more tightly.
"You are a very pretty lady," Vegeta murmurs to Washu.
"Thanks," she replies. "You're not so hard on the eyes yourself."
"I would like to see you again. Can we go somewhere that we can be alone, talk, have a drink?"
Washu glances at Mulder. He is smiling at her and she can't help but smile back. "Not tonight," she replies.
"Another time, then?"
Washu nods. "Yes, another time." She feels a strange attraction for this stiff-haired man, and decides to explore her feelings. She does not wish to commit to one man at this time, not Reed, Vegeta, nor even Mulder. Life is too short for that. She smiles to herself at the thought.
Mulder sits with the Argentinian, who is complaining of the inconstancy of women, angry over his relationship with the promiscuous Nini. Mulder thinks to himself, what do you expect when you go out with a prostitute, but he wisely holds his tongue, as his opinion is not really being sought, he is merely being used as a sounding board. They are joined by the ebullient Harry Zidler.
"Your sister is quite a graceful dancer, Fox," he compliments Dana.
"Thank you. She is very good, isn't she?"
"Yes, quite an addition to our Diamond Dogs," he agrees. "And with a lot more class than some of them."
The Argentinian scowls at this and starts to make a rejoinder, but passes quietly out.
Mulder points to the dance floor. "Your partner is quite a dancer himself," he comments. "Didn't know he had it in him."
"His Grace is a man full of surprises," Zidler replies, but declines to add any more to this thought. He glances at Mulder and says, astutely, "I see that you and our little Washu have become good friends."
Mulder smiles at this. "Yes, she's a nice girl. I really like her."
Zidler merely nods, for he is used to seeing relationships of all kinds unfolding around him. "Pretty girl," he says, " we were lucky to lure her here from Japan. She is very popular there and..." The rest of his sentence goes unfinished, for at that moment, there is a lull as the music changes and a disturbance of sorts begins on the dance floor. As the new song begins, Vegeta takes this opportunity to cut in on the Duke and he waltzes Julie across the floor before the surprised nobleman can react. Nini quickly steps in and takes her position with the Duke for the dance, leaving Toulouse in the lurch. He is so stunned at what he sees that she is doing that he can only stand in the middle of the floor muttering, "Oh, merde!" Dana stares in disbelief, while Reed Hamilton seems to be amused. Washu stamps her foot at the loss of her dancing partner, even as the Duke begins to shout.
Mulder rolls his eyes, for even he can anticipate what is apt to follow. Sure enough, when the Duke realizes that he has lost his lady, and definitely against his will, his temper begins to show. He glowers at Nini, shaking her hands off of him irritably. She doesn't know when to leave well enough alone, and tries to talk him into dancing. "C'mon, honey, let Nini show you how it's done," but he's having none of it, and he looks as if he wants to kill both her and Vegeta with his bare hands. Warner senses that something is afoot, for he suddenly appears, waiting for the order to kill or maim or both.
Vegeta realizes that things are moving out of control, even for him. Vegeta is too smart a man to let the situation get out of hand, however. This is not his plan. He hastily restores Julie to her Duke, apologizing, "Excuse me, I meant no harm. I merely wanted a chance to dance with this lovely lady, but I fear that I have offended you. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans."
Mulder has seen enough. He looks at Scully, who is glancing uneasily at him, and motions toward the Saiyan prince. He catches Vegeta's eye and indicates that he is to meet them outside immediately. Vegeta understands. It is time that he talk to them anyway.
Julie, none the worse for wear, introduces herself and her lord to the prince, and lets it go at that. Zidler is apoplectic, and Toulouse has taken Nini out of reach to a table where he is having a few words with her that she does not heed. She is sullen and refuses to meet his eyes. Mulder says to Zidler, "Let me take care of this. I'll take the fool out of harm's way." Zidler is grateful as Mulder and Scully herd the prince out.
Julie holds tight to her jealous Duke, whispers that she loves only him, and that everything is okay. The Duke is calm once again, at least on the surface, but he signals to Warner, then tells him to keep an eye on that "big-haired clown". Warner nods his understanding.
Julie pulls her Duke into the shadows, for a little privacy in this vast dancehall. She winds her arms around him, holding him tightly, until she can feel him relax with a deep shudder. She buries her face against his chest, until he raises her face to his own, kissing away the little tears that are falling.
"Dearest, please don't cry," he says, "I'm sorry I upset you. Please, please don't." He strokes her face tenderly, distressed over her distress.
"Oh, Richard," she murmurs, "I just love you so much. Please don't ever forget that and please don't ever leave me!"
"Me, leave you? Never!" he protests, "I love you now and forever! How could you even think such a thing?" And then he leans down toward her and their lips meet and they cling together passionately as they become as one once more. Toulouse watches them with a satisfied grin and a sigh of relief that disaster has once again been averted, then turns once more to Nini, to continue to berate her. She too is watching the lovers as they hold onto one another for all their souls are worth, and her eyes hold an evil gleam that promises that her work is not done yet. Toulouse wants to slap the evil out of her, but he does not believe in violence against anyone, much less a woman, so contents himself with a promise to keep an eye on this wayward wench.
