A/N: Apologies for the delay. Sadly I had a death in the family, and that has contributed to the wait for this chapter. I have to go to a funeral next week so the next one might not be up for a week or two. I hope everyone is still enjoying the story. Constructive criticism and reviews welcome :-)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters from Les Miserables, but I do like to take them out for a spin once in a while to play. I've played with timelines from both the story by the marvellous Victor Hugo, and the actual accounts of the Occupy movement. Be kind, it's about reader enjoyment after all. Thanks for reading!
Songs listened to:
Present Tense by Pearl Jam
Chapter 38
Do you see the way that tree bends?
Does it inspire?
Leanin' out to catch the sun's rays
A lesson to be applied
Are you getting something out of this?
All encompassing trip
You can spend your time alone
Redigesting past regrets, Oh
Or you can, come to terms and realize
You're the only one who can forgive yourself, Oh
Makes much more sense to live in the present tense
Have you ideas on how this life ends?
Checked your hands and studied the lines?
Have you the belief that the road ahead
Ascends off into the light?
Seems that needlessly it's gettin' harder
To find an approach and a way to live
Are we gettin' something out of this
All encompassing trip
You can spend your time alone
Redigesting past regrets, Oh
Or you can come to terms and realize
You're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, Oh
Ah, makes much more sense to live in the present tense
- 'Present Tense' by Pearl Jam
When Eponine and Enjolras arrived, the rest of Les Amis were gathered around their familiar table near the darkened stage inside The Musain. For a moment it was jarring not to see Courfeyrac amongst them. Shaking it off, Enjolras walked confidently towards them.
"Enj! Good to see you man", said Combeferre, shaking his hand. Looking past him, he moved on to Eponine. "Hey 'Ponine, how are you love? We've all been worried about you".
"I'm fine 'Ferre… well, better at any rate. How have things been here?" she asked, looking around to them all.
"Crazy. I've been fielding phone calls since you've been gone. But, thankfully the chaos at your place is gone. How was the cottage?" he asked discreetly.
"The cottage was exactly what was needed, Combeferre", Enjolras interjected. "Thank you for offering it to us, and thank your parents as well".
"It was what needed to be done, Enj. Are you ready for all this?" he asked as the others gathered around.
"We're both ready", replied Eponine.
Jehan was hugging Eponine, while Joly and Bahorel hung back. Marius sat alone, separate from the others and when Eponine looked over to him it did not escape her notice that an air of blackness hung over him.
"Hi Marius, what's new with you?" she said, walking over to him and sitting down in the vacant seat beside him.
"Fine 'Ponine, I'm glad to see you're well", he said absentmindedly.
"Is everything alright, Marius?" she said, frowning.
Enjolras interrupted before she had a chance to further the conversation.
"Shall we get started? We meet with Valjean at four o'clock, and we have a lot to get through". He said, motioning for them all to sit down.
Eponine made herself a little scarce, walking over to the bar and looking over the receipts for the past few days. No doubt Sam was in the back somewhere and she wanted to discuss her future plans with him.
The group waited as Enjolras pulled out his stack of papers, and the same notebook Eponine had seem him scribbling in at the cottage.
"So, I've made some notes about the way forward for us, and I'd like to address each of those points and get a consensus from the group. Hopefully, we can move through this quickly. Firstly, I'd like to talk to Valjean and CNN about staging another concert".
"But what about any reprisals Enjolras, and the negative publicity from Zuccotti?" asked Jehan.
"There won't be any reprisals. Everyone involved has been taken into custody and will soon face trial. We know for a fact that Eponine's father never meant for anyone to be killed, as little a comfort as that is to us all. It does mean that we can go on without fear, and I think that is exactly what our next step should be. Let's take a vote, shall we? All in favour raise your hand."
One by one they all raised their hands.
"Enjolras, if we are to perform again, what about Joly?" asked Feuilly. Joly raised his head questioningly at the mention of his name.
"What about Joly?" said Enjolras.
"I mean we're going to have to rehearse intensively to get him to be a perfect fit with the group. Are you up to that Joly?" Feuilly said, turning to the medic.
"Of course I am. Is my loyalty at question here?"
"Joly, I'm quite certain that is not what Feuilly was implying. I do understand the question though. We're going to have to put in some intensive rehearsal time to make the transition fluid. I assume that's not a problem for anyone? Joly, if need be we can work around your shifts". Joly nodded his head and Feuilly seemed satisfied with the response.
"Bahorel, have you applied for your security licence yet", asked Enjolras. "And I meant to ask you before but are you licenced to carry a handgun?"
The group looked at him. "I put the paperwork in yesterday for the security licence, and yes, I have a licence to carry a handgun. I have my own".
Jehan was gobsmacked. "Enjolras will Bahorel need to carry a gun? I thought you said the threat was gone".
"One threat is gone. I will not have the safety of anyone in this group compromised again. That's one thing that's not really up for discussion, as long as Bahorel doesn't object".
"I'm good with it", Bahorel replied.
"Right. Next. Marius, where are you going?" Marius was standing and about to make his way to the back of the club.
"To the bathroom", he replied with a look of distaste.
"Well, hurry back, we have a lot to get done". Marius nodded and kept on his way.
When he was out of sight, Combeferre sighed and put his head in his hands. Jehan exhaled.
Enjolras looked from face to face.
"Out with it, what's going on?"
"Marius has been staying at my place, Enj, unleashing his sorrowful heart on the rest of us. When Valjean returned to New York, he would not allow Marius to see Cosette, and even found a new apartment for her".
"But, why?"
"Marius has it in his head it's to do with Zuccotti Park, and perhaps he's right. I think Valjean is playing it safe after what happened to you and Eponine".
"I'll talk to him today".
From the back of the club came Marius' voice. "And what will you say, Enjolras? You don't know what it is to love someone as I love Cosette. Your concern is the cause and nothing else".
Eponine, standing at the bar bristled at his words.
Enjolras looked at Marius evenly, ignoring the slight that had been bestowed on him. "Marius", he said firmly, "I will talk Valjean and see if we can't figure a way around this".
"This is not about the revolution, Enjolras. This is about matters of the heart, a subject matter you know little of. Please, this is not your area of expertise".
Oh Marius, if only you knew how wrong you are, thought Eponine.
Enjolras could feel the temperature of his blood start to rise. The others sat still in their seats as Enjolras walked towards Marius.
"I thought we were done with this, Marius. The other night, I thought you were drunk and emptying the garbage of your mind onto the rest of us, and I thought the alcohol was to blame. Now I fear otherwise".
"C'mon, calm down boys", said Feuilly, feeling the escalating tension.
"Marius, stop", Eponine hissed at him.
"Marius, perhaps it's best you take time out to reconsider what you're saying. I have never before questioned your loyalty to the cause merely your tardiness. Do not make me question it now".
From the side of them, Eponine took in both their profiles; both had their jaws set, and hands tightly clenched. She knew then that neither would back down.
"You can't keep me away from the group, Enjolras", said Marius. "This is my fight too. And your insistence on being the focal point in the media is unfair to the rest of us".
"Marius, really! Your insistence on goading me into an argument about this is exhausting and futile. I wasn't aware this was a competition. It's either unity or we're done for – I will not tolerate internal nonsensical bickering over your ego".
"My ego? My ego?. Oh that's rich".
"Is it? Is it really? Because this conversation is petty, and not worth my time Marius. After the events we've all be through you are focusing in on the least important part of it. I'm talking to the media because I'm the leader singer of the group. It's natural. This is not a competition. I'm merely the voice for everyone's thoughts. That's all".
Combeferre stood up. "Marius, I have to agree with Enjolras. He is a good leader. He has been the spearhead for this group and the movement. We democratically decide things but Enjolras is our best orator. You say these things with your heart, not your head. Think before you speak further".
Jehan was standing too. "Please, don't go off in a huff Marius. Valjean will come around."
"You don't understand. None of you do", said Marius. He picked up his coat, and started making his way to the door.
"Marius! What about the meeting with Valjean?" Enjolras called after him.
"Go without me – it's what you all do best, after all!" he said.
"Marius you just can't – "
"I'll call you tomorrow Jehan". And with that, he was gone and the door of The Musain banged noisily behind him.
"What are we going to do, Enj? Valjean will wonder where Marius is?" asked Joly.
"Joly, it will be alright. Valjean is a wise man, this meeting is not about Marius. It's about the movement", replied Enjolras calmly. "Look, everyone…what happened just now is a personal matter between Marius and myself. Whatever happens we'll work it out, one way or another. But we are a group, and we need to focus on our goals right now. Is everyone ready to move forward?"
"I am Enj", said Combeferre.
"Me too", said Bahorel.
"Count me in", added Jehan.
"Do I need to say it? I'm there". Feuilly said with a grin.
Enjolras sat back down at the table, encouraging – with a wave of his hand – the others to do the same.
Allowing them a moment to settle, he went on. "Let's continue. I'd like to suggest to Valjean that we contact other Occupy groups across the globe. What's happening in the United States is not limited to this country. There are Occupy groups elsewhere. We can be a stronger force for change if we have many threads in our network. Can we get a vote on this? Who is for contacting the international Occupy groups?"
They all raised their hand.
"Ok, good. Now, another issue that needs to be addressed is Eponine and Zuccotti. I've discussed the issue with Eponine as this mainly involves her. If Cooper asks me about Eponine, I'm going to acknowledge her as my partner…er girlfriend. As to what happened, we've decided to keep the line that the case is still under investigation. I did try to figure out a way to leave that situation out of it, but we all know it's a hot topic and they'll be looking for a scoop."
"As long as you're alright with this 'Ponine?" asked Jehan, looking over to her at the bar.
She shrugged. "I don't see how we can avoid it J, even if I wanted to. I figure Enj will navigate the questions as best he can though. "
"That's right. And Eponine will be coming to the meeting with us, though she has some business of her own with him. Eponine, did you want to tell the others?".
Eponine was surprised that Enjolras had brought it up with the group before talking it over with her, but came over and sat down with the rest of them.
"Sure. Well, it's quite simple. I have a proposal for Valjean and his organisation. I'd like to start my own food distribution not-for-profit for the homeless in the area. I've written a business plan and my meeting is scheduled after yours this afternoon".
"I think its wonderful 'Ponine", said Jehan, reaching over in his seat to give her a hug. "But does that mean you won't be spending as much time with us".
Eponine laughed. "Jehan, you are adorable. No, for the time being, I'll be happy to help Les Amis from the sidelines. I'll be working here for a while and supporting the cause like I've always done. Like you all, I've found my calling too".
"It seems we're all moving on", said Feuilly, a little sadly.
"It doesn't mean we've forgotten them", replied Combeferre wisely. "Can you imagine the scolding both of them would give us? Grantaire would tell us to get off our asses and Courfeyrac – well it just wouldn't go down well. Let's move forward with them in our hearts, eh lads?"
Enjolras again was grateful for the steady nature of his friend. He saw the way his words both inspired and settled them.
"You know what I'd like to do?" said Jehan. "I'd like to have a jam. Right now".
"We haven't got our instruments", said Joly.
"We've got our voices. Let's sing some Dylan. That was always my favourite warm-up", agreed Combeferre.
Enjolras sat down, a grin almost playing on his face. A faint air of the kinship they shared broke through like a beacon of light on all of them.
"Like a Rolling Stone? I'll start", he said. He cleared his throat then began, his voice clear but tinged with the roughness that made it so appealing;
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
They sang that way for the next hour, in harmony and moving from one song to the next; Blowin' in the Wind, Talkin' 'bout a Revolution, Tambourine Man just to name a few. They revelled in their renewed brotherhood. Eponine stood by watching them, it was like a scene from the not too distant past, only a few of the players had changed.
By the time they were finished, a melding of hearts and minds had happened. Some of the fears of the group about their future had been soothed, and Bahorel and Joly finally had the feeling of being part of the group.
They were ready to move forward together, and bring their own unique form of activism with them.
Enjolras' faith was revived, but his thoughts turned to the one sheep missing from the flock. Les Amis would go on regardless, but hopefully it would not be without Marius.