Disclaimer:I own none of the characters, except for Rupert.
Chapter One-The Arrival Of Zidler
Satine woke up to an empty, cold bed several months later. "As usual" she sighed to herself, and got out of bed. She walked across the room to get a glass of water, and caught sight of herself in the mirror. Startled, she peered into it.
Gone were the piercingly blue eyes that had driven Rupert, and countless other men wild. Now they were clouded, dull, bloodshoot. Gone was the porcelian skin-now there was only dull, gray, blotchy patches of what seemed to be skin. Her hair was the same-long, brown, wavy and dull.
She sighed sadly to herself once more. When Rupert had asked her to move in with him, she had been overcome with happiness. In her mind she had pictured long, endless days of fun, just him and her.
It had been like that, for a while. Then Rupert became colder, not wanting her to touch him anymore. He had started "working" longer and longer hours. He'd leave early in the morning, and come back late into the night, reeking of booze. He'd stumble into bed and snore endlessly, before waking up to repeat it all the next day.
This had of course, taken its toll on Satine. She was up all hours waiting for him, hoping, praying that he wasnt drunk, hence her appearance. On the rare occasions that he wasnt drunk, he'd simply storm out soon after arriving, after her attempts to get closer to him. She knew he was going to his whores of course. He had lost interest in her.
"You're not as pretty as you used to be" he snarled at her one evening. "No wonder I dont want you anymore"
Tears stung in Satine's eyes as she remembered his cruel words, leaning heavily on the dresser. Despite all of this, she still loved him deeply. He had been such fun, so happy, and it had been so good...when he had loved her. Now, no more...
She picked up the glass of water, stared it for a few seconds, then thunked it heavily back down. She picked up a bottle of Absinthe instead, and made her way wearily back to bed, where she drank herself into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When she awoke, many hours later, it had began to grow dark outside. Groaning, she pulled herself out of bed, and checked her reflection once more. Amazingly, the long sleep had done her good. Her skin and eyes were now brighter, and the sight of them perked Satine up enormously.
Humming happily to herself, she reached into the closet and pulled out a beautiful midnight blue gown. Carefully she put it on, tying the corset as best she could. With or without Rupert, she was going out tonight.
She spent a while putting on make-up, then headed off into town. The city came to life at night, with roars and cheers coming from pubs, people laughing merrily in the street. She smiled at strangers, and made her way down a well known street, heading for a tiny club she knew so well.
On her way she had to pass several pubs, which she edged round nervously. Drunken men scared her, as they had been known to do foul things. She hurried past the noisiest, but was stopped in her tracks by Rupert, who had just left the pub.
"Ere ere, what do you think you're doing?!" he siad to her, belching loudly. The foul stench of alcohol drafted from his mouth, painfully entering Satine's nostrils.
She took a few steps back, and said bravely "Im going out, having fun. I'll see you back at home". She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her roughly.
"Just a minute, sweetheart. You aint going anywhere without me" he said
She tried to get free, but he was too strong. "Yes, I am" she said bravely.
He slapped her across the face, and bellowed "Little whore! Fine, away you go-but dont expect me to be pleased with this!" He joined up with a few of his friends, and they all headed for another pub, singing loudly all the way.
Stunned, Satine made her way over to a low wall, and sat down. She clutched her cheek, which stung smartly. She was in complete shock-How could Rupert do this to her? Tears began to trickle slowly down her face, and she sang in a low voice:
Of all the things Ive believed in I just wanna get it over with Tears form behind my eyes, but I do not cry Counting the days that pass me by
Ive been searching deep down in my soul Words that im hearing are starting to get old Feels like im starting all over again, The last 3 years were just pretend And I said...
Goodbye to you, goodbye to everything, that I knew You were the one I loved, the one thing that I tried to hold onto...
Now weeping, she had realised. Her and Rupert, they could be no more. He no longer loved her, and it didnt matter how much she loved him, he would never love her again.
"My my, you have a lovely voice" a voice boomed admiringly behind her. Startled, she jumped up. "Oh...thank you. Who said that?" she asked, for all she could see was darkness.
"Forgive me" the man boomed again, and stepped into the light. He was a short, stocky man, with strawberry-blond hair poking out from underneath a top hat. Along his upper lip, he had a comical moustache which curled upwards at both ends, the same colour. He wore fabulous, brightly coloured clothes, and high black boots.
"Dearie, arent you a pretty thing! Dreadful about that young man, I seen what he did to to you! He ought to have more respect for such a beautiful creature" he said, smiling at her.
Satine blinked, unsure of the man. "Yes...thank you. What is your name?" she enquired.
"My name is Harold Zidler" he boomed once again. "I own a fabulous nightclub in Paris, called the Moulin Rouge. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
Satine sucked in her breath. The Moulin Rouge-of course she had heard of it! It was a fantastic, glittering, wild jewel of a nightclub-exotic, with dancing girls, admiring men. "Of course I have" she stammered. "It sounds wonderful. Its always been my dream to go to Paris, and visit there"
"Oh reallly? Well, as it happens, Miss-what is your name dearie?"
"Satine"
"Satine! How wonderful!" he exclaimed.
She giggled shyly "Thank you, once again. You are too kind, Mr Zidler"
"No problem, duckie. Now tell me, do you happen to have a job at the moment?"
"I did for a short while, waitressing in a gentlemens club. But I gave it up, when Rupert said he would support me...but I think thats over now"
"Yes, yes...well, I tell you what. I am looking for a new girl to perform at the Moulin Rouge-how would you like to work there?"
Satine almost collapsed. "Me?" she whispered, in shock and delight.
"You, duckie. I could make you a star! You would work at the Moulin Rouge, singing, dancing, entertaining all our young men-and then, eventually, one day, you could be a real actress, performing on a real stage"
Satine gasped "Me?!" she exclaimed again, finding it hard to believe.
"You" Zidler smiled at her.
"Wow...I dont know what to say.Its all so hard to take in!"
"Please, say yes!You can be a star!"
"I...Yes!Yes of course I will!" Satine squeled in delight.
Zidler broke into a smile "Wonderful!Now, you'll come back to my hotel with me tonight, and tomorrow we'll leave for Paris first thing!"
Satine froze. "Your...hotel?"
"Hm?Oh duckie, dont worry!I dont expect anything like that from you! You are an employee of mine, and I promise I will NEVER do anything with you!" Zidler said, and looked at her concerningly.
Satine breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, ok then"
Zidler offered her an arm "Ready?"
"Um...maybe I should go back to the house, pick up a few things, like clothes, make-up"
"Dont worry about that- you'll find everything in Paris, of the highest quality!"
"Oh!Marvellous!" Satine said, and took his arm.
"Splendid!" Zidler said, and they merrily made their way back to the hotel.
Note: the song is "Goodbye To You" by Michelle Branch, and in no way belongs to me.
Chapter One-The Arrival Of Zidler
Satine woke up to an empty, cold bed several months later. "As usual" she sighed to herself, and got out of bed. She walked across the room to get a glass of water, and caught sight of herself in the mirror. Startled, she peered into it.
Gone were the piercingly blue eyes that had driven Rupert, and countless other men wild. Now they were clouded, dull, bloodshoot. Gone was the porcelian skin-now there was only dull, gray, blotchy patches of what seemed to be skin. Her hair was the same-long, brown, wavy and dull.
She sighed sadly to herself once more. When Rupert had asked her to move in with him, she had been overcome with happiness. In her mind she had pictured long, endless days of fun, just him and her.
It had been like that, for a while. Then Rupert became colder, not wanting her to touch him anymore. He had started "working" longer and longer hours. He'd leave early in the morning, and come back late into the night, reeking of booze. He'd stumble into bed and snore endlessly, before waking up to repeat it all the next day.
This had of course, taken its toll on Satine. She was up all hours waiting for him, hoping, praying that he wasnt drunk, hence her appearance. On the rare occasions that he wasnt drunk, he'd simply storm out soon after arriving, after her attempts to get closer to him. She knew he was going to his whores of course. He had lost interest in her.
"You're not as pretty as you used to be" he snarled at her one evening. "No wonder I dont want you anymore"
Tears stung in Satine's eyes as she remembered his cruel words, leaning heavily on the dresser. Despite all of this, she still loved him deeply. He had been such fun, so happy, and it had been so good...when he had loved her. Now, no more...
She picked up the glass of water, stared it for a few seconds, then thunked it heavily back down. She picked up a bottle of Absinthe instead, and made her way wearily back to bed, where she drank herself into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When she awoke, many hours later, it had began to grow dark outside. Groaning, she pulled herself out of bed, and checked her reflection once more. Amazingly, the long sleep had done her good. Her skin and eyes were now brighter, and the sight of them perked Satine up enormously.
Humming happily to herself, she reached into the closet and pulled out a beautiful midnight blue gown. Carefully she put it on, tying the corset as best she could. With or without Rupert, she was going out tonight.
She spent a while putting on make-up, then headed off into town. The city came to life at night, with roars and cheers coming from pubs, people laughing merrily in the street. She smiled at strangers, and made her way down a well known street, heading for a tiny club she knew so well.
On her way she had to pass several pubs, which she edged round nervously. Drunken men scared her, as they had been known to do foul things. She hurried past the noisiest, but was stopped in her tracks by Rupert, who had just left the pub.
"Ere ere, what do you think you're doing?!" he siad to her, belching loudly. The foul stench of alcohol drafted from his mouth, painfully entering Satine's nostrils.
She took a few steps back, and said bravely "Im going out, having fun. I'll see you back at home". She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her roughly.
"Just a minute, sweetheart. You aint going anywhere without me" he said
She tried to get free, but he was too strong. "Yes, I am" she said bravely.
He slapped her across the face, and bellowed "Little whore! Fine, away you go-but dont expect me to be pleased with this!" He joined up with a few of his friends, and they all headed for another pub, singing loudly all the way.
Stunned, Satine made her way over to a low wall, and sat down. She clutched her cheek, which stung smartly. She was in complete shock-How could Rupert do this to her? Tears began to trickle slowly down her face, and she sang in a low voice:
Of all the things Ive believed in I just wanna get it over with Tears form behind my eyes, but I do not cry Counting the days that pass me by
Ive been searching deep down in my soul Words that im hearing are starting to get old Feels like im starting all over again, The last 3 years were just pretend And I said...
Goodbye to you, goodbye to everything, that I knew You were the one I loved, the one thing that I tried to hold onto...
Now weeping, she had realised. Her and Rupert, they could be no more. He no longer loved her, and it didnt matter how much she loved him, he would never love her again.
"My my, you have a lovely voice" a voice boomed admiringly behind her. Startled, she jumped up. "Oh...thank you. Who said that?" she asked, for all she could see was darkness.
"Forgive me" the man boomed again, and stepped into the light. He was a short, stocky man, with strawberry-blond hair poking out from underneath a top hat. Along his upper lip, he had a comical moustache which curled upwards at both ends, the same colour. He wore fabulous, brightly coloured clothes, and high black boots.
"Dearie, arent you a pretty thing! Dreadful about that young man, I seen what he did to to you! He ought to have more respect for such a beautiful creature" he said, smiling at her.
Satine blinked, unsure of the man. "Yes...thank you. What is your name?" she enquired.
"My name is Harold Zidler" he boomed once again. "I own a fabulous nightclub in Paris, called the Moulin Rouge. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
Satine sucked in her breath. The Moulin Rouge-of course she had heard of it! It was a fantastic, glittering, wild jewel of a nightclub-exotic, with dancing girls, admiring men. "Of course I have" she stammered. "It sounds wonderful. Its always been my dream to go to Paris, and visit there"
"Oh reallly? Well, as it happens, Miss-what is your name dearie?"
"Satine"
"Satine! How wonderful!" he exclaimed.
She giggled shyly "Thank you, once again. You are too kind, Mr Zidler"
"No problem, duckie. Now tell me, do you happen to have a job at the moment?"
"I did for a short while, waitressing in a gentlemens club. But I gave it up, when Rupert said he would support me...but I think thats over now"
"Yes, yes...well, I tell you what. I am looking for a new girl to perform at the Moulin Rouge-how would you like to work there?"
Satine almost collapsed. "Me?" she whispered, in shock and delight.
"You, duckie. I could make you a star! You would work at the Moulin Rouge, singing, dancing, entertaining all our young men-and then, eventually, one day, you could be a real actress, performing on a real stage"
Satine gasped "Me?!" she exclaimed again, finding it hard to believe.
"You" Zidler smiled at her.
"Wow...I dont know what to say.Its all so hard to take in!"
"Please, say yes!You can be a star!"
"I...Yes!Yes of course I will!" Satine squeled in delight.
Zidler broke into a smile "Wonderful!Now, you'll come back to my hotel with me tonight, and tomorrow we'll leave for Paris first thing!"
Satine froze. "Your...hotel?"
"Hm?Oh duckie, dont worry!I dont expect anything like that from you! You are an employee of mine, and I promise I will NEVER do anything with you!" Zidler said, and looked at her concerningly.
Satine breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, ok then"
Zidler offered her an arm "Ready?"
"Um...maybe I should go back to the house, pick up a few things, like clothes, make-up"
"Dont worry about that- you'll find everything in Paris, of the highest quality!"
"Oh!Marvellous!" Satine said, and took his arm.
"Splendid!" Zidler said, and they merrily made their way back to the hotel.
Note: the song is "Goodbye To You" by Michelle Branch, and in no way belongs to me.