Chapter Two: A New Life
"Ready my little strawburry?" Zidler asked her the next morning, as she appeared downstairs, still wearing what she had the night before-it will all she owned in the world, now.
"Strawburry?" she asked, puzzled
"Yes, darling. My new nickname for you"
"But strawberry...I dont even have red hair!"
"Yes...your hair. Its very nice darling, but a little dull...what do you say we dye it red?"
"Me...as a redhead?" Satine turned and peered into the mirror, picturing herself with red hair, then wincing. "Im not sure..."
"Trust me darling, it will look fabulous!"
"Hmm..."
"You'll see, when we get to Paris"
"Paris..." Satine sighed happily. "I can hardly wait"
"You'll love it, you'll fit right in. Speaking of which, we'd better run, our train leaves soon!" Zidler said, suddenly realising, and pulling himself out of his seat, heading upstairs. "Im just going to get my suitcase!"
"Ok..." she called softly, and stood by the window, gazing out sadly. It was early morning, and there were people bustling about everywhere, the usual noisy London life. Snow was falling softly, covering everything in a thin white blanket. As much as she was looking forward to Paris, she was going to miss this...normal life.
"All set?" he asked, as he returned downstairs, with a huge suitcase in tow.
Satine whipped round, forgetting about London in a flash, and flashed him a dazzling smile "Yes, of course!"
"Splendid!Shall we be off then?" he asked, and held one arm out.
She linked it through hers, and grinned at him " We shall!"
They walked together the short distance to the train station, and found to their joy that their train had arrived, and was set to leave shortly. Quickly they hurried into an empty cabin, and Zidler threw his suitcase on the luggage racks, before sitting next to Satine on a lush velvet couch.
"Nervous, poppet?" Zidler asked her, noticing the expression on her face.
"Slightly...but im more excited. Tell me, what is Paris like?I've only ever read and heard about it, never seen pictures" Satine said, and pulled her knees up to her chest, eager to learn.
"Paris...it is wonderful. You've never lived until you've walked through the streets at night- it comes alive. But the best thing of course, is the Moulin Rouge itself. Glittering, sparkling, erotic, exotic, marvellous place-where young men drool over the beautiful women. You will of course come across some of our resident "Bohemians"- Toulouse, Audrey, The Argentinian" Zidler said, eyes closed as he remembered his home and all its luxuries.
"Bohemians?What are they?" Satine asked, as she had never heard of them.
"Bohemians! Splendid people, without them the Moulin Rouge probably wouldnt exist. They believe, in above all things, in truth, beauty, freedom, and love. They sing, dance, write, dream-barely notice the world around them. They live a free, happy life-I have a feeling you'll become one!"
Satine chuckled "Perhaps.It certainly sounds like a good life"
"Oh, it is, sweet pea. You'll love it" Zidler smiled at her.
"Harold...you still havent told me exactly what Im going to be doing at the Moulin Rouge"
"Why, entertaining our young men! Rich, poor, young, old, Bohemian-they'll all love you!You'll bring them in, in their masses.You'll be singing and dancing at first, and mainly always...but as time progresses, we can perhaps make other "arrangements" for you and the young gentlemen" Zidler said, and smiling encouragingly at her.
"You mean...sleep with them?!" Satine cried, outraged. "You never mentioned anything about that before!"
"Sweetness, calm down! It would only be if you were totally comfortable with that! If you're not, then its perfectly all right. There are plenty of girls willing to do that sort of thing" Zidler said, and took her hand gently. "Dont worry, nobody is going to make you do anything you dont want"
"Oh...ok then, I guess its alright" Satine said, still a little uncertain.
"Good, good. You're going to be a star, I can tell. Now, shall be indulge in a little brunch? Theres plenty of food set out" Zidler said, and stood up.
"You go ahead, Im not hungry. I'll stay here and dream about Paris" Satine smiled at him.
"Are you sure? Theres plenty of delicious food!"
"Im sure, dont worry about it"
"Alright then darling, I'll see you shortly" Zidler said, and swiftly exited.
Satine sighed happily to herself, and gazed out the window. Paris...it sounded marvellous. And those Bohemians...they sounded fascinating. There was nobody like them in London.
Satine soon drifted into a light sleep, and awoke many hours later. Zidler looked up from the book he was reading as she yawned, and asked "Are we nearly there?"
"You're awake-splendid! But Im afraid we've got many hours to go yet. Im going for a sleep myself soon, you'd be better off drifting off again" Zidler said, and closed the book with a thud.
"Oh...alright then" Satine said, and laid her head down.
Zidler fell asleep instantly, but Satine lay awake for another 2 hours before forcing herself to sleep. She dreamt of her new life in Paris, her as the star, with young men watching her, entranced. She was dancing on stage, but then suddenly fell off the edge, which woke her with a start.
Zidler was busting about the cabin, and turned round when he heard her gasp as she woke up.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, concerned.
"Oh...fine Harold. I was just dreaming, thats all...are we almost there?" she asked, and pulled herself upright.
"We are, darling! The next stop is ours" he grinned at her.
"Oh! Wow! Time has flown by!" Satine said, and hurridly stood up.
"It certainly has! Now, we'll get off the train, and we'll have to walk to the Moulin Rouge I'm afraid. But dont worry, its not far" he said, and grabbed his suitcase, just as the train halted.
"Thats fine Harold" Satine said, and they both stepped onto the platform at the same time.
Satine looked round expectingly, looking for signs of this fabulous Paris life, but she only seen people getting off the train meeting people, and a beggar crouched in a doorway.
Zidler noticed her disappointed look, and took her arm quickly "Dont worry poppet, you'll see much more once we get into the town"
"Yes...I thought so" she said, and they both walked out of the station into the very centre of the town. It was late at night, and there were many people about. Musicians walked up and down the street, playing instruments, some stood on corners, singing to people as they went by. There was many cafés and restaurants, places for people to go to really have fun. Couples stood together, kissing publicly. The clothes, Satine noticed, were very different from the ones in London. She breathed in the air-this was what life should be like.
"Like it?" Zidler asked her, grinning at the expression on her face.
"I...I love it!" she stammered.
"Fabulous!I knew you would!" Zidler roared with delight, then very quickly lead her towards the Moulin Rouge, where her new life would begin.
"Ready my little strawburry?" Zidler asked her the next morning, as she appeared downstairs, still wearing what she had the night before-it will all she owned in the world, now.
"Strawburry?" she asked, puzzled
"Yes, darling. My new nickname for you"
"But strawberry...I dont even have red hair!"
"Yes...your hair. Its very nice darling, but a little dull...what do you say we dye it red?"
"Me...as a redhead?" Satine turned and peered into the mirror, picturing herself with red hair, then wincing. "Im not sure..."
"Trust me darling, it will look fabulous!"
"Hmm..."
"You'll see, when we get to Paris"
"Paris..." Satine sighed happily. "I can hardly wait"
"You'll love it, you'll fit right in. Speaking of which, we'd better run, our train leaves soon!" Zidler said, suddenly realising, and pulling himself out of his seat, heading upstairs. "Im just going to get my suitcase!"
"Ok..." she called softly, and stood by the window, gazing out sadly. It was early morning, and there were people bustling about everywhere, the usual noisy London life. Snow was falling softly, covering everything in a thin white blanket. As much as she was looking forward to Paris, she was going to miss this...normal life.
"All set?" he asked, as he returned downstairs, with a huge suitcase in tow.
Satine whipped round, forgetting about London in a flash, and flashed him a dazzling smile "Yes, of course!"
"Splendid!Shall we be off then?" he asked, and held one arm out.
She linked it through hers, and grinned at him " We shall!"
They walked together the short distance to the train station, and found to their joy that their train had arrived, and was set to leave shortly. Quickly they hurried into an empty cabin, and Zidler threw his suitcase on the luggage racks, before sitting next to Satine on a lush velvet couch.
"Nervous, poppet?" Zidler asked her, noticing the expression on her face.
"Slightly...but im more excited. Tell me, what is Paris like?I've only ever read and heard about it, never seen pictures" Satine said, and pulled her knees up to her chest, eager to learn.
"Paris...it is wonderful. You've never lived until you've walked through the streets at night- it comes alive. But the best thing of course, is the Moulin Rouge itself. Glittering, sparkling, erotic, exotic, marvellous place-where young men drool over the beautiful women. You will of course come across some of our resident "Bohemians"- Toulouse, Audrey, The Argentinian" Zidler said, eyes closed as he remembered his home and all its luxuries.
"Bohemians?What are they?" Satine asked, as she had never heard of them.
"Bohemians! Splendid people, without them the Moulin Rouge probably wouldnt exist. They believe, in above all things, in truth, beauty, freedom, and love. They sing, dance, write, dream-barely notice the world around them. They live a free, happy life-I have a feeling you'll become one!"
Satine chuckled "Perhaps.It certainly sounds like a good life"
"Oh, it is, sweet pea. You'll love it" Zidler smiled at her.
"Harold...you still havent told me exactly what Im going to be doing at the Moulin Rouge"
"Why, entertaining our young men! Rich, poor, young, old, Bohemian-they'll all love you!You'll bring them in, in their masses.You'll be singing and dancing at first, and mainly always...but as time progresses, we can perhaps make other "arrangements" for you and the young gentlemen" Zidler said, and smiling encouragingly at her.
"You mean...sleep with them?!" Satine cried, outraged. "You never mentioned anything about that before!"
"Sweetness, calm down! It would only be if you were totally comfortable with that! If you're not, then its perfectly all right. There are plenty of girls willing to do that sort of thing" Zidler said, and took her hand gently. "Dont worry, nobody is going to make you do anything you dont want"
"Oh...ok then, I guess its alright" Satine said, still a little uncertain.
"Good, good. You're going to be a star, I can tell. Now, shall be indulge in a little brunch? Theres plenty of food set out" Zidler said, and stood up.
"You go ahead, Im not hungry. I'll stay here and dream about Paris" Satine smiled at him.
"Are you sure? Theres plenty of delicious food!"
"Im sure, dont worry about it"
"Alright then darling, I'll see you shortly" Zidler said, and swiftly exited.
Satine sighed happily to herself, and gazed out the window. Paris...it sounded marvellous. And those Bohemians...they sounded fascinating. There was nobody like them in London.
Satine soon drifted into a light sleep, and awoke many hours later. Zidler looked up from the book he was reading as she yawned, and asked "Are we nearly there?"
"You're awake-splendid! But Im afraid we've got many hours to go yet. Im going for a sleep myself soon, you'd be better off drifting off again" Zidler said, and closed the book with a thud.
"Oh...alright then" Satine said, and laid her head down.
Zidler fell asleep instantly, but Satine lay awake for another 2 hours before forcing herself to sleep. She dreamt of her new life in Paris, her as the star, with young men watching her, entranced. She was dancing on stage, but then suddenly fell off the edge, which woke her with a start.
Zidler was busting about the cabin, and turned round when he heard her gasp as she woke up.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, concerned.
"Oh...fine Harold. I was just dreaming, thats all...are we almost there?" she asked, and pulled herself upright.
"We are, darling! The next stop is ours" he grinned at her.
"Oh! Wow! Time has flown by!" Satine said, and hurridly stood up.
"It certainly has! Now, we'll get off the train, and we'll have to walk to the Moulin Rouge I'm afraid. But dont worry, its not far" he said, and grabbed his suitcase, just as the train halted.
"Thats fine Harold" Satine said, and they both stepped onto the platform at the same time.
Satine looked round expectingly, looking for signs of this fabulous Paris life, but she only seen people getting off the train meeting people, and a beggar crouched in a doorway.
Zidler noticed her disappointed look, and took her arm quickly "Dont worry poppet, you'll see much more once we get into the town"
"Yes...I thought so" she said, and they both walked out of the station into the very centre of the town. It was late at night, and there were many people about. Musicians walked up and down the street, playing instruments, some stood on corners, singing to people as they went by. There was many cafés and restaurants, places for people to go to really have fun. Couples stood together, kissing publicly. The clothes, Satine noticed, were very different from the ones in London. She breathed in the air-this was what life should be like.
"Like it?" Zidler asked her, grinning at the expression on her face.
"I...I love it!" she stammered.
"Fabulous!I knew you would!" Zidler roared with delight, then very quickly lead her towards the Moulin Rouge, where her new life would begin.