Disclaimer - I, do not own the rights to the "Sparkling Diamond[s]" of a
movie, "Moulin Rouge" (If I did I would be a genius going by the name of
Baz Luhrmann). I am simply one of the "Children of the Revolution"
(Although one of "Elephant [Melody]" proportions) that writes fanfiction
"Because We Can". "Come What May", but please do not sue me or I will be a
"Sad Hindi Diamond". May this be "Your Song" and may you say "Some Day I'll
Fly Away"! (I do not own the songs used in this story or in the titles of
the chapters either.)
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part VI: Saturday Night's Alright ~
By: Casidy
Christian lead his angel up to a small, dirty looking brick building with one large, blurry window in the front. The building reminded her of the many cafes in Montmarte. Christian opened the door for her and she stepped in. Satine felt as if she were back in Paris. The small bar had dozens of people that could be described as nothing less than Bohemians.
Several people sat at tables nursing a cheap beer and writing feverishly. Others sat at crowded tables discussing poetry and literature. Christian looked over his shoulder to see her reaction. She looked around excitedly, eager to meet these people. After apparently spotting whom he had been looking around for, Christian led her over to a table in the very back corner of the smoky bar.
The table was definitely the most boisterous, but all conversation stopped as the group noticed Christian. A few moments of silence gave Satine time to look over those seated. Although a dozen people sat as close to the table as they could muster, trying to be included in the conversation taking place, only four people were scooted into the table talking to each other exclusively. A short woman with long blond hair sat in the lap of a man, a bit older than herself, with quite large, floppy hair. Next to them sat a man in his late twenties, with short, black hair and small, rectangular glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. The last person sitting at the table was a tall man with dark hair, quite shorter than Christian's but his eyes were large, dark brown orbs that held a look so serious that it was comical.
Finally, the man with glasses stood up and threw his arms around Christian, "Christian! It's wonderful to have you back!" stepping back he asked "and who's this lovely lady you have with you?"
Christian's smile was huge as he introduced Satine. "Noah, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Satine. Satine darling, this is a very good friend of mine, Noah." Turning and looking at the others at the table he hugged each before introducing them. "And this is Clark," he said introducing the man with the floppy hair, "and his wife, Claire," the blond haired girl, "And lastly, Alex" the man with dark eyes.
"Pull up a chair," Said Noah, plopping himself down. Two chairs appeared and both Satine and Christian sat, huddled together around the small table. "Do tell, what are you doing back? We thought we'd never see you again!"
Christian smiled, "Had to bring Satine back to meet the family." Everyone rolled their eyes but did not press the subject further. Everyone insisted that Christian fill them in on the bohemians he had met in France. He of course told everyday events with flair and even Satine was on the edge of her seat as he told the plot of Spectacular, Spectacular.
An hour later Christian stood up, "Noah, why don't we refill these glasses. Darling, would you like another drink?"
"No thank you, I'm fine." She said smiling. Pulling Noah up to the bar Christian turned sharply after placing the empty glasses on the bar. "Have you heard anything form Madeline lately?"
Noah raked his left hand through his short hair, "No, and Alex's going crazy. She was over here about a month ago and there's been no word since. Claire tried going over there a couple of times but either she's not home or Philip's there."
Christian let out a ragged breath. "I'll talk to Em, tonight. She'll know what's going on. I didn't even think to ask her, I guess I just assumed Maddy would be here. She's usually here on Saturday nights. Philip's always with his country club friends, smoking cigars and drinking whiskey."
"We've all been worried. It's all I can do to keep Alex from running over there and calling your brother out. Wouldn't that be funny? The closest that boy's ever been to a gun is a prop in a play." He said trying to make light of the serious subject.
"How's Emmy? She hasn't been here as often as she should. Last I saw her was with Maddy. I guess she can't get out of the house very often without an escort. And without you to serve as one."
"She seems okay."
"She's probably much better with you back. Last time Maddy was here she was real concerned. Em, apparently, didn't take your leaving very well. Stayed locked in her room playing her flute, I heard." Christian nodded guiltily and picked up the three beers that had just been placed on the counter.
*~*
Christian and Satine found themselves walking through the dark, deserted streets of London several ours later. "What did you think of the English Bohos?" Christian asked.
"Oh, I think they're wonderful, Christian! I never imagined there could be anyone else in the world like the French bohemians, but leave it to you to find them! How did you meet them?"
"A friend of mine introduced me to them. Do you remember yesterday when you asked me about my family?" Satine nodded silently, looking down at the pebble that she was kicking along with her shoe. "Well, my brother's wife, Madeline, and I have been friends for years. She introduced them to me." The couple walked in silence for a couple of minuets before Christian continued. "I'm a little worried about her, actually. I was talking to Noah and he told me that they haven't seen her in a few weeks. Apparently, Alex is frantic."
"Why is he so upset?" she asked interested that Christian would single him out exclusively.
"They're having an affair."
*~*
Christian's father was quite angry with Christian for not showing up for dinner like he'd promised, but Satine easily calmed him with a colorful story of the two almost getting mugged after they had made a wrong turn into a bad part of town. The old man gruffly told Christian that a lady travels in a carriage, not walking like a bohemian. Then he retired for the evening. Satine also excused herself leaving the brother and sister by themselves.
In the parlor Emily threw her embroidery half way across the room in disgust of the pointless activity. She then turned to Christian, "You took Satine to the bar didn't you?" She asked plainly. Christian nodded. "Do you have any idea who I had to sit through dinner with?" She asked in anger, quite uncharacteristic of her. Without allowing her brother time to respond she fired, "Mrs. Wilesly!"
Christian cringed; he'd had no idea that his father was expecting her for dinner. "I'm really sorry, Em, I had no idea."
The young girl nodded, calmed considerably. "I hate that woman! I think father might marry her, too! She's over here all the time. Either she's in love with him, or she just enjoys picking at me. She's ever so close to convincing the old bag of bones to send me to Switzerland for finishing school!"
Christian stood and walked over to sit next to his little sister on the sofa. "It's okay, Emirs. I'll talk to the 'old bag of bones'."
"Thanks Christian. Now," she said sitting up straight. "Tell me how everyone's doing. I haven't been down there in ages!"
"So I've heard. They miss you, of course. But I really need to find out what you know about Madeline."
Emily slumped back on the sofa. "You're not going to like this Christian." She said before continuing. "I don't think Philip knows about Alex, but I'm sure he knows about everything else. He wont even let her have callers without that manservant of his supervising! I did see her in the market, the day before you came home. I don't even want to think about the trouble she got in, but she'd managed to sneak out of the house." Emily let out a sigh before she continued. "Her own home and she has to sneak out the kitchen entrance to leave by herself!"
"Sounds like someone else I know. Only that person uses her bedroom window." Christian said trying to make light the mood.
Emily smiled guiltily, as Christian went on, "she said Philip had come home to surprise her, 'take her out to lunch'" Emily rolled her eyes, she and Christian both knowing how their brother had really intended to spend his afternoon off work.
"Still trying for an heir is he?" Christian asked.
"More then ever, if you know what I mean."
Christian nodded, "what happened when she came home?" he asked.
"She tried to make something up. Learning from me I guess, although Satine seems pretty good at it too." She said knowingly. "He wouldn't have believed her, no matter what she'd said." Emily stood up from the sofa quickly and stood still in front of the fireplace for several moments. Without turning to him she added, softly. "He broke her arm, Christian."
He exhaled quickly and stood to pace around the room. "That bastard!" Christian said kicking the baseboard.
"Christian, shut up! So you want everyone to hear you? I feel just as terribly as you do but-"
"Is that why you haven't been down to the bar in a while?" Christian asked quietly, much calmer.
Emily turned to see her caring older brother looking at her with his intense green eyes. She nodded, "I didn't know how to tell Alex. I guess I was hoping you'd come home and everything would go back to how it was before."
"Well I'm here now."
*~*
Meanwhile, Satine was upstairs preparing herself for bed. She sat at the large makeup table brushing out her long red hair. She absentmindedly began to sing to herself as she changed out of her dress.
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me,
Someone I've needed so long.
For once, unafraid I can go where life leads me,
And somehow, I know I'll be strong.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of,
Long before I knew someone warm like you.
Would make my dreams come true,
Oh, yeah.
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me,
Not like it's hurt me before.
For once I have something that I know wont desert me,
I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say 'This is mine, you can't take it!'
As long as I know I have love, I can make it, yeah.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me.
Oh, for once, I can say 'This is mine you can't take it!'
As long as I know I have love I can make it.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me.
Satine looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She wore a silk nightgown. Not exactly 'ladylike' but she hoped Christian would like her in it. Her hair was down in soft curls framing her face and smelled of rose water. Now all that was left was to wait for him to go to bed.
* "For Once In My Life" Performed by Vonda Shepard and featured in Ally McBeal
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part VI: Saturday Night's Alright ~
By: Casidy
Christian lead his angel up to a small, dirty looking brick building with one large, blurry window in the front. The building reminded her of the many cafes in Montmarte. Christian opened the door for her and she stepped in. Satine felt as if she were back in Paris. The small bar had dozens of people that could be described as nothing less than Bohemians.
Several people sat at tables nursing a cheap beer and writing feverishly. Others sat at crowded tables discussing poetry and literature. Christian looked over his shoulder to see her reaction. She looked around excitedly, eager to meet these people. After apparently spotting whom he had been looking around for, Christian led her over to a table in the very back corner of the smoky bar.
The table was definitely the most boisterous, but all conversation stopped as the group noticed Christian. A few moments of silence gave Satine time to look over those seated. Although a dozen people sat as close to the table as they could muster, trying to be included in the conversation taking place, only four people were scooted into the table talking to each other exclusively. A short woman with long blond hair sat in the lap of a man, a bit older than herself, with quite large, floppy hair. Next to them sat a man in his late twenties, with short, black hair and small, rectangular glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. The last person sitting at the table was a tall man with dark hair, quite shorter than Christian's but his eyes were large, dark brown orbs that held a look so serious that it was comical.
Finally, the man with glasses stood up and threw his arms around Christian, "Christian! It's wonderful to have you back!" stepping back he asked "and who's this lovely lady you have with you?"
Christian's smile was huge as he introduced Satine. "Noah, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Satine. Satine darling, this is a very good friend of mine, Noah." Turning and looking at the others at the table he hugged each before introducing them. "And this is Clark," he said introducing the man with the floppy hair, "and his wife, Claire," the blond haired girl, "And lastly, Alex" the man with dark eyes.
"Pull up a chair," Said Noah, plopping himself down. Two chairs appeared and both Satine and Christian sat, huddled together around the small table. "Do tell, what are you doing back? We thought we'd never see you again!"
Christian smiled, "Had to bring Satine back to meet the family." Everyone rolled their eyes but did not press the subject further. Everyone insisted that Christian fill them in on the bohemians he had met in France. He of course told everyday events with flair and even Satine was on the edge of her seat as he told the plot of Spectacular, Spectacular.
An hour later Christian stood up, "Noah, why don't we refill these glasses. Darling, would you like another drink?"
"No thank you, I'm fine." She said smiling. Pulling Noah up to the bar Christian turned sharply after placing the empty glasses on the bar. "Have you heard anything form Madeline lately?"
Noah raked his left hand through his short hair, "No, and Alex's going crazy. She was over here about a month ago and there's been no word since. Claire tried going over there a couple of times but either she's not home or Philip's there."
Christian let out a ragged breath. "I'll talk to Em, tonight. She'll know what's going on. I didn't even think to ask her, I guess I just assumed Maddy would be here. She's usually here on Saturday nights. Philip's always with his country club friends, smoking cigars and drinking whiskey."
"We've all been worried. It's all I can do to keep Alex from running over there and calling your brother out. Wouldn't that be funny? The closest that boy's ever been to a gun is a prop in a play." He said trying to make light of the serious subject.
"How's Emmy? She hasn't been here as often as she should. Last I saw her was with Maddy. I guess she can't get out of the house very often without an escort. And without you to serve as one."
"She seems okay."
"She's probably much better with you back. Last time Maddy was here she was real concerned. Em, apparently, didn't take your leaving very well. Stayed locked in her room playing her flute, I heard." Christian nodded guiltily and picked up the three beers that had just been placed on the counter.
*~*
Christian and Satine found themselves walking through the dark, deserted streets of London several ours later. "What did you think of the English Bohos?" Christian asked.
"Oh, I think they're wonderful, Christian! I never imagined there could be anyone else in the world like the French bohemians, but leave it to you to find them! How did you meet them?"
"A friend of mine introduced me to them. Do you remember yesterday when you asked me about my family?" Satine nodded silently, looking down at the pebble that she was kicking along with her shoe. "Well, my brother's wife, Madeline, and I have been friends for years. She introduced them to me." The couple walked in silence for a couple of minuets before Christian continued. "I'm a little worried about her, actually. I was talking to Noah and he told me that they haven't seen her in a few weeks. Apparently, Alex is frantic."
"Why is he so upset?" she asked interested that Christian would single him out exclusively.
"They're having an affair."
*~*
Christian's father was quite angry with Christian for not showing up for dinner like he'd promised, but Satine easily calmed him with a colorful story of the two almost getting mugged after they had made a wrong turn into a bad part of town. The old man gruffly told Christian that a lady travels in a carriage, not walking like a bohemian. Then he retired for the evening. Satine also excused herself leaving the brother and sister by themselves.
In the parlor Emily threw her embroidery half way across the room in disgust of the pointless activity. She then turned to Christian, "You took Satine to the bar didn't you?" She asked plainly. Christian nodded. "Do you have any idea who I had to sit through dinner with?" She asked in anger, quite uncharacteristic of her. Without allowing her brother time to respond she fired, "Mrs. Wilesly!"
Christian cringed; he'd had no idea that his father was expecting her for dinner. "I'm really sorry, Em, I had no idea."
The young girl nodded, calmed considerably. "I hate that woman! I think father might marry her, too! She's over here all the time. Either she's in love with him, or she just enjoys picking at me. She's ever so close to convincing the old bag of bones to send me to Switzerland for finishing school!"
Christian stood and walked over to sit next to his little sister on the sofa. "It's okay, Emirs. I'll talk to the 'old bag of bones'."
"Thanks Christian. Now," she said sitting up straight. "Tell me how everyone's doing. I haven't been down there in ages!"
"So I've heard. They miss you, of course. But I really need to find out what you know about Madeline."
Emily slumped back on the sofa. "You're not going to like this Christian." She said before continuing. "I don't think Philip knows about Alex, but I'm sure he knows about everything else. He wont even let her have callers without that manservant of his supervising! I did see her in the market, the day before you came home. I don't even want to think about the trouble she got in, but she'd managed to sneak out of the house." Emily let out a sigh before she continued. "Her own home and she has to sneak out the kitchen entrance to leave by herself!"
"Sounds like someone else I know. Only that person uses her bedroom window." Christian said trying to make light the mood.
Emily smiled guiltily, as Christian went on, "she said Philip had come home to surprise her, 'take her out to lunch'" Emily rolled her eyes, she and Christian both knowing how their brother had really intended to spend his afternoon off work.
"Still trying for an heir is he?" Christian asked.
"More then ever, if you know what I mean."
Christian nodded, "what happened when she came home?" he asked.
"She tried to make something up. Learning from me I guess, although Satine seems pretty good at it too." She said knowingly. "He wouldn't have believed her, no matter what she'd said." Emily stood up from the sofa quickly and stood still in front of the fireplace for several moments. Without turning to him she added, softly. "He broke her arm, Christian."
He exhaled quickly and stood to pace around the room. "That bastard!" Christian said kicking the baseboard.
"Christian, shut up! So you want everyone to hear you? I feel just as terribly as you do but-"
"Is that why you haven't been down to the bar in a while?" Christian asked quietly, much calmer.
Emily turned to see her caring older brother looking at her with his intense green eyes. She nodded, "I didn't know how to tell Alex. I guess I was hoping you'd come home and everything would go back to how it was before."
"Well I'm here now."
*~*
Meanwhile, Satine was upstairs preparing herself for bed. She sat at the large makeup table brushing out her long red hair. She absentmindedly began to sing to herself as she changed out of her dress.
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me,
Someone I've needed so long.
For once, unafraid I can go where life leads me,
And somehow, I know I'll be strong.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of,
Long before I knew someone warm like you.
Would make my dreams come true,
Oh, yeah.
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me,
Not like it's hurt me before.
For once I have something that I know wont desert me,
I'm not alone anymore.
For once I can say 'This is mine, you can't take it!'
As long as I know I have love, I can make it, yeah.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me.
Oh, for once, I can say 'This is mine you can't take it!'
As long as I know I have love I can make it.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me.
Satine looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She wore a silk nightgown. Not exactly 'ladylike' but she hoped Christian would like her in it. Her hair was down in soft curls framing her face and smelled of rose water. Now all that was left was to wait for him to go to bed.
* "For Once In My Life" Performed by Vonda Shepard and featured in Ally McBeal