DISCLAMER: seems everyone has one to protect themselves legally, so I guess
I'll do this just to be sure I don't get into trouble. Moulin Rouge, Nini,
Satine, and all other references to the 2000 movie are not mine, but belong
to the brilliant Baz and charming Craig. I wish I did own some of these
characters, but alas, fate doesn't like me. Oh, and this is my first
fanfiction, I mostly just write random short stories, but this one struck
me as one to keep up with.
I walked down the steps of the elephant, looking across the courtyard at the sights that one could only view at the Moulin Rouge. A few years ago, I would have simply sat where I stand and marvel at the different types of people and the scenes changing around me. But now, not now. I sit the boxes I've carried down on the ground next to me, and let the anger wash over me. Why should she get all of this? I'm the one who has worked with Harold all these years to get this place up and running! I have stood here, by his side, for almost 7 years now, and now this red-haired vixen comes in and takes this away from me? No, I can't let this happen. I have to keep myself in the minds of men when they want late-night satisfaction.
Three months ago, I was at the top. I was the Shimmering Opal, the star of the Moulin Rouge. My black hair, pale skin and blue eyes pulled men into a trance. Though I was short of stature, I made up for it with my high kicks and my dominating nature. Men would pay me hundreds of franks a week to work their fantasies. Hell, some men would pay me up to 30 franks just to dance with them!
But then she came along. She walked into the club three months ago, a curious spectator. She came to see the nightlife of Montmartre. As she walked in, the curtain opened on my song. I saw her through the crowd because of her pale skin and perfectly red hair
"I used to go out to parties
And stand around
'Cause I was too nervous
To really get down"
She watched the dancers cross the floor, and I moved sinfully around the stage and opened my mouth again.
"And my body yearned to be free
So I got up on the floor and found
Someone to choose me
No more standin' along the side walls"
She looked up and watched me.
"Now I've got myself together, baby
And I'm havin' a ball
Long as you prove it
There's always a chance
Somebody watches
I'm gonna make romance"
She looked at me a second more, and kept my eyes as she danced across the floor, her red hair flowing around her like a cape. She danced with no partners, unafraid and daring as she did. She kept no eye contact with anyone, but occasionally looked up at me, seeing if I was still watching her. How could I help it? She was beautiful.
"With your body, ooh baby, you dance all night
Get down and prove it, feel all right"
I ended my song and exited the stage, asking Louise if she had seen that red tart out front before.
"No darling, I haven't. But she does seem to be a hit with everyone. I think she may be taking our business away from us." Louise snickered "Well, we can't have that, can we?" I grinned, "Go offer her some Absinthe, let her see what this world is like. If she can survive a few glasses with you, she deserves to be here." With that Louise, known as La Goulue by her patrons, walked off, grabbing a bottle and 2 glasses from her makeup table.
I watched from the balcony as Louise offered the pale girl some drink, and she readily accepted. They each had two glasses and then set off dancing with each other. La Goulue was taken for this dance, but the men still gathered around her and the new beauty, handing money to them. As that song ended, Harold started the Hunk-a-dola, and Louise danced again with the beautiful stranger. When at last Louise had to break, I went to her and asked her about the mysterious girl. Though Louise was a bit sloshed, I understood her, for years of friendship were behind us. "Whell, sshe is called Satine. Sshe just moved here from Lonland. I mean Engdon. I mean, never mind. Sshe wanted to see if sshe could maybe make some friends around here, and came looking for a job. Sshe is naïve, sshe doesn't understand that we sleep with the men." Her face turned almost reminiscent and happy, thinking back to the days when she was innocent. "Well, lets hope she doesn't weave too much magic with these men as she did you, or we may well be out of our jobs!" I joked to Louise, not even thinking that this might actually happen.
I walked down the steps of the elephant, looking across the courtyard at the sights that one could only view at the Moulin Rouge. A few years ago, I would have simply sat where I stand and marvel at the different types of people and the scenes changing around me. But now, not now. I sit the boxes I've carried down on the ground next to me, and let the anger wash over me. Why should she get all of this? I'm the one who has worked with Harold all these years to get this place up and running! I have stood here, by his side, for almost 7 years now, and now this red-haired vixen comes in and takes this away from me? No, I can't let this happen. I have to keep myself in the minds of men when they want late-night satisfaction.
Three months ago, I was at the top. I was the Shimmering Opal, the star of the Moulin Rouge. My black hair, pale skin and blue eyes pulled men into a trance. Though I was short of stature, I made up for it with my high kicks and my dominating nature. Men would pay me hundreds of franks a week to work their fantasies. Hell, some men would pay me up to 30 franks just to dance with them!
But then she came along. She walked into the club three months ago, a curious spectator. She came to see the nightlife of Montmartre. As she walked in, the curtain opened on my song. I saw her through the crowd because of her pale skin and perfectly red hair
"I used to go out to parties
And stand around
'Cause I was too nervous
To really get down"
She watched the dancers cross the floor, and I moved sinfully around the stage and opened my mouth again.
"And my body yearned to be free
So I got up on the floor and found
Someone to choose me
No more standin' along the side walls"
She looked up and watched me.
"Now I've got myself together, baby
And I'm havin' a ball
Long as you prove it
There's always a chance
Somebody watches
I'm gonna make romance"
She looked at me a second more, and kept my eyes as she danced across the floor, her red hair flowing around her like a cape. She danced with no partners, unafraid and daring as she did. She kept no eye contact with anyone, but occasionally looked up at me, seeing if I was still watching her. How could I help it? She was beautiful.
"With your body, ooh baby, you dance all night
Get down and prove it, feel all right"
I ended my song and exited the stage, asking Louise if she had seen that red tart out front before.
"No darling, I haven't. But she does seem to be a hit with everyone. I think she may be taking our business away from us." Louise snickered "Well, we can't have that, can we?" I grinned, "Go offer her some Absinthe, let her see what this world is like. If she can survive a few glasses with you, she deserves to be here." With that Louise, known as La Goulue by her patrons, walked off, grabbing a bottle and 2 glasses from her makeup table.
I watched from the balcony as Louise offered the pale girl some drink, and she readily accepted. They each had two glasses and then set off dancing with each other. La Goulue was taken for this dance, but the men still gathered around her and the new beauty, handing money to them. As that song ended, Harold started the Hunk-a-dola, and Louise danced again with the beautiful stranger. When at last Louise had to break, I went to her and asked her about the mysterious girl. Though Louise was a bit sloshed, I understood her, for years of friendship were behind us. "Whell, sshe is called Satine. Sshe just moved here from Lonland. I mean Engdon. I mean, never mind. Sshe wanted to see if sshe could maybe make some friends around here, and came looking for a job. Sshe is naïve, sshe doesn't understand that we sleep with the men." Her face turned almost reminiscent and happy, thinking back to the days when she was innocent. "Well, lets hope she doesn't weave too much magic with these men as she did you, or we may well be out of our jobs!" I joked to Louise, not even thinking that this might actually happen.