Chapter 8
Before Smoke and I had even arrived at the party, I knew where it was located. There was loud music and different colored lights that shined out through the darkness. As we drew close to the building, I could see three men playing a drinking game, a couple making out, and one guy practicing a technique in which he juggled violins, and all of that was only on the outside.
I was beginning to feel uneasy about all of it as we entered. The building was crammed with people on all three floors and the roof. People were dressed in all sorts of whimsical, colorful costumes that looked to be from all over the world. Hair styles were done in just about the same fashion, and they were all dancing. Many of them were dancing rather sexually… of course, rather was putting it lightly.
"YEAH!" Smoke cheered, lighting a cigarette off of someone's hat that was decorated in candles. "This is what I'm talking about. Hurry, let's get up onto the stage."
"We're going now!" I yelled over the noise.
"Not yet! I've just got to let them know I'm here!" Smoke replied. "If you don't want to go, I'll catch up with you in a little while!" He blew into the air a long swig of smoke. "NOW! EVERYBODY!" He screamed over the crowd. "CAN YOU CAN-CAN!"
The whole crowd began cheering wildly as he clambered onto the small stage in the back of the room. "THEN, SHOW ME HOW YOU CAN-CAN!" He screamed, banging on the piano.
I looked at him up on the stage, my eyes wide with fright. I was mortified.
"EVERYBODY! CAN-CAN!" He screamed, and suddenly, I was in the middle of violent swishing of long skirts and men's top-hats being thrown into the air. Everyone was dancing to Smoke's and the other band member's music. Suddenly, I was pinned up against the wall as three women danced around me.
I moved out of the way and sat down at a table, letting out a relieved sigh as I watched the others.
"What's the matter, little boy?" A sensual voice caught my ears. "You look so lonely…" I turned my head quickly to look at the person who had apparently been occupying the table before I sat down. It was a woman with blonde hair that was pulled up in a strange style that was full of pins and needles and dressed in lingerie of turquoise blue. She was a bit older than me, and had too much make-up decorating her face, all blue.
"Um… actually, I was just leaving," I muttered nervously, smiling at her as I started to get up.
"Oh… poor baby… what's the matter?" She grabbed my wrist.
"Ah… I…" I stuttered uncomfortably. "Um… I have something I have to do…"
"Come on… don't you want to dance…?" She batted her long eyelashes at me.
"I… err…"
Before I could say another word, she'd hoisted herself up and hauled me out onto the dance floor. I just stood there in shock, wondering how I possibly got back out onto the floor so quickly and why this strange blonde woman was---- feeling me up!
That was when I realized that the entire floor was doing the same thing. The men were standing and letting the women run their hands up their bodies. Then, the girls thrust themselves against the men, threw one arm around their neck, and forced (well forced me anyway because I didn't want to move) the men into a spin.
"So… what's you're name, honey," The woman asked in a lusty voice, very close to my ear.
"Ah… mm…" I choked. I didn't want to give out my name. I wanted to get away from her. I wasn't stupid. I knew what she wanted from me, and I still had the dignity within me to turn down love-making unless it was with someone I loved!
"There you are!" I heard from behind and was snatched away.
I turned to see Smoke in front of me, looking back at the other woman. "I owe you one later tonight, doll face," He yelled back to her. She winked at him and went off to find another target.
"Oh, my God, thank you so much," I gasped, realizing that up until that point, I hadn't been breathing.
"Why? She's great in bed, or at least I thought so…" Smoke said. "-but enough about me. Let's get started on money-making."
"Where is-"
"Ying and Yang are on the roof. Black Cherry's selling on the second floor."
Before I could ask more questions, we were up on the stage, and everyone had stopped dancing and begun staring at us.
I felt fear creeping in and settling over my shoulders. "What are you wanting me to sing!" I whispered fiercely.
"Songs from your book, of course. It's what got people interested in the Moulin Rouge in the first place!" He whispered back.
"-but-"
"Don't worry… I won't make you sing "Come What May", I promise," He replied.
"I'd do it if I had someone to sing it with…" I murmured, which was true, but it was a certain someone in particular.
"Let's start out with "Your Song", all right?" Smoke said, turning towards the crowd.
"I-"
"GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTS!" He cried out. "Having fun, are we?"
The crowd screamed out excitedly in response.
"Well," Smoke said. "I'm glad that you're enjoying yourselves and letting your bohemian spirit run free… but don't you think this place is a bit small?"
Everyone cheered again.
"Well, that's why I'm asking for your help. I have a dear friend of mine here who is going to sing for you guys, but I'm hoping you give us some money for donations… You see… we're going to REOPEN THE MOULIN ROUGE!"
-and everyone went nuts.
"-and here with me tonight is the author of the book with the same title!" Smoke yelled, and the crowd went wild. "He's singing a few selections from the book to help us out, so give Christian a hand!"
They cheered and clapped and started yelling out requests. I just nodded shyly and mouthed a thank you. The crowd got more and more wild as Smoke sat down at his piano, and even he seemed shocked at all the noise. It was as if he didn't know what to do. So, I did what I figured would work. I did what I came to do.
Christian:
MY GIFT IS MY SONG!
Silence.
Christian:
-and this one's for you…
And you can tell everybody…
That this is your song…
It may be quite simple but…
Now that it's done…
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words…
How wonderful life is…
Now you're in the world…
Smoke began playing piano.
Christian:
Sat on the roof…
And I kicked off moss…
And some of these verses, well, they…
They got me quite cross…
But the sun's been kind…
While I wrote this song…
And it's for people like you that…
Keep it turned on…
So excuse me forgetting…
But these things I do…
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue!
And well the thing is…
What I really mean…
Yours are the sweetest eyes
I've ever seen!
-and you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple but…
Now that it's done…
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words…
How wonderful life is…
NOW YOU'RE IN THE WORLD!
Everyone praised me gleefully, and I just stood there, frozen. My heart was aching again, and I longed for a glass of Absinthe.
"That was brilliant!" Scott yelled to me over the crowd. "Look at all of that!" He pointed to the floor.
I looked down and was speechless when I saw all of the money that was tossed, and was still being tossed, onto the stage. I'd never been paid for my performance like that. I glanced up at the fans who were all screaming gleefully.
Smoke started into a piano opening and turned to me, grinning. As he and the band finished the intro, he started to sing.
Smoke:
Roxanne…
You don't have to put on that red light…
Walk the streets for money…
You don't care if it's wrong or if it is right…
Tonight was definitely shaping up to be interesting.
-
Selene had meanwhile taken a bath and cleaned herself up, then went into her bedroom and put on her makeup, then looked through the dresses she owned. She frowned and sighed, realizing that all of her good dresses needed to be washed.
So, instead, she retrieved the blue one that she had worn before and slipped it on. She struggled to tie her corset without any help, but after she had gotten it so tight that she could hardly breathe, she headed down the stairs and out the front door.
"I must apologize to Christian…" She told herself. "I've never felt so guilty in my entire life… I shot down the woman he loved so dear…" She blinked back her tears again.
It wasn't long until she was standing in front of the Moulin Rouge glancing around for the garret that had been written about in the book. The dark shadow of the windmill seemed reminiscent of what it once was. She could almost hear the voices echoing over the horizon, but she shook it off and spotted the garret.
"That has to be it," She said, heading in that direction, only glancing back a few times at the empty nightclub.
She did not know that someone had seen her pass it, that someone was standing under the doorway watching her. The Duke smiled his rat-like smile as he saw her disappear into the darkness. Francis Cardigan was standing next to him, smoking a cigarette and nearly choked when he saw her.
"Her?" He cried.
"-but of course," The Duke said, looking at him. "She will be the star as she once was."
"You're telling me that she… was the "Sparkling Diamond"?" Cardigan squeaked, stunned.
"Yes," The Duke said. "-and her past hasn't walked out on her…"
"Do you think she'll do it again?"
"She is all alone. Her heart is fragile."
"She told me that she loved me awhile ago. She doesn't seem like the type to fall in love. Courtesans fall in love with everyone, don't they?"
"No," The Duke said, and his voice became bitter. "She fell in love with a damned writer."
"Oh, yeah… but where is he now?" Francis asked.
"I don't know… but it'd be best if he's gone. If I ever see him again, it'll be too soon…"
"Jealous, are we?" Cardigan asked, smirking.
"I am not a jealous man…" The Duke said, turning on him. "-but Satine belongs to me, and I WILL NOT LET A PENNILESS WRITER STEAL HER AWAY!"
"All right, all right!" The other man exclaimed, backing up. "How do you plan to do that?"
"Well, she already agreed to work for me… I'll just have to reel in the fish."
"How do you do that?"
The Duke turned to him. "The right bait."
-
Selene had arrived at my quarters and knocked on the door. Unfortunately, I wasn't in.
She took hold of the knob and turned it slightly, and to her surprise, it opened. "Monsieur Christian?" She called, stepping inside slowly. "Hello?"
Her eyes darted across the room at the mess. "Broken glass… paper balls…" She scrunched up her nose at the sight of the bucket at the side of my bed. "Oh, nasty!" She cried. Then, her eyes met with the spilled Absinthe. "Absinthe?" She questioned. "He can drink this stuff?" She glanced back at the unbroken empty bottles. "Apparently…"
She stepped out onto the balcony and stared out, a light breeze blowing back her hair. "I guess he isn't here…" It was then that she saw the bright lights down the street. "Well, I do owe him… so…" She turned around and stared at the mess, rolling her sleeves up. "Let's make this place look like a home and not a dump!"
-and with that, she began picking up the mess that I'd gotten so used to that I failed to notice.
-
The party raged on, long after I'd finished my performances. Despite all the requests, I had managed to make up some good excuses not to sing "Come What May". My number one reason was that Satine wasn't around to sing her part… and it was true, but that wasn't really my number one reason. I knew darn well that I couldn't get through it. I certainly wasn't going to be stupid and try. Even hearing the song drove me to Absinthe. I couldn't even imagine what I would do if I had to sing it.
There was another thing bugging me now that I was off the stage and Black Cherry (who had somehow found her way through the crowd) was belting out her own version of "Lady Marmalade", it seemed that there were a lot more females at the party than before. I was probably just imagining that though. It only looked that way since they all were gathered around me!
I was being pulled this way and that being asked to dance, and others were tailing me and telling me how they wished they could be loved by a man like me. Some were flirting… well, most if not all of them were flirting with me since by other men's standards (according to them at least) I had to of been the best lover on the planet. I myself found that impossible, since I only lost my virginity a year ago with Satine, and I'd never been with a woman since. Even so, it was still a pretty good compliment, so I wasn't open for complaints. I was too busy answering questions and turning down dances anyways.
Pretty soon, I found myself at the Absinthe bar with my head on the table, gasping for air (I had to run all the way across the dance floor with women hanging onto my arms after all).
"I don't know how those ladies men do it," I breathed to the bartender, an older man with an oversized, gray mustache. "I just want to be left alone."
"You just don't have the spirit. You need to get in the game, Monsieur," The bartender said happily, setting a glass of Absinthe in front of me. It made a large CLUNK noise against the table, and I looked up the glass from my spot on the table, halfway appalled, halfway relieved. "This'll give you a buzz."
"I know what it does," I said flatly. "If you read the book, you'd know I've drank it before."
"Sorry, Monsieur, but my old eyes can't read very well anymore," The bartender said, beaming.
I glanced over at my shoulder, seeing the street whores and bohemian can-can dancers giggling and waving at me.
I grabbed the glass and downed the whole thing in an instant. For once I wasn't dreaming to get Satine off my mind. I was somewhat hoping that I would pass out and Smoke or someone could drag me home. After looking at where the door was, and where I was, I'd already calculated that it was quite impossible to get out on my own. "Another," I said, setting the glass down heavily.
"Right away, sir," The bartender said, spilling another mesh of green liquid into the glass.
-
A few hours passed by, and Selene had finished cleaning up the bottles, the buckets, the bedspreads, and the bathroom. All that was left was the discarded paper that was thrown over the shoulder in the long nights when I had tried to write. It saddened her that every time she straightened out the paper and read the typing, that everything I had tried to write started out nice enough, but soon enough just melded back into the same old story.
She tossed each one of them out with the rest of the trash, swept the floor of the dirt particles brought in by my shoes and the small spare pieces of glass, then she dusted all the furniture, straightened the curtains, fluffed the pillows, adjusted the stack of blank papers, and even placed the bottles of Absinthe that weren't spilled or broken or drunken into a cabinet across from my bed.
She let out a sigh of relief as she pushed her sleeves back around her wrists and smiled in satisfaction. "Honestly, men can be such sloppy pigs. What would they do without women?" She turned and walked out onto the balcony, leaning against the wall. "It's so nice out tonight. It's the perfect evening for couples… I guess it's not so great after all…"
My voice apparently was haunting her thoughts. "You think you're so miserable, just because that man next door didn't want you! I don't know why anyone would! You're opinion on people is terrible! You have some man push you off one time, and the world comes crashing down on you! Even though you know that you can have any man you want!"
Her eyes became downcast at the thought of the words. "He was right… Who would want someone like me? I'm a horrible person.
"TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN DREAMING ENDS!"
She blinked slowly and sighed. "I could never do enough to fix what I've messed up. I don't deserve to love…"
Selene:
Today's… the day…
When dreaming….
Before she could finish, however, the door burst open. The room was suddenly filled with dancing and singing bohemians carrying bottles and cups. She stayed on the balcony, staring to the inside, overwhelmed by the suddenness of the situation.
"What in the… What is…"
Smoke was helping me through the door moments later, since I was a bit intoxicated… Of course, THAT was the understatement of the century (then again, the century had just started, so I had a good chance of not always being number one). According to what I'd heard, I was babbling on about how much I hated the Green Fairy who had apparently been sitting on my shoulder.
"We LOVE YOU ALL!" Black Cherry cried over the crowd. "You guys are the greatest! We'll reach our goal in no time! Just wait until our penniless poet finds out!"
The crowd cheered wildly once more.
"We're very grateful!" Ying and Yang said, walking on their hands to impress the crowd.
I laughed, rambling onto Smoke about how great it was to be in the year 1899 and that these bohemians should come to the Moulin Rouge with Toulouse and me. Smoke just smiled and nodded his head, laughing.
"I sure hope they get to come, Monsieur," He said, pushing me up against the wall. "Now just stay there while I go get another cigarette. Then we'll find a quiet place for you to sleep off all that Absinthe, okay?"
I merely laughed a reply, interested in the sparkling designs I was imagining on my ceiling. My drunken sighted eyes spotted Selene staring at me from the balcony, looking to shocked for words. I smiled and stumbled over to her.
She had to grab me before I walked clear off the balcony, and then she slammed me against the wall.
"Monsieur! What is going on!" She cried. "Monsieur Christian!"
"Come now, baby, it's just Christian, you know!" I said, giggling. "Where have you been? I think you would've loved the party, Satine."
"Party?… SATINE? I'm not-"
"I was looking all over for you, you know. I thought you were there, but you weren't, and then Toulouse brought me home-"
"I'm not Toulouse!" Smoke cried from inside the house, not angrily, but in a voice that made his point clear. "C'mon! I'm no gnome if you know what I mean!"
A few girls went on about how tall Smoke was.
"Christian, you… You're drunk!" Selene cried.
"You act as if this hasn't happened before," I said, smiling stupidly at her. "I got so upset when you went away… By the way, what year is it?"
She stared at me, revolted. Then, before I was even aware of it, she backhanded me across the face. I staggered slightly and reality set in. I stared at her dumbly for way too long, then, to continue my stupidity, I said, "Selene?"
"I can't believe I ever felt sorry for you," She said, walking quickly towards the door of my garret.
"Selene, wait!" I cried, chasing after her.
"Go get her, lover boy," Smoke said not looking at me from my desk, where he was playing poker with Ying and Yang.
"You lose," They both said, setting out winning hands.
"Not again," Smoke said.
I rushed down the stairs after her, but it seemed somehow she was faster than me. At least, that's how I felt until I got to the street and began to catch up with her.
Selene:
I feel stupid
But I know it won't last for long
And I've been guessing
But I could have been guessing wrong
You don't know me now
I kind of thought that you should, somehow
When this old mad season comes around
Christian:
How can you just stand there
Looking like the answer now?
It seems to me, you come around
I need you now!
Selene turned, a surprised look on her face.
"Please," I begged. "Don't be mad… I…I---"
"Don't even start!" She cried. "What do you have to offer me? Why should I even care!"
Christian:
I can only give you love that lasts forever
And the promise to be near each time you call
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone…
That's all….
That's all….
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall
And a love who's burning light
Will warm the winter night
That's all…
That's all…
She turned and took off again, but I caught up with her and turned her to face me. It was then that I realized we were in front of the dark silhouette of the Moulin Rouge.
Selene:
Help me!
I think I'm falling in love again!
When I get that crazy feeling I know
I'm in trouble again!"
I put my arms around her and dipped her back. She placed her hand against my cheek.
Selene:
I'm in trouble
'cause you're a rambler and a gambler
And a sweet-talking ladies man
And you love… you love me…
But not like you love your freedom!
As she sang the word 'freedom' the stars danced down from the sky and lit up the windmill in beautiful colors, bringing it to life as if it had never been unlit.
She pushed me off of her and rushed towards her house again, running this time with flushing cheeks. "NO! Not you! I don't love you! I love---" She cried.
Christian:
When somebody loves you
It's no good unless he loves you… all the way…
She froze mid-step.
Christian:
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you… all the way…
She started walking, and I walked along behind her.
Selene:
Taller… than the tallest trees…
That's how it's got to feel…
Christian:
Deeper than the deep blue seas…
That's how deep it goes, if it's real…
The stars followed us, sparkling lights around us that flickered brilliantly.
Selene:
When somebody needs you
It's no good unless she needs you… all the way…
Through the good and lean years
And through all the in between years…
She looked over at me from her shoulder, a sad look in her eyes.
Selene:
Come what may…
Christian:
Come what may….
Selene and Christian:
Who knows…
Where the road will lead us…
Selene:
Only a fool would say…
Christian:
-but if you let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you….
Selene and Christian:
All the way…
Christian:
All… the way…
And she was off again. I had to run to keep up with her, for she was doing all she could to not like me at this point.
We arrived at her house before I knew it, and I followed her up the stairs. I kept trying to get her to just listen to me, but it was almost as if she wouldn't have it. I had to do something. "Why am I so special! Leave me alone!" She cried.
She rushed into her room and out onto her balcony, but before she could close herself away from me, I ran up behind her and leaned around her.
Christian:
I've got sunshine…
On a cloudy day…
When it's cold outside…
I've got the month of May…
I'd guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl…
She turned towards me, trying not to smile, but it was apparent.
Christian:
Talking about my girl,
MY GIRL!
Her smile spread across her face.
Selene:
Baby
Look what you've done to me
Ooh, you've made me feel so good inside…
And I just want to be…
Close to you,
You make me feel so Ah-LIIIVE---
As she held out her note, I slowly and quietly sang below her.
Christian:
All you need is love…
Her note faded, and she stared into my eyes with a look full of love. I then finished, barely above a whisper.
Christian:
Love is all we need…
I leaned in close to her, and she shut her eyes, leaning forward and tilting her head slightly… but suddenly, a thought seemed tohave struck her mind.
She pushed me back. "NO!" She cried.
I stared at her, confused for a long time. "What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.
"Nothing, just get out. Get out, just go!" She breathed, shoving me out her bedroom door, slamming it, and locking it behind me.
I heard loud thumps from the stairs, and Scott, Joseph, and Margaret appeared at the top.
"Ah, Monsieur Christian!" Scott said excitedly.
"You sure seem to be doing this a lot lately," Joseph said, crossing his arms.
I just stared at them, embarrassed.
(A/N: You get the jist about the song disclaiming thing, right? Okay then. Whoo, boy, this was a loooong chapter, wasn't it? Fifteen pages… Dang. I've been in a major slump lately, so this is impressive to me. Also, I'm putting up this chapter in celebration of my new Moulin Rouge website, "Above All Things… Love"! Here's the link, but don't forget to remove the spaces! Http / moulinrouge . t35 . com / Feel free to visit! I'm looking forward to it. I plan on putting up lots of fan art for this story there, so look forward to that, and I need submissions of just about anything and everything, so check it out! Toodles!)