The fastest update and yet the longest chapter, weird.
This one was really fun to write! Several new characters introduced and a couple more briefly mentioned.
(A note: i'm not doing the Eponine/Marius/Cosette love triangle plot line, but going for a more jealousy based relationship between the girls. So excuse the strange character choice there, unless you like that pairing in which case go for it.)
Disclaimer: Still nothing.
Chapter 7: Look down, London
The streets bustled busily as the upper-class tried to make their way down the street in lavish carriages while being bombarded with insults from the people on the streets. Complaints of how they lived, wandering hands grabbing at the trunks, whispers of revolution.
In amongst this struggle of rich and poor was a small boy, small enough to go unnoticed but independent enough to climb between carts with near enough no effort passing along messages. As he swung through the carriage window of one Leonard Bloom, he greeted the man with a tip of his blue hat and a childish grin across his face.
"'How do you do? The name's Luke Triton. There's a speech going on outside, you might want to go hear it." He swung back out of the window and hooked himself onto the side of the tallest carriage that passed and, climbing to the top of it, yelled out to the people around him "That's right; this is the place we live in! Look at all these rich folk in their fancy carts. Nobody 'ere cares for us lot, we need a change." Several ongoers looked up, wondering what the boy had to say. "They say there's equality here? The only time we'll ever to be equal to them is when we're dead, and that ain't gonna be any time soon we 'ope, long live us!" Echoing his cries across the street were two men, the older with a mess of red hair and an orange ascot tied round his neck, waving a banner above his head. The younger was dressed similar to the boy that still crawled among the crowd, though he was much less sure of himself and seemed awkward stood atop the carriage.
"The only man who cares about any of us-" the redhead began "-Is Duke Herzen. But ties close to him inform me that he's unlikely to last the week. Then you know who'll be in charge?" he turned to the other man "I'll let you do the honours, Clive." He stepped forwards with hatred in his eyes
"The one person there will be Bill Hawks, he's next to take over. And believe me; he isn't going to improve any of THIS." He flung his arms toward the crowd. "I mean, have you met the man?"
"So we invite anyone-"
"ANY-one"
"To join us in Revolt should this injustice ever occur." A cheer rose up from the few that were listening. The younger man, Clive, added in a whisper.
"Randall, I'm gonna go and find her now. She said she had something to tell me. Think you can do the rest." Randall grinned at him.
"Do you doubt my excellence?" Clive raised his eyebrows "Believe me I'll manage." Clive hopped down from platform and wandered to the edge, high fiving Luke as they passed each other. Luke himself addressed two women as they passed by.
"Madams, may I suggest that you stay away from that side of the town. Paolo and his family would love to take those bags of yours." The two laughed as he tipped his hat "His daughter ain't so bad though, she'll probably 'elp you out."
In an alleyway over the other side, watching the rally with an indirect interest was the girl herself. Emmeline had changed a lot since her childhood days, now a tall muscular girl with a better heart. Her parents ended up losing the inn many years before; they now lived on the harsh streets of London, making money through even more questionable means than they had already tried. With a small marquee and sympathy drawing costumes, her father went out looking for victims. Emmy didn't follow her parent's motives, preferring to spend her time with the local residents that had shown her kindness. She'd managed to sneak away from her mother's watchful eye and was wandering down an alley past a house that she knew well, hoping he'd show up soon. Luckily she didn't have to wait too long.
"Emmy!" She smiled as she saw him walking past the alley's entrance. He came running down to her "You weren't at the event, what happened?" Emmy laughed.
"I've only just managed to get away from them, left him trying to con some old woman." Clive frowned at her "Oh hush. I don't like it either, but what can anyone do about it?"
"Just… make sure you stay out of it." She decided to change the subject away from her family.
"How did the speech go anyway? I know Randall had been planning all day." Clive rubbed the back of his neck and looked back towards the town centre, where few people were still gathered.
"There weren't that many people when I left him but, well you know Ascot, he'll make it sound so exciting that people can't help but join."
"You know…" Emmy swayed on her heels "I could help you out in this revolution. I could be a student too." She'd spent years being harassed by the upper class people, this Revolution was something that could push her entire life forwards.
"I know… But I just don't think it would be right. You're too, well, unpredictable. " Emmy stamped her foot, they'd had this discussion so many times and he always gave half-hearted responses.
"That's not a good enough reason, I know things! I'm an asset to your cause." She put her hands on her hips and glared down at him.
"The things you know wouldn't help here; do you know how to fire a gun? And besides, I wouldn't want you getting hurt."
"I know you don't trust me because of my family but- "Emmy was about to reel off a long list of reasons for why she should be involved, but a voice stopped her. The shrill voice of her mother round the corner, they'd noticed she was missing. "Clive, get away from here." Clive looked taken aback, he clearly wasn't expecting that.
"Well, sorry. I was just trying to have a conver-"
"I'll meet you back here in a bit, okay" Emmy went off to the location of Dahlia's voice, leaving Clive bewildered.
"Emmy, wait! What's going on?" As he ran to the front of the alley he went spiralling into a girl that was hurrying past. "I'm so sorry." He apologised profusely as the girl looked up and smiled at him. He smiled as their eyes met. She was a girl that Clive had seen round the market before, but he'd never truly seen her. She was small in stature with a young face, but held herself like one of the upper class women. An unusual birthmark sat upon her collarbone and strands of brow hair poked out from under her pink bonnet. "Once again, I'm so sorry." The girl giggled and followed a man, presumably her father, to the other side of the marquee. He watched her go, and saw Emmy do the same as the girl passed her, a look of disgust on on her face, before slipping inside.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dahlia was close to screeching by the time Emmy made it back to them, but remained calm as Paolo spoke to the group. With a grey wig upon his bald head and a cane in his grip, he addressed each member of his group by one.
"Bishop, go grab someone's attention, look for someone posh-like. Swift, you and Emmeline go watch for the law outside." Emmy found herself being pulled outside by the scarred man "Gannet, Rook. Guard the doors. My dear-" He smiled at Dahlia "You've got the tears ready?" Dahlia held up the bundle in her hands, a large white cat wrapped up in a blanket. "Brilliant, make sure to hide her tail."
"Claudia's a Boy."
"….Right." Claudia mewed softly and Dahlia hushed him. She pulled a bonnet down over her head and wrapped her scarf over her shoulders. Don Paolo leant over and adopted his old man persona. A gentleman was hurried in by Bishop, looking confused. "Please sir…" Began Paulo in a shaking, guttural tone "Come and help us please, our child hasn't eaten for days." Dahlia made subtle crying noises behind him as he gestured to the bundle on her lap "If you could give just a single picarat, or perhaps 500, that'd be good as well." The man tried to turn and leave, but Paulo grabbed onto his shirt, knocking him backwards. His hat fell off in the process and as he tried to place it back on, realisation dawned upon him. "Wait a minute. Do I know you?" Dahlia placed the bundle on the floor, where Claudia left out with a shriek and took to the streets.
"Yes. I know him too." Her face became a grimace " You thought you'd gotten away with it did you?"
"That's right!" he added as an afterthought "Which guy was this?"
"The one that took the kid."
"OH. You're the con one who borrowed Fauna!" Dahlia rolled her eyes. The man pulled the hat down to conceal his face
"No sir, I have no idea what you're talking about. If you don't mind I'll be on my way now." Dahlia got up and threw her bonnet to the floor.
"You can pretend to be ignorant but we remember. You WILL pay back the money you 'forgot'. We have lives to run here." As Paolo was about to swing a punch at him before Emmy and Swift poked their heads round the door.
"Run for it, it's Inspector Descole!" Hershel pushed his way out of the marquee and ran to his daughter, hurrying her away. The family tried to chase after him, collecting up the money they'd already taken, the harsh voice of the inspector rung out. He walked over to them with a flourish of his cape, knocking Luke Triton over on his way. He picked the boy up by his shoulders and adjusted his jacket.
"What's happening here, a robbery? If there was any witnesses come forward now." Paolo pulled the wig off and kicked it behind him. "The man's gone; does he not want to report?"
"Maybe there was nothing to report." Descole snarled at Paolo. "You have no proof of it anyway." He added.
"That still wouldn't answer why he'd have gone away. Unless..." Descole's mind wandered to a night many years ago, when he'd lost sight of his criminal. He hadn't found him since. "No that would be ridiculous."
"You'll have a job to get that one back, that's the guy who robbed me of my darling child when she was just a kid." He dabbed at his eyes "Never did catch him. Anyway, since there are no witnesses or victims or, well, any proof whatsoever…. Can I go?"
"Get out of my sight."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emmy watched as the old man escaped from her father's reach, leaving with the girl that she'd seen Clive speak to beforehand. As soon as she saw her face, she realised. It was as if their lives had been switched, she was there living lavishly as Emmy scraped her change robbing people. She'd definitely been right to go with the man. "Flora…" She whispered to herself "How did it all end up so backwards." Clive made his way back to her as the police dispersed from the scene. Emmy jumped up, hiding any sense of resentment from her face. "Clive. I'm sorry about this, that cop really wants to get us doesn't he. HA, he'll never manage." It looked as if Clive hadn't heard her, his mind clearly elsewhere.
"Emmy, did you see that girl here?" Emmy hoped that her shock wasn't too obvious
"Yes I saw her, why?" Surely Clive didn't recognise her.
"I need to know who she is." Emmy's face turned to confusion "I need to talk to her." That didn't help her confusion. She placed a hand on each of his shoulders
"Have you ever spoken to her before, why so desperate for conversation?"
"I'll explain later Emmy; I've just got to know who she is. Please." He took one of Emmy's hands "Find her for me. I need to speak with her, see if her personality is a sweet as her."
"You're a literal idiot." Clive laughed "What will you give me if I learn her name?" she said jokingly
"Anything you want. Even if it's impossible! I'd give you your own underground city or-or a time machine!"
"I want you to let me into the Revolution." Clive bit his lip. He knew that Emmy would be an advantage to their fight, but her personality made it too much of a risk.
"…Like I said, I'd give you an Underground city."
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