Hmmmm, uh... blank.
Disclaimer: Ok, how about this, if I suddenly become the owner to a multi-million dollar entertainment project, I'll let you know.
"It's good to see you out and about, dear," Yvonne greeted Eponine, "Pierre, move over will you, give your sister some space." She smiled as the little boy jumped up for his sister, giving her a sheepish kiss on the cheek before he scampered off. In a matter of a few short days the children, particularly the boys, were looking happier and healthier. They had taken baths (Eponine as much as her injuries would allow) and were eating three consistent meals a day. The effect on the younger children was immediate, they were rosier and even more full of energy, so much so that they were sent outside to play to spare the girls' sanity. Regular sleep and food were doing well for the girls health, but they were still far too thin, and Yvonne imagined there were even deeper emotional scars that would take longer to heal. She didn't know how Eponine had sustained her injuries or anything about the children's backgrounds, but judging by the fact that a number of children were living with Enjy and no concerned parent had shown up, it wasn't very difficult to guess.
"Azelma, I've been thinking," Annette said as she helped her brush the snarls from her hair, "We should get you a proper dress made, mine don't fit right."
"I know," Azelma said, looking down at her chest. She had hoped that eating regularly would make her fill out more, and it had, you could hardly see her ribs anymore, but a small part of her wished she would have more curves. Even when they were starving, it was obvious Eponine had the makings of a stunning figure, whilst with her lankier frame Azelma didn't. Though Eponine's sexuality hadn't done her any favors, a small part of Azelma was jealous. Still, it would be lovely to have a new dress that fit her properly.
"Do you think Enjolras would mind?" Azelma asked, "I don't want to make him angry."
"Oh, he won't care," Annette said, "he's got all this money, and all he ever spends it on is books."
"Well, I suppose it would be fun," Azelma said, "You will join me right? I haven't the faintest idea of how to buy a dress."
"Alright," Annette said, "This will be fun! It's like having a sister!"
"I have a sister, and I've never done anything like this," Azelma said.
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"So you see my cousin had to come into town so suddenly," Annette said, "That she had no time to bring proper clothes, so she needs some new dresses made." the seamstress, eyed Azelma, studying her from head to toe.
"Cousins, you say?" She said. Azelma shifted uncomfortably, while she was clean, and had a full sumach, she was still far too thin, and her hair too limp and lifeless for her to be in the same social status as the rosy and glossy - haired Annette.
"Yes," Annette said, "If there's a problem, we're happy to take our business elsewhere." The seamstress glared at them for another moment before shaking her head, leading Azelma to the fitting room.
"No, no problem," She said, "So, what sort of color did you have in mind?"
"Nothing too dark," Annette said, "She looks so fine in light colors, maybe a lilac? Or a light blue?"
"What did you have in mind," The seamstress asked Azelma, " I would figure a young lady of your class would have an opinion of what color her dress is."
"Umm," Azelma said, struggling to think of a color, she thought she remembered a flower growing in the garden as a little girl called a lilac, it had a nice color, "Lilac sounds lovely, I haven't one at home, so it will fit in nicely with my collection, if you would find the time to fetch the fabric," Azelma smiled sweetly at the obviously surprised seamstress, she had no idea who she was dealing with.
"And I don't want it very extravagant, a simple pattern will do," She said with a confident air, "Well, don't just stand there! Do you need me to show you how to stitch too?" The seamstress turned red and began her work. Not another snide remark was made from her for the rest of the fitting.
XXXXXXXX
"That was marvelous!" Annette laughed, "How did you learn to talk so smoothly? If that had been me, I would have been so flustered, but you didn't even bat an eye!"
"Whether I like it or not, I'm a Thenardier," Azelma said, "My parents are cons, me an' 'Ponine don't have a respectable bone in our bodies."
"Well, it certainly is amusing," Annette replied, still smiling, "Honestly, you should be an actress. That dress looks stunning on you, Lilac is definitely your color." Azelma smiled, looking down at the dress, the color really was lovely, it was the finest thing Azelma had ever worn!
"You're certain that Enjolras won't mind?" Azelma asked.
"I already told you," Annette said, "He couldn't care less!"
"What are those?" Azelma asked, eyeing a street vendor.
"Crystalized sugar," Annette answered, "It's candy."
"Do you think we could get some for the little boys?" Azelma asked, "I'm sure they would enjoy such a treat."
"And make them even more hyperactive?" Annette asked, "Of course, Enjolras will be thrilled!" Laughing, the girls made their way to the cart, purchasing a stick of sugar for themselves, and each of Azelma's siblings. May as well get Eponine one too, she's beginning to get very bored cooped up inside all day. The girls walked along the streets, enjoying the candies and admiring various goods through shop windows.
"Aren't those lovely?" Annette sighed, pointing to a pearl necklace, "Oh, how I wish- Azelma, are you listening?" Azelma was notlistening, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
"What?" She said, glancing back at Annette, "Oh sorry, I got distracted," There! She knew someone was watching, "Annette, wait here, I'll be right back." Without waiting for a reply, she walked across the street, slipping into a side alleyway.
"Touch me," Azelma growled, her voice slipping back into the argot used by slum residents, "An' it'll be the last thing you ever do."
"Nice dress," Monparnasse sneered, "Hows yer taste o the high life? When they gonna send ya back like the filthy little gamine ya are?"
"What d'ya want, 'Panarsse?" Azelma asked, crossing her arms, "Say it, or leave me the hell alone."
"I wan' 'Ponine," He said, "Where is she?"
"You lot almost killed her!" Azelma said, "Go find some whore, that's all yer good for!"
"I'm lookin at one!" 'Panarsse yelled, "Don't you forget yer place 'Zelma, yer father's looking for ya, and 'Ponine too. Yer no more than a common whore, not even pretty as 'Ponine, it's time ya got back ter work!" Azelma saw red, slapping him across the face before thinking clearly.
"Bastard," She spat, "Touch me an' I'll scream," Azelma said as her lunged towards her, "This is a public place, and I don' look like some worthless waif no more." Monpanarsse gave her a glare that would make a lesser girl faint, or scream, or both, but his hands were tied, and they both knew it.
"You an yer sister better git back," Montparnasse growled, "If yeh don' better tell 'Ponine I'm comin', and I wan' what's mine."
"Ya don' own nothin'!" Azelma called after him as he vanished down the alleyway, "You steal anythin' you want!" Azelma's hands trembled and her ears turned hot as she watched him run off. Usually she had a level head, but not like Eponine, she would have sailed through the entire exchange without batting an eye. After taking a moment to compose herself Azelma returned to Annette, who was still in the street.
"What was that?" Anette asked as Azelma neared her.
"Jus' somethin' I had to deal with," Azelma answered, "Don't worry yourself over it."
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Enjolras pulled his coat tighter around himself, yawning and clutching his bag in which he held his law books. Hopefully he could get some peace and quiet at his flat to plan for that evenings meeting. Yeah right. He almost found himself walking his usual, more complicated, route home. However he changed course before he passed the whore house. We wasn't a regular, but even the leader of the rebellion had needs. But he doubted it would be proper to bring back a prostitute when his flat was being used as a temporary home for four children, and a young lady.
"Where's Azelma?" Enjolras asked as he entered the flat, hanging his coat on the hook on the wall.
"Out spending more of your money with Annette I'd imagine," Eponine answered, looking up from the book she was reading.
"Wonderful" Enjolras said, rolling his eyes, "I didn't know you could read,"
"There's lots of things I know, Enjolras," Eponine answered, "You don't have to be a wealthy schoolboy to be intelligent."
"I never said you did," Enjolras answered, sitting down in an armchair, "I was merely saying that I didn't know you were educated, but I never doubted your intelligence." Eponine looked surprised,
"Really?" Eponine said, "I never thought you noticed me."
"I'm the leader of the rebellion," Enjolras answered, "I notice everyone who comes to the meetings, especially when they pay as close attention as you."
"Well I didn't have anything better to do," Eponine replied, "You're a very intoxicating speaker."
"What do you think of it?" Enjolras asked, "of the rebellion?"
"You're really asking my opinion?" Eponine asked, in all the months of coming to the meetings, Marius had never once asked her what she thought about the whole business.
"Yes," Enjolras said, "You obviously listen at the meetings, and you must have an opinion."
"It won't work," Eponine said plainly. Enjolras looked shocked, he wasn't expecting that reply.
"What?"
"It won't work," Eponine repeated patiently, as if he was a child.
"Why?" Enjolras said, "You don't agree with me?"
"Oh, I agree with you," Eponine said, "But it won't work."
"Then why exactly, pray tell, won't it work?" Enjolras asked
"How do you plan on fighting?" Eponine asked, "You schoolboys against the entire French army?" Eponine laughed dryly, "You'd all be dead in a day, and what would that do?"
"The people will rise, and take the place of the fallen," There was that spark again, he really didn't get it, did he?
"Let me ask you something," Eponine said, "Who would rise? Who are you fighting for?"
"The poor and abused," Enjolras said, "Like you and your siblings."
"Alright," Eponine said, "I'm not going to deny that our lives are destitute, but do you really know who the 'poor and abused' are? If you really want this to work, you need to go to the slums, the docks, to the poorest places, and talk to my people. Talk to them, not at them. They'll never follow you if you don't respect them. And they can't read, flyers will have no effect." Enjolras seemed rather stunned by her little speech; he remained silent for some time.
"Well you will have to assist me, won't you?" Enjolras said.
"What?" Eponine said, too shocked to come up with a witty reply
"Obviously I can't do his alone, will you help me? You are slum princess aren't you?" Enjolras smirked, "Surely you can handle this."
"Of course I can!" Eponine fired back, a smirk pulling on the left side of her mouth, revealing a chasm deep dimple, "You wait, once I have these infernal bandages off, I can turn the people towards you so fast, you won't know how to cope!"
XXXXXXXX
"She's recovering admirably well, I've removed the bandage around her shoulder, she'll have a permanent scar, but it's not overly prominent," Joly said as he exited Enjolras' bedroom, "But Lord, I can't keep doing this."
"What do you mean?" Enjolras asked, glancing up from the parchment.
"You must have noticed, you are human, aren't you?" Joly asked. He shook his head at Enjolras' continued dumbfounded expression, "You're denser than I thought, you bloke. She's actually rather pretty, now that she's got decent clothes on, and with her weight gain I've got to be ready when she removes them, if you know what I mean."
"I would expect you to have more respect for a young woman," Enjolras said, his cheeks heating up at he understood his friends meaning.
"I would never try anything," Joly shrugged, "She's a friend, but she's quiet fine, everyone else has noticed too, except Pontmercy. Forget what I said about you, he's the densest bloke I've ever met," Joly rolled his eyes at their mutual friend's ignorance, "I can't believe you haven't taken notice of her before, you live with her after all."
"I have no time for such idiotic trifles," Enjolras said, "Patria is the only woman I'll ever love."
"No one said anything about love," Joly smirked teasingly, "speak of the devil," He exclaimed as Marius entered the flat, "Marius! What brings you here?"
"Just checking up on 'Ponine," Marius said, "I've a favor to ask her."
"Monsieur Marius?" The three students were joined by Eponine, admittedly looking nice in a dark blue dress that Azelma and Annette had dragged her to a shop to get fitted.
"Hello 'Ponine!" Marius greeted, giving her a friendly hug that practically swept her off her feet, her reaction noticed by everyone in the room except said foolish revolutionary, "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Eponine smiled, "It is very kind of Grantaire to give us his bedroom, and for Enjolras to let us stay, I do believe my siblings are enjoying it more than I!"
"That's nice," Marius said, not really listening to her, "I've something I want to ask you, care to take a walk?" He offered him her arm, his exaggerated movements making it obvious that the gesture was jestingly platonic, but it made her heart soar all the same. Marius led Eponine outside, chattering non- stop about his beloved Cosette. Eponine's heart fell to her stomach. She had thought maybe he wanted to talk to her about them, but all he had time for was the bourgeois blonde.
"So, will you?" Marius asked her.
"What? Eponine said, snapping back to reality.
"Cosette doesn't really have many friends," Marius explained, "I was hoping, now that you're feeling better, you could befriend her." Eponine turned away, trying to hide how watery her eyes had become.
"I don't know," She said.
"Oh, please 'Ponine?" Marius pleaded, "For me?" Eponine sighed.
"Alright, Monsieur Marius, for you," She replied sadly.
He he oh, Joly. Sometimes I crack myself up. Sorry it took a while to update, I've been out of town for a bit. I won't be updating until after Friday because I have exams. But after that I'll try to make them semi-regular!
I forgot to mention, Annette is visually based of Sierra Boggess, as she appears in the 25th anniversary Phantom DVD.