video, un: ponine

[jondrette]

[A young woman appears. Her long, dark hair is tangled and soaking wet, hanging down in front of her haggard face. Her age is hard to pin down, but it’s clear that she’s seen better days. And worse days, for that matter.]

There is rain that falls from a pipe here!

[This was a fact she’d learned with a shriek when she’d decided to play ‘what does this knob do’ in her room.

Her face lights up when she speaks, though, her accent clearly French.]

First it scalded, then when I tried to turn it off it became incredibly cold! [She giggles though, a rather ugly sound, and moves over to flop down on her bed melodramatically. On her right hand, visible as she gets comfortable, a bright red circular scar can be seen.] And such a bed! Have you ever seen such a bed before?

[She exhales, relaxing into the mattress.]

If this is heaven, I believe I am in the wrong place.

Comments

[havethestrength]

Does it?

[jondrette]

Yes.

I was cold and I burned, but there was peace and it all faded, replaced by warmth and light.

And then I was here.

[havethestrength]

I don't think there will be warmth for me.

[jondrette]

No?

[havethestrength]

I was told that I give my life force to bring another back. I don't think that comes with warmth.

[jondrette]

You are a very brave man.

[havethestrength]

No. I'm selfish. If I were brave I would have stopped it.

[jondrette]

Stopped saving them?

Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

I was the cause of many horrible things. I should have had the strength to stop it, but I didn't.

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

Would you change it?

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

Some of it.

[Would he have been able to meet Rey if he had changed? Would he have been able to save his father and uncle? He's not sure.]

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

The same. Some of it.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

Did you do the same?

[There are few who can be as horrible as he was, but it would be nice to find a kindred soul.]

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

I brought the man I loved to the place where I died. I only took the bullet so I would not have to live in a world without him. [She chuckles at the irony. She's here now. Without him.]

I do not know if he survived, or if he died. I gave him reason to leave, if he wished. But it may have been too late. I don't know if I care if it is too late or not.

That is on top of what else I have done. I am truly a devil.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

That sounds very human for a devil.

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

You are too kind, Ben.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

I'm honest. What you've done is hardly that of a devil.

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

I have killed, too. Stolen. Cruel for cruelty's sake. I have laid with many men for a sous. That alone is evil enough for the Church.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

Churches don't know what true evil is.

[He closes his eyes and lets out a heavy sigh.]

I've looked true evil in the face, and you are not it.

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

[Eponine watches him, the way he breathes in before he tells her about true evil. There's something in his eyes and his breath. She wants to believe him.]

Thank you, Ben.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

Of course.

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

I do not think you are evil, either.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

You haven't seen what I've done.

[Yet. He knows she will.]

Private [Encrypted]

[jondrette]

But if you've looked into the eyes of evil, then you cannot be it.

Re: Private [Encrypted]

[havethestrength]

No, I'm just a monster.