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

[hellofishies]

Usually when people say things like that it's not really true. What did you do that was so wrong?

cw: mention of suicide

[jondrette]

Quite a lot of things. I am a thief and a devil, I lie as easy as breathing. I have been cruel for cruelty's sake. And though I did not pull the trigger myself, suicide is a sin.

[hellofishies]

If you didn't pull the trigger, would it still be suicide? [ She pauses ] Everyone does bad things sometimes. You just have to try to do not so bad things now. Right?

[jondrette]

I pointed the gun to myself. I am not educated, but I know what happens when a rifle goes off against your skin.

I shall try. I have been provided for here, there is little need yet.

[hellofishies]

That feels like a situation with a story. [ But she won't push if someone doesn't want to tell their story. ]

Well, if you ever need anything maybe I can help you out too.

[jondrette]

It is a very long one.

[Couple hundred pages, at least.]

Yes, madame! What name can I call you?

[hellofishies]

We have a lot of time here, if you ever want to tell it.

I'm Arkady.

[jondrette]

Perhaps I will, if people are willing to hear it.

Bonjour, Arkady. I am Eponine.

[hellofishies]

That's a very pretty name!

[jondrette]

Merci. It is French. My mother named me for a character in a harlequin novel.

[Eponine was the 19th Century France equivalent to being named Chanel or Crystal.]

[hellofishies]

Did you ever read the novel?

[jondrette]

Non, I did not. But Epona is the goddess of horses.

[hellofishies]

Do you like horses?

[jondrette]

No. I have nearly had my hand bitten off by one as a child.

But I have slept in their stables.

[hellofishies]

How did your hand get bitten off?

[jondrette]

Nearly. They are still here.

[Look, she shows her hands. One has a circular scar right through the middle of her palm.]

I was young, and the horse wanted the apple I had. I no longer liked horses after that.

[hellofishies]

Nearly is good. But you shouldn't hold it against the horse! It probably didn't mean to.

[jondrette]

Perhaps. But it is of no matter now. I am dead, and unless there are horses here I shall never see another one.