oo2 ; [ video ]

[jondrette]

[It has almost been a month, and already Eponine looks far better than she had when she made her first appearance on the Network. Gone are her bloody rags, replaced by clothing that, while perhaps not her preferred style, actually fit her small frame and kept her covered. There's a light in her eyes that hasn't been there before.]

I had been wandering about the other night, keeping to myself- an old habit that I cannot drop, I do love to venture out at night, to see what there is, to experience a world that no one else sees because they are asleep- and I had a thought.

I have been here near a month. A month since I could feel my life leave my body. Such a long time! But already- already here I have been happier than I can recall in nine years! Only one other time can eclipse this!

Here, I have a home, clothing, a bed. There is food and I am warm. I have my beautiful brother- and mark me, I shall not leave him again, I have promised him and I will not go back on this promise. Not again- and I have friends.

I do not suppose I have ever had a true friend until I came here.

Death is by far one of the more grand things that has ever happened to me! To think-- no. I shall tell you, if you are listening, that I am happy here. Happier than I have ever deserved!

[She pauses for a moment, looking off to the side of the screen, and frowning.] Perhaps Enjolras is right. It is stupid to do these things so late at night. Forgive me. I have made a fool of myself yet again.

Comments

[video]

[eye_of_isis]

....right. If you're happier dead, I don't think I want to what your life was like elsewhere. I'm not that happy about death, and my boyfriend's the god of funerals.

Re: [video]

[jondrette]

[She is seriously just looking at you.]

Pardon?

My death was what I wanted. And it brought me here.

[video]

[eye_of_isis]

Boyfriend. Beau. Guy I would very much like to be here so I had someone to kiss. Egyptian God of Funerals.

[Ugh]

So...you were suicidal?

Video:

[solo_patria]

It is...unusual perhaps to feel that way, but not so unheard of as all of that.

[Enjolras,as always, is around for late night video postings to the network, and is usually watching it, as he has...not much else to do at times and cannot bother Combeferre for every moment, so he's seen his share of them, and honestly? This is less of something that would make a fool of anyone than what he posted not long ago, he thinks, a small half smile crossing his face.]

Death has given me a few things I needed as well. I cannot say this is the best thing that has happened to me, and there is much about it that I dislike greatly but... I will not deny there have been benefits.

Re: Video:

[jondrette]

You were there, Enjolras. From what I've told you, you could easily imagine the sort of life I lived in Paris. Is it no wonder that death is better? I had wanted it for so long, but always stopped. I could not do something so drastic. And how ironic it would be! If my last act in this world had been to commit a crime!

I had always wanted something else to be the cause. But on my terms.

And now, here? [She beams.] I am happy. Free of my family save Gavroche, of poverty and hunger.

What would you say then, is the best thing to happen to you? Would it be your Etienne? Or perhaps your friends at the cafe?

Video:

[solo_patria]

The best thing to happen to me...There have been many good ones, I suppose, that I was too preoccupied to realize at the time. But after the Trois Glorieuses, I think, when we knew that our bid for revolution had been lost.

We were in the cafe, gathered, and we vowed that we would see France rise again. Knowing that we were bound together, bound to continue even in the face of such a blow, that they were going to stay for it.

Perhaps that I think. Not so much the vow but the confirmation of our bond to one another. It was significant at least. I can say as much.

video;

[notdreaming]

It's been a good thing for me too. [ Not because she was miserable before, but because she lost the only things that made her happy. ]

I'm glad you're happy now.

[jondrette]

Thank you, mademoiselle. I am too. I thought I had forgotten how to be happy.

It is a relief to know that I have not!

[notdreaming]

As it turns out it's not a skill you have to learn.

I'm Kara.

video;

[chiot]

See? Everyone, huh? Everyone here, they say 'oooh, no, you have to want to go back home!' I say hang 'em!

I got friends an' food an' I can do things I ain't never done before thanks to Sabriel, huh?

Re: video;

[jondrette]

Sabriel?

[Never mind, she'll deal with that later.] Exactly. Our home is here now, little brother. [Little brother who was only three inches shorter than her.]

We are far more free than we were there.

[bacondivination]

It sounds like writing your story is working for you quite well. It's good you figured that out.

[jondrette]

Is this writing my story? I would have thought it ended at the barricades.

[bacondivination]

What else could it be, Eponine? No one else made the decision for you to make friends, nor did they have any intentions for you to find happiness when you were brought here. Call your barricades the end of a prologue.

video;

[starcharter]

[This... is incredibly sad. Her life must've been miserable. No friends, scraping by to survive.]

I hope everyone would be as happy in death as you are.

[No trace of sarcasm-- he's thinking of people that he, that they've all, lost.]

Re: video;

[jondrette]

[It is sad. But it's her life, and it's changing now. For the better.

She regards the boy, he has to be her age, and offers him some sympathetic smile.] You sound as if you have lost many.

video;

[starcharter]

[He nods.]

Yes. But I hope that what I do honors them.

I'm sorry, I did not mean to be depressing.

video;

[twomeals]

You're dead?

Re: video;

[jondrette]

Yes. [It's the simple truth, there's no reason to hide it.]

I was killed alongside many of my new friends at the barricade.

[virginprice]

Your gladness gives me hope.

[Alcuin is also up late, curled up in his comfy chair by the console. Mm, late-night tea sessions.]

That someone can find such joy after death here... well, it is good to see. You are a fine example, mademoiselle.

[He wishes that he could be so carefree, but the months are weighing on him. He misses his home and his family and he knows it is unlikely he will ever see any of them again.]

[jondrette]

You do not need to call me mademoiselle, m'sieur. [She gives him a kind smile, however.]

Strange, isn't it, that I should be the one to give others hope, when before I have been nothing more than a symbol of hopelessness.

I find joy for I have everything I did not in life. So many wish to go home. But no. I have no home to go to. It is better here than in Hell.

video;

[littlemother]

[ Goodness, but it just breaks Porenn's heart to hear the girl talk about her life like this. She doesn't deny that every word of it is true -- the girl just oozes sincerity, and Porenn knows a lie, even a good one, when she sees it. She can't really help it -- she feels inclined to reach out to someone like Eponine, to lend at the very least a comforting word, especially when she's so far away from her own young son. It's the least she can do.

She gives Eponine a sad smile, looking as though she's been deeply touched, somehow, by Eponine's post. ]

It's not stupid at all. It sounds as though you were terribly lonely before.

Re: video;

[jondrette]

[Eponine looks at the woman on her monitor, her brow slightly creased as she listens, trying to gauge who this woman was. The smile, however, helps, and Eponine nods, accepting this.]

I was, madame. I had no one. I doubt my own family mourned me when I died. [Gavroche had, when he found out.]

video

[lostundercover]

It's good you're enjoying yourself.

[He's sincere about that, especially after their last talk.]

Re: video

[jondrette]

M'sieur Costigan!
Thank you. I have been trying to take some of your advice. Changing things. Perhaps this is a reprieve after all.