The open log I promised Ian's mun almost two weeks ago - SORRY!

[gardienne]

 Who: Eponine and whoever would like to be badgered by a French girl scamming for more food
What: Eponine is on the hunt for more food for Mona and herself... unfortunately, giant sandworms are also on the loose
When: Sometime after the sandworms start appearing
Where: DESERT arena, heading towards the caves
Warnings: She has a knife - but she would rather use it to threaten than actually harm... feel free to hurt her though - but don't kill her please!

It was good, sometimes, having a friend in the arena. Mona was clever - she knew everything, and though Eponine hated feeling ignorant, she loved talking to Mona, learning from her. She could have been clever like Mona, too. And that gave her hope for Capitol life. Maybe when she got back, she could study - and get clever and know lots of things - just like Mona. It was nice to have Mona, someone to talk to and curl up next to and actually take turns to sleep whilst the other played look-out. And she helped Eponine to walk sometimes, now that the French girl's ribs were fractured. Mona was a good friend, and it was nice to have her. 

But having a friend meant that everything had to be shared. Share the bottle of water that Eponine could easily guzzle herself. Shake her head and refuse the last drop because she knows Mona wants it. And share the food that Eponine had come across, the cans that Marius had given her, and the few tins left behind by Parker before she... well. 
Eponine was hungry constantly, and was quite used to the gnawing on her insides. Mona, on the other hand, was not. And Eponine did not want to see her friend so unhappy. And so, once the rumblings had stopped, she took it upon herself to go 'shopping' - to see if she could find any tins - or any Tribute looking weak enough not to put up much of a fight as she (slowly) tried to steal theirs.

She wandered away from Mona, further and further into the desert, letting her instinct guide her. But soon enough, she spotted a figure on the horizon. She slowed, and began to move forward, hastily copying a trick Montparnasse had employed and pushing the knife Wesker had sent her into the sleeve of her tunic, so that the blade hung down into her hand. This time, Eponine meant business. She needed food, and she was going to get it, no matter what.

Inwardly, she hoped and prayed that she wouldn't actually have to use the knife on anyone. 

Comments

hi sorry I'm late! Also is it okay if Marius is there too?

[wantwhatiwant]

Ian had so much stuff it was hard to carry, but he had stuffed most of it into his sleeping bag, and given the second one to Marius. One of the knives he carried with him, and wished he knew how to throw them properly. But even if the balance was a bit off they were better than nothing for normal fighting and he kept alert, watching the world through his sunglasses, skin finally hidden by his black robe.

He spotted the figure and paused, knife ready in case they attacked. So far everyone he had met had been like himself, just wanting to survive and not all that cool about killing random strangers. But he couldn't take a risk.

[grandmas_gurl]

So far as cans went, Eponine might be a little out of luck. But the food - she had a small pile of creatures nearby, things she'd shot with her iron crossbow bolt or stabbed with her scythe. She was still going relatively strong, not quite in her element but certainly doing better than most.

When Ruby saw the other woman, she was instantly on guard. "Hey," she said, a little cautiously.

[gardienne]

Eponine hesitated. This woman was bigger than her - and she had seen her. And unlike Ian, she didn't look like a pushover. So, slowly, hating herself for doing it, Eponine drew her knife and pointed it directly at Ruby as she moved forward.

"Food. Give me your food. NOW! Or - or I'll kill you, Madame. Do not think that I will not."

She did her best to look threatening, but a small, skinny kid on the brink of starvation - she was never going to look particularly scary.

[gardienne]

This boy looked young. Eponine tilted her head and considered him. Probably he'd never fought a day in his life. Probably, he would know even less what to do with a knife than she did. Eponine drew her knife, and held it steady in her left hand. Her right went to her chest, pressing tightly as she staggered down the sand dune to Ian.

Once close to him, she tried her best to look threatening. Eyeing the sleeping bag, she shouted,

"Is there food in there, Monsieur?"

[wantwhatiwant]

She'd be wrong there, but hopefully she wouldn't need to find out. He certainly held the knife with confidence anyways.

He raised is eyebrow, she was French as well?

"Might be, don't see how it's your business though." He called back, not really all that threatened.

[gardienne]

BINGO! She had hoped that it was food - the cold of desert nights she could survive; she was used to wandering through snow in far less than what she wore now, so a sleeping bag made no difference to her - but a sleeping bag of food was different. Her eyes gleamed, but she fought to make herself seem business like.

"Then it is mine. Give it to me, Sir, or I will run you through - you see if I don't."

[saisamour]

And guess who hadn't the faintest clue of the on-going exchange between Ian and Eponine?

Marius was in a considerably worse shape than he had been a week ago, what with refusing to eat or drink until his younger companion forced him to. He still consumed considerably less than what he was used to, however, (and he was used to quite little, back in Paris) and perhaps that was part of the reason why he was lagging a little ways behind, crossbow still in hand, watching Ian's back at a distance through the heatwave, his vision slightly blurred by the beads of sweat clinging to his lashes and the slight ache boring into the back of his head.

He was going to catch up eventually.

[wantwhatiwant]

"Like fuck you will." He shifted stance, prepare to defend their supplies. He wasn't underestimating her, he knew even if she wasn't trained she might be desperate enough to carry through with her threat.

"No one ever teach you manners?"

[gardienne]

"No Sir. There is no use of manners where I am from. Give me the food or I will run you through. Give me the food; if I go back with nothing, then Mona will run me through."

That's a lie - but Eponine looked completely sincere as she said it.

"Do you want my blood on your hands, Sir? Give me some food!"

[wantwhatiwant]

Well, there wasn't much answer for that. Ian only had manners because Fiona had made sure he had manners and then they weren't all that fancy.

He at least didn't go robbing strangers at knife point. Not yet anyways.

But her words about whoever the fuck Mona was made him frown. She might be lying of course, but Ian wasn't sure if he was willing to risk her life on that.

"Put the knife down and I'll give you some."

[gardienne]

She laughed a hoarse cackle.

"I am not as stupid as I look, Sir. You show me the food. Put it in the sand here, half way between me and you. I shall not move. And then you go, and I will pick up the food."

It was so much better when people believed her lies.

"Believe me, Monsieur, I do not want to kill you. But I have killed in places where men do not come back, and over less food than that. So do not try me."

Another lie - but he'd never know the truth, would he?

[wantwhatiwant]

"You talk like I've never killed before." He scoffed, though he hadn't. He knew how to though, and he wasn't about to let her think he was some pushover.

"Fuck you if you think I'm giving you all of it. I don't want you dead but I'm not starving to death for you." He took two of the packets of oatmeal and tossed them between them, before filling one of his empty bottles with water and one with lemonade.

[grandmas_gurl]

Ruby... laughed. Lifting her hand up to her mouth, briefly. It happened to be the one with the crossbow, though she wasn't too worried. It wouldn't take more than a second to re-aim and shoot, though that wasn't what she wanted.

"Come on," she said, dropping the hand after a moment. "You can help me cook."

I'm sorry; I was on holiday!

[gardienne]

She laughed again.

"You do not look as if you have killed, Monsieur - though with a mouth like that, perhaps you are not so grand as you look. Perhaps you and I are one and the same after all?"

She watched him carefully, and once more laughed.

"Yes, you and I are of the same kin - or nearly, Sir, for if you were truly a villain, you would gladly let me starve whilst you ate the lot. That is how it is, no? The men must eat and the women starve until we are dead in the street? I want more than that. I have Madame Mona to feed and she eats a lot, Sir. More than me. She would kill me if I came back only with that. You would not let me die - you have said so. Give me more food and less drink, Sir, and I will leave you be."

Sorry - I was on holiday

[gardienne]

Eponine had begun to back off as soon as Ruby raised the crossbow. Eponine hadn't really seen such a weapon close up before; she had only a vague idea of how it worked, but she knew that she could not beat it with her puny knife.

But then the woman dropped it, and with the crossbow, so Eponine's jaw dropped momentarily.

"Cook, Madame? You're not to kill me? You will give me food... I cannot cook much..."

[wantwhatiwant]

"Maybe if you live in the twelfth century or some shit." He told her rolling his eyes. Because seriously how backwards was that.

But frowned again at the mention of Mona. He didn't like bullies, and she sounded like one. And she was right, he wasn't going to let anyone die. Including himself.

"Look all I've got is more oatmeal and potato flakes. I don't have that much more to give."

[gardienne]

"I was in 1832 before I came here, Sir." There's a hint of confusion in her voice. Why he thinks the year matters is beyond her.

"Madame Mona is a true lady, Sir. She is used to three proper meals a day and more food whenever she wants it. She is not like me, Sir. I can go for days and days without food, until I can see the monsters and the houses waver and - oh, I run, Sir. From the monsters that try to eat me then. But I know it is silly; it is just in my head. But Madame does not know - she should not know - and she needs food. Will you make me go mad for her? Please, Sir? Please, the food. I can make it worth your while. I... I will kiss you if you give it me. That is a good bargain, Sir. Come, give me the food."

[wantwhatiwant]

He blinked, 1832... No wonder she was messed up. But how on earth was she from the past? None of this made any sense. But he did understand there was some random rich bitch in this arena forcing this girl to forage and steal for her. Which was not cool.

"No. Shit don't kiss me." He held his hands up, and then threw the rest of the oatmeal over, and the flakes. He could always try and hunt for himself and Marius.

Why the hell was he giving her all his food? "Hey make sure you eat as well, it's freaky enough out here without hunger... monsters... Shit just don't give it all to Mona alright?"

hay guys may i interrupt your party?? 8'D

[saisamour]

There was something strange going on at the distance, Marius belatedly realized as he looked up and saw Ian's back towards him and a... was there another person there? Hearing his companion's protesting voice further increased his concern, and he rushed the remaining steps to close the gap between them.

"What is—"

And he paused, his eyes darting from Ian, to the food on the sand, to the girl at the opposite corner whom he instantly recognized.

"Eponine?" Oh yeah you were still here weren't you Bewildered confusion colored his tone and his expression, as he glanced back questioningly at Ian.

Re: hay guys may i interrupt your party?? 8'D

[gardienne]

Eponine had, by the time Marius got close, darted forward and grabbed the food Ian had offered. She felt bad about exaggerating Mona's bossiness when the girl had been nothing but kind - but, well, they needed food and so food they were going to get - by any means possible.

But then Marius appeared and said her name and her eyes lit up with that same old joy of being recognised by the man she adored.

"Monsieur - Monsieur Marius! What do you do here? Oh!"

And realisation began to colour her cheeks. That boy she had robbed, that she had called a thief - he was friends with Marius. Not a thief at all, but a gentleman. A gentleman she'd offered to kiss- oh, what if he told Marius? What if they called her names, or worse, laughed at her? What then?

"You... Are you friends, Sirs?"

[wantwhatiwant]

"You two know each other?" He glanced between them, taking in Marius' confusion and Eponine's joy which was quickly turning into embarrassment.

"We've been traveling together yeah." He shrugged and then laughed, realizing the ridiculousness of his words.

"Shit that makes us sound like we're rich college kids touring Europe or something."

[saisamour]

Uh excuse, rich college kid from Europe here!! The crease in between Marius's brows deepened, his confusion only growing all the more at Ian's last comment, but he chose to ignore it. "I know her from Paris," he told the boy instead, before facing Eponine once more. It dawned on him then that there had been some form of exchange between the two of them before his arrival, although the specifics of it he was not certain, other than the fact that Ian had provided her with some of his rations. In any case, he had hoped that Eponine did not force it out of his companion.

"What are you doing, Eponine?" And although he did not intend for it to come off as accusatory, there might have been the slightest bit of it seeping through his tone.

[gardienne]

"We are -" Eponine had started to say, just as Marius told Ian of Paris. It stopped her, though, from continuing her sentence, Marius' words. They WEREN'T friends, not at all. Never had been, never would be. She was just a mangy alley cat he fed occasionally. She had to look away. At Marius' words to her, though, she looked back, and that listless, half dead look she had worn in Paris was back - Capitol enhancements to make her eyes sparkle be damned. She looked back, met his eyes, and looked away.

"Is it a crime now to walk, Monsieur? Surely it is not?" She laughed, trying to keep her tone light, flirtatious.

"Surely you trust me a little more than to think I would murder you here - I am not a murderer, never mind what Montparnasse and my father are. Surely you know me more than that, Sir? Or do you think because I have been in prison I have learned that?"

She shrugged. "I cannot change your mind, Sir, if that is what you think of me."

[wantwhatiwant]

"Shit you come from 1832?" Ian stared at Marius incredulously. Well that explained a lot. He listened to Eponine and glanced back at Marius putting his hands up and stepping back a little.

He wasn't getting involved, if they knew each other from before. "We were just talking, Eponine was... encouraging me to share our food."

[saisamour]

A wince and A Look from Marius as that same curse left Ian's mouth again, followed by more polite refusal to comment on it even if he was getting extremely close to (respectfully) telling the boy to be more mindful of his word choices.

In any case, any traces of doubt disappeared when he glanced back at Eponine, for accusing her of being a murderer was far from his intentions. He did not want to denounce her of anything at all, in fact, so he readily accepted Ian's explanation without much thought to its underlying implications.

"It is fine, then," he said, decisively. "And if you want my share then you also may have it." He was well aware that they had this conversation before, of course, but clearly the circumstances might have recently changed for her.