004-- action

[ospreyed]

[Guess who's back, back again? Epiny's back, tell a friend.

Or don't, but come December 30th, you can spot Eponine making her way back to Cabin 11, wrapped in a new sweater, a gift from Enjolras. She's pale, her makeup completely gone, and walks as though, for the first time in her life, she's unsure of where she's stepping. She's wearing Dave's sunglasses again, of course, to hide the deep circles under her eyes, and, more startling than anything, is just now thin she looks.

Because for the past month or so, Eponine has, in case you missed it, living in the Big House, going through all sorts of withdrawal.

So you know how your liquor became milk, pot became easter grass, and cigarettes were replaced with candy cigarettes? That's her fault.

But you'll find her back, and even more withdrawn than usual. If you were one of the lovely people to come visit her, well... Thank you.]

Comments

[angeliaforos]

No.

[His response is short and sweet, his tone conversational as ever. Already, he's thinking of shrugging off his hoodie. But he'll wait.]

You can celebrate with me. I'm worth celebrating with!

[ospreyed]

[Eponine stopped mid-step, turning towards him.]

Gabriel. Fuck off.

[She was not in the mood for fun and games, no way, no how. No more monopoly or anything. She wanted... God damn it, she wanted a cigarette, and she wanted to curl up in her bed and sleep for the rest of the week.]

[angeliaforos]

[Whoa, okay.

He blinks a few times, just staring at her.]

Really, Eponine?

[ospreyed]

What? [She challenges, not dropping her guard for a second. Bring it, Gabriel.]

[angeliaforos]

[He crosses his arms over his chest, frowning a little.]

What's with the attitude?

[Of course, she's been prickly towards him before, but not usually like this.]

[ospreyed]

Doesn't matter.

[And she's walking towards the cabin again.]

[angeliaforos]

[He follows her, sighing a little bit.]

Um, yeah, it does?

[ospreyed]

[And she's stopping again.]

I'm fucking tired, Gabe.

[angeliaforos]

Oh.

[He blinks a few times.

Well, she could have said that.]

I got you something for that.

[ospreyed]

[She sighs, running a hand through her messy dark hair. She shouldn't play along. No way, no how. But she can't help it. She's the curious sort.] ...what?

[angeliaforos]

[This time he's not joking. His face softens just a tad, but his eyes are still frowning, a little worried.]

Go lay down. I'll meet up with you.

[Because even if she's out, she probably still needs the rest.]

[ospreyed]

[Eponine regards him carefully.] Oh...kaaaay...?

[It's more of a question than anything, and as she makes her way back to her cabin, she glances at him one last time, before heading inside to lay down back on her sweet, sweet bunk.

And it smelled just like it used to. She wasn't sure if she wanted to cry or vomit.]

[angeliaforos]

[it takes him a few minutes, but he lets himself into Hermes with a package. He had to re-wrap it - these are a little more important than his other present.

He sits down next to her bed, not on it - he has some tact. He figures she'll want the bunk all to herself.]

You can open it if you want.

[ospreyed]

[She frowns slightly, but accepts the package.]

...alright... [She starts at the paper]

[angeliaforos]

[He shrugs a little bit. If she likes them, great. If she doesn't like them...whatever. He's just trying to do good. He always does...even if it means fucking with people a little bit to get there. But this? This is sincere.

Inside the paper are these pants. They're soft - really soft.]

[ospreyed]

[The paper's on the floor, and she's gently running her hands along the pajama pants. Pausing, she looks up at him.] You already got me a gift.

[angeliaforos]

This is the other part of the gift.

[He nods a little.]

I figured you might want them, y'know. For when you got out.

[ospreyed]

Oh.

[she looks at them, then back at him.]

Wow. Ah, thanks, Gabe... You didn't need to. I didn't get you anything.

[angeliaforos]

[He shrugs a little bit.]

Doesn't mean I don't want to. You're my best friend, we're tight.

[This is his way of saying 'I care about you', Eponine.]

[ospreyed]

Yeah.

[yeah, they were. They really were. He'd visited her the most out of anyone. The kid who'd figured it out so quickly, where she was, what was happening. Sacrificed his field trip for her.]

...Thanks.

[angeliaforos]

No problem.

[He taps the edge of her bed, moving to get up.]

You wanna go to bed?

[ospreyed]

No.

I want a cigarette.