006 -- IM

[ospreyed]

[Backdated to May 6th.]

[When the IM appears, it's Eponine. She looks... Well, rather neutral. Slowly, she turns around and pulls her shirt up and over her head, revealing her bare back. If you look closely, there are scars, but what's most apparent are now the five roses cascading down and across her back, from her left shoulder, down to just above her right hip. Each rose is in a different state of decay, slowly wilting as they get further down her back. The roses are done in black and white, with gray shading and just a hint of red in amongst the gray.

After letting camp admire her tattoo for a few moments, she turns back around, her shirt covering her chest still.]

Five months.

[And that's it.]

Comments

[impetueux]

[She feels like she wants to touch it, which makes her feel a little uncomfortable.]

Well, it's beautiful at any rate. Was it painful to get? Or is the back easier?

[ospreyed]

[Just ask first.]

It was annoying, if anything. Like a stinging. The problem is when you get over the bones. That is a bitch.

[impetueux]

Bones...?

[Just the mental image of that makes her squirm a little.]

And you didn't have to ask your parents or anything...? Don't they make you go with them or have signed consent?

[She can't really picture the Thenardiers as the type to really care, but she figured rules were rules.]

[ospreyed]

Yeah. They're inside your body.

[She loves you, Cosette. Most days. Somedays. Fuck it.]

No. I know a guy.

[impetueux]

Thank you, but I did actually learn that at some point. I mean just...

[She doesn't finish and just shivers instead.]

You just know a guy who gives underaged kids tattoos.

[Why does this not surprise her?]

[ospreyed]

You really shouldn't be surprised.

[She smirks.]

It's weird what name-dropping Patron-Minette will get you.

[impetueux]

Patron-Minette?

[She gives a confused look.]

...How much did it cost?

[ospreyed]

My father's gang, [She explains.] The one I ran drugs for. [Ran. Run.]

For me, it was only about 100.

[impetueux]

..You pushed drugs. For a gang.

[She not's even chiding, just in shock.]

Is that how much it normally costs?

[ospreyed]

...I never told you how I met my dad, did I?

But I did. Sold 'em, too. Amongst other things.

[She shakes her head.]

A piece like this? 500 plus, easy.

[impetueux]

...You sold your own dad drugs?

[She is clearly not getting this, and just sounds a little worn out.]

What if you didn't want something that big? Like, something simple and way smaller.

[ospreyed]

No.

I got arrested. Apparently Hermes moonlights as a lawyer. Who knew?

[She raises an eyebrow.]

At least 25. A lot of shops have a minimum. What do you want?

[impetueux]

So your father got you off of a drug conviction?

[Well that's one way to meet family, she guesses.]

I don't know really. Just...thinking somewhere down the line, you know?

[ospreyed]

No, he didn't. I got convicted- intent to sell, possession- but as far as the State is concerned, me coming up here every summer? It's community service. I think my dad still believes that, too.

[She shrugs]

I guess. Cover up some scars or whatever.

[impetueux]

Oh, well that's...okay, well convicted isn't great, but it's good he was looking out for you.

[Hermes, that is. She knows better than to think much of Thenardier.]

How much do you think something on a shoulder would cost, assuming it's fairly small? And would it be painful, doing it there?

[ospreyed]

You forget, my record gets thrown out when I turn 18. I'll have a blank slate. [For maybe a hot second, before she keeps up with her Eponinian ways.]

You'd have to be careful of the shoulder blade. You're also a demigod, so it will hurt less. Probably 50-75? They gotta pay for new ink, needle and what-have-you.

I'll go with you.

[impetueux]

[Yeah, because that clean record is really going to survive for that long. Please, tell her more.]

No that's a good point. Just have to stay out of trouble in the future right? You've already gotten clean, so that's a great start.

[Granted, that was involuntarily, but shh.]

What's wrong with the shoulder blade? I've got some money pooled up from care packages from Papa, I just have to find a way to do it and...not tell him.

[She winces at the thought of it.]

[ospreyed]

Right. Stay out of trouble. [She gives her a look that clearly reads: Have you met me?]

It's close to the bone.

It should be easy not to tell him. Just don't mention it.

[impetueux]

Oh.

[She winces at the thought.]

Well you said being a demigod helps with the pain? And what if he finds out?

[ospreyed]

Yeah. So you should be pretty good.

[Have a look.]

Hell if I know. I met your dad once, when I was seven.

[impetueux]

I hope so. I just feel a little bad, not telling him.

[She blinks, a little surprised.]

I just meant in general. I mean, how do you feel when you have to lie to your par--

[She stops; dumb question.]

[ospreyed]

I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that.

[Very. Dumb. Question.]

Look. It's your body. He's got no ownership rights over it.

[impetueux]

I know, but he's my father and I am a minor. I can't just do it without telling him or lying to him.

[She plays with the ends of her hair, a nervous habit.]

He's my Papa, I don't want to betray his faith in me like that. His disappointed face is the worst.

[ospreyed]

So? I did.

[EPONINE you do not have a normal relationship with your father. At all. By any standards. Ever.]

So ask him.

[impetueux]

Yeah, but that's different.

[Even Cosette has to make a face at her at that.]

I can't do that either, he'd say no and say we need to go to church more often or something. He'd think it was some pagan thing I'd picked up at camp.