001 ♞ video ♞ open to both courts ♞ backdated to late afternoon on the 11th

[noflying]

[ The locket is in Jake's hand, fingers loosely curled around it. His other hand has a hand-rolled cigarette, while a small group of fairies seems to have settled on Jake's chest. Several of them are still faintly glowing red; one of the ones still glowing rather fiercely flicks a hot coal.

Jake immediately snuffs the coal out with the butt of his revolver. ]

What've I told you about that?

[ The fairies chitter, and the cowboy takes a drag off his cigarette before blowing the smoke in their faces. The red glow diminishes, at least one fairy fading back to its normal color entirely. It immediately shuffles away from the other Ainsel, pointing at Jake's locket. ]

Hm?

[ Turning his head, he seems to realize that the locket's recording. Oh. Well then. Raising an eye at the locket, as if daring anyone to comment on his actions, Jake places the cigarette back in his mouth and reaches up to adjust his hat. ]

Anyone else been hearing about treasure from these folk?

Comments

[gardienne]

I know that, Sir! But honest, I have put soil in my mouth and swallowed it down a bit, just so that I might feel a little bit full, you know? Tobacco is a bit better than mud, I should think. Do fairies have nerves, Sir? I always imagined that they were just... happy. Like in the stories. I feel like I am in one of those stories now.

[noflying]

Haven't seemed too happy lately.

[ She's clearly not all that old, and used to the rougher side of life based on what she's saying about eating dirt and tobacco. There's a faint pang of- not quite sympathy, but understanding. ]

Plenty of food in the castles, it seems.

[gardienne]

Oh, I know, Monsieur! There is so much food . I thought I had died at first, for none of this truly is for the likes of me!

[She grinned a smile that showed her rotting and missing teeth.]

I am glad I am not dead though, if this is life! Even if one of those things throws books at me ! Is that how they are nervous? To throw books and the like?

[noflying]

[ Trust him, he's seen worse. ]

That sounds more like 'angry', but yeah. That'd be why they need to calm down.

[gardienne]

Why are they acting so? The fairies who brought me here were not like that. Now they behaved like the fairies in those stories, 'Cendrillon' and things, you know? Have they gone mad?

[noflying]

Might be. Might be sick. Might be irritated at somethin'.

You could find one and ask.

[gardienne]

Perhaps I shall, Monsieur!

[Eponine pauses awkwardly. It sounds like he's sick of her. ]

I am sorry, Monsieur , to disturb you. Always my Pa says I chatter too much! I will...

Au revoir, Monsieur. I shall let you know, should a fairy tell me .

[noflying]

[ He's very bad at people. ]

Hold on, girl.

[ Another drag of his cigarette, then- ]

What's your name?

[gardienne]

'Ponine, Sir. Eponine Thenardier.

[She says her name slowly. For some reason she can 't fathom, people here seem to find her name difficult to pronounce.]

It's from a romance, Sir... Monsieur, would you give me yours as well? It is nice to know who I talk to.

[noflying]

[ Jake will pronounce it with a ridiculous accent, if that's at all different. ]

Jake. [ He pauses, then sighs. Not like he's wanted here. ] Jake Lonergan.

[gardienne]

That's a funny name, Sir. My Pa, he uses funny names in the begging letters he has me take to get money from people . And none of 'em ain't his real name. And he pretends he were an acrobat or a actor or part of the nobility fallen on hard times. Golly do I have to run when people don't believe me because the bogies come thunderin' too. And then he tells me names to say if they catch me. But they never do. I'm faster and smarter than they are.

But Jake Lonergan... Now that is a truly strange name!

[noflying]

[ There's a blink. ]

It ain't French, if that's what you mean.

[gardienne]

English? So many people here are English. And I have met a man from Irish-land. Monsieur, I have never known a man from England before, you know? Never any man from nowhere but France. I think it is well - perhaps someone will teach me proper English. I would like that.

[noflying]

American. [ But they speak English, so- close enough. ]

An' I'm sure someone will. [ Not him, unless Eponine wants to talk like a cowboy, but. Someone. ] Just gotta say you want to learn.

[gardienne]

Yes... perhaps someone will teach me. I wish you well with your fairies, Sir.

[noflying]

You take care, if you run across any of 'em glowing red like that. They throw things.