The Rebellion discussion

Where the people of Rendar come after a long, hard day of work to drink and eat.

Ink stopped outside the bar and looked at Eponine, "Can I have your word that you won't tell William what you're about to see?" He asked, trusting that she would at least try.

Ink had a rough job that no one at the base knew about, and if he wanted it to stay that way, he would have to make sure the person who knew, would keep it to themselves.

Eponine followed Ink, her footsteps not even making a sound on the ground. "I won't tell anyone, Ink, you can trust me," she said softly, staying close to him, swallowing hard, wishing she could reach out to take his hand. "What is this place?" She shivered, glancing nervously around. She didn't like this part of town.

Ink looked back to the door and pushed through, guiding her by her elbow. It was a quiet, dark places with mostly light, female voices, and content, deep male counter parts. The warm buzz excited with his presence, but he simply walked in, murmuring to Eponine as he made his way to a certain circle of cushions and pillows on the ground.

"This is where I wait for someone to come to me." He whispered to her, and led her toa fluffy mound of ddark blue pillows, and sat down next to her.

"Sometimes they come only to talk to me. I can be...fluent." he smiled a tad, then swiped his thumb over his bottom lip. "But...sometimes they want something a little more. Sadly, I must comply to their demands..."

Eponine swallowed hard as he took her elbow, guiding her inside, the instant she was inside, a shiver ran down her spine. She wanted to leave, right then right there. This wasn't right. How could he do this, be there. As his voice reached her, she leaned into him more, following him to the vast stack of pillows, she could barely force herself to sit down. Her eyes swept the room, the way the women were dressed, the way the men talked to them, or sometimes didn't even speak. It made her sick. When he explained the extent of his...position, she thought she might faint, or puke, but she managed to keep it together, only paling until she was white as a sheet. "They- they said you were a teacher.... they told me-" she couldn't finish. She didn't need to. She knew now that it had all been lies. Already she could feel eyes on her, and not kind eyes, she shifted closer into his side, keeping her eyes to the floor.She didn't want trouble, she wasn't here for them. she wanted to go, this place had shaken her up.

Ink senses her discomfort for this place and leaned close to her, shielding her from most if their sights. He knew this place was a degree of hell. It even disgusted him to think of what he did. And for what? For money.

Money to supply William's cause. Ink was one of veins of wealth for William, but at what cost? Ink had no control or command over his own body. He was a play thing for whomever could pay the most.

"I was." He said, laying caution over his voice. "Starving, but a teacher. Then Abrova became angry that people like me educated just anyone for tiny pay and sometimes no pay at all. So, I had to hide. Hiding came with benefits, but as you know, it always has its cons." He explained, moving a chuck of hair from her neck.

"Eponine. The Rebellion calls for sacrifice. For me, it means I don't dictate what other people do to my body, but everyone at the base stays fed, clothed and warm. For you, it is just as painful as my sacrifice. You have been played with - heart and mind. I only plead that you do not let him manipulate you further. Don't run though. Stand and fight. Honor your sacrifice."

Pause.

"Please?" He whispered, then placed his lips sweetly on her cheek. Not waiting for suspicious questions to begin, Ink stood. Helping shaky Eponine proved a feat harsher than he expected, but once on her feet he put an arm around her waist to steady her and quickly led her out.

Eponine stayed close to him, listening, forcing herself not to look around, to just focus on him, on the boy in front of her. She could smell perfume so strong that it made her head spin, knew all the girls were plastered in makeup. It shook her to know that what he was saying was true. She couldn't help what had happened to him, but she didn't want him to go through this. "If he knew, he wouldn't let you do this," Eponine whispered as he finished. She still believed Will to be good, somewhere beneath everything he had done. She nodded all the same. She wouldn't run, she couldn't, not after seeing this. She was shocked as he kissed her cheek, leaving a pleasant warmth there, it soothed her a little, she knew Ink wouldn't let her get hurt. As he helped her up and led her out, she made herself move with him, one foot in front of the other, until the heavy fog of perfume had lifted, and fresh air reached her, some streaks of sunlight. "Ink, do we have to go back right now? Can we... can we go somewhere else for a little while?" she asked softly, still keeping her voice low for fear of who would be around to hear her. She lifted her big brown eyes to him, not wanting to beg, but not ready to go back. She knew the second she went back, Will would be there, and him seeing her with Ink, it made her worry.

Ink thought about her request as he moved at a slow pace from the bar. It's light (no matter how upsetting) kept them in illumination. Sending strong discomfort, he reached around her shoulders and led her along. However, he didn't particularly have a specific place. They could sneak into the base and hide in a supply closet.... No, she wouldn't fancy that. It was Fall, so he didn't want to stay long outside, but he didn't have any ideas.

"Well, I don't want you out here too long." He explained, freeing his arms of his jacket. He continued to think, "But I can't bring you to the only warm place I can think of because it's back in there." He told her, nodding to where they had come from while he snuggled his heavy, warm jacket over her.

"We don't have to be out for too long," she promised, surprised as she felt his coat around her shoulders. "Ink, you don't have to do that, you need to be warm too." She shook her head a little, a smile pulling at her lips. "Let's just walk for awhile, take the long way back," she told him. She tugged his jacket almost closed around her shoulders, against the chill of the night. She reached over to gently take his hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Thank you, for this, you didn't have to come after me."

Ink was breifly lost in his own thoughts as he calculated the way home. He drew a map on his eye lids, remembering which way she probably meant. He still didn't want he'd to be outside for long though...

" 'M fine." He said distantly, biting his lower lip.

He felt her taking his hand and looked down, he could feel her breath on his face while he watched his fingers automatically curl in the spaces between her fingers. He raised his eyes, then straightened his neck, "I know. I wanted to." He told her honestly, feeling a strange sensation in his stomach. It was an irritating feeling, as if tiny people were dancing inside. It was also hard to breath. He fell AWFUL, but wonderful at the same time. His ears grew warm, and his swallow to clear his throat didn't work as successfully as he wanted to as they walked.

Eponine watched the reaction in Ink, knowing that on some level, he had agreed to walking with her, so she started off down the road away from the bar, letting their hands swing slightly. Already his hands were cold though, so she knew she wouldn't take too long for herself, she would just meander around a little, than take a short cut back. She kissed his cheek lightly as he said that he wanted to come after her. "You know, people should give you more credit, you may act crazy and give me heart attacks, but you're sweet on the inside, and your heart is in the right place, that's what counts."

Ink grinned into the air and chuckled, humored, "Maybe. But I get enough credit just for being who I am - I don't really want any more." he told her, his breath fogging just a bit in the nip temperature.

That weird feeling hadn't gone away yet. Was he sick? Dear money he hoed he wasn't sick! That meant bed rest...and people coming and going when you wanted peace. His hand and arm felt really war though. I was as if his arm was a metal rod, and Eponine was a white flame. It was almost...what was the word? For something you liked that was good?

Eponine pressed closer to his side as they moved into a slightly narrower alleyway. She was all too aware of how her hips pressed against his, both of them were too skinny for their own good, but being close to him meant they both stayed a little warmer. "It's always so scary around here. You never know who's here because they hate it up there, or who's here because they were kicked out," she murmured, letting her head rest lightly against his shoulder. She just wanted to walk like this with him forever though. She was scared, but she felt safe with him. He felt like someone she could trust, someone stable that she could go back to. Not like Will, Will was like standing on a fault line and waiting for the earth to start shaking. It made her quiet, her smile fading a little.

Thinking about her question, Ink lost focus of her and narrowed his eyes while he considered what she had said.

"I know of a guy up there. He's the best at his job because of how sick he is in the head. People like that need to stay there. People how were kicked out didn't fit their pattern. People who left were smart enough to do so." he told her, suddenly feeling very wise.

"Came up with that just now, you know." he told her, the same teasing grin on his face. Suddenly he was conscious of their closeness and pressed his lips together. He didn't really know how to deal. She would have to lead this dance. In any other circumstance, he would be lying on a bed by now, naked and waiting for someone to do something to him, or wishing he was dead while the other was curled around some part of him.

"We should head back now, it's getting awful cold," Eponine responded softly, unable to think of any other response to what he said, thinking him clever, but still not wanting to address what they were speaking off. She didn't really know how to address him. She wanted more than anything to know what it felt like to kiss him. She was afraid of what something like that would make him feel. So instead she just moved to lightly kiss him on the cheek, blushing and looking away quickly after, thinking he must be cold, and that they should pick up their pace.

Ink's eyes widened and he went on automatic mode. HE knew he was walking, and he was still breathing, but other than that his mind went blank. His subconscious sat up and looked around in the darkness of his mind, not understanding. Nothing bad had happened, why was he blocking out his own control?

Ink? asked the voice in the back of his head, Why are you shutting down like you're about to deal with a client?

Eponine glanced back up at him, not recognizing that glazed over look in his eyes. It kind of scaring her as the base finally came back into view. "Ink, are you okay?" she asked softly, transferring his jacket back around his shoulders, thinking he must be cold, thinking the warmest place in the base was the dining hall, altering their track to head there.

"Whatever you like." He said, a clear distance in his voice. But the natural allure in his voice would have fooled anyone who hadn't spoken to him before.

INK! the voice screamed Come out of it!!
The warmth on his shoulders made him furrow his brow, and found her hand again. He blinked lightly and he blew out a shaky breath, releasing a cloud of fog from between his lips. He came back quickly, unaware he had been in "lock down mode".

" 'Ey now!" He protested, a smile on his his face, "Now you're gonna shiver until we get back." He laughed, then began to quicken his pace, "C'mon now, let's get back."

Eponine felt her brows furrow at his response, until he snapped out of it and cam back to himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you," she told him, moving to match his pace. "And I'll be fine, we're almost there anyway," she murmured under her breath, knowing he would still half run her all the way to the dining hall, not that she really minded. She let him take her hand again, laughing softly at his apparent urgency. "Ink! Slow down! You can walk faster than I can."

((Move them to the mess hall?))

((Agreed))

((You post first?))

Ink pulled Eponine through the smog of the bar, away from the stares that followed, up the stairs and all the way to the back. He took a key from a line of twine from around his neck and unlocked the door - letting her in.

It was a simple room, a queen sized bed, a couch, kitchenette, radio, coffee table, bookshelf, chest, dresser, bathroom and a stand alone cupboard next to the bed.

"Well." he sighed, sticking his hands in his back pockets, "This is essentially home for me." he told her, nodding slowly, "If you're tired, I suggest the couch." he teased, and walked towards his dresser to replace his jacket.

Eponine followed him, keeping her head down as the moved through the bar. She stuck tightly to his side, at least until they were out of the smog. She hesitantly stepped into the room, not sure what to expect, but it was kind of nice, in a small, outdated sort of why. She ran her fingers over some of the wooden surfaces, then settled herself in the center of the couch. "This place is pretty nice. At least you have some privacy here, unlike the bunks," Eponine told him with a soft smile. She beckoned him over, curling her feet off to one side of her, thinking she could just talk to him until she fell asleep.

"Yeah." Ink said halfheartedly, he got privacy sometimes. But most of the time he was completely naked for other people to do what they willed with him, to him, on him, however they wanted. Privacy was a commodity to him. He removed his black shirt and replaced it with a blue one, then closed the drawers and joined her on the couch. HE threw his arm over her shoulders and sighed.

Eponine wasn't sure if she should say much else, yet as he came over, she curled close to his side, resting her head on his shoulder. It was nice to be held like this, even though they were in a place that she was sure he didn't want to be. "Ink, I'm sorry for making you come back here," she told him softly, relaxing into him a little more. The couch was actually pretty comfortable, even though she was curled in on herself. That was something she had always done when she was away from her own bed. It was a protective instinct.

Ink nipped at her hair and tugged on it playfully like a cat, "It's fine." he replied, puffing air out his mouth to get her hair from between his lips.

"Are you tired?" he asked her, drawing circles on her shoulder with the hand attached to the arm that was over her. He wondered if she was cold. Sometimes people said they were cold, and he had to adjust the temperature, then he was burning up. It could be just because he liked the cold. His knee still ached from earlier, so he reached down and rubbed it with his thumb - digging into the tissue.

Eponine smiled at his playfulness, giggling softly. "Yeah, I'm pretty beat," she admitted, shedding her coat to use it as a blanket, draping it over the entirety of her small frame. She saw him rubbing his knee, and a worried expression flitted across her face. "Are you okay?" she asked him softly, knowing his pain was her fault. He shouldn't be running at all, and yet he had run all that way after her. "You should get some sleep too, you know." She wrapped one arm loosely around his waist, staying close to him.

"I'm fine." Ink laughed, and lifted his hand from his knee. He leaned his head back against the couch and watched her from over the sharp curve of his cheek bone. He grinned sideways, "I am the night - the night knows no rest." he joked, but just followed it up with a yawn.

"OK, maybe just this one time the night wants to sleep." he laughed. But he couldn't sleep sitting up, "Hang on." he told her.

Ink wrapped his arms around her chest and back under her arms and threw himself onto his back and swung his feet up on the other side of the couch, dragging her on top of him.

"OK, now I can sleep." he sighed peacefully, "You can be my blanket." He appreciated her weight on him, it made him feel less lonely, like he was actually a person, not just some empty toy for other people. Having her here with him and everyone having their clothes on also helped him feel better about it all.

Eponine couldn't help but shake her head at him, letting out a small shriek as he pulled them back, her heart racing like crazy for a few moments before she settled in, shifting to make herself comfortable. "I think the night does rest, that's why there's the day, but if you insist to not sleep I can tell you just how crazy you seem to go," she told him, curling close to him, her hair spreading in dark waves across his chest. "Goodnight, Ink." She kissed his cheek, rested her head on his chest, and closed her eyes.

Ink tossed his arm over his eyes and wrapped his other arm around her back, feeling the indent along her spine with his fingers. Subconsciously, while he fell asleep, he rubbed her spine up and down with his fingers, tracing the outlines of each vertebrae he could make up with the tips of his fingers.

((Skip?))

((Yes.))

Eponine was confused when she awoke, unfamiliar surroundings and sounds were phasing to her. She shifted up slightly, looking down at Ink as cold air reached where she had been warmed by his touch all night long. She smiled softly at the way he looked as she slept, trying not to wake him as she slipped her coat onto his chest, hoping not to wake him as she wandered over to the small kitchenette in his room, hoping to be able to make him some breakfast. She rubbed her eyes, yawning as she opened his small fridge, not sure what to expect. How was she to know what Ink kept stocked in this little apartment?

Not much. That's what Ink kept around. Mostly just random things from downstairs. The bar had previously been a diner before the fall, and everyone who lived and worked here got breakfast from down there. In his fridge, Ink had mostly a jumble of random snacks.

Ink turned like a kabob for a minute, and finally settled back down. He hugged Eponine's coat to him and stuck most of his body between the back cushions and the seat cushions creating something short of an Ink-sandwich.

Eponine sighed to herself, watching Ink for a moment, debating. She really didn't want to wake him, but she was hungry. She sighed softly, wedging a book in the door jam as she went downstairs, peaking around each corner for people, but it seemed the place was relatively empty. She followed her nose to the kitchen, which was a hub of activity, asking someone who looked to know they're way around if they had to pay or if they could just take food. She didn't feel right, her muscles taunt with unease.

She jumped when a man came up behind her, roughly grabbing her thin waist and throwing her around to trap her against the wall. "INK!" she called frantically, already smelling the alcohol on the man's breath with how close he was, his face right up in hers, his hands bruising her hips where he held her tight. Eponine wasn't armed, her weapons were all back at the base, and though she was stronger than she looked, it wasn't enough against this brute.

Ink lifted his head abruptly, "I was n't uh'sleep!" he yelled groggily, looking around. No one there? Wait...

He looked at the coat in his arms and realized that Epoinine wasn't in here. He put his feet on the floor and heard her call him again, she sounded alarmed, hurt, or worse!

"Eponine!" he practically screamed, scrambling across the floor, flung his door open and ran down the hall.

"Eponine!" he called again, running around a clump of girls coming from their own rooms to inspect what all the chaos this early in the morning was.

Eponine heard Ink's call, but she couldn't move, her head turned away from the door as the drunken man's disgusting wet lips brushed against her cheek. She clamped her eyes shut, her whole body shaking. She thrashed, trying to get herself free, thinking she should have just woken Ink and they could have gone out together. She just hadn't expected to be assaulted like this, she didn't think people were like that. God, he was saying something, the words rumbling out of him, the stench from his lips sickening. He was calling her pretty, beautiful, other things she couldn't discern.

"Hey!" Ink yelled from the end of the hallway. He catapulted himself down the stretch and balled a fist, "Cade!" he roared, recognizing the man instantly. A customer that frequently ended up passing out somewhere unnoticed, then woke up around here the next morning.

"Hey!" Ink yelled, letting off one last warning. His arm swung back, and he glanced at the ring on his finger. A silver band with dull spikes on it, don't fail me he thought right before his fist made contact with Cade's throat. Ink felt the squish under his knuckles and felt sickened just a little bit, then was filled with rage all over again. The punch was enough to send Cade to the ground gasping for air for at least five minutes. By then the gruff management they had would have tossed him by now. When he released her, Ink grabbed Eponine and shoved her behind him and puffed out his chest, "You don't TOUCH HER!!" he roared.

He was angry, BEYOND angry! He felt like every hair on his body was sizzling with anger, and all her could see was red. He didn't think that phrase had been true, but he had never been this mad before since his parents died. In the back of his mind, Ink knew that if Cade recovered and came after him, Ink would have to rely on his inebriation to help him win. If he could get behind him, then the fight was over, Ink would choke him until he passed out and let security deal with him. If Cade on the other hand hit Ink too hard, Ink could play cry baby and it would be considered "damaging the boss's merchandise".

Eponine stumbled as she was released, falling to her knees on the ground, gagging, but there was nothing in her stomach to come up. She reached up to gently touch Ink's hand, trying to get him back under control, she knew he could be dangerous when he was mad, and as much as she hated the man, she didn't want Ink to do something they both would regret. "Ink, please," she whispered, forcing herself back onto her feet, clinging to his arm to keep from falling back down, swallowing the bile in her throat. "Let's just go," she whispered to him. She shuddered, her knees going weak for a moment before she caught herself again.

Ink nearly fell over with Eponine practically climbing his arm. He leaned in her direction and finally turned his head towards her. "Whoooaaa." he said once he got a good look at her face and supported her with both his arms. She swallowed hard, and he mimicked the motion with a creased brow. He cooled off quickly and caught her again when he knees went limp.

"I got 'cha." he told her, and picked her up. One arm supported her back, the other hooked under her knees, "Get that idiot out of here!" he yelled over his shoulder and carried her back to his room and didn't look back.

Eponine was glad when she felt Ink calm down, though when he picked her up, she wished she could tell him she would be fine, but she wasn't quite sure. Her hip may not be dislocated, but it was out of place, and badly bruised. She flinched as he yelled, even though she knew it wasn't directed at her. "Thank you," she whispered as they got back to his room. "I'm so sorry, that was stupid of me. I should have just stayed here or woken you up. This is all my fault."

"No, he shouldn't be here." Ink sympathized, laying her back down on the couch.

"Are you alright? Where did he touch you?" Ink asked, trailing her fingers over her cheek. He felt terrible and irresponsible that this had happened. He was the one who brought her here, so it was more his fault. He didn't tell her this of course because she'd just argue.

Eponine was subconsciously holding her waist just above her hip bones, where it felt as though that man was still holding her. "It's just my hips, I'll be okay," she lied, turning away, not sure what to do about it. She could get her hips back into place, but it would be painful and take forever. She closed her eyes, but the she did, it way like she could feel him right there again, smell the liquor on his breath. She shivered.

"Eponine." Ink whispered, swallowing hard.

He should have been there faster, he could have protected her. He could have done something! In the first place, he shouldn't have brought her here at all, should have warned her, should have made her stay at the base. It wasn't fair to have his heart taken so suddenly by her. He didn't mind, but it was like she wasn't letting him help her - a notion he really should have been accustomed to by now. However, it hurt when it was her.

she had been touched, hurt, maybe even mutilated in some way and she wasn't letting him help her. It was strange, this feeling. Alien as it was, he wanted to start a fight with that thug and hug her at the same time. He needed to focus and push down these odd and possibly dangerous feelings and narrow down to what was actually important and needed to be taken care of. He thought that he could compress the fire fuming inside him, extinguish it, until she shuddered with unease. Then it just flared up again and he felt like he had to move, do something, get busy.

"Eponine, it could be more serious than you think. Maybe you need to go back to Emma?" he asked.

Eponine looked over to Ink, vulnerability clear in her eyes. She gently reached out to take his hand, looking at him, not wanting to go back, because if Emma saw her, undoubtedly Will would show up. "I don't want to go back, just help me up, I can just walk it off," she told him, shifting to the edge of the couch. It couldn't be too bad, could it? It was just his hands, they would never be able to break her, right? She saw the look on his face and gently reached out to touch his cheek, turning his face to her. "Ink, this isn't your fault. He's gone. I'll be okay," she told him softly, seeing the mix of emotions behind his eyes. It seemed as though he was hurting more than she was, though in a different way. She gently wrapped her arms around him, leaning closer to lay her head on his shoulder, needing his warmth more than anything.

((Simply?))

Ink pushed himself up and enveloped her in a hug. Her soft hair pillowed his cheek, and he hadn't realized he had been so tense until his felt his muscles melt back into place. His released a slow breath, blowing feathers of hair away from his face.

"Oh!" he gasped and let go, altogether pulling away from her. Ink stepped over the shallow coffee table and ripped a folded quilt off the bed. He stumbled back towards her, his head light from moving so suddenly. The quilt whipped out into a square, and he wrapped it around his own shoulders. He planned to become a sort of human blanket. He accomplished this by placing himself beside her, one leg bent behind her, his other foot firmly on the ground. Next, he wrapped his arms around her, officially enveloping her in the soft warmth.

In the back of his wired mind, he wished he were bigger, softer like a gigantic teddy bear to warm and comfort her. After all, a teddy bear would have be smart enough to warn her - unlike himself.

Eponine felt a small smile creeping onto her face in spite of herself as Ink sprinted across the room and back to her. She leaned in to gently kiss his forehead, steeling her nerves, knowing this would hurt no matter what. She shifted until she was on the very edge of the couch, then slowly rose up onto her feet. Her legs were instantly shaking, and one of her hips popped loudly, forcing her to lean on Ink for a moment. It was good though, it was popping back into place, which meant it wasn't totally dislocated, the other leg wasn't looking so good though, it had to be dislocated, it hurt to much, and she could only feel pins and needles down her leg. "I think... I think one of my hips is dislocated," she told him, keeping the pressure off of it to stop from damaging it more. "I can't feel my leg."

Ink steadied her elbow while she stood. Cringing at the loud pop of her hip he made a painful face and scrunched his nose.

"Yeah, uhm..." he took in a breath, "I have no idea what to do. I really don't..."

He looked up at her, "And I don't think I could carry you all the way back to Emma to have her help you either."