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You are telling me that I should be willing to stand and let her call me a donkey's arse and smile and laugh like it is a big joke? Madame, in my time, I am whore, cunt, bitch, brat, slut, a shitstain on a mattress. I laugh and I laugh at the names and they get worse. I'm a bit fed up being nice and kind and good. Maybe I don't care. Maybe I don't care about any of you toffs.
[She pushes away from Kosem and makes for the door.] Maybe you can have my leftovers. Mr Greyson might prefer to stick his dick in a queen's pussy than a rat's anyway. I am fed up being a performing fox for you all. I am going where my people are, and I wouldn't bother following, Ma'am, for a toff like you? They'll slit your neck as soon as you look at them. Goodbye.
[She pushes away from Kosem and makes for the door.] Maybe you can have my leftovers. Mr Greyson might prefer to stick his dick in a queen's pussy than a rat's anyway. I am fed up being a performing fox for you all. I am going where my people are, and I wouldn't bother following, Ma'am, for a toff like you? They'll slit your neck as soon as you look at them. Goodbye.
If you don't care, then there is nothing I can do.
[She just sighs at Eponine's words and turns away, going back to the couch.
As Eponine said goodbye, Kosem would simply ignore her.]
[She just sighs at Eponine's words and turns away, going back to the couch.
As Eponine said goodbye, Kosem would simply ignore her.]
[Kosem is a bit flustered, still dressed in her robe and nightdress. Everything was still in place in her room, though there were apparently fresh flowers. Her expression was apologetic mixed with worry. It wasn't clear how much time had passed, but apparently it was some time.]
Eponine, are you all right?
Our contract was set to expire in a few months, but I can't tell how long I have been asleep. Have I missed the date?
Eponine, are you all right?
Our contract was set to expire in a few months, but I can't tell how long I have been asleep. Have I missed the date?
[Her head already hurts, but apparently it will get much worse. Worry is quickly replaced with annoyance.]
I'm asking the expiration date for our contract. Has it already passed?
[Though at this moment, she's wondering what's the point in being concerned? Kindness being met with too many slaps has a way of dulling emotion.]
I'm asking the expiration date for our contract. Has it already passed?
[Though at this moment, she's wondering what's the point in being concerned? Kindness being met with too many slaps has a way of dulling emotion.]
[Right.]
You have no idea if we're still contracted or not?
You have no idea if we're still contracted or not?
You're right, this is my fault.
[She has little patience for this and at this very minute, she's wondering if she should bother? The continual harsh responses, rejection of kindness and attempts at care.]
I'll check with records then.
[She has little patience for this and at this very minute, she's wondering if she should bother? The continual harsh responses, rejection of kindness and attempts at care.]
I'll check with records then.
It's not your fault, Madame, but it ain't mine neither. And you have slept through everything, safe and sound and me? Me, I am put in prison again for nowt. So many of us, Ma'am, and I have been asleep under a bench with nowhere else to go again and still you sleep. And now you wake, not even a hello? Not even a 'are you well?" It is just 'am I still stuck with you, Eponine? A dead weight around your neck am I still? Well, I am sorry, Ma'am, that I ain't been reading my letters and I am sorry I don't know the month we are in. It ain't so important to me. I am sorry.
Eponine, you jump to conclusions and assume I was asking because I don't care. You don't stop to think why I would even ask if I didn't want you. It would be easier for me to not worry about it at all and let it lapse.
Maybe I'm asking because I'm worried and am trying to look after you?
Maybe I'm asking because I'm worried and am trying to look after you?
Why don't you just say it then? You know in my head I fill in gaps. You tell me over and over, and everyone does say it. If you know I do it, then why are you shocked when it is done?
Kosem, you sleep and it is like being back in Paris. I can't be back in Paris. I don't want it to be so here. It's been horrible here and I have been all alone again. You can't look after me asleep.
Kosem, you sleep and it is like being back in Paris. I can't be back in Paris. I don't want it to be so here. It's been horrible here and I have been all alone again. You can't look after me asleep.
Either you trust me now or not. I have told you over and over I want to help. If you still don't believe me, what is the point of reminding you?
No, but there is still some safety if you're contracted or not. I can't change what happened while I slept but I'm trying to fix it now.
No, but there is still some safety if you're contracted or not. I can't change what happened while I slept but I'm trying to fix it now.
How could I? I woke up alone. My first thought was the contract.
How often must I remind you that I do care, Eponine?
[She understands a bit, but it's a little difficult, given the hostilities she often faces.]
I do understand you, better than you might think.
This is why I'm concerned about our contract. I don't want it to expire and you be left alone.
[She understands a bit, but it's a little difficult, given the hostilities she often faces.]
I do understand you, better than you might think.
This is why I'm concerned about our contract. I don't want it to expire and you be left alone.
I wasn't not telling you to be a bitch you know? I don't know the day, truly. Kosem, whilst you sleep, it has been bad, so very bad. Too bad to think of a day, you know? They arrest us - and for nothing. Truly, truly I did not a thing this time. And they blast water in my face and my body so I am left bruised and shivering. I have it before, and you know, I survive so I am not scared, but it isn't nice. And then when we are let out, I cannot go home and you are asleep and Daphne is and all the rest hate me so much that I sleep under a bench, for there is nowhere to go. And even then, the police are cross because I can't go home. Do you see? I cannot worry about a contract and a day because I fear you dead or home or had enough of me and there is prison, always prison and it is coming for me. It's coming and I know it and I all I can hear is a clank of the door and chains on my wrists.
I understand, Eponine. I didn't know that happened and I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you as I should have been.
I would like you to move into my home. If I sleep again, you have somewhere warm and safe to stay. I trust you to look after me as well, should that happened.
I'll look into the contract. Do you want to renew with me, if it is expired?
I would like you to move into my home. If I sleep again, you have somewhere warm and safe to stay. I trust you to look after me as well, should that happened.
I'll look into the contract. Do you want to renew with me, if it is expired?
[Eponine hesitates. It's not that she doesn't want Kosem. It's that Eponine knows she's done a very wicked thing and that she has several million francs worth of diamonds hidden in a dirty stocking in an old box under the pillow on her bed that really belong to Daphne Bridgerton. She doesn't want Kosem caught up in that mess.]
What's the very worst thing your son did? The bad one? Him what I remind you of? What did he do the baddest?
What's the very worst thing your son did? The bad one? Him what I remind you of? What did he do the baddest?
[It's a painful question, given the scars of his betrayal and rejection of her still stung deeply.]
Osman ordered the execution of his brother, my first born, Mehmed.
[She touched her heart, not feeling completely whole any longer.]
He listened to those that poisoned him against me, so he brought back the custom of fratricide. Now my youngest sons are imprisoned and alone.
Osman ordered the execution of his brother, my first born, Mehmed.
[She touched her heart, not feeling completely whole any longer.]
He listened to those that poisoned him against me, so he brought back the custom of fratricide. Now my youngest sons are imprisoned and alone.
[And that's who Kosem thinks she's like? Eponine's a lot of things - a lot of bad things - and she's the first person to call her sister names. But Eponine loves Azelma and Gavroche, and indeed she'd loved and misses the twins her mother had sold. She can't imagine ordering the execution of any of her siblings. Indeed, she'd give her life for any of them.
She swallows. Her voice is hard as she fights not to show emotion - the echo of Kosem's pain or her own hurt that she could be as wicked as that.]
Do you still love him? Osman? Will you love him even as he holds up Mehmed's head from the block?
She swallows. Her voice is hard as she fights not to show emotion - the echo of Kosem's pain or her own hurt that she could be as wicked as that.]
Do you still love him? Osman? Will you love him even as he holds up Mehmed's head from the block?
I do love him.
[It's not the actions that makes her think of Osman. It's the pain he suffers. It's mirrored in Eponine. It's the poor choices and her determination not to listen. The hurt Kosem feels when she can't help Eponine.
Osman was a good man deep down. Others forced him on a path he would walk alone.]
He's suffering and surrounded by those that don't care for him. I hate what he's done. It's hurt me in a way that I can't put to words. He's still the child I raised though, still the same child I feed my milk, as I did my own children.
It's impossible for a mother to stop loving her child, no matter what he's done.
[It's not the actions that makes her think of Osman. It's the pain he suffers. It's mirrored in Eponine. It's the poor choices and her determination not to listen. The hurt Kosem feels when she can't help Eponine.
Osman was a good man deep down. Others forced him on a path he would walk alone.]
He's suffering and surrounded by those that don't care for him. I hate what he's done. It's hurt me in a way that I can't put to words. He's still the child I raised though, still the same child I feed my milk, as I did my own children.
It's impossible for a mother to stop loving her child, no matter what he's done.
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