Esmeralda dances to the rhythm of the tambourine (changewillcome) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-03-23 18:47:00 |
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Peter still couldn’t say he’d been in town for long and already his head was overloaded. There was too much information to process at once, which meant he was not focusing on it. He knew he’d been told he didn’t need to bring anything, but since when did anyone really show up somewhere with nothing? So he brought beer. If nothing else, he’d drink it. It wasn’t a big deal. Maybe Esmeralda’s friend would be there - the drunk in the corner, Grantaire. If he didn’t help him, well, that’s what Destiny was for. Okay, that wasn’t all she was for, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t leave him without a way home if it came down to it.
The Court of Miracles was never terribly difficult to find. Or maybe it was because he knew where to look and how to listen to the chatter about places like that. So really...finding his way had been like child’s play.
Getting past Clopin and the others wasn’t a chore this time because they already knew each other and he wasn’t just some random stranger wandering into their midst with a slightly confused look on his face. So he wandered in and found his way to Esmeralda. “I heard you were bored and needed some entertainment, so here I am.” He attempted to resist the urge to smile for a brief moment before he broke. “So how’s it been?”
At the moment, the Court wasn’t open to customers so it was a smaller crowd than it would be once the doors opened and they started to have people come in for drink and food and entertainment. As had been on the road, Esmeralda was the main act with her different dances, as well as tending bar. It was also true that if someone ever wanted to find Esmeralda, the first place to check would be the Court of Miracles for while she did go out into the area during the days, more often than not she’d be at the Court.
Even so, Peter was a familiar face and so his admittance wasn’t shocking. Not that she was actually paying attention as she was currently practicing on her stage which had yet to be moved into position for the night. She had just finished when Djali made a suspicious bleat to the new person coming towards them (ever so protective Djali was), which caught her attention and had Esmeralda smile.
“Peter!” Jumping down from her perch on the stage, she hugged him in greeting. “It’s so good to see you!” And bless him, he brought beer to a tavern. Not that it mattered, even though Djali had taken to sniffing at it as if planning to eat the cardboard that held the beer in place. “Things have been… interesting? But they’ve calmed down.” Gringoire and Clopin weren’t near but with all that had happened…. “What about you? I know you say you’ve been busy. But you’re settling in as well as we ever settle anywhere?”
This was his life. He often brought things he didn't need to places that didn't need them. But such was life. He looked down at the goat with some level of surprise before Esmeralda hugged him. He smiled even wider as he hugged back. “Interesting, huh? Dreams?” Because that seemed to be the talk of the Network. “And you have a goat,” he commented, taking that moment to step back and look at the goat in question.
“I'm fine. Mom's around somewhere.” He imagined figuring out money in her own way. He didn't ask too many questions. If she needed help with anything, she'd ask. “We're all unpacked and settled in for now. You know how it is. Have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.” But that had been life since he was little. “But I'm considering finding a legitimate job to keep from getting too many looks. Who knows where.” He nodded to the stage. “That for tonight, then?”
They all had things that they were prepared to do, or bring, just in case. It was the nature of life. Admittedly, Esmeralda was always good at picking a pocket or two but she appreciated the ability to hold down a job that was more legitimate. Yes, most of the money then went to the Court and everything to run it as they all lived there as well, but having her own money that could be put towards more than just food and survival? To know that she had a permanent place (or as permanent as it could be given the fake visas it took to get into the country), it was a lot.
“It is hard to escape them. Would you believe me if I say Djali came from one such dream?” Probably not, but the Dreams were impossible to escape, no matter how much you might wish it.
“That’s good to hear. If either of you ever want to come work here, talk to Clopin. You’re one of us so there’s always something.” While there were some who would attempt to apply, they were all outsiders. Clopin was particular that way, but it came with the nature of protecting them. “It is. I dance twice a night.”
Fake papers were certainly a part of the equation. He knew a thing or two about that. Luckily, he didn't have to worry for now. At least not really. Only if the police scrutinized too much.
“That's what I've been told.” He didn't want to believe it, but unless shared psychosis was an actual thing with this many people, he had a feeling he was going to have to. Staring at Djali, Peter made a small noise of interest and resisted the urge to poke at the goat. “I guess I'll have to get used to believing things that sound like whatever drunken stories they used to tell around the fires when I was younger.”
God, he was going to need a drink.
“I'll let Lynda know.” He'd keep it in mind as well. He didn't know what there was around this place, but he had a feeling he'd have to find somewhere that wouldn't look too close. “Would you look at that. Tambourine and sword, is it? Definitely will have to pay attention for the sword dance. Do you need me to do anything while I’m here? Now’s the time to ask.”
Oh the joy of fake papers. For all intents and purposes, Esmeralda shouldn’t even be able to work behind the bar since she wasn’t 21 yet. Her papers though said she was, and that was all that mattered.
“It’s a lot to take in and even dealing with them, I sometimes still question them.” Which was ridiculous. She’d gone through two whole sets of dreams and was on a third one, had received outfits and a pyre and a goat, on top of injuries… “Some things are easier to ignore than others but you just… go with it.” Wasn’t that the story of their lives though? They always had to be ready to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice. In France, there had been so much stress because the police would go in and break up their camps… had even gotten in trouble for how poorly they treated their Roma population.
“Excellent.” Because she knew Clopin would be happy to hire the both of them. As for the dances, “Tambourine and sword. I’ve been doing the sword dance for about a month now.” And then the question on if she needed him to do anything… “Well, if you remember the tambourine dance, it’d be great if you could help when I do the move from stage to floor if you remember it. Gringoire has been….” How to put it…. “Depleted? No. Demoted I think the word is? Either way, he does not do it as often and while Clopin has filled in, I’m sure he’d appreciate being able to keep an eye on people more.”
Always the paranoid one that Clopin, who could manifest out of thin air if someone crossed the line.
“I’ll hope to avoid them, but I’ll stock up on beer just in case I can’t.” Because he didn’t know what he was going to experience, but he wasn’t sure that he was ready to find out. He’d just hope that it wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever dealt with. Also that it didn’t involve goats. He was pretty sure he couldn’t explain goats to anyone. At least with the Court of Miracles, a goat didn’t seem that out of place. Ignoring his own surprise, but that was more because he’d never seen them with a goat before.
“Well, if that doesn’t sound familiar…” He shook his head. He didn’t really know what life was like staying in one place, but he had been considering it a little. Destiny seemed to be doing pretty well with it, but he didn’t really expect to be able to do it.
Gringoire had been demoted? Well, he really must have stepped in it. “What the fuck did he do?” Because it must have been serious if he wasn’t allowed to help with the dance now. “And I think it’s a bit difficult to forget the tambourine dance,” he noted. If there was one thing Peter was sure no one forgot, it was Esmeralda’s dancing. He glanced around him to make sure Clopin wasn’t lurking around somewhere waiting to strike. Sure that he wasn’t going to be struck down, Peter turned his attention back to Esmeralda. “But yeah, I think I could help. For you.”
“I will wish you luck. Though I have seen Destiny has the dreams as well.” Would they share a dream world as they were related? Esmeralda was pretty sure she’d seen others who were related and didn’t share a dream world but honestly she didn’t always pay that much attention to the network and conversations on dreams if they didn’t pique her attention when she had time to go through them. “Beer may be a good thing to look into. Just in case.”
It had been nearly a year since they had shown up in Orange County and Esmeralda still felt like it was temporary. That they would end up needing to leave. The dreams didn’t help as they were always on the move in them as well. But despite the fact it had been months of one location even with the insanity, Esmeralda couldn’t help but be prepared to move.
The question on what Gringoire did just led to Esmeralda sighing and running her fingers through her hair.
“Kissed me out of nowhere when I showed no interest in him, mistaking advice as an invitation.”
Those who acted too forward with Esmeralda often found themselves banned from the Court if they were outsiders. Even in Canada, it had been the same. Clopin was particular, she imagined (if the dreams were anything to go off of in that particular matter) that should she be interested in someone, he would let it go. But Gringoire had kissed her out of nowhere, she’d gone rigid and he had shown up.
“Things aren’t as tense as they were when it first happened, but it does still mean Gringoire really is only allowed to help if there is no one else.” Clopin’s attempt at mitigating the damage. They all lived together so it wasn’t like they could be separated for good. Shaking her head some, she shrugged but then smiled as Peter said he’d help and kissed his cheek.
“You’re too sweet, thank you.”
“Well, then I’m definitely fucked.” But amusement weaved its way into his voice. It was easier to look at it with a sense of humor. “And beer is usually a good thing to look into. Even if there’s probably a better way to cope with everything. Oh well.” Pot and beer was usually the way he coped with things. It was the way of things, but to be fair, his mother encouraged it, so it wasn’t like he’d been told to try other ways unless he wanted to.
At the news about Gringoire, Peter’s eyebrows rose. “No shit.” This time the amusement was mixed with surprise, but really, he hadn’t figured that Gringoire was as stupid as that. But perhaps he’d given him too much credit. “Well, I guess that explains that, then.” He’d offer to put the fear of something in his heart, but he had a feeling the guy had gotten enough shit from Clopin, so it was probably better to leave it alone.
He smiled at the kiss to his cheek. “We gotta stick together, which means helping each other out, so it’s no trouble. I’m sure you’d do the same for me.” A pause. “Maybe not with dancing, but…”
“So I’m told, though I am also told not to become like Grantaire and bury my problems in beer to avoid things.” As if Esmeralda was ever the type to actually try to run away from her problems or avoid. Still, Grantaire had been quite adamant that she not become like him and she appreciated the concern, though it was not something that anyone would have to worry about for her.
“It’s finally calmed down, let’s just say when it happened, he nearly died.” Thank goodness for Grantaire in that moment because Esmeralda was pretty sure she wouldn’t have been able to break up that particular fight. Not with a murderous Clopin. He was protective and fast and well, Esmeralda wasn’t keen to have to use her skills against either man. “So yeah. That explains that one.”
“Of course I would. Dance or whatever else.” Since dancing was in Esmeralda’s blood, if for whatever reason Peter needed someone to dance to help him out, it would be easy for her. Though she doubted a situation like that would come up.
Peter snorted lightly. “Well, no one’s got to avoid things, but I guess he’s not really the only one burying himself in beer to avoid things.” Peter didn’t think he avoided things necessarily. He and his mom had sure as hell run away from things, but he thought the circumstances were probably different. It did make him wonder a little bit about the man. He’d never met him, but if he was a friend of Esmeralda’s then Peter had all confidence that he was a good person. He’d keep an eye on him. To make sure he was okay.
“I’m sure that he did. Clopin’s a little...well, I’ve seen him when he’s angry and I’m just saying, I wouldn’t want to be the one.” Because he had a feeling he could hold his own, but he really didn’t want to have to. He liked being right where he was: in Clopin’s group of people he didn’t hate. It was cozy and didn’t involve his possible death.
It probably wouldn’t. Peter didn’t really dance unless he was pulled into it or helping Esmeralda. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around.” Which was mostly said in jest because the idea of keeping anyone around when they never stayed in one place seemed kind of laughable for the most part. “So why don’t you show me around. It’s been a while.”
It was hard to describe Grantaire and Esmeralda had pulled him from the ledge before. She just tended to go with her normal way of going with life, whatever it threw at her. Which… was a lot of shit all things considered, but she still found her way to find hope. That was Esmeralda for you though.
“Only a fool would want to be on his bad side, or not know that it is dangerous.” Clopin was very good to those he liked, but if you were on his bad side? It was dangerous and you never knew what Clopin might throw at you because he could be quite cruel if he felt you deserved it.
“Oh, so that’s it? I suppose I’ll take it.” Laughing some, Esmeralda linked arms with Peter and nodded, “I think that can be arranged.”