The quick response and passion in his words reminded Marguerite of the man she had met, the man who held so much mystery and passion beneath the surface, who had made her feel things she never had felt with any of the lovers she had once had. She never had been one to hold onto a relationship if it seemed to be dying because while she felt those relationships deeply, what she had felt for the Englishman, well, it was something else entirely. And that passion, so rare it seemed, was there. And in a way, it did reassure her that Percy wasn't going to be completely ridiculous forever.
"It is..."
Sighing, Marguerite placed the knife down. This probably wasn't the time to be cutting up vegetables. Given how upset she was because of her concerns and the feelings such antics brought up because of their past, on top of the constant trying to reassure Eponine it was okay to fall for someone not in your class because it didn't matter and then Percy making her wonder if she was only lying to herself, well, knives in hand might not be the best idea at the moment. There was no need to accidentally injuring herself or Percy while speaking passionately about the issues on her mind. And while she could be very impassioned, she also was still able to listen as well. And she heard what Percy was saying.
"And I understand that, I do... the costumes were survival, how else can you outwit the French army or any enemy? But one, we do not have the funds to have those options to utilize, and two,... it's a different fight which I know you know." Sighing, Marguerite closed the distance between her and Percy, taking his hands into her own.
"I know you want to have the tools to help fight, and that you had to deflect.... but what am I supposed to think when you go right back to that mind set when there is no need for it? In stress, we go back to the familiar. It was theatre for me, but if it is clothing and material goods for you... I don't know how to help you.... "
And she didn't. Because material goods had never been high on her list of priorities. Food, shelter, some clothing, that was all she and Armand had needed and she had made it work. They both had. But as they got older, people became less willing to help, less sympathetic to the plight of two orphans.So Marguerite had done what she could, too prideful to bow to those who kicked dirt at her because of their station. And it was better to get paid for it than having it taken forcibly, because obscure inn work and theatre work didn't pay the bills.
"But you are right, we will learn the tools we need at camp. We will find a way to help, to fight. We will not be helpless."
Because Marguerite refused to be helpless. She had survived the streets and English high society. Like hell was she falling because she wasn't prepared. Percy and his friends, they had use skills and cunning to outwit the French army, to save those who needed it because they were judged on one thing alone. Marguerite had used those same skills for survival.