Put on the spot, Eponine finds it difficult to remember Hattie's coaching, and she looks anxiously from mentor to potential employer with wide eyes.
"Well... I worked for M'sieur Byakuya. Got his lunch and his breakfast - and he showed me more writing. And I work for M'sieur Gold in his shop - though that pays nothing - I owe him a lot of money because he got me out of prison."
There's a pause whilst Eponine realises that she's said the most wrong thing she could possibly have said. At home, she had spoken openly about being locked away but at home, nobody had wanted to employ her for anything except where a prison sentence was seen as a badge of honour or a right of passage.
"I mean..." She glances at Hattie. She's sure she's fuming. Eponine averts her eyes, fixing them on the cup of tea in front of her. But then she lifts her gaze to focus on Xellos.
"I suppose you will know if you ask M'sieur Gold. I was caught...pickpocketing. And he helped me out. I am trying not to do it, though, M'sieur. It is hard - but it is when I have no money. There are things you must do when you need a place to sleep. And if pickpocketing and working for AGI in that horrible XxX is what I must do, M'sieur... I cannot sleep outside here. Otherwise I would not mind."
She lowers her gaze. "You will not want me after that. You will say I am a bad girl. Madame Hattie will."
She glances again at Hattie. Is Hattie mad? "I don't know much about inns - I was but a child, M'sieur. Eight, perhaps, or younger. And it was Cosette, the servant, who worked. She's a lady now, and me... well, you know what I am from the jobs I have done. But M'sieur. I am a fast learner, and I will do as you say, no questions asked. And it is a night time job I need. I am not scared of the Monsters - and you will not have many asking for such a job.
...Only, if I am not to be a secretary, M'sieur, what am I to be?"
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"Well... I worked for M'sieur Byakuya. Got his lunch and his breakfast - and he showed me more writing. And I work for M'sieur Gold in his shop - though that pays nothing - I owe him a lot of money because he got me out of prison."
There's a pause whilst Eponine realises that she's said the most wrong thing she could possibly have said. At home, she had spoken openly about being locked away but at home, nobody had wanted to employ her for anything except where a prison sentence was seen as a badge of honour or a right of passage.
"I mean..." She glances at Hattie. She's sure she's fuming. Eponine averts her eyes, fixing them on the cup of tea in front of her. But then she lifts her gaze to focus on Xellos.
"I suppose you will know if you ask M'sieur Gold. I was caught...pickpocketing. And he helped me out. I am trying not to do it, though, M'sieur. It is hard - but it is when I have no money. There are things you must do when you need a place to sleep. And if pickpocketing and working for AGI in that horrible XxX is what I must do, M'sieur... I cannot sleep outside here. Otherwise I would not mind."
She lowers her gaze. "You will not want me after that. You will say I am a bad girl. Madame Hattie will."
She glances again at Hattie. Is Hattie mad?
"I don't know much about inns - I was but a child, M'sieur. Eight, perhaps, or younger. And it was Cosette, the servant, who worked. She's a lady now, and me... well, you know what I am from the jobs I have done. But M'sieur. I am a fast learner, and I will do as you say, no questions asked. And it is a night time job I need. I am not scared of the Monsters - and you will not have many asking for such a job.
...Only, if I am not to be a secretary, M'sieur, what am I to be?"