Eloise x OC / penelope x collin

eye opener

Eloise walked across the cobblestones of the narrow bumpy road. Men and Women were shouting across the street, rats were scavenging in all corners and the stank was overwhelming. She had never seen nor smelled anything like this. What did these people do to deserve this? Perhaps going here was not such a good idea, but she was so close. Somewhere in this market were the books she was looking for. Books about that weren't about how the gentleman saved the lady. Books with substance, books she couldn't find anywhere else.

Eloise coughed. She grabbed the hood of her black cape . The smoke of the factories lay a black fog on top of the market. Why would they build those monstrosities here in such a crowded area. The smoke had to be toxic.

Eloise took a turn left and finally, there it was, the bookshop she had been searching for. Books and prints was what the shop was called. Hopefully the writers of the books were more original than the shop owners. Eloise opened the door and took a step inside.

'Lazy bastard! I'm not buying your act! You don't have to come back here! No get off my property' A wide muscular man covered in dirt kicked a young man to the side of the road. The young man cried out in pain as he rolled across the stones. He had to be one of the man's workers by the looks of his black overall. No, blue overall, it was covered in ash, so were his hands and face.

The young man tried to stand up, but collapsed to the ground and coughed.

'What did I tell you bloody bastard! Don't want to listen?' The man kicked him with full force in the belly.

Without a second thought Eloise turned around and ran towards the two men. She put up her strongest accent. 'You gotta be kidding me! I'm so sorry sir, I hope my brother didn't cause you too much trouble. If you would allow me, I'll make sure he won't bother you again.'

The man looked up, annoyed.

What have I done, what have I done, what did I get myself into.

'Your his sister? Well, how could I ever deny a request from a lady? Very well then, get him out of my face. And if you ever need anything darling, you know where to find me.'

Disgusting. Eloise smiled, then turned her attention to the young man. 'Are you ok, nothing serious?' She scanned off his body to see if anything needed immediate attending. He seemed around twenty years old, strong frame, blond hair with a stubble beard, although both almost looked black because of the ashes. He opened his blue eyes and tried to say something but he couldn't stop coughing. He instead shook his head.

'Do you think you can walk if I help you?' Eloise could help, but there was no way she was able to drag this guy across town.

He smiled. 'I can try.'

'Lovely, you do realize you'll have to do most of it yourself?'

'If you can help me up.' He coughed again.

'Uhm, yes, let's see. Uhhh. I suppose I could grab your arm.' That clearly didn't help. 'Uhm...'

'That's not going to work.'

Eloise put her hands on her hips. 'Well I'm sorry. Maybe if you helped a bit and didn't weigh as much as a fat pig this would have been a bit easier sir...?

'Thomas.'

'Well, Sir Thomas, do you have a better idea?'

'Just put my shoulder over yours and try to stand up, could you do that for me lady...?'

'Not important.'

'What an ugly name.'

'For the love of god, what is wrong with you?' Eloise kneeled down and swung Thomas's arm over her shoulder. 'You better help me now, because if...'