Odette || Les Misérables {Marius P.} ✔

♤1 - Look Down♤

1831

"Etta! Etta!" A blonde lady yelled.

Turning on her heel, the summoned woman looked over her shoulder, her curled blonde hair flipping back. Balancing the dishes in her arms, Odette wandered over to Cosette, the blonde lady who called her.

"Is there anything I can get you, Mademoiselle?" Odette questioned, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"No, no there is not. I was just wondering if you could do me a favour and maybe purchase this, for Papa's birthday." Cosette stated kindly, handing a small slip of paper to the Odette.

"Certainly, Mademoiselle." Odette nodded, taking the slip after balancing the dishes in one arm.

Quickly slipping the paper into her apron pocket, Odette took the dishes up again in both arms and wandered down to the kitchen. As she placed the dishes in the sink, her hair fell fully out of it's braid. Exhaling in exhaustion, she tied the braid back up and then wiped her hands onto her apron, taking out the paper Cosette gave afterwards.

Blue music box in L'harmonie shop window

Pulling off the rouge apron, Odette poured some water from a jug into a bowl then washed some soot and dirt off her hands and face. Pleasantly relaxing into the sensation of cleanliness, Odette gently eased the oxygen out of her lungs through her nose in a relaxed sigh. As usual, due to the time, Odette left the house of Cosette and her father, finishing her work. Locking the door of Rue Plumet behind her, Odette strolled down to the town looking for what Cosette desired. Reaching L'harmonie, Odette squinted her eyes and looked into the mucky shop window, using her hands to block out the brightness of the French sun casting a bright white light through the thicket of clouds. A polite smile on her lips, Odette opened the wooden door of the shop and set eyes upon the music box. It took a moment before she silently damned herself. Cosette never gave her any money, so the only thing Odette had to pay with was a handful of her rent, which was naturally due in that day. With a heavy heart, Odette picked up the music box and took the price tag.

₣167

That was almost half her rent. Without question, Odette bought it, and after a pleasant conversation with the man in charge of the shop, she carried the small music box back to her apartment in a back alley. On her journey, she ran into another one of her friends' public displays of righteousness. Marius and Enjolras were encouraging others to stand up for fairness and equality. Odette knew it was risky business for Marius to be so public and exposed, but nonetheless, he was stood proud alongside Enjolras rallying up members for a protest. A larger protest.

"Where are the leaders of the land?
Where is the king who runs this show?" Enjolras chanted.

"Only one man that's General LaMarque.
Speaks for the people here below." Marius continued, making brief eye contact with Odette and smiling.

Courfeyrac hopped up onto the stage and whispered something into Enjolras' ear and by the look on his face, it wasn't good news.

"LaMarque is ill and fading fast!
Won't last the week out, so they say." Enjolras sadly informed the public.

LaMarque couldn't die. He was the only one who gave a single thought as to the condition of the poor. Odette's mouth fell open at the news. She couldn't tell how long she was staring blankly in front of her, but soon enough the law came along and ushered everyone away. Odette still didn't move due to her shock.