{OPEN} ♔ they call her the black crow

[ensorceler]

( september 1st ; outside the temple )

It's the first, and yet another month beginning with the confusion and alarm of those kidnapped and brought to be judged.

Despite the sun being rather unforgiving in its heat, with no nights to cool the ground and the air, Anne is dressed head to toe in black; a state of mourning for those brought here and forced away from lives they once knew. She has few jewels owned here, so she herself has seen to the gown with ornate embroidery of silver thread, especially along the belled sleeves and the breast of the bodice. Her hair is gathered up in a coif, wrapped beneath a french hood. Other than her rings, the only jewelry she wears today is her silver crucifix pendant.

But even with the dress of mourning, the young woman's smile is as bright and inviting as the sun, as she remains near a large table set up and arranged just outside the temple, beside the bottom of the steps.

With help from those in the kitchen and others with kind hearts, the table has been brought out and covered with inviting things, such as food and drink. There is a tray holding biscuits and fruit jam, another tray with fruit pies, and yet another with smaller mincemeat pies. At the other end there are a couple silver coffeepots with an arrangement of condiments beside: sugar, honey, milk (before it curdles), chocolate shavings, and ginger shavings. There is also a pitcher of ale, since it's a proper daytime drink, and water beside that.

There isn't only food and drink on this table, but also a pile of First-Aid Kits put together by Anne and Beverly Crusher and handed to anyone who wants them; something Anne had learned to do in Exsilium. Truthfully, this welcoming table is not her idea, but also one brought from her former life. It's the only way she feels she can contribute just now.

Strangest yet is beside the First-Aid Kits, there rests an open Bible written in Latin. Perfectly normal presentation, right? Well, it is to her Reformist mind. She would have it in English if she could.

She strives to greet any who might come down the temple steps this day, to show them that this is all free and welcome to them. If there should be any penalty for the abuse of supplies and food, it should be on Anne Boleyn's head. The Bible is the only thing to personally belong to her.

[ ooc; OPEN and backdated to the arrivals on the first! Anne would have been vocal about requesting help for moving the table and setting everything up, so feel free to handwave that your character helped if you like. I just didn't want to spam the Arrival Log with a top-level. ]

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[gardienne]

It's not a new arrival who comes to Anne'a feast, but Eponine. She had watched Anne 's preparations from the shadows, licking her lips as she saw pies being set out. She might have enough to eat here in this strange land, but she couldn't help looking in wonder and envy at Anne's gown and the pretty feast . It was a proper lady's feast and Eponine didn't think she'd ever be invited, not in her ragged shirt and too- big trousers .

So she would invite herself . As soon as Anne turned away, Eponine ran forward and helped herself to a piece of fruit pie .

[ensorceler]

While the quickness might normally have caught Anne unawares, with her recent attack, her nerves are still on edge, and any movement in her peripheral, or the sound of hurried footsteps however slight, is enough nearly to make her jump. She spins quickly, one hand outstretched as if to knock away a would-be attacker, a rather martial move for a lady of her stature.

But then she has been trained. And fortunately so, for the reflexes are also enough to stop her before she actually strikes, watching with confusion to see it's just a girl, and a girl reaching for food at that. Why the sneaky behavior, then?

"Poor dame, forgive me for my start. I thought you a thief." Or worse, really, but she won't accuse the girl of murder.

[gardienne]

Eponine looks back, wide eyed, alarmed at being caught before she could even taste. She drops the pie hastily, and wipes her fingers on her pants.

"I've not took nothing, Madame. I'm no thief." Not today, anyway.
"Don't report me, will you, Madame? Go on, leave me be. I shan't bother you, I promise."

Perhaps it is that not everybody are so kind as Peeta or Newt? She smiles a tight, regretful smile, and goes to walk away.

[ensorceler]

Oh, well that's a tragic waste of pie. She'll have to clean that up now, too, but that will have to come later. Right now the girl in her own sort of panic seems to call more attention. It says something, as her clothing wouldn't call any attention on its own.

"Wait."

But the bedraggled look is not something Anne shies away from. She is a strong voice for charity and education, and this young lady right here, looks like in dire need of both. In so much, as Anne actually reaches out to grab her arm so she doesn't leave.

"You cannot steal what is yours already. Please, whatever you can get your hands upon, it is yours alone. That is why I have so arranged this for the needy and lost. Are you lost?"

[gardienne]

As soon as Anne grabs Eponine's arm, the girls tries to shy away, half frightened that she is being dragged to the police at once. She pulls away, but her fight stops when Anne continues to speak.

"Lost? N-" She had been going to say 'no'. But she doesn't finish that sentence, because - well, because she wants pie. And perhaps if she is not lost, then she won't be allowed it, then it won't be hers already. So she changes her answer.

"Never before have I been so lost, Madame. Truly it is that I do not understand what has happened to me. I thought I should have died on the barricade - no, I know it were so, for I felt it - such pain, Madame - and the world, and his face, going all wavy, as it is when you are so dizzy but worse, for there was black at the edges, but I kept on and on looking, and I reached for him - but no. He turned away from me. Even in death, I am too much a rat for such a gentleman."

She half smiled apologetically. "You do not want to know of this though, do you? I am sorry, Madame."

[ensorceler]

It's quite the flood of information, and it's only due to Anne's life-long training with rhetoric and acting that she is able to prioritize information and react accordingly. Everything the girl just spoke of can remind her of the poor in her world, but more than that she thinks of Exsilium. There, she was forced to walk among the dejected and abandoned on a daily basis, and though they hated her finery, she still tried ever so to supply them with nourishment of the body and soul.

Not trying again to grab her, Anne instead turns to pull a tray over, where she can pile on several baked goods, along with one of the pitchers of ale, and a first-aid kit. Actually, she places two there. This girl seems to be a mess.

"No man can be called a gentleman if he cannot see the beauty of your soul, child. You must remember that God Almighty will never turn you away should you reach for him so earnestly, and if you wish I will do my utmost to guide you into His embrace by hand.

But first we must fill your belly and wash you up. What is your name?"

[gardienne]

"God don't take women like me, Miss, if you excuse me saying it. Not so often do I have shoes, and the priest won't even let me in the door without 'em. He takes only ladies. Not scum." She reaches out for one of the buns though. She might be scum, but she's hungry, and if this fine lady is going to offer it, then Eponine is certainly going to take it.

"My name's Eponine, Miss. 'Ponine Thenardier. And you? Might I have your name, so that I might thank you proper? Do you truly believe in God?"

[ensorceler]

Anne must promptly cluck her tongue and shake her head at Eponine's first, at least the foremost. The poor child must suffer the brutality of Catholicism, she surmises, and no one is happier than Anne to crush any hold the papacy might have on this soul. The longer she's away from England, and the more she is surrounded by atheists, the fiercer she feels she must hold her ground.

"I believe, I know, and I trust. Once you understand, and are given proper learning, you will feel the same. Those who turned you away are fools, blinded to the needs of the many by their corrupt greed and pride. They are not men of God. Any who open their hearts, who believe in Christ's sacrifice and know that it is only He that can judge and no earthly man, will be welcomed by Him."

Dipping a rag into some of the ice water, she rings it out before reaching, slowly this time, to take one of Eponine's hands and begin wiping, as she would for any of the poor she once helped with. It's only recently been so hands-on, but she has quickly adjusted, despite her finery.

"My name is Anne Boleyn, and I am certain it be God's plan for me to teach you."

[gardienne]

Eponine is less impressed at her hands being cleaned, especially with water so cold. She would have much preferred a roll. She tries not to flinch though.

"Men judge... are they not paid to? They put me in prison, and my sister, and my Mama and my Pa - my Mama died in prison. Maybe Azelma too, for I have not seen her since the day she were arrested. Me, I hid longer than her. She is stupid. But they were priests, Mademoiselle Anne. Not the men who sentenced us. They are judges. The men who would not let me in Notre Dame or nothing. I think it is stupid, if such a God will not look after me. I am sure I remember the story where he made a criminal to God when he died. But the church says no. Well, I don't care. I am the very devil himself. It don't matter to me."

[ensorceler]

Such frankness can make Anne fond, but she is not so overly sweet on having to repeat herself. Still, she is accustomed to it when with those she deems of simpler minds and values. It doesn't make her cause any less sincere.

"Many priests are corrupt, Mademoiselle Eponine." She knows it's a courtesy higher than what Eponine deserves, but in some cases instilling pride can be good and useful. It only takes time. "The church under the thrall of the papacy is corrupt, and all the bishops could care for most is what fills their coffers."

Reaching for her other hand, she continues wiping, dipping the cloth a few more times to rinse it off.

"You do not need their permission to know and love God, and feel His love returned. The God they preach is not the true God Almighty, I promise you. Do you believe me?"

[gardienne]

"I suppose, Madame." Eponine doesn't really care in the slightest, if she's honest. She is fully convinced that God has abandoned her and all men and women like her, and she's made her peace with that. She doesn't care. Or, at least, she hadn't cared. Not before she came to Teleios. How could hell be worse than Paris?

But here... here, life is well. And she hates the thought of eventually ending up somewhere like Paris. She should probably be more enthusiastic in the hope that this God will forgive her and not send her back to life as a street rat.

She lets Anne manipulate her hands. "It's just... I cannot imagine a man on a cloud looking after rats like me. Even if I wanted it... People like me are bad, Madame. I'm bad. God should like good people like you."