Re: [Part 3] Of Whores and Lovers (Moulin Rouge!AU with Franada, USUK, GerIta) (10/?)
anonymous
July 1 2011, 05:38:43 UTC
the stairway up to la butte can make the wretched sigh
It’s growing dark. The buzz from the cheap wine is gone already and he can see the lights of the dance hall in the distance. He wants to jump into the Seine, like any good romantic hero, but…the lights of the dance hall are like stars.
His heart is still beating, somehow. Perhaps…perhaps…
Money is the only thing that matters? (But something…something is wrong. He doesn’t know what, but something is very very wrong.) There is money still left in his pocket.
Francis lets the empty bottle drop to the gutter and makes his way along the street.
no words in the vernacular can describe this great event
Matthew watches as Alfred coughs into his hand for a moment and pushes aside the curtain, stepping onto the stage. The music starts and he leans against the dresser, waiting out the scene. He feels…empty, hollowed-out. Alfred is dying and Francis is gone. He thinks he should be crying and maybe he will, once some time has passed, but now he only feels…distant.
A hand grabs his arm, spins him around, and that distance is suddenly gone, all the hurt flaring anew. Francis does not look happy. “Ah, mon cher, the play looks like it is going wonderfully.” There is an attempt at a smile, but Matthew’s only thinking Ivan Ivan Ivan.
Matthew takes a step back, out of Francis’s space. “You need to go. Right now.” He actually sounds firm, for once, but that doesn’t matter because Ivan can be anywhere.
“No,” Francis admonishes lightly, as if this is some game. “I need to pay.”
Matthew takes a break from his search to go, “What? Pay?” He needs to get Francis out of here.
With a grim smile, Francis digs in one coat pocket. He produces a handful of notes with a flourish. “You said that only money matters. Here, then, is your money.”
Matthew’s hands are weak and shaky as he tries to push the notes away. “No, no…” But he can’t get the rest of the words out. He can’t say anything about how the money really doesn’t matter, how this is all a lie, how Francis needs to go before he dies.
“And,” Francis starts with that same grim smile, “I have more.” More notes get pulled out. Francis leans in close and Matthew curls his fingers into his palm, hard, as a distraction, in order not to lean right back in Francis’s space. “Be with me,” Francis breathes. His eyes are bright. “It is not as much as this investor, no, but I-”
Matthew squirms out of the too-comfortable space. “No. No, I don’t want your money.” His eyes are not on Francis anymore, but searching searching searching. He knows Ivan’s somewhere backstage, but where? “I want you gone.”
He sees Francis flinch from the corner of his eye. “I will-”
Matthew turns away and blinks as the world goes all blurry. “No! Just…just go. Now.”
For one moment, it seems like Francis really is going to give in and Matthew’s heart breaks all over again.
Re: [Part 3] Of Whores and Lovers (Moulin Rouge!AU with Franada, USUK, GerIta) (11/12)
anonymous
July 1 2011, 06:25:10 UTC
I MAY HAVE RAPED THIS MOVIE. It's been fun though and I hope everybody enjoys!
I will love you until the end of time
Ivan the investor is pointing a gun at him. The man’s smile is small and cruel. “So, you are the one, yes?” The dark eyes go up, down, up. “I thought you would be…more.” There is a dismissal in his tone that has Francis sneering, but then Matthew is moving, speaking.
“Please, Ivan.” He slides a step, two. “I didn’t tell him to come here. H-he’s only…only an idiot. I just want you.” He slides another step, so that he’s between the gun and Francis. “Please.”
Ivan stares blankly at Matthew for a moment. Then his smile widens. “If you just want me, then you will move, dorogoi. Then he can be gone.”
Things are clicking together too easily, too fast, for Francis’s liking. Everything snaps into place when Matthew shakes his head. “Put the gun away and…and I’ll come with you.”
Francis wants to interrupt, but all his words, all his poetry, are lodged in his throat. He wants to shake Matthew.
Ivan’s smile becomes brittle. “Move, Matthew,” he orders. “He must be gone for us to be one.”
Shaking his head again, Matthew goes, “No.” It’s a simple enough word, but it is conflict, disobedience, and rebellion.
The brittle smile snaps, and then there is just frightening blankness facing them. “He must be gone, Matthew. Do you want to be gone too? For him?”
Matthew lifts his chin. “I-I would.”
Darkness descends on Ivan’s expression. “Goodbye, dorogoi.” Ivan shoots, there’s a bang, and Matthew falls to the floor as fire rips through Francis’s shoulder. Black spots start dancing across his vision as he stumbles, falls. He can see Matthew, just out of his reach. There’s blood pooling beneath his still body.
Ivan the investor watches them for a second, expression childishly, cruelly, curious. Then he sighs to himself and turns away. There’s the creak of floorboards as he walks away, the last glimpse of his coattails, and he’s gone, as if he has never been.
Francis takes a staggering step and falls instead. Matthew…Matthew…Matthew is right beyond his fingertips. The last of his strength fades and his hand drops to the ground.
Beyond the curtains, the music comes to a screeching halt and the screams begin.
Re: [Part 3] Of Whores and Lovers (Moulin Rouge!AU with Franada, USUK, GerIta) (12/12)
anonymous
July 1 2011, 06:26:16 UTC
come what may
The dance hall closes. The combination of Ivan removing his funds and the play turning into a complete disaster means that Ludwig cannot support the hall anymore.
Really, it would not matter anyway. Alfred’s on-stage collapse caused scandalous whispers of diseases and many of the patrons would not have stepped foot in the hall for some time. Arthur, now stuck in his inherited home instead of the city, grumbles (good-naturedly) about Alfred living there; the doctors say the country air is doing the former-dancer good.
He may actually have a chance.
Francis is stuck in bed for a while. They’re a pair, one not allowed to move from bed, the other not allowed to move his arm. Matthew laughs and says that it’s only one arm so he’s better off.
Neither of them mention Ivan, but the rest-the contract and deed-Ludwig’s message-the lies-spills out. There’s some guilt there, on Matthew’s part, about the failure of the hall and the lies, but some of that guilt is eased because he gets letters from the dancers with news from the city.
One dancer tells him that Ludwig is using all his power to get them all jobs. Some as flower girls, other as laundresses, one even as a servant in a good household. Another dancer tells him about the dance hall being bought and torn down. No one knows who the buyer is. Yet another dancer tells him about Ludwig working with Feliciano at the tiny Vargas fruit stand. Supposedly, there’s much giggling going on about that one, mainly because none of the dancers knew Ludwig could look so cute when he blushed-or that he could blush at all.
For the lies, Matthew tries to apologize, only once. Francis kisses him and says, “Do not be sorry. You did what you thought right.” When Matthew starts again, Francis goes, “It was for love.” Matthew cannot argue with that and the matter gets washed away, forgotten, in light of better issues, like breakfast and visiting Alfred and Arthur and possession of sides of the bed.
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
I've never seen Moulin Rouge. I'm going to make sure to change that thanks to your fic. I FREAKIN' LOVED IT! Franada FTW <3 Thank you for such a lovely and delicious fic!
*One person starts the applause by slowly clapping, and as more people join in, it gets louder and louder until it becomes a standing ovation, complete with whistles, cheers, and people throwing bouquets of roses at you.*
Re: [Part 3] Of Whores and Lovers (Moulin Rouge!AU with Franada, USUK, GerIta) (12/12)
anonymous
July 1 2011, 19:22:07 UTC
I love Moulin Rouge and I love this version of it. I adored the ending and how different it was but with still the same elements of it, like Alfred's collapse during the play. But how everyone found their own endings was wonderful. I throughly enjoyed this fill.
Re: [Part 3] Of Whores and Lovers (Moulin Rouge!AU with Franada, USUK, GerIta) (12/12)
anonymous
July 17 2011, 13:25:21 UTC
afdjdgdkghdhlfsf am watching moulin rouge for the first time as i read this and GOD AUTHOR ANON YOU SO DID NOT RAPE THE MOVIE, THIS WAS BRILLIANT, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY BRILLIANT <3
so much love for you, author anon, and the ending made me go 'd'awww'. thank you so much for writing this, i loved every single bit :D
It’s growing dark. The buzz from the cheap wine is gone already and he can see the lights of the dance hall in the distance. He wants to jump into the Seine, like any good romantic hero, but…the lights of the dance hall are like stars.
His heart is still beating, somehow. Perhaps…perhaps…
Money is the only thing that matters? (But something…something is wrong. He doesn’t know what, but something is very very wrong.) There is money still left in his pocket.
Francis lets the empty bottle drop to the gutter and makes his way along the street.
no words in the vernacular can describe this great event
Matthew watches as Alfred coughs into his hand for a moment and pushes aside the curtain, stepping onto the stage. The music starts and he leans against the dresser, waiting out the scene. He feels…empty, hollowed-out. Alfred is dying and Francis is gone. He thinks he should be crying and maybe he will, once some time has passed, but now he only feels…distant.
A hand grabs his arm, spins him around, and that distance is suddenly gone, all the hurt flaring anew. Francis does not look happy. “Ah, mon cher, the play looks like it is going wonderfully.” There is an attempt at a smile, but Matthew’s only thinking Ivan Ivan Ivan.
Matthew takes a step back, out of Francis’s space. “You need to go. Right now.” He actually sounds firm, for once, but that doesn’t matter because Ivan can be anywhere.
“No,” Francis admonishes lightly, as if this is some game. “I need to pay.”
Matthew takes a break from his search to go, “What? Pay?” He needs to get Francis out of here.
With a grim smile, Francis digs in one coat pocket. He produces a handful of notes with a flourish. “You said that only money matters. Here, then, is your money.”
Matthew’s hands are weak and shaky as he tries to push the notes away. “No, no…” But he can’t get the rest of the words out. He can’t say anything about how the money really doesn’t matter, how this is all a lie, how Francis needs to go before he dies.
“And,” Francis starts with that same grim smile, “I have more.” More notes get pulled out. Francis leans in close and Matthew curls his fingers into his palm, hard, as a distraction, in order not to lean right back in Francis’s space. “Be with me,” Francis breathes. His eyes are bright. “It is not as much as this investor, no, but I-”
Matthew squirms out of the too-comfortable space. “No. No, I don’t want your money.” His eyes are not on Francis anymore, but searching searching searching. He knows Ivan’s somewhere backstage, but where? “I want you gone.”
He sees Francis flinch from the corner of his eye. “I will-”
Matthew turns away and blinks as the world goes all blurry. “No! Just…just go. Now.”
For one moment, it seems like Francis really is going to give in and Matthew’s heart breaks all over again.
Then he hears the cocking of a gun.
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I will love you until the end of time
Ivan the investor is pointing a gun at him. The man’s smile is small and cruel. “So, you are the one, yes?” The dark eyes go up, down, up. “I thought you would be…more.” There is a dismissal in his tone that has Francis sneering, but then Matthew is moving, speaking.
“Please, Ivan.” He slides a step, two. “I didn’t tell him to come here. H-he’s only…only an idiot. I just want you.” He slides another step, so that he’s between the gun and Francis. “Please.”
Ivan stares blankly at Matthew for a moment. Then his smile widens. “If you just want me, then you will move, dorogoi. Then he can be gone.”
Things are clicking together too easily, too fast, for Francis’s liking. Everything snaps into place when Matthew shakes his head. “Put the gun away and…and I’ll come with you.”
Francis wants to interrupt, but all his words, all his poetry, are lodged in his throat. He wants to shake Matthew.
Ivan’s smile becomes brittle. “Move, Matthew,” he orders. “He must be gone for us to be one.”
Shaking his head again, Matthew goes, “No.” It’s a simple enough word, but it is conflict, disobedience, and rebellion.
The brittle smile snaps, and then there is just frightening blankness facing them. “He must be gone, Matthew. Do you want to be gone too? For him?”
Matthew lifts his chin. “I-I would.”
Darkness descends on Ivan’s expression. “Goodbye, dorogoi.” Ivan shoots, there’s a bang, and Matthew falls to the floor as fire rips through Francis’s shoulder. Black spots start dancing across his vision as he stumbles, falls. He can see Matthew, just out of his reach. There’s blood pooling beneath his still body.
Ivan the investor watches them for a second, expression childishly, cruelly, curious. Then he sighs to himself and turns away. There’s the creak of floorboards as he walks away, the last glimpse of his coattails, and he’s gone, as if he has never been.
Francis takes a staggering step and falls instead. Matthew…Matthew…Matthew is right beyond his fingertips. The last of his strength fades and his hand drops to the ground.
Beyond the curtains, the music comes to a screeching halt and the screams begin.
Reply
The dance hall closes. The combination of Ivan removing his funds and the play turning into a complete disaster means that Ludwig cannot support the hall anymore.
Really, it would not matter anyway. Alfred’s on-stage collapse caused scandalous whispers of diseases and many of the patrons would not have stepped foot in the hall for some time. Arthur, now stuck in his inherited home instead of the city, grumbles (good-naturedly) about Alfred living there; the doctors say the country air is doing the former-dancer good.
He may actually have a chance.
Francis is stuck in bed for a while. They’re a pair, one not allowed to move from bed, the other not allowed to move his arm. Matthew laughs and says that it’s only one arm so he’s better off.
Neither of them mention Ivan, but the rest-the contract and deed-Ludwig’s message-the lies-spills out. There’s some guilt there, on Matthew’s part, about the failure of the hall and the lies, but some of that guilt is eased because he gets letters from the dancers with news from the city.
One dancer tells him that Ludwig is using all his power to get them all jobs. Some as flower girls, other as laundresses, one even as a servant in a good household. Another dancer tells him about the dance hall being bought and torn down. No one knows who the buyer is. Yet another dancer tells him about Ludwig working with Feliciano at the tiny Vargas fruit stand. Supposedly, there’s much giggling going on about that one, mainly because none of the dancers knew Ludwig could look so cute when he blushed-or that he could blush at all.
For the lies, Matthew tries to apologize, only once. Francis kisses him and says, “Do not be sorry. You did what you thought right.” When Matthew starts again, Francis goes, “It was for love.” Matthew cannot argue with that and the matter gets washed away, forgotten, in light of better issues, like breakfast and visiting Alfred and Arthur and possession of sides of the bed.
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Reply
*One person starts the applause by slowly clapping, and as more people join in, it gets louder and louder until it becomes a standing ovation, complete with whistles, cheers, and people throwing bouquets of roses at you.*
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I was freaking out that it would not end well, I was SO SCARED. Thank you so much for the wonderful happy ending. Oh law. this was brilliant.
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so much love for you, author anon, and the ending made me go 'd'awww'. thank you so much for writing this, i loved every single bit :D
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