Alcohol does the trick

It had been a long day's work providing entertainment for the drunken mind that crowded the night club. Eponine would never quite understand why something as simple as dancing intrigued the men so. She was oblivious to the things that went on behind closed doors, and perhaps it was a good thing she had not yet been tainted by life's impurities.

She found relief in stepping down from the stage when another dancer was ordered to take her place. How long had she been here? Her gaze went to the watch on her wrist, it was midnight. She had came into work at six pm, when the earliest of the drunkards drug themselves away from their hopeful wives to come and fulfill their own selfish desires.

Clad in a pair of heels that caused her feet to ache, (apparently it was the recommended attire requested in the job description) she headed over to the bar, although not for any sort of intoxicated beverages. She did not fancy the odd smelling drinks, although she had never once tasted any liquor. Turning down the bartender's offer for a drink, she kindly asked for a glass of water before seating herself between two men of varying qualities. 

The taste of the ice cold spring water was welcoming as she brought the glass to her lips. A soft sigh escaped her as she set the glass back on the smooth countertop, glad to have the work day over for she was tired beyond belief. She was ready to leave and head for home, that is until she felt a masculine hand upon her bare thigh. "You look good 'nuff to eat darlin'. How bout you come home with me for a rompin good time?" There was an evident southern drawl in the man's slurred voice.

Eponine found herself wrinkling her nose in disgust at the smell of whiskey on the man's breath. She gently pushed the man's hand away, feeling quite uncomfortable in response to the gesture. "I'd prefer for you to not do that, my apologies." She responded quietly, however that didn't stop the man from attempting to continue his touchy feely gesture. "Oh come on now, don't play hard to get..I'll chase you 'round the block if I have to..." Again, his hand was pushed away and the blond simply resorted to turning in her seat her back now facing the man. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the drunken southern man from quite literally breathing down her neck.

The woman shuddered at the feeling, this just wasn't natural. It wasn't in her nature to act out in aggression, or in rudeness for that matter so she simply kept quiet, hoping that perhaps the man would tire of his fruitless game. That would appear to not be the case for the man so looped his arm around the woman's waist, "Hey, look at me when I'm talkin' to ya girly." He spoke in a huff as he forcefully turned the woman to face him, much to her surprise. 

The situation had gone rather sour in a matter of minutes, Eponine was not usually one for conflict, unless backed into a corner. Due to her avian counterpart, she'd sooner take flight than fight. In this situation, however, it would appear as though she wouldn't get a chance to do either. She found herself being shoved aside as the man that had been sitting on her other side rising to her defense.

Too surprised to comment or protest, she stood their in silence only to be shoved aside and out of the way by the drunken man's hand. "Who you think you are telling me what to do? I got myself a fine woman and I ain't lettin you take her from me." He slurred, stepping forward already feeling the need to throw punches at the man. Was a moment's pleasure really worth going at each other's throats? Apparently for every drunken man, that happened to be the case.

Eponine's own slender frame had collided with one of the nearby chairs, the figure scraping her forehead, drawing blood. She looked to the two men, not quite knowing what to do. The other drunken men in the establishment simply either continued to gawk at the dancing women, or stood around the pair men cheering them on to fight harder, to go for the eyes, anything that suited their violent fantasies. "Please..conflict is not necessary.." She piped up, but her voice was drowned out by the shouting of Robert who seemed to be in some kind of drunken rage.

The man had had one too many drinks that night, if anyone else knew his background, they'd know that he was never this violent. He left the violence to his younger brother, Rhyder, as for himself? He was dubbed the smarter of the two. Robert balled up his fists and threw them towards Andrew, spitting and cursing as he went. "Dumb shit can't tell me what to do. You just want 'er all to yourself, well I ain't sharing!" He cursed, shoving his hands at Andrew's chest in efforts to push him back.

Eponine did not find any value or satisfaction in violence no matter who it pertained to, whether friend or foe. She rose to her feet and stepped in between the two for she wasn't the sort to result to being the damsel in distress. That had just become so stereotypical of modern age human women. "Stop this idiotic rage." She spoke, but her words were ignored, going out one ear and out the other. "Get outta my way." He growled, before sending a glance in Andrew's direction. "Know what? I'm leavin." He called, that is before he wrapped his fingers around Eponine's wrist and left through the back door out into the alley.

It would appear that none of the drunken men in the bar cared too call the authorities, no once Robert had left the scene they returned to their joyful banter as though nothing had happened.

There appeared to be no hope for mankind. 

When the heavy door had closed behind them, Eponine found herself wriggling free of the man's grasp. "Hey, where ya goin? Come back here!" The man called, stumbling forward as he reached for the woman again only to grasp nothing but empty air.

The woman could feel her heart beating against her chest as she dove into the comforting shadows, the shadows that would cause her to become cornered. The only way out of the dark, damp alley seemed to be through the drunken man, or above. She did not want to take the risk of harming herself trying to run past the man, nor did she want to alert anyone if she took to the skies.

Her blue eyes watched the scene carefully as the man stepped forward, and as if by some dark magic, his form morphed and changed into that of a lion. Although now, he appeared to look more hungry than lustful. "Come here you pretty little thang..I just wanna talk.." He called, his voice a mangled growl. Eponine shuddered in the shadows before forcing her own self to shift and contort into that of her griffin form. 

Her face was replaced by the likes of a white eagle, her frame becoming in the likeness of a white lion. She was a fluffy thing, although she fell short as being as magnificent as the likes of her kin. She was a  runt, standing no taller than a young child's first pony. "Stay away from me, please. This chase is futile...can't you see that? I am of no use to..." The griffin had her wings folded against her sides, but by the way she was fidgeting she seemed just about ready to take flight.

The creature's flight would be hampered quickly as the lion pushed forward, claws outstretched to rake them across one of the avian feline's wings. A flurry of now blood stained feathers fell to the ground, as the lion looked quite pleased with himself. However, the lion shifter's intoxicated rage would again be cut short as he felt claws against his own limbs causing him to cry out in surprise.

Eponine shied away from the bloodied scene, desperately wishing to fly away, but she did not want this other strange man to risk his life over her own. Phillip had done such a thing for her at one point in time, and in doing so he had lost an eye. Robert hissed in response to the chimera, but he was confused. "What the fuck are you two? What kind of shit is this? Fucking monsters." He shouted, looking from the chimera and griffin, both of fabled fantasy, yet somehow worlds apart.

The lion wasn't quite sure what to do between the likes of the two creatures, although he knew damn well that he wasn't going to fly away. The chimera was larger, more intimidating. While the griffin was smaller, and appeared to be more fragile. His gaze went for Eponine, he had set his mind upon doing away with her first. It would appear that his own sexual fantasies had been brutally cut short by the appearance of monsters, perhaps he had had one too many to drink.

Robert lunged at the white griffin again, his ivories sinking into the likes of her shoulder. The griffin cried out in response, only to finally force herself to take up the offensive, her talons grabbing the lion as she raised up on her hind paws, shoving the lion away from her. 

With a blood stained maw, the lion snorted at the griffin although he felt quite proud of the damage he had done. "Get outta my way freakshow." He growled as he glared in the direction of Andrew. "You two can walk right back into your Red Riding Hood storybook. Go sit on a wall, and I damn hope they don't put you fuckers back together again." His words made no sense, and even in this form his voice was slurred. 

Eponine shifted her weight to her other three legs, her bright blue gaze watching intently. She was gradually growing tired of being the lion's chew toy, and it was evident that she didn't want any more to do with the matter. Limping forward, she reached out with a front claw, raking it against the lion's hide. "Be gone you vile monstrosity." She voiced, her growl a mixture of something both avian and feline.  The lion appeared to be fed up with the nonsense, and deeming it not worthy he soon dragged himself out of the alley, knowing full well that he was going to have one hell of a hangover the following morning. 

Once she felt as though she was safe, the griffin forced herself to regain her human form. The wounds upon her didn't seem to bring alarm to her as she addressed the chimera. She had never seen such a creature, nor did she know of the ancient old rivalry between her kind and his own. "I am aware that you did not have to do what..you did..but I must give you my sincere thanks regardless. I am Eponine..if you do not mind, may I inquire of your name?" She asked softly, although her words came slow as though she was gradually becoming tired.

i'm not the only one- sam smith

Fear him? Eponine tilted her head slightly to the side, wondering if perhaps the beast was joking but there wasn't any hint of humor in his voice. "Fear you? Why would I ever do such a thing?  Do you fear me? I am quite the oddball." She cracked the smallest of smile to further prove that her words were sincere.

She stepped forward and gently brushed her fingers against the chimera's muzzle. "I am of Griffin blood, you are of Chimera blood? You did not have to jump to my aid like you did, but I greatly appreciate your valiant heart, Andrew. Thank you." Her blue eyes studied the creature, as though marveling in his uniqueness. She was ignorant to the supposed hatred between her kind and his, and even if she knew? She'd probably still disregard such childish boundaries.

Casting her attention towards her injured shoulder, she frowned. She could feel the pain etching up from her spine where her wings normally would have formed when she shifted. Luckily, she was a strong individual and typically refused to reveal her weaknesses to others, it was a dog eat dog world out there after all. "But if you would like to accompany me to my humble abode, you may. I would greatly enjoy the company on this dark night.  However, that is only if you do not have important matters to attend to, Andrew." She spoke softly before stepping forward towards the end of the alley way, that is before her knees buckled underneath her and she dropped to the ground without any form of warning, out cold.