Our Story

“Everyone! Attention!” James shouted loudly, making Remus cringe the most. The group looked up suddenly, all curious eyes landing on Remus, then James for an answer.

“Oi, who would this pretty little boy be?”

Remus blushed, looking down at his suitcase in hand as James rubbed his shoulder.

“I’d like you all to meet my co-writer and our new tenant…uhm…” James looked at Remus for help, realizing he forgot Remus’s name.

“Remus. R-Remus Lupin.” Remus stuttered.

The gang looked at each other, then back at James with new expressions. Smiles and laughs graced their faces as James smirked and began calling out their names.

“Jason, Alan, and Gary my three mates who do most the editing. Then, Lily and Tonks, two lovely ladies who do most the acting with the female and male dances down at Sinners Club.” James winked at the two girls sitting side by side at the table, both glaring at James when he mentioned the club.

“It’s not called that, you dimwit.” The red head who smiled when James called her Lily spoke out, crossing her thin arms over her chest. “It’s The Moulin Rouge.”

“Sinners Club.” James looked at Remus. “Anywho, Remus here is a writer!”

All five looked up at Remus again, making the man blush and feel stupid. James didn’t seem to notice.

_

James didn’t seem to notice anything that didn’t pertain to him. The talented writer was full of energy and questions when I first saw the script titled, Spectacular! Spectacular! A play that was about a lovely princess who has to choose between a rich, noble man and a penniless sitar player. It had action, drama, and romance, it was beautiful really.

But, like James had told me before, he lacked the skill to do sentences that made sense. The so called editors didn’t seem to be much held, more so just being there for money. James needed my help desperately and I was interested to hear the ending.

_

“Of course she’ll pick the penniless sitar player. She loves him, not that old filthy pathetic excuse of a man.” Lily leaned back against the wall, the skirt of his colorful dress surrounding her thin body. It had many frills and looked kind of uncomfortable to be in at the moment, but she didn’t seem to mind. Tonks had a similar dress on, both claimed to be leaving soon, but wanted to hang around a bit longer.

“Lily my dear, you are very…good brained for a can-can dancer.” James smirked, fixing the scarf around his neck.

“Thank you, James.” Lily rolled her eyes. “Well, we must be going. The show starts in less than a half hour.” Lily got up, flipping her long red head in the process and helping Tonks up.

“You boys coming?” Tonks flirted with Remus, trailing a hand along his shoulder and fluttering her eyelashes. “It’ll be quit a show.”

“Oh, no. Me and Remus-”

“Remus and I.” Remus smiled at James.

“Remus and I, have lots of work to do! After all, Remus will be presenting this to Master Malfoy.” James said to Lily and Tonks who just shrugged their shoulders and walked out with a brisk train of goodbyes.

“Master?” Remus laughed, watching James look over an edited page of his work.

“Yep, biggest asshole you’ll ever meet.” James bit his finger nail, “This is good stuff.”

“You wrote it, James. I just edited it so it makes sense.” Remus bit lip bottom lip, thinking about this ‘master’.

“Why is he the biggest asshole?” Remus laughed, feeling silly about the words.

_

James looked around the room as if a Russian spy were about to jump out at him. The look of relaxation had left him completely as he got ready to tell me the story of Lucius Malfoy.

_

“He’s merciless.” James sat cross legged about a foot away from Remus, his eyes full of intense seriousness. “He doesn’t care who he hurts. He doesn’t care who lives and who dies. He doesn’t care if you’re the blessed Pope. If you mess with Lucius Malfoy’s things, things get real ugly, real fast. The man is crazy, but he’s got the funding money we need to make this happen…and to make Sirius a real actor. And my precious Lily an actress, because I can’t have my two favorite people sleeping around for the rest of their lives.”

Remus stared back at James, expecting him to laugh and joke about lying. But, James just looked down at his work in his lap and began scribbling words in the empty spaces.

“Last time I presented something to him…it didn’t go so well.” James said calmly.

Remus blinked before sitting back and glancing out the open window, the night getting older as they sat there. Lights from the Moulin Rouge were flashing brightly, drunks making their way nosily down the street towards it. Remus was entranced by it, barely listening to James as he spoke.

“He gave me a nasty bruise on my leg.” James laughed lightly, subconsciously rubbing below his knee. Remus looked down at where James held his hand, then back up towards his eyes. “He whacked me across the face with his stupid “pimp” cane, thank god that didn’t scar. Then while I was down he kept whacking my leg with it, the stupid prat.” James sighed, still writing. “It wasn’t so bad, could’ve been worse…I could’ve been treated like.” James looked past Remus, “…never mind.” James stood up and walked to stand by the window..

“Like who?” Remus thought aloud, also getting up and joining James by the window.

“Nobody, just you know trying to compare myself to someone…but lost the thought.” James nodded his, looking out at the windmill glittered with letters.

“Oh…” Remus dropped the subject, but still thought about the look James had in his eyes when he said it.

_

James didn’t look like himself when spoke of Lucius Malfoy, it was like he transformed into another person. Someone more serious, who didn’t mess around when it came to this man. It was almost like Lucius had control over him even when he wasn’t around, and frankly it scared the living piss out of me. I didn’t want that look in my eye when I spoke of him, I wasn’t going to be controlled by a man with money.

Lucius Malfoy, master of the underworld and owner of The Moulin Rouge was funding the play for James and his friends. He told me he did it mostly for Lily Evans, the beautiful red head who danced as a can-can dancer. If she slept with other men like the other men, I don’t know…it was expected though. By the way James spoke of her and the job, I believe she did. But, I don’t believe it was willing. Lily seemed more like a lady than a whore, and that I was a hundred percent correct on.

_

“Alright Lupin.” James clapped his hands, walking away from the window. “If you’re going to stay here without paying a dime, you have responsibilities.” James smirked, rubbing his hands together.

“Please don’t tell me I have to wash your clothes.” Remus pouted, feeling comfortable with James.

“Don’t give me ideas, my friend.” James smiled. “No, but you will be picking up supplies such as paper for the typewriters, ink refills, food, and whatever else I want. I’ll give you the money, all you have to do is walk to the nearest store and buy it.” James lifted an eyebrow, waiting for Remus’s response.

“Alright.” Remus shrugged his shoulders, thinking it wasn’t so bad. “One question.” Remus lifted a finger.

“And?”

“Where are the shops?”

James laughed, “I’ll show you in the morning. Until then, sleep my friend we have a lot of work to do in the morning!” James smiled, grabbing Remus’s suitcase off the floor and leading him off to his room.

Remus was awed by his new room, his own personal room. No fancy drapes or pristine glass vases decorating the room. It was dirty, in need of new bed sheets, and a good sweep…Remus loved it already.

“Wow.” He sighed heavily, getting a glance from James.

“I’m sorry, but it’s all we have left.” James scratched the back of his head in thought. “Maybe I can kick out the other guy…”

“No! No, it’s fine. I like it…I can see The Moulin Rouge from here.” Remus smiled, walking over to his window.

He was a floor above James, really over looking Paris. Remus didn’t know why, but he loved it more than his own view. He looked up, looking to pull down the window to stop the chilling breeze from coming through.

“Oh, yeah…I’ll look into buying you a new window…We kind of broke it.” James half smirked, looking almost sorry. “I’ll kick out the other guy, I swear. He’s greasy and annoying anyway. I’ll make him stay here.”

“James.” Remus smiled. “Its fine, I’ll live…”

“But, it’s cold out.” James frowned, “At least stay in my room until the weather gets warmer? Just to sleep?” James offered just as a violent rush of wind came through, making Remus think twice about it.

“Alright…but just to sleep!” Remus smiled, following James after grabbing a change of clothes from his case. “And I’m not rubbing your feet.”