(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk137/HaibaneR/Monaco/Characters/Avatars/PauletteAvatar.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">PAULETTE LISETTE SAINT-SIMON</span></span><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Darya's yacht,<em>The Galaxy</em><br/><strong>With:</strong>Her master, Dr. Okello Okanjo; Matti Groves; the audience<br/><br/>Paulette finished the song and stood silently for a moment.  She saw the change in Dr. Okanjo's expression and wondered if he was truly seeing something more in her than just a slave to be used.  Not that she deserved any better for her guilt still pursued her with fiery wings.  Looking out at the audience she noted that several of them at least recognized her and she fought the urge to hang her head in shame.  No... part of her punishment was to absorb the humiliation.<br/><br/>She looked over at Matti as he squeezed her hand.  Paulette met his eyes for a moment and then lowered them even as she flashed a faint smile.  She nodded to him as he called out their next song.  Paulette had started in small venues with a single accompanist so she was familiar with entertaining in this fashion.<br/><br/>Paulette stood, swaying slightly as the music washed over her and the words moved through the air like something alive.  They captured her emotions, her attitude so perfectly that she wondered if this man knew her situation or could read her mind.  Yet those thoughts were fleeting as she was swept away by the chords.  Joining in on the second chorus she let her voice join Matti's, keeping herself in her lower register to match the mood of the song.<br/><br/><em>Don't let yourself go<br/>'Cause everybody cries<br/>And everybody hurts sometimes</em><br/><br/>Her voice rang with emotion as it blended with Matti's.  She had found his measure during the first two songs much as he had hers and she was able to anticipate his tones and pauses.  She felt the words and channeled her feelings, the loss, the confusion and hurt into her voice.<br/><br/><em>Sometimes everything is wrong<br/>Now it's time to sing along<br/>When your day is night alone (hold on, hold on)<br/>If you feel like letting go (hold on)<br/>When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on</em><br/><br/>Paulette was back in the car wreck, her eyes misty and focused on a distant point above and beyond the glitter of the yacht and the party goers.  She slipped into the melody, letting him handle the echos and refrain.  The audience could almost taste her regret and sorrow as her actions caused the death of her lover and manager or so she believed.<br/><br/><em>Everybody hurts<br/>Take comfort in your friends.<br/>Everybody hurts<br/>Don't throw your hand. Oh, no<br/>Don't throw your hand<br/>If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone</em><br/><br/>There was incredible restraint in her voice as she hit the treble but did not turn maudlin as would be so natural with this song.  Her pacing and tone were not exactly like REM but again rather something that she wove brand new with Matti.  Paulette stepped out in front of the audience and met the eyes of those around her.  Paulette came in front of Nonami and seemed to be sharing the fear and hurt with her.<br/><br/><em>If you're on your own in this life<br/>The days and nights are long<br/>When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on</em><br/><br/>Paulette turned back and stood near Matti at the keyboard and placed a hand on his shoulder as if seeking union with him, as if melding them musically through her touch.  He could feel the emotion vibrating through her.  Her experience in the Institute vibrated through her words, the loss and hopelessness echoed and she raised her hands slightly, palms up in supplication.<br/><br/><em>Well, everybody hurts sometimes<br/>Everybody cries<br/>And everybody hurts sometimes<br/>And everybody hurts sometimes</em><br/><br/>As she moved into the refrain, toward the finale Paulette stepped out again and faced the audience.  Her eyes glistened with the intensity of her emotion.  She felt the self hate, loathing and sorrow flow through her in a twisted, black strand and leave her mouth as sounds of beauty and depth.<br/><br/><em><br/>So, hold on, hold on<br/>Hold on, hold on<br/>Hold on, hold on<br/>(Hold on, hold on)</em><br/><br/>Paulette hugged herself as she met the eyes of each and every person in the audience that would look at her.  For this moment there was no master and slave for her just the music and emotion that she channeled.<br/><br/><em>Everybody hurts<br/>You are not alone</em><br/><br/>She held the final note just briefly and then stood mutely, her arms still cross over her chest in silence.