elnysa | un: French revolution ❦ video

[It's a day or so since he's arrived in Wyver and you'd think Enjolras might have something to say about the advanced technology, the breath-taking scenery, the ravenous creatures all determined to eat everyone-]

The honor of nations consists in being free and virtuous, in striking down tyrants and avenging reviled humanity.

[-or not.

You might mistake the age of the fiery-eyed young blond, he looks so young, except there's a gravity in his voice as he speaks and a serious set to his brow.]

I do not know you, fellow citizens, nor you me. I will introduce myself. My family name is Enjolras. I have five and twenty years and before the Storm I was a student of law in Paris.

We are from different lands, have lived different lives, pursued different goals- but now we are all here. If this is to be our home now, so be it. The Natha in their Space Ship have saved us and brought us to live here. So we shall live; we must. There are some forces against which men cannot fight and this must be one of them.

But there are other matters against which we must stand. There are, in this land, two names that are an affront to anyone who would be free. Two names that, by their very existence, threaten the life we are to lead here. They are the very antithesis of everything towards which free people strive, as they stand in the way of free people ruling themselves.

These names are 'king' and 'empress'.

[He doesn't have time to go into why these things are terrible. It's disconcerting to speak to no-one, to have no response. But he expects others will respond and it is to them directly that he plans to make his arguments. He has seen other conversations on the network, approved of this free and open means of communication. He'll use it for himself.]

There are some of you who have been awake longer than I. It may be that I am wrong in my assumptions. The names king and empress may be different from the titles I was familiar with in my former life. I can only hope it is so. I welcome all details you have. If you fear speaking of such things publicly I am willing to meet in person to exchange information.

[He gives a formal nod and cuts the feed.]

[It's been less than a week someone tell him to chill out.]

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[Okay. He's just going to accept that what this woman says for now and not think about the magic or the witches or the turning people to stone.

He has more important points to make.]

And finding a new king was the only recourse open to the people. They could not remove her themselves by rising against her? The witch would have little to be ruler of if all the people turned against her.

She turned people to stone.

And the National Guard, against whom I fought, killed those who did not support the king. That is how a tyrant remains in power.

[He stops himself before saying better for all to be stone that slaves. That's something on which he and his friends have disagreed. Without them here he must moderate his own arguments, as much as he dislikes it.]

How did the filling of the throne overcome the witch, then?

Oh, sir, I have been to war. Watching a man die and watching a man turn to stone is quite different.

[She pauses.]

Although I would never suggest that one is kinder than the other.

The two kings, and two queens, they came and led the people against her. And brought spring.

[It irks him, prickles under his skin to hear this tale of kings and queens saving the people. It reeks of Royalist propaganda.]

And were these kings and queens better than the people? Why did they succeed where the people could not? Magic again?

[The more he hearts of it, the more he dislikes magic.]

Because they inspired the people. Because they put themselves in danger to save their kingdom.

[ Grantaire has been lurking in…literally all of these conversations, with vague interest. Enjolras doesn’t really need his comments, but…well, who else is going to explain that this is just the way he’s always been? ]

I beg that you do not judge him too harshly, mademoiselle. His passion for such matters has never and will never waver.

It is quite all right, sir. I am most assuredly unoffended, for passion is one of the great hallmarks of well intentioned men.

You do see him well, then. Your minds seem well matched. Though your opinions--

[ He waves a hand dismissively, though he smiles kindly. ]

Forever separated by a wall of opposition. He will listen to you, as he does now, but his mind will not be changed.

Yes, so I have gathered.

Nor, I can only guess, will yours. How dedicated you both are.

[ Grantaire has never been dedicated to a cause or an opinion like this. He's just a devoted bystander, but he enjoys listening in on this conversation even if he takes no side. ]

And your name, sir?

Know me as Grantaire. And you, mademoiselle?

Lucy.

A pleasure.

[ He can see Enjolras proving him right with his inability to give it a rest, but he isn't going to boast about it. ]

This place you come from sounds unreal. I have to force myself not to question such things, but it is maddeningly difficult. A witch who turned people to stone? Such things don’t exist where Enjolras and I come from.

[ His tone isn’t mocking. He does seem quite interested. It’s just difficult for him to remain so skeptical here when it’s all he’s known for so long. ]

What a terrible fate that must be, turned to stone.

Yes! My own brother was so deeply at risk of it that we were quite afraid that it had already happened.

And if it makes such a thought easier, such magic is unimaginable to me, outside of the White Witch.

And someone who was not a king or queen could not have done so.

[Look, he's just Very Adamant that someone else probably could have saved Narnia.]

I did not know you were there, sir.

How is it two kings and two queens are the only ones who may inspire a nation? I do not understand it.

And why should they not?

Why should the people not? You relegate any in the nation with bravery and passion to nothingness when you raise a king or queen above them in such a way.

Any man may fight. Any man may resist a tyrant and inspire others. Why must he fail only because he is not royalty?

Am I telling you what happened. And in a way, did the people not choose their rulers, in this situation, then?

[His lips purse, as it seems their conversation is going in circles.

The magic in the situation sets him off kilter, which he does not like. He takes a breath, then another. Not for the first time he wishes his friends were here. Combeferre to put a calming hand on his shoulder, Coufeyrac to bring the conversation about to to somewhere more productive. These are things Enjolras needs them for.

(But he has Grantaire, who he sees has replied).]

I will think on what you have said, mademoiselle. This talking in circles benefits neither of us.

I do agree, and I most hope you do think on it.

For whatever you may think, I do understand what you say. A good leader should think of their people, first.

The people should be first, yes. For without the people, there is no nation.

[It chafes at him, not to press further. There is more to be said.]

un: French revolution ❦ video

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un: R; pls excuse my clearly very necessary threadjack

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