un: French revolution ❦ video

[idealisme]

[Hello again network, here's Enjolras scowling at you from a small riverside cafe in Wyver (he's Parisian, he can always find a tiny riverside cafe). He looks like he could do with some sleep.]

We have all noticed the growing tension between the two nations. That is: Wyver and Olympia. Some of us will have been subject to hostile words and exclusion by the native citizens thereof. Is this hostility warranted? It is not. It is due to nothing but the place in which one has chosen to live.

If this were the full extent of the situation, intervention would be warranted. But I fear matters will not stop here. There may be an escalation towards violence and war. War that will benefit none but the rich and powerful and leave the poor dead or hungry.

How are we to deal with this? It is unjust. We should not stand for it. Have any reproached hostile citizens who have acted in this way? We must do so. We must also approach the leaders of these nations. Their grudges against each other cannot be used to justify escalation. If they will not yet be moved to stand down from their illegitimate positions, at least they might contain their oppression to their own peoples.

Let us discuss it. There are a great many of us, enough that these warmongering oppressors must listen if we speak. Enough that our fellow citizens must see that senseless hostility will bring them no good.

[He's optimistic about this. Faith in humanity, go.

There's a pause as he takes a drink from his tiny coffee cup, and you might think he's done-- but there's one more thing.]

There is another matter- is there someone who knows where a man might find employment? I ask that you let me know. A... friend of mine finds himself with nothing to occupy himself with but wine. It profits no one but the bartender. I'd rather see him with something useful to do. [Yes, Grantaire. He's talking about you.] I thank you.

Comments

video; un: lady

[unprays]

Your friend... is he the one that goes by "Grantaire"?

[ French revolution, reads this man's name of use, and she still remembers the strange word Grantaire called her: mademoiselle, "miss", Claire had explained later on when she'd asked. it was a French word... even though she hardly even knew what "French" meant. ]

[idealisme]

[...another young lady who knows Grantaire. (another one Enjolras would not have picked for a mistress of his, but that's none of his concern)]

Indeed. He goes by that name and is followed by a wine haze, mademoiselle. We lodge in the same rooms and knew one another before our deaths. My name is Enjolras.

[unprays]

I noticed, [ she says wryly, having no idea of Enjolras' assumptions. ] He offered me some when we met.

[ an offer she did not accept, as wine still reminds her of Cersei, of King's Landing, the sickly smell of it. she has no desire to drink wine. ]

He spoke of his friends, too, of one that was awake. That must be you, then. It is good to speak to you, Enjolras. [ from his words in the post... she can guess he is no ser, nor would he appreciate being called such. ] I am Sansa. Sansa Stark. And I would wish to help with finding better use of his time for your friend than the company of a wine bottle.

[idealisme]

[His eyebrows rise. That's an unexpected offer.] I-- thank you for your kindness, on his behalf.

[unprays]

Is it kindness, to wish a man not to drown himself in alcohol?

[ she sighs. ] He seems to have a good heart. And so would you. [ for all she doesn't share his optimism in getting the leaders to see that a war is pointless... he means well. ]

Does he have skills he could use? Anything he learned in your world?

[idealisme]

[Kindness has little to do with Enjolras' request today, but he nods all the same.]

He- [A pause follow. Enjolras has been dreading this question ever since he asked it. He has no idea what skills Grantaire may or may not have. To his mind, the man has none.] Grantaire speaks eloquently about literary matters.




[That's it. Either Grantaire has no skills or Enjolras is a bad friend who knows nothing about him. Or both.]

[unprays]

...

That's it?

[ she stares at him, incredulous. surely that can't be all? ]

[idealisme]

[With a slight frown.] When he cares to reveal more skill, I'll take note of it. If it's not on display it can't be noticed.

[unprays]

How close a friend is he to you? Friends notice talents in each other, regardless of how little they're displayed!

[ after a pause, ] Perhaps you have not looked carefully enough.

[idealisme]

In Paris he was at best a drunken nuisance, mademoiselle. I will not mislead you.

[unprays]

And yet, he told me he had many friends. When he spoke of them, he did so with affection. Do you mean to tell me all those people decided to befriend him while seeing nothing else but a drunken nuisance?

[ archly, ] You call him a friend, but it seems to me he is a better friend to you than you are to him.

[idealisme]

I cannot speak for others, only myself. [There's no pause in his reply. He stands by what he said. There's no anger in his voice, just a forceful conviction that he's in the right.]

Very well. He and I were acquaintances in our former lives. I led a group intent on bringing about political change in our nation. He was a hindrance to that purpose, and so I had little to do with him. Now he is the only one of that group awake, so we are forced together.

[unprays]

[ something in his voice reminds her of Stannis, of even her father — the kind of strong sense of belief in whatever you're saying. that it must be right. she wonders if Enjolras, too, is a man for whom honour matters more than most things. ]

... and now, you seek to make him less of a "hindrance", by finding him a job. [ yes, she's totally judging you, Enjolras. ]

For whom are you doing this? For him, or yourself? [ so that he needs not deal with someone who is a nuisance, according to him. ] I will still help, but not because you asked. I'll help because I believe there is more to him than a man with fine words and a tendency to over-drink.