video; un: R

[winecasks]

[ Grantaire is where he usually is, huddled off with his wine in the corner of a tavern somewhere in Wyver. He doesn’t seem to be too far into this endeavor, considering he’s plenty eloquent when he decides to make a speech to the network.

It’s less than rousing. It's mostly complaints. ]

All this talk of politics has made me weary, friends. To be frank, I hardly understand it at all. I have listened. I drink, it’s true, but I listen. My ears are far better than my eyes or my memory, and no one ever tunes their conversation to exclude the fellow enjoying his drink in the corner.

[ This much seems to be true, given how he’s been rambling at length and no one has bothered to silence him. There’s chatter in the background as people enjoy their own conversations, separate from him as he drinks from the bottle. ]

I have heard things. Things about how the first to wake were welcomed gladly by Olympia, and others still were welcomed by Wyver later on. My ears are fine and well, I assure you, but my mind is perhaps foggy. It cannot comprehend what happened to create this change. Politics. Surely that is the only answer. It always is.

[ He rolls his eyes, taking another drink. ]

Well, I’ll not partake in any of it. I have no love for one city over another, no love for a king over an empress. I do not disdain monarchy, though I do not disdain those who do. I simply disdain politics. Tell me why I should choose one side or another, or why I should change my mind on the matter.

Comments

[fiendennor]

Those who insist on detaching themselves from the workings of the world are still affected by it.

[winecasks]

[ That rings oddly true. Grantaire detached himself from the political workings of the Revolution back home, not truly believing in them, but he placed himself close to the people involved, thus affecting him greatly by proxy.

Still, he merely gives a vague smile, showing no sign that he realizes this at all. ]

Mademoiselle, are politics the workings of the world? I was not aware. I lived my entire life with no political beliefs. I intend to live it once more very much the same.

[fiendennor]

The sum total? No. But they very much affect them.

An autocrat declares war on a neighboring nation. Are those who do not follow politics exempt from conscription or immune to bombs? A parliament raises the taxes on tobacco. Do those who prefer to remain ignorant not have to pay the extra amount?

Whatever you choose to believe, these things do happen. All you're doing is ceding control.

[winecasks]

More politics. The very word exhausts me.

[ He sighs. Is he complaining? Just a little bit. ]

Perhaps I am not immune, but who is truly immune from anything? Do we not all catch fever from time to time? Do we not all starve when we’ve gone too long without food? Life is merely to die, after all. Why should we not all be miserable to the very end? If I believed, I would be no less miserable than I am now.

[fiendennor]

[A sigh in return.] Such a nihilistic point of view. In that case, why do anything? Why not stay in bed and do nothing until you starve?

The fact that you're up and active and talking to people means you don't truly believe that.

My point stands: Detaching from politics only means that you have no say in the things that happen to you.

[winecasks]

[ He tries, on some days. He languishes in bed and wonders why he should bother getting up at all. Sometimes he simply doesn’t. ]

One can never say what I may do tomorrow.

[ He smiles his usual sad smile as he drink from the bottle. ]

Does believing in politics offer you any more say? Politicians are the only ones with any control here, mademoiselle. It’s an unfortunate fact of life—as most facts of life are, it seems.

[fiendennor]

It means that I have a say. As do others. And in any sort of democracy, sometimes my beliefs may not be that of the majority. But I can try to convince others of my viewpoint via discussion and debate. Will I, or any other, always get our way? Of course not; that would be a child's view of things. But ignoring it completely means that I will have no say.

[winecasks]

You are well spoken. My own tongue trips, unfortunately. I find it difficult to get a word out, at times.

[ He smiles. The irony isn’t lost on him, but he genuinely does admire how well spoken Diana is for her presumed age. Unfortunately, he’s so negative, he simply can’t agree with her. ]

It seems we were meant to disagree. I've lost far too many friends whose passions and beliefs were as loud as thunder, but fell upon deaf ears. I’m content with having no say.

[fiendennor]

My mother was an accomplished mediator. I can only hope to have her silver tongue someday. And perhaps it's that bottle that your tongue is tripping over.

[It's a gently spoken criticism, but a firm one.]

If your wish is to have no say, then that is your wish. It also means you cede your right to complain about the results.

[winecasks]

[ He only smiles politely and takes another drink from the bottle. Yes, he would probably speak more eloquently without it, but it’s clear that he relies heavily upon alcohol. ]

I have no complaints. My only complaint is of politics in general. I would prefer to speak of other things. Of home, of history, of the cities without their leaders’ names attached to every sentence.