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

[vorrutyer]

Given the number of old men with white hair and beards like Aristotle's who told me to quit drinking, stop screwing around, and be something other than a feckless piece of shit...Not terribly likely, no.

[idealisme]

[He'd almost smile at that if he weren't so busy trying to figure out if this man could be won to the cause.]

I was four and twenty when I died.

[vorrutyer]

[ Just a little twitch of his lower eyelids at the when I died line. Just the subtlest hint of surprise. Then he's back to smiling, saying - ]

And see, that's the problem. Here, with your second shot at life, you'll have time to grow cynical yet.

[idealisme]

Pass. Grantaire has enough of that for the world, with some to spare.

[vorrutyer]

Ah...I suspected he was the clever one. That confirms it.

[idealisme]

[He scoffs audibly.]

Cynicism in the face of an imperfect world is cowardice, not intelligence

[vorrutyer]

Dear fellow, are you calling your friend a coward?

[idealisme]

He would not disagree. It takes strength to hold any kind of conviction.

[#whatagoodfriend]

[winecasks]

It's true. I do not disagree.

[ Sorry, did you think he wasn't listening? ]

[vorrutyer]

I see.

[ w o w ]

And so why is a great and noble soul like yourself still friends with him, if he's such a coward?

[idealisme]

Are you offering yourself as a replacement?

[Is Enjolras... avoiding the question????]

[vorrutyer]

You don't seem to be looking for a replacement.

[idealisme]

You might surmise that there's something objectively more important I'm looking for.

[vorrutyer]

[ As though he's been suddenly enlightened - ]

Oh! Are you two screwing?

[idealisme]

[For a moment Enjolras just stares. It's too ridiculous a thought.]


The liberation of the human race, monsieur. [That is the objectively more important thing.]

[vorrutyer]

[ HEH HEH HEH. ]

Yes, nothing better than when things get...liberated.

[winecasks]

I assure you, monsieur, he disdains me.

[ Is this helping at all? No? Little bit? ]

[vorrutyer]

Mm. And do you enjoy that disdain?

[winecasks]

No.

[ Thanks, Byerly, you're driving him to drink more. ]

I can say as surely as I say my own name that I do not.

[vorrutyer]

Well, I don't know about you, but with enough wine, I often have a bit of trouble with my name.

[winecasks]

A fair statement.

[ Really, it is, and it kind of hits a little close to home and destroys his statement just a little bit. Most of the time, so long as Enjolras is paying him some sort of mind, Grantaire is content enough with just being in his presence. He would prefer to not be completely hated, but it is what it is. ]

But your name returns to you in time, one would assume. Wine is, though I may wish otherwise, not forever.

[idealisme]

[He barely keeps a sigh in check.]

Far better to cling to the comfort of blind skepticism, where one is never in danger of disappointment or the challenge of having to act.

[vorrutyer]

Mmhm. Only - the thing is - your friend is a cynic himself, no? He doesn't seem like the sort of silly fellow who would be in it for the "liberation of the human race."

[idealisme]

[Please don't remind him that Grantaire is a waste of space who believes and does nothing at all except drink. He doesn't need to be reminded of that.]

What of it?

[vorrutyer]

So he doesn't exactly seem like the sort of man you can puppet towards carrying out your goals. And he's not sticking around for that reason.