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

video; un: highgarden

[antleredcrown]

I am rather new myself, and having been a king before I arrived here -- before my untimely death, as it were -- I suppose I'm a bit biased towards a monarchy.

But I also have seen how easily it can fail, and fall, from a very intimate point of view.

I think a king should listen to his people and take their opinions into account. I think a king should rule with love and respect, and not fear or death. I think any king -- or empress for that matter -- who fails to do so will at some point fail their people.

video, un: revolution

[idealisme]

[He can't help replying. There are just too many ex- kings in this land.]

Fine-sounding words in theory. Would you follow through in practice? [His tone suggests he thinks this man wouldn't.]

[antleredcrown]

I would, wholeheartedly. Please believe me when I say I'm not trying to be a braggart, but you seem the sort to demand proof. Where I am from, there was the centre of power on the Iron Throne, and then smaller kingdoms that surrounded it. The centre of power had the final say in most things, and it was the Throne's job to take care of the smaller kingdoms. My brother sat one the Iron Throne for many years, and when he died and his power passed to his son, a ruthless despot with a mind only for violence and more power, I sought to challenge him for it. It was because I knew he could not rule with a kind hand, because he would only seek more power through terrorizing his people that I wished to take the throne from him. I myself had a smaller position of power, but I loved my people dearly. Took pains to make certain that their lives under my rule were good ones. I don't believe in ruling through fear or violence, and I never did so myself.

[idealisme]

Replace a bad king with a good one? How noble of you, monsieur.

[He's seen that happen before and there's a bitter undercurrent to his voice. Two years still wasn't enough time to forgive the Bourbon Restoration.]

[antleredcrown]

[Renly sighs and rubs at his forehead, because he recognizes that tone all too well.]

Would that I could overthrow an entire governmental system that spans seven kingdoms and has lasted centuries in one fell swoop. Revolutions start by replacing a bad king with a good one. Then slowly that good king will make changes that are better for the people. And hopefully, with the right systems in place, the next king will be even better, make more changes.

Governments cannot change overnight. It takes time.

[idealisme]

Time is how oppressors hold on to their power. A crisis prevents it now, but as soon as it is done, they say, they'll step down.

But it is never time, in my experience.

video | un: stormsend

[bruxisms]

Joffrey was not Robert's trueborn son. He was an abomination born of incest. I was the rightful king.

[ it is something that still stings to this day. even if the "Stannis Baratheon" that he knew was slightly different, Renly was still Renly. ]

If you truly cared about your people, then you would have done your duty to your elder brother and your rightful king.

[ while this may not be the Renly that he had raised, and the Stannis that this Renly knew ended up as a madman... duty is still duty. ]

[antleredcrown]

I'm honestly not sure why we all pretended not to know. Or at least, most everyone knew in my version of reality. Which Ser Loras has explained to me is why our memories seem to differ.

The Stannis I knew was a man bewitched by a cult, he was not fit to rule and too stubborn to step aside. I did what I felt was my duty.

[bruxisms]

I was the only one who had seemed to figure out the truth of the matter, though I lacked proof, as you were quick to point out to me.

[ though he supposes their experiences were still different. ]

Your duty is to follow your elder brother, even when he remains a fool. I followed Robert, even when he bankrupted the realm and mocked me to my face. I would expect you to do the same.

[ he knew what eventually happened to that Westeros' Stannis. and it fills him with dread. yet he is not that man. he will not be that man. ]

Laws should be made of iron, brother.

video; un: flowerknight

[triplerose]

[ And Loras can't resist replying, much the same. He recalls having maybe spoken to this man before about the existence of good and kind kings. ]

You speak of things you've never seen. I can more than bear witness to his kindness to his people. His people loved him, as he did them.

[idealisme]

[The recognition is mutual. Enjolras can respect that this man is passionate about his beliefs, but can't help but think his sorely misled.]

A man may love his people and be loved by them, I can accept that. But it's not that I protest. His kingship itself is oppressive.

[triplerose]

But there must be someone in place to maintain order.

[idealisme]

Why must it be a king? Men are not infants that they need one man to rule over them. Men can come together and choose their own rulers - rulers who are accountable to the people and who can be removed from power if they fail in their duties.

video | un: stormsend

[bruxisms]

The "Renly Baratheon" I knew would have not. I know not of this one. But considering that he still remained incapable of doing his duty to his elder brother, I would wager that it would be much the same.

[ as to monarchy... ]

The law must be absolute.

[idealisme]

[The law. He scoffs.]

What law do you speak of, monsieur? That of the rights of men and citizens? Then I agree. The rights of men must be absolutely respected and upheld.

[bruxisms]

Men may be fickle, but the law remains absolute. As such, it must govern all others.

[ he wouldn't be bffs with Javert at all... ]

[idealisme]

Which law, monsieur? Natural laws may be universal, but breaking those leads to natural punishment.

The law in this land is different to the one in both our homes, I assume. Which of those three laws supersedes the others?

private video; un: flowerknight

[triplerose]

It would seem that we finally agree on something, Lord Baratheon. You do not know this "Renly Baratheon" - [ and he mimics Stannis' own tone with the words ] - and so it would seem that the respectable thing would be to withhold your opinions of him. He was to have good council.

[bruxisms]

A traitor remains a traitor, whether the man who he is usurping is fit to rule or not. He should have done his duty to his brother, assuming the terms that he was offered were similar to mine own.

[ he would have named Renly his heir. it had seemed appropriate enough, after all. ]

From what I have seen, he does not seem all that different from the Renly that I had once knew. He smiles to men's faces, but what does he say behind their backs? Would he mock a girl of no more than ten for circumstances beyond her control?

[ he knew what men said about Shireen. yet somehow, knowing his own brother had joined in the japes only made it worse. ]

[triplerose]

[ That gives Loras a cause for silence. It's evident by his expression that he seems offended at the notion. ]

I will admit that he can be rather clueless, and often times blunt or unfairly teasing. [ And certainly he and Renly have shared teasing remarks between one another about others, but nothing, Loras thinks, that might be crass. ] But I can't imagine he'd be so tactless.

[winecasks]

[ By the time Grantaire responds, he looks a little frazzled by the multiple reactions to Enjolras’ response to this man’s response. No matters, though. He’ll merely listen in as he always does and try to follow along. He can make his own response, separate of the others. ]

I have no opinion on monarchy, monsieur, as I have said. It can continue to exist or crumble to dust and it would make no difference to me. A kindly king or a wicked king, empress, queen, emperor, whichever may exist. It matters little to me.

[ He’s holding quite firmly to this. ]

How did you die, monsieur? Was it of boredom due to all the politics?

[antleredcrown]

For the crown. Because I opposed a man I thought would be an ill fit for it, and he had dangerous friends.

[winecasks]

Ah, so it was politics.

[ There isn't cruelty in his voice, no mockery. It’s a light jape, but his expression is soft and understanding. His friends died for their beliefs as well. ]

You and Enjolras might find common ground, if you were not a king yourself.

[antleredcrown]

I have noticed he does not take kindly to kings. I find it interesting that you are almost as indifferent as he is impassioned.

Though you seem more open to other opinions.

[winecasks]

It was the monarchy that he fought against when we were at home. One king is the same as another, in his eyes.

[ Grantaire lacks passion. He tries, but he can’t find something he loves nearly as much as watching Enjolras soar far higher than he has ever been capable of. ]

But myself, I can only be open to other opinions, for I have none of my own.