elnysa | video; un: R

[ 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I've never met anyone with no opinion at all, to my recollection. It's almost refreshing. Your days must be so much more productive, as you're not arguing with people constantly who disagree with you.

Some people are simply better at hiding their lack of an opinion. Myself? I’ve always been a poor actor, so I don’t try.

[ Grantaire has always embraced his skepticism. It’s all he has, really. No motivation, no beliefs, and in his opinion, no real skills. ]

But people do disagree with me, I'm afraid. They disagree with the fact that I haven't found anything to believe in at all.

[ Which is a bit of a white lie. He believes in someone. ]

It seems to be the nature of people, really. Always ready to pick a fight about something. Especially when it comes to politics.

Though I'm curious -- do you think an entire governmental regime could be changed overnight, as your friend seems to?

I don’t believe what Enjolras believes.

[ He pauses, looking thoughtful. He couldn't make himself believe in his friends’ politics, even if he wanted to, but he's already contradicted himself enough in this post. He's willing to contradict himself again: ]

But I believe in Enjolras.

Ah. [His face softens into a smile, because he's reminded, in a way, of himself and Loras.]

I have a friend here, who is a knight. He's been trained in fighting since he could hold a stick. I can't fight like Ser Loras fights, in fact I hate fighting. I've been ill at the very sight of blood.

But I believe that Ser Loras could win any fight I put him in.

[ It’s easy to be drawn to what you lack. Grantaire is an excellent example. He knows how to go through the motions, knows how to speak of Robespierre and revolution and rights of the people, but he lacks Enjolras’ passion for it. He lacks passion in general, lacks motivation and ideals, but Enjolras has those things in spades. ]

Argue with him if you like, monsieur.

[ He smiles vaguely, but there’s nothing but immense fondness in his tone. ]

He’s a skilled and tireless disputant. A knight will win a fight with a sword, but Enjolras can win a battle with his words. He will listen to you, though, if your counterargument is good enough.

We seem to be going around in circles at the moment. I think our only true disagreement is in the naming of the leader.

He does like to hear himself talk, doesn't he?

You've listened as well, though, have you not?

[ Grantaire often says that Enjolras despises him. It may be true, given the way Enjolras describes Grantaire, but Grantaire is never fully dissuaded. He honestly just likes to hear Enjolras talk, even if he doesn't believe in the words he's saying.

Basically, Grantaire isn't subtle??? ]

Let him speak, monsieur. He does a fine job of it.

I have, at that.

I do plan to. I don't disagree entirely with his ideas. I'm not sure, however, that he sees that.

Is he always quite this stubborn?

He can be more stubborn.

[ Grantaire only smiles as he drinks his wine. He has an idealized picture of Enjolras, but he thinks he knows what might be happening here. ]

You’re a king, and Enjolras despises the monarchy. It was what he was working against to begin with. He may not wish to see that a king of any sort agrees with him, regardless of where you're from.

[There's something familiar in that smile. He won't comment, just share the same small, fond smile. Thinking of his own stubborn blond]

I'm curious as to how the two of you became friends, if he is so politically minded and you or not. Or perhaps that is the reason? There's a balance, there.

[ Grantaire isn’t truly aware that there’s anything strange about the way he talks about Enjolras, or the way his smile softens when he talks about him, but it’s fairly obvious that no matter what, he holds the other man in high regard.

Although— ]

There is no reason. Enjolras despises me.

[ Said with a soft, sad smile. Wow, buddy. ]

I came to meet him through a larger group of our friends, who believed in the same causes as he does still.

I am sorry to hear that. Does he know how highly you speak of him?

To me, at least, you're fighting for his cause better than he is.

[ That surprises him. He blinks, looking puzzled. ]

He can listen for himself, if he wishes to, but I'm fighting for nothing. I lack the faith and the power to fight for anything at all. As I said once before, I don't believe in the things Enjolras believes in.

[ Only in Enjolras himself. ]

Just in Enjolras. Sometimes, though, that is enough. Loras believing in me is what made me want to fight for the crown in the first place.

[ RENLY, STOP CALLING HIM OUT. So many people are calling him out in this post and it's...it's something else. It's given him entirely too much to think about, honestly. ]

I doubt the two can be compared. Your friend, Loras--he doesn't disdains you as Enjolras disdains me. Especially not if his belief in you is what caused you to fight for your crown. What great power that is. I don't possess it myself.

video; un: R

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