video; @unchained

[hedonistic]

[There video opens to a beautiful scene of a sunset at the Fishing District, sky painted in magnificent pinks and oranges that reflect against the pristine ice. A few moments later, a young man's voice accompanies it, tinged with the telltale slurring of someone who's rather drunk.]

Hey, question.

[A pause hangs in the air for a minute, almost long enough that one might wonder if he's gotten distracted or forgotten.]

Did you like your life, before the Storm? [. . .] If the Natha gave you a chance to go back, would any of you stay here?

[Kagari doesn't miss Japan. He doesn't feel homesick. He misses his friends, sure, but he's had more in the past nine months than he did in the twenty-one years before it. But he's starting to feel like the only one.]

Comments

[idealisme]

[He isn't wrong but-] The same problem afflicts us here, you might have noticed.

[hedonistic]

Yeah, but these aren't your kings. It's less personal.

[idealisme]

Not my king? Not my empress? I have to live in these lands, just as the citizens of these nations do.

[KINGS ARE COCKROACHES OKAY. JUST BECAUSE IT ISN'T YOUR HOUSE DOESN'T MAKE IT OKAY FOR THEM TO EXIST NEAR YOU.]

[hedonistic]

Sure, but that's only because you croaked. If you had the choice, murdering your own kings would be a higher priority, right?

[idealisme]

[It takes a moment to consider that.]

There are others still in France who will continue the work after my death. I've seen few efforts here. That is to say there is little political awareness among the people who live here- so arguably there is more reason for remaining.

[hedonistic]

Man, that's the most depressing reason to stay here I've heard on this whole post, previous bucket-kicking included.

[He?? laughs??? but it's not a mean-spirited laugh, exactly.]

But good luck with that, Revolution-kun.

[he takes extra effort to pronounce it syllable by syllable, too, thick Japanese accent and drunken slurring notwithstanding]

[idealisme]

[Not being the best at telling if he's being mocked, Enjolras' gives a mild scowl in response to.... whatever that was at the end there.]

Depressing? When there is change to be made? I'd feel worse about it if I thought things would have to stay the same.

[hedonistic]

[god, this guy]

Yeah? I mean listen to you, you don't even want to be here for yourself so much as other people.

[idealisme]

That's a contradiction. I wish to be here to help others. It is my own desire that motivates me.

[SO TECHNICALLY IT'S FOR HIMSELF???? look it works in his head okay.]

[hedonistic]

Dude, you said you'd rather live in Paris. It doesn't count if the only reason you want to be here is because you have some sort of compulsion to fix people's problems.

[Which probably aren't even problems to most of them, but he's not getting into that argument with this guy again.]

[idealisme]

[A minor miracle occurs: Enjolras opens his mouth to argue, then closes it to think.]

There are other reasons why I prefer this place. I was not alone in my death. Here, at least, there is a chance I will see my companions again.

[hedonistic]

Oh. Well, that's fair.

[He loves being free, here, but he does miss his friends. The fact that they're in stasis gives him hope, though--foreign as that feeling might be to him.]

[idealisme]

Perhaps... it is easier to recognise how important certain thing are when they are not present.

[ENJOLRAS PEOPLE LITERALLY LEARN THIS WHEN THEY'RE CHILDREN DON'T SAY IT LIKE IT'S DEEP AND MEANINGFUL]

[hedonistic]

I know, right? Some people don't even know what a privilege it is to get to walk around outside. It's a pretty intense revelation, I gotta say.

[what was that about not engaging revolution-kun on freedom again. whoops.]

[idealisme]

[It takes a moment for the details of their previous conversation to return.] If there were such people being imprisoned here then I would, of course, fight for their rights. But there are not.

[hedonistic]

Oooh, someone's defensive. I was agreeing with you, buddy.

[And taking a sip of whatever it is he's drinking, apparently.]

Maybe adding how the reverse is true, too.

[How having something that was denied to you for so long makes you desperate never to lose it again.]

[idealisme]

[Enjolras is surprised to find himself ready to disagree with his remarks on principle- simply because he's said them while drinking. He takes a moment longer to answer as he finds he does not disagree.]

I do not disagree.

[And the thought strikes him.] Are there any awake here whom you knew before the storm?

[hedonistic]

One just woke up.

[who coincidentally happens to be the source of this bender, but shhh details.]

You'd probably like him. He reads a bunch of that ancient philosophy shit too.

[And has probably read Les Mis tbh but AH, FOURTH WALLS.]

[idealisme]

[Les Mis is a FAITHFUL HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED IT'S FINE no fiction here


The corners of Enjolras' mouth turn up in something like a fond smile.] Philosophy? That's never stirred me. But I also have a friend, still asleep, who is an incurable philosophist.

[hedonistic]

Really? I thought you were big into all that stuff.

[See being from 2112, when Kagari says "ancient", he means like. 19th-20th century. haha. ha. ha.]

You're French, right? Pretty sure he's read a bunch of those guys. Like Rou...rooster- something? I can't remember.

[he. he means Rousseau. i'm so sorry enjolras.]

[idealisme]

[Some part of him may have died.] Do you mean Jean-Jaques Rousseau?

[hedonistic]

Uh, probably. That sounds right, I think.

[idealisme]

You could describe Rousseau as a philosopher; but his philosophy demands action. That is what interests me. [But apparently Kagari has a philosophically minded friend...]

I have a copy of Rousseau's Social Contract here, if your friend would care to read it.

[hedonistic]

Like, the paper kind?

[uGH he's kind of mad at said friend right now for somewhat selfish reasons, but he also knows this is the kind of opportunity Masaoka would be THRILLED about so....

HEAVY SIGHING commences.]

Yeah, he'd be all over that. His name's Masaoka, username Hound 1.

[idealisme]

Of course the paper kind. [Enjolras has been here long enough to pick up on modern technology but something things he still doesn't understand.]

He will not mind if I contact him?