video, un: revolution

[idealisme]

What would you die for?


[There's no preamble. Enjolras is not in the mood to set the scene. He's been thinking and gotten nowhere so he wants the input of others. Over his shoulder it's apparent his room a shambles, a young man living alone with his mind on things other than housekeeping.]

For myself there's a cause that I've given all my life to. It's the highest ideal I can imagine. I know that is not a usual thing. Life is precious; until I woke up here I'd have said that death precluded any second chances at it. But that's beside the point.

I ask because I thought I others shared my opinions. It is rational to give your life only for the most important ideal. Sacrificing yourself for just anything- to get any item or even for another person... [His lips pinch together in thought, his eyes look distant for a moment.] I have not been able to reconcile it.

[A quick sigh escapes him, frustrated.]

I would appreciate your sincere answers and insights. Thank you.

Comments

video; un: noneofurbusiness

[smithandwesson]

I will continue to live for myself and I will only die while fulfilling my own means.

[It was said without hesitation and absolute certainty. His expression as serious as it could get.]

Although, truthfully the thought of dying for a cause is stupidly ridiculous. I would much rather fight through every situation I'm in thinking I'll be the one who wins and keeps living.

[idealisme]

[Enjolras may not like this man's argument anymore than that of "I'd die for my beloved" but he understands it better.

He smiles wryly.] If I could have, I would have chosen to fight on and live for my cause. The National Guard disagreed, however.

[smithandwesson]

Then that simply means you were unlucky.

[Wait... So does that mean he's talking to a dead guy? Man, how many times in his life is he going to have to do with people being revived from the grave?]

In situations like those all you have to do is take in with content that you gave it your all.

Assuming, that is, that you did give it your damned hardest.

[idealisme]

[Enjolras has no place for luck in his philosophy. They did not laugh enough groundwork. They did not reach enough of the people.


But a small smile appears.] They did not take us easily, monsieur. Even when it became clear that we would not win my fellow revolutionaries and I did not lay down our arms and surrender. We showed that our cause was too great to be abandoned.

[smithandwesson]

Cause or no cause, whatever comes of it afterward is officially out of your control once your life is forfeit.

[There's nothing you can do to change anything if you're not there. It's all beyond you.]

Were you at least satisfied with the way you went?

[idealisme]

[ah- Enjolras sits back, taking the question seriously.]

There is no real honour in death. There the poets have lied, at least. Many of my friends were brave to the end, especially the handful of us left at the bitter end. But others' called for their mothers and I cannot fault them for it. The logic of dying for a cause is sound, the actuality- [He shakes his head.

Opening his mouth to continue he looks up suddenly, looking around the room where he is as though checking he's alone.] For myself, I was surprised to find fear there, as I faced down the soldiers across the room.

[smithandwesson]

Exactly why the only thing I will die for is myself.

[It was a heavy topic, but he had far more than enough near-death experiences in his life to relate.]

The fear of the end of what you have. The desire to keep pushing forward. Perhaps it is my own greed speaking, but no matter the situation, no matter what the belief, I will continue to fight my damnedest for myself and myself only. And, in the end, I will fight even harder to live to tell the tale.

[Because when you're dead, that is it. You no longer have a cause nor a reason. There's just death.]

At least that way, when the day the inevitable happens I will at least know I went giving everything I had to live. Perhaps go with a big ol' smile on my face or something, excruciating circumstances be damned.

[idealisme]

[Enjolras leans forward, intrigued and repulsed by the man all at the same time.] Curious. I might have used the same words- except for my convictions.

[smithandwesson]

Funny for a man who was willing to give his life up for a battle he couldn't win.

I'm curious.

Why didn't you retreat? At least that way there would have been a way to retaliate.