un: someday, life will be fairer (open)

[untamedantinous]

The library is currently occupied. To be more precise, it is occupied by one young blond man, settled in at a large table with books spread out around him. Off to the side, there is a glass of wine, half-drunk. He looks much better than he had upon his arrival, no longer dirty and bloodstained, but still a bit fragile. Some of the marble that usually adorns his countenance has been chipped away, and he is not certain if it will come back.

He is not certain of many things, here in this strange new not-afterlife, but he is certain that both the writings of Rousseau and Voltaire exist. He has the proof, right here next to him, old friends that he is relieved to have in hand. (Someday he'll find his own copies of them, maybe.) The young fellow that had healed him -- Magnus, wasn't it -- had mentioned France becoming a republic. So in lieu of talking to people, Enjolras has chosen to dive into history books and catch himself up on the last 200 or so years.

(He'd rather read than face what lies before him here. He's not sure what to do, and he doesn't like being purposeless. There is yet time to talk, time to find Grantaire, eventually, but he doesn't want to think. Not right now.)

Comments

[untamedantinous]

“Mm, well enough for an afterlife, I suppose.” He’s not, actually, but he’s quite good at hiding his feelings unless you know him really well. “I am…updating myself on my country’s history, after my own time.”

[sporesprouter]

"Oh, afterlife?" She frowns. "I'm very sorry. You're not the first one here who's died, or at least thinks so. But I doubt you want to talk about that, so how about your country's history?"

[untamedantinous]

He looks amused and gestures to the pile of books. “Well, a young man informed me what my friends and I had fought for had come to pass, not so very long after…uh, well we did. Of course I had to go and see when, and how exactly. France is a republic now, and I am content even if it is not a perfect one just yet.”

[sporesprouter]

"Congratulations, then. I have to admit I'm not entirely sure what a republic is, though. But if it's something you fought for, I'm happy for you that it ended up happening."

[untamedantinous]

"A republic is a sort of government in which power is held by the people of a country and those they elect, rather than held by a singular person such as a king or queen." To Enjolras' credit, he sounds endlessly patient when giving that definition. Perhaps it's because he's seen there are people from different worlds, here, and so cannot expect everyone to understand politics and government quite as clearly as he does.

"Thank you," he adds, with a small, bright smile. "It took a few years, but I am pleased our struggle was not in vain."

[sporesprouter]

She thinks the definition over for a few moments. "That makes sense," she says. "At least as long as they elect the right people."

[untamedantinous]

"That is the goal, yes. It --can be difficult, but that form of government has been in existence since ancient times, where I am from."

[sporesprouter]

"Having a king can be difficult too," she says simply.

[untamedantinous]

"It can, yes," he replies, and it is quiet, with a muted anger. "It is very strange, to get used to such a thing and then end up here, all lawless and undefined. I do not know what to make of it."

[sporesprouter]

"I met my king once. I think I prefer any person here."

[untamedantinous]

"I have not met mine, but I suppose that is good for the both of us. I do think I would prefer any person here to him, as well."

[sporesprouter]

"Well, at least you're here and he's not, then."

[untamedantinous]

"There is that, yes." He pauses, realizing he has quite forgotten to introduce himself, and offers a hand. "I apologize, I had forgotten -- I am Enjolras."

[sporesprouter]

She shakes his hand. "Tress. It's nice to meet you."

[untamedantinous]

He nods, a little awkward now. "Yes, you as well. I apologize if I distracted you in a hunt for anything."

[sporesprouter]

"It's no trouble, really. I wasn't expecting my hunt to be particularly quick, so extending it isn't that much of an issue."

[untamedantinous]

"What are you looking for, exactly?" It's something to do, at least, so he is interested.

[sporesprouter]

"It's kind of silly, comparatively. I just want to read about how some of the gadgets here work. Like the bread toaster. Because maybe I could figure out how to recreate some of them with what I have at home if we can ever leave."

[untamedantinous]

That startles an amused noise out of him, and he gives Tress an amused, if intrigued look. "That is not silly, I have a friend who would do much the same if he were here. Could you not just toast the bread on a fire, though?"

[sporesprouter]

"Oh. Fire on a ship isn't the best idea overall? And our oven doesn't heat particularly evenly. So it works, but not as well as it could."

[untamedantinous]

“That does make sense. I must admit I do not have much experience with ships, but I see the logic. But these…things are fascinating, aren’t they? We have nothing like it in Paris.”

[sporesprouter]

"Nothing like it on my world either. I can see how they'd be so helpful, though."

[untamedantinous]

"Oh, yes, the cold box alone would be wonderful to have."

[sporesprouter]

"It would be. I can't really think of a way to replicate that one at home, though, so I might have to pass it up for now."

[untamedantinous]

"I'm certain you'll figure it out sooner or later, you seem to have a good idea of this sort of thing."