open: don't let the wine go to your brains

[untamedantinous]

It shouldn’t be this hard to prepare for a meeting. He’s done it countless times before. However, this time, it somehow is difficult. He’s never really had to set things up at times like this; and he knows as well as anyone else that he is not the best at social niceties. Granted, this meeting is in a much more well-appointed cafe than any he had ever been accustomed to holding space in in Paris. At least they have the benefit of a larger space. Consequently, Enjolras has spent much of the day of the eighth of Menestheus preparing, a little uncertain of how to plan a social gathering that is not immediately centered around planning a revolution. He is trying his best, at least.

Most of the tables and chairs have been pushed a bit more to the center of the room; the couch is arranged off to the opposite side. There are even various pillows scattered about, should anyone choose to sit on the floor. Arranged on a few of the larger tables and the counter there is a modest spread of food: of course, some of Laertes and Galahad’s pastries; but Enjolras has also procured what amounts to a few charcuterie platters: sliced sausages and meats, a selection of (mostly French) cheese, and various sliced loaves of bread and crackers are laid out for perusal, and spreads to go along with them. In an effort to provide multiple options of entertainment, Grantaire has set up a table somewhat near the food, with an assortment of wines and liqueurs. Off to one side, there are a few pots of brewed coffee, cream, sugar, and whatever else anyone might like to add to their beverage of choice. If anyone is drawn to the liquor cabinet, they will find three cups filled with various pieces of paper sitting atop it.

Enjolras himself is lingering on the couch with a glass of wine and some bread. He’s not sure how many people were even informed about this gathering, though he had done his best to advertise. If no one arrives then perhaps he will try again another time; but at least a few in attendance other than himself and Grantaire would certainly be welcome.

Comments

[timebethine]

"Thy Narnia was a stranger place than I could have imagined," Laertes manages.

[vineleaves]

He lights up again. "This is absolutely such a relief! Why, I'm half tempted to go test it now!" He won't though, he'll wait until at least after the gathering has concluded.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"His name was Aslan. In retrospect, I believe," says Susan, thinking of Lucy's visit and then trying very hard not to think of Lucy's visit at all, "he must have been God." Her tone slips, as she says this; she's been teasing (however poorly) since she first mentioned him, but now she sounds somewhat grim.

[untamedantinous]

He returns that kiss fondly; but yes, now is not the time. "Perhaps I shall, she may be in need of spoiling from her uncle." As if she isn't already the most spoiled puppy in the mansion.

[vineleaves]

He leans up to leave a kiss on Grantaire's forehead. If you saw him standing on his tippy toes to achieve this, no you did not. "Moving on then to another point! I believe you said something about the rooms changing and whether or not that's a good thing? It is going to make it rather difficult for me to remember directions."

[futaille]

"It does add a bit more difficulty there, even if generally the most used places stay more or less in place. But giving us more rooms to discover bestows more room for discovery. Thus, a positive."

[kadewest]

Kade nods back. He takes a sip of tea and toasts Lan Wangji with the cup, then turns his focus to his stitches, letting the noise in the room wash over him.

[vineleaves]

"It would be terribly boring if nothing ever changed." Shifting rooms about is a poor replacement for traveling the world, but he'll take what he can get. "I'd imagine the ability of this place to shift rooms around is likely related to its ability to give us , y'know, material objects. Clothes and whatnot. Which is absolutely a good thing."

[futaille]

"Exactly. The ability of generation. Even if it manifests itself in strange ways sometimes, I'd rather have it than not."

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs. “It’s a new astrology. Not the stars you were conceived under, but the spirits you were ushered under. Mind you, I've met some astrological skeptics in my time," he says, aware it's the wistfulness of new love that makes him remember other charming contrarians in his life. He left that one behind in England, without looking back. "But I think men of every age enjoy drawing patterns, particularly patterns that teach them something about themselves. Take me. Knowing me and my quirks, who here is most likely to share an origin spirit with me?"

[untamedantinous]

"I cannot imagine why you would think I would ask you to do it."

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan mirrors him, keeping track on his hands. "Well, some hilarious things can also be dangerous, or lead to unintended consequences. Like Jackass. I've literally never heard of that guy, so he can't have been that good at war.¹ We'll loop back on the animal comparisons. You haven't met Drosera? And I'm not saying it's incorrect, I'm saying it's also meaningless, because to accept its pointlessness is to accept the pointlessness of this whole endeavor, and clearly you think this has some point." He punctuates last point with a meaningful glance toward Enjolras.

¹ Yes, it's definitely this and not that you just don't care about Western history if it hasn't been adapted into bad anime.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan notes Aornis enter, and sneaks a few subtle glances at her from across the room, trying to get the measure of her now that it's her and not Magnus in there. She moves differently than Magnus for sure, but without being able to hear what she's saying it's hard to tell what kind of person she is, other than fashionable.

He drifts closer, pretending to dither about the food offerings and eavesdrop on her conversations with other attendees.

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs, and fondly shakes his head. "Szarka is young. All creatures are born craving approval -- I said so to Sagramore, and will say it to thee. We rely on it. Humans, more than all others, since some creatures can walk minutes after they're born, or learn language in the egg like Temeraire has. But a young human is a clumsy, ignorant thing, unable to do anything for itself. We need others' approval and care to survive, others' approval and guidance to learn. Without it we wither, like plants starved of sunlight, and know only our own insufficiencies. But such insufficiencies are shared among anything born helpless."

[untamedantinous]

On some level Enjolras is aware of the gesture as well, but he's choosing to ignore that for the present. Grantaire will receive his thanks later; in a more private setting. (He likely can already tell how grateful Enjolras is, Grantaire has an odd way of reading even the slightest alterations in his attitudes.) He also realizes that this event is certainly not to everyone's tastes: perhaps at the next they will try and avoid talk of politics and philosophy, though that is not particularly to Enjolras tastes, either. It is the first step in his attempt at fostering a sense of community here, and those are always uncertain, but he is determined to continue trying.

In any case, Enjolras will linger a few minutes longer in the small oasis of quiet surrounding Lan Wangji and the others, grateful for it in his own way.

[ravkanwitch]

“I didn’t know you were an artist until you mentioned that in your survey answer,” Nina says, delighted. “You and Laertes could work together for the set and backdrop. No interest in acting, though?”

[untamedantinous]

"They might, yes; I do not consider myself at all wise enough to dictate the makings of a society. If we were to have the primary definition, I think, it would count as one -- we are an ordered community all in the same place, such as it is, even with the chaos the monthly happenings cause. There is shelter, there is food, there is...ah, relative harmony, does that not count for something? It may be a society even if it is not polite, I suppose, as by the bonds of the church in my home and -- I assume, yours, none of this would be considered polite. But I have never cared much for the words of the church."

[ravkanwitch]

Nina’s brow furrows. “In your world, you mean?”

[futaille]

He can't help but smile, intrigued and thoughtful. "Oh, that's an interesting question. It does presuppose that an individual spirit would choose to bring people here who share at least some sort of similarity, instead of trying for stark contrasts, as that would make it much more difficult to divine. But of course, not identical, as that would be dull, not that there's anyone here that perfectly similar to anyone else."

He takes a long sip of his wine, mulling it over before coming to his determination. "I think... Crowley."

[futaille]

"Obviously I know the odds were against it, but there was at least a possibility you'd call my bluff. And then watch me try to explain it because no one would actually believe you asked me to."

[vineleaves]

"...Huh." That's quite an interesting question. "I am the god of Drama, but I suppose I'm not going to be present in every world, though there have been several others here who have heard of me before, even though they're definitely from different worlds."

[futaille]

And we'll keep going point for point, then. "What's Jackass? It sounds amazing. You should look up the Punic Wars, I know there are some books in the library. He dragged a few dozen elephants across the Alps, only one ended up living past the war. I have met Drosera, but I'm not sure a griffin qualifies as a monster. Sometimes a thing may itself be pointless, but discussing the pointless thing has a point... Which then imbues a point to the pointless thing, I suppose, so that rounded quite neatly back on me."

[futaille]

"Studied art, don't know that I'd really say I'm an artist, but I'm middling enough with paints and would be happy enough to help with that. As for acting..." He shrugs. "I have no qualms with public speaking, but that's not exactly the same. I'll say... if you're in need of more after those who are enthusiastic about the prospect have come forward, I'll join. Otherwise I'll be perfectly happy to watch and enjoy the production."

[ravkanwitch]

Oh, that's a great reaction; almost as great as when Sagramore's soul almost left his body when she made a meat-related joke. "Of course," Nina says, solemnly and apologetically -- but with a hint of mischief. "Any interest in acting?"

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh, Magnus taught me what gods were when I arrived. We don't have them where I come from. We only have Saints." Her expression should show the mixed feelings she has about Saints but it quickly pivots to something friendlier. "But as the god of drama, of course you'll have to be involved with the play."