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

[forgethertoo]

"Mmm, not obsessed, I would say. The national technological obsession is literature."

[forgethertoo]

"Do I look like someone who could provoke anyone?" Aornis asks him, dryly. Despite being put together and objectively fairly attractive, her general appearance is quite ordinary and forgettable¹. "I know this is all hypothetical, but that might be a step too far."

¹:drum_with_drumsticks:

[forgethertoo]

"Shen Yuan," Aornis says, when they pass each other later on. "Good to finally meet you. I can't believe our paths haven't crossed up until now."

[futaille]

"Ah, of course. Let me see... From what I've ascertained from our acquaintance so far, anyway, croquembouche, Fireball, and perhaps a fox."

[peaklordshen]

Oh, crap. Play it cool, Shen Yuan. "Haven't they? I guess it depends on how you count." He smiles, slightly, before clarifying: "I spoke to Magnus in your body, last week. Sorry, this--" he gestures around at the general aura, "has me in a kind of philosophical mood." And also you've read about me!! Or about Shen Qingqiu, at least!!! So that's also what I mean, actually!!

[ravkanwitch]

"Laertes," Nina looks at him. "Do you really mean that? No passion?"

[timebethine]

"Not enough to make the show convincing."

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh! The fox is the Ravkan national animal," Nina says, delighted. "What's... a croquembouche?"

[ravkanwitch]

"Oh-- for a second, I thought you meant you didn't have any passion for anything and I was about to find two slices of bread to turn you into an idiot sandwich."

[timebethine]

"Dear Nina," Laertes laughs, "pile me about with bread all thou likest, but never do me the insult of saying I want for passion."

[futaille]

"Small round cream-filled choux pastries," he holds up a hand in a circle to indicate the size, "piled into a stack and bound with spun sugar. Sometimes with other additional tasty decorations."

[forgethertoo]

Aornis gives him a wry little tilt of the head that would be familiar if he could remember... "Who didn't Magnus speak to last week?" She asks, dryly. "That's the most extroverted my body has ever been."

[wickedwit]

"Temeraire, hello," Claudius says casually, sidling up to the dragon. It's difficult to sidle up to someone whose head is coming through the window, but he manages. "Let me ask you a question. "Let me ask you a question. If you had to depose a tyrant, with the resources you have here, how would you go about it?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"At the time, I thought it magical," Susan says, in tones that suggest she disagrees with her childhood assessments.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"The sort that would scandalize my family," Susan says, with the faintest of smiles.

[wickedwit]

"I sometimes forget how different an experience anyone has to me," Claudius says, a touch wistful, looking at the light through his wineglass. "I was the first person in the house, you know. The rest trickled in, one by one. With each new person, I thought ah, at last we're approaching civilization. But because we approached it by such small degrees, I never noticed when it arrived." Taking a drink of his wine, he says, "You know, I think this café of yours had something to do with it. Your meeting-grounds."

[vineleaves]

"Is that so?" Truthfully, what he chooses to wear on a regular basis doesn't really require any tailoring. An occasional replaced hem, but there's a big difference in the structure needed in a chiton and a more 'modern' outfit. Maybe a new place requires a branching out of fashions though.

"What sort of outfit do you think I should try for first?"

[vineleaves]

"Ah, yes, Susan! She's lovely!" Their meeting did not go as well as he would have liked, but he's hopeful that their next will be better. Especially if she's involved in the production.

"Does your job end once the cast and crew are finalized, or are you planning on taking part some other way?"

[vineleaves]

"I do feel bad for the elephants." Grantaire had said something about elephants, right? Dionysus takes a sip of his wine.

[futaille]

"Only one of them survived until the end of that war. It's preposterous! That is not the purpose of an elephant."

[vineleaves]

"No! The purpose of an elephant is to be adorable!" Another sip. "Have you ever seen a baby elephant? They're so silly, it's precious. But you're not even supposed to ride elephants, their backs aren't good for it, let alone bring them into stupid wars."

[untamedantinous]

He shakes his head, unwilling to admit to the slight amusement that his voice betrays. "The odds were very much against it, I assure you."

[futaille]

He holds up his glass. "To the memory of the elephants."

[futaille]

"Very well. The option remains open if you change your mind, however."

[vineleaves]

Dionysus does the same. "To the elephants!"

He drains what's left in his glass.