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

[ravkanwitch]

"We'll see. I'm mostly trying to stay busy and social!"

[vineleaves]

"Oh, no, don't say that! You wear it well!"

[untamedantinous]

"Progress is an illusion?" He settles down properly at Grantaire's table now, willing to entertain this at least for now. "Very well. Seeing as we do not have Combeferre present to defend the righteousness of progress, I shall have to do it for him." He takes a sip of wine and shifts position, affecting his very best imitation of Combeferre. "As monsieur Franklin said, 'without progress, words such as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.' I do not see how you can disavow progress when you yourself were part of it, if only a small part, as was I. Our barricade was not an illusion, you know as well as I our deaths were not, either -- and did not our deaths serve as some form of progress towards the second republic?"

[futaille]

He leans back in his seat. "Very well, Combeferre. It was a simplification, obviously. I'm not saying progress doesn't happen to a degree, but it cycles back. Gains are made and lost again. Progress towards the second republic, which fell to the second empire after a bare four years. And then progress to the third republic, and then tyranny again. Fourth republic, fifth republic, people strive, progress, settle, fall back again, and it repeats. History mirrors itself."

[ravkanwitch]

Nina lets out one last giggle over the situation, then takes a bite of one of her pastries, looking around. "What do you make of all of this?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Alexis Hall." He's aware that his choice of books is frivolous, but all books that aren't scripture and writings on scripture are inherently frivolous, so there's nothing more shameful about the romances than anything else he might read.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose that must be true."

[new_inglewoodblues]

"What color are cats in the dark?"

[futaille]

"Whatever color they want to be."

[untamedantinous]

"We needed somewhere we might all come together, is what I had originally planned. Certainly not for meetings, though this is rather enjoyable even if it is truly only a beginning. I think it perhaps came when -- ah, you began planning the wedding dance. Perhaps our first true event that someone planned here."

[summerdude]

Magnus laughs. "Dude, stop. I'm glad I came." He is, too! He might really dislike everything about the environment, but he does like that his friends here are pretty much all here, and he's happy Enjolras is having his moment.

[vineleaves]

“As noble a pursuit as any other! I imagine things could turn rather boring here really quickly if we’re not all careful.”

[tallyyoungblood]

"Huh? Like, writing?" Tally blinks in confusion. "How is that technology? It's, like, paper."

[tallyyoungblood]

Tally grins. "Oh, bubbly," she says. "Totally crim. Like what?"

[mothwingofriverclan]

Mothwing's tail flicks as she studies his face. "Was the king unfair or cruel?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

In typical Ragnelle fashion, she is annoyed that he didn't run with the innuendo, and she gives him a Look to let him know. "Mary, I'll remember to choose green next time."

[new_inglewoodblues]

This one isn't a Man, and Ragnelle gives him a bright-eyed bird's look, assessing, when she sees him. "What art thou?"

[futaille]

He shrugs. "I'm probably not the best person for this, but... Well, as kings go, there were worse ones. But it had been a hard few years and there were a lot of people worse off than they had been when they hadn't even started off well. So it made things ripe for something to start. Besides, they'd say it was the principle of the thing. That even a good king, if there ever was such a thing, isn't as good as self-determination for the people. That if the people were to be driven into the ground, at least let them be the ones doing the driving."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, drinking, dancing, s--" Susan coughs. "Going home with someone new at the end of it after vetting several options, the like."

[futaille]

He laughs and shrugs, as he is a man very used to getting annoyed Looks. "That would be an unexpected surprise, to be sure."

[new_inglewoodblues]

"So thou sayst."

[mothwingofriverclan]

Mothwing is silent for a long time thinking about this. "I definitely support driving out an unfair leader, but someone has to lead, surely. Otherwise what happens when the clan disagrees?"

[futaille]

"So I do. Of course, I am generally unreliable and not to be trusted, so that does put a slight wrinkle in it."

[tallyyoungblood]

"I know what sex is, Susan-la, I'm not totally missing," Tally laughs. "A party like that sounds totally bubbly! Ugh, except I'm not supposed to drink any more."

[futaille]

He takes a long drink. "The general idea of the thing is that the people vote to choose a group of representatives who convene to make the larger decisions. And if the decisions are bad ones, well, at least the people had their say in the matter."