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

[tallyyoungblood]

"Oh, what?" Tally says, totally confused. "I guess complicated ereaders are cool..."

[summerdude]

"Fine," says Magnus, very obviously biting down on the asshole he wants to append to that word. "Don't tell me. But it would be very helpful if you'd just say which ones." Especially if Sir Sucks-a-lot has read one of the trauma ones or Odin's motivational bullcrap, because then Magnus doesn't have to spend sixteen hours explaining things first. "Or if you're like, 'oh no, this child will scold me because I am exactly the kind of meinfretr who will obstinately ignore good advice because of who it came from' you might as well 'fess up now."

[tallyyoungblood]

"It makes me not bubbly. Like, totally spinning and not present-feeling."

[mothwingofriverclan]

"So, elected leaders," meows Mothwing. "I guess it's not too bad of an idea, though it does seem like it would favor the most popular candidate over the wisest leader."

[futaille]

"Oh, absolutely, but hereditary kingship doesn't tend to favor wisdom either." He laughs a little and takes a drink. "Human beings are somehow generally averse to wise leadership, no matter how it's selected."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I don't think you a child," his tone is level, open. "But I do think you ought to explain your sincere feelings without resorting to your list of books."

Lancelot takes a breath and says, "Hear this: I understand your loyalty to Galahad. I would not ask anything less of you -- he should have as many friends as he desires -- and I don't expect you to change your estimate of me." Lancelot stops himself from saying that he wishes his understanding or truce with Galahad were such that he and Galahad might get to know one another better, but that's outside of this discussion with Magnus.

He goes on to say, "If you are to cast judgments on my other relationships, or on how I interacted with you when I crossed some unknown border during perhaps the worst time of my life -- that bears real talk. If you would defer to your reading list, that's well enough, I suppose. But I know not what you expect of me, and so I cannot satisfy your questions."

[summerdude]

"Okay, well, why are you so averse to answering a simple question?" Magnus demands, chin jutting out obstinately. "I'm not trying to use my 'list of books' to 'explain my sincere feelings,' I'm trying to figure out if we have any common ground for a discussion at all! What I expect from you right now is a simple 'yes' or 'no,' or maybe, maybe a 'some,' with a clarification of which!"

[mothwingofriverclan]

"In the clans, the leader picks a deputy from all the warriors who have already mentored an apprentice, and then the deputy takes over when the leader dies. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than hereditary. Of course, it does sometimes lead to deputies killing their own leaders, but leaders have nine lives, at least."

[futaille]

"Nine lives would definitely be a help there, yes. I think that's the sort of system that breaks down when the population gets too big, though. There are millions of people in France to attend to."

[mothwingofriverclan]

"Millions!" Mothwing pictures twolegs swarming like a school of minnows. "That's much too large for sensible organization, definitely. I think the largest a single clan has been is about fifty cats?"

[futaille]

He nods. "There are... layers of organizing. We do like to complicate things."

[mothwingofriverclan]

"Still. You believed in a cause and tried to change things, right? I have to respect that."

[futaille]

"Eh." He shrugs, shifting a bit in his seat. "My friends believed in a cause and tried to change things. I was mostly just there."

[vineleaves]

Meanwhile, Dionysus’ glass refills itself. “Now what was the one about pleasure and madness? You’re not giving away all my secrets tonight are you?”

[vineleaves]

Give him a minute, there’s a lot to unpack here.

“I… promise that’s not how most plays end.” Usually.

[vineleaves]

“Do you mind if I ask, what was life like for you before coming here?”

[sagramore]

His easy smile doesn't slip. "Tedious, mainly. I spent a lot of time trying not to get sent on any quests of any kind and when I was lucky I had rather nice intervals of carousing."

[futaille]

He laughs. "Not my goal. I'm just saying that some people for some reason get it in their heads that just because something's enjoyable, that means they shouldn't do it, and that's idiocy."

[wickedwit]

Claudius laughs. "Oh, thou caughtst me long ago, ere thou knew what thou hadst caught. What of thee? Canst thou take praise, or art thou looking for snares?"

[vineleaves]

“Usually the ones telling people they shouldn’t do something enjoyable do whatever it is anyway themselves,” he say bitterly. “Or it’s something they personally dislike, and they assume everyone else should dislike it too. Why humans can’t just let each other have a good time is beyond me. So long as nobody’s getting hurt why should it matter?”

[futaille]

"That is exactly my point! Obviously, don't want anyone getting hurt, but there's a reason for enjoyable things to exist, and that's to enjoy them!"

[timebethine]

"I can take it," says Laertes, bracing as though for a blow.

[socialjusticedragon]

There is, and he hasn’t even gone into the meat of it yet.

“Oh! Well, that is good, it would be quite inconvenient if they all ended so, I think.”

[vineleaves]

“You would fit in well with my maenads, I think,” he responds with a laugh before pressing a kiss to Grantaire’s lips.

[vineleaves]

“Usually they just end with a round of applause for the cast and crew.” Deserved or otherwise.

“Why doesn’t England let you go to a show?”