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

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan's mouth draws into a thin line. "Then what you've done - testing the cure - is a great thing," she says.

[peaklordshen]

Shen Yuan raises his eyebrows. He knows what her job is, of course, or at least what she says her job is, as a cover for trying to fix this disastrously chaotic crack fic bubble world she's created. But she doesn't know he knows.¹ "You must really love your job. Most people who're still trying to get back are doing so for people, not work."

¹ And there's nothing that she knows that Shen Yuan doesn't know she knows, obviously.

[temnota]

"It was easy enough to be busy out on the front lines but not so much now." Aleksander sighed but leaned against Sagramore for a moment. "Still, I would much rather be here. I will have to keep looking for distractions. Maybe I should consider holding dance classes after all."

[forgethertoo]

"It's a familial trait," she explains. "I'm a workaholic."

[sagramore]

"Thou shouldst!" straightening up again to look at him with delight. "I'd love to learn from thee."

[forgethertoo]

Aornis nods, understandingly. "Not too much I've discovered here surprises me. I travel a lot for the fashion events that I go to -- or it might just be my line of work."

[ravkanwitch]

"You," Nina says with a small, amused gesture. "Who you are as a person!"

[peaklordshen]

"Yeah, I get that," says Shen Yuan. "I know I look like the imaginings of the writer of where I come from, so I think everyone probably does, even when it's not a strictly prose source."

[peaklordshen]

Eyebrows still up, Shen Yuan asks, "a family business, too?"

[futaille]

"It makes sense, I suppose. Unless, I suppose, my writer had an actor in mind, in which case¹..." He shrugs. "It doesn't make much difference in the end, I suppose."

¹It's a little more complicated than that, R, but don't worry GBlags's pretty little head over it.

[forgethertoo]

"No, just a Hades family familial trait. We're all very focused and career-driven."

[untamedantinous]

“I would say perhaps both? I am the way I am because my family made me so; but in truth, my mother is France.”

[tallyyoungblood]

"Um. I don't know. I mean, thanks," Tally says guiltily, thinking about how much she's defended the pretty regime. She's helping now, sure, but she winces to remember what she said as an ugly, or even a few weeks ago at the mansion. "I can't really give anyone my results when I'm trapped here, so that's totally bogus."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Oh my gosh, fashion? Bubbly!" Tally enthuses. "I did notice you were utterly not fashion-missing, especially compared to most people here. Um, no offense to them! What are some ugly fashion trends right now? Or, from when you were before you came here?"

[untamedantinous]

“Truly?” There’s a teasing light in his eyes. “What if I asked you to recite Rousseau?”

[futaille]

Well, this should probably have been anticipated. But he doesn't believe in backing down, either. "I'm certainly capable of it. Are you asking me to recite Rousseau?"

[ravkanwitch]

Nina's brows knit slightly. "The country?"

[forgethertoo]

Aornis tilts her head at the word ugly, but it's clear it doesn't carry the same connotations in Tally's world. "Pretty flashy," Aornis admits. "Leopard print. Brightly colored satin and velvet, even in the high fashion world. I like a sleek silhouette myself -- but with a pop of color to make it less boring."

[timebethine]

"Ay, it can do no harm," says Laertes. "I'll seek you out when I'm ready." If he remembers, anyway.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, that is rather unfortunate," says Susan. "At least this Zane is a second subject?"

[temnota]

"Would you really?" Aleksander asked, surprised. "I can't imagine too many others would. But that doesn't mean it is not worth doing. I don't know how well I can teach but I would like to try."

[sagramore]

"If only I came and thou hadst no recourse but to teach me alone, wouldst thou suffer?" he teases.

[untamedantinous]

“Yes, I am. Perhaps —mm. The Social Contract?”

[wickedwit]

"Let's see. Now I may go against the grain, and speculate these spirits, whose chief aim is entertainment, bring together contrary personalities for the sake of seeing sparks. You and Enjolras are ideal counterbalances... and whoever summoned you, they made sure Enjolras wasn't far behind. But for that reason I think it's unlikely. These spirits are playing a game, taking turns." Claudius thinks of the people who were here from the beginning, that first week or two when every other day marked a new arrival. The game isn't like chess, with pieces lined up on both sides of the boards, but like weiqi, with pieces being dropped in as they go. But if he had to choose from the people in this room ...

"Lan Wangji," he says. "Two extremes of eloquence. He's a man of most extraordinary wit and humor, know'st thou -- his wit is a well-aimed bon mot with a raised brow. Yours is a very whirlwind of words, wherein thou hid'st wisdom."

[wickedwit]

"'Books' is an interesting epithet for Combeferre," Claudius says, with a flat tone that barely belies his teasing. "You lot and your nicknames."