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]

There was an open invite for the meeting posted in a public area and Aornis was intrigued, so... she's there, slipping in a little later. She's wearing a black Armani pantsuit today with contrasting neon pink nails and will nod politely at anyone who makes eye contact with her. For the most part, she's content to sip at a cup of tea and listen.

[wickedwit]

"Aornis," Claudius says pleasantly, sitting across from her with a newly-topped glass of wine. "I've a question I've been tossing around tonight to anyone who will answer. If you had to depose a tyrant, with the resources you have here, how would you go about it?"

[forgethertoo]

"Claudius," Aornis returns the greeting, with a raised eyebrow. "I suppose the first counter question would be what kind of tyrant they are. Did they simply seize power without legal right? Or are they actively cruel and oppressive?"

[wickedwit]

"Would your answers be different for each? That makes a challenging choice for me -- I'd quite like to hear both." Claudius sips his wine, considering. "Let's say whichever tyrant you would enjoy deposing the most."

[forgethertoo]

"Clearly the cruel and oppressive one." She gives him a small smile; she is a law enforcement agent, of course. That's an easy answer for her. "If I didn't have Jurisfiction behind me, my scope would be pretty limited, if I'm going to be honest. I would try and gather information first and then subtly spread that information to see who else is sympathetic to my cause. Then the next step would be to assess this tyrant's abilities. What are they capable of?"

[wickedwit]

"Oh, I like those opening moves," he says in appreciative tones. Those would be his first steps, after all, and since this is only a hypothetical, he can take a tone of confident conspiracy. "Perhaps in such a scenario, we'd end up as allies. We both value gathering information before deciding how to act. In the tyrant's case ... how would you go about testing their capabilities? Deliberately provoking them? I'll admit that's my own bad habit."

[forgethertoo]

"Is it a bad habit if it works?" Aornis asks, quite blandly. It is all hypothetical, after all. "I'd imagine it would be the best way to discover their weaknesses."

[tallyyoungblood]

Oh, another ugly who isn't totally fashion-missing! She has to go say hello.

"Hi, I'm Tally," she enthuses. "Totally bubbly nails!"

[forgethertoo]

"Aornis," she offers with a small smile, opening her free hand so Tally can see the nails better. "Thank you. Just because there's an audience of only 30-odd people doesn't mean we should let fashion fall to the wayside."

[tallyyoungblood]

"I totally agree!" Tally herself is dressed in a minidress and boots, which is definitely more of a going-out look than this bash had required, but that's Enjolras's fault for not specifying a dress code. "The flier said we should discuss fashion, but no one seems to have dressed cute besides us. It makes me feel utterly missing."

[forgethertoo]

"They don't have their priorities right, clearly." Aornis does believe in this. A carefully planned outfit can get her into a variety of different events without having to use any additional ...encouragement. "Well, we can talk about fashion. I like the dress."

[tallyyoungblood]

"Thank you!" Tally gives her a pretty smile. "I've been experimenting and trying to make as many new clothes as possible. My room is utterly covered." The dress she's wearing now is the same shape as the one she gave Gideon a heart attack with the first time they met, but metallic silver instead of black.

[forgethertoo]

"The outfit selection here is convenient," Aornis agrees. She doesn't even need to shoplift. "Where are you from, Tally? Or maybe -- when?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Thank you," Galahad says quietly. "He liked the book."

[forgethertoo]

"You're welcome. There's a reason it's a classic. You don't read mysteries yourself?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Romance."

[forgethertoo]

"Oh, really?" Her tone isn't judgmental in the slightest, simply mildly surprised. "Do you have any favorite authors?"

[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.

[forgethertoo]

"I've never heard of them. I like to read fantasy romances, sometimes. I pick them up in the airport when I travel."

[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.

[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."

[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!!

[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."

[peaklordshen]

"Yes, well, we can't help what people do with our bodies if we're not in them," says Shen Yuan. For example, Shen Jiu would be horrified by how much gay sex he was having¹ with Luo Binghe.² "You're here, though—that's not not extroverted behavior."

¹ Would he?
² Okay yes, this part he would hate.

[forgethertoo]

"Just seeing what everyone else has to say about our predicament," Aornis says, mildly.