tushanshu | video;

[The acute observer may notice two things different about Alcuin. The first is that there's a faint pattern of lines on his forehead that seem to form some kind of mark. The second is the bruise on his temple- the edges are fading to yellow and green, but it's still dark purple at the heart, though somewhat hidden under his hair.

But he doesn't seem to be minding either of them, instead looking pleased as he holds a small book in his hands.]

Some of the fruits of our docking at that city were sweeter than others.

[That's a joke. Definitely a joke. He hasn't been in evidence much, besides going to work everyday. Landfall was rough.]

A friend of mine was kind enough to gift me one of his discoveries- a book of poems written by my lover, Anafiel Delaunay. I cannot guess how it came to be there, but I am so glad that it was.

[He runs his fingers over the cover fondly.]

You see, back at home these poems were banned. It was unlawful to speak them aloud, or even to own a copy- not through any fault of the poetry, there were politics involved. But I would like to read you one of them, one of my favourites. It will be the first time that it has been spoken in public in many years.

O, dear my lord...
Let this breast on which you have leant
As close in love as a foe in battle,
Unarmed, unarmored, grappling chest to chest,
Alone in the glade
Where birds started at our voices,
Laughter winging airborne, we struggled
For advantage, neither giving quarter;
How I remember your arms beneath my grip,
Sliding like marble slickened;
Your chest pressed to mine
Heaving;
As our feet trampled the tender grass
Your eyes narrowed with tender cunning
And I unaware
Until your heel caught my knee; I buckled,
Falling,
Vanquished, O sovereign adored,
To be pierced ecstatic by the shaft of victory;
Sweet the pain of losing,
Sweeter this second struggle...

O, dear my lord,
Let this breast on which you have leant
Serve now as your shield.

[He closes the book, smiling softly- caught in a reminiscence of Delaunay. After a moment, he remembers the camera and turns it off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Alcuin is too sweet to get offended easily, so he just nods.] A very fine man, too.

[ 9/10 times when he wants to talk about heterosexual love he gets surprise homos instead #pontmercy lyf ]

I am sorry for my error, monsieur.

[Well, Alcuin has no objection to talking about heterosexual love. He likes girls too... just not as much as he likes Anafiel.]

Oh, there is no need to apologize. I know it is hardly so common in your France as it is in Terre d'Ange.

Indeed, I hardly hear of it. [ also he has no idea what to do with you now so he will just fidget uncomfortably over here..! ]

Which is a shame. There is no reason to count it less valuable than the love between a man and a woman, or two women. [He sounds as calm as ever but his feelings are really quite heated on this point.]

[ His fidgeting stops when he chokes as alcuin metions love between two women.

we got a winner on our hands here folks

brb coughing fit ]

[Alcuin is Alcuin, so he stays calm and waits for Marius to stop coughing.]

An idea you had not thought of before, perchance?

[Jehan is a furious pink and his coughing, torn between laughing and choking on his tea]

Dear God, Alcuin, do not break the poor man.

[Alcuin sighs, his tone gentle.] Jehan, I am hardly going to break him. If he has lived this long without learning of the realities of love, I think it is well past time.

No, no, you do not understand. Pontmercy is...a particular breed of Frenchman. I'm fairly certain the man grew up in as near a convent as possible for boys. You might very well break him.

And what, pray tell, is a convent?

Ah, a...community, for lack of a better word, where nuns live. They usually run a girls' school, or at least most of the ones I knew of did. Nuns are women who go into service for the Lord and never marry and are to remain pure.

Ah! Like Cassilines, save that they are female and I presume they are not trained to arms.

[He smiles.] I shall be as gentle as may be, but will it not be better for him to be exposed to such matters? They cannot always be kept secret.

[His control over his laughter breaks for a moment and he chuckles]

Perhaps this is one time where it is best to simply let him live in his own world. Or let Courfeyrac handle things. He knows Pontmercy best.

Perhaps I will discuss the matter with Courfeyrac then, though I still think it best that he learn better before he gives some grave offense to someone less tolerant than I.

Oh, you're too late for that. He attempted to fight Temeraire over Bonaparte, a French emperor that Pontmercy's father fought for and that Temeraire was fighting against when he was brought here.

-I do hate to issue such a judgment, but have you considered that he may be quite mad?

video; private

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:28 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:32 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:34 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:35 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:37 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:38 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:40 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:42 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:43 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:44 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:45 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-04-27 06:47 (UTC) - Expand

poeticverses - 2013-04-27 06:49 (UTC) - Expand

virginprice - 2013-05-02 00:12 (UTC) - Expand

[He shakes his head, a bit pale in the face.]

N-No, not at all.

[help i think i'm dying]

[Alcuin's voice is soft as he responds, trying to make Marius understand.]

Think of the way that you feel for Cosette. Can there be anything wrong or strange about such a love?

[WOW MAGIC WORD

He breaks into a smile and stares at a spot slightly off-camera, starlight flooding his eyes.]

I do not think there is. I feel as if our souls had already known each other well, long before our first words were exchanged, or even before our eyes met. With her it seems as if my eternity has been filled, for our love is inexhaustible. It is not strange at all, monsieur; it simply is.

Edited 2013-04-27 07:42 (UTC)

[Aw. That's cute, Pontmercy.] Precisely. And for two men or two women, it can feel just as right, just as perfect. Desire and love are never wrong or right or strange or normal- they simply are.

[Alcuin hopes he's listening, though he might be off in Cosette-land.]

Edited 2013-05-02 02:33 (UTC)

[ he's half-listening for the most part! And he looks pretty confused and bewildered the moment Alcuin is done. ]

I am sorry; this is all very new for me.

[ HE JUST CAN'T. ]

Of course. I shall not press the matter, but I hope you will think on what I have said.

[Because it would be said if he just couldn't accept it. :(!!!]

...Yes, that I will.

[ after 20 lengthy chapters about the paris sewer system and jean valjean's feels ]

Very well.

[It's the best he can ask for.]