Video;

[lecentre]

[Hello Turtle. This is a face that hasn't been over the communicators often at all... And hasn't really been out and about in the past two months. He's well dressed enough, but the circles under his eyes suggest he hasn't had a decent night's sleep in a while.

He smiles, an action that doesn't quite make it to his eyes, and tips his hat.]

It's been brought to my attention that I've been rather... Anti-social... as of late.

[He laughs, a hollow sound.]

This, my friends, is my attempt to fix that.

Comments

[saisamour]

[Marius blinked, then blushed a light shade of red as he glanced down at his clothes.]

I did not... think it did. [Which, come to think of it, sounded not only silly but also a weak defense.]

[lecentre]

[A very weak defense. He makes himself more comfortable in the meantime, sipping his wine.]

I do not know if that is worse than not knowing they do not match. Both are equally heinous crimes.

[saisamour]

[Can Marius roll his eyes at his wine-sipping friend? Because he really wanted to roll his eyes. But he didn't, because a glance at Courfeyrac, and the thought that there was something different about his friend arose once again in his mind. He wanted to ask if something was the matter, but he was not quite sure how to go about that.

So instead he coughed, awkwardly, and took off his coat to hang on the rack.]

[lecentre]

[Pressing his lips together, he chose to ignore the fact that Marius didn't respond. He wouldn't press if it made him too uncomfortable. Instead, he dropped the topic and instead went back to his wine. Wine was safe.]

[saisamour]

[You go pay attention to that wine, Courfeyrac, while Marius here shifted awkwardly on the spot before deciding to take out his notebook, the one with notes on the Kedan language he had been studying with Temeraire. He headed to the desk.

And then stopped abruptly and turned to face his once more. After a moment's hesitation materializing into a brief silence, he finally got himself to say,]

Courfeyrac?

[lecentre]

[Well, it is very interesting wine... Very delicious too. He's not keen on striking another conversation when Marius is so obviously busy. So he won't. Except Marius has turned to him again and spoken his name.

He glances up again.]

Pontmercy?

[saisamour]

[A pause as Marius's eyes land on that glass of wine, before glancing back at Courfeyrac. How must he put this...?]

Are you... That is... Ah, have you been drinking all day?

[YOU KNOW. LIKE HOW MISERABLE PEOPLE DO. MISERABLE, DRUNK PEOPLE. OR PEOPLE WHO DRINK THEIR PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT YOU KIND OF DO.]

[lecentre]

[..... Courfeyrac stares at Marius before he sighs and sets down the glass.]

I had a glass with Prouvaire and one with Combeferre. Is that so wrong, my friend?

[saisamour]

[...Um. Marius's eyes dart to one side.]

No... I suppose not.

[lecentre]

Pontmercy, what is your true concern? For we both know that it isn't the possibility that I may have taken up Grantaire's drinking habits in his absence.

[saisamour]

That is... [He takes a deep breath and tries to calm his nerves before he continues.]

I find it difficult to explain, specifically, but I have noticed recently that you have not been yourself. I do not know what has changed, but I could sense that something has been odd with you, lately. [He realizes how extremely vague that sounds, but it is what he truly feels. And though he fidgets a little he locks his eyes with Courfeyrac's this time around.] I suppose... What I mean to ask is, has something been bothering you, Courfeyrac?

[lecentre]

[He doesn't want to maintain eye contact with Marius... But there's little choice otherwise, it's not so often that Pontmercy locks his gaze so unwaveringly. He presses his lips together in thought, suddenly missing the comfort that was the glass of wine in his hand.

Perhaps his friend wasn't as clueless as he seemed.]

Nothing that does not plague the rest of us in time, I suppose, my friend. Your concern is appreciated, however, and I thank you for it.

[That was a nice way to evade the question entirely.]

[saisamour]

[Oh. Well, Marius supposes that confirms things, somewhat. He does not really want to press Courfeyrac, but he feels like it is a good time now more than ever to repay the kindness his friend had repeatedly showed him.]

I suppose you have already spoken of it to the others, but know that it is not necessary to hide anything from me. Or to keep the burden all to yourself.

[lecentre]

[He has not spoken to anyone about it, really. Not as he should. Regardless, he just smiles a bit and nods.]

I will keep that in mind and rest assured you will be the first I go to.

[Probably not... but if it makes him feel better.]

[saisamour]

[Perhaps the sad part is that it does make Marius feel better, so Courfeyrac gets a tiny smile.]

That is good.

[And he heads to the table in the room to read up on his Kedan. He might also be there to keep an eye on Courfeyrac—not that he's particularly great at paying attention to his surroundings, but he can make an attempt, can't he?]

[lecentre]

[Courfeyrac knows his friend well enough to know that that will have been comforting enough. So, as Marius walks over to the table to read, Courfeyrac grabs his glass of wine again and takes a sip. Reclining back against the couch, he chose instead to just watch Marius idly and drink his wine.]

[saisamour]

[Marius has only gotten though a page of his notebook when he feels Courfeyrac's eyes on him, and well, anyone's eyes on him serves to make him feel rather uneasy. He raises his own to meet Courfeyrac's, wide and with a question in them.]