tushanshu | 001. video;

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001. video;

( A sleepy Steph starts up the video, yawning a little before she takes her thumb off the camera to reveal herself. She's not messy or sloppy or anything like that, just yawning. Her voice is very matter-of-fact and she nods occasionally as she speaks to confirm how right her point is. )

Y'know I think this place needs to give newbies a warmer welcome. Hotels give you like coffee and maybe a fruit basket? We need that, waiting in our suite for us. Maybe with a cute message card saying something like, "Welcome to our city, and oh, remember you're stuck here! Have a mocha on us!" It's common courtesy to give folks some kind of compensation.

( She pauses. She's forgetting something, isn't she... Oh, right! )

Oh yeah, I'm Stephanie. Or Steph. Probably not Stephie. ( Bad memories associated with that one. ) Aaaand I really want a mocha. That actually sounds really good right now. Nice to meet you and especially nice to meet you if you know about a Turtlebucks close to the Wood Sector.

( Confirm her secret identity in this place as an ordinary and hilarious college student? Check. She honestly is seriously thinking about her situation, but for now she doesn't want that to show through as Stephanie Brown. Gotta be safe and all. )

I think that's everything? Laters.

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I don't think alcohol's best in a situation like this one. And it's not something that should really be suggested to a person to "help" them.

( She sighs. And he was so cute too. Still, she should give him at least two chances.)

It's a date then.

Is it not? [Enjolras blinks at that idea.] Admittedly, I have a friend who takes drinking too far. ...Had a friend. He is not among us any longer, and I do not do so often myself, but medicinally? is that not a valid curative any more? How odd. [And really, it is. With Grantaire, Enjolras saw the danger in drinking too much, but not so much for other purposes, like calming someone. ] How times have changed then. it still applies in most medicines where I am from. My...[Enjolras is still not sure how to describe Combeferre.] My dearest...particular... friend is a doctor. I shall have to ask him more about the differences here then. I am so used to it being offered as restorative without one needing to call in the doctor, so I assumed.

[Date? the significance of that? Flies right over his head.]

Yes, yes of course.

Wait, when are you from?

( She had been completely ignoring what Damian had told her. People were from all over and lots of things were possible. And this guy seems way too old fashioned to be from anywhere near her. )

If you want, I can tell you what I know about medicine and treatment. If your friend's from the same place as you, he might not be that much help.

Ah, it was 1832, in Paris. Alcohol was not the best means of treatment perhaps, but for some things in which there was little else...Well. I know that Etienne has been learning more of medicine here but yes, his explanations tend to... Well. They go a bit above my head I fear. A...layman's? explanation would be welcomed.

I... see. ( And she thought a 14 year old Dick was a stretch. )

Um, basically, I don't think most medicine would be necessary in this situation, unless the person experienced extreme stress or had medical problems prior to arriving. Alcohol... in the way you're suggesting it, well, it'd be drug abuse, I think, if it was used as medicine and to calm emotions. Drinking for recreation's fine, but using it as a medicine? That suggests it's good for the system. I guess there's been some studies about how like wine lowers cholesterol or something, but I can't remember.

Anyways, alcohol and other drugs can damage your body severely, especially if you're underage. Even at the age of 21, the body might not be done maturing, and if you drink before you've fully matured it halts your growth. This effects your brain obviously, so if you drink a lot as a kid, your mind wouldn't grow as much as someone who didn't drink. Leaving you permanently immature.

I think that's it anyways. I learned it school, like ages ago. And you're probably thinking, "It's just a little drink, there's nothing wrong." But your suggestion implied a daily delivery of alcohol like the coffee. It also implies that we should encourage drinking among citizens of the city. Which... I don't think would be so good. Especially when some people might be like you and not understand the full consequences. That kind of attitude is what can cause addiction as well as a lack of will to fight it. To drink when you're sad and because you're sad, that's not healthy. I sorta assumed that's what you meant when you said people needed it, they needed it to deal with the shock of being here. And alcohol shouldn't be used to help you cope with tough situations.

... Sorry, I wasn't sure how much you knew so I thought I'd cover everything? Did that make any sense?

I WAS referring to the stress levels, yes. I am aware that many things can...well, cause the stress to rise to a point that quickly becomes incredibly unhealthy. I've been lucky myself, to not need such measures but well I suppose, owing to the shock upon arriving here one would assume. At home you would simply give a man who had been drowing or some such thing a bit of brandy, and hope that it was a restorative. Something along those lines, not so much as...handing him the entire bottle. One of my...

I do not know what Grantaire was to my friends and I truly. He was a friend in the end; he died with me, but before that...No, it was as you say, he as too dependent on drinking to get through his life. I think Grantaire had faced too many disappointments in too short a series of events. Not an excuse perhaps, to drink as much as he did, but a reasonable explanation then.

[And Enjolras is blinking at something else that she has mentioned.]

...Underage? There is an age for drinking? [The idea of that one is...well. It gets another blink as he considers it.] I would not have assumed that such would come to pass, but if the effects are as bad as you say, or could be so bad as that, I can see why, surely. This is just...new to me.

But yes, I had meant more in the way of, well perhaps a basket with a small bottle, to ease the shock, and not every day. I knew that drink was...that it robs men of themselves and their ambition and ability, but not that there was some true danger in it besides arrest for what it causes one to do while drunk, or accidents that may be caused. It seems science has changed many things, perhaps made them better.

Drink for example...I knew that it caused men to forget, but not that it could harm them. Interesting. And so much the sadder for Grantaire.

[Enjolras was drunk once. He didn't like it. Thank you, Bahorel. He hopes you enjoyed moping up your floor after that.]

She just sorta nods at the first part about his friends, before responding to his first question of her.

Yeah, well, in America at least. It's 21 years old, since by that age you've mostly finished growing so those worries are gone. I think in Europe or... at least some parts of it, the age is 18.

Mm. I'm not fond of it myself, but I think it's fine if people want to do so if they know exactly what it does and all. But it's still not a thing you should really treat the way people back in your day did.

I'd say if you have more questions, you can ask me... but if they're about medicine, you should probably ask someone slightly more knowledgeable.

Ah, I suppose if it was found that it has so much of an effect..it does make sense. I am to assume that sanitation has improved enough that it is not the only way to assume that people have access to hydration? I would hope so, because if not... [Well, that's Enjolras frowning at the idea of it.] And that is...good to know. Perhaps I still default to much. It has not been long since I left my time, but even so. I would hate to encourage one down the path that Grantaire...that my friend I mentioned found himself on through being well meaning.

Thank you. It is good to learn how these things work in other worlds and places.

Uh yeah, there's water. Lots of it. In most places. Water bottles, those fancy sport drinks with electrolytes, that stuff you see at spas infused with like raspberry essence. You know. Or I guess you don't, right. Anyways, I assume we're fine here. Water's the best drink you can have, pretty much.

It's fine, don't worry. You can't really help where you came from, right? I mean, we could be swapped and you could be explaining to me that it's fine to show my ankles! So, don't sweat it!

[Well. Then that work out well.] We had been avoiding it, ourselves, well, trying to in many place for a while now. The water is...We have had cholera. Terrible cholera. Especially among the poor, but not limited to them. There was talkthat the government had been responsible for it in part. [Enjolras is frowning at the thought there.] I do not know that I would go so far as to suggest that, but there have been...signs perhaps. I do see where the suspicion comes from, really.

Ankles, mademoiselle? [That gets her a blink from Enjolras right there. ] I have never paid much attention to them besides knowing that they exist, I suppose.

( Sigh. Steph doesn't know what to say about all that. Sorry? That sucks? ... Need a hug? She just sorta awkwardly smiles and nods. )

... That sounds bad, yep. But you don't have to worry about that anymore so... yay?

( Very, very smooth. Very comforting. A+ )

Back then... women didn't have very many rights? And couldn't show skin without being reprimanded? I'm not a history major, but I mean women couldn't vote until the 20th century...

Then the future that you come from is a better place indeed, if just for that. [Enjolras's smile, on realizing that point is rather beatific really, as if it could somehow burst the screen.] I am glad to know that some do not suffer as we were forced to watch and could not help. It seems as though some progress in the world has been made after all. And the question of our sisters in liberty, no, the world has often been unfair to you where I am from, and leaves you much to suffer from when economy and society make it necessary with no means of protecting yourself.. Such laws ARE wrong; there are not so many who would seek only to look beneath your skirts as you pass by.

[Do many women still wear skirts? Keelalai has Enjolras assuming differently now, but the point remains.]

There have been attempts in France, before my lifetime, during the revolution to allow you such rights of course. It is a shame, and wrong, that they did not come with the new century itself, or before it. Are you not our equals in every way?

In comparison to where you're from? Definitely. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Even after a century and more.

( And somehow it's still prevalent in her line of work. She could do without the whole "Finally, Batman's here" thing. )

At least here so far I haven't faced any problems.

Perhaps part of the difference here has much to do with the Empress herself. Things would undoubtedly be different in that case when she is right before us I should think. And the rest of that...

[Enjolras looks simply very tired for a moment there.]

I suppose the changes that we fought for WOULD not have been so quick as to engulf the world like a flame much as we'd hoped. Even so, they should have.

Maybe, yeah.

( She's still pretty unsure what to say to this guy, to be honest. Politics... isn't quite her thing. Steph continues to just nod at his words. )

Hey, uh... Rome wasn't built in a day, right?

Indeed not. [And Enjolras's lip is quirking a bit, so go, Steph, you got him to be as amused as he tends to get by reminding him of that fact.] I think sometimes we all need to remember that.

Maybe instead of coffee, people around here need someone to cheer 'em up and offer words of encouragement. Well, I think everybody needs that once in a while, but here especially. What do you think?

Perhaps so at that. I can think of some who might use that if it were offered. And given the oddity of our situation when arriving here...that may be just necessary. Could that be arranged for then, do you suppose?

[Enjolras though? Needs triple brewed espresso as well. For the record.]

( Her voice is very serious all of a sudden. )

I believe it's possible. I'll need an elite group of remarkable people, though. People who can turn that frown upside down any day without breaking a sweat. It'll be hard, yes, but I can do it.

( And back to normal. )

Just let me know who needs the cheering up and I'll try my best.

I do have a friend in mind who SHOULD be able to help with that. Ordinarily. I know that it has been...more difficult for him lately but this does sound suited to Courfeyrac, I think, As far as members of that group go. he is usually, well, quite good at setting people at ease.

Ah of course. I'll begin considering.

I'll see if I can get a hold of this "Courfeyrac" then. He might be just what the team needs.

Anyways, if you find anyone who needs some company, message me, kay?

Of course I shall. May I pass your information along as well, or direct him to this posting?

And of course.

Nah, you can just tell him whenever you have the time.

That's it and I'm still getting settled in, sooo, I'm going to go, okay? Okay.

( She waves, smiling, and signs off. )

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