tushanshu | [video]

Entry tags:

[video]

Hello. My name is Isabeau. My apologies for being so forward, but if I may, might I request something of you all? If there are people here by the names of Flynn, Jonathan, or Walter, I would very much like to know. If we have been summoned here to fight, I would like to think that there's a chance, small though it may be. Either way, thank you.

[Heavy business out of the way, she brightens a bit.]

By the by, my home... did not provide a place where I could have learned how to swim. As it seems that it would behoove me to learn here, is there a place where I might do so?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[I'M WORKING ON IT!]

1832.

[THAT WAS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO (not really if you think about it) SPOILER TERRITORY WHEW]

The latest year in the story I read was 1793 - October, if I remember correctly.

Ah, I imagine it was about the Revolution then. I may be mistaken, but I believe October was when the Widow Antoinette was executed.

[Which while he disapproves of monarchy he's not entirely sure he approves of beheading.]

[omg omg omg]

Yes, that was what it ended with, that and to say that France was awaiting a man called Napoleon after what would come next.

Was that true?

Edited 2013-09-06 21:46 (UTC)

[Ah, Bonapartist literature from the sounds of it]

Well, we were certainly not "awaiting" him, although he did come. He proceeded to undo everything the Revolution brought about to wage wars we did not particularly want or need in a desire to rule the world, and was eventually overthrown. Good riddance, if you ask me, even if his departure meant we were yet again thrust into a monarchy.

[She's quiet for a few seconds after he finishes. Things she could say are things she'd rather not get into with someone she'd just met.]

It... from what you say it seems that there would have been the quite the power vacuum left behind. Would it have perhaps been better to keep Napoleon in power?

[Decisively:]

No. If a country is to be free, tyrants such as Bonaparte must be overthrown. That we returned to monarchy is disappointing but that does not mean Bonaparte was better.

Do you consider monarchy to be inherent tyranny, then?

I fail to see how it can be anything but. Put a man in a position of absolute power and eventually he will no longer do what is best for the people. I myself consider any government that does not allow the people to govern themselves to be flawed and unjust.

I take it that you consider any system that does not do so to be tyranny, at least to some extent, or am I not correct? Either way, is that the only reason you find them flawed?

You are correct, yes. There are other reasons I do not find monarchy and similar governments suitable but most of them are connected to that one reason. They enforce the idea that one man is worth more than his neighbor simply because one happens to be born with more money than another.

That idea, is it a new one in your world? [Rose of Versailles is just a story, after all.]

It is, more or less. There is a country, America, that is founded on the idea of Republicanism, but it is the first of its kind.

Most other countries are still pure monarchies?

England has a Parliament as well as their king, but you would have to ask an Englishman for more details.

Parliament... would you know if that's like the Diet? I suppose that's something I should be asking an Englishman, though; do you know any here?

I would not know, and there are several. Dorian Gray would likely be able to tell you whatever you'd like to know.

Thank you!

Jean, was it? It's been very helpful talking to you. I hope we can speak again soon.

[By now, he's gotten used to the first name basis thing and so doesn't object]

You are quite welcome. I look forward to our next conversation.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only