{Video}

[fliesonfour]

There is a reason why Saint Valentine is so very popular in France! Who does not like a handwritten note and a little favour at their doorstep, handed over by some pretty damsel-- or stripling? Hm? One should be willing to Rome very far indeed, to execute such a token with care to friends and loved ones, with all the haste of flying on a Cupid's wings!

Indeed, I wonder that everyone does not have a few recipients in mind already, for such favours? And to such an end, this question, most serious:

Is there a shop well-known for sturdy, pretty stationery and good pen-ink? Nothing pigmented, if you please!

If anyone knows of such a place, please point me in its direction. I'd thank you for the tip.

Ah! And for those of you who do not know me yet, salutations and introductions. I am called Joly, and I am a medical student, lately of Paris, presently as shell-shocked as the rest of the company. A pleasure to meet you!

Now, to end with a little seasonal joke, for the medically-minded among us:

Gapeworm is red, Cholera is blue,
Honey helps the lymphs, and lemon does too.
Thou are my love and I am thine;
So stay warm and dry, my Valentine!

It's very sound advice, at that. The winter months are dastardly.

Happy writing!

Comments

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[wintershepherd]

"Dastardly".

[fliesonfour]

Eh? The wintertime, you mean?

Quite! Bad humors quantify indoors where the ill are kept in; far more homebodies in the winter, to stave off the cold, eh!; and frostbite is an ever-present danger to those who keep their time outdoors. Then there is the wind chill's effect on the lungs to think of, and the snow which sinks into the clothing becomes a dangerous and lasting damp that hastens sickness, the lack of long sunlight effects the mood, there is the constriction of the cold upon the blood flow, ice causes tremendous slips and falls and breaks, falling icicles bound to roofs have been known to claim an unwary gentlemen or two, and then the instances of pneumonia...

[He could go on.

...He might go on.]

[wintershepherd]

There's gonna be a construction of cold around other things if you keep talking.

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[solo_patria]

You are saying that business occurs yearly?

[No really. This is news to Enjolras, who looks a bit surprised at that idea. He thought it was some kind of singular event when he was vaguely aware of it happening last year, and gave his friends notes, scrawled on regular paper that said "I appreciate and value your contribution to our cause". Well, Grantaire didn't get one but...

It's not as though he contemplated the idea of such a thing, really. He doesn't mind it, especially now that he has an actual romantic partner or anything, but he's incredibly confused here. Blink ]

[fliesonfour]

...Wintertime?

[He raises a brow, just gently.]

Generally, yes.

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[solo_patria]

[Enjolras does have enough presence of mind to snort there.]

The Saint Valentine business. I never quite imagined it was actually traditional.

Well then. It seems I have quite a bit of work to do.

action until forever;

[jondrette]

[Valentine's? Oh, Eponine remembered celebrating that in Montfermeil. Everyone was drunk, her mother and father kissing when they could, everyone squealing with delight, and Eponine being whisked around the dance floor with some patrons who thought it fun to dance with a child. She'd asked, of course, but what could you do? Then it became something to be envious of. To watch people from afar be in love.

She already knew this Valentine's Day would be one filled with pain. She may have had the likes of Courfeyrac, but her heart truly belonged to Marius. And Marius' heart remained in Paris.

It was for this reason that Eponine, armed with a bottle of wine, didn't even bother to knock when she arrived at Joly's suite. Instead, she entered of her own accord, and announced herself.] Joly! Come! Let us have a drink! I shall need this and many more before the season is done.

yes please;

[fliesonfour]

[Joly, engaged as he was with his little device; and not terrible pleasantly, if he were being honest; gave only a furrow of a brow and a lean-back in his chair at the surprising breaking of entry at his door, armed with the voice of a friend. Ah, then! He let a smile split the fretting frown of his previous expression and caught sight of two matters of joy: Eponine, and wine.

Placing his device down and getting very neatly to his feet, he greeted,]

Ah, my own very dearest! Welcome, welcome. Have you brought anything to smoke, or shall I use my own stores for that? There are glasses by the sink.

[jondrette]

To smoke! Hush! I have not had the money to smoke in all my life! We shall be partaking in yours then, my dearest Theo. [She reaches forward to touch his hand for a moment, before taking the bottle to the sink.]

Do you have more wine? For we shall be needing it. [She says, as she liberally pours them each a large glass.] I have no intention to remain sober or in any sort of decent mind tonight. I shall be drinking till the Valentines season is over. And you! [She presents the glass to him.] You shall be drinking with me.

[wrathfulkhan]

[Gene's been in something of a bad mood since his only real "friend" in this place disappeared over the weekend, and he's so not looking forward to the inevitable ribbing about his "boyfriend" being gone on Valentine's Day (because someone is bound to go there). So this was maybe not the best post for him to see right now.]

Valentine's Day is a waste of time.

[When he rules the world, he plans to abolish it.]

[fliesonfour]

Only if you refuse to see the usefulness in it!

[Garbage puns. It's a new low, but he hasn't been given a lot to work with.

Still! He is quite used to cynics, and therefore, naturally endeared to them.]

Why might you say so, good sir?

[wrathfulkhan]

[He's not acknowledging your puns, Joly. Nope.

Gene shrugs.] Love is foolish. The only person you can rely on is yourself. Everyone else will inevitably disappoint you. I don't see why we should celebrate weakness.

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[unetrustworthy]

[Midii's smile is slightly awkward, and mostly shy, as she appears on screen. Not so much because of Joly. But because of his sudden reminder; the thought of Valentine's being just around the corner....]

I know a place. [The puns, of course, go right over her head.] I buy all my notebooks from this one shop.

[fliesonfour]

[Ah! What an adorable face to see on the other side of this strange little screen. He is quite charmed.]

Don't you just! Well. I shall entrust myself entirely to your good care and recommendation then.

Might you tell me in which sector to find the highly reputable shop you frequent?

[unetrustworthy]

[And he was quite the flatterer. Midii found herself self-consciously tucking some hair behind her ear as she set to work pulling up the file she was looking for.]

I can do better than that, monsieur. I have a map. I can send it to you now, if you like.

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[ixis]

"En amour, écrire est dangereux, sans compter que c'est inutile."

Is the holiday in question even observed in Keeliai?

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[fliesonfour]

Ah, wise words, truly! Better to avoid danger entirely, and speak your intentions instead, on the whole.

I feel it must be observed, if I see to it myself.

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[saisamour]

[jfc it's a good thing marius isn't a rude bitch or there would be swearing right about now

Instead there is only a blink, and the most infinitesimal canting of Marius's head to one side.]

I shall accompany you to the shops, if you wish.

[It's very likely that such a plain reaction is due to the puns completely whooshing right over his head o o p s.]

[Video]

[fliesonfour]

[Ah, Marius.

He wasn't sure he had meant for an open invitation, upon this matter... but.

A chance for lover's gossip... and to get Marius out to shop? Well! Well, such an opportunity, once offered, now that he thought upon it more deeply...]

Why, absolutely! Then I wish, and you shall, eh?

[philosophe]

Medical advice in poetry, how very useful! [There's a teasing grin and a bit of a wave.]

Perhaps my patients would do better to remember their cures if I gave it to them in limerick form; but I am not half so talented in that respect as you are.

[fliesonfour]

A few little lines, as a warm up for the day! Not very much in the way of poetry, otherwise. [He grins back and returns the wave with a short bow.]

I think I should like that very much, if you did. Between the two of us, we may be able to jot some memorable ditties to use at will, among patients. You run a clinic now, do you not, old friend?

permavideo;

[lookedtothestars]

[Things that do not translate perfectly: Homonym wordplay, especially when location names are involved.]

Saint Valentine?

I take it this is some form of holiday. [And an amusing one, it sounds like, as it is put here; at least, with the thought of such a thing even being considered on Krypton.]

A pleasure to you, as well, Joly. I am Jor-El, previously of Krypton.

[fliesonfour]

A holiday based upon a man, long-dead; but you are exactly right, it is exactly so, my friend!

A pleasure to meet you too, Monsieur Jor-El of Previous Krypton. [With a flourish, and a little bow.]

Will it be your first Valentine's?

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[warrioreidlos]

[Reiner is starting to understand the whole hypochondria thing Bossuet warned him about.]

So you're Joly, huh? Figure I might as well introduce myself here. I'm Reiner. Your friend Bossuet [just listen to him mangle that french pronunciation there] mentioned you. In case I ever needed a doctor.

[Video]

[fliesonfour]

Ah, my reputation precedes me! Monsieur Reiner, a pleasure. Any acquaintance of the Eagle of Meaux is a friend of mine.

[Called such, since Bossuet seemed a bit heavy on his tongue.]

And do you need a doctor today, sir?