tushanshu | Aux armes, citoyens (Video)

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Aux armes, citoyens (Video)

[Enjolras has looked better, certainly, though he's about as polished and as formal as he usually is, clad in his new light grey linen coat and waistcoat, even a loose cravat despite the heat. He's certainly sweating for the effort, all the same, his hair showing definite curled frizz that escapes its braid. There's also something about him that looks tireder than usual, but still, his expression is friendly enough as the vid feed starts.]

A great number of things have lately come to my attention, but among the most important is the fact that I must, that it is imperative for me to find activities of a less solitary nature than I've had since our return from...our return from war.

For a long time, it occurred to me that putting aside all reminders of it were the better way but I think, instead, that something active, some way of keeping my most relevant skills fresh, perhaps bettering, them, will be of more benefit here in the long run, and could help me socially as well. If I might train with...

That is to say, I wish to improve my ability with a blade. I fence in the foil discipline, and trained a little in it here, before the war, and can pick up an epee as needed, provided you are not freakishly tall [There's a wink to show it's a joke]. Is there anyone here who might be willing to go a few rounds with me, either for simple exercise, or, perhaps, if we suit and you find that you have things to teach me, for lessons of a sort?

Do please let me know, it may be nice to find action that I might do something with and about again, action I can control I... [That's enough for now, he realizes, breaking off with a little abrupt wave of his hand.]

Anyway, please do let me know.

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[Enjolras has to laugh at that.]

This place DOES have a way of turning standards on its head.

And, yes, I did. Iskierka and Temeraire, from the same world where they were part of a flying navy, nearly. They served as something of a flying ship. Iskierka was...perhaps my best friend, here, the best I made at least.

[And he's looking very proud and fond as he speaks of her.]

We'd formed a flying corps with them during the war ourselves. For a brief while. They did not manage to see much battle, but we prepared and drilled a fair bit. I was one of Iskierka's lieutenants. Shortlived as it was, it was rewarding. Worth the destroyed clothes and smell of sulfur in the air. She does love setting things on fire and gaining Capitol.

Temeraire was quieter, more thoughtful and a bit more of a strategist. We had many an amazing conversation of politics in his world and others, things that might be changed. He wanted to help dragons gain full equality under their law. I hope he's managing to do it now he's gotten home.

Truly amazing!

It goes to show that even if you think there is nothing left in the world that can surprise you, there are still such remarkable wonders.

I do hope you get to meet your friends again. They sound like truly wonderful people.

It IS rather like that, yes. Especially here. Half of the things I've come across...I never would have dared to hope.

And perhaps. There have been people who've returned before.

It is not a terrible place to return to. The comaraderie between people here is inspiring.

We do seem to have pulled together well enough.

[He has to smile, thinking of that.]

Suppose that IS adversity for you.

Bonds formed in fire do tend to be the strongest. Even so, the people here are truly admirable.

That they do. We do have something special...something strange, but special, I agree.

Is it really so strange?

Well, in circumstance of being here, and less the rest.

Ah- yes. The colliding of worlds is a bit strange.

I was amazed to learn so many existed, and of still more the longer that I'm here.

The universe is a vast and remarkable place. I suspect even in a place such as this, we only scrape the surface of the true wonder and diversity it has to offer.

Maybe so. A strange theory but then, again, we've stopped at other worlds, been a part of them before.There must be hundreds out there we know nothing of.

I heard a bit about the stops that have been made. What are they generally like?

Ah well, it depends on where we are going.

Usually, we end up aware that we're likely to dock a few days before it happens. The land draws into view as TuVishan swims a little closer to it. And then we pull into the ports and someone tends to give us information before we depart. Sometimes they'll accept our juulan, or exchange it, or trade for other items and every land we reach...it is unique. In one, we entered something very like a Dream itself, and in others, we were at an underwater city. I particularly enjoy the lands with fishing ports, myself.

And then, we tour, or do business, or perhaps attend events if we are invited. Again, it does depend."

Hmm- it sounds a bit like a vacation.

[Not that Klaus knows what those are like from first hand experience.]

I look forward to our next stop then. Ah... is it perhaps that you're fond of seafood the reason why you look forward to places with fishing ports?

From what I hear those are like, I'd imagine so.

[Less common where he's from, really. People sometimes go places for a "season" but it's different to most modern vacations.]

Ah a bit of that [There is a little grin and headduck.] I grew up in a smaller fishing town too. I'd not been back in YEARS when I was brought here. I do miss it.

Ah- I take it you're nostalgic for home. Where were you originally from, if you don't mind my asking?

It's funny. I did not realize I was, when I was in Paris and able to go back, when I wished it. And Paris will always...

[There's a sort of hush when Enjolras says the name of the city itself, as if he's speaking of a lover, or at least a past one, of whom he's still very fond. Nostalgia there as well.]

Well, it was a second home, and another world entirely. But I grew up in Province, by the sea. Cassis, to be exact. Papa was in the business of shipping cargo, sometimes fish itself, as the contracts came in, and living near the yards and cliffs was wonderful. We do not have sand there, you know, but white rock instead, bleached a little by the sun... I did enjoy it there.

[And Enjolras is nodding back.]

And you, in turn? It seems we come from very different worlds as such.

You speak very fondly of Paris. I've been a number of times on work, though I vacationed there often with family as well. It's a truly wondrous city, full of history and art and excellent cuisine.

And perhaps our worlds are not so different as you might think. Though it's likely we're from different times. What year was it when you were brought here?

I'm originally from Germany. Though the last few years I've been in Jerusalem's Lot in the United States. You may know it better as New York, however.

I do love her, and her people, very much, though I am told that she, that France has much changed since I was there. A second, then a third republic, one that holds for a long time into the future, and a strange tower made of metal that reaches to the sky...

I admit I am quite curious about all of those things.

New York would be... the Americas, correct? There is someone here who comes from an earlier than myself version of the area, I believe before there was a country there in fact. But Germany...such a transition!

The Eiffel Tower, yes. It was built in the late nineteenth century for the Worlds Fair. It's an incredible piece of architecture. Ah, I wonder if I still have the pictures of it on my phone...

Though if you've yet to see the second and third republics, I take it you're still in or around the first revolution in France?

And yes, the Americas, though since its own revolution it has become the united states. And it wasn't much of a transition, not in my time. The flight over was only nine hours. It was more getting acclimated to... American culture.

I can think of several of my friends who would be interested. My Etienne surely would have spent hours marveling over the idea it could be done, and the design itself. To think that art has come to that...that ideas have been allowed to flow and flourish. The nineteenth century was so full of its sorrows to begin.

It is nice to hear of a triumph like that. I once thought the twentieth must be a happy one, to make up for the horrors of the centuries past, but now, I think that each time and place is made of the same people. The potential for happiness is there but...

[He stops, biting his lip a moment, his eyes shining.]

We realize ourselves, as individuals. We might touch others along the way, but... There is a difference between that and someone learning for themself and...Sorry that's a bit...long winded.

[He does duck his head, a little shy there.]

Ah, the first republic. Saint-Just and Robespierre and all the giants on the mountain...and the tennis court. Alas, I was not born in the time of that greatness, but I tried to live in the traces of light that Buonaparte could not stamp out, and to create more light where it might be generated. It was 1832 when I was killed...when I came here.

[He corrects, since that part, really, is what matters.]

I am told that it was...sixteen years later that we took another chance. That Paris was much changed in her streets and alleys, but the spirit stayed and grew.

I did read some of the work of their politicians, when there was a decent translation to hand, at lease. English and I...and Greek and I...were never fond schoolmates. But the United States instead now. I'll remember that.

But yes, the culture. That IS usually the most difficult part. Even here, adjusting was quite strange. [Bathing suits. The aforementioned dragons. It was all a lot to take in.] But somewhere even larger...Being new to somewhere has its ups and downs, they say.

My apologies- I hadn't realized you died back in your world.

The Twentieth century is fraught with its share of tragedies, and the twenty first didn't get off to a particularly good start either. Not even a century from your time humans wage their first world war. And then, less than twenty years later, a second.

But you're right. There is potential. There is always potential. Whatever our weaknesses, there are those with strength that goes far beyond the physical. I believe and I always will believe there is hope for humanity.

[Klaus is burning with JUSTICE and IDEALISM. Good lord what a nerd.]

Fortunately some things are universal throughout many different kinds of cultures, earthly and Beyondian. There is so much to learn, so much potential for something truly marvelous to come of it.

Ahh, but I'm rambling. My apologies.

Oh, no worries. I've long become accustomed to the fact. It helps knowing so many people from a future in which I would be dead too, if the worlds were at all the same.

[Of course, one can never be sure, but there is comfort in knowing that life progressed without him, that there are still people who live and try to do what is right, and to defend that which they love. It does help, quite a lot. Of course, then the conversation is shifting and his mouth is opening a little, no sound coming out.]

The world at war. Twice.

[A world that Marius's grandchildren, had he had them, would have been alive for. Perhaps his children as well. A world of bright young men like Les Amis called to fight for country, in a deadlier war than his small rebellion.

And then, to do it again. ]

I believe I've worked out why most shy away when I ask of France's future past a certain point. Horrible. But still, yes.

I've seen it, that world where hope has taken root above all else. Where the world is filled with hope, and light spills off of everything, where men are free, and they are happy, and no suffering remains. I suppose, so long as we are willing, that we push toward it, even so... The day will come, and Right will triumph. Despite all o the horrors. That is in us, yes, I agree. I know it.

[At least Enjolras completely understands THAT.]

Ah, I believe I DID start that.

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