tushanshu | Enjolras Arrives

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Enjolras Arrives

[Enjolras is shown on the screen examining the device for some time before he satisfies both his curiosity and his understanding that he is indeed on the network. Finally, he lifts his head and speaks. His voice is troubled in tone, but clear.]
My friends. Greetings. It’s been explained to me that we will are confined in this place, brought here with no consideration of our will and left here without the ability to leave. I do not choose to accept this, and I trust others feel the same. If you do, contact me and join me. We will gather as much additional information as we can, and see if we can’t take this upon ourselves to gain our freedom. Who is with me?
[He’s fierce as he speaks. His eyes and set of his jaw show his determination. He shuts off the device, again taking his time with it, and waits for a reply.]

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I would not put a lady in harm's way. Or, allow a man to fight on whom a lady was dependant. [He's progressive by Victorian standards, but he's still a Victorian.]

[Midii, meanwhile, was a few hundred years past Victorian standards. But also accustomed to hearing such line of thinking.]

Not every lady is dependent on others to save them every time. You will learn that very quickly here. There are many who are far stronger than either of us combined. Even the ones who aren't are used to fighting their own battles.

If you don't believe me... [Really, it could go either way.] ...then you should know I had seen the front-lines of battle before I was a teenager. I did not fight alongside the soldiers, no, but I was still there. And while I was once saved by someone precious to me, I was able to save his life in return.

[...admittedly, she was the reason his life had been in danger in the first place, but that wasn't helping the point she was trying to make.]

I wouldn't doubt it, only regret the necessity. [Abruply he changes the topic.] What is your name? I didn't catch it.

[On that, albeit to different degrees, they were in agreement.]

Midii.

My name is Midii Une.

I'm Enjoras. It's a pleasure. How long have you been here?

I was brought to Keelai when I was eleven. I'll be seventeen in November.

[Although, again, she doesn't seemed saddened by the thought of having been here so long. If anything, her expression looked at peace with the notion. At least, until a slightly more hesitant glint in her eyes appeared.]

I'm not sure if you'll believe me or not, but...we've met before. I know you don't remember, but it's true.

I also knew Eponine. And Gavroche. They were here, but they're gone now. They left a long time ago.

[He raises his eyebrows.] Many returns of the day. [He listens and nods.] I have been told that. Honestly, it is no more fantastic than anything else I've seen. [Even the kitchen faucet had been a wonder.]

And...are you okay with that? Knowing there could be people here who know you, but who you don't know anything about?

I have many other things to be concerned with. I'm on a turtle, apparently, brought here by magic. People knowing me pales in comparison.

That is true, yes.

But while you're here...you can choose what you want to do. Go anywhere. The city is large. The locals are...getting better about our presence here. We live in peace.

Living in peace is important, but we are not free to leave if we choose. That is more important. Ah, yes. They spoke of them, but I didn't understand.

Which part didn't you understand?

[She couldn't tell him a way home, but maybe she had a chance to help him another way.]

What kind of place is this? I was told it was a turtle and I was brought here by magic, but it seems ridiculous.

[...of course magic would be first on the list. The one thing in this world she had never been able to explain away through logic or advanced science alone.]

It really does. I didn't believe it myself for a long time. Not until I met the turtle myself. Spoke with him.

[How long ago since she'd last conversed with Asti? How long since anyone had? He was out of danger now, alive and well, but silent compared to the days when he and the baby turtles utilized their dream hopping abilities.]

In some ways, it's not so different than the worlds we all came from. Magic does exist here, but...it's not overwhelming. Unless you know someone who uses it, you could go days without seeing any signs. Besides that....we work. We make connections. We learn from others here with us. We get to live our lives as we choose, and we get to be happy.

You spoke to it? [His jaw goes slack.] I don't intend to work and make a life here. That was never my lot anyway. I'm sorry. I can't see "magic" and "not-overwhelming" going together.

You may not be able to see yourself doing it, but if you're here for long enough, it will become necessary.

I know the Welcome Center helps out new arrivals, but I also know the supplies they give aren't meant to last long. You'll need money. And a place to sleep. Even if not to make a life, then to help keep you alive for as long as you are here.

I suppose you're right. I just never imagined I'd have to stay. I did get some things. I'd hoped to take them back to Paris. Bread is hard to come by there now/

[Her face dropped into a sad smile at that. Empathizing with the sentiment.]

I used to want to do the same thing. When I was first here, I didn't think it would be for long, either. And they gave me food and money and...I tried to save as much of it as I could to bring home to my brothers.

But...even if you go home tomorrow, none of it will go with you. I'm sorry to tell you. So trying to bring anything back won't work.

So people do go back. Otherwise, how do you know?

People do go back, yes. Unfortunately, there's no way to know who, or when.

[Her eyes lowered so he wouldn't see the hints of sadness behind them. Much as she loved being in Keelai...five years' time meant five years worth of goodbyes--or, worse, people disappearing on her before they had a chance to say goodbye.]

I'm not going to pretend I understand everything about how magic works, so I might even have some of this wrong, but...I think the person who originally started the spell that brings us here and sends us home is the same person who died a long time ago. But the spell is still working, somehow. And there's no way to control it now.

I see... yes that's what they said at the welcome center. It's just a lot to process. So how does the magic usually manifest? What forms does it take?

[So not the person to be asking...she she merely shrugged.]

That depends on the magic.

If you go back to the Welcome Center, actually, the woman who runs it? Zatanna? She's not only been here longer than I have, but she knows more about magic than anyone, as far as I know. I've seen her cast all sorts of spells, from changing clothes to moving things around to flying.

[Not counting the time when magic went awry and chaos reigned for about a week. It probably wouldn't have been fair to Zatanna to make such a first impression indirectly.]

I don't know how comfortable I am with that. Mostly, I want to know what to expect.

How comfortable you are with what she can do? Or talking to her?

Not either, I suppose. But, if it's what learning requires I will do it. And I find her at the college? Is that correct? I'm not accustomed to women holding such positions.

Enjolras Arrives

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He's actually progressive by Victorian standards. He's still a Victorian, though.

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