I accept your invitation, Prouvaire, though we should bring Enjolras along as well. I’m not sure he’s ever paid Olympia the visit it is due.
[ Though, Grantaire wouldn’t know. He spends a good portion of his time asleep and a better portion of it drinking. It’s easy to lose track of what has and hasn’t happened. ]
You will tell me if you find anything of interest?
I'm taking very careful notes of everything! I'm even trying to draw some of the plants and things. I really want a to plant a nice garden, you know? With all sorts of plants from all over. Maybe some edible ones! And then some in the windowsill just to be pretty and to enjoy looking at.
Oh, oh yes! The three of us should ABSOLUTELY take a trip out!! I know Enjolras is quite busy, but I think that would be nice.
Edible ones! Do take care not to poison yourself, my friend. I don’t know what we would do without you and your verses. I should also like to see your drawings when you return. I have tried to do some of my own, but they always turn out poorly and unlike the subject at all.
If not the three of us, then at least take Enjolras along with you. He’s pleased you’re here, and I am as well.
I promise to be incredibly careful. But wouldn't it be nice, to grow some produce? We could sell some in the market, make a bit of a prophet.
Don't be too hard on your drawings, my dear R! They are always a delight to look at. In fact, someone suggested that between us we should put together a horticulture book!
If that’s what you wish to do, I see no reason why you should not attempt to do it. The climate does seem to lend itself well to most plantlife.
Surely they meant your drawings, Jehan, as I have drawn nothing of delight in my time here. Perhaps they meant to imply that I should contribute my handwriting. It is legible enough, is it not?
[ Jehan...literally, none of them have ever deserved you. Grantaire is the most pessimistic person here, but he does his best to reel it in just a little bit, because who can be so pessimistic when faced with this? ]
That's what makes you the true artist. You see beauty where there is none at all. I will accept your help if you offer it, but I fear it may be of little use.
I will join you and I will listen to your poetry. I doubt I will find inspiration, though it’s no fault of your own. I lack a great number of things, and that may include the ability to be inspired.
Ah, and so it does! But it cuts both ways, does it not? Look, a small adjustment:
):
If you look sideways, it looks like a frowning face.
Why not? Happiness is as fleeting as the breeze. I see little reason to chase after it.
):
But I'm not sad, Jehan. Neither am I happy, but I am glad to have you here. Is there a sideways face that might convey that? I think not. It is a complicated emotion.
Happiness does not necessarily need to be chased. Sometimes it comes upon you in surprising moments, and those are the best ones!
I am glad, though, that I can at least make you glad about something.
You don't need to be happy, I'm probably cheerful enough for a half dozen people. You simply need to be yourself, with your complex emotions, and know that you are adored for them.
Fleeting all the same, whether chased or stumbled upon by mistake or chance.
[ Grantaire, please. ]
At least you are cheerful enough for both of us. Someone should enjoy life, even if it is a terrible mockery of us all. Perhaps someday I will manage to be a fraction as happy as you are, but I would require an impossibly strong wine for such a thing.
[ He does truly believe it, on most days, but he can tell he’s upsetting Jehan with his pessimism. He cares about his friend too much to carry on, but he doesn’t want to lie, so he simply tries to put a stop to it all together. ]
Please don’t dwell on it, my dear Prouvaire. You’ll find things of greater interest in Olympia than this conversation with me, but I should still like to see your drawings when you come home. Do you promise to show me?
[It's a good thing Grantaire isn't here, nor Enjolras. If they were, they'd see a sad looking boy sniffling and wiping at his eyes, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down from an impending and potentially very nasty crying jag]
I want to see if I can that pink star plant I saw in the museum. I think it would be lovely to see again.
I'll draw her very carefully for you, so you can see. I hope it will make you smile.
[ Grantaire already feels terrible with the knowledge that he's upset Jehan. Knowing that he's made him cry would make him feel even worse. He's likely to drown his own guilt in a bottle of wine, but not drown himself so deeply that he'll be unable to converse with Jehan when he returns. ]
I truly do look forward to it. I'm sure you'll capture it magnificently.
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I suppose I am not really looking for anything in particular? I simply wished to explore further. I want to learn my new home as well as I knew Paris.
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[ Though, Grantaire wouldn’t know. He spends a good portion of his time asleep and a better portion of it drinking. It’s easy to lose track of what has and hasn’t happened. ]
You will tell me if you find anything of interest?
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Oh, oh yes! The three of us should ABSOLUTELY take a trip out!! I know Enjolras is quite busy, but I think that would be nice.
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If not the three of us, then at least take Enjolras along with you. He’s pleased you’re here, and I am as well.
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Don't be too hard on your drawings, my dear R! They are always a delight to look at. In fact, someone suggested that between us we should put together a horticulture book!
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Surely they meant your drawings, Jehan, as I have drawn nothing of delight in my time here. Perhaps they meant to imply that I should contribute my handwriting. It is legible enough, is it not?
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That's what makes you the true artist. You see beauty where there is none at all. I will accept your help if you offer it, but I fear it may be of little use.
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Perhaps I'll write some new poetry! Maybe if you read it, you'll feel inspired?
I often feel inspired when I sit out in nature, especially at sunrise or sunset. You're welcome to join me to watch the sunset sometime :)
Look if you look sideways it looks like a smiling face :)!
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Ah, and so it does! But it cuts both ways, does it not? Look, a small adjustment:
):
If you look sideways, it looks like a frowning face.
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I would like it very much if you joined me and listened to my poetry! Even if you take no inspiration, you could perhaps find some enjoyment in it.
:) :) :)
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):
But I'm not sad, Jehan. Neither am I happy, but I am glad to have you here. Is there a sideways face that might convey that? I think not. It is a complicated emotion.
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I am glad, though, that I can at least make you glad about something.
You don't need to be happy, I'm probably cheerful enough for a half dozen people. You simply need to be yourself, with your complex emotions, and know that you are adored for them.
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[ Grantaire, please. ]
At least you are cheerful enough for both of us. Someone should enjoy life, even if it is a terrible mockery of us all. Perhaps someday I will manage to be a fraction as happy as you are, but I would require an impossibly strong wine for such a thing.
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I know you say such things, but I never really wanted to believe you thought they were true.
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Please don’t dwell on it, my dear Prouvaire. You’ll find things of greater interest in Olympia than this conversation with me, but I should still like to see your drawings when you come home. Do you promise to show me?
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I want to see if I can that pink star plant I saw in the museum. I think it would be lovely to see again.
I'll draw her very carefully for you, so you can see. I hope it will make you smile.
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I truly do look forward to it. I'm sure you'll capture it magnificently.
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