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[Grantaire will arrive to his home to find that someone has left a few paintbrushes neatly lined up on his table and a variety of paints arranged before their bristles. Justice didn't know the exact difference between things like oil paints and watercolors, and he didn't know Grantaire's preference anyway, so he just got a variety.
Folded just as neatly by the paintbrushes' handles is a note.]
I understand that gifts this time of year are traditional for your kind.
I hope you find these useful.
Justice
[Yeah, Justice hasn't quite grasped the whole 'secret' part of 'secret Santa'.
There is no sign of forced entry, and the front door is locked. Justice also hasn't quite grasped the concept of personal space, but he means well.]
Folded just as neatly by the paintbrushes' handles is a note.]
I understand that gifts this time of year are traditional for your kind.
I hope you find these useful.
Justice
[Yeah, Justice hasn't quite grasped the whole 'secret' part of 'secret Santa'.
There is no sign of forced entry, and the front door is locked. Justice also hasn't quite grasped the concept of personal space, but he means well.]
[ There's a pause as Grantaire inclines his head, as though he's searching his mind for the answer. While he holds certain mementoes close to his heart, almost all of his memories exist beneath a fog of wine, leaving the finer details lost to him. He's certain he recalls the gala, though, and he's certain he recalls begging for more than one kiss. ]
I recall being there, and I recall you being there.
[ He smiles most pleasantly. ]
Why do you ask now?
I recall being there, and I recall you being there.
[ He smiles most pleasantly. ]
Why do you ask now?
A discussion of magic. In particular how it may make individuals behave in ways they usually would not.
[There's the briefest pause, almost hesitant to bring this up. He hasn't thought about it since the night, but the recent conversation made him think of it and he couldn't leave it alone. He presses on:] The glitter being thrown about was magical. I felt no effects myself, so I thought to ask if you did and what it might be like. After all You embraced me. I'd thought nothing of it, but now I wonder, was it due to a magical influence?
[It's part of finding a way to stop it, understanding it. Tell him how being controlled by magic feels, please.]
[There's the briefest pause, almost hesitant to bring this up. He hasn't thought about it since the night, but the recent conversation made him think of it and he couldn't leave it alone. He presses on:] The glitter being thrown about was magical. I felt no effects myself, so I thought to ask if you did and what it might be like. After all You embraced me. I'd thought nothing of it, but now I wonder, was it due to a magical influence?
[It's part of finding a way to stop it, understanding it. Tell him how being controlled by magic feels, please.]
[ Now it’s Grantaire’s turn to pause, for far longer this time. Without the alcohol to pull him down, his expression might even be thoughtful. ]
Did you find my behavior to be so out of character that it must have been beneath the influence of anything other than wine?
[ He’s embraced his friends before, but never Enjolras. Never by any other means. It never seemed right to pull someone who soared so high down to his own earthly level. Something did compel him on the night of the gala, but— ]
I do not believe such things exist, Enjolras.
[ This world seems intent on forcing him to believe, but he isn’t ready to be forced out of the comfort of his nihilistic state of being. To believe in nothing, only to realize that he’s been wrong all along is terribly disconcerting and best left ignored for the time being. ]
Did you find my behavior to be so out of character that it must have been beneath the influence of anything other than wine?
[ He’s embraced his friends before, but never Enjolras. Never by any other means. It never seemed right to pull someone who soared so high down to his own earthly level. Something did compel him on the night of the gala, but— ]
I do not believe such things exist, Enjolras.
[ This world seems intent on forcing him to believe, but he isn’t ready to be forced out of the comfort of his nihilistic state of being. To believe in nothing, only to realize that he’s been wrong all along is terribly disconcerting and best left ignored for the time being. ]
For surely this is my friend Grantaire, whom I comforted and will gladly accept into my kinship? This is Lucy Pevensie, of Narnia.
[ A great deal more sober and a great deal less melancholy now, he remembers her this time, remembers how she had attempted to comforted him, but it’s the use of the word “friend” that truly endears him to the message. ]
Surely it is. To what do I owe the pleasure of your words, mademoiselle Lucy?
Surely it is. To what do I owe the pleasure of your words, mademoiselle Lucy?
[A huff of air escapes him as he takes in the response.] Imagine that- to have things not exist just because you don't believe in them. That would be a better end to monarchy than revolution. [Though he doesn't like magic either. He doesn't like the imbalance he suspects it puts in the world.
But to the point-] This isn't the first time you've been drunk.
[It was the first time he'd embraced him. Therefore it couldn't just be the wine.]
But to the point-] This isn't the first time you've been drunk.
[It was the first time he'd embraced him. Therefore it couldn't just be the wine.]
[ This isn’t the first time I’ve not believed in something, he thinks, but he doesn’t say. It’s difficult for him to allow himself to believe at all. He’s lived too long without belief, clinging to his faith in Enjolras alone, so he shuns the very thought despite how very obvious it may be. Magic is very obvious here, but Grantaire blinds himself to it due to habit alone. ]
Good company and good cheer can enhance the effects of good wine, and atmosphere alone can make people behave in ways they ordinarily might not.
[ That isn’t exactly a lie, but he knows it’s not the truth in this instance. He did feel something different. ]
You said yourself that you felt no effects, Enjolras. Why do you think it's magic?
Good company and good cheer can enhance the effects of good wine, and atmosphere alone can make people behave in ways they ordinarily might not.
[ That isn’t exactly a lie, but he knows it’s not the truth in this instance. He did feel something different. ]
You said yourself that you felt no effects, Enjolras. Why do you think it's magic?
I have spoken to your rather strict friend, good sir. I think I can help you retain his good graces.
You spoke to Enjolras?
[ Color him both intrigued and a little bit ashamed. He's certain he has a very good idea of what Enjolras said about him, and he doesn't need to ask about it. ]
If your conversation was at all extensive, then surely you know that I am incapable of retaining his good graces.
[ Color him both intrigued and a little bit ashamed. He's certain he has a very good idea of what Enjolras said about him, and he doesn't need to ask about it. ]
If your conversation was at all extensive, then surely you know that I am incapable of retaining his good graces.
Sir, I think that to be untrue! I think we can very easily retain his, well.
His favor, for I think good graces may be perhaps a reach, but not for any fault of yours.
His favor, for I think good graces may be perhaps a reach, but not for any fault of yours.
A discussion I had with a fellow refugee. He complained of the numerous natural and unnatural ways in which individual's amorous propensities were inflamed in and around Wyver, often without their knowledge. He mentioned the gala and those throwing glitter.
[And since he refuses to consider any of that nonsense because he has better things to do, he thought of you.]
[And since he refuses to consider any of that nonsense because he has better things to do, he thought of you.]
[ It’s still early in the day, but Grantaire already wants a drink, just to be certain that his lack of belief remains intact. It’s almost foreboding, the way, how belief keeps trying to worm its way into his mind. He wouldn’t know what to do with it. ]
I cannot say what happened to others, but whatever I felt, it was surely only the wine.
[ Deny, deny, deny. It can't be the work of magic anyway, he tells himself. He never even got that second kiss, and he wouldn't mind it still. ]
I cannot say what happened to others, but whatever I felt, it was surely only the wine.
[ Deny, deny, deny. It can't be the work of magic anyway, he tells himself. He never even got that second kiss, and he wouldn't mind it still. ]
Oh no. I believe it will, or he will have to admit he lied to me.
He said to me that his disapproval of you laid in your choice of drink. That if you were to stop, he would not be so angry with you.
[ Grantaire is only faced with a brief moment of doubt. Surely it’s more than just the wine, he thinks, but then he remembers just how much faith he has in Enjolras. Enjolras is all he truly believes in. Why would he lie? When has he ever lied?
His doubts, instead, turn to himself. ]
I am very fond of wine.
[ But he's even fonder of Enjolras. It isn't the decision that's difficult, but the fact that he's bound to stumble. ]
It's been a long time since I've gone longer than a day without it.
His doubts, instead, turn to himself. ]
I am very fond of wine.
[ But he's even fonder of Enjolras. It isn't the decision that's difficult, but the fact that he's bound to stumble. ]
It's been a long time since I've gone longer than a day without it.
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