thecapitol | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who| Lady Oscar & Enjolras
What| Conversation and explanations. In French.
Where| The central commons, possibly moving elsewhere
When| The evening of her arrival.
Warnings/Notes|

Oscar had spent much of the day trying to familiarize herself with the strange technology of this place. As well as find out as much as she could about what these 'Games' were all about. Nothing she'd discovered made her feel any better about any of it. As she'd said on the network she wasn't unwilling to kill, but to do so for something as trivial as entertainment, for people she was not sworn to grated against her sense of fairness and morality. What was worse was seeing some of the others in the complex with her - almost all were civilians, some were even children. Far too many were women. Her own situation notwithstanding, women shouldn't have to fight, especially not like this. It was very disconcerting, especially in contrast to the luxury of the current surroundings. She couldn't help but feel like a goose being fattened for the slaughter.

She went down to the commons more late afternoon rather than early evening, wanting a bit of time to process everything before meeting up with Enjolras. She found a seat near one of the windows where she could look out on the strange city, and ordered a glass of wine. She sipped it lightly as she watched the sun set, trying to figure out how far she was from home, both in distance and time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Conversely, Enjolras had spent almost the entire day away from the Tribute Tower. The indolence and the fascination that surrounded the closing of the games left a bad taste in his mouth, and the farther he could get away from it, the more normal he felt. By the early evening, however, he wandered back to keep their meeting.

The benefit of the Capitol technology was clearly its convenience. Thanks to the rather vivid transmissions (which Little Rock had so helpfully (sarcastically) identified as 'video, dude'), it was easy to begin attaching names to the faces he'd seen around the Tower and encountered within the Arena. Slowly but surely, Enjolras was piecing together a clearer picture of their situation, and those who immediately surrounded him. It proved unnecessary in this case, however, as he found that Oscar possessed a poise and grace to her that very quickly identified her among the few other Tributes gathered around the common area.

"Mademoiselle de Jarjeyes?" He inquired politely, tucking the book he'd acquired earlier under his arm to extend a hand in greeting. "Forgive me, I should be addressing by your rank, no doubt."

She stood as she saw the man approach, interested to find he did indeed match the odd moving picture she'd talked to earlier. "Monsieur Enjolras," she said, clasping the offered hand with a smile. "It seems my rank holds little meaning here, so Oscar will be perfectly fine."

Despite her words, she held herself with military precision - relaxed, but ready. "It seems that food and drink here are free, so I can not offer to buy you a drink, but will you share one with me?"

"Oscar, then. And if you're doing away with formalities, I'll have to request the same for myself." The simplicity of that arrangement was more comfortable to him anyway. Back in Paris, he would've taken a certain interest in seeing her reaction to being called 'Citoyenne Jarjeyes', but as he had so disturbingly realized, such salutations were not longer relevant to them at all. He took a seat near her, setting his book down on the low table in front of them.

"I don't have a head for wine, I'm afraid," Enjolras dropped his gaze from her eyes to the glass in her hand, and then down to the floor, glancing up again just as quickly. It was a nervous tendency, betraying his age ever so subtly. "Your offer, however, is very much appreciated. Perhaps if they have tea."

"Enjolras then." She smiled and gave him a nod, glancing at the book as he set it down, interested in what her fellow Frenchman was reading. But she couldn't quite make out the title, and asking was something that could wait for the moment.

"Tea?" she asked, with a small smile. "You sound like an Englishman." Still, she stood and went to procure the requested drink, returning in short order with cup, saucer and a small pitcher of cream. "Forgive my forwardness, but have you been here long?" She gestured to indicate the whole area. "It is all so strange, but you seem more comfortable with it than I"

"I have been here since perhaps a week before the current Arena." He took the cup and saucer from her, nodding in thanks before proceeding to prepare the drink. The Englishman comment stung, but it wasn't anything to which he was unaccustomed and likely, the teasing would be worse if he asked for specifically watered down wine anyway. Such was simply the price of maintaining one's presence of mind. "I would like to think that I am still uncomfortable with the practices here. For their many conveniences, these people are quite thoughtless."

Sipping lightly at his tea, Enjolras considered how best to continue his thoughts. His speech had largely been dismissed, it seemed, for all that it had gotten his fellow Tributes talking and there was little doubt in his mind that his politics differed from Oscar's. What would a Bourbon-Royalist loyal to an absolute monarchy have to say about a government such as this? Surely not the same things as a radical Republican. Finally, he set the cup and saucer down again. The motion was deliberate, and though it had only been a few brief moments since he'd last spoken, he seemed to have come to some sort of conclusion about a grand and ponderous topic. "I should not like to revel in the needless destruction of others, nor should I like to forgo all the advances this world offers in favor of brutality. You mentioned the ancient concept of bread and circuses? That is exactly what this world is-- What the Games are. A means of distracting the people from the reality of their circumstances."

"The greater the conveniences the more thoughtless people tend to be," she said thoughtfully. "I am not surprised to find that at least is no different here than at home." She shrugged and turned her gaze back towards the window, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. She knew Marie and Louie were not the best rulers - both were well meaning but deeply selfish in their own ways, but it seemed disloyal to criticize them, even indirectly, even here, so far away from home.

She turned back sharply as Enjolras spoke again, his words pulling her out of her own thoughts. She listened carefully as he spoke, and nodded. "I have little doubt of that. Bloodsports are often the final recourse of a crumbling regime. These seem to be more successful than most, if what little I've found so far of their history is correct."

"They are successful at censorship and tyranny--" Enjolras began quickly, not quite cutting Oscar off, but offering an impassioned addendum to her statement. His supposed differences in their politics caught up quickly, however, as did the abruptness of his outburst. "Forgive me. Censorship is a bit of a personal crusade of mine. It is also by far the simplest way for a tyrant stamp out individual thought."

He turned away as he spoke, words clipped and purposefully less robust. "The historians here seem to suffer from a very selective memory. Everything of note seems to have been the creation of Panem in some way, and the concept of a successful and virtuous rebellion has never so much as been entertained in anything I've read thus far."

Oscar waved a hand, dismissing his concern over his outburst. It was always good to be passionate about something, even when she might disagree with the focus of one's passions. And in this at least she agreed with him so far. "No need to apologize, Monsieur. It happens that I agree with you, at least thus far. Perhaps they are rewriting their history to further prop up their power. I can not believe they have truly gone without strife as long as they claim"

She paused, considering the whole of what he'd said. "Still, a conspiracy of this magnitude, without an outside enemy to keep people distracted... I can not believe the Games are enough. Especially if they were initially taking the children of the common folk."

At her reassurance, he found himself easily nodding along with Oscar as she spoke. She was clear and articulate, making excellent points, not all of which he had considered before. This was the type of conversation he'd hoped to inspire with his network address. There had to be an explanation for why things in Panem are the way they are, and how they'd come to be as they are, and Enjolras believed wholeheartedly that together, they could discovered it and help to improve things for the people. "There was a man several days ago who told me that there are no foreign states with which he's familiar. I've found that to be a common opinion here. Apparently the people believe that Panem is the world in its entirety."

No foreign states at all? Oscar shook her head at that. It was impossible. Even the Roman Empire at its greatest had at least made passing acknowledgements to the world outside its borders. She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "Perhaps the folk you have spoken with are of the less educated sort? I've found those lacking education rarely see much past their villages and towns.'

As she moved forward, he pulled back in an almost subconscious effort to preserve the polite distance between them. It was both easier and more difficult encountering someone who likely held similar social conventions. Enjolras had begun to somewhat enjoy the intimacy and commonality this society’s lack of a firm hierarchy offered in terms of the ability to strike up conversation with anyone and not feel it out of turn. However, he didn’t wish to offend Oscar by assuming a level of familiarity or acceptance that simply wasn’t there.

“I assumed as much myself, however the historical records available indicate the same.” He gestured idly at the book resting on the coffee table in front of them. “No foreign states presently exist, they are referenced merely as matters of minor curiosity of the distant past.”

Oscar caught the motion as Enjolras pulled back and felt a sudden flush of embarrassment. It was rude of her to have assumed such familiarity. For a moment she'd forgotten it wasn't Andre she was talking to. She sat back up and tugged down on her uniform jacket, a nervous gesture she'd never quite managed to break herself of. "How distant are we talking about?" she asked. "And is there mention of what... happened to them?"

She shook her head, feeling confused. "So much that just doesn't make sense."

"There are as the republics of Antiquity would be to you or I, it seems." Which, perhaps Timaeus wasn't the most reliable source, but Enjolras couldn't exactly argue with their history books. Her embarrassment seems to go completely unnoticed, although he seems to relax once the more respectable distance between them is reestablished.

"The books I have found here care little for offering a detailed account. They limit the scope of their information to how it relates to Panem, either through science or technology." He shook his head, golden curls bouncing lightly around his ears. She's exactly right, none of it makes sense. It's all upsetting and more upsetting is the fact that he can't tell just how much of it can be believed.

"So it would seem. How far back does their history stretch? Perhaps if we can pinpoint the beginning, it might offer some insight." It would be a starting point at least. And it gave her something to focus on besides the barbaric 'Games'.

"Are there universities here? Or other institutes of higher learning? Perhaps their we could find people who've made their living studying these things"

"They have compulsory public education, if nothing else." Which, for as many complaints as he held against the Capitol, Enjolras could not actually fault. The principle of public education was one he believed in thoroughly, enthusiastically, even. It was the curriculum which he couldn't speak to, at least not positively.

"I met with a woman yesterday who was brought up with their system. She was vague about the details of her history lessons, it apparently wasn't very much of a focus. I didn't think to ask about universities, but you're absolutely correct, it would be very good to know."

Oscar was silent for a long moment, considering Enjolras's words. "I can not believe that there is no one who has not made a study of history beyond this particular era's imprint. Surely there must be some who wish to learn more."

She gazed out the window at the Capitol. "Even if such study is declared forbidden..." She paused and lowered her voice. "I can not believe that everyone in the entire country is satisfied with the current state of affairs. Surely there are some who would seek out such things, even, or perhaps especially if they were forbidden"

"The people of the Capitol are provided with everything they could ever desire, and from what I have been able to determine, the people of the Districts are subjugated to the point that they would be unable to know the difference." He spoke quickly, shaking his head along with the words. Enjolras was still a step away from the animated gestures he usually adopted during debates with Combeferre or Courfeyrac, but he could sense it coming. He only hoped his new acquaintance wouldn't feel overwhelmed or ill-at ease with his passion for the subjects at hand. "Rather I think that the insidiousness of this society is that its people believe themselves to be free. As the virtuous citizen of Geneva would say, 'there is no subjugation so perfect as that which maintains the appearance of freedom.' Because they have what they need and the majority of what they want, they have no desire to ask more of their government. Even if that more is merely information."

"There will always be those who seek knowledge," she said, almost absently, feeling troubled. Enjolras's words and attitude reminded her suddenly of her encounter with Robespierre in the tavern, and his harsh words in regards to her own monarchs. But while both King and Queen were, in her very private opinion, too often detached from the realities of their country, they would never condone the sort of bloodsport that was seemingly so popular here. She shook her head, and forced her attention back to the issue at hand. Issues. This whole place was more of a complicated mess than the French Court at its worst.

"I suppose the question becomes what can we do about it"

"In this moment in time? Nothing. I suspect that there is absolutely nothing either of us are capable of doing against them." The words were quieter, perhaps. More cautious, but no less intense. The frustrations of the Arena and the Capitol edged their way into his tone giving even the soft, almost defeated words a bellicose quality. Enjolras was no stranger to hopeless situations, people who were apathetic to their realities, or governments which favored a few and scorned the many. Things were different here, more complicated than his Paris, certainly, but not entirely foreign when one truly considered them. And certainly nothing that couldn't be overcome. "For the moment, I think we must learn what we can about them and play our roles as Tributes. Belligerence, however tempting, will only paint us as the animals they imagine us to be. We must find other ways to fight."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only