Roleplay: Frenchboys Meet Sailorboys
(Which couldn't really happen, but that is beside the point. Both Archie Kennedy and Enjolras belong to Anna, as does any fault that this scene took place.)
Rene Courfeyrac wanders around the streets of Paris, whistling. He isn't going anywhere in particular (though there were probably a few places he was supposed to be...Didn't he have a paper due in an hour? Bah, ah well...), he is just enjoying the day. And who knows? He might even run into someone interesting....
Archie Kennedy (who is a little put out at having to be in Paris but is going to have to live with it) has found his way into the Luxembourg Gardens and is taking advantage of the nice weather to sprawl out on a bench and read for a bit. He is briefly considering going to get something to eat but is rather engrossed in the nice little copy of Hamlet he managed to pick up somewhere so doesn't yet.
Courfeyrac eventually finds himself in the Luxembourg as well. After walking around for a bit, he wanders by Archie, but stops before he passes him, watching him. After a few moments he says, "Is it really that interesting?"
Archie holds up a hand for a moment as he finishes the page, then closes the book and looks up. Grins at him. "Well it beats a four hour watch, I'll give it that!" he comments, holding out his hand. "Archie Kennedy, Fourth Lieutenant (is very proud of that part). Pleased to meet you."
" 'fraid I wouldn't know," Rene replies cheerfully, then shakes his hand. "Rene Courfeyrac. And you're English." There's a small smirk, because the damn boy does have his prejudices.
Archie doesn't fail to catch the smirk and answers it with one of his own. "Yes, and you're French." he replies matter of factly. "Now that we've got that out of the way - can you suggest somewhere good to eat around here? It's been rather a while since breakfast, and I have to confess to being rather on the hungry side..."
Courfeyrac laughs. "These preliminaries are important, after all." He grins, then nods. "Sure, follow me." He begins to walk out of the park and in the direction of a cafe. "So, I gather you're a sailor or something, right?"
Archie pulls himself up to his full (not very tall) height. "I am an Officer in His Majesty's Britanic Navy, yes." (Archie is not above being a bit pompous when he wants to be) "What do *you* do?"
Rene's smirk returns and he crosses his arms over his chest. "Well, good for you." He's beginning to wonder what he's gotten himself into. "Generally I study at the Paris university."
Archie considers that for a moment. "I have to say I've never thought a great deal of French education - caused more trouble that it's worth from what we've seen so far... " He trails off and adds hastily "Not that I'm saying *you're* like that, just..." stops again and is *really* beginning to think he should think before opening his mouth.
"Wonderful, neither have I." Courfeyrac laughs. "Though to make us even for the sake of some of my friends who may think otherwise, I don't have the highest regard for the British navy, either." He pauses, the grin never leaving his face. "I'm not like what?"
"Well..." Archie thinks how to put it for a moment. Quickly discards Captain Sawyer's comment about "Liberty, Fraternity, Stupidity" as being maybe not such a good idea, and decides to play it safe. "All that business with chopping your king's head off for starters... From what we've heard, things aren't really much better now either...." suddenly registers the rest of what Courfeyrac said and looks a little offended. "And what do you know of our Navy?"
"It's royal," Courfeyrac replies smoothly, pushing the door open to a cafe, the Musain of all places and makes his way to a table. "That depends quite a bit on what you mean by 'better', Monsieur. The lives of most people, no, not much. But the safety of the monarchial head? Much better, unfortunately."
Archie shoots him a look that clearly shows what he thinks of that statement. "You do not have much respect for your King, Mr. Courfeyrac?" he comments as he follows him to the table and sits down.
Courfeyrac sits and leans back in his chair. "Quite frankly, no. He's doing a bloody poor job of running this country, not that anyone else has done much better in the past." Of all the people for me to run into, he thinks, it had to be the royalist Englishman, didn't it?
Archie considers this for a moment. "So what would you have instead? We saw firsthand what happened the last time 'the people' got a say in how your country was run - I cannot say in all honesty that I would think it better than having a king such as our own." He is not really argumentative, but isn't going to hold his tongue just for the sake of peace and is also genuinely interested to hear what the Frog *cough* has to say.
Rene, on the other hand, is argumentative, and he steps right up to the challenge. "What we saw last time was men corrupted by power, not a true republic, no matter what they called themselves. Just because it didn't work the first time doesn't mean we can dismiss it, especially since it seems to be working well....other places."
Archie studies him for a moment. "If at first you don't succeed and all that?" he comments lightly before adding, "And to hell with how many lives get lost in the process I take it." He decides now might be a good time to order some food and waves the waiter over to do so.
Courfeyrac narrows his eyes but keeps his temper long enough to order something. Once the waiter leaves he replies coldly, "Are you aware, Monsieur, how many people starve because there's no one in the government willing to represent them? You keep going on about the Terror, but what about those deaths?"
Archie leans back in his chair and takes a sip of drink of drink before replying. "I believe the question should you should ask first is are *you* aware of how many people lose their lives every time another group of well meaning fools decide they are going to try and make a difference?" The young lieutenant knows he is probably causing a considerable amount of offence now, but isn't going to let that stop him. "Have you ever *seen* a battle Mr. Courfeyrac? Ever seen a town that an army has been through, or worse, been garrisoned in?"
Courfeyrac's fists clench almost involuntarily, and for a moment he says nothing at all. When he replies his voice is even but harsh. "And what is the alternative? To allow things to continue as they've always been, tyranny, oppression, and all? There may not be many things in world worth dying for, Monsieur, but freedom happens to be one of them."
Archie resists the urge to bang his head against the table as he realizes he has found another Horatio. After a moment responds quietly, "I value freedom as much as the next man - I was merely pointing out that sometimes a little more thought and consideration should be taken before such enterprises are entered into. It is not the fight for liberty that I object to, only the needless waste of lives that so often accompanies it." He quickly takes another sip of drink and a breath to calm himself. "Forgive me, I did not mean to cause offence. Only, after what we have seen, I find it very hard to believe in something that has so far only brought pain and misery."
Courfeyrac takes a deep breath and a sip of his wine, calming himself as well. "Some sacrifices are, unfortunately, necessary. But I have a friend that might almost agree with you." He smiles a bit. "And another friend who would tell you that life is pain and misery." He tilts his head, getting curious in spite of himself. "Who's 'we', anyway?"
Archie is relieved to see the smile, even if it isn't a very big one and decides it might be best to let the subject drop, for now at least. "I was referring to a fellow officer - Horatio and I served together since we were midshipmen and have seen a lot in that time in one way or another." He laughs a little as he remembers, and adds, "He used to get ever so seasick, wouldn't know it to look at him now though - he's going to be captain one day, mark my words." He is looking as proud as if he'd just said he was going to be Captain.
"Ahh," Courfeyrac chuckles, allowing the subject of politics to drop as well. He gets enough royalist gibberish from his classmates, and hears enough 'needless deaths' speeches from Combeferre, after all. "Can't say you could get me to stay on a boat for more than a few minutes." He grins. "And it's far beside the point that my father owns a shipping business."
Archie laughs. "You do not intend to follow in his footsteps then I gather?" he comments, looking a lot more relaxed. "I cannot say I blame you for thinking in such a way, although you might change your mind after a week or two on the Indy..." Looks suddenly wistful.
Courfeyrac chuckles again. "If I follow in my father's footsteps it will most likely involve paper pushing and business contacts more than anything else. Which I am expected to do." He rolls his eyes. "And no offense, but I think I'll keep my feet firmly on the ground, thank you."
Archie shakes his head at him. "You do not know what you are missing," he comments, sighing softly. "There is nothing that can beat standing on deck, feeling the spray against your skin and hearing the wind in the sails.." Suddenly trails off, embarrassed, as their food arrives. "Looks good..." he comments as a plate is set before him.
Rene smirks a little, but good-naturedly, then nods. "Mm-hmm." He begins to eat then looks up again. "So what are you doing here in Paris, then?"
Archie is completely starving and starts to eat, but he pauses at Courfeyrac's question. "Seemed a good enough place as any to come for a while..." He pauses again as he wonders how much to tell him. "I'm actually technically supposed to be dead, so it isn't as if I have a great deal to do at the moment..."
Courfeyrac stops, the fork paused in midair halfway between his plate and his mouth. "Pardon? Could you repeat that?"
Archie almost laughs at the expression on his face. "I take it you mean the part about being dead?" he comments, grinning at him. "Don't worry, I only said I'm meant to be - not that I actually am."
Rene puts the fork down, blinking. "Want to start from the beginning on that?"
Archie takes another bite of food and swallows before answering. "Well... it's a long story, but if you want to know..." he comments, pausing briefly to take a drink while he tries to work out where to start. "It all started when we got transferred to a new ship - the Renown she was called... had one of the best captains of the time, James Sawyer. One of Nelson's own no less..." He stops for a moment as he remembers. "We were so excited about it, we'd already served under one great captain and now here we were with the chance to go to sea with another..." He shakes his head. "Little did we know..."
Courfeyrac raises an eyebrow, listening. "Know what...?"
Archie shakes his head. "Sawyer was mad. Horatio said it was the strain of all that he had been through that did it, but whatever it was, by the time we'd been at sea for three months it was clear to everyone that he was losing it. He saw conspiracy everywhere, every conversation a plot, people muttering against him... He had a young midshipman, Mr. Wellard, caned for nothing more than alerting him to the fact that a sail was tearing..." He pauses again shuddering before adding, "He had Horatio on continuous watch for 36 hours straight - believe me, the man was insane."
Both of Rene's eyebrows go up this time. "Merde..." he mutters, then nods for Archie to continue.
Archie sighs. "This went on for almost four months - he was cunning, kept the hands happy with drink and half work days, whilst he harassed us Lieutenants to distraction. He had his spies everywhere - we could hardly breathe without him coming down on us... until, one day, we couldn't stand it anymore. Horatio, Bush, Buckland and I decided something had to be done... we were talking about it in the hold, trying to decide if we should declare Sawyer unfit for command and take control of the ship... Buckland was all for it, but if we did... it was Mutiny. That's a hanging offence you understand..."
Rene nods and winces a bit.
Archie continues. "Anyway, before we could act one way or another, events kind of got taken out of our hands... someone alerted the captain to the fact that we were not at our posts... he turned the marine guard out and had them searching the ship whilst he was running around shouting about Mutiny and the like. We scattered and tried to make our way up on deck, but before we could, we ran into Sawyer... you've never seen a man so bedeviled, he was raving like a madman and waving his guns around..."
Rene is frowning deeply by now, listening. "And...?"
Archie toys with his glass for a moment. "Someone had to do something... the man was danger to himself and everyone on board that ship. I... I stepped out from where I was hiding, tried to reason with him... Horatio and Wellard did also, but he wouldn't listen... he kept backing away from us, and no one realized that the hold was open..." He takes a deep breath before adding, "He fell."
Courfeyrac's eyebrows go up again with surprise. "Bloody hell..."
Archie manages a small smile. "Problem solved you could say. ." He shakes his head before finishing his drink. "Buckland, as 1st Lieutenant was senior officer, the Dr tended to Sawyer... all was well for a few days. Buckland wanted to make straight for Kingston, but Horatio managed to convince him to continue with our mission and attempt to capture the fort at Samana. It was whilst we were doing so though that the Captain regained consciousness. No one realized until it was too late and he was ordering people to be arrested. They were firing at us from the fort and the ship ran aground - if we stayed there much longer we were going to be blown to pieces. Bush and Horatio managed to get us moving again, but Sawyer completely lost it - he had Horatio at gunpoint before Dr Clive finally gave in and declared him unfit for command. Sawyer actually pulled the trigger, but luckily it misfired..." He shudders at the thought. "The Captain was detained and Buckland made acting Captain. We took the fort after a struggle, along with a good deal of Spanish prisoners. A triumph you might say."
Courfeyrac let out a low whistle. "Well...congratulations, I suppose...But you still haven't explained why you're supposed to be dead."
Archie smirks. "Well I did say it was a long story..." he pours himself another glass. "On the journey back to Kingston, somehow the prisoners escaped. There was a battle - the Captain and Wellard were killed, Bush and I were injured... Horatio got away with no more than a scratch as usual - he's always had luck on his side..." He sighs, "when we reached Kingston, Bush and I were taken to the prison hospital, Horatio was locked up and the trial began. They wanted blood - anyone they could blame for what had happened that didn't mean blackening the name of the Captain. Our old Captain from the Indy was one of the Judges - Comodore Pellew - he'd do anything for Horatio, but it wasn't only his word that counted. Hammond was against him from the start, and from what we were told, it sounded as if he wanted to blame Horatio for everything... The crunch came though when Buckland, in a fit of jealousy, stood up in front of the whole bloody court and declared that Horatio had pushed Sawyer down the hold..."
Courfeyrac shakes his head. "Dieu..."
Archie swallows. "They were going to see him hang - someone pushed him, and there were only three of us down there... Wellard was dead, I was in the hospital, and Buckland had just accused Horatio... they gave him that night to prepare his defense, but we all knew that they were going to ask him outright if he had pushed Sawyer..."
Rene nods.
Archie swallows. "It wasn't Wellard. And I know that I didn't do it..." he shakes his head, "Which only left one person. And Horatio would not lie in court, I know him..." He pauses and closes his eyes briefly. "Bush was recovering, but my wounds were not healing as they should have been. The doctor didn't' say anything, but I knew. I could feel it. They were going to call Horatio back to court the next morning, and when they asked him, he was going to tell them he did it. I could not let him do that... and if I was going to die already, why should two of us be sacrificed when one would suffice?"
Courfeyrac sat back in his chair. "Ah..." Somewhere in his mind it occurs to him that in a situation like that he might just do the same for Enjolras (if Combeferre or Grantiare didn't beat him to it, but that's beside the point...) "But you still lived to tell the tale?"
Archie nods. "With the help of Dr. Clive I went to the courtroom before Horatio that morning and told them I pushed Sawyer. They never got a chance to question him, they didn't need to, they had their scapegoat. He turned up moments later, he'd figured out what I was doing, but it was too late. I was condemned and he was cleared. The... the execution was planned for the next morning, but they did not think I would last the night, so it hardly mattered. Besides, he was safe, that's what counted. However, I *was* getting better - very very slowly, but the Dr had told me that morning that he thought I would make it. He offered me a way out, if I were willing to take it, that I could live, but at a price."
"Oh?"
Archie laughs wryly. "A little on the dramatic side for my taste, but it served it's purpose... a drug, that once taken makes the person seem as if dead. The plan was that I take it, 'die', and then be taken somewhere to recover properly before being a free man once more. The only drawback being however, that I could never tell anyone. Dr. Clive knew, as did Pellew, but no one else could know... not even Horatio..."
"And you did, obviously." Courfeyrac whistles again. "Well...Quite a story..."
Archie nods. "So here I am. The world thinks I am dead and I have an awful lot of free time on my hands. I think the worst bit was seeing my own funeral... although saying goodbye to Horatio was almost as bad - I was so close to telling him the truth, but I stopped myself. It would all have been for nothing it he knew.." he shakes his head. "But that is all in the past and there is nothing I can do about it now. Forgive me, I did not mean to talk for so long..."
Courfeyrac shrugs. "S'alright. Like I said, it's quite a story..." He goes silent, unsure of what else to say.
Archie sips at his drink. "So... what do you do for fun around this place?"
Courfeyrac chuckles and finishes his glass of wine. "Me? People say I like to argue too much for my own good...But then there's-" He stops suddenly, spotting one of the waitresses he knows and whistles in her direction. She turns and makes a face, but he merely grins and winks at her. "There's always the girls."
Archie grins. "A friend of yours?" he asks, finishing his glass before pouring yet another one which finishes the bottle. "We seem to be out of drink as well..." he adds, frowning.
"You could say that," Courfeyrac replies, returning the grin. He glances at the empty bottle. "Mmm...A problem easily solved." Rene calls another waitress over and orders another bottle.
Archie laughs. He grins at the waitress and smirks at Courfeyrac before pouring themselves another glass each. "You have good taste," he comments before adding "For a Frenchman...," then tries hard not to laugh.
Courfeyrac snorts. "I am the epitome of good taste, thank you very much. And you're not such bad company for a Croaker, either," he counters, smirking.
Archie raises an eyebrow before laughing. "Why thank you, I shall take that as a compliment," he tells him. "Horatio had a thing for a French girl once... she was a right looker as well..."
"Your welcome." Rene laughs. "Oh really? Women and wine, the specialties of French culture." He grins.
Archie smirks. "Sounds good to me! Might stay a while after all..." he comments, sitting back in his chair to watch the various waitresses. "Though I would imagine most of the best ones are taken"
"Not always," Rene smirks, "You just have to know the right places to look." He takes a sip of his drink and begins to watch as well.
"I take it you know the right places?" Archie grins at him.
Courfeyrac laughs and grins a bit smugly. "I'd like to think so."
Archie laughs. Is beginning to suspect that Courfeyrac is rather full of it, but doesn't really mind. "Well, if I ever want to know, I'll know whom to ask!!" he tells him, pouring another glass of drink for both of them. "We're drinking rather a lot here.." he adds, laughing again.
Rene chuckles. "You're the one that keeps filling up the glasses." Not that Courfeyrac seems to be objecting very much as he starts the glass just poured for him. "Hope you're not staying far from here."
Archie thinks a moment. "Not too far... I don't think anyway..." He laughs. Everything seems rather funny at the moment in one way or another and he takes another sip of wine. "I'll find it...somehow..."
Courfeyrac laughs. "All right, good luck." He glances at the bottle and chuckles. "Don't tell me we're almost through our second one."
Archie looks. "It would appear so..." a little surprised. "I don't usually drink..."
"Welcome to Paris." Courfeyrac grins. Two things register in his mind, though. One, that he just might end up having to at least help Mr. Kennedy find his way home, and two, that he has a meeting to be at tonight, and unless he feels like being murdered by Enjolras he probably shouldn't show up drunk in any way, shape, or form.
Archie drains his glass grins. He is starting to feel a lot happier in Paris now than he had been previously and is glad to have found someone friendly to spend an afternoon with, and is also rather on the drunk side, but is trying not to show it. "So..." He has totally forgotten what he was going to say and laughs. "Oh dear..."
Against what little better judgment he may posses, Courfeyrac pours himself another glass of wine, then laughs. "Problem, mon ami?"
Archie tries to pour himself another glass and manages about half, although a considerable amount goes on the table as well. "Problem? Not at all..." he giggles. "Well, maybe a little bit..." He snorts. "At least Horatio isn't here to see it..." He looks a little sad at that but quickly smiles again.
Courfeyrac laughs again and takes the bottle from Archie, though his hand isn't exactly steady either. "Here I thought sailors were s'posed to be able to hold their liquor."
Archie laughs lots at that. "We can thank you very much..." he protests, clambering to his feet as he speaks. "See? Can stand perfectly..." But he almost falls over again at that point and quickly sits down again.
Courfeyrac snorts and laughs loudly at that. "I see!" Out of the corner of his eye he spots a waitress looking at them with an annoyed expression, and figuring she'll leave them alone if they just pay for these bottles, his fishes through his pocket for the money. Suddenly, though, he swears, then laughs. "Um, Monsieur Kennedy," he declares, laughing again, "I think we may have encountered a small problem."
Archie is still rather concerned with his own problem of managing to remain upright. "Oh?" He is still laughing far more than he should be although is trying hard not to.
Rene pulls the change out of his pocket, not close to enough to pay for the two bottles of wine they've just consumed. "Unless you've got more money on you than I do." He laughs again. Though the situation is not at all funny, he's currently finding it so.
Archie still finds it really amusing. "I have some money..." he replies, emptying out his pockets. "God knows if it's enough though - left most of it at my room and besides, haven't quite worked out your money system yet..." He shows Courfeyrac what he's got.
Courfeyrac looks and laughs again. "This is the point when we run for it and I beg for forgiveness later, I think." He stumbles to his feet quite unsteadily and offers Archie a hand.
Archie takes the offered hand and manages somehow to stand and laughs at him "Run? Think I can just about manage that..." He is laughing lots.
Courfeyrac grins, a hand on Archie's shoulder both to steady Archie and himself. He glances around, then says, "Right, let's go..." He walks towards the exit in what is at least an attempted straight line.
Archie manages to stagger after him. He is giggling non-stop although still trying to look dignified and failing miserably. "We should complain... this place has a moving floor.."
Courfeyrac laughs and stumbles outside. "Must've done something to the sidewalks too," he comments.
Archie grabs hold of a nearby lamp post and tries to steady himself. "And you wonder why we have bad opinions of the French." He laughs. "Oh dear, now my legs seem to have decided to stop working..."
Courfeyrac laughs until he hears a shout from the doorway they just left. He swears. "Might want to get them working right about now..."
Archie looks in that direction and decides he might be right. He starts walking randomly down the road although he has no idea where he is going. "And you thought you'd have trouble on a boat? I'm telling you, this is a hundred times worse..."
Courfeyrac catches up, still laughing. "Fine, you win." He stumbles again, but stays more or less steady. "You said you're staying near here, right?"
Archie actually isn't all that sure anymore. "Um..." he thinks for a moment, looking around. "Probably..."
Courfeyrac shakes his head. "Never mind..." Continuing in the direction they're going, he tries to think of which of his friends lives the closest, since he knows Archie isn't going to make it very far and isn't so sure about himself, either...
Archie follows him, giggling to himself. "S'good thing I'm not onboard now..." he comments, laughing. "Captain Pellew would have a fit!!!" He has no idea where he is going and really doesn't care much to be honest.
Courfeyrac stumbles again and catches himself on the side of a building they are passing by. "Lucky you, Enjolras is going to kill me when I show up to the meeting like this," he says without thinking, still trying to think of someone who lives close by.
Archie is walking in a rather zigzagging fashion, but is just about managing to remain upright. "Enj-what?" he questions, not even trying to pronounce whatever Courfeyrac just said.
Courfeyrac waves his hand. "Friend of mine." And the lightbulb goes on. "Who lives right near here." He glances at Archie. "Maybe we should pay him a visit..."
Archie thinks that sounds like a marvelous idea. "Lead the way..." he laughs.
Enjolras is at home working on something or other.
Courfeyrac leads them unsteadily the half-block more to Enjolras' apartment and knocks on the door. He laughs. "I think I have a death wish. Enjolras is going to kill me."
Archie just laughs and steadies himself against the wall. "What's he like?"
Enjolras hears the knock and frowns. He was very engrossed in what he was writing and really doesn't feel like being disturbed. After a moment he reluctantly stands up and heads for the door.
Courfeyrac grins. "Uptight. Short-tempered." He laughs. "I'm warning you ahead of time."
Archie grins at him. "Sounds like fun..."
Enjolras, sighing, opens the door at that moment and looks out. He notices Courfeyrac and blinks. "Good afternoon..." He says, raising an eyebrow.
Courfeyrac smirks. "You could say that." He glances up when the door is opened and smiles. "Enjolras, mon ami. Sorry to bother you. Mind if my friend and I come in for a few moments?"
Archie is trying very very hard to keep a straight face and not look at Courfeyrac, but is only partially successful though and can't help a slight snicker.
Enjolras just stares at him for a moment. "You're drunk." he observes flatly. "I suppose you had better come in..." He sounds as if it is the last thing in the world he wants to do but knows he can't really leave them out on the streets. He opens the door wider and ushers them inside, then glances curiously at Archie.
"How observant of you," Courfeyrac chuckles and enters the apartment, almost immediately falling into a chair. Seeing Enjolras' glance at Archie he says, "Oh, right. Mr. Kennedy, Enjolras. Enjolras, Archie Kennedy, Lieutenant something-or-other."
Archie sways for a moment then quickly finds a chair of his own. "4th Lieutenant. Though not strictly speaking anymore. But still. Same thing," he manages, then suddenly starts laughing again.
Enjolras, as could be expected, looks far from amused. "Thank you. That explains *everything*." he comments dryly. "You really should no better Rene, it is barely 3 in the afternoon!!" he scolds, shaking his head at them both. "And you expect to be in a fit state to do anything of use tonight??"
Courfeyrac laughs. "Calm down, Enjolras. We just got a bit carried away. I'll be fine in a couple hours...I think."
Archie attempts to be helpful. "It was probably my fault anyway..." he starts, before looking at Courfeyrac and laughing. "Could have been worse.."
Courfeyrac snorts. "If more of the wine had gotten in our glasses then on the table, you mean?"
Enjolras gives Courfeyrac a look that clearly says he doesn't think he'll be fit for *anything* in a couple of hours and looks distinctly unimpressed at his last comment. "We do not have *time* to sit around getting drunk Rene!" Just gives Archie a look. "Where did you meet Mr. Kennedy anyway?" he asks, for he doesn't think Archie is in any state to answer him sensibly.
Courfeyrac snorts again. "If we went by your rulebook, Enjolras, there wouldn't be time to do anything interesting." He grins, then thinks for a moment. "Um...Luxembourg gardens. He's new here and was looking for somewhere to eat. I took him to the Musain."
Archie is just sitting and trying to look serious. "Yes, the gardens. Very nice place to be I must say." he comments, ruining the whole seriousness affect by laughing immediately.
Enjolras rolls his eyes. "How very charitable of you." he comments. " Well that's all very well and good, but what do you intend to do now??"
"Stay here 'til he can remember where he's staying and then get home somehow." He grins, then adds. "...if that's alright, of course."
Enjolras has an expression on his face which clearly says 'no, it is *not* alright, but there isn't really much I can do about it is there?' and after a moment nods. "Try to keep out of trouble though please - I have work to do." he tells him, before giving Archie a disapproving look and going back to his desk.
Courfeyrac smirks. "Alright, alright. We can't get into that much trouble here anyway." He grins at Archie.
Archie has been busy looking around the room from where he's sitting. At Enjolras' words he pulls a face and returns Courfeyrac's grin. "Trouble? As if we would even *dream* of doing anything that involved *trouble*..." he comments, ruining the effect of his words by laughing straight afterwards.
Courfeyrac snorts, holding back a laugh. "So what happened back at the cafe /wasn't/ trouble?"
Enjolras looks up from his book. "Cafe? Rene.... what have you been doing this time?" he demands.
Archie just sits there trying very hard not to laugh.
"Well..." Courfeyrac is trying very hard to keep a straight. "We consumed about a bottle of wine each, but probably only had enough money between the two of us to pay for three-quarters of one." He snickers. "Needless to say, we had to make a quick exit."
Archie is laughing again by this point. "I don't think they were too happy with us really... did you *see* the look on that waitresses face??"
Enjolras is looking far from impressed. "Rene... I thought you would have learnt by now..." he tells him. "Please, just tell me one thing though - it wasn't the Musain was it?"
Rene meets Archie's eyes, grinning, then whistles quietly.
Enjolras looks like he is going to explode. "*How* many times do I have to tell you...." he trails off, shaking his head. "Couldn't you show just a *tiny* amount of consideration for anyone other than yourself???" He is clearly rather annoyed. "You know how difficult it is to find somewhere to meet as it is..."
Archie *knows* he shouldn't laugh, but can't help thinking Enjolras looks rather silly. "It isn't as if we robbed the place..."
Rene rolls his eyes. "It's fine, Enjolras. Calm down, for God's sake. I'll pay them back next time I go, and anyway, waitress there owes me a favor." He smirks. " 'Sides, Grantiare sure doesn't pay for everything /he/ drinks there are we're still meeting."
Archie just smirks at his "owes me a favor" comment.
Enjolras looks as if he wants to beat the pair of them over the head with a heavy object, but luckily for them, is able to restrain himself. "If you want to liken yourself to Grantaire, then go ahead." he growls. "But I would appreciate it if you would just... oh why am I bothering? It isn't as if you're going to listen to me anyway..."
Courfeyrac sighs and is finally able to keep a straight face. "I'm sorry, Enjolras. I realize I made a fool of myself, and I'm sorry I dragged you into it, alright?"
Archie glances from Enjolras to Courfeyrac and back again and tries to look as apologetic as he can.
Enjolras is quiet for a moment then nods. "Alright... I just wish you would *think* a little more..." he sighs. "No harm has been done I suppose..."
Courfeyrac nods and leans back in his chair. "Exactly, no harm done." He grins again, though. "But that look on the waitress' face was damn hilarious."
Archie splutters lots and starts laughing at that, although he quickly smothers it.
Enjolras raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment. "I'd strongly recommend you drinking some more water - if you plan to be in any state for later that is."
Courfeyrac shrugs. "I told you, I'll be fine." But he nods after a moment. "Fine, fine."
Enjolras goes and gets some water for them both. "You'd better be *fine*." he comments. "Have you done anything towards tonight's meeting? Or were you just planning to come and do nothing as usual?"
Rene takes a sip of the water and scowls slightly, his eyes finally going serious. "I do just as much as anyone else and you know it, Enjolras." He shrugs. "And as a matter of fact I've found out a few things we might find useful."
Enjolras looks rather skeptical. "Oh?"
"Which you'll have to wait until later to find out about." His eyes travel momentarily to Archie and then back to Enjolras, an eyebrow raised.
Enjolras had managed to forget that Archie was there. Suddenly remembers and nods. "Very well." Rests his head in his hands for a moment and wonders why he always seems to get a headache when Courfeyrac is around.
Archie is feeling a little worse for wear and has managed to fall asleep.
Courfeyrac is beginning to get a headache himself, and he closes his eyes and mutters, "Right, that would be why getting drunk is a bad idea." He opens his eyes and smirks a little at Archie. "Though he's going to be in worse shape than me."
Enjolras glances at him. "He's *your* problem - I don't want random strangers collapsing in my house...."
"How many times do I have to tell you, Enjolras? Don't worry so much. He'll wake up eventually." Courfeyrac grins.
Enjolras glares at him. "Well it'd better be sooner rather than later!!" he snaps, before turning back to his work and ignores Courfeyrac completely.
Archie sleeps.
Courfeyrac winces. "Could you not yell so loud?" He sighs quietly and leans back in his chair again.
Enjolras doesn't respond and just carries on working.
Courfeyrac falls asleep as well.
Archie sleeps for about an hour or so, then suddenly starts awake. He feels rather disorientated and looks around, then remembers what happened earlier and also discovers he has a rather violent headache and groans.
Enjolras looks up briefly but doesn't say anything.
Courfeyrac blinks awake a few minutes later. He remembers after a moment, though, and then winces as the hangover hits him. "What time is it?" he groans after a moment.
Enjolras doesn't look at him. "Just gone six. So we need to leave soon." he comments.
Courfeyrac swears under his breath and nods, then says, "Remember where you're staying yet, Kennedy?"
Archie tries to think but fails. "It can't be far..."
Courfeyrac stands up slowly. "Need some help getting there, at least?"
Enjolras rolls his eyes and watches. "This is *your* mess Rene..."
Archie struggles to his feet. "I.. yes, I think that might be a good idea Mr. Courfeyrac..." he comments, giggling.
Rene casts a glance at Enjolras. "I'm well aware of that," he mutters, then nods to Archie. "Please tell me you at least remember what it's around?"
Archie just about manages to stop giggling. "Um... I'll have to show you..." he says, giggling some more.
Rene chuckles and walks a bit shakily towards the door. He turns back and says, "Thanks again, Enjolras. I'll be there later."
Enjolras sighs. "I'll believe it when I see it..."
Archie follows him. Is still laughing to himself.
Courfeyrac rolls his eyes as he walks out the door and calls over her shoulder, "I'll will be, you just wait!" Once outside, he chuckles. "To hear him talk you'd think he had no faith in me."
Archie laughs more. "Well I didn't like to say..." he comments, stumbling slightly. "Who is he anyway?"
"Just a friend of mine." Courfeyrac is well aware that under the circumstances that sounds terribly unlikely, but says it anyway.
Archie staggers a little down the road. "Hope the rest of your *friends* are a little more friendly..." he giggles. "Though I think that one back there might get on famously with Horatio..."
Courfeyrac follows, not very steady himself. "Enjolras is a good man, he just gets fed up much too easily. And completely lacks social skills." He laughs at the comment about Horatio. "Oh really?"
Archie laughs at his description. "You could have been describing him rather than your friend then..." he chuckles. "Social skills are really not Horatio's strong point either... does Enjolras have a thing about doing his 'duty' as well?"
Courfeyrac smirks, thinking about that for a moment. "I've never thought of it in those terms, but yes, you could say that." Aware that bringing politics up again might not be a good idea, he treads lightly.
Archie is still too under the influence of drink to think about things like politics. "They should meet... though I wouldn't want to be in the room when it happened.." he giggles more. "Oh, I think we're nearly there.... perhaps..."
Courfeyrac laughs. "That really would be interesting. Though I for one would defiantly want to see it." He grins and laughs again, finding the concept very amusing.
Archie giggles. "Trust me... you wouldn't want to be there - they' either be so similar it would be scary, or they'd kill each other on sight..."he comments before stopping suddenly outside a door. "I think this is home!"
Courfeyrac laughs. "Or both, for that matter!" He nods when Archie stops. "Well, congratulations. You seem to have succeeded." He smirks. "And I must admit, that was quite an interesting afternoon."
Archie grins. "It was indeed!!! We should do it again sometime!!" he pauses. "Although I don't think Enjolras would appreciate it too much.."
Courfeyrac grins. "Bah, we just won't bother him next time. I'm at the Musain more often than not. Just stop by there sometime."
Archie grins back and nods. "Will keep that in mind for as long as I'm here..."
Rene nods. "You do that. And I'll introduce you to some of my friends that are a bit more...friendly." He smirks suddenly. "Like I said before, you're not bad company for an Englishman."
Archie is totally past taking offence. "And you're not bad company for a Fro.. a Frenchman." he quickly amends. "Next time though I think we should make sure we have some money with us!"
"Why thank you!" Courfeyrac laughs. "And yes, we most certainly will! Which reminds me...I should probably pay them for that when I go back there tonight..."
"Just remind that waitress that she owes you a favor..." Archie suggests with a laugh.
Courfeyrac snorts. "Will do!" He thinks for a moment. "At least I think it was her..." He shrugs, grinning. "No matter."
Archie laughs. "Well, I will leave you to get back to Enjolras before he sends someone out after you.... No doubt we will see each other again soon!"
Courfeyrac nods. "Talk to you later, then!" He waves a final time and turns to go.