➳ i am a ghost, just a mirage

[seditiously]

( who chases traces of you )

Comments

[habitually]

[ ringgg ringggg ]

no no, come back, my expressive egalitarian.

[ R props his knuckles on his cheek in an “excuse me” expression of squinting and raised eyebrows while he watches the screen and the Facetime trills begin. ]

[seditiously]

[Enjolras jumps like a cat when the phone trills again so quickly. He peers at the number for another ring or two, trying to decide if he should run from this metaphorical hand grenade.

He presses green (like an idiot) and tries not to sputter in embarrassment when he sees Remi's expectant face on the screen.]

Um. Hi? I told you I hit the wrong button.

[habitually]

Good evening, fearless leader. But it could have been the right button, I think. I’m not busy, are you? Your quick texts tell me you aren’t, but I could be wrong. Tell me if I’m being a bother, won’t you?

[ With a stupid grin. Technology made mocking him even easier. Blessed be. ]

so gay, yet so stunted; please enjoy

[seditiously]

[Oh cool, he still hates this guy and his stupid, nicely stubbled, smug face. Good to know that gut feeling from earlier wasn't wrong.

Courfeyrac's teasing looks can shove it.]

...No, we can talk I guess. Is there a reason you need to video chat?

[habitually]

[ A frown and a particularly thoughtful look to the side and back. ]

You’re the one who called me first, no?

[seditiously]

[He's really unsure why he's even humoring this punk, and his face shows it.]

Very funny. Can you be serious?

JE SUIS FAROUCHE, BITCH

[habitually]

[ Oh that’s a lovely little scowl. R laughs and hides his face for a second with a snicker, before he returns to the camera. He sticks his tongue out the side of his lips for a moment as he pulls a book over to lean his phone against to give him both hands free. ]

I can, in fact. But it’s not very much fun, I would argue. What do you do for fun, Alex? And I mean outside of meddling in politics and student affairs.

oh good she did catch it

[seditiously]

[His brow only furrows further.]

What's that supposed to mean? That is fun. And important.

[He leans forward and props himself on one hand, his phone cradled in the other, trying to get comfortable seeing as how he's evidently not getting rid of Remi anytime soon.]

:D

[habitually]

[ R rolls his eyes with embellishment, heaving a sigh. ]

I mean like... a hobby. Something you do for you. Yourself. Not other people.

[seditiously]

[You can almost see him buffering.]

I...read. Articles, books.

[Please don't ask what topics.]

And Michel, Thomas, and I and go out sometimes.

[habitually]

[ Oh just when he thought he was going to see an error message after that pause, Remi does get a response. ]

Yeah? That sounds fun. I’ll have to ask Thomas when I see him next to verify, but... good enough for now. [ A grin as he reaches for his glass to take a drink from to his right. ]

[seditiously]

[That just earns him an eye-roll; it has no bite to it, though. Something something Stockholm Syndrome? He's just about held captive on the phone here, obviously, so close enough.]

Didn't realize this needed to be vetted. Well, since you're so insistent on grilling me, what are your hobbies? Besides "debate" apparently.

[habitually]

Debate? That’s rather recent actually. I stopped trying with professors; they kick me out of class enough I get the message.

[ He rather shyly scratches his nose with a grimace. ]

I also read. I write sometimes, but it’s a bit different than your writing, I would guess. [ R chuckles and counting on his fingers with fake thoughtfulness he keeps going. ] I like long walks along the river, knitting scarves for the homeless, karaoke, arcade games, going to the movies, feeding pigeons around Notre Dame with stale bread...

[ Guess which ones are real. Just try. ]

[seditiously]

[He scoffs a little; he can only imagine Remi staying after class, poking holes in the lectures of professors, seemingly trying to talk himself into barely-passing marks.

...which is completely different from his efforts at thought-provoking civil discussion to flesh out the arguments in the reading material.]

Huh, guess they didn't take too kindly to that?

[The former sounds like a blatant joke, even if it is self-deprecating; the latter list is too interspersed for him to catch, so in the end it leaves him a mix of confused and moderately impressed.]

Oh, that's...a lot. [He rubs the back of his neck; partially sarcastic or no, he's now a little self-conscious of his own lack of work-life balance.] You get around the city a lot then?

[habitually]

[ He chuckles and gives a wry grin. ]

Oh. I get around all right.

[seditiously]

[He sputters, more out of the immaturity of the innuendo than any offended delicate sensibilities.]

Not like that, I mea--you know what I mean. Could you just take the bloody compliment? Would that kill you?

[habitually]

It might. Not sure it’s worth the risk, frankly. I would hate to leave you prematurely.

[ A small wince. Too soon? He covers it with a self-satisfied look and another sip from his glass, or so he hopes. ]

[seditiously]

[Enjolras feels a sharp pain to his temple that makes him wince; he swears he hears gunshots and the flicker of another flashback but it's gone as soon as it came.

While the moment didn't last long enough for him to dissect, he chalks it up to his own memories highlighting the slight personal irony of Remi's statement; if he only knew how he had fared in his last incarnation.]

Somehow I doubt you're that much at risk. It's going to be difficult a basic conversation with you if all you can do if deflect, you know.

[habitually]

I’m not deflecting, sourpuss. [ R rolls his shoulders back as he puts the cup down again. Okay, fine fearless leader. ]

Life’s too short to be this serious about it is all I’m saying. I appreciate your sincerest efforts to have a basic conversation with me, though. Must tell you that it’s good to know I’m worth your efforts.

[ He pauses to flick his eyes away and then back to the screen again. You asked, you shall receive, monsieur Enjolras. ]

Nah, professors don’t like me. To answer your inquiry that I... avoided. Even when I do share their opinions, there will be something they say that will irk me. A curse I must bear, you could say. Now, while I do write and sing karaoke, I’m not a talented knitter; that was not quite true. Aren’t icebreakers fun?

[seditiously]

[He's...happy is not the word for this unexpected display of forthrightness (or that he actually prompted it...?) but it does leave him a little bewildered.

He keeps doing that, doesn't he? Switching between making him want to pull his hair out and knocking him completely off-kilter.]

Yeah, not a problem. You're...an interesting man, I'll give you that Remi. I don't want you to feel like...you're not liked. Or welcome, to be at the meetings and offer up those opinions. I mean, that's kind of the point.

[He runs his free hand through his hair, frustrated; usually, the words don't resist him this much.]

Super awkward I think you mean. But that's, um, cool. I'd like to hear you sing sometime. I know Michel is always looking for an excuse to organize a group outing.

[habitually]

Awkward? Surely never with you, sir. You’re such a warm fuzzy type.

[ R says it so fondly a bystander would consider it sincere. A bystander. ]

But to be “serious,” don’t let Michel go to karaoke. The good news is it takes a few drinks for him to start singing— so preferably by then you have had a few too to get through his performance.

[seditiously]

[A snort.] So I've been told. Have you and Co--Michel and Thomas been comparing notes?

[God that was close. As stilted as the conversation was at points, there was still this odd comfortability to it that made him almost slip. Yeah, good luck explaining those nicknames to a bystander, Enjolras.]

I'm surprised, Michel's never exactly been the wallflower type. How long have you known each other then? When did you meet him and Thomas?

[habitually]

Oh it feels like I’ve known them forever. [ God he really doesn’t remember—]

Thomas and I met in secondary briefly, but Michel and I met each other in his first year at university. I saw Thomas again there as well, and as those two are very tight we usually end up all together nowadays.

[ He smiles fondly. It followed soon after their re-introduction Thomas did know him, but was too withdrawn to bring it
up when they knew each other so casually. Courf was always more... talkative and it came to light quickly; it made Grantaire nearly choke on a lump in his throat thinking of the conversation. ]

[seditiously]

Yeah, same. [More literally than Remi knew, but. Well.] I guess I'm just surprised Thomas only suggested you come to the meetings now, he seemed really insistent I meet with you the other day.

[He smiles fondly.]

Yeah, they've been like that for as long as I can remember. I'm surprised it took them this long to date, they always basically were at each other's hip that it just seemed like a formality when they finally bit the bullet. But I guess when you're around another person like that so long that it takes longer to notice.

[He rubs his neck a little, embarrassed at his own pontification.]

Sorry, I shouldn't ruminate over things like that; Michel's always said I'm relationship-challenged, platonic or otherwise. But they're my best friends, like brothers, so it's nice to see them happy.

[habitually]

[ R smiles fondly at his embarrassment about the introspection. ]

Wo-ow. Quite reflective of you, E. If I didn’t know better I would even say say that you must have a soft spot for those two. [ As if Enjolras— Alexandre— could have soft spots. ]