Under the Sea (Open)

[poeticverses]

Characters: Jehan, Grantaire, Byrn, and everyone who wants to join them!
Date: April 23rd, midmorning to late evening
Location: The edge of the turtle!
Situation: Swimming! A picnic! A party!
Warnings/Rating: I'm going to rate this PG-13 for naked/nearly naked people, alcohol, and smoking. Also R's mouth. And apparently terrible mythological comparisons.

[Jehan has never been this happy, he doesn't think. The ocean. The blue, warm ocean. He gets to see it again, gets to swim in it with his friends, gets to enjoy it. He's so happy.

Of course, he's taking a long moment to shed anything but his coat once the group gets to the edge. It's a beautiful shade of blue and he can't not admire it.]


((ooc: go crazy!))

Comments

[epigrammatical]

Oh, Henry will do; there is little enough need to stand on ceremony here. I am sorry that Aeolus has interfered with your labours.

[poeticverses]

It's to be expected, I suppose. The winds have never liked Apollo, and here I am in the sun, writing poetry.

[He laughs]

Would you like to join us? There's a group of us just over that way, enjoying the ocean and the reprieve.

[epigrammatical]

Thank you; I should be delighted. You are quite right to make the most of this turn in our weather and our fortunes.

[poeticverses]

It'd be foolish not to! A shame it can't last forever, but all the more reason to enjoy it, yes?

[He laughs and starts heading back]

Ah, a warning. Grantaire is drunk. Again, after nearly a month of sobriety disagreeing with him, so he might be a bit...boisterous.

[epigrammatical]

Evanescent pleasures are some of the most magnificent, only I confess that I hope this is not too evanescent.

[Henry falls into step beside Jehan as they go to join the others. The news about Grantaire elicits a smile; having supplied Grantaire with a flask not too long ago, he is not surprised.]

I believe I can manage our cynical friend with equanimity, so long as he has not brought a troupe of Maenads along in his efforts to play at Dionysus.

[poeticverses]

No Maenads, thankfully. I don't think I would enjoy having my body ripped limb from limb by a troupe of women driven to madness with ecstasy. No, it's just Grantaire, his wine, and the rest of us. I imagine some will be joining him in drunkenness by nightfall, however.

[epigrammatical]

Take care that you preserve the means of intoxication to last until nightfall, then!

[Joking. Mostly.]

But you have chosen the intoxication of poetry? I hope you have found a suitable subject.

[poeticverses]

For now, yes. The colors of the sky, the water, everything is just begging me to write about it and keep it preserved in some way. I may spend every day out here, doing just that.

And you? Were you just enjoying the view?

[epigrammatical]

It is a wonderful view, with the added benefit of not looking like a Turner painting. [He smiles, offering a concession from their first conversation.] It seems there are natural glories to be found after all.

[poeticverses]

[Jehan laughs at that, remembering the conversation]

Turner's works did always seem a bit too dark for me. Nothing at all like this beauty around us.

[He gestures with a smile]

What have you been doing since we last spoke?

[epigrammatical]

I fancy Rosetti or Burne-Jones would commit the most dreadful sins to capture the colours here.

[Henry chuckles at the question.]

I have been spending quite a lot of time at a bookstore in the Wood sector, and continuing to acquaint myself with the byways of the city.

[And having all kinds of dreadful interpersonal drama.]

[poeticverses]

Which bookstore? I frequent--or did, at least, before the rationing took hold--several and never saw you!

[epigrammatical]

Have you not been to Daowei's? If you have not, you have yet to see a rather fine collection of poetry. Admittedly much is in the kedan tongue, but the books themselves are often lovely.

[poeticverses]

I never went there, no, and now I'm disappointed in myself. Hopefully he is still amicable to guests. I would love to visit now that I know it exists.

[A thought]

Does he do translations?

[epigrammatical]

He is friendlier to the foreigner population than many; we might not have become acquainted otherwise. You must visit sometime. I have only occasionally asked him for brief translations of the wares he sells—I imagine if he does more, it will be for a price, as seems to be customary.

[poeticverses]

Damn. I've a map I'd like translated, at least in part, and I am trying to find someone who might be able to do it.

[epigrammatical]

It can do no harm to ask. But a map, you say? Of the city, or of some other part of this world?

[poeticverses]

Of the turtle itself.

[epigrammatical]

Ah, indeed? Bring it to the shop; it is always possible that he may undertake the translation for the pleasure of viewing the map.

[poeticverses]

I hope so--it shows fields, I think, and ruined cities. There might be something of use somewhere.

[epigrammatical]

It would be a fine thing if that were so. But tell me, my dear fellow, how have you been keeping occupied, apart from cartographical matters?

[poeticverses]

[Jehan decides not to talk about his problems with the stress and trauma. That's not something he likes to talk about]

I've been writing, mostly, and reading. Dorian--Dorian Gray--recently gave me a flute, which I've missed playing.

[epigrammatical]

[Just as well, since it's doubtful that Henry would have much helpful to say.]

I did not realise that you were musical, or that you were acquainted with Dorian.

[poeticverses]

I am, yes, on both accounts. No virtuoso, but I enjoyed the flute much more than most of my lessons as a child. How do you know Dorian?

[Jehan is so not telling Henry just how well he knows the other Englishman]

[epigrammatical]

[As if Henry would mind. But maybe it's for the better. Henry has to laugh a little, particularly as Jehan's response offers clues for what Dorian may or may not have said. Specifically, not.]

Oh, I have known Dorian for quite some time, in the world from which we both come. Has he never mentioned that? No matter; it is certainly no great secret.