>>@ENTERTHEDRAGON | @ALL

[ryuji]

Looks like Sergeant Gramps is gettin' a little finicky that some stuff hasn't gone down. I got an idea on how to introduce the king to the guillotine. Anyone wanna start a riot with me to kick it off?

Basically, I got this list of VIPs who frequent the bar I work at, right? Turns out, a few of these boneheads are some serious players. All we gotta do is get into a fight of king supporters vs revolutionaries and inspire 'em to start writing some charges up. Who's in?

Comments

[lefthandfree]

Wait, only 45? What, are you going to just fall over and give up on life after mid-life crisis? Don’t worry though, pal. I won’t harm a hair on your head. Only assholes attack a bar’s employees. Nothing like saying “please don’t service me anymore” than biting the hand that feeds.

And, hey, that’s real swell of you. I could always use more food. I don’t want you getting in trouble on account of me either though, so if it’s high risk or anything, I’d rather you keep your job, y’know?

[ryuji]

I dunno, some people have been hella rude to me here already. I did get punched once, but uh... that's 'cause I literally walked into a bar fight that I didn't know was going on. They were super chill about it though.

Nah, I ain't gonna lose my job over it. The owner practically leaves the place entirely to me at nights and it's not like we got cash registers, heh.

[lefthandfree]

Oh. I mean, that’s clearly an exception. You getting punch because of walking in on a bar fight. You coulda been a customer. There will always be people who are dicks to servers though. Because that’s the only way they know how to feel better about their crappy lives, by putting other people down.

That’s...pretty cool, actually. How long you worked there?

[ryuji]

Yeah. I know. My mom waitresses at night, so I've heard the horror stories before... people who treat others like shit just because they're doing a job that they can't see themselves doing oughta try walking in their shoes for a day to see what it's like.

It's shitty adults like that, that piss me off so goddamn much. Everyone has something goin' on. You don't take your helplessness out on others. You grow from it.

Anyway! First day I came to Paris, actually. I woke up here in an alleyway, not sure how it really happened. I struck a deal with the owner to let me stay in the attic above the joint in return for food and work. He didn't ask too many questions, and it's been pretty solid.

Except the living arrangements kinda suck.

Sleepin' on crates is killin' my leg.

[lefthandfree]

Wait, your mom’s here too? [Context is important, kiddo...]

Some people just never grow up though. That’s the way the world is; even adults are really just kids, when you sit and think about it. It’s just a question of whether or not they learned anything that actually mattered when growing up.

Damn, sounds like a really good deal though. I just kinda... Wander around and find places to crash. I’ve found a few abandoned buildings, so it’s not like I got a shortage of places to hang, but it’d be kinda nice to stick to one place without people getting suspicious about it.

Get some leafy branches and stack them on the crates. Cover it with a canvas. Basic bedding. Not perfect, but it could help.

[ryuji]

Huh!? No way. My mom's back at home. I wouldn't want her to be here... it's way too damn dangerous.

[Ryuji has to think about that for a second... teens could make palaces just as well as adults could- entire worlds that exist at the subconscious level that rise like vines over the core of a distorted center, poisoned by sinful desires. He's seen the gamut of all of them- lust, greed, sloth-- all the way down the line. And through all of that? Ryuji's only learned that the only people you can trust are the ones who want to dig out the truth of things. Age doesn't matter that much, but adults have the most potential for them to go unchecked... where society hammers down the younger generations for wanting to change things for the better.

It leaves such a sour taste in Ryuji's mouth.]

Dude... you sound pretty helpless here. And here I was, thinkin' that I got a shitty setup. You're welcome to crash up here, but not gonna lie it's not exactly the Hotel Tokyo.

That's a good idea though!

And... so uncomfortable sounding, even like that. Damn. Haha

If you ever do come for a visit, bring some leaves from your travels. I'm holdin' ya to it.

[lefthandfree]

Oh. Okay. With the way you said it, it almost sounded like she was. That’s kind of you though. And responsible. Wanting her to be safe, I mean. I’m sure she’d be proud.

I’m far from helpless though. And maybe it’s kind of shitty, but it works. I’m not really used to getting too comfortable around people anyway. Bad dreams and stuff. Don’t want to trouble people with them.

Are you from Japan? From the username, I would have guessed Chinese. Though I guess our usernames probably don’t represent something about us directly. [His is “bucket” after all. What the fuck does that even mean?]

I’ll bring some by later for this fight of yours. That way you can get a sound(er) night’s sleep after. How’s that sound?

[Seriously. It’s not that hard. Lots of trees anywhere. Just vandalize a bit and hack off some limbs. No one will notice. Probably. But Bucky is okay with doing it for this (clearly a) kid.]

[ryuji]

My dad left a few years ago. He's a scumbag though, I'm not complainin' about it one bit. But I'd be really upset if anything happened to mom... or me, really, I guess. I put her through enough trouble as it is, I don't wanna worry her any more than I already do.

[With such an unruly kid like this - the police calling his house when he skips class, getting into all sorts of trouble with administration and authority figures... at least he's mellowed out over the last few years. His mom probably chocks the entire thing up to thinking it's her fault to begin with that he comes from such a bad family situation. Ryuji stays awake at night thinking about that sort of stuff.]

It's cool... I mean, I understand too. I don't get along with too many people when I'm awake, so. But bad dreams? Yeah, those are pretty much the worst goddamn thing. Have you tried introducing uh... what's it called.

White noise? Like a fan or somethin', while you sleep. It usually helps me.

And I ain't Chinese, lol

Go for it! I'm lookin' forward to see how well a bed of leaves is gonna feel. Kinda got that outdoorsy hippy thing goin' on, but I can deal.

[Listen.

Vandalizing a tree in revolutionary France may not seem like a big thing at first, but what if it causes unintended side effects down the road? Like France's wine industry dies and they suddenly become big on pina coladas. Or something.]

[lefthandfree]

[Geezus. That's rough. Always has been, always will be. He can’t personally imagine what it’s like; he knows he’s lucky in that both of his parents were so nurturing toward him and his sisters, even eagerly taking in Steve from time to time as another of his siblings when the need arose. It doesn’t take much for him to imagine how much burden that put on Ryuji in his youth, likely even now as he is still young, and the thought only stirs Bucky’s concern further, not for the guy’s immediate wellbeing but what it means for his future.]

That’s valiant of you. And I realize that sounds fake as hell, but I mean it. It takes a lot to think about others like that. I don’t doubt that she knows you’re trying your best, even if you feel like you just give her trouble.

For the record, I definitely get along with people just fine when I’m awake. I love connecting with people, seeing how everyone else sees the world. But there’s always more to people than what you see on the surface. That’s a good suggestion though. I’d give it a shot, but. We’re in medieval France, so.

Thanks for the confirmation, then. I had an idea cause you said your name’s Ryuji, but. I dunno. Maybe you were mixed or something. Doesn’t matter much I guess. Was just curious anyway.

And I’m sure the results will surprise you. It was commonly used during the war.

[Which one? He’s not saying. Just. Y’know. An war.]

[ryuji]

[Ryuji just pauses, re-reading the first text a few times. It's just text, of course, but it comes off as earnest and anything but fake. This is nice. This is good. He's a simple, happy boy.]

Tch... Are you for real?

[It may look like annoyance, but that's the national language of Ryujiville for "I don't want to explain my feelings so I'm going to ballbust you now. Please look forward to it."]

I dunno. Listenin' to other people's perspectives too much makes your own go all sorts of out of whack. I've seen examples where it drove people to do some really shitty things. Then again, you're probably a sociopath if you can't see anything but your own perspective. So, whatever. Moderation, I guess.

So, like. You know where China is. You from my world? I'm Japanese, through and through. I got plucked straight outta [compton] 2016. What war are ya talkin' about?

[Sorry, Bucky. He comes from a time of relative peace, so that phrase sticks out to him.]