Tell me quickly what's the story

[le_centre]

Characters: Courfeyrac and Enjolras
Location: Enjolras's room, just for that extra layer of personal awkward
Time: After the Gossip Girl Post
Content: Oh putain.
Format: Action.
Warnings: Angst and awkward explanations in equal measure.

Comments

UPDATING

[righteousapollo]

[He’s restless; he can’t sit still. His anger drives him around the room, throwing books around as if he is looking for something he’d lost - but not actually knowing what he is physically doing - as his mind whirls with frustration. Despite the fact that this is sometime after Courfeyrac has left Enjolras is still pretty damn furious; he hasn’t yet worked his way through the proud, cold, angry manifestation of his hurt and moved into the calmer, more introspective stage.]

[Enjolras wants to get out. He looks around for his coat but is interrupted by the sound of the door opening. He turns quickly, expecting Courfeyrac to walk in for Round Two of the argument.]

[But it’s Combeferre. He runs a hand through his hair - an unconscious expression of relief, but Enjolras is far too distracted to reign himself in and regulate his movements - and throws the other one up in exasperation.]

Oh, God, Combeferre. I think Aimery is the one you need to talk to right now.

---

[ Combeferre snorts, though not unkindly or derisively. ] I don't think so.

[ It rarely happens that he feels awkward around Enjolras, but there is a heaviness on his own shoulders that he tries desperately to shrug off. He wants to move on, immediately take on Enjolras' problem and try to relieve the burden, but even Combeferre knows that it would be too much, and though it pains him to broach the subject, he feels that essentially he really must. ] Were you never going to tell me what had happened? [ He doesn't let hurt into his voice; he asks as if asking any other question in the world, almost curious, inquisitive. ]

[ He stands very straight, arms folded casually across his chest. His quick strides to Enjolras' room had made his glasses slip down his nose a little, but he had temporarily forgotten about them, even though he was watching Enjolras with rather bleary vision. ]

---

[Enjolras looks momentarily caught and knows better than to lie to Combeferre (for several reasons).]

Eventually, yes. [he matches Combeferre's gentler tones] I wasn't keeping it a secret on purpose; it was just.. a private matter. Circumstance and bored students seem to have deprived me of the chance to tell you in my own time and in a manner of my choosing... [he says this rather irritably, with the air of someone trying to regain as much of their tattered pride as possible.]

[Feeling neither need nor desire to elaborate further, Enjolras nods at the door behind Combeferre's back.] Did you pass him on your way here?

[onlyendinpeace]

[ Again, Combeferre hesitates before speaking, unsure of himself. ] I understand, if it was something you felt you couldn't really talk about- [ Just not why Enjolras couldn't tell him. ] But this is a highschool; secrets rarely stay secret for long.

[ He shakes his head. ] No. I came here from my office.

[righteousapollo]

I'm telling you, it wasn't a secret - it was just private. [Enjolras reiterates, frustrated all over again. This really was a bad day for Enjolraic calm. He sits on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees and hands pressed against his closed eyes.] Well. He was here a few minutes ago. He got very defensive when I questioned him about the logic behind sleeping with coworkers and his boss, and then...

[Enjolras drops his hands with a weary frown, staring at the floor between his feet. Blankly:]

...And then he said I couldn't hold interpersonal relationships and that I didn't care about people. [pause] Amongst other things.

[onlyendinpeace]

[ ... Combeferre blinks. For a moment he is a little stunned - Courfeyrac really said that? It seems viciously harsh of him. Perhaps Enjolras' attitude to others could be a little wrongly interpreted by someone who doesn't know him, but this is Courfeyrac! Combeferre cannot quite find any response to give, instead finally moving, stepping forwards slowly and a little tenatively, to sit by Enjolras' side. ]

That doesn't sound like him. [ He frowns, mulling over his words. This is a lot more difficult to tackle than he imagined. ]

[righteousapollo]

[he sits up a degree straighter as Combeferre settles beside him, giving his friend a slow nod.]

Well, I'm paraphrasing but that was the gist of it.

[He doesn't quite know what to make of it either. When you've poured all of your energy into the betterment of your fellow man and then one of your dearest and most-valued friends say you don't actually care for people because you're too emotionall maladjusted to see them for what they really are ... then it's a little more than upsetting. It's crushing.]

[onlyendinpeace]

I overheard Jehan speaking to him on the phone. [ Combeferre stared pensively at his hands. ] I think he's rather upset.

I realise I've very little insight on the matter, but I don't think he meant it. [ There's a note of anxiety in his voice. ] - what did you say to him exactly? [ ... ] Perhaps... you said he was defensive, so it could have been a rush of provoked passion. [ He's grasping terribly at straws here. ]

[righteousapollo]

[Enjolras shifts in his seat, warring between a stubborn denial that he had said or done anything out of order and the realisation that being so stubborn was doing a great disservice to Courfeyrac. The lawyer within him refused to allow him to be an insincere witness.]

I... [pause to look up with a grimace, then drops his gaze again] ... I was severe, I suppose. I said that we were very different people. I think I hurt him.

[onlyendinpeace]

I think you've both hurt each other a great deal, without really intending to. [ Combeferre raises his hand, gripping Enjolras' shoulder in what he hopes is a comforting way, his voice very gentle and careful, treading softly with his words. He doesn't want to provoke another negative reaction; he wants to continue the descent to calm, and so far it's going alright. ] Anger does that to people. You snap without realising that what you say is far worse than how it sounded in your head - or else you speak without even considering what you say at all. Then you fall into regret.

[righteousapollo]

[tactility has been thrown out the window; it drained away when Courfeyrac stormed out. Enjolras sits very still and hardly feels Combeferre's arm around his shoulder as he stares at the floor.]

Thing is, what Courfeyrac said isn't exactly the kind of thing you just say off the top of your head, is it? [remembers that Combeferre wasn't actually there for the argument and that some more explanation is probably needed:] He brought up what I said about Feuilly at the barricade, claiming it was an example of how I only see Platonic, idealised Forms of people. [this is obviously the crux of his hurt; he looks up at Combeferre in a sideways glance] Like I said, that's not something you just say off the top of your head.

[onlyendinpeace]

When you get to know someone closely, you often learn how to hurt them too. [ He doesn't think that Courfeyrac is entirely wrong, if only because Enjolras does get lost in his ideals sometimes. However, he does not think that the objectification that Enjolras sometimes seems to express is intentional. Enjolras lives for the people, and believes in humanity beyond whatever "perfect" form they may have on some other plane. ]

[righteousapollo]

[disappointed and annoyed, Enjolras nods in mute understanding and turns to give Combeferre a mirthless half-smile, half-grimace.] I'm sorry, I fear this is going to put Jehan and yourself in a rather tough position. [Enjolras truly feels uncomfortable at the idea that this argument might have wider ramifications for Les Amis; it's one thing to argue with your friend, but to split his lieutenants would be just as awful.]

[onlyendinpeace]

I refuse to see this as an end to anything; Jehan and I will be just fine. [ For all that's happened, Combeferre had faith in Courfeyrac and Enjolras; he resolutely maintains that they must and they will mend this, no matter what it takes. ]