Video: [Locked from Eponine.Open to everyone else]

[but_civilization]

[A very pale Combeferre, worn out from the effects of the jump, and squinting into the camera is appearing on your screens, Tranquility, hi there. Despite being rather pale, he seems, well, well enough as anyone who was in engineering that day can attest to being, and there is a bit of a preoccupied smile on his face.]

Hello, everyone and welcome those of you who are new amongst us. I look forward to knowing you in time and hope you've had a decent time of things so far. That said, I do have a question, for, well, all of you, old and new passengers alike.

[Here is where he hesitates, shifting a bit, his face a little flushed as he considers how best to put this.]

I ah. It has been some time since I, at home, had time for seeking out romantic attentions or for seeking someone I could share them with as well.

[Given the year he's been on the ship, it's been about three years, to be precise, but, details, right?]

I think that I...that I may very well have found someone who I would much like to know better in that context, and it seems that, perhaps, the lady will not be opposed. I only wonder, I...

Ah...

[He's taking off his spectacles now, polishing them a little frantically, with the edge of his shirt, then fiddling with them a little, so that the loose screw at the temple actually drops off completely.]

Damn .

[So now Combeferre's sitting there, a side of his spectacles dangling off of his face, even as he attempts to shove them back up and keeps finding them slipping down, with his cheeks certainly going scarlet now.]

I wonder how...

What are the ways that you might woo someone you would like to know better? Ladies, what might a gentleman do, specifically, to ensure that he remains respectful to you, above everything else, even while he is asking you to potentially...

[How does he girls, ship? ]

This is awkward, perhaps I had better just...end here.

Comments

Video

[acapriciousthing]

[She made a rather similar broadcast in another place a few years ago. And it was even more awkward because she's so much older.]

This is going to sound ridiculously simple. And that's because it is. But the key in these things is seriously to just talk to her.

Video

[but_civilization]

It does seem simple, put like that. I suppose that I am not, that I wonder because it is so soon. I would not hurt someone in love for anything that I hae in the world and if I were to rush...I do run that risk, do I not?

Video

[acapriciousthing]

If you don't speak with her, you'll never be able to move forward. Sometimes you have to take chances. It's part of being alive.

[Being alive: Something she's far more of an expert on]

Video

[but_civilization]

Chances, hmm? I do tend, well, to hold back on those a little, I admit.

[There is a slight eyedart there.]

At least, that sort of chance. [As history so clearly shows.]

Others seem much easier. But still.

[Video]

[vivelavenir]

I ought to be terribly offended that you would pour the contents of your heart out for the public as a whole, a town crier, instead of coming to your bosom friends right away- however.

[With a cheery sort of look!]

I am much too impressed upon by the depths of these feelings of yours to deal in anything other than the most terrible joy and curiosity.

Well? Tell all. Who is she, and does she know of your intentions? I doubt it, as you are a slightly subtler sort, though your glasses seem absolutely undone by your newfound passions...

Or is this all very secretive?

[Excuse him, he's energetic. This is a most wonderful thing to hear!]

[Video]

[but_civilization]

[Passions? Combeferre is pink now as he's trying to smile at Jehan in the screen, but keeps needing to duck his head a little at the same time.]

Ah, I ask to have the benefit of knowing the opinion of many, my dear friend. I do trust yours, but given there are many people here, many responses to such a thing, it seemed...prudent to ask at large to find out a variety of topics.

Ah I...do not think the lady has determined them all, no. This is all rather sudden, that I come to know it. And not so secretive as all of that, I would presume. Just, very new, to say the least.

The last that I...with anyone...was 1830...

Re: [Video]

[vivelavenir]

[See? Not all ducks are bad.]

Courfeyrac will be very hurt at your neglect, no doubt. He has something of a knowledge of the whims and fancies of women, more than any of us.

[A nod towards his confession, though.]

And indeed, as you have said, now you learn to live the life that you still have. I am so glad, my friend.

Might you not approach it slowly? Passions move with heat and speed, but true affection tarries to create precious moments...

Some sort of outing, perhaps? To look at the stars, or a picnic? Perhaps you might take the lady to tea, or share with her in a hobby she enjoys. If it is very new, she must know organically that you are interested, and sincere. I should think.

[Video]

[but_civilization]

[Jehan. Did you come up with that after spending time with Joly? Have you been saving it for just the right mention of ducking? It seems to feel that way, really.]

Ah, this IS intended to include him too. There is only one who I've neglected to leave this open to. I do intend to ask him at some point as well, or through here, or something of those means at least.

Though I do fear his methods may not entirely be employable by those who do not quite posses his...verve, perhaps?

So I do.

It is so strange. Not that I am ungrateful, but, so suddenly, the way it was when my tools came back to me, I knew that I, that I was perhaps allowed to have that life again.

[Is that what he was doing to himself? Some sort of subconscious punishment for losing Enjolras? It's not something he would have ever even once thought up, but then, the mind works oddly indeed.]

And slowly, yes. I do not wish to, well, to find out that this is no more than a passion or some sort of means my mind's created for substituting for Enjolras another who gives me hope. And for the lady in particular,that much would be especially unfair. If it is that, I would rather have kept it to myself than put her through it.

Those. Those are good, rather. We've discussed stealing a toaster over pop-tarts but that hardly counts as something so intimate as those suggest.

video;

[cargojet]

I'm not trying to be cruel but how do you function in real life? I mean, it's not like it's that hard. Women are people just like anyone else. You talk to them, you empathize with them, you do all the same sort of things you do with guys--though if I were you I'd leave out visiting the urinals together and comparing dick sizes, that doesn't go down so well.

Buy her a drink, make conversation, the kind both of you can get involved with, and if you really want to impress her then just be yourself. [ Says the flirtatious and capable modern day lothario. What's wrong with this picture...oh. ]

You now what? Come to think of it...maybe not. Maybe being less you is exactly what you're missing. Be a more confident less socially inept version of yourself. Women dig confidence. And if all else fails apologize and leave, it's a move that never fails.

Video;

[but_civilization]

Well, monsieur, in real life, it is not as though I come upon women so often as all of that. Not enough to have gained such experiences at least. There certainly is more than enough evidence to show they are equal to men, yes, but more people have yet to come to know that at home. I have not, for instance, ever been to classes with one, or to something of that sort.

[Public lectures, on occasion, but he's more run into women there as opposed to taken one. There WAS a mistress, briefly back when he'd first come to Paris, but that had been quite different.]

I suppose that, well, I function as most men in my time would have, but the years that I have missed have left me scrambling with social cues. Although...I do not believe my friends and I have ever had that particular ah...pleasure of comparison.

[He's SEEN all of their junk enough times and could probably, objectively,come up with a ranking, if pressed, but it was hardly something he thought much about. Groin injuries, wounds to the hip, stripping friends out of wet clothes and into bed and the like hardly gave him time to actively note these things.

Those others though, they have some consideration. Especially the last part.]

Perhaps, not so much myself at the moment, no. [That seems...rather reasonable, considering that he's fairly certain Eponine was creeped out when he wore leeches on his face and up his nose to broadcast to the ship.]

Confidence, monsieur. That gives me room for thought.

Video;

[cargojet]

I went to a Naval academy, so I know a little about not attending classes with women. But that wouldn't change the fact that they make up half the world's population, you know? Hard to get away from them.

[ He will never get it, not really. Nathan doesn't really care for history outside of his lists of American presidents and memorized dates and figures and quotes. Social history is anecdotal, not something he spends long periods of time trying to empathize with--he's just not set up emotionally to be able to handle it; that is, he has all of the range of emotional notes as a brass triangle. ]

A lot of things get better when you're more confident, but it doesn't just come for free. You gotta practice.

Video;

[but_civilization]

That DOES ring true. Especially here and now. It seems far harder to do that these days. Earlier it was...nearly the opposite.

Practice, you say? How might one...

Video

[lafautedevoltaire]

I hear some people walk around and look at her a lot. Perhaps sit nearby.

[He hears a lot of things]

I'm not sure what that's supposed to do.

Video

[but_civilization]

No, those do not make much sense to me EITHER, Gavroche.

Perhaps that is why I am so very bad at this.

Video

[lafautedevoltaire]

It all seems a little silly.

Re: Video

[but_civilization]

I think it IS pretty silly, the way that humans go ABOUT it. It seems as if we've come up with all sorts of rules we didn't need.

[video]

[lecentre]

[Eyebrows are raised. Quite a bit here. Really now, Combeferre!]

You have found a lady and you did not first ask me, my friend? I'm a hurt, but promise not to hold it against you. Who is it, then? How to woo a lady is all dependent on who it is.

Still. A meal shared of some sort always helps-- I have been taught a little more of how to make the best use of what we have available to us. Perhaps I could teach you in turn?

[video]

[but_civilization]

Well, my dear friend, I did not want to ask only your advice, as expert as I know it is. Perspectives are another matter though, and involve many more people.

[There is a little apologetic grin for Courfeyrac at that.]

I AM grateful for your forgiveness, and your help just now. And well, we HAVE made use of the toaster together, but nothing fancier than that. Your help would...I'd appreciate not dying by microwave when I might have had assistance.

[Dodging the question there, a little, Combeferre?]

[video]

[lecentre]

Ah, but how many people do you need the perspective of, really?

[And he is giving you a look, monsieur.]

I will only offer my help if you offer me the name of the young lady you are so dearly trying to impress.

voice;

[doggedly]

This is more sad than awkward, actually.

Video:

[but_civilization]

Oh? And why, precisely is it SAD instead?

Video:

[doggedly]

Because you're overthinking this, at the very least. D'you talk like this at her, all this know you better in contexts and wooing?

video;

[suddenlycaptain]

"Asking you to potentially" what?

Re: video;

[but_civilization]

Well, to spend an evening with. Courting or...I believe the term is "date" now.

[Which is odd to Combeferre. You date samples of things, or you eat dates. There's no measurement or digestion going on with this sort of process. Well, he supposes if one goes to DINNER but...]

video;

[suddenlycaptain]

Do you want to have sex with her?

[ let's just be as blunt as possible ]