let fury have the hour,

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? Agoge's third TDM! And the death of an important guy. And some very upset royalty.
WHEN? Late 1792, Paris.
ANYTHING ELSE? Violence, as always. Please warn in subject lines for anything beyond physical violence, and move to a personal journal if things go beyond PG-13.

IT'LL BE FINE;

Paris, 1792: revolutionary france.

read the France setting infopages

arrival for new recruits

(Note: If you were one of the people who used the previous TDM and want to use that as canon while still participating in this one, feel free! The following will still happen, though the guide will apologize for a malfunction in your BCE causing you to zap through the intervening month instead of joining your comrades like you should have. You'll be assured the glitch is fixed now, and it probably is. Probably.)

You wake up in a Parisian hotel room with a kind woman standing near the door, waiting for you to awaken. You have none of your clothing, just black military-issued underwear, and none of your previous possessions beyond the one you chose (if you remember choosing) to bring with you.

The woman by the door speaks French, and if you didn't understand the language before, you do now. If you have questions as to what's going on, she'll answer: you are a member of COST, a paramilitary organization of time travelers fighting against the Regency, a tyrannous kingdom of the future who are trying to stamp out freedom and individuality in the name of peace.

She will provide you with the clothing necessary to fit in at this time, and show you how to use your BCE implant to look up information on this time period and its social and political mores. She won't let you leave until you're properly dressed to fit in, but once you are, she'll wish you luck.

KILL THE KING

It doesn't matter if you're new, or if you've been here a while. You'll hear about the execution going on today. It's as though the barely restrained urban chaos of Paris has ground to a halt. Everything is about the king. Is it really going to happen? Are they really going to do it? Can they do it? Is it even possible?

Anyone out of the loop will be filled in, but with no small amount of ridicule: Today is the day of the king's execution. His trial has wrapped up, and the National Convention voted to execute him for treason and tyranny.

The crowd at the execution is enormous, a riotous mob of passion barely restrained. Everyone is jockeying for a better view, with children and adults climbing up on nearby statues, lampposts, the sides of houses, rooves, some even hang from windows. Everyone watches the scaffold.

The prison cart arrives with no fanfare save the yells of the crowd. Within it sits a small, fat little man, looking like he's doing his best to remain composed. He's brought to the scaffold, and his crimes are read out: colluding with foreign powers, and the crime of royalty, which is anathema to the republic of France.

When asked for his final words, Louis Capet, known to some as King Louis XVI, speaks in a quiet voice. "I forgive my enemies."

When the blade comes down, the crowd errupts into cheers. Many rush forward to touch the blood of a king, dipping bits of cloth in it in an attempt to save it.

I PREDICT A RIOT

It's as though all the built up tension in Paris exploded when the king was killed.

Who knows what started it. Rumors spread like wildfire, and it doesn't matter, does it? In the end, most of Paris is swarmed with chaos, especially in the areas nearest to where the king was executed. There's no doubt that the riot and the king's death are directly related; no peasant currently throwing stones and breaking windows will deny it.

Fights are happening with great frequency. It only takes a word, a half sentence, for someone to decide you're some kind of counter-revolutionary. There is a current of anxiety in Paris that hasn't gone away; after reaching a fever pitch, it has expressed itself with violence and chaos.

let's visit the tuileries

The Tuileries was the royal palace in Paris, the last residence of the king before his death. Of course the people of France end up clamoring at its gates, screaming profanities and attempting to scale them.

The majority of the guard let them do this, making only the most token of efforts to keep the peasantry back. But one guard, a man by the name of Antoine Colin, seems to become spooked and shoots repeatedly into the crowd before someone knocks him out.

By then, though, it's too late. The crowd was rambunctious, but not murderous. Now it's bloodthirsty, and the gates are stormed. It isn't long before the common people of France are trampling through the corridors of power. Inside, they'll mostly find servants running and hiding, and lots of valuables to steal.

Most are content with that, but not all. Some clamor for the deaths of the queen and the royal children-- per the laws of inheritance, Marie Capet's remaining son is now King of France. Should he not die as well?

The queen is hidden in a safe room, a hollow wall inside her apartments. Do you try to find her? Try to save her? Try to kill her yourself?

...And what about those kids hiding in there with her?

BRING IN THE TROOPS

The riot in the Tuileries lasts several hours, well past nightfall. It's beginning to peter off, people loosing their energy or vigor, when the sound of gunfire echoes from the front courtyard.

General Lafayette has arrived to save the queen, and brought with him a retinue of personal soldiers. All on horseback, brandishing firearms and sabers, they stream through the expansive halls of the Tuileries and attack anyone who looks out of place. They're here to clean up this mess with no concern for more filthy peasants getting in the way.

Aftermath

The night is a long one. Several fires break out in various parts of Paris, shops are looted, and several die in the Tuileries. The queen has disappeared, along with Lafayette. Some say she and Lafayette died, and they'll show you the bodies for a couple sou. Others claim they saw them riding off into safety just before sunrise. There are already talks of hunting them down, trying to find the traitors.

Only one thing is known for sure: It may be advisable to stay inside for the foreseeable future.

read the France setting infopages

NAV NETWORK LOGS OOC PLURK DISCORD

Comments

[chariotry]

Creeps, huh? [ a little smirk, like he’s laughing silently. ]

How will I be able to find you if you don’t tell me where you are? Unless you became my master, I wouldn’t be able to come to your rescue.

[ryuji]

[He looks left and right, just to make sure no one's in the vicinity before tugging down the collar of his ugh tragically hipster french collection shirt and activates his BCE.

Ryuji turns on his vitals and location, confirms/saves, and lets his shirt spring back to its desired location covering the implant.]

There, you can, uh. Find me whenever, or somethin'.

1/2

[chariotry]

[ What... He just master-baited him and he completely overlooked it.

He watches him, almost thoughtfully. Ryuji is either dense or trying to dodge the subject entirely.

Achilles isn't sure. But then again, that'd be making quite the commitment. ]

[chariotry]

[ He lets out a bit of a snort of amusement once he's finished making the adjustments. ]

Let's see if it works. [ And he doesn't bother checking around, tugging down on his own collar and pressing a finger to the piercing nestled at his collarbone. He's going to check Ryuji's vitals, okay. ]

[ryuji]

[He's dense, it has nothing to do with you Achilles.

But, look, 200hp/50sp. You've achieved new heights of stalker capabilities. That aside, he shrugs. If Achilles were especially astute, he'd see Ryuji look at his collarbone, even if for .000000000005 of a second. (maybe a bit longer, maybe it's .000000000010 of a second, but either way).

He looks behind himself for one last time, and sighs.]

I'd take you to church, but I don't think that's gonna help.

[And then, back at Achilles.]

You've got sin written all over ya.

[chariotry]

[ He's preoccupied, so he won't notice that gawking (you wish you were this swole).

50sp? Is that...?

Is that his mana? Is that it?

He's just going to make this stupid face. Ryuji's joke falls on deaf ears. ]

[ryuji]

[It's understandable, Achilles predates the concept of the earth revolving around the sun and not around him.]

Huh?

[Are you crushed, Achilles? He's a pretty weak mage.]

You look like you just whiffed a seriously bad fart.

[chariotry]

... I thought you were a powerful mage.

Is this 50 S P your level of mana?

[ryuji]

[Whoa. Ryuji's never felt any shame toward his capabilities in battle, but that's probably because he always fit a niche role in a team of 4. Talk about mana envy.]

Uh... it's how much I got to work with when I'm usin' magic, so I guess that's about right.

[He feels so called out right now.]

[chariotry]

[ just. Staring. ]

And here I was thinking of asking you to be my Master.

.... I feel like I’ve been tricked.

[ryuji]

[It's making him a little uncomfortable, so he stands off to the side momentarily. He wasn't hiding the fact that he has low SP stores; up until this point it didn't matter in the slightest. And when Achilles talks about him becoming his Master, it makes this situation all the more real and consequential.

And it's weird, because he doesn't know what all becoming a Master really means, but he thought, for sure, judging from their already rocky encounters that he would be one of the last people on earth that Achilles would want something out of. It's part low self esteem and part hesitation. Being called out on his inability to control magic properly feeds a feast onto the former issue, and he turtles back up.

Besides, they already had a conversation about what makes their differences all the more apparent. Achilles is ephemeral, a concept that's given life. He didn't want a relationship, had already given Ryuji a new host of inner doubts, and he just stands there, confused and somewhat downtrodden over this sudden question. The sudden appearance. The overbearing nature of him appearing just when he thought he was doing okay by himself.]

Yep. That was what I was aimin' for all along here. Trickin' you- cat's outta the bag.

[chariotry]

[ Fortunately, Ryuji is an open book most of the time. The immediate shift in his countenance is visible and Achilles grows quiet in return.

He had originally considered Ryuji as a master because he was a mage and a decent person, but as he's grown attached to the him, he realizes that above all other reasons he just wants to be able to protect him.

His eyes soften somewhat, since he'd originally just been jeering for the fun of it. Call him insensitive.

He doesn't give him the chance to dodge eye contact, leaning over and tilting his head. ]

Would you even be worthy of being my master? [ It seems like he's twisting the knife, but there's no sadistic malice evident in his otherwise warm expression. ] You're passionate and noble, which are all traits I look for in someone. But a good kid like you... with a man who's killed countless in battle.

It doesn't seem like a good fit, does it?

[ryuji]

[Worth is a funny thing, isn't it? Some people are worth of things just by merit of the fact that they were born with some innate capability that set them apart from other people. Ryuji sure as hell wasn't, which meant that whatever value he had, perceived or not, would have to had been proven through his accomplishments. Which, as far as Achilles can see, is a bar fight and a mission they worked well on together. Who's to say what's the ultimate deciding factor in any of this?

He wants to push his face up to Achilles and grit his teeth, just ask him to come out with all of it and say "what the hell do you want from me!?"- it's a stress that takes its vine-like roots deep inside his stomach. And here he is, even when Achilles is pushing through his barriers, Ryuji just feels... anger. Angry at himself, mostly, but it's still anger, nonetheless. And it never really did him any good.]

The way you talk about it, I think you got it backwards. [He looks Achilles right in the eye when he says it-] If I'm noble, 'n passionate and good and all that shit, which I probably ain't as much as you think I am, would that make me be askin' you if you were worthy of me?

[Because he sure as hell knows that at the end of the day, even if he said yes, and he thought with all his heart that this was a perfect fit, he would still know his limitations.

He's a shit mage, and if Achilles is looking for something secure or powerful, he's barking up the wrong tree.]

You sure you're pursuin' the right thing here?

[If it sounds familiar, it's because he wanted it to.]

<:)

[chariotry]

[ He totally struck a nerve. He can see it in the way he tries to barely contain the anger from rising to the surface, highlighted by the tension in his furrowed brow. Achilles smiles, if only because he can see himself reflected in this youth, only he's more attuned with restraint and discipline.

What he says rings true. Though Achilles prides himself in being a warrior and a hero, he still holds deep regrets and acknowledges that the tail end of his life was tainted by his own thirst for vengeance. This boy is pure, unsoiled by things like corruption, greed, and blood thirst. If he knew what a contract with him would entail, would he think it would worth it, to have a man he hadn't even known about until a few days ago usurp most of his energy and life essence?

Probably not, if he were smart or had an ounce of self preservation.

He lets out a brief, stifled laugh. ]

When did I ever give you the impression that I made wise decisions?

[ You read the Illiad, didn't you? Or some parts of it. ]

[ryuji]

[He's read enough to know about Achilles at the beginning of his story, he knows that the other possesses and contains a rage that Ryuji is so familiar with, it's not even funny, but given their times and gifts bestowed upon them- they're both from different worlds. The difference here is that Ryuji knows he'll never amount to greatness, or any semblance of it, whereas Achilles has already achieved his, wore it like cologne, no, like battle armor. It's a complicated feeling that wells up inside him. Achilles couldn't know what being normal was like. That sort of stuff? It ate Ryuji alive sometimes. To just want to be more than what people assume him to be.

Breathing in through his nose, he tries to not let himself fly off the handle here. It's infinitely harder to do when your fists ached as much and as often as Ryuji's did, but he stands his ground, tries to find the right resolve in himself, but... it's just not there. He couldn't summon self-control like he could a persona.]

The fuck. You think I know how to make a good decision?

[chariotry]

[ There's no more laughter left in his lungs, so his shoulders settle.

He hardly knows Ryuji, but from the short amount of time he has known him, he has come to understand that he's good by nature and has the heart of a lion. While many would believe Achilles has the highest of standards for those he lets get close to him, he actually sets the bar pretty low.

If one has honour and integrity, they're worthy of his friendship and protection.

Ryuji is no exception. He can see how eager he is to make a difference and to do right by people. Though his mana reserves are small, Achilles thinks that will be easily managed through effort and creative problem-solving. It should all be worth it if he can have the chance to protect him. ]

Maybe you could if you were given some time to think about it.

So why don't you and then get back to me?

[ryuji]

[Honestly, he was expecting a choice to be forced here, and now. He hated being pushed into a corner by anything. It'd happened to himself too many times in his life, and the results were always the same; he missed out on an opportunity to be a better person because there was nothing to hold him back from letting those self doubts take form and let him soar into doing what his instincts told him to do. He was lucky he had Akira in his life to slowly show him that there were other ways, because honestly, it still riles itself up inside him.

Ryuji's fists start to unfurl. His shoulders slump a little, and he feels so stupid for standing there like this. What he wants to tell Achilles is that he knows he fucking sucks, and that there's nothing in this world he can do to fix himself except accept it and move past it. He was angry when he felt insignificant. He was angry when Achilles wanted him to prove himself. And he was angry when Achilles focused this on himself, blaming himself in front of Ryuji for his bad decision making habits.

But he's not as much now, and he shakes his head. Why do things have to change? Couldn't they stay the same as they were before, so that Ryuji could figure out how to handle the initial sting of rejection when he had come clean with his feelings? It would be easier that way. He'd be fine with enough time, or so, he would think, but then Achilles has to push a little more and upset the order of things that Ryuji was trying to mitigate and set apart in his own head. He moves them closer to a point that confused Ryuji, that made his confidence waver, and really, at the end of the day, he's just a confused, beaten up 17 year old.

To make a choice now would be suicide.]

I ain't strong enough for you, Achilles. [He looks fucking crushed.] You know you can do better. If I had to make a decision right now... it's a no.

Making me make icons...

[chariotry]

[ Self-doubt is an entirely foreign concept to someone like Achilles. His dreams and goals had always been reinforced by everyone around him, his sole purpose to be a hero immortalized in history predetermined before he was even born. He was groomed to be a success story, to attain anything and everything he wanted so long as he stayed on the path everyone had wanted him to take. He never once questioned himself or told himself he wasn't strong enough to achieve something.

So having to hear that come from someone he'd come to respect and admire is defeating in itself. What he feels is indescribable, but it's closer to something like sadness rather than anger or annoyance. His rejection should wound his ego, and it does, but he doesn't feel as though he'd been slighted.

It's like he's exploring new territory, taking cautious steps inside a realm he wasn't sure he himself was even capable of conquering. Is this what Ryuji is experiencing?

Except he's choosing to withdraw rather than march on forward.

Maybe he wasn't the person he thought he was. A misjudge of character. ]

Are you suggesting you won't be strong enough, ever? That you won't grow?

I'm disappointed.

you got 250 of them!

[ryuji]

[It's cool, Achilles. He's used to being a disappointment to most people he meets. Just because you two kissed a few times doesn't mean that you're exempt from that sort of side of Ryuji.

Some signs of the abuse Ryuji's been exposed to in his childhood are hard to get rid of, like once they've been etched into your skin, it leaves subcutaneous lesions too. Ryuji tilts his head and smiles. What else can he do, right? It's a bad spot to be in, all around.]

I dunno. Maybe I will... maybe I won't. I don't got a crystal ball to be all like, 'Yo, Ryuji, you're gonna be better, just keep workin' on it'. I just got me.

[I just have me.

He sighs outward, kicking the ground a little bit.]

So uh, what I'm tryin' to say here is that. If it doesn't ever happen and I end up being a disappointment straight up to the end, I'll set you free. Find someone that can be your everything, y'know?

[chariotry]

[ Ugh. He hates listening to this. It's making him all kinds of uncomfortable and he has to turn away and sigh, running a hand down the side of his neck. ]

I thought we might've made a good team. [ Looking at him sidelong, he tries for a subdued smile. ] I thought we did, that time...

I won't push you further than this, though.

Let me take you somewhere safe, now.

[ryuji]

[He earnestly sees Achilles struggling with what he said, and he feels like shit over it, but he isn't equipped enough to know how to deal with this sort of shit. Did he ruin everything again? He can't assume it's anything but that, and carefully, he holds his hand out to touch Achilles' arm as he turns away from him.

Ryuji tries to stop him for a second-]

We... we are a good team.

[And then, lets go of his arm as if he's made his point clear.]

Yeah, it shouldn't be that much longer until we're outta here, right?

[chariotry]

[ He'll be okay, Ryuji.

He'll reach for that hand that had touched his arm to give it a nice, reassuring squeeze. ]

And time will take care of the rest.