![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
save the earth
OOC Information:
Name: Dee
Are you over 15? Yes
Contact:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
oresteia
IC Information:
Name: Enjolras (surname; no canon name given)
Canon and medium: Les Misérables
Age: 22
Preincarnation Species: Human
Preincarnation Appearance: Hugo himself describes Enjolras as ‘angelically handsome’, denoting Enjolras’s other-worldly beauty. He is blond and blue-eyed, with rosy cheeks and redder lips. Though a grown man, he is youthful to a point that he could easily be mistaken for only seventeen. Even so, there is a passion and severity to his appearance that makes him seem even more untouchable than his heavenly appearance alone; he carries a sense of righteous fury. Enjolras is often compared to having the look of a marble statue, specifically those of traditional Greek heroes. It is also stated that he becomes even more beautiful after killing a man, and considerably lovelier without sleeping or eating for an entire day. He is not often without a stern expression on his features, and his smile is mentioned only once- at the moment before his death.
Any differences: The canon Enjolras was a product of his time; his height was shorter than his modern counterpart, and their hairstyles were wildly different. In 1823 Enjolras’s hair was kept long, less for any fashion statement and more because he could not be bothered to find the time to cut it. In Locke City, Enjolras’ hair is of medium length, though still blond and perfectly curled. His shoulders are broader, and his features are far less androgynous and feminine. He’s still the portrait of a Greek hero, though he is more bronze than marble.
Preincarnated History: Enjolras was the only child of a wealthy family, and as such, grew up with the privileges that such a station in society allowed. Very little is stated about his childhood, or even his pre-adult years. What we do know is that Enjolras was a Parisian student, with strong Republican views. His political opinions defined the course of his life.
Enjolras moved to Paris in an effort to further his own studies, and at some point during the course of his schooling, he became inspired to found Les Amis de L’ABC. Due to the political climate of the time, gatherings of people had to number less than twenty, lest they be found in contempt of the crown. To subvert this, Les Amis created a network throughout the city, attempting to band together numerous smaller groups as they worked towards their eventual rebellion.
The novel first introduces Enjolras in 1828. Enjolras had spent much of his life beneath the rule of Napoleon, until his exile in 1814. At this time the monarchy was reinstated, despite the French Revolution’s end in 1793 declaring an end to monarchy in France. After Napoleon’s exile, power was passed back to the remaining blood lties of the former sovereign line, and King Charles X eventually came into power. It was during his reign that the July Revolution took place in 1830. This shifted the power from one monarchy to another- known as the July Monarchy, and ruled by Louis Philippe.
Enraged that yet again a monarch had been placed upon a seat of power, activists like Enjolras himself once again began to search for an opportunity to overthrow the monarchy, and establish a true People’s Republic. Two years after the events of the July Revolution, they seemed to find their chance. Enjolras likely learned much of the tactics he employed during the June Rebellion of 1832 during the July Revolution of 1830; it seems unlikely that he would not have gotten involved in attempting to create further change for his beloved France.
From 1830 to 1832 Enjolras spent much, if not all of his spare time completely devoted to Les Amis de L’ABC. Les Amis favoured two locations in Paris; a wine shop called the Corinthe, and a cafe known as the Cafe Musain. Most of their meetings took place more often in the Cafe Musain, due to it’s closer proximity to the students, as well as its back room accessible by an “extremely long” corridor. It also had an exit with a private stairway, making it the perfect sort of meeting place for a group that very likely would have otherwise garnered a great deal of police interest.
When not at the Cafe Musain, or the Corinthe, Enjolras spent much of his spare time speaking with other various groups throughout Paris. Preparing for the inevitably brewing storm, and attempting to gain favour to their cause. Soon enough, they also began to collect weaponry and gun powder to prepare for the Revolution.
In 1832, on June fifth General Jean Maximilien Lamarque passed away. General Lamarque was one of Napoleon’s commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, who later became a vocal critic of the constitutional monarchy lead by Louis Philippe. He was considered one of the last voices of the people, and when he fell ill, the insurgent parties of Paris, including Les Amis, saw it as their chance to lead their rebellion to victory. They banded together during the funeral procession, and it quickly escalated into a riot. Enjolras and his friends retreated before the Corinthe, where they chose to build their barricade and make their stand against the national guard.
Enjolras, the leader of this barricade, took his role very seriously. Even going so far as to preserve himself at the base of the barricade when the gunfire initially started. He recognized that if he were to fall, the barricade would follow. At the barricades Enjolras demonstrated his ruthlessness when he shot a fellow insurgent, after he murdered an innocent man attempting to take shelter from the fighting in the safety of his own home.
They managed to hold the barricade through the night, but by the morning of June sixth, it became apparent that the people of Paris were not coming to their aid. Their would-be revolution had failed, and they were facing the full force of the national guard nearly alone. Even so, Enjolras did not give up his hope. He commit himself to die for the Republic, and in this his friends joined him. The members of Les Amis fell, and soon enough so did the barricade. Retreating into the Corinthe gave the last of those remaining a final stand, but in the end all fell to the press of the national guard. Enjolras alone stood, having watched all of his friends fall he remained defiant to the last. He refused to have his eyes covered as he stood before the firing line that would be his death- choosing to die nobily. It was in the ensuing silence that Grantaire woke from his drunken slumber, after having been spurned the night before by Enjolras and told to leave the barricade. The cynic came to Enjolras side and declared that he too was an insurgent. Enjolras took Grantaire’s hand, and offered the other man the only smile Enjolras is ever described to have given. Together they stood before the firing line, and died for the people.
Reincarnated History: Enjolras was born as the only child to a pair of aristocratic parents. He was raised primarily in the care of his nanny, under the rule that children should be seen, and not heard. He was a very obedient child at first, trying to do his best to please his parents. He was well rewarded for this, and Enjolras wanted for very little- except for a sense of proper warmth, and affection. It wasn’t that Enjolras’ parents didn’t love him, as they most certainly did; but they possessed a very old fashioned sense of how love and affection were shown. Where Enjolras might have hoped for a hug, he had to be satisfied with a pat on the head, or a purchased treat. Despite this, his was not an unhappy childhood- simply a rigidly structured one.
Like most children do, though, Enjolras eventually experienced a ‘rebellious’ phase- during which he came to realize that some of his parents’ beliefs were problematic, at best. At first Enjolras’ parents tried to deal with this in the usual way- restriction of privileges, time outs, and an even more strictly structured learning regime, even going so far as to try and restrict and oversee what Enjolras was learning, under the threat of private tutelage if Enjolras’ outbursts continued.
It worked as badly as one might expect. For a time, Enjolras returned to his studious and obedient ways, but he would not be kept from learning what he wanted to, and his own ambitions found ways around his parents enforcements. The internet made expanding his own horizons even easier, and he soon came to discover that he was incredibly passionate about creating social change. There were a number of things that were deeply, incredibly wrong with the world and Enjolras couldn’t understand why people did not change things.
During high school, he joined a number of different clubs, even going so far as to start his own for like-minded students who wanted to start a grass roots movement for political change. He was charismatic enough to draw in quite a few students. With them he organized a number of different charitable and volunteering events but for Enjolras, this wasn’t enough. He did not feel as though he was making enough of a difference, so resolved himself, and joined an activist group outside of his high school. He devoted nearly all of his free time to it, and gradually it became one of the most important things in his life.
When the subject of college came up, Enjolras confessed to his parents that he wanted to pursue a career in politics. He had a deep passion for political philosophy, political science, and law. However, his parents wanted him to pursue a business degree- feeling that it was a better fit to assure Enjolras a stronger, brighter future. They had already made up their minds upon the matter, and used their own influences to assure Enjolras a place in a prestigious school. Again, Enjolras argued- not only for wanting to earn his place within a post-secondary institution, but also to do something with his life that he was passionate about. After much arguing they eventually managed to reach a peaceful agreement. Enjolras could study what he wanted, and they would continue to pay for it, so long as he earned his business degree at the same time. Seeing no other choice, Enjolras agreed.
However, university only served to give Enjolras the means to further his activism, and it began to put a strain not only on his parents, but also upon their social ties. The Enjolras family had a number of friends and family members entrenched in old money, with (in Enjolras’ eyes) corrupt business practices. He began to bring these problems to light, which made him less than popular at his family’s friendly gatherings and bourgeois parties.
In an effort to uproot their son’s increasingly extremist political ideals, they served Enjolras with an ultimatum: cease his political activity, and cut ties with his local activist chapter, or lose not only his financial support, but his inheritance, as well. Enjolras was furious- he didn’t understand how they could continue to turn a blind eye to such blatant examples of government corruption. As Enjolras saw it, these were failures not of the people- but of society for not better supporting them, and their needs. And a failure for one was the failures of the many. This inaction was an injustice to him, plain and simple. Still, he loved his parents, and he knew that this was not a decision that they had come to lightly. It was ultimately his mother’s suggestion that they pursue a third option; for Enjolras to voluntarily transfer to another city to continue his studies. There, they assumed that he would be out of the public eye of those whose friendships had become jeopardized by Enjolras’ political beliefs. They also believed that without the ties to his local alliances that perhaps their son might become a little less extreme.
For his parents’ sake, Enjolras accepted- on the condition that he was allowed to choose his future institution. It was a shaky peace treaty at best, but it did manage to preserve the relationship between him and his parents. Though their relationship had become strained, at least it still existed.
Enjolras settled in Locke City as well as could be expected; he hasn’t made very many friends, but his classes have started, and he has already laid the groundwork to recreating a similar activism outfit within the city, organizing events and recruiting rallies, as well as reaching out to groups with similar agendas for aid. He kept himself busy, paying attention to the social and political climates of both his beloved home in Paris, as well as the one’s in his new city. He still wants to change the world- a change of location won’t stop him from continuing to try.
First Echo: Enjolras was minding his own business, just trying to take public transportation in peace, when the bus lurched suddenly from a particularly sharp turn, and in the sardine-like confines of the bus, an unfamiliar gentleman standing behind him fell into him. Enjolras would have thought nothing of it, if not for what followed-
He leaned in, and whispered into Enjolras’ ear. It was as simple as an apology- but so much more. Suddenly Enjolras felt overcome; a mixture of apprehension and anger, as well as a faint stirring of hopefulness, and an edge of bracing for disappointment. It was all very strange indeed, and for a moment Enjolras thought he had imagined not an apology, but instead, “Be easy.”
Looking back he knew that was completely and utterly foolish. He tried to forget that the whole thing had happened at all.
Preincarnation Personality:
Enjolras subscribes deeply to the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and as such modeled himself, and his organization after his principles and ideals. He believes that freedom was the right of every man, and was willing to die in an effort to bring these hopes to fruition. He even goes so far as to excuse Rousseau’s faults, including the fact that Rousseau abandoned his own family and children, saying, “He denied his own children, that may be; but he adopted the people.”
However, Enjolras is not without contradictions in his personal philosophies- he has a boundless love for the people, but disdains the actions (or rather, the inactions) of people. This important distinction is what he finds so repulsive in Grantaire. He disdains those who could choose to act to better France, but choose not to.
These personal philosophies have made Enjolras to come across as rather intense, and severe. He has a very rigid way of thinking, and Hugo himself states “ He had but one passion—the right; but one thought—to overthrow the obstacle.” It is this ideal that consumes him, and he fixates upon it to the extent that he does not allow anything to distract him from his goal. He spurns drunkenness, and he has no time (nor interest) for women.
This severity leads him to have trouble connecting with people on a personal level. People are inspired by him, his fire, passion and drive are infectious, and despite his severity Enjolras does possess a natural charisma. This makes him an excellent leader. However, it also puts him at a distance from other people. He has an air of almost inhuman untouchability to his character, and the rigid structure and carefully composed nature can make him come across as aloof, and sometimes unrelatable. It is no wonder then, that those Enjolras considers his closest friends are kept tightly knit.
This said, Enjolras is not without a sense of humour. It isn’t a very good one, and what he finds amusing others likely only find baffling- the sort of jokes that receive a cricket’s reception- but still, it does exist. One need only look as far as the name of his group, and the pun of Les Amis de l’ABC to see his dry wit. He also demonstrates his poor sense of humour when he is asked about his mistress. He says she is Patria.
It is understandable then, that Enjolras represents the logic of the revolution. He is ruthless where he feels it necessary, even though he takes no pride, nor joy in the act of being so. He simply understands that war is a part of change. He accepts that he must become a man who can, and must kill to further their goals, and in turn accepts their eventual deaths, as well.
While Enjolras is incredibly inspirational, what he accomplished would not have been possible without the aid of his friends. Especially the friendships of Combeferre and Courfeyrac. Where Enjolras represents the logic of the revolution, Combeferre is it’s philosophy. He is the one who tempers Enjolras’ harsh edges, with gentle correction and understanding to that harshness that makes Enjolras who he is. Courfeyrac completes the triumvirate by representing its social side; he is the sort of person that befriends everyone, and Courfeyrac is able to network and better relate to people than either of his counterparts. In short, if the three had not set forth to work together Les Amis would have never been what it was.
From an outside perspective, it may have been easy to assume that Enjolras saw his companions in Les Amis not as friends, but as allies; a sort of mutual political allegiance, and nothing more. But it is far more than that. Enjolras cares incredibly deeply for all of his friends, even going so far as to be willing to die for them. (And with them.)
Any differences: One of the largest changes for Enjolras is his sense of tact. Or rather, a lack there of. Without Combeferre to broaden Enjolras’ own personal horizons, and remind him that a brain-to-mouth filter is a great thing to have, Enjolras is generally more inclined to be even more severe in his thoughts, and actions. He will be more impatient, and while he keeps his temper under careful control he will be utterly unafraid to speak his mind, without so much as a second thought as to whether or not it was something he should have kept to himself. If it was honesty, why shouldn’t he have said it?
That said, the reincarnated Enjolras is much less of a martyr figurehead. He smiles more, and gives a far more approachable and human air. He’s still incredibly intense about the things that he considers himself passionate about, and once he gets started there still isn’t really an ‘off’ switch; one sort of simply has to let him run out of steam.
He is also incredibly (if unintentionally) manipulative. He doesn’t even necessarily always realize that he is using his particular skills to create the response that he wants, but he does do it. Whether through plain aggressive tendencies, or through attempting to use charm, Enjolras will not stop until he gets an outcome that he wants.
Abilities: Enjolras was just an average human being, with an incredible amount of determination, and enough idealism to stand before a firing squad for what he believed in.
Roleplay Sample - Third Person: Test Drive Meme
Roleplay Sample - Network:
[ Enjolras had debated with himself for a long time whether or not to do anything with the number; the number that seemed to trouble him almost non-stop, into even more sleeplessness than usual. He had, at one point, turned to his goldfish for advice about the matter; but really once you started talking to your goldfish for advice, that really ought to have been some sort of line. At least he hadn’t asked the cat. He would have been completely useless in advising, anyway.
With a sigh, Enjolras tapped the end of his pen against his desk for what had to be the hundredth time since the strange incident upon the bus.
Well, if nothing else, he knew he could at least try to get some more recruits for his group; still finding it’s footing, as he was in Locke City.
He tapped the number into his phone, and cleared his throat. When the video started, he frowned. First, in brief confusion, and then in solemn severity. He had nothing properly prepared, but there was no harm in ‘winging it’, as it were. When he spoke, it was with an unmistakably French accent, though his English was immaculate. ]
Fellow citizens of Locke City! My name is Enjolras, and I come before you today as a representative of A.M.I.S.- if you haven’t heard of us, it stands for Activate Morality in Institutions and Society. We’re a locally run non-profit activism group, and if you have ever found yourself wishing for change, or to make a difference in your community, we’re an excellent resource, and positive jumping point for those of you interest in a future in politically minded careers. We’re currently looking to recruit new members. If you have ever been curious, or wanted to get involved in matters of your local legislature, or inform yourself on budding international issues, now is your chance. We meet once a week on Sunday afternoon from three until people decide to go home, at Aux Bons Copains. I hope to see you there.
[ The feed ends. ]
Any Questions? Nope
Name: Dee
Are you over 15? Yes
Contact:
IC Information:
Name: Enjolras (surname; no canon name given)
Canon and medium: Les Misérables
Age: 22
Preincarnation Species: Human
Preincarnation Appearance: Hugo himself describes Enjolras as ‘angelically handsome’, denoting Enjolras’s other-worldly beauty. He is blond and blue-eyed, with rosy cheeks and redder lips. Though a grown man, he is youthful to a point that he could easily be mistaken for only seventeen. Even so, there is a passion and severity to his appearance that makes him seem even more untouchable than his heavenly appearance alone; he carries a sense of righteous fury. Enjolras is often compared to having the look of a marble statue, specifically those of traditional Greek heroes. It is also stated that he becomes even more beautiful after killing a man, and considerably lovelier without sleeping or eating for an entire day. He is not often without a stern expression on his features, and his smile is mentioned only once- at the moment before his death.
Any differences: The canon Enjolras was a product of his time; his height was shorter than his modern counterpart, and their hairstyles were wildly different. In 1823 Enjolras’s hair was kept long, less for any fashion statement and more because he could not be bothered to find the time to cut it. In Locke City, Enjolras’ hair is of medium length, though still blond and perfectly curled. His shoulders are broader, and his features are far less androgynous and feminine. He’s still the portrait of a Greek hero, though he is more bronze than marble.
Preincarnated History: Enjolras was the only child of a wealthy family, and as such, grew up with the privileges that such a station in society allowed. Very little is stated about his childhood, or even his pre-adult years. What we do know is that Enjolras was a Parisian student, with strong Republican views. His political opinions defined the course of his life.
Enjolras moved to Paris in an effort to further his own studies, and at some point during the course of his schooling, he became inspired to found Les Amis de L’ABC. Due to the political climate of the time, gatherings of people had to number less than twenty, lest they be found in contempt of the crown. To subvert this, Les Amis created a network throughout the city, attempting to band together numerous smaller groups as they worked towards their eventual rebellion.
The novel first introduces Enjolras in 1828. Enjolras had spent much of his life beneath the rule of Napoleon, until his exile in 1814. At this time the monarchy was reinstated, despite the French Revolution’s end in 1793 declaring an end to monarchy in France. After Napoleon’s exile, power was passed back to the remaining blood lties of the former sovereign line, and King Charles X eventually came into power. It was during his reign that the July Revolution took place in 1830. This shifted the power from one monarchy to another- known as the July Monarchy, and ruled by Louis Philippe.
Enraged that yet again a monarch had been placed upon a seat of power, activists like Enjolras himself once again began to search for an opportunity to overthrow the monarchy, and establish a true People’s Republic. Two years after the events of the July Revolution, they seemed to find their chance. Enjolras likely learned much of the tactics he employed during the June Rebellion of 1832 during the July Revolution of 1830; it seems unlikely that he would not have gotten involved in attempting to create further change for his beloved France.
From 1830 to 1832 Enjolras spent much, if not all of his spare time completely devoted to Les Amis de L’ABC. Les Amis favoured two locations in Paris; a wine shop called the Corinthe, and a cafe known as the Cafe Musain. Most of their meetings took place more often in the Cafe Musain, due to it’s closer proximity to the students, as well as its back room accessible by an “extremely long” corridor. It also had an exit with a private stairway, making it the perfect sort of meeting place for a group that very likely would have otherwise garnered a great deal of police interest.
When not at the Cafe Musain, or the Corinthe, Enjolras spent much of his spare time speaking with other various groups throughout Paris. Preparing for the inevitably brewing storm, and attempting to gain favour to their cause. Soon enough, they also began to collect weaponry and gun powder to prepare for the Revolution.
In 1832, on June fifth General Jean Maximilien Lamarque passed away. General Lamarque was one of Napoleon’s commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, who later became a vocal critic of the constitutional monarchy lead by Louis Philippe. He was considered one of the last voices of the people, and when he fell ill, the insurgent parties of Paris, including Les Amis, saw it as their chance to lead their rebellion to victory. They banded together during the funeral procession, and it quickly escalated into a riot. Enjolras and his friends retreated before the Corinthe, where they chose to build their barricade and make their stand against the national guard.
Enjolras, the leader of this barricade, took his role very seriously. Even going so far as to preserve himself at the base of the barricade when the gunfire initially started. He recognized that if he were to fall, the barricade would follow. At the barricades Enjolras demonstrated his ruthlessness when he shot a fellow insurgent, after he murdered an innocent man attempting to take shelter from the fighting in the safety of his own home.
They managed to hold the barricade through the night, but by the morning of June sixth, it became apparent that the people of Paris were not coming to their aid. Their would-be revolution had failed, and they were facing the full force of the national guard nearly alone. Even so, Enjolras did not give up his hope. He commit himself to die for the Republic, and in this his friends joined him. The members of Les Amis fell, and soon enough so did the barricade. Retreating into the Corinthe gave the last of those remaining a final stand, but in the end all fell to the press of the national guard. Enjolras alone stood, having watched all of his friends fall he remained defiant to the last. He refused to have his eyes covered as he stood before the firing line that would be his death- choosing to die nobily. It was in the ensuing silence that Grantaire woke from his drunken slumber, after having been spurned the night before by Enjolras and told to leave the barricade. The cynic came to Enjolras side and declared that he too was an insurgent. Enjolras took Grantaire’s hand, and offered the other man the only smile Enjolras is ever described to have given. Together they stood before the firing line, and died for the people.
Reincarnated History: Enjolras was born as the only child to a pair of aristocratic parents. He was raised primarily in the care of his nanny, under the rule that children should be seen, and not heard. He was a very obedient child at first, trying to do his best to please his parents. He was well rewarded for this, and Enjolras wanted for very little- except for a sense of proper warmth, and affection. It wasn’t that Enjolras’ parents didn’t love him, as they most certainly did; but they possessed a very old fashioned sense of how love and affection were shown. Where Enjolras might have hoped for a hug, he had to be satisfied with a pat on the head, or a purchased treat. Despite this, his was not an unhappy childhood- simply a rigidly structured one.
Like most children do, though, Enjolras eventually experienced a ‘rebellious’ phase- during which he came to realize that some of his parents’ beliefs were problematic, at best. At first Enjolras’ parents tried to deal with this in the usual way- restriction of privileges, time outs, and an even more strictly structured learning regime, even going so far as to try and restrict and oversee what Enjolras was learning, under the threat of private tutelage if Enjolras’ outbursts continued.
It worked as badly as one might expect. For a time, Enjolras returned to his studious and obedient ways, but he would not be kept from learning what he wanted to, and his own ambitions found ways around his parents enforcements. The internet made expanding his own horizons even easier, and he soon came to discover that he was incredibly passionate about creating social change. There were a number of things that were deeply, incredibly wrong with the world and Enjolras couldn’t understand why people did not change things.
During high school, he joined a number of different clubs, even going so far as to start his own for like-minded students who wanted to start a grass roots movement for political change. He was charismatic enough to draw in quite a few students. With them he organized a number of different charitable and volunteering events but for Enjolras, this wasn’t enough. He did not feel as though he was making enough of a difference, so resolved himself, and joined an activist group outside of his high school. He devoted nearly all of his free time to it, and gradually it became one of the most important things in his life.
When the subject of college came up, Enjolras confessed to his parents that he wanted to pursue a career in politics. He had a deep passion for political philosophy, political science, and law. However, his parents wanted him to pursue a business degree- feeling that it was a better fit to assure Enjolras a stronger, brighter future. They had already made up their minds upon the matter, and used their own influences to assure Enjolras a place in a prestigious school. Again, Enjolras argued- not only for wanting to earn his place within a post-secondary institution, but also to do something with his life that he was passionate about. After much arguing they eventually managed to reach a peaceful agreement. Enjolras could study what he wanted, and they would continue to pay for it, so long as he earned his business degree at the same time. Seeing no other choice, Enjolras agreed.
However, university only served to give Enjolras the means to further his activism, and it began to put a strain not only on his parents, but also upon their social ties. The Enjolras family had a number of friends and family members entrenched in old money, with (in Enjolras’ eyes) corrupt business practices. He began to bring these problems to light, which made him less than popular at his family’s friendly gatherings and bourgeois parties.
In an effort to uproot their son’s increasingly extremist political ideals, they served Enjolras with an ultimatum: cease his political activity, and cut ties with his local activist chapter, or lose not only his financial support, but his inheritance, as well. Enjolras was furious- he didn’t understand how they could continue to turn a blind eye to such blatant examples of government corruption. As Enjolras saw it, these were failures not of the people- but of society for not better supporting them, and their needs. And a failure for one was the failures of the many. This inaction was an injustice to him, plain and simple. Still, he loved his parents, and he knew that this was not a decision that they had come to lightly. It was ultimately his mother’s suggestion that they pursue a third option; for Enjolras to voluntarily transfer to another city to continue his studies. There, they assumed that he would be out of the public eye of those whose friendships had become jeopardized by Enjolras’ political beliefs. They also believed that without the ties to his local alliances that perhaps their son might become a little less extreme.
For his parents’ sake, Enjolras accepted- on the condition that he was allowed to choose his future institution. It was a shaky peace treaty at best, but it did manage to preserve the relationship between him and his parents. Though their relationship had become strained, at least it still existed.
Enjolras settled in Locke City as well as could be expected; he hasn’t made very many friends, but his classes have started, and he has already laid the groundwork to recreating a similar activism outfit within the city, organizing events and recruiting rallies, as well as reaching out to groups with similar agendas for aid. He kept himself busy, paying attention to the social and political climates of both his beloved home in Paris, as well as the one’s in his new city. He still wants to change the world- a change of location won’t stop him from continuing to try.
First Echo: Enjolras was minding his own business, just trying to take public transportation in peace, when the bus lurched suddenly from a particularly sharp turn, and in the sardine-like confines of the bus, an unfamiliar gentleman standing behind him fell into him. Enjolras would have thought nothing of it, if not for what followed-
He leaned in, and whispered into Enjolras’ ear. It was as simple as an apology- but so much more. Suddenly Enjolras felt overcome; a mixture of apprehension and anger, as well as a faint stirring of hopefulness, and an edge of bracing for disappointment. It was all very strange indeed, and for a moment Enjolras thought he had imagined not an apology, but instead, “Be easy.”
Looking back he knew that was completely and utterly foolish. He tried to forget that the whole thing had happened at all.
Preincarnation Personality:
Enjolras is, in short, an idealist. It could be said that he has a sense of almost blind idealism, as he’s willing to overlook some fairly problematic thinking in order to support ‘the greater good’, however at his core he is simply put, a hopeful, forward thinking young man. It was Enjolras’ hope to lead the people of Paris into a better future- one without a monarch, but a republic.”They declared themselves Les Amis de l’ABC,—the Abaisse,—the debased,—that is to say, the people. They wished to elevate the people. It was a pun which we should do wrong to smile at. Puns are sometimes serious factors in politics; witness the Castratus ad castra, which made a general of the army of Narses; witness: Barbari et Barberini; witness: Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram, etc., etc.”
Enjolras subscribes deeply to the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and as such modeled himself, and his organization after his principles and ideals. He believes that freedom was the right of every man, and was willing to die in an effort to bring these hopes to fruition. He even goes so far as to excuse Rousseau’s faults, including the fact that Rousseau abandoned his own family and children, saying, “He denied his own children, that may be; but he adopted the people.”
However, Enjolras is not without contradictions in his personal philosophies- he has a boundless love for the people, but disdains the actions (or rather, the inactions) of people. This important distinction is what he finds so repulsive in Grantaire. He disdains those who could choose to act to better France, but choose not to.
These personal philosophies have made Enjolras to come across as rather intense, and severe. He has a very rigid way of thinking, and Hugo himself states “ He had but one passion—the right; but one thought—to overthrow the obstacle.” It is this ideal that consumes him, and he fixates upon it to the extent that he does not allow anything to distract him from his goal. He spurns drunkenness, and he has no time (nor interest) for women.
This severity leads him to have trouble connecting with people on a personal level. People are inspired by him, his fire, passion and drive are infectious, and despite his severity Enjolras does possess a natural charisma. This makes him an excellent leader. However, it also puts him at a distance from other people. He has an air of almost inhuman untouchability to his character, and the rigid structure and carefully composed nature can make him come across as aloof, and sometimes unrelatable. It is no wonder then, that those Enjolras considers his closest friends are kept tightly knit.
This said, Enjolras is not without a sense of humour. It isn’t a very good one, and what he finds amusing others likely only find baffling- the sort of jokes that receive a cricket’s reception- but still, it does exist. One need only look as far as the name of his group, and the pun of Les Amis de l’ABC to see his dry wit. He also demonstrates his poor sense of humour when he is asked about his mistress. He says she is Patria.
Enjolras has a tendency to see such matters in the black and white, and his sense of justice and equality is extremely rigid. An example of this is when he deals what he sees as justice against Le Cabuc. Le Cabuc murders an elderly man (the porter) hiding within his home, for refusing to open the door. Immediately following this, Enjolras forces Cabuc to his knees, and gives him one minute to “think or pray” before he executes him. By this time, Enjolras and his fellow insurgents knew that to stay at the barricade was to die, and that there would be no escaping this fate. Enjolras states, “He killed, therefore I killed him. I had to do it, because insurrection must have its discipline. Assassination is even more of a crime here than elsewhere; we are under the eyes of the Revolution, we are the priests of the Republic, we are the victims of duty, and must not be possible to slander our combat. I have, therefore, tried that man, and condemned him to death. As for myself, constrained as I am to do what I have done, and yet abhorring it, I have judged myself also, and you shall soon see to what I have condemned myself." In other words, Enjolras’ sense of justice and duty could not allow Le Cabuc to go unpunished for his appalling actions. To allow him to continue to live, and die standing at his brother’s-in-arms’ sides, while fighting for the future of Paris could not be allowed. Even when discarding the body Enjolras refers to it as ‘that’, rather than ‘him’. In Enjolras’ eyes Le Cabuc has ceased to be worth the title of man for his actions against an innocent.”Enjolras was a charming young man, who was capable of being terrible.”
It is understandable then, that Enjolras represents the logic of the revolution. He is ruthless where he feels it necessary, even though he takes no pride, nor joy in the act of being so. He simply understands that war is a part of change. He accepts that he must become a man who can, and must kill to further their goals, and in turn accepts their eventual deaths, as well.
While Enjolras is incredibly inspirational, what he accomplished would not have been possible without the aid of his friends. Especially the friendships of Combeferre and Courfeyrac. Where Enjolras represents the logic of the revolution, Combeferre is it’s philosophy. He is the one who tempers Enjolras’ harsh edges, with gentle correction and understanding to that harshness that makes Enjolras who he is. Courfeyrac completes the triumvirate by representing its social side; he is the sort of person that befriends everyone, and Courfeyrac is able to network and better relate to people than either of his counterparts. In short, if the three had not set forth to work together Les Amis would have never been what it was.
From an outside perspective, it may have been easy to assume that Enjolras saw his companions in Les Amis not as friends, but as allies; a sort of mutual political allegiance, and nothing more. But it is far more than that. Enjolras cares incredibly deeply for all of his friends, even going so far as to be willing to die for them. (And with them.)
"Shoot me," said Enjolras.
And flinging away his bit of gun-barrel, and folding his arms, he offered his breast.
The audacity of a fine death always affects men. As soon as Enjolras folded his arms and accepted his end, the din of strife ceased in the room, and this chaos suddenly stilled into a sort of sepulchral solemnity. The menacing majesty of Enjolras disarmed and motionless, appeared to oppress this tumult, and this young man, haughty, bloody, and charming, who alone had not a wound, who was as indifferent as an invulnerable being, seemed, by the authority of his tranquil glance, to constrain this sinister rabble to kill him respectfully. His beauty, at that moment augmented by his pride, was resplendent, and he was fresh and rosy after the fearful four and twenty hours which had just elapsed, as though he could no more be fatigued than wounded. It was of him, possibly, that a witness spoke afterwards, before the council of war: "There was an insurgent whom I heard called Apollo." A National Guardsman who had taken aim at Enjolras, lowered his gun, saying: "It seems to me that I am about to shoot a flower."
Any differences: One of the largest changes for Enjolras is his sense of tact. Or rather, a lack there of. Without Combeferre to broaden Enjolras’ own personal horizons, and remind him that a brain-to-mouth filter is a great thing to have, Enjolras is generally more inclined to be even more severe in his thoughts, and actions. He will be more impatient, and while he keeps his temper under careful control he will be utterly unafraid to speak his mind, without so much as a second thought as to whether or not it was something he should have kept to himself. If it was honesty, why shouldn’t he have said it?
That said, the reincarnated Enjolras is much less of a martyr figurehead. He smiles more, and gives a far more approachable and human air. He’s still incredibly intense about the things that he considers himself passionate about, and once he gets started there still isn’t really an ‘off’ switch; one sort of simply has to let him run out of steam.
He is also incredibly (if unintentionally) manipulative. He doesn’t even necessarily always realize that he is using his particular skills to create the response that he wants, but he does do it. Whether through plain aggressive tendencies, or through attempting to use charm, Enjolras will not stop until he gets an outcome that he wants.
Abilities: Enjolras was just an average human being, with an incredible amount of determination, and enough idealism to stand before a firing squad for what he believed in.
Roleplay Sample - Third Person: Test Drive Meme
Roleplay Sample - Network:
[ Enjolras had debated with himself for a long time whether or not to do anything with the number; the number that seemed to trouble him almost non-stop, into even more sleeplessness than usual. He had, at one point, turned to his goldfish for advice about the matter; but really once you started talking to your goldfish for advice, that really ought to have been some sort of line. At least he hadn’t asked the cat. He would have been completely useless in advising, anyway.
With a sigh, Enjolras tapped the end of his pen against his desk for what had to be the hundredth time since the strange incident upon the bus.
Well, if nothing else, he knew he could at least try to get some more recruits for his group; still finding it’s footing, as he was in Locke City.
He tapped the number into his phone, and cleared his throat. When the video started, he frowned. First, in brief confusion, and then in solemn severity. He had nothing properly prepared, but there was no harm in ‘winging it’, as it were. When he spoke, it was with an unmistakably French accent, though his English was immaculate. ]
Fellow citizens of Locke City! My name is Enjolras, and I come before you today as a representative of A.M.I.S.- if you haven’t heard of us, it stands for Activate Morality in Institutions and Society. We’re a locally run non-profit activism group, and if you have ever found yourself wishing for change, or to make a difference in your community, we’re an excellent resource, and positive jumping point for those of you interest in a future in politically minded careers. We’re currently looking to recruit new members. If you have ever been curious, or wanted to get involved in matters of your local legislature, or inform yourself on budding international issues, now is your chance. We meet once a week on Sunday afternoon from three until people decide to go home, at Aux Bons Copains. I hope to see you there.
[ The feed ends. ]
Any Questions? Nope