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Post by Ladorak on Feb 2, 2009 17:34:35 GMT -5
"I can't believe you cast an undecided vote, what's the matter with you!?" the otter demanded as he padded his way through the rain washed streets towards the Cordeliers Club. He turned to the squirrel next to him. "You realize that that's the problem with this country! Staying on the edge, no decisive action! You have to come down, you have to let your voice be HEARD! We've been GIVEN THIS RIGHT!' he waved his paws up in the air in exclamation.
"If you cast it as undecided you throw that right away! Just think, three years ago you wouldn't have even have HAD the privilege of the King asking YOU....YOU a mere commoner, for your opinion! You HAD no say three years ago! NOW we have that say, and you just threw it out! Those nobles and rich scum of the upper caste, THEY have been the ones oppressing us! Do you even know what they're doing now?!" he nearly hissed.
"They've fled this country, leaving it for the courts of Kostritz and Gradvar because their precious little spoiled lifestyle was threatened." the was light, not too heavy, but it was supposed to turn in to snow once the sun went down, which it was close to doing. "And they're asking those nations, MY OWN nation that I hope NEVER comes here, to invade Rosferia and place the King back on his throne!" it was then that Otto stopped. Oh....what was the use of yelling? It wasn't as if Sciurus's vote had anything to do with the intrigues of the emigrants. But it was just the thought of eschewing his natural right to voice his opinion that appalled the mustelid.
"Sorry" he said, a large convent type building rising up before them at the end of the block. It had a large courtyard and a few steeples on it, but was clearly no longer a church as all crosses and other religious symbols had been removed. It hadn't been used as a church in nearly a century in fact, the sect having moved out to the countryside. "It's just that's what this revolution is about. Giving us the FREEDOM of choice! Something you won't find anywhere else, I'll guarantee it! We have to dare my friend! DARE! It's the only way we'll move forward with this!" he said in very emphatic tones.
He was taking Sciurus to the Cordeliers Club tonight, and it would be the squirrel's first meeting with Otto's fellow revolutionaries. The otter had offered to introduce him to everybeast there, and to show him what their views were all about. Of course, he didn't want to scare Sciurus away so soon, but he felt so strong about this that he couldn't help himself when he talked about it.
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Post by Carrow on Feb 2, 2009 17:49:36 GMT -5
"No problem, Otto," the squirrel, Sciurus Whirlpaw, replied.
"I can see that you feel very strong about this Revolution. I apologise for casting an undecided vote, but it does reflect my opinion on this whole fiasco. Even though you told me a lot in the parlour, I can't help but feel as if I am only scratching the surface of what this is all about, and am largely undecided as to what I should do, although, as I said, I'd be glad to lend a paw. It's just that I feel like I'm caught up in something I haven't even begun to understand. Hopefully the creatures I'm being introduced to at the Cordeliers Club will help me to get to grips with the situation."
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 2, 2009 19:30:55 GMT -5
"Oh never you worry about that my friend, never you worry about that. You should speak with Camille I think, that squirrel I was telling you about earlier. And ah yes! There is.....something I should probably inform you about BEFORE we enter the club." the otter stopped now, just as the rain turned to snow.
"Sciurus, there is ONE thing that the Cordeliers Club stands for. And it's....treason by law, but we all feel strongly enough about it to endorse it. Now we're not as extreme as the Jacobin Club, but we Cordeliers DO support the overthrow of the King. All he does is block our Assembly's laws with his veto, a ridiculous setup that we feel should be rectified." Otto's voice was low, VERY low in fact. It was....conspiratorial as well, or at least seemed that way.
"Believe me, we don't want to kill him....well I guess some of us do, but we just feel that his detrimental to a TRUE democracy my friend. I know I've sometimes had to avoid the police just because I've had warrants issue for my arrest from time to time, as has Camille. By our new Constitution's law it is illegal still to plot against the King, but we don't care. We feel strongly about this. Sciurus, if you trust me and truly believe what I believe, then we shall enter that club together."
He nodded slightly to his left where the convent was. "But if you have any doubts whatsoever, then let me know now and I'll make sure not to mix you up in any of our politics. I'm willing to die for my cause if necessary....but I'm sure to someone who's just heard about all of this that might be a little too much. So you must let me know now my friend, before we step in to that club." he wrung his paws together, white snowflakes beginning to accumulate on his blue fur before melting in to little droplets of water. There was an intense look about his eyes now, almost fierce, but it wasn't hostile. More....defensive if anything.
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Post by Carrow on Feb 3, 2009 8:40:13 GMT -5
"Well, I certainly agree with your views on achieving democracy, Otto, and I will aid you through any means necessary, including violent action, albeit at a stretch," the squirrel replied, wringing his paws nervously.
"As I said, I feel that, first and foremost, I need to build up a clearer picture of what's going on. Only then can I decide what role I could fill at the Club. I am most definitely with you though, friend, and will do anything I can to help your... no, our cause. Lead on."
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 3, 2009 12:09:28 GMT -5
Otto sighed in relief when he heard that the squirrel seemed to want to commit to the cause. "Good mate....very good." Oddly enough, the otter had suddenly used his native tongue in that sentence, slipping in to what seemed to be a more casual speech than he normally used.
"Now then, I can safely say we can proceed on in to the Cordeliers Club." the mustelid led the way down the snowy street, getting closer and closer to that convent that burned with lights and warmth from inside. "This way my good chum, this way." he led him in to the courtyard of the building, showing his badge to the guards at the gate. "It's strictly members or interested guests from this point on in." he told Sciurus as they entered in to a long corridor that led off to the right and left in to various cells where the monks used to live.
"No religion has touched these walls in quite some time now. The convent moved out long before my time." they headed past the mute cells, growing closer and closer to the sounds of lively chatting and the occasional shouting coming from a great hall up ahead in which burned numerous braziers and candles, creating a somewhat sickly sweet smoky atmosphere. Many, many beasts could be seen within. Some were sitting at tables and reading books, others were chatting gaily and still others were debating amongst themselves while a small group were off on their own writing this and that.
"OK, so...." they entered the room now, the din surrounding them on all sides. Otto spoke up to be heard. "That fellow over there with the bushy tail, that's Camille, the squirrel I was telling you about. A right regular legend he is, what with his jumping on the table at the cafe three years ago and calling for a revolutionary mob to storm the prison. Lit the spark that began this whole thing." he told his companion as he pointed over at a squirrel much Sciurus, red and what looked to be a very lively personality as he was laughing uproariously with a group that included lemmings, polecats, felines, and even an otter or two. He was young, around Sciurus's age, and was dressed in rather plain clothing.
"And also of note, that fellow over there in the top hat and expensive getup, he's the club's President and a smashing playwright if I do say so myself." The otter was indicating a tall, dignified looked pine marten with dapper outfit of black and white on conversing softly with two or three other members of the club.
"So, who'd you like to meet first? I can bring you around and introduce you to everyone, and feel free to also ask me any questions if you want details, I can pretty much answer anything having to do with our little Revolution here." the otter beamed with gleaming white teeth, clearly happy to be back in this setting amongst his compatriots.
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Post by Carrow on Feb 3, 2009 13:06:58 GMT -5
"I would feel more comfortable speaking with a fellow squirrel to start me off, if you don't mind. He seems a highly interesting creature from what you just told me," Sciurus replied, swishing his tail and smiling, albeit somewhat nervously.
This was certainly going to be an experience for the squirrel.
"Didn't you say that the Cordeliers Club caters more to creatures of a moderate mindset?"
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 3, 2009 23:46:34 GMT -5
"Well yes....more moderate, you're right." the otter replied, twitching his snout. "We're not as reactionary as the Jacobin Club, but we ARE still a revolutionary club after all, and will go to certain measures if we feel they're necessary. So far though, we just lobby, we don't really carry out any big plans for obvious reasons of course. And very well then, I'll introduce you to Camille."
He trotted over to where the squirrel was guffawing and butted in by placing himself slightly in front of the red furred creature. "Camille. Ahem, sorry to interrupt you, but I've brought a potential recruit to our ranks. I'd like you to meet Sciurus Whirlpaw."
"W-w-w-whirlpaw you say?" The red squirrel turned and fixed his fellow rodent with two eyes that blazed with an intense sort of light within them, a strange contrast to the obvious stammer that the squirrel spoke with. His eyes were almost hypnotic in their own way, though in a far more straight forward manner. "W-w-well, well, potential r-r-recruit eh?" his face was long and drawn out, as if it had been stretched a bit for an average squirrel. "Y-y-you new to our city? As you've probably already been told, I'm C-c-camille." despite his fierce intensity, there was also a youthful warmth about him as well. He was a fighter alright, but not one to give in to such violence easily.
"Right you are, and a proper legend at that mate." Otto chimed in.
"Pshaw. L-legend, nothing of the sort. I did what n-n-needed to be done." was the squirrel's response, waving his paw as if it were no big deal. "A-at any rate, I'm p-pleased to meet you Sciurus." Camille managed to get out. If one read his articles, one would never know he stammered in his speech. But that was the thing. One could be a brilliant writer, but have trouble talking in real life. He wasn't timid in his stammer, just a fast talker it seemed.
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Post by Carrow on Feb 4, 2009 16:15:37 GMT -5
Sciurus was taken aback when he made eye contact with Camille. His eyes seemed to sparkle with intense revolutionary fervour, and the hypnotist was practically entranced for a moment as he gazed into them. He soon snapped back to reality though, averting his gaze, as he was unable to look into those eyes for a moment longer, such was the light that seemed to shine from them.
"H-hello t-there, Camille," he said, stammering slightly himself. His paw trembled as he held it out for the other squirrel to shake. Normally of a calm demeanour, Sciurus was quite visibly nervous.
"I am indeed new to Cosnair, and am interested in what is currently going on. My otter friend here," he said, grinning as he referred to Otto, "has told me about you. He says you're the one who kicked this whole thing off. Pleased to meet you, sir."
Sciurus was immediately drawn to Camille, such was the warm personality that he seemed to radiate. He had definitely made the right decision in meeting him first.
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Post by Ladorak on Feb 4, 2009 23:27:07 GMT -5
"Oh a-as s-stated. It was n-nothing really." Camille responded, gripping the squirrel's paw with a rough yet hearty hold and giving a brief shake before releasing. Everything about him seemed to radiate the essence of revolution, from his fiery fur to his blazing eyes.
"Right, nothing. Camille here read about the King's dismissal of his Minister of what was it...again?" Otto asked, stumped.
"F-f-f-finances. A right good g-g-gentlemammal concerned with the rest of us." Camille managed to stammer out.
"Right, finances! Well Camille here jumps on top of a table outside one of the palaces of one of the Dukes I think, and demands that action must be taken to stop the King in his tracks and well, he um....let's see, drew two pistols if I recall, seemingly lost his stammer due to his excitement, and declared that he'd not fall alive in to the paws of the police. The crowd around him were quite taken with him, and as he stepped down from the table, he was virtually engulfed by hundreds of paws, all wanting to carry him off at their head as they decided to riot." Otto was cracking a smile now as he related the story, whilst Camille nodded but was going quite red underneath his already reddish fur, clearly humbled by this account.
"N-n-not that many p-p-paws but yes." he nodded in agreement so far with what Otto had said.
"Well after that, the mobs decided they needed weapons, and so they decided to go after the Citadel, which was a very large and very old prison in the middle of Cosnair, a rather beastly place that most citizens hated with a passion. There were only 7 prisoners inside of it believe it or not, hahah! But that wasn't the point. They were after weapons and ammunition. The guards of course refused to surrender at first, but after substantial reinforcements began to swell Camille's group, the warden decided to give in. So that's how the Cosnair National Guard was formed and ended up marching on the King's Palace outside of the city, stormed it and brought him to live in his quarters here to preside over the Assembly." Otto gave Camille's back a hardy slap, which he seemed surprised by as he breathed out in a sort of gasp.
"R-right! And after all that, I d-d-decided to start my writing c-c-career anew!" Camille chimed in now.
"Yes! And quite the successful career he's had in only three years! He's gone from being a virtual pauper to quite well off I think." Camille was blushing at Otto's words and shuffling his tail back and forth, flitting it from one position to another.
"Y-y-yeah, well...h-h-had to make a living somehow an-and I r-r-really love w-w-writing." the squirrel was able to finish. "F-for example....m-m-my magazine's sixth issue states........ popular and democratic government is the only constitution which suits Rosferia, and all those who are worthy of the name of mammal and beast." that last part Camille spoke perfectly, without a stammer, as if his own writing somehow gave him strength to speak. Otto for his part nodded at this, folded his arms and looked over at Sciurus as no doubt the squirrel was digesting everything that had just been fed to him.
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Post by Carrow on Feb 5, 2009 8:51:29 GMT -5
"Fascinating, positively fascinating," Sciurus murmured, before speaking to Camille again. This time, he felt a lot less nervous.
"If you don't mind, sir, I'd love to have a word with you later on about various things, as you seem to be quite a prominent figure here at the Club, but I feel I must meet the other members first. Hopefully they are all as interesting as you are," he said, smiling at Camille.
"And so you know, you can count on me to lend a paw with pretty much anything that needs doing here, that is, if you think I am Cordelier material. I'll be sure to speak to you again when I can, possibly after my, heheh, induction in to the club," he continued, chuckling softy at the joke he had just made. A fellow squirrel and a fellow hypnotist!, Sciurus thought, I've certainly gotten things off to a good start here.
Turning to Otto, he asked, "Who would you like to introduce me to next?"
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