╔ A P P L I C A T I O N for T U S H U ╝

[fliesonfour]

Player Information:
Name: Maddie
Age: 26
Contact: maddie.salters@gmail.com / Plurk
Game Cast:

Character Information:
Name: {Matthieu} Joly
(his first name is not provided for in canon, but assumed here for ease.)
Canon: Les Misérables
Canon Point: Post-Death on the Barricades
Age: 25
Reference: On the Novel & the historical setup for the June Rebellion Joly fought in, and the general time period he grew in.

Setting:

Joly would have been born in roughly 1908. Working class conditions began to deteriorate during the epoch in which he was raised, promoting frequent unrest among French citizens. Riots became commonplace, and uprisings; while more infrequent; were also not unusual. Les Misérable, the novel, takes place after the deposition of Napoleon Buonaparte (via the 'Emporer's Demise Act'), preceding the loss to the Seventh Coalition's forces in the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815. Understandably, with an exiled leader, a tremendous number of war casualties, and ruined cities to announce France's defeat in its wide war campaigns of the time, the country was plunged into a period of extreme turmoil. The time period following Napoleon's exile was known as the Restoration, but was anything but restorative.

Politically, one of the key issues of the time was what form of governance France should assume to deal with its myriad problems. Having existed as a Republic from 1789-1794 (with thanks to a civilian revolution), then transformed into an Empire under Napoleon's seemingly unshakable rule, France and her victors now decided to construct a constitutional monarchy under the leadership of King Louis XVIII. The constitution's Bill of Rights (required by the Congress of Vienna, mostly made up of representatives of nations that had warred with France) contained many social leaps forward-- including due process and freedom from religious oppression. However, these new legalities were widely abused and little followed, especially in regards to press censorship, tolerance towards non-Catholics, and property rights. This did not go unnoticed by the citizenry, as the abuses became more dramatic and wide-spread over the subsequent years.

The constitution also granted the King undue powers of state, including: political appointments, construction of legalities, final say on warfare and peace treaties, sole power to present revisions of the law to Parliament, appointments to the House of Peers, and the right to summarily fire the entirety of the Chamber of Deputies and to call for re-elections. In other words, the King was fully capable of hijacking the government in its entirety, and the constitutional monarchy had the distinct flavour of actual monarchy. Not a taste that all of France was ready to have in its mouth. There were a number of reasons for this, including: increased levels of social problems associated with this form of government (immovable poverty and classism, low levels of education), little political traction towards legal and infrastructural change, Absolutionism (with its centralized religious and governance system) being a typical catalyst for religious warfare and persecution, and the sudden penetration of Enlightenment-thinking in French society. This form of thinking implied that men had natural rights, and that all men were equal: a theory supported by many French students (including Joly, and the student group he would eventually join), philosophers, and writers (such as Rousseau). Enlightenment-thinking was rather contrary to the concept of monarchy... constitutional, or not.

Charles X succeeded his brother Louis in 1824, after his death. Though milder in nature, he was no better at solving France's problems. He remained in power until the July Rebellion of 1830 replaced him, by force, with a preferred candidate of the people: Louis-Philippe. However, the new appointment proved disappointing for many who had joined the rebellion, as well as for the youth that would come to eventually rebel themselves. Very little changed, under this new King. In fact, conditions in France grew much worse.

By 1830, Joly had joined a student group called Les Amis de l'ABC: a salon that outwardly purported they stood for the spread of education, but in actuality, were a politically fiery and outspoken band of young men, out to cure the ills of France by means of revolution. 'ABC', in French, when spoken out loud, is pronounced like the word 'abased'. It was the abased citizens of France; the poor, the sick, the women, the children; that this group hoped to raise from the streets and into better times. They were Republican in thought, and brave in nature.

Les Amis did have their chance to fight. They did battle in Paris, in the disastrous June Rebellion of 1832, following the death of liberal General Jean Lamarque, and ignited at his grand funeral. Barricades were built on small, enclosed streets; the layout of Paris was well-suited towards them in this day, and the weak, muddy pavement was easily torn up. Though the city was later rebuilt to prevent barricade riots, in this day, it was primed for them. A number of students and citizens fought in this rebellion, with motives ranging from the alleviation of economic woe, to France's widespread and growing famine, to the impressive and untenable inflation of the day.

However, there was one more key to understanding unrest in France (and Paris specifically) at that time. This would have been specifically important to Joly, who had a clever, scientific mind and a paranoid, germaphobic heart to match it as he studied medicine in Paris, with the hope of becoming a doctor.

Namely, this was the hike in disease across France, heralded by an extreme cholera epidemic. The epidemic killed 18,402 people in Paris alone in only the springtime of 1832. In fact, Lamarque himself died a victim of it. Joly, having been brought up in the relatively less-effected south of France, would have been harrowed by the conditions in Paris: the squalor of many-peopled flats and the grime of the drinking-water, especially among the lower classes, that allowed for disease to spread so quickly and easily. As a medical student in that day, there is no doubt that he would have taken anatomy and surgical courses as half of his course study. Such work was universally performed on cadavers at the time. Exposure to bodies freshly dead of a highly infectious disease would not have only fed into his paranoia, but into his indignation and disgust for the conditions in Paris, and the lack of sympathy and improvement towards its victims. The cholera epidemic especially wiped out more improvised neighborhoods in France, to such a degree that it was even supposed the government might be specifically poisoning water wells in those areas.

The steady death tolls rose to epidemic-proportions in March of 1832. Symptoms were horrific (bloody vomiting and diarrhea, apoplexy, fever, headaches) and death came with fearful swiftness, usually a day to two after the blossoming of major identifiable symptoms. Seeing this on the streets of Paris, seeing little being done to prevent it, and knowing the ins and outs of the disease itself would have been an inflaming and heart-rendering topic for Joly, as someone with the desire to medically help people, and to raise health and living conditions on the whole. March 29th records for the charitable Parisian hospital (Hôtel Dieu) show a 99% admission rate for cholera victims, and a less than 1% discharge rate.

Another highly recognizable symptom of cholera was a blueish tongue, or a cold tongue. This is alluded to in Victor Hugo's description of Joly, which has him often checking his own tongue in the mirror, as a symptom of his hypochondria. Cholera was, in fact, a disease at the mercy of governance: Paris had no urban infrastructure to get truly fresh water to most homes, and waste disposal was conducted by flinging waste out the window and onto the street, letting it seep into the ancient sewers below. Basically: it was totally gross, and if Parisians didn't approve, health-OCD Joly definitely did not.

Unfortunately for Joly and Les Amis; all of whom were killed by June 6th, on the second day of their insurgency; France remained a monarchy until 1848. The French Republic they fought and died for was on the horizon, as were consequent improvements to health regulations. But they did not live within the grasp of such and age yet.

The medical background is very important to understanding some of Joly's motivation in his canon, as he was a medical student for the duration of his appearance in the novel (1830-1832.) In Les Amis de l'ABC, he was the Lieutenant assigned by the group's leader, Enjolras, to attend to Dupuytren medical school, to rally other medical students to the cause of revolution.

Revolution was the primary goal of the political student group, Les Amis de l'ABC. A Republican circle, their aim was to give power back to the people of France by dismantling the monarchy through a revolution, like those that had existed in the past. Their heroes were the revolutionaries of 1789, who had installed the five year Republic, and the students who had fought in June 1820 uprising at funeral of Nicolas Lallemand; a law student who had been killed during protest against Royalist-favoured voting laws. Bahorel, one of their own 'lieutenants', had been present during that riot, and fought. While the majority of Les Amis were not even in Paris at the time, the 1820's riots made their mark in student communities especially, and pushed students to the forefront of revolutionary thoughts and actions for more than a decade to come. The spirit of championing change in France through charitable ideas paired with brute force gave these young men the belief that they could make a political difference, when they entered Paris, saw its horrors, and thought to change it. Disenfranchised from the political system, force was the best way to accomplish change in that time; or so they believed. Joly among them.

This was supported by Les Amis' other inspirations, Rousseau and Voltaire, who preached Enlightenment-thinking, namely, that men were capable and had the right to rule themselves. The July rebellion of 1830 was the first major inkling that Paris' student population was ready to instill that idea by force, with members of Les Amis having even participated in it. While the rebellion failed in the end; only replacing one King with another; the idea that change could be had stuck with groups like Joly's.

Like his brethren in Les Amis, Joly was relatively well-off, compared to most people of the age. In addition to being notably quite fashionable, Joly also keeps a mistress of whom he is quite fond, keeps rooms in which he often houses his dearest friend, Bossuet, and has been seen to pay for the food and drinks of other Les Amis. He was also capable of having afforded his way into medical school and the required medical supplies. Therefore, like other members of Les Amis, he probably took in the same sort of amusements available to young people of the time; opera, theater, dancing, dining out. (He is seen engaging in these activities, or discussing them, in canon.)

Joly came from a family with siblings (though how many was not specified), and like all in his group (save Bossuet), he hailed from the South of France. Life in the South would have been more easy-going and comfortable; another element of why moving to Paris, slum-ridden and illness-infested at the time, gave him the case of hypochondria he developed after moving to the capital.

Like the rest of Les Amis, Joly was fervent in his political opinions; but a little more gently so, and less vocally. While he also wanted to elevate the people, and to help the poor and the sick, Joly was less violent about it than some of his friends. He enjoyed their group meetings, but often engaged in the games of dominos that would go on, the conversations about love, life, poetry, history, science, and general gossip that were just as common to the back rooms of the café Musain as the political discourse was. Many members of Les Amis were fun-loving, as they were on the whole a very youthful group, ranging from just below 20 to just above 30 in the ages of their members. The café Musain, where the group met for meetings in the evening, had back rooms that the boys occupied to make pamphlets in support of revolution, to make plans for whom to introduce to their radical ideas, and to to strategize; and just as often, to partake in wine and food provided by the proprietress and one of only two women allowed into those rooms, Madame Houcheloup.

This was the general setting that Joly functioned in, day-in and day-out, from 1830-1832. Medical school by day, the growing epidemics and sorrowful slums of the northern city of Paris wearing on him and growing him a sense of fearful paranoia. His friends by night, with conversation, entertainment, and political rabble-rousing and debate, thinking of a better tomorrow, putting his sand in to join his friends in the oncoming battle.

The battle came during the funeral of General Lamarque. Having died of cholera, the national hero was given a funeral. It was at his funeral procession that the members of Les Amis (and other, similar politically-leaning groups) began a riot. The riot would erupt into street warfare, and eventually, barricades were constructed. Joly knew of the riot (having passed by it with Bossuet) and called it 'marvelous', but did not join in; he was afraid of catching cold from the rain. As such, he sat out that day (June 5th), with two friends, eating oysters and drinking wine. The barricade built by Les Amis ends up being formed outside of the café he is seated in, due to the suggestion being yelled at them from a window inside, when their portion of the riot passed. The café was on a small, enclosed street; perfect for tearing up pavement, adding furniture, and building a barricade.

Joly did help his fellow members in the building of the barricade, that June 5th. Les Amis de l'ABC were not the only barricade to go up that night (there were three major ones, in total) and their hope as a collective was that if they could hold the forces of the National Guard off until dawn, then the rest of Paris would join in and build more barricades in the morning, when it would be warmer, and drier. Like other barricades, their supplies were limited. Though Joly was quite drunk by the time it was being built, rations were then imposed on food, and Enjolras made it so that no more drinking would occur.

Barricades were a popular form of conducting revolution, and likely the plan of Les Amis all along. They spent the years between 1830-1832 secretly amassing bullets, gunpowder, and guns from allies throughout Paris. However, those allies failed to aid them, ultimately. Les Amis lost two members on June 5th, but held off the Guard's offensive. However, on June 6th, all present on their barricade (the last left standing in Paris) were demolished-- save Marius and Jean Valjean, a student and his protector, who escaped. Before the 'final showdown', when Les Amis realized they were likely doomed (but decided to stand and die for their beliefs nonetheless, holding out some faint hopes), they allowed five men with families who needed their support to escape from the barricade, in Guard uniforms. On the 6th, canon fire blew apart enough of the barricade to allow for an onward assault on the supply-depleted students. Most of the students died in this assault, with some making it into the café (where they then were killed anyway). Joly died on the barricade, most likely of a bayonet wound (the typical method of close-range warfare at the time, and what fellow member Combeferre died of, on the same page that his friends did), in the same breath as four other principle members of the group.

Joly was passionate about political change in the way that his best friends were, willing to die for it. Much of his exposure to the ills of Parisian society came from his medical background, which was boosted nationwide by the cholera epidemic, and which specifically bothered him (as he constantly checked himself for symptoms.) He was as friendly as he was passionate within his setting, called one of the 'most agreeable' among Les Amis, and friendly as a rule; even with those who did not share his ideologies, such as Marius Pontmercy. Though Joly is a fictionalized character within a real historical setting, his character in Les Amis represents the association of medical students and scientific-leaning persons (not purely the philosophical, poetic, and legal types most usually associated, and most highly represented within Les Amis) with the French Republican movement.

Personality:

Joly's core trait is that he is an agreeable soul. He is an easy friend to have, with a pleasant disposition and warm temperament overall, a healthy ability to laugh and a habit for sharing what he has. Joly forms attachments that are somewhat unique to side-characters in his canon, in that they are both deep and reciprocated in an easy, fluid manner; he is infatuated with his mistress, Musichetta, of whom he thinks of highly, and treats in conversation more as a point of admiration than just a passing interest. His closest friend, Bossuet, is not only welcome into his home, eats on his dime, and shares in most aspects of his life so closely that they often sleep in the same bed-- but he is willing to share Musichetta with him also, without the least bit contempt, jealousy or melancholy. For him, the idea of combining the two people he most cares for is a joyous equation, not one to prompt darker feelings.

Joly prefers people of a similar make, and finds women who smile, laugh and are cheerful especially charming. However, as his two nearest friends are a cynic and a sarcastic, he also fits in easily against people of more sardonic shades, almost without the least bit of notice or judgement of that quality. He has respect for those who are learned, and is himself a student of medicine; a task that required a thick skin and a steady stomach in the 1830's. Unfortunately, while Joly's wit, skin, and stomach might have been up to the task, his personal mind was not quite-- the study of medicine produced in him an especially eccentric, active and quirky case of hypochondria.

Despite his generally upbeat demeanor, Joly often imagines illnesses for himself. He checks his tongue in the mirror often, almost pedantically, for signs of oncoming sickness, avoids the damp, speaks sometimes with a stuffy lisp from a head cold (real or imagined), and aligns his bed to match the magnetic currents of the earth-- all with the pervading interest of avoiding pestilence. This anxiety he spreads, good-naturedly, onto any of his friends, worrying after their health and often given to suggesting ways to safe-guard it or gently scolding their poor choices, such as leaving home without an umbrella, or seriously over-drinking (which he indulges in himself, at times). His hypochondria is inborn into his personality and often makes a show of itself; he takes it quite seriously, even if others do not, and is not dissuaded from voicing opinions formed by it for any amount of teasing, ignoring, or attempts at consolation. He makes a point of saying that he promised he'd go through fire (metaphorically, and real gunfire) for his friend Enjolras and his riotous cause, but not through rain for him. Rain can get you sick. Girl, you cray.

Even with his peculiar habits, he is noted as being the merriest out of the students within the activist group Les Amis de l'ABC. Despite his more laid-back attitude, he is still very much a member. Social progress is an interest of his, and he is more than willing to lay what he has on the line for the cause of raising the 'abased'; the poor, the downtrodden, the misused. That he has a desire to help people, and that this greatly defines him, cannot be in doubt. His decision to pursue medicine despite its poor mark on his mental health and personality shows an incredible desire to aid and assist. The fact that this extends to friends in a casual setting cannot be thought to be only because of his nerves, or that disorder; he clearly cares for their well-being in a very genuine way. His calling 'a laughing woman' "such a good thing" in a time where women's position in society was lowly and their relative happiness was lacking shows a unique attention to their pleasure. (Whereas his friend, Bahorel, thinks a laughing woman makes it easier for you to lie to her, Joly finds peace in the idea of a happy girl.) He takes much of his own joy in that of other people's. He worships the same 'religion of progress' that his friends do, and the tales of the revolution in '89 give him a passionate desire to make a change, as it does for the rest. He is noted as being on good terms with the working class people, accordingly. Though he is less headstrong about revolution than the others; sitting out the initial riot to chat with friends, rather than make a ruckus, despite calling the sight of the riot 'marvelous'; he nonetheless fights at the barricades during the June Rebellion, does not abandon it, and loses his life for his ideals along with the others.

Another trait of note is that he puts stock into appearance. He dresses himself well, in good cuts and new clothes, accessorizing. He mentions the way his mistress looks in-depth, keenly fawning over her best features to paint a picture of how charming she is as an overall person. Joly eats well as compared to some of the others in his group, despite being rather thin and even gaunt, and enjoys wine; all marks of merriment. Friendship is of utmost importance to him, and he is as equally ready to listen to Grantaire's rambling as he is to taking Bahorel's fashion advice. He is playful, and given to talking in exclamations ("Alas!", "Ingrate!") and sometime peculiar terms of endearment ("my poor ___"), plays at bar games such as dominos, can chat for hours in good company, does not mind good gossip, and is willing to lend money without questioning the reason for it. All in all, a rather good friend to have. He prefers peace to anything, and avoids quarrels as a rule. He can also be quite delicate towards women, as shown by his kissing the "awful" looking neck of Madame Hocheloup during the panic of the revolt to calm her when she cries; calling it dainty, instead.

Joly is also noted as having a "sagacious" mind. His intelligence is noted by his friends, and Enjolras especially, who notes his "science" as his best trait. Contrary to his almost foppish outward persona, Joly has the most analytical mind out of all his friends, and has unique, defined abilities towards memorization, calculation, and problem-solving. His ability to keep track of the bar tab his friends rack up while quite drunk himself shows an ability to be alert and pay attention to small facts and figures. If anything, his hypochondria is also in evidence of his quick mind; he has in his mind a limitless number of memorized symptoms, possible diseases associated, and curative techniques. His mind is very nearly over-active (which might also explain his use of what today would be called 'substance abuse' and back then would be called 'a typical evening' to calm it down and relax.)

Though noted as being "puny", having some incoherency of traits, and being much affected by his own phobias of illness, the last truly important aspect of Joly's personality is his occasional foray into the philosophical. He notes that "peace is happiness digesting" and takes a moment during the battle at the barricade to consider a cat. The cat, he says, was created by God to get rid of the mouse, which he had realized was a blunder-- as rodents carry disease and are irritating. This point of view can be said to truly encompass who Joly is as a character. He believes that even the "good god" can commit a blunder, but that blunders exist to be fixed.

As doctors exist to cure the blunder of illness, so do revolutions exist to cure the blunder of politics.

Being told that that he is in a world that is between of life, dreaming, and death would probably come across as comical to Joly at first, but inherently worrisome. Being that he hails from his own death (a topic he'd rather not think on too deeply), there would be a relief at deliverance from death and from pain, that he could think and feel and move and was not simply 'gone.' However, the implications of something which would sound at best very fanciful (like a tall tale, what an idea, a world between life and dreaming, and with a straight shot to death!) and at worst, too-like the concept of purgatory would rather alarm him, inwardly. The fact that he could not understand what that means would be mildly frustrating, but accepting it over questioning a 'good thing' (the alternative to which is actually being dead) would like the right course to take, for him. So, his general reaction would be to accept it as a better option, and perhaps even to joke about it. However, he'd likely think about the concept on his own from time to time, despite putting on a merry, brave (if neurotic) face upon first finding out.

How he handles it over time would depend largely on what friendships he makes. If he finds old friends or makes fast new ones (as he is prone to) in Keeliai, he'd be far more willing to continue accepting the terms, as silly as they'd still sound to him. Over time, as he grew comfortable that the situation was not going to abruptly change, he would become more curious about what 'in-between life, death, and dreams' means, and start to examine it. Without friends, or in isolation, the thought would instead have a numbing, slightly paranoid effect on him. However, as he is generally a friendly character, that shouldn't be the case. He will have some ongoing anxiety over which world he will end up in, especially once he realizes that people can disappear, and would worry heartily for any friends he finds or makes, and worry for himself as well.

Appearance:

Joly is described as being gaunt-thin and a little bit pale. Because he is a hypochondriac, his imagined symptoms often play upon his appearance, making him seem more waylaid than he might actually be. Otherwise, he is described as excessively youthful in appearance, merry, and often smiling. Among his friends, he is one of the more well-dressed, with a fitted coat and carrying a cane. As he is universally thought to be agreeable, any symptoms; real or imagined; do not seem to downplay the friendly and welcoming outward nature of his appearance and body language.

Using Jamie Muscato, who portrayed Joly in the 25th Anniversary version of the musical, and participated as a student in the 2012 film.

Abilities:

Some very dated medical knowledge he's like the Web MD of 1832, can aim and fire a pistol, and can cut a mean figure in an overcoat. Aside from that, he's just a very average, run-of-the mill human.

Inventory:

1 medical apron
1 ye olden pistol, without bullets
1 slightly cracked pocket mirror
1 cane
The set of bloodied, 19th century clothing upon his person at arrival

Suite:

Metal Sector, one floor. He would probably prefer to be near anyone who is cleanly, but amusing and fun-loving. "The people of the Metal Sector are generally the eccentrics and thinkers of Tu Vishan." Joly is described as eccentric, and is generally an apt learner, and a quick study. He fits the sector's 'type' well. In addition, the streamlined look of the place would appeal to him, the steel would give a better feeling of 'clean' to the place to relax him, and the advanced technology would not only greatly thrill him, it would give him something to occupy himself in learning. While the smoke from the industry there might be the only drawback, in fact in his time, smoke was thought to be incredibly helpful in preventing and treating respiratory disease. So he might even be initially delighted by that, as a recreational and medicinal smoker himself.

In-Character Samples:
Third Person:

Clinical Detachment, he reminded himself, as they approached the table. Clinical Detachment! That was the technical term that was supposed to mean that a row of five tables with cheese-cloth-covered bodies decomposing on top of them was not distressing or abnormal in any way.

Unfortunately, the voice in Joly's head reminding him of the term sounded squeaky and high-pitched, even to himself. Panicked in a manner he doubted anyone would really call 'detached'. Bossuet might even akin it to a cat, when it had sunk its claws into something and was mewling horrors; very, very much attached! By the bone.

But, dissections had to be carried out. Carried out in teams, no less, and splitting the price was the norm of it. Splitting with near friend meant a few sous more for wine later, which would brighten any dulled spirits. Luckily, Dupuytren medical school tended to spend the sous it collected from its students on a good enough amount of saw dust under the tables to really soak up any of the worser fluids that might leak out, as a courtesy. Unlucky, though, that that meant Joly might also have to spend his savings on new shoes; tracking home bits of contagion soaked into bits of wood in the grooves of his soles wasn't thrilling to imagine. Really, not!

Raising a kerchief to his nose and sounding put-out when he spoke to his colleague, he cautioned, "My fellow! It would be best if you were to keep your sleeves quite rolled up. Diseases are still deadly, even on the dead, and you really never know."

Despite sounding muffled and anxious behind that kerchief, he otherwise looked just fine; he had his general air of enthusiasm, and passed on the warning with friendly means. And, anyway...

"Look! The table by the fire is open still. Less chance of catching ill when we are warm." Silver linings. "Though, there is no complete avoiding of disease." He gave, tone judicious, rambling on as his partner stayed silent, and spoken as if he'd just said he was resigned to expecting the plague any moment now. "There is only preparedness."

And in that, he would like to think himself more than a professional; but a connoisseur. Medics in general, he thought, were very reckless. See how his friend, Combeferre, would absent-mindedly set out all his tools before donning a protective coat-- priorities most misaligned! He cared that he should take care, for his own sake. This was his idea of professionalism. The doctor should always be wary and mindful and given to suggest.

Setting down his satchel which contained his tools (clearing a little space in the sawdust almost pedantically before doing so), he went to fold the kerchief away neatly into his coat, considering, as he did so, their poor man on the table. A jot of philosophy overcame him on a whim, striking his mind before he went about striking their poor man below the cheese-cloth.

"Strange little inconsistency, to always preform on such a Monsieur! Our patient is beyond saving, I fear. Thought, I might fear it worse if he were not." He'd heard stories... well, nevermind. "Well-- shall we to it?"

Network:

['The Emperor' was very odd title for a woman, indeed it was.

When Joly had awoken, a few thoughts had stabbed into his mind all at once. That was merely one of them. The first, vaguely and upon seeing a white mist, was that steam was a sterilizing agent. This memory floated past his dazed mind like the tune of a song stuck in one's head; a little incoherent, but familiar. The second was that he happened to be in a tub, which was a sensible enough place to be, if one hadn't just been upon a barricade.

Were he not so weak of limb (myasthenia? dystrophy?) and fatigued, he might have thought upon that harder. Were it not such a difficult thing to think upon in general; smoke, yelling, and that very distinct smell of-- ...well; he might have made a better effort to fish among the depth of those memories, nervous and worried and ailing as they were.

As it was, by the time the whole of the process were said and done, and he was standing, bemused, among a city he did not know, with a device so odd upon his palm that he quite nearly found it charming, he was ready to recount to any who might be hearing it:]

It's very curious, to live a Republican life, then to close one's eyes, and awake in the bathtub of an Empress.

[Keeliai, have a young man in a bloodied shirt with a wince upon his face and a smile upon his mouth. Despite the alarm he could feel roiling in the pit of his stomach, the anxiety clear in his stare, and his confusion as to the glare of the lights and the thrum of his healing body, he took in the new location with a tamed confusion, and idly went to rub some dust from his coat sleeve in an inborn gesture.]

I have a friend who'd be much amused by such a thing! Little ironies! The oppression of bathtubs, in which the monarchs feed the people lyes. ...And more who'd be severely dispassionate about the whole matter.

[His voice pitched bit higher than usual, keyed up by concern over the fate of his friends, and his own. Despite it, he managed a good-natured look at some of the... thing... at his little joke, before relenting to those who might assist him.]

I might ask if any has seen such friends? A good place to begin. Decidedly.

My name is Joly; lately of Paris, more recently of Mam'selle Napoleon's receptacle.

[And he'd make a little bow, if he knew what at. Instead, he settles for a nervous smile and another idle rub at a part of his body that, worriedly, is still aching a bit.]