monarko's Links
"I just don’t understand you, Antoine."
"You don’t have to. I am different from you; that is all." Antoine replied.
Like many others, avoids Antoine at all costs. Luckily, the two needn't cross paths for much, but lately he seems to see Antoine more. Constantin remembers a not so distant past when he jailed Antoine, and now Antoine walks the streets as a popular figure. If nothing else, this alone shows the degradation of the once mighty French kingdom.
I like your job, but I don't think you're a good fit. You're a little too soft hearted for this kind of work. How many men have you put to death Constantin? Of all the criminals that you chose to spare, the murderers that you dumped back into the streets, how many of them have changed their lives for the better?
Do you have a cat? No? A dog? No? How’s your father? How’s your relationship with your father? Ok hmm. Okay. Do you have any siblings? Yeah, a brother? Where is he? At home? Okay, here’s what I’m gonna do. If you don’t do this for me, I’m gonna go into your house and kill your brother alright? I know where you live. I have money. I have a lot of money. I can hire the best assassins, okay? But I’m going to do it myself. I’ll be the one. Tear out his little tongue if you don’t treat me with respect, alright? I can see it in your eyes, you hate me. I like that.
Why is this man not in jail? Rhine, why do you let him live? If he must live, never let him anywhere near me, please.
You know how I feel about you. You don't need to ask, right?
Rhine's money is the only coin worth anything these days. I used to wonder how he amassed it, but the man's smarter than anyone, he'll take it to his grave like the pharaohs of old. I need to be strong and sober, so he can't read my mind as he does to others. In Rhine's shadow, that's where I'll find my freedom.
Who the heck are you?
As I looked into the mouse's glassy eyes and saw my reflection, I considered the useless thought, "I made a mistake." A mouse cannot feed me, as big as I am. In its ragged breathing, I heard the whimper of pain, of ambition unresolved. Because in the eye of the mouse, I am smaller than he.
Constantin respects Felix's military bravery: his tenacity seems foreign to the Republic military. Constantin suspects the two should be fighting for the same cause and cannot discern why Felix insists they are mortal enemies. As such, Constantin holds no qualms with killing him, so long as he continues to oppose the side which is so obviously in the right.
Felix’s sworn enemy. Constantin’s hypocrisy drives the minister to violence after the majority of his flock is eradicated. He must take the life of the generalissimo; else Constantin will persevere in prolonging The Terror, and many more children will grow fatherless.
As children, Charlotte always looked up to Jean as the eldest brother. When he went missing, she was the first to accept he was gone, and helped comfort her parents through his loss. Now that he is returned, she doesn't know how to feel. She knows she should be ecstatic like the rest of her family, but he returned through the front door a very changed man, and no one else seemed to notice. They certainly see his scars, but don't seem as curious about where they came from.
During family fights, Charlotte is nowhere to be found. She disappears, and never has anything to say for herself. Her small presence and neutrality convinces Jean that she is who he will confide in. As children, they were the closest siblings. Jean set the example as they bonded over quiet acts of rebellion. He hopes that nothing has changed since then, that they still both share this spirit.
Avery does not know of Pottok's existence. They have never, nor will they ever meet. Pottok is a farmer and Avery is a king.
Pottok believes that Avery is the true king. His rational is based on none of the arguments heard in the courts, nor those professed by the press. Pottok is not even aware of the politics of the matter. Pottok believes simply because Avery has the support of his local bishop, and he is hated by the bishops of the city.
Pottok loves and respects Elaine as much as he does Constantin, ever grateful to the family, though the two of them have never met face to face. He would like to meet her someday, but he would never invite them to dine with him, as he has nowhere for them to stay, and nothing for them to eat.
Elaine only knows Pottok peripherally. He lodges somewhere in the woods near her family's summer home in the countryside. The locals say he is crazy, but Constantin lets him live on their land anyway. It's not something that keeps her up at night, but Elaine doesn't really like it.
Sebastian has never understood his daughter. At first, he simply assumed that to be the natural role of the mother. However, Isabeau herself is eternally frustrated with the girl. He has always been quite stern with her, providing fierce discipline. Much to his surprise, she always seems to prefer him to her mother. She shows him affection that Isabeau would literally kill to receive. Charlotte is a curious girl, and Sebastian enjoys watching her grow.
Growing up, Charlotte hated her father's apathy towards her. It is to be expected, she supposed, when she was the only girl and the final child of the family. Now, as a teenager, she finally understands the favor he had been doing for her. Apathy's about all the man is good for.
Avery was very close to his mother growing up. Luckily for him, she didn't enjoy the typical palace activities and skipped them whenever possible. He spent a lot of time with her when he was very young, but lost her too soon.
Adeline is especially fond of Avery. Like in Curits, she recognizes early on that her children are unique, and that they will require special care throughout their youth. She sees a young version of herself in Avery. He is very similar to her, the two get along well.
Marie does not think much of Elaine. Though, that is not to say she thinks negatively of her. Elaine is ever pleasant socially, she often comes over and the two share a snack and a drink. She just lacks the depth of character and mind her husband possesses. For instance, Marie prefers conversation of substance, and Elaine prefers that of the weather. Why do people who live inside exclusively talk so much of the weather, as if it would truly alter their day in any way?
Marie makes Elaine uncomfortable, she is quite old to be unmarried, and she belongs to no particular religious order. One time, Elaine overheard Marie say to Constantin from the other room, "When you got married, everything changed." Marie's presence has been accompanied with a distasteful air of scandal as long as Elaine could recall. Although they are pleasant to each other, and Marie has been very kind to their family, Elaine is honestly not fond of the woman.
Constantin highly values Elaine's blunt, honest perceptions of the world. He relies on her to keep him down to earth while he lives in the gilded brothel of the palace. Her priorities seem naturally in order. For him, this has been a practice.
To her, Constantin is the greatest man of the time. Being a first generation noble, he has proven himself time and time again, and he has chosen to share it all with her. In his youth, he could be turbulent and aggressive. It was miraculous, when he held their daughter for the first time. Inside him, something had changed forever. Now he only grows in wisdom and patience; he has become very kind to her. He became a father.
Elliot really likes Marie. She is very kind to him, helping Elliot accomplish some of his long term goals in a short time, giving him a sense of fulfillment rare to life. There is no way he could repay her, but she doesn't expect thanks or repayment. He wonders why she would support him so when they were only strangers not so long ago. (Elliot doesn't know what genuine kindness without expectation is like. What an emo)
"Much of my life I have been alone. Alone in Rome, alone in America. Makes the company that much nicer while I have it." Marie explained.
"Well, would you ever consider trading it? All those adventures, foreign clothes, and languages learned for someone who would stay with you a little longer than the weekend?" Elliot inquired.
"No." She replied softly, with a weary smile.
"I'm talking about a husband. You are unmarried." Elliot conceded.
"How perceptive of you!"
"Is it because you don't want one?" Elliot asked with total innocence.
Her nose wrinkled, fully revealing her age. She paused and turned away from him before responding, "Yes, I suppose that must be it."
Perhaps it was when I sat on her sofa, maybe when she invited me to take off my shoes, or maybe even still when she first gazed upon me. When our eyes met, it was an instant recognition, like the discovery of some long lost friend. But her eyes do pierce me. She can see parts of the self I have spent my adult life trying to find. I am confident she can show me the things I dream of. And I discovered all this in one afternoon. In one exchange. One glance. She is an amazing woman isn't she?
Antoine is at her shop almost as much as she is. If only he was a paying customer. He is not quite a nuisance, as he is not obstructing the regular flow of business, but his constant presence disturbs her, particularly around closing time.
Sebastian owes the king for MUCH of what he has, much more than the public is aware, a fact Curtis won't take lightly. Whenever Sebastian, with his old and 'traditional' sentiments begins himself questioning the pecking order, Curtis clearly reminds him who's in charge. Follow the money and find the truth Sebastian. It's a little back alley to be sure, but this is the world of politics. Curtis never has to worry about betrayal from this direction.
As is customary for those in a position of power, Sebastian earned his place as the king's treasurer primarily by being there the longest. Sebastian was never interested in finance, but with matters of money, such things are irrelevant. His job may not be the highest paying (though it is certainly up there), but it does require a great deal of trust and prerequisite knowledge. Thus, Sebastian never has to worry about being replaced. Give the king what he wants to hear, give the public the opposite, and return home with a handful of livres carefully deducted from the books under the guise of an arbitrary tax expense. Perhaps buy another Papillon.
Constantin is Charlotte's godfather, and out of respect for Sebastian, he takes his role very seriously. Growing up, he tried to instruct her in the faith when her father would not. This resulted in ample time for them to bond. As of late, he feels she has grown distant from him. She has begun to act strangely; unfortunately, he lacks the time to properly investigate. Constantin has become inundated with his own affairs, and like everyone else, perhaps only considers her as an afterthought in his late night prayers. So fragile are even the bonds of family when the cage is being rattled.
Despite having more than she can count, Constantin became her favorite uncle at a very young age. He would remember her birthdays and bring special gifts to the young girl (a habit he picked up from Elaine). He would make a deliberate effort to listen to her concerns and desires. For her seventh birthday, her parents showered her with the usual dresses and jewelry, but Constantin bought her a set of oil paints. Her parents were not as fond of the modest gift, but Charlotte preferred it. Growing up, although she wouldn't tell the man directly, she relied heavily on his guidance to escape the ever growing chaos of her own household. Now it seems this domestic drama has come to a head, and Constantin? He missed her sixteenth birthday. It is the melancholy but natural progression of maturity isn't it? One day, the baby bird must leave the nest.
"What’s a Friday night supper looking like for you Marie? Some strange Asian cuisine I've never heard of? For me, it’ll be the same thing it has been for the last 8 years." - Constantin.
He honors and reciprocates her good neighbor policy. The two often exchange favors and stories. He wants for her to stay in France for longer than she plans and has successfully convinced her thus far. Despite their differences, he would much rather her, as a good friend of the family, then most anyone else.
Marie admires and is drawn to Constantin's good nature. He welcomed her into his community, even when she barely spoke the language. Now she is much more familiar, and Constantin has become her closest friend. Over the years, she has helped balance his passionate temper by demonstrating her intense patience. She has helped to unlock a new side to his character, one that is particularly useful in his domestic life, and he is forever thankful for it, even if he will never attribute such a change to her.
Marie is a good person. Rhine sees how agreeable, how genuinely kind hearted she is. He believes she would do very well in his employ. But for some reason, which none can particularly discern, he respects the distance she demands with all but her word.
When he speaks to her, she feels a chill run down her spine. She cuffs her hand around her bracelet, and will not look directly upon him. His eyes seem almost predatory, as if he gazes about her, scanning for weaknesses. No, not sentimentality or familiarity, but a base, instinctual fear. Her intuition demands she stay far from Rhine.
Louis the hypochondriac. Narcissistic (this is a lot coming from Antoine) coward always washing his own paws of anything threatening his indistinguishability. He claims to fight for Revolution, but he is no more than its pawn. "Calculating" they tend to call him as they applaud his perceptions; he is nothing more than a curbside critic.
Clovis thinks Antoine is promiscuous, fickle, and reckless. He claims to support their Revolution, but should the tides sway, Antoine would be the first with a portrait of the king in his home and a crucifix round his throat. However, for now, Antoine is somewhat popular amongst the locals for his bravado. In court, and many other theaters of life, the verdict of the day is nearly always dependent on one’s physical rhetoric: Their smile, appearance, and how they deliver their one liners. Physically, Antoine is tragically unattractive, but he presents himself in a way that people admire. That is as far as Louis will go to compliment the man. Most cardinally, Clovis hates how Antoine insists on calling him 'Louis'. Antoine seems to have total disregard for the safety of his brother. No, they were not born to the same family. But like it or not, they are reborn of the same blood. "Sorry Antoine, the sculptor has you in his hands now."
Antoine maintains his distance from Jean so he doesn't suspect the visage. Antoine wouldn't claim half the thirst for justice Jean possesses, and he recognizes their little band of woe would be nothing without him. Sometimes he finds himself in the writer's employ as an envoy, using his body to deliver the message. The pen is mightier than the sword, but Jean's a controversial figure. Sometimes you need both.
Jean respects Antoine as he does every man, woman, and child who lives with liberty on their lips. Antoine is a man who would actively fight for his freedom, albeit conventionally twisted. But to follow convention is certain doom. In the world Jean seeks to create, (Do not be confused. He speaks of our one and only world, for we are given no other.) people like Antoine should be allowed full pursuit of their desires. Jean defies that which distinguishes, but sometimes believing Antoine is of the same cloth can be a tough pill to swallow.
How is your estate arranged? After you depart, you’ve so much! Im curious as to where it all will go. None of my business? Perhaps. Oh! Your son, in the army! Beneficiary? I wouldn’t will anything too important to him. Well, he’s a soldier, and it’s a soldier’s duty to die.
Nathaniel, Jean, hear me well! Do not be caught alone on a street where this man can approach you! If you find yourself in such a sorry situation, run. Run from the fool.
Rhine thinks Antoine is a good speaker, and surprisingly, a great listener. Rhine doesn’t like Antoine, but he does like his potential utility. There’s nothing wrong with using people who are so accustomed to using others.
Antoine trusts Rhine for one reason or another. Although he doesn't seem the type, he follows Rhine’s lead. The two do bicker frequently about politics, but when it comes to business, they’re on the same page.
At first, Elliot is a considerate brute. An odd juxtaposition, he is relentless and sadistic, though sometimes purely selfless. Although originally diametrically opposed in philosophy and personality, Avery grows to understand and care for Elliot. Elliot introduces Avery to a whole new perspective, something he was desperately lacking. It was an unlikely union, but providence had brought them together, and Avery was a believer. Though, the very nature of their relationship was finite, and so it was destined to end in a melancholic departure. In their time together, Avery is motivated by an inexplicable obligation to protect Elliot by further endangering himself. His explanation is such: "Elliot is a wanted criminal, I am a fugitive king. So long as I am with him, I can spare him from the terrible fate that awaits. Even now, in the event of capture, my judicial authority remains, so long as I am captured by one who still believes in law." Avery tries to justify this strange self sacrificial relationship, but the reality is much more simple. Avery was tired of ruling, Elliot offered him a temporary escape. In doing so, Elliot became his greatest friend.
Elliot kidnapped Avery in a selfish coup to attain purpose and meaning in his life from the one man with the most. Avery is a proxy for Elliot's internal strife. Looking for answers, he takes the opportunity to interview the king personally. A bit of a brawn, he asks the hard hitting questions, such as: "Avery, do you think girls like small wrists? I don't know man, I don't think they would." In doing so, Elliot successfully humanizes the 'divinely ordained king'. But not to himself, he already knew Avery was no more than a boy. Sometimes it just takes someone who is much more stupider than you to show you you are also really stupid in ways you didn't even realize which makes you not even self aware which is like step one of smart so maybe you're the stupid one, huh?
Hates Sebastian the most. To Rhine, he is the personification of all that is wrong with the world.
Sebastian is curious of Rhine’s influence on the king, but by all appearances he is of sound judgment. It is not Sebastian’s place to question who the king takes for counsel.