( video o4 )

[desequilibre]

[ The man who first appears on the screen is easily recognisable thanks to the very prominent scowl between his brows. People may have seen it before. Usually it comes about when he’s forced to do something like this. In his hands are varying sheets of paper that he rifles through as though to ignore d’Artagnan and his eager camera.

Athos waits a moment, then two, before he sighs. ] Go on then, I know you’re dying to announce it. Let’s not keep them waiting.

[ That’s all the cue d’Artagnan needs. The camera wheels around to show his face, where he’s looking altogether too pleased with himself. ]

We have something to tell you all. [ The camera lingers on his face for a moment and then shifts up, fixing on a sign bearing a symbol that will be familiar to anyone who’s met the Musketeers. D’Artagnan’s voice accompanies the picture. ] We’d like to welcome you to our new offices.

The thing is, we’re Musketeers. This may not be our world, but we’re still able to work. We’d like to help, in the best way we can. And let’s be honest, I was never going to help anyone at the Renaissance Faire.

So, we’re opening an agency of our own.

[ The camera pans around the office itself, showing a mostly wooden interior, a desk, several chairs, and what looks like a modern coffee machine hidden in one corner. There are several doors, including one that leads out to a yard. A couple of horses can briefly be seen there. ]

We want to do our part, here in De Chima. We’re here to protect you. We’ll be your guards, if you need us. We’ll investigate crimes that you bring to us. You can come to us in confidence, and we’ll do all that we can to help you. This is our work, and we want to get back to it.

[ A large hand grasps to reposition the camera and in looms a set of curls and not much else before the camera settles on a desk and Porthos comes into the frame. ]

Not like we get all the praise and glory, despite it being something that’s been well-deserved by our regiment, in my very humble experience. Only, there’s the bit where we take the best. I mean, I’d accept mediocre if I could train it out of you, but I think Athos might have my head first.

[ Which is actually a good point. Athos makes a noise like clearing his throat and waits until one of his companions angles the device again to get him in it. ] We’re taking anyone who wants to learn and seems as if they’d be capable. Men and women. [ And that’s at least one sign that he’s becoming one with the times. And that he’s not as bad as all that, thank you Porthos. ] We only ask that you be over sixteen and that you are prepared to learn. It is not an easy life, you do not make it without dedication. We would expect much of that. But I can guarantee that it is worthwhile. And if you trust us to teach you then you will not be let down.

[ After all that, d’Artagnan pulls the camera back to himself. All of that seriousness has not gotten rid of his excitement. ]

You can let us know if you’re interested. We open for business two weeks from today. If we can help you, you should get in touch.

( nb: the occ information post is here and sign-ups are here. Athos is black, D’Artagnan is teal and Porthos is purple. )

Comments

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[mousquetaire]

That's the general idea.

[ He could not be happier about it. They're going to feel useful again. ]

You approve, Kitty?

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[rathercommon]

I approve intensely.

[ She grins at d'Artagnan. ]

You lot are going to be brilliant. I'm going to find excuses to hire you, just watch.

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[mousquetaire]

I hope so. It's much like what we do at home, except that we have no king to serve here. But since it seems this world is ruled by money, instead, we thought this seemed best.

[ This is an adaptation to capitalism, clearly. ]

What will you hire us for? I hope you aren't in some kind of trouble.

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[rathercommon]

[ Kitty Jones? In trouble? Never. She's immune to it. ]

Perhaps I'll set up a series of thefts just so you all can solve them.

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[mousquetaire]

[ Is she ever out of it? ]

Well, now I'll know who to interrogate first.

Given what happens here, I don't think there'll be a shortage of trouble for us to handle. We've seen plenty of it these last few months.

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[rathercommon]

Mm. True. And you've done your fair share of fighting, too, haven't you?

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[mousquetaire]

We're soldiers, Kitty.

[ Pleased or not, he sounds very sincere when he says that. He's come to understand that many people here know what the Musketeers stand for, thanks to history or study. Others don't. It depends on the person. ]

Protecting people is what we do. It hasn't felt right here, doing other work, and acting only when we see opportunity.

We should be making this our duty. That's what we're built for. All of us.

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[rathercommon]

[ A nod. She meets his eyes. ]

I'd be nervous if most people said that. I'd be worried for how they might affect this world. But you lot - I trust you. And I trust the people you'd train to help you.

[ There's no flattery there. Just a simple sort of honesty. ]

I know you'll help the people of this world, too. With just as much determination as you'd help your friends.

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[mousquetaire]

You're wary of soldiers.

[ It doesn't take a genius. Honestly, Kitty seems wary of authority in general. D'Artagnan has a lot of friends like that. He's not entirely sure how. ]

None of us fight for the sake of it. We're honourable men, and we'll act to help these people in the same way we would our own. I would not make that promise if I did not believe it.

You have my word. Your trust is not misplaced.

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[rathercommon]

I believe you.

[ She smiles at him. Again, that is simple and earnest. ]

You're good men. All three of you. I'm glad to have you protecting us.

[ And then her seriousness fades, replaced by a rather wicked grin. ]

Plus, you all have got one other advantage that will make people very glad to have you working for them.

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[mousquetaire]

You’re talking about our collective friendly sense of humour, I assume.

[ D’Artagnan lifts an eyebrow, smiling slightly. He knows exactly why Kitty Jones is giving him that sort of look. ]

That always makes us very popular.

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[rathercommon]

[ She laughs - ]

Oh, yes. Charm, generally. You're all very charming.

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[mousquetaire]

The way you say that makes me wonder if it's a bad thing. [ Frowning. ] Perhaps I should be less polite.

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[rathercommon]

What!

[ She laughs, genuinely startled by that. ]

It's not a bad thing! I quite love charm. Especially charm of your sort.

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[mousquetaire]

Yes, but my wife may dislike it. [ If she were here. In d’Artagnan’s mind, he’s never left her side. ] I should leave the charm to Porthos, perhaps.

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[rathercommon]

[ Whoa. Wait. ]

Your wife?

Text; Threadjacking!

[restingstitchface]

What a lovely vow. Still, I feel your bravery and confidence would be more convincing if you'd protected people in the first instance.

[Just saying, bro. But isn't it annoying when your enemy chooses to deploy something where he's all around you, listening to your conversations... yet you can't face him and stare into his eyes? Terrifying, isn't it? And that's why he's using text.]

[mousquetaire]

[ Oh look, it's his favourite deranged psychopath. This was only a matter of time, truly. D'Artagnan does not use text. It wouldn't properly convey the distaste in his tone. ]

I wondered if you would appear. You should congratulate yourself, Crane. If not for you, we might never have felt a place like this was needed. Now, we're sure that it is.

[restingstitchface]

Well, then you should thank me for giving you purpose. I know manners are a difficult thing for you, but in this day and age, we expect better from members of... whatever it is you are.

[He'll accept begging for mercy at his feet, though. So he can show no mercy at all.]

[mousquetaire]

[ Oh, Jonathan. You do make him laugh. ]

Your thanks is the jail cell you’re writing from.

How are you enjoying that, by the way? I know I haven’t been to see you. It must be very dull, since you seem to miss me so much.

[restingstitchface]

[Just wait till he does stand-up at your farm.

And that's not after you've shoved him on a pole and left him in the cornfield to frighten local crows, how dare you sir.]

Miss you? I enjoy the silence. Maybe I'll break it later. We both know how much you miss me.

[mousquetaire]

Oh, if only I did.

[ His tone is so conversational, as if none of this is bothering him at all. Of course, that's an obvious lie. ]

You haven't been away enough for me to miss you. It's not really making the heart grow fonder, you know.

[restingstitchface]

Luckily, it's not your heart I'm interested in. I wonder what fears are hidden in that head of yours. Might have to pick it apart, at some point.

[mousquetaire]

I have a question for you. I'm genuinely curious.

[ He sounds it, although he also sounds tense. ]

What if you don't find it? You're so obsessed with finding the key to turn everyone into a coward at your feet. What happens when all your efforts come to nought?

[restingstitchface]

They won't, I assure you.

I also consider that to be one of your most pointless questions so far, speaking honestly. It's not the key to the gate I'm after; I already have it in my possession, after all. But I'm not going to share this intimate detail with you.