maskormenace | ( video o4 )

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( video o4 )

[ 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. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What!

[ She laughs, genuinely startled by that. ]

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

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.

[ Whoa. Wait. ]

Your wife?

[ D'Artagnan lifts his eyebrows, smile widening. ]

Yes. Constance, my wife.

This is a surprise to you.

A bit.

[ And, indeed, she looks quite embarrassed. ]

You just seem...Oh, I don't know. You don't normally think of soldiers being married.

Don't you?

[ D'Artagnan lifts his shoulders. Theirs may not be a conventional relationship, but that does not concern him. He would have it no different. ]

My wife is Lady in Waiting to the Queen. We both do our duty. But it's not so uncommon for soldiers to marry, regardless. Every man must support his family somehow, and that is one way that he can.

I suppose so.

[ And then she finally gets over her embarrassment enough to turn a sheepish smile on him. ]

I'll stop teasing you, then. About being handsome.

[ That makes him smile again. Poor Kitty. ]

I didn't mean to make you awkward. Please, don't be. I don't speak often of Constance here, in fairness. It makes me miss her all the more.

[ He lifts his shoulders in a little shrug. ]

You know now.

I know now.

[ And, with a smile: ]

So I won't flirt with you any longer. No more of that.

You're a good woman, Kitty Jones.

[ He remembers how she'd reacted to talk of love, before. It had flustered her. He'd liked that side of her, the side that was less composed. It had been nice. ]

When you fall in love, you'll know it. And it won't be with a man you can't have. [ A little pause - because, actually, he's been there, too. ] At least, I hope not.

[ Oh - and, predictably, she runs her hand through her hair, abruptly rather embarrassed. ]

Oh, where is that coming from! We're not talking about me falling in love, are we. This is about you.

Is it? My apologies, I thought we were speaking in general.

[ But at least it’s no longer about her calling him attractive. This is better. ]

I’ve actually only been married since just before I came here. We were making ready to leave for the front on the day afterwards. I expected that I’d have to leave Constance behind, but not to come so far. And not to a place she did not know.

[ Her face softens a little bit as she hears that. ]

Poor d'Artagnan. It must be so terribly hard without her, even for a soldier prepared to leave. Newlyweds, and you not even able to write a letter.

She’s safe. That’s what I need to tell myself. She’s been far away from the trouble we’ve seen here.

[ Lucifer, Crane, and all they’d wrought. D’Artagnan would have absolutely panicked to know Constance was going through that. ]

But I miss her very much. It’s my hope that what’s said is true, and she doesn’t know I’m gone. You would like her, I think. She’s the bravest woman I know. You’d get along.

[ She offers him a smile. ]

I can imagine. I shouldn't think you'd pick anyone who's less than courageous and noble, especially after those speeches you gave me. The two of you together must be altogether fearsome.

She doesn't need me to be fearsome. She always was. My world is less friendly to women than this one, Kitty.

[ The inequality had been ingrained. For d'Artagnan, it still is. It's why he still defaults to thinking that soldiers must be men, even though he's seen proof of the opposite here. ]

Constance did not let that stop her. You'd get along. She would like the way you talk.

[ And Kitty grins at him - ]

Well, I like people who are fearsome on their own even better.

[ Then her smile dims, a little bit - more from curiosity than from dread. ]

But what do you mean, less friendly?

[ D'Artagnan waves his hand, as if that ought to be explanation enough. ]

Less friendly. Less equal.

[ He leans back, considering how to describe it without also being offensive. This is not a balance he is particularly good at striking, and he already knows that Kitty will care about it. This is the sort of thing that Kitty always cares about. ]

There are roles, I suppose. Roles for men, and roles for women, and they are distinct. Their work is different, and there are different expectations. Women could not be soldiers, as I am. Wives are supposed to 'obey' their husbands.

Many take that very seriously. Constance's first husband certainly did.

[ His eyebrow flickers as he says that. The dislike, and disapproval, is evident on his face. Even now, d'Artagnan cannot abide the memory of that man. ]

[ And - no surprise - Kitty starts frowning early on, and the frown just gets deeper as d'Artagnan continues. ]

How disgusting. I've read about that sort of thing, but I didn't know you came from that sort of system. Obey their husbands - Why'd she even marry him? Why any woman would get married at all in a society that expects that sort of thing is another question...You don't demand her obedience.

[ That's not a question. ]

Of course not.

[ And if he tried, she wouldn't hear of it, he thinks. The thought brings a smile to his face. Constance is no one's vassal. ]

But that's what I'm telling you. Marriage is so often about tradition. It's not always about love, even though it should be. When Constance and I married, it was about nothing but love. Not everyone is able to do that. Most marriages are more about who your family - your father - thinks you ought to marry, rather than choosing for yourself.