Notes about the chatnames, colours and so on are at the bottom.
I'll try and keep it to two chapters. Enjoy!
'This can't be true.'
'What can't?'
Courfeyrac leaned towards Combeferre to sneak a glance at the computer screen, his chair dangerously balancing on one leg.
'According to five articles, our government has decided… Actually, almost all governments of the UN have decided that we should get soulmates.'
'Soulmates? Like Romeo and Juliet?'
'Our perfect other, love of our lives, Disney perfect love-'
'Yeah, got it. But how can they ever do that?'
'Apparently they've made some kind of chemical mixture with nanoparticles and smart technologies that can assess our characters and other things. Anyway, the gas will make the name appear on our body of who, on this whole planet, would be perfect for us. Apparently, the gas stays in or on our body and when we come in contact with another human being, it swaps information and makes us leave a coloured mark on the other. The intensity of the mark should show how good the bond is or could be between persons. Science has gotten eerily far, I'm shocked we're able to make this kind of technology.'
Courfeyrac fell back onto the four legs of his chair.
'That's fucked up shit. Really.' Gnawing on the short uneven bits of fingernails he had left he looked at the Musain. He hadn't noticed before but almost everyone had stopped talking and was looking at their phones or laptops- perks that came with the Musain being a hipster bar with free wifi and a lot of power sockets.
'Twenty-nine articles… Fifty. It must be true… It can't be.'
Courfeyrac shoved his chair closer to Combeferre so he could lean his head against Combeferre's shoulder whilst looking at the screen.
'How am I supposed to find whoever the name belongs to? What if she lives in South-Africa? Or Papoa New Guinea?'
'Courf, could you please freak out a bit longer about this? Besides, there'll be a databank in which everyone can give in their name and the name on their wrist and then you'll get a list with everyone with your name who has the name written on your body.'
'Everyone? Can it be that many?'
'Sometimes, apparently, there'll be no surnames. Because surnames are changed to often for various of reasons.'
'Guys! You read it already?'
Feuilly was out of breath, red blotches all over his face.
'You ran?'
'Colleague I was talking to on the way home went completely nuts, afraid he and his wife would divorce. Couldn't take it.'
'He over forty?'
'Jep, why?'
'Then he won't get a name. Apparently they assume most have found their love already or deserve to live out their life in peace, old fashioned style.'
Feuillly nodded, then frowned. 'Don't think his wife is forty though.'
'Auch, that's bad.'
'This system already has so many flaws', Combeferre sighed. He took a sip of his coffee and cringed. Courfeyrac loved how his nose wrinkled every time he pulled a face. It's like his whole being went along with his emotions. He was sure that if they lived in a Harry Potter world, Combeferre's hair would change colour as well.
'Yeah totes, I mean, there's not enough Courfeyrac for everyone. Now I can give everyone a month of my time but I can't give the rest of my live to everyone.'
'One month?' Feuilly asked sceptically. Courfeyrac frowned. 'Well at least a we-, evening… Sorta…'
Combeferre glared at Courfeyrac. How could he not take this serious? He himself would hate this, he loved to see himself as one in control of his emotions. Combeferre loved his status as voice of reason of the group and his previous nickname in the groupchat reflected that… But he didn't know how to calm himself with the future situation.
'HotSpecs, you okay?' Courfeyrac would enjoy every moment of Combeferre's new nickname until Enjolras would spoil the fun and tell him to change Combeferre's nickname again because it was "not okay to sexualise someone, Courfeyrac." Boring old granddad.
After humouring Courfeyrac a little while Combeferre turned his attention to Feuilly. While Feuilly talked about his real concern with Combeferre, Courfeyrac allowed himself to freak out internally. He never wanted to freak in front of people. Freaking out was not a Courf thing to do. His friends didn't need him to be panicky, enough of his friends were nervous and stressed out on a daily basis.
Would this gas-thing spread everywhere? What if you weren't hit with it? Would they spread it multiple times or would you be forced to see all your friends look for love while you were left wondering forever? How would they make sure no names appeared on older people? Would the gas hold into account who you were currently in love with?
He snuck a glance at Combeferre. Combeferre was right, this system was bizarre and mysterious.
After some time Feuilly had to go to his next job because his shift was about to start. Combeferre and Courfeyrac went home, deciding the best thing to do was process everything themselves and talk online when they had formed their thoughts.
Jehan and Grantaire were already home. It was a code orange situation. R was wrapped in the pink heart patterned blanket while The Aristocats were on the television to distract him. Jehan sat beside him, holding his hands while whispering in soothing tones as only Jehan could.
Jehan shot him a wide eyed looked of despair.
Courfeyrac dropped his bag and took place behind Grantaire, wrapping his arms around him and resting his head on his shoulder.
'I'm ruined. I mean, not that I had a chance to begin with but fuck… I don't know what's in a worse state, my bank account or my love life.'
'Why?'
'Why?' Grantaire huffed, his curls tickling Courfeyracs nose as he shook his head, 'In less than 24 hours Enjolras will bear the name of his perfect dashing politically correct partner in righteousness. Why should I worry at all?
Besides, even if I get a name, which I doubt because even chemicals must see that I'm a bad catch, it'd just be a name on my skin. The feelings won't just stop… They never have, it's been years and I've tried everything. I feel sorry for the poor bugger that gets set up with me.
I won't put my name online. They better spend their life alone and with people who aren't their soulmate than be stuck with me.'
'R, what did we say about the self-hate?'
'To the blackboard, R', Jehan gently urged.
'Bring the blackboard to me.'
Jehan stood up and picked the board from the hook it was hanging on.
He wiped away Courf's pick-up line of the day and Grantaire's most recent drawing and handed Grantaire the chalk.
Grantaire sighed and got his hands
Drawing
Painting
Singing
Great at literary references
Jehan nodded and went to hang to board back in its place.
'Perhaps Enjolras has you.'
'You're lying and you know it. It looks at our personality Courf. Enjolras and me, we match on not a single topic in existence.'
'You both adore Whitney Houston and Fall Out Boy to death.'
'You can bake and Enjolras loves pastries', Jehan continued.
'Sounds like a solid base for a relationship', Grantaire sighed.
They finished the movie and kept sharing their fears and thoughts during dinner. All three of them agreed that cooking would keep them busy and soothe their nerves. They agreed on Indian comfort food. Courfeyrac made a separate batch of flavoured rice to last them throughout the undoubtedly sleepless night.
'How about the Combeferre-Liza situation?'
'Could you pass me the cumin pleace?'
'Courf.'
Courfeyrac sighed and shook his shoulders. 'I don't know, would something happen? You know me Jehan. It might as well be Liza, Mason or Olivia. I mean, Liza and I had a date planned for Friday and yesterday I spent the night with Mason. I- I don't know. Is it possible to get multiple names? I hope so, otherwise tomorrow would be the darkest day ever for Musichetta, Bossuet and Joly. You know how I hate choosing. I like them all, like a lot.'
'You like them. But what about love?'
'Love is such a big word, does there even exist such a thing as a perfect soppy love?' He grinned.
'Nope, only heartache… If this is love I don't get why people want it', Grantaire laughed bitterly while chopping the meat.
'Sorry Taire.'
'Is okay. I was like you too, believing love was made up by the market to exploit consumers. Buy this and the love of your life will fall for you, buy chocolate to celebrate your love, buy a fitness pass to remove said chocolate from your body so your loved one will still desire you… yada yada.'
He threw it in a pan grinning. 'They'll have to rethink the concept now.'
Courfeyrac ended up not logging in to Facebook that night, debating who he loved most or if he wanted a fresh name. After all, he loved the hunt and if they weren't in his immediate social circle he could be a free man much longer. He quite liked being single and able to flirt. If flirting and touching random people was still possible after everything, that is.
Jehan braided his hair while his laptop was starting up. Courfeyrac and Grantaire were slowly on their way to become human beings, cups of coffee clutched in their hands as precious gems in need of protection and breakfast was made.
He'd been able to sleep an hour or three between twisting in bed and answering the group chat. Jehan should've listened to Courfeyrac when his former lover had advised him not to log in. The chat had done nothing to help his nerves. Everyone was asking new questions, using caps when new info was mentioned in a news post and posting ethical complaints against the measure every half hour.
Three hundred new messages had been posted in the chat since he had left it. He decided to only read the last twenty, a true feat since new replies kept coming in making the chat window scroll down towards the newest reply in the conversation.
Apparently, Enjolras hadn't come home yesterday nor had he answered Combeferre's messages, Musichetta was crying so much that Joly was worried for her eyes and Bahorel had gotten completely pissed in a failed attempt to forget the whole mess.
Courfeyrac took place next to him after finishing breakfast. 'What new?' The brunette asked.
'Everyone above the age of sixteen and under forty will get their name this day. Everyone else will get their name the day they turn sixteen. That's possible because the gas will stay in the air but only react on their skin the day their chemicals change and signal them to be sixteen because apparently, this gas can also read age. They didn't tell sooner because they didn't want people to freak out. The names won't appear on exactly the same moment but should appear within 24 hours after the gas is released.'
'When will that be?'
'In two hours from now, GMT+1.' Grantaire and Courfeyrac turned white. Jehan worried for a moment that they'd pass out and he couldn't keep both of them from hitting their head on the floor at the same time. He'd have to decide who could not mentally handle another hit on the head.
'All of us have multiple names so that's a good thing. If you have more names than the search of your significant other for you will be narrowed down quite a bit.'
'Marius' soulmate will have the easiest time ever than. Dude's nobility.'
Courfeyrac threw a glance on the facebook page. 'How does our fierce leader react?'
Jehan shook his head.
'No one knows where he is. Do you think something happened to him?'
Courfeyrac freed Jehan's lip from between his teeth with his thumb while shaking his head. 'Enjolras has fallen from the surface of the earth before. Happens every so often when he exhausts himself again.'
'I know but this is quite a big thing he's missing on… Or he's heard about it and bought a plane ticket-'
'Storming the UN headquarters for a one man protest.'
'Force to reckon with', Grantaire quipped. 'I bet his ferocious glare alone could make the building crumble at the spot.'
They fell silent. They were all too stressed to keep up conversations. Even facebook had quieted down. It was as if the whole world was holding their breath in unison.
The group chat started again slowly.
WEDNESDAY
10:20 AM
Maricuddles: does anybody know someone named Cosette?
Maricuddles: hello?
Maricuddles: combeferre, I know you're online
10:40 AM
Hotspecs: E's not gonna like this
Maricuddles: combeferre what do you mean?
Maricuddles: combeferre?
Maricuddles: I hate you
Maricuddles: not really
Maricuddles: a little though
11:30 AM
JollyJoly: Chetta, Bossuet and me are endgame, praise the lord
JollyJoly: keeping my fingers crossed for you guys
JollyJoly: stay strong
PeterPan: I don't think your crossed fingers are gonna help us much, dear
Boxclasshero: IT'S A GIRL
JollyJoly: congratulations?
11:50 AM
Boxclasshero: there's 70 girls on that site with that name until now spread over all continents
Boxclasshero: gonna wait until they fill in their names
Boxclasshero: my colour is yellow
Boxclasshero: I love yellow
Boxclasshero: it's the colour of the beer im gonna drink to pass time
1:20 PM
Maricuddles: how is everyone?
Maricuddles: okay
Maricuddles: the internet's gone haywire
Maricuddles: closet gays are being attacked in the middle east, guys? Nobody feeling like equal rights and social justice today?
Maricuddles: nevermind Marius, who cares about others when love is on the line. We're hyprocitical like that
2:14 PM
CourfRockYa: Well those were some dark hours
Maricuddles: thank god, someone else is finally online again
CourfRockYa: sorry my tiny precious ginger flower
CourRockYa: can't stay long
CourfRockYa: i know, i know, having to do without my presence is agony
CourfRockYa: utter misery
CourfRockYa: but I was only ordering pizza online
CourfRockYa: i actually have to go, on watching duty
HotSpecs: Have you gotten your name already courf?
CourfRockYa: yeah, ready for the greatest love story of al time
CourfRockYa: walt disney wishes he were still alive to make a movie of it
CourfRockYa: or rather not, I don't want my lovestory to be a PG approved thing
CourfRockYa: perhaps a 3d movie
HotSpecs: how's Taire?
CourfRockYa: great, all unicorns and strawberry cheesecake… hes the best with these kinds of things
Maricuddles: what things
CourfRockYa: love things
HotSpecs: that bad huh
4:36 PM
captainrogers: do you guys also have names on your chest?
HotSpecs: thank god Enjolras, you're alive. Why didn't you respond to your phone?
captainrogers: I had a paper due for tomorrow. Was in the library.
HotSpecs: the whole night?
captainrogers: they closed up without knowing I was still inside…. I didn't notice at first, then didn't care. My laptop had enough light… I think I lost some hours though because the next time I looked at the clock the library was open again, day had begun and I had a long line of random letters in my document.
HotSpecs: Enjolras, we agreed you'd not do that as often anymore
captainrogers: we did, I intend to keep that promise. It was just this once. It was important.
HotSpecs: just as important as 4 days ago? And 9 days ago
captainrogers: I try* to keep that promise
HotSpecs: everyone should normally have a name on their skin, it's the name of their soulmate. The government did it to keep us from waging war constantly
captainrogers: WHAT
captainrogers: I have no internetconnection for a day and now grmrjbearjrgeogrgtg
captainrogers: they cannot just do this
captainrogers: this is against human rights
captainrogers: what about freedom of choice
captainrogers: what are these matches based on?
captainrogers: why is this name so scribbly
captainrogers: not that I care, I'm against it on principle
captainrogers: BRB
HotSpecs: Enjolras?
captainrogers: I'm gonna do some research and start a petition to stop this
HotSpecs: It's too late
captainrogers: they must reverse it and hold a referendum
HotSpecs: you get your sleepdeprived ass home ASAP, eat and sleep for ten hours; Then you can go on playing human rights advocate
captainrogers: in training*
HotSpecs: NOW ENJOLRAS AND YOU WILL STAY ON THE PHONE DURING THE WHOLE WAY HOME SO I KNOW YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY WITHOUT DOING OTHER THINGS
captainrogers: don't talk to me like I am a child. Besides, can you not type in caps? It's like you're screaming.
HotSpecs: don't make me lay you across my lap because I will for the love of god and all that is holy.
CourfRockYa: kinky
R: justice has awoken
R: world behold, your savior is amongst us once more
'You think he'll call us in for a meeting?' Jehan asked while applying some skinpaint very carefully to his arm.
'At least not today. Combeferre will prevent that from happening. But yeah, I guess so… That parrot is looking great so far, Jehan.'
Jehan smiled without losing focus. Not a day had gone by since they met that the ginger man didn't have drawings or poetry lines on his skin. But his soulmate had a larger than life messily written name so now Jehan had to draw immense designs on his arm to keep his privacy. Courfeyrac had an easy time. The name was written in small round letters, evenly measured, clean, very Combeferre-ish."Is he even gay!" Courfeyrac exclaimed dramatically. It was so small it remained perfectly covered by his watch, no matter how much he shook his wrist or threw his arm in the air. He had tried. Had he been asleep he wouldn't even have known he had gotten a name since he almost never took the watch of.
'I'm sure he… Wait, I genuinely don't know. But Courf, haven't you known him since high school? Have you really never seen him kiss a boy or a girl?' Jehan wondered.
'He dated a girl for three months once. But I date girls as well, dating girls doesn't mean you can't feel the same for boys.'
'Very true, Grantaire has denial-dated for a very long time.'
'Combeferre has never even kissed a boy for all I know. He never even wanted to kiss us during a game because it "was an expression of love and should be used as such". I blamed him of not loving us but even that wasn't enough to get him to kiss any of us.'
He freed himself from Grantaire's grasp. The man had received Enjolras' name which had initially almost given him hope.
But even though the fog had only been spread a couple of hours ago there had already been cases of persons having names of persons who had other names written on them.
'I'm done. Thus dies the last inch of hope. There's no chance I don't belong in the same category as these poor buggars. I just hope no one has me. Probably not.' After that Grantaire, Jehan and Courfeyrac started watching a movie. Grantaire had fallen asleep twenty minutes in.
'Damn, I'm covered in dark pink', Courfeyrac sighed. 'Not that I didn't want to hug you R, I just didn't expect this much of a mess.'
'The colour suits you.'
Courfeyrac raised an eyebrow and started wiping yellow all over Jehan, making his hands a lovely purple.
Fate was not in their favour. The sun had not even considered setting when the three of them got a text at the exact same moment. They all knew what that meant: a gathering. Combeferre wanted to have all over for dinner. The bastard using their weakness for Chinese to make sure they came. 'Today is not a good day for my figure', Courfeyrac sighed looking at the pizza boxes.
'What figure?' Grantaire exclaimed mockingly. He had a pillow pressed tightly against his chest. Grantaire always hugged pillows and blankets. To this day Courfeyrac still didn't know if the biggest reason was because he needed to hug something to comfort him or to cover his belly though he was only a size M.
'Come now darlings, go dress yourselves up. I'll clean up in the meanwhile', Jehan ushered them out of the couch and Courfeyrac called dibbs on the shower. He was hunted out of the bathroom after 30 minutes. 'But my argan oil! I can't show my head otherwise.' All twelve of Courfeyrac's sprays and oils rolled over the white tiles. A little bucket filled with gels, wax, aftershaves and perfume followed before the door was closed with a decisive thud.
'No respect for a man's beauty routine.'
'You dolled up real well Courf, sure you're not dressing up for someone?'
'I'm always dressed up!'
'If you want to convince them you don't want to lure Combeferre to your bed the second you touch him, you shouldn't be wearing the blue shirt with that bowtie.'
'I wear shirts all the time just like bowties.'
'Yes, but you usually save the golden glitter bowtie for when you bring your A-Game to a club.'
'I do, don't I?'
Courfeyrac rushed past a worried Jehan. 'Changing outfits?'
'Jup.'
'Do I look fine to your artistic eye?' Jehan asked pulling an eyebrow while pouting seductively.
Grantaire looked from his shiny blue doc Martins to the baroque print pants and electric blue large knitted sweater. 'Damn darling, you always look fine. If I weren't in love with another I wouldn't be able to keep my hands of you.'
'Let's go, before I change my mind again.'
They were the last three to arrive, safe Feuilly who had already informed them he would come later.
Courfeyrac played with his blue bowtie, hoping the red and blue checkered shirt and electric blue pants had enough of a casual vibe, as far as Courfeyrac did casual.
Bossuet was retelling the discovery about Musichetta, Joly and him discovering they were soulmates. Bossuet had enthusiastically shaken his hand when they entered leaving him and Bossuet with a yellow hand.
Bossuet had started apologising for just shaking his hand and forgetting the implications of such a gesture when he noticed that their hands bore the same colour, though Courfeyrac's was warmer.
They'd had a good laugh and high fived before Courfeyrac decided he better immediately discuss his first skin contact with Joly and Musichetta before he became a living Frankenthaler painting. Joly left an Indigo mark and Musichetta had a magenta colour.
The three of them left a fainter mark than Jehan and Grantaire, which hurt Courfeyrac but it was to be expected he couldn't be an intense bonding partner for everyone.
Combeferre stood on the other side of the room talking with Jehan and Enjolras. They had yet to talk. Courfeyrac unconsciously touched his watch.
He hated knowing his soulmate. He hated the sense of obligation nagging in the back of his head to inform Combeferre. He hated feeling like he couldn't freely date anymore though he knew he could. He hated that he was expected by faith to live together like a responsible adult for the rest of his life without being allowed to screw up. Because if he screwed up he would lose the single person in life meant to always be there for him.
Courfeyrac knew he would be the one to screw up. Combeferre wouldn't screw up. Combeferre wouldn't even know how to screw things up. He had never ruined something in his entire life. He was just too smart, kind and thoughtful for that. Everything Courfeyrac admired but would never be. Courfeyrac didn't mind most of the time, didn't aspire to be like him. The world needed people like Courfeyrac as well. Caring, cheerful and carefree people that believed in the world and wouldn't let society or rules get in the way of making the world the best place it could be. Being like Combeferre would keep him from doing that.
Grantaire had on multiple occasions told him he should just spill the beans. Even if Combeferre wasn't in love with him he would be attracted enough for something to bloom. Combeferre's only great asset were his sharp cheeckbones. His light brown eyes were hidden behind big glasses and overshadowed by his long bangs, his chin weak, his lips thin and eyebrows the same sandy brown colour as his wild hair. He shouldn't be so attractive to Courfeyrac.
But the elegant fingers he twirled and twisted his pen around, the veins that stood out on his arms, the intensity of his eyes as if the person he was talking to was always the most interesting person on the planet and his voice. His voice. Courfeyrac had shamefully come multiple times thinking of Combeferre reciting parts of a book he was reading.
Combeferre looked his way and Courfeyrac quickly turned his attentions towards Bossuet again.
When chinese arrived they each found somewhere to sit in the living room. There were too many people to fit on the saggy old couches but Combeferre and Enjolras had invested in a very soft rug since they had their friends over so often. Courfeyrac had slept on it more often than he liked to admit. More often because he fell out of the couch while sleeping than he liked to admit as well.
'So,' Enjolras began putting out the tv, 'I won't ask you to talk about anyting you're uncomfortable with. But I want to know how you guys experienced the colourthing and the whether or not appearing of a name.'
The three lovers talked about their experience easily, but did point out what they thought were flaws in the system and the possibility of danger for person who had multiple names in narrow minded social environments.
Jehan exclaimed that he felt more relaxed knowing that there was someone out there for him but anxious about whether he would ever meet them and if he would recognise their name. He liked the colours, much to Enjolras' dismay.
'It's not a thing that society can force on us or use against us Enjolras. Yes, it was a government measure but whether people match or not is just a matter of fate. It shows friendships can't be forced. And it can help shy or insecure people. When they touch someone and leave a mark it can encourage them to talk because they have a reassurance those people will like them as well. And if you don't want to accidenily meet someone you connect with like when you're on a train or in a rush than you wear gloves or sleeves. There are solutions.'
'But we shouldn't adapt how we dress ourselves out of fear for the consequences and we shouldn't be forced to talk to persons just because there's the possibility of us becoming friends.' 'But you aren't forced. There are no laws that force as to acquaint ourselves with everyone that could become a friend. And it's practically impossible to impose such a rule with over six billion people on this planet. Besides, people can be kind and considerate. Almost everyone has friend. More friends is always nice but most people won't be insulted if you don't want to befriend them. I mean, I think a lot of people like Courfeyrac would be relieved.'
'I would?'
'Imagine you had to befriend everyone you might get along with.'
'Well, that would be awful. I already have a hard time equally dividing my time over the friends I already have. And there's not a night I don't have ten messages on facebook. And that's not even counting the people I intend to talk to that day.'
'You intend to talk with?' Combeferre inquired.
Courfeyrac shook his shoulders. 'I may have over 700 friends on facebook but I do know every single one of them and I do want to keep in touch with them.'
'That must take up a lot of your time.'
'I manage perfectly; I just like to keep my phone at hands. I always enjoy being with you guys and I do spend most of my time with you lot but I'm constantly talking with nine other persons at the same time.'
His phone buzzed at that exact time and he smiled meekly before looking.
Enjolras turned to Grantaire who sat next in line but Combeferre prevailed quickly though he'd hoped he didn't have to talk about his feelings or the big bold writing that forbade him to leave even a single button of his button-down open.
'I agree with Jehan. It would be hard to force friendships upon us. But I'm afraid that free partnerchoice could be endangered. Though registration sites currently exist to help those who want to find their soulmate now, I can totally imagine the government deciding that because they want to help us find our significant other, they will endow a law forcing us to register the names on our bodies. Besides, knowing society, it will probably become a scandal to date someone who isn't your intended.'
'Well, it is kinda like cheating since you are intentionally not together with the person you are supposed to be with', Marius replied.
Enjolras, prepared to start arguing, was quickly quieted again by a raised finger from Marius.
'I'm not saying that's okay. I'm just pointing out that people might think that way.'
'And are you okay with having someone?' Enjolras asked.
Courfeyrac strained his ears but kept his eyes fixed on the carpet he was plucking at. Grantaire saw the look of hurt when Combeferre failed to make eye contact with Courfeyrac. He'd always been unsure about whether or not Combeferre returned Courfeyrac's feelings. The med student was good at shielding his inner thoughts and feelings, perhaps too good for his own good. Grantaire decided he would start looking for signs in Combeferre's behaviour. It was bad enough he was miserable in love, no need for two of his best friends to be equally miserable if it could be helped.
'I am not opposed to it. But I realise I am in a lucky situation despite having some difficulties. I am single, my significant other is of the sex I am attracted to and I am living in a tolerant country in which my sexual preference isn't held against me… Well, not by law at least. Can't help that some people are narrow minded. There should be international laws that make sure people won't be endangered because of their names.'
'One of my cousins who is still living in India has the name of a co-worker written on her ankle.'
Everybody fell silent. Musichetta smiled sadly before continuing: 'The man is a divorcee of… Well, you guys know India has some strong stratification and people are divided into categories called castes? I won't overcomplicate it by throwing around with names, but he is two levels beneath her. Equality in jobs and treatment has gotten better by fifty percent since the fifties but it's still there in the minds of many. At one point our family will want to know the name. They don't mind her making her own choices but I don't think they expect her to marry someone like him.'
'This shit is gonna inflict some true pain before our governments have enough laws to cover bad consequences of being matched', Grantaire sighed.
'Are you experiencing bad consequences Grantaire, or are you just pointing out that many will be hurt?'
'When has there been a time that love didn't hurt, Apollo? I know you comprehend little concerning matters of the heart but I did expect you to know that love has been the cause of much pain, sadness and violence in this world. Always has been and always will be. But to love, as said by many great poet and philosopher, is our great glory and greatest tragedy.'
'Did you read that in the same book as the words on your t-shirt?' Bahorel asked.
Grantaire grinned. 'Perhaps.'
'I was thinking about buying the same t-shirt', Bahorel laughed. Enjolras rolled his eyes. In what kind of dumb book would people say "I drink and I know things"? He didn't get it.
The group started having difficulty with the discussion so Joly asked for a break. Courfeyrac walked to the kitchen island and started pouring himself some apple juice when Combeferre quietly appeared next to him.
'You're quiet today.' Courfeyrac couldn't help looking up. Combeferre was worried. He couldn't make Combeferre worried. He couldn't make Combeferre suspicious. Suspicious Combeferre was a dangerous Combeferre. Courfeyrac had never been able to keep something secret when Combeferre was inquisitive.
'Yeah, I wasn't really feeling like coming today to be honest. I'm beyond tired, I've drained an entire coffeepot but it didn't help much. Can you believe it? An entire pot Combeferre, I usually only do that during the exam period. I'll probably start feeling the effects by the time I want to go to sleep. I need my beauty sleep 'ferre. How else can I impress my soulmate?'
A muscle pulled in Combeferre's jaw and a look of hurt slid across it. Courfeyrac hated that he had to talk about his soulmate as if he wasn't standing right in front of him.
'I didn't dare ask it outright on chat but does R have-' 'Oh yes, I'm afraid so. You don't happen to know…'
'No. He came home and though I forced him to shower I didn't exactly stick around to watch. I only know he has one because he asked about what the marks meant on chat. I think he believes that if he hates the theft of choice it represents hard enough it will disappear.'
'Enjolras never wanted to occupy himself with love, he is already doing more than most normal men so I don't blame him for wanting to leave some things out. But now he is almost forced to occupy himself with it.'
'He should start to realise that a relationship doesn't mean the end of his ambitions. I think it would do him good to have someone who keeps him in touch with reality, human needs and feelings like food, sleep and doubt.'
'I know someone who's a great cook, great in bed and full of doubt.'
Combeferre shook his head and laughed. 'How much are the stakes now?'
'Well, we haven't revisited them since this development… But I daresay it will change some things. I think I'll lower my money.'
Combeferre reached for his mug and barely missed touching Courfeyrac's wrist. Goosebumps spread across Courfeyrac his skin. Too close, too fucking close. He should really roll down his sleeves again. After a while he'd gotten warm and rolled them up again during the debate.
He turned slightly and raised his eyebrows to Jehan. The ginger noticed and approached them.
'Courfeyrac, I just had this wonderful idea for a new tattoo!'
'Minimalistic or like the very detailed narcissus?' 'Oh, detailed. But I'm thinking about an eagle. I have always wanted something that expressed freedom and fierceness and-' while Jehan continued to talk enthusiastically the ginger man slid his nimble fingers in his pocket, unlocking the screen of his old fashioned phone. Courfeyrac's phone went over. Courfeyrac pretended picking it up.
'Yeah? What! No ugh god please. But surely even HE understands how distraught everyone is? But but but? No, yes. Fine, Skype it is. Yeah, okay. About thirty minutes? Yeah alright. Bye.'
'We had a group work due tomorrow. We only have to rewrite a couple paragraphs, write a conclusion and control the bibliography and footnotes but well, you know how long that can take. We thought we'd get some sort of delay but no, it's due tomorrow after all.'
Courfeyrac stepped back and was turning to say goodbye when he slipped. Two strong hands caught him by the elbows. Courfeyrac gripped the wrist and upper arm of his savior tightly.
For ten long seconds Courfeyrac could only stare at Combeferre. Combeferre looked as if he was planning to say something but finally, when nothing happened, Courfeyrac gave a curt smile before waving at the rest and quickly grabbing his coat.
Once outside Courfeyrac leant against the wall trying to calm his breathing. Touching Combeferre had felt like an electric shock. His heart was racing and it wasn't only because he fell. He twisted his hands. His fingertips were blue thanks to Marius, his right hand was yellow because of Bossuet and his right hand was a dark pink shad because he'd been hugging R when they got their names and marking- ability. But a couple of the edges on his hands were a turquoise colour.
Inside, Combeferre started cleaning up the not-so-accidentally spilt coffee. Courfeyrac ignored the colour and walked home before allowing himself to look. He divested himself of his coat and button-down. His hands were the most brightly coloured, bracelets of Musichetta and Joly encircled a wrist and a slash of Jehan's violet and Bahorel's orange graced his other arm but nothing stood out like the two turquoise hands on his elbows and the edges of his hands. He'd thought it couldn't get more intense than Grantaire and Jehan's markings but he was mistaken. So mistaken.
'I'm fucked.'
Truth was, Courfeyrac did indeed have a busy week planned before this mess happened. After finishing his group work he still had to hand in two papers and he'd only done his research for one of them.
By the next Thursday Courfeyrac felt like he'd been dragged through hell and back. He'd also come to accept his fate. He'd tried washing his elbows with water, soap and Grantaire's acetone but no matter how hard he rubbed the colour wouldn't fade. He'd expected to at least get a rash or red irritation for rubbing so hard and using irritating products but the colour had seeped so deep in his skin it couldn't even turn pink anymore. He'd tried the same on Jehan's mark to test if all marks were like that. They weren't. Only Combeferre's couldn't change colour.
Jehan, Grantaire and Courfeyrac were looking like paint palettes by the end of the week. Apparently this was special. Almost no one in his classes had as many marks as him and even fewer had such intense marks and barely anyone so many intense marks.
For Grantaire this was an estranging happening. He'd quietly accepted having so many friends. He'd considered himself lucky they were willing to take him up in their group but he'd never expected he'd mean so much to so many people and the marks were there every day to prove it to him. But not even a heart shaped mark made by one of his art friends was enough to compensate the lack of the red mark he wanted.
Jehan kept looking wherever he went for his name but never found it. He hated how he couldn't even use websites because the name was illegible should he ever want to undertake direct steps to find his soulmate. Not that there was any haste. Jehan didn't need a lover. He was perfectly happy where he was in life though he did enjoy searching to occupy himself during dull subway rides.
However, Jehan got too distracted sometimes. His glance drifted away from a mom hugging her baby and landed on the name of their current location. This was his stop. He quickly pushed through the crowd, careful to only touch clothes. The doors were gliding towards each other in what seemed to be slow motion. A hand came to rest on a door and they slid open again. A boy walked in and Jehan collided with him. He was pretty sure he'd hit his uncovered arm but had no time to look and quickly jumped out.
While the doors closed behind him he looked at himself. The same marks as before and nothing more, strange, he decided. The boy turned, pushing his messy brown hair and hat away to better look at the man in the bright colours standing on the platform while the subway slowly rolled out of the station.
Courfeyrac was scrolling through a news feed during politics when their group chat on facebook popped up. He quickly pressed the mute button. He always forgot to put the sound of his laptop off. Enjolras – who had yet to change Combeferre's name back something boring – had put a google document on it.
2:10 PM
CourfRockYa: ?
captainrogers: This way we can all work together on an essay I'll post on facebook, tumblr and all other websites I know off. I'll also be sending it to 10 newssites. They post rubbish like "10 things Japanese girls think about western cosmetics" so why not "101 critiques on the new soulmate system".
R: alternatively: "How a college student rather looks for 101 reasons to condemn the concept of unconditional love instead of paying attention"
captainrogers: alternatively: "Guess what? Not everyone loves the new version of an arranged marriage"
Courfeyrac sent a snap to R pulling a face like someone just waxed his legs… again. Grantaire sent back a picture of thick wavy brown hair sitting next to a pouty faced blond with clouds of steam drawn around the second face. "Just love that look on his face". Courfeyrac looked around and found Grantaire sitting a couple of rows lower to their right. Grantaire, instead of taking a minor like normal people, had just handpicked courses he found interesting. But he was often late and left early for politics since it overlapped with his philosophy classes, Enjolras had yet to realise that Grantaire took this class.
Courfeyrac got an elbow in his side. Enjolras pointed towards the screen. With a sigh Courfeyrac opened the document. In the document were a lot of remarks that had been discussed during their get-together.
It was only 2000 words long. He clicked open his document in which he was making notes and hoped Enjolras wouldn't notice it was about the veto rights of certain countries in UN organisations instead of soulmate problems.
During break he quickly clicked Enjolras' document open again. The 2000 words had become 7520. Marius, Musichetta, Bossuet and Joly were asking him in the chat section to tone it down with the critique because he made it sound like people who liked their soulmates were fraternising with satan and supporting antique views on society. Enjolras commented short and sharply. Grantaire was decidedly silent and hadn't put a single thing in the chat section or document. Bahorel, to lighten the tension, put "YEAH", "HELL YEAH" and "CAPICHE?!" after every argument. Enjolras fumed and Bahorel let him remove it only to put them back.
The discussion was also happening on facebook.
3:35 PM
captainrogers: for fuck's sake Combeferre, can you please stop grammar-nazi'ing everything I write. You're always one sentence behind me like you're chasing me or something.
HotSpecs: yes I'm chasing your ragetyping rampage of words which you call sentences and put them in a way that they are actual understandable sentences.
PeterPan: Combeferre, dear, he doesn't understand. Revisit it later
HotSpecs: but now Im on top of it if I just let him than by the time he's done I have to correct a document the size of the lotr book. As in: all three books in one, you know, the one I have at home
CourfRockYa: GrandJehanRack are going out tonight. who wanna come? shaking off the tiredness of a week's hard work
Boxclasshero: im in, looking for my lovely lass
PeterPan: the more the merrier & yes, hunting together :3
SurrogateMom: We already have plans, I'm sorry boys
CourfRockYa: soulmate is such a big goal, I'll be looking for "pretty and willing"
captainrogers: you guys despise me. We're supposed to be a TEAM.
captainrogers: Meet-up at the Musain at 4.30
HotSpecs: class?
captainrogers: I mean…. I would like everyone who is able to come to go the Musain at 4.30. It's okay if you are elsewise occupied, we will catch you up later and no important decisions will be made without consulting everyone of this group.
HotSpecs: better
captainrogers: did Courfeyrac change your name again?
CourfRockYa: umm :s
Enjolras was glaring at him. This was not good. He gave Enjolras a toothy smile. 'What did I tell you about-'
'I am not allowed to objectify people. You never know when it hits home.' 'Very right.'
CourfRockYa: arghvg, I'm so dead atm
captainrogers changed HotSpecs to Combeferre
SurrogateMom: srsly Enj?'
captainrogers: I'm not here to make up cool names. Just wanted to right a wrong
Boxclasshero: youre out of this world boring jolras, m really disappnted
R changed Combeferre to MothMan
CourfRockYa: come on, hes had that name for like, the first 2 yrs of this chat
MothMan: this is getting old guys, really
R changed MothMan to CookFerre
CookFerre: but I'm not that good a chef?
R: guess you'll be needing those private lessons, huh?
-
'Damn Daniel, back at it again with the Mickey Mouse Vans', Grantaire laughed. Courfeyrac only raised his head with pride, keeping his feet propped up on the table. Combeferre was torn between keeping an eye on him out of fear he'd fall and break his neck for real this time and ignoring the annoying brunette who'd been ignoring him.
'Okay, I've had it! Who the fuck is this Daniel?' Enjolras growled.
A Cheshire cat grin grew on Grantaire's face. He always took the bait.
'No one knows, that's the wonderful thing about these things', he replied. 'Could you be any more vague?' 'Is that a challenge I hear, oh fearless one?'
'I don't know either, but it's funny', Marius said from where he was seated. Enjolras looked at thim and whisked his face away as if seeing something nasty.
'You're all not thinking straight, how can you laugh with something you don't get?'
'After all this time it must have become quite obvious, even to you Apollo, that nothing about me is straight.'
Enjolras froze for a second. Grantaire pulled a dark eyebrow up.
'Let's just focus alright. If we can be productive than we can end this sooner. So please, Courfeyrac, feet off the table because though your shoes are pretty it's not an ergonomic posture. Bahorel, stop with making everyone go broke. We all know you're great at arm wrestling, no need to dislocate shoulders, hurt elbows and lighten our wallets. And Jehan-'
Jehan looked up from Eponine's hand. Eponine looked Enjolras dead in the eye.
'Fine, whatever. You guys aren't bothering anyone. But I'd really appreciate it if you'd attribute something later on, okay?'
Jehan nodded and continued painting Eponine's nails a dark purple.
Now that Enjolras wasn't ranting behind a computer screen but looking in the eyes of people who did love their soulmates like Musichetta, Marius, Joly and Bossuet he listened to their pleas to be more moderate and mindful of both sides of the debate.
Courfeyrac wrote down three points he wanted in the document but waited for moments of silence and points at which Enjolras asked his opinion so he could spread his input over their whole get-together.
In the meantime he was scrolling through posts on his wall when his finger suddenly froze above a picture. He was pretty sure he'd read or heard someone talking about her. He'd forgotten about her amidst all the madness last week. He knew someone had asked about her but he couldn't remember who. He looked around the table. Besides Enjolras, Combeferre, Bahorel, Feuilly and Marius everyone was either openly gay or taken. Enjolras and Combeferre hadn't spoken about their soulmate or their sex yet, though Combeferre had strongly hinted it was a man. Bahorel had a girl but Courfeyrac would be surprised if this was the girl for him and Feuilly wasn't actively looking for his soulmate, saying he wouldn't have time for them with all the jobs he currently had. It had to be Marius. He looked at the girl again. He'd been a monitor with her for a couple of summer camps and had gotten to know her quite well. She was very sweet and honest and her sense of humour was great, though she was a wicked tease. Yes, she'd fit Marius. Why hadn't he thought of sending them on a blind date together yet? How cool would it have been had he set them up only to find out later his match had been soulmate-level good.
'Hey Marius, what was your girl's name again? Well, not your girl but… you know, the name of the girl on your wherever?'
'Oh, Cosette. You happen to know her? I've asked around everywhere for her and subscribed to every registration site.'
Courfeyrac looked whether she was coming to the party tonight. She was. How completely perfect would this be? It'd be like Danny and Sandy meeting each other after the game in Grease except they were both more like Sandy.
'Guess who's coming to the party tonight?'
Courfeyrac handed his phone to Marius. His mouth fell open.
'She. Is. So. Stunning!' Marius whimpered when he went through her pictures and then her likes.
'She likes Shakespeare, Italian and chocolate… Oh she has read A Song of Ice and Fire and War& Peace. I never met someone who's been able to finish the last one. I wonder if she read it in Russian?'
'I don't think so Marius, we're not all linguistic wonders.'
Marius shrugs but he has to goofiest happiest grin.
The meeting came to an end after only two hours. Meetings were always difficult when they added a new cause to the list. Debating about how their plan to help a certain social group was tiresome and hard so Enjolras made sure to have everyone's opinions and suggestions on the table so everyone could mull over them before getting on to a plan of action. Courfeyrac wished he cared more. It was so incredibly important, he knéw it was. But he was so selfishly absorbed in his own drama he just couldn't get himself to care more.
'R, we're going to a party tonight.' 'Really? I'm in, I know the DJ of one place and he's really good and-'
'Well, actually, we already know where we're going. Marius' soulmate is going to be in NOX Mystique.'
'At least the girl has taste, it is a great place though a bit prep most days.'
'What are you talking about, it's the one affiliated with my student society?' 'Yes, and the economics department. As I said, prep', Grantaire laughed. He patted Courfeyrac's shoulder. 'It's okay. I'd love to go. Especially if it is to bring our precious Marius to his future source of happiness.'
This comment, unfortunately had not gone unnoticed. 'How do you know he'll be perfectly happy just because of some weird science trick? More happy than when he'd meet someone and fall in love naturally?'
'This is natural Enjolras, it is nature telling two people to be together. Both ways are natural.' 'It's chemicals.' 'Love is a chemical, not that you would know that. What do you know of love? What do you know what it feels like? When was the last time you were in love?'
Enjolras paled and Courfeyrac instinctively put an arm around Enjolras' back. He went rigid seconds later, he'd again touched someone without permission and though Enjolras was fully covered he still didn't like that he still touched people now touch had become such a difficult topic.
Grantaire was hurt but confronting Enjolras with his lack of experience was not a nice thing to do at all.
'It is not because I have not experienced certain things that I cannot stand up for them.'
'Believe me, fearless one, I know soulmates are far from a match made in heaven sometimes. I even dare say soulmates can suck as much as ordinary "normal" love. It doesn't make people perfect for each other, it merely offers a possibility and the comfort that there should theoretically be someone out there that should love you. But you won't hear me shouting how it can't be as good or pure as love found through looking for a partner the regular way. Besides, I only know of soulmates that have had feelings for their partner before, which again reinforces that some part of the relationship is down to getting along and having sentiments for each other that have nothing to do with the bond. Marius is the first one of us to find a soulmate he hasn't met before and I wish him all the luck in the world. Because knowing your soulmate doesn't mean you get a perfect relationship on a golden platter.'
R brushed past Enjolras and stalked out without another word. Marius looked very tempted to go after him but he knew better than to run after Grantaire when he wanted to be alone. Musichetta, Bossuet, Bahorel, Feuilly and Joly had a hard time concealing their sympathy. Grantaire had only told Courfeyrac and Jehan who his soulmate was but they'd all had their suspicions. Suspicions that were now completely confirmed.
'Well, you guys coming to the party at NOX Mystique tonight?'
'I should work on a paper.' 'When is it due?' 'In two weeks.' 'C'mon Enj, just do what you can do before ten. That's more than enough for today isn't it?'
Enjolras glanced at Combeferre who just shrugged. 'I don't have any morning classes and neither have you, we could.'
Combeferre was coming? No no. Why had he publicly asked? He wanted to get away from Combeferre to forget him. Courfeyrac wanted to bathe in alcohol to forget Combeferre's face and lose himself in the arms of another willing being.
'We'll come.'
'Oh Enjolras, just one thing?' Enjolras nodded, though he was looking at the door Grantaire left through again. 'Can I just touch you? I'm having a really hard time respecting boundaries and I'd like to at least not doubt whether or not it's okay for me to touch my friends.' Combeferre snorted.
Bahorel raised an eyebrow. Courfeyrac dramatically slapped a hand over his face. 'Ah, why does it always come out so wrong.'
'Sure you can Courf, I got your mark on me anyway, what harm would a bit more yellow make?' Courfeyrac pressed his lips to Enjolras' cheek. 'You're a doll. Don't know what the brightest is now though, your hair, my lips on your cheek or your future.'
Enjolras actually blushed. He never took compliments or flirtative comments well.
The party was going at full force when they arrived. Marius was wearing a button-up with a well-loved Pink Floyd t-shirt underneath, courtesy of Courfeyrac suggesting he better show off as much of his personality as possible. Grantaire, Bahorel, Feuilly and Jehan had decided to do a predrink in order to be "properly in the mood" by the time they arrived so for now it was just the two of them, Bossuet and Musichetta. Joly had a shift at the hospital so he'd had to excuse himself. They wrestled their way through the crowd while Courfeyrac texted her. They were standing near the airco close to the bar. Courfeyrac's own favourite spot, close enough by the more fanatic dancers but close enough to the edge to get drinks and stay cool. The blonde girl was wearing a white gypsy dress with lots of straps running over her back but her arms and shoulders were bare, showing the many marks already on them. He gently put a hand on her side. 'Cosette!'
The girl turned. Her surprise quickly faded and was replaced by a most enchanting smile. 'Courfeyrac!' She held up her hands, both palms already marked by two colours.
'What's your colour? Than I can look for a place it fits.'
'Yellow.'
'Bracelet-system?' Courfeyrac nodded and they wrapped their fingers around each other's wrists. It was a pinkish kind of red, magenta? He'd have to see in better lighting.
She hugged him immediately afterwards.
'How are you?'
'Great! You?' Her eyes darted to Marius who smiled insecurely from where he was talking to Musichetta.
'Could be better, but well, life's a work in progress. If everything was great all of the time, it'd be dull.'
'Very true', she nodded.
'I need to introduce you to someone', Courfeyrac announced and beckoned Marius closer.
'This hot piece of mancandy listens to the name of Marius. Marius, this sweet angel is named Cosette.'
'Marius how?' Cosette asked. The smile had faded and she nervously played with the straw of her drink.
'Marius George Edgard Louis Pontmercy.'
'Cosette Euphrasie Fauchelevent.'
The two looked at each other in silence.
'You ehm, like Pink Floyd?' 'Oh yes, very much. He's so talented, not overhyped whatsoever.' 'I agree.' 'And, you're a potterhead yes? No?' She smiled and touched her deathly hallows earrings.' 'Yeah, I guess I am. Hey, would you like to talk?'
'Yeah, talking is great! I love talking, it'd be… yes alright, let's go.'
Poor Marius, so nervous. Courfeyrac only hoped he wouldn't accidentally switch to another language by accident. Though he didn't think Cosette would mind, she was chill. She'd just tell him to talk English.
Courfeyrac waved to a couple of students he recognised. They grinned and held up their beers to their brother wearing the same three coloured sash. Bossuet returned from the bar and handed Musichetta and Courfeyrac a beer. They talked and did a couple crazy dancing before the predrink party arrived.
Jehan was wearing a floral striped t-shirt, arms completely covered in poetry and the colours from all the people who loved him were incorporated in gorgeous drawings. Grantaire was wearing his sash as well, the pink and blue lighting up violently underneath the bright spotlights. He grinned and shook hands with people everywhere. Perks of having been the party organiser of his student society for two years. Now he'd taken a backseat and was just a cantor, a function he did with great pleasure nonetheless.
He raised his hands to high five Bossuet. His t-shirt lifted however and Courfeyrac saw "as" in sharp writing on his back.
'R, mon ami, you've arrived!'
'Course I did Courf! You have a frown, turn it upside down.'
'Grantaire, if you stretch, a part of Enjolras' name becomes visible.' He swallowed and looked around. 'He's not here yet, just thought you should know.'
'Okay, I will think about. Now, let's dance!'
Courfeyrac found a most enchanting brunette, wearing a smaller sash signifying she was just a member of the economics society. She was pretty though, although she had the pouty lips of a spoiled child. But those pouty lips tasted like chocolate and felt like heaven, who was Courfeyrac to ignore such a treat? She pulled back laughing. 'You're not supposed to lick all the lipgloss off them, you crazy.' She absorbed him fully. 'PR? Wow, you must be quite popular.' 'I assure you that's not the sash, I have a great skillset, including my humor and my mouth.'
'Oh, well. Forgive me for wanting proof of that.' He laughed carelessly and bend over to her ear. 'I could give you a little presentation, should you want some confirmation.' 'Well, we're taught to always be critical and check our sources.' 'Indeed.'
For some reason he felt compelled to look up from the girl and found himself locking eyes with Combeferre. They'd arrived.
The girl slid her hands across his back, urging him to start dancing again. 'Come on, you're on the dancefloor, standing there like a block of marble won't do.'
They kept dancing and occasionally kissing until her giggling friends dragged her away.
Courfeyrac went back to the group. Many were missing by now. Bossuet and Musichetta had gone home already after Bossuet dropped his phone and gripped into some glass and Grantaire was dancing with a bunch of people Courfeyrac vaguely recognised. Marius and Cosette were back and were now talking with Enjolras and Jehan. Combeferre just turned away from the bar. 'Some party don't you think Ferre?'
'Yeah, joyful enough and still not a single brawl.' Courfeyrac grinned, not knowing what to say but wanting to talk. It had been quite a while they had properly talked but Courfeyrac wanted to now. His inhibitions had fallen away by the alcohol and excited happy mood in the club. He wanted to show Combeferre they were still friends.
'Have you even danced yet?' Olivier, the study praeses of his society pressed two beers in his hands. 'Free keg!'
Courfeyrac gladly accepted and turned back to Combeferre. 'No, I haven't.' Courfeyrac offered one of his beers making sure Combeferre couldn't accidentally touch him again. Combeferre looked at the cocktail and the beer. 'This won't mingle well.'
'So? As you said, you don't have morning classes. You can get shitfaced.' 'I'd rather not.' 'We both know your alcohol tolerance is great.' 'Jealous?' 'Yes.'
'Aren't you hot 'Ferre? I'm dying and I'm only wearing a t-shirt, you don't even have a single open button.' Combeferre looked uncomfortable and downed half of the beer before talking. 'I don't like to accidentally touch people so I don't really want to roll up the sleeves and well…. My name is quite big.' 'Really? I wonder if there's something behind the size of the name.'
'Perhaps a great ego. Since it is their writing so perhaps it might as well be their feeling of self-importance', Combeferre smiled.
'Don't think so, R's is the size of his entire back and Enjolras is confident but not to say, well. And Jehan- damn, I really shouldn't be saying this it's their privacy, his is quite big as well and quite ugly, he doesn't want to refrain from wearing what he likes however so he draws on his arm to keep his privacy. So congratulations, you just accused your soulmate of having a giant ego. Good to have that theory gone before you'd start thinking you're matched with an ass.'
'Interesting.'
'I would hate it to have such a big mark. You have to go such lengths to hide it should you wish to hide it.'
Why do they always keep going back to the soulmates topic? Cosette calls for him and he is happy to go. They thank him a million times over and talk about how similar they are and how amazing it is to have found each other.
Then the girl is there again and by now Courfeyrac is more than happy to leave the party, his heart racing like a drum every time Combeferre decides to join their conversations. He doesn't want Combeferre to find out. It'd be so embarrassing. Who has a crush on his best friend? They're not nearly so similar as Musichetta, Joly and Bossuet or Cosette and Marius. He's not good enough nor ready.
But he's ready for this girl tonight. Grantaire had been keeping an eye on them the whole evening, noting very much how much Combeferre's demeanour changed once Courfeyrac left. He took a deep sigh an pulled at the collar of his shirt. Bold round letters became visible but Grantaire couldn't read them from where he stood. So that was why Comberre was dressed so warmly, he had a big name just like Jehan and himself. Combeferre downed the rest of his beer and threw the plastic cup on the floor before rolling up his sleeves. He had a couple of marks but not particulary many or big except for a smear on the inside of his left underarm and two bright, glittering and glistening hands in the same colour as the smear. He couldn't make out the colour, the disco lighting reflected it too much but Grantaire could swear they glittered. Could marks even glitter?
Grantaire felt betrayed by faith, certainly if anyone was flamboyant or artistic enough to have a glittering colour than it would be him or... He remembered Courfeyrac falling into Combeferre's arms before running away on that dreadful day. But Courfeyrac was yellow. He had left yellow on everyone. But how many persons had actually fallen into Combeferre's arms since then? Combeferre was oftentimes complaining about the cold, even in incredibly hot places like the library so he wouldn't have his sleeves rolled up that much except for people to leave a mark.
Grantaire crept up to the remnants of the group and dared glance at Enjolras. His golden hair was loose, his curls falling in front of his eyes as he was dancing with Bahorel who was twirling him around in true 50's style. it still looked quite smooth despite Enjolras' stiffness so Bahorel must put quite some energy behinds his pulls and pushes to make Enjolras move well. He was laughing and his face shone with a small gleam of sweat. He shouldn't be looking this good sweaty, shouldn't look so ravishing at this hour of the night, Grantaire wasn't surprised though.
He knew he wasn't attractive, especially not when he was tired with his face blotched and blushing from drinks but the bad lighting concealed a lot and he was told he had a charming presence. But Enjolras, Enjolras was a god in any lighting and his figure didn't need to be adorned with a sash to draw attention. Narrow hips, broad shoulders an a tall stature did that. He seemed intouchable.
So close, so forever lost to him.
II ENDNOTES BECAUSE THE REAL ENDNOTE SECTION IS TOO SMALL II
- Student Societies (extra information)
The student society system is based on the Belgian Student Society System though similar ones exist throughout Europe. it is not to be compared with American frats and sorrorities. There are societies linked to a certain education in college like Politics or Philosophy or ar independant and focussed on a certain thing that transcends college educations like "Mother Teapot" the essence of which is to yes, get together and have a jolly english high tea together. Almost all these societies have a scutcheon with a coat of arms, a slogan and certain colours in a determined order(which is important otherwise they'd soon run out of colour options).
The leadership of these societies is called a praesidium, a group of by their society elected students. They wear a larger sash than the normal members bearing the coat of arms, their function, years of service and their names. Some functions are required like the head(praeses) and his exacutive committee, other functions can be added as much as needed/wanted but common ones are party, study (sells summaries of the classes), PR, culture, cantor (leads cantusses and keeps the drunken people on cantusses in check).
They are very popular in certain circles, especially those who are into nightlife and involved in their society. There's a certain stereotype about them being all party, no study and very social just as everyone involved in any kind of student society/frat/etc anywhere though they have to have a certain amount of good grades and have to go out often because it's required they help at the activities of their society.
- Colours and Meanings (warning: contains mild spoilers for Courfeyrac so I put him at the end)
-Jehan: purple
Sensitive and compassionate, understanding and supportive, thinking of others before yourself - you are the person others come to for help - being needed motivates you but sometimes people take advantage of are a gentle and free spirit. Being a personality color purple, you have a peaceful and tranquil quality and a quiet dignity about you. People are drawn to your charismatic and alluring are creative and like to be individual in most of your endeavors, including your dress and home decoration - you love the unconventional.
-Combeferre: Turquoise
If this is your favorite color, you are friendly and approachable, easy to communicate with. You are compassionate, empathetic and caring. You usually have highly developed intuitive abilities. You seek spiritual fulfillment, and you are often an evolved or 'old' soul. Although presenting a cool and calm exterior, and appearing to be stable and balanced, beneath the surface you may be in chaos, on an emotional roller coaster ride. You are a clear thinker and good decision maker.
-Bahorel: Orange
You are warm, optimistic, extroverted and often flamboyant. You are friendly, good-natured and a generally agreeable person. You are assertive and determined rather than aggressive - having a personality color orange means you are more light-hearted and less intense than those who love red. You thrive on human social contact and social gatherings, bringing all types together. As a personality color orange you enjoy partying and socializing orange people are the life of the party, the uninhibited performer! You are often the loud talker in a get great satisfaction from helping others and they find you inspiring with your vitality and positive energy. You are tolerant and accepting of others just the way they are.
-Cosette: Magenta
With a vivid imagination and creative ability, you are a non-conformist who sees life from a different point of view. This will show up in artistic pursuits or in the decoration of your own home. You are cheerful and optimistic and love to motivate others to achieve their best. You are a compassionate, kind and considerate person who tries to make everyone around you feel better.
-Eponine: Black
-Grantaire: pinkish violet
If pink is your color, you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive to the needs of others.
You also have a need for this caring to be reciprocated as you do tend to neglect yourself in your determination to take care of the needs of challenge for you is to become more self-reliant and to learn to love yourself, then love and acceptance will be returned to you deepest need is to be accepted and loved unconditionally. Violet encourages creative pursuits and seeks inspiration and originality through its creative endeavors. It likes to be unique, individual and independent, not one of the crowd. Artists, musicians, writers, poets and psychics are all inspired by violet and its magic and mystery. Violet is the color of the humanitarian, using its better judgment to do good for others.
-Bossuet: yellow
-Feuilly and Joly: indigo
With indigo as your favorite color, you are honest, compassionate and understanding. Integrity is extremely important to you. You are conscientious and reliable - a good person to have around in a crisis. Justice is important to you - you'll defend people's rights until the end. You have an addictive personality and may be a workaholic
- Enjolras: red (this colour has so many stereotypes and all of them apply, you know the colour meaning)
- Marius: blue
If this is your favorite color you are conservative, reliable and trustworthy - you are quite trusting of others although you are very wary in the beginning until you are sure of the other person. At the same time, you also have a deep need to be trusted. You are genuine and sincere.
-Courfeyrac: gold
You radiate charisma, personality and individuality, making others feel relaxed and valued in your company. You are a loving and compassionate person who shows great personal warmth to all you meet seeking and giving unconditional love and understanding. You relish the attention, respect, warmth and friendliness that you tend to receive from others in return for your kindness, compassion and love. You appreciate life completely - with your optimistic attitude you are not happy to passively sit back and wait for things to happen - you must be an active participant. You take your responsibilities seriously. You are a rescuer and love to be needed but one of your lessons is to learn to love yourself first - you live from your heart and are always busy putting the needs of others first. You don't like to draw attention to yourself - you prefer to be in the background. As a personality color blue, you are sentimental and love things from the past. You have a thirst for knowledge in whatever area interests you.