Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who have reviewed, I appreciate it more than I can say. Slightly uneventful chapter but we do need to get through it. Things will happen in the next one.

22nd December

Revolutions to be planned – 1 but put on hold on account of Christmas and New Year celebrations

Invitations to Christmas and New Year parties declined – 7 (Could have been worse)

Invitations to Christmas and New Year parties accepted – 0 (And damned happy about it!)

Times I told Courfeyrac that I don't want to go with him on Christmas Eve and meet 'Claudine's lovely cousin Whatshername' – at least 2000 or that's what it feels like

Just back from a meeting. It looks like I'll be forced to postpone any further plans until all the festivities are over. All everyone is talking about is Christmas and New Year parties and some of them have already left to visit their families. Joly, Bossuet and that girl they're always with are, all three of them, going to celebrate with Joly's parents. And no one seems to find it even a bit awkward. Not even the parents, apparently.

Joly is some character indeed. Save for his 'miasmas' that he's constantly trying to avoid, he seems to think that the world in general is a safe and friendly place and you should think the best of everybody and everybody will think the best of you. And that seems to work for him on most occasions. He could walk into the Musain tomorrow dressed in women's undergarments and sit in Grantaire's lap and I would still not think ill of him because… Well, it's Marcel Joly! Jollly. He can't possibly do anything that isn't innocent and well-meant. And L'Aigle is even more like that, if possible. Because if he were to walk into the Musain dressed in women's undergarments, it would most probably be because someone with a strange sense of humour stole his clothes on the way. And if you found him in anyone's lap, it would be because he stumbled and fell there. And the explanation would not even sound implausible from his mouth. The most improbable sorts of misfortunes always happen to Bernard L'Aigle. Honestly, that's not just lack of luck, that's inventive unluckiness!

Anyway, they're gone and Combeferre is leaving tonight too. He actually offered me to go with him but I think his poor mother deserves to have him to herself every once in a while. Courfeyrac is planning on going to so many parties that he would have to constantly leave in the middle of one to attend another. Bahorel is going home too, to his parents and his four sisters. I never knew Bahorel had four sisters until yesterday when he mentioned them but, since he has no brothers, that might explain why he feels the need to be boyish enough for four boys.

Jehan is staying. I don't know much about his family but he didn't look exactly devastated that he wasn't going to see them.

And, obviously, Feuilly isn't going anywhere.

Speaking of him… Today he seemed worse, if anything. That coughing worries me. A bit. All right, a lot. Combeferre wanted to examine him but he said he was in a hurry and it would have to wait. And here is the really worrisome part – was it my imagination or did Fabrice actually seem a little scared? I just hope to God it's not something bad…

So that's everyone…

Ah, and I suppose there's also Grantaire but I can easily guess what his plan is – get drunk, send me a Christmas card with completely illogical and incoherent quotations from Greek mythology, philosophy, world literature and his own cynical aphorisms scribbled all over, like he did last year, then get even drunker and pass out. Seriously, that card was something. I can only imagine how much he must have drunk before writing it. I'm sure the others would have found it hilarious but I fail to see what's funny about someone being positively… decadent. All the time. It's not like Courfeyrac having too much wine every once in a while and talking nonsense. Even I have laughed at that. But Grantaire makes me feel like he breathes his own personal cloud of unhealthy air.

Wonderful. I'm one step away from starting to hide from Joly's miasmas too. And I've wasted too much paper on the winesack anyway.

As for my plans, my parents are abroad so I won't be going to see them. I can't help but feel slightly relieved. Normally I wouldn't think that but I'm having trouble getting along with father lately for some reason. And mother does nothing but fuss over me, as if I am an eight-year-old girl with poor health. I've grown a bit tired of it.

I wish Combeferre didn't have to go, though. He would be willing to spend Christmas just talking, rather than going along with what most people mistake for a party – getting drunk and making as much noise as possible. That's why I've declined all social-event invitations, even if I had to suffer through Courfeyrac's accusations that I have swallowed a stick. If I go to one of those insanely loud and obnoxious gatherings, I know I'll just end up going home tired and irritated.

Hm… I suppose I could suggest to Prouvaire or Feuilly to celebrate (read discuss politics and literature) together but I'm sure they have other plans. Besides, I couldn't even have a proper half-hour chat with Feully last time so how am I supposed to act to him during a three-man party that won't include a crowd of people gulping wine and shouting Vive la Republique?

Jehan won't mind me though. He's used to me and he'll find a way to amuse himself if I can't keep my end of the conversation. Maybe if he's there to facilitate things… Do Jehan and Fabrice get along? Silly question – everyone gets along with Jehan. But do they actually know each other well?

Anyway, it's probably a bad idea. At some point in the evening I'll want to write a speech or something and will end up either ignoring them or wishing they weren't there. And doesn't Jehan have a mistress? He'll probably celebrate with her…

Why am I even writing this? This diary was supposed to be dedicated to the dealings of our organization, not idle gossip about its members!

I'm going to bed…