#and honestly this grantaire is actually the best

[astriexxe]

Casual Les Mis happenings

[kjack89]

Background Noise

It's been so long I almost don't remember how to do this.

Hiiiii sorry I've been MIA, it's an election year. You know how it goes. Anyway, here's a little something as proof of life. Love you all for sticking with me. I'll be back when I can.

E/R, modern AU, developing relationship. And all of the fluff.

Enjolras finished the sentence he was typing and sat back in his chair, reading through the paragraph he’d just written with a furrowed brow. Well, it wasn’t the best writing he’d ever done, but considering it was a filler paragraph in the middle of a letter to local elected officials that would almost certainly never be read by anyone other than some low level staffer or intern, it would have to do.

He sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face, his hand stilling when he caught what someone was saying nearby. “...Despite the immense popularity of the campaign, sales of Energizer batteries actually went down during the years that the ads ran. Duracell claimed—”

Enjolras lowered his hand to frown at Grantaire, seated at a nearby table in the back room of the Musain and still blithely rambling without looking up from his phone. “What are you doing?” he interrupted, equally parts confused and incredulous.

Grantaire broke off and glanced up at him, and Enjolras noted that he didn’t even have the good grace to look abashed. “Reading the Wikipedia entry for the Energizer Bunny.”

As if that was an even remotely normal thing to be doing. “Why?” Enjolras sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Grantaire shrugged. “Seemed appropriate,” he said cheerfully. “You know, because he—” He broke off, making a face. “It? They?”

“I don’t think the pronouns of a corporate marketing campaign are really relevant,” Enjolras said dryly.

Grantaire raised both eyebrows, amused. “Oh, so respect for pronouns is conditional now. I see how it is.”

Enjolras ground his teeth together. “I didn’t say that—”

“Anyway,” Grantaire continued, ignoring him, “like I said, seemed appropriate because the Energizer Bunny just keeps on going and going and going and going—”

“Yeah, I get the idea,” Enjolras said waspishly. “But why are you reading it out loud?”

Grantaire just shrugged again. “Why not?”

Honestly, Enjolras wasn’t even sure what answer he expected, and he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Is this something that you do often?”

Grantaire scratched his cheek as he considered it. “Define ‘often’.”

Enjolras gave him a look. “Grantaire.”

Grantaire grinned, that slightly crooked grin that inevitably heralded him saying something that would piss Enjolras off. “Sometimes, when you’re otherwise occupied and slash or completely lost to the world, it’s a fun little thing I like to do.” His grin widened. “Or at least, it’s fun seeing how long it takes for you to notice.”

It spoke volumes that Enjolras wasn’t even remotely surprised. “Of course.”

“It’s a drinking game,” Grantaire added brightly. “Or at least, I drink while I play it, so that counts, right?”

“Of fucking course,” Enjolras sighed, even less surprised by that. “I should point out that by that logic, and I use the word as loosely as the English language allows, any game you drink while playing is a drinking game.”

Grantaire’s grin sharpened into a smirk. “This is exactly what I’ve been saying! I just think—”

But Enjolras cut him off, far too used to Grantaire’s ability to take a tangent and turn it into a diatribe until someone interrupted him or he otherwise got bored. “As fascinating as it always is to learn how you choose to spend your time, you’re going to have to knock it off.”

“Why?”

Enjolras bit back his immediate response that it was because it was annoying as hell. “Because it’s distracting,” he said instead.

“Of course,” Grantaire said, with a wry twist of his lips. “Heaven forbid I distract the Noble Leader from his all-important work.”

He doffed an invisible cap to Enjolras, who felt strangely tongue-tied and wrong-footed, the way only Grantaire ever seemed to be able to make him. “I didn’t mean—” he started, but Grantaire cut him off.

“I suppose it’s about time I head home, anyway.”

Enjolras glanced down at the time on his phone and then back at Grantaire, frowning. “You’re heading home before midnight?”

“Sorry, did I say head home?” Grantaire asked, draining his beer and setting it back down on the table with a thud to shrug his coat on. “I meant to another bar.”

Enjolras rolled his eyes and looked back down at his computer. “That sounds more like it,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Goodnight, Grantaire.”

But despite his rather pointed farewell, Grantaire didn’t leave, instead lingering for long enough that Enjolras glanced back up at him, his brow furrowing. Just when he was about to ask what was wrong, Grantaire gave him another smile, smaller and tighter this time. “Goodnight, Enjolras,” he said, finally turning and leaving, dropping his beer bottle in the recycling as he did.

Enjolras stared after him for a long moment before shaking his head to clear it and looking stubbornly back at the letter. Ten minutes of staring at it without adding a single word later, he sighed and shut his laptop with a snap. 

Typical Grantaire, he thought sourly to himself as he grabbed his bag to pack up all of his things, somehow finding a way to annoy him without even being physically present.

He’d just have to try to work on it again the following night, ideally without the dulcet sounds of the Energizer Bunny Wikipedia entry. 

Of course, knowing Grantaire, he’d find a new way to annoy him anyway.

— — — — —

Just as Enjolras suspected, the next night seemed like a repeat of a thousand nights that preceded it. After the Les Amis meeting wrapped up, Grantaire lingered while everyone else dispersed, leaning back in his chair to prop his feet on the chair next to him, sipping from his beer as he scrolled through his phone. 

But at least he was mercifully silent while doing so, which Enjolras would take as a win.

For his own part, Enjolras settled in to finish the letter, all too aware that it needed to go out sometime the next day. He worked better with a deadline, after all, so finishing it up should have been a breeze.

Unfortunately, Enjolras instead found himself unable to concentrate, glancing at his phone and clicking over to Twitter as if it would somehow have updated in the prior thirty seconds. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, and he rubbed his face vigorously with both hands as if that might somehow get him to concentrate.

It didn’t.

Instead, Enjolras sat back in his seat, scowling. He was in his favorite place to do work, he’d had the perfect amount of caffeine so he was alert but not jittery, and yet he couldn’t force himself to actually get anything done. It was almost like something was missing, something in the back of his mind that kept him on task, or—

His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he looked over at Grantaire, who was still conspicuously quiet. “That thing you do,” Enjolras said, and Grantaire glanced up at him. “Where you say stupid shit while I’m not paying attention?”

“Yeah?” Grantaire said cautiously.

“I realize I didn’t actually define often,” Enjolras said. “So, uh, would you say that this is a daily occurrence?”

Grantaire looked amused. “Would you say that you ignoring me is a daily occurrence?” he asked, saccharine sweet.

“Yes.”

Grantaire grinned. “Well, there’s your answer.”

Enjolras shook his head slowly. “Fucking Christ,” he muttered, running a hand across his face before straightening his shoulders. “Right. Well, you can do it again.”

Grantaire’s grin faded, just slightly. “Do what again?” he asked.

“Talk, or read out loud, or whatever other stupid shit you try to get away with without me noticing,” Enjolras said, something resigned in his tone.

Grantaire blinked. “Really?” he asked, equal parts amused and skeptical.

Enjolras shrugged helplessly. “What can I say,” he muttered, well aware he was blushing and equally aware that Grantaire would undoubtedly use this against him at some point in the future, “I’ve apparently gotten so good at tuning you out after all these years that you’ve essentially become a really effective white noise machine.”

He half-expected him to feign offense at that, but Grantaire just laughed, the sound bright and genuine. “Well, at least you can no longer say I’m completely useless,” he said, and Enjolras rolled his eyes, even if he couldn’t quite stop his answering smile.

“No, I guess I can’t,” he agreed. He hesitated before asking, “So will you read to me? Whatever nonsense you’ve been reading, or anything you like?”

Grantaire’s expression softened, just slightly. “For you?” he asked, with none of his usual sardonic sharpness. “I think I can manage that.”

He picked his phone up again and cleared his throat before reading out loud, “Neither Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump is campaigning on the coming ‘tax cliff,’ which is rarely mentioned in their paid messaging or stump speeches. In their only debate, Harris talked about taxes far more than Trump, who only mentioned them twice — once to deny that his tariffs amounted to a “tax” on consumers, and once to promise future tax cuts, without much detail.”

Enjolras had been expecting another stupid Wikipedia entry, or maybe something equally inane from Reddit. He hadn’t expected a news article, and even less a news article about politics, one of many things Grantaire always professed not to care about.

He was out of his chair before he even realized it, crossing over to Grantaire. “Let me see that,” he said, reaching for Grantaire’s phone. Grantaire raised both eyebrows but nonetheless handed it over, standing and crossing his arms in front of his chest as Enjolras scrolled through the article in question, his brow furrowing. He glanced back up at Grantaire. “You were really reading this?”

Grantaire shrugged and reached out for his phone. “How else am I supposed to be able to effectively argue with you?” he asked, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Maybe it was.

Maybe it was as obvious as Grantaire saying God only knew what while Enjolras tuned him out.

Enjolras felt a slow smile stretch across his face, and instead of handing Grantaire his phone back, he closed the space between them and kissed him.

For one long moment, Grantaire was perfectly still, but then he kissed Enjolras back, wrapping his arms around Enjolras waist and opening his mouth against Enjolras’s. 

Then, without warning, Grantaire pulled away. “What?” Enjolras asked, just this side of breathless.

“You need to finish that by tomorrow,” Grantaire said, nodding toward Enjolras’s laptop.

“Are you really trying to be the responsible one right now?” Enjolras asked, grinning.

“Yes,” Grantaire said, suddenly serious. “I’m not giving you any excuse to blame me, or this, for fucking things up.”

Enjolras scowled. “I wouldn’t—” he started, and when Grantaire just gave him a look, he held his hands up and laughed. “Fine, I probably would.”

Grantaire nodded. “And I definitely don’t want to give you a reason not to do that again,” he said, smiling that crooked smile again, and it took everything in Enjolras not to kiss him again. 

“Fine,” he sighed instead, tearing his eyes away. “But I still need you to keep reading something.” He paused and made a face. “Not that article, though, I really don’t need to hear about fucking Trump right now.”

“Fine by me,” Grantaire said, taking his phone back from Enjolras. His thumbs flashed across the keyboard as he typed something and then he settled back down into a chair, one conspicuously closer to Enjolras and farther from his beer. 

Again he cleared his throat, only this time, he read, “The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful realm, to define and express their identity. The petitioners in these cases seek to find that liberty by marrying someone of the same sex and having their marriages deemed lawful on the same terms and conditions as marriages between persons of the opposite sex.”

Enjolras would’ve recognized those words anywhere. "Obergefell v. Hodges?” he asked, amused, shaking his head fondly. “God, you’re such a nerd."

Grantaire glanced up at him. “Takes one to know one,” he said, sticking his tongue out, and Enjolras barked a laugh and shook his head once more before finally returning to his work as Grantaire continued reading, his voice a soothing background to the sound of Enjolras’s typing, the way it had been for years now without him ever noticing.

But he noticed now.

And since he did notice, he had a brand new motivation to get through his work in a timely manner. 

And judging by the grin that Grantaire still wore, he knew it, too.

[bobafish]

A short list of Les mis fics that scratch my brain

I never planned on you Uhm 26 y/o Enjolras kidnaps 17 y/o R, this fic scratches my brain so much??? The emotions are written so well and the dynamics between E and R are just as sweet as it is creepy and I LOVE IT

hope is hard to find - R is a prostitute in the streets and both of them really need someone genuine atm. this one is SO EMOTIONAL, E and R's relationship is so well written. The sequel to this one is so good (R gets therapy!!)

penser - E and R are in a mini road trip for the cause and, ofc, grantaire is pining and a snowstorm happens wherin they take shelter in one bed for warmth. The writing sounds almost poetic ngl

Devils and Dust: WWII au where Enjolras is a spy and grantaire is a jew he's hiding in his basement. GUT WRENCHING

how I'm imagining you - Enj meets R and hates him, then he chats with Grantaire and really likes him without realizing they're the same person. THE BEST CHATFIC EVER. really clever dialogue and the amis' personalities are just *chefs kiss*

under your window - R sings at the top of his lungs at 3am under a stranger's (enj) window (LMAOO MY COUSIN IS PLAYING UKELELE RN AND THATS EXACTLY WHAT R DOES IN THE FIC)

Ill famed and suspected - new amis member is very toxic and takes advantage or R. The noncon wasn't too graphic and the emotions were written so well!! The comfort in the end too- wow

Paris burning - R is the impersonation of Paris in the rebellion. So poetic and emotional honestly

Once we're kings - imagine going to the queen choosing ceremony to your enemy kingdom as a "fuck you" But then you actually get married. Brilliant! (ngl this was the reason why I watched Merlin!!)

beautiful and good - haven't finished this one yet, but the writing is beautiful!

Liberté, Egalité, demi plié - R directs an Iliad ballet- BEAUTIFUL! I was sobbing in the end

[pyromaniacbibliophile]

Bricktober day 14- Time Travel/Modern

@lesmis-prompts

People do you understand how much I love R & Jehan. They are amazing. Also when I discovered this fandom (in June my gods has it only been that long I've got 300 bookmarks of these idiots already) I thought '' hell nah I can't write les mis the fics are all so good and I'm not that good". Cut to-me on day 14 of a Les Mis Writing Challenge, with a hp crossover planned, the beginnings of an afterlife au, and So. Many. Documents. About. Them. ANYYYWAY ENJOY!

---------------------------------

Jehan sighs. Honestly, he is rather surprised something like this hadn’t happened sooner. With such friends as Les Amis and such roommates as Courfeyrac and Grantaire, you take your life into your hands daily. That being said, he really hadn’t expected to come back to Eponine, Gavroche, R, and Courf standing outside next to two slightly singed canvases, looking sheepish as their building burned.

Maybe a little bit of context might help. See, Eponine and Gavroche have been friends with R for years. He doesn’t know the whole story, but from what he’s seen and heard and the fact that more often than not the siblings are sleeping in R’s bed while he’s on the sofa, he can make a few guesses. So that explains their presence.

Jehan had had to leave early that morning for a lecture but neither R nor Courf nor Eponine had any classes, the lucky sods. So that left the three of them in close proximity with the chaos demon that is Gavroche. Obviously, something was going to go wrong. He just hadn't expected it to be this wrong.

He pulled out his phone and texted the Les Amis group chat. 'Hey guys, R, Courf, Gavroche, and Eponine have burnt down our place, we'll need somewhere to sleep tonight. Xxx'

Sending it, he walks over to his friends. “Care to explain what happened here?”

Courf winces. “Jehan! Dear heart! It- is really R’s story to tell!”

“You fucker.” R mutters, before beaming very widely. “Jehan! Fancy seeing you here, dear friend of mine!”

Jehan says nothing but raises an eyebrow.

R gulps. “Well- You see- Er-” He decides being deliberately obtuse is the best idea. “The building’s on fire.”

Jehan internally rolls his eyes, but keeps a stoic expression. His other eyebrow joins the first.

R casts around for something helpful. “I- well, you see- Ah! I rescued your notebooks!” He reaches behind him and produces a large stack of notebooks, varying in shapes and sizes. “And you keep your books at Ferre’s anyway! So everything’s fine!”

“Yes, R, but why did my notebooks need rescuing in the first place?”

R pauses, as if he hadn’t quite thought of that. In all fairness, he probably hadn’t.

“Ah. Well.. Eponine?”

“No. No, I am not being dragged into this.”

“Well, you were there when it happened, and you didn’t stop us, which is- er- makes you an accessory to the crime! Quod Erat Demonstratum and that?” Courf says. Eponine gives him the most deadpan look possible.

"Courfeyrac, I know you aren't quoting law at me. Because that would be a very bad idea, wouldn't it?” She asks dangerously. Eponine doesn't take well to anyone other than Cosette using laws to attempt to coerce her. After all, she knew the criminal justice system of Paris inside out by the time she was ten. Few in their friend group know law better than her.

“Erm-yes. What you said. Anyway, I agree with R, you should tell Jehan what happened.”

“I can do it!” Gavroche interjects, mischief clear in his eyes.

Instantly, three hands shoot over his mouth. “No, really, Gav, that won’t be necessary.”

“Actually, I think I would like to hear Gavroche’s version of events.” Jehan says. He knows that out of the four of them, Gavroche is most likely to tell him the truth, or at least something close to it.

“Are you quite sure?” R asks hopefully.

“Entirely. Gavroche?”

“Now, just out of curiosity, and bear in mind that I'm being generous here, how much would you consider a fair price for this information?" Gavroche enquires, business mode on. Jehan, unfortunately for him, is having none of it.

"Gavroche, the building is on fire. I have little doubt that you contributed largely to the fire in question. There are three people here who would, I am sure, happily let you take the blame."

R looks affronted. Courf mutters to Eponine "Damn, busted." She promptly kicks him in the shin.

Ignoring their antics, Jehan continues. "So why don't you tell me precisely what happened, hmm?"

Never let it be said that Jehan, finding his friend in possession of an Inspector for her step-father, turns down the chance to learn such skills as negotiating with criminals, par example.

"All right, but you owe me. See, R was painting and Ep was reading, so I was bored. So I nicked Courf and we went up onto the roof and experimented with the fire escapes. Then we decided that it was a night for marshmallow toasting, so we went back down and stole R's candles and mini marshmallows, as you do. Things were going well until R came out to join us. See, by this point Ep was asleep. So someone had the genius idea to paint something on her face."

"And that someone would have been.."

Gavroche points at Courf, who was currently fighting Eponine. She was winning.

"I see. Go on."

"So, basically, R went and got his paints. Only he tripped on-er-something that might have been left on the floor. Then-"

"Something that might have been left on the floor." Jehan says flatly, staring at Gavroche.

"Well- OK, something I might have left on the floor despite Ep telling me to move it. Does it matter?"

"Please, continue." Jehan states in lieu of an answer.

"Right, so R tripped and the paints hit the candles, which fell over onto the newspaper, which-"

"Hold up a second, there was newspaper?"

Gavroche looks at him like he was an idiot. "Yeah, else the wax would have gotten everywhere."

"Right. Of course."

"Anyway, the newspaper went up in flames, so the cupboard door caught on fire, the one with R's wine in it. So then there was a bang and everything went fiery so Courf grabbed the cat, R got your notebooks and his sketchbooks, Ep got R's current commission and I got his painting of Enj. Then we called the firefighters then you arrived."

Jehan thought through the explanation. In summary, it was everyone's fault but mostly Gavroche and Courf's. So technically he should be a bit mad. Although R had got his notebooks, which was nice. (he already kept his books at Ferre's in case of a scenario like this). "Why did you get the painting of Enjolras?"

Gavroche looked over at the painting in question. "Ah, well, because R's hopelessly in love with Enj and I have it on good authority that Enj feels the same, only neither of them will say anything, so when Enj and Les Amis comes he'll see the painting and maybe realise. Also it's really pretty and R would have been sad if it burned, even if he didn't say so."

"Whatever he's been saying, Jehan, it's all rumour, scandal, and lies!" R shouted across.

"Gavroche, if that works I will buy you a bag of sweets so big the sugar high will last for days." Jehan whispered.

Just then, there was a screech of wheels and Bahorel's van hurtled around the corner. It skidded to a halt, the rear doors opened, and Feuilly, Joly, Bossuet, Musichetta, Cosette, Combeferre, and Enjolras tumbled out.

Bahorel leaped out of the driver's seat and the horde rushed over. While they were all surrounding R, Eponine and Courf, Jehan noticed Enjolras staring at the painting. R noticed and went pink.

"So, last for days you said?"

"Uh-uh, it's not happened yet."

Before Jehan's very eyes, however, Enjolras practically dived across, pounced on R, and kissed him. There was silence.

R said something too quiet for anyone but Enjolras to hear, but whatever it was it made said leader kiss him again.

Only Courf wolf-whistling broke them apart.

Jehan laughed. "Alright, I'll take you to the sweet shop. Bear in mind that if you casually mention this to Ferre, he'd probably buy you a mansion if he had the money. After all, he's been dealing with a lovesick Enjolras for years."

"You reckon? Nice."

[alenaphale]

gotta say that one recording of les mis on west end from 06/14/2014 is basically my favorite and my comfort watch (i’ve opened it on youtube 14 times this month and actually rewatching it rn) and i feel like we’re not talking about it enough.

jean valjean is perfect there and i mean it in terms of both acting and singing daniel koek is unbelievable (i almost cried when he was singing with tiny cosette when he found her in the woods). javert is extremely angry and hisses all the time and honestly i’m always here for that (also his soliloquy drives me insane every time just. oh my god). fantine is probably the best one i’ve ever seen in my life she portrays the character so beautifully. the thénardiers are literally so funny and their acting in the robbery is impeccable (i’ve rewatched the robbery more than any other part of the musical). enjolras is majestic and grantaire is fucking insanely good like you know how he is right? one moment he’s silly and goofy prankster putting his arms around enj and marius’ shoulders and then he’s literally grasping enjolras during drink with me with tears in his eyes and cracking voice. little cosette’s acting is SO GOOD AND ON POINT IT’S LITERALLY CRAZY??? marius and cosette for once don’t piss me off because they actually suit their roles perfectly and you really believe their acting when you see them. eponine is very edgy and sarcastic and also perfect. gavroche pats javert on a cheek during the barricade and i was speechless about how good his acting is in general. AND ALSO THE ENSEMBLE HELLO???? i always pay close attention to them and here they are doing such an amazing job, all of them (my personal fav is master of the house tbh i’m crazy about this song and scenography in this scene here is hilarious and amazing). i probably missed some details but only because fuuucking hell. fucking hell. please hear me out people this is probably the most important les mis recording in my life.

[pumpkinspice-prouvaire]

❤️🍬🩶 for e/R? <3

hehehehehe FAVES

❤️- who is the more romantic one? Do they wish their partner was more romantic? Honestly I don't think either of them are incredibly romantic people, but I would say it's probably Grantaire by default. He's not a flowers and chocolates kind of guy, but he likes doing inane things that he knows will make Enjolras smile, just for the sheer pleasure of it. He doesn't wish Enjolras was more romantic because then he wouldn't be Enjolras, as far as Grantaire is concerned. That doesn't mean Enjolras is completely hopeless though! He'll do things like reserve a table in Grantaire's favourite restaurant for his birthday or remember him saying how much he wanted new paints and buy them as a lil gift. It's a lot more about showing he cares and listens than specifically romantic gestures.

🍬- Who is their biggest supporter (friend, family, etc)? COURFEYRAC without a doubt. He's their biggest hype man. He was in the unfortunate position of being Enjolras' best friend and therefore having to deal with his emotional turmoil as he tried to feel his feelings, but also being the party friend who goes out with Grantaire and had to listen to him lament about how nice Enjolras' earlobes are or whatever. So when they got together he was like OH THANK GOD as much as anything. But also he loves these two and he's so glad they got their shit together. He sees them coming and is like here is my favourite couple in the world and if you don't clap and scream and cheer for them I will blow this entire building up

🩶- Which one apologizes first?How do they apologise? If one of them has to apologise, it's most likely gonna be Grantaire. If Enjolras believes he's in the right about something, he's not going to back down from that just because it's caused a fight, whereas Grantaire is a lot more willing to give up on his principles (lol) if it means he can have a quiet life/be back in Enjolras' good books. Enjolras can be quick to apologise, if he thinks on something and realises it is actually him in the wrong, but that...does not happen a lot lmfao. But wow they are both so deeply terrible at apologising, it's one of the things they're worst at as a couple. If they fight they're more likely to be frosty and give each other the silent treatment for an extended period of time, and then one of them will eventually break it with an inane question about dinner or smth and they'll go back to normality after that. They're stupid, your honor

[whoslaurapalmer]

i want to know about your fic! is that cheating? is it meant to be a surprise?

technically!!!!! it is in fact a surprise!!!! because it is secretly for a person!! I will give the following incredibly vague details --

1) i hope to get it done within the. oh I wanted to have it done by the 20th I think but it will uhhhh probably take. longer. by god, it's already the 11th. I regularly and vastly underestimate time. but I hope not much longer than that!!!! hopefully a week after at the latest??????

2) objectively it has the funniest shenanigans. but also like......I am trying to keep them in character. but also not. experience the EXTREME second hand embarrassment that can come with these shenanigans, bc second hand embarrassment physically hurts me

3) a long long time ago (2008.) the mcr website had a blog section that gerard used REGULARLY, and once posted about calling second hand embarrassment The Motts (and since it's gerard, it does and does not make sense in context.) and ever since then whenever I experience second hand embarrassment I think 'oh no gerard way I am feeling the motts' so my notes very frequently say DO YOUR BEST TO AVOID THE MOTTS.

4) lemony is there!!!!!!! beatrice and bertrand are mentioned in passing. ......other characters show up.

5) the fic spans a great deal of time. like.........a GREAT deal of time. damn.

6) I have never written this trope before but I have read a great deal of it in my time, it was very popular in the les mis fandom? which I have read TOO MUCH fic for. I always wanted to write fic for it and still have lots of wip documents, but I think my les mis fic potential days have passed me by. I still love the amis a great deal, though. anyway it's also not quite that trope, and that's very thrilling. that's where a great deal of the amusement comes in. If I can navigate it right. oh but it's also a very old trope, actually!!

6a) I mean, you see tropes in fic sometimes and think of them as very fic specific, and I think some things very much are, but also, people have been telling the same sorts of stories for an age, and i was actually able to tell my mom about the plot and have her understand it bc she's seen movies with the plot. which is very bizarre, usually this does not happen.

6b) although I do wonder now, isn't this trope like the worst way to get enjolras and grantaire together. well, I guess it depends on how you're writing them, honestly. I think the most well-known fic with this trope did it well, now that I think about it

7) I think. I am going to split it into two chapters. and........see the first half took about a weekish of planning to get the Reasons things were happening to make sense. so if push comes to shove and I only finish the first half by whatever date it was, I will post that, and then, do the second half. which is less structured but still needs. you know. things to stand on. just less things.

8) it tentatively had a title but then I thought, it would be better as a chapter title maybe, so then I figured out the other chapter title, and now I am. Missing an overall title.........

9) the titles, though, are from the songs the maze and I know how to speak by manchester orchestra.

10) potentially, a candlelit dinner may take place. there will be bread.

11) one of my notes just says 'it's the most unsexy [REDACTED] of all time'

12) someone's gonna get kissed eventually though despite my subpar skills at writing physical romance contact!!!!!!

13) I worry about it a lot, though. Just, making the fic, make sense right in general. I know what I'm aiming for but there's still a lot of uncertainty in getting there, sometimes. and it happens all the time, in everything I write!!!! every writer goes through that, in every piece. never stops being very nerve-wracking, though. And I don't think I've ever really written something like it before. so!!!!!!!! we'll see. I'm rooting for it.

[television-bodies]

💖🖊️😈🌝 🧠💻

💖 What do you like most about your own writing?

oh wow what a one to start off with…. i write in a style that reads easily to me, so even when i look back at my ‘older’ fics on my ao3 (that sounds kinda ridiculous seeing as my account is relatively new) i still think they read alright, even if i wouldn’t necessarily write those plots now.

🖊 Post a snippet from a current WIP.

i am enjoying my silly bahorel/feuilly fake dating/gay chicken wip at the moment and hope to actually get somewhere close to posting it in the near (?) future so have some of that!

He tips his voice low and smooth. “Hey, Feuilly.” Feuilly raises his eyebrows and swallows, lowering his bottle from his mouth. “This sounds dangerous.” “You know what we should do? We should one-up them.” “What?” “You, me.” Bahorel points at each of them in turn, just to be super clear. “Pretend to date. Act like we figured it out first.” Feuilly looks at him for a second, then laughs in disbelief. “Figured what out, asshole? There’s nothing here.” Bahorel rolls his eyes. “I know that, and you know that, but they don’t have to know that. People change, y’know. We’re already together all the time. Maybe you finally came to your senses and realised how goddamn sexy I am. It’s plausible.” “It’s ridiculous.” “It’s fantastic.” Bahorel punches him in the arm. “C’mon, man. It’ll be fun.”

😈 Is there anything you enjoy doing that you think your readers hate?

i don’t Know… there are things i’m a little insecure about in my writing but i honestly don’t want to bring attention to them in case someone sees this, then starts noticing my insecurities in my writing and then it starts pissing them off 😭 yknow

🌝 Who is one character you haven’t yet written for that you would like to?

wildly, i do not think i’ve really posted any éponine! i love when she’s in fics as grantaire’s best friend and i have done this in drafts that have never been posted, but i hope to do it in something that actually sees the light of day soon. my exr 90s music au, perhaps, in which they are genuine platonic soulmates

🧠 What’s an idea you have that you can’t quite call a WIP yet?

the farcical triumvirate meeting au i have in which courfeyrac and enjolras try to kidnap some corrupt politician or something but accidentally get combeferre instead <3 feel like i may need to brainstorm it with someone to get it going

💻 Do you do research for your fics? What’s the deepest dive you’ve done?

i do! in terms of published fics i think i went on a bit of a dive to do with gunshot wounds for until the end of everything, but ended up scrapping the advice i read about them because i was writing someone dealing with it kind of badly…. in terms of wips though, broken record (exr 90s au) has involved many research dives already and i’ve barely started writing it. i’ve been on the eastenders wiki page more than you can imagine. i’ve raided my dad’s CD cupboard for 90s albums that maybe haven’t stood the test of time so that i can put them in as new releases. i read maybe the whole wikipedia page for the eurostar. that one’s going to take a bit out of me i think

thank you so much for the ask!

ask game

[autumnalmess]

Okay, my findings:

Before doing the poll, I absolutely knew that the most common answer would be Grantaire. I thought the second highest would be Courfeyrac, followed by Combeferre or Jehan. And I thought the lowest would be Bahorel, and Bossuet, with Enjolras a bit higher. I thought jehan would be about 10%.

First of all, if you picked Grantaire, I love you and I really hope you're okay. And in your defense, he sort of represents all of us (in the face of all of these brilliant, proactive, slightly intimidating characters with their unwavering belief, it becomes quite easy to doubt, and the thought of taking the difficult road makes you feel physically ill, so maybe it's better to just enjoy life as is than mess around with it). Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'm partly a grantaire. But ultimately, you rock and you're super funny. Grantaires are one of my favourite kinds of people.

I really should have expected combeferre to be higher because we've clearly all got autism, haven't we (semi-joke). In all seriousness, I didn't expect him to be as high up because he seemed like a bit of a niche at the time I was making my predictions, so that was a bit stupid of me. Mad respect to you guys. One of the things I think is so nice about the Amis is that they're such universal personalities that everyone relates a little bit to at least one of them, and most people are combinations of multiple. It was so lovely reading people's insight into their combinations, and I particularly noticed that a lot of people who said Joly, also said combeferre and vice versa so that's an interesting parallel to draw.

COURFEYRACS RISE UP!! WHERE ARE YOU ALL??? Okay, as is possibly obvious, I'm a courf (mixed with Combeferre and a touch of Grantaire), but where the fuck are my like-minded people. Am I supposed to hold up the lunacy of the conversation all by myself??? Am I supposed to be a warm presence all alone???? It's okay, I forgive you and I give everyone who said courf a little kiss on both cheeks.

Enjolrases you're so sexy and I'm obsessed with you and also sort of terrified of you. I think I expected there to be fewer of you because in my terror and slight cynicism, I went 'surely no one is really as cool as that'. It's embarrassing how much I like you people

I expected pretty much that exact figure of Jehans. They're awesome, incredible, wonderful, but still a bit of a niche. It's fair enough; too many poets in a room makes for terrifying company. Maybe it's the Courfeyrac in me, but I'm completely obsessed with you and in love with you. My girlfriend is a jehan, so I hope you all know that you're wonderful and I give you a little kiss on your forehead.

I expected a few more feuillys but only because I've seen a lot of feuilly girlies around the place (the place being Tumblr). Still a bit of a niche, but you really can't go wrong with feuilly. Solid dude. That makes you a solid dude.

For Bossuet and Bahorel (not to lump them into the same category or anything), yeah I absolutely expected this. Not because they're any worse of characters or personalities, just because in order to be Bossuet or Bahorel you have to be a certain kind of lunatic, and radiate complete chaotic energy. So, to those about 2 percents, I am incredibly impressed and also hope you're, like, stable, which you're possibly not xx

Jolllly. Expected fewer honestly. I actually had no reasoning for this other than because I said so, so fair enough. I absolutely love Joly, he was my favourite Ami the first time I read it and gave me so much utter joy. Because yes he is a little bit unhinged, but isn't he lovely about it? All the best people are. Jolys you are wonderful.

I put Marius into the poll partly for shits and giggles but also because I knew there would be little golden retriever mariuses who would be sad if I didn't include him. And the thought of your little sad faces made me change my mind completely and include you. I have no data for this one, I just think you're neat. And in true Courfeyrac form, I would invite you into my house.

For scientific purposes, which ami do you relate to most? I have a hunch of what the most+least common answers will be and I need to see if I'm correct. This is for science

[legobatjoker]

btw idk why (actually thats. fully a lie the reason is that i was talking abt the show my sibling on eid and also mentioned it to chess the other day so it reminded me) but i started like. rewatching some of liv and maddie today? like its kinda funny bc both times talking abt it recently it was was abt how the best ship/couple in the show (live and holden <3) was ruined by the worst one (maddie and diggie boo boo tomatoes) so i decided to rewatch the first ep w live and holden bc that reminded me that oh yeah they where quite cute lol and then i j started rewatching the show from that point lol but then i stopped actually i was gonna say bc i got to the s2 finale that was rly focused on maddie and diggie and i kinda didnt care which is true but it was also bc i wanted to read the latest chapter of ur les mis fic <3 <3 which btw is SO GOOD OMGG like. even tho idk the characters (kinda i tihnk i am a point where i offically know r via friends blorbo osmosis but idk as much abt anyone else sorry<//3) i rly am like enjoying it sm and am like. v invested in the characters and their dynamics and stuff and i j feel likes its v well written yk. also a v little moment but i enjoyed the bit were R says he liked a book even though he hasnt read it but he did know a few moments from it and the general ideas ans things in it j bc it felt like a very You thing to include in smth (/pos !!) if that makes sense. prob bc u where a fan of the book this fanfiction in question was abt a while before u started actually reading it FGDFGDF also obsessed with the moment when right after he finds out that enjolras doesnt think sodomy is a sin r is like "please please can we. please" FHDFHDF also oughh the bit at the end where like. eponine tells r abt how she fell for marius after he ripped off a bit of his shirt to bandage her wound and then r doing that for enjolras ough... ik these r not my blorbos so i dont fully know the everything going on w them contect but it still rly got me i think prob bc u r a rly good writer mx... anyway this ask was abt liv and maddie at one point. but j like when i turned it off to read ur fic i no longer rly care 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 FGFDHDF but actually tho i might end up watching more of liv and maddie tbh ill let u know.... i enjoyed it more than i thought i would rewatching it so !! or at least i enjoyed the liv and holden bits DFHDFHDF

OMG I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO WATCH LIV AND MADDIE AS A KID i would honestly loveee to watch some of it sometime with you if u do end up doing more of a rewatch !!!!!!!!! also omggg T____T thats so sweet of you tysmmmmm also yeah literally grantaire bullshitting his knowledge of lit is just like me fr and that whole paragraph was just because i had to look up diderot cuz all i remembered from ap euro was that he was an atheist ahahah and then i found out he wrote smthing called "the skeptic's walk"???????? so i had to include that???? AND YEAH. I HAD TO INCLUDE MY FAVORITE EXR TROPE OF PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE AJNJNJAJK literally they do count as ur blorbos by osmosis at this point even the ones u dont know as well bcuz like literally they just are<333 and u prob know them as well as i did when i started les mis posting if not better JBJABJK but mainly its sooo sweet of u to read it and to send this ask wtf;;; !!! also anyway this was abt liv and maddie which i need to watcha hsbsybahbau

[alicedrawslesmis]

[...]

Ferre: and the only thing he's said to me since I got here is 'I got them on the internet'

Enjolras: Well... they are pretty good.

Ferre: I know right? I should get one. Probably wont be sporting them so publicly tho

[just-a-plain-old-bitch]

Ok, I just saw someone do this and I just did it to my friend...

So here are the Les Amis and Co. As described by me :)

Enjolras: oh boy, gay. Very gay. Also blonde. He has a big forehead. (This is the guy Joe Quinn played). He likes red a lot. Sings a whole damn song about it. He dies

Combeferre: what a funky man. He likes moths. Also, like the ENTIRE fandom has decided he's a medical student. Pretty sure it's not canon tho. He's played by that guy I was on about the other day who I thought was like 40. He also dies

Courfeyrac: gay. Short king. Defo likes theater. Literally everyone's friend. Either dating Jehan or Combeferre depending on the fanfic you read. I've met the guy that played him in the film. Also dead

Grantaire: Cynic. Has a crush on Enjolras. The fandom has decided he's a cat person and he does art. Bi. He's an asshole. But a loveable one. Honestly I can talk about the different characterisation of him for DAYS. My boy Vicky Hugo did him so dirty tho. Also dead

Feuilly: Orphan. Bless him. Sweetest boy. Honestly so slept on. Wants to adopt the whole world. Enjolras has had a crush on him. He also makes fans (how funky is that!). He's ginger. Most people Headcanon him as Polish (same tbf). An icon. I can talk about him for days. Oh he's also tall. And dead

Jean "Jehan" Prouvaire: Monarch of "what the fuck is gender?" No fashion sense whatsoever. Also another favourite of mine. Gay. Or queer. Something along those likes. They also speak like 10 languages (canon) I find that so freaking cool. He also plays the flute. And he does poems. Alistair Brammer plays him beautifully. They are the youngest of the barricade boys. They were kidnapped on the barricade and died alone. (I can talk about them for months)

Bahorel: Sometimes queer. Sometimes straight as fuck. I can't decide. Sports a stunning moustache. Boxer. Very muscley. I don't think about this guy enough. I should. He's a funky guy. Very loud. Also dead

Bossuet: B A L D. Big part of his character. Oh he's also bi. And polyamorous. Dating Joly and Musichetta. Very clumsy. Vicky Hugo makes this VERY obvious in the book. It's like he has 2 personality traits. Bald and Clumsy. He's also rad. Best buds with Grantaire. Dead

Joly: Med student. Also a hypochondriac. And germaphobe. This man.. please help him. He's very extravagant. Has a cane. And a top hat. Dating Bossuet and Musichetta (as said earlier). Also short king. Also Chinese. What an icon. And he's dead.

Marius: poor soul. Help him. Constant state of confusion. But somehow he pulls 2 bitches? Idk how either. Bless him, he's trying his best. Courfeyrac is his comfort extrovert. He is also afraid of Enjolras and Combeferre. Don't blame him tbf. Noodle boy. He's so tall.. like 6"5 or something. He actually survived.

Eponine: Has a crush on Marius in canon. But my Headcanon.. she's bi. She's also a bitch. But in the best way. I love her. Feminist. Marius is probably also scared of her. Shitty childhood. But y'know, she vibes. She also reminds me of you. And I've seen the person that plays her perform live. HOLY SHIT I cried. (For the record, the show was Frozen). Also dead

Cosette: Marius' main girl. In canon. Headcanon she's defo queer. Cottagecore goth. Adopted. Listens to Taylor Swift (so does Eponine, I forgot to mention that) she's probably Eponines girlfriend, let's be fair. She needs a hug. Trauma central. Bless her. I love her so much. I'm still deciding weather I like her with Blonde hair or Brown hair. Her and Jehan are besties. She also survived.

Musichetta: Icon. Ginger. Suuuper curly hair.. like wild. Pansexual. Also poly. As said earlier, dating Joly and Bossuet. Don't know much about her.. but she defo loves musicals. Watches bootlegs with R (grantaire) when bored. Indie/grunge style. Girl boss. I believe she survived.. idk tho

[crispyflowerblaze]

okay here is a more specific articulation of my thoughts, broken down into the five poles of (to me) the ideal frenemies ship dynamic (i just prefer enjoltaire to be something of a frenemies dynamic instead of enemies or rivals to lovers, but yknow), specifically related to enjoltaire:

really not getting along

yeah, self-explanatory, basically this is what i'm describing up there as what i feel like is a common enjoltaire trope (for good reason, and so many people do it excellently! just not my personal cup of tea in general, both as a writer and a reader) that isn't my favorite. an important element is that it really brings the mood down for everyone else. for me, i have this in small doses or as their backstory

not-so-nice awkwardness

this is what i'm saying up there with awkwardness of clashing with someone because you both misunderstand each other, just stuff like that. also, this isn't exactly the same thing, but what also fits here is them not getting along but about silly things and everyone else is amused. in general, this can kinda bring the mood down but mostly everyone either doesn't care or they're amused. i use this a lot in that specific au i mentioned up there

nice awkwardness

i mentioned this up there with the kind of awkwardness stemming from having a crush on someone, and well not just that but because yknow they just kind of have a connection with each other and that connection certainly isn't all romantic, it's really platonic too. this is a lot of what i have for them actually getting along. effect on everyone else ranges from amusement to confusion generally

getting along

honestly the most boring one lol, well to me that first one is usually boring too (or just like a bummer), but at least it creates conflict. yeah in my au, my thoughts are that most of the time enjolras and grantaire interact, they don't create a net positive impact on everyone else (whether they're getting along or not), but that every once in a while they do, and that's this category

getting along very very very chaotically and disruptively

the best one lol. basically in my au there's a lot of this lately and going forward and yeah they just rant to each other about things (things being capybaras and Scientology and green apple flavor vs grape flavor, mostly) in a very chaotic and fun way and they're always kinda playfighting and stuff and just laughing a bunch, basically in their own little world, and everyone else is amused and charmed by this, yes, but it also gets very disruptive

yeah so that's my thoughts on that! i think what leads to a lot of the ships i make feeling bland or predictable might be that i really only rely on the third and fourth poles, so nice awkwardness sometimes and getting along the rest of the time, but there's not-so-nice awkwardness in every relationship you have with anyone, and chaotic disruptive getting along just makes the characters feel more alive. but yeah honestly i can take or leave really not getting along. that's just something i include with enjoltaire because that's just a necessary part, but again i usually don't include too much of it. and these are just my opinions obviously lol (if anyone wants to talk about enjoltaire, please do. i have way too many thoughts about these two, it's a little weird)

oh and i emphasized the effect on everyone else for all of those poles because that's just an important part of their dynamic to me, like they can't ignore or be neutral towards each other and all of their friends suffer for it lmao. and i just love the duality of how sometimes they really don't get along but other times they get along so well that it's just really weird and disruptive. they're just perfect what can i say?

i don't know if this is an unpopular opinion or anything, but does anyone agree with me on this: i like enj and grantaire to be horribly awkward around each other more often than they're arguing and getting into fights. maybe it's cus i've read so many enjoltaire fics at this point but like, to no fault of the authors, if it starts out with arguing that feels like something i've seen before (not because they're being copycats or whatever, just because it's understandably a very common enjoltaire trope, and just because i've read so many enjoltaire fics), i'll usually click out just cus, again, i've read so many enjoltaire fics. gotta just use my own version of them for examples lol, hmm what are good examples for this hmm. so basically i don't mean awkward as in awkwardness from liking someone and trying to hide it, even though there's that too and that's great, but more like awkwardness cus they clash and get under each other's skin and they can't ignore each other. the kind of awkwardness where you misunderstand someone and they misunderstand you so it's just awkward and annoying, i guess. and obviously this is only one part of their dynamic of course. basically, it's the causes of how you'd see them arguing all the time, but just to me it feels more natural that more often the effect of that would be them just bringing out the weirdest things about each other, if that makes sense. also banter and bickering and stuff like that of course. basically, i just get bored of actual serious arguing all the time (or really just much at all, i dunno if they argue i want it to be about silly things lol), and plus it makes me like them less as characters lol and not think they're as cute together. oh man gotta think of examples cus i feel like this doesn't make very much sense. yknow what oh well who cares lol. but yeah let grantaire and enjolras just be really weird and awkward around each other, it's very funny

[oldbookist]

I wonder why so many fics have this weird dynamic of Combeferre as Enjolras’ cuckolded (platonic) husband. And it’s not just in e/r fics —he’s usually the forced voyeur in Enjolras gangbang fics as well. It seems like the line “completes and corrects” is commonly misinterpreted as Combeferre being Enjolras’s dad/jealous bff/chastity belt.

You know anon I’ve honestly never thought of it like that before but you’re right.

I’m totally just thinking out loud here but there’s kind of an interesting de-sexualisation of him for a character that’s frequently shipped. Which (obviously, as we see with Enjolras) has nothing to do with his canon characterization. In fact I wager that “lived the life of the rest of the world” actually DOES have to do with sex in part. i.e. Combeferre probably does fuck and that’s another important distinction marked between him and Enjolras within that passage. (And yes, that’s narratively significant.)

But it’s definitely true that in fic he’s often just a voyeur to Enjolras’s sex life in a Nick Carraway kind of way, only there to observe or sagely comment on the situation. It also really seems to be desirable to have him be “part” of Enjolras acknowledging his sexual feelings for someone else—how many times have you heard variations of “Oh no, Ferre, he’s hot!” or Combeferre patiently explaining that yes, Grantaire likes him. While undoubtedly some of this is just the token “best friend who exists only to further the MC’s relationship” trope, when you combine it with the emphatically platonic dynamic of their relationship in fic it becomes much more interesting.

There is of course a long running trend in fic to note just how platonic and non sexual their relationship is, because they’re like brothers/it would be weird/whatever. But I’ve noticed another trend where Enjolras has to reassure Grantaire that it’s not Like That, because Grantaire is insecure, even Grantaire thinking about him during sex with Enjolras—and all this while Combeferre is really, truly no threat at all in the fic!

…and there’s the crux of it, because the more you emphasize the non sexual nature of a relationship, the more you define it in sexual terms. As I quoted Dr. Counter earlier on Platonic relationships, they “require the denial of an abiding sexual or sensual possibility: the lovers must at least be, as it were, sexual candidates if their relationship is to take on the special aura of Platonic love.”

Personally, I do not feel the need to constantly go around mentioning how much my friends and I aren’t fucking. I just don’t.

So it’s really interesting how the insistence on how platonic their relationship is has led to this kind of quasi-sexual dynamic even within the fanworks that attempt to negate it—Counter’s “variation on an erotic theme”, made sexual by the pronounced absence of it. And that, then, is why he seems “cuckolded” by Enjolras’s other sexual relationships despite having no real claim to him.

Or at least that’s the best theory I can come up with. (And it’s worth noting that of course none of this has anything to do with their canon characterizations or relationship, this is all purely interpretation of fanon.)

[kjack89]

Right so I’m clearly not finishing the fic I was working on before Christmas, so instead, have this drabble I wrote in response to a comment on Paper Rings. Consider it a micro-sequel of sorts.

“Are you crying?” Grantaire whispered to Enjolras, just a little incredulous.

Enjolras nudged him. “Shh, I’m trying to listen,” he hissed.

“Trying to eavesdrop, you mean,” Grantaire said easily, which they both were, huddling together on the couch and listening to just about every word Combeferre and Courfeyrac were saying to each other. “Honestly who knew the walls in this place were so thin.”

“Shh.”

Without warning, Grantaire started giggling, then chuckling, then full-on belly-laughing and Enjolras turned to glare at him. “What is so funny?” he hissed.

“I’m sorry, I just—“ Grantaire hiccuped. “Do you remember that time when Feuilly stayed with us for a month because his landlord illegally evicted him?”

“Yes,” Enjolras said, still scowling. “Why?”

“He slept out here.”

Enjolras blinked. “Right.”

“While you and I were in there.”

Grantaire waved a hand in the direction of their bedroom and Enjolras looked confused. “Where else would we be?”

“Enj,” Grantaire said patiently. “We had just gotten together.” When Enjolras’s blank look didn’t change, he added pointedly, “We were fucking like rabbits.”

“That’s not how I would—“ The blood drained from Enjolras’s face. “Oh my God.”

“And Feuilly was out here, the entire time—“

Again Grantaire broke off because he was laughing so hard, and Enjolras smacked him on the arm. “That’s not funny! Think of how embarrassing that must have been for him.”

“I am,” Grantaire said, wiping his eyes. “I’m thinking of him lying here, his soul slowly dying as he listened to us—“

“You are a terrible friend,” Enjolras said, though a smile twitched involuntarily at the corners of his mouth.

“Yeah. But Feuilly’s a great friend for never once mentioning it.”

Enjolras groaned. “And now I’m never going to be able to look him in the eyes again.”

Grantaire laughed again. “Well if it makes you feel better, Combeferre and Courfeyrac sound like they’re about ready to make up for it.”

The talking from the bedroom had in fact ceased, and Enjolras looked affronted. “In our bedroom?!”

He started to stand but Grantaire tugged him back down. “Give them a few minutes,” he scolded. “Don’t you remember what it’s like to be young, and in love?”

“I don’t have to remember, I still am,” Enjolras said stubbornly.

“That’s…actually very sweet.”

“I do try.” Enjolras paused. “Sometimes, anyway.”

Grantaire pulled him close and kissed him. “I know you do,” he murmured.

Enjolras returned the kiss, slow and heady, before abruptly pulling back. “Are you trying to distract me from the fact that my two best friends may be having sex on our bed right now?”

“That depends,” Grantaire said in between trailing kisses along Enjolras’s jawline while simultaneously trailing his hand up the inside of Enjolras’s thigh.

Enjolras, swallowed, hard. “On what?”

“Is it working?”

[valjeans]

Can we have a review of the rest of the cast?

yeah sure i've had 24 hours to process:

david thaxton - javert incredible. perfect. life-changing. honestly, the vintage vibes are insane. he walked down those stairs at the prologue and we knew we were in for an absolute treat. every. single. motion. just clearly has so much thought behind it. he checks the paperwork and LAUGHS while singing '5 years for what you did, the rest because you tried to run.' he kneels down and spits 'that's the way to please the lord' in fantine's face and then laughs when she lunges at valjean. he tries to force valjean to stab him at the barricade. and then from then on he is just shaking uncontrollably, he holds up the gun to valjean in the sewer but he's shaking so much, it's all so clearly inevitable. also full speed suicide too. honestly. you all NEED to go and see this man.

ava brennan - fantine now i truly LOVED her acting in i dreamed a dream, it was so refreshing to have a principal fantine that actually acts the song. however, her vocals were a little shaky but we will put it down to first night nerves! i am REALLY excited to see her grow into the role and think there will be really exciting developments!

nathania ong - eponine i've seen her on tour a few times now and honestly she gets better every single time. her on my own is an absolutely earth shattering moments in the show, her acting is soooo good and her vocals are incredible, easily the strongest voice in the case.

robert tripolino - marius i really had high hopes but at the moment by far my least favourite of the new principals. i think some of his shaky vocals can be put down to nerves but he has a really thin sounding voice that i really wasn't expecting? he was constantly drowned out, not just by natty, but by lulu mae too. not much going on acting wise. his empty chairs lacked much depth and was faaaaaaar too shouty for my liking. can only hope there's lots of improvement to come.

lulu mae pears - cosette easily the best cosette we've had in years. she has absolutely no issues hitting that top note and actually really really acts. i actually found her so much more awkward and endearing than marius in a heart full of love. genuinely loved her in the finale too. so exciting to have a decent cosette at last!! smaller roles:

bart lambert - grantaire hmmm. i enjoyed his acting after gavroche's death but that was about it. didn't really get a sense of him having any connection or reason for being at the barricade. he also really seemed to have forgotten that grantaire's man personality trait is that he is almost constantly drunk. no real fun abc cafe moments either.

donald craig manuel - bishop of digne i didn't love donald in phantom but honestly i loved his bishop! it was nice to have one that made an effort to actually act like an old man AND have really good diction too. (p.s. he doesn't wear shoes)

adam robert lewis - courfeyrac love adam but VERY pitchy last night. hopefully just opening night nerves. also hope he brings a bit more passion to the role tbh.

cameron burt - feuilly lovely voice but need him to sing his lines instead of shouting at least 50% of them.

those are the main new ones i have thoughts on! i also want to add that it's lovely seeing sam peggs promoted and he's a great babet so far! also chris is absolutely wasted as combeferre and puts the rest of the barricade boys vocals to shame (i do get them giving alt valjean the less demanding featured barricade boy tho after luke and jon both having bad vocal issues last cast)

also so many of the male tracks are different now and it's gonna take so long to learn them all!