Open Post: Who invented this calendar anyway?

[futaille]

How unfortunate.

Yes, Grantaire was fully aware that the year being longer at the mansion would logically cause seasons to drift when someone kept track of the old calendar, or at least what had been pinned down as the old calendar for convenience sake, which was almost necessary when people's arrivals weren't necessarily tied to the day they left. He hadn't given it too much thought last year, when his birthday, such that it was, arrived in spring like he was used to.

Dark, though, was unfortunate. Not inappropriate for the next notable anniversary coming up, but for this one, not at all. Of course, it wasn't as if he would have been planning much in the way of an event, Dark or no, but it would have been nice to treat himself to something or other, regardless.

Instead, he has installed himself in the game room, where he is carefully balancing dominoes on their ends to make a domino rally on the billiards table. It's a nice large flat surface, so it should work nicely. Have to keep entertained somehow.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"At retaining the barbarism or setting it aside?"

[futaille]

"Both would have to be true for either one of them to be true, I think, so the answer is a resounding yes."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan takes a sip of the wine and sighs happily - it's a full-bodied offering, rich and plummy on the tongue. "Very well, Grantaire," she says, unwrapping the cheese and breaking the loaf of bread in half. "Who do you suppose here is most successful? At each end."

[futaille]

"Oh, now there's an interesting question." He has a drink from his own glass as he contemplates. "I'll admit there are some here that I'm not well enough acquainted with to judge either way so I'll be limiting my pool to those I am, out of fairness. Before I answer, am I myself allowable as an response or is that cheating?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I don't think you ought to constrain yourself in any way," says Susan, leaning forward. "I should like the fullness of your thoughts on the matter."

[futaille]

"In that case, most successful at setting aside barbarism is almost certainly Lan Wangji. I will give myself the nod at retaining it, but I will point out that I do have the advantage of insight into my own mind, which I cannot say with any certainty about anyone else so it is entirely possible that someone has me outstripped in that regard."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Hmmmm," says Susan. "And excluding yourself?"

[futaille]

"It's tricky, but I think I'll say Mercutio. Somewhat unfair as he's still so very young, and a bit of barbarism is suitable in the young."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah! So there's an age consideration, is there?"

[futaille]

"Certainly. Aging often begets a bit of civilization."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, then. I'd suggest it's more of a curve. At a certain age, barbarism does seem to re-emerge."

[futaille]

"Do you suppose? What age, approximately? It obviously wouldn't be precisely the same for everyone."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, I suppose it must be older than anyone here - oh, you know what I mean. Our immortal friends don't factor in."

[futaille]

"Obviously. They operate on a completely different scale and further research would be needed. Besides, the reasons for the immortality would add further complications, so our numbers here are far too few for sweeping generalizations on the immortal and exceptionally long lived."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps barbarism sets in both when a man is too young to know to fear death, and old enough to truly understand its implications. It's not precisely what Freud spoke of in his writings on Thanatos, but I do believe it fits in with that framework nicely."

[futaille]

"Very interesting theory. Although I'm curious now as to what those writings on Thanatos entailed."