( video, un: lavieenrose )

[affectueux]

[ maybe it’s insanity. more likely, it’s the combination of the sanguis cycle and his upcoming birthday making him restless and impulsive. he can usually tamp down those urges when things are normal, but he also can’t recall a moment when things have ever been normal in lunatia.

maybe that’s a contributing factor, too. either way, here’s a video of serge—like the cycles before, he’s got little bear features. paws included, even if his hands are off-screen. ]

Er, bonjour. My name is Serge… I’ve cleaned many of your tables at Salon de Marie. [ it gets harder when he’s a bear, but that’s neither here nor there. ] My birthday will be coming up soon, and I—it—

[ he frowns, searching for the words. he should have planned this better, but again. the haste. ]

In my world, I’m set to inherit my family’s estate on my 18th birthday. I’ll be expected to get married and carry on the family name, as I’m the only child of my late father. [ he realizes something, and holds up a hand in brief fluster. ] I’m not saying this to brag! It’s relevant, I promise. I bring it up because there’s—a person. Someone I love. Someone I can neither marry nor produce a child with.

…this is quite heavy, isn’t it? I’ll try to get to the point. When your heart is in conflict with both duty and the expectations of society, what are you supposed to do? What can you do?

Merci, everyone. For your attention.

Comments

[affectueux]

Ah?

[ serge pauses, surprised to hear that, but not because he disagrees. it’s something watts might say, and for a moment, serge desperately misses his old teacher and friend. surely he would have something useful to say about all this, too.

or maybe he would be the voice of resigned reason, and tell serge to give up on his relationship. both seem equally likely. ]

Yes, I… I suppose I had forgotten about that. [ his laugh this time is self-conscious. ] It’s been a while since I was able to be a child, you see.

[perspicaciously]

[ And Ozpin here chuckles as he shakes his head. You crazy kids, they fact he has to remind you to actually act your age is a bit endearing but also saddening in some ways. ]

Oh. I perfectly understand. There seems to be...a rather ongoing trend with my own students in those regards. Though through no fault of their own. Being drawn into a war it's not exactly every child's dream.

[ A war that was his responsibility and his own fault in a way. ] But I do hope you take advantage of what this place has to offer then. If anything, being able to relax and just...breathe, is always good for the soul.

[affectueux]

A war…

[ serge repeats it softly, not intending to follow that tangent, but it does remind him that there are things he should be grateful for. he lives in a time of peace—his inner turmoil is a sign that he has the time to grieve for his own self. ]

I think I will spend some time praying about it. Even if there’s no God to answer me here, I can at least meditate.

[perspicaciously]

[ Ozpin won't go into details because it's certainly not something an eighteen year old with a current crisis needs to hear. ]

Meditation? That might be for the best. I find that...taking your time and collecting your thoughts leads to a better and clearer picture, mentally and physically it's rather beneficial. But I'll leave you to it, then. Unless there's other things you'd wish to discuss. I'm more than happy to listen, not now if you don't wish, but in the future you may contact me.

[affectueux]

No… no, thank you. I think I do need some time to myself.

[ still, serge tries to smile, and he mostly manages to keep from looking completely miserable. ]

May I ask your name, monsieur?

[perspicaciously]

[ Ozpin gives him reassuring smile back. ]

You may call me Ozpin.