Ze Vlog of a Misérable

Chapter 7: A recurring character

Shooting with the ABCD is actually surprisingly enjoyable. Surprisingly as in: who on earth could have believed it ? The first video was shot at Prouvaire's place, but they first discussed a lot about life, and art, and the grand scheme of things, and politics. Grantaire opened up a bit about their miserably failed attempt at becoming an artist. They once studied art but their school ended up slowly killing everything they initially liked about it, and they dropped out, felt terrible about it and now, they were just unable to properly hold a pen without feeling like it was an insult to everything that existed on earth. Art schools were their Vietnam, right?

Of course, they drank while talking and ended up on a YouTube hole of wonders (no) mixed with weird experimental songs Prouvaire played. They didn't shoot anything and had bad dreams, but the next day, they managed to shoot a video where Prouvaire talked about copyright issues. They also planned on meeting more regularly to sing... because as it turned out, Grantaire liked to sing? Well, they liked Karaoke, right, but they always considered this a way to be obnoxious to people more than a way to educate them or whatever. Well, in any case, it was part of their job now. And it was surprisingly easy with Prouvaire.

"See, art, poetry, music, everything... it shouldn't be about learning tech niques and flexing, and what we do never has to be perfect. Just... let's have fun with depressing politics just like you do with your videos. As we say: humor is despair's politeness."

Grantaire was used to laugh ing- to - not - cry alone, but it was actually nice to share it with someone for once. More videos were planned with Prouvaire; a series of quick covers of political songs for the Channel. The ABCD loved the idea... that was gonna make Grantaire busier... but they didn't dislike it.

The second video with Combeferre was also surprisingly fun. First, Combeferre had a cat and cats are always good in videos. Grantaire expected more people to watch them for that sole reason. And also... Combeferre was passionate and loved to talk about politics and activism and leftist struggle s, and the video was pretty fun. Grantaire added many jokes in the editing, which Combeferre actually enjoyed a lot. Despite her apparent seriousness, she was a good laugh and a nice comrade. They didn't drink booze, but tea , and contrary to Grantaire's beliefs, you didn't need booze to enjoy Combeferre's company. She was a nerd but very aware of herself and had that self - depreciative tendency that Grantaire found both highly relatable and fun.

Grantaire worked way more on the editing in both videos. Combeferre came to help them and demonstrate how to use some free - licensed software. Grantaire still had a preference for overpriced cracked ones and Combeferre told them to do as they please. Well... Then, they both added customized thumbnails to all the videos with a new sober, but more proper banner for their channel. Combeferre was not a graphist but she knew the basics; "You always have to learn basics in everything in activist groups. We don't have money". Grantaire was both grateful and resentful to Combeferre because now that they knew how to... they had no excuse.

Erh.

With all that extra editing work to do, Grantaire had to start scheduling videos to make it fit in their planning between their job and the ABCD meetings they had to attend.

What were they becoming? They were so busy! The only difference between them and an exploited worker was that Grantaire could work at home in their underwear and they weren't making any actual money. Well except at the sex shop which, now that they didn't spend their free time laying on their bed, was becoming more and more unbearable.

"Tell me about it, my job is killing me right now," Marius says to Grantaire when they meet for a weekly unaffordable Bubble Tea in the quartier latin.