This was going terribly.
Terribly was an understatement, really. Awfully. Horribly. All of the poets in France couldnโt make up a word to describe how bad this was!
Thomas Jefferson had been in France for a good deal of time now - three years, last he checked - and things had been โฆ different, as of late.
More nobles going missing. More money being dangled above peasantโs heads. More tension between the wealthy and the not. It seemed that Americaโs revolutionary fire had affected even its greatest firekeeper.
To put it more simply; France was going to revolutionize, and no matter the winner โฆ
Well, looking out the window and seeing protests gave the well idea that it most certainly wouldnโt be a bloodless battle.
So the Continental Congress (which was now actually legal! Wonderful!) had recently reached out to Jefferson, eagerly informing him that they were recalling him from France within the month.
No more French fashion, or curtsying, or royalty. Just the average American life.
And while Jefferson was a bit sad to see that French nobility fade from his life, there was a much, much bigger problem in the way.
Jefferson, in all honesty โฆ didnโt want to leave.
Not for the reasons one would expect - Hell, not for the reasons he excepted. It wasnโt to stay with the luxury, to stay with the power, the glory, even the food โฆ
No. Because he had made a very, very stubborn friend.
Marquis de Lafayette had been this said friend - a Marquis, obviously, and a very wealthy man. He had been fighting in America before he came back to France in 1782, just after Yorktown, and met Jefferson in 1786 when he arrived.
The two grew close - Lafayette helped Jefferson perfect his France, gain some political favor, and Jefferson could keep the nobleman updated on his beloved America.
So when Jefferson realized a revolution was nigh, and that Lafayette - being the rank he was - would likely be one of the first on the chopping block, he gave him a simple, simple offer; Leave France.
Come back to America. Lafayette would have plenty of places to stay, he was well liked, well known - at least until the revolution in France was over.
Yet when Jefferson asked Lafayette, he was โฆ
Disappointingly opposed to the idea.
Lafayette argued that he wanted to stay with the revolution - for his country, for family, for liberty things like such. Jefferson barely remembered the wording - just remembered being stunned speechless the whole time.
And now? Now it was just his last chance.
Jefferson was going home in two days from now. Either he convince Lafayette to come to America with him, or let God knows what happen to that French bastard in the revolution.
Jefferson slowly moved up to Lafayetteโs estate, only a faint torchlight in the top window alerting of an awake presence in the home. Good.
Reluctantly, a hand came up - and after a moment of hesitation, he knocked on the heavy wooden doors.
A servant opened it quick, but Lafayetteโs quick footsteps cut off the man before he could speak.
Jefferson huffed, stepping inside the place (well. Castle. It was a castle) - cane in hand, and a look of unusual nervousness and concern on his face.
โ Lafayette. โ He said as Lafayette landed at the bottom of the stairs, clad in nightwear and a frustrated look.
โ โฆ you know what Iโm going to say. โ