open ||

[degenere]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé (and with him, as always, is Jehan Mercier)
RECIPIENT: e v e r y o n e
WHAT: the scholars of Orlais have something to say.
WHEN: now, right now
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: aren't they charming.


Inquisition, we are confused.

[Melodious, Orlesian, flirtatious (somehow even in this most simple of sentences): these are three words one might use to describe the sound of Val's voice. It makes confused sound kind of fun, if a bit puzzling.]

My friend and I have come all this way to be an asset to you. And now we have arrived here, to your Skyhold, and we find so much to be in want. How have you all managed so far, with these conditions? I am a man used to the roughness of a camp, a life of travel. I love this life. You'll find no one loves it more than me. But a camp, that is one thing, and this? It is meant to be a city, of a sort. Yet there is no apartment for us. There is barely a work space, in your library--we have been, my friend and I. We have seen the conditions. There is barely a book there.

I am sorry for you, Inquisition.

[So sincere. A pause, in which he has pressed a hand to his chest, in a deep show of pity. And then, briskly, cheerfully:]

But we will not leave you there, in sorrow. The good news. You now have, among your numbers, me. An introduction: Valentine de Foncé, a master architect, among many other masteries, too numerous to name. If you ask sweetly, I'll tell you them all. If you ask very sweetly, I'll give demonstration. And for the Inquisition, I will offer my services, and my knowledge--and so, too, does my friend. If only so we can get a decent space in which we can do our work. And believe me: you want this. We have arrived to be your greatest blessing.

Now, tell me. With business sorted: what does anyone do for fun around here?

Comments

[rowancrowned]

You say 'apartments' as if you expect a suite of rooms, monsieur de Foncé.

[ equally amused, but: he knows what he can expect from orlesians, wonders how long he can keep the point of his ears hidden, ramp up for a reveal! ]

Have you brought books with you?

[degenere]

Is a suite of rooms so unreasonable a request? Where I am from, they pass those out like little almond biscuits at a feastday. I did not expect such generosity here, of course. But something in the between at least.

Now, the books. Why do you ask?

[rowancrowned]

I, at this moment in time, share my room with a pony, among others.

As you have said, the library is small. I have chewed my way through most of the books, and am hungry for more. And I suspect a wealthy and learned Orlesian gentleman carries with him books different than the selection avalible at present.

[ dryly: ] Philliam, a Bard! is apparently a favorite. We have several copies of most works.

In short, you have your Tethrases, but you also have texts authored by Plume, papers from the University of Orlais, Cerastes, Pendictus, and so on. I suspect someone like yourself carries the latter sort more than the former.

[degenere]

What a coincidence. I also share my room with a pony. Don't tell him that I've said that.

I am not so certain that I want to reveal anything of my private library to a man who has just confessed to chewing books. Even I, who have worked ills and more on texts, particularly texts of great, shall we say, crap--even I never chewed them.

Though I am sorry for you. Stuck with Phlliam, a Bard. With Pendictus. If you have papers from the University, you may have one or two of mine. I have written a few and they have made their circulations. You'd remember having read them. They, unlike the others, are good.

[apologist]

[ Deadpan whinny. ]

[rowancrowned]

[ he's starting to get why people say orlesians the same way the men of laketown spew the phrase 'dock-rot'.

(is the horse thing a sex thing? it's probably a mortal sex thing.) ]

I am so pleased to have your pity, especially if should it move you to generosity.

I must confess- I have never been a student of architecture. Have you come with suggestions as to repairing the castle? I would say the Commander's needs are the most urgent. You see, he lacks a roof, and has nothing in excess to make up for that failing.

[degenere]

Well, my friend, that will altogether depend. I have seen this desperate hole you speak of. It, too, moved me to pity. I may have wept a little. As a student of architecture, I hate to see such conditions. I descended to the lower levels and asked Jehan to say a prayer for the poor tower.

But the commander, that is another matter. First we must ask: is this commander deserving of a roof for his tower?

[rowancrowned]

The tower, but not the Man?

I fear not for the commander, but for those who have made a sport of the hole, or what can be seen through it.

[degenere]

Of course the tower. The roof isn't the fault of the tower, nor is what can be seen. If this commander didn't want men spying on what he gets up to in his quarters, perhaps he should move.