(no subject)

[champions]

FORM: crystal
SENDER: Marisol & Finch
RECIPIENT: everyone
WHAT:

WHEN: during the mission to Ferelden
WHERE: somewhere, Ferelden
NOTES: sorry, Finch.

Oh, colleagues, friends. Esteemed Inquisition members and orbiting loiterers. I have a question for you; a matter of function and form.

And napkins.

And delicate masculinity, imperiled by investment in attire. Finch and I have been discussing a deeply controversial topic, one that I fear may chill you all to the core. This could be what strengthens the Inquisition and brings us together as an effective force to defeat the evils of this world, or could see us forever divided and scattered to the winds of uncertainty.

( Aghast: ) It’s not del — how’s it delicate not wanting to sew a bib on half your chest? Can’t be the Banns actually dress like this. Not dribbling on themselves. They’ve got, I don’t know, servants for that.

(She sounds concerned. )

Have you been recently dribbled on?

( Not that concerned, though. ) Moving on— ruffles, Inquisition. Serah Finch asserts that there is never time or place for tasteful ruffles, which I must add, do not resemble bibs.

I washed it! That’s the point!

( Dribbling. )

Look. You’re all — ( Insane? But you can’t say that out loud. ) — Worldly, how long do you reckon we’ve got before someone catches their fancy sleeves on fire?

( Quietly, ) I think perhaps you missed a spot, there’s a little something—

( And perhaps it is possible to imagine her leaning over to (pretend to?) wipe something off his face. )

( The scuffling thump of someone toppling abruptly off a horse. )

Material properly fashioned - whether in ruffles or drapery or whatever fine form it may take - is not an inherent fire hazard. Competence and poise are key.

( Helpfully, ) And they might cushion your fall, sometimes. A thought for next time.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

Right? They're nice, they can be quite lovely and comfortable, they don't clang, I hardly see what's amiss with liking them.

[assistente]

Sleeves, for storing things. Pockets, too.

[He's very nearly cheered by discussing robes... until he remembers that maybe there's something wrong with robes.]

I suppose they are rather-- Uh, distinctive. Or perhaps there is something that I, that we, don't-- are unaware of.

[justnice]

You all ever heard of an apron? A coat? Trousers?

[assistente]

Well-- yes. Of course. But that is not... I mean, you cannot wear an apron if you are not wor-- Well, you could, but. You would not.

It would not make any sense. To be wearing an apron. Without the work to necessitate the-- wearing.

[justnice]

You've always got work going on though, haven't you?

[ it seems to be most of what he talks about ]

[assistente]

Well--yes. Of course. There is always work, to be done. Just--not work that necessitates an apron.

[justnice]

So what's the point of having pockets, the rest of the time?

[assistente]

[wwwwwait]

Is it the purpose of the apron to-- um. Do aprons serve another function besides, besides that they have pockets? I thought that they were to keep the clothing--protected.


[has he really just misunderstood aprons this whole time]

[justnice]

Well, sure. But there's always trouble with that, isn't there. Can spill ink, knock off dust. Folks wear them all the time. And it shows you're working — reckon people'd be more likely to leave you alone.

[assistente]

[Whoa. A new angle to consider.]

That's... That would not really work. [Um.] Would it?

[justnice]

One way to find out. You can borrow mine.

[assistente]

Oh. Um--but you are, using it, are you not?

[justnice]

Think if I wore an apron out on this errand, Messere Vivas'd have more to say. I've got a bunk in the mage tower. It'll be hanging on the post, unless someone nicked it.

[assistente]

Oh. [Damn.] Well. Uh, then-- maybe.

[justice_is_blond]

They're distinctive, but that's hardly our fault. Perhaps we can start a trend and spread the wearing of robes about. More should wear robes than mages and people associated with the Chantry.

They sway ever so nicely in the breeze, too, on a warm day.

[assistente]

Well-- yes. That is true. Very... comfortable. Um, but the starting of trends seems-- a bit much.

[justice_is_blond]

You'd start a trend of everyone helping with paperwork if you could, would you not? This isn't that much different.

[assistente]

Wh-- no. That would be very different.

[justice_is_blond]

One's productive and the other's harmless. What's wrong with these trends?

[assistente]

One is productive and one-- calls attention. Unnecessary attention.

[justice_is_blond]

We call attention merely by existing outside of a Circle. Why not call attention for our fashion sense instead? You can be appreciated rather than hated, who wouldn't want that?

[assistente]

Some call attention.

[It's only a little pointed, the way a toothpick is pointed but not when compared to a knife.]

I prefer--to go unnoticed. In all things. So.

[justice_is_blond]

[There doesn't seem to be particular heat to the comment, so Anders lets it pass unremarked.]

Do you truly? You did take a position where people need take notice of you, and seek you out. A position that needed to be filled, certainly, but you chose that rather than, say, gardener.

[Though considering the amount of people who are often in the gardens, maybe that wouldn't work.]

Or raven-keeper, or, I don't know. Purchaser for the kitchens, whatever that job is called. Also very important, and with far less attention drawn except if one orders five hundred apples instead of fifty.

[assistente]

I didn't choose.

[Which he's resigned to by now, but lest his resignation be misconstrued, Salvio is quick to get back to the party line--]

That is, um. The position. I was selected. [Promoted? Even he can't say that one, so he just picks up his prepared statement:] The position of seneschal had been open for some time and my relative experience, in the adjacent role of assistant, was considered and deemed to, um, to be, that is--a boon to the Inquisition's work. In the running of Base Operations.

I harbor no secret desires for glory, or recognition, or-- No secret desires, of any sort. I promise you. [And, also:] If the pantler did purchase five hundred apples, instead of--of any amount, someone would pay attention. I would pay attention. There are no small jobs.

[justice_is_blond]

I'm saying unless they did that, there'd be little notice. The point is that you are a mage with some authority, which means there is notice. You may as well have them notice you for something that's fun, that you can control, like fashion, as opposed to your identity alone.

You're free. It wouldn't hurt to live a little.