therookery | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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

Wh-- no. That would be very different.

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

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

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?

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.

[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.

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.

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.

[Wouldn't it hurt but instead Salvio opts for the more neutral,]

Please don't.

[Was that neutral? Uh.]

Thank you. But-- No.

[Confused:]

No what?

No-- [weakly, quietly] living a little.

I am. Fine. With my living. Truly.

I... see.

[He doesn't, exactly. Salvio doesn't seem fine to him most of the time, but Anders' stance is that mages should have the right to choose how to live their lives, which means he needs to try to, at least.]

If ever you do want something a little more exciting than paperwork, let me know.

Yes. Well. Paperwork is-- [even Salvio can't claim exciting, but then again he doesn't want exciting, so he settles instead for,] --satisfying.

But-- yes.

[By which he means no, never.]