diplomacy, gird your loins.

[bouchonne]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Byerly and Eshal.
RECIPIENT: All y'all
NOTES: Blue is Byerly, red is Eshal.

Bonsoir, Riftwatch. I have some dreadful news for you all.

[ Byerly’s voice sounds a bit dry. And characteristically dramatic. ]

My dear comrade and equal, would you like to tell them?

It's not dreadful, get over yourself. Anyway, Diplomacy has two heads, because we're better than the lot of them. Right?

Oh, yes. It’s widely acknowledged as a show of faith to appoint two people to do the job normally done by one. A task given only to truly quality prospects.

Exactly.

[ A sigh. ]

My esteemed self and this esteemed lady have been appointed joint heads of Diplomacy. She, being a decent and righteous soul, has volunteered to hear any and all complaints that might be made about this decision.

Yep. Love to meet the rest of you, honestly. Come by the head office, any time. I'll supply the whiskey.

[ Byerly lifts an eyebrow at her; he’d expected a protest to him volunteering her for that thankless duty. But, well, if she’s willing to be the goat here, let her be the goat. A shrug. That’s it. Meet your new overseers. ]

Comments

[bouchonne]

It will always be spring for me.

[ Then, private - ]

But Sidony, my dear - we ought to start speaking of annulment.

private

[indissection]

[ A soft sigh. ]

I suppose you are quite right.

private

[bouchonne]

[ A small laugh. ]

Why do you sound disappointed?

private

[indissection]

I’m quite proud of being your wife, dear.

private

[bouchonne]

[ Ah, she breaks his heart sometimes. ]

That is - kind, my dear. But the world will see you as debased for being it.

private

[indissection]

You know that is no concern of mine. [ A soft hum. ] I will give you what you want, always.

private

[bouchonne]

What I want is for you to find a lovely and charming and vivacious woman to claim as your wife.

private

[indissection]

That is entirely unlikely and you know it.

private

[bouchonne]

Why?

private

[indissection]

It is not my destiny.

private

[bouchonne]

Been visiting fortune-tellers? You know they're all charlatans. Come, now.

private

[indissection]

You know why, Byerly.

private

[bouchonne]

Because of your family? You seem well quit of them now.

private

[indissection]

I am not ready.

private

[bouchonne]

Ah, Sidony. You're still young. You'll get there.

private

[indissection]

[ Deliberately clipped - ] When would you like your annulment?

private

[bouchonne]

[ Oops. ]

I've offended you.

private

[indissection]

Not at all. I’d simply like to know when to stop signing my name with yours.

private

[bouchonne]

You know that it's all the same to me. It's simply that you need your freedom.

private

[indissection]

For some imagined love affair you wish me to have?

private

[bouchonne]

You wish to have one, Sidony. You've made that clear.

private

[indissection]

[ Which does make her wilt a little. ]

You are determined to have me in tears.

private

[bouchonne]

[ With frustration: ]

I'm determined to have you happy.

private

[indissection]

You say that as if I know what that feels like! [ Sharp, shouted, then - softer, after a moment or two of breathing. ] I apologise.

private

[bouchonne]

[ Without hesitation - ]

You don't need to apologize, Sidony. What I want - I want you to have the freedom to figure that out.