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

[saam]

Comparing me to dragons, now?

[She has only the foggiest idea what a hydra is, thanks.]

[wythersake]

Vast, powerful, awe-inspiring — you may imagine that I've toadied several more minutes, if it suits you.

[saam]

I got a vivid imagination, don't worry.

What was Amsel tied up in?

[wythersake]

The twin fetters of duty and honour, etcetera. And as I understand it, opening relations with the Qun.

[saam]

[Loud laughter.]

Oh, I have some reading to do. Thank you, serah. Your name?

[wythersake]

Isaac. I best accept gratitude in not being sent to certain death, but in its stead I'll accept a proper introduction. Ambassador Fazon, Mme. Fazon, Eshal — have you a preference?

[saam]

I promise, nobody's getting offed until I've been working at least a week.

Eshal's fine, thanks for asking.

[wythersake]

Anything past three days is propriety. Have you had any dealings with the Inquisition, Eshal?

[saam]

No. Been doing merc work for the past few years. Before that, Seheron.

[wythersake]

[ is that the bad one? can't remember. definitely couldn't find it on a map. note to self, find a map. ]

There are better-paid fights. What brought you our way?

[saam]

Better paid, less worthy.

[wythersake]

Oh, I don't know about that. Surely the Inquisition's mission is no different from our own.

[saam]

But I hate the cold.

[wythersake]

Then you'd adore the wastelands.

[saam]

Yeah, yeah.

So you wish I was someplace else, huh?

[wythersake]

To the contrary. I've been seeking a reason to stay.

[saam]

Well, that's a turn. Especially after we finished all the toadying.

[wythersake]

No one's ever really finished with that.

No, there was this great fuss a few months ago, over whether we ought to separate ourselves at all. The Inquisition would have been content to keep us under wing.

[saam]

Huh. Which side were you on, lad?

[wythersake]

I was with the Inquisition three years, [ is not an answer ] But there seemed value in self-determination. [ he didn't vote ]

[saam]

Well, I'm not gonna flatter myself with the idea that I just changed your mind one way or the other.

[wythersake]

No. But you understand my curiousity: To now, I've seen us determine very little at all.

[saam]

Don't worry. I'm pretty determined.