therookery | crystal; odd jobs and training efforts

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Flint
RECIPIENT: Everyone, but mostly Forces
NOTES: Also, a reminder that the JOBS BOARD exists now. I refuse to stop trying to make fetch happen.

Riftwatch, this is Commander Flint. With the end of winter approaching, Forces will be implementing an accelerated schedule for the repair of equipment and maintenance of gear to see that we're prepared for the coming months. Any member of Forces should expect an extra item on their rota. Any member of Riftwatch outside the division who finds they have time in the day they happily apply to manual labor is more than welcome to come to the division office and take up one of the miscellaneous tasks posted at the list on the door. If you cannot read the list, Matthias will do so for you.

[Hope you all love repairing armor and refinishing the hulls of small boats.]

Further, as the entirety of the organization has a well developed instinct for sticking its nose where it might be cut off, should anyone feel they are ill-equipped to defend themselves in an emergency and wish to remedy that, Forces will be organizing training sessions with which to familiarize yourself with some kind of weapon. There is to be a separate sheet posted on the notice board for both interested students and anyone willing to give instruction. I would prefer no one deface it.

[But if it keeps you all busy and out of his business, draw all the outrageous phalluses you can imagine. There is even a bit of graphite on a string attached to the pin and a suspiciously ample series of margins for that very purpose. You're welcome.]

If there are any questions, you're welcome to submit them either in writing or in person. If you have complaints, there is a box for that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There is no marked shift in how he is settled there, but some angle in his face closes - a window being snapped shut.]

I was thinking it will be difficult to find a new place for them. For any refugee fleeing Tevinter ahead of the Divine's force.

Really? Is that truly all?

[ It seems a small and obvious thought to have caused some turn in Flint's facial expression. The man typically deals in dead-eyed stares broken only by little jerks and swoops of his lips and eyelids. Getting a sense of his feelings is tough, when those feelings aren't "uncomplicated rage." ]

Is it so hard to believe I might have some sympathy for the idea?

[Which is honest. But not even remotely the point.]

Not your most convincing attempt at misdirection.

It was merely an observation. And that given present circumstances, I doubt the most obvious place to put them will be in the mood to be welcoming. Some end point will need to be bargained for.

What seems like the most obvious place to you?

Were we pursuing this all prior to Satinalia, it would have been somewhere in Nevarra.

And why is that the most likely? Merely because it's closest?

Do you have a better suggestion?

I do.

[Eyebrows. You know the ones.]

[ A smile. You know the one. ]

I'm taking inspiration from you. You decided to be mysterious, so I'm giving it a try.

[ And then he raises his eyebrows in invitation. C'mon, be honest about your thoughts from earlier. ]

[He hesitates. That hand hooked idly across his belt knife has shifted by some small, relenting degree. Eventually:]

Yes, as it is closest. Orlais won't have them. But Nevarra has its own share of refugee these days; adding more would only put stress on whichever side of the conflict there found themselves responsible for their handling.

[ All right, then. Byerly answers openly as well. ]

I think certain Bannorns could be convinced. It would depend somewhat upon what these refugees had to offer - would they be farmers and tradespeople, or mages and thugs? - but a number of Banns are hungry for more freemen to settle their lands, especially in areas that were hit hard during the Fifth Blight.

[ A shrug. ]

Of course, transporting these people that far south - That is a challenge. Unless...

[Somewhere in there, that skirting hesitation in the line of Flint's shoulders and the tip of his head has slipped. What's left behind is a look that's half keen, but not pointed for these details. Distracted.

That's interesting.

('Unless' doesn't really need to be discussed. The answer is obvious.)]

Is this the part where I ask about whether you have a hidden agenda?

Can't I care for the welfare of innocents caught up in the horrors of war?

[ His voice makes it sound like something inherently absurd. Imagine! Him! Byerly! Caring for the downtrodden! Such silliness. ]

[Without thinking about it, his hand transfers from the belt knife to his beard - knuckles scrubbing in thought along the underside of his chin. An idea - apparently he's full of them today - being turned over, independent of Rutyer's bullshit. His laugh is very small, more exhale and not exactly with Byerly. A shrug.]

I suppose it's as good a place as any.

A better place than most.

[ Even amongst the bullshit, his patriotism runs strong. Strong enough to actually rear its head sometimes. ]

[Tell that to everyone dead from the Fifth Blight these thereotical soporati are replacing.]

It won't be cheap. Do you think you can convince any Bann they want these people enough to subsidize them, or are we better served calling in some other series of favors?

[ and whose people STARTED the blights huh ]

Money...is often in rather shorter supply than land and goodwill is, down in Ferelden. Perhaps we can convince some Orlesian lords that taking in the refugees is a disgraceful burden for us - they'd probably fund it and titter behind their hands.

[Across his knuckles, a flat look.]

I find men from the South quick to believe anyone from the North is only here in search of trouble. Maybe you can convince Orlais they'd be sabotaging Ferelden.

Be fair, now. Nothing good has ever come for us from the North. - But yes; it could be an easy trick.

Then it sounds like you have plenty of work to do with our allies. And a song to write.

Is this your leadership style, Flint? Trying to pass off tasks to others so that you can have ample time to read poetry, brood, and threaten the people around you? I suppose all those activities do take quite a portion of your day.

I have a long reading list.

(no subject)

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