crystal

[venenifer]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Brother Gideon
RECIPIENT: errbody
NOTES: Content warnings, OOC notes, links to other relevant posts, etc.

Good morning, Riftwatch.

If we haven't met yet, my name is Brother Gideon, and I will be taking over operations for Project Haven, working to cultivate our organization's relationship to the Chantry.

In looking to the Maker and Blessed Andraste for guidance, I hope to bring clarification of our moral cause to those who still have doubts. I will be attempting to work closely with the clergy of Kirkwall and elsewhere, that we may strengthen our message among and gain the support of the faithful.

If you have any concerns or suggestions, or would like to volunteer your time, I can be reached by crystal or found in the infirmary during the day.

Comments

[cozen]

That makes us office neighbors, monsieur. You must step over sometime. We have nuts.

[venenifer]

[heh]

To whom am I speaking?

[cozen]

[ Yeah you better heh. ]

Bastien. I am— [ leading is gross ] —organizing Jeshavis. I am the Orlesian with the mustache.

[ He can say that now that Lucien has taken his more impressive mustache off to be impressive elsewhere. ]

transition to action

[venenifer]

I see.

[That seems to be the end of it, until a few hours later-- around the typical lunch time-- when a restrained knock comes at Bastien's door.]

hi :)

[coquettish_trees]

[ The door is answered by— judging by dress and bearing— an Orlesian noblewoman. She is smiling with charming politesse...

and wearing a stylishly curled mustache the colour of her hair. ]

Ah, Brother Gideon! Do come in.

>:I

[venenifer]

[At the sight of her, Gideon simply stands there and stares at her with an expression that approaches a smirk but bears none of the warmth.

He is being Had, clearly.

He doesn't enter.]

[cozen]

[ Obscured by the wall, door, and mustached Orlesian noblewoman in the doorway, Bastien can only be heard and not seen. But he whispers, ]

He came for the nuts! Offer the nuts,

[ in a loud enough stage-whisper to not be all that mysterious. ]

[coquettish_trees]

Ah, yes! Do forgive me.

[ In she goes, so that she can gesture gracefully to the lovely bowl of mixed nuts sitting on Bastien's desk, just visible from the door. ]

Would you care for some nuts?

[venenifer]

[With no movement other than his eyes, Gideon looks from one mustachioed person to another.]

No.

[Pause.]

Thank you.

[It might be time to go.]

[cozen]

[ Bastien's tickled smile fades—not into a frown, just into something less amused, more polite. ]

Well, please come inside anyway.

[ He stands up from the desk to join Alexandrie in the door. ]

Have you met Madame d'Asgard, Brother?

[coquettish_trees]

[ She will, whilst the Brother's attention may be at least partially on Bastien, take the opportunity to remove and secret away the offending facial hair before extending a graceful hand towards him with a placating smile. ]

Do excuse us. Counterintelligence work tends to attract those with a certain varietal of humour.

[ To wit: Orlesians. ]

[venenifer]

[Though he takes her hand as offered, there's clear mistrust in Gideon's eyes as he enters the room.]

Noted.

[Still not laughing.]

Madame d'Asgard, it's... a pleasure to meet you. [something like that]

[cozen]

[ Once there's room, and while they're exchanging pleasantries, Bastien shuts the door halfway behind Gideon—enough to give them a little privacy against passersby, but not to actually close him in. ]

[coquettish_trees]

[ He is accorded, in return, the light dip of respect that one gives members of the Chantry, and then she sweeps her arm to gesture him towards one of the empty chairs. ]

I am well pleased to see someone take the posting! Is it your desire to aid in further building and maintaining the bridge between Riftwatch and the Chantry that we have to thank for your coming to the organization?

[venenifer]

It is.

[He won't forget how they greeted him, and that much is clear in how stiffly Gideon moves, in how guarded his gaze.]

I was under the impression there is little to none, as it stands.

[cozen]

Not for lack of trying, I'm sure. Speaker Fabria was very dedicated. But we are a hard sell, I think, with all these degenerates.

[ He would normally sit on the edge of his desk or on the table or anywhere except a chair, but Gideon's stiffness is inspiring. He pulls a chair to the front of his desk, instead of sitting behind it, but he does sit in the chair. Straight, with both feet on the floor and everything, and the bowl of nuts on his lap. He likes them. ]

[coquettish_trees]

Unrepentant degenerates.

[ Clarified as if she were not one of the least repentant.

Alexandrie sits with formal courtly poise and perfectly settled skirts, which is normal. ]

sits backwards on chair, my name's sprite pepsi and I'm a teen just like you

[venenifer]

What do you mean by that?

[He dreads the answer, and is visibly bracing for it.]

[cozen]

Oh, you know. We have a lot of pirates, mages, rifters—whatever you believe they are. Pagans. Thieves.

[ Guilty. He eats a nut. ]

And very few who are willing to apologize to the Chantry for any of it. [ He smiles. It's a genuinely friendly smile, dimpled and kind-eyed. ] So you will be working some late nights.

falls from the sky

[coquettish_trees]

Many are largely resentful of either what the Chantry has asked, or forced, them to be and are very loathe to give up the relative social freedom our anomalous organization provides... and I am sure the Chantry is equally displeased about those who have strayed and stubbornly refused return and that an offshoot of their own Inquisition is providing that harbour.

Improving relations between such...

[ Well. She raises her eyebrows and sighs through her nose, a fan appearing in her hand seemingly from nowhere to flutter further commentary.

Condolences on your job! ]

Have you a plan of attack, as it were?

catches u a week later

[venenifer]

I see.

[Gideon falls silent a moment, his brow furrowing as he processes the information he's received. Although not friendly, he seems at least slightly less irritated than he was a moment ago.]

My hope is to help Riftwatch understand that living in accordance with the Maker's wishes does not have to be antithetical to who they are. How they were born.

[He ducks his head slightly, as if subconsciously too aware of his pointed ears.]

Some Chantry zealots would have one think the teachings of Andraste can only be interpreted in one way. But the Maker created all of us, and all with good reason.

this is a tag-delay competition and I'm going to win

[cozen]

[ Interesting, that his first thought is for improving Riftwatch’s piety rather than only its outward appearance and palatability. Never mind which is arguably the better approach; one is inarguably the easier.

Maybe more earnest believer than politician or bureaucrat, their new friend, despite his careful words and cautious demeanor. Definitely not faint-hearted. ]

Except the dwarves.

[ It’s not a joke—first of all because it’s a real Chantry tenet, second because it isn’t said like a joke. Bastien’s smiling, but in the way of someone whose default expression is a smile. It’s more reflective than amused. ]

no, *I'm* Sparse-tag-us!

[coquettish_trees]

[ There's a similar process going on in Alexandrie's mind: Earnest belief, and a different approach than she would expect from a Chantry official. One which certainly has more of a chance of working than anyone walking in wielding a rod. She wonders how well a Chantry under a Divine who called an Exalted March will be pleased with this. If those he liaises with within it care more about faith or the appearance of rank and file compliance.

Alexandrie is also smiling in the way of someone whose default expression is a smile; although hers is the warm and engaging nothing of a peer's politesse. Musing: ​]

I have always been curious about Dwarves in the Chantry for just that reason.

[ No she hasn't. She is wondering now, though, so it's not a falsehood entire. A turn of her head to look at Gideon: Your thoughts? ]

breaking the ciiiiircle

[venenifer]

Many have. Including myself.

[His static expression, miraculously, doesn't budge.]

I believe the answer lies somewhere further back than Blessed Andraste. The dwarves' gods are their ancestors, who sprang from the stone. But who created the stone?