crystal;

[heirring]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Wysteria
RECIPIENT: Everyone
NOTES: A very heartfelt announcement. No shenanigans here, no siree.

[The sun is—well, not quite shining as it is rather very overcast. The birds are—shrieking is really more in line with what the seagulls swooping about the Gallows do. But at least Wysteria Poppell is this morning at her most aggressively bright:]

Good Morning, Riftwatch. This is Miss Wysteria Poppell with a very brief but quite happy announcement.

For those of you who are not otherwise engaged outside the Gallows on the date in question, I should like to cordially invite you on Summerday to bring your best clothes and join the company which will be travelling from here to Edlingham Hall in the Vinmark foothills.

Warden Andrasteia has helped to arrange a very lively party there. We will be camping in the ruin overnight, and expect to engage in all the usual dancing and playing of music and general revelry which is typical in celebration of myself and Monsieur de Foncé's most sincere wedding vows.

Gifts are not unwelcome, but are hardly necessary; we wish only to celebrate our most enduring happiness with anyone who should care to share it. Thank you in advance for all your kind words and congratulations.

Comments

[bouchonne]

And yet between us, it led to the severing of all ties and relationship. But with him, it led to love.

[heirring]

As I said, it is entirely a matter of inclination. Indeed, I suspect the man in question rather invulnerable to direct insult, much less to the mere perception of it.

[bouchonne]

As am I, madame.

[heirring]

Yet behold the very stones underfoot.

But perhaps then it is a matter of the subjects of these conversations. Monsieur de Foncé is very keen to talk about books and the sciences and all manner of study. He has even on one occasion heard my recommendations for cross-stitch.

[bouchonne]

I see.

I will confess, Miss Poppell, that if you speak true, and this is a love match, that gives me far greater concern than I would have were you merely making use of the man.

[heirring]

[And there, as in reply to a splinter sliding under the skin, she bristles.]

Was that your fear? That I had somehow deceived him?

[bouchonne]

[ Flatly: ]

No. My concern was that you are in some unfortunate situation that compels you to make a husband of a man for whom you have no fondness.

[heirring]

[Well now what's she meant to do with all these bristled hackles?]

Oh. No. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am perfectly well. Thank you.

[bouchonne]

I think there is rather little that is well when one is marrying a disinherited bounder of no good reputation, a fellow who is incapable of focus or follow-through, who has consistently demonstrated himself to be without any sense of responsibility beyond his foolish and whimsical interests. But all right.

[heirring]

[How good of him to provide some direction for all these needles to fly in.]

Why Ambassador, I had no idea we were so closely related. You haven't been hiding my mother in a closet somewhere all this time, have you?

[bouchonne]

You think your mother would object to this union?

[heirring]

I think my mother would object to nearly everything about Thedas, to say nothing of what I have chosen to do it in. Why, just this winter I wore boots designed to keep my feet warm in the field rather than to appear attractive where they peeked out from beneath my hems.

[bouchonne]

[ He narrows his eyes very slightly. Some obscure impulse makes him ask: ]

Do you think I would condemn you for that?

[heirring]

If the one choice isn't above being disparaged, what defense has any another?

But really Ambassador, it has nothing to do with you. Only I would thank you not to insult my pick in husbands quite so directly on the heels of me saying that I'm pleased with it.

[bouchonne]

I'd thought you'd be pleased with the insults, given that you've said worse.

[heirring]

[heirring]

Well I wasn't.

[bouchonne]

So you wouldn't feel any flicker of joy if I were to insult his appearance.

[heirring]

Not if you were to insult his chin right after I have just finished saying how admirable I find the fellow's jaw.

You could also always simply say congratulations, or how you wish me all happiness or something similar.

[bouchonne]

What use is there in wishing for what will never be?

[heirring]

That—

[Is cut short, like something jerking at the end of a long chain. After a beat, seriously:]

That is very unkind.

[bouchonne]

[ And, a bit acidly: ]

Miss Poppell, when have you ever given a fig for kindness?

[heirring]

Often. I think it very fine.

[bouchonne]

Yes, I suppose I can understand that. I think fire-juggling is very fine, myself.

[heirring]

Then I hope you will practice at it.

Now, if you will excuse me Ambassador, I have just remembered a previous commitment.