Crystal

[sprent]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Gela, in the early evening
RECIPIENT: Youse guys
NOTES: Do go on ☺️

(Cheerfully, in a bright voice that is Nevarran eventually, after one parses through the vocal funk,) Hello!

My name's Gela Baynrac and I'm a bit new. I've spent round about a month here now- I think, haven't been countin'- but I belong to your wonderful Diplomacy division, and I've got a favour to ask of you all.

Any gossip about? Maybe what you're lookin' forward to in the next month, or anythin' curious overheard while visitin' our neighbours– that kind of thing. It's part of our job to keep records, and mine, as you can imagine, are sparse. So if you've heard anythin' especially delicious lately, I'd love to know about it too.

Naturally, the office is always open for reports if you don't wish to speak aloud! Go well.

Comments

[exsecutus]

Cross-training is a fucking death knell.

[sprent]

Dramatic, aren't you? If that's what you think a death knell is, I wish I were you.

[exsecutus]

[biiiiiitch]

Facetious. Not dramatic. Obviously.

[sprent]

Oh, sorry! I've only just met you, and I don't yet know the difference between your jokin' tones and otherwise.

[exsecutus]

I'd hope a diplomat would be a faster study. Reading tone seems like it might come in useful. Prevent us from getting embroiled in a brand new war.

[sprent]

All very true! I'll be sure to study hard. For my notes– would you say you are typically facetious?

[exsecutus]

[Facetiously,] Always.

[sprent]

(Chuckle,) Duly noted.

[exsecutus]

Good.

As for gossip that would affect the Diplomacy division--I heard that the candle shortage is because Orlais is hoarding all the beeswax for itself.

[sprent]

Bastards. (The sound of scratching on paper once more,) I will look into it.

[exsecutus]

Wonderful. I miss candles.

Do you speak Orlesian?

[sprent]

(In a truly horrible accent,) Un petit peu.

[exsecutus]

[He snorts.]

Oh, yes, they're definitely going to want to talk with you.

[sprent]

(... Hold on how is this guy holding two conversations at once

With a air of budding irritation for the first time:) That's why we have a whole group. I don't need to be fluent when somebody else is.

[exsecutus]

[It's a mystery, don't worry too much about it.]

And thank the Maker for that.

Nevarran?

[sprent]

What gave it away.

You are, too. Where in Nevarra?

[exsecutus]

Antiva City. I've been unwelcome in Nevarra longer than I was welcome.

[sprent]

(Quietly,) I've only just started bein' unwelcome in Nevarra, so maybe you can give me some tips.

[exsecutus]

Learn to like fish for dinner.

What did you do?

[sprent]

Well, I like anythin' for dinner, so that's easy enough.

It's not very excitin'. Had a fallin' out with my family; they don't want me around any more. So I left. The rest of Nevarra could care less, but I've soured on the place, so here I am. (Not as far away as she could possibly get, but pretty damn far.)

[exsecutus]

[Narrowing eyes @ all of this, interesting, interesting, interesting.]

Miss it?

[sprent]

(No it isn't!!!)

Nope! (popping the p,) I've been travellin' instead. Loved bein' on the road. Have you done any, or did you come straight here?

[exsecutus]

[ (¬_¬ ) ]

I went to Antiva City first. Learning to like fish. I've done enough traveling in between then and now. Enough to be suspicious of anyone who professes to love it.

[Like, ew.]

[sprent]

(Genuinely surprised,) Why wouldn't I? I get to see all sorts of things I never saw growin' up. I love where I've been.

I think you might be too facetious for travel, serah.

[exsecutus]

No, it's that your sincerity is poisoning me.

Seeing things is overrated. Travel is annoying. Romanticizing it is the act of a boring person seeking meaning. It's sleeping in shitty bed after shitty bed--or on the ground--getting eaten alive by insects--bad food--mud on your boots, or in your boots--noise, and people--so many people, each of them worse than the last.