open ||

[degenere]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé (and with him, as always, is Jehan Mercier)
RECIPIENT: e v e r y o n e
WHAT: the scholars of Orlais have something to say.
WHEN: now, right now
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: aren't they charming.


Inquisition, we are confused.

[Melodious, Orlesian, flirtatious (somehow even in this most simple of sentences): these are three words one might use to describe the sound of Val's voice. It makes confused sound kind of fun, if a bit puzzling.]

My friend and I have come all this way to be an asset to you. And now we have arrived here, to your Skyhold, and we find so much to be in want. How have you all managed so far, with these conditions? I am a man used to the roughness of a camp, a life of travel. I love this life. You'll find no one loves it more than me. But a camp, that is one thing, and this? It is meant to be a city, of a sort. Yet there is no apartment for us. There is barely a work space, in your library--we have been, my friend and I. We have seen the conditions. There is barely a book there.

I am sorry for you, Inquisition.

[So sincere. A pause, in which he has pressed a hand to his chest, in a deep show of pity. And then, briskly, cheerfully:]

But we will not leave you there, in sorrow. The good news. You now have, among your numbers, me. An introduction: Valentine de Foncé, a master architect, among many other masteries, too numerous to name. If you ask sweetly, I'll tell you them all. If you ask very sweetly, I'll give demonstration. And for the Inquisition, I will offer my services, and my knowledge--and so, too, does my friend. If only so we can get a decent space in which we can do our work. And believe me: you want this. We have arrived to be your greatest blessing.

Now, tell me. With business sorted: what does anyone do for fun around here?

Comments

[mythalenaste]

Not possible. I'm there for most of the day. I'm a researcher and analyst, it's my job.

[This is nice. Him not knowing, just talking to her.]

[degenere]

Is that right.

Then--closed eyes? Blindfolds?

[mythalenaste]

Fine. I will close my eyes any time a handsome Orlesian and his friends walk into the library.

[degenere]

Handsome, Orlesian friends.

[Although--]

Handsome, did you say?

[mythalenaste]

I inferred, from your education. A scholar's mind is very sexy.

[degenere]

I do have a very large and prodigious education. Downright legendary, in some circles. A very large and talented... brain.

You're clever to deduce all of that. Very astute.

[mythalenaste]

And you're vain. But at least you're a charming vain. And I'm honest enough not to take advantage of it.

[degenere]

And if I want you to?

[mythalenaste]

Not even then. [Pel isn't fool enough to think he'd be interested in an elf.] That's not the sort of advantage I was thinking of, anyway. Something else, maybe. You're an architect. Have you ever heard of enchantments that keep a building from falling from decay, even after centuries?

[Millennia?]

[degenere]

Oh, let us never say never. There's no fun in that.

[Except in the case of elves, where we will always say 'never'.]

But I will consider your question anyways, for the sake of conversation. I have heard rumor that there might be such enchantments, but I do not have any true and practical magic to my name. Are you a magical architect, that you have heard of such things?

[mythalenaste]

I'm a mage and a researcher, and I've seen such things. I've been trying to work out how it's done, and thought you might know people with an inkling.

[degenere]

A researcher, and a mage. What a lovely combination. I am in favor of it. Now, though: would this question of yours be an example of you trying to take advantage of me? Or is the fact that you are asking, honestly, forthrightly, be an example of how you are not taking advantage of me?

[mythalenaste]

The latter, unless a scholar getting an answer from another scholar traditionally requires wheedling.

[degenere]

Depends on the scholar. On both scholars, actually. I personally love to be... wheedled.

[mythalenaste]

I already called you handsome. If that's not enough, I'm afraid we're done.

[But she's not ending the transmission. She's bluffing.]

[degenere]

I suppose you are encouraging modesty in me. I gave you a modest answer to your question, I said only perhaps I had heard of such spells. And I delved no deeper into my knowledge and experience, and so you paid me only a modest compliment, and you say that we are done.

'Handsome'. [It comes out as a scoff--more teasing than dismissive.] That is fine. But if you were to be detailed, I would be inclined to be equally so.