crystal || OPEN.

[degenere]

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Val de Foncé
RECIPIENT: E V E R Y O N E
WHAT: researchers, meet your new boss. everyone else, give Val a high five. applications for Research Secretary now being collected.
WHEN: right now
WHERE: your ears

Research, Inquisition. [Hail and well met my dudes Val is still Orlesian. Note the accent.] If this word does not thrill you as it does me, we have very little to speak of. In fact we may not have spoken at all. In Val Royeaux, at the University, I and my friends are well known for all of the research that we have contributed to the vast stores of knowledge that are contained within our much beloved and greatly venerated University.

And I am pleased now to inform you, Inquisition, that I have been made Head of Research for this very organization that we all name as our own. A very wise choice. There are so very few that possess my credentials, experience, and charm. It is my belief that we, as a division, shall far surpass the work of all other divisions. For our purpose is not only superior: it is clearer, too.

[In a more serious tone, now:] To those lucky enough to be working on research projects for the Inquisition, I am requesting that all work you have amassed on each topic be put into the fires and burned. [And a pause before, more cheerfully:] No! Do not do that. What I mean is, we start anew, together. But you must submit your work to me for a metaphorical burning. I shall burn it with my critique. I require at the very least a written proposal for the work you are conducting. If a project has begun, let us visit it together.

I shall also require a secretary. Chief duties for this position will be, of course, reading project proposals. Please, make an introduction and submit your credentials to me in my office forthwith. You need not be a member of our research efforts, but you must have a keen interest in reading terrible handwriting.

[And generally doing all the work but that part remains unsaid.]

And! To those that might contest my selection, I shall quote the translation of a rustic proverb found engraved upon the wall of Orzammar, taught to me by my very dear Baroness Frédérique: may a demon eat your arse.

Comments

[mythalenaste]

Very well. How does this work? My division is research, but my project is under scouting.

[It makes her more than a little uncomfortable to be answerable to Val, of all people. Their friendship is on such a nice track, even if it requires some work. This will make that work so much harder.]

[degenere]

Truly? This news cheers me immensely. Already we know that we are able to work with one another. I foresee nothing but a continuance of this harmony--even if I am now your supervisor.

[Isn't this great, Val thinks it's great.]

What sort of research do you think will be involved in scouting? Maps, perhaps? A historical understanding of the places where the scouts will be expected to-- scout?

[kartereo]

I fall under the particular research heading, but my current project work is eleven artifact related.

[Waver is straight forward enough, mostly because the big introductory remarks had been taken care of.]

If you're intent on reviewing projects that involve people in your division but otherwise not within your supervisory domain, may I ask if there have been any protocols put in place to protect information that shouldn't be seen by certain eyes? Because if not, that strikes me as something that needs to be done immediately.

[degenere]

An excellent question, my friend. Who is it that you think we should ask to create these protocols? Perhaps... the head of Research?

What luck. You are speaking to him now.

[ipseite]

I have made myself available to this division, but I am afraid I will be catching up a while yet; your written language is different enough from my own I must learn it. I make good progress, however, and anticipate it will not be an arduous or drawn out task to complete. I am Madame de Cedoux, recently arrived only.

[degenere]

Not to fear, madame. There are some who have been looking at written texts all their lives, who perfectly read the language, and yet have no concept of what they see on the page. If you make progress, already you are ahead of these.

You are recently arrived from where?

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Oh! Then will it be possible to get a larger library for research purposes? Nothing against the Skyhold library but I truly need more extensive volumes on the Blight and Tevinter history!

[degenere]

Do you mean a private library, mademoiselle? I do not intend to ship mine all the way to Kirkwall.

I will say that among the very scant commendations I can offer of this city, the largest library in the place has proved to be terribly adequate. Not up to the standards of the University, of course. But what is.

Tevinter history may be hard to come by no matter which library we look it. They are very bannable, these books.

[youwonscience]

Hey, boss.

[You get respect, because she owes the Inquisition, but you probably don't get formality. Especially not with that kind of intro.]

I'm Cosima Niehaus, I'm assigned to your division. I'm a rifter, but research is what I did at home too. For, uh, obvious reasons my main focus since I've arrived here has been rifts and just general "catching up on how things work in Thedas," but I'll get you copies of my notes if you want.

[degenere]

Marvelous. I will expect these copies by the day's end, so that I can give them a thorough reading. As a rifter, wll you also be including some notes on your home country? I should very much like to read notes such as these, if you are willing to commit them to paper.

[justice_is_blond]

I'm researching the Blight, its spread and its cure. I can give you copies of what notes I have, in a hand that's very tidy, but I'm not certain how much critique you could have for it.

[And he's... not sure about putting together a proposal. There's nothing that could make him stop researching this, after all.]

I've also been spending some time digging into practical applications of magic for improving the life of everyone.

[degenere]

I should very much like to read your notes, my friend, in whatever hand they have been penned in. Bear in mind that I am a student of many disciplines and many years. I have likely seen worse handwriting.

And I am a powerful critic. But fair, of course.

[And humble. Did he mention humble? Super humble.]

Now, what sort of practical applications do we speak of?

[meds4sale]

Ah - so you are the one I will answer to on these matters.

I have no research save my personal notes and observations.

[degenere]

Ah, then the question becomes: your notes and observations on what topics?

[levered]

I'm not sure you should be wishing demons on anyone. They might hear you.

[ And what if a demon actually eats someone's arse, Val. Won't you feel bad then. ]

I'm Clarke. I'm handling the research on the Fade rifts right now.

[degenere]

If they hear me, then they will show themselves, and be eliminated all the faster, yes?

[probably he would not feel too bad tbh]

Are you of Thedas, Clarke, or do I have the pleasure to speak with yet another Rifter?

private

[aventuriere]

Burning critique! You have said the magic words, you know how I adore delivering burning critique. I have two bottles of the Chateau d'Orienne '36 left, shall we meet in your office later to review these plans and scald them together?

private

[degenere]

I knew you would find it so. And I can think of no better way to spend an evening. Perhaps if our dear Jehan were here that could make the evening sweeter, but as he is content to have abandoned us, we will make do without and console ourselves with burning critique.

private

[degenere]

[Although--]

What we will we do with your plans?

[bouclier]

Are they so hard up for help now that they placed you in charge of something?

[degenere]

[In Orlesian, natch:]

I will answer the question that I know you meant to ask, which is, has the Inquisition finally seen sense and placed me in charge of something? And the answer to that question, dear mademoiselle, is: yes, they have, and how fortunate for us all.

[bookish_lioness]

[Oh. An Orlesian. Hermione tries not to make any assumptions, but she's met very, very few Orlesians that she's gotten on with, so she's going to go ahead and proceed with caution, since she supposes she sort of has to check in. It's basically the same speech she gives her project head, though slightly more terse.]

Hermione Granger. Rifter. Also a witch, or a mage, or whatever you'd prefer to call me.

I've been here over a year. I used to work under Councilor Adelaide LeBlanc, who'd asked me to interview other rifters and take notes on their worlds, specifically the way magic works in them. I'll gladly pass along my notes and offer what insight I can.

Along with studying rifts and the Veil, I've also taken it upon myself to assist various friends in their own projects, though those are in a less official capacity.

[degenere]

Magnificent. I know of Councilor LeBlanc by name and reputation only--somewhat of a taskmistress, if I have heard correctly, though I of course say this to credit her name only, never to sully. I hope you were happy working with her, but I know you will be even happier working with me.

[Because who wouldn't be!]

Can you speak of the projects that you are assisting with, Mademoiselle Hermione? [--which he takes pleasure in pronouncing super Orlesian, deprived of speaking his native tongue on the regular as he is.] Or will we keep secrets?

[universal_charm]

<sub>[ Kirk hasn't actually been researching anything as of yet, but he signed up for the division because he felt he could be of help with any research that was being done or needed doing.

The only sound that comes through as he listens is a just this one phrase, very quietly, under his breath - ]</sub>

God. Damnit.

[degenere]

[If sunglasses were a thing in Orlais, Val would be sliding on a pair right now. What's up.]

Your pardon, monsieur. What was that?