therookery | Sending Crystal

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Sending Crystal

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Julius
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: New arrival
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: They'll just give anyone one of these, won't they.

Good day, Inquisition. I apologize if there's some etiquette for using these things that was not explained to me, but otherwise I wished to introduce myself. My name is Enchanter Julius, formerly of Kinloch Hold, and I'm a new addition to the research department. I look forward to working with you.

If anyone is need of assistance on more personal matters, too, do let me know. I'm handy with both glyphs and runes, especially, and I'm happy to do what I can.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He is, in fact, still where he said he'd be; between conversations on the sending crystal, he's catching up by reading some existing reports, finding out where the state of knowledge is as best he can.

He looks up, not quite startled, but giving her his full attention all the same.]

I did, yes. About six months ago, more or less. I'm afraid he rather pointedly didn't say where he was going, but we traveled together a few days. We had some fascinating discussions.

[Fascinating in this context meaning theoretical and arcane, probably.]

( A few days - six months ago -

She could scream, but what good would it do. She sits down, instead, rather heavily in the other chair; he's alive. Or he was alive six months ago. Where is Enchanter Leblanc, to care about this? Maker only knows where that woman went. Somewhere. Orlais, probably, home to her family, as her father was so sure his brother would go - she is less surprised to find it wasn't his first stop, even if she's shocked to find news of him at all.

So long, without. He has always been a name, an idea, a stranger. Now for a moment he had been almost within reach, and then...nothing. )

He's my uncle.

( Julius is perfectly aware of that. )

He mentioned.

[Julius feels like he should apologize, but he isn't entirely certain what for, so he doesn't. Instead, he says,] I'd have sought you out, if I knew you were here and waiting on word. There are a lot of people [especially mages] unaccounted for these days.

We weren't waiting.

( There was no reason to believe there was anything to wait for -

It's so strange to think of. She presses her hands together - the dull green glow of one speaking for itself about the presence of such a thing as herself in all this. )

He seemed well, [Julius offers, after a short pause.] I mean, under the circumstances. I was certainly in no state to judge a bit of road dust.

[It's a bad time in the world to be a mage, Julius feels, and most of them are doing what they can.]

Clever man, your uncle. Careful. I liked him, for all I don't know him well. I have no particular reason to think he's in any worse state than I left him, as far as anyone can know that sort of thing.

( Good times to be a mage seem few enough-- )

He's been -

There wasn't any word, other than that he hadn't been at the Spire when it was annulled. He never turned up anywhere, or wrote anyone, or... anything.

Considering the annulment, I suppose that makes some sense. [Quieter.] I hope at least telling you that we met counts as good news, under the circumstances.

I -

( Does it? She can't write home with ... this isn't news, this is a scrap that her father will drop everything to pursue when who knows what they might need of him. They can't have him chasing down ghosts he might not find. She can't have that. He can't earn back whatever it is he lost when her mother died by expending himself on a fool's errand like trying to find Gervais Vauquelin on so little information--

What does it fucking matter. She didn't know the man. Let her father keep wallowing in his grief. He deserves to. )

Yes, ( finally, not sure that she means it. ) Thank you.

I never knew him, really. He sent me gifts, sometimes. I have a dagger to match his.

( There's a beat, and it occurs to her; perhaps Julius had seen his? She never did - she fusses with her pockets and the hidden sheath and produces a small, jeweled dagger that, thanks to Wren, she handles less gingerly than she might have done. Carrying it is ... uncomfortable, but she grows accustomed, and so. )

My lord had them both made to my uncle's specification.

[He clearly recognizes it, even before he nods in confirmation.]

He still carries it, yes, though he's wrapped the handle.

[To deter thieves or to disguise where he's sold jewels to support himself, Julius wouldn't venture to guess.]

I wish I could give you more. I didn't know you'd be here with the Inquisition, I'd have offered to carry some message.

[He's never had a family of his own, not one that he remembers. But that doesn't mean he's ignorant of how much they can matter.]

He might have known.

( And chosen not to send one -

It isn't as if it's a secret, not when her bloody face is all over those pamphlets she used to write, the face of the Inquisition, Coupe had said. On the other hand, Julius hadn't known, probably because mages on the run have more pressing things to do than read about the Inquisition, so. It's even odds either way.

But it's been - what, three years since the White Spire?

If he wanted to send a message, he'd have done it, wouldn't he? Maybe they shouldn't look for him at all, anyway. Maybe he simply doesn't wish to be found.

She stirs herself from her thoughts, sliding the dagger safely back into its hidden sheath; )

I wasn't even born when he went to the Circle, I don't know if he'd have much to say to me.

[Quietly, he points out:]

He cared enough to mention you by name to me, even in our brief time together. But perhaps I'm overstepping; forgive me.

[Certainly a very different conversation than one they might have had about Marius Bellrose.]

( Oh, right, about that-- )

Yes, and please don't say 'Gigi' in front of anyone else, thank you, my name is Lady Gwenaëlle.

( Not that half the Inquisition bothers to accord her the due respect of her title, mind you, but she has visions of some cunt gleefully deciding that they are absolutely going to call her by her family-name, and absolument pas. )

Gigi is for family or people I'm fucking, and currently you are neither.

[He holds up his hands.]

My apologies, Lady Gwenaëlle. It won't happen again.

[The briefest of pauses, but he can't resist:]

I also appreciate that you saved Marius' assessment of my "services" until we were no longer speaking in front of the entire Inquisition.

He had sketches.

( Her glance is meaningful.

Imagine how easily she might misplace her mail if he were to use the wrong name. )

...was I asleep? [Julius is unsettled, but not necessarily skeptical, because it sounds entirely like something Marius would have done.]

No. But I suppose it's not that hard to draw someone's eyes open instead of closed, if you already know what their face looks like -

( She ruminates on this for a moment, being an artist of a different stripe and momentarily intrigued by the thought. Logically, obviously, but does it actually follow? Maybe she knows someone she can ask. )

[A sigh.] That man.

[He means it to be disparaging, but it comes out fond, and maybe with a hint of regret.]

I suppose it's also possible he did it from memory.

He's very good. He did the sketch of me that they used on my pamphlets, for the Inquisition.

( An affectionate eye had been more flattering than some might have. )

He is quite talented.

[In a variety of ways, but he's no desire to make the conversation more surreal.]

I admit, I wasn't aware I'd made enough of an impression on him to rate a mention. Marius rather gives the impression of being self-contained.

He is.

( But not being one to talk much is different from talking to no one at all -

She mightn't describe them as close, per se, the shadow that Romain casts inevitably between them, but there are places where they make sense to one another, and can take comfort from settling there a little while. He's been kind to her; she's probably not returned it as much as she could, she thinks. )

We talk, that's all.

Well. Given our mutual acquaintances, [such as they are] I'd venture to say I'd enjoy the chance to get to know you as well, now that I'm here. Though of course, only if you're amenable.

[She's left him a little off balance, still: a little less polished for consumption than usual. Still, she'd be forgiven for suspecting he's seldom off-center for very long.]

( A pause - a nod, decisive. )

Yes.

( Marius had spoken well of him, in his measured way, and barring Morrigan she's still not greatly familiar with mages or their thinking. Why spit in the eye of opportunity? She can always kick it in the teeth later if it isn't to her liking. )

I'd be - that sounds fine. I'd suggest my house, however, ( with a glance about the room, ) it's a bit less depressing.

( Seriously, they called this place the Gallows. )

[He smiles, brief but warm.]

No objections from me. I assure you, I am here from convenience and necessity, not preference.

[He doubts any mage is going to be terribly enthusiastic about living in the Gallows, considering, but the docks are too far to be practical for his purposes.]

I would normally never dream of calling on someone without a small gift of some sort, but I don't wish to insult you, given the level of the stipend I'm currently offered. Is there something that would be especially appropriate? [Something within his sad budget?]

( The tilt of her head betrays her surprise; exactly how many people was he calling on, in Circles? What sort of family did he leave behind, before them? Mm.

After a pause; )

I'm always losing bookmarks.

Noted. I'll see what I can do.

[Perhaps he could even surprise her with something finer than she expects; Julius has learned from experience the benefits of under-promising.]

Should I track down one of the Inquisition pamphlets you mentioned, and see how Marius did by your portrait?

Sending Crystal

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