Sending Crystal

[overharrowed]

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.

Comments

[elegiaque]

( 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.

[overharrowed]

[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.

[elegiaque]

He had sketches.

( Her glance is meaningful.

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

[overharrowed]

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

[elegiaque]

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. )

[overharrowed]

[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.

[elegiaque]

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. )

[overharrowed]

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.

[elegiaque]

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.

[overharrowed]

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.]

[elegiaque]

( 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. )

[overharrowed]

[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?]

[elegiaque]

( 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.

[overharrowed]

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?

[elegiaque]

He's a very talented artist. He's done most of my portraits.

( Only fitting, with her lord father his patron -

and if it happened to specifically piss off her grandfather, in this one instance Gwenaëlle turned a blind eye to their disputes and her part as pawn in them. )

There might still be some floating about. It's been more than a half year since I wrote any.

[overharrowed]

May I ask why you stopped? Had they simply run their course?

[elegiaque]

Read them, ( a mild suggestion, rising. ) All of them.

Come and visit me when you've a theory about why I didn't write any more.

( She gathers both her skirts and all of her aristocratic dignity about her; )

And in the meantime, thank you.

[overharrowed]

[He stands when she does; wherever he picked up manners, he does have some.]

You're very welcome. I look forward to seeing you again, Lady Gwenaëlle.