crystal.

[elegiaque]

FORM: Crystal.
SENDER: Lady Vauquelin.
RECIPIENT: Everyone with a crystal.
WHAT: Burd.
WHEN: Now-ish.
WHERE: Kirkwall.
NOTES: The acquisition of Gwen's ac reward.

Lord Luthor sent me a gift from Markham, and I need -

( I need in peculiar, double-voiced echo; the sound of a door closing and muffling the continued contribution of her new birds, )

someone willing to perform a small experiment with them and tell me if they're quite safe. I don't like to ask Kieran or my servants to play about with fade-touched things that haven't been deemed so already.

I am bringing them down to the Gallows, so you needn't worry about being turned away at my gate if you're a particularly touchy Warden.

Comments

[wheretheferngrows]

[A suspicious, but also very nosy voice asks,] ....what sort of experiment?

[elegiaque]

Taking the birds into separate rooms, speaking and seeing what they repeat.

[wheretheferngrows]

[A muffled sound of excitement this time--it might have been a squeak.] Oh--! Let me help, please?

[ :D ]

[elegiaque]

( ...well, all right. From the sound of her, it's probably a good idea to have a more experienced set of eyes on them as well, but just to see if they do as they're supposed to- )

Certainly. I'll be down at the Gallows with them in an hour or two.

[wheretheferngrows]

[An hour or two later finds Fern waiting at the prescribed location, fiddling with a bit of mending that needs doing; looks to be either socks or a particularly poorly made glove--either way, it's all she's brought with her from home, and she's loathe to part with it even if the Inquisition's quartermaster can probably supply her with better. She keeps an eye out for any fancy-looking birds in cages.]

[justice_is_blond]

I'm willing, and a particularly touchy Warden. Two for one.

[There's plenty of wry amusement in his voice.]

[elegiaque]

( ugh )

I'll bear you in mind.

[justice_is_blond]

What, you meant another one? And here I thought I was special. I'm hurt, Gwenaelle.

[He's not.]

[elegiaque]

( civilly matter of fact; )

I will contact you if no one else responds.

[justice_is_blond]

Don't worry about it. There's no telling if I'll be free or not later the way I am now; healing at the infirmary is never predictable.

[His voice is calm, still a little amused.]

Good luck with the experiment.

[faithlikeaseed]

[He isn't a set of eyes, but he's certainly more experienced.

And curious.]

Are you in need of anyone else for your experiment, Lady Vauquelin?

[elegiaque]

Not for the experiment itself, but I'd quite like someone to assure me the birds' provenance and safety. Not to be rudely blunt -

( everybody brace themselves )

- but I assume the blindness doesn't interfere with your magic in that way.

( Like, correct her if she's wrong. )

[faithlikeaseed]

[It's a fair observation. He doesn't bridle at those any longer.]

It does not, no. Only in the more prosaic ways, like I won't be able to cast something on a bird you point at if I don't know it's there otherwise.

[elegiaque]

( A relief; she doesn't mind pissing people off, she only prefers to do it on purpose. )

Well, I've been told they're fade-touched. I want to know that they're safe to have in the house with a child and animals.

( And herself and servants, but like. Priorities. )

[faithlikeaseed]

Reasonably--and I can manage that.

Where would you like me to meet you once you're at the Gallows?

[overharrowed]

It seems like you've competent help already, but if you need a secondary opinion, I am happy to take a look at them.

[He's curious, but not willing to press, under the circumstances. He also still owes her a visit.]

[elegiaque]

We'll be here for a time, so I wouldn't object.

[overharrowed]

At your convenience, then. I'm working in the office where we last spoke, or you can tell me where you are when you'd like me to take a look.

[elegiaque]

There are a few unused rooms in the bottom of the divisions tower - you'll see my footman outside, I'm sure. I'll be here until I go upstairs.

action;

[overharrowed]

[Rather than continue their back and forth, he makes his way down, perhaps a half hour later. He looks well put together, though a few stains -- possibly crushed minerals of some sort -- betray he'd been working on something before he set it aside.]

private ;

[rowancrowned]

And how is [ 'your' doesn't quite fit anymore, does it? ] the smith?

private ;

[elegiaque]

( Not after so long, and all else; )

He sounds much as he ever did. Thoroughly diverted in his occupations.

( Probably better than idle hands. )

private ;

[rowancrowned]

Which are?

[ he had never known luthor personally, really only in relation to gwenaelle, and her feelings. ]

private ;

[elegiaque]

Business, for the most part. Took apart some merchant's business from the ground up and sent me a trophy!

( There was, certainly, a time when her feelings about receiving that would have been more complicated. Mostly, she sounds rueful, a bit bemused- )

I can guess what it says about me that's when he thinks to send word. The birds are pretty; I'm bringing them up to you when all this fuss is done.

private ;

[rowancrowned]

I should like to see them. Perhaps the fade-touched feathers will look merry in my hair.

[ he doesn't think her smith would give her anything intentionally harmful. ]

You are delightful. And you make an impression. He has not forgotten you.