therookery | 001.

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Marisol
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: sup losers
WHEN: early Wintermarch, handwaves vaguely etc
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Marisol's info is over here but still in progress, feel free to shoot me a pm if you'd like some deets or to hammer out past cr

Good morning, Inquisition.

( It’s early afternoon, easily. She sounds very relaxed, and it would not be inaccurate to imagine her reclining on a sea of cushions and eating chocolate. Her accent is distinctly Antivan, and probably should be accompanied by a montage of vineyards and orange blossom. It’s just the kind of vibe she gives off. )

I wanted to apologise for any inconvenience caused the last few days by my arrival; the family estate in Hightown was not yet ready to receive me, it seems, and so there has been some to-ing and fro-ing. I understand one of the birds caused a little confusion.

( It trapped Finch in a cupboard. ) Please rest assured all the flamingos have been moved for their safety.

( And the safety of the Inquisition. )

I am Lady Marisol of the Houses Vivas and de la Nieve, Asturias and Hierro. ( Merchant Princes, nobility, pirates. You may remember her from such mage empowerment videos as GO REBELS GO and IT’S NOT SMUGGLING, IT’S SPECIALISED TRADE. ) You know, I had planned to be here a little sooner, but the weather in Antiva was so fine. I couldn’t bring much winter sunshine with me, but the Inquisition’s supplies have been replenished a little.

So! Is anyone here from the Rialto Circle? And can anyone explain why it is I should bring ships and staff to an Inquisition that took to destroying the Necropolis? I have some aunts and uncles who are very upset about it.

( She, personally, does not sound seriously concerned, but apparently she doesn’t sound seriously concerned about anything. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

❰ for someone with just the one name, this is a lot to take in. ❱

...how many middle names do you have...?

Officially? Only four. My mother likes to embellish, at times, to see if my father notices. So, my full name is Marisol Candelas Ximena Odalys Esmeralda Hierro Asturias de la Nieve Vivas. A bit excessive for introductions, I myself begin to lose interest just two names in.

❰ ... ❱

...you're shitting me. Seriously? All of that is your name? I just want two and you've got nine?

❰ noble!!!! nonsense!!!!!!! ❱

If you incorporate the last names of your parents into your own name how do the names ever stop? You could be named for everyone who's ever been in your family line!

They could, yes, but thankfully sense and judgment exists.

( A moment, where she just rolls that thought around in her head. It’s not an unfamiliar lament to her, moreso because of her time in the Circles than anything else.)

There is nothing to stop you claiming a family name for yourself. Some people pick their profession, something remarkable about themselves, the name of where they are from. If you want a family name for yourself and you were not born to one there is no power to stop you choosing one for yourself.

Out of... I guess sort of morbid curiosity, what's the longest name you've ever encountered?

❰ given everything marisol has said it seems too much to hope for that nine names is where people stop.

adalia hadn't expected her lament to be understood so completely — it is a sort of strange thing to say, probably, to anyone who doesn't know the pain of being nameless — and she goes quiet at the advice, embarrassed. ❱

I don't want a name, ❰ she says finally. ❱ I want my name.

❰ it's not the illusion of a family she wants, but the reality. if she wanted, she could have been calling herself adalia of candlekeep this whole time, and at least in toril it would have gotten her a modicum of respect until people realized she wasn't one of the avowed. it's not having the name in itself that matters, it's the family and past that comes with it. having context in which to place her own story, so she could figure out the point of it all. ❱

Too long to remember. My father told me once of a man he met who insisted that he be announced with no less than twelve surnames. It was considered… a desperate, showy attempt to prove relevance and status that did more harm than good. I am only ever announced as Marisol Vivas - if everyone insisted on using their full names we would never get through each name before the evening was through. It is a little… crass.

( Anyway, )

You know, it is not unusual for common born people to have no surname from their families. I knew many people in the Rialto Circle who didn’t have a surname, and it had always been so. ( Said with a sort of blunt pragmatism. ) It may be you have no family name, but that is true of many, and not just from Antiva - Neverra, the Anderfels, all through Thedas there are countless people of no family name. Why let that stop you?

But if you're not going to use them, why have them at all? Surely first middle last does everything you need a name to on its own.

❰ excess to show status is not really a concept adalia understands — she's seen it in practice back in toril, of course, but it made about as much sense to her there as it does here. maybe growing up with the ascetic life of an avowed monk just means some things won't parse for her, no matter how she tries to understand. ❱

...I hadn't considered that. ❰ though she probably should have, come to think of it — surnames are rather an especial thing. why bother to have one if you're never going to leave your village of some hundred-odd people, all of whom know each other's names? ❱ I suppose... until I find my family and find out if I have a surname, it can't hurt to make one up.

❰ another pause, though this one is rather shorter, and definitely less embarrassed. ❱ It feels a little like lying, though. Claiming something that isn't mine, just because I want it.

( She laughs, a surprised sort of thing. Melodic, of course, because she's a noble and a charmer and somehow that means her laugh has to be melodic, instead of sounding like a hiccuping donkey. )

To honour the women of my family, of course. Each of my names come from a woman in the family that meant something to my father and mother, either personally, or they achieved something great for the families.

( Marisol hums. ) It is entirely up to you. Take a name, do not take a name, but if you debate it endlessly then you may as well never take one.

But that could start feuds based on who wasn't honoured... And is it really all that much of an honour if it isn't the name you're known by and you get bored two names in?

❰ adalia sighs and shakes her head, though that wouldn't be visible to marisol. ❱

Sorry, I'm sure this is nothing you haven't thought of before. It just seems... more trouble than it's worth. I'm not from here, though, so what do I know, maybe it makes perfect sense.

❰ drily, ❱ I grew up surrounded by academics. Debating endlessly is what we do where I'm from. I do see your point, though.

Thank you. You've given me something to think about.

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