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Ah, well. I am afraid I bought myself a ticket to Kirkwall by not turning down the task when I was voted to negotiate over the cache of phylacteries. It seemed the thing to do. And, [he adds, evidently thoughtful] I am still able to work toward stopping Corypheus, which was the entire point, after all. So I suppose nothing of value has been lost.
[Light, conversational. He seems very much in his element, here in his own office. Relaxed.]
[Light, conversational. He seems very much in his element, here in his own office. Relaxed.]
What a refreshingly generous outlook, [is said with the sort of smile which is more polite than it is truly charmed.]
You've not found too much resistance to your position here either then? I trust your work over the phylacteries won you some credit.
You've not found too much resistance to your position here either then? I trust your work over the phylacteries won you some credit.
Edited (html is hard) 2021-04-19 02:41 (UTC)
No one was entirely happy, which I suspect is the outcome of every serious negotiation in history, but I do credit the process with helping me form more serious ties within the Inquisition. But I don't see it as generosity, exactly. I do genuinely appreciate the diversity of viewpoints. One can never refine one's own position effectively without the opportunity to encounter others. Don't you find?
Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. In fact, I think it likely good that no one was made entirely happy. How could anyone hope to get anything done if that were the case? I've been told there is nothing like a contented man for bullheadedness.
[Would that he knew for sure. What a lovely image, that. To be satisfied.]
I'm curious, Enchanter. Who would you say has been your greatest--let's say collaborator rather than challenge.
[Would that he knew for sure. What a lovely image, that. To be satisfied.]
I'm curious, Enchanter. Who would you say has been your greatest--let's say collaborator rather than challenge.
I'll confess, I don't keep a ranked list.
[Possibly a lie.]
Do you mean toward any particular end? Riftwatch does keep me busy, so I'm collaborating, [euphemistically or otherwise] a great deal.
[Possibly a lie.]
Do you mean toward any particular end? Riftwatch does keep me busy, so I'm collaborating, [euphemistically or otherwise] a great deal.
Left one afternoon on Julius' desk:
Three glass bottles, corked and bound together with twine, accompanied by a fine dagger, hilt wrapped in leather strips, casing embossed with the letter J. Wedged between the bottles, a note—
Julius,
I had heard that you intended to spend more time out of doors. This ointment will keep bugs from becoming a nuisance to you and your companions. The knife, I've been told, is something every aspiring outdoorsman should have on their person when striking out. I hope this one suits.
Please accept them as an expression of my gratitude for your help.
— Derrica
Now, there's no need to be coy Julius. Haven't you heard? We Loyalists are always angling for something.
[Unlacing his hands, Cassius lightly and with good humor thumps one against the chair's arm.]
Who is the most challenging? The most likely to argue for the sake of arguing, or who suspects your motives--honorable though I'm certain they must be--most? I'm most certain it can't all be clear skies and adorable kittens around the dinner table.
[Unlacing his hands, Cassius lightly and with good humor thumps one against the chair's arm.]
Who is the most challenging? The most likely to argue for the sake of arguing, or who suspects your motives--honorable though I'm certain they must be--most? I'm most certain it can't all be clear skies and adorable kittens around the dinner table.
( it is at this precise moment that the door to julius's office opens a second time; petrana does come empty-handed, harried, and makes no pretense of doing anything but letting herself in — )
Darling, I require,
( the forethought to remember that he is more likely, as a present project leader, to not be reliably alone in his office. the way she composes herself is immediate. )
Senior Enchanter Black, I think.
Darling, I require,
( the forethought to remember that he is more likely, as a present project leader, to not be reliably alone in his office. the way she composes herself is immediate. )
Senior Enchanter Black, I think.
[He glances up, and there's a flicker of a warm smile that's by now reflexive.]
Senior Enchanter [is both an address and a confirmation], have you had the pleasure of meeting Madame de Cedoux?
Senior Enchanter [is both an address and a confirmation], have you had the pleasure of meeting Madame de Cedoux?
[Is it to their mutual benefit that Cassius is half turned toward the sound if the door and so misses that fond little look on Julius' face? Or does it not particularly matter, Darling being plenty revealing all on its own?
Who can say. Cassius' eyebrows, which quirk up in the direction of his (admittedly rather high) hairline could be for anything. The surprise of the interruption. The pleasant surprise of the interruption's shape. The personal satisfaction of Senior Enchanter, the sound of a proper title (even one which he would prefer be behind him) always rather satisfying to the ear in These Trying Times.]
I haven't had the pleasure, no. What an unexpected delight. [His smile is easy, good humored.] Julius and I were just discussing our work together. We're old acquaintances from days spent trailing in First Enchanter Vivienne's rather impressive wake. Isn't that right?
[Cassius' attention swivels back in the direction of his esteemed colleague. His eyebrows remain tacked high, the line of his smile slanting in some knowing direction. Really now, Julius.]
Who can say. Cassius' eyebrows, which quirk up in the direction of his (admittedly rather high) hairline could be for anything. The surprise of the interruption. The pleasant surprise of the interruption's shape. The personal satisfaction of Senior Enchanter, the sound of a proper title (even one which he would prefer be behind him) always rather satisfying to the ear in These Trying Times.]
I haven't had the pleasure, no. What an unexpected delight. [His smile is easy, good humored.] Julius and I were just discussing our work together. We're old acquaintances from days spent trailing in First Enchanter Vivienne's rather impressive wake. Isn't that right?
[Cassius' attention swivels back in the direction of his esteemed colleague. His eyebrows remain tacked high, the line of his smile slanting in some knowing direction. Really now, Julius.]
Ah, Madam de Fer, ( pleasantly - if he missed the look julius gave her, and darling was somehow too subtle, the all too natural way she joins julius to lean against the arm of his chair is illustrative, ) I have heard much about her.
( what a diplomatic response. )
A formidable woman, certainly. Singular, to my understanding.
( what a diplomatic response. )
A formidable woman, certainly. Singular, to my understanding.
Madam de Fer is indeed a singular woman [he agrees], but I would be very much surprised if she remembers who I am.
[If she does, it's likely for the phylactery negotiations, which is something else again. Still, Julius's manner hasn't substantially shifted since Petrana arrived. He is, perhaps, the slightest fraction more relaxed. But then again, why should his manner change? They were just having a pleasant conversation.]
The Inquisition is, after all, a much grander affair than Riftwatch. We all know one another's faces a bit more here, I find. Those of us without the pleasure of meeting before, of course.
[If she does, it's likely for the phylactery negotiations, which is something else again. Still, Julius's manner hasn't substantially shifted since Petrana arrived. He is, perhaps, the slightest fraction more relaxed. But then again, why should his manner change? They were just having a pleasant conversation.]
The Inquisition is, after all, a much grander affair than Riftwatch. We all know one another's faces a bit more here, I find. Those of us without the pleasure of meeting before, of course.
[By the time Petrana joins Julius on the other side of the desk, Cassius' crooked smile has curved farther into something marginally more pleasant and rather less overtly waggish. He isn't a beast.]
Yes, Riftwatch is charmingly intimate in its way. It rather reminds me of one of those sweet little farmhouses you always see painted distantly into landscapes.
[He tips his head and his attention toward Petrana.]
It seems I know all about how our friend Julius was washed up here. I hope you haven't subjected yourself to this dreadful island entirely on his behalf?
Yes, Riftwatch is charmingly intimate in its way. It rather reminds me of one of those sweet little farmhouses you always see painted distantly into landscapes.
[He tips his head and his attention toward Petrana.]
It seems I know all about how our friend Julius was washed up here. I hope you haven't subjected yourself to this dreadful island entirely on his behalf?
As myriad as are Enchanter Julius and Mssr Rowntree's charms, ( a very fond deprecation, lightly delivered, ) I confess, no.
( she turns her hand, so he may appreciate their shared burden, the dull green glow of it. )
But I do appreciate his company. Have I interrupted terribly?
( she turns her hand, so he may appreciate their shared burden, the dull green glow of it. )
But I do appreciate his company. Have I interrupted terribly?
Not at all. [It's his office; he gets to rule on who is interrupting.] We were just discussing a bit of politics. A comparison of reputation to observable behavior, which is always interesting, but if you needed something more urgent.
[There is a funny, lopsided thing that the esteemed Enchanter's face does at the mention of Mssr Rowntree - there and gone again, promptly enough that it was hardly there at all. And then his curved smile becomes rather more curved as his attention shifts from Madame de Cedoux to Julius before him.
Very charming indeed.]
I shouldn't wish to keep the pair of you from more pressing matters. After all, Julius, we might catch up during more or less any convenient moment.
Very charming indeed.]
I shouldn't wish to keep the pair of you from more pressing matters. After all, Julius, we might catch up during more or less any convenient moment.
So I was thinking for the next time you need a dead dragon to study, we should use Corypheus's.
Enchanter Julius, right?
Enchanter Julius, right?
It is.
[He's a project leader, Tony, he knows you know who he is.]
Given that our studies of dragon anatomy have been aimed at weaknesses to kill Corypheus's dragon, your suggestion is refreshingly unconventional. But believe me, we haven't spared that one out of politeness up until now.
[He's a project leader, Tony, he knows you know who he is.]
Given that our studies of dragon anatomy have been aimed at weaknesses to kill Corypheus's dragon, your suggestion is refreshingly unconventional. But believe me, we haven't spared that one out of politeness up until now.
Huh. Thought I'd just solved all your problems there.
[ :)? ]
Is this the first time we've seen Spyro himself up close like this?
[ :)? ]
Is this the first time we've seen Spyro himself up close like this?
The first time recently. The last certain sighting from anyone in Riftwatch was Minrathous, three years ago. It was instrumental in the coup in Tevinter, but I haven't had any verifiable reports of its activity since then.
Well, we got a lot to work with.
We should survey attack patterns, take down witness accounts, get an idea on how this thing operates, tactically. I also wanna make a big machine that kills it, or at least ruins its day. What say you.
We should survey attack patterns, take down witness accounts, get an idea on how this thing operates, tactically. I also wanna make a big machine that kills it, or at least ruins its day. What say you.
A giant dragon-killing machine certain would have practical applications.
I can get lend you the notes Sashamiri has compiled, thus far, if it would be helpful. We've been mainly trying to work out how Corypheus managed to corrupt a high dragon, now that we're reasonably certain it is not, in fact, an archdemon. But there's a variety of older observations that could use updating.
And we do have some dragon remains for study, at present. We've staked out a study area on the Wounded Coast as, for obvious reasons, hauling an entire dragon corpse into the Gallows was impractical.
I can get lend you the notes Sashamiri has compiled, thus far, if it would be helpful. We've been mainly trying to work out how Corypheus managed to corrupt a high dragon, now that we're reasonably certain it is not, in fact, an archdemon. But there's a variety of older observations that could use updating.
And we do have some dragon remains for study, at present. We've staked out a study area on the Wounded Coast as, for obvious reasons, hauling an entire dragon corpse into the Gallows was impractical.
[ It's during some period of separation, of Marcus from the other two, that he signals Julius' crystal. Nothing dramatic—travelling out with Silver to see about tensions between refugees and an overwhelmed village a little ways north.
Finding some quiet chance to talk— ]
Are you busy?
[ The sun is still up, so chances are. ]
Finding some quiet chance to talk— ]
Are you busy?
[ The sun is still up, so chances are. ]
[He answers right away, his voice warm and bit wry.]
Nothing I shouldn't have taken a break from an hour ago. How are things with you?
Nothing I shouldn't have taken a break from an hour ago. How are things with you?
We're becoming familiar with even more crossroads inns throughout the Marches. There won't be one for another day's worth of travel, so we're retiring early.
[ And business is such that they were able to secure some private rooms to themselves, is what Marcus could elaborate on, but he didn't only call on Julius for small talk. ]
I had a thought to share with you. About Petrana, and those objects she received from her origin world.
[ And business is such that they were able to secure some private rooms to themselves, is what Marcus could elaborate on, but he didn't only call on Julius for small talk. ]
I had a thought to share with you. About Petrana, and those objects she received from her origin world.
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