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[overharrowed]

Incoming messages and correspondence for Enchanter Julius.

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[overharrowed]

He considers, then says: "I think it may be against the law to sing this song without either of us drinking any alcohol. Certainly nontraditional."

[sulahnan]

Hm.

"I'm a Dalish elf without tattoos who has spent more time living among humans than other elves, and I'm being tutored in remedial education by two likely very impressive mages in a world temporarily without Circles," She punctuates her matter-of-fact list of conditions with another shrug. "I think singing a tavern song in a library would be one of the least egregious deviations from tradition."

She definitely picked up a few of those words from the books he's assigned.

[overharrowed]

It's probably more that he's pleased at her progress than that her argument is particularly forceful, but he raises his hands in surrender. "As you like. Granted, it's much more fun in a drunken crowd, but..."

He clears his throat and launches in. He's not a trained singer, but far from tone-deaf, and his high baritone would certainly do for joining in a group. At first, he's mildly self-conscious, but his evident nostalgia for the song carries him through at least the first verse and chorus -- perhaps further, though that will depend on her reaction.

[sulahnan]

Her reaction is subdued at first, mild appreciation and triumph that he caved, but as he goes on her smile widens into a grin, and she provides some accompaniment via tapping her foot in rhythm and — for the second or third chorus — sings along with the lines she can pick up quickest. She has a natural ear for harmonies and only what training she can recall from her clan, but even that would barely qualify as "training" in society.

At the song's close, she applauds Julius happily and laughs. "That was great! I gotta say, I dunno why anybody would be against Andraste having a dog, but —" Shrug. There's plenty about society she doesn't understand.

[overharrowed]

Now that it's done, he's in good humor, not sheepish in the least. "I think the general objection is that it's undignified," he says, "but frankly it makes as much as many of the more commonly accepted stories. Mabari are military assets, with the added bonus of loyalty that can't be bought."

Someone wasn't allowed to have a dog as a child.

"But, to your original point. It's fun to think she did, whether or not it's actually true. The history isn't the point."

[sulahnan]

"So the point is just to make a fun song?"

[overharrowed]

"Sure, maybe at first," he says, sitting back. "If it weren't fun, probably not as many people would remember it and teach it to other people. But I don't think it's only that in this particular case. There's some patriotism mixed in; some Fereldans like the reminder that she's from the same place they are. I think it's really popular, though, because it reminds people that Andraste was human. Scratching her dog's ears, feet that got cold, the whole thing. Depending on the person's feelings about the Chantry, it could be aspirational, or it could take the holiness down a peg. Something for everyone, that way."

[sulahnan]

"Hmm..."

Maybe not for me, she thinks. There's not much about Andraste that Athessa finds relatable.

"Most of my clan's songs were how to find your way, whether back to where you'd planted something, back home, or to worship at Sulahn'An. And about our history, but I don't think they did much embellishing on that front."

[overharrowed]

"I suppose if song was the main way you passed that history down, you might be less inclined to muddy the waters," he suggests. "I assume you had some songs for fun, though? Perhaps not about historical figures."

[sulahnan]

"Sure," she nods, "we had songs for everything. Sulahnan means land of song, after all. Working songs, playing songs, educational songs, a lot of sad songs for obvious reasons, lullabies..."

And of them, how many can she remember?

[overharrowed]

"My musical repertoire is, I'm afraid, rather limited, though I've always been fond of music. My education was light on songs, heavy on books. Probably self-evidently." Either because he volunteered to teach her or, more likely, he's aware of the vibe he gives off.

[sulahnan]

"Only a little."

Athessa smiles at him and then tips her chair back again, looking up at the ceiling as she thinks. There was a song she knew once, how did it go? She starts to tap her fingers, letting the rhythm remind her.

The song she sings is upbeat, a steady rolling beat the likes of which would be best suited for dancing to, and the words a little ironic for anyone who can understand Elven. It being the kind of song meant to be sung on a loop or in a queue with others, it doesn't take long to get through.

"Song for song, an even trade."

[overharrowed]

Julius listens appreciatively and nods when she finishes. "I liked it. I only have a phrase or two of Elven -- what's it about?"

[sulahnan]

"Funny enough it's about rabbits," she says with amusement coloring her tone. It's never great to be called one, but clearly there's some in-jokes about the slur. "Dancing in a barley field. The oldest writes his will and falls into the rushes, the youngest broke his legs, one of them falls asleep in a sorrel field and freezes to death...cheery stuff."

[overharrowed]

"Perfect dancing fare," he says with a brief smile. "Though I suppose I don't have any room to talk, Ferelden songs have a lot of maidens drowning themselves because their lover deserted them, or their lover died in a Blight, or someone's father didn't approve and they both drown themselves."

[sulahnan]

Athessa's smile is less brief, but warm. She looks back over towards the shelves, thinking for a moment, then stands to peruse the shelves.

"I don't think I should be, at this point, but I'm always kinda surprised to hear the similarities between Dalish songs and ones from Ferelden or Orlais, or wherever."

[overharrowed]

"No ... I know what you mean. I'd never left Ferelden until a few years ago, and I remember being surprised that people weren't more different. I'd read about the Free Marches, Antiva, but most of it was about things unique to those places. But beneath it... I think people are people. The differences matter, sometimes, but they aren't everything." A rueful smile. "At least, that's my opinion. For whatever it's worth."

[sulahnan]

"I think you're right," she agrees, trailing her fingers along the spines of the books she's considering. Waiting for a title to jump out at her.

"I think focusing on the differences just makes everyone think they have nothing in common, when really we should be looking at what makes us the same. I bet we'd have fewer stories about shit like the Dalish luring travelers into the woods to eat them."

[overharrowed]

"That does seem likely. Probably fewer about just how much Fereldans love thier dogs, too." The delivery of that is gloriously deadpan.

[sulahnan]

"But then how would we know how great dogs are?" Similarly deadpan, at least in tone. It's easy to see even in profile that there's a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

[overharrowed]

"That is a trap I am not going to fall for," he says. "Though I confess, a fraction of the people writing romance novels could write novels about heroic dogs instead."

[sulahnan]

She hmms in amused agreement. "Yeah I'd much rather read about dogs in love than...Virtue Rewarded." That one, pulled directly from the shelf just to read the title, make a face, and slip it back into place.

"Benedict and I paged through some of the racy ones that someone'd stashed in the back, but they were awful."

[overharrowed]

"That's a shame," he says. Then, thoughtfully: "Did you ever meet Knight Enchanter Amsel, while she was here? There's a series you might have come across ... what was it, Knight's ... Honor? Knight's Code, that was it. Oh, they might be in Orlesian, though. I didn't actually look, because it seemed rude while she was still here, and I didn't think of it again until just now. But evidently someone used her as the pattern for their series' romantic hero."

[sulahnan]

Her answer to whether or not she met Knight Enchanter Amsel is a slight shrug and a shake of her head. Athessa either hasn't had the pleasure, or has forgotten. She's never been the best at remembering names.

"If they're not in Orlesian, I think I should like to read them," Or at least try. She pulls out another book, looks at it, and puts it back. "Though I expect sooner or later learning Orlesian might prove useful. Are there more lady heroes in Orlesian books, do you think?"

[overharrowed]

"You know, I've no idea. I'd be interested if anyone has looked into it. There's probably some poor Orlesian trying to interest the University in a monograph on the subject as we speak," he adds, lightly. "Comparative literature and the Orlesian mind, or something similar. My Orlesian is decent for reading, though my accent is quite bad, I've been reliably informed. If you eventually want to add a second language for lessons."