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Hello, bon-papa; I've hired a groom of sorts for your horse and mine, I will need money to pay her weekly. I offered twice the Inquisition's rate; I think that fair, and if she isn't worth it, I'll give her back to the Inquisition and they can waste their money on her instead.
Thank you!
( - the sound of a blown kiss.
so there are some things she doesn't balk at demanding of him, like. money. )
Thank you!
( - the sound of a blown kiss.
so there are some things she doesn't balk at demanding of him, like. money. )
Given how fond you are of your horse, I trust you will be thorough in making sure she is earning her keep.
[He heard that 'of sorts,' Gwen.]
Shall I pay the woman directly, or do you have reason to prefer the money come from your hand?
[He heard that 'of sorts,' Gwen.]
Shall I pay the woman directly, or do you have reason to prefer the money come from your hand?
Ah.
[So much in such a little sound.]
As you like, then. At twice the Inquisition's rate, you should be getting twice the value, you know.
[So much in such a little sound.]
As you like, then. At twice the Inquisition's rate, you should be getting twice the value, you know.
Madame, it is a pleasure to hear from you. I am not especially impatient to retrieve them, but if you have finished, I will take them at your convenience.
I do not mind hosting you, if you wish, though I apologize in advance for the amount of foot traffic at present.
I do not mind hosting you, if you wish, though I apologize in advance for the amount of foot traffic at present.
Family matters, principally, though the Inquisition has been busy enough in the interim to pique a man's curiosity.
[In other words, he's not only nosy where his family is concerned, he's just more likely to get involved then.]
My country's domestic matters have settled to a low simmer, for the moment. It suggests the Inquisition has more pressing concerns, and I'd as soon hear about them before being blindsided. Despite what some of my countrymen believe, there is life outside Orlais' borders.
[In other words, he's not only nosy where his family is concerned, he's just more likely to get involved then.]
My country's domestic matters have settled to a low simmer, for the moment. It suggests the Inquisition has more pressing concerns, and I'd as soon hear about them before being blindsided. Despite what some of my countrymen believe, there is life outside Orlais' borders.
Edited 2018-04-28 21:20 (UTC)
The overall threat the Inquisition professes to focus on is, indeed, a concern.
[It's not that he doubts Corypheus is a problem; any skepticism rests clearly on the Inquisition's ability to prioritize its goals properly.]
But I sense you do not need reminding of the gravity of the situation; you'll forgive an old man the tiresome habit of observing the obvious.
[It's not that he doubts Corypheus is a problem; any skepticism rests clearly on the Inquisition's ability to prioritize its goals properly.]
But I sense you do not need reminding of the gravity of the situation; you'll forgive an old man the tiresome habit of observing the obvious.
I would never dare. [He's clearly smiling. At least a little.] I will send you a more formal invitation shortly, but trust I equally look forward to your company.
( give the girl credit: she goes to do this in person, smartly outfitted in her grandfather's own de coucy colours, an unsubtle signal of affectionate deference that definitely means she wants something. she's demurey polite about behaving as a guest in a house she was briefly mistress of, but expects on the strength of his fondness to be shown into his study to interrupt him rather than being obliged to wait-
so she greets him by leaning over his shoulder at his desk. )
Hello, bon-papa.
so she greets him by leaning over his shoulder at his desk. )
Hello, bon-papa.
[It's a liberty, but it's hers to take. He doesn't miss the way she's framed herself -- deference, family -- but he's more inclined to be proud than put off. (Four children and three grandchildren, and it's the one he's not even related to who seems to have his knack for manipulation.)]
Good day, ma chérie. To what do I owe the pleasure?
[She wants something, but he'll let her frame it as she likes.]
Good day, ma chérie. To what do I owe the pleasure?
[She wants something, but he'll let her frame it as she likes.]
( gwenaëlle presses a quick kiss to his cheek before circling around to swing up and sit on the edge of the desk, dangling her feet like a girl half her age— )
You know how everyone always wanted me to have a proper political marriage.
( that had been annegret's own favourite drum to bang; marry her, and marry her well. )
You know how everyone always wanted me to have a proper political marriage.
( that had been annegret's own favourite drum to bang; marry her, and marry her well. )
...I do.
[He also knows enough about her current situation to have immediate concerns about where this might be going.]
I had a variety of letters on the subject throughout your childhood, but I expect their content is not exactly pertinent to what you're getting at as such.
[He also knows enough about her current situation to have immediate concerns about where this might be going.]
I had a variety of letters on the subject throughout your childhood, but I expect their content is not exactly pertinent to what you're getting at as such.
( it isn't going anywhere he's going to like, and she knows it, but she's giving it her most game effort all the same. )
Thranduil is going to convert to the Chant and marry me. Publicly. Quite publicly. A push for rifters, you know. 'They're just like us, they have Thedosian families and values', blah, blah, blah.
( she sounds about as enthused about that as he might imagine, but all the same, here she is. )
And...it would be great... ( :)??? ) ...if we could use the house. And if you could...help.
Thranduil is going to convert to the Chant and marry me. Publicly. Quite publicly. A push for rifters, you know. 'They're just like us, they have Thedosian families and values', blah, blah, blah.
( she sounds about as enthused about that as he might imagine, but all the same, here she is. )
And...it would be great... ( :)??? ) ...if we could use the house. And if you could...help.
Edited (new icons) 2018-10-13 23:45 (UTC)
...have you even found a mother who'll agree to perform the ceremony?
[Presumably she's thought of that; he's not asking because he thinks it hasn't occurred to her. But he's also familiar with her tendency to will the world into shape, and he's met Thranduil.]
[Presumably she's thought of that; he's not asking because he thinks it hasn't occurred to her. But he's also familiar with her tendency to will the world into shape, and he's met Thranduil.]
[He is not entirely sure whether Annegret would have been delighted or horrified. Perhaps a mixture. He's not entirely sure how he feels about it, in truth, but it seems unlikely to be stopped and he sees no quicker way to risk losing her than to oppose it. So:]
Since it's to be here in Kirkwall, I assume it will be largely an Inquisition event in practice, if not in name. But how much of the guest list is still in flux?
[The air of the opening of a negotiation.]
Since it's to be here in Kirkwall, I assume it will be largely an Inquisition event in practice, if not in name. But how much of the guest list is still in flux?
[The air of the opening of a negotiation.]
In practise.
( an agreement; she considers him as if weighing his mood, which is always challenging. it isn't as if his face tends to do anything differently, and she knows she's an open book to people less observant than he is. )
Most of the guest list will go through diplomacy, I imagine. I have a few requests—I'm not going anywhere or doing anything without Lady Morrigan—but it's all being hammered out by people more interested in that sort of thing than I am.
( an agreement; she considers him as if weighing his mood, which is always challenging. it isn't as if his face tends to do anything differently, and she knows she's an open book to people less observant than he is. )
Most of the guest list will go through diplomacy, I imagine. I have a few requests—I'm not going anywhere or doing anything without Lady Morrigan—but it's all being hammered out by people more interested in that sort of thing than I am.
If I'm to host, I will want some input into the attendees. I don't intend to be a tyrant, but I expect it to be understood.
[He considers her, in turn, evaluating.]
Would you like Thomas and Raoul to attend? It might be complicated, with the war, but I expect it could be arranged. I'd like them here for it, but not against your wishes.
[It's not really a clue as to his emotions, but it is an indication of how he intends to play this hand. He'll commit to it, in a way he seldom does, deliberately placing a marker on the board. Until now, his support of her could be written off to an old man's affection, an indulgence. It likely has been, by some. This would not be that, especially not with his legitimate grandsons present as guests.]
[He considers her, in turn, evaluating.]
Would you like Thomas and Raoul to attend? It might be complicated, with the war, but I expect it could be arranged. I'd like them here for it, but not against your wishes.
[It's not really a clue as to his emotions, but it is an indication of how he intends to play this hand. He'll commit to it, in a way he seldom does, deliberately placing a marker on the board. Until now, his support of her could be written off to an old man's affection, an indulgence. It likely has been, by some. This would not be that, especially not with his legitimate grandsons present as guests.]
Of course, ( is what she says to the matter of input into attendees; all things considered, she'd expect no less. possibly, she'd have expected to have to bargain him down from 'tyrant'. the other—
she should be less surprised, by now, when her grandfather takes her part. or maybe not: that is a particular stance to take, and he is better known for his opacity than his affection...if there's a part of her that wonders if thomas or raoul will be so thrilled about being in attendance, if it might be against their wishes, in this one thing she's content to hide behind the shield of a still-living duke, and consider her cousins' possible bitterness a tomorrow problem. )
I'd like them to be here, if they can be.
( how uncommonly diplomatically put; it isn't hard to tell she might mean if they're willing. )
she should be less surprised, by now, when her grandfather takes her part. or maybe not: that is a particular stance to take, and he is better known for his opacity than his affection...if there's a part of her that wonders if thomas or raoul will be so thrilled about being in attendance, if it might be against their wishes, in this one thing she's content to hide behind the shield of a still-living duke, and consider her cousins' possible bitterness a tomorrow problem. )
I'd like them to be here, if they can be.
( how uncommonly diplomatically put; it isn't hard to tell she might mean if they're willing. )
Edited 2018-10-27 08:25 (UTC)
I think they should, unless travel becomes impossible. It would be appropriate.
[Apparently because he says so.]
Thomas has been at me for months to venture farther than the estate, and while I suspect he means playing at soldier, he's not wrong that he needs a wider view of the world. This will give him one, in a variety of ways.
[He considers her, then adds:]
If you like, I will give you the rest of my guest list first, when I draw it up. There will be a variety of reasons, but I don't want anyone who you so dislike that you would have to waste energy hiding your distaste even if they were in a crowd. We can discuss it before I start pressing my point with the Diplomacy division.
[Romain does know his granddaughter.]
Other than the venue, what do you need?
[Apparently because he says so.]
Thomas has been at me for months to venture farther than the estate, and while I suspect he means playing at soldier, he's not wrong that he needs a wider view of the world. This will give him one, in a variety of ways.
[He considers her, then adds:]
If you like, I will give you the rest of my guest list first, when I draw it up. There will be a variety of reasons, but I don't want anyone who you so dislike that you would have to waste energy hiding your distaste even if they were in a crowd. We can discuss it before I start pressing my point with the Diplomacy division.
[Romain does know his granddaughter.]
Other than the venue, what do you need?
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