Richard Dickerson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nonvenomous) wrote2034-10-19 09:51 am
nonvenomous) wrote2034-10-19 09:51 am
Inbox - Fade Rift
Book/crystal/correspondence/action/whatever you desire.
Book/crystal/correspondence/action/whatever you desire.
Yes, naturally.
“When I attempted to communicate my suspicions about Brother Gideon to Rutyer he was reluctant to meet with me in my quarters.”
This is likely to make her unhappy, he suspects -- something a little sharper in the way eye contact narrows in aside.
“When I attempted to communicate my suspicions about Brother Gideon to Rutyer he was reluctant to meet with me in my quarters.”
This is likely to make her unhappy, he suspects -- something a little sharper in the way eye contact narrows in aside.
“He was concerned for his safety.”
Obviously. Crow’s feet etch in stark where the crook of half a smile might fit, could he be bothered to force it.
Obviously. Crow’s feet etch in stark where the crook of half a smile might fit, could he be bothered to force it.
[Wysteria de Foncé neé Poppell has surely faced down all manner of baffling behavior from her fellow members of Riftwatch in general, to say nothing of the specific things Richard Dickerson in particular has done. She has taken a great deal of bizarre behavior more or less on the chin.
But not wanting credit for one's work?! This is a step too far.]
But— Why?
But not wanting credit for one's work?! This is a step too far.]
But— Why?
Edited 2021-12-13 14:44 (UTC)
I have no desire to speak to most of these people privately, nevermind via public address.
But—I don't—[this and other blustering, until finally she formulates the correct words in the proper arrangement to say:] But you must be credited for it! And I might say so aloud and the paper may have your name on it, but you know how people are! They will only hear me and that is another issue with the proposal altogether, Mister Dickerson! Surely you are—
[Here, a lowering of her voice from shrill to deadly serious.]
You must be aware of my reputation in the Gallows as a figure of fun for mockery, Mister Dickerson. Were I to present these findings on my own, it's very likely to fall on deaf ears.
[Here, a lowering of her voice from shrill to deadly serious.]
You must be aware of my reputation in the Gallows as a figure of fun for mockery, Mister Dickerson. Were I to present these findings on my own, it's very likely to fall on deaf ears.
[ In room 3A, Wysteria’s voice blusters out of a crystal on a table alone beside a disparate scatter of personal effects. Mr. Dickerson watches it light up in time with the patter of her speech from the foot of his bed, cloaked in blankets. ]
Perhaps they’re overdue for a difficult lesson in respect.
[ Somehow there is a fracture in his saying so, a weakness in the structure of acknowledging it as a problem at all. Ugh. ]
Are you really concerned about this?
Perhaps they’re overdue for a difficult lesson in respect.
[ Somehow there is a fracture in his saying so, a weakness in the structure of acknowledging it as a problem at all. Ugh. ]
Are you really concerned about this?
[ The trailing glow of her italics has plenty of time to fade before he answers: ]
Alright.
Alright.
[The sharp breath that Wysteria takes suggests she has planned a long persuasive response to whatever it is that he says, and has been caught off guard by the simple agreement.]
—Good. Excellent. I'm quite pleased to hear it.
[Beat.]
Do you really dislike most of them so much?
—Good. Excellent. I'm quite pleased to hear it.
[Beat.]
Do you really dislike most of them so much?
Edited (Copy paste BETRAYING me) 2021-12-13 19:22 (UTC)
Fundamentally, [ he answers, dry from within his blankets. ]
Does their jeering really bother you?
Does their jeering really bother you?
Further, much as I may understand the impulse, in the specific circumstances we find ourselves in—meaning the war and that Riftwatch is itself made up of a rather strange mixed company of people who ought to know a thing or two about being poked and prodded and so on—, it seems to me incredibly reductive.
Do you know it took me at least six months to convince any native mage to discuss magic with me? That's absurd. I had to loiter around Enchanter Julius and Leander's heels before I could see any glyph work demonstrated. To say nothing of the agony involved with having simple questions of decorum answered—!
[Scoff. SCOFF! Somewhere, Wysteria probably has her hand on her hip and is only now realizing how strange it is to try the gesture with only one arm.]
I don't fault you in the slightest for disliking the whole prospect.
Do you know it took me at least six months to convince any native mage to discuss magic with me? That's absurd. I had to loiter around Enchanter Julius and Leander's heels before I could see any glyph work demonstrated. To say nothing of the agony involved with having simple questions of decorum answered—!
[Scoff. SCOFF! Somewhere, Wysteria probably has her hand on her hip and is only now realizing how strange it is to try the gesture with only one arm.]
I don't fault you in the slightest for disliking the whole prospect.
[ He’s quiet while he turns his own thoughts over, up now on his bony snake feet purely for the purpose of shuffling them closer to coals burning low in the hearth. There are things it’s unwise to say even in sympathetic company.
And Wysteria has had a difficult year besides. ]
You’ve proven we’re not shackled here the way they’ve previously had the convenience of believing that we are.
And Wysteria has had a difficult year besides. ]
You’ve proven we’re not shackled here the way they’ve previously had the convenience of believing that we are.
The first, amused flicker of a smile gives way to a more contemplative frown.
"I see."
There's some humor in it, but when set against the bigger picture, all the other instances in which Byerly Rutyer had expressed himself in regards to Rifters and mages—
"Does he know about you?"
Not the rift shard. The rest. The other things Richard is capable of that Derrica knows only parts and pieces of.
"I see."
There's some humor in it, but when set against the bigger picture, all the other instances in which Byerly Rutyer had expressed himself in regards to Rifters and mages—
"Does he know about you?"
Not the rift shard. The rest. The other things Richard is capable of that Derrica knows only parts and pieces of.
“I’m marked as a mage on the list of Rifters maintained by the Research Division.”
Isaac saw to that for him. Or perhaps the Provost. He’d like to think it wasn’t Wysteria. Regardless, distaste carves close along the bones of his face, hard in his nose through a glance down the blanket to his feet.
“Not that it was a secret closely kept.”
Isaac saw to that for him. Or perhaps the Provost. He’d like to think it wasn’t Wysteria. Regardless, distaste carves close along the bones of his face, hard in his nose through a glance down the blanket to his feet.
“Not that it was a secret closely kept.”
"I'm sorry."
And she is, as complicated a thing as it might be.
But the worse thing is surely what has been demonstrated: anyone, including someone like Byerly Rutyer, could skim that list and pluck out a private thing, just like that.
"And I'm sorry that he knows."
Derrica doesn't put her hand on his knee over the blankets. But she does bump her knuckles up against his calf as she rearranges position, adjusts how she is leaning her weight. It's a very small thing, easily ignored.
And she is, as complicated a thing as it might be.
But the worse thing is surely what has been demonstrated: anyone, including someone like Byerly Rutyer, could skim that list and pluck out a private thing, just like that.
"And I'm sorry that he knows."
Derrica doesn't put her hand on his knee over the blankets. But she does bump her knuckles up against his calf as she rearranges position, adjusts how she is leaning her weight. It's a very small thing, easily ignored.
“Why should you be, he leads a division.”
It only makes sense he should have some level of awareness. Dick’s eyeline shifts from the foot of his cot to the nudge of knuckles at his leg, and inevitably from there back to Derrica.
“The caliber of cowardice it suggests is frankly quite impressive, never mind the open insult to my service.”
He could go on like this, probably, but doesn’t, whatever else pent up and released in a short sigh.
“I’d initially considered Riftwatch a reprieve.”
It only makes sense he should have some level of awareness. Dick’s eyeline shifts from the foot of his cot to the nudge of knuckles at his leg, and inevitably from there back to Derrica.
“The caliber of cowardice it suggests is frankly quite impressive, never mind the open insult to my service.”
He could go on like this, probably, but doesn’t, whatever else pent up and released in a short sigh.
“I’d initially considered Riftwatch a reprieve.”
"He is a coward. It's what guides him in his dealings with us."
One of the few things to recommend Byerly Rutyer: his willingness to admit his own shortcomings in that arena.
Though admitting it doesn't shift the harm that cowardice causes. Derrica's gaze has also dropped to her fingers tucked against Richard's leg, and she shakes her head.
"Is it only the Ambassador, or is there something else that concerns you?"
One of the few things to recommend Byerly Rutyer: his willingness to admit his own shortcomings in that arena.
Though admitting it doesn't shift the harm that cowardice causes. Derrica's gaze has also dropped to her fingers tucked against Richard's leg, and she shakes her head.
"Is it only the Ambassador, or is there something else that concerns you?"
Yes, [ says Richard, after sufficient pause to consider the WHACK. Exactly. ]
How are you feeling?
How are you feeling?
Oh, much improved and pleased to be, [is like some dismissive gesture.]
But there is real use in the anchor, Mister Dickerson! It seems very ridiculous that shouldn't warrant some measure of respect given how vital they are to closing the rifts and so on. I suppose you might argue that anyone at all might catch one, and so Rifters are not so significant as all that, but that's clearly absurd.
—I suppose the Venatori will have beaten us to all of this scholarship, by the way. Even if you don't believe all the details of that dream, I suppose they must be doing something with all their Rifters.
How is your face?
But there is real use in the anchor, Mister Dickerson! It seems very ridiculous that shouldn't warrant some measure of respect given how vital they are to closing the rifts and so on. I suppose you might argue that anyone at all might catch one, and so Rifters are not so significant as all that, but that's clearly absurd.
—I suppose the Venatori will have beaten us to all of this scholarship, by the way. Even if you don't believe all the details of that dream, I suppose they must be doing something with all their Rifters.
How is your face?
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