Inbox - Fade Rift

[nonvenomous]

Book/crystal/correspondence/action/whatever you desire.

Comments

[nonvenomous]

[ Another pause, inscrutable through the crystal as its light fades. It's easy to forget how readily Loxley will accept a lie. ]

We'll have a better understanding of the nature of our existence here.

[charmoffensive]

And philosophically?

[nonvenomous]

Do you have specific concerns?

[charmoffensive]

That the natives of this plane will welcome any excuse to fuck us over in the long run, mainly, but I don't think there's much else to do for that. Maybe you can just tell everyone that turns out we're very normal and corporeal.

[nonvenomous]

[ He could lie again. But frankly, what's the use? ]

Regardless of what I or any of us say, there will come a time when this war is won or lost and any Rifters remaining will be forced to hide themselves or die fighting.

[charmoffensive]

[ There's a beat, the active swallowing of another flippant remark. ]

I don't know if we're so friendless as that.

[nonvenomous]

This world is unkind to its mages.

[charmoffensive]

—you know, I was about to say that I'll tell them you're with me, but I believe my modest bag of tricks is considered mage-worthy still.

You're not wrong, of course. Only that I don't think we'll be fighting and hiding alone, if we live to see the end of the war.

[nonvenomous]

Derrica is an outlier. Most of them will be more pragmatic in their analysis of our long-term worth as allies.

[ He pauses. ]

What I mean to say is that there is no finding that will render us more desirable in the eyes of the Chantry. Or less desirable to the Venatori.

[charmoffensive]

Well,

[ and no denial that Loxley was literally just talking about Derrica, and how could she be an outlier, everyone must love her, ]

then I suppose my only legitimate concern remaining is for your well being.

[nonvenomous]

The contingent caterwauling about our work has more to worry over than they know, should they decide to intercede.

[ The crook of a smile in his voice is only a little sinister. ]

I have Thot to look out for me at night.

crystal;

[unshut]

You can ride a horse, can't you?

Or a mule. Something with more or less four legs that walks on the ground. I suppose the breeding isn't important.

[nonvenomous]

Re: crystal;

[nonvenomous]

Yes, I know how to ride a horse.

[unshut]

Good. Because I'd rather not go about this work by griffon, never mind what Yseult would prefer.

[Besides, a whole slew of them flew off yesterday night. Not that she's meant to know that.]

How do you feel about surveying enemy supply lines?

[nonvenomous]

Griffons are conspicuous. [ More importantly, they're large enough to eat a man, never mind dropping one thousands of feet to his death. ]

But I suppose it depends on the location of the line.

[ How muddy is it? ]

[unshut]

It doesn't, actually. As I'd be too mortified to look at the ground if we were to fly over.

[Heights. Blechk.]

But we'd be working our way along the coast. Noting the passage of smugglers. Run-ins with Tevinter soldiers. Cold nights. Charmingly dilapidated seaside flop houses.

[nonvenomous]

[ There is a necessary pause for him to weigh this against his current work, his plans for further fiddling. But his sense of duty is only briefly consulted.

This is simple arithmetic, after three years. ]

Alright.

[ And back to his note-taking, barely a break in the line. ]

When would we depart?

[unshut]

I'd thought to spend the night in Kirkwall and then be off first thing in the morning. There's a production of The Hatter of Val Foret that I'd like to see before going.

Would that suit, or have you baby nugs to wean?

https://i.imgflip.com/2l448b.gif

[nonvenomous]

I could bring them along.

[ This is a threat. ]

Should I pack armor?

[unshut]

I like nugs.

[This is a dare.]

And I don't think it'd hurt. Better safe than.

[nonvenomous]

Mm.

[ Does she?? ]

I’ll make arrangements for them.

[unshut]

[They're bald and wrinkled. What's not to like?]

Very good. I'll see to securing the horses and equipment. Bring a spare shirt or two. I suspect we may get at least as far as Ostwick and they have excellent gambling parlors.

[nonvenomous]

[ ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ]

There's a bay roan mare I prefer if she's available.

[ Surely he deserves a coastal vacation adventure with Mrs. Fitcher. As a treat. He is already thinking about shirts. ]

Her name is Captain.

I promise to bump us to prose when I time skip this

[unshut]

Aye, aye.

[Yes, a coastal vacation cleverly disguised as work. This has nothing to do with casually flitting out of the immediate reach of the Gallows should the quiet rumor—which she'd been passed by one of the laundry girls and then confirmed for herself by delicately rifling through some less than public papers—that a rescue party has been raised to pursue two missing members of Riftwatch.

Marcus and Julius aren't her concern. It's the fact that they haven't simply disappeared, mysteriously never to be seen or heard from again which is. That means something has gone wrong, and it would be best to arrange for a thumb's breadth of distance in her favor until it's clear what it is and that it means to fly over her head.

Likely it will. This is hardly the first time she's sniffed something rotten on the air and made herself scarce. No, they will have a grand time meandering off to Ostwick. They will make a little money there, or maybe lose a little which is sometimes more pleasant.]

I'll save you a slice of standing room at the theater should you finish your work early. The shit one in Lowtown. Not the one with the good boxes. Otherwise, the stables tomorrow first thing.