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contact part deux
if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message
Mm.
[ He pauses a moment, then draws in a breath. ]
I've known evil people. Plenty of them. You might be one - our acquaintance hasn't lasted long enough that I would claim to know you thoroughly - but I don't believe that you are. So, take that for what it's worth.
[ He pauses a moment, then draws in a breath. ]
I've known evil people. Plenty of them. You might be one - our acquaintance hasn't lasted long enough that I would claim to know you thoroughly - but I don't believe that you are. So, take that for what it's worth.
Oh.
[ Byerly sits down beside her at once. And he gathers her into his arms. There's nothing controlled or cautious or nervous about the way he does so; it's an embrace from the heart, ferocious and strong.
He smells of cigarette smoke, and there are inkblots on his fingers; he looks almost respectable. Like a careworn clerk in a solicitor's office. Where she looks much like her old self, he looks far from himself indeed. ]
My love. Oh, my poor Alexandrie. How bad is it?
[ Byerly sits down beside her at once. And he gathers her into his arms. There's nothing controlled or cautious or nervous about the way he does so; it's an embrace from the heart, ferocious and strong.
He smells of cigarette smoke, and there are inkblots on his fingers; he looks almost respectable. Like a careworn clerk in a solicitor's office. Where she looks much like her old self, he looks far from himself indeed. ]
My love. Oh, my poor Alexandrie. How bad is it?
[ It occurs to him to wonder suddenly if the issue isn't that she's worried about her safety, but rather that she wants to know how she would be talked about. ]
Well. I have already described you in the past, as I've already sent reports. I could read my notes, if you would like.
Well. I have already described you in the past, as I've already sent reports. I could read my notes, if you would like.
[ Is this a terrible idea? - Maybe. Well. ]
Of course. Give me a moment.
[ There's the sound of rustling - and some odder sounds alongside the rustling, of mechanical clicking and wooden scraping. One's mind might go into thinking of false bottoms being removed, traps being disarmed. Then a flutter of pages, and he speaks again - ]
Wysteria Poppell. This was submitted when I first arrived at Riftwatch, hence the use of your maiden name. Recently arrived. Of tender years and a kindly disposition. Shows no evidence of abilities that might be of political significance.
[ He pauses just a moment, then decides to move ahead: ]
Then, a later addendum, after you had shown me a recent project you were working on. Wysteria Poppell has shown an aptitude for the development of weaponry enhanced by magic. Her alignment remains firmly against Corypheus. Nevertheless, there is a reckless enthusiasm that may well warrant caution. Her ambition is considerable enough that it, combined with her talents, may prove dangerous or destabilizing.
Of course. Give me a moment.
[ There's the sound of rustling - and some odder sounds alongside the rustling, of mechanical clicking and wooden scraping. One's mind might go into thinking of false bottoms being removed, traps being disarmed. Then a flutter of pages, and he speaks again - ]
Wysteria Poppell. This was submitted when I first arrived at Riftwatch, hence the use of your maiden name. Recently arrived. Of tender years and a kindly disposition. Shows no evidence of abilities that might be of political significance.
[ He pauses just a moment, then decides to move ahead: ]
Then, a later addendum, after you had shown me a recent project you were working on. Wysteria Poppell has shown an aptitude for the development of weaponry enhanced by magic. Her alignment remains firmly against Corypheus. Nevertheless, there is a reckless enthusiasm that may well warrant caution. Her ambition is considerable enough that it, combined with her talents, may prove dangerous or destabilizing.
[Throughout this recitation, pauses included, Wysteria is very quiet. For someone so prone to little noises of acknowledgement and interjection, this may be a particularly ominous sign for what is soon to follow particularly as Byerly reaches the very end of this addendum.
Indeed, when he's finished, she is quite quick with her reply—]
Well yes, all right. I knew all of that already. Really, Mister Rutyer you ought to be thankful no one has ever intercepted your communications. You would be identified immediately. You should consider a most complicated cipher if you haven't one already. I've been reading all about them and would be pleased to show you—well, no, I haven't the time now. But I highly recommend Bartlebrown's Dictionary of Codes, Sign Languages, and the Various Secret Keeping Arts, Etc.
[Honestly.]
What would you write them next? If I'd no input. You must tell me truthfully. This is not an invitation to tell me what you believe I wish to hear.
Indeed, when he's finished, she is quite quick with her reply—]
Well yes, all right. I knew all of that already. Really, Mister Rutyer you ought to be thankful no one has ever intercepted your communications. You would be identified immediately. You should consider a most complicated cipher if you haven't one already. I've been reading all about them and would be pleased to show you—well, no, I haven't the time now. But I highly recommend Bartlebrown's Dictionary of Codes, Sign Languages, and the Various Secret Keeping Arts, Etc.
[Honestly.]
What would you write them next? If I'd no input. You must tell me truthfully. This is not an invitation to tell me what you believe I wish to hear.
[ With Enchanter Black departed from their company, Riftwatch presently lacks a Seneschal—and a Quartermaster and a Trademaster, as ever. So, both as the Ambassador's diligent underling and as someone who has a particular interest in Byerly Rutyer not being crushed to death beneath mountains of paperwork, Bastien has volunteered for bookkeeping.
That's what he's doing in Byerly's office this evening, while Byerly does Ambassador Things. Bastien's sitting on the floor, surrounded by contracts and receipts and droopy hound dog, writing numbers into a book, occasionally counting on his fingers. Checking Black's work for misappropriation, maybe. Just a little. But mostly working ahead, contentedly quiet between smatterings of conversation about this or that interesting tidbit. (The Gallows as a whole are very quiet today. Probably something to do with so many mages and rifters being gone.)
The end of the work—his, anyway—is in sight when he says, ]
You should come stay with me more often while Alexandrie is gone, if you want to.
[ Before The Soup, he would have asked more tentatively at best, or at worst said nothing and hoped. ]
I promise I’ll only be a little sulky about returning to normal when she's back. Only, [ a pause to consider a fair offer, ] five minutes of sulking for every week I had to grow accustomed to more of you.
In a cute way. You know—
[ He turns his head to provide a preview of the puppy-eyed pout that this sulking would entail. ]
That's what he's doing in Byerly's office this evening, while Byerly does Ambassador Things. Bastien's sitting on the floor, surrounded by contracts and receipts and droopy hound dog, writing numbers into a book, occasionally counting on his fingers. Checking Black's work for misappropriation, maybe. Just a little. But mostly working ahead, contentedly quiet between smatterings of conversation about this or that interesting tidbit. (The Gallows as a whole are very quiet today. Probably something to do with so many mages and rifters being gone.)
The end of the work—his, anyway—is in sight when he says, ]
You should come stay with me more often while Alexandrie is gone, if you want to.
[ Before The Soup, he would have asked more tentatively at best, or at worst said nothing and hoped. ]
I promise I’ll only be a little sulky about returning to normal when she's back. Only, [ a pause to consider a fair offer, ] five minutes of sulking for every week I had to grow accustomed to more of you.
In a cute way. You know—
[ He turns his head to provide a preview of the puppy-eyed pout that this sulking would entail. ]
[ Well, that -
Certainly could have been worse. Perhaps Byerly is simply too accustomed to Wysteria assuming his bad intent, so that this little entente - and with it, a belief in his better intentions - is still confusing to him. ]
Madame -
[ He cannot help but protest. ]
If a cipher has been written down, it is already quite thoroughly useless.
[ Honestly!! Anyway - more to the point - ]
And what I would write them next is an addendum that I now know that you have a magical talent, unspecified. That is all.
Certainly could have been worse. Perhaps Byerly is simply too accustomed to Wysteria assuming his bad intent, so that this little entente - and with it, a belief in his better intentions - is still confusing to him. ]
Madame -
[ He cannot help but protest. ]
If a cipher has been written down, it is already quite thoroughly useless.
[ Honestly!! Anyway - more to the point - ]
And what I would write them next is an addendum that I now know that you have a magical talent, unspecified. That is all.
[ Byerly's head comes up. When he meets Bastien's sad, sulky look, he presses his hand to his heart - o grief, o sympathy - but there's a little smile on his lips even through it. Bastien - his Bastien - asking for something emotionally dangerous is something he treasures. ]
You know that you don't have to say all that. If you want to and I promise. That request was only good for - hmm - three marshmallows, by my estimation.
[ Then, before Bastien can take that light reprimand as an evasive refusal - ]
I think that's a grand idea.
You know that you don't have to say all that. If you want to and I promise. That request was only good for - hmm - three marshmallows, by my estimation.
[ Then, before Bastien can take that light reprimand as an evasive refusal - ]
I think that's a grand idea.
[ The pout melts promptly away once it’s served its purpose as an illustration, replaced with a pleased smile before he’s looking back at his rows of numbers. ]
Come sleep with me whenever you can, [ he proposes as an alternative, tone swinging so hard into bossy that it crosses into villainy, ] or I’ll fill your mattress with pebbles and break all of your windows.
Come sleep with me whenever you can, [ he proposes as an alternative, tone swinging so hard into bossy that it crosses into villainy, ] or I’ll fill your mattress with pebbles and break all of your windows.
No, no -
[ Whiskey has raised her head, looking blearily over at Bastien, clearly wondering about this odd voice he's putting on. A moment later, she lays her head back down with a heavy, world-weary sigh. ]
You've gone too far in the other direction. Moderation, my love, find moderation -
[ Whiskey has raised her head, looking blearily over at Bastien, clearly wondering about this odd voice he's putting on. A moment later, she lays her head back down with a heavy, world-weary sigh. ]
You've gone too far in the other direction. Moderation, my love, find moderation -
[ Bastien lays a fond hand on Whiskey’s head, thumb rubbing the soft space between her eyes, and nods with solemn concentration. ]
Moderation.
[ Take three: earnest sincerity. ]
I’d love it if you came to stay with me more while Alexandrie is away. As often as you like. You’re always welcome.
Moderation.
[ Take three: earnest sincerity. ]
I’d love it if you came to stay with me more while Alexandrie is away. As often as you like. You’re always welcome.
I don’t think that will happen.
[ Not now. Maybe someday. Maybe there will be a time when the weather or illness or circumstances mean they don’t leave home or one another’s hair for days on end, the novelty will be gone, and it won’t feel like there’s an hourglass running and only so much time to cherish it. And then, ]
If it does, I’ll tell you.
[ So that’s settled. Delightfully so. While he’s finishing off the book-balancing, he hums a few bars of something merry.
Once he’s finished, set the book aside, and laid down on the floor to look Whiskey in the face while he rearranges her wrinkles, he stays quiet for a few minutes. The less of a distraction he is, the sooner By can stop. But a little distraction helps the paperwork go down, surely, so when he hears the shuffle of papers that means Byerly is moving from one task to another, rather than concentrating fiercely on anything— ]
When we get word they’re coming back from Cumberland, do you think we could convince everyone else to hide? Make it look like we’ve been all been taken?
[ Not now. Maybe someday. Maybe there will be a time when the weather or illness or circumstances mean they don’t leave home or one another’s hair for days on end, the novelty will be gone, and it won’t feel like there’s an hourglass running and only so much time to cherish it. And then, ]
If it does, I’ll tell you.
[ So that’s settled. Delightfully so. While he’s finishing off the book-balancing, he hums a few bars of something merry.
Once he’s finished, set the book aside, and laid down on the floor to look Whiskey in the face while he rearranges her wrinkles, he stays quiet for a few minutes. The less of a distraction he is, the sooner By can stop. But a little distraction helps the paperwork go down, surely, so when he hears the shuffle of papers that means Byerly is moving from one task to another, rather than concentrating fiercely on anything— ]
When we get word they’re coming back from Cumberland, do you think we could convince everyone else to hide? Make it look like we’ve been all been taken?
What if we just disappear?
[ It's a joke. It's not the first time Byerly has made it. He says this sort of thing often - let's get out of here. He thinks, sometimes, he makes the joke so often in the hopes that Bastien will take him seriously, and insist that they do. ]
They're not due back any time particularly soon. We'd have a few days' lead on them.
[ It's a joke. It's not the first time Byerly has made it. He says this sort of thing often - let's get out of here. He thinks, sometimes, he makes the joke so often in the hopes that Bastien will take him seriously, and insist that they do. ]
They're not due back any time particularly soon. We'd have a few days' lead on them.
We could find a deserted little island. You could keep me fed on oysters.
[ A joke, obviously; neither of them could stand the monotony and quiet loneliness of an island, together or not. But the joke is not giddy in its silliness. It’s a little melancholy. He has to propose something ridiculous, because if he proposes something realistic—we could go to Denerim now, you could use everything you know now to make sure Ferelden stays standing, we could stay Riftwatch’s contacts abroad, we could be more useful out there, we could—
They might do it.
He gives Whiskey a kiss on the nose, to tail-thumping acknowledgment, before pressing himself up off the floor to wander closer to By’s desk. ]
I could make you clothes out of palm fronds.
[ A joke, obviously; neither of them could stand the monotony and quiet loneliness of an island, together or not. But the joke is not giddy in its silliness. It’s a little melancholy. He has to propose something ridiculous, because if he proposes something realistic—we could go to Denerim now, you could use everything you know now to make sure Ferelden stays standing, we could stay Riftwatch’s contacts abroad, we could be more useful out there, we could—
They might do it.
He gives Whiskey a kiss on the nose, to tail-thumping acknowledgment, before pressing himself up off the floor to wander closer to By’s desk. ]
I could make you clothes out of palm fronds.
And shoes out of coconuts.
[ His smile turns wry. He knows why that absurd vision is so absurd. He understands it. ]
Our feet will grow into the shells and become spherical. We'll totter around on round little feet and we'll have trouble staying upright.
[ His smile turns wry. He knows why that absurd vision is so absurd. He understands it. ]
Our feet will grow into the shells and become spherical. We'll totter around on round little feet and we'll have trouble staying upright.
We'll have to stay on all fours, [ is a sex joke, made more obvious by his tone as he sidles in close enough behind By's chair to lean down and nibble the shell of his ear— ] tragic.
[ A kiss to the temple, while he's in the area, but then he straightens up and settles his hands on By's shoulders, thumbs rubbing into the base of his neck. ]
I know you have to be where you can do the most good. If ever that's not here, I'll go with you anywhere. And if ever it's here but not at this desk, I'll be just as proud. But while it is,
[ is prompting, left unfinished. What can they do? ]
[ A kiss to the temple, while he's in the area, but then he straightens up and settles his hands on By's shoulders, thumbs rubbing into the base of his neck. ]
I know you have to be where you can do the most good. If ever that's not here, I'll go with you anywhere. And if ever it's here but not at this desk, I'll be just as proud. But while it is,
[ is prompting, left unfinished. What can they do? ]
Edited (words) 2022-08-06 17:39 (UTC)
[ Bastien hums, weighing the promise of nearly done against the right-now of By's exposed neck and how easy it would be to get hands into his shirt from this angle.
Nearly done wins. He's a patient man. But remaining patient will be easier out of touching distance, so he skips sitting cheekily on By's lap or on his desk. He drags his feet, in a show of cheerfully hyperbolic reluctance, on his way to sit in one of the chairs across from him instead, and cups his hands behind his ears to make them stick out. ]
Je t'écoute.
Nearly done wins. He's a patient man. But remaining patient will be easier out of touching distance, so he skips sitting cheekily on By's lap or on his desk. He drags his feet, in a show of cheerfully hyperbolic reluctance, on his way to sit in one of the chairs across from him instead, and cups his hands behind his ears to make them stick out. ]
Je t'écoute.
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