[closed] the heart of the matter

[heirring]

WHO: Bastien, Ellis, Wysteria
WHAT: Seriously investigating a Merchant-Prince's allegiances.
WHEN: Drakonis
WHERE: Antiva
NOTES: OOC Info

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STUDY BUDDIES

[heirring]

This would all be much nicer were the weather a little better. Imagine this outing as if it were to occur a few months from now when the sun is out, with the tarpaulin covered stripped from the wagon, and the three of them having a grand old time in the fresh spring breeze as they make their way cross-country through Antiva. As it is, the road is nearly knee deep with mud, the two sturdy ox before the wagon are quite miserable in their dopey way, and not even the best cloak can be fully relied on against the General Damp which seeps through the seams of the wagon cover and sheets in under the shelter from across gap leading up to the driver's seat.

Wysteria, sitting in bed of the wagon, has squirmed far enough down into the straw padding surrounding the crates of books that she is little more than a torso swaddled in a bright red, carefully embroidered winter cape. Her nose is quite red and she is pointedly aware of how much she's sniffling as she flips to the next page of her notes.

"Name the three protagonists from the esteemed works of Madamoiselle Baiser; bonus points will be awarded if you can also name the two significant traits they all share." She adds, helpfully: "You are down by five points, Mr. Ellis. Best attempt to recapture the lead while you still can."

[heorte]

His armor might have afforded some protection from the elements but it's stowed away carefully beneath his bed. Resigned to being miserably cold and soaked to the bone, Ellis' prayers are directed at any deity that would see fit to prevent the cart from sticking in the mud.

As Wysteria speaks, he glances back to squint into the cart before he clicks his tongue encouragingly as the oxen haul the cart around the bend in the road.

"You and I both know I'm not going to overtake Bastien," Ellis points out. A man should certainly know when he's been bested. But still, to forestall any further wheedling on Wysteria's part, he fumbles for some correct-sounding names. "Blaise Brugière, Angélique Moitessier, and Sigolène Laurens."

Are these names of characters, or are they authors? Ellis can't quite remember. He shoots a quick look at Bastien, but finding no assistance—

"Stubbornness. And a quick wit."

Maybe. As it turns out, aimless reading has given him a lot of cursory knowledge but doesn't stand up to concentrated questioning.