A Matter of Reputation

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa, Byerly, Mhavos, Silver
WHAT: Talking about Propaganda!
WHEN: Early Harvestmere
WHERE: Diplomacy Office
NOTES: Content warnings, OOC notes, links to other relevant posts, etc.

Mhavos made the appointment, so who knows what Byerly is expecting from this meeting. Athessa actually sits normally in her chair, though whatever energy that usually bids her to sit improperly manifests in her leg bouncing up and down.

It's one thing to pay Byerly a visit, and another entirely to be talking to him in his professional capacity as Lord Ambassador.

Comments

[murderbaby]

Mhavos sits in the chair next to Athessa, calm and still. If there's a benefit to being an elf, it's that no one ever expects anything of you. He's got his own concerns, internally-- it's been a long time, and he doesn't recall how much contact he had with Byerly Rutyer, or what the other man remembers of him-- but it's well hidden behind a veneer of calm impassivity. If he looks like anything, it's bored.

To Athessa, he gives nothing but a significant look, before breathing in, holding it, and breathing out. Remember to breathe.

[bouchonne]

Byerly, for his part, seems perfectly cheerful and unflappable, in his usual obnoxious way.

"What may I get you fine fellows to drink?" he asks. "Wine? Tea? I've a bit of coffee, though I think you both need to prove that this visit is important before I dole out from that stash." A wink implies he's joking, even though he's not joking.

[sulahnan]

"Nothing for me, thanks," Athessa says, losing the battle to keep sitting like a normal person. She shifts to tuck one leg under her and lean against the arm of her chair.

"We're really just here to get your opinion on an idea, nothing too critical."

[murderbaby]

Mhavos nods, as if to agree with Athessa: let's keep this quick, no drinks, thank you. And then, well, to business. He said he'd be here to back her up, didn't he?

"Athessa will be, with my help, penning an anonymized account of her life, meant to be a motivational tool to the elves of Val Royeaux. While Riftwatch will be anonymized and obscured as well, are there any particular... depictions that would not sit well with the head of Diplomacy?"

[bouchonne]

He lifts an eyebrow. Well, this is interesting.

"I suppose it depends on what would be included." He looks over to Athessa. "What motivated this?"

[sulahnan]

"It's not— I mean it's gonna be stories, not my whole life, but—"

That much is a soft protest to the exact phrasing Mhavos used, but also kind of highlights why Mhavos is going to be helping her, too. Such a way with words she has.

Put on the spot by Byerly's attention, Athessa lets out a breath.

"I told Mhavos about how I got my scar, when we bumped into each other in Ghislain, and he said it was inspiring, like the books and poems about heroes. Except... well there really aren't all that many of those kinds of stories about elves, if any."

[murderbaby]

Mhavos nods, crossing his legs in front of the cushy chair he's in. His feet barely touch the floor. "Our intention is for it to be as political as it is inspirational."

[bouchonne]

"I see," By says, trying not to mention that he tends to find things that are overtly political to be rather...well. Off-putting. Athessa also seems like an odd choice for inspiration, given that she's generally pretty unassuming, but, well...That's what an author is for, he supposes.

"Well, I won't know if you're writing something objectionable till you've written it. Give me the drafts, and I'll take the censor's quill to it."

[sulahnan]

"How about some things to avoid outright?"

The idea of a human taking a censor's quill to elven works sends up a little warning, though Athessa would be inclined to trust Byerly more than she might do someone else.

She looks at Mhavos for his take, trying to see through his unflappable demeanor with minimal (if any) success. How does he feel about the Censorship Quill?

[murderbaby]

Mhavos keeps himself focused, shrugging slightly. "That sounds like rather more work for you."

He doesn't like the idea of someone having complete editorial power over anything, for various idealistic reasons he has no current interest in discussing. On the matter of Elven stories in the hands of humans, that's pure nonsense. It will just turn into an human story, for humans.

Saying that aloud is also nonsense, unfortunately. Appealing to other arguments is, in Mhavos' opinion, generally best.

"Surely you can think of ways you wouldn't want Riftwatch to be portrayed."

[bouchonne]

All right, that seems rather suspicious. His brows draw together.

"Certainly," he says, his voice mild. "I don't want Riftwatch to be portrayed as a secret cabal of squid-creatures stuffed inside of human-, elf-, dwarf- and qunari-shaped suits. There are a multitude of ways this could go sideways; are you requesting that I anticipate them all?"

[sulahnan]

Her face betrays her thought of I'd read that story before she shakes her head and starts to shift to sit sideways in the chair. Realizes. Sits normal (+ bouncy leg) again.

"Obviously we're not gonna do that. The idea is for it to be close enough to the truth that people will know its real, but different enough that we have deniability, and written so we aren't just giving away information, right?" She's not asking for confirmation, why did she make that a question?

[murderbaby]

Mhavos defers to Athessa on this one, who's more less said what Mhavos would have. He nods, encouragingly.

INT. DIPLOMACY OFFICE - NIGHT (silver + byerly)

[sulahnan]

[ Well, here they are. There's a fire, there's mead, a mustachioed spy, a one-legged pirate, and an elf with her right arm in a sling. It's very unlike a business meeting, which means it'll hopefully fare better than Athessa's prior attempt at being professional. ]

Gentlemen, [ She says, pivoting from her position in front of the fire to address the men directly. She swirls the mead in her glass and paces a few steps parallel to the fire while she talks. ] I suppose you're wondering why I called you here this evening.

[ She did no such thing. Byerly set up the meeting, and it's his office, anyway. Athessa's just here to get opinions on her and Mhavos' project.

And she brought the mead. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly, appreciating the ridiculously stupid drama of it, holds a finger to his lips. ]

And remember, Mr Silver. Not a word of this in public.

[hornswoggle]

[ The high drama doesn't give John the impression this is something he should be taking very seriously. But he's game to play along, for the moment. ]

I hope I'm up to the task of keeping what I can only assume is a delicate secret.

[sulahnan]

The Lord Ambassador has already been given a brief taste of the topic at hand, but he suggested we bring you into the fold, for reasons which will become quite clear shortly.

[ Pivot, pace, swirl. ]

An associate of mine, who shall remain nameless, will be assisting me with authoring a number of short stories to be distributed in Val Royeaux. Stories which can serve to anonymously improve public opinion of Riftwatch and potentially land us some allies with access to noble knicker-drawers.

[ She paces back to center and leans against the mantel. Flinches when she leans against the wrong shoulder, then coolly switches sides. The very picture of nonchalance. ]

[bouchonne]

Stories focusing on the swashbuckling deeds of a heroic elf.

[ He makes a show of sounding aggrieved: ]

This has the added effect of also helping to inspire the elven populace. We're social reformers, Maker help us.

[hornswoggle]

Heavily fabricated, I'd assume.

[ By necessity, certainly. John can think off hand of ten different instances that would elicit a strong response, but not a guaranteed positive response. ]

It strikes me that those are two slightly different purposes, inspiring and recruiting.

[sulahnan]

Not at all. If the stories are written about an elf acting heroically in the name of an organization, renamed but recognizable enough to anyone with sense, it would send the message that not only are they, as elves, capable of great things, but that Riftwatch can help them achieve it.

[ She shrugs one shoulder. ]

And they'll be based on real events, not fabricated.

[bouchonne]

As it turns out, we have heroic elves among us.

[ He lifts his brows, a who knew? sort of gesture. ]

Would you like to help with these tales, Mr. Silver?

[hornswoggle]

I have a question or two to ask first, if you'll entertain me.

[ Marking the shrug, the raised brow. It seems a very light approach to the use of a girl's life as bait.

His eyes move from Byerly back to Athessa, studying her expression. ]

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa's expression is mostly neutral, with a hint of the silly theatrics from a moment ago and a clocked brow that says this is my listening face. She nods at Silver, gesturing. ]

Of course.

[hornswoggle]

Forgive me, if you've been asked already, [ a nod to Byerly, whose instincts John has some vague familiarity with but not enough to gauge what questions he might have put to Athessa. ] but what effect are you intending to draw out? To improve our standing among elves? To incite them to revolution?

[bouchonne]

[ The corner of By's mouth lifts in amusement over the supposition that he'd bless a project that would incite revolution. Up in Tevinter, maybe, but elsewhere...? Still, Athessa can answer for herself. ]