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

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. ]

[sulahnan]

Oh, I have been asked, [ she nods, and smiles crookedly. A little sheepish. ] And whenever I've answered, I've been told that I'm overthinking things.

So rather than answer again, what do you think can be accomplished with this?

[hornswoggle]

[ Never say never, Byerly.

But to the question at hand— ]

On it's own? I believe the impact on you will be greater than any impact it will have on any potential audience.

[ It's not hard to divine which elf the stories will feature. And John has the unique insight of what it is to be made into a story that far outstrips you. ]

I don't think you're wrong in the idea that it would sway elves' opinions of Riftwatch. Maybe enough so that our work goes a little easier the next time we find ourselves in an alienage. But I think a written missive without someone to put voice to it only goes so far.

[bouchonne]

Partially because of illiteracy.

[ He gives a wry little shrug. He's not here to be helpful. ]

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa looks at Byerly. Thanks for that sterling contribution, By. Then back to John. ]

Someone to read them, maybe? Criers?

[ Purposefully moving beyond the comment about impacting her, because that doesn't matter, she thinks about how else to put voice to written word.

Half jokingly: ] Songs?

[hornswoggle]

[ A tip to Byerly, because yes, that's a consideration. And yes, John could assemble people capable of carrying these stories from place to place. He and Ket had done as much months ago, and if it came to that John could find those musicians and singers again.

But the dodged question sticks. ]

Maybe, though I assume we might have to put some coin aside to offset any potential bail necessities.

[ Byerly's decision there, not John's. ]

Do you want to be a song, Athessa?

[ Since she dodged the more delicate approach, he might as well be straightforward about that misgiving. ]

[bouchonne]

The name does have a good structure. Athessa. That's, what, an amphibrach? Quite singable.

[sulahnan]

Not particularly, no.

[ What the fuck is an amphibrach? ]

But it's not about what I want. It's about what'd be most effective. What'd send a message, ya know?

[hornswoggle]

[ There is a pause in which John looks directly at Byerly, trying to discern his reaction. It's a bit of a fool's errand; Byerly is difficult to read, and John doesn't know enough of him to guess either way at his feelings. ]

I think it matters very much what you want, considering you're the one who'll have to live with it.

[ John's personal experiences notwithstanding, of course. ]

There's ways to send a message while still obscuring your identity. I think between the three of us we're up to managing the task.

[bouchonne]

But if the identity is obscured, then one risks being nothing more than a folk hero. [ Byerly says that mildly enough. ] Though not worthless, of course. There's always a Bastien out there willing to take up arms for the Black Fox. But rather more people were inspired by Andraste.

[sulahnan]

[ It's a succinct way to put it, she thinks, but Athessa has to suppress a cringe. ]

I don't have anything against changing the name, but I don't want it to be fully anonymous. It has to be clear that it was written by an elf.

[hornswoggle]

[ A flicker of amusement at the comparison. Were Athessa not in the room he might has asked: Are we emulating that example? Being made into a holy idol didn't safeguard her. ]

You'll know how to communicate that. Just as our dear Ambassador would know how to speak to his fellow Fereldans as one of their own.

[ She is an elf, after all. The only thing John can offer her is something he once wished for himself, though there's no changing what Billy made of him. ]

We can afford you [ protection ] privacy, while coming to the same effect.

[bouchonne]

[ A noise of assent. ]

And we can include a very sexy illustration. Don't you think? [ To Silver. ] I'm imagining an elven woman, armor just a little scanty - cut low - looking heroic and determined, but with a hint of vulnerability...

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa's wry suggestion, spoken to the hearth: ] And buxom, too.

[ Nobody would mistake a full chested woman for Athessa. A real Lina Inverse problem. ]