[closed]

[katabasis]

WHO: Tony, Byerly, Yseult, Flint
WHAT: Worlds best bosses discuss their 5 year 6 month plan.
WHEN: Now-ish
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: N/A, will add if necessary

[There had been a traffic jam on the Kirkwall docks. Something about a barge waiting to load a herd of goats and float them out to a mercantile ship waiting for resupply taking up most of the usual small craft moorage. And how it was meant to have been a temporary stay but had unexpectedly extended dramatically when the goats—possibly sensing futures of cramped, short lives at sea ending in stews and salt barrels—staged a jail break en route from stock yard pen to expectant barge. Cue shouting goat herds and sailors and a cursing representative of the harbormaster, and the color commentary of a growing string of ferries and rowboats and little fishing vessels jostling for dock space. All of which is to say—

Flint had been late, and saying so by crystal may have saved the others the trouble of sitting around a table without him but it's given the fire in the meeting room's hearth plenty of time to burn. So the room is warm. The coffee set out has gone cold. He'd shed his coat within the first minute of arriving and now sits close to the room's bank of windows in hopes that some of the damp cold air flowing through the one that's been cracked open will do away with the prickle of sweat on the back of his neck incurred from power walking up a half dozen flights of stairs.

The stack of papers—reports and notes and various bits of division minutiae—near his hand can hardly be the only set on the table. They've also a great map spread between them all pockmarked with heavy wooden markers, and a long stick to hand for shoving them around with. But the papers (or the subjects covered in them) are the pressing business. He turns one over, saying,]

Given the organization and speed with which the enemy left Ghislain, I doubt there will be much left to pick over. That said, while I've asked our liaison with the Inquisition to keep us abreast of the situation, it would be prudent to send a few of our own people to assist in recovery efforts. I'd rather we have our own eyes there should anything of note be unearthed from the rubble.

[He glances up then, casting a look about the room.]

With the front line so altered and with the change in our own ranks [Hi Tony] now might be a good time to evaluate the trajectory of our efforts.

Comments

[hassaran]

[ In contrast to Flint's rudeness and Stark's flippance, Yseult fixes Byerly with a steadier gaze, heavy as a hand on the shoulder. ]

Good reason to proceed with discretion and caution, and to take measures to prevent such an end. But not to forego the opportunity altogether.

If one exists. [ She sits back, tone shifting. ] We've no proof yet any of this will work.

[katabasis]

Regardless, it has direction. And falls conveniently in line with a half dozen of our other priorities.

[Leaning forward, Flint fetches the pot of coffee. He fills one cup and then hefts the pot in Byerly's direction, hovering like a question mark over the possibility of pouring a second.]

Unless the Ambassador has some secrets of his own counter to all this that he'd like to divulge.

[bouchonne]

[ By meets Yseult's gaze as she speaks. When she's done - rather to his own surprise - he offers a nod. A I'll trust you kind of nod.

Of course, he's all dry irony again when he addresses Flint. ]

I don't keep secrets. You know that.

[ But, yes, he'll take that cup of coffee. ]

[propulsion]

So.

[ Tony would call himself a great watcher of people. An observant scholar of human behaviour, a keen insight, keener eye. None of this is true and fortunately it doesn't have to be to watch the subtle interplay between his new colleagues and at minimum be entertained.

Maybe encouraged, slightly. Hey, everyone, it's chill, they're functional up here after all. ]

I'm a huge fan of plans that don't involve picking up the pieces after an occupation and tripping over a death-temple that may or not be too late to do anything about.

If we're taking votes.

[hassaran]

[ There is a glance that Yseult slides toward Flint, as he is collecting the pot of coffee, something assessing, if only briefly. Her own mug is not empty, which she demonstrates by lifting it to take a sip as her attention skims away around the table. ]

Determining where the enemy believes the next gate to be is a priority, as is learning all we can of their operations once access to Minrathous and Hossberg is secured. I assume Research will bend its efforts to locating others before they do.

[katabasis]

[Setting Byerly's cup before him—]

Valeriantus may have connections in Tevinter who could help gather that intelligence, assuming we can find some way of making ourselves useful to them.

[He pauses, pot in hand, and for Tony's sake explains,] A Tevene reformist, [before tipping the pot toward Yseult's cup. As long as he's fucking at it—]

[bouchonne]

[ Easily and confidently: ]

Everyone has something they want.

[ And the Diplomacy division can figure out what that is and how to get it to them, by the Maker. Just a matter at getting at those contacts. ]

[hassaran]

[ Yseult politely declines Flint's offer with a lift of fingers. ]

Yes, contact will be reestablished once the eluvian is in place. And similar efforts will be made in Hossberg. To return to the subject of privateering, greater resources would significantly improve our ability to assist these groups.

[katabasis]

[Which officially liberates him from having to play server to the whole room. Plunk, goes the pot as it's set back down. If Tony wants a top up, he'll have to see to it himself.]

I seem to recall that the last time we had this conversation, there were some qualms about how and alongside whom we might approach the work.

[hassaran]

[ To Flint: ] I seem to recall they were mostly yours.

[propulsion]

[ Tony only makes a slight production out of getting his own coffee, using the stick implement that ordinarily moves pieces around on a map to instead hook the handle and very carefully draw it nearer to himself without needing to sit up in his chair. ]

Better than a bake sale, [ is his comment. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly turns his attention to Tony as he offers this aside: ]

Flint has many opinions about boats. He used to be a pirate, did you know that? And now he's our pirate.

[katabasis]

[For a split second it's as if Byerly's remark might pass unobserved. Flint is visibly already loosing an answer to Yseult when it hooks at his ear and wrenches at his trajectory. The look he gives Byerly drops the temperature of the room by several degrees.

He pivots roughly back to Yseult.]

I proposed cutting a deal with the Viscount because we all know it isn't as simple as your husband and I going out to raid shipping tomorrow. If you'd have us parlay with the likes of Llomerryn and hungry merchant captains rather than court the legal channels, then by all means. There is a public house in Kirkwall whose patrons Mister Silver could tonight recruit for crewing with the promise of Antivan silks and casks of wine.

—Pardon me. Tevinter silks and Tevinter casks of wine.

I think we all know the direction this room would prefer. In which case, I can say only that my hands are currently tied by matters beyond my division's work.

[hassaran]

[ Yseult, in turn, looks to Byerly, with a degree of expectation that suggests this whole speech has been directed at him all along, and nevermind the mention of her husband or that she brought it up in the first place. Clearly, this is a Diplomacy matter. ]

[bouchonne]

[ And Byerly, in turn, clears his throat pointedly. ]

Dear Captain, if you have a request for me, why are you asking it of the Scoutmaster?

[katabasis]

I'm not requesting anything, [is dry.] I'm merely pointing out the limitations of my reach as the man whose responsibility is to bludgeon.

[With a sip of coffee, Flint settles all the way back into his chair.]

[bouchonne]

Eye contact.

[ By points at his limpid, doe-like eyes, then points at Flint's haggard squinty ones. ]

It's ever so important, my good man, ever so important, when you're talking to a person. Unless you struggle to look upon my radiant beauty, which is understandable.

[ Anyway - ] I still have my reservations about the plan. Any degree of incaution could cause a major backfire. A proper foofaraw. That said, there are a few personnel developments that have made me slightly less skeptical of the team's ability to keep it all under wraps. [ Namely: By's started liking Silver a lot more since the last time this was proposed. ]

[hassaran]

[ Sadly unable to read minds, Yseult squints slightly, as if scrolling through a mental roster. ] Personnel developments?

[bouchonne]

A few of those lovely occasions when you discover people actually aren't idiots.

[propulsion]

[ Tony puts up his hand. ]

[bouchonne]

[ With a gracious nod: ]

Yes; do you have a question?

[propulsion]

[ The hand stays in place. ]

I'm just voting yes on secret pirate fundraiser. Unless you guys wanna pass that potato around a lil' longer.

[katabasis]

[Flint, sat all the way back in his chair—pauses with his cup halfway raised for another sip.

Well, says the quirk of his mouth. Okay then.]

[hassaran]

[ Well. ] It is highly unlikely to be both effective and secret. Which I believe is the point the Commander has been dithering around. We will need to settle on a diplomatic approach.