please bore someone else with your questions | closed

[hassaran]

[ The war room is almost cozy on a winter evening, the hearth blazing, the firelight flickering off the great ironwood table. Yseult occupies one of the heavy wooden armchairs, but treats it like the softer upholstered version in her office, legs drawn up onto the seat as she picks up the list she has been scratching down. ]

People to put in her path. So far we have agreed on Seeker Tiffany, Bastien, Jude, and Julius. People to remove from the Gallows for the duration if possible and at minimum keep out of her path: Edgard, the Averesch brothers, Gwenaëlle, Matthias, Marcus, Astarion.

[ She looks up, pencil held at the ready between her knuckles. ] We will need more. Madame de Foncé could easily fill several hours?

Comments

[katabasis]

[Flint's hand coming to rest on the mantelpiece suggests—

+1 for the peanut gallery.]

[tender]

[ A beat of quiet, her fingers tapping her mouth. Letting Yseult's point settle. Considering her own. ]

Then there's no reason she should find more than one here. And not one templar alone, without another person to partner them.

[ If it were someone other than Yseult holding the list, Derrica might have reached for it to study the names on it once more. ]

If we are certain of Barrow, he remains here while we send the others out of the Gallows.

[bouchonne]

[ Murmuring: ]

Our Templars are no worse than any others of our miscreants.

[hassaran]

[ She doesn't so much as flick a glance Byerly's way. ]

How would you propose we do that?

[propulsion]

Spa day?

[ There are no bad ideas. ]

[tender]

[ A similar disregard for commentary from the peanut gallery; Derrica doesn't dignify either man's input with a reaction. ]

We send people from the Gallows on assignments almost daily. Give them an order. Send them away. There is more than enough work to go around.

[hassaran]

And when someone asks us why they have all been suddenly ordered out of the city on the eve of the Revered Mother's visit?

[tender]

They're not the only ones.

[ The names populating that side of the list are at least varied. ]

Our work doesn't stop because of this woman's arrival. We'll be describing it in enough detail to make that obvious to her.

[katabasis]

[Without a commiserating sidelong look to either Tony or Byerly—their remarks may have been summarily dismissed, but he's clearly made different—Flint says,]

Keen already writes to his superiors, [is one of the few notable scraps Rowntree's round of interrogations had produced.] If he hasn't said anything worth bringing the Order down on our heads already, I doubt keeping him engaged with instead of here in the Gallows will make any difference.

[More broadly—] Orlov could do.

[propulsion]

Sure. Whoever loves the taste of boot leather, but you know, not too much.

[ —maybe does have a point, rather than only being a line, as Tony breaks the grasp behind his head to gesture. ]

That list is for the hooligans who can't help themselves. And honestly, I'd rather she waste some time having nice little church chats with the choir boys who don't know anything interesting anyway than going through our mail.

[tender]

The list is for people who can hurt us, Provost. Whether they mean to or not.

[ A correction, on the way to— ]

Vanya could do. [ Maybe. A minor acquiescence. ] But I don’t see a reason to give the others an opportunity to direct her investigations. We all agree there is plenty we would rather she not find.

[ So noted, as to Redvers Keen. That is not a surprise, only further reason to deny him the opportunity of offering a guided tour. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly flicks a glance over at Tony, widening his eyes slightly - an ironic sort of gesture of yeah Provost come on. ]

If Keen writes to his superiors, then isn’t he going to write to let them know that we kept him away from the Mother? He’s not a fool. He’ll notice.

[hassaran]

And telling [ she glances here at the list, a gesture of hand as if ticking off names as she goes, ] the Averesch brothers, Gwenaëlle, and Astarion that we think it best not to unleash their open contempt for the Chantry on its representative, or Edgard, Marcus, and Matthias that for their own safety they ought not be interviewed, is different than telling these men that we have singled them out of the company for distrust.

[ She sits back slightly, hand further from the page, a sweep of eyes around the table before back again to Derrica. ]

As Flint said, they've had ample opportunity to betray us if they wished. As has everyone here. This is a chance to see loyalties demonstrated.

[katabasis]

[A considering flex of eyebrows leads to an incline of the head in Yseult's direction and a look tracking to meet Derrica. Something expectant in it: They have a point. So what is she going to do with it it?]

slaps comment into the correct place

[tender]

[ Is it not distrust at the root of those names too? A lack of trust that any of those people could hold their tongue in the company of this woman?

This point is considered quietly and set aside in favor of— ]

Mrs. Fitcher had plenty of opportunities as well. And she waited patiently until she found one that suited her.

[ Her focus returns back to Yseult fully, Byerly unacknowledged bur for the passing link of his point to Yseult’s. ]

In that time she was able to destroy one family that we know of, [ and who knows what else has yet to be discovered? ] And entrap one of our members. She was only discovered because Enchanter Julius did not die on the road as expected.

We didn’t see her until she saw an opportunity that suited her. That these two men haven’t chosen to betray us yet isn’t evidence that they won’t now. There are other ways to test loyalty that won’t have such far reaching consequences for us.

[hassaran]

[ Yseult isn't taking this lightly, and she's rarely one for snappy replies. She listens, permits a moment for Derrica's opinion to settle, and then points out ]

Mrs. Fitcher did not present herself as a Templar, or a Chantry sister. Those with open ties may be less risk. And alienating them may serve only to create disloyalty.

[bouchonne]

[ In Byerly's impartial and reasonable opinion, Derrica is being quite obnoxious - but time is short. Every moment they spend is a moment closer to the Mother's arrival. Especially since By wouldn't be at all shocked if she "surprisingly" showed up ahead of schedule. ]

Why don't we tell him he's to be a chaperon to our miscreants. Ensure no harm befalls them while they're all together, keep them from meeting with the Mother.

[hassaran]

Assign Templars to chaperone mages?

[bouchonne]

[ A guileless why, yes, I hear that's what they're good at gets swallowed in favor of a less provocative: ]

Tell him that's what he's doing. Like how I have Whiskey fetch her her ball to make her feel like she's doing something important. Give a dog a job and he'll stay out of trouble.

[tender]

[ The briefest flick of eyes towards him, absorbing the proposition before her attention returns to Yseult. ]

Knight-Lieutenant Mobius did not present himself as a templar. His associations were identified by chance.

[ A sticking point. Derrica has not forgotten this.

And, beyond that— ]

What do you propose we do when the templars you charge with chaperoning exercise their perceived authority?

[ The idea disgusts her. She is very, very careful to keep that from her face, maintain an even tone and chilly poise while posing the question. ]

[propulsion]

[ Somewhere in this, the discussion lost Tony, a flick of a pivoted look to Byerly from his slouch.

Slight impatience emerging as he says, ]

I also think lying to our own people is stupid, here, but,

[ he tips his feathered quill at Derrica ]

what she said.

[bouchonne]

[ Mildly and pleasantly: ]

Then we keep him in the bloody Gallows. Enough dithering.

[katabasis]

[Nevermind what Flint's various microexpressions have been doing during this and what blankly exasperated looks he may or may not have sent reflexively in Byerly's direction. He has cut a relatively (uncharacteristically) neutral figure standing there still lent against his hand on the fireplace mantel, content to let this play out in front of him for some measure until some intercession seems

(convenient to him, personally)

productive.]

I can't send half of Forces, myself and my assistant included, running off into the countryside on busy work while Tevinter sits a stone's throw away in Starkhaven preparing to move in Andraste only knows what direction. [Has a casual, steering quality about it. His hand doesn't leave the mantel.]

Which means we will need somewhere outside of Riftwatch's purview to post up, regardless of who we may or may not send out of Kirkwall on legitimate business. Keen can act as my courier to keep his feet moving. Lend me Mobius, [Tony.] I could use his help with a red lyrium matter if Julius is going to be stuck here playing nursemaid.

[Ta da, says some idle flick of the hand at his side.]

[propulsion]

[ Tony maintains a flatly unimpressed stare down with (or at) Byerly throughout Flint's contribution, corner of his mouth turned up. Big 'sibling across the dinner table, would bicker or make a jerk off motion if not for our special guest star' energy.

Snaps from it easy when he senses a question lodged his way. ]

Sure, but if you poach him forever you owe me a librarian.

[bouchonne]

[ An equally unimpressed stare at Tony in return - until something delightful occurs to him - somewhere outside of Riftwatch's purview - and he breaks off to give a short laugh. ]

We should send them off to Madame de Fonce's nightmare of a house.