thranduil oropherion (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rowancrowned) wrote2015-03-22 06:02 pm
rowancrowned) wrote2015-03-22 06:02 pm
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Thranduil makes a noise that could substitute for a polite interjection, an indication that he's listening, even as he disregards his original section and makes for another, finally pulling a book free, holding it spine down so that the papers tucked between the pages do not slip out.
"Were you familiar with the Rifter Cosima? She did a great deal of work with the microscope," said with utter confidence, "and wrote somewhat of the healing in her world. There would be a great deal for a scholar to pour over in her writings, possibly derive new techniques. Or," and Thranduil says this even as he offers Cosima's notes to Issac, "if you have grown tired of blood and viscera, we have drier work with translations and general research."
"Were you familiar with the Rifter Cosima? She did a great deal of work with the microscope," said with utter confidence, "and wrote somewhat of the healing in her world. There would be a great deal for a scholar to pour over in her writings, possibly derive new techniques. Or," and Thranduil says this even as he offers Cosima's notes to Issac, "if you have grown tired of blood and viscera, we have drier work with translations and general research."
It sounds impossibly boring.
Probably not for someone else, for anyone who gave a shit, but scholarship has been Isaac's historic obligation; not ambition. It occurs to him as he takes the pad(shuffles a second hand beneath, concealing the egg) that Stark, Sawbones might make something of it.
Probably already have. Scholars.
"Afraid I'm dim as a pigeon for language," He tips the book and his head in gratitude, leafs for an open page. "It's a miracle that I ever managed Trade. When you say microscope — ?"
What is that, precisely.
Probably not for someone else, for anyone who gave a shit, but scholarship has been Isaac's historic obligation; not ambition. It occurs to him as he takes the pad(shuffles a second hand beneath, concealing the egg) that Stark, Sawbones might make something of it.
Probably already have. Scholars.
"Afraid I'm dim as a pigeon for language," He tips the book and his head in gratitude, leafs for an open page. "It's a miracle that I ever managed Trade. When you say microscope — ?"
What is that, precisely.
Edited 2020-09-01 03:33 (UTC)
He brings a bottle with him this time, and if it isn't something Thranduil drinks then it is at least something seen over the course of Flint and Gwenaëlle's 'book club' meetings in which they attempt to stab one another with swords and so must be the sort of thing that she at least will.
Regardless: an olive branch.
"There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you."
Regardless: an olive branch.
"There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you."
He loves other people's wine, as long as it isn't Tevene.
Thranduil stands and goes to fetch the glasses, and gestures at the chair as he takes out the good crystal glasses that were very likely a wedding present. "Please, sit."
Both go down next to Flint, and then Thranduil brings his chair around beside. Equality.
Thranduil stands and goes to fetch the glasses, and gestures at the chair as he takes out the good crystal glasses that were very likely a wedding present. "Please, sit."
Both go down next to Flint, and then Thranduil brings his chair around beside. Equality.
Was his intention to crack open the bottle over conversation? Who can say. He certainly doesn't hesitate to work the cork free the moment he's seated and comfortable.
"Should I get straight to business, or would you prefer to enjoy the glass first?"
The wine is currant dark as it's poured.
"Should I get straight to business, or would you prefer to enjoy the glass first?"
The wine is currant dark as it's poured.
Edited 2020-09-04 06:35 (UTC)
"Is the news so bad as that?" he asks, taking the glass and raising it to him. Free to settled back into the chair, he does. "I cannot recall anything so disturbing as to ruin it occurring in the last day or so."
There is some small flicker in his face, but whatever it is is drunk away with Flint's first sip from the glass. Good. He'd prefer to be the first authority on this as opposed to some Lowtown dock gossip.
"I've received word that the Venatori have discovered a ruin on an island West of Seheron which they somehow intend to leverage in order to strengthen a rift there. I mean to take some measure of our forces and put an end to it, but thought to consult you for your expertise on the subject before we go tearing north."
"I've received word that the Venatori have discovered a ruin on an island West of Seheron which they somehow intend to leverage in order to strengthen a rift there. I mean to take some measure of our forces and put an end to it, but thought to consult you for your expertise on the subject before we go tearing north."
"Ah," Thranduil says, and does set the glass down, more than half full. The conversation has become more important than the wine. "The ruin is elven, I assume?"
He sounds almost hopeful.
He sounds almost hopeful.
Thranduil gestures, go on, but interrupts his own request with further questions.
"What knowledge of it do you already possess? What have the Venatori already done with it? Do you know what they seek?"
"What knowledge of it do you already possess? What have the Venatori already done with it? Do you know what they seek?"
"It's under ground," he says, ready enough with the details. "Evidently well hidden in a network of caves. Arcane scholars being somewhat rare animals in the area, my contact can't say what precisely the Venatori have done to the ruin but the aim seems to be widening a rift on the surface above it. Excepting the Temple of Mythal, do we know of any other elven sites the Venatori have tried to adapt?"
"The only one that comes to mind may have been ancient Tevene in origin, though filled with artifacts," Thranduil admits. "There was the Solasan temple, but the Venatori only sought access. The Inquisition managed to enter first."
It's been a rather blissful few months of not having the origin of the oculara pop up in his thoughts. At least this time, it is not with so many mage colleagues.
"I do not doubt these sites have objects which could be used for that purpose. You will be bringing several shardbearers, I assume?"
It's been a rather blissful few months of not having the origin of the oculara pop up in his thoughts. At least this time, it is not with so many mage colleagues.
"I do not doubt these sites have objects which could be used for that purpose. You will be bringing several shardbearers, I assume?"
And here he was, anticipating needing to somehow sell the prospect of this endeavor before they could broach such details.
"Ideally." He takes a drink, and then the glass is set aside. "Raising a force capable of oppose the Venatori presence on the island will be impossible; our best strategy would be to bring enough hands to deal with both the ruin and the rift concurrently before the enemy realizes we've made our landing."
"Ideally." He takes a drink, and then the glass is set aside. "Raising a force capable of oppose the Venatori presence on the island will be impossible; our best strategy would be to bring enough hands to deal with both the ruin and the rift concurrently before the enemy realizes we've made our landing."
For this, his price is very low. He might even venture to call it charity.
"I see," he says. He looks into the dark surface of the glass, but scrying was never in his particular set of talents. "What is your 'put an end to it'? Close the rift, yes, but deny the Venatori access to the ruin? Recover their research? We are an optimistic organization," by definition and gumption, "but you are a reasonable man. What do you expect the result will be? Why speak to me?"
"I see," he says. He looks into the dark surface of the glass, but scrying was never in his particular set of talents. "What is your 'put an end to it'? Close the rift, yes, but deny the Venatori access to the ruin? Recover their research? We are an optimistic organization," by definition and gumption, "but you are a reasonable man. What do you expect the result will be? Why speak to me?"
He could pick now to dig deeper into the temptation of those offered semantics - what he imagines the ideal handling of the ruin to be versus the most likely outcome. That he is perfectly willing to entertain suggestions should Thranduil have them. It's an appealing distraction. An opportunity to solidify a plan between the two of them before adding, 'Oh, just one more thing—'
But it will all come out in the end, and he would rather seem genuine. So instead:
"Because I suspect Yseult will have some objections to the idea when I propose it, and I would like to be able to rely on yours and Rutyer's support."
But it will all come out in the end, and he would rather seem genuine. So instead:
"Because I suspect Yseult will have some objections to the idea when I propose it, and I would like to be able to rely on yours and Rutyer's support."
"I see," Thranduil says. "And what do you think those objections will be?"
He considers what he wants in return, a guarantee of his support on some other matter, a favor outside of their roles as Division Head. All this favor-trading, this politicking is not so terribly unusual, and yet, for Flint, who his wife is so fond of, who has taught her a great deal...
He considers what he wants in return, a guarantee of his support on some other matter, a favor outside of their roles as Division Head. All this favor-trading, this politicking is not so terribly unusual, and yet, for Flint, who his wife is so fond of, who has taught her a great deal...
"That it would appear I'm hauling half of Riftwatch's Forces away to pursue some personal vendetta, for starters. The island in question having been instrumental in my trade before I came South."
He is plain enough about it, unflinching in its presentation.
"I'm sure she could come up with one or two additional exceptions to the idea if pressed."
He is plain enough about it, unflinching in its presentation.
"I'm sure she could come up with one or two additional exceptions to the idea if pressed."
An abnormality: Jenny Lou at the door of Thranduil's office, eyes flicking restlessly over the interior before settling on him. She offers him a crooked smile.
"Sorry to bother you, Provost. You got a minute?"
"Sorry to bother you, Provost. You got a minute?"
"Are you?" Thranduil asks, with no shame. "And will settling your vendetta aid Riftwatch?"
Which is the more important question, to be sure. Thranduil has leveraged his own position once or twice, but he's never used it to directly act against Riftwatch's aims or harm the organization. He considers if Flint would, taking another drink of his wine.
"Would success change anything for you? If it is so instrumental in your trade, would its restoration be persuasion enough to encourage you to take it up again?"
Which is the more important question, to be sure. Thranduil has leveraged his own position once or twice, but he's never used it to directly act against Riftwatch's aims or harm the organization. He considers if Flint would, taking another drink of his wine.
"Would success change anything for you? If it is so instrumental in your trade, would its restoration be persuasion enough to encourage you to take it up again?"
"The northern account will be unreliable for as long as Corypheus and his ilk hold Tevinter; the only way to change that is to continue to support the war effort. But success there would give Riftwatch and her allies a foothold to the Imperium's peninsula and her holdings on Seheron. Set aside the matter of the ruin and closing the Rift on the island - such a convenient outpost would benefit any incursion into Tevinter and be instrumental in disrupting trade in the north as we might on the Waking Sea."
Four questions are always easier to answer than one.
"But yes," Flint admits, taking up the glass again and drinking from it. "It is also personal."
Four questions are always easier to answer than one.
"But yes," Flint admits, taking up the glass again and drinking from it. "It is also personal."
Edited (edits 20 times 2k20 challenge) 2020-10-11 00:04 (UTC)
"Reasonable," Thranduil allows, inclining his head in general agreement. He makes a motion to the bottle, intending to refill both their glasses.
"Will you stay with Riftwatch, or seek to join the outpost?"
"Will you stay with Riftwatch, or seek to join the outpost?"
The decor has not changed much, over the years. There's the tapestry with the symbol of the Inquisition, wrought in leaves and vines, Gwenaelle's work, the mask of Fen'Harel that Sina gave him, everywhere books and papers and the great desk-- and Thranduil, looking out the window over the harbor, turning smoothly to look at Jenny Lou and smile.
"For you? Of course. Come, sit. Close the door."
"For you? Of course. Come, sit. Close the door."
The question warrants the smallest wrinkle of amusement to hook at the corner of his mouth - a little absurd, and dry, and not passing high enough up into the rest of his face to bear any resemblance to warmth. Flint surrenders his glass to be refilled.
"Byerly asked something similar."
"Byerly asked something similar."
"I cannot imagine any of our number in your place who I would like, or who would be competent."
And Gwenaelle would miss him.
Thranduil refills Flint's glass, and his own, and sets the bottle to the side. "I was very fond of Ser Coupe. But before her, we had a Rifter who was a fool, and proud. One may be forgiven, but both in one person is a disaster. You are valuable and valued here."
And Gwenaelle would miss him.
Thranduil refills Flint's glass, and his own, and sets the bottle to the side. "I was very fond of Ser Coupe. But before her, we had a Rifter who was a fool, and proud. One may be forgiven, but both in one person is a disaster. You are valuable and valued here."
She's never been in his office before, only glanced in a few times, and honestly? She'd called him book boss once (years ago to her) and this room totally fits.
"Thanks." She closes the door and moves to sit in the chair. She pulls up one leg to brace against it a little, "Wysteria said I should come talk to you. About dreams from home?" There's really not a non-weird way to start the conversation.
"Thanks." She closes the door and moves to sit in the chair. She pulls up one leg to brace against it a little, "Wysteria said I should come talk to you. About dreams from home?" There's really not a non-weird way to start the conversation.
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