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Left in the center of her table the evening before the wedding, a package wrapped in white paper and tied with gold-colored twine. Inside, a pair of mechanical birds, intricately painted. The winding mechanism is cleverly hidden, but when found and wound, the birds stomp their feet and open their beaks.
And a length of blue velvet ribbon, for good measure.
Set on top of the package, pinned to a bouquet of lavender, a neatly folded note:
And a length of blue velvet ribbon, for good measure.
Set on top of the package, pinned to a bouquet of lavender, a neatly folded note:
Wysteria,
I'd intended to give these to you after the ceremony, but there's an errand that requires my attention and won't wait long enough for me to journey with you to the Vinmarks and back. Please forgive my absence.
I don't know Val de Foncé well enough to know if he'll make you a good husband. I hope that he will, and that he'll love you well. He's a very lucky man. I hope that he understands that.
You deserve every happiness, and then some. I couldn't fit that into a box, but I wish it for you all the same.
— Ellis
PS I cannot rightly ask you to bother about the chickens on the day of your wedding, so don't concern yourself. I've made arrangements for them.
Prior to departing for Starkhaven, a packet of folded parchment is deposited into Wysteria's mail cubby with the full expectation it shall not be seen for some time, potentially after all is said and done and what becomes of the Marches is settled.
As promised, a number of diagrams and scratched notes detailing the potential uses of a certain prototype. Each formation is thoroughly described, with a scattering of sketched out positions, as well as weak points to be especially targeted.
Folded in half, and set in over the top of the parchment, a note—
As promised, a number of diagrams and scratched notes detailing the potential uses of a certain prototype. Each formation is thoroughly described, with a scattering of sketched out positions, as well as weak points to be especially targeted.
Folded in half, and set in over the top of the parchment, a note—
Wysteria,
As promised, some material that I hope to be helpful when you take your creation to the Division Heads. If you've any questions and I am not on hand, Warden Digiorno will be able to help you make sense of them.
You needn't worry. Your accomplishment here is too impressive to ignore.
— Ellis
It's not as if Wysteria is truly difficult to find, it's only that Derrica has been kept busy, and certain things are easy to put off and at a point—
Well, after weeks of chaos, with all of Riftwatch more or less assembled, procrastination is off the table. She resolves herself to completing the task at hand, because surely at this point it's overdue to potentially the point of insult.
Which is why, when she catches sight of Wysteria walking briskly down towards the ferry, Derrica comes hurrying down after her.
"Wysteria, wait a moment!"
Well, after weeks of chaos, with all of Riftwatch more or less assembled, procrastination is off the table. She resolves herself to completing the task at hand, because surely at this point it's overdue to potentially the point of insult.
Which is why, when she catches sight of Wysteria walking briskly down towards the ferry, Derrica comes hurrying down after her.
"Wysteria, wait a moment!"
[Now that the hangover's out of her system--]
Hey, so, you want an oral report or an official written submission of that- thing you asked for?
Hey, so, you want an oral report or an official written submission of that- thing you asked for?
[ One day - or, rather, due to Byerly's typical schedule, one late night - when Wysteria is still in recovery, she will awaken to see Byerly shuffling around near her bed in the infirmary. The light is dim, but there's enough of it that she might see that he looks baffled or perhaps flummoxed or perhaps simply stressed. She may also notice that he is, apparently, going through her things, with the apparent intent to steal something.
He has not yet noticed that he's woken her. ]
He has not yet noticed that he's woken her. ]
The note comes to Wysteria by way of Tillie, who appears pink-cheeked from cold and still all askew and loose wisps of hair despite an obvious effort to straighten herself out before entering the infirmary to make her delivery. She doesn't linger after having passed off the folded parchment into Wysteria's possession.
The missive is quite short, with one line thoroughly struck out, leaving an uncharacteristic blotch in the middle of the parchment. Regardless, his handwriting is painstakingly tidy for such a brief message.
The missive is quite short, with one line thoroughly struck out, leaving an uncharacteristic blotch in the middle of the parchment. Regardless, his handwriting is painstakingly tidy for such a brief message.
Wysteria,
Please forgive me for leaving on this errand without a proper goodbye. You must understand, if I had said my farewells to you in person, I don't know that I'd have been able to leave at all.
I will see you soon. Be well.
Yours,
Ellis
[ It's not lost on Tony that Ellis has handed him an opportunity, which is: put the pages he was given into the fire and pretend they didn't happen. Less dramatically, shove them into one of his desk drawers and move on with his life, wait until it feels like the right time, or alternatively just vanish the way some rifters do and then the new guy can do his spring cleaning for him.
He does wait a little while, at least until he feels it burning a hole in his pocket.
At which point, an envelope is slipped into Wysteria's in-tray. The first note that drops out is in his own hand; ]
Let me know about the chickens
- TS
[ And then, on more substantial paper, neatly folded, is the intended message. ]
He does wait a little while, at least until he feels it burning a hole in his pocket.
At which point, an envelope is slipped into Wysteria's in-tray. The first note that drops out is in his own hand; ]
Let me know about the chickens
- TS
[ And then, on more substantial paper, neatly folded, is the intended message. ]
These packages are overdue.
But they are set on the table early, alongside the little basket of gathered eggs and a trio of daffodil clipped, set in a cup.
The first package is wrapping in soft blue cloth, padded with tissue paper to protect the contents. Unwrapping it reveals a gold chatelaine, with six woven chains ending in small, sturdy clasps framing intricate detailing. Close inspection reveals winged birds have been set in among the detailing of the metal, hidden in the looping interwoven pieces encircling a dark blue stone, all of which make up the oval brooch set over the belt hook. The six chains frame a decorative centerpiece, three smaller interwoven pieces of descending size. Caught in one clasp, a small strip of parchment bearing the words: For your tools.
Accompanying this parcel is a smaller item, easily overlooked in the unwrapping of the chatelaine. A necklace has been sealed into a paper packet. The design of the item is simple, and graceful: strung on a delicate gold chain is a small hoop, upon which a little gold bird has perched. A small slip of parchment, carrying a short, hand-copied verse, has been rolled up tightly, and threaded through the hoop. There is no other note.
But they are set on the table early, alongside the little basket of gathered eggs and a trio of daffodil clipped, set in a cup.
The first package is wrapping in soft blue cloth, padded with tissue paper to protect the contents. Unwrapping it reveals a gold chatelaine, with six woven chains ending in small, sturdy clasps framing intricate detailing. Close inspection reveals winged birds have been set in among the detailing of the metal, hidden in the looping interwoven pieces encircling a dark blue stone, all of which make up the oval brooch set over the belt hook. The six chains frame a decorative centerpiece, three smaller interwoven pieces of descending size. Caught in one clasp, a small strip of parchment bearing the words: For your tools.
Accompanying this parcel is a smaller item, easily overlooked in the unwrapping of the chatelaine. A necklace has been sealed into a paper packet. The design of the item is simple, and graceful: strung on a delicate gold chain is a small hoop, upon which a little gold bird has perched. A small slip of parchment, carrying a short, hand-copied verse, has been rolled up tightly, and threaded through the hoop. There is no other note.
Do you love him? Your husband.
I'm here to talk to you about Byerly.
[ The announcement is nearly up front. Of course Bastien attended to all of the essential greetings and pleasantries, first, while gawking transparently at various in-process projects in the Research workrooms. He has more than once half-moved to touch something left unattended on some other worktop and stopped with his hand curled in front of his chest. Now his arms are folded behind his back, as if that is the only way he can manage them responsibly.
No more stalling that that, though.
Maybe he could have begun with buttering her up and woven Byerly into it at the end like an afterthought. But she's clever and sensitive, and he suspects that as soon as he came around to mentioning Byerly's name, in that scenario, she would become instantly aware that she was covered in butter and feel belittled and greasy.
Honesty, then. This is also honest: ]
But I would love for you to explain this to me, if you have time for both.
[ Whatever it is. Gun fragments? Bicycle improvements? Lyrium notes? Enchantment-breaking? Someone else's contraption having nothing to do with her? Anything at all. Spin the wheel. He's fascinated regardless. ]
[ The announcement is nearly up front. Of course Bastien attended to all of the essential greetings and pleasantries, first, while gawking transparently at various in-process projects in the Research workrooms. He has more than once half-moved to touch something left unattended on some other worktop and stopped with his hand curled in front of his chest. Now his arms are folded behind his back, as if that is the only way he can manage them responsibly.
No more stalling that that, though.
Maybe he could have begun with buttering her up and woven Byerly into it at the end like an afterthought. But she's clever and sensitive, and he suspects that as soon as he came around to mentioning Byerly's name, in that scenario, she would become instantly aware that she was covered in butter and feel belittled and greasy.
Honesty, then. This is also honest: ]
But I would love for you to explain this to me, if you have time for both.
[ Whatever it is. Gun fragments? Bicycle improvements? Lyrium notes? Enchantment-breaking? Someone else's contraption having nothing to do with her? Anything at all. Spin the wheel. He's fascinated regardless. ]
[The amount of words Wysteria used in conveying information was more than Richard was generally used to, but that didn't meant the information wasn't there. Her directions to the Project Felandaris office, for instance, had been neat and accurate, and he has no problem finding it, even as still unfamiliar with the building as he is.
He doesn't stop to fill out his name on the form on the door though. Just like he hadn't confirmed his interest over the crystal, he doesn't really like his business being noted anywhere. Criminal instincts. Culebra ones too. Besides, all he had mentioned was an interest in seeing the reports and the arm.
So it is that he's waiting in the office, un-(explicitly)invited, looking through notes, peering at things, and probably poking some stuff he shouldn't be touching.]
He doesn't stop to fill out his name on the form on the door though. Just like he hadn't confirmed his interest over the crystal, he doesn't really like his business being noted anywhere. Criminal instincts. Culebra ones too. Besides, all he had mentioned was an interest in seeing the reports and the arm.
So it is that he's waiting in the office, un-(explicitly)invited, looking through notes, peering at things, and probably poking some stuff he shouldn't be touching.]
good news: have 20 lbs of FT veridium en route to Oz, guy said probably another 2 weeks. you can tell whatsisface that 5% cut for any excess is fine.
bad news: I have no money. but what else is new?
speaking of new there's a new guy.
bad news: I have no money. but what else is new?
speaking of new there's a new guy.
If Riftwatch does not reimburse you,
[ he might have said sooner, like when she first delivered her written argument, but even the smallest chance it might cause her to change her mind about any of it was not worth it, ]
maybe some of us could find a way to raise a little extra money for the cause.
[ he might have said sooner, like when she first delivered her written argument, but even the smallest chance it might cause her to change her mind about any of it was not worth it, ]
maybe some of us could find a way to raise a little extra money for the cause.
[After an exceptional I'll read this in a minute cycle, with each interval going on longer than the last until the entire afternoon has been consumed, Viktor finally looks at the item that was delivered to him.
A comparatively tiny interval precedes his message to Wysteria:]
Madame de Foncé, it's Viktor speaking. Sorry to interrupt your evening, but, eh... you didn't happen to receive an unusual note today, did you?
A comparatively tiny interval precedes his message to Wysteria:]
Madame de Foncé, it's Viktor speaking. Sorry to interrupt your evening, but, eh... you didn't happen to receive an unusual note today, did you?
Hey. De Foncé. Do I need to do your homework for you?
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