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[heirring]

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[heirring]

Oh, a great many things. That the thing had been held in a Tevene lord's estate. That I wasn't wholly forthright regarding the roles we would all be playing in the evening. That too many or too few Rifters and elves were invited. I couldn't quite tell you which direction we landed on that matter. And she was concerned as to where the money and gone and whether it has been approved by anyone. But primarily I believe she was upset about the auction itself.

[She sips from her cup.]

I believe the word commodification or something like it was used.

[coquettish_trees]

[ A hum. ]

I grant perhaps my husband's estate might put one in the frame of mind to think of an entirely different sort of auction.

[ She sips as well. ]

But to the last, are we not all reduced to our economic, social, or skill-based value when attempting to negotiate the gain of assets? It is not as if those attendant were not invited specifically due to what they might provide us, rendering them commodities as well.

[heirring]

A very fine point. I wish I'd thought to say so to her. And as to your husband's estate— [Well.]

Perhaps had we our pick of fine houses, we might have looked elsewhere. But there is a war on, and needs must.

[coquettish_trees]

Just so! It would hardly have done to invite them to the Gallows dining hall.

[ Sip. ]

Which is, I might point out, also Tevene.

[heirring]

[Is the snort she huffs into her cup slightly undignified? Absolutely. Does her blasé response somewhat undermine what she says next? Also yes.]

I suppose I shall have to find some small way of making it up to her.

[coquettish_trees]

Truly one of the most disagreeable things about arguments with those one wishes to remain companionate with— or perhaps become companionate with again, should things have gone terribly awry—

[ That rather dire looking grimace implies she's remembering some of her own quarrels gone terribly awry. ]

—is being obliged to do so. Even when one feels themselves to have been perfectly in the right.

[ Blech. ]

[heirring]

Ah well, [Wysteria sighs, settling back into her chair. She brings the cup and saucer along with her, elbows hooked gamely on either of the chair's spindly carved arms.]

I'm certain I'll think of something. In the meantime, I believe I shall make my apologies to poor Monsieur Dalat—a more directly aggrieved party, as you will recall he was actually in attendance—and see where that leads me.

[coquettish_trees]

Difficulties with commodification, or was he obliged to spend the evening with a regrettable companion?

[heirring]

No idea whatsoever. But I trust the nature of the thing may be coaxed out with a little encouragement. I believe I owe him some papers already, and so have ample reason to strike up conversation without turning it immediately toward interrogation.

[My, how crafty she has become!]

[coquettish_trees]

[ Alexandrie raises her teacup in salute of this, the craftiest of plans. ]

But do you mean to say he expressed aggrievement in a way that did not give you the slightest idea of its origin? How entirely frustrating!

[heirring]

Oh no, he has said nothing on the subject at all. To me, in any case. But I believe he must have spoken to Athessa, for his was the name she mentioned when she and I discussed it. While it's not impossible that someone else might have told her about the event, that he did seems the most reasonable conclusion to draw.

It may be [she admits.] Jumping to an unfair conclusion to assume that because she found the thing distasteful that he did too. But it hardly hurts to make inquiries.

[coquettish_trees]

You shall find me in complete agreement. There is never a situation in which seeking after further knowledge is not to the greatest advantage.

[ Her teacup pauses halfway between saucer and mouth. ]

Well, hardly ever.

[heirring]

[This catches her attention like a scent hound drawn to traces of quail. Wysteria's eyebrows rise imploring.]

Oh? Do tell.

[coquettish_trees]

Well. I suppose it is largely made disadvantageous by being at odds with someone else.

[ The cup completes its journey, and is set back down. ]

I have spent a great deal of time pursuing knowledge that another strongly prefers I not have, and I have sometime found the cost of that pursuit to myself or those I care for to far outweigh the benefit of whatever it is I gain by it.

A rare occurrence, for which I am most grateful, but it does mean I cannot rightly say seeking knowledge is never disadvantageous.

[heirring]

[Wysteria pauses. And then sets her cup and saucer down, all very solemn indeed.]

My word, Alexandrie. You've not been inconvenienced by anyone, I hope?

[coquettish_trees]

[ But she's all smiles~ ]

Not lately. Or, not successfully. But we are forever being sent on missions to go and retrieve things from people we are at war with, and subsequently being captured by them, or having friends captured, and all other sorts of dreadful things that hardly belong at tea.

[ A look of apology, then. ]

Do forgive the digression into the less desirable aspects of our work.

[heirring]

Ah, well.

[With an easy dismissive tip of the head, Wysteria takes up her cup again. Thus reassured, that glint of good humor returns readily to her eye.]

You are of course entirely forgiven. —And how is your work? Are you and Monsieur Royan getting on well?

[coquettish_trees]

Quite! We keep as merry an office as we might, given the circumstances of needing one, and I must say, I find my current position there far preferable to my previous. I do not envy him its responsibility.

I hope you have equally fine working conditions?

[heirring]

Oh, I have no complaints whatsoever. Mister Stark leaving Felandaris behind to take over the division will hardly put the thing in too much uproar, and the work in the Seneschal's office is as it always is. To tell it honestly, I believe I am in a far more preferable position now than I was even a few weeks ago. Provost Stark and I see eye to eye on a great many things, and I believe he will be an excellent resource to the outfit.

—Not that Messere Baudin wasn't, of course. But I hardly knew him, and I imagine it will be good to have a familiar face among the leadership with whom I have a good rapport already.

[coquettish_trees]

[ There we are.

Alexandrie tilts her head curiously. ]

I know it to have been rather fraught— we have discussed the subject of his being terribly frustrating on occasion— but I thought perhaps that had not precluded you from considering our Ambassador to be such a one.

Well, perhaps not rapport, but... [ A blink or two as she 'reconsiders'. ] He did seem quite agitated that you had quarreled.

[ Concern™ ]

Was it in true earnest, then?

[heirring]

[And there, between one beat and the next, so much of Wysteria's rollicking broad good temper—gossipy though the mood might be, it could hardly be described as poor—narrows away and sours distinctly.

She takes a sip from her cup. When she speaks, Wysteria is all lightness and throwaway unconcern. Or is certainly attempting to be that.]

Did he? Well, I suppose it should come as no surprise that he saw no reason to be discreet about the thing.

[A further prim sip is taken.]

Yes, we argued. But I believed it and indeed the very point of contention in question to be a thing of the past.

[coquettish_trees]

[ Someday she should perhaps let Wysteria know that moving oneself from stormcloud to airiness is far more of a tell than staying cross. ]

In fairness, I learned of it due to my being unrelentingly inquisitive rather than his being indiscreet.

May I ask after the nature of the thing?

[ Alexandrie simply radiates the sympathetic energy of Steadfast Feminine Alliance. ]

If you should rather not tell me, I promise I shall only press once more and then cease.

Twice more at the outside.

[heirring]

Really Alexandrie, I wouldn't wish to disparage the name of your friend by divulging the details. [For she is the very picture of honor and dignity, unlike some people.]

Further, I have resolved the thing deserves no more attention than I have given it already. I could hardly encourage you to carry the torch on in my stead when I myself have already discarded it.

[coquettish_trees]

And if I were to be desirous of carrying such a torch?

[ She pre-emptively holds up a hand to forestall argument for the moment. ]

I know quite well how entirely infuriating he can manage to be on some subjects—most anything having to do with personal relationships, for example—

[ Sip. of. tea. for. emphasis.

Byerly.

She tilts her head and is softer: ]

But I also know him to only be quarrelsome in such earnest where he cares. Had it been simply to irk you, or of no true consequence, I should not have seen anything that would induce me to pry.

I do not mean that you must subject yourself to what would likely be the same disagreeable conversation in a different key, but I thought perhaps you might allow me to offer ambassadorial service of my own? As a favour to me, if no other reason pleases.

[ Pretty please with sugar on top? ]

[heirring]

[There is something in Wysteria's face that pinches, drawing thin in further displeasure. Oh, how terrible it must be to be Byerly Rutyer, a head of Riftwatch and a perennial nuisance to anyone and everyone so long as he pleases, and offended by the remarks of single individual more or less under his charge.

So surely it is only thanks to Alexandrie citing herself as the favor's recipient that Wysteria at last deigns to say—]

I have no need of your ambassadorial services, powerful though I'm certain they are, as to my knowledge I have surrendered the matter into Mister Rutyer's hands entirely. However, [Spoken like ugh.] if you believe it will somehow alleviate your own concerns then I can hardly refuse you.

[With a plink from the dishware, she sets her cup aside.]

Tell me—What do you know already?