I just wanted to thank you for your help with all of that nonsense before. And I found this for you.
[ He slips the book free to hold it toward her, cover-up. Remedies, the cover says simply, with no author noted and a stamped sprig of elfroot. The leather on the cover is old, the pages yellow and stiff. ]
It from the early Blessed Age—folk remedies, it says, from the country people in the Marches. A lot of it is silly. There are four pages on spinning in circles to cure melancholia, which... J'sais pas. Maybe it helps with a mild case of grouchiness. But I thought it might be interesting to read what people believed a hundred years ago. And if not, it might at least look interesting on your shelf.
It was my pleasure, I assure you. A little fun is quite novel now and then.
[ That doesn't mean she is going to reject a gift, however, and she reaches out to thumb her fingers through the book almost immediately, her eyes widening briefly. ]
Oh, this is quite old. But, no, you're correct, those sorts of things are ridiculous. I am at the behest of the humours, of course, and other such maladies that books recommend, but I am sure there are some things in here that will be of use. [ When she looks up her smile is genuine. ] This is a remarkable gift. Thank you, darling.
[ It might be overkill, as a thank-you gift for helping with a goose. But as an I-am-sleeping-with-your-husband-and-we-haven't-spoken-much-and-I'd-like-to-make-a-decent-impression gift, it's not quite so overly extravagant, he thinks.
He glances around the room, curious about the instruments and jars, and asks, ]
What drew you to this sort of work, Madame Rutyer? If that is not too personal a question.
[ Her eyes flick over him for a moment, drinking in his expression. Oh, she could be quite cruel, couldn't she? But she won't. She'll be kind for now. ]
It is very kind of you.
[ Which is true, but she's not fool enough to be ignorant to what he is doing. ]
I dreamt of being a Mortalitasi, but I possess no magic.
[ Bastien knowing something about running away. About clawing one’s way out of somewhere dark and cramped, determined to know and to do more, no matter what has to be left behind in the escape.
His already-genuine interest becomes a little stronger, a little more admiring, and a little gentler. Worth it doesn’t mean it isn’t hard. ]
I’m sorry. But we are very lucky to have you.
[ He bends to look at some instrument or another, but he doesn’t touch it. ]
Would you still rather work with the dead than the living, if you could?
I don't need apologies. Things have been quite grand for me here.
[ Sidony puts the book down, resting her hands over it as she turns to look up at Bastien, hesitant. ]
I'm not certain any longer. I enjoy my work here, and the benefits have been rather wonderful. I'm glad to know that I am able to be of use, that I am able to help people.
Clouds always dissipate. Even in [ grey stormy terrible ] Kirkwall.
[ His shoulders and feet shift a little, the awkward sign of not being quite sure what to do with oneself next. The gesture looks genuine and mindless—and though it isn't, because Bastien never unconsciously fidgets, he doesn't mean it to be any more duplicitous than a wave goodbye would be. ]
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[ In he comes. ]
I just wanted to thank you for your help with all of that nonsense before. And I found this for you.
[ He slips the book free to hold it toward her, cover-up. Remedies, the cover says simply, with no author noted and a stamped sprig of elfroot. The leather on the cover is old, the pages yellow and stiff. ]
It from the early Blessed Age—folk remedies, it says, from the country people in the Marches. A lot of it is silly. There are four pages on spinning in circles to cure melancholia, which... J'sais pas. Maybe it helps with a mild case of grouchiness. But I thought it might be interesting to read what people believed a hundred years ago. And if not, it might at least look interesting on your shelf.
no subject
[ That doesn't mean she is going to reject a gift, however, and she reaches out to thumb her fingers through the book almost immediately, her eyes widening briefly. ]
Oh, this is quite old. But, no, you're correct, those sorts of things are ridiculous. I am at the behest of the humours, of course, and other such maladies that books recommend, but I am sure there are some things in here that will be of use. [ When she looks up her smile is genuine. ] This is a remarkable gift. Thank you, darling.
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[ It might be overkill, as a thank-you gift for helping with a goose. But as an I-am-sleeping-with-your-husband-and-we-haven't-spoken-much-and-I'd-like-to-make-a-decent-impression gift, it's not quite so overly extravagant, he thinks.
He glances around the room, curious about the instruments and jars, and asks, ]
What drew you to this sort of work, Madame Rutyer? If that is not too personal a question.
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It is very kind of you.
[ Which is true, but she's not fool enough to be ignorant to what he is doing. ]
I dreamt of being a Mortalitasi, but I possess no magic.
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[ He looks away from an interesting jar to consider the interesting woman instead. ]
I have never met anyone who was not a mage and wished to be. Usually it is the opposite. But I suppose Nevarra is different.
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[ Her fingers trace the book, her smile slipping. ]
I was not permitted to study so I did it in secret. When my brother began his work as one of them... Well, I had to leave. So I came here.
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His already-genuine interest becomes a little stronger, a little more admiring, and a little gentler. Worth it doesn’t mean it isn’t hard. ]
I’m sorry. But we are very lucky to have you.
[ He bends to look at some instrument or another, but he doesn’t touch it. ]
Would you still rather work with the dead than the living, if you could?
no subject
[ Sidony puts the book down, resting her hands over it as she turns to look up at Bastien, hesitant. ]
I'm not certain any longer. I enjoy my work here, and the benefits have been rather wonderful. I'm glad to know that I am able to be of use, that I am able to help people.
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I suppose it is not as respectable as being a Venatori in Nevarra—but we aren’t half as disreputable as we were when we started, are we?
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[ It's meant at a joke in poor taste, but she shakes her head. ]
I think we are all managing as best we can, especially those of us with histories to cloud us.
how many times am I going to write Venatori when I mean Mortalitasi
[ His shoulders and feet shift a little, the awkward sign of not being quite sure what to do with oneself next. The gesture looks genuine and mindless—and though it isn't, because Bastien never unconsciously fidgets, he doesn't mean it to be any more duplicitous than a wave goodbye would be. ]
I will let you get back to work. Thank you again.