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[untiltheyarent]

[Verbal correspondence and scenes only! Ya girl can't read.]

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[coquettish_trees]

A considered answer means there is more to it than that, of course, but in Alexandrie's experience elves employed as servants are both adept at insistent evasion and tend to remember and either avoid or become even more unyielding with those who are keen to ferret information out from them.

She has enough to think on, for now.

"Quite so," she agrees, instead. "It is indeed becoming a formidable force for change, even as its focus remains on the defense of Thedas." She flicks at the water thoughtfully, and then brightens and makes a query as if thinking of it for the first time, "Ah! Does this position of yours mean you will be joining us in Tevinter?"

What manner of servant are you, mademoiselle?

[untiltheyarent]

Fifi nods to the lady's observation, but her question causes a paling of the freckled face as the maid is caught quite off-guard. "Oh-- no-- no, Madame," she stutters, and smiles faintly after, able to see the humor in her own response: "I've no desire, and-- well there's plenty to do here in the lords' absence."
She's careful not to say 'masters', as the term is quite loaded and all too commonly spoken amongst the Tevinter-native staff. Fifi is a wilted flower in some ways, but regardless of the work, she'll always see that she gets her pay.

[coquettish_trees]

She has no desire? Well that's some autonomy. The benefit of working with the Inquisition?

"It certainly is quite the estate," Alexandrie agrees, "I imagine it takes a great deal of effort to keep it looking so well." She examines her fingers and makes a face at the wrinkles forming from soaking, sighing with truly unneedful sorrow. "How terrible, I am becoming an old woman. Do pass me a towel?"

[untiltheyarent]

"It does," Fifi agrees with a small sigh, and turns to retrieve a towel, which she brings over to Lexie and holds out to her. "Would you like me to stay, Madame?" she asks. Some people are particular about being seen in the buff; having lived in a whorehouse, Fifi has seen everything.

crystals;

[wythersake]

Mlle. Mariette,

[ how old is she, he can never tell with elves. is she married. whatever. ]

I trust you weren't caught in that bit of trouble at the Gallows.

[ of course she wasn't. because for some reason, the inquisition is continuing to furnish a live-in maid with a crystal. a live-in maid to its supposed allies — who haven't, that he's seen, been particularly helpful. ]

Re: crystals;

[untiltheyarent]

[formerly so, but she's not about to correct him.]

Bit of trouble? With the spirits? [The voice is familiar, but she's struggling to place it.]

[wythersake]

Quite the haunting. I do beg your pardon, it's been some time since we spoke; I intended to follow up after our last conversation. This is Isaac.

[untiltheyarent]

Oh, hello Isaac.
How can I help you, Messere?

crystal.

[cozen]

Fifi—

[ out of nowhere, in the evening ]

—I need to hear music.

[untiltheyarent]

What sort of music?

[Does she want her to sing to him, or is he asking for dance hall recommendations?]

[cozen]

Any sort. When are you free?

[untiltheyarent]

Evenings, usually. Do you need me to come to the Gallows?

[cozen]

No, no, I can come to you. Or we can meet in a Lowtown, but only if you let me buy you a drink— [ He would either way really ] —to make up for making you walk so far alone.

[untiltheyarent]

You are a gentleman. The Hanged Man?

[cozen]

Perfect. Tonight?

[untiltheyarent]

Tonight.

THAT NIGHT,

[cozen]

[ He arrives before her, because who has a watch, nobody, and he doesn't have to descend all of those stairs—so he's already there, is the point, at a table in the middle of the room, because tucking into corners is for people with something to hide.

Someone is playing a lute and singing in the corner, and they aren't terrible, so his untimely death from a lack of music has been averted. At least temporarily. But he isn't so enraptured that he doesn't see Fifi enter and lift a hand to draw her attention to his position in the room, and once she's close enough he stands up as well. ]

If you put a rowboat at the top of the stairs, [ he says, in lieu of hello, ] and tried to ride it like a sled to the bottom, do you think it would be shaken into pieces by the stairs first, or that it would careen over the side?

[untiltheyarent]

[Fifi is wearing her Going Out Dress, which is a little less froofy than her Fancy Dress, but a little more interesting than her Work Dress, and those are the three dresses she owns. She seems at home here, coming into the pub and giving the room a once-over as she steps forward with a smile and takes a seat by Bastien.
Leaning in, she furrows her brow as she considers his question.]

The stairs here? [she clarifies,] I imagine it'd depend on how old the boat is. It can't go over the side if there's no railing.

[cozen]

No, no—the stairs from Hightown.

[ He gestures in the vague direction of the mansion-crowned cliffs, out there somewhere beyond the door and the wall, reachable for most only by climbing a small mountain’s worth of steps. ]

Enough rope might keep it on track to the bottom.

[ No one should do this. ]

[untiltheyarent]

Oh.

[She thinks for a moment.]

...no, that would be certain death.

[cozen]

[ He begins to hold up two fingers, to make the very convincing argument that two ropes could be employed, but thinks better. ]

You will see my point better after a drink.

[ The mark of every good idea is that alcohol makes it sound better and less suicidal.

He’s getting her that drink, anyway, and another for himself, and as he returns with them the singer in the corner misses a note badly enough that he pulls a face—not one the singer can see, though. That would be rude. ]

at some point in time when not everyone's dying on a mission

[wythersake]

Is Isaac supposed to be in this office?

Probably not. Don't worry about it — and anyway, it's not as though he's in it (head and arm poked around the door like a lazy cat), or at least not in it alone.

"Mlle. Mariette," Better not to notice a lady's age. "I've had the most fascinating news."

[untiltheyarent]

Currently in the process of setting out Thranduil's favorite decanter, Fifi straightens with a bit of a start when she's addressed directly.

She doesn't know what to make of Isaac-- someone who hasn't openly addressed her in over a year-- suddenly wanting her attention, but there's certainly no reason to be rude.

"What's that?" she asks, an uncertain smile twitching onto the corner of her mouth.

[wythersake]

"Eau Boueuse de Montagne has reopened to only marginally exorbitant prices," The renowned Orlesian cafe. Obviously. "And only moderate protest."

If the current Kirkwall sentiment is not precisely endeared to Orlais, the return of coffee and sugar has been welcomed by most all.

[untiltheyarent]

A funny little smile. Why in the world--

"Then I shall have to make time to visit," she says, her eyes squinting in amusement as she steps around to straighten the folio of documents awaiting Thranduil's attention.