The low grumbling gives Gela an odd shiver, which she resolutely ignores because they are at work, now. They are talking about work things. She puts bread into her mouth, and chews.
"Yes," she admits, glancing sideways at him, "How much do you know about the Chantry, out of curiousity?"
"Conflicting things," Jude admits. "Mostly to the tune of Templars and mages and mage circles. The story of the original Blights and how they came to be, the profaning of the Golden City, the basic story of Andraste. The basic tenets of the faith."
Bits and pieces and chunks.
"The Chantry itself and the hierarchy? Very little."
She finishes what she's eating, licks a smudge of honey from her thumb. "I'm not so sure what it's like elsewhere; in Nevarra we have the Chantry, the templars, and they regulate the use of magic like they would anywhere else. I'm not sure they have the most political power, but their presence is huge."
Conversationally, "I grew up prayin' to Andraste. We all did."
A neutral thing, to Jude. He's never much understood religion, but it means very much to some of the people he cares deeply about, and he respects it for that reason.
"Even the places that don't have a lot of Chantry activity, the attitudes are still there even if the Chant isn't. When I first came, I got to thinking that it was the culture. Still detangling what is and isn't."
"It is. They have a lot of political power, so they get to decide."
Whether or not they are the dominant power in Nevarra is... debatable, she thinks, but she won't ruin this lovely breakfast they're having by speaking of the Mortalitasi. Still, her brow is furrowed, gaze fixed on her plate. "Have you been asked to speak with her?"
Jude nods, as if he knows what she's talking about. He might not, but he understands the flow of power, and that current runs deep enough to pull everything with it downstream.
"Yeah," she says with a deep sigh, sitting back in his seat, spreading his thighs to put his feet firmly on the floor.
"The higher-ups want a smile and a warm welcome. S'pose we can't blame them for thinking I'm suited. You?"
Her gaze flickers for a second toward his lap, and she hopes he doesn't notice, busying herself with a gulp of tea, and then carefully getting a flower petal off the flat of one front tooth.
"Makes sense." Him being so likeable and beautiful and all, "Me too.
Do you think they chose us because we're still quite new?"
And not in possession of many deep, uncomfortable truths about Riftwatch?
Gela nods, fascinated, her chin in her hand. She says, "I think they liked to be listened to. My family are merchants. We had all sorts of customers, and older women like to hear that they're right, I think. And be asked questions, because it show you're listenin'.
"All good- they can spot insincerity a mile away, so don't stretch too hard, don't play it up. Ask about the things that interest you.
"Everybody likes to hear they're right, but if you're not sure she's right, don't say she is, don't disagree. Ask another question, or tell her you hadn't considered that before."
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"Yes," she admits, glancing sideways at him, "How much do you know about the Chantry, out of curiousity?"
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"Conflicting things," Jude admits. "Mostly to the tune of Templars and mages and mage circles. The story of the original Blights and how they came to be, the profaning of the Golden City, the basic story of Andraste. The basic tenets of the faith."
Bits and pieces and chunks.
"The Chantry itself and the hierarchy? Very little."
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She finishes what she's eating, licks a smudge of honey from her thumb. "I'm not so sure what it's like elsewhere; in Nevarra we have the Chantry, the templars, and they regulate the use of magic like they would anywhere else. I'm not sure they have the most political power, but their presence is huge."
Conversationally, "I grew up prayin' to Andraste. We all did."
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A neutral thing, to Jude. He's never much understood religion, but it means very much to some of the people he cares deeply about, and he respects it for that reason.
"Even the places that don't have a lot of Chantry activity, the attitudes are still there even if the Chant isn't. When I first came, I got to thinking that it was the culture. Still detangling what is and isn't."
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Whether or not they are the dominant power in Nevarra is... debatable, she thinks, but she won't ruin this lovely breakfast they're having by speaking of the Mortalitasi. Still, her brow is furrowed, gaze fixed on her plate. "Have you been asked to speak with her?"
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"Yeah," she says with a deep sigh, sitting back in his seat, spreading his thighs to put his feet firmly on the floor.
"The higher-ups want a smile and a warm welcome. S'pose we can't blame them for thinking I'm suited. You?"
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"Makes sense." Him being so likeable and beautiful and all, "Me too.
Do you think they chose us because we're still quite new?"
And not in possession of many deep, uncomfortable truths about Riftwatch?
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"No reputation to color things."
Either for good or for ill.
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"You've got a big family." He's spoken about it a few times, here and there. "Got any tips? For endearin' yourself to older women."
She might be teasing him.
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"Offer to help. Be on time. Do what you say you will. And if they give you advice, thank them."
All basics, but none of them have ever steered him wrong.
"Sincere compliments. If you think something nice about her, say it out loud."
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Am I close?"
customer service Jude
"Everybody likes to hear they're right, but if you're not sure she's right, don't say she is, don't disagree. Ask another question, or tell her you hadn't considered that before."
irl snort
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"Be serious!" This is an important mission, Jude.
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