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[altusimperius]

tell him how pretty he is

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[altusimperius]

You’re asking me to spy?

[bouchonne]

Is there something wrong with being a spy?

[altusimperius]

I don’t want to be on the outside. I’m one of them.

[Spoken with more conviction than one might expect, but he still falters at the end, glancing down to his desk.]

Besides, if you knew what was said and moved against them, don’t you think it would be obvious who told you?

[bouchonne]

[ By rubs the bridge of his nose. Artemaeus finds his spine at all the wrong fucking times. ]

You're one of us, Artemaeus. A member of Riftwatch. As are they - but they're the ones not acting as such, holding secret meetings and embracing factionalism. Do you disagree with that?

[altusimperius]

I-…

[He can’t, actually, disagree with that. But will Us stay Us if all the mages are put away by force?]

…what are you afraid they’ll do?

[bouchonne]

[ A short, dry laugh. ]

What do you think? Set fire to the place and permanently sever all our diplomatic relations with the Chantry.

[altusimperius]

Well that’s…

[seems dramatic, if not unprecedented.]

They’re part of Riftwatch too. I doubt they’ll burn down their own fortress.

[bouchonne]

I meant more the place where this meeting will be taking place.

[altusimperius]

[The point is made, but being Byerly’s little snitch still doesn’t sit right— not after all this time trying to prove himself trustworthy.]

If the Chantry forces its will, and tries to lock us away. Will you stand for it?

[bouchonne]

[ Maker - This coming from the boy who just a few months ago was sighing about how he doesn’t want to use his magic. Whatever the easiest thing is at any given moment, Artemaeus picks the precise opposite.

The annoyance flickers through Byerly’s expression only a little. His voice remains level as he says: ]

In spite of common misconceptions about me, I have no quarrel with mages. They are members of this organization like any other. And as such, I will endeavor to shield them like any other.

[altusimperius]

[At least slightly reassured, Benedict gives a small nod.
It’s been a strange month since returning from Antiva, with the nightmares coming back in force and all they imply— especially for a mage. He’s kept mum about it, and withdrawn. No need to frighten anyone else.]

I’ll tell you if there’s danger threatened toward anyone in Riftwatch.

[His gaze flickers back to his desk, then to Byerly. This is his compromise.]

[bouchonne]

My dear Benedict.

[ Byerly's voice is quite pleasant. Dangerously so. ]

Was one of the conditions of your release and current employment not that you would hold loyalty to Riftwatch above loyalty to one of your...other affiliations?

[altusimperius]

[It’s a tone he knows well. There’s little arguing with it.]

Please don’t ask me to do this, [spoken to his desk.]

[bouchonne]

[ The pleasantry is dropped in favor of clipped brusqueness. ]

At no point have I been asking.

[ It's strange, and disconcerting, when Byerly - normally so dissolute and indirect and wry - turns steely. But he's steely now. ]

Your loyalty is here. To this office. Your sympathies may lie with them, but your loyalty is with me. Do you understand?

[altusimperius]

[Numbly,]

Yes.

[bouchonne]

[ Snappishly: ]

Grand.