Les Misérables (closed)

(Human AU!)

Was it possible to die of boredom?

Lasair could practically feel her soul draining from her body the longer the man across from her tea table kept droning on. She'd invited this frighteningly tall diplomat to her favorite private booth of her favorite cafe to continue the campaign against Miriam, interested by his threats from Siregal and the question of how much of it was real without the usual pomp and circumstance that surrounded the threat of war. She wasn't averse to Enchanter Guro, per se, as the warrior's position in relaxing the conscription to the Order suited her just fine, but the way Ser Divos was diverting the conversation from war and politics to the finer points of diplomacy, letter-sending, and paperwork was threatening to murder any civility she'd clung to in returning to society from her little absence.

She'd merely asked him as a polite appeal to conversation, a starter as they waited for their tea and aperitifs, of how he came to work as diplomat and what he enjoyed of his position, and it was quite possibly the highest regret in recent memory for her. She took a gentile sip from her teacup, letting none of her thoughts show on her lovely face. It would be a shame to murder such a potentially important ally, but she might be doing Ivras a service by removing his horribly dull personality from haunting its drawing rooms and cafes.

She was internally debating the benefits of hiring someone discreet who would make him disappear so she wouldn't have to hear him speak again, or dragging him into an alley to have the pleasure of ending his monologue herself, as he continued on about the importance between double-broad and reverse oblique pen nibs for a fountain pen. It was when he took a breath to switch topics to the best weight and texture of paper to use for a formal letter that she politely cleared her throat with a faint smile. She'd consider murder after he helped her with her own personal goals.

"As much as I wish this matter to be solved with strongly written letters," She said with an artfully wistful tone, "I'm afraid matters have become quite tangled."

"The question, I fear, is not what must be said on the matter before us, but what must be done. You and I have more or less a common goal, don't we?" Another sip from her personal blend of tea of citrus and bergamot; a pretty sigh. "I fear for Ivras should Madam Miriam take the Order's throne. It is a matter that affects us all, and should she be removed from the running, it will leave the position open for a better candidate." 

Setting her cup back down onto its fine saucer, she leaned delicately over the table, her gloved fingers laced to rest her chin upon them as slowly looked over her companion, at his obvious mage markings, pitying how even the subtle mage-glamour she persistently clung to couldn't hide what he was. "I can only imagine how well her ideology rests with mages. But the Andraste house would be more than happy to offer its assistance however it can to allies who value peace as strongly as we do." (535)