[ —is subtle amusement, unbidden, and not necessarily friendly but nor is it hostile. Inward-turned. Marcus returns to writing something down, including mention of Thevenet. ]
Any man can be seen as useful, if he happens to be situated somewhere of use. He can be tempted by something he now lacks. If you would supply them, I'll note here your former superior officers, anyone you answered to before you defected.
[ Marcus flicks a look back up to him, as if to mark the moment that Vanya finally asks why he is here, sat across from him. He lets it settle there, that question, before answering; ]
I believe the Chantry, or factions within it, are interested in damaging the reputation of Riftwatch. Tactics have involved, multiple times, internal interference and sabotage. We don't know enough about some of those we let through the door, and I wish to correct this.
[ A beat, then he adds; ]
No, your actions haven't called your loyalty into question. Only your history.
[It's hardly comfortable, but it is fair, under the circumstances. His voice is just as quiet and calm as it has been.]
The Chantry didn't send me here, Captain. I can probably supply you with the names of several people remaining within the Templars who are willing to tell you, at length, their opinion of my conduct over the past few years, if that would put anyone's mind at ease. But I had rather hoped my actions would speak for themselves.
[On the other hand, he doesn't know what sort of argument he could make that anyone should trust him that doesn't sound hollow or couldn't be faked. But they let him sign on in the first place, and it has been more than a year of what he'd thought to be satisfactory work.]
[ Marcus pen touches to the page, prepared to note down this list of reverse character references, but pauses at that.
He knows what Vanya means. If he'd been so cornered as to his own history, if someone suggested that the things that led up to his time at Riftwatch cast him in a certain light or paint him with a certain brush, perhaps he might say similar. At how he's kept his head down, carried out his duties, put his life in danger on behalf of Riftwatch, all of those actions that those that make up the Forces division can easily defend.
Still. There's a chilly quality to that pause. It is not in the spirit of reassurance that he says, ] They do.
[It wasn't, at least, an idle offer; there's only a short pause before he says,]
As far as I know, Loren Mullner is still working directly with the Inquisition. Mathas Stadler volunteered to take a more active part in the Exalted March shortly before I left Skyhold. I honestly don't know whether Tythian Holzer is still alive, as he was on a long and dangerous mission at the time I left. If he is, I imagine he has a great deal to say about my resignation. Bridget Rainer's opinions tended to be a bit more personal, but I imagine she would also make it clear that a raven from me would be even less welcome than a raven about me.
You may, I imagine, reach any of them in a position to be reached via Skyhold. As the entire point of the exercise is to illustrate that I have not been in touch with them, I hope you'll forgive me my uncertainty.
[ With no visible trace of irony, Marcus notes these names down with only the odd superficial misspelling, Lorren and Rayner, and a few other notes connected to what Vanya has to say about them.
There's an uptick of sass from this former Templar, he senses, at this last part, but it isn't met with challenge. ]
What of the Templars present? Former or otherwise. Adjacent. Riftwatch is decently forgiving of each other's reputations, when we've so few allies to choose from.
[Perhaps unexpectedly, this is the first thing that truly seems to give him pause. After a moment, choosing his words:]
Rovente and Keen are both in Forces, so occasionally our work has overlapped, but I've never had a personal conversation with either. Keen and I overlapped at Skyhold, but I only knew him by reputation, not personally. I've spoken to the Lady Seeker in passing, but in no kind of depth.
Barrow was kind enough to buy me a meal in Kirkwall proper when I first arrived, but I believe we both reached the firm conclusion that we had little in common by the end of that evening.
The shame you have for your history might make you a tempting ally, to those that feel the same, [ bluntly, ] but are more inclined to hide it. Barrow did.
[ But Vanya said 'no'. The nod he gets is the only thanks that Marcus feels like expressing, but at least it's not nothing, as he says, ]
[He stands with the reflex of a man drilled for years to recognize and respond to a dismissal.]
I haven't made a habit of lying to my superiors, in Riftwatch or previous to it. If you think of anything else to ask, I am at your disposal, as I am at Commander Flint's. Captain.
[It's clipped, efficient without quite tipping over into insolence. It isn't as if either of them enjoyed this. But it's over for now, at least, and he turns to go.]
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no subject
[ —is subtle amusement, unbidden, and not necessarily friendly but nor is it hostile. Inward-turned. Marcus returns to writing something down, including mention of Thevenet. ]
Any man can be seen as useful, if he happens to be situated somewhere of use. He can be tempted by something he now lacks. If you would supply them, I'll note here your former superior officers, anyone you answered to before you defected.
no subject
no subject
I believe the Chantry, or factions within it, are interested in damaging the reputation of Riftwatch. Tactics have involved, multiple times, internal interference and sabotage. We don't know enough about some of those we let through the door, and I wish to correct this.
[ A beat, then he adds; ]
No, your actions haven't called your loyalty into question. Only your history.
no subject
The Chantry didn't send me here, Captain. I can probably supply you with the names of several people remaining within the Templars who are willing to tell you, at length, their opinion of my conduct over the past few years, if that would put anyone's mind at ease. But I had rather hoped my actions would speak for themselves.
[On the other hand, he doesn't know what sort of argument he could make that anyone should trust him that doesn't sound hollow or couldn't be faked. But they let him sign on in the first place, and it has been more than a year of what he'd thought to be satisfactory work.]
no subject
He knows what Vanya means. If he'd been so cornered as to his own history, if someone suggested that the things that led up to his time at Riftwatch cast him in a certain light or paint him with a certain brush, perhaps he might say similar. At how he's kept his head down, carried out his duties, put his life in danger on behalf of Riftwatch, all of those actions that those that make up the Forces division can easily defend.
Still. There's a chilly quality to that pause. It is not in the spirit of reassurance that he says, ] They do.
Those names, if you would.
no subject
As far as I know, Loren Mullner is still working directly with the Inquisition. Mathas Stadler volunteered to take a more active part in the Exalted March shortly before I left Skyhold. I honestly don't know whether Tythian Holzer is still alive, as he was on a long and dangerous mission at the time I left. If he is, I imagine he has a great deal to say about my resignation. Bridget Rainer's opinions tended to be a bit more personal, but I imagine she would also make it clear that a raven from me would be even less welcome than a raven about me.
You may, I imagine, reach any of them in a position to be reached via Skyhold. As the entire point of the exercise is to illustrate that I have not been in touch with them, I hope you'll forgive me my uncertainty.
no subject
There's an uptick of sass from this former Templar, he senses, at this last part, but it isn't met with challenge. ]
What of the Templars present? Former or otherwise. Adjacent. Riftwatch is decently forgiving of each other's reputations, when we've so few allies to choose from.
[ This conversation not withstanding. ]
Barrow, Keen, Rovente. The Seeker.
no subject
Rovente and Keen are both in Forces, so occasionally our work has overlapped, but I've never had a personal conversation with either. Keen and I overlapped at Skyhold, but I only knew him by reputation, not personally. I've spoken to the Lady Seeker in passing, but in no kind of depth.
Barrow was kind enough to buy me a meal in Kirkwall proper when I first arrived, but I believe we both reached the firm conclusion that we had little in common by the end of that evening.
no subject
[ Marcus anticipates the 'no', but asks the question anyway. Barrow had gotten by so well, and besides him, there hadn't been any Templars at all.
It's all too possible that there are yet more. (This will be funny in, like, an IC week and a half.) ]
no subject
I don't. Should I?
no subject
The shame you have for your history might make you a tempting ally, to those that feel the same, [ bluntly, ] but are more inclined to hide it. Barrow did.
[ But Vanya said 'no'. The nod he gets is the only thanks that Marcus feels like expressing, but at least it's not nothing, as he says, ]
We're done.
no subject
I haven't made a habit of lying to my superiors, in Riftwatch or previous to it. If you think of anything else to ask, I am at your disposal, as I am at Commander Flint's. Captain.
[It's clipped, efficient without quite tipping over into insolence. It isn't as if either of them enjoyed this. But it's over for now, at least, and he turns to go.]