Which is true. All other complications aside, what he had told her of this place is John's truest impression of it. Riftwatch is as disparate as a pack of pirates, all tearing off in different directions.
And worse, John doesn't know the right appeals off-hand.
"You'll understand when you meet Yseult and Thranduil."
Though he thinks Madi might make more in-roads with Yseult than John or Flint could.
The letter, the event, that is no longer the crux of this conversation. John takes a moment, considering his own assessments of the pair.
"Thranduil is a Rifter and an elf, and his interests follow as you might imagine. The stakes are high for him, considering the Chantry's viewpoints on Rifters, so he seeks to avoid damaging our relations with them. But he can be swayed, if an appeal is made correctly."
If.
"And as for Yseult," a pause, a shrug, John's hands spreading slightly over the tabletop. "She is a cautious woman. I believe her goals are not contradictory to our own, but she is unwilling to take risks, and less willing to hear argument when she has made up her mind as to an outcome."
A slight smile eases across John's face, as he raps one knuckle lightly against the table.
"I'll admit, I'm interested to see you in a room with them."
Already her mind is turning, thinking of appeals to make to a Rifter elf reticent to damage Chantry relations. One would need the means to ensure no reprisals would be taken by the Chantry against Rifter, and against native elves because there really isn't a reason the institution would exclude an already oppressed people from being blamed. Is there a way to garner enough external support to become untouchable by a force as wide-reaching as the Chantry?
But then John talks of Yseult, of caution and believing and risks and stubbornness, and he smiles.
She's seen that look before. It feels almost like an inside joke, though it is with himself more than her or anyone else.
Madi rolls her eyes, but the set of her mouth betrays a suppressed smile. It's true, his assessment of Riftwatch aligns very closely with a certain mess of pirates, but that doesn't matter when there are greater stakes at play.
She doesn't want to admit that he's right, and he's teasing with her.
Yes, they have a serious matter looming over their heads. Yes, there is much to do to try and mitigate it. But there's room enough for this, teasing out a smile from her in spite of herself.
"I'm sure you've never heard of such a disorganized assembly."
It occurs to John that the pirates might be easier managed than Riftwatch, but that's not conducive to teasing.
"Don't flatter us too much," John answers, voice warm, light.
His hand stretches across the table, seeking to catch hold of her.
"Some of it will be familiar to you," he says, more serious. "But they are not so united as your people and mine. That's the trouble. And not all of them are so convinced as to the measures that need taking."
"That is the trouble," she echoes, lost in thought for a brief moment before taking his hand between both of hers.
"I will try, in the time that I am here, to see the worth you see in this place, and how it might aid in our efforts. You know that I cannot promise what I cannot bring into being."
All she can do is look, listen, try to find the threads that bind them and endeavor to make them stronger than the knives that would sever them.
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no subject
Which is true. All other complications aside, what he had told her of this place is John's truest impression of it. Riftwatch is as disparate as a pack of pirates, all tearing off in different directions.
And worse, John doesn't know the right appeals off-hand.
"You'll understand when you meet Yseult and Thranduil."
Though he thinks Madi might make more in-roads with Yseult than John or Flint could.
no subject
"And how would they direct this organization? What are their personal agendas?"
no subject
"Thranduil is a Rifter and an elf, and his interests follow as you might imagine. The stakes are high for him, considering the Chantry's viewpoints on Rifters, so he seeks to avoid damaging our relations with them. But he can be swayed, if an appeal is made correctly."
If.
"And as for Yseult," a pause, a shrug, John's hands spreading slightly over the tabletop. "She is a cautious woman. I believe her goals are not contradictory to our own, but she is unwilling to take risks, and less willing to hear argument when she has made up her mind as to an outcome."
A slight smile eases across John's face, as he raps one knuckle lightly against the table.
"I'll admit, I'm interested to see you in a room with them."
no subject
But then John talks of Yseult, of caution and believing and risks and stubbornness, and he smiles.
She's seen that look before. It feels almost like an inside joke, though it is with himself more than her or anyone else.
Madi raises her eyebrows. I'm listening. Go on.
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"She's unyielding."
As much of a compliment as it has been a frustration. What he does not say: Now that I think of it, she reminds me somewhat of you.
"Not to be underestimated, but if we can sway her, it'll make all our lives easier."
no subject
One doesn't need to be stubborn to have their guard raised by the sense that she's being coerced.
"And you only believe her goals do not oppose ours? Have neither you nor Flint been able to learn what she wants?"
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"Riftwatch is made up of a lot of people who don't know exactly what they want, but they're very certain about what they oppose."
Which isn't necessarily an answer to Yseult, but.
"Everyone here has their own private objective, some more easy to guess than others."
A slight grin. Are they any different?
no subject
She doesn't want to admit that he's right, and he's teasing with her.
no subject
Yes, they have a serious matter looming over their heads. Yes, there is much to do to try and mitigate it. But there's room enough for this, teasing out a smile from her in spite of herself.
"I'm sure you've never heard of such a disorganized assembly."
It occurs to John that the pirates might be easier managed than Riftwatch, but that's not conducive to teasing.
"They do grow on you, given time."
did she just call him a barnacle?
what a compliment
His hand stretches across the table, seeking to catch hold of her.
"Some of it will be familiar to you," he says, more serious. "But they are not so united as your people and mine. That's the trouble. And not all of them are so convinced as to the measures that need taking."
no subject
"I will try, in the time that I am here, to see the worth you see in this place, and how it might aid in our efforts. You know that I cannot promise what I cannot bring into being."
All she can do is look, listen, try to find the threads that bind them and endeavor to make them stronger than the knives that would sever them.