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[eternalsquire]

Crystal or notes or whatnot, hit Kif up here!

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action!

[samahl]

[after this]

[Cyril shows up at the estate and does as Kif suggested - he gets in by pretending to be the help. Another Dalish might have scoffed at that idea, but for Cyril it was more important to make sure that Kif had some help and someone to vent to if he needed. They might not have met before, but he couldn't imagine leaving anyone alone to tend after that stupid human.

He goes to find Kif right after arriving.]

[eternalsquire]

[He's a little surprised, despite the Dalish's offer, to see one come in. The looks any elves get here aren't friendly. Kif is tolerated because he's necessary, not because people like him. On spotting, he comes over immediately.]

Oh, you're the new boy. This will only take a minute, sir.

[He's hasty in his words and expression; they should probably go off to the side Kif's indicating before Zapp puffs up and starts 'helping.']

I'm Kiflas Croque, please call me Kif.

[samahl]

A pleasure to meet you, Kif. [He bows his head a bit and pretty much ignores Zapp completely, focusing entirely on Kif.] I'm here to work, if you'll tell me where to start?

[eternalsquire]

This way, there's a room.

[It's not very helpful, but he's not great at thinking up covers for himself. Kif leads the way to a small room that's dimly lit with a small table and two rickety chairs. One of them looks dusty. There's also a bell in the wall, a bookshelf with a few dusty books, and a crate full of random crap.]

Nobody will come in here, though if the bell rings I might have to go solve whatever problem the buffoon has gotten himself in this time.

[samahl]

[Cyril sort of considers the bell for a moment before turning his attention back to Kif.]

Is he always this bad?

[eternalsquire]

Always.

[He drops down into the non-dusty chair, not really thinking about his guest. This is simply where he always sits.]

Though usually he doesn't have this big an audience to anger, and most of the time his money takes care of a lot of the mess. This time...

[Have the heaviest sigh as he flops forward onto the table.]

I'm going to be up all night.

[samahl]

I'll help out where I can.

[Cyril comes around and then, slowly, puts a hand on Kif's shoulder. It's just an encouraging gesture, but if Kif flinches or doesn't want to be touched there's time to pull back.]

[eternalsquire]

[What it gets is a puzzled look.]

I'm surprised a Dalish is helping. Where's the talk about how I've given up my heritage and become misguided?

[Kif jerks a thumb back in the direction of the main room; Zapp's voice can still be clearly heard, cheerfully and obliviously rumbling away.]

I work for him. I'm the easiest elf to judge that you've ever come across.

[samahl]

I could do that, if it'd make you feel more comfortable. [A pause.] Though I doubt either of us would feel happy about it.

For me, being Dalish is much more about making a choice. I have no right to judge the choices you've made to live your life. I just met you.

That, and I've come to realize there's as many ways to be an elf as there are elves in this world - and any other.

[eternalsquire]

[For a moment he studies Cyril before he shrugs. Kif has made a life out of not being too confrontational, even when people are trying for it, and so he has ever reason to accept what the Dalish is saying at face value.]

You'd think everyone would figure that being an elf means you're being an elf. Do you know many of the people who responded to him?

[Names means he can start figuring out what letters to write.]

[samahl]

I do. He, uh, he made quite a few people upset. Does he do things like this often?

[eternalsquire]

[Kif sighs heavily before getting up to grab a pitcher and two glasses off a side table.]

Yes. Constantly. And then I bribe and negotiate so that people overlook the insults. Water? It's room temperature. If we go for the cold stuff we could catch the wrong attention.

[Mostly because why would Kif be getting cold water for a Dalish?]

[samahl]

No, but thank you.

Instead, why don't you tell me what to do to help clean up?

[eternalsquire]

[He pours a cup for himself before grabbing quill and parchment.]

Names are what I could use. The people he's angered who are powerful. Then I can do research on what needs to be done to appease them.

[It's going to be a long night, but it's this sort of thing that keeps his family safer in the alienage. He'll do it.]

[samahl]

[He raises his brow a bit in thought.]

Not to assume anything untoward, but what are you planning to do with those names?

[eternalsquire]

Bribery. In various ways. Things that make them willing to overlook offense.

[He says it bluntly.]

Favorable things, not blackmail. Honestly, if we ever tried blackmail, Zapp would make it worse.

[samahl]

He does seem the type...

Let me look over the communication he made again, and then I can let you know which people are likely to make more of a fuss.

[eternalsquire]

Thank you.

[There's relief in his voice.]

The crystals are... confusing.

[Convenient, but they make it far too easy for Zapp to create messes at long distances.]

[samahl]

The more you use it, the more you get used to it. [And after that, he settles to identifying most of the voices that were responding toe Zapp, and gives Kif some idea of how he could get a hold of them]