@mer.aisava; video

[secretarialhand]

[When the video feed turns on, it shows a pale young elven man with an extremely calm demeanor, sitting at a desk made of heavy, dark wood, and anyone who's been to Gramarye Magic Research will recognize that wallpaper. His hands are folded neatly in front of himself, and he's dressed in a simple blue tunic, pierced ears lifted, alert and attentive.

Lifting his chin slightly, he pins the camera with a serious expression.]

Our name is Csevet Aisava, and we have recently been placed in charge of administrative tasks at Gramarye Magic Research.

[A pause.]

It is clear that whoever preceded us in this position was far more invested in research than paperwork. We would like to request that any in the employ of the Research Center please turn in copies of all necessary receipts and reports since...

[Another pause, and he lifts a hand to shift a paper into better view.]

...January first.

They may be left at our desk, or submitted by mail or electronically.

[That last word sounds awkward, as if he's only said it a handful of times in his life and doesn't entirely understand what it means. Csevet hates not entirely understanding things, and there's an undercurrent of that as well, his ears pulling back against his head a little.]

Our thanks.

Comments

[tevinteraltus]

Yes, yes, very well, but to whom to you report?

[ If it's someone in charge of administration, his assessment still stands, after all. ]

"His Serenity". You know, most reserve the "Royal" we for use only by royals. It supposedly denotes their importance. I find it interesting seemingly everyone from your world, or at least your nation, uses it. Tell me, as Emperor, how many places as "His Serenity" conquered to solidify his empire, or is it an empire in name only?

[secretarialhand]

[That distinct bristle comes back, and Csevet simply looks annoyed as he responds, not even bothering to try to hide it behind composure.]

We report our findings on finances to the Board of Directors, but with regard to administrative tasks, we report only to ourselves.

[A soft exhalation at that last couple of comments, his cheeks flushing, though not with pleasure or amusement, but rather anger, well-suppressed.]

Though we have heard some refer to the 'Royal we' in reference to the way we speak, we have never heard of it until we arrived here. This manner of speaking is called the formal first, and is used by everyone within the Untheileneise Court, or while speaking to anyone within the Court. To use anything other than the formal first would be presumptive and in poor taste, Mer Pavus.

[A pause, as he considers that last question.]

His Serenity has been Emperor for less than a year, and we suspect he is not the sort of Emperor to conquer in war, but rather build alliances through understanding.

[scholiast]

No, that's okay. Honestly it's de-cluttered my office a little bit; I'm more than happy to let you have them.

(Just so long as they aren't going to read through them and then throw them out, but Lucretia doubts that's the case. His reaction to the photocopier makes her chuckle. That's a mood, she'd had more or less the same feelings toward it when she'd first learned of its existence.)

It's true. I don't understand why myself; I try to stay away from it, personally.

(Learning he can't practice magic himself is interesting... Lucretia pauses in her final flick through of the papers, checking that everything is in dated order.) Why don't you practice? If you don't mind me asking.

[secretarialhand]

[His brows raise slightly, but he smiles just a little.]

We were a courier before we became Secretary for the Emperor. Much of a courier's time is spent traveling to the many corners of the Ethuveraz, and couriers are seen as...unsavoury to say the least. Promiscuous and wanton. So we have had to adapt to many unfortunate situations in our time.

[dothelokimotion]

[ ah. courtly politics. he misses that, sometimes. ]

The courts always tend to be unfortunate in their dealings.

[secretarialhand]

Excellent. We would be glad to receive them. It seems there is a shortage of people who are inclined to keep records of any sort, and we admit to finding it somewhat incomprehensible.

[When she laughs softly, he smiles a little.]

We have yet to try using it, though we do think it sounds like quite a fantastic machine.

[He makes a little considering noise in his throat at that question.]

In the Ethuveraz, being a maza is something that one needs to have a proclivity for. Needless to say, we do not possess such a proclivity.

[secretarialhand]

While we are not in charge of such matters, and questions should be addressed to the librarian, we would recommend returning them on time to avoid the fines. We are told they can be quite...significant.

[secretarialhand]

Certainly something that holds true in the Untheileneise Court. Thankfully, our talent for adaptation has aided us in the court as well as when we were a courier.

[dothelokimotion]

[ his lip curls slightly. ]

It is a skill you have to possess or you're doomed for failure.

[secretarialhand]

In truth, it is one of the most valuable skills, along with learning to listen to what happens around us, and remaining composed even under duress.

[dothelokimotion]

I am aware. I am a prince.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah. A trusted secretary, then.

[ Never let it be said that Dorian cannot be a brat when someone gets their hackles up. ]

Oh, my, and here I thought the courts of the Imperium were pretentious. And certainly, as there are an entire two of you in residence here, we should all acclimate to your cultural affectations, yes? I respect in your lands it "presumptive" and "in poor taste", but is it not also diplomatic when arriving in a new land to learn the traits and customs therein? If it is not, I really am a piss poor Ambassador.

[ And all is spoken with a pleasant smile, very diplomatic, really. ]

[secretarialhand]

Are you? We had not heard this, and we do apologize if we have been addressing you incorrectly.

[secretarialhand]

As we were in the Ethuveraz, though on larger scale at court.

[Well, there we are. Being called a secretary isn't exactly an insult where Csevet comes from.]

We beg pardon, Mer Pavus, but we did not intend to imply that others should take on this manner of speaking, simply that we would perceive ourselves as impolite were we to stop. Serenity has suggested we make effort to adapt to the culture of this place even through wording, but such habit is difficult to break, when a lack of formality seems to us to imply...intimacy...that we had not intended to offer.

[dothelokimotion]

It's not well-known.

[ He hadn't realized that he doesn't mention it much anymore. After all, it's a gilded crown. ]

[11calls]

[Alex knows, and she's been borrowing books for a while. So, she's good and set with dealing with the librarian there.]

I just wanted to make sure that nothing else was changing, honestly. Thank you for the info!

[scholiast]

Oh, I see.

(She likes that there's a different word for it: maza. She pauses for a moment, pen in hand and poised to write this down... but all the paper she has gathered are records! She writes it on her arm.)

Interesting; and who is 'we'? (Up until now Lucretia had assumed that he was talking about Gramarye's administrative team as a whole, but surely they don't all come from the same planet!)

[tevinteraltus]

Well, bravo. Everyone in power needs someone to keep the books, after all.

[Secretary to the Court is still a secretary.]

You've rather missed the point, but it's hardly important. I'll be sure to report expenditures heretofore in a timely fashion.

private;

[secretarialhand]

Is it not well known by choice or by accident? We would not wish to discuss it publicly were it the former.

[secretarialhand]

[Csevet sighs a little, still obviously irritated - this man is confusing, calling him pretentious and implying he thinks too highly of himself while degrading the profession that Csevet is quite comfortable with and pleased with.]

We enjoy our profession a great deal, Mer Pavus, and fail to see shame in it. As for your point, since we are apparently quite dense and incapable of understanding your meaning, please state it more clearly so we may grasp the wisdom of it.

[Is that snide? Oh yes. It's very snide.]

[secretarialhand]

[A slight smile, which is obvious in the tone of his voice.]

We intend not to change the structure of anything, rather just to keep more faithful track of it as intended.

May we ask your name?

[dothelokimotion]

It is not a secret. It simply does not hold a great deal of meaning for me.

[ Which is strange for him, but comes with the changes Loki has made to his life. ]

[11calls]

Yeah of course. It's Alex. Alex Reagan.

[Who is not at all a student there. Whoops. But hey. And she wants to ask him if he's from the same place as Maia is, but she also tables that discussion for now.]

[tevinteraltus]

My point being thus: I, and I'm certain others as well, have made an effort to understand altering your manner of speech would be considered rude to you. Fair enough, but is it not also rude to insist we understand this and adapt rather than make little to no effort on your part to change? This isn't accusatory, of course, it simply seems one-sided.

[He nods.]

As for your profession, yay you, I suppose? Enjoying it does seem preferable to its being a drudgery, after all, and someone has to do it.

[Just...not me. That's what we have Laetan for...I'm not a plebeian.]

[secretarialhand]

[Csevet tilts his head, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he regards the video feed.]

We believe, Mer Pavus, that listening to one speak in a slightly different way is less difficult a task than altering the way in which one speaks, and so we would appreciate any effort of understanding while we adjusment.

[A pause, his eyes on the screen.]

However, we feel no need to make uncomfortable adjustments for the comfort of those who would trivialize our position, our customs, and our Emperor.