[ A few days after this exchange, Inezia receives a letter. Well, letter is probably generous. It's a piece of paper, folded once down the middle. This paper in turn has been folded inside another (much larger) piece of paper to protect it. It's sealed, and Inezia's name is written on the makeshift envelope.
The paper inside of it has no message, just a drawing. It's not the best he's ever done, but he's not a big fan of being forced to use quills instead of proper pens. The female figure walking across the tableau is recognizable as Inezia, her dress modest in every way, but clearly displaying about six inches of bare leg beneath the hem, including ankle. In her wake are three figures swooning, two men and one woman. It's signed C. Rutherford in the bottom corner.
[ It is a few days after this. She has been learning needlepoint and it isn't as hard as she thought. Knitting was easier but she is saving her knitting for something else.
Her finished project is wrapped in a soft cloth and wrapped with a ribbon. The cloth has his name stitched with care. She is actually good enough at it that she can make it look like her writing. It was clearly intended for him as it says C.Rutherford with some nice flourish.
She went through the effort of having her gift framed. Thistle was not amused to be asked to help with this task. When Cullen opens it there is depicted a barren field and a grumpy looking lady. In neat writing a funny quote.
"Behold! My field in which I grow my fucks!
Lay thine eyes upon it and see it is barren."
Inezia has been having fun apparently. This is the fruit of her just barely being good. Please feel sorry for her maid. She left a note in with the finished work.]
Thank you for the picture. My maid is less than amused by my various needlepoint projects. I thought you might enjoy this one.
[ When he's done laughing, Cullen hangs it on his wall. His butler protests. Cullen sends the man out to get him a packet of strawberry seeds.
When the man returns, Cullen has a new packet waiting, stuck together with flour and water paste, into which he pours the seeds. Instead of a line drawing of a strawberry, there is a flower that looks more than vaguely like a vagina. The label on the packet reads "Fuck Seeds" and there is a note to go with them. Both are wrapped in paper and tied with twine before being sent out for delivery. ]
Inezia,
Perhaps you have been using the wrong variety. Might I suggest trying a new one?
She seems to like I have been less prickly. It isn't the school. I dislike how they treat the other students. There is a very polite gentleman who was not getting the level of guidance he needed so I started teaching him what I could.
I think my desire to stay busy has won out.
Hm. I might get a small planter for them. Strawberries are useful. With enough I could make a good summer wine but that requires a lot.
I wish I hadn't just gone along but my confidence in my ability to escape is fairly strong. I suppose part of it is because I know how to get unarmed people out of danger. It's been a big feature of my career as a wizard aside from my gift with languages.
I'm fairly certain Pheme is not that kind of fertility goddess. I don't want to find out either.
Hm. Alright I won't tell you about the weird religious practices I have run into. It wouldn't help you at all.
Very little bothers me. Except for gnolls. I strongly dislike them but I blame a nasty scar I still have. Thankfully I am not vain and scars do not bother me. They're signs that I am doing my job correctly if with a little bit of danger.
I should tell you about my use of Dimension Door at some point. It was clever but also had Wilhelm raise his voice a bit.
I do now know what a Dimension Door is, but I'm sure the story will make perfect sense once you explain it.
You should be proud of your scars. They show what you've survived. They tell the story if your life. Never trust anyone with flawless skin. They have lived either a soft or cowardly life. Perhaps both.
One night when I am testing out new ale perhaps you, Hawke, and myself can exchange tales? I still have yet to test this one type I am tempted to make.
I was not meant for a soft life. I cannot be idle.
The last "pretty person" I met? Turned out to be a monster disguised as a "normal person". I do not trust people who are too pretty. Not after what happened.
I would like that, and while I would never presume to speak for Hawke when she is more than capable of doing so herself, I feel confident she would have a good time. She has incredible stories. She is also very normal in spite of how pretty she is, I assure you. Her scars make her more so.
C. Rutherford
[ And for the record, no, he does not at all realize what it is he just really said. ]
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timeasmymeasure
Cullen -> his butler -> Inezia's maid -> Inezia
Date: 2023-05-25 08:18 pm (UTC)The paper inside of it has no message, just a drawing. It's not the best he's ever done, but he's not a big fan of being forced to use quills instead of proper pens. The female figure walking across the tableau is recognizable as Inezia, her dress modest in every way, but clearly displaying about six inches of bare leg beneath the hem, including ankle. In her wake are three figures swooning, two men and one woman. It's signed C. Rutherford in the bottom corner.
There is no other message. ]
Inezia -> Her Maid -> Cullen's Butler -> Cullen
Date: 2023-05-25 11:38 pm (UTC)Her finished project is wrapped in a soft cloth and wrapped with a ribbon. The cloth has his name stitched with care. She is actually good enough at it that she can make it look like her writing. It was clearly intended for him as it says C.Rutherford with some nice flourish.
She went through the effort of having her gift framed. Thistle was not amused to be asked to help with this task. When Cullen opens it there is depicted a barren field and a grumpy looking lady. In neat writing a funny quote.
"Behold! My field in which I grow my fucks!
Lay thine eyes upon it and see it is barren."
Inezia has been having fun apparently. This is the fruit of her just barely being good. Please feel sorry for her maid. She left a note in with the finished work.]
Thank you for the picture. My maid is less than amused by my various needlepoint projects. I thought you might enjoy this one.
Inezia
Cullen -> his butler -> Inezia's maid -> Inezia
Date: 2023-05-26 12:44 am (UTC)When the man returns, Cullen has a new packet waiting, stuck together with flour and water paste, into which he pours the seeds. Instead of a line drawing of a strawberry, there is a flower that looks more than vaguely like a vagina. The label on the packet reads "Fuck Seeds" and there is a note to go with them. Both are wrapped in paper and tied with twine before being sent out for delivery. ]
Inezia,
Perhaps you have been using the wrong variety. Might I suggest trying a new one?
C. Rutherford
un: what, text
Date: 2023-05-26 06:26 am (UTC)I have to hide the seed packet. They have us sharing rooms . I may have laughed a little too hard.
Classes are going well. I'm starting to feel comfortable enough with horses again that I've asked Thistle to arrange for one back in the city.
She looks delighted. I think I'm nervous.
Inezia
un: Cullen.Rutherford, text
Date: 2023-05-26 06:43 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked the seeds. Now the real question is whether or not you'll try planting them. Or do you prefer the field barren?
C. Rutherford
un: what
Date: 2023-05-26 06:48 am (UTC)I think my desire to stay busy has won out.
Hm. I might get a small planter for them. Strawberries are useful. With enough I could make a good summer wine but that requires a lot.
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-05-26 07:01 am (UTC)I feel like there is a joke that could be made somewhere in that. Probably something to do with a harvest.
C. Rutherford
un: what
Date: 2023-05-26 07:39 am (UTC)I'm fairly certain Pheme is not that kind of fertility goddess. I don't want to find out either.
- Inezia.
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-05-26 05:47 pm (UTC)Thank you for that horrible mental image. It will haunt me.
C. Rutherford
un: what
Date: 2023-05-27 01:14 am (UTC)Hm. Alright I won't tell you about the weird religious practices I have run into. It wouldn't help you at all.
Very little bothers me. Except for gnolls. I strongly dislike them but I blame a nasty scar I still have. Thankfully I am not vain and scars do not bother me. They're signs that I am doing my job correctly if with a little bit of danger.
I should tell you about my use of Dimension Door at some point. It was clever but also had Wilhelm raise his voice a bit.
- Inezia
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-05-27 01:53 am (UTC)You should be proud of your scars. They show what you've survived. They tell the story if your life. Never trust anyone with flawless skin. They have lived either a soft or cowardly life. Perhaps both.
C. Rutherford
un: what
Date: 2023-05-27 02:03 am (UTC)One night when I am testing out new ale perhaps you, Hawke, and myself can exchange tales? I still have yet to test this one type I am tempted to make.
I was not meant for a soft life. I cannot be idle.
The last "pretty person" I met? Turned out to be a monster disguised as a "normal person". I do not trust people who are too pretty. Not after what happened.
- Inezia
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-05-29 05:22 am (UTC)C. Rutherford
[ And for the record, no, he does not at all realize what it is he just really said. ]
un: what
Date: 2023-05-29 07:28 am (UTC)I also need to find out what drinking games are popular here. If I am to run my pub I must figure out what I might bare witness to.
Noted. I will trust Hawke. A beautiful exception.
- Inezia.
[ What? She's GOING to tease him. A bit. ]
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-05-30 08:04 pm (UTC)C. Rutherford
[ Is the teasing as fun when the person you're teasing is completely and entirely oblivious? ]
un: what
Date: 2023-05-31 05:42 pm (UTC)I suppose I will have to talk to her about them.
Rerally? Were you not a big social drinker?
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-06-02 10:50 pm (UTC)C. Rutherford
un: what
Date: 2023-06-03 12:36 am (UTC)We are friends now. I would see you merry with others, if it pleases you. If it does not then do not worry I will not pressure you.
- Inezia
un: Cullen.Rutherford
Date: 2023-06-03 01:30 am (UTC)As long as that isn't a euphemism I'm not familiar with.
C. Rutherford