This is not known to the mademoiselle--or not directly known, perhaps it is guessed in a certain way, since he has used it upon Wysteria, on occasion--but the smile that Val gives her is un sourire du compartiment privé. It is normally given only to one's friends at the end of a very long and occasionally tiresome party, full of people one only half wants to see at best, and is obligated to entertain at middle-worst, and sociably loathes at the very worst. It might also be given over a pile of maps and towers of empty wine glasses and snack plates, or over a campfire in the middle of a sweltering and dense jungle, or in the back of a muddy tavern--or, apparently, in a small cabin upon a ship on a return journey from deepest Orzammar.
Un sourire du compartiment privé isn't wielded with any sort of purpose. In fact it occurs only naturally, by mistake. As in: here, when Wysteria laughs, and Val feels that he has somehow won some prize.
Really, it is nothing.
"Of course it is not attractive. It is miserable! I would not waste your time, mademoiselle, upon objects that are merely attractive. How tiresome and predictable. Any attractiveness of a Brankanian figure comes of its symbolism. It is for this reason that it was selected in particular for you," no, wait, swiftly correcting, "r, your little mansion. And I suppose for you by extension."
It is nothing. It is only a little thoughtful, really, and it is entirely possible that Val merely would like to keep the hideous and symbolically relevant statuette somewhere safer than in his death trap of a Gallows office and so bad made some excuse about it being intended for her. That was possible even before she had gone so far as to casually and very thoughtlessly and not at all after much embarrassed reflection offered him the use of maybe one or even two of the rooms in her little mansion. Obviously even if he weren't to be staying there even occasionally (Wysteria does not expect him to be in permanent residence; Maker, she certainly isn't), that place would still be a secure place of confidence. He has left Veronique there, after all. And the safeguarding of that place is of course the specific purpose of faithful Déranger!
So, yes. Really. It is nothing.
And she should not be so pleased with any of it. —Though at the same time, there is hardly any harm in being so. It is perfectly understandable that she might these little throwaway gestures amusing.
"Well," she says as the ship lurches and the lantern sways harshly over them. Ruadh's nose is snuffling back in this direction in an effort lick a few more shavings from the decking. "I suppose I will forgive you for implying that my little mansion is miserable. But only because we both know that is patently false, particularly as I expect the new wallpapering to have come along while we've been away."
"It could become less miserable," Val says, with perhaps surprising agreeability, "over time, with work and effort and a correct eye--and yes, wallpapering will certainly be of service in this area. Remind me, which rooms will be so repaired when we return? The workmen had not yet arrived when I had departed, and I recall nothing of you telling me of this project. No, I have changed my mind, do not tell me a thing, I should prefer to be surprised."
It is easy to attempt to talk over Wysteria. It is nearly impossible to succeed, and still more impossible to prevent her from speaking by speaking before her, no matter how quickly one might rush to speak. She might very well begin telling him of the rooms that have been wallpapered, and so Val makes a great show of putting his hands over his ears.
"Now I am pleased that you mentioned nothing of the project. It is very exciting. Perhaps I might guess. The large eastern room."
He stretches one leg out toward Ruadh and traps a few of the wood shavings under the toe of his boot, so he might pull them clear of the mabari's questing nose, and continues: "The terribly dingy room on the first floor, beside the kitchen. The little bedroom with the smallest windows."
Yes indeed, she has begun to speak. And she continues valiantly on even as her husband clamps his hands dramatically over his ears, saying first "I hardly see why I should keep you informed of every small detail regarding the renovation of my own home, Valentine—" before presumably being reduced to a shrilly insistent womp-womp-womp.
Eventually, Wysteria sets the ugly statuette beside her in the bunk and makes to slap away one of the offensive hands away by its wrist.
"—not dingy. It is charming. I believe it is meant to be a little gentleman or a ladywoman's study, for when I first arrived it was home to a great desk and a shocking array of all manner of chairs and the ugliest portrait you have ever lain your eyes on. The portrait has of course been removed to the attic, along with a vast majority of the furniture. But I suppose if you should be in desperate need of a desk, you might look to retrieve that one back down again. I recall it being rather ugly, but I trust you will only go about covering it with papers and books and Maker only knows what else in any case."
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obscures date stamp with confetti (but drop if this is 2old)
Un sourire du compartiment privé isn't wielded with any sort of purpose. In fact it occurs only naturally, by mistake. As in: here, when Wysteria laughs, and Val feels that he has somehow won some prize.
Really, it is nothing.
"Of course it is not attractive. It is miserable! I would not waste your time, mademoiselle, upon objects that are merely attractive. How tiresome and predictable. Any attractiveness of a Brankanian figure comes of its symbolism. It is for this reason that it was selected in particular for you," no, wait, swiftly correcting, "r, your little mansion. And I suppose for you by extension."
Really: it is nothing.
wow get a load of all this confetti
So, yes. Really. It is nothing.
And she should not be so pleased with any of it. —Though at the same time, there is hardly any harm in being so. It is perfectly understandable that she might these little throwaway gestures amusing.
"Well," she says as the ship lurches and the lantern sways harshly over them. Ruadh's nose is snuffling back in this direction in an effort lick a few more shavings from the decking. "I suppose I will forgive you for implying that my little mansion is miserable. But only because we both know that is patently false, particularly as I expect the new wallpapering to have come along while we've been away."
🎉🎉🎉
It is easy to attempt to talk over Wysteria. It is nearly impossible to succeed, and still more impossible to prevent her from speaking by speaking before her, no matter how quickly one might rush to speak. She might very well begin telling him of the rooms that have been wallpapered, and so Val makes a great show of putting his hands over his ears.
"Now I am pleased that you mentioned nothing of the project. It is very exciting. Perhaps I might guess. The large eastern room."
He stretches one leg out toward Ruadh and traps a few of the wood shavings under the toe of his boot, so he might pull them clear of the mabari's questing nose, and continues: "The terribly dingy room on the first floor, beside the kitchen. The little bedroom with the smallest windows."
no subject
Eventually, Wysteria sets the ugly statuette beside her in the bunk and makes to slap away one of the offensive hands away by its wrist.
"—not dingy. It is charming. I believe it is meant to be a little gentleman or a ladywoman's study, for when I first arrived it was home to a great desk and a shocking array of all manner of chairs and the ugliest portrait you have ever lain your eyes on. The portrait has of course been removed to the attic, along with a vast majority of the furniture. But I suppose if you should be in desperate need of a desk, you might look to retrieve that one back down again. I recall it being rather ugly, but I trust you will only go about covering it with papers and books and Maker only knows what else in any case."
Short breath.
"Your first guess, at least, was correct."