Editing Last Breath of Winter:Characters:Mask:History (section)

===A Day at Work===

Through the doors of the Violet Bier of Sorrows, down 13 stories, along the main corridor, three lefts, straight past the next crosswalk,  at the end of the hall, there is a door of black jade and amethyst. Behind that door is an foyer of an office. A series of braziers light this main room, illuminating the frames along the walls. Some are paintings of past heroes, some are the founding constitutions of nations and federations long since past, a few even show characters from legends of star-crossed lovers and tragic affairs. In the center is a large triangular desk, behind which usually sits three gods: Sephai, the goddess of joyful farewells, Messanim, the goddess of misplaced papers, and Quoletz, the goddess of conversations cut short.

"Good morning, Reckoner Aphelion," Messanim gave a wave. The other two gave a nod of recognition.

"Good morning, everyone. Another busy day, I'm sure. What's on the menu today?" 

"I have it right here. Let me see..." Messanim shuffled through the papers on her desk. "Aha! Here we are! Looks like a hiccup in the South. Some odd love affair with a Varang warlord, Red Wind..."

Aphelion nodded. "Okay, I'll get started on this. Also, send Crimson a yes for dinner. Anything else?"

Messanim slipped from behind the desk,"Well, there's the normal stuff... another racial split forming in the Haslanti, a Ledaal falling in love with an air nymph, oh here's one about..."

"Don't you think you should mention the joint operation, Messa?" Quoletz's words cut like a knife.

Aphelion raised an eyebrow,"What's this?"

Sephai chimed in,"Yes, looks like you'll be working on an away mission with a Chosen of Serenity." Her face puckered in a bittersweet smile,"Oh, but we will miss you terribly while you're away!"

Aphelion returned the smile politely,"And I you, of course," The smile faded to a look of fatigue as he turned back to Messanim,"Are you serious? Another of Venus' lot? What this time?"

"Well, on the surface the project doesn't seem to really merit much coordinated effort, but," Messanim leaned in closer,"I noticed in a few slipped papers that she is a Bronze Faction advocate. I think she might be attached to watch after ''you.''"

Aphelion rolled his eyes."As if some courtesan is going to outwit me if I have any intentions, honestly... So, who's my babysitter, then?"

"Akemi, Chosen of Venus. What I have found on her says she..."

Quoletz butted in with a curt gesture toward the door,"Why don't you let her say for herself?"