open | full circle pt 1

[exequy]

WHO: Concerned mages/rifters/others
WHAT: An emergency meeting!
WHEN: Solace 20
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Explanation in the OOC post. Please tag this like a network post. There are top-level comments to provide a little chronology/structure, but threadjack to your heart's content.

Before and during dinner on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday, there's a chain of whispers (or notes, or perfectly audible comments from the particularly unsubtle) about an emergency meeting, at an evening hour, in a basement room, regarding a matter of concern to rifters and mages.

The basement part is probably unnecessary. It's certainly ineffective; the organization is too small, the Gallows too contained, and the halls too echoey for something arranged with this much finesse-wrecking haste to truly remain a secret. They could have done it in an empty office or the recreational dining hall, probably, and sat on chairs instead of storage crates. But Kostos picked the location, and he's dramatic. If nothing else it signals a clear intention to do this as unofficially as necessary.

Anyone who accepts the invitation (or just decides to come see what the fuss is about) will first encounter Marcus Rowntree, posted up outside the door like a bouncer, letting mages and rifters move through undisturbed but stepping in to question and likely bar the arrival of anyone else. Inside, Kostos is nothing but a dark scowl in the room's far corner, picking at a splinter of wood on a crate and not mustering a word of greeting for anyone who comes in. Derrica has parked herself within arm's reach of Kostos, a long gold-edged shawl spilling over one shoulder. Her diplomacy pin gleams from the front of her tunic. The worried pinch to her brow is the only outward sign of anxiety; otherwise, she is tightly contained, watching people enter. Julius–notably not in robes–is serious but calm as people come in, standing next to the ever-composed Madame de Cedoux.

Once as many people have arrived as seem likely to, Marcus closes the door, remaining beside it, and they explain what the problem is.

Comments

[tender]

[ There is an answer at the tip of her tongue. Unkind. Truthful.

Derrica sets it aside. ]

They are not invited because it is not their place to decide how we proceed in dealing with this proposal. Should the Divine adopt this as it has been written, the effects of it will be ours to bear, not theirs. This is not a space for them to offer opinion on what we should tolerate.

[ however— ]

Perhaps some will join us to lend support in Cumberland. I don't know. Even if they do, the College of Magi doesn't hear anyone without magic. We can argue for the inclusion of rifters, because the Chantry has bound us together, but people without either...

[ Trailing into a shake of her head. Will they be able to be heard? Derrica is uncertain. And if she is to argue for the inclusion of nontraditional participants, she already knows which group she would be pushing for. ]

[armd]

(But they're on our side. It would be naïve to say it but Abby feels it all the same, strongly, like a little flame in her chest. There are plenty of people in Riftwatch who aren't mages or rifters but they're still in fucking Riftwatch, so why wouldn't they want to come? Why wouldn't they want to support their fellow members?

She supposes she doesn't really want the answer to that question.)

I get what you're saying. (It makes perfect sense to her that the mages decide and the rifters are included on a technicality, she's not arguing that.) But if we shut everybody else out they'll just assume we don't need them. Are we going to debrief them later?

[foolsmakeitcolder]

Perhaps it's not my place to say, but I agree. While those of affected by the outcome of this should be the ones speaking to it, the others should know what's happening. What's decided.

They may want to help in other ways.

[tender]

[ Are they?

Derrica has considered this before. Those with a shard, perhaps. The rest? It is harder to say. Once all is said and done, how many would join them in petitioning or fighting for mages and rifters to have their freedom? How many secretly flinch from them, and would justify their banishment to a Circle on such a basis?

It is better that revelations like that wait until after Corypheus is no longer a threat. ]

Whatever is decided here, we will take it to the division heads first.

[ Not for permission, as far as Derrica is concerned. A courtesy, to inform them a not insubstantial number of their company is taking professional days. ]

Then perhaps others. People we know can be trusted to support us, in whatever form that may take. But you should understand, the College won't hear them. It is a gathering for mages, and because the Chantry has linked mages and rifters so closely, that will give us leverage for your inclusion.