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Entry tags:
- abby,
- benedict quintus artemaeus,
- byerly rutyer,
- cosima niehaus,
- derrica,
- ellie,
- james flint,
- julius,
- kostos averesch,
- loxley,
- marcus rowntree,
- matthias,
- petrana de cedoux,
- tsenka abendroth,
- yseult,
- { glimmer },
- { harrowhark nonagesimus },
- { joselyn smythe },
- { jude adjei },
- { laurentius vesperus },
- { richard gecko },
- { seth gecko },
- { tony stark }
open | full circle pt 1
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.
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.
no subject
[ Even for their assembly of persuasive speakers. Even for Fiona herself. ]
And it's potentially too late to try and pass Julius off as one of their own. [ sigh ] So while we're there, we could see if anyone familiar could be enticed to keep us informed as to what movements they work towards in the future.
[ Maybe none of Marcus' friends, but— ]
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Then pauses, contemplating the floor between them as he tries to remember the specific personalities of those that make up the College. None truly spring to mind. His participation in wider Circle community, even once he'd risen to his rank, had been limited. ]
My instinct is to threaten, [ finally, something of an admission. ] Not with direct harm to them, not unless they choose to stand in the way. Only reminding them that they are. I take it the favoured approach [ a nod to the open door ] is a trifle more friendly.
no subject
We seem to be operating on the idea that we can be heard by them.
[ Not that John disbelieves this off hand, however— ]
But it has occurred to me we may need to consider something further, in case they will not. They sought to be underhanded in this, and perhaps we may need to be as well.
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A pause, and he asks, ]
The deal struck with the Van Markhams might be leveraged.
[ He isn't certain how. It isn't really His Area, this part, and raising it now is more of a means of testing something in his study of Silver. ]
no subject
[ What is to keep the Loyalists from setting themselves up in opposition on principle? Would they truly go so far? ]
no subject
Those that call themselves Aequitarians would be more favourable to any sort of perceived break from the Chantry than the Loyalists, although I don't know how they feel about the customs of Nevarra. I don't have names, [ before Silver can ask ] but we could acquire some.
[ We, maybe himself. ]
It might create a schism, and buy some time.
no subject
[ Thoughtful. Glancing through the door, gauging whether or not Petrana can be interrupted.
He apparently decides not. ]
If they're anything like what's going on in there, the debate over it alone could buy us a week.
no subject
Embers flaring, smoke, ash. There's a pause that Silver could fill, or wish Marcus well in his door watching before turning inside, but Marcus gets there first. ]
Do you intend to count yourself among our number properly? Here, or in Cumberland.
no subject
But instead, this question.
A discussion that was always looming in the future of their acquaintance, and John gives it due weight as he answers. ]
Do I belong among your number?
[ Nobody, from nowhere. No Circle, no phylactery. Nothing. A man appearing as if stepping forth from the ocean surf. (What came before?) ]
no subject
I've asked that to myself, of you,
[ and then doesn't come too much closer. It's not intentional, any similarity to that first dream memory they'd shared, but the full force of Marcus' attention tends to have similar intensities. ]
'Apostate'. You could vanish from all of this if you chose, I know. And I know the advantages of being neither thing, mage and not. But then I have to ask what makes you so interested in these affairs, if you're not willing to be touched by them.
You could count yourself among us, if you wished it. Would you, one day?
no subject
Or maybe it is simply bracing against the question. ]
I cannot guess at what necessity the future will bring. Or what that will require of me.
[ Not yes. Not no, exactly. ]
But I assume Petrana has spoken something of our business here to you. Our hopes of seeing what comes after this war taking a far better shape than what it was before.
[ A Circle pun thankfully discarded. ]
What is decided in that room is part of that.
[ We would be doing it just to see it done, Flint had said in the wake of Nascere's destruction, and John had agreed. And neither of them had questioned the course of action again. ]
no subject
Well, expected, and Marcus' nod somewhere in there is mostly patient. During, he folds his arms comfortably, but there is some tension still set across his shoulders, in the grip to his elbow. Likely began when Derrica started to speak, likely not to end until he's coaxed Petra and Julius both away and back to their quarters. ]
I believe that, [ he says, of said 'our business'. Worth saying out loud, directly. ] It's an opportune time, these years. If the continued freedom of mages can be secured through promises and leverage and dealmaking—
[ Not a laugh, exactly, that sound. No mirth in it. ] We lost so many in the rebellion. I don't know a man or woman who didn't. But we didn't have any choice, not in the way the Loyalists and their allies think we had a choice.
[ But back to the topic, which is, for now, John Silver. ]
Where would you be, if they forced our hand again? Say the future requires it.
[ The question is asked as simply as it can be summoned, without any angle evident in tone or manner. ]
no subject
John Silver, who is no one. Who has spent so long in the same place that the constant unchanging company brings some conception and permutation of him into focus, sharpens indistinctions. ]
You mean if the rebellion resumes?
[ Clarifying. Finding the edges of the question he is operating within. ]
no subject
no subject
[ Simple enough.
But he is thinking too, of Madi. Her people. What she would say of this. What Flint would say of this.
Support takes on many shapes. ]
There is no scenario in which we could stand alongside the Loyalists, [ is true, beyond question. ] And there is no future in which we turn our eyes away.
[ Nascere is broken to pieces, sunk into the sea. There is nowhere to withdraw to now. ]
no subject
But it'll do, for now, in this hallway. ]
Is it apparent to you, why I ask?
no subject
[ The remedy is clear to John too.
It's a step that has been discussed before. John has toed up along the edge of it, but has not crossed over. ]
I imagine you aren't wholly satisfied, either.
no subject
It isn't your job to satisfy me wholly, Silver, [ dry, but sobering again as he says, ] I only press you on this because this place you occupy protects you. And it isn't that I wish you to be in danger along with us, just—
[ A restless glance towards the open door, the patter of voices emanating from it. ]
So long as you bear in mind the lives of those who aren't so protected, then I can promise the same. Work, support. However this next thing goes.
no subject
But that's not the point, and chasing after it will only distract from the conversation at hand. ]
They are always on my mind, [ is truthful. Of course he thinks of them. How could he not? ] And should we pursue this in means other than discussion, I assume it won't matter what is known of me. The danger will be equally allotted.
no subject
He says, ] Then I won't have you thrown out, [ and it is so seriously delivered that the only indication that this is a Joke beyond context alone comes in the form of a flickered glance. ]
wrap this y/y?
John's eyebrows raise, amusement lightening his expression.
(Is this friendship??????????????????????) ]
Something best avoided, given our record.
[ In which someone threw some rocks.
Is this something to joke about also? Near death within a dreamscape? ]
I should return.
[ Not that John has been contributing, but he has been listening intently. There will be conversations later, with Petra. With Flint. And more going forward, certainly. But he'll need to return to hear the rest of it, instead of what reaches them here in the hall. ]
places bow
Considers, then says, ] I'll be in again shortly.
[ Like Silver said, it could well be hours before they see a conclusion, so he may as well be around for it. ]