[SEMI-OPEN] Written by the Victors

[hurtfew]

Date: 30th of October, pre-Samhain celebration!
Plot: Smug Victory Dinner, with political manoeuvring
Areas: Westminster



It may have been a struggle, but Lambeth has finally been won over. A week of hard work to drive out all the unspeakable sorts, and another week of trying to keep control and tidy up, and it's looking like things are slowly beginning to settle. Gilbert Norrell is very pleased by this. Now he has proven he can be a leader, can lead them to victory -- and over a difficult area too! Of course, there were difficulties. Were small problems and losses along the way, but that does not matter now.

A dinner is not normally his style, he refused to hold one himself, but Childermass persuaded someone else to hold this on his behalf and -- well, it would be rude to decline. So he attends, if reluctantly (he does not like parties) and smiles as people applaud him. It is a rush of success, of ego, and as people come to congratulate him and find ways to carefully bring up their own causes and beliefs Gilbert Norrell feels that finally he is beginning to be recognised.

The table is carefully laid with glittering crystal glasses, candles and flowers. Not too ostentatious but still elegant and respectable, suited to the style of Norrell himself. Waiters and waitresses silently move back and forth serving people and taking requests or preferences, and the food is plentiful. If people can suffer the small-talk and ego coming from the head of the table, it will at least be a good meal.

[ ooc; log for the Daybreak victory meal! You can give me a ping if you want to be involved and replied already! It's set on Friday night so people can get drunk and slouch home without having to worry about the following morning, and can still attend Samhain things later. Entry is free, food and drink is free! The meal is being held by a lackey of Norrell's who wants to suck up to him since he's on the way up, and Norrell is therefore the ~guest of honour~. Dress code is black tie, thread with each other and mingle! ]

Comments

[hurtfew]

He looks up and around in faint surprise at being addressed, and for a moment Norrell regards Faolan with idle curiosity. He does not particularly recognise Faolan as someone he worked with personally, but there were more than a few people at Lambeth. He does not look like a witch for that matter either, and Gilbert Norrell does make it his business to know Daybreak witches at the very least. Hillingdon, perhaps, or Redbright? He would guess Hillingdon...

"Something had to be done," he says in answer. "The fae have already been allowed to take Croydon from us. I had hoped others might act, but if it must fall to me..."

Norrell tilts his head sadly, as if contemplating on the great burden of this all. The terrible fate of being forced to handle this all, since no others would step up.

[reticence]

Faolan raises his eyebrows slightly, but manages to school his expression into politeness rather than the disbelief he feels.

"It's true," he responds. "I was there, defending Croydon against the fae in the battle which you speak of. There were too many and their magic was too much for us. It's just as well that they be put in their place and made to understand that one victory does not mean a sweep."

He tilts his head before continuing, "Forgive me for asking so, sir, but I can't help wondering. Is it just the loss of Croydon that turns you against the fae? Or is there more reason why you have cause to distrust them?"

[hurtfew]

"Oh, not at all! Look at how much territory the fae have taken already, and in only a few months! No, the fae have been too bold for some time now. They cannot be trusted. Fae are the worst part of English magic, and must be sealed out of London before they do more damage!"

This Norrell says with the greatest confidence, and a frown upon his features that says Faolan must surely agree! That this is common sense, and any other opinion is unacceptable.

[reticence]

"Sealed out of London," he repeats. "Back to the Other Realm, you mean." The words half a question, half a statement. Neither agreeing nor disagreeing to the other man's words. He notes that while this Norrell has not seemed to give him a personal reason to distrust the fae, that the other man's protestations still seem personal. As though this is his personal crusade to be undertaken and he shall follow through with it regardless as to how many are backing his right and just cause or not.

He cocks his head to the side again. "How might one do such a thing, then, sir? It seems a complicated undertaking."

[hurtfew]

"Of course! The fae have plenty of their own territory to live in. They do not need land in London, in this realm! Yet they take it from us all the same, from humanity! If they are allowed to continue we risk being conquered! No, sir, I will not allow that."

He pauses, takes a moment to collect himself before continuing on -- intense and focused. This is a very important topic to Norrell, and one he greatly loves to speak on.

"Daybreak territories always have a ritual performed upon them to prevent doors to the other realm being opened. The more territories perform this ritual the harder it will be for the fae to enter London. If all of London could be sealed then all that would be left were fae already here, and the population would be much easier to control or banish."

[reticence]

Banish the fae from this plane of existence entirely. It's an interesting thought, and one that should hold weight to it, considering what Faolan knows of people being stolen by the fae. By the mischief caused by them. But at the same time he can't help but feel as though this man is overly generalizing a problem, and to act on what he suggests might create one more massive than he even realizes. Than he might be able to handle, or anyone might be able to for that matter.

"You have obviously given this a great deal of thought, sir," Faolan retorts on the matter. Because he realizes the last thing he should do is argue a point against such a man as this. He's here to collect information, not to draw attention to himself and cause a scene. "Might I ask how one would banish the fae left behind though, if all the doors had been sealed?"

[hurtfew]

"With magic, of course."

He offers Faolan a look that suggests this is obvious, and that perhaps Faolan himself may be a little slow for not understanding.

"We can seal all the doors and force them to leave London entirely. I have indeed given this a great deal of thought, as you say, because it is a topic that should warrant such a thing. The fae need to be challenged, and Circle Daybreak must be that challenge. We must show them we are strong, or else they will continue to harass us and take territory from us."

[reticence]

He's better slow and not a threat than too inquisitive, too smart, and dangerous. Even if it does irk him a little, how condescending the other man seems to be. How carefully he must watch his words around him because of that.

"Have they not taken territory from another faction, then?" he asks, feigning ignorance. Although the point remains -- are the fae really so much of a threat to Daybreak, or is the faction just easily affronted? To take territory from other factions is normal, as far as Faolan sees it. Have not other factions taken from one another before? Is it just Daybreak raising a fuss about it all?

[hurtfew]

"It is the job of Circle Daybreak to keep the peace," Norrell insists, "and the fae are clearly disturbing the peace by infringing on our territories and taking land! How can we have a peaceful and respectable magic tradition if fae are parading about London, stealing territory and causing chaos? No, you miss the point entirely sir! This is a problem for everyone who lives here! Fae cannot be trusted, and they are not the sort of creatures anyone should welcome as neighbours!"

[reticence]

"You'll pardon me but I thought that it was the job of the Night Council to keep the peace, not Circle Daybreak," Faolan says, the words out of his mouth before he can help himself. Realizing as soon as they're out that he could have very well made a grave error in letting his mouth get the better of him. He's clearly spent too much time at this party, tried his patience too much before managing to catch this opportunity to speak to Norrell himself.

[hurtfew]

"And are they doing that? No! Not when fae are behaving as they are! Daybreak is the best chance London has of eradicating the fae, and it must be strong once more!"

Eradicating being a strong word, but Norrell is very strong in his opinions -- something which is becoming abundantly clear as the conversation goes on.

"If the Night Council will not act then Daybreak must. I will make sure of it."

[reticence]

Eradicating? He will make sure of it? Faolan has to literally bite his tongue to keep himself from protesting anything in regards to this idea. It's clear however that Norrell doesn't seem to believe anything about Daybreak being the best chance that London has against the fae. He believes that he is.

"You will see to it personally?" he asks, from between gritted teeth. "Surely that is a fairly incomprehensible task to accomplish on your own. Is the rest of the Circle in agreement with you? Who do you have at your back?" You and what army, he wants to ask, but he holds his tongue in that regard as well.

[hurtfew]

"Oh, it is a very great task indeed! And one I very much wish had fallen to another man. But it has fallen to me, and although I labour under a disadvantage I am sure the others will come to understand. I already have followers, and soon others will come. I intend to make both British magic and London respectable once more, sir, even if it strains me to take on this battle."

Norrell sighs, as if tired even at the thought of it -- his small frame seeming to sag under the weight of such a terrible burden that he has chosen to shoulder.

[reticence]

'Under a disadvantage'. What kind of disadvantage is that, Faolan wonders, with so much wealth at his fingertips as to throw a party like this one. After having won a territory dispute, sitting there with his fancy tableware and his fancy friends, bitching about how the fae must be eradicated, like some sort of pest. And yet he has still not answered anything Faolan has asked with a straightforward plan.

No, this task has fallen to Norrell because he has created it for himself, and if Norrell actually were so against the idea, then he would not be so dedicated to the task. "I'm sure that it does," Faolan replies, trying very hard to keep from growling the word out. Trying to keep himself from saying too much more of anything else, because he's likely to start going off on him, and that would be hardly diplomatic of him.

[hurtfew]

"I am a scholar, sir, I love solitude and the quiet. Yet of course, to make one's way in London there is a lot of this sort of thing. Talking, parties. Would that it were not so, but..."

Norrell regards Faolan with a look of deep regret, that such a terrible thing as to have a party thrown for him should happen. That he should be cursed with shouldering such a thing, with having to sit here and eat all this food while people speak of him. Oh, but if only he could retreat to his library with his books! Then Norrell would truly be a happy man.

[reticence]

Faolan thinks to himself that if this party is such a hardship on the other man then he is handling this fairly well, all things considered. He certainly does not seem to have any problem with sitting around forcing his opinions on other people over dinner, after all.

Nor does he point out that if one is a scholar, then to 'make one's way' is not to involve oneself in such politics either. He's not looking to start an argument, really he isn't. But Norrell is making this difficult, and the longer he stands there talking to the man, the less likely he is to succeed in holding his tongue. He needs to find an escape.

"And why have you come to London then, sir? Would not such a lifestyle be much better suited for the country?" ...he needs to find an escape, and soon.

[hurtfew]

Why has he come to London? Oh, but that is a very good question of course!

"To help make magic respectable," he informs Faolan. "And to offer my support to the great minds of the Night Council, if they will accept it. I have studied a great deal the histories and intricacies of magic and I believe I have a lot to offer them. I admit, the stylings of London do not entirely suit me. The houses are so very small, and the streets noisy -- but for the betterment of English magic I will bear it. I care little for my own comfort in the face of that."

[reticence]

The houses so small, the streets so noisy... No doubt he finds its people lacking in some way for some reason as well. Faolan almost laughs at the idea that he should 'care little for his own comfort' in the face of anything. He seems to care a great deal about his own comfort, if this whole business with his vendetta against the fae is anything to go by.

Faolan should just go. He should just make his excuses and go. But instead when he opens up his mouth it is to ask, "Where does Hillingdon stand in your plans, then?"

[hurtfew]

Hillingdon? Norrell regards Faolan with a furrowing of his forehead momentarily, thinned lips before he finally lofts a brow as if to question him in turn.

"I have given work to Hillingdon before, and I will do so again if they wish it."

Which is as much as Norrell is willing to commit, since in general he finds it distasteful to even do that much. Yet needs must.