[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

[brightwitch]

Let it be known that Sylvia Redbright does not attend this party. Though she has said nothing against Norrell spearheading the takeover of Lambeth, she hasn't offered much in the way of support either. Frankly, she finds Norrell an odious little man, and so when she receives the invitation telling her that Norrell is the "guest of honour", she throws it away where it belongs – in the fire.

That's not to say that Sylvia doesn't recognize political ambition when she sees it. Far from it: there are people here who will report back to her. Everything that goes on in Circle Daybreak is her business, after all.

As for the other members of the Night Council... two of them do decide to attend. The first is Peter Vrinak, a Daybreak witch and coven leader who is less strident than Norrell in his views, but privately finds himself agreeing with them. Any victory for Circle Daybreak is a good thing in his opinion, and he doesn't mind congratulating Norrell on that.

The second is Yasmine Merad, a shapeshifter who moves with all the feline grace of her panther form. She's here because she knows that Sylvia doesn't like Norrell, and isn't it interesting when it looks like cracks may be forming in the previously impenetrable Daybreak community? She doesn't say much, but she listens and observes. She agrees with the strong opinions around the table that call for kicking out the fae, but finds Norrell's attitude so off-putting that she thinks she prefers Sylvia. Lord. Why are these witches so stuck-up?

[ooc: This is a summary of NPC involvement at the party! If you would like to meet either Peter or Yasmine for plot-related developments, feel free to tag. Small talk can be hand-waved.]

[protagonized]

Simon finds the conversation at dinner eminently dull, but the food is quite palatable. There's even a vegetarian option, which he appreciates. Often at these sort of events he just has to stick to salad and trust that no one's stuck ham or chicken in it. Eating occupies his mind totally until several courses in, close to the end of the sorbet palate cleanser. That is when he smells something new, something that makes the sorbet taste different in his mouth.

He smells a cat.

Seated two seats away is a beautiful, graceful woman that Simon is sure he has met before, though he can't remember where.

She is also, without a doubt, a shapeshifter.

Simon doesn't realize he's staring until several minutes have passed.

[brightwitch]

Simon may well have seen Yasmine before: she's head of the science department at the Redbright Institute, which makes her a familiar sight around the school. She's deep in conversation with various colleagues and takes little notice of Simon, though she can smell what he is. That is, until she notices him staring at her.

Being stared at is not a new experience for Yasmine, especially not being stared at by adolescent boys. Boys, dogs, whatever. They're all bags of hormones. The best way to deal with it in her experience is to tackle it head-on. Which is why Yasmine cants her head at Simon, meeting his eyes with a look of acknowledgement: hello, fellow 'shifter.

She holds his gaze for a moment before returning to her meal.

[protagonized]

Simon feels distinctly uncomfortable when he realizes she's called him out without saying anything at all. He knows where he recognizes her from, now--he's seen her at Redbright. She's one of the few other shapeshifters there.

And suddenly he knows what he needs to ask her.

After dinner, he waits until she doesn't seem to be otherwise occupied.

"Good evening," he says in what he hopes is a charming, sophisticated sort of way. "Can I get you a drink?"

[brightwitch]

It's sort of cute that he's trying to be charming. Even if she was interested, Yasmine knows her boundaries as a teacher and would never respond to flirting from any of the students. But he is a shapeshifter, so she will at least give him a chance.

"No," she says, putting a hand on her hip, "but if you have something to say, you can say it."

She's all ears.

[protagonized]

Well, down to business, then. Simon drops the act; he's still pleasant and polite, but he doesn't have to pretend to be what he isn't anymore.

"I'm Simon O'Neill," he says, holding out a hand. "I know there aren't many of us at Redbright, so I thought I'd introduce myself. I also have a question, if you'll indulge me."

He takes a deep breath. "Several weeks ago, I asked Mrs. Redbright for a favor, and she mentioned she would be passing along some information to someone else. I know this is quite a long shot, but would that someone else be you?"

[brightwitch]

She shakes his hand, frowning for a moment because his name rings a bell. A favour for Redbright – oh yeah. Missing parents. Yasmine's expressive eyebrows shoot up, and then she grins and nods.

"You're the kid looking for his parents. Sylvia did mention you. White dog, right?"

If she recalls his file correctly.