[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

[falsify]

Oh. That's unexpected. Surprise at his reply definitely registers on Kathryn's face, but it settles into a smile. Hers is a lot more confident, as if the idea of anyone ever saying 'no' to her is an unfathomable concept.

"Both have their benefits," she pauses to take a sip of her drink, expression thoughtful. Given, well. There is suddenly quite a lot to think about here. "A skilled hand will have the desired result regardless of technique, after all."

[knightscode]

He drops his eyes again at her words, smile flicking up a little further.

"Very true," he manages, flustered by trying to rally. It's difficult, with such a beautiful woman watching him so closely. He feels as if he might make a fool of himself any moment. "I would imagine, however, a woman like yourself would have very discerning taste. Would know what she wants."

And surely it could not be him, not really. Lancelot's eyes lift again, after a second -- a little guarded. For all his easy charm, after all, Lancelot is weak to the right kind of charm himself for one simple reason. Lancelot has no self esteem, no belief in his own self worth. Approached wrong he assumes he is being mocked and the whole thing collapses, but approached the right way... well, Lancelot Dulac is easily putty in someone's hands.

[falsify]

Ugh, he's so cute Eames might feel bad if he had any kind of moral compass. As it is however, Kathryn places her glass down on the table, trailing her fingers idly around the rim as she looks around. Now is hardly the right time to go jumping a man's bones though.

Hm.

She grabs her handbag from its place by her feet and takes out a pen, and in careful handwriting she writes her name and a phone number on a napkin that she slides Lancelot's way.

"Perhaps you should call me in the future, and then I can avail you of my tastes somewhere more private."

[knightscode]

For a moment Lancelot isn't sure what she's going to do, is a little frozen as if he might have made some sort of wrong move and she might be about to leave in offence.

Then she slides the napkin over and Lancelot looks at her in open surprise. As if he had never expected to actually have something come of it.

"I..." he slides his eyes away, awkward, but takes it regardless. His smile flicks up again, hopeful, and he nods. "I'd like that," he says, and there's something terribly earnest about it rather than flirtatious.

[falsify]

Is he really so unused to being hit on? Kathryn raises an eyebrow at the earnest tone to his voice - Lancelot is far from unattractive, in her estimation - but she smiles too, eyes flicking down to her plate.

"Good," normally there'd be a kiss here to seal the deal, but given where they are that seems somewhat inappropriate. Instead she stands to excuse herself to the bathroom, but really it's more so she can lean over to whisper in his ear before she leaves, "I look forward to hearing from you."