The Actions of a Great Magician [ OPEN ! ]

[hurtfew]

A) An Audience with Norrell

Gilbert Norrell describes himself as having a scholar's love of silence. There are few things he dislikes so much as crowds, as people gossiping about nothing. Norrell's love is for his books, and for writing.

So it is that most days Norrell secludes himself in his offices, planning and reading and writing letters of discontent -- although it could be said that perhaps the letters of discontent take up most of his time, followed by the reading, followed last by the planning.

The rising of his rank is a thing that pleases Norrell, but he is wary of it all the same. There is another person he must work with, a woman, and he is at a loss for how to handle her. The women of Daybreak, on the whole, are stronger in temperament than he is used to. It gives him something of a headache.

Still, as both a High Priest of Daybreak and Coven Leader he has been forced to make an effort to be more accommodating. So it is that he ensures he has a few days set aside in each month to speak to anyone who wishes a moment of his time. It is begrudging, a thing that involves him pursing his lips a great deal and perhaps not being the most tactful of souls, but the grand building that is the Norrellite Coven -- all respectable yet elegant black and white frontage -- is allowing in people to speak with the High Priest himself for short appointments.

Of course, they are asked to identify themselves first, and Norrell does not meet them alone. He is more than aware that people may be jealous of his new position and wish his downfall! So it is that guards flank the room his heavy desk occupies, and Norell himself awaits those who wish to speak to him with palpable impatience.

B) A Visit to Westminster

Norrell's greatest wish, aside from of course to generally be recognised for the great man he is, is to be recognised by the Night Council. The Night Council, to him, is the best place a man can be to ensure the restoration of English magic to greatness! They have the power to make the laws, and so through them -- well! Through them so much could be done! The Fae driven back entirely, Midnight put a stop to, magic made respectable once more and London made a safe place!

So it is that regularly Norrell can be found in Westminster, trying to get an audience with the Night Council or a message to them. It is unfortunate that he has yet to be given a place on it, but Childermass has assured him these things never happen quickly. That soon they will see him for his greatness, it may just take time. Until then, he should of course associate with all the right people and make his voice heard.

This is made difficult when it is so obvious to him that Sylvia Redbright is entirely envious of his success and sees him as a threat. She, he is sure, is the reason why he cannot get an audience nor be heard!

He sits in the waiting area a while, lips pursed in discontent, before finally deciding he cannot wait any longer and rising to leave. Busy indeed! How could they be too busy to see him, High Priest of Daybreak? The man who made peace in Lambeth? It will not do! His time is precious, and cannot be wasted waiting at the Night Council's convenience! So flustered is he that he nearly barges into a person on his way out. Immediately his demeanour changes from one of silent fury to unease and nerves.

"Oh!" he manages in surprise, and lifts his hands up a little as if in defence.

C) Book Store

Most of the time Gilbert Norrell will either request delivery of a book or send a person to pick it up for him.

This time, however, his impatience has gotten the better of him. Childermass is busy, Lucas has time off and he simply cannot wait. Someone might attempt to steal the book away, they might sell it to another if he waits too long to pick it up, all sorts of problems might arise!

That, and it's the only copy he's found so far. Norrell is eager to see what condition it is in and begin reading it and making a copy.

He paces impatiently in the book store, waiting for his order to be fetched. The books around him are, largely, regarded with disdain for they are fiction. Norrell has little interest in fiction, almost as little interest as he has in continuing to be in this book store! He has so much work to be getting done, and yet they insist on keeping him waiting!

Any other patrons he spots are regarded with looks of disinterest, dislike or irritation simply because they are there. He only hopes they do not try and strike up idle conversation with him.

Comments

C)

[smugfox]

There were very few reasons for Reynard to walk into a book store. Of course he could read, but he only rarely saw any need to. However, he had needed to duck into a shop to avoid someone who might be looking for a thing or two of theirs that could have wounded up in Reynard's possession, so this store worked as well as any.

He hadn't expected the powerful presence of magic and of course he immediately followed the pull. There was something alluring about any kind of power, be it magical, physical or influential. It just filled Reynard with this urge to poke. That was nothing new, but that didn't mean it couldn't still pass the time very amiable.

He watched the man fidget for a while. Clearly he was impatient, waiting for something. So he finally moved up to stay next to him, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper and moving just close enough to count as too close, without actually brushing against him. "Waiting for Fifty Shades of Grey?"

[hurtfew]

Norrell senses the magic on Reynard as he approaches and looks sideways at him sharply, eyes widening. It isn't strong magic, but it's definitely there. He leans away a little, about to protest how close he is when the question makes him pause.

"... What?" he prompts, at a loss. "Why would I be waiting for such a thing? I have never heard of it!"

[smugfox]

Some people didn't recognize an opportunity until they thought about a situation afterwards, only then realizing how much fun they could have had. Reynard had never had that problem, he jumped on the opportunity right away. His expression shifted to be a lot more serious, although it was a gradual enough change to not seem suspicious.

"You haven't? I thought it was very well known, not that most people recognize the true potential."

[hurtfew]

Potential? Norrell laces his hands together and lofts an eyebrow at Reynard, curious and irritated both by his manner.

"I have not heard of it. Who is the author? What is their topic?"

He hopes it is not a fiction book, or one that extols the virtues of fae magic! Little could be worse to him, he has no patience for such things.

[smugfox]

"A good question. I think it depends entirely on your perception of the matter. For the masses it is just a book. Fairly frivolous at that." Reynard offered a shrug and turned his hands, palms facing upward. A universal gesture of showing innocence. "But for anyone able to read between the lines, well. There's a reason I thought you might be waiting for it, good sir."

[hurtfew]

His lips thin further in irritation, brow furrowing. Reynard's answer is still not, in fact, an answer. It as if he simply circles the answer in a vague manner, and that irritates Norrell who is a man of plain facts. He dislikes vagueness and mysticism.

"But who is the author," he prompts, "and what manner of book is it! You have told me nothing at all about it!"

[smugfox]

The truth of the matter is that, yes, Reynard liked to talk around things rather than give straight-forward answers a lot of the time, but in this case he simply had no idea. Memorizing the name of the author of that book hadn't exactly been top of his priority list after all. But now that this had gone on this long, he can't just give up on the ruse, however ridiculous it might be. Some entertainment might yet come from it.

"Names hold power, you should know that." He doubted that person's name did, but whatever. "It appears as a book of fiction. Innocent enough. Something mundane people can pass their time with idly. But therein is the danger. Hidden potential."

[hurtfew]

Norrell scowls at this declaration, eyes darting away again out into the bookshop impatiently. He is at the end of his tether with the conversation, and straining to be free of it.

"I have no interest in fiction or puzzle solving, sir. I am a man of facts. Whatever this book is that you wait for it is of no interest to me."

[smugfox]

"It's no matter of puzzle solving." Sir? Not something he'd normally accept as a form of address, but it saved him from giving his name for the moment, so he might as well roll with it. "It's a matter of magic and strength. There's nothing more grounded in fact."

This might be the silliest thing he'd done today, but at least he'd made an acquaintance. Someone with quite a bit of magic, a temper and not a lot of patience. Silliness aside, Reynard considered that a very promising combination.

[hurtfew]

The word magic draws his attention again, and he flicks his eyes sideways to Reynard uneasily. It is not something he would normally wish to talk about so openly, especially not in a public book store! Yet he is curious despite himself, and despite his impatience with the conversation. He purses his lips a moment, discontent, before looking away again.

"You still have not told me the author," he prompts. Perhaps if he recognises the author he can dismiss this book as nonsense and move on.

[smugfox]

"If you're interested, seek it out and you'll know the name. I'm not that interested in spoon-feeding you information. I'd assumed you'd know all about it." Since obviously everyone who deserved respect ought to know. Reynard rolled his eyes at himself more than anything, but since the man couldn't know that it wasn't a wasted gesture.

"Maybe you'll be more aware when I next run into you."

[hurtfew]

He straightens at that, unhappy at both the man's tone and his manner of speaking. Spoon-feeding information indeed! Who does this man think he is, speaking to him so!

"If the book was truly worth knowing about I would already own or be seeking it," he announces.

"Mr Norrell?" The store keeper finally emerges, a book bound in paper and tied about with string in his hand, then he hesitates at the sight of the man beside him. Clearly the discontent of the conversation is evident even to him. He pauses, uncertain if he should continue, before finally taking a few slow steps closer and holding it out. "Sorry for the wait, sir," he offers, and Norrell snorts in mild disgust while taking the book.

[smugfox]

"The book Fifty Shades of Grey. You know it?" Of course the store keeper nodded, because some books were hard to miss, no matter the lack of personal interest in it. "So you're familiar with the author?"

"Of course. E.L. James, isn't it?" The man's tone was perfectly polite, as Reynard would have expected in a store like this. He spared a smile for, apparently, Mr Norrell.

"There you go then. Get a copy and make up your own mind, dear Mr Norrell." He inclined his head a little, deciding that by now it was probably safe to head back outside. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I can hardly wait to run into you again."

[hurtfew]

E. L. James? Norrell frowns, trying to recall if he has heard the name before, and drawing a blank.

He's about to respond that he has not heard of this author, question if they are new and generally remark that they are surely a nobody if he does not know them -- yet then the man appears to be making as if to leave. Norrell huffs, looking between the store keeper and Reynard and fussing with the book to unwrap it.

"A shame I cannot say the same for you," he remarks, lips pursed as he begins inspect the book's condition. E. L. James indeed! Whoever heard of the author?

Perhaps he will ask Childermass. Childermass is more likely to have heard of anything new like that.