The Slippery Slope [ Active / Open ]

[hurtfew]

i) Norrellite Coven, Open Door Session

It's a new year, and Gilbert Norrell is still excessively pleased with himself. Not only has he gained a coveted place upon the Night Council as Witch Representative, but he has persuaded the Night Council to enact a law to limit and punish the use of Dark Magic.

Finally, things are coming together! Finally all is as he hoped!

Of course, the idea that Sylvia may wish to send him away to visit other covens so soon after his appointment is a concern. Yet for now it is one he is not thinking too deeply on. Norrell's desire to stamp out all the mystical traditional nonsense from magic and make it modern and respectable does lend to spreading his word. Perhaps, he thinks, it will be a good thing to gain support outside London too. It is only that he dislikes travelling so extensively...

Norrell's study itself is a curious thing, impossible to find without escort. The way feels excessively winding, as if an impossible number of turns must be taken -- turns that are oddly difficult to remember afterward. There is the dizzying sense of magic about it, but then again perhaps such things are to be expected from Gilbert Norrell -- a man who is not without paranoia.

Childermass is in attendance as always during his open door session. Norrell himself sits behind his desk with excessively small glasses balanced on his nose, his sharp eyes glancing up as people enter. As High Priest of Daybreak alongside his role as coven leader Norrell must listen to all Daybreak witches and address their concerns. It is only that he wishes their concerns were not so plentiful and tiresome.

Of course, he is also happy to take on the role of teacher for those who wish it. Norrell greatly enjoys talking about magical history, theory and practice. While he dislikes purely theoretical magicians -- well, reading is an important part of learning and Norrell will cite any number of great authors and books to help a person find and fashion a spell for what they need. After all, his is the most extensive magical library in England.

If he will give you the book itself to read is another matter entirely.

"Well?" He prompts, removing his glass to hang on their chain and setting aside his pen -- lacing his hands together on his desk. Norrell's gaze is equal parts expectant and mildly impatient. He does have work to be doing.

ii) Night Council, Westminster

His new position means Norrell is back and forth from Westminster even more than previously. Before he had been trying to gain audiences with the Night Council, delivering messages, pleas, petitions, letters expression his opinions on matters and suggestions.

Now it is others who seek audiences with him. What a great thrill it is, to be so recognised at last! Only now, where he had been the irritation of others (even if he had not regarded himself so) -- now others irritate Norrell. They wait outside Westminster to catch him going in and out, trying to rapidly ask questions or pass messages. To shout and protest, to plead and push messages toward him. Norrell's car always draws as close as it can, and Childermass is always on hand to push people away, but he feels harried.

Some protest the law, some applaud him and ask what more he will do. Some call for peace, and some ask what Norrell will do about Croydon -- when will he secure Daybreak's grip upon it once more?

It is a certain level of chaos associated with celebrity, and while it is flattering for a short while Norrell quickly grows to dislike it very much.

Mister Norrell! A woman screams as he slips from his car, tries to hurry up the steps. Bodyguards restrain her, and Norrell dare not risk a glance back until he is near the top of the steps. Mister Norrell! You will answer for what you do!

He pales and hurries the rest of the way up the steps and into the security of the building, lips thinned unhappily. So distracted is he that he doesn't notice his company at first, and it is only the slight catch of movement that alerts and startles him into taking a step back.

iii) The Purge Begins

Once the purge begins in full force the Night Council and its Guardians are busier than ever. Fielding findings from searches, charges to be filed, complaints, reports from well meaning folk ranging from valid to 'well they wear a lot of black and eyeliner and looked at me suspiciously'.

Gilbert Norrell, of course, takes it upon himself to handle a lot of this personally. Not only does this stop Sylvia having to deal with it (something she, of course, is glad for -- this way the fault lies with him not her if it all goes south) but Norrell himself is glad for it. Denouncing witches his disapproves of and making their lives difficult is, after all, something Norrell excels at and enjoys greatly. Childermass himself has been employed many a time to investigate purely theoretical witches who cannot cast a spell to save their life, to force them to admit they are not true witches and then (of course) to gain any good books or tools they own and bring them to Norrell himself.

Norrell is the Greatest Witch of the Age (title unofficial ), The High Priest of Daybreak and Witch Representative of the Night Council. He speaks for witches, and it is his good intention to see witches respected appropriately (and himself in the process).

Of course, this means he is greatly busy with all the work he has made for himself. He is constantly poring over reports and signing documents, reading through descriptions and examining items -- giving instruction and snapping at Childermass that he has no time.

That, and there are the charges and complaints to address too.

Some come to complain of the way they have been searched, of the behaviour of guardians who have done the search, of the right of the Night Council to even do such a thing or even to question the new law itself.

Some are brought before him to face charges.

They are accompanied, of course, and the questionable items delivered for inspection along with reports -- and Norrell examines everything with a critical eye and an air of distaste.

iv) The Croydon Debacle Pt. ii

The fae are moving.

Norrell knew it would happen, and this time he is prepared. This time he has extra resources at his fingertips, and why should he not use them?

It is not cheating, to Norrell, merely acting for the greater good with all his strength. Making sure that he is making it more respectable to be a witch and that that dark, evil magic is being denounced in favour of modern magic.

So what issue is there with him ensuring that Croydon will be purged as one of the first territories? What issue is there with him planning for Daybreak to move on it shortly after?

It would have to be purged eventually. That is the new law, after all! If it perhaps works in his favour it is neither here nor there. Any accusations of favouritism are scowled down, for the fae are an enemy to all and the territory was Daybreak's originally. It is right that it should be returned to them, as any territory taken by the fae menace should be returned to its owners.

Norrell begins to make plans. He calls upon all his previous allies, contacts, spreads word to Hillingdon once more and offers his usual rewards. Money, scholarships, teaching.

This time, however, this time he has greater reach. This time he asks not just as a High Priest of Daybreak, but as someone with inside knowledge of the Night Council.

His letters are sent, his requests for assistance, offers -- now all he can do is wait.

Surely this time...

Surely this time he can truly drive out the fae, and then he will have proven he deserves this?

Comments

[knowstheworld]

Childermass doesn't particularly care whether he's bothering the other man or interrupting anything in particular. He's got a discussion to have with the man that he's already (clearly) held off for far too long already.

"How much further must this go?" he asks the other man, looking him straight in the face, watching for Norrell's reaction, his own expression blank, eyes piercing. He does not bother to explain himself. He's fairly certain that Norrell knows what he's talking about.

[hurtfew]

How much further? The question catches Norrell off guard, makes him blink a moment until he sets down his pen -- laces his hands together on his chest as he considers Childermass.

"As far as it must," he says simply. "You understand my goal is to rid London of dark and fairy magic. To make it respectable. That is what we are doing."

Yet -- yet Childermass has an objection, one which Norrell does not entirely understand. He has always known his goals, surely! Why would he object now?

[knowstheworld]

"Respectable," Childermass echoes back at the other man, and there is a bite to the word as he stares him down from his seat across Mr Norrell's own desk. "How much respect are you earning, going about it in such a way?" he asks. "Raiding people's houses? Turning out their things?"

He shoots the other man a pointed look as he leans forward towards him, across his desk. "How much respect do you think that woman will pay you now, after all is said and done?" he asks.

[hurtfew]

He seems to cow fractionally a moment under Childermass' stare, discomfort colouring his features.

"Miss Redbright wants to see an end to dark magic as much as I! She wishes to spread her territories! It will be easier to do such a thing if Midnight and the fae are pushed back! We were agreed that the approach was too soft before!"

Surely Childermass remembers that? Surely that is why they ousted Dee, for a stronger approach to take place? Vrinak had agreed!

[knowstheworld]

Childermass remembers, yes. But that does not mean that he agrees this approach is the correct way to go about things. Childermass has been in the place of the people whose homes they are picking through, and they have not. Norrell certainly has not, at any rate. He does not understand what it is to resent a person for the authority they will never have. To hate them for it as it is rubbed in one's face.

"You need to be careful, Mr Norrell," Childermass warns. "Decisions like these are an easy way to make more enemies for yourself than you realize you will."

[hurtfew]

"I understand," Norrell insists, "that people see me as a threat. That my actions will draw attention. But the greatest minds have always had opponents. They must be made to see. The fae and dark magic cannot be allowed to grip London and take it over. If someone else were to step up to carry this burden I would welcome it! You know that very well! I do not paint myself as the best man for this job, but there is no-one else so it must fall to me! And I will carry this burden, and see this through! Then people will recognise I have been right all along. They will listen. You told me to come here, to make a name for myself. To talk to people and be heard. That is what I have done."

[knowstheworld]

Childermass scoffs slightly at the other man's insistences -- he cannot help himself. At the way he paints himself as a martyr, that he 'carries the burden', but what burden exactly is it that he carries? Writing letters? Making decisions from his high horse inside his tall tower? Childermass knows just as well how much he himself is to blame for convincing him here. It makes the whole thing exceptionally frustrating.

"I did not think that this would be the way that you would do it," he says. "You have created a witch hunt out there, sir. Well and truly. And if you are not careful, business such as this will get the better of you, you mark my words on that."

[hurtfew]

A witch hunt! Both the wording and the general implication alarms Norrell, and he frowns in confusion then deeper in anger.

"I have done what is best for English magic! For witches! I have made London a safer place, helped to drive out the fae threat! Everything I have done has been to make magic respectable! To make witches respectable, to stamp out the --" and here his anger turns to sneering contempt, "the mystical nonsense surrounding it, to get rid of the shameful reputation surrounding witches as crones cursing people on the street! And now, now you turn on me! Now even the people I trust most show themselves to be sympathisers!"

[knowstheworld]

"I do not have to be a sympathizer to understand that people will not take kindly to such an approach!" Childermass replies, not bothering to keep his voice down himself if he is to sit there and be yelled at for his words of caution. He will not back down on this. Perhaps Norrell believes he is acting for the greater good, that what he is doing really will get rid of the shameful reputation surrounding witches. But it will introduce another reputation that Childermass is uncertain will have much other support either.

He forces himself to take a breath and calm down. "If a person should come into your house, sir, if they should start confiscating your things because they are now against a law that they put in place -- when they were perfectly legal before -- how do you think you should feel?" His eyes are dark and piercing as he searches the other man's face. "How do you think you should feel about those people in times to come? That is what I am trying to warn you of."

[hurtfew]

Norrell seems to flinch backward at Childermass' outburst, cowed by it and uneasy at the way he is being spoken to. Yet he seems to listen all the same, hesitant and defensive as he does but he listens.

"Do you believe they will do something?" he prompts, nervous of the idea even as he voices it. "Come to take revenge? I can reinforce the labyrinth spell, perhaps, cast some new barriers..."

He fidgets, as if wanting to do something to deflect and refocus now but unsure what and if Childermass is done with his rant.

[knowstheworld]

At last, Childermass has gotten through to the other man, if not exactly in the way he would have liked. Still, it's a start, and he has gotten him to consider his actions beyond the blind persuit of furthering his own goals.

"They may," he replies, levelly. "Though in what form, sir, I cannot say for certain. The point of the matter is that I urge you to consider your actions and what they represent in the eyes of others. Not just those whose houses you have ordered to raid, but their friends and neighbors, who will see -- in their eyes -- a loved one turned out and wrongly accused by none other than yourself, sir. You will paint a target on your back with such means," he continues, fiercely direct because he has to be certain that Norrell understands as best he can, "and if you insist on continuing to do so, then you had better be ready for whatever should follow it."

[hurtfew]

The panic is still clear in him for a moment, but then he seems to rally. To regain his sense of anger at all of this.

"They are not wrongly accused. Those who deal in dark magic should be stopped! How else can we keep ourselves safe? I will not be intimidated by them! I have set out to do this and I will see it through! And no Midnight witches or fae can stand in my way. I will not have it!"

[knowstheworld]

Childermass sits back in his seat, his jaw tightening and a growl threatening to escape his lips. Should he even bother continuing his explanation? Will Norrell ever listen, or will he only seek to further his own means? He had thought he had gotten through to the other man, he had thought he had made his point, and then here he finds himself again.

He stands abruptly. "If you will not listen, there is no point in continuing this conversation," he declares. "But the consequences of your actions are on your own head. It would do you well to remember that."

[hurtfew]

"Oh!" Norrell exclaims, "You think I have not listened! I have listened, I have listened very well! I understand your fear, but what good will hiding do? I will not shirk my principles! What would you have me do? Run away at the first sign of resistance? I knew this would happen! I understand that people are afraid, but they will have nothing to fear if they stay to modern magic! Nothing that is done with dark or fae magic cannot be done with safe, modern magic!"

[knowstheworld]

Childermass fights the urge to snarl at the other man. He has been with Norrell for a good chunk of his life now. He has seen where the other man has come from, and he fears that for all the book knowledge he has he does not know people well enough to make the decisions he has done. But what say does he have in the end? He is just Norrell's assistant, after all.

He can see that there is no way of getting through to him. And if he continues to butt heads with Gilbert Norrell he might be compelled to hit him, or worse. So he settles for leaning his hands on his desk to deliver some parting words. "You are going about it all wrong, and they will come after you for it in the end, you mark my words on that sir."

And then he straightens and turns to leave.