The Issue of Dark Magic [ Active / Open]

[hurtfew]

i ) THE MAIDEN NOT-SO-FAIR

Abigail hasn't been officially confirmed as Maiden yet, not at the start of the month, and that is something that Norrell is holding onto. He still has time. Time to find something to discredit her, some law by which he can counteract this, some thin straw to clutch onto.

He knows he probably seems desperate, yet he cannot help it. He cannot stomach the thought of this young upstart climbing the ranks this way.

At least, he assures himself, she has no power of the Night Council. He is still the law (or, more accurately, a part of it) and simply being a Maiden does not give her the power to overturn laws that encompass all factions.

Still, it rankles him. He has worked all his life to get as far as he have, and she is so young -- simply being given a position because it has been seen! Not on how hard she has worked, not on merit, but simply on the whims of fate and the previous Maiden! How could they be sure it was not being set up? That the current Maiden was not being bribed or manipulated into this?

No, Norrell will not let this go easy. So it is that he writes to colleagues and allies to express his deep surprise that things are going this way, his concerns over what this may mean for witches and for English magic as a whole, his quiet doubts about Abigail due to her family, her association with fae, her age -- what if this is a fae trick? What if she is going to be made a puppet, manipulated?

He also sends out letters to hunters he trusts and calls up some of the Guardians, for as much as Norrell holds suspicions without evidence that is no use. If he can find some, of course, then there may be leverage...

ii ) THE ISSUE OF DARK MAGIC (For Abigail)

He'd promised to discuss this with Abigail, the exact definition of dark magic. So it is that despite her pending elevation to the position of Maiden, and his various excuses and delays, he is forced to do so in the end.

For now he can assure himself she is not officially a Maiden, and he is not required to acknowledge her as such yet. For now she is simply a High Priestess, and himself a High Priest.

As disconcerting as her potential (or perhaps more inevitable) promotion is.

So he does what Norrell always does when presented with an obvious issue he cannot get past: he ignores it, and pretends it hasn't happened. He treats Abigail exactly as he has before, invites her (perhaps pointedly) to meet him at his offices in the Daybreak Coven headquarters. When she arrives she is met and led through what appears to be a dizzying maze of corridors, so peculiarly disorientating that she will struggle to orientate which way she faces now and which way might be back. A labyrinth spell, of course, for Norrell is an increasingly paranoid man who cannot help but see assassins in every shadow -- cannot help but perceive betrayal and treachery around every corner.

When she is finally shown in he is sat at his desk, glasses perched on the end of his nose and desk a sea of notes and annotations on said notes -- small piles of books and a pile of letters ready to send.

He offers her a fixed smile, one that is a touch alarming in how forced it is.

"Miss Widdowson!" he greets, setting down his fountain pen and lacing his hands together. "I am very sorry I could not see you sooner, the month has been so busy!"

It has not been too busy to see her though, certainly it has probably been busier for her in truth.

"Did you manage to find a copy of the book I recommended?"

Norrell had done his best to silently make sure every copy he had heard of was inaccessible, but there is always a chance he missed one. Why is a complicated thing, but Norrell does prefer to be the one to hold all the cards wherever possible. Even if that makes it tricky to discuss said cards.

iii ) THE DESPERATE BID

With Abigail looking as if she may be confirmed Maiden within a month Norrell needs to secure his position. Midnight having more power, however small their territories still, risks undermining everything he has planned. Their policies on fae are different, their approach to magic different -- whatever Abigail says he knows that their ideals clash in many ways.

Which means Norrell either needs a way to secure Abigail as an ally, bring him to his cause, or find a way to lock her out of having more power.

So Norrell begins to write again. To allies in his own circle, in other factions -- in general expressing concern about the issue of a Maiden from Circle Midnight and what this may mean. Looking for assurance that they would always back himself and the Night Council, and would not tolerate Midnight using this as leverage.

When it comes time for him to have his 'open door session', for a given value of 'open door' (people must still be declared, he must be asked, then they must be led through the maze that is his labyrinth spell to his office at his convenience) Norrell is faintly tired and stressed, as well as mildly irritated by the inconvenience of all this. He had been so happy the previous months, then oh -- how this had soured the taste of his victory.

Still, it could not take the victory away from him. He reminds himself of that as the door clicks open, and lofts an eyebrow curiously at the person being brought in.

"Can I help you?"

Comments

[hurtfew]

Her tone alarms him and Norrell sits up straighter, the friendly smile replaced by a thinning of lips and a slight frown.

"Miss Widdowson," he begins carefully, "it surprises me that you have such strong opinions on a piece of text I am offering you when you have yet to read it! I had no idea you had such an adept ability to interpret things simply by title alone."

[acrookedchild]

"I have strong opinions, Mister Norrell, because I have not read it wholly. I cannot begin to understand the importance of everything in it until I can see the whole of it."

Calm. Even. Or, at least, she tries to keep it then.

[hurtfew]

He studies her a moment longer, lips thinned and one eyebrow lofting, then averts his eyes and lets out a sigh of barely disguised frustration and irritation.

"Miss Widdowson, may I remind you that you asked some of my time to discuss this and I agreed willingly. How am I meant to discuss a thing with you when you block my attempts to share a point of reference. You refuse to read something I offer you, and you have yet to provide an alternative! You refuse to even look at what I offer you on the assumption that you will not understand it without the rest, without even looking to see if it does appear to lack context for you to understand! You assume right from the beginning you are deceived in some way! Such a discussion has no place to go!"

[acrookedchild]

"If you were to lend me a copy of the book for three days to a week, this conversation wouldn't need to be had." It seems simple to her. A deep breath is needed before she suggests, voice gentle, "Perhaps I could even take a corner of your office for that time, to read and take note without the book ever leaving your supervision."

Polite, she reminds herself.

"I merely want for an understanding of the whole text. It is how I was taught to approach any work -- to know it unabridged before discussion."

[hurtfew]

Norrell regards her with his beady eyes, lips still thinned and brow still lofted as he considers this.

"I understand the sentiment," he says at last. "Since you have not suggested an alternative text still I assume you do not have one. I must confess, I had hoped for more discussion and input from you on this from the beginning. I am disappointed to find you so inflexible you will not even touch what I offer you, and it does not make me feel much inclined to begin immediately making concessions on your behalf -- especially when this very meeting is already such a thing. To begin with demands is not a flattering trait.

"However. I can appreciate a scholarly mind. I have a copy of the book with me," and here he reaches into his drawer, for he does. In truth, his attempts to make life difficult for her were mostly his own petty vanity and desire to keep himself a step ahead. To be sure the book had aspects Norrell disagreed with -- exact definitions, mysticism -- but, in general its grounding is all one he agrees with. Fae magic is not to be trusted and controlling magics, things that touch the mind or influence, are the darkest of things. "And I would be willing to allow you to make notes from it within the safety of this library. It is damage I worry about, you see. London air is so very dirty and polluted, and the weather so changeable."

[acrookedchild]

"I apologise." Maybe. It's difficult to say whether that's sincere or not. "My intention was to allow you to begin us, as you have the advantage of experience. However, I don't want to ignorantly argue something from the abridged text that, given the full version, would be irrelevant."

Now that he's conceded, she can play a bit nicer, too. It's only fair she hold him at certain standards. Otherwise, she'll be nothing more than a post to listen to him pontificate.

"I'd appreciate the opportunity. I have a few delicate books in my possession as well -- including John Dee's Treatise on Acceptable Magic." A piece of work she has no doubt he'd intensely disapprove of, as Dee's magic relied heavily on the fae and drew from what he considered to be a 'natural' source of magic -- the Other Realm.

[hurtfew]

The way Norrell regards her says he doubts her sincerity, and the way he flicks his eyes away at her choice of book indeed speaks of disagreement. It is perhaps a blessing that so focused is he on the discussion he does not simply begin to question what illegal books she might own to deflect.

"Dee is mystical when he should be clear," Norrell says, "he -- alongside others -- give the fae far too much credit! Fae who enter into contracts as familiars often make it clear they wish to be named and given credit for great actions. Often even when they played no useful part at all! I understand your predicament, Miss Widdowson, but if you hope to change my mind on fae magic I am afraid you will be disappointed!"

[acrookedchild]

"And you won't change mine that there's something wrong with a contract clearly defined and entered into by two parties with full knowledge."

It was what she'd talked with Sylvia about as well. That while caution was necessary, if one wanted to take the risk, it was possible. It was, in fact, reasonable to assume that risk. If one wanted something badly enough, anything was possible. Anything was doable.

"But I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree."

[hurtfew]

So this is the heart of what she really wanted. He should have known. Norrell takes a breath and lets it out in a sigh, links his hands together on the desk.

"I understand your personal predicament," he says at last, "but fae magic is far too dangerous to be allowed. While some may safely escape a contract there will be plenty who do not, and this law must be considered as a whole -- for the masses, not just individuals! We may as well say everyone should be able to carry firearms simply because people know they cause damage! Sometimes that is entirely the point! Are we to become Americans in this?"

In Norrell's opinion, the worst sort of insult.

[acrookedchild]

"Fae contracts are dangerous primarily for two reasons: witches who enter them are usually very desperate, and there is no education in the matter. Banning it hasn't stopped it from happening."

Which could be said about anything illegal and, thus, isn't the point she'll nail her colours to. Not in the slightest.

"If summoning was taught, fewer witches would hurt themselves by doing it improperly. If the art and science of contracting a fae was taught, the terms would not need to be nearly as drastic as they often are. The fae would lose their greatest advantage: desperation."

[hurtfew]

He presses his lips together again, small beady eyes studying her. She is so young still, too young for all this sort of thing, and it does give him a faint twang of sympathy.

"Miss Widdowson," he says finally, "Are you quite sure you are not letting your personal situation colour your opinion?"

[acrookedchild]

Abigail considers the point for a few moments, letting it play through her head. There are, after all, a great many ways to reply. But she knows what she has to say.

She has to admit it.

"We are each the sums of our personal situations. But I don't speak just for myself. I have known others, though, who have turned to the fae out of desperation, unskilled and unprepared. They tend to suffer the worst."

[hurtfew]

Norrell offers a wincing smile at that, nods fractionally.

"And that, Miss Widdowson, is why I would prefer such magic to stay banned. The fae never suffer in these deals, only those who make them. Often there are plenty of other options that could be used, other spell combinations. Is it not better to teach witches to seek alternatives?"

[acrookedchild]

"I would rather witches be able to handle their situation as they see fit, armed with all the knowledge they can have. If they're better equipped to make deals, they won't suffer."

She holds his gaze, watching him. After all, it's a difficult position for both of them. Neither of the stances (to her) are without merit.

[hurtfew]

"Would not equipping them to understand alternatives be better still? Or educating them on the dangers, to discourage them?"

He holds her gaze in turn, lofting an eyebrow questioningly. Norrell will not be moved to legalise this, not while he has the power to stop it.

[acrookedchild]

"I want them aware of their alternatives, too, as well as cautioned about the dangers. However, I don't think that something should be illegal simply because it can be dangerous."

It's not a point on which they'll agree, she knows, but it's a point they can discuss.

[hurtfew]

"Then how would you have it? Freely practised? Witches summoning fae at will with no repercussion?"

Think of the chaos! Fae, drawn into safe territories! Everywhere! Tightening their grip on English Magic through its witches! Surely that can only lead to ruin?

[acrookedchild]

"We allow witches to call flames with no repercussion. That is just as dangerous. Yet I hear no call for someone to outlaw that magic," Abigail snaps in reply.

Then, she sighs a little, pinching her nose. "Some middle ground, perhaps."

[hurtfew]

The comparison does not impress Norrell. He stares her down for a long moment before arching an eyebrow again.

"Can a flame compel another? Shackle it in a binding agreement? Trick and kidnap? Do flames slaughter English citizens and take land from them, Miss Widdowson, despite owning their own territory outside of our world entirely?"

[acrookedchild]

"It can destroy a city," she murmurs calmly, shrugging her shoulders. After all, they were in London.

"I understand your point, sir, and I don't approve of the fae owning territory. Let me be clear on that."

[hurtfew]

"And if a witch wielded a flame to do that, then that would also be against Night Council law. It might also light a cigarette or a hearth, however, and that is not. There is a difference, as you well know."

He takes a breath, lets it out in a long sigh.

"A middle ground, you said," he continues finally. "Do you have a proposal? It seems you are less interested in the definitions of magic as a whole, despite your claim, and more in this -- in fae contracts."

[acrookedchild]

"I am interested in the definition of dark magic. I agree with including anything that strips another of their will, but that need not be all fae contracts. Merely, for instance, those used to that purpose."

Just as fire couldn't be wielded to destroy a city. Set limits on what contracts were allowed to contain.

[hurtfew]

"And how would you propose to enforce such a thing? Once you make this legal the buying and trading of all supplies will be legal once more, the act will be easier, but we cannot be there at every summoning and every contract. We cannot intervene until after the act. You force us to work in a way that involves closing the gate after the horse has bolted, instead of by prevention. However much you educate you cannot be sure people will listen."

Even if you educate rules and warnings in a moment of emotion that can fall by the wayside. At least, Norrell thinks, if he outlaws it that makes the act itself more difficult to perform in a fit of passion.

[acrookedchild]

"The only way to truly handle any abuse of magic is, unfortunately, to punish the cause rather than prevent the effect. A malicious or careless witch might find themselves bound to a fae in the same way one might burn down a house, to remain with fire magic. They are treated differently by law, as are the use of fire magic to light a cigarette and to attempt to set fire to Westminster. But it is only after the magic is used that its purpose is seen and action taken or not. We do not prevent all magic; we merely educate and trust in a witch's judgement, which might be led astray by any source, even outside a contract."

Abigail, on the other hand, stands opposite him. Where one might commit an act of passion, the more education one has, the less likely the emotion is to overrule all of the teaching.