Gilbert Norrell (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hurtfew) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
undergrounds2016-02-22 06:59 pm
hurtfew) wrote in undergrounds2016-02-22 06:59 pm
Entry tags:
The Issue of Dark Magic [ Active / Open]
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?"
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?"
no subject
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.
no subject
It's not a point on which they'll agree, she knows, but it's a point they can discuss.
no subject
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?
no subject
Then, she sighs a little, pinching her nose. "Some middle ground, perhaps."
no subject
"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?"
no subject
"I understand your point, sir, and I don't approve of the fae owning territory. Let me be clear on that."
no subject
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."
no subject
Just as fire couldn't be wielded to destroy a city. Set limits on what contracts were allowed to contain.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.