VOTE NORRELL [ Active / Open ]

[hurtfew]

i ) THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS

The Norrellite Coven is in full campaign mode, merrily printing fliers, helping hand them out and producing entirely bias leaflets and adverts. The curious thing about the Norrellite Coven itself, after all, is how its popularity rose rather quickly once Norrell himself made it onto the Night Council.

Many of its members rather enjoy being able to have even a fleeting association (or an exaggerated one) to a member of the Night Council, something they can claim means they have his ear or heard various rumours -- it gives them an inflated sense of importance they enjoy.

Which means it is in their interests to make sure he keeps that seat.

Norrell himself is busy approving and disapproving of things -- the latest of which is an article being written on Norrell's behalf. One of Norrell's more loyal coven members has, rather patiently, translated the man's rantings and ravings about dark magic, fae magic, fae and everything else he doesn't like into as close a coherent form as possible. Anyone who has questions about his campaign will be happily lead in and have leaflets foisted upon them, but this is a Daybreak Coven -- so of course it is in Daybreak territory. There are certain restrictions on who is welcome, and the witches are on alert here for any sign of sabotage or competition.


ii ) THE ALLIANCES ARE SET



Norrell, of course, knows well enough he cannot simply win an election campaign alone. He is not an entirely foolish man, and knows that the support of others will help him get where he needs to be.

So support is what he seeks -- yet of course, the support of others is not the only way to succeed. Norrell easily expresses his support of Vrinak, his belief that he has done well as Vice President and will continue to do well, his belief that Sylvia has done good as President and her track record shows she is a good source of stability. Yet equally -- equally he is sure to voice his displeasure. Nora, for example, Nora has been nominated by Dee -- a member of the Night Council thrown out for suspicious affiliations with Dark Magic Covens! Nora herself, even, both of them support Circle Midnight! A Circle who consistently try to assert that dealing with fae should be legal, who previously tried to make a deal with the fae to take Croydon! Which was previously Daybreak territory, yet they tried to trade it like people's homes and livelihoods were not at stake! Outrage is something that he works with, drums up -- how could these people be allowed to do this? How! After all, Daybreak votes are what he is buying -- and Daybreak is what he is appealing to.

Faolan, as well, Faolan is an outrage. Faolan has protected the fae! Stood in the way of them being ousted from a territory! Faolan, who has done this despite being employed by the Night Council! Oh, yes, that's right. By rights he should have lost his position but Sylvia is merciful, of course, she believes in second chances. Faolan has been brought into line, yet now? Now he is standing for election! No, no not after that! Not while Norrell is in charge! It cannot be allowed! Norrell intends to make London a safe place for witches, and that means any fae or anyone who supports the fae needs to be dealt with.

His office at the Night Council headquarters is always open for anyone who wishes to negotiate, of course, or anyone who wishes to ask for support (or show it!). Less so for those he has heaped slander upon, but he might at least hear them out.


iii ) THE RALLIES ARE STARTING

The Norrellite rallies gain a surprising amount of momentum, purely because outrage sells. Are your children safe while fae are allowed to roam and kidnap? Have you heard how, just the other day, while others were busy preventing fae being outed from one place they attacked Daybreak territory and took children! Of course, the good work of the Night Council ensured them returned safely, but this! This is further proof that fae cannot be trusted!

The sessions are an echo chamber of Norrell's opinions, people sitting around loudly agreeing with each other and denouncing all those who disagree. Dee? A traitor, a good thing she was ousted, cannot believe she is trying to work her way back in! Nora? Ridiculous, cannot believe her stances on things, clearly a plant by Dee! Vrinak, on the other hand? What a great guy, hope he gets Vice President again!

Drinks are circulated, and money is clearly changing hands -- the Norrellite campaign is already well funded by the man himself, but clearly outside funding is finding its way in too.

Perhaps you are there to see how his campaign is going? Perhaps you want to try and find out where is extra funding is coming from? Perhaps you are supporting him, appearing there in an official capacity? Or perhaps you simply want to disrupt the meeting, try to start (or fuel) discontent and suspicion, to question the mud-slinging that has gone around or sling mud back? Norrell himself is here, and slightly more out in the open than he is in the safety of his Night Council and Daybreak headquarters. He's sipping an expensive glass of champagne while, for what may feel like the 50th time, a Norrellite supporter details his many successes to a new group of young voters who nod along.

Comments

i

[whatmatters]

Normally Ringer would avoid the Coven. It was about the risk though. The risk of the Night Council offices versus the risk of the Norrellite Coven, the risk of meeting a man whom she disliked through reputation versus the risk of not steering his support in the directions that she desired. This entire election was risk and Ringer was uncomfortable being a part of it in any way.

Yet here she was, knocking at his office door, having called ahead to make an appointment if necessary. No reason not to observe decorum, particularly when she was asking for an accord.

"Sir? It's Ringer."

[hurtfew]

Ringer is not the only one waiting outside. A very extravagantly dressed man is waiting, his smile just a little too wide, face clearly powdered. In fact, it looks a little like he might be wearing some manner of eye make-up. He keeps smiling at her in an unnerving sort of way until the door is finally answered. A small, very brusque looking man with bright red hair opens the door and lofts an eyebrow at her as if to question her business being there at all. He doesn't seem to notice the other man, or perhaps is used to him lurking there so is not bothered by him.

"Lascelles?" Norrell calls somewhat impatiently, "who is it?"

"Ringer, sir," the man answers, forming the name in a way which suggests he finds it distasteful. Of course an appointment was indeed necessary, for Gilbert Norrell goes out of his way to ensure everyone knows how busy and important he is.

"Yes, yes, bring her in. We will talk later."

Lascelles looks personally annoyed by this development -- by being ousted by this Ringer -- and opens the door further to let her past. He inclines his head in exaggerated formality to Norrell before leaving and closing the door behind himself with a quiet click. Norrell is sat at his desk, writing for a few moments longer before lifting his eyes to regard her.

"You are a member of Hillingdon," he begins finally. Norrell makes it his business to know who he is talking to, after all, and everything there is to know about them.

[whatmatters]

Ringer is used to unsettling and probably mentally touched people watching her every move. She notes the man as a potential threat, but otherwise only wonders at what his role in this place might be. Men like him are often of greater power or wisdom than they purport to be. Her attention is quickly pulled away by another man, one she's fairly certain isn't Norrell and whose name is, thankfully, confirmed as belonging to someone else before she can bother to be troubled by her uncertainty.

She waits, silent and patient, as she's introduced. The disrespect, too, is familiar, especially being the human she is. She makes her entrance upon the cue of the more widely opened door, standing in the middle of the entryway until the man is gone and then moves the couple steps more to stand behind the chairs meant for guests, presenting herself between them with a neutral expression, reserved pose, and dry tone. All quite common for Ringer.

"Yes, though it's not relevant," she answers easily. "I'd like to talk about the election."

[hurtfew]

The election? Norrell studies her, setting down his pen and lacing his hands together -- sitting back in his chair a little. The furniture inside is all antique, as old fashioned as Norrell himself, finely carved and carefully polished and kept. Books and sundry items line shelves around him, a few binding materials on one shelf off to the side. Some of the books he keeps are old enough that they need careful re-binding to keep them safe.

"If it is the election you wish to talk about then your faction is quite relevant," he counters, especially because of Faolan. Faolan is still somewhat of a bitter topic for Norrell himself. A guardian now standing against those he guards, after the betrayal of supporting the fae!

[whatmatters]

"Only if you're against supporting Faolan," she replies, a leading statement if ever there was one. It's a good way to test the waters as to whether she can convince Norrell to support Faolan's campaign or if she should ask him to support Yasmine instead. Hopefully the man doesn't have anything against Vrinak, given her determination to have him re-elected as the best candidate. Even as she tries to break the bond between Vrinak and Sylvia.

She waits for a response before adding innocently, "I'd like to make an anonymous donation to your campaign."

[hurtfew]

Faolan! Norrell lofts an eyebrow and thins his lips unhappily.

"The political stances of Hillingdon seem to shift with the wind. One may gain their support one day and lose it the next without the slightest idea of what was done to cause it. I have supported Hillingdon in the past, paid your hunters well, and yet only recently Faolan -- who of all people should know better! -- went so far as to protect the fae while they kidnapped children in another area. This is a man you want me to support?"

His expression says he does not think this very likely.

[whatmatters]

"No, though it explains why my faction is relevant," she admits lightly. Ringer's trying to drum up support for Faolan, but if the Councilman is so adamantly against him, it's going to be much easier — and more beneficial to her — to curb her support to other candidates. As generally poor as she is dealing with feelings, Ringer is wonderful at reading her audience when the situation calls for it.

"I want you to support Yasmine Merad's reelection campaign. And Peter Vrinak's. Unless you don't believe them to be adequate, and would reject their support in return." A conditional after thought. As he chose to ignore her offer to donate, Ringer sets it aside for now.

[hurtfew]

Yasmine and Peter! Norrell huffs at this. Of course, Peter Vrinak is a dear friend of his who he already supports -- but Yasmine! The alternatives are little better, it is true, one openly supports the fae even. They say better the devil you know. Yet still, Norrell will not go quietly on this.

"Support them," he echoes. "And if I were to support them? You are not their spokesperson. You cannot offer me their support so easily."

Yet she can offer other things. He's listening.

[whatmatters]

"I'm not offering their support. I'm suggesting that your choice not to support them will likely result in their not supporting you. I'm offering a contribution to your campaign. A financial one." She says evenly, calmly. For her age, Ringer is incredibly intelligent and knows well enough how strategy works. If Norrell says no, she can make the others aware of his position. If he says yes, she'll give him money and be done with it.

Although she doesn't know him well, Ringer knows enough of his actions to not actually support Norrell herself. Not directly. Which means the things like passing out flyers and campaigning that she's offered to Vrinak already is not something she'll consider for the man in front of her. It's bad enough that she's having any involvement with the Council at all.

[hurtfew]

"A contribution," Norrell echoes, faintly scandalised for a moment. Bribery! Not only that, the wording is vague. She could be talking about ten pounds or ten thousand pounds. He frowns at her, lips pressed into a thin line as he considers this. "What sort of contribution should I expect?"

Despite his obvious discomfort he is clearly listening. He has plenty of his own money, but campaigns are not cheap to run.

[whatmatters]

She's silent for a moment, considering how to word her response. Ringer is definitely one to be too careful, to choose her words carefully even as the objective of bribery is deliberate.

"I'm told generosity reaps karmic rewards. I'll make an anonymous donation of twenty-five hundred pounds. Maybe my good deeds will be rewarded by a higher power." Don't play dumb, Norrell. Ringer's perfectly keen to withdraw her offer if the other side of the bargain isn't confirmed.

[hurtfew]

Well, it would not be the smallest donation to his campaign but neither would it be the largest. Norrell lofts an eyebrow at her that is somewhat unimpressed, considering this. She expects support of two candidates for that?

"Your generosity does not match your ambition," he observes.

[whatmatters]

"What generosity would you expect for someone of my magnanimity?" She asks in a clipped tone, hiding the annoyance she feels at dealing with politicians. Particularly the greedy ones who feel entitled to taking with nothing to give, or no willingness to do so.

"I would only offer my time if I felt comfortable with the loyalty you were showing to Faolan. How much money would like an adolescent to part with to support your.. campaign?"

[hurtfew]

"You think I am being difficult," Norrell counters, his small, sharp little eyes pinning her down. "You are asking me to show support in two very specific places. Yet an election is not a cheap thing. The cost of supporting another candidate, specifically, increases the cost of my own campaign. If you wish my support to make a difference then you must be realistic. Election campaigns run into hundreds of thousands of pounds! A lot of work has already been done. If you truly wish to show support to people, Miss, do not expect two thousand pounds to win an election."

[whatmatters]

"I don't want to waste time," she replies honestly. His time or hers, but mostly hers. If he gives her a number and agrees to her conditions, she can leave. The ambiguous bartering, though necessary, is something she's never enjoyed in her limited dealings.

He doesn't much intimidate her, beyond the fear of having her killed, which she judges to be counter to his desires for now. Hopefully she's right.

"Good thing you are such an excellent fundraiser." So very dry. "Your support is worth eight thousand pounds to me."

A final offer. Vrinak accepted barely more, for a higher position and a more troublesome request. It annoys her to give him more than five, but she means what she says about not wanting to waste time.