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#Post#: 798--------------------------------------------------
CHPT 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: unknownmercury Date: May 13, 2020, 7:00 pm
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Gabrielle Brighteye
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying Asena Valda
Gabrielle hummed softly as she walked into the Lazy Sparrow
Cafe. It was a mere two days after the banquet, and she was
still occasionally giggling to herself over the event. Despite
the public embarrassment that Asena Valda had brought on
herself, Gabby had decided to try and make peace with her. She'd
sent a messenger -- a public servant, not one of her own people
-- to invite the other Heli Mage out for a drink.
She hadn't sent Aidene, because the body guard likely would have
been intercepted by Vianacelli or Asena's strange Dweller
friend, and she wanted this to be a private meeting between just
the two of them. As she sat at the private table in the back,
she hoped that Miss Valda would accept the invitation. Making
allies was important, and Gabby wanted to make clear that she
was willing to work with the older woman.
A pot of tea and two cups were set in front of her. She poured
herself a cup eagerly. It was expensive, but the cafe did serve
tea from her homeland, and she was happy to indulge. Alessandria
was an amazing place, a city full of rich and diverse cultures.
She was so looking forward to enjoying the finer parts of it
once she was in power. And maybe Miss Valda would see that Gabby
was the right woman for the job and help her along, rather than
stand obstinate in her path.
It would be such a shame to purge her with the others.
#Post#: 801--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: Kimcora Date: May 14, 2020, 4:12 pm
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Asena Valda
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying: Gabrielle Brighteye
Asena fidgeted with the the blade at her hip, eyeing the sign to
the Lazy Sparrow from where she stood on the street side. The
sign wavered with a slight breeze carrying through the city, as
if waving her closer, beckoning her towards this odd chance
meeting with another candidate. Admittedly, Asena had been
feeling the pains of her mistakes these last few days. Many a
noble had asked her to answer for the 'crimes' of using Magis in
public and many the gossip monger had sought her out in the Inn
for a comment on why she so viciously attacked Lord Hythian's
advisor. To say the least, Asena kept her comments clipped and
let the accusations roll off her back. No one needed to know
what Damien brought up or how it affected her. It was none of
their business and she communicated that clearly to her team,
who were all admittedly mad with her in their own ways. Farren
stuck to being frigid with her when he wasn't calling her stupid
or stating she would have to dig herself out of this mess. Her
Uncle was treating her as a fragile child, scolding her lack of
control and temper, but in a way that still made her feel some
sort of care from the Dweller. And Septimus...he was still
equable, but she noted the strain there. She found him being
candid and calm comforting, even if she was sure she had
affected him with outburst too. He was a politician that started
from nothing and built himself to where he was. It pained Asena
to think that she damaged his reputation or the chances of his
school ever being chartered. She would have to make it up to him
as well, even if the thought did spark a hint of guilt that she
wasn't quite sure just how to do that. Not that she dared ask
the others for fear of upsetting them further.
Asena already felt ashamed of what she did and didn't need her
nose rubbed in it further. She already would get enough of that
when she spoke with the nobility of the city to try and clean up
this mess...
She had already begun to make good on helping the the
Whetherford's financially for the damages caused by her behavior
as her Aunt Mariam had a large inheritance and Asena had been
saving her own fund for quite some time. Granted those had been
to help Damon out with their future together, but that was put
on pause due to her own actions and decisions. Once things
slowed down with the election, she could properly make it up to
him.
So this invitation from Gabrielle had notably confused her,
especially since the woman had been less than kind when speaking
earlier. Surely this was her attempt at telling Asena to drop
out and give in. Would it work? Absolutely not. But Asena wasn't
someone that would turn down an invitation to speak. She agreed
to speak with the woman privately at the banquet and she
intended to keep her word. Even if it was sure to be a ****
show. At least she told Melrose where she was going even if she
was sure Farren knew as well--just because the man was sneaky
and knew way too much already. If they needed her, they could
find her, even if she insisted they let her handle this on her
own.
She entered the quiet little cafe with a warm smile of greeting
to the owner, having been there before because of the teas they
had. She was a lover of tea and found the aroma there soothing.
She easily found Gabrielle in her own private corner with her
own cup. Asena spared her a notably less warm smile, but a
confident look none the less. [color=red]"Afternoon, Lady
Brighteye." She said before sitting across from the woman to not
waste time with all the weird little bows and head bobbing the
rich in this city liked to perpetuate. "I see you've already
gotten tea for the table. It smells wonderful." She said to be
complimentary since it did have a strong, aromatic scent that
filled their little corner. "Do you mind if I call you
Gabrielle? I don't mind going by Asena instead of all the Miss
Valda and Lady this and that. But to each their own." She poured
a cup since Gabby had her own, adding a bit of sugar to it as
she liked sweet things. "First of all, I regret we never got the
chance to speak at the banquet. I had hopes of getting to talk
more with you, but things got understandably more complicated
with Lady Hythian's disappearance... I appreciate you organizing
this today though. I feel like it's easier to speak in places
like this than in a ballroom with everyone watching." She
offered as she ordered some sweeter pastries for the table if
Gabrielle wanted any. [/color]
#Post#: 811--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: unknownmercury Date: May 15, 2020, 12:14 am
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[size=14]Gabrielle Brighteye
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying Asena Valda
Gabby smiled as her opponent entered and approached her. At
Asena's offer of pastries, she nodded. "Please, by all means,
call me Gabby." She smiled softly. "Thanks for coming, Asena. I
really was wanting to speak with you at the banquet, but,
well..." She giggled.
"Things didn't go to plan. If I'm being perfectly honest, I
applaud your passion and standing up to that Damien fellow. If
you hadn't, I probably would have." Except she wouldn't have set
fire to the furnishings. She would have set him ablaze. No need
to tell Asena that, though. "I also wanted to talk shop, I'm
afraid. I think that Malachi would be an awful choice for the
Truce. One of us has to beat him in the election. Given your
outburst at the banquet, I would like to ask you to resign from
the candidacy.
[color=orange]"I would like to ask you that, but I know what
your answer will be. So, instead, I wish to offer you a truce.
At least until such a point as we can be rid of Malachi, we
don't go after each other during the election. No dragging each
other's reputations, bringing up sins of the past, or anything
of the sort. And I know you're not the type, but that means no
spies and no assassins either. Does that sound fair to you?"
She lifted her cup and took a sip of the divine tea from
Uleplex. Hopefully Asena would see the reason behind this and
agree to a stay of peace between them. Malachi hired people like
Malneaux. He was a womanizer, an amoral prick who probably
didn't even care that his wife was missing. He could not be
allowed to become a ruling member of the Truce.
And once he was gone, Gabby would arrange for Asena Valda's
tragic mysterious disappearance.
#Post#: 823--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: Kimcora Date: May 16, 2020, 11:01 am
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Asena Valda
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying: Gabrielle Brighteye
Asena was thankful that Gabrielle seemed in kinder spirits
today. She was open and friendly, not snappy and calculating
with her words. Well, actually Asena figured this woman was
still playing word games. She seemed to be a woman who knew how
to fit situations presented to her, morphing her speech and
expressions to fit whatever persona she was playing. Asena
didn’t particularly like people like that, as she was a very
straight forward person. Perhaps to her detriment at times, as
the banquet night showed.
Asena visibly winced when Gabrielle mentioned her actions. Asena
already knew very well that Gabrielle wouldn’t have reacted
quite like she did. No she seemed to be more...well could Asena
really say? The woman had a damn good poker face, even if Asena
knew she was after something. For all she knew, Gabby was lying
and baiting her into a trap with her words, obviously knowing
Asena’s weakness in subtleties. The only thing she knew about
this woman was she was from Embra, had a sharp tongue that she
wielded very well, and a cult following from the church and
religious figures in the city. That wasn’t enough to peer into
someone’s intentions, but it was enough to keep Asena leery of
her.
Her brows knitted and a hard frown set on her lips when Gabby
suggested she drop out of the race. There wasn’t a chance in
Wraithus that that was happening and they both knew it. Even if
they could both agree Malachi Hythian should never get a seat on
the Truce, Asena also knew Gabrielle’s cult could not be allowed
anywhere near the Truce either. Asena would sooner join Embra
herself than see Gabrielle have control of people’s
lives...After seeing them awful shit they did to Damon...She
swallowed hard, feeling her Magis beginning to heat her cup. A
calming breath escaped Asena, sounding like a sigh more than a
steadying breath.
She was ready to shoot Gabrielle down when the woman changed her
words. She wanted a truce? Asena’s eyes narrowed some, fingers
twitching on her cup as if her mind briefly couldn’t handle the
surprise. Why in Wraithus would she think Asena wanted a truce
with her? She was an opponent and one with connections to people
just like Malachi. Farren said as much...what made allowing her
to slide and get away with things any different?
However, the little voice of reason in Asena got past her
initial sense of injustice to the idea. Gabrielle wasn’t
offering an alliance, just to focus their efforts on Malachi to
even the playing field for them. He notably had the most support
front he wealthy of the city and the backing of the powerful
houses in Alessandria. He could buy his way into a seat if he
really wanted to...But would he? Perhaps that would look poorly
on him should the people find out. No one liked cheaters.
Asena rubbed her chin as Gabrielle went on to describe the
parameters for what she wanted, even suggesting that Asena might
spy or hire assassins. That drew a noise of denial from her,
since she didn’t play dirty games. Gabby even admitted knowing
that, so was she telling Asena that she herself wouldn’t have
her assassinated? The thought crossed Asena’s mind and it made
her wonder just what was under young Lady Brighteye’s mask she
wore. Could it be trusted to maintain an alliance or was she
going to make a killing blow the moment Asena’s back was turned?
Perhaps Gabrielle saw Asena as the weaker party here, that her
reputation was already ruined, and Malachi was her only
roadblock to the seat. Would doing Gabrielle this kindness then
get her elected?
Deciding Gabby had spoken enough and Asena had done her best to
hear her out, she leaned forward on her elbows to level with
her.
“You’re right to think I’m not giving up, Gabby. He may have his
own demons on his back, as I’m sure we both do...But I don’t
think you’re right for the seat on the Truce either.” She said
since it was more of Devil you know situation here. She knew
people like Malachi, their motivations, their weaknesses, how
they could act and operate...Gabrielle was an unknown and Asena
wasn’t sure she liked those odds in a fight. However, why should
Asena have to stoop to blackmail and slander to win against
Gabrielle? The past was the past and what you did now in the
present was what mattered. If she could allow herself the same
grace of learning from her mistakes, why should she take that
same right from Gabrielle?
This truce was basically leaving each other alone, running a
fair race until the end. Asena could agree to that if a few
things were clarified..
“But the idea of a truce isn’t a terrible one. If it really is
as you describe and we’re leaving each other alone, until it’s
obvious we can’t, then I can abide by that. I was intending to
let my own actions and words dictate my chances for election,
not by tearing you down.” She said even if she was sure her
advisors and followers would argue that was too optimistic. You
needed the gritty, dark pieces to run an election..
“I don’t want any illusions here that I trust you. All you’re
offering me is your word that you won’t leave here today and do
exactly the opposite of what we discussed. I suppose you have no
reason to trust me either. I’m not even sure I completely know
why you would offer me an alliance, if you are so worried about
my reputation after the banquet.” Asena’s expression eased and
she leaned back in her chair with her tea cup in hand. “I don’t
want to be your enemy, or anyone’s enemy for that matter...so
why can’t we just run fairly and let him ruin himself when he
inevitably slips up?” Asena asked her, using the question to get
to know a bit more about the mysterious woman.
#Post#: 829--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: unknownmercury Date: May 16, 2020, 4:44 pm
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Gabrielle Brighteye
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying Asena Valda
"Malachi is too cunning to just make mistakes. In the game of
the aristocrat, he has more experience than anyone in either of
our circles. You don't have his way with words. I don't have his
plausible deniability. None of our people can match him in terms
of political power and backing. The only way to win is to team
up and ruin him." It was an admission of weakness she wasn't
happy to make. Malachi could probably get away with murder here
in his homeland. Most of the elites seemed to adore him. Gabby
had the backing of a 'radical' church in another country. Asena
was considered too common to be immune to the laws.
"If we don't do this, we both lose. There are no questions about
it." She leaned back and took another sip of her tea. "At least
consider it, won't you? Talk with your advisors if need be. They
don't like me anymore than you do, I'm sure, but they're
sensible." At least when it didn't involve Asena's safety.
Somehow, the woman had gathered a group of men who would throw
themselves onto a blade for her.
"Politics aside, though, what were you wanting to discuss,
dear?"
#Post#: 833--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: Kimcora Date: May 17, 2020, 3:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Asena Valda
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying: Gabrielle Brighteye
It was easy to hear that Gabrielle gave this it all of alliance
ally of thought. Honestly, Asena figures that Malachi had an
advantage but not one so deep. Was Alessandria really that
inclined to fall in line behind yet another dishonest
politician? Surely even the wealthy of the city were tired of
games and wanted action? People were dying to injustices in
small towns, children left homeless, and others being lost to
religious persecution or disease...Only someone completely blind
or heartless could watch the state of Erudi and not feel some
glimmer of care for their fellow man. Even Gabrielle must care
somewhere deep down or else why would she want this office?
Asena listened to her being very honest and clear with her. This
was a losing battle, yes, if they didn’t figure something out.
But did Asena want to get in the weeds with Gabrielle? Surely
not...but what would her followers say to do in this situation?
Melrose would probably scold her for being there, Farren would
take this chance since it meant perhaps leverage against
Gabrielle, would Aidene really care, Damon was already working
to help her undermine Gabrielle, and Spetimus would probably
just leave this decision to her. While deep down she still
didn’t trust Gabrielle, the woman had a point.
The sensible comment made her smirk since it sounded like she
called Asena not sensible. “Oh they are sensible. Perhaps more
so than I have shown in these situations. But they defer to my
judgement as their candidate. I’m sure even if I asked they
would still support my decision. So perhaps it’s better to ask
their forgiveness later. I have to do quite a bit of that
lately.” She said before giving a nod to herself in affirmation
of her thinking. “Considering the offer won’t change the facts.
You’re right, he’s the stronger candidate at the moment. And he
certainly came out on top at that banquet with a supposed
favoritism of the Whetherfords, along with being in everyone’s
mouths lately in sympathy for his poor missing wife.” She shook
her head some at the sad tragedy since she knew something wasn’t
right about this. Why would some troop just take her like that?
“With the debates approaching we both need an edge against him.
The crowd will be made up of the city’s elite and some of the
lower socialites. Certainly he will gain the favor if left
unchecked...I can agree to your truce, under the conditions
you’ve stated...It feels like the best option presented at this
point and the one with the fewest repercussions to be seen for
now.” She stated, since honestly Asena wanted to believe
Gabrielle could be a trustworthy woman. Perhaps she could even
be an ally when Asena won the seat. She certainly was a
charismatic woman with an eloquent way about her speech. She
could be a valuable person to Alessandria if she truly wasn’t
the heretic everyone assumed she was. Even if she wasn’t, all
bets were off the moment any of her allies or Asena herself
caught wind of treachery. In that, Asena was confident enough to
agree to this white flag...
When asked for her own topics of discussion, Asena gave a smile
since an end to discussing politics sounded lovely. Thankfully
the pastries came as well, allowing Asena something to do with
her hands that felt to idle. “To be honest I wished to speak
with you more to understand your motivations for being here.
Perhaps that’s still in the vein of political conversation, but
you can’t just be some heretical church leader and make it this
far. Sorry that’s the rumor floating around anyhow. I find it
important to get to know people I’ll be dealing with. You
already seemed to have such a low opinion of me and my former
trade at the banquet, but you’re being civil now. It surprised
me honestly. So perhaps asking you what you want out of this
election can enlighten me a little?” She asked even if she was
sure Gabrielle wouldn’t tell her much or would probably dismiss
her entirely. Asena didn’t like just relying on rumor when it
came to people. Was it so wrong of her to just be curious about
a fellow candidate that was so put together at such a young age?
#Post#: 835--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: unknownmercury Date: May 17, 2020, 8:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle Brighteye
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying Asena Valda
Gabby smiled as Asena agreed to the peace between them. Good,
that opened a lot of paths for her. As for her goals... Asena
was too much of a bleeding heart to fall in with Gabrielle's
goals. Valda cared too much about others, that was her problem.
Gabby would hedge the truth a bit. "My goal is to promote the
church of Embra in other parts of the world. Right now we are
seen as zealots and fanatics. I want to make a world where
people accept the truth of Embra into their hearts and don't
persecute my people."
The part where the church killed all the nonbelievers was much
better left unsaid in present company. "What about you? You were
a mercenary for a time. What made you want to try politics? You
hardly seem suited to the twisty thinking and double speak that
comes with the field."
#Post#: 847--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: Kimcora Date: May 18, 2020, 8:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Asena Valda
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying: Gabrielle Brighteye
Asena heard her reasoning for running and wasn't surprised that
it was all about promoting Embra. Most of the people that
followed the religion wanted to see it spread and Asena wasn't
sure she agreed. That was Gabby's only goal for the seat? Well,
the Church perhaps was who she saw as her people and wanted to
make a Liphilius better for them. She certainly saw what she
meant by people persecuting Embra. In Aus-Eissen the worshippers
were turned away due to the heavy Torgar worship. But in the
smaller reaches of Batestar, where Asena grew up with Damon,
they had quite the hold on the smaller cities. However it was
there they got away with some of their worst atrocities. She
wondered if Gabrielle knew and supported all of that...
When the question was turned on herself, Asena shelved her own
questions on the woman's logic and gave quirk of her brow.
Gabrielle had this lovely little way of insulting her while
making it sound so pleasant. Honestly, Gabrielle was right. She
was better suited for all this backwards speaking and plotting
if that's where politics should remain. But Asena had higher
hopes for her position than getting bogged down in just talk.
"Well that's just the thing, Gabby. I don't want my time on the
Truce to be spent playing political word games. The current
members do enough of that and we all see the state things are
in. War, orphanages overflowing, servitude, starvation, slavery,
unequal treatment of women, misuse of Magis, corruption, and
even murder in the name of the Divine Rights. There's more but
we would be here all day..." She took another drink of her tea,
mostly to curb the passionate frustration creeping into her
voice. "I'm sure you can acknowledge that alongside your people,
the poor and forgotten in Erudi face persecution and injustice
daily. I want to be the voice against these atrocities and see
that they are addressed. I know it's not black and white, but
something has to be done and decisions must be made instead of
turning a blind eye to it all. My guild wouldn't even be needed
if the Truce was doing their job. The best minds of Erudi are
supposed to be elected to the Truce to protect our people. Our
world could be better than this...and the evil in Liphilius
shouldn't be allowed to take that from us." She said, knowing
with full confidence that she could be the voice of certainty to
push forward with her decisions, to listen to the experts and
those with the means and understanding to help her, and to steer
Erudi from the brink. She wouldn't stand idly anymore and let
the world suffer...She couldn't do it any more...Not when she
perhaps could have a family one day to bring into this world.
She wouldn't let the future be bleak because she didn't stand up
and do something today.
"But as Melrose and Septimus often caution me, it's a tall list
and they think I should stick to a few talking points. I'm
inclined to believe them after most of my audiences get this
glazed over look when I get on my soap box." She gave a bit of a
chuckle before popping a piece of the honey covered pastry in
her mouth. She made a sound of enjoyment before washing down the
sweetness with more tea. "Now Gabby, certainly you know some of
the stricter rules of your religion leads to harm and
persecution of its own members. I have a dear friend that was
savagely beaten in one of Embra's churches...Surely you don't
stand for that?" She asked, wondering jsut hat kind of woman
this Gabrielle really was with her hopes of bring the force of
Embra to Erudian soil...
#Post#: 849--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: unknownmercury Date: May 19, 2020, 2:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Gabrielle Brighteye
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying Asena Valda
Asena thought she had just asked a significant question that
would back Gabby into a corner. The priestess didn't let her
amusement show on her face. "As I told Mister Malneaux at the
banquet, every group has its radicals. Being raised in the
church and being a public figure, I do need to show solidarity
with my people, even if they are... misguided in their methods."
Gabby shrugged softly. "Our religion advocates defending self
and faith, but we do not seek conflict. It is only when people
try to destroy us that we fight back, and when we fight, we
don't stop until our enemies have either retreated or died. I
have already made my personal views on unnecessary violence
quite clear, I'm sure. I certainly don't have the stomach to
make a career of it, for instance." She did smile then, though
her eyes were sharp on Asena.
"You know, you would make an excellent Flame of Embra. A Heli
mage, an advocate for the common people, and a warrior. You
would be well-loved on missions and pilgrimages. Have you ever
looked into the church?"
#Post#: 853--------------------------------------------------
Re: 1.24 Heated Words (Gabrielle and Asena) [Y1057]
By: Kimcora Date: May 20, 2020, 12:35 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Asena Valda
Lazy Sparrow Cafe
Accompanying: Gabrielle Brighteye
Asena wasn't surprised to hear that Gabrielle wanted to support
the followers, but Asena wasn't sure she liked the idea of
inaction and pure acceptance of their acts. If she was a figure
of the church, wouldn't she want to change it? To help the rest
and make the religion better or more tolerant? When she tried to
explain her reasoning, Asena wasn't sure she agreed. She
understood them not being hostile in a sense, but the ways they
chose to defend their ways, no matter how misguided, were often
brutal. She witnessed enough from Damon and further from her
travels where the followers committed terrible acts in the name
of their goddess. Many could argue the Erudian Divines also did
not have clean hands, but at least they weren't burning people
alive as punishment.
When Gabrielle again commented on her views of violence, she
spared Gabrielle's piercing look a slight raise of her chin,
eyes set on the younger woman with the confidence Asena usually
held. She knew it was a dig at her and knew she couldn't argue
it...Violence was violence no matter what brush you painted it
with. Asena knew her past was full of it and knew her job in the
guild left little room to question how many she killed for the
greater good. While she would one day have to atone for that,
she rested easily on her decisions knowing it was for the good
of Erudi that these people perished. The violence was not just
to promote an agenda of complete control that Embra wanted. She
saw right through this cult and knew that the Flames wouldn't be
sated with just peace...As she said, she wanted everyone to know
the truth of Embra and that meant mass conversion. Perhaps by
force? However, she knew she couldn't pin that on Gabrielle with
no proof of her intentions. So she would just have to continue
to keep a close watch on her. By the change of subject, Asena
tensed however and instantly her look became guarded. Join
Embra? The idea revolted Asena more than she cared to admit,
since the very idea meant turning to the people that hurt
Damon...
"I have not. I was raised a devout follower of Torgar and I
intend to remain such. Beyond that I was raised around the
Church...I saw enough of their treatment of believers and
non-believers to know our opinions differ irreparably." She
said, being clear she would not consider Embra as an option for
her.
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