AWRR Chapter 8
Summary
- Session date: 2023-05-08
Ardith Aethlin invites Victorina to her office to inform her that they are moving forward with a proposal to create a framework for Ebemar's inclusion into the Confederacy. progress! Victorina gets invited to a meeting about it. Hopefully she understands that this is her life now.
Leonora invites Yadda for breakfast and they talk about what the next season might look like for Yadda. Hopefully fewer demons.
Katherina and Lavinia go dress shopping in advance of the wedding. They talk about Vinnie's plans for the future and how she is living the dream of being her own person and WITH a super hot partner! #Winning!
Leonora gets Thurston to admit he wrote the letter and then instills a self-destructive paranoia that he is about to be caught. Note: This leads to his being caught.
Lamont and Nik turn to Coifárë for help after getting caught up in a protest turned violent (with a little help and some well placed coins from Thurston), disrupting their morning-after canoodling with an opera singer. Nik manages a little divine healing and Coifárë takes care of the rest of Lamont's injuries.
Meanwhile, Rose and Juno enjoy the museum, wondering where the boys are, until they unexpectedly run into Rose's mother. Definitely a coincidence, 100%
Chitara stops by to apologize to Lamont for the assault, and is relieved when he doesn't feel like she or her cause are responsible. Almost like he knows there was something else going on :V
Nik drops in to see Callisto, and learns a few surprising things about the publishing industry that he might have rather not learned! Still he promises to keep her updated about his next book, which he will definitely have time to work on soon 100%. Nothing else on his schedule...
Zanne invites Lamont to an Extremely Formal meeting to tell him that their uncle is under Super Arrest and pretty much everything he has ever dared to want in his life is now on the table. Somehow he manages not to cry.
Lamont tells Nik the extremely good news and again, somehow manages not to cry (but barely). Nik is very excited: it's going to be a summer wedding after all, and they won't be separated by Lamont's military obligations!
Leonora and Magga invite Lamont over to tell him that they would like to offer him the position as babbydaddy, and they discuss the possible terms. Baby swap, anyone? She also lets him know of her role in Thurston's arrest. Good riddance!
Lamont and Nik invite Coifárë to Lamont's place to tell them the good news, invoke their help with the wedding, and invite them to live with them in Ahkas. Awwww :3
Session
Victorina Discusses Politics With Ardith
Josh: (Could have done the setup for this as epistolary, actually, but, ah well, did not think of it)
Ardith Aethelin: will send a letter to Victorina to try to set up a meeting at her office in the Parliament complex.
Victorina: Victorina will arrive at the appointed time in her best suit with a bulging satchel
Josh: A young shifter woman will greet Victorina upon her arrival, and see her into the office, walking with a noticeable limp.
Ardith Aethelin: is waiting in her office, and stands to greet Victorina with a smile.
Ardith Aethelin: Ms. Allement, thank you for coming.
Victorina: "The honor is mine for the invitation."
Ardith Aethelin: Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea?
Victorina: "Some tea will be lovely."
Ardith Aethelin: Saiya?
Saiya Harrowden: On it, back in a bit.
Ardith Aethelin: smiles and shakes her head a little as Saiya exits.
Ardith Aethelin: I hope it wasn't too arduous a trek up here.
Victorina: "Not too difficult, I assure you. I'm use to long walks."
Ardith Aethelin: If nothing else, Highmark is good exercise.
Ardith Aethelin: So, I have to confess I have something of an ulterior motive for asking you here today. I did want to speak with you about some upcoming legislation, but I also very much wanted you to be seen coming to my office to discuss the same.
Victorina: "Oh? What legislation are you referring to?"
Ardith Aethelin: It's a motion to create a framework for an Ebemari application for Confederacy membership.
Victorina: Victorina internally:
https://tenor.com/view/run-through-happy-running-fans-crowd-gif-14962817
Josh: (Heh)
Ardith Aethelin: It's far from a done deal, but I'm hoping our meeting her will signal how seriously this is being taken.
Josh: (here*, not her)
Victorina: "Of course, of course. It's a step in the right direction." She settles the satchel on her lap. "Is there anything in particular you want to discuss?"
Ardith Aethelin: Well, I do want to caution you that this going to be a long, uphill battle, both here and back home for you. There will be benchmarks Ebemar will need to meet, and it will have to demonstrate its internal support for the move.
Victorina: "My presence here should be a good indicator of Ebemar's desire to join the Confederacy. What benchmarks need to be met?"
Ardith Aethelin: Well, as I'm sure you know, the Confederacy takes a dim view of the practice of slavery, for instance.
Victorina: "Right, right." She's taking notes.
Ardith Aethelin: Ebemar would need to take steps to eliminate the practice before membership could be seriously considered. There's also security concerns, parliamentary arrangements to consider...It's a complex issue, and somewhat unique despite several new states having joined recently.
Ardith Aethelin: I did want to ask...
Ardith Aethelin: I love my country, but our history in your homeland is...rocky at best. Are you certain this is in Ebemar's best interest?
Victorina: Victorina sets down her pen and puts all the papers aside. "My belief is that for now, joining the Confederacy is the better option for us in the long run. True, we're incredibly stubborn which can be a boon sometimes. However, we do not have the...mettle to back such pride."
Ardith Aethelin: nods contemplatively.
Victorina: "We need the reputation that being a member of the Confederacy can bring us, and the protection that'll make hostile neighbors think twice or even thrice about taking our territory for themselves."
Victorina: "I understand joining the Confederacy forces Ebemar to restructure a great deal many things. But it's changes that need to happen."
Ardith Aethelin: There are those, myself included, who have reservations about getting involved in any sort of military conflict in Ahkas again, but I recognize those sorts of commitments are part and parcel of this agreement.
Ardith Aethelin: My fervent hope is we can prevent any sort of hostility.
Victorina: "Exactly. Sometimes the threat is enough to keep the peace."
Ardith Aethelin: nods.
Ardith Aethelin: You're confident a referendum in Ebemar would support membership?
Victorina: "Yes."
Ardith Aethelin: Well, I suspect you'll have your work cut out for you regardless, much as we will here.
Ardith Aethelin: Councilor Tiobraide will be introducing the motion in committee in the next few days, and we'll begin this whole process.
Victorina: "All right. Will this meeting be available for public view?"
Ardith Aethelin: I'm sure we can arrange for you to be present, if you like. Committee meetings aren't usually open to the public, but clearly you're not a random lay person.
Victorina: She nods, "I understand. Thank you."
Ardith Aethelin: You're quite welcome. I'm sure we'll be working together more in the coming days.
Saiya Harrowden: will return with tea, and Ardith will happily discuss the political landscape re: the bill.
Reputation
Rumor and Scandal
(include only every second chapter)
