[ Nell's eyes narrow but she settles her chin into her palm. Fine, he has her attention. ]
'Support' is your brother's role, not mine. [ It's not some sort of obscure innuendo; support magic is just Kostos's thing. ] What did you have in mind?
[Which isn't helpful, but Nikos can't help himself. The twist of his mouth turns to an outright scowl.]
If they vote for either of those two, they would never support Agathe's more controversial opinions in the first place. The Inquisition intends to devote its resources to discrediting Clorentine. Bendetta-- [He makes a disparaging noise in the back of his throat.] Whatever is done to weaken them can be done by others. I intend boldness. Something that cannot be ignored, instead of making a weak gesture of support where no one can see it.
[ Nell spreads a hand in the air, fingers up, like well yes exactly they are fucking fools but she hears him out. ]
But then why not kill Benedetta? [ She says it very casually, her cup lifted for a drink like this is all off-hand, top-of-her-head. ] Her followers might stomach Agathe and then we've bettered our odds instead of lengthening them. I understand the sentiment, there are too many who are comfortable with a weak, cautious move instead of one that might really make a difference. I'm just not sure this drives anyone outside the Gallows to Elise and last I checked they weren't letting us in the Cathedral to vote.
Benedetta is supported by Antivans. The merchants. But her connections are poorer, and they know it. Desperation would move their hands, motivate them to move against a candidate like Agathe in a significant and dramatic way, on behalf of Benedetta. And if Benedetta's supporters were implicated in this move, support for Benedetta would fall.
[In contrast to Nell, he leans across the table toward her. There's a spark of intensity in him, urgent and burning.]
We are not allowed in the vote. But we are all influencing it, outside of the Cathedral. We have to influence first, and harder. We don't wait.
[ That piques her interest, it's clear. Some sharpening of her attention, brows drawing in not in a frown but in focus. The silence once he's finished is tense, weighted, thoughtful. ]
If Benedetta and her supporters could be framed well enough to put her out of it. Anyone who didn't want Gertruda might find Elise their best choice. Assuming the rest of the Inquisition handles making Clorentine an unpalatable choice.
[ She drums a finger on her cup, nail catching the glaze, a quickening taptaptaptap ]
We can rely on the Inquisition to make Clorentine appear unbearable. She'll do half the work herself. For Benedetta, I intend to make use of my contacts in Antiva, and Marisol's. That and her coin, which will finally be used for the good of more than her flamingos.
[Bless her stupid silly heart.]
For Agathe, I intend to make it clean and quiet. I need information on her first. I know Fabria has some connections. Are you familiar at all with [--the motherfucker, inadvertent subtext that he means more generally than personally, though even that opinion is something he picked up from Kostos and now semi-shares, out of their weird distorted sibling loyalty--] him?
I knew him briefly in Nevarra, but not very well. I wouldn't say we were friends.
[ She is frowning thoughtfully into her cup, color high. It's hot in the room and it shows along cheekbones and the tops of her ears. ]
I don't know how I can help. [ She continues before he can start glowering any harder. ] I want to. But my skills aren't subtle or stealthy. I'm not sure what use I would be.
[No, wait. Nikos is still leaned forward, not letting up on that intensity, but his thoughts do a quick turnaround. Here, better--]
I came to you as someone who has done something. Something real. This world--the Inquisition--it's full of talkers. People who say they want to make change, who want things to be different. People who are full of shit. They don't want it if it will interrupt their lives. I don't need them.
My skills are subtlety, and stealth. I don't need those either. I have them. What I need is people. People who can make the rest of it work. If you don't know Fabria very well, fine. Do you know someone who does?
And in the end, I will need someone to speak. We do not have control over the outcome of this vote. We can influence it. I will need that, if this is to work.
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no subject
'Support' is your brother's role, not mine. [ It's not some sort of obscure innuendo; support magic is just Kostos's thing. ] What did you have in mind?
no subject
I plan to kill Agathe of Cumberland.
no subject
And then what if all her supporters just vote for Benedetta or Clorentine?
no subject
[Which isn't helpful, but Nikos can't help himself. The twist of his mouth turns to an outright scowl.]
If they vote for either of those two, they would never support Agathe's more controversial opinions in the first place. The Inquisition intends to devote its resources to discrediting Clorentine. Bendetta-- [He makes a disparaging noise in the back of his throat.] Whatever is done to weaken them can be done by others. I intend boldness. Something that cannot be ignored, instead of making a weak gesture of support where no one can see it.
no subject
But then why not kill Benedetta? [ She says it very casually, her cup lifted for a drink like this is all off-hand, top-of-her-head. ] Her followers might stomach Agathe and then we've bettered our odds instead of lengthening them. I understand the sentiment, there are too many who are comfortable with a weak, cautious move instead of one that might really make a difference. I'm just not sure this drives anyone outside the Gallows to Elise and last I checked they weren't letting us in the Cathedral to vote.
no subject
Benedetta is supported by Antivans. The merchants. But her connections are poorer, and they know it. Desperation would move their hands, motivate them to move against a candidate like Agathe in a significant and dramatic way, on behalf of Benedetta. And if Benedetta's supporters were implicated in this move, support for Benedetta would fall.
[In contrast to Nell, he leans across the table toward her. There's a spark of intensity in him, urgent and burning.]
We are not allowed in the vote. But we are all influencing it, outside of the Cathedral. We have to influence first, and harder. We don't wait.
no subject
If Benedetta and her supporters could be framed well enough to put her out of it. Anyone who didn't want Gertruda might find Elise their best choice. Assuming the rest of the Inquisition handles making Clorentine an unpalatable choice.
[ She drums a finger on her cup, nail catching the glaze, a quickening taptaptaptap ]
Do you have a plan?
no subject
We can rely on the Inquisition to make Clorentine appear unbearable. She'll do half the work herself. For Benedetta, I intend to make use of my contacts in Antiva, and Marisol's. That and her coin, which will finally be used for the good of more than her flamingos.
[Bless her stupid silly heart.]
For Agathe, I intend to make it clean and quiet. I need information on her first. I know Fabria has some connections. Are you familiar at all with [--the motherfucker, inadvertent subtext that he means more generally than personally, though even that opinion is something he picked up from Kostos and now semi-shares, out of their weird distorted sibling loyalty--] him?
no subject
[ She is frowning thoughtfully into her cup, color high. It's hot in the room and it shows along cheekbones and the tops of her ears. ]
I don't know how I can help. [ She continues before he can start glowering any harder. ] I want to. But my skills aren't subtle or stealthy. I'm not sure what use I would be.
no subject
Then get me to someone who can help.
[No, wait. Nikos is still leaned forward, not letting up on that intensity, but his thoughts do a quick turnaround. Here, better--]
I came to you as someone who has done something. Something real. This world--the Inquisition--it's full of talkers. People who say they want to make change, who want things to be different. People who are full of shit. They don't want it if it will interrupt their lives. I don't need them.
My skills are subtlety, and stealth. I don't need those either. I have them. What I need is people. People who can make the rest of it work. If you don't know Fabria very well, fine. Do you know someone who does?
And in the end, I will need someone to speak. We do not have control over the outcome of this vote. We can influence it. I will need that, if this is to work.