[un: sprite bulb] voice;

[bearshermark]

[Too nervous to write and worried about probably misspelling Bonaccorso, there's a rare voice message]

I've suddenly been asked to meet with Bonaccorso to speak on behalf of Vannozza's supporters. I can't imagine why, but it isn't as though I can refuse. ..But neither do I really know what to say about her. She hasn't spoken much..

[A pause for silent stressing]

The meeting is in a few hours, so I would be grateful for any guidance.

Comments

un: the blue spirit (voice)

[elfuego]

Ask questions. Powerful people like to talk about themselves, and what they hold power over. Ask him about what Taravast was like when he had just assumed his role, ask him about things he did to improve the lives of his people.

You can find out a lot about what's important to someone that way, and you can use it to make your patron look good by making her seem like her goals and priorities are similar to his.

[bearshermark]

That sounds smart.

[And the first thing he feels like he's understood fully recently]

But.. I don't believe I know enough about Vannozza to say she's qualified in any particular ways. I don't think she's so much as expressed an intended way to rule, even.

[elfuego]

You know that she wants Taravast to continue to thrive like it is if she assumes power, and that's something to go off of. Focus on the prosperity of Taravast and the people in it. People in power are nothing without the thing they have power over, and they know it, outwardly or otherwise.

[bearshermark]

[Breathes]

Okay. That makes sense. And Macaluso wants to change things by marrying from an outside kingdom. I understand that. I think that could be workable.

[elfuego]

Get a feel for his thoughts on outsiders before you try that angle - it's a good one if it works though.

[ Just because he's a terrible crown prince doesn't mean he doesn't know the rules of the game. He just sucks at playing it. ]

[bearshermark]

[Hums agreement, thoughtful]

We're outsiders, but.. if it's true Unhalad's 'brothers' rule many of the other kingdoms, I can understand their hesitance to reach beyond their borders.

[elfuego]

We're regular people.

[ A breath of a chuckle. ]

As far as they know.

You're supposed to be a farmer right? Farmers care about what's good for the average person because that's who they are. Your down-to-earth observations make you think your patron is fit to rule - for the people's sake.

[bearshermark]

[Wow, just gonna call him out like that, but neither is he ashamed of it.]

I can manage that. Thank you. You seem good at this sort of thing.

[elfuego]

[ A sigh. ]

I'm the crown prince of the Fire Nation. People like Bonaccorso wanted my father to like them. Good luck.

[bearshermark]

[Oh, a real prince. He'd never have guessed]

It sounds like you'll make a good ruler someday.