the senate floor

[aprescoup]

( ooc: The following video network transmission can be seen and answered by everyone in Ephes, including all characters in the party, politically oriented or otherwise. Key notes:

■ Everyone can tag in, threadjack or pose questions. Don't forget to introduce yourselves and your patron, if you want!

■ NPCs (politicians or rabble) can witness your characters' comments and also speak up, ask questions, cheer or boo as needed.

■ There is no private messaging available in this post.

■ Various Senators may be swayed to give you their vote, based on the speeches of fellow politicians and supporters of Messalina. Everyone else can assist and/or sabotage as needed!

■ This is dated to the Tenth Day of Chaining, before Maximus Faustus' banquet on the Twelfth. Consider the post OOCly available for tagging with NPCs until 4 October, but permanently available for threadjacking between characters! )

	SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: Good people of Ephes, good women, good men. I come to bring you the wisdom of the Honourable Caius Justus, who, but for a greater calling, would walk today these sacred halls among us —
	A senator, muffled: Where is he? Where is Justus? Another, farther back: ...hasn’t been seen for days, for weeks, they say, what wisdom is this? With his whore, Valeria... A third, closer: He is alive, we know it sure? We know it certain?
	CAELIUS SILVANUS: Forgive our impunity, Speaker, but it is only fear and care that keep us grounded in our great uncertainty over the fate of beloved Caius Justus! Who, we do not wish to contend has abandoned his duties and obligations, before this honoured assembly and men of good standing, whom he has not conceded to see in —
	RHEA SABINIA: What care, Silvanus? You nip at his heels like a dog on a bone, you have no rest!
	CAELIUS SILVANUS: I have a right. As do all men and women here, fine men and fine women, full not of whim and verve but of reason and inquiry, and we wish to know where. Is. Caius? What is to become of us? What of Mistress Messalina, whose plea remains unheard for months?
	RHEA SABINIA: Father and mercy, these are the days of our Chained Father, you want to speak of war now? Repent and think better of your —
	MARIANUS VALERIUS: Though it pains me to agree, for we all know our past discontent, but Silvanus speaks with reason. A day of no qualms will never come. We have dead things at our gates, living in our villas, drinking our wine, and making demands of us! We must turn. Her. Away.
	MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: And why?
	A senator, muffled: ...why? Another, farther back: He asks why! Maximus Faustus asks why! A third, closer: Well, isn't it obvious? Isn't it plain?
	MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Is it? Months past, we sent Captain Narula to task, we told him, raise us armies, and by the Chained God, he has done. The best, the finest of the realm, absent only the skilled command to win us victory.
	MARIANUS VALERIUS: If he is so honoured and so accomplished, that feral wolf, Narula, why do you not entrust him?
	SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: As we know, Caius Justus holds Captain Narula in great esteem, but has had his reasons to...
	MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Caius Justus is not here. But one thing is certain, in my heart, as should be in yours: he is a beloved son of Ephes, who in turn loves the mother citadel above all. He wishes her splendour and her growth, and Messalina would give it.
	RHEA SABINIA: How magnanimous she is! She would give us our war spoils, won with our armies!
	MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Would you have us only gain reward, taking no risk? Have you won a single coin piece in your sour life? One must pay and compromise in any alliance!
	MARIANUS VALERIUS: If she is so accomplished, why does she not conquer her citadels alone? Why does she not repel evil, and free her people? Why is she at our gate, begging? Are these not her people? Should she not speak to them, as we speak, brother to brother, in this assembly? Perhaps it is simply that the dead are not civilised. They cannot be trusted. They must be repelled. Why take chances against us? Against Ephes?
	MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Valerius, your father’s father owned ships for fishmongering, but by the Chained, have no fear, the stink has finally washed off you. You reek instead of cowardice!
	MARIANUS VALERIUS: You dare?
	SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: Sileeeeeeeeeeence! Silence! This assembly asks silence! It is shamed into rumination and overcome by the illustrious rhetoric of such esteemed speakers. The Senate will hear... from our youngest tribunes, good citizens and representatives, on such matters as Mistress Messalina and the dead. Our scribe will write down the opinions for the study of Caius Justus himself, and have no fear, Silvanus, he will soon be with us. Now, whoever has a learned opinion: speak.

Comments

un: man's greatest treasure - video

[reparo]

[ You gave her a job, good Ephes, you get to deal with it. Walking freely, everywhere, and interrupting with -]

Peanuts, get your peanuts!

Perfectly seasoned and roasted - five a portion, good sirs, but three if you would swear on your honour to shut up and listen to the reason that Rhea Sabinia is trying to impart.

un: of corpse not / audio

[nothinglikefather]

Here here!

[reparo]

If only they would.

[nothinglikefather]

[ It's nice to hear another English voice, despite the situation. ]

It's early days. I doubt they'll make a choice just yet. But that would involve them talking sensibly and listening to each other and politicians don't often do that in my experience.

[reparo]

[ Story of her life. Chatty politicians. ]

I've heard you - you make compelling arguments for the good Senators. I have similar experiences with politicians from where I come from also - something to be said about that.

[ A pause, and then brightly: ] Anyway, peanuts? Two coins for you, for good common sense.

[nothinglikefather]

Thanks. I don't think they'll actually take a blind bit of notice of me, but you have to try.

[ As for the offer, he is hungry and he could head towards the Senate house and listen in person. It's not that far. ]

If you still have any left when I get down there, sure.

[reparo]

I'll set one aside, just for you. I'm Hermione Granger - if you need to find me when you get here.

[nothinglikefather]

[ He keeps from saying "the girl with the nuts"- it might be taken the wrong way.]

Jacob Frye.

I'll probably be the one arrested for calling noble lord Silvanus an unflattering pet name.

[reparo]

I could suggest a few myself! But don't get arrested, Mr Frye, I doubt their cells make for a good night's sleeping environment.

[nothinglikefather]

Miss Granger, they can't be much worse than the Yard.

[ And with that he'll end the audio message- or will try to. Hes not used to these devices or this method of communication.

Still, he reaches the senate house soon enough, leaning against one of the arched doorways, looking at the essembled crowd. And there is a lady selling peanuts.]

Two gold you said?

[reparo]

[She's been put through a ringer today, with some old men nearly driving her to bankruptcy - and some talk of members of the Senate too.

But this voice sounds familiar, and this price as well, and she did keep one portion in a bag set aside.]

Hello - yes, but only for you Mr Frye.

[nothinglikefather]

[ Oh yes, he heard that, and it's probably the reason for his grin. ]

Are they fresh? Salty? Completely free of stale penises?

[ He holds out the money, regardless of her answer. ]

Heard any interesting chatter from the esteemed members?

1/2

[reparo]

I will throw them at your head.

[aprescoup]

RHEA SABINIA

Thank you. And now, as for the matter of -


SENATORS

One senator, livened: Peanuts?
The second: She said, peanuts!
The third: I heard it! Peanuts!
The fourth: We want peanuts, deserve peanuts?
The second: Are they the good peanuts?
The first: Mmmmmmm, had myself a stale, bland fistful in the northern market.
The fourth: She's from the northern market?
The second: Why would she be from the northern market?
The fourth: ...does have a look about her, a little northern.
The third: Why don't you just ask -
The fourth: Oh, she'd say, would she? You're the girl with the stale peanuts? Bad enough she sells them bland.
The first: Come to think of it, she does look awfully like a sort with stale, bland nuts.
The second: I like them a little crisp, me.
The fourth: Well, don't go to her! Haven't you heard? Her peanuts are stale and bland. And I bet they've got mould!

[reparo]

[Oh but Hermione bristles quickly - and snips back, quickly and almost like a hissing cat, to number 4. ]

If I am the merchant girl with the stale peanuts then you must be the Senator with the stale [ Improvise, Hermione!] penis.

[ W H Y. ] You do have that look about you after all.

[ To the others, quickly: ]

They're no more stale than your debates, and considering that your debates are not stale, my good men...

[aprescoup]

SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS

Gentlemeeeeeeeeen! Laaaaaaaaaaaaddddddyyyyyyyyy. Let us not be distracted by peanuts and... penises and all other such members — matters. We were speaking of Messalina.

[reparo]

Oh, yes indeed - apologies for the interruption, I'm sure that can't feel too good.

Anyway, Rhea Sabinia, you were saying?

[aprescoup]

RHEA SABINIA

I have no more to say, but would listen to you gladly.

[reparo]

Me? [ Surprised, a little stumble here. ]

Erm, well - I'll speak, then. Ask what you will hear from me.

[aprescoup]

What do you think? Being a woman, a vulnerable citizen of this citadel, denied much care or privilege? Of Messalina, a fellow woman, but a dead one? And her plea.

[reparo]

[ Her left eye twitches, her jaw clenches. ]

I think that the request ought to be considered without the matter of gender. If Messalina were an undead man, coming to plead the Senate for aid in raiding the undead Brotherhood and rescuing his undead people from their presumable clutches, of course then said people would become additional members of Ephes in exchange for whatever spoils from Messalina's war and conquest...?

[ Dry: ] I have no doubt that the lady had little choice on being undead or not, but it does not change my opinion that she would make an unrecommended ally.

[aprescoup]

I simply thing the proposition is poor. If I have an army, if I have no proof of her ability, why should I give her my army for gains she may or may not reap? Why not take them myself?

1/2

[reparo]

Er......

[reparo]

....fair.

[aprescoup]

Precisely. Now, I have heard what my colleagues, esteemed Caelius Silvanus and the esteemed Speaker said of Narula. That he is questionable, and so says Caius Justus.

But I ask: is it not Caius Justus who nominated him in position? If he is so unworthy, so irrelevant, so untrustworthy, then how is it we entrust him with our greatest asset, our Hand? No. Either he can be trusted with everything, or he can be trusted with nothing. It is as the friend... ehhhh... what was the name? Wrathionus? As he spoke. We are Ephes. We are the superior city. We must have someone.