The council called to order

[Salem]

The marina floated upon the water in neat rows of docks andslips, a human attempt to impose order upon a system that was, by its nature,always in motion. Boats drifted against their moorings, restrained but nevertruly still.

Salem appreciated the metaphor.

Satchel hanging from one shoulder, he followed the docktoward the Hierarch's houseboat. The vessel itself drew little attention. Itssignificance came from ownership rather than appearance. Somewhere within itswalls, personal space became political space, and private sanctum became theseat of Consilium business.

A distinction that the Free Councilor found endlesslyfascinating.

The Awakened built systems much as Sleepers did. Hierarchs,Councilors, Sentinels, Heralds. Titles and responsibilities layered atop areality that ultimately answered to none of them. Yet unlike the Lie, thesestructures existed by consent, cooperation, and continual effort. Theypersisted because people chose to maintain them.

As he approached the vessel, Salem noticed another arrivalalready waiting near the boarding point.

He offered a polite nod in greeting to Witch before stopping acomfortable distance away. There was no urgency in his posture. The meetingwould begin when it began.

For a few moments, he simply observed. The gentle motion ofthe water beneath the docks. The sounds of the marina. The houseboat itself,serving tonight as both home and hall of governance.

[Chambers]

Thirteens explanation is taken in good faith. "He hasn't poked in anything he really shouldn't have." By part thanks to that the Moros didn't leave his highly personal or awakened possessions just sitting around for anyone to find, especially when eh knew he would be having company. When the choice of tea is chosen some loose leaves are spooned into a tea strainer which goes into a large mug and the still hot water from kettle is added. "There you go, it just needs to steep for a few minutes if you prefer it stronger." Placing the mug on the most central of the surface for Thirteen to take at her leisure. "Now as for something to eat." He addressed the familiar again. "I do have most of that." He was a well practiced chef after all, but roadkill might be a stretch. "However if I recall you mentioned eating eyes? And I have a small mouth bass I fished out the river yesterday, it will be cold from being in the fridge but it still has its eyes." And would be fresher then roadkill.

Auroras studies were always a point of curiosity, what a mage as powerful as her choose to focus on would always be interesting. But it does not get pushed further, if she had wanted to expound on it then she likely would have. "If someone happens that you feel I need to know about, I will always make the time it is never a bother." Stressful sure but that came with the job. "But a few peaceful weeks are no bad thing, not at all." He didn't make it to a laugh but does manage a gentle smile. She had probably been joking but better safe then sorry on the front, and he did strive to make himself available.

The sound of knocking draws his attention. "Hopefully that's another of our expected number, please excuse me for a moment." And he will move back into the workshop and to the front door. Upon opening it Witch gets a warm smile in welcome, which is extended with pleasant to surprise to the Salem waiting a distance away. Having not heard back from the Warlock he had been unsure if he would be in attendance. "Hello and welcome, both, please do come in." Stepping aside to let the mages into his sanctumn, first the gloomy workshop with tools hung upon the walls and then into the brighter more comfy living quarters were Aurora and Thirteen had been left.

[Thirteen]

The bird seemed a little offended, "I know cartoons aren't real! I'm not dumb!"

Thirteen smiled, "It's true. It's the live action that he sometimes thinks is real life. He thought Harry Potter was real."

"Oh, excuse me for making that mistake when I live with an actual wizard!" Jinx huffed.

"Ok, fair point," the Acanthus shrugged good-naturedly, enjoying poking fun at the familiar.

Thirteen accepted the mug of tea with a nod, "Thanks."

The crow was mollified with the prospect of food. "Fish eyeballs? Oh yeah! That'll do nicely!" While kind of gross, the Libertine was used to her familiar eating things she would not, so she gave Chambers another nod, making it clear she was fine with the eyeball offer.

The knocking caught her ear, as well as Jinx's. Hopefully that was the other half of the Council here so they could get down to business.

[Salem]

Salem gives a nod to the other Moros when the front door opens. He gives a smile to the man, "Good evening," he starts, "Thank you." He steps onto the deck carefully, pausing to test his balance, before following after.

As the pass through the workshop, he can't help but glance around, his gaze darting about curiously, taking in the area around him, before being led into the living quarters. His gaze zooms about that area for a moment as well as he greets the other gathered Awakened.

He smiles and nods to his fellow Libertine, "Hello there." He gives a playful wink over to Jinx and then nods to the Thyrsus. "Good evening."

[Chambers]

After Welcoming the two remaining Councillors in Chambers shuts and locks the front door before following them through back into the living space. Salem's observation would note that things are orderly, everything in it's place, and arranged the hammers hanging from the workshop wall in size order, the recipe cards on the galley cupboard doors arranged by date. However the Moros has not left anything that might offer clues or hints regarding important information openly about. No loose pages, no books or receipt, not even a stray hair can be seen.

With everyone now gathered he heads back over to the galley. "Salem, Witch can I get either of you anything?" While opening the well stocked fridge from which a tinfoil wrapped bundle is taken out and placed on a plate before being unwrapped. "There you go Jinx." The small mouth bass is offered over the familiar eyes and all.

Then addressing the room as a whole, looking to each mage in turn. "Alright as we are all here lets get underway." No sense in delaying things. "Skye has made it known that she would like to take the position of being a sentinel for the consilium." A pause to keep it clear that was the topic. "As she has given me good reason to think her mentality unsound." He avoids the use of the word mad, that had stronger insinuations then desired. "I am not inclined to test her for the appointment." No clarification on the matter comes forward. "However I accept I do not know all, and am open to other arguments, advice and the like." He would not have gathered them if he was beyond convincing otherwise.

[Thirteen]

"Salem, 'lo." The Acanthus greeted her fellow Libertine. A nod was given to the Moros Councilor, as well. "Witch."

Now that everyone was here, the Council got to work. Thankfully there was only one issue on the table this evening. The potential appointment of a Sentinel.

The knee-jerk reaction in her mind, being a member of the Free Council, was to loathe more hierarchy. Thirteen's Order, however, were part of the Pentacle, and the political structure of Consiliums was something they had to tolerate. For the sake of expediency, she had already decided against going on any sort of anti-hierarchy rant. The Diamond Mages would only roll their eyes at her anyway, metaphorically if not literally.

Instead, the redhead found herself surprised by Chambers' stance on Skye. Mentally unsound was a harsh criticism. Without waiting to see if there was any sort of speaking order, because she wouldn't care, anyway, Thirteen aired her thoughts.

"I agree that the woman is... let's say weird. Alright, she's a nutter. I've seen her in action, however." Her brown eyes scanned over the others, watching their reactions. "She had my back at Zinfandel without hesitation, acted to protect me at every turn: From Seers, from spirits, from the Golden Consilium. She got stabbed and spirit-drained for her trouble." The Enchantress paused a moment to consider, "Perhaps it's gratitude speakin', but actions speak louder than crazy words. When it comes to Sentinel duties - patrollin' the Circle and breakin' legs when necessary - I think she'd handle it well enough."

Jinx, meanwhile, looked over the whole fish he was given, clearly excited, but then he looked at Thirteen and whispered, "Psst! Gimme something shiny!"

The Acanthus looked at him blankly a moment, then nodded. "Right, right." She dug in a jacket pocket and came up with a dime - an American ten cent coin - and held it out to the bird. Jinx took it in his beak, then fluttered over to the Hierarch and lay the bit of currency down next to him. "For you! Thanks for the fish!" With that, he returned to the plate and began pecking at the aforementioned meal.

"It's a crow thing. Please humor him," was Thirteen's explanation to Chambers.

[Witch]

Nodding an early greeting to Salem, Witch followed Chambers on board. This not being her first trip to the houseboat, she had no issues keeping her eyes on track. As they entered where the others were gathered, she lifted a hand in greeting and offered each a smile.

At the query about wanting anything she gave a small shake of her head, "Thank you but I am good."

Finding a spot, she sat, not surprised at Chambers moving directly to the reason for gathering. Blinking in surprise at his words, it was Thirteen who responded first. But she was able to gather herself quickly enough.

"I don't doubt her fervor at protecting from outside forces. But the role of Sentinel is more than just that." She paused. As a Guardian she knew more than some about what it meant to protect. From threats external. And internal. "Do we trust her to the other duties?" From the sounds of it, it was no from at least 2 others. And given that only 2 had spoken prior to her, it wasn't a good number.

[Aurora]

A smile is offered to Salem, “Hi Salem.” He still didn’t know too much about him, maybe it was time to reach out and see if he wanted to get together for coffee or something. Might be good to get to know him better.

Spotting Witch, another smile was offered to her, “Hi Witch!” another she didn’t know well. Maybe she should throw a party? Like, invite the Consilium out or something. “Hope you’ve both been well.” Looking to both Witch and Salem.

Now Chambers reason for the meeting was…unexpected.

And his opinion was even more unexpected.

The Shaman seems to sit back and just listen, taking in everyone ones opinion as they all share it. Grey eyes moving from one to another.

Nodding, “I’ve known her the longest and I’ll admit, I haven’t fought with her like you have Councilor Thirteen.” Then she looks to Chambers, “But I do share some of the concerns you do Hierarch Chambers. I have my own examples over the years of instability that have put me on edge and watching her a little more closely. In the long run, mentally unsound is not something we particularly want in such a role without someone to keep an eye on her faculties. So my personal vote would be no at this time. Not to say it couldn’t change in future if some growth wasn’t to happen.”

[Chambers]

A nod is given to Witch, a non verbal signal he had heard and understood her refusal for any kind of refreshment. Probably for the best as things were now under way.

Thirteen view on the matter could well be tinged by bias but she says as much herself. The Moros Smiles but it is empty and a little grim. "I do not doubt her ability to fight or even her dedication to the consilium." Neither was in question or doubt. "But nor do I refer to her oddities or personality quirks I am afraid." Skye was strange enough sure, but if they looked at it which awakened weren't bizarre in a myriad of ways. "She let slip to me she sees floating symbols all round, even when she was here in this very room." Casting his own gaze around again. "Which I can assure there are not." It was his sanctum after all he should know. "More then this when I have visited her sanctum she had them carved over her walls and these images were unrecognizable to me, and the scope far vaster then I had previously understood." Which leads him to the crux of the issue. "While these hallucinations of hers are seemingly benign at the moment, it speaks as has been said to a unsoundness of her mind." He had tried not to insinuate that Skye was in fact insane by self admittance. "And whatever affliction this is, well it does not fill me with confidence in her ability to take on roles of responsibility." For all he knew she might started seeing other things that weren't there, or get distracted by them or anything of the nature.

Which tied nicely into Witch's point, something he picks up on. "I did question on her on that when she made this known to me. While she assured me that she was fully prepared and fully ready to perform all the duties and requirements of a sentinel including following instructions she found unpalatable." Because after all the sentinels were the official enforcing arm of a consilium among other things. "However. From what I see of her she wears he heart on her sleeve, and is rather spontaneous in her actions. So no I do not think she could perform all of the duties expected of a sentinel." So far no argument had gone anyway to convincing him to change his stance on the matter that was for certain. "Of course if we were unsure on that matter, that is part of what the tests for the position are meant to help show more definitively one way or the other." At the end of the day it was only his view that mattered ultimately, but that was still part and parcel of the discussion so it is brought up.

Auroras perspective was one he had valued and sought after given her time and experience. That and as stated she had known Skye the longest. "Would you be willing to share any of this instances that have given you concern Councillor Aurora so we can have a fuller picture as possible to gauge her mental stability?" Either way a history of issues was not point in the arrows favor. "If her illness is serve and long standing it might be that there is need for different action on our part." There were after all things that could be done.

A curious look given to Salem to try and prompt his view on the topic as the warlock remained quiet.

Finally a look is given down to the coin. Thirteen seemed alright with him taking it, sympathy and all. "I'll accept this but you will need to excuse me if I don't touch it for the moment." Not that he had any more reason to be scared of sympathy given the entire consilium had access to the records written in mana from his pattern.

[Thirteen]

While her familiar pecked at the dead fish, Thirteen quietly listened to the opinions and experiences of the others in the room, and grew increasingly concerned. Chambers' description of the Arrow's... mental instability raised her eyebrows. Never let it be said the Libertine was unwilling to change her opinion based on new information.

"So... she's that sort of unstable. The carvin' nonsense on the walls sort. That's definitely outside of my experiences with her." Brown eye shifted to the other Councilors. "If you've all got more scary stories of her, I should hear them."

The Acanthus sighed, "I kind of want to hear Ascelpius' opinion of her suitibility, too. From her fellow Arrow. Isn't she in a leadership position in her Order?"

The Hierarch delaying touching the coin was met with a simple nod.