(1410) Ariadne, Avis, Zodiac

[Ermon]

Ermons slowly recovers from the haze caused by all the studies and offers an apologetic smile to Aquinas. A good night's sleep, now wouldn't that be rad. But when he does sleep, it is filled with the aching of muscle and rapid, hectic dreams full of Precepts and Arcana, and all other Fucking Capital Words. Why the hell did the Mages need to put themselves on a pedestal that way. Eventually he clears his head enough to take stock of what is happening around him. Huh, a Path Councillor election. Way to be late to the most important part of the evening:

"Well, I support Ariadne too. And not just because she is in my Cabal but because I believe the Path should be represented by the one who came furthest on it. Aquinas is the Hierarch so he can't be Councillor and Ariadne is the most powerful Warlock form all of us", - he turns to the Epopt, - "I trust you will be able to represent our Path to the Concillium best".

He knows it won't score him any points with Avis or Zodiac, for that matter, but it is what it is. Avis may be enthusiastic but she has seen herself what the Epopt can do. She is not even in the same league. And neither is he, for that matter.

[Ariadne]

"I would have pushed her to unify the Consilium. If I had learned about this attempt to subvert it I would have had to make a hard choice yes? At that point it comes down to what is best for Sacramento." At that Ariadne raises an arm to indicate those around her. Blue eyes shift to watch Zodiac walk away. Yes, later.


"Evening Jonokuchi" Ariadne says with a nod before nodding in thanks to Ermon.

[Avis]

What Zoey had said in her wake was, frankly, beyond baffling. Sentinel? She wasn't even being considered! So why bring that up? And, why fucking leave afterwards? That, just as much as everything else, set her jaw like an alligator with a deer leg, and she turned her eyes away from Zoey's retreating form, just in time to hear the weed speak up, illuminating the flaw in Avis' campaign. Well, ok, one of the flaws, but it was a goddamn big one, large enough to deflate the entire thing. Still, there was a moment when it looked like the young Talon was going to continue to press the attack, to try once more to destabilize her opponent, but then a moment passed where it was clear that the realization of defeat had dawned on her. There were three votes cast against her, three votes out of five. Even if Jonokuchi supported her, there was no hope for victory. It was done. That didn't mean she wouldn't still lash out with a few death flails, though. No reason to hold back now.

"You have, like, perfected the ability of being able to say absolutely fucking nothing at all even though your mouth is moving," Avis spat at the Epopt, a hand rising so the fingers could flap against the thumb like a sock puppet talking. Her mouth opened again, another insult forming like a vile bubble on her tongue, but she bit it back before another mistake could be made. It might look like the Epopt firmly believed that words didn't mean shit, just like Zoey had said, but that wasn't the tract to take. There was another, more obvious one to exploit.

"I can't deny that you are a Master, or that you have been a 'pillar of the community', in some fashion, but I can accuse you of utterly failing to put a pathmate's concerns at ease. Even when directly, fucking asked about it. The Golden Consilium has spilled the blood of men and women who have pledged their lives to protect it, shamelessly, and the fact that you're not openly condemning association with a woman who works for those same parasites is a problem for me. That's the reason why I plucked up the goddamn courage to run against you in the first place, but apparently no one else is bothered by it. Or three fifths, aren't, anyways. What do you have to say Jonokuchi? Isn't it the least bit fucking concerning?" she ranted, turning her eyes to the mountainous Talon.

[Jonokuchi]

Did he just suddenly Master Forces? How could Ariadne not notice him arriving a few minutes before? Certainly, did Jonokuchi not mark his arrival to the sudden meeting of Warlocks with a reasonable greeting? The sumo pushed it away as simply being preoccupied but it was disconcerting.

What else had she missed in her, apparent, long-time residency in the Consilium?

"Very," he rumbled, after looking down first at Avis with a nod before turning to Ariadne and finally Ermon. "You say that those who have Mastered further along the Path should represent it. Is that not what had happened with the previous Hierarch? Look where that led this Consilium." He leaned down slightly. "Rank does not equate to being better. Passion and the desire to do the best in any circumstance is what builds character and trust, a valuable commodity these days. I trust Avis and so I vote for her. I do not trust or know either of you."

Jonokuchi stood tall once again, eyes moving to examine the room and all within it. He was not a man of words but of action, and sighed at being so open.

"Judging by recent events, this is a new Consilium, one that is not bound by the past but looking to the future. A new Consilium requires a fresh, new outlook from it's Councillors."

Once finished, the sumo stood firm, eyes once again on the pair opposing Avis. His arms remained across his body, crossed.

[Ermon]

Well, that was a sound argument. Avis was far too fiery for his liking so everthing she said was immediately filed under 'bullshit' in his mind:

"That is a sound argument. However", - he makes a pointed pause, looking at Avis but avoiding her eyes just in case, - "Ariadne doesn't serve the Golden Concillium. And having her condemned for being in the same Order as Avalon or whatever she's called is just plain stupid".

A tiny smile appears on his tired face:

"Since both of you have support, there is only one solution if none step down. This isn't fucking Free Council with equal votes: if the Path can't come to a consensus, a Duel Arcane is needed".

Avis may bitch as much as she likes but Ariadne can wipe the floor with her passionate fiery ass. And, really, there is other business he needs to address.

[Ariadne]

"Do not assume that my lack of pitchfork and fire means I don't condemn them for what they have done or tried to do." Ariadne replies at a normal cadence. Pushing herself to remain calm.

"Trust is something that we need though I know that it is lacking. Additionally I'm a Guardian, I don't expect to be trusted by most. That's part of the job." She continues with a look towards the sumo.

"I have greater concerns than Del Riata and whether or not she is hunted down. So tell me this Avis. Why should I support you? Ermon has already pointed out what this will come down too if we can't agree on someone."

"Being new and having a new view is good. But nothing something for a Councilor. So you hate me, that's part of the job. But why you Avis? It's clear why you don't trust me but why you for Councilor?"

[Avis]

Jonokuchi. Goddamn. Now there was a brother in arms. Avis stared up at the giant Talon beside her, an unforeseen wind that had come to buoy her back up on her feet. He'd proven she wasn't alone in her beliefs, wasn't alone in her mistrust, and the confidence Star had first awoken came alive again. Reinforcements had come.

She nodded to the giant, trying to fit as much profound thanks and respect as she could into the gesture, and then turned to face her foes. Unbeknownst to Ermon, he may have just armed her with the weapon she would need to end this.

"You're proving Jonokuchi's point, Ariadne, Master of Mind. I don't hate you, and I don't want Avalon hunted down, but I do want declarative statements about your intentions. Misdirection is useful, sure. I know that even if I am a Talon, but if you're going to be a counselor then you need to make your Will known. You have to make us trust you by not giving us a reason to suspect foul play. That's what I can bring to the table. I will make my stance known, and I will make sure to discover how you, my pathmates stand. Also, I'm not in a demanding position in my order, so my attention will not be dragged away if I become Counselor. And, more importantly than that, I will not let those motherfuckers in the Golden Consilium, or anyone else, pervert our Consilium or redirect its desires. I'm not the only one who can make that claim, I know, but I'll gladly throw down right now to demonstrate that I mean to back up what I say. Will you Ariadne?" the young Warlock challenged, drawing herself up defiantly, no doubt looking like the upstart they might claim her to be.

"I want you to know that if you accept, you're going to have to spill my blood and step over my body to claim your title. Prove your resolve to take this position, prove your belief in your own righteousness, because that's what I'm challenging."

[Ariadne]

The calm demeanor cracks and it takes a moment for Ariadne to go back over what Avis said.

To Ariadne it sounds incredulous and it shows in her tone. "..I would have to kill you is what you are saying."

Her voice steadies. "Then the answer is no. Spilling our own blood is not the way. I concede."

Avis Cayce Casitive

[Jonokuchi]

Jonokuchi knew that the only way Avis was going to concede defeat was if she was dead, and for that he admired her. It was a similar mindset he himself forced upon his own self-loathing not to give up unless his blood was spilled across the floor and he could no longer keep his eyes physically open any longer.

What he was surprised about was Ariadne's swiftness in defeat. He was on the verge of acting as his fellow Talon's second.

With an internal shrug, Jonokuchi turned to Avis, and bowed. "You have been called, Councillor Awvee."

As he stood straight there was a hint of a smile, a very minute one, touching his lips. With a nod to Ariadne and Ermon, Jonokuchi walked back to retake his position by the door, staff tapping with every step.