[Closed] February Catch All

[unyieldingmarch]

Who: Edelgard von Hresvelg and Various
When: February
Where: All over!
What: Some closed prompts for CR
Warnings: Just the usual warnings for Edelgard: potential discussions of violence and human suffering.



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Comments

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard's not at all surprised by the answer. He doesn't strike her as a despot, though Enkidu's friend's responses indicate that Gilgamesh certainly was, so the thought had been on her mind one way or another.]

Adrestia has been at war since I ascended to the throne five years ago. I have not ruled over a peaceful nation, and have had absolute control over all our military forces these last years. However this form of governance is not too different from how we operate.

[She's happy to elaborate, though does pause briefly as the server drops off her cup of tea.]

Adrestia has a council of seven noble houses, which advise the Emperor, and vote on some policies, though that is suspended and compartmentalized during times of war for efficiencies sake. I plan on instituting reforms upon returning home to give more power to the people, as the war is now over. [Collecting her cup, she pulls out a small vial of blood and begins stirring some of that into the liquid.]

This will hardly be an adjustment, I think.

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias places his order with the server -- an omelette with light toast and coffee -- before passing off the menu. The server heads off as Ozymandias turns his attention back to Edelgard.]

That is reassuring to hear. As terrible as matters in Dorchacht were, some of the brashness of the Mirrorbound leaves me concerned.

[It is all well and good to have noble intentions, but one cannot solve every matter through overt force. It had been, quite frankly, a bit dangerous and stupid for the Mirrorbound to have applied that to the Dorchacht situation given the relative vulnerability of Aefenglom to an assault from the much larger forces of Dorchacht. But that did nothing to slow the Mirrorbound from doing as they pleased in resolving that matter. Applying that same strategy to Parliament, however, will be even less likely than Dorchacht to net positive results by Ozymandias' estimation. This is the city they are all must live within one way or another. They must play the game appropriately if they are to have any successes here.]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard eschews food for the moment, waving off the server's offer of food so she can sip at her bloody tea.]

We are in agreement there. Some of them are quite willful, and prone to acting without thinking.

[Which, well, she can say for sure that two of them are. Though, no need to bring up the fact that two of her enemies are here. Or, people from other versions of her reality that see her as an enemy.]

I still would have acted in some way, though perhaps a touch more subtly than open fighting in the streets. Justice should not be solely upheld if it's easy...but one must be smarter when approaching an entrenched power structure.

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias nods his agreement.]

I have my doubts about Dorchacht's newfound freedom for that reason.

[Even if one were to set aside his mistrust that Drummond is truly gone, Ozymandias remains skeptical that all of her supporters have been rendered inert. Something like that will surely continue to fester, and when it is allowed to grow root... Well. The events in Aefenglom speak for themselves. Similar events could just as easily occur in Dorchacht regardless of what the newly elected trio claim.]

My hope is that those with such ambitions on the Council, however, can be tempered appropriately. If that energy can be channeled properly, I imagine we will have great success in creating an environment within this city that is to our benefit rather than being dependent upon the city's generosity and tolerance.

[unyieldingmarch]

Agreed. One where we can give back, and...one where hopefully both parties can prosper.

[Drawing herself up straighter, Edelgard pulls a few sheets of paper from the bag at her side. Covered in writing done in a neat, tidy hand that's unfortunately done in Fodlan script and not the local one, it won't mean much to him. It's more personal notes, really. She taps the first line, though, and begins...]

My first proposal is actually something meant to win favor with merchants and traders, if we can get it to pass. I'd like to aim for creating some manner of trading office to facilitate economic growth, by giving locals new opportunities for revenue streams and goods, while protecting Mirrorbound who feel that they might be taken advantage of.

[fulgency]

[Although the script is entirely foreign to him, Ozymandias does glance at the papers she pulls out. It's difficult not to be at least the slightest bit curious after all. But with the words themselves being entirely lost upon him, his gaze returns quite quickly to Edelgard.]

That is a wise first proposal. I believe if we are to have any sort of success for now, benefits to the natives will need to be plainly written into each proposal.

[Something that might assist in stimulating the economy further, particularly now that there is more open communication with Dorchacht, certainly stands to reason as being something of benefit. Hopefully an enticing enough benefit that any who might be less open to assisting the Mirrorbound establishing themselves financially would be willing to look the other way or think nothing of it.]