03-23-2020, 07:16 PM
Council of Kerlile Chamber, Grapevale, Kerlile
19th March 2020 - afternoon
When Councillor Carmen Robinson arrived at the chamber, she halted in amazement. In front of her, the room looked entirely different from her last visit a week ago. Gone were the pretentious drapings and family-assigned chairs and darkness. In their place, the chamber had been painted a brighter colour, a frosted window had been installed on the outer wall which let in natural light. The other Councillors aside from her and Hale, who’d come to fetch her, were seated in a strange order that was certainly not alphabetical by surname. And there were computers, something which had been banned in the chamber up until now.
“What happened here?” Carmen asked in awe.
“A little redecorating,” chuckled Jennifer beside her. “We got the votes for it at one of the sessions you missed and decided to leave it as a surprise.”
“How? There’s always been enough to veto any change from tradition here,” Carmen said, still looking round the room in awe.
“Chiu and Viallamando switched,” replied Jennifer, leading Carmen to two spare chairs next to each other. “And, the final vote was - believe it or not - Letitia.”
“Yeah,” interrupted Letitia Greenwood from the other side of the table, “it always seemed too gloomy in here. It’s about time we embraced the modern world and stopped trying to act like we’re some feudal court.”
“Okay, I think I’m dreaming,” Carmen let out a chuckle of disbelief. “Either that, or I’ve fallen through a portal to an alternate dimension.”
“If you think the decor makes this an alternate dimension, wait until you see the agenda,” piped up Natalia Hart, who handed Carmen a piece of paper.
Council of Kerlile - Afternoon Session 19th March 2020
[CLOSED SESSION - AGENDA CLASSIFIED]
Update on Aurora withdrawal and shutdown.
Councillor party affiliations.
Early Parliamentary elections.
Emigration reform bill.
“Wait, we’re actually debating…” Carmen began, but trailed off when she noticed Chiu stand up.
“Councillors,” Chiu began. “We have a lot to get through this afternoon, so it would be helpful if you could all keep to time. Our first two items shouldn’t take overly long, so let’s try and get them finished promptly. Councillor Pierre, can you update us on the situation with the Aurora Programme?”
“Yes,” Pierre nodded, standing. “The shutdown is proceeding according to plan. The site of the Complex is empty, and everything has been destroyed or moved to different departments. The individuals involved with the Programme have all been given, or are in the process of being given, fully valid KCID cards and papers. We have managed to get back those captured in Lauchenoiria, and are in talks with Laeral for a deal. It’s all going smoothly, and we are going to save a lot of money in the budget with this gone!”
A chorus of chuckles rang around the room, and Carmen accidentally met Pauline’s eye. She froze, still afraid of Councillor Pierre, but Pauline gave a slight, hesitant smile. Carmen, uncertain what to do in this unexpected scenario, chose to smile back. The two Councillors, whose families had hated each other for decades both looked away awkwardly.
“Thank you, Councillor Pierre,” Chiu said. “Now, we have several Councillors wishing to change their political affiliations. This does not require the permission of this Council - however, those of us involved felt it right to give the Council notice. There have also been requests to table a vote on legalising more parties. Councillor Hart?”
“Yes, sorry,” Hart lowered her hand. “If we’re legalising more parties, then why are we announcing affiliation changes just now? Surely that would be better done after we are given a wider choice?”
“I agree,” Pierre said. The rest of the Council turned to stare at her incredulously. “I know it’s not what you’d expect to hear from me of all people, but I do. We need to change.”
“Well, in that case, we can table the political party vote for tomorrow. Any objections?” Chiu asked, eyebrows raised in surprise at Pierre as she glanced around the room. Nobody had an objection, but Robinson was watching Pierre suspiciously, wondering what her angle was. Pierre never did anything that didn’t benefit Pierre. “In that case we’ll move on.”
As the Council continued, debating the merits of holding early elections, and what form those elections should take, Robinson looked around the room in amazement. The change in decor was one thing, but the words she was hearing were quite another. There seemed to be a much greater appetite for reform in the Council. She didn’t quite understand it. Chiu and Viallamando were both expressing reformist sentiments, in addition to those who had previously. Even Patel and Pierre were arguing in a respectful manner.
Perhaps she really had passed through a portal to another dimension, or perhaps this was related to the Aurora affair. When the third leak had begun, she had been horrified and worried this would set reform back years. It seemed to have had the opposite effect. With the world against the Matriarchy, it seemed that the Matriarchy had decided there was only one way to change this state of affairs - to change themselves. Carmen didn’t know if it would last, or if the motivations were pure, but one thing was clear to her.
Things would never be the same again.
19th March 2020 - afternoon
When Councillor Carmen Robinson arrived at the chamber, she halted in amazement. In front of her, the room looked entirely different from her last visit a week ago. Gone were the pretentious drapings and family-assigned chairs and darkness. In their place, the chamber had been painted a brighter colour, a frosted window had been installed on the outer wall which let in natural light. The other Councillors aside from her and Hale, who’d come to fetch her, were seated in a strange order that was certainly not alphabetical by surname. And there were computers, something which had been banned in the chamber up until now.
“What happened here?” Carmen asked in awe.
“A little redecorating,” chuckled Jennifer beside her. “We got the votes for it at one of the sessions you missed and decided to leave it as a surprise.”
“How? There’s always been enough to veto any change from tradition here,” Carmen said, still looking round the room in awe.
“Chiu and Viallamando switched,” replied Jennifer, leading Carmen to two spare chairs next to each other. “And, the final vote was - believe it or not - Letitia.”
“Yeah,” interrupted Letitia Greenwood from the other side of the table, “it always seemed too gloomy in here. It’s about time we embraced the modern world and stopped trying to act like we’re some feudal court.”
“Okay, I think I’m dreaming,” Carmen let out a chuckle of disbelief. “Either that, or I’ve fallen through a portal to an alternate dimension.”
“If you think the decor makes this an alternate dimension, wait until you see the agenda,” piped up Natalia Hart, who handed Carmen a piece of paper.
Council of Kerlile - Afternoon Session 19th March 2020
[CLOSED SESSION - AGENDA CLASSIFIED]
Update on Aurora withdrawal and shutdown.
Councillor party affiliations.
Early Parliamentary elections.
Emigration reform bill.
“Wait, we’re actually debating…” Carmen began, but trailed off when she noticed Chiu stand up.
“Councillors,” Chiu began. “We have a lot to get through this afternoon, so it would be helpful if you could all keep to time. Our first two items shouldn’t take overly long, so let’s try and get them finished promptly. Councillor Pierre, can you update us on the situation with the Aurora Programme?”
“Yes,” Pierre nodded, standing. “The shutdown is proceeding according to plan. The site of the Complex is empty, and everything has been destroyed or moved to different departments. The individuals involved with the Programme have all been given, or are in the process of being given, fully valid KCID cards and papers. We have managed to get back those captured in Lauchenoiria, and are in talks with Laeral for a deal. It’s all going smoothly, and we are going to save a lot of money in the budget with this gone!”
A chorus of chuckles rang around the room, and Carmen accidentally met Pauline’s eye. She froze, still afraid of Councillor Pierre, but Pauline gave a slight, hesitant smile. Carmen, uncertain what to do in this unexpected scenario, chose to smile back. The two Councillors, whose families had hated each other for decades both looked away awkwardly.
“Thank you, Councillor Pierre,” Chiu said. “Now, we have several Councillors wishing to change their political affiliations. This does not require the permission of this Council - however, those of us involved felt it right to give the Council notice. There have also been requests to table a vote on legalising more parties. Councillor Hart?”
“Yes, sorry,” Hart lowered her hand. “If we’re legalising more parties, then why are we announcing affiliation changes just now? Surely that would be better done after we are given a wider choice?”
“I agree,” Pierre said. The rest of the Council turned to stare at her incredulously. “I know it’s not what you’d expect to hear from me of all people, but I do. We need to change.”
“Well, in that case, we can table the political party vote for tomorrow. Any objections?” Chiu asked, eyebrows raised in surprise at Pierre as she glanced around the room. Nobody had an objection, but Robinson was watching Pierre suspiciously, wondering what her angle was. Pierre never did anything that didn’t benefit Pierre. “In that case we’ll move on.”
As the Council continued, debating the merits of holding early elections, and what form those elections should take, Robinson looked around the room in amazement. The change in decor was one thing, but the words she was hearing were quite another. There seemed to be a much greater appetite for reform in the Council. She didn’t quite understand it. Chiu and Viallamando were both expressing reformist sentiments, in addition to those who had previously. Even Patel and Pierre were arguing in a respectful manner.
Perhaps she really had passed through a portal to another dimension, or perhaps this was related to the Aurora affair. When the third leak had begun, she had been horrified and worried this would set reform back years. It seemed to have had the opposite effect. With the world against the Matriarchy, it seemed that the Matriarchy had decided there was only one way to change this state of affairs - to change themselves. Carmen didn’t know if it would last, or if the motivations were pure, but one thing was clear to her.
Things would never be the same again.
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax