Cliff House -- Common Room

	This spacious room seems to be an informal meeting and recreation
area for all the inhabitants of the house. To the west, tall windows are
draped with rich burgundy drapes, tied off with bronze cording. A large
custom-built entertainment center cornered by a well stocked bar has been
built into one wall. The finely crafted furniture is carved of solid oak
and upholstered in the same wine colored tones as the drapes. One area of
the polished hardwood floor is nearly covered by a European needlepoint
rug, with a matching runner seeming to spill onto the main floor from the
top of the staircase. Sliding doors and archways lead into other areas of
the house.

                             OOC Note: Places set                              

Contents:
Bulletin Board
Obvious exits:
Out <O>  Upstairs <UP>  Media Room <MR>  Library <LI>

Niles seems to have been surveying whatever portion of the Library can be
gotten at for the time being. He's carrying a cup of tea whose fragrance
can be smelled before Niles even enters the room. Unmistakably Earl Grey.

Monroe is putting away a stack of bell jars and crazily snarled rubber
tubing intersected with chrome valvestems and angled brass joints. They
seem to come endlessly from behind a small panel in the wall that can't
possibly have held all of them before. "Hello, Niles." he says pleasantly.
He is dressed far more "casually" than usual, probably because his work
has had him squirming through crawlspaces and clambering on rooftops for
the last week.

Niles says "Ah, you've been busy working? I hope I'm not interrupting."

Monroe says gently, "Yes. I have been engaged in keeping the chantry from
collapsing. That danger is now past, thankfully." He nods slightly towards
the bulletin board and his hurried, scribbled report and the much more
recent, neatly lettered notice.


Niles says "Oh, yes. Splendid work. The Chantry owes a great deal to you."

Niles brushes some imaginary piece of lint from his shirt, and them
removes his spectacles from his nose for a moment, holding them up towards
the light for a moment, inspecting them for smudges or dust before
replacing them.

Monroe smiles proudly. "Thank you." he says easily, closing up the panel
and working out the kinks in the rubber hoses with strong, firm motions of
his large, graceful hands. An unrecognizable purplish red substance leaks
out of one end, but it is caught by a handkerchief which Monroe has
apparently laid on the ground for just that purpose. "How are you?" he
asks politely.

Niles says "Oh, rather well, I should say. Things at the University are
coming along nicely. And of course, we are nearly finished with this
dreadful covenant business."

Monroe tilts his head slightly. "I thought you had decided to abandon your
post at the University. Or is that still being prepared?"

Niles nods. "I am still in preparation for it. I believe the plan has many
political advantages, and only negligible disadvantages."

Monroe says politely, "You have the most direct data upon that subject, so
I cannot contradict you." He slowly starts to wrap the hoses and valves
into a complicated, but perfectly symmetric knot.

Niles mentions casually, "I received your letter regarding the new
covenant."


Monroe nods slightly as if confirming. "Good. I hope I made myself clear."
he says easily.

Niles nods. "Unfortunately, we can't agree with the democratic position.
However, we believe it is for the best."

Monroe looks curious. "Who, precisely, do you mean by 'we'? A majority of
the chantry seemed perfectly willing to accept a democratic proposal not
ten weeks ago."

Niles nods, "I understand that many of them went along with it. As we did,
however drudgingly. But many weaknesses came to light in the ensuing
implementation of that government that were unacceptable. For the moment,
I count among those who support our change myself, Xerxes, and Bardon. I
believe Willow is at least sympathetic. I also know that some of the
younger members really do not seem to care."

Monroe purses his lips slightly and nods. "Well. I had hoped for better
from the defenders of mankind's most precious rights and passions than
'grudging' acquiescence to something they did not agree with. I hope you
will not expect the same of me and I pray I shall not provide you with
it." he says crisply.

Niles shrugs, "I respectfully disagree with your view. I believe that a
republic might be the best solution for Sleeper society, but our needs and
abilities are far different than theirs. Freedom to live as one sees fit
is not synonymous with a democratic system. There is no logical connction
between the two."

Monroe peers at Niles. "The solution, then, is to absolve the governors of
any responsibility to actually address the needs of the governed, to
silence the latter utterly and empower the former completely. Do I
understand your position? Or have I misstated yours as baldly as you have
misstated mine?" he says. His tone is getting cooler.

Niles says "I have not mistated your view, unless I misunderstand you..."
Niles looks puzzled.

You say "You must have. You assume, for example, that I am attached to a
strictly republican view. I am not. You assume I base my beliefs about how
the chantry should be governed upon my beliefs regarding the society of
Sleepers. I do not. You assume I will only accept a single sort of
proposal for chantry government, when there is an extremely wide range of
proposals, the extent of which I am not competent to fathom, given my
limited creative faculties, which would satisfy me completely. However, if
I pause for a moment to reflect, I believe I can find one or two places
where you have accurately stated my beliefs upon some minor points. It is
likely the fault of my own lack of expressive precision. I will endeavour
to do better upon other subjects in the future."

Niles chuckles for a moment, but then suggests, "I do not mean to
insinuate that you only accept republicanism. No doubt you might find a
strict Democracy to your liking - under ideal circumstances, I myself
would prefer the Athenian model. But these are not ideal times. And the
chantry requires a strong leadership, which was not provided under the
previous model."

You say "I see no indications of improvement in your model and several
points of decline, where Desiree's was superior, even if your goal of a
stronger chantry leadership is assumed at the outset to be a desirable
one. Leaving aside for the moment the question of how wise a course
attempting to silence and marginalize beings capable of altering reality
itself with their will might be, your proposal contains no provision for
qualification of the ruling triumverate /at all/, whereas Desiree's
required an election."

Niles says "I think you did not read my suggestion carefully enough. There
is provision for that. Desiree's requires no qualifications either - to
suggest otherwise is equivocal at best."

Niles says "The new covenant provides that any regular member of the
Chantry may compete in a test and whoever best succeeds will be qualified
to take the Triumvirate position."

You say "That would not have prevented a triumverate of precisely the same
makeup from being appointed in precisely the same way it was under
Desiree's model - and without even the cold comfort that the triumverate
would be populated by those the chantry membership felt had the best
judgment. In fact, your system would produce a scattershot of random
candidacies. One seat might be chosen by whoever is best at the high-speed
translation of Enochian mathematical equations into Ancient Sumerian
poetry, and the seat next would be filled by the chantry's greatest
mumblety-peg player. Desiree's test was much more elegant, proven, and to
the point - will the candidate, in the opinion of the chantry, protect the
chantry's interests best?"

You say "Even without evaluating whether Desiree's system was of /any/
value, it seems clear that yours is of less."

Niles shrugs. "The previous system was little better than a popularity
contest. But even if this were not the case, the current membership have
shown their judgement to be somewhat defective. Protections can be written
into the new covenant. Yours is a valid criticism. I will rectify it as
soon as possible."

Monroe says gently, "What, precisely, makes you believe the elections were
a popularity contest? Did you perhaps read the minds and motivations of
those casting their votes, to understand their thought processes?"

You say "If so, you must have /badly/ misread mine. Very. Badly. Indeed."

Niles says "I think you were one of the very few who probably voted
wisely. Though I do not know for whom you voted. Though I suppose it would
be trivial to discover, if you really feel it to be worthwhile."

Monroe says quietly, "I trust...no, I /know/, that however seriously they
took their vote in Desiree's system, that is precisely how seriously they
will take your - or any - chantry government. That is the unpleasant fact
which eats at the heart of your revisions. Assume for the moment that you
are entirely right and that even I am now dissembling, and I cast my vote
for the candidates I liked best without regard for the chantry's best
interest. Pray, where will my regard for the chantry's best interest
originate from, then? Will it be imposed upon me by this new and
altogether mighty triumverate? Shall we be drinking Chantry Devotion
Philtres every third Tuesday? To ask the question is to answer it. It is
madness to think that people who did not take the voting seriously will
take your government any more seriously. Further, if, as seems likely,
only a limited number of members will be capable of competing for each
seat as it falls vacant, as we all are not talented in every field, your
government will swiftly become more and more alien to those so excluded,
whereas Desiree's system would have remained constant."

You say "Again - there is no improvement, and the substantial possibility
of decline."

Niles says "I see it as a great improvement that the Chantry, if it
perishes, shall not fall for lack of swift decision-making. What you are
suggesting ignores hundreds...nay, thousands of years of experience. Not
only in my own Tradition, but in others as well. I have no doubt that you
will act as is best for the Chantry. You are a prudent and capable man.
However, the irresponsible can be dealt with swiftly, and easily under a
system of more centralized authority."

You say "I fail to see how your proposal centralizes authority more
effectively. The difference between a three-person triumvir and a
three-person triumvir combined with a one-person executive is so small as
to be essentially unmentionable. In fact, your system provides for a
shorter term for the triumvirs than Desiree's would, barring impeachment,
which indicates to me that authority would be constantly shifting and
passing from hand to hand."

You say "I hesitate to continue. I lack thousands of years of experience
and must muddle my way through with only a conscience. If you wish to
attempt to govern the chantry in this manner and can persuade others to
acede to it, by all means, you ought proceed. I shall do my best for the
chantry regardless of the system adopted."

Niles says "In the new system, leadership shall be seated for 3 years,
with one seat renewing each year. I was keenly aware of that issue when
the new system was crafted. Thus, a new member shall be selected each
year. My intention, and now I will make it explicit, since you have
suggested the flaw, is that the test be such as tangibly benefits the
Chantry. No winner of tiddly-winks will be seated upon the triumvirate."

Niles says "I fail to see how this will provide a 'constantly shifting'
government."

You say "If one seat changes hands every year? I can think of no other way
to describe it. I have no personal difficulties with such a constant
change - I know not how effective or ineffective it may be, but to trumpet
it as a feature that centralizes authority seems the height of
incongruity."

You say "Might I ask who would decide the outcome of this contest?"

Niles says "The three current members of the triumvirate."

You say "So...let me understand clearly...January first comes. The
appropriate triumvir selects a task which they believe will benefit the
chantry. Say...book-burning, to rid the chantry of unwanted and
distracting ideas. Whoever can purify a shelf of books the fastest will
win. Another triumvir is part of this madness. Naturally most of the
chantry membership are appalled and refuse to participate. However, there
are a tiny minority that agree with the ruling triumvir that the books
should be burned. They have a lovely bonfire competition and at the end of
it one of them is awarded the blue ribbon and ensconsed in power for three
years. In your system, is there any method at all of disposing of
triumvirs who have ideas that a vast majority of the chantry believes to
be deleterious to the chantry? Ever? Or must the chantry wait for a test
that their consciences will allow them to participate in, all the while
ruled by mad tyrants whose consciences are twisted at the core?"

Niles smiles, "I sincerely doubt such a fool would ever gain admission to
the Chantry. Let alone ever succeed at gaining a position to do such a
thing. The selected task is to benefit the Chantry."

Niles says "Larger and more established Chantries have less restriction
and provisions than what we suggest, and in the thousand years they have
been in existence, such a thing has not happened."

You say "I exaggerate the example only for effect. The problem remains
whether it is book-burning or a war against vampires or dressing in blue.
Under your system a determined minority can completely foreclose a
thoughtful majority from any input into decisionmaking - not only for the
term before the next election - but _in perpetuity_. I'm sorry. I should
have followed my instinct to golden silence."

You say "I sincerely hope your proposal is rejected out of hand by all you
propose it to, though likely it will not be. I will do my best under
either circumstance."

Niles shrugs, "Honestly, we are seeking input. I am not certain that it
will be 'put up for vote' seeing that this is precisely the difficulty it
was meant to retrieve us from."

Monroe smiles slightly. "I know you do not think I will assist you in
overcoming that hurdle." he says in a surprisingly light tone.

Niles says "Listening to input can be important, in its place. Of course I
don't expect you to agree. It is enough that you voice your opinion on the
matter as you usually do."

You say "I am surprised to hear you say that, considering that your
proposal makes the expression of opinion by chantry members irrelevant at
best and distracting at worst."

Niles says "Sometimes it is distracting. And sometimes input will hardly
be necessary. Although I dabble in Spirit magicks, I am not fool enough to
pretend to be an expert. If I am dealing with something which requires
knowledge that is beyond me, I seek out Willow, or Bardon. I am
indifferent to their membership status. And if I should require mechanical
help then most everyone here knows that turning to you would be a prudent
course. That is not to say that I would shirk my own responsibility, but
responsible leadership requires input to flourish. You must remember that
the former triumvir must function as a regular member of the Chantry when
her term is complete. Wouldn't it be short-sighted to act this way?"

Monroe says politely. "Yes, but as I understand it, you believe the
chantry membership to be short-sighted in the first place, by the way they
cast their votes in Desiree's model. Where, in the interim, have we
acquired our great insights? If they arrived by post, I fear I have missed
my share."

Niles chuckles. "There are more than three members who are suitable for
such responsibility. The new policy on accepting new members ought to have
some curative effect upon that particular ill. I am mindful of the
remarkable absence of responsibility in the general membership."

Monroe shakes his head. "I find that position woefully contradictory, and,
frankly, rather saddening to hear." He puts away the hoses and closes the
case. "I want your proposal rejected, and rejected soundly, and I will say
so to anyone who asks. Beyond that, I can do little but continue my work."


Niles says "I do not see any contradiction in it at all. But as I have
said, I have neither counted upon your support, nor relied upon your
various suggestions as they are at odds with the intent of the whole
thing. I also see that you fail to understand that this is what the
Chantry requires." He pauses to sigh as he notes the time without looking.
"I have other affairs to attend to. Thank you for your input, Monroe. It
is appreciated."

You say "I know you believe it is what the chantry requires. I simply
believe you are dead wrong. Thank you for listening, at least."

Niles finishes his tea, and sets the cup aside. Within a few moments,
reality forgets that the cup exists, and the next time you look, it is
gone. "Thank you for offering your honest opinion. I will do my best to
share it accurately with the others."


Monroe can't help but smirk a little, but refrains from comment. "Good
evening, then." he says instead.