InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "tom loves sienna."

Léon Belmont (ex_the_ambas216) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-03-28 07:54:00

Entry tags:

ambassadors_ball, leon_belmont

An Invitation to the French Ambassador's Ball
Subject: The Ambassadors Ball
Where: The French Embassy
Who: Léon Belmont, the French Ambassador to the English court
Warnings: none as yet
Open to: All (all players may attend either as invited guests of the ambassador, as servants or guests of those invited, as staff, or as gate-crashers.)

The ballroom of the Embassy was already growing busy, and when Citizen Belmont paused for a moment besides one of the large windows, he could see yet more carriages pulling up outside, wreathed in the mist blowing in from the river.

The quartet had been playing now for a good half an hour, new French tunes as well as those the English favoured. His staff was busy handing out good French wine, and then refilling those glasses when they were drained.

It was going to be a good evening, and not only in the eyes of the party-goers. With some of England’s most prominent aristos on the guest list, and some than some newly arrived French nationals, tonight would be a night of information gathering, of sizing up the opposition, and perhaps even ensuring some of those French escapees were returned to face justice.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

the_legman
2008-04-22 06:47 pm UTC (link)

Now this was interesting.

Ferrand had just stepped outside for a quick breath of fresh air - nearly seven years on this side of the Atlantic and still he wasn't used to the heat - when he saw the exchange between one of the guests and someone who most certainly wasn't a guest. Normally he'd never have given it more than a moment's notice - the persons involved might do for a titbit of gossip but nothing else - and this would have been the same if it hadn't been for the direction of monetary flow.

"Do you think the ambassador knows about the scandalous events going on in his grounds?" He wondered aloud, just loud enough for the man concerned to hear, while carefully standing in view of those who lingered near the door inside. One never knew what reaction you might get after all.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-22 07:24 pm UTC (link)

Harry smiled, tucking the now empty coin purse back into his pocket, and moving up towards the steps and the rather loud figure on them. Clearly someone was trying to make themselves a hero. He made it back to the doorway, and paused there, letting his voice drop low enough for the other gent to hear him, if he listened hard, but not loud enough for the other guests inside, even though who had come to see what the fuss was about.

"I think he does, sir, as he invited me here." He said, "And I don't think he would be pleased if you advertised the fact." Harry finished with a small, unfriendly smirk, his dark eyes meeting those of the other man, and then his voice became louder, allowing their audience to hear "Nice night out, wouldn't you agree?"

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-22 07:49 pm UTC (link)

Oh, that was even better than some English mister with dirty clothes because he now had something he could use next time the ambassador tried to fob him off with nothing but rumours and grasping hopes. The slight intimidation tactic used by the other man was noted but didn't worry Ferrand too much; he'd seen far worse in his time. "Ah well, there's no use telling him something he's already aware of. I'll only look the fool if I do."

He smiled cheerfully and shrugged, his shoulders loose, as he kept the other man's gaze. "Beautiful. The air's much clearer out here; inside's too full of witless banter. Sometimes a fellow needs a break of trawling through the dross so he can find something of use." But he's sure this other man knows all about that. One doesn't get involved with a crowd involving both ambassadors and girls like the one he'd seen without learning to keep your ears and eyes open at all times after all.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-22 08:23 pm UTC (link)

"And no one wishes to look a fool in front of such an important and useful man." Harry agrees, readjusting his cravat. "Making friends with the Ambassador is a difficult job. If he was to be... replaced, who is to say we would get on so well with the next?"

"What were you looking for this evening, may I ask?" Harry asks, interested, his eyes glancing over in the darkness. Not English, the voice told him that much, and it told him that the man was not French either, the garments he wore were not quite right either- perhaps it was the way he wore them, rather then the clothes themselves. Perhaps he was an Austrian, or a Swiss. They spoke French, and certainly had interest in the relations between the English and French.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-22 08:39 pm UTC (link)

"Oh no, of course not." Ferrand agreed amiably, "Good relations are so hard to come by these days; so much distrust and dislike amongst you folk. Although I suppose it would explain the situation back home if the same goes for the children as for the parents."

He turned his head to face out into the dark of the courtyard, "This and that. Nothing in particular, I'm fair sure somebody knows a little bit of everything at events like these, I just have to wait to see if anything of interest or use comes up." He looked back over at the man, eyes now sharper as he studied him, "And yourself sir? What were you looking for in a place like this?" The 'and did you find it?' addendum goes unasked - his answer to the first question would resolve that query.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-22 09:59 pm UTC (link)

"Back home, sir?" Harry asks, "Where would that be?" Better to find out sooner than later, after all, and it would be important. Those details often were.

"Everyone knows little bits of everything. But I don't think you'll find one person who understands all, not even our dear host." In fact, Harry was sure the Ambassador knew less than everyone else. He choose not to say that, however. "There is always scandal at these sorts of events. You simply have to wait till you meet the right drunkard."

He smiles slightly. "Me, sir? I'm just here for the free champagne. Everything else is a bonus."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-22 10:20 pm UTC (link)

"The Americas," Ferrand elaborates with a shrug, no harm in telling him something which is a well-known fact, "Québec to be more precise." Years ago he might have asked the other man if he knew of it but now it was a fairly major city in one of his country's colonies so it was more than likely known.

He waved his hand in dismissal, "While no doubt interesting, scandal rarely pays the bills." Unless there was a royal involved but that wouldn't be the case here. He sighed and wished he hadn't left his glass inside, he could do with a drink this second, "You have to go to the outskirts of parties like this to find anything really useful. An aristocrat only tends to pay attention to affairs that directly affect them but the merchant and the servant who gets overlooked because they are somehow ," his expression moved to one of distaste for the words he was using, thinking this was probably the best tactic to use on the man, "lesser will pay attention to the important things because they have to to survive." His tone turned flippant again. "I'll take those over some drunkard any day."

Ferrand laughed, "A man of opportunity then? Good for you, Monsieur."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-22 10:41 pm UTC (link)

"You've come a long way then sir, I hope it wasn't just for this party?" He smiles, "But of course, it wouldn't be. This little... Ball is hardly worth coming half way around the world for. Why else are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Never underestimate the use of gossip and scandal, sir, they can come to your aid at short notice when little else will do the trick." Harry says with the shake of his head, "Without the smallest, most innocent piece of gossip, society would not function. It is what relationships are built on." He paused for a moment, letting the other finish, before shrugging. "Where as some of us will merely watch and take note because it is in our natures."

"A man of... observations." Harry says, "Of observations and allegiances. And yourself?"

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-22 10:59 pm UTC (link)

"Call it a long-term excursion. My employers thought they'd gain a competitor's edge by having someone who could report on the goings on of our cousins on the continent. By what I've heard they've been proved right." He missed his home, who wouldn't, but he couldn't afford to pay for the trip back on his own yet and when else would he get a paid for stay in some of the most famous places in the world?

"I think perhaps, Monsieur," And he really should learn this man's name, if only because he was worth speaking to again and he needed some way of marking him out, "I am one from the latter of those two. Gossip is entertaining in its own little way but I need to work with facts, not rumour, if I wish to keep working."

Ferrand smiled wider and put on a wide-eyed expression, "You've not guessed yet? A reporter, of course."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-22 11:12 pm UTC (link)

"A reporter? One who writes down the day's goings on and then prints them afterwards so everyone else can refresh their memories of the events?" Harry says, smirking. "A healthy mix of rumour, fact, and opinion dressed well and sold for profit. I'm not unfamiliar with the idea. But I didn't mean to ask you your profession, sir, I meant to ask you what sort of man you were."

"A long term excursion to Europe, it sounds pleasant enough. Of course, there are few places at the moment I would willing stay, and even then, not for a long time. And I would certainly not give my real name." He says, and shrugs, "You never mentioned yours sir. Your name, I mean."

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-22 11:26 pm UTC (link)

"For me, Monsieur, it's much one and the same." Ferrand shrugs, shaking off the jibe without a moment's thought, "I find out what people need to know and pass it on. An enabler if you still wish a word for it. There are so many who don't have the benefits of connections such as you or I have and it doesn't lessen their requirement for the information one jot."

He keeps his smile, "I must admit the state of affairs was a little better than this when I arrived," and the situation at home a lot worse, "but this excitement keeps me from having to dabble in mixing my work with the stories the papers here seem so fond of." His lips twitch upwards on one side, giving the slightest hint of a smirk, "Is that a suggestion, perhaps, or a warning that if I ask for a name in return what I get won't be of any use?" After a moment he lifts up his hand and offers it, "Either way. Ferrand Duval, you'll find if you ask that it's the correct one." It would have been easy enough to find out anyway seeing as his description was rather distinctive.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-23 07:24 am UTC (link)

"You just make it a little bit easier for them? How kind you are. But don't you think that rather lessens the work we have to do in the first place? Years of hard work, and people get all that for pennies." He shakes his head, "I might as well give up my work now and let you do it all for me."

"Perhaps soon it will be quiet again, although I doubt France will ever be quiet again. Needless to say they weren't very peaceful before hand." Harry shrugs, before taking and shaking the man's offered hand. "Mr. Duval. My name is Harry Fisher. I'll promise you it's the same name I've given everybody else tonight." He added, smirking.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-23 02:11 pm UTC (link)

"Not to worry," He added with a faux-sympathetic tone, "I don't think those across the Atlantic are any threat to you. Besides, anything they read will be nothing but old news to you by the time it gets there." It was why he had to make sure that everything he sent back would still be relevant or at least interesting after such a long journey.

Ferrand looked shocked for a split second as the name registered. He'd heard it often enough, along with the stories attached, in the copy rooms he'd spent the last couple of days haunting. He quickly regained control of his expression though and shifted it so that there was only mild interest showing. "Well, I can't imagine why you'd claim to have that name unless it was truly yours. It also explains a fair bit." What it explained he wasn't going to elaborate on. "But I must say it really is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Fisher." The honorific felt strange on his tongue but he doubted that anything else would do. Besides, he was telling the truth, this man promised to be the first interesting, if not useful, man he'd met all evening.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-04-24 08:26 am UTC (link)

Harry doesn't answer for a moment, considering the man, "Does your newspaper pay for your board and lodgings here, Mister Duval?" He asks, before glancing back down at his fingernail, rubbing them against his jacket. "Or do you pay your own way?"

"You can be sure if I found anyone else using my name I wouldn't be very pleased." Harry says with a faint flicker of a grin. "Although I'm surprised you think it's a pleasure. Most who meet me aren't at all keen." Which was true, unless they were clientèle, and some of them weren't often happy to see them, especially if he arrived just as they were heading to meet Sir Gordon-Smyth or Lady Kensington or whatever. Still, all dues had to be paid.

(Replies frozen) (Parent) (Thread)

the_legman
2008-04-24 03:14 pm UTC (link)

"A little of both. To those at home Paris is rather expensive, understandably of course, but other newspapers print my reports too and that covers the rest." Ferrand turns to the man curiously, "Why do you ask?"

He chuckles, "No, I imagine not." A man like Harry Fisher had a reputation like his for a reason, obviously, and most who met him probably owed him favours in one way or another. "I am not most people though and you are a rare breed of man, Mister Fisher, you are a man who will know things. Things that might otherwise be forgotten or, more likely, be hidden away forever." In other words, he was useful. Most of what he knew could or would never be printed but there were other ways such information could be used.

(Replies frozen) (Parent)

(Read comments) -