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Post by Artsy Astra on May 27, 2023 0:17:09 GMT -5
Tired. Tired would best describe the people of Franerre. It would best describe the men sent home from years of war for little benefit. For the hungry souls at the bottom of the pecking order, fueling the king's wanton goals and whims. The working class was stripped to the bone for conscripts in a war for rights they never enjoyed. For freedoms seen but never experienced, only next door. Following not only the UST war but also the Notch disaster. The king sown people simply pawns, and shields to resist attack lest the royal carpets be stained with blood. Forgetting the very people carrying out his word.
Within murmurs, it began. Disgruntled veterans coming home with idle traitorous thoughts. A "poison" tickling their minds. Ideas from the Tafatu and the Marrish volunteers they fought alongside spread like fire to a dry field. These seeds made roots that grew deeper and deeper as resentment continued to build, only exacerbated by the King's continued attempts to recruit and draw from the beaten people.
These were not the only ones, however. Those influenced by Lusatian workers' parties grew in power as well, intermingling with the ideas of a Republique with a truly equal chance for workers. A République Ouvrière de Franerre or the Workers Republic of Franerre. Clubs comprised of like-minded veterans and their families soon grew as word quietly spread. One member of such a club, Antione Claude, would begin making a proper name for himself amongst them. An officer who served on the line at Ferville, who saw the horrors himself, who saw and learned of the ideals that his comrades shared. He became a torchbearer for the movement as the clubs became a proper organization. The smoke of the fire was finally noticed by the loyalists far too late into their spending of the commoner's savings. Their hands were so deep in their pocket that they failed to see the pocket knife being raised to their throat.
The protests were widespread and peaceful but the message was clear. Change. Rapid change, and a change of government. The king and his 'quests' would be tolerated no longer, the people had enough. Their demands were clear and blunt. The king was to be deposed, along with his nobles sent to trial for their actions. A Senate and a 'Contremaître' or National Foreman were to take his place. The National Foreman elected by the people fairly every 4 years, and the Senate every 6. A halt to current expenditures that do not benefit the people, and cessation of the false propaganda campaign.
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 9, 2023 0:04:23 GMT -5
“I hope you’re prepared to call those protestors off, or else I don’t know what you hope to accomplish from this meeting,” Dufour said as Verenes entered the meeting room.
Verenes sighed through gritted teeth. “Believe me, Dufour, if they were my people protesting, I would have joined them out there. I’ve got nothing to do with this, but I can solve it. Or at least try to.”
“Solve it?” Dufour scoffed. “Let them wear themselves out. They will get tired of protesting eventually.”
‘At least he’s learned his lesson not to shoot them,’ Verenes thought, recalling how a mishandling of a protest was the exact way he managed to get into power. “And what if they don’t, Isaac?” Verenes asked. “What if they keep protesting? What if they get tired of nothing working and get violent? Do you think Franerre needs that right now, after what happened?”
Dufour seemed to have a retort welling up inside of him, but then it simply petered out, the man silently contemplating Verenes’ words. Julius had noticed Isaac had been like that ever since the explosion. Physically, the man had been remarkably alright, only suffering a concussion and some light scratches. Julius himself had even gotten off worse, his arm only recently out of its sling. Mentally, though, who was to say?
“Why exactly are you here then, Verenes?” Dufour asked. “You said you wished to discuss the protests, so you must have something to say.”
“I want to meet with th-”
“You want my permission to meet with them, like I’m your father or some such?” Dufour scoffed, his wit evidently returned to him.
“I don’t need your permission for anything,” Verenes answered, “But the cuts to seats in the National Chamber hurt the SNF more than it did the PPD. If I’m to make any lasting change, have any sort of hope of getting these protests to quiet down, I need an agreement from you that I can have something to bargain with. To prove that I won’t just have empty words.”
Dufour thought for a moment, then answered. “Go talk to them, and see what compromise can be made, then come back to me and we shall see.”
Julius knew he wouldn’t get a better deal. “Very well then.”
A messenger was sent to Antione, asking for a small, private meeting between himself and Verenes.
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jun 11, 2023 2:31:29 GMT -5
A group of men would arrive at a Republique club house that Antione was holding a rally at and were able to relay the request to him. He would finish his speech to the recently discharged soldiers, "My fellow servicemen, see how the monarchy spits on our sacrifice?!? Many of you served with me in the UST, saw our blood spilled, and for what? You remember our oath? We swore fealty to the king to simply be cast aside, and again here a number of us are dropped on the streets like trash from a careless mans pocket!" He pauses for a moment to drink a glass of water on the podium as the men roar in agreement, "My comrades, I ask again if you remember our oath? We serve our country still yes? Now and forever, and in our unspoken vow to the men to our sides, to fight to our last breath. We still honor this in our fight for freedom, TRUE freedom. Thank you." He finished to thunderous applause and stepped away to discuss the invitation with the messengers.
He gladly accepted the invitation.
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 11, 2023 18:26:21 GMT -5
The meeting itself took place in a quiet lounge room in the headquarters of the SNF. The room itself had a couch and chairs surrounding a small coffee table, which was currently occupied by folders of papers. labeled things like 'Industrialization,' 'Electrification,' and 'Healthcare,' some of which had two copies on the table. Julius Verenes himself sat in one of the chairs, dressed in a simple shirt and pants, cigarette hanging from his lip. All of this was by design -- it was clear to see that Antoine was no fan of both parties that had dominated Franerri government, and felt more in tune with the common man in Franerre. Julius liked to think himself the same, but one had to wear many hats to be a politician, and he'd been a politician for many years now.
Julius looked up as Antoine was let into the room. "Welcome, Mr. Claude. Please, sit. Can I get you a cigarette, or anything to drink?"
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jun 16, 2023 2:58:10 GMT -5
Antione would softly stride into the room as the door was closed behind him. He was dressed in a simple shirt, his old uniform pants, and suspenders. He was of average build and height, with a mild mustache above his lip. He held his Kepi old service in his left hand as he went to take a seat. He had a soft diplomatic tone as he spoke, "A cigarette would be fine, thank you monsieur."
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 16, 2023 10:53:58 GMT -5
Verenes reached into his pocket, retrieving a carton and taking out a cigarette. "Lucky for you, that's the last one in that carton," Julius said, slipping the empty carton back into his pocket and pulling out a lighter for Antoine. "Now, down to business we must be. You might be surprised to hear this, but I like what you're doing Antoine, even if I don't necessarily like everything you're proposing. But what I do think is that we can work together and compromise, despite our differences." Verenes gestured to the folders with two pairs. "We are working on a comprehensive industrial development bill in the National Chamber, called the Blum Plan. The scale of it is enormous, and Dufour has fought me every step of the way on it. But if you agree to stop protesting, in exchange I believe I can get the changes outlined in these folders through." The changes outlined were largely greater investment into electrification and healthcare, payed for by an increase of taxes on the top 5% of Franerre. Additionally, the new changes included a provision that any employees of the state were to have mandated 40 hour workweeks, as well as being held to a much higher standard of safety and a higher 'government minimum wage.' Considering the vast sums of money that would be invested into a new state power company, as well as the existing state controlled AnNa Arms, a large amount of workers would be covered by these new laws.
"This may not include all of what you want, Antoine, but compromise is the game of politics. I respect you enough to tell you this honestly, that I don't believe your plans for a deposing of the queen or a trial of the nobles and industrialists will bear fruit. I believe the industrialists and the nobles committed moral wrongs, exploiting Franerre's working class and squeezing them for every Lianet they own, but that is not a legal wrong, not yet. You may have your misgivings with what our former King did, may he rest in peace, but that failed coup made him a martyr in the eyes of many. I want you to help me affect what real changes we can. With your anti-monarchy views, you can never run for office, but I can. I can present myself as a reasonable alternative to those 'anti-monarchy rabble,' and get half of what you want done. We can make Franerre a better place if we compromise and work together."
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jun 16, 2023 22:10:04 GMT -5
Antione would take a short drag and lean forwards, blowing the smoke out in a huff. "That is precisely the problem my friend. While I came here to discuss this matter, a compromise of this... 'quality' was what I had expected. It will most certainly not do. Especially considering the very act of attempting to improve people's lives hinges on them shutting their mouths. Asking the problem to go away with a vague promise of change when the very people entrusted with taking care of our nation fight tooth and nail to keep us destitute is why I speak. Why I say my piece." He'd sigh and take another drag, setting his Kepi down on the table facing the other man. "I fought for the principles you say you agree with me on, the few that bind us, the further requirement again that we cease asking for such things and place our trust in a system that has already proven itself to only betray us." He'd exhale the last bit of the smoke in his lungs after such a long-winded statement. Looking him dead in the face with a mildly empty expression "No monsieur, we will not stop. No proposal will make us stop unless it accomplishes our goals in their totality."
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 16, 2023 23:01:00 GMT -5
Julius took a deep breath, preparing his response as calmly as he could. "I have plenty of experience in protesting, Antoine, and the first rule is to set a stance you can compromise on. If you want the grand sweeping kind of changes you seek to make, that will take time, violence, or both. And Dufour's smart enough to wait this out and not to shoot first. As soon as you pull that trigger, there will be arrests and crackdowns, and it will be justified in the eyes of many because you shot first. If you take time, the decades it would take to get a change like this, either the people will stop showing up to your protests or Dufour will 'cave' and offer them a worse compromise than I have now." Julius ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not asking you to be quiet. I'm asking you to be the stick to my carrot. I'm asking you to prod Dufour and his cronies while I offer them something they can stomach. If we do that enough, we can get them most of what you want and they'll have considered it a bargain. And if they don't take the carrot, we pool our resources and prod them even harder." Julius sighed. "I recognize this is putting a lot of trust in me, when you probably have very little to spare for anyone in the system. But if I break that trust and I fail, go back to protesting! Lord knows the only way I can stop you is with a compromise."
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jun 17, 2023 21:30:15 GMT -5
"I'm afraid that trust I cannot give monsieur." He would leave the cigarette tucked in his lips and retrieve his hat from the table. "If we must continue to play the game of a broken system that is so clearly rigged against even its own players, what chance do we have if we were to silence ourselves when the pressure is on?" He'd pause to exhale another puff from his rapidly disappearing cigarette. "You say you are asking us not to be silent, yet the protests seem to be the only way we were even able to be acknowledged. This double-speak will not sway me, nor my compatriots. Especially if you wish for me to believe your word and trust you." He would look at the other man grimly.
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 17, 2023 21:47:15 GMT -5
Julius pointed to the folders on the table. “This is me acknowledging you, Antoine, and of trying to make this broken system work. I’ve looked at your demands, and I’ve seen what I can do for them. Believe me, if I had the power to simply snap my fingers and make the broad sweeping changes you want to Franerre, we would be living in a much different country. But if you think this pressure will sway Dufour, believe me, I have seen that man go through worse things and not budge an inch. It took a month and a half of a general strike half a decade ago to make Dufour do something, and that something was to start shooting at us. The act of you protesting is less objectionable to that man that the changes you propose.” Julius took a deep breath, calming himself down. “If nothing else sways you, let it be this Antoine. I’ve talked with my people. There’s a large overlap between our support bases, and elections are coming up. If we split the vote, we hand Dufour a blank check to go back to ruining this country like he has been for his entire political career, and neither of us want that to happen.”
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jun 24, 2023 12:31:09 GMT -5
"And what? Simply have anything we try to push be vetoed by the Queen next? Again, if the system itself is broken in such a way that we must consider acquiescing entirely and betting on the slimmest hair of hope that it will work, I cannot agree. Regardless of what happens you or Dufour win. I see nothing but continued problems, with you being progressive but finishing with ultimately mired policies spayed and neutered before consideration or dying where they stand." He would sigh and finish his cigarette. He'd leave the bud in his maw and push it to the corner of his mouth. "Listen monsieur. I understand you wish to help using these tools. I appreciate this, but at most pressure from your side coupled with the protesting is the only compromise I can see us settling on. The tools are broken and a new set must be made."
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Post by callmedelta on Jun 24, 2023 14:56:34 GMT -5
“If I tried to apply pressure from my side half or more of my own party would revolt against me,” Verenes answered. “There are two political parties in Franerre: Isaac Dufour’s and everyone else’s. And some of those everyone else quite happen to like the Queen and the whole system we have here in Franerre. You cannot create the tools you desire alone. If I had never learned to compromise you would not be standing here and talking to me, you would be out chanting in the streets until your throat became raw while no one listened, or until you caused enough of a stir for Dufour to call in the army.” Verenes sighed. “One term. Show up at the polls, and show out in force enough to give me one term with enough Chambermen to my name that I don’t need to worry about compromising with the moderate elements in the SNF and I will get things done. You know I care enough to sit down here and have a conversation with you. You can have my ear on issues, if not officially then through the back channels. In exchange, pause your protesting. If Dufour wins, or if you think I’m not doing enough to keep up my end of the bargain, than go back to protesting.”
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Post by Artsy Astra on Jul 7, 2023 16:20:39 GMT -5
"The mere fact that your own party is averse to even change or internal pressure is one of the very reasons we have such an issue, as well the fact he would settle to bring our brothers in arms against us over words... disgusting." He scoffs, "So you ask me to go to the workers and give them the choice of silence or peaceful protest. Assaulted and accosted or the same old abuse. For what? Wishing to speak our minds?" He stands and retrieves his hat. "I think we would rather take our chances than be lured into further campaigns with promises that smell of honey but taste of spoiled wine." "Thank you for hearing me, but I believe we are unable to come to an agreement. Good day, monsieur." With that, he would begin to leave.
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