Private message to Lucius Malfoy
Feb. 26th, 2012 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_selwynThank Merlin that's over.
So Burdett-Coutts thinks there's no point in trying to sweep it under the rug -- he thinks the best course of action is to embrace what happened, say that this serves as a reminder that we truly live at Our Lord's pleasure, and to honour the fallen as heroes.
The other suggestions I've heard:
1. Slander the dead, and claim that every dead person had displeased Our Lord. The advantage here is that we've laid the groundwork there with that half-blood, though the very idea that Our Lord would sully his wand on a blood-traitor...!
2. Claim it was all some sort of terrible accident.
3. (This was, not surprisingly, suggested by a discreetly passed note) -- blame Burdett-Coutts, as the organiser of the Frost Faire. Or, I suppose, find a way to lay the blame at Warrington's door, since he's dead and no further punishment can possibly go his way.
4. Some younger associate of Burdett-Coutts suggested that in addition to embracing the idea that we live at Our Lord's pleasure, we suggest that risking ones' life in the games is such a desirable honour that future tournaments are planned; we don't have to actually hold them, but he seemed to think that with the correct publicity we'd see some eagerness for such an honour. I think this is a bit of a risky strategy unless we are QUITE sure we can avoid holding future tournaments.
I'm inclined to follow Burdett-Coutts' strategy. I dislike the idea of slandering the dead, particularly Warrington, who displayed impeccable loyalty to the last.
So Burdett-Coutts thinks there's no point in trying to sweep it under the rug -- he thinks the best course of action is to embrace what happened, say that this serves as a reminder that we truly live at Our Lord's pleasure, and to honour the fallen as heroes.
The other suggestions I've heard:
1. Slander the dead, and claim that every dead person had displeased Our Lord. The advantage here is that we've laid the groundwork there with that half-blood, though the very idea that Our Lord would sully his wand on a blood-traitor...!
2. Claim it was all some sort of terrible accident.
3. (This was, not surprisingly, suggested by a discreetly passed note) -- blame Burdett-Coutts, as the organiser of the Frost Faire. Or, I suppose, find a way to lay the blame at Warrington's door, since he's dead and no further punishment can possibly go his way.
4. Some younger associate of Burdett-Coutts suggested that in addition to embracing the idea that we live at Our Lord's pleasure, we suggest that risking ones' life in the games is such a desirable honour that future tournaments are planned; we don't have to actually hold them, but he seemed to think that with the correct publicity we'd see some eagerness for such an honour. I think this is a bit of a risky strategy unless we are QUITE sure we can avoid holding future tournaments.
I'm inclined to follow Burdett-Coutts' strategy. I dislike the idea of slandering the dead, particularly Warrington, who displayed impeccable loyalty to the last.
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Date: 2012-02-26 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 05:37 pm (UTC)Know who suggested #1; Gaude has an impeccable sense of humour. Do believe he was saying it more in the way of breaking the tension.
Definitely not 2. We shall appear doubly incompetent.
Re. #3: Hm. Was this anonymous note in Yaxley's handwriting, perhaps? Imagine he'd have been keen to sully Lycus's name given their history.
Inclined toward Gabriel's plan, if not even his associate's. In fact, have already conferred with Ari and Stephen, who have both offered to assist in terms of compensation for the 'glorious dead.'
Have you named an interim for Warrington's post? If not, you might consider the magnanimity of offering pureblood status to the families who would benefit from it.
If we're careful we might just salvage this. After all, there are good reasons Our Lord admits only the very best into His Circle.
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Date: 2012-02-26 05:57 pm (UTC)Re double incompetence, Gabriel is still pushing to have us continue with the fiction that Jack Sharpe was executed for blood-treason. I disagree with this completely; it undermines an otherwise sound plan. I think we should simply say that the announcers were wrong. Sharpe, if anyone, deserves the honour of being raised posthumously to pureblood status, and there's precedent with the Abbot family.
I trust there's no intent to do this with the dead mudbloods, only those with at least a trace of true wizarding blood.
I haven't had time to think about an interim director of Purity, but you're right, it's rather urgent.
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Date: 2012-02-26 06:06 pm (UTC)Elevating the mudbloods had not occurred to me, no. But thank you for the laugh.
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Date: 2012-02-26 06:02 pm (UTC)In some ways he'd be perfect, but it's been years since he's had anything to do with the Ministry. At the very least, he'd need a top-notch aide, someone trustworthy and knowledgeable. Rather like your clerk -- who I don't imagine you'd willingly part with.
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Date: 2012-02-26 06:10 pm (UTC)Give up my clerk? I've only just barely broken him in. Not even quite completely (which reminds me - must have a word with him on Monday).
Stephen presents an intriguing solution, though. At least for the nonce.
What about one of your people in Communications? That might assist the transition and our present difficulty.
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Date: 2012-02-26 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 06:34 pm (UTC)Your fortitude is admirable. Have the shakes subsided, then?
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Date: 2012-02-26 06:39 pm (UTC)But one carries on, regardless.