3rd August, 1893 — Augurey Beak Cafe, London
Jude had already made up his mind. He was fairly resolved to it as a course of action now; he had floated it, tentatively, with a few people, and on the whole hadn’t felt dissuaded. And all the candidates that had come out so far were centrist as best, and outright conservative at worst – so if he didn’t push out the progressive boat, well, who would?
There was only one thing that had him faltering, and it wasn’t much to do with him or the campaigning or the prospect of losing at all. It was – this. Anticipating his reaction was bad enough, but now Jude was going to have to actually battle through it. He’d laid the groundwork as best he could: planned to meet Kieran after work, just him and not the whole group; kept it at the Augurey, neutral ground, and still public, nowhere he could explode; had waited until he was halfway through a pint before broaching the subject.
(Whether that was for Kieran’s comfort or because Jude’s courage had wavered again at the last minute, he wasn’t sure.) He’d asked after his day, stayed on the Prophet angle and, swallowing the nerves and gritting his teeth, brought up politics. “They’ll have you reporting on the election from now until October, won’t they?” The question was casual, but Jude was suddenly, uncharacteristically, avoiding eye contact.
There was only one thing that had him faltering, and it wasn’t much to do with him or the campaigning or the prospect of losing at all. It was – this. Anticipating his reaction was bad enough, but now Jude was going to have to actually battle through it. He’d laid the groundwork as best he could: planned to meet Kieran after work, just him and not the whole group; kept it at the Augurey, neutral ground, and still public, nowhere he could explode; had waited until he was halfway through a pint before broaching the subject.
(Whether that was for Kieran’s comfort or because Jude’s courage had wavered again at the last minute, he wasn’t sure.) He’d asked after his day, stayed on the Prophet angle and, swallowing the nerves and gritting his teeth, brought up politics. “They’ll have you reporting on the election from now until October, won’t they?” The question was casual, but Jude was suddenly, uncharacteristically, avoiding eye contact.
