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Laurelite did not like to spend time in the meeting room. She found it disruptive to her duties which, despite her promotion, she still liked to tend to in the privacy of her own office. Being Queen meant that she had a new set of duties, though. Some of which were best conducted in a meeting hall.

“Enter,” she commanded, already knowing who stood behind that door.

Laurelite liked Cinnabar, and were she not so burdened with her new workload, she would have readily accepted a meeting with her. Though she did not entirely know what this meeting would entail, she thought she had a bit of an idea.

She was ready to see the General, though.

Laurelite sat in a chair that, despite her power, made her look smaller. She had some papers carefully hidden behind her, as though she had intended to sneak in some extra work between meetings.


Her fingers were laced before her and she seemed calmed and prepared. Her smile, ever present, greeted Cinnabar.

“That I am,” Laurelite agreed. “But I welcome all matters, sensitive or otherwise. I appreciate good company, regardless of the circumstances.”

She seemed to sense something of Cinnabar’s emotional plight and offered a reassuring smile. “Please, speak freely. You are among my most favored Generals, and I am happy to have you here. If something worries you, I would like to know. Would some tea ease you?” she asked; she gestured to a nearby table.

A pot and two mugs sat alone on the table, and Laurelite rose as if she intended to serve the both of them. She lingered only for confirmation from the General and seemed prepared for either a yes or no.

The tea was apparently forgotten; Laurelite's attention remained focused on Cinnabar.

"I did hear of such an incident," she affirmed, a bit more serious now than before. "And while I would be in agreement that perhaps there was some misunderstanding, let us also remember it was Metallia who hand selected her, of all General Sovereigns, to join us in Destiny City."

She watched Cinnabar closely, reading what she could from her body language and expression.

"While I understand there were several units that disagreed, I was a bit surprised when I read the full report. I wonder, though, if my reports are correct? Several of our Agents--Generals, no less--decided to butt heads with a General Sovereign, in an exceptionally public venue? I admit, I am disappointed that we lost some of our finest Officers in the Special Operatives Branch, but since you've brought the topic up..."

Laurelite paused, and though she retained a professional air about her, it was clear that this conversation was dipping into something more.

"May I ask why you permitted such insubordination? I have always put my faith in you, Cinnabar. You have always shown a great deal of promise. I have admired you and respect you greatly. When I heard of your involvement, I thought there must have been some mistake. Unfortunately, despite whatever disagreements you may have with our new General Queen, I cannot help but think the situation could have been handled to a much different degree. I wonder, did anyone attempt to understand where she was coming from, or were you all keen to challenge her? I must stress, Metallia hand picked her. To question this decision, well..."

She could let Cinnabar imagine. "...She was not happy with any of you. Metallia took it as a personal insult. Of course, I was able to calm her." She waved her hand dismissively, but it was clear that she considered the act a tedious one. "...What would you have me do, though?" she prompted, suddenly. "You disagree with Hessonite, and dislike her, I can see. But what would you have me do of it? Remove her from her post? As much as I'd have loved to promote from within, some of my finest officers in the Branch were removed. And for such public insubordination. How then, can I reward any of these officers? Only one has made any effort to amend the situation. The other seem complacent in their dismissal. Even when, to my knowledge, Hessonite was prepared to hold a private audience to discuss grievances and suggestions? Cinnabar," she sounded tired, exasperated.

"You had a prime opportunity to guide her in her transition into Destiny City and I cannot help but feel as though it was wasted. Hessonite is new, from a different world than our own. She is used to a different breed of agent. I take pride in Destiny City. Regardless of where I was stationed before, Destiny City is my home. I love this city, and every agent stationed here is family to me. Do not think I was impressed with Metallia's decision. I strongly encouraged her to consider promotion, but we have lost her favor, after the invasion. We must earn it again. If these new General Sovereigns can gain us some ground," she shrugged. "We have no choice but to work with them. Hessonite, though, was prime for an alliance. Any General could have spoken with her to discuss concerns after the meeting. Anyone could have offered private suggestions, and attempted to help her settle in. I have no doubt that a conversation with intent to help her understand who we are and how to work with us would have been received so much better than public humiliation."

Laurelite's voice, intentional or otherwise, had gotten colder.

"And yet, now you seek a private audience with me to discuss your concerns. Why did you not do this with her, after the last meeting, instead of feed into the poison of dissent? To encourage it?"

Laurelite blinked, perhaps a bit surprised. “Cinnabar,” she said suddenly, “I would ask the same question of her--does she not deserve to be treated as her rank?”

It was a simple question, and she looked into the General’s eyes imploringly. “There were a number of Generals who seem to have forgotten that rank meant anything. I understand disagreeing with her practices but Cinnabar, my dear--you cannot come in here and ask me to ensure you are treated at the rank you deserve when you failed to do the same. I cannot show Hessonite that you are loyal soldiers when you rise against her.”

There was a sort of sympathy in Laurelite’s voice, but she was not fully on the General’s side and there were things Laurelite clearly held her accountable for.

“Do not mistake my words though, I have spoken with Hessonite.”

She eyed the woman’s scales, her tail. Her partial youmafication.

Laurelite knew that Cinnabar had made sacrifices, and she had always respected her for it. In a way, Laurelite found herself favoring the general, keeping a closer eye on her.

“...But I think an apology is still in order. I think, if you speak to her, she might be more willing to discuss the matter in her own words. It is not ‘crawling on your knees’. It is being diplomatic. If need be, I will schedule a meeting for both of you. It will be a discussion, between two of Metallia’s favored. Decline, if you will, but perhaps your heart would rest easier if you had an opportunity to discuss her methods.”

She shrugged, still standing up straight. She was not relaxed but neither was she hostile; Laurelite still managed to look polite and nonthreatening.

“There was a plan,” she assured, wondering if it would mean more to hear it from her instead of Hessonite. “I am sorry for the difficulties you faced with retraining your lieutenants. I heard they both performed admirably. I do not disagree with the idea of reserving Special Operatives to agents who have had time to acclimate themselves to our organization. We ask a lot of our Special Operatives Officers. Sometimes, too much for a Lieutenant. Her demonstration was unorthodox, but I have been assured that the point was made and does not need to be repeated.”

She sighed. “But, if we are to talk of ‘fostering a culture of distrust and back-stabbing in the ranks’...Cinnabar, what do you think dissenting Generals have done? I daresay, I think the Generals that acted out did more damage than she did. Imagine--Captains, Lieutenants. People who have known you and look up to you for guidance. People who model their behavior after yours. You did not grant her any trust. Should I be surprised if there is an attempt on her life at the hands of some of you? Shall I expect to hear some news of an ambush gone wrong, of one of you finding her mutilated corpse? Or can I expect that we can settle our differences like adults and do our best to serve Metallia so that she might reward us for our hardships?”

While Laurelite did not seem pleased with Cinnabar's shift in attitude, she did not comment on it. She looked at the General for a moment, expression peaceful but otherwise unreadable. After a short silence, she simply nodded. "I trust you to do so, General. I hope that, in the future, we can all work towards the betterment of the Negaverse. Do not let this dampen your spirits. We will speak again, if you need to."

She did not want to let Cinnabar part on a sour note, but she understood that the General had said her piece and now wanted her peace.

"You are dismissed."