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 Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:22 pm
Papers were scattered across the room, in uneven and unsupported stacks. It smelled of dust and ink, and while there might have been more appropriate places to hold a meeting, Laurelite could not afford to leave her work. She seemed particularly petite in the vast, crowded room, hunched over a table and transferring notes from one crinkled page to another. She hadn't moved from the seat it hours and sincerely doubted she would for hour to come.
At least, until her guest arrived.
A flurry of anticipation swelled in her stomach, though she showed no emotion. She didn't even look up from the paper she was scrawling on until she had finished her train of thought, and when she chose to acknowledge the Dark Mirror Senshi before her, she did so pleasantly.
"Leto," she greeted, saccharine smile on her pale face. She looked the girl over pensively, tapped the tip of her pen across each finger before finally standing. "It's been a while since I last saw you. Our paths don't cross often enough. I'm sure you were expecting someone else," she insisted, not quite a question. Their interaction had been minimal, but then again, it wasn't often that Laurelite was speaking with anyone outside of the Negaverse. "I hope you don't mind. Taking care of subfactions is hard work. Though, I'm sure you can understand that. You've been looking after your Court for quite some time. I don't suppose you've had word from Ares?" she probed.
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:24 pm
It was always strange to Leto when she was asked to meet with someone in the Negaverse... Particularly in their space. When she finally stood in front of Laurelite, her arms crossed over her chest. She was used to meeting with Howlite and Zinkenite, the other General Queens were a rarity for her, so this meeting had her mind going a mile a minute.
Leto returned the other girl's smile, not entirely genuine and maybe a little bit forced. "A pleasure, Laurelite." She eyed the room, her gaze lingering on the slew of papers before her eyes locked onto Laurelite's. The question made her pause, swallow harder than usual and her expression hardened.
"No, I haven't." An eyebrow raised. When it came to the Dark Mirror Court's business, it wasn't typically Laurelite that probed. "She's busy on a mission, that's all I know." A pause, then an uneasy addition, "Why?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:31 pm
"Oh. That is unfortunate," she said, though now was not the time for sympathy. Ares' absence was expected; had she returned there would have been word of it.
Had she returned, this meeting would have gone much differently.
"In that case, I'm afraid I have only more bad news to impart upon you. There have been discussions," she lingered on the word. Laurelite stood with poise, steepling her fingers before her. "I am sure you have noticed the situation with the wraiths."
It was hard not to notice; they had overrun Destiny City during the nighttime hours, often without a handler and attacking anything they came across. The Negaverse had never really understood the creatures, so different from their youma. They understood how dangerous they were.
"We've been observing them for some time. I was hoping this would be a situation you could clear up swiftly, however I'm quite sure we've delayed this enough. Our agents are reporting casualties. Dark Mirror Senshi have attacked them to protect the wraiths. Can you see where I'm going with this?"
She offered a moment of silence to allow Leto to comprehend before she continued, "I'm sorry to say, I'm just not sure we can continue supporting you as we have in the past. Things were different, when Ares was here. When someone was holding the reigns, as it were. You're a leader, yourself. I'm sure you know what it's like, always doing what's best for everyone. I'd like to reassure you, we have no intention of invalidating or abolishing our alliance, it's just time to revise it. We cannot fully support you when you cannot support yourselves. Until those wraiths get taken care of—until you pull yourselves together—the Negaverse will be pursing its own interests."
Laurelite turned, then, breaking eye contact so she could collect the now dried pages off the table. "We aren't severing connections. We'll still be in contact. Though we thought it appropriate to let you know that if your wraiths continue to be a problem, we will deal with them. I don't imagine you'll like the outcome." She spoke sweetly, though there was a threat hidden beneath it all. When she turned back to Leto, she proceeded with a curt smile. "From now on, it would be best if you stayed out of our way, and we'll stay out of yours. I see no reason to make enemies of each other."
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:33 pm
There have been discussions.
Leto just sort of... Stared at Laurelite as she spoke, her body language becoming more and more defensive the longer this conversation went on.
"Of course I've noticed," she breathed quietly, Laurelite continuing on about casualties and wraiths and. Wait, what? Did she know where she was going with this? What was she talking about? "I-" she stared, immediately being cut off with the slap in the face that was the so-called revising of the Negaverse-Dark Mirror Court Alliance.
Her arms dropped to her sides, hands balled to fists as Leto forced herself to control her temper- nothing good would come from an attack on a General Queen. She closed her eyes and took a long, shaky breath before finally meeting Laurelite's eyes and plastering the snarkiest, fakest smile upon her lips.
"You got it darlin'. I stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine. Just make sure your Agents are aware that we take attacks on our wraiths very seriously." Maybe there was a hint of a threat in Leto's words as well. She didn't want bad blood between the Negaverse and the Dark Mirror Court- in fact, there were Negaverse agents that had become her closest friends. While she didn't really mean to be threatening, Leto's pride was wounded and she had a hell of a time not showing it.
They needed the Negaverse on their side and she knew that, but like hell if Leto would show weakness to the woman before her. She wouldn't let her know that there was a giant knot in her stomach that was making her sick. She wouldn't beg.
Leto shook her head as if to clear it. "We'll figure out this Wraith s**t," was all she said to add to the conversation.
She needed to talk to Remarque immediately. This had gone on too long - they couldn't let things fall apart without Ares and the Negaverse.
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:35 pm
"Oh, splendid," Laurelite said, false joy in her voice. "I'm delighted. I do wish you the best of luck, Leto. I look forward to seeing what progress you make."
She gestured towards the mirror in the room, as if to politely dismiss Leto. There had been no objections, no questions. Their business here was concluding, much to the General Queen's relief. While she held no ill-will for her current role as the bearer of bad news, she was not going to cling to the role. She had far too much to do and standing around making apologies and excuses was neither her style nor her agenda.
They were both professionals. There was no reason for emotions to be involved.
At the end of the day, this was still a war, and the Negaverse could not openly endorse the liability the Dark Mirror Senshi had become.
Clutching the papers carefully to her chest, Laurelite turned back to her table and stood, fishing through another stack of papers. She discretely watched the Eternal Senshi out of the corner of her eye, suspicious that after such news the girl might have intentions to attack while her back was turned.
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Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 5:36 pm
At some point in her life, the idea of attacking while Laurelite's back was turned would almost definitely have crossed her mind. But now... With the fate of the Court in the hands of her and her Vice Captain, she knew better. And Laurelite was right- the Wraith situation was bad PR and if it had been the other way around, she would have done what was best for her Court too.
So Leto sighed, nodded once in response and unclenched her fists. "Thank you. Our success as a faction wouldn't have been possible without the Alliance. We'll talk soon."
With that, Leto stepped through the mirror.
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