• Nobles of Null is a forum based roleplay site where sci-fi and magic collide. Here, Earth remains fractured and divided despite humanity reaching out to the stars. Worse still, the trans-human slaves of one major power have escaped, only to establish their own Empire, seething with resentment at abuses of the past. Even the discovery of aliens, though medieval in development, has failed to rally these squabbling children of Earth together with its far darker implications. Worse still, is the discovery of the impossible - magic. Practiced by the alien locals, nearly depleted and therefore rare, its reality warping abilities remains abstract and distant to the general populace. All the while, unseen in the darkness of space, forces from without threaten to press in. For those with eyes opened by insight, it is clear that an era is about to end, and that a new age will dawn.

Chapter 8: Negotiations

Sai had spent years sitting in on political discussions and briefings, all intended to impart her with some greater sense of the art so that she could wield rhetoric in the same manner one would a knife. She was, however, not the envisioned scion that her tutors wished her to be. Despite the frustrations, this meeting had, this day had done something such tutors had failed to do in years. She had some greater glimpse, if only for a moment, of what she wanted. That suddenly seemed much more important than this... The drivel of halfway words and implied meanings were so vague and unsaid that nothing could be called out or imparted. She realized too late that she was quickly coming to a stand, politely moving her chair backwards to prevent its scraping.

No, her mind was made up, she was sure of it. Political meanings and implications be damned. She always hated the game of politics, always hated the halfway and hidden heart and the insidious motivations behind even the purest of actions. She had spent these months eyeing the professor with intense scepticism when he was easily the purest of intention human they had the privilege of meeting. The Governor clearly had no concept of such things, no value of them. Her heart spun its few pumps of adrenaline confrontation as she left the half-eaten food where it lay. A shame, it felt rude to leave, but improper to take it. Her mismatched eyes turned to the Governor before spinning to the cook, the one who deserved her excuses first. "I apologize for my rudeness, good chef." She spoke, the haste of nerves tinging her words. She wasn't entirely sure why, the decision seemed to make her elated after all as she took a step back, shuffling her chair back into its spot.

Her skin felt numb-hot, ears burning as she suppressed a giddy nervous smile as she turned back to the Governor. This was taboo, she could feel it. No cultural differences would hide that. "Our people have played politics for countless generations, even before our unfortunate decline." Mouth dry, her glass of water was empty. "But there's a difference between politics and... This game." She admitted with a grimace, the scarred flesh on her face contorting awkwardly with it. "Speak with heart, Governor, or do not speak at all. Those were my father's words, not mine." She paused, glancing at her two companions. Amisra, she could hardly call a companion, and Gwaed, someone she had spared sparse words at most.

"I'll not make the decision of my fellow kin. Their will is their own, and our will is not that of our people. You'll find that the community heart is not so easy to hold in the palm of your hand. Take care, lest you find its weight too great a burden." She turned abruptly, with little intention of being convinced otherwise as she walked back towards the door she had entered from.

In the first meeting, the Governor had lost whatever grip it planned to have on Sai.
 
Gwaed was inwardly shocked, which only registered on his face for a brief second before it gave way to a sort of elation and then settling back for amused. "How brave, finally, an individual in this room willing to speak clearly. The water is muddy so constantly, by dirt thrown into it by politicians and Governors and lowborn nobles, that a bubble of oxygen in the murk is like a field of flowers in a forest clearing." He sighed, and ate another bite of the food that was offered. Now there was an individual that had earned his respect. Granted she had fled the room to avoid the consequences, but he couldn't blame her, poor thing looked positively giddy with nervous energy.

"Chef, I apologize on her behalf for leaving so suddenly. We offer this apology because you of all people in this room, along with our esteemed Professor, deserve the respect." He sighed happily, and drank gently from their selection of liquid, looking back to the two political bitches with a kind smile. "I will be staying of course, until either my companion here damns us or cements us as stables of your society, or I find something far more useful to do than sit here and talk in circles around each other." He smiled to Amisra, as if to say, "Aha, you see now that I'm not the only one with a distaste for this professional falsehood."
 
"I thank you Governor of Dawn," Amisra replied. Though her initial approach was more direct, her words were far less confrontational now that the initial point had been made. In her smile, there was the sweet warmth of sunlight, however, a woman like the Lv Wen could see something else. A threat. One that her son was vulnerable to. Already, daggers were being sharpened, but not all of them were so readily apparent or even easily blocked. The sensations that seemed to emanate from Amisra didn't wane though, even as Sai spoke and rose. The departure of the scarred Aos Si was unceremonious and even boorish, unfitting for their kind, but it didn't seem to phase Amisra in the slightest. It was perhaps even expected. "Gwaed," she turned her attention to The Commander. "I'll be quite fine here," Amisra touched his sleeve. "But Sai is younger than us both. She could use some looking after. It's okay to see to her instead," his old friend gently suggested, smiling to urge him on.
 
Gwaed looked to Amisra, suddenly conflicted. He didn't want to leave her in this den of vipers, worried for what she might say or do on behalf of their entire race. But... if he could leave her anywhere it would be best to leave her with her own kind, yes? Then all the serpents can slither around together until they leave and can stop pretending they're friends. He sighed, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and took a drink. "My compliments to the chef," he said in their tongue, "and I thank you, Governor, for, at the very least, an enjoyable façade." He stood up, and looked back to Amisra, slipping back into their native tongue in an attempt at the only avenue of secrecy they had. "Be careful, don't damn us, and contact me on the..." The word escaped his memory at that exact moment, so he did the best he could, "screen... thing when you're done so I can fetch you. I'd prefer you don't walk alone in this city, I don't trust it." With a bow to the room, he followed his newest companion out the door, hoping to catch up with her while still only walking authoritatively.
 
The governor flashed a look at Gwaed and Sai as they left the room while the professor put both hands in front of his mouth to hide a frown. She could read the headlines now: "Governor Lv ends first contact with aliens unamicably as two out of three storm out of the meeting. Opposition parties criticize her inability to negotiate, describing her actions has patronizing and virtue signaling." It was the most likely outcome. Two species that couldn't even tolerate each other talking for the first time, one with the clear position of strength. Handling the backlash against her actions today is going to be cumbersome, but routine. Already she had several interviews thought up on how she was going to spin today's events as a success.

No, the wildcard here was this Amisra. This Aos Si in particular was eager for more, and the Governor wasn't in a position to refuse the answer. "You all are very welcome." She stood up, walking over to the one Aos Si remaining and offered a handshake. "It seems that while your two companions are eager to leave for rest, you wish to stay behind. Shall I give you a tour of our architecture, Lady Yvresse?" The Governor put up a smile for the cameras.
 
"Were I so easy," Gwaed's longtime friend smiled. As he left, she watched and waited, only turning to the other when it was finally time. "I hope that this has not been discouraging," Amisra replied, coming to stand herself. "The labor ahead of us will be challenging after all, but I believe a brighter future can can be built," she took Lv's hand.

Nevermind that Amisra did not say who would do the building.
 
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