Post by Hayle on Jun 28, 2023 0:19:35 GMT -5
Hayle listens, and if there's one good quality that the woman has (and there very well may be only one) it is that she doesn't take these things personally at all. She nods along with Ticoga's explanation. It wasn't something she could relate to. Her loyalty to Empire was, and always would be, purely pragmatic. But from his position, she could understand how he would feel this way. For him, Empire had come to replace family; the most important thing in life.
It was sad. But it made a kind of sense. It also implied that Ticoga was more earnest in placing the interests of Empire before himself than she would have anticipated. A truly fascinating Arcosian.
"Very well."
She walks over to her discarded cape, picks it up, and slings it back about her shoulders.
"It doesn't surprise me that the Triumverate will not relinquish their power on logical grounds. Frankly, I'm surprised that one of our own has been able to hold it together for as long as they have whilst openly relying on the support of two aliens. But my attention has been elsewhere for a long time. I'm sure that all involved have their reasons."
She turns back to him, once again resuming her dignified posture. Albeit, the cape is wrapped around her a little tighter than usual; obscuring wounds.
She turns back to him, once again resuming her dignified posture. Albeit, the cape is wrapped around her a little tighter than usual; obscuring wounds.
"This meeting has confirmed what I already knew. We are living in a time of turmoil. We must adapt, or we will die. I have little patience for many of my peers, Ticoga. Should you be successful in claiming the throne, you will come to see why first hand. Hidebound, reactionary, and wasteful of resources they do not deserve. If the Empire is to survive the coming challenges, power will need to be held in the hands of those who can grow it."
A faint smile - genuine, and as warm as a snake's - touches her lips.
"I believe you to be such an individual. I hope that you will prove me right a second time. I shall keep my opinions to myself until you claim the throne, and if you are successful? Then Zumat will back you to the hilt. We cannot afford a costly civil war."
A beat, then, and the smile fades as quickly as it came.
A beat, then, and the smile fades as quickly as it came.
"So you will need to be ruthless. Crush Mint without restraint. Only a total victory will silence your detractors. Fear is an inelegant tool of control, but sometimes it is what we need."
She chuckles, shaking her head, and begins to walk from the training chamber. "That is my advice, anyway. I am sure that you know these things already. Thank you for indulging an old woman's rambling. It has been an, interesting, day."
She chuckles, shaking her head, and begins to walk from the training chamber. "That is my advice, anyway. I am sure that you know these things already. Thank you for indulging an old woman's rambling. It has been an, interesting, day."
Wordcount: 457
TWC: 6126
TWC: 6126