A Meet And Greet [OPEN]

"Good heavens...you sure are loud."

Cocoona's trip on Earth was winding down; in the wake of the crowning of a new Saiyan Monarch and rumbles of change on Namek, the wider galaxy was proving itself far more interesting than the rumblings of the little blue ball. To the planet's defense, every encounter they had would prove difficult to forget: from delightful biodroids to remarkable Saibaman to good ol' scum-sucking bounty hunters. Plus...there was word that a few Mothera were prowling around outer space, trying to see if the traitor was still out there. Best to lay low for a while. Maybe checkout Central City; there was apparently a senator being induced there that could make for an interesting afternoon...

At the edge of the crowd are even more strange visitors, fresh off arrival from an evacuating Arcose. It was bad timing, Sherbert thinks, her new employer returning to society just as war is on the horizon. No one has time to consider a lucrative proposal like theirs when they're too busy fretting over an invasion and its consequences. That's why she's taken them to Earth instead. A few of the aliens on this little dirtball are making waves galactically, and one particular alien just might be their clearest chance of securing funding short of groveling before the Emperor.

While the Senator receives his first questions, Sherbert turns to her boss, the ten foot reptile whose mere walking up to the crowd has already caused a small scene. For her part, the shorter Arcosian hovers just off the ground to point over people's heads at the massive man on stage. "There, that's the guy! You see him? There he is!" She whispers discretely.
They've already gone over what they know about the Senator on the trip over; he's an Earth politician who runs Jersey Enterprises, a firm known for its construction of civilian and military infrastructure across multiple systems. Rumor has it his company does a little bit more than that, and that the man himself is an eccentric personality with a keen interest in military technology. Defensive military technology, of course. Point being, he may have an interest in the product of Grendine's cutting edge research, as well as the capital to support it.

---

Opening up the floor to prospective questions seemed to be a mixed bag, the mumbles of the crowd suddenly overshadowed by the words of predominately two individuals. While the Senator was hoping there'd be far more interaction, the two that the words came from made it already interesting enough, especially when the most reasonably sane questions came from the awkward, alien-esc moth person flying with the crowd of people.

Cocoona's inquiry about his own failures as a prior secretary of defense was something of a sore topic for the Senator, but the mention did nothing but strengthen his resolve and cause the smile on his face to be unwaivering. Every inch of the question felt partially loaded for his opposition, but he had to be honest and raw in his speech. If there was one thing Senator Tux Jersey did, it was that he rarely, if ever, lied. He would admit to almost all of his wrongdoings, and do so proudly. There's nothing more patriotic than that.

"You'd be correct, bug person. As a starring example of democracy, I was glad to hear you voice your opinion on the matter. It's true, as the secretary I was partially in charge of defensive measures and localized many bills to offer to the presidents with varying levels of effectiveness. I've since learned my error. I failed this planet just as much as anyone else." The strong willed android would say, clenching his fist and slamming it into his open palm, the rough crack of his older knuckles like the sounds of tires down a gravel road. "I've learned that the most effective way to get the job done, is to do it yourself. My granddaughter taught me that when she became tired of me accidentally messing up the settings on her scout-thingie and showed the resolve and power necessary to do it herself. In her honor, I started my newest campaign." He'd admit, pressing a button he had concealed in his shirt pocket with vigor. Behind him, a banner would drop revealing a large print version of his face smiling with a clenched fist along with the catch phrase of his new campaign. "For every dollar donated, I'll personally put another criminal into a coma. I've figured out that relying on these accords and privatized heroes who have morals that get in the way of good legislation just makes it too difficult. Why bother recording down powerful people when I can just let the good ones stay down and put the REST in early... retirement. I've got a lot of comas to make up for after this recent PAC meeting, so I hope to provide better results for the people soon. With any luck, hospitals will be lined up filled with would-be evildoers threatening our planet's way of life and sanctity."

Proud of himself, it was a mood soured by the second question. The less sane question of the two. The humanoid looking woman, cocky it seemed, herself asked about the mountain. Specifically, what if she liked it the way it currently was. The idea baffled the older man. What person could like such an atrocity of nature. It wasn't even a pretty sight, it was just rancid. "I'd say, you're not thinking straight lady" He'd retort, leaning forward from his stance to peer better into the crowd with his bad eyesight. "You either have a terrible taste in mountains, or you are a shill worker for Big Chocolate. Regardless, that's not the kind of talk a patriot would talk. That's the kind of speech I'd expect to hear from some corporate wannabe... and I HATE corporate wannabes." As he finished his vague, veiled threat at the woman, his own security team terrified at the implications behind the statement that he just made, a PR representative would try and butt in on the stage, trying to usher the Senator off of the platform to no avail. His large frame unable to be budged by the tiny human below him. "Let me ask you something now, miss. Are you a corpo getting in the way of good politics, or are you a patriot."

As if on cue, Tux's eyes left the strained stare-down with the woman for merely a second before being bombarded with the visage of the massive reptilian beast in the back of the crowd. This person stood a whole foot over the Senator in height, the only person he'd ever met that could likely stare him face to face without either one having to bend their neck too far. A surprising sight on the planet, much less Earth itself. While he was no stranger to other species, his mind only cared about where allegiances lie, or what planet they were born on. If they sided with Earth, or were an Earthborn creature, he couldn't care less what they were made up of. He definitely would need to speak with them when he was done with whatever this was.

Seems the crowd would get up in a little bit of a fuss once the small lady grabbed the senator's attention. A few other strange beings, like the arcosians carving a path to the front, make their presence known despite not talking. They stood out worse than them and even the bug creature flying around. Despite this said creature's best efforts, this sort of spouting of nonsense thrown her way was what she expected of the politician.

Usumi didn't even know the silly mountain herself. Only getting second-hand memories from Tsuya herself. That little grin on her face spreads as she steps out from the front of the crowd. Her small stature put her in a good spot to lift a hand and tap the floor of the stage right in front of her a few times. It was to a playful little beat as if toying with the very concept of holding this center of attention the Senator found himself on. A literal stage... Of course!

"Now, Senator, that'd be far too easy. Shills can be bought and sold their ideals, their voice. In that same breath, they can be disregarded."
They hummed to themself, looking up at the senator from what would normally be a rather small and diminutive angle. "The Moth-whatever has a point, you know. As a proud patriot myself, I'd hope my voice could be heard among the thousands~ Or... are we already at the stage of forgoing all ideas of freedom and liberty for this security? Seems someone's getting with the program! Listen-" Several of the people working along Tux watch in horror as this girl stops her tapping and tightens her grip on the side of the stage. Flipping herself over with one hand and rolling to her feet on stage, not far at all from the Senator in question. She straightened up and craned her neck back up at the politician.

"Criminal isn't the word I'd use to describe the threats that make themselves known to the world. Monsters don't read rules. I'll ask again, what if I like that stupid mountain?"

---

As humans around the duo whisper or point, when the strange insectoid seems wary of Grendine, it helps only add to the strange spectacle of what was once meant to be a typical press conference. When the Senators eyes drag down to inevitably see Grendine in the middle of the crowd, they meet his gaze and hold it, hard. They keep a calm and measured smile, but these animals are alike. Every bundled nerve in these giant animals is ready to be released when they decide they don't need to keep control, but they're not wild. They're not about to let loose until the right moment. They didn't need those around them, not even sugar sweet girls to hold them like a dog on a leash.

Assertiveness and spontaneity were among the Mothera's most disliked traits to display; it said a lot, then, that in the middle of the senator's speech, Cocoona broke decorum by unsubtly shifting himself in-between the two (hopefully not-to-be) brawlers, trying to use a telekinesis to shift them ever so slightly backwards and hoping they wouldn't notice. "Hahaha--apologies for the interruption, Senator, but this is..."

---

"You say a lot of truth" The Senator would admit as he cocked one hand to the side, looking around at the now slightly dispersing crowd, the regular Humans and aliens who listened to their discussion backing away from what they expected to end in some kind of fight. Tux was trying his best to avoid conflict like that, but by Kami did some people make it harder than others. "There's absolutely nothing in the laws that can really do anything to STOP people from doing anything. Let's be honest, the laws aren't preventative measures. They're something to look back at and judge someone for something they were always going to do in the first place. Good people inherently don't intend or want to commit violent acts like murder or destruction. Good people don't want to be the villain of the story. Which is why we have to have people in the first place to try and prevent excess damage AFTER the fight happens. I cant make someone want to avoid attacking the planet, but by my soul I will make them regret ever thinking it was a smart idea." He would say with a sickening, thick grin across his mustached face as he crushed his own knuckles under his grip, the crack and pop loud and vocal. "You speak about gods this and gods that, but I really couldn't care less about determinations by deities. Consider me an atheist. Not because I think there are no gods, I'm aware of the existence of something higher than myself and others spiritually, but in the end, the only thing that matters is how hard I can break something. If it comes down to it, I'll find these gods of yours and beat them within an inch of their seemingly immortal lives. I'll give the judge of the afterlife someone sickening to stare at while he tries to decide what to do with them. Better I kill a god than let some foolish immortal who's never had to fear for his life judge what I get to do with myself."

With that declaration, The Senator would stand at his full, imposing height, cracking his neck before pulling back his body, the air around him become sharp... quite literally! As the Senator took a deep breath, his next words would be followed by his words visibly in the air, the thick black ink of his speech bubble flying at Usumi to attack her directly, trying to damage her! Little did Usumi know, the Senator could literally make words hurt!

"Maybe you'd like to meet these gods and tell them about my exploits. I'd love to meet them and give them a piece of mind myself... But I've got better things to do in this realm right now. Like handle weak, insignificant scum who threaten our planet and people. Think about that and get back to me when the hospital clears you."