Guarding The Palace - Open To One

"Hopefully long enough!" a high pitched voice would remark, a tray smacking down on the table next to Yakone, "Hehe, considering like... what? Fifty years of fightin'? I'll bet it's nice ta have a break, huh!"

The Grand Hall of Dining and Fighting, what had to be Zuqetta's favorite change. Endless food, all the happy faces, the occasional brawl; not for honor or aggression, but for fun! The Hall was inspired by a deep belief Zuqetta held, a belief growing amongst Saiyans that spoke of an afterlife with endless happiness. Of course, happiness was different from Saiyan to Saiyan, some wanted fighting, some wanted food, some wanted... well the third one didn't matter, as Zuqetta based the Hall around the first two!

In any case, it was the largest gathering hub in Sadala, greater than even the Council Chambers, which saw plenty of use, and just as much conflict. And today, like most days, the reigning Monarch herself had come to enjoy a meal!

"But they're not soldiers, Gramps!" she'd clarify, grabbing a set of ribs from her dish and digging in without a care for decorum, "Mn~! Um, they're part of the science division! Heheh, Jaggy would be pissed if I asked her ta add Tuffles to the military! I think even Vocado would flip his lid, and he's stoic like... ALL the time! I've hardly ever seen a reaction outta him!" she'd laugh, before digging in further into her set of ribs, quickly finishing it off and then taking to a good ol' fashion bone of meat.

Zuqetta was without her crown, and without her royal attire; instead garbed simply in her black spandex training tights. It did nothing to flatter her rather petite form, ever as small and unassuming as she always was. She had a bit of sweat on her, clearly having just finished a workout before coming to eat, yet none in the room really batted an eye in her direction.

It seemed without her attire, something she'd made certain to wear daily when she first took the throne, few really recognized her face. to be fair, she had as typical a Saiyan face as any other, perhaps a bit squishier. Whether or not the two she sat with recognized she was the Monarch was anyone's guess, but she didn't care too much. With how packed the Hall was, she had to sit SOMEWHERE, and these two had a free sit, so she sat!

Yet for those that recognized her beyond the features of her attire, it'd be easy to take notice of her gargantuan tail, especially as it swayed behind her happily and haphazardly while she ate.

What did the Chancellor think?

Zuqetta nearly choked on her food at the remark when the realization hit her, she hadn't talked to the Chancellor at all on the matter!!

Surely she knew however, there was no way she didn't know; Zuqetta spoke with higher ups in the Tuffle government, and those higher ups had likely taken the information to Cheri. She didn't know how the Tuffle systems of government worked; if it was like the Kingdom, then Cheri would have final say on all matters as Queen. Cheri wasn't queen however, she was a Chancellor, some weird thing like... a Mayor maybe? Zuqetta wasn't sure entirely, but either way, she was certain Cheri was aware; still, it'd be a good idea to bring it up when next they spoke.

Zuqetta nodded her head lightly as the thought finished, only for her eyes to widen with further realization.

She'd never finished talking about any of their policies!!!

She was so enamored and distracted by the talk of Cheri's revamped terraforming plans that there'd been no proper political discussion! Nothing on their tax laws, traveling laws, trade or common laws, NOTHING! What was to happen then? Did they just continue to function as they always had? she'd reached some small agreements with officials in Hatchi once before, but those were only tentatively in place until a proper meeting between the two leaders could be had. Now that they'd met... what would happen next!?

Zuqetta swallowed her food, mostly frozen at the realization of the mistake made in her excitement. She leaned forward, clutching her head as small panic set in. The old man had chosen to speak up just then, or rather, speak a bit more nearer and quietly. He spoke of the potential worry of traitors, a real concern having ones enemies so deep in Saiyan territory.

It was enough to snap Zuqetta out of her personal funk; the concerns of her people much more pressing to address than her personal concerns.

"Hm, that's a fair thing to worry about." she'd remark, straightening back up and taking a breath to calm herself, "You're likely not the only one with such a concern, in fact, I can tell you now that you're not. Be they from the older generation or my own, it's a natural worry to have. Sudden enemies turned friend? I'm sure the Tuffles feel the same, it's unrealistic." she'd explain, her tone fare and straightforward.

She'd look off towards another table, a trio of Tuffles sitting with a group of Saiyans. Whatever conversation they were engaged in seemed to be a good one, the entire group all smiles, the Saiyans laughing obnoxiously at whatever it was one of the Tuffles had said. A glance across what she could see without making it too obvious however made it clear that this wasn't the norm. Most tables were filled with nothing but Saiyans. Some few Tuffles sat alone here and there, clear worry, fear, or even contempt in their expressions or in their actions.

Most Tuffles got their food and left, but even all of these were the outliers, as Zuquetta had already given the Tuffle Scientists the option to simply have their food delivered directly to their laboratory. The ones who took that option, were the ones unwilling to work any closer with the Saiyans than what their job description demanded.

Zuqetta's attention returned to the old man, a smile on her face as she spoke again.

"Don't get me wrong, I agree that caution is a must. At the same time, if we want things to change, a degree of trust has to be given." she'd say, her expression softening, "We can't expect the Tuffles to be the first to offer that branch to us, from their perspective, the Saiyan's invaded their world and stole their territory. What came from the war isn't something I concern myself with, lives were lost on both sides." she'd remark, "So, as Monarch, I thought to be the first to give my trust. We have soldiers stationed at outposts in Berri Forest, but Cheri hasn't asked for any Saiyan assistance for any tasks taking place in the city to my knowledge. Having Tuffles in Sadala is a show of trust to Cheri, akin to opening our hearts to her. The risk is great, but the reward greater if we can all work together!"

Zuqetta was a clearly optimistic thinker, and her goals for a peaceful future just as clear. She knew the risks involved, but made it clear that without trust, there would be no peaceful future. Then however, the younger man would speak, what he said would cause Zuqetta to raise a brow as she took to eating a piece of steak with some suspicion.

"Hm, you've heard wrong then." she'd remark, chewing her steak rather slowly as she closed her eyes to think.

Yakone? Was that a name she knew? She didn't think it was, but more importantly was his claim.

Yangcong was a war criminal, not someone most would openly admit to being related to. Despite Yangcong's removal from their systems, and his records wiped, that didn't mean he simply didn't exist. Many knew he did, and those many knew WHAT he did. Zuqetta for one, after his betrayal so long ago, had researched who Yangcong was completely. She knew there was a reason behind his insanity, but just because there was a reason, it didn't make what he did right.

Ironic she would think that, as it was the same conversation she'd had with the Kami of Earth; Zuqetta couldn't help to be hypocritical.

Regardless, her suspicion towards the young man was even greater now, as recalling the reports helped her recall one major fact. Yangcong's wife and newborn son were killed...

"Tulse was the one who killed him, and for her efforts, she's been given the medal of valor and a promotion to Corporal." she'd explained, "There was a parade and everything, so I dunno where you got your information, but even you should know it's wrong." she'd say, then turning her gaze to look Yakone up and down, "Yakone? Who are you, really?"

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion, but she made no indication of raising her guard. She recognized this boy, she'd seen him before, met him even. It came back to her, a moment long before she took the throne, back when she was still learning more about herself. He'd made a speech about unavoidable conflict, something that reminded her so much of how Yangcong used to speak, ironic.

Was he some fanboy? Maybe, but he was also thanking her for Yangcong's death...
All she could do was poke the bear and see what happened.

"Old records were purged, but surely you should be aware." she began, finishing off the bit of steak she was chewing, "Yangcong's wife and son were killed, his son being only a newborn."

The information was given, now al she could do was wait and see what came of it.

While Zuqetta took cautiously to her steak, she listened to the old man. She had a response for him, a simple one to hopefully place him more at ease. Calming and assuring her soldiers was always a necessity to her, but she would wait for the moment. The younger man, Yakone, the supposed son of Yangcong, was speaking. Zuqetta was still far too suspicious of him to let her guard down, so she wanted to have things clear up with him first.

He began his explanation, but no matter how refined his speech, his explanation came across as clunky.

She hardly needed to check the records of Yangcong's son, that was already done so it was a needless statement, one she herself had already said even. What came next was new information however, a deal with demons, twice over; this boy supposedly growing up in hell before Yangcong would help him to leave that Otherworld? It all seemed so farfetched, but Zuqetta was beginning to understand that there were stranger things in the universe.

Her own sister appeared Saiyan as well, but like this Yakone, had grown up in Otherworld.

Zuqetta gave a soft hum, internally chastising herself for her hypocritical skepticism. As she swallowed back her steak, she was about to speak up in apology, but paused. She felt it before, a familiarity with this man... Was it because he was really Yangcong's son as he himself said? No, that wasn't it...

Zuqetta's attention then turned more towards the boy, her brow furrowed but with a curious expression. She made no attempt to hide the fact that she was looking him up and down, going so far as to leap from her seat to examine him. His build, his height, his hair, his voice; it was familiar, and while the claim of being Yangcong's son wasn't something she'd ever heard, Yakone was. She squinted, then closing her eyes as she lost herself to momentary thought; suddenly, her eyes would flash open as a realization came to mind.

"It couldn't be..." she'd remark, standing before Yakone, staring intently at his face, her large obsidian eyes looking into his own intently.

Zuqetta lifted a hand between them both, her fingers together as if she was holding something thin like a pencil, which she clearly wasn't. Then, the while glitter of her magic would shimmer at the tips, before between her grip, a mask would materialize in her hand. She held it in such a way that the mans face would be obscured to her, though didn't attempt to place it against his face. The mask obscuring his face was all she needed, and with that, it came back to her.

"Yakone." she'd say with a baffled tone, "It's YOU, you're the guy that was trying to preach what was right or wrong to me. The guy that went on about an invisible war, playing hero in the wastes by beating up guys you thought were evil!"

It was all making sense now, the Yakone she'd met before spoke of two sacrifices, and so too did this man before her. His mother giving up her soul, his father doing the same; of course, as Yakone said himself, Yangcong had broken whatever deal he made once he got what he wanted, that figured.

Zuqetta would de-materialize the mask she'd conjured, stepping back and instead materializing a knife in hand. A dagger really, and one that might've been familiar to Yakone if he'd spent any recent time with Yangcong. It was none other than the same variety of daggers that Yangcong had gifted to Zuqetta all those years ago during her training him him. Though, it wasn't like she had a choice at the time, the amulet she wore back then having controlled her actions.

The conjuration may have come across as aggressive, and in truth, Zuqetta very well was. Her trust in this man had just plummeted as all the fact fell into place, a deep seeded urge to end this potential threat before it could grow had overtook her for but a single moment. Despite conjuring the dagger however, she would not strike; her hand instead falling upon the steak on her plate, the dagger stabbing into it before she'd lift the slab of meat and take an aggressive bite from it.

The mix of emotions within her were wild, and tensions high, but she refrained from any aggressive actions against this man, and for one simple reason.

"What did you mean by "Thank You", huh?" she'd question, her tone clearly a restrained rage, "Your dad, the man who sacrificed himself to you could return from death. You're trying to thank me for killing him!? Ya sure you're not plannin' ta stab me in the back in get revenge!?" she'd exclaim, eyes narrowed as her tail beat against the ground behind her aggressively.