11-04-2019, 03:30 PM
(( written with Lauchnoria))
Productivity collapsed at every Embassy the Empire operated during Olympic seasons. The internationally-minded bureaucrats became enamored with the international sports competition. Promoting shens athletic prestige was part of it. But most people just loved the spirit of the games and it was a time when the whole world just seemed to get so much closer. And that made their jobs as diplomats so much easier. Fu Ying was no exception to that rule. She was sitting at her desk watching a rerun of the opening ceremony while absent-mindedly eating reheated sweet and sour pork for lunch.
A knock came on her door here is the ambassador turned her attention towards this instantly.
" yea?" she said, still wtih food in her mouth, witch she quickly swalloed down
The door was cracked open slightly as one of her secretary's peaked in.
" sorry to disturb you Ambassador but you have a visitor who has requested see you immediately" a young girl, with the vague expression of shock said to her boss
" someone thinks they can just demand a meeting with me? She better be the president." the ambassador said with a small chuckle.
" well..."
Yings eyes went wide in shock.
" president arnott is here?!"
"No ma'am. President greenwood"
That shock was now confounded by the look of absolute confused
"...send her in" the Ambassador said as she put the lid back on her tupperware and turned off the pre-recorded broadcast
As former President Joanna Greenwood of Kerlile entered the room, she made sure to tone down the vibes of superiority she had liked to give off when she had been President. She was here to make a request, and so she would treat the Ambassador with respect.
"Ambassador, thank you for taking a meeting with me. I apologise for the lack of notice, I did not wish any phone call to be intercepted, and you know how my successor has increased surveillance recently," she said, then allowed a slight smirk to pass over her face. "Despite, I may add, her promises of reform."
" I make a habit of not commenting on domestic policy Madam President you know that." She said quickly and diplomatically changing the subject back to the reason she was there.
" and I always can make time for a former president, just as I made time for you when you were serving as president"
She leaned back in her chair slightly reaching up to scratch her chin. Without her sense of superiority she almost seemed like a completely different person.
" how can the empire be of service Madam president?"
"Well," Greenwood swallowed slightly nervously. "I will confess I am uncertain how to proceed in such matters. This is... outside my realm of experience. You see... well, I'm rather afraid it pertains, in a way, to Kerlian domestic policy."
She laughed nervously and squeezed her hands together tightly to stop herself fidgeting. "You see, my successor has these grand ideas of reform, of completely wiping out the years of work we have put in to building our feminist society. And, the thing is, I fear that she wishes to... remove any opposition to her plans. And I fear she considers me a threat."
"I wish to..." Greenwood closed her eyes, having to force out the rest of her sentence, almost as if it pained her to make the request. "I wish to seek the protection of the Empire. I no longer believe I will be safe remaining in my country. I realise this is a lot to ask, but I assure you that President Arnott will be no friend of Shen. I hope you will consider my request."
As she finished speaking, she watched the Ambassador nervously, fearing what reaction she may receive.
The audacity of the request floored the Ambassador. She never would have expected in her entire life to have president Greenwood walk into her office and ask what she thought she was asking.
" Madam president are you requesting political Asylum from....the Shen Empire?"
"Well... yes. Yes, I suppose I am," Greenwood responded, looking down. She could feel a flush in her cheeks as her embarrassment increased. She hated that her life had come to this. Never in a million years did she think she would ever consider leaving Kerlile.
Yet it had all changed, first with the threat of the TRC, then the utter, utter relief when it was over and she was safe. Now the threat of her potential imprisonment loomed again, she could not - she would not - stand idly by and let it happen. She knew now that she would rather die. Yet, if at all possible, she wished to avoid that fate as well. So it all rested on Shen.
The Ambassador was still in shock. She still couldn't quite believe it. This had to be some kind of sick joke.
But every second made her realize just how real this was. The embarrassment of The Proud woman finally nailed home just how serious she was.
"... Madam president it is not up to me to grant asylum. Especially not to someone of your status. I'm going to have to contact my superiors at the Celestial Palace. Until then you are free to stay in the embassy and make use of recreation facilities and the staff kitchen as you see fit."
She got it from her chair and directed the president towards the door
" as soon as I get a definitive answer I will let you know"
"Thank you. I knew you would need to contact people, of course," she said, trying to reclaim some of her self-respect. "I do not believe I'm in immediate danger, luckily. Unless, of course, they have realised what I am doing."
" Even if they do your safe within these walls. Now please try and relax. I'll be with you in a few hours"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Every second felt like an eternity to the terrified president. Any moment she could walk out and say that her request for asylum had been denied. That she would soon face her own government's wrath.
It was three hours before the Ambassador finally came and found her. She walked up to the president and spoke very clearly, and calmly
" after an emergency session of the Imperial committee, the Empire has decided to grant you political asylum effective immediately. We are currently preparing a car to the airport, where you will board a plane, and begin to travel to the Celestial Palace"
Greenwood exhaled in relief. Despite her claim she did not think herself in immediate danger, she'd had one of her younger daughters, who worked in intelligence, keeping her eye on President Arnott's dealings with the police departments. She had feared an arrest warrant imminent, and this was good news.
"Thank you, I am most grateful for everything your great nation is doing for me. I promise that, should the so-called reformists be defeated and my family gain favor in the Matriarchy once more, that we will return the favour."
The Ambassador nodded. The odds of that happening were effectively non-existent and she knew that, so the promise was as valuable as a 50-pound paperweight.
She just nodded her head and bowed slightly for the president
" of course Madam president. An unmarked car will be arriving shortly to take you to the airport. But before you go I do have one question"
She stood up straight again
" why us? While you've never been anything but a professional when dealing with me and other embassy staff the Empire has always rated low on your rankings of pro-feminist countries. Not to mention you've criticized us relentlessly over the years. Most people would describe our relationship as neutral if not cold. Why come to my Embassy and not say, Xiomeras?"
Greenwood's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment once more.
"Xiomera has an extradition treaty with Kerlile. The democracies would not hesitate to either hand me back or imprison me themselves. And, well, Shen is less patriarchal than Shuell or Gonhog. I realise I was not the, uh, warmest towards Shen when I was President. Truthfully though, you are my last hope."
The Ambassador knodded "... if we really are your only hope, then I would suggest following protocols down to the smallest detail while you stay within the palace. For now just listen to your handlers. They will make sure you get there safely."
The Ambassador heard the black van come to a halt outside of the embassy
" your ride is here Madam president. I wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you," Greenwood said, though the Ambassador's words had made her more nervous.
As she stepped outside and glanced around at the street, she had to bite back tears. The thought of leaving Kerlile, probably permanently, hurt her more than she thought it would. Yet, she had no choice.
Productivity collapsed at every Embassy the Empire operated during Olympic seasons. The internationally-minded bureaucrats became enamored with the international sports competition. Promoting shens athletic prestige was part of it. But most people just loved the spirit of the games and it was a time when the whole world just seemed to get so much closer. And that made their jobs as diplomats so much easier. Fu Ying was no exception to that rule. She was sitting at her desk watching a rerun of the opening ceremony while absent-mindedly eating reheated sweet and sour pork for lunch.
A knock came on her door here is the ambassador turned her attention towards this instantly.
" yea?" she said, still wtih food in her mouth, witch she quickly swalloed down
The door was cracked open slightly as one of her secretary's peaked in.
" sorry to disturb you Ambassador but you have a visitor who has requested see you immediately" a young girl, with the vague expression of shock said to her boss
" someone thinks they can just demand a meeting with me? She better be the president." the ambassador said with a small chuckle.
" well..."
Yings eyes went wide in shock.
" president arnott is here?!"
"No ma'am. President greenwood"
That shock was now confounded by the look of absolute confused
"...send her in" the Ambassador said as she put the lid back on her tupperware and turned off the pre-recorded broadcast
As former President Joanna Greenwood of Kerlile entered the room, she made sure to tone down the vibes of superiority she had liked to give off when she had been President. She was here to make a request, and so she would treat the Ambassador with respect.
"Ambassador, thank you for taking a meeting with me. I apologise for the lack of notice, I did not wish any phone call to be intercepted, and you know how my successor has increased surveillance recently," she said, then allowed a slight smirk to pass over her face. "Despite, I may add, her promises of reform."
" I make a habit of not commenting on domestic policy Madam President you know that." She said quickly and diplomatically changing the subject back to the reason she was there.
" and I always can make time for a former president, just as I made time for you when you were serving as president"
She leaned back in her chair slightly reaching up to scratch her chin. Without her sense of superiority she almost seemed like a completely different person.
" how can the empire be of service Madam president?"
"Well," Greenwood swallowed slightly nervously. "I will confess I am uncertain how to proceed in such matters. This is... outside my realm of experience. You see... well, I'm rather afraid it pertains, in a way, to Kerlian domestic policy."
She laughed nervously and squeezed her hands together tightly to stop herself fidgeting. "You see, my successor has these grand ideas of reform, of completely wiping out the years of work we have put in to building our feminist society. And, the thing is, I fear that she wishes to... remove any opposition to her plans. And I fear she considers me a threat."
"I wish to..." Greenwood closed her eyes, having to force out the rest of her sentence, almost as if it pained her to make the request. "I wish to seek the protection of the Empire. I no longer believe I will be safe remaining in my country. I realise this is a lot to ask, but I assure you that President Arnott will be no friend of Shen. I hope you will consider my request."
As she finished speaking, she watched the Ambassador nervously, fearing what reaction she may receive.
The audacity of the request floored the Ambassador. She never would have expected in her entire life to have president Greenwood walk into her office and ask what she thought she was asking.
" Madam president are you requesting political Asylum from....the Shen Empire?"
"Well... yes. Yes, I suppose I am," Greenwood responded, looking down. She could feel a flush in her cheeks as her embarrassment increased. She hated that her life had come to this. Never in a million years did she think she would ever consider leaving Kerlile.
Yet it had all changed, first with the threat of the TRC, then the utter, utter relief when it was over and she was safe. Now the threat of her potential imprisonment loomed again, she could not - she would not - stand idly by and let it happen. She knew now that she would rather die. Yet, if at all possible, she wished to avoid that fate as well. So it all rested on Shen.
The Ambassador was still in shock. She still couldn't quite believe it. This had to be some kind of sick joke.
But every second made her realize just how real this was. The embarrassment of The Proud woman finally nailed home just how serious she was.
"... Madam president it is not up to me to grant asylum. Especially not to someone of your status. I'm going to have to contact my superiors at the Celestial Palace. Until then you are free to stay in the embassy and make use of recreation facilities and the staff kitchen as you see fit."
She got it from her chair and directed the president towards the door
" as soon as I get a definitive answer I will let you know"
"Thank you. I knew you would need to contact people, of course," she said, trying to reclaim some of her self-respect. "I do not believe I'm in immediate danger, luckily. Unless, of course, they have realised what I am doing."
" Even if they do your safe within these walls. Now please try and relax. I'll be with you in a few hours"
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Every second felt like an eternity to the terrified president. Any moment she could walk out and say that her request for asylum had been denied. That she would soon face her own government's wrath.
It was three hours before the Ambassador finally came and found her. She walked up to the president and spoke very clearly, and calmly
" after an emergency session of the Imperial committee, the Empire has decided to grant you political asylum effective immediately. We are currently preparing a car to the airport, where you will board a plane, and begin to travel to the Celestial Palace"
Greenwood exhaled in relief. Despite her claim she did not think herself in immediate danger, she'd had one of her younger daughters, who worked in intelligence, keeping her eye on President Arnott's dealings with the police departments. She had feared an arrest warrant imminent, and this was good news.
"Thank you, I am most grateful for everything your great nation is doing for me. I promise that, should the so-called reformists be defeated and my family gain favor in the Matriarchy once more, that we will return the favour."
The Ambassador nodded. The odds of that happening were effectively non-existent and she knew that, so the promise was as valuable as a 50-pound paperweight.
She just nodded her head and bowed slightly for the president
" of course Madam president. An unmarked car will be arriving shortly to take you to the airport. But before you go I do have one question"
She stood up straight again
" why us? While you've never been anything but a professional when dealing with me and other embassy staff the Empire has always rated low on your rankings of pro-feminist countries. Not to mention you've criticized us relentlessly over the years. Most people would describe our relationship as neutral if not cold. Why come to my Embassy and not say, Xiomeras?"
Greenwood's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment once more.
"Xiomera has an extradition treaty with Kerlile. The democracies would not hesitate to either hand me back or imprison me themselves. And, well, Shen is less patriarchal than Shuell or Gonhog. I realise I was not the, uh, warmest towards Shen when I was President. Truthfully though, you are my last hope."
The Ambassador knodded "... if we really are your only hope, then I would suggest following protocols down to the smallest detail while you stay within the palace. For now just listen to your handlers. They will make sure you get there safely."
The Ambassador heard the black van come to a halt outside of the embassy
" your ride is here Madam president. I wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you," Greenwood said, though the Ambassador's words had made her more nervous.
As she stepped outside and glanced around at the street, she had to bite back tears. The thought of leaving Kerlile, probably permanently, hurt her more than she thought it would. Yet, she had no choice.
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