08-03-2021, 06:57 AM
Day One: Evening Reception
As Calhualyana and her entourage walked away from Lancaster, a group of four women approached her. "Empress Calhualyana, we have some questions for you," one of the women said. Calhualyana stopped, recognizing the women from earlier in the day. The Milinticans, she sighed inwardly, forcing herself to assume a polite expression once more. "Yes, Minister....Arana, was it?"
"Neina Arana. Minister of Decolonization and Depatriachalization of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Milintica," the Paora woman said with a scowl.
"Yes. What questions do you have for me?" Calhualyana said, managing to cling to politeness only with the help of yet another drink.
"Does the Xiomeran Empire intend to continue pursuing its aggressive course of repression at home and colonization abroad in places like Auria? Milintica's government believes the world deserves an answer as to that," Arana said grimly. Two of the other Milintican women, other government ministers, nodded in agreement. The fourth woman, Tloxochitli, who was the director of a civilian Milintican womens' rights group, looked like she wanted to disappear as Arana stared aggressively at the Xiomeran ruler.
"Your actions are harmful to the world, as a whole, but they are harmful to women in particular," Arana continued in the same fierce tone. "You have hundreds, if not thousands, of women in your prisons. You engineered a set of actions that deprived the world of two female heads of state. Yauhmi, in Huenya, and Queen Sophie in Auria. We wonder how you are able to show your face here, quite frankly, at a conference for women when you do so much harm to your own gender."
Calhualyana looked at the Milintican minister as if she was a lunatic. "Minister Arana....with respect, and I say this as politely as I can, I completely disagree with your premise that my rule is harmful to women. I am myself a female head of state, leading a nation that is recognized the world over for its gender equality. I have continued our friendly stance with Kerlile, another leader in womens' rights. Xiomera is both a historic and current leader in promoting and protecting the rights of women, whereas Milintica isn't a leader in....well.....anything."
As Arana's expression turned even more angry, Calhualyana continued. "As for what happened with Yauhmi in Huenya. Instead of questioning me about her fate, perhaps your anger would be better directed at men like Tiacihitli, Huacue and Texōccoatl. You know, the ones who actually made her step down. And as for Queen Sophie....again, you're addressing your anger to the wrong location, I fear."
"The DPRM fully intends to ensure that both the Huenyans and Aurian coup plotters know exactly how we feel about their actions. But you must be held accountable as well," Arana said. "We do not intend to ignore your role in these events."
"Oh dear. I suppose I should be concerned about that," Calhualyana said, with a slight chuckle. Without even bothering to entertain the conversation further, she turned to walk away. Arana attempted to speak to Calhualyana further, only to have an Imperial Guard stand firmly in front of her. "Our Empress does not have the time to speak with minor functionaries such as yourself. Do not approach her further," the Imperial Guard said flatly. Arana's face turned bright red, and she looked up until she was looking squarely in the Imperial Guardswoman's eyes. "Minor functionary? I am a member of the Presidential Cabinet of Milintica. You can take that condescending attitude and fancy uniform and shove it right up your - "
At that point, two Kerlian security officers intervened, politely asking everyone to move on. The Imperial Guardswoman nodded to them in an equally civil manner, turning on her heel and walking away. Arana snorted, turning and walking away with the other Milinticans following.
Calhualyana, however, had at least one more conversation in mind. With a calm stride that undoubtedly had the Kerlian security quite nervous, she led her delegation over to where the Huenyans were standing. Yauhmi was still in conversation with several Kerlians, and did not notice Calhualyana approach until the conversation abruptly went silent. "Good evening, Yauhmi. How are you doing? Are you enjoying your retirement?" Calhualyana asked in a mock-friendly tone.
The silence in that corner of the room, after that remark, was such that not only would one have been able to hear a pin drop, it would have echoed like a hammer.
After a moment, Yauhmi smiled. "More than you can imagine, Calhualyana, although someone like me is never retired, truly."
"I'm sure. I've heard about some of your hobbies in retirement. Your new, ahem, delivery service, for example. That one seems like a rather unwise venture. I would consider winding it down, if I were you."
Yauhmi carefully hid her shock. How has she found out about the Deliverers already? "Oh, I don't know. I think that little hobby of mine will bear some useful fruit. Speaking of unwise ventures and deliveries....I saw you talking to Minister Lancaster. I assume that your conversation was about Auria. Challenging the blockade would be quite a bad idea."
Calhualyana chuckled. "I noticed that Huenya was joining that blockade, or at least, trying to. It will be interesting to see if you can even put any ships to sea, or find anything to supply them with. I suppose you can just beg more fuel or goods off of Eiria or Laeral, that seems to be how you survive these days. I suppose it works for you...not having any pride or shame must be rather convenient when you sell your 'country' off to others."
"You really believe that asking for help equates to subservience. I hate you for what you did to Xiomera, but I honestly pity you more." Yauhmi folded her arms across her chest with a look of judgement.
"Save your pity for someone who needs it. You may need to have others prop you up to survive, but we do not. Your Xiomera was the past, and the past is dead. My Xiomera is the future."
One of Yauhmi's Shorn One guards snorted at that. The commander of Calhualyana's Imperial Guards glared at her. "Got something to say, traitor?"
"Only this. If you fancy peacocks in your precious uniforms really think you're the future, and want to prove that against the Shorn Ones, the originals, you're welcome to try at your convenience. But knockoffs rarely match up to the genuine article."
Before things could escalate further, the same Kerlian security personnel who had fended off the Milinticans walked up to Calhualyana again, their expressions one of silent pleading. "Another time, perhaps. I would not insult our hosts in such a manner," Calhualyana said. With a polite nod of her own, the Empress led her people away. Once she had left, Yauhmi turned to a nearby server. "Whatever your strongest drink is....bring me a double of it."
As Calhualyana and her entourage walked away from Lancaster, a group of four women approached her. "Empress Calhualyana, we have some questions for you," one of the women said. Calhualyana stopped, recognizing the women from earlier in the day. The Milinticans, she sighed inwardly, forcing herself to assume a polite expression once more. "Yes, Minister....Arana, was it?"
"Neina Arana. Minister of Decolonization and Depatriachalization of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Milintica," the Paora woman said with a scowl.
"Yes. What questions do you have for me?" Calhualyana said, managing to cling to politeness only with the help of yet another drink.
"Does the Xiomeran Empire intend to continue pursuing its aggressive course of repression at home and colonization abroad in places like Auria? Milintica's government believes the world deserves an answer as to that," Arana said grimly. Two of the other Milintican women, other government ministers, nodded in agreement. The fourth woman, Tloxochitli, who was the director of a civilian Milintican womens' rights group, looked like she wanted to disappear as Arana stared aggressively at the Xiomeran ruler.
"Your actions are harmful to the world, as a whole, but they are harmful to women in particular," Arana continued in the same fierce tone. "You have hundreds, if not thousands, of women in your prisons. You engineered a set of actions that deprived the world of two female heads of state. Yauhmi, in Huenya, and Queen Sophie in Auria. We wonder how you are able to show your face here, quite frankly, at a conference for women when you do so much harm to your own gender."
Calhualyana looked at the Milintican minister as if she was a lunatic. "Minister Arana....with respect, and I say this as politely as I can, I completely disagree with your premise that my rule is harmful to women. I am myself a female head of state, leading a nation that is recognized the world over for its gender equality. I have continued our friendly stance with Kerlile, another leader in womens' rights. Xiomera is both a historic and current leader in promoting and protecting the rights of women, whereas Milintica isn't a leader in....well.....anything."
As Arana's expression turned even more angry, Calhualyana continued. "As for what happened with Yauhmi in Huenya. Instead of questioning me about her fate, perhaps your anger would be better directed at men like Tiacihitli, Huacue and Texōccoatl. You know, the ones who actually made her step down. And as for Queen Sophie....again, you're addressing your anger to the wrong location, I fear."
"The DPRM fully intends to ensure that both the Huenyans and Aurian coup plotters know exactly how we feel about their actions. But you must be held accountable as well," Arana said. "We do not intend to ignore your role in these events."
"Oh dear. I suppose I should be concerned about that," Calhualyana said, with a slight chuckle. Without even bothering to entertain the conversation further, she turned to walk away. Arana attempted to speak to Calhualyana further, only to have an Imperial Guard stand firmly in front of her. "Our Empress does not have the time to speak with minor functionaries such as yourself. Do not approach her further," the Imperial Guard said flatly. Arana's face turned bright red, and she looked up until she was looking squarely in the Imperial Guardswoman's eyes. "Minor functionary? I am a member of the Presidential Cabinet of Milintica. You can take that condescending attitude and fancy uniform and shove it right up your - "
At that point, two Kerlian security officers intervened, politely asking everyone to move on. The Imperial Guardswoman nodded to them in an equally civil manner, turning on her heel and walking away. Arana snorted, turning and walking away with the other Milinticans following.
Calhualyana, however, had at least one more conversation in mind. With a calm stride that undoubtedly had the Kerlian security quite nervous, she led her delegation over to where the Huenyans were standing. Yauhmi was still in conversation with several Kerlians, and did not notice Calhualyana approach until the conversation abruptly went silent. "Good evening, Yauhmi. How are you doing? Are you enjoying your retirement?" Calhualyana asked in a mock-friendly tone.
The silence in that corner of the room, after that remark, was such that not only would one have been able to hear a pin drop, it would have echoed like a hammer.
After a moment, Yauhmi smiled. "More than you can imagine, Calhualyana, although someone like me is never retired, truly."
"I'm sure. I've heard about some of your hobbies in retirement. Your new, ahem, delivery service, for example. That one seems like a rather unwise venture. I would consider winding it down, if I were you."
Yauhmi carefully hid her shock. How has she found out about the Deliverers already? "Oh, I don't know. I think that little hobby of mine will bear some useful fruit. Speaking of unwise ventures and deliveries....I saw you talking to Minister Lancaster. I assume that your conversation was about Auria. Challenging the blockade would be quite a bad idea."
Calhualyana chuckled. "I noticed that Huenya was joining that blockade, or at least, trying to. It will be interesting to see if you can even put any ships to sea, or find anything to supply them with. I suppose you can just beg more fuel or goods off of Eiria or Laeral, that seems to be how you survive these days. I suppose it works for you...not having any pride or shame must be rather convenient when you sell your 'country' off to others."
"You really believe that asking for help equates to subservience. I hate you for what you did to Xiomera, but I honestly pity you more." Yauhmi folded her arms across her chest with a look of judgement.
"Save your pity for someone who needs it. You may need to have others prop you up to survive, but we do not. Your Xiomera was the past, and the past is dead. My Xiomera is the future."
One of Yauhmi's Shorn One guards snorted at that. The commander of Calhualyana's Imperial Guards glared at her. "Got something to say, traitor?"
"Only this. If you fancy peacocks in your precious uniforms really think you're the future, and want to prove that against the Shorn Ones, the originals, you're welcome to try at your convenience. But knockoffs rarely match up to the genuine article."
Before things could escalate further, the same Kerlian security personnel who had fended off the Milinticans walked up to Calhualyana again, their expressions one of silent pleading. "Another time, perhaps. I would not insult our hosts in such a manner," Calhualyana said. With a polite nod of her own, the Empress led her people away. Once she had left, Yauhmi turned to a nearby server. "Whatever your strongest drink is....bring me a double of it."
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