"That sounds like a reasonable agreement, I shall look forward to seeing what you can bring to the table, with you as mediators. I truly can't imagine this getting any worse. As much as I've grown cold towards her, I've always known the Sultana to be fairly firm and level headed. Compared to me, certainly, being as impudent as I let myself become." Of course she had a point, the Chancellor's daughter now a citizen by rite of marriage and that meant now under Marcella's care so to speak. How truly bad things could be if something happened to her as a result of this mess. More and more Marcella began to feel a bit of defeat creeping, just a matter of time before she had to relent but still, the issue of Kyre's explosive exit, left her feeling uneasy as well as not knowing what Kyre's demands would be from her.
"Your daughter, is now one of my citizens through her marriage to another islander, thus I feel just as responsible for her as all those born on our soil or to families abroad. Milady Chancellor, I want to assure you, as foolish and half-witted as I was to get into this mess, I'll know when it's time to accept what's coming to me" AHSCA certainly had it's allies to depend on, Lamoni, Holy Marsh and Mokastana, whom have voiced at least support in this time and keeping the lions at bay but last thing she wanted to do, was drag them into a war on her own stupidity. "I want to hear what they have to say, with Mervay helping, I do have high hopes we'll all walk away from this with little more fuss. Now, is there anything more you want to discuss with me today? Otherwise I can have a couple of my Knights escort you to your inn."
"Oh don't be sorry." Satou nuzzled her face against Tess' own, being close to her certainly made her feel better "I think we're all just a little on edge over this. Many of the gals at work certainly are. I am too but I think we'll get through this, just as the UIS got through the war, this too will pass. Really, whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you. If you want to go back to Mervay a while, we can, or we can stay. Just let me know what you'd like." After all they did have her family to also think of, Satou certainly cared about Tess' s family just as much.
Aurora Public Bathhouse - Evening
The Kitan is famous for more luxury kind of baths at a decent cost (well to an islander) so the more utilitarian and cost friendly (but not as private and quiet) there was the more public bathhouse but well when you're a woman of the people as Setsuko Fujihara is, well the public is probably the best. A day at the end of another busy session of Congress, the news was plenty abuzz in this whole situation well right now was the time to forget that for a bit and soak the day away, honestly more politicans oughta try this. Plenty crowded with hordes of people gathering to do the same so she hoped she'd get a nice little spot that could be a little relaxing. Children were great, she certainly wanted them, but they can be noisy at times. Well at least her hope was that but it was about to be dashed with one of her colleagues, Senator Kiri Whatitiri from neighboring Hoshino, showing up in the same changing room. "Oh Senator, good evening." Setsuko wished to Kiri
"Heya, fancy seeing you here" Kiri fanged this as a funny coincidence but she had a purpose "Though great timing because I wanted to talk to you"
"If it's about sponsoring or co-signing onto a proposal of yours, can't it wait until tomorrow? I'm really hoping to just relax for the evening."
"I had wanted to but then I saw the evening paper." she held up a newspaper she grabbed from the entrance, it was the Hanasaku Press, a smaller independent newspaper, not always known for being accurate but not maliciously out to lie either, usually. "Has there really been that much more news since this morning?" Setsuko finished packing everything into a storage box and prepared to head to the pools of hot water eagerly calling her name.
"Why yes, yes there is." Kiri began walking along side her "If you don't wanna read it than let me sum up, a letter got out, a letter that the dear Kyrenain Princess Aurelia wrote to another. Even in her letter she thinks the Duchess is a fool."
"Well perhaps but the Hanasaku Press isn't known for being the most accurate source."
"You trust it less than a state ran press with a minister appointed by the Duchess more than an independent news outlet?"
"I agree the Duchess maybe has too much invested in the State ran media but in case you forgot, my party position tends to advocate for more state intervention."
"Sure sure but still, rotten at the core rotten on the surface." They continued talking as they settled into the hot water together. "You and I have a common goal, we both don't like the current head at the top right?"
"Common yes but different motives. I'd rather restore power to the people, I think you're more status quo."
"A bit, but I'm flexible. I just want her grubby paws off the rights of states and our constitution. This whole debacle is what I've been waiting for to finally kick her from the top. You and I could propose an impeachment or vote of no confidence."
"You're really saying we should invoke that?"
"I am. I can't do it alone though, I need someone who is just as radical as me."
"Why not get your fellow State Senator onboard?"
"Ah I tried, he lacks a spine to do anything though."
"Still, what can we get her on? What she did isn't against the law. Stupid perhaps but hardly against the Constitution or the State."
"She's playing a game of chicken. Steering us towards another ship hoping the other moves first. I fear she's gonna slam us on the rocks first."
"I thought you were a farmer, what's with all the nautical metaphors?"
"Practicing I suppose for the senators that only speak in naval terms and for our pink Duchess. Not saying we gotta draft it tonight and present it tomorrow. We can wait and see more how this plays out. Fine, I really doubt this will amount to much beyond a few bad words being thrown back and fort but a chance like this only comes along once in a generation."
Setsuko sighed almost perfectly in time with a crash of thunder. "Oh, looks like rain tonight hey?" Kiri chimed in merrily, no sense in letting silence takeover
"You're worried about getting her out but I'm also worried about the greater ramifications."
"Like what?"
"The rest of the world?"
"Ah that old excuse for inaction? The rest of the world doesn't give a rat's ass what we do anymore. The old powers have all but forgotten us for greener pastures elsewhere. We're brine shrimp now, Stevid sure as hell don't care about us to waste a military campaign on us. Besides we have an order of succession built in for these contingencies."
"This have never been tried before, Kiri."
"oooh on a first name basis now? Hahahahha" Kiri cackled, Setsuko side glanced at her, honestly she was a little annoying, Setsuko thought. "Okay I can call you Setsuko then?"
"If you must."
"I know you think of me as a bit of a hick but we can get along very well I think. Perhaps you and I could really talk things over tonight? I mean really talk things over?"
"W-wait I thought this was just a conversation now you're talking that?"
"Hahaha well a Senator away from her family does get a little lonely. It worked for our two Coronan senators too. Surely you think so."
"Eeeh" Her cheeks were read maybe from the water or Kiri's implications. "I can't help but feel you'll use that against me if I refuse in the end?"
"Would I? Surely you don't think so little of me. Hey either way give it thought. And I mean give it a lot of thought. And remember it's not against the rules" she winked back at Setsuko. "I think the heat is getting to me already. A hot bath does wonders. But I'm gonna cool off by enjoying the evening rain. Senator, I'll see you tomorrow. And like I said, no great rush."
Now left to think about it some more in solace Setsuko wondered, could they really pull off a vote of no confidence? Frankly even if they did, would they have the votes to get rid of The Duchess? Such a vote required 3/4ths in Congress (so at least 7 of 10 Senators) and every state Leader (save Aurora) to agree. Certainly, Stillestando was eager to get rid of the Duchess the others, probably not but it would be a real stunt to pull off, maybe it'd even garner more support for Setsuko's idealistic commune of AHSCA, even if slowly. Her seeds of revolution were more about changing the hearts and minds of people to be rid of their monarchy more than topple a leader out. But this wouldn't be a violent coup, it'd be the law, the law outlined in the wake of their bloody struggle for independence. Well she didn't have to do it tomorrow or the next day, maybe a bit later. For now she'd lay back and enjoy being alone with just her thoughts.
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