video;

[ironwood]

[The video opens on the Emperor, who is writing at a desk. She looks... composed, but with that hard-edged irritation in her that so many foreigners have come to know and either hate or be frustrated by. She sets her pen down and looks up. She is Not Here For This Bullshit, but children must be minded and the foreigners are little else, as far as she's concerned.]

As some of you may know, we were recently attacked by the undead. Despite your admirable efforts in turning away the enemy, some individuals who cannot seem to think beyond the end of their fists and considerable over-compensatory strength caused structural damage across the turtle shell. This damage caused significant collapse in ancient sewer systems.

My architects are working to repair the areas. Stay away from them. And no you may not help. Anyone caught in the area will be arrested and incarcerated for an indefinite amount of time.

If you've nothing useful to say, remain silent. My time is precious.

Comments

video;

[dragonswag]

[ well that's not suspicious at all ]

Sounds like you don't want outsiders seeing what's underneath the surface here.

video;

[ironwood]

Oh, yes, sewage is so interesting for all and sundry to see. If you'd like I can throw you in the palace sewers and you can experience it first hand.

video;

[zerotoawesome]

I didn't do it.

[That was useful, right? Right?]

video;

[ironwood]

[Sourly,]

Because you weren't already my primary suspect.

video;

[wintershepherd]

I'm sorry if we broke things, ma'am.

[ He wasn't sure what the right mode of address was for a lady Emperor so hopefully that would fly. ]

Is there another way we can help though, other than with the repairs?

video;

[ironwood]

'Your Majesty'.

[Excuse you she is not a ma'am.]

You can help by staying out of the way. You've done enough.

[video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

[This whole thing just gets Victor pretty irritated too.]

Are these ancient systems still in use or have they just been left abandoned in favor of more modern ones?

[video]

[ironwood]

That is not your concern.

video;

[cmdreffingshepard]

Let me get this straight; we've been brought here to help with something, but you're refusing to let anyone who may have relevant and useful skills for this little repair project help you with it?

video;

[ironwood]

[THE ABSOLUTE FLATTEST LOOK IN EXISTENCE.]

Do you often ask for a bull's assistance after it's destroyed your fine china?

voice.

[crossestheline]

Are you fucking kidding me?! You kept us in the dark, some of us got our faces mauled off by zombies, and you're giving us shit about structural damage that people probably did saving their lives?!

[video]

[ironwood]

[Pointed disconnect, and Jason will find that his ID has been suspended from further activity in this post. Mysteriously, anonymous IDs can't comment at all...]

[andaway]

I could help though, if you'd let me. I'm sure a lot of other people would as well. Why not let us?

And it might not be my business, your majesty but treating us like that after putting us in so much danger and we did our best to save your citizens is rude, to say the least.

video;

[ironwood]

I am not about to permit you imbeciles to flounder about uselessly trying to 'help' after the damage you've already caused. How many times must I repeat myself?

[And then she curls a lip.]

Rude? Yes, then, I am rude. But I also hold your lives in my hands and you would do well, 'Superman', to keep that in mind.

[DISCONNECT.]

[philosophe]

I would think that help would be appreciated if it is willingly offered, madame.

[ironwood]

It isn't.

video

[sophos]

[Okay all of that is fine and dandy and there are a billion connotations and secrets clearly going on AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF. But. Something else Annabeth wants to make sure she asks first. Especially with the hanging up track record going on so far. No point in yelling at Eshai for it right now tbh, as mad she could be herself.]

[AND SO VERY CALMLY:] Was that the first time the undead attacked the turtle?

video

[ironwood]

Yes.

['now shut up and go away'.]

video;

[fatedchaos]

[Vanessa's usually not one to speak up, but you know. Sometimes you've got to do things you don't want to do.]

Our time is precious as well, and you're the one wasting it by keeping us here. At least let us help.

video;

[ironwood]

Wrong on two counts, naively imbecilic on the third. Anything else to add?

[neverleftharlan]

[Well, if everyone else is going to get their dander up over being talked down to, Raylan will do the opposite. He tips his hat to her in a small salute, the motion languid and apologetic.]

Ma'am. Sorry to hear we've caused you more trouble.

[ironwood]

Apologies are useless.

video

[inthishouse]

Incarcerated for an indefinite amount of time.

Seems a little harsh for trespassin'.

video

[ironwood]

If you 'cannot handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen', as I believe one of your Earth sayings goes.

[wholenewstory]

[Cassandra studies her, for a moment.]

What - should we have done?

[ironwood]

Used discretion.

[FUCKING METAS GET OUT OF GOTHA-- wait wrong character.]

[fotia]

[well seems like she's in a pretty cheery mood, taking into consideration the conversations before his. obviously whatever he'd ask would be answered in a similar manner, so instead he says:]

Hey, you're pretty cute, Emperor. Want to go on a date?

[ironwood]

[D I S C O N N E C T.]

[idealisme]

You are the Empress?

[He is French. He likes his gendered nouns okay.]

[ironwood]

No.

[Two can play that game. She only answers to one title, bro, and she ain't no Empress.]

not here

[nohsatsu]

[ He's just observing in silence. Maybe if he doesn't make himself obvious, he can sneak around a little more easily....... ]

[video]

[wallcrawler]

[Yeah he's going to buck the trend here and just try to abide by those wishes best he can. Although that does mean asking some questions.]

Were there any specific areas we should know about? Assuming it the repairs involve work on the shell as much as under it, that is.

I never know where I might have to make deliveries, so if there's any chance I might run into a work crew, it would be easier to just plan on avoiding the area entirely.

[He's not sure if there's any place in there he should throw in a 'your majesty,' so he's putting considerable effort into coming across as polite as possible anyway. Just to be safe.]

[video]

[ironwood]

[Gosh she just wishes she could put all the foreigners in swaddling clothes and dump them in a play pen until she needs them.]

If you encounter a crew, go around them.

['you idiot']

video;

[inseine]

[Of course, Javert's first foray with modern conveniences and technologies would be a peek into this illustrious and mysterious Emperor... whom he is mildly surprised to discover is a woman. Hm. He looks into the other conversations silently (and notes the appearance of... other familiar faces with a grimace). Evidently, she is not well loved, but what rulers are? It is not wholly surprising to him.

How fitting that Javert's first look at this computer network should have to do with sewers. The Seine gave him a lifetime and death's worth of sewage and he could do without that, thank you very much.

He has no intention of wasting time, but there is one matter that concerns him. He proceeds with a healthy dash of caution.]

I won't take much of your time, Madame Emperor. You imply there are civilian-restricted areas in the city. I did not know this. One question.

Where can I find a copy of your law code?

video;

[ironwood]

[eyebrow quirk.]

Any local book vendor would carry it.



[And he would find it populated with laws such as 'don't damn well murder people', 'don't steal'. Destroying resources is punishable by considerable jailtime (though the foreigners are frequently excepted from these rules)

Also it is in very bad form to wear hats on a Tuesday, and due to long-standing tradition highly illegal not to wear different coloured socks on the first day of each new month.]

video; encrypted 30%

[lostundercover]

Are you the Emperor?

[Because he doesn't know for sure.]

I want a job at the palace.

[Smooth moves, Costigan.]

video; encrypted 30%

[ironwood]

Yes to the former, no to the latter.

video;

[aenseidhe]

[ ...Oh. You're not Kedan. Or, at least, she doesn't seem Kedan. The races here have been strange and unfamiliar to him, so he'll venture a guess and see the reaction it gets him - tone mild. ]

A human ruler of a nonhuman community. Did you conquer them and make them your subjects, or did they hand over their freedom willingly?

video;

[ironwood]

I am hardly human.

[Ignoring that last bit la la la.]