eachdraidh | first crown

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[ the video feed opens up onto an image of a chair in a small room. at first there's no indication that there's even anyone in the room, and then a woman walks into frame and sits on the chair. she looks composed, calm, although there is an intensity to her gaze that may give away just how displeased she actually is at the moment. ]

Hello, everyone. I am Princess Michelle Benjamin of Gilboa, and I wish to address our captors. As I have not been able to find a way to be permitted an audience in person, I am forced to air my grievances publicly.

[ she leans forward slightly in her chair, but remains as composed as ever. it wouldn't accomplish anything to make her frustration obvious; that is not how you deal with foreign dignitaries. at the best they think you're a petulant child with no real power, at worst they may take offense. a negotiation like this takes a delicate, thoughtful hand, and michelle is determined not to fail in this as she did at port prosperity. ]

I was lured here under false pretenses, with no knowledge or explanation of my purpose here. I have no desire to participate in a war, particularly one between nations I don't know. If you've taken me against my will, I have no doubt you've done the same to others, and so we get to the point of my address:

[ michelle folds her hands calmly in her lap, pauses for a moment, then continues. ]

I wish to negotiate for the safe release of all those brought to this place without full disclosure. Those who accepted to fight in your war of their own free will shall of course be exempt from this deal. In return, I give you my word that you will face no fear of reprisal from my father King Silas for my kidnapping.

Should you fail to return me and the others you have kidnapped to our homes, I must inform you that my father's temper runs hot of late, and he has seen his children taken from him far too much in recent months. He will not hesitate to retaliate.

Unless you want to fight a war on two sides, I suggest we sit down for negotiations.

[ with that said, michelle is finished. she closes the locket and ends the recording, then takes a deep breath. she's never been in a position like this before, and doesn't quite know what she's doing. she has to do something, though. these people can't just get away with kidnapping everyone here. ]

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[ New arrivals. The first batch in nearly a year and a half (all the time that he's been here), and Cullen can... truly feel for her (even if she happens to be the sort of nobility he's not entirely fond of). Certainly, there are many places he'd rather be at this moment, instead of fighting a war he cannot fully agree with.

Even so... ]

There's... a lot more to it all than that, your highness. [ A sigh. ] For starters, time does not quite seem to pass the same way here as it does in your own world. For instance, one of my countrymen did not remember the last four years of her life that she spent by my side. [ A frown. ] And even if it were not, the only way your father would be able to know where you are is if he had the ability to reach across different dimensions, which, given the circumstances, is rather... unlikely.

[ It was entirely likely she did not grasp the urgency of the situation as well, but this was more than enough for the time being. ]

[ michelle watches and listens to the man, her eyebrows climbing higher and higher the more he speaks. this is... not possible, not something michelle understands, or even wants to accept. there must be something she can do, or something her father can do. she isn't just stuck here. none of them are. ]

There must be something to be done. I cannot simply believe that we are held in some alternate dimension against our will with no recourse.

[ michelle tilts her chin up, looking every bit the imperious, demanding princess, and sets her jaw. she does not, cannot, will not accept this. ]

I'm sure the King and Queen of this country are sensible people. They'll see reason if I can speak to them.

[ Oh, this is rich. ]

In this land your titles may as well count for naught, princess. Neither your name nor your king has any power here.

[ unsettling as it is to talk to someone without seeing their face while they can see hers, michelle sticks with her video. all the better for her derider to see the way her eyes narrow and her back straightens. ]

And are you someone affiliated with their Highnesses, then, that you can tell me this with such surety?

[ Gabranth, meanwhile, will be sticking to audio; the bloodied and bandaged look would do little to strengthen his words, he suspects. (Besides, he doesn't need more than one person haranguing him for engaging with newcomers instead of resting...) ]

I have spoken with them at greater length than Your Highness, I am sure.

[ In truth: he's only spoken with the High King Ridire, and it was a single, brief meeting. But that's still one up on her, he's certain. ]

And I am doubly sure that I have seen more of this world and its ways than you could yet possibly know.

[ O...kay, then.

Zack frowns a little. ]

You know, this probably isn't going to work, right?

[ what is it with everyone telling her this isn't going to work she's a princess she knows how to politic!!!

(she does not. someone should save her from herself before she causes serious damage.) ]

It's either this or do nothing, and I refuse to do nothing. I will not be silenced just because some have decided my course is rash.

[ Zack doesn't know anything about politics, except the nasty kind that gets you killed if you step out of line, so no he doesn't think this will work at all. ]

This war has been going on for thousands of years. I don't really think the monarchs are going to stop or send people home just because you want them to.

[Well. This is alarming.]

Your sentiments may be admirable, but you're a fool if you think your 'offer' will result in anything but laughter.

[ michelle manages to appear as though she's remaining completely calm, save for a slight twitch of her eye. this is not the response she expected -- not that she was expecting people to cheer her from the streets and deliver her to the palace themselves (alright, maybe she was. a little), but she definitely was thinking she'd get more support than derision. of course, the derision is just making her defensive, which is making her cling to her idea even harder. ]

So I'm to just hang my head and do nothing, then? No. I refuse to do nothing. This is human trafficking, and I won't just stand by while there's even the slightest possibility I could do something about it.

There's doing nothing, and there's doing what is possible under the circumstances in which we've found ourselves.

Many others were no happier than you at being brought here, but I don't recall many of them making demands with nothing to back them up.

[Well, that's one way of doing it.

Steve doesn't know much about royalty. Diplomacy is a nice idea, but not his specialty. And politics...well, he knows enough about politics to know that he's disappointed in most politicians.

He does know soldiers. And she's obviously not one.]

I'm sorry that you've been brought into the middle of all this. I wish I could believe that some sort of deal could be made to send you back home to your country.

Oh.

[ this, compared to what everyone else has been saying, makes michelle stop short, and then she gives her locket a small smile. maybe this man doesn't believe in her, but he isn't treating her like an idiot, either, which is a breath of fresh air. ]

I'll believe for both of us. I can't believe that there's nothing to be done. I won't believe it.

[ she pauses, and maybe a little fear is showing through now -- it's easier to show the emotion in front of someone who isn't mocking her. much as she's professing to believe in her own diplomatic abilities, what if everyone here is right? what if she's stuck here, in a war she has no interest in fighting, no ability to fight, with no way of getting home? the idea is terrifying.

but michelle is not one to be daunted, and she composes herself quickly, tilting her head as she regards the man in her locket. ]

Are you here of your own volition, Mr. ...?

[He gives her a smile in return. There's determination in her words, a little stubbornness. He likes that. He hopes this war doesn't take that from her.]

Just Steve. Steve Rogers. And yeah, the fairies came to me, told me that my world was in danger and there was a war that needed fighting.

[He was a little suspicious at the time. But hey, he jumps out of planes without parachutes.]

You'd negotiate for all of us? That's quite generous of you.

[She has a father to call for aid. What a child.]

I haven't seen anyone here capable of granting you that kind of audience, sadly.

[ there's no denying that despite her actual age, michelle is still something of a child. but she sees nothing wrong with turning to her father when it comes to matters like this -- she's just a princess. he's the king. ]

Then I will find someone who can. They can't just take people like this, it's human trafficking. We may be in another dimension, I'm not sure I believe that, but I know that what's right and wrong haven't changed. Conscripting the unwilling to fight in wars they have nothing to do with is wrong.

[ it's naive to believe that anyone engaging in human trafficking would care about the morality of their actions, but such is michelle benjamin: she believes that if she can just explain, if she can negotiate well enough, she can get herself and everyone else here released.

michelle's never been the absolute brightest person, despite being very smart. ]

[If she had any sort of relationship with her parents other than terrible, then maybe she wouldn't be so jud-

Of course she would. But in this case she doesn't really understand it either.]

Are you sure that this doesn't involve you? They may be lying about the fate of all our worlds, but in the case that it's true then don't you have a responsibility here too? It's selfish, denying that just because you want to go home.

[It's foolish, caring so much about everyone here's welfare. It reminded her of Two, and all the ways she was being reminded of her family is trying.]

Mademoiselle...

[But others have told her. Lia looks stricken for a moment because there is no way to be gentle and gracious and soften this blow.]

If you should need any help settling in, do let me know.

[ ...oh. oh, you're nice, michelle likes you. she gives her locket a warm smile and inclines her head. ]

Thank you. If I'm here long enough to need help, I'll be sure to talk to you, Miss ...?

Lia de Beaumont.

[Her face is still at least sympathetic.]

There is no way to go home. No conscious way.

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