Donning a chef hat, a black shirt and blue jeans, Krystal stood on her back porch having a cookout. She flipped over a steak with a fork with one hand, then took a sip of her red wine with the other. The smoke from the grill reached the nose of Siren, who stepped up to the porch and greeted Krystal with an eager wave. Siren wore an orange cropped shirt with a purple bolero on top, revealing her midriff, and purple leather pants that glittered in the sunlight, reflecting her vibrant nature.
“Heya Krys!” Siren chirped, looking down at Krystal's station and the two hotdogs and steaks she was grilling.
“What's up, Si?” Krystal replied with a grin, putting down her fork on a napkin and sipping her wine once more. Upon noticing the wine, Siren smirked and nudged Krystal's arm with her elbow.
“Oh shit! Krystal, wine, and a grill…TOTALLY nothing alarming about that combination,” she joked with a chuckle.
“Hey hey,” Krystal began with a smirk of her own. “You know the saying. If you're not down with that, I've got just TWO words for ya!”
Siren gave a knowing nod. “Classic Krys. Y'know what I'm here for, right?”
“The meeting of the big boys!”
“Damn straight! And Gale's coming too so I'm for sure going to this event. I can't WAIT to see her pop off again.”
“Oh yeah, Gale goes crazy!”
“That's an understatement at this point. I'd usually fall asleep to political discourse, but if Gale is there then it's a hundred percent guarantee to be pure gold.”
“Yep, especially with the fact that ALL the world's leaders will be there! I'm hella excited for the scuffle between Aurelia and Zakiya!”
“Ah yes, a snooty White supremacist and a hotheaded Black revolutionary on the same stage…that's totally not going to cause a spontaneous combustion!” Krystal snickered.
Siren returned the snicker with a grin. “Tooootally not. I mean, they can't say what they really wanna say, but we're still gonna eat good today.”
“In more ways than one,”
Krystal turned off the grill, setting her chef hat and wine glass down and wiping her hands with a towel. She took a deep breath and faced Siren with a determined expression on her face. "Welp, now that the food is done, let's fill ourselves up and get going so we can watch the world burn.”
"Oh, absolutely. Especially with Aurelia and Zakiya being there. It'll be like mixing oil and water. They might end up in a screaming match or something before the meeting even starts." Siren chuckled.
"And let's not forget the others," Siren added. "Sarolta and Zamazenti will be there too, and they're bound to have their own opinions on the situation. And of course, Gale. It's going to be a real melting pot of ideologies and egos.”
Krystal nodded. "True. But you gotta hand it to them, they've got guts for taking on these tough topics. I mean, it's not easy to convince a bunch of powerful people to sit down and discuss stuff like diversity and equality, especially in today's world."
"Definitely not," Siren agreed. "But then again, if anyone can do it, it's those two. Especially Sarolta. She's a tough cookie, and she's not afraid to speak her mind. And we all know Zakiya ain't gonna back down either.”
“Yup. Y'know who I feel kinda bad for, though? Sebastian, the poor little merman.”
Siren gasped. “Oh goddess, not Sebby! ANYONE but Sebby! Damn, I ain't think about that, he's gonna be with the heavy hitters. His pacifism and gentle personality ain't gonna work out very well. I mean, we have Sarolta, Zakiya, Aurelia, Evgeny, Gale…especially Gale. Poor guy may not be able to handle it.”
“Eh, if he can govern and watch over Atlantis of all places, I'm sure he's stronger than what he lets on, I can't wait to see it play out.”
“Same here! Now let's get to business. This'll be a long-ass day, but the showdown will be worth it.”
“Damn right it will. Let's see what they got!”
…
Svenja and Orla walked beside each other on the way to Snowclover City for the meeting, not paying each other no mind. On the inside, however, a storm was brewing that would boil over sooner than anyone would have thought.
“...So,” Orla began. “Why did ye do that to us? Why take yer business down righ' when me Kingdom needed ye most?!”
“'Cause the money ta keep AstroLand goin' was rough. Gettin' international shit ain't cheap, Goddess forbid intergalactic shit! So somethin' had ta go in order to keep my shit afloat.”
“So ye used us dwarves for money, an' then ditch us for a dollar?!”
Svenja sighed, looking at Orla's face, which was contorted with anger. "Orla, look, I understand why ye're upset. But it wasn't an easy decision for me ta make. AstroLand's finances were in a terrible state. "If I ain't cut back on somethin’, it risked bankruptcy an’ closure. An’ let's be real, Orla, the dwarves' involvement in AstroLand wasn't exactly bringing in a lot of money either."
Orla's expression shifted from anger to annoyance. "So yer sayin' that my people weren't even important enough? We were just a side piece to ye, a measly accessory?" she snapped. "That's rich, comin' from someone who claimed ta be our friend!”
Svenja's demeanor softened. "Y’know I never saw ye guys as accessories."
She stopped walking and turned to Orla. "But AstroLand was my dream project. I poured my blood, sweat, an’ tears into makin’ it work. The decisions weren't ‘bout discardin’ ye or the dwarves. It was ‘bout preservin’ AstroLand.”
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Orla's anger continued to boil, and her voice heightened slightly. "Preservin' AstroLand? And what about preservin' our livelihood?! What about preservin' our home, our way of life? Ye can't jus' prioritize yer dream project over lives, Svenja!"
“What about OUR lives, Orla?” Ahina jumped in. “You still didn't give us gem sprites our homes back in Aberzanthan after we mined our asses off for y'all!”
“What d'ya mean?” Orla asked with a cocked brow. “We already gave ye back yer land after we got the metals we needed, but y'all gem sprites jus’ assumed it was a trap or some stupid shit like that.”
“And why wouldn't we? It isn't just about the land, it's the lack of respect for our labor and the fact that you dwarves saw us as nothing but dirt under your feet. Now you expect us to just trust you guys to honor your deal? Fat chance." Ahina scoffed. "Why should we trust you, Orla? Why?"
Orla's expression hardened. "Yer still on about that, Ahina? It's been decades. We already gave ye yer land back. We didn't have ta do that, but we did. And yet, ye still holdin' on to this grudge. What more do ye want from us?"
Ahina rolled her eyes. "Grudge? It's not a grudge. It's the truth you refuse to see. Why should we be grateful that you finally gave back land that was ours to begin with?”
"Oi, we still gave it back to ye an' whateva to make y'all happy."
Ahina groaned, shaking her head while resting it in her palm. "Make me happy? How about start by showing us some goddess-forsaken respect? Maybe treat us more fairly? Give us the same rights and opportunities that y'all give to other dwarves and humans, instead of seeing us as little more than tools to exploit? That'd be a good start.”
Orla took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. As much as she hated humans, they sure have more rights than gem sprites within the confines of her Kingdom, so now it's time to come clean about it. "Y'know, Ahina, maybe if ye tried ta get to know us, ye'd see our treatment o' y'all ain't intentional. We don't see ye as jus’ tools. We've never seen ye that way. But maybe if ye'd been kinder an' tried ta build bridges instead of burnin' them, the relationship between us an' the gem sprites would be different now."
Ahina folded her arms. "You don't see us as tools, you say? Then what's with the poor workin' conditions we've been forced to endure in the mines? Y'know how many of us have died due to the lack of safety measures? Y'all had the resources to improve things, but you refused. I'm not buying it for a second.”
Orla winced at her response, feeling a hint of guilt. "Look, Ahina, I know things weren't perfect, an' people died. But we've been tryin' ta improve conditions and safety within the mines. We're tryin' ta make amends for the past. Can ye at least acknowledge that much?”
Ahina sighed while shrugging. "Sure, I can acknowledge that you've been making some efforts, but it's not just about that. It's about the way y'all see us, treat us, and all of that. Maybe you're not aware of it, or maybe you don't care, but there's a deep-rooted prejudice against us gem sprites that runs in your Kingdom, and it won't go away just because y'all put on a new facade of improvement.”
Orla's expression turned solemn. "I ain't gon’ feign ignorance ta that. There's no doubt there's been prejudice an' discrimination against gem sprites from us dwarves. But we can't change the world overnight. These things take time, effort, an' trust. And trust will only come once both parties truly attempt ta understand each other an' work together.”
Ahina took a deep breath, her gaze lowering. "Maybe you're right, but it doesn't change the fact that we've been fighting for survival, while you’ve lived comfortable lives. Our struggles ain't invisible or unimportant, they're real and they have consequences. That's why it ain't that easy to just forgive and forget, no matter how much you promise change.”
Orla nodded, her expression growing less tense as her body started opening up. "I ain't askin' ye to forgive right now. I know it ain't easy, it ain't gonna happen in the blink of an eye. I get yer anger an' frustration, I get why ye feel the way ye do. It's difficult ta let go of pain an' hurt that's been there fer a long time. But please, Ahina, don't lose sight of the progress we've made, an' keep an open heart ta change. Can ye do that?”
Ahina looked into Orla's eyes, her anger ebbing away. She could see the sincerity and remorse in the dwarf queen's expression. Despite her hesitation, she sighed and nodded. "I'll try, Orla. But it ain't gonna be easy. It's gonna take time and effort from both of us. Let's just hope this isn't a fool's errand."
Orla flashed the faintest of a smile and tilted her head to the side. “Hear, hear. So let's go to this meetin' together, lighten the mood an' see where everyone's heads are, how ‘bout it?”
A figure then came into view: a tall blonde elf in an earthy toned dress, exuding a presence that commanded respect with her piercing azure gaze, unwavering stance, and a demeanor that demanded obedience. She was a noblewoman from the cold lands of Viljo. Her name is Helka.
Helka stood before Svenja and the two others, her pale hands resting on her well-rounded hips as she observed the commotion before her with a critical eye. Her gaze shifted between all four of them, and she gave a sigh.
"Well, well, well. What have we here? A squabble between two humans, a gem sprite, and the Dwarf Queen herself, I presume?” she inquired with a hint of sarcasm and superiority in her voice.
Svenja rolled her eyes, her patience beginning to wear thin. “We were just havin’ a yap session, that’s all.”
Helka's lips curled into a smirk as she heard Svenja's defiant response. "Oh, but it’s my concern when it happens right in front of me," she retorted, her smirk widening. "And a conversation, hm? That’s an interesting way to put it. It seemed more like a heated argument to me."
Orla huffed, folding her arms firmly under her chest. “I wouldn’t call it an argument. Just a friendly disagreement,” she replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Helka shifted her gaze to Orla, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Ah, a ‘friendly disagreement’, how quaint. Let me guess, you two were simply discussing the weather or the best way to boil potatoes, right?”
Svenja and Orla both got up close to Helka and looked up at her with a scowl.
“The fuck's wrong with potatoes?!” the two said simultaneously.
Helka crossed her arms and chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Quite a fiery pair, are we~? Potatoes are fine and all, but I'd hardly call them worthy of such impassioned discourse. So what was it really about?”
Ahina rolled her eyes, shifting her weight. "None of your business.”
Helka glanced at Ahina and raised a hand to her chest, feigning shock. "How rude! Here I am, simply trying to be friendly.”
Svenja shot Helka a skeptical look, her eyes narrowing. "I don't think ye know the meanin’ of the word 'friendly’, innit."
Helka chuckled, placing a hand on her hip as she smirked. "Ah, but if it isn't our dear Svenja! Always ready with all the wit and bravado, aren't you?”
Svenja scoffed, her eyes locking onto Helka's with a challenge. "And you, always trying to provoke and belittle. Can't we have a civil conversation without the snarky remarks?"
Helka's smirk widened as she sauntered closer, her steps confident and deliberate. "Oh, but where's the fun in that? You know I'd never miss a chance to ruffle your feathers, love.”
Svenja bristled at the pet name, her cheeks flushing slightly. She shook off the effect and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, so that's what's going on here. Didn't feel like you could start your morning without your daily dose of provoking me, huh?”
Helka gave a mischievous grin, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, you know me so well, darling. Can you really blame me for finding pleasure in taunting you? Though, I must admit, you make it too easy sometimes.”
Svenja rolled her eyes, a faint blush still tinging her cheeks. "Ye're impossible, ya know that? And stop callin’ me darling!”
Helka chuckled, her smirk turning into a coy smile. “Aww, but it fits you so well, love. Besides, I know you secretly enjoy the playful banter.” She reached out and playfully poked Svenja's cheek.
Svenja's blush deepened, but she brushed off Helka's hand. "Ugh, I swear ye're insufferable. But I guess I'd miss these little exchanges if you suddenly changed into some sweet-talking ninny.”
Helka feigned a hurt expression, placing a hand over her heart. “Oh, you wound me, dear! And here I thought I had won your heart over with my irresistible charm.”
She chuckled and stepped closer again. “But if it's my insufferable teases and quips that keep that color on your cheeks, then I'll gladly oblige.”
Svenja pretended annoyance but couldn't help but crack a slight smile at Helka's antics. "You'll never win my heart with your charm, Helka. Believe me, I have thicker shields than you'll ever pierce." Despite her words, there was a hint of warmth in her voice.
Helka chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Ah, but what about my irresistible teasing and banter? Surely those have made even the slightest dent in those fortified walls of yours?”
She stepped even closer, her voice dropping to a low purr. "Or perhaps you secretly enjoy our little sparrings. Maybe deep down, you look forward to our interactions as much as I do, even if you don't want to admit it…”
Svenja's cheeks flushed again, and she averted her gaze from Helka's intense gaze. "Oh, stop it, you conceited, annoying, smug-"
Her protest was cut off as Helka leaned in and planted a tender kiss on her lips, effectively silencing her. The kiss lingering for a few moments before Helka pulled away, a smug expression on her face.
"I take that as a yes,” she murmured with a cocky smile. “You can't hide it, my love. I know you enjoy our little banter, even if you try to resist my charms.”
The other Alliance members and Orla all stood back in shock at the display, their faces flushed from the sudden move on Svenja.
Turning around, Helka spotted the other Alliance members and Orla standing nearby, their faces flushed and their eyes wide open in shock. She couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions. "Oops, forgot you were all standing there," she said with a smirk.
Orla, who had her arms crossed and a disapproving look on her face, huffed in feigned annoyance. "Oh, cut it out, you two. We don't need to see that kind of display,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Svenja, who was still trying to compose herself after Helka's kiss, cleared her throat and shot Orla a warning look. "Now, now, Orla. Don't get your knickers in a twist. It was just a harmless kiss, not a grand spectacle.”
Svenja felt a flutter in her chest, her irritation melting away in the wake of Helka's affectionate gesture. She fought to maintain a steely expression, but the corners of her lips betrayed a hint of a smile. “Fine, I admit it. Your constant teasing and taunting have a certain... appeal. And while I would never admit it to your face, there's something enjoyable about our little verbal spars. But don’t you dare let that inflated ego of yours reach any grander heights, alright?”
“Very well. Now, I was so caught up in this little scuffle that I forgot about the meeting I must attend. You're all coming along, hm~?”
“Aye,” Orla replied. “I was headin’ there meself.”
“Then let's not keep anyone waiting, dears~” Helka ended, turning around without another word and beginning to walk off, her hips swaying temptingly with every step. The others followed, with Trixie coming last as she replayed the encounter in her head.
What a character we have here… she thought, pressing on with wariness stalling her gait.