As she prepared to leave the meeting, Gale walked off, her aura exuding a sense of accomplishment. She made it through the entirety of the meeting without blowing her fuse. How was that possible, she thought, with all the troublemakers that were present?

Izanami didn't take a damn thing seriously and was just messing around the entire time. Oh well, she could simply say that all her statements were just satire or something, so whatever. The mochi she offered was good though. Aurelia? She was just being Aurelia as always. To me, it wasn't even worth getting worked up over when all it's going to do is make her double down on the bullshit. At least Zuri was there to put her foot down, even though that didn't last long. Xiuying was predictable as all hell. It's Heiguo after all, can't expect those people to care about diversity and inclusion when their nation is so homogeneous and treat skin whitening products like the second coming of the Goddesses, so no point getting upset at her. Zakiya...SHE was the one to pop off instead of me, ain't that some shit. If the cameras were off? Knowing her, it would've been Aurelia, but reverse. Everyone else was pretty chill. Sarolta held it down, kept things in order, and the Dolores bit was intriguing. The Aranaki, huh? 'Bout damn time we knew the cause behind the sugar shortage, I'd like to learn more about them.

Gale's thoughts were interrupted by a tap on her shoulder as she turned to see who it was.

As Gale spun around to see who had tapped her shoulder, she was met with a familiar face: Zuri. The young princess looked somewhat serious, which was a departure from her usual demeanor during the meeting. "Gale, do you have a moment?" Zuri asked, her voice low but firm.

Gale raised an eyebrow, curious about what Zuri wanted. She hadn't expected Zuri to approach her after the meeting. "Sure, what's up?" Gale replied, crossing her arms.

Zuri glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby. She seemed slightly uncomfortable, as if she wanted to discuss something in private. "Can we find a quieter spot to talk?" she asked, gesturing to a nearby empty conference room.

Intrigued by Zuri's behavior, Gale nodded and followed her into the conference room. She closed the door behind them, ensuring that their conversation would be private. "All right, we're alone now. What's on your mind?" Gale inquired, her tone curious but cautious.

Zuri took a deep breath and leaned against the large conference table in the center of the room. She hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Gale, I...I wanted to talk to you about something that's been bothering me since the meeting," she began, her voice betraying a hint of unease.

Gale leaned back against the wall, studying Zuri's expression carefully. She could sense that whatever Zuri had to say was important. "Go ahead, I'm listening," Gale said, her voice encouraging.

Zuri took a moment to gather her thoughts, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "It's about my mother, Aurelia," she finally said, her voice low and guarded. "I know she can be a handful, and her actions and views...well, they're less than ideal, to say the least."

Gale couldn't help but roll her eyes with a smirk at the mention of Aurelia. "Tell me about it," she muttered, her sarcastic tone evident. "Your mum’s a real peach, to say the least.”

Zuri let out a tired sigh, shaking her head slightly. "I know, I know. Trust me, I've spent my entire life dealing with her. But I...I have to apologize for her. I want you to know that I don't share her beliefs, and I'm working on changing the views of the Munese people as a whole, but it's an uphill battle," she explained, her eyes pleading with Gale to understand her position.

Gale's expression softened as she listened to Zuri. She could sense the genuine conflict within the young princess. "I get it," Gale replied, her voice softer than before. "It can be tough dealing with family, especially when they see things so differently. It's not your fault."

Zuri smiled faintly, relieved that Gale understood. "Thank you, I appreciate that," she said sincerely. "But there's...there's something else I wanted to talk about. It's about what happened during the meeting, specifically with Zakiya."

Gale's intrigue was piqued once more. Zakiya's outburst had been quite the spectacle during the meeting. "What about her?" she asked, her curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Zuri bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "I know Zakiya's behavior was...intense," she started, choosing her words carefully. "But she has a strong passion for what she believes in, and...well, I think there's more to her than meets the eye. I just wanted to ask if you had a chance to talk to her since the meeting?"

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Gale thought for a moment, recalling her interactions with Zakiya. They hadn't had much of a proper conversation, but she had observed the leader's fiery spirit throughout the meeting. "I haven't had a chance to talk to her extensively," Gale admitted. "But I got the sense that she's a force to be reckoned with. Why do you ask?”

Zuri shifted her weight, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It's just...Zakiya is passionate, yes, but I also fear that her strong convictions can sometimes lead her into dangerous territory, like her talk about Bianca being a colonizer. I'm worried that her words and actions could have unintended consequences," she expressed, her concern apparent in her voice. "I know you and she haven't had a chance to really speak, but do you think you could...I don't know, reach out to her? Talk to her, maybe try to understand her perspective better?"

Gale considered Zuri's request for a moment. She could understand Zuri's worry, but she also knew that Zakiya was a grown woman who could handle herself. "I can talk to her, if you think it's important," she agreed, albeit with some reluctance. "But I can't promise that I'll be able to do change how she feels about white people. Zakiya strikes me as someone who marches to her own drumbeat."

Zuri nodded in agreement, appreciating Gale's honesty. "Yeah, she's definitely her own woman," Zuri admitted with a slight chuckle. "But even so, I think it's worth a try. I don't like racism, no matter who it's aimed at. We won't get far as a race if we all don't learn to love and respect each other despite our differing skin tones and backgrounds, like the elves and dark elves."

She paused then, looking at Gale intently, who nodded along to her words in silent agreement. "You know, I've been observing you during the meeting. You've been...surprisingly composed today, given the personalities present."

Gale couldn't help but smile slightly at Zuri's observation. "Surprisingly composed, huh?" she echoed, a hint of humor in her voice. "Well, I guess I've learned to keep my cool over the years. Can't let every crazy or prejudiced person get under my skin, otherwise I'd go gray before my time.”

Zuri chuckled softly. "Right, right. Good point," she replied, her smile growing. "It's just that...well, you've always had a reputation for being a bit...aggressive, let's say. That's why I was surprised to see you so restrained during the meeting.”

Gale chuckled, her eyes glinting with mild amusement. "Oh, don’t get me wrong, I can still be 'aggressive' when necessary," she assured Zuri. "But sometimes, it's better to bide your time and pick your battles. No point in getting riled up in front of all those pompous a—...individuals, when it won't solve anything."

Zuri couldn't help but laugh at Gale's choice of words. "Ah, it almost slipped out! There's the Gale I know," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I was wondering where your colorful language was hiding."

Gale smirked, a flicker of her usual sassy self emerging. "Careful there, Princess," she replied, her tone playful. "If you keep teasing me, I might just let loose the full extent of my vocabulary. Believe me, you haven't heard half of it yet."

Zuri raised her hands in mock surrender, still smiling. "Alright, alright, truce," she laughed. "I can't handle a full barrage of your vocabulary anyway. I might get traumatized for life."

Gale chuckled, the tension of the conversation easing.

"Good to know you're smart enough to know your limits," she responded, a hint of teasing. "But seriously, Princess, you don't have to worry about me. I may have a sharp tongue, but I also know how to keep my cool when it counts."

Zuri nodded, her expression thoughtful.

"I can see that," she said softly. "You...you really surprised me today, Gale. In a good way."

She paused, then added with a sly smile.

"Who knows, maybe you even have a hint of tact hidden in there somewhere, hm?"

Gale rolled her eyes jokingly, feigning offense at Zuri's playful jab. "Oh, I see how it is," she retorted, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "One day of restraint and you think I've turned into a model of diplomacy, huh? Don't get used to it, Princess. I can still be the hothead you know and love."

Zuri let out a genuine laugh at Gale's response. "Oh, I have no doubt about that," she agreed. “But still, it's...refreshing to see this other side of you. You've got a good head on your shoulders. Maybe a bit too spicy at times, but good nonetheless.”

Gale chuckled, feeling a slight warmth in her chest at Zuri's compliment.

"Well, even us 'spicy' ones have our moments of restraint," she replied, her tone softer than before. "And for the record, I think you've got a pretty level head too, Princess. After all, dealing with Aurelia must be like trying to tame a hurricane. A racist, misandrist hurricane. Most people would've gone mad by now.”

Zuri cringed at the mention of Aurelia. "Ugh, yeah...dealing with her is a daily challenge, that's for sure," she admitted with a sigh. "Sometimes, I question the universe for making me her daughter.”

Gale's expression softened, her voice taking on a sympathetic tone.

"Hey, you can't choose your family, right?" she said, trying to reassure Zuri. "And it's not your fault she is the way she is. You're nothing like her, remember that."

Zuri smiled weakly at Gale's words. "Yeah, I know," she replied. "Still, it would be nice to not have to constantly deal with her bigotry and closed-mindedness. It's exhausting, honestly. But anyways, thanks for your time I feel so much better after getting all this off of my chest and clearing the air."

Gale smiled back at Zuri, understanding her frustration. "No problem, I'm glad I could help. It's not easy dealing with someone like your mum. But hey, you're doing great standing up to her and trying to change her mind."

She paused for a moment, then added with a smirk. "And remember, if things get too tiring, you can always come to me and let off some steam. I've got plenty of sarcastic remarks and snarky comebacks ready for whenever you need them.”

Zuri chuckled, appreciating the offer. "Oh, I'll definitely take you up on that. I could use a little break from all the diplomacy and tact I have to display around my mother. A good dose of sarcasm and snark sounds delightful."

She glanced at the door, realizing they had been in the conference room for a while. "Speaking of sarcasm, I should probably go find her and see what she's up to. Wish me luck, I have a feeling she's stirring up trouble as we speak.”

Gale snickered, knowing exactly what Zuri was in for. "Right, good luck with that. You'll need to deal with her. Just remember, stay strong and don't let her get under your skin too much. Oh, and if she starts giving you a hard time, feel free to channel your inner me and let loose a few of my best sarcastic retorts. That might shut her up.”

Zuri smirked, imagining the look on her mum's face if she suddenly started spouting off sarcastic remarks. "Oh, I can just picture her face now. It would be priceless. Thank you for the encouragement, Gale."

She gave Gale a grateful smile and started heading towards the door. "I'll see you around, and hopefully I'll survive the rest of the day without wanting to pull my hair out.”

Gale laughed and gave Zuri a friendly wave as she left the conference room. "You got this, Princess. See you around, and good luck!”