JUNIPER
you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do
"Yes." Juniper nodded, but she couldn't help her eyebrows shooting up when the word "kidnap" entered the discussion. Oh, she could absolutely see how Morgan had drawn that conclusion, but: "I didn't expect you to help us kidnap the leader of another nation, or any of its citizens. Setting aside practical concerns, I think doing so would worsen relations among the states of Caido -- Halo, the Grounds, the Greatwood, even Torchline -- not improve them."but it's the easiest thing to do
Juniper paused, trying to find a good way to phrase her next thoughts -- to describe what she actually wanted to happen. It was a bit difficult, since her own vision of the future remained slightly vague. Plus, her idea was starting to sound naive even to her, and she didn't want Morgan to think her ignorant of the reality of the situation. "I would rather see the Greatwood, Halo, and Torchline work together to impose diplomatic consequences on the Ascended and the Hollowed Ground until Wessex and her kin face justice. Nor would I have their fate determined solely by my people's thirst for vengeance, but by legal agreement among the nations of Caido. The Ascended invaded another nation, murdered its people, desecrated its goddess -- there should be consequences for these actions whoever commits them, Ascended or Attuned, Grounder or Fae. I don't ask you to support this just for the sake of my own people, but to show all of Caido that there are consequences to such violence, that we live in a society that will hold those who attack and kill others accountable."
She took a deep breath. All right, that had been a lot, and she hadn't even addressed Morgan's counter-offer. Smiling a little, Juniper added, "That said, such a protection agreement also deserves discussion -- the future is just as important as the past, if not more so."
Of course, she didn't intend for Morgan to make such an offer of protection for free; she assumed that once they had agreed on what Halo could do for the Greatwoods, they would move on to what the Fae needed to do in return.
if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.
