Sif’s eyes blazed with fury and narrowed as the other’s words cut through the air. her patience, already worn thin by the mounting pressure, threatened to snap like a tautly pulled bowstring. she took a moment to compose herself, inhaling deeply to quell the storm of anger that surged within her. her voice, however, is still filled with annoyance as she responded to the audacious journalist. “The public’s right to ask questions does not grant them an entitlement to immediate answers especially when those answers may compromise the delicate strategies at play.“
a sardonic smile played at the corner of her lips, while her gaze pierces into the journalist’s eyes. "Trust is earned through actions, not by pandering to the whims of an insatiable public hungry for information. I am accountable to my people–– to House Fraser, first, and I assure you, I do not take that lightly.” she would protect them all even if it meant dying.
“It is through thoughtful deliberation, not reckless appeasement, that I shall navigate these treacherous waters” Sif’s voice carried a firm resolve as she concluded, her words etched with authority. “While I appreciate your concern, I would advise you to save your snide remarks for those who lack the burden of leadership and the weight of responsibility… It makes you seem truly dimwitted and naive.”
⸻ Dollie's eyes narrowed as she absorbed Sif's fierce rebuttal, her own irritation still simmering beneath the surface. Still, woman to woman, she couldn't help but feel a grudging respect for the leader's unwavering determination. That didn't mean she was ready to back down, though.
"Cool it, Queen Bee." Dollie retorted, her voice laced with a touch of sass. "Like, I hear you loud and clear, Miss High-and-Mighty. You've got a whole house to protect, but everything you're saying can like, be boiled down to keeping secrets and playing the 'trust me' card." She leans forward, gaze challenging, "But here's the thing, lady. Trust isn't like, all about actions! It's about the people, the public, the ones who put you in that fancy seat. These weirdos are all scared and confused, like, of course they want answers!" Still, despite her frustration, when it came down to things, Dollie was still a person. She wasn't incapable of empathy….and hearing the room go silent didn't help.
After a deep breath, her vice softens slightly, a flicker of empathy crossing her pristine features. "Like, I get it, alright? Being a leader totally isn't a cakewalk, I'm just saying that shutting people out and belittling their questions isn't going to make things better. Isn't there, like, a smidge of info you can give, to show you're in this with them?" She leans back, crosses her arms, confidently ignoring the other womans insults. It wouldn't be the first time someone called her dim-witted or naïve, and it certainly wasn't the last.
"This is just a suggestion, so take it or leave it," she flashes a mischievous grin, "But like, even a Queen needs her loyal subjects at her side."