Romanadvoratrelundar

I am Lady Romanadvoratrelundar, High President of Gallifrey and… I could go on but all you really need to know is that I am not now nor will I ever be Imperiatrix. Got that? Good. [RP blog for fem!Verse Romana, will play with others if interested.]

[ofgallifrey]

sonotimperiatrix:

“I already have,” she sighed. Wynter really needed to stop assuming that nothing happened before she was informed of something.

She wasn’t entirely clear on what required clarification. “Don’t restrict their movements, Wynter. But if they deviate from what they’re supposed to be doing, I want to know everything about it.“

Wynter frowned, confused. “But surely you can’t have already told them their students in particular need collecting, when we’ve only just ascertained who the instigators were.”

She gave up on trying to ask the question subtly. “Can we track their use of the Matrix, Madam President?”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I have told them that their students need picking up, but not which ones,” she replied with a sigh. “Wynter, my life is difficult enough without me having to explain every detail to which I work to you. Just trust me to know what I’m doing?“

She rose an eyebrow. “Talk to Narvin about it, I doubt it‘s nothing she‘s not already doing.“

[ofgallifrey]

sonotimperiatrix:

Her eyes narrowed at the presumption of questioning her orders. “If Gallifreyans were a part of a large conspiracy, I would remove the more strident elements to a prison and let the rest go because if I want to rout out the source, I’ll need the tendrils to pull, like a pernicious plant. So, I hope I satisfy your conditions for equality.”

“Of course, Madam President.” She said, cringing slightly from the disapproval. It was all well and good to decide to speak her mind more often, but she was never entirely prepared for the consequences. “In that case, we’ll need to contact the Monan and Nekkistani ambassadors.” 

Wynter paused, trying to remember if there was anything else she was meant to report or clarify. “What does increased surveillance entitle us to do, exactly?” 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I already have,” she sighed. Wynter really needed to stop assuming that nothing happened before she was informed of something.

She wasn’t entirely clear on what required clarification. “Don’t restrict their movements, Wynter. But if they deviate from what they’re supposed to be doing, I want to know everything about it.“

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“Yes, fine,” she sighed, relieved to bring some sort of conclusion to this conversation. She let go of her frustration and became firm with the aid of a nod. “I’ll make sure you’ll have the leeway to do what you need to.”

They were nearing the Presidential Palace, now.  Leela touched Romana’s arm.  “Is there anything else I can do?” she asked.  “I am glad to help, however I can.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

It was a sudden impulse, but she answered it reaching for a hug. “No, nothing.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

That embrace meant more to Leela than Romana could know, she thought.  Leela relaxed gratefully into the touch, soaking in the comfort it gave.  “Very well, then,” she said, squeezing Romana’s hands with a smile as she pulled away.  “I will go home and try to sleep a little yet tonight.  I hope your politicians are no worse than usual.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

She let out a breathless laugh. “Thank you,” she said, moving it out.

[ofgallifrey]

sonotimperiatrix:

“Wynter, I don’t want to hear ‘without the mindprobe’ out of your mouth again,” she replied. “Don’t even think it. I don’t want to hear about how the mindprobe can improve anyone’s life, even marginally. You might as well say, ‘problem is, without the thumb screws, we can’t be sure’. It’s a violent, primitive means of getting information, I don’t care how technologically advanced it is.”

She looked away to think. “Send the ones you’re certain of home,” she said. “Let the others go with a warning and increased surveillance.”

“Yes, Madam President.” She said, immediately. Wynter didn’t have particularly strong feelings on the mindprobe either way, but it was hard not to parrot what she heard amongst her peers, when it made it much easier to fit in. 

Wynter hesitated, but it was a question of law and theory, not experience, so she ploughed on, “Madam President, they would face harsher consequences if they were Gallifreyan. Isn’t the whole point of equality that all the students should be treated equally, even when it comes to punishment?” 

[sonotimperiatrix]

Her eyes narrowed at the presumption of questioning her orders. “If Gallifreyans were a part of a large conspiracy, I would remove the more strident elements to a prison and let the rest go because if I want to rout out the source, I’ll need the tendrils to pull, like a pernicious plant. So, I hope I satisfy your conditions for equality.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“Yes, fine,” she sighed, relieved to bring some sort of conclusion to this conversation. She let go of her frustration and became firm with the aid of a nod. “I’ll make sure you’ll have the leeway to do what you need to.”

They were nearing the Presidential Palace, now.  Leela touched Romana’s arm.  “Is there anything else I can do?” she asked.  “I am glad to help, however I can.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

It was a sudden impulse, but she answered it reaching for a hug. “No, nothing.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“In the hearts of the students, it would be false. They don’t believe the people who work at the Academy does want them safe, for a start, and assuming that only the corrupt would find fault with security measures is a little lacking in nuance. People don’t enjoy to be lied to, whatever the reason.”

“Then why would you send me at all?” Leela asked.  “If what you want is someone to lie to them, I am not the right person to choose.  I will honestly care for them and honestly try to keep them safe.  When I think they are right, I will honestly side with them; when I think they are wrong, I will tell them so.  If you want me there on those terms, then send me.  If not, then I will find some other way to protect them.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“You’re the one who decided lying is required, Leela,” she sighed. “I want to give them a personal voice to me, to be my liaison. I need to know what they’re thinking in order to prevent them being used for malevolent purpose.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela blinked.  “Then I do not think I was seeing what you were seeing,” she acknowledged.  “It sounded to me as though you wished me to… in-sin-u-ate myself among them, to pretend I was there only to be their friend.  You wish me to… to sit in a room, at a desk, with a sign on the door that says ‘come tell me anything you wish for the President to know’?”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“No, not sit in a room,” she replied. “I could, I suppose, give you one, but you never struck me as an office worker and desks… well, you’ve seen the President’s desk… not terribly approachable. But yes, that does seem to be the source of our confusion. I don’t want you to pretend anything, unless you believe to do otherwise will risk anyone’s safety, including your own.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela frowned.  “I would still need a room,” she pointed out.  “And a title.  They will not take me seriously otherwise.  I cannot simply stand in a corridor and shout.  But I suppose we could have a kind of… gathering.  A reason for them to seek me out.  If we did that, we might make it a rule that no one but the students were allowed to come–no tutors, no guards.  Make a show of carving out a safe place and time for them to voice their thoughts and fears, no one but them and me to hear it.  That might work, I think.  More than once, perhaps, if the first one went well.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“Yes, fine,” she sighed, relieved to bring some sort of conclusion to this conversation. She let go of her frustration and became firm with the aid of a nod. “I’ll make sure you’ll have the leeway to do what you need to.”

[ofgallifrey]

sonotimperiatrix:

“Yes,” she replied, her voice heavy with tiredness. Her body language emphasised it, along with a dose of irritation. Though she wasn’t irritated at Wynter for the moment. “Fine. Proceed, Wynter.”

Wynter couldn’t help but notice her exhaustion, but knew better than to comment on it. She straightened. “We think we’ve identified all the ringleaders of the whole event, though it’s hard to be sure- the students have all closed ranks, no one wants to be, well, a tell-tale.” 

“Er, the problem is, without the mindprobe we can’t be sure whether it was meant as an ill-advised political protest, or if they’re part of Free Time, but at least two of them had social links to GIlestes.” 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“Wynter, I don’t want to hear ‘without the mindprobe’ out of your mouth again,” she replied. “Don’t even think it. I don’t want to hear about how the mindprobe can improve anyone’s life, even marginally. You might as well say, ‘problem is, without the thumb screws, we can’t be sure’. It’s a violent, primitive means of getting information, I don’t care how technologically advanced it is.”

She looked away to think. “Send the ones you’re certain of home,” she said. “Let the others go with a warning and increased surveillance.”

[ofgallifrey]

@sonotimperiatrix

Wynter waited at the entrance to Romana’s office with slight trepidation, until she was given leave to enter. 

“Madam President.” She said. “The Acting Prydonian Castellan is otherwise indisposed, if you have a microspan to spare, I can update you on the incident at the Academy?” 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“Yes,” she replied, her voice heavy with tiredness. Her body language emphasised it, along with a dose of irritation. Though she wasn’t irritated at Wynter for the moment. “Fine. Proceed, Wynter.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“In the hearts of the students, it would be false. They don’t believe the people who work at the Academy does want them safe, for a start, and assuming that only the corrupt would find fault with security measures is a little lacking in nuance. People don’t enjoy to be lied to, whatever the reason.”

“Then why would you send me at all?” Leela asked.  “If what you want is someone to lie to them, I am not the right person to choose.  I will honestly care for them and honestly try to keep them safe.  When I think they are right, I will honestly side with them; when I think they are wrong, I will tell them so.  If you want me there on those terms, then send me.  If not, then I will find some other way to protect them.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“You’re the one who decided lying is required, Leela,” she sighed. “I want to give them a personal voice to me, to be my liaison. I need to know what they’re thinking in order to prevent them being used for malevolent purpose.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela blinked.  “Then I do not think I was seeing what you were seeing,” she acknowledged.  “It sounded to me as though you wished me to… in-sin-u-ate myself among them, to pretend I was there only to be their friend.  You wish me to… to sit in a room, at a desk, with a sign on the door that says ‘come tell me anything you wish for the President to know’?”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“No, not sit in a room,” she replied. “I could, I suppose, give you one, but you never struck me as an office worker and desks... well, you’ve seen the President’s desk... not terribly approachable. But yes, that does seem to be the source of our confusion. I don’t want you to pretend anything, unless you believe to do otherwise will risk anyone’s safety, including your own.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“In the hearts of the students, it would be false. They don’t believe the people who work at the Academy does want them safe, for a start, and assuming that only the corrupt would find fault with security measures is a little lacking in nuance. People don’t enjoy to be lied to, whatever the reason.”

“Then why would you send me at all?” Leela asked.  “If what you want is someone to lie to them, I am not the right person to choose.  I will honestly care for them and honestly try to keep them safe.  When I think they are right, I will honestly side with them; when I think they are wrong, I will tell them so.  If you want me there on those terms, then send me.  If not, then I will find some other way to protect them.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“You’re the one who decided lying is required, Leela,” she sighed. “I want to give them a personal voice to me, to be my liaison. I need to know what they’re thinking in order to prevent them being used for malevolent purpose.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”

“These students are not representatives of something, Romana.  I cannot go into that school and say to them ‘hello, I am the li…ai-son to President Romana’ and expect them to start talks, as you do in your summits.  I could go as someone with ties to the Chancellery Guard, as an official, to search and spy and try to find things out, be somebody clearly outside themselves.  But I cannot just be one of them only because you say so.  The students trust the students, and perhaps some of their tutors.  They will not trust an adult who shows up in their midst with no reason to give them for why I am there, even though I am human.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“If they believe that…” she scoffed. “Of course, they’re representatives! Just because their primary goal is to learn, Leela, doesn’t mean they’re not aware that they‘re here as representatives of their races. No doubt they were briefed as such before they left their worlds.

“And you‘re different from the rest of us,” she pointed out. “Sometimes that’s enough. You’ve travelled with the Doctor, you know how to gain the trust of people who are unsatisfied with the way things are - that’s all he ever did! You overestimate the challenges. And besides, you’re assuming you’ll need to be dishonest. If you do it right, you just need to be yourself.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“They are children, Romana,” Leela said, gently.  “We cannot forget that.  Try to remember how you felt, at that age.  You also,  I think, had heavy expectations on your shoulders.  You also were trying to do your best.  Now imagine that a strange adult began to haunt the halls of the Academy. However good my intentions might be, would you truly see me as someone you could trust, who might help you to relieve that burden?  Or would you regard me with the suspicion the young give to the old, clannish as children are together?“ 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I never was ‘clannish’ with the other ‘children’, Leela, I could only confide in adults, only certain ones. The ‘other children’ were my enemy. At least as much there can be enemies in an academic institution. They needn’t flock to you in droves, you’ll earn their trust a person at a time, once they see your good faith.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela bit her lip.  “You may not have been, but these children are.  They have just had a riot in support of one of their own, Romana.  Please, all I am asking is something to tell them, when they ask why I am there.  I will be the gardener who tends the plants in the courtyard, if you think that is good, or will wash the sheets they sleep on, or will give lectures, or teach them to fight, or scrub the floors, or anything you think is good.  Nothing is the only thing I would not know how to do.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I’ll leave that to your discretion, if you feel that strongly about it,” she replied. “But artifice is what they feel is our primary fault and you’ll not earn their trust if you pretend.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“I do not wish to lie.  You can make it true, can you not?  Put me to work truly, Romana, and let me get to know the students that way.  I… I am lonely, when you do not need me.  I would like more to do.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“You’d be the first to point out that that would be a technicality,” she replied. “A veneer. Yes, I’ll legitimise whatever it is you want to be, but that won’t make it true that that’s why you’re there.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“Why should it be false?  Because I wish to protect them?  Surely everyone who works at the Academy wants the students to be safe, or they should.  I will not spy on them, Romana, not in a way that any but the corrupt would mind.  I will not tell you what names they call you behind your back, or whether they would vote for you if they could.  I will truly do whatever work you give me to do, and truly care for the students, and only do stop those who would harm themselves or their fellows.  Where is the lie in that?”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“In the hearts of the students, it would be false. They don’t believe the people who work at the Academy does want them safe, for a start, and assuming that only the corrupt would find fault with security measures is a little lacking in nuance. People don’t enjoy to be lied to, whatever the reason.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”

“These students are not representatives of something, Romana.  I cannot go into that school and say to them ‘hello, I am the li…ai-son to President Romana’ and expect them to start talks, as you do in your summits.  I could go as someone with ties to the Chancellery Guard, as an official, to search and spy and try to find things out, be somebody clearly outside themselves.  But I cannot just be one of them only because you say so.  The students trust the students, and perhaps some of their tutors.  They will not trust an adult who shows up in their midst with no reason to give them for why I am there, even though I am human.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“If they believe that…” she scoffed. “Of course, they’re representatives! Just because their primary goal is to learn, Leela, doesn’t mean they’re not aware that they‘re here as representatives of their races. No doubt they were briefed as such before they left their worlds.

“And you‘re different from the rest of us,” she pointed out. “Sometimes that’s enough. You’ve travelled with the Doctor, you know how to gain the trust of people who are unsatisfied with the way things are - that’s all he ever did! You overestimate the challenges. And besides, you’re assuming you’ll need to be dishonest. If you do it right, you just need to be yourself.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“They are children, Romana,” Leela said, gently.  “We cannot forget that.  Try to remember how you felt, at that age.  You also,  I think, had heavy expectations on your shoulders.  You also were trying to do your best.  Now imagine that a strange adult began to haunt the halls of the Academy. However good my intentions might be, would you truly see me as someone you could trust, who might help you to relieve that burden?  Or would you regard me with the suspicion the young give to the old, clannish as children are together?“ 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I never was ‘clannish’ with the other ‘children’, Leela, I could only confide in adults, only certain ones. The ‘other children’ were my enemy. At least as much there can be enemies in an academic institution. They needn’t flock to you in droves, you’ll earn their trust a person at a time, once they see your good faith.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela bit her lip.  “You may not have been, but these children are.  They have just had a riot in support of one of their own, Romana.  Please, all I am asking is something to tell them, when they ask why I am there.  I will be the gardener who tends the plants in the courtyard, if you think that is good, or will wash the sheets they sleep on, or will give lectures, or teach them to fight, or scrub the floors, or anything you think is good.  Nothing is the only thing I would not know how to do.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I’ll leave that to your discretion, if you feel that strongly about it,” she replied. “But artifice is what they feel is our primary fault and you’ll not earn their trust if you pretend.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“I do not wish to lie.  You can make it true, can you not?  Put me to work truly, Romana, and let me get to know the students that way.  I… I am lonely, when you do not need me.  I would like more to do.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“You’d be the first to point out that that would be a technicality,” she replied. “A veneer. Yes, I’ll legitimise whatever it is you want to be, but that won’t make it true that that’s why you’re there.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”

“These students are not representatives of something, Romana.  I cannot go into that school and say to them ‘hello, I am the li…ai-son to President Romana’ and expect them to start talks, as you do in your summits.  I could go as someone with ties to the Chancellery Guard, as an official, to search and spy and try to find things out, be somebody clearly outside themselves.  But I cannot just be one of them only because you say so.  The students trust the students, and perhaps some of their tutors.  They will not trust an adult who shows up in their midst with no reason to give them for why I am there, even though I am human.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“If they believe that…” she scoffed. “Of course, they’re representatives! Just because their primary goal is to learn, Leela, doesn’t mean they’re not aware that they‘re here as representatives of their races. No doubt they were briefed as such before they left their worlds.

“And you‘re different from the rest of us,” she pointed out. “Sometimes that’s enough. You’ve travelled with the Doctor, you know how to gain the trust of people who are unsatisfied with the way things are - that’s all he ever did! You overestimate the challenges. And besides, you’re assuming you’ll need to be dishonest. If you do it right, you just need to be yourself.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“They are children, Romana,” Leela said, gently.  “We cannot forget that.  Try to remember how you felt, at that age.  You also,  I think, had heavy expectations on your shoulders.  You also were trying to do your best.  Now imagine that a strange adult began to haunt the halls of the Academy. However good my intentions might be, would you truly see me as someone you could trust, who might help you to relieve that burden?  Or would you regard me with the suspicion the young give to the old, clannish as children are together?“ 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I never was ‘clannish’ with the other ‘children’, Leela, I could only confide in adults, only certain ones. The ‘other children’ were my enemy. At least as much there can be enemies in an academic institution. They needn’t flock to you in droves, you’ll earn their trust a person at a time, once they see your good faith.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

Leela bit her lip.  “You may not have been, but these children are.  They have just had a riot in support of one of their own, Romana.  Please, all I am asking is something to tell them, when they ask why I am there.  I will be the gardener who tends the plants in the courtyard, if you think that is good, or will wash the sheets they sleep on, or will give lectures, or teach them to fight, or scrub the floors, or anything you think is good.  Nothing is the only thing I would not know how to do.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I’ll leave that to your discretion, if you feel that strongly about it,” she replied. “But artifice is what they feel is our primary fault and you’ll not earn their trust if you pretend.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”

“These students are not representatives of something, Romana.  I cannot go into that school and say to them ‘hello, I am the li…ai-son to President Romana’ and expect them to start talks, as you do in your summits.  I could go as someone with ties to the Chancellery Guard, as an official, to search and spy and try to find things out, be somebody clearly outside themselves.  But I cannot just be one of them only because you say so.  The students trust the students, and perhaps some of their tutors.  They will not trust an adult who shows up in their midst with no reason to give them for why I am there, even though I am human.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“If they believe that…” she scoffed. “Of course, they’re representatives! Just because their primary goal is to learn, Leela, doesn’t mean they’re not aware that they‘re here as representatives of their races. No doubt they were briefed as such before they left their worlds.

“And you‘re different from the rest of us,” she pointed out. “Sometimes that’s enough. You’ve travelled with the Doctor, you know how to gain the trust of people who are unsatisfied with the way things are - that’s all he ever did! You overestimate the challenges. And besides, you’re assuming you’ll need to be dishonest. If you do it right, you just need to be yourself.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“They are children, Romana,” Leela said, gently.  “We cannot forget that.  Try to remember how you felt, at that age.  You also,  I think, had heavy expectations on your shoulders.  You also were trying to do your best.  Now imagine that a strange adult began to haunt the halls of the Academy. However good my intentions might be, would you truly see me as someone you could trust, who might help you to relieve that burden?  Or would you regard me with the suspicion the young give to the old, clannish as children are together?“ 

[sonotimperiatrix]

“I never was ‘clannish’ with the other ‘children’, Leela, I could only confide in adults, only certain ones. The ‘other children’ were my enemy. At least as much there can be enemies in an academic institution. They needn’t flock to you in droves, you’ll earn their trust a person at a time, once they see your good faith.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”

“These students are not representatives of something, Romana.  I cannot go into that school and say to them ‘hello, I am the li…ai-son to President Romana’ and expect them to start talks, as you do in your summits.  I could go as someone with ties to the Chancellery Guard, as an official, to search and spy and try to find things out, be somebody clearly outside themselves.  But I cannot just be one of them only because you say so.  The students trust the students, and perhaps some of their tutors.  They will not trust an adult who shows up in their midst with no reason to give them for why I am there, even though I am human.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“If they believe that…” she scoffed. “Of course, they’re representatives! Just because their primary goal is to learn, Leela, doesn’t mean they’re not aware that they‘re here as representatives of their races. No doubt they were briefed as such before they left their worlds.

“And you‘re different from the rest of us,” she pointed out. “Sometimes that’s enough. You’ve travelled with the Doctor, you know how to gain the trust of people who are unsatisfied with the way things are - that’s all he ever did! You overestimate the challenges. And besides, you’re assuming you’ll need to be dishonest. If you do it right, you just need to be yourself.”

[because-i-choose-to]

Just so you guys know, I’m living in Ireland, so am in the path of Ophelia. While I’m on high ground and inland and so not worried about my safety, I am at risk of losing power. If the power does go, then it could be days before I’m back. 

[sonotimperiatrix]

((Pajamas it is!))

She brushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. 

“Coordinator, has it occurred to you that my rest is a precious commodity, because if it hasn’t and the reasons for this interruption doesn’t meet with my criteria of importance, I shall have to sleep on top of you.” She paused. She’s not as quick, woken up. “…I’m heavier than I look.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

sonotimperiatrix

“This is Gallifrey, the civilisation rises and falls on symbols,” she pointed out. “Besides, listening is never nothing.”

“But I am not Gallifreyan,” Leela replied.  “I was made to act, to do.  I wish to help, to help you and Gallifrey both, but what I am is a hunter, and I know the prey you are hunting better than anyone.  It only makes sense to send me on the search for Andred.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“Neither are they,” she reminded her. “It makes sense to send you as my liaison, doesn’t it? As I say, it’s up to you. Leela… I don’t know how much I have to do to make you feel wanted…” But I’m busy. Or I’m president and our friendship is a liability which should make my desire to be your friend that much more touching, but somehow it doesn’t and I don’t know what to do!

[leelaofthesevateem]

It is the middle of the night, they are both short-tempered, and it is an effort not to snap.  It is an effort not to say, ‘if you would have me feel wanted, then want me, not only at those times when I am hesitating on the threshold but always.  If you would have be feel wanted, then let me have a place as Narvin and Braxiatel do, with work that is my work, not only guarding the woman who will not be guarded and has a small army of red-cloaked Chancellery already.  If you would have me feel wanted, let me know that you understand how much I have lost, and how alone I feel!’

“How would you have me be your ‘liaison’?” she asked, exhaustion in the words, but trying to be willing.  “I will try, but I cannot simply stand around the Academy to remind the children I exist.”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“There is something dark within the Academy, rout it out,” she explained. “If it’s feeding on the dissatisfaction of the students, then that it is where it lurks. Gillestes had sponsors. They won’t have gone away.”

[leelaofthesevateem]

“As your bodyguard?  You would have it known that you had sent your bodyguard to the Academy to root out treachery?”

[sonotimperiatrix]

“My liaison,” she corrected. “You’re not my assassin, Leela. You’re the arm with which I’m reaching out to these students. As an arm, you’ll have to slap those who get in your way, but that’s not the point.”