Stories Unknown

Popcorn

"The Lunars need to be allowed to come to Earth, Camilla," Cinder sneered. "They need to be allowed in every kingdom. I'm not saying that we won't keep tabs on them, but we must be welcoming. It's the only way we'll further relationships and establish good terms with Luna."

Camilla sniffed, her dark eyes zeroing in on Cinder. "Just because you're a– a Lunar," she sneered, "doesn't mean that all Lunars are good. Most of our criminal activity in the past three years has been due to Lunars. Those rampant Mutant Wolf Soldiers or whatever they're called. I'll no longer have them in the United Kingdom. I will no longer stand for such injustice, and neither will my people. I don't care what the rest of you do," she said, glaring at her comrades despite the fact that they were communicating through a D-comm chip. "But the United Kingdom is done with Lunar relations."

Kai held his tongue, in part because Cinder had the situation under control, and also because he knew that if he opened his mouth the only thing that would spill out would be laughter. The pair of them had been going at it for the last ten minutes, running in circles around one another where the issue was concerned. It had been so long since he'd seen Cinder so fired up— he'd almost forgotten how entertaining it was. And, in all honesty, kinda hot.

"What are you going to do?" Cinder asked, throwing her hands in the air. "Kick them out? You have nearly five million Lunars living in the United Kingdom. You can't just send them back. They're not a pair of shoes. You welcomed them to your nation, and now you must deal with the consequences like a diplomat. You are a queen, after all ," Cinder said this last part with a wicked grin. Kai wanted to pull a Thorne and high-five her in front of all the world leaders but withheld.

"Preposterous," Camilla sniffed. "I can't believe that you would dare speak to me in such a manner. You can't blame me for protecting my people."

"No disrespect," Cinder said quite disrespectfully. "But the only thing you seem to be protecting is your ego."

Kai snorted, but played it off as a cough. He'd had many words with Camilla over the years— watched his father and even Torin argue with her— but no one could hand a person's ass to someone like Cinder could, and Kai was living for it.

On their own screens, other world leaders were either blushing or trying and failing to not smile. President Vargas, who Kai had never been particularly fond of but related to now, had his microphone turned off and was full-on laughing at the exchange.

"There are problems in your country," Cinder continued, voice low. "But you can't just run away at the first sign of trouble. Lay down the rules and fix things. Punish those that are deserving of punishment, but don't marginalize a whole group of people Stop discriminating against Lunars. They have the bioelectrical locks as you requested before they were allowed to immigrate. They're just like you. So stop treating them as if they're inferior."

"But the Wolf Soldiers–"

"Need therapy," Cinder cut in, nostrils flaring. "Do you know what kind of messed up things Levana did to those men? They were just children when they were stolen from their families, biologically tampered with, and made to play soldiers. They need help, not banishment."

"Don't you understand?" Cinder asked earnestly, her brow furrowing as she inclined toward the port screen. "These people are damaged and scared. I'm not saying that your people aren't too, but the Lunars lived under a tyrannical queen for too long. Don't cause them to live with more fear than they already have. Don't be their next Levana."

Cinder leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, making it clear that she was done with her speech. Queen Camilla simply stared, slack-jawed and wide-eyed as Prime Minister Bromstad tried to get a handle on things.

"Next time, warn me before you go off on a tirade," Kai whispered into Cinder's ear. "I didn't have any popcorn."

"Hah hah," Cinder mock-laughed, bumping her shoulder into Kai's, though she looked rather pleased with herself. Her eyes were alight with a sort of mischief and pride that Kai so loved to see.

"Stars, I wish Torin had been here for that one," Kai mumbled, sliding his hand into Cinder's beneath the table. "He hates Camilla even more than you do. You should hear the things he used to call her after he and my dad went to these meetings. That smarmy little–"

"Emperor Kaito, Empress Selene," Kamin cut in, her dark eyes giving the impression of a strict school teacher. "Is there something you'd like to contribute?"

"No," Kai said, drawing out the word in an almost childlike manner. Cinder elbowed him. He winced.

The world leaders continued talking, though Queen Camilla stayed rather quiet throughout the duration of the meeting. They contributed little as well, though more due to the fact that Kai couldn't keep from laughing or quoting some part of Cinder's speech for more than thirty seconds than anything else.

"You're ridiculous," Cinder complained as they left, Kai having just let out another howl of laughter as he remembered the look on the queen's face.

"Oh my stars," Kai wheezed. "I just can't believe you did that. And to think I once thought world leader meetings weren't entertaining."

"I can't believe someone's allowed you to be in charge of the most powerful nation in the world for over three years," Cinder grunted as Kai threw an arm around her.

"Hey, save that biting wit for Camilla."

"You're ridiculous," Cinder laughed, allowing for Kai to kiss her cheek. They turned down the hall and walked into the palace kitchens. "Where are we going?"

"Well we have to tell Torin about your victory," Kai responded, walking to a cupboard and pulling out a pack of kernels. When Cinder placed her hands on her hips, Kai laughed. "And I can't live through that moment again without a nice bowl of popcorn."