Lungmen Type Things

IV: Rhodes Island

"A meeting with Rhodes Island will occur today this afternoon. We'll be discussing a partnership with them. They can stay around the borders of Lungmen, but in return, they'll have to help us fend off the Reunion."

Ch'en said as she leaned back on her chair, facing the window. Even though she wasn't facing Seha, he could still feel that she was expectant. The only question was, what was she expectant about? Was she telling him, expecting that he would attend? What was he, a delivery person? After being called out in the middle of breakfast and being dragged to her office, he didn't really feel obliged to attend. He pondered for a moment. If he could talk his way out right now.. his breakfast could still be warm in the cafeteria, assuming no one took it already. He gave his most confident response, in the form of a farewell. 

"Okay. Have fun."

"I expect you to come to the meeting. I thought that much was obvious," Ch'en said, turning her seat around, facing him with a frown. She didn't look very appeased at his dismissive answer. Her look told him that if he refused her offer, there would be many lectures ahead. And among those lectures, many of those would be physical training with her lashing out at him with her blade. Regardless of that, he made one more attempt at getting himself out of it, giving a more viable excuse, "Wait, why me? I'm not a high ranking official or anything. I have no place or reason to attend that meeting."

"You'll need to learn how it goes. The newer recruits are already looking at you as a prodigy."

"Uh.. I'm pretty sure the looks they've been giving me aren't exactly... admiration?" he said with a frown of his own now. If anything, those looks from the newer recruits were those of.. envy, jealousy, and pretty much a bunch of other looks that were anything but admiring. Ch'en apparently wasn't one to read the moods of the recruits.. However, that didn't stop her from issuing him orders.

"Regardless, you're attending."

"On whose orders?"

"Mine. I already submitted a form for you to go."

"Without my permission-?"

"I don't need your permission for such trivial events. Think of it as a teacher assigning a student to fetch papers from the office."

"Yes, except the office is a whole large scale meeting between two forces. And isn't Rhodes Island like a pharmaceutical company or something?"

"Exactly why we're having a meeting. We're seeing what else they're planning to offer. Any other questions?"

"Yes. Can I not go?"

"No."

"Was worth a shot. Will I be stationed at Rhodes Island if there is an agreement?"

"...As much as I want to say no, there's a chance that you will be."

"Well that's a relief to hear. Its always good to know my future schedule is so certain."

"No sarcasm, Seha. Let's go."

"Wait, like... right now? There's still an hour before the meeting. And I still haven't finished my breakfast yet."

Ch'en paused for a moment and looked at him, as if judging what to say next. For a moment, Seha thought she was actually going to drag him out to the meeting by force. To his surprise however, she shrugged and walked past him towards the door. Had she given up on persuading him? She stopped as she put her hand on the doorknob and looked past her shoulder back at him.

"Alright, but if you're even a second late, I'll cut off the electricity in your room and confine you to the detention room for a day doing paperwork."