After Shine and Wally left, with their assurance that they would try to visit again soon, it was time to get back to work.
Royal took Ruby and Oscar back to Vale as planned, and Cinder tagged along so that they could head straight to Vacuo afterward.
"I asked Theo about those books," Oscar told Royal. "Hopefully he'll have them ready for you by the time you get there."
"Thanks," Royal said.
He was kind of subdued.
Cinder was in the co-pilot seat, though she kind of wished she wasn't...but Ruby and Oscar hadn't vied for it.
They started talking about movie and book adaptations, and Royal tried to tune them out.
Since the silence that ensued was awkward, he finally broke it.
"So...should we talk?"
Cinder put down her scroll she'd been pretending to use.
"I don't know," she said. "Do you have anything new to say?"
"I've thought about what I said before," Royal said. "And there's a lot of stuff still to think about...but it might be a good idea to at least get it out there."
He sounded nervous.
Cinder drew a deep breath. Why was she nervous? she asked herself. It wasn't her problem.
"I'm not really one to stand on ceremony, ironically," Royal finally went ahead. "I kind of just tell it how it is, so I don't know a really nuanced way to bring up anything."
"Just get to the point," Cinder said sharply. This was killing her.
"Fine..." Royal still hesitated. "Well, I think you know already, but I'll say it... I like you."
Cinder raised an eyebrow.
Of course, she knew that.
Somehow it still surprised her to hear it though. Maybe she still hadn't really accepted that was it.
It was almost...funny... That was what all this came down to?
"Is...that it?" she asked finally.
"No," Royal said. "But now would be the time to say something."
"Like what?" Cinder tightened her grip on her scroll, belying her fake calmness. "I don't know what you mean by that."
"I don't know how to make it more clear," Royal said. "Didn't you guess that already? I mean...it's kind of obvious."
"I...suspected," Cinder faltered. She wished she wasn't admitting that, but she didn't have anything else to say. "But it seemed...too out there."
"Yeah, well...don't worry, I don't have any real expectations." Royal didn't take her response in the best light. "But that's what's been weighing on me. I didn't know whether to talk about it or not. I know where you stand on that kind of thing, so... But that's it. I hope at least you're not mad."
"Mad?" Cinder said.
"I didn't want to give you the idea that that was the only reason for any of this." Royal gestured. "The help and all that. Trust me, that's not it. I mean, it's not to get anything from you. I would never do that to anyone. And I do respect you enough to back off, if that's going to bother you. But I was hoping at least we could still be...friendly, even if it was kind of unwanted attention."
"You're concerned about that?" Cinder still had no real response...but that was kind of sweet...in a weird way.
"That's why I never mentioned it before," Royal said. "I knew it would be awkward. As if the others teasing about it wasn't awkward enough. But then it seemed like it was just stupid to fake it since everyone knew, might as well just be honest. So...are you okay?"
"Am I okay? It's not like it's hurting me." Cinder wasn't making eye contact. "I just don't get why--that is, why bring it up if that was all? If it was that obvious, there was really no need to discuss it..."
She almost wanted "why me?" but didn't say it.
"I didn't want you to feel used," Royal explained. "Or tricked."
"Stop that." Cinder didn't know why this was getting on her nerves, but it was. "It's not the kind of thing I would..." But she would, actually. "That is, I know better than that," she amended. "Please, you're not that subtle."
"Well, thanks...I think. I hope at least this doesn't make things hopelessly awkward."
"There's not a lot of room to let it get in the way..." Cinder was still not making eye contact. "But I don't know--if you were worried about that, why you'd even tell me?"
"You wanted to know."
She had asked.
"I didn't think it was that," Cinder said.
"No? Really?" Skeptically.
"No, because it doesn't make any sense." Cinder frowned. "Everyone said that, but I thought they were stupid. Why would you feel that way? Are you even sure you do?"
"I'm pretty sure..." Royal sounded almost amused. "I mean, granted, not a whole lot of experience on my part with actually being that into anyone, but...pretty sure. Does it matter?"
"Well..." No answer to that.
Cinder wasn't sure what to say. His calm demeanor about it was kind of throwing her off. She was more ready for theatrics with people than calm.
"Well, since we're talking about it, can I ask you something?" Royal had hoped this would go slightly different but knew he'd signed up for this by taking this route at all.
Cinder hoped it wasn't going to be if she liked him--because she didn't want to answer.
Wait...why did she not want to answer that?
"I know our interactions aren't the most peaceful ever, but you don't actually hate me, right?" Royal asked.
"Hate... Why?" Cinder sputtered. "No. Why would I?"
"Just checking."
Well, Cinder felt guilty now. Was she really that mean?
And what kind of person admitted they liked you if they thought you might hate them?
"Why would you even tell me this if you thought that?" she said aloud, annoyed.
"I didn't really, but I wanted to be sure." Royal shrugged. "We seem to have some kind of connection, but that doesn't have to be a good thing. I was hoping at least it was positive for you."
"Why? Because you don't respect yourself enough to feel good about it if I don't?" Cinder frowned.
"No, it's not that. I guess it sounds that way," Royal said. "I don't know how to explain it. I'm not bothered by it, all right? Ideally, yeah, I wish you felt the same way. But since this is me bringing it up, and there's no reason you've ever given me to think you'd want that, I know what I'm getting. It wouldn't be fair to expect any different. I didn't plan to change this partnership into anything else, all right? That's all I'm trying to explain."
"Well, I think you've made it clear." Cinder didn't know why she sounded offended there--it was exactly what she'd have said she wanted. "And I suppose that's probably because the idea sounds ludicrous even to you?"
"No, that's not it. Just don't want to pressure anybody. I hope that doesn't sound pathetic." Royal smirked oddly. "I know you're pretty adamant about doing things your way, but I'm not the same. I have to feel that other people are okay with something. Call it being too polite or just not Type A enough, but that's how I am."
"Polite to a fault?" Cinder frowned to herself. "I suppose that's what I should have expected."
"Did you expect more?"
"I... No." Cinder felt that this might not be true.
"Don't lie," Shine had said.
"I suppose I just thought this might be followed by the usual...asking about the idea of a relationship or something," she said, mumbling. "But of course, that's too conventional for you to attempt."
"It wouldn't be very fair, would it?" Royal said.
"Fair? Is that all you think of when you apply it to life?" Cinder got a bit more heated. "Did you just weigh and balance this entire thing?"
"I see..." Royal said. "Well, I was trying to keep emotion out of this."
What a thing to say!
"To be frank, of course I would like to talk about that," Royal said. "Dating and stuff, but that's kind of a leap, isn't it? Unless you want to go there."
Cinder froze.
She shouldn't have even questioned him on it, since she should have known that would just put it back on her, just what she didn't want.
And of course the answer was no, a hundred times no, right? She didn't have time for this kind of thing...and she wasn't lonely! Shine should mind her own business for once... All of them should.
She realized she was gripping her scroll so hard her knuckles were turning white.
She really should just say something soul crushing right now...
But she couldn't bring herself to.
So, in a much more subdued voice than normal, she finally said, "I really haven't given a lot of thought to that... And I...I just don't know anything about that part of life. Never have."
"Hmm, never, really?" Royal said. "At all?"
"Does it seem like I would have?" A bit more defensively.
"No...I mean, not to be that guy, but someone your age who looks like you, usually once or twice might have," Royal said. "But yeah, your life didn't go that way. I get it."
"Yes...so don't take this personally--" Cinder didn't normally soften anything she said with that. "--but I just don't think I can start...thinking about it. Especially not now. It wouldn't matter who...so..."
"I see." Royal did look disappointed, though he was trying to hide it. "Well, that's what I thought you'd say. So we're cool then?"
"Cool?"
"I mean we both know where we stand. So, there's no reason to make it weird, right?"
"I...well, no, I guess not." Cinder felt oddly disappointed again. Not sure why.
"Great," Royal said. "Better just focus on the assignment then."
Cinder nodded.
[Who's disappointed? But really, what did you expect? Nothing is ever simple with this Glass Castle ship.]
* * *
The rest of the flight to Vale was awkward but not nearly as much as getting there was, because once they were off the ship, Ruby asked Cinder point blank,
"Are you okay?"
"What?" Cinder said sharply.
"You just looked upset," Ruby said.
"You do kind of," Oscar said.
Cinder was one of those people who never realized how much they project on their face. [So am I. It kind of sucks.]
"I'm not," she said loftily. "Why don't you just pay attention to your job?"
"Ouch," Ruby said. "You sure sound upset."
"Hey, guys, are you okay if we wait a little longer to leave?" Royal asked.
Only Cinder would be affected by that.
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"I think I should probably visit Viv." Royal rubbed his head. "Just in case we...you know, in the chance fighting the bandits that one of us doesn't come back. Cheerful, I know."
"No, I get that," Oscar said. "I should call my aunt if that does happen."
"But you can't visit Viv and not end up having tea or something," Royal said. "Raven didn't put us on a time limit for this, so I figure it's okay. I need to refuel anyway."
"So should Cinder just go with us?" Oscar asked. "Wait, are you allowed in Vale yet?"
"Uh..." Cinder shrugged. "I think because we're just passing through, they allowed it."
"So how many hours counts as passing through?" Oscar asked. "I think it's 24, right?"
"I think everyone knows by now she's not trying to destroy Vale," Ruby said, waving it off. "It's just a formality, right?"
[Don't apply that to the real world.]
"I'll just stay on the ship." Cinder folded her arms.
"I'm actually wondering if I should just go to Vacuo with you," Oscar said. "I don't really like visiting Theo too much...but, maybe if we were together, he'd have better results."
"Good luck with that," Ruby said. "If he knew anything, he'd tell us. Unless you might get one of your hunches."
"Hello, Ruby!" Libby came hurrying down the courtyard. "How's things? Oh, hello, Fall. Fancy seeing you here again. I hope you're not in the mood to make any speeches."
Cinder didn't bother to answer that.
"She's just passing through," Oscar said.
"Really, Pine, I know." Libby waved him off.
"Hello, Viv?" Royal was on his scroll. "Yeah, I was a little surprised you answered this time of day. Oh, it's your break... Well, I'm in Vale. I was hoping we could talk--now? Well, yeah, I can. But not for too long. I have to get to Vacuo... No, I can't delay it. This is serious business... Well, that was as helpful as the first 15 times you've told me that, Viv. Can we not?... Right...see you then."
He hung up and rolled his eyes.
"Oooh," Ruby winced. "She tough on you?"
"More like impossible to convince," Royal said.
"I guess you have that in common," Oscar joked.
"Ha ha," Royal said. "I should go. Any luck and this will take less than 2 hours. Just in time for them to clear the ship."
"Glynda wanted me to escort you," Libby said. "She said Cinder is not allowed here unless under hunstmen supervision... Apparently that's some loophole in that banned clause. I guess because it's like being arrested. I just won't do the arresting part."
"I can't just stay on the ship?" Cinder asked.
"Uh, no, love. You do know that if anyone catches you hanging around a military ship, it's going to look really bad?" Libby said.
Cinder resigned herself to the uncomfortable situation.
[Demi Lovato--"Heart Attack"]
* * *
Vivian Lavida's office was in the wealthy part of Vale that was, naturally, rebuilt much faster than the rest of it had been.
The building, compared to the shops in Argus, looked like a palace. Though Wally would have said it was tiny compared to the office buildings in his world's cities.
The sign on it said "Vestidos Lavida". [Translated, this would mean "clothes life". But both this and Vivian's name are meant to be puns off the song title "Livin' La Vida Loca".]
"Gor," Libby said looking up at it. "This is where your cousin works? She must be posh."
"Uh...well, actually, she owns this," Royal said. "Well, her husband does. Liam Lavida."
"Wait, your cousin is married to Liam Lavida?" Libby blinked. "Strike me pink! He was on the local news just recently. They just did a merger or something, didn't they?"
"They do that a lot," Royal said.
"Love you, Royal, are you actually rich?" Libby asked.
"No, but Vivian is," Royal said. "Now please act normal, for the love of decency, Miss Broom. If people act like they're impressed, that starts the whole speech about how they built this place up...yada yada."
"I think I've bought their knock off brands." Libby was hardly listening.
Cinder eyed the building. "I won't act impressed," she said.
"I can count on you for that," Royal said wryly. "Let's go. Do you two want to wait in the lobby?"
"Do we have to?" Libby said. "I'd like to check out the competition."
Royal sighed.
Inside it was pretty quiet.
"Are you Royal?" the desk clerk asked him.
"Yeah," Royal said.
"Mrs. Lavida said you could go right up." The clerk pressed a buzzer.
"Fancy that? She lets you just crash her schedule," Libby said. "If I did that to Whitley, he'd flip his top."
"Blow his top," Royal corrected.
"Whatever... Coo, this place is even shiny on the inside..." Libby eyed the walls.
"I didn't know any of this part of Vale was still standing." Cinder, as usual, said the wrong thing for someone of her background to point out.
Royal thought it was funny though. "Well, the tower might have gone down, but the Grimm didn't seem to care about clothing stores too much...at least not big ones."
There was a fancy elevator that Libby pressed the buttons of.
"Didn't you work for the Schnees for a bit?" Royal asked. "Why are you impressed by this?"
"They lost their fancy buildings. I didn't get a chance to tour." Libby shrugged. "I'm going to keep working for them, too. Once I'm done with school. I'm not going to let them keep claiming I didn't have an education."
"I see," Royal said.
They were up at the top floor.
This had to be one of the only companies left in Vale that would have given a private office this size to its owners.
It wasn't the whole floor, but it must have been half of it.
Royal rang the doorbell--it had one of those.
"Viv?" he said.
"Is that you, Roy?" she called. "Come in."
"I brought some friends. Can they sit in the waiting area here?" Royal asked.
"Friends? They can come in," Vivian called.
"Yes!" Libby said.
"But--" Royal began. Libby was already in the door.
"Should have said we weren't here," Cinder noted.
"Yeah, I got that." Royal sighed. "Well, it can't get much worse."
He was wrong.
"Lovely to meet you." Libby was shaking Viv's hand when they followed her in. "I work for the SDC--well, I did. I'm taking a break for now."
"The competition?" Vivian sat up. "Well, did you come to spy out how a real company works?"
"That'd be the day," Libby said. "I just want to see what we were missing out on by working small. Now we're so high up, it'd make a pigeon acrophobic. That's a polished word, isn't it? DId you know every fear has a name? Who sits around and makes up names for fear?"
"People who have a phobia about a lack of originality," Vivian said, shifting some papers. "Which I can sympathize with. Hello, Roy... Hey--" She frowned at Cinder. "Why is she here?"
"Just along for the lift," Royal said.
"The lift, huh?" Vivian sat up more. "Royal, if you've taken up with this woman, just so you know, it's a disgrace."
"Take up with her?" Libby snorted. "Whatever would give you that idea? She's got ice water in her blood."
Royal didn't get the chance to deny or confirm any of this, but Vivian seemed a bit appeased. "Well, good then," she said.
"Hey, list--" Cinder began to get mad.
"Not worth it," Royal muttered to her.
She frowned at him.
"Well, sit down." Vivian gestured. "I'm glad you're finally here. What do you think of the office?"
"I've seen it before," Royal said.
"But I put in new carpet and chairs," Vivian said. "They were hopelessly outdated. And did you hear we just merged with another brand? So many people are going out of business, it's just tragic. But more gain for us, I suppose." She waved a pen. "So, what brings you here?"
"I just thought we should catch up," Royal said. "There's...well, there's a dangerous assignment I've been working on."
"Do you mean that Menagerie fiasco?" Vivian cut in. "They were just showing that on the news. Some hooligans set fire to the island or something? I think it was an inside job. The Faunus were always so temperamental about their rights."
"You're definitely an Atlas lady," Libby noted. "What do you have against Faunus?"
"Nothing," Vivian said. "But all this violence is so unseemly... I did wonder if you were there, Roy, but I didn't see you on the news."
"I was there," Royal said. "And it was the bandit tribe. You've heard of that by now."
"Oh, yes...nasty," Vivian said.
"So you all talk like that?" Libby asked Royal.
"I try not to." Royal shrugged.
"You do have a ghastly military vernacular now," Vivian noted. "Uncle Ray would be horrified to hear that articulation...but what can one expect?"
"She's a piece of work," Libby commented to Cinder, who just nodded.
"Oh, where are my manners?" Vivian said. "Do any of you want a snack? I just had mine, but I can call my assistant back in."
"Oh, that's okay--" Royal said.
"What's the menu?" Libby interrupted.
A short time later Libby was happily going through the chocolate and salty snack options--and Cinder would have been lying if she said she hadn't snuck some also--and Royal had told Vivian what was going on.
Vivian took the matter more calmly than you'd think from her general demeanor.
"Well, I see that they must be stopped," she said. "But why do you feel you have to be on the front lines? I thought you were just a pilot."
"They want me to accept a promotion," Royal said. "I guess this is my field training for that. They need more leadership in Argus... I guess I have the seniority now."
"Seniority? Roy, you're not even 30." Vivian frowned.
"Compared to the others, that's still up there. Most of the older officials got laid off because of the charges against Atlas," Royal said. "We younger ones only got kept on because we didn't have authority."
"I still can't believe people blame Atlas for that," Vivian said. She shot Cinder a cold glance. "But people always blame us, it seems."
Cinder was dying to say that they made it too easy but was afraid that would make this visit take longer, so for once she curbed herself.
"Anyway, I thought you should know." Royal shrugged. "Since we're family. It's going to be pretty dangerous."
"I see..." Vivian said slowly. "But why do it at all?"
"Maybe you can't understand this, Vivian, but when you fight with people for your lives, you can't just turn your back on them," Royal said. "That would be wrong."
"Don't talk to me like I'm incapable of understanding that," Vivian said. "I just think it's senseless... You could die out here. And then where does that leave me? I wish you'd just agree to join me. I suppose they must be stopped, but why does it have to be by you? You never had delusions of grandeur before. You were okay with just flying people around, you told me."
"Yeah...but you know there might be more to this," Royal said. "Maybe I've had to rethink if that's the best thing to do with my time."
"I agree with you there, but why is going farther into the militia the answer?" Vivian said. "You want a fulfilled life? Making a product you can be proud of. That's very satisfying. And it lasts. Heroic acts are quickly forgotten and they don't provide any security."
"That's not what it's about," Royal said. "You're not going to change my mind."
"I knew that." Vivian frowned. "But I can't just act happy about it. I guess you must.... Well, if you live through it, you should come visit more often. Liam would be fine with it... We're thinking of starting a family, you know."
"That's great for you," Royal said.
"I wish you'd just settle down," Vivian said. "Find a nice girl. You used to go out more."
Libby choked on a laugh.
"Is something funny?" Vivian asked her.
"No...just that was so cliche," Libby said. "Nagging him to get a lady. Are you real, love?"
"What's wrong with that?" Vivian asked. "I just don't really understand why everyone in that militia has to have no personal life. No legacy. It's mad, if you ask me."
"Well, I agree there," Libby acknowledged.
Royal looked a little mad.
"I'm just going to use the restroom," he said. "I'll be right back."
"It's just down that way." Vivian pointed.
Royal left to keep from blowing a gasket at his cousin.
"Can I check that brochure table I saw out there?" Libby asked.
"Be my guest," Vivian said.
"Don't wander far, Fall." Libby saluted her.
She left the room.
Great...now Cinder was left alone with the worst person.
"Hmprf." Vivian frowned at her. "I thought I knew your face from somewhere. After our last encounter, I did a little digging. Cinder Fall, you've disappeared in the last 5 years."
Cinder frowned at her. "Are you going to threaten me?"
"No." Vivian sat back. "If you're doing missions for Argus, there's nothing I can do that they shouldn't already have done. If I try, I might just start something that would backfire. I am aware that some of your associates are reformed criminals... I suppose making an honest living is better than what they were doing before. But let the record show, I'm not as big a fool as you think I am."
"Great, you should get a prize," Cinder said scathingly.
"I really don't like you," Vivian said. "But I'm relieved in a way. I was a little worried when I kept seeing you with my cousin, and how long you talked, that I had some reason to be concerned."
Now, the funny thing about this was, Cinder wouldn't have wanted to prove her wrong if it was anyone else--but Vivian just pissed her off enough to make her temper flare, and she wanted to prove her wrong.
"And why would you need to be concerned?" she asked, with one of her provoking smiles.
"I'm told some men go through a bad girl phase," Vivian said. "Never thought Royal would, but I had my concerns. However, if you're working together, that explains everything nicely, right?" With a frosty look.
Cinder wanted to wipe that look off her face.
"Well, it might," she said. "But it's none of your business, is it? You don't own the rights to your cousin just because you run a patented business."
"Was that supposed to be clever?" Vivian asked. "And what kind of woman are you? I think I have every right to discourage such fraternization. Maybe you're on the right side of the law, but the very idea of anyone in my family taking up with the person responsible for bringing down Atlas--and this kingdom also--is enough to make me ill. I would believe that Royal would never do that to me, but he's gotten so stubborn lately. And women like you always have means of working a man, I know."
Cinder blinked at her.
"You have the look," Vivian said rudely. "But it's out of the question. That had better be clear to you. If you're after money, then rest assured you won't get it. I would never include someone like you in our transactions."
"I wouldn't ask," Cinder bristled, now furious. "As if I would ever look to get the approval of some uptight, stuck up socialite who has no idea what the real world is like."
"Real world?" Vivian said. "At least I didn't burn it down."
Cinder frowned at her. "And what do you know about it? I think you're amazingly arrogant to think anyone would take your opinion seriously when you live a pampered life and have probably never done any real work. Maybe Royal is different because he's actually gone on the field and done the hard part."
"Don't you dare pretend like you understand him," Vivian said. "Someone like you couldn't understand us at all. We have a lot of noble people in our family line. We've contributed to society. People like you exist only to tear it down. Just because you've allegedly turned over a new leaf does not make you worthy to be associated with a family like ours."
Cinder had never said that she wished to be, just that Vivian had no right to have an opinion. But this made her more angry.
"Worthy?" she said, standing up now. Vivian stood also. They were almost the same height, so she couldn't really look down at Cinder, but she gave the impression she would be if she could.
"Both of us are on the same team," Cinder said, intensely. "Taking the same risks. Who cares where we came from if we get the job done? You couldn't stop the kinds of nutcases who are threatening your peace as well as our lives. If you want to keep doing this, you need the people who are willing to go out there and fight. If it comes to that, perhaps Royal is just willing to use your family's gifts as they were intended, instead of just riding their prestige."
"How dare you!" Vivian flushed red. "You pretentious hussy. Where do you get the right to pass judgment on us?"
"Perhaps I don't have it." Cinder said that more angrily than you'd think someone would. "But you certainly have no right to tell me how to live either. Where were you when the rest of us were fighting for our lives? In a comfy house? What do you know about difficulties? If you want your title, you should earn it. From where I stand, the people who at least fight for the things they have deserve them more than people who get them handed to them. That's always the Atlas elites' way. It was refreshing to meet one of you who didn't think that way, but I suppose I should have known that would be the anomaly."
She put cold mockery into that, as she was famous for doing.
And Vivian, who had never in her life been mocked the way Cinder mocked people, was struck speechless.
She sat back down, not sure what to say.
Cinder was too mad to realize how odd what she'd just said would have sounded to anyone who knew her.
"And furthermore," she said, unable to let her advantage drop, as usual, "who put you in charge of other people's lives to begin with? What great thing have you done that gives you the right to know what's best? I would still be doing what I did before if it was up to people like you. So if you think I have no business associating with your family, you can just take that and shove it--" She paused. Better not risk saying the rest of that.
But Vivian got the idea.
"I'll do what I want," Cinder finished, finally. "You can just accept that. I won't be pushed around by your type."
"You..." Vivian sputtered. "You...shameless... How...? Why, I should have you thrown out."
"I'll see myself out," Cinder shot back. "You couldn't pay me to stay here another minute after what you said to me."
And then, by way of twisting the knife, "And if I were Royal, I wouldn't take it from you either. You really should be careful. When you have only one family member left, it's a little thick-headed to try to antagonize them, isn't it?"
Raven would have been proud of that jab. [Though that's kind of ironic.]
Cinder meant her words and turned and walked out of the office in a huff, shoving the doors open.
Unfortunately for her, she found Royal standing right outside listening.
He didn't mean for her catch him and tried to back up out of sight, but what else would he have been doing?
He'd come back too soon. (In reality he'd just gone in the restroom, hit himself in the face, and then come back out.)
Not sure what to do here, Cinder just pretended she hadn't seen him and hurried to the elevator.
"Criminy," Libby said, looking up from her brochures. "Did you hear all that? I was hanging on every word."
"I heard some of it," Royal said.
"I see time has not curbed her sharp tongue," Libby noted. "But for once I was almost with her. Your cousin is all right, but them Atlas people can be so judgemental. You ought to stand up to her."
"Thanks for the advice," Royal said.
He went into the office.
Vivian was fanning herself and drinking water.
"Oh...there you are," she said. "Did you hear that?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Uh...some of it," Royal hedged. "What happened?"
"That woman!" Vivian said. "She's so...ugh! I hope you aren't seeing her, really."
"I'm not," Royal said. "But she's not so bad. She...has a little problem with Atlas. It goes back a long way."
"I gathered," Vivian said.
She leaned forward. "I'd almost like her if she wasn't so vulgar, though."
"What?" Royal was caught off guard.
"A little less temperamental and less criminal history and I don't mind some spirit." Vivian shrugged. "But she's just too crass. And hot headed. Still...not many people leave me speechless. That bothers me." She frowned.
"She had a point about one thing," Royal said. "No offense, but you're not the judge of my life, Viv. And I'm kind of sick of arguing about this. It'd be nice if we could be like real family...the non-feuding kind."
Vivian gave him a strange look.
"I see," she said. "Well...I must say, it would have been nice to hear that before... I'm tired of arguing about it also. I guess I'm not going to change your mind... But would it kill you to think I had a point now and then?"
"Maybe you do," Royal said. "Maybe. But if I do any of what you want, it'll be because I do it my way."
"Are you planning to get involved with her?" Vivian asked, looking down at some papers.
"If I can," Royal said.
Vivian sighed. "Men... And what of our reputation?"
"I hate to say it, but it's already suffered as it is," Royal said. "But if you thought about it, maybe you'd see that being associated with the world heroes wouldn't be so bad for our brand."
Vivian looked up sharply. "Well, that's almost like a Zapato thing to say...hmrf. Shouldn't you be getting back to your work?"
"Yeah...well, take care of yourself, Viv," Royal said. "See you later, I hope."
"Yes...well keep me updated," Vivian said.
This was about how much elites expressed their concern, and Royal knew the right moment to just make a smooth exit.
"Loved meeting you," Libby called before they left.
"Aren't you supposed to be watching Cinder?" Royal asked her.
"Aren't you?" Libby asked.
Thankfully, Cinder was waiting downstairs. She did know better than to just walk out in broad daylight.
[If anyone else thought of the scene with Elizabeth Bennet and Lady Catherine deBourgh in this chapter, I did too. I love that scene, and I admit it probably inspired my approach to this scene.
Though I believe it also fit the characters well. There's also a line from Little Women with Meg and Aunt March that is similar.]