[ Mace Hemmet? The name doesn't mean much to Steve, but then again, neither had Grigory Jannus — until he became the reason for the Queen to bomb Libertas. At least, that's how he's heard it, given that she'd only flown into a rage following news of her subordinate's death. Clearly there had been more to the relationship.
Was this Mace Hemmet meant to be a replacement? ]
I know they've been filled before, by Summoned. And I've heard things here and there about people ending up in the dungeons now, if they express any kind of dissent about the Queen.
[ It's so different from the Free Cities, where the Prime Minister has stayed pretty hands-off with them. Steve doesn't envy any of the people in Thorne, but he knows Natasha will be able to handle herself there. It doesn't mean he has to like it, though. He pulls a face, his gaze shifting to one side for a moment. ]
... She was so upset about Grigory that she bombed a city, but then she replaced him just like that?
[ Does it mean something isn't adding up, or is the Queen just that awful? ]
[Her expression darkens considerably as Steve shares what he's heard of the dungeons in the past. She feels a point of tension beginning to build between her shoulderblades; what sort of Queen is this woman meant to be, anyway?
She grits her teeth, shaking her head.]
A Queen who reacts so rashly has no right to be calling herself such.
[Spoken as a queen-to-be herself.]
She has been sending this man into the dungeons frequently, as well, though I am not knowing what he does there. Given her past behavior, I think we can be assuming it is nothing good.
[She doubts the people held there are being treated with any sort of civility, let alone kindness.]
[ With the way that Petra says those words, with such steely certainty, Steve almost wonders if there's something more to it. Granted, it doesn't have to be personal for her to hate the Queen's actions, but maybe she's seen poor rulership in the past?
Steve ponders on that for a moment before what Petra says next sinks in. This Mace Hemmet person has been making frequent visits to the dungeons. No, it can't be good. ]
I think it's safe to assume it's for interrogations, but to what level those go is the question. [ There's no real point in talking around it, as far as he's concerned, and so he takes a moment to rub at his eyes before coming out with what he means. ]
It's one thing for her to carelessly attack the so-called enemy, but is she really torturing her own people?
[ He pauses then, before sending Petra a more resolved look. ]
I have a friend there who could look into it. I'll let her know all of this, if that's okay with you.
[She nods grimly in agreement— those had been her thoughts as well, even if she hadn't wanted to voice them immediately.]
I was thinking the very same thing. It seems a terrible thing to be assuming, but given what we know... I do not believe it is outside of the realm of possibility.
[She is, at least in this moment, grateful to have been summoned into the Free Cities. At his request, she gives another nod, not quite so tight as the first.]
If you are trusting her, then it is fine with me. Someone who is there to see it for themselves should know, so they are knowing what to look for.
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Was this Mace Hemmet meant to be a replacement? ]
I know they've been filled before, by Summoned. And I've heard things here and there about people ending up in the dungeons now, if they express any kind of dissent about the Queen.
[ It's so different from the Free Cities, where the Prime Minister has stayed pretty hands-off with them. Steve doesn't envy any of the people in Thorne, but he knows Natasha will be able to handle herself there. It doesn't mean he has to like it, though. He pulls a face, his gaze shifting to one side for a moment. ]
... She was so upset about Grigory that she bombed a city, but then she replaced him just like that?
[ Does it mean something isn't adding up, or is the Queen just that awful? ]
no subject
She grits her teeth, shaking her head.]
A Queen who reacts so rashly has no right to be calling herself such.
[Spoken as a queen-to-be herself.]
She has been sending this man into the dungeons frequently, as well, though I am not knowing what he does there. Given her past behavior, I think we can be assuming it is nothing good.
[She doubts the people held there are being treated with any sort of civility, let alone kindness.]
no subject
Steve ponders on that for a moment before what Petra says next sinks in. This Mace Hemmet person has been making frequent visits to the dungeons. No, it can't be good. ]
I think it's safe to assume it's for interrogations, but to what level those go is the question. [ There's no real point in talking around it, as far as he's concerned, and so he takes a moment to rub at his eyes before coming out with what he means. ]
It's one thing for her to carelessly attack the so-called enemy, but is she really torturing her own people?
[ He pauses then, before sending Petra a more resolved look. ]
I have a friend there who could look into it. I'll let her know all of this, if that's okay with you.
[ Assuming Natasha doesn't already know... ]
no subject
I was thinking the very same thing. It seems a terrible thing to be assuming, but given what we know... I do not believe it is outside of the realm of possibility.
[She is, at least in this moment, grateful to have been summoned into the Free Cities. At his request, she gives another nod, not quite so tight as the first.]
If you are trusting her, then it is fine with me. Someone who is there to see it for themselves should know, so they are knowing what to look for.