918/Nepotism Baby vs Old Hag

Nepotism Baby vs Old Hag
Date of Scene:	23 December 2023
Location:	Obsidian Tower - Dark Laboratory
Synopsis:	Queen Beryl seeks out Riventon and finds La Crima and Firefly instead. Things do not end well for inter-division relationships.
Cast of Characters:	Norie Okana, Hotaru Tomoe, Beryl

---

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana was busy in the lab today, in her labcoat and safety googles perched on her head using an instrument that Takashi would usually bogart for half the day. As is his right, mind you, but now she had it all to herself to examine her samples with, as she humed a little, looking at the snapping, feisty corn stalk in the tube next to her.

"I don't think carnivorous corn is edible. Or vegetarian." she said as she tapped the glass, the plant reacting by trying to stab the spot where she tapped. "You're going back to the Dusk Zone, yes you are." she said with a little coochy coo rub up against the glass.

She sighed a little. "Maybe there's giant tomatoes in the dusk zone that also aren't secretly filled with blood." she says softly.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly was in her henshin, her glaive standing up straight a bit away. She, meanwhile, was... poking one of the machines. Why?

It had a bunch of flashy lights. And she'd asked Takashi before what it did and he said 'nothing important'. So, well...

That meant she could poke it.

It did, however, serve a valuable purpose. It was the Firefly Distraction Machine. The FDM, for short.

"Probably not. Most people don't feel good when they eat dark energy food, though. It's cute, though. For what it's worth, the blood probably isn't ACTUAL blood. It likely just tastes like it. Ohhhhh. That'd mean there were lots of things in the dusk zone that liked the taste of blood though, right? So the seeds would spread?"

She was Norie's lab assistant for the day, so yay!

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
A queen resigned herself to nothing, and so Beryl had most certainly not resigned herself to the loss of her dark generals, Metallia's great accomplishment, her if not loyal, then fearful, servants.

No, Beryl had not resigned herself to their loss. She had prepared for it, planned for it, sought the ways in which she would use this to her advantage and punish their lack of loyalty all at once. The Shitennou were nothing - they were powerful, yes, but what was power if it wasn't used? They would never be able to again terrorize and rule as they had dreamed of, stapled back to Endymion's side - they would be as those dratted Senshi were, servants at the whim of a spoiled, petulant child.

(She had liked her wooden desk. Not nearly as much as she had liked the sight of Hematite, kneeling for her on the other side of it. To think she had not known - to think that she had not known -)

He was mocking her, he and that Moon Brat, and she would make him rue the day.

None of that explains what's happening, though, where what is happening is Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom, Executive Beryl of Beryl Holdings, stalking through the laboratory floors. The click of her heels is a warning that sends peons scattering in every direction as she draws closer and closer to a single door - the door to Riventon's lab.

It thrusts open before her, Dark Energy taking care of the need to make the gesture by hand, and she stalks inside, a statuesque beauty nearly seven feet tall and with hair nearly as long.

"Where is Riventon," she demands coldly.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana looked back to Firefly, "I dunno, I was hoping that carnivorous corn was somehow more nutrient rich than regular corn but it's also just gross." she says tersely,

Then there's clicking of heels just outside the door and she can hear them even over all the equipment as she blinks. "Can you hear that?" she asks Firefly before Queen Beryl enters the room and she's greeted by--- a table with a box of donuts on them at the front, and Norie peeking her head out from the side area as she turns in her seat and stands up. Oh it's...

Oh, shit it's Queen Beryl. She's seen the executive portraits before. What's she doing here? She blinks and uhms. and huhs. and hems, and haws for a moment before words form.

"Riventon is out right now on a business trip. I'm in charge while he's out. I am. Norie Okana... La Crima. Is..is there something I can help you with?" she asks quietly, swallowing a moment, worriedly.

This... this wasn't good when a Director visited your office directly. Was it? What did Riventon do?

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly frowned when she heard that clicking. Dang it. Was it Kaolinite? One of the witches 5? This was RIVENTON'S lab. They weren't--

OH! Beryl! "Hi Miss Beryl!" Hotaru said, waving a hand at her, almost excitedly. When Norie gave an answer, she decided to (helpfully) add to it. "To Paris... a romantic business trip... with Mami-senpai," Firefly said. Huffing just a little bit.

Okay, so she was kind of still annoyed that her BEST AND FIRST FRIEND had left for the holidays.

But then she looked up at the queen and... "Huh. It's almost Christmas. I thought you'd be preparing for a romantic holiday too or something. Were... were you not able to find a date?" she asked.

Well, her daddy wasn't going to get one. But that was because he didn't need anyone but her. But Beryl was single and didn't have kids, as far as she knew. And it was Christmas, a super romantic holiday. Could...

Could the director be single?

... Unlike Norie, she seemed to have missed the utter *danger* they were both in.

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
La Crima, Beryl had never heard of, though given her nervous swallowing, the girl at least knew full well who Beryl was, and that it's no positive sign to be spoken to so directly.

The other, however... Beryl's eye twitched. She had no patience today for Tomoe's dimwitted daughter.

"A romantic business trip," she echoes coldly, "What an interesting use of funding."

Like most executives, Beryl didn't particularly care about a little embezzlement - in an organizaiton like theirs, it was only expected that a certain percentage of funds be misappropriated. But it wasn't supposed to be only discussed, or obviously known, and more importantly, Endymion was gone, and Riventon was still within metaphorical - and soon literal - reach.

"Christmas is a modern holiday worshipped by particularly pathetic mortals to give their lives some sense of meaning and purpose," she informs Firefly, before looking back to La Crima with something akin to disdain.

How fortunate for La Crima, to be spared outright loathing and condemnation.

She would not ask for Hematite's location. She would not reveal so openly her losses. Instead - "His research data, related to all collaborations with Hematite. Turn it over to me."

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana shoots Firefly a 'look'. "No, they're on a business trip. Research and data will result from this trip. Useful things. Just because Mami-oneechan is traveling with them, doesn't make it any different. Besides. She's working, too." she says as she looks away from Firefly and frowns a little, looking back to Queen Beryl. "My apologies for the confusion." she bows. "But they really are gathering data..." she swallows again.

Hotaru then asks the silliest questions and she facepalms a little as she bows again. "I'm... sorry. Apologies." is all she can say to that. She has no hand in that.

"Research data related to Hematite? I don't... know... if... I actually have access to his computer. Hold on." she says as she walks over to one of the open workstations and tries accessing Riventon's computer through it. Tappity tap tap tap, it's hurried, worried tapping. She types in her username. (LaCrima) and her password (BattyGirl2020) and presses enter and closes her eyes and---

BEEP. She can get in. She relaxes a little and starts running a search.

"This will take a moment." she says. "If it's here. I will give it to you. If it isn't. You might need to wait until he gets back." she says sheepishly.

"C..can I offer you coffee. And a donut?" she asks. "In the meantime." she asks, politely as she can.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly couldn't help but giggle slightly at the reaction. "It was just a joke, La Crima. Relax, Miss Beryl's smart enough to know that. She's Hematite's boss, afterall. She knows Riventon wouldn't waste money on something like that."

It was, then, that La Crima would likely realize an important thing.

Riventon hadn't taken the time to inform Firefly of all that had gone down right before his disappearance. "But why do you want Riventon-senpai's notes? Wouldn't he share all of his with Hematite?" Then... "Oh. OH! Is Hematite out on a date with his girlfriend or something? Or is he just really bad at taking notes?" Amazing how she could just tap dance on every mine, wasn't it?

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
Given how utterly impertinent Tomoe's daughter was, Beryl had half expected a refusal, and a chance to vent her rage. Instead she was being given her due as Queen - offered both the information she desired and the serving of refreshments.

That La Crima was also quick to support her superior and attempt to solve the problem Firefly had caused was - amusing, in a way. Annoying, given that her own subordinates had decided to flee - and damn Metallia anyway, their great ruler had never been able to resist the weakness of a corrupt spirit, and Beryl was certain that was what had lead the Shitennou to slip their leash, as much as that irritating little Princess and her wretched, handsome, prince.

"I will take both," she says loftily, and then Firefly is there, again, saying -

"Girlfriend?"

What was that, now. Ahaha...haha...ha.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana makes Coffee and a decadent chocolate donut happen. The coffee is hot, and donuts not stale. Norie, thinks, she might get out of this without ruining anything. She gets back to the computer and it beeps! The search is done!~ Now just to copy the contents onto a USB Drive and----

'No Items Found'.

Norie Okana furrowed her brow and tried other names. 'Darien Shields'.

'No Items Found'

Sweating. She tried a few more related terms, each time coming up empty.

"I... I'm sorry. But the data isn't here..." she says. "I'm terribly sorry, you'll have to wait until he gets back." she says worriedly.

Then Firefly says more things and she looks at her and wilts.

She looks back to Beryl. "Didn't you know...? Hematite.. Darien... was dating someone." she says.

"I don't know who. Do you know, Firefly?" she asks her.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly looked up at Beryl and... "Well, or boyfriend. It's christmas, so I figure he'd want to do something nice with whoever he's with. Hematite is really cute, after all." Her cheeks went red and she gave a light squeak. "I-I mean, n-not that I looked or, or noticed, I mean, I just think he's kind of cute, right? He's got a kind of.... princely regality and stuff to him, you know? Wait, he DOES have a girlfriend? Ohhh! That's so sweet! I wonder if he passworded his computer her name or something! That'd be soooo romantic!"

"Oh! Do you know the name of the project he was working with Hematite on? I mean, I didn't even know they were working on any collaborations, he's always so busy with all the work daddy gives him. Well... and Kaolinite," Firefly muttered, that second part almost spitting the name out.

"... Wait, you don't think Hematite is dating one of the witches 5, do you? Because ick. Hematite is wayyyyy cuter and could do wayyyyy better... though, now that I think about it, I didn't see Mimette today... she's... almost kind of nice? Maybe they got together."

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
The data isn't there?

The implacable facade slips - anger tightens Beryl's face, darkens her blood red eyes, and given that she's a woman of nearly seven feet with spikes coming out of her shoulders, her anger is a threat. The fact that her Prince has found some other woman to pair himself with - some girl to flaunt and flirt with even as he belonged to her, even as he ran away to be with some wretched other woman -

She was going to enjoy making him kneel for her forgiveness. Beg for her pardon. Plead for her mercy.

"Given that you cannot find the data, I can only conclude that Riventon has chosen to believe he only is owed the results of our collaboration." Never mind that there had never been an official collaboration. Never mind that, given Hematite's flight and the ties that broke between her and the Shitennou, this was sure to be Endymion's fault. None of that mattered. Riventon was here after all - or at least, his laboratory was.

Her voice was cold and callous and her anger terrifying -

Or at least, it would be if not for Firefly's inane babbling on.

Beryl's eye twitches.

"Hematite is not dating one of those wretched Witches. Do you ever shut up child? You should know better than to run your mouth in the company of your superiors."

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana snorts. "Of course he isn't. He can do better. I think it's actually someone at school..." she trails off, as she realizes, oh, this train of discussion isn't helping anything and she shuts her mouth and frowns. "I apologize. Profusely for all this." she says.

So far, she doesn't feel like she's being rude to, though Firefly isn't helping as she frowns and makes a choice.

She sticks up for Firefly.

"Firefly is a part of this division, too. We are doing our best for you right now, while our division head is out of town." she says quietly.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly blinked a few times and... "That or he doesn't want us to have access to it. I mean... we're his assistants. Its not like Hematite and the rest of your division can access all your private files." Pause. "Can... can they?" Was... was it possible? Was Beryl's security that lax? Was she that awful at computers? Was--

However, then Beryl snapped at her and Firefly looked a bit shaken, for a moment. Her eyes narrowed, and she almost lashed out. "I--" But then stopped. If she was too rude... then daddy might have trouble. Instead, she just lowered her eyes.

And Norie protected her.

And oh my gosh Norie got the sparkly eyes. Firefly was now 100% behind being her assistant!

"Yeah, we really are. Why don't you just ask Hematite for the information if you need it so bad? His notes can't be that bad and I'm sure Riventon-senpai would have given him a copy of his own notes."

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
"Firefly is indeed a portion of your division," Beryl says coldly, "She is the portion of your division known as a nepotism hire, assigned solely because her place as daughter of your division head. Clearly, Riventon has fostered an environment of arrogance in this division."

It wasn't that she didn't have access to Hematite's files - she did, those that he had not damaged in his flight from Beryl Holdings. It was that she resented even the semblance of resistance to her power, and she was tempted - greatly - to destroy all that stood in her path, as lesson to an arrogant child.

And seeing as she was so obstinate - that they both were - she lifted a hand. Dark power coalesced into a ball of purple-black wrath, and with a flick of her wrist she launched it at the computer that had failed to offer La Crima the information Beryl sought, exploding it on contact, fire leaping up.

"What a shame," she says coolly, and turns her back to both girls. It isn't even a dare for retaliation. They are mere ants, to her.

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana wasn't at the computer anymore, luckily, at this point, as it exploded into flames and then a fire started and she scrambled suddenly, instead, to make sure the fire suppression systems worked. She turned around and sputtered out. "Was that really .....!" she trailed off mid sentence as she 'nrgh'ed' merely.

"Have a nice day." she says tersely after she turned around back to the fire suppression system getting everything wet.

"Nrg...my research..." she wilts.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly cringed, shrinking down a little. She wasn't... entirely nepotism. Okay, she was. She was a total nepotism hire. Because daddy wanted to keep her safe, and she worked hard. But... but... Riventon was a good boss. He--

BOOM! She shrieked and stepped off the desk she was using as a chair, moving away and grabbing her glaive. As the fire suppression started, she looked around, tears in her eyes, then looked at Beryl and... "Y-y-you... you old HAG! No wonder you don't have a date on Christmas! R-Riventon-senpai is twice, no, three times the boss you ever are and and and I might be a nepotism hire but you're just an, an, an old hag hire!" She wasn't crying and stumbling over her words, you were.

Fortunately, as she finished the sentence, the door slammed open. "Firefly! What is--" Kaolinite froze in place, her eyes on Beryl... "Chairwoman Beryl. I didn't receive news that you would be visiting our... division... today..." Her eyes scanned the lab and an eye twitched slightly. "Firefly, Norie, why don't you two go down to the cafeteria while I help... the chairwoman... with whatever she needs."

"I-I don't--" Firefly started.

"It wasn't a request," Kaolinite snapped, her tone harsh.

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
Firefly might have honestly died (or unleashed something abominable) had Kaolinite not entered at exactly that moment. As it is, Beryl still chooses to address her comments with Kaolinite present, making it clear exactly who has earned her ire.

"An old hag hire," she drawls, "How amusing. Truly, you have inherited none of your father's wit or intelligence, child. Go along, child, why don't you go have a snack. It's surely time for you to have a nap."

Her voice is cold, cutting, cruel.

But hey, at least La Crima hasn't earned her rage. She's been barely offered a glance.

Instead, the Firefly Distraction Machine blows up as Dark Energy is exerted all around it.

Whoops~

Norie Okana has posed:
Norie Okana has made sure the fire suppression systems work so when another machine blows up, she frowns a little and sighs, as Kaloinite. Someone she recognizes as one of her bosses, orders them to leave. She holds out her hand for Firefly to take as she sighs. "Let's go get something to eat and come back and clean up." she says softly.

She gives Beryl a little bit of a side eye, but that's all, she passes. Please Firefly. Don't do anything rash when they pass her, she thinks.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Firefly glared at Beryl. She wanted to say something... but the look Kaolinite gave her silenced her. She took Norie's hand and let the older girl take her out.

Once they were out of the lab... "I'm sorry I messed up your research, Norie-senpai..." Firefly said gently. "I... I know I'm just... here because daddy wants me to be kept close. But... but Riventon-senpai says I'm useful still. But... I didn't... mean to get your research broken..."

... Her machine died too... Beryl was a mean, mean lady. And she was sniffling a little bit.

Kaolinite would close the door, swiftly, behind them. She, at least, showed proper respect to a woman on the board.

Queen Beryl (43) has posed:
Beryl did not glare at Firefly. The girl's life wasn't worth that much to her. Instead she merely watched her depart, her sniffling earning a soft glow of warm fuzzy satisfaction.

Ah, how nice to see a child cry.

"I understand that Riventon has been recently promoted within your division, as a space was recently opened within your department. I will be reaching out to Tomoe about requisitioning him for an inter-divisional project."

She is not going to acknowledge the destruction all around them, the ruin made not just from the explosions but the fire suppression systems pouring water out.