dragonwarder | (no subject)

Ah. You are talking about survival.

[Daenerys smiles then and leans on the table some.]

It isn't cowering if it benefits you. But it would certainly be foolish to lift your head in a den of wolves where they outnumber you ten to one.

We're stronger than they are!

No, we are not.

[Her voice is a little firmer here, and her smile fades away.]

The UNA has vast resources that we do not. They have access to funding, support, and information that we do not. And unless you get every Displaced on board with a riot, which you will not, then they win in a game of pure numbers.

[ Catra opens her mouth to object, and for a moment it looks like she's really going to argue. But then she closes her mouth again and goes quiet. Frowning. Thinking.

Finally, after a few beats, she smiles and speaks up again-- ]

So... what I'm hearing is-- we need someone inside the UNA.

—what? No.

[Daenerys has the grace to look startled. It isn’t as if she hadn’t considered it before, but — she had seen what they had done to Rey and those other Morningstar agents. Sending someone in there would be a death sentence.]

I mean — it would help, but others have already tried to break one of their soldiers and their programming. Sending someone to be recruited would not only be sending them to their death, but would likely endanger the rest of us.

Why? Think about it. We have people here who can shoot water from their hands, spikes from their skin. Why not someone with mental control? Maybe resist brainwashing, control what other people think of them?

It's just a matter of finding the right person for the job.

People have failed to convert their soldiers before.

[But she cannot deny that she hadn't thought of it herself. She certainly had no mind altering powers, but she did have something else: the power of fear. The power of being a large, flying, fire-breathing lizard.

The egotistical part of her believed she could frighten them into submission, if she really wanted to. But she doesn't want to. What of all the citizens who had no say in the matter?]

It is very risky. And they have done terrible things to our people before, when they have managed to subdue them. Would you imagine such risk to be worth what we might gain, if anything?

Who said anything about conversion?

The reason we're struggling is because we just don't have enough information. Of course our previous efforts have failed. We don't know anything about them. How they think. How they operate. How they brainwash. Their desires, their weak spots. We just have to get someone in there to spy. That's all. Nothing dangerous. Just intel. We can't even think about taking them down from the inside until we have that.

You have to play the long game.

[Well. That is a solid idea, but Daenerys has a different sort of concern. One more easily mitigated, perhaps.]

That would be a sound plan, if I trusted any of the Displaced with matters of discretion.

[Her tone is rather deadpan when she offers this.]

Perhaps you know of a suitable candidate?

[She would offer herself, but...her defense mechanism is too dangerous.]

People can be pretty motivated to stay quiet when it's their life on the line.

[ She shrugs. ]

I'd send myself in, if I could. My power would even come in handy, but... well. Most people on the street here just think I'm some kind of augmented human, but all it'd take is one physical exam and the jig would be up.

I am not certain it is about motivation. More to do with lacking in the ability.

[Daenerys nods along appreciatively at Catra's commentary, finally taking a moment to sip at the tea she had made.]

My own power is too volatile to risk such things as well, I'm afraid.

[ Catra goes quiet for a moment, tapping the side of the mug, seemingly deep in thought. ]

... Well, I've never let limitations stop me before.

I'll just have to find someone.

[Daenerys is thoughtfully silent, tapping on the edge of her mug as she runs through various names in her mind.]

I will explore some options as well.

[Though she may need to lower her standards to actually make this work.]

There is one other option we might pursue.

Edited (grrr typos) 2020-03-05 06:00 (UTC)

Oh?

[ Catra looks up, a smile on her face again. ]

Do tell.

An election is on the horizon. I do not believe it is likely to insert one of the Displaced as a candidate, but it may be possible to gain the favor of one of the others.

[She had considered doing it herself, once. Other things had taken priority -- but that was not to say she would not still be open to the idea, especially now that her core network had dissolved some.

She could do with a bit of populism and social clout.]

--Oh right. Their glorified popularity contest.

[ Catra chuckles, like she thinks it's adorable. ]

I don't really get the point of it. But I've never been very good at winning people over anyway. Call it a character flaw.

[Daenerys passes Catra an amused smile when she offers that bit of honesty.]

I can understand the appeal of being able to choose your own leader. I gave that same choice to all of my subjects.

[At least, she did in the beginning. Her more recent memories may be...colored by those times.]

The rules are a bit different here, I think. It is less of a numbers game, and more a game of charisma.

It's ridiculous, is what it is.

Charisma? Popularity? What good is that going to do any of them? Is he going to keep them all safe with the power of words? All that needs to happen is for the guy at the head of the army to decide he doesn't like the guy in power anymore and bam, overnight takeover.

Because the one with the popularity gains control of the assets.

[Catra reminds her easily of her more eager khalasar, always out for blood, always seeking the next battle and the next conquest. But when you upset enough people with warmongering, it tends to unite them.

And there was nothing more dangerous than unity.]

It is much easier to sway the thoughts of someone like that than a loyalist tied to their sense of duty and honor.

Edited 2020-03-05 06:33 (UTC)

[ Catra looks thoughtful for a moment, before smiling again. ]

... Huh. Thanks for the tip. ... I'll keep it in mind.

[Daenerys smiles in return, happy for the acknowledgement -- however small a thing it was.]

I will consider it repayment for your company. Even if you did come unannounced.

[ Catra finishes the tea and then stretches ]

Why would I announce it? It's more fun to keep people on their toes.