Video - Attempting This Princess Leader Thing

[mal_contented]

[Mal closed her connection to Merlin and considered what he had said when she arrived, about what a princess is here, about leadership. Then she opened her connection to everyone through her mirror.]

"Alright. Listen up. Someone is missing and we've been asked to go help. Those who chose not to. stay in the assigned apartments. Yours or together with others, I don't care. If things go sideways it will be easier to keep you lot safe if we know which one building you are all in."

[A deep breath.]

"For the rest of us. We need to work together. Most of you probably don't know or like me. That's fine. Most of you if I know you... I don't like you. But we don't have to like each other for this. We just need to work towards the same goal. After, if you want to tear into me, fine, you're welcome to try. But until we all come back successful and safe, we are horns out, not in. We are one."

Comments

[strangeandunusual]

A whip?! Seriously? Look, maybe Mal isn't charismatic or nice, but... Look past the actual words at what she's trying to say. She knows we don't all get along, but she's hoping we'll work together. And when she makes that effort, you jump down her throat? No wonder she thinks everyone hates her.

[bigbadrose]

[She's quiet for a moment, consider it all, because even Rose knows she's probably being a bit overreactive emotionally. Although replaying Mal's message... she just twitches visibly. Telling people to run and hide to be protected? What the fuck.]

[Rose holds a finger up.] I don't hate anyone. [The easiest thing to address. She didn't even hate Cassandra even when the woman was trying to murder her and everyone else.]

And I will not work under anyone else's command, or stand by and let someone else try to create a pecking order. I won't even take orders from Hades or Merlin, I'm sure not going to encourage someone else to take orders from -- [Softens some:] anyone else.

I appreciate you're both worried about Dreamfinder, that's great, I'm glad he's already earned such loyalty from you two, but if someone's only goal is to just go have fun exploring the jungle, tough luck to Mal, it's not her call to tell them where to be or not. And you are both outta your damn minds if you think you can suddenly be responsible for everyone else's safety here. We're in a war. People will die. And you can't stop that. You can only do your best. And it's okay to be scared, but it's not okay to treat us like [Double hand gesture.] Subjects under your command. I won't stand for it. Obviously.

[strangeandunusual]

She's just trying to help.

[the frustration in Lydia's voice comes out as a plea]

She was told she's supposed to lead so she's trying, but no one's telling her how. You don't have to listen or do what she says, but you don't have to be mean to her about it, either!

... And ... [she falters a little at that dose of reality. she hadn't outright thought of it as a war.]

Maybe we can't keep everyone safe. But we can try. I know I at least have to. I made a promise to do whatever I could. Not just because I'm here, but because some of these people - Mal included - are my friends. And they're important to me.

[bigbadrose]

I'm sorry for being harsh. Or mean.

Who told her to be a leader? Being a prince or princess doesn't make you our leaders. And I'm not saying don't try to protect people, but don't do it by ordering them to stay inside and out of the way. The only way to save the universe is with everyone doing their best, whatever they themselves deem that is. Not for anyone else to decide.

[strangeandunusual]

[cheeky] Don't say that to me, say it to her.

Merlin, I'm pretty sure. I guess he freaked her out because of how her world handles the whole good versus bad thing. ...

[pointedly] But you know what? She's doing her best.

[bigbadrose]

[Growls.] No. Not unless she asks for it. Nicely.

Maybe she should stop trying to-- [Bites her tongue, sighs, and rubs her forehead.] Prince and princess is in the book. Tell her to read it. And not to try to be a leader if she's so bloody uncomfortable with it, because blimey I've met gangsters with --

[Eyeroll and cuts herself off, to refrain from saying anything worse.]

[strangeandunusual]

[Lydia just shrugs and shuts the mirror. she tried. if Rose is going to be stubborn, that's not her problem]