2022-11-10: This shared understanding of such jealous creatures
- Cutscene: This shared understanding of such jealous creatures
- Cast: Yuliana Dispersal, Major Pham Van Vinh
- Where: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date: 2022-11-10
- Summary: Major Pham invites himself to Yuliana's wedding, and tries to drive a wedge between her and her fiancee in the process.
Yuliana sits in Major Pham Van Vinh's office, and closes a folder -- the newest assignment she's been briefed on. Their work (not always legal, not always ethical) continues, between the lines, a subtle hand on the Earth Sphere's fate.
"By the way... having reviewed our schedule," insomuch as their work can be scheduled, "I've decided to grant you your week's leave in advance of your wedding, in addition to your personal requests." Major Pham, the Nega Force's ultimate overseer, leans forward against his desk as he addresses his Captain. "... the young lady at the party was sufficiently convincing." Leina Ashta, implicitly; evidently, he noticed the kind words she had for Yuliana.
And he does not clarify precisely what he means by 'convincing'.
"Sir," Captain Yuliana Dispersal affirms, and if her smile is a moment delayed, surely it's just surprise. (She isn't nearly as convincing, to a veteran like Pham, when they've worked together for two years.) "You're being quite generous. Should I be concerned?"
"Not at all," Pham assures her, "though I'll expect you at full performance when you return. And I should like to see the ceremony for myself." He's testing her, of course; they're both aware.
"I wouldn't have expected you'd want to come," Yuliana starts, cautious. He will expect her to be cautious. "Since you've so much to do..." This much, at least, is true. His office is here, but he is nonetheless busy with more projects than the team he oversees; that's why he's at the front of the building, and Yuliana's desk is mixed in right amongst the rest of the Nega Force. He's more important than any one team. Particularly... here, in the shadow of the Institute for Continuing Study. Many REA units have skeletons in the closet -- but even discounting Yuliana, this operation is all bones.
Add her in, and...
"Nonsense," he raises a hand, palm up. "We've worked together for years. We're practically family. Besides, I understand you've already invited Lieutenants Yuan and Chaudhri!"
"Lettu more or less invited herself," Yuliana points out, neglecting the details regarding Wen Yuan's invitation, "and there's no keeping Letda out of something he's interested in." This much, at least, is true; Parminder Chaudhri figured out the location she's settled on despite all her attempts to be coy. He is a transplant from Intelligence, she supposes.
"But not our cadet," he points out, raising a brow.
"They were quite emphatically busy that day," Yuliana says, and without hearing the conversation it might almost sound fair.
"They've quite the the social life," Pham agrees, and looks to her, level and even. She knows that he knows the way she treats them; the paperwork would be a nightmare.
"Of course, if you want a little more of one, I'm hardly one to deny you," Yuliana assures him -- after a moment of silence. "If you'd like to attend the wedding, we'd be delighted to invite you." She smiles, and notes down the way he's insisting on winning more, these days.
(Threatened by Elisa's kaiju, she supposes. Not an incorrect assumption.)
"Quite," his response aligning with her expectations. "I very much look forward to meeting the woman who is so captivated by you, Captain. I'm sure she's a fascinating woman."
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Yuliana smiles. "Why, she's nothing less than a queen."
Pham raises a brow. "Reigning over your heart, mm?"
"This is true," Yuliana agrees, conversationally, and doesn't go so far as to make it an exclusive fact.
"Then I'm sure you'll be very happy," he says, and smiles, and the Major is deliberate in everything he does.
But Yuliana is a saboteur of some talent herself, though she lacks Pham's age and wisdom -- and she knows that he knows a great many things. She hears his attempt to instill doubt in her fiancee, and she puts on a smile, and does not reply.
He does not need to know the difference between his force and Elisa's shelter.
She increasingly sees the difference.