heartofalioness | Empatheias IC Contact

[Her expression softens after a second though.]

Then again, you know all this already, or you wouldn't be taking steps to correct it. As I said, this is proof that you do have the potential to be a great leader. This a difficult skill to master, even for as vital as it is, but it can be learned, and I know you'll put everything you can into doing so. I'm honored that you chose me to be your teacher.

[She can't take the compliment ~~because Minnie is right~~. She has so much to improve on. She has so much to get better at and the list seems to only get longer no matter how many things she attempts to learn on her own.

This is another on the list. She wished she had never been told the future, because it was never her wish to be queen. She wanted to be a happy housewife, and in the four years of her becoming Sailor Moon, no one had stopped time to teach her to be a princess, because how do you prepare to be Queen of EARTH? Never mind a country, no, the whole planet!

She felt defeated before she got there, maybe she took politics when she was older, or economics, but she had never had as much self-doubt in herself as she did right now.

Maybe because the future seemed so much closer now than ever before, even trapped in time as she was.]

I'm a pretty terrible student. [She was lazy and without Ami threatening her she had little reason to improve. But she did want this...

Well no, actually she DIDN'T want this.] Maybe I should pull myself out of the committee until I'm actually ready. I don't think I'll be or have been any help.

And usually I'm a terrible teacher. Like I said, we have a month before the next meeting, and I have faith you can do this. But if you still feel unfit for the task come the meeting... then that might be a wise course of action, for you and the committee. At least this position is a voluntary one, and you can always come back again when you are ready.

Edited 2017-09-09 02:27 (UTC)

[She sighed. Maybe she SHOULD. But she also didn't want to give some of the people there the satisfaction that they may have chased her away. She shook her head.]

I can't... I promised to help this planet and... this is how so...

Do you really think it's the only way you can help this planet?

I know it isn't. But I also go on the excursions and help out at the Welcome Center and festivals. Don't act like I don't know there are other ways.

[Allura keeps her voice soft and calm, but still respectful.]

Easy, that wasn't my intention... My main question is why you're stressing yourself so much over this one area when you know you ARE helping in other ways...?

[She gives a gentle smile.]

When I arrived in this world, I seem to recall a wise young lady telling me that the war in my world didn't follow me here, and that I should take this opportunity for a mental and emotional break. And so far, she's been right. Perhaps the same applies to your destiny as queen? Especially since it's in your future rather than your present?

I guess... I wanted to prove I could help in things that didn't have to do with my powers. Not that my powers mean anything here anyways.

But I just... for once, I wanted to be seen for the apparent wisdom everyone seems to say I have and uses against me. Which by the way, you are now like the third person to use my own words against me.

I know... that I'll basically start from square one all over again once I go back, I guess... I dunno, maybe I just want to prove to myself as much as others that I can be the queen everyone is expecting me to be without magic.

Only because your words are so effective.

[She places a hand on Usagi's shoulder.]

I think it's admirable that you ARE trying to improve as a potential ruler. But going into politics to prove your worth, even if it's one motive out of the many altruistic ones you have, is not the right mindset. An effective leader seeks wisdom from others; there's a reason most governments have so many cabinets and council members and advisors. It's not just so power and responsibility isn't resting solely on one set of shoulders, but for the ruler's well-being as well. You'll have Mamoru by your side someday, as well as your senshi and I'm sure many other advisors and experts to show you how to run your planet.

And you're not alone here either. You have the other committee members as well, not just me. At the next committee meeting, along with participating, I want you to listen and ask questions. Pay attention to certain politicians you respect and how they speak, especially with the people you're having trouble talking to. Notice any specific phrases they use, whether they take breaths or drinks of water before making a rebuttal, their body language, how others react to them. There's even something to learn from the people that you dislike the most; take note of THEIR words and body language, how people react to the points they make, mistakes you want to avoid.

How do you not take something personally?

[It was all well and good to listen and watch and see how other people handled things, but that was one of her major issues. She could definitely stay quiet and just watch. She sorta planned on doing that next time anyways because of her disaster of a last meeting.]

And... I know I won't be doing it alone, here or back home. You have no idea how HAPPY I am that I'm not doing it alone and I have Mamoru and the girls. [Because on top of being queen, she also has a kid. Seriously, how is she supposed to handle ALL THAT and motherhood?] I wish... I wish I could remember all this though. If I really have grown into a better person I'd like to take all that with me.

[Allura nods with a sad smile, air growing a bit damper for a second.]

I wish I could take this with me too...

[Not have to forget how much closer she's gotten to her paladins, all the new friendships she's made, especially Usagi...]

Edited 2017-09-09 21:31 (UTC)

[She shakes her head, not letting herself thing about that now. There's a lesson to teach.]

If I feel annoyed or insulted when I first hear a comment, I do my best to not respond right away. I take a second or two to breathe, to go over what the person said again, why they might have said it, remind myself that they're likely not trying to attack me. In a similar case to your festival idea, I'd say something like "I apologize for not clarifying that point, what I meant was..." and go from there. That little acknowledgement, that bend, will show you respect the person talking to, and they'll respect you back.

If it's someone bringing up an idea I strongly disagree with, I do the same breathing and waiting, and then ask them to rephrase the point I disagree with in a calm, neutral tone. Perhaps a change in the wording will be all I need to understand it better. If you still disagree, lead by pointing out a part that you DO agree with or at least appreciate, so they see that the criticism is constructive. And in a forum situation, you can usually give another person the opportunity to speak instead.

And if they actually DO go for personal slights, you can either remind them of the topic of the conversation as code to back off, or stay silent to let someone mediate. Let THEM be the shouting, angry one, Usagi.

I can't... promise I'll be able to get this the first time.... or second or third. Like I said, I'm a pretty terrible student.

But...

[She took a deep breath.] I can try.

I mean, can't do any worse than I did before, right?

[Allura gives a pleased smile when Usagi says she'll try.]

That's what practice is for. We can meet a few days a week for short lessons, if that works for your schedule. And it'd also give us time for both of us to prepare topics to bring to the meeting: how to phrase them for the best clarity, and practicing answers to possible questions.

Well, I can give you my work schedule, if you want, you can come visit me too. I love being around you!

[She WAS going to offer to give Usagi her schedule too, when Usagi says that last sentence. A light blush rises to the surface despite Allura trying not to, and there's a bit of that sparkly steam again. Instead of trying to dismiss it with a cough, though, she merely smiles and nods her head.]

And I love being around you too. Let's schedule our next lesson then. And please eat, don't think I've noticed you're the only one who's had pancakes during all this.

Don't need to tell me twice to eat! [She digs in, because she had been holding off on eating so that she and Allura could talk, but she also didn't want all her hard work to go to waste. She only burnt 2 pancakes this time.]

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