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Stylus sighed as she leaned back on the couch. The soft Calavarian-made furniture piece was one of the best purchases she had ever made, short of soundproofing the walls of her home. The blue couch was large enough to accommodate her entire family if they were to watch TV, or alternatively play games on the console. But that was a rare enough phenomenon, considering Medical’s erratic schedules. So it was usually her, Article, and Elizabeth. Sometimes Lavender would join them too. But right now? She was alone. Article and Elizabeth were still at school, the height of their final year examinations right around the corner.

And here Stylus was, lying on the couch with a bunch of paperwork on the table opposite the couch. It was a nice arrangement. It was rare that she could lie and simply… procrastinate as she used to back in her college days. It was a guilty pressure of hers. Simply lying down, and not doing anything! It was a pleasure she could so rarely embrace nowadays. There wasn’t anything urgent as well for today. Confederation matters were relegated to the MineLegotiponyian Committee of Confederation Shenanigans (CCS), and the Commonwealth stage was as quiet as ever. Everyone was doing their usual thing, no deviation from the norm… yet.

Her eyes were full of wool. Ideas, ponderings of the future dyed those wools different colours. Worries were at the forefront, she wondered what to do with the two of her children. And then behind those worries, were the concerns of her newfound immortality. With her and Medical’s ascension to what was essentially the most powerful position, the Kaisar had provided vials of the rare… Elixir. It was a weird concoction, it tasted like bed cloth, bread, moldy bread, and dirty bread. It was weird. But such a concoction did make them immortal, as long as they didn’t get mortally wounded, the Kaisar stated. She didn’t really understand it, but she was immortal now. The question now was, what to do with it?

She probably could organise a visit to several places across the Empire. Eliza always wanted to see Leian Falls…

There was a bang, and the wool Stylus had gathered escaped her eyes. She shot up right, and her eyes darted around the room, wings outstretched in fear. The fear she felt dissipated when she spotted the mare responsible.

Lavender was an eccentric mare, definitely a side effect of being dead for a decade and a half. She dressed in a manner that was surely two centuries out of date. A flowing dress that dragged on the floor, with colours of the Erifen culture - red, yellow, and mandarin orange. Her hat was a simple sunhat. This attire was usually accompanied by a small smile… but, she had the face of worry, and panic.

“Stylus! Have you heard the news!” Stylus blinked at the exclamation, before realising the folder Lavender held in her levitational grasp.

“N-no, I’ve just been here all day-”

“Then you have to read this!” With a flick Lavender flipped open the folder. Stylus eyes took a moment to adjust, the glasses on her muzzle did its best to refract the light properly. Read on the folder was a draft article, titled quite clearly as ‘F.A Minister Supported Enien Rebels!’.

With a swift motion she grabbed the older out of Lavender’s grip, a wing held her glasses as her eyes darted across the text.

’It has been revealed to MBC by an anonymous source that the current FA Minister, Stylus Pen, had penned an article stating her support of the Enien Rebels back in 2368 ALB.’ Stylus looked up from the paper and at Lavender. “Who found out about this?”

“Journalist from downtown Xiahe, used to work for a tabloid, so this checks out,” Lavender noted, “Got wind of it from Athy in the Editor’s, and stopped it from being published to make sure that you’re okay with it.”

“Well obviously, I’m not okay with it!” Stylus exclaimed, a tad flustered too. “T-this can end my career! And Medical’s too because it’s a damn tabloid writer writing this piece of sh-”

“Alright, I understand,” Lavender stated, “So you want to make sure this doesn’t surface right?”

“Well of course!”

Lavender nodded, “Come on then, we need to stop them from publishing it. The other Editors want to get this out.”

Stylus scrambled to get onto her hooves as Lavender levitated over both of their hats from the stand. “W-wait where are we going?”

“To meet the director of the MBC, of course,” She said, nonchalantly as she put on her coat again.

“How…? Do you know him?” Stylus struggled to put on her jacket before Lavender spoke up again.

“Oh I knew him from University, both of us went to Gajah at Manehatten,” Lavender stated. “He was in Media Comms, whilst I was in mortuary, both of us were in the same history course.”

“How many damn people do you know just from university!” Stylus exclaimed as she followed Lavender who rushed out the door. Using a hind hoof she kicked the door shut and quickly locked in before chasing after Lavender.

----- -----

The restaurant was a nice little place, it had that homely feel to it. However, it wasn’t used as the settings for wholesome stories of little families talking with each other. That would be Joe’s Cafe down the street. This however, was Naird’s Cafe. And the reputation of the Cafe exceeded the tone of the place. Just like the Argumentum, it was a place for political shenanigans to take place. For backdoor deals… but among bureaucrats. This was the realm of the bureaucrat, and it can be expected to be full of them chattering quietly away about the weather, or important domestic issues. Issuing deals and pledges, and planning elaborate schemes and crackdowns.

Stylus made sure to put her hat down as Lavender introduced the Director of the MBC to her.

“This is Director Attle Lens of the MBC, Minister,” Stylus nodded, and smiled at the changeling. He was old, one could tell by the crackening carapace of the bug-like creature. “And I presume you know about our dear Minister of Foreign Affairs, do you Director?”

“Indeed, it’s nice to finally meet you face-to-face,” Lens smiled, with a nod. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I expect so, you are the Director of the MBC,” Stylus said, getting a chuckle out of the three.

“Anyways,” Lavender began, “There has been considerable ferment in the government, Director… considering the MBC’s hostility to the Imperial Regent’s Government-'' Stylus noted how the Director didn’t react, his eyes merely widening an unobservable amount. “-and MiniAdmin has been noting instances of biases…”

“I’m sure the MBC has answers for all of these complaints,” His voice was sure… confident.

Stylus rolled her eyes. “MBC’s always got answers, silly ones, but answers nonetheless.”

There was a small glare from the Director before it was replaced by civility. “I’m sure we do have proper answers. What type of biases, are there… Miss Fletcher?”

“Well… you do have the unfavourable news stories...” -Lavender pulled out a file from underneath the table. Placing it on the table. “...against the administration… excessive publicity for cases of the administration’s Commonwealth enemies… allies-” Another file. “And, oh, favourable news stories towards the administration goes uncovered.”

“I can assure, you, that the MBC is doing its best to report unbiased news,” Lens retorted. “The MBC… must not give into government pressure.”

“Of course, no one’s suggesting such a thing… however,” Lavender pulled another file, opening it. Stylus noted how she made an act of acting surprise. “If this… gets out, it’d be a disaster for the MBC. Elite seats taken by the MBC in the recent theatre act of ‘Countess Moongale and the Phantom’.”

“Well, that’s for technicals and the engineers, you see,” Lens replied.

Lavender raised an eyebrow. “Well, really… these engineers have a remarking similarity with the Head Editors…-” She levitated the file over to Lens. Whose eyes widen quite considerably. “- and their wives… or ladies of equal…. Uh, Importance.”

There was some silence as Lens looked over the file. Stylus could physically hear a clock ticking before he spoke up again. “Well… I see the government’s concerns, the MBC seems to be going… off from its goal of unbiased reporting,” The Director stated, closing the file. “But you must understand, my position. The MBC cannot give into government pressure.”

Stylus played in with Lavender’s reaction. “Of course not, we wouldn’t want such a thing!”

“Yes, indeed. However, there is a problem going on that I’ve caught wind of from the Editor’s section of the MBC,” Lavender explained, all three of them leaned in. “That there is an article planning to be written about the Minister’s past, and it considers several factual errors.”

“Factual errors? In the MBC? Ah well, that’s different, we can correct that, as you know the MBC cannot give into government pressure,” Lens reiterated, “But we do take great pride in our ability to report factual stories.”

“Indeed, Director. However some of the information in the article will and is severely out of date!” Lavender exclaimed with a mock face of urgency.

“Out of date information, that’s serious. As you know the MBC can’t give into government pressure. But we cannot stand for letting out of date information and presenting it as fact.”

“And also,” Stylus interjected. “I realise there might be some things in there that might bring about a security issue.”

“Like what?”

“She can’t tell you,” Lavender answered, leaning in. “Security reasons.”

Lens nodded, a face of understanding was with him. “I see factual errors, and a security breach. Now that puts a different complexion-”

“Entirely different complexion!” Stylus echoed.

“-On the situation,” Concern laced his voice, it was almost like he was still wet behind the ears. “It wouldn’t be in the public’s interest to let such a thing be published.”

“Precisely,” Stylus and Lavender both smiled.

“But I must make one thing absolutely clear, ladies,”

“Yes?”

Lens’s face was serious, his tone was too. “There can be absolutely no question, of the MBC ever giving into government pressure.”

The meeting soon ended, they exchanged pleasantries before Lens set off. Stylus noted the taste of the breadcrumbs of food that they got. It definitely was just regurgitated fast food disguised as expensive food.

“Whelp, that’s done… we just need to find out who leaked it,” Lavender stated, taking a sip of her tea.

“Indeed, any ideas?” Stylus observed Lavender… she could see why Medical once loved her, there was that similarity between. Quiet complementation followed by elegant execution. She could the same gears of her beloved churning in the head of Lavender.

“Well, the ship of state is the only ship that leaks from the top, Stylus. I’d reckon we should start there.”