Meeting between Kohatuan and Oan government officials
3 August 2021
Opal Lazuli, the Chief Minister of the Kohatu Isles, was sitting in the board room of the office building where the government of the Kohatu Isles worked. She tested the audio and asked her colleagues to remain standing as they waited for the Oan Prime Minister, Maui Uye-Ahua to get on the screen. She had a meeting with him every week via video conference to report on updates and discuss issues affecting their nations. Although the meeting was meant to start at 6pm, the screen remained blank. A minute past and then another as Opal and her team waited for Maui’s face to appear. After 7 minutes of standing awkwardly like children at their desks waiting for the teacher to arrive, Maui’s face filled up the screen. Sardonyx, the Minister of Internal Affairs (who was also in attendance), shifted uncomfortably. He disdained this little ritual.
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“Kia ora, Opare”, Maui said. His tattooed face filled up the monitor like a sun filling up the day with light.
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“Kia ora, Prime Minister”, Opal replied. Maui insisted on not only calling Opal and her team by their first names, but he insisted on using the Oan translations as well. Although he said he was trying to make them feel like “one of [them]”, the Kohatuans felt like Oan culture was being imposed upon them and their identities were being sterilised to be more suitable for their new overlords.
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Maui proclaimed, “We may begin”.
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Opal and her team took their seats. They were visibly uncomfortable but there existed a subordinate relationship between Kohatu and the Oan Isles and by extension between them and Oan government officials. Although grateful for their support in liberating their country from a dictatorship, there were some doubts and resentment about being annexed by the Oan Isles.
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Sardonyx stated, “Mr. Prime Minister, while I understand that the Commission for Institutional Reform is playing an integral role in helping us build capable institutions, I feel that the Commission is not paying due regard to Kohatuan candidates”.
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Maui responded, “Nonsense, Harareka! How can that be? The Commission has shown itself to only consider merit when making appointments”.
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Sardonyx, swallowed and continued, “For instance, an Oan was appointed as the CEO of the Kohatu Sovereign Wealth Fund”.
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Maui replied, “I think you mean the most competent candidate! Mr Timoteo Huinga is the only candidate to have headed up a multi-billion kirib organisation”.
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Sardonyx continued, “But, sir, just because he has headed up some big firm does not mean he is suited to running our fund!”
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Opare gave Sardonyx a death stare, signaling him to stand down, and proceeded to intervene, “While we recognise Mr Huinga’s experience, we feel that a Kohatuan candidate such as Dr Jade Michaelson would have been closer to the Gemican - I mean Kohatuan - way of doing things”.
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“If the Kohatuan way of doing things was adequate, you wouldn’t have needed us to liberate you”, Maui barked back.
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People in the room gasped in shock.
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Maui realised what he had done, and tried to correct the situation, “Look. I understand your sentiments about Oans seemingly crowding capable Kohatuans out of opportunities. But look at it like this, the Oan brand has confidence and stability, and these are the key ingredients to making Kohatu strong and self-sufficient. The way we do things has proven itself time and time again and it will continue to do so. Have faith in the process and be proud of the work that you are doing - that we are doing”.
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The meeting ended and the monitor became black again. Sardonyx looked disgusted, his face thick with lines of annoyance. Opal turned to him and tried to get him to calm down while chiding him for his actions.
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“Listen, Sard”, she said, calling him by the term of endearment she had made up, “I understand that this is frustrating, but we need to face the facts: there’s a big wide world out there and needs a little more heft. The time will come for Kohatuans, you’ll see”.
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“When, Opal?” Sardonyx spat back, “The Oans don’t respect us! They don’t see us as equals!”
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“That’s not true, and even if it were, losing our cool and being blinded by our emotions won’t impress them”, Opal replied.
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“I don’t want to impress them”, Sardonyx barked, “I want them to respect us and let us run our country as we see fit!”
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“Look”, Opal replied, “Tomorrow is the opening of Malachite Palace. I want you on your best behaviour”.
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“Of course”, he said. As she left and went out of ear shot, he whispered, “mom!”
[spoiler]Hey all. This RP is closed until further notice. I plan on making it open, but I want to use the first few posts to create context around what’s happening.
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