As Liam stood at his Mistress's side, he watched as her eyes traced the room. She took in everything. Apparently, something she saw garnered his immediate attention, as she nudged him in the side. Almost imperceptible was the signal, but Liam wouldn't have missed it if his life depended on it. So subtle that most anyone else would have missed it, Liam watched the soft turn of Cat's head and folowed her mischievous glare up to the second floor. As soon as his gaze fell upon the purple-haired girl, who leaned on the railing, he averted his gaze. He thought, for just a second, that their eyes met, but he wasn't sure. "Madoka..." Liam breathed, so quiet that no one would have heard it. It was so quiet, that he wasn't even sure he'd said it. Madoka had been Liam's friend from since their childhood. She was the younger sister of his best friend in the world, and she was the one he wanted to see the least. How could he face her after what he'd done? Liam's eyes found the dirt, and the quickly closed, blinking back tears. Liam knew that Cat expected better of him, and that their relationship was tenuous at best. She at least owed him enough to feign ignorance of the affair, but Liam knew not to expect much. After all, she was a Sonic, such relationships would probably be seen as treason.
Liam kept his silence as the others spoke. He agreed with Nemiel. The Air Blades had always been friendly with the Landers, if only because they weren't Sonics, but Nem was smarter than he let on. Alexandria spoke next, greeting the others politely. Liam thought he heard his Mistress snort at her formal way of speaking, but such a thing couldn't possibly be true. After all, the Mistress was a lady, as she so frequently reminded him, and ladies didn't snort. Liam had to admit, despite his worries, things were looking to be proceeding smoothly, even if Cat had sent more than a few barefaced taunts in Ryota's direction. That being said, she was acting surprisingly civil. Liam was quite impressed. However, with a few well-placed words, that pride vanished, replaced only with fear. As Michael, who passed out the folders on the Core attacks spoke, Liam watched as his Mistress became more and more agitated. Michael continued with his report, seemingly unphased, bringing up one Jackson Glenn, a member of the Wonderland. "I have evidence that suggests he was a double agent.” With that, Liam felt the pit of his stomach drop five hundred feet into the ground. Cat's eyes snapped up to meet Micael's, a look of anger flashed across her expression for a slight second. Finally, the calm shattered, and all hell broke loose. ”You’re insane.” Her words were venomous, followed by a step forward as she crossed her arms over her chest with an unconscious motion. ”You realize that you are accusing a member of Wonderland of betrayal.” Whatever chatter existed among the Landers was silenced with her words. If there was one thing that Cat did not tolerate, it was betrayal, and they all knew it. Liam felt he almost heard a collective nervous gulping. Liam made to step forward, behind his Mistress, but he knew better. She was just as likely to round on him as she was to snap at Michael at this point. Patience.
Unfortunately, it only got worse. Michael’s chuckle combined with Ryota’s words was enough to push Cat’s patience, which was of uncertain strength at best. Her hands were clenched shut into fists, and a faint shudder unnoticeable to most others, though Liam caught it, shook down her back at the accusation. She was literally shaking with fury. Any more and she was liable to attack just about anyone for no reason whatsoever. The glare in her eyes did not reflect humor in the slightest as the deep purple of her eyes was tinged with the chaos and darkness that roamed in its gaze, as if the entire party’s fears and despairs formed themselves into her glare. ”You dare accuse those of Wonderland of acts of betrayal?” Her voice no longer held that playful tone, but instead was a mixture of disbelief and fury.
Michael cocked his head, his calculating grey eyes took in the anger of Cat. He placed his hands loosely at his sides, not even moving to defend himself, waiting for Cat to finish speaking. Once she was done, Michael continued to wait, allowing the silence to stretch out as much as possible. Liam scoffed. He did always love to show off... Liam thought, though he kept it to himself. Finally, when he deemed that everyone had had enough with the waiting, Michael calmly opened his mouth to speak. "Is that all?" He asked quietly, eyeing Cat with the utter coldness of someone who wasn't afraid of death. "Shall we proceed? Or are we going to spend all this meeting explaining to you about my usage of words? If you have paid attention, I said 'evidence that suggests.' I did not accuse anyone of anything." He stated clearly, placing his hand on the table, unphased by Cat's anger. Liam tried to catch Michael's eye. He was always one to press whatever advantage he had, usually, it was an admirable trait. Here that kind of thinking would get him killed.
Liam, on the other hand, had had enough. From the look on Cat's face, she was about to make scarves out of Michael's intestines. Silently, Liam stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Cat's shoulder. Gently, he squeezed; a reminder. Cat would know what Liam was trying to say. His actions spoke much louder than words. Cat would know what Liam meant and he didn't even have to speak. He's just trying to get a rise out of you. If you yell and scream and carry on like you want to, you will appear weak. Allow me to handle this, please. You can punish me later. Liam thought quietly to himself. Although, if he knew Cat like he did, she probably knew exactly what he was thinking. That being said. Michael had insulted Liam's Mistress. Steps had to be taken, he was a guardian after all. "Watch yourself Michael. We're here to discuss a course of action, not waste each other's time with insults and accusations. Obviously, I will see to it that a full-scale inquiry is made in the matter of Jackson Glenn. I owe you a great debt, Michael. You gave me information and assistance when I needed it most, and for that you have my thanks. However, you mark my words and you mark them well, such things mean nothing to me. The next time you insult my Mistress, I will personally see to it that it's the last thing you ever do. That is not a threat, Michael. It's a promise. I don't care how valuable that head of yours is." When he had finished speaking to Michael, Liam stared him directly in the eyes. For almost a minute, Liam didn't my blink. Liam wasn't angry, no, he was furious, but instead of the hot, loud, anger that Landers usually displayed, Liam's eyes were cold. Within the golden eyes of the Savage Nymph, there was not a shred of mercy or warmth as they locked fiercely with Michael's grey eyes. For what seemed an eternity, Liam remained locked with Michael. If he weren't my charged with keeping the peace, Liam would have leveled Lunatic's business end at him, for extra emphasis. Liam had brutalized entire gangs for less than a few paltry words on his Mistress's command. However, instead, Liam turned away, disgusted, but as he did so, he felt cold. As if all the eyes in the room were on him. Truthfully, most of them were. His little stunt had garnered him the whole room's full attentions. Some eyes, mostly the Landers, were full of pride, and others, some Sonics and the majority of the Candy Crush, held only contempt. However, in this moment, Liam held the floor. Pressing his advantage, Liam continued to speak, increasing his volume so that all would hear him.
"A statement has been made Ladies and Gentlemen. This is something we can't ignore any longer. The Core is scared of us. Laugh if you will, but I know I'm right. The Core can't risk all out war, Minimum would be completely destroyed. If such a declaration was made against even just a single gang among us. Each gang represented here, from the roaring Sonic Boom," Liam paused after he said each name, gesturing to their respective corners of the room. "To the Sweet-Toothed Candy Crush, to the High-Flying Air Blades, to the thoroughly Mad Wonderland, has more than enough power on their own to see to it that Minimum will fall, should all out war become reality. However, such a course of action is, obviously, not within Minimum's best interests. We're a threat, and they're finally treating us like one. This is no time to celebrate like we might in the old days, where we could act with impunity because they couldn't find us. Now each Gang here has enough of a presence in Minimum that the locations of our separate headquarters are at risk of discovery. Obviously the Wonderland was targeted first. I can't say we're not the rowdiest of gangs, if not the most well-known after the Sonics. Our gang has always been famous for taking all comers, but such a practice must now come to an end. Gone are the days where we can accept anyone among us as long as they wish to see Minimum burn. If they can infiltrate the Wonderland, the other Gangs are just as much at risk. Recruitment will have to become much more selective. Steps must be made to ensure our safety. We cannot risk being expunged from the inside out just when our strength is reaching its peak. As Nemiel, the leader of the Air Blades, said earlier," here Liam gestured to the man who spoke before him. "Our in-fighting is only doing the Core's work for them, and it's certainly not doing us any favors, either. I know that I am neither a Leader nor a Lieutenant, and my opinion matters little in the grand scheme of things, but this must be said and it must be said now, while I have your attention. Our only option, to see the Core, and the horrendous mockery that is Minimum, burn to the ground is to join together. Call me mad, call me a fool, call me what you will, but I have said my piece. I suggest that our primary course of action is to stop flinging around insults and accusations long enough to figure out just what can be done to facilitate such a union."