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 Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:32 pm
Backdated to March 7th, 2022. It had been long enough, Bloodstone decided. There was only so much waiting he could do, especially after he had been made to wait. He knew his job had taken him away from the Negaverse and his duties there, but he was in a much better position now that they had their own hospital.
He was a General now. He was trusted by the Queen. He could basically do whatever he wanted. Well, he supposed it had to be within reason. But he knew of his own abilities and knew what he was capable of handling.
He also knew what his subordinates were capable of handling.
Sure, it was probably cruel to Carnallite, but she would get over it. Eventually. If she didn’t try poisoning his coffee.
“Rose, I need to speak with you. Come to my office immediately,” Bloodstone said into his communicator pen. He had half the mind to summon Roselite there at that moment, but he didn’t want Rosielite to spill coffee or paperwork or whatever else he was doing at the moment.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:38 pm
Roselite was cleaning.
The castle required a lot of it, being old and decrepit as it was. They used it so often, trying to keep it moderately neat and uncluttered seemed to be a worthwhile task. The computer lab needed dusting. The training rooms needed picking up. The medical bay needed organizing. Roselite occasionally wondered if the Queen might like her throne room seen to from time to time, but he knew better than to go in there without permission.
When Bloodstone called for him, Roselite was in some other General’s office, straightening up upon request. Many of the higher ups took advantage of his willingness to assist with menial tasks. Roselite didn’t mind. He liked to feel useful.
“I’m on my way,” he spoke back into his communicator.
He left to make his way to Bloodstone’s office, his little wisp friend bobbing along over his shoulder. It took a few minutes to reach the correct hall since he couldn’t teleport directly there, but he arrived in as timely a manner as possible. Roselite knocked politely before letting himself in. The wisp fluttered in after him, ducking into the shadows beneath the coffee station.
“Would you like some coffee, Sir?” Roselite asked out of habit.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:58 pm
While Bloodstone allowed Roselite to do whatever he wanted, he wasn’t particularly impressed by the other Generals using his subordinate for their maid-work. And yet, he found himself not wanting to upset Roselite by telling him he couldn’t clean… if that was what he wanted.
He looked up when Roselite entered and watched as he and the little creature that liked to follow him around entered and shut the door behind them.
“No,” he said, paused and corrected himself for Roselite’s sake. “No, thank you.”
Roselite usually had a more positive reaction to politeness, as superfluous as Bloodstone often thought it was.
“You’ve been a Lieutenant for a while now. And many of the other Generals comment on your willingness to assist them with paperwork and… other things.” Such as cleaning. A task that should be left to the youma.
“I think it’s about time you’re given more responsibilities,” he said as he stood from his chair. “More important responsibilities,” he amended, because Roselite was already doing a lot.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:12 pm
Roselite didn’t mind Bloodstone’s brusque tone, but he appreciated the attempt at politeness. It proved that, despite Bloodstone’s severe demeanor, he did have the capacity for kindness. A smile twitched onto Roselite’s face, but he was careful not to let it grow, lest Bloodstone get the wrong idea and think him amused more than grateful.
He’d had more than a year to acclimate to the Negaverse, and to his superior officer. Bloodstone rarely made him nervous anymore, even if there was a part of Roselite that still wondered what he’d done to make Bloodstone think he had potential.
But then Bloodstone mentioned more responsibilities, and Roselite couldn’t suppress the sudden rush of anxiety. Had he done something wrong? Was he not doing enough? No, that couldn’t be it. Bloodstone rarely had complaints about him. Roselite forced himself to think it through before letting himself panic. Bloodstone mentioned his time as a Lieutenant. That seemed purposeful. If Bloodstone wanted him to take on more responsibilities than a Lieutenant, then that had to mean—
“I… um…”
Roselite shut his mouth and swallowed. He didn’t want to stammer. He’d gotten better at that. He wasn’t confident, but he was comfortable. He’d found a place to belong within the Negaverse. He truly enjoyed his duties — the ones he was given, and the ones he took on for himself.
“”What… what are you saying?” he asked, before he let himself jump to too many conclusions.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:16 pm
“I’m saying,” Bloodstone started, moving around his desk so he could stand in front of Roselite. He kept his hands behind his back for a moment, before casually lifting a hand to brush some of Roselite’s bangs out of his eyes. After which he took a step to move past him towards the door.
“It’s about time you receive your promotion.” It was a long time coming, and he wanted to make sure his subordinates had the best resources available to them.
He just happened to be starting with Roselite first. Even though Carnallite had been in the Negaverse longer and was arguably a much more competent agent.
“Come with me. We’re going to see General King Jet.” After all, Jet owed him for helping to rescue him. Surely he would be okay with helping him promote a Lieutenant he’d worked with before.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:20 pm
He could have melted, maybe, if Bloodstone touched his hair any longer. Bloodstone didn’t touch often, much less demonstrate anything that could be considered physical affection. If Roselite ever found Bloodstone’s hands on him, it was for a purpose — comfort, or protection.
This was… comfort, Roselite thought. And, perhaps, the barest shred of affection.
Color suffused Roselite’s cheeks. He swallowed again when Bloodstone stepped past him, then straightened his posture in an attempt to seem less meek as he turned and followed.
His wisp stayed in the office, gently bobbing beneath the coffee station.
With his heart pounding a rapid beat behind his ribs, Roselite trailed after Bloodstone. General King Jet was kind. Roselite liked working with him in the Rift, though he hadn’t had the opportunity to do so since. Now Jet was one of their Sovereigns. Roselite felt the same bubbling of anticipation to be brought before him as he did being brought before Axinite. Jet’s power was enormous. Heavy. Almost overwhelming.
Roselite wanted to ask, You really think I’m ready?
But he knew Bloodstone wouldn’t second guess himself.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:26 pm
Bloodstone waited long enough to hear Jet say they could enter before pushing the door open. He walked into the office with purpose, knowing Roselite was right behind him.
“Roselite needs to be promoted to Captain,” Bloodstone said as he stood attentively, which was as polite as he could bring himself to be. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the Queen would promote him as well. Then he wouldn’t need Jet or anyone else to assist him with his promotions. Jet looked from Bloodstone to Roselite as they entered, and he placed the report he was working on to the side and stood from his desk.
To Bloodstone he gave somewhat of an exasperated glance, but when his eyes settled on Roselite he offered him a welcoming smile.
“I was wondering when we would see you promoted. You were a great help in the Rift. I think you’ll do well with more power,” he said. Bloodstone seemed impatient, and he didn’t want Roselite to feel uncomfortable, and he hated small talk, so he stepped out from around the desk.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:30 pm
Roselite tried to adopt Bloodstone’s attentive posture, but he couldn’t suppress the occasional nervous twitch or anxious shift of his feet.
“Thank you, Sir. I… I’ll do my best.”
He wanted to deny it. Not the promotion — that would be rude — but the idea that he would make a good Captain. Power was one thing. He was fine with power; maybe it would help him be a better version of himself. The authority that came with it was something else entirely.
Captains had subordinates. Captains gave orders. Captains issued punishments, if they were warranted. Roselite couldn’t imagine himself doing those things. Guiding a Lieutenant, maybe. Making them feel comfortable. Welcoming them. But he would never be the sort of Captain for someone else that Bloodstone had been for him.
A lump formed in his throat. Roselite swallowed it down. He looked between Bloodstone and Jet. They were both successful. They both took on responsibilities that Roselite hadn’t been able to face yet.
And they both believed in him.
Roselite’s next inhale stuttered in his throat, but he curled his fingers into his palms and tried to hold himself steady.
“I’m ready.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:32 pm
Bloodstone turned before Jet could reach Roselite, and he placed his hand over Roselite’s chest. It was obvious that he would be doing the actual promotion. He only needed Jet for the extra power and to not turn Roselite into a youma.
He could feel Jet’s hand on his shoulder, could feel the Chaos swirling and growing stronger, more focused. With Roselite saying he was ready, he sunk his hand into his chest. With a surgeon’s precision, he located and took hold of the starseed. If Jet was being honest, he was still a little miffed that Bloodstone brought a Lieutenant with him to help corner Ganymede when he’d told him not to bring anyone that wasn’t a Captain, Super Senshi, or above. But he didn’t want to make Roselite suffer because of any gripe he might have with Bloodstone.
He was careful to focus enough Chaos. Not too much and not too little. He knew how these things worked by now. He’d had enough experience with Axinite, and with the Queen, to navigate a promotion.
He waited and watched, carefully monitoring Bloodstone’s progress. And when it was over and a new Captain was standing before him, Jet took a step back to offer him a smile.
And some chocolate or crackers and a drink of either water or a sports drink.
“How do you feel?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:38 pm
There was fear, and pain. Neither was unfamiliar. Roselite remembered the pain of his initiation. This was like that, despite the control Jet exerted, and the care Bloodstone gave him. Precision and gentleness could only spare him so much. The power flowed through him, rose in him, until Roselite could no longer remain stoic and attentive.
He gasped. He whimpered. Tears sprung into his eyes. He thought he might burst apart, that it might be too much, that he might not be ready after all.
Then, just when he cried out in alarm and misery, the pain fell away, and he was no longer a Lieutenant.
Roselite pitched forward. He wished he could stand upright in a show of pride, but it was either find something to lean against or collapse where he stood. Bloodstone’s chest was sturdy and firm, and surprisingly warm for such a cold man.
“I… I’m sorry, I…”
The stammering again. Roselite hated it. He hated his nerves. He hated his failings. He wanted to be better, but didn’t know how.
“I feel… tired,” he said. He tried to straighten, tried to take his weight off of Bloodstone, but his feet wouldn’t support him on their own. He was barely able to reach for the food and drink Jet offered, taking the water and chocolate. “And… weak, but…”
Strong, in a way. He had power, he simply felt incapable of harnessing it at the moment.
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2022 8:41 pm
Bloodstone expected the pain to be too much for someone gentle like Roselite, so when he collapsed forward, Bloodstone was ready to catch him. He kept one hand steady at his waist so Roselite had at least one arm free. His other hand settled on Roselite’s elbow, keeping him upright that way.
He didn’t respond to Roselite’s apology, but made sure he was able to take what was offered to him by the General King. It was going to take some time to get used to the power, which meant he had every intention of letting Roselite rest in his office. “Take some time to rest,” Jet urged, because he knew how much it took out of everyone. Even Bloodstone should be feeling the effects of transferring Chaos to Roselite. Maybe he was stronger than Jet had been as a General. Or maybe he was putting up a very good front for Roselite.
Jet really hoped they weren’t going to start making out.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” he said. Bloodstone nodded he guessed in thanks, and watched as he teleported out of his office with Roselite in tow.
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