Albite had actually wanted him for something. Needed, perhaps. Insisted it'd be a good thing, even.
Considering how their meetings usually went, he wasn't so convinced.
On one hand, the excitement conveyed over text implied that it wasn't another horticultural problem, which came as a relief. Maybe his peppers were growing proper now that the blight problem was gone, in part thanks to that new White Moon princess that still looked strangely familiar in a way that made his stomach flop. Maybe he wanted to show off something from their Citadel house. That was fine. He could entertain it and excuse himself.
What wasn't fine, and what wedged in the thought that he was unconvinced this was good, was the place he was being all-but-dragged to.
"A general-sovereign?" Fulgurite's voice was all but a hiss as he kept pace with Albite. "What do you mean Hess?"
The ******** did she want with him?
... And why had he also mentioned cats?
"What's going on, All-Bite?"
The way he said Albite's name might have been filled with all bark, all bite, but instead the expression he wore was more ... dour. Perhaps even nervous to some degree; he didn't really want to know what was important enough to gather all of this attention. If Fulgurite had the choice, he'd just fade into the shadows of the Negaverse and stay there. Though that would mean he lost access to seeing Nectaris, and he wasn't sure what he thought about that.
Shiningamisgirlx
a-disgruntled-dragon
Meigheix
The Space Cauldronx
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 12:57 pm
"Yes Hess, because I can't call her Mrs. Soverign. Hessonite's way too cute n fun for any of that nonsense, and don't let any of those Spec-ops spooky rumors freak you out! She's the ******** best, you'll see--" and he was rolling his eyes even as he was reaching back to snag a handful of blue to drag along behind him, all that loud complaint and dour dissent. Albite smiled for it, "Oh ye of little faith in me, c'mon fulloffear, it's a surprise -- and surprises aren't supposed to be ruined by me running my mouth!" was practically chuckling as he led him down corridor one, into hall two, before the wide expanse of Hessonites door -- she'd made it very, very, very clear to him not to ever telport in, and he'd taken that to heart. "Listen, do you really think I'd be walking you all by myself into trouble?"
He tried for puppy-dog eyes even as he soundly knocked, the look he got in turn made himt hink that Fuglurite maybe, just possibly, had some dobuts.
"Okay, okay, scratch that -- jeeze -- do you really think you haven't earned a really good reward. Like, think of all the hard work, n sacrifice, n--uhmn--whatever other elseness you've put in after ******** knows how long a time..." and Albite had actually paid attention to everything Fulgruite'd written down not so long ago, back when he'd been asking for info, n accolades, and accomplishments. He was s**t at scouring their own database, at looking through everything that Sylvite had put into it before she'd gone rogue and tottered off with a very valuable princess in hand.
s**t because reading her soft bubbly words made his eyes all misty, and s**t because pouring over *years* of open information was a trick n a half -- he supposed he could've asked for paper records if any existed? But he wasn't sure whose hands they belonged in now. Certainly not his!
So he'd taken what he had, what he didn't, what he knew ---
That Fulgurite was loyal enough that he'd stayed even when his bossette had gone, that Albite trusted him enough to have him at his most personal affairs, that Syrus spoke highly of his abilities in combat -- and Syrus doubted everyone about everything -- cautious little ice b***h that he was, so Albite had to take some of that to heart.
N yeah, maybe Fulgurite didn't want s**t to do with the little minor nuisance things, and was always kinda sour in the face, but he did his duties, he helped when he was called and he followed through on things when asked. Even when those asks were silly, he still did his due diligence.
It helped that Albite liked him, genuinely, even if he didn't feel like he knew him well as he should've, well as some of the rest, he hoped this Surprise would help break down some of that wall by removing entirely the power imbalance between them. He knew it was probably much easier to be friends with an equal than it was someone who could lord their position over them, n fulg's was both capable and confident enough to start bringing in members of his own.
"Whatever, point is? You deserve what's coming."
Fulgurite had earned this, Albite was sure of it, even as he shoved the doors open after announcing his presence, with auras, knocking, and all.
the_scowling_cat
Meighei
The Space Cauldron
Seiana_ZI
Shiningamisgirl
Ruthless Consumer
Offline
Meighei
Bishoujo-senshi Mahou-shoujo
Offline
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 2:36 pm
“Oh, you certainly deserve what’s coming.”
Tama’s voice was playful as he watched Albite practically drag Fulgurite in. The Mauvian had been sitting pretty just inside the door waiting for them. He had intended to open the door for them — kind of like a butler for Hessionite — but, of course, Albite had invited himself in. Well, at least he hadn’t teleported in.
While Tama certainly wanted to toy with the water senshi more, he needed to consult with Haymitch. He wanted to know if the cat had done this before. If not, he’d fill the kitten in.
Haymitch was not sitting pretty when the door opened. He was sprawled on the floor, back legs in the air at skewed angles, trying to lick the inside of his shoulder joint and just. Kept. Getting. Neck. Fur. Just because it was fall didn't mean his winter coat had to come in already! It was long. It was thick, and it was in the waaaaaaayyyy. The sounding of the door startled him, Haymitch spazzing out on his back for a hot minute before he rolled over and stared at Albite and Fulgurite.
"Gettin' promoted is a great honor, Fulgy! Be happy!" he said, tail wagging back and forth with a shower of fur. Hayhay had done it before - was it once or twice now... - but he figured Fulgurite would pick which cat he'd want to do the magic bit. He was just here to watch, and help if needed, hehe.
Haymitch stood up and circled Albite's legs a few times, before turning and jumping up onto Hessonite's desk. Being on the floor sucked okay. Esspecially when you were only two feet tall if you stood on your hindlegs, and that hurt! He was getting off topic. Or his thoughts were, it wasn't important!
note to self, hayhay don't eat the catnip treats before things!!!
"You even get you're pick of kitty to do the deed!"
Meighei
Shiningamisgirl
Seiana_ZI
The Space Cauldron
a-disgruntled-dragon
Offline
Meighei
Bishoujo-senshi Mahou-shoujo
Offline
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2022 3:28 pm
“You’ve done this before, right?”
Tama sat his regular butt on the desk next to Haymitch, whispering in his ear.
“I mean, I’ve done a corrupted senshi… Just not an eternal. Well, I did do one eternal Dark Mirror, but those are complicated in their own weird mirror way.”
He seemed a bit less sure then he was usually. He’d love to be picked. He also was loath to make a fool of them both before a General-Sovereign. If the other Mauvian wanted, he’d take lead or follow.
Hessonite wore a very thin lipped smile as Albite again intruded into her office. He knocked, yes, but hopefully one day he would learn manners, or she might just have to give him some personal lessoning. Her eyes flickered to Tama who decided that it was acceptable to sit on her desk while not in his cat form, that. Would require a lesson in manners too. This. Was not off to a good start.
At least this meeting was pre-arranged, and it was for something that she agreed on, not a corruption of some random person. This was a promotion that was well deserved and far overdue. “Albite, Fulgurite, welcome. I’m glad to see you, but Albite, again. Knock and wait for an answer next time. I’m glad you’re not just barging into places now, but doors are closed for reasons, and you need to wait before you come in. I don’t want to have to explain this lesson again.”
Though her lips were still in a placid smile, her tone was cool, and there was an obvious threat in it.
“Tama, I expect better of you, off the desk. I don’t let people sit on my desk unless they are invited.” And he hadn’t been. Cats were a different story. Mauvians who were in their cat form were cute and irresistible, like Haymitch here. Reaching out, she scratched under the kitten’s chin.
“If you want to stay on the desk, go back to my sweet kitty. Now. Fulgurite, I take it that you know why you’re here, obviously since the cats let it out of the bag, but. You’ve been recommended for a promotion, and I have to say that I agree, and I wish it hadn’t taken quite so long. You’re a valuable member of the Negaverse, and you deserve this.”
Meighei
Shiningamisgirl][/quote] [quote="Seiana_ZI
a-disgruntled-dragon
The Space Cauldron
Captain
Offline
Meighei
Bishoujo-senshi Mahou-shoujo
Offline
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:48 am
Tama smiled as Albite was told off by Hessonite for barging in. He had been so patiently waiting to open the door and the senshi had ruined that. Would he ever learn to enter a room properly?
But then Tama’s snide smile was wiped off his face as the general-sovereign admonished him, too.
Tama dejectedly was shooed off the desk. He straightened his clothes making sure they weren’t getting caught on his tail.
“Sorry, my lady. It won’t happen again.” The Mauvian certainly didn’t want any lessons today.
At least, not in front of the whole group.
For a moment, he thought of returning to cat form. He was admittedly a bit jealous of the chin scratches Haymitch was getting. But he might need his hands for what came next.
Albite was speaking about his accomplishments, which meant that the himbo had actually paid attention to what he had written. That was a good thing? A bad thing? He wasn't sure; what had Albite done with that information to be dragging him to have a meeting with Hessonite of all people? What did a general-sovereign want with him--and why did they want with him? He was part of an older guard and he was fairly sure he was just present, though perhaps that was an extraction of his general feelings.
He sure was present.
"Deserve it? That can mean a bunch of things, Abs."
Tama's voice caught his attention first after Albite barged in--and he caught the way Hessonite's face twitched though he wasn't sure he should actually be looking at her--and of course, he was still doing the vague and playful deserve thing. Suited his personality. Haymitch let the cat out of the bag though, perhaps the literal cat out of the bag, and Fulgurite instinctually choked on air.
Oh.
Promoted.
He did his best to bury his shock, shimmying his shoulders and standing up a bit straighter where he stood next to Albite. It did, admittedly, help to watch both Albite and Tama get scolded by Hessonite; eyes were not entirely on him and his gagging, and seeing the two of them get scolded by a general-sovereign as opposed to him was in some degree comforting if not amusing...
But he was being addressed.
Probably should-- "I wasn't sure why Albite was dragging me to a general-sovereign's office," he shifted, pulling at his collar, "but I am glad to hear it was for a good reason." Wasn't really a good reason. Was it a good reason? Maybe they would leave him alone; maybe they would expect more. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to have his own team like Albite now? ******** he hoped not-- "I appreciate you acknowledging my worth to the Negaverse, and how long I've been here."
How long since Alois Bischofite and Laurelite had stolen his life from him--
He glanced at Tama, and with a sheepish smile, offered, "I don't wanna seem like I'm favoring anyone," because that might cause more problems and maybe give him more trouble if that cat decided that the favoring meant he was a problem or worth paying more attention to-- "Do either of you need more experience with leveling?"
What would Nectaris think--
"I've been super for a while. What got me recommended?"
Shiningamisgirl
a-disgruntled-dragon
Meighei
The Space Cauldron
Seiana_ZI
Codebreaking Conversationalist
Offline
Shiningamisgirl
Ruthless Consumer
Offline
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 10:15 pm
“You know how valuable I think your lessons are Hess, but—-maybe I’ll practice on Aqua summor? M’glad I’m gettin better bout not barging in tho!” Albite was chagrined, winced and nodded simultaneously while ensuring said door was very much super duper closed behind him —Waiting to be told to enter before opening the door was like remembering to breathe before speaking, he could totally do it! It’d just take a bunch more practicing on his part.
At fulgurites ask he perked up, only briefly sticking his tongue out for Tama’s sly little look before answering the water Senshi outright. His smile soft but eyes all full of intent for where Fulgurite stood trying to melt into the carpet.
Did Fulgs really think he hadn’t been paying attention at all, after this time? That just because he wa too busy to summon him every day — that he hadn’t followed through on each annoying ask he’d made of the man. He didn’t just invite *anyone* to hear his vows after all.
“You’re kidding, right? Like — besides putting up with me? That’s a feat to be sure Fulgurite, m’not an easy yolk to be under….n every now n then I do read things—or—okay, I have them read to me? There’s a voice function on the tablets! Like some speak n say s**t—“ he was proud of himself for having Headache show it to him! N then of course having Emmy clarify it’s function was for the purpose of listening to things be read all robotone — really helpful for him!
“You’re a team player, you’ve supported onboarding our new members, you’re overqualified in your field, and you go on every mission you’re asked; including the ones in the Rift—-“ and Sylvite would’ve wanted it, he didn’t say that out loud, not just then, didn’t think it best to broach ‘no longer here’ traitors n the like with Hess; but when Sylvite had been a General? A decade of good work, a strong team underneath her that she treasured.
People that she loved.
She wanted her people strong, protected, and if she wasn’t around to do it anymore? Then Albite would be. Even if he could only do it for the one. They all deserved more than what a rank up could give them — more than what Albite could provide, and if all he got of her brood was Fulgurite? Then ******** - Fulgurite was gonna shine.
He’d been around too long to have to worry about answering to more people above him..people who could die…who could leave….
“I know I didn’t ask you if you wanted this, figured I didn’t have to because you deserve to do more n manage a quota n check my wedding invites for spelling errors,” and there was the remembering to breathe part, he paced in place nigh comically, listed reasons on the one hand twice over with the same fingers — “If you have your own team, if you bond with a cat, if you continue to help me and Faustite manage our conjoined tribe? That’s all up to you....*speaking of*….might as well choose both..or all? Like. With the cats. I’m biased cause Hayby is my beautiful bonded boy! But Cryolite speaks highly of Tama, n so does Alkmene, n Cry’s a picky little ice stick; of course there’s no one better to oversee these things then Hess herself.” Hunting for brownie points, Albite preened, batting his lashes shamelessly, abs namesaked n all on display to appease.
He’d gotten two GK’s to attend his Eternaling! It was only fair Fulgurite got two cats after all this time!
