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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:55 pm
Laurence had given Karone only a bit of warning before he arrived on her doorstep because, even with his disdain for the situation, he couldn't imagine being so rude as to show up with no warning. He had texted that he needed to speak with her, confirmed she was home, and then informed that he would be over in ten minutes. When he arrived, he brushed himself off and held himself tall. He had done this walk before; he knew his worth, now he just wanted to know what she wasn't seeing in him.
He was dressed in professional clothes, seven if they were hidden behind a heavy coat. He wasn't going to half-a** this. He knocked on the door with three intent raps, deliberate and calculated. He tried to keep his face relaxed, but even then he still looked stoic. He didn't know what to expect from this meeting, and a part of him was worried about agitating her to the point of losing his chance with Gale, but his pride had been injured and he didn't know how to function if he wasn't making an effort to prove himself. He waited as patiently as he could manage, but his heart was already pounding.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:57 pm
Karone had been mildly concerned when she received Laurence’s text and when he knocked on the door she opened it at once, fearing a little that this was going to be something to do with Gale, and the fact that her sister had sounded so…happy when she had last spoken to her…if Laurence wasn’t happy, that could end up…ending very badly.
“Hey.” She took in his appearance and furrowed her brows. “Is everything okay?” Perhaps someone died? Those were dress shoes that he wore. Had he been to a funeral? “Is your brother all right? Did someone die?”
Moving over to him, the woman put a hand on his shoulder. “Tell me what’s going on, Laurence. Now.”
Perhaps she was just looking too deep into things, seeing warnings that weren’t actually there but…he was hers. It was her responsibility to make sure that he was all right, no matter the situation. This was her job.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:58 pm
A look of softness crossed Laurence’s expression, albeit briefly. He wasn’t used to people picking up on when he wasn’t doing all right. Karone seemed to genuinely care, and for a brief second he considered just letting this go and letting her decide when the time was right.
But you didn’t get anywhere in life by sitting around quietly, waiting.
“No,” he insisted after a second and shook his head. “No, it’s nothing like that. Everything’s fine.”
Except.
“Well, no,” he confessed. “Can we go inside? I want to talk to you about something. Privately.”
He remained standing tall and kept his gaze on her; despite the concern she had shown, he couldn’t afford to be weak. He was resolute in this—he needed this.
He needed to be better, stronger, and she was the only who could help him.
Or, maybe, the only one in his way.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:58 pm
Karone nodded, seeming a little relieved, though moved aside and allowed her lieutenant inside, sitting on the couch when she had closed the door once again. “Of course, Laurence. You can talk to me about anything. What’s going on?”
She gestured to the chair across from her and frowned just slightly. “Have a seat.”
Karone watched him, frown deepening. Finally she moved forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “What can I do for you, Laurence. What is it that you need? This isn’t a pleasure call, so spit it out. There’s no need for politeness or ceremony, you know that I value frankness, so come on. How have I failed you?”
Because that could be the only thing. Either he was coming to tell her goodbye, that he was purifying, or there was something else. But if it had been good news, it would have been delivered by now. “Or is this about Gale? I don’t think it is, because I haven’t heard her as happy as after your date so, I hope it’s not about her, so it has to be me.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:59 pm
Once again, Laurence shook his head. “No, it’s not about Gale.” He had followed her into the house and took a seat where she had indicated. “I find Gale quite charming. We had a very nice evening and made plans to go out again. She has nothing to do with this. I assure you, it’s all business.”
He sat tall, hands neatly posed on his knees.
“What am I doing wrong?” he asked, figuring it was best to get to the point. His heart was still pounding and he could feel his blood rushing through him but he still tried to retain his composure.
“I ran into an agent last night, a Captain. Only, he was a lieutenant when I met him, and you brought me into the Negaverse before he came into it. He has no major accomplishments, I checked. So far as I can tell, he’s just an average agent. So I want to know, what am I doing wrong? What do I have to do to impress you enough to warrant a promotion?”
He kept his voice even; it wasn’t quite devoid of emotion, but he had learned a long time ago that if he dipped into his emotional reservoir, there wasn’t any telling what would come of it. He tried his best to suffocate feelings of inadequacy and frustration; he held his breath while he waited for her answer.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:59 pm
“Well good.”
The assurance made Karone relax slightly and she watched the male, nodding slowly. “Doing…wrong?”
The question surprised her and she leaned forward slightly, listening to the rest of his statement. His argument. And finally she nodded. “I see. So you’re jealous of another agent’s promotion. And you’ve come to me to see what’s going on.” She sat back on the couch, nodding slowly and considering him. “Did you bring something to bribe me with? Food or money?”
The grin on her face spoke of teasing, but you never could be really sure sometimes.
“Do you think you’re ready for a promotion, Laurence? Are you ready for me to dump one of my other lieutenants into your lap? To give you the responsibility to make sure they’re meeting their quotas, draining energy, collecting starseeds. To make sure that they’re not getting to close to people on the side of order and thinking about wondering off and leaving the Negaverse?”
There was a sudden bitterness to her voice as she thought of Cinnabar. Her mentor. The one she had looked up to the most when Painite had disappeared. The one who had cheered her on…and who now wore the disgusting livery of a Knight.
It made bile rise into her throat.
“That’s an important lesson, Laur. Don’t leave the Negaverse. It won’t end well for you…if you ever end up with a friend on the other side, bring them to us. You don’t want to lose all that you have, do you?” Her voice grew gentle. “And I don’t want to lose you. You make me so proud.”
Finally, the woman stood and stretched. “I submitted your name for promotion a month and a half ago. All that was waiting was for you to either go to me or to one of the sovereigns and ask for it. And.” She smiled at him, looking proud. “And I’m very glad you didn’t go over my head. Not that I would have been angry if you had, but. Now I know that you find my opinion to be important, and that delights me.” Closing her eyes for a moment, Karone let the chaos ripple across her skin and then held her hand out as Cavansite. “Come. It’s time to get you more power. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for it, Amesite. Because it won’t be given if you don’t. Normally, at least.”
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:00 pm
Laurence’s eyes flashed when she spoke, when she powered up.
She had submitted his name for promotion? She was waiting for this? Waiting for him to lose his cool and come to her in a state of frustration and desperation?
He wasn’t good at getting starseeds, but he was good at everything else. He was good at taking orders, and he thought he’d be good at giving them, too. He just wanted to be recognized for being good enough.
And he didn’t have to fight her to prove it.
He didn’t waste the opportunity while it was in front of him; he powered up even as he stood and took her hand.
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