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 Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 7:00 pm
He still really had no idea what he was doing, other than being badass.
Alabaster was a lot of things, most of them a combination of charisma and self-preservation, but really, there was nothing wrong with putting himself first. He had to make a living, after all, and he had to make sure that he was good before doing anything for anyone else. Wasn't that what everyone told you on planes? Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others?
The world was Alabaster's oxygen mask and he was quite content to make sure he himself was taken care of before doing anything else.
He stood now at the edge of the park, wondering where Stillwaterite was. Their meeting had been arranged rather haphazardly, because Alabaster was still getting used to the fancy tablet thing that doubled as a communications thing, so it had taken him a bit of getting used to.
But he thought he'd managed to send the message to her.
Hopefully.
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:05 pm
Stillwaterite was, luckily, powered up and not busy. She was partaking in one of her routines of exploring more parts of the city to make for convenient teleportation points. When her communicator alerted her to a message from Alabaster, she was a range of emotions. Surprised. Pleased. Curious...Suspicious. Definitely suspicious. The man didn't seem like the type to...reach out, even if she was his commanding officer now...so she cycled back to pleased. It was good timing. She'd been meaning to touch base with him, anyways, and to continue training him and what not. The corrupt eternal teleported to the arranged meeting place, and quickly picked up on his signature. "Hey, Alabaster, good evening." She greeted, raising a hand that fell as she approached, resting on a hip instead. "Good to see you. What can I do for you, hm?" She asked, cocking her head, since he had been the one to initiate this first, tonight. "I was actually just thinking about you, so the timing's great. I got some stuff for us to go over once you're finished."
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:07 pm
Stillwaterite's appearance was a start, as usual. She looked the same as she had before, tall and beautiful and maniacal, though this last bit only showed in her eyes, really, in Steele's opinion. She was a badass lady, and this alone had him willing to schmooze her up a little.
A lot.
"Good evening, oh great - uh, not general, what are you - Eternal," said Alabaster smoothly, flashing all of his very white teeth at her in a broad smile. "I just wanted to, you know. Check in with you and everything. Share my progress so far, seeing as how you're my superior officer and all that."
His blond brows rose, however, at her next sentence.
"Some stuff to go over? What sort of stuff?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:46 pm
One brow quirked as the man turned up the charm. She wondered if he ever got tired of it. All that preening and fluffing...he couldn't be like that all the time. The corrupt raised a hand to try and forestall anymore candied words, but alas, they came out anyways. "In the eyes of the Negaverse I still hold the same rank and responsibilities as a General, so you wouldn't be wrong, but please, just Still is fine. I may be your commanding officer, but I don't need a title to go with it." She paused. "Oh...well I wanted you to share first." She smiled. "But since you're asking, I'll just get mine out of the way." Her smile disappeared as her gaze sharpened on his. "I heard you were late for your assigned duty with one Lieutenant Sinoite." Her tone dropped into levels of cool. "That tardiness is unacceptable. There is no excuse you can give me that makes it acceptable, but please, do tell why you were late." It was not a suggestion. It was a command.
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 5:55 am
The answer to Stillwaterite's unspoken question was: no, he really never did get tired of it. There were times when the schmoozing became a little too much to handle, and times when it wasn't used at all, but for the most part, schmoozing and charm were what he was good at, and therefore what he was going to do.
"Fair reasoning, your ladyship," said Alabaster, holding up his own hands in a gesture of acquiescence. "Still it is. It's a good name, but of course you should have one, since you are leagues beyond those of my level."
He flashed her another brilliant smile that faded almost at once at the look on Stillwaterite's face, even more so at what followed. Alabaster felt a surge of unhelpful outrage burst through his chest, spreading outwards, because really -
That ******** Sinoite.
He'd tattled. There was no other explanation.
Alabaster hastily slapped the smile back onto his face. "I admittedly got a little lost in the streets trying to find where he was," he said quickly. "But I was there within ten minutes, and I thought I was quite adept at working with the youma-lings."
They'd also tried to eat his legs, but that was beside the point.
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2018 2:12 pm
Ladyship? Alright. She'd accept that one. It was funny, and it wasn't wrong, either. She was the lady of ships. Admittedly, there was something satisfying about seeing that show smile wipe right off her lieutenant's face. She was briefly concerned she felt joy in it, but moved on. "If you're unfamiliar with the area, then you plan ahead." Still replied. "If you're still unsure, call me." Her smile was patronizing now. " I'll escort you to your destination." Like a mother who needed to make sure her errant child got on the school bus. The smile slipped away quick once more. "This organization is a military, Alabaster. You do what you're told when you're told to do it. Not at your own leisure, lieutenant. You want more flexibility? Work towards a promotion. Your actions reflect on me as your commanding officer, and I will not tolerate sloppy behavior." A pause. "And just to make sure the clarity of this understanding is crystal, this is your punishment. Time is a very valuable thing, and you wasted Sinoite's by being late. As such, starting Monday, you will collect his quota and your's for one week." The corrupt raised a hand to forestall the protest she was sure was coming. "When you collect his, you will turn it over to him, and I will know, because I'll be in touch. If you fail to do this, the punishment will increase to two weeks. If you slack off again, it will go to three, and if you want to hit a third strike, Alabaster, the following consequence will impact your civilian life." Admittedly, Still was somewhat surprised by herself. Listening to herself, she never thought she could come across so...stern. So easily, none the less. Alabaster was like an eel though. He'd slip every way he could to get out of something, so she knew she needed to pin him multiple times to get him to stay. "Is that understood, lieutenant?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 2:45 pm
Alabaster could feel the outrage sliding back in. He'd been all of ten minutes late, and now he was being reprimanded for this, all because of some little upstart brat who, while confusing and vaguely interesting, was apparently going to just throw him to the wolves to save his own skin. Not that Alabaster could say anything to this, because he did it for himself constantly, but that was different. No one was supposed to do that to him.
Alabaster's jaw dropped, mouth agape. He snapped it back shut again as Stillwaterite held up her hand, the argument dying in his throat.
No, it's not okay, it's definitely NOT okay. That stupid damned brat. That obnoxious little lieutenant who kept making fun of me.
He cleared his throat, forcing his smile to be as calm and serene as possible.
"Yes, crystal clear, your ladyship."
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:23 pm
She eyed him for a few moments longer before she relaxed her scolding on him. Alright. She did the thing, now it was time to wait and see what the result would be. Since she laid into him pretty hard, and gotten all of her points across, Still was more than ready to move onto other things. "Good." She replied, and it was then her expression lightened back to good natured curiosity. After all, Alabaster did contact her first, and that wasn't to get reprimanded, she was sure. "Now that we addressed that, please, tell me of your progress so far, otherwise." She said in earnest. "If you got any questions for me, too, please feel free to ask. I want to help you out as much as possible, and it doesn't matter whether it's big or small."
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:27 am
He was going to find Sinoite when all of this was over and he was going to throttle him. Or tip him into a bush. Or maybe tug on that annoyingly elegant looking hair of his or something because this was ridiculous and humiliating and did he mention ridiculous.
Alabaster did not get reprimanded, Alabaster did the reprimanding.
He forced his face to remain in his usual bright smile, slapping it on for Stillwaterite the way he did for his clients.
"I've been gathering energy, I met the quota twice over last week," he said proudly, which was about seventy-five percent true, give or take. "I haven't really met any other Negaverse agents yet, or senshi, though I think I'd like to, just so I can see what they're like."
But not fight them, because that would be terrible.
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 1:18 pm
She was aware of that about seventy-five percent true thing. Apparently Alabaster hadn't learned that there was something of a paper trail so to speak. She could and was keeping tabs on him. As long as he continued to meet minimum though, she'd leave him be about it. "You've only been gathering your quota from the kinds of people I told you though, correct?" She asked. She had been very explicit in informing the lieutenant that he was only to rip star seeds from people up to no good, and if he was going to gather energy from anyone then it was only to be a little bit before moving on. Unless they were also up to no good, then by all means, drain them. "Ah." The corrupt replied, and tapped a finger to her lip. "I can understand. So you want to meet more agents? I can arrange for you to patrol with a Captain I'm friends with if you'd like. Aside from that...ask around! There's many agents who want a partner to patrol with...and for when you do run into senshi or knights...at your rank it's always best to have back up."
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:56 am
Alabaster looked almost affronted for a moment before hastily rearranging his features back into an expression of charming confidence. "Yes, I've been following the guidelines very well - " And this, at least, was true. Alabaster's face took on a distasteful expression, nose wrinkling. "Though a few of the...less reputable places I've been are a little questionable."
He didn't like getting dirty or getting down in the dirt with anything or anyone. This was why he'd become a lawyer - well, part of it. He had assistants for a reason.
His smile brightened again. "Yes, I think that'd be very, uh, fortuitous," said Alabaster, eyes alight with curiosity - and something else, something darker. "Very helpful to me, I think. I'd like to meet others in the Negaverse to see if there is anything I can learn from them."
Or take from them. But that was beside the point.
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 7:20 pm
Still beamed at him, genuinely pleased to hear it. "I'm glad. Please keep up the good work!" She laughed a bit. "Well...yes, but look at it this way. The more you go to those kinds of places and clean up, the better they'll become over time, hm?" The corrupt watched him as he replied, noting the shift in the man's eyes, but said nothing of it currently. As much as Alabaster was learning about the Negaverse, she was also learning him (and continuing to work on reading others). So far she knew what she was dealing with. A man who wanted more, who went full throttle as long as there were tangible promises and results. "Alright. I'll get in touch with Captain Harmotome then, and she'll contact you about meeting for a patrol in the future. As for others, don't be afraid to use your communicator. That's what it's there for." Stillwaterite trailed off for a moment, looking over the man's shoulder in thought before she focused back on him. "Say, Alabaster...do you have any combat experience?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 5:54 pm
Alabaster positively preened under the praise she was heaping on him. He could have done with hearing it a great deal more, but since it was few and far between these days, he was going to take what he could get and like it - which he did. Profusely.
"Yes, very true," he said with a satisfied nod. "And I'm pretty certain I'll do just fine, and then all will be well."
And if it wasn't, then, well...he'd just blame Sinoite again.
Alabaster's grin widened, and then promptly fell away again. He hastily slapped it back on, trying to dredge up a convincing look for her question, which had suddenly made him feel like the bottom was about to drop out of his stomach. Alabaster's fingers tightened on the top of his cane.
"Combat?" he repeated, and cleared his throat, trying to maintain his level of confidence. "Uh. I mean. Sure. Everyone does, right?"
He smiled brightly at her.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:39 pm
Black eyes flicked to his face, noting the grin that faltered, and then to his fingers, which tightened their hold on his cane. A corner of Still's lips pulled up. "So...no, then." She replied cheerfully, and smiled in a reassuring manner. "It's okay to be honest, Alabaster." The corrupt replied. "I didn't think you did, but I was giving you the benefit of the doubt." She stated matter of factly. "Not everyone does. I didn't when I first entered the Negaverse, but I'm training now. You're going to start training, too. As a lieutenant, you have a speed and power boost, but those perks are honestly worthless unless you know how to use them. You can be a threat, even at your stage, if you work at it...so, I'm also going to ask Harmotome to start instructing you as well."
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 6:30 pm
Alabaster wilted.
Then he hastily straightened up again, pulling his shoulders back, trying to look as though he hadn't just admitted - unintentionally - that he was far less physically attentive than he pretended to be. Stillwaterite could probably kick his a** and then some, but admitting that would have been terrible.
"Yes, well," he said and cleared his throat. "I mean, it's always good to have, uh, more training though, right? Good to have more practice, even if I already, uh, know a few things. I'm still learning and all that, but uh - yes, I'd be glad to practice with this Harmotome person."
Alabaster smiled brightly, charmingly, at Stillwaterite.
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