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 Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:06 am
Noctua cradled the medal that Alkaid had given her in her hands as though it were a glass bird's egg. The medal that Alkaid had given her. That Alkaid had given her. Noctua's heart soared at the thought that the woman whom she had been studying. The woman whos steps she had retraced over and over until the scent went cold. The woman that she had though passed into myth and legend. Alkaid had been standing close enough to Noctua to be able to touch her. And that she had seen how hard Noctua fought and scraped and bled and rewarded her for it. Noctua was a little girl again, hitching a ride with a friendly officer who brought her to Negaspace with a smile and let her run off with a wave. He didn't ask about the medal that she kept close to her heart, but he did notice it and gave her an approving nod. Noctua's heart soared ever higher with the approval of those around her. Like she was finally living up to something. Finally making something of herself. And yet all that praise -- even the praise of Alkaid -- meant nothing alongside that of -- "General Benitoite!" There was strength in her voice that belied the slightness of her form and the breathless heaving of her chest. Had she been running? She must have, or else she wouldn't be leaning so hard against the doorframe on her general's office. The exertion caught up with her, however, in the aching of her joints and the burning in her lungs that stole her voice. It didn't, however, impeded her smile, bright and wide against the darkness of her flesh, as she extended her arm to show her general the medal of Highest Honor that she had been presented.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:57 pm
From where he sat he looked up, hearing feet pounding on the floor toward his office, he wasn't surprised when he saw someone at his door. He was, perhaps a little bit, surprised by who was standing there. A smile graced his fair features as he stood slowly. Motioning her into his office. "Noctua, it's good to see you. Have a seat, you look tired from your run." She had never been one for much energy, as she was a bit too thin to be healthy, but he was glad to have heard her running.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Already looking to see if there was anything he could do, any way he could help her, he looked out for his own but above others in the Negaverse he looked out for his team. She was part of that team.
"You aren't having any problems are you?" Worried she might be having some sort of issue, though that seemed unlikely given how much she was smiling. He did want to make sure though, he liked to make sure his team was all doing well and safe - happy.
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:15 pm
Noctua fell into the seat that was offered to her, grin never once leaving her lips. However, she did need to catch her breath before she could even begin to tell Benitoite what had to so elated. Truthfully, this was more passion and zeal than she had visibly exhibited in... well ever. Certainly more energy. Still, her birdcage chest was heaving and it needed to slow before she could tell her story, so instead she held out the tiny glittering medal to him, the five-pointed crystal gleaming in the office light. When she finally did speak, her voice was strained and thin. But despite that weakness, there was still unspeakable pride as she spoke. "No, no problems. Well, none except for the usual sleeplessness." Her laugh was dry and mirthless, but there was a small grin on her lips, for whatever that was worth. "I came to tell you... since we split up at Portunus... Alkaid... Alkaid gave this to me, Benitoite. For outstanding service at Portunus." Finally, she caught her breath and was able to stand again. Though she was a head taller than Benitoite, she still stood submissively before him. "When I requested the transfer to your command, I promised you that you wouldn't regret taking me on. That I would find a way to make you proud..." she paused, brows suddenly knitted into a worried line over her pale eyes. "Did I... did I make you proud... with this?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 9:41 pm
That was good, that nothing else was wrong. He did wish he could help her with her sleep issues, no one should lack sleep like she did.
As he let her talk he felt his smile widen, a look of fondness overtaking his features. Tilting his head a bit he sat himself back into his seat. "You made me proud before this. This does make me proud, don't doubt that, but I was proud to have you come onto my team before this. I've seen you fight and I've seen your dedication. You're strong and a good fighter. I'd have you guard my back in a fight...and I'd trust my back would be safe." If his back wasn't safe it would be because she was unconscious or dead. He trusted her.
"Would you like to go out for something to eat? To celebrate." He explained as he watched her curiously, wondering how she'd react to the offer. "My treat. You've done well - very well. And it's been awhile since I've treated one of my own to a meal." He tried to remember to invite them over every so often, when Aiden wasn't home, so they could all talk and have dinner. They could get to know each other, make connections, and be civilians around each other. It helped, he felt, to build bonds between the members of his team.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:41 pm
The widening smile of her general eased the tension from her shoulders and her brows. She visibly relaxed, however, at his reassurance. More than that... she softened. Her smile, the rigidity in her shoulders, and wild light in her eyes. It all softened into something more tempered and controlled. If Noctua knew how to preen, she would be. "I'm honored that you think so highly of me Benitoite," came her gentle response. In truth, she would die protecting the man who had given her meaning again. The offer to go to dinner threw her off, however. Noctua didn't get invited out. Gisela certainly did not. The only time she was asked out for dinner was by her parents as well... that didn't count. But then again this wasn't a relationship like any other she'd had before. Not that she'd had many outside of her family. The closest person to her was Apricot, her orange tabby. "Um... yes. Yes, I'd love to," Noctua rose as she spoke, tucking her new medal back to her chest as she did so. "I don't eat much so... I'm a cheap date." This time there was a small measure of mirth to her voice.
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Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:56 pm
He was glad to see her face, her body, relax and come to some sort of release of tension. He worried for his team as a whole, for good reason, but she was a special case as he knew she had issues with sleep and such. He just wished he could help her, somehow, but he wasn't sure how and he didn't know how to approach the topic with her. He needed to though, to find out the cause for it. Not this time though, this time they would be celebrating.
Soon though - soon.
"I wouldn't care if you racked up a bill of a hundred dollars. Price doesn't matter. This is for you and we'll go where you like for whatever you'd like. This is to celebrate an achievement of yours." Offering her a hand he smiled. "I'll teleport us up and we can power down then." And head to wherever pleased her.
"I'm glad I could make you happy." And he was.
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 6:51 am
This was what it was supposed to feel like, Noctua decided. It was supposed to feel like coming home. Just like it had with Cinnabar. It was reciprocal, a two-way street. It wasn't supposed to be underlings working to restore the antiqued glory of a general who did nothing. They served and were served themselves. A team. A family. "And I am honored that I can make you proud," she answered with her head bowed respectfully. And now that she knew that she could, she would never stop. She'd burn a hundred worlds. A thousand. All to keep Benitoite proud of her. It didn't matter what anyone else said or thought of her. Hell, it didn't even matter what she said or thought about herself. As long as he kept thinking of her like this, she could do anything. And she would do anything.
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