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 Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 4:56 pm
Cavansite had been putting off the meeting with Mali, she knew she had, but now that the corruption was finished…she supposed that she couldn’t go on putting it off any longer. She sent a message to the corrupt via the tablet about an hour before she planned to summon him, and had even gone out of her way to get some food for the both of them. With the smell of the fast food fried chicken filling her office, the General’s mouth was watering and with a sigh, she summoned the senshi to her, looking excited…even if it was only for the food.
She had a lot to talk to him about, and while she was eager to make sure he was doing well…she wasn’t really looking forward to the confrontation that would most likely happen…but such was the case when your own subordinate didn’t like you.
Oh well.
Maybe the offered food would be enough to make peace, even if it was a begrudging one. And it had been so long since she had treated herself to this kind of food…she was almost…smiling as he appeared before her.
“Welcome, Mali. I trust that you received my message? I know that this was all short notice, but I wanted to talk with you.” The general gestured to the chairs on the other side of her desk, the almost smile becoming real. “I bought us a nice lunch to share. I hope you like chicken.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 7:57 am
To suddenly get a summons from his general not too long after his fight with Wolframite left a horrid taste in Zubeneschamali's mouth. Yes, they fought, yes, they both know Mali was one who played often with traitorous thoughts, but could his once-friend really have gone behind his back and reported him to his General?
Who knew? The halfling spoke so often about hunting traitors, turning in those who might question the queen or their organization, but when it boiled down to it, it didn't matter. Mali was a man of facts. Even if everything pointed to the halfling having betrayed him, there was no solid evidence for labeling Wolframite guilty.
Mali was also a man of high standards and appearances. No matter his thoughts, he wouldn't let them show on his face. Cavansite might have been his general, but they certainly weren't close. He'd treat this meeting just like any meeting with a potential modeling interview. Poised, and proper.
When Cavansite did finally summon him, he was ready, and offered her a small nod in greeting before taking a seat. He wasn't expecting at all the heavy smell of KFC to hang in the air, nor her to offer him lunch. Poisoned, probably, or a last meal before she shoved her hand in his chest to punish him for 'his crimes' against the Negaverse.
... No, no, that couldn't be the case. Or atleast it was far too early to tell.
"I did. I'm surprised 'Nubi isn't summoned as well. Thank you for the lunch, though I wonder how long the smell will be in your office for?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 11:33 am
“I see Nubi often enough, and I know the progress that she is making, but you, Mali, you have always had such a disliking of me that I’ve been wary of checking on you…but I see now that I shouldn’t be.” She passed him a paper plate and a small stack of napkins. “As for the smell in my office, you see when my craving for this stupid chicken kicked in, I hadn’t even thought about the smell, but I can’t see it leaving any time soon, that’s for sure.”
Cavansite gave a laugh and opened the container, drawing out a drumstick and looking at it longingly.
“…It’s not a bad smell though. Worst comes to worst I’ll just have to open the office door. I hope you don’t mind chicken, I didn’t even think to ask, I just knew I needed it and was happy to have someone to share with.”
She took a bite of her food and chewed thoughtfully. Finally she glanced back at the corrupted senshi. “Tell me. How are you getting on? Have you gotten more comfortable with the gift I gave you and your sister? I know she speaks so highly of you, so you have to be more than the brat that you show to me…”
If this was too harsh, she couldn’t help it. It was better to get her feelings out in the open, wasn’t it? Besides, she had made a promise to Wolf that she would not tell him that he was the one who had tattled. Well, not tattled but. Expressed concerns.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 11:56 am
Brat? Mali narrowed his eyes, and made no move to touch anything she offered.
"You've seen my reports, I'm certain. I meet my quota, I do as I'm told. I know how to use my power and am fulfilling my duty, as some insist on calling it. Whether or not I've changed, I cannot say, but I can tell that you've certainly haven't." His arms crossed over his chest and he only glared at her, not caring for the chicken, nor the back, handed compliment she tried to share.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about? I'm sure you have more than your fair share of tasks to complete, I wouldn't dare force you to take longer than necessary with this."
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 12:14 pm
Cavansite paused and lowered the drumstick placing it beside her on the plate. “This is what I was talking about, Mali. I wanted you here to see if we could move past this. Yes, I have seen your reports, and you are doing very well. I’m proud of you. I wanted to get to know you better. Share a meal with you, and talk about your goals.”
She pushed the chicken towards him and gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “You’re my senshi, and I want to see that you’re doing well. It’s my job as your General. So please. Let’s have a lunch and talk about you. I have nothing else lined up for today other than this.”
But if he wanted to leave…well. She would have to figure out another plan, and that wouldn’t end well for her promise to leave Wolframite out of things. And it might not end so well for Mali either.
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 12:40 pm
"If you really wanted to move past this, then perhaps you shouldn't call the person you want to get to know a brat. You said it yourself, you've spoken to Nubi numerous times. There's no doubt in my mind she doesn't speak of me. And has informed you of how I am, how I regard you, so do you truly think you came into this in the best way possible?" He truly had no intention to forgive her for stealing his choices. For denying him any sort of thought and proper knowledge to make an informed decision. And his scowl only deepened when she dared to say he was hers.
Perhaps, had he no one on his mind, he would have spoken out of turn. Pushed further, try to dig and claw at things and feelings and attempt to crush them enough to the point where she lashed out. But he had grown soft.
Obie... And Chip, and Nubi... And Gryphon... They were all on his mind. He couldn't risk losing himself to anger just yet. He still owed atleast two of them a good throttling.
"I'd rather not eat, but if you have questions, ask them. It's not as if I truly have any choice to leave that wouldn't lead to some sort of punishment or retaliation, is there?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 2:53 pm
“I told you that she spoke of you.” Cavansite said, more coolly than she would have liked. This wasn’t how she had envisioned this meeting going, and the very fact that he was turning down her peace offering of food made the delicious smell of the chicken turn sour in her nose.
“I told you that her talking about you made me want to give you another chance, to see what you could do. I wanted to see if you were ready for a promotion. You excel in your quotas, but you are far too insubordinate for me to be comfortable with putting your name forward.”
She rubbed her temple, annoyed, and suddenly stressed out. The image of Amesite flashed before her eyes and she blew out a slow breath. “I am here to support those who are under me, no matter if they like me or not. It was wrong of me to stay away because my feelings were hurt by your words. I wanted to make things right between us, Zubeneschamali. I wanted to be the General that you could come to when you had issues, and I wanted to be someone that you knew you could trust and be proud of. Just as you are a senshi that I am proud of.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 6:34 am
"Insubordinate? I don't believe that's the case. I've followed your rules, your guidelines, and I've done my job. I do not need to be friends with my boss in order to work efficiently. You just said it yourself, ma'am, that I've excelled at my work." He sat up a little straighter now, hands folding in his lap, but his hard gaze at her never relaxed once.
Ah. There it was. Her feelings had been hurt.
Ugh.
"General Cavansite. As we both know, personal feelings do not matter within the Negaverse. No matter how we long for change, for friendship, for something more than our duties, we must follow the set laws put upon us. And I have. As much as I have a distaste towards you, it has not affected my work. The proof is in writing, in the records and reports I've submitted. So if you wish to do as you say, to support me whether I like you or not, then how do you intend to do so? I've had no issues, beyond feelings, and clearly, I have not allowed it to affect my work."
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Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:38 am
This was coming out all wrong and for a moment, Cavansite felt a flood of anger fill her, though managed to keep her calm. “Very well. But I expect you to report to me more often, Mali. And I expect that your attitude towards me will relax. I will put your name in for an upgrade, but I do hope that you do not act like this with the General Sovereigns, because no, Mali. Feelings might not matter, but they are not as lenient as I am, and I know I should be stricter. I did let my feelings get in the way, I know that. I should have forced you to report to me more often, I should have been a bigger influence, and that will change from here on out.”
It would be a pain, and an uphill battle all the way, but…she would do it.
“In my experience, those who are left without any guidance eventually fall prey to thoughts of purification. It almost happened to me once, you know. When I was a lieutenant.”
She leaned back in her chair, remembering the night she had killed the page. “My General had vanished and I had not heard from her in quite some time. And one of the knights of Cosmos had managed to make a compelling argument. So of course I went out to make an argument of my own…and I found another Cosmos knight, a page this time. Low leveled like myself. She wanted to be friends, she said. Well. I didn’t allow that and took her starseed. Wore it for a long time as my trophy but…”
Cavansite shook her head slightly. “Turned it in eventually. I should go back and snatch some more starseeds. I feel a little empty without the two I used to wear. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want you getting thoughts like this. Hate me all you want. It will make you stronger in the end, and one day, when you have recruits serving under you, I hope you’ll treat them the same. I hope you’ll be interested in them. And I hope you realize, when you’re a super senshi, I’ll be putting new recruits under you to help train you for leadership. So be ready.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:50 am
"The General Sovereigns are not the ones who wronged me. I have no quarrel with them. Don't feel too badly about it. I haven't forgiven 'Nubi either, and she's my sister." It was true, he seemed to rarely speak to her these days. Since that night, Landry found himself less attached at the hip with her, distant, finding better company with Obie, or Alone.
Along the way he made a friend or two, but lost one all the same.
And now he had Gryphon. That dumbass man who he swore he'd protect from people like Cavansite, from people like Wolframite, who were all too happy to deprive them of the choices people deserved to make.
Perhaps it was best no one could hear his thoughts, for they all pointed at putting his hand around this woman's throat.
"You mistake me for a fool, General. I know what's at stake should purification be considered. And I'm sure, as often as some of these members of our organization enjoy talking about it, that it's not worth it. Perhaps you have fun wearing the souls of others around us as jewelry, as a reminder of your own mental weakness, but I find no enjoyment in such things." 'Mali stood up this time, pushing his chair in. He had more than enough of this conversation.
"I look forward for the newfound power. And you can be certain, General Cavansite, that whatever recruits serve under me would know that they are given the right to make a decision. For the glory of the Negaverse or otherwise. I wouldn't stoop so low as to deprive them as such, nor would I hold 'saving a live' over their heads as well." That sickly smell of quickly cooling chicken was giving him a headache. Same went for his general's own pathetic voice.
"Do you have anything else to say, or may I take my leave?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 10:06 am
Her hand almost twitched to get the youmaglia that she had hidden in a secret compartment of her desk, but Cavansite stopped herself and simply watched him. “You may take your leave, Mali.” Her words were once again cool, detached. She stood, suddenly and walked to him, firmly taking his wrist in her hand and teleporting them both back to the city before going back to her office alone.
It wouldn’t do for him to have to ask around for a ride, not when she was more than capable.
The smell from the chicken was beginning to turn her stomach, and Cavansite picked up the bucket and threw the sides back into the bag that they had come out of, finishing with the chicken itself, the whole scene blurring with sudden, and most unwelcome tears.
Absolutely not. She would not let a petty piece of s**t like Mali make her cry. It was absurd.
But as she straightened, she took the chicken down to the barracks for those who didn’t have the option of eating it often and then went back to her desk, propping the door open to help air out the smell.
Today had been an utter failure, but perhaps tomorrow would be better.
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