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 Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:56 am
There was always intelligence to gather, always information to plug into the Negaverse. Lopezite wasn't always sure if any information he had to report was ever good for anything, but at least he was active and doing what he could to make sure someone knew he was trying.
He was still new to being a General, but his habits hadn't really changed so much yet--aside from feeling like he had so much more power, so much more purpose.
He was familiar with the computers in Negaspace, and he'd spent his fair share of time perusing or updating the Register. He was on his way there to update a few extra files, if only because it needed to be done--and because he wanted to be productive without dealing with the cold of Destiny City.
Passing into the room with the computers, he paused when he found it occupied already--thankfully, by someone he knew enough for this not to be an awkward silence scenario.
"Rakovanite," he greeted; it had been a while, but the name was fresh on his mind. He'd never really found an answer to the issue they'd both shared, but he was glad that the issue seemed to have faded. "Captain, too! I've missed a lot since I last ran into you. How have you been holding up?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:27 am
Rakovanite did not prefer to spend a lot of time in what basically amounted to a public computer lab. It wasn't always bustling with agents, but it did seem like there was at least as much chance of being intruded upon as not. He had forgone requesting any kind of more private office space because he didn't want to spend time lingering in Negaspace when he preferred being actively in the field, or just at home, winding down from his civilian job. Given only the two options when information needed to be uploaded to the Negaverse's database (computer lab or private office), he'd elected for the one that took less effort.
It was just easier to get in and out of an already-functioning computer lab than it was to request permission for his own space and to set it up to use as such. The start-up effort for an office wasn't ever something he wanted to engage in. But that didn't mean he wasn't just ever-so-slightly terse any time he needed to use the lab.
Rakovanite kept his reports succinct: a sentence on a description, a sentence on possible abilities, a sentence on the altercation, a sentence on the results of said altercation, and typically a single word of his opinion on how to proceed. 'Kill.' 'Corrupt.' 'Worthless.' 'Dead.' This one was no different.
The night's quarry had been a boy that seemed to be much younger than Rakovanite was. A page that had expressed no substantial amount of intelligence, nor displayed any particular abilities. The only reason there was an "altercation" at all to speak of was because the boy could not outrun him. Weak-willed, unwilling to fight, even at the potential cost of his life. 'Worthless.' Rakovanite probably should've just taken his starseed and been done with it.
But he hadn't.
He huffed softly at the screen. He should have. Why didn't he? It would have only been fractionally harder than doing nothing, and there was no reason not to besides that he hadn't planned on instigating anything that night. His shoulders bunched. His brows pursed. He hadn't planned on it. Anyone could have been around peeking through a window and seen him. He didn't know the area or anything about the page's potential allies.
So it was just being careful. That was all.
Rakovanite tried to school himself into less stiff of a posture. He only barely had the chance to settle when he heard a familiar voice, though it still took him a moment to place the face that greeted him. Rakovanite was familiar with very few generals, but if he focused less on that and more on the dark, curly hair and the style of his uniform, he thought he may have recognized this man from... somewhere, though he wasn't especially adept at keeping up with various short interactions...
"Lopezite," he said after a moment, and inclined his head toward the general. "It has been over a year. It stands to reason things would transpire in that time." He gave a very slight gesture toward the other. "It seems they have for you, as well. Congratulations."
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:19 pm
Lopezite seemed a bit amused at the response and smiled politely. “It stands to reason,” he agreed. He didn’t take offense or bristle at the response; instead, he seemed rather at peace in all of this.
“Feels like I never see anyone anymore.” He had a small circle, but even as a General it wasn’t as if there were any great numbers beneath him. Partly his own fault. He probably should have gone out and recruited more, tried to help expand the Negaverse and try to protect his own interests.
He just…
Wasn’t really sure what those were right now. So, he was doing his job, performing his duties, and thinking about it.
A lot had changed in the past year, and a lot had stayed the same.
He wasn’t sure what was good or bad about any of it at the moment.
“But I suppose that’s what happens when you’re keeping busy. How’s the world treating you, anything good going on?”
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 9:16 am
"I have very few people I see regularly," Rakovanite admitted with a small shrug, which he didn't find especially surprising or even really worrying. It wasn't like he knew most anyone he met in the Negaverse as a civilian. And he didn't know many civilians who had been corrupted. This part of his life was just that: a small part. Most people considered their civilian lives (their home, their jobs, their friends) to be the more important piece of their experience, so... Rakovanite couldn't really be bothered that he just didn't see many people very constantly.
Cervantite relatively often, Sylvite frequently enough, Calaverite occasionally, Narc- Well, he had a few, anyway, and he didn't think it especially necessary that he needed too many more than that.
And then came the necessary perfunctory pleasantries, Rakovanite's least favorite part of literally any interaction, though there was no visceral indication that he felt differently about this topic than he did any other. "Nothing of interest to speak of," he rumbled quietly. "It is the standard fare of the world." He gestured to the computer he sat at. "I only wanted to submit a quick report on the senshi I ran in to tonight. Nothing special."
It was probably expected that he offer the same sort of feigned interest in Lopezite's goings-on, though this was much more obviously something he had to grapple with.
Rakovanite was quiet for several seconds, thoughts parsing together what seemed appropriate to ask. How specific? How interested? He could just ask how Lopezite was enjoying being a general? That was... at least somewhat current? His lashes flit minutely more closed as he stared at the thick hood of Lopezite's uniform. Current, but it just didn't seem necessary? He'd said he'd been busy. "What have you been up to?"
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 6:14 pm
Lopezite watched, and listened, and maybe a part of him wondered if this sort of conversation was grueling on Rakovanite because he wore something of an amused smile when he asked what he’d been up to, himself.
“I suppose, not much out of the ordinary.”
The polite answer, because really, when someone asked what you’d been up to he supposed they didn’t really want the full summary.
He decided to expand on the answer, in an effort not to be completely boring. “Been trying to make myself useful. I’ve been dipping into the Rift a bit. In all this time, I’ve never found a youma to bond with, you know. I had all that time as a Captain, but I didn’t think it wise to go into the Rift, myself. And now, I’m General, and I still find myself making excuses. Have you gotten one for yourself, yet?”
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 9:40 am
'Not much out of the ordinary.'
It was quite similar to what Rakovanite had said, but that didn't stop him from being struck suddenly by how bizarre that was, given where they were- in a magical dimension inaccessible to the vast majority of the populace. This was ordinary to them, and the activities they partook in: the draining, the fighting, the hunting- those were "standard fare." He would've been at home, playing a computer game if he wasn't here, and that was as ordinary as this was. And Lopezite was apparently doing some exploration of the Rift. That was ordinary.
Except it wasn't really. He should have asked for help or advice on what he should do if he had a similar run-in with the White Moon again. Lopezite could surely give it, with how much experience he had. He should've, if he knew how to move conversations forward. But he hadn't.
Rakovanite's gaze fell slightly, tone low and soft as he gave a small shrug and admitted, "Maybe it is not so ordinary."
"I have never been to the Rift," he replied. "My captain wanted to take me at one point when I was new, but it never happened. Fell through the cracks, I suppose. And now I have gone so long without that it seems unnecessary. And I am not familiar enough with the bonding process to think to try." Or comfortable enough. "Do you know what you might be looking for in a partner? I have never delved very deeply into trying to understand the youma, but they seem... varied, at least."
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 9:12 pm
A little smile formed on Lopezite’s face, because ‘not so ordinary’ felt so ordinary--at least, for them. To the common person, perhaps it was extraordinary.
“Oh, I’ve put a lot of thought into it,” he said, seeming to relax a bit. “But I think the most important thing is one that I can trust. The youma are varied, and it seems like they all have something different, something unique about them. I suppose then, one that compliments what I can do would be helpful. One skilled enough to strengthen my weaknesses. And ideally, who has the same goals as me--if I should be so fortunate to find one capable of doing anything beyond just following orders.”
He let out a thoughtful sigh and just shrugged. “But perhaps that pickiness is what makes it hard. You sort of have to know the youma a bit before you decide you want to be paired with them, but I’ve never been so astounded by any of them that I decided that’s the one. Although, if you’re ever thinking you should like to look, I wouldn’t mind some company. Sometimes the Rift feels lonely. And also a bit like you’re walking onto someone’s dinner plate.”
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Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 6:28 pm
A very slight pinch of his brows and a downward twitch of Rakovanite's lips betrayed his doubt. Trust seemed like a commodity in the Negaverse, among even the most sentient beings.
Or perhaps more accurately: especially the most sentient beings. Anything that could think outside of what was directly in front of it seemed like it could easily become a traitor and enemy. He didn't think youma were exempt from that, even if he did consider them to be not much more than talented dogs with a myriad of tricks. If they were capable of having goals all their own, that seemed like more of a liability, as far as Rakovanite was concerned.
And it wasn't very telling to what Lopezite was looking for, besides that it sounded like he wanted a friend more than a subordinate.
"What sort of strengths and goals would you expect it to have, then? Surely they are almost entirely only capable of hunting and eating and want for little else." He'd never come into contact with one that could do more than ravage civilians and spit at enemies who opposed it. But then, he'd only ever seen them in Destiny City, and never felt enthralled by any of them. He'd never been into the Rift. Who knew what lived in there.
He wondered if, in a situation similar to his day-to-day life, there just wasn't anything compatible with him. Nothing he would want to partner with and call on and rely on. "You do sound picky," he told Lopezite softly. "But maybe that is acceptable, given the... peculiarity of that bond."
He didn't know if he wanted to look.
But perhaps it would only be more informative than actually damaging. It couldn't hurt to see what was in there. "I suppose you could just tell me a time and place," Rakovanite relented, toneless voice shielding any uncertainty. "You have some experience with the Rift? You almost make it sound as if you go in regularly."
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Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 8:09 am
Lopezite laughed a bit, because he knew he was being picky. “I go in often enough. I just don’t stray too far, alone. I work with a half-youma officer fairly regularly. Lavendulan and I are close. We’ve had many conversations of youma, so I can’t think of them as just hungry monsters. I mean, certainly there are those who are incapable of rational thought and can only act on instinct and rage, but--if I’m going to bond with one of them, I don’t want a loose canon. I don’t want a skittish thing that is ready to run or snap. I need something that can work with me. And, independently, if I needed.”
He placed his hands on his hips and considered, “I think of them like dogs more than monsters. And, dogs can be trained. I don’t want a youma that can’t understand what I need from it. If I’m going to be permanently bonded with it, yeah. I’d like for it to be special. I want it to be the best match I can find, not one that I’m settling for. I’ll send you a message and we can coordinate a time, if you’re interested in going too. I’ve got a pretty free schedule, so I can go when it works for you.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 6:32 am
Lavendulan. He'd never met her, but the captain who'd trained him through his lieutenant rank seemed to know her quite well. Rakovanite had once been invited to meet her, but... It had seemed like an unnecessary, arduous task. He'd never gotten around to it. Dealing with the half-youma in general seemed particularly unbenefcial, when they were so much less versatile than the standard agents. "I have heard of her," Rakovanite admitted to Lopezite. "It is good," Probably. "that you are able to successfully work with someone so... different."
At least it meant he was able to have some perspective on youma and what he could hope to get out of one, but Rakovanite struggled to think of the chaos monsters as being able to work independently. That was a human level of skill.
Even the half-youma who'd trained him had been little more than a dog following orders.
"It may be useful to see t at least once," Rakovanite relented with a shrug. "I have a very standard nine to five work schedule, so anytime outside of that is acceptable. I usually prefer to be awake very early in the morning, rather than late at night, but if that is inconvenient for you, I will try to be available whenever it most suits you, General." Despite usually being particularly unwilling to do anything that upset his normal schedule, even Rakovanite had to admit that Lopezite's invitation was probably more to Rakovanite's benefit than his own.
The least he could do was make some concession toward the scheduling.
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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:46 pm
Lopezite didn’t seem bothered by any offered time. “I can do early,” he said without missing a beat. “My sleep schedule is flexible, waking up early won’t hurt me any more than staying up late.”
He smiled, friendly still despite the fact that he had picked up on Rakovanite’s hesitation when it came to talk about Lavendulan.
He almost wanted to ask what he had heard of her, or what it was about her that made him seem like he was choosing his words carefully, but he refrained out of politeness.
“When I finish doing my work here for tonight, I’ll make sure I don’t have anything lined up and message you on the tablet so we can figure out a date and time?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:19 pm
His dark gaze angled slightly back toward the monitor, scrolling with an almost aimless disinterest at the few sentences of report he'd typed up. "I appreciate it, thank you," Rakovanite murmured quietly. The other man's tone was light, friendly. There was nothing verbally that suggested he noticed some deficiency that needed correcting. But Rakovanite had always expected his noticed these things more readily than others.
He was not very skilled at flexibility, himself, as Lopezite was. He could force himself to do what was necessary, but it was difficult. It was so difficult. To not have that certain brand of freedom that others had. Especially when it pertained to doing this work.
A couple hours was all he had in him.
"Yes," he agreed. He was wrapping up, himself, and had made it a point to not spend much of his free time puttering away in Negaspace when he could be literally anywhere else, so he hadn't exactly intended to be here for any longer than to make this report.
But he should probably make some attempt to seem grateful and... enthusiastic about the invitation. He should be eager to learn more about Chaos' monsters and willing to make allies of a useful resource. It would be difficult to traverse the Rift alone at his skill level, and Lopezite seemed friendly and genuine and interested. He swallowed, tried not to look terribly stiff. "...If it is more convenient, we could... discuss suitable arrangements over a drink?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:25 am
Truthfully, Lopezite was surprised at the invitation, but it wasn’t so unnerving that it brought any sort of discomfort to him. “Yeah,” he said easily. “I like that idea. A drink sounds nice, and--anywhere’s gotta be better than this dreary place.”
He didn’t seem like he expected gratitude, or really much of anything, so he just smiled and seemed like he could have actually been fond of the idea.
“Sounds like a good plan, I’m looking forward to it.”
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