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 Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2022 3:30 pm
Lieutenant Retzian had sent a message to her General asking for some advice. The fact that the White Moon were so bothersome…it was…it was really getting annoying.
There had to be better ways to deal with them. Had to be a better way to take care of them, to get them off of her back…
If she could petition him to get her a promotion…that would be terribly helpful, and then she would have something far more useful to attack the White Moon with…not that her fists weren’t useful…and honestly, the cat toy was a pretty decent distraction but.
Fists can be dodged far too easily and it just…
It was frustrating to feel so weak when she had been given the power to be so strong. When she was representing a group who was so strong. Beginning to pace, she picked at the skin around one of her thumbs as she waited for him to arrive. If this didn’t work…if he didn’t have advice…maybe she’d have to go and talk to the commandant on her own. But…that wasn’t…completely ideal.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2022 1:18 am
Lopezite never took much time to respond to a request for a meetup–at least, when he could help it. Tonight, thankfully, his schedule was open, and he was able to meet Retzian at the rendezvous point very shortly after she'd messaged him.
He teleported nearby once, and then his energy signature flickered only to appear closer, and then finally, a third time, right in front of her.
He smiled politely, apparently always in a friendly, albeit slightly reserved mood.
“Retzian,” he greeted warmly. “I hope you’re settling in well?”
Lavendulan had been looking over her, and so far as he knew things were going well enough. He didn’t want to make the Lieutenant uncomfortable, so he’d given her distance without trying to avoid her. He never wanted someone to think they couldn't ask for help, and he never wanted anyone to feel like he was unavailable.
She’d asked for advice, so he was doing his best to get the courtesy part out of the way–and, to be fair, he really did want to make sure she was doing well.
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 4:52 pm
“I’m settling in very well, thank you.” Retzian couldn’t help but feel pleased that he had shown up when she had asked it of him. It made her feel quite important, made her feel that she truly did matter. Not that she had doubted that fact but. Still.
It was always nice to be reminded of it.
“I want to be stronger. I’m afraid that I’ve been put at a rather large disadvantage a few times now, and I’m not really a fan of being out of my depth. The senshi have magic and I only have my pathetic cat toy right now, you see…so I was hoping you could give me an estimate of when I could expect to get myself a promotion? I want to be better, and I’m stunted right now, with where I’m at. I can’t perform at my best if my best is nothing more than a joke…”
After the words were out, she half worried that they would be seen as nothing but insubordination, but…they weren’t. It was an honest, earnest question and all she wanted to do was be a success.
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 5:45 pm
Lopezite hummed at her question, and seemed to take a moment to consider what she was asking. “Well, I can say it took me a bit of a while to get my first promotion. And, it was difficult to manage my duties. Back then, I didn’t have a sword, I had a ratty old sheath. Hardly did anything. Couldn’t call a youma, couldn’t teleport–it was frustrating. I understand your dilemma here. But, promoting too soon can come with great issue. The weapon you have now is meant to prepare you for the next weapon. Not everything can be solved with more power,” he explained.
Although, that was probably easy to say with a giant sword strapped to his back.
“I’d have to talk to Lavendulan, and see where you’re at before we can discuss a promotion. Having a better weapon won’t help if you don’t know how to use it. Show me what you can do with yours,” he suggested. “Do you know how to fight in any particular style or have you just been winging it?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 5:52 pm
“Mostly winging it, the weapon…It is good for distraction and my fist is good for a substitute weapon. It’s helped me a few times now, it’s so hard though, going against actual magic with nothing but a toy and my fists and my brain…I…I did give it a chance, General but…I’m honestly starting to think that it’s nothing but a good way to get new recruits killed, and I feel like writing a strongly worded paper to Lepidolite.”
If nothing else, it would let the General King know that even if starting the new recruits out with weapons they had to learn was safer for them…it was also a very big liability, as the other side had magic and why wouldn’t they simply defect over there to get something that would better help them in defending themselves?
“What would you like me to show you? Just a normal way I…”
She held the toy up, wiggling it right in his face, unable to stop an amused smile from crossing her own…her big strong General being treated like a cat, or a small child…it.
It was funny.
And then her hand swung up, fist going to connect with the side of his head.
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 9:26 pm
At first, Lopezite listened; he was taking everything she had to say into account, and while he did agree with some of what she was saying, he had thoughts to contradict her suggestion. He didn’t get a chance to voice them, though.
He’d just opened his mouth when she started dangling her cat toy in front of him, and while he was confused about the technique–
It worked.
He’d let himself get distracted, and her fist fully collided with his temple.
The action was surprising, and he’d have been lying if he claimed it didn’t hurt. He stumbled back a step and pressed his lips together as he stared off into the ground. His hand raised to his temple but he didn't try to shake it off. He blinked, slowly, and exhaled as he tried to focus his vision.
“That’s a pretty good hook you’ve got there.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 11:09 am
Retzian hadn’t honestly expected it to work on Lopezite, especially not after she had outlined what she did to distract others, but she felt a rush of utter glee at the fact that it did work, and though she was almost tempted to keep following the punch up, to truly win this fight that…wasn’t a fight, she took a step backward and twirled the cat toy between her index and middle finger.
“It’s not ideal, I know but, if it even works on you after telling you my plan, it’s a solid method, I feel. Thank you, I’ve started going to a gym and taking boxing lessons ever since being drafted into this. I want to do you all proud, and I want to show that I’m determined.”
Which…she was.
Obviously.
“Anyway, that’s my case for why I should be promoted, and I hope that you take it into consideration, and…I hope that I am making you proud. You’re. A good General, in case you were worried.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 1:28 pm
Lopezite clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and seemed like he was debating this for a moment. He had, perhaps foolishly, not expected that she would hit him while he was contemplating her report for Lepidolite, but here he was, with a very hot ear. He rubbed at hit once more and then finally stood up straight and turned back to face her.
He lowered his hand to his side and said, “Well, maybe you’re onto something. I admire the tenacity.” Not the headache, though.
“Unfortunately, determination alone isn’t enough to get you a promotion. I’ll take it into consideration, but I already know that it’s not something you should rush into. I want you to be safe and able to protect yourself, but there’s more to the Negaverse than just fighting. Once you’re a Captain, you’ll have a bigger target on your head–and you might be asked to look after some Lieutenants, too. But you’ve had hardly any time to settle in, there’s still a lot that I’d like for you to learn. Have you considered what branch you’d like to be in? Considered youma? Reviewed the database? I know you’ve got a lot on your plate already, I know juggling your position at Romano’s is already hard enough, I don’t want you biting off more than you can chew. I think you’re on the right path, but I’d like you to get a bit more time and practice in before we look at a promotion. Rushing into this could be dangerous, Retzian. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 1:48 pm
For a long moment, Retzian just stood there, but as his words truly sank in, the proud, determined smile faded from her face, replaced by something that was far more brittle. Far more unimpressed.
“I see. Well, I’ll keep working towards it, Lopezite. I promise you that I won’t let you down, and I promise that I’ll put thought into which branch I would like to join. As for looking after Lieutenants, I’m a teacher, my job is to teach and nurture, I don’t think that will pose much of a problem to me.”
She drew in a breath and inclined her head towards him. “For now, I think you should get some ice for your head and I’ll go work on that. I’ll schedule another visit soon.”
…Or she would just go and talk to Lepidolite. Bite off more than she could chew?
Who did Lopezite think that she was?
After plastering a more natural smile on her face, Retzian gave another half bow and turned away, walking into the night.
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