private scene, non-SBG

[will_be_god]

The dull throbbing that pounded through Cyrus's head was nothing unusual. When dealing with as much stress as he faced on a daily basis, he often put himself in situations that would wear most people out.

Between meetings and studies, he rested when he could. This time he had only a scant moment to rest his eyes, bringing his head to his desk and settling himself. Next was Jupiter, giving a field report, and that would require only a fraction of his monumental attention. Opening his eyes again, he scanned down a list on the computer screen embedded in his desk. Then followed to a news report on the next screen. Then finally he opened the door remotely. She should be waiting for him.

Comments

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

Jupiter was just about to buzz to ask to be admitted. Seeing the door open before she even made her request made her recoil backwards a bit - how did he know she was there?

"G-good day, sir."

She stepped inside and looked at his face. She would try to read him, even knowing that the conclusions she would reach were likely wrong. Great, she hadn't opened her mouth yet, and he was already bored with her? Then she'd just have to make sure he would pay attention to her no matter what. Very conveniently, she couldn't see a chair to sit on - and even if there was and she could see it, she would still pretend it wasn't there.

The uncomfortable feeling from a moment before already gone, she gained a confident spring in her step and boldly sat on the edge of Cyrus' desk.

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"You will stand when addressing me," he told her, something she already knew. Chairs were reserved for those who had been injured, and she was certainly in peak condition.

His headache had gotten worse, and he switched off the screens so as not to irritate it any further. Focusing on a spot on the wall behind her, a trick he'd learned to combat the damage lit screens did to eyeballs, he centered his expression. "Now, you are here to deliver your report."

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"But I'm tired, sir!" she complained, pouting. "I spent all day training the Grunts and taking notes about them - that's what my report is about." She stared idly at the papers in her lap, and then noticed that her boss wasn't even looking at her. But maybe she wasn't the problem, and there was something else... but what could that something else be?

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"You are to stand. That is the rule, and you are to follow it. Begin, rather than complain, and you will be finished sooner." He kept his gaze steady, focused on a small nick in the wall.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"Great." She said in a half-voice as she hopped down from Cyrus' desk. "I haven't started yet, and you already want me to leave."

She stood in front of Cyrus and adjusted her bangs before she began her presentation. It was pretty boring stuff - only a little more than a list of her Grunts, their recent progresses, and suggestions for new Pokémon to assign the ones who had been doing good.

"... So, F-23 has impressed me so much that I feel she deserves to have a Stunky issued to her. Your opinion, sir?"

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

Despite his lack of eye contact, he had paid rapt attention the entire time. But he decided to check her reaction, and neglected to answer at first.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"... Sir?"

At the lack of a reply, Jupiter raised her eyes from the paper and looked at him, her expression mildly concerned.

"... Did I say something wrong?"

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

What was she babbling about this time? He still didn't look at her. "Do you believe you did?"

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"I... I don't think so. So why didn't you answer me?" She seemed suddenly nervous. Cyrus had hurt her, and it showed.

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

She wasn't going to get it. "Because you doubted that I would."

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"Um, okay, that's enough."

All of a sudden, she flung her papers onto Cyrus' desk. She was now eyeing him furiously, brow knitted, teeth bared and fists clenched at her sides.

"I know I'm not your favorite, that Mars is, but do you have to rub it in my face like that?"

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

That was unexpected. His expression didn't change, but finally he looked at her. "I did not speak because I wished to see if you would comprehend that I had been paying attention. Yet you doubted me, you doubted my resolve, and thus I saw no reason to reply to you."

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

Normally, Cyrus' words would have had a calming effect on her. Not this time.

"And let me guess, now you're going to say that that wouldn't have happened with her, right?"

She lowered her head for a moment, but not before giving him a glimpse of a wet glisten in her eyes. She bit her lip, even more irritated.

"Gah!"

And without a warning, she stormed out of Cyrus' office and into the corridor.

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

He waited. She would come back. In the meantime, he took out a piece of paper and wrote down what she would do, to prove that he was a step ahead of her and her emotions.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

The thing about Jupiter is that she just couldn't stay mad at Cyrus. And so, about two hours later, there she was, buzzing at his office door again.

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

He opened the door without a word, not speaking until she was fully inside. "I ask you to read what I have taped to the wall." Behind her, next to the door, was his list from earlier, detailing how she would leave, go to her room, remain for less than five minutes, head to the media room to berate grunts, fetch something from the team refrigerator, berate grunts again, and so on, finally ending up back at his office within two hours.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

As she read the note, she crossed her arms.

"That's not what I did." She tapped her foot nervously on the floor. "I didn't go to my room, I went to the restrooms - they were closer - and I only scolded, like, two people. Okay, four - two the first time and two more the second..."

She finally sighed in defeat, her arms falling limply at her sides. She just couldn't win, could she?

"Alright."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"You are driven by your emotions, Commander, and I will thank you to put logic ahead of them. You suspected that I was not paying attention because I was not making eye contact, yet that has little to do with the ability to listen." He turned off his screens again, having turned them on to read another report. "And you believe that I put your equal above you."

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

"But you do like her more than you like me!" She walked to his desk, placed her hands there and leaned forward. "I mean, how could you not? She's cuter than me, more obedient, and she knows how to use explosives. I'm just... Jailer Girl."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"I view you as equals. Your skills are different yet you share the same rank. You would not if I held one above the other."

Looking back to his computer, although it still wasn't on, he finished "And you ought to know by now that I do not find her or anybody 'cute'."

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

She kept her head down in turn pensively, though she glanced at the computer screen. If it was off, why was Cyrus looking at it?

"Then, are you as strict with her as you are with me?"

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"That is none of your concern." In truth, he was watching her reflection.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

She turned her back to Cyrus and wrapped her arms around herself as if she were suddenly cold, now leaning back against his desk.

"I knew it." she said simply. But she wasn't angry this time. Just very, very sad. "I'm always causing trouble, unlike her."

[will-be-god.livejournal.com]

"I gave you no indication either way. You assume far too much. Yet it is simply not your place to know the diciplinary record of another commander. I would not share yours with her either." Jupiter was her usual inscrutable self, irrational like so many others.

[g3-jupiter.livejournal.com]

She whirled around rapidly to face him again. She took a deep breath. This time, his words had worked their magic on her.

"Master Cyrus... I'm sorry. I don't know what got me."

She moved next to his chair and bowed down to him on one knee.

"If I could spend what's left of the day with you... I think I'd feel better."