The Meaning of Respect
That lack of respect earned her a fierce backhand. No one was ever allowed to disrespect him in such a manner. Not even one working under him.
“I would suggest you watch your words and your tone, soldier. Proving you are capable does not mean back talking your commanding officer. Now, you’re lucky I’m in a good mood today, or I would have curb-stomped your gem into diamond dust. You are an agile gem, but as I said before, you don’t adapt to the situation properly. If I hear a single word of protest, I will make sure you regret it. And don’t you even THINK about challenging me. They don’t call me ‘The Unbroken’ for no reason, and I rarely play nice or go easy. You and I are to have a brief talk about 'respect’.”
Onyx grabbed her arm and led her to the other room before changing his tone completely. While he didn’t enjoy disrespect, any gem willing to stand up for themselves against him were worth his respect.
“That was actually quite impressive. No smaller gem has ever had the guts to stand up to me like that. Don’t let it happen again, though, or there will be consequences. I have to keep the others in line, you understand. But keeping you alive was obviously a sound investment. Also, don’t do anything like this with the Diamonds, especially Yellow. She’d have your gem smashed and the remnants forcibly glued to another gem’s shards.”
This is a Closed RP with lord-of-the-authority originated from this post.
Mica’s face still stung from the strike Lord Onyx had given her, though through the ringing in her ear, it seemed as though he had not only decided not to punish her, but share his respect for her ability to stand up for herself.
Blinking away the blinking stars in her vision, Mica straightened her posture and reassumed the attitude of a soldier. “I understand, M’Lord,” she said. “I apologize for the outburst. The strength exercises are... difficult, but I will master them.”
There was a moment where she was tempted to turn around and head back into the training arena, but she paused and looked straight at Onyx. “Sir...” she started tentatively. “If this is about commanding respect from me and the other Gems... I will have to be punished for what I said out there; something that will leave an impression on the others, and let them know that what I said was wrong.”
She lifted her chin, exposing the uninjured side of her face. “I think if you hit me hard enough, it’ll leave a mark that the others won’t help but notice.”
