Log:Complicated Questions
| Log:Complicated Questions | |
|---|---|
That is an excellent question... | |
| Players |
Omega meets with its newest recruit to discuss a business proposal, and brand new information is shared. |
The Time-Out Market is a 50,000 square foot hub for chef-driven eats and cocktails with a rooftop deck. It may not be the kind of rarified environment that Lucius and Kasandra are used to, but every Sunday from 11 to 3 they have the Feed Your Soul Jazz brunch. The 24 upscale restaurants in the odd food-court setting, and eight bars all come together to create an experience, offering a variety of brunch dishes: from Hangover Ramen with smoked pork to stacks of buttermilk pancakes layered with whipped mascarpone. They offer entire pitchers of mimosas from the bar, and the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective gets in there to play some tunes at around 1 PM. It's not a *traditional* brunch experience but it's kind of a cool one, and the rooftop tables offer a way to get away from the highly communal seating down on the warehouse-style floor below, with more traditional, smaller tables. The pace is relaxed and leisurely, and the weather is remarkably mild for June, today; a light breeze more suited for spring blows about under a bright blue sky. The jazz strains drift up to the roof through speakers, and there's plenty of time for everyone to find whatever food suits their fancy. A relaxed setting, then, for this group to meet and share a conversation. A table at the very end of the roof offers enough shade and shielding via-ambient-noise to ensure they can all speak relatively freely as long as nobody's shouting. Ethan has already settled in with a bowl of that ramen and has absolutely grabbed a classic Mimosa pitcher, because while there's plenty of room for experimentation here, sometimes a guy likes the classics. He's drinking hot green tea, too, while he's about it. Noa, on the other hand, has Breakfast Bao, a French Toast Souffle, and peach cobbler in front of her. She's not mean, she's sharing, but she doesn't see the point in settling for just one thing when she can try multiple things. Besides, she's hungry. She's also got a cup of coffee, as well as having a small juice tumbler half-full of the mimosa. She's dressed somewhat formally, for her: navy slacks, white tank top, and a navy blouse that's open over the tank. Colt definitely has a bowl of the ramen, too -- as well as a giant bacon-and-egg croissant. Because why not just go all the way? Still dressed in casual clothes, rather than a suit, though the tailors *did* at least confirm that he wore the things without complaint and they fit well. He pulls one of the shrimp out, chewing on it thoughtfully for a moment as he looks at the other two he arrived with. "So," he starts. "The reason that we don't come here more often is because --?" Probably because Colt never wakes up early enough to catch brunch, that's why. It's Mimosas all the way down for Kasandra Moreno. The dark-haired wolfblood is dressed nearly all in white today -- a bold choice, but what is Kasandra if not fearless? -- in the form of a low-cut tank beneath an unbuttoned, sheer white blouse and a tight-fitting pair of white denim jeans. A pair of Bulgari Flora sunglasses on, the diamonds and blue sapphires glinting at any hint of light they get. Her chosen brunch food is the Brunch Bento Box, a pair of chopsticks held expertly in her hand as she looks over the selection, trying to make up her mind which gets sampled first. "The best part about leaving town for a decade or two is coming back to see what's changed. And what remains the same," she quips as she works on capturing a bite of the box's salad, her mind finally made up. The thing about Lucius is, the backstory marketing whipped up for him to make him seem more approachable and down-to-earth isn't entirely bullshit. There was a time in his life before the money and the cars and the power and the suits. For him 'slumming it' is simply returning to his roots, so when he shows up to the rooftop brunch, he actually manages to dress for the occasion. Granted, his black and steel-grey letterman jacket is designer, the simple black v-neck probably has a label too, and the grey, slim-fit cargo pants most definitely have a price tag in the hundreds of dollars. That's to say nothing about couple thousand dollar Nikes and the black, Nappa leather belt. "Yep... Yep... Fine, just keep me up to date." With a faint sigh, he hangs up his phone and slips it into his jacket pocket as he returns to the table to sit beside Kasandra, his dark outfit contrasting nicely with her white. In front of him is a brisket hash a bottle of water, but he seems to be more or less finished with his meal for the time being. "Sorry about that," he offers with a deep exhale and a vaguely apologetic smile cast about the group. "So... Shall we get down to business?" Ethan went for something with a touch of niceness and a touch of casual. The gradient gray t-shirt fits him well, as does the charcoal gray jacket he's placed over it; both perfectly tailored to his frame. The jeans are jeans but nice and pressed and nearly gray in their dark wash; there's a matching belt and his pull on dress boots are neatly shined. He's got on a silver watch that looks classy but is from the no-name watch maker; still, if one doesn't look closely for any kind of a brand he could probably walk into most places and go utterly unremarked. He'd be a touch too dressed up for some venues, but not overly so, a touch too dressed down for some, but not overly so, and would fit, right now, anywhere except…well. A rave, maybe, or the kinds of places that demand tailored suits. It probably all had a price tag of about $15, plus sewing supplies. "We could go any time you want," Ethan tells Colt. He gives Kas a quick grin at her statement, a quirk of a brow asking if this was here before or not. But 'get down to business' means he'll go ahead and make the formal introduction, seeing as they came here to meet Noa. "Lucius, Kasandra, this is my sister Noa. Noa, this is Mr. Lucius Shaw and Ms. Kasandra Moreno, of Omega Pharmaceuticals." The mix of formality and informality is deliberate; carefully chosen, a delicate balancing act between continuing to convey respect and, perhaps, doing his part to ensure that all of their future interactions are not *quite* as fraught as some of the past ones have been. Noa does a fake hat tip to the pair. "Nice to meet you both," she says. Her accent is a touch more Southern than Ethan's, she hasn't gotten rid of quite as much of it. She's also fairly good at timing her bites so that she isn't caught with her mouth full when she needs to speak. "I've heard a bit about you both, and thought you sounded like interesting people. I wanted to see for myself." Colt just continues working on the ramen, listening to Luc's phone call. Probably a bit too openly to hide the fact that he's just being nosy. Noodles disappear, and he catches the introductions, and Noa's exchange. "Interesting is an understament," he assures her, looking to Luc and Kas pensively, chopsticks just held lazily for the moment. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Noa," Kasandra says warmly as she sets her chopsticks down in favor of her half-full glass of Mimosa. That pitcher is going to get attacked again soon. "Ethan has spoken highly of you, but how could he not?" That dark-head tips toward Ethan as she flashes the Wolf a bright smile. The quirk of his brow gets her shoulders to loft at the implied question. "This city changes and stagnates like any other. One year it can feel like I've returned to nothing new. Others? Chaos. You can guess which I prefer." That pensive look from Colt gets a stare; at least the way Kas's head turns toward Colt, she must be at least looking /at/ him. Dark-tinted sunglasses are the absolute best accessory if you don't want to share your feelings by way of eyeballs. But there's a grin on her lips as she says, "Only getting started on the 'interesting' parts." That attention slips readily back to Noa, "But what parts caught your interest the most?" Ethan's formally informal introductions earn a faint grin and a nod of thanks from Lucius before his eyes turn to Noa to hit her full-on with a bright and friendly smile. However, before he can say anything Kasandra gives a reply and starts the proceedings off, and the look he gives her is one of mild amusement and general agreement. Colt's addition draws Lucius' attention briefly with a faint smirk, but once again his focus slips back to Noa after only a few seconds to hear her response. Ultimately, he elects to allow Kasandra take the lead for a bit while he listens and uncaps his water bottle for a drink. With the introductions made and the proceedings truly under way, Ethan seems content to work on his ramen and his drink. There's an air of observing the interaction. His body language is laid back, relaxed, steady, as if he could cast an aura of peace about the table on the strength of sheer presence alone. But through it all, he's no longer calling attention to himself, either. Where some of his auspice would prefer the spotlight be turned on them at all times, to be the absolute centre of attention, Ethan seems to prefer to play with the concept of attentiion, moving it off of himself and back on when he chooses, when the moment is dramatic or useful or right. Were he a set director of a movie, the close in shots would be going on Colt's pensive look, on Kasandra and Lucius' bright smiles, at the microexpressions flitting across Noa's features as she tips her invisible hat. Noa's a lot of things. Usually, subtle isn't one of them. This is one of those times. "Oh, the part where Lucius gave my little brother halfway to an assload of money to fix his building, for unspecified duties. And that you seem to be collecting those of us with an interesting tilt to our characters," and she says that one most carefully, "and I don't know what the purpose of it is." "Now, I'm all for gainful employment. I just like to know what the catch is before I start considering putting in an application myself. Also, it's nice to know what the job description is, and if it's something I can fill. Courting certain rejection doesn't hold a whole lot of appeal." "Pretty sure when it comes to getting my interest, you're all the way there" Colt replies, levelling one of those easy smiles at Kas in return for that look. Though he does give a side-nod to Noa, acknowledging the woman's question, but otherwise not adding too much to the conversation other than "pretty sure it was a full assload. Mr. Shaw doesn't seem to do much by half-measures." Kasandra is all ears when Noa begins answering that question. There's a little 'aha' moment for Kas, lips quirking as she reaches to push her sunglasses upward to allow those dark eyes to be seen. "All of those are fantastic questions anyone should ask," she says smoothly, her smile still warm, but it has slipped closer toward the professional side of the spectrum. A glance is flicked toward Ethan before Kas looks back to Noa, "I think I'll let the man with the plan fill you in. Who better to sell you on the dream than Lucius Shaw himself." She lifts her glass in a mock salute to the table before taking a sip. Content to allow Lucius to take over from here. Though Colt gets a slant of her eyes, a tiny flicker of something seen therein before, poof, it is gone. "How is your building doing, by the way?" Lucius abruptly asks Ethan, smiling warmly towards him while wearing a look of polite attentiveness that suggests he already knows perfectly well, but is happy to let him give a summary. Yet eventually he returns that gaze to Noa, only pausing briefly to detour towards Colt and add dryly: "Yes, I do prefer to deliver full assloads rather than halves." However, for Noa it's all smiles and friendly tones, his gaze falling on her at last after momentarily placing a light hand on Kasandra's back in thanks. "Unspecified duties? I tend to think I'm very specific with my expectations. Ethan, for instance," he indicates Ethan with a brief gesture of his hand, "Is finding me additional talent, while Colt..." Another gesture. "Is serving in a more advisory capacity." All this without turning his eyes from Noa, "You? If you were to find a place in Omega, it would depend on your particular talents and experience." "The purpose though..." Lucius continues, "Is extraordinarily simple. Each of you possess certain skills and abilities that don't exactly fit on your average resume, yet are extraordinarily useful. I only with to hire the best of the best at Omega." There's this flicker of a micro-expression on Ethan's face when Kas talks about *selling the dream,* something there and gone again even as he shoots her a quick quirk of a half-smile. The abrupt change of subject startles him, the spotlight suddenly swinging to illuminate him when he was unprepared. He quickly reads Lucius' face, and as such keeps it succinct. "Very well, thank you for asking. The busted stairwells are no longer a glaring liability; foundation and roof work happen next week." And as he likes 'talent scout' way better than he liked the role he initially really feared he was being scouted for (which would be 'hatchet man') he simply dips his head to that one.
Then she offers the other little snippet of information about herself. "I suppose I'd be an information retrieval specialist." She says that with a straight face, not even offering Ethan or Colt an amused glance when she says it. Colt doesn't seem to have much to add to the debate right now. He does give the barest of raised eyebrows at 'advisory capacity', and then an approving nod, consenting to that particular title before digging back into his Ramen. Noa's line of questioning makes that grin grow a bit broader, though, suitably impressed. Those chopsticks back in hand, Kasandra sets back into picking at that salad, but only because it's something to /do/ rather than spurred by hunger. Noa's questions, all the essential kind, get nods and flicks of attention from Kas. "All of the normal benefits you'd find at any corporation," Kasandra offers with a pause in her salad stabbing. "But with additional benefits for certain 'talent.' A corporate card isn't unheard of for charging expenses. And, of course, other perks." That said, Kas is more than happy to let Lucius lay out the rest of the package deal one of such 'talent' gets for working for Omega. To Ethan, she adds, "I should come to see the building sometime. Be wonderful to see just what you've been able to do with everything." Lucius' warm smile turns a tad amused at Noa's first question, but he answers simply: "Omega's full name is Omega Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology." He lets that register for a second before he elaborates, "As the pharmaceuticals bit suggests, we make medications. The biotechnology part is much more of an umbrella term, though. Prosthetics, surgery equipment, artificial valves and organs, genetherapy. Other things along that line." He takes a quick drink of his water bottle before briefly drying his mouth with the back of his hand and capping it again. It gives Kasandra the perfect opening to interject and add a general overview of the potential benefits of working for Omega, so he takes a moment to watch Colt with a hint of good natured anticipation, as if he's just generally always waiting for the Wolf to add a snarky comment or argue a point. "To be honest, so far both Ethan and Colt have signed on more as... full-time consultants. However, I was beginning to think recently that it might be worth considering a slight restructuring," he replies to Noa, though considering it's an announcement that involves both Ethan and Colt, his eyes swing over to both of them in turn as well. "It's of course up to each of you individually, but full-time employment offers several perks outside what you've enjoyed so far." Then his gaze turns back to Noa and his omni-present smile gains a more apologetic cant, "So unfortunately the exact details are a bit in the air at the moment. However, I can assure you competitive pay and-- yes, most likely a company card to cover expenses. Medical, dental, vision, etcetera of course. We have a fair need of specially talented... Market analysts." The title apparently comes to him on the spot, and his grin grows self-amused. "You'll be well compensated for your time." "I'd like that," Ethan tells Kas, though for a moment his stoic face is an open book; pride in what has been achieved with the Excelsior Arms warring with being able to guess the kind of place that Kasandra lives and stacking it up to that and knowing it might well be wanting. "I'll come pick you up, you don't wanna risk too new or nice a car in West Pullman. It's more than a building though." Pride has won out. "It's a community. A true community. Pretty soon I'm going to go break some ground on that patch of grass in the back so that the residents can have a community garde…" He trails off, cutting his sudden happy enthusiasm short, suddenly embarrassed by it. He clears his throat, glances at Lucius with his restructuring; glances at Colt, tilts his head, and says, "It sounds like it would be worthwhile to have some additional conversations about that, for sure." "It certainly would," says Noa, in agreement with Ethan's comment. "I would assume company cards are only used for company expenses, correct?" She bites her lower lip as she thinks about what she wants to ask next. "How much company loyalty would you say that you have towards your employees and consultants?" It's clearly an important question for her. "And how far does that loyalty extend?" She glances at Ethan and Colt, and for just a moment, her face has a flash of worry as an expression. Then it's gone again. For once, Colt doesn't seem to have anything snarky or witty to say. It seems that he's just as interested in the conversation as anyone else. There are clearly thoughts there, though. The man's eyes practically whirl with inner calculations, weighing the answers, figuring out where they all stand. The talk of restructuring, though, seems to get his interest more than others. It's catching; all of that pride in Ethan's voice as he talks about what he's done with his place gets Kasandra's smile to turn up another notch right away from that professional bent. "I can always take a car, too. But I won't say no to another ride in 'Baby,'" she teases as she keeps that warm smile leveled toward Ethan. As Lucius goes in deeper on the aspects of benefits and perks, there are some nods of confirmation from Kas. "Standard boilerplate NDAs do apply as well," she adds as her gaze flicks back to the table as a whole, going right back into Executive Assistant mode. "I do not want legal up my ass. And neither do you." The follow-up question about loyalty from Noa gets a look aimed at Lucius as Kas finishes off her Mimosa and gets handsy with the pitcher for a refill. Now that was an interesting question. Lucius' gaze fixes firmly on Noa as he considers his answer, his expression one of friendly neutrality as he weighs his words. "I won't feed you some bullshit about how we're all a family. Not only is it an overused corporate cliché, I suspect it would ring a bit hollow considering present company." He pauses to glance at Ethan and Colt pointedly before looking back to Noa. "Instead, I'll tell you two things: I know the value of my assets, and I didn't get to where I was by throwing them away. Everyone at this table brings something to Omega that can't be replaced by a more mundane workforce. Consider what I did to protect Ethan before I even met him. Think on that and know that I'd go even further for anyone here who remains loyal to Omega. As far as am I concerned, the future of this company is going to be dictated by the actions and success of the people sitting at this table." At some point during that, he ended up leaning a bit forward and lowering his voice in order to stress the importance of his words, but when he finishes he leans back and offers a new smile to ease off the more weighty words and into something a bit more functional. "Company expenses, yes. Anything that can be considered to be a legitimate expenditure to the successful completion of whatever task you happen to be working on would apply, including travel expenses if you need to go out of town." His expression grows a bit more jocular as he reaches for his water bottle again, "Believe me, you'll be able to afford plenty of luxuries on the salary you'll be receiving." Noa's question produces something grave and warm as Ethan looks at her; Kas' response produces a quick and almost dorky grin. But then Lucius says what he says and he tilts his head, truly studying the man. He nods slowly. "I didn't lay it all out for her," he admits, "Mostly because…if you'll forgive me…my head was spinning when you laid it all out to me, and I forgot the specifics in my, uh, well, we'll call it shock." Instead of panic. Panic is not very Storm Lord. To Noa: "I thought, you know, I just told a really good story I don't remember. That day." His voice was awfully low, too. "And maybe I even did, but…Lucius…" When he uses first names it's actually a good sign with him, not a bad one, "Paid a lot of people to get the law off my back. I took the time to do a little digging and verifying. And Kas got rid of…there was tape." He downs his mimosa, perhaps to wash a remembered taste out of his mouth, eyes tightening. That day is nothing he likes remembering. "I didn't trust any of this at first." Just honesty, there. "But I think, maybe, I am starting to." A glance at Noa, and at Colt, sheepish, rueful. Because he knows damn well he's the trusting one of the three. And that they're both sharper than him by a Kentucky mile, to boot. So his words in that direction may not count for much. But…he offers it out there anyway with a slight shrug. Already questioning whether he should have shared that, aware that sometimes he's too quick to share what he's thinking on top of all that. Noa is still listening to Lucius intently. At his answer about loyalty, there's another flash, this time of approval. And before she can answer that not-question about what Ethan's told her, Ethan's explaining that he really didn't, which will at least explain some of the questioning. Her expression softens a good deal when Ethan explains how very much was done for him. "Mr. Shaw," she says, when she finally opens her mouth. "I have to say, you give very good answers. You don't over-promise, which shows discretion. And you don't imply that your people won't be held accountable." She nods and says, "I think we might be able to do business. Do you have any questions for me?" Colt gives Ethan a look, and an approving nod. He's been filled in on this part. And, for the most part? Even he seems more trusting of Lucius and Kasandra as time goes on. Not *completely*. But trusting enough that the sheeping look from Ethan gets a confused eyebrow in turn. Turning to Noa, he seems like he might be on the verge of saying something, reconsiders, and then leans forward, saying it anyway. "As your unofficial advisor in this matter," he tells her, "might I suggest that you remember that you're new enough that you don't know all of the *other* rules, yet, or the political dynamics of the other -- let's call them Associations?" He picks up his own mimosa. "Be careful what you promise in turn." 'There was a tape' does get a confirming nod from Kasandra as she swirls her Mimosa around lightly in its glass. But otherwise, she allows Ethan the chance to lay it all out for Noa -- who does get curious glances all the while from Kas. And when it turns time for Noa to speak, Kas continues to be all ears and watchful curiosity. Her lips quirked as if she were going to add something, but Colt chimes in, so she remains silent until he's done. She tips her glass toward him as she says, "Wise words," and then chases that down with the near half of her Mimosa. Nothing wrong with day tipsy, she's not driving. In the end, as always, it is Lucius who gets Kas's gaze as she defers to the Boss Man. As Ethan explains what occurred before any of them met or any of this had come together, Lucius considers Noa passively, content with the recounting while he watches her for reactions. Her response earns a satisfied grin and a nod as he leans back in a "mission accomplished" sort of motion that does away with a little bit of the importance and formality he was holding onto in his body language. Colt's addition earns him yet another look, this one mildly less amused than all the others, but he doesn't comment. Instead, he returns his focus to Noa. "I'm reasonably content with the information I have. I'd like a better understanding on the limits and specialties of your particular abilities at some point -- though it is of course fine if you don't with to give me /all/ the details. I simply need to know what does and doesn't fall within your specific skillset. However, that's a topic that can be broached in a less... public location at a later date." It's at that point that he seems to react to something in his pocket, and after quickly fishing out his phone it's clear that it's a phone call. "Damn..." he mutters after inspecting the notification, "I need to take this. Can you finish this up, Kasandra?" he 'asks' of his assistant before standing from his seat and stepping away for some limited privacy. Colt's response makes Ethan a little less self-conscious. He waves Lucius off in friendly fashion, even as he dives into the rest of his soup. He's no longer radiating anything except kind of contentment, no longer trying to do anything at all except have breakfast. Everyone gets a warm smile. Noa nods at Colt with a warm smile. "Always a good thing to remember, thank you, Colt." She sounds as though she appreciates the reminder. "Does anyone want any of this French Toast souffle? Or some of the peach cobbler?" She's not sharing the bao, but she'll share the brunch-dessert. "Ms. Kasandra, you looked like you were about to say something. Mind if I ask what?" Colt returns Luc's look with a flat, mostly-innocent one of his own. As innocent as a relatively advanced predator gets, anyway, though there's the barest play at the corners of his mouth that suggests amusement. But Noa has a question for Kas, and Colt looks that way, also curious as to the answer. A half-second after Lucius gets the call, Kasandra's phone chimes, and she's fishing it out of where she's shoved it. A quick screen check has Kas give a roll of her eyes. "Fuck's sake." A nod to Lucius as he rises and asks her to take over so he can tend to the other half of whatever is going on. With the practiced ease of a woman used to multi-tasking the universe, she looks up as her fingers keep tap-tap-tapping away on screen when Noa addresses her. A flash of a smile comes with, "Please, Kasandra is fine." Though it's the latter part that gets Kas's brows to furrow as she finishes whatever she was doing, glances just to confirm, and away goes her phone. "Did I? Huh. Mustn't be too important as I can't remember what it was." Another smile and lift of her glass as she wiggles it. "I'll blame it on day drinking. If it makes its way back around, I'll share. But, otherwise? How are you feeling about--" Kas uses the glass, carefully waving it about to indicate the table, the entire Omega everything. "I'll take some of that cobbler," Ethan says, because he is nearly done with his ramen, and still hungry. He should have gotten a second thing himself, but since Noa can't finish hers, he'll happily reap the benefits. It's his only interjection, for the moment. Noa takes a big spoonful of the cobbler and pushes it towards Ethan. "Then call me Noa. Don't you just hate it when you forget like that? Drives me nuts when I do it, it's like misplacing something you were just holding." She suddenly sounds a lot less formal than she did, too. "I still want to know what the catch is, because I'm sure there's one somewhere. There always is. But I'm less concerned than I was." It's clear because she actually eats half that bite of cobbler, then the other half. "But until we find out, easy enough to run with it. What's your story, anyway?" Colt watches Kas curiously, the way she skips over the question. His fingers drum on the table, pensive, but he otherwise has nothing else to add. He *does*, however, have something to take, picking up a fork and not-very-sneakily stealing some of the cobbler. "It's worse when it's something that he," a jerk of her head toward the figure of Lucius as he continues his business on the phone, "needs at that moment in time. Luckily, I'm damn good at my job, so it doesn't happen." The peach cobbler does get eyed, but Kas has been eating like a bird and drinking like a lush today, so she doesn't dig a spoon in. Yet. Temptation is there. But so is that desire for a 'catch,' which gets a smile from Kas. "The long or the short? And which one?" Ethan just gently pushes the cobbler so it's close enough for Colt to keep eating off of, even as he takes a bite. Sure, that might remove some of the thrill of stealing but it also ups the convenience factor by a considerable margin. He's clearly listening and paying attention, but content to let the two women do the bulk of the talking for the moment. "Might wanna take some before Ethan eats it all. Because he will. Hard to find good peach cobbler that tastes like it does Down South," says Noa, with a smile. "As far as the catches, both long and short! And all of them. If we've got time. If not, summing up is good." Noa completely misses Colt stealing some of the cobbler, too. Good sneaking! "Maybe next time. Let the boys have a treat," Kasandra says about the cobbler. "I know what it's like trying to fight puppies over something they want. I like my fingers." As for the catches? Kasandra's head tips as she goes thoughtful and quiet, fingers tapping lightly against her glass. "Honestly? I've not found any yet myself. But if you want to discuss your thoughts about things, we can always meet later, and I can give you a tour of the building." She smiles and leans a touch forward then. "And then, after the tour, we can get you sorted if you feel alright about things. Get you in with legal to sign paperwork and get this ball rolling. No pressure." There's another chime on Kas's phone, and she looks pleased with whatever she sees, and then that phone slips back where it had been. "And as for /my/ story. Maybe I'll take you to Rossi's sometime, let you meet Charlie, and we can talk." Noa says, "I'd like that, thanks!" And grins wickedly. After Kasandra leaves, she looks at Colt and Ethan. "So, what do you guys think?" Colt gives a little shrug. "He's been reasonable so far," he admits. "When that stops being the case, it'll be an interesting day. But he seems like a reasonable man in general. Good eye for people. I think it should be alright, depending onw hat you agree to." Ok so maybe not THAT trusting. "Part of me really is waiting for the other shoe to fall. For the catch." Ethan murmurs. "On the other hand…the company *is* the catch. It's a biotech *and weapons* company, which I notice he left out of his little pitch." He may not be sharp in the moment, but doing his homework? Doing his research? That he can do, with dogged persistence. "He's ambitious, and in some ways the 'catch' is in how tying ourselves to Lucius' Shaw's ambitions might make us appear to the rest of the Community. But I believe him when he says that he, personally, won't screw us, personally, over. If we stay bought once bought, my read on him is he wasn't lying when he said he only makes investments he intends to continue investing in. But…my developing thing with Kas may be fogging my perception a little." To Colt, filling him in as Noa already got this tidbit: "I'm starting to really like her. For real. Not just as a 'oh I'd better do this because that's the survivor thing to do.' It's both dangerous and the truth. Last night I let myself believe she wasn't just playing with me." Noa opens her eyes and raises her eyebrows. "Is he making biotech weaponry, do you think? And is he trying to make weaponry that's special against us?" She leans forward because it's a legit question and takes precedence over day-drinking and trying to steal one last bite of cobbler. "Probably," Colt answers Noa first. "I mean, that's a profit market that nobody has cornered, and being the man that controls the things that kill everything? Not a bad place to be. He'd be an idiot if he weren't working on something like that in secret." Though he turns his attention to Ethan, then, giving a little raise of his eyebrow and a cock of his head. "Thing?" Genuine curiosity there. The man is asking for deets. Ethan looks a little embarrassed, but he provides the deets. "Remember when I told you I thought she was trying to make me into her boy toy and I was playing along because playing along seemed wise? It sort of evolved. I took her dancing last night. We didn't talk about Omega at all. It was fun. It was good. It was fun. It got romantic. I suggested a third date. So I guess we're seeing each other now." He rubs the back of his neck, as if not totally sure what the reaction will be, and as if not entirely sure he thinks he's doing something smart. "I didn't expect to genuinely like her," he says again. "Or her me. I really thought she was…" Here his smile turns wry, cynical, a hint that he still has a small part of him that still thinks this way: "Selling the dream." Noa is quiet for a moment, then says, "Why would she need to sell the dream after you've already accepted the money?" It's a simple question, and thoroughly confused. She can't think about that part too hard, though, it makes her need a lot more booze. Oh, wait. She finishes what she has in her glass and pours herself another, then has a big bite of the souffle. Colt has a feeling that he knows what's coming there. He takes a drink of his mimosa, but it doesn't keep the small *wince* off of his face as Ethan says that, the happy look on his face eliciting some change in the man's demeanor that he can't quite suppress. "Might wanna give that one a little bit more time before you go making any kind of pronouncements," he tells Ethan. "You know. Just to be on the safe side." Subtle. Real subtle. Noa opens her mouth and shuts it, considering Colt for a moment. "Just being cautious? Or do you have a hunch?" She says that seriously, wanting to know where that one's coming from. "Pronouncements?" Ethan asks, slowly, looking *utterly* unsure what *that* means. "What pronouncements? What do you mean?" A pause, and then earnestly: "Do you like her, too, Colt? If you do. I'll stand aside, I won't get between you and someone you want to be with. Or—what she said? Or—do you know something I don't?" Colt has a feeling that he knows what's coming there. He takes a drink of his mimosa, but it doesn't keep the small *wince* off of his face as Ethan says that, the happy look on his face eliciting some change in the man's demeanor that he can't quite suppress. "Might wanna give that one a little bit more time before you go making any kind of pronouncements," he tells Ethan. "You know. Just to be on the safe side." Subtle. Real subtle. "No." The word comes fast and firm, Ethan's answer coming before anything else. Colt looks to the man, fixing him with a gaze. "Not -- like that? She's fine as a person. I don't hate her. But I'm not in active competition for that or anything." But the two of them are looking at him now, and the wolf is clearly -- well. Tense is probably the right word. "It's twenty twenty-two," is the answer that he gives back. "Three dates doesn't constitute an exclusive contract, you know? Might wanna see how it plays out. And then, to Noa, "I always have a hunch that we should be cautious. It's kind of -- part of what makes me *me*." How *does* one explain the intricacies of Auspice in a concise way? But a look back to Ethan, and a more direct: "Just -- simmer down on the butterflies there, Casanova. Wait and see where it goes before you go getting all twitterpated." "See, I'm all Miss "Fuck around and find out," except I'm using 'fuck around' literally, not figuratively and to mean actual fucking." Noa grins wickedly. "I've already pointed out dating in the workplace ain't the best idea in the world. But who am I to stand in the way of young lust?" She takes a breath and lets it out. "But I don't exactly trust either of them yet. I do suspect that if Lucius Shaw is gonna sell out his people, he's gonna sell her out, too. If." "No fucking is happening at this time," Ethan says, holding his hands up. Definitely not an exclusive contract. He peers at Colt, thoughtful, and asks, "It's good advice, and I'll take it." Embarrassed, because he also feels seen. The intricacies of either auspice or just nature make Ethan a romantic at heart. "Though if you end up having some specific suspicion I'd like to know." To Noa: "I mean. This full time thing wasn't on the table till this morning," he says, slowly. "We were just independent contractors, and still are unless we all decide that's something worth exploring further." Colt plays with the mimosa glass, clearly giving what he says next careful consideration. "If I were you," he muses, "I wouldn't let feelings come into it at all. Go with the fun. Do what feels good. But don't like -- go falling in love, my dude. Because I think that's gonna end not how you think it's gonna end." Though he does point at Noa. "Right. That. Young lust fine. Workplace dating? Bad." A small shake of his head. Noa looks at Ethan, then at Colt. "As we come to the same conclusion from entirely different directions. Ethan, I hadn't met them yet last night, so I was going entirely off your observations. But...be cautious. There's a lot more at stake than just your heart on this one, y'know?" She makes a face. "As I'm entirely at odds with my particular flavor of the club on this one. Except it's easier to deal in desire than love, any day." Ethan is now watching Colt carefully. Colt clearly knows something. Colt clearly isn't sharing what he knows. It's nothing dangerous to him exactly, or Colt would tell him. Suddenly he gets the impression he's going to end up making a fool out of himself. Or maybe already has. Even if he doesn't know exactly how. He stabs his spoon a little grumpily into the cobbler, and takes a grumpy bite out of it. "Ok. Makes sense." His tone says, at least, *they* are not the ones he's grumpy at. Colt just sees that face, and a low growl rumbles up out of his throat. It's not a position that he wanted to be in, but here he is, and he owes Ethan that much. "I guarantee you that whatever you have going on isn't gonna be exclusive. Next to positive that she and Shaw are a thing, man, so. If you want her, you're gonna have to share, and not with me." There. He put that out there. Even though it looks like he about swallowed a razorbalde in doing it. On the other hand, that makes Noa's eyebrows raise. "Ok, one, I have no clue who Shaw is, but two, if you *do* fu...have sex with her, make sure it's just fun, 'k, boo? Don't get yourself into a pissing contest." On the other hand, that makes Noa's eyebrows raise. "Ok, one, I have no clue who Shaw is, but two, if you *do* fu...have sex with her, make sure it's just fun, 'k, boo? Don't get yourself into a pissing contest." Then she realizes. "Wait. You mean she's fucking the boss? THAT Shaw? Like the one just eating with us?" Her eyes get bigger. "Don't, boo, just don't go there, there's no universe where that ends well." Ethan poke poke pokes the spoon at the cobbler before finally sighing and letting it drop. "Well. Great. Instincts are on point. Selling the dream. Wanted a boytoy. Stupid of me to believe anything else, even for a moment. No, I'm not going there. I was an idiot to think it was anything else, and an idiot to think it could be or would be any other way." He blows out his cheeks. "Whatever. I'm still half in love with Joshua anyway." Someone else he absolutely cannot have. "I'll just. Figure out how to lie and extricate myself from this bullshit gracefully. If I'd just kept my head straight, kept my head in the game, remembered reality, it would be fine. She could crawl all over me and, whatever. She's happy, boss is happy, everyone feels like I'm well and truly under control—which is the why, Noa, after getting paid. She didn't want me to balk. But I didn't keep my head in the game, like a moron, so now I have to go and untangle the knot." He looks over at Colt. Cuts off his somewhat bitter rant. "Thank you. For warning me. I don't know why you look upset about it, but I appreciate it." Noa considers Ethan. And then she says, quietly, "A thought. You don't have to untangle anything because it's not actually tangled yet. You've had two dates and no sex. It's hardly a commitment. Neither of you have said anything to the other that needs taking back. Why make a mountain out of a molehill? Next date, make it a hangout. You want to be a real dick, call it a double date, bring me and Colt with." She looks over at Colt and says, "I promise to only take as much advantage of you as you want taken. With permission." Then she does one of those air kisses without moving, and grins, wickedly. "Maybe." Colt finishes the mimosa. "Because I didn't know that you'd gone and caught some feelings or I could have headed that off at the pass. Before you went and got hurt." He looks to Ethan, and the look on his face is a mix of guilt and resignation. "Just don't like being the one that has to tell you the thing you want isn't what you think it is. But I guess it comes with the territory." He reaches for his wallet, leaving a few bills on the table. "Be back later. Need to go do a thing." "Yeah well, it only happened last night, Colt, it's not like it's the love story of a lifetime or anything," Ethan says, waving it away. "You did head it off at the pass. This is the earliest possible point you could have said or done anything." But he lets Colt have his withdraw, too, and sighs. "Have a good day, man." He looks over at Noa and shrugs. "Because now I don't want to go on a date with her. And I don't want to tell her why. Because she'll be hurt and won't understand, probably, and will think I'm being an asshole and might get defensive and fling it in my face or something, and we've all got this tenuous working relationship with this megacorp, and you know. Pissing off the billionaire or his right hand woman still strikes me as a stupid idea. It's fine. I'm fine. I'll figure it out." He pulls out his own wallet, ready to leave his own bills behind. It's as good a time to end brunch as any. Noa opens her mouth and closes it again. "You do you, Boo. Later, Colt." She gets up and figures out whether she's going to go home or go do something else. Something else wins. | |