Just doing my job

Yeah, okay, alright, I’m ready. I can do this. Joseph knows jack shit about science. Okay, okay. He looks back in his “memory” again - Terry’s memories - and gathers a vague gist of what he’s supposed to be talking about. A few sentences per slide should be good enough as long as he doesn’t try to go too far into the science of the research. Joseph shoots Leo a thumbs up and walks to go chat with the backstage people before his “big moment”. The thing is, he has to find the confidence in him to actually act like Terry because, well, Terry isn’t shy of speeches. And Joseph isn’t either, but he doesn’t exactly want to do them.

Leo is chewing on his thumb nail. Not much of a good habit but sitting backstage means that he can get away with doing all sort of unseemly things. This is why he likes handling the backstaged things rather than be in the fore front of things. Leo lets out a huge sigh of relief and gave Terry’s shoulders a few hearty pats.

Erica Jackson @ericajackson

Nexus Corp. @NexusOfficial 

Well, yeah, there was, Terry- no, no, Joseph (still getting used to it…) mumbles, shyly, and rubs his neck with his free hand, Someone cute that I saw… Nope. He just didn’t bother to look up. Uh, sure… Shit. What was he supposed to do again? Maybe you want to remind me exactly what I’m supposed to do, just so I make sure I have everything right. That was smooth enough, right?

If one of those telepathic posties are around, no doubt they’d be able to hear Leo scream to himself. He knows stage fright happens-- and hell, this is a rather big event-- but he is not paid enough to be a broken record on top of a PR rep. He rubs his chin a bit since his hands are itching to do something other than hit himself in the head. “It’s just like we rehearsed. You go backstage, a stage hand will give you your remote to advance your power points, you give your speech, wow the audience, save humanity. Score or a date or two at the end, I don’t know.”

Aw, shit. Noooooooo. Terry- wait, Joseph grumbles to himself and dutifully makes his way over to Leo, squeezing his can of iced tea a bit too hard now. It dents in his grasp a little bit. He should’ve just stayed home and played with his cat. A cat makes better company than humans, anyway. Joseph makes his way through the crowd, faking polite “Excuse me”s the whole way and finally gets to Leo’s side. For a moment, he skims over Terry’s past interactions with Leo - which are, thankfully, minimal because Terry doesn’t work in Leo’s department all that much - then adopts a slightly lighter tone. Can’t do anything about his sullen posture, though. Sorry, I didn’t see you waving at me. Got a bit distracted. He shrugs and cracks a fake grin. So, what’s up?

“You didn’t see me,” Leo repeats. His forehead crinkles along with the contortion of the rest of his face into his usual disbelief/cranky expression. The expression stays on his face for a touch too long but worrying about being judged something that ranks very high on his priorities today. --Especially given his list of responsibilities. “Okay,” he shrugs. “You all set and ready to go?”

@Leo

After spotting Terry in the crowd, Leo gestures for him to come over. This is usually where being a giant really helps him stick out in a crowd. Leo waves his arms in the air like an idiot next after his conspicuous wave failed to get Terry’s attention. He told Terry about signaling to him beforehand. He told him and yet here’s Leo flailing his arms around. “Hey, Terry!” He smiles tightly, veiling a small “Get your ass over here.”

Teased and trapped; Kalani hated it. She’d fry their brains right then and there if she could, but if she did, her little game, the one that brought her so much pleasure, would come to an end. It would come to an end eventually. Possibly. But not without her say so. For now, she’s stuck here.

It was Friday. It was late. Leo just wanted to get his drink, temporarily forget about deadlines and work, then haul his ass home. But no. He just had to go and make eye contact with this girl. This poor distraught looking girl. He didn’t even have to see the rest of the scene to know what happened. Two years experience as a bartender in the sketchiest bar in town laid out the map of what was probably happening here. It was all bar tropes upon bar tropes.

"Perhaps." She pondered his advice, actually finding it to be helpful. Tracking down a post-human wouldn’t be too hard. Perhaps the Rogues would have something in their database about it. But she didn’t share this information with him. One could never be too careful. "I’m being picky. This is a major work, so I guess I’ve earned that right." She raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I understand." Leah took a sip of her coffee and savored the familiar bitter taste. "Do you usually crash like that? Can’t be too good for social interaction." Her ill attempt at a joke reached her tone, but it came off mildly sarcastic in her mind. She couldn’t bring herself to care entirely, however. Not because she she wanted to hurt this man, but because it seemed like he could use the humor.

"Definitely have earned that right," Leo nodded a touch. "I've done enough academic writing during my college years to never want to do it again. And you're making a living off of it so I admire you. And also pity you, but just a little." He raised his hand, showing the little space between his thumb and index finger to emphasize his point. He managed to smile again, one with more sincerity and less cynicism, as he rest his chin in his hand. "Nah, it's not, but people usually don't stick around long enough to see me crash." 

What? No. [She frowned at Leo— and if he wasn’t driving she would’ve actually shoved him. ] If you really need to know, a friend of mine is hiding and that guy was looking for him. Something about a large debt. I refused to say anything and he pulled out his frickin’ tazer. [Roni drew a long breath and sighed, trying to cool her head off.] Thanks— by the way. I would’ve been dead meat if you hadn’t showed up.  

[At the next stoplight, Leo turned his head over his shoulder to see if they were followed or not. He couldn't see any faces too clearly through car windows but for now, they felt safe enough.] Have you ever heard about hanging out with the wrong crowd? God, that was such a close call. You're welcome and all but it was all just pure luck I was around.