cold.

[ @henryxsanford​ ]

“That’s good,” she kept smiling, imagining Silas was teaching the young man all he needed to know as an aspiring politician (albeit some republican views she found disdainful).  Or perhaps Perseus only interned to see if it was an interest, as she imagined he had plenty of time to decide on his career path and change it later down the line once he graduated. “Who are most interested in meeting?” Maybe she could help him out and arrange something, ease the ills of intimidation.  There were plenty of people she’d met at one time or another if she wasn’t working with them semi-frequently.  “And is there anything you’d like to know about my work?  I’d be happy to answer.”

Percy wondered if maybe this was the window he was looking for, Director Kane prompting him to answer who he was most looking forward to meeting. Percy didn’t know if it was the thrill of being in the same room as his father and fucking up his life plans for Percy right under his nose, but there was something about this event that just pushed Percy past his comfort zone. “I actually was quite interested in meeting you. I was talking to Director Ward earlier this evening, and he directed me to you, about opportunities in your departments for young individuals within the realm of cyber-technology. I may intern for Senator Sanford, but computer technology and computer science makes up the bulk of my education.”

Even if he weren’t a trained spy, it would have been hard not to notice how Perseus lit up at being able to talk about computers. Alex doubted that he got to talk about them much during his usual day. This sort of thing went way above the heads of most politicians. “I would possibly look into the Office of Intelligence and Analysis; they have a unit dedicated to all things cyber. And then, of course, there’s the NSA,” he added on, but didn’t feel like he needed to explain what they did… as if popular culture didn’t make enough jokes about it. Perhaps he’s reluctant to push Perseus to the CIA… knowing how difficult a life it was. “You’ll be able to get a more thorough overview of all the different departments if you speak to Director Kane.” Who also happens to be my girlfriend.

“Well, if Mr. Bell wins, we might be seeing a little more of each other.” As, after all, Silas would become a vice president. And where would that leave Perseus? He can’t help but imagine the boy would want to continue working for Silas, if the man would have him. Or… As he listened to him speak, it seemed perhaps his passions might be something other than politics. He grinned as he looked at him. “We’re always looking for new talent in the CIA that are well-versed in technology. What in particular is your passion when it comes to computer?” Alex knew that the CIA wasn’t for everyone… but there were other departments within the intelligence community as well.

To say she was shaken might very well be an understatement. There had only been one shot, but that was enough, wasn’t it? Three shots had been enough as far as Teresa was concerned. It was hard to deny the panic that crawled its way up her throat as she sent out a litany of texts - to Rory, to Anne, anyone she could think of to check on that she knew was there, worried about Julian and Oliver and anyone else.

She was entirely absorbed in it, practically curling in on herself in the corner of the room where she had been locked in with a number of others. Most of them were, by her guess, French tourists, and she was entirely too wrapped up in her own head to pay anyone much mind, until she looked up across the way. She assumed he had to be an intern, so young he didn’t look like he belonged here, and she could only swallow, studying him for a moment before she reached out. Worrying about someone else at least gave her a fair distraction. “….Hey.” She prompted, trying not to spook him any further, even as her own ears strained for any more sounds of chaos outside the door. “Are you… okay? Want to talk?”

It was a mad rush to get everyone into concealed spaces. Not knowing where the noise had come from and not knowing what to do about it had sent most people into a controlled bit of chaos, but the lack of control had Percy on the edge of his breath. He tried to keep calm, but the paranoia that ran rampant in his brain all the time often took off without warning. He had been separated from his father when he was ushered into a small side room, and was in a space mostly with individuals he didn’t know, so he stood in the corner, leaning against the wall, gently playing with the edge of his suit jacket when he heard a voice approach him.

“Nice to meet you, Perseus,” she smiled and shook his hand, a brow arching when he said he interned for Silas.  Anne tried to recall any details or stories Silas might have mentioned about his summer interns.  “I started working with Senator Sanford years ago when I was in the CIA, he’s very knowledgeable.”  Their public disagreements on politics aside, she could speak highly of how prepared he came to Intelligence committee meetings and his work ethic.  “How are you liking your internship?”  She nodded when he mentioned the feeling of missing something.  In a large crowd, things could easily go amiss, but that’s why she was here, wasn’t she?  So they wouldn’t slip by.  “You’ll have plenty of opportunities to network with great people here.”

“Oh really, Director, the pleasure is all mine,” he smiled, his dad’s politician certainly shining through in his smile. He knew of Anne, but on opposite sides of the aisle, Percy had never heard a completely positive review of the current Intelligence director. “I’m really enjoying it - Senator Sanford’s been an amazing mentor and has really taken his staffers under his wing. I wouldn’t trade the experience,” Percy said. Despite disagreeing with the GOP in general, Percy knew he was lucky to have someone who believed in him as his boss. “Oh of course,” Percy added. “Just a matter of making the most of the time in this room - but everyone’s playing that game tonight, I’m sure,” he shrugged.

He was fond of Perseus, who at least seemed to be more polite and grounded than most children of wealthy and powerful parents. Silas’ son, Henry, also seemed to be an exception to what he typically expected. So he didn’t mind speaking with the young man. He imagined every kid was excited to be so close to power; two presidents under one roof. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to speak too much last time,” he apologized, as his day had been crammed with meetings, more than usual, anyways. “But I remember you were interested in the CIA? I’ve heard from Senator Sanford that you deal mostly with computer related tasks in his office.”

“Oh really, it’s no problem. I uh... I honestly didn’t expect to run into you at all that day, so it was nice to say hello and introduce myself.” Percy thought for a moment, let the idea linger in the back of his head. Was he about to give his father what he wanted, dismiss Director Ward? Or actually take the reigns on his own life for once? The words came out of his mouth without too much thought - nothing but the fact that he wanted his own life doing the guiding. “I do a lot with computers in the Senator’s office, yes, and it’s great, but I’m really interested in more than just the deskwork. I did a dual degree at Yale in Political and Computer Science, but my interests most certainly lie with the latter half of it...” Fuck. Did he really just say that out loud?

He nodded, “That’s correct.” It felt a little strange referring to her in so formal way, considering informal they were now, but  out in public he kept such things close to his chest. He smiled back. Silas did like to help people, and particularly young people who had dreams they wanted to achieve. “If Mr. Bell and I succeed in winning this election, I don’t see why you couldn’t test out such a path. As I would be able to arrange such things, if I was in that position.” If he won, it meant opportunities for his team as well. Though, he doesn’t know what the boy’s father would think about all of that.

He’s let Anne have some time to converse in French with some of the dignitaries, and left rather than try to follow along. His French was half-decent, but he’d rather not make a fool of himself in front of Anne (or their guests), so instead he’s gone to try and get some hors d’oeuvres. He didn’t really get many people coming up to him as he wasn’t a politician and most likely wouldn’t recognize him by face. He saw someone come up to him (though perhaps more so stumble into his direction), and recognized them as Silas’ intern, who he had briefly spoken to at his office. “As much as I can. I’m on duty,” he said with a light shrug and a smile, and it didn’t seem like he was too bothered by this. As long as he was around Anne, he would be enjoying himself. “And yourself, Mr. Andrews? Have you caught a glimpse of the French President yet?”

His last interaction with the Director had been brief, but he was thankful when Mr. Ward didn’t push him away immediately. It wasn’t like he was looking to make deep conversation, but acquaintanceship was important in the business of politics, after all, and no matter what anyone said, who you knew was everything. “Doing well, myself sir. Just a quick glimpse out of the corner of my eye in passing,” he chuckled. He may not have spoken with the president himself, but his father’s You’ve got to meet my son and over enthusiastic introductions had him acquainted with far more french politicians and businessmen than Percy ever really expected.

Though that’s what Perseus’ work focused on in his office because indeed, he had a degree in it (not that it would take that to do the menial computer tasks at  his office) it seemed perhaps like… that might have been the boy’s passion. He never seemed to complain about having to do anything related to computers. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but the the current Director of National Intelligence pivoted from politics. She used to be a senator.” He decided not to go into precisely why that had happened… it was an unfortunate thing. “Perhaps it might be good for you to speak to her about such opportunities?” He suggested helpfully. “As it’s always good to have one’s back-up plan set, just in case,” he said, going along with the pretense of the conversation, but his focused gaze might suggest he might know a little bit more about what might be going on. “Just say you’re my intern and I know she would be happy to talk to you. Or if you see Director Ward, he might also have some insight for you.”

Weaving through the crowd to grab herself and Alex more drinks, she’s caught up in one chat and the next.  There’s a young man, quite a bit taller than her who asks about the evening and she’s happy to extend the courtesy of answering, engaging in further conversation.  “I am, it’s amusing for sure.”  Never felt more like a spy…she left that part out in case he took it the wrong way.  She wasn’t purposefully eavesdropping, but it was a part of her job to stay, well…informed…and there’s some commentary among the French staff better left untranslated.  “I don’t believe we’ve met.  Anne,” she held out her hand that wasn’t holding a drink.  “Are you working for the white house?” He looked a little too young for it, but the best flattery she assumed for anyone just starting their career would be guessing they were some place more integrated.  Holding a title, experience.  She then extends the same courteous question to compensate for her guess.  “And are you enjoying the evening?” 

It wasn’t like Percy to approach someone like Anne Kane, but his conversation with Silas had put a bit of a swing into his step, and maybe at the very least he could play such a conversation off at an event like this. His mind reeled for a minute before he nodded, resumed conversation. “Fair,” Percy said, taking Anne’s hand in his. “Perseus,” he replied, leaving out his last name for just one night. As if maybe it’d be irrelevant. “I intern for Senator Sanford, actually,” Percy nodded. “Enjoying the evening as much as I can, there are always so many places to go and people to see that you feel like you’ve missed something. But other than that, certainly,” he smiled sympathetically.

He can’t quite put his finger on it, but there’s something off about the way presented his humbleness. Certainly, it’s the stance that every politician took: Oh, if the good people will have me… But it’s the shrug that that undercut any semblance of potential passion and enthusiasm. “If that doesn’t pan out, what path do you intend to go for instead?” He asked, and perhaps that might lead closer to the truth of what Perseus wanted.

     At the first half of the boy’s reply, Amanda actually let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, okay, so I’m not losing my mind yet,” she assured herself. Trying to be funny with strangers, even though she rarely succeeded, had proven to be an invaluable trait in the world of politics; where everyone seemed so uptight and serious without a single break, she had found that poking fun at herself ( or any other harmless subject ) was a good way to difuse some tension. The second half of the explanation was definitely not as satisfactory, and she wasn’t quick enough to hide it from her face.

     “Ah, yes, I remember,” she responded, scanning him up and down warily. The last name Andrews might not be the rarest but in the world of politics it was hard to miss the connection. “So, a family of politicians, huh?” she hummed with a slight shadow of humor, that one conversation from all those weeks ago coming back to her now. “It’s a pleasure to officially meet you too, Perseus Andrews,” she said finally, grabbing his hand and giving it a tight shake – one didn’t spend almost two decades shaking hands to shy away from a twenty-year-old. “What brings you here?” she narrowed her eyes at him, though rather in a curious way and not accusatory. She couldn’t imagine his father ( or uncle? ) had been invited and had chosen to bring him here, it was too much of a reach.

Percy smiled and nodded, let Ms. Roy talk before stepping into the conversation again. He silently cursed himself for dropping his last name. Maybe he shouldn’t have... maybe he should just have let it be and walked away. But no, his father had raised him with his last name on the tip of his tongue. “You’d be correct in thinking such,” Percy nodded as he shook Amanda’s hand. “My father is close with some of the french diplomats from his years in the Senate and his work in Corporate Law. He was kind enough to bring me as his plus one tonight,” Percy smiled, even though here was probably the last place he really wanted to be. But he had perfected keeping that to himself.

He’s glad to see someone from his team, and indeed, someone who was solely on his team rather than the campaign team. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but he knew those people more so worked for Will than himself. “Perhaps there might be many more in your future,” he hinted, if Will and Silas happened to win. And he did wonder about Perseus wanted. “Are you thinking of following in your father’s footsteps and being a politician?” He asked, and didn’t assume that this was necessarily the case. Henry didn’t seem enthused by the prospect, after all.

    For about five minutes, Amanda had been standing next to one of the walls of the East Room, watching the event unfold. So far, everything was going quite smoothly, she’d gotten a few snacks in and had yet to drink a single drop of alcohol. This night was going to be fine. She wasn’t focused on anything in particular when she heard an unfamiliar voice near her which snapped her out of her daydream. “Hmm?” she turned her head slightly to the side with a confused look furrowing her brows. Honestly, the boy might not even be talking to her but something about his face was vaguely familiar. He might have been a friend of her niece’s, she thought, but why would he attend this event?

     Once again, she was lost in thought for a moment before she snapped herself off of it with a quick shake of her head. “Yeah, sorry, I– do I know you?” she let the question linger for a moment before realizing how it might sound. “I mean– sorry, you look familiar but I don’t think…” she trailed off into a thoughtful hum. He might be a junior staffer at the White House for all she knew, Amanda hardly knew half of the people who worked there. 

Percy got a better look at the face he had approached - realizing his mistake for one of the other staffers in the Senate. “Oh, uh... Sorry, Ms. Roy - I thought you were someone different out of the corner of my eye,” Percy said, shifting slightly. Yes, he knew who Amanda Roy was - not least because of their semi-awkward interaction when he lent her a hand outside of Zafar’s office.

“I think we have met... once though,” Percy said, “You needed a hand carrying boxes into your office? Perseus Andrews, a pleasure to meet you - officially,” he said, reaching out his hand, feeling awkward about his name in the conversation.