SDN-T and the Triple Ds

It's enough at least to buy him time to find his own seat as the bus began to resume his route.

"Mhm. Probably want to get some action shots, sparring maybe, if they want live shots. Just make sure they're they're paying you for everything they're using. I assume you've got some kind of promotional contract in place?"

Dale doesn’t seem to notice the insincerity in her reply, though, and he’s moving on to explain the practicals just like he said. Courtney’s expecting to zone out within the first five second, but … she doesn’t. She actually listens to what he’s saying. Every word. Every syllable. And the more he speaks, the quicker it dawns on her, the reality of this situation. That’s when she starts to zone out. When her mind drifts, helplessly, back to the events of that night. The rage on Mecha Man’s face. The explosion. The news that followed her everywhere she went.

Her nails dig into the sleeves of her jacket. Chest tight. Lips pursed. You didn’t have a choice.

But she did. She absolutely did.

She could have chosen not to kill a man that night.

“Uh, one sec,” Courtney interrupts whatever tangent Dale’s on. She wasn’t paying attention at this point. “Just … what about …” Deep inhale. “I have asthma. It’s … kinda gotten worse and sometimes it makes it difficult to use my powers. I was wondering if … maybe I should stick to like, low priority assignments to start? You know, like, stuff where … people’s lives aren’t at stake?”

It's visible on his face. The way it shifts, first to confusion, then back to neutral, lingering as he tried to organize his thoughts. Tried to guess what it was she expected...

He settled on a remarkably honest smile, a little huff, and an apologetic tone. Sure, he was some corporate schmuck, but... Dale could take off the badge a minute to help assuage that fear.

"Oh, uh, sorry, I wasn't aware. We can definitely take some steps to help ease you into things then. Take it slow, let you get comfortable."

At least, as easy as the rest of the team would let them ease her in. That was his problem though, not hers.

"Valentine's Day Gala, now St. Patrick's Day? We keep this up and people are going to start talking" no resentment to be had, merely teasing.

Since she was no longer the face of SDN, more admin than hero nowadays, Blazer would rather keep a low profile and simply talk and hang out with people she wanted to. A few had noticed Dale as her plus one last time, but this time around seemed content to leave them be.

"Luckily, photographers and bloggers have found other subjects to cover" Phenomaman was still going through things, but at least it wasn't a public as earlier in the year and people seemed content to let the relationship die.

"Most muckrakers are out on the street. Trying to catch somebody on a bender."

The benefit of a high end branch having everybody over was that there were much bigger names meandering or floating about the room that kept the attention off of them.

Dale kept his guard up anyway. Just in case.

I mean U probably are better off having seen the first one before the second but like It’s just a dumb Rom Com U can probs put the pieces together

. . .

Holy shit U make ur own popcorn? Tried that once In like a pan Burned all of it Nearly set the kitchen on fire the fire alarm went off and everything But ur probably a better cook than that so

. . .

Most of them are the same right?

Maybe I'll luck out and sit near one of those chatty types

They can explain it to me

. . .

Oh no I'm an incredibly shitty cook

However, I was also the only one trusted not to burn down our camper van so

I've got a few recipes down

Invisigal looked to the door and thought better of it, despite the tremors pulling her to hold her breath and bolt. If she had to choose a word to accurately describe how she was currently feeling about this situation? Horrified.

To learn that not only was a rather vulnerable moment now something to have popcorn around in the office, but now of course the company had to fucking try to capitalize on it! Something she didn’t at all appreciate. She had been… honest in that fucking conversation! On some level as well, she couldn’t help but feel like something was taken from her in that regard. That moment. That vulnerability. That honesty. All that given and returned by Robert only for the entire fucking office to be in on it.

Nothing quite like becoming office gossip to take the wind out of your damn sails. And she was supposed to be playing smart about all of this! The very last thing Visi wanted or needed was media attention on her.

And yet… were she to turn away now, wouldn’t that be squandering everything? She had a chance here! A real fucking chance! Robert showed her that and SDN’s leaderboard held empirical evidence of it!

So, she gulped, unable to shake the jitters from her nerves, even despite how she occasionally shook out her hands and hit the inhaler out of comfort more than anything else. Breathing was more a mental battle than a physical one at this time.

She looked to Dale now then back to the exit and the glowing red indicator above it. It’d be so easy, wouldn’t it? Well… easy until she clocked in tomorrow.

“Just…” She began, taking another deep breath that didn’t at all feel like it fully expanded her lungs. “What do I do? What do I say?” Commitment. Move the needle. All that shit!

Dale's face was inscrutable. A well crafted face of diplomatic neutrality, completely lacking in anything but polite attention. It felt glassy. Fake.

Especially because his eyes couldn't keep up the facade.

Dale had always prided himself on the ability to read a room, but admittedly, well... This wasn't exactly a challenge. As far as he could tell, Visi didn't want to be here.

That was nothing new, but usually she was just disinterested in whatever formalities Dale represented that day. Boring corporate two-step to get in the way of her fun. He didn't blame her, paperwork wasn't a great hobby and most people did NOT share his enthusiasm for policy adherence.

But right now? She wasn't bored. She was scared.

Under the spotlight in the best and worst ways possible. Private conversations brought to light because somebody hadn't bothered to teach Robertson how to use a headset.

It had earned her a lot of points with the public, that vulnerability. Touched a lot of people, but that didn't change the fact it wasn't meant to be shared. Corporate wanted to bend this as far as it would go but Dale... Well... it was easy to picture just how fast Visi would vanish if they did that.

"Corporate wants us to lean into it. Really... Sell the redemption angle. T-shirts, even. But..."

Dale's well crafted face twisted. Passivity gave way to... Unease. Sympathy. Concern. Dale would like to say hearing the audio himself hadn't changed anything but... It had. She deserved the shot. She'd finally let herself try, he couldn't let corporate fuck that up the second there had been progress.

Blazer snapped to attention at Dale's words, "...good evening to you too?" She had half-expected for the person who got cut to make a bee-line to her office after Robert met with them. Her spine straight, posture taunt and tight, ready to fight. There was a brief reprieve at seeing it was Dale stepping inside, only to be thrown for a loop at the accusation.

The blonde hesitated, briefly opened her mouth to say something, then slowly closed it as she thought better of it.

Rising out of her chair, Blazer knew it was petty to use any height advantage over Dale, especially since it all came from the necklace; she was going to anyway. Having enough of people second guessing, questioning and overall being assholes today.

Dale wanted to lump himself as just more more annoyance. Fine. She'd bite.

"Alright, what have I done now? Oh..." exaggerated, nearing an uncharacteristic level of sarcasm, "It's about the cut being made tonight." That's all anyone wanted to talk about since she told Z Team, the backstabbing and sabotage was something she only heard second hand, least until she could listen to the tapes later tonight.

The only bright spot was Robert cheering up Invisigal and her going out to finally close on a call and rise in the ranks.

But it wasn't why he was here. He took a deep breath, before straightening the papers in his hand. He had to keep on task. Blazer was busy and even if he was irate, he wasn't about to waste more of her time than he had to.

"That... That's between you and Robertson at this point, I've said my peace... However... I'm here to follow up on the Granny's incident. Madeline forwarded me the settlement."

Dale's glare held, in spite of his attempts to check his attitude. He could toss the papers down, dramatics as that would be, Blazer probably already knew the contents by heart. So they stayed in his hand, slowly folding under the pressure of his grip.

"I think we've worked together long enough for you to know that I'm not in the habit of questioning your calls... But I've got to ask at this point."

He tries to find a way to word it diplomatically. Professionally. At least somethinf that isn't so... Accusatory...

He can't find one. So he blurts out the question.

One hand should be more than enough Or do u usually need two?

Okay, focus, just help this sad loser figure out what to do.

Ur JUST now realizing? Dude I coulda told u that a long time ago Well anyway Robert and I

No, pause. Don’t send that.

He probably shouldn't have expected anything less, but he decides against actually answering THAT question.

Definitely haven't seen the first one but I'm sure that's fine. Or is it a series better seen in order?

He says that like he's debating, but he's already trying to figure out where to find it.

[txt: dubble dee] if i regret it ur just gonna end up gettin a special promo video where I do my awesome new special move on u [txt: dubble dee] don't tell anyone about it!!! >:T [txt: dubble dee] I've been workin on it a LONG time it's almost ready

The next message sent is a picture, clearly taken in motion, of Xue running down the sidewalk. Judging by the blurriness, she's moving pretty fast... and headed straight for him. It's only a couple minutes after Dale arrives at the bust stop until he can spot her dodging "traffic", weaving through the midmorning crowd with ease.

"Dale! Yo! Okay- actually it's good that we're at this stop, we can get closer to the club if we take the 115 into town. How you doing, dude? I've never seen you not in a cubicle before! It's weird!"

Not only was he free from his cubicle, he actually owned a shirt that didn't have the SDN logo on it! Still blue though, but at least it was a darker shade.

"Hey, Xue, yeah it's... Uh... Different."

Jury was still out on a lot of things, but he was determined to at least give this a try.

Xue laughs, one leg dangling off the edge of the bench she’s lying down on. It’s nice that he asked! Dale is a smart guy, and as much as it annoys her to admit it, he’s got a good head for framing… social media stuff, if not physical photography.

[txt: dubble dee] u can give input!

[txt: dubble dee] I might not do what ur sayin but ur smart so I probably will

[txt: dubble dee] just no freakin job interview photos!!!

[txt: dubble dee] u gotta know

[txt: dubble dee] i’mma do things my way! It’s my way!

[txt: dubble dee] MY WAY OR DA HIWAY!!! >:P

You've got it. One slightly washed up hype-man, on deck. No corporatism. :P I'm at my place, but I can scoot over to that bus stop on seventh?

Dale smiled. Just a little. He couldn't help it. Xue's enthusiasm was infectious.