#rodgrigo

Starling City and Gotham were separated by much of the contiguous US, but to Rodrigo, they could have been on opposite sides of the Milky Way Galaxy. Sure, Gotham had turned out to be the gargantuan economic capital he’d imagined, but the people, the streets, the very atmosphere were unlike anything he’d experienced back home.

Perhaps it was the smog, but Gotham felt...worn down. Defeated, even. The impending trial against Oliver Queen didn’t exactly help damper things any less, either.

Now wasn’t the time to ponder these matters; not when he was standing in a highrise in his best shirt and tie, about to meet an upstanding Senator and kickstart a hopefully fulfilling career in politics.

Rodrigo struggled to refrain from pacing and fidgeting in the hallway in front of Senator Cahill’s office. Spying his reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall, the newly-appointed intern adjusted his tie and hair for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Get a grip, man,” he hissed, scolding his mirror image. “This isn’t the principal’s office, and you were chosen for a good reason. Now, when the Senator comes out those doors, you’re gonna give him your best smile, shake his hand, and tell him how honored you are to be here, OK?”

Realizing he was talking to himself like a loon, Rodrigo deflated with a nervous chuckle.

“OK,” he replied softly, nonetheless.