June 2012: Badlands of South Dakota; Ted's Diner

[damncompass]

Travelling is hell, especially when you're half-moving anyway. Joshua had decided that he was going to take some books and the Artifact to the B&B, to just have a few less things things to take when he actually moved a week later.

Flights were late, Customs was eying Joshua's papers like they were in Greek, and the closer they got to South Dakota, the more unsettled Helena was. So, when they got to the airport finally, Joshua decided to fuck it, and get the flashiest car that the Hertz place rented: a red convertible something-or-other that suited Joshua's mood just fine. However, to his vast embarrassment, he'd almost forgotten how to drive in the fifteen years that he didn't actually need to. He was able to get the car in gear and going, with a minimum of offers to drive from his Victorian now-girlfriend.

Driving into the address that he'd been e-mailed a couple days ago (how they got his e-mail, he wasn't actually going to ask at this point), he parked (very poorly) and looked around, wondering where the shit everyone else parked, as the lot was mostly empty.

Comments

[damncompass]

"Even though I'm sure My, er, Agent Bering will be back, I think another agent or two would definitely not be amiss." Joshua looks up from his pie.

[k39zzz]

"Agent Bering will likely choose to return. But we can't push her for that all of four days after she left."
Jane would know nothing at all about that feeling, what are you talking about.

[damncompass]

"Well, I wasn't saying push her. I'm just saying that I'm pretty sure she'll be back."

[k39zzz]

Jane nods. "I know. I was just pointing it out for the record."
And for the people (because there are surely a few of them there) who would argue they should wait on Myka. They don't have that kind of time.

[damncompass]

Joshua nods, going back to examining his pie.

Everyone was right. It's pretty damn good pie, but he's not sure if it's worth the glares that come with it.

[k39zzz]

Eventually, the meeting concludes.

"Well. That was fun."

[damncompass]

"That was, actually." Joshua cracks a smile, turning to catch Helena's eye, who exits the diner before anyone can talk to her.

"Are meetings usually this... energetic?"

[k39zzz]

"Depends on the topic. You just happened to be starting out with a particularly contentious one."
Just as well he wasn't around for the discussion about Claudia.

[damncompass]

If he'd be around for the discussion about Claudia, he probably would have exploded and walked out. He's just glad he kept his cool for this one.

Rummaging in his pockets, he pulls out about ten Euro in change and dumps it on the table. "Well, I guess it's best to jump in feet first."

[k39zzz]

Jane eyes the pile of change. "Did you do that on purpose?"

[damncompass]

"I don't have any dollars!" He has an amazing innocent face. "Helena has all of the cash that we changed."

[k39zzz]

...Well, his innocent face is better than Pete's, she'll give him that.
"And if you'd had dollars, would you have done it anyway?"

[damncompass]

"Possibly." Is that a smirk? It probably is. "Can't just leave without paying, you know."

[k39zzz]

"Technically, you could."
Not that she's going to object to needling Theodora a little, after that meeting.

[damncompass]

"I could." But he wouldn't. He's a decent guy, but if he can poke at someone while being decent, he sure as hell is going to.

[k39zzz]

"Fair enough. Until next time, then."

[damncompass]

"Yeah. See you soon." Joshua smiles, then turns, bumping straight into... his boss. Shit. "Oh, uh, sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

[firstprotector]

"Quite all right." He smiles. "That was very well done." He'd been half expecting to have to step into the bronzing discussion (after a while of letting everyone think they had a say in the matter this time, of course); it was quite a relief not to have to.

[damncompass]

"Er, thanks." Joshua shrugs. "I just... I couldn't sit back and watch them do that to her." Not only because he loves her, but because he's a decent person. "I just tried to put some logic into the discussion."

[firstprotector]

"And you did. It's been some time since someone actually changed that many minds in one meeting." A few of them only gave in because they knew they didn't have a good counter-argument, but he was watching. Some people genuinely did change their minds.

[damncompass]

"Really?" Joshua looks confused. "I... I've never been that good." He was good in college. National-level good, but he didn't think he was International Organization Mind-Changing good.

"Er, thanks."

[firstprotector]

As though there's that much difference between the one and the other. Really now, Joshua. "I simply wanted to add that, if you happen to notice anything in the Warehouse's daily operations that needs changing so that things run more smoothly, feel free to do so."

[damncompass]

"Wait." Joshua blinks at him a few times. "Did you just give me a licence to troll Artie?"

[firstprotector]

"Well, you will be the person there with the most authority." He has a very good innocent face.

[damncompass]

"I do not believe that innocent face in the slightest." He smirks. "Besides, you never actually answered my comment." Not that he actually thinks he'll get that answer, mind you.