[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

[cleanedslate]

You weren't here to ask. [ so really, isn't this one on you?? ]

And "promise" is a strong word. I actually had to fight the kid tooth and nail to get him to even understand what I was offering.

Is what that friend told me.

[ he liked the moment! but isn't it better that he tell you right away? hypothetically?? ]

[onehotpepper]

[NO EXCUSES, there are communicators around, USE THEM]

So you made a verbal agreement with him as to the extent of what your offer entails. And you hired a new PR person. Remember the part where you made me CEO? I get to weigh in on decisions like that. Especially if we're going to start offering scholarships! God, now I have to talk to the board about this, and worry about stock prices--

[okay but this is all textbook stuff, right? no need to be so upset. this is even normal Tony behavior, so really... could be worse!]

...I need to talk to our tax accountants, too. Maybe we can get a tax write-off for that.

[yes. think of the positives. and the fact that this is what Tony is getting up to and not, you know, getting himself kidnapped in far-off countries, or getting shot at with death rays or anything like that.]

[she's starting to wonder if the moment ever actually happened.]

[cleanedslate]

[ he reaches out, settling his hands gently on her shoulders ]

That's the spirit. [ just breathe, baby. ] It's investing back in the business, anyway. We could use some bright, motivated kids.

[onehotpepper]

[yes. breathe. no reason to get so upset. this can be fixed. it's okay.]

Internships we can do a lot more easily. The board will go for that. Maybe if we start this kid off as an intern--

But I want to meet him before you go promising him anything else, all right?

[cleanedslate]

[ it's allll gonna be okay. he grins ] The PR kid, or the scholarship kid? [ or both ]

[onehotpepper]

Both of them. All of them. How many jobs did you hand out, by the way?

[she may be starting to get a headache. she can handle a headache. there's medicine for that.]

[cleanedslate]

Technically just the one. I'm in negotiations. [ plus, alternate realities! Peter and Chuck know who he is, but come on, what are the odds he really hired Allen in any meaningful way? ]

[ but he sees the headache, and he adds ] I'll introduce you. Promise.

[ he might be being very slightly gentler with you than usual, but. you know. you're not fixed yet. ]

[onehotpepper]

[it sucks to have a virus constantly trying to run the show, keeping them both slightly on edge until it's all fixed and sorted out, but you know, the extra dose of kindness is nice. after enduring so much, after all the hard work and the nearly losing him several times and having people tell her to just quit and find another job, it's just... nice.]

[she always knew you had a heart.]

That's all I ask. [sighs. some of the tension goes with it. you'll fix Extremis, she knows you will.]

[cleanedslate]

[ yeah, well. maybe some of it will stick. ]

I know. You have phenomenally low standards. Which is lucky for me, since that's about all I can meet.

[ he flicks his eyes up at her on that last part. really, really lucky. ]

[onehotpepper]

[are we having another moment? because even if we aren't, her hand finds its way to his cheek (the other one is helping balance two clipboards on her lap, give her a break)]

[cleanedslate]

[ he shuts his eyes at the touch and leans into her hand, just a little.

maybe a bit of a moment. ]

[onehotpepper]

[quietly, for your ears only] We'll make it okay. Whatever this is.

[cleanedslate]

Stop stealing my lines.

[ he loves you ]

[onehotpepper]

[she sets the clipboards aside and slides both her arms around him, the tension leaving her shoulders with the shift.]

she loves you, too.]