four! | o8 Video

[vinovidivici]

[ A sector nine apartment. The wallpaper is peeling in a few places, but the surfaces are free from clutter except for a kettle set to one side, spouting steam. Claire ducks into view, checking the shot is lining up. ]

It’s running. Oh, I mean, action! [ He seems to be running on an even higher octane fuel than usual. It’s not hard to discern why

Comments

[video]

[12second_orz]

[Well. That was unexpected- also unexpectedly hilarious, as far as he's concerned.]

My, my. I'm not sure whether or not I should be offended that you didn't mention this at all, Laforet-kun. [he's just being a jerk- he knows full well that most of their daily conversation is professional anyway] I'd never have guessed.

video & text;

[stoicloyalty]

[ She doesn't have to make a forced effort to keep her personal and working lives separate, mainly because she is so loathe to disclose personal information straight off the bat. So this brief merging of worlds is, for a moment, unpleasant. It shows in her sudden change in expression to a hardened stare, lips a thin line in the effort to contain her unrest at seesawing between emotions. Her reply is directly from her NV to his, written. ]

What does it matter?

[video forever and ever]

[12second_orz]

[And that was a surprisingly defensive reaction, all things considered. Tonegawa raises an eyebrow just for a moment before giving a cool little shrug and curbing a little of his teasing.] It doesn't, particularly. To my knowledge, I've never had any engagement-related work problems with any of my employees.

video & text;

[stoicloyalty]

[ Her comfort zone is relative to how much he knows about her. For him to see that moment-- a moment that was surprising to her-- she doesn't like it. Not since that accidental telepathic exchange. There's a fear, somewhere, that he might use this knowledge against her, but- ]

We have been close all this time I was working. This shouldn't change how I work.

[ She seems to relax slightly with this response as she becomes aware of how hostile her first reaction was. But this is still her employer she is talking to, not a friend. ]

[video]

[12second_orz]

I don't doubt. You're hardly the sort it would affect. [Particularly not when she's been so quiet about it up until this point, and even if this had been irritating rather than amusing he couldn't have blamed it on her. Speaking of which:] Now, if your fiancé were the one working for me...

video & text;

[stoicloyalty]

[ She has a lot to keep secret, even if not necessarily relating to Claire. Old habits die hard. ]

He's talkative.

[video]

[12second_orz]

Further evidencing the old adage of "opposites attract"?

video & text;

[stoicloyalty]

[ ... Insensitive. ]

Did you want to be notified of this kind of development?

[video]

[12second_orz]

Not particularly. I've somewhat outgrown the urge to dive into a bar every time a colleague happened to tie the knot. [a pause- then, a little awkwardly] Congratulations, by the way.

video;

[stoicloyalty]

[ All she'll offer in reply to that is a brief nod, an acknowledgement and thanks together. The less she thinks about Tonegawa getting involved in any kind of personal celebration the better. ]

Video

[vinovidivici]

[ He doesn't find it too strange that the man who made that bet on the network a little while back should be addressing Chane. Knowing her line of work he at least suspects how the two know each other; her sudden tensing next to him is a clue, too. ] Don't be offended! I'm definitely not.

[^also permavideo!]

[12second_orz]

[Well, you're cheerful, aren't you? He chuckles a little at the man's response, too.]

Then you're made of sterner stuff than most people. I don't believe we've met, have we?

Video forever on this end too!

[vinovidivici]

Years of practice! [ years of rejection! ]

We haven't. Claire Stanfield - you're Chane's boss, right?

[12second_orz]

I can see that. Years of optimism, too, I imagine.

That's right- Tonegawa Yukio, manager of Imperial Finance.

[vinovidivici]

You'd imagine right!

It's a pleasure. [ Jerk-ness aside. ] I haven't heard much about you either so I figure we're about even.

[12second_orz]

Quite. Laforet-kun is hardly the talkative type- or perhaps I should say "a woman of few words", given that talking seems beyond her.