(no subject)

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

A single lamp burns brightly on the corner of her desk, aimed to illuminate the pile of papers loosely gathered in front of her.  Bundles of more paper and files neatly stacked are mostly in shadow; she puts down the pen in her hand and pulls out one folder that, when brought into the light, reads, "Q4 2007".  She opens it onto the desk and begins to read:

TO: All Employees

FROM: Jesse Chambers

RE: Q4 Strategies

 

I wanted to start out by saying Thank You for all of your hard work this year.  The first three quarters of 2007 have been tremendous, and we couldn't have done it without all of your diligence and dedication.  I especially want to thank our testing group for their work on getting the bugs worked out of the QS system.

 

We've got a lot to do, continuing to build up for the start of the holiday season.  I'm hoping that this quarter will be our strongest...

 

She continues reading, absently tapping one finger to the faint music emanating from her headphones, until finally reaching the end of the page.  Pursing her lips, she thinks for a moment, and then crosses out a few words, only to scrawl in a few changes here and there in the text.  Satisfied, she snags a post-it from a pad, puts it on the memo, and writes, Make changes as indicated, then distribute on Monday, and slides the folder back onto the top of the nearest pile.

 

Reclining back in her chair, she stretches out her legs, smiling and humming along with the music.  Wally would be rolling his eyes at the song, she thinks to herself, but we've all got our guilty pleasures.  And besides, this new Kelly Clarkson album is really good... As she does, she catches a glimpse of the time listed on the impressive-looking desk phone, and abruptly sits up straight.  "I've been here WAY too long," she says out loud, and begins straightening up what she can of the carefully controlled chaos of her desk, slipping some of the stacked papers into a slim leather briefcase and closing it with a snap.  I'll get to the Titans information later; don't want to just leave it laying out here...

 

As she heads out and gets into her car, she muses to herself, Some days I just want to get back to what I used to have.  Less time in the office, more time out with the team.  Don't necessarily miss the awkward drunken moments, but the rest...  She smiles in such a way that could be considered as fondly reminiscing, or something slightly more daring.  I'll just head over to base...someone's probably still up and around. 

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette is up and around at the base, having just gotten back from her patrol. She is currently in the kitchen, putting together .... something. To be honest, she isn't sure what she's putting together yet. All she really knows is she's starving and there is food in the fridge.

That would be why the upper half of her body seems to have disappeared into the appliance.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

Jesse comes around the corner into the kitchen and is greeted by what looks like Bette being swallowed by the refrigerator. She makes sure to step a little more loudly as she comes in, laying her briefcase and blackberry down on the tiled countertop.

"I certainly hope there's something good in there, Bette. I'd hate for that search to be a fruitless one."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"There are a lot of good things in here. I'm just so hungry I have no idea what I want." After a short pause, she comments, "Though if you're looking for fruit, there are bananas on top of the fridge.'

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

She smiles, and thinks for a moment. "Yeah, why not. Don't want to wait until you're finished rummaging..." Standing on her tiptoes, she snags a banana from the bowl on the top of the refrigerator, and then sits herself at the tiled bar, peeling the fruit and starting by taking a sizeable bite out of the end.

"So what are you doing up so late?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Just got back in from taking a turn around the city." A container of cider is placed on the counter, followed by a bag of carrots and a small container of ranch dip. "I'm in a little early, all things told."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Anything exciting? I've been stuck in the office all day, staring at either a computer screen or a tableful of vice presidents."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Not too much since that whole Cuba thing. There was a failed bank heist earlier today, around closing time." Pulling back from the fridge, she closes the door, starting to look for a glass. "Table full of vice presidents. Sounds stimulating."

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Mmm, oh yes." She leans over and snags a carrot out of the bad. Nibbling off one tiny bite at a time, she continues, "At one point I envisioned picking up the VP of marketing and tossing him through the nearest doorway, but figured that might hurt stock prices."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette chuckles before taking a long drink from her glass of cider. "Heaven forbid you hurt stock prices." She's trying not to smirk too much at that entire concept. Jesse sitting at a board meeting is alternatingly amusing and sort of kind of hot.

Only kind of sort of. Really.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"well, you know what happens then... mass chaos, buildings on fire, martial law, cats and dogs living together..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Couldn't have that, could we?"

Pause.

"I mean... Fire bad." Carrots are nibbled. Mmmmm. Carrots.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Long day. He didn't get much sleep earlier this morning after patrol with his daughter running a low-grade fever, and some of the Titans were occupied later this afternoon with helping out on a community reclamation project as part of their promised efforts to rebuild the area. The positive PR doesn't hurt, either.

Now he's starving, and the 45-minute ride back to the 'Haven is too long to wait. Paperwork from the day in hand, he enters the kitchen, then pauses when he sees the two women already there. A smile comes forth.

Looks like I'm not the only one on a kitchen raid.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"OK, maybe not all fire is bad..." Jesse smiles at Bette, enjoying the quiet and time spent with a dear friend. She turns at the sound of someone else entering the kitchen.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Hey. What's up?"

Bette opens up the container of ranch and dips a carrot into it before munching down. Yeah, she shouldn't be sitting on the counter. Sue her.

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

Did you leave anything for me?

He moves closer, setting the paperwork down on the counter next to her. It's not like he can say anything about her sitting up there - hell, Babs gets on his case frequently for the same thing. He grins at Jesse.

Hey, Jesse. How was your Hallowe'en?

He's actually kind of relieved she didn't catch him in Wally's getup.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Hey there, Nightwing... Halloween was pretty low key, thankfully - hordes of small children begging for candy, very low occurence of villains and hooligans, too much sweet stuff left over..." She continues to munch on the carrot, occasionally dipping it into the ranch dressing. "Did you get a chance to take your daughter out? Or go out yourself?"

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He can't, however, suppress a small grin, as he leans over to steal one of the baby carrots from Bette.

It was... interesting. Real interesting.

That enigmatic look persists as he takes a bite from it.

Mary got to be a cat this year. I'm not sure she quite understands the big deal yet, but give it time.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

resist the urge to ask, resist the urge to ask...

"Interesting? I'm cur-... no, wait." she waves her hand while looking away from Nightwing and his enigmatic expression. still resisting...

"I'm not curious. Not in the slightest."

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He's under no illusion. Bette will likely tell her. But that's up to her to say. He's not going to say a word.

And he just knows that alone will bug the crap out of Jesse. So he just pretends like she really isn't interested, and changes the topic. Still with that infuriating grin on his face.

So, you got plans for Thanksgiving?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

"Some of the boys switched costumes." Bette smiles and nudges Nightwing a bit with her foot. "It was interesting."

Don't mention Wally got a date... Don't.... No...

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Has anyone seen the double-A batteries?" chirps Mar'i, zooming into the kitchen. "They're not where they're supposed to be. Are we out?"

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

"Switching costumes... do you not remember how weird that got the last time?" Jesse's voice raises a bit on the last word, and her cheeks go ever-so-pink.
next time, Chambers, don't take the obvious bait hanging out there...

Perfectly willing to switch attention to something else for the moment, she points towards the general area of the refrigerator. "I'm sure there's a junk drawer that's got a few packs in there, Mar'i."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Thank you!" She flashes a cheery smile at Jesse, then zips over to the indicated drawer and starts rummaging. "I can't believe we're out--hope they're in here--don't want to keep Grant waiting--"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bird_of_flame_/]

Bette looks at Mar'i and then snerks softly, looking toward Nightwing. Time until brain implosion.... 5.... 4... 3... 2....

She's trying not to laugh. She's also trying not to blush. She's only sort of succeeding at both.

[3x2-9yz-4a.livejournal.com]

Jesse raises one eyebrow at Mar'i's statement. She quickly glances over at Nightwing.

now THIS is interesting...