A Bitter Pill To Swallow

Aug 18, 2023 6:25 am

Mike Crandall

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
Mike nods, a smile on his lips. "Sure, that sounds great," he says. "I'll text you."

Dave Draven

witchdoctor

Aug 18, 2023 7:21 am

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital

Dave nodded, knowing Melissa wanted to go with the Councilwoman, "I can check in on things if you want more coffee. I'll be out in the waiting room whenever you're done. I ain't goin nowhere til I find out Brock'll be alright." He looked over at Smythe,"I'm sure the city can expense a trip to the canteen, right? We had to leave in a hurry and I don't think Melissa had time to grab her purse..." He figured he might as well try to get Melissa a free meal. That's a better expenditure of taxpayers money than whatever Smythe had in mind to do with it. He wondered if Rebecca was working the ER and if she'd be able to slip him back to sit with Brock and Anna.

Aug 19, 2023 2:31 pm

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital

"Alright, Dave. It's not so much the coffee but an ally like that could be helpful. Maybe I can also dissuade her from being too snoopy about things. See if I can find out what she's after."

After a minute Melissa decides another cup of joe might actually taste pretty good roundabout now.

"Ok, I'll head to the canteen. See you later."

Peyton Smythe

Aug 20, 2023 4:08 pm

Peyton Smythe

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
Melissa finds Peyton sitting by herself at a table in the small hospital canteen. It's not a great atmosphere, kind of cramped with little privacy. Patients and visitors alike are using the space and all the nicer seats, near the one wall of the canteen that actually has windows, are already taken. The only actually nice thing here is the smell of coffee in the air that almost makes one think one was in a little knockoff Starbucks. Almost.

Peyton has a cup of coffee and a sandwich in front of her when she sees Melissa approach. "Get yourself whatever you like and give the receipt to me," Peyton tells the blonde woman. "I can book it as a business expense. Since there is actually some business I'd like to discuss with you." Her words sound formal but the way she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as her attentive eyes are locked on Melissa looks more flirtatious than professional.

Dr. Rebecca Hu

Aug 20, 2023 4:08 pm

Dr. Rebecca Hu

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital
It takes some asking around but eventually, one of the nurses seems bothered enough by this tall, intimidating man that she promises to figure out where Dr. Hu is right now and asks Dave to just sit in the waiting room. After he does, it only takes a handful of minutes until the door opens again and a pretty Asian woman in a doctor's coat steps in. She may be no Augusta, but she does draw the eyes of some of the others waiting here. "Uncle Dave," Rebecca says with a sigh and a smile. "Are you scaring the nurses again?" She gestures for him to follow her out of the room and into the hallway where they will have marginally more privacy. "I assume you're here because you need something, not just for a friendly visit," she says with a smile. "What can I help you with?"

Aug 20, 2023 8:53 pm

"Hi Peyton." Melissa had already decided on the walk to the canteen that she would do her best to appear confident and smart. A woman in the know kind of thing.

"That sounds great. I'm actually starving. How's your sandwich?" If Peyton answers, Melissa will get the same.

Someone once told her, or maybe it was one of the soap operas she watched where a guy had said that copying someone was a form of flattery. She'd use that since it seemed to make sense.

Back at the table, she tries not to sound overly enthusiastic when she asks about the business to be discussed but Peyton's manner sets her a little on edge.

"What did you have in mind?"

Eva

Harrigan

Aug 21, 2023 1:09 am

Walking across the book shop's wooden floor, her Doc Martens thumping, Eva leaves Mike and heads for Augusta and Tanya. As she approaches, she's suddenly acutely aware that she looks worse for wear, with the splits and holes in her leggings, and with her mussed hair. Fighting the... whatever is was... hadn't been easy!

Tanya Gable

Aug 21, 2023 9:04 am

Tanya Gable

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
Tanya smiles somewhat nervously at Eva when the taller woman approaches her and Augusta. "Hey," she says, even though they already spoke and exchanged greetings just before. "I, uhm, told Augusta what you wanted to know, I think." She then stops speaking, instead looking at Eva expectantly, clearly waiting for something from her.

Peyton Smythe

Aug 21, 2023 9:04 am

Peyton Smythe

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
"Right to business," Peyton comments. "I like that." She sips from her coffee, then sets it down, letting her finger circle the rim of the cup as she turns her full attention to Melissa. "We don't know each other well," Peyton says. "But we've spoken more than a few times when I came to your work, and I never quite had the feeling that that job suited you." She links the fingers of her two hands together then leans forward and rests her chin on them, her eyes on Melissa's. "You have higher ambitions than working at a department store, don't you?"

Augusta Ang

Qralloq

Aug 21, 2023 1:35 pm

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
Augusta adds to Eva, "I'll fill you in later, Eva. Tanya is running late for work and she's been extremely patient with me so far."

Aug 21, 2023 2:45 pm

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen

She was about to ask the councilwoman if it was that obvious but thought better of it. Another thing learned from her TV shows. Don't look needy.

It looked like they were off to a good start when Peyton complimented her about her getting straight to the point.

"I don't mind the store. I like meeting people, helping them find what they need.

What a crock.

"But I think I'd like something more, you know?"

Now she felt like she was in one of her shows the way that lie flowed right off her tongue with ease.

Last edited August 21, 2023 2:46 pm

Eva

Harrigan

Aug 21, 2023 7:11 pm

Because of how Tanya reacted earlier, Eva’s approach slows as she nears the two women… but then, thankfully, Tanya breaks the ice and doesn’t seem nearly as frosty or upset. All due to Augusta, no doubt. Nodding to both of them, Eva only says, "Okay, yeah, later."

A few seconds of pained silence follows that statement, until with Tanya still looking at her, Eva lowers her voice and leans in closer. "Listen, I know you have to go and I know you feel like I broke your confidence. But we can’t do this alone, Tanya. This is bigger than just us. We need help. Keep this quiet and call me next time you’re out, okay?"

Dave Draven

witchdoctor

Aug 22, 2023 2:46 am

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital

"I'm afraid it's not exactly a social call, Reb. Not this time anyway." Dave scratched his head. "You've got a guy in the back. The unresponsive one... He has powers. Ice powers. It's a whole weird story but he was psychically assaulted and maybe also on some kind of drug that played with his ability to control his powers. Figured you should know in case it'll help his treatment and maybe watch out in case he comes out of his coma and isn't fully in control." The last thing he wanted was for anyone to get flash frozen by Brock or his powers lashing out like Anna's did. They'd managed to avoid the TANC crew once today, a second time they might not get so lucky. "Just be careful when he comes around..." Dave waved his fingers at her, "..that way you can still count to ten by shift change."

Peyton Smythe

Aug 22, 2023 8:49 am

Peyton Smythe

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
"I want to offer you a job, Mel," Peyton says without further preamble. "Nothing quite prestigious, I'm afraid, but I would like you to be my new personal assistant, at least for a trial period. You would be in charge of my calendar, of appointments and events, and you'd be responsible for speaking to people on my behalf, getting things set up for me and getting things done the right way. I am putting a lot of trust in you by even offering you this, and we would be working together very closely."
She searches Melissa's face before adding, "I'd argue that the position would be a step up from your current job, but even more importantly, you would be seeing how I work. You would be meeting important people in the twin cities and you would be building your own connections. This is how I got started a few years ago."

Tanya Gable

Aug 22, 2023 8:49 am

Tanya Gable

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
Tanya doesn't answer right away. Her expression isn't quite easy to read, especially not by someone as bad at that kind of thing as Eva. "You promised, Eva," she then says. "Even if telling someone was necessary, you should have asked me first. I told you what could happen to me if Mr. Floyd or Dr. Richardson find out I told you." She sighs, then says, "I love you, Eva. But apparently I can't trust you." She then turns to leave. "I don't know when I'll call."

Dr. Rebecca Hu

Aug 22, 2023 8:49 am

Dr. Rebecca Hu

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital
"It's never a social call with you, Dave," Rebecca says with a smile. She then listens to the whole story, nodding to confirm she understands. "Ice powers, potentially out of control," she summarizes. "And since you're here, I'm guessing he's part of your church group and you don't want any TANC special responders involved." She taps her finger against her leg as she thinks, then she says, "I'll request to be assigned as his primary doctor and I'll be careful. Thanks for the warning. But Dave, nobody counts with their fingers anymore. We have phones to do that for us." She chuckles, then a thought occurs to her and she asks, "That radiation badge I gave you - I don't want it back, but you'd let me know if you discovered some cancer-causing mutant running around Graybridge, right?"

Aug 22, 2023 3:37 pm

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
This was not what Melissa expected. How could Peyton trust her with so much when she hardly knew her? What was her angle? At best she thought maybe a clerk position might be offered but hardly a job as her personal assistant. Simmering underneath her jumble of thoughts is the idea that there is something more going on here. Melissa isn't the smartest fish in the sea but she feels that maybe the councilwoman is flirting with her. If she ignores it, it will go away, she decides.

"Why do you have so much confidence in me? That's a big responsibility you are handing me and you really only know me from the store which is to say you hardly know me at all."

Peyton appeared to like a straight shooter so Melissa had no problem getting to the heart of the matter. But she also had to consider Dave's proposition and all the bling that could go along with that. With this in mind, she waits for the answer while she takes a dainty bite from her sandwich.

Peyton Smythe

Aug 22, 2023 7:20 pm

Peyton Smythe

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
"Which is why there will be a trial period, Mel," Peyton replies. Her eyes are very focused on Melissa's face, clearly searching it for every one of her thoughts. "I will be closely watching you at first, making sure to teach you how I want things done and supervising your work until you know my expectations. Of course, if you really fuck up, I will have to then withdraw my offer, but I have full confidence in you." The cursing doesn't seem to match her very professional tone, but she integrates it seemlessly.
She then smiles conspiratorially as she adds, "Besides, I believe you have certain special qualifications that I am looking for." She doesn't elaborate on this, but she now leans back, the intensity of her gaze lessening as she waits for Melissa's response.

Aug 23, 2023 4:51 pm