Who: Felix Weissman and Elaine Constantine (NPC) What: Felix once again gets more than he bargained for When: Monday, June 24, 2019 | 9 am Where: Elaine's office in Administration Warnings: Plot
Felix wasn't entirely surprised when he got the memo that the Director wanted to see him. There had been some whispers going around that morning, he could tell, even if the content of them hadn't gotten back around to him yet, and he was sure it hadn't been his imagination that she had kept looking at him during the masquerade. What did surprise him was that her note asked to meet with him immediately that morning, barring any particular Reserve emergencies. He'd received it just as he'd been about to depart for the greenhouses around nine, but the detour was easy enough.
He knocked on the frame of her door, even though it was open. "Good morning. You wanted to see me?"
The numbers were still coming in from the gala, but early results were trending toward the positive. That, at least, was something positive to have come out of this past weekend. The rest, well… That was an ever evolving headache. Elaine looked up from her laptop and offered Felix a tight smile as she waved him in. "Felix, thanks for coming to see me so early. Could you please shut the door behind you, and then come have a seat?"
There was an insulated cup waiting on the other side of the desk, nearest whichever chair he chose. "I took the liberty of having some tea made for you." She carefully closed her computer and regarded him for a couple of seconds. "I know this must all seem horribly ominous, but I wanted you to hear the news directly from me before it spreads through the rumor mill: Kyle was let go on Friday."
Felix sat down and took the tea without much thought about whether he actually wanted any or not. "Thank you," he said as he took a sip, but the sense of foreboding that the random beverage engendered slid neatly into place as she started talking. Thankfully, he'd learned that Elaine was not the sort to mince words when something important was happening, and that was the case with this as well.
"I see," he said, because he wasn't sure what else might be an appropriate response. I had a feeling the bastard was dirty seemed a bit too crass to say to someone who'd been put into a tough position by an employee's actions. "I could tell the office was starting to talk, so I appreciate the heads up. Anything I can do to assist?" If Kyle had been let go for the reasons he more-than suspected, this was likely to make his job easier, if anything.
"Funny you should say that" —her expression said that it was anything but— "because that's the other reason why I asked you to meet me first thing. I know this is a lot to ask on such short notice, but we need a new department head, and we, no, I want it to be you."
Felix blinked at her with what was probably a stupid expression on his face for a full ten seconds before he could assure himself that he'd heard correctly to be able to answer. "Pardon the question, Elaine, but are you mad? You know I'm not qualified for that." Nor was he even sure he wanted to go that direction with his career, much less was capable. "Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment."
Her chuckle was wry, but not mocking. "Madness is a prerequisite for employment around here, or didn't you get that far in your on-boarding paperwork?" Elaine made a dismissive gesture before continuing. "I'm well aware of your level of experience, which is why I should clarify that this would likely be an interim position. But, all cards on the table, you have good rapport with BACO due to your help with their investigation. And more than that, I trust you." She raised a brow and reiterated it. "I trust you."
Felix managed a bit of a laugh at that, more of continued surprise than amusement. "Interim, meaning you're looking to hire someone else, so I'll be stepping down when that happens?" That lessened the growing tension in his chest a bit. He couldn't help his own raised eyebrow. It wasn't often that trustworthy was a trait that people attributed to him. He wasn't sure whether to thank Finn for keeping his lesser qualities to herself, or to wish she'd been a bit more open about them. "BACO likes me because I was so inept at paperwork when I first started that I had to go into twice as much detail with it as a competent person, and I lucked into discovering some strange things. You know as well as I did that my predecessor was probably in on this shite. More fresh blood will be good for the Reserve, known quantity or not."
Merlin. When had he learned to speak business like this? He'd obviously attended one too many meetings in his four months there.
"Better that your self-purported ineptitude brought all of this to light than a continued sweeping of this 'shite,' to use your word, under the proverbial rug. Sorry, Felix, but if you're trying to damage your case against my decision, you're not doing a very successful job. In trying to unravel the Gordian knot in your department, you helped expose a dangerous element, and I know that you're going to keep up that level of scrutiny well after BACO has finished up their investigation and moved on, because the last thing that you or I or anyone else in this place needs is for them to find an excuse for a repeat performance." Elaine leaned forward, arms on her desk and folded so that her fingers interlocked. "So, yes, interim head is what I'm asking for until we can find someone suitable. I know this is an impossible request, but you should know that it's not one that I came to lightly and not without trying to find an alternative. Right now, you are the best possible candidate for the job."
Felix gave an almost nervous chuckle and ran a hand through his hair. "Merlin, you're good. No wonder they've got you running this place." He smiled at that, because impossible request or not, he genuinely liked Elaine, and that made him want to do whatever he could to help. "All joking aside...I wasn't raised in Snowcap like a lot of the people around here were, but I don't want what's happened here to ever happen again. And, to be honest? I need this job…." He shook his head. "No, this place, and the people in it, probably even more than you seem to think you need me."
He drew in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh, not even remotely sure if this was a good idea. He suspected it wasn't. "So on those terms—interim, pending someone new—I accept."
A tiny smile flashed across her face, privately pleased and maybe a little like she'd just gotten away with something, but it was gone before she stood and offered her hand. "Thank you, Felix. I really appreciate the help. I'll have HR put out a memo to your department, and advise them to direct any questions to me or to them. I can't promise that this will be a smooth transition, but I'll do everything in my power to help when and where I can."
Felix stood, too, and shook her hand and smiled appropriately, and within only another minute was back in the hallway again. He checked the time. Had that whole exchange really only taken ten minutes? He absently sipped his tea as he walked out, thinking this was probably one of the biggest piles of shite in which he'd ever found himself—and yet one of the few that could be called a good thing by outside observers.
"Merlin help me," he murmured, loud enough that it probably would have fueled the rumor fires for anyone overhearing, and headed toward the greenhouses. Evidently he had even more work to do than he thought.