Who: Fitz P and Kimiko P What: Continuingdiscussions, and hopefully finishing it this time... When: Wednesday, April 10th 2019 Where: Kimiko's office Warnings: some language near the end a bit but otherwise tame
Fitz had known he couldn't put off talking to sister forever, and if there was one thing Kimiko Proudfoot was it was tenacious and she'd have made sure they talked whether he was really wanting to or not. With everything with Alex, and Tony, seemingly resolved -- at least amongst the three of them -- the only person he was really actively avoiding now was Kent, and he would probably continue to avoid the man for a while or at least until he seemed less likely to want to return the favour and hit him.
So, knowing his sister was busy at the moment, he'd made an appointment for Wednesday afternoon. It seemed a little ridiculous that he even had to make one to talk to his own sister but it was this or wait until evening, and he was kind of hoping to be able to talk to Alex then. So appointment it was.
Knocking on the door to Miko's office he waited for a response before entering the room and closing the door behind him. "Hey. I thought maybe we could continue that talk now?" he tentatively asked. Fitz held out, as if giving a peace offering, the second of two large takeaway cups of coffee he had with him. "I brought coffee? I mean, if you're not busy and all, and if you still want to talk?"
The CFO's office wasn't large, and before Kimiko had moved in it had been cramped and messy; she'd done some heavy-duty rearranging and light remodelling, and now the space was as roomy as it could get. It was spare and minimalist -- some might say 'bland' -- but it was extremely functional. With the reserve's financial records and historical filings from the past two hundred years close at hand in the bookshelves recessed into the ceiling, Kimiko's various screens and calculators each in their own space on the desk, and the papers she was currently dealing with suspended in regimented rows over her workspace, the office was exactly like the woman herself: professional, organized, and short on extraneous frills.
She looked up as her brother entered, and with a wave of her hand dismissed the papers she'd been poring over to file neatly back into her inbox. "Of course I have time. We have an appointment." Her tablet chimed softly in a timely reminder of that fact; she dismissed the notification and gestured with her wand to summon a second chair, which popped into existence quietly behind him. She took the coffee with a nod. "Thank you. Have a seat."
She'd been surprised when Fitz had made this appointment; it wasn't like he couldn't have seen her to talk personal matters outside of work hours, and anyway, he'd clearly been avoiding her for the past week. But if he wanted to talk now, she figured that was a good thing. Kimiko sat up straight, sipped her coffee, and watched her only-slightly-older brother, waiting for him to speak first.
Fitz nodded and sat down in the summoned chair. "Thanks, and yeah, there's that. But... well, I was hoping if I made the appointment then I wouldn't chicken out of talking to you," he admitted after a moment. As he tried to think of how to start the conversation off he thought back to what they'd talked about the last couple of times, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "You were right by the way -- not that that's surprising. Alex actually called me yesterday evening, and we talked things out and we're okay now. Though the phone call ended on a slightly awkward note since Thorne interrupted when he came to get me for dinner."
Tapping his fingers against the side of his cup he knew that wasn't the part he was actually needing help with or really needing to talk about. Fitz sighed. "I am trying to do better even if I've been doing a terrible job of it. And obviously I don't want to be stuck in the gift shop forever but... I'm not an idiot and I know my chances of working in any capacity with the creatures here at the reserve is a slim one and all given recent events. But I'd still like to try, and if that doesn't work out then maybe with some other group or some agency of the confederation's might be good?" As soon as he was finished Fitz started taking long sips of his own coffee, and trying to avoid tapping against the cup further. "Guess what I'm trying to get at is that I was kind of hoping you might be able to help me?"
Kimiko watched her brother quietly while he spoke, her eyes fixed on his face. "I'm glad to hear that," she told him. "And I'll help you in any way I can with researching options and supporting your efforts. However, I have no official say in hiring decisions, and it would be unethical to use my position here to unofficially help a relative advance. I'm not sure how much help I can be, but let's talk about it."
She leaned back in her chair, sipping at her coffee while she eyed her brother. If he was finally going to be serious about this, she was more than ready to help. "What is it that you want to be doing? If you could do anything -- here on the reserve, or elsewhere -- what would that look like?"
Fitz smiled. "I'll take whatever help I can get. And it's okay, I wouldn't ask that of you anyway." Even if Kimiko was inclined to unofficially help it wouldn't really be right if his intention with all this was to do, and be, better. No shortcuts.
He'd thought of that question often enough whenever it was a slow day in the giftshop. While he still didn't quite exactly have a complete and definite answer to it he at least was pretty close to one. "I like research just fine but... something that has be behind a desk the whole time isn't for me. I want to work with creatures. I... I want to do what I was doing in Greece, what I helped JJ with but y'know properly."
Fitz paused, sipping at his coffee, thinking on the where. That was the part he'd been less sure about. He kind of always figured it'd be the Reserve or Unseen University if they'd ever take him back - though the latter was unlikely since it had barely been two months since his little stint in a Greek jail. Though if he really could work anywhere? One place in particular came to mind, and maybe it was kind of crazy to consider it with things being kind of new still and all but it was tempting. He chuckled to himself. "If I could pick anywhere? Outside of the territories I'd probably go with Europe but here... Alta California?"
Maybe it was selfish but would it be so bad if it meant not only working there but getting to see Alex more?
Kimiko nodded thoughtfully, filing away that information. "I see. Specifically, you want to do rescue work? And you would prefer to return to Europe if possible? My first thought is that you should speak with Mr. Weasley, the visiting dragonologist from the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary. His organization is doubtless at the forefront of combating the recent global increase in dragon poaching and trafficking, which sounds like something you would enjoy, and with your qualifications and your experience in Wales I'm sure you would be a strong candidate for a position there or with one of their partner organizations." She fixed her gaze on him, cradling her coffee cup in both hands. "Does that sound like something you would like to explore?"
"Yeah. I liked studying creatures but the rescuing part? That always felt more... more useful and fulfilling - like I was actually contributing rather than just helping to further the next study," he responded. And sure, the rescuing was also pretty exciting work too which was a nice bonus; although he could definitely do without getting into another duel any time soon. His brow furrowed as he considered what his sister had said. Working with Dragons, in any capacity, would be an absolute dream! Yet as thrilling as it sounded there was a pang of disappointment when he realised how far that would put him from Alex.
Fitz frustratedly rubbed at his eyes. It was crazy! It would only just barely be a month since they'd met when Alex visited next weekend, and here he was thinking how such a great opportunity like the Romanian Sanctuary would just absolutely suck because of how far away it was from Alex. Sure, there could be phone calls and portkeys, but how long would things last with visits being so few and far between? It was maddening how quickly he'd fallen for Alex in a way he never really had with anyone before.
He sighed as he looked back up at his sister. "Romania would be great, and working with dragons would be like a dream job but... The thing is... I... I was... no, I am serious about Alta California." He just sure as hell hoped he was doing the right thing, and that it wasn't all going to blow up in his face later on.
One eyebrow raised, Kimiko watched Fitz for a moment in silence. Then she set down her coffee cup on her desk and leaned forward, steepling her hands in front of her. "Is this because of your friend in San Diego? Haven't you only been together for a few weeks? That's a very short time to base major life decisions on, Fitz."
Fitz set his own coffee down on his sister's desk, and groaned as he buried his face in his hands. "I know. Fuck - sorry... but I know," he moaned. Maybe he was being stupid and not thinking clearly? He wasn't really sure. "But yeah, it does, a little... a lot? I don't know. And I know - I know - I have to make what's a better choice for me and not just what I want but... Romania's a fucking long ways away and..."
He leant back in his chair, his head all the way back as he covered his face with his hands again. "It's crazy, and stupid, and I should be thinking more with my head than my heart, shouldn't I?" he asked dejectedly, before giving his sister a peering look as, when without having even looked at her as he spoke, he had a pretty good guess as to what she thought he was thinking with.
Kimiko refrained from pointing out exactly what she thought he was thinking with, but it was neither head nor heart. She eyed him right back, her brow still raised. "That's your decision to make, not mine," she answered after a moment. "And romance is more Ethan's territory than mine, so I would ask him about how crazy it actually is. If staying in or near Alta California is important to you, then we'll think about career options in that area, but I would advise you not to make that your only priority. You have such great potential, Fitz. It would be a shame for you to give up on a great opportunity just because of this person you're seeing. No matter how good the sex is."
She half-smiled, just the smallest indication that she was teasing him a little, and picked up her coffee again.
"Probably ought to talk to Ethan anyway really even if not entirely about that," he commented, tapping his fingers against against his thigh. Fitz gave a snort of laughter at his sister's teasing comment. "Good? Pffft. It's great actually!" There was nothing wrong with teasing her back a little - even if he was actually telling the truth. "But you're right. I should at least do the smart thing, and consider all my options, and not just go for the immediate one I want. So I'll try to do that."
Fitz reached out and grabbed his coffee to finish it off. "Sooo, any suggestions for where or how I should get things rolling?"
"Talk to Mr. Weasley," she answered. "Just have a conversation, please. Even if you don't think you want to go so far, he's likely to be a great resource if you want to have anything to do with dragons in the future, and he may be able to introduce you to colleagues who work elsewhere, as well. Aside from that, we could look at nonprofit rescue organizations -- that work is not likely to be as specialized, you likely would deal more with the lower-rated creatures, and it certainly wouldn't pay as well as dragonologist work, but that's an option if you want to stay close to home. Or to your Alex." She finished off her coffee as well and waved her hand to banish the cup to the recycling. "I hope you'll also consider the idea of going into law enforcement, like we talked about in Greece. CREATURE does important work and deals with many reserves and sanctuaries across the Confederation, and I believe they have several regional offices in Alta California. I would be happy to help you investigate what qualifications you would need to become an officer, if that's something that appeals."
"Alright, I can do that," he said, nodding as he continued listening to his sister's other suggestions. They all had merit, even the idea of working for non-profit had some appeal, and he had to at least be sensible and consider without rushing into any of them. "That... actually does sound good. Though would they even look at me as a possibility y'know considering everything?" he asked, forcing himself to not worriedly fidget with his hands. "Guess that kind of applies to any of those options really. I mean, a non-profit organisation might be too worried I won't toe the line or cause them too much trouble, or whatever..."
Kimiko lifted her hands in half a shrug. "I don't know," she told him plainly. "We got the charges dropped from your griffin incident, so theoretically you'll pass a background check. A prospective employer should have no reason not to at least ask you for an interview based on your resume. And if your past actions become a problem, you can deal with it; you'll have to figure out a way to explain your actions in a way that does not make you look like a liability for any organization. Anyway, you can't let uncertainty stop you from making the attempt. Grab the re'em by the horns, as they say."
He nodded understandingly, and let out a slow breath. Well, hopefully Kimiko was right, and hopefully whatever happened that he could handle it properly and not give up because it got a little hard , or didn't go quite right. "Right, so I guess first off I'll talk to Mr. Weasley, and Ethan? And at least put some feelers out there and see what my options might be."
Fitz tapped his foot a moment as he thought of whether to ask his sister something or not. It was kind of a big deal but at the same time he was really trying not to make it a big deal. "On a different note - nothing to do with work - but um... do you think Dad would mind hosting a family dinner next Saturday?"
"I can't imagine he would mind, but that's a question you should ask Joe." Kimiko inspected Fitz's face; he looked somewhere between nervous and excited and a little bit embarrassed about it, and she came to the logical conclusion. "Is this prospective family dinner so we can meet your friend from San Diego?"
"Of course. Obviously should ask Dad first," he muttered, more to himself than responding to his sister. Fitz blinked, and looked up at Kimiko. "Uh kind of. I mean, Alex is visiting Snowcap for the weekend, and he wanted to meet you all, and... maybe a family dinner is gonna be too awkward? It's just thought it'd be the easiest way for him to meet everyone is all." It was at the point of mentioning his idea of the dinner that he realised there was one, very important, person he hadn't yet told the idea to, and he realised he was going to have to call or text Alex about it - and also definitely reassure him that there was nothing to be nervous about. More importantly that he might be able to do that without letting on how nervous he was starting to feel about the prospect.
She folded her hands in her lap, sitting up very straight while she watched Fitz's face. "Why would it be awkward? None of us will interrogate him. I imagine even Thorne might behave." Kimiko gave her brother a little smile. "Anyway, you've never brought anyone home before. I'm very curious about the man who could make my wandering brother want to stick around after only a few weeks. He must be very special."
Fitz shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Aren't all family dinners where the family meets a date usually awkward?" Not that he actually knew, and as his sister so ably pointed out he'd never actually brought anyone home before now. Fitz couldn't stop himself from blushing at his sister's comments. "Yeah... I mean, I think he's pretty great..."
"Obviously. And if he wants to meet your family, I'm sure he thinks the same about you." That was about as close to approving of any romance as Kimiko had ever got, except possibly when Ethan had told the family that he was getting married. "Talk to Joe. I'm sure he's as interested as I am to meet your Alex." She glanced down at her watch. "I'm due in a teleconference in ten minutes, Fitz. Is there anything else we should discuss before I kick you out?"
"Uh unless I want to try and head further into potentially embarrassing myself territory I'm going to go with nope," he answered with a shake of his head. Fitz got up from his chair and grabbed his empty coffee cup. "But I'll talk to Dad about that, and I'll talk to Ethan, and hopefully catch Mr. Weasley to talk to them about the career options."
He gave his sister one last, and particularly grateful, smile. "And thanks again for the help, Miko, I really appreciate it. I'll let you get to your meeting, and talk to you later about how everything's gone - which hopefully is well."
Fitz said his goodbyes and left his sister's office feeling lighter. Well, until remember he needing to let Alex know his idea for him meeting his family. Still things were starting to look up, and that was a good thing.