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Tweak says, "I'm a big ol' shining star."

Elaine Hammond (elaine_hammond) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2013-01-21 19:36:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2013 01, character: bud hammond, character: elaine barrish hammond

RP: Elaine, Bud
Who: Elaine, Bud, possibly others
Where: the office
When: Monday, January 21, 2013
Summary: They talk while watching the inauguration speech

They were working, or pretending to, and at least for today, they could get away with this. The TV was on, every channel broadcasting the inauguration, or at least any channel that counted. They should have been there, in their finest suits, hand on the bible, swearing the oath of office. Instead, they were here, dressed like soldiers, training to go who knew where and with two sons who couldn't make up their minds if they should stay or go.

There was a pang of regret, but she wasn't as upset as she thought she'd be. "This should be affecting me," she told Bud, "but instead, I'm worry about two grown sons who seems to want to talk to each other only when high. And here I thought I'd worry about you or Mother." She leaned against her desk. "That and I've had terrible migraines for days. If Reese starts with me today, I might claim inexperience and shoot him."

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bud_hammond
2013-01-23 02:17 am UTC (link)

"We aren't worrying because there is nothing we can do about it?" He posed it as a question, not an answer, because he didn't know the answer. For all he knew, Vance was worrying about it, he just wasn't sharing it with them, and while it frustrated Bud to no end not to know everything, he also knew that Vance was competent and seemed to have done a great job in nearly impossible environs. "Don't forget one thing, Sugar --" he paused for a moment before continuing, "Someone told Garcetti." He couldn't believe that Garcetti wouldn't have told someone else, too, such as the CJCOS, DNI, COS, NSA. It would've been irresponsible not to.

"Surely as parents we can request alone time with our children!" Bud said it with both incredulity and sarcasm in his voice. Not like his parents could have gotten him away from Elaine when they were together.

He roared with laughter. "I swear, I didn't think I could hold it together. I thought for sure I'd just burst out laughing." He shook his head some more. "Easily in my top five lies. Easily." Which said quite a bit. He had told a lot of lies. And still was.

"Both," he whispered, "Now, just close your eyes, and take some deep breaths. Think of Lake Springfield. The pitter patter of the small waves hitting the shore." Lake Springfield wasn't far from the governor's mansion in Illinois. It was a peaceful place.

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elaine_hammond
2013-01-23 02:47 am UTC (link)

She snorted. "And that has ever stopped up before." But she knew his point without him saying it. They weren't privy to all the information, and that wasn't something she enjoyed. "Oh, I'm not forgetting, but you know as well as me what happens when there's no one in charge to direct the play. Sure, sooner or later, someone will remember, and it will go up the chain of command, and when it does then we are all in trouble. The point is are we already in trouble or has the president bought us time? How much political sway does Vance hold? And what happens if he leaves and we stay? So much to consider, and it would be so much nicer if we could do it with those men we called children."

Elaine laughed again. "Sweetheart, would you like to tell our boys that we need them alone so that we can pretend to fight so they speak to each other? We might shock them with blunt honesty."

She looked at him and chuckled. "You're incredibly good with your lies." There was a soft sigh as she closed her eyes. "I bought a few as well, but no more lies, Bud. This isn't about politics anymore, but about survival and our children." It wasn't the image of Lake Springfield that made her smile, but the gentle touch, so familiar and comforting. "Remember how beautiful it was in San Francisco. I mean when we were still at Berkeley. We were going to change the world, and we did. White House or not, I got that nomination. We will be forever in the history books." She looked up and him, smiling. "I don't regret anything."

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bud_hammond
2013-01-23 04:36 am UTC (link)

Bud nodded. He had spent a lot of time pondering these questions. "I don't know, Sugar. I don't know." His instincts told him that Vance didn't hold much sway. They had tried to wipe Vance and his team out once, even after knowing there were criminals with super powers. That of course wasn't a criticism of Vance. There were only so many ways to get political sway. "What we really need is leverage."

He laughed for nearly a minute before regaining his composure. "If we want blunt honesty, let's just let your mother loose on them." Bud really hoped she was with them for many years to come. She was a pain in the ass, but she was his kind of pain in the ass.

"Good with the lies, not so much with the truth," he commented. "Yes, I know this isn't about politics anymore." He didn't think there was anything wrong with her reminding him. Hell, the reminder was helpful. "We sure as hell did change the world. And there will be lots more change because of the people we inspired, especially the ones you inspired." He kissed the top of her head softly.

"Feeling better yet?" He asked teasingly.

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