Lo isn't impressed. (thedemonlo) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-07-18 16:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, lo, penelope garcia, sebastian vael |
Who: Lo and Sebastian Vael, teeny bit of Penelope Garcia.
What: Charity planning and Cupiding.
When: Monday, 7/15
Where: Lo's office, Sebastian's office.
Rating: PG-13
Status: Complete!
Sebastian had been glued to the TV ever since the message on the network, feeling sickened by the images, and yet he hadn’t been able to look away. Still, once it had been safe to go out, he’d headed straight for an attorney’s office - he’d had an idea.
He walked into the man’s office, hoping to get lucky and not need an appointment. He smiled at the receptionist and asked, “Hullo, luv; is he in by any chance?” The woman blushed and told him she’d check, disappearing through a fine oak door. Sebastian sat down to wait.
Lo, as luck would have had it, was indeed in. He popped his head out of his office, adjusting his tie. “Hello, how are you?” Lo extended his hand, smiling his New Client smile. “I - this may sound awkward, but do you use a bit of social media called valarnet?”
“I do.” Sebastian rose, taking the hand and shaking it firmly. “The woman who gave me your name is someone I met on that network. A lady called Kelly - Velma Kelly, I think. She said you’d be able to assist me.”
“Oh, you’re friends with Vel? Come in, she and I are practically family.” Lo’s office was no less impressive than his waiting room, except for the tiny dog in one corner snoring on her back. “Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Acquaintances, more like, but she was very helpful. Though she did just call you ‘Lo’ - is that what you prefer your clients call you, or something else?” Sebastian came in, looking around, laughing a bit when his eyes settled on the tiny dog. “Thank you,” he said, sitting down. “Scotch, if you have any, please?” He wondered if the man was watching the dog for a girlfriend or something.
“That’s what my parents called me,” Lo chuckled. “Nobody calls me by my Christian name.” He moved to pour them each two fingers of scotch, neat, smiling at the dog. “An ex-client asked me to put it down for her since it sheds. I fired her and kept the dog. I’m weak.”
Sebastian laughed. “Good man.” He nodded a thank you for the Scotch. “I’ll call you Lo, then. My name is Sebastian Vael. Lord Vael, I suppose, but nobody uses that here. I come from - well, probably close to where this does.” He tipped the glass forward just a bit, smiling. “Miss Kelly said you’d be able to help me with an idea I’ve had - it would involve some incorporation documents, but also some media wrangling.”
“That’s very much right up my alley. I do a few different kinds of law in addition to my PR work.” He leaned back in his large leather chair. “What’s your idea?”
“Simple. Even without my father’s money, I am bloody rich. And given that Las Vegas and the area will need it for the foreseeable future, I’d like to create a proper charity to see that it goes to the right places.” Sebastian sat back, crossing his legs. “I’d need someone to draw up the documents, but also to help see that I give interviews and such to the right people. I’m a Scot; I don’t know what media to avoid.”
That made Lo nod. He was already taking notes, already sketching out plans. “That’s a genius idea. And it’ll reflect super well upon you while doing good. When do you want to start?”
“Doesn’t particularly matter to me if it reflects well on me.” Sebastian chuckled, but it wasn’t very mirthful. “Just ... I’ve been staring at telly for days. It’s nightmarish. In terms of money, what I do is a drop in the bucket, but I have to do something. I work at a company that sells bloody furniture; it’s useless. You can have a look at the books to know what we’re working with, if you don’t mind coming back to my office sometime.”
“Not at all.” Lo had already jotted down a note that he’d need it anyway. “How long have you been stateside, Mr. Vael?” Just making conversation while working.
“Sebastian, please, if we’re going to be working together. And probably almost a year. Da thought I was raising a bit too much hell back in Scotland, so he shipped me here to run his company. Actually did settle down a bit - found a good woman - but then she dumped me via e-mail. Have you been in business a very long while?”
Lo raised an eyebrow. “By e-mail? If you don’t mind my saying, Sebastian, you’re better off. I’ve been doing this since I got out of law school, so yes, for quite a while. Since I was twenty-five, actually. God, that’s depressing when I say it out loud.”
“Yes, by email.” Sebastian could at least smile about it now. And he did smile when Lo joked about his age. “Please, you barely look my age, which is thirty-three, incidentally.” Thairty-three. If the man hadn’t been able to tell he was a Scot already.
“I’m the same age as you,” Lo chuckled. “My boyfriend is ... painfully younger,” he sighed, sounding wholly amused by the whole thing. “And the last person I slept with before him was this twenty-year-old heiress I met at some party. My advice to you is never, ever sleep with those as a general rule. There’s exceptions - I represent the Membrane estate, and Gaz is quite fun - but most of them have one brain cell.”
“I’ve already slept with a few, but in fairness, I was twenty-two or so.” Sebastian grinned. “I’ve heard of the Membranes, but never had the pleasure of meeting any of them. I’ve actually tended to keep a bit to myself since I’ve been here - I’ve met the Kelly woman, and a few other moneyed lassies over the valarnet, but I’ve also met lovely people who, believe it or not, have to work for a living.”
“Oh, I came by my money honestly. Working’s important. Makes character and all that.” Lo smiled. “Velma’s smart enough to appreciate what she has, and Gaz doesn’t even spend hardly any of her inheritance. The Frosts are good with theirs as well.” Lo was still jotting down notes. “You should try dating again. The valarnet is how I met Scud.”
“I’ve been thinking on it.” Sebastian shook his head. “Had to take some time; I’ll admit Yelena really hurt me. But I have made some lovely friends. Including some female friends, even.”
Lo noticed the Scot’s face growing softer and happier. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Oh? Like who?”
“Met a brilliant lassie who hacks for a living. She’s actually repairing the holes in my company’s security systems. Um. A few other women who are ... well, we have things in common.” He didn’t know if this man knew about the dreams.
Lo didn’t really care about the other women. “You’re sure she’s just your friend?” If Lo was good at reading body language - and he was fantastic at reading body language - Lo saw something beyond just friendship in the way the man smiled while mentioning said ‘brilliant lassie’.
“I know she thinks I’m handsome, and frankly, she has a bosom to kill for, but aye, we’re just mates.” Sebastian chuckled.
“Huh. I’d have guessed you were more than that based on how you just light up when you talk about her. But look at me, being a sap.” Lo smiled, then started to type. “So, it’ll be about three days for me to get the contract, about forty-eight hours for me to gather contacts.”
“Do I?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. Interesting. Still, his attention was diverted. “So quickly, with the contract? I presume you’ll need a look at the books a.s.a.p., then?”
“You do.” Lo smiled, shrugging a shoulder. “I like to work fast, and I have a lot of free time.” Not really, but he pretended he did. “As soon as you’re able. I can swing by anytime, if you like.”
Sebastian shrugged. “You’re perfectly welcome to come with me right this minute, if you want.” He finished off the Scotch, nodding approvingly. “Bloody good, that. Let me call ahead to make sure everything I need is in my office.”
“All right.” Lo stood up and went to explain to his intern slash receptionist where he’d be. He scooped up the tiny dog, and looked at Sebastian. “Be right back,” he said, before disappearing with the dog and then coming back into vision, dogless.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Lady going to look after the wee one?” He wouldn’t have minded terribly if Lo had brought it, but whichever.
“Oh, no, she’ll mind herself for the most part.” Lo smiled. “Shall we?”
“Certainly.” Sebastian made to hold the door for the other man. “The office isn’t far from here, maybe ten minutes.”
Lo laughed. “Here. Hold onto my shoulder.” And with that, he simply thought of Sebastian’s place of business, landing them there without a sound, but with the faintest sulphuric trace in the air.
Sebastian had been about to reply, but then he was at work, and it was hard to breathe for a second. He coughed, getting his equilibrium back, staring at Lo. “What the bloody hell?”
“Portal. Where’s your books?” Lo smiled, leaning on the large desk in the room.
Well. That was new. “Erm. Over here.” Sebastian went over to his filing cabinet, opening it. He saw all of them in a row except one - IT. Bugger.
He went to the phone and rang Penelope. “Hullo, lass; do you by any chance know where the log book for the IT department is?”
“Here at my desk, want me to bring it to you, bossman? I was doing data entry on it - it’s a spreadsheet now. If you know how to use Excel, I can just show you where the file is when I bring it to you, too.” She couldn’t help but twirl some of her hair around her finger.
“You’re a princess. That’d be brilliant. I have someone here who needs a look at the books - don’t worry, he’s not IRS, as far as I know.” Sebastian joked, giving Lo a look.
“If he’s cute, I’ll frisk him for you. Be there in a tic, boss.” She smiled and brought the book with her as she walked to Sebastian’s office, knocking when she arrived.
Lo was leaning against a counter, fingers itching for a cigarette. He smiled when he saw the buxom blonde walk in, glancing at her most obvious assets and chuckling when he saw his new client do the same.
Sebastian smiled at her, taking the book and inclining his head. “Many thanks, luv. Lo, Penelope Garcia. Penelope Garcia, Lo. He’s an attorney helping me with a project I’ve had in mind.”
“Even his lawyer’s gorgeous. Vael’s gifted that way,” Garcia winked at the tall new addition.
Lo couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do you mind showing me where the spreadsheet is?”
She didn’t, and soon she had it brought up on Sebastian’s computer.
“What do you think, figures wise?” Sebastian asked Lo before explaining to Penelope. “I’ve decided to start a charity for long-term rebuilding Las Vegas. Things like loans to small businesses for space and contracting. The good gentleman here is telling me whether it’s feasible.”
Lo clicked a few times with the mouse, which made Garcia turn around. If she watched people take too many mouseclicks, she felt like she had to lean over and show them keyboard shortcuts, and that was rude, so she just turned around.
The nearly-ginger lawyer didn’t notice, or if he did, he didn’t let on. “I think we’re good with this. It’s a great starting point, and you’ll have enough donations soon where you won’t have to worry. Trust me, Sebastian, we’re in good hands - are you humming the Star Trek theme?” This was directed at Garcia.
“Star Trek?” Sebastian echoed, amused. “I’ll only allow that on one condition. Which captain are you envisioning, bonny lassie?”
“Depends, am I making out with him or is it actually a situation where I’d want a captain to do something captainy?” Garcia raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.
Lo simply smiled, leaning back and watching two people obviously smitten with each other flirt.
“If you fancy Captain Kirk, you are hereby sacked.” Sebastian laughed. “Captain Picard actually knows how to run his ship!”
“And his voice. Unf.” Garcia grinned. “He’s what all men should be.”
“Good. You can keep your job.” Sebastian joked. “Thank you for the book, lass.”
“Of course, Bossman.” She turned back to the lawyer and shook his hand, meeting his grin with one of her own.
When she was gone, Lo sat down and smiled. “I thought you said you were single?”
“I am.” Sebastian blinked.
“But ... you two - “ Lo gestured at the door the blonde had used just moments ago. “Oh, god.” Denial. Lo recognized it and sat down, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What?” Sebastian got to looking through the rest of the paper records, trying to find the figures Lo would need for the articles of incorporation.
“You don’t realize you’re an idiot about her, do you.” It wasn’t a question, it was an observation.
“How am I an idiot about her?” Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “I see her for what she is.” A damned good mate.
“Gorgeous and funny and makes you light up?” Lo leaned back. “Speaking as a friend - which I hope we are - you like her.”
“Course I do. She’s brilliant. She’s got me into bed when I drink, and vice versa.” Sebastian didn’t quite understand what Lo was on about. “
Lo sighed. “You’re single. Is she?”
“Far as I kn - oh.” Sebastian stared. “Oh, mate, it’s not like that.”
“Are you sure? She obviously likes you, and you obviously like her.” And her chest, but Lo wasn’t going to say.
“What makes you say that? I mean.” It just sounded odd to his ears. Yes, Penelope had a chest to kill for, but she was ... Penelope. Mate, coworker. “Why do you say she fancies me?”
“Because she giggled when you talked to her. And at the time, you hadn’t said anything particularly funny.” Lo smiled lopsidedly. “It’s kind of a tell.”
“Did she?” Sebastian tried to think back. Maybe she had. “That’s ... I mean, I don’t want to be daft, but it’s hard to think of her like that.”
“Oh? Because the holes you bore into her rack speak otherwise. If I were single, I’d probably take advantage of your denial and ask her out myself.” Lo fiddled with his tie pin. “Smart, funny, gorgeous women with sass like that are my kryptonite.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly. But this time, he caught himself doing it, and it knocked him flat. “Bloody hell, I do feel possessive.”
“I wasn’t even trying for that, because I could’ve mentioned how her ass is fantastic.” Lo looked up with an arched brow. “That was all it took?”
“No, I don’t know. Just. She’s got a mate called Dean, a bloke who I think is a mechanic. They talk, and he was flirting, and I didn’t like it. At the time I thought he was just being fresh.” Sebastian shook his head.
Lo smiled. “But in retrospect, you realize they were just talking?” Lo wasn’t really Dr. Phil, but he could play the part for friends.
“Probably. And anyway, I think he prefers blokes. Or so Penelope said.” Sebastian shook his head. “What a twat I’ve been.”
“I wouldn’t spread that bit of information around, but ... yeah. I think you should ask her out. You haven’t publically been a twat, if that helps?” Lo was a generous soul.
“Well, no, I’m not going to bang on about another bloke’s preferences.” Sebastian made a face. That was private business. Penelope had just been nattering on when pissed, which he’d done often enough. “I’m glad I’ve not publicly been a daft git.” He shook his head, sitting in his chair. Something made him ask. “She does have a brilliant ... chest. Doesn’t she.”
“Oh, yes.” Lo chuckled. “She’s stunning, and I don’t think she has any idea.” Lo shook his head. “That’s actually a great quality in a woman.”
“It’s true.” Sebastian sighed. “Quite true.” Now how in the hell would he go about asking her out without being awkward and vaguely stalkerish?
“You should probably ask her out,” Lo offered. Sometimes stating the obvious was important to a client.
“Don’t know how without being a twat.” Sebastian groused. “She’s a coworker. An underling.”
“Are you even allowed to ask out underlings?” Lo winced. He was his own business owner, but he’d probably not let his underlings date each other.
“I could make an exception for myself, but I won’t.” Sebastian realized; he’d have felt awkward. Bollocks. “Won’t that go over well.” His tone was mildly sarcastic. “Sack her and then ask her out?”
“If she likes you half as much as it seems, I think you’d be fine,” Lo shrugged. “It just depends how long she’s worked here and how much she needs her job.”
“She has another one.” Sebastian couldn’t help the faint note of hope in his voice.
Lo blinked. “Why would she want two fulltime jobs?”
“Don’t know. She offered to help me when I spoke to her about our security network; said it was full of holes.” Sebastian shook his head.
“Well, if she has another full time job and she just wanted to help you, she probably knows this job will end eventually.” Lo stood, smiling. “But I should be off. I’ve been cupid enough here, I think.”
“You just might have been.” It was all Sebastian could do to remember why he’d asked the bloke there in the first place. “About the charity. Will you send me the papers, then?”
“I’ll hand deliver them within 72 hours.” Lo smiled and extended his hand to Sebastian. “You’ll have to name your firstborn son after me, though.”
“Maybe as a nickname.” Sebastian sighed. “Thanks for showing me I’ve been a twat. And your help.”
“Meant my first name, my Christian name. Jeremy’s quite boring and acceptable, thank you.” Lo smirked and disappeared in the same puff of smoke.
Sebastian had been about to reply, but then the man - was he a man? - was gone.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He wasn’t entirely sure what to do right now. But the first idea was probably to see just how well the security network’s holes were patched. Work first. Then fun. If there was any to be had.