[CLOSED] One of Two Things, and He'll Admit to Everything

[ktotheatothez]

WHO: Kaz Raio-Zobel de Ayala & Joshua LaRue
WHAT: This is as much space as I can give you.
WHERE: Josh's office, Rhiannon Towers Philippines
WHEN: 17 February 2065
SAFE FOR WORK? Yes.
OTHER NOTES: You died, I died, this is me grieving.



[ Kaz had planned to spend longer away from home, actually. Instead, he and Nico cut their trip short and came home when they heard about Josh. Christmas that year hadn't been the best, but it was their first as a married couple. Of course, they decided that it'd be better if they put down roots in Falner. It hadn't even been a question that they'd purchase the lot behind the Brennans' home.

That was step one. Step two was to go back to Rhiannon and request a transfer as Josh's personal assistant. Seeing as Josh was his superior, well... And given the fact that he hadn't seen his older brother since Josh left for the US, that made this even harder. He even had Josh's Christmas Present with him.

He's been standing outside the door for three whole minutes before he can put a small smile on his face and knock. ]

Comments

[larue]

[ It is so weird to see you moving around in a manner that's not like yourself. You're a pretty animated kid, Kaz, and while you've grown up loads and gotten rid of some of that nervous energy, he knows you pretty well.

Something's up and he's willing to bet it's got something to do with what's in that folder.

He shuts his laptop, leans back in his chair, and sends you a helpless smile. ]

If you're asking for a transfer out to a different department kiddo, forget it.

[ He says that mildly, but he is half-serious. ]

I'm only half-kidding, but go ahead, bro.

[ktotheatothez]

Now who said anything about transferring out to a different department?

[ You made a funny, it makes him chuckle, even if August teases ever so often. He slides the folder over to you. ]

They're papers all right, but not to transfer out. If you're okay with it, I want to be your Personal Assistant.

[larue]

[ Okay.

No, wait — what???

Yeah, he's kind of just... blinking at you for a bit. ]

[ktotheatothez]

[ He blinks at you too, bemusedly. ]

What? Did I say something wrong?

(I think you shocked him, bud.) [ Roxas quips. ]

[larue]

[ He's going to shake his head. If the smile on his lips is more somber than bright, give him a bit. This was a pleasant surprise. ]

You think you're up to snuff?

[ He's got some pretty high standards. You saw how Andy used to run things for him. ]

[ktotheatothez]

Well, I wouldn't do this if I didn't think I could do as good a job as Andy.

[ Being under Jessie's thumb taught him well. ]

[larue]

[ Leaning back now and taking a good, long look at you. You've grown a lot since you two first met ( late, for Aria Skye's class, mind ) back in 2063. He's told you on varying occasions that he's proud of you, kiddo. You've come a ways from the runt he used to tease for deciding that you weren't 'a good fit' for Rhiannon.

( A 'good fit'. That's a laugh. He used to be Mr. Jock I Know Shit About Being a Sin-Eater, remember? He fit in just fine. )

He doesn't actually need to see your credentials. He's kept an eye on you ever since you licensed with the corporation. ]

I won't be expecting you to do as good a job as Andy, kiddo.

[ A beat, then: ] Aim higher. Do better. You've got a week trial run, and then I'll get back to you on this. [ He taps that folder twice and slides it back your way. ]

[ktotheatothez]

Sure thing, boss.

[ There's a small grin on his face, because at least it wasn't 'no'. ]

[larue]

[ He's not the type to tell a potential 'no,' Kaz. And you're exactly that.

You've a habit of applying yourself well to things you set your mind to, now it's only a matter of seeing just how your performance as a senior agent with some weeks under your belt will improve with the idea of being his 'second' in the department in mind.

He's giving you a week because he wants to see how well you'll do, because in two he's got a flight back to the States; he'll be out for another month following that, which effectively makes you his personal representative in all matters with the exception of meetings that he'll need to personally attend to. ]

So, [ relaxing a little more into his seat at that. ] Your week starts now.

[ Show him what you've got, kiddo. You've clearly thought this over. ]

[ktotheatothez]

( Good goin', bud. Told ya he'd let you take a crack at it. )[ You can't see it, but Roxas and Kaz just mentally high-fived each other. ]

Yessir. Lemme just... Snag my stuff.

[ Most of his things are actually in a box in the maintenance closet near your office, just in case you said yes. Because still puppy after all this time. ]

[larue]

[ Oh, kid. Why even. ]

Alright. Go get your things and then get your ass back in here, we need to talk schedules.

[ Because he has things to do and he needs to know how you intend to help him with them. ]

[ktotheatothez]

[ He isn't even gone five minutes before he opens the door to your office, two boxes in one hand. He shoots a small grin at you, Josh, and that it's his "I got this" face.

Not wanting to waste any more time, though, he puts on a little bit of speed and sets up what looks like a smaller version of the workstation back at the Tower. ]

Okay, so, schedules.

[larue]

[ Watching you as you do all that, and fishing out his cigarettes and tossing you a spare, unopened pack. ]

I'm flying back stateside in two weeks. I'll need to know if I can rely on you to watch over everything here while I'm gone.

[ 'Watch' of course, being his loose term for keeping him posted on anything anyone needed, and being the point-person for everyone else while he was out.

You've already got a good rep with his people, and none of that is for show. ]

[ktotheatothez]

[ You get a nod as thanks for the pack. And then a double-take when he hears you're flying back. What you see next is him rifling through your booking data and making a small change to your itinerary. ]

I made a small change. I was looking through the flight logs for reimbursement and I saw that you've got more frequent flier miles than most of the board. So you're flying first class now. There'll be a rental car waiting for you at SF International Airport, too. They have a nice brochure, if you'd like to pick.

[ He's already got a notepad out in case you have any requests. ]