Her trackball mouse spun with a swipe of one hand, calling up her login screen. An Aggretsuko wallpaper charmed and yelled at the world in equal measure before a retina scan led the screen to give way to the company's intranet. Tuning out all the red exclamation marks littering her screen, Nanoha poured herself a fragrant mug of richly thick brew.
Mondays were always a shitshow for one reason or another, and today was no exception. It took inhuman effort to listen to Fate's calm reasoning that she should be sent home. 'I could have asked Erio or Caro to check in on her,' came Nanoha's guilty thought.
But the blonde was adamant about not bothering her any further and put her foot down. Nanoha sighed. Didn't friends help one another in such times? Speaking of friends…
The White Devil sipped at her gently steaming beverage whilst navigating her way through the intranet to find the posting the head of HR had put up. 147 applicants and counting. Many were solid candidates with years of relevant experience. Most were even older than herself, likely scenting blood in the water, since the posting had come directly from Hayate's office.
'Probably think she's looking to replace me.' Nanoha thought with wicked amusement. With a few clicks, the posting shaded to grey, indicating no further applications were to be accepted.
"Oops, looks like I've got a new AVP." Chortling to herself, the executive settled down to a long morning of wading through emails long overdue for a response.
A red light blinked sedately at the corner of her screen, indicating an incoming video conference. Hmm, 10:23AM. The Japanese woman smirked and hit the button to connect.
An image of a coolly composed head of Human Resources appeared, the woman looking slightly frazzled around the edges, "Takamachi, are you trying to kill me?!"
Nanoha set aside her work and took a moment to pour herself another mug's worth of happiness, "Happy Monday, Sig-chan."
"Don't you 'Sig-chan' me, you devil woman. Do you know the bee's nest you've stirred up? I was just about to send you a culled list…"
"This was my ask for the Testarossa account," the Operations exec stated, cutting off any further protests.
A blink, then another. "Well, that changes things significantly. You've interviewed her yourself?"
Nanoha thought back to the previous day, waking spooned around Fate and nose buried in sweetly scented hair. She recalled taking her time absorbing the quiet bliss, knowing she would never be able to replicate the feeling again. Hoping the woman would accept the offer, the executive concluded that working with Fate would be the next best thing she would have to settle for.
TSAB's head of Human Resources hid a speculative look as she studied the company's top executive. Nanoha's flinty facade seemed to soften over the subject of this potential hire. Interesting.
"You could say that," returning to herself, Nanoha gave Signum a faint smile, "We worked on That Account together." Elaborating no further, the auburn-haired exec buried her nose in her mug.
Wait. "She let herself go?"
"Mmhmm. She's free, and can start next week, I do believe." Nope, not smug at all.
Signum gave a slow shake of her head, "Definitely not something Shari would have done." Jaw tensing a moment, Nanoha merely nodded.
The exec leaned back with a sigh, her pink ponytail swaying, "We're going to have to do something about you honing in on my job, Takamachi."
"Heavens forfend." Nanoha winced at the thought of having to deal with HR crap. "Consider all debts repaid if you keep Shamal off my back."
"I know better than to get between her and her patients, Takamachi." Head tilting, the pink-haired woman ventured, "I hear you'll be attending the year-end retreat…"
Blast. So she'd heard about that. Nanoha held up a finger, "Only to hit some pigskin around the beach," she warned, not wanting the other head to get her hopes up.
"Oh come now, the catering won't be that bad. Have dinner with us, at least."
"Keep both of them off me, and we've got a deal," Nanoha conceded with a slight slump of her shoulders.
"That I can do. Well, it was nice talking. Thanks for leaving me to respond to all the disappointed applicants." Signum concluded sarcastically.
Nanoha grinned toothily, "S'what Haya-chan pays you for. Let me know how the interviews go." With that, her screen went blank.
Nanoha leaned back, tilting her chair to ponder the muted lights of her office ceiling. If Fate made it past the few rounds required, the adjoining room might finally have an occupant who… who only wanted to do a good job. Exhaling a slow breath, the executive allowed a faint feeling of hope to simmer. It would be good to have a friend in her corner.
----------------------------------------
Folio under one arm, Fate smoothed her coal grey office slacks, a silk burgundy tank that matched her eyes was tucked neatly into its high waist. Over that, she wore a relaxed long-line blazer in black, sleeves pushed up partially in a chic style. Her mane of gold was tamed into a neat French braid, suitably sedate for the impression she wished to put across. Competent and no nonsense.
"Fate Testarossa." She volunteered once she approached the counter holding court past the entrance of the building. "I have an appointment with Miss Signum Wolkenritter."
"Please hold, Ma'am," a greying woman with a foreboding frown studied Fate from head to toe, then scrolled through the day's appointments on her screen to verify Fate's claim.
Fate endured the scrutiny, certain it wouldn't be the first time it would happen today. Glancing around the high-ceiling glass dome of TSAB's Southeast Asian Headquarters, the blonde took in the cold ambiance that brilliant shafts of mid-morning light were unable to dispel.
Her attention was drawn back to the receptionist, who had slid a temporary pass over the black quartz counter towards her.
"Please wear this at all times. Miss Wolkenritter will see you now. Take a left to the lift lobby, level forty-two."
Bidding the woman her thanks, Fate did as instructed. Greeting her on the designated floor was a pink-haired woman similar in height to her. Having done her homework, Fate tilted her head, "Miss Wolkenritter, thank you for seeing me."
It was a refreshing change not to get a crick in the neck to address someone in this majority Asian country. Nanoha was already an anomaly for being five nine, and here was someone pushing at least five eleven by her estimation, certainly close to her own six feet in flats.
"Not at all, Miss Testarossa. Shall we?" Leading Fate out of the lift landing, she left the blonde to follow a half pace behind her.
This seemed to be the executives' floor, since there were no cubicles in sight, merely offices spread about the generous floor space in soothing blues and silvers, complimenting solid wood fixtures of polished mahogany.
They met various staff on the way to wherever the HR executive was leading her, and Fate was taken aback by the almost open hostility many of those they met sent her way. Did they know which position she was being interviewed for? For some reason, she felt a sense of protectiveness growing within her, and she began returning the looks stare for stare, leaning heavily on crimson eyes that she knew could at times be considered uncanny. One by one, people looked away to find something else to be occupied with. If even just a potential subordinate could get these looks, what more the person she was hoping to work for?
Unbeknownst to her, Signum had deliberately led her through the most crowded part of the level as a test. She was intrigued to see the blonde pick up the mood this quickly, and give as good as she got. Signum hid a smile. Damn Nanoha and her sharp eyes.
Pausing before a simple wooden door, she led the blonde into one of the smaller conference rooms where two others were already seated.
The first interview was perfunctory, going through the motions of establishing Fate's educational background, work experience and the scope of her positions.
Sitting ramrod straight, Fate fielded the questions with cool aplomb, still sensing the others on the panel aside from the head of HR were definitely not taking a sanguine view of her application.
The blonde was inexperienced, maybe even sheltered, working in her family's organisation. But there was an unwavering conviction and confidence that carried her through the gruelling process that was fast approaching its third hour. The HR executive felt obligated to find the absolute best support for her overworked friend, and this slim blonde was nearing the finishing line after having left all other competition in the dust, despite all speculations to the contrary.
Dismissing her assistants, Signum indicated that she would finish the final round of interviews alone. In silence they sat, the HR executive's probing look unceasing.
The cool blonde looked none the worse for wear, having endured countless evenings of worse scrutiny under less equanimity than what TSAB could throw at her, and back then it was for relatives she didn't even like. Was this why Nanoha was alone without an AVP? Because everyone was conspiring to keep any possible hires scared away?
She was beginning to tire of this farce and wondered why her friend gave so much for so little.
"I'm going to lay this out plainly, Miss Testarossa, and I think you will appreciate the honesty."
Finally, maybe they were going to get somewhere. Sensing a change in the atmosphere, Fate relaxed just enough to lean back into the cold comfort of the office chair she'd been figuratively sweating bullets on for the past three hours.
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"There is little time for prevarication at the pace N… Miss Takamachi works at," Fate stated as if this was a known fact, and between the two facing off, both knew it was true.
Signum dipped her head, acknowledging the blonde's words.
"It will be a thankless grind with most fighting tooth and nail against their better interests. You'll find few, if any, friends, and everyone will be in it for something."
Fate's lips twitched in a faint facsimile of a smile, "Sounds just like home." Which prompted Signum to bark a laugh. Head cocked to one side, Fate added, "I already have a friend here, and I think… no," she self-corrected, "I know she needs the help. Besides," she shrugged, "She's driven, whip-smart, straightforward, and doesn't suffer incompetence. I can learn a lot from her."
And there it was, the very thing Signum had hoped to find in this candidate. Tidying up her papers, Signum rose and stretched out a hand which Fate stood to accept. They exchanged firm shakes. "I'll get my people to prepare the papers. If you're able to wait for… let's say an hour, we'll have the contract ready for you to sign."
Heart hammering double-time, Fate nodded, "I can wait. Do you have a cafeteria?" 'I did it!'
"That's level 10, I can get someone…"
It was coming to four in the afternoon as Signum led Fate out of the conference room. About to offer to have a staff bring the blonde to said cafeteria, she pulled up short, causing the blonde to almost collide into her back.
"Ah, looks like you have someone already," amused, Signum stepped aside, allowing Fate free passage out.
'Someone?' Peering around the HR head's tall form, Fate felt her heart speed up to triple-time.
Dressed in a crisp button down white shirt tucked into formal slacks coloured a warm cobalt, Nanoha had been pacing outside of the room for the past half hour. She'd been at it since eight in the morning and deserved the break. Right? She had the right to spend it however she wanted. Right? Her auburn locks had been swept up into a simple twist, secured by two ornate chopsticks. The top two buttons of her shirt had been undone and her business jacket was slung over one shoulder whilst both hands were buried deep in her pants pockets. To Fate's admiring eyes, the executive looked appealingly rumpled.
To Signum's experienced eyes, however, Nanoha looked like a million dollar nervous wreck. Not like Fate was paying attention, if the slight dusting of pink on the blonde's cheeks was any sort of indication. Nanoha had frozen at the sound of the door cracking open, and was now taking in the blonde's elegant lines once she had emerged from behind the HR head.
Signum cleared her throat, breaking the silent stares going on between the two women, "Takamachi. We were just wrapping up. I'm going to get the papers ready for her. Can you show her the way to the company cafeteria?"
"Ah, sure." Nudged into action, Nanoha nodded stiffly to the blonde she had been wrapped around a mere one week and eleven hours ago. Not that she'd been counting.
The muted click of their pumps punctuated the silence between them as they made their way into the elevator. "Signum scared you off yet?"
Fiddling nervously with the zipper on her folio, Fate offered Nanoha a wry smile, "She tried. There wasn't even a hint of the usual 'good cop, bad cop' routine."
Nanoha felt a few of the steel bands around her chest loosen, "She knows better than to try. Not with someone I've worked with without incident."
Hmm, incident?
"Your ankle all right?" The Japanese woman had been surreptitiously eyeing the blonde's steps as she led them down the winding corridor to where the cafeteria was located. Fate noted the abbreviated style of address, typical of the constant hustle and bustle of the island nation. No one had time for flowery words, least of all this executive.
The corners of Fate's rich Bordeaux gaze crinkled, "You make a good nurse," she teased.
"I had an obedient patient," Nanoha countered drily, "Try getting a puppy to stay in one spot rather than running over to lick your toes."
Both had kept their voices low, long-honed instincts telling them their usual banter would best be left behind closed doors, but it felt like they were back on the island retreat, their week apart having not been at all.
"Have you had your lunch?" Fate enquired of the executive once they stepped into the quiet of the post-lunch crowd canteen. The place was mostly devoid of people, save a smattering of tables with staff talking quietly over a coffee and some paperwork.
A guilty silence was the blonde's only reply. "Seems I may have to boss my boss around with regards to self-care."
Feeling lighter than she had felt in years, the Japanese woman gave a wry shake of her head, "You're going to get along well with Vita." Tapping at her smartwatch, Nanoha gestured to the cafeteria staff that she would cover for both their orders and urged Fate to pick something from the wide selection on offer.
Drifting from cooking station to cooking station, Fate settled on a Popiah, a soft spring roll commonly eaten as a snack by the locals. Nanoha opted for a serving of fragrant coconut rice dusted with peanuts and crispy silverfish, and topped off with a boiled egg and a healthy dollop of Indonesian spicy relish. Nanoha tapped her watch to the reader to pay, and both women snagged a complimentary bottle of mineral water each. Settling at one of the many empty tables around them, Fate popped the cap of her drink to take a sip.
"Vita?" Fate prompted after quenching her immediate thirst.
"My E.A.. She gets on my case about meals all the time."
Fate decided she already liked this Vita person. Poking at her snack with a fork and spoon, she concluded that there was just no way to be neat about it and began cutting a section in half.
Nanoha watched the blonde tackle the local dish using rather non-local means; it was akin to having a New York pizza with a knife and fork. "Not a fan of chopsticks?"
"Who took a look at grains of rice and decided the best way to eat them would be with two sticks?" Fate muttered, eliciting a silent laugh from her table mate.
"It's not too difficult, just takes practise. Even those who grew up using them don't always get it right and just make do."
"Perhaps if I had a decade free to struggle with them."
"Mmm, I can teach." Eyes warm, Nanoha wasn't even paying mind to what her mouth was saying, then she blinked, "Er, if you would care to learn. It's not a department rule or anything." 'Get a grip, Takamachi. She's here to learn important things, not how to use chopsticks.'
"I'd be delighted to learn." Fate replied in a complete opposite of Nanoha's expectations. "When in Rome, right?"
"Speaking of Rome," the blonde began during a lull in their meal, "It felt as though I was walking into a gladiatorial arena earlier."
Nanoha toyed idly with the last peanut on her plate, "Don't mind it. As the locals would say - A full belly fosters people who are too free. Whatever you hear, whatever you're told, ask me. I'll answer as best I can." The executive knew the hounds would be nipping at both their heels seeking to find a weak link from day one of Fate's employment.
Schooled in the art of reading between the lines, Fate marvelled at the executive already trying to shield her from the harsh realities of the position. Who protected the protector, though?
Fate's phone vibrated and she glanced down at her lockscreen, "Miss Wolkenritter is done." She rose and reached for her empty plate.
"I'll settle it. Go sign your imprisonment papers." Warm pools of azure sparkled up at the blonde.
Basking under that warm regard, Fate noted the faint hint of loneliness lingering in the deepest recesses of those beautiful eyes and made a snap decision. "I don't have anyone to celebrate with who's free… I was wondering…"
"Yes."
"...if you might be free. I know you probably have a myriad number of obliga… hmm?"
"My class was cancelled," the executive explained, smiling, "I'm all yours."
Liking the sound of that far too much to truly dwell on the words any longer than was polite, Fate flashed Nanoha a brilliant smile, "My place? Seven?"
"I'll be there," the auburn-haired woman assured Fate.
The blonde's smile took on an impish cast, "Don't wear anything you can't get grass stains out of." Winking, she departed, leaving a flabbergasted Nanoha behind.
Visions of what they could get up to for grass stains to be a concern flashed through Nanoha's mind. Giving herself a shake, she deposited their dishes and cutlery into their proper receptacles and proceeded back to her office.
"Vita, new hire's starting soon. Check with Stores about what they have to replicate what's in my office - they'll be in the adjoining. And I want the file for Salonpas, I'm going to drag those chowderheads into the 21st Century even if it kills them…" Mind racing a mile a minute, Nanoha was focused on everything she wanted done before her… engagement tonight. What did she have that was grass stain proof??
The short redhead grunted. As a Wolkenritter, she had known this was probably the eventual outcome of Signum's interviews today, and so the petite woman evinced little surprise at her boss' instructions. But there was something her boss needed to know before she got any further into her office. Mouth open, Vita realised she was too slow when she saw Nanoha pull up short at her office's doorway.
"You have a guest…" Vita said, a dollar short and a day late.
"Sweetcheeks!" Rounding on the executive, a lavender-haired beauty invited herself into Nanoha's personal space, hugging the stiffly held woman with a familiarity the auburn-haired woman did not feel.
"Ginga, I wasn't expecting you…"
Drawing back a little, the woman named Ginga pouted, "You knew I was in town! My contract won't be done for weeks! Momoko-san wanted me to check on you. She says you never call." Clinging onto the executive's arm, she continued, "Come, finish up your work and let's have dinner, there's so much catching up to do!"
Firmly retrieving her limb from Ginga's grasp, Nanoha began to push Ginga out of her office instead, "I have a prior appointment," she told the woman honestly, "I'll call you before you leave…"
"That's hardly being a good host, Nanoha!" Turning to arrest her forward momentum, she stuck her bust out to try and bulldoze her way back into the executive's office.
With Fate in tow, Signum headed to the Operations side of the level, meaning to show the new hire where her office would be located. The scene that greeted them was something out of a bad sitcom.
Nanoha, arms outstretched, with her hands on a lavender-haired woman's breasts, looking like a deer caught in headlights at the arrival of Fate and Signum. The strange woman looked entirely too happy at this development and cooed, "Oh my, Nanoha, at least take me to dinner first!" She happily wiggled her chest in Nanoha's grasp.
Snatching back her hands like a child caught raiding the cookie jar, Nanoha coughed, "Can it, Ginga. You know that wasn't my intention." Sighing, the auburn-haired woman attempted some damage control, "Signum, Fate. Vita was just showing Ginga out," alto approaching a growl, she threw an exasperated glance at her E.A., "Weren't you, Vita?"
"Yea, yea. Come on, Nanoha still has work. I'll book you an appointment," TO THE MOON, she mouthed to Nanoha, out of Ginga's line of vision. Rolling her eyes, Nanoha merely nodded and invited Signum and Fate into the relatively peaceful confines of her office.
Raking impatient fingers through the forelock that kept falling into her eyes, Nanoha offered the other two a tight smile, "Sorry. Family friend."
Silent throughout the entire exchange, Fate was afforded some much needed time to wrestle with the green-eyed monster that had reared its ugly head at the sight of Nanoha feeling up another woman's chest. A monster that threatened to have Fate kicking the busty family friend off of the 42nd level, then dropping a piano on whatever remained below for good measure. Taken aback by her gut reaction, she loitered behind Signum, only just now taking in the classily appointed office.
It held no personal effects to indicate who occupied the office, just a desktop and four ultra-widescreen monitors arranged in a two by two configuration. To the side, some filing cabinets and a mini bar nestled against the wall. A leather couch lined the other wall, set opposite of Nanoha's workstation, the piece of furniture appearing to have seen some use recently. She tried not to imagine Nanoha and that hussy on the sofa together.
"She never changes," Signum muttered, shaking her head.
"I wish she would," Nanoha griped, throwing Fate an apologetic look. She didn't examine why she felt the need to do that, but it definitely seemed right that she should.
"All done with the paperwork?" Fate nodded mutely.
"We'll get her security clearance and parking space squared away by tomorrow. Welcome to the jungle, Miss Testarossa." Seeing herself out, the pink-haired executive left Nanoha to her new AVP's tender mercies. Only when she was safely back in her own office, did she allow the guffaws to overtake her.
"I uh, I'll finish up a few things and head over?" Nanoha's succinct way of asking if they were still on for tonight.
Unreadable orbs of deepest red met Nanoha's questioning gaze. This was her boss and someone she had absolutely no claim over. Stirred out of her silence by the executive's tentative query, she smiled politely, "Yes. Signum was just showing me the way. I'll see you in a while, Nanoha."
Missing the '-chan' in her name, the Japanese woman watched the blonde depart, leaving behind a faintly accusing silence and a mild hint of lilac and rose.
Eyes dropping to her mutely glowing keyboard, Nanoha let out a long breath, "...Fuck."