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colintennant-deactivated2014052

I must say, I am still having quite the time adjusting to the new surroundings. They have not even give me office space at Columbia and I do believe earlier today while trying to locate my office I nearly stumbled into the women’s loo, so I do apologise for not making myself known to everyone sooner, while I found my footing.

I’m Colin Tennant, the new Executive Producer for your finance programmes.

bookerwalsh

How ya doing, Colin?

I'm Ben. ACN treatin' ya alright, so far?

#colintennant

gwenyth-mason-deactivated201411

The man seemed dumbfounded for a moment, like she’d somehow caught him off guard. She hadn’t meant to, course, but he was the one that had approached her. Still, Gwen had a feeling she’d somehow read the situation wrong which was bound to happen every now and then. He gave his excuse, and Gwen’s expression softened a bit.

A thoughtful pause hung in the air between them as she thought. Had the shooting affected him even more than she’d assumed it would? Each person in the building had every right to react to the fiasco in their own unique ways, and was understanding of their need to grieve. The lull coming to an end, Gwen nodded with empathy. “Thank you,” she said. “You know, with everything that’s going on, that’s very kind of you.” Breaking eye contact for a moment, she looked down at her desk. She almost wished she did have some sort of task for him, something to maybe occupy his time and his mind, if only for a moment. Unfortunately her desk was only cluttered with her own business.

She glanced back up at him empty-handed, however and answered with a helpless shrug. “I am good for now, though. If you need anything from me…” Gwen trailed off. If Ben needed a favour, she was the right person to ask.

bookerwalsh

Ben watched her carefully. Eyes noticing each turn of the head, the lines her face made. He'd learned to read people at an early age and ever since then he couldn't help but pay extra attention to how the people around him interacted within their surroundings. It was fascinating, the little comforts of motions people found within themselves throughout a conversation. The pauses they took, each click of a pen or change of expression. It was his defense mechanism. Reading people and it had only ever failed him once, some seventeen years ago, and it was a careless miscalculation that he promised would never happen again. So he watched and listened, using both his ears and eyes, and it was this that made him so successful at his job.

He'd worked closely with the shows EPs and for the most part everyone got along swimmingly, Gwen had always been a determined, hard worker; a highly admirable trait in his eyes and she was sweet. He felt silly asking her if she needed help knowing full well she would have called on him or sent an intern to get him if she did but she'd found him at a loss for words and again, posing a question about whether or not he was the one who needed anything.

"I...no." A dry laugh, Ben grinned at the brunette seated behind the work at her desk. "You in the mood for a coffee break? Good coffee...not the intern burned crap from the break room. My treat, I did, after all, interrupt your flow." He waved a hand, gesturing at the work.

#gwenyth-mason #para

gwenyth-mason-deactivated201411

As insensitive as it may have seemed, Gwen had long since gotten over the recent traumatic events. She hadn’t forgotten—it was still written on so many faces around her—but each day brought new calamities from all over the world. Shootings were just the beginning and there had been four other ones just this past week that they needed to inform the public about. It was easier, she figured, to move past what had happened and focus on what needed to get done next.

Gwen returned Ben’s smile when he entered. “Yeah, yeah,” she assured him with a dismissive wave of the hand that held her pen. She clicked it a few more times and straightened her posture. Did she not look okay, she wondered. It wouldn’t be the first time her stress showed itself despite her best efforts to keep it at bay. There was no use in dumping her issues on the booker. “What can I do for you?” she asked, her tone hopeful and pleasant.

bookerwalsh

Do for him?

Oh that's right, Ben had wandered into her office and though he really had no purpose there, it seemed far too uncomfortable for him to turn around and leave now though he certainly didn't want to bother the woman who certainly had better things to do than listen to him ramble about nothing. He wasn't usually one to skedaddle into an EPs office unless they'd given him a task, yet here he was, a few steps in the office and wishing he'd have just stayed put at his desk; but alas. His work was done and here he was.

"I..." Ben wasn't usually at a loss for words, at least not when it came to work, but it seemed today was full of meaningless first. Perhaps the atmosphere change around the workplace had indeed taken it's toll, unknowingly, on him. "Was just dropping in to say hi. Wondering if you needed me for anything." Obviously, she would have asked if she needed him, but at this point Ben was at a loss for words that were unwork related and well, there it was.

#ben feels so awk i dont think i have seen this side of ben before #gwenyth-mason

the-way-im-feeling

gwenyth-mason-deactivated201411

Another day, another disaster. Luckily for everyone around her, and herself, Gwen worked amazingly under pressure. But even she knew when she had too much on her plate. Deadlines were fast approaching, and she had a meeting that needed her presence in less than half an hour.

“Can you get it done or not?" A voice warbled through the speakerphone—handsfree was the way to go for most of her phone calls. Gwen stifled a sigh.

“Of course,” she assured the omniscient voice that filled her office space. Without another word, Gwen heard a click that signaled the end of the conversation. She clicked a pen anxiously and looked up to see someone standing in her doorway.

“Come in, come in.” Her voice was less tense than she felt. “Not busy at all; join me in my little haven, please.”

bookerwalsh

Ben had found solace in returning to work. While others were still tedious he found that he was more comfortable being here, rather than not. There was comfort in his job, in the routine that he was so accustomed to now. It was...easy. Even the hardest days, where nothing went according to plan, it was still something he'd done before. So as the phone call ended and he finished the last, now cold, drop of his coffee Ben found himself looking around to the building that he'd worked in for so many years, looking so different now as people took extra looks around their shoulders and walked closely to one another. He offered idle chit chat to those who passed his desk and smiled at the interns that had made it through last months events and still decided to come back. It was nice, seeing the love people had for ACN, rare now--it seemed--but nice. He too had fallen in love with the job, that would become a huge part of his life, upon first entering the doors so many years ago.

He wandered around until he saw Gwen through the, often times inconvenient, glass walls. Walls that had shattered against the weight of one small bullet. Ones that had only just been repaired a few weeks back.

Ben didn't even realize he'd wandered into her doorway until she'd spoken. He grinned and took steps in. "You okay?" One eyebrow quirked.

#hiiii welcomeeeee #you missed a shooting; hence the kind of somber attitude of everyone's writing :)

ericatravers

I don’t think she’ll dye your hair green, but be careful.

That’s all anyone can do - try.

bookerwalsh

She tried to dye your hair green? I have to say, it'd be quite the intriguing look on you.

Thank you, for...you've been very helpful.

#ericatravers

ericatravers

She’s still evil, even if she hasn’t shown it yet.

I know it must be hard. Or, I mean, I don’t really know. I mean, I never told my parents anything and they never worried, you know? But, I think if it’s important - like if he knows he needs you, he knows he can come to you. I mean, that’s what I think is important. It’s what I want…would want, if I ever have kids. I mean…what I mean to say is - I basically raised myself and I think I came out somewhat okay most days, so I mean - Parker had you - so he’s probably like…on his way to being one of the best people ever and winning a Noble Peace Prize.

bookerwalsh

I have no doubts. If you say she is not to be trusted, I shall keep a watchful eye out.

Noble Peace Prize, huh? That's quite a compliment on my parenting. I guess I could try and let it go. Have him tell me when he's ready...I'll try, but I make no promises.

#ericatravers

ericatravers

Yeah, totally. You know, the Cheetah to my Wonder Woman. The Joker to my Batman. The Kim Kardashian to my Sense of Human Decency.

Oh! I see. Well, and please don’t judge me for this, but is it Facebook official. Because, from what I understand, if I were a sixteen year old girl in 2014, and it’s not Facebook official on your page, I’m not your girlfriend. Maybe he just likes her, or they’re in that awkward stage of trying to figure out of they like each other.

Ben, I know you and Parker are super close, and I think that’s great. But I think, if he were a sixteen year old boy testing out his first relationship and he told you right away, that that would be a sign something’s wrong. I bet because you’re both so close - and he knows you well, that maybe he’s not telling you because he wants to be sure about her. You know, first relationships are a big deal and your opinion probably matters.

bookerwalsh

Ah. I see. How is the Joker doing?

Yeah. Yeah I get that and to be honest, I had to search a while to see if it was "facebook official" because this new layout hates me, apparently. I see him still listed as single but its really just the fact that he's never kept something so...big...from me before and I know I'm probably overreacting but I don't know what else to do.

#ericatravers

ericatravers

I do what I can.

Well, not to pry but I have time because Toby’s stuck in a meeting with my arch nemesis, so, want to talk about it?

bookerwalsh

Arch nemesis?

I think my kid may have a girlfriend, but is also not telling me about it, and I don't really...I don't know.

#ericatravers

ericatravers

I bet you’re also the guy that knows where all the clean coffee mugs go after 2pm.

I was finishing up some errands that ran long and thought I would come meet Toby so we could go back to Brooklyn together. But I am resting my shoulder, I have mastered the one sided shrug.

How are you, Ben?

bookerwalsh

I really am, is that bad? You sound like a one sided shrugging pro.

I'm...conflicted.

#ericatravers

ericatravers

That would be smart, yes. Right now all I can think about is soup. Soup would be good.

bookerwalsh

I think there are some Campbell cans hiding somewhere in the break room.

What are you doing, braving the cold to be here, anyway. Shouldn't you be resting that shoulder?

#ericatravers

ericatravers

I like snow as much as the next girl, but I’m pretty sure I can’t feel my toes right now.

bookerwalsh

Probably not a good thing. I'd recommend doubling up on socks.

#ericatravers

olympiamartin-blog

ACN was once Olympia’s favorite place in the world. It was her escape - it was her future. But now it’s like some never-ending house of mirrors, like the kind at the carnival that used to stop about twenty minutes off post that she and Nicky used to like to sneak off and visit with their friends.

Everything reflects back and is distorted.

Therapy is slow to help. The shooting range does nothing for her anymore. Nights in dimly lit bars only offer a temporary balm.

Grateful smiles make her sick to her stomach. Staying at her desk too long cluttered her senses with memories. She isn’t a hero.

More than anything, she wishes Nicky were there. Stefan can pretend to understand, but it’s a lie and she won’t bother her parents with anything like this. They’re proud of her just like they were proud of Nicky. She feels a stab of guilt when she remembers feeling the opposite about her twin brother. Glass breaking, anger surging, fully believing that - despite everything - her brother had died overseas in vain. The guilt makes her feel nauseous now and she wishes she could apologize, to take back those ugly thoughts.

She excuses herself from the meeting that’s wrapping up and escapes the building for a few moments of air on the terrace, her fingers automatically reach for Nicky’s dog tags from beneath her blouse and she grips them so tightly she knows there will be an imprint on her palm.

She can’t remember how to breathe anymore and she feels like she’s drowning.

bookerwalsh

Everyone is different. Once work starts up again. People move slower. They ask more questions.

Tell me about the family?

How's your grandma doing?

Do you need anything?

If anything, the shooting has brought the ACN survivors closer. Ben works as diligently as ever. He keeps his head down for the most part, though partakes in office chit chat as per usual. Everyone, here, seems fine. He notices a shiver at a loud sound, every now and then, but they fall back into their norms as if it never happened. Ben isn't worried about his co workers. He is, however, worried about Olympia.

He's been waiting for her to get out of her meeting. Catch her before she goes home. He stays at his desk but keeps the room in his peripheral vision and when she gets up he jumps from his own desk, but keeps a normal pace to follow her. Ben gives her a few minutes before joining her on the terrace, jacket in hand. "Here. You'll catch a cold." Is all he says as he waits.

#olympiamartin #para