Charon Industries, Inc

Malcolm Hargrove, Former Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee, and current CEO of Charon Industries. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and I do hope that this will be a profitable for both of us. Face Claim: Alan Dale ((Indie Chairman rp blog))

[churchofinvention]

God he hated this man. Perhaps this was his punishment happening in real time—continued contact. One of the least charming stupid conversations he'd ever had. (Getting to know the people he has, the old man has absolutely had his fair share of charmingly stupid discussions. None of them with present company, however.)

"I understand that you're a damn poser. And you're proud to be one. But I suppose that does come with the dual-territory of politics and business. I liked you better when you were benevolently dull and interesting instead of whatever the hell this is."

[ceohargrove]

Points had been scored. They weren't worth much, because the Director was correct: Hargrove was very satisfied with his present circumstances.

"Whatever gets results, dear Director." The Chairman examined his nails before rubbing them against his suit jacket. "That is something I would have thought you did understand. Your own charming accent, while genuine, undoubtedly makes up for your own shortfalls."

[churchofinvention]

He just can't wrap his head around the fact that such a small word has any more than a single syllable. That wasn't the reason why he said it, of course, but it had been something that plagued him ever since the issue was first pointed out to him.

"Now you're just takin' potshots. Syllables aren't your problem—everything else is. Where the hell did you pick your entire accent up from? East Egg? Quit embarrassin' yourself and just speak like the rest of us."

[ceohargrove]

"If I were to grant your premise that this accent isn't absolutely genuine," and they both knew it wasn't, unfortunately. Church had heard him speak before the affectation had settled. "Then it stands to reason that whatever my natural dialect could conceivably be is... dull and uninteresting. A man has to stand out in both politics and business.

"I suppose y'all wouldn't understand that."

[churchofinvention]

"Skip what? As if you don't treat the English language as some lump of clay to form as you see fit. Accusations aside, I think we've skipped over your relationship with the words comin' out of your big mouth for far too long."

[ceohargrove]

"My command over language is impeccable, and I don't appreciate the implication otherwise. I can at least say words like fire with the two syllables that exist in that word."

[churchofinvention]

"Keep your apologies. I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." Incredibly probable. However, he'd be damned if he admitted to as much. "Just say that you have no idea how to enforce this accountability of yours, stop wasting my time with trivialities."

[ceohargrove]

"Now hang on, we can't just skip this. I know you don't have short-term memory loss if the amount of ink you waste in your letters is anything to go by."

[churchofinvention]

"Fortunately for bolth of us—." Derisive muttering that probably should have stayed a mocking internal thought. You're better than that. (He's not.)

"How fond you suddenly seem to be of your rock. And what sort of 'accountability' do I have to look forward to until the day the stars align? Do you plan on branching out at all, or should I just continue to hold out hope for your sporadic, charming letters?"

[ceohargrove]

He was almost certain Leonard had said something else, but Hargrove had found himself caught on one word in particular.

"Apologies, did you just say 'bolth.'" The man affecting an accent asked.

[churchofinvention]

"Equally so for the rock." What a treat it would be to be off this man's radar for good.

"But for your sake, I hope you do find someone who can keep up with your incessant bitching in a similar manner. We all deserve to find our people regardless of the situations we've willingly put ourselves into."

[ceohargrove]

"Fortunately for both of us, that dreadful, wonderful day is still leagues ahead of us. Don't think I'll let you take the easy way out of accountability, dear Director."

[churchofinvention]

It's a good thing he happened to remember that little tidbit... because the thought might not have otherwise crossed the Director's mind.

"Not as such." Haha. "What's the matter—worried your new companions won't hold a candle to the high standards I've set over the years? I'm flattered that you'd so openly vie for my comp'ny, sir."

[ceohargrove]

"I will admit that it will feel like something is lacking without you there. Like when you remove a rock from the bottom of your shoe that had been there for days without notice.

"Uncomfortable for a time, but ultimately for the better."

[churchofinvention]

@ceohargrove sent:

“  there’s a special place in hell reserved just for me.  it’s called the throne.  ” ((u know who its for

What is he supposed to do—argue? From the get-go, the old man seems decidedly unimpressed, standing there with his arms folded over his chest and a lackluster expression. Save for the slight quirk of one of his brows.

"As the devil's least efficient seat-warmer. Leave it to you to find pride in your subservience."

[ceohargrove]

"... I ruined my own punchline because I remembered you don't subscribe to the same concept of the Afterlife." He huffed in annoyance. "Damn you."

[ceohargrove]

((I can get into grif now, which means this old fuckhead is also back. It is a sideblog, but I am here

[ncwblue-deactivated20250811]

"So what you're saying is: you believe marriage is a transaction. Jesus, just when I thought you couldn't get any sadder. Suppose the joke is on me for being surprised by this, which I shouldn't be. I really, really shouldn't be."

[ceohargrove]

"Please, Agent Washington, you make it sound so soulless. I genuinely held affection for each of my wives. When our interests began to diverge, the only responsible thing to do would be to end our association. It would have been unfair of me to keep the children or their respective mothers in situations they found untenable."

[ncwblue-deactivated20250811]

"I don't know which is sadder. That statement or the fact that you're proud of it."

[ceohargrove]

"I worked long and hard to get where I am today. Why wouldn't I find some pride in it? My marriages afforded me connections and funds I might not have otherwise had access to, and I have also secured heirs and grandchildren. All in all, despite their ending, the ventures were quite profitable."

[ceohargrove]

"There is nothing wrong with divorce. Sometimes people grow apart, and the mature thing to do is legally separate."

[ceohargrove]

((Chairman: I used to be hot back in the day

Also Chairman

[ncwblue-deactivated20250811]

"In this day and age? No. You, specifically? Little bit."

[ceohargrove]

"I am a wealthy man with a proximity to power. Its not exactly hard to find a date."

[thestupidmeanone]

"The idea that not one, but three different women were down to fuck the Chairman is going to somehow become my sleep paralysis demon."

[ceohargrove]

"Is it really that hard to believe? I used to be quite the stunner back in the day."

[ncwblue-deactivated20250811]

"I've heard a lot of crazy shit in my day, but Hargrove being married not once, not twice, but several times is really up there."

[ceohargrove]

"Three times, Agent Washington. Is it really that odd in this day and age?"

[ceohargrove]

"a short-lived mistake". Dude did you kill your second wife?

"No, it was merely an admission that Gladys and I were not meant to be. Compared to the decades I spent with my other wives, we only lasted about five years. She also left me, but this time it was for her Pilates instructor."