I believe in everything until it's disproved.

Arlo / M / 26 / Government Employee Dependent blog for X-Mentalia

[sithichean]

camilla-maior:

@sithichean

“This is embarrassing, but will you go to the comic con thing with me? The evil man on the tv says we need to pair up and Kelly is making me go… so I need someone to go with me.”

“No need to be embarrassed! We’ll get this done in no time, and get right back to the office ... Maybe.”

[sithichean]

camilla-maior:

Camilla pretended not to notice that Arlo’s feet had been on his desk when she arrived. It was his office, he could do what he wished (and make whatever messes he wished) provided that it didn’t interfere with his work. However, once he began to shuffle through his various papers laying about the room, she knew this was going to be a longer task than she originally had planned for. Camilla was many things, but she was not a patient woman. At least he didn’t seem to be judging her. Camilla thought that Arlo seemed to be in shock that she would appear here at all, which wasn’t a negative opinion, at the very least.

There was a slight glint in her eyes as her heightened senses picked up on his nervousness. She couldn’t exactly pick up on whatever nervous tick he had, since he was quickly flitting about the room, but she immediately noticed the change in his tone of voice and she could practically see the clouds swirling in his mind as he tried to… remember where the documents were? or… ah, he didn’t know what she was talking about. Perfect. Just perfect. 

“You could have asked as much from the beginning if you didn’t know what documents I was talking about.” She shook her head, trying not to sound too harsh. She knew the statistics department had a lot of work do to with all of Kelly’s recent initiatives and such. She didn’t know, of course, as she had never been here before, but she imagined that Arlo was probably swamped with work and that this state of his office was not normal for him. 

“He said he sent you an e-mail for which documents he would need by this afternoon, but I believe it probably had something to do with either the public’s opinion on the MRA? or perhaps those other projects that he’s been working on with Tremain or Lewis…?” She rattled off a few other projects that the senator had his hands in, hoping it would trigger Arlo’s memory. Honestly, she should have just asked what documents the senator wanted before coming down here, but he had been so stressed lately, perhaps he was just sending her away so she’d stop noticing his emotional state. It had happened before. She wasn’t happy with this busy work, though, and offered to help Arlo look. “Do you know what documents that might be? I could certainly assist with organizing…” she gave a wave to his office as if to say ‘everything in here’ “provided it leads to finding the documents he needs promptly.”

His face tinted pink with her first comment, “Sorry, I swear I remember reading the email and ...” Trailing off instead of finishing his thought, he continued to look for the papers itself. Grumbling under his breath about brownies as he looked through the In and Out boxes. 

Arlo held his higher-ups to such a degree of respect that it could be classified as unhealthy, and he started to feel jittery because he knew he was wasting Ms. Maior’s time and - by extension - Senator Kelly’s time as well.  He was semi-consciously trying to keep his back to her, as he had heard all the stories and rumors about Ms. Maior and her creepy ability to read people exactly. Hoping to prevent showing how off-kilter he was right now, to solidify not being scorned for not having his act together. Half listening to her list off the possible projects, he fumbled with his desk drawers now checking inside of those. “Treiman? Yeah, I think that’s the one.” 

Turning on heel at her offer to help look for the project, he frowned for the moment. Not being able to recall the last time she had been in his office (if ever), his office was scattered. Nowadays, he would say it was an abstract kind of organization just to get people to lay off. But, he did find it odd that she had the time to even play at the notion of searching instead of him just rushing off the documents later. Gaining a cheeky grin in attempt to make light of the situation he went on “Ms. Maior, I’m flattered you want to spend time with me given how busy you are! If you really can spare the time, the title of the project is ‘Potential for Genosha Bay.’”

If worse comes to worst he could just stealthily print it out again, but it should be at the top of the junk pile. Moving towards the cabinet then quickly changing direction to check his laptop bag, looking back at the cabinet with a squint, but then settling on checking out the laptop bag first.

[sithichean]

[ Taking out the Riddler Cosplay shoved in his closet ]

Let’s do this.

[sithichean]

camilla-maior:

@sithichean

“Mr. Kirkland? Senator Kelly sent me to you. He said you had some documents for me to pick up?” She sighed briefly, not enjoying the fact that she seemed to suddenly become the one in charge of all of the Senator’s errands. She was the administrative director, not an errand-boy and certainly not his secretary.

The work was neverending in the Senator’s office. Especially with the chaos that the MRA had caused, she would prefer to remain at the Senator’s side– or at least out of view of employees she didn’t know well. Supposedly, everyone in the Senator’s office was working towards the same goal, but in practice… there were many arguments about what the Senator should and shouldn’t do. Everyone had an agenda and everyone believed they had a say in what Senator Kelly should do next. If Camilla wasn’t in the room, how was she supposed to present her thoughts? She was already in the minority about the mutant registration act, it seemed. What would this employee think about one of the higher-ups acting as a runner? Would he think she was in trouble or simply carrying out the Senator’s wishes without question?

One of the rare times Arlo was actually in his office space, and he was spacing out big time. His legs that were on the table were quickly flung to the ground with the sound of Ms. Maior’s voice, followed by his posture straightening up. Slowly turning his chair to face her, he adopted a poorly concealed deer-in-the-headlights look.

“Right, right yeah the documents!” Turning himself around to his desk to look for the papers, Arlo was pretending not to be nervous of Ms. Maior due to her position with Senator Kelly. However, his anxiousness grew as he racked his brain trying to remember what she was talking about. He had been switching around on so many projects, but there was one he failed to get too and there was growing fear that was the document she wanted ... Maybe he could get an extension. After searching the piles of papers towering his desk, he paused “Er ... Could you remind me of which documents again? Please.”

[sithichean]

[sithichean]

@josephine-tayler

The patter of paper hitting the ceiling as he tossed up the tiny wads, watching as they moved with the draft. After accumulating a large enough pile, he stretched his arms out and idly typed away at his laptop. The whirring of a vent filled Arlo’s mind as he pretended to concentrate on the task at hand. 

He knew he needed to work on gathering past statistics, but instead he was thinking about the recent propaganda groups, and the recent security breach that happened a couple of weeks ago. While he was not a direct cause of the breach, he felt a bit guilty because he was in the building when it had happened. It was another long night finishing up work to balance the time he would miss from failing to crawl out to this job, either from being hungover or reasons far outside of his control. Gratefully, he had flexible hours, but his coworkers were hating him sliding in his work i n just before the deadline. Realistically, he had to remember there was no way to control what had happened and he was a victim ... Or something along those lines, he was just repeating the department-wide email sent out shortly after the attack.

Following that he realized how uncomfortable he was in that particular position, and he moved the chair adjacent to him to be parallel. Kicking up his legs and resting his feet on the wheelie-chair, he went back to pondering on the recent problems cropping up in his life. Repairing the axle on the car was not nearly as expensive as he expected, it racked his mind but more importantly his wallet. Ultimately confused by how he managed to break an axle by slamming on the breaks, but he did not know nearly enough about cars to want to explore the possibility-

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure and turned to look at it since it appeared to be human. Quickly eyeing the person, he assessed it was likely an intern or a Political Science major working on something (Judging solely on the bags under her eyes.)  Turning his attention back to the laptop, attempting to set a good example for the stranger, pulling up a document and staring deep into the white space behind the text. Instead of working like he kept promising to do, Arlo started to enter the airy land of day-dreaming, trying to figure out what the stranger was actually up too. 

Practically nobody would visit the archives, it was odd to see more than five people the whole day. Whether that was true or not never crossed his mind because he tried his best not to see more than five people that day. The archives was his escape spot, and- - And it felt intruded upon. 

Knitting his eyebrows, a shadow loomed over his figure causing him to look up. Swiftly peering behind him, he expected to see someone, something, or anything glaring back at him. Met with the empty rows of the files, and the stranger occupied by said files, he returned his halfhearted focus back to the document. Haphazardly drumming a pencil on the table, he did his best to shake the looming feeling from the visitor nearby. Closing the laptop, he leaned back in his chair with poise and balanced a pen on the tip of his nose- Surely this would bring his concentration back! Strictly resting his eyes, he kept the pen in balance as it all started to fade...

"Jesus!" Throwing his legs off the chair, and sitting straight up to look at whoever dared to interrupt his doze the ominous outsider looked right back. His Scottish accent was thicker, to match the grogginess he was experiencing, he whined out "Was that really necessary? What did you do that for?" 

Frowning, and ruffling his hair to wake up, he briefly looked for the pen instead of being engaged with whatever this person was going off on him about now. This had to be an intern, only people that worked with him would have the gall to send a message by slamming a file on the table. After refocusing his attention, he watched them more intently as they went on about something that he did not care about or was outside his department. Squinting as they continued on he stopped them "Love, I don't think you realize you've got the wrong man. Yeah, I work in the government, yeah I'm in investigation stuff- but not that kind of investigations... Wait, how do you know all that about me?- Great! I’m going to be directly involved in another bloody security breach."

[sithichean]

Higher ups could deal with this mess.

[sithichean]

multiple-universe:

Francis was sweeping the floor when a bell chimed at the door to let him know a customer had arrived. He glanced up from his work, putting the broom aside to ask, “How can I help you?”

@sithichean

Briefly glancing at the bell, Arlo sauntered in with his hair more disheveled than normal. Running a hand through said hair, he grinned at the hair stylist.

“I’m due for a trim, and for a new stylist. Think you can help me out?”

[sithichean]

moniang:

[She doesn’t know either] [Oof] Ah, no, I wasn’t thinking of that. But if someone violently anti-mutant were to see that on someone else’s driving license… I can’t imagine it would end well.

I can see how it would be helpful for the government to know. But I don’t think it’d be fair to mark it on identification and such. People ought to have the right to keep such information secret if they wish, no?

[ Depends on the State tbh. ] Hm... That’s a fair point, but most people aren’t askin’ tae see a license all the time...

I suppose that’s a good point as well... But if you got nothin’ tae hide then you have nothin’ tae fear? Hm... [ Grin ] You’ve given me a bit tae think about! 

[sithichean]

[sithichean]

metallicheskiy:

“Did you go and hit an eagle to swerve that much?” Viktor didn’t really care what kind of bird had been hit, much more rather that he was just about hit. “Pay attention more when you’re behind the damn wheel before you actually go and kill someone.”

He flashed Arlo a glare in response to him saying have a good night, before making his way off to where he was suppose to be going before all of this. “It would have been better.”

“Actu-” Stopping himself from correcting him about the fake bird hitting the car, and wincing at the ending statement. Waiting a bit until Viktor had walked a bit away, he checked the other immediate danger too him. Looking behind him again to see the position of the nuckelavee, and squinting because it had vanished. Hopping out of his car to examine the damage, and his face dropped. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, and watching its last dying percentage.

This becoming the most dreadful hour of the most dreadful day, Arlo scratched the back of his head and dropped his arm down. He swiveled around and called out to the other “Viiiiii- Mmm.” Stopping himself before starting again, “Mr. Abakumov, sir. Er- Could I borrow your phone?”

[sithichean]

moniang:

It might be difficult to tell if people did lie, though. And if we only found out after they caused harm, that would be too late. [Maybe if government employees had to verify mutant abilities in person…? But that’s a lot of resources better used elsewhere…]

Hm, somewhat like being an organ donor? I worry about such information being so readily available though, in case of anti-mutant violence.

That’s true, but it’s better tae have some on hand than none at all. And if it’s a power that tends tae show up a lot then it could cover multiple people.

[ Chuckle ] I dinny think that it’d be a public database or anythin’. That’d be ridiculous. [He doesn’t know.]

[sithichean]

dakotadeadmanwalking:

“Uhhh…” Shit. What was something manly? “It’s, uh, Swimsuit Illustrated. The uh, archive edition.” Dakota dogeared his page and wedged the novel under his leg so Arlo didn’t get any ideas about grabbing it. “Wait, you don’t normally do emails? How do you function in your own office? Even I respond to emails. Usually when the trustee is getting snotty about something but I still have to use them. …what do they say?”

“Swimsuit Illustrated? The archive edition? Is it like birds from the 1920s decked out in ankle length swimsuits?” Arlo watched Dakota hide the book away, he never placed Dakota one for being attracted to ankles, learning something new everyday. 

He shook his head, “Of course I answer emails, but this is different. I had tae analyze external emails bitchin’ about the new act. Very colorful language, some actually helpful, but mostly just bitchin’.” 

“I canny say specifically what they said, but a few of them were interestin’. My favorite suggestion so far has been tae make it like a voluntary registration. Or even possibly classify it as a medical disorder so people can get help if they need it, or assistance in workplaces, or can qualify for medications for any problems that arise from their mutation.” Typing in some login information into the computer, he stretched his arms up while waiting for the desktop to show.

“When I went tae give the information I gathered,” Which he defines as sliding his report into an inbox because the people he works with can be frightening. “And I just said ‘hello’ tae some birds, they started yellin’ at me about mindin’ ma own business. And then it happened again with some lads, so that’s why I’m here now. But, seriously nothin’ else has been goin’ on here?”

[sithichean]

metallicheskiy:

“I said, what the fuck is wrong with you?” 

Viktor almost got a confused look on his face. What was he even looking back at? Maybe something had been there, like some dog, and that was why. Though to Viktor that wasn’t a good excuse to just about hit someone. 

“Lucky for you I’m not.” He let out a huff before glaring at Arlo. “What are you even doing? Swearing off the road like that and just about hitting someone?”

He could answer that question, but instead he gave a lopsided frown and declined to respond. Arlo looked back again, the demon horse was still lurking nearby in the parking lot, it did not appear to be paying attention to them. But he knew if it figured out that he could see it that it would certainly chase him.

“Er...” Staring back up at the ceiling trying to think of a good lie as to why he swerved. Obviously, he could not claim it was the horse that caused it, so he settled for the next best thing. “A rather large bird had jus’ hit my windshield, so I couldn’t see where I was goin’ and I- I thought no one else was in the parking lot. Er- so...”

Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting to hop out of the vehicle to check what the hell happened to his car. Finding it hard to imagine that he had actually snapped an axle so easily, he was curious if he had hit something else. 

“Have a good night! Or ... something...” He muttered out the last bit, hoping this would the end.

[sithichean]

moniang:

Ah. That does make sense. [Doesn’t change that she’s not keen on anti-mutant folks potentially having access to a database of every mutant in the country, but she’s not gonna say that] [Just gonna… try and get info for now]

How would it work, exactly? Every mutant sends in some sort of form detailing what their power is? That’s a lot of data to handle, and it’d be difficult to tell if people lied about what they’re capable of.

[ Casually shift the weight on his feet. ] ... Hm... [ Cross his arms and a puzzled look. ] ...

Yeah, I guess. And we have tae process a lot more data than just that on the regular. And if people lied they’d be dealt with by the proper authorities. Like ya aren’t supposed tae lie on lots of other thin’s, people still do it, and then those people are talked with, ya know?

[ Rock on his heels a bit and put his hands on his waist. ] Probably just gets a wee ‘m’ on your driver’s license.

[sithichean]

dakotadeadmanwalking:

Dakota didn’t look up. He was engrossed in the romance novel, carefully disguised by its brown grocery bag cover. His only concession to Arlo’s presence was to lift his mug so that the laptop had a clear place to land.

He finally looked up when Arlo spoke. “No one’s come in today. I think the rain and the jazz is keeping them away.” He gestured to the ceiling where a saxophone played if you listened hard enough.  “And if someone does come in I can always throw them out. Has it been a bad day on the Hill?”

“The jazz?” Asking under his breath, he took a few moments to listen to the saxophone. Making a discontent face, he continued on “Right- Yes, completely awful. Especially with the new act and what not, the emails practically tripled and it’s normally not ma responsibility- Fuck, come on!” 

Luck had had it that his laptop did not want to work either, he kept jamming the power button to no avail. Groaning with a dramatic eye roll as the laptop gave in to only inform him that there needed to be updates. “Finally. So normally emails are not ma responsibility, but I had tae analyze them for the emotion that each sender was feelin’ and note any possible amendments to the Act.”

Idly drumming his fingers on the keys, and he broke his concentration from the screen and glanced behind it to eye the covered book in Dakota’s hand. He raised an eyebrow at the brown bag, and looked confused. “Er... What are ya readin’?”

[sithichean]

metallicheskiy:

For once it felt like things were finally going smoothly. The Mutants Registration Act has passed the first hurdle, and hopefully it would be smooth sailing for it to pass the next. So maybe this one week would be nice. 

Or not.

It took Viktor a moment to process the fact that someone just about drove right into him. Really he could have stopped it easily, but this was right in front of work. Not good. So he settled for just breaking an axle of the car. Just looked like bad luck, right?

“What is wrong with you?!”

His heart shot up his throat, praying that he had hit the brakes on time, and the prayer was answered because he hit them so hard it caused a front axle to snap. Crunching followed by the car tilting as a wheel fell off, Arlo dragged his hands down his face hoping this was some awful dream. Noting that the other certainly shouted something at him he switched the radio off, and glanced behind the car to see if the thing was still there.

There could not have been a more worse person to almost run over, discounting Kelly, and he kept looking between Mr. Abakumov and the demon-horse trying to determine which would kill him first. As long as he remained in the vehicle, he was safe from one of them. Rolling down his window, and just barely leaning out of it he could talk to his co-worker.

“I- I dinnae catch what ya said earlier. Er- Sorry about that. Are you hurt or anythin’?”