A snippet from Beggars and Choosers, wherein Cecil asks Mark to ask Amber for her help. [x]
"So, wait, you said Cecil is using me as a bargaining chip to get you to cooperate?" "Mmhm. He's one of the 'Good Guys', remember?" "He's an unreasonable asshole with too many bullshit speeches readily available. Like, a villainous amount of speeches." She placed a hand on her forehead, "Why couldn't he at least be a morally gray jackass? I could work with a jackass." "I'm so glad you stayed in school." Mark nestled his face further in her lap, warm thighs calling his name. "Yeah. These last four years of hard studying to decipher the code of old, white DEI hires have really helped me grow as a person."
this is a continuation of Help, I'm Alive, a drabble about the first time Amber saved Mark with power she didn't know she had.