call the shots

Tinsley Goldman / 30 / Republican Aide to New Jersey's Junior Senator pawn

[ddhyj]

[jpbenton-blog]

░ ➫ - ̗̀ open ! ̖́-

Jp didn’t like being stepped over. Although he had a little more clearance than someone on a tour of the white house, he still had a badge that had “JACKSON PARKER BENTON. INTERN.” printed on it in big bold Helvetica letters. It sort of was his pride and enjoy and even after being there for months he still felt the need to flash it to his favourite security guard Michael every morning.

So you can clearly where the dismay stems from when someone completely disregards him. He knew he was an intern but god damn people, don’t pretend i’m invisible. 

As he sat working away at his desk, someone had walked in staring at their phone. He glances up from his screen for thirty seconds waiting for them to look up and at least ask for something. But they don’t. He goes back to work for a few minutes waiting for a “hi,” or an “excuse me?” yet to no avail they continued to stare at their device.

Jp never really got snarky either, when he did it earn a stern look from his mother, a deep brooding one from his father and a spitball from across the table from either Mac or Eivind or both of them. Yet this time he sighs and rolls his eyes before standing up and placing both palms flat on his desk. “Hi what can I do for you? A coffee order? some documents you need to print?” He says with the fakest smile he can pull. Part of him twists when the words leave his mouth, it definitely wasn’t his intention to sound that bitchy.

[tinsleygoldman]

It wasn’t often that Tinsley had reason to be in the White House, but today was different: a colleague had called in sick, and she'd found herself effectively doing the work of two people. She was good at her job, yes, but her ability was always reliant on organisation. Left to improvise, things had been running rather less smoothly.

Under instruction from her beleaguered colleague, she’d arrived with the intention of picking up a copy of a bill that had been left with the congressional liaison office for review, but as she walked down the corridor her phone had buzzed incessantly, drawing her intention away from the matter at hand. Her boss wanted her back at the Capitol. Fuck, she thought. This was impossible. Seeing as she was already nearly there, she continued to the office at the end of the hall, eyes still glued to the screen as she rapidly replied to her texts.

Almost absentmindedly, she lent against the door frame, not quite having realised she’d reached the place she needed to be. The urgency in her boss’ texts had increased - she’d apparently deleted a meeting from her schedule, as if things couldn’t get any more stressful.

The sound of another voice surprised her and when she looked up to see a man sat at behind the desk, she realised quite how deeply she’d been absorbed in her phone. His tone was pointed but she was frankly too exhausted to pick him up on it. Besides, she felt a little guilty for ignoring him so studiously; he was clearly an intern and not so long ago she’d been in a similar position.  “Sorry. Bad day.” She smiled gently and put her phone away. “I need to pick up a document and I was told it’d be here. I called ahead.”

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ suki

Suki Sargent: If you think making bipartisan agreements happen in Congress is tough, you should spend an evening with my family.

Suki Sargent: My dad is still texting me about arguments we had at Thanksgiving.

Suki Sargent: Where does he have the TIME?????????

Suki Sargent: Damn, wrong number. Sorry about that.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Don't worry about it. Dads somehow always find the time to argue with their kids. It's one of those universal things.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: That being said, if you ever want to swap dads, just let me know.

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ juliette

JULIETTE JACOBSON: Everyone is indespensible in their own way.

JULIETTE JACOBSON: Do you need it today or can I meet you in the morning before work?

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: ...but some are more indispensable than others.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: It can wait until tomorrow, so don't worry about it. I can pick it up then.

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ giselle

GISELLE IELO: It's my pleasure.

GISELLE IELO: You know what, why don't I just bring it to you myself?

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: If you have the time, that'd be perfect.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: I'm not dragging you away from more pressing things though, right?

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ mark

MARK RIGBY: It's down at the Senate security office.

MARK RIGBY: You'll need to provide three additional forms of identification to retrieve it, just fyi.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Thanks for keeping it safe.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: I have my license and my passport. Can my boss vouch for me or will I have to call my mom for my birth certificate?

[tinsleygoldman]

teddysteelman:

Teddy took a quick sip of the Scotch and smiled warmly. “Macallan, from Speyside. A brilliant choice.” He beamed. He had always used his charm to his advantage, a special benefit from being unable to gain physical advantages over many of his colleagues. However, he had to admit, it did give him more pleasure to sit and flirt with someone like Tinsley than to spend time with many of his colleagues.

Noticing the raised eyebrow, Teddy made a point to suppress the slight smirk that pulled at his lips. “It sounds to me as if you don’t see it as being very fortuitous.” He stated simply. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.” The short man stated. At her question, he couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. “No there isn’t. I’m still the most eligible Republican bachelor. Though to be fair, I’m the only one under 65 but that’s beside the point. Women have always found me to be too… job oriented to settle down. Though now settling down could probably help me in my job.” The Senator stated, drifting off to the polls he had seen where even Leon Solis saw a jump in approval just by getting married. 

Tinsley nodded sagely when he complimented the scotch, attempting to mask the fact that she hadn’t the faintest idea about liquor. Her boss had specified the kind and she’d sent an intern out for it, but in this job she had learned to take the credit for things that weren’t necessarily hers. “A stiff drink seems to be the only way to get people to do what you want around here, so you might as well have the best.”

Though Teddy’s countenance didn’t betray him, his willingness to dwell on her personal life indicated an eagerness that amused her somewhat. “I’d never introduce him to anyone like you, so don’t get your hopes up. He’s a nice guy, he’s just...” She paused for a moment and then shrugged. “My parents like him.” Surely that was explanation enough. “Determination is never without cost, but that’s just politics.” Leaning back in her seat, she smiled slightly and placed her glass down on the table next to her. “I suppose you’re thinking about 2020, then.”

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ giselle

GISELLE IELO: Yes, I found it fallen on the floor and wasn't sure how to reach you!

GISELLE IELO: But don't worry at all. My secretary has it safe and sound- she's the best with this kind of stuff.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Well that's very kind of you, Senator.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: If only all your colleagues were so efficient. [deleted]

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: I hate to be awkward, but since I can't actually get in the building, would you be able to let your secretary bring it out to me?

[tinsleygoldman]

tinsley ✉ juliette

JULIETTE JACOBSON: Well I would have just left it in your office but you can't get to it.

JULIETTE JACOBSON: I can meet you somewhere and hand it off, Tinsley. Can't have you flaking on your boss because of this.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Yeah, yeah, I know. Very irresponsible of me to lose it in the first place.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: But I'm glad you agree I'm indispensable.

[tinsleygoldman]

damn lil mama all them curves and me with no brakes

[tinsleygoldman]

teddysteelman:

“Oh well, if you have any whiskey of any kind, preferably Scotch, I would love some.” He responded with a smile. He couldn’t help but notice her engagement ring on her finger. The short man admitted internally that it disappointed him somewhat.  However, he had been involved with several women who were committed before.

“I try to remember most people’s names. Especially those that particularly stand out.” Teddy answered with a smile as he took a quick second to look over her. She was absolutely gorgeous. Looking beside him he gestured for her to sit. “Your fiance must be a very lucky man.” He commented. “To be getting married to someone as beautiful as you.”

“Of course.” She poured Teddy a tumbler of Scotch and herself a glass of water before taking the seat next to him. Handing him the drink, she smiled wanly. She was used to much of the casual flirtation that seemed to come with this job by now, and there were certainly worse ways to pass the time than being in Senator Steelman’s company.

At the mention of her fiancée,Tinsley couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly. It wasn’t a subject she made a habit of discussing at work. “Well, luck is subjective. You’d have to ask him his opinion on that.” She took a sip of her water and noticed the lack of a ring on his own hands. “What about you, Senator? No wife at home?”

[tinsleygoldman]

outgoing text ✉

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Have you got my ID badge? I tried to report it lost and they said you'd left your number for me because you have it.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: I'm going to need it back if I'm planning on going to work any time soon.

[tinsleygoldman]

teddysteelman:

Teddy hated the idiocy of certain members of his own party. Whenever trying to institute new bills or trying to get anything done, there were always people who insisted that they needed to get something special for being a part of the party. And that would be when he would have to arrange his own personal meetings to shut things down. That was what had brought him there today.

When he entered the office, he was pleasantly surprised to see Ms. Goldman sitting at the desk. He was much less pleasantly surprised to hear that her boss wasn’t in currently. “Thank you.” He replied with a smile as he noticed she was on her phone. “Tinsley, right? What are you looking at?” The shorter man asked jovially as he moved over towards her desk. 

Senator Steelman didn’t particularly strike her as the type of man who liked waiting for things and she was hyperaware of the importance of keeping him occupied until her boss returned. Of course, being alone with another Senator was no problem for her; in the last few weeks, she had come to see everything as a networking opportunity. If the people she worked for looked for advancement around every corner, why couldn’t she? The playing field needed to be levelled eventually. 

“I’m surprised you remembered my name.” She smiled politely and put her phone down on the desk. “Oh, it was nothing. Just an article I saw on Twitter. Got to keep myself occupied at times like this somehow,” she replied before standing up and crossing the room. “Would you like a drink while you wait?”

[tinsleygoldman]

lacroixremi:

“Wise choice, I don’t think I’ve ever turned down anything free. What are you drinking?” Unless Remi was whipping votes in the White House, of course. No one ever did anything out of genuine politeness in her line of profession — well, those who knew how to play the game in this business, anyway. “Me? Probably not from passing on the streets, I guess. I ran for senate and work at the White House though, so maybe from there?” She said with a shrug. “I’m Remi, by the way. Remi Lacroix. And you are?”

“Gin and tonic, if you don’t mind.” She was quietly surprised someone would be so generous with their money and their time. People drinking alone in D.C. were usually doing so for a reason and, unless you had some kind of ulterior motive, joining them wasn’t the typical thing. “Oh, of course. I’ve seen you around the Capitol.” The bartender came over and took their order. “Tinsley Goldman. It’s nice to meet you finally, but I do have to wonder - should you really be fraternising with the enemy at a downtown bar?”

[lacroixremi-deactivated20190311]

Sitting by the bar, Remi was relishing one of the blissful moments where she could enjoy some peace and quiet to herself, gathering her own thoughts from a hectic day in the White House. The brunette took a sip of her wine whilst scanning her eyes across the room, before her eyes fell on the person sitting a few seats away from her. “You look like you could do with a drink,” She said as she waved for the bartender’s attention. “This one’s on me. I promise I won’t bite if you want some company too.”

[tinsleygoldman]

There was something about D.C. that seemed to make people want to drink and in the couple of months that she’d been there Tinsley had found that she was no exception. A gin and tonic after work had become a private ritual and exactly what she needed while she prepared herself to head home. As she placed her empty glass back on the bar, she heard another woman's voice. "Well, I'm not going to turn down a free drink." She smiled and moved down the few seats that separated them. "Where do I recognise you from?"

[tinsleygoldman]

@teddysteelman​

The possibility of an infrastructure bill was seemingly all anyone in Congress could talk about and Tinsley had spent the last few days in an endless stream of meetings, waiting as her boss attempted to negotiate provisions for a new bridge of some kind back home. She loved the Senate but the minutiae of policy bored her terribly; the bigger picture, and the country at large, was what had always mattered to her and her experience in the Capitol had yet to change that.

That Senator Steelman’s office had called to request a meeting was no surprise given the climate and she’d arranged it to ensure it was as expedient as possible for both parties. While he hadn’t specified what the matter at hand was, she assumed she knew. All anyone was talking about was fucking infrastructure. 

A lull in her otherwise busy day allowed Tinsley to take a moment for herself and she idly scrolled through Twitter at her desk, opening a Politico article to occupy herself. Her momentary solitude was interrupted by Teddy’s sudden entrance, surprisingly alone. “Senator, you’re early. My boss is out just now, but of course, you’re welcome to wait.”

[tinsleygoldman]

✉ LUKE && TINSLEY ✉

LUKE HOLT: I'm telling you, man. Generation Z is going to save conservatism. They're going to be the most conservative generation since WWII.

LUKE HOLT: There's no beating that.

LUKE HOLT: Give the kids a second, they might just manage to save Western civilization.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: I guess I can count on an influx of Reaganite interns in five years then? God knows we need them.

TINSLEY GOLDMAN: Saving Western civilisation is a young person's game, after all.