"Cut our losses and get replacements immediately. I don't want much press on this," a stocky balding man turned in a large executive leather chair behind his desk to face his two secretaries. They were rapidly writing notes that Clarence Thomas was saying during the private meeting they had everyday.
"Cut and replace, yes sir," Monica, one of the secretaries replied.
"Will there be anything else, sir," Vanessa, the second secretary, asked.
"No," the boss's deep and booming voice resounded all oer the office, "That will be all for now. You are dismissed."
Without saying a word, both women smiled and hastily left the office, notepads under their arms as they Vanessa closed the door behind them, picking up their shoes that were outside the door.
Clarence Thomas, fifty three years old, CEO of Tharomar Enterprise, relaxed into his chair and turned back toward the large expanse of windows that took up an entire wall in his office. The snowfall increased since earlier that morning. He wondered how may employees would end up trying to call in tomorrow due to accidents, being snowed in, cars not startting, or whatever else they may come up with.
The thought put a scowl on his face. He hated excuses. For every excuse made was just another reason he used to put himself above the others. Eighteen years strong, Tharomar Enterprise has been on the market in competition with Crey Industries and the Portal Corporation. Not necessarily for all the same reasons, but competition was competition.
And Clarence Thomas was a competitor.
More than anything, his motto was "by any means necessary". Everything had to be perfect. If there was ever a time that it wasn't, someone would take the fall. Always. Failure was not an option.
Clarence spun back around in his chair and faced his glass desk again. The desk was spotless and sparse, nothing on it except a computer, a small briefcase that he never went anywhere without, a coffee mug that rested on top of a glass coaster and a video phone with intercom. The room was extremely spacious. There wasn't much in the office. Clarence liked it that way. The walls were bare white and matched his white carpet. No one came into his office with shoes on. In front of his desk were two small white suede chairs on the outside of a glass desk that laid in between the two. On one wall there was a bookcase centered and filled with various literature of his success. Tabloids, articles, magazines, books, eerything written about him was lined up inside the bookcase. On both sides of the bookcase hanged two frames. One on side was a framed dollar, the first one he had ever made when he had started Tharomar Enterprise. On the other side was a check for the first million he had ever made.
This was how Clarence Thomas lived. Simple, private, and in control.
So it seemed.
He leaned forward onto his desk, his hands in the pyramid position. This was the time of day when his mind did most of his creating. He was interrupted by an email notification from the computer on his desk. It was from a business associate.
Clarence,
Everything has been done. Now fulfill your end. Inform me as to when eerything is complete on your side.
-M
Clarence smiled, right on schedule, he thought and pressed the intercom button on his phone.
"Vanessa."
"Yes sir," was the response.
"Get me Ethan McCourd in here immediately and also send me a list of all of our employess for a rsoter update. I Know we have gotten an influx of people here lately. Its time we do some updating."
"No problem."
Clarence sat back in his chair and smiled.
He was thinking of money.
((Ok, have at it... asking for the roster is moe or less looking to see who's going to be working here. Like I said, you can work any position. Matter fact, I'll take a VP... if you do decide to be on the Chairman's board (which will be talked abouut later) let me know in a PM so I can fill you in on a couple things... specially if someone decides to be a VP. Be whoever. Be Tharomar!))
Dr. Ethan McCourd had completed his PHD only months before. He was instantly picked up by Tharomar Enterprises after graduation. His hypothesis on synthesysing (sp*) electricity had gotten him a position in Research and Development.
At 25 years of age, he was a bright young prodigy out of Paragon University. His attitude wasn't favored among his classmates, feeling he was better and smarter than the rest. Now that he was working hard on a new project, his gloating only increased.
He always wore a white lab coat, over a tucked in flannel shirt. His slacks were slightly wrinkled, but always seemed to be clean. As the time passed at Tharomar, he seemed to have grown a permanent 5 o'clock shadow. His light-brown hair was short, but seemed to always look like he had just woken up. His eyes were bright and alert, behind a set of wire framed glasses.
He had come into the building early that morning, to go over some more designs on his project. He just couldn't seem to get it right.
The others that work in here are just not smart enough to keep up with me, anyways.
He closed the door to his office, and walked over to a blackboard. Difficult equations were scratched all over it in random places. He picked up the eraser, wiping away one fraction, disgust on his face.
"Wrong. Wrong. It's just wrong."
He picked up a peice of chalk, writing another equation in its place. He stepped back, looking at the board. He shook his head, disappointed in himself, when the white phone on his desk rang.
"Gah, always a distraction."
He lifted the receiver to his ear, "Dr. McCourd," he sighed, "I'll be right up."
He walked out of his office, slamming the door behind him.
Stupid, impatient old goat. Can't he let a scientist work in peace.
((Just as a heads up, the building is your standard skycraper. The R&D is obviously in the basement of the building, off limits to most of the other workers, unless you're also in R&D. The lobby is an open area, with elevators, a security desk, a fountain, and the glitz and glamour expected of a corporate giant. The other floors of the building are more stereotypical office type floors, with cubicles, corner offices, and all that.
Each floor is a different Department. So, Nin and I will hammer out the details on what floor is what and all, but for the most part, feel free to pick your floor and occupation, and we'll work with it.
And of course, the CEO is on the top floor, in his immaculate office. With a couple others of the Higher management. Pass on a PM to Nin if you have any questions.))
Monica knocked on her boss door and open it just enough to poke her head in. The ends of her layered sun-colored hair waved under her face. She always had a look of urgency on her and never went anywhere without a notepad, clipboard or both.
Sir, dont forget you have a sit down with a Chairs today, her tone was very soft and subtle, respectful. She wasnt more than twenty-two.
Clarence looked over from behind his briefcase that was open on his desk and cocked an eyebrow, As if I could actually forget it, he annoyingly responded, I planned the meeting. Come back when you have something I dont know.
Yes sir, Monicas expression of being in a hurry still did not change. She closed the door quietly and nearly knocked into Ethan McCourd when she turned around.
Oh, I apologize, she said and kneeled down to retrieve the notepad that she had dropped, Im so sorry.
Its ok, Ethan replied easily, just... watch where youre going.
Monica hustled past Ethan and further into the office mumbling more apologies.
Right outside Mr. Thomas office was a medium sized brown desk, large enough to accomodate two people. Vanessa, who had been sitting behind the desk t the time was on the phone when Ethan came for his impromptu appointment. Ethan cleared his throat to get her attention. Vanessa looked up at him and stared for a moment before making a move.
Mr. Thomas, Ethan McCourd here to see you, she said into the intercom.
Send him in.
"That's Dr. Ethan McCourd, Miss."
Ethan removed his shoes, revealing the Argyle socks he wore. It was a quirky habit of his, but he dared someone to say something to him about it. He made his way into the office, and stood next to the chairs. He crossed his arms looking at the CEO. He gave the old man a slight smile, only in appreciation for the job.
"You wished to see me, sir?" his voice civil, yet cold.
Howard Tharomar sneered as the snow crunched beneath his boot, stepping out of his car. He hated the snow. Snow slowed things down, and less speed meant less profits.
But he smiled again as he looked up at the building - his building. The bastion of power of Tharomar Enterprises. The place that would soon make history.
The tall, thin man slammed the car door shut forcefully, then proceeded to the main entrance, hanging his jacket inside to reveal a smug, jet-black business suit. It had a sharp cut, and together with Taromar's deep-gray eyes and hair, practically radiated cold, unrelenting authority and drive.
As he stepped in the elevator, he pressed the intercom button, calling up his secretary to see if everything was proceeding smoothly.
The doors closed, and he was already thinking again.
Thinking about money...
And power...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Are you serious, two minutes? These are supposed to be some of the hardest ones.
Hard as in hard or hard as in durrr.
Whatever man, thats pretty amazing though, you gotta admit. Some of the hardest Sudoku puzzles and you do em in minutes.
Eh, I guess math was my thing.
Travis Wester balled up the piece of paper that was his Sudoku exercise and leaned back in his rollaway chair for a shot into a nearby trashcan, He shoots, he-
Oooh, what a miss, Travis co-worker, Preston Fields, responded as he stood up to pick up the paper ball and throw it away properly. He sat down and let out two large sighs as if he had just finished running a marathon.
Taking out the trash a little much for you, Travis smiled, his dimples deep on the sides of his face.
Screw you man, Preston readjusted himself in his office chair, Not all of us can be track stars like you.
Didnt run track. Coach tried to get me to, but... sports was never really my thing. Seems they should have been yours, Travis burst into a fit of laughter and cringed at the reaction of Preston who had picked up an empty soda can on his desk and tossed it at him.
If you were half the man I was... your kind just dont understand, Preston said and shook his head.
Umm... first of all, I am half the man you are, Travis raised his hands in innocent surrender at Prestons snide look toward him, And secondly, Pres, come on man... youre a great guy. We bag on each other everyday. What is all this about my kind and understanding what?
Preston sighed, Nothing. Its just... I wasnt always like this, he responded quietly and twiddled with the pen on his desk.
I know, Travis stood up and walked across the way to Prestons cubicle, I saw the pictures, he finished and picked up the small frame that held a smaller version of Preston from a few years ago.
Preston snatched the frame away from Travis and set it back on the desk. He stared down at the carpet and didnt say anything. The floor they worked was almost completely filled with cubicles, with the exception of a few offices for supervisors and the front desk when you walked in. The carpet was gray and dreary, the ceiling was creme colored and all you could hear were either the numerous voices of telemarketers trying to get their latest customer to purchase whatever Tharomar Enterprise had to offer next. Most people actually listened and bought something, while others just hung up.
Travis 6'3 figure took a step closer to Preston and loomed over his friend, Do you need a hug, Travis opened his arms wide with a fake inviting smile. The sleeves on his white button-up shirt slid up as he waited for a return gesture.
I dont know, Preston replied without looking up, I guess I just dont feel... special anymore. Everyone seems to be... better than me. I just want to wake up one morning and know that I have a purpose. Something... like a destiny.
Travis opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the man they dubbed the Taskmaster. He had been standing nearby unbeknownst to the both of them.
Your destiny is in these phone calls you were supposed to have already made. Last I checked, these calls dont make themselves, the overbearing supervisor glared angrily at Travis and Preston as Travis sauntered back to his desk and sat down.
In the same quiet mode, Preston replaced his headset back on his head and opened up his database on his computer, Ill get right on it, it was barely a whisper.
See that you do, was all that was said before the Taskmaster moved on down the hallway of cubicles.
Travis shook his head and put his headset on as well, Jerk, he muttered as he turned towards Preston one last time before going back to his work, were going to talk about this later, he mouthed with the assistance of slang sign language that he made up as he spoke.
"You wished to see me, sir?" his voice civil, yet cold.
Clarence Thomas closed his briefcase quickly and placed it onto the floor next to him, "Yes, come in. Have a seat," he almost sounded as if he was stalling to think of what actually had to say.
Once Ethan had sat down, he continued, "Well Doctor McCourd, you know as well as I do of the importance of your work. We both know that Research and Development help fuel the technological future of this cities households and business. Everything that we do must be done within a timely and perfect manner because it is to be expected," Clarence paused after the last sentence and slowly leaned back into his chair. His elbows were on his armrests while his hands formed a pyramid.
"So would you mind inform-"
The intercom buzzed into his office, "Mr. Thomas, Mr. Tharomar has just arrived. He is on his way to his office now."
The CEO's hands dropped to his lap as his lip just barely sneered at the comment his secretary had left him. Ever since Howard Tharomar had decided to take a more hands on approach in the business, somethign Clarence Thomas did not understand, things had been a little... on the edge. Clarence simply hated the fact of someone being in the same building as he was that was in a position of power greater than him.
Clarence's now deep hazel eyes, that could take on a greener or bluer tint, dpending on his mood, seemed to glow with blue. He refocused back onto Ethan and took out his disdain on him.
"Look, I don't care what you have to, but do it. We brought you into this company under the impression that you could get things done with your intellectual persona. I suggest you live up to this reputation before you find yourself by yourself, " Clarence leaned forward again as his speech got faster and a slight more heated the more he talked. When he got excited about something, his speeches could become rather lengthy.
"I want the prototype for that Z-chip in my office, yesterday. Put those brains to work and make it happen. That is all," Clarence finished everything in the same breath seemingly. His eyes softened back to a mixture of blue and green as he then turned to his computer to look over some of the roster files that had already been sent to him.
~~~After Ethan leaves~~~
Vanessa caught the door as it was closing behind Dr. McCourd. She held it out of his way as he didn't look like he was having the best of days. Vanessa smiled as she took in his essence. As rough as he looked, he always smelled nice.
The red-haired beauty, also twenty-two, looked down at herself and pulled at her white blouse in order to straighten it. She looked inside. Her cerulean eyes look inquisitive.
"So, is there anything else that you need? Monica and I are going to lunch," she moved a portion of her wavy hair out of the way to reveal a small set of freckles over her nose and cheeks.
Mr. Thomas set a piercing gaze at his secretary that scanned her body from head to toe. He had thoughts of making them stay just because of Tharomar, but decided against it.
"No," he waved her away, "just be on call."
"Yes sir," she replied and swung the door closed behind her.
Clarence's computer beeped again with an incoming email. He went through the motions of getting to the cyber letter. He saw that there were no words, but just a symbol. It looked like the letter "A" except that the lines that connected the hump were drawn past both sides of its walls. The closed area was shaded in.
A corner of Clarence's lip curled into a smile as he deleted the email. He fished his cell phone out of the inside of his white Armani suit pocket and dialed a number. He stood up to face the city and placed his free hand behind his back. The snowfall had picked up since his last check out of the window. On the ground, the world looked ant-sized in comparision to him. It all moved slowly against the cold breezy weather.
On the other side, someone picked up. It was a woman's voice, "Good news, I hope."
"1130. Bring the girl."
((Guideline additions in One, Four, and Five))
((And welcome Devious... i mean, Boss))
(OOC: I hope this is okay, the snow kinda inspired me)
Meanwhile at the local hospital, a teenage girl, or at least she appeared to be a teenager, was sitting in a wheelchair in her room, watching the snow fall...
"Who is that girl?" a nurse, starting her first day, asked.
"Her name was...Mina I believe," an older nurse said, "She's been here for years. Before I was transferred here even. Only Dr. Eggard knows why. It's best not to ask, Kara."
The older nurse walked off, leaving the other to watch the girl.
"She seems so sad..." Kara said out loud.
"You'd be too if you went through what she did," an old man's voice came from behind Kara.
"Ah! Dr. Eggard!" she exclaimed, "S-sorry! I'll get back to work!"
"Nonsense...this is actually a happy coincidence, Nurse Wren, you've been assigned to Mina's room while I'm away on business," the doctor said, smiling.
"H-huh?! What do I do for...with...to...uh..." the nurse studdered.
"Just talk to her, check her blood pressure daily, make sure she eats, that sorta thing," the doctor said, walking away, "In fact, start now, I want a list of her measurements. Obviously it's not fair to her to have an old fart like me do it."
Kara felt a little weird about this.
"Ok...I guess..." she said, moving into the room.
On the wall she found a tape measure used to take measurements. This was really an odd hospital...
"Hi, I'm Kara, I'll be your nurse while Dr. Eggard is away," Kara introduced herself.
The girl just stared. The sad look in her eyes was almost heartbreaking.
"I-I just need to take your measurements..." Kara said as she grabbed a clipboard.
Mina seemed to know the drill...measuring her was fairly easy despite being in a wheelchair. Strangely, the whole time, the girl didn't speak. Kara was curious.
"Can you talk?" she asked.
Mina nodded.
"Huh? Then why don't you?"
Mina looked away, as if to say 'None of your business.'
"...Forget I asked," Kara said meekly, "I'll just record this then."
She wrote down the measurements and replaced the clipboard.
"W-well," she said, "I'll see you later then!"
Kara left the room.
A light smile crept across Mina's face.
She talked to me...
On the fifth floor of Tharomar, Milly Rose pushed the delivery cart to her next destination. The position was really nothing more then a glorified mailman, and not by much, but it was a steady check that helped the nineteen year old build up her half of her collage entrence fee. Her parents, father a suprovisor up in telemarketing and mother an resident doctor at the local hospital, had agreed that if she came up with the half the fee, they would not only supply the rest, but pay for her supplies.
Humming a song softly as she moved along her rounds, Milly was pretty non-descript. About five foot six with shoulder-length plain brown hair and soft green eyes, she considerd her lean, runners physic her best feature. Mainly because she was still embarassed about her very modest bust that was the focus of most of the jokes about her in high school.
Getting the minor, but full-time position at such a prestigous company like Tharomar had silenced most of the 'elite' clique who were now either working part-time in the mall or not at all. While nothing had been said, Milly suspected her father had something to do with her position. Still, she wasn't going to complain, especially since it let her see her secret crush daily on her rounds. With a faint blush, Milly slid her badge through the lock and dragged her cart into the elevator that would take her down to R&D and, hopefully, her favorite doctor.
Pinnacle
Heroes
When in danger, or in doubt; Run in circles, scream and shout.
OOC:
-The city as a whole is called Rockwell, modeled after Cap Au Diable from CoV.
-Within Rockwell, there are 6 different sections.
-In the center, where big business booms (your coporations, your hospitals, major hotels, expensive restaurants, shopping malls, and such) is called... Tharomar... you guessed it. In the center... is not a giant nucleus statue, but City Hall. The big building that stands right next to that Nucleus in the game... that would be Tharomar Ent.
-The entire east portion is called Crater Lake. In the north, most factory work takes place. There is a giant semi-forested field in the south. In the middle of this field is Crater Lake. All about the lake, various cabins can be found for rent. There are also camping grounds nearby as well.
-In the south, there is Prosperity. This was the first batch of homes built in Rockewell back when the city first began. Since then, it has reduced itself to townhouses, various low rent apt homes, slums, projects, and whatnot. There is some commerce here as well. Some stores, fast food joints, etc)
-In the southwest, is Sacred Pass. This partially undeveloped land with big plans for expansion with Tharomar Enterprises. You'll find a lot of construction sites here in the midst of a thriving middle class housing area.
-Northwest, we have Emerald Forest. These are dense woods with open caves that are told to hold secrets no one has really yet to discover.
-Finally, in the north, there is Diamond City. This where all your well-to-do, upper class individuals live. If you have money and you don't stay permanently in a 5 star hotel because your rich parents let you (too much Veronica Mars), then this is more than likely where you live.
There is a train system that runs everywhere except Emerald Forest. That trip will be a hike as it is pretty uncharted territory. You can get anywhere anyway you like, train, walk, bike, car, taxi, bus... natural methods, of course.
This was just to give you an idea as to what is there. If you want to add something, feel free. This city is just as much yours as it is mine and I would love your input. If I dont get any, then we'll watch my imagination do the writing. However, as most of you may have had to make up brand new characters for this along with a brand new city in a brand new RP, I want you to really feel like its yours. If you question a move you want to make, feel free to shoot a question to me in a PM. I'm pretty quick about responses... unless I'm at work, then its only at certain times.
Arashi, Plague, thanks for joining up as well.
Welcome to Rockwell.
The tenth floor was abnormally quiet. This usually meant one of two things: Lunch or end of the work day.
"Psst, hey Preston," Travis leaned over in his chair.
A wide-eyed Preston looked back at his friend and smiled. His mood seemed a little lighter than from before.
"Hey, my stomach is grumbling somethign serious. Let's grub. There's a new deli spot I want to try down the way. Come on," Travis already started to log off his computer and remove his headset.
"Woah, slow down Travis. You're always so quick to move."
"Why waste time," Travis smiled and stood up to stretch, his body bending from one side to the other.
"Well, we don't even know," Preston peered around the corner of the front of his cubicle, "if we can go anywhere right now. A lot of people are already gone."
Travis' olive colored skin paled in disappointment, "Pres... what has gotten into you lately man. You used to be down. Now you're... I dont know," he shrugged, "not down."
Preston gave another one of his trademark sighs, "I guess I just don't want to be here anymore."
"All the more reason," Travis walked over to Preston and removed his headset, "to go to lunch. Come on, lets go. I'm starved."
"No," Preston snatched the earpiece away from his friend, "I mean, I dont want to work here anymore, preiod."
Travis' smile faded, "Oh... well, what are you going to do then."
Preston stared blankly at Travis.
"Thats what I thought. In that case Preston Peters, you better not even think about letting anyone here onto that kind of thinking until you find something better."
"Who's found something better," the raspy voice of The Taskmaster startled the both of them as he appeared behind Travis.
How does he do that, Travis wondered and spun around to see his supervisor glaring at both men.
"Huh... oh nothing, sir. We were just about to get some lunch... if... thats cool with you... sir," Travis looked as if he were searching for the words to say and picking them out of the air. His broad shoulders that matched his muscular frame stood in anticipation for his boss's response.
"Sir," Preston chimed in as he stood up as well, "All of our call rosters are caught up and we have been working all morning. Could use the break if you don't mind."
The Taskmaster pointed at Preston like he had gotten the right answer, "See, Mr. Wester, more comments like will get you farther into this business. We look for productivity here. Results, results, results. If I don't see em," he began to move past the pair of co-workers, "then I have nothing to work with. And neither do you," Travis turned as he passed and mocked his movements.
"So does that mean we can go, sir," Preston asked in his most polite voice. It was almost too sweet for words.
The Taskmaster stopped, "You may..."
Preston and Travis didn't wait for anything else. They were in the elevator quicker than one could blink.
Travis pressed the button for the first floor and then leaned back onto the reflective walls of the elevator.
"Ok man, talk to me. Your dog die or something?"
"Hello Milly," Dr. McCourd nodded to her.
He couldn't help, but like her. She didn't get on his nerves, like the fellow scientists he had to work with. She seemed rather innocent to him. His face was still a little sour, from his talk with the CEO.
"You comin' down to R&D?"
He slid his hands into his lab coat pockets, giving her a weak smile, before his mind went back to the CEO's words.
I want the prototype of the Z-chip on my desk, yesterday. HA. You want perfection, you can wait.
His eyes seemed to be a little more calm, since he knew he was still in control. Once he figured out the formula, the Z-Chip will be ready for the prototype phase. He looked back at Milly.
"Any mail for me today?"
((I just know I'm going to regret this. XD))
"Penny, hurry! I need those samples to go out TODAY, and the mail guy's gonna be here any minute!"
"Gawd, why didn't you tell me an hour ago?"
"Whatever. Bottom line, if they don't go out NOW, I'm gonna have an upset customer tomorrow morning and I'm gonna forward him straight to your extension!"
"Yeah, yeah..."
Penny Nichols hurriedly pulled on the electrostatic glove and grounded herself, adjusting her thin green-rimmed glasses as she carelessly scooped a handful of components into a small pink bag. Scribbling out the label, she trotted over to her computer to print out the shipping paperwork, cursing in her mind all the while.
It's not like YOU ever do any work, Mr. Samuel-Checks-His-Stocks. she inwardly grumbled.
Then a beeping from the front of the office caught her attention. [censored]!
"Wait, wait!!" she called out, sprinting to the front desk and jamming the samples into a shipping envelope. She slipped the label into the outer jacket and sealed it, shoving it in the shipper's face just as he was walking out the door.
"I'm sorry...for the late one..." she gasped, winded. Jeez, I gotta work out more.
The shipper just eyed her, took the package, and left. Penny sighed and walked back to her desk.
The desks were arranged in cubicles, each accommodating four people. Each person's desk was in a corner of a cubicle, not providing much privacy at all. Pulling up a handful of purchase orders, Penny began to silently enter them, letting her thoughts drift. She was interrupted by a knock on the cube wall.
"Hey Penny." the voice of her wallmate, Ryan, came. "Any plans for the weekend?"
Pausing to look up at him, she shrugged. "....Not really. I just want to stay home."
Staying home. It's what she always did. She'd taken this job here in Rockwell nearly right out of college, and left her friends, her boyfriend, her family...and here she was now, alone. She hadn't made any friends in Rockwell, despite the fact she'd lived there for over a year now - Penny didn't want to make any connections. After all, she really just wanted to move back to Big Falls. Everyone she knew and loved was there.
The end of the day. After the hourlong commute home, she clicked on the light and kicked off her shoes, looking with weary eyes on her tiny upstairs apartment in Prosperity. A soft chittering greeted her as her pet gerbils, Phobos and Deimos, registered the light, and she couldn't help but smile.
"I'm home." she mumbled to no-one, slumping onto her couch.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
((Haha, I KNEW you couldn't resist a DRAMA thread, Ess. 
Though I'm surprised Doc West doesn't work here. 
Rockwell...hehehe...does this mean we'll be seeing Cryptosporidium? 
))
Howard Tharomar's footsteps echoed coldly through the hallway as he stepped from the elevator. He was focused, driven. Nothing was going to stop them now - not Crey, not Portal Corp, nobody.
He wasn't quite sure which of the two powerhouses he should watch more closely. Crey had a bad reputation, and their Revenant and Tank programs were not something to be taken lighly.
Portal Corp. seemed more docile, but was much more ambiguous, and always seemed to stay on top of the market somehow! Every time something that could threaten them sprung up, it was either bought out or had a way of vanishing into obscurity because Portal Corp. brought out a better product the very next day.
Which is why Tharomar took security so seriously around here. Nothing was getting out of Rockwell that thy didn't know about, and the flow of information was very highly coded. Often, the company and its business partners used only single letters to identify themselves, and communication was kept brief.
As he walked on, Tharomar opened his pocket planner. He was a freind of old-fashioned things, partially because no one could hack a piece of paper.
Who was his first meeting today...?
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
((Ok, marking a spot in this thread. Posting my intro this afternoon.))
"Good afternoon Mr. Tharomar, sir," Khell said as the boss of the conglomerate walked past the entrance security desk.
As usual, the man didn't even bother to acknowledge a lowly security guard such as Officer Khell Dracan, but that was ok, Khell was used to it by now.
Scratching at his bushy grey beard, Khell checked the sensor readouts displayed on the monitors at his desk. A small revolving image of Mr. Tharomar occupied the dominant position, small lines pointing to various places on the figure that said either CLASSIFIED or ALLOWED. These generally pertained to things on Mr. Tharomar's person that wouldn't normally be let inside but were ok due to his privileges and allowances.
"Hello, Khell," said a light voice just in front of him.
Khell looked up with a grin and accepted the ID card from the attractive blond in front of him. He quickly swiped it through a scanner and handed it back.
"And hello to you too, Ms. Clark," he said as he directed her to move along through his main scanner.
Trisha Clark pouted a bit and adjusted her knee length pale tan skirt before stepping through the almost invisible sensor strip.
"You are allowed to call me Trish," Trisha said jokingly. "It's not like you haven't seen me working here for five years."
Khell wagged his finger at her and swiped another ID card that was given to him by a pimply looking man from R&D.
"Now now, you know the rules about fraternizing with your superiors," he replied as he waved the man through.
Trisha snorted and shrugged before changing the topic.
"So are you still free tonight?" she asked. "Bobby's normal babysitter canceled and I've got this important meeting that I can't drop. I was wondering if you could maybe take Bobby over to your place or out to a movie or something."
Khell nodded and whipped out a little datebook that he always kept in his pants pocket. He flipped the book open to today's date and scribbled down something about picking up Trisha's kid for movie.
"Can do, Ms. Clark," he said. "Have a good day."
"You too, Khell, you're a lifesaver," she said and blew him a quick kiss before hurrying off.
Smiling to himself, Khell went back to work making sure nobody smuggled a weapon or bomb into Tharomar Enterprises. Not that he was worried. He had worked here for ten years ever since Crey terminated his contract and not a blessed thing had happened.
"Gotta love the cushy jobs for us old geezers," Khell said to himself.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
Percy Newman hurried through the building, trying to find his cubicle. His clothes were neat and well maintained, and he wore blue-rimmed round glasses. Between that and his perfectly combed black hair, the young man looked a lot more prepared than he actually was.
"Sorry I'm late!" he muttered to his boss as he ran into the little box, and sat down to type, hands at the keyboard. He grabbed a few papers off the side of his desk. . . He was scheduled to have begun work on the programming for the company's latest software an hour ago!
"Dammit, dammit, dammit," Percy muttered to himself, as he began typing furiously. He was going to get it for this. . .
But it was not long before he was wrapped up in his work. There simply seemed to be nothing he enjoyed as much as typing out line after line of code. . .
((I really hope I'm entering this properly, haha. I also hope it's okay that I'm using an existing character. I wonder if anyone will recognize him like this. . . ))
Jason Hunt looked from the security monitors to the clock. It was his turn to head out to the front desk. He sighed. He didnt want to leave the monitors. Thats what was important. Someone else should spend their time being the glorified doorman. His skills were wasted while he was out there. He just wasnt a people person.
Time to trade places, Fred Veraldi said, coming into the room. Their sub-department of security had four jobs one on front desk, one in the monitor room, and two floaters. Jason preferred the monitor room, Fred preferred to float, and Khell preferred the front desk, but the chief insisted they switched places every so often.
Yeah, I know. Jason grumbled and stood, finishing his coffee. He was a tall man, slender to the point of being gaunt. He had a heavy brown, and his blue eyes were deep set. He had a long, beaklike nose, which made him look a bit like a crow or a rook. He hung up his Freedom Phalanx mug up on the peg next to coffee maker, and got out of Freds way.
Now go play nice with the public, Stone, Fred said with a grin as he settled into the chair. Fred was just about Jasons opposite short, gregarious, animated, a jokester. He called Jason the ole Stone Rook because of his deadpan expression and his beaklike nose. It bothered Jason when they first started working together, but Fred had a nickname for everyone, and they frequently were very accurate.
Jason checked his gun and stun gun as he walked through the hallway and into the front desk area. Im here for my shift, Khell, he said sourly to the guard who was sitting at the front desk. Of course, if you want to stay here, Ill float or go back to the monitor room. As long as we dont let the chief know, right? he said hopefully.
"Sorry Jason," Khell said as he got out of the chair, groaning a bit as his joints ached from sitting still for so long. "I gave you a break last week and my old bones need some stretching."
Scratching at his beard again, Khell resolved for the umpteenth time to finally get a shave. Looking up at the sour face of his fellow security officer, Khell chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
"You really should try and talk to people more," Khell said as he moved out of the way and let Jason take the chair. "Especially that young Moore girl up on third floor. I've seen her go out of her way to run into you while you're floating."
Grinning, adjusting his belt nder his slight paunch, and making sure his various guns were in their right places, the sixty-odd guard said goodbye to his younger counterpart and made his way to the elevator. It was a Thursday which meant he and Fred had the odd numbered floors today.
Flicking on his radio, Khell called up the monitor room.
"Check one two. That you in there Fred?"
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
[ QUOTE ]
"You really should try and talk to people more," Khell said as he moved out of the way and let Jason take the chair. "Especially that young Moore girl up on third floor. I've seen her go out of her way to run into you while you're floating."
[/ QUOTE ]
Jason had a flash of surprise cross his face, and quickly pulled his poker face back as he sat in the chair. He through a quick glance at the monitors. So few. He sighed.
[ QUOTE ]
Grinning, adjusting his belt nder his slight paunch, and making sure his various guns were in their right places, the sixty-odd guard said goodbye to his younger counterpart and made his way to the elevator. It was a Thursday which meant he and Fred had the odd numbered floors today.
Flicking on his radio, Khell called up the monitor room.
"Check one two. That you in there Fred?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Im on, Graybeard, Fred said, spinning round and round in his chair. Hows Stoney? He was looking pretty grumpy when he left. He grabbed a clipboard. I left off in the conference room on fifth," he said after he checked it. He rubbed his pug nose. "Did I just see Big Bossy come in? Do you suppose Little Bossy is going to get chewed out again?"
Morgan Calloway carefully eased her Audi into her reserved parking spot in the "executive" portion of the lot. It shouldn't have been an act requiring any particular care, given the diminutive dimensions of her TT100 and the comparatively generous size of the spaces. But as usual, Stephen VanLoosen's ridiculous Hummer was encroaching on her space. Bad enough that Van Loosen's rolling testament to conspicuous consumption took up more space and consumed more resources than it had a right to, but the oblivious creep never could manage to park straight.
"Christ, how small does it have to be to drive an overcompensation-mobile like that," she murmured as she made her way towards the front door, Damiro briefcase under her arm, cardboard drink carrier loaded with two cups in her hand. She glanced at the S-class Benz in Mr. Tharomar's reserved spot and her exasperation faded, turning into a sly smile. Clarence Thomas was not going to be a happy camper this morning. And that was okay.
Glancing up as she passed the guardpost, she wiped every trace of slyness out of her smile as the guard greeted her.
"Good morning, Ms. Calloway."
"Good morning to you, too, Khell. Don't rat me out for being late!"
"Wouldn't think of it, Ms. C."
Just banter, of course...and it's not like the VP of Marketing was on the clock. But what an easy thing it was to cultivate goodwill among the employees...all of them. Some of her fellow execs just couldn't be bothered to learn the name of someone like a "lowly" security guard. Idiots. They had no idea how important word of mouth was, how "viral marketing" worked. And they had no conception of the fact that everything is marketing. Everything.
Her secretary's desk was empty, but her computer was up and running, her purse slung over the back of the chair. Morgan set a steaming Starbuck's cup beside the blotter and walked into her office. Time to check her e-mail...and the RSS feeds that kept her appraised of what Crey, Portal, and the rest were up to.
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
"Jason's always grumpy," Khell said as he walked into the elevator and hit the button for the fifth floor. "But I don't hold it against him. And yeah, Mr. Tharomar came in just a little while ago. I predict stormy weather, surprise fire drills, and pay cuts all around once he leaves again."
Khell sighed and leaned back against the elevator's wall as it rumbled slightly going up to his floor. He was getting a little too old for this. But he still had a few years left in him, maybe more if he could ever get around to visiting the gym again. The elevator finally dinged and Khell stepped out, taking an immidiate turn left to start his patrol.
"So how have you been doing, Fred?" he asked, wanting to keep a conversation going. Fred was just about the only person on the team other than Khell who talked more than was needed to do his job. This generally led to some interesting conversations, especially when Fred had heard a rumour that Khell hadn't run across yet.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
Ring, ring.
Ring, ring.
"What the hell?" Penny muttered as she rolled over and squinted at the clock. "Who in their right mind is calling me at 8:30?"
Grabbing her cell phone, she sat up, letting the long wavy locks of her brown hair spill down to the middle of her back.
"Hello." she answered the phone in the you-just-woke-me-the-hell-up,-you-[censored] voice.
"What?"
She gripped the phone. "I told you I was taking Friday off!"
"I don't care if Bazelcorp's having another crisis! There are six sales representatives to handle that, do you think they can live without their assistant for ONE--"
"...No, I'm at home."
"Yeah."
"Fine."
Click.
"[censored] you too." she said, glowering at the phone and forcing herself out of bed and towards the shower, taking a glance at the huge goldfish she kept in her room. "Cavi, I don't understand why they have such an aversion to talking to their own damn customers. Why don't they clean up their own damn messes? And another thing..."
Ranting in and out of the shower, she pulled on her grey dress pants and a light green shirt before dashing out the door.
The sound of her car screeching out of the apartment complex's parking lot shredded through the air.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
I intend to write, so individual characters will either be left out as they fail to post, or written for with permission. This isnt intended to be cartoonish, so I would appreciate not blowing things up or smashing things or being too over the top. Its an open forum, so you can ultimately do anything you want, but I would appreciate the younger or more flamboyant posters reigning it in some. ((Thanks Av)) There wont be too much reason for god-moding considering none of us have powers... yet, so I wont expect to see that. Below will be a few guidelines.
Guidelines:
(1) There are no powers for beginning posters. This will come at a MUCH later time. This thread is about power discovery. There aren't even any heroes or villains in this city... yet. They have been heard of in the news, newspapers, magazines, word of mouth when touring other cities, but they do not exist where this RP will be taking place. Its your usual run of the mill crime base here. So it seems, for now. Concentrate more on the your character and who they are to everyone else. Now, if you have you are the type of person that loves to fly planes (flight) or loves to tend to gardens (plant) or spend a lot of their time in the gym lifting weights (super strength) then show that. You are allowed to foreshadow as to what power you may begin to receive but you cannot have it when you start posting.
(2) Once this thread reaches a certain point, others that join (if we are at a place of pwer discovery) may have already discovered something within them as well. And this doesn't have to be some inset power that you just gain. You can get it in whatever way you want. it could be that you are an adept, or you have been working on some power suit or experiment for years or maybe you fell into a green vat of chemicals... whatever it is, I'm cool. And your character doesn't have to even have a power. You can be the friend of someone that does or you can have some general fear of heroes and their powers and hope you never go through any of it... all up to you. For now, try to limit yourselves to about 3 characters. Once you've established yourself or gotten comfortable enough in the thread, then feel free to bring in more.
(3)This thread, like I mentioned earlier, is more about the character development and the drama of everyday life. Most of us have jobs or are stay-at-home parents or are in school. Whatever the case may, create an environment for yourself to be in, to live in. Try your best to somehow be able to incorporate it with some of the other posters so that there is some type of togetherness in it.
(4)Tharomar Enterprises - a large big corporate business that is in competition with Crey Industries, Portal Corp. and Aeon Corp. Tharomar Ent. is not in Paragon City or the Rogue Isles. It is in a city outside of Paragon, yet to be named...((open to suggestions right now)) still trying to think of something. I will be posting soon what the zones will be called and what they will be like in comparison to zones from CoV and CoH. Not too far from Aeon Corp. This is where most adults will work or be affiliated with in some way. If you are in school, then your parents work here. One or both, doesnt matter. Anyone can work there. I will be there. There will be one NPC for now, that I will control. He will basically be the CEO. However, this business will not last long as you will see in the future. I recommend as many people as possible join into the business and just make it your job. I know some of you would rather write about someone who is in High school or something to that effect and thats fine as well. Tharomar Enterprises has its hand in almost everything in the city, about as much as Crey does. For the sake of arguing, Tharomar is going to be on the verge of becoming the biggest corporation out there. The schools, the merchandise, the law enforcement, wall street, they take ownership in as much as possible; so job opportunities are practically endless. A corporate mafia so to speak. For now, when you come to work, feel free to make your own positions. I'll even look forward to a janitor at some point. Start at the bottom floor in sales or be up at the top where the decisions are made. Once a few posts go through, you'll see what I mean.
(5)Remember, this is a drama, so think about your favorite network's evening lineups and get creative. Create mystery and suspense. Have secrets. Let there be ridiculous amounts of twists and plot turns. Coordinate with each other for relationship bonds for the good or the bad. Team up on posts. Do whatever for the good of dramatic pretense. In all things though be cool and have fun.
This was something Spectral and I kicked around, wanting to find something not normally RP'd about. Any questions, just let me know.
And Welcome.
All I ask is that no one posts before the intro post done by either me of Spectral... which will be sometime later today.