“Selena, I would appreciate if you would message me as well, when you intend to return to the ATC. The lag from Alaris to Real to ATC is not favorable to acting quickly. Please sit.” Ophelia addresses me without even looking up.
Selena and I sit opposite Ophelia and a waiter comes immediately over.
“I’ll take my usual, Frederick.” The man nods and turns to us.
“Just a cup of tea for me,” Maddie says.
“Something tangy with some heat please?” I look up in question as I’ve never seen this waiter before. He tilts his head and nods, signifying both that he understands and he will convey my request. Huh, useful combo gesture.
“With such vague instructions, it’s a wonder that the chef will even cook for you,” Ophelia remarks.
“And how do photographers react to very specific instructions?” I ask with a bit more attitude than I should be bandying about in front of a Vice President of Orion London.
She looks up at me, non-plussed. “Point taken. Before you any other pearls of wisdom occur to you, we have business to discuss. How’s the new secretary?”
“Nervous, a bit of a fangirl, but we’ll see how she follows instructions for my game session this afternoon.”
She nods, apparently accepting the lack of answer. “I wish to discuss Jessie, and the liberties she is taking with your name.” I raise an eyebrow in interest, but say nothing. “She has put in several requests that require executive approval, saying that you’ve requested them yourself. Messaging protocols to the Real, product and placement requests for your game sessions as well as some sponsor spots in your game rooms that we have not vetted with your sponsors.”
“They seem like good ideas, what’s the issue?”
“Legal, of course, and my department. She is stepping on toes. I want you to remind her that my department oversees your brand, while she is responsible for managing you and the content you collect. Only Orion has the authority to negotiate on your behalf.”
“She means Orion and yourself. You still have the authority to negotiate for yourself.”
“Oh, so if I send letter to my sponsors that they can discuss content spots and opportunities they would like to see with Jessie, that would be allowed?”
Ophelia glares at Maddie. “It would. Begrudgingly, it is also within the bounds of what I previously stated.”
I nod at that, “I’ll talk to her.”
Our lunch comes and my boss gets her standard ahi salad and I get . . . a colorful noodle dish and a green cocktail with red flakes on the rim.
“This looks very fun. I love it when you invite me up here, even if it’s not always good news.”
“Darling, I usually chastise you and then inform you that you’ll be making us both more money. I see no reason to change my practices.”
I’m digging into the sweet, savory and tangy noodles with just the right amount of ginger and soy, when I realize what she just said and nearly choke on the latent spice of the dish. “Did you just say more money?”
“Naturally, why would I invite you up here just to tell you not to do something. I have assistants and messages for that. Money and deals require a bit of propriety. It’s why I asked Maddie to come after all. We have one more guest, but he declined to eat and will be with us in about ten minutes.”
Who in hells would she invite to a meeting in the lounge with us?! If it were with the OPS director, we would be in the conference room he’s yelled at me in before. Is it my doctor? Hamster would never come up here, no matter who was asking, and nobody would have the metaphorical balls to try and force him.
I take a sip of my cocktail to calm my mind, when the dual fire of wasabi and sriracha flame out of my nose and ears. The bitter melon and melon liquor do nothing to assuage the burn. I gulp Maddie’s tea immediately after, despite her protests. I flag the waiter down and ask for water and another tea.
Ophelia is laughing at me behind her hand.
“Won with the noodles, lost with the drink. Hoo. That was intense.” I take a few breaths and finish my tasty noods.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
As I dab my lips with the cloth napkin provided, I see a well-groomed Japanese man with a pencil thin mustache and a tie that could be described the same, tightly cuffed to a blazing white shirt half hidden by a metallic blue jacket that has the sheen of a silk blend.
“Holy shit, it’s Martyr.” I curse under my breath.
A few seconds of being stunned, I waive over the waiter again, order the man’s typical green tea, prepared at the table, before scrambling up to pull out his chair.
“And all I get are wary looks and scowls?” Ophelia scoffs.
“This man has coached teams to fifty million dollars worth of victories, Ophelia. Not to mention two championships.” I hiss through my teeth. She quirks her head, looks between us, then nods her acceptance in the difference in my behavior.
I will have to unpack that later. You know, after I find out why the most successful e-sports coach of all time is at my lunch!
“Mister Martyr, it is an honor to meet you in person.” I vomit politeness for the first time in my life and bow while I’m at it. Next I’ll spout some Japanese by accident.
“My thanks, Jiantsa.” Ah, the Z-H is an uncommon combination for him. Meh, he can call me whatever he wants. “It is I who am honored. The way Darth Hamster talks of you, I could hardly pass on the opportunity to meet.”
Ach, my heart. Martyr talking about DH praising me. The pride and palpitations go hand in hand. I think my day is complete, then the executive chef comes out with the tea himself and prepares the service for us.
“Arigato gozaimasu, honored chef and host.” He bows to the tea before taking a sip. “Ah, this flavor was constructed appropriately. An excellent reconstruction and the adherence to tradition is valued.”
I mimic his rotations before taking my own sip. It’s nice, mellow and refreshing. Not my favorite, but it will forever remind me of this moment, so maybe it will become my favorite depending on why he’s here.
“I find this has put me in a favorable mood.” He smiles and looks at me over his sliding spectacles. “I have come to invite you to attempt to impress me as a roam player in Fathoms of Fates. Orion has seen fit to focus the funding of our second team into the Valkyries, thus you will be competing with others. Of course you understand that we are happy with our mid lane performance and that position is not available in more than a reserve capacity.”
A bout of dizziness hits me at the overwhelming joy mixed with the crippling stress of being offered the opportunity to ‘impress.’ Before I have a chance to panic spiral, Maddie elbows me and whispers, “Remember the reasons for, as well as against.”
What? Why would she say that now? The only person that believes I can do this is Darth Hamster. The MVP of the last championship team. Okay, well, Maddie makes more sense now. But was my role swap performance good enough? He only sent me videos of my mid-lane play. Fuuuuudge.
“It will be my honor to compete.” I half bow while seated. It’s awkward.
He stands and nods quickly before walking back toward the elevators.
“Selena, you’re hyperventilating, are you okay?” Ophelia asks, genuine concern on her face.
“Not . . . really?” I gasp for air, trying to figure out when I got underwater when I feel lips on mine.
System error. Gay panic override. Kissing my crush in front of my boss. Situation override, Kissing my Crush. So I grab her and kiss her back. Maddie chuckles into my lips before pushing back from me.
“Seems my distraction worked.” Maddie titters and my middles flutter, wondering what she’s talking about and why she stopped. “Now, we should talk about why you subjected her to that before her audition?”
“Simple, he requested it. To take your measure I imagine. That said, I have the provisional contract here if you’d like to read it?” She hands it to Maddie.
While she’s reading, I finally realize what just happened in the last five minutes. “Maddie, that was both kind and a bit cruel. You’ve got human down lady. My crush on you is not smaller.”
She swats my leg and I beam with accomplishment. After a few minutes she looks up from the contract.
“This is surprising, Ophelia. This says that you will vet gaming photos through Orion Black before using them for social media purposes.”
“A hard pill to swallow, but even I can relinquish some control when opportunity knocks.” Ophelia points her forked ahi at me before eating it.
“Chastizing me about Jessie makes more sense now.”
“Mm, this is a lot more generous than your Valkyries contract, Selena. Fifty thousand for the year, bonuses for tournaments and match MVP’s. More bonuses for reaching knockout play in the championship tournament. Team gear, sponsor swag, oh dear. Much of this disregards your digital citizenship. We either need to get a dispensation for ATC reproduction of these material benefits, or to receive monetary compensation.” Maddie critiques the contract.
Ophelia grabs the package back, clearly still used to dealing with paper in the Real.
“This will be a limited license nightmare.” She sighs heavily, “I will need to run this up corporate because I doubt this will be the last time this occurs with you around, let alone the future of the ATC.”
/Maddie, what were the conflicts?/
\Team car lease, team house, private chef, etcetera.\
/Darth Hamster doesn’t seem to use those, what about his contract?/
\No offense, Selena, but you are not as important as him.\
/Ouch, I understand, but ouch./
“We can work out discounted meals, or access to this café. Something.”
“I accept.” I blurt. “Executive access? I accept.”
“Ugh, if you get the spot, I’ll see what I can do.
I try not to squeal, I really do, but on the way down the elevator it spews from my whole body as I bounce around and scream at my good fortune.
