{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*] *~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-FutureFalloutVerse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*~8~*
Chapter 2
Dress To Impress
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}"Ugh...damnit! Seriously grey pinstripe? What was I thinking?" he grumbled agitatedly, pulling the charcoal grey suit jacket off, rumpling it up, tossing it onto the floor with far more force than necessary, beginning on the buttons on the deep burgundy dress shirt, untucking it, stripping it off, tossing it onto the ever-growing pile of rejected options littering the floor of his dressing room.
Geez by this time it looked like a tornado went through the usually near obsessively organized room.
For crying out loud- he's getting dressed for work-something he could literally do in his sleep (has probably more times than he can remember). This should NOT be so damn hard.
It's NEVER this difficult...
Of course he's never actually like trying, trying either. At least not this way.
Not that he is now...He's not...Well not like that...Not really anyways. He just kinda wants to go for a certain look today. A different look.
Non-supervillianish.
Kind of new territory for him admittedly. Usually if anything he's actively leaning into it- playing it to the hilt. He's never really been subtle at it, far from it. He usually delights in the nervous chuckles, rapid blinking or slightly too wide smiles/eyes that tend to crop up when he leans into the act a bit more than usual.
It's all just harmless fun...well...mostly anyways.
Truthfullymost every aspect of his persona tends to be designed to play into his little game. It is a lot of fun but more than that it is extremely useful in this line of work- especially seeing as 'this line of work' tends to involve his interacting a lot with overly confident, over-reaching, egotistical jackasses who are accustomed to being the most intimidating/threatening thing in the room. People who just naturally assume that wherever they are and whatever they're doing it's gonna be on their terms. That they are in control...they are in charge.
He needs to be quite sure that they know here- in HIS company- they're not.
Not even close.
Nothing about his persona is accidental- it is calculated...it's a tool...sometime a weapon...and...okay...yeah, truth be told entertaining as hell...
Some people fish or scrapbook or paint...he gleefully intimidates, undermines and psychologically manipulates overcompensating, overreaching, wannabe alpha male jackasses.
Hey everyone needs a hobby okay?
Hell of a lot more fun than scrapbooking...fair bit more useful too.
At least usually it is.
Until it's not.
Like now.
Ugh...
God did he always have this much black in his closet? You'd think he was a freaking undertaker...
Oh yeah- THAT'S a far cry from supervillain.
Damnit...
I mean yes, okay admittedly it's flattering, and classic and totally works for him- like a lot- and it does project a certain air of authority, strength and confidence that's invaluable when dealing with government agencies, overcompensating jackasses and other random assorted close-minded ignorami he tends to come into contact with in this line of work. However it might not work so well when the person you're meeting with isn't some hyper masculine, overcompensating jarheaded-jackass but rather a sweet, adorable, overly excitable, twenty something college student.
Could be a bit over the top there.
By now he's well past the 'scare the newbie away' dramatics: way past it. Irritating as it is to admit (and it really, truly is) Mara was right on the money here. The guy's absolutely brilliant, brave and insane enough to jump through a hole in time armed with only a homemade robosquid and a dino repelling body spray.
He'll fit right in.
By this point he's already signed off, paperwork's went through, resources have been shifted, more paperwork's been pushed through, NDA's have been signed, more paperwork, Psych evals have been conducted, more paperwork, and an elaborate job cover has already been set up...plus the last of the paperwork- (Man he did not realize how out of control the paperwork has gotten...maybe he needs to ease up at least a bit...or just not push anyone else through...
Yeah lets go with option 2.)
In any case it's done: They're good, he's good, everything's set. Simon's gonna be a great fit for Oasis. Last thing he wants is to scare the guy off now.
That's just way too much paperwork to deal with for nothing.
Besides it's practical since they're past the initial 'welcome to Oasis' theatrics and introductory intimidation attempts for him to try to seem a bit less foreboding for the guy's first official day. It's not like he's trying to impress him or anything- and no he's not going easy on the guy.
W-well...okay maybe he is a bit but it's just because this situation is unique. I mean yeah he's approaching Simon's first day differently than he would with people like Dani, Zane, Valerie, Bindy or Alec- but that's to be expected.
Most all of the people they get starting at Oasis are highly regarded scientists, exceptionally trained soldiers (government sanctioned or otherwise), or specialized experts that are the top of the top of their respective fields. They have years of experience under their belts and the assertion that they were impressive enough to actually be sought out for their new positions in one of the most prominent, cutting edge companies in the world.
Simon is an overly excitable, tech-nerd college student who stumbled onto one of the most insane scientific discoveries in history. It's understandable that he might be a BIT nervous for his first official day.
Raphael just doesn't want to do anything to make that worse. From everything he can read from the guy he really has little doubt he'll be able to handle this- he's thinking the hardest part is just gonna be keeping him believing that he can.
Okay yes, true on their trek back to the Anomaly Simon had seemed pretty confident. Beyond confident. Magnus said flat out brazen (no wonder why he connected so quickly with the guy). Simon'd stood up to Alec, told him he could do it, and he would prove it to everyone he had to. Said that everything in life worth having is also worth fighting for. Guy even stood up to Raphael himself, meeting his eyes unwaveringly, flat out telling him he wasn't going anywhere; full of conviction and determination, bright honey brown eyes sparking even brighter in challenge...which was...umm...
Hmm...damn...
Uh-b-but even so there's a big difference between asserting your determination in grabbing onto a heat-of-the-moment, adrenaline rushing, crazy out of the blue one and a million chance and walking into the first day of your new reality in a job you never thought possible.
That is a BIG difference...could be totally overwhelming...could even possibly be enough to make someone rethink their spur of the moment decision to throw in with a mishmash of mad scientists, soldiers, mercenaries, quirky specialists and a possible supervillain.
Yeah he really doesn't want anything throwing this off for the guy. 'Anything' like his new boss showing up to their first official meeting as co-workers/employer/employee whatever-you-want-to-call-it seeming like he's ready to monologue his plans to overthrow the government, toss someone into a shark tank or unveil a death ray...
Not really the 'welcome to the team' vibe he wants to strike.
Really in the grand scheme of things what he wears isn't likely gonna be the deciding factor of whether or not Simon settles in with the company or not. But he knows better than anyone just how easily one little detail could make all the difference. And yeah- the way he dresses isn't going to make Simon run for the hills...he knows this.
However the overall feeling he sets in this first 'official' meeting IS likely to have an impact on how the young scientist sees him- not just professionally but in every other capacity as well. He wants to be certain he sets just the right mood with the guy.
...and wow; even in his head that sounded a hell of a lot more seduction-y then it was intended.
That's not the kind of 'mood' he wants to set with him...I-I mean...not that he'd necessarily be opposed to it or anything. Guy was whip-smart, determined, electrifying as a livewire, had a delightfully feisty streak and was cute as hell- SO not opposed to it...at all...like AT ALL at all.
But unfortunately that was pretty much a moot point. Thanks to his (irritatingly) counterplotting best friend Simon had been stringently warned about every possible ousting maneuver Raphael could have conceivably tried during their initial meeting- up to and including weaponized flirting.
Meaning any amount of flirting or interest shown would likely just be brushed off as a tactic, a game or some other convoluted plot of deception or just flat out obnoxiousness- Which to be fair nine times out of ten would be right on the mark...
Really does suck on the tenth time though.
But oh well...he's an adult- not like he's never faced disappointment or an unwanted outcome.
No his quandary about his appearance today has absolutely nothing to do with any romantic ideas...it's just practical...that's all. With most every other new hire he barely gives it a second thought, however with Simon it's a fair bit more complicated.
See the thing about a place like Oasis- about his company- is flat out, he hires the best. He picks the best...And the thing of it is 'the best' generally KNOW they are the best.
Most people on their first day coming into the company are at the top of their respective fields. They're coming in expecting it to stay that way. Generally by the time he brings them on they're unaccustomed to being challenged, unaccustomed to having to really answer to others, unaccustomed to the possibility that their work might be questioned.
Usually the first few weeks he spends getting them re-accustomed to that. A process he is quite skilled at. After that's established and they have a clear awareness of their place in the company it's only then that he begins to ease up on the game, let them in on the joke as it were.
But with Simon? Um...yeah...the first part? Not really an issue. If anything it's gonna be the opposite. He's coming in likely expecting to be at the absolute lowest rung of the ladder. He's gonna expect to have to prove himself at every turn- to everybody- likely multiple times. He'll likely expect to have to pay his dues; thinking he's starting out as some intern/gopher type level, that since he's young and new he'll get all the grunt work, tedious, boring prep/cleanup type tasks and all the crappy jobs that no one else wants to do.
Raphael has to make sure he realizes that he isn't- that he is starting with just as much standing as any other scientist there -well with the exception of Mags as he is technically the headscientist (though even that's probably less a 'hierarchy' and more some combination of nepotism and the inmates running the asylum kind of a deal) and let him know that if someone DOES try to dupe him into it he is more than welcome to tell them exactly where to go with that.
He wasn't hired as an assistant or a temp or a gopher. He is a scientist- same as all the rest. That is what he was hired for and that is how he should be treated. Raphael wants to ensure that he knows this going in and that he feels comfortable enough with him if it's NOT the case with anyone to let him know.
Which would probably be a hell of a lot more likely if for their first 'official' meeting he doesn't dress like a cross between a mortician, Lucky Luciano and a freaking vampire.
Ugh...
Admittedly it IS a good fit for him but sometimes it's really not the air he needs to set.
Though at this point it's kind of out of his hands.
He'd really prefer to change it up at least a bit today. Go with something softer, more inviting and approachable, something with less of a'welcome to my parlor'kinda feel but unless he's willing to actually buy something totally new it doesn't look like it's happening today.
And that again is drifting a fair bit away from the professional for him right now. You don't go shopping for a new outfit for someone ELSE'S first day of work.
That's just ridiculous.
Besides if he couldn't find something in the jumble of high end chaos currently covering his dressing room floor that he already picked out and bought it's not too likely he's just gonna stumble across the perfect look.
Especially not in the next thirty minutes...which is how long he has until he has to leave.
Fashionably late is Mags's thing and while he is more than happy to keep various stuffed shirts and military blowhards on pins and needles waiting Simon is his first meeting of the day and he really doesn't want to keep the guy waiting on his first day.
That's just rude.
He has got to put this wishy-washy thing aside and get himself in gear...pick something and go with it.
But what...
Hmm...
He sighed faintly, head shaking looking over the jumbled chaos of the morning.
Man...He has never been more relieved the room is self-cleaning. Thankfully by the time he gets back tonight the disaster area of a room will be neat as a pin.
Doesn't really help him now though.
The handful of suits he has that aren't black are currently littering the floor of his room. The grey ones just seemed boring and muted in comparison to his usual sharp black, the dark green one seems too much like a military service uniform, the blue ones made him look like a pilot and the garnet one made him feel like he should be selling used cars or insurance-
Not really the feel he's going for here.
I mean yeah- granted- it IS less threatening, but not really in a good way.
Intermingled with the suit explosion was a multitude of different vests, undershirts and no fewer than a dozen different dress shirts in colors ranging from a soft slate blue to a crisp white to deep violet and warm crimson all the way to some weird orange monstrosity that he's sure Mags must have slipped in here when he wasn't paying attention. There were even a few tee-shirts tossed into the mix for good measure.
It was a LOT of options but none of them were right for the feel he needed with the new recruit. Well...okay so the Doctor Who tee he picked up in college would probably win him a few points with Simon but seeing as one, that'd seem a bit too much like fishing and two, if he were to show up at work in a fandom tee-shirt he'd likely spend the entire day in Dani's lab being bombarded with mental test and brain scans he'd pretty much decided against it.
Besides even though Simon's reaction to it might be rather interesting he knows he'd never really feel comfortable at work in something so casual. He'd feel off all day.
It just wasn't worth it.
He sighed, looking over the meticulously organized selection of immaculate suits, crisp top quality dress shirts and well fitted, stylish vests that were NOT currently littering his floor, head tilting in consideration.
Hmm...
Yup...that is a whole lot of black.
Okay so the whole 'mixing it up' thing is kinda looking like a bust. The idea made sense but the reality just wasn't holding up. He bought all of it, picked it all out (with the exception of the orange monstrosity) most of the time he felt comfortable in them and he knew he looked good in all of them...but none of them felt right. They just felt off.
He didn't want to feel 'off' today. He didn't really want to wear just 'anything'...he wanted to feel good, comfortable, confident. He wanted to feel right...his best.
Hmm...
His head tilted, gaze shifting from the multitude of crisp black suits over to the far corner of the room, eyes coming to rest on the crisp, blacker than black suit hanging with the strikingly bright, blood red dress shirt and sharp, perfectly fitted black with red pinstripe vest.
Well...it was his favorite...and he definitely felt his best in it.
Usually he saved it for special occasions- like high end cocktail parties to schmooze investors...or intimidating military generals. Might raise a few questions from people if they spot him in it during what's for all intents and purposes a normal work day.
He's sure Mags will catch it...and Bindy...and Dani. Probably a few others too. They probably wouldn't say anything though. Zane probably would-he's kinda a jackass like that-but he can always casually mention they have an opening on the team monitoring the reoccurring anomaly out on the Holstein's poultry farm...that'd probably shut him up pretty quick.
Yeah there might be a few looks, a few questions if he wears it 'just because'.
Still...he does feel good in it...
And he most definitely LOOKS good in it.
Not that that's really what he's going for...but in the same vain it wouldn't exactly hurt. And he could always make it a bit more casual- lose the jacket, roll up the sleeves, that sort of thing. Besides th-
Oh crap! It's five till eight, he has a fifteen minute commute and Simon's supposed to be in his office at eight thirty sharp. He has to get a move on.
He moved across the room, carefully slipping the clean, sharp elegant suit off its hanger. He stepped into the crisp, blacker than black suit pants, slipping on the brilliant, whisper soft dress shirt, tucking it in, fastening the buttons, deciding to forgo the tie, leaving the top two buttons open for a more relaxed look.
He reached over, pulling on the vest, adjusting the fit till it was just right, smoothing it down so that it fell perfectly. Finally he added the perfectly tailored jacket, taking a bit of a deeper breath, fussing slightly with the little red pocket square before looking up, catching his reflection. He felt himself relax a bit, a little of the odd tightness he had in his stomach easing.
He reached up, brushing a few glossy dark locks back into place, flashing a faint smile and a slight nod, taking another slightly deep breath, an odd, spin-y, excited little flip in his stomach, a dizzying, near giddy little buzz flickering through him, similar to the Actualizare kicking in but far more pleasant, giving him an odd, enjoyable little flutter. A bit of a soft breath of a laugh slipping out of its own accord. He huffed faintly, shaking his head slightly at himself, moving towards the door of the room with a bit more of a spring in his step.
Okay one thing's for sure before he gets to work he needs to get that under control...that and the smile that keeps sneaking out. Those things coupled with the suit might end up drawing a few more questions than he wants to answer.
Eh...it'll be fine...he has a fifteen minute commute and an entire building complex to get through. Something's bound to annoy him between here and there. He can use that...
After all he's nothing if not adaptable.
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{ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*]8*- Future Fallout Verse*-8 [ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*}