April 6th 2016

Unedited.

~*~*~

"What do I ask an ice hockey player that I've never met and have zilch in common with?"

"Do you like cheese?"

"Are you asking me that or is that what I should ask the ice hockey player?"

"The latter."

"You seriously want me to ask Brogan Grayson if he likes cheese?! What is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, what? His name is Brogan?"

"Yes."

"Sounds like a stupid name."

"It's Irish."

"Ah, well, in that case it's an amazing name."

"It means badger."

"Oh."

"It's a stupid name."

"I genuinely thought I'd have to keep up the charade that it was a half decent name."

"So, any ideas what I should ask the guy?"

"No, sorry."

"Damn it. I thought you'd be more helpful than that."

"I can be helpful in other ways."

"That sounds perverted."

"It's not the mouth it comes out of but the mind it goes into."

"Are you saying I'm dirty minded?"

"If the cap fits."

"Me and hats- of any kind- do not get along."

"I highly doubt that. You'd look good in anything."

"Lies."

"Your first week is almost over. How's it been?"

"Ok. The ice hockey thing got pushed to today because of scheduling issues, Nigel is teaching me everything I need to know about being an Art Director and Persephone and Kinsley honestly think that I am a mother."

"To who, Alfie?"

"They think he's a baby. A real-life baby!"

"I thought you were doing damage control on that."

"I tried but they didn't believe me. They had already convinced themselves that I have a kid so nothing I said could convince them other wise."

"Haha. That's hilarious."

"No, it wasn't."

"Yes, it is... shit, Soph, I wasn't thinking. You know, talk of kids and such. I'm sorry."

"It's not a big deal. I mean, you know. It is what it is. Babies are not a part of my future."

"Soph-"

"Now, is there anything you know about the NHL that I could maybe use to help me with this interview thing?"

"Up until a few days ago, I didn't even know what NHL meant."

"I knew I should have prepped more. Damn those cosmos."

"Cosmos?"

"Persephone, the woman who works at the desk outside my office, invited me out for drinks last night. Not the best idea. I'm apparently her boss, so I need to keep a distance from her. I should have stayed in and done my homework on this Brogan guy."

"Haha, that name gets stupider each time I hear it."

"Do you want to say that to his face? The guy looks brutal."

"Brutal?"

"Like, made of pure muscle. I'm going to look like a hobbit next to this bloke."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad."

"Six foot one, and built like a... a... I can't think of a suitable simile, but he looks like a tank."

"You sound scared."

"That's because I am. He's going to eat me alive. I can't go in unprepared!"

"I think you're over thinking this."

"Who is my assistant around here? -Jasmine!- How was Alfie's first night at his new home? Did he cry? Did he miss me? How was his party?"

"That's a lot of questions. He was a little out of it when we got back. He sat by the door for the most part. Then Nola arrived and well, you couldn't pry them away from each other. Two peas in a pod. I'm sure he missed you terribly, but Nola kept his spirits up. They broke a glass panel in a cabinet because Nola threw a ball and Alfie hasn't figured out how to brake on solid wood floor yet. Other than that, the party was great. I, uh, I even invited my brother."

"Holy shit! Did he come?"

"No, but at least I invited him."

"Oh. I was kinda hoping he'd be there."

"That makes both of us."

"Are you ok, though?"

"Yes."

>

"-Ah, Jasmine. I need everything you can find on Brogan Grayson and ice hockey, in general. ASAP, please. Make sure it's accurate because if I end up looking like a tit with the wrong information, you're sacked.- Daniel, are you sure you're ok with Sam not being there?"

"I knew he wasn't going to show up. You can't be disappointed if you already know how it ends."

"Yeah, but-"

"Everything is fine, Sophie. I promise. May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How are the Americans dealing with your Britishness?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do they understand you? You just said stuff like 'looking like a tit' and 'sacked.' They understand that?"

"Not really, no. They'll get about half of what I say and that's it. The other half, I kind of deliberately use against them for when they mess up."

"For when they mess up?"

"Yeah. I'm teaching them a very valuable lesson."

"Which is?"

"Not everyone speaks American."

"They speak English in America."

"Two completely different types of English."

"But English, nonetheless."

"Yeah, yeah."

"You just want to confuse everyone."

"I'm sadistic like that."

"You're telling me."

>

"-Why, in the market for a boyfriend, Jasmine?-"

>

"Well, there's your opening question."

"Hold on a second. -You want me to ask him if he's gay?- No, to both of you. Not doing it."

>

"Oh, for crying out loud. -Jasmine? Leave.- Daniel? See what I have to put up with?"

"But I don't hear you denying any of it."

"Shut up. Right, I have to go. I have an intimidating ice hockey player with an ambiguous sexual orientation to go quiz."

"I have  a dog to walk. There's this dog walking group not far from here that meet five times a week. I think Alfie and I are going to like it."

"As long as you keep away from bitches."

"Me or the dog?"

"Both."

"Enjoy your interview, Soph."

"Enjoy your walk, Daniel. I hope Alfie keeps you on a tight leash."

"Funny, Miss Clément."

"Later, alligator."

"In a while, crocodile."