Meadowlark Inbox;

[wittingly]

@ian.fowler | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[nonstopnarcissist]

Ok mandatory time out in three hours. Sleep for four, swap to tea for the next twelve. Detox before you give yourself a heart attack, itsy-bitsy.

[wittingly]

No point. I can't sleep.

[ And if he can't sleep and he can't work he's got too much room to think, and... ]

My friend's in this one

[nonstopnarcissist]

We can move you to a future Quarry.

[ Conflicts of interest, they're a thing. ]

We'll have to pull you from supply drop rotation.

[wittingly]

I'm doing my job
I'm not gonna fuck it up

[nonstopnarcissist]

Conflict of interest. This isn't questioning your ability, it's covering your ass.

[ Other designers would just give their workers enough rope to hang themselves-

Tony doesn't play like that. Not with the ones that have skill. ]

[wittingly]

[ Fuck, fuck, fuck. Lapse in judgment. Shouldn't have said anything. That's what no sleep and intense emotional turmoil will do for you.

fuck
i don't need my ass covered i need
bullshit

This is your boss, Fowler.

Just shut your mouth. ]

okay
where are you putting me

[nonstopnarcissist]

Again, gonna recommend you take time to sleep. Get your filter back. I'm not going to hang you out to dry, someone else might.

[ The upcoming Quarry's a big deal. Big bucks, big coverage, big glory for anyone involved. He can't just pull Ian, not after all the hours he's poured in. ]

With Q and Winchester on the team traps. We'll go with your idea for the supply plates, use that as a reason we pulled you over to the other team. Keep you in the clear.

[wittingly]

Thank you sir

[ His filter's normally excellent. He won a quarry once, about ten years ago. Maybe a little more. Scrawny kid, not a killer, got by on brains and luck. Did the tour for a year or two, learned how not to get himself in trouble in public. He's normally better.

And.

This is the best job he could hope to have after participating. So.

Yeah. Sleep's probably not happening unless he gets drunk enough, but the filter's a requirement. ]

[nonstopnarcissist]

...got a couple of extra invites to the dog and pony shows they run for the contenders. It'll be public, but.

[ It'll give him a chance to talk to said friend if he wants. ]

Take it or leave it.

[wittingly]

[ Just like everything's been for the last few days, this conversation's sort of an emotional rollercoaster. ]

Yeah
Please
I'd appreciate that immensely

[nonstopnarcissist]

Make sure you have a good suit. If you don't have the bells I have a tailor that makes house calls. Can't have you making us look rough, spiderboy.

[wittingly]

Wait are you seriously offering to send a tailor to my house

[nonstopnarcissist]

Send a pic of your best suit.

[wittingly]

why

[ two minutes later ]

attachment_01.jpg

[nonstopnarcissist]

That's barely fit for a funeral, let alone this kind of shindig. I'll send Valentino, he'll get you set up, call it an early bonus.

[wittingly]

Why are you doing this

[nonstopnarcissist]

Because if you're going, you're representing The Company, and we can't afford to look like schmucks. There's a look- I know you're neck-deep in the work aspect but if you're going to step out and step up? It's a whole other ballpark. You work for me, how you handle yourself reflects on me.

I'm covering my own ass here, don't feel special.

[wittingly]

Right
Makes sense

I'm not gonna embarrass you
I still remember the post-quarry tours
You've got nothing to worry about

Thank you for the tailor

[nonstopnarcissist]

Thank me by taking a nap or getting concealer for the bags under your eyes. That's my look, copying it is gauche.

[wittingly]

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery
Everybody's gotta have a role model

[nonstopnarcissist]

Don't make me send Paulette to do your makeup for the party, if you're gonna imitate me, it means going all in.

[wittingly]

Is it strange that I've never met Paulette and yet somehow a cold ominous breeze just blew through my apartment and down my spine?

[nonstopnarcissist]

No, that is the appropriate amount of dread. She's the best but- that comes at a cost. She may or may not be an eldritch being of some kind, I'm not sure. I've never asked.

[wittingly]

Does she come with weird rules like
knock thrice on the pantry before you open the door to let her in
place a single dime under your tongue until she leaves
only say your own name backwards
turn all your cups upside down or she'll over-line your eyes?

[nonstopnarcissist]

So you've seen her usual contract. Don't forget to leave out a glass of milk and thimble of honey and never, ever turn your back on her or your contouring will be all wrong and she'll give you an orange tan.