Friends R Us

[Abe Sapien]

Time: 7:00 am
Date: March 1st, 2009
Place: BPRD Boardroom
Status: Open to all Bureau Agents

OOC: I am indeed temping Manning and he advises you to join!

---

The rhythmic tick of the black rimmed clock above the balding man was like a pendulum, keeping in pace to the scratching of Manning’s pen as he finished his scrawling name and turned the sheet over atop of a growing stack of papers. In front of him was a single brown box of folders dead center atop the elongated table as if a centerpiece. Setting aside another paper, Thomas glanced at his watch and concluded another ten minutes before agents starting showing. He has sent the meeting to every breathing and non breathing agent in the Bureau, citing it was a mandatory and if they didn’t show up, a hefty penalty was in order. Manning left the penalty and purpose behind the meeting vague, knowing if he spelled it out, half the Bureau would call in sick.

---

The subtle pitter-patter of bare feet was swallowed in the expansive hallway as one Abraham Sapien made his way to the appointed boardroom. He wore his usually shorts accompanied with a short sleeved black shirt made of the same material. His gloves remained tucked into the hem of his shorts at his side within easy reach but the true oddity was the personal cassette player at his waist and the oversized earphones adorning the top of his head. A single index finger swayed in time to the beat of the vague music that floated from the earphones and he attempted with difficulty to not sing along.

“…And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too…” He missed the odd look of passing agent and slipped into the boardroom. Abraham was certain to make it to the meeting on time, he had been steadily working on paperwork for the last three hours and had taken refuge in the safety of music and collection of tapes Red had handed over to him. It was the remark of They’re crap peaked his interest and after rooting through them, he found a couple. The fishman glanced about him at the empty room and folded his hands at his waist.

“Am I early?” His voice was a notch too high and he paused at Manning’s frown before raising a finger and reached down with both hands to turn off the cassette player. He left the earphones on as pulling them off to rest at his neck only made his gills twitch in annoyance. “Am I early?” Abe repeated in a softer voice.

Thomas took a sip of his cooling coffee and rubbed two fingers across an eyebrow. “You’re late.”

“Oh.” The large opaque eyes swiveled up to the only clock and studied the time. 7:01. “I do apologize.” He tapped his fingers together, steepling them slightly and stretched the thin webbing between them. He glanced about and settled on the lone cart of coffee, tea and cookies that felt oddly out of place. “May I?” He bowed his head at the vague wave of a hand and settled into pouring himself a cup of tea and placed a single sugar cookie on a little plastic plate.

[brennalarose]

The elevator door opened, spitting out a handful of fresh-faced young agents, including Anna-Sophia, who was apparently changing on her way to the meeting. She clutched a glasses case in her teeth and hopped out of the elevator car on one foot, jamming a gray tweed shoe on the other. Mashing it on, she caught herself on the wall, and set down Lovelace long enough to fix her cufflinks and smooth back a lock of already frizzing hair.

"Ludicrous! It's just ludicrous!" she muttered, slipping on her glasses, "If it ain't one thing, it's another! In Japan, people die from overwork and stress. Just watch, that'll be U.S. Civil Servants in not too long!" She picked up her things and took a deep, calming breath. Time to fix the sweet, professional smile on her face. Manning was the only reason she wasn't stewing in a federal pokey.

The place was nearly empty, though the rest of the agents who had come in with her were filtering in. "Sorry, sir," she said, "Someone pushed all the buttons coming down." She helped herself to tea and a cookie and parked herself with a vivid blush spreading across her cheeks.

[Evadne Taylor]

Evadne sighed as she ran a hand over the front of her blouse - freeing it from any unsightly wrinkles. She glanced at the door of the boardroom and shook her head. She honestly didn't even want to enter the room because she knew that whatever Manning wanted to talk about would only lead to trouble. She knew mainly because he'd left the purpose of the meeting vague and that more often than not meant that he was going to do or make them do something that no one wanted to be doing.

Finally pushig the door open, Evadne stepped inside. Her gaze automatically swept across the room and a smirk settled on her lips when she saw she wasn't the last person to show up. Good, Manning wouldn't have anything to try to hurl her way and if he did, well she'd just have to point out the obvious.

She didn't even bother to greet anyone as she crossed the room and pulled a chair out. Sinking down in the chair, she leaned back, folded her arms under her chest and looked across the table at Manning and arched a brow, almost daring him to try and do something authoritive. "Well I'm here," she finally said, gracing everyone with an overly sweet smile. "How long is this meeting going to take? I have some research I'd like to get back to."

[nuala]

[/ul]

[Sister Angeleanna]

“No Mother, yes Mother, I understand Mother. No, everything has been quite lovely here.” The nun leaned slightly back in her chair her head crooked to her shoulder where she wedged the off white phone to her ear as she collected a folder in front of her and straightened out it’s contents. “The Bureau has been nothing but pleasant to me. Now Mother, I have to go, I’m going to be late for a meeting. I’ll have the report faxed to you before noon. Thank you Mother, God be with you too.” The phone clattered into its cradle as Angel set the folder aside and stood. She glanced briefly at the clock on the wall and with a grimace, knew she was going to be late if she didn’t speed up.

Skirting around the lone desk, she excited the office she had taken refuge in to make her daily call to her Mother Superior and tucked the folder into the crook of her arm. With her free hand she gathered the folds of her habit and lifted it ever so slightly and took off the down hall in a brisk pace. A few twist and turns through various hallways and a elevator ride later she was on the same floor of the meeting. She saw a group ahead of her entering a door and followed suit, slipping in behind Anna Sophia.

“Good morning!” The nun smiled softly and bowed slightly at those near her before slipping through the milling agents, offering a couple more good mornings and found a seat somewhere between Evadne and Phia. At the dark haired woman’s remark, Angel leaned slightly forward to look around a head before setting the folder in front of her and thoughtfully folded her hands in her lap and crossed her ankles, tucking them under the chair. She took that moment to look around at all the other familiar faces and paused briefly at Abraham and the princess, her smile widening before giving Director Manning her full attention.

[drjuliusmayfair]

RING! RING! RING! RING! "OUTTA THA WAY YAH BLOODY FOOL!" Julius yelled as he rode his yellow beach cruiser through the halls. Agents leapt out of the way as he rode up the narrow hall. Julius tipped his banana yellow fedora at a pair of lady agents before skidding to a stop at the doors of the conference room. He hopped off his bike and kicked the stand down so it leaned slightly on the wall. He patted the seat, "Whoooa Silver. Atta girl."

He had forgotten about the meeting, to tell the truth. His memo pile was sitting in an unread heap. He disliked memos. He had been developing spirit photographs when an agent, who know wont be talking for a good two weeks, opened the door to tell him about the meeting. Julius had hopped on his bike, scourge of the halls, and rode like the wind. He walked in, tipping his hat to the laides, “Sorry, sorry!” He said to manning and Abe, “Bit of a late start today…. Ooooh biscuits.”

He was slightly rumpled from working through the night. He had a good pile of work to get through in preparation for his next assignment. He wore black slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolls up. His silk vest matched his banana yellow fedora, though it had a few spots of photo development on it, which now that he saw it, was a little put out. He ruined so many good vests. He poured himself a paper cup of tea, and grabbed a couple of cookies and plopped down in a vacant chair a chair away from Phia.

[Abe Sapien]

Cookie in mouth, Abraham had settled his lanky frame into a chair when the princess entered. His chair screeched as he scooted it back and jumped to his feet, the sweet forgotten momentarily until it nearly tumbled from his slackened lips. He caught it in a webbed hand that acted as a bowl to net the rest of the crumbs and set the crumbling treat on the plate and pulled the chair beside him out as she strolled towards him. Abe returned the smile with a tilt of his head and sat down before he pulled the headphones off his head. A hand reached up to rub the back of his neck thoughtfully and he stared momentarily off to the right before the faint touch of nerves ghosted across his mind. Without hesitating the fishman leaned slightly and rested his fingertips atop the elven maiden hands.

Within he smiled reassuring and curious thoughts of how she was feeling and how well she slept with the vague undertones of missing her drifted with ease. He could have voiced all these questions but respected the privacy of the princess in the organized frenzy of his fellow agents. It was the intimate moment that he treasured deeply, that she could know everything. Abraham slid his hand to completely cover the delicate one beneath and curled his fingers slightly before he withdrew and rested his arm on his armrest still close enough brush against Nuala’s sleeves.

Manning inclined back, slouching slightly and folded his hands against the slight rise of his stomach and cocked his head at Evadne. “So good of you to take time out of your busy schedule.” He paused and raised his voice to address the rest of the group. “We will start once everyone is here.”

[nuala]

Nuala had hardly even realized that there was food in the room until she saw Abe fumbling about with his - and she had to suppress a small laugh - not a bad one of course, she thought his nervousness was rather... adorable, and made her feel less nervous herself. Nodding to him in thanks when he pulled her seat out for him, she settled herself comfortably, eyeing the cart that held the sweets. She wasn't particularily hungry, but she could go for a cup of tea... No matter, she, of course, had more than enough etiqutte, and was not about to stand back up and go get herself some. She could do without.

She was easily distracted from the cart when she felt the light, cool touch of Abraham's hand on hers, and she looked down to where his blue hand now grasped her alabastar one, and smiled slightly. Ah, how she missed the cool feel of his skin... It felt like it had been forever since they had even seen each other, and to e with him now was quite nice, even if there was other people in the room. Returning the squeeze of his hand with one of her own, she glanced up at him for but a moment, before directing her attention to the others in the room.

She gave smiles to each of those that had arrived after her, momentarily catching Sister Angeleanna's gaze. She enjoyed Angel's company quite a bit, and for a moment, Nuala could see that the woman was not only eyeing her, but her and Abe... As a pair. The thought made a light, golden tint flush her cheeks in a blush, though she forced it down when Manning spoke. She wasn't exactly fond of him, though he was polite... He just didn't strike her as being too friendly.

[brennalarose]

Phia felt her cheeks burn hotter. She always felt a bit self-conscious as she tended to when the trifecta of pure gorgeousness was in sight. So far, it was Evadne and Her Highness--Phia had a hard time calling her just "Nuala"-- and all she needed now was Frankie to make her feel plain as a duck. But, this wasn't a beauty contest, she reminded herself. She had her own merits and she wasn't heinously ugly. Still, she glanced down ruefully at the cookie and tallied up the calories. There was a long jog on the treadmill in her future.

She glanced up and watched as more agents filtered in slowly. Faces she knew, and the occasional name or nickname, Jackson, Xander, Chuy, Hot-Lips, among others. It couldn't be said that the BPRD was like a family. More like a small college, complete with the hacky sack being shoved hastily into a pocket by a shamefaced newbie. She hid a giggle behind a sip of tea.

[drjuliusmayfair]

Jules sipped his tea and sat back, crossing his legs, his fedora slanted jauntly on his head and clashing wonderfully horribly with his ginger hair. He gave Phia a little wave and dipped one of his cookies in his tea. he hoped this meeting would end soon, he had some business to take care of. He had some research to finish before his next assignment.

[Sister Angeleanna]

Previous missing the cart of goodies, the nun eyed it meticulously but decided a cup of tea would help keep her awake a little longer. Not that the director could drone on, his voice seemed to have that gentle affect that reminded of her mass. At his counter of waiting longer, Angeleanna quietly excused herself to pour herself a Styrofoam cupful and unconsciously passed it to another agent as he got in line. A couple more cups of the occasional coffee and tea and thank yous later, the nun held hers in hand. She refrained from breathing it and took a sip. The lingering smell of coffee was no more of a temptation the any other.

The murmurings of a few agents lingering around was the only chatter and the good Sister glanced about her. There was always something to do, keeping everyone busy but holing up never did any good to the soul. With a faint clear of her throat, she directed her voice to the room,“How is everyone this morning?” and smiled over her cup. “And,” she added, switching her cup to one hand and wagged a finger. “fine is not an answer.”

[Evadne Taylor]

Blantantly ignroing Manning, Evadne boredly lifted a hand and studied her fingernails. She hated when Manning decided to try and do what his title entitled him do to - be the boss. She wished that he would just fade away into the background and let things be. Well maybe just let her be. She just wanted to finish her research, not sit around socializing.

Her gaze drifted over to Sister Angel, and arched a brow. She liked the woman well enough, well as much as she liked anyone (which wasn't saying a whole lot). She just... Well she wasn't exactly all that comfortable around her. The woman was obviously religious, and while Evadne didn't have anything against religion, she had a lot against their icons. Their icons could hurt her.... a lot, depending on how much faith the person using it had, and Sister Angel had a lot of faith.

Evadne flashed her a bored smile though and crossed her legs. "Oh, well I wasn't going to use fine, so you don't have to worry about that." She quickly glanced around at the others in the room before looking back at the Nun. "I'm doing swell."

[Abe Sapien]

Abraham’s head remained slightly bowed and stretched his fingers outward, fanning the delicate webbing between them and he felt the air stir with thoughts, past and present. The normal daily buzzings of thoughts, emotions and feelings always there in the back of his mind like someone humming softly and it had been a sense of comfort. That there was someone always there. He felt an inner tug of ones’ thoughts towards the smell and taste of tea and with a curious tilt of his head, Abraham reached for his untouched cup and slid it slowly in front of the princess. An echo of their touch that faded with each heartbeat, the strange and beautiful link between them had not exactly grown bigger but more accustomed with another. He had attempted to explain it once to Red but he soon realized his overanalyzed and boardroom lecturing was bypassed for what was on the television behind him. He gave up in amusement and an absent scratch of ears of a overtly friendly feline whom decided his bare legs were exceptionally tasteful.

“How is everyone this morning? And fine is not an answer.”

Abe looked up at the Sister and took a moment to ponder how the morning had gone. A schedule of sleep was sporadic in the bureau, though they did have shifts the call of assignment never waited for naps. “Pleasingly satisfied and yet challenging. You see, there-” He was cut off by an audible sigh from agent across from him whom quickly disguised it by blowing the steam from his coffee and the faint flush around the starchy white collar of his shirt as it being too warm. Sapien merely gave a slight wave of his hand in unspoken understandment and glanced from the corner of his eyes at Nuala and then his tea that he had slid towards her.

“I’m sorry,” his normally soft voice was notched lower for elven ears only and he leaned slightly towards the princess. “Did you ask me if you wanted tea?”

Thomas pulled his silver rimmed glasses from his jacket breast pocket and slid them on as a single agent came in and quietly passed him another folder. “Ah yes,” he murmured and peered over the edge of the glasses as he opened the sealed envelope. His lips moved ever so slightly as he read through the top paragraph. “This is good, thank you,” he added to the agent before the man disappeared back out the door. Manning made a show of studying his watch, closed his eyes briefly and refrained from rubbing his brow. The morning treats had been set out to entice even the most stubborn of agent.

[drjuliusmayfair]

Agents came and went, and he watched the pompous manning read. Did he acually need those glasses or were they just for show? And when was this damn meeting going to start? He tapped a pen on the table, his tea growing cold. His eyes wandered over to Abe and the elf princess. Boy, they were cute together, like two unsure virgins fumbling in the night. He looked down at his notes paper. Start meeting start!

***“How is everyone this morning? And fine is not an answer.”***

Jules smiled at the nun in a friendly manner and tipped his hat to her. He did not know her and indeed had very little contact with her other then seeing her at the Christmas party when he had first came to the BPRD New Jersey. "I'm just ducky." He said, trying to be social. Since he joined BPRD, he has made an effort to be social. He didn't want to be the bitter and cold young man he used to be. Life was too short.

"How is the good sister today?"

[Frankie Guidicini]

Frankie was late. She usually rose early in the morning -- But today she had been having a pleasant dream concerning Henry and Stella, and had immediately switched off her alarm when it went off. This led to her awaking at 6:50 and making a frenzied dash to get dressed. She pulled on one of her long black dresses and cinched it about the waist with a belt.She pulled on her boots using one hand and pulled a brush through her chestnut locks. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, grabbed a memo pad and pen from her desk, and left her quarters in a whirlwind of black.

The heels of Frankie's boots clacked on the floor with a rapid beat as she approached the boardroom. She was dismayed that so many were already there, but then again, she was late. She opened the door and looked to Manning. "I apologize for my tardiness." She said quietly, but did not offer an explanation. She ignored the cart of refreshments -- the tea was probably weak and the biscuits probably dry. She pulled the seat out next to Angeleanna, nodded to her, and took a seat. "Good morning." She murmured before opening her memo book to the spot after her last notes and dating the margin.