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 Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:15 pm
Erin was positively trembling, the brunette moving towards the office with her entire form shaking as she adjusted her blouse, hands otherwise wringing, glasses every so often falling down her nose into an uncomfortable position, which she quickly pushed back up.
She was in trouble, likely. The girl was sure of it - why else would she be called in so quickly?
Erin's mind rolled back to earlier in the day, reading her article on the current state of the City with some sense of pride. It was no front pager, nothing terrible special to others, but she'd been able to mention the theories floating about the government lately in passing, and that tended to make the normally timid girl pleased. She enjoyed a job well done, thorough and clear, but now she wondered where she went wrong.
Especially going into a boss' office this way, and her mind went over what could be wrong, where she may have failed, and by the time she peered in, her brown eyes were wide in fear, and she trembled, swallowing.
"You wanted to s....see me sir?"
OH GOD WAS SHE FIRED?!
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:35 pm
Tag Swagger stood by his window on the fifty-seventh floor, staring out to the city. His city. Full of tiny little ants marching, believing every word that came from his mouth. Or so he thought. If there was a slip, one ant marching in the wrong order, those brainless insects will follow them as if they're capable of leading to a new path. The confusion - that lack of order - must be snuffed out. Those bugs must be squashed. "Take a seat," he said to one brave ant marching into his office, commanding her to sit down in the seat in front of his desk. His office was practically empty otherwise, just a large intimidating room with a desk and two seats in the center. He didn't turn to greet her, that bug, not just yet. He took a sip his glass of scotch - there was always one in has hand these days - and waited a moment before actually caring to take a look at the poor thing. "I saw your article," he started, tossing the newspaper onto the table, folded to her pathetic little article. "We should have a talk." He took his seat in his chair - his throne - and leaned back. "Why don't you begin by explaining yourself?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:38 pm
Tag Swagger was unhappy. Tag Swagger was unhappy with her work. And Erin felt her blood run cold. His was a national show, one that could convince anyone of many things, and if he was displeased - well. She losing her job because of him meant losing her career, and the already tiny woman seemed to shrink smaller than her 4'10, peering up with wide brown eyes. "It... It's an article on the state of the C...City, s...sir." Erin said, voice barely managing not to crack. She wished she was safe at her desk surrounded by animal pictures and stuffies in an instant, or better, the nest of blankets and stuffies she called a bed at home, out of sight to everyone. Near Arlington, preferably. "I...I was presenting the information from multiple sou...sources.... Did... Did... I... Did I do something w...wrong sir?" She simply didn't understand what she missed. A source? A quote - did she miscredit? She swallowed. She hoped not.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:45 pm
"You're a good journalist, I admire that," Tag started with a compliment. "But to make it in this industry, you need to be more than just a strong writer and knowing how to get the job done. You need to be sure you're writing the right story. Don't waste your talent with this crap." He took the newspaper and tossed it in the trash. "That is s**t," he said. "And it tarnishes your name. You don't want that, do you? Your name to be tarnished? You want success. You want power. You want to be like me. We all do. It's human." "But if you want that, you need to earn it. You need to do the right thing." He opened a drawer in his desk and tossed out a folder filled with papers - pre-written articles supporting the Negaverse and tarnishing the Resistance name. "From now on, these are the stories you publish," he said flatly. "Don't change a word. Just run these articles exactly as written with your by-line and I promise you, I'll make you a star." He took another sip of his scotch and kicked his feet out onto his desk. He pulled a cigarette from his inner coat pocket and lit up. He took a drag and exhaled. "Are we clear?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 6:59 pm
Erin studied the file curiously at first, brows knit and expression thoughtful. Power? Like - HIM?That was something she hadn't thought of before. She was quiet, still, thinking about things - she didn'ty want to lose her career, her future. Inwardly, her mind trailed, and she wondered just briefly what to do. Still... She was also frightened, and she shivered and trembled occasionally as she seemed to be looking over one - admiring the writing. She was fairly sure hers didn't match up to the technical skill, but at the same time, she knew the rumours of what happened to thoe who crossed Tag. It wasn't pretty. "I... Suppose I could... But... But..." She shivbered again. "What if they run out?" Erin swallowed, waiting for being scolded.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:05 pm
"There's enough articles in there to keep you afloat for a while, and there's always more where that came from," he continued on. "And don't stutter. It's a sign of weakness. You're not weak. Are you?" He didn't give her a chance to respond before moving on - he couldn't let her assert authority. He needed to keep her, well, weak in order to maintain his control. "I didn't think so." He took another drag of his cigarette. "Any other questions?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:08 pm
Erin blinked quietly, and swallowed, shaking her head. "Nosir." She said, voice practically squeaking. She clutched to the file tightly, understanding perfectly well his intent. It didn't soothe her nerves very much, though, but there wasn't much to do about that. This was well, Tag Swagger. Abject terror, to those who knew her well, was expected.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:39 pm
"Good," he started. "I'm glad we had this little chat then. You do have so much potential. I'd hate to see you squander it." He paused. "You have so much to lose." A slight smirk. "You can go, if that is all," he swiveled in his chair to turn away, facing back out his window as he took another sip of his scotch.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:41 pm
Erin shivered again, nodding before fleeing the room silently. She didn't like the last addendum, and her mind wandered to her family, the girl internally whimpering. At least nothing reflected her opinions... She just... Had to keep quiet.
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