nextgenerationmarvel | Looking for Work (in all the wrong places)? (open at all)

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: Manhattan, NYC

Entry tags:

[character] rachel grey-ramsey

Looking for Work (in all the wrong places)? (open at all)

Physical Therapy has been grueling as of late, and with her work just not being as fulfilling as it once had been, Alisa thought perhaps a change could be in her best interest. She was tired of feeling listless during art authentications for the rich and famous (despite the pay it gave her), and her heart hurting every time she saw Alistaire (who refused to let her go for some reason or another). She was currently waiting to hear back from the Guild elders and those higher up in the Enforcer branch on a certain situation that came up, and the stress was getting to her.

Before her on the desk was a long list of people who she could inquire about jobs. Oddly enough, the top of the list had the Xavier School on there. They did save her life, and she truly was grateful to them. Perhaps asking for the ability to work for them as an art instructor would help her find that missing piece. Another name on the list was Sebastian Shaw, but she feared he would not even listen to her, not after what she told him.

She lifted the receiver on her office phone and began to dial up the Xavier Institute. This made her just as nervous as when she helped Alistaire raid the Hellfire Club. Her back pushed up against her plush chair as she awaited for someone to pick up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eventually the call to Xavier's got routed to Rachel's phone after someone ascertained what the call was about. The receiver floated off her desk and hovered near her ear as she shuffled through some paperwork that needed her scribbly signature on them.

"Headmaster Ramsey."

"Good afternoon, Headmaster Ramsey." Alisa spoke somewhat cheerfully, which was odd for her. At least it did not sound forced or fake. "My name is Ms. Alisa Beatrice LeBeau, you met me not too long ago."

The phone floated away from Rachel's ear. She squinted at it suspiciously before it floated back to nestle against her ear. Then pen in her hand hovered over the next piece of paper she had to sign.

"I remember. What can I help you with Ms. LeBeau?"

"I was wonderin' if perhaps I could do some volunteer work at your Institute." Alisa herself was writing on a few bits and pieces of paper on her desk. Last minute appraisals for artwork. "I'm certified to teach history, art history, an' art. An' since you all saved my life, I was hopin' maybe I could do somet'ing good in return for you all."

Her eyes soon left the paper she was working on to take a picture of herself and Alistaire on her desk and place it face down, so she would not have to see it as she worked.

"Even if it's just a one time t'ing, I would like to 'elp."

Rachel's eyebrows shot up. "What kind of volunteer work? We're in summer session and heading toward a bit of construction soon. Not a full student body."

She tried hard to keep the suspicion out of her voice. She had met Alisa as the other woman had been a body guard for Alistaire Shaw. The young Shaw had very direct ties to Selene as far as Rachel knew. Then there was the returned Sebastian. She had to be careful about who got on campus and interacted with the students.

"Whatever you will 'ave me do I guess. Even if you don' 'ave a full student body, I could work wit' de students dat are still on campus for like a summer art camp." She tried very hard not to sound desperate. "I know dis all must sound so odd, so if you 'ave any questions I'll answer dem. Nuthin' is off limits."

Rachel scratched right between her eyebrows. She wasn't sure if it was really itchy or a slight emotional reaction beyond even keel. She was going to try a diplomatic response.

"Well, Ms. LeBeau, I appreciate your enthusiasm to work with the children at Xavier's. However any volunteer work given over the phone will be to have you work with the fine people at the 11th Street Shelter in New York City. I do not nor will not let anyone work with my students on a paid or volunteer basis who just calls and asks to."

"I can understand 'ow unusual dis is, an' not very formal. But..." She cut herself off. "I... I understand." She knew such a possibility of working at the Xavier Institute was bad, but she did not know it was this bad. It was hard for her not to hide her hurt. She cursed herself inside of her head for showing that.

"I am... I am truly sorry I bothered you, in dat case."

Rachel looked at the ceiling and shrugged. There was no Kurt there to give her advice, but sometimes she wondered why Xavier gave her this job. Days like today made it seem like he gave it to her to avoid things like this.

"If you want to work here, you need to do it along proper channels," Rachel advised calmly. "I have government agencies watching us like hawks. You will also have to sever all association with Alistaire Shaw and his grandfather."

Rachel was gambling Alisa knew about Sebastian's return, but she doubted Alistaire would have kept that tidbit of information from her. "The only Shaw I want in association with anyone here at this school is Stephanie. In fact, a written recommendation from her would go a long way in having me at least look at your prospects as a part of the staff here. If you would like an appointment for a face-to-face meeting, I'll put you in touch with ... whoever my secretary today is."

Alisa pinched the bridge of her own nose as she heard this. This was not good news, at all.

"Unfortunately, I doubt Stephanie will be talkin' to me anytime soon. I'll be lucky if she will even stand to be in a room wit' be for more den a minute, Headmaster Ramsey." Alisa confessed. "Worst o' all, Alistaire continues to say I ain' expendable to him... he won' let me go, an' I don' know why but I can' leave'em. So I fully understand your concerns wit' who I am connected wit'. So again, I am terribly sorry I completely wasted your time."

She sounded completely sincere as well as honest about what was going on. "It don' 'elp I am sworn to his services by some ancient order. It was actually easier to lose my right leg. Dat says sumt'ing."

"I'll save your secretary some time an' jus' leave you all be. I don' want de school to be tainted by who I am associated wit' . I do t'ank you for your time in listenin' to me, Headmaster Ramsey. 'ave a pleasant day."

She took her red pen and marked of the Xavier Institute on her list of possible places for work. What was she even thinking? Alistaire had her tainted, on a tight leash, emotionally invested in him, and she knew it. Yet... she still cared for the bastard. Enough she was sacrificing a chance at something legit.

Alisa just waited for Rachel to hang up on her, so she could make another call from someone on her list that was NOT marked in red ink.

"If you still want to do good, Ms. LeBeau, you should still look at helping at the 11th Street Shelter. It might be easier to start your distancing with small steps." Rachel was entirely unsure how that advice would go over or even stick.

"Goodbye." Rachel hung up the phone by thinking about it. Then she went back to her paperwork.

Alisa felt rather poorly after speaking with the headmaster of the Xavier Institute. There would be no way she could ever volunteer where she suggested, as Stephanie had a great influence over at that shelter. And as far as she knew, Stephanie was very, very angry with her. Perhaps she should call someone who might be less angry with her.

She picked up the receiver of her phone once more and began to dial up a somewhat familiar number. Alisa could not believe she was going to call Sebastian Shaw to see if he had any work for her. She waited for his secretary to transfer her over to his phone, or drop her call all together.

The secretary, clearly a younger woman, greeted her professionally but with an almost robotic aura, before transferring the phone over to Sebastian himself.

Sebastian's voice, however, was impossible to mistake.

"I trust your Guild is relaying some important information through you, and that you are not in fact wasting my valuable time." Sebastian's voice sounded clipped and ready to bark out annoyance at any moment. He did not have long to spare for her.

"Oui and non." Alisa gave off a sigh. "I am tryin' to get in contact wit' de Guild Elders, de vote o' confidence dat took place about de new Hellfire Club don' seem... legit. I got a bad feelin' I was duped, an' I don' like dat feelin'."

Her eyes narrowed a bit as she remembered how off the vote of confidence was, especially since only one person who ranked higher than her was a part of it.

"I will try an' get to de bottom o' dis an' find out what is goin' on. I don' like de chatter I'm hearin' from lower rankin' members regardin' de Hellfire Club. Especially de ones who got a grudge against me an' wanna make me out to be a fool in your court."

"Now, on to de "non" part. I was wonderin' if perhaps you 'ad sumt'ing you needed me to do. I do owe you for what I said at our last meetin' , big time."

"One would imagine you would have become more accustomed to it by now." Sebastian replied back, acidly. "I see. Perhaps I can arrange Tessa to send you the footage of Paris. That may convince them to view the Hellfire Club with the proper respect." He referred of course, to the total obliteration of the Paris branch of the Hellfire Club.

"You can repay whatever it is you owe by being a loyal, and competent, agent of the Hellfire Club. Stephanie is the one you need to apologize to." His sneer could almost be heard through the phone. "In a strange way, I should almost thank you. By making a fool of her, you made it impossible for her to bow out of the Hellfire Club and thus confirm what you said.

Consider your self-imposed debt paid. And do not contact me again unless you have relevant business regarding the Guild."

"Mon dieu! I did not mean to make a fool o' her an' you know it!" Her fist slammed down on her desk and he could hear it. "Your daughter 'as been nuthin' but good to me, so what agenda would I 'ave by makin' a fool outta her!? None! Makin' a fool outta her 'as cost me more den you know!"

"Mistah Shaw I am TELLIN' you someone in de Manhattan Branch is not jus' makin' a fool outta me, but all o' us! An' now I'm forced to sit on my hind-side an' WAIT to find out what de Elders know o' dis!" Alisa frowned, her eyes looking out the large window in her office as she turned her chair around. "Even so, no guarantees dat dey can be trusted. But dat video o' Paris might convince dem to remain on your side an' give me de answers we need."

"As for my loyalty, I am somewhat stuck wit' your grandson. I can' disobey his orders nor will I. I am sworn to his side until he releases me, an' dat don' appear to be anytime soon. "She sighed, looking at the picture frame she had turned face down earlier. "I lost part o' my leg for him, an' will continue to ensure his safety. Dat loyalty extends to you as well. I would not be as successful as I am in business an' de arts wit'out dat gift you gave me so many years ago."

Sebastian listened to her lose her temper, like a blithering child. As if she were speaking to an uncle or something and not to one of the most powerful men in the world. The Lord Paramount of the global Hellfire Club. When he spoke, his tone was infinitely more measured than hers, but it brooked no dissent, no petulence, no opposition.

"You assume my greatest concerns about about your loyalty. They are, in fact, about your competence. Your actions have caused considerable embarrassment to both of my children, and whatever I may think of them personally, they are family and I will not tolerate their debasement from the likes of you. Furthermore, I will not sit here and be yelled at. The Guild will sort out its problems or I will be forced to do so myself.

As for you, I think my toleration of Alistaire's retention of your services has come to an end. He is a Shaw and deserves to have better than you at his side. You can tell your superiors at the Guild that you lost the confidence of the Shaws. I most certainly will be.

I cannot imagine they will be pleased."

Edited 2013-09-21 02:52 (UTC)

Alisa paled. She was close to going into a full blown anxiety attack. Never had she lost a contract, and this would bring much shame upon her.

"I... am sorry. I should not have lost my temper like dat." he deminer quickly changed to one of a more subdued person. "I am jus' concerned for de Shaw name, Lord Paramount."

She addressed him formally, as though she had completely lost all status. It was so hard to keep herself composed and not sounding like she was going to start screaming or crying. "I humbly beg for a second chance. I will not 'ave anoder outburst like dat ever again, I swear. I will... learn my place, better, Lord Paramount. Jus', do not end my services to Alisatire or convince him otherwise, Sir. I will do anyt'ing..."

"The Shaw name is no longer any of your concern." Sebastian replied. "I will be contacting Alistaire immediately regarding the affair. You will not resist or try to convince him to defy my will. Any attempt to do so will end poorly for you.

Second chances are a rare and precious privilege. You have done nothing to earn such an honour."

And then the line went dead. If Alisa tried to call again, she would get nothing, not a busy signal, not a disconnection, just complete dead silence.

She could not speak fast enough to convince him to let her remain at Alistaire's side. The phone was dead and there was no point in her calling him back. She just listened to the busy signal for a few moments before letting the phone drop from her hand. She just lost her most important job, the one she was most loyal to, and that had tainted her name. No doubt Shaw would also go as far as to make her nearly unemployable by anyone for that matter. As far as Alisa LeBeau knew, her life was just over.

"Great... gonna be de laughin' stock o' de Guilds, an' probably kicked outta de Enforcer's branch. Probably gonna end up in an arranged marriage like de others... fuck." She finally hung up the phone and looked at the last name on her list. "Stephanie Shaw.... well, I'm fucked all around, ain' I."

Alisa sat back in her chair. She wanted to drink some of her good vodka from the liquor cabinet, but she was still on pain medication for her leg. She had just been fired. It was still a huge shock to her, but an odd relief. While she cared for Alistaire, while she still loved him... perhaps it was time for him to walk on his own two legs for once. If he wished to follow his Grandfather's rule, so be it. She was not going to beg to stay on.

Picking her phone back up, she redialed the Xavier Institute to talk with the secretary at the time, requesting that meeting and interview that Rachel said she could schedule if she was free of the Shaw control. Right now, she wanted NOTHING to do with them. She wanted nothing to do with the Guilds anymore, either. It was time she started to live her own life and on her terms.

"I'm better den some goon. I got a got head on my shoulders an' I should use it. Stayin' wit' Sebastian an' Alisatire is like stayin' on a sinkin' ship dat's got limited life vests. I don' want dat. I want to be good" She thought to herself as she made the arrangements to go to the school for a formal job interview.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Looking for Work (in all the wrong places)? (open at all)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

Re: Next Name on the List

An hour or so later...