[OPEN] October Post

[catphishing]

Redbright Institute
Open to Redbright affiliates.

[Oliver is getting settled into his new role now. He can often be seen out and about, fixing computers, phones, or whatever else might need doing. It's often basic stuff. Not too different from his last job in the end besides the kinds of people he's working around. Turns out the supernatural are just as prone to not realizing their printer isn't plugged in as anyone else.

He tries to make small talk with other staff members where he can, but he's a little awkward about it. Definitely still an outsider, and not just because he's a standard human. Much of the time he's not working on projects he's in his office, typing at his computer but more than available if anyone should come knocking.]

Some Bar Somewhere
OTA, Friday evenings.

[After a week of work it's nice kick back and relax with a beer or two. He stands at the bar, tending to keep to himself at first, though he's responsive to small talk.

It's later on when he's a little more tipsy he's less capable of that. A little more likely to bump into someone followed by a stuttered apology. He can be found outside too, attempting to clear his head, but maybe wincing a little at the smoke of cigarettes inevitably lit near the door.]

Coffee Shop
OTA, whenever.

[Sometimes a guy's got to have coffee. He's more than capable of making his own, but he appreciates the fancy kind beyond his skill that no good barista would consider coffee anymore. Especially when there are seasonal varieties for him to enjoy.

Maybe his pumpkin spice latte is a little eye roll worthy, but hey, it tastes really good.]

Comments

a bar

[thelittlemerman]

[Okay so sometimes it's nice to go to a bar that isn't crawling in fae. He loves them, he really does, but sometimes Finnick just needs to go somewhere that isn't buzzing with magic all the time. It can be relaxing to get away from all of that once in a while. It helps that humans tend to be smitten with him the moment he sits next to them at the bar or walks in their general eyesight, but he has his alluring glamour turned down a bit tonight so he won't catch so much attention.]

[Of course that's where Oliver bumps into him. Finnick's not a small man by any means, so it's to be expected, but he can tell a moment later that his size isn't the only reason for their collision.]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[He speaks in that deep, smooth voice of his, which has become almost a defense mechanism.

[catphishing]

No, it's okay. That was my fault.

[Now he's looking at him he's not quite sure how he didn't see him to avoid running into him. On the plus side it doesn't seem like he spilled his drink down him. This is embarrassing enough already.]

Are you all right?

[thelittlemerman]

I'm fine.

[He smiles to reassure him, and then glances down at Oliver's drink.]

Did you spill anything? Please let me buy you another if you lost any of your drink on my account.

[catphishing]

[He laughs, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.]

I walked into you. Even if I had that wouldn't be on your account.

[thelittlemerman]

[Aw cute, the human's embarrassed.]

Well, let me buy you a drink anyway, just for the misfortune of running into me in the first place.

[Oliver doesn't have much time before Finnick's waving down the bartender.]

some bar

[injectablefame]

Fuck off!

[ Party can really only be described as lit at this point in his evening. He'd come out to have a good time and let off some steam and maybe get his rocks off, but instead he seems to have found himself narrowly avoid a bar fight with a big guy twice his size.

He's a few hairs short of being asked to leave the bar as he flips the guy off and turns away quickly, but his coordination is pretty hampered and he shoulder-checks Oliver by accident as he tries to get away from the bartender, who is clearly not on his side right now. ]

Watch out.

[ His words are slurred, but his anger still hasn't dissipated. If he were sober, he might have wondered whether he'd always been this quick to anger or whether this was a werewolf thing, but he's not sober and he doesn't really give a shit. ]

[catphishing]

[He's half way through an apology before it clocks that, wait, no. He wasn't the one who ran into this guy. He's standing still.

He's a bit miffed with that in mind, but where he's a little drunk by now, this guy seems like he can barely stay on his feet. He puts up a hand to steady him, partly in case he falls into him again, but partly because he's a little concerned he might end up on the floor.]

Are you okay?

[injectablefame]

[ Party doesn't mind the touch or shrug it off. He's tactile by nature and after almost getting in that fight, it's a little grounding. His anger starts to dissipate as his emotions catch up to the rest of him. ]

'M fine. That guy's the one with the problem. This bar sucks, anyway.

[ The last part is pitched over his shoulder at the bartender. ]

You wanna get outta here with me?

[catphishing]

[Oliver is a little preoccupied with whether or not the bartender thinks he's actually with this guy. He likes this bar. He doesn't want to get barred just because some stranger ran into him.

Then the question catches up to him. He frowns, trying to figure out if he's hitting on him or just wants the company.]

And go where? A&E?

[Because honestly that's the only place he looks fit for.]

Coffee Shop

[defy_the_stars]

[Fancy coffee is quickly becoming one of Liadan's weaknesses. London has more types and flavours of coffee than she previously knew existed. And so, when she gets sick of looking for apartments or advertising her soon-to-be-open daycare, she and Johnny head out in search of a new shop and new flavour.

She's been hearing a lot about this pumpkin spice latte and decides to order one for herself, and a child's hot cocoa for her son. She gets them settled at a table in the corner before taking her first sip.]

"Mmmm ... I can see what all the fuss is about now."

[catphishing]

[She's not talking to him, but Oliver's only at the next table over. He can't help but comment himself.]

Right? This place makes them really well too.

[defy_the_stars]

[Liadan doesn't mind being overheard - actually, she could use some adult conversation that wasn't about rent or business plans.]

It's my first time having one but I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.

[catphishing]

You should come back here if you can. You'll probably be disappointed otherwise after starting out here.

coffee!

[anniesgonemad]

[Annie, too, had ordered herself a pumpkin spice latte. It was one of her weaknesses around this time, enjoying the spices, the way it filled her nose and just made her think of autumn.

But that's the thing. She's been waiting for a while for hers, and this other guy has just reached up to take the coffee that she's quite sure should have been hers.

Usually, she'd let it go. But she was working on her ability to talk to people, and, well. This was going to be an experiment.] Uhm, excuse me. Sorry, hi- I think- I think that's my coffee...?

[catphishing]

[He'd been impressed at how fast it had been made, but he hadn't thought much of it beyond that. He looks confused for a moment at the interruption, but his eyes widen as he sees her. She's definitely been waiting longer than he has. If they made the same order... this is definitely hers. Especially if the awkward look the poor barista he'd just taken it off is anything to go by.]

Right. Sorry. I didn't know anyone else was waiting for the same thing.

[He holds the drink out to her, waiting for her to take it.]

[anniesgonemad]

[Annie shakes her head.] No, no, it's okay. You can, ah, you can have this one. You got to it first. I don't mind.

[she gives him a soft smile.] I don't really want to inconvenience you.

[catphishing]

[That hadn't been the reaction he expected, and it takes him a moment to realize she isn't taking it.

It just makes him hold the drink out even more insistently. How can he take it from her when he knows if the situation were reversed he'd probably have let himself miss out on his own drink too?]

It's not mine. It's not like I'm going to have to wait any longer than I would have if I hadn't taken yours instead.

Some bar!

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha recognizes Oliver from around campus, though she hasn't had much cause to seek out his help. For her age, she's pretty sharp when it comes to things like adding email accounts to her phone, not opening email attachments from people she doesn't know, who don't know how to spell her name and who claim to be from legitimate companies while sending from completely unidentifiable domains.

But she does recognize him, which makes her more forgiving when he bumps into her a few drinks in.]

Don't worry about it. I've had worse.

[catphishing]

[He regonizes her too, though they haven't spoken yet. He still brightens a little at the familiar face.]

I'm still sorry. Hey, you work at Redbright, right?

[outstandingbalance]

I'm with the Outreach Group, yeah. Since earlier this year.

You?

[catphishing]

IT. Nothing too exciting. I only started a couple of months ago.

Redbright Institute (Oct. 14)

[goodgraces]

[Grabbing hold of Oliver’s partially open office door, Guinevere knocks and calls out to him before peeking inside.]

Knock, knock! Are you free…

[She looks back at the nameplate on the door, choosing to address him informally.]

…Oliver? I could use some help if you are.

[catphishing]

[Oliver looks up from his screen, removing his hands from the keyboard so he can pay his visitor better attention.]

Yeah, I'm free. Come on in.

[goodgraces]

Oh, thank god!

[Guinevere strides forward and drops two tablets onto Oliver’s desk. Both are school property, one on loan to her, the other to a student named Dylan Wright.]

Please, tell me you can fix this.

[She sounds and looks fed up in equal measure.

The tablets are infected with a very persistent virus that has locked away all but the most basic content and may have even deleted some. (Dylan’s tablet also has the kind of stuff one would expect from a teenage boy, including some hidden files that aren’t really all that hidden.) Both tablets should have been protected from attack, but this virus originated as a rather inventive bit of techno-magic, similar to the kind that was used by one of Dylan’s mates to free his tablet from school imposed controls.

There is definitely a story here, and Gwen will absolutely offer up details if necessary. Right now, though, she’s going to flop down in the chair across from Oliver while she waits to hear his verdict.]


[[ OOC: My knowledge of computer/virus stuff is rudimentary at best, which is why I’ve left everything very general. Feel free to add whatever you like. ]]

[catphishing]

Yeah. Sure. Let me take a look at them.

[He picks up Dylan's tablet first.]

Mind telling me a bit about the problem?

[Maybe she won't know. He's come to expect that here, particularly among the staff who have a tendency to be older than they appear. It's worth asking though, and it will speed things up if he knows a little first.]

((ooc: Ffff, no worries. I'm not an expert either, so expect some BSing!))