xp_logs | Kevin & Angelo | Tuesday afternoon

His first day back from New Orleans Kevin reports for work at ELPIS...and hands in his two week notice.

After two weeks in New Orleans it was strange to walk back into the ELPIS office. Any office would have likely been just as strange for him. It was his first shift since returning from his trip but he bypassed his desk and headed for Angelo's office instead. The guy looked busy, but then Angelo always looked busy. He ran the office and kept Nathan in line still. That was like two full time jobs right there. Kevin knocked lightly on the frame of the open door and offered the other man a smile. "Can Ah come in?"

"Kevin!" He looked up with a smile in return, and gestured at the empty chair. "Course you can. How was New Orleans?"

"It was awesome," he replied, grinning, as he took the seat. "Ah'm gonna live there just for the food, Ah swear. It's sorta crowded with the tourists and all but the haunted stuff and music and all? Totally worth dealing with them. It's got a cool creative vibe to it. Ah didn't really find like the art scene or whatever down there but Ah might wanna go back and figure out where it is down there."

"Yeah?" Angelo grinned. "Well hey, you're a free man now. You totally could."

"Yeah, the man can't hold me down now." Kevin's eyes slid from one corner to the other and he scratched his head. "Or somethin' like that. Actually...Ah sorta came to talk to you 'bout freedom in a way."

"A-ha." He turned more serious, studying the younger man, but still light-hearted. "What's up?"

A somewhat sheepish look came over the Southerner's expression. Kevin pulled an envelop out of his back pocket. It was thin, only containing a single sheet of paper with his typed resignation on it. He'd never quit a job before but he was pretty sure putting it in writing was standard. "Ah'm sorta handing in my two weeks notice."

Angelo blinked and sat up straighter, reaching out for the envelope. "... there's nothin' wrong, right? I mean, it's not wantin' to not work here?"

"Oh, everything's fine. Ah wanna concentrate on my art more, mostly. Y'know, all but one of the sculptures that was in that gallery sold. So Ah think Ah sorta wanna see if maybe Ah can make that like an actual career or something." There was also the fact that Kevin had only ever started working with ELPIS because Nathan had exploited a crush Kevin'd had on Sooraya a few years ago. He had never really gotten passionate about ELPIS's mission statement, personally. Kevin didn't think that part of the reasoning was really necessary. Angelo knew he was basically a paper pusher in the office.

Angelo considered this, then nodded. "Okay, then. Just wanted to make sure it was nothin' we could fix, but if the work itself's not where you want to be forever... we'd hardly be lookin' to make you stay. Notice accepted, I guess."

"Nah, it's nothin' that can be fixed. Ah just...Ah always wanted to do art. Ah'm thinkin' - and it's just sort of a vague idea right now - but Ah'm thinkin' 'bout travelin' 'round for a while. Y'know, find inspiration in places Ah'll never see otherwise, in people Ah'll never meet otherwise." Mostly he was thinking of going back to Georgia for a while but he didn't want to give voice to that. Somehow Georgia felt like this secret thing he shouldn't talk about. Maybe because he almost never spoke of his home state or childhood.

"I can get behind that." He smiled again. "Might as well take the chance while you've got it, before stuff shows up to pin you down."

"And while Ah've got more money in my bank account than Ah've ever had in my life." He could easily live off the profit from those gallery sales for months, if not more.

"This is also true." With a grin, Angelo added, "'Though if your art's doin' as well as all that, it doesn't sound like money's likely to be a problem anytime soon."

"Hopefully." Kevin held up crossed fingers. "Long as Ah've got somewhere to work and manage to find a way to get people to know 'bout my stuff. With any luck it'll keep up, right?"

"Here's hopin'." He shrugged. "An' if you need any help, whatever kind, you know you only have to call."

"Thanks. Ah appreciate that." Falling silent, Kevin frowned a little. "Ah've never quit a job before. Is it supposed to be kinda awkward now that Ah'm all 'yeah, Ah'm quittin' but Ah should go do my job now'?"

"Doesn't have to be", Angelo said easily. "I mean, this isn't the kind of quittin' where we're never gonna talk to each other again. You're just movin' on."

Kevin grinned. "Ah dunno, Ah was totally plannin' on avoidin' you like a crazy ex-girlfriend or something."

That got a burst of laughter, then he nodded. "Yeah, I think it'll be okay. Gotta say, it takes balls to do what you're plannin'. Just pack up an' head out."

"And leave my girl behind." He didn't sound half as enthusiastic about that part. Laura was part of the reason why he was so on the fence about going forward with his vague idea for adventure.

"Ah, yeah." He winced. "That part'd suck. Maybe she could go with you some of the way, or come spend time with you when she can?"

"Ah'm hopin' to convince her of that second one. Her boss is missin' so she's kinda busy huntin' for Vanessa. Ah don't wanna ask her to come with me now but maybe later. When they've found Vanessa and stuff calms down. Could work, right?" Kevin held out hope there. He really cared about Laura and he wanted things to work out between them. She had stuff she was still working through and that she would likely be working through for a while. It seemed like a decent time to take off to explore.

Angelo nodded. "Well, you're not goin' anywhere for at least two weeks. With any luck, Vanessa'll be safe at home by then." Though that was more wishful than actually believing in it.

"Yeah, hopefully. Ah should probably be gettin' to work now, though. Somehow while Ah was gone the files got together and mated and now there's like three times as many as usual."

"They do that", was the rueful response. "Go on, I'll catch up with you later. Also, any preference for who I put in charge of your leavin' party?"

"Juliet, she's always had a crush on me." He joked with a wink and stood up. "Kiddin', nah, no preference."

"It'll be a surprise, then", Angelo answered with an innocent and really not at all worrisome grin.

Kevin narrowed his eyes. "Dear God, there's gonna be balloons, clowns and a pettin' zoo now." Kevin hung his head in defeat and shuffled out of the office. He was really hoping Angelo wouldn't go and do just that now that he'd said that.

"You'll have to wait an' see!" Angelo called after him, then turned back to his work, snickering to himself.