xp_logs | A kick in the butt; Hope and Julian (backdated)

Hope gives Julian a kick in the butt to get some things in order.

It was another day, the morning was dragging on as Julian clad in only his bathrobe and a pair of boxers that Tandy used as pajamas sat on his couch and watched The Price is Right. The curtains were drawn, despite Tandy having tossed them open with vigor before leaving. The TV remote sat on the debris strewn coffee table before him, and a bottle of inexpensive beer, dripping with condensation, was on the end table beside him. The bottle suddenly glowed and raised itself to Julian's face, tipping back and allowing him a drink. It returned to the table with an audible clank as he watched, glassy-eyed, another contestant tear down the stairs and to the front, hoping to strike it rich.

Hope sharply knocked twice before she pushed open the door, taking in the scene in front of her. The mess lying around and Julian sitting on the couch still in his bathrobe. "Working very hard on your recovery, I see?"

He looked up at her and scoffed, "This is recovery work." The bag of chips began to roll itself up as Julian pushed himself up to a seated position. Crumbs fell and Nick began to happily scarf them until he was pushed off the couch. Harley had gone to greet hope as she entered. "Fine motor control is tricky when you can't quite recall-" the bag burst, scattering chips across the room and sending the dogs running to clean up the windfall. "The feel of it. What's up?"

"One guess. Despite people being aware of your... condition, there has been an incessant clamor at work for your imput. I have been diverting people where I can, managed to handle a few other issues myself, but I find myself making decisions I am nowhere near qualified to make!" Hope modulated her voice a bit. "I understand coming into the office is not possible, but perhaps joining in at a meeting or two over Skype would be possible?"

Julian looked away from Hope for a moment as the dogs fought over the last chip, "Knock it off!" he shouted with a rasp to his usually smooth voice. The admonished pups slunk off to the bedroom, and silence (save for the shouts of the crowd on the television) returned to the chamber. After another moment, Julian stood and went to tighten his robe, only to have the caps on his wrists clank together. Wincing, he went on, "I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible either, Miss Abbot."

"And why not?" Hope raised her eyebrow at him and gestured at the beer bottle on the table. "If you can manage to drink beer with your TK, I am sure you can press buttons on your computer. And otherwise there is always the option of voice software. I am sure Doug or Sue have something."

His brow knit slightly as another beat of silence passed, "Am I still your boss?" Julian sat down again, not looking at Hope.

"That is what it says on paper..." Hope fell silent, letting Julian make his point.

"And your my employee, and you've been given a sizable raise to deal with this bullshit." Julian turned his head slightly, "I'm still in Tahiti for all anyone knows- we'll keep it that way." His attention turned back to the Price is Right as another contestant won a car, "What do you have for me then?"

"Well, said raise has not come through since your boss said you needed to sit down with HR first." Hope moved towards the couch and took a seat. "I will speak plainly. People are quite aware you are not in Tahiti. They are aware something bad has happened. They will keep chasing after you. Do a Skype meeting to settle that and you will be able to wallow in peace."

Hope paused for a moment before dropping. "Or your mother has said she will fly out here."

"Neither of us want that," Julian quipped, taking a moment of silence to mull over Hope's words. "How did the word get out that I'm not in Tahiti...I thought that's where I'm supposed to be convalescing under the assumed name, Jack Jones or something."

"Because your company phone has pinged in NY when people tried to get a hold of you." Hope stated dryly. "Confirmed by the buzz that your mother might be flying out here. So I would say it's time to handle this."

Julian grumbled, "Teleconference? Could I just call in?" He didn't want to admit it, but she was right, there was no other way to handle this- he just <i>really</i> didn't want to.

"That is what I have been suggesting." Hope replied with a sigh as she sat down next to him. "We need to get things settled before something blows up. You do have some 'homework' to do beforehand though." She pulled out three folders. "People qualified to take over your duties as VP. And I don't know what you want to do about your charity responsibilities. That I have been able to keep going fairly well, but decisions need to be made."

"You've been doing fine without me, you'll take over the charity responsibilities," the middle folder pulled from the group and floated in the air, "and that's our Interim VP of East Coast Operations." Another chip floated into the air, which Julian casually leaned forward and chomped.

"I do not think your mother is going to agree with me taking over all your responsibilities in the charity area's." Hope objected as she took the file. "And I will check if he has a PA and otherwise I'll make sure I'll get one assigned to him if he does choose to accept the position."

"I'll call her, and reassure her that it's actually been you running that part of the company for the past year," he turned to look at Hope. "Yes, I said, I'll call her...so weird." His phone floated out of his pocket and suspended itself in the air before him for a moment. "Um...I may need you to dial though," he muttered, the faint ember of enthusiasm he'd had a moment before doused in reality.

"That I can do." She lifted the phone from the air. "There is something you should know before you call though. Even if it's not the best moment to share... I have been accepted into Barnard College..."

"Congratulations?" Julian raised an eyebrow, "Why there? Your connections could have placed you <i>anywhere</i>."

"Because it is a very high rated liberal arts college? Which also gives me access to all the classes taught at Columbia University. Plus, it also enables me to stay at the mansion, something I really wanted." Hope explained with a raised eyebrow.

"But...parties," Julian looked slightly hurt. Then an expression of realization washed over his face, "Oh, I didn't know...really? No, you're an employee, don't answer that." His eyes looked at the phone in her hands, "Never thought I'd say this," he cleared his throat with a slight 'ahem', "I'd like to speak with my mother now."

"What on earth are you going on about now?" Hope's second eyebrow joined the first. "Are you sure you should combining beer and painkillers...?"

"I shouldn't not be doing so," Julian took another drink and stared back at Hope in silence. Finally, "Phone?"

Shaking her head, Hope let the subject drop and started dialing. "Here you go." She held up the phone so he could hold it with his TK.

He floated the phone to his ear and cradled it against his shoulder, "Thanks, Hope. Yes, Julian Keller for Elizabeth Keller, and tell her that calling from Tahiti is crazy expensive." Julian looked back to his young protege, "Really, Hope. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Julian." She rose from her seat and gathered her files again. "If you'll let me know what your mother says, I'll put things in motion as soon as possible."

"Yeah, Mom, hold a second please," Julian turned his eyes toward his protege. "Stop back in twenty or so and I'll let you know. I can't exactly type or anything right now."

"Will do." With those words Hope closed the door behind her with a soft click.