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Mar. 30th, 2019 01:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logseXcalibur's first official team meeting.
Clint settled back into the surprisingly well-padded wheel-y chair situated nominally at the head of the table, but since they were all gathered at a round table, it was kind of pointless. Still, this was a semi-important thing, being the first official team meeting after the mess that'd been discovering Avalon, so he cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows at everyone gathered around the table.
"Alright, let's open this meeting the right way," he said, reaching for one of the granola bars and a juice box from the center of the table. "Everybody got their access cards and passwords set up? All official permissions granted? Debriefs about the Lyton incident — if you were there — submitted?"
Wheel-y chairs were the best and they had the fancy kind that could be adjusted in so many different ways. They had had chairs like these when Matt was an intern at Landman and Zach so many years ago when he just got out of law school. What he liked about them was that not only could the height be adjusted, but the armrest height could too....and they could be removed entirely. He had taken his arm rests off and was now sitting backwards in his chair, juice box in hand like the child he pretended he wasn’t most of the time. “I feel like all I need now is to finish my juice and then go nap-nap,” he misquoted from the Rugrats, “but yes, I did all the things. Report written, proofed and submitted,” his spelling and punctuation tended towards the horrible.
“And probably being sent back to you for grammar fixes.” Topaz had skipped all the offered drinks, choosing instead to crack open another energy drink and take a long sip of it. “We’ve got a list. Which is impressive considering how few of us were actually involved in all that.”
"Nah, I just fix both of their grammar and then make them buy me cheese box from the Starbucks." Kyle said. "I think Clinto Barto's about nine cheese boxes in debt to me. Matt's actually paid up through the month." He set a tablet computer on the table, and scrolled around on the screen with a chunky stylus. "But if Clinto wants to un-debt himself to me, I'll transfer it to our local hacker types, cause we owe them for all our secure door setup to the weird walk-in closet. They might be less, like, "buy me cheese" and more "buy me a coffee."
“Nope, I got Megan to do it. That’s why I have two secretaries,” Matt pointed out. “If there’s anything for Kyle to fix, then that’s on them.”
"That's why you're my fav." Kyle said, with a tap of his water bottle on the table.
“Yeah, we're good, right? I wouldn't want to submit anything shonky now,” said Megan, but didn't think she had. She actually felt quite posh, wearing new heels and sipping her juice. Maybe it was boxed for school lunches here, but last time she was in London she’d seen it listed on menus along with Orangina. Yep, exotic. As was the new team meeting. She flipped to a blank page in a fresh notebook, reserving the first page for a cool drawing, once she figured out what that would be.
"Clinto Barto purchased his most excellent HR-type person some amazing vodak and tequila, but you're gonna have to supply your own pineapples," Clint said, pointing his unopened juice box at Kyle. "And anyway, I totes already had Tasha check over my debrief. It's legit."
Natasha sauntered through the doorway as if she’d somehow been summoned. “Mmhm. Fully legit and vetted. It’ll even pass muster for later intel purposes.” She tapped Matt on the shoulder on her way past and ruffled Clint’s hair as she grabbed a juice box and granola bar from the center of the table herself then pulled an empty chair close to sit slightly behind and to the left of of Clint . “And you mean stole the vodak out of my stash.”
Flicking a paperclip at his brother for referring to himself as ‘Clinto Barto’ Matt spun in his chair. His brother was seriously dumb.
Clint crossed his heart and muttered, "Did not," to Natasha before flicking the paperclip back at Matt and hitting him precisely in the middle of his forehead.
Topaz rolled her eyes at all of them, taking another long sip of her drink. “By the way, that weird walk-in closet has a name, and I’m pretty sure it’s sentient on some level, so be nice to it.”
Flipping his phone open, Clint scrolled through his notes section and said, "Right, so. Weird walk-in's called Avalon, per Doug. The cosplaying, murder-y guy called it that." Then he glanced up and around the table. "Where are we so far as organizing a timetable with Amanda and Wanda for cataloguing everything in there? And how sure are we that we'll be able to figure out what everything in there actually is?"
“We’ve discussed discussing looking at Avalon,” Topaz said dryly. “Unlike me, the two of them actually have jobs, and there’s only so much time in a day since no one has invented time travel yet. I’m starting on the surface and taking pictures to go over with them later. It’s definitely not going to get done in a month. And yes, I know that’s a vague, unhelpful answer, but I don’t want to give you a firm time just to have us miss the deadline. As for identifying it all…” She frowns, chewing on her thumbnail for a moment. “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, we’ve got more than enough books and resources. It’s just another thing that’ll take time.”
"Well, we seem to have time, for the moment, so just keep us updated on what you figure out as you figure it out," Clint said, turning back to the actual meeting. "Also, given how creepy and/or dangerous Avalon actually is — seriously, that place gave me the wiggins — we're gonna be instituting a buddy system for anybody going in. T, can you and Amanda check to see if it's just a mind whammy it's putting on people or if it's actually messing with powers?"
“Can do, but I might need a guinea pig or something to tap into,” Topaz said, getting out a small book to make a note in. “I don’t feel anything like you lot do when you go in there. I can’t theorize if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“You kidnapped me,” Rachel piped up from where she sat perched on the window ledge, staring into her truly massive mug of coffee like it contained the answers to life and all its current mysteries. “May as well conduct nefarious science experiments on me to continue that narrative.” She took a long satisfying slurp from the mug that put a deeply satisfied look on her mug, then glanced up at Topaz and grinned.
Darcy had a sandwich in one hand and was taking notes with the other, but she gave a full-body shudder when the closet was mentioned. “Sentient closet gives me the hebe jebes so sure, you can check and see if it’s supernatural heebs or just normal jeebs. Might as well have a good sample pool.”
“Just...Face Masks and gloves, please?” Laurie had heard from various people already about Avalon, although she was yet to visit the ‘weird closet’ herself. “At least until we know there’s no weird, ancient bacteria or viruses to be brought back and destroy the world.”
"Dammit, who had "Laurie is reasonable about safety" on their meeting bingo card, cause I've got "Laurie makes us go full bunny suit" and I think I can't BINGO now." Kyle said, tapping his tablet sharply. "Man, and I was close, I had Matt sits weird and Topaz pretends I don't keep trying to get her on payroll."
“There’s a payroll?” Topaz asked, looking up from her notebook with a seemingly blank expression.
“It was close. Had members of the team not already been exposed to the general environment without obvious fatality or other forms of in extremis, I may have requested such measures. Given that none of you are dead, it seems the air and general surrounds are not immediately fatal.”
Laurie’s general air of amusement was obvious but she also answered the question with an air of serious consideration.
“I believe I need ‘Namor is absent’ on my bingo card. Also," she continued, "I reserve the right to pull you all out for more extreme quarantine measures should the need for such things arise. Please keep an eye on any changes in behavior or well being levels as you explore.”
"Fuck, who had 'Kyle says some shit and Laurie responds by being a robot?'" Kyle added, laughing.
“Your mother is a robot.” Laurie, in a move she considered completely adult and not at all juvenile, proceeded to poke her tongue out at her friend.
"I was not invited to this Bingo party," Clint intoned, his expression solemn as he looked around the table. "But it looks like you're never gonna get Bingo, Laur." He tipped a imaginary hat in her direction. "Which brings us neatly to our next item for the meeting — sorry, Darce, I know I jossed your itinerary — His Majesty has an announcement."
On queue, Laurie’s Bingo Card was ruined as the Atlantean royal swept through the door to the conference room. Namor was shirtless, as was traditional, and slowly crossed the room with both hands clasped behind his back. Chest high and eyes appraising, he made sure to meet eyes with everyone in the room before stopping where he could be best seen by all.
"It has been long since I, Namor, the Avenging Son, woke to find my people and kingdom disappeared. I vowed then on my people's name to one day retake Atlantis, but it was not until the past days that there has been any proof that what was once lost could be found.
"As reward for your — and We stress your, as the rest of this military establishment's focus has been disappointingly scattered when it comes to my mission — successful work in Avalon, We will allow you to operate under Our name and patronage. In exchange for this generosity, you will assist Us in locating and restoring Atlantis."
The Royal paused then, nodding to himself in his own magnanimity, in wait of any declarations of glee or praise that were sure to follow.
Clint gave Namor a double thumbs up and a grin.
“Very kind of you, your Majesty.”
Laurie’s response was dry yet still respectful, you never knew when a friendly relationship with royalty would pay off. She finally looked up from her notes and met the royal's gaze with one of her own, eyeing his shirtless torso shamelessly before turning back to the others.
“Given the royal decree, have we arranged for a business front? I’m assuming we want to keep our various excavations a secret, or at least legitimately explained?”
"No need," Clint said, shaking his head. "We're not doing anything illegal, just looking for science and anything to do with Atlantis. I'm not saying we should take out advertisements or anything, since there are definitely people we don't want paying attention to us, but so far as the business end of things goes…" He shrugged. "I'm sure Kitty can put in a good word for us so far as antiquities are concerned. Otherwise, it's business as usual — research, research, research, adventure, confusion, profit."
Topaz looked up from her notebook, raising any eyebrow. “I’m just going to assume ‘profit’ is ‘the valuable knowledge of learning about ancient magic’ and not ‘we’re going to sell stuff’ because I need to believe no one here is that dense.”
"What? No," Clint said, turning from where he'd been making encouraging, thankful eyebrows at Namor so he could wrinkle his nose at Topaz. "I like myself unhexed and uncursed and generally in good health when you're not mad at me."
“So like, one week out of the month for the good health bit?” Darcy quipped. “Between the science you lick when you shouldn’t, the pissing off Topaz when you shouldn’t, and general sparring sessions with Tasha? Oh, and the occasional ‘actually made The Darcy do more than yell’ times, like keeping mind-controlling squids when you shouldn’t.” She flashed Clint a sunny smile to take the edge off her teasing.
"My squid-children do not mind-control me," Clint said, waving his hand back and forth. "Or their mother," he added, then laughed a little. "And anyway, I haven't licked anything I shouldn't lick in years."
“That’s definitely fake, you were licking that weird neon green shit the… last week? Two weeks ago? There’s a reason we have the giant DO NOT LICK THE SCIENCE poster.”
"Do I need to make a list of things this team isn’t allowed to do anymore?"
Laurie’s tone was mildly amused but she’d looked back down at her phone to make a note nevertheless.
"Nah, I think we're good," Clint said, side-smiling despite himself even as he waved for her to put her phone away.
“So…” Topaz twiddled her pen between her fingers, pointedly ignoring any talk about Clint touching and/or licking anything stupid. “Don’t we need a name? That’s how these things work, right? Every group that has more than five people gets a name?”
“Clinto Barto’s home for wayward youths?”
Laurie was busy writing notes in her now open phone notebook, so any physical sign that she wasn’t serious was easily hidden.
"Negative, Ghost Rider," Clint said, snorting softly. "I've zero inclination to step on the Prof's toes so far as thinly veiled copyright infringement is concerned. Also, keeping real names out of the logo's probably a good idea? Just so it's not like, weird. Y'know. Cause I'm not the only person on the team. That'd be… not good?" Then, because Topaz had been the one to snark the question in the first place, he gave her a pointed look and asked, "Any suggestions, T?"
Topaz looked up from her notebook, raising an eyebrow and actually seriously taking the question into consideration for a moment. Her tone was obviously sarcastic, though. "Avalon, magic, something with an X..." She twirled her pen absently. "I'm going with Excalibur. Doesn't technically start with an X, but it has an X sound, so I think it counts. It could also be argued that the E is silent, since X sounds like it starts with a soft E, although actually putting an E in front of an X can drastically change the meaning of a word. Ex-Men with an E wouldn't look good on paper. English is a ridiculous language, honestly."
"So like." Kyle pointed at Topaz and made finger guns. "What if like, lowercase e, capital X? I mean, it's awesome, it's a big sword, it's weird stuff, it's history stuff, it's got kind of a dumb language joke in it that nobody but me and Topaz will laugh at… " He shrugged. "I am totes into it. It sounds badass, science is the new magic, and I mean dudes, it gives me an excuse to make everyone read books and watch so many bad movies."
“Or just spell it with an X and forget the E. X-C-A-L-I-B-U-R,” Matt spelled it out. It would drive his audio reader nuts, but it was programmable. “And the logo needs swords. Because we cannot be called Excalibur, regardless of spelling, without the King Arthur reference.”
“My grip on the English language is shaky at best when it comes to punctuation but,” Laurie poked at her phone and then drew a completely not professional at all logo with a sword as the L. “If we want a sword, you’re going to need it to be the L. I mean, you could use the letter I, but that would be weird visually. No offense.” She looked up, realizing talking about visual looks to a blind man might be considered socially awkward at best.
Natasha was sucking on a lollipop she’d pulled from somewhere and it gave a loud pop as she pulled it free. “Why’s it have to be the ‘L’? I don’t see why the X can’t be two swords. Dual wielding swords is a thing after all.” She shrugged. “Not efficient, but it can be done.”
Matt shrugged, “I like the two-sword idea more. It would look cooler,” was it weird discussing aesthetics as a blind man? Maybe, but they were important to him too, just perhaps not in the same ways. “And two is better than one.”
“Are you all…” Topaz looked around the table, then shook her head, returning to her notes. “Okay. Brilliant.”
“I will refrain from making any comments about sword handling.” Laurie informed them somewhat primly, but with a wicked glint in her eyes. “But know that I am thinking them nevertheless.”
Clint snorted in Laurie's general direction, then pointed finger guns at Topaz and said, "Excalibur it is." Then he glanced over to Kyle and did his best real life impersonation of the shrug emoji. "I think keeping the E can capitalizing the X would set us apart from the other teams, too. So that's nice. And we all know how I feel about good capitalization, anyway." He grinned. "Consider us dubbed and logo-ed!"
Clint settled back into the surprisingly well-padded wheel-y chair situated nominally at the head of the table, but since they were all gathered at a round table, it was kind of pointless. Still, this was a semi-important thing, being the first official team meeting after the mess that'd been discovering Avalon, so he cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows at everyone gathered around the table.
"Alright, let's open this meeting the right way," he said, reaching for one of the granola bars and a juice box from the center of the table. "Everybody got their access cards and passwords set up? All official permissions granted? Debriefs about the Lyton incident — if you were there — submitted?"
Wheel-y chairs were the best and they had the fancy kind that could be adjusted in so many different ways. They had had chairs like these when Matt was an intern at Landman and Zach so many years ago when he just got out of law school. What he liked about them was that not only could the height be adjusted, but the armrest height could too....and they could be removed entirely. He had taken his arm rests off and was now sitting backwards in his chair, juice box in hand like the child he pretended he wasn’t most of the time. “I feel like all I need now is to finish my juice and then go nap-nap,” he misquoted from the Rugrats, “but yes, I did all the things. Report written, proofed and submitted,” his spelling and punctuation tended towards the horrible.
“And probably being sent back to you for grammar fixes.” Topaz had skipped all the offered drinks, choosing instead to crack open another energy drink and take a long sip of it. “We’ve got a list. Which is impressive considering how few of us were actually involved in all that.”
"Nah, I just fix both of their grammar and then make them buy me cheese box from the Starbucks." Kyle said. "I think Clinto Barto's about nine cheese boxes in debt to me. Matt's actually paid up through the month." He set a tablet computer on the table, and scrolled around on the screen with a chunky stylus. "But if Clinto wants to un-debt himself to me, I'll transfer it to our local hacker types, cause we owe them for all our secure door setup to the weird walk-in closet. They might be less, like, "buy me cheese" and more "buy me a coffee."
“Nope, I got Megan to do it. That’s why I have two secretaries,” Matt pointed out. “If there’s anything for Kyle to fix, then that’s on them.”
"That's why you're my fav." Kyle said, with a tap of his water bottle on the table.
“Yeah, we're good, right? I wouldn't want to submit anything shonky now,” said Megan, but didn't think she had. She actually felt quite posh, wearing new heels and sipping her juice. Maybe it was boxed for school lunches here, but last time she was in London she’d seen it listed on menus along with Orangina. Yep, exotic. As was the new team meeting. She flipped to a blank page in a fresh notebook, reserving the first page for a cool drawing, once she figured out what that would be.
"Clinto Barto purchased his most excellent HR-type person some amazing vodak and tequila, but you're gonna have to supply your own pineapples," Clint said, pointing his unopened juice box at Kyle. "And anyway, I totes already had Tasha check over my debrief. It's legit."
Natasha sauntered through the doorway as if she’d somehow been summoned. “Mmhm. Fully legit and vetted. It’ll even pass muster for later intel purposes.” She tapped Matt on the shoulder on her way past and ruffled Clint’s hair as she grabbed a juice box and granola bar from the center of the table herself then pulled an empty chair close to sit slightly behind and to the left of of Clint . “And you mean stole the vodak out of my stash.”
Flicking a paperclip at his brother for referring to himself as ‘Clinto Barto’ Matt spun in his chair. His brother was seriously dumb.
Clint crossed his heart and muttered, "Did not," to Natasha before flicking the paperclip back at Matt and hitting him precisely in the middle of his forehead.
Topaz rolled her eyes at all of them, taking another long sip of her drink. “By the way, that weird walk-in closet has a name, and I’m pretty sure it’s sentient on some level, so be nice to it.”
Flipping his phone open, Clint scrolled through his notes section and said, "Right, so. Weird walk-in's called Avalon, per Doug. The cosplaying, murder-y guy called it that." Then he glanced up and around the table. "Where are we so far as organizing a timetable with Amanda and Wanda for cataloguing everything in there? And how sure are we that we'll be able to figure out what everything in there actually is?"
“We’ve discussed discussing looking at Avalon,” Topaz said dryly. “Unlike me, the two of them actually have jobs, and there’s only so much time in a day since no one has invented time travel yet. I’m starting on the surface and taking pictures to go over with them later. It’s definitely not going to get done in a month. And yes, I know that’s a vague, unhelpful answer, but I don’t want to give you a firm time just to have us miss the deadline. As for identifying it all…” She frowns, chewing on her thumbnail for a moment. “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, we’ve got more than enough books and resources. It’s just another thing that’ll take time.”
"Well, we seem to have time, for the moment, so just keep us updated on what you figure out as you figure it out," Clint said, turning back to the actual meeting. "Also, given how creepy and/or dangerous Avalon actually is — seriously, that place gave me the wiggins — we're gonna be instituting a buddy system for anybody going in. T, can you and Amanda check to see if it's just a mind whammy it's putting on people or if it's actually messing with powers?"
“Can do, but I might need a guinea pig or something to tap into,” Topaz said, getting out a small book to make a note in. “I don’t feel anything like you lot do when you go in there. I can’t theorize if I don’t know what’s going on.”
“You kidnapped me,” Rachel piped up from where she sat perched on the window ledge, staring into her truly massive mug of coffee like it contained the answers to life and all its current mysteries. “May as well conduct nefarious science experiments on me to continue that narrative.” She took a long satisfying slurp from the mug that put a deeply satisfied look on her mug, then glanced up at Topaz and grinned.
Darcy had a sandwich in one hand and was taking notes with the other, but she gave a full-body shudder when the closet was mentioned. “Sentient closet gives me the hebe jebes so sure, you can check and see if it’s supernatural heebs or just normal jeebs. Might as well have a good sample pool.”
“Just...Face Masks and gloves, please?” Laurie had heard from various people already about Avalon, although she was yet to visit the ‘weird closet’ herself. “At least until we know there’s no weird, ancient bacteria or viruses to be brought back and destroy the world.”
"Dammit, who had "Laurie is reasonable about safety" on their meeting bingo card, cause I've got "Laurie makes us go full bunny suit" and I think I can't BINGO now." Kyle said, tapping his tablet sharply. "Man, and I was close, I had Matt sits weird and Topaz pretends I don't keep trying to get her on payroll."
“There’s a payroll?” Topaz asked, looking up from her notebook with a seemingly blank expression.
“It was close. Had members of the team not already been exposed to the general environment without obvious fatality or other forms of in extremis, I may have requested such measures. Given that none of you are dead, it seems the air and general surrounds are not immediately fatal.”
Laurie’s general air of amusement was obvious but she also answered the question with an air of serious consideration.
“I believe I need ‘Namor is absent’ on my bingo card. Also," she continued, "I reserve the right to pull you all out for more extreme quarantine measures should the need for such things arise. Please keep an eye on any changes in behavior or well being levels as you explore.”
"Fuck, who had 'Kyle says some shit and Laurie responds by being a robot?'" Kyle added, laughing.
“Your mother is a robot.” Laurie, in a move she considered completely adult and not at all juvenile, proceeded to poke her tongue out at her friend.
"I was not invited to this Bingo party," Clint intoned, his expression solemn as he looked around the table. "But it looks like you're never gonna get Bingo, Laur." He tipped a imaginary hat in her direction. "Which brings us neatly to our next item for the meeting — sorry, Darce, I know I jossed your itinerary — His Majesty has an announcement."
On queue, Laurie’s Bingo Card was ruined as the Atlantean royal swept through the door to the conference room. Namor was shirtless, as was traditional, and slowly crossed the room with both hands clasped behind his back. Chest high and eyes appraising, he made sure to meet eyes with everyone in the room before stopping where he could be best seen by all.
"It has been long since I, Namor, the Avenging Son, woke to find my people and kingdom disappeared. I vowed then on my people's name to one day retake Atlantis, but it was not until the past days that there has been any proof that what was once lost could be found.
"As reward for your — and We stress your, as the rest of this military establishment's focus has been disappointingly scattered when it comes to my mission — successful work in Avalon, We will allow you to operate under Our name and patronage. In exchange for this generosity, you will assist Us in locating and restoring Atlantis."
The Royal paused then, nodding to himself in his own magnanimity, in wait of any declarations of glee or praise that were sure to follow.
Clint gave Namor a double thumbs up and a grin.
“Very kind of you, your Majesty.”
Laurie’s response was dry yet still respectful, you never knew when a friendly relationship with royalty would pay off. She finally looked up from her notes and met the royal's gaze with one of her own, eyeing his shirtless torso shamelessly before turning back to the others.
“Given the royal decree, have we arranged for a business front? I’m assuming we want to keep our various excavations a secret, or at least legitimately explained?”
"No need," Clint said, shaking his head. "We're not doing anything illegal, just looking for science and anything to do with Atlantis. I'm not saying we should take out advertisements or anything, since there are definitely people we don't want paying attention to us, but so far as the business end of things goes…" He shrugged. "I'm sure Kitty can put in a good word for us so far as antiquities are concerned. Otherwise, it's business as usual — research, research, research, adventure, confusion, profit."
Topaz looked up from her notebook, raising any eyebrow. “I’m just going to assume ‘profit’ is ‘the valuable knowledge of learning about ancient magic’ and not ‘we’re going to sell stuff’ because I need to believe no one here is that dense.”
"What? No," Clint said, turning from where he'd been making encouraging, thankful eyebrows at Namor so he could wrinkle his nose at Topaz. "I like myself unhexed and uncursed and generally in good health when you're not mad at me."
“So like, one week out of the month for the good health bit?” Darcy quipped. “Between the science you lick when you shouldn’t, the pissing off Topaz when you shouldn’t, and general sparring sessions with Tasha? Oh, and the occasional ‘actually made The Darcy do more than yell’ times, like keeping mind-controlling squids when you shouldn’t.” She flashed Clint a sunny smile to take the edge off her teasing.
"My squid-children do not mind-control me," Clint said, waving his hand back and forth. "Or their mother," he added, then laughed a little. "And anyway, I haven't licked anything I shouldn't lick in years."
“That’s definitely fake, you were licking that weird neon green shit the… last week? Two weeks ago? There’s a reason we have the giant DO NOT LICK THE SCIENCE poster.”
"Do I need to make a list of things this team isn’t allowed to do anymore?"
Laurie’s tone was mildly amused but she’d looked back down at her phone to make a note nevertheless.
"Nah, I think we're good," Clint said, side-smiling despite himself even as he waved for her to put her phone away.
“So…” Topaz twiddled her pen between her fingers, pointedly ignoring any talk about Clint touching and/or licking anything stupid. “Don’t we need a name? That’s how these things work, right? Every group that has more than five people gets a name?”
“Clinto Barto’s home for wayward youths?”
Laurie was busy writing notes in her now open phone notebook, so any physical sign that she wasn’t serious was easily hidden.
"Negative, Ghost Rider," Clint said, snorting softly. "I've zero inclination to step on the Prof's toes so far as thinly veiled copyright infringement is concerned. Also, keeping real names out of the logo's probably a good idea? Just so it's not like, weird. Y'know. Cause I'm not the only person on the team. That'd be… not good?" Then, because Topaz had been the one to snark the question in the first place, he gave her a pointed look and asked, "Any suggestions, T?"
Topaz looked up from her notebook, raising an eyebrow and actually seriously taking the question into consideration for a moment. Her tone was obviously sarcastic, though. "Avalon, magic, something with an X..." She twirled her pen absently. "I'm going with Excalibur. Doesn't technically start with an X, but it has an X sound, so I think it counts. It could also be argued that the E is silent, since X sounds like it starts with a soft E, although actually putting an E in front of an X can drastically change the meaning of a word. Ex-Men with an E wouldn't look good on paper. English is a ridiculous language, honestly."
"So like." Kyle pointed at Topaz and made finger guns. "What if like, lowercase e, capital X? I mean, it's awesome, it's a big sword, it's weird stuff, it's history stuff, it's got kind of a dumb language joke in it that nobody but me and Topaz will laugh at… " He shrugged. "I am totes into it. It sounds badass, science is the new magic, and I mean dudes, it gives me an excuse to make everyone read books and watch so many bad movies."
“Or just spell it with an X and forget the E. X-C-A-L-I-B-U-R,” Matt spelled it out. It would drive his audio reader nuts, but it was programmable. “And the logo needs swords. Because we cannot be called Excalibur, regardless of spelling, without the King Arthur reference.”
“My grip on the English language is shaky at best when it comes to punctuation but,” Laurie poked at her phone and then drew a completely not professional at all logo with a sword as the L. “If we want a sword, you’re going to need it to be the L. I mean, you could use the letter I, but that would be weird visually. No offense.” She looked up, realizing talking about visual looks to a blind man might be considered socially awkward at best.
Natasha was sucking on a lollipop she’d pulled from somewhere and it gave a loud pop as she pulled it free. “Why’s it have to be the ‘L’? I don’t see why the X can’t be two swords. Dual wielding swords is a thing after all.” She shrugged. “Not efficient, but it can be done.”
Matt shrugged, “I like the two-sword idea more. It would look cooler,” was it weird discussing aesthetics as a blind man? Maybe, but they were important to him too, just perhaps not in the same ways. “And two is better than one.”
“Are you all…” Topaz looked around the table, then shook her head, returning to her notes. “Okay. Brilliant.”
“I will refrain from making any comments about sword handling.” Laurie informed them somewhat primly, but with a wicked glint in her eyes. “But know that I am thinking them nevertheless.”
Clint snorted in Laurie's general direction, then pointed finger guns at Topaz and said, "Excalibur it is." Then he glanced over to Kyle and did his best real life impersonation of the shrug emoji. "I think keeping the E can capitalizing the X would set us apart from the other teams, too. So that's nice. And we all know how I feel about good capitalization, anyway." He grinned. "Consider us dubbed and logo-ed!"
