The music of Azrael's office.
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Azrael looks rested when compared to when we touched down yesterday on the ground in his jet. We had to leave later in the afternoon and got back to D.C. when there was no heavenly golden light of dusk or dawn of day.
Inside his office, some calming Baroque music plays. It's merry, but because the sound is turned down slightly it's not jubilant.
"Good morning, Hogarth," says Azrael as he looks over at me and smiles, "are you well rested?"
"I am," I reply as I smile as well, "how about you?"
"I think I am. My neck is not sore at all," he replies, and pats his neck.
He was complaining about neck pains earlier. Well, complaining would be wrong, as he only disclosed this fact after I asked him. That probably was why he said that I could come in to work late today, and why I showed up around ten in the morning. Azrael took thirty more minutes, but then made his appearance at the office here.
"So," I say as I sit down on the desk, still playing one of Jane's cards, "what do we have in the next few days and weeks?"
"Well," says Azrael as he looks at his computer where he has his calendar and also the monitor where he has several sticky notes plastered to remind him of things, "there seems to be several meetings that we need to have. Not anything too serious. Also a few contracts that I need to look over."
"Who are we going to be meeting with?" I ask.
"Several people of economic influence," says Azrael as he turns back to me, and begins to count on his fingers while saying, "there's two people I know. Emerson and Alia. The other two are just...people."
"Are the latter two not on the best terms with you?" I ask knowingly, and Azrael smiles.
"You're intuition is right as ever. They aren't on good terms with me at all. They don't know that though."
"Who are they?" I ask.
"One is a civil rights activist, and the other is a politician," says Azrael with a sigh, "they are extremely annoying. I have made it clear that I will not involve myself in any political activities, as this country is already split deeper than God could cut with the the sharp hands of a clock. I don't need to add to that, and I don't want to contribute. But they insist on an audience."
Azrael sigh again, and looks at the computer. The music fills the would-be silence.
"And there's James. Whether he can get his act together is beyond me," he says as he looks back at me.
"Sounds like we are in for a few tough days," I say.
"Not completely," says Azrael as he tilts his head to the side, "Emerson and Alia are on good terms with myself. Meeting them again will be nice."
"Are you acquainted?"
"We are. Emerson is head of a book publishing company, whereas Alia is part of the fine jewelry industry. She in a way controls the diamonds that come into this country as her husband works in the organization whose names escapes me now but confirms and grades those precious stones."
"She sounds formidable," I say.
"She's not evil," says Azrael with a laugh, making my heart throb, "and we get along nicely. She sometimes sends me gifts, like this one."
He pulls his collar aside, and around his neck is a thin line of diamonds, maybe half the width of my thumb nail. I'd say that it's not much, but on his neck it looks correct. By that I imply that some people wear huge wide diamond necklaces and bracelets; gauche and crass they are. The slim necklace on Azrael though fits him well, and helps to draw out the natural tone of his honey skin.
"It looks good on you," I say honestly with a smile.
"That's good," says Azrael as he smiles as well, "I didn't grow up in a world where men wore diamonds. I guess they do in this one. Not to mention that I only give Alia flowers when she gives me these."
"I'm pretty sure she loves the flowers."
"I hope so. I'll have to get some before we meet."
"When do you think they'll be coming for the meetings?"
"Emerson just told me that he's out of the country in Canada with his family visiting relatives, and Alia is in India with hers. So they might be after the others show up, which I wouldn't mind at all. Something good after the bad three."
"I'm guessing that James most likely will show up as you're counting him as well?" I ask.
"In a way," answers Azrael, "I'm putting some faith in him. He's been recently getting something done, like those," says Azrael, pointing to the door, where before there wasn't anything out of the ordinary but now there's several black and blank squares next to the door frame. Also on the lock of the door is a smaller but matching black rectangle.
"What are they?" I ask curiously.
"They are security panels," says Azrael, "and they've been added since I am now enemy number one of the Collection."
"Is everything alright?" I ask, slightly alarmed.
"Nothing is off on our end. But over there they failed in buying our nation's government. Not to mention that several other portions of that round table followed my lead and departed."
"Like who?"
"Well, Dean is one of them. Alia and Emerson as well. James obviously did too. You saw them, but I didn't point them out to you so I'd understand if you don't connect a face to their identities."
"So, the Collection is pretty much falling apart?"
"I'd wish," says Azrael, though he smiles, "they are not that easily ended. But they have lost part of their influence. They can't attack all those who left, which I think is at least a third. At most it's half. Not to mention those industries were pretty crucial."
"Do you think they'll bother us?"
"I am not overtly concerned, no. But, to be on the safe side, I have installed security in this building, and also at my house. If you'd like, I can install some measure in your residence as well. I will cover the expenses. Would you like that?" asks Azrael.
"Um...I'm not exactly sure how to respond," I say with a meek smile, "I'd like to be safe, and it's sounds maybe as a smart option to do so. But I also don't want to take advantage of your income and also want to believe that I won't need that kind of insurance for safety."
"Then," says Azrael as he smiles and tilts his head, "I'll offer it as a gift. How's that?"
"I don't think I can reject a gift," I answer.
"Perfect. I'll have James' people head over to your place and install the needed things. If it's an apartment...well, we'll find a way around that," says Azrael, "they might have rules on that kind of thing, but I have many strings to pull."
"I'm thankful," I say.
"They'll also stop by your office, I think later today, to install similar appliances to your office door."
"I'll take note of that."
"James in this setting seems rather useful, and efficient," I observe.
"Yes, he does," agrees Azrael with a nod, "and you'd think that he's capable of being an adult. But he just seems to have no real direction. He knows what he's good at, but hardly at applying that to anything."
"Does that mean he tends to not finish things?"
"Pretty much. He starts things but never finishes. And even in dealing with him, he changes his mind faster than good food on a dinner table disappears. He can't stick to anything."
Azrael chuckles, and continues talking, "It's pretty funny, really. His company, Tatou Tech, started a line of speakers. But they only sold four out of the eight models that were advertised. When asked by the press, James simply said he didn't like the concept of the speakers anymore, and stopped the production of the other ones."
"I'd think that he'd catch quite a bit of flack from that, say in the press," I say.
"Oh, he did," says Azrael, "but nobody was able to get an interview for his reaction to that, so eventually nobody remembered it and it went away."
"But I bet that still was embarrassing for him," I say.
"It was, but I don't think it bothered him that much. Well, maybe it did, as he hasn't tried to start another line of speakers."
"But anyhow," says Azrael as he glances at his computer again, "he might schedule a meeting with me so that I can talk to him about some tech. He's managed to reply to my emails for the improvements, but if he shows up or not is different."
"I guess we can only hope that he'll come by," I say with a shrug.
"Pretty much," says Azrael, "but, besides that, I have these papers that I'll ask you to work on. They're hardly at all difficult to fill out, so hopefully you can get it done."
He hands me a stack of papers, complete with the blue binder clip that he always add on. I look through them and they're not at all that hard. Just a few email that I need to send to certain people being the hardest task.
"I think I can finish this up by tomorrow," I say as I look up at him.
"Okay. I know for a fact that the meeting with the unwanted two is going to be in two days, so we'll have to prepare for that. But there's a day in between and so we should be fine until then," says Azrael.
"Oh, speaking of," says Azrael as he looks over his shoulder at the couch and at his bag that sits there, "I forgot to bring lunch today, and I think I'll ask the cafeteria for one. Would you like one?"
"Sure," I reply with a smile, and also seeing an opportunity of eating lunch with Azrael, "I'd like lunch with you."
"With me?" asks Azrael curiously.
"Yeah," I say, trying not to blush, "why not? Eating alone isn't fun."
"You're right," says Azrael, and starts to move things on his desk, "I'll make a space for you to eat here, in my office, by the time it's lunchtime. Mind if I have you go down there around eleven-thirty to pick up the lunches?"
"Not at all. Eleven-thirty. I can remember that."
"I believe today's lunch is tuna sandwiches. Or maybe it's not. I don't know. but I guess we'll find out soon enough, eh?" says Azrael with a smile.
"We will," I say as I move to the door of his office, "but until then."
"Until then."
I nod once before stepping out into the hallway. I don't make any loud movements until I enter my own office and close the door. Then, I pump the air and also grin happily. I'm overjoyed that I'm able to near Azrael another inch, and eat lunch with him. Not to mention that I can make this a habit, and increase the time near him.
He didn't even think for a moment to contemplate whether he wanted to be near me during a meal, which tells me that he's significantly comfortable with me. He's not afraid of me, and rather, I'm a welcome existence. I can hardly keep my joy in my chest and jump in the air again.
He's alright with me being near. That truth on it's own is far greater in value than being able to eat lunch with him on a routine basis ever could be. Both things are wanted, and I would always ask for both. But to think that this revelation would happen is a dream-come-true.
I've taken another step closer to Azrael, and we're gradually coming together. I can't just be happy about it. I'm over-joyed.