herotvlive | For Efflations: Come Fly With Me

Agnes's life is scheduled out for the next ten years.
It DEFINITELY does not include room for things like romance.
ESPECIALLY not with Sky High of all people.

Ship: Agnes x Keith/Sky High

Other characters: Kotetsu/Wild Tiger

Prior Events:

Irresistible Force vs. Immovable Object
Agnes is hurt on location. Cue massive guilt from Sky High. Contains several princess carries and numerous threats of being hit with crutches!

Dance Lessons
Tiger needs dancing lessons. Agnes volunteers Keith. THIS will go well!

Summer Wind
The Superhero Swing Party has arrived! Features dancing by Mr. Wild with Mr. Brooks and Agnes running out of contingency plans...

Warnings: Possibly eventual adult situations, swearing, absurd amounts of Sinatra

Current Mood: hyper
Current Music: "Come Fly With Me," Frank Sinatra

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

efflations

[It was supposed to be your fairly standard talk show appearance, like Sky High had been on plenty of times before. He was fairly sure he'd even been on the same show with the same host before. The questions might be slightly different but overall it was nothing he hadn't done before. Uneventful, not worth any special notice. Or it should have been.

As the interview was wrapping up and the host getting ready to farewell him from the stage, Keith broke in politely but determinedly.]

Please excuse me, and again excuse me, but there is something I wanted to say before I leave. I feel it's very important and I want as many people as possible to hear.

[While clearly surprised by the request the host recovers quickly and with brief pause to get the approval of the director through her headset she gestures him to continue.

Pulling a crumpled magazine page out of his suit, Keith carefully smooths the page out and holds it up for the cameras to see. A grainy photo of Ms Agnes dominates the page which, in and of itself might not be unusual. But this photo had clearly been taken without her knowledge, showing her dressed in loose, comfortable clothes that hide her figure and it was possible she wasn't even wearing make-up. The headline in huge, bold text asked "Has HeroTV's Producer Let Herself Go?"]

I found this article in a magazine for sale in the supermarket a couple of days ago. It says some truly cruel and unpleasant things about Ms Agnes who is HeroTV's producer and responsible for making sure the people of Sternbild stay safe. None of us heroes work alone and Ms Agnes is an important part of our work. We couldn't do our jobs without her.

[There seems to be a minor commotion going on off-stage but he's not going to be dissuaded. This is Important.]

And even if it that weren't the truth, it's not right to write such things about anyone. I've never seen anything like this written about Barnaby and I feel sure no one here would enjoy having such hurtful things said about them. I know none of you here wrote this article but I hope you don't encourage such terrible stories. You're all better than that! I've already written to the magazine's editor, telling them how wrong it is to publish this kind of thing but I wanted to tell you all myself that this kind of behaviour is not alright. I know we can all get along and treat each other with the kind of respect you all deserve if we just try. So please, do your best and always think about how your words will affect the people around you!

Thank you all for taking the time to listen. And again, thanks! Have a wonderful evening everyone!

[Having said his piece he raises both arms in a salute to the audience and the cameras, shakes the host's hand and departs the set with a swirl of his coat, feeling no small amount of satisfaction in a job well-done.]

From:

herotvlive

[Well, he got his wish - By the time Keith leaves the set, #JoubertSkyHigh is trending on social sites, along with a raging debate on the representation of men vs. women in the media. Poseidon Line has to call in extra staffers to handle the e-mail onslaught. He's got half a dozen texts from other Heroes, all variations of "Are you CRAZY?"

Oddly, there's not a single word from Agnes. No phone call, text, anything.

Of course, HeroTV schedules dozens of interviews a month. She can't be expected to follow all of them. Maybe she missed it? Even if she did, though, how long until someone else on staff told her about it?

The longer this radio silence stretches, the more worried Keith should probably be.]

From:

efflations

[Should be is the operative term here. Not is. Not at all.

Even getting sat down by the head of Poseidon's hero division and told that he can't just go out and say things like that in public when he's representing the company can't put a damper on his mood. (This is the point where his boss at Poseidon Line wonders again why they ever let Sky High out without a script. And a keeper.)

The other heroes have slightly more success but even that's limited. He'd just said what he felt, what he honestly believed to be the truth. How could that be bad?

Eventually even Keith begins to wonder why he hasn't heard anything from Ms Agnes all day but, well, she is very busy. It's not as though dating has suddenly meant they're spending any more of their working hours together or that they have less commitments than before.

It's the end of the day when he finally has time to go looking for her, back in street clothes and having assured his manager that the only appearance Sky High will make for the rest of the day is his usual patrol. Which doesn't generally involve cameras. The other staff of HeroTV give him funny looks but point him in her direction all the same. Finally he tracks her down, waving eagerly as soon as he spots her.]

Ms Agnes! Hello! And again, hello! Are you still busy?

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes spins and marches back toward her office, leaving Keith scrambling to keep up. She's off the crutches and back in heels. Each clack is loud as a thunderbolt, and can probably be felt several floors below.]

Hmm. I don't know. Does putting out fires thanks to some air-head white-knight JACKASS going rogue on-air and turning my entire schedule FUBAR count as busy?

[The fact that Keith can't immediately understand what she's talking about has got to throw up warning bells. Lately she's cut the jargon and sarcasm around him. Also? She isn't yelling.

Agnes. Isn't. Yelling.

The interns have already taken cover.]

From:

efflations

Um....

[Fires? White-knight? Fu-bar?

...Something's wrong. That much is clear. And it probably has something to do with him. Ms Agnes seems mad. Furious really. At him. And there's only one thing that's happened today that wasn't part of his usual routine.

So he knows what the problem is, it's just a matter of figuring out why it's a problem. Did someone from Poseidon tell Ms Agnes off too? It's not as though she put him up to it!]

What I said caused trouble for you. I can talk to whoever you need and explain it was my idea, not yours. If I upset them they shouldn't blame you.

From:

herotvlive

Brilliant! Why don't you go ahead and have a word with yourself? I'll wait.

[She folds her arms, and the glare could melt steel.]

Or do I have to spell this out? I'M upset and I'm. Blaming. You.

From:

efflations

Oh.

[Keith flinches in the face of that glare, eyes wide with shock.

Ms Agnes is angry with him? She didn't like what he'd said? And not because it got her in trouble with someone else. Despite his best intentions his words had upset her personally.

He wants to hang his head in shame but determinedly makes himself meet her gaze. If he made a mistake he won't hide from it, that's not what heroes do.]

I'm sorry. I didn't know what I said would upset you. I.... The things they wrote were wrong and I wanted to make everyone understand that. That's all.

From:

herotvlive

It was some stupid filler piece in the back of the Quibbler! No one reads that rag! No one CARED, Keith!

[Agnes points at the computer screen, which has a reproduction of the article on it.]

At least, no one cared until one of the most popular Heroes in the CITY decided to point it out ON TELEVISION!

From:

efflations

I cared.

[He does drop his head now, looking at his feet miserably.]

I cared. It was wrong and hurtful. It shouldn't be alright to do things like that. Even if no one noticed the people who wrote it shouldn't be allowed to be cruel. It's not right Ms Agnes.

From:

herotvlive

[That's sweet. It really is. It's also completely not the point, okay?! Agnes throws up her hands in exasperation.]

And I didn't. The article was about me, not you! I told you to leave it alone. It was a dumb trash piece. They happen all the time. No one would have remembered it, but you just made sure everyone will.

From:

efflations

[Keith droops further, shoulders hunching inwards like he's trying to disappear from sight.]

I'm sorry. Again, I am sorry Ms Agnes. I didn't want to cause you trouble, I just thought that if they understood how hurtful their article was maybe they'd stop. I thought they just needed a chance to think about their actions and the people they hurt and they'd realise what they were doing was wrong.

I only wanted to help. If there's anything I can do to fix it I will.

From:

herotvlive

[He sure has a FUNNY way of NOT causing trouble! In fact, it looks EXACTLY the same as causing it!]

Oh no. You've done enough.

[But better to explain, before he decides to break up ANOTHER interview with a retraction or something.]

That isn't how it works. Gossip rags are designed around making everyone as miserable as possible. People like reading it because it makes their own pathetic lives feel better. If I cared about every idiot writing something like that, I wouldn't have time for anything else!

Edited Date: 2014-10-10 11:04 am (UTC)

From:

efflations

[He almost flinches again. 'You've done enough.' He'd made a mess of things. Whatever his intentions, the result of his actions had been bad. But he can't just accept Agnes' explanation for why. Shaking his head he looks up, face set determinedly.]

That's not true. People don't want to be miserable and they don't want to see other people miserable. Not really. If they just realised they don't need to, that it's better to help each other, then they'd stop. I'm sure of it!

[Stepping forward he gestures around them at the offices of HeroTV to make his point.]

Sometimes people just need help to do the right thing. That's what we're supposed to do!

From:

herotvlive

Very inspirational.

[Agnes yanks him back into her office, and shuts the door this time. She clicks open another browser tabs - it's a link to the video clip, along with a very lively discussion.]

You know what they're talking about? It's NOT being better people. It's why Sky High has this sudden INTEREST in HeroTV's producer, when he's never so much as mentioned her before!

So you tell me why they're discussing that instead of why that article should or shouldn't have been written?!

From:

efflations

I don't- I didn't-

[He skims the discussion - although calling it that is giving some of the commenters too much credit - unhappily. This isn't what he'd wanted. He likes his fans, truly he does, but they shouldn't be talking about him.]

You're right. I should have realised this problem existed before now and done something then. It's selfish of me to only act now. If I can-

[It's definitely not the right time to offer to try and fix it again. Not with those words still ringing in his head - 'done enough'. He'll wait and bring it up again later, find a way to make things right.]

I should have told you what I was planning too. I am sorry.

From:

herotvlive

Yes. You should have. And I would have told you "No."

What would you have done then?

[Because this is exactly how she would have expected the whole mess would go.

There are other discussions too. Quieter, not as flashy, on smaller blogs, other forums. THEY might be reacting more how Sky High was hoping. Right now, though, they're lost in the noise.]

From:

efflations

I-

[He stops, thinks. Would he have listened to Ms Agnes? He'd like to think so. It was about her in the first place, her opinion is more important than his feelings. But he'd been so certain it was the right thing to do. Would he have listened to that over her? He wants to say no, that he'd have respected her wishes but he's not sure if it would be the truth.]

I don't know.... Maybe I would've done it anyway. Which would've been just as wrong as what those people wrote.

From:

herotvlive

Now you get it!

[Of course, Agnes did not have the best track record when it comes to honestly reporting her feelings. She will grudgingly admit there were times that Keith knew better then her. See: Pretty much the entire time her leg was broken. He'd figured out (correctly) there were times Agnes said "Fine" when things really, really weren't That there were times when she needed help.

This was NOT one of them. Right?

It's really not surprising he gets mixed up, sometimes. Even Agnes's head is starting to hurt from going in circles.]

Go home, Sky High. In fact, take the night off. It's probably better if you're not out right now.

['Sky High.' Not Keith.]

From:

efflations

[Keith looks up at that, startled and more than a little hurt. But no, he did the wrong thing and Ms Agnes has every right to be mad. Hopefully she can forgive him - he doesn't know what he'll do if she can't - but forgiveness takes time.]

Alright. I'll go home and walk John before I go on patrol.

[She had said to take the night off but he can't just abandon his responsibilities like that. Whatever else has happened he can't do that. Turning to leave he struggles to figure out what to say rather than just leaving things like this. Nothing comes to mind.]

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes has already moved away, back to her desk. She's not looking at him. She knows exactly what expression he'll have on his face.]

Do what you want.

[Because he will anyway.

There would usually at least be a "Good Night" if they're not going to see each other. But she's already gritting her teeth, seeing the next onslaught of messages requesting input, a statement, something. So Keith's getting what the e-mails are - "No comment."]

(OOC: Time skip? Maybe next day?)

From:

efflations

Good night.

[He doesn't get a reply. His patrol is longer than usual that night - flying helps him think sometimes but he doesn't have any ideas how to fix the mess when he finally gets home.

The next day he doesn't say much to the other heroes - they try but he changes the subject and generally avoids talking too much. It's not hard. Poseidon are keeping him busy, trying to distract from the mess yesterday maybe, while making sure he doesn't get a chance to say the wrong thing.

Finally he has some free time and makes an immediate beeline for Ms Agnes' office. He picks up some lunch and coffee for her on the way, just in case she's been too busy to take a break herself. Coming to a halt in front of the office, Keith takes a deep breath and knocks.]

Ms Agnes? It's me. I brought you some lunch if you're hungry.

From:

herotvlive

[Just then, Cain pokes his head around the corner.

"Oh, are you looking for Ms. Agnes? She went for a run."

He takes in the food and Sky High's face.

"She usually takes that path that goes to the beach. But you didn't hear it from me!"]

From:

efflations

Thanks and thanks again!

[Suddenly hopeful Keith deposits everything on Agnes' desk - carrying it and running will be too troublesome - and bolts out the building.

He's already feeling much more hopeful - being outside running in the fresh air always puts him in a good mood and maybe it will her too. And they'll be able to talk easier away from possible distractions in the office.

It doesn't take long to catch up with Ms Agnes - he has longer legs and the wind is always at his back when he's in a hurry. Coming up alongside her he calls out-]

Ms Agnes!

From:

herotvlive

[Agnes has long had a habit of keeping running gear in her office. It's easier to pound out a few miles of pavement then pound in the faces of morons. And if it provides more stupid paparazzi fodder? Screw it. She refuses to hide, or change her routine no matter HOW many stupid things certain people say on TV.

Her leg's still weak though, so she's not in top form. Even if she were, there'd be no outrunning Keith anyway. She slows a bit, but doesn't stop.]

What?

From:

efflations

[She's acknowledging him. That's a start. He'd been half-afraid she'd refuse to speak to him at all. Keeping pace he glances between her and the path ahead.]

I came to find you. I want to make things right again. I understand I made a mistake and you're angry. I want to show you that I really am sorry. Please give me a chance?

[Please say you can forgive me. He doesn't say it aloud but he's thinking it. If Ms Agnes is only talking to him so she can tell him that it's over, that the entire relationship was a mistake- No. He won't think that. He can still fix things. He will fix things between them!]