StrongBox (strongbox) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2011-04-14 18:03:00

Entry tags:

Back in the saddle again
The date was a little awkward, what with both girls getting married soon, and him not being all that familiar with any of the people involved first hand before-hand, but it was still pleasant... and had some promise. Worst case scenario, if she's more truly married than she indicated, he can always call this a business meeting and take the write-off, since there is some business to discuss.

First things first, arranging the date. He makes reservations - in Canada, so getting some wine with dinner shouldn't be an issue, rents a limousine, makes arrangements for her flight, and sets up possible options for movies or dancing after dinner if she likes.

Its been way too long since he's been on a real date.

"Yes, hello. Is Vernique there?"

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	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 03:22 am UTC (link)
	"Nope. She's going to have a baby, so she's gotta have a wife, to which she reacted with--" Vernique grinned. " 'Gee, I doth not know... mine BFF Vernique?' Essentially." She nods. "Not too hard to get a hold of. Just a nuisance filling out for multiple states." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 03:24 am UTC (link)
	Jordan laughs. "Hey, if she needs a wife who can handle the paperwork and stuff, seems like she made a good choice. I'm just glad that didn't take you entirely off the dating market, if I may express self-interest. What all states do you need the forms for?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

butterflybullet
2011-04-15 03:29 am UTC (link)

"Yes, I am pretty awesome at the wife stuff, thank you." She preens. "And yeah, I had to clear that up from the get-go. Giving up Asgardian men, but Earth guys are still totally on the table. I try to remind Svalin she's still got options, too, but... that's going to be a long road."

"Just New York and California for now. Fortunately, both states allow for second-parent adoption by a member of the same gender as the first parent."

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strongbox
2011-04-15 03:33 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, you seem pretty pleased by this whole development. And... yeah, kind of got the idea she wasn't the dating type for the most part. Sounds like you're bouncing between the right states, anyway. Afraid I can't help much with American law anything, but if you ever end up needing to deal with Canada, or, recently, deal with Atlantean law, I can probably help out."

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	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 03:37 am UTC (link)
	"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." She smiles sympathetically. "Wading through the cultural differences is a damn nuisance, isn't it? I love Asgardians, but they're incredibly attached to their social roles and ... life-choreography, essentially. Some of it's...rough." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 03:40 am UTC (link)
	"I can imagine part of it comes from familiarity. After all, a lot of them have been doing things one way for a lot of centuries. Not an environment that leads to a lot of social change. At least you seem to have adapted to it, without letting it get to you too much." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 03:43 am UTC (link)
	"Thanks. I pride myself on being flexible." She smiles. "So -- enough about me. Let's talk about little Buzzer." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2011-04-15 03:55 am UTC (link)

He nods, shifting gears quickly and drawing out a briefcase.

"Ok, I told the marketing execs that you weren't real fond of the character initially, but might be interested in some of the ideas they were pondering. There isn't the obvious tie-in the way they had with Captain Canada... but they were curious about your potential buy-in on ideas like the video game... basically, Little Buzzer is Little Buzzer, but the player has a number of options to try and help her become a princess through good fashion choices... shoes, dresses, make up, hairstyles, the works... left to her own devices, she'll fail, but the players can get her to dress up if they pass certain tests. Its somewhat educational, puzzle solving, and they think it might get more girls into Super Buddies.

They are also pondering making a line of Little Buzzer dolls, sell her in costume, and then have accessories... and here's the real kicker... if they get you to sign on, they'd like to have doll-sized mock ups of Van Dyne fashions for both the doll, and as unlockable options in the video game... so some added advertising potential. They can make the cartoon without approval from the heroes involved, rules of parody in media... but some of the toys and games will sell better, and they'll have more options, if they can get some of us on camera saying we approve of our little counterparts."

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	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 04:10 am UTC (link)
	"Okay, that's... that's just absolutely adorable, I have to admit. And very well thought-out. I am interested." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2011-04-15 04:21 am UTC (link)

Everything in the briefcase is well laid out. He draws out two file folders, and boots up the palmtop inside the case.

"There's the proposals. Your permission, and that of Van Dyne fashions, obviously, are the critical ones, and they're willing to pay pretty well. They'd like to include some of the other girls who have positive market ratings with the target audience and age group... and are willing to pay a finder's fee for each of the other girls with a character in Super Buddies that you can sign on so they can more easily include them in the commercials and all... oh, and, uhm, they'd also like to include you in a couple of them showing off various real life fashions as contrasted with Little Buzzer... which... uhm, would require you to briefly wear her costume and a couple of her alternate fashions as examples of 'bad choices."

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	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 04:30 am UTC (link)
	"Okay... a lot of that, I'm interested. Some of it.... I'll have to think about. It might be worth giving a good enough example." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 04:36 am UTC (link)
	"I told them you might be kind of hesitant to provide bad fashion examples. I'm just tossing their ideas out, I'll let them make an offer and all. I don't actually work for them... I just let them buy me NHL luxury boxes in echange for a little glad handing." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 04:39 am UTC (link)
	Vernique grinned. "Hey, milk them for all they're worth." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 05:00 am UTC (link)
	"Actually, its a pretty good deal all around. During the second intermission I come out and wave, occasionally drop the puck, let them use Captain Canada on their titan trons when the goalie makes big saves... I get to go to a lot of hockey games and get free food. Don't suppose you're a hockey fan?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 05:24 am UTC (link)
	"Certainly not hardcore at all, but hockey's okay. Watched a game or two with my Dad at times." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 06:53 am UTC (link)
	"Fair enough. Thought you might be interested in attending a Canadiens game some time. Anyway... business first. Did you have any other questions I might be able to help with?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 03:21 pm UTC (link)
	"I wouldn't mind a Canadiens' game, if you don't mind explaining any of the rules I'm fuzzy on. I think we're covered for now. So I'm curious... when was your last date besides Valentine's? Mine was my brother-in-law at the Oscars." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 04:06 pm UTC (link)
	"I wouldn't mind at all. Would be nice to have such lovely company. And... before Atlantis... so... early October, I think, with the Russo twins." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 04:59 pm UTC (link)
	Vernique smiles. "In other circumstances, I might high-five you, but there's a time and a place." Speaking of places, they're at their destination. "Any recommendations here?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 05:09 pm UTC (link)
	"In other circumstances, perhaps. Right now, I'm quite happy with one date who can carry on a coherent conversation for more than ten minutes. As for the food here... they serve traditional European style here, multiple courses over a couple hours. Wine with each course, cheese and breads, soup, all of that. For main course, the veal and duck are both excellent." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 05:27 pm UTC (link)
	"Mmmm. Wonderful I like duck." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	strongbox 2011-04-15 05:33 pm UTC (link)
	The staff seat them quickly at a table with a view, and take the initial wine orders and make recommendations, both on what's good today, and what wines are recommended with each course. "So, aside from paperwork, plans for the near future?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 05:48 pm UTC (link)
	"Baby stuff, making sure I've sorted out everything for my finance degree, talking to some people at Nevell about a side project of mine. You?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

strongbox
2011-04-15 08:47 pm UTC (link)

"Working on my Scu-Box program to make a fully underwater operative system. While I have my investors convinced some of the systems will revolutionize underwater oil surveying, and particularly reduce environmental impact of surveying and rig placement to a tenth of current risk levels... which it will... but my real goal is reducing the operative gap underwater between us and the Atlanteans."

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	butterflybullet 2011-04-15 09:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Both good reasons.... the Atlantis job was that bad that it's got you worried? How injured were your people? We didn't get much coverage on it here in the States." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)