A Break From Everything (Susan & Gabriel)

"Help everyone around me? Well, I'm a little more realistic than that, I can only help people that's in front of me or anything a bit similar to that. Not to call myself selfish or anything, but I wouldn't be able to do much about anything that I don't know about. But once you know about it, the excuses for not being able to act upon it to do something positive to change it would lessen, you know? "

Looking back at the food after realizing that Susan didn't have a lot of time to stay with him, he would start to eat a little bit. "Well, it doesn't seem like I can finish this myself, and who knows if I'm contagious. So how about we finish this together before you head on back to work?"

It was an anticipated response from what she knew of him, Gabriel was the least selfish person she had ever met. Always volunteering his time and his heart as he did. Be that as it may, even if the burdens you wished to ease were only the ones in front of you it was still more than what was expected, and she admired him for that. Not everyone could have such a noble soul, Lord knew she did not though she certainly tried her best when the opportunity presented itself.
"Thankfully so, that would mean I would need to share you and you have already spoiled me rotten," Susan joked in a distant tone as she multi-tasked, reapplying her eye liner as she carefully avoid dripping her smoothie-cicle on her pantsuit. She looked up from her activities to face Gabriel sincerely.
"You are a very kind and compassionate man, Gabriel, I know no one any more generous. Though... do be sure to be selfish once in a while, for my own peace of mind if nothing else. You give so much whether or not you realize it, you deserve a little return on investment."

The worry was mutual, of course. Though she had more real and immediate concerns to have someone fret over, it boiled down to what it was that people valued. Gabriel valued people and their well-being, which came to no surprise that he was so charitable and giving. Susan valued time and effort and how it was invested, given that she did not want to be a drain of resources on someone else. She did not wish to burden him when she could take care of herself... though... she felt a little more relieved after getting all that off her chest. He was really one of if not the only person she could speak to about this. Susan could not talk to the other Cadets about her weakness and struggles, they were going through the same. It would make her appear pathetic and incapable. And yet she could not tell him everything. It very well may be she could tell no one absolutely everything and that was a scar she had to bare for the rest of her natural life. Perhaps she should take her own advice and be a little more selfish herself, to take time to heal and rest and be cared for. It would be a difficult endeavor, Susan despised resting on her laurels and it felt like inadequacy and wasted time. She would need to meditate longer on the subject.

Susan finished her popsicle as quickly as she could while doing her makeup to avoid the mess it would make and began to pick at her stir fry as an indirect response to Gabriel as she moved to reapplying her light blush.
"I would hate for it to get cold," she explained, finding no time to eat with her mouth still moving. The conversation was worth it.
"But I should have enough time. I can make time if needed, I have vacation hours saved I have not used in some time. I'm a bit used to selling them back since I'm usually needed. I wouldn't worry too much about being contagious, at least for my sake. I think I would have caught it already if I were to catch it at all." Susan remained silent enough to take a few bites and not speak with her mouth full.
"Now that the hugging and sobbing is conveniently out of the way, how was your day?" she joked casually. If nothing else, even as comforting as he was, taking quaint lunches and speaking of each other's time spent at work was... grounding. It lent a sense of normalcy in a world she knew was no longer normal.
"Have I... already asked that...?"

Gabe continued to eat and enjoy what Susan has brought for him, enjoying the fact that they managed to get over the difficult hurdle of dealing with the problems that she faced at work. Gabe knew that there may be some things she may never tell him, he sure as heck could never reveal he is a terrorist as his life depended on it. However, this was ok, the way things were right now with him was acceptable in the sense of formulating a peaceful relationship.

In the question of whether she asked how his day was, Gabe would laugh at the notion.

"Honestly, I can't remember, you said so many more important things, so I'm going to just say I'm hearing you say that for the first time. "

As for his day, Gabe wasn't sure.

"Well besides expelling my worries regarding you, I was working on a few taxes that we have to pay back to the city. Wanted to get as much done as I can so we can sustain the infrastructure of the building. But besides that, the day is steadily moving. "

Looking at his watch, Gabe would look to Susan.

"But you shouldn't waste your vacation time or anything. If you need to go back to work, we can meet up at another time. "

At his gesture the short woman would visibly relax. She... honestly could not remember if she had asked that. If he had forgotten as well it only meant that she must not have. One of them would have remembered if it was important. She wiped her forehead as she picked at her own food, it was strange for her to eat during the day anyway. Susan was so accustomed to skipping her lunch break she hardly held the appetite anymore. But at least she wasn't repeating herself. Strangely enough Susan would peer over her fork toward Gabriel's papers when he mentioned "taxes". Her area of expertise.

"Yes. Do you need any assistance with that?" she would ask, "It is kind of my forte in a matter of speaking." "Taxes" happened to be one of the many hats she wore with her job title, as well as "analyst" and "visionary". She was in fact in charge of finances and always good with numbers no matter the purpose, something as simple as a 12% deductible business expense accrued would be nothing to her. She could do it in her head if she felt like it. But she was distracted more from the promise of work and work she would want to be doing over her own expense reports she did not want to pay attention to. Missing even a few days made the entire thing messy. Just one full day of politics muddied the waters, the meek woman was happy to deal with numbers and numbers alone rather than to face the implications of her observations.

Her eyes flitted to meet his lazily, she was still more interested in what he had to accomplish. It was certainly more engaging than anything she wanted or was required to deal with at the moment.
"No, it is no trouble. I have... 72 accrued I believe? I cannot keep more than 60 on record to transfer to the next fiscal year, use it or lose it, you understand. I've sold it back the past two years running, Lord forbid I take some personal time and the building catches fire." Susan rolled her eyes. She enjoyed her work and keeping occupied was something very important for her own personal happiness, but there was such a thing as too much of a good thing and the stress liked to build up. If anything she was feeling moody lately and her boss was already cross with her for missing meetings because of obligations to Class Zero, and for the first time in a long time she was behind on projects. The businesswoman did not wish to deal with that headache, what was an extra hour for lunch (an hour she never took more than once in a full moon, mind you) to take care of something important? Then again... it would be unprofessional to do so without warning.

Susan closed her eyes to meditate on what was most important at the moment. On the one hand she wanted to spend more time with Gabriel and she would sacrifice her own time to do that. On the other he was looking out for her welfare, it would be inconsiderate to deny him and she would be digging a hole for herself to lie in at work regardless. She acquiesced
"......I will...*haaa*, you are right. I need to be leaving soon," Susan lamented as she picked at her peppers with her fork. She wasn't even halfway done. Well, leftovers meant she didn't need to cook. Silver linings.
"...b-but I will schedule a day off next week we can spend together. How does that sound?" Her voice perked up as well as her eyes even if a smile was absent. Smiling would be... just so emotionally draining right now. In any case she believed this to be a good compromise.

"Help with work? No, I don't think i'll be needing any sort of help with  that. There is a bit of a stretch of the amount of information I need to provide and look over in the sense of what the casino actually owes back. I wouldn't want someone to call foul play and come after the business or anything. In addition to that, there are some things I should disclose involving the lucky clover due to binding contracts and the like, if I can't pass a polygraph that states I didn't let you see something while knowing that information was restricted, then i'm not wholeheartedly acting in the best interests of my employees and investors."

However, Gabe did appreciate the offer of help, he believed in her ability to do this.

"But if i do have any questions, I hope you keep your phone on sp that you can answer them for me. "

With Susan preparing to leave,  Gabe stood over and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

"I'll see you soon then.."

"Oh. Y-yes, I see." Susan, once again, forgot to incorporate herself into the current situation and how she impacted it. She took into account that she was someone who was good with numbers and willing to do work but not that she was also someone unaffiliated with The Lucky Clover and this could cause conflicts of interest. Not to mention the fact that she was entirely an unpaid unconsulted outside entity. This could get them both in some heavy legal trouble if she were to help, but she wasn't thinking about that. Susan began to pack up what she had brought, at least for herself. Including the utensils. She would wash them and bring them back, it was only polite. She set about her task with her normal blank expression though her face did light up into a small smile when Gabriel deigned for her to assist him.
"Yes! Yes, I will be available. You have my number," she nearly exclaimed. It excited her to be useful for once and give back, and she was impressed with his judgement. With a phone call offering no details aside from numerics she could claim plausible deniability and it would not be consulting in any way shape or form. She was very used to this method of circumventing standard red tape, honestly it got in the way of doing good work from time to time. It was only math, a very poor choice to limit who was allowed to do it.

Susan approached Gabriel for a hug goodbye but felt his lips brush against her cheek as she leaned in. The businesswoman clutched onto him anyway in an awkward embrace, she was already committed to the motion.


Susan broke the hug with a sideward stare away from him, her face several shades of scarlet. She wrung her lunch pail uncomfortably in her hands. So they were kissing, this was... this was a good time for that, correct? She should kiss him back? But she did not, was it too late...? ...L-likely so. But he was sick, he could be contagious, should that matter? Probably not. And he was at work, was this inappropriate? Susan did not know, she was not accustomed to any of this. The gears in her head visibly ground against each other as she stood in front of him awkwardly shifting and hesitating for a few moments.
"......I-I must be going, I-I will keep in touch." She broke away from him, still unsure of what she must be doing. Susan was never good with the unexpected, it made her panic and feel flighty. This would need to be meditated over, she would need to evaluate exactly where their relationship stood. It was not her intention to disclose so much about her pitiful situation and the kiss had been abrupt. ....or perhaps only abrupt to her. She did not understand, she had no experience with which to gauge this off of. The timid woman was utterly and hopelessly lost without being able to evaluate this beforehand, maybe even a little frightened but again it would take strong consideration on her part to understand the what and why. She did ask him to take the lead and be forward, Lord knew she would not be and this was partly why but with everything apparent it left her conflicted.

As Susan opened the door to leave, eyes focused in the back of her mind and barely perceiving the environment, she banged into the door frame causing the glass to rattle. It didn't hurt at all but it sure as heck surprised her.
"....o-oh. Th-there is a wall there. Hehehehe..." Susan laughed nervously and turned toward Gabriel with a grimace and a shy wave goodbye before closing the door behind her. On the outside of the glass she ran a hand through her hair and clutched the lunch pail to her chest. What on earth was she doing...?
"Smooth Susan, very smooth..." she muttered to herself. Her mind was still set into a tailspin, lost in feelings she did not often experience if ever had experienced and what she could not understand. It left her unsure of herself and vulnerable and uncomfortable, what should she have done? She was sure she approached that with all the grace of a drunken elephant with all left feet but all of it fell outside of what she knew how to handle. This would take thinking, long hours of contemplation and being alone and oh God what if she ignored him again on accident? He said he understood, would he understand this time...? What would he think? .......what did he think? What did she just do...!? This was why she never tried this, she was not any good at it. ...b-but it would be fine, he would say something if she had done something. She would merely... plan their next visit together. With swiftness. Y-yes, this would do, she could do this.

Locked inside her head Susan would not deem it relevant to think that she would stand outside of Gabriel's very transparent one-way glass door as she stood there fretting and panicking about simple things that did not matter in the least. But she would eventually take her leave, walking quickly to her car as she recollected where she parked within the see of complex thoughts and ideas she had no solid grasp over. Abstract and messy and unclear, just like her life was. That sounded very fitting indeed.