[right][sub][color=686E85][@Universorum] & [@Fabricant451][/color][/sub][/right]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tIGnWXB.png?1[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180613/f27ad2d0c8e6ec9747a5e2e04fb63c4f.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/2QtX5WE.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WVgVIk0.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/sr6sHEs.gif[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180613/72b51499e87a3aad534ea8df57ad3b33.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/NcI7TPQ.png?1[/img][/center]
[indent]The Blue Lantern was the name of the restaurant. It had a beautiful location, overlooking the lovely city of Los Angeles from one of the hills. It had three Michelin stars. It was lauded internationally for one thing in particular, its breakfast and brunch cuisine. It was said that if you placed a reservation today, for the next open eight thirty A.M. spot, they would have be able to find an opening for you within the next two years. Today, at eight thirty A.M., the Blue Lantern was deserted, except for one table, set outside on the patio.

The staff was there, of course, they had to get ready. But the store was closed to the general public for now. The owner had willed it so. Were they losing money over this? Yes, of course. It was possible they even lost some of their goodwill over this, but it didn’t matter to the owner, and she paid their checks. She had requested a private place to conduct business while enjoying a meal, and she had received one.

The owner was Hailey Green.

She was now seated at the head of the patio table; next to her was the love of her life, girlfriend, pet, and most prized possession: Hana Park. Together, they were sipping tea and waiting for their guest. Hailey had yet to place her order, thinking it rude to do so while they were waiting for someone else. She had, however, retrieved vanilla tea for herself and Hana.

While the speakers in the restaurant most commonly played classical music: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart… It now played a song of [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7kk1lUnis]Hailey’s choice[/url], which Hailey bobbed her head too, before glancing at Hana, [color=922b2b][b]“did you sleep well? Our guest should be here soon. I don’t anticipate this taking very long.”[/b][/color]

Hana was no stranger to fine dining establishments given the business her father was in, but even so she was impressed. Never had she been in a restaurant without other people there; though she knew this was essentially a business meeting, she still saw it as a private little meal between her and the girl she was madly in love with. It would not have surprised Hana at all if that was a secondary goal of the morning’s brunch. Certainly the tea was a lovely little touch and Hana was quite fond of the flavor. 

Hana had enjoyed a bit more of her tea than Hailey had, the vanilla flavor was too much to simply not enjoy; her sips were a bit longer than the regular sip and her cup was now half empty because of it. Whoever brewed it was exceptional, the vanilla wasn’t overpowering and the sweetness lingered delicately on the tongue. Hana was very much interested in securing a recipe for her own purposes; certainly that could be arranged. 

[color=ff69b4][b]”Like a dream.”[/b][/color] Hana responded to Hailey as she set her teacup on its saucer. She had slept wonderfully, even more so after being woken up; she slept a bit more soundly after that - and with a contented smile to boot. That contented feeling carried through full to this restaurant; even if she was merely an observer, Hana was just happy to be here, at Hailey’s side and at her request. Who Hailey was meeting didn’t much matter to Hana. She would just enjoy her tea while the adults talked. 

[color=fffacd][b]”You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me.”[/b][/color] Roz Norcross was already annoyed when she saw the front of the restaurant and immediately wrote it off as place for ‘folks what eat fish eggs on crackers and act like it’s worth cumming over’ and her annoyance only increased as she walked through the doors into a ghost town. That her mysterious benefactor had money to spare was no surprise given the donation that led to this meeting, but if this person seriously rented out the most bougie ass restaurant for Roz’s sake...Roz was liable to puke in one of the fancy looking vases in the main lobby. 

The hired help at the front desk gave Roz a once over and Roz did not at all pretend not to see the help give the look of repulsion that was typically reserved for these people seeing a beggar on the street. Or a mixed race couple. Given that Roz was on the guest list, she didn’t feel the need to dress up for the occasion. She made a point to dress [i]down[/i] in an act of defiance so simple it was probably cooked up last minute. While she didn’t look like a beggar, her shirt was wrinkled and had numerous holes to it with each one clearly being hand made via scissors, her jeans were one good tug at the denim hanging off from being Daisy Dukes. If it wasn’t for her boots or her vest, or the fact that her hair was washed she might’ve passed the ‘trying too hard’ Olympics in the teenage rebel category. 

She was led through the restaurant - taking note of what was both not tied down and easily swiped along the way - and dropped off right by the entrance to the patio table. And that was when her expletive repeated itself. [color=fffacd][b]”You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me. I should’ve fuckin’ figured.”[/b][/color] Hailey Green. Of course it would be her. What sick, twisted game was she trying to play this time. Roz’s eyes darted to Hana a moment before going back to Hailey. [color=fffacd][b]”Who’s she, your stenographer? That’s the person what writes down testimony in court, by the way.”[/b][/color] This was going to be a fuck of a time. 

Could her language be anymore vulgar? This was an awful first impression to make on an already slightly irritated Hailey. First, the woman swore like a sailor would, which was unattractive to begin with. [i]Then[/i] she questioned why Hana was there, as if it were any of her business. Hailey could feel her enthusiasm dropping as she sat there, but she tried her best to stay [i]positive.[/i]

[color=922b2b][b]“I know what a stenographer is, but thank you. She is my girlfriend. I brought her as a date.”[/b][/color] Hailey said in a terse tone as she looked the newcomer up and down. She wasn’t able to put a name to a face, but she had to admit… she was disappointed with what the ‘Weekend Warrior’ looked like. Hailey didn’t know what she expected, but she had thought there’d be… more to it. [color=922b2b][b]“You’re less put together than I thought you would be. At least it doesn’t reflect in your work. Are you going to a Sex Pistols concert after this?”[/b][/color] Hailey asked with a smile that was undeniably put up to be condescending.

She looked over her shoulder toward Butler, who was standing off to the side, as silent and intimidating as ever. [color=922b2b][b]“Butler, be a doll and fetch us menus. We can finally eat, now that our warrior is here.”[/b][/color] She ended her statement with a snap of her fingers, and away Butler went, ducking inside of the restaurant for a moment, before he returned with a stack of them, handing one to Hailey and placing one in front of Hana. The third, he put down on the table. Their guest could get it herself. [color=922b2b][b]“Please, sit down. I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking on the menu.”[/b][/color]

[color=fffacd][b]”A date, izzit? Your idea of a date is this? Well, don’t I feel special.”[/b][/color] Roz sat opposite Hailey and politely gestured to the server who couldn’t be fucked to hand her a menu like a civilized person a proper one finger salute before not even so much as glancing at the menu. This wasn’t exactly a friendly meet and greet over mimosas and salmon roe. Whatever was on the menu was probably out of her price range anyway. 

[color=fffacd][b]”So, the drug dealer, eh? Figured drugs were more your brother’s thing but then I guess you and he have something else in common.”[/b][/color] Roz was certainly not about to let the shovel go to waste as she slowly started to dig her own grave. Hana, who had very little idea just who this person was that Hailey had been so keen on meeting, gave a surprised look, as if she was offended at the title of ‘drug dealer’. Roz shot the Korean girl a simple shrug while she was unfolding one of the origami napkins. [color=fffacd][b]”I know some things, ‘Pizza Man’. Stupid name, by the way.”[/b][/color] 

Roz was tearing bits of napkin and rolling them into little napkin balls, fidgeting like she was a tweaker searching for the next fix. [color=fffacd][b]”So are you going to tell me why I’m here or are you just going to sit there in a cloud of smug?”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“Hana has decided to take a sabbatical from drug dealing. She’s rethinking her decisions and deciding if she wants to continue down that path.”[/b][/color] Hailey said, watching as Roz ripped and tore at the napkin. It reminded her of something that Henry might do, which caused her to circle back to Roz’s comparisons. [color=922b2b][b]“Henry and I have nothing in common. What on earth could you be talking about? And, I’d like to remind you, you’re the one who asked for an in-person meeting. I just wanted to thank you.”[/b][/color] Hailey smiled, and put her hands together with her elbows on the table. She leaned her chin forward onto on her cradled fingers, [color=922b2b][b]“after all, your blog does a lot of my job for me. I really appreciate your hard work and help.”[/b][/color]

Roz looked Hailey in the eye as if she was pulling the other one even before she mentioned the slight specifics of their meeting. Surely Hailey wasn’t serious - or blind - or maybe she just didn’t know. By now half the damn internet probably knew, let alone the school. [color=fffacd][b]”I mean you and he both caught a case of the yellow fever. Though at least your girl looks like there’d be grass on the pitch. Your brother’s fuckin’ the exchange kid - emphasis on kid.”[/b][/color] Roz was genuinely surprised that Hailey didn’t know, but then who would want to know about the finer details of their sibling’s love life? 

[color=fffacd][b]”You wouldn’t agree to this meeting if you didn’t stand to gain somethin’ from it. Make your pitch, yeah? I need to know how much to laugh.”[/b][/color] 

Oh, no. Henry had seriously hooked up with [i]Min-seo[/i]? Did his scumminess know no bounds? For a brief second, Hailey’s mask broke and she had a scowling look on her face. [color=922b2b][b]“Comparing what I and Hana are doing to whatever Henry and Min-seo are is simply wrong. After all, you said it yourself, didn’t you? Henry takes advantage of younger girls — particularly ones that can’t stand up for themselves. First an autistic one, now one that hardly speaks the language.”[/b][/color] Hailey’s smile returned to her lips and she shook her head to dismiss the claim that Hailey wanted to [i]gain[/i] something from Roz with this meeting. 

[color=922b2b][b]“There really isn’t a pitch. I just wanted to thank you! You do all the hard work for me. The only thing I really gained from this is the information I got when you walked through the door.”[/b][/color]

Who did she have to fuck to get some damn water here? If she expected it to matter, she was prepared to write the most scathing Yelp review. As if the people that ate here regularly even know what Yelp was. Or quality dining. If this had just been some ploy to give ammunition to Hailey Green then normally Roz might have been kicking herself but word around specific circles was that Hailey’s bite was a bit less sharp - not that Roz was about to test that theory. Blackmail, if that was the goal, didn’t work on someone like Roz when she had her own ace in the hole. 

Or in the pocket of her vest, as it were, recording more than just audio.

[color=fffacd][b]”Yeah, I’m sure what you and the drug mule over there are doing is so much different. What is she, your bitch in training? You say jump, she sucks your toes on the way down, that kind of thing? Guess your ancestors got into the slave trade and you wouldn’t want to make them upset.”[/b][/color] The first thing Roz had noticed when she saw Hana was the choker around her neck, and unless the Green’s were hiding a secret even Roz didn’t know about, she knew that choker wasn’t for sucking Hailey’s dick. Not literally, anyway. [color=fffacd][b]”Let’s stop beatin’ around the bush, you do that enough with your little madame butterfly china doll there I’m sure, You want my services and I want your price.”[/b][/color] 

It was then, that Hailey twitched slightly. It had taken a bit to push her over the edge. She didn’t care about the shots at her, or about the idea that she was there because she wanted Roz’s ‘services.’ All Hailey wanted was confirmation that this was, in fact, the Weekend Warrior. That had been loudly and clearly received. However, the continued shots at her innocent Hana were unneeded, and did nothing but push [i]the button.[/i] [color=922b2b][b]“You must be hard of hearing. Hana is my girlfriend, whatever else we do is none of your business.”[/b][/color] Hailey’s face then contorted into a scowl.

[color=922b2b][b]“Perhaps you’re just stupid though, because you don’t understand the situation you’re in. I [i]already get what I want from you.[/i] So long as you continue writing your little bootleg, poor man’s TMZ, I will [i]continue[/i] to get what I want. There’s nothing you can do to stop or change that. I’m sure you’re recording this, one way or another, and I encourage, no I [i]dare[/i] you to post it on the site. Do you think anything you can do will affect me? Honestly.”[/b][/color] Hailey scoffed.

Roz was already rolling her eyes at Hailey’s response; it was typical of someone of her ilk to act like they were untouchable. Ivory towers weren’t impregnable and they crumbled just as well as any other building. [color=fffacd][b]”Oh, I know for fact I’ve got met-”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“[i]You[/i] will speak when [i]I[/i] am finished. Know your place,”[/b][/color] Hailey hissed out, running a slender hand through her black hair. [color=922b2b][b]“If you truly believe that you do anything for me other than make it easier to win, then you’re even more delusional than I would have ever thought. All you do, and please don’t ever let yourself forget this, is force people to think that Damian O’Connor, my brother, and all their friends are the enemy alongside me. I’ve read your little smear blog — and really, eighty percent of it is weak clickbait — and your little attempts to ‘unite the little man’ against myself and the — god what do they call themselves? — the Elite do nothing more than make it easier for me to be in control.”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“You weaken the case of the people who would side with you, and you make enemies out of people that everyone should fear. Look at you now. You could have had me with you, but now? I’m fully against you. You don’t get to come into my zone, and disrespect not only [i]me[/i], but [i]her[/i],”[/b][/color] Hailey pointed at her lover, [color=922b2b][b]“and get [i]away[/i] with it. Are you stupid? Are you [i]honestly[/i] stupid? Is there a mental issue that I didn’t see when you came in here? [i]Or[/i] are you so [i]desperate[/i] for any [i]modicum[/i] of attention from your peers that you’re willing to push this as a ‘one vs all’ narrative? You will lose this battle.”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“Okay, [i]now[/i] you can talk.”[/b][/color]

While Roz was both silent and still for the rebuttal, the same couldn’t be said for Hana, who couldn’t keep her eyes off of Hailey, save for when she closed her eyes and inhaled a moment when Hailey all but defended Hana’s person. Hana wasn’t speaking words, but her nonverbal squeaks and sounds were just loud enough for Hailey to hear and the way she was squirming in her seat was sight enough to let Hailey know what her words were doing to her while letting Roz think only that Hana was having a spasm attack. 

At least one person at the table was enjoying the words from Hailey. 

[color=fffacd][b]”You’re so self absorbed you think I give a shit about attention? From you? From peers? No one is untouchable no matter how much money or fame or infamy they have. If you think I do what I do for attention or for some stupid game then you’re even more of a vapid slag than I thought. You want to do a battle of wits, we’ll throw down, but don’t act like you’re some bad bitch because half the school buys your shit because they happen to be even more delusional and vapid than you. All you have in life is high school popularity, Hailey. You’re, what, four months away from graduating? The real world isn’t going to bend over and kiss your ass and tell you your shit’s chocolate just because your parents thought throwing money at wet nurses and hot wives were substitutes for love and affection. But I guess that’s what your bitch is for. Your skin is thinner than a postmenopausal vagina.”[/b][/color] 

If there was one takeaway from all of this, it was that brunch continued to be a colossal waste of time for everyone involved. 

[color=922b2b][b]“I think you’ll find that I [i]am[/i] untouchable. And, I’m sorry, did you insult my parents? My parents spent more time with me growing up than yours did. In fact, I spend time with them every day, what about you? Do you even [i]have[/i] a father? I’d bet not.”[/b][/color] Hailey was finding herself more and more angry with this person. Roz continued to push buttons that dug underneath Hailey’s skin, and seemed to be finding more and more ways to dig herself a grave. Some people used a shovel to dig their own grave. Roz, it seemed, was intent on using a jackhammer. [color=922b2b][b]“I want whatever drugs you were on when you walked into this place, twitching like you’re meth’d out of your mind. The way you’ve managed to make yourself believe that I’ve been coddled, that my skin is thin, or that I’ll have any trouble with the real world is [i]impressive[/i], and I’m sure I’d experience a beautiful trip if I got even [i]a taste[/i] of what you’re clearly OD’ing on. You have no place here. One of us will leave high school and coast into a powerful position in the most powerful company in the world, with a beautiful woman on her arm. The other? She’ll be lucky to find work on a street corner. ‘Bad bitch?’ Miss me with that straight outta Compton bullshit.”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“You’re used to hiding behind a mask of anonymity. We’ll see how comfortable you are without it.”[/b][/color] Hailey shook her head, [color=922b2b][b]“All I have in life is high school popularity? Are you serious? I have a family that loves me, I have a girlfriend that loves me. I hardly need anything else, but if you wanna play this game, then fine. You soaked yourself in gasoline, and then lit a match. Congratulations.”[/b][/color]

[color=fffacd][b]”Someone’s gettin’ all riled. How’s that thick skin workin’ out for ya, Miss Defensive?”[/b][/color] Roz had learned the subtle art of keeping one’s cool in the lion’s den. They could smell everything, but few of them actually wanted to do anything other than roar or fuck. In this case Roz was banking on the former. The latter? Well, threesomes were never quite her bag. [color=fffacd][b]”There’s a difference between you and me, Hails. You [i]think[/i] you’ve got me figured out whereas I know I’ve got you on lock. You look at me, you see ‘deadbeat dad’ or ‘alcoholic parents’ or something equally as white trash Americana because it’s easy to write someone like me off with a glance. I don’t matter to you because I’d sooner drink a cheap beer from a can than some thousand dollar wine from 18-who-the-fuck-cares. Truth is, you need people like me. We work in your companies while you get fat and bitter and miserable and wonder why at age twenty five you look like forty eight and wonder why your lover can’t get it up anymore. Metaphorically of course.”[/b][/color] 

Roz was tossing her napkin balls down the table, and mid-rant one of them landed with a little splash in Hana’s teacup, which brought a smirk to her face. 

[color=fffacd][b]”You play some weak ass rap music tailor made for basic bitch white girls and act like you’re thugging. You empty out a restaurant in some sort of power play because you think it gives you the advantage, like it gives you power over me. You don’t have friends, you have people who you conned into jumping when you say so, and if you were half as thick skinned as you think you are, you wouldn’t try to dress me down with baseless insults like I’m the hired help at your family’s shitty pizza place. I know you, Hailey. You don’t know me. And you never will. The one meaningful contribution you’ll have on society is the donation I’m making in your name with the money you sent to me. Congratulations, you might get a school wing named after you or something. You’re welcome.”[/b][/color] 

It was then that the hot air in Hailey seemed to physically deflate. She realized then that Roz was not only [i]stupid[/i], she was stubborn. Hailey didn’t have time to tame a bull, and she had no interest in it. What was Roz going to do to her? She had said it herself: Hailey had only a few months left before graduation, and then whatever happened at the school would fall off of her back, and into the garbage. Still, the question remained.

Was this girl… for real? Did she honestly believe the words falling out of her mouth? Had someone truly deluded themselves so much as to believe the things that Roz was saying? To honestly believe that her family was anything but [i]good[/i] was fundamentally incorrect.

To think that RTJ was basic? Even worse. They weren’t as underground as, say, Lo Key, but they certainly weren’t Eminem, or Post Malone.

[color=922b2b][b]“You think you know me? You think… I need people like you? You think I’ve never made a donation? You are grossly misinformed. Myself and my family donates more than I gave you every [i]day[/i]. You don’t know anything about me. I cleared everyone out of here because I wasn’t interested in arguing in front of the normal patrons, and I had a feeling. Trust me, I know you. I know everything about you. You’re simple, from the ground up; people like you are a dime a dozen. Maybe I’m off point on a few things, but the basic idea is there. The fact of the matter, the simple truth of things is this: nothing you do will ever affect me. [i]Everything[/i] I do will affect you. You’re judging my music taste off of one song, seriously? ‘Thugging?’ That isn’t even a word. You insult my father’s pride and joy? Even if I [i]wanted[/i] to employ you, I’d only do it now to fire you. Listen to me, I’m 18 years old and I’ve done more for the world around me than you’ve done for anyone, including yourself. ”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“You’re a shoddy journalist, a terrible one even. You had a chance to get answers from me, and instead you pissed it away on more crackpot clickbait bullshit. Your peers in the craft would be disappointed, if not disgusted.”[/b][/color] Hailey looked down at her tea and shook her head, before she smiled warmly at Roz, and settled back down in her chair. [color=922b2b][b]“I hope you find a way to snap back to reality, because you’ve deluded yourself into thinking that [i]this[/i] is how you treat people.”[/b][/color] Hailey glanced over her shoulder at Butler with an incredulous look on her face, and the man just shrugged his shoulders in response, before gesturing at Roz to take her leave.

[color=922b2b][b]“You can leave now; I’m not going to waste anymore of my precious time on someone who finds herself hellbent on trying to make me think she’s important, or that she knows me. You know nothing, you never will. I wish you well, in all your future endeavours.”[/b][/color] Paying no more mind to Roz, Hailey turned her head to Hana, [color=922b2b][b]“I’m very sorry you had to see that, Hana. I don’t normally get like that, but she admittedly pushed a few buttons. I don’t handle disrespect very well; especially not when it’s directed at my father, or either of my mothers. Or, as it happens, you. I recomposed myself when I realized how truly gaslighted that poor girl is. I’ve learned not to box brick walls.”[/b][/color] Hailey accented herself with a kiss upon Hana’s nose.

There was a rather old television show that Roz often left on in the background when she was attending to more important matters and the main character had a certain...knack for getting the last word in. While she would’ve preferred doing so with someone less up their own ass, she wasn’t about to let the opportunity go to waste. [color=fffacd][b]”There’s one more thing before I go.”[/b][/color] Nailed it, she did, the cadence was the most important part. [color=fffacd][b]”If you know me, then what’s my name?”[/b][/color] While she knew Hailey’s response was going to be something close to a throat clear or a hand wave, Roz knew for a fact that it was one question Hailey couldn’t answer even if she had the school give up the student registrar. 

On her exit, Roz considered dropping a vase on the floor, and managed it simply by [i]accidentally[/i] walking into one of the columns holding it up in the lobby. [color=fffacd][b]”Put it on my tab.”[/b][/color] Roz Norcross would likely not be welcome back in The Blue Lantern any time soon. Or Captain Cuddles, for that matter, but their pizza was like cardboard anyway. 

Inside, Hana Park had a bit of difficulty focusing. She had stopped squirming in her chair but her face was redder than a ripe strawberry. [color=ff69b4][b]”I think I need a new chair.”[/b][/color] Further elaboration was not given, though Hana was certain Hailey knew just why. 

Hailey didn’t acknowledge Roz any further as she left the building. She didn’t offer a response to the other woman’s question, and she didn’t flinch as vase as knocked down. What did she care? It was a business expense and would be written off as such. Hailey eyed Hana as she spoke and gave a giggle. Before she could flirt, though, Butler spoke up. [color=2F8A17][b]“Do you want me to find out her name?”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“Of course not. She’s uninteresting and frustrating. I don’t have time for people like that anymore. I’m going to pass her off to someone else. My methods appear to be a little… much for her, but perhaps someone else will have more success. She is of no concern to us, and she never will be. Is the camera footage on my phone?”[/b][/color] Hailey glanced at Butler, who nodded, and Hailey shrugged her shoulders. Her job here was done; she knew who the Weekend Warrior, and had undeniable proof of it. [color=922b2b][b]“Hana, you know you’re going to have to clean that chair.”[/b][/color]

[color=2F8A17][b]“Do we have time for this? Don’t we have another stop to make?”[/b][/color]

[color=922b2b][b]“My vanilla bean is clearly two seconds away from mindless horniness. We’re going to make time.”[/b][/color]

Cleaning the chair? She hadn’t even considered that, but technically it was a bit of property damage. Not on the same level as a vase but still. And yet Hana had many questions in her mind. What did that girl even mean by ‘bitch in training’? How did she know her former alias and moreover did [i]everyone[/i] know and also think it was a bad name? Why didn’t anyone tell her if so? But the only question that made it from head to mouth was a simple one aimed at Hailey. 

[color=ff69b4][b]”I won’t be using water and a cloth will I?”[/b][/color][/indent]