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Post by Adrian Veidt on May 3, 2019 20:30:12 GMT -5
"We'll stay through Ashton's stump speech and see what follows, all right? Unless your friend wants to stay longer-"
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 20:31:20 GMT -5
Teja snorted into her palm and played it off like she was rubbing her face.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on May 3, 2019 20:31:59 GMT -5
"Is everything all right?"
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 20:33:37 GMT -5
"Not at all," she said conversationally. "But all of New York's elite is here tonight to pledge to make things better, so I'm sure it will be soon enough."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on May 3, 2019 20:37:19 GMT -5
Veidt blinked and then laughed, startled.
"If only," he said. "Megan, a moment-"
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Post by Megan on May 3, 2019 20:43:29 GMT -5
"Sorry," Megan said pointedly as she started to stand. "Apparently I have to report to the principal's office."
Veidt offered her his arm as they stepped away, but when they retreated behind a potted shrub across the ballroom, he released her and could be seen, if anyone chose to look for it, making a frustrated gesture back at Teja with an accusatory expression. Megan, viewed from behind, threw her hands up in frustration, and then could be seen pressing one of her own temples and rapidly pulling her hand away again. Veidt took her by the shoulders and mouthed something rather urgently, and Megan shook her head.
Veidt, seemingly satisfied, released her with an apologetic gesture, but Megan turned her back on him and stormed off in the direction of the canapes and the ice sculpture. Veidt watched her, pinched the bridge of his nose, and went back to the table.
"Pardon us-"
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 20:44:59 GMT -5
Teja looked uncomfortable and wary.
"What was that about?"
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Post by Adrian Veidt on May 3, 2019 20:47:00 GMT -5
"Personal matters. She'll be back in a moment."
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 20:53:22 GMT -5
"I suppose she'll back up your version of things when I ask her, won't she?" asked Teja with an icy smile.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on May 3, 2019 20:54:10 GMT -5
"Most likely," Veidt said, a little cagily himself.
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Post by Megan on May 3, 2019 20:59:33 GMT -5
Megan returned in a huff, quickly unrolling and drying her hands with a cloth napkin before sitting down. The silverware clattered as it hit the table, and Veidt winced slightly, with another calming gesture.
"Sorry about that," Megan said brightly. "Think of a waterfall," Veidt murmured. "I am," Megan retorted, pressing her hands flat on the table. "I'm sorry, I was just- panic attacks, you know? Adrian was helping me."
Veidt exhaled slowly.
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 21:04:00 GMT -5
Helping you have a panic attack, she thought, testily, but she managed to restrain herself from saying that out loud.
"Let me know if you need anything," she said, without being able to imagine what Megan would need from her.
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Post by Megan on May 3, 2019 21:06:48 GMT -5
"I've just been... a little unwell since New Year's, that's all. Haven't we all?"
She gave Veidt a pointed look. Veidt inhaled without saying anything.
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Post by Teja on May 3, 2019 21:09:29 GMT -5
Teja nodded and touched her wrist.
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Post by Megan on May 3, 2019 21:16:12 GMT -5
Across the room, someone laughed loudly, and Megan looked up in time to see that it came from one of the circle of people currently surrounding a rather sharp-faced young man with tightly slicked-back dark hair, who had clearly just delivered some kind of punchline and was gesturing, palms-up, for greater applause.
"I just... everything feels so meaningless," she said softly. "What are we even doing here-"
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