Annie Hargreeves (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
defenderofdesmoines) wrote2021-06-07 01:32 pm
defenderofdesmoines) wrote2021-06-07 01:32 pm
Vought Tower | Monday Evening
The only reason Homelander -- and Stan Edgar, Vought's CEO -- was audible over the din of the press conference was because he had the only microphone. The reporters gathered were clamoring for follow-up questions, with cameras going off incessantly.
"Thanks to the heroism of Queen Maeve and Starlight, Stormfront has been neutralized, and is being held in an undisclosed location." If you didn't know Homelander, you might take his tone at this press conference for somber; Starlight, however, was well aware that what she was looking at was much closer to barely-contained fury.
But the important thing was that it was contained.
"I would personally like to apologize to Starlight," he added, turning to her, "who was wrongly accused of sabotage and conspiracy. Welcome back to the team."
Starlight inclined her head in a respectful nod from her place beside Queen Maeve. And, unlike recently, she stood about three inches shorter than Maeve, in her original Starlight uniform.
Things would be changing around here, if she was going to stick around.
"And I know that you and Maeve are two of the best, and most loyal friends that I could ever have," Homelander continued, his voice dripping sincerity, before turning back to the camera. "We are your heroes. We are here to serve and protect you. Stormfront's violation of that special relationship -- of that trust -- is unacceptable."
Starlight kind of tuned out, instead letting her gaze drift to the wings. Diego was still here, of course, though he was allowed to look a little more exhausted than she was given that he didn't need to appear on camera. Ashley, anxious and wide-eyed with her clipboard. And...that was it. Things were a little more stripped down. There hadn't been time for a full team of hair and makeup, even -- Starlight and Maeve had made themselves up.
Of course, there was one other person waiting in the wings there, and when Starlight caught the smartly-dressed woman's eye, she smiled faintly. It had taken a fairly large retainer to get her brand-new lawyer to come down to the tower this evening on such short notice, but she was more than happy to pay it.
They'd had to pause the contract renegotiation for the press conference, but as soon as it wrapped up, she was prepared to go sit back down with Vought's Legal department and her own, new representation -- seriously, Danny was getting all kinds of thanks for putting that idea in her head -- and figure this shit out until it was something she could live with.
Because yeah. Even after all of that -- after The Deep's assault, Black Noir's assassination attempt, A-Train's attack and Homelander's psychopathy -- and even after witnessing Vought's core-deep corruption firsthand...she was staying.
If you jumped ship and let the assholes steer, you were part of the problem, right?
[just a little epilogue thing omg. totally open for calls/texts/boyfriend who is there, if you'd like to catch her between her press conference and meetings, now that she has a pocket again. Happy ever after, right there.]
"Thanks to the heroism of Queen Maeve and Starlight, Stormfront has been neutralized, and is being held in an undisclosed location." If you didn't know Homelander, you might take his tone at this press conference for somber; Starlight, however, was well aware that what she was looking at was much closer to barely-contained fury.
But the important thing was that it was contained.
"I would personally like to apologize to Starlight," he added, turning to her, "who was wrongly accused of sabotage and conspiracy. Welcome back to the team."
Starlight inclined her head in a respectful nod from her place beside Queen Maeve. And, unlike recently, she stood about three inches shorter than Maeve, in her original Starlight uniform.
Things would be changing around here, if she was going to stick around.
"And I know that you and Maeve are two of the best, and most loyal friends that I could ever have," Homelander continued, his voice dripping sincerity, before turning back to the camera. "We are your heroes. We are here to serve and protect you. Stormfront's violation of that special relationship -- of that trust -- is unacceptable."
Starlight kind of tuned out, instead letting her gaze drift to the wings. Diego was still here, of course, though he was allowed to look a little more exhausted than she was given that he didn't need to appear on camera. Ashley, anxious and wide-eyed with her clipboard. And...that was it. Things were a little more stripped down. There hadn't been time for a full team of hair and makeup, even -- Starlight and Maeve had made themselves up.
Of course, there was one other person waiting in the wings there, and when Starlight caught the smartly-dressed woman's eye, she smiled faintly. It had taken a fairly large retainer to get her brand-new lawyer to come down to the tower this evening on such short notice, but she was more than happy to pay it.
They'd had to pause the contract renegotiation for the press conference, but as soon as it wrapped up, she was prepared to go sit back down with Vought's Legal department and her own, new representation -- seriously, Danny was getting all kinds of thanks for putting that idea in her head -- and figure this shit out until it was something she could live with.
Because yeah. Even after all of that -- after The Deep's assault, Black Noir's assassination attempt, A-Train's attack and Homelander's psychopathy -- and even after witnessing Vought's core-deep corruption firsthand...she was staying.
If you jumped ship and let the assholes steer, you were part of the problem, right?
[just a little epilogue thing omg. totally open for calls/texts/boyfriend who is there, if you'd like to catch her between her press conference and meetings, now that she has a pocket again. Happy ever after, right there.]