Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Bits o' Legionnaire Business LMBP One-Vision -- A Day in the Life... (A LMBP Leader's Tale)

Note: Just a little something I cooked up. I don't really know why... I guess I was bored and feeling the need to express my leader-y life. Or something. To anyone who is interested (*coughcough* Cobie *cough*), it's set not long after the Five Faces of Death. I'm thinking I'll leave it here, so (if anyone ends up reading this) feel free to drop a line at the end. And away we go!



Caliente was not having a good day. Most of her days lately weren't so great. Responsibilities, work, a new husband to take care of, work, war-torn Legion World to deal with, work... "I'm not Crujectra!" she grumbled under her breath, burying her head in her hands.

A steaming hot latte landed on her desk and a comforting pat on her shoulder. "Cheer up, Madame Leader," Helena Handbasket said with a smile. "It's Wednesday, after all. You're nearly halfway there."

Normally, she'd have to bite the head off of anyone wearing a smile in her office when she was so obviously irritated, but Helena brought her coffee, so she was off the hook. This time. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I thought hump day meant something entirely different before I had this job. It did in the Security Office, anyway."

The deputy leader, Kid Vudoo, just happened to be walking by at that moment and snorted. "I'll bet it did."

"Quiet you," Cali scolded, though she was smiling for the first time that day. Leaning back in her chair, she looked at Helena. "All right, so what's on the agenda for today?"

Helena was all business (as usual). "You have a meeting with Cobalt Kid about Greenland at ten--I think Fat Cramer wanted to sit in on that, since it's her policies in question. At noon, you have a lunch at the Psyonia Embassy. At one you're heading to the streets of Legion World to show solidarity and support for their rebuilding efforts. I've had the speechwriters make you one just in case. At two-thirty--"

Caliente held up her hand to silence her assistant. "That's enough, thank you, Helena. I'm sure Tim has sent me a precisely timed copy by now. I'll look over it after I finish going over these new team policies." She sighed. "Helena, can I ask you something?"

The woman in question nodded once. "Of course, Madame Leader."

Staring at the pile of papers on her desk, Cali frowned. "What ever happened to my platform of laziness?"

Helena laughed. "You got elected."

That made Caliente smile again. "I did, didn't I?" Glancing at a post-it note, she snapped her fingers. "Oh! Before I forget--send a message to Matlock, please, informing him of my immediate leave of absence from the Security Office. It goes without saying but I'd like to make it official all the same."

"Very good, Madame Leader." Helena stood. "Was there anything else?"

Cali paused to think. "Yes," she decided, taking a sip of her drink. "Next time you get me a latte, get one for yourself, as well."

Helena nodded again, a hint of a smile on her lips. "As you wish, Madame Leader," she said before picking up her pad and walking out the door.

Smiling triumphantly, Caliente made a checkmark on her list. "That's one down," she muttered to herself. "Next I'll be getting her to call me Cali... or at least Caliente." She considered for a moment. "Or Miss Caliente, maybe." Though the name did make her feel old. Of course, knowing Britney, she probably did it at least partly for that reason.

Her omicron beeped and she smiled when she saw the message was from Actor Lad. "Aw," she cooed. He was going to make her dinner at the Luau tonight! So cute. And not just because she was a hopeless chef--there were plenty of restaurants they could go to.

Tapping a quick reply, she told him she'd meet him at eight. Then she let out a long breath. Eight was soooo long away. Boo. She spent a few minutes wasting time pouting and enjoying her latte.

When Cali shuffled some papers around, figuring she probably ought to do some work between now and then, she unearthed an image. It wasn't normally buried--actually, she'd been contemplating whether it was better to keep it on her desk next to her honeymoon collage or if she should stick it on the wall just the other day--but it must have slid down. Picking it up, she tried to smile but it was a wasted effort. The tears in her eyes gave her away.

She cleared the spot where it belonged on her desk and propped it upright again. A picture of Lard Lad and Cobalt Kid, grinning and laughing looked back at her. With a little help from a friend, she'd swiped it from Cobie. She knew if she'd asked he'd probably let her have it but she couldn't risk it. She needed the image. She needed to remember. Remember him. Remember what he did for her. Even if it hurt.

And a lot of days, it did hurt. But she could handle it. It was her job. She was leader, after all. If the LMBP hadn't believed in her, she wouldn't have been elected. And if they believed in her, then she should believe in herself. Lardy believed in her--she couldn't let him down. So she could handle it. Right. Right... Right. As she picked up her notes and headed out for her meeting with Cobalt Kid, she could almost believe that, too.

Then Caliente put on her brave face, smiled and waved to Helena on her way out of the office. Off to another day in the life for the LMBP leader.

Not The End

I love it. It's witty, poignant, and leaves the reader waiting excitedly for the next installment. Nice work, Cali.

Aww, thanks, Stealth! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was just a little something I played around with as I wondered just what leaders are actually supposed to be doing...

I loved it!

And now I definately want more

You really nailed perfectly the notion of the stress of being leader and how a leader handles that on a daily basis. I love getting a glimpse into the routine/'anything but routine' schedule of the leader of a super-hero team.

You may have to do an entire series 24 style chronicling Cali's whole day. Love the Lardy/Cobalt pick and the security office joke

Ah but if I do more, then I have to include more of Legion World's inhabitants. And I'm not sure people want me brutalizing their characters.

Seriously, though, thanks a bunch, Cobie! I'm so happy you like it. And I might continued... it depends mostly on timing and inspiration.

I enjoyed it a lot, Cali! It's great to have a feminine voice/sensibility in an LMB story. Basically, all LMB stories to date (besides your 80PG short--that I'm aware of, anyway) have been written by guys, so that female point of view has always been missing. I'm not trying to say that it was only enjoyable for that reason alone, but that was one of the things that really struck me.

And, of course, I loved how you showed Lardy's sacrifice is still one her mind. I can see that Cali is dealing with it more constructively than you first guessed she would in our PMs and I can see why with people like Helena and Actor Lad being there to lean on. (I LOVE Helena's character! I'm going to be working with Helena a lot as well in "The Covenant" to show how she got to the place we've seen her since FFoD--it was/will be quite a rough journey! )

I demand more, Cali!!!!!!

I loved it too. I especially liked the reference to Time Teller Lad sending the precisely timed copy!

Well, who am I to argue with a dead guy?

I think Helena is a neat lady, too. I was glad to see when she got her own posting ID.

I wouldn't put it past Cali to go down a darker path at some point, especially with some upcoming things to come. Plus, she's got the leader shtick right now to distract her. Things may yet change. But for now... it's okayish.

Heh. Female sensibility. I like the sound of that... I think. >.> I'm pretty sure Harbi's written a few things, too, but thanks. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the tale.

Aww, you're too kind. Thank you, Rocky.

It was fun to include Tim-- he's a neat fella. And, really, I'm just pleased you liked it.

Don't be offended/moderately annoyed, Cali, by the "female" thing...it was the only way I could verbalize the unique flavor and tone of the piece. For example, I don't think Des, myself or any other writer here could write classic bits like:

"Normally, she'd have to bite the head off of anyone wearing a smile in her office when she was so obviously irritated, but Helena brought her coffee, so she was off the hook. This time. "

or...

"Tapping a quick reply, she told him she'd meet him at eight. Then she let out a long breath. Eight was soooo long away. Boo. She spent a few minutes wasting time pouting and enjoying her latte."

Most guys (shy of Joss Whedon and a few others)just can't write lines for ladies like that that feel so natural and, well, feminine, y'know? I'm freakin' jealous!

Maybe I'm just mistaking your flare for your own character for your being able to channel this kind of thing "on paper", but I sure love to read that sort of thing...so more, please!

And Harbi's a lady? I've rarely interacted with her (?), and I always used to assume Harbi was female...but I could swear that I've read posts by or about Harbi that seemed to point to Harbi being a guy.

Oh, and you're right...having read the piece again just now, I can see how the leader thing is helping distract Cali from her pain. It's all there, really. We'll see how she does after that distraction is removed soon...

Yes, I am a clever weaver of many plot elements! Very clever, indeed.

Kidding! I'm glad you can see it, though. It will be interesting to see the change in leadership. I'm pretty sure it's coming up soon, too. Hmm... should check on that.

Anyway, Harbinger is named Belinda so all signs point toward female on this end.

And I totally wasn't offended. I was just joking around because I don't really think I have much sensibility. Or femininity for that matter. But I've always had an easier time writing girls than dudes (probably because I am one), so it makes sense to me! Though, that's probably not such a good thing, since I actually fancy myself something of a writer. Oh well, aspirations and all that.

As for the more... we'll see! I'm totally flattered, and I've got a bit of inspiration, but I've also got finals, so... yes. Only time will tell. (Ooh, maybe that can be Tim's catchphrase! )

Cali

I am a sucker for these short sharp, “day in the life of” types of stories and this is one of the best I have seen in a while.

I get so much information, factual and emotional, from so few words which is a trick I wish I could do, as my stuff is really rambling.

The humour is there as it should be in all LMBP tales (after all the universe of the LMB is pretty silly when you look at it objectively) but there are subtle underlying tones which address loss, friendship, honour, struggle, love and the humdrum. I love the way Caliente the leader has to put her own emotions to one side to get on with the bureaucracy of running LegionWorld something I don’t think we’ve really seen explored before.
Your use of these characters seems spot on to me so I am looking forward to seeing how you develop them.

Thanks for this one it made the struggle to get onto Legion World worth it today.

This is great, Cali! Keep going, definitely!

That's fair game in Bits, especially for those who have engaged in any amount of role-playing at all.

I like it!

We've already seen "It's about time", but there's no law against a character having multiple catchphrases!

Time will tell!

Wow, what a response. I'm shocked and flattered, you guys. Thank you all!

Faraway-- I've always been something of a concise writer. I don't really know why... I just prefer inferring to lots of description, I suppose. I stink at description. (Notice no one is descried in how they look, nor do I say how the office is decorated other than it has a desk and door.) But it's something I'm still working on. Hey, see, I too can ramble!

Anyway, thanks so much for the kind words! I'm just happy you liked it... and that I didn't abuse anyone too terribly.

Kent-- So pleased you enjoyed it! And, never fear, I was only joking about character abuse. I figure someone will give me a head's up if I mess something up.

TTL-- I sort of picture it being said in a booming voice, "Only time will tell!" All melodramatic and old school style. Like the guy on Superfriends! (Y'know, "Back at the Hall of Justice..." status.) I'm a geek like that.