(no subject)

[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

Who: Achilles and Theseus (small appearance by Ken)
What: Achilles meets his intern for the first time.
When: Monday afternoon, September 19, 2011
Where: Achilles/Ken's offices or whatever
Warning: None

Since Pippa's very abrupt change in physical appearance (thought she'd done it before), Achilles had more time in which he spent more engrossed in his work than ever. Distractions, women, that break from personal life, it was nothing more than an unnecessary distraction. Part of him faulted Kenneth now for getting married, for taking his time away from what made him Achilles' soldier.

In this time while the blonde director had inadvertently picked up an intern via Kenneth, he had yet to meet him. Achilles was working on a few new projects. His own and a dabbling some with the new Spartacus: Season 3 television show done by Starz. Perhaps with his involvement the newer season wouldn't be as much a disappointment as the previous ones had been. In his own taste anyway.

Achilles had come into the office today, though he usually spent it at home these days writing on his script when he wasn't on a movie set. The paparazzi had calmed down for a bit, which made the transition from set to office a little less intense. He liked the quiet.

Kenneth had stepped out of his own office for a few leaving Theseus to do some work. He hadn't known Achilles was coming in today, but was pleased he was there. When Achilles stepped into the room he looked down on the boy with an arrogant stance, chin up, eyes down.

"How long have you been employed now?" Achilles asked with no waver in his voice, it was stern and demanding.

Theseus actually liked this job. It didn't pay, but he was learning things from the bottom of the pole, while seeing how he would do things differently. For one, he felt Kenneth wasn't exactly treated right. And he liked the older guy, so Theseus did what he could to ease Kenneth's work load.

He'd told Kenneth to take the break, and was now listening to music and debating calling Astin. When he heard the new voice he looked up, and logic told him this was his actual boss. Theseus had his own arrogant streak, but he hoped it wasn't this bad.

So he put his pen down and sat up straight, "evening sir, and about a week now. It's pretty cool, getting to learn things from the ground up. Did you need anything?"

Achilles had heard everything he needed from Kenneth on this kid. He had promise, he had shine, the blonde would give him that, but there was some things to be polished out. Achilles would bend him as far as he could to see what he was able to handle, what he was able to trust.

"Passing through." He eyed the boy warily, holding out his hand for a firm shake. "Adrianus," as neither had been formally introduced yet. He cleared his throat.

"I see Kenneth has you busy with paperwork." He held his chin up. He needed to know more about this boy before he attempted to pull him out on the field. "Listening to direction well, that's a good thing," he nodded his head. "What is it you plan to accomplish in the next year?"

With a smile he got up and shook the man's hand, "Theseus." He released his hand and glanced to the paperwork, "I don't mind. I want to learn things from this angle. We all gotta earn our stripes somehow."

"The school year? I want to get through it. I'm learning all these new things, and it's really like everything I've ever wanted to do. I'm learning all the theory behind it all, and there's so much more then I imagined." He smiled and sat back down, "but life can be tricky. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, or the next hour. I have a goal, but not a set path. Take things as they come."

"Perhaps in your world there is an unknown," his voice was almost a whisper. His time had always been predestined, predetermined as to what the finish line brought. He would always strive for the best, be the best, but his fate while he always wanted it in his hands seemed to trip him in the end. The more these gods squabbled over their own thrones, much like ignorant kings, Achilles was willing to set his own path for once.

Perhaps this boy could be some sort of springboard for his own story. Achilles had walked over many to be who he was now, but few remained within his reach that he cared to keep around.

"That seems a little precarious does it not? Do you have goals in mind or just riding this as it's handed to you?"

He frowned to that, but decided not to ask. He didn't think it was right to pry in the guy's personal life just yet. He hadn't worked here long enough.

He shrugged, "kind of a bit of both. I know where I want to go, but how I get there is an adventure. I see myself in a place in a few years. I'm going to do my best to get there but you never know. Something could happen to my mother or my boyfriend and I'd have to pause for a moment. Hell I could trip and break my leg or something."

"Not everyone has the luxury of playing a guessing game. It's more crucial than that." He was talking aloud, his own feelings raising to the surface. This kid seemed quite the opposite of himself, though very much proud and determined despite any flaws Achilles had already given him.

"Theseus, that's a rather interesting name your mother picked. Any reason she chose that one above all others?"

He shrugged again, "I just turned 23. I figure I have time to figure it all out. I know I'm fortunate though." Then he gave a groan and ran his fingers through his curls.

"Yeah, my mother is convinced that her side of the family is related to the mythical Theseus. So she named me after him." He shook his head, "very little I can do about that, save change it later on. No one ever forgets my name though."

He'd been fifteen when his life was chosen for him. When he'd taken what was offered for the sake of his own head. He admired this boy's courage and future he himself never had the opportunity to look forward to. Achilles did not stand down from his arrogant stance but he was interested in this new intern. He wasn't of the immortal sort, but he had promise.

"A name is a powerful ally in a mans future. Who he is, who he will become. A name is important."

"Yeah, but on the other hand I sometimes feel like I got this bar to reach, but not one I can see. Like I'm being judged on someone who wasn't even real." He shrugged, "I had that more back in Greece then I did here. Everyone gave me shit about it. Now not so much."

"There's always a bar to reach whether by your own making or by another's." Achilles perked his lightened brow, refraining from showing his disdain in how useless and ignorant mortals could be at times. "Stories do not cling to themselves, there is some truth to them. I believe."