Chloe (Medea)/Side Tale 1

**Clerk:** Miss Chloe? I'm here to pick up the design our client ordered last week.

 **Clerk:** Manager Chloe?

 Chloe: You went with a tulle and lace design to make it more breathable, correct? That won't do it all. The mesh is a too hard. Can't we just change it to silk satin?

 Chloe: As one of our new summer designs, we need to focus on the practicalities of how it holds up in the heat... and the waistline needs to be tightened up a stretch...

 **Clerk:** Manager!
The clerk's impatient yells summon Chloe who glances out quickly from the doorway.

 Chloe: Didn't you see the sign? "Authorized Personnel Only"! When I'm laying the finishing touches on our summer catalogue, I don't want to be disturbed!

 **Clerk:** Yes ma'am. I am fully aware of that, but the orders are piling up from our regular customers. It's been three days, Miss Chloe.

 Chloe: You know what? How about you call the shots? You've been here for two years. You know how we do things. The design you're looking for will be in the third drawer in the cabinet on your right -

 Chloe: So, until I say otherwise... Don't bother me!
The clerk senses how annoyed and stressed Chloe is and she doesn't dare bother her again. With a quiet murmur, she reaches into the designated drawer, removes the designs, and then leaves without a word, closing the door behind her as she goes.

 Chloe: Studio Mithra nearly showed us up in that last exhibit. The pressure is on. If we're going to stay on top... we need to do better...

 Chloe: Oh no, don't tell me I've run out of inspiration at a time like this. My goodness...

 **???:** Oh no, Chloe! What's got you in a huff?

 Chloe: I told you! I don't want to be disturbed!

 David: I've never known you to be so riled up.

 Chloe: David? What are you doing here?

 David: What am I doing? Checking on my buddy Chloe, of course! I was passing by and got a bit of an earful from your poor assistant.

 David: "Authorized Personnel Only"? Well your old friend David is fully authorized to help you with your stress!

 Chloe: How I wish it were true, David. At any other time, I would love to chat, but I really don't have the energy to deal with this right now.

 Chloe: And I'd say your knowledge of my design work is fairly limited, no? So I don't quite know how you can save me from anything.

 David: Huh! Reaching the heights of Esperhood means I don't have to bother with the nitty gritty details of... fashion.

 David: - 'Cos I look good in anything!

 Chloe: Please remember to close the door on your way out.

 David: Hey! I'm serious! I know that this has been stressing you out for days! Don't you think that it's time for a bit of a "sea change"?

 David: Why don't you take some time out of our busy schedule to check out a new dance routine I've mastered? Let me inspire you on the "dance floor".

 Chloe: If I promise to watch your new routine, then will you promise to leave?
David smiles confidently. Chloe sighs as she kicks her chair 180 degrees to face David's directly.

 Chloe: Well then. Please begin.

 David: Hah! Watch this!
David lights up the floor of Chloe's studio with a routine she later finds out has been named the "Reverso".
His wrists seem to fly with a momentum not entirely his own and his joints seem to move at odd angles like David is somehow swimming through the air in front of Chloe.
The difficult hand gestures with the precise and exactly timed rhythm of David's backward and forward steps through the studio conjure up a grudging admiration on Chloe's part.

 Chloe: That was... surprisingly creative.

 David: Yeah! That's what they said at the TV station too. They also said it was a little too avant-garde for their show. I'll have to wait a bit before presenting it at one of their dance competitions.

 Chloe: David, what's got you so into the choreography all of a sudden? You're a fully-fledged Ops Chief in the Esper Union now. You've got a million different ways of getting on TV. Why this?

 David: Isn't it obvious? What have I always been about in all the years you've known me? I'm the guy who lights up the room!

 David: I have fun when I'm on mission, and I have fun when I'm a dancer! When have I ever cared what people think?

 Chloe: So you're just doing what you're interested in?

 David: Is there anything wrong with that? People at the Esper Union could benefit from loosening up a bit.

 Chloe: Forthright... happy-go-lucky... devil-may-care...

 Chloe: I've got it! I know exactly what design is going to work now! Stay here for a moment - quietly - while I quickly sketch something up, please?
Chloe immediately pushes her chair back over to her design table, she scrunches up her previous drawings into a ball and throws them into the bin without waiting for David's response

 David: Uh... Whatever. You do you.
David shrugs his shoulders and flops down onto the sofa. He occasionally arches his head to take a peek at the new design that Chloe is working on.
Several hour later

 Chloe: Done! This isn't just a winner, it's a sublime working of the concept of... no the pursuit of... beauty itself...

 Chloe: David, you should have a look! I have you to thank -

 Chloe: David?
David is fully reclined on the sofa, snoring peacefully.

 David: ...(Snore) ...Leave it... to me. I'll save ... everyone...

 David: After all ... I'm a hero.

 Chloe: You really do march to the beat of your own drum, don't you, David? I'm happy to see that you're comfortable enough to fall asleep in my studio.

 Chloe: Anyways, I can't complain after what you've given me today. Sweet dreams, David.