*clearly* on to a good start

Who: Arden and Nate
When: Lunchtime
Where: School

Arden’s mind was busy with plans, as per usual. The plans may not have extended too far into the future, but the general idea of short-term tasks and goals were there and making themselves busy in her mind. But nothing had been thought about in any great detail. Case in point: Nate Konovich. Talking to him about the fundraiser was swimming somewhere in the general ‘plan’ Arden had going, even if she had never interacted with him before, but she had neither worried nor thought out about the when and where and how of her initiating that conversation.

Of course, none of that stopped her from jumping on the opportunity when it presented herself. Said opportunity may have consisted of nothing more than seeing Nate in the hallway as she was heading out just before lunch, but Arden wasted no time changing gears and unabashedly strolling up behind him. “Nate Konovich -- I’d like to talk you.” The bodyguard lingering behind her looked more alert and some students were definitely staring, but Arden was nothing less than pleasant and relaxed about the whole thing. Nate may have had a reputation and a Konovich last name, but Arden wasn’t the kind to judge someone before meeting them.

Nate turned as he heard his name called - or, with that tone, perhaps ‘demanded’ might be the better word, though not in a bad way. There was just a certain assuredness about the voice that one couldn’t help reacting to. “Miss Walker,” he said, his lips curling up into a smile. He recognised her, of course. And whilst he wasn’t one to usually resort to formalities, he was still amused generally with the world and in the same playful, theatrical mood he’d been in earlier on talking to Arienne. The difference now, though, was that it was mostly hidden under the guise of someone who was aware of the seriousness of recent events, who would have read the paper that morning, who would had learned of the deaths and injuries at the art gallery the night before. There was nothing exceptionally upbeat about his attitude any more, the only nod to his inner mood was the address which anyone else would write off as mere formality. He glanced toward the bodyguard - unusual for school property, but given the overt attack on a public event of a DiGiovanni affiliated family member, he couldn’t say it was too much of a surprise. in fact, if that was the reason behind it, he liked it. A lot. It meant his actions had had clear effects.

“I’m putting together a drive for the victims of the vigil and their families -- though now it may encompass victims from the gallery. It was a public event, and I haven’t heard anything final amid the chaos.” She winced, bothered by the current state of limbo. “I’ve talked to Arienne, but considering she’s just lost her mother I’m trying to keep as much the responsibility with this off her. I’ll need your help in working with student council on this.” She gave him a smile that was small but genuine, it not really occurring to her that she hadn’t actually asked for his help in planning this.

“Of course, “ Nate said, aware of the wording, but seemingly unfazed by it. “It would look rather strange if someone took it into their head to organise such a public memorial without involving the leaders of the student council,” he granted her, deftly turning the fact that she’d handed him an assumption that he’d just jump around to make it appear that she had been obliged to act in the way she had, in order that her idea would have been at all acceptable. “I’d be happy to lend you my assistance.”

Arden frowned, momentarily feeling like she missed a step when she wasn’t aware she was climbing stairs in the first place. “...It would be more difficult than it had to be without student council’s help,” she argued, even if she didn’t so much think out why she was arguing and just went with the confused impulse to counter. Though, now that she went with it, she got over pretty quickly. “But -- thank you. I’m grateful for any help,” she replied. “I’m much better at jumping on things than thinking them through.”

The smile didn’t waver an instant. “Naturally,” he said, evenly, as though that wasn’t at all a veiled insult. It certainly didn’t sound like one. “When were you thinking of holding the drive? And do you have anywhere specific in mind? Would you prefer to keep this within the school, or encourage the students to get out and involve the wider community?” His eyes drifted once more to her body guard. “I think your family may well prefer the former,” he said, only returning his gaze to her once he’d finished speaking.

Arden’s gazed followed his own, ticking onto the tense-looking bodyguard. “Considering your last name’s Konovich, my family would probably prefer you not be involved with this at all,” she answered, throwing that artless honesty in there. She wasn’t always oblivious -- she knew her family and the DiGiovanni had bad blood with the Konoviches -- but Arden also required more than other’s hear-say to justify going out of her way to avoid interacting with someone. Nate was vice-president; she would have had to bend over backwards to go about all this without talking to him. “They’ll already have to deal with at least one compromise. I’m not looking to upset them but I’m not going to let their views get in the way of working with someone helpful: I’ve only just told you about the idea and you’ve already thought it out more than I have.” She hadn’t thought out most of his questions, but she wasn’t bothered by admitting it: that was why she had asked for his help in the first place. ...Even if, technically, no question had been actually asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure that your family would understand the importance sometimes of putting personal issues aside, in favour of doing things in a socially acceptable way,” he pointed out to her. After all, she was a Walker. Society was practically their reason for being, as much as he was more than well aware that her family looked down on his. “But, since there may be issues involved, I suggest that we keep this within certain limits. Within school - the auditorium on Friday. Lunchtime. That gives us two days, but I’m sure that we can manage to put something suitable together in that time.”

“I’m fine with meeting you, but if getting this done right requires working outside of school I’ll do that.” Arden didn’t so much have a personal vendetta against limits... she just didn’t let them get in the way of her goals. And -- even though his tone didn’t suggest it? -- being careful and putting limits on where they should meet beforehand felt a bit like having to sneak around; Arden didn’t sneak around. She didn’t do things she was against, so she was always willing to own up to her actions. ...It was partly what gave her so much trouble in getting splashed across the Echo in the first place. “As you point out: my family is in favor of doing things in a socially acceptable way; they would at least keep personal issues out of the public eye.”

...Which did not mean they wouldn’t bitch about it behind closed doors. Arden loved her family, but she wasn’t blind to the fact that they often said one thing in public while privately doing another. She wasn’t so sure that, despite such recent tragedies, they would be able to put their personal issues aside for a common goal -- she wished she could be, but she just wasn’t. She wouldn’t be surprised if she got another Talking To concerning working with Nate Konovich; but she was willing to weather it.

Nate considered her attitude. She was clearly aware of the vendetta between his family and hers, though it wasn't clear whether she knew the reasons for it, or, if she did, the whole story. But she knew enough to know that he was not a boy she could be acceptably seen with, at least, not without good reason. Nate didn't have a problem with that, after all - the same could be said for him. The difference was that he stood a chance of convincing people that 'dealing with' the little girls from that side of the tracks could be useful. Having the image of somewhat of a player and a pretty boy had been cultivated for a reason, after all. The right mixture of reluctance and flirtation could walk him through many things.

But she, she seemed aware of the potential problems, but determined to do things anyway, rather than simply working around them or find a way to explain them. There was a directness there, and a stubbornness that Nate mentally noted for future reference. "So, you were thinking bigger than just something for the school then?" he asked, as though he wasn't currently assessing her and was only interested in their conversation.

Arden... had not assessed him so deeply. Nate’s questions had been thus far thoughtful, and his asking them spoke volumes of his rationality and willingness to help. The conversation was going well, and that was all Arden needed to just roll with it. “I think, with the scope of the strategy, it would be best to branch as widely as possible for resources. My family has connections who would assist, at the very least financially. And I’m certain there are students in the council and in the school that have connections I don’t, especially in understanding where the help is best applied -- the connections I know often have the means but less understand, and I’m not much better -- So I think just as much work may be needed outside school as well as in,” she summarize. “JJ and I are going to talk to some people today, and start getting an idea of what needs we can help with and who’ll be on board.”

Nate considered the 'gifts' he was arranging for the families of the Syndicate men who had died in the raid last night. That had a similar ring to it to what Arden was suggesting here, but, of course, he couldn't mention that. Whilst he wanted his actions known in that regard, he only wanted them known by the right people, Syndicate people. And he was tailoring each gift to be what would be most acceptable. There were some who would act too proud to take anything, some who would want cold hard cash, some who would need longer term support, and some who would be disgusted their loved one could have been involved in such a life and want nothing more to do with it. The latter would be the greatest challenge - and Nate did so love a challenge.

In the meantime, he focused on Arden's words. "The way I see it, you have a couple of more obvious options. Either you focus on the immediate and practical. There are a lot of grieving families out there, of course. But with grief come more practical problems. The family's major breadwinner may have been killed, or injured too much to work. Or parents may have children who are gone, and grief makes living day to day difficult. Lives fall apart so easily. Practical support - food, clothing, even toys - you could have a drive that collects second hand items that you can gift out to those in need.

"Or, you go straight for the money. that way you can buy what is needed, or provide direct financial support. If you manage it well enough, you could look at something more long term. It depends on your ambition and drive. For that, you need something more focused. Something people would pay for. An auction, maybe. A ball, or a party. Either way, you'll need to get the press involved, ensure that it's well publicised. But, if anyone is placed to be able to accomplish that, it would be you," he complimented, sounding entirely sincere.

That they were on the same page, independently, about some things elicited a warm smile from Arden. “Thank you.” She had not yet mentioned talking to the Echo by name or that she had particularly considered families losing breadwinners in that morning’s conversation with Arienne, but she appreciated the coincidental affirmation. She also appreciated the compliment. Arden wasn’t motivated by others’ approval, but she welcomed it gladly when given.

“Up until now I had been thinking of the more immediate support of food and money, with some families losing breadwinners or some unable to take on funeral costs. And the Echo was one stop JJ and I were hoping to visit today, though it would just be a preliminary and information exchange trip considering a more definite plan would be needed to get something in print.” JJ had pointed that out to her, after all. “My mind just jumped straight to getting the money to pay for everything given;I hadn’t considered donations, or even providing toys. They’re both wonderful ideas,” she commended. “Collecting donations gives everyone the opportunity to be involved, even if they aren’t a part of planning and setting up. It would also free up any money raised to go towards areas that food and physical goods couldn’t cover, because I know some who would rather write a check than anything else.

“But I haven’t considered the possibility of setting up something more long-term,” she confessed, not writing the idea off. Her preference was for the donation drive concerning the victims’ immediate needs, but that was partly because it was the only route she had thought of until now. She angled her head to the side slightly, considering the options. Arden was interested in exploring his other suggestion a little further before making a decision, which was a rare moment for her. “Tell me what you’d have in mind for setting something up long-term, if we went with that. I’ve helped plan auctions and balls before, but at venues more suited for that kind of thing than a high school.”

Truth be told, Nate had no ideas for anything long term, yet when she asked him, he took coming up with an answer on the fly the way he took most everything else: as a challenge. And he always met the challenge. “I would talk to the church,” he told her. “The vigil was to do with their congregation, after all. They would know a lot of the people, and may be willing to help with longer term structure. As for what, there are plenty of options out there. Of course, you can’t help all of the people all of the time. You’ll need something far more focused, pick a specific group. Maybe a scholarship programme, or education support - something that targets the younger people affected. Donors would understand that, given that the organisers are school aged.”

“We could do both,” she claimed. “Tackle it in two parts: a donation drive to immediately supply food and supplies; and a fundraiser for long-term support in a specific area. It’ll be more to take on but there are plenty in the community to help and, if we pool our connections together, it can be done.” She could definitely do it. Not by herself, no, but Arden had a gift for getting people on board, was connected to some of the fattest purses in the city, and could ensure it was well-publicized. So it was very possible, and she was determined to do it.

Nate knew there was no way in hell he wanted to be involved in a long term Project with a Walker, but he didn’t need to say that right now. Right now, he was playing the role of someone who could handle responsibility and put politics aside in a time of crisis. So, instead of turning her idea down flat, he smiled and inclined his head in a single nod. “That sounds like an eminently sensible way of going about things,” he agreed.

“Wonderful.” She grinned. Arden hated that the vigil and gallery had happened in the first place, but she still wouldn’t let a disaster -- no matter how heinous -- blind her appreciation of the good in things. Like how fortunate it was proving to have Nate’s mind on this, or to have JJ’s help, or how smoothly the initial brainstorming was going in general. Along the way, things could have gone wrong and people could have refused, but so far they hadn’t and Arden was grateful.

"Great, then why don't you and JJ go and see people at the Echo and talk to the other people you were going to speak to and then let me know how we're getting on and we can put some more firm plans in place," he said, managing to sound like he was being helpful and cooperative and in control at the same time as not actually offering to do anything.

Arden nodded, completely missing the nuance of his words. “We’ll take care of that and I’ll talk to you on Friday -- or, we’ll talk to you on Friday,” she amended, recalling JJ’s request to be there for the planning. “Until then, it’s been a pleasure brainstorming with you.” Their conversation had gone well, and if Arden had bothered to put much forethought into it than it certainly would have surpassed her predictions.

"Friday," Nate agreed. "Until then," he added, taking his leave with a smile and heading off to his next class.