Chapitre 7: S3 E2.1: The Convention

Ryan sat at Michael's desk, reviewing the checklist Michael had prepared for his trip. His eyebrows furrowed as he went through the items one by one. "Michael, do you really need to bring three boxes of condoms?"

Michael, who was busy folding his dry-cleaned white "fun jeans," looked up with a grin. "Ryan, you never know what's going to happen at these conventions. Better to be prepared, right?"

Ryan sighed, shaking his head. "And the 'fun jeans'? Are you sure those are appropriate?"

"Absolutely!" Michael replied with enthusiasm. "These jeans have seen some wild times. They're like my lucky charm. When I wear these, anything can happen."

As Ryan continued to scrutinize the list, Angela walked into Michael's office, holding a stack of papers. "Michael, here are the per diem expenses for your trip," she said, her tone clipped. "You and Dwight will need to adhere to these, and I expect receipts for everything."

Michael's face lit up. "Angela, you're the best! You know, this isn't just any trip. It's a booze-filled sex romp, where anything goes!" He punctuated his statement with a wink.

Angela's expression remained stony as she handed over the papers. "It's the annual Northeastern Mid-Market Office Supply Convention, Michael. Try to remember that."

At that moment, Seras, who had been leaning casually against the doorframe, decided to speak up. "You know, this sounds more interesting than anything happening here in the office. I think I'll come along."

Angela, already irritated by the conversation, turned to Seras. "You haven't even finished your work yet."

Seras smirked. "Finished? I'll be done in a minute." Without waiting for a response, Seras moved at a speed much faster than the eye could see, completing seven days' worth of work in the blink of an eye. Papers flew, keys clicked, and before Angela could even blink, Seras stood back up, her desk immaculate and every task completed.

Angela, stunned, could only grumble. "If you just tried for an hour, we'd be done with accounting for the year."

Seras shrugged, still smirking. "Maybe next time. Now, about that per diem…"

Angela shot her a glare. "You're not getting a stipend, Seras."

Seras merely shrugged again, unbothered. "Fair enough." She texted an agent at the facility, quickly securing a room for herself at the same hotel Michael and Dwight would be staying at. Then, turning to Michael, she said, "I'm coming with you, but don't worry, I've got my own room. Don't let me stop you from anything."

Michael's face lit up even more, if that was possible. "Seras, this is going to be awesome! I can't wait!" He then turned to Ryan, his excitement overflowing. "Ryan, you've got to come with us!"

Ryan didn't even look up from the checklist. "No, Michael. For the fifth time, no."

Angela, finished with her task, headed to the break room, where she found Dwight. She stood by the door for a moment, watching him prepare for the trip. "Dwight, do you have to go? I wish we could spend some time together," she said, her voice softer than usual.

Dwight, focused on organizing his travel supplies, barely looked up. "Angela, duty calls. The convention is important. We'll spend time together when I get back."

Angela sighed, clearly disappointed, but she knew better than to argue with Dwight when he was in work mode.

Meanwhile, Kelly had made her way over to Pam's desk, bubbling with excitement. "Pam! Guess what? I've arranged a double date for tonight—me and Ryan, you and Alan. He's a cartoonist for the local newspaper. Isn't that awesome?"

Pam, taken aback, blinked. "Uh, Kelly, I haven't been on a first date in nine years…"

Kelly waved off her concerns. "Don't worry! It's going to be great. Just remember, don't sleep with him on the first date. You've got to keep them guessing!"

Pam, unsure of how to respond, simply nodded.

Overhearing the conversation, Michael couldn't resist chiming in. "Pam, you should wear your wedding dress! That would be hilarious!"

Dwight, always ready with a contribution, added, "And don't forget the veil. It really completes the ensemble."

Seras, who had been listening with amusement, smirked. "The wedding dress might scare him off."

Pam opened her mouth to thank Seras for her support, but before she could, Seras added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "But then again, if he's a cartoonist, he might be into it."

Pam sighed, her nerves evident. "I'll just wear what I have on," she said, trying to sound resolute.

Michael, looking her over once, nodded. "Pam, just a word of advice—unbutton the top button and let those things breathe a little."

Pam rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, Michael's tone shifted. "Any message you want me to relay to Jim?"

Pam hesitated, caught off guard by the sudden mention of Jim. "Um…" she began, but Michael cut her off, his teasing grin back in place.

"Um, okay, um, you got that Dwight? Make sure to write it down," Michael said, as he and Dwight walked out of the office, chanting "Um" in a musical tune. Seras followed behind with a relaxed smirk, ready to watch the bumbling associates at the convention.

******************

As the three hopped into Michael's car, ready to leave the city behind, Creed instantly got to work on making a quick buck.

"There's my girl," Creed began, his voice as smooth as ever, "I couldn't help but notice you were handing out some shekels to the boys. How does one get on that train?"

Angela, already irritated by the morning's events, looked up at Creed with a mix of disdain and disbelief. "Creed, it's not for you. The per diem is for Michael and Dwight's expenses at the Philadelphia convention."

Creed's expression turned thoughtful, and he glanced over at Meredith, who was leaning back in her chair, eavesdropping on the conversation. "Philadelphia, huh?" Creed mused. "City of Brotherly Love… I've been there. Not that loving."

Meredith, always ready to join in on some casual city bashing, chimed in with a smirk. "Yeah, Philly's a dump. The only good thing there is the cheesesteaks, and even those are overrated."

Angela, already close to her breaking point, shot them both a withering glare. "You two have no idea what you're talking about. Philadelphia is a city with history, culture, and... and you know what, forget it."

She stood up abruptly, clearly done with the conversation, leaving behind a plate of food she had brought with her. As she stormed out of the room, Creed sat down where her food was and took a bite. He looked at Meredith before speaking, "Andrea is the office bitch, you'll get used to her, the name is Creed by the way." Meredith didn't remind him of the fact that they had worked together for years.

*************

Seras, Dwight, and Michael arrived at the train station, with Michael parking his car.

Seras, having fallen asleep in the back seat, was woken up by the two much louder men. "Wait, you guys aren't just driving to Philadelphia?"

Michael, already excited for the trip, turned to Seras with a wide grin. "Of course not, Seras! We're taking the train. It's part of the experience! You get to relax, watch the scenery, and, most importantly, bond with your coworkers."

Seras raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. "And did you happen to get a ticket for me?"

Michael's face fell for a moment before he sheepishly admitted, "Uh… I guess I kind of forgot about that."

Dwight chimed in. "You weren't even on this trip until an hour ago—how was Michael supposed to buy you a ticket?"

Seras smirked. "I'm just messing with you guys. I'll just run to Philadelphia and meet you two there. Not really a giant fan of transportation that's both slower than me and is uncomfortable."

Before either of them could react, Seras was gone in a blur of motion, leaving behind only a faint gust of wind. Michael and Dwight blinked, momentarily stunned, before Michael let out a chuckle.

"Well, that's one way to travel," Michael said, shaking his head. "Come on, Dwight, let's get on the train."

Once aboard, Michael immediately asked to see Dwight's neck pillow. After Dwight obliged, Michael made himself comfortable, leaning back in his seat with the pillow around his neck. "Ah, this is the life," Michael sighed, already settling in for the ride.

Dwight watched as Michael made himself at home with the pillow, a slight frown on his face. "Michael, that's my neck pillow."

Michael, completely oblivious to Dwight's irritation, waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, Dwight. I'll give it back when we get there."

Dwight huffed but didn't argue further. Instead, he pulled out a book about beet farming and began to read, trying to ignore Michael's contented snoring as the train chugged along.

Meanwhile, Seras had already arrived in Philadelphia. The city spread out before her, its historic landmarks and modern architecture creating a unique blend that intrigued her. With plenty of time to spare, she decided to do a little sightseeing.

Her first stop was the Liberty Bell, where she took a moment to appreciate the iconic symbol of American independence. Afterward, she wandered through Independence Hall, soaking in the history and imagining what would have happened if she had been born around that time. Would she have become a monarch, or would people have tried to burn her at the stake?

Feeling a bit playful, Seras visited a nearby gift shop and picked up a few souvenirs for her slower companions. For Michael, she found a sweatshirt that read, "I Look Like Rocky Under Here," and for Dwight, she selected a few quirky knick-knacks, including a miniature Liberty Bell and a replica pair of Benjamin Franklin's glasses.

By the time Michael and Dwight arrived at the Philadelphia train station, Seras was already there, waiting for them with a small bag of souvenirs in hand. She greeted them with a smirk, clearly amused by how leisurely their journey had been compared to her own.

**********

The bustling lobby of the Philadelphia hotel was filled with the usual sounds of chatter, ringing phones, and the occasional ding of the elevator. As Michael, Dwight, and Seras entered, Michael's eyes immediately landed on a familiar face across the room.

"Hey, look who it is!" Michael called out, his voice booming across the lobby. "Traitor!" he added with a grin, his tone making it clear that the term was more of an inside joke than an accusation.

Jim, who had been casually leaning against the check-in counter, turned and smiled at Michael's enthusiastic greeting. "Hey, Michael," he replied, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Good to see you too."

Dwight, ever competitive, wasted no time getting straight to the point. "So, Jim," he began, his eyes narrowing suspiciously, "have you made any sales yet? Because I've closed quite a few big deals recently."

Jim, unbothered by Dwight's intensity, shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, I've sold about $40,000 worth of product so far."

Dwight's eyes widened in disbelief. "Shut up! That's impossible!"

Michael, his arm still slung around Seras's shoulder, shook his head in mild disapproval, signaling to Jim that Dwight had not done anything of the sort.

In a talking head segment, Jim stood with a small, knowing smile on his face. "You know, I thought I'd matured beyond all the stupid and petty antics I used to pull at work. I mean, it's a convention, we're professionals here. But then… Dwight opened his mouth." Jim paused, the smile widening. "I wonder how hard it would be to get a copy of his room key."

Back in the lobby, Dwight, still stewing over Jim's success, turned to Seras with a determined look. "Seras, I need your help. You can destroy entire cities, right? How about you take care of Jim for me? Just, you know, a little destruction—nothing too big. Maybe just his sales report."

Seras, amused by Dwight's desperation, shook her head. "No, Dwight. I'm not going to destroy Jim for you. Besides, what's the fun in that?"

Dwight, not one to give up easily, pressed on. "Come on, Seras! Just one little punch. You don't even have to use your full strength. Maybe just… flick him across the room?"

Seras crossed her arms, her smirk growing. "Nope. I'm here to have fun, not to get caught up in your rivalry."

Dwight sighed in defeat, muttering under his breath. "Fine, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me." Michael and Dwight stepped away for a second to go speak with Josh.

"So," Jim began, his tone half-joking but tinged with genuine curiosity, "you're the Seras everyone's been talking about. Corporate sent us a memo explaining your situation... then followed it up with seven more saying that it's not a joke and that it's actually true."

Seras chuckled, the sound light and amused. "Yeah, I figured they might do something like that. It's hard to believe, isn't it?"

Jim nodded, still trying to wrap his head around it. "It's pretty unbelievable. I mean, I've seen some weird stuff at Dunder Mifflin, but this… this takes the cake."

Seras, her eyes glinting with playful mischief, leaned in slightly. "Well, if you ever need to see it with your own eyes, just let me know next time you're in Scranton. I can blow up a mountain or something."

Jim blinked, momentarily unsure if she was serious or not. "You know, I think I'll take your word for it. No need to start a geological disaster on my account."