[This prompt is from… a year ago? Two years ago? I actually started it back when you sent the ask and now, after months of being in drafts, have finally finished it. I have no excuse, but I do have a fic!]
I mean, you can go one of two ways with this: In the original story, Dan “finds out” (guesses? Figures out? Suspects?) Jack is gay sometime during his first season when Dan goes to look at his time and Samwell and meets his photography professor (read all about it here) (Jack doesn’t come out for another few years)
Which means that, depending on how early in the season it is, Dan probably wouldn’t actually know any of the full Jack/Kent history at this point. And even if he did the Jack story… he also was working as a “fluff” writer, handling most of the feel-good stories, so why would he really interact with Kent Parson unless…
Dan suspects this is going to be one of those times where he is going to get screwed. Because, of course, he’s the one stayed behind and doing all the actual research (dammit, shouldn’t he have some sort of intern or something?) but if what he thinks is true, then it’s definitely going to be shuffled along to someone higher up. Someone who, you know, actually gets to talk to the famous, rich, sport superstars.
Dan is more of the… “Oh, you had twins and now both play on the football team, even though one is a girl? Let me come out to your small town in Indiana and interview everyone!” Which is not to say he doesn’t love his job, but it’s not quite the same pay-grade as, you know, Kent Parson.
And Dan Erikson is 99% sure that that is where this lead is taking him. He just has to make a few more calls and then he’s supposed to be getting an e-mail and…
Yup. There it is. Kent Parson. Goodbye story for Dan Erikson.
He shoots of an e-mail to Donna, his boss: Did some digging and found out that Kent Parson donates over 20,000 dollars to LVPA (Las Vegas Pet’s Association) every year. Has been since he moved there five years ago. Could be a good piece if someone could get him to comment.
He stands, stretches, and honestly considers calling it a day because it’s almost seven and if he rushes, he can totally make it home in time for Jeopardy. Then spend the next five hours scrambling for a new story, which is due in…. 8 days?
Fuck. Maybe he should skip the Jeopardy.
His phone rings just as he’s deciding to leave.
“Okay,” Donna’s voice says. “I’ll have our people call and see if he’ll talk- be on the next plane out anyway.”
“Kent Parson.” Donna repeats. “Did I read the wrong name? Didn’t you just e-mail me about some cat shit with Kent Parson?”