Party time (Open)

[vic]

Success. Opening of the new chocolate factory in new York is complete. He smiled big for the camera's as he cut the ribbon at the front gate the crowd cheered when he did. Even MECH did, his holo-emitter was on and showing him as a short un-assuming man in a classic black and white business suit with a pda and a blue tooth headset, pressing keys quickly and talking randomly as the phone would ring...suspiciously as people would try to talk to him, seemingly always busy. Which means he was probably playing video games. Good cover.

Vic adjusted his tie on his suit, a black pants and jacket number with a white shirt and silver tie. He posed for the camera and grinned wide when asked, smiled, laughed at the right time, and kissed babies till they made it inside, a slew of party guests, photographers, and reports joining him and MECH as they made there way to the podium. Again he plastered a smile on his face and gestured for the crowd to simmer down so he could speak. Vic spoke for a few minutes on his America tour, opening factories across the country, boosting the economy and bring 300-400 jobs per factory. Finally to close up the speech.

"And now, it is time to sample what I have to offer." he smirked at that and winked at the crowd. "Come inside and see what I have to offer." he motioned for the the guests to follow him inside and lead the way himself. Leading everyone to a room full of waiters and waitress just waiting to serve delectable treats of all assortments of chocolates in a variety of flavors to taste. He turned to the crowd and smirked wide. "Dig in folks and remember. This is a party, have fun."

[eric]

MECH was only paying attention to things with the minimum amount of attention. He was mostly letting the security systems he'd installed do his work, while he he played on his PDA. Which was good, cause he was pretty sure the little Korean snot he was playing was cheating.

He did at least try and walk around the party, reacting to people's comments as needed. Mostly with head gestures. Just where was this guy getting all these Zerg...

He moved away to a denser crowd of party goers, as he caught a glimpse of some rather aggressive press he'd been able to avoid so far. Let Von Droth deal with them. It was his party after all.

His glasses flashed at him, and he looked away from the PDA to scan the info transferred to him from the security systems. It turned out to be a conversation about himself. Or at least about his current persona.

It looked like a group of local movers and shakers who were slightly upset over how easily he had bought up the property. Apparently, they'd been in a bidding war for it for several months, and he'd come in and 'stolen' it from them.

He ignored it. None of them had actually wanted the land. Or at least they hadn't when he'd bought it out from under them. It had been some sort of testosterone contest between them to 'win' the land from their rivals.

Blast it. He'd let himself get distracted, and the Korean had swarmed his base. The game was pretty much over now.

He glared in the general direction of the business men. Now it was personal.

His glasses flashed again, something about a confrontation over near the champagne.

Great, now he had to 'work'.

[taylor]

As soon as the guests had been allowed to enter the building Taylor headed straight for one of the corners in the back of the room, away from most of the guests, wanting to be by herself. Taylor hadn’t wanted to come to this event, but a day before the factory was to open she had gotten a call from her mom telling her that she “should go.” Her parents, being some of the big supporters of this company when it at first started, had wanted to go, but something more important had come up; So now Taylor was here, dressed in a black evening dress with her hair styled in an elaborate bun, because she was ‘living in New York.”

Taylor held back a sigh, her face void of any true emotion as she glanced around the room; her eyes following the groups of guests as they walked around the room, talking laughing, gossiping about how good this chocolate factory would be, trying to figure out what would be the best time to leave. Being in places like this reminded her of the court back home, maybe not with the power plays, but the politics of the room were still present though invisible to those who were not familiar with them.

[vic]

Vic smiled as he passed through the crowd, commenting when people asked questions. Boring mostly, ugh. He never let it show on his face, that would be rude. Still he continued to make his rounds and slowly working his way toward MECH, who was currently stuffing his face when no one was looking directly at him-seriously, where does he put it?

Vic sighed as he joined his friend near the bar, picking up one of his favorite chocolates, he savored it and continued to scan the crowd, a old habit, wanting to know where all the enemy's, possible enemy's and snakes in the grass. The current thought process sent him down a dark path, thinking like this killed people-when they deserved it. Vic breathed slowly, fighting back the urges and pushing them away into the dark corner of his mind. Where they belonged.

A few minutes later he opened his eyes and plastered on that fake smile once again and meet MECH's eyes, who where staring back at him. He'd seen these moments before, he knew exactly what happened to the wrong people when he was like this. Vic just continued smiling until he sighed loudly, speaking softly to MECH. "Alright, this party is officially boring me, everyone here is so..." his gaze stopped on a brunette with...absurd 'enhancements' to herself that pleated out laughing at a older gentleman's joke-- a very rich real estate tycoon i might add. He made a face when she laughed. "Fake. Not one person here is true...helllllllooooooo...he nodded in the direction to one of the back corner, seemingly by herself and avoiding contact with anyone she could.

She was about 5'5 from where he was standing, dressed in a black evening dress with her hair styled in an elaborate bun. His eyebrow raised as his shameless smirk widened "Who's the hotty?"

[eric]

MECH was playing his PDA with one hand while he shoved some rather tasty strawberry fudge bites into his mouth.

After breaking up what had turned out to be nothing more than some faux pas between two sheep wearing the same dress, he felt he deserved the reward.

Especially since now he could focus on slaughtering his next opponent. Though, considering the poor hick was using Terrans, it wasn't much of a battle.

Just as he unleashed his air fleet onto the remains of the kids poor base, Von Droth wandered over. And he was moping again.

Before he could comment, he noticed he had slipped from mopping, to dwelling on the slaughter of the sheep. Again. At least it didn't last very long this time.

He continued to brutally slaughter his opponent while Victor complained about how boring his grand party had turned out.

"Who's the hotty?"

He glanced up to identify who he was talking about. He spotted the girl easily enough, trying to hide off by herself, apparently as bored of this whole affair as he was. At least he could secretly play games.

"Just a moment."

He ran a quick info search, using the security cameras and comparing her to the guest list.

"Taylor Hart, daughter of Richard and Ingrid Hart. Born December 15th, 1994. 17 years of age." He paused for a moment, one of his eyebrows actually lifting. "Apparently, her parents are the King and Queen of a European backwater called Vineland. Makes her a Princess." Another pause. "Apparently here in the states, and New York specifically, to attend some sort of private school."

At Vic's eager reaction, he sighed, and went back to his game.

"I suggest not laying the 'famous Von Droth Charm' on so thick on this one. Unless you want to start some sort of international incident, not to mention the bad press. Now, if you'll excuse me, the chocolate fountain is calling my name."

[vic]

Vic just smiled, adjusting his tie as MECH walked away. "oh you know me." he could swear he heard him grumble "that is what I'm talking about" he ignored him and slowly made his way over casually, slowly removing the shameless smirk and put on the friendly smile. Unfortunately for him he was interrupted by a one of those real estate tycoons, he was a balding me, with a overpriced suit and a overpriced girl half his age, he was odiously drunk. He made a mental note on that to limit alcohol in the future...

"Hey, you. Yea you Mr. Fancy suit." ugh, his breathe smelled like a waste disposal plant. "Yea, I'm talking to you vooon Droth. You, you my sly German friend, how DARE you steal this land from me. I! was going to purchase it, but that stupid welsh bugger keeps out biding me." he belched, even his 'date' looked disgusted. He continued to stare at the man with a friendly smile. "I! was gonna build here, it would have been beautiful." he seemed to collect his thoughts before speaking again. "How did you get this land? We had it locked down and where in, negations." Victor smirked slightly and stared him directly in the eye, channeling just a sliver of darkness into them, just to creep him out. With that he moved closer and whispered-- he was tired of this game.

"Maybe next time, you should stop playing games and just pay what they want for it. Good day." with that he moved away, smiling and patting the man on the shoulder and moving towards the back of the room where Ms. Hart stood and smiled flirtatiously and kept eye contact. "Good evening Ms. Hart, and welcome to my factory. And if I may say, you look beautiful this evening." he made his tone light, hoping she wouldn't get the wrong idea of him. To be honest, he was hoping for a conversation away from--to quote MECH-- the sheep that plagued this room.

[taylor]

Taking her cell phone out for the tenth time that night Taylor again checked the time. She had decided that she only needed to be here for an hour, to keep up appearances for her family, and then she was free to leave. Taylor didn’t want to be here for any longer then she had to, and she had specifically chosen this spot because it was secluded and no one would notice her, or if they did notice her they wouldn’t come talk to her. Most people at this party had no idea a country called Vineland existed, let alone that she was the princess of that country, not that she cared. She didn’t feel like socializing at the moment, being more content to look around the room searching for the perfect opportunity to leave.

"Good evening Ms. Hart, and welcome to my factory. And if I may say, you look beautiful this evening." Taylor turned her heads towards whoever was speaking to her; it was Vic Von Droth the current owner of Von Droth Chocolates. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes Taylor just looked at him, her face the emotionless mask she had trained herself to keep up at all times. When she answered him her voice was as emotionless as her face. “Thank you and Good evening to you to Mr. Von Droth.” Although her voice and face didn’t change Vic would get the vibe that she wanted him to go away.

[eric]

MECH winced slightly before returning to filling his glass with chocolate from the fountain and adding a straw.

He smirked and made his way to a shadowy corner, before tapping his ear-piece.

"Ouch. I felt that all the way over here. Your 'famous Von Droth charms' clearly aren't going to cut it with a Princess. A change of plans is likely your best choice. If I might suggest...."

He told Victor the plan as quickly as possible, knowing it would be strange, and exceedingly awkward if Von Droth just stood there not saying anything for much longer.

"Just follow that, and hopefully she'll at least play around. I'll 'cover' things here for you. If something comes up, I'll get a hold of you. And don't worry about the Slush. I've already had him removed from the premises. He won't be an issue for the time being."

He typed a few commands on the PDA, and made sure they were forwarded to the proper personnel, before heading back to the fountain for a refill.

All this hard work was making him thirsty.

And hungry too. Wonder if there's any of that strawberry fudge left...

[vic]

Vic expression fell slightly, wow, that actually hurt. Not even a chance to say much more than hi before rejection. The German was about to open his mouth when his ear piece chimed ever so softly in his ear, only MECH had this frequency so he continued to listen while his partner spoke.

"Ouch. I felt that all the way over here. Your 'famous Von Droth charms' clearly aren't going to cut it with a Princess. A change of plans is likely your best choice. If I might suggest...."

His expression barely changed as he listened to his plan, all the while finding it strange that he was taking advice from a guy that refers to everyone else as 'sheep'. "Well, couldn't hurt to try." he thought to himself. MECH finished talking and he smiled again, continuing to maintain eye contact.

"Well, looks like I hit a nail on the head, you want to be here as much as I do, most these people can't see whats beyond there own stock portfolio. So I already phoned you limo driver to pull around back, away from the wandering eyes of the press. So, if you'd like. You have a exit, and a cover story. Me, I've had enough hand shaking with this crowd. A healthy meal of greasy fries, double bacon cheese burger, and a chocolate shake are in my immediate future. Then I'm hitting the putt-putt amusement park up the road." he bowed at chest level slightly, leaned in and spoke softly. "Have a good evening Princess Hart." with that he slowly made his way to the exit, very slowly, hoping she would tag along. If she didn't, there was still a burger in his immediate furture....mmm burger...

[taylor]

Taylor’s face remained the emotionless mask when she saw Vic’s smile fade. While she hadn’t meant to actually reject him; or at least not like that anyway, she just hadn’t wanted to talk to him; he was the reason why she was forced to be here in the first place. Ok, so maybe that wasn’t entirely true, it had been her parents who had insisted that she come to this grand opening since they couldn’t make it, but they weren’t here at the moment; she couldn’t exactly show her displeasure to people who were half way around the world, so she had settled on the next best thing, Vic.

Seeing Vic about to speak Taylor waited for him to say something, only to see him stop before he actually said anything. Noticing an ear piece in Vic’s ear Taylor just waited for whatever it was that was happening to finish; hopefully something had come up so he had to leave. Taylor wasn't surprised, how many had she seen growing up?

When he offered her a way out her eyes narrowed slightly, it was the most emotion she had shown tonight, as she tried to figure out just exactly why he would offer her this choice. In her life most people always had an ulterior motive.

As she saw Vic start to walk away Taylor was unsure of what to do, though this didn’t show on her face. Her parents would want her here for at least an hour; she had only been there for a half an hour. On the other hand she didn’t think she could last another thirty minutes here, especially if the host was going to leave.

After a couple of minutes debating Taylor followed the way Vic had gone out of the room.

[eric]

Making sure Von Droth was at least out of the building, MECH typed a few commands on his PDA, activating the SLHS he'd crafted of Victor. Sure, it had a few 'personality glitches', but it should run fine for a few hours till he could end this silly party.

He snagged a Chocolatini from the open bar as he made his way to the fudge. He took a sip, enjoying the flavor, before his body automatically started converting it into energy. Bar tender certainly earning his fee tonight.

By now, Either Ms. Hart had left on her own, or Vic had managed to get her to join him for that disgusting greasy burger and the silly putt-putt place. Unless something happened, and Vic was required on premises, he could care less.

Unless the stupid German gets himself into trouble. Well, then he aught to be able to get himself right back out of trouble. Still.... Perhaps he better send one of the security agents they'd hired to keep a discrete eye on Vic. Just in case.

A glance through the security systems, and everything was running smoothly so far. Even the hologram seemed to be doing a passable job at imitating Vic for once. He made sure what ever was being said was recorded, so Von Droth could at least catch up on it later.

Now, back to that fudge.

Wait. Was that a fresh batch of Passion fruit bon-bons he was smelling....

[vic]

Vic jumped into his car and started the engine on the Mitsuoka Orochi Zero, honestly he hadn't a clue how rare and expensive it was, MECH just insisted on him getting it. Something about transformers. He started to pull out and saw Taylor's driver still waiting for her, instead of pulling out he pulled in behind the limo and parked, turning down the music and letting the engine idle. He smirked and sat back, hoping this last chance to join him would entice her.

If his gut feeling was right about Ms. Hart, she wasn't mad at him, more like the invite he sent to her parents, instead of them showing up they sent her cause she just so happened to be attending school in the area. He frowned in thought, siting back in his seat slightly to relax. Even in his relaxed state he noticed and listened to everything, aware of the world around him. Relaxing anymore than that took a forced effort, not taking notice of things would get you killed, or worse.

Vic sighed and checked his watch, listening to his stomach growl he chuckled soft and spoke. "Feed me Seymour." he chuckled again continued to dream of a greasy burger.

[jenny]

A pale, slender girl hesitated for a moment at the back entrance of the reception area, fidgeting nervously with the skirts of the dress she was currently wearing. She didn't really want to be wearing it--especially since it wasn't hers. Nor did she really want to be anywhere near the building she was about to enter.

But in these things, Jenny Spence didn't really have much of a choice in the matter.


There weren't many things she had been able to clearly discern from the precognitive vision she'd had a few weeks ago. This particular dress had been one of them. This place--a new Von Droth Chocolates factory grand opening ceremony--had been another. The guy she was here to see, he was the last. And the most important.

Something critical hinged on him. Frustratingly, however, Jenny had utterly no idea just what that something was exactly. Only that things ended very badly--for both of them--if they remained apart. Knowing that Jenny took one last bracing breath, shored up what there was to be found of her courage, then stepped away from the alcove and approached the doorman with what she hoped was an appropriate amount of confident swagger. The Von Droth employee noticed her approach, though the only reaction she got was a negligent lift of his brow.

He saw a very willowy though ethereally pretty teen, pale platinum hair pulled up and back and twisted into a style that was a mix between messy and chic. She was dressed in a glittering silvery sheath that draped her curves like a whispered dream, with a dangerously plunging neckline that left little to the imagination and an uneven hanky hem that floated somewhere in the vicinity of her slender thighs. A pair of matching strappy heels finished the ensemble.

Jenny continued to near the guard, doing her best to keep her nerves off her face. Hard to interpret, that eyebrow twitch. Oh well, too late to back down now. Instead of turn tail and flee, she gave him a brilliant smile.

"Hello, luv. I hope I'm only just fashionably late, and not rudely so."

The doorman gave her a tight smile. "Of course not, ma'am. Your name, please?"

Jenny licked her lips. It only took a moment of concentration on the clipboard in his hands to give her an appropriate alias.

"Hannah Labree," she pronounced breezily. The man glanced down at his list, then nodded and checked off the name.

"Welcome to Von Droth Chocolates, please enjoy yourself."

"I'm certain I will," she assured, then forced her wildly trembling legs to move forward and carry her into the large reception room. Alright, first hurdle overcome. On to phase two. Jenny moved through the crowd, careful to keep herself as unassuming as possible, nodding and smiling politely to those that treated her with the same. Finally she reached a somewhat secluded, shadowed spot where she could concentrate.

She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and concentrated on him. Bringing up the image in her mind that had been burnt into her subconscious since that night a few weeks ago when she'd first dreamed of him. It wasn't long before she zeroed in on her prize, though her brow knit in confusion when she did. It was him. She was sure that it was him. Yet he looked nothing like what he should. Instead of a lanky, gray-skinned, fellow teenage mutant she was seeing a older, bald man with coke-bottle glasses, a PDA in one hand and a handful of chocolates in the other.

Jenny floundered at this unexpected hurdle before she straightened again with determination. She only knew his face, and a name. She had no idea what his powers were. Maybe he was a shape-shifter. No matter. It was now or never.

Jenny turned unerringly in the strange man's direction and forced herself to approach him much like she had the doorman. With way more confidence than she actually felt. Though it didn't matter, since he was far too absorbed in whatever it was he was typing with his thumb into his PDA. Even when she planted herself directly in front of him. Jenny paused here for another moment, then finally took the plunge.

She reached forward and snatched up the last of the passion-fruit bonbons before his free hand could do so, and just as he noticed the indiscretion she popped it in her mouth. Once his eyes locked with her own mismatched ones, she gave him what she hoped was a 'I'm not in the least bit crazy I promise' smile.

"Hello, Eric. My name is Jenny Spence. And if we don't stick together from this moment forward, we're both going to die."

[eric]

MECH frowned at his PDA. This would be tough. A fellow Protoss. Still, they could be beaten, and they would be.

As he qued up a fresh batch of Phoenix, prepping his fleet for a direct assault. He was about to pop the last of those delicious passion fruit bon-bons he'd appropriated for himself, when he suddenly felt his handy empty.

He looked up to glare at whoever had decided it was a good idea to steal his oh so precious candy. He locked eyes for just a moment with a startling pair of mismatched eyes, before he took in her hair.

And then started looking lower....

He was a teenage male after all.

"Hello, Eric. My name is Jenny Spence. And if we don't stick together from this moment forward, we're both going to die."

Wait, how did she know his name. His roaming eyes suddenly snapped up to look at hers again, and he couldn't hold back the look of shear terror.

Oh Hell, she knew who he really was. She knew. She was working for them, she had to be! Hell, she might actually be one of them.

His mind nearly shut down with the sudden realization of what few memories he still had of that damned lab. Even then, they were more than he want to remember.

Instinct took over, he began slowly stepping back from her, looking for the quickest escape route.

[jenny]

Jenny's expression fell as the bald man in front of her seemed to lose all color, his eyes going impossibly wide behind their thick glass barrier with a look of sheer, unadulterated terror. And then he took a few slow, measured steps backward. Clearly in an attempt of retreat.

Well. Apparently the 'not in the least bit crazy' smile was a complete bust.

She frowned a little, frustrated. "Oh, sod it all. You're not supposed to be terrified of me. Don't tell me I wore this ridiculous dress for no reason. Really, Eric, I'm as harmless as a kitten. Well. Maybe not that harmless. I do have some abilities. Though not as impressive as your shape-shifting, I'm certain." Inwardly Jenny winced as the flow of nervous chatter escaped her mouth. She had a tendency to ramble off a bit when she was nervous. And even more unfortunately, Eric took another step backward from her, looking ready to bolt at any moment. Her brows furrowed deeper. "That side exit you're considering is blocked, by the way. Apparently they're using the hallway for storage while the party goes on." A pause then, as she quickly viewed his next possible action after that. "And surely you aren't really considering bolting out the front door? That would make a bit of a scene, now wouldn't it? Remember, we're trying to stay alive here. I don't think drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves is going to accomplish that."