Party time (Open)

[eric]

As she started ticking off his possible escape routes with uncanny precision, his mind finally started kicking in again.

She could be working for them, but none of the security systems had gone off. She had no weapons on her, or at least nothing that was truly dangerous to him or Vic anyway. Where would she hide them in that dress anyway?

Yah, if these people really wanted him, they really wouldn't care about the crowd. They would have hit the moment she IDed him. But other than a few of the guests glancing over to see what was going on, nothing had happened.

Other than him apparently doing a really good expression of a scared sheep that was.

A thought, and his hologram reset itself, covering up the terror, and allowing him a moment to control his traitorous emotions. Something he'd have to look into later.

Getting his breathing back under control, he glanced down at his PDA. His entire army and most of the base was gone. A mothership was parked right over his last building.

OK, that would be the second time tonight someone had distracted him, leading to a loss. His perfect score was long gone now. This just would not do.

Taking a chance, he grabbed her by the arm and tried dragging her off to a secluded corner of the room.

"Start explaining, and it better be a Hell of a story."

[jenny]

Jenny breathed a small sigh of relief when the sheer terror finally disappeared off Eric's face. It was short lived, though, as in the next breath he reached out and snatched her by the upper arm and then began dragging her back behind the refreshment tables toward the darker, secluded section of the room.

"Start explaining," he growled in a coldly articulate tone as they moved, "and it better be a hell of a story."

Jenny stumbled a little, letting out a pained yelp when she nearly twisted her ankle. Walking in these ridiculous high heels was hard enough when she wasn't being carted around like a rag-doll.

"Ow!" she hissed in protest. "Really? Is this necessary? I realize that my sudden appearance is a bit shocking but do you have to drag me about? You keep jerking me like this and I'm liable to fall right out of this bloody excuse of a dress!"

At that Eric went stock-still, and jerked around to face her again. Noticeably glancing downward to see if that had already come to pass or not. Jenny took the moment's reprieve to straighten herself and then let out a wry bark of laughter. "Ah. Well, at least now I know why I was supposed to wear this dress."

His expression darkened and Jenny rallied herself. She had to salvage this train wreck somehow.

"Explanation, right. Well, uh . . . I-I'm a . . . well, I'm a mutant," she pronounced, voice dropping lower just in case there were dangerously prying ears nearby. She cleared her throat. "A precog, actually. Though it's not . . . well, I don't have perfect control over a lot of it yet. Normally I can only see very small snippets of someone's near future. Sometimes I see more distant things, however. I-in my dreams." She forced herself to stop fidgeting with the hem of her skirt and met Eric's somewhat dubious stare earnestly. "Three weeks ago, I had a vision. Of you. And I don't know how it will happen, I don't know why, but I do know that if I don't stay by your side until . . . until whatever it is that's supposed to happen, happens . . . we'll both die. Please, Eric. I know it sounds insane, but you have to believe me."

________
((MECH reactions posted with permission)).

[eric]

It was so hard to not look down her dress. Which could be exactly what she wanted, keeping him distracted from whatever was really going on.

She could still be one of their agents, though why they would want him to think she was an escapee from a mental asylum was beyond him.

The warning bells in his mind weren't quite so loud now, though there was still something about all this that bugged him....

"Let me get this straight. You somehow manage to waltz in here, steal my candy, ruin my game, all to 'get my attention', just to avoid some bizarre future event that you actually have no other information about? This all sounds perfectly logical to me. In fact, wait right here, and I'll make sure Security puts someplace really safe. We don't want you hurt after all."

The crowd was starting to thin out just a little, but there was still quite a large group of people. His silent alarm to the security guards would take them a few moments to respond to as they tried not to alert anyone.

He only had to keep here for a few more minutes, then it'd be taken off his hands, and he could go back to his glorious chocolate....

[jenny]

Jenny's eyes narrowed a fraction at his smarmy tone. "You don't believe me," she pronounced needlessly. "You really think I'm barmy." His only response to that was to smile indulgently, eyebrow lifting to haughty levels. Her small fists clenched with indignation. "Fine. You want me to prove it? I'll prove it."

With that she closed her eyes and centered herself, focused on him again and then looked forward. She had about three minutes before the Security he'd somehow called would be upon them. She'd either manage to convince him before they got here, or she'd get arrested. For both their sakes, she prayed for the former.

"In ten seconds a woman wearing a very hideous purple blouse will walk straight into the poor bloke carrying those drinks, and the whole thing is going onto the floor. Two other people are going to trip and fall in the mess. I hope Von Droth has insurance. And when that settles," Jenny continued, ignoring the gasps and loud crashing noises somewhere behind her, "one of the serving girls will arrive and ask you if you want another drink. Red hair, brown eyes, a bit portly and a rather conspicuous mole on her left cheek. Name-tag says Clarissa."

Jenny opened her eyes then, expression defiant, ignoring the painful swimming sensation in her skull. When she felt the annoyingly familiar tickling sensation at her nose, she reached up and swiped away the offending trickle of blood as quickly and nonchalantly as she could. Her stare never left Eric's as a curvy red-headed waitress stepped over with a dark mole on her left cheek and a nametag that clearly read 'Clarissa, T.'

"Sir? Would you care for another Chocolatini?"

[eric]

Considering the girl had her eyes closed, and everything had happened behind her, either this was the most bizarre series of coincidences he'd ever seen, or the girl really could 'read the future'.

Interesting.

"Yes Clarissa, I think I would. But first, be a dear and help Miss, Spence wasn't it, to the washroom so she can clean up. And make that 2 Chocolatinins."

"Certainly Mr. Paratus. If you'll follow me Miss."

MECH watched them go, as his mind tried to process the possibilities. If the girl really could do what she claimed, the potential for how to apply that power was nearly endless.

"Sir, what seems to be the problem?"

MECH turned to look at the three security guards who had finally made their way over.

"Sorry boys, false alarm, it's already been taken care of. You two can return to your posts, though I have a job for you Evans. There's a young lady in the restroom right now. Silver dress, platinum hair, mismatched eyes. Your her shadow the rest of the evening. She'll likely stay with me, but in case she wonders off, make sure nothing untoward happens to her."

"Yes Sir."

"Off you go then."

As soon as he was alone, he tapped his ear piece, and relayed the whole event to Von Droth.

"Don't interrupt your 'fun', but I thought you would want to know."

[jenny]

Once inside the safety and relative privacy of the washroom, Jenny allowed her defensive mask to drop. She slumped, leaning on the marble counter for support, taking in several shuddering breaths and trying to calm herself down. That . . . had been uncomfortably close. But he had come around in the end. That's all that really mattered. Wasn't it? All she had to do now . . . Jenny sighed, lifting up and glaring somewhat at her slightly disheveled reflection. All she had to do now was stick like glue to a complete stranger for who knew how long and hope that somehow it was enough to stop a future that even she wasn't entirely sure of.

No wonder he thought she was crazy.

Jenny glared for a moment longer, then reached for a towel and wet a corner of it in the sink, then set about cleaning what she could of the drying blood that rimmed her nostril. An unfortunate side-effect if she used her power too much, too quickly. That, and the headaches. She was already feeling the beginnings of an unpleasant one right behind her eyes, so even though she desperately wanted to peek ahead to give herself fair warning of what was about to happen, she didn't dare do so. She'd just have to be surprised, right along with everyone else.

Jenny finished cleaning herself up, then turned and exited the washroom again. The waitress had long since departed to continue her duties, so Jenny led herself back into the party. It was to find that Eric hadn't moved from where she left him, having gone back to typing away furiously into his PDA once more. Jenny neared him, then obediently reached for the extra martini glass set beside him when he motioned for her to do so. She took an experimental sip, then made a face and nearly choked at the unfamiliar burn of alcohol. Doing her best to keep the gagging to a minimum, Jenny quickly set the glass back down again.

"So," she began, tone now hoarse from the burning in her throat and still grimacing. "What . . . um, w-what happens now?"

[eric]

He wasn't even trying to play games on the PDA anymore. No point when he kept getting interrupted. No, he was actually trying to pull up any background information he could on this Jenny girl. He wasn't getting very far.

The facial recognition hadn't returned any results. He probably wasn't going to get much without some finger prints.

After several minutes, the girl made her way back. He continued working on the PDA, but gestured to the waiting Chocolatini.

He smirked as she took her first hesitant sip. So, she wasn't used to alcohol. Meant she was probably younger than she was trying to look at the moment. When she set the glass down, he had the security systems scan the glass, and digitally lift her prints. Maybe now he could get some information.

"What happens next, is likely up to Von Droth. After the party is over we'll discuss what to do with you. For now, you might as well enjoy the party you crashed. If you'll excuse me, time to go 'mingle' with the sheep again. We are trying to run a company after all."

He walked away at that point, leaving the girl to do as she pleased.

[jenny]

Jenny blinked a little at that, taken aback. 'Mingle with the sheep?' Well, that didn't sound at all nice. She sighed, shoulders slumping again as 'Mr. Paratus' turned from her and strode away into the crowd. Eric wasn't turning out to be at all what she'd hoped he'd be. From the vision she'd thought . . . well, that hardly mattered now, she decided quickly. No sense in dwelling.

Unwilling to let too much distance get between them--but not wanting to be a psychotic pest either--Jenny carefully followed Eric around the reception area. Close enough to keep an eye on him, but hopefully far enough away to remain inconspicuous about it. In the meantime she did her best to ignore the painful hunger pains in her stomach. That piece of chocolate that Jenny had oh-so-carelessly devoured had reminded her shocky system that she hadn't really had anything decent to eat in days. She refrained from eating any more of the candy on display, however, as more pure sugar likely wouldn't do her any good. She also winced and absently tried to message some of the ache out of her temples. She hadn't had a headache this bad in a long while. It would probably be best if she could go somewhere quiet and lie down, but unfortunately it didn't look like that would be happening any time soon.

[eric]

MECH spent the next thirty minutes trying to be polite and 'chatty' with some of the more important guests. Some of them were potential business clients, some were simply 'old' family friends of the Von Droths like that Princess earlier. Still others had been invited simply for good PR. He avoided those like the plagued sheep they were.

His glasses flashed at him, letting him know some information had been uncovered about the girl. He excused himself from the small cluster of Swedish bankers, and found a quiet spot to pull his PDA back out and scan the information.

Jenny Spence, 17 Years of age. Daughter of Tim and Shelly Spence, both deceased. Terrorist bombing 3 years ago, blamed on mutants. No other living relatives. Dropped off the grid shortly after the attack, only popping up occasionally, though apparently no one had been able to actually catch her.

Well, wasn't that interesting. No parents, and no one else who would miss her is she disappeared completely.

He watched her through the security cameras for a few moments. Not that he really needed to, with the stills he already had saved on the PDA. For security purposes of course.

Looking at her now though, he noticed her alternately clutching at her stomach and rubbing her temples. Considering the nosebleed earlier, likely another reaction to using her powers? She likely expended a good bit of energy doing it as well.

Looking closer at her through the cameras, he could see the slight discoloration in her skin and a few other indicators that she was likely malnourished. He'd better do something about it, before she fainted and caused a bigger seen that that fiasco with the spilled drinks earlier.

He tapped his ear-piece while looking at the girl and waving her over.

"Michaels. Make a run to that Burger King up the street. Get a couple of whoppers, a large order of fries and a large chocolate milkshake. Bring them back to the office."

He looked at the girl as she walked up.

"Come with me. I'd rather you not pass out and make a scene."

He turned around, and headed back for the office, letting her follow at her own pace.

[jenny]

Oh yes, Jenny thought somewhat blandly, rolling her eyes as she followed after Eric to wherever it was he was taking them. A scene. Wouldn't want to cause one of those with the inconvenience of me fainting, now would we. She didn't complain out loud, however. He was taking her away from the noise, at least. Instead Jenny followed Eric blindly, somewhat naively trusting perhaps. Yet she couldn't very well use her powers again to see what would happen, not until she'd had a chance to rest. And besides . . . she trusted him. Perhaps it was the vision, maybe it was something else, Jenny wasn't quite sure. But for some reason, she wasn't afraid of him, nor did she have any fear that he might hurt her in some way. She felt . . . safe, when she was near him. Probably for the first time in three years.

Eric led her down several hallways, and then into a somewhat large office. Apparently for the manager of this factory, perhaps, as it held a large solitary desk and several filing cabinets besides. More importantly it had two plush and rather comfy looking chairs opposite the desk, and when Eric motioned for her to take a seat she sank into one gratefully. She quickly toed off her shoes with a gusty sigh of relief, and then tucked her legs up underneath her in the chair, curling up like a cat. When she was comfortable, she glanced up to find Eric had taken a seat on the other side of the desk, and was staring at her rather bluntly. As if he were desperately trying to figure her out, like a puzzle that continued to elude him.

"You can change back now, if you want," she suddenly offered, tone as friendly and unassuming as she could make it. An olive branch of sorts. If she had to be near this guy for the near future, they might as well spend the time as friends. "It won't bother me to see your real form. I've already seen it, actually. Sort of. All I can really remember is that you looked to be my age. And your skin was . . . dark. And your eyes . . ." Jenny's voice had gone somewhat distant and almost sleepy as she recalled what she had seen. "I remember your eyes the most. They were very . . . unique."

[vic]

Vic was still lounging in his car when a 'ping' went off in his ear, he blinked and listened as MECH chimed in. "Don't interrupt your 'fun', but I thought you would want to know." he continued listening, his interest peaking when he mentioned a pre cog girl.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, as he checked behind him and pulled his car back into the parking space reserved for him. "Is she with...'them'? cause last I checked, leaving a severed head on the directors bed was a clear sign of 'leave us alone or this will happen to you." he waited for a reply and walked over to Taylor's driver, handing him a card after scribbling a quick message on the back of it. The mans eyebrow raised as he took it. "Would you please send my deepest apologies to Taylor for not being her to bid her farewell and give her this." He pointed to the card, he nodded and he smiled. Walking back to the car and away from the driver he tapped his ear-bud.

"Okay, since we have guests. I shall get food, leave the holo running and I'll be back soon. So, what does your friend want?" he smirked at that last line, waiting for MECH's response as he revved the engine, checking quickly he speed off into the night. They'd better have a whole cow...starving...mmmm

[eric]

He watched her as curled up in the chair, getting comfortable.

And then she started speaking about what he looked like. With some uncanny detail, even if she could see the future.

She could still be working for them. Anything could have happened in those 3 years she'd been off the grid. She could even be some sort of sleeper agent. A possibility he'd have to keep in mind.

Provided he could stop looking at her. Her position in the chair, and the dress itself certainly weren't helping with that. At least the Holo was covering up his blush.

"What I may, or may not 'really' look like isn't your concern right now. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with you exactly. Which is something we can discuss when Von Droth gets back from his joy ride. For now, enjoy the quiet. It won't last long. It never does."

He leaned back and pulled his PDA out again, doing his best to try and ignore the girl. Victor would be back soon, and he could be the one to sort out this mess. A quick glance, and he could tell the Holo Von Droth was doing it's job, the guests none the wiser.

[vic]

Vic spun the car around and gently glided into the open parking spot, loud German music blaring loudly through the speakers. He braked enough to stop the car without spilling its precious cargo, he looked over at the passenger seat, there it was three shakes and a large bag of food buckled in for safety. He smirked and unbuckled himself and the food/drinks.

"Oh your gonna get it now." he petted the bag and cracking it open, smelling the contents, he moaned loudly to himself as he was hit with the scrumptious smell of greasy burgers and French fries. "oh yea, defiantly." he picked up the tray full of shakes and the bag of food and made his way back inside, careful to avoid people and slip in unnoticed. His expensive shoes barely making a clicking sound as he walked, oh how he looked forward to removing them...three hundred dollars to make his feet hurt, bastards.

Vic carefully opened the door to the office and smiled happily, kicking the door shut behind him. "Greetings! I bring a offering of greasy burgers and french fries. The baconator is mine, you can't have it." His eyebrow raised as he took in the blonde goddess, he whistled aloud. What a knock out. He almost instantly noticed she seemed skittish around him, as he approached, he sat the shake cardboard cup holder on the desk and put the bag next to it. Passing out shakes, he held one out to his guest. With a award winning smile he spoke.

"Hello, I'm Victor Von Droth. I prefer Vic, but that is your choice. I also accept, honey, stud and love muffin." he smirked to let her know he was kidding. "Now, what is your story." with that he sat down and pulled his baconator out of the bag and leaned back in the chair. Waiting for a response.

[jenny]

Jenny had almost nodded off in the quiet office after Eric had rather bluntly refused her offer to show himself and told her to wait for Von Droth. It seemed like forever since she'd been able to sleep in a proper bed after all, and this office chair was--for an office chair, at least--rather comfortable. Jenny contented herself with watching Eric through her lashes, curious. He seemed rather busy with whatever it was that held his attention on that PDA, thumbs pecking away furiously. His expression was completely flat, as it had been after he'd gotten over his initial fear. For some reason that bothered her. Well, to be honest, the entire disguise bothered her, though she couldn't really figure out why. Still, she was the one barging into his life and causing all sorts of chaos and upset, so she wasn't anyone to quibble on trivialities such as appearance.

And then the door opened suddenly, and a tall man in a black suit entered the office with fashionably disheveled blond hair, deep blue eyes and a one-hundred gigawatt smile. Not to mention a bag of what looked to be American fast-food. Her stomach growled in protest almost immediately. Yet despite her appetite, Jenny felt herself tense warily, unsure of this newest addition. Trusting Eric was one thing, but she couldn't be certain of anyone else. Still, Eric didn't seem at all surprised or disturbed by the young man's presence. Her eyebrows only lifted as he greeted them in crisp English laced with a noticable German accent, and passed out food. Jenny took the milkshake, burger and fries gratefully, setting the first two aside for now and quickly gobbling up a french fry or two before she responded.

"Ah, thank you . . . love muffin," she managed with a wry look. "I appreciate the food. A-and your time. I believe I've pieced together that you and Eric are . . . business partners?" Vic nodded to that, removing his suit coat before digging into his bacon-loaded burger with visible relish. "Well, then I suppose this concerns you too. As I told Eric, I sometimes have visions of the future. They're usually pretty confusing and vague until after the fact, but I had a particularly vivid one a few weeks ago. I can't . . . I can't really remember a lot of it, but I remember Eric, and I remember that it is vital that he and I stay close to one another. Otherwise . . . well, I'm afraid it doesn't end well for either of us if we don't." She snatched up a few more fries, staring down at the carton somewhat self-consciously. "And I do realize that it all sounds perfectly barmy, but I promise that I'm not bonkers, and I'm not lying. I'm just an orphaned mutant urchin from Surrey trying not to die." She sighed and straightened again at that, not bothering to try and hide the teary emotion now swimming in her large, mismatched eyes. "Please, you have to let me stay. I . . . I don't know what else to do."

[eric]

MECH was doing his best NOT to stare at the girl as she dozed across from him. He really was trying. There was more to it than just the was that dress was (or wasn't) clinging to her, but he just couldn't figure it out. It was almost maddening.

He really wasn't sure how she was getting under his skin, and no way to explain the unsettling emotions she was stirring up, but he was damned if he was going to let her know that.

Luckily for him, Von Droth finally showed up with the food. And started hitting on the girl.

His rage nearly boiled over, though he couldn't figure out why. He settled for glaring at Victor and taking the last shake.

And then she flirted back! He had no idea what the emotion was this time, though he was pretty sure it was jealousy. This 'girl' most certainly throwing him off balance, and he couldn't even figure out how.

Unless she had other, hidden powers she neglected to mention.

Yes, that had to be it. She was playing the pity card, and using these powers to influence them into something. Well, it wouldn't work. Not after the Hell he and Von Droth had been through.

There was absolutely no way Victor would fall for these 'crocodile tears'.