Rose of Destruction II

[Persephone]

The flakes of snow had stopped falling but the air remained chilly within Alek's chambers. Persephone enjoyed being in the warmth of his arms...he seemed to run hotter than more normal baseline humans. And being tangled in a blanket next to him was worth keeping the temperature cool. The flickering fire was the only sound that could be heard in the room, and Alek hadn't moved for nearly twenty minutes. She counted--her eyes trained on the large decorative clock that hung on the wall. Persephone gently ran her hand down his chest and he didn't so much as move a muscle.

"Alek?"

She softly asked, turning her head upwards to see him sleeping soundly--no care in the world. His arm was wrapped around her, still holding her close to him even in his slumber. Persephone gently lifted her body up from his, moving his arm off of her and laying it on the bed beside her. She knew she needed to leave, because now the sobering reality of everything that had happened that evening had hit her. Helena wanted her dead because of Alek. And Alek came back after meeting with Helena acting completely different. The world within the Red Court had changed without him even having to say a word....and she knew her life mattered more than their lust. But after all was said and done, it didn't hurt any less.

Climbing out of bed gently and quietly, Persephone picked up her dress from the floor and slipped it on before grabbing her heels and phone. Opening the door, she didn't bother to look back; closing it behind her as she left. She needed to get out of the Hellfire Club, even just for an hour. The air seemed thicker and more stifling than usual. She needed to fucking distance herself before she lost her damn mind.

After a quick change into a more casual outfit, Persephone decided to skip the fancy cars located in the garage and take a walk. There was a little cafe about ten blocks away called Aroma that was a favorite of hers. It was quaint and was always packed for breakfast and brunch, but in the evenings it slowed down making it a great place to relax.

It took no less than fifteen minutes for Persephone to arrive, and once there she was the only one aside from a couple of students studying and an older lady reading a book sitting inside. It was perfect. Ordering a latte and a pastry, Persephone sat down at one of the small eclectic tables located near the window. Everything seemed so normal--so mundane. At this point, she welcomed mundane. It felt nice to be somewhere where she wasn't known or being watched....or so she thought.

 

[Verdict]

The Sanctuary -- Library

Alycia: Black Widow had more than one person fooled, and she PRIDES herself on blind siding people who were lead to believe they had any kind of decent or equitable relationship with her.

Right off the bat, Darren was surprised. Alycia's opening was an attack of a personal nature, and in Darren's opinion, not factual at all.

Rose: That woman has no conscience, and NO ETHICS. Because of her, 42 of my children are DEAD, and one of my children is in the hospital.

The caretaker was upset, but she cared for her children, so Darren understood that there would be hard feelings. He made an effort to explain how Black Widow was locked out of the company, and that Clandestine itself wanted to make things right. He noticed Sharon and Alycia trading a look, and then Alycia referenced the contract.

Alycia: Darren, We're talking about a SENTINEL event here, which is covered in... :: flipping the pages of the contract to the section:: Here.

She brought up the bus incident, the purifiers, and the Director's alleged complicity in the deaths of the children on the bus. Of course, it didn't help that Black Widow had made the statements that she DID, but the PURIFIERS were the ones responsible for that attack, by all accounts.

Alycia: ...Darren...this revelation has had a staggering impact on my client, and has shaken her trust not only in the brand, but the supposed MISSION STATEMENT that Clandestine Inc represented to her!

He nodded in understanding, but didn't interrupt. She went on to define this tragedy as a sentinel event, and his brow furrowed in consideration, but still, he kept quiet.

Alycia: I assume you came here to discuss this HONESTLY, so I think we can all agree that what happened here two nights ago qualifies as a sentinel event, and if my client was interested in LITIGATION? Black Widow's confession of her involvement in the DEATHS of 42 of my client's other children would certainly qualify as negligence and yet another sentinel event.

He had the urge to say 'Objection, your honor', but instead, he just frowned. Alycia's implication seemed to be that Haleigh was involved indirectly, and she made it sound almost as bad as if Haleigh had provided the missile, which was hardly the case. Still, there was no judge here, not yet anyway, so it did no good to stray from the objective of this meeting by arguing fault. But by dropping the threat of litigation, Alycia had shifted the focus, and Darren was forced to go on defense.

He knew, without a doubt, that Clandestine would protect itself from this kind of attack. He knew, without a doubt, that even though the Director had been locked out, there was no WAY Specter would hang her out to dry. That meant that evidence would disappear, or manifest itself, as necessary to make the momentum of the case swing in their preferred direction. But he wasn't about to say that to these ladies, because he wasn't stupid.

Alycia went on to say many more things, that they were relieved that Black Widow had been stripped of authority, that they were not legally obligated to adhere to the contract, and that Clandestine was fortunate that word had not gotten out.

Dayum, this lady's playin' hardball!

Alycia: She is NOT interested in pursuing any legal action for the LOSS OF LIFE and overall DAMAGE caused by your...former director, but considering what has happened, and you coming here today to try and "salvage" things. I think a good place for us to start THAT conversation would be: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT BLACK WIDOW? WHY should my client feel REMOTELY confident about resuming any sort of relationship with Clandestine Inc?

Darren crossed his legs, one ankle over the other knee, offering a small, regretful smile.

"Alycia..... I'm not at liberty to discuss company protocol with regards to our handling of the former Director."

He said gently.

"It's comforting to hear that you aren't interested in pursuing legal action. Certainly my client would have its own grievances, considering the damages your client inflicted on MILLIONS of dollars in company property. But to be honest.... we don't want to engage in a long, drawn out, nasty litigation process any more than you do."

His tone was not threatening, but it was clear that he was not going to be a pushover, and that he would approach it more like a chess match than a fist fight.

"I AM here today to salvage a contract. Clandestine was very proud to provide services to Rose's Sanctuary, at NO COST to the owner, because we believe these children are the future, and they should be protected. We invested a LOT into this partnership, and we intended to fulfill our obligation for decades to come."

He paused for a moment to let that sink, and his demeanor was all business.

"The incident that occurred here recently IN NO WAY reflects the opinions or intent of the company. Now, if your client truly wishes to sever this relationship, it's true that the sentinel clause will allow you a way out. Rest assured I have no intentions to threaten a lawsuit just to trap your client in a hostile contract. We're prepared to offer a settlement to cover the costs of healthcare and property damage incurred by the altercation between your client and our former Director. Of course, we sustained losses of our own that will need to be accounted for."

Another pause, and this time, a kinder expression.

"But.... wouldn't you much rather restore the blanket of security you once had? Black Widow's 'visit' surprised us all, nevertheless, Clandestine has done a great deal to shield your client from attack and harassment. I can certainly provide you with a very long list of incidents and attacks we PREVENTED from occurring during the life of the contract, to restore your client's confidence, if that will be satisfactory, and there is NO COMPANY better qualified than Clandestine in preventing any repeat incidents involving Black Widow, I assure you."

 

[Firebird]

NYC - Aroma

She still couldn't believe what she'd witnessed earlier, BISHOP in Spectra!? Who knew he actually had something of a hot bod! Sally Spectra, who was in town visiting, took good care of him, and he was off, presumably planning his hot date with that light bright bitch Delilah.

The rest of the day at Spectra unfolded smoothly, it was another strong and productive day, and near the end, Sally had completed her custom alterations on Bishop's suit. She and Blaze did one last quality check, and slipped the accessories, including the ring Sally wanted him to wear with it, into the box that bared the House of Spectra's logo on it.

Sally was going to call Andrew to deliver the package, but Blaze did him a favor, recalling Bishop's reaction to him in the dreamtime event, and wondering how much of that carried over into waking reality. She had the package express couriered so that Bishop would have it by this evening, and per Sally's direction, an assortment of dresses and accessories was sent up to Delilah Trelevan's apartment for the woman to select an outfit of her choice for tonight.

Sally Spectra had an evening of decadence planned for herself, and bid Blaze a fond farewell as she retired to her luxury suite on the floor below Dominique's diamond suite.

Blaze herself returned to her penthouse, having JUST missed Spellbinder and Rampage. But little Tinker and the kitten were still there. The fire elemental refreshed herself, and changed into one of her outfits . she went over and gave Tinker a gentle pet on her little head

"Hold down the fort, Tink. I'll be back soon."

Blaze was feeling a bit...restless and was going to do what she'd begun doing since the Victoria family had emerged from their cocooned state. She'd go out looking....HUNTING.

After exiting her penthouse, she traveled to the ROOF of the Parthenon. It wasn't quite the dizzying height that Illustra had been, but it was plenty good for a launching pad! She cranes her neck a bit, tilting her head back, and let the breeze flow through her auburn hair. Moments later she lifts her hands, and she is enveloped in her red flame aura. Lifting off the ground, she TAKES OFF into the sky. Flying over the city, the din of of her power signature can be heard around her as travels, first at a high altitude, but as she follows a flight pattern she's taken many times recently, she soon lowers her altitude and soon, she spots a FAMILIAR FACE sitting outside the Aroma cafe.

OH HELL NO!

Persephone! Sitting there casually like NOTHING was wrong! Like she hadn't hurt Vivica, Simon, Zach, Alycia!?

This BITCH!

Firebird swooped down, and the sound of her power signature causes some locals walking on the street to look up, point and quickly retreat as the sight of her is a bit unsettling. She lands on the ground, and approaches, noting Persephone's outfit, the color combination was the same as her own!

Well...she certainly PREPARED herself Red for fire....BLACK for the pile of ASH she'll be when I'm finished with her!

Ordering a latte and a pastry, Persephone sat down at one of the small eclectic tables located near the window. Everything seemed so normal--so mundane. At this point, she welcomed mundane. It felt nice to be somewhere where she wasn't known or being watched....or so she thought.

Blaze watched as Persephone picked up her latte.

You. Fucking. BITCH!

And with that, Firebird's apple green eyes FLASH, and she locks on to the heat signature of that latte causing it to BOIL, and the cup itself becomes INSANELY hot in Persephone's grasp. It happens so fast, that even as Persephone's nerves begin to REGISTER then DEADLY heat, she can't release it! Firebird's eyebrows lift with a smirk, as the cup begins to MELT in Persephone's hand, and the liquid inside explodes outward onto Persephone's hand and arm.

"OH DEAR!"

Firebird feigned shock and concern as she approached and stood posed in her outfit.

"Did that HURT you!?"

Her faux expression of concern soon melted into one of GENUINE contempt, with a cold tone to match.

"I HOPE so."

"For what you've done to Vivica, Simon, Zach, and Alycia? It's the LEAST you deserve, you TREACHEROUS SNAKE."

"You've got a lot of nerve being out in the open, after what you've done. Did you really think that we wouldn't HIT BACK?"

For a BRIEF moment, as Persephone looked at Firebird, she would find that the fire elemental looked something like a desert mirage, with those barely visible "heat waves" rising up from the ground around her. Persephone didn't know it yet, but Firebird was already beginning ANOTHER passive attack on her, as she was enveloping Persephone in a field of heat energy, and slowly RAISING her internal body temperature. The increase was subtle at first....

"So how is it, playing dress up over there at Hellfire? I imagine it's not too hard for you...reverting to type...considering who you actually ARE."

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Gabe: Look, I have no intentions of hurting Liz. Where the hell are you getting this shit from?

"You hurt Ava."

Zach responded simply, and he saw the end of Gabe's amusement with the situation. Now he'd be able to get a good gauge for this guy's intentions regarding Zizi.

Gabe: I was an asshole with Ava, I admit that. But I was also DATING Ava. I'm not dating Liz...Jesus, I've known her since I was a kid.

Zach's brow raised in mild surprise, and he didn't much like what he was hearing. If Gabe didn't think he was dating Zizi, that was not a good sign.

"You're picking her up for dinner, Gabriel."

He replied, in what was a very get-your-head-out-of-your-ass tone. He didn't want Zizi to come home tonight, disappointed -- or even worse -- for her to come home tomorrow morning, disappointed.

Gabe: And even IF our relationship went beyond a friendship, that's none of your business.

Zach smiled sharply. This guy was a real piece of work, wasn't he?

"That's where you're mistaken. If some asshole has the intention of taking advantage of a woman I respect and admire? That's absolutely my business."

Gabe: Look, I appreciate you looking out for her. I do. But don't come at me because of my past mistakes with Ava and throw them in my face. That was a long time ago.

Zach looked at Gabe for a few moments, weighing that response. He could admit that sometimes, people made mistakes, and sometimes, people learned from those mistakes and reformed themselves. He stopped to ask himself if maybe he was being a little too over-protective, and then he gave a sheepish smile.

"I sort of went hyper-aggressive guard-dog on you there, didn't I? My fault."

He shrugged.

"We don't have to be enemies.... but your reputation precedes you, and that's all I have to go on here. I just don't want to see Ziz get hurt, that's it. It would make me VERY upset, in fact. So, man to man: She deserves to be treated right, with kindness and compassion."

 

[Artemis]

Secret Garden- Old World Library

Darren crossed his legs, one ankle over the other knee, offering a small, regretful smile.

"Alycia..... I'm not at liberty to discuss company protocol with regards to our handling of the former Director."

He said gently.

That's disappointing.

:: NO need to tell him that She, Sharon, Rose, and OTHERS they were connected to were most certainly planning what THEY were going to do about Black Widow. They may have taken the step of going on record condemning Black Widow's actions, and locking her out of Clandestine Inc's operations, but She could tell from some of Darren's facial expressions that feelings about "the director" were complex, and that some among them might be...sympathetic to her on a PERSONAL level. She wasn't going to compromise the Birds of prey or The Six- despite her CONTEMPT for Prophet.::

"It's comforting to hear that you aren't interested in pursuing legal action. Certainly my client would have its own grievances, considering the damages your client inflicted on MILLIONS of dollars in company property.

:: Alycia immediately countered::

My client and her surviving children are suffering from extreme emotional and psychological trauma. 42 children are dead, and less than 48 hours ago, Jake O'Brien was shot in the back by your "director." Clandestine Inc was NO where to be found when Black Widow attacked, nor where they present to offer assistance in the aftermath.

Rose felt UNSAFE in the presence anything related to Black Widow OR Clandestine Inc, and took steps to REMOVE it.

With testimony from Dr. Victoria, I could have that grievance QUASHED.

"But to be honest.... we don't want to engage in a long, drawn out, nasty litigation process any more than you do."

:: Alycia had sat with her clients in the presence of company mouthpieces before, who claimed to be there to "make it right." when really they only wanted to pacify the client with minimum necessary effort. He seemed genuinely interested in trying to make this RIGHT with Rose, even though he knew that would be a TALL order.::

His tone was not threatening, but it was clear that he was not going to be a pushover, and that he would approach it more like a chess match than a fist fight.

"I AM here today to salvage a contract. Clandestine was very proud to provide services to Rose's Sanctuary, at NO COST to the owner, because we believe these children are the future, and they should be protected. We invested a LOT into this partnership, and we intended to fulfill our obligation for decades to come."

He paused for a moment to let that sink, and his demeanor was all business.

:: That WAS a very valid point. They WEREN'T charging Rose, and no one in the room could name even a HANDFUL of agencies like CI that would be willing to provide this kind of service FREE of charge. Even Dr. Victoria had paid a pretty penny when she tapped them to hid and protect her from her ex-husband. Rose COULD have paid them, but that wasn't the point, and Alycia knew what Darren was saying.::

:: The amazons once again look at each other, and then they both look at Rose with softer facial expressions. To hear affirmation of their commitment to work with Rose to help protect these chidren for DECADES to come...that was no small thing, ad Darren KNEW he couldn't have said that in the presence of a seasoned lawyer who had battled with the likes of the Cassadines or the Zaccharas, AND a woman who could act as a living POLYGRAPH, if he wasn't telling the TRUTH ::

Your statement regarding the children being the future, and that they should be protected, this is the COMPANY'S official position?

:: Alycia wanted this on record, because of what Black widow had said to Rose regarding the bus accident.::

"The incident that occurred here recently IN NO WAY reflects the opinions or intent of the company. Now, if your client truly wishes to sever this relationship, it's true that the sentinel clause will allow you a way out. Rest assured I have no intentions to threaten a lawsuit just to trap your client in a hostile contract.

I'm certainly glad to hear that, Darren.

:: Alycia replied with a smirk. He had to know that she was MORE than ready for the "good fight." if that's what it was going to come to, but thankfully, neither side seemed to want it to go there.::

We're prepared to offer a settlement to cover the costs of healthcare and property damage incurred by the altercation between your client and our former Director. Of course, we sustained losses of our own that will need to be accounted for."

Another pause, and this time, a kinder expression.

:: Darren was no novice. They certainly picked the RIGHT man for this encounter, and while Alycia Barnett would have proven to be a formidable foe in the courtroom, she was GLAD that Rose had not wanted to go that far anyway, AND that Clandestine wasn't going to try and force her to remain in a hostile contract. Clandestine Inc may not have realized who they were dealing with in Rose, but in the presence of Rose and the Amazons, DARREN was starting to get a better idea of it::

:: Alycia didn't want Rose to be without protection and before all of this, Clandestine Inc, AND ZACH had done a fine job. Black Widow was the one who ruined it, and CI was definitely making an effort to distance itself from her in light of that. That was the ONE THING that any decent, reputable company could do in the aftermath of a disaster or sentinel event like this, in order to show the victim where they moral compass lay, and Darren seemed to understand that.::

We want to settle this as well, but the burden is NOT on my client.

Before my client will grant Any consideration or acceptance/agreement of any settlement offer, there is he REQUIREMENT of the ADDITION of a formal letter of apology, and the agreement that Black Widow is FOREVER BANNED from these premises. If she even approaches the surrounding area of the Sanctuary, it will be regarded as a RED EVENT, and requires IMMEDIATE action by Clandestine Inc.

:: She Looks at Darren::

No votes, no wavering. ACTION. She used her position and her access to this company to cause considerable damage to my client, the kind of damage that CAN'T have a price put on it, the kind of LOSS that can't be replaced.

:: a direct reference to HIS point regarding Rose destroying their equipment::

She used her STATUS as a recognized "super hero" to play on the trust and vulnerability of a CHILD, injuring and nearly KILLING that child, and leaving him with trauma that may haunt him for the rest of his LIFE

While you're "not at liberty" to share your protocol about your former "director" with us, my client has a RIGHT to expect that Clandestine Inc realizes they have a HUGE liability problem on their hands.

:: one that has been kept relatively quiet, for NOW::

We're handling this amongst ourselves right now. But if there is another attack by that woman, that will change the entire tone of this communication, and the direction of these proceedings.

:: a moment of silence as Darren and Alycia look at one another::

You can provide me with your official settlement offer.

I will review it, and discuss it with my client, and we will follow up with you for a final meeting.

Sharon: Darren, make SURE that you remain the point of contact on this.

:: Alycia nodded in agreement. If this was a legitimate, sincere effort, they expected that they would not have to deal with anyone else BUT Darren on this.::

 

[Verdict]

The Sanctuary -- Library

Alycia: Your statement regarding the children being the future, and that they should be protected, this is the COMPANY'S official position?

"Oh, Alycia, OF COURSE...."

He replied with a sudden outburst of openness.

"On the record, of course."

He reiterated, somewhat more composed. He went on to make the official statement that Black Widow's incident didn't reflect the company's position, and to say that they didn't want to trap Rose in a contract she didn't want.

Alycia: I'm certainly glad to hear that, Darren.

He nodded, and mentioned that Clandestine was prepared to discuss a settlement, if they couldn't save the contract, so that at least they'd done SOMETHING to make amends.

Alycia: We want to settle this as well, but the burden is NOT on my client.

She said, and then went on to make a few stipulations, which Darren considered in reticence. He let Alycia name all her terms, and for a few moments, he didn't say anything. He took a deep breath before he began.

"Just to be clear, Clandestine has no objection to offering a formal apology -- we are VERY sorry for what has happened here. But a settlement would entail financial recompense, and little else."

He held up a hand to beg for her patience in hearing him out.

"You can't expect my company to agree to BAN anyone, let alone Black Widow, from these premises without some form of CONTRACTUAL arrangement. You're asking us to provide you with a guarantee, and a committed response to an event. If that's what your client wants, we'd be MORE THAN happy to negotiate new terms, reinstall new equipment, and renew our dedication to the Sanctuary."

Darren said, and sat back in his armchair, smiling warmly at Sharon when she insisted he be the representative they dealt with.

"I'd be honored to remain your point of contact for the remainder of our dealings."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone had enjoyed her pastry by the time her latte had cooled to the perfect temperature. Picking it up she took a small sip, the caffeine immediately hitting her like a wave of heated glory. She needed this desperately. But as she was about to put the large coffee cup down, almost instantly not only did the liquid inside boil, but the cup itself MELTED in her hand.

"AH!"

Jumping up, her chair fell backwards as the cup dropped onto the table in front of her.

Blaze: "OH DEAR!"

Persephone's head snapped up seeing Blaze standing there looking smug and amused.

Blaze: "Did that HURT you?! I HOPE so."

"Nothing a little chlorophyll won't fix."

Persephone responded with a smirk, her skin already counteracting the burn attack. She shouldn't have been surprised, Blaze was like a fucking bull in a china shop when it came to confrontations. But she was alone. Stupid move on her part.

Blaze: "For what you've done to Vivica, Simon, Zach, and Alycia? It's the LEAST you deserve, you TREACHEROUS SNAKE."

"Bitch. Treacherous bitch. But you've always been a little late to the game, haven't you Blaze?"

She quipped, her eyes narrowing knowing this situation was going to be far just jabs and bitchy remarks. Blaze was there for a fight, and Persephone was MORE than ready to accommodate.

Blaze: "You've got a lot of nerve being out in the open, after what you've done. Did you really think that we wouldn't HIT BACK?"

"Oh i'm COUNTING on it. I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to reunite you with that disaster you call a sister [Frost]. You know what they say...can't have FIRE without ICE."

Persephone eyed Blaze with a wicked glare, but the aura around Blaze was different. It was like she was seeing waves of heat radiating around her. But more than that, she felt a little WEAK....HOT--and not in the FUN way.

Blaze: "So how is it, playing dress up over there at Hellfire? I imagine it's not too hard for you...reverting to type...considering who you actually ARE."

"Exactly--who I ACTUALLY AM. There's no love loss between you and me Blaze. I'm not AVA, and i'm more than happy to REMIND YOU exactly who the FUCK I am."

The sky rumbled and flickered with lightening as Persephone pushed the turned over chair further away from her with her boot, stepping forward around the table to meet Blaze face to face.

 

[Cypher]

Zach continued to remind him of his past mistakes with Ava causing him to roll his eyes in frustration. And when Gabe reminded him that he was well aware of his mistakes when dating Ava, and the fact that he wasn't dating Zizi, Zach countered with probably the most ridiculous point he's heard in a while.

Zach: "You're picking her up for dinner, Gabriel."

He let out a laugh.

"Yeah, and I picked up my mate the other night for some dinner as well. Shit, maybe i'm dating HIM too?"

He reminded Zach that the logistics of his and Zizi's relationship were NONE of his business.

Zach "That's where you're mistaken. If some asshole has the intention of taking advantage of a woman I respect and admire? That's absolutely my business."

"Oh for fucks sake."

Exasperated in his response, Gabe was finished with this conversation. Shit, he was about to fucking leave and tell Zizi to call him when she wasn't surrounded by assholes. Now he understood why the blonde was dating this guy. But Zach's tone seemed to change as he gave Gabe an almost embarrassed smile.

Zach: "I sort of went hyper-aggressive guard-dog on you there, didn't I? My fault."

"Really? I didn't notice."

He replied sarcastically.

Zach: "We don't have to be enemies.... but your reputation precedes you, and that's all I have to go on here. I just don't want to see Ziz get hurt, that's it. It would make me VERY upset, in fact. So, man to man: She deserves to be treated right, with kindness and compassion."

"Yeah I get it. You're Ava's oldest friend....I fucked her over and you're still pissed. But Liz is MY oldest friend and I love her dearly. I don't plan on fucking that up with messy shit like relationships. I'm escorting her to a work dinner at The Sanctuary, that's all."

But he already messed it up by kissing her. Did it feel right? Damn right it did. Did he like it? Absolutely. But he was quickly realizing that it was a massive mistake on his part. Everyone was telling him exactly what he already knew in his heart--Zizi was too good for him.

"If she got the wrong impression, I AM sorry. I'll talk with her..."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi called back to Zach as she dragged Ashley to her room with her.

“COD’s up on the PS4.”

“You were holding out on me, Zees – that Gabe is HOT.”

Zizi watched her standing in her closet going through her things.

“He really is.”

He was hot enough that Ashley would have snapped him up in a second if she’d seen him out in a bar, and brought him back here to have her way with him and then never see him again. But Zizi trusted her – she might feel jealous of the way Gabe had looked at Ashley, but she would never accuse her of going after him. She might be brash and abrasive, but she had a code.

And she had to tell someone about what had happened.

“He kissed me! Twice!”

Zizi grinned broadly, bubbling over with excitement. Ashley threw the dress she was looking at on the floor and Zizi pointed at it with a little bit of concern on her face.

“You should really hang that…”

But Ashley prompted her to go on, and she forgot about the dress. She sighed happily.

“It was amazing.”

“And who was the brilliant person who called Gabe a moron without whom he would never have known you were interested? Who is your best friend ever? I accept gifts of jewels and credit cards, thank you.”

Zizi laughed. She was right. Ashley being so brazen with Gabe had made her want to crawl under the table and die, but if she hadn’t, he never would have kissed her.

“Thank you.”

“So, how was the sex?”

Zizi glanced down, blushing. Was that really how it was supposed to go? Maybe she should have…maybe she had messed up terribly by letting it stop at a kiss. Two kisses. She pulled the collar of her robe tighter around her neck in embarrassment.

“Oh, we just kissed. He sort of got weird and went through this whole thing about not wanting to hurt me.”

“Well, then he IS a moron.”

She smiled up at her, thankful for the kindness.

“He is most decidedly NOT a moron.”

Ash went back into her closet, then came out with a black dress she had never actually worn and couldn’t remember where she had gotten it. But it had a full skirt and a pretty daring neckline.

“I don’t know…don’t you think it’s a little bit formal? We’re going across the street to the pub beforehand for a drink.”

“Then it’s perfect. Don’t wear a bra. Even better if you skip the panties too. And find a way to just casually mention that in conversation. He won’t be able to think about anything else all night.”

“Oh I don’t think I could do something like that…”

“If he’s going to act like an idiot, at least you can make him sweat for it.”

Zizi didn’t think she wanted to make Gabe sweat at all, but she didn’t say that. This was all moving a little too fast for her. She didn’t remember playing all these games and using all these tricks before. But then again, it had been a long time…

“Gods I am so fucking tired. I lost track of the number of times we did it today. Zizi, if you can lock Gabe in a hospital room with you sometime, do it. The man is a machine. No, an animal. And it’s so much different when it’s not just sex, you know?”

Zizi just smiled, a bit sadly. She’d never had a ‘just sex’ relationship. Men didn’t fall all over the place to sleep with her, the way they did with Ashley. Lack of emotions was definitely not on Zizi’s list of problems.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Clocktower

Ashley returned to Zizi’s room as she was sitting at her vanity finishing putting her makeup on.

“Gabe’s here.”

Zizi: “Yeah he texted me that he would be early, so I told him to just come in.”

“Zach’s out there. I’m sure they’re talking man stuff or whatever.”

Zizi looked at her in the mirror as she put on lipgloss.

Zizi: “Ash, this thing with Zach. Are you sure you’re not moving a little fast? I mean, I think it’s great, but…you’re not just trying to, I don’t know, insulate yourself from other things that are going on?”

Ashley scoffed. She sat down on the bed. She scoffed again.

“No, it’s not like that at all.”

It was nice to forget about everything. And it was so easy to forget about things when Zach was around. But it wasn’t just that.

“I love being with him Zees. He makes me happy.”

She looked down.

“I think I had forgotten what that felt like.”

And she was going to spend as much time with him as she could, before something happened.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Zizi was worried about Ashley AND Zach. She cared about them both, and didn’t want to see either of them hurt. Ashley was definitely acting out of character for her, which meant SHE could easily get hurt if it didn’t work out. But then again Ashley was definitely a “love em and leave em” type of gal, which she didn’t want to happen to Zach. She was afraid that when the novelty wore off, Zach would be left behind. But Ashley insisted this was something meaningful.

“I love being with him Zees. He makes me happy. I think I had forgotten what that felt like.”

Zizi put down her tube of lipgloss and turned her chair around to look at Ashley directly. She held out her hand and gave Ashley’s a squeeze. If Ashley was happy, and Zach was happy…

“Then I’m glad you found each other. Just…be careful. I love both of you.”

She picked up her purse.

“How do I look?”

Zizi smoothed down the skirt on her black lace dress and checked that her shoes were buckled.

Ashley: “I’d fuck you.”

Zizi made a face.

“I’m not sure how to respond to that.”

She took a deep breath.

“Now, let’s do this.”

Ashley went ahead of her and opened the door, and Zizi wheeled out behind her.

Ashley: “Are you sure you don’t want to do a smoky eye?”

“How do you even know what that is? Today is the first time I’ve seen you wear makeup since I met you…”

They made it to where the boys were talking, and Zizi eyed them both suspiciously. Gabe looked annoyed, and Zach looked embarrassed. Something was up. But she forgot to ask about it as she noticed…

“Gabe, you aren’t wearing a tee shirt.”

She quite liked the way he looked in a tee shirt, but still. He had dressed up. And he looked good. She was still in a sort of daze when she made her next statement.

“I’m not wearing underwear.”

She saw Ashley cover her face with her hand.

No, that was wrong.

Then she started to panic as something occurred to her. She turned to Ashley.

“Oh, no! You can’t see my Doctor Who tattoo, can you?”

She leaned up so Ashley could see.

“Because I feel like Rose might be the type to not approve of that sort of thing.”

Ashley confirmed that no, it was still hidden.

“Good. Whew, I really think I could use a drink.”

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Gabe: Yeah I get it. You're Ava's oldest friend....I fucked her over and you're still pissed. But Liz is MY oldest friend and I love her dearly. I don't plan on fucking that up with messy shit like relationships. I'm escorting her to a work dinner at The Sanctuary, that's all.

Zach gave Gabe a heavy look, because based on the bubbly excitement in the other room, this was not just a work dinner to Zizi. But Gabe clearly thought this was going to be a more casual affair. Gabe went on the say that he'd talk to Zizi and set the record straight, and Zach decided he'd probably said enough at this point, so he just nodded awkwardly, before he made things any worse.

Thankfully, the ladies emerged after that. Ashley came in with the usual sexy swagger that commanded Zach's attention. He moved towards her, as Zizi noticed Gabe. Zach expected a compliment to come from her next, but instead, she admitted that she wasn't wearing any underwear.

Wait, WHAT?!

He thought, and checked Ashley's expression to make sure he hadn't hallucinated. Zach flashed back to this morning, when Ash had said the same thing to him, and then he tried to hide his smirk as he prayed that somebody would change the subject. Zizi did that herself, asking if her tattoo was visible, then mentioning that she needed a drink.

"We probably all do now, sweetheart."

Zach joked, and finally looked at her. He tried not to notice her cleavage, but that was fairly difficult to avoid, given her neckline. One thing was impossible to ignore, and Zach couldn't help but say it out loud.

"WOW Ziz, you look incredible."

 

[Cypher]

Gabe heard the bedroom door open watching Ashley and Zizi make their way into the hallway. About fucking time. And saved by the bell...he didn't know how much more of this 80's sitcom interrogation he could take from Zach.

Zizi: “Gabe, you aren’t wearing a tee shirt.”

"Yeeeeah....thought i'd make a good impression for my newest client."

But what came next surprised the ever living shit out of him.

Zizi: "I'm not wearing any underwear."

Gabe's eyes went as wide as saucers. What. The. Fuck.

"Bloody hell."

Was all he could think of saying, his face turning a shade of pink as he rubbed his eyes roughly. Yeah, this was going swimmingly. He was totally proving Armani wrong. Zizi quickly began to ask if her Doctor Who tattoo could be seen, and at this point Gabe just wanted to crawl under the fucking Doctor Who telephone booth.

Zizi: “Good. Whew, I really think I could use a drink.”

Zach: "We probably all do now, sweetheart."

"Affirmative on that, Cap."

He quipped while pinching the bridge of his nose.

Zach: "WOW Ziz, you look incredible."

Gabe really didn't want to look. All he was picturing now was Zizi naked with her damn Doctor Who tattoo. But he forced himself, and as he finally opened his eyes and saw her, he couldn't help but smile. She looked beautiful.

"Yeah, you look great Liz. All you need is your braces and it's like prom all over again."

He joked in an effort to ease the awkward as fuck tension. Still, his eyes traveled down to the hem of her dress and FUCK, yep! He was thinking about no underwear again. God damnit....okay he needed a buzz.

"So how 'bout that pint, yeah?"

He walked over to Zizi before turning around. Bitch may have been a bitch, and Zach was annoyingly protective, but they were Zizi's friends. He wasn't about to be rude to them even though they both deserved it.

"Have a good night."

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah’s Suite

Cameron told Isis about Haleigh’s weird “blackouts” and how the two of them considered the truce broken when Malice interrupted their lunch.

“It’s true. Malice used her powers on us in a blatant attack. She broke the truce, not Haleigh.”

Outside of myself, Shadow Weaver was the last person whom Black Widow confided in regarding this relevation. Perhaps the doctor might have more insight into what you've just said.

“Maybe we should go speak to her.”

She let her emotions get the best of her and she gave up, deciding that she could deal with Malice on her own and get out of this alive somehow.

“No, she thought she could protect us. She didn’t give up: she decided we were more important than her. Which is how she has always acted.”

Delilah added quietly.

"She thought she was walking out of Hellfire that night or a few nights later. I know that. I sensed it. And if Ava hadn't shown up? Maybe she would have.”

“So let’s bring her out now.”

She bowed her head as Cameron spoke about Alexia. Did he know what it meant to her to have him say he would protect her?

In order for us to address this...it will require a MEETING OF THE MINDS as well as a pooling of physical resources and efforts. I do not dismiss your insight. Please be willing to allow me or others uniquely qualified to ADD to it, so that we may gain the clearest possible picture for ALL of us to act accordingly.

Delilah nodded.

“We are all in this together, Cameron. This doesn’t rest on your shoulders alone.”

She felt like Cameron was shutting her out, and it worried her.

As it is now, I sense an...imbalance in you. You're still REELING from the extensive modification you performed on yourself, which itself suggests you might not have been READY for this. I CAN "tweak" this with my magicks, and "calm" you , and help you NOT to be so focused on one thing that you lose the long range vision you'll NEED in order to be TRUE to your desire to become that "hard edged" weapon against your foes.

Delilah looked up at Dominique.

“Whatever you can do, Isis, please help.”

She turned to Cam.

“I’m worried about what this will do to you.”

If only I'd had ANY indication of what she was going to do after I EXTRACTED her from the mansion following her meeting with Alice. I would have contacted Shadow Weaver immediately. But Black Widow gave me no reason to believe she would make such an INEXPLICABLE CHOICE!

“You can’t blame yourself – you had no way of knowing what was going to happen. None of us did.”

Because when Haleigh left that parking garage on her way to Hellfire, she said without speaking that she either knew better than us or that she thought that she alone could protect us from something we know from experience she was unqualified to protect us from.

Cameron was clearly hurting, despite what he had done to himself. Delilah suspected that when he had sent away his love for Haleigh, it had been replaced by anger and hurt. Something just as destructive to him as his love had been.

"I have let others carry the burden of certain things on this team for too long, and it's time for me to take a more active and aggressive role. Getting rid of my feelings for Haleigh have allowed me to do that."

“Cameron, you have always taken on the burden for all of us. You’ve been there, right there with us. You don’t need to prove anything.”

She sat and looked at Cameron. She didn’t pretend that it didn’t hurt her to be labeled a second class member of the Six, simply because her parents weren’t terribly people and because she hadn’t been there on that very first day. What was he doing, though? Why was he acting like he and Morgan were the only ones who had a stake in this?

Speaking of your sister....Karen and Michael will be leaving for Minerva's Aerie soon. Will you and Delilah be saying goodbye to them? Would you like me to perform the buffer spell on you now?

“I would like to see Karen off, yes. Cam?”

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

She noted that Gabe wasn’t wearing his customary t shirt.

"Yeeeeah....thought I'd make a good impression for my newest client."

Zizi smiled at him warmly.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear. She would be impressed no matter what. You did a great job on the system you designed.”

Zizi suggested a drink. She didn’t drink that much, but right now, she really needed something. This was not going at all as she had envisioned. She was too nervous, and it was making her do stupid things. Again.

"WOW Ziz, you look incredible."

She beamed at Zach. Bless his heart.

“Why, thank you Zach, honey.”

She patted his hand.

"Yeah, you look great Liz. All you need is your braces and it's like prom all over again."

Zizi swallowed. Not exactly the impression she had planned on making. She forced herself to laugh.

“Yeah, I was such a mess back then.”

And apparently, now.

"So how 'bout that pint, yeah?"

She nodded, putting on a smile.

“Yes. I always pay my debts. And we don’t want to be late to Rose’s.”

She looked at Zach and Ashley.

“There are some beers in the fridge if you two are thirsty. I’ll be back after dinner. If you need anything, you know how to reach me…don’t hesitate if anything happens.”

She turned and wheeled towards the door, not looking back to see if Gabe was following her or not.

 

[Firebird]

NYC- Aroma

"Bitch. Treacherous bitch. But you've always been a little late to the game, haven't you Blaze?"

"Hmm no. BITCH would be an UPGRADE for you, snickerdoodle."

"A snake...cold, unfeeling, untrustworthy, a thing to be reviled, a creature on the ground, down in the GUTTER. THAT suits YOU."

Nodding, with a smirk on her face

"Oh i'm COUNTING on it. I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to reunite you with that disaster you call a sister [Frost]. You know what they say...can't have FIRE without ICE."

::FLASH!::

<< Firebird's eyes sparkle, as she INCREASES the intensity of her PASSIVE ATTACK on Persephone, raising her INTERNAL temperature, and the temperature in field of heat around them both. >>

"At least my sisterS are REAL, rather than PRETEND, at least I HAVE a family a hold on to, and when this is all over? You'll be just as irrelevant in HALEIGH'S LIFE as you are in the history books, the Masters of Evil timeline and to Hecate herself."

"You never COULD be a real friend, and that's been apparent about you from the BEGINNING, according to Hecate."

Persephone eyed Blaze with a wicked glare, but the aura around Blaze was different. It was like she was seeing waves of heat radiating around her. But more than that, she felt a little WEAK....HOT--and not in the FUN way.

"Exactly--who I ACTUALLY AM. There's no love loss between you and me Blaze. I'm not AVA, and i'm more than happy to REMIND YOU exactly who the FUCK I am."

The sky rumbled and flickered with lightening as Persephone pushed the turned over chair further away from her with her boot, stepping forward around the table to meet Blaze face to face.

She hears the roll and rumble of thunder, and registers the flash of lightning across the sky. But she doesnt move. She keeps her fist is at her side, and it tightens, as her aggression toward Persephone grows, but there's no need to launch herself on the elemental yet, not when she's going to KNOCK HER OUT before she even knows what hit her!

"Come at me then."

Firebird stands there, in her outfit, and didn't move an inch, meeting Persephone as the goddess approached. Instead, Firebird eyed her adversary and tilted her head slightly, already aware that Persephone was having a harder time of things than she would let on.

::FLASH!::

<< Firebird's attack approaches DEADLY levels know, as she's raised Persephone's internal temperature. 6 more degrees, and she'll be officially in HEAT STROKE territory. Add to that, Firebird has been EVAPORATING the moisture in Persephone's body, and causing a literal BLOOD BOIL effect.>>

"You're right, you're NOT Ava. "

Even if the details hadn't come forth, Firebird's quasi-precognitive ability (a.k.a. mystical accent) to perceive the presence of true evil would have made her aware of the SHIFT from Ava to Persephone.

"We actually CARE about HER, and it's a PITY that she's been damned to exist in the WASTE DUMP that is YOUR mind and soul. "

Blaze's attack is now reaching it's FEVER pitch, as Persephone finds herself growing dizzy, nauseated, blurred vision, weak, FAINT even.

"You know...Frost may have had a bad hand...but it wasn't her fault. YOU? From the very beginning, you wrote the book on Treachery. From Hecate, to the Masters of Evil...where we found you, in Ororo's garden, looking like an old statue from the House of the dead. It WAS a house of the dead for you, wasn't it? All your so-called friends...DEAD, and there YOU were...USELESS as ever!"

"You know the only reason you're HERE is because we needed to USE YOU to get Spellbinder back. NOBODY liked you, Persephone, and now you've reminded them all what an ugly black hearted THUNDER CUNT you really are. "

"You think because you ran over Vivica, Simon, Zach and Alycia that it's gonna be that way with anyone else?"

Persephone was having a hard time standing now.

"NOPE."

"After we MOP THE FLOOR with your self centered, backstabbing, twisted ass, We'll put you BACK in Ororo's garden, so you can live out the rest of your days as useless, schizophrenic garden gnome. "

"Say GOODNIGHT, Turncoat!"

Firebird's auburn hair was glowing, with her elemental energy now licking those auburn locks, and it was flowing as she smiled, waving at Persephone as the woman found it hard to breathe at this very moment. In minutes, she would be knocked out, and completely at Firebird's mercy.

 

[Artemis]

Secret Garden- Old world library

"You can't expect my company to agree to BAN anyone, let alone Black Widow, from these premises without some form of CONTRACTUAL arrangement. You're asking us to provide you with a guarantee, and a committed response to an event. If that's what your client wants, we'd be MORE THAN happy to negotiate new terms, reinstall new equipment, and renew our dedication to the Sanctuary."

:: Alycia smiled and looked at Darren's document.::

We'll have to see about that, Darren. As I said, your company is the one with the liability and image problem. The burden is NOT on my client, and she will need time to make an informed decision.

Darren, make SURE that you remain the point of contact on this.

:: Alycia nodded in agreement. If this was a legitimate, sincere effort, they expected that they would not have to deal with anyone else BUT Darren on this.::

Darren back in his armchair, smiling warmly at Sharon when she insisted he be the representative they dealt with.

"I'd be honored to remain your point of contact for the remainder of our dealings."

Very good.

:: Alycia smirked a bit as she eyed Sharon who was looking rather...intently at Darren. Not that Alycia could talk. She took couldn't help but take in ALL of his beauty. She wasn't even being as hard ball as she normally would be. BUT she knew her job well, and it showed in her representing Rose in this discussion.::

:: Rose would not be held to the original contract, that was first and foremost. And now, Alycia bought time for her, Sharon, Rae and Danny to talk with Rose about what she would do from here.::

:: Darren was making eyes at Sharon, and that alone was a sign that this meeting had reached it's conclusion.::

Well!

:: Standing up, this prompted everyone else to do the same::

This was a productive meeting.

I have your documents, and your contact information.

After I have reviewed this, and conferred with my client, we'll follow up with you when she's ready to make her decision!

Thank you for your time and effort today, Darren.

:: Alycia made it a point to step up CLOSE to Darren this time, as she extended her hand. She was an amazon, but she was just a bit shorter than Sharon AND Darren, but this was one man she did NOT mind looking UP at!::

with yo FINE ass!

:: She smiled as her hazel eyes sparkled.::

Rose: Till next time.

:: The mysterious psi replied to Darren as she glided past him, That she said this to him was a sign that even HER icy demeanor toward him had thawed...a bit. ::

Sharon: I'll walk with Rose. We'll be in touch....Darren.

:: She looks at Darren, and without realizing it...she nibbles a bit of her lower lip for a moment before looking away. ALYCIA noticed it, and smirked::

mmmHMMM.

:: Sharon and Rose depart, leaving Darren there with Alycia eyeing him wth a lifted eyebrow::

Okay...I saw ALL of that :: Sharon's response, her entire demeanor toward Darren:: AND the way you two were standing so close together when we first arrived!

What's going on with you and SHARON?

 

[Persephone]

Blaze: "At least my sisterS are REAL, rather than PRETEND, at least I HAVE a family a hold on to, and when this is all over? You'll be just as irrelevant in HALEIGH'S LIFE as you are in the history books, the Masters of Evil timeline and to Hecate herself. You never COULD be a real friend, and that's been apparent about you from the BEGINNING, according to Hecate."

"That's rich coming from someone who wanted to LEAVE her sisters and END her life by jumping into a mystical rock. OH! Maybe you can throw me a debutant ball? A Quinceanera? Sorry, I don't exactly know the proper etiquette for PITTY PARTIES that are thrown for attention seeking, self involved children."

Persephone snapped back with a venomous bite.

"You know NOTHING of my past, Blaze. NOTHING. So keep talking, BITCH. I would LOVE to rip your tongue out and SHOVE it down your FUCKING THROAT."

Persephone was SO ready for kill Blaze and rip her tacky red hair off her skull. But as she stood READY to beat the living shit out of her, she began to get hotter and hotter. A wave of dizziness hitting her. She almost felt like she had heatstroke. It was gradual but building in intensity. But Persephone brushed it off as her being ANGRY at Blaze....she didn't realize WHAT Blaze was actually doing to her.

Blaze: "You're right, you're NOT Ava. We actually CARE about HER, and it's a PITY that she's been damned to exist in the WASTE DUMP that is YOUR mind and soul. You know...Frost may have had a bad hand...but it wasn't her fault. YOU? From the very beginning, you wrote the book on Treachery. From Hecate, to the Masters of Evil...where we found you, in Ororo's garden, looking like an old statue from the House of the dead. It WAS a house of the dead for you, wasn't it? All your so-called friends...DEAD, and there YOU were...USELESS as ever!"

"Want to know a fun fact about Ava? She DOESN'T LIKE YOU. In fact, she can't STAND you, Blaze. You're a obnoxious, cheap version of Morgan who rides on her coat tails because you can't stand on your own two feet without her. You think I'M useless? Look in the fucking mirror. You think I'M heartless? You were nearly SALIVATING when you found out about Haleigh being your sister. You were a tactless BITCH--like ALWAYS-- about it in front of your so called friend [Ava]. So you coming at ME saying you actually CARE about Ava is FUCKING LAUGHABLE. The only person Blaze Victory cares about is BLAZE VICTORY. I may have done some shitty things in my past to Hecate, but I OWNED UP TO IT and we got PAST it. You just hide behind Morgan like her shadow, sucking her TIT like a needy infant. YOU'RE the pathetic one Blaze. And i'm going to do EVERYONE a favor and finally make you DISAPPEAR."

Persephone's blood began to boil, seething from Blaze's assumptions about her past with Hecate, the Masters of Evil, and throwing Haleigh in her face. But aside from anger, her blood was also quite LITERALLY boiling. Her body temperature up to extreme levels. She could feel herself getting weaker and weaker by the second. And then she realized....it was FUCKING BLAZE. The bitch was doing something to her....it was too fucking coincidental that she was suddenly feeling this horrible while in the midst of Blaze. But she had to give the fire elemental credit, she had kept Persephone's mind so focused on the shit she was spewing out of her mouth that she almost didn't realize what was happening. ALMOST.

Blaze: "You know the only reason you're HERE is because we needed to USE YOU to get Spellbinder back."

"YOU'RE WELCOME."

She screamed in a sarcastic rage. Blaze should be THANKING her for helping bring Morgan back. They would have been EATEN ALIVE by Darkchilde had it NOT been for her.

Blaze: "NOBODY liked you, Persephone, and now you've reminded them all what an ugly black hearted THUNDER CUNT you really are."

"I'd rather them HATE me than PRETEND to like me, LITTLE GIRL."

Blaze: "You think because you ran over Vivica, Simon, Zach and Alycia that it's gonna be that way with anyone else? NOPE. After we MOP THE FLOOR with your self centered, backstabbing, twisted ass, We'll put you BACK in Ororo's garden, so you can live out the rest of your days as useless, schizophrenic garden gnome. Say GOODNIGHT, Turncoat!"

During Blaze's monologue, Persephone already began to counter act the attack the fire elemental was doing on her by changing the temperature of the air around her to nearly below freezing. It was like putting an ice pack on an inflamed muscle or joint, it instantly began to reduce the heat. She was done entertaining this bitch. And she was done listening to her grade school insults. Persephone reached back and SLAMMED her fist into Blaze's face. Her enhanced strength causing Blaze to FLY THREW Aroma's window SHATTERING it, and THREW the barista counter SLAMMING into the exposed brick wall on the other side of the cafe. Blaze's body IMPRINTED into the brick and mortar.

"BRING IT BITCH."

Persephone created a backdraft of wind sending the hundreds of large broken shards of glass flying INTO the cafe and directly at Blaze. The wind blew the goddess' dark chocolate locks forward, creating an almost demonic-like look to her as her BLACK eyes glares mercilessly at Blaze. Dark clouds began to roll in as thunder CRASHED around the city. Persephone was going to EXTINGUISH this bitch once and for all.

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: “It doesn’t matter what you wear. She would be impressed no matter what. You did a great job on the system you designed.”

"I hope so."

And he really DID. He wanted to make sure those kids were safe...and selfishly that Rose wouldn't snap and kill him. But really, it was the kids. And Zizi. And maybe a little two finger fuck you to Clandestine as well.

Zach complimented Zizi and she thanked him sweetly. He added that she looked great with a little joke about their past in high school.

Gabe: “Yeah, I was such a mess back then.”

[with a small laugh] "Lizzie, we were both messes back then. But we clean up well."

He gave her a sincere smile.

"Really....you look beautiful."

Clearing his throat awkwardly, yeah...he didn't really like saying this shit in front of Zach or Ashley. They might accuse him of some other douche baggery bullshit.

"So how 'bout that pint?"

Zizi: “Yes. I always pay my debts. And we don’t want to be late to Rose’s.”

"How very Lannister of you. Come m'lady, your iron throne awaits."

Leaning down toward her.

"I brought the vintage Camaro."

He said with a smile, knowing how much she always protested fast cars but secretly liked them. At least that's what he told himself.

Zizi: “There are some beers in the fridge if you two are thirsty."

Gabe smirked.

"Doubt they're thirsty for beers, love."

He added casually, knowing full well when two people were in heat and ready to fuck anywhere at any time. Yeah, they were oozing that shit from the moment he walked in.

Zizi: "I’ll be back after dinner. If you need anything, you know how to reach me…don’t hesitate if anything happens.”

Zizi turned her chair and headed for the door. Gabe gave both Zach and Zizi a two finger salute goodbye.

"Have a good night."

Not wanting to be rude even though they were rude as fuck to him. But they were Zizi's friends, he would at least be polite. Following her out of the clocktower, Gabe grinned at the site of his car. He was definitely a muscle head, loving old American muscle cars and having a pretty decent collection of them.

"Common...you know that's the most beautiful car you've ever seen."

He joked as he opened the passenger side door. He didn't even bother asking as he casually picked up Zizi from he chair, cradling her in his arms.

[jokingly] "I mean, I know my old Ford Taurus was pretty hot, but you gotta admit this is a step up."

Ah his first car. It was a a piece of shit, but damn did he have some good memories with it. And he bought it with his own money that he made hacking into the high school computers and selling test papers.

Not even realizing it, Gabe was still holding Zizi in his arms.

"Oh, uh, sorry.."

He gently placed her in the passenger seat and shut the door for her. Collapsing the high tech yet very compact chair, he loaded it into the back seat before climbing in himself.

"We got a half hour....I think we can pound down a couple pints in that time."

Smiling, Gabe turned the car on and revved the engine. Peeling out of his parking spot they began to speed down the street toward O'Malley's pub.

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Really....you look beautiful."

Zizi smiled politely.

“Thank you.”

But she was pretty sure if Zach hadn’t said anything, neither would have Gabe. She just wanted to get this night over with. But of course, she had promised to buy him a beer, and she wouldn’t want anyone to say she shirked on her debts. And she said as much.

"How very Lannister of you. Come m'lady, your iron throne awaits. I brought the vintage Camaro."

He leaned down to her, and the closeness of him made her breath catch in her throat. Why did he have to be so charming? And bring the car? Especially since her accident, she loved to go fast. She suspected it was that it was the closest thing to running she could get. But she didn’t want anyone to know that.

“Death traps…no airbags…speed kills…” she murmured.

Gabe commented on Zach & Ashley and their…attraction…for each other. It made Zizi blush. She looked at them, seeing how they were with each other…and it made her even sadder, even though she knew it should make her happy. They took the elevator down to the ground floor, and Gabe presented the car.

"Common...you know that's the most beautiful car you've ever seen."

“Yes, it’s…it’s very pretty.”

I will not cry. I will not cry.

Gabe opened the car door for her, and suddenly he was picking her up. The motion surprised her.

[jokingly] "I mean, I know my old Ford Taurus was pretty hot, but you gotta admit this is a step up."

“I remember that car.”

Zizi smiled, remembering. He was still holding her. She steadied herself, putting a hand on his shoulder. He stood there for a second, before appearing to realize where he was again.

"Oh, uh, sorry."

“It’s okay.”

He got her settled in, closing the door behind her, and stowed her chair in the back seat like an expert.

"We got a half hour....I think we can pound down a couple pints in that time."

Zizi laughed in spite of herself as the engine made a revving noise and the car began to rumble as he pulled out. They somehow made it to the pub in one piece, and got situated at the bar. The barman smiled at her, which she returned.

“A Smithwick’s for me, and whatever he’s having, on my tab.”