pullmeoutalive | Ramey

[This isn't the usual type of mission Ai Thao Kha, esper extraordinaire, signs up for. In fact, she didn't voluntarily sign up to be a bodyguard of a wealthy individual because in a way, she was overqualified for the position. But her superiors had pushed her into this role, mostly to please their client and no doubt receive generous monetary support in return, and partly to have Ai Thao lay low with a supposedly boring job.

Ai sighs as she stands near the buffet table with a flute of champagne in her hands (drinking age in the U.S. be damned, no one asked her). She's dressed in a plain, but nice black cocktail dress, looking at the other guests who are mingling about for the charity event that's currently taking place. She just looks like a random guest because that is the intent; the client's bodyguards look like the usual large men in dark suits, wearing glasses and ear pieces, talking into them while they stalk around the mansion, keeping an eye out for anyone who is out of place. But if there was someone who was trying to sneak in to raise a fuss, Ai would unknowingly be the one they would have to contend with.

Everyone seems to be having fun and enjoying themselves, but she certainly isn't. She's alone, she has to keep herself from trying to eat because she'd be engrossed with filling her plate instead of keeping alert and doing her job. And what's worse, there's no one to talk to. The other guards have disregarded her, making her feel more forlorn than usual.

Another sigh. Ai Thao feels like she's going to spend most of the evening doing that; a sad state of affairs indeed.]

I wouldn't even mind having Lien around... I wish I didn't have to be here.

[ Sometimes the best way to get into a place is through the front door. It's certainly the path of least resistance in situations like these, where a fancy suit and an invitation- stolen or forged, depending on the party- means quick entry into the premises, and after that, slipping away was relatively easy.

This is far from Alec's first rodeo so to speak, and he flits around the party making polite chatter and partaking of hors d'oeuvres and generally playing the part of generic rich boy B. However, as he makes the rounds, he notices that his mark's security is being... really really obvious, which makes him a little wary.

At some point he picks out a wallflower in the crowd- though she looks rather young so he doesn't immediately suspect a thing. Still, it would be a good chance to break from the mass of people and get a better lay of the land, so he wanders over. ]

Not enjoying yourself?

[There's a soft, "Oh!" as the blue eyed girl jumps a bit when the stranger talks to her. Her gaze flits back and forth as if checking to make sure it actually was her, he was acknowledging.

Holding the champagne glass to her chest, Ai hesitantly replies.]

I... Well, it could be worse.

[It comes out sheepish and she berates herself for sounding so droll. Her long hair, which is usually kept down, is tied into a fashionable bun, so the esper can't even take refuge in twirling any stray strands.

Gotta be brave. Gotta be as normal as possible. Her shyness can pass for that and nothing more.]

I'm here as a formality, rather than enjoyment. I can probably find some of that afterwards.

[She takes a swig of her champagne, a bit too quickly, and some of the bubbles go up her nose. Her hand flies up to said nose and she laughs a little weakly.]

A-And I'm not used to drinking this either!

Edited 2016-10-14 04:18 (UTC)

[ She does come off as a bit awkward, which probably works in her favor. He can suffer through some slightly awkward conversation for a few minutes if it ultimately helps him get out of the main hall and into the estate proper. ]

A formality? That sounds like a fancy was of saying someone dragged you along.

More or less! I never thought to put it that way though.

[She does forget she sounds more formal than most people her age.]

I guess you can say I'm representing people who aren't able to make it. It would have been rude to have no one otherwise.

[Well, that's pretty much what she's doing in a way (she isn't expecting to whip out the big guns at a pedestrian event when her usual deployment is for dangerous situations). One of the guards casts a suspicious glance over at the both of them, but looks away and patrols somewhere else.]

What about you? You seem very relaxed if you don't mind me saying.

Edited 2016-10-14 04:37 (UTC)

[ What a funny thing to raw attention to, and he can't help the little prick of paranoia at the back of his head telling him to get out while he can. That little voice can get really annoying sometimes.

Outwardly, he flashes an easy, slightly crooked smile. ]

Of course I'm relaxed. It's a party.

[ He raises his glass a little, toasting to no one or nothing in particular. ]

[Ai hadn't noticed the first guard, but another hovers close by, simply passing by her instead. She swirls her drink around with a slight frown (were they trying to warn her not to talk to anyone? She's sidelined enough as it is).]

It's a party, but it feels tense doesn't it? I wonder what the host has to worry about?

[Apparently, the client has something unsavory in his ledger and is trying to shy attention away from it using the guise of charity. The debriefing Ai had received was that she probably wouldn't need to engage in combat, but more likely, she would instead extracting information from any intruders that were discovered.

Too bad she can't tell it's someone standing right next to her. Mind reading would have been so useful if it wasn't magically sealed.]

Frankly, the atmosphere doesn't feel right, don't you think?

[ He won't deny the strange tension in the air, and it does make some of the guests uneasy, but most are blissfully unaware or are too drunk to pay it much mind.

So he opts to play the part of unaware, casting her a strange look ]

Where are you getting that from?

I guess it's just me then...

[And then she feels her phone vibrating in the pocket of her dress. She mouths a sorry to Alec, before looking at the screen at her texts, taking care to cover it up. Although Alec, might be able to catch a message from an unknown number that simply says:

"Inside, ASAP." Ai locks her phone and pockets it smiling at Alec apologetically.]

Looks like I'll have to take my leave! Thank you for talking with me by the way.

[Huh, looks like a few of the bodyguards are retreating from the party and heading towards the estate.]

[ He watches as subtly as he can as she takes her phone out, and he does indeed get a glimpse of that text. At first it seems odd, but as he notices that the obvious guard are also flitting away inside, he puts two and two together.

He has to wonder just what kind of Talent that girl must have in order to be working for his mark. That unknown factor is almost enough to make him call it, but he's got an awfully big check riding on this job, and the guy is a serious asshole anyway.

He gives her a little wave and a farewell as she leaves, lingering there for a moment afterwards. When it seems she's made her way into the crowd a decent distance, he slips off to a quiet corner and flips the mental switch that activates his camouflage spell. He practically vanishes, only a slight distortion of the air marks his presence, and the crowd and constant shuffle of people make it nearly impossible to see. He slinks along behind the girl and the contingent of security, slipping into the house when one of the men begrudgingly holds the door open for her.

For the moment, he lingers in the room to see what the commotion is, finding a nondescript patch of wall to stand in front of so as to not draw attention to his little ripple of air. ]

"Something wrong?"

[Ai Thao had paused and stared off into the distance (almost straight at the invisible presence near her), feeling as if something was a little off ever since she left the party and entered inside the building. When one of the guards grunted at her, she refocuses her attention again and shakes her head.]

No, it's...

"If it's nothing, get moving. Boss ain't paying for you to stand around to have your head in the clouds."

[She doesn't retort, or rather she doesn't know how. They don't have to wait long for said "Boss" to appear though, a 50s something silver haired gentleman, sharp eyes, sharp suit, followed by a single guard as well. He sees Ai Thao and opens his arms up with a wide smile.]

"Honey, you look wonderful. Doing a swell job too!"

[Ai rubs plays with her fingers, shaking her head.]

I'm not... Doing much-...

"I'll be out there in ten. Now, you're saying you got nothing to do? Don't worry. One of my guys, he ah... Caught a rat. You take him out back, put him to sleep, catch my drift?"

[The girl is silent and while her lips and expression is flat, she nods.

Thiiis doesn't sound foreboding, not at all.]

[ Unseen by the rest of the room, Alec makes a face. He didn't bank on murder being a part of the festivities, and while anyone else would take this as a free scapegoat, he can't let this happen.

So he'll wait, and watch, and follow to the back when the time comes to see what happens. ]

[Ai is led to the back by one guard while boss man is off finishing some last minute business.

The "rat" that was caught looks like he's seen better days. He's been roughed up and tied to a chair in a storage room. Ai's hands fly up to her mouth as if appalled. Her co-worker shrugs.]

"Caught this guy trying to hustle some files off our systems. Don't feel too bad for him; that's what a person gets for stealing. Anyways, go back to the party once you're done."

[Ai steps up to the tied man who glares at her as the guard leaves. She's quiet for a bit before slightly kneeling down.]

... I'm not going to do anything okay? I know that's what they probably expected and what you're ready for, but...

[Her voice is kind and it's foolish how gentle she is in a situation like this, that the captive looks at her as if he wants to laugh in disbelief. But then her eyes begin to glow and he's caught in her gaze.]

But you need to SLEEP.

[And the man, unable to shake off the now applied hypnosis, rolls his eyes once and then conks out. Ai straightens up and sighs.]

... They'll get mad at me, but I could smuggle him out instead...

[ Alec tenses at the girl approaches the other man- some rank amateur who has no one but himself to blame for getting caught- and she's... surprisingly gentle with him. When he instantly falls asleep at her command, her oddness clicks with him suddenly. Psychics were always a bit strange, thanks in no small part to their different perspective of the world.

Still camouflaged, he sighs. ]

What's a gentle soul like you doing in a place like this?

[... And then she crackles with electricity.]

Who's there?!

[Ai whips around, eyes aglow, this time much more menacingly than before. ]

[ Hey now! The lightning thing is supposed to be his gimmick! ]

Easy, kid. I'll show myself if you promise not to electrocute me.

[Huh, that voice... Didn't she hear it not that long ago even? She stands firm in her place.]

I can promise that, but I won't promise that I won't defend myself.

[ A beat, then, ] Fair.

[ He drops the spell, his form shimmering back into being, hands raised, and he smirks. ] Hey there.

[WHOA, what the-- The glowing eye act drops and normal blue ones blink at Alec.]

It's YOU! I mean, we just talked and--... Wait. You were following me this whole time?!

[She looks embarrassed, like a kid caught doing something wrong.]

I couldn't even sense you? I can't believe it?!

Edited 2016-10-15 06:44 (UTC)

Aw, hey, don't feel too bad. I'm just really, really good at what I do.

[ He's full of such shit. ]

But what's the deal here? They hired you to do-- what, exactly?

W-Well... [It's no use trying to skate around the subject, since he's probably listened in on enough to make his own deductions.]

Whatever needs to be done, such as "getting rid" of people who cross my client and...

[A beat. And she says ever so politely.]

And probably to deal with intruders like you as well.

[ He's unimpressed by her threat and levels a look at her that says as much. ]

I just watched you willingly spare that guy and contemplate smuggling him out, so nice try kid. [ A sigh. ] Look, your "client" is bad news. You're way too sweet to be working for an asshole like that, so why are you?

I don't choose my clients.

[Although it does kind of sting; the fact that he thinks she's nice, but is working on what is probably a dirty job.]

Other then that, I don't have to give my reasons to someone who hasn't even given me his name.

You haven't given me yours either so at this point I'd say we're even.

[ He tilts his head a little ] Tell me straight. If you could choose, would you be working for this guy?

... No.

[She wishes she could have answered more easily. As it is now though, she's still bound, she's sealed, and people continue to order her around.]

But I have obligations to follow through with.

party crashing!?

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