Las Vegas, Tuesday evening

[izzyalienqueen]

"I'm telling you," Isabel said as she started the DVD player. "I have to watch it and the sequel for class. Do you really think I'd choose to watch over three hours of bad Eighties break dancing and cheesy subtext if I didn't have to?"

[For the visitor]

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker gave her an incredulous look and said, "I do not believe that for a second. Admit it. You saved the cheesiest ones for me." Then threw a taco chip at her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No," Isabel laughed as she batted the chip away. "If I was doing that, I'd make you watch Chorus Girls. But I'm saving that for Wyatt."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"And good luck with that. I bet you could set up a stripper pole in here with your powers and his. Easy," Parker said, picking up another chip and biting into it. She stretched out her legs and leaned back with a sigh. "This is nice. No offense to Peter and Zero, but Casa Swerval doesn't come with pool boys. You promised me those, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Or I could just find a power drill. But since I haven't got time to sign up for the pole dancing class at the gym, I'll pass for now."

Isabel nodded as she stared at the opening credits in horror. "I did. I'll pick you up after class tomorrow and bring you over to the hotel pool. You'll have your pick of the pool boys."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker was staring. And now throwing chips again. She might have seemed more relaxed than the last time Isabel had seen her by a significant margin.

"Yes. Cool. I'm very much in the mood for that." She put another chip in her mouth, and chewed before turning to look at Isabel. "So how many classes are you taking, again?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Parker's relaxation had been noted and would be commented on at the appropriate moment.

"Eighteen credits. But six of them, including the three for this class, are independent study," she replied. "I can't imagine sitting in a lecture hall watching this. My god, the clothes..."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"My god, the hair. And the make-up," Parker said in tones of sheer horror. "Aqua eyeshadow, who the hell thought that was a good idea?" She shook her head, taking a sip of her drink, and pointed at Isabel. "But you're still working, too. How many hours a week?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel shrugged. She hadn't counted recently, but the two to three days work she was supposed to be scheduled for was more often then not, four or five days. "Enough to pay my rent and keep me in coffee."

"Oh honey, the torn sweatshirt never looked good."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Showing off your shoulders requires Chanel, not shirt surgery," Parker told the screen, and then turned back to Isabel, one eyebrow up. "I call bullshit. I saw you when I got here. Do not learn the wrong lessons from my admittedly awesome example." She smirked.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It was a busy weekend," she countered. "Body builders everywhere. Besides, I don't drink and I don't smoke, so that's several points in my favor."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Still. Do you sleep?" Parker asked, giving her a careful look. "Because that's the killer, if you're not. If you are--" She held her hands up in a 'backing off' gesture. "I'll shut up. But I gotta ask. Friend code."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I sleep," Isabel promised. Probably not as much as she should, but she was getting by. "Since I've nagged you often enough, you're allowed to nag back once in a while. But I'm fine. I promise."

Fortunately the movie was a cheesy collection of cliches and it was easy enough to ignore it for a few moments without missing much.

"How about you? You're looking pretty calm, cool and collected. Not that I'm not happy to see it, but what gives? Inquiring minds want to know."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Let's see. Negotiated distribution deal for Zero's movie, getting her enough money over the next year to start her own company." Parker took another sip of her drink. "Got Rainbow from Burning Man to agree to consult on the financial end when I'm gone, so Zero gets to *keep* all her lovely money. Got Kyle the hell away from me, and oh yes, figured out the beginnings of a plan on how to deal with the Centre. Mostly due to Zero being a genius." She paused, thinking about it. "Not bad for a summer's work."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Raising her glass of diet coke, Isabel tipped it towards Parker in salute. "You have been busy haven't you? Congratulations."

"Have you heard any more from the boy wonders? Do you think they're planning the takeover of a small country yet?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. It's a relief." Parker sighed. "And I go back to Oxford in two weeks."

She made a face at the television screen as someone spun on their head. "God, I hope not. I wouldn't put it past them. I really wouldn't, but hopefully they're just... hijacking a cruise ship or something." She mused a moment and said, "The annoying part is I need them both out of jail for the plan to work. I so don't want to post bail for them. Or clean up a jailbreak."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes, the plan. Tell me about The Plan," she urged. "What are you going to do? And does it involve Mr. Raines, a bottle of honey and some fire ants?" Isabel had almost said 'your dad' but there was no sense in voicing her dislike of the elder Parker.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe at the endgame," Parker allowed, smirking. "Part one, though. Getting a new company set up. Should take me about a year, while I'm finishing at Oxford. And getting Cleaner training." Her voice turned a bit grim there. "And that company will be in direct competition with the Centre."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Cleaner training. Joy." Isabel's few interactions with Cleaners had never been pleasant. "At least you'll have better shoes."

"In direct competition? With better ethics?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"True. And ... well. Daddy believes I can handle it. But some of it still may not be asked of me." Please let it not. "And yes. That's the plan. After significantly crippling the Centre... but that's part two, and I need Jarod and Kyle for that. But I don't want to contact them while they're still 'bonding.'"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She had her doubts about that, but for Parker's sake Isabel hoped it worked out. "No, you probably don't. They'd wind up taking turns tormenting you."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Gyah." Parker so didn't need that. "Yeah, so. Anyway. Giving myself a month to readjust to Oxford... and then approach Jarod about it. If he shoots it down, it'll all fall apart and I'll have to think of something else." Like paying her father back the entire cost of her education before disappearing somewhere. "But I don't think he will, if he has time to think about it. IT's the best plan to keep his family safe. He can't just have them all split up and traveling for the rest of their lives. That's no way to live."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, ease back into it before you start taking on the corporate world," she agreed. "I can't see why he wouldn't go for it. It's a combination of keeping his family safe and revenge in a way. If I was in his position, I'd do it."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"The implication of working with or for me, really." Parker held out one hand, her face a blank mask. "I'm a Parker. Parkers hurt his family. Took his life. Why should anyone in that family profit any more? Maybe I'll double-cross him for my dad." She held out the other. "I used to be his girlfriend. He's always wanted me to disappear from Daddy's life and his both. Keeping me safe means keeping me out of it." She clapped the two together. "And logic gets squished for a while."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can see where that complicates things. But if he's right in the think of it with you," Isabel offered, "at least he can keep an eye on things. Make sure they're happening for the right reasons."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe. Yeah, maybe." She leaned back and sighed. "If I could convince him I'd go ahead with part two with our without him, maybe I could talk him into seeing sense, if he's going to be stubborn." She chewed on another chip, eyes drifting back to the TV screen as she casually asked, "Would you be up for something? Early next year, maybe?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel's own eyes had drifted back to the screen as she shook her head at the lack of sparks between the two leads. "You have to ask?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"You might be going to another planet," Parker pointed out. "Or having a nice nervous breakdown. It could happen."

A chip impacted the screen as the dancing heated up, and the lead's face stayed utterly expresionless.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thank you but no. Unless I decide to go road tripping with Ronan out to the great beyond, I'm strictly Earthbound these days," she promised. "And I'll reschedule any potential breakdowns if you need me."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Cool. I'll pay airfare." Parker smirked over at her. "Or that and Portalocity. I know you could have Wyatt orb you, that's not the point. But I need time to work out the details. I'll tell you when I know more." Then she stared at the screen. "Oh My god. Who thought *that* was a good idea?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel smiled in understanding. "First class, all the way."

Serious conversation over, she threw a handful of her own chips at the screen. "Some very drunken writer. Can I just say how glad I am that break dancing is no longer the rage?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"They better give you an A just for sitting through this crap. Can I get extra credit?" Parker demanded. "Not that Oxford would believe this for a minute."