Dolphin Hall, St. John's College, Oxford, England

[mparkerceo]

Parker had been sleeping for... a while. Okay, two days. She earned it, you bastards on the Orals Committee. She deserved to sleep pretty constantly since... Sunday? When they finally confirmed that yes, she would be graduating with two Firsts, yes, her father was attending, yes, she was done. Yeah

Comments

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had figured Parker needed a few days to recover from the Oxford equivalent of finals, so she waited a few days to call. But as she headed home from her Tuesday night class, she figured Parker had to be either awake or sober by this point.

*ring* *ring*

[mparkerceo]

Parker was out of the shower, combing her hair by now. Trying to decide which shoes to wear. She smiled at the Caller ID and said, "If you were trying to wake me up, you're too late."

[izzyalienqueen]

"No, I'm not that crazy," Isabel laughed. "I was hoping you'd either woken up on your own or someone else got there head snapped off by waking you up."

[mparkerceo]

"Jarod brought coffee," Parker said by way of explanation. "So while he did get his head snapped off, he yet lives to annoy another day." She took a sip of the coffee, still hot, and slipped on a blouse. "Three more days 'til Graduation!"

[izzyalienqueen]

After parking her car in her spot, Isabel grabbed her bag and headed towards the stairs. "Congratulations. I've only got one year and roughly ten and a half months to go myself. How is the boy wonder? Will he be there Sunday?"

[mparkerceo]

"Yesss..." Parker sighed into the phone, finally picking out a pair of black slides. "He brought Broots along." Debating a moment, Parker cautiously asked, "Are you going to be able to make it?"

[izzyalienqueen]

"I wouldn't dream of missing several hours of speeches," Isabel told her. "I'll be there. Don't worry."

[mparkerceo]

"Good. There's a party afterward," Parker said, sounding casual. "My father will be there." And after a pause: "So will Raines."

[izzyalienqueen]

"Can I kink his oxygen hose?" Or possibly strangle him with it. It was a toss-up in Isabel's mind. As for Mr. Parker, well, Isabel would believe he'd turn up when she actually saw him.

[mparkerceo]

"Ohhh, for a couple minutes. But I need him conscious enough to hear a few things I need to say to him." Parker considered. "Gar, however, you're free to do what ever you want to. His attention isn't necessary."

[izzyalienqueen]

"Parker, sweetie, what are you planning to say exactly?" Isabel asked cautiously as she let herself into the apartment.

[mparkerceo]

"Nothing that isn't long overdue," Parker smiled grimly. "Such as the news that the Pretender think tank is going public. And has already stolen three of the Centre's clients."

[izzyalienqueen]

And that would be a long pause on Isabel's end of the line. "I can't decide if I'm going to hide when you do this or sit there with popcorn."

[mparkerceo]

"Oh, you want to be there." Parker smirked and snapped on earrings and then started looking for her purse. "I'm hoping the news will give him heart failure. But I have plans if it doesn't... And I'm serious. If you want to lock a Sweeper in a closet, this may be your last chance for a while."

[izzyalienqueen]

"No, I'll just sit there and snicker quietly to myself." With popcorn, definitely. "Are you sure you're ready for this though?"

[mparkerceo]

"I have to be. Daddy expects me to start work at the Centre July 5th. If I don't do this now..." Parker paused. "I owe it to him to say this to his face. Not to be underhanded about it. It's not necessary any more. And if he wants me to repay my college tuition, well. The Tank will have enough profits by late August to do that."

Yes, yes it was making money hand-over-fist, thank you very much.