Room 234/236 : Sunday evening
Following morning encounters with deranged Knights and deranged Nadia, Parker had taken off for D.C. The not-date... went. After last week's forced dinner and being asked out by one of the recruits over dessert, Parker had not been looking forward to this follow-up date.
Contrary to popular belief, she only likes hurting people when they're stupid, creepy, or annoying. This date managed to skate past hurt feelings on the strength of speed and finesse. She kept it to talk of the Centre, D.C., current movies, and then pulled out the one-two-three punches:
1. I'm 17. I won't be 18 until January. Yes, I realize now that I may have given the impression that I was a senior in college, but that was unintentional. Lie.
2. I'm going to work for the company, that's definite. It's not arrogant to say I could end up on the Board of Directors. I'll need to know people like you, to back me, when that happens. Misdirect.
3. It's funny, I haven't talked to any of my old boyfriends lately... Daddy didn't like any of them. But he's just careful for me. All those rumors about him? Complete fiction. Obfuscate.
By dessert, Patrick had been happy to accept her friendship and contacts within the Centre for pretending he'd never actually meant to ask her out on a date date.
And now she was waiting by the phone. It finally rang.
"Hello, Daddy."
Hello, angel. How did your date go?
"It wasn't really a date, Daddy. But you knew that." Parker smiled as she curled up on the window seat.
Oh? And how did I know that, hmm?
"It was a test, of course. I figured that out by the next day." She shook her head, putting all the amusement she could into her voice. "Really. Date someone who might work for us? Who I might have to fire someday? That's a recipe for disaster right there. But I had to explain it to him privately. Otherwise, it could have turned out embarassing for everyone."
Ah. Very smart, sweetheart. I'm glad you figured it out. The mix of pride and bemusement in his voice told her she'd gotten it both right and wrong; he'd have been happy if she'd dated Patrick, but was impressed with her reasoning. Don't blame your old dad for setting this up, hmm? You didn't have to go on a date with any of them, after all. Had to be sure you were taking your future at the Centre seriously.
"I understand, Daddy." Perfectly. "I'm not going to let you down. Don't worry so much."
Right, right. Well, all four of them signed with us. Her father's voice was excessively cheerful. So if you keep exhibiting this kind of good judgment, and there's no repeats of that incident in Baltimore, you can stay at that school.
"Thank you, Daddy."
You're welcome, sweetheart. Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?
And how. "I was just going to drive up and see Sydney, maybe. Take him out to dinner. I know you find him annoying--"
Hmmph.
"--but I feel sorry for him," Parker said smoothly. "And you know he's been a valuable asset in the past. I don't see the harm in it."
Just don't trust him, angel. Sydney's always had his own agenda.
"I know. And again, don't worry! I'm a Parker, aren't I?"
Yes, you are. Said with pride and smugness. Right. I've got a meeting. Have a happy Thanksgiving, angel. Love ya.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy--"
click
"--love you too."
If she'd had it on the list, she could've crossed out Lie to Daddy, conceal plans for break-in. But that wasn't the kind of thing she'd ever write down, no matter how secure her room and belongings.
She picked up the phone. "Ben? Expect me very late Thursday night.... Could you leave a key for me under the mat?..."
[open for time_agent, and others who want to say bye to Parker while I'm actually still around. Won't be on until later tonight, though.]
Contrary to popular belief, she only likes hurting people when they're stupid, creepy, or annoying. This date managed to skate past hurt feelings on the strength of speed and finesse. She kept it to talk of the Centre, D.C., current movies, and then pulled out the one-two-three punches:
1. I'm 17. I won't be 18 until January. Yes, I realize now that I may have given the impression that I was a senior in college, but that was unintentional. Lie.
2. I'm going to work for the company, that's definite. It's not arrogant to say I could end up on the Board of Directors. I'll need to know people like you, to back me, when that happens. Misdirect.
3. It's funny, I haven't talked to any of my old boyfriends lately... Daddy didn't like any of them. But he's just careful for me. All those rumors about him? Complete fiction. Obfuscate.
By dessert, Patrick had been happy to accept her friendship and contacts within the Centre for pretending he'd never actually meant to ask her out on a date date.
And now she was waiting by the phone. It finally rang.
"Hello, Daddy."
Hello, angel. How did your date go?
"It wasn't really a date, Daddy. But you knew that." Parker smiled as she curled up on the window seat.
Oh? And how did I know that, hmm?
"It was a test, of course. I figured that out by the next day." She shook her head, putting all the amusement she could into her voice. "Really. Date someone who might work for us? Who I might have to fire someday? That's a recipe for disaster right there. But I had to explain it to him privately. Otherwise, it could have turned out embarassing for everyone."
Ah. Very smart, sweetheart. I'm glad you figured it out. The mix of pride and bemusement in his voice told her she'd gotten it both right and wrong; he'd have been happy if she'd dated Patrick, but was impressed with her reasoning. Don't blame your old dad for setting this up, hmm? You didn't have to go on a date with any of them, after all. Had to be sure you were taking your future at the Centre seriously.
"I understand, Daddy." Perfectly. "I'm not going to let you down. Don't worry so much."
Right, right. Well, all four of them signed with us. Her father's voice was excessively cheerful. So if you keep exhibiting this kind of good judgment, and there's no repeats of that incident in Baltimore, you can stay at that school.
"Thank you, Daddy."
You're welcome, sweetheart. Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?
And how. "I was just going to drive up and see Sydney, maybe. Take him out to dinner. I know you find him annoying--"
Hmmph.
"--but I feel sorry for him," Parker said smoothly. "And you know he's been a valuable asset in the past. I don't see the harm in it."
Just don't trust him, angel. Sydney's always had his own agenda.
"I know. And again, don't worry! I'm a Parker, aren't I?"
Yes, you are. Said with pride and smugness. Right. I've got a meeting. Have a happy Thanksgiving, angel. Love ya.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy--"
click
"--love you too."
If she'd had it on the list, she could've crossed out Lie to Daddy, conceal plans for break-in. But that wasn't the kind of thing she'd ever write down, no matter how secure her room and belongings.
She picked up the phone. "Ben? Expect me very late Thursday night.... Could you leave a key for me under the mat?..."
[open for time_agent, and others who want to say bye to Parker while I'm actually still around. Won't be on until later tonight, though.]