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]

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.

[mparkerceo]

"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]

"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]

"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]

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]

"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]

"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]

"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]

"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]

"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]

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]

"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]

"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]

"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]

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]

"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."