The press of bodies and people was massive and annoying, but she had to put up with it. Going beastly now wouldn’t only get Carson on her ass. Today was far worse than a Green Flag day, it was Advancement Day. Her mission, however, couldn’t afford to wait. She’d sat on it too long, tried to find a way to weasel out, or a better option. She didn’t want to do this to him.
Finally, she spotted her target. Jadis Diabolik, daughter of a supervillain, Melville Fixer, One of the two best student practictioners of lawfu at Whateley, who had stared down people trying to kill her without batting an eye, drew in a deep breath. She could do this. She strode forward towards the crowd of six students with all the determination she could muster, nervous beyond belief.
Though their parents were present, the six teenagers were still clustered tightly together, giving goodbye hugs to Janine. Diamondback was taking her turn, but both of them turned and looked at her as soon as she began her approach. Oh right, they were empaths. Damnit, she was so nervous she was slipping. One steadying breath hadn’t been enough. That caused all four of the others to look at her. Razor cocked his head to the side, Eldritch folded her arms and gave a level stare, and Anomaly, apparently Diamond’s long last… sister? Anomaly put two arms to hips, two behind her back, and folded two across her chest as she watched Jadis approach her target… Jericho.
“Jericho, hi… could I talk to you for a few minutes in private, please? It won’t take long, I promise,” she said, walking up. Despite being blind, he was looking right at her, and she saw an eyebrow go up. Thank god he had to wear his uniform today. She could never have done this if he was wearing one of his staggerling bad fashion combos. There was no way Jericho was actually blind.
“Um, sure, Sh- Jadis,” he corrected. She grimaced, she should have used his name. “Where to?” he asked.
“Just over here is fine,” she replied, “Joe. Thank you.” She directed him a couple paces away, then pulled out a playing card and dropped it on the floor between them. “That’s just so we won’t be overheard,” she added as he looked down at the card with blind eyes. Yeah, not really blind, but definitely not normal vision.
“What did you need so… last minute?” he asked, studying her.
“I… ok, there is no good way to put this, and I’m sorry for doing this to you, but I’m cashing in that favor. The one you said my Dad earned for me,” she explained. Jericho, or Joe, just continued watching. “I wish I didn’t need to, but it’s an order from Dr. Dad, and I think you can survive Jobe…”
“What, exactly, does this have to do with Jobe?” he asked, suddenly on guard. “I thought she was gonna be in Karedonia all summer.”
“She is… but I have to be down there for a few days. I need a date for the Royal Wedding. Dad’s orders, and you’re my last good option that won’t end up dead or run screaming or have Jobe or one of the other Wilkins do something horrendous to him,” she replied. “It’s just three days… ok, four, since I’ll need you for a day to get a suit tailored for you,” she explained quickly.
There was over a minute of stunned silence on his part as he ‘looked’ at her with his strange blank eyes, even if he did have sunglasses to hide them. “You… want me to be your date to Karedonia for Jobe’s wedding?” he finally asked in a shocked tone.
“Yes.”
“And you’re willing to pull the favor card to make it happen?”
“Yes.”
He was silent again. “Damn. Alright, done. But I’m not paying for the suit,” he said with a sudden twinkle in his smile, like he was playing a joke. Jadis breathed out a sigh of relief and held out her hand. He shook it.
“Done,” she told him, sealing the deal. “Even though it’s just repaying a favor, thank you. Dr. Dad said it had to be someone he’d approve of, and… that’s a really short list,” she admitted. She couldn’t tell for sure, not being an empath, but his body language shifted and his shoulder straightened a little. Apparently being on a short list of people “Dr. Dad would approve of,” was a good thing in Jericho’s book.
“We’ll hash out the arrangements in a bit, after the crowd’s out and stuff. Here’s my number. I got yours from Malachai,” she told him, holding out a card. “That’s enchanted so only you can, ah, read it, it’s in brail. Go back to your family.”
She turned to go, then paused. “Seriously, thank you,” she added over her shoulder.
Jericho just smiled. “Genuinely Jadis, I think it’ll be an honor,” he replied.
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