Factor Industries Charity Event: October 18th, 2016

[ceofactor]

Even for Benjamin Factor, arranging this charity event had been something of a challenge. Just as he held great influence in Gateway City, Thunder Corp's influence in Locke was great as well. But with time and money, all things were indeed possible in this case, and the Memorial Dance Hall was playing host to the night's events. It was a glamorous affair: politicians, captains of business, dignitaries, and celebrities had been invited. For whatever controversy that existed, the world legitimately wanted to heal the wounds left by the invasion, and that meant there were a lot of people who wanted to use events like this to either advance that cause, or to make themselves look good.

But they weren't the only sorts of individuals who had recieved an invitation.

Benjamin Factor had also made it so the Numbered would be invited to his little party. Arrivals through the teleporter would be greeted by drivers at the community center, and the same courtesy was extended to anyone who might live in Locke. The only stipulation? Was that anyone who came make an effort to make themselves presentable. If that was a problem, or anyone arrived without knowing, they had clothes on hand for people to change into.

Indeed, it seemed that the Numbered would be well provided for tonight. That being said, their presence would get people to talk, given the presence of news crews making live coverage. Nevertheless... "getting people to talk" seemed to be exactly what Benjamin Factor wanted to happen.

[Event Links: Event Speakers | NPC Interaction | General Mingle]

Comments

[charcoalfeather]

It was her. It really was her. Never had Rakka felt her blood run ice cold like that moment, while a whirlwind of emotions ran through her; the urge to yell and fight, the instinct to run and cry...

No, she had to stand firm. In front of all of these people, she had to present herself as a strong person. It was all a carefully controlled plan, after all: anyone slips up.... then everyone else knows.

Fougere gulped. "R-rakka... is that-?"

"Yeah... It is." Okay, she was approaching. Breathe. A panic attack was waiting in the wings, but Rakka could hold it together. She'd learned how to, over the years.

"....Konnichiwa." A professional nod was what came first. Then, a smile that looked absolutely real. "I don't think we've ever met... I'm Rakka."

[cypressceo]

There's a few things that make Rakka stick out a little bit. The company she keeps, just human-wise. Where she's been, what she's done in public, and ... yeah, that fairy sticks out quite a bit. Even if one were to pass her by on the street, he identifies just who and what Rakka is without any shadow of doubt.

She smiles back, politely and smoothly. "No, I believe this will be my first time meeting, well... Any of out." She studies Rakka another moment. The smile's really convincing, actually. She's impressed. "I'm Lucille Cypress. The... current and new CEO of Thunder Corporation. Her eyes flick to the fairy once more for a second, before settling back on her. "You're one of those... girls, aren't you?"

The magical ones, of course - the very same ones that had those very same creatures around them in battle all the time.

[charcoalfeather]

Yup. As much as Rakka would have rather kept herself out of the spotlight, events just transpired in a way that prevented that. It wasn't hard to recognize her either - the wings, the halo... it was all rather symbolic of her now. One of the easiest ways to catch that she was a Numbered just by looking at her. Thankfully, she always had friends around.

Even when she was staring down the apparent lady in charge of most of their misfortune recently.

Wow, that was a nice smile she had. Rakka was almost pressured to believe it was real. "Y-yes. I think I've heard about you before." Possibly the truth. Her parents would know about Thundercorp. Even if she didn't catch that flick, Fougere did, and he quietly slipped behind Rakka. Not because he was afraid or anything!

"One of... oh. You must mean a Precure." She gave a slow nod. "Yes, I am."

[cypressceo]

Lucille's eyes almost seem to follow Fougere even as he hides behind his partner's head. Still, eventually she settles back on Rakka's face, attempting to look her straight in the eye.

"Ah, yes. Several of your friends were a big help to us the other night. Even if, admittedly, I doubt we were their priority there. You can be assured even if our ... groups haven't seen eye to eye before, you're perfectly welcome here whenever you need to be."

No sense in being outwardly hostile, of course. After all, the magical girls saved them a lot of money this month.

[charcoalfeather]

"...Ah." Rakka's gaze faltered, drifting a bit away from Lucille. She wasn't the only one having some difficulty keeping eye contact with the other woman. Right. That went down, didn't it. She heard the details, of how crazy it was. "I... heard about that."

Her eyes slowly turned back to the CEO, plastering on another, tiny smile. "I'm glad that they were able to work that problem out together, and no more people got hurt because of it."

A bit of honesty never hurt anyone.

[cypressceo]

"Yes, they and our security certainly handled the situation well," Lucille replied, keeping her gaze level. "Just imagine what we could accomplish together."

At that, she looked up at the ceiling. "But it appears that will take some time and good faith on our part. I believe that was the message you decided to send us, wasn't it? When you turned down our offer?"

She looked straight back at Rakka... and smiled. The same smile she wore when hobnobbing with investors, celebrities, and politicians. Friendly and open, but still assertive.

[charcoalfeather]

"Ah... heheheh..." Better to just chuckle at that then anything else.

....shit. She knew, of course she knew. It didn't make the sense of shock that flashed so briefly across Rakka's face any less humiliating...

"...You'll have to forgive me." She started, slipping into a more business visage. A subconscious skill her parents had. "I was caught offguard, and agreeing didn't sound like the best decision at the time. But I want you to know that I'm still considering your offer."

A bald-faced lie, but who could say with a smile like that?