Nugget of Life Experience

Summer 2021, Week 4

Friday evening

The Red Door, Downtown

Fiora O'Connor

This is the place. She thought. This is where I meet him for the first time. All she had was a name, Dallas. She had called him on what must have been his phone to no avail, all she had received back is a text with an address and time. Why here? Why a night club? He hadn't given any explanation, all she knew was that he was a white, dark haired, well dressed man. Which, as she stepped into the club... appeared to be quite a few people.   Nobody stood out to her, they all looked like young partygoers. Some trying a bit harder than others, some a bit drunk, but still overall, they all seemed to have money. At least enough to afford these prices and clothes. Not that the prices bothered her, she had the money, but she knew this town had a variety of financial statuses, guess this was the more luxurious region.   Fiora approached a bartender."Do you by chance know a man by the name Dal- oh, no sorry, I don't want a drink, I'm looking for a man called Dallas. He might be a regular here?" Fiora smiled weakly, she was used to being assertive and being in the know, but this man, this Dallas, was some sort of a mystery.  

Storyteller

Fiora was on the lower floors where the rest of the city went to mingle. But everyone in the establishment knew the name. And they were all trained in the response. “No ma’am. Sorry.” The bartender said with a smile as he went to serve another drink. Minutes passed and the same answer was given, until a slight shadow settled next to Fiora.  

Dallas Lock

“It’s dangerous to just go around asking for my name like that, Miss. You’re likely to end up in a situation you would rather avoid.” There he was, suddenly next to her at the bar, with the bartender quickly serving him a glass of neat whiskey. He was dressed in a fine black suit with dark blue accents, hair combed and the faint smell of cologne coming off him. Taking a sip of his drink, he settled into the chair and turned it to look at the girl. “I was pretty certain I told you to head to the red door. Not the white doors. That’s the top floor for next time.” He gave a disarming smile and waved at the seat next to him. The crowd, previously everywhere, seemed to flow back from their spot and made it seem like they were suddenly alone. “Hello, Fiora. I’m Dallas Lock.”  

Fiora O'Connor

"Seems to me just about everyone knows you but me." Fiora's eyes narrowed a bit. "Besides, I tried to go to the red door... The bouncer wouldn't let me in on account of you being busy, I'm sorry." Her face softened a bit at the apology. Fiora was interesting in the sense that she could challenge people but was also rather... naive? Well, not quite the word. Rather, she was here upon request of Dallas. She had received an offer to make, as well as the basic construction of her suit. She also was here for the benefactor, a mysterious force who must only want the best for her. After all, he saved her.   "Well then, its nice to finally meet you, Dallas."  

Dallas Lock

"I'll have a talk with the staff and make sure that doesn't happen again." He replied, face hardening slightly at the tale of her being turned away. The change was quick, and gone the instant it was noticed, turning back to the calm expression he had previously. "I trust you are settling in all right? If you ever need anything, you come to me. That goes for anything, you understand? Lodging, transport, entertainment. Taking care of your needs is one of my top priorities. Which..." Taking another sip and standing up, holding out his arm for her to take, "is the reason you're here, correct? Let's walk and talk. We can head to my office while you fill me in."  

Fiora O'Connor

Fiora stood up, taking his arm. They were quite the interesting pair, nearly matching. Her navy blue, slinky velvet, off the shoulder dress complimenting his suit. As they began to walk reaching further away from the crowd she spoke.   "I'm having the bodysuit made. It should accommodate changes in size and work with my... second ability... in regards to not hurting myself based on simpler powers. Fire resistance and such. The man the benefactor suggested- Peter Clifford agreed to work on it. He asked if I could join them and fight evil forces for good, whatever that may mean. We went on a date, it was alright, but I know it's awful to say that I went to gather intel on his plans. He's really opening up."   She sighed, thinking about what she just said. "Would the benefactor be disappointed in me for that? I just want the suit made because they asked... even though I don't quite understand why it needs to be made."  

Dallas Lock

"I don't think he could ever be disappointed in you. I know I'm not." Dallas lead the way through the crowd and to a private elevator in the back of the club. Keying in his passcode, the doors opened and they entered. "You gathered important information and a potential resource. If this 'Peter Clifford', was it? If Mr. Clifford is able to design a suit that complements your powers then we will have a source for others like you." The doors dinged closed and he laid another hand on her arm reassuringly. "The fighting evil forces for good...well that's your decision isn't it? The benefactor gave you your life to chart your own path my dear. Whatever path you take is up to you."   As the doors dinged open and revealed a less packed room, one more luxurious than the lower floors, Dallas lead them down a side hallway and into a private room with a waiting staff member who already had a drink ready for Dallas. "Do you need any finances to make the suit a reality? And tell me about your date. Is this Mr. Clifford someone we need to keep an eye on to make sure he acts appropriately?"  

Fiora O'Connor

"Thank you, sir. That means more than you know." Fiora looked up at Dallas, who was taller than she, with wide eyes. "I just- I don't want to disappoint either of you. I owe him my life and you've been so kind to provide everything I need. I just want to be a good person for you both."   She sighed, looking down, feeling a bit guilty as she continued. "Peter and I went to a diner and then someone he used to work with stopped by. A well-to-do man whose name I can't remember. Peter seems to be dealing with a lot. He knows I have someone who recommended that I get a suit from him, but he doesn't know of my benefactor or anything else."   Fiora sat down in a red armchair. Dallas appeared to be quite the bachelor. He even made her a little intimidated and meek, but not enough to stop her general confidence. After all, he was a good man. "This is... quite the room." Fiora said, taking in the smell of whisky and cigars as well as a door at the end of the room which she looked at with interest. If this was a sitting room... then maybe it was an office? She didn't know much about the man other than he made quite the impression on people.  

Dallas Lock

"Be a good person to yourself, and you'll more than please both of us. I promise you." Sitting in the chair opposite Fiora, the table in between them, he leaned back and crossed his legs as he listened to her tale. Once she was finished, he set his drink down after taking a sip. "A man with the means of Mr. Clifford is sure to be busy on the daily. That's how you achieve means. Through hardwork and determination. Remember that, Fiora, if you will for me. A little nugget of life experience from me to you, my dear."   His eyes hadn't left her since they sat down. They weren't always focused on her eyes, instead taking in her body language, tracking for tells and ticks, learning about her; albeit respectfully. Dallas never let his eyes linger or focus too hard. Sweeping glances as he grabbed his drink or shifted position. "It's merely a room I use when I want to meet people away from where I work most of the day. It's funny. Despite being able to go wherever I want, I enjoy static situations very much. The same room. The same drinks. I guess when you can have anything you appreciate the little things. Don't you agree?"   "Tell me, Fiora, what is it you want. Have you figured that out yet? What you truly desire?"  

Fiora O'Connor

"I guess to pay back the benefactor what I owe him, he's done so much for me, I'd do anything... Besides that I guess to explore my powers... I want purpose." Fiora looked Dallas deep in the eyes as she said this. She could tell he was sizing her up but it made sense. They were meeting for the first time and he was an important man, he must want to know a bit about who he is dealing with.   "Static is good, but I prefer to keep moving. As for the drinks, I wouldn't know. I never have much. Appreciating the little things is important, yes, but I don't tend to stop and smell the roses for too long, either" Fiora smiled. She was an interesting woman. She seemed so sure of things... she seemed so sweet and naive... but not even she knew what she really was. She thought about it quite a lot but never came to a conclusion.   "How about you then, what do you desire?"  

Dallas Lock

"The ability to change things for the better." He answered Fiora without pausing or missing a beat. "Power for powers sake is pointless, and too many chase that. Power is just means. The end, the end I truly want, is a better world. A world that makes sense, or at least a little piece of it I can give to others as the minimum."   "I want to give people like you a world that you can decide to smell the roses or keep moving without having to worry about someone throwing a black hood over your head and taking you to god knows where. A place that children can grow, learn their gifts, use them for whatever they desire, and not have to suffer from consequences due to a birth they never asked for. Thats what I want, more than anything."  

Fiora O'Connor

Fiora paused, letting the words roll over in her mind. She wondered more about Dallas, whether he went through this childhood. She wanted to bite her tongue, though she had to ask. "Your gifts, when you were young... how was it? How did my benefactor find you?" Her face seemed serious. She seemed interested in Dallas. She wasn't sure if people were comfortable with him enough to be interested, but he seemed safe... for her at least. She wanted to learn more about the man she owed herself to.  

Dallas Lock

The question caught him off guard. "Oddly personal." He voiced out loud as his mind pondered it for a moment. "I was 7 when my powers activated for the first time. I really wanted a toy from back home and suddenly it was there. More activated when I was 9 for...other reasons. Needless to say I had to hide my powers for as long as I could, especially when Ragnarok appeared and Anti-Evo sentiment was at its height."   "I was on my own when I was 16. And I did pretty well for myself. Nothing serious, I just had an understanding of how my skills could be beneficial to others. That's when he found me. I had a job to...have a talk with him. And have a talk we did. As I'm sure you can imagine that talk went different than my employer's wanted it to go." That first meeting, the moment when his life had really changed. It was a day he thought about often. The only time other than his father when he felt true terror. But unlike his father, it wasn't a forced fear from a raised fist. Instead it was that voice. That voice. Shaking himself out of his own head, he smiled. "And that's how I got to where I am."  

Fiora O'Connor

"Sorry for becoming intrusive, I guess I want to learn more about the man who helps me thrive." She thought of her own background, one she knew he was familiar with. Most likely more familiar than she was.   She had escaped the lab when she was fifteen for 17 hours. She had never seen the outside world, not up close and personal. All she remembers was her fear and then relief as a strange man showed up and brought her to a mansion. She felt like Annie, adopted by a rich man. A rich man, that turns out she'd never meet. Just his butler. Even he was dressed nicer than she was used to. Sometimes she had memories from the lab, but for the most part she blocked it out. She was used to the life of the 1 percent now. She was used to safety. Now she wanted to repay the man she owes herself to.  

Dallas Lock

“He’s something else.” Dallas started in response to her unasked question about their patron. “I’ve been with him since the beginning, and that’s the best way I can describe him. And people know it, even if they don’t know him. He is power made man. But he doesn’t flaunt it. Not like some of these holligans. Bolt, Victory. Those lot, even on other sides of the coin, are the same. They show their power to the masses for respect.”   “Not him. There’s no need for him to do that. Add to that he has a soft spot for cases like us. People put into a bad position when we were weak. He sets us free, like caged birds, to see if we turn into pigeons or birds of prey.”   Seeing the girl was taking all this in, the man finished his drink slowly. He enjoyed the familiar flavors, but noted how each of his bartenders made it slightly different. Some used more bitters, or a different type of orange peel. Some relied on liquid sweetener while others melted cubes. Different ways to make the same thing. Resulting in drinks that appear the same but are different. People we’re the same. Evos especially. Looking the same, but each different.   Seeing the girl was processing what he said still, he stood. “That’s enough for today I think. I’ll have one of mine escort you home. We can talk more another time. It was a pleasure, Fiora.” Taking her hand, he gently pressed his lips to it like an old world gentlemen. “Until next time.”   When she left and was out the doors, that slight feeling of openness slammed shut as Herold peeked in. “Did you find him?” The guard nodded. Bolt had been located. “Good. Let’s go see what he’s planning."