Everything you Ever

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina hung up her cell phone and sighed in relief. She’d gotten news from Maria that her mom had gotten injured while at work. Every worst possible scenario had gone through her mind before she had called and found out her mom had merely sprained her ankle and would be able to go back to work in a few weeks. Money would be tight, but with Maria working as a waitress they’d be fine. Selina made her way to the cafeteria with her meal and placed it in the microwave, her mind still on edge. She’d known she’d needed to find work here in Kalispell, but her mom had told her repeatedly not to worry and that she could handle everything on her own.


    Selina, for the sake of her mom’s pride in being able to provide for her daughter, had complied. But Selina was well aware that her mom was reaching the end of the time that she could viably work as an exotic dancer. Selina sighed and made her way to the back corner of the cafeteria with her now heated food so she could be alone to think. Translating documents from Spanish to English was a potential job she could work with, but she wasn’t sure how well it would pay and her mom didn’t have much saved for retirement. Maria couldn’t provide for the three of them on her own either, nor would Selina or Katerina ever expect her to, and though Selina’s mom would eventually look for other work, Selina knew it wouldn’t pay nearly as much as her current job.


    If Maria or Katerina got sick or severely injured, hospital bills would quickly leave them homeless and Selina found herself unable to stop herself from worrying about the both of them. It was even difficult to eat the simple rice and black bean meal she’d fixed for herself last night. Selina put her cell phone away and stared absently at the wall, her mind racing at a million miles per second and didn’t event take notice when her food got cold again.


    She’d worked all kinds of jobs in the past, including being a waitress, janitor, and hostess amongst other things, so she wasn’t picky in terms of what the work entailed. What Selina really cared about was how much she could earn. The money was her largest concern right now, and she’d have to figure out which job or combination of jobs would help out her mother the most in terms of finances.
She couldn't help the feeling that she was suddenly running out of time.

[Drew Conner]

Drew knew, possibly more than nearly anyone on the Bellefonte campus, that most people needed some sort of incentive to not simply take what they desired. In the real world one must had to pay their debts through threat of legal or civil action. Taking from a store would result in arrest just like refusing to pay a utility bill would cause said service to be discontinued and even ducking payment on credit rendered came with having whatever goods purchased to be repossessed. In the world so few people knew Drew did business in, many people needed much more 'encouragement' than that.

Strong arm tactics were not Drew's favored method of collecting payment or enforcing agreements. He preferred to conduct business through mutual respect and reasonable negotiations. Words were his art, not fists. Unfortunately, a growing number of individuals he dealt with on a regular basis were beginning to get complacent. It was entirely possible they figured an undersized 18 year old freshman in college was probably not much of a threat in spite of his trust fund and fancy suits. This was going to have to change. Quickly. Drew didn't take kindly to being dismissed or having others change the details of their deals.

Selina Taylor had been a name Drew had circled shortly after he returned from his summer hiatus in California. As always, the corporate heir had done his homework. It was to his benefit to know a few of the movers and shakers on campus, as well as though who possessed certain skills and a mindset that may be of use to him in the future. This was exactly why Drew was now walking through the cafeteria, his eyes locked upon the troubled dark haired girl as she settled into an empty table in the far end of the room. And why he was sliding into the chair opposite her without waiting to be invited.

"Selina Taylor." He said the name calmly as he got as comfortable as possible in the cheap, plastic cafeteria chairs. He gave the young woman a polite smile even as he studied her features. "My name is Drew Conner, I doubt you're aware of me." Unless she kept up on her gossip blogs, that is. "But I've heard quite a lot about you and you seem to be just the type of person I should get to know better."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina was jerked from her reverie when someone blocked her view of the far wall. She eyed the man with open distrust and briefly wondered what the hell he was doing. She was not in the mood to be sociable right now, so if he was here looking for conversation, she would leave so he could find it elsewhere. When he spoke her name, her suspicion only increased. She’d never seen him before, she was sure of it, so how the hell did he know her?


    Drew Conner… Selina was drawing a complete blank. “I’m don't know anything about you,” she agreed. Was he someone from the school? He looked a bit too young for that type of thing, but then the teachers here sometimes looked like students, so she wasn’t entirely sure. She wasn’t sure why anyone else would address her by her full name or know her without having previously met her.


    Selina couldn’t help raising a skeptical brow when he mentioned hearing about her, “And just what is it you’ve heard, Mr. Conner?” she asked calmly, though her voice held a hard edge to it. “Rumors can be very misleading,” she warned. She hadn’t thought she’d been too troublesome since coming here, or at least not enough so that others would be talking.


    Selina had been subjected to all types of rumor mills at her previous schools, so the concept certainly wasn’t something new to her, it was just slightly surprising that the same thing appeared to have happened here at Bellefonte. Selina certainly hadn’t noticed people talking though and she’d gotten pretty good at picking up on that sort of thing over the years, though internet blogs weren’t something she’d ever followed or been interested in so she had to admit that all kinds of things could be going around online that she’d never heard a word of.

[Drew Conner]

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Drew's lips as Selina spoke. There was something empowering about sitting down with someone who didn't know who he was. While he was confident in his ability to sway just about anyone it was so much easier when he didn't have to defend his rumored womanizing, overly dramatic relationship with a Bellefonte, or his alleged 'extra-curricular' activities. The young woman was a blank slate in which he could write whatever story he pleased.

"Oh, I don't deal in rumors much." Drew said, settling into the seat much like a man with a purpose. This was hardly a social call, after all. "Just facts. And those facts say you've had a very... colorful life before you found your way to our humble Academy." There were certain advantages of having access to information you shouldn't. Drew was a testament to that. Although he'd rarely made use of this, it was a nice trick to have up his sleeve when the situation called for it. "I'm going to guess you've been in your share of fights." He said, his tone calm and even. "And, from what I gather, you're not used to coming out on the losing end of those." He chuckled lightly. "How am I doing so far?"

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina eyed him warily, how the hell did he know anything about her life in Chile? The only people who would have access to that information would be the school officials who had seen her files because she sure as hell hadn’t told a single soul at the academy or anyone else in the U.S. about it except for Vesper. But that woman already knew anyway, so there’d been nothing to lose. Selina didn’t give out anything about her past except for the bare minimum.


    “Just where did you pick up these facts of yours?” she asked with a suspicious glance, neither confirming nor denying anything he’d said. It would be silly to play games if he did in fact know what he was talking about, but if he was merely fishing for something… Selina had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly what he was doing though, as that arrogant air of his didn’t really allow much room for doubt. “And what is it you want from me?” Her tone was cold and almost threatening. If he was looking for someone to blackmail, she wasn’t that easy to manipulate.

[Drew Conner]

Little did Selina know that her instant bristling and the posture she took read like an open book. Drew, if nothing else, was remarkably adept and picking up on the subtle social cues of others. Even if he hadn't already had a nice venture through her file the Academy kept on record and was merely attempting to fish information from her, she would've given away everything he said as truth anyway. Of course, that he was able to unabashedly skim through her surface thoughts, which confirmed it all even more certainly helped.

"Relax, Selina." He said, lifting a hand. Drew's tone didn't waver, nor did it lift anywhere beyond the calm, relaxed level it had been when he introduced himself. It didn't matter that even without her power, of which he knew could be extremely dangerous, Selina could mop the floor with him without breathing hard. Drew wasn't a fighter in the slightest. He was a talker, and a damn good one, if he said so himself. "I'm here because I think we can help each other out." As arrogant as he sometimes came off, Drew was telling the truth. Of course, he also sensed if he didn't get to the point he'd get a taste of the alleged aggression Selina's file had hinted at. "I have a job offer, of sorts, for you."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina almost laughed, why were men always telling her to relax? This was completely different she knew, but the thought still made her smile a bit. She waited for him to continue however, as interrupting him at this point would serve no purpose for either of them. Selina’s pride was then almost offended at the idea of anyone helping her, but she remained quiet once more.


    Selina’s interest perked at the idea of a job though, but what he could possibly want her skills for left her more than a bit suspicious. He’d commented on her fights in Chile, which meant he was probably looking to pay her for something along similar lines… and she had a feeling that something probably wasn’t strictly legal. Then again, pay was higher for dangerous and/or illicit work so she sat back in her chair and studied him with interest, “What type of job?” Her tone was clipped and pure business, but then she had a feeling her social skills weren’t what was on trial. Money was her only interest right now, and if he offered enough she wasn’t entirely sure what she wouldn’t do. Selina wasn’t stupid either though, and she wouldn’t take on anything where she would end up with the raw end of a deal.

[Drew Conner]

"I'm going to be forthcoming with you." Drew said even though the statement in and of itself was simply filler so he could continue plucking the few thoughts that lingered at the forefront of Selina's mind. Money was a priority at the moment. This could be easier than he had hoped. Money was one of the few things the young man could offer at length. There was a reason his parents had the twins emancipated at the earliest possible age. Their time here at the Academy was supposed to be a constant series of challenges to see how well the siblings could do when left to their own devices.

"I'm looking for someone who can handle themselves that doesn't mind getting their hands dirty." Drew's eyes remained locked upon Selina. Aside from being able to read the prominent thoughts in her mind, he studied the body language, the subtle cues from her facial tics and expressions. Everything to piece together the puzzle of how to best approach the young woman with what was surely to be an unorthodox request. "I've made a lucrative business for myself here at Bellefonte." He explained. "A business that revolves around subtly, privacy..." He paused a moment as he awaited Selina's reaction. "And people paying their debts on time."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina listened to him with a passive expression, waiting until he was finished to think through what it was he’d just offered her. “How dirty are we talking?” she asked calmly, her tone indicating neither acceptance nor denial of his proposition. If he expected her to kill or torture a child for the sake of forcing the parent to pay the debt, she wasn’t going to do this no matter how much he paid. If he was talking solely about dealing with adults however, she wouldn’t mind in the least. Of course, she doubted he’d hire an amateur to kill someone, and even if he did, Selina wasn’t about to do it unless the pay was extremely high and he had a solid plan to not get caught. She’d also have to trust him a hell of a lot more to even consider such a thing. Selina wasn’t caught up on morals, so much as practicality. Betrayal in this type of thing would end up with her being the one who burned and she knew it.


    But lucrative… Selina had smiled at that. If this was what it sounded like, Selina knew she could expect high pay. The only thing she was worried about right now was how serious he was. Her slight paranoia about the academy or somebody pulling off a stunt like this to trip her up made her want to see something that could ensure that he was legitimate. One of the drawbacks of her ignorance in regards to his ‘extra-curricular’ activities was that she had no knowledge with which she could substantiate his claims. Selina was unlikely to offer him anything more than questions unless she had some sort of assurance that she wasn’t going to end up in a cell somewhere after this conversation.

[Drew Conner]

Drew actually had to stifle a laugh which came out in a muffled, snort-like sound as he caught just a glimpse of the territory Selina's mind had instantly wandered in. She was giving him way too much credit if she thought he'd need her for anything more than roughing up the occasional person trying to duck payment or to back him up in case he had to meet with some of the more unsavory individuals he dealt with. At least he knew her limits wouldn't ever need to be tested. This, he figured, was a very good thing.

Recovering quickly at the brief break in his stoic, professional demeanor, Drew cleared his throat and went to answer her question. "I'm not in the market of killing anybody." He said, a faint smirk touching his lips as he spoke. Still, this was not the place to be discussing what minor activities he did partake in. "Very lucrative. If you're interested, take a walk with me." He said, moving to get to his feet. If she wasn't, she'd remain where she was and he'd take it as a cue to move on and attempt to find help in other places. "I'd rather not get into here." He gestured to the rest of the people filtering into the cafeteria. "I hope you understand."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina had merely been thinking of her own limits, and with the school in Santiago being the dumping place for the world’s worst delinquents, killing people over money wasn’t the worst thing she’d been exposed to. It was actually quite common, though less so in terms of extortion. Selina glanced at him, wondering what was so funny, but then shrugged it off. People had weird ticks.


    Selina felt simultaneous relief and a bit of worry over the fact that he said he didn’t kill people. “Well, that’s good to know,” she replied evenly. Relief, because she wouldn’t really do that type of thing unless she absolutely had to… or was paid extremely well for it… or both. Selina shook her head at her own morbid thoughts and came back to her worry. If he knew about something as minor as the fights she’d gotten into, then that meant he likely knew that she’d killed.


    She wondered if the killing remark had been a jab at her history, as the fact that he might be able to read minds never once crossed hers. She’d heard about telepathic and telekinetic mutants, but she’d never met one so she was completely defenseless against that power. Selina decided to remain passive for now, waiting until she had more information on the situation before she determined how she felt about it.


    Selina only hesitated for the briefest instant when he mentioned leaving before nodding and picking up her now cold lunch. She threw away the paper plate and then turned back to face him, “Of course. Where did you have in mind?”

[Drew Conner]

Drew nodded at Selina's question, but only went to answer once they had stepped out into the open air and moved a safe distance from the high-traffic building's doors. There was business to tend to, sure, and Drew felt confident he'd reached out to Selina at the right time. She seemed to have money on her mind and was receptive to things of a less than moral standing. Still, caution needed to be exercised. He wasn't about to ask her to help him sell Girl Scout cookies, after all.

"Since you're unfamiliar with the rumors, I'll have to give you the abridged version of the story." Drew said, his eyes shifting just faintly to ensure they'd managed to get away from any prying eyes or ears. The last thing he needed was to fuel the already over active rumor mill of this place. "When I'm not busying myself with class I tend to certain... needs of the students here on campus." He said, starting out vague on purpose. He gestured for Selina to divert her course, the best place to talk was in the less populated areas of campus. One of those places happened to be the parking lot. "Many of these needs happen to fall into the less than legal category." Details weren't needed at this point. Not yet, anyway. "Naturally, when dealing with such elements, there are certain people who need... persuading when it comes to payment or falling in line." He fell silent for a moment, glancing to Selina and studying her reaction to his words.

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina studied him in interest. She’d been sort of light-hearted about the whole thing until now, but the way he watched for listeners and how he chose his language made it all a lot less surreal. She nodded to show she was paying attention, and headed with him to the… parking lot. Selina was unsure about why, but there didn’t seem to be too many people at the moment, so she figured it was as good a place as any. The way he spoke… her mind immediately went to selling organs on the black market before she stifled a laugh. This was serious.


    The second thing to come to mind was drugs. And Selina knew enough about the drug trade from growing up poor in Chile, that she was immediately wary. She wasn’t too worried about shaking people down at all as she frankly didn’t give a damn about the morality behind it. What she cared about was how deep she was getting in over her head, and whether or not she would be able to pull out of this once she started. Drugs were lucrative but the heaviest repercussions would fall on her if the cops came to call, not the privileged rich white boy who paid her.


    Then again from what it sounded like, she wouldn’t be expected to handle or hold anything illegal, just threaten those who didn’t comply with whatever this boy wanted… not only that, but if violence were to truly happen in vengeance against him, they would go after the head of the snake and not worry about the hired muscle… she hoped. 

    Of course, she still had no idea what he was really into, so she reserved her judgment once more and decided to hear him out, “Alright, I can do persuasion,” she offered, “But I’m also not going to walk into this blind, no matter how lucrative. I need to know what I’m getting into, including potential risks both physically and legally... If you plan on giving me the info on a job by job basis, I need to have an understanding of the terms regarding what would happen should I refuse the offer,” She was the blunt type, so it was difficult for her to be subtle or sneaky about things like this. Even if she knew being straightforward probably wasn't the most effective way of dealing with the man before her, she didn't really want to play his game either.

[Drew Conner]

"Everyone always thinks drugs." Drew bemoaned with a sigh and a shake of his head. He didn't even have to skim Selina's thoughts to figure out what that look in her eyes meant. Everyone instantly pegged him as a drug dealer even though he rarely dealt in the stuff. "Look, really the bulk of the money I make comes from being a bookie." He explained, glancing toward the girl. "Sports betting." He chuckled softly at that and offered little more than a shrug. "You'd be surprised at how lucrative that can be. So long as the losers pay." He paused, letting that sink in. That was, for the most part, the majority of what he was looking to Selina for. Simply as a little extra muscle to keep a few unruly clients in line and keeping up with their agreed upon payments.

"Tell you what." Drew stopped just as the duo reached the parking lot and turned to face Selina. "I'm taking up your lunch so how about we talk over something better than what the cafeteria offers?" He smiled lightly. It was a warm and inviting smile. Drew wasn't here to make enemies. The girl, by virtue of her martial training alone, could easily make him regret getting anywhere near her. He knew this and very much afforded that knowledge, and Selina herself, the respect she deserved. "Then, if you're interested, we can hash out the details, answer any questions you have." A brow quirked curiously as he studied her reaction. "Discuss payment."

[Selina Taylor]

    When she found out what he actually did, Selina laughed, “All that cloak and dagger just for being a fucking bookie?” she asked with wide smile. “Damn, you’re even more paranoid than I am!” she teased. Selina felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she found out her job would end up being on the lighter side of illegal and she was incredibly happy right now.

    She could get a job intimidating those in debt to a high end bookie. Hell, life wasn’t so bad after all. “Shit, sounds good to me. Just tell me when and where,” Selina added as she looked out over the parking lot, feeling more optimistic than she had in a long time. She wasn’t going to rush into anything, as she’d meant what she’d said earlier… but this seemed way too good to pass up. Possibly also too good to be true, but she’d worry about that later.

    Selina glanced back at him and smirked, “Why not? Did you have somewhere particular in mind?” she asked as she tried to think of the cheaper places to eat around the college. She couldn’t afford anything much, but she still needed some food for energy. “And I’m definitely interested,” she assured him with an easy smile. Selina blinked as she finally remembered that he was her potential employer. Fuck… and she’d called him paranoid… double fuck!

    Selina tried to adopt a more business-like temperament, but couldn’t quite manage to become completely serious as she was still in a buoyant mood. Shit though, should she apologize? Would that somehow make it worse? Great, now she was just socially incompetent. Selina almost groaned, before deciding the best thing she could do right now was be quiet. Selina studied him carefully, wondering how badly she’d just fucked up... or if he even cared. She hoped he didn’t.