[Nicholas Acker Villin]

What was the first thing that his madre made him do after coming back from a long business trip? You guessed it: a charity event. The Villins were a wealthy family from Los Eurosia, and they were well-known for their charity towards the city. In fact, the Villins were known to be good people in general. They weren't snobs and they had friends from any social class or status.

And then there was Acker. The black sheep of the family, and not just because he was different from the rest of his family, but also because black was a constant in his wardrobe. Even though Acker wasn't a snob too, it wasn't out of the good of his heart, but more for practical reasons. He admired more the working class that managed to survive than the heir class. Having said that, Acker didn't actually have friends, more like people he could use.

So, the Villins were good people and Acker had a great childhood because of it which was unfair considering the type of person that he was. Acker had been raised to be a Villin, but all those boring etiquette lessons taught him how to skilfully hide his true nature. Acker had managed to distance himself from the family, financially and physically, thanks to his company's success. He worked in robotics, and two of his most successful creations where standing by his side. Zeus and Apollos, two robotic dogs that looked and acted like the real deal. They could also feel emotions like real dogs, thanks to his power upgrade. They looked and behaved like those two dogs in that Magnum PI series.

The only reason why Acker wasn't actively trying to leave was because his business rival was also attending the charity event. Acker sarcastically called him Wonka, as in Willy Wonka, because he saw his rival like a less scrupulous Willy Wonka. Acker loved looking down at his rival knowing that the rival had tried to reverse engineering his creations which was impossible without his power. Oh yeah, Acker had a power, the only one in his family for now, someone as despicable as him shouldn't be so lucky in life.

Acker rolled his eyes when he noticed mother gesturing for him to mingle. Fine. He took a drink and started walking around looking for that familiar face. Acker's Poirot-like-moustache moved in confusion when Apollo suddenly barked, but it was too late, he bumped into someone, the drink spilling on his expensive Italian shoes. God, the mad scientist hated it here.

Tag: Open

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

Just a few hours ago, Maddie had planned to be off tonight and to go see Mason and celebrate his birthday. However, at the last minute she got a call from one of her former coworkers, a server that she'd gotten along with well and still saw occasionally. They left the restaurant to go work for a catering company, and tonight they were contracted to work some swanky charity event. Apparently, several of the servers ended up with some kind of flu, and called out, and now they were desperate for help. When her phone rang and she heard the desperation on the other end of the line, she didn't give it much thought before agreeing. Besides, she was supposed to actually go to Mason's house to see him, and she wasn't sure that she was ready to face Miranda again so soon.

With a quick apology phone call to Mason, Maddie rescheduled and made plans to go out with him next week to celebrate his thirty-first birthday. She'd try to get Tomas to go with them, and make a night out of it. Maybe she'd try to get some of his firehouse buddies as well. They were always good eye candy, if nothing else. It would be way better than just a boring night at his house, with tension thick as honey between their mother and Maddie.

Of course, Mason said he understood and not to worry about it. He was well aware that his sister wouldn't need much motivation to duck out on the invitation to come over. It was no secret that his sister and mother were like oil and water when they were together in the same room.

Once she got to the venue, Maddie found her friend and got filled in for the evening's plan. She didn't have a ton of experience with cater waiting, but she had been working as a server since high school, and the basics were all still the same. Smile, be polite, anticipate the guests needs, pick up any empty plates or glasses on the way back to the kitchen.

Pulling her hair up in a ponytail and wearing the same black long sleeve shirt and black pants as the rest of the wait staff, Maddie was ready to go by the time the guests began arriving. She circulated the room, carrying a tray with champagne around and offering a glass to anyone who wasn't already holding one, or replacing the glasses that had already been emptied

Suddenly a dog barked, causing minor chaos. Maddie grabbed a couple dry cloths from the server station she was just passing, and set down her tray of now emptied champagne glasses that she had been bringing to the back. It struck her as strange that there would be a dog there at all, but she supposed rich people had their quirks. As she got closer, she noticed there was something else strange with the dogs, or rather, the person the dogs were with.

"Here, I'll take that empty glass." She offered, with a smile plastered on her face. "I brought a clean cloth as well, if you need it." She spoke in a friendly tone, but her attention kept going to the dogs. The man they were next to was definitely gifted, and it felt like they were connected to him, maybe a part of his gift? Probably.

---

Tag: Nicholas Acker Villin
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[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Acker mumbled a thank you and exchanged the empty class for the cloth after kneeling to dry his shoes "Why did you bark, Apollo? What happened?" this sounded like an exasperated rhetorical question from a dog owner, after all people didn't have any reason to believe that he was actually asking Apollo.

However, Apollo and Zeus were staring at the server. Zeus standing on his fours while Apollo sitting and tilting his head gently. That was when Acker noticed that the woman was puzzlingly observing the dogs. It was odd, but he would worry about it if needed. For now, he had to make sure that the rival hadn't seen him spilling the drink which seemed to be the case. Acker used his power to connect to the rival's cellphone in a way to check that the rival was still at the charity event, but he couldn't find it. Perhaps, Wonka had already left.

"Oh no" Acker let out a long sigh while standing up, at least his shoes were dry now. His mother was apologising to the person Acker had bumped against and she was now walking towards her son "Why do you always bring the dogs wherever you go? They shouldn't be here" Acker side-eyed Apollo, but the dog was still looking at the server, odd. Acker's mother noticed the server and smiled at her "Thank you for the help" then she was about to talk back to her son when a ringing came from the small handbag she was holding. Oh look, a call right at this moment, what luck. Acker waved at mother while she left to take care of the call.

"So, you must find my dogs fascinating...who can blame you?" Acker pointed at them "Zeus and Apollo, they seem to like you back" Acker put a hand in his trouser pocket and took out a bill "For the service" and generously tipped the server. Suddenly, Zeus started tugging at the cloth still in Acker's hand "What is it with you two tonight?!" Acker let out an exasperated sigh "Not now" the doc tugged the cloth away to sign Zeus to stop. Apollo nudged at his brother with his snout and Zeus reluctantly relented.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

Maddie waited while the guest cleaned himself up. She noted how he interacted with his dogs. It seemed strange to her, that he had brought them to the event at all. It seemed like the dogs were just as fascinated with her as she was with them, and she also thought that was strange.

A woman walked over, and Maddie could recognize the sound of judgement and disappoint in her tone. It had to be his mother. She made some comments, and then her phone rang. It was such a light, fleeting feeling that Maddie would have missed if she wasn't already so tuned in and paying close attention. That was a gift.. It was gone in a flash, and the woman walked away to take a phone call.

"They seem very attached to you. And well behaved." Maddie pocketed the offered tip. "If you're done, I can get that out of your way." She motioned to the rag that the dog seemed to have some interest in now. She felt guilty for staring at the dogs. It wasn't like it was even her problem if the guy brought his dogs. Even if she thought it was strange, what did it matter? Her opinions made no difference here.

"I'll be back around with a fresh tray of drinks in a couple moments as well."

---

Tag: Nicholas Acker Villin
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[Nicholas Acker Villin]

"Oh, they are supposed to be well-behaved, but they have gone through some changes lately" Acker had to bit his tongue to stop himself from saying 'upgrades', dogs did not upgrade, they changed. Acker hadn't told anyone about the dogs, it was an experiment, he wanted to see people's reactions to his work, especially his rival's reaction, if they found out that the dogs were machines, but the dogs looked and behaved so naturally that no one suspected anything...at least so far. But if the 'secret' came out then it would benefit his business because people in the field would hear of Dr. Villin and his life-like robotic wonders. His business was already blooming, but the mad scientist was never satisfied. Acker shook his head after noticing that he had been daydreaming about this for a few moments.

"Mh? Oh..." Acker looked down at the cloth and then gave it back to the server "...Zeus" he reacted to the dog whining when Zeus saw the cloth being taken away from him. Apollo was being quiet at least "Not for me, I've outgrown these charitable festivities" Acker gestured the dogs to follow him, instead Zeus sat next to his brother. The doc almost became impatient again, but then something about the dogs caught his attention. For starters, Apollo was being too quiet, the kind of quiet he got when there was something going on, and Zeus was obliging meaning that he was agreeing with Apollo.

Something was going on and the mad scientist's curiosity was piqued "Actually..." Acker called the server back "...I think I'll need that drink" he turned towards the dogs "If you are making me stay here then I'll need a booster" an odd purring sound came out of Acker's mouth when he let his tongue roll to emphasize the rrr at the end. He wasn't already drunk, just weird.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

The oddity of the dogs continued to add up, but Maddie knew it wasn't her issue to worry about. Someone had let him in with them, so even if they weren't as well behaved as they should be, it wasn't up to her to decide if they should be there or not. Whatever was strange about them, however they were connected to him, wasn't really her concern either. So what if he had some connection or control over them?

The guest didn't seem to want another drink, so with the rag back in hand Maddie turned to go back to the server station where she had discarded the tray of empty glasses moments before. Before she got more than a step away, he was speaking again, having changed his mind already.

"I'll be back through in a couple moments then, I'll make sure to come by you in my round." She assured that she would return, then continued on to pick up the tray.

It didn't take long for Maddie to get to the back. She dropped the dirty glasses off in the dishwashing area, and tossed the rag in the laundry bin. The kitchen here was large and immaculately clean, and she thought that her normal restaurant job could take some lessons. Not that they were dirty or gross, they just didn't do the upkeep to maintain things at this level. Then again, they didn't get paid the same as catering companies, so that was part of it.

She picked up a tray of fresh drinks, and made her way back out to circulate through the crowd of guests again, trading empty glasses for full ones on her way back to the eccentric guest with the dogs.

"And here we are." Maddie offered one of the glasses to the strange guest.

---

Tag: Nicholas Acker Villin
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[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Looking at the servers made Acker remember when he had been a server himself. Yes, he was born into a rich family, but that was the point. The Villins were good with money and one of the reasons why was because they learned they value of money pretty early in life. Acker's parents had told him that they would provide for necessities and his education, he hadn't had access to scholarships even though he had had the credentials due to his family's wealth, however everything else was a bonus that he had to work for.

That was why he had worked in the service industry and in retail too. Not only he had learned the value of money, but also the patience necessary not to send rude Karens to the hospital by using his power, it had taken a lot of restrain. That was also the reason why Acker respected the working class instead of being a rich snob.

Zeus and Apollo were both looking at the server when she came back. Zeus approached her and picked up her scent. Then he barked. Well, it sounded like a nonsensical bark to others, but Acker could understand what the dog was communicating thanks to his power, it was like an instinct.

Zeus was warning that there was an odd odour about her. Of course, the Lads had been wrong before. Sometimes, the person just hadn't showered in a while. Other times, it was something more serious, like the Lads smelling cancer. It could also be other things. But, sometimes it was about Gifted, so the mad scientist couldn't leave this to chance.

Acker took the glass "I apologise for Zeus's behaviour" it was about the sniffing "However, this time he was behaving appropriately...I'm Dr. Villin and I'm conducting a research into bio-robotics...the dogs..." he pointed at the Lads who were sitting next to Acker "...have been trained to detect certain patterns in the human physiology compatible with my research"

What he was saying was a half-truth. He had set up such a research to keep up appearances, in fact if anyone looked into it then they would find the details at the university. But, it was just a ruse to study Gifted.

"It would help my research if you'd accept to participate, you would be compensated of course"

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

It was a surprise when one of the dogs barked at Maddie. She kept herself from jumping too much, not wanting to drop or spill anything from her tray, now a mix of full and empty glasses. She wasn’t about to be the reason for a clean up, if she could help it.

Then the guest began to explain that the dogs were a part of his robotics research. Maddie would have been lying if she said she completely understood what that actually meant, but it made a little more sense than them being real dogs. Maybe his gift was tied to that somehow, and that’s why she got a very vague sense of a gift in them, while a clear sense that he was gifted.

”I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by compatible with your research…” Maddie was confused when he asked her to participate in his research. What kind of research was he doing?

She supposed even if he did tell her specifics, she might not understand it. But a general sense of what he was researching might help. If it was something dangerous or crazy, she didn’t want to be a part of that. But if he was doing research that could help people, or make the world better, and she could somehow help with that, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Especially if she was being compensated for her participation, what would she have to lose?

”What would it mean, to be a participant in your research? What would I have to do?” She was curious. She knew she didn’t have all night to stand around and chat with this man, but taking a couple minutes with a guest should be easy enough to explain if anyone noticed she was just standing around for too long. Besides, this wasn’t her normal job, and it didn’t matter if the boss got mad at her.

---

Tag: Nicholas Acker Villin
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[Nicholas Acker Villin]

The fact that Acker had worked for money was another difference between him and his family. For instance, his brother had to go through the having to work shtick too, but instead he had opted to be a volunteer because he understood the privilege he had born into, so he hadn't wanted to take wages away from people who actually needed it. Instead, Acker had wanted money for himself, even though he was perfectly aware that he didn't actually need it. That was an important distinction that showed an interesting aspect of Acker's personality, an aspect that would affect anyone involved with him in any kind of relationship, let it be a working relationship or a personal one.

However, Acker hadn't said that the dogs weren't real, he had just said that they had been trained to smell certain odours in people, something that real dogs could be trained to do. Acker didn't take a sip, but looked around noticing that others were eyeing the full glasses on the tray "Better get back to work, I'll send you a link with information about the research, the link will lead to a specific page on the Los Eurosia university's website" he specified so that she would know that the link was legit and what to look for.

"I'll be here if you have time to talk" and with that he left her to attend the other guests. However, he didn't leave the premises, so that she could find him if she wanted to. Acker found the woman's number via the employment sheet, which hadn't been difficult to access considering that his mother was in charge of the event, and sent the link to her phone.

The link would open to a page on the Los Eurosia's university website. On the page there was information about the research. The research was in bio-robotics meaning that it would help anything related to that field. For instance, it could help create better prosthetics or other medical research. To be fair, the information wasn't completely false, the mad scientist was indeed working on that kind of research too.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

It was strange how opportunities could present themselves in such random ways. By all rights, Maddie wasn’t even supposed to be in this place right now. In fact, she should have been out with her brother, celebrating his successful trip around the sun. She’d gotten over herself, and was trying to make it up to him for being such a brat about his family celebration earlier in the month. Of course, he understood when she told him she got an opportunity to fill in and make a lot of cash in one night. They’d rescheduled, and so she came in to help out.

Now she was a candidate for some paid research study. She was going to look into it before agreeing to do it, but if it was research to help people she really didn’t see any harm in it. Especially if it was paid. It would be a win-win, right? She could start really building a savings. Mason always told her she should be more focused on saving for her future, she didn’t have much set aside. She knew that he was right and he meant well, but she was living paycheck to paycheck. It didn’t really help that she had expensive taste in clothes, not that all of her clothes were costly. But occasionally, she treated herself when she had the spare cash laying around and she really wanted something. A jacket, a purse, a pair of shoes… Her small closet was full and her bank account wasn’t.

He explained that he would send her a link with information about the research. ”I’ll be sure to look out for that then.” She didn’t think about or question how he would send her the information. It wasn’t even a thought for her, she assumed anyone here would be able to get information on anyone else easily enough. He had a point, she needed to continue making rounds, doing the job she was being paid there to do.

She circulated the room again, making her way to the back each time her tray was emptied. It was picking up. Food was starting to be sent out along with the drinks, and there was a constant rotation through the event hall. She didn’t have a chance to even glance at her phone until the night was winding down. She saw the link and it took a lot of willpower not to just click on it and start looking over the information now. She was sure she could sneak off and look over it, but that wasn’t responsible, and she had a better work ethic than that.

---

Nicholas Acker Villin
Let me know for any changes!

[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Acker was strategically sitting in an area away from other people. Yeah, he was trying to avoid mingling, what a shocker. The only person who could make him mingle was his mother and he was making sure to avoid her too.

A part of him was excited for the opportunity and wanted to talk to the server as soon as possible. He felt his power picking up his excitement and had to stop his Gift from activating itself. But then he changed his mind. Why stopping it? If he let his power grant his wish then he could talk to the server.

Apollo wagged his tail while Zeus was sitting in front of the closed, but not locked, door leading into the room like a sentinel. Then, all the phones started ringing, and the alarm went off. The security system urged people to leave the premises. The phones had a message on them sent by the security system. The security system was real, Acker's power had only activated it.

The mad scientist couldn't help but laugh when he heard the ruckus from the other side of the closed door. However, the laugh could only last for a few seconds before he had to pretend worry. He was already taking the stairs leading to the exit with the dogs in tow when the door opened and people quickly followed suit.

Acker and the Lads managed to get outside, others too. He checked that his mother was also outside, but knowing her she had probably stayed behind to make sure that the staff could get outside safely. Acker wasn't worried. There hadn't been that many people in the building, so there wasn't a chance of any stampede happening.

Emilia was indeed still inside to make sure that everyone was okay "This way!" she showed to the staff where the exits were, just in case some of the staff hadn't known all of them. There were two emergency exits. Emilia reached Maddison "This way, it seems we are the last ones, there isn't to worry, I'm pretty sure it's just a mistake, there is no fire and nothing else seems out of place, but better safe than sorry"

Emilia had studied the emergency plan in case of emergency, as she always did in case off necessity if she was the hostess of an event like she was now, so she confidently knew where to go. Emilia quickly walked to the nearest emergency exits "Mmhh...were you talking to my son? Oh, he is the one with the pair of dogs" she had noticed that the two had talked for a while.

Emilia waved to her son when they finally exited the building. Acker waved back and then looked at Maddison. They could talk now, finally.


Maddison Lancaster
ps. please, tell me if i need to edit the emilia part

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

---

Everything was going smoothly. Maddie was circulating around the room, along with the other servers. They were perfectly on schedule, and the guests seemed to be enjoying themselves. Then, out of nowhere, an alarm sounded. Maddie heard phones chiming and buzzing all throughout the room, her own phone included. It was an alert set from the alarm, with instructions to vacate the building.

Maddie didn’t immediately see any cause for the alarm, but of course that didn’t mean there wasn’t something happening in a different part of the building. She was close to the kitchen so she walked into the back to put down the tray she was carrying. Maddie could see that she was one of the last people to leave, and there was a woman directing staff members out through one of the exits.

”It certainly seems like we’re the last ones.” Maddie agreed, as she approached the woman. ”It’s better to be safe and not take a risk when the alarm sounds.”

She let the woman lead her to the exit. She asked about Maddie talking to the guest with the dogs, apparently her son, and Maddie nodded. ”Oh, yes.. I helped him clean up after a spill, and he said believes I would be a candidate for his research.” Maddie explained, not sure if the woman was upset about her son fraternizing with the staff or if she was just making conversation.

Before she could overanalyze it, Maddie saw the scientist with the dogs standing near them, and giving a small wave. Maddie realized she should probably have gotten his name at some point. She didn’t know much about him, but she had a sneaking suspicion that he had something to do with the alarm going off.

When they got closer to him, Maddie pulled out her phone. ”I got the link already, but have not had a chance to look over the website yet.” She was sure that it wouldn’t be a surprise. It hadn't been long since he had sent the link to her phone, and she'd been busy working. But now that everyone had been evacuated from the building, she supposed there would be time to either discuss it or look over the website.

---

Nicholas Acker Villin
Let me know for changes.

[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Acker was very proud of his self-control right now. Otherwise he would have kept laughing until he didn’t have any air in his lungs. Emilia had frowned for a moment when the young woman had mentioned some kind of research, but then she had imagined it was about his robots. So, Emilia had left to join the others, checking on everyone.

Acker nodded and opened the site on his phone too. He pointed at it, explaining the various sections. Everything said on the site was legal. He did research with the university, that wasn’t a lie. But, this time it had to be a little different considering that it involved a potential Gifted.

Emilia was about to come back, but changed her mind at the last minute. She was happy to see her son socialising with someone, even if it was for work. So, she left him alone while Acker kept explaining to Maddison all the right things. He knew about to talk about science, especially his science. It came natural to him. He had convinced other Gifted to join his experiments, this wasn’t his first time.

“...so what do you think?” Acker asked after finishing to explain “Oh, I’m Dr. Acker Villin by the way” even though the site had mentioned his name multiple times. He put his phone away and waited for an answer, ready to answer any concerns.
Meanwhile, the people outside were starting to leave. Emilia among them, so she approached her son “I’m leaving with the others, you shouldn’t keep standing outside, it’s about to rain” she said with affection to her son, but she also looked at Maddison with a warm smile “Would you like to come with us? We are going to a nearby bar to relax after the scare” Emilia asked both her son and Maddison.

Acker didn’t want to go, but it wasn’t about him this time, he had to think about Maddison’s needs if he wanted her to join his research “If you’d like to go then it’s fine with me” he said convincingly.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

I woke up one morning to find myself
Wrapped in the things I swore I'd never touch

[attr="class","MADS"]

---

Maddie listened as the researcher explained the details. If she said she understood even half of what he’d been saying to her, that would be a lie. It all sounded very scientific, a lot of mumbo-jumbo that was over her head. She looked over the webpage, on the university website.

Finally, he asked what she thought and introduced himself, the name that she was also looking at on the website, Dr. Villin. “I think it sounds like an interesting study. And, I’m Maddie.” She added her own introduction, realizing she wasn’t wearing a name tag like she normally did when she was working, this all being such a last minute gig tonight.

Dr. Villin’s mother returned, declared it was going to rain soon and invited Maddie to join their family out for drinks. Maddie was tempted to blow off the rest of the nights work, but she figured that might be a bit too rash, so she shook her head slightly. “Now that it seems to be all clear, I should probably be heading in to finish up work. Thank you for the offer, though.” Maddie started to walk back toward the building, then stopped and turned back around. “I’ll do it, by the way. The study, I mean.”

She agreed to participate as much due to her own curiosity as anything else. She was curious about the robotic dogs, about how they were connected to the researcher’s gift. She was also curious about the study itself, what it would really involve and what he was trying to learn. The best way to figure it out was to go along with it.

Besides, the university was backing him. It had to be legitimate. How much risk could really be involved here?

Probably more than Mason would like her to take, but Mason didn’t need to know about it. At least, not before it happened. As long as it all went smoothly, maybe she’d tell him about it afterward. She didn’t need a lecture from him about it now though.

---

Nicholas Acker Villin
Let me know for changes.

[newclass=.MADS b]color: #702963;[/newclass]