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This sequence of posts was transferred from Vignettes, as it is more of a group interaction than a 1 on 1 chat or individual aside. Please feel free to continue it here.
Jessica pinched the bridge of her nose after downing 4 aspirin with a long draw from her iced latte. She had been up all night trying to handle the situation at the theater the day before. Between Laura's grief, her apparent
adoption of this Daphne Ward...
seriously what was up with stars picking up random riff-raff and keeping them like pets...she isn't Michael Jackson for Christ's sake! and dealing with the press, tabloids, E!, and N!. It was a long night and a very early morning. This was her job, and the daughter that she never had though. She sighed as she picked up her cell phone to make the easiest call that she was going to have to make in the past 24 hours.
"Hello, thank you for calling DeVries Agency, how may I assist you?
"Hi, I my name is Jessica Schimmels, and I am looking for a driver for a client that I represent."
---
Sean was relaxing in his hotel room when he got the call. "
Wheelman, this is Control, we have a request for a driver at the Grand."
"
I read you control, ETA 3 minutes." Sean rolled out of bed, pulled his suit off the hanger and was out the window in something under 30 seconds. After he touched down he shifted once and again. Pulling up in a loading zone near his rendezvous, he once again assumed his working guise and walked up the sidewalk towards the black limo with plates reading HAX 482. Opening the driver's door he slid into the seat. "
Hello, Miss. My employer has instructed me to be your chauffeur for the evening. Where can I take you?"
---
Laura, sitting in the back of the limo with Daphne, looked over her black sunglasses at the new driver that Jessica had found.
"Palms Casino please"
I don't want to be at Fashion Week, but I can't really cancel. It would be far worse press if I didn't show with my new line, than if I show dressed for a funeral.
---
"So how long have you had your own fashion line? I can't believe I actually get to go to Fashion week. It is so awesome to get to go and see all the top designs. I wonder if they will let me try stuff on. It won't look right going over my shield, but it would still be awesome to see it and dream."
Daphne looked out the window as the new driver began driving. Daphne leans over to Laura and whispers in her ear.
"So... Who is the new driver? Where did you get him from, he seems intimidating. Which is probably good for a driver slash bodyguard."
---
"
Yes Ma'am. Would you prefer me to take you to the front or to the rear VIP entrance?" Once he knew where his new assignment's preference was, he drove them there using side streets and by ways, he was always careful to time the lights so that he was the last car through, and he made 3 right turns instead of turning left. As he drove he was constantly aware of everything happening behind and to the sides of the car, he didn't have eyes in the back of his head, but that didn't stop him from looking everywhere at once, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He figured that the only reason someone would be paying Devries rates was if they needed something special, be it protection, anonymity or maybe just the prestige of a nova driver.
---
Daphne looked over at Laura with a quizzical look and looked forward.
I wonder what she is thinking about; she seems so far away right now. I guess I will have to face the new driver and do what I think Laura would.
"Driver, we would like to go to the front entrance I believe. Laura usually likes making a big entrance. Ummm... I don't really like calling you driver. It seems a little bit impersonal, mind if I ask your name? By the way mine is Daphne."
Daphne forces a smile despite still being a little hesitant around this new man.
---
"
Nice to meet you, Ma'am, My name is Sean, or you can call me Wheelman if you'd rather use my elite title. Am I correct in assuming that you will have a security detail waiting for you at the Palms?"
---
Laura came out of her reverie when Daphne and Sean began talking to each other.
"Oh, yes sorry the front would be great Sean. I am supposed to have a security detail waiting for me, but I would like you to come join us after you have parked the car. I don't like it when some stars make their drivers sit in the car bored out of their minds while they go off gallivanting around. Who knows you might meet your next conquest there, there will be plenty of beautiful women baseline and nova both. I started my fashion line last year, in fact this event that we are going to was my premiere event. As to Wheelman, have you ever heard of DeVries? They are an agency that matches nova elites with clients, that is where my agent found Sean."
---
"
Yes, Ma'am, although, if I may, having me park the car and then come join you creates an unacceptable window in your security if your security is not there. Perhaps I should contact them before we arrive so that there is a seamless transition?"
---
"I haven't really heard of Devries. I mean it sounds familiar, but my parents did a fairly good job of keeping me secluded from nova stuff. Well it helped that pretty much my whole town and community was opposed to novas and didn't want anything to do with them. I never realized how much influence novas had on the world. I guess my community thought if they couldn't limit the influence they could just hide where it came from. It was a really complicated life and I don't know why I didn't see through it."
Daphne looks down and closes her eyes for a second, holding back the tears as she thinks about her life before being a nova.
---
"Please, don't call me 'Ma'am' Sean, you can call me Laura. Here let me get you my security guard's number and you can call him. Worse case scenario we trust the limo to a valet."
Turning to Daphne to see the young girl crying, Laura wrapped her arms around her, and pulled her close.
"Hey, it will be okay. This is exciting! You get to learn about a different world than what you were taught about. It isn't a perfect world, but it is a wonderful world nonetheless. If you have any questions about anything, just ask me."
---
Daphne calms her self down before they get to the Palms.
"Thanks, I don't really know what to ask. This is all just so new and strange to me. I think it would be bad if I'd even be exposed to novas, but not being exposed to it makes it that much harder on me. I will let you know if I do come up with any questions for you though."
---
"
Yes, Ma'am," Sean dialed security at the Palms, arranged a valet to trade off with, and pulled in to the front entrance of the hotel minutes later. He exited he vehicle, making careful note of the identity of the valet, and moved to the rear door. Opening it he aided the ladies out of the vehicle, then moved ahead of them and walked towards the entrance off to the side of the red carpet. He scanned the crowd, alert for any threat to his client.
---
Daphne took Sean's hand as she stepped out of the car. She was temporarily lost is the flash of lights and all the reporters who were all attempting to get her to answer questions. She deftly walked behind Laura as she answered, or more appropriately avoid answering questions. She smiled and waved for the cameras, but she was secretly scared of all that was going on around her.
"My goodness Laura how do you keep up with all this?
Daphne follows Laura and Sean to the dressing area where the models are all getting ready to show off the newest lines from all forms of designers, including Laura's own line.