A Game of Cat and… Rabbit?

On the snow-covered rooftop of her luxury apartment, Eevi stood, the crisp winter air biting at her cheeks as she savored the tranquil scene before her. The cityscape stretched out beneath, adorned with a pristine layer of snow, muting the usual cacophony of urban life into a serene symphony.

As she admired the beauty of the moment, her phone vibrated with a subtle urgency. Retrieving it from her pocket, she saw the familiar notification that marked the beginning of a new assignment. The screen illuminated with the details of her next target – a name and a face that would soon become etched in her memory.

The target in Eevi's new assignment was a prominent philanthropist and business tycoon named Adrian Thornton. He had been known for his charitable contributions and influence in various sectors, making him a figurehead in both the business and social realms. However, beneath the benevolent facade, rumors have swirled about the less savory aspects of his dealings. Dealings that her contractor now saw due to collect on.

“Tut-tut Mister Thornton, you don’t get to turn your nose up at money you’ve already been taking.”

The wind whispered through the silent skyscrapers as Eevi processed the information. The target's fate now rested in her hands, a decision she had grown accustomed to making with clinical precision. Her thoughts, like the winter air, were sharp and clear.

With a final glance over the snowy city, Eevi pocketed her phone, her steps echoing against the rooftop as she made her way to the door. Another mission awaited, and the assassin, healed and reinvigorated, was ready to dance once more in the shadows of New York City.

The gala was what you would expect from "society's best". The dining hall was near the top of the East Street Hotel and already it was full of most the country's most prominent upper class members. Yellow Christmas lights expertly hung around the room so their reflection on the slick, black tiled floor gave off the impression of walking on starlight.

A band played soft jazz renditions of holiday classics which seemed to go underappreciated as no one seemed to pay them any mind. They were just there for ambience. A tree, larger than life, had been...well, decorated was the word but it didn't seem right. Gold and silver orbs hung from it, then it was wrapped in more of those golden string lights. It felt lazy. No personalized ordainments, no goofy touches, it felt...impersonal.  Then the table, they were lined with white and blue-trimmed cloth, plated with what could assume was...fancier plates and cutlery?

That one Mel wasn't sure of. All she could be sure of was that the wealthy had weird standards about their eating arrangements. Even the tables had been assigned seating which...for a fancy party and charity event seemed...odd? What if you were assigned a table with someone you dreaded? You just had to spend the night with them?

Seemed overly complicated.

But she wasn't brought on to judge them, despite her qualifications to do so. No, her job was simple. She was supposed to hang out off to the side and make sure no meta-leveled trouble broke out. Or that's what she was told. Honestly, she felt like it was probably more of a flex. A "Look! I hired one of the top heroes as protection." sort of situation. Still, it was a charity event and while most of these rich people were probably sleezy and had done things she'd knock 'em out for, at least this was for a good cause.

As the clock struck eight there was a sudden clanging of glasses, like someone at a wedding trying to get people's attention. The music stopped. Standing, there was the man of the hour. Adrian Thorton. Ready to give his speech.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

This oughta be good...

"First of all, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I am sure all of you have been very good for Santa this year." Polite laughter. "But in all seriousness, good doesn't begin to define what we have all done here tonight! Thanks to all of your contributions we have raised over one hundred thousand for the Kindness for Kids charity which is going make sure they all have an incredibly merry Christmas!" There was applause, this one more genuine.

Even Melody applauded this one. While she didn't like that she had to be here and she was sure that she wouldn't like any of these people on a personal or professional level, the charity would at least benefit kids in need. She had done her research, this one...this one was legit and that at least was good.

Thorton then waited for the applause to die down.

Eevi Vainöla sauntered into the gala, an uninvited guest but carrying herself with the air of someone who belonged there. Her "invite" had been provided with the mission, she was to be Heidi Wikström from the Ny-Gotland Grúp for the financial security of people affected by Meta-abled people. A bit on the nose really. Dressed in an elegant black gown that accentuated her lithe figure, she moved with a silent grace, seamlessly blending into the sea of well-dressed patrons. Her amber eyes scanned the room as she sought out a vantage point, her intention clear — to observe and analyze. As the gala's attendees were busy with the charity event, Eevi slipped into the role of the unassuming VIP guest.

Finding herself near a strategic spot off to the side, Eevi leaned against a gilded pillar, her eyes now honing in on the crowd. She observed the glittering ornaments, the flickering lights, and the opulence that surrounded her. Despite the festive atmosphere, her gaze remained dispassionate, and her expressions concealed behind a mask of indifference.

Adrian Thornton took the stage, and the applause rippled through the room. Eevi raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the philanthropist's theatrics. Her thoughts drifted, weaving through the crowd's behaviors and interactions.

"People, always pretending," she murmured to herself, her lips curling into a subtle smirk. As she people-watched, Eevi's mind worked like a well-oiled machine, processing the nuances of each interaction, each gesture, each fleeting expression. She identified the ones putting on a show of benevolence, the self-absorbed individuals reveling in their perceived importance, and those who genuinely cared about the cause. Her conclusions were swift and unrelenting, aligning with her cynical worldview.

Yet, in the midst of her disdain for the upper echelons of society, a flicker of curiosity sparked within her. It was a twisted fascination, a desire to unravel the intricacies of the intricate dance of power and wealth. As Eevi patiently waited for an opportune moment, the gala unfolded around her, and she reveled in the shadows, ready to make her move when the time was right.

As Adrian Thornton delivered his speech, Eevi Vainöla listened with a discerning ear, her gaze fixed on him with a mixture of boredom and disdain. His words about charity and raising funds for a good cause echoed through the opulent hall, met with polite applause from the well-dressed attendees. However, Eevi, armed with the knowledge of Thornton's less-than-savory financial dealings, regarded his words as nothing more than a smokescreen. The philanthropic facade he presented clashed sharply with the shadows that lingered behind the scenes.

A cynical smirk tugged at the corner of Eevi's lips as she thought, Charity, a cloak for their sins. In her eyes, the wealthy often used such events not out of genuine altruism but as a means of whitewashing their reputations, obscuring the darker truths beneath a veneer of benevolence.

While the crowd applauded Thornton's efforts, Eevi remained unmoved, her fire-like eyes cutting through the illusion. To her, the gala was a masquerade, a grand spectacle of hypocrisy and self-indulgence. She observed the guests' reactions, noting who bought into Thornton's act and who saw through the charade. Thornton's speech may have swayed the majority, but for Eevi, it was merely another layer of deception to be peeled away. As the applause faded Eevi couldn't help an urge she had felt at the repugnant display of feigned charity around her. Her applause continued in spite of the awkward drawn out length she was creating while Thornton waited for the applause to end.

Attention was fine, she had too much to drink and was in a bad mood could always be her excuse. For anyone as wealthy as who she was supposed to be that could be forgiven and laughed off by these blue bloods. And so she continued her long, mocking, golf-clap and held an unblinking gaze at her target. She scanned the room, taking note of the raised eyebrows and exchanged glances among the guests. Eevi reveled in the discomfort she stirred, relishing the awkwardness that permeated the air. The attention she garnered wasn't the usual admiration one would expect; instead, it was tinged with confusion and a hint of annoyance.

Unfazed by the disapproving looks and the subtle whispers that accompanied her prolonged applause, Eevi maintained her facade. Each slow clap served as a testament to her disdain for the artificiality of the gathering. To her, the gala was a theater of lies, and she had chosen to play the role of the defiant outsider, exposing the insincerity that lingered beneath the veneer of high society.

As the applause eventually subsided, leaving an awkward silence in its wake, Eevi smirked, her actions a subtle act of rebellion against the fabricated glamour of the gala. She would continue to navigate the evening on her own terms, unapologetically challenging the pretenses of the elite gathering. Her amber-like eyes scanned the room, taking note of the raised eyebrows and exchanged glances among the guests. Eevi reveled in the discomfort she stirred, relishing the awkwardness that permeated the air. The attention she garnered wasn't the usual admiration one would expect; instead, it was tinged with confusion and a hint of annoyance.

Unfazed by the disapproving looks and the subtle whispers that accompanied her prolonged applause, Eevi maintained her facade of enthusiasm. Each slow clap served as a testament to her disdain for the artificiality of the gathering. To her, the gala was a theater of lies, and she had chosen to play the role of the defiant outsider, exposing the insincerity that lingered beneath the veneer of high society.

As the applause eventually subsided, leaving an awkward silence in its wake, Eevi smirked, her actions a subtle act of rebellion against the fabricated glamour of the gala. She would continue to navigate the evening on her own terms, unapologetically challenging the pretenses of the elite gathering. "Sorry, where I am from we clap until all the joy we feel leaves our body entirely. It would be rude to stop before I felt it appropriate."

Melody found herself easing back against the wall she had decided to place herself as the applause started to die down. There would be some more words then it would all fall back into place, the drinking, the light dancing, and, of course, the chatter. She was already lamenting that. Half the talk felt like rich people asking for metaphorical handjobs in the form of praise for whatever endeavor they were embarked on, while the rest was just catching up on details that other people didn’t really care about.

But even as the applause seemed to die down it didn’t fully stop, well, at least one person seemed to keep it going for some time. Melody’s ears flicked in the diretction of that sound and what she found was a woman dressed to impress but with an attitude that left something to be desired. Oh, Melody already liked this woman. Everyone else seemed to give the same-y sort of vibe, but this lady! Yeah, she had already earned Melody’s respect in a single gesture and with only a few words.

She looked at the woman with a keen interest. Eevi didn’t raise any alarm bells in her head, an outspoken refined lady probably wouldn’t cause any trouble. Probably. Not the kind of trouble that would require her intervention.

Adrian Thornton, for whatever it was worth, also seemed unbothered by the sudden outburst of…well, someone he didn’t recognize. He had enough sway in making the guest list that most of his close friends were here, but that didn’t mean he had known every single person here. Still, there was something about her that made him feel a bit…antsy. He wouldn’t let it hold up the rest of the party though. He had an image and a cause to uphold.

“Ha! Well, it seems so people are eager to get back to it!” He said coolly, holding that air of a man unbothered by the storm that this new woman was brewing up. “Well, that is a good sign as any to keep this party going! Please, please! Keep this show on the road and thank you all again!” He rose his glass up, though his eyes never left the woman who had made the scene.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true.

He cast a glance over to Melody for a moment who met the gaze. He gave the slightest bit of a motion towards the strange woman and that was all he gave. Provided there were no further interruptions, there was another quick applause before the party would continue on.

Well, it seemed her invention was required. He probably wanted to make use of her services, throw his weight around and show that he had a hero to uphold the integrity of the event. She supposed it was something to do, it was better than just standing around and doing nothing. She let out a sigh and looked out towards the crowd of people, plotting her route for a moment.

As people seemed eager to get back into the flow of things, some still casting glances towards the woman who seemed to want to sour their fun evening, and still not yet moving back into their groups. They seemed to want to see if there was going to be anything else that would cause a bump in their evening.

It took less than a moment for Melody to get over to Eevi, weaving through the crowd with a grace that allowed her not to be intrusive upon the other guests. There was no hostility in the movement, no malicious intent, or even a gesture that would imply that she was here to reprimand her.

Instead, there was a casual wave of the hand, a little too casual for a setting like this, as Melody tried to get her attention. “Hey, how’s it going?” She said in a tone not loud enough to be heard past the two of them. “Just wanna say, big fan of what ya did there. Certainly earned my respects, for whatever that’s worth to ya. But, gotta ask, what’s going on?” She asked with a curious tilt of her head, a small grin accompanying it. She really did like this woman and didn’t want to have to do anything rash.

"Mommy, I'm still happy too. Why did we stop clapping then?" came the small child's naive and innocent question that had caught Eevi's attention. The girl couldn't have been older than 9 by her guess. She had tugged on her mother's dress with a cocked head and posed said question. A chuckle had to be stifled from Eevi as she drank from a flute of champagne to hide her enjoyment of the situation. Would the woman stutter an unsure answer, similarly confused like her, and leave her daughter unfulfilled. Maybe scold her for asking in the first place and hurt her child's feelings.

She was eager to see.

"Because we're more refined than that sweetling." Patting her daughter on the head and returning to her conversation at hand the woman moved on from the situation with a laugh shared amongst her company. Annoyance pulled at Eevi now. A people person she was not. But when it came to the rich of the world? Certainly not. So easy to move on. So quick to brush over. So foolish to not notice the danger they were in. They were ignorant and naive and that made them utterly incorrigible to her. If she wasn't working then this whole room would have been overdue for a lesson from the "real world".

She had to occupy herself for now and wait for an opening. Stopping one of the event staff carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvres, she inquired about the contents of his tray. They smelled delicious and looked even better.

Maple-caramelized figs with smoked bacon and chile sauce. Now that was what she needed. Patting an empty space on the table next to her, she instructed the man. "Leave the tray, I'll be taking these." He tried to defend the food and to say that they were for the whole room but she was more than insistent. "You have more in the back, yes? Then go grab a new tray and use those. These have been claimed." Resigning at her determination, the tray was quickly surrendered and the server made his way to the back to retrieve a new tray. Sampling the first of the figs, Eevi knew she had fought for the right cause this time in the name of her new treats. Sweet, smokey, salty, fruity, and spicy blended together in an extravaganza display of sensation with each bite. Her hunger would not be sated on one tray certainly.

She was 7 figs deep when her snacking was interrupted. A woman, white haired with red eyes had approached her. With a wave she initiated contact with Eevi. Security maybe, but she came off as too friendly for anything that could have been related to her job. Disinterest crossed her face after the initial greeting she received, but that quickly was replaced with her piqued curiosity with her following inquiry. A fan? Respect? How odd. Those things did not matter to Eevi. Never had they had any application to her work nor she had a personal use for them. But this woman seemed genuinely interested in her with what impact she had made thus far. Curious. She would see what this meant. Putting a finger to her chin as if in deep thought, she surveyed the occupants of the room.

"Hmm.... Blue bloods. Do you think that's actually true?" Looking at her target, she couldn't help but feel like this new engagement was his doing. "Their blood that is. Do you figure if they all erupted right now that we'd be covered in blue or red like any other person?" Sampling her eighth fig, she quickly ate it, laughed at herself and made a dismissive wave at her new acquaintance. "Apologies for that odd question. I was thinking of something my papa once told me. I am quite fine thank you for asking." Presenting her hand for a shake, she finished her remaining champagne in the glass and introduced herself. "My name is Heidi. And you are?"

Melody grinned easily at the woman whose name was apparently Heidi. With little to no hesitation and with even less shame, Melody reached a hand down to swipe away from one the caramelized figs and flicked it into the air before catching it with her mouth. In the few moments that Heidi had talked to her Melody’s assumptions about this woman were already proving true. An odd one out, more eccentric and forward with her opinions by comparison, and a whole lot more likable.

There wasn’t much she could actually do about this woman, it wasn’t like she had been overly disruptive, so far just a single outburst…unless the head honcho wanted to claim that taking a tray of food was overly disruptive. Probably not and Melody had seen the kitchen they had more than enough to go around. A man like Adrian wouldn’t ever risk the embarrassment of running out of food early. No no, he would much rather waste leftover food than make sure they didn’t have enough.

Melody snorted a laugh, not the most refined sound for such a refined event, but then again Melody didn’t really care to fit in. She was just here on business and for a favor. Beyond that, she was content to be herself as much as she could. She shrugged, “Oh no, definitely not.” She replied not seeming off put enough by the question to not answer. “Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t have blood at all. They wouldn’t want to risk staining their fancy clothes or carpets or whatever. But jeez, that was a morbid question. Do you usually introduce yourself like that or are you just trying out a new thing?” She smirked a bit, “You sure you’re at the right party?”

She waved her hands, “I didn’t mean that to come out that way. I meant that as a joke not as a threat or anything like that.” She extended her hand out to Heidi, still beaming, and looking to give a firm handshake, “The name’s Melody. Or Rabbit Punch which was my agent’s idea of a good hero name.” This was accompanied by an eye roll which told Heidi all she needed to on the hero’s feelings towards her own name.

“Anyways, Heidi, sorry to bother you. Big Guy wanted me to check up on ya and see what that outburst was about. It looked like he held himself together pretty well but I am guessing his blood-if he has any-is boiling hot after an outburst like that.” Her tone did not lack any tone of enthusiasm or humor. For Melody it had always been funny how bothered the rich could get over the smallest gestures and slights. They really were too full of themselves.

A hand moved to swipe a second fig. “They sure do know how to eat at the very least.” Another flick of it into her mouth. “So, just feel like calling ‘em out on their nonsense or you got other motives for stuff like that?” She asked, moving to stand next to Heidi, finding something behind her to lean again so she could get comfortable. From their place on the floor they had a pretty good view of the party and all the guests who seemed to be giving this pair a variety of looks varying from insulted all the way to curious.

"Oh i do believe I am in the right place." Giving Melody a feigned smile, Eevi finished what was left of her champagne and focused on this apparent security she now found herself engaged with. At the reveal of her hero status, she felt a pang of annoyance twitch across her eyebrow for a moment. 'How lovely, another costumed wannabe. Just my luck.' A genuine chuckle escaped her lips however at Melody's evident distaste for her moniker. "Perhaps you need a new agent then? I've never quite understood why costumed individuals such as yourself hire agents? I can understand having lawyers and such protections but agents? It always seemed odd to me." Shrugging off her own question, Eevi grabbed another fig. Food always helped distract her and to move on from topics when she was done with them.

"As per my 'outburst' though, Mister Thornton will have no more of that out of my. You have my assurance of that." Looking over at her target, a thought crossed her mind. An in to spring her mission into high gear.  Eevi caught herself smiling along with Melody at the comment about Thornton's anger. They really were that easy to provoke. With Melody eating at the figs now as well, Eevi humored her inquiries. "Money cannot buy happiness for certain. It can buy the best food you've ever tried though." Setting the tray down finally, she turned towards Melody.

"There would be nothing to 'call out', as you say it, with these people. They're too far sunken into their ways for any of my words to reach them. Earlier Mister Thornton said they raised just about over a hundred thousand dollars. Noble. Good, even. But how much do you think he has spent organizing this event? Two hundred thousand? Three hundred thousand? These glasses certainly look like real crystal so I am leaning more towards the later over the former." To illustrate her point, Eevi picked up her now empty champagne flute and held it up in the light between both of them. After a moment of observing its details, she lowered it, grabbed it with both hands, and snapped the stem off of the glass. She heard a shocked gasp from one of their gawkers which they had acquired while talking. "Oops." Not feeling any care for the property damage, she placed the broken glass on a nearby table.

"They all have enough to replace a hundred of these. But look at how they treat just one of them. I was not born into money if you couldn't tell. I'd wager almost everyone in this room was though." Gesturing her hand at the room, Eevi found that the entire section of the room was paying them varying levels of attention now. "One hundred thousand dollars is barely enough to even help one person with medical bills for extensive treatment in this country. Why do the celebrate like this then? They have provided enough money for one person to go to a college. Bravo." Her ire was ever present. Outside of herself, this hero was the only other person here who understood how the world worked. At this point she was daring for someone of their "audience" to say something to her. They wouldn't though, these people never did. Its why Melody was talking to her instead of anyone else.

Releasing some of the tension from herself with a sigh, she joined Melody in leaning back in comfort. "Speaking of our gracious host. I have a solution to help his boiling over blood and to make this event actually worth something." With her arms now crossed, she pointed a finger at her target. "If he is willing to speak with me for a moment away from all this noise, then I am willing to match the donations tonight using my companies funds added onto the pile. Then I will double that with my own personal account." She had set her bait. Hopefully this hero she now found herself engaged with was a real one and couldn't resist the chance to help children more.