Issue 1 Downtime

Lumis rolls up to Samantha's flat in an absurdly expensive sports car. All black exterior with tangerine orange interior, it certainly makes a statement.

He parks it illegally and walks over to ring the intercom.

Samantha was just finishing getting ready, having pinned her hair up and donned a dark green cocktail dress. She didn't know who was at the door as this residence was psi-shielded as many of hers in the past had been, but she had an inkling. Slipping on her pumps, she walked to the door and opened it.

"Evening, Dom."

Domanic smiles. "Sam you look incredible."

She chuckled.

"Well, I certainly try. If I'm going to be seen at a show I rather ought to."

Domanic will kiss Sam's hand, if allowed. If not, he'll simply squeeze it in a friendly way.

"I told Aurora to program the theater location into my GPS, so we shouldn't have a problem finding it, even though I think it's a little off the beaten path. Are you ready, or did I catch you a little early?"

"Ah, no worries. I was just finishing up. All I need to do is grab my purse and coat before we go."

Dom nods, and leans against the doorway while he waits. "So how've the opening weeks been for you so far?"

"Well enough. We've got good students this semester."

She slipped on her coat and slung her purse over her shoulder.

"We've also got quite possibly the randiest students I've seen. I thought it was bad back at Salem, but this goes a bit beyond."

Domanic chuckles. "It's college, they'll slow down eventually. That rush of freedom just sets people off."

He offers Sam his arm, and walks her down to the aforementioned extravagant car.

Samantha locked up and took his arm, walking down. She smirked when she saw the parking and the interior.

"Only you, Dom."

Domanic grins. "I know, isn't it garish? I had to have it when I saw it." He holds the door open for Sam, then climbs in the driver's side.

As he drives off, it becomes apparent that Domanic has no idea how to handle as much car as he bought. The ride isn't rough or anything, but it isn't nearly as exciting as a better driver could have made it.

Having gotten in, buckled up, and shut the door behind, she chuckles.

"Honestly, when I finally get a car again, I'll have to show you how to really enjoy a drive."

"You can drive this one if you like. She does zero sixty in some ridiculously short amount of time."

"Rather think I may go for a MINI again, the way parking is like in London."

"I ment you could drive her back from the show." Domanic smiles. "I like minis though. Cars should be colorful."

Domanic drives, and pulls into the theater's parking lot after a bit, then opens the door for Sam, if she doesn't hop out right away.

"Just practical, if you're in a large city."

She smiled to him as he opened the door. She stepped out and looked the theater over.

The theater is small, tucked away and probably something of a well kept secret. The crows making their way in is a mix of fancy upper class and bohemian art types. Domanic takes Sam's arm and walks up to the front door, getting the pre-purchased tickets and heading in.

The interior is nice, refurbished from a theater centuries old, everything inside is old, old wood, elaborately carved with scenes and creatures from greek mythology.

"Bit of a contrast," she said as she took her seat. "A troupe this new using a theater this old."

"I like it. You get the most beautiful highlights off wood this old." Dom takes his seat and smiles at Sam. "It's great to be out with you."

"Certainly good to be able to see you for normal reasons, rather than something going wrong."

"Oh, well as far as that goes I called Bizzare Occurances R US and made sure we'd have some kind of freak time-lost-squid or something attack us."

"Oh, don't even joke..."

"I know, I'll regret it later. Like saying, 'things couldn't possibly get worse' during a mission." Dom leans over to rub shoulders with Sam. "Okay, I'll be good. Looks like the lights are coming down anyway."

"Aye, let's see what they have for us." She smiled.

As the curtain is drawn, the play begins. The first of the three performances is a drama. A rich member of Parliament's House of Lords is staying at a hotel. He treats everyone around him badly, the staff, the drunken bum loitering outside the hotel, the prostitute he's with, everyone. Though the staff and others have some triumphs, and some good, if short dramatic scenes, the whole thing is pretty tragic. Lord Wexer is a through bastard to everyone, and he pretty much gets away with it. The final scene of the first performance is the Lord leaving the hotel, and the staff wishing he could be in their shoes for just one day.

The curtain drops, rises again, and so it is! Lord Wexer is still in his fancy suit, but he is standing behind the reception desk. The receptionist/manager walks into the hotel with the prostitute, kindly giving some money to the bum loitering at the door. The second performance plays out very much like a comedic revenge play, with the staff inflicting many of the same indignities they suffered on Lord Wexer, but more gently so as not to be so cruel. The whole time, the characters have not changed, merely the roles. Lord Wexer still firmly believes he is a Lord of Parliament and is extremely indignant and red-faced about the whole affair.

The curtain closes and rises a third time, and this time the Lord is sitting on the steps of the hotel, drunk as well... a Lord. The prostitute is behind the reception desk, while the bum is walking in as a guest with the male receptionist on his arm. What follows is an extremely bawdy comedy that has the audience in stitches. Once again, each character seems to be the same person from the first iteration of the film, and no explanation is given as to why they are in a vastly different role.

By the end, Lumis is laughing heartily, and he claps vigorously as the curtain goes down, then comes up for the last time to reveal the cast taking their bow.

She laughed as the final curtain went down.

"A good farce is always cathartic, aye?"

"Yeah, that was great. Clever little play." He grins at Sam. "I'm glad you liked it."

"It was a good pick. This was just a random search, you said?"

"Binary built me a synthetic intelligence called Aurora. It did the search for me, I'm not sure how it finds this stuff exactly, but it's really good at it."

Dom gets up as the crowd files out and walks with Sam back to the car.

"Well I won't necessarily say that the little tin theater critic has taste, but it's provided a pleasant evening so far."

She smirked as they got into the car.

Domanic drives out to the restaurant, opening Sam's door for her again, and taking her arm as they head in and get their table.

"Between Aurora and Denise I don't even have to manage my life any more, it's pretty nice." Dom chuckles, holding Sam's seat out for her.

"Does either one change your bedpan?" She chuckled as they made their way to their table.

"Ever been to the Ivy before? It's simply a must in London."

Domanic smirks at Sam. "Hey, I used to do all that stuff for myself, it's nice to have a break."

He takes a seat. "I haven't been to the Ivy yet, no. But if you recommend it, I guess I'll have to."

Dom orders a cocktail, motioning for Sam to do the same. He also tells the server to bring three appetizers, whatever the specialties of the house are.

"Rather the place to go for the theater scene in London."

She ordered a cocktail as well.

"Now be candid with me, Dom. McManus Hall? Honestly?"

"Well, you've worked hard to help kids at these schools for a long time. I bought the building and had to call it something. I think you deserve it."

He smiles. "It's a good job I didn't call it Valentine hall with her daughter here."

"People are going to start thinking I'm either dead or an egomaniac."

"The plaque on the building says I funded it, so anyone who reads that will know that I'm the egomaniac." Dom grins. "I can change the name if it really bothers you, but honestly, you deserve it."

"Just seemed a bit over-the-top."

"Sorry, I should have cleared it with you, I just didn't think."

She shrugged.

"No real sense in making a fuss now, I suppose."