The welcoming party came round a lot quicker than everyone anticipated. Before Jack even knew it, she was dressed up in another suit, her hair tamed slightly, held back in a ponytail, sat in a car with Hank as they were chauffeured to the Summit.
The building was no longer the chaotic mess it had been a few days ago, but a regal display of lights and tasteful decorations, with a sweeping banquet of finger food and enough champagne to fill an Olympic swimming pool.
Live music played from a small stage and all around people in their best suits were mingling, admiring the food and listening to the music with appreciative ears. Hank gave a slight grimace.
"I don't much enjoy these parties," he said to Jack, "You would think there would be plenty of interesting political conversation, but I find the champagne does the talking after a while and conversation gets a little empty, or aggressive."
"Downside of being the Secretary of Mutant Affairs," Jack said with a shrug.
"Downside of being a Mutant altogether, my dear, especially one so obvious," Hank said with a sigh, "Even people with the power and the money of a country behind them are still terrified of people like you and I. We are a threat to them."
"Any man with a gun is a threat to them," Jack said.
"A man does not even require a gun to be a threat," Hank said, "But we have become the scapegoat for every problem that humanity has faced. Gun violence, senseless murders, gang warfare – everything takes second place to the greatest distraction nature ever provided. The evolution of Mutantkind."
On arriving, Hank stepped out of the car at the main entrance. Jack stayed in the car and got out in the car park before walking round. It was better, Hank said, that they arrived separately. Judging by how quickly her friends in office 42b had decided she was a mutant and then an X-man, just from her association with him, Jack thought he was right.
Warren was also arriving separately with his Father. As she entered the building, Jack had a look around for him, but couldn't see any sign. Her friends were waving at her frantically, and she went over to them before they realised it wasn't them she had been looking for.
The President stood at the microphone on the stage used by the musicians and cleared his throat.
"Welcome, my dear friends, to the opening party for the World Summit, I trust you all find the drinks to your liking?"
There was a ripple of polite laughter through the crowd and the President continued.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming to what could potentially be the most important Summit in history. Never before have there been so many important, controversial and potentially society changing issues to discuss in one Summit, so please use this evening to forget about politics and just have a good time!"
Another ripple of laughter followed and a few 'Here, here!'s.
"So, I leave you to your champagne and buffet…"
"What about the X-men?" someone interrupted, "Will they be attending the party?"
"The X-men? Why there are five of them in the room right now!" the President said with a jovial smile, not at all perturbed by the interruption.
Cathy, Laure and David looked over to Jack for confirmation. She shook her head and held up three fingers. Despite their insistence that they weren't interested in the real person behind the X-man, they couldn't resist having a quick look round for the mystery third X-man who wasn't Jack or Dr. McCoy.
The President laughed, as everyone looked around.
"I'm only joking. Besides their representative, Dr. McCoy, the X-men will not be attending the party, though they will be present at the Summit, I'm sure they will be happy to answer your questions then. Now, as I was saying – I leave you to your champagne and buffet…"
Once the initial speech was over, Jack stood with her friends, drinking champagne and generally milling around, waiting to be called on. Cathy and David were amusing themselves by admiring the crowd.
"That guy over there is quite cute," Cathy said.
"Nice face but what is he wearing?" was David's reply.
Jack rolled her eyes at Laure, who grinned back, and turned to have a look at the other side of the room, trying to catch Hank's eye as he mingled with all the representatives.
"Now that guy has taste," David said from behind her.
Jack smiled, it was very rarely that David uttered those words.
"For once, David, I have to agree," Cathy said, "He is pretty hot."
"You two in agreement over a guy?" Laure said, "What is the world coming to!"
She turned round to take a look herself.
"Oh yeah, I saw him come in," Laure said, "Cute in a shy sort of way. He's Warren Worthington III, I believe."
Jack snorted with laughter before choking on her champagne in barely suppressed amusement.
"What's so funny Jack?" Cathy demanded as Laure patted her on the back to try and ease her choking.
"I've never heard you lot all agree about a guy before," Jack said.
"That's not funny," David said, "It just doesn't happen very often."
"Anyway, check this guy out, Jack," Cathy said, putting her hands on her shoulders and steering her round to face Warren.
"Well, it is a nice suit," she said, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
For someone who was so shy and self-conscious, Warren did seem to handle himself well in such high-class society. He knew when to laugh, when to speak, when to remain silent – one positive result of his upbringing. However, when he looked over to see Cathy holding Jack, who was trying desperately not to laugh, in his direction, all the upbringing in the world couldn't have told him what to make of it.
Jack noticed him looking with a slightly bemused expression and nudged Cathy.
"He's looking, why don't you wave?"
"What?" Cathy said, "No!"
"I will!" David said, waving merrily over at Warren.
Laure, mortified for her friends, grabbed him and dragged him away. Cathy followed, shaking with laughter, leaving Jack standing on her own. She shot Warren a mischievous wink before walking off after them.
"What is over there that could possibly be more interesting than the conversation we were just having?" Mr. Worthington asked his son. His voice was laced with sarcasm – it had been a horribly dull conversation.
"Just Jack being more crazy than usual," Warren replied, realising too late how it must have sounded.
"She's here?" Mr. Worthington had that knowing smile on his face again. Warren rolled his eyes in an uncharacteristic display of impatience.
"She works as an interpreter for the government," Warren said, "And yes, she's more interesting than that conversation, but that's not exactly hard…"
"Well, why don't you invite her over – I should like to meet her, particularly if she is more interesting than this lot," Mr. Worthington added in an undertone.
"I can't," Warren said, "How would I know an interpreter from New York? People would ask questions."
"I suppose," his Father said, "Pity…"
"She wanted me to tell you 'thank you' by the way," Warren said.
"That little gadget was of use to her then?"
"Her exact words were 'I don't know how I'm ever going to thank your Dad enough for this', I think she liked it," Warren said with a smile.
"You know, I'm in the area until the Summit – why don't you invite her out to dinner one evening?" Mr. Worthington suggested.
"And why would you want me to do that?" Warren asked.
"I'd like to meet her," his Father replied, "and besides, what am I going to do with myself all on my own in New York? It will be nice to have something to keep me occupied for an evening. If she wants to thank me, she can do so by keeping me company – I'd really appreciate it."
"Dinner?" Warren asked.
"Yes, dinner. My hotel has a nice restaurant," Mr. Worthington said, "I'll book a table for three, tomorrow at seven."
It wasn't even a question, and Warren knew it. It was the determined businessman in his Father emerging. When he had his mind set on something he got it.
"I'm not really the person you should be asking, I'm not in charge of the school," Warren said, not really sure why he was trying to avoid the meal. Dinner out with Jack would be entertaining in the very least. She was good company.
"She's nineteen, I'm sure the girl can come out for a meal," his Father said, "But if I must ask someone of higher authority, then perhaps it's time I engaged Doctor McCoy in a polite conversation, asking how he's been since I saw him last."
And with that Warren Worthington Senior wandered off to find the blue-furred Doctor, leaving Warren slightly bemused and on his own. He decided to wander over to the buffet table before some other guest could try to talk to him about the Mutant 'problem'.
Jack left her friends to go and grab some food. Partying was hungry work, especially when trying very hard not to laugh. She was just serving herself some bitesize pizzas (the theme for the buffet was dishes from around the world bitesize) when someone spoke behind her.
"Should I be worried?"
Jack grinned at the sound of Warren's voice in her ear.
"Probably," she said, turning to him, "My friends were just discussing how gorgeous you are…"
"Right…" Warren said, a little disbelieving, "By the way, my Father wanted to invite you out to dinner. I'm not sure why… He said that if you wanted to thank him you could do so by coming out for a meal."
"Are you invited?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Warren said, "Do you mind?"
"That you're invited or going out to dinner?" Jack asked with a grin, "Answer's no to both anyway."
Warren smiled, laughing a little.
"What happened to the no talking rule anyway?" Jack asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I'm not talking to you," Warren said, "I'm politely asking you to pass me that champagne bottle."
"Ah, I see," Jack said with a grin, "Well, here you are sir, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening."
She presented him with the champagne and walked back over to where her friends were stood gawping at her.
"What did he say to you?" Cathy asked.
"He asked why you lot were staring at him earlier, so I told him that David thought he was hot and wanted his phone number. He said that he thought David was pretty cute but had terrible dress sense," Jack said.
Cathy burst out laughing, but David, who hadn't quite clicked that she was winding him up looked down at his clothes with an indignant expression.
"Only joking you idiot!" Jack said, pushing him affectionately, "He said 'Would you pass me the Champagne please?' that's all."
"Took a long time to say it," David said suspiciously.
Hank looked from Mr. Worthington over to where Warren and back again. The younger Worthington had clearly been unable to keep from talking to Jack, despite what he had said earlier about not talking to her in case people questioned it, which made Hank grin with amusement.
"Oh I think it's an excellent idea," he said, "I assure you, there will be no trouble in Jack leaving the mansion for an evening meal. You may have a little trouble getting her to dress up for it, but I will set Kitty and Rogue on that."
"I'm glad I have your support," Mr. Worthington said, "Thank you for your time."
"Not at all, good sir," Hank said, "I haven't had so much fun interfering in other people's business in a long time," he added in a low voice with a wide grin.
"In that case, I'm glad we understand one another, Doctor McCoy," Mr. Worthington said, a hint of a sly smile crossing his lips.
The President smiled as he watched Hank's young friend translating for the Xhosa speaking representative. It was hard to believe that she had not even heard of the language a week ago.
"You know some remarkable people, Henry," he said, turning to the Secretary.
"It is my favourite thing about my job," Hank said with a smile, "Both of them," he added.
"I hold so much admiration for people such as yourself and your young friend," the President said, "Who can stand here amongst people who would see you eradicated from existence, smiling graciously all the while."
"I am merely well practised, as is Warren, Miss Starbright, however, is simply not one to let other people get her down. Of all the remarkable people I know, I am beginning to consider her one of the most so."
"Which presents me with a problem, as her employer. For what is the rate of pay for a person of such remarkability?"
"Mr. President, I fear that champagne is getting to you – 'remarkability' is not even a word!" Hank said with a grin, "However, I understand your meaning. I should think enough for an evening dress, a new pair of shoes and some jewellery should suffice."
"Does our Miss Starbright have somewhere to be?"
"Yes, a dinner date," Hank said, "With the Worthingtons, in fact, tomorrow night."
"Then I shall have to pay her tonight before she leaves," the President said, "I've been looking for an opportunity to thank her. I find myself somewhat accosted every time I try to cross the room at the moment."
"Try growing blue fur and claws – it's a nightmare on the furniture but it does do a wonderful job of clearing a path through a room for you," Hank said with a grin.
Jack tiredly wandered back to office 42b with her friends to pick up a jacket she had left there at the beginning of the evening. She collapsed into her chair and put her feet up on the desk, complaining that she hadn't stood up for such a long time ever.
"Stop whinging," Cathy said.
"I'm not whinging, I'm complaining," Jack retorted, removing her shoes to nurse her sore feet.
"Same difference!" David said with a laugh.
They were interrupted by the door opening. All of them looked on in surprise as the President walked through.
"Miss Starbright," the President addressed Jack directly. She stood up as her colleagues watched in shock, "I'm not normally in the habit of paying my employees in advance, but I've heard that you are going on a dinner date with the Worthingtons tomorrow, and will be in need of a new dress."
He smiled at her, his eyes shining in a happy, amused sort of way as he handed her an envelope filled with notes.
"Thank you for your help, you've saved me a lot of trouble," he said.
"No problem," Jack said, tucking her wages inside her jacket.
The President smiled then bowed his head slightly and left the room.
"You know the President?" Laure asked.
"You've got a dinner date with the Worthingtons?" David asked, incredibly excited.
"Wait, you know the Worthingtons?" Cathy said.
"I'm going to have to buy a dress?" Jack said with horror.
Her friends all laughed.
"You could have mentioned that before when we were busy making idiots out of ourselves!" Cathy said, pushing Jack jokingly.
"It was more funny not to," Jack said with a shrug.
"That explains why you were choking on your drink at least," Laure said with a grin.
"It's so not fair," David said, "Not only could you take all our jobs in a few weeks, but you also know the Worthingtons!"
"What's so great about that?" Jack said, "And I only know Warren, I've never met his Dad before."
"Huh, she calls him Warren like that's normal," Cathy said with an envious groan.
"You sound like Kitty," Jack muttered under her breath.
"You better buy a gorgeous dress, darling," David said, "Live the dream for all of us."
"You dream of wearing a dress?" Jack asked, making Cathy and Laure laugh.
"So how do you know the Worthingtons?" Laure asked.
"More importantly, how come you're going to dinner with them?" Cathy butted in.
"Because I wanted to thank Mr. Worthington for something, so he invited me to dinner," Jack explained, "I'm not really sure how that works, but I'm not complaining."
"What do you want to thank him for?" Laure asked.
"Never mind that, how do you know them?" David interrupted.
"I asked that before!" Laure said, rolling her eyes.
"Like I said, I don't know Mr. Worthington, only Warren," Jack said, "I told you earlier there were three X-men at the party. He's Angel."
"No way!" David said, "That guy has got altogether too much going for him. Rich, cute and totally sexy in leather."
"Ew, David! Keep your gross thoughts to yourself please!" Laure said as Cathy laughed.
"I bet he's sensitive and caring too…" David continued.
"Yeah well, he's also far too observant for his own good," Jack thought about this for a moment, then decided she was being too polite, "Actually, I'm just going to say nosey."
"So you're not interested?" Cathy asked with surprise.
"In what?" Jack asked.
"Well, duh," David said, "The totally hot guy you are going to dinner with tomorrow."
"I know I would be," Laure said, in a rare contribution to the conversations Cathy and David had about men.
"Right now the only thing I'm interested in is a nice relaxing bath and a long sleep," Jack said, picking up her shoes and putting them on, "So I'm off to find my ride home. I'll see you lot later!"
"With all the details of your night out?" David asked with an almost pleading look.
"Yes David," Jack said, "I'll be sure to tell you exactly what I had for starter, main course and desert!"
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