[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240705/77e4a5d8b0c63705032535a944443b1c.png[/img][/center] [hr] [color=00a99d]"...And they're all standing in the diner pointing guns at each other, and Samuel L Jackson is like '[i]Ezekiel 25:17 - The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequalities of the selfish[/i]' and does a badass monologue for the next, like, 2 minutes of screen time. Not sure how godly you guys are, but that is NOT what Ezekiel 25:17 says, I think it works into my theory on the Tarantino-verse, but you can read about that on my blog. Anyways, Tim Roth- WAIT! I completely forgot about the Travolta Toilet theory! So, like, every time Travolta uses the bathroom-"[/color] One of the guests, a bald portly man who looked to be in a suit a few sizes to small, had his faces buriend in his hands up to this point. He had finally given up, throwing his hands up in surrender and growling as he cut off Rupa's nearly 10 minute plot summary of Pulp Fiction. "I give up! Okay!? I let you talk cause I thought you might be some billionaire's brat, just like how my deadbeat son is working in the kitchen, but I can't handle this anymore! I'll pay you $50 to fuck off! Please, leave us the hell alone!" He extended a crisp $50 bill as the other guests near him either looked at him in shock at his outburst, or breathed sighs of relief that this annoying waitstaff would finally leave. Rupa herself didn't mind too much, grabbing the bill and beaming with pride as she walked away from the irritated party guests. [color=00a99d]"Wow... my first tip... I can't believe I'm so good at being a waitress! I'm like Keri Russell!"[/color] Rupa took a look around the ballroom, noticing that it had filled in quite a bit in the brief time that she had been here. She passed a few more guests and passed out food (keeping her mouth shut this time around) before Peterson took to the stage and addressed the crowd. Rupa couldn't help but scowl a little at the man - he was responsible for a horrific website that review-bombed beautiful works of art. And he also probably funded villains that caused millions in damages to the city and killed people, that was bad too. [color=00a99d][i]'Fuck Cinepedia, I hate that website and your stupid face, Peterson!!!'[/i][/color] He didn't really act like any villain that Rupa was familiar with, though. He seemed quite jovial as he announced a ballroom dancing competition, the prize being shares in his company and a tour of his wine cellar. The latter of which being the obvious prize - for the heroes, it was a surefire way to bypass any guards or security systems in the basement, and would give access to areas that were incredibly hard to access otherwise. But more importantly for Rupa, it would let her throw out some quotes from Sideways or Bottle Shock. Peterson himself would apparently not be watching the dancing, leaving the judging of the composition to his beautiful and way-too-big-an-age-gap wife. As soon as he left the stage, the ballroom resumed it's loud chatter as groups paired off for the competition. Rupa, competitive enough that she desperately tried to win a houseplant in a scavenger hunt, was already looking for who to pick as a partner. The first person she noticed was another Hero, 'Wireframe'. She had been the first to talk to Rupa tonight, walking behind her and reassuring her near the start of her movie synopsis. It was thanks to her advice and reassurance that Rupa managed to hold out for the whole ten minute summary instead of the 2 minute rundown she had planned. Unfortunately, it seemed like she had paired off already with tall, older man dressed in a typical three piece suit and tie, his hair slicked back and gazing sharply at her. Dude kinda looked like an evil clone with that goatee, but Wireframe was all smiles and accepted graciously. Maybe they knew each other? He was probably cool. Rupa didn't manage to see Eva in the crowd, despite hearing her talking earlier over the communication channel they were using. She was either in a disguise, somewhere else in the manor, or Rupa was not very good at spotting people in a crowd. Maybe all of the above, to be honest. Could have been a good chance to apologize again for what happened a month ago, but that was probably better saved for after the mission anyways. She did manage to see Blast, one of the other heroes that had gone undercover, but he had already paired off with a woman in a black dress with wavy brown hair. She hadn't really talked much with him yet, and only knew that he was a pretty high-level speedster. Maybe he could run through the whole mansion at mach speeds like in X-Men Apocalypse and just gather everything incriminating? Or at least do the kitchen scene from Days of Future Past, that'd be sick. There were a few actors and actresses that Rupa recognized, though she didn't even consider asking them. She'd probably sputter and barely be able to talk, or recite their entire filmography to them until they walk away or call guards on her. Maybe she'd ask for an autograph later though... Maybe Ava Peterson? That would be cool. Probably the worst possible idea, to be honest, if you're trying to keep a low profile as a spy. Actually, thinking about it, Rupa probably wasn't even able to enter the dancing competition in the first place - she was waitstaff, not a guest. That took a bit of wind out of sails, and she turned to return to the kitchen and get more sandwiches, nearly slamming into- [color=00a99d]"M-Mr. Peterson!?"[/color] The business mogul had stopped on his way out of the ballroom, addressing Rupa directly and freezing the girl in her tracks. It's amazing how much charisma a rich and powerful person has if they talk to you directly. In addition to complimenting her taste in cinema (a very rare comment, usually people just told her to shut up) and saying that she was incredibly talented, he even offered her a job at Cinepedia! [color=00a99d]"C-cinepedia!? T-that's a dream come true!!! Also, do you have Bruce Willis' phone number?"[/color] To think, a genius like Samuel Peterson thought that Rupa was qualified to review for a bastion of good taste and critical thinking like Cinepedia... Well, it made sense, to be honest. She knew more about movies than almost anyone she's ever met, so it would only make sense that someone this perceptive would notice and see how important her opinion was! This guy was probably completely innocent, and HERO was just harassing him for making a few bad investments. Hindsight is 20/20, after all. Of course, Rupa wouldn't actually get this job considering she was an undercover spy trying to expose him for horrific crimes, but she didn't really think that far ahead yet. As soon as Peterson left, Rupa immediately jogged back to kitchen to grab a new tray of Mini Royales with Cheese. Thankfully, Chef Cazenave was yelling at the Patissier for fucking up the plating of a strange looking slice of cake. Rupa was able to drop off the nearly empty tray and exchange it for the new one without notice, and left the kitchen as quickly and silently as she could. She touched her earpiece and spoke in a hushed whisper to the other heroes, barely understandable as she tripped over her words in the excitement. [i][color=00a99d]"Guysguysguys, I'm the greatest spy to ever do it!!! Peterson walked up to me and basically said I'm the best movie critic he's ever seen! He said he has a great eye for talent, and then he invited me to his study, OH and he said he'd offer me a job! Also Eva, if you're competing and you win, please see if you can get a 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. It was in Bottle Shock."[/color][/i] Rupa gleefully made her way upstairs and to the study, pleased that she had managed to stumble into Peterson's good graces seemingly by pure chance. It didn't really cross her mind how it was a little creepy that this old multi-millionaire was trying to invite a young woman, alone, to his private study. Or that there was probably a reason (probably supervillain-related) he was skipping on judging an annual contest in his hyper expensive party.