xp_logs | A Challenging Invitation

Julian's father, William Keller, comes to visit with an interesting offer.

Not sure why he was being summoned to the sitting room off of the entrance hall for, Julian wasn't about to let it ruin his good mood. It was Friday, the sun was shining and everyone seemed to be in harmony with one another again- which was rare at the mansion. Of course there was the news that there had been an accident with some of the mansion's staff from Canada had departed for some family crisis, but even that wasn't enough to dim the beaming smile on his face. In fact, the only thing that could possibly diminish his day was...

He stopped in mid-step as he crossed into the sitting room. The smile immediately fell off his face as he saw the familiar form of his father standing by one of the windows, seemingly unaware of his presence. Suddenly, he wished that he'd been told who was waiting for him so he could have dressed more appropriately or at least changed the graying bandages on his right hand.

The grounds were first rate. You could almost fool yourself into this being just a boarding school. It was a step above, or a step below depending on how he was feeling, military school. And was better than bad publicity or press. William Keller didn't believe in the old adage that there was no such thing as bad press.

Press, image, will... All of these could make or break a man and his company.

"Julian," he said, his voice cool, but not cold. "It's refreshing to see there isn't another jet parked out front."

The younger Keller shrank visibly and looked down at the floor. His father hadn't always had this effect at him, but since he'd manifested powers, Julian had felt the need to prove himself. "Hello, father," was all he managed to say as he slowly approached his dad. Why was he here?!

"Sir," William returned. He wasn't in the mood to be called 'father' today. "How is this... place suiting you?"

Unsure if his father wanted to hear how awful this place was or if he was just genuinely curious, he decided to play things safe. "Sorry, sir. Things are..." he racked his brain for a good adjective, "acceptable. The classes are harder than they were back home and there aren't any athletics." It was mostly true.

"Good," William nodded at the last, "It will prevent you from being publicly unscrupulous while putting something in that head of yours."

Julian flushed slightly, repressing the urge to toss his father through the window and stood his ground, "I hadn't expected to see you until after graduation, sir." He looked up, "I got your letter at the start of the year."

"Yet you dipped into the wallet heavily again. Apple blossoms to some war torn hell hole?" he asked, and then continued, "And after graduation exactly what do you expect to do? Attend college with your... problem?"

"Actually, sir," there was a slight edge of venom to his voice, "I've been getting some practice with my pow...I mean, my problem and things have been getting better. As for the apple blossoms, one of my friends was blown up by a land mine. I made sure that all the other flowers that were delivered were from Keller Industries, thought it would be some good press for the company."

“You thought?” he asked and then let it slide. There were worse sorts of things the boy could be doing, so he supposed he should count himself lucky. He pulled a long cigarillo out of an inside pocket of his jacket and lit it, “But forget that. I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”

"It had crossed my mind," he said, inhaling the rich smell of smoke filling the air.
"We've been talking, hypothetically, of having you and perhaps your 'friends'," the word seemed to have been chosen carefully, "home for a week. Of course, you don't get something without some effort and for this to be possible at all, I expect some self control out of you."

The words didn't make sense, this was not something his father would say. "I..." Julian's jaw dropped open slightly, could this really be true. "I've had self control, sir...what do you mean?"

"You have a spending limit, if you can stay under that then you'll be able to go to our house in Malibu. If you can't, you stay here. This was your mother's idea, not mine," he said firmly.

Of course it was- mom had always been the voice of reason. Still, the house in Malibu, home, some time with his family and a chance to show them how much he'd progressed, it was a chance he couldn't pass up. "What's my spending limit, sir?"

"Five hundred dollars," William Keller said coldly, "And before you complain, I used to make through a month on less than two." He obviously didn't think his son had any chance of staying under the limit. Both of his sons were lucky - even spoiled - in that way. That a limit under a thousand might very well be asking them to live on pennies.

It was indeed a bit of a shock, but Julian wasn't about to give his father another chance to be disappointed in him. "Alright," he said simply, leaving it at that. "Will you be staying at the mansion for the night or-"

“I’ll be leaving as soon as we’re finished,” he said briskly, “I had business in New York,” which was why he was even here in person at all, as opposed to a phone call. That and perhaps a visit in person would drive the point home the way a letter or a phone call could not.

Slightly disappointed, Julian nodded and slowly turned back the way he'd come in- a fluster of emotions boiling over in his chest and head. Of course his father hadn't come to see him specifically, he was in the area on business; and this was just a business meeting. It was also obvious that his father expected him to fail at this task...that made Julian smile as he headed down the hallway, back toward the pool. He would show his father exactly how frugal he could be, after all it was only a couple weeks.