"I'm bringing the party to you."
"I’m bringing the party to you."
"What? No! Don’t-"
There was a click on the other end of the line. Trix huffed in annoyance and hung up the phone. Under normal circumstances, for her, a party usually involved monsters, explosions, invaders, or any combination of the three. In one particularly horrifying instance it had even involved clowns. She didn’t know much about Claude, but she had the uneasy feeling that when he said “party” he meant it.
"I’d rather deal with monsters," she muttered.
There was a knock at the door. Before she had a chance to call out a warning the door opened to reveal a fabulously dressed AI trailing balloons and an armful of shimmery material.
"Why, Trix! I’m so glad I caught you at home!" He beamed at her.
"Actually I was just heading out on pat-"
"Nonsense!" He swept forward, catching her arm before she could escape. "We can’t let the party girl leave before all the excitement starts!"
His grip was light, but unbreakable. Trix tried anyway. “You can have the party without me!”
People were already pouring into her quarters. Some she recognized, a few were unknown. Decorations were going up, music was playing from a source she couldn’t identify, and there was even some food, although a number of the intruders guests were androids.
Claude pulled her into her bedroom to "get dressed". Afterward she was never entirely sure how he managed to get her into the dress, but soon she was standing before a mirror staring at her reflection.
It… wasn’t bad. No lace or ruffles. It was a little on the sparkly side, but there also wasn’t an awful lot to it. Under better circumstances- and if she’d had a few drinks- it might even have been something she’d pick out for herself.
"I do incredible work, don’t I?" Claude smiled.
"It’s… okay." She was reluctant to say more. Wary.
“Okay?! It’s more than ‘okay’ it’s- yes, well, we do still have to work on the rest of it, don’t we?”
Had she known what was coming next she would have fled the room. Hair was styled and makeup applied. She almost knifed him over the eyeliner.
"Don’t be such a baby!" He swatted her hand. "Now we really must do something about that ratty eyepatch of yours. Luckily, I have just the thing for you."
"Absolutely not! I don’t need-"
Android reflexes were faster than her own. By the time she finished telling him no she was already sporting a softer, more comfortable patch that matched her dress.
"Now, let’s get out there and wow your audience!"
"I'm fine right here. If you could just send in-"
She was pushed out the door and handed a drink, which she immediately gulped down. Claude insisted on introducing her to everyone, even the people she already knew. It took her a while, but she managed to relax. Drinks helped. And dancing, some of it very much of the dirty variety. All was going well until she caught a flash of orange from the corner of her eye.
"Oh my god, they weren't kidding!" Marine stared at her, teeth bared in an unpleasant grin. "A monster in sparkly sheep's clothing? You look ridiculous!" She pointed and laughed.
Cheeks burning, Trix felt her rage well up to swamp her embarrassment. Her gaze flickered. The glass of high-octane moonshine she'd just been handed was flung on the still-laughing test subject, who ignored the drenching... until Trix snatched a candle off a nearby table and set her on fire. Ignoring the screams as Marine rolled on the floor she turned and almost bumped into Claude.
"Well," he said, "you certainly know how to liven things up, don't you?"
Trix grinned. "It's my party and I'll fry if I want to."
