Monique made her way out of the pool by way of the ladder; immediately taking first the robe and then the towel offered by the uniformed young man. Half hiding the purple bikini that she had made to match the peculiar crystals in her skin. Just because crazy people were after them didn't mean she could stop traveling for work. More than that it couldn't stop her from taking business calls. "No. No ice sculptures at the party for the fall collection. Why? Because I think they look stupid. Think of something else."

DJ hoisted himself up out of the pool towards the middle. It was easy to leverage himself out and he strode towards the chairs they'd claimed to retrieve his own towel. His own black trunks had purple stripes that matched her bikini, her design as well. He frowned as he saw the way the attendant eyed his wife, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

"Paint some of the models as ice sculptures if it means that much to you." Monique had just sad it off hand, but the idea started to grow on her. "Yes. Lets do that instead. We'll dress them up. It will be perfect. You work on that. I have to go." Monique smiled and put the phone back on the tray. The petite woman walked over to her husband. "Do you know someone made an offer on the company again? Even after I said no the first time"

DJ loops his towel over his neck and takes his little wife in his arms. He smiles, thinking how cute she is with no heels on. He knows she hates being in public like that, but he finds her shortness adorable. "Well, some folks just don't listen. They decide they want somethin' and they keep goin' after it no matter what." He bends down, giving her a firm, lingering kiss before hugging her against his chest.

"Lucky for you that some folks don't listen. I chased your fool behind all over creation before I caught you." She was complaining, but not enough to pull out of her husband's embrace. Monique pulled away to stretch on a chair when suddenly there were screams. Someone or something had started flinging their fellow poolside guests violently up into the air. They all went up at once and Monique had to scramble to "catch" them. Once she had been distracted that was when a familiar figure came hurtling toward DJ on all fours. Harm was still collared and his eyes vacant, but that wouldn't keep him from causing trouble. He threw chairs and tables out of his way to get to his target.

Before DJ could answer the ruckus started. He was immediately angry, after all, he didn't get a chance to enjoy watching Monique stretch out and sun herself often enough. Whoever was causing the problems would pay for his frustration. "These guys again?" he growls, his frustration only rising. As the big man charged in, DJ tensed and, at the last moment, leaped, planting his hands on the back of the other Ascendant's shoulders and using him as a platform to somersault over. He lands neatly and turns, ready to face Harm again should the man manage to turn quickly.

Monique didn't even get to enjoy her husband being impressively athletic. Now that was going to put her in a bad mood. 'These guys' seemed to be very smart in once sense. They knew to split the young woman's attention in a lot of places at once. It felt like for every person she got down another got in the air. It would help if you ran away. She yelled into their minds to motivate them. DJ would have to be on his own with Harm at the moment. The feral looking ascendant turned at a skittering angle; making it take time to get him ready for another pass. The talons on his hands dug furrows into the stone beneath their feat. He leaped at his opponent again.

DJ took a moment to scan his surroundings and look for Harm's sidekicks. He doubted if the guy was smart enough to do this by himself and he knew that he wasn't capable of tossing people in the air without touching them. "Let's see if you can swim, jackhole," he growls at the man as he charges again. He grabs one of the arms reaching for him, twisting and using his strength and his weight to lift Harm off his feet and toss him towards the pool.

Monique was surprised as she was suddenly jerked forward. She didn't even get to properly shriek when one kick after another landed against her stomach. She dropped to her knees as Duo and her ever present twin stood there and smirked. "Not so fun is it when you're on the receiving end. Harm went flying into the pool, but he was quick to try and get out. Next, what might feel like an invisible wall, was slamming him back toward the pool.

DJ shouldn't play with these guys. They always take it too far. He hears Monique's muffled cry and spins just in time to see Duo before he's being pushed back. With a growl, he turns, running ahead of that invisible wall. With a running start, he leaps, sailing over the water to land on the other side. He grabs a deck chair and flings it up, hoping to go over the invisible shield and land square on one of the Duo's head.

The two were ready to get another kick in, but the chair hit one of them. The blow sending the actual woman sprawling back onto the ground. The "twin" kick sent Monique sprawling, but then duplicate just stood there staring. It seemed "she" did not have too much independent thought. Harm had been moving to get out of the pool, but now he turned to get closer to DJ. That seemed to be the only thing in the clawed ascendant's mind. He clambered out of the pool to attack again.

DJ is really, really angry when he sees that kick connect. He flings another chair at Harm to distract him, then slips under the man's attack. He crouches down, almost in a ball and then puts every muscle in his body behind an uppercut as he straightens up and hurls his fist towards Harm as hard as he can.

Do you know how difficult he will be to replace if you break him? The words would play out into DJ's mind. He would know the voice; younger sounding now than the very first time they met. The voice seemed actually unconcerned as Harm went flying backwards into the pool again. It would be a more interesting fight if I removed the collar, but he doesn't know how to behave. Would you care for a momentary cease fire? Monique had managed to push herself up again; though now she was wiping blood from the corner of her mouth.

"I oughta drown his ass," DJ says, moving towards the pool to jump in and do just that. He pauses though and looks around for the owner of the voice talking in his brain. It takes only one glance at Monique for him to make up his mind. "Sure. Let's palaver before I make all your little minions organ donors the hard way," he says, strolling around the pool toward his wife.

"I hope I can cover up these bruises with make up." Monique tried to stand up but it hurt entirely too much. So she just dropped back down onto the ground. Now that didn't feel so great either. The voice inside DJ's head didn't seemed to pleased about the state of the young woman either. No reason to damage the merchandise after all. I will have to speak to them about being too exuberant. Still I must commend you on looking in fine form today. You have just what I need.

DJ comes to her side and kneels next to her. He rests a hand gently on her back to sooth her as much as he can before looking around. "Yeah, put 'em in time out or somethin'. You really gotta hire a better class of lowlifes. Why don't you come on out I'll give you just what you deserve?"

"Give 'em what Ah think they deserve too." Monique had to lean heavily on her husband. She would be throwing things around, but she ached so much and it would serve little purpose. Okay she threw a few chairs to make herself feel better. Tempting offer. Tempting offer, but I think we should speak first. All of this trouble could stop if you simply give me what I want. We wouldn't need to chase you around the globe.

DJ smiled as the chairs went flying. If she was capable of doing that, she wasn't seriously hurt. And he didn't mind her leaning on him, either. In fact, it comforted him as much as it did her. Being in such close contact soothed him. "So speak. I'm tired of messin' with you bohunks. Just tell me what you want so I can tell you whether you can go to Hell or not."

Yes. You are a man that likes to get to the point. Well then we will get to it. What I want is you. Your ascendancy perhaps is the better term. The healing of your body is quite remarkable and quite useful. Monique didn't appreciate being out of the loop. DJ was clearly talking to someone she couldn't hear. "I don't know if I'm more mad I can't hear or that I'm too bruised up to ravish you. What are they saying?"

"I know which one I'm more mad about," he says with a grin for her as he gives her a squeeze. "Some crap about needin' my Ascendancy," he explains before looking around again. "Aight, so now I know what you want, how do you plan on gettin' it? Besides harrassin' me and my wife like we owe you money, I mean.

"Not so tight. I said I was bruised up." It was the way between them. They could banter endlessly no matter the situation. Monique bit his shoulder to scold him. "They have their own. What do they need yours for?" The man attached to the voice thought that he would like this life very much. He could settle into it quite comfortably. Now this is the difficult part, but one I think is best for your lovely wife. It's just much simpler if I simply take your body."

"Sorry," he says. "It's hard not to squeeze you." He shrugs. "I dunno, some folks're just greedy." He starts to laugh as the voice finishes. "Oh man...that's a good one. He wants my body," DJ says to Monique. "And not in the good, fun way you do, but in the 'I'm a decrepit old man and I need a replacement' way."

"Is that it? I was gonna be mad if it was in the good, fun way. Well actually....is he good looking? It might be okay then if I can watch." Monique started to laugh, but it was stifled by a sharp pain shooting up her side.

"It would make her life much easier if you just acquiesced. I admire her spirit, but I doubt she's as hardy as you." The threat was subtle and politely toned, but there nonethless.