The Rules of Inheritance

His fingers were in grasping range of the apple and as he was going to satisfy both the curiosity of his brain and stomach a hand slapped at his. It was unexpected, and as a result it made him react almost too fast to control. The muscles in Rohdey's chest, back, and shoulders tensed with anger, his teeth were bared and his eyes became intense as they followed the hand quickly up the arm to the person who it belonged to.

It was her, she had a look in her eye he had seen before but it was soon gone as she looked around briefly at everyone and her voice changed. Sharing it...she seemed to have a hard time with the concept but she did have a point. He looked around at his cousins, his heart racing from the sudden anger and his breathing slightly elevated. Rohdey, feeling embarrassed and casting a look at Samara before sitting back down in his chair, letting out a breath to help him calm down. "I'll just have a little piece, you guys can have the rest" he tried hiding the shame he felt at almost totally losing his cool, it having caused him to lose his appetite at least partially....for the apple. Subdued Rohdey picked up a chicken leg and started munching on it in a methodical manner so as not to get grease all over his fingers.
 
James's guitar now leaned against the back of his chair as he bit into his steak, savoring how evenly it was cooked- it was pure lean meat, the fat cut away nicely and the steak itself slightly pink in the middle, just the way he liked it.
He watched the small skirmish over the golden apple, not really caring about it; he had eaten a bit before, the last time he stayed here, about six months ago. He didn't like how good it tasted. It reminded him things are never what they seemed. Ever. Life was like the cover of a book, unknown how it starts or ends until you start it yourself, the moment you're born, with impossible illusions, twists, turns and cliffhangers along the way to the end of the book, which wouldn't end in a predicted, coldly calculated way. What happened happened, and no one can predict the future. He leaned back in his chair, the steak only half-finished in front of him. He was no longer hungry, and he picked up his guitar and played it again, choosing the blues this time around. The song he played his father had loved dearly, especially when James sang it and played guitar for him. He was told his style of blues was the same as the man who originally sang it, but that it was different, modern. Maybe he could calm down everyone if he sang it now. It always seemed to work when he was babysitting or in the park. So he sang it softly at first, his voice growing with every lyric until it was at speaking volume.

"You ever want something /That you know you shouldn't have/ The more you know you shouldn't have it/The more you want it/And then one day/You get it..."
 
Samara sighed, glancing at James. She gave him an annoyed look.

Of course, it wasn't that she was mad at him, but his lyrics had a point after all- she had not really behaved out of her best interest for the others, but for herself. She wasn't going to see this easily, no. All she saw was that her cousin was joking about her...

...and that he played the guitar better than she did.

Samara's blood boiled, but she calmed down.

''Very funny, James, hah-hah,'' she replied, scornfully, as she cleaned her hands and lips with a napkin. She left the napkin on the table, and walked away.

''Tell me how the apple tastes afterwards,'' she said, as she left for her room.
 
[DASH=Turquoise]In the end, when none had taken the bait of the apple, there was a hushed meeting. Susan George held the others in check, reminding them that the cousins hadn't exactly failed, merely found their own solution. But another problem, a hidden provision of the will that had not made it to video, had only been revised, had been discovered, and they drew Jacques aside, informing him and his mother that the young man would be sent on a separate task from the others. For the boy whose strengths rested in teamwork, this solo mission would be ever so much more difficult. The other teens were informed that they would be continuing without their cousin, but that since it was their uncle's desire that this be so, they would not be penalized.[/DASH]
 
[DASH=turquoise]
Chapter One: The Embassy Ball

The teens found themselves leaving the beautiful house. As they said farewell to parents and boarded the luxurious shuttle, they were inoculated and given a medical check up before boarding an even more luxurious ship. The ship was more yacht than anything else, just as extravagant and indulgent as the house had been. The four cousins were shown to their rooms. As the doors to each room snicked shut, a recorded voice came over their rooms' comm systems. The voice sounded sweet, young, and gentle, but professional and clear.

"It is time for each of you to learn the nature of your first mission. You are to attend an embassy ball on the planet Phosphorus tomorrow evening. You are to be on your best behavior and refrain from causing an incident. However, while there, you are to see to it that the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy does not go to its intended recipient, one Maxwell Admetus. It must go to someone else, and someone deserving of an award, at that. You are to see to it that this happens, one way or another. Clothing for the event will be provided. Good luck.

"Oh, and just one caveat. We couldn't find any tickets for the ball itself. It is up to you to find your own way in. Remember, work together!" With that, the recording cut off. With only a few hours in transit and a mere day until the mentioned ball, the teens had little time to cook up a scheme to not only get them in, but to get the award to someone other than Philanthropist Maxwell Admetus.


[/DASH]
 
"..."
James leaned his elbows against the railing of the yacht, deep in thought as he tried to figure out exactly how they were to get to that ball. Many ludicrous ideas popped into his head and he dismissed them, mentally filing them away. He assumed others were thinking similarly. And how would they get that award to someone else? He rubbed his eyebrow. This intrigued and frustrated him greatly. Maybe they could create some kind of distraction and slip in unnoticed...? His eyes brightened slightly. He had a guitar, and a portable amp... He smiled and went to get the others to tell of his idea.

Once he had gathered everyone, he began to speak.
"Maybe this isn't the best of ideas, but it's what I've got." He took a quick breath.
"We can create a distraction so most of us can get in. I'll be playing guitar and distracting the public, so they'll try to get me-I'll be masked-and while they're doing that, you all can sneak in and let me in later. Does that sound okay?"
He looked around at his cousins, waiting for feedback.
 
This yacht was crazy, it was like a floating mansion or whatever. Rohdey was still marveling at the yacht and almost missed what James had to say. Yeah the ball thing, right. "And if that doesn't work I could probably find an open window and unlock a backdoor or something." Rohdey's expression became thoughtful and then concerned "Okay so getting in is the easy part, probably, but how do we get the award to some one else? Can we fix the votes or something?" After another minute of thought something occurred to him "Aw man we're going to have to dress up aren't we?" The thought of sweaty, itchy, uncomfortable, itchy, constricting fancy clothes impeding his movements and comfort was of utmost dismay. "Ugh" he rubbed his face with pre-irritation "So, like, what do we know about this place anyway?"