Into the city!

Dan got in his car and drove off to the city. The whole way up to the city he was thinking which kind of woman would be the best new asset to his machine and where he would be able to score her. When crossing the city limits, his thoughts turned to the bigger question: did the machine actually work all the way up to the city? What would be the biggest hints the machine's reach was this far already. They'd probably be well hidden, as reaction to the wave would be slim in public as long as people didn't actively know about the effects. Also the effects were probably still powered to a minimum.

Dan parked his car near the main commercial areas and decided to take a walk through the city center and keep his eyes and ears peeled. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then he walked past a man and a woman standing in front of a lingerie shop when he heard the man half shouted "You will wear that? Really? You hate wearing it.", to which the woman answered "I...I know. Mama and papa were always so against it because it's the clothing of the devil, so I can't wear it. But you want me to wear it, so I'd be happy to, honey.". Dan listened in on the conversation until the pair walked into the shop, thinking "Ok, could be. But maybe a honest change of heart." and started walking further down the street.

Then he heard a man yell to a woman standing next to a pair of children, holding quite a lot of bags and looking very guilty and confused "Stop buying all that stuff! What has gotten into you? You know you spoil them too much this way, right?". The women stammered "But...but….they said they really needed it!" and the man shook his head, replying "Ofcourse, that is what children always say. 'Ma~m, I want that toy car! Plea~se, mam, I need it'.". Then the woman directly started to walk towards the shop again. "Wait, where are you going now?" the man yelled. The woman looked back, even more confused "You said you wanted the toy car, so I…". The man first wanted the yell at her some more, but saw the desperation in her eyes, instead sighed and asked concerned and with a much softer tone "Sweetheart, are you ok? This isn't you. Come, let's just get you home and get you to rest a little.".

The woman stammered softly "If you say so, dear" and followed her man down the street in the opposite direction Dan had been traveling. "That looks more like it." Dan smiled to himself. "Still want to get a few more samples before I am satisfied it works, though." he thought, right before he heard a familiar voice calling out to him. "Well, if it isn't Dan DeMorangi! Also doing some shopping?" a man's voice said behind him.

Dan turned around and saw his old friend Gavin walking up to him. "Hey, Gav, long time no see, mate. What's it been, 8 years?" Dan greeted his friend back. Gavin laughed and confirmed "At least, if not longer. How have you been doing, my old friend?". Dan smiled, happy to meet his dear friend again and said "Quite well, to be honest. You?" to which Gavin smiled widely and said "Good that you asked, mate, because I'd love to introduce to you my wife Deidre…" holding his hand out to this beautiful woman with long, wavy red hair behind him, who walked up to them and grabbed Gavin's hand "...and my daughters Julia and Daphne." who followed in their mother's footsteps.

"Nice to meet you. " Deidre said with a heavy Irish accent to Dan as she shook his hand. "Likewise." Dan replied, looking at her in awe and instantly reviewing her for a position on his machine. But first, he wanted to check out the goods. "I met her on my trip through Europe which I think I talked about the last time we went to the bar." Gavin told Dan. Dan nodded, still checking his wife out. His eyes glanced over their daughters and Dan thought "Damn, not only does she look beautiful and cute, she produced some good looking children too. I think we have a winner.".

Deidre then asked Gavin "Gav, the children are getting tired and I wanna go home too. Why don't we ask Dan to come with us so you guys can catch up?", then turning to Dan "Provided you would like to come with us, of course.". Dan saw that as a great opportunity to get close and personal with this potential candidate for his project, but wanted to know one essential thing before agreeing: "Where do you live?". Deidre answered "Five blocks down the road." and Dan happily agreed, asking the address so he could get his car and drive there. "Gotta be able to make a quick escape with the prize, if necessary." Dan said to himself. Then they told each other "Till in a bit." and went their separate ways.