Over the next couple of days, Jervis met each of the Fantastic Four members. Reed Richards, known as Mr. Fantastic, Susan's brother Johnny, the Human Torch, and Ben Grimm, called the Thing. Each of them were perfectly fine in revealing their powers and their real names to him, a stranger to this world. Jervis would have found the extended trust the height of foolishness till he learned that in this world that the Fantastic Four were not only Superheroes but also public celebrities and the event that gave them their powers had been so sudden and public that they couldn't choose to hide behind a mask. Instead of hiding themselves away, they had embraced the spotlight as much as they could, though at varying levels compared to how comfortable they were with their powers.

 

Johnny and Ben showed little interest in conversing with Jervis, especially when they learned that he didn't have a power of his own. Jervis didn't like being dismissed like that but he dare not reveal his capabilities so soon and this prevented him from trying to influence their apparent simple mindedness. Reed on the other hand, found anything Jervis said about his home dimension quite fascinating, the different names of towns and cities, that both worlds Atlantis had been found, the different aliens that had visited. Jervis didn't know much in these areas but he shared what he could, keeping to his cover that he was an ordinary individual if a little eccentric due to his interest in Lewis Carrol's Wonderland. Jervis and Reed spent so much time together that Jervis even had the opportunity to try and bring Reed under his control only for it to end in disappointing failure.

 

They had been talking about time and how sometimes it flowed faster in one dimension or the other. The Fantastic Four having made a few inter-dimensional trips where this had occurred. Jervis had taken out his pocket watch and begun to swing it through the air, trying to get Reed to focus on it, "Yes, time is a funny thing, how sometimes it can pass so slowly, and other times pass so quickly but a second is always a second so its really a state of mind."

 

Only for Reed to extend his arm and pull the watch from his hand, "Typically yes, but with inter-dimensional travel there actually is a difference for example..."

 

Jervis listened to that lecture for a good twenty minutes before Reed returned his watch and the majority of the information going completely over his head. If Jervis wanted to get Mr. Fantastic he would have to turn to stronger stuff. Thankfully, once Reed determined Jervis to have a clean bill of health, not likely to pass spread any viruses and decimate the population or burst into flames under their sun. Jervis had been surprised that those had even been possibilities but Reed had replied that it paid to be thorough in these situations. Jervis was given free reign to move about the Baxter Building while Reed continued to look for a way to make sure that Jervis would be returned to his proper dimension.

 

Jervis would have been quite bored during his time in the building except for the fact that Susan was being the perfect host. Each night Jervis would have her come to him as Alice. He would tell her to trust Jervis and do what he asked of her as both Alice and Susan. He needed parts but during the nightly visits any attempt to command Alice to scavenge parts from the lab or to undress for him, she showed that annoying resistance to him. He wanted to kiss her while she was in that state but her mind was only barely under his control and any attempt to touch her would wake her.

 

It was a conundrum, and Jervis wondered what he should do now that he had his freedom to move about the city, he should have a better opportunity to get the parts he needed to get a stronger hold on his Alice and bring her to the fore, not just Alice but the rest of the Fantastic Four as long as he was smart and methodical. Jervis was eating breakfast with three of the Four, Johnny was currently out having never returned from last night's party being held at Tony Stark's penthouse. Jervis decided that would plant the idea in Alice's head to take him around the city and then Susan would...

 

"Jervis, I was thinking, now that we know its safe for you to go out, how about I show you the city. No reason for you to be cooped up here till Reed figures this out."

 

Or she could just put forward the idea herself. That was fine too. Jervis did his best not to pout in front of the others, he didn't have to hypnotize everyone to get what he wanted for it to be satisfying, "Thank you Susan, will Ben be coming with us?"

 

The man shaped orange pile of rocks shrugged, "Nah, I don't really go out and see the sights. Too many people just staring at me. You and Sue just go out and have some fun."

 

Perfect. It wasn't long till Susan had changed into some civilian clothes, a button up white blouse and some blue jeans. A travesty for Alice to be wearing but Jervis was resolved to fix that during the day. As Jervis was given a tour of New York City, Susan took him to the Empire State Building, the lobby of Fisk Tower, the Avengers Building, and out to the Statue of Liberty. Jervis found the city quite interesting, a lot of the archetecture of some of the older sections of the city reminded him of Gotham while the layout of the city was far more similar to Metropolis as he knew it. Jervis was quite surprised when he learned just how many heroes called this city home and some of the things that Susan shared about what they could do, even if they didn't have a Superman, Jervis would have to be cautious in his control of the Fantastic Four lest another group of heroes show up to be a thorn in his side.

 

During the tour, despite her popularity, it was only on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty that someone recognized Susan Storm and asked for her autograph. When attempting to buy his own ticket on the ferry, Jervis also discovered that his money didn't match the local dimensions currency and Susan offered to buy anything that he wanted. Jervis thanked her and first they went to a used electronics store. Not familiar with the brands, Jervis drew some complaint from the store manager but he was weak willed enough, and the store empty except for them that Jervis used Susan's trigger and then had the man act like a statue. After identifying the components that he needed he did his best to hide the evidence of tampering from casual inspection and returned the two back to normal. The store owner was a little disgruntled but Susan was all smiles.

 

As they walked out Susan asked, "What do you plan on doing with that Mr. Tetch?"

 

Jervis explained, "I do like to tinker and since I need something to do in the Baxter Building, this should do nicely. Now how about we make one last stop before we head back, it is getting rather late and I'm not used to all this walking."

 

Susan nodded, "Of course, where do you want to go?"

 

Jervis smiled, "I was thinking some clothes shopping, I've been in the same outfit since I got here and really that's just not fashionable."

 

Susan agreed and they were heading to a high end clothing shop where Jervis could get some new suits ordered and tailored to him. Jervis concluded his business but he was not quite done. He asked Susan if she had a blue dress with a matching bow for her hair, like the one Alice wore in Wonderland but she said that she did not. He used Susan's trigger shortly after they walked out the door. It was dangerous as someone might jostle her.

 

"Alice, we must get you some clothes too, don't you like dresses. I could use some hats as well." Jervis told her.

 

Alice spoke dispassionately, "Of course we can get you some hats. I wear dresses, I like dresses."

 

Jarvis smiled, "Good Alice, then we will get you some dresses too. Can you walk with me and stay this peaceful? As we go to get those things, if someone is polite can you be polite back to them?"

 

"I can." Alice answered.

 

Jarvis let out a sigh of relief, this next step would have been far more difficult if he wanted to avoid questions from Susan. Jervis entered a hat shop and grabbed many different types, bowlers, top hats, caps, and more till his arms were nearly overflowing. He then directed Alice to pay the bill, only for Susan to stop, "Its a little much."

 

Jervis wanted to scream at the invisible woman but just forced on a smile for the benefit of the clerk as he ground out his words, "You said that I could get anything I wanted. Would it make you feel better if I put some of them back."

 

Susan nodded, and Jervis began to set nearly all of the hats he had grabbed until there was only six left and Susan nodded, and paid the man. Jervis was practically livid as the exited the shop and he led her into a near by alleyway. He wanted to slap her, push her to the ground, but she was a superhero and he was barely holding on to her leash. Still that didn't mean that he couldn't take out his frustration with his words.

 

"Susan, you bitch, you hard headed awful woman. You are nothing compared to my Alice, my perfect Alice. You resist me because you are foolish and an obstacle to me. I hold your leash you miserable and shortsighted cunt. Why can't you be Alice and do as your told. That is all I want and in enough time you will want it to. Stop resisting and obey me you stubborn piece of clay. I am making you the perfect woman, my Alice." Jervis didn't know if he was yelling at Alice or Susan at this moment but Susan just looked at him impassively. 

 

Jervis was almost panting at the end of his rant, spittle flying from his lip and hitting Susan in the face. He wanted to wipe it away, but instead he led Susan to a boutique and had her look at dresses. They were fashionable, and he had her pick out two dresses in blue and some black high heeled shoes with a buckle around the ankle. Again Jervis had Susan pay for the dresses which she thankfully did this time without complaint, and decided on one last test. He lead her to a poorer part of the city that they had passed earlier in the day and tried to lead her into a sex shop, but Susan wouldn't enter. Jervis wanted to scream at her again but finally relented, with the components he had bought, he would not be limited to basic hypnosis in the near future. He just needed to assemble the parts and decided to head back. When they were nearing the Baxter Building, Jervis told Alice, "When you wake up, Susan will remember going to the stores and paying for the dresses and the hats but nothing more. Happy Unbirthday."

 

Susan looked around her, as if realizing where she was for the first time, "Oh, we're rather close. It was fun going out with you Jervis. It's not often that I have the excuse to go around the city like this. Usually I'm keeping Reed or Ben company so this was nice. You can talk with Reed about any tools you need to do your tinkering or talk to me if you want to go out again."

 

Jervis smiled, the weight of the components in his bag feeling him with a confidence and comfort he had been lacking since coming to this dimension, "That I will, Susan."