xp_logs | [log] Marie and Jake: A chance meeting in the library

Marie runs into Jake in the library and they have a conversation that has Marie intent on finding out more of Jake's sooper-sekrit courier knowledge.

Jake sat in the library, mainly to escape the people running around still trying to fix things after the visit from Pete's soldiers (as he'd taken to calling them inside his head), but partly to read the newspapers. He'd managed to get all the international ones before any of the others yet, and was very pleased with himself. He also had tea. He looked like someone who'd never been involved in the bruhaha a couple of days ago.

Marie went to the library during a break in cleanup, grateful that it, at least, was undamaged. When she'd been a student, the chairs in the far corner had been one of her favourite havens. Now she needed to make sure that the reference materials she ordered had come in for the next week's assignments. When she got there, the large room was wonderfully still and empty save for a single person, looking remarkably composed and drinking tea.

Hi there. Jake, right?" Marie gave him a smile. She hadn't had a chance to talk to him much, but she knew who he was from the counselling announcements and his presence in the school.

Jake looked up from the latest shenanigans of the British prime minister, and smiled. "That's me. You're..." He frowned briefly. "D'Ancato? Teaches PE and European Lit?"

"That's right. Marie. Hi." She poked a few buttons on the library computer to bring up the intake screen. "Your job just got a lot harder Thursday morning, didn't it?" she observed. "Is there any one in particular I should approach about Artie? He's not himself, he was clingy and tempermental when I was with him today. This is his second major trauma in the last year and with his lack of speech, I think it's harder on him than the kids who can talk about it."

There was a long pause as Jake tried to come up with an answer. He had a strong feeling he currently very much resembled a deer in front of an on coming train. No one had asked him to actually _do_ anything before, just coordinate shedules, which Jake didn't really mind, but this was an whole 'nother ball game. He took refuge in the guidelines. "Uh. Technically me or Pete, but I wouldn't really recommend me... MacTaggart, maybe."

Marie nodded. "I'd like to see if a room change helps him. He's in with Miles and since his mutation is his only way to communicate, you can see where that gets sticky, especially now." She printed out a sheet of paper and pulled it from the printer. "Mostly, I'd like permission just to move him from that room for a bit. I'll talk to Moira about it. "How're you doing?" She smiled at Jake. "Did you miss all the fun?"

Jake arched an eyebrow and gave her a wry grin. "Not as such, no. Was dragged along with the faculty, but I didn't really do anything, so." He tilted his head. "Left my gun at home. Starting to rethink that decision. This place has the worst security system I've seen, especially considering how hi-tech it is."

"Personal preparedness is the ultimate security system," Marie said sanctimoniously, sounding like an NRA advertisment, and then winked at him. "It's not a bad idea to pick it up again. I just started learning how to use a gun myself. I get to go out with Moira sometimes, but I wouldn't mind another person to go to the range with."

Jake snorted. "At this place, that really is true. Yeah, I should. I left it 'cause I wasn't sure I'd be let it on the house carrying, but considering my mutation..." A thought hit him and he straightened. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know if there's a gun cabinet here, do you?"

"Not as such," Marie said vaguely, getting up to go check the shelves for something. "But, I think if you were in need of something, someone might be able to see about getting you access to an appropriate piece of equipment. Scott would be a good person to talk to about that issue, if you were so inclined."

"Never actually met him," Jake said thoughtfully. "Could be interesting. I'm going up to DC next week though, so I can bring my own back." He paused. "Suppose I should clear that with someone first, just in case the security system suddenly decides to function."

"That would be wise," Marie agreed. "And Scott's a great guy, don't be shy about talking to him. I'm sure he's a little stressed right now but he'd understand if you wanted some extra security. This kind of thing is pretty unnerving for everyone."

Jake gave her a blank look. "Pardon? Oh, it's not that. It just pisses me off that government guys got the best of me. Pete's government guys to boot." He shook his head, scowling.

Marie turned slowly, an expression of mild curiosity on her face. "Pete's government guys? That would explain the accents. I was afraid it was a troupe of mad Monty Python impersonators," she said lightly. "When did that little gem of information come to light?"

"Go away or else I shall mock you some more?" Jake looked amused by the idea. "Pete said," he added. "And, really, it's obvious, isn't it?"

Marie leaned on a bookshelf, arms crossed, looking at Jake intently as she sifted through the evidence in her head. "How so?"

Jake looked up at her, mildly confused. It was all clear as glass to him. "What?"

"Explain how it's obvious." Marie came over and sat down opposite him. "Humour the little Southern girl? My best classes were English Lit and Home Economics," she said with a slightly cynical edge.

"I have a degree in English lit," Jake said randomly, studying the girl. Couldn't be much older than Angelo, surely. Strange girl. Very strange. Very... intense. "Why do you want to know?" His eyes turned a lighter brown for a moment, Jake's way of showing that the next line was a joke. "It's super secret courier info after all."

"Because I killed one of them and there's bits of him rattling around in my head still," Marie said flatly. "I'd like to see what I could have gotten out of what he left behind, if anything. Also, I'd like to know who the fuck broke into my house and hurt my friends, and how it's obvious who it was, so I can possibly put your super-secret skills of deduction to use for myself next time instead of being left with baking and dusting as my only options for resolving lovely little episodes like this." Her tone was acidic by the time she was done speaking, but nowhere near as sharp as the angry flash in her eyes.

Jake had leaned back in his chair by the time she was finished, realising that the grin on his face could be misinterpreted, but frankly not caring. He was pleased. Another girl who had the makings of an Infonet operative. If any of his recruitments actually panned out, mother would have to turn his expense account back on. "Well, first of, _all_ government employees are pretty much similar in their approach. They generally have a target and will go for that, and only go for bystanders if the initial plan to grab/assassinate/whatever the target fails. Non-government are generally more..." He paused. "The death toll is higher."

Marie curled up in the chair, chin on one pale green-gloved hand, focussed intently on Jake. "I see. The only other invasion we had here was government, or at least government trained, as well, so that's making sense. They used tranquilizer guns, mostly. What else?"

"Accents, of course." Jake considered his statement. "Though that's not necessarily so, the various countries usually use local operatives. Gear, sometimes. Latveria, for instance, tends to have low-tech stuff with a lot of firepower. Wakanda operatives like to dress up like cats. I think it's something religious..." he trailed off.

Marie gave him a little frown. "Yes?"

Jake shook his head. "No, it just reminds me, I need to talk to someone. Anyway, those are the basics. Anything in particular you want to know?"

"Aside from everything else?" Marie laughed at herself. "I'm going to have to poke around in my head to see if I did pick anything useful up... I should have paid more attention to what he was thinking of, but I hate how people feel when they're dying so I finished it and dropped him so fast, I didn't have time to think. I'll have to quit doing that." She uncurled and stood up. "So, you busy on Sunday?"

"Sunday? ...No. Why?" Jake eyed her, filing the comment about 'how people feel when they're dying' for further thought.

"I thought I'd go to the range. Want to come?" She sorted through her papers on the desk, filing away the printout she'd made. "I'm guessing Moira's going to be asleep or busy."

"Actually, I'd rather wait until I have my own guns back." He waggled his hand back and forth, vaguely clenching his fingers so it looked like he was holding a gun. "Borrowed gear usually don't feel right."

"I can appreciate that," Marie said. "Maybe then?" She picked up her books and papers, balancing them on one hip, waiting for his answer.

"Absolutely." Jake nodded. "Ah, and you'll talk to Mac-- Moira about Artie?"

"And Scott, about his behaviour and his room assignment," she affirmed. "I'll make sure he gets what he needs. Don't worry about him. You've got enough on your plate."

Jake looked down reflexively and spotted his now cold tea, then looked back up, grinning a little at himself. "I won't then."

"Take care, Jake. Come find me when you get your guns back, okay?" Marie gave him a smile and a wave. "I've got staff to hunt down now."

"I will definitely do that. Nice finally talking to you." Jake smiled back and raised his tea cup in goodbye. "And good luck on that."

"I think I'll need it. See you later, then." Marie let herself out of the library and closed the door behind her.