Jubilee and Remy log

[x-jubilee.livejournal.com]

Remy and Jubilee meet at a small cafe to discuss her future.



Jubilee finished ordering her lunch, and then waited for Remy to finish and the waitress to leave before she spoke. She'd met him at a small cafe, not far from the Snow Valley offices, and she'd forced herself not to speculate about exactly what he was going to say all morning. She couldn't disguise the sheer tension in her shoulders however, and she was positive Remy could see it.

"So..." she said, more to have something to say then anything else.

Remy didn't bother to answer, picking up his coffee and taking a sip. He and Pete had taken their time discussing what to do with their newest resisident of the brownstone, and whether or not she should be temporary and packed back off to the Annex or the school. He sighed as he put the cup down, and regarded her levelly.

"You managed not only to put your foot in it, but also let it climb up your leg and fuck you pretty much every which way, petite."

Jubilee flushed, embarrassment and anger warring before she simply settled into resigned. It wasn't as if he wasn't correct, she really had managed to fuck up royally. Hearing him say it though, hearing any of them say it was exactly the reason she hadn't come to them in the first place. Pride hadn't gotten her anywhere but further, and deeper in however.

"Something like that." she answered simply, gaze steady as she watching him take another sip of his coffee.

"Something like dat." Remy repeated, watching her body language closely. It had been years since he'd seen Jubilee in the mansion, and while the girl didn't look all that much older, her body language had changed. She carried herself differently, although he wasn't sure why yet.

"Remy did some checking. De charges in Hong Kong are still out on you, although dey haven't moved to convict in absentia yet, which Chinese law allows. Not sure why, but it is possible dat dey still hoping dat if dey get dere hands on you, you can give dem someone much further up de chain. Whatever de reason, we can't bribe it to make it go away, and Emma's legal people can't get involved." Remy shook his head. "While you relatively safe from reprisal in de US, getting caught traveling openly in another country might get you shipped back dere. Also, having you name on a business list or de school records could bring attention dat we or Xavier's don't want."

She'd known when she woke up on the ship to Madripoor that things were never going to be quite the same again, this was just confirmation of that. She was surprised at just how deeply in the shit she was though, the type of shit that didn't let you use your name wasn't a country she'd been in before.

"What do you suggest I do?" she asked, worry peeking through in her tone for a moment, even if she was trying to show it nowhere else.

"Dat depends on you. De safest thing is to keep you off of de record for now. Keep de name Jubilation Lee from cropping up in easy to find places." Remy tapped his fingers on the Formica tabletop for a second, and then picked up his cup. " Dat means de school is dangerous for dem, even if dey willing to assume de risk. Same wit' de Center. We can't afford any kind of scrutiny dat gives someone a reason to look deeper."

The problem with any covert group was that their security was based on anonymity and secrecy. Lose either of those things, and it would take look to track them down.

"The school isn't a problem, I wasn't going back there even if this wasn't an issue." Jubilee responded matter-of-factly. She didn't mention how hard that decision had been, how much she really wanted to just let her friends take care of her and make it all right. Forge thinking she didn't care, it was easier in the long run but hurt so much in the short-term. "As to the center, I can see how a criminal record would cause problems there. So, what are my choices? Going underground, or a fake ID? Dude, am I worth this to you to take the chance, is what I'm asking here. If I'm not, I'll pack my bags tomorrow. Give me enough money and a fake ID, and I'll disappear."

"Why should I give you money and a way out, petite. Seems to me dat we already got you out of Madripoor and gave you a place to stay for a week. Think dat pretty much means we don't owe you a thing."

"Like that then." Jubilee said, not terribly surprised by the response but, hurt a little. She had hoped, she wasn't sure what, that Remy would help, even if it wasn't an offer of a job or a place to stay. She knew better, nothing was ever free, not ever, not even friendship. "That's fine. What then? Why are we here if you're not going to help me, Remy."

"Dat's a good question." Remy took a sip from his cup, emptying it. He set it down to the side of the table, indicating the refill for the waitress. "Why would I be here if not to help."

Jubilee was quiet, watching not just his eyes, and hearing not just his words but trying to look beyond that, trying to see his meaning.

She didn't have the skill, he was too good, and she was used to tourists who were easier to read then the back of a cereal box. Not for the first time, and no doubt not for the last, she wished she had a power like Doug's.

"You want me to beg, Remy?" she asked softly, gaze almost blank as she answered. "I'm not above it, if that's what yer wonderin'. I'll do whatever you want, say whatever you want, just don't play games with me. Tell me yer gonna help me, or tell me to get goin' but don't play games."

Remy nodded. "I'm not going to help you. You, on the other hand, might have some use for us, and in return, we'll make sure you're properly compensated." Remy reached into his pocket and dug out a bulky envelope, which he tossed on to the table in front of her. It had been a test. He wasn't interested in seeing her beg, but he also wanted to know that Jubilee wasn't expecting the same kind of accommodation that she was used to. For her to be of use to them, he needed to know that she was ready to do whatever it took to survive.

Jubilee picked up the envelope for a second, a sharp flash of anger showing briefly in her gaze before it turned questioning. "You want me to open it here?"

Her first instinct had been to place it in the bag currently hanging from her chair and read it later but she wasn't sure.

"Feel free." The Cajun leaned back in his chair as she tore the gummed envelope open, and spilled the contents on to the table. There were several plastic covered cards with a rubberband around them, a worn looking American passport, a sheaf of papers, and a small ring of keys. "Remy put you in wit' de other younger staff. Officially, you work and draw a paycheck working for Frost's real estate division as security. You get to spell de guys at de front desk a couple times a week. Rest of de time, you going to be in de office catching up wit' de others, or working directly for me. Dat conviction on your name means it safer to limit de interaction, and Remy pretty sure dat you'll be more use in de field den in analysis."

He reached into his pocket and tossed a small wad of bills on the table. "Dat's an advance on you pay. Tomorrow, you going to meet some people. Dey got ties back to New Orleans. Dey going to find out exactly how much you got to learn, and start teaching you a few specialised skills dat Remy don't have time to drill into you head."

Jubilee quickly placed most of the things on the table into her bag but paused when she got to the passport and glanced inside, eyes quickly taking in the details of her new identity. She smiled at her new identity before placing it to in the bag.

"Anything I should know about these people before I meet them?" she asked after a moment, once she'd gone through everything he'd given her. There wasn't any reason for her to question any of the instructions he'd given her, and so she didn't, more interested in getting as much information as she could then dwelling on any particulars. She'd have to get them to show her the security procedures she'd be enforcing but that could come later.

"Wit' security, no. When I say sit at de front desk, dat's de extent of de job. We provide de real security in de brownstone. De guards are nothing but protective cover, and to get apartment seekers off our backs. Wit' de people you meeting tomorrow, dey here at my request. Dey know more 'bout what you need to learn den you ever likely to learn. Don't waste dere time or mess about."

"Right. Don't be an ass, don't waste their time. Got it." Jubilee replied, biting off any comments she might have liked to make in favour of something more constructive, although the tone could have used some work. She wasn't a child, and she wasn't about to piss this away by playing games with him or anyone else. "I think we're about done here, don't you?"

"Dat's right. Get de check." Remy said as he got up and walked out without a second glance.

"Zázhǒng" Jubilee spat, before waving for the waitress to get the check.

She hoped he got boils, or possibly some painful fungal disease in an embarrassing place. It was with this rather pleasant thought in mind, that she started working out how she was going to spend her first pay check, clothing was going to feature heavily.