xp_logs | Doug and Remy - Reassignment (backdated) (Reply)

Backdated to May 27th. In the wake of Marie-Ange's abrupt departure from X-Force, Remy drops extra work on Doug's plate.

"Shut de door," was all that Remy said as Doug came through the door. The bruised Cajun had largely ignored Doug since returning from the field in India. However, with the news of Marie-Ange resignation, the air of tension in the office had increased noticably, and only Remy's nomadic hours and irregular absences had keep it from getting work. He stacked a pile of files on to the centre of his deck and finally looked up.

Doug had quietly shut the door and sat down in one of the chairs in front of Remy's desk by the time he looked up. It was obvious that Doug wasn't entirely relaxed by the way he sat forward on the chair, his back ramrod straight. "What can I do for you," he said neutrally, the sentence somewhere between actual question and polite fiction.

"I'm increasing you field time significantly. Wit' Marie-Ange gone, we need people to cover some of her contacts, and of de people qualified to do it, cutting back you other work hurts us the least operationally." He pushed the stack of files to the other side of the desk. "Fairly straight forward. Some of dese are high level; you'll need to be very gentle handling dem, 'specially after Marie-Ange's touch."

Doug took the files and nodded. He flipped through the folders, getting a quick feel for names and locations. "I'll let you know if I have any questions," he said distractedly. "Anything else I can do for you?"

"Stay away from New Orleans until I tell you otherwise."

The first expression that crossed Doug's face was a combative one, the impulse to disobey just out of sheer spite. Then Doug's curiosity got the better of him. "Why?" he asked. Maybe it was because Remy didn't trust him right now, maybe it was something else completely. But he wanted to see how Remy would respond, as the Cajun's expression was as inscrutable as ever.

"Because I know dat you already spinning up you computer programs to try and track Marie-Ange down. Since I also know dat you going to find out eventually, she's in New Orleans on a personal matter." Remy said, and leveled his gaze at the younger man. "And de very last thing dat you want to do is to go down dere right now."

Doug resisted the urge to snap back with another 'why', because he knew that it would make him sound like a petulant two-year-old. Even if he felt a bit like one at the moment. He made a chopping motion with his hand. "She left me a note. Broke it off. Couldn't even do it face to face." Even after all their talks about trust and not keeping secrets from each other anymore. "She can take care of herself."

"Oui, she can. Dat doesn't mean dat de second she gets into trouble, you not going to want to go after her, which is why I'm telling you now dat's not an option until things change."

"If she gets into trouble and needs help, then she can find it herself." Doug let the files fall to his lap and crossed his arms over his chest. "She left me a 'dear john' note, I'm not feeling especially kind where she's concerned right now."

Remy's look was flat. It was about the easiest non-verbal way to call bullshit on his response, but the Cajun didn't bother to press the younger man about it. What he choose to lie to himself about wasn't Remy's business.

"Just don't accidentially find you'self anywhere near dere with reasons dat have nothing to do wit' her den."

Remy's clear disbelief of pretty much everything he was saying was really starting to get under Doug's skin. "Look, I get that everyone from you down is pretty much questioning my loyalty here," he snapped. "But that doesn't mean I don't know how to follow directions. I heard you the first time."

"Has nothing to do wit' your loyalty, Doug. One of de skills dat dis job requires is de ability to read other people; to know how dey'd react. And Remy knows dat if Marie-Ange gets into trouble and you found out, you wouldn't think twice 'bout getting on de next plane down dere. What you choose to tell youself 'bout it is your own business." Remy's voice was flat, almost casual, as if his emotions were entirely disconnected in contrast to Doug's frustration. "And since going to New Orleans would be de equivalent of suicide for you, Remy think dat you can understand why I need to stress de importance of de order."

Doug gritted his teeth on another snappish reply, and cocked his head. "You're telling me that if it were life or death, you'd just leave her down there?" He shook his head sharply. "Anything less than that, she can get out of it herself as far as I'm concerned." He held up a hand. "And I know, not good enough. If it's an order, then fine. Understood and acknowledged."

"Doug, dere's a price on you head down in New Orleans. Sorry if dat gets in de way of de indignant self-pity you been wrapping youself in."

Doug wasn't nearly as accomplished in marshalling and masking his reactions as Remy, so the blink and look of shock on his face were quite obvious. Then his brain engaged a few seconds later and he actually started thinking. "Do we know who put it there?" he asked.

Remy shook his head wearily. "Who do you think? De Hellfire Club just nominated Belladonna Boudreaux-LeBeau as dere Black Queen. As you might remember, de Guilds of New Orleans proscribed her when she was expelled. Dat means anyone who gives her succor or aid is automatically an enemy of de Guilds. Daniel probably had de bounties put up on each Inner Court member de New York Hellfire Club less den a day after it happened. Especially since now dat she's got a powerbase again, she's going to try and restate her claim as de legitimate Guild Leader for de Assassins, and wit' a safe haven to operate from, she'll pull members soon enough."

Doug blinked. Looking backward, it made completely logical sense as a reaction by the Guilds. "Is that...is that only in New Orleans?" he asked slowly. He knew that Remy had some Guild contacts in New York, people that Jubilee had trained with. It stood to reason that the Assassin's Guild might have some outside New Orleans as well, especially now that they knew where Belladonna was hanging her hat.

"New Orleans is de only place dat dey are in force, but its not de only place dat de Guild operates. Or freelancers." Remy said levelly. "I'd watch you step in general for de time being."

Doug's first instinct was to give a response along the lines of 'didn't know you cared', but he'd probably pushed that particular bit of self-mocking about as far as it would go. So he settled for a businesslike nod. "That sounds sensible to me," he said. Not that they weren't always expected to watch their steps, given their line of work, but this was something a bit more immediate.

"You do dat. Daniel knows dat dis office and de Brownstone are off-limits, but wit' de increased travelling you be doing, you fair game outside of de city."

At least that was something, and maybe he didn't have to look over his shoulder quite so frequently at home. "I should get started on these," he said, moving to stand up.

Remy didn't answer, returning to his paperwork. Getting Doug out of New York more would help him some, but it didn't change the essential calculus. Eventually things were going to come to a head between the HFC and X-Force, and it wouldn't be in a way that Frost could control or would likely accept. When that happened, he'd have to make his stand somewhere, and as of right now, Remy couldn't be sure where that would ultimately be.