xp_logs | A day of preperation

Profiler and Trance prepare for their misssion the next day.

CJ had her eyes closed, thinking- it allowed her to shut out the visual cues from others and just focus on her thoughts. She didn't understand why Holocaust had placed her with the new girl on this project- likely because this Trance was hopelessly lost and in need of guidance, but it was preventing Profiler from working on other projects. Her eyes shot open as she realized she'd just naturally thought of herself as Profiler, the thinnest of smiles crossing her lips. "Have you ever gathered information out of someone before, Hope?"

"Nothing of this level, nor of this complexity, but I have done a little." Hope decided being honest and upfront was probably the best course here, especially concerning her companion's mutant ability made her basically unable to lie. "But you cannot tell me that you have a great deal of experience in the matter?"

CJ nodded in the affirmative, "Never on purpose, but I can always tell what people are going to do or if they're lying to me when I'm looking at them. My flat-scan daddy told me that I'd make a great mentalist- wanted to move us to Las Vegas when he found out," she rolled her eyes to express her feelings toward that. "He thought he was joking, but I knew better. Anyway, I was thinking we could have <i>you</i> approach the mark."

"You want to observe from the sidelines?" Hope quickly caught on, picturing the scene in her mind. "That way you'll be fully able to fully focus on what his body language is telling you?"

"Exactly," Profiler rolled out the blueprints for the room they'd been assigned to use for this case study. "There's a bar over here," she pointed to a counter and row of stools near one wall. "You can try to engage him at his table, and from the bar, I should be able to tell what he's scheming." Profiler looked up at Hope, "You'll need to wear a wire."

"That is one part I do not have any experience with. We have those supplies available to us?" Hope thought for a moment, then leaned over and pulled the file Holocaust had given her from her bag. "I would need to draw his attention first. I am new there, so that might help, but this background His Grace gave me also gives me a few clues. This is his daughter at a prom... his daughter that he has not seen for quite a bit..." She slid CJ a picture of a dark haired, hazel eyed girl in a deep purple gown.

Profiler examined the photo, them looked back at Hope, the new girl's intent plain to read, "Bold." The plan we bolder than she thought Hope capable of. "Mimic might be a better choice, but she wouldn't look the part. We'd need to work on your accent, but it would be our best bet for flagging his attention. Unless..." Profiler grabbed her copy of the file and flipped through the pages, trying to find the one she had marked. "He has an arrest record, disturbing the peace." She held the colorful page out to Hope, "If you know how to read between the lines, you can tell that he or his lawyer got the charges reduced from soliciting prostitution."

"And I know I am never going to be able to manage that and both of us might be headed for Goose his tender mercies." Hope had not even met the man yet, but what she had heard was enough that she never wanted to come across him. "I think reminding him of his daughter can get his guard down initially..."

"But he'll put it back up if you start asking questions," Profiler inclined her head slightly. "Can you be subtle, Hope?" She knew such petty jabs were above her, but she didn't like the shine that Holocaust had taken to her- and the mention of Goose's punishments only exacerbated the feeling.

"I think I can be. I think we need to get the precise bits of information down we need and see if we can formulate some small talk around that?" Hope proposed, meeting CJ's eyes.

A beat of silence passed between them, then Profiler pressed on with a hint of uncertainty in her voice, "This may be the best plan we can come up with- let us hope, it is enough."