X-Factor Casefile: The Sting: Planting the seed

[x-invisiblegirl.livejournal.com]

Arthur and Bobbi put the plan into action.

Popping a few peanuts into her mouth, Bobbi swept up the shells and arranged them in a neat little pile with the previously emptied shells in front of her at the bar. Her and Arthur found themselves in their current setting — a bar frequented by police officers — to investigate a possible mutant sighting at Worthington Industries.

So far they hadn't discovered anything, but Bobbi gently nudged Arthur as two other officers entered the bar, probably just after finishing a shift. She picked up her beer and raised it slightly to them and turned back to Arthur while still trying to eavesdrop on the pair, who made a beeline to the bar to order a few cold ones.

Arthur, idly rolling a peanut between his fingers, eyed the two skeptically. "Tell me what I need to know."

"Both are known as anti-mutant, if anything mutant related is going down they'll be eager to spread the word." she said under her breath. "Especially the big guy, he's a real piece of work."

She got a curt nod for this, and Arthur took a deep breath as he centered himself. He discarded his peanut and gently massaged his temples. "Heavy on the bigot, then. Light on the manners with a pinch of construction worker."

A pause, and then he broke into brilliant smile, "Time to go to work." His accent, stripped clean, was all New York with a hint of Boston in how his 'r's had almost completely disappeared. "Wish me luck."

Before she could do this, however, he was crossing the bar to join the two men at the bar. His smile had gone to live with his dropped consonants, and his usual cheerfulness was replaced with a frown and the gruff stiffness of a long day spent in a menial job protecting the ungrateful citizens of mutant-town. A tough job, sure, but one that needed to be done.

Ten minutes later, Arthur peeled away from the two with an exchange of slaps on the back and mutual smiles lubricated by shared drinks. He made a show of circling toward the door before rejoining Bobbi in her inconspicuous corner with a sigh.

"Same story. Mutants reported missing and rumors about that business at WI, but their superiors quickly squashed any reports or follow-ups." He nursed his beer somberly, settling back into his normal accent. "That makes three precincts with the same rot at the top."

"That it does, I'm afraid." Bobbi replied with a grimace. She'd expected as much but it still sucked to have it confirmed. Waving at the bartender, she finished what was left of her current beer and ordered them both another, figuring they both needed it after that.