xp_logs | The Dulcet Sound of My Voice: The beginnings of a plan

Hope discusses the news from CJ with her mentor.

"I got an interesting call from CJ about an hour ago." Hope started immediately after Doug had opened the door to his suite. "We've got a bit of a situation in Virginia it seems."

Doug blinked. That was rather abrupt and non-specific. "CJ? We? Situation? Back up and start from the beginning, please." Context would be nice.

Hope pushed her way past Doug. "CJ Ward contacted me. Remember, she was in Ksavia with me. She has seen Garrulous and Scanner in Richmond, coming out of the office of a state level senator when she was visiting there. And if they are being seen in a state capital with political figures, it is very likely they are up to something."

The mention of Ksavia brought a frisson of complex emotion in Doug, given the way Laurie had been abducted and kept there by some of the people involved. He rubbed at his face, already feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on. "And I'm guessing by your phrasing about how 'we' have a solution, you're wanting to do something about it?"

"I think we have no choice. Because Scanner and Garrulous being there is only one piece of the puzzle..." Hope stated quietly. "CJ also brought me up to date on some of the state level politics in Virginia. And guess which bills currently are in committee." She handed Doug some sheets of paper with the anti-mutant laws she and CJ had discussed.

Doug grunted gutturally in a combination of several languages, and it didn't take much guesswork to suss out the general content. "States' rights as a cover for more and more overt bigotry. I wish I could say I was surprised," he observed after getting the invective out of his system.
"CJ and I suspect they are trying to influence the proceedings surrounding the laws. And we are worried that once they pass, other states will follow with similar laws." Hope let out a sigh. "But whatever they are trying to do... their meddling needs to be stopped. If it gets found out..."
"Mutants influencing lawmakers..." Now there was a powder keg waiting to happen. Not that the Hellfire Club didn't also engage in influence peddling, but it was with a much lighter touch than Doug suspected Hope's former 'colleagues' would use. Not to mention they would likely use it as a wedge to rally mutants around in order to cause further problems. That headache was getting worse. "And what do you have in mind to do about it?" he asked.

"At least go there and take Scanner and Garrulous out of the equation. And if possible, undo some of their influence if we can figure out whom they targeted." Hope summed up. "Though I am not sure what would be the best way to do that. But, Doug, CJ is..." Freaking out. "... very very worried. She asks if I could come and I am going."

"Just you?" And almost certainly him, but Doug played that closer to the vest. He felt a responsibility for Hope, but he also didn't want her taking his involvement for granted.

"I had hoped you would come with me." Hope admitted. "While CJ and I have knowledge of the players involved and some insight in the political situation, neither of us have done anything like this on this level. And I think we will need someone who could potentially undo the effects of Garrulous whoever they hit."

"We can't just persuade them back by smacking them around a bit?" Doug joked darkly. The sort of politicians that were the likely targets of such tactics...well, Doug wouldn't lose much sleep over them. "Maybe we could lean on Emma some if we need some help deprogramming people? Hm."

"It's one option." Hope nodded. "But she is a busy woman. I had an inkling of another thought though. The mansion grapevine... from what I heard Darcy Lewis has an ability very close to the one Garrulous has..."

"Oh? Interesting." Doug had had no idea what Clint's 'science buddy' could do in terms of powers, he didn't think she'd ever really talked about it or demonstrated anything since coming to the school. And not that she was obligated to, but Doug was always curious.

"At least cannot hurt to talk with her?" Hope suggested. "Otherwise we can always talk with Ms. Frost."

"I suppose, yeah." But now was the moment that all of Doug's teaching of Hope had been leading up to. Committing to a real world situation, with real world consequences, and the potential for things to get messy quickly. "So. Taking them out of the equation. How far are you willing to go on this?" he asked her bluntly. If they were going to do this, it would be very important to lay out the expectations ahead of time.

Hope was quiet for a long moment as she considered it, biting her lip. Her fists clenched as she replied quietly: "Whatever it takes, Doug. I think we have no choice here."

"Just so you're prepared for that possibility," Doug replied. Of course, you could never be truly prepared for that first time, but he wanted Hope to be as ready as she could be. And it might not come to that, at the end. But this was the road she was headed down, and he didn't want her to have any illusions about it.

~Jesus, if Remy and Pete could see me now...~