xp_logs | Hope and Bobbi (Reply)

Bobbi gives Hope a lesson and they go for ice cream afterwards.

"We are going driving?" Hope looked back and forth between the car and Bobbi. "I only very recently got my driver's license." She warned the older woman. They were supposed to meet for some training in further investigative techniques...

"Then this is the perfect time to show you some techniques, before you get too set in your ways," Bobbi said with a grin as they walked toward the vehicle. "Don't worry, it's nothing too drastic, I promise." She wasn't about to have them racing through the streets in broad daylight or jumping over large holes or anything like that.

"Why does that not reassure me?" Hope shook her head. "Do you want me driving or would you prefer to demonstrate some things first?" She checked as they reached the car.

"You can drive, we won't be doing anything too crazy today. We'll save that for another time, yeah?" Bobbi chuckled and unlocked the door before tossing the keys at Hope and getting into the passenger seat.

"Lovely..." Hope shook her head as climbed in and adjusted the mirrors and seat to her liking. She took out the car to the main way, glancing over to Bobbi a few times while she drove. "What did you want to cover today?"

"Well, you've probably already been trained on how to recognize when someone's tailing you in person, I'm assuming," Bobbi explained. "It's also a great asset to have in a vehicle, which is a different skill altogether."

"It's something I have been worked on with Doug and also in how to tail someone myself, but I am no expert by any means." Hope started the car and turned right once they were out of the gate. "Sorry, just turned here automatically. Any place specific you'd want to go?"

"Not really, wherever you feel the most comfortable driving would be best," Bobbi said. They just needed a place where she had options to turn around and such for the most part. "Head for Salem Center, we should be able to cover everything we need to around there."

***

"How do you ever keep your focus split in so many ways?" Hope commented as they headed towards the ice cream parlor after the lesson. "Keeping track of the traffic around me already makes me wish for an extra pair of eyes and when dealing with someone in pursuit I'd say I could use two extra pairs of eyes."

"It gets easier with practice," Bobbi said with a smile. "It's like exercising, sort of, you need to use those skills for a while and before you know it you'll always be looking behind you." It took some time but once you got used to it things like that became second nature. "You did very well with it today, it was a great start, by the way."

"Thanks, Ms. Morse." Hope grinned. "When I have gotten the hang of recognizing and shaking a tail by car, can we do a couple of lessons the other way around? I have learned it is helpful for me to know both sides of the picture." She commented, thinking of her pick pocketing lessons with Jubilee.

"Any time," she replied. "That's an excellent point, actually, to see how it works both ways." Hope was quick to catch on, it seemed, which was definitely a good thing. "Oh, and you can call me Bobbi. It turns out the old chestnut of 'calling me Ms. or Mr. So-and-so makes me look around for my mother/father' is a real thing, as you'll discover when you get older."

"Alright." Hope nodded. "I have been wondering something if I may be so forward.... why did you decide to become a private detective?" She took a seat and picked up the menu with all the different kinds of ice cream they had.

"Well, I tried my hand at being a police officer," Bobbi started. "It didn't really work out for me. I mean, I liked the work, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't exactly how I wanted to do things." Promotions took time and it became clear to her that she wasn't going to be made a detective any time soon, so she headed out on her own. "Rather than wait for my dream position to come along I decided to take a chance and try it myself. It worked out, luckily enough. What about you, what attracts you to the field, hmm?"

"Mostly because I felt it the place that fit me best in regards to both my skills and my desire to help... our kind." She didn't use mutant with the waitress approaching. "Though I also like the skills I have learning... new ones and expanding on the ones I already have."

Bobbi simply nodded in reply, waiting until the waitress took their orders and menus before continuing their conversation. She leaned forward a little, arms cross on top of the table.

"We're definitely welcome to have you, Hope. You're a quick learner and you're a valuable asset to our team."