Shatterstar & Darcy | Tech Package
May. 21st, 2023 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsIt's a few days later than usual, but Darcy's got Shatterstar's new tech and a good excuse to talk his ears off.
Darcy shifted the package in her arm as she gave two firm knocks to the door of the suite they'd had made up for Shatterstar the night of his arrival. "Delivery!" she called out, leaning against the wall as she waited for someone to come open the door. She could override it, but it wasn't an emergency and she didn't see the point in being an asshole to the newbie.
It took a moment for the door to open but when it did, Shatterstar stared all the way down at Darcy with a somewhat perturbed expression. Somewhere in the room, a television was playing reruns of Longshot for Survival. Shatterstar stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "Oh. It's you again," he said, but didn't seem all that displeased about it. "I didn't think you worked here. I thought you were a lawyer."
"Jill of all trades, sometimes. Lawyer by degree, part of the tech team by knowledge, welcome wagon by virtue of luck and being the one that touched your new toys last." She grinned up at him, hefting the box in her hands. "Can I come in for a few? I've got electronics for you. And a small apology for it taking a few days, we had to wait for the phone to arrive."
Shatterstar took a second to deliberate before letting her in. The room was very neat and orderly, though the dresser drawers were open. He was in the process of unpacking, but not being too soon about it in case he decided to run away after all. The only thing he had really set up was a place to put his various training swords. "I have a phone," he said, though it was pretty out of date. "What do you mean by toys?" He still stood like he was ready to kick Darcy out.
"Basic technology package," she replied, setting the box gently down on a table. "We do ask that you use the Xavier's phone. It's a little more secure than the standard phone, gives you limited access to the Xavier's intranet, and has a panic button that will send us your GPS coordinates for emergency purposes. We can also activate your GPS if you go missing, but like. Please don't just disappear. Leave a note that you're going on a wander and not kidnapped or something. People will still worry, but we won't send the cavalry after you." She rubbed the back of her neck a little sheepishly. "I've uh... been on the disappearing end. Anyway! Laptop, external keyboard and mouse, secure flash drive, and I'm gonna make sure your key card gives you access to everything it's supposed to."
He looked a little overwhelmed as he looked through the box. Shatterstar wasn't good with technology. It frustrated him to no end. Normally he managed with his old phone and school library computers well enough, but this was a lot to get all at once. "How do you even afford all this?" he asked, as he took the phone out. He didn't like the GPS feature, it seemed too invasive. He made a mental note to leave little notes when he left and to dump the phone as soon as possible if he ran away.
"A few very wealthy benefactors, grants, some patents, and bulk discounts. None of it is the ultra expensive top of the line. Plus, we do the security extras ourselves, which is free except for time." Darcy smiled lightly. "And if the GPS weirds you out like everyone else, you can restrict it just like on a normal phone. Can't turn off the emergency button, but that's literally for your safety. Otherwise it's kinda like using a school or work device without the weird key-tracking bullshit. If you leave permanently, you turn your devices in. If you just go off on a wander for a bit, you don't. If you're in danger and have access to your phone, you press the panic button. Simple." She pulled a small device out of the box, hooking it up to her phone. "Can I see your key card for a sec?"
Of course, Shatterstar didn't know how to disable or restrict GPS on a normal phone, but he supposed that was what google was for. His eyes were wide in questioning and awe at Darcy's casual mastery of electronics. It made sense- she was the zappy one. He fished into the pocket of his pants and handed her his keycard. "Here." He was glad to hopefully get more access to places around the mansion, even if he thought that using a keycard to access his own room was weird. He was still not used to not having people check in on him every fifteen minutes even if he closed the door.
Darcy wasn't sure what the wide-eyed look was for, but she didn't comment on it. Card on reader, it was easy enough to pull up the menu and check off which rooms he'd have access to for now. "So the gym is usually open if someone's not actively working out or doing something that might make noise, but you can access that, the pool, your room, the art rooms, the medical wait area. Unrestricted stuff. You're welcome to go into the restricted areas with someone that has clearance. I'm sure someone will introduce you to the Danger Room soon enough - it's a multi-purpose training area, very high tech, I'm not even allowed in there without someone else at the controls yet - and if you want to see the jet or go inside the renovated Chapel just ask and someone can get you a tour. Scott's great for Blackbird tours, it's his baby. The Chapel's got a vending machine with strange snacks and the team there does weird science. They're cool people though. Clint and Molly are good at breaking down what they're doing." She slid the key back, sticking the reader back into the box.
"Have you done much exploring yet? Normally we would've given you a tour right off, but since we got back late and you seemed a little overwhelmed, I thought it could wait a few days."
He followed what she said pretty well, but still asked a clarifying question. "The blackbird is the jet?" He didn't comment on how he hadn't met or even heard of the three people Darcy mentioned. It was all very overwhelming. Why did they even have a jet? Maybe it was just because he was coming off almost a year of imprisonment or hospitalization but everything seemed so big and complicated, with so many places. He pocketed the key again. "I've looked around a little. Hope Abbott pointed me in the direction of the gym and I've run around the lake a few times." Why would you need a pool if you had a lake? Not that he liked swimming either way.
He trusted Darcy would tell him truthful information so he asked the question he didn't think anyone was actively hiding from him. "Are you guys here with the X-Men?" He hoped his question didn't sound silly. The X-Men were something of an urban legend to him, but he'd heard about a force that fought for mutants who were all mutants before.
"Yeah. They tackle threats that baselines can't handle. Anti-human groups like the Brotherhood, anti-mutant groups that are particularly violent and well-equipped. Ideally, they can show the world that mutants and the non-enhanced can coexist fairly peacefully. We've also got eXcalibur - those are the people in the Chapel, Clint and Molly and the others - they tackle weird science and mystical artifacts." Darcy's eyes crinkled. "Then there's X-Factor. Quentin's part of their group. They do private investigation and handle mutant problems at a more immediate level. Shitty landlords, finding missing people, getting hold of records, finding evidence to free people accused of low level crimes, that sort of thing." She tapped her fingers on the table for a minute. "You have to be an adult to join any of the teams if that becomes a thing that sounds appealing to you, but it's not an obligation. Your only obligations are your meetings with Haller and getting your powers in a controlled state."
Shatterstar was astonished to hear that not only were the X-Men real, but they had auxiliary groups.Though that did explain why people were there to pick him up so fast, if that was X-Factor's purpose. He wanted to join one of the teams, probably the X-Men but it was good to hear that the obligation wasn't there. As for the obligations he did have, he really didn't want to go to meetings with Haller. He didn't particularly want to learn to control his powers the way Haller had suggested, but if it was a requirement to be on the X-Men (the X-Men!) he would do it. "You're X-Factor then?" he asked.
Darcy shook her head with a laugh. "Gracious, no. I couldn't handle being around Quire that often, although the rest of the team is lovely and I get on with them just fine. I work for Snow Valley, it's a think tank. Data analysis, political papers, that sort of thing mostly. I just happened to be dropping things off when I got voluntold to come along. We've got three lawyers at the Institute - you'll meet Angelo and Matt at some point, because both of them know more about getting records sealed and expunged than I do. Let's see... oh! Have you been given contact information for any of the other sword people yet?"
Shatterstar hummed slightly, shaking his head. "I do not envy you. That sounds boring." Anything with excess reading just sounded painful to him. He did not imagine that data analysis was much better, though he didn't mind numbers. "Though it probably messes your hair up less," he said, noting that Darcy did have wonderful hair with a lot of volume. He knew from experience that all the effort you put into your hair was ruined with sweat.
Shatterstar thought for a moment about if he had any sword people's contact information before shaking his head. "No I have not, unless Madin counts," he told her. "But Dr. Haller said he would find people for me to train with." He didn't mention that he would also have to do powers training. Sword training seemed to be dangling over his head as a reward.
"It's not for everyone," Darcy agreed. "I like finding the patterns, putting things together. And generally yeah, it's fairly low impact on my hair. We do try to keep a minimum level of fitness and self-defense ability, even for those of us that don't regularly suit up. Never know when there might be a disaster or something and you need to help or escape." She was swiping through her phone as she talked, pulling out a sticky pad and pen to neatly scrawl a name and number down. "That's the phone number for my Doug, he's one of the other sword users. I told him on the way back to Boston I'd be sharing his contact info with you, so he won't be surprised if you shoot him a text."
Shatterstar nodded, taking the sticky note from her. He didn't know about a Doug, but if he used a sword he must be someone Shatterstar wanted to meet. He thanked Darcy for the number before adding. "I have a question before you go. What conditioner do you use?"
Seriously, her hair was amazing and now that Shatterstar had the means and opportunity to take proper care of his hair properly he was more than open for new tips.
"Oh uh... I use a leave-in spray by Shea Moisture. It's pretty affordable, do you want to try it?" Darcy eyed Shatterstar's hair, politely keeping her hands to herself. "I've also got some Lush conditioner, but it's a little too heavy for my curls."
The smile in Shatterstar's eyes didn't quite meet his mouth, but his happiness was clear anyways. "Yes please," he said. His hair was mostly straight, a little wavy at the end, and thinned out slightly. Not curly and thick like Darcy's.
"Cool, I'll bring them both by in a little bit. If one of them works for you, we'll figure out getting you a run into town. Bus pass, drive you into the city one day when I'm taking the car to work, something. Have you been able to get your learner's permit or driver's license? If not, we can get someone to teach you. Not me, I'm a neurotic mess, but someone with patience."
"Thank you," he said with genuine gratitude. He made a bit of a grimace at the thought of driving. "No license, but I do have a permit. I... Haven't driven well." When he was behind the wheel he became something of a neurotic mess himself, Boston traffic not helping at all. The attempts to drive were very short lived.
"Well, if you want to learn it's fairly quiet enough out here to be a good experience. But if you don't, there's a perfectly good bus system with a stop right at the gates, and a Park and Ride that'll connect you to the subway and get you all the way to the City. You have any other questions, or you want me to leave you to your..." Darcy cocked her head for a second. "Is that Longshot I hear?" She kept her face smooth, but she definitely heard Arthur's voice coming faintly from the television. "Good choice, sometimes I watch those when I'm under the weather."
"I own all his works," Shatterstar confirmed with a sort of intense interest. "The movies too."
He shifted from foot to foot. "Thank you. For all this," he said, looking to the box of electronics before looking to the television again. Now that Darcy had drawn his attention back to the TV, it was clear that his interest in conversation was draining.
"You're welcome. I'll be back in a minute with those conditioners, but otherwise I'll leave you to it. My phone and email are definitely in your contacts, so let me know if you need or want anything, and I'll see what can be done. Even if it's just something simple like a specific meal or treat you enjoy." Darcy made sure she had everything that wasn't staying with their newest resident, then turned to the door.
Darcy shifted the package in her arm as she gave two firm knocks to the door of the suite they'd had made up for Shatterstar the night of his arrival. "Delivery!" she called out, leaning against the wall as she waited for someone to come open the door. She could override it, but it wasn't an emergency and she didn't see the point in being an asshole to the newbie.
It took a moment for the door to open but when it did, Shatterstar stared all the way down at Darcy with a somewhat perturbed expression. Somewhere in the room, a television was playing reruns of Longshot for Survival. Shatterstar stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "Oh. It's you again," he said, but didn't seem all that displeased about it. "I didn't think you worked here. I thought you were a lawyer."
"Jill of all trades, sometimes. Lawyer by degree, part of the tech team by knowledge, welcome wagon by virtue of luck and being the one that touched your new toys last." She grinned up at him, hefting the box in her hands. "Can I come in for a few? I've got electronics for you. And a small apology for it taking a few days, we had to wait for the phone to arrive."
Shatterstar took a second to deliberate before letting her in. The room was very neat and orderly, though the dresser drawers were open. He was in the process of unpacking, but not being too soon about it in case he decided to run away after all. The only thing he had really set up was a place to put his various training swords. "I have a phone," he said, though it was pretty out of date. "What do you mean by toys?" He still stood like he was ready to kick Darcy out.
"Basic technology package," she replied, setting the box gently down on a table. "We do ask that you use the Xavier's phone. It's a little more secure than the standard phone, gives you limited access to the Xavier's intranet, and has a panic button that will send us your GPS coordinates for emergency purposes. We can also activate your GPS if you go missing, but like. Please don't just disappear. Leave a note that you're going on a wander and not kidnapped or something. People will still worry, but we won't send the cavalry after you." She rubbed the back of her neck a little sheepishly. "I've uh... been on the disappearing end. Anyway! Laptop, external keyboard and mouse, secure flash drive, and I'm gonna make sure your key card gives you access to everything it's supposed to."
He looked a little overwhelmed as he looked through the box. Shatterstar wasn't good with technology. It frustrated him to no end. Normally he managed with his old phone and school library computers well enough, but this was a lot to get all at once. "How do you even afford all this?" he asked, as he took the phone out. He didn't like the GPS feature, it seemed too invasive. He made a mental note to leave little notes when he left and to dump the phone as soon as possible if he ran away.
"A few very wealthy benefactors, grants, some patents, and bulk discounts. None of it is the ultra expensive top of the line. Plus, we do the security extras ourselves, which is free except for time." Darcy smiled lightly. "And if the GPS weirds you out like everyone else, you can restrict it just like on a normal phone. Can't turn off the emergency button, but that's literally for your safety. Otherwise it's kinda like using a school or work device without the weird key-tracking bullshit. If you leave permanently, you turn your devices in. If you just go off on a wander for a bit, you don't. If you're in danger and have access to your phone, you press the panic button. Simple." She pulled a small device out of the box, hooking it up to her phone. "Can I see your key card for a sec?"
Of course, Shatterstar didn't know how to disable or restrict GPS on a normal phone, but he supposed that was what google was for. His eyes were wide in questioning and awe at Darcy's casual mastery of electronics. It made sense- she was the zappy one. He fished into the pocket of his pants and handed her his keycard. "Here." He was glad to hopefully get more access to places around the mansion, even if he thought that using a keycard to access his own room was weird. He was still not used to not having people check in on him every fifteen minutes even if he closed the door.
Darcy wasn't sure what the wide-eyed look was for, but she didn't comment on it. Card on reader, it was easy enough to pull up the menu and check off which rooms he'd have access to for now. "So the gym is usually open if someone's not actively working out or doing something that might make noise, but you can access that, the pool, your room, the art rooms, the medical wait area. Unrestricted stuff. You're welcome to go into the restricted areas with someone that has clearance. I'm sure someone will introduce you to the Danger Room soon enough - it's a multi-purpose training area, very high tech, I'm not even allowed in there without someone else at the controls yet - and if you want to see the jet or go inside the renovated Chapel just ask and someone can get you a tour. Scott's great for Blackbird tours, it's his baby. The Chapel's got a vending machine with strange snacks and the team there does weird science. They're cool people though. Clint and Molly are good at breaking down what they're doing." She slid the key back, sticking the reader back into the box.
"Have you done much exploring yet? Normally we would've given you a tour right off, but since we got back late and you seemed a little overwhelmed, I thought it could wait a few days."
He followed what she said pretty well, but still asked a clarifying question. "The blackbird is the jet?" He didn't comment on how he hadn't met or even heard of the three people Darcy mentioned. It was all very overwhelming. Why did they even have a jet? Maybe it was just because he was coming off almost a year of imprisonment or hospitalization but everything seemed so big and complicated, with so many places. He pocketed the key again. "I've looked around a little. Hope Abbott pointed me in the direction of the gym and I've run around the lake a few times." Why would you need a pool if you had a lake? Not that he liked swimming either way.
He trusted Darcy would tell him truthful information so he asked the question he didn't think anyone was actively hiding from him. "Are you guys here with the X-Men?" He hoped his question didn't sound silly. The X-Men were something of an urban legend to him, but he'd heard about a force that fought for mutants who were all mutants before.
"Yeah. They tackle threats that baselines can't handle. Anti-human groups like the Brotherhood, anti-mutant groups that are particularly violent and well-equipped. Ideally, they can show the world that mutants and the non-enhanced can coexist fairly peacefully. We've also got eXcalibur - those are the people in the Chapel, Clint and Molly and the others - they tackle weird science and mystical artifacts." Darcy's eyes crinkled. "Then there's X-Factor. Quentin's part of their group. They do private investigation and handle mutant problems at a more immediate level. Shitty landlords, finding missing people, getting hold of records, finding evidence to free people accused of low level crimes, that sort of thing." She tapped her fingers on the table for a minute. "You have to be an adult to join any of the teams if that becomes a thing that sounds appealing to you, but it's not an obligation. Your only obligations are your meetings with Haller and getting your powers in a controlled state."
Shatterstar was astonished to hear that not only were the X-Men real, but they had auxiliary groups.Though that did explain why people were there to pick him up so fast, if that was X-Factor's purpose. He wanted to join one of the teams, probably the X-Men but it was good to hear that the obligation wasn't there. As for the obligations he did have, he really didn't want to go to meetings with Haller. He didn't particularly want to learn to control his powers the way Haller had suggested, but if it was a requirement to be on the X-Men (the X-Men!) he would do it. "You're X-Factor then?" he asked.
Darcy shook her head with a laugh. "Gracious, no. I couldn't handle being around Quire that often, although the rest of the team is lovely and I get on with them just fine. I work for Snow Valley, it's a think tank. Data analysis, political papers, that sort of thing mostly. I just happened to be dropping things off when I got voluntold to come along. We've got three lawyers at the Institute - you'll meet Angelo and Matt at some point, because both of them know more about getting records sealed and expunged than I do. Let's see... oh! Have you been given contact information for any of the other sword people yet?"
Shatterstar hummed slightly, shaking his head. "I do not envy you. That sounds boring." Anything with excess reading just sounded painful to him. He did not imagine that data analysis was much better, though he didn't mind numbers. "Though it probably messes your hair up less," he said, noting that Darcy did have wonderful hair with a lot of volume. He knew from experience that all the effort you put into your hair was ruined with sweat.
Shatterstar thought for a moment about if he had any sword people's contact information before shaking his head. "No I have not, unless Madin counts," he told her. "But Dr. Haller said he would find people for me to train with." He didn't mention that he would also have to do powers training. Sword training seemed to be dangling over his head as a reward.
"It's not for everyone," Darcy agreed. "I like finding the patterns, putting things together. And generally yeah, it's fairly low impact on my hair. We do try to keep a minimum level of fitness and self-defense ability, even for those of us that don't regularly suit up. Never know when there might be a disaster or something and you need to help or escape." She was swiping through her phone as she talked, pulling out a sticky pad and pen to neatly scrawl a name and number down. "That's the phone number for my Doug, he's one of the other sword users. I told him on the way back to Boston I'd be sharing his contact info with you, so he won't be surprised if you shoot him a text."
Shatterstar nodded, taking the sticky note from her. He didn't know about a Doug, but if he used a sword he must be someone Shatterstar wanted to meet. He thanked Darcy for the number before adding. "I have a question before you go. What conditioner do you use?"
Seriously, her hair was amazing and now that Shatterstar had the means and opportunity to take proper care of his hair properly he was more than open for new tips.
"Oh uh... I use a leave-in spray by Shea Moisture. It's pretty affordable, do you want to try it?" Darcy eyed Shatterstar's hair, politely keeping her hands to herself. "I've also got some Lush conditioner, but it's a little too heavy for my curls."
The smile in Shatterstar's eyes didn't quite meet his mouth, but his happiness was clear anyways. "Yes please," he said. His hair was mostly straight, a little wavy at the end, and thinned out slightly. Not curly and thick like Darcy's.
"Cool, I'll bring them both by in a little bit. If one of them works for you, we'll figure out getting you a run into town. Bus pass, drive you into the city one day when I'm taking the car to work, something. Have you been able to get your learner's permit or driver's license? If not, we can get someone to teach you. Not me, I'm a neurotic mess, but someone with patience."
"Thank you," he said with genuine gratitude. He made a bit of a grimace at the thought of driving. "No license, but I do have a permit. I... Haven't driven well." When he was behind the wheel he became something of a neurotic mess himself, Boston traffic not helping at all. The attempts to drive were very short lived.
"Well, if you want to learn it's fairly quiet enough out here to be a good experience. But if you don't, there's a perfectly good bus system with a stop right at the gates, and a Park and Ride that'll connect you to the subway and get you all the way to the City. You have any other questions, or you want me to leave you to your..." Darcy cocked her head for a second. "Is that Longshot I hear?" She kept her face smooth, but she definitely heard Arthur's voice coming faintly from the television. "Good choice, sometimes I watch those when I'm under the weather."
"I own all his works," Shatterstar confirmed with a sort of intense interest. "The movies too."
He shifted from foot to foot. "Thank you. For all this," he said, looking to the box of electronics before looking to the television again. Now that Darcy had drawn his attention back to the TV, it was clear that his interest in conversation was draining.
"You're welcome. I'll be back in a minute with those conditioners, but otherwise I'll leave you to it. My phone and email are definitely in your contacts, so let me know if you need or want anything, and I'll see what can be done. Even if it's just something simple like a specific meal or treat you enjoy." Darcy made sure she had everything that wasn't staying with their newest resident, then turned to the door.
