i need a knack for keepin' out of trouble:

[capemods]

WHO: ImPorts in Venezuela
WHERE: Mérida, Venezuela
WHEN: October 15th 2012 - October 18th 2012
WARNINGS: Strong language is likely. Potential violence.
SUMMARY: President Pisani throws a festival for imPorts one and all! While this is a catchall log for the first four days and set wholly in Merida, you are not limited to those parameters. If you want to pursue your own logs too, feel free!
FORMAT: Whatever you'd like.


It was a beautiful city, green and lush. Morning mist locked fingers with older stone and quiet brick. Much of the populace lulled in the valley between two solid growths of mountains, cushioned in an ancient palm and electrified by the lively pulse of the crisp, rain-courted air. The temperature is brisk, chilly, but that shouldn't discourage you from enjoying the lakes and rivers breathing through the land. The city itself is equally crisp and its usually pristine avenues are ablaze with color; banners and posters and warm hellos. There was warmth everywhere, in homes and faces and hands.

Welcome to Mérida, Hero.

Comments

open, late evening; threadjacks inevitable

[waiting]

[ Who's in the mood for dancing? Not Rick Bradbury, certainly. He's dressed down from his usual bodyguard attire tonight, since a suit isn't really the appropriate kind of attire to be hitting the streets in if he isn't on the job. He's currently nursing a beer at a table that's been set up in the street, accommodating the spillover from the bar behind it.

He doesn't appear to have any company at the moment, but he certainly seems to be waiting for someone. ]

[out_of_time]

[The parade is noisy and boisterous enough to make for perfect cover. Even for someone who needs to avoid people as much as Jack does, sometimes crowds can be concealment. This makes it a good opportunity to take a risk and approach someone. In this case, emerging from the shadows of the alley behind the bar and stealing up to Rick's table.]

Rick Bradbury?

[Now Jack just hopes Rick doesn't try to tackle him. At least if he makes a fuss, he has half a dozen escape routes already planned...]

[waiting]

[ Now, Bradbury doesn't know Jack Bauer personally, but he knows of him, and the images he's run across on the network's archives and old news feeds have given him an idea of what the guy looks like. He doesn't initially react to someone coming up to his table until his name is called, and then he turns his head, sharply.

It takes half a beat for him to recognize Jack, and he unmistakably stiffens. He doesn't jump out of his seat immediately or try to alert anyone else to Jack's presence, though his grip on his beer bottle tightens. ]

Yeah, that's me. Who's asking? [ Neutrally. ]

[out_of_time]

[Jack notices the tensing in Rick's body language. Well, this isn't off to a good start.]

My name's Jack Bauer. [As though someone working on City Hall security has never heard of the rogue ex-cop.] I just want to talk.

[waiting]

[ Bradbury rests the tips of his fingers on the edge of the table, sizing Jack up warily. Being in a public place is no guarantee of safety, but he can't think of any particular reason to be worried that this is gonna get violent. He spreads a hand to indicate the empty seat across him, shrugging. ]

Sure. I don't mind talking.

[out_of_time]

Thank you.

[Jack takes a seat, and is careful to keep his hands on the surface of the table, in plain view. Then he dives right in.]

I want to know how secure you think City Hall's staff is on this trip.

[waiting]

No offense, but I'm not about to discuss City Hall's security detail with someone who isn't on it.

[ He's adopted a more businesslike posture himself, sitting upright and attentive. ]

[out_of_time]

[Jack leans forward a bit.]

Fine, let me rephrase that. How confident are you that Mitch and the others are gonna come back from this thing alive?

[waiting]

[ Bradbury's silent for a moment, then leans forward, crossing his arms. ]

You're pretty concerned, for someone who's not even supposed to be out of the country. [ He doesn't seem inclined to turn Jack over to the authorities. ] What's it to you?

[out_of_time]

[Jack squints at that, but this is longer than he expected them to talk without anybody pulling a gun and/or yelling for police, so that's good.]

I don't know what you've heard about me, but everything I've done has been for the best interests of the City and its people. That includes its elected leaders continuing to do their jobs without getting killed for it.

[He pauses, frowns, checks the area around them. Still just them and the parade-goers.]

Even if I don't work for City Hall anymore.

[Jack returns his attention to Rick.]

Besides, I have reason to believe that what's happening here is a lot bigger than just the City.

[waiting]

[ Bradbury's always been an action first, ask later kind of guy, but lately he's been having to refine that approach a little. Besides, the simple fact is that right now, he's unarmed, and he doesn't know enough about the kind of powers or skills Jack has to know if it's a good idea to take him on.

The simplest reason of all, though, is that he's simply curious. The network's a shitty way to get to know someone, as far as he's concerned. He's always been someone who trusts his gut rather than his head, and having to deal with people through a little electronic device always throws him off.

Jack... he doesn't trust Jack, but he thinks if the guy was out to shoot him, he would've done it by now. ]

No shit. You think anyone'd spend this much time and money on just a fancy party? [ His tone is neutral, though, and he spreads a hand palm up, go on. ] I'm listening, so you don't need to give me the run-around.

[out_of_time]

All right, good. [Encouraged nod.]

Right now all I'm asking for is that if I come to you with information, you'll be willing to listen. I'm going to have my eyes out for threats during this, and since I'm off the books I'm capable of getting results your regular team can't.

[For someone who spends so much time on a cell phone, Jack's with Rick on the in-person value. There's a lot to be said for being able to look into someone's eyes and judge their body language without a screen in between.]

Any information I find won't do any good if I've got no one to pass it on to. That's what I need you for.

[waiting]

[ That's a candid dismissal of his security team's ability, but Rick isn't inclined to voice disagreement, especially when helps being offered for free. He's studying Jack as he speaks, trying to gauge him, before he nods. ]

Why come to me? [ The question is frank. ] Why not bring it to the boss himself, if you're so worried?

[show_my_cannons]

[Getting out of the city had been... well. It was a good idea. He would have really preferred another method of transportation, but -- even the damn plane was a good distraction. He didn't want to think about the missing people.]

[So... now he just sort of roamed. Marched the streets. He too still wore the black clothing -- the bodyguard outfit. At least it was a color he was comfortable in. But the sight of a familiar human makes him pause. Long enough to give an awkward sort of wave.]

... Sir.

[clobberin]

[ Ben finds the familiarity of a uniform comforting, and black's a flattering color. Now, if only he could find the rest of the City Hall-- that's what he gets for traveling separate and dragging his best friend along. But he figures him and Reed probably need the bro time, whenever he can manage to squeeze it in between shifts.

At least Bradbury and the guy standing next to him are easy to spot-- Rick's a familiar face, and the other guy's in a uniform like his own. Here's company Ben will fit in with. He approaches without preamble, giving a half-wave to Bradbury. ]

Hey, Rick. [ A pause as he sizes Ironhide up, then offers his hand to shake. ] Don't think we've met. Ben Grimm.

[waiting]

[ Now Bradbury's the one who's out of place among his security team, and his mouth quirks in a wry grin as he looks from one well-dressed man to the other. ]

Glad to see you made it in one piece. [ He lets Ironhide make his own introductions, then waves them both to sit down with him, before turning to the still-uniformed Ironhide with a raised brow. ]

I told you, it's just "Bradbury" when we're not on the job. You were supposed to be rotated off an hour ago. Didn't wanna dress down?

[show_my_cannons]

[He straightens at the approach of the other man, and, for a second, stares at the proffered hand, as if having to remind himself what exactly the gesture means. At length, he nods, and reaches to shake the newcomer's hand.]

Ironhide.

[He really should make an effort to get out more. Then again, he never was the social sort.]

... No. I am more comfortable in a uniform.

[clobberin]

Nice to meet you.

[ If Ben's bothered by the way Ironhide hesitates, he doesn't show it, just gives the other man's hand a firm shake and a brief, but easy smile before accepting Bradbury's offer to sit. ]

What's the guy gotta dress down for? He looks sharp in the uniform, don't he?

[ There's a vague sort of good-natured teasing in Ben's voice, something amused about the shape of his eyes and mouth as he talks. ]

[waiting]

I just don't think I've seen you out of that thing since you got it. [ He's not sure what Ironhide does in his spare time, either, at least not since getting here. In any case, he nods at them both. ]

Surprised you two haven't run into each other yet. [ They've been on the job only about a week, though, so maybe he's not as surprised as he could be. He twists around to flag a waiter down, then raises his brows at them both. ]

So, can I buy you a drink?

[show_my_cannons]

Yeah. You too.

[He's not that experienced with giving and receiving handshakes. He's seen them, sure. But it's not really an Autobot thing. So he's grateful when the human doesn't comment on it.]

[At the comments regarding the uniform... he just shrugs, looking uncomfortable. "Looks sharp"? What does that even mean.]

I... am not 'social'. Just here to do a job.

[He stays standing, even when the other sits.]

What sort of drink?

[clobberin]

[ Ben quirks a lopsided grin. ]

We are kinda hard to miss. But hey, better late than never. [ A pause, as he eyes Ironhide a moment, noticing that he's still standing even after the invitation to sit. Maybe he needs a little coaxing. With a friendly, mild sort of insistence: ] C'mon, sit. Not too often the boss offers to buy ya drinks, right?

[waiting]

At ease, Ironhide. [ Bradbury adds, belatedly, like that might help. ]

As for what kind of drink -- [ He flicks out the laminated drinks list from where it's propped against the tissue paper holder, and holds it out for both of them to peruse. ] -- I was thinking something alcoholic, but it's your call.

[show_my_cannons]

No... I guess it is not.

[He doesn't really seem to relax until, surprise surprise, 'at ease' comes. Then he nods to them both, and sits.]

[You can take the Autobot out of the military...]

Have not tried your alcohol. Never had a reason to. Yet. [He looks between the two.] Show me.

[clobberin]

That's the spirit. [ Ben reaches out and claps Ironhide on the shoulder roughly, quirking a grin. ] Since you're a first-timer, we should definitely do shots.

[ He might be joking. Possibly not. Don't let the nice guy exterior fool you -- Ben Grimm always had a little of the popular, frat boy type in him. And he does remember how to have a good time. ]

[waiting]

Shots sound good. [ He's surprised that Ironhide hasn't drunk before, too, and like Ben, he thinks that's something that should be fixed pretty quickly. He flags a waiter down and nods, rattling off an order in stilted but surprisingly fluent Spanish, then turns, grinning at them both. ]

Hope you don't mind, but I figured I'd get things started. [ The waiter comes back with a bottle of tequila and three shotglasses, setting them on the table along with a plate of salt and lime slices. ]