capeandcowllogs | Don't know when, but it's soon

Entry tags:

Don't know when, but it's soon

WHO: Bobbi Morse, Nick Fury, Julian Keller, Gilbert Nightray, & Daria Morgendorffer
WHERE: Madison Square Park, by the statue of William Seward.
WHEN: 10am, Sunday morning
WARNINGS: N/A?
SUMMARY: Nick's latest project is go. Now he needs soldiers.
FORMAT: Quick.

[The sun is shining into the park, though the temperature hasn't yet hit it's full potential for the day. Bobbi is keeping herself occupied by drinking black coffee from a nondescript travel mug, listening to the birds chirping and flitting from tree to tree while maintaining a respectable distance from Nick, who is standing near the base of the Seward statue. She doesn't make eye contact with him, barely pays him any notice at all as she finds an empty spot on a park bench to wait for the others to arrive.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Gil comes marching down from the opposite path, entering the park as casually as he can, although upon closer inspection it can easily be determined he is taking in his surroundings as well as the people around him bit by bit. He hasn't laid eyes on Daria or Julian yet, wherever they are, as he's on the lookout for the one with the eye patch who called him out today: Nick Fury.

The last time someone "invited" him out anywhere, he wound up murdered, along with nearly a dozen others. It should come as no surprise he's wary about this entire meeting, even keeping his revolver tucked in his coat pocket. ]

[ Nick nods almost imperceptibly in greeting as Bobbi settles into place on the nearby bench. For his part, he doesn't shy away from the base of the statue, lurking idly and watching the birds casually as they hop from one tree to another. To the untrained observer, he looks like just another retiree out for a stroll in the nice spring weather.

He spots Gilbert a ways off and finds himself hoping Julian and Daria will be a little less to the point when they do decide to show up. The roughness of the young man's stride is just another reason to keep him out of the field, Nick figures. And he wasn't out and out obvious, not anything that couldn't be carefully trained away.

Never liking to make the first move, Nick keeps to his birdwatching for the moment. This meeting is just as much about assessing their instincts as it is getting them on board with his operation. ]

[ Julian arrives pretty much on time. He hadn't realized that anyone but Fury would be here, and his eyebrows lift slightly when he notices Gil nearby. He's not sure if that's coincidence or not, so he's also not sure if Fury will want to stay here.

Whatever, he'll wait for some sort of signal. After he notices Gil, he doesn't really look at anything while he walks, but he stops near the statue and pretends to check his phone. He's dressed in his regular clothes, so he probably looks like any Blackberry-obsessed teenager right now. Anyway, that's what he's going for. ]

[Daria arrives soon after. Her expression is as unconcerned as usual, but the flickering of her eyes are a good signal that she's here for a reason. The coffee in her hands, however, is a good signal that she's rarely up this early.

She's only here to see Nick Fury, and she's not even entirely sure why she came. Curiosity, probably. She spots the statue, and stands directly under it, sipping it as she waits for someone to speak to her. It would have probably been a good idea to find out what this guy actually looked like before showing up for a meeting with him, but she'll just wait for now.]

[Once the others have all arrived, Bobbi rises from her perch on the bench and approaches in a wide arc, something like an approaching bird. She takes a position next to Nick, eyes quickly darting to each of the others, and she slowly sips her coffee before speaking.]

Good morning, my dears. It's so nice to see you've all made it, and right on time, too.

[ The familiar voice alerts him to all the faces around him. Faces he's surprised to see, but ones he's familiar with. Daria, the strange girl from the Network, and Julian, Kenzi's loud friend friend from the Superbowl party.

Suddenly, it's all very confusing -- more than before. Needing answers, he turns to Bobbi and makes his way closer, eyes narrowing at her slightly. ]

You again.

[ He looks at Nick, too, apprehensive about this whole thing. ]

What is this about?

[Nick gives him a flat look. It would be admonishing on an old woman, on him it just reads as oddly humorless.]

Alright.

[He motioned for them all (even Julian playing on his cellphone, the brat) to get in close. Just because they were in a public space and the odds of running into another imPort or someone who might recognize them were small didn't make them nonexistent.]

You've all probably heard about Phantasm. Or I'd assume you have after that shindig the other day. Well, Red Death is, from what I can tell, a group that springs off from 'em. Difference is, Red Death's s'pposed to have powers. Now there isn't a whole helluva lot we can do about them from here, but I'd be willin' to bet they trade information back and forth between the friendlier cells. I want us to get friendly with those friendly cells.

[ Julian pockets his cell and comes forward. He’d been paying zero attention to it anyway, but he takes the opportunity to get a look at the others. Daria, Gil, and him. He only knows Gil through Kenzi, and Daria’s...Daria. None of them are actual friends, and now he wonders if that’s deliberate. Because there would be no reason to connect the three of them together, beyond that they all must have attracted Fury’s attention somehow.

The story Fury lays down isn’t anything like what he’s expecting. His first thought had been that he was in trouble, and then he hadn’t known what to think.

Recruitment hadn’t crossed his mind, but now that it’s on the table, the thing pressing on him most is interest. Strong interest. ]

Powered natives? That’s something our old friends Vulcanus used to talk about. Are you thinking there’s a connection? [ A pause. ] Or is that what we’re here for?

[Daria certainly wasn't expecting this, but she wasn't expecting anything really. She notes Julian's appearance with mild annoyance, and Gil's with mere apathy. When Nick starts to speak, however, she begins to pay attention, finally speaking after Julian has said his piece.]

And just how exactly are we supposed to be getting friendly with the friendly cells?

[She sounds skeptical, and she feels it too.]

[Bobbi smirks, faintly pleased that none of them seems to realize just exactly the sort of business Nick Fury has in mind. She looks Julian and Daria over, appraisingly.]

You're here because you're going to join them. Undercover.

[Her eyes flick toward Gil, grin widening.]

And you're going to learn how to be control.

[ Gil's eyes widen when Fury speaks about this Red Death, mostly due to them having apparent powers. There had been no mention of Phantasm having something like that and he's always been certain Cityzens were nothing like imPorts.

Before he can argue with Fury and state he's asked him here for the wrong reasons, Bobbi's comment has his head snapping in her direction and if it's possible, his eyes grow larger. ] What? Control for -- [ He shakes his head. ] You can't be serious.

She is, and I am, too.

[Nick looks determined, his jaw set harshly. He's already made up his mind about his team and their roles, now he just has to convince them all it's a good idea. This was easier when he could just order people to shut up and play their parts.]

We do this separate. Except Bobbi here, none of us are all that high profile as far as imPorts go, but we'll work undercover just in case. Gil, you'll work with me. Bobbi'll be handlin' you kids.

Phantasm looks like they're recruiting. We give 'em three able bodied vigilantes and I don't think a homegrown organization like that's gonna ask too many questions. And if they do, it'll be about the old timer with the eyepatch, not either of you.

[ Julian shoots an uncertain look in Daria’s direction. Work with her? She’d just love having to spend quality time with him.
But again he wonders if that’s the point. They’re not friends. Even if they were recognized as ImPorts, they wouldn’t necessarily be connected together. Who would assume they were working together at all? It’d be like a double cover.

But would it be enough? Anyone who did recognize Julian might recognize that he was DOI, and that could have its own problems. He wasn’t sure about this. The DOI were working on hurting Vulcanus, he couldn’t forget the importance of that.

But this group had powers, and he knew that was something Vulcanus had worked on. If there’s a connection, he’d want to know that. And if there isn’t, it would mean they have an extra enemy, and that’d be worth knowing too.

And it’s Fury who’s asking. He wishes that didn’t make a difference to him, but it does.
]

I’m not afraid of them catching us. If they want guys with powers they’d be all over us. But what exactly are we looking for here? Proof of who’s running the show?

[Daria tries to focus in on the conversation, but she's immediately more worried about her own safety than she is about the morality of what she's being asked to do. She mentally kicks herself, annoyed at her own selfishness, but she grips onto her coffee cup a little more tightly than she would normally.

She had never done anything as dangerous as what was being proposed, and she had a hard enough time participating in after-school clubs. Being asked to do something this seemingly monumental was a little overwhelming, but she's still just able to speak calmly.]

Will this involve disguises?

[Inquisitive as always.]

Yes, to all of your questions.

[She strides forward until she is right beside Gil, a look of stern reassurance on her face. Despite the exterior of carefree charm, Bobbi takes her profession very seriously. She started out young, barely older than Daria and Julian, just a college student, perhaps misguided in her reasons for wanting to get involved, but she'd been good at the work. And one thing she'd learned from Nick was that it took all types to succeed in espionage. And the group assembled before her was certainly an odd little cross-section of the imPort world.]

We need to gather as much information as possible. Who's behind the group, what their movements and plans are, if there are any outside interests funding their activities. Nick and I will teach you everything you'll need to know before you go in. We'll establish viable covers and disguises as needed so that you'll be one hundred percent prepared before you join them.

[Her gaze falls back to Gil again.]

And Gil and I will guide you as you two and Nick interact in the field.

Wait a second. Don't just decide on these things! [ His hand curls into a fist, but it stays by his side. It was a lot of information to take in at once. ] What makes you think I've agreed to this?

[Oddly enough, Gil's flustering and doubting makes Nick smile. It's wry and a little unnerving with the eye patch.]

Because I wouldn't have asked any of you if I didn't think you were cut out for this kinda work. Me an' Bobbi are professionals; This is what we do. [He gaze moves specifically over to Daria, noting her nervousness and preoccupation.] You won't be going in blind.

Now... [Nick's intensity eases up and he turns away from them, looking down the path that leads away and around the Seward statue.] I'm starved. How 'bout you kids?

[ So that's it? They're in?

Julian glances at Daria. He knows she's unsure. He's less so. There's a part of this that excites him, especially given what he's been working on with Jack and Callie.
If this group are what Fury says, and especially if they have links to someone like Vulcanus, ImPorts need to know. He'd always rather take action than sit at the side. He shrugs, smiling a little. ]
I could go for a bite. [ Which means that yes, he's in. He looks at Daria, questioning. Wondering if she'd work with him. ] You?

[In her all nervousness, she had forgotten that a large part of the mission, apart from the death-defying nature of it all, would actually be working with Julian. When he actually speaks to her, she takes a few seconds to respond.]

I suppose I could eat something.

[It's a sacrifice she'll have to make.]

It's all settled then.

[Of course, it isn't, but that isn't the point.

Bobbi starts off along the path behind the statue, which leads to a picnic area with tables and chairs and lights strung up in the trees. Just beyond that is the Shake Shack, a restaurant the size of a trailer that peddles burgers and fries and other basic foods. It's just opening up for business which means there's no line and plenty of open seats. Bobbi goes right for a large table and motions for the others to follow.]

I have a few ideas for your covers, but of course we'll want some input from you. You're the one who has to live it, so you need to be sure you can commit to it.

[She gave Gil another look.]

You'll be working with me, Gil. You'll be in control of Nick while I work with Daria and Julian.

[ He steps forward toward Fury now, bristling and indignant. He also means to argue with Bobbi, but it's always a little harder to pick fights with women.

And she's a good shot, on top of it all... ]

Hey! You're not even listening! What if I refuse?

[ But he hasn't yet. He's not sure what's stalling him from just leaving this park or announcing he won't do what they want. ]

[Nick was just about to break from the circle and head off down the path. He pauses, not quite looking at the flustered young man.]

Son, I am listenin' to you and proceeding under the assumption that if you had an overwhelming reason ta turn me down, you woulda done it already.

[Finally, he turns back to Gil with an impassively level look. No one can ever accuse him of having a terrible poker face.]

But now that you got my attention, feel free to make yer concerns known.

[ Every now and then Gil can put up a decent brave front, but to someone as highly perceptive as Nick and Bobbi he's still visibly tense and trying too hard. ]

That's... that's because I'm not a -- whatever you think I am! And even then, don't we get some time to think about this? [ He swallows hard and takes a deep breath. ]

[ Julian shrugs his shoulders, giving Gil an irritated glance. ]

What time do you need? Come on, you aren't gonna tell me you don't want to know what these people are doing. If they're in league with someone who could actually hurt us, we have to know. We keep getting screwed over here because the bad guys keep getting the jump on us. We can't keep letting that happen.

[Daria keeps silent. In her heart, she stills feel undecided on whether this is the right thing to do, but she knows she's already committed to it. She can barely convince herself, and she understands Gil's annoyance at being pushed into a new role.]

You're right.

[Bobbi maintains a calm facade, though her mind is pumped full of refreshed memories of her own induction into SHIELD and the ways of Nick Fury. Not an easy process, not even one she fully understood or consented to when she'd told him 'yes'. But she's never regretted her choice, and she hopes sincerely that these kids will realize how they can help, the significance of their contributions.]

We've sat by for too damn long. Years ago, when I first arrived here, imPorts faced a threat called the HIVE. They're gone now, almost forgotten save for what they did in L.A. An entire city was wiped off the map because terrorists wanted to hurt imPorts. This crap's happened a half a dozen times in the last three years, and it'll keep happening unless we find a way to nip it in the bud.

[Now she looks mad, like the weight of all the years she's spent doing this may be sinking on her. But she recovers quite quickly and shakes it off.]

Maybe we won't find shit on these people. Maybe there's nothin' to learn. But on the off chance we can save somebody's life, liberty, or property, I say we're obligated to do it.

[And at the very least, they'll get some intel to tuck away for later. Not a bad trade, if they can manage not to get caught.]

So think about it, Gil. You too, Daria. And while you do, I'll order some milkshakes.

A whole city...

[ Fury's no longer Gil's concern suddenly. In fact, Bobbi's controlled anger is what gets him to shrink back a little while he tries absorb all this information laid out now. He had never heard of HIVE and he doesn't know the history of this world well enough to have known an entire city was destroyed here.

It actually hits close to home -- literally. Sablier had once been a flourishing city, some sort of home to him one hundred years ago. He hadn't uncovered the full truth yet, just pieces of it, but he knows well enough the sort of damages and following consequences of a city falling into ruin.

It does the trick. He falls silent, his fingers no longer digging hard into the skin of his palm.

Oz, him, and the others have been trying to prevent a second Tragedy from occurring back home. Bobbi and Fury were trying to prevent something similar and finally, as strange as this all still is to him, he begins to understand where they are coming from. ]

... I'll think about it, Miss Bobbi.

[ Which is his way of saying while he's actually almost sold on this. He's been crafted into someone's "left eye" before, so to speak. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't know when, but it's soon

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject