ok, alien bad dude...

[scarabsuited]

WHO: The Negotiator, Jaime
WHERE: Wherever the Negotiator happens to be
WHEN: 1/17 evening
WARNINGS: Who knows even
SUMMARY: Uprooting bad seeds
FORMAT: No



[it's been way too quiet on the Negotiator front. Jaime's not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

maybe if he can somehow confirm the guy vanished without causing any harm, it'd be good! but only then. pretending the threats away was kid's stuff, and Jaime Reyes is no kid. not anymore.

he can't let the Reach get the one-up on him again.

Scarab has its nonexistent ear to the Network, trying to pick up the sound of the Negotiator's voice and track a device while giving Jaime eyes to scan the City below as he flies, seeking that familiarly alien signature...

at least there's only one of them this time.

Comments

[monopolyonsnark]

[ The Negotiator was at, of all places, a library.

Data. It was all about data. And loathe to admit it, without the Reach's surveillance technology, the Negotiator needed to learn all he could about this place through other methods.

His human disguise was on as he left with a bag of books, but there was no masking his signature. ]

[scarabsuited]

[of course a library. he should've veered that way first...

well. nobody's running from the building screaming, so there's a good start! Jaime has to take time to find a quiet alley and shift back to civvies first of all, since showing up suited was...kind of a spectacle.

Jaime strolls in, failing at casual for the most part. man on a mission.

it definitely doesn't take long to find him, but color him surprised.

from an angle behind:]

You're human now? [but that's not right. Scarab says he still reeks of...Reachyness...]

[monopolyonsnark]

[ The appearance of Jaime Reyes was almost enough to loose his concentration on his disguise. Almost, but he had also been expecting the young man's appearance around every corner since he arrived.

There's a very, very, brief flicker of green, as he turns over his shoulder to Jaime. ]

It's much more convenient .

[scarabsuited]

Oh, I bet. [frowning, eyes narrowed. no. not human-human, is he?] I'm amazed you're still sane, to be honest. The mingling with lesser beings hasn't gotten to you?

[monopolyonsnark]

I am perfectly capable of surviving on this world, Reyes. [ Mostly illegally.

He raises an eyebrow, taking in Jaime's appearance. ] Have you aged?

[scarabsuited]

[he can't suppress a dry smirk - the only response the guy gets for that. instead, Jaime's gaze flickers to the Negotiator's hard efforts at research. in a bag. and not a computer.

really?]

I don't think this place carries How to Enslave Planets just yet, sorry. So I'm guessing that's a bunch of how-to's on getting a life outside villainy? Not a bad way to go, I hope you know. It does wonders.

[monopolyonsnark]

[ He frowns. human aging - how does it work

He then pulls out a book from the bag - a very dry text on American politics and law]

See, Jaime Reyes? I am integrating, just as you suggested. Don't be so paranoid.

[scarabsuited]

Says the guy who gave orders to blow up my house with my family in it. [it's almost knee-jerk, but Jaime keeps the remark rather low-key for the amount of public around. he's not here to make a scene...unless he has to.

he gives the book on display a couple seconds of squinting scrutiny before sending the look back up – ugh, why is he still taller than me? – to the Negotiator.]

No one would be happier to see you go legit, Reach-guy. That's not sarcasm. But I can't take your word at face value. "Talk is cheap," and all that.

[monopolyonsnark]

[ When Jaime says it, the Negotiator's gaze flickers around - seeing if anyone was listening in.

Satisfied no one was, he gets more smug. ]

But you will have to, won't you? You've found yourself without proof, yet again.

[scarabsuited]

Doesn't change the fact you have a bad track record. [>:|] Pick it up here and it's gonna go nowhere fast. Doesn't take a superior alien brain to figure that one out, I hope.

[monopolyonsnark]

Of course not. It's evident that this new dimension requires different tactics.

[ His smug face shifts into a more threatening one.]

But if you intend to sabotage me simply out of suspicion, I will not hesitate to eliminate the problem. Do you understand, Reyes?

[scarabsuited]

Throwing threats like that around isn't exactly convincing me to trust you at all. You know that, right? [he squints. or do you not even care? most likely not, he thinks.

a little huff, hands in the air in a kind of whatever gesture, stepping back one.] But by all means, go on and do what you gotta do to take care of yourself. Without the evil plots and all, of course.

[monopolyonsnark]

Please. I don't expect you to trust me, merely stay out of my way. Keep out of my business and I will keep out of yours. [ He relaxes, slightly, and finally puts the book back in his bag.

He's still a bit huffy though.]

[scarabsuited]

[riiiiiight. Jaime makes a face, letting his hands drop.]

Here's hoping that's going to stay true enough for more than a week. [he starts turning, grimacing a little as he thinks about it. good luck? he's not sure he could stomach even saying that.

archenemies suck.

dialogue with them sucks, too. he's got no snappy closing lines, that's for sure. it's best to just leave the guy be, he decides, and makes his exit without any farewells or i'm watching yous. that goes without saying.]