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

[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?

[out_of_time]

[It's not that Jack thinks the team is incompetent, so much as that he thinks they have to play by a set of rules the other side can use- which for him means they might as well be incompetent.]

Because I'm a political liability. [The response comes immediately, equally frank.] Mitch can't accept help from me, not even on the side. He knows what it would mean for his reputation if he was found taking assistance from someone like me.

[He frowns again.]

And I know what kind of a priority his reputation is for him. Going through you creates plausible deniability.

[waiting]

So he can't know about this - or he can't know it comes from you. [ It sounds ... Bradbury doesn't like how it sounds. He knows Mitch cares about appearances, especially in politics, where appearances are sometimes all the difference there is between winning one more political ally than not. Manipulating public impressions isn't really something Bradbury's had a lot of practice at, but keeping secrets is one thing he knows how to do.

Fuck, but Rick hates politics. But this is a part of the job, too, and if it's anything that might give him an advantage, stay one step ahead of any potential mess? He'll take it. ]

All right. [ He says at last. ] We gotta deal. But I'm gonna go ahead and ask: is this a one-time-offer only thing?

[ Wanted man or not, Jack used to be a cop here. And Bradbury's been seriously feeling the lack of his own sources and connections from back home hampering his job. ]

[out_of_time]

That's up to you. I'm asking this because this trip is a high-risk situation, but if you want to keep in contact after we're all back in the City, I'm willing.

[Not just willing- eager, enthusiastic. However removed Jack is from the system, despite the freedom it gives him, he does miss being plugged in, having resources and connections, a team. The chance to operate vicariously through Bradbury is more than tempting.]

[waiting]

I'll think about it. [ Not a yes, not a no, but an answer that simply suggests that he's open to the possibility. City Hall's security team is a far cry from a private army, despite the roster it's made up of, but within the confines of his position, Bradbury wants to do what he can. ]

How do I get in touch with you when I need you? [ He assumes Jack knows that Mitch talks to machines, so any method of communication using those would be risky. ]

[out_of_time]

Sounds good. [He'll just have to earn further interest by proving how useful his ways can be.]

There's a dead drop located near the hotel. I check it at least once a day.

[He hands Rick a small piece of paper with the details on it. Going back to old-school fieldcraft like this feels odd for Jack, who has spent much of his career immersed in electronics, but that's what you get when the Mayor is on a first-name basis with cell phones.]

[waiting]

[ Bradbury takes the paper, skimming it for details and memorizing it before he tucks it into a back pocket. Judging by the wry smile on his face, he finds the relative primitiveness of this funny, though he knows he really shouldn't. Kicking it old-school style. ]

Feels like we should be exchanging codenames or something, too.

[out_of_time]

Yeah, we should. [If Jack sees any humour or is in fact capable of humour, he doesn't show it.] Any message you pass to me, you should address it to 'Ron.'

[waiting]

[ Business, then. Rick hesitates for a moment, thinking, then settles on: ] I'll go with York.

[ New York, like back in the Marines, but that would be too obvious a pseudonym. ]

[out_of_time]

York, then. [Jack nods again, then stands up to leave. Staying much longer would be a risk.]

I'll be in touch if I find anything you should know. You're not gonna regret this, Rick.

[Rick will probably regret this.]

[waiting]

[ He already kind of does. ]

Yeah. See you around.

[ He'll watch Jack until he disappears into the crowd, then take a long pull from his beer. After that, he figures he needs a drink. ]