Open Post

[twoton_twentyone]

[ New scenes, or whatever. Anything goes.]

Comments

Worries and concerns @reginamariposa

[twoton_twentyone]

Hey, Sheila, sorry to bother you. Are you home? If not it's cool.

[reginamariposa]

i'm in my office-- what's wrong? you alright?

[twoton_twentyone]

Is it cool if I come down and talk to you? I'm fine, but I need to talk to someone smart about this. You're the smartest person I know.

[reginamariposa]

of course you can, hun, you can talk to me about anything. i may be pretty damn smart, but i dont know everything. i'll do my best, though

[twoton_twentyone]

Thanks Sheila. I'll be down in a second.

[ Despite having just asked, he still knocked before waiting a second to peak in the office door.]

Hey. Uhh, do you know anything about nanobombs?

[reginamariposa]

[she's just finishing up the last signature when he pops his head in, all hesitant like]

Nanobombs? I dabbled with the idea in college myself, but that was a long time ago. Why?

[a pause, then:]

Why.

[twoton_twentyone]

I totally knew I should ask you.

[ Still rather hesitant, but trying to sound his normal self. Gary made his way inside and sat in a chair across from her.]

So, uh, have you watched the news lately? If not, watch this first.

[ The same as Harley had done to him, he held over his phone with the press conference done earlier this week on the Suicide Squad. Not a lot of details, but convicts saving the world with 'incentives' The jobs even heroes don't want. ]

[reginamariposa]

[her expression is that somehow-neutral-but-calculating mask, rapt attention focused on the body language, on the words-- looking between the lines.]

So the government okay'd this, no surprise there. I know you've got plenty of friends, but who could you know who has one of these?

[twoton_twentyone]

Yeah, I mean, they suck. We both know that.

[ Gary had never been big on the government but the OSI rejecting him helped more there. ]

I could tell you, but she might get upset. I offered to talk to you for her, but she wasn't sure, and who knows if big-headed billy even does brains. [ As if that wasn't enough of a hint. Reaching back and scratching the back of his head before he looked to Sheila. ] It's implanted in the back of her head, apparently this team doesn't even usually live to see people's heads explode.

[reginamariposa]

[she pauses

thinks about who he knows, is closest to who would feel comfortable telling him about something this scary.]

Billy's medical prowess is all about the brains, actually. He's a neuroscientist. Surgeon, whatever. But he can palpate your balls if he needs to, sort of a well-rounded education.

[she knows he's been forced into that more or less.]

I think she should talk to him. That's giving anyone too much power-- what if someone sneezes too hard and pushes the button on accident?

[twoton_twentyone]

He is? Why am I always the last to know these things. Someone should have mentioned that while I was living on Venture's lawn.

[ He hung his head some but looked up making a face as she went on. He forgot about that. Poor Hank and Dean.

Gary slumps back in the chair distressed when she mentioned someone sneezing. ]

Great, that's an image I needed. Yeah I'll talk to her when I call tonight. Fuck, well are you feeling up for a smoke?

[ Yeah, he was that worried to risk it while Malcolm was definitely awake somewhere in the house.]

[reginamariposa]

[without saying a single word, Sheila opens a drawer in the desk, the bottom one, and produces a pack of smokes]

Come on, flyboy. Tell me how Quinzel told you about this, enough to ask for your help, maybe.

[twoton_twentyone]

[ He managed a bit of a grin at that, pushing up and heading towards the back door. He could hear Malcolm cursing at the video game he'd loaned him earlier. Mario kart of all things it wasn't hard to get out the back door.]

It's kinda a lot, but, for the record she didn't ask for my help. I want to help I can't stand the idea of her exploding.

[ Not just due to feelings, but how 24 died.]

[reginamariposa]

Ah, that makes sense.

[her tone a little more subdued when she remembers. that's right-- that's a bit of a thing, isn't it? a big thing.]

Still, it's good of you.

[twoton_twentyone]

You so already know.

[ That's all he really had to say as they slipped out the back door, and Gary leaned against the porch railing that overlooked the bridge just behind them. Taking out the lighter he always carried, just in case, and help it over for her. ]

She's important to me, dude. That would have been enough to look into it. I mean, I'd look into it for most people I like, but this is Harley.

[ He's SO kidnapping Billy soon. Lure him out with that Rusty Venture alarm clock he still has. ]

[reginamariposa]

Mmm, I figured.

[leaning against the opposite side of the railing, Sheila sighs. There's going to be a lot of paperwork, and tears. she has to do her best to make sure this turns out okay]

So they just kidnapped her and did it? Or they offered her a deal that was too good to be true?

[twoton_twentyone]

We all got our things that bother us.

[ He knew he'd never be over it fully, but he was at least living more these days. ]

That's the thing, she's apparently had the bomb in her most of the time I've known her. And that's been a few years. Apparently, they just grab prisoners at random who they don't think will be missed but have skills they can use.

[ Gary looks back to Sheila, the person he had a crush on for so long. Sure, he'd long gotten over that, she was family at this point. It made it easier to admit the truth of it. ]

I like her, like a lot. [ It was a little embarrassing to admit, but he knew how he felt when he told her she should take a vacation months ago. He didn't seem as upset, just more worried.] I have to find a way to stop this.

[reginamariposa]

[Sheila listens silently, just watching Gary out of the corner of her eye, smoking and thinking, categorizing the tone and cadence of his voice.]

That's apparent, too. I know. We'll find a way. Maybe for those others, too, that they have. The crocodile guy-- ....eh. But for Quinzel, and you? Of course.

[twoton_twentyone]

[ If Sheila had already handed him a cigarettes he'd be lighting up. If not he still waited for his lighter back.]

I'm kinda obvious with it, huh?

[ He always wore his heart on his sleeve. Even when their ripped off.]

We'll need Billy, too, right? I know where Billy's mom's house is, Monarch had me tail him home one night in case Venture visited. I can get him soon as we need him. This means a lot to me, Sheila. Thanks, man.

[reginamariposa]

[she does, like an after thought, hand him one]

We will. But...we might want to refrain from kidnapping him.

[Sheila knows where his thoughts were going, there]

His mom is a scary one. That's where he and White are staying.

[twoton_twentyone]

[ He took it as soon as it was handed over. That first hit of nicotine always made him question why he quit. He'd never go back to more than one now and then though.]

Yeah?

[ Gary didn't expect that answer, arching a brow.]

If you say she's scary, I don't want to piss her off. I might totally have an idea though that might get him to help. Unless you have an idea?

[reginamariposa]

Hmmm...[she'll probably never quit, no matter how much her husband nags her about it and complains]

Let's hear your idea. With your boyscout demeanor, she might just roll Billy out to you.

[twoton_twentyone]

[ At least he'd always have someone to smoke with when the need arose. Even if Monarch was sure to catch them one day. They could deal then. ]

Well, remember that old Rusty Venture Alarm clock I had? The one that I left in the storage unit after the fire in Malice? I happen to know that Billy's been looking for one. Fictel won't sell hers, and honestly, I'll never use it again. My phone keeps better time. I can offer him that.

[ After taking another drag off the cigarette and letting out the smoke, he shook his head and added. ]

Dude, I'll be so nice to his mom. You already know that. [ Gary wasn't denying the Boy Scout bit though, they both knew it was true. ]

[reginamariposa]

Oh...Well, Gary! That's. I hadn't thought of that. Is it in good condi-- wait who the hell am I talking to, of course.

[she knows Gary is a real sweetheart, she isn't worried about that. just anyone coming after her boy, or seeing any interaction as coming for him.]

You're sure you're fine letting the clock go?

[twoton_twentyone]

[ Gary managed one of his grins when she said she hadn't thought of it. A chuckle escaping around his cigarette before lifted it away to ash off the edge of the porch. ]

Not in as good of condition as it used to be. It got some smoke damage from the fire, but you already know most of the stuff in my room survived. It's been there a year it must have aired out. I still have my model paints too, so I can fix the damage.

[ Those D&D miniatures and buildable figures helped with painting skills.

It could cause some issues if Horace recognized him, or Pete thought he was there to hurt them. Showing up without her or Malcolm seemed a good idea in his head to show he was not a threat. ]

Oh yeah, it's fine, it's not like one of my favorites or anything. Or a gift from anyone who matters anymore. It's totally cool. Though, since that means going back to Colorado to get it, do you need anything from the storage unit?

[ He'd probably bring all of his stuff that hadn't fit in his suitcase when they left back with him, but if he was going out there, might as well ask. ]