15926/Barbecue it ain't, but you take what you can get.

Barbecue it ain't, but you take what you can get.
Date of Scene:	29 December 2023
Location:	Big Belly Burger - Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Jacen ran intp Skye getting a burger. Seems they are playing a game of tag, I found you.
Cast of Characters:	Jacen Masters, Quake

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Jacen Masters has posed:
There are few things in life that can make someone happy. Right now, it appears that Jacen as decided that a big burger and fries fills the need. He pushes his mat back a little and takes up the burger with both hands and gets a large bite like the burger is something almost a religious experience.

Quake has posed:
Ehn, It's not pizza. But what it is is the latest spot where Jacen could be found.

Since their second meetup Skye had been curious. And the more she had found out, the curious outweighed the politeness by about 3:1. Let's face it, it wasn't often that she wanted to know about someone without the someone breaking the law.

Admittedly, Skye was breaking the law too, but nowadays she did it on the good guys' terms.

She ordered a burger and fries. Usually no one messed up burgers and fries too bad. It was a safe order.

All the while keeping track of her 'target' : Jacen.

Jacen Masters has posed:
Either he is oblivious to being under scrutiny or else he is too happy with his burger to care. Anyone's guess. He chomps away, but eventually he glances and takes a loof over the place.

If he catches her eye, he nods. If she looks away, he doesn't really seem to notice too much. I mean, hot cheeseburger.

Quake has posed:
Skye was sitting directly where she was able to view him, and the exits (of course) easily. When he notices her she gives a sly smile to him, wondering what he was going to do next. Eat? Leave? Join her?

Jacen Masters has posed:
He considers for a moment, then he shrugs. Putting things back on his tray he gets up and walks over to her table. Worst she can say is no after all. When he gets to the table he asks,"Hey. Got room f'r one more."

Quake has posed:
"I was wondering how long it would take to notice me. I meant, I sat out in the open like a good girl. I didn't play hide and seek."

As she laughs she nods to the empty chairs across from her.

"You know, for a person who is above the law, you aren't that easy to find."

Jacen Masters has posed:
Laughing softly, Jacen shakes his head,"What c'n I say. If things ain' flyin' off th' rails, I ain' payin' real close attention." He indicates his burger,"So far's th' closest thing ta home I've had so..."

Settling into a seat he says,"I hide'n plain sight. 'f I ain' sleepin' I'm workin'. On a rotation with several hospitals so I don' get a lotta down time. Maybe someday I'll settle down ta one job."

Quake has posed:
"So I've heard. Up Canada way?" Skye waits for a second, then carries on.

"I know you're not in Alpha Flight. Don't worry. I have friends in there. It was the first place I checked. Along with Canadian law enforcement agencies. Good or bad. By the way, if you haven't read about me - please don't.. And given how you have treated me, I have to lean towards not knowing."

She takes a big bite of her burger and washes it down with a handful of fries. "So, from what I can piece together, you are running under the radar for whatever reason."

Jacen Masters has posed:
He looks a little confused as he chews on his burger. Shaking his head, he takes out his phone and brings up a picture of him standing beside a trophy as tall as he is.

"Bull ridin' NFR world champion a coupla years back. Done a tv advertisin' campaign f'r Wrangler jeans." he explains,"After that, yeah I jus' go ta work'n go home." he admits,"I'm jus' glad I ain' had no teenty boppper tell me 'bout what she did lookin' at th' posters. Yeah that w's unsettlin' and I couldn' get 'way from that bunch fast enough."

Quake has posed:
Skye laughs wickedly. "Lookee here."

Reams of paperwork about the bull riding champion circuit. Plus a few more from his younger years, and a smattering of his post bull riding circuit. Including his Wrangler ad campaign.

"I wasn't joking about the Alpha Flights. We do keep a liaison from them. I find the simpler the lie, the more it's believed. But I still can't figure out why you haven't bothered using your talent more openly?"

Jacen Masters has posed:
Shaking his head, he takes another bite and chews thoughtfully. Lots of paper there. He smirks and tells her,"I know who Alpha Flight is, but I ain' got no connections to them."

Chasing the bite with a drink he continues,"I use m' power. Ta help folks out'n th' field'n stuff." he admits,"Sometimes, not often, bad critters cross m' path'n that why they are with me. Stop th' bad things, protect th' tribe, 'n th' world'n general."

Quake has posed:
"Solo. You could make a significant difference to a team. You know?"

Skye has to put her burger down and wipe hands before the juices run down her forearms.

Jacen Masters has posed:
He takes another bite of his burger and chews. A hmm sound and he sets it back on the table again,"Ain' never had th' idea o' joinin' a team."

"I played football'n all so I ain' 'gainst th' idea. Dunno. Ain' never been asked'n I jus' tend ta take care of what I c'n take care of."

Quake has posed:
Skye takes a final bite and puts the other half on her plate.

She nods. "I know what you mean. Except my skill set was mostly solitary. Sorta. I worked with a team,but for the most part my job was to get beyond firewalls. You really don't get in to the firefights that way. I mean, I was trained to shoot a gun, but.." She shrugs.

"It really was recently that my abilities were necessary in other ways. By the way, I don't work for the Justice League, so I get it."

Jacen Masters has posed:
"I'm technically th' tribal protect'r an' all that. Not that th' tribe needs all that much protectin' anymore. They're scattered quite a bit."

He finishes his burger and fidgets with his fries for a time.

"Aww notta Justice League sort?" he asks lightlty and shakes his head,"I don' think I'd fit in with that lot 'nyway. A little too stuffy f'r my taste'n maybe a little too clean. I don' have'n issue with fighttin' dirty."

Quake has posed:
"I never had reason. Before I joined SHIELD I was in an eco terrorist group. I thought I was making a difference." Skye shrugs. "Little did I know the leaders of my group with filthy in their own right. Kind of put a bad taste in my mouth for making friends.

As if that was the only reason for staying away from people.

Jacen Masters has posed:
"I ain' sayin' I wouldn' b'cause like I said, played football. Always kinda preferred single thought, wrestler'n bull rider. Neither relies on anythin' other'n y'rself'n whatever deity'r spirit guides you."

He tosses a few fries into his mouth and chopms them happily.

Quake has posed:
Skye thinks for a moment.

"I like where I'm at. It's a big job, with very little recognition. But at the end of the day I make a difference. You know? I'm not Superman. I'm not an Avengers sort. For the most part I crack code. And occasionally lend my skills to firefights."

Jacen Masters has posed:
"That's th' way I see it." he admits,"I'm good doin' what I do, but if some team came callin' I'd give't serious thought."

Chasing the last bite of fries with this drink he mms softly,"One o' these day I'll build m' ranch'n have plenty o' beef'n fresh vegetables at times too." A shrug,"It's a long term dream anyway."

Quake has posed:
"Me? I probably will still be surfing the net till I die. In my circle I guess I would be an international rodeo star. If by rodeo you meant computer hacking." Skye stood up. "Tag you're it."

She laughs as she makes her way out.

Jacen Masters has posed:
He listens and then watches her go,"It? Huh?" he asks with a frown. Not angry, confused. He watches her go and catches his eyes drifting. He shakes hsi head and mutters,"Great b'cause I got th' first idea where ta star lookin'."

Shakins his head, he finishes his food and then putting away the trash, heading his way shortly there after.