8984/Didn't Even Scratch the Paint

Didn't Even Scratch the Paint
Date of Scene:	28 August 2019
Location:	Assistant Deputy Director May's Office, Triskelion
Synopsis:	Skye comes clean about a few things, and sets up an unusual training session. She even made an appointment! May has cookies.
Cast of Characters:	Quake, Hawkeye (Barton), Melinda May

---

Quake has posed:
Skye's trip to the Roost had gone without a hitch, and after the pep talk from Natasha Cranston, Skye felt ready to tackle the next part of her Inhuman journey. But first, she needed to check in with Agent May and discuss a few matters.

It felt utterly unusual to be at the Trisk checking in after so many months where their house had been acting headquarters for so many of the Agents. And it wasn't without a small furrow of brow that Skye looks at Fury's still closed door and empty office as she passes.

Okay, his door had almost always been closed in the past, too, but she'd never really let that deter her from barging in. Now, though? It was just a sad reminder that he was absent from their lives.

And, because May was May and not Fury, Skye made sure to plan ahead and book an appointment. Chalk one up for growing up?

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint was already at the Trisk running through some training excercises with the boys and girls from tactical. When that came to an end he hit up the break room only to hear a disturbing rumour that sent him looking for Skye.

Finding her up in operations he calls out, "Hey Keyboard, wait up," he says jogging to catch up with her. "Heard a nasty rumor today, you actually booked an appointment to see someone, tell me it's not true," he says with a big shit eating grin.

Melinda May has posed:
Appointments are a necessary evil of her current duties, even if May hates them with a passion. Seeing Skye's name, though, that was different. But, she's most certainly not above using a bit of positive reinforcement to show that doing so was a good thing.

She waits for Skye in her office, the door closed (which honestly is NOT usual for her like it is for Fury) and is getting a few more unrelated tasks out of the way.

Kid's not late, and she's mostly expecting her to not be late. But, we'll see.

Quake has posed:
"That is a filthy lie, you take that back," Skye says, laughing, pausing in her purposeful walk towards May's office. "Next thing you'll know someone will say I actually booked the quinjet before taking it out."

There's a smug little grin on her lips, and Skye shrugs.

"Figured she'd appreciate it. Fury and I understood one another. May's not like that. At least not outside the house, so, when in Rome, right?"

She starts walking along again, "I know, right? Will wonders never cease. What's got you up in Operations. I'm about two minutes ahead of when I think they told me I could barge in - otherwise known as knock politely and wait. Wait, does May have a secretary? You know something, I've never made an appointment before."

And just like that, they're at the office.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint continues to grin, "I'll telll Walker he needs to check his facts then," he says mentioning the chatty adminion that was always happy to share strange bits of news in the break room. "And seriously you signed out a quinjet too? I didn't even know you knew where to find the forms," he teases.

He falls into step beside her nodding, "So giving May a break just for kicks or are you trying to make up for something?" he asks. As far as he knew Skye hadn't done anything lately to earn the deputy director's ire but then they were spies and it was part of the gig that they didn't always know about everything the other got up to on the job.

"I think so?" Clint says about the secretary thing. "But you know, I can't say I've made a lot of appointments either, I either get summoned or I piss the bosses off enough that they come find me to chew me out."

"And yes I know that makes me a jerk for bugging you about making an appointment, but you knew that about me when we met," he offers her a wink joining her at the door of the office keen to see if Schrodinger's secretary was alive or dead.

Melinda May has posed:
There is no secretary outside May's office. There is also no place where a secretary could possibly set up a desk.

Inside the office, May finishes one last task and sets it aside, then reaches back to check something on the small table that holds her water boiler. Skye should be knocking any moment now...

Quake has posed:
"You know me," Skye grins. "Trying to be unpredicatable."

He'd brought up a good point, though. She'd best not make a habit of this. Unless this was her habit with May? She'd have to think on that. Generally things just happened with Skye with less deciding she was going to set on a course than just doing it. Thinking Skye was more about plans, and mechanisms, and how they were going to tackle a problem.

It was likely just as well. Skye thinking about too many things could lead to all sorts of trouble.

"I didn't know where the forms were," Skye tells Clint. "I asked Darcy. Turns out she knows where all the forms are." Go figure, right? "And.. you're still here, which tells me you're either inviting yourself, or you've been invited."

And because there is no desk, and not secretary to stop her, Skye forgets the bit about knocking politely and just barges in on May.

"Hey. I hope you got the flight results." Nope, that wasn't all she was here about, but until the door was closed and systems were jammed, that was entirely why Skye was here. That and only that.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Nodding Clint says, "Well, you're succeeding."

As for Clint's plans he didn't think that far ahead, he just kept walking with Skye, so when she just barges in, he shrugs and follows, "Tried to stop her but she's so tiny she ran right between my legs," he jokes as he comes into the office, figuring he'll peek in, be well, himself, and then duck out to let the ladies deal with the Serious Business (tm).

However if that's how it /actually/ goes is ultimately not up to him.

Melinda May has posed:
May looks over as Skye barges in with Clint in tow. No, she's not in the least bit surprised. And the 'cover' discussion doesn't faze her either. "Not yet. I'm still waiting for Flight Control to get back to me." She reaches into her jacket and brandishes that little device that both agents are no doubt familiar with, and waits for Clint to close the door.

Hint. Close the door.

Quake has posed:
There's a smirk from Skye, both for the gadget May uses, and for Clint's commentary. Doesn't stop her from reaching back and elbowing him. "Not everyone has monkey limbs, and I can't help it if you're slow."

Yeah, she knew he could be a jerk. She's almost gotten fond of the matter as things went.

"Hopefuly Flight Control doesn't take too long a look at it." Not that there weren't some measures in place as a cover for what she'd done. The look scanned as empty on all of SHIELD's equipment. Regardless, and they were looking for was her flight patterns. That she hadn't hurt the thing. Since she'd not crashed it, it likely wouldn't even merit a second look since it was destined for May's desk.

"You should see the setup there. It's pretty amazing. Nat says hi back."

"I needed a cover," she tells Clint. "And they're an asset. Two birds, one stone."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint indeed closes the door, it seems like he's in this meeting now. Once it's done he lean against it arms crossed, though he lifts a hand to handflap at Skye.

"Sorry, can't hear you from up here on my monkey limbs," he grins.

Then he shuts up and listens, "Ah, this is about them," he says clueing in on the detail now. "You guys sure you want me here for this?" though he's not making any moves to leave.

Melinda May has posed:
May activates the tiny jamming device the moment the door is closed, and nods to Skye as she promptly starts in on the real reason for meeting here. "Good to hear." She glances at Clint. "That's up to Skye. If she wants you to stay, I won't complain."

BUT, that means whatever is wafting the aroma of butter, sugar, and cinnamon across the room will have to be shared.

Quake has posed:
"Enh, he knows, plus I have a few more things to talk about."

Which was also true.

"I can get us a better look at the specs for the Nest if you want. And.." She pulls the cord with coins on it that her mother had left her. "I think I'm ready for these to be looked at to see if there's anything on them" (or in) "that will help me find my mother."

Skye wasn't a science sort, but Natasha Cranston had suggested there were things that could be learned from them.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint nods, and continues to hold up the door, "Sure thing."

When the Nest is discussed Clint is attentive, "Am I allowed to know where this place is?" he asks. Figured it wouldn't hurt in the case of an emergency.

As for the coins? Those get his brows raising, he'd forgotten about them.

Melinda May has posed:
Again, May nods. "Let me know if there are any resources we can contribute to the effort, and I'll see that they're signed out for field use." At Clint's question, she looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "/I/ don't know where this place is." And by the emphasis in her statement, she has no intention of asking for that intel. Like Clint just did.

"Go ahead and take the coins down to WAND and then R&D. See what they can find out about them." She knows that Skye will keep searching for her mother until she finds the woman, and she's not about to tell her to stop trying.

Seriously. Is that the aroma of cookies? Does May have one of those stinky candles burning or something?

Quake has posed:
"Fat chance, Hotshot. You taking me to your secret lair, and no the Avenger mansion doesn't count." Especially not when anyone off the street could walk up to ot. Sure, they couldn't let themselves in, but they could take selfies on the street by it.

"I'll let them know," Skye nods to May. Nostrils twitching. "WAND, right. R&D. Say are you m aking flavoured tea or something?" Which she's not known May to do; that would be like her drinking the tea equivalent of frou-frou beer.

Little does May know that Natasha had thrown that very thought up in Skye's face about how the younger woman didn't let things go, always digging to the bottom of things till she found the dirty underbelly or the ansswers she needed.

"Side note, I want to try a training exercise. It's a bit risky, but I'd rather do it in controlled circumstances than out in the field. I want someone to shoot at me. I think I can stop bullets."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"The closest thing I had to a secret lair was my appartment in Brooklyn and I definitely took you there," Clint counters with a grin before letting the subject drop.

"Yeah, what gives May? Did they install an oven for cookies in here?" he asks before he slips into a waiting expression as Skye brings up the whole stopping bullets thing.

May /look/ expected in 3...2..1.

Melinda May has posed:
Look triggered. Maybe Skye should have waited to drop that particular bomb until the source of the cookies smell was revealed. Too late now.

"Tightly controlled circumstances, and zero lethal ordinance." Hell, she might insist on doing the shooting herself so she KNOWS what's being flung at Skye and won't have to lose her composure at anyone else.

Quake has posed:
"Told you she wouldn't say no," Skye grins at Clint. "Big quetsion is who gets to do the shooting."

May is told, "Clint suggested ICERs. But it shouldn't be much more than a projected beam. I've done that already. Just a matter of reflexes."

Shame Skye didn't know this would keep her from the mystery of the cookie smell.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The look leaves Clint grinning.

"Rubber bullets could work too, but those suckers leave more of a mark," he says rubbing his chest at the memory of a past encounter. "And we'd want to shoot from further out. Not that I think you can't do it, Skye, but I figure, prep for it taking a couple of tries."

He adds to May: "But seriously, no clues about that smell huh?"

Melinda May has posed:
May looks at Clint entirely seriously. "Paintball rounds, ICER rounds, and Simunition. In that order." She's named the non-lethal rounds available to them in order of slowest to fastest. "Tell me when you're ready, and we'll schedule a time to close down the short distance firing range." No chances, no risks. She's even considering asking Barnes to be in on this considering his truly extensive knowledge of firearms.

And no, still no hints about the cookies smell.

Quake has posed:
The list makes Skye nod thoughtfully. "Solunds okay, I guess." To be fair, she could shoot. She could even hit her mark. She'd passed all her practicals, and the biannual courses. She wasn't even at the bottom of her class with a weapon. She just wasn't an authority on ammo rounds.

Now, if you'd started talking about arrows and fletching, despite still not being an authority, she had a lot more opinions on matters there.

"Anytime works I can't prepare more than I am. Might want to clear it of spectatores, though. I mean, it's not really something I want the rest of the world to know." Even if SHIELD wasn't 'the rest of the world' per se.

"Could work up to multiple shots from different angles. And no, I don't expect this to be some smart assed way to go into any fight, but if it's a skill I have and it can save me, it kinda makes sense I get some practice with it?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
And just like that jokey Clint has left the building.

"Sounds like a good test, can do the multiple angles as well," he says first to May then to Skye. "I can do the shooting if nobody has any objections, I'm in the loop on what you can do," a nod to Skye. "And I hit what I'm aiming at, but might need some back up if we're doing multiple angles," a smile then. "I'm fast but not that fast."

Melinda May has posed:
Multiple angles. May looks between the pair. "Consult with Barnes. He should be able to advise on how to best set up this training session. And yes, the shooting range will be closed to everyone but those actively involved." Because spectators and possible hecklers aside, she will NOT be taking any chances.

Quake has posed:
"Cool, and hear that, Hotshot? You might get payback for that time I shot you."

Yeah, she would go there and remind him.

Other than that, she looks rather more serious. "I'll let them organize it. I'll get WAND and R&D to check out my coins.. I will be looking for my mom, but bringing back informatoin on the Inhumans. If we want any relationship with them, we have to start somewhere." Including those they'd already made contact with and rescued.

Skye takes a long breath of air and puffs it out. "I have two pristine crystals, May."

Yeah, Skye is all bombshells sometimes.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"You got it, I'll loop Barnes in and see what advice he can bring to the party," Clint says.

Skye's comment earns an oh-so innocent look, "Hadn't crossed my mind, Keyboard," he teases.

Melinda May has posed:
May nods to Skye and Clint as they both agree to their marching orders going forward... right up until the former drops yet another bomb on the conversation.

"How long have you had them?" is her immediate question. Those crystals are potentially lethal, and very, very risky to have in any heavily populated location. Like, say, the Triskelion.

The cookies are getting cold while these bombshells are all dropping, people.

Quake has posed:
"Since I visited the village."

Skye's answer is simple, and amounts to more than weeks now. When she'd come back with the coins - there had been a letter, and those crystals as well. Skye had been trying to decide all this time if she mentioned them or not.

Melinda May has posed:
"When were you planning to tell me about them, Skye?" May's tone of voice hasn't changed, but the younger woman likely knows the signs all too well. May isn't terribly happy about this surprise. "And what do you plan to do with them?"

Barton might juuust be able to see the side of a white box bound in blue ribbon behind May on top of her water boiler.

Quake has posed:
"When I decided my head was on straight and I had an idea of.. I don't know." Skye shrugs, and looks slightly helpless. "I cant figure out why she left them to me. She knows I've been through the change. They didn't say. Did she leave them for me to have kids? In case I met someone? Who would I even know?"

"It really hurt to know she's known where I was for awhile now and not ever reached out. I guess I felt if I told you before now it would be like losing some of the only bit of her I had. It's not like I was going to use them. Or like anyone can get their hands on them. You had our lockbox installed yourself."

As to what she planned on doing with them?

"I don't know what to do with them. Maybe ask her why."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint notes the box and smiles behind his hand. Mystery solved. Now how to end up getting any of what's inside.

As for the topic at hand, Clint has no clue what motivated Skye's mom to leave her crystals or the the coins. Then it hit him, "Maybe your dad would know," he says. After all they still had the guy under house arrest.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint notes the box and smiles behind his hand. Mystery solved. Now how to end up getting any of what's inside.

As for the topic at hand, Clint has no clue what motivated Skye's mom to leave her crystals or the the coins. Then it hit him, "Maybe your dad would know," he says. After all they were still keeping tabs on the guy even though they cut him loose after Zola was defeated.

Melinda May has posed:
May nods slowly, inwardly very glad that Skye has been keeping the crystals in the lockbox in their house instead of in the Triskelion which would have been a liability she could not igmore. "All right. It sounds like you have them as well under control as possible." She nods toward Clint. "And I second the suggestion to approach Johnson about this. He might have some insight."

And then, finally (FINALLY), she gestures for the pair to claim the other chairs in the office and turns to get the beribboned box.