9235/A Job for You

A Job for You
Date of Scene:	17 September 2019
Location:	Staff Dormitory (North Halls), Second Floor, Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Lorna hires Jamie to look into her mother's plane crash
Cast of Characters:	Multiple Man, Polaris

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Multiple Man has posed:
It's not as weird as some would think, Jamie Madrox accepting such a strangely... 'low' job at the Institute. With his catalogue of experiences? His vast records of insights? Aaaaand he tends the grounds. A man capable of saving lives, solving mysteries and duking it out with Sentinels... and he's mowing lawns. Why? Because solving cases in style is a night shift gig and putting in ground duty as a team of twelve? It solves any pesky vitamin D issues pretty fast.

It also means you get to stack bags of lawn clippings up against Scott's door because of something he said three years ago. Satisfied in his nuisance making, Jamie claps his hands clean and starts to walk away from Cyclops' door. Whistling cheerfully the whole while.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna exited her room, the old Master suite of the mansion proper, and closed it with a wave of her hand. The knob locked and twisted under her power and she was out and moving down the hall swiftly. She might not //actually// be staff at the school, but she was a member of the X-men and frequently stopped in to help out as needed. Even if she was more or less actively ruling a country of mutants.

Her pace slowed to a stop however as she spotted Jamie turning away from Scott's door, her eyebrows furrowing faintly as her gaze swung back to the cheerfully whistling mutant. "Oh, Jamie. How perfect. I was hoping to have a chat with you." She murmured, the magnokinetic was wearing a simple pair of black slacks and a button up blouse of a soft turquoise color, her green hair hanging freely down around her shoulders in a riot of green and curls.

Multiple Man has posed:
The door opening behind him gets a little tense rise of Jamie's shoulders and the quickening of his pace in the general direction of -away-. The man is easy to spot when he's not actively skulking about on purpose. That old overcoat, beaten up and battle weary. The exact same green shirt with yellow design. The exact same slacks. Same boots. Every. Single. Time. Her voice actually brought him to a stop. Turning on heel, arms spread wide and a cheerily innocent smile on his face. That big black M forvever etched over his right eye.

"Looooornaaaa. Looking vibrant as ever. I'm also assuming as generously secretive as ever too." He says with a conspiratorial wink and nod toward the stack of black plastic bags of lawn. lippings blocking Cyclops's door. "What's on your mind?"

Polaris has posed:
Lorna inclined her head for Jamie to walk with her down the hall. She looked as if she was on her way somewhere, a brief-case like bag with a shoulder clip hung around one side of her waist. It was sleek, and leather. Professional. "I'm a public figure now Jamie, my secrets are well known these days. Do you have any idea how much the royal family is followed around the world? It's utterly crazy considering how half the population hates us." She mused, her lips twitching faintly. Still, like all royals, Lorna had her secrets. They were just better hidden than many.

"I wanted to hire you for a job, actually. If you've the time and interest that is."

Multiple Man has posed:
Waiting for the magnetic mutant princess to near before he pivoted on heel once more, Jamie matched her determined yet graceful pace. She looks professional, he looks like some kind of degenerate detective from a canceled tv pilot. "I actually -do- know. You're more watched than Tony Stark in an off strip Vegas casino." Smirking wryly, he glances over shoulder before they round the corner.

"I've got the time, Lorna. The interest? That's on you to supply." Taking a pack of smokes from an inner overcoat pocket, he places an unlit cigarette between his lips. Habit from an old Dupe. "You're coming to me which means you want it done quiet and with charmingly obsessive attention to detail. Stop me if I'm wrong."

Polaris has posed:
Lorna's eyebrows rose, amused at Jamie's retort regarding just how much in the public eye she was. The joke had a snort of laughter escaping the Princess, and she grinned at him as she walked. The sound of her heels clicked softly against the hardwood floor of the Mansion's hallway. She seemed content to let the silence fill between them for a bit, or possibly, she was checking through the magnetic fields for the spark of nervous systems for others around that might overhear them.

"I want you to investigate a plane crash. It happened over twenty years ago now. The trail is cold, but I want to see if you can dig up anything from the official reports or anything else from the time that might be relevant. I've had little to no luck myself in getting access, and I can't be seen digging into files illegally here in the US." She paused, unzipping the brief case and digging through a few files. She drew one a slim manilla folder and held it out to Jamie.

Multiple Man has posed:
A twist of a self satisfied smirk creeps to his lips with her laughter. The consumate jester, he's never one to stray away from an easy jab. The click-clack of her heels is not mirrored by his own footfalls. Those heavy boots and still he barely makes a sound on the polished hardwood floors. Believe it or not, he'd say... ancient kung fu secret. The flare of her power, unfelt by Jamie, does reveal another Dupe around a corner. Lookout? You bet.

"A plane crash? They have people for that, Lorna." He states at first, yet the more she reveals, the more Jamie feels that insatiable curiousity rising up. That instinct to learn. To hunt the truth. To obsess freely. When she paused, Jamie came to a stop and took the folder in hand. Eyes narrow ever so slightly. "Right. Princess Dane makes bigger headlines than 'random mutant extremist'." Clucking his tongue, Jamie looks at the folder. Unopened and full of potential. "Look. Here's the deal, I know the visibility is an issue. Time is a factor you can't wiggle much. Alright. I'll do it. But not because I don't have any other cases. I do. Not because of your transparent but understandable crush on me. I'm doing it for the money. Of which I am sure will be plentiful and almost irrationally cleaned through various international venues."

Polaris has posed:
Lorna inclined her head toward the folder, "The plane crash led to the deaths of Arnold and Suzanna Dane." She offered finally, even though it was on the first page should he open it up. "I was the only survivor." She murmured softly, her gaze swinging from the hallway back to Jamie. Whatever laughter had lit up her expression a breath before was now gone. Now he was facing the full burnt of Lorna's professional mask. One where she tried to hide her personal emotions, and remain politely neutral.

"It's been bothering me for some time. That my mother, a married woman who had an affair with Magneto of all people, happened to die in a plane crash with her husband. I need details. I want the report and anything else you can dig up. I was three. I was the only survivor. It's awful convient." She added, her voice soft.

"And of course you'll be paid, what kind of currency do you want? USD? Genoshan? Or some other fun kind of currency that's all the rage these days?"

Multiple Man has posed:
Jamie let out a heavy, shoulder sagging sigh when the gravity of her request pressed down upon him. A nod of understanding then even as he meets her so obviously guarded gaze. A reassuring curve of a half-assed smile is offered. "Lost both of my parents in a tornado. You don't have to impress the importance on me, Lorna. Us survivors have questions most people would never think to ask."

That eyebrow arches once more, the M over his eye warping with the expression of increasing intrigue. Drinking in the details, Jamie places the folder under his arm and sparks up his cigarette anyway. Middle of the hall. Possible Magneto murder investigation demands nicotine. "Ahhhhhhh, crap." He says after a drag and exhalibg upward into the industrial ventilation system. "Awful convinient. I can see why you want a second opinion on this. Jesus Christ." A smokey huff and Jamie nods in earnest.

"I do 't care if it comes back to me. You have more to lose here than I do. Gold is the standard for this one. Twenty grand plus expenses. I'm charging you a damn sight less than I should because I'm pretty sure this case just needs to cover my funeral expenses if it goes the way we assume it will."

Polaris has posed:
Lorna nodded once as Jamie sighed and seemed to understand implicitly the request she was making. She needed to know, and moreover, he understood //why//. The why mattered at the end of the day to Lorna. It was after all, why she wanted someone to look into the case, even if it was over twenty years old now. The fact that her father had sent a picture of her mother just barely a month ago cemented her need to know. It was what sparked the thought of hiring Jamie.

"I can't exactly hire anyone else for this Jamie, much less find anyone willing to accept the job. And word can absolutely not get out to anyone. Which, I figure you know anyways.. but it bares repetition." She trailed off, considering Jamie's words about wanting gold and his price. She nodded once, waving a hand.

"Done and done. However much you want for this. I'll pay it. I'll pay anything for the peace of mind to //know// one way or another. Like I said.. it's been bothering me for sometime."

Multiple Man has posed:
The kinds of questions that are asked in this situation never lead to places someone would want them to. Jamie grasped the severity of it all without a second of considration. It's a maddening thing, this lack of Truth. The smile fades away, leaving only a grim brand of lingering exhaustion that is his often hidden default.

"Now -that- makes sense right there. Who else but me would be dumb enough to dig into that dirt?" A joke, surely, but one he doesn't laugh at. His gears are already turning and he hasn't even opened the envelope. This is going to be a carton of smokes and two bottles of merlot night for sure. "Don't. I get it. Jokes aside, you've got my full attention here. I'll put my backlog on hold."

Taking another drag off his cigarette, Jamie ashes it into his overcoat pocket. A little too easily. "I'm absolutely low balling the cost here. This is something I'd do for free. You know, if it wasn't for mortage and you being stupid wealthy. Deal? Deal."

Polaris has posed:
Lorna arched a brow upward as she considered Jamie, but still managed a faint smile, even if it was a grim one. "I appreciate you being honest with me here and taking the case. If you have any questions that aren't in the envelope, it's likely because I am missing the answers. You're always welcome to ask me anything regarding the case, but I was three.. so.." She shrugged and exhaled a sigh.

The green haired Princess waved her hand in the air in front of her, dispelling the smoke. "Don't let Scott catch you smoking on the school grounds.." She joked, but nodded again at his comment about her being stupid wealthy. "I'm not personally wealthy, I just happen to have access to wealth. But I'll get you the money. Don't worry about it." She murmured, shifting her grip on the briefcase on her shoulder.

Multiple Man has posed:
"Honesty is the best policy, Lorna. Outside of equal rights, don't start none won't be none and the five second rule." Jamie says flatly. Folding the folder in hand, he reaches out and taps it to her shoulder. "Count on a lot of questions. Some may seem silly or outright useless but you'd be surprised. We'll be in touch. On the quiet side."

The mention of Scott reminds him and Jamie started walking again. "He's got about sixty pounds of scottish green to contend with before he gets to me. I'll be fine." As henears a door, Jamie calls back to her. "You'll get a phone in a couple days. Until then, just be green. Super green." A wink and he's out the door.

Another Jamie Madrox walks past her from the other