Robert Queen/Merlyn (hunters_moon) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2010-04-04 00:04:00

Entry tags:

inactive - jane doe-smith, inactive - robert queen

Not A Goodbye.
The Queen Industries building in midtown Gotham explodes as he looks on, and Robert Queen calls this a job well done. He planned the attack for after-hours, when the least amount of people were there. He'd counted two guards and someone working late in an office, all of which were disabled and removed from the building before its destruction.

Innocents didn't deserve to die for Oliver Queen's sins, though the resulting joblessness would be an issue until the place was rebuilt.

He went home, showered, and used his new cell phone to call his only friend in Gotham (in fact, his only friend ever thus far) and tell her that he was leaving. His plane left early in the morning, and it was on to St. Roch to continue the pattern. His mission is clear, to him, but Gotham was good to him for what it was worth.

He picks up the phone and calls Jane, hoping she's up working on a case. If nothing else, the explosion probably woke everyone in town.

"Hey Jane....it's me." he says.

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jdoesmith
2010-04-04 06:11 pm UTC (link)

"Great," she says in a sarcastic tone. "And seriously? Who the hell is going to believe that?"

She almost smiles though at hearing that Kestrel has a scar. "Let's hope he doesn't mention it. I don't need that kind of attention."

She nods slowly. "Yeah. I have an idea on how to handle that. Just need to figure out if it will work."

That means talking to Mia. "Make yourself comfortable. I gotta finish cooking."

Jane gives him a small smile before going back into the kitchen.

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hunters_moon
2010-04-05 12:57 am UTC (link)

"Money talks in these parts, Jane. He's got the cash to make his story believable right now." Jake says.

He smiles back and takes a seat in the living room, relaxing on the couch. The food smells really good, but he takes some time to run over the plan in his head. His flight leaves late tonight, and he'll likely hit El Paso next, as Queen Industries has huge warehouse there. From there, onto Coast City again, then to Star City, finally.

He has no idea what he'll do in Star City right now, but he figures he'll have a plan when he gets there.

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	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 01:33 am UTC (link)
	That had her just grunt. It sounded like she was annoyed. Jane putters around the kitchen. She wants to make sure everything is fine and nothing burns. It is possible to burn pasta after all. "It'll be just a few more minutes," she calls from the kitchen. It shouldn't take too long. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 01:44 am UTC (link)
	"Take your time, Jane." he says, going to take a look out of one of the windows and make sure everything was okay on the street. He didn't see anything amiss, so he sat down again and picked up the first piece of reading material he could find. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

jdoesmith
2010-04-05 02:01 am UTC (link)

Things appear fine outside.

He has a few things to select from. Books with word games in them. A book on modern criminology is mixed in there. There isn't too much that seems to be just for pleasure. Jane isn't in Gotham for fun.

It takes her a few more minutes. The sound of clattering metal and Jane curing like a sailor cn be heard. The kitchen goes silent for a moment. "I'm okay!"

There is some more cursing. "No really!"

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	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 02:05 am UTC (link)
	That doesn't sound encouraging. He doesn't want to try to swoop in and "save" her, but he doesn't want her getting hurt on his behalf, either. "Only if you're certain, gorgeous!" he says, picking up the book on criminology. It looks interesting, so he takes a read, but keeps an eye on the kitchen as well. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 02:32 am UTC (link)
	She would actually push him back out of the kitchen if that happened. She thinks everything is fine. "I'm certain," she calls. She's setting up plates now that the small disaster of knocking hot water onto the floor is over. She had it cleaned up. "It's just about ready. I can't really think of anything that's missing." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 02:39 am UTC (link)
	"You and your excellent conversation." he smiles, reading the criminology book with fascination. In another time and place, he might have been a detective of some kind, maybe. Now, though...he usually made crimes for detectives like Jane to solve. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 02:41 am UTC (link)
	And someday Jane might figure that out. She's pretty clueless right now. She hadn't heard about the explosion yet since she has no TV. She snaps her fingers. "Gosh. I knew I forgot something." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 02:45 am UTC (link)
	"I hope you returned that horrid mask. Teufeltiger is NOT invited to dinner." Jake jokes. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 02:48 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah. I did," She reaches up to rub the back of her head. "They were not happy that it got shot, by the way. I'm lucky they still paid me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 02:50 am UTC (link)
	"Well, they can learn to live with it. We went through hell to find that thing, so maybe the next person who sees that thing will think twice about trying to use it." he says. "Hey...did you go to school to learn to be a detective, or did your father teach you all of it?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

jdoesmith
2010-04-05 03:00 am UTC (link)

"That's true. I did hear that they'll be working on security though," Jane says with a happy nod. "I think they'd hate to pay my hazard fee again."

She pauses as she dishes out their dinner then shrugs. "No school. I was never comfortable around lots of people. He taught me everything he knew. I study the rest on my own. I just took the classes I needed to get my lisences."

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	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 03:19 am UTC (link)
	Jake nods. "What do you think is the most challenging aspect of your job?" he asks her, as if conducting an interview. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 03:26 am UTC (link)
	"That's a tough one." She finishes dishing out their food. "I would say tracking down leads. It's always very hit or miss. And usually you get lots of misses before you score a solid lead." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 03:33 am UTC (link)
	"Have you ever come across a case you couldn't crack, no matter how much information you had?" he asks, rising to take up his plate. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 03:36 am UTC (link)
	"Yes," she says in a short tone. It's not something she wants to talk about. That case is very personal since it involves her. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 03:41 am UTC (link)
	"And my questions about your work stop right now." he says, setting the book aside. "The food smells great, Jane. Thank you for agreeing to see me again." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 03:45 am UTC (link)
	The tension leaves her shoulders pretty quickly. She feels calm and much better. "Cooking isn't a big deal. I like doing it. And... I'm glad I got to see you." This is much easier than things that get close to her past. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hunters_moon 2010-04-05 03:58 am UTC (link)
	"When I'm done with dinner, remind me to kiss the cook." he grins. He sees that talking about her work isn't something that she enjoys, so he decides to change the game up a little. "I'm probably giving up my mystique a little here...but is there anything you'd like to know about me?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 04:07 am UTC (link)
	She just smiles. Then she tilts her head. "What exactly do you do? I know your skill level is pretty up there. But that can't be everything." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

hunters_moon
2010-04-05 04:12 am UTC (link)

He paused for a moment to think on his response.

"I don't work for money, but I'm a mercenary of sorts. I work for what's right, to the best of my ability. My father abandoned my mother and I before I was born, and he refuses to have any contact with me.

My adopted father taught me everything he knows about how to fight, and my mother taught me about archery. I learned a lot from the both of them." he says.

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	jdoesmith 2010-04-05 04:17 am UTC (link)
	"So sort of what I do. Just more violent generally speaking," she says with a cocked eyebrow. "It's not a bad thing. I was adopted. Sometimes someone just has to step up to the plate." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

hunters_moon
2010-04-05 04:22 am UTC (link)

"A lot more violent." he says, not flinching from her gaze.

"Yeah, you could say that. My mother saw I needed a strong hand, and she found someone who could provide that. Granted, my father would have hated my step-father, had he given a damn, but he didn't.

He went back to his own life of womanizing, booze and promiscuity. He reminds me of men like Donald Kestrel. Oh, and he had children. He had a son he walked away from, and then started adopting kids off the street." Jake says.

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jdoesmith
2010-04-05 04:25 am UTC (link)

If she had more information she would know exactly who Jake is talking about. But he hasn't said enough but the picture is starting to get clearer.

Too bad she likes him. It's complicating things even though she is used to distancing herself. Somehow this time she can't.

"Ah. Well. Good for her. I never really needed anyone but Dad. I wasn't difficult. Just...." She shrugs. She won't go into it.