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 Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:45 pm
Photon and LoQuinn arrived at the Agency some time later. They arrived in the underground parking garage and Photon escorted him up the stairs and then throughout the winding hallways, providing some animated explanations here and waving at someone there and generally just being friendly to every face he saw or knew, sometimes stopping to make a quick chat and introduce LoQuinn to the one or the other person. His story, which was told in a very entertaining way, was often punctured with some jokes, funny remarks, of some of the stunts he and some of the older heroes had pulled on the one person or the other.
After a tour of nearly an hour, they finally arrived at an office that was on one of the higher floors. There were only a few doors on this floor, and even fewer people. Photon knocked once and then barged right in.
"Hiya Charlie!" He exlaimed loudly and enthusiastically, grinning as the dark-haired man behind the desk looked up with a mix of annoyance and exasperation. When his gaze went over LoQuinn it became unreadable and he nodded, motioning for the both of them to take a seat.
"Don't mind if I do, Charles," Photon grinned, flopping down in one of the chairs and relaxing. "Grav, this is Charles. He's the big boss around here. Charles, this is 'the Graveler', a...stray... I've picked up," Photon laughed.
Charles smiled politely at LoQuinn and extended his hand. "Good day. It's a pleasure to meet you. How may I help you?"
Charles was dressed, as usual, quite impeccably. A smart black suit with a red tie, which seemed quite expensive and a perfect fit. His hair was black and short and his eyes were a mahogany brown. There were some wrinkles in his face, not indicating old age, but more likely to be from exhaustion and overuse. This was a man that appeared completely professional and serious in what he did.
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:43 pm
Quite a tour. They covered far too much of the facility for him to remember the most expedient way out. He'd been trying to map out in his mind the route they were taking but after winding turns and several pit stops to be shown off like a prize pumpkin he could be quite assured that he was effectively lost. They boarded an elevator and by that point LoQuinn had stopped his efforts. If he couldn't image one floor there was no way he'd be able to add on another story in his mind.
They made their way to a room, and a very business like Charles awaited him. Photon had been right, he was the public representative he'd seen on the television so many times. LoQuinn mustered a smile at the mention of him being a stray. He knew it wasn't meant to offend and so he wasn't. He accepted Charles' hand with a firm shake. LoQuinn had absolutely no doubt in his mind that Charles was quite capable of being the head of the NSA. He didn't want waste the man's time, he looked a touch on the overworked side already.
"Sir, I'd like to become a Superhero. I've had a few years of self training and I've gotten control over most aspects of my powers. I think with help from you and the training you have to offer I can get total control and eventually become an asset to your organization. And Sir, I think you could perhaps use a bit more Zinc in your diet." The later bit of that coming from personal opinion rather than anything to do with his powers. If nothing else it would help with the somewhat worn appearance he had.
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:58 am
Photon chuckled while Charles looked surprised for a moment before he smiled genuinely at LoQuinn. It wasn't every day that people made such remarks to him. Alright, perhaps it WAS, but he sure didn't take Photon and Flashcharge seriously. Nobody ELSE ever spoke to him like that. He could appreciate it, though, finding he did miss having Flashcharge around to annoy him.
"Hm, it seems you'd fit right in with the team," he told him. His eyes flicked over to Photon for a moment, exasperation once more visible before they settled back on LoQuinn and they became unreadable once more. He was looking him over quite intensively for several seconds and then he sat back in his chair, one arm slung over the side, the other one tapping his chin.
"You do seem capable, but we'd have to schedule several training sessions first," he told LoQuinn. "Both to assess your abilities, as well as your teamwork. Eventually we will be expecting you to be more open about yourself as well," he smiled faintly at LoQuinn. Charles had picked up Photon hadn't introduced the boy by his real name but by an alias and had figured he hadn't been too forthcoming with that information.
"Why would you like to join this organisation?" Charles asked, his eyes were still closely observing LoQuinn. Who knew what they would find?
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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:03 pm
LoQuinn felt a smile creep across his face. Training wouldn't be an issue, he was eager to learn his limits and then stretch them. The only thing he wasn't so fond of was being open. If it was government run then he was sure that they wouldn't tell him everything, so he didn't feel the need for detailed truths.
"Sir I should think it was fairly obvious as to why I'd want to join. I mean there are really only two answers, right? Either you're looking for control or you're looking to use the gifts you've been given to help others. I'm looking for the first so that I'm better able to do the later."
LoQuinn could obviously see other people joining for less virtuous reasons but they weren't him. He wondered how many people used or rather abused their station and their powers. He realized that perhaps this introspection may have been showing on his face and he wished to make the best of impressions. He didn't want any doubts about his intentions.
"I'm sorry if that sounded canned. It's just that I don't want to be a nothing. I was born special, different and theres no reason I can see for me to waste this."
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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:20 pm
Charles looked steadily at Graveler, examining and considering him, "Very well. We can help you with the former, and you are welcome to training, but until you become comfortable with us -- and us with you -- then we will not accept you further than that, nor will we take your training beyond a certain point. The suspicious are usually thus because they themselves have something to hide." Charles' eyes again looked from Graveler to Photon, this time something deeper in his eyes.
"Phish! This coming from the guy who won't give us his last name!" Photon shot.
"I am a professional man. Perhaps it is my first and not my last name that you do not have." Charles answered, and now with a hint of a smile himself. "Photon, you and Susan will jointly be training him then. Susan is our top trainer, I'm sure you will find her to be a good match for your needs. Photon is also very wise in his training tactics and will be able to help in the areas you may find lacking in Susan. Neither of them train without getting to know their trainees first." It was another direct warning against Graveler's reserved nature.
Photon's lips were pursed together like he was hiding a response to that. There would be words later about Graveler between them.
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:08 pm
LoQuinn was tempted to blurt out a few comments of his own. He had several legitimate reasons to hide his identity. After all wasn't he being professional by using his title? Wasn't he doing the responsible thing by keeping his secret identity a secret. There were plenty of things that LoQuinn was sure were classified as being on a 'need to know' basis. His life's biography wasn't one of them. He could understand the walk before you run policy on introducing new candidates, he could even understand going through a psyche evaluation. Some things though, they just didn't need to know.
He was somewhat endeared to Photon for what he said. Perhaps their talk in the jeep had clarified things somewhat. How many people had Photon known before he joined the NSA that were still around today? LoQuinn knew he'd probably never find out and it didn't really matter. When Charles did manage to dig up what there was to be found about LoQuinn Sumert he hoped that it wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Thank you Sir." Simple words because nothing else really needed to be expressed. He was fairly oblivious to the fact that Photon's outburst had perhaps garnered the veteran Super 'joint training' as a form of punishment. He was wondering if the silence after his words would be somewhat lasting or if he'd be dismissed. It was unlikely that he'd just be walking out without Charles telling him to do so or having Photon direct him to a room, or training somewhere.
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:24 am
Charles considered Graveler for a moment, "Very well then, if you're to be a part of our training program, or eventually employed here, we do have some paperwork for you to fill out. Strictly information that is needed to insure the safety of our faculty here and your own safety. I'm far too busy to bother with frivolous information, but it must be filled out in full. If it turns out that you do not have contact information, we will provide that for you. Just so long as you don't destroy the cellphones no more than once every couple of years." Charles again shot a look to Photon.
Photon looked behind him, "What? He's not here. I'm the choir, man!"
"Ah, yes, and keep it on."
"Now I'm in the pews." Photon smirked at Charles, who turned around and pulled some papers out of a filing cabinet to hand to Graveler.
Yes. Name was the first thing it asked for. And later he would indeed be taken for fingerprinting.
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:10 pm
Paperwork. If there was anything more bureaucratic than useless pieces of paper LoQuinn didn't know about it. He wondered if everyone was dense in the NSA or if they thought that asking for the same information in a different way would accomplish anything. It didn't matter if it came from his lips or on paper there wasn't going to be an exchange of background information. However he would fill out what he could get away with and leave the rest blank or filled with partial truths.
Whatever the state of his 'papers' would be didn't stop from the peculiar exchange between Charles and Photon. LoQuinn wasn't sure what they were talking about and therefore decided not to butt into it now. He'd ask more politely when he was out of the room.
"Would you like me to fill this out here or turn it later after I've gotten myself situated? 'Cause I may need a pen if you want it now."
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:10 am
Charles frowned and fumbled for a pen, then handed it to LoQuinn, "Now would be nice." He informed him.
Photon chuckled, "Shall I get a pair of pliers and see is his teeth come easily, Charlie?" He liked this. A battle of stubborn wills, and he wasn't caught in the middle of it or afraid of being a victim of the fire for once.
Charles glared, "I'm sure a few safety precautions will hardly be denied; however, I would like to thank you for volunteering to take him for the drug testing."
Man.
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:21 pm
Damn. He's gonna sit and watch me fill in every single line isn't he LoQuinn thought to himself. He wondered if Charles would interrupt him mid pen stroke if he had questions.
Full Name: "The Graveler"
Age: 19
Gender: Male
LoQuinn went about filling out the paperwork, which took him several minutes. He was accurate with all but a few details: his social security number (which he left blank), his contact information, and his criminal background. The later two were more because he was unsure of what to put. He technically didn't have a place of residence and he was unsure of what if anything was on his permanent record.
The plan had been to make his way to one of the larger coastal cities and find some youth housing while he got work for himself. But plans changed and here he was. He wondered if Photon was indeed merely joking or if there was some thinly veiled truth to the mention of interrogation. This certainly felt like an interrogation, though of a benign nature.
"Here you are," he said as he slid the document back over to Charles and clicked the point of the pen back up. "Filled out to the best of my ability, off to the DNA, sorry, drug testing now?" He could understand the motions that he had to go through, but he didn't have to like it. Examinations of this nature would make anyone surly, LoQuinn was no exception.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:45 pm
"Thank you. Photon, if you would." Charles was frowning, somehow seeming to be even more reserved before.
Photon nodded, "Let's go!" The moment the door was closed behind him, he clapped Graveler on the shoulder, "You're a nuisance." It was a compliment, "Don't worry, we're not gonna cause you any trouble. Man, I'm starving. We can't get deliveries here, but we can next door. You want any pizza or anything, or are you plannin' to get outta here as soon as you can?"
It would take a few minutes to get to the drug testing area. Either they liked to make walking around the place entirely too complicated, or Photon was giving Graveler the round-about, dizzying route.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:25 pm
LoQuinn suppressed a smile as Charles took back his pen and paper. He wondered what the man was thinking. But really, a drug test? He was looking to become a superhero not to freebase some smack.
However seeing as he'd been dismissed LoQuinn saw no reason to stick around. At least not in Charles office. He was a bit surprised to feel Photon's hand come across his shoulder. Nuisance, it sounded like an endearment rather than an insult. He wondered if Photon was another of the flies buzzing in Charles' ear.
"Pizza sounds good actually. Besides I'm not sure I'm able to head off anywhere seeing as I don't really know where 'here' is. Probably should have payed attention to the street signs huh?" He wondered if now was a good time to tell Photon that he was technically homeless, and with maybe a thousand dollars to his name. Nah, perhaps after he'd submitted a urine sample.
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Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:41 pm
Photon chuckled, "Here is the outskirts of Denver. It'd be easy to find where you're goin' from here. I can give ya a lift, if you need. Ah, here we are. Charles' favorite place to send us."
Photon led Graveler into an entrance room, told the lady what was needed, and waved him to follow her.
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Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:25 pm
There was another grunt that came from LoQuinn in response to his location. He knew that he'd not been in the jeep long enough to have really gone all that far but then again he'd been paying attention to the scenery. "Not too sure if I'll need a ride. I figure there's a youth hostel somewhere in town."
LoQuinn did all that was asked, with the exception of putting his name on papers. He'd figured correctly when he assumed that his trip here would entitle a blood test, finger printing and a urinalysis. So it really was only a matter of time before they could connect the dots and piece together a general idea of who he was. If they moved at the pace of an ordinary hospital he figured he'd have another week of anonymity though he cut that time in half seeing as they likely had the labs on or near the building.
With a band aid on his right arm he walked back out into the waiting room. He wasn't terribly sure if Photon would be waiting for him still or if he'd be appointed another tour guide. It struck him as just a little odd that a known Super would actually have to be doing a guided walk through as opposed to say, stopping the forces of 'evil'.
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:16 am
Photon was indeed there waiting, and chattering on the phone with someone. He waved at LoQuinn when he came out, "Awh, Tresh, I gotta go." .... "I miss ya too. Don't party too hard without me. Yeah? You'd HAVE girl nights if ya'd let me outta your sight every now and again! Ok, ok, I really gotta go. Bye, Tresha." He hung up and jumped up.
"Pizza'll be here in a couple of minutes!" He winked, "They know we tip well if they're fast."
OOC: And, once again, unless you have more to say, I think we can about close this. They can eat, chat about nothing or not chat at all. Someone else would take LoQuinn out, Photon'll probably excuse himself before too terribly long. He'll stick around for a couple of pieces of pizza though. =P
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