Desert Cayman
Rating: PG
Who: Anyone
What: Early morning and a Porsche Cayman
Where: ACME Headquarters, San Francisco1 Chase
The dawn of a rather peaceful Saturday gleamed with pristine hues of rose and peach against the San Francisco horizon. Clouds gathered sparingly, enough to reflect the warm light of the rising sun, but not enough to dull the morning's painted sky. All Chase Devineaux could see amidst the perfect picture was the glint of a golden skyscraper -- The ACME Compound, and his destination.
Having driven all night in a once fully functional Porsche Cayman, he had more on his mind than present scenery. Hours ago, this Cayman was in the desert, gliding through rocks and brush at high speeds. He won't consider the details now, but the car suffered, it needed a mechanic.
The ties screamed in protest as the vehicle spun around a solid curve and up the ramps of the only place that Devineaux knew would handle a Porsche Cayman this hour of the weekend.2 Miss_Guided
An early Saturday morning wasn't the time to usually find not just one but two agents in the garages of ACME. Due to her circumstances Melissa Wayward had access to the garages at anytime and her own corner to work in which she lovingly referred to as her office. Missy was known for working on the cars in the shop and this morning would be nothing different.
Hearing the sounds of wheels entering and a slightly pained engine noise Melissa looked up from her job, placing the tool in hand down and walking towards the sound. What her eyes were finally greeted with would have made even the most cold hearted mechanic cry. Who would have abused such a beautiful car in such a way?
"...Mr. Devineaux?"3 Nevon
[OOC: Holy moly! That Porsche is awesome!]
Nevon Blair flew in from a recent case where he almost lost two diamond studded earrings that belonged to the wife of a historical Russian Tsar. Nevon transferred from the Seattle branch of ACME to San Francisco. He has been here a little over a year. Saturday was his favorite day so far.
Back in Seattle, Blair was an accountant, and not even the kind that worked on crunching the important numbers like salaries and budgets. Nope, Nevon was an accountant's assistant. For the most part of being in Seattle, he became very familiar with the city's Starbuck's locations and how to work a cappuccino machine in case of emergency.
In San Francisco, Nev decided he wanted something different. At the transfer form, he requested to be working in field. Only a selected amount of agents got field work, and even fewer got titles. Nevon got what he wanted, but he was a starting at zero as a rookie.
Before heading inside the building, Nevon passed a few yards from the garage. The sound of a sports car and screeching tires made him look up. His jaw dropped wide open at the sight of a 2006 Porsche Cayman.
Then the lady near him said "Mr. Devineaux?" and Nevon stepped back. THE Devineaux? Saturdays just got better!
"Word…" Nevon muttered.4 Miss_Guided
((Oh! I didn't realize you were already from the Seattle, Nevon! Sorry, didn't mean to take your city! I was just looking for somewhere West Coast to use. :) I'll change it to something else soon enough.))
5 Nevon [OOC: Don't change it Missy. I wrote you were from Seattle in my post too. This can be something we have in common!] 6 Miss_Guided ((OOC: After doing research it looks like she'll be from Tacoma which is close by. There's a major Air Force base there so it makes sense. I haven't quite finished my research on Missy and I was deliriously tired... So we'll make it same state, that works.)) 7 Chase
Once silver, the Porsche Cayman rumbled under thick fine dirt that clung tenaciously to the deep scars throughout its body. Chase Devineaux parked the car. As the key left the ignition, the engine made its final groan then turned nearly silent, leaving a muffled pinging as it died.
Unable to exit from either door, the detective broke the glass of the passenger side and maneuvered through. Removing himself from the Porsche with relative ease, Chase assessed visible damages. Dulled with sand were the once large, bright headlights; one was broken along with much of the driver's side. Of the three, only the interior rearview mirror remained, and the back of the vehicle, along with the license plate, was unrecognizable.
That was some night... He thought while another version of what happened was being written in his head.
Turning to acknowledge Melissa and Nevon, Devineaux looked around for anyone else before asking, "Where's the mechanic?"8 Miss_Guided
The question had been direct however the reaction to it was a bit delayed as Missy continued to eye the Porsche, jaw now having dropped. The initial reaction to the car was being reconfirmed and now intensified as she was able to look at it closer up, viewing the greater damage past the desert sand which clung to the frame.
If asked she would have explained that she had not seen damage this bad to a car this beautiful since First Sargent Williamson had been caught cheating on his girlfriend Carrie... he's had the prettiest little four wheel drive and she'd dug her key into the side of it, carved her name into his italian leather seats and oh god, the memories of what it looked like when she'd finished with that Louisville Slugger.
"Mack and Johnny have the day off, Tony's not in until noon, Will's due at nine but for him that means nine thirty and Dick ran to grab some coffee, he'll be right back" she finally answered, walking around the car once, still taking in the damage.
Knowing the course of action Dick would be taking once he returned Missy grabbed the handle of the driver's side and gave a hard tug, managing to get the door open though she was pretty sure it wouldn't close properly again until it was fixed. She reached in and placed the car into neutral, then looked to Nevon. His presence in the garage came as a bit of a surprise since not many just came down to the garages simply to take in the view. It had been her experience that if you were in the garage you were expected to work and Nevon would be no exception.
"...Hey, Buddy. Since you're here you mind helping me push this car to the mechanic lift?"
Finally her eyes looked up to Chase.
"Are you alright?" Obviously the question was justified as the car would give anyone something bad to assume. Then again there were stories about Chase's abilities. The stories floating around about this ACME legend could almost give the iconic Detective Carmen Sandiego a run for her money.9 Nevon
Still in awe, Nevon stood perfectly still. In front of him was Chase Devineaux and a Porsche Cayman. This was a glimpse into what the toughest guys in ACME were doing to save the world.
Chase Devineaux AND a Porsche Cayman! Blair was a few degrees from being stupid happy the way he was when his dad got him a skateboard for his 12th birthday. Understandingly, gifts that came after weren't quite as awesome.
Missy called him "Buddy" and Nevon started up. Help, oh right! Sure! I'm going to get to TOUCH a Porsche…
Happily in his moment, Nev found quickly that a Porsche was just as heavy as any other car and he struggled to push it up the ramp.
10 Chase
Miss_Guided said: "Mack and Johnny have the day off, Tony's not in until noon, Will's due at nine but for him that means nine thirty and Dick ran to grab some coffee, he'll be right back" she finally answered, walking around the car once, still taking in the damage.
Great, Mack and Johnny were the two people Chase Devineaux hoped he would find. They knew how to make the least amount of noise when it came to unmarked damages on officially unofficial vehicles. As soon as Dick the head mechanic returned, the detective must have a solid story prepared. Then, despite all efforts, Chief will hear of this.
Miss_Guided said: Finally her eyes looked up to Chase. "Are you alright?"
"Hmm," he nodded, only hearing the last word of her question. Any lingering thought dissipated when he saw Nevon struggling to push the car.
"Don't break your back, Nevon." Moving to a decent spot, Devineaux helped urge the Cayman forward and up the ramp. "Thanks kid, you can go now… And, do me a favor, keep quiet about what you saw this morning."
On that instruction, he shot Melissa a smile. "Might I trust you with the same favor?"11 Miss_Guided
While the boys pushed the car from behind Missy had been doing the same to a lesser degree from her place walking along at the open driver's side, her shoulder braced against the doorframe while her hand gripped the steering wheel and made sure that it would be lined up correctly. Once the car stopped and as Chase spoke to Nevon she stepped back to look at its position on the lowered treds of Lift 4. If it wasn't the way it should be it would have to be corrected, however she wouldn't have asked the two present to fix it even if it was.
Which it wasn't. Nice.
Turning herself back to the two present agents she was caught unaware by Chase's smile and question.
Chase said: "Might I trust you with the same favor?"
The sudden attention caught her in a half smile, her eyebrows raised with a look that said 'You don't deserve a car this beautiful, even if you ARE a legend.' Obviously her reaction was FAR from being as suave as the question.
"Sure?" she muttered out, before coughing and trying to make herself sound better. "I mean... no problem."
'Slick.' she told herself. 'REAL slick.'
Caught without a way to defer attention from her less than graceful responce she looked to the only other presence in the garage, which happened to be 'Buddy'. What had Chase called him? He'd used a name... Nick... Nebo... Nevon... Nevon!
"Hey, uh, Nevon, thanks for helping with the car..."
12 Nevon
Chase said: "Don't break your back, Nevon." Moving to a decent spot, Devineaux helped urge the Cayman forward and up the ramp. "Thanks kid, you can go now… And, do me a favor, keep quiet about what you saw this morning."
After putting the car where it should go, Nevon stood like a dummy in the ACME garage. Chase Devineaux knew his name. He said it! He said "Nevon" without needing to ask or anything. Chase Devineaux knows MY name...
"I won't say anything sir," Nevon replied enthusiastically, "I won't say anything, to anyone, not to my girlfriend, not to my parents, sir, nobody, I saw nothing." That was kind of shameless, and Nev felt like he over did it. Thankfully, Missy stepped in to answer Chase's question to her. Although she was clearly more professional, she was caught off guard too, and it made Nevon less nervous.
"I have the day off," he said at the end of the conversation, "and I've never been in the car shop... can I stay?"13 Chase
Asking for such an obvious secret to remain under wraps was mere formality. Chase Devineaux took little time to consider Nevon's request.
"Sure, stay." Then, as the thought of a long day ahead weighed together with having driven all night, Chase continued, "Do you mind getting me coffee? I need three shots of espresso, no sugar, no cream."
A short moment of silence appeared as Devineaux considered the credibility of his made-up story. This was potentially the worst damage control ever attempted. Before the pause became uncomfortably long, the detective conformed to courtesy and turned to Missy Wayward.
"Melissa, would you like anything?"14 Miss_Guided
Standing to the side of Chase now Missy raised an eyebrow as he granted access to Nevon to the garage. Chase Devineaux was indeed a high ranking ACME agent, a legend in his own field however all of the mechanics, from Nicky to Dick would be quick to explain something that would make Mr. Devineaux's granting that request impossible.
Agents do not hold rank in the garage.
When a car needs to be fixed it does not matter if you can catch the world's most notorious crook, if you can travel time without breaking a sweat. Might is made by who can do the best job and who runs the shop. It would be in her best interest not to say anything about it but Dick would be confused to say the least when he returned.
"Melissa, would you like anything?"
Her eyebrow dropped quickly and she blinked.
"Nah, I'm fine." Also she was pretty sure Dick would be bringing something for her on his way back.15 Nevon
Nevon's face lit up when Chase said he could stay. Then he took the order, kind of did a salute, then ran off to the coffee shop.
On his way out, he thought about the look he saw on Missy's face. Everybody at ACME worked together like gears in a machine. It was weird to see what went on this morning. He held ACME's top agents as cool and smart. They took cases beyond hackers and thieves.
This morning, Chase Devineaux came to the garage looking almost as beaten up as his Porsche Cayman. And Nevon was asked to not say anything. The rookie thought this was the highest privilege, but he had some doubt. What if he got himself into more than he bargained for?
"You want to order now?" Asked the guy behind the coffee shop counter.
"Em, I'll take a caramel latte with extra cream… No wait!" Nevon said quickly, "I want an espresso, 2 shots, with nothing. Make that on the double, my orders are for Chase Devineaux, got all that?"
The coffee guy scoffed and said something like "whatever, creep" under his breath then went on with the order.16 Chase
In a brief, more caring manner, Chase Devineaux reconsidered sending Nevon Blair out for coffee. Chances were, at this hour of the morning, the kid recently came back from a case. A rookie might fare better having a good night's rest than getting into something… like this.
Diverting back to the Porsche and to Missy, he spotted a look of disdain in her eyes that he had only seen once in another human being. Despite it being some time ago, the look reminded him that a largely convincing story must now amass to control the situation.
"I was driving too fast," he started in a tone that attempted to mask nonexistent guilt. "It was sunset, and this desert tortoise started crossing the road from my right, near the shadow of an underpass…" He was somewhat proud of that. Having driven all night, bringing up a threatened species that may often cross roads at sundown was like hitting all the right chords in a piano sonata. If he was more alert, he might have noticed the terrible undertone that idea overlooked.
"So then I veered, skidding along the sides of the underpass, hit a bump, spun, and rammed the rear into one of the walls." That sentence explained nearly every injury the Cayman displayed. Standing his ground, he felt the ending was strong enough to alleviate further questions.
17 Miss_Guided
The ordering around people in the garage had been one thing. The lie he'd just given her was a complete other. There might have been something about being in a garage, her safe haven, which allowed for such an automatic sense of casual discussion towards her new boss.
"...you REALLY think they're going to buy that, don't you? Dick's not going to buy your sob story about turtles in the road."
As he tried to defend his choice, saying that it was no lie she walked over to the rear, pulling her rag from her back pocket and wiping away a bit of sand from the metal.
"That's car paint you scrapped against, not concrete. Its all over the place... heck, even under the dust you can see it." Putting her rag back she walked around the car, examining it from all angles. "From the placement of the dents I'd say it was... a little higher than your car. Not quite an SUV..."
Tilting her head to the side she then looked to him with both eyes.
"You aced Defensive Maneuvering, didn't you?"18 Nevon
Even though he was hyped up with having ordered someone to do something for him today, Nevon felt a little guilty. Coffee guy didn't needed to be yelled at, but that dude didn't look like he cared. Oh well.
Nevon left the coffee shop and ran past a man dressed like a mechanic. Reaching the garage with the espresso, he handed the cup to Chase with a tired grin.
"Here you are, sir! Your espresso."
Now that he's had some time away, Nev saw the Porsche again and it looked a lot worse than it did before he went to the coffee shop. No way that happened without any help.19 Chase
Chase Devineaux took note of Melissa's words, she was right, but changing the story was hardly possible. Once all this was over, the truth would be easier to reveal. Now was simply not the time.
"You said you'd keep quiet," he stated plainly, "I'll hold you to it."
Nevon's entrance was timely, more so was the caffeine. Chase accepted the delivery, and after finishing the content of the small cup, nodded to the Rookie with certain sternness.
"I ordered three shots, Nevon, not two." While the error was fine to him personally, in this profession, mere miscalculations determined life and death. He raised his voice slightly, speaking slower without yelling. "Next time I ask you to deal with numbers; I trust you won't bring me a 20-feet cable to cross a 30-feet gorge?"20 Miss_Guided
Rolling her eyes a little, Melissa sighed, letting her shoulders slump for a moment before feeling a finger poke her back which, since everyone she knew in the garage was in sight, made her turn quickly with a light gasp. There stood Dick with one finger extended off a hand holding a small Dunkin Donuts hazelnut coffee, cream and two sugars like she always asked for. The look on his face was blank, which for Dick was nothing new.
"...something wrong?" the man asked softly, handing over the coffee, then reaching to the crook of his arm where he pulled out a raspberry filled donut. His eyes fell to the thrashed Cayman and he gave a small grumble, more to show that he'd seen it than as any form of opinion of it.
"I, uh, put it on the lift when it came in." Missy said, brushing a piece of hair away with her free hand. "I can take it off if you need me to."
Dick looked back at her with a raised brow and went to put down his breakfast and the 5 pounds of coffee he'd bought for the coffee maker.21 Nevon
[OOC: Cool, I really thought it was 2 shots. Awesome!]
This was bad, Nevon thought he had one chance to prove he was competent to Chase Devineaux and he blew it on his weakest subject, math. Math kept him from going anywhere when he was in the accounting department in ACME Seattle, and it was killing him now. Chase's talk was hardly punishment, Nev was going to go beat himself up later... by taking another math course next semester.
"No sir, sorry for the mixup"
When the mechanic came in, Nevon stayed quiet. As a rookie, the best he could do was watch for now and do things when asked.
22 Chase
((My turn to apologize for things being late.))
Chase was vaguely relieved to see Dick the mechanic less interested in talking about the car. It was a good sign and, considering the early hours this Saturday morning, he was more thankful than he normally would be.
"I need to head out," he was tired and wanted to leave before it became obvious to everyone else. A lengthy time to rethink yesterday's events was necessary. Noting Nevon's current stance, he nodded to the Rookie, "Looks like you had a long night too. Thanks for the coffee, I owe you one."23 Nevon
[OOC: I got the okay to end this RP, thanks Chase!]
Nevon could use time off this weekend, he was moving in to the ACME Living Area in a few days. Smiling dumbly, he forgot to say good bye when Chase was still in front of him and ended up mumbling it when he was out of sight.
He did get to wave a nice thank you to Missy and Dick. The mechanic was already working on the car without complaining. Maybe Dick even enjoyed fixing up a supercar, even if it wasn't completely protocol.
Nevon headed home, knowing he can't tell anyone else about this (yet).
24 Miss_Guided
(I had to sneak in one more, please forgive my taking the last post away from you Nevon!)
Missy waved a goodbye with a small smile as both agents headed out of the garage, Chase first and Nevon quick to follow. She had suspected that once someone big like Chase left there would be very little left to keep the new agent around. Once both were out of sight she gave out a large breath and leaned against the dusty car, getting desert sand all over the coveralls.
"Not bad, 'Button'." Dick said softly from under the hood, using the nametag sewn into her coverall to address her. "Especially for an unexpected visit."
Missy merely nodded and placed the coffee cup in hand to her lips, making a bit of a face as she swallowed a mouthful of the hot liquid. She was still trying to get used to coffee. She would have much preferred a cup of tea and a warm bagel but there were reasons to change her tendencies.
"Did I line up the car alright?" she asked finally.
"Yeah, actually you did. A little far forward but pretty good for a first time."
That caused the girl to smile to herself. "I think I'm going to finish changing that oil."
"Need me to walk you through it again?"
"Nah, I think I have it." Missy answered, pulling away from the Cayman and walking over to her workstation. "I'd like to think I'd learned something working down here."
Dick snorted softly and ducked his head down to look at the engine. "I'll keep an ear open."