Down the Rabbit Hole

[Archer Keating]

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Full Log (of all play prior to this posted below) can be found:
Story: NYC-New York Tomorrow
Room:: NYC-The City At Large
Start Date: 6/18/2013
End Date::: 6/19/2013

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2013-06-19 00:10:30 Archer Keating
He tipped his head up and sucked in a breath to try to steady himself. "He said his name was um .. White Rabbit. Does that mean anything to you?" He took a step back, fingers going throu his hair. "I need a weapon; shouldn't leave without knives." He swallowed as he started to pace, fingers flexing and then tightening into fists. "What is this envelope thing?" He stopped to look at Chase, question in his eyes. "At least we have the power if they don't know we know about the bug, right?" He finally flopped down onto the couch with a sigh.

2013-06-19 00:15:40 Chase Benjamin
Fuck it. There was a time for being compliant and following rules, and a time for not. Chase fished a cigarette out of the open, short-sleeved, light blue shirt he was wearing and lit it up without a second thought. "White Rabbit.." he parroted, though let go when Archer took that step back. That brought a smirk to his face and he headed for the couch, too, but swiped up an empty plastic cup that had a bit of water in the bottom before doing so. "Knives are great. If you're more comfortable with knives, start carryin' 'em." Of course, Chase would always advocate for weapons-- given the life he lead. "Not quite. We got somethin' better.." he trailed, though paused to take a long, muchly needed, drag from the cigarette before reaching up to scratch at his hairlie.

"White Rabbit is code for'n agent that's.. ..woken up, so to say. Ain't gonna follow. M'not sure why he'd say so.. because without th'knowledge of th'code, he'd have no reason t'know it.." Which was puzzling in itself, but.. it was what it was. "He told you 'bout th'bug so we can remove it. Just gotta find it." Another pause, and he dropped his head back with a slow exhale of smoke that spiraled up. "He's on my side then. Wonder what th'fuck he saw to make 'em change 'is mind." So many questions. "He said t'watch for'n envelope? ..Good. That'll answer some shit."

[Archer Keating]

He nodded when Chase repeated the 'white rabbit' phrase. There were moments when he felt overwhelmed and out of his league. This was one of them. Was he having second thoughts about Chase? Hell no. Archer just wanted things to be more normal. You know, like dealing with the cops because of a street race or something. This super-spy stuff was unsettling. "I don't like guns." It was a simple statement but one that had some history to it.

"What do you mean? Something better?" Archer latched onto that one tight. He liked the idea of having something better than the people after them and he wanted to know what it was.

The blond shook his head. He didn't understand what Chase was talking about in reference to the code 'White Rabbit'. He shrugged about the bug. "Okay, so we find the bug. You have an ally. But what is this envelope? I'm sort of lost, Chase." Sort of was an understatement but hey, at least he was admitting it.

[Chase Benjamin]

Things would be normal, eventually. Anyone who knew him - any part of him - knew that he wouldn't take being watched, tracked, listened to, and watched for too long before he found a way to put a stop to it. Or at the very least, dampen their attempts to keep literally tabs on his whereabouts. It was one thing to have one pawn of an agent showing his kid-like face, but.. the assumption that, yes, he'd made already, that there were three tailing them now..? He didn't necessarily like it, but Chase was taking it casually, if only because Archer had mentioned that simple term. White Rabbit.

When Archer questioned what he meant by 'something better, he blew out another slow stream of smoke in thought, and then replaced it with another lungful before he responded.

"Someone on th'inside. Either he don'y give a shit anymore because someone pissed him off, or he realized what they're doin' is wrong. One'a th'two, but as long as we got 'n insider, I intend to use it."

It wasn't every day an agent decided to step down, and then intentionally fall out of code. Chase could only imagine it'd be nearly as fun as him trying to dodge the others, or take them out as necessary. Amber eyes settled on Archer again when he admitted he was lost, and a faint grin formed around the filter of the cigarette before he slouched down a bit. Just so the back of his neck could rest against the back of the couch.

"An envelope.." he mused, almost as if he'd forgotten in that very short moment. "I'd think it'd be detailin' what they're doin'.. who he is.. 'n why he just revealed 'imself to you. M'not sure. Can't be 'til it shows up."

There was a chance, after all, that he was completely off in his ideas.. but he doubted it. Chase hadn't been wrong thus far. Save for the brake thing. But, that's what he got for trying to think rationally.

[Archer Keating]

It was a good thing that Chase was taking everything so very casually, Archer was only barely hanging onto his own calm. What was the phrase from that movie about damaging his calm? That was Archer. It was only his stubborn determination to stick it out with Chase that kept him sitting there trying to figure things out instead of saying 'hey, this isn't going to work'. If it had been ANYONE else, Archer would have been six blocks away several days ago. But this was Chase and Archer would never leave Chase. Not even when he might be in danger but hey, that was a different topic that Archer would dodge later if it ever came up.

Having someone on the inside was something better, true. Archer hadn't thought about it like that. His hand slid over to curl fingers around Chase's hand. Having inside knowledge would help everything, as long as they could trust this inside source. "You don't think he's doing it just to fuck with you? How do you know for sure he's not just playing us? Can we believe him?" Welcome to the suddenly more suspicious Archer.

He glanced down and muttered, "I don't think I want to take the car to the garage to have it checked out. You think you can go over it in the parking garage? If we need anything, I can call Boss and having someone bring shit to us."

[Chase Benjamin]

You could bet it'd come up. As possessive and domineering as he could be, he still had insecurities. Still figured if things got bad enough - and for the record, no, this wasn't bad - that Archer would throw in that proverbial and figurative white towel. Call it quits, walk away, whatever you wanted to call it. He'd said so, of course, but had been hushed - or, dodged - rather back in the apartment.

Should've stuck with your original plan, Chase. Give 'em all hell, and have the agents dropping like flies before ever trying to settle into anything normal.

"I can't tell without seein' 'im face-to-face. Dependin' on what he sends, then I'll do that. 'n then I'll let'cha know."

It truly wouldn't have been any real shock to him if it was another ploy by the agency, but really, they should've known by now that throwing all these boys in suits at him were doing them no good. They were going to have to do better than that, for the next one he took down.. would be sent right back in a black, zippered bag, where the only thing missing was a the toe-tag. If anything could be said, it was that Chase was done playing with them.

"Nah, no, never take'a bugged car to'a place like that. Call Boss 'n have 'im send me out your typical tools since I still don't have my own yet. Whole set."

Could he really find it in the parking garage? Of course. He slouched a bit further, but just so his hand could dig into his pocket to retrieve his cellphone. It wasn't to make a call, or send off a text, but instead to hunt through the numerous applications he'd installed in his down-time. As said, he was more phone-savvy, than computer; there were a lot of tricks he knew with those damn things.

"n stop worryin'. This is nothin'." he added with a quick glance and a grin at the shabby-haired, blonde.

[Archer Keating]

He shrugged about the face to face meeting concept. That was not his idea of a reassuringly good time. So much can happen in a face to face encounter and often times such things included broken bones. Archer wasn't afraid of violence but he did like to avoid it if possible.

"Okay. I'm pretty sure Boss'll send over someone. Probably someone that can help us out too. You know, an extra set of hands." He figured it would be one of the younger guys. That's usually what they got used for. Hell, until he proved himself Archer had been that delivery boy. Three races won with shit-ass cars had gotten him some notice and he'd managed to gain some respect in the group.

Worrying? His eyes narrowed at the command not to worry. "For the record, I'm not worrying." But his look did call bullshit on the 'this is nothing' comment. This was definitely something out of the ordinary. Maybe not to Chase but it was to Archer and the rest of normal society. He watched Chase fiddle with his phone and then leaned in so he could actualy watch the screen. Archer was not phone savvy since he'd ignored trying to get one until Chase had insisted. He squeezed Chase's hand then got up to go find his own phone so he could call Boss. That call should be easy and it was. All he had to do was use the phrase, 'we have a situation' and Boss was all over it. No questions asked. Archer chuckled once he hung up. "He said first thing in the morning. He'll send out the tow since that's got a complete tool set and it won't look funny." Leave it to Boss to know how to slide under the radar.

And speaking about people who knew how to get things done. "Have you heard anything about Mel?" He deliberately changed the subject to something 'normal' although it wasn't really normal was it? He was asking about a guy who had his throat shot by an asshole federal agent. So, fail! But the question was out there and Archer did want to know since Archer had played a small part in the guy recovering. "Has Maura gotten in touch with you at all?" He thought the lady was nice and hated to see her all upset about Mel. Being a reporter, he figured she was tougher than she looked but it was still sad to see bad things happen to nice people.

[Chase Benjamin]

Chase only sighed, even if he'd taken it upon himself to toy with Archer's fingers while he slid the screen of his phone to and from before finally settling on his own GPS map. He didn't have many people pegged, mind you; just those that mattered, and strictly via cellphone. And it struck him as odd, though he said nothing, that Mel and Maura were off the radar. Though, then again, you couldn't really keep cellphones on while in the hospital, hm?

"Hey, extra hands never hurt nobody," he commented, before reaching over with the hand that held the phone to drop the remainder of his cigarette into the plastic cup. Of course, he'd make sure to have it aired out before anyone had the idea to order room service.

In Archer's defense, all of this probably was something; but when you'd seen worse, and dealt with worse, you became a bit jaded to the easier, littler things such as learning of two others that could be considered hot on your trail -- not knowing if they were assets, or ones to be trusted. Regardless, Chase only shook his head at the narrowing of eyes and turned his stare back down to the phone. The next app was pulled up, which was only to block his own signal and more or less bounce it from antenna to antenna like (no pun intended) a rabbit hopping around from country to country.

"Sorry, y'know. Never intended for shit to be like this, y'know. ..Go away thinkin' you're actually gonna be somebody when y'come back, 'n this is what I got instead." Wherever that came from..

He was quiet for the remainder of the duration of Archer's phone call, and then nodded once. A tow truck in the morning with tools. It worked, no doubt, and wasn't at all suspicious.

The question in regards to Mel and Maura though, only got a light shrug out of him.

"No, nothin'. Nothin' from Maura, either. Guess I should prob'ly call the hospital 'n see if he's checked out or not.. 'cause knowin' him, he prob'ly wouldn't stay put for long once conscious." He knew this well, though he didn't elaborate.

"Maura's'a tough cookie. Ain't gotta worry 'bout her, though. If somethin' was wrong, she'd'a let me know."

[Archer Keating]

He grinned a little. Chase had no idea what the younger guys could be like. Archer could see Chase pulling his hair out or going into 'teacher' mode. It depended on Chase's mood really. "You know, it's not your fault." Archer had a lot of irate feelings inside but only for those who really were at cause for this. He couldn't believe that Chase had anything to do with this voluntarily. "You are somebody. You're you and well hell, I like you just the way you are." Even with the extra baggage.

It made him feel a little better knowing that Maura was tough, in Chase's opinion, and that if anything were terribly wrong Maura would contact them. That knowledge let Archer drop back onto the couch after his call and all but sprawl across Chase. He was finally coming down off that high of 'oh my god I was followed' and starting to relax. He laid his head against Chase's shoulder and muttered, "I need a distraction." His blue eyes slid to the side, peering at Chase from the corner of his eye. "You want to be my distraction?"

[Chase Benjamin]

Who knew? He just might have to go into teacher-mode, especially as far as finding these certain devices were concerned. As stated, it did wholly depend on his mood; but, as light as he seemed - despite the fact that Archer had been followed - it was likely he'd just sit back, smoke, and laugh as they fumbled their way about trying to find that device when all he had to do was somehow get it to show up on his phone and follow the ping. Who knew, though?

Archer's comment about him being somebody, and it not being his fault only made him snort back a laugh. e knew full well he'd had a part of it voluntarily, but he'd been tricked into thinking it was for the greater good. Wasn't that how it worked, though? He hadn't quite gotten that far in talking about it though, but namely because it made him feel absolutely ridiculous; Chase had been fooled, and it wouldn't ever sit right with him. It wasn't even that he wanted this outcome-- it was that he wanted a way to be better at what he was already good at. And intensified training, in his book, didn't equate to being brainwashed and infused with nano technology to make him all but unstoppable.

"How long'll that last, though?" Ut oh. Sometimes, there was just no fighting the insecurities - the frustration of it all. He knew damn well he had a hell of a lot of baggage to tote around, and he didn't expect anyone to hang on to him, or it.

Distraction. Chase turned a glance to Archer once his head was on his shoulder; just after that mutter, and amber's leveled with those blues -- even if he was only being watched from the corner of one eye. Didn't matter much. He could still see them. "D'you even gotta ask that?" he quipped, reaching over to jab Archer with his elbow.. even if only lightly.

[Archer Keating]

"What the hell?" He actually smacked Chase up side the head for that 'how long' comment. Archer wasn't a fair weather friend even when it got his ass kicked. That had happened a couple of times after Chase left but he hadn't told anyone about it. In fact, that was where his fear of tight places came from. But only his mum knew about that. Everyone else just accepted it as a phobia. "As long as you're breathing, asshole." He smirked though to take any sting out of his words.

His smile grew wider at Chase's reply. No, he didn't have to ask but it was fun to see the reaction. Archer leaned in enough to put a kiss on the very corner of Chase's mouth. "I'm going to open the doors to air that shit out." You know he was going to want room service soon! "We need to get some air freshener too." Archer pushed off the couch and headed for the double doors. He pushed them open, the wind breezing in and causing the curtains to flutter.

The observer did not need a laser pointer to identify the target or to be sure he hit the target. It was just a matter of time, of waiting for that one moment that would come. And it did. It always did. He lay still just as he had laid still for hours once taking his post. The weapon had been trained on the balcony for just as long. He waited, unmoving, dressed in black to blend into the night.

Archer laughed and flounded his way out of the curtains that were billowing all around him. "Shit! They're trying to eat me!" He batted at the curtains and then stumbled, nearly taking the curtains right off the wall with him with a grunt of surprise and .. pain? The sound came the same moment the crack of impact was heard on the wall near the door. It was a distant pop followed by the more immediate crack. Archer rolled over, kicking the curtains out of his way. His left hand held his right bicep, blood starting to seep from between his fingers. "Chase." He only said that one word before he instinctively dropped to the floor. A second crack near the first split the silence. "I think we need to check out."