[SCENE] Jake and Lana in "Hot on the Trail"
(Note: this scene was posted earlier, but an addition has been made so this is a re-post.)
Lana: *it's mid morning, and the temperature outdoors finally reflects that of a proper LA summer: it's hot, humid and sunny, perfect weather for going to the park or the beach or the pool. Parked on the side of a quiet side street, under the shade of a large leafy tree, is a car with tinted windows. The window on the driver's side is open just a crack, and on the driver's seat sits Lana Skye, dressed in relatively casual summer clothes. It's evident that although she deems it not quite hot enough to merit running the air conditioning in the car, the heat is getting to her; she looks a little flush and speaks a touch sharply as she surveys the building across the street*
Lana: Tell me again why a simple surveillance job requires two people?
Jake: *Jake is looking quite out of character, sporting a simple black T-shirt with his usual denim jeans and not-so-usual runners. He sits next to Lana, idly staring out the window through his black sunglasses* Always good to have your pardner on hand when you're on a stakeout. *catches his reflection in the side mirror and runs his fingers along his jaw stubble*
Lana: *turns to look at Jake as he does so, raising an eyebrow* We're not so much 'staking out' as babysitting a building. I sincerely doubt we'll see any activity at all. *takes a moment to brush a slightly limp lock of hair past her right shoulder, her voice turning decidedly teasing after that* Is it really so pleasant to be in my company, Mr. Marshall?
Jake: *casually takes out his Bowie knife and begins shaving off some stray hairs on his chin* Don't give yourself too much credit. It's unbecomin' of a woman to be so vain.
Lana: Hmph. And for a man? *she's smiling now, though her gaze quickly turns outside again when some lone figure walks by, chatting on a cellphone*
Jake: That's a good question -- but I know you let me come with you 'cause you like my company.
Lana: *looks back at him... then laughs lightly, shakes her head, and glances away without responding*
Jake: I'm right, aren't I? *grins at her, putting the knife away*
Lana: You're cocky. ...But good to have around. *hums out lightly; the pedestrian who had just passed by a minute ago is rounding back down the street again*
Jake: And I look good in sunglasses. Maybe I should be using these things more often. *leans slightly towards Lana and glances up at the figure on the street*
Lana: You should try the plainclothes look more often. You look good in them too, you know. *reaches for a file folder resting on the dashboard and flips it open-- there's a number of photos inside and she scans them briefly* He doesn't match any of the profiles... *she's interrupted by the sound of an engine as a car veers onto the street*
Jake: Yeah, but what about the number plate on that steel horse? *carefully watches what's going on outside*
Lana: 3AOJ... That's in here. And so's the driver. *snaps the folder shut as the car stops and stalls in front of the building. She reaches for her cell phone, speaking crisply* The man that just stepped out from the back-- he has a briefcase.
Jake: *speaking quietly to the man * Come on, dogie. Who's your lil' friend and what's he got in his saddle?
Lana: *dials in a number, but continues watching the street as the phone begins to ring--she frowns* Is that-- a gun? There, under the first one's jacket. *her eyes flick to Jake* They're heading towards the doors.
Jake: How's this for a "simple surveillance" job? *smirks a bit before settling into a serious look* I think we've seen this pattern before.
Lana: Mm. *takes a second to check her phone--it's clear she's getting on edge* No one's answering.
Jake: *puts his hand on the door handle* This calls for a closer look ourselves.
Lana: *hesitates--but only for a moment* Alright. *and then she's opening her door, and walking briskly outside*
Jake: *gets out, shutting the door behind him with a small relieved sigh* Felt like a baked tater in there... *re-adjusts his glasses and follows Lana closely behind*
Lana: *however well equipped the three men are, they fail to note anything amiss as they head to the entrance of the building together. The briefcase is about to exchange hands on the front steps when they finally catch on to Lana and Jake's approach. When one of them glances up startled, Lana yells out a--* FREEZE! *... which fails to be an effective order at all, as the first man drops the briefcase he was in the middle of receiving and makes a scramble for the weapon concealed in his jacket, and the man who was transferring the briefcase and the driver make a simultaneous dash for the car*
Jake: *is quick to intercept the escape and runs up to them quickly, swiftly tackling the briefcase man to the ground and restraining his hands behind his back*
Lana: *has her handgun out already--and even as the first man is pulling out his gun she fires first, the shot catching the guy in the shoulder. He staggers back on the stairs with a scream of pain*
Jake: *fishes some zip tie handcuffs from his pocket and uses them on the man's wrists. He looks behind him to see what's going on* Lana! You okay?
Lana: Fine. *turns to assess the situation--Jake has the one man pinned down and incapacitated, but the driver, unaccosted so far, has run all the way back to the car. Shaken by the situation though, he's still fumbling over his keys and the door handle. She takes several steps towards the man, raising her handgun carefully again* Don't move. *this time, the man actually complies*
Jake: *looks back and forth to see that the situation is fully under their control now. He steps over to the brief case and reaches down, glancing at the wounded man* What've you got in here?
Lana: *takes the time to order the driver's hands up and to have him lay stomach down on the hood of the car as she zip-ties his wrists. She replaces her gun back into its holster and speaks with the man briefly before looking up at Jake* What is it?
Jake: *opens the briefcase when the man just lays there in pain, not answering. Fortunately, it's not locked, and they were right to act as they did -- it's full of guns. One look and he recognizes what they are. He grins and takes off his sunglasses* Well, well... Been many moons since I've seen Borginian handguns. Really takes me back.
Lana: Guns? *lets out an exasperated sigh, but seems to relax slightly now that the situation is relatively diffused* They mentioned nothing about guns, or smuggling--
Driver: *glances up from his position of being pinned on the car* You... are you two cops?
Lana: *the question catches her off guard--she blinks*
Jake: *looks towards the driver, squinting as the sun gets into his eyes* Even worse: ex-cops. Having a showdown with two veterans... Today's your lucky day, pardner.
Driver: *thrashes* Ex... You-- you can't do this!
Lana: *keeps a hand securely on the man's back as she reaches for her cell phone, this time dialing the police* We're placing all three of you under citizen's arrest. Asides from witnessing your exchange just now, and the fact that your partner tried to shoot at us... we'd been told to look out for the both of you in the event of your unlikely return to this location. *the phone connects, and she begins speaking into it*
Jake: *shuts the briefcase and stands up* Y'all stay right where you are and wait for the proper authorities.
Lana: *it's only a matter of minutes before the police (and paramedics) arrive and take over the situation. After they lead the men away, briefly question Lana and Jake and allow them to make a few calls to the appropriate people, the private investigators are finally free to leave the scene. Though a lot has happened in the last hour or so, Lana doesn't seem all that drained when she heads back to their car-- on the contrary, she seems much more energized than earlier that sweltering morning*
Jake: Whew! *sits down in the passenger seat and shuts the door, brushing back his hair* Got more than we bargained for. *smiles contentedly at Lana, eyes bright and alert from the adrenaline brought on by the bust*
Lana: We did indeed, and how often does that happen? They won't believe us until they see the police report. * shuts the door, turning to Jake--she's smiling just as brightly back over at him* Strange things seem to happen when you're around, cowboy.
Jake: *teasing* Stranger things happen. You don't usually stick by long enough to see, Miss Busybody.
Lana: Hmph. Well, it seems as though I now have some free time this afternoon-- and so do you. *reaches out slowly with one hand, running her fingers along Jake's jaw and playing with the stubble* Do you think I'd be able to witness one of these stranger circumstances, if we were together for the duration...?
Jake: *looks down at her hand as he lets her fingers explore his facial hair. His gaze is quickly diverted to her chest* Hmm...You reckon you still need some excitement after all that?
Lana: *follows his gaze, letting him stare for a moment longer before she tilts his head up with her hand. She leans over, speaking in a murmur* You must be joking. After all that excitement... I need more.
Jake: *staaares slyly into her eyes and leans in as well, lips inches away from hers* Be careful what you wish for...pretty lady.
Lana: You just worry about delivering up, cowboy. *and she circles her arms about him and pulls him close, pressing her lips tightly to his*
Jake: ...Mm. *puts a hand on her shoulder and returns the kiss, which becomes increasingly passionate. After a moment, still locking lips, he climbs out of his seat and into her lap, reaching down and pulling on the backseat angle adjustment handle -- with an abrupt thunk, the driver's seat falls back and they go down together, his body pressed
against hers*
* * *
Lana: *less than an hour later, Lana and Jake are standing in line at the pharmacy section of the nearest drug store--Lana's clothes and hair are slightly mussed, and she seems rather irritable as she hisses over at Jake* I was not exactly interested in this kind of excitement!
Jake: *looks a bit tense next to her, making sure not to touch her at the moment. He watches the pharmacist at work* *flatly* Told you to be careful what you wish for...
Lana: *shoots him an icy glare* Next time, tell me when you've carried one of these things in your wallet to Wyoming and back! *the customer in front of them finishes, and she storms coldly over to the counter*
Jake: *solemnly leans against the counter, facing the opposite direction* Like I said, I got caught up in the moment and it plumb slipped my mind.
Lana: "Slipped your mind?" *overhearing, the pharmacist looks rather baffledly over at the both of them... but when Lana speaks to her, the woman gives Jake a rather hostile stare as well before going to the back to fetch the requested item*
Jake: *looks startled by the hostile stare; he speaks to Lana in a loud whisper* I thought these folks weren't supposed to pass judgment!
Lana: Hmph. It isn't judgment so much as solidarity. *though she says this, the hostility on her features seems to dissipate somewhat. The pharmacist returns with the requested box and Lana pays for it at the register, then turns to leave with her purchase in silence. By the time she reaches the entrance of the store, her irritation seems to have died down somewhat more*
Jake: *keeps a weary eye on Lana, relieved to see she's not so thorny anymore*
Jake: ...It was still good, wasn't it?
Lana: *sighs out slightly, slowing down in her steps so she can walk close to him again* ...Yes. Yes, it was. *looks up at Jake* I did mean what I said; I've missed it.
Jake: *smiles earnestly at her* The feeling's mutual. *nudges up on his hat with his thumb* Hold your horses, bambina. It ain't no easy task to get a bun in your oven from one incident. Heck, some couples pay big money for that kinda fertility.
Lana: I'm not worried--I just don't like being caught off guard. I would have been on the pill already, had I known we'd already be... *shakes her head, reaching out to tip his hat back down* You caught me off guard again, cowboy.
Jake: Don't be kiddin' yourself now. *grins* I reckon you've been waiting for it...what with the way you've been behavin' around me.
Lana: *raises an eyebrow--then walks over to the car, unlocking the doors* Really, now? I could say the same in regards to you and your... office demeanour. *opens the driver's side door* And attire.
Jake: *makes his way to the passenger side, opening the door without looking at her* I'm just a simple man, going about his usual ways. Ain't my fault if it fills you with wanton desire. *takes his seat*
Lana: *scoffs lightly at that as she gets into the car. Before she starts up the engine, though, a thought seems to occur to her, and she glances to him* Jake.
Jake: *clicks on his seat belt* Yeah?
Lana: *sternly* We're not going to be doing anything funny in the office. *it's definitely a statement, and not a question*
Jake: *an entirely too-accepting tone* All right.
Lana: *starts up the engine* I mean it this time.
Jake: *lightly* Yes, ma'am.
Lana: *studies his face carefully for a moment, trying to keep her features stern-- but a smile pokes through. Focusing back outside, she pulls the car out of the parking lot, back onto the sunny Californian roads*
Lana: *it's mid morning, and the temperature outdoors finally reflects that of a proper LA summer: it's hot, humid and sunny, perfect weather for going to the park or the beach or the pool. Parked on the side of a quiet side street, under the shade of a large leafy tree, is a car with tinted windows. The window on the driver's side is open just a crack, and on the driver's seat sits Lana Skye, dressed in relatively casual summer clothes. It's evident that although she deems it not quite hot enough to merit running the air conditioning in the car, the heat is getting to her; she looks a little flush and speaks a touch sharply as she surveys the building across the street*
Lana: Tell me again why a simple surveillance job requires two people?
Jake: *Jake is looking quite out of character, sporting a simple black T-shirt with his usual denim jeans and not-so-usual runners. He sits next to Lana, idly staring out the window through his black sunglasses* Always good to have your pardner on hand when you're on a stakeout. *catches his reflection in the side mirror and runs his fingers along his jaw stubble*
Lana: *turns to look at Jake as he does so, raising an eyebrow* We're not so much 'staking out' as babysitting a building. I sincerely doubt we'll see any activity at all. *takes a moment to brush a slightly limp lock of hair past her right shoulder, her voice turning decidedly teasing after that* Is it really so pleasant to be in my company, Mr. Marshall?
Jake: *casually takes out his Bowie knife and begins shaving off some stray hairs on his chin* Don't give yourself too much credit. It's unbecomin' of a woman to be so vain.
Lana: Hmph. And for a man? *she's smiling now, though her gaze quickly turns outside again when some lone figure walks by, chatting on a cellphone*
Jake: That's a good question -- but I know you let me come with you 'cause you like my company.
Lana: *looks back at him... then laughs lightly, shakes her head, and glances away without responding*
Jake: I'm right, aren't I? *grins at her, putting the knife away*
Lana: You're cocky. ...But good to have around. *hums out lightly; the pedestrian who had just passed by a minute ago is rounding back down the street again*
Jake: And I look good in sunglasses. Maybe I should be using these things more often. *leans slightly towards Lana and glances up at the figure on the street*
Lana: You should try the plainclothes look more often. You look good in them too, you know. *reaches for a file folder resting on the dashboard and flips it open-- there's a number of photos inside and she scans them briefly* He doesn't match any of the profiles... *she's interrupted by the sound of an engine as a car veers onto the street*
Jake: Yeah, but what about the number plate on that steel horse? *carefully watches what's going on outside*
Lana: 3AOJ... That's in here. And so's the driver. *snaps the folder shut as the car stops and stalls in front of the building. She reaches for her cell phone, speaking crisply* The man that just stepped out from the back-- he has a briefcase.
Jake: *speaking quietly to the man * Come on, dogie. Who's your lil' friend and what's he got in his saddle?
Lana: *dials in a number, but continues watching the street as the phone begins to ring--she frowns* Is that-- a gun? There, under the first one's jacket. *her eyes flick to Jake* They're heading towards the doors.
Jake: How's this for a "simple surveillance" job? *smirks a bit before settling into a serious look* I think we've seen this pattern before.
Lana: Mm. *takes a second to check her phone--it's clear she's getting on edge* No one's answering.
Jake: *puts his hand on the door handle* This calls for a closer look ourselves.
Lana: *hesitates--but only for a moment* Alright. *and then she's opening her door, and walking briskly outside*
Jake: *gets out, shutting the door behind him with a small relieved sigh* Felt like a baked tater in there... *re-adjusts his glasses and follows Lana closely behind*
Lana: *however well equipped the three men are, they fail to note anything amiss as they head to the entrance of the building together. The briefcase is about to exchange hands on the front steps when they finally catch on to Lana and Jake's approach. When one of them glances up startled, Lana yells out a--* FREEZE! *... which fails to be an effective order at all, as the first man drops the briefcase he was in the middle of receiving and makes a scramble for the weapon concealed in his jacket, and the man who was transferring the briefcase and the driver make a simultaneous dash for the car*
Jake: *is quick to intercept the escape and runs up to them quickly, swiftly tackling the briefcase man to the ground and restraining his hands behind his back*
Lana: *has her handgun out already--and even as the first man is pulling out his gun she fires first, the shot catching the guy in the shoulder. He staggers back on the stairs with a scream of pain*
Jake: *fishes some zip tie handcuffs from his pocket and uses them on the man's wrists. He looks behind him to see what's going on* Lana! You okay?
Lana: Fine. *turns to assess the situation--Jake has the one man pinned down and incapacitated, but the driver, unaccosted so far, has run all the way back to the car. Shaken by the situation though, he's still fumbling over his keys and the door handle. She takes several steps towards the man, raising her handgun carefully again* Don't move. *this time, the man actually complies*
Jake: *looks back and forth to see that the situation is fully under their control now. He steps over to the brief case and reaches down, glancing at the wounded man* What've you got in here?
Lana: *takes the time to order the driver's hands up and to have him lay stomach down on the hood of the car as she zip-ties his wrists. She replaces her gun back into its holster and speaks with the man briefly before looking up at Jake* What is it?
Jake: *opens the briefcase when the man just lays there in pain, not answering. Fortunately, it's not locked, and they were right to act as they did -- it's full of guns. One look and he recognizes what they are. He grins and takes off his sunglasses* Well, well... Been many moons since I've seen Borginian handguns. Really takes me back.
Lana: Guns? *lets out an exasperated sigh, but seems to relax slightly now that the situation is relatively diffused* They mentioned nothing about guns, or smuggling--
Driver: *glances up from his position of being pinned on the car* You... are you two cops?
Lana: *the question catches her off guard--she blinks*
Jake: *looks towards the driver, squinting as the sun gets into his eyes* Even worse: ex-cops. Having a showdown with two veterans... Today's your lucky day, pardner.
Driver: *thrashes* Ex... You-- you can't do this!
Lana: *keeps a hand securely on the man's back as she reaches for her cell phone, this time dialing the police* We're placing all three of you under citizen's arrest. Asides from witnessing your exchange just now, and the fact that your partner tried to shoot at us... we'd been told to look out for the both of you in the event of your unlikely return to this location. *the phone connects, and she begins speaking into it*
Jake: *shuts the briefcase and stands up* Y'all stay right where you are and wait for the proper authorities.
Lana: *it's only a matter of minutes before the police (and paramedics) arrive and take over the situation. After they lead the men away, briefly question Lana and Jake and allow them to make a few calls to the appropriate people, the private investigators are finally free to leave the scene. Though a lot has happened in the last hour or so, Lana doesn't seem all that drained when she heads back to their car-- on the contrary, she seems much more energized than earlier that sweltering morning*
Jake: Whew! *sits down in the passenger seat and shuts the door, brushing back his hair* Got more than we bargained for. *smiles contentedly at Lana, eyes bright and alert from the adrenaline brought on by the bust*
Lana: We did indeed, and how often does that happen? They won't believe us until they see the police report. * shuts the door, turning to Jake--she's smiling just as brightly back over at him* Strange things seem to happen when you're around, cowboy.
Jake: *teasing* Stranger things happen. You don't usually stick by long enough to see, Miss Busybody.
Lana: Hmph. Well, it seems as though I now have some free time this afternoon-- and so do you. *reaches out slowly with one hand, running her fingers along Jake's jaw and playing with the stubble* Do you think I'd be able to witness one of these stranger circumstances, if we were together for the duration...?
Jake: *looks down at her hand as he lets her fingers explore his facial hair. His gaze is quickly diverted to her chest* Hmm...You reckon you still need some excitement after all that?
Lana: *follows his gaze, letting him stare for a moment longer before she tilts his head up with her hand. She leans over, speaking in a murmur* You must be joking. After all that excitement... I need more.
Jake: *staaares slyly into her eyes and leans in as well, lips inches away from hers* Be careful what you wish for...pretty lady.
Lana: You just worry about delivering up, cowboy. *and she circles her arms about him and pulls him close, pressing her lips tightly to his*
Jake: ...Mm. *puts a hand on her shoulder and returns the kiss, which becomes increasingly passionate. After a moment, still locking lips, he climbs out of his seat and into her lap, reaching down and pulling on the backseat angle adjustment handle -- with an abrupt thunk, the driver's seat falls back and they go down together, his body pressed
against hers*
* * *
Lana: *less than an hour later, Lana and Jake are standing in line at the pharmacy section of the nearest drug store--Lana's clothes and hair are slightly mussed, and she seems rather irritable as she hisses over at Jake* I was not exactly interested in this kind of excitement!
Jake: *looks a bit tense next to her, making sure not to touch her at the moment. He watches the pharmacist at work* *flatly* Told you to be careful what you wish for...
Lana: *shoots him an icy glare* Next time, tell me when you've carried one of these things in your wallet to Wyoming and back! *the customer in front of them finishes, and she storms coldly over to the counter*
Jake: *solemnly leans against the counter, facing the opposite direction* Like I said, I got caught up in the moment and it plumb slipped my mind.
Lana: "Slipped your mind?" *overhearing, the pharmacist looks rather baffledly over at the both of them... but when Lana speaks to her, the woman gives Jake a rather hostile stare as well before going to the back to fetch the requested item*
Jake: *looks startled by the hostile stare; he speaks to Lana in a loud whisper* I thought these folks weren't supposed to pass judgment!
Lana: Hmph. It isn't judgment so much as solidarity. *though she says this, the hostility on her features seems to dissipate somewhat. The pharmacist returns with the requested box and Lana pays for it at the register, then turns to leave with her purchase in silence. By the time she reaches the entrance of the store, her irritation seems to have died down somewhat more*
Jake: *keeps a weary eye on Lana, relieved to see she's not so thorny anymore*
Jake: ...It was still good, wasn't it?
Lana: *sighs out slightly, slowing down in her steps so she can walk close to him again* ...Yes. Yes, it was. *looks up at Jake* I did mean what I said; I've missed it.
Jake: *smiles earnestly at her* The feeling's mutual. *nudges up on his hat with his thumb* Hold your horses, bambina. It ain't no easy task to get a bun in your oven from one incident. Heck, some couples pay big money for that kinda fertility.
Lana: I'm not worried--I just don't like being caught off guard. I would have been on the pill already, had I known we'd already be... *shakes her head, reaching out to tip his hat back down* You caught me off guard again, cowboy.
Jake: Don't be kiddin' yourself now. *grins* I reckon you've been waiting for it...what with the way you've been behavin' around me.
Lana: *raises an eyebrow--then walks over to the car, unlocking the doors* Really, now? I could say the same in regards to you and your... office demeanour. *opens the driver's side door* And attire.
Jake: *makes his way to the passenger side, opening the door without looking at her* I'm just a simple man, going about his usual ways. Ain't my fault if it fills you with wanton desire. *takes his seat*
Lana: *scoffs lightly at that as she gets into the car. Before she starts up the engine, though, a thought seems to occur to her, and she glances to him* Jake.
Jake: *clicks on his seat belt* Yeah?
Lana: *sternly* We're not going to be doing anything funny in the office. *it's definitely a statement, and not a question*
Jake: *an entirely too-accepting tone* All right.
Lana: *starts up the engine* I mean it this time.
Jake: *lightly* Yes, ma'am.
Lana: *studies his face carefully for a moment, trying to keep her features stern-- but a smile pokes through. Focusing back outside, she pulls the car out of the parking lot, back onto the sunny Californian roads*