this is a chemistry lesson

[episodic]

Comments

[swillpot]

[It's probably best that Jackson did not disparage Lilo and Stitch, as the children would not have it. Alexander also doesn't mind if Jackson stays where he is, so long as he's prepared for sudden stops.

Alexander cranks the door closed and hits the gas, sending the bus rocketing down the street. Despite it's appearance, the car had some kick to it, and it was effective at getting some distance between them and the hunter.]

Sleep spell. It'll wear off eventually, and hopefully enough to give us a decent head start on the way to Virginia.

[illtempered]

The Underground is in Virginia?

( And he thought he was sent to Maryland because that was the assignment. )

I did not sign up for the backwater territories.

( He says it more to himself, and he looks away when he says it, but he's not trying to hide that he says it. He already resents McCall. Or, Stiles. And, less, Lydia because she handed the assignment, but this is why he's going to renegotiate this 'need to know' clause.

Does that mean he needs to become pack? London is looking better and better. )

How far?

[swillpot]

The Underground is everywhere, but there's a school for supernatural kids that acts as a weigh station in Viriginia.

[He glances over his shoulder as they weave through the neighborhood.]

It's a hike, but you're free to get off when we stop for gas if you don't want to commit.

[illtempered]

( School for supernatural kids. Not Beacon Hills, which is just a school with supernatural kids. )

I'm not getting off. I'm in this for the kids.

( Parentless children hit home in a way he doesn't speak about, that only Lydia probably sees as a correlation. )

Did Stiles send you?

[swillpot]

Don't know that name. I got a call, I didn't ask specifics.

[He settles into a more reasonable pace as they get further and further away, acting more like a school bus following normal driving laws than someone trying to escape.]

We don't really ask for that kind of stuff. Plausible deniability.

[illtempered]

( Jackson's white knuckle grip lessens, too, his gaze traveling between the kids and Alex as they talk, letting his heart slow down with the pace and speed of the bus. )

Who's we? And why would you need plausible deniability. You are driving this bus to help them.

[swillpot]

We is my organization. And "plausible deniability" isn't for us. It's for stuff like hunters and people with other dangerous powers of persuasion who want to get information about things like where we're getting our information or where the weigh stations are.

[He smirks.]

Can't give the information away if we don't know it.

[illtempered]

You're the middle man.

( Middle management. Jackson is not middle management. He's on the frontlines. Or, he contracts. Or, he does his own thing. And then he and his boyfriend break up and he breaks good. )

I usually work with more information. With a pack out of California. I didn't know they outsourced.

[swillpot]

Sometimes it's a matter of expedience. We're closer, so they make the call. Sometimes, they need to keep their hands clean of it.

[He keeps his eyes on the road, keeping them moving smoothly down the highway.]

As I said, plausible deniability.

[illtempered]

So this is on them.

( They keep hidden. He gets that. They operate out of the shadows. Especially with Monroe's new network of civilized and indoctrinated hunters. )

Then you know what's out there. ( That's good to know. He keeps his eyes front now, watching the road. ) Jackson.

[swillpot]

Alexander. And yeah, I'm aware.

[The McCall pack has been good enough to keep them in the loop, at least in that respect.]

I'm not normally in the field, but we were shorthanded tonight. As you can see by my rather inconspicuous choice of vehicle.

[illtempered]

Yeah. Hiding in plain sight.

( Plus, the time of night. But, he's not about to knock him for improvising. )

It was a good move.

( And a compliment! )

Where do they go, after you drop them by this school?

[swillpot]

Depends on their parental status.

[Meaning if their orphans/disowned or not. The Salvatore School takes in a lot of both.]

If their parents don't want them to stay, they can take them elsewhere. But if they don't have them, they'll have the option to stay. Be somewhere safe for kids like them.

[illtempered]

( How many of these kids are going to get to join their parents all this. He doubts more than one or two. )

Just like that.

( No application. No vetting. Just. Dropped off. )

[swillpot]

[Well, he assumes there's some vetting. They do have a strict "No killers" policy, but he's also heard that's fairly flexible when it comes to the werewolves.]

Just like that. They have a robust scholarship program.

[illtempered]

People pay to make sure their kids are safe. That's an industry I never saw coming.

( Maybe he should get a real position for this school in saving and recruitment. )

That lucrative?

[swillpot]

They've had a lot of generous donors.

[Some of who are questionable, but Alexander's not about to judge them for doing a good thing.]

[illtempered]

( Hm.

Nothing catches up to their school bus. It's only about forty-five minutes before they're meeting Dorian and Ms. Tig at the gates. Most of the kids are already being taken care of, whether they're being set up in a room or given rooms in town.

It's late, and until they can arrange transportation, Emma Tig offers them overnight lodging.

Jackson's never lived in a dorm before, but he did share a flat with his ex boyfriend. So, he can do one night. The stranger - Alex - is attractive.

Emma does come by a little later when they get ready for bed, knocking.

"We are a dry campus, as we have students, but I know all about having a trying day and you two are both of age. And between you and me, our Headmaster doesn't need this."

Jackson likes her. When Alex comes back from washing up before bed, Jackson's already pouring them each a glass of some very nice whiskey. )

[swillpot]

[He raises an eyebrow when he comes out, eyeing the glasses curiously.]

A gift from our generous hosts?

[illtempered]

From the witch in charge of the lower school. I guess the headmaster's an alcoholic. You drink?

( He holds out the drink as he asks. )

[swillpot]

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a witch who doesn't.

[Poor Ric. Alexander reaches out to take the drink with a nod.]

Thanks.

[illtempered]

I don't know witches.

( He couldn't tell you. And you're welcome. )

What comes next?

[swillpot]

Well, I go back to HQ, wait for the next call. What you do, is entirely up to you.

[He wouldn't mind of Jackson wanted to stick around with the organization, but he's also free to go his own way too.]

[illtempered]

Where is HQ. And -- what is HQ. How did you get into ... this.

[swillpot]

Ahhh, that first one is a need-to-know kind of question.

[He's not saying it to be mean, he's just saying he's not going to disclose more than he has to.]

But as for how I got into it ... my dad did it for a long time. Not the relocating, that came later. But you would be surprised what a lucrative industry fake IDs are for vampires.

[Because when you live forever, occasionally you need to reinvent yourselves.]

But when things started to get bad with Monroe, it turned into more than just vampires. Werewolves and witches and other creatures started needing to disappear too.