Collecting Data

Arriving at the Stark home with a bag of groceries in one hand and another bag filled with items in the other Jarvis approaches the door then activates the panel to take down the security of said home. When he has been cleared the front door swings open and in the man goes closing the door behind him. Humming an old tune Jarvis leaves one bag in a chair in the living room then enters the kitchen to start putting away items from the re-useable bag. He's very environmentally concious and most of the food that was purchase is organic in nature. His trip over with, the groceries put away, he takes to puttering about the house cleaning this and that knowing that Mr. Kelleigh should be arriving soon enough for the trip out to Stark Enterprises.

Mr. Kelleigh does arrive punctually, three minutes before the appointed time. He passes his own entry checks and arrives in the living room at the same time Jarvis is finishing the dusting. “Good evening, Jarvis,” he says, watching the older man move around the room. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Why in the world is there a plant in this home? For heavens-sake… The poor plant is currently being watered when Corrin catches Jarvis' attention. “Good afternoon, Mr. Kelleigh. I am presently trying to nourish this poor plant. If you would allow a moment I will put everything I am using away then we can be off. Are you in need of anything before we leave? Or perhaps in need of a stop before arriving at Mr. Stark's facility?” Jarvis hums again as he cleans up the small container of nutrient sticks then takes the items into the kitchen to be dealt with.

Corrin wanders after Jarvis, watching him clean up. “I'd like to know where Mr. Stark is tonight. I know I'm not on duty with him, but still.” He shrugs. “He says he has no schedule, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have favorite activities. Personally, I'm hoping you'll say, 'He's in the lab and will be until the wee hours'. That would be, in my estimation, the best of all possible worlds.”

“Anthony is elsewhere at the moment. I am not privy to the details per usual which is to say not helpful for your nerves. I apologize for that as well as crushing your hopes.” Jarvis tucks away the watering can once the remaining water has been poured out and the box of plant food is tucked away with it under the sink. “He is quite random with his activities I have found. Have you attempted to contact him? He is aware that I will be showing you the company buildings this evening.”

Corrin crosses his arms. “I made an attempt. I got a note back saying, 'Having fun! Suggest same. Tell J to make purple cupcakes!'” He shakes his head. “I am assuming J is you. But why purple?”

He backs out of the kitchen doorway as Jarvis finishes putting things away. “I'm looking forward to this tour, but…” He shakes his head again. “Why did Mr. Stark hire me for security work if he insists on not being secure?” Professional irritation, there. And more than a little anxiety.

Anthony…Jarvis shakes his head about this message then can't help but crack a smile. “He is fond of the color as it is his mothers favorite color. I am however not about to make cupcakes anytime soon. He's had one too many sweets coupled with several gallons of coffee in the past day or so.”

Once the items have been stashed away Jarvis takes to cleaning his hands at the sink then drying them on a nearby dishtowel that will be folded then set aside. “I believe the fault lay in that you are accustomed to operating with someone who will follow a certain pattern, and require constant support. I believe, and this is my best estimation given what I've gathered so far, that he will contact you if he needs you to be with him. Otherwise I would have to assume that you will be an asset to the company where you can maintain the security and protect the workers.”

Corrin mutters, “I hope so,” mostly under his breath. He waits patiently for Jarvis to finish his chores. “I assume that only the head of Stark Enterprises is of that personality type which would confuse a herd of ADD hamsters on speed,” he says. “More than one would cause an implosion of implausibility, I'm sure.”

Jarvis settles his hands to the countertop in front of him. “I am not sure that I follow. Are you troubled Master Kelleigh? I am aware of a great many issues that Mr. Stark has and some that I do not believe he is aware of. If I can be of any help to you I am more than willing to offer you my ear as it were.”

Corrin waves it off. “I'm just complaining. Mostly because I'm feeling useless. Let's get on with this tour of the Stark factory – I need to be doing something with actual progress attached to it, otherwise I'll keep…” He takes a deep breath and lets it out again. “Shall we go?”

“You will keep ….?” Jarvis waits for Corrin to continue the sentence. It may be a stalemate for sometime as Jarvis has the patience of a saint. In fact the man uncovers a plate of lemon bars that he scoots towards the man. Perhaps a snack will get the man to open up a bit more.

Corrin shakes his head again. “Thank you, no. I've eaten.” He paces toward the door and peers out the nearest window, arms still crossed. “I'll wondering why I have this job,” he says, and he turns back to face Jarvis. Patience, meet patience. “Are we going or not?”

Covering up the lemon bars so that they stay moist and fresh Jarvis shrugs slightly. “You are an impatient and troubled man. I am certain you have an idea set in your mind of what is and should not be and are refusing to bend in any direction.” Gathering up the keys to a car the live in butler of sorts opens the front door waiting for Corrin to exit the home ahead of him. The security will reactivate once the door has been closed automatically. “If you do not wish to watch over Anthony in the setting he chooses then you will be better served at Stark. He is complicated. Have you considered that what he truly seeks are friends that he may help and trust them to have his best interests at heart?”

Corrin trots down the front steps. “Jarvis, I'm a trained cop, and my last job involved undercover work inside the structure of a major destabilizing organization bent on warping my world's governments to its will. Why do you think I am the way I am? And why are you insisting on telling me that I'm wrong to be that way?” He stops and levels a stare at the butler. “If you're saying both Mr. Stark and I would be better off if I wasn't working for him, you'd get a lot further by being straight with me about it.”

“That is not what I had intended.” The car is close by and with a depress of a button on the keychain the doors unlock. “I am suggesting that there is more than you may not be aware of and are reacting abrasively to anything that pops up. Do you not wish for his help? Would you rather not befriend him? It is easier to get what you need to have happen if you lure with honey rather than vinegar.”

Corrin sighs. “I've got a skill set here that I'm beginning to think isn't particularly useful – or wanted. I've got a whole lot of ignorance on top of that, which I'm trying very hard to correct. Mr. Stark wants to help me, which is damn nice of him, but what about the return on that? If I can't help him back, I'm just a parasite, and I'm pretty sure that even if he likes that sort of thing, I don't.” He stops beside the car, all but glowing with irritation. “This conversation isn't going anywhere, Jarvis. I suggest that we do.”

“Why do you view being his friend as being a parasitic person? Do you intend to use him? If the answer is no then you are not as such. Give it time and see what you can do with his complex. Little things.” Jarvis is trying though he may be causing more harm than good. Into the car and the drive will be a short one as the complex is not too far outside of the area known as Bohemia.

Security checks at gates, buildings in a square formation, nothing too flashy or emblazoned with logos which is not something that anyone would expect give Tony's a narcissist. Jarvis pulls the car up to the front of the main building and will lead Corrin into the spacious lobby.

Corrin would say that yes, Jarvis is not really helping, but that would be unkind and he's coming far too close to that brink as it is. (He hates that.) So he lets Jarvis talk, and answers in monosyllables or non sequiturs, and when they get to the complex, he pulls out a notepad and pencil and starts jotting notes. “How many people work here, total? What are the shifts? How many full-time security? How many part-time security? What are the vet checks, and who does them?”… and more questions of the sort. Staying away from Tony Stark and himself and any possible relationship between them that is more than boss and employee. Absolutely.

Once at the complex Jarvis is hit with a ton of questions that go right over his head. He's supposed to know these things? Rolling his eyes to the heavens the man summons over one of the security team that has these answers to give Corrin. Here, talk at him for this is not my department. “If you would kindly show Mr. Kelleigh around the main building, the research and warehouse buildings I would be appreciative. Good evening, Mr. Kelleigh.” Jarvis bows his head then wanders over to the desk pausing a moment to speak with someone then heads to the elevators where he patiently waits.

Like with any building owned by Stark there's enough security present to deter anyone save the crazy. Camera's, sensors, automated responses, and scanners that quickly search whatever goes in or out. The security team has access to a computer system, and several means of dealing with intruders. The more secure areas require multiple checks from passwords, to retinal scans, palm scanners, and a few more just to get into. These three buildings are more secure than Fort Knox.

Corrin calms down a lot, doing this. He knows this work. He's new to this site, but he understands what's going on, and why, and where the usual weak points are and what to do about them. He ends up talking shop with the watch commander, an in-depth interview that informs both men of their respective histories, qualifications, strengths, and talents. In short, and for the first time in over a week, Corrin is actually feeling grounded. Does wonders for his paranoia.

He's almost whistling when he finds Jarvis again. “Jarvis, McMurtry tells me Stark has a satellite facility, a new one, that is being renovated before he moves workers in. He'd like me to go over and check out the place, give him some feedback on the new security grid there. They haven't put any in place yet; apparently the place was hit by…” he checks his notes. “A meteor. Okay. Anyway, there's a roof and windows and a fence, and it needs the grid planned out before the interior renos get started. He said you'd know where it is.”

It would appear that Master Kelleigh is in better spirits. “Ahh, that site. The building did meet with an unusual fate. I will be happy to show you to the location in a moment.” The screens of information the man was reading wink out of existence as the connection is severed by the commands typed atop the desktop. With that Jarvis peels away from the desk to proceed ahead of Mr. Kelleigh. “Fortunately the set back allows for redesigns to be made which is part of the fun, no?” And then their off!

“Efficiency, not fun,” quibbles Corrin, but he's still much happier than he was. He'll watch the scenery as Jarvis drives, and ask random questions like, does the City have radio stations? If so, are they any good? And what about libraries? Bookstores? Public swimming pools? Ice rinks? Dojos? …?

Corrin is becoming as bad as Anthony in some respects. Still, Jarvis answers each question posed to him. There are radio stations, programs to set up your own music choices, the Great Library is an area comprised of many universities and libraries and the answers keep coming. “Anthony accompanied his lady friend to a library just yesterday to speak with a friend of theirs.” Just something random to throw out there to stop the string of questions. It is a city! Of course it has all of these things and then some.

At the location the building seems decent enough though a chunk of it's a wreck. “The meteor that took out the side of the building was taken away for study. Cleanup occured quickly with minimal fuss. There was no trace of radiation or abnormal readings so it has been cleared for work to begin.” The car is parked nearby and Jarvis slips out to lean up against the hood of said car. “Do you wish for me to remain here Master Kelleigh?”

Corrin nods. “I won't be long. McMurtry told me the place is relatively small and all walls but the outside ones and the ones around the power room are down. There's a mess of building debris still on the floors, though, and I have boots, but you don't.” He aims a finger at Jarvis' doubtless well-shod but not booted feet. “I've got a flashlight. I figure once around the place, maybe twice for notes, and we can go back to the complex for a consult.” He dusts his hands off and pulls his flashlight out. “If I'm not out in twenty, assume alligators got me and send in the Marines, 'kay?” Big grin, and then he heads inside.

“This is true. If you have need of me please do not hesitate to summon me. I am here to assist in any capacity.” Jarvis even politely bows his head towards the man. “I will use one of Mr. Starks toys to take readings of the external area then. I shall pray for your safe return Mr. Dundee.”

The ruin of the building is just that and Corrin may find his way around hmm'ing and scribbling down information into a pad device. There is still quite a lot of damaged wiring, and vegetation that appears to have grown into the building in places. Humid looking vegetation which is odd.

Corrin examines the vegetation without touching it; no telling what thorns, poisons, or fangs the stuff has. He takes copious notes, including one regarding the acquisition of a camera phone. One of those would be mighty handy, doing a job like this…

He makes his way to the far end of the building and the power room, which he enters, and then…

Jarvis is being very patient. Patient, patient. Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen minutes worth of patient….

Twenty minutes then he is supposed to alert the calvarly that there are aligators eating Master Kelleigh. A glance to his expensive watch the man sends a text message to several of their current location and that Mr. Kelleigh has informed him to relay concern if he had not returned in twenty-minutes time. Please do not involve Animal Control though a small security detail would not go amiss if another message is sent or in another twenty-minutes time Jarvis has not called off the hounds as it were.

Searching the glove compartment Jarvis finds another portable light source and begins to make his way into the building mindful of the debris as he goes. “Master Kelleigh? It is Jarvis. Are you in need of assistance?” He repeats this every so often as he makes his way through towards the power room. What lurks in this building other than strange vegetation? It's quite possible that a months old egg salad sandwich left behind mutated into a drippy monster that's consumed Mr. Kelleigh for protein. There's a harrowing thought.

Jarvis hasn't gone far into the building; he can see the power room door from the main door, and it is open. He's come about thirty feet into the main room when movement at the power room door announces Corrin's reappearance. He's staggering, weaving as if inebriated, and he reaches out to grip the door frame as if it is a lifeline. He does not appear to have noticed Jarvis yet.

He appears unharmed – no blood or obvious bruising. However, his clothing is covered in swaths of dust, as if he's brushed up against something, or perhaps fallen against something.

“Master Kelleigh!” Attempting to catch the staggering mans attention. Activating his phone he communicates through the hands free. “This is Jarvis. Send a team over to the satellite building. Inform Mr. Stark there may be trouble here.” Even if it turns out to be nothing one can never be too cautious. Especially since Corrin shouldn't be behaving this way. Once Jarvis arrives at the mans side he reaches out towards the man noting that he's rather dusty atop the wobbling. “Mr. Kelleigh? What has happened?”

Corrin lets go of the door frame and staggers out into the open area of the building. He'll throw his head up at the sound of Jarvis' voice and pause, wobbling in place, watching the man approach. There's something odd about his expression, a certain slackness… and beneath that, a certain… avidity.

But he pulls away when Jarvis tries to touch him. “No…” almost murmured. Definitely slurred. Then, a little stronger, “No.” For a brief moment his unsteady posture stills. His teeth clench. He turns his head to face the older man and says, “Jarvis. *RUN*.”

Not loud, no. Not fierce. But that last word? Ice in the bones.