A Long Day *DEAD*

[Marc Stubbs]

Marc was an understanding man...at least he'd like to think he was. There were many things he did for the greater good; turn the other cheek, place himself in harms way, even go so far as to commit acts of unspeakable crimes. However the task he was given today did not suit his personality nor did it give him reason enough to put forth any effort into the "mission". There were certain jurisdictions that people were meant to face and this was something Marc was not ready for. Something that not only could embarrass him in public, but could seriously cripple his social status within the state of Arizona. And that horrible act in which Marc dreads is babysitting.

Sure he probably wouldn't mind if the the kid he were babysitting was a three year old little girl who referred to herself as Princess Toad, or a six year old little boy who ran around with a towel wrapped around his neck like a cape. However the "child" he was ordered - yes, ordered - to look after was a 15 year old snot-nosed teenager with a slick mouth on him. An exact replica of Marc in his younger years and that was something the man was not ready to face quite yet in his bachelor life. In fact dealing with kids was at the bottom of his "to-do list", but he'd have to settle for today since it was an obligation and not a choice.

So Marc sat by himself within the food court of the shopping center, sipping away on a Jamba Juice he had ordered 30 minutes prior to arriving. Periodically Marc would check his watch to count down the time Rosetta would meet him with the boy with her. Apparently the boy, Corrigan Blaine, is not a hot topic among most of The Archivists which is saying a lot since Marc himself has a bad rep with most of the higher ups. Whatever the case, Marc just prayed that this would be a short and painless day without any drama - or backtalk - from the kid.

From the distance, Marc was made aware of Rosetta's appearance with the kid a couple feet behind her. Already he saw he would have to walk behind the kid in order to make sure he wouldn't try and run away. Throwing on a half-smile, Marc slowly stood up from his chair and waited to greet the two.

"Great," Marc growled between gritted teeth.

[Corrigan Blaine]

///// Corrigan Blaine

^{shopping mall - phoenix, arizona}
_{chapter one: prophecy}

Rosetta raised her arm and waved casually to Marc as she spotted him, beaming a mockingly cheerful grin his way. After all, it was no secret how she felt about Blaine, and she was quite sincerely in an excellent mood to be dropping him off with someone else; to be rid of him.

She certainly brought up the front with her stride, and kept Cory behind her merely by passing glances toward the boy. She charged on something like a freight train. Cory seemed rather distant, himself, but that was the usual.

His face was mostly hidden by the hood of his pullover, and he had tuned the world out with his headphones, a nagging beat just feet behind Rosetta, who wondered how she could hear his music so clearly while Blaine would maintain his sense of hearing without incident. She was never one to warn him of it though.

Let him go deaf, she thought, maybe shut him up a bit...

Cory's expression, although mostly detached, betrayed a certain meloncholy. Yeah, he had been afforded permission to go out to the mall of all places, to spend some money, stretch his legs, and generally just... get out.

With someone holding his hand all the way.

Originally it had been Rosetta on the job, but she wasn't having that. Not one bit. As they approached Marc, Corrigan slipped one earphone out so that he could speak, "Aww, look at that expression. You're cruel, Rosie, pawning me off on him..."

"Shut it, Blaine!" she glared back at him, and quickly resumed a pleasant smile while facing Marc, "Keep a close eye on the brat. If anything goes wrong, just give us a call," she began to sound like a nagging mother, but stopped. She didn't really care. Not where Blaine was concerned. "Anyways..." she started, ready to leave, but Blaine cut her off,

"Yeah!" he started to laugh, "Big Rosie stomped her feet like an angry angry hippo when she found out she had 'Cory duty'," the teenager remarked, and by his tone, it was as if he was taking them both on at once. He knew neither of them cared for him, and he wasn't about to let that ruin his shopping trip.

"She can be such a diva, right?"

For a brief moment, Rosetta was speechless, and looked to Marc as if waiting for him to step in and say something, or simply take over.

[Marc Stubbs]

It was no secret that this day would be pure hell for Marc. Not only did it seem that Rosemary's baby had a mouth on him, but he also seemed to have a knack for saying things to really piss off people. He knew instantly he'd have to be extra careful with the things he did and said in front of this kid; no telling what action he might pick up on as an excuse to act like an idiot.

"Keep a close eye on the brat. If anything goes wrong, just give us a call," Rosetta informed Marc to which he responded with an almost nervous smile and nod. He quickly glanced over at Corrigan and found himself groaning at the very site of the kid, which he had to admit was a bit of a low blow - but seriously this kid looked like a trouble maker. As Rosetta was beginning to speak again, Corrigan interjected with his own rude commentary.

"Yeah!" he started to laugh, "Big Rosie stomped her feet like an angry angry hippo when she found out she had 'Cory duty'. She can be such a diva, right?" It was quiet between the three of them (opposed to the loud screaming and yelling from a child not a couple feet away, but quiet none the less). Marc looked up at Rosetta and gave another nervous smile as he opened his mouth to speak, taking his hand and firmly grabbing Corrigan by the shoulder.

"I assure you, Rosetta, that everything will be just fine," Marc's words didn't necessarily ring truth, but it was as close to it as he could possibly get. "You just go and do whatever it is you do. Me and Cory here are going to have a great time, right buddy?" He looked down at the kid as he pulled him closer to him with a big smile on his face.

A fake smile, no doubt.

[Corrigan Blaine]

///// Corrigan Blaine

^{shopping mall - phoenix, arizona}
_{chapter one: prophecy}

It wasn't the end of Cory's mischief though, and he was sure to make it clear just how it had only begun. "Fun for days... 'cause Marc's my faaaavorite," he turned and threw his arms around Marc and gave him what had to be the most forced and over-the-top hug ever, almost as if he was specifically trying to embarrass his new babysitter.

With Rosetta still glaring a bit at Corrigan, she took in Marc's assurance tentatively, and nodded, "Good enough for me," she threw her hands up in a half-shrug as she turned to leave, "Boy needs to watch his damn mouth, though..." she grumbled.

That was the end of the affair for Rosetta, who gave Corrigan no time to think of his next smart-ass remark, and quickly walked away to leave. She certainly had better things to do today, and it was no secret that she had a tendency to be the last person willing to keep watch on Corrigan for long.

With her departure, though, Cory drifted away from Marc, his expression growing a bit cold and indifferent. He didn't necessarily want to be a pain in the ass, per se, he thought to himself, but with the iron grip he felt he was being held under, it was hard not to. He was simply hard-wired for rebellious nature.

He finally spoke again, this time his tone entirely different, far more serious, "So um... do you think I really need a babysitter? I mean, this shit is lame..." he complained, "I'm old enough to go shopping on my own. Just because... you know..." he turned to look at Marc as he alluded to his ability, "It's not like a bunch of government agents are gonna pop up out of the woodwork and haul me away."

He indulged a cocky chuckle as he found himself amused at the thought, finding it to be a ridiculous notion.

[Marc Stubbs]

Corrigan's hug nearly made Marc tremble in disgust. He wasn't one for kids all that much, and this spawn of Satan was no exception. Using his hands as a flexible crowbar, the man used his hands to pry the boy's overbearing arms from around him. However it was the departure of Rosetta that drew Corrigan away from Marc's body. Adjusting his clothes as if though they had been extremely wrinkled, or contaminated, the young man looked at the boy as his expression began to darken some. The facade he obviously had on his face was now gone and replaced with a look of irritation, to say the least.

"So um... do you think I really need a babysitter? I mean, this shit is lame..." Corrigan complained allowed to the man. Marc just perched his lips and narrowed his eyes as he followed the boy with his eyes carefully. "I'm old enough to go shopping on my own. Just because... you know...It's not like a bunch of government agents are gonna pop up out of the woodwork and haul me away."

"Yeah...theres a thought," Marc said with a sarcastic smile on his face. At this moment and time, he really hoped that government agents would take this kid off of his hands...hell, he'd go if it meant getting away from this kid. However he made a "promise" and therefore it meant that he had to keep it...sadly. "Nevertheless, we've got about 50 shops in this mall, about 33% of those shops catering to womens' clothing. Hopefully this won't take as long as I imagined."

Continuing to walk forward and dread the day ahead of him, he turned to discover Corrigan was not following him. Waving his hands impatiently, Marc tried to rush the boy into following him.

[Corrigan Blaine]

///// Corrigan Blaine

^{shopping mall - phoenix, arizona}
_{chapter one: prophecy}

Following Marc just behind, he smiled as he thought of ways to get under the man's skin. It had become enough of an intention for him to ask himself why it was what he wanted, and his answer had come quickly when he imagined the possibility of annoying Marc so much that the guy would just cut him loose and let him report back.

Then again, there was no reason to be sure Corrigan would even report back at all, least of all for Cory himself. "That's cool, maybe we can start there, maybe pick a dress out for your chick..." he offered with a casual shrug, then stopped and laughed expectantly, "Oh shit, forgot who you were, there, for a minute."

Stepping ahead, he started to veer into another direction, and if Marc intended to keep an eye on him, he'd have to keep up. He began to think about which places he wanted to go first. He'd most assuredly lead the way, unless Marc decided to throw him over his shoulder and carry him.

Now there's a fun thought...

[Marc Stubbs]

To be honest, Marc had already grown tired of the boy's annoying, hormonal, cackling voice. He didn't understand what it was that made him despise children so much - for he himself hated kids when he was Corrigan's age - but it was something the man never took the time out to figure out. It was no blood on his hands, that was for sure. Though he was beginning to feel as if though he was paying the price for not allowing his more...nuturing side surface.

He watched as the Cory tired to take his stride in another direction causing Marc to quicken his step behind the kid.

Corry, slow down will ya?" Marc exclaimed as he reached out for the kids arm to remind him just who was in charge. Releasing his grip on the boy, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked the boy down sternly. It didn't seem to as intimidating as he had thought. "Look, I'm not going to lie t'ya. I don't want to be here anymore than you do, I'm sure. So why don't we just take a quick lap around the mall, maybe buy a pair of sunglasses or something, and get outta here?" The eagerness in his voice was more than obvious. The sooner he could get out of this place, the better. No telling what deranged things this kid was probably thinking, and Marc for one did not want to be seen around Corry when those deranged thoughts manifested. He had a reputation to uphold.

[Corrigan Blaine]

///// Corrigan Blaine

^{shopping mall - phoenix, arizona}
_{chapter one: prophecy}

The only visible reaction to Marc's words from Corrigan was the dramatic widening of his eyes, his singular expression of amazement at what he had just suggested. "I didn't come here just to buy a pair of sunglasses..." Cory argued, throwing his hand up and pointing toward Marc, "You want a couple twenties to go blow in the arcade? I can swing back and pick you up there when I'm done." he offered, but the offer itself had come out sounding as if he was the one babysitting Marc.

"Me, I wanna get some of that stir fry stuff from the food court, then I'm gonna break this mall down wing-by-wing. Drayman gave me six hundred bucks, dude--" he admitted a little faster than his reasoning could prevent him from doing so, "So... yeah..." he put his hands into his pockets.

Cory was getting a little worked up. He'd felt as if he had been pinned under Dorsey's oppressive 'protecting' hand for the past few months, and now he wanted room to move. In his mind, there were no threats to him in the world, and he could take care of himself, but most of all, he wanted some of his freedom back. How big a bitch did Rosetta have to be to drop me off on this guy? he wondered quietly in his mind as he looked Marc over and shrugged at him, as if he didn't care what he did.

Then again, Cory realized, there were few who hated his company more than Ms. Moore. Even still, there seemed to be a chance he could push out now, and maybe, by however much, Marc would give. Then again, maybe he wouldn't...