Wellspring Arms & Meditation Center, Friday

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Not a single goat had managed to wrench its way through Wellspring's doors - of course they hadn't. Cable had set up his security system for a very good reason.

It meant less goat tears to clean up in the morning.

Instead, he took Jan down into the shop with him, making her run through the weapons on display again. She'd need tactical insight when she was older; this was as good a time as any to start.

"And goats--"

"Get punched," Jan said triumphantly.

[[ open! up early for timezoneiness. ]]

Comments

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

After spending last night being hired to spy on people by the radio lady getting acquainted with the locals, Coulson was on the lookout for non-spying real work. A peaceful arms shop seemed like just the place for a spy in hiding. Especially one who had a habit of taking on gods with big guns.

Once was enough of a habit.

Anyway, he walked into the store. "Good morning," he said.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Good morning," Cable said, and promptly shooed Jan behind the desk. "What can I help you with...?"

This was either a visitor or a new arrival. Cable would know if he wasn't. He had files.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"Probably not much," Coulson said, underselling it. "I'm new in town, so I wanted to check out the local businesses."

"Phil Coulson," he said. "So this really is a weapons shop." The guns were a giveaway.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"As well as a free meditation space," Cable agreed amicably. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to know?"

He'd gotten pretty good at the shopkeeper act over the years. Someone back home was probably staring.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"I should get the obvious question out of the way," Coulson said. "What was with the goats yesterday?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"They were a temporary invasion force," Cable noted. "These things occasionally crawl out of the woodwork. We take care of them."

"Punch the goat," Jan cried from behind the counter.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"I figured that part out," Coulson told the talking counter. "One tried to eat my cell phone. I think the goat had it coming."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Gotta keep punching the goats," Jan said sagely. "Or they cry."

Cable's expression may or may not have implied the crying was terrible.

"We've had worse," he said.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"If you hadn't, I'd think a gun and mediation shop would be something of a waste," Coulson said. "I don't know many people who would need either of those things if the worst thing in their life was a crying goat."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Harpies, gremlins, vikings, you name it," Cable replied. "There are consequences to living on an interdimensional hub. But then there are consequences to living anywhere..." A pause. "Are you planning to stick around, Mr. Coulson?"

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"I've seen a few consequences in my time," Coulson said. Come to think of it, living aboard a flying aircraft carrier was going to have some very bad consequences eventually. They just came about sooner than he expected. "And yes. I recently lost my job up north, so I don't have much interest in going back. Might as well stick around on an island apparently filled with monsters and invading barbarians."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Do you have any experience with monsters and invading barbarians?" Nate, don't make this sound like a job interview. "It may help."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, nothing like that," Coulson said. "Just aliens. And a magical robot one time. That one was more of a learning experience."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Then so is this," Cable replied. "It's not a very big leap from one to the other-- even if it seems that way."

"Shoot them," Jan chimed in.

Cable glanced over his shoulder. "Yes," he said. "Shoot them."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"One of the things I learned is that sometimes I need a bigger gun for that than the one I already own," Coulson said. "So maybe there is something you can help me with."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"I don't generally sell firearms unless we're currently experiencing an invasion," Cable said politely. "Though if I could interest you in some throwing knives..."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't thinking about buying anything at the moment," Coulson said. "Actually, I need a job. I'd prefer to have faster access to the bigger guns in case we have the kind of invasion that requires them. Maybe an employee discount, too."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

One of Cable's eyebrows went up.

"We do have an employee discount," he said. "I'm going to need to know more about these aliens and robots of yours, though..."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"The robot was Asgardian. Something called the Destroyer. I was there when it got destroyed," Coulson deadpanned. "The alien part is classified at the moment. But without naming names, I can tell you that I was entrusted with retrieving an experimental gun and using it on a very powerful target."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"You're going to have to show me your resume sometime." Eyebrow: definitely raised. "I could use a few extra hands that know what they're doing, though. No denying that."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"Most of the resume would end up being blacked out, I'm afraid. And the references would be no help at all," Coulson said, offering a small shrug. As an explanation, he slipped his SHIELD ID out of his pocket and placed it on the counter for just a second before putting it back.

And then moving on as if he hadn't just done that, Coulson continued. "I'm afraid I can't offer much in the name of meditation. But I do have a good selection of orchestral music and can always suggest mindless TV shows to people looking to take their minds off things for a little bit."

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Ah. SHIELD.

Now wasn't that interesting?

"If you run into any trouble, you can always ask my daughter for advice," he said.

"You have to sit really still," the counter informed Coulson. Not that she was terribly good at that.

"But I think you're an acceptable candidate."

If SHIELD was spying on him, he might as well spy right back, right?

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Cable was prepared to be bored spying on Coulson.

"I'm very good at that. I've had a lot of practice," he told the counter. "And thank you, sir," he told Cable. "Is there anything special I should know about working here, other than the fact that I shouldn't sell any guns?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Use of the meditation room is free," Cable said smoothly. "There's a permissions list for the shooting range. Anyone new comes in, check their permits and vet them before adding them to the list."

Normally he'd insist on vetting them himself, but it'd be interesting to see what Coulson would do.

"As per island tradition, we trade off one-day shifts," he added. "Any day preference?"

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

Coulson was already considering the kinds of paperwork he could make people go through before they would be allowed on the list. At least a couple psych profiles, definitely, one of them disguised as something else.... All of that would give Coulson plenty of time to use his resources to do background checks.

"I'll take Sundays, if that's open," Coulson said.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"It is," Cable said, and offered him a hand. "Welcome to the team, mister Coulson."

He was fairly sure the man's name was actually Agent Coulson.

He'd have to run his own background checks. Quietly.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

Coulson kind of expected that. This was a guy who admitted to not selling guns in his gun shop. People that paranoid weren't likely to just hire people and give them this much authority o a whim without some additional research. He'd worked with Fury long enough to know that.

"Glad to be on it, sir," Coulson said, shaking Cable's hand.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable shook it back. "I'll get you your keys," he said smoothly, "And I'll stop by early Sunday morning to see you through the motions."

He walked behind the counters to find a pair of such keys. "If you need me, I live upstairs," he said.

And also he had an insane security system that would blow you to smithereens if you ever got tried to grab that kid. Not that he was saying that.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"I catch on quickly, so I'll do my best not to interrupt you unless I have a good reason," Coulson said

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"When in doubt," Cable said simply, and held up the keys for him to take.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"Do you have any other advice about living here other than 'punch the goats'?" Coulson asked as he took the keys.

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

"Be prepared to turn into another creature or another gender at the drop of a hat," Cable said. "Or a child. Or a lead in a soap opera."

He was helpful and informative, Coulson.

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

Coulson dropped the keys into his pocket and gave a nod. "This really isn't a normal town at all, is it?"

[spring-lost.livejournal.com]

Cable smiled at him. Sort of. "Not in the slightest," he said. "I hope you enjoy your stay."

[firstnameagent.livejournal.com]

"So do I," Coulson said as he made his way toward the door. "See you on Sunday."