<TIAMAT> *It's early afternoon when we find Jarod wandering -- rather slowly, might I add -- down the hallways on the magic floor, looking for the classroom Genoa's supposedly in. He's just had a rather lengthy chat with Teal about all he found out since yesterday, and Teal suggested he again find Genoa for help tracking Jimsey down.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod eventually locates the classroom and, with a rather resentful sigh, peers cautiously through the window to see just how much he's interrupting.

<JETMODE> *The students appear to be paired off doing some kind of lab. Genoa and her partner are actually relatively near the door, just a couple of tables over. The experiment appears to have something to do with flesh golems.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod mutters to himself. "Wonderful. *he knocks a couple times, then slowly pushes the door open and peers in.

<JETMODE> *Genoa is bent over their work, looking fascinated, but her partner doesn't appear to share her interest. In point of fact, he's inching carefully away from her and the table.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances around, then slides in quietly and over to Genoa's table. He stands across from her, peering down at ... whatever they're studying. "*mutters to her* Well, at least you're interested in something besides the captain of the guard.

<JETMODE> *Genoa's head jerks up, and she gives Jarod a vicious look. "What are you doing here, telepath? Haven't you got a brain to burn somewhere?"

<JETMODE> *The lab partner is now inching away even faster.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives her an extremely dry smile. "We have work to do. *pause* Your boyfriend's orders. Assuming you can spare the time, of course.

<JETMODE> *Genoa appears to be resisting the temptation to grab Jarod by the hair and shove him face-first into the flesh golem on the table. "I would rather spend the rest of the day with this mutated lump of flesh than go venturing with you, but I suppose I can afford to take a hit to my lab grade."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, sarcastic-nastily: Good. The sooner we get going, the sooner we can get this over with. *he stalks toward the door moodily.

<JETMODE> *Genoa snatches her papers up and stalks after him, leaving her lab partner looking after her with bewilderment.

<JETMODE> *She marches after Jarod, catching him sharply by the shoulder and whirling him to face her. "And I'll thank you to keep your dripping commentary to yourself, if you don't mind," she hisses. There's real anger in her glare, and -- possibly -- a bit of hurt underneath it.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stares at her hard for several long moments, then he gives a slight sigh. "Sorry. *though it sounds a little forced -- just a little. He turns away. "We have to find Jimsey. *and he launches into an explanation of basically everything he told Teal.

<JETMODE> *Genoa frowns, considering. "I don't know his haunts as well as Gem does.. but she did mention a pub where he spends his free time."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *ironically* The Green Ogre, unfortunately.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs. "Wonderful.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> At least he'll be easy to pick out. *starts walking*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, a little doubtfully: I guess. *follows her.

<JETMODE> *Genoa leads the way rapidly through the corridors, heading up two floors and around several bends before stopping outside an extremely ratty-looking pub. The smell from inside is fairly atrocious, and the noise is polluting the air for ten feet in any direction.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stops just outside the door, wavering a little and wrinkling his nose. "Phew! This is it?"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> This is the one. If you ever forget where it is, just follow the smell. *braces herself, then pushes inside*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod takes a deep breath -- as if he'll be able to hold it, hah -- and follows her a little hesitantly.

<JETMODE> *The bar's population is a little low this time of day -- most of its regulars don't start filtering in 'til dark. Most of the people there are rough-looking and smelly, but a figure at the bar stands out -- probably because he's clean.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod peers at the figure for a moment, then chokes slightly and sputters as he gets a particularly nasty whiff of ... something.

<JETMODE> *Genoa wrinkles her nose, but she doesn't show any other sign of being bothered. "That's him." She folds her arms. "So, how do you suggest we go about this?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod recovers easily enough and clears his throat a bit, glaring at Jimsey. He huffs a little. "He's not with anyone. You go on his right, I'll take his left. *he marches toward the bar.

<JETMODE> *Genoa chuckles and starts after him.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey, for his part, doesn't seem to notice anything at all is wrong. He's just idling with his drink.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod slides silently into the seat next to Jimsey. "Why, Jimsey, fancy meeting you here. *he clamps his hand onto Jimsey's elbow. Hard.

<JETMODE> <Jimsey> .. eh ..

<JETMODE> *Genoa takes his other side. "We've so been wanting to talk to you."

<JETMODE> <Jimsey> Um.. heheh, geez, I didn't know I was so popular. *eyes dart a little wildly*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Well, seems you've been causing a good deal of trouble -- or at least been involved in it. Don't suppose the name Cecil Haart rings a bell?

<JETMODE> *Jimsey goes a little green. "He's some paladin guy, isn't he? I've never met him, myself --"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *tightens grip* Oh, but I think you have.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Yeah, wasn't that a portrait of him you just happened to be lugging around yesterday?

<JETMODE> *Jimsey tenses, giving Jarod a sideways glance. "Doesn't look good for me, does it?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives him a wan smile. "Fraid not. Who's the kid?

<JETMODE> *Jimsey swirls his drink lazily. "Real pity I'm such a coward. Kid's name is Jansk. Lives up in the art center." He shakes his arm a little loose takes a long swig.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: What's he been doing to people?

<JETMODE> <Jimsey> *cheerily* Painting 'em. Kid's gifted, so I'm told, but I don't know anything about art.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, darkly: That's not what I meant, and you know it. *he jerks Jimsey a little sharply.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey gives him a bland stare and jerks back. "Only tellin' you what I know, chum. I dunno what he does to 'em, but when he's done, the painting's more alive than they are."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glares at him for a moment, then slides off the stool, yanking Jimsey down with him. "Come on. Let's go have a chat with Baron Teal about this."

<JETMODE> *Jimsey suddenly looks very ill. "Sorry, man, I can't go for that --"

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Oh, but I insist.

<JETMODE> <Jimsey> Not even for a hot chick, babe.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod tightens his grip on Jimsey's arm and starts dragging him from the bar.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey jerks back. "I'm tellin' ya, man. Can't do it."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glares at Jimsey. "Listen, 'man', you don't have much choice. *he sends him a mental zap -- not a terribly powerful one, unfortunately. PsyBolts are kind of advanced.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey spasms once, then starts to fall.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod catches him, sort of, a little clumsily, muttering, "I didn't hit him THAT hard--"

<JETMODE> *Genoa stumbles, frowning. "I didn't think so eith--" Before she can finish, Jimsey has jerked out of her loosened grip and thrashed over to punch Jarod in the gut.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gasps as the air rushes out of him and he falls to one knee, doubling over a little and clutching his gut, trying a little unsuccessfully to gasp for breath.

<JETMODE> *Jimsey is gone for the door, Genoa snatching unsuccessfully after him. She swears furiously. "Slippery little -- are you all right?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gasps again, coughing. "Yeah -- yeah, I'm fine. *he pulls himself to his feet, wincing a little. "Dammit--

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *sighs* So much for that. At least we got some information.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Yeah. *pause* We probably should go tell Teal, though.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Probably.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs a little and starts for the door.