Definitely Not An Interrogation

[Nika Novak]

There's a sharp triple-knock on Jez's door, that's repeated after a brief pause. Outside Nika is waiting, wearing a shirt that borders on a military dress uniform with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows in an attempt to make it look a tiny bit more casual.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez answered the door, looking a little surprised to see Nika on the other side. She was dressed in her usual attire, a hoodie over a t-shirt, and some lounge pants.

"Oh, hey there Nika. Sup?"

[Nika Novak]

"What is up, as you say, is that we have a problem." she says, pushing against the door with one hand and stepping into the room.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez was taken aback a bit. She would have invited Nika in if she'd known there was something serious to discuss but she wasn't really given the opportunity. She closed the door behind them before she spoke.

"What kind of a problem? I haven't heard any alarms going off today so it's not another attack or something, right?"

[Nika Novak]

"No." she says, then after a brief pause adds a curt. "You lied."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez stared at Nika for some time before she responded.

"Can you be more specific?"

[Nika Novak]

"About your name." she says, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Jezabelle Sherlock didn't exist until a couple years ago."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez went a little pale at the imposing woman's declaration and tone. She swallowed and tried to get out a response while doing her best to remain calm.

"As far as legal documents are concerned, you are correct. But I can assure you that she existed long before then." Her pronunciation was slow and precise, labouring to make things clear without ruffling any feathers.

[Nika Novak]

This doesn't seem to assuage Nika in the slightest. "So sloppy." she says, sounding almost weirdly disappointed. What are you? Taynyy ājənt? Mozhno devushka? Is one of you sitting in a room in Genosha, passing everything along? Why is your cover identity so bad, Jason?" she demands, taking a step towards poor Jez.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez's entire face started to turn red, the girl physically shaking as she clenched her fists. She breathed in deeply through her nose and shut her eyes before she began to speak, softly at first.

"I have NEVER tried to hide my Genoshan citizenship. Even though I doubt they want me back now, I only stopped telling people because I thought I was being obnoxious. Katarina told me - that things weren't very - progressive - in your country..." she laboured to keep herself calm, small pauses in her response as she chose her words, her voice steadily increasing in volume as she lost her cool. "... but I'm only going to - explain - this once. You NEVER call a transperson by their dead name. NEVER. Don't you ever, EVER call me by that name again! Not to my face, not to someone else, never again! Or I swear to God I'll make you wish you were building a railway across Siberia!"

Jez took several steps toward Nika as she spoke, getting right up into her face the louder she got, which probably wasn't very intimidating.

[Nika Novak]

Nika doesn't back down. She's not really taller than Jez, but she might as well be a brick wall as far as being intimidated goes. She does look... surprised though. Maybe a little confused. She'd expected evasiveness or a straight up fight. This is... neither. Nika's methods of conflict resolution are a little lacking and she simply grabs Jez by the font of her shirt and lifts her up until the other girl is on her toes and pushes her back against the wall. Not to hurt her but mostly to startle.

"Explain. Now. What kind of undercover agent is... trans-person?" she demands, her accent thicker on the unfamiliar words.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle had been involved in a few protests, so she was used to three reactions; getting shoved backward, someone standing their ground and goading her on, or someone withdrawing. She still let out a shriek as she was lifted off the floor so effortlessly, fear adding a little more adrenaline to what'd already been brought on by anger.

"I'm not an agent you... gopnik!" There was a light tap and Jez scurried away from Nika and to the side of the room. And was still held against the wall. Oh, right, multiplication powers.

[Nika Novak]

Nika's head briefly snaps towards the second Jez and back to the one she's holding up.

"You take up a new identity. You try to get close to Katarina. You're trying to undermine Symkaria. Is Doom tapping Genoshan intelligence resources?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

The one to the side was the one who spoke, the one Nika held now looking less scared and more annoyed; that one was probably the copy.

"I have a new identity because this is who I really am! Who I should have been all along! I spend time with Katarina because she's nice and I like her!" She rubbed her face with both hands, pacing around like an animal in a pen.

"And I really couldn't care less about whatever dick-measuring contest those two bucket-wearing idiots are into today. I've got finals coming up!"

[Nika Novak]

Nika lets go of the copy, but keeps an eye on her, just in case.

"That's what a spy would say..." she says, although she's sounding less certain.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

The copy rolled her eyes. "I don't think spies even work that way anymore, the Cold War is over. If you're worried about someone spying on Katarina then check out her computer or whatever - that's where people get their info today."

The other Jez tried to calm herself down. "Look, I know the truth about Katarina, that I'll admit. But I only found that out this week, and that was because of a newspaper article." She didn't feel a need to mention how she found that article, there was no sense in throwing Basil under the bus. "But she obviously doesn't want me to know otherwise she would have told me. So you're NOT going to tell her that I know."

[Nika Novak]

Nika actually scoffs. Who does that?

"Typical Westerner, think they know better because surely the world works the way it does at home. You don't remain independent from Latveria by underestimating 'bucket-wearing idiots' and this is precisely the kind of thinking that Katarina needs to be protected from."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez let out a deep sigh, the adrenaline fading into fatigue, making her feel sick to her stomach. "Fine, whatever, I have no idea what it's like to live in a country like that. But if Katarina isn't allowed to actually interact with anyone... then why is she even here?"

[Nika Novak]

"She is. I'm simply doing my job. She's the successor to the throne. Running background checks and interviewing potential suitors is standard procedure when there aren't strange gaps and inconsistencies."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Yeah, I'm sure the interview process doesn't involve any assault either, she must have such a hectic social life now with all the friends you're helping her make. Well you can chalk my 'inconsistencies' to HRT if that helps."

[Nika Novak]

"Assault?" she laughs. "Good one."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez took on a more serious expression. "Seriously. On this campus it might be considered roughhousing, but you do that in public and you'll get taken in for questioning at the very least. Trust me, I've been through it enough times myself to know."

[Nika Novak]

"I'm aware. I've read your files. You rebel against 'the man'. It raises red flags but I knew that before your date. I won't hold it against you to fight for a more just world. It's why I worked so hard to get to where I am and it's why I treat my job with the seriousness it demands." she says and for the first time in the conversation her serious mask cracks a little bit. "Her Highness Katarina Karkov is my country's future. Her parents led us from tyrrany and I will do whatever it takes to ensure her safety, be it from foreign agents, indoctrination or... dates." She is trying for jokingly, but instead her voice kind of cracks on the last word and makes it sound sour.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Damn, sounds like we both have a crush on her. How do you feel about polyamorous relationships?"

[Nika Novak]

"What? What are you talking about, I do not have a crush on her!"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"That's what someone who has a crush on her would say." Jex retorted, mimicking Nika's mannerisms from when she accused her of being a spy.

[Nika Novak]

"Very funny. Keep going and I'll show you rough-housing." she jokes. Presumably.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I've no doubt you would, but do you see the fallacy here? That kind of circular logic is very hard to disprove. You're convinced that I'm some kind of a spy... I'm guilty without a chance to defend myself. What can I possibly do to prove I'm not that you couldn't just say was a cover story or something?"

[Nika Novak]

"Nothing, really. But if you were a spy this might force your hand or make you slip up. And if you're not then you've been informed that I'm keeping an eye on you as part of my job."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

One of the Jez's let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead, the other rubbing her temples. "Well, I'm sure that's very reassuring to her. Will you at least let me tell her that I'm trans, instead of you telling her? I wanted to tell her last time but things got... awkward."

[Nika Novak]

"Katarina doesn't need to concern herself with the specifics of how she's kept safe. And it's not really something she cares for. I'm not... going to meddle in her private life. I just ensure that her trust in me is not misplaced. I'd recommend you do the same."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I never had any intention of doing anything shady before, and that's still the same now."

[Nika Novak]

"Not just what I meant, but good." she says, heading for the door.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jezabelle was given a lot to think about. There was a lot she wanted to say, but really what could she say that would change anything?

She could at least have given her a heads up about what she looks at online. Oh well, if Nika wanted to spy, then she was going to have to take the bad with the good.-