The journal of none of your damn business

9th Con [Video]

2012-01-11T02:44:13Z

[Eliot only recently managed to finish getting the last of the fires put out on his place. The areas with the worst damage have been given a quick patch at the very least, and it's after he's cleaned up a little that he gets to the PCD at all. He wasn't around to help with whatever had caused the city-wide damages, so it seemed right to offer something for afterwards.]

If anyone needs a place to stay, I've got a few empty rooms right now.

[At least, he seems to be offering it to anyone.]

8th Con [Video]

2011-11-26T06:31:10Z

[The video starts with Eliot outside in one of the more heavily forested areas of the city, shirtless and training with a few self-made heavy bags that are hanging from the sturdier limbs. During this, if you knew Arabic you'd understand thathe was muttering different things in reference to people that weren't there. Things about how the 'camp' wasn't fooling him, and how he said that it wouldn't hold him.

Though it seems that he's going at a heavy but steady pace, it's about a minute into the video before he punches one of the bags until the rope supporting it snaps. The next motion, he swings out a leg to stop another bag from slamming it's way to where he stood.]

Heh.

[Why yes, he is pleased with this. Pushing his hair back, Eliot bends over to get his shirt and a green apple that's behind the camera. After a bite of the apple and getting his head into the shirt the guy finally acknowledges the feed.]

So, how many of ya'll have broken out of whatever place you've ended up in while asleep?

[[Well... Pretend this is at an appropriate hour. Also offlines are a-ok with me~]]

7th Con [Accidental Audio]

2011-11-07T00:10:25Z

[There's a few sounds of a guitar being tuned, having been caught towards the end of the process. Surprisingly, despite the changing weather and no pitch reference, the strings end up either on or close to perfect tuning. After strumming a few more times, Eliot starts to sing for about a minute, minute and a half. Then, as he gets to this part;]

She said, "I'm tired of living life in a romance book. I think chivalry's dead and I ain't gonna look for them roundtable boys on the white horse that can't get the story right."

[The feed ends.]

6th Con [Video]

2011-11-03T03:05:35Z

[The sound of something being scraped against stone is heard from below the PCD (or it would if there was dynamic sound skills,) as Eliot's watching the snow fall through the bay window. ]

If you haven't already, consider going out and collecting sand from out in the wastes. After clearing walkways and anything else, the surface can get slippery. With the sand you'll have some traction. I'll be bringing some to the clinic and the large greenhouse. Like with the wood, if you need some let me know.

[And with that, the grinding stops and he turns off the feed.]

5th Con [Video]

2011-10-10T01:11:59Z

[The video turns on and, once again, it catches Eliot outside shirtless while working outside in the early afternoon. This time it's chopping wood, having found some with fungus growing along the outside of it. This keeps up for a good couple more minutes until something interrupts.

A green apple hitting his back when putting more wood on the stump for breaking. Looking around, as if expecting that someone had thrown it, he mutters when noticing the apple. Picking it up, there's a calculating look for a bit... then tossed a ltitle and caught.]

Hah ha.

[Let's just say... Eliot likes green apples. This is the happiest he's been about something for a while. He takes a bite before looking up to see the other apples that are around. Nodding with a grin he walks over to the PCD having actually intended to start an entry but... technology gets the upper hand on him again.]

Ah, shit...

[No matter, right?]

So, if anyone's needing help filling their wood stock, I've got some extra that hasn't been broken up yet. Different varieties, and I've got some good kindling to share. If there's a furnace or forge, I can get to working on making some charcoal as well. As for the apples-

[Takes a bite, chews on it a little and swallowing before continuing.]

I can probably write up a few recipes and put down alternative ingredients that could also be used. This is a lot better than the last couple events.

4th Con [Video]

2011-09-25T07:21:33Z

[For once, the PCD turns on when 'Kenneth' intended it to. When he does, he's leaning back against the couch in his house and looking more serious than the times people have talked to him over the network.]

I generally don't do this kind of thing, but all this lying is starting to get to me ~~for some reason~~. My name's not Kenneth Crane, and I'm not a country singer. I'm Eliot Spencer; a... retrieval specialist that's part of this pro bono team. The guitar thing?

[He reaches off camera, grabbing the instrument by the neck and showing it on camera. After tossing it to spin, catching it before it hits anything, he puts it back off to the side.]

Our client was hurt and deprived of a lot of things by a record executive. To even things out, we started what's called a Fiddle Game; a con. So everything was part of an alias, keeping in with the role. I kept with it and lied because I've made a lot of enemies. So it was better that I kept the alias in case some of those enemies actually showed up.

Anyway, I'm sorry about the deception. I'm a man of my word though, so everything offered still stands. Lessons and other services are still open as long as you're okay with that.

...

That's all.

[Yeah, just... turning off the feed now.]

[[Evented Eliot is now extremely open, honest and prone to feeling a little guilty and charitable. Take advantage! Also if you haven't filled it out, here's a permission post for his observational skills.]]

3rd Con [Video]

2011-09-03T20:31:54Z

[When a man only sleeps 90 minutes a day, and is mostly healed, that leaves plenty of time to get some things done. Even if he still had some healing to do, Kenneth wasn't bed-ridden and he had the lumber and other tools available. As long as he's not pushing his right wrist too much, there's nothing stopping him. When the feed starts, he's (of course) shirtless and finishing the tension on one side of what looks to be a rather tall fence by twisting a small bit of lumber in-between a couple of diagonal set wires that run from the bottom of one post to the middle horizontal cross brace on the next post.

It's not the only part that's like this. The posts are at least 8 feet tall, not including what's in the ground, and there's enough that it seems like a small enclosure, with the narrower side facing the PCD having an opening. The angle doesn't clearly show what's in the troughs on the ground in the enclosure, but it looks like dirt. In fact, it is. There's some smaller containers that have other plants that were foraged now growing and being taken care of. Behind the enclosure there's rolled up pool coverings, netting, wires and thinner rope on the ground. Some stuff salvaged that way, others pieced together.

It's not until the tension is enough that Kenneth lets go and lets the bit of lumber stop against the cross brace before he looks to the sky. Grabbing a rag from his back pocket, some sweat is wiped back before he goes and picks up the PCD.]

Lesse, how do I-

*BEEEEEEEEEP*

[That tone? The PCD having been pressed in a way that doesn't work when it's recording. No, he hasn't gotten used to it, and he's leering at the device, more than at the people who would see this.]

That means this is on, right? So with what's been going on, this mind control stuff, I wanted to know if anyone would be able to teach me how to keep that from happening again. Maybe give some tips and lemme know what I need to be able to do first before getting past that problem. I'd very much appreciate any guidance with this.

If it's compensation you want, we can work something out. For example, I can cook anything you want, as long as the ingredients are there, during the time or longer. There are other services I could offer in return, too.

[[Other Queens Row residents or those nearby may see some of this stuff going up throughout the day, or even smell some fresh soil. Feel free to stop on by! Peek over the fence and such.]]

2nd Con [Video]

2011-08-15T16:51:00Z

[Some might recognize one of the Row houses behind ~~Eliot~~ Kenneth as he's concentrating really hard on the PCD. Given the first mutterings, the concentration was clearly needed just to get the network post started. The fact that he's shirtless, in the rain, is probably related to the shovel he's leaning on.]

Right, so, I was wondering if there's anything about the land that needs concern towards if one wanted to start growing their own food here. Any help would be appreciated, and I'd be willing to exchange services for it. Cooking, hard labor, hunting if you need the meat. It'd be much appreciated.

1st Con [Audio]

2011-08-04T04:33:19Z

[The feed started with guitar going through the first few bars. After the briefest of pauses, a voice comes through with a man singing a country ballad with the kind of emotion that ties it together. Until towards the end...]

When you find your way to another town, and someone tries to lay you down and a feeling hits you right out of the blue...

[... The guitar stops, and the voice that was singing turns to something harsher, definitely upset and though hidden away, with confusion in the mix.]

Hardison. Hardison Damn it, what did you do this time. Hey, answer already.

[With a bit of a growl and angry mutterings, thing go quiet for about half a minute before the microphone picks up the sounds of the device being picked up. Turned around, tapped right onto the mic for everyone's unfortunate ears.]

How's this thing supposed to work... it on?

[From muttered and softer (yet still upset,) the following is definitely louder.]

Anyone there to report back to me?

Adstringendum Profile

2011-07-22T09:13:08Z

Name: Love
Livejournal: drgnladysupreme
Contact: On records already. :3
Other Characters Played: Botan genkireaper
Are you 18 or over? Yup!

Canon: Leverage
Character: Eliot Spencer
Timeline: Season 3, episode 6; The Studio Job
Personality: Above all, Eliot is a man that's reserved and decides who he's relaxed with showing his personality around. A man not proud of his past, but regards it out of duty and a strong set of morals. That you treat women right, don't hit children and you recognize when you're no longer welcome. As such, he usually doesn't initiate fights, but holds no qualms with ending them. What considers initiating can be tricky, however. It's not always about who swung the first fist, but who created a situation where Eliot decides to take the stand for what needs defending. A man harassing a woman, trying to get in her house, a man that obviously beats his son, or coming across a fight of many against one. He's even a 'knight' to himself, having locked himself in a small, dark shed as a child for a few days to combat his claustrophobia. It worked, and taught him to tackle his problems head on. At the same time, it's encouraged his head-on involved approach to the jobs he's had, leading us to the next section.

While on the job, there's a manner of conduct that Eliot will stick to. Normally, given his training and usually being hired as a hitter and for retrieval, he's set in with easier positions that allow him to lurk, observe and act as a quick muscle getaway when one of the team members gets in trouble. He's observant, taking in as many details as possible to read the situation, and see when things are going to heat up, but also holds a somewhat aloof and 'aw shucks' act on top of it all. What's important is getting the job done, if it needs doing, and knowing when things need to be cut short. Similar to his job, and feeling it's best to keep things professional around others, Eliot keeps many personality traits and notes about his history and family to himself. Though it may also be that keeping personal information to himself was something developed from his experiences with the government, and other jobs he had before Leverage came together. Part of his job has worked because of these things. Lurking is his things, and letting people underestimate him is considered the point of not correcting people right off from their assumptions.

As secretive as he is, before long there was something of a family dynamic set up within the team. In such, towards most of the group he seemed to take the act of an older brother. Keeping an eye out and protecting Parker and Hardison as if they were younger siblings, treating Nate as the head of this 'family' due to being the ideas and planning type of guy, but treating Sophie as a valued peer instead. He takes care of and watches the team's back as he grew comfortable with relying on a team for these big jobs. He can recognize who fits which roles, and respects them for it, but also takes note of what needs looking after. Making sure the leader doesn't cross lines and endanger the group; ending up in a rivalry due to insisting that more physical involvement should be put into jobs rather than relying on technology; or ending up baffled from Parker's unhinged nature and smallness, eventually being protective, supportive and encouraging to teach her some mixed-martial arts so she can hold her own. When comfortable and able to recognize a stable group dynamic, it allows him to annoy, tease, or act in some obnoxious ways without worry. Acting like an older brother could essentially be seen as a sign of trust and personal value to Eliot.

It's also the only time when one can really see how easy Eliot can get embarrassed, flustered, or in a conversation that makes him rather uncomfortable. His voice gets tight, and something more like a growl-like rumble in how he talks. It's not a side appropriate to the job, and rarely part of his aliases

Despite usually getting set up with positions like janitor, tech support, busboy, or someone going around looking for things pawn off or sell (like a Jesus lawn ornament thingie, or whatever it was,) he's more than just the brawn. He's able to take point as an inside man, and as a grifter who would charm a target enough to gleam information off of them or set them up for later plans. Because of his appearance, between the build, long hair and slightly scruffy facial hair, he allows people to underestimate him into thinking he couldn't understand complicated subjects. Or, in roles where he actually takes a nerdier and meeker seeming role, lets them believe that he's harmless. It's something proven to be effective when things turn around and the element of surprise works for his favor. Sometimes though, even the team still underestimates him.

He has an appreciation for finer arts, games of logic ~~and the ladies~~. Most people don't expect someone gruff like Eliot to be a gourmet chef, able to sing and play guitar, or having dabbled in chess. Until it was mentioned, no one knew that he grew his own garden for food, or that he'd be the type to brag about previous romantic exploits.

Background: Seeing as Eliot had a major part in every episode, or job as each 'story' is called, the most notable ones will be referenced. Not too much is known about Eliot's past, though details are brought up occasionally during the jobs that have come across. For example, as a child he used to have claustrophobia, and dealt with it himself by locking himself in a small shed for a few days. By saying he has a nephew, it's revealed that he has at least one sibling, who is also old enough to have a family his own. In high school, he took part as the football team's quarterback, but also joined Home Economics to learn how to cook (and probably for the girls as well.) When he was younger, he had one relationship (Aimee) grow close enough that he purchased either an engagement or promise ring. Unfortunately, while having promised to be there for her, he also made the same one to the government and would end up being called away, but Aimee not having waited for him. It's also mentioned here and there, though not given too much importance on the episodes, that he's helped liberate Croatia, is wanted in five countries (Myanmar having a half a million dollar bounty,) and him believing he has a fatwa; which is essentially a formal legal opinion by Islamic law. Though it's after the point Eliot's taken, it's revealed that he had worked with Damien Moreau; someone that's financed the Russians, Colombians, Koreans, along with working for Iraq and Iran. While it allows the team to get a little closer to Damien, Eliot admits that the worst things he's ever done, it was while working with the man.

The beginning of the series has Eliot hired, like the rest of what would be the Leverage team, to help steal airplane designs from another company. It's here in the beginning, where the team had no trust in each other where it's clear on how Eliot preferred to do things. Either taking a group of armed people with his fists, and showing distaste for Hardison's computing methods. Even having to post as an IT tech came with resistance, noting that computers really weren't his thing. Later in the Wedding Job, they had to retrieve money for a family from a mafia boss, having to pose as wedding planners for the don's daughter. In this job, Eliot takes point as a gourmet chef, displaying his culinary skills while also trying to avoid a mobster known as The Butcher of Kiev that he had a bit of bad history with. The kind where they were on opposite sides during an older job, and the Butcher ended up with a permanent reminder of his loss.

During the Mile-High job, nothing much is of note save for the fact that Eliot carries around an Air Marshall's badge with him. A couple of episodes later in the Two-Horse Job, the clients and Eliot's past cross and tangle up. When younger, the client's daughter, Aimee, had a relationship with Eliot that went so far as an engagement, or promise. A promise to be there when she needed him. Except (as mentioned in a later episode,) something happened where he ended up leaving and she couldn't wait for him. Now, after a Wall Street broker burnt down and killed one of the client's horses, they set up a con to get enough money and a better reputation to keep the ranch going. During this time, not only is the relationship rekindled between Aimee and Eliot for a brief period, but it shows his familiarity with how horses are handled, having even transported and rode a steed from one location to another.

In the second season, during the Tap-Out job, the mark for the con is a crooked fight promoter that has been corrupting Rucker's Gym; a training facility and training exhibition for mixed martial arts, which had led to Mark Howorth, the client, too injured to fight anymore. The best way was by coming at the gym from two sides, starting out as a company interested in featuring some matches at the gym, with Eliot (alias Kid Jones,) acting as something of a gopher that owed Nate's character too much money. After the people in Rucker's Gym see him fighting off some people, they end up recruiting him and watch as he easily fights into one of the top positions. As the plan unravels, the truth about everyone being revealed by the mark, Eliot goes into a final fight with the presumption that he's to throw it by the end. As the fight progresses, things get more savage as Eliot doesn't throw the fight, but instead appears to have lost control and continued to beat on his opponent until apparent death. After the in-ring doctor declares the death, and all the betting money goes to Leverage (as the mark placed the bet with the thought that it was fixed,) Eliot's skill and self control is shown when the in-ring doctor revives his opponent- having taken a drug to make him appear dead for the match. Due to how the plan fell apart, and how Nate handled the adjustments that endangered multiple people, Eliot starts voicing his disagreement with how things are being done within the team. Due to the way things were in this job, his concern and interests for the team's safety turn more vocal from this point on.

Later on, in the Three Strikes job, Eliot (despite not liking the game,) gets into a baseball team for easy access to the ballpark as they work to take advantage of a shady major's passion for the game. Unexpectedly, Eliot's focus ends up being split due to an amazing home run that gets him near-instant fame. He ends up being wanted more for the team, has a breakfast sandwich named after his alias, Roy Chappell, and ends up recording commercials for Japanese products. This isn't the only time that Eliot takes a star role in a con job that gets him more attention than expected, though. The Studio Job has a similar, if not more dramatic issue coming up. Two talented siblings, Kaye and Shane Gold, were originally hired to write songs for record producer and CEO Mitchell Kirkland's more established artists. Except... He didn't pay, when the songs should have earned them hundreds of thousands, but instead offered to get an album of theirs recorded and entry into a huge musical event called Saddles & Spurs. When the album was good enough for him to steal, they went to Leverage, and they decided to go after Kirkland with the Fiddle Game. Eliot, playing the 'Fiddle' as Kenneth Crane, is introduced to Kirkland by Nate, who is presenting himself as 'Crane's' manager. Later, Sophie comes in and implants the idea to Kirkland that Eliot's actually work a multi-million dollar contract with the idea that she intended to only get the contract for 25K. Eliot, getting advice from Kaye backstage runs over the right kind of inspiration to perform the song the Gold siblings had wrote. When she asks something along the lines on whether or not he loved someone, but couldn't be there for them. After admitting there was, it's then revealed that he gave the promise to be there for Aimee whenever she needed him, but also had a promised duty to the US government, and thus forced to leave but with the hope that she'd be waiting for him, but she couldn't. With that in mind, he went on stage, dedicating the song to 'the road not traveled' before performing Thinking of You. This is the point in which he's taken.

Abilities/Additional Notes: While a normal human, Eliot as several notable skills.
Skilled Fighter/Physical Ability
Between training and other unknown reasons, Eliot is proficient with numerous fighting styles, both armed and unarmed. Having dedicated a portion of his life to the US government, it's safe to assume that he underwent training for not only fighting, but resistance to pain and methods of information extraction. He's seen preferring a mixed-martial arts, which he even teaches Parker, and able to pick most things up and use it as a weapon. During the episode The Tap-out Job (season 2, episode 2,) Eliot poses as an errand boy for Nate's alias that shows to be a very gifted fighter. Throughout the entire job he holds his own in the boxing ring, yet still having held control to avoid going too far. Many times Eliot will take hits during fights, even if the injuries draw blood or something worse, but always uses that as information to turn the fight around.

Eliot is also skilled in using guns and other firearms, however for reasons not elaborated on, he typically refuses to use them. The most that has been given is that he just doesn't like guns. His physical skills aren't limited to fighting, however. Despite not actually being a fan of baseball, he was set to become part of the team and soon a star member after hitting a home run. In High School, he used to play football, being the team quarterback. After learning and observing, he could probably find a way to play most sports that don't require non-human abilities. All of this reflects his healthy physical condition, accurate hand-eye coordination allow the potential to pick them up.

Tracking/Identification
Eliot is able to identify a weapon, or even affiliation a person has based off of a single clue. This is demonstrated in the show a few times with this is IDing a weapon from the gunshot sound and recognizing an ex Marine, probably Force Recon off of the guy's knife fighting[s1e2], and telling who's CIA by their stance [s2e6]. He has also identified the smell of peppermint, and former British Paratroopers from their haircuts. Also, though far after the point he's taken, he identifies a member of Spetsnaz in season 4 off of a footprint. It's a running gag that when he does this, someone (usually Hardison,) ends up being shocked to which he says that something about it is very distinctive. Part of his ability and training to survive in hostile environments he could probably track a target in many environments. It would be safe to believe that he can adopt this skill and develop it while in Adstring.

More Than Meets the Eye
Linguist: So far as we know, Eliot is able to speak a few languages besides English. Hebrew, Russian, Arabic and Italian. Also seems to understand Iranian, but fluency speaking is unknown. More may be known, but haven't come up in the series.

Gourmet Chef: In season 1 episode 7, The Wedding Job, it's learned that Eliot has significant culinary skills. Starting from a home ec class in high school, he's learned enough to make some kind of risotto that's considered 'to die for' due to the skill. He both understands and appreciates when a situation calls for a 'simple' dish or something more refined and 'fancy.' Tied to this, he also grows his own food, thus giving him gardening skill.

Musical Talent: In the episode Eliot's being taken from, it's revealed that he knows how to play the guitar. So in order to go through with the con job, they decide to set Eliot up as 'Kenneth Crane,' and turn him into a country music star. To make him sound the part, an advanced auto-tune program was set up so what he sang on stage would be fixed between what went into the microphone and out the speakers. Turns out the auto-tune doesn't actually activate, as there isn't anything to tune. This skill in singing shocks the entire team, the client, and creates a surge of fans. Later in the episode, after he was taken, he ended up with a fan club and mass of fans that made it hard to move around and do much of anything.

Grifter: While normally playing part of a position that lets him access the rest of the team, in case muscle is needed, Eliot is able to shift into many roles. Not just the more complicated, business-like roles but also acting as a celebrity and anything else that would get him closer to someone with the information needed. He's able to charm and pick up the right details and act like he belongs and is part of the right groups to catch the target's attentions.

Sample Journal Post: [Audio]

[The feed started with guitar going through the first few bars. After the briefest of pauses, a voice comes through with a man singing a country ballad with the kind of emotion that ties it together. Until towards the end...]

When you find your way to another town, and someone tries to lay you down and a feeling hits you right out of the blue...

[The guitar stops, and the voice that was singing turns to something harsher, definitely upset and though hidden away, with confusion in the mix.]

Hardison. Hardison Damn it, what did you do this time. Hey, answer already.

[With a bit of a growl and angry mutterings, thing go quiet for about half a minute before the microphone picks up the sounds of the device being picked up. Turned around, tapped right onto the mic for everyone's unfortunate ears.]

How's this thing supposed to work... it on?

[From muttered and softer (yet still upset,) the following is definitely louder.]

Anyone there to report back to me?

Sample RP: Despite the kind of things Hardison said at times, there was no way that technology could get advanced enough to mimic the outdoors. There was a distinctiveness of how firm the ground was, the quality of air, and the sounds of the wildlife around. Even more, it doesn't suddenly take you from the stage of a bar into a dilapidated city in only a couple of minutes. The only option left, while he didn't like it, was that the things the people from this PCD thing said was true. This whole place was wrong though. None of the landmarks and traces matched up right, and while it was stupid to assume that the world was exactly as they knew it, he didn't trust what most of these people said. They were mostly kids, even!

Fixing the guitar over his shoulder, Eliot wiped his hands off the back of his jeans while looking around. Until he knew more, it was safer to keep the alias up as Kenneth Crane. It couldn't be so hard to pretend you were just some musician in a place like this. As long as none of the previous marks or their thugs show up, keeping up some kind of cover was going to be easy. For now there was the matter of getting some decent shelter. A glance to the sky produced more than a sigh, as he slowly slid a hand down the length of his face as if it'd bring that to normal. "This is going to be a long day," he muttered.