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Post by Jordanna on Aug 10, 2006 23:32:23 GMT -5
"I'll settle for them not blowing up the house." Vance climbed into the driver's seat of the van. "Back to your office, detective?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 10, 2006 23:36:33 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Sure. It's as good a place as any to discuss our next thrilling adventure in vanquishing evildoers."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 10, 2006 23:53:33 GMT -5
"What, you plannin' more action?" Sid queried, as Vance pulled the van into a U-turn in the narrow suburban street.
"More in the way of intel," Vance replied. "There's a whole colony of mutants in town that are living off Nocturne's handouts, and Miss Dawson and I wanna see if they've got any nobler sensibilities in 'em. Well, either that, or if we can just offer 'em more than he can."
"Fat chance a' that," Sid muttered.
"Not really. Tiernan could give the Spooks a fortune, but they're not worth it to him. He pays the good money to very skilled, very dedicated operatives. The Spooks are just hangers-on that he finds useful for quick, rough jobs. It serves his own interests to leave 'em in the gutter." Vance shrugged. "Whereas we wanna help pick 'em out of that gutter--if they really want to be."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 0:01:48 GMT -5
"I never really understood the reasoning of that kind of folks, honestly." Daws said thoughtfully. "Sure, working for myself and circulating out in the real world means I gotta put up with some weird looks and some ugly comments. I'd still rather that than live off someone's handouts -- even if doing so meant I could avoid bein' stared at."
She shrugged. "Which isn't to say I think the Spooks're wrong. I guess it just boils down to havin' different types of pride."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 0:11:32 GMT -5
"I don't know if you could call it pride," Vance murmured. "Some of 'em are just lazy, and they use their mutations as an excuse for it. Tiernan's happy enough to let 'em play up the idea that they can't get anywhere in the mundie world, but the truth is, they just don't wanna bother trying."
He sighed and shrugged. "Still, I don't think they're all like that. People end up stuck for a lotta different reasons. We might be able to get through to some of 'em, if we can convince 'em they've got a choice."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 0:15:10 GMT -5
"Well, hey," Daws grinned, "You called the right shamus for the job. I'm livin' proof that if you're just willing to give better than you get, you can get plenty far in the world -- no matter how weird you look."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 0:33:51 GMT -5
"We'll see how far that gets us," Vance murmured. "I'm more worried about this mysterious leader the Spooks have--they're the key. I'm counting on your talent for sniffing out people who don't wanna be found, detective."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 0:39:04 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Hey, it's how I pay my bills -- if they can be found, I'll do it. Count on me, Major."
She grinned and leaned back. "Heck, it'll be sort of a nice change -- doin' my real job for our side, instead of nosing around for Tiernan or plotting ways to foil him."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 0:49:09 GMT -5
"Don't expect it to be a picnic. The Spooks can play pretty rough--but then, you already found that out, as I recall."
Sid looked at Daws with a shrug. "Anythin' I can do ta help?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 0:56:54 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "Not directly. Don't take this the wrong way, but Spooktown's definitely not a human-friendly area -- and I don't want you getting hurt. When those guys decide to gang up on ya, they don't mess around."
She grinned and cuffed the older man lightly on the shoulder. "Which isn't to say I wouldn't pick you to back me in a fight any day of the week."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 1:08:31 GMT -5
"Yeah, I understand." Sid nodded somewhat morosely. "Well, anyway, I need ta be at the Paragon more. People're startin' ta wonder why I keep takin' off early or showin' up late. It'd be nice just ta stick close ta my own place fer a while."
He thought for a moment, then grinned, "Say, I got an idea. Tara's birthday is next month. Maybe I'll close up the Club that night, an' us an' all our people can get together fer a little private party."
Vance laughed hoarsely. "I can just imagine a motley bunch like ours throwing a children's party."
Sid frowned. "Well, I dunno about your gang, but the folks from Our Lady is good people. Besides, I think it'd do Tara some good to have fun with other mutants. She worries too much about what her normal friends'd think if they found out." His expression became momentarily pensive and concerned.
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 1:12:10 GMT -5
Daws grinned and squeezed Sid's shoulder. "Hey, it sounds like a great idea to me. I mean, not that arson and high explosives aren't a riot of their own kind -- but we could all use a chance to have some regular fun. You can count me in."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 1:21:10 GMT -5
Vance grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't wait to see what a small army of mutant guerilla fighters manages to do with a swanky ballroom."
When they reached Daws' office, Sid declined to go inside. "I should be gettin' back to the Club. Foxy's tryin' yet another new act tonight, an' I wanna see how it goes over." He squeezed Daws' hands, and shook Vance's. "See ya later."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 1:29:07 GMT -5
Daws grinned warmly at Sid. "Take care of yourself, Sid."
She watched him depart, then turned to Vance with a shrug. "Well, I guess that officially wraps up the Gray Lab. Shall we work out the logistics of this snoopin' around I'm gonna be doing? 'Cause anything you know that could help me avoid ending up as a throw rug in some Spook's living room would be understandably welcome."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 1:39:09 GMT -5
Vance frowned. "You probably know pretty much everything I could tell ya. The Spooks aren't too friendly toward my people--they know we don't like Tiernan in general, and they don't much like us cramping the style of their benefactor. So we haven't been able to get too close, except for a coupla minor brawls at that mutie bar Tiernan keeps on the sly. Some of 'em hang out there, by the way, but I doubt we'd find their leader there."
He paused, smiling slightly. "Incidentally, I don't have any particular plans for the next few days, if you feel like you might want some backup."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 1:44:53 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Y'know, I'll take you up on that. I'll feel a lot better knowin' there's someone watching my back." She grinned teasingly and added "So long as you don't go startin' any of those brawls, or settin' anything on fire."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 1:52:39 GMT -5
Vance chuckled and raised his hands innocently. "I won't touch a thing. Just name a time and a place, and I'll be there."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 1:56:21 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "All right. Gimme a few days to put things in order around here -- I'm gonna have Joey keep an eye on the office for me, just in case anyone really desperate comes knocking, and I'll be telling Tiernan's secretary I'm out on his case." She grinned wickedly. "Which is sorta true in a roundabout way, I guess.
"Meet me here, I guess -- say about eight o'clock Friday night. We can start poking around then."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 11, 2006 2:03:43 GMT -5
"Sure." Vance nodded, smiling fiercely. "And this time, I'll buy the dinner."
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Post by skybright on Aug 11, 2006 2:08:24 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "You got yourself a deal, Vance." She gave an offhanded salute. "Take care of yourself out there, willya?"
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