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Post by Jordanna on Aug 26, 2006 21:43:34 GMT -5
It was six o'clock in the evening, and on the front door of the Paragon Club hung a signed that read Closed for private party. Those partygoers, however, were not to enter through the front door. Mutant resistance fighters and friends from both Father Steele's parish and Major Vance's circle were beginning to trickle in through the rear delivery entrance.
Sid Rosenstein had dismissed his entire staff, after having his chefs spend the day preparing enough five-star cuisine for a small army--which was exactly what he expected to entertain, after all. In the absence of an orchestra, he had fallen back on a supply of recorded music for dancing (assuming any of his rather unusual guests did dance). Alex and Grace had prepared some of their best routines, and were doing a bit of onstage "reheasal" that was really little more than comic horseplay.
After circulating among the first few early birds--mostly associates of Vance--Sid lumped himself into a chair at the table where Miriam and Consuela sat with the Rosenstein children. Ordinarily they were never to be seen at their father's nightclub, but this party was for Tara's fifteenth birthday. Besides, Sid wanted her to have the company of fellow mutants for a change, and a chance to socialize without the stress of hiding or being judged for her mutation.
"I wonder if the Padre'll come," Sid mused. "I dunno how he feels about nightclubs..."
Miriam chuckled. "I wouldn't know about that--but after all, this is a children's party."
"Some children," Sid murmured, glancing over his shoulder at a pair of Vance's hard-bitten comrades. "I gotta be out of my mind."
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Post by skybright on Aug 26, 2006 22:03:11 GMT -5
"Well, I mean, really, who's gonna dispute a self-diagnosis like that?" A chipper voice broke in from a few feet away. Caddy Ollivard sauntered over with a lopsided grin, with Veeru Patil and a somewhat apprehensive-looking Hubert in tow.
He jerked his thumb good-naturedly at the two other men. "I dunno about children, Sid, but I broughtcha a guy who spends all day messin' around with motorcycles and another who's always tinkerin' with his chemistry set. Best I could do. Short notice and all."
Hubert rolled his eyes. "Now, Cadeceus, if we're really going to have a discussion about which of this group could be called an overgrown child . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 26, 2006 22:12:56 GMT -5
Miriam laughed, then shook her head and smiled at Hubert. "I'm very glad to see you here. How are you doing?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 26, 2006 22:18:00 GMT -5
Hubert smiled. "Improving every day, thank you for asking." His eyes lit up slightly. "The sheer volume of research we've had to pore over recently -- it's been an excellent diversion for me."
Caddy grinned. "And I figured it was about time we got him out an' diverted by something that doesn't involve test tubes. Not that test tubes aren't great and all, but -- y'know. Moderation."
Hubert cleared his throat. "Yes, well . . . this is something of a first for me. I've not yet been in a social situation with so many . . . people like us."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 26, 2006 22:30:18 GMT -5
"I didn't think ya'd ever been in a 'social situation' of any kind--outside a' lectures," Sid remarked. "Anyway, glad ta have ya. This is my housekeeper Consuela, an' my family." He gestured to his children. "Caleb, and Holly... an' my birthday girl, Tara."
Tara stood up. She was wearing a glittering dress which revealed her gills through sheer panels down the sides, as well as having a low back that exposed her dorsal ridge. Miriam and Tara had come up with the design together, and Consuela had sewn it; Sid had been apprehensive about the rather adult style, but Miriam convinced him it would be good for Tara to let her mutation be seen without fear for once.
"Hello, Mister... Hubert, right?" The girl glanced at her father for confirmation and received a nod, even as she extended her hand to the scientist.
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Post by skybright on Aug 26, 2006 22:44:32 GMT -5
"Doctor Hubert, actually," the lavender-skinned scientist corrected politely. He took Tara's hand and bowed slightly over it, smiling. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Rosenstein. Your father . . ." His smile gave an odd quirk, "He speaks very highly of you."
Hubert released Tara's hand and gestured at his two companions. "I know you already know Doctor Ollivard. This is Veeru Patil."
Veeru grinned and held out his hand. "Pleased to meet you -- I've heard a lot about you, as well. Happy birthday."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 26, 2006 23:09:48 GMT -5
Tara blushed and shook Veeru's hand. "Thanks. I've heard about you too, and your brother. Sorry he couldn't be here."
Alex and Grace drifted over from the stage. Alex stepped behind Miriam's chair and took her hand, leaning down to kiss her cheek before he scanned the slowly-filling room. "Looks like we're having a party after all. Oh, hi there, guys," he said to Ollivard and his companions. "Veeru, you know Gracie from the bridge thing, right? Caddy, Hubert, this is Gracie Duval--one of our stars."
Miriam craned her neck. "Looks like Daws' apprentice is here. Alex, you'd better go meet him--he looks a little scared of Vance's soldiers."
Shrugging, Alex crossed the room to welcome Joey Falco, who was hovering a step beyond the hallway that led to the rear door.
After a brief exchange of words and some animated gestures of reassurance by Alex, the entertainer towed the teenager over. "If anybody doesn't know him, this is Joey. He's Miss Dawson's junior partner."
Joey blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I wouldn't call it that."
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Post by skybright on Aug 27, 2006 4:34:33 GMT -5
"Don't sell yourself short." Veeru replied, smiling. "Daws thinks a lot of you -- she'd never have hired you if she didn't."
"Speaking of Miss Dawson -- shouldn't she be here?" Hubert asked, scanning the room.
Caddy tore his wandering attention away from the nearby punch table and turned back to the group. "I called and asked her if she wanted a ride, but she said she'd manage. Her and her faith in the New York subways -- it's really fascinating, from an abnormal psychology point of view, anyhow."
He plucked a cup of punch from the air near his left shoulder -- having drifted it over without spilling a drop -- and raised an eyebrow at the group. "Anyone else want some punch?"
"Showoff." Hubert murmured with a good-natured shake of his head.
Daws chose that moment to arrive, without her trademark fedora and with her trenchcoat folded over one arm. She had also -- to Caddy and Veeru's utter shock -- traded her usually casual attire for a sleeveless, royal blue dress with a full skirt.
"Sorry if I'm late." The detective grinned sheepishly and shook her head. "Power failure at the Bleeker station -- they had to reroute the red line through eleventh and it's a zoo at this time of night." She paused and surveyed the somewhat startled looks she was getting from Veeru, Caddy, and a few others. "What?"
Caddy shook his head slowly, downed a large swallow of punch, and then announced "Daws -- you, ah . . . you're wearing a dress."
Daws crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow. "Brilliant deduction, Cadeceus. I should make you a partner." Then she gave a somewhat self-conscious shrug and smoothed her skirt with one hand. "Well, y'know. I was kinda out shopping anyhow, and I figured . . ." she shrugged again. "It's a special occasion."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 27, 2006 22:03:26 GMT -5
Miriam stood up, squeezing Daws' hands. "You look wonderful, Daws. It's a beautiful dress."
"I've got a new dress too," Tara pointed out eagerly, rising to show it off. "Consuela made it, but Miriam and I thought it up--well, mostly Miriam." She grinned sheepishly.
Sid made a slightly pained face, again doubting his sanity in allowing the dress.
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Post by skybright on Aug 27, 2006 22:16:39 GMT -5
Daws let out an admiring whistle. "You look amazing, Tara." She smiled and winked at Sid. "Your Dad'll be fighting the boys off in droves."
Then she grinned and reached into the pocket of her trenchcoat. "Before I forget . . ." she withdrew a small packet of white tissue paper and held it out to Tara.
"Sorry I didn't get a chance to get it wrapped." Daws said apologetically, as Tara unfolded the paper and withdrew a thin silver chain, bearing a silver pendant shaped like a conch shell. "I was going to do that before I got here, and then the subway ran late . . ." She shrugged. "Anyway, happy birthday."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 27, 2006 22:30:27 GMT -5
"Oh, it's so pretty! You didn't have to do that. Thank you!" Tara quickly took off the short string of pearls around her neck and replaced it with the new necklace, beaming.
Sid smiled ruefully. "That's my little mermaid... Thanks, Daws."
Meanwhile, Jerod Vance had slipped in quietly, with Handy faithfully in tow. His contingent had noticed their leader's arrival, and the Major passed out nods and greetings as he made his way through the group to the table. Handy was wearing a secondhand suit--but Vance, remarkably, was in dress uniform.
"Evenin', folks." He smiled lazily at the group, then focused on Tara as he removed his hat. "You must be Miss Rosenstein. Best regards of the day, Miss."
"Honey, this is Major Vance and Mister McCarty," Sid introduced the pair, then grinned slyly at Vance. "I'm s'prised. You almost look halfway respectable."
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Post by skybright on Aug 27, 2006 22:37:19 GMT -5
Hubert snorted good-humoredly. "Indeed. One might say respectable -- if one didn't know better."
Caddy elbowed his housemate gently in the ribs. "Ignore him. Chronic dry humor. We're still looking for a cure."
Daws shook her head at her two friends and grinned at Vance. "I'll echo the consensus. You clean up pretty good, Major."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 27, 2006 22:52:09 GMT -5
"You're not bad yourself." Vance eyed the dress Daws was wearing, with a distinctly admiring expression. "I sorta thought the trenchcoat was sewed on, so this is quite a surprise."
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Post by skybright on Aug 27, 2006 23:06:04 GMT -5
"Nah." Daws grinned. "Surgically attatched, actually. It's quite a trick gettin' it removed."
"And you didn't call me?" Caddy looked grieved. "Now that hurts, it really does. I mean, the one time in our whole acquaintance you actually decide to take the coat off, and you trust some other doctor."
Daws rolled her eyes at Caddy. "As you can see, Caddy was as shocked as anyone." She grinned at Vance. "But then, I can be awful surprising when I take a mind to. Got to keep people on their toes."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 27, 2006 23:28:45 GMT -5
"Darn straight." Vance plucked a glass of punch from the grasp of Handy, causing the smaller man to sigh and toddle back to fetch another. Then he glanced around at the group. "How's everybody else doing?"
There were murmured affirmations that everyone was well. Vance nodded in satisfaction and took a swallow of punch. "Fine. I don't see the Padre... Anybody know if he's coming?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 27, 2006 23:43:52 GMT -5
Daws shrugged and draped her coat over the back of an unoccupied chair. "Well, he was the last I talked to him. I guess something might've come up at the parish, but otherwise he'll be here." She grinned. "He might not seem like it, but he loves parties. I can't imagine he wouldn't be here for this one."
After a few more minutes of idle talk, Daws finally spotted Father Rick coming in through the back door. "Oh, there he is." She crossed over to where the Padre was removing his coat with an exasperated shake of his head.
"That Dumont family'll be the death of me yet," he muttered, "Sorry I'm late."
Daws frowned slightly. "Jenny and Dave Dumont? What's up with them?"
Father Rick chuckled dryly and spread his hands. "Wasn't them, it was that eight-year-old of theirs. Managed somehow to get himself stranded on the gym roof -- most likely his sister flew 'im up there. I couldn't very well leave until we made sure he was back on solid ground."
Daws grinned. "Well, you're here now, anyway." She led the priest over to where the group stood gathered. "Hey, everyone -- look what the wind blew in."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 28, 2006 20:52:22 GMT -5
Vance smiled at the priest. "Hello, Padre. Glad you could make it."
By this point, Grace Duval had wandered over. She was still fairly unused to being around obvious mutants, and her wide-eyed gaze kept wandering back to Handy. The attention was not lost upon him, and he stared back challengingly, causing her to blush and lower her eyes.
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Post by skybright on Aug 29, 2006 0:09:08 GMT -5
Father Steele grinned broadly at Vance. "You kiddin', Boyo? I'd not miss a chance like this one. Our lot deserve the chance to have some fun for a change."
"I'll drink to that." Daws lifted the glass of punch she'd picked up, and grinned. "Here's to enjoying the world for a night, instead of worryin' about saving it."
Padre chuckled and shook his head, then turned to Tara. "Many happy returns, my dear." He smiled as he glanced at Sid. "Between such a fine place and such a lovely daughter, your father's got every reason to be proud."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 29, 2006 21:26:17 GMT -5
"You know it," Sid replied with a grin, putting an arm around Tara's shoulders.
Alex gave Miriam's hand a tug. "C'mon, honey, let's dance before Gracie and I do our act," he urged. Miriam blushed and allowed him to lead her off across the floor.
With a slightly devious look, Handy raised his eyebrows at Grace. "Howzabout it, kid? Wanna get in on that?"
The dancer gaped, eyeing his extra arms again. "I, uh, well..."
"Ah, you'll love it," Handy retorted, and seized her wrist, towing her away. Rather surprisingly, Grace didn't protest as her improbable dance partner wrapped four arms around her and shuffled her somewhat clumsily around the floor.
Major Vance put his head down and shook with laughter.
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Post by skybright on Aug 29, 2006 22:26:28 GMT -5
Daws laughed brightly as Handy led Grace away, and shook her head. "Well, why not? Odder couples've worked -- on the dance floor, anyhow."
Hubert chuckled dryly. "From what I've observed, our subculture seems to lend itself to odd couples."
"Yeah." Daws grinned: both at the former mutaphobe's use of the improbable our, and at the sight of her friends Eric Grove and Asagi Tam looking decidedly cozy on the dance floor. "Yeah, I guess it does at that."
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