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Post by Jordanna on Sept 7, 2006 22:25:51 GMT -5
Henry was ruefully watching Miriam, but she only had eyes for Alex on the stage. After a few moments, Vance leaned toward the undertaker and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Let 'em go, Casselton. Mutant/human couples... well, they don't work out so well. I speak from experience."
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Post by skybright on Sept 7, 2006 23:05:17 GMT -5
Caddy, having overheard the murmured exchange, shook his head with a wry smile. "There's an argument we could have about that, Major." He said quietly, "But I don't think tonight's the time or place for it. I'll just have to save it for ya."
Then he grinned wickedly at Daws and added "That is, unless bantering with Major Vance is one of those things only you're allowed to do. Hate to get in the way of this whole 'professional relationship' you two've got going."
Daws rolled her eyes at Caddy. "Not you, too." She crossed her arms with a sigh. "I swear, if you and Sid are gonna start ganging up on me . . ."
"Never." Caddy grinned and stood up, " 'Ganging up' implies a lack of subtlety which would be completely unbecoming a professional of my stature. 'Needling' or 'shameless harassment' is probably closer." He grinned cheerfully and ducked off in the direction of the punchbowl.
Daws sighed and rested her forehead on one hand. "I wish I knew if he was kidding or not." Then she glanced back at the others and added "But just ignore him either way, would you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 8, 2006 21:12:24 GMT -5
Sid grinned. "I only ignore people who don't agree with me."
Alex had finished singing, and was promptly outvoted in favor of Grace again by his partner's male following. With a whimsical grin and shrug, he hopped down from the stage and came back over to the table.
"You might wanna invest in leashes and muzzles, Major," he said to Vance with good-natured dismay, reclaiming his seat beside Miriam--and her hand in his.
Vance chuckled. "I think I'll leave it to Handy here." He glanced at his sidekick, who looked mildly vexed by the lecherous attentions their comrades were paying to Grace.
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Post by skybright on Sept 9, 2006 2:02:04 GMT -5
"Try to go easy on 'em, willya?" Daws asked Handy. "There's a guerilla war on, after all -- we need those guys in one piece."
Then she grinned teasingly at Alex. "You could alway try doin' your half of the act in a skirt, y'know." She paused, reconsidered what she'd just said, and held up her hand quickly. "Don't take that as a serious suggestion."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 9, 2006 20:59:30 GMT -5
Alex winced. "Daws, if I even think about doing more than just a girl's voice, please shoot me. That time I borrowed a burkha from the wardrobe to smuggle Miriam to Henry's, I had to cover it by doing a harem number. I about died."
Vance chuckled. "Funny, I heard you were pretty well in touch with your feminine side."
Alex glared at him. Being from Alex, it was hardly intimidating, but it was a glare nonetheless.
Miriam laughed and hugged Alex's arm against her. "Don't mind him, Alex. He's just jealous because he can't cook like you can."
"Majors don't do KP," Vance stated philosophically.
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Post by skybright on Sept 9, 2006 22:47:33 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "Maybe not, but I bet you peeled your way through a lot of potatoes on the way to Major -- with a charming personality like yours."
Caddy chose that moment to return, bearing a refilled glass of punch and grinning. "Jeeze, romance must be in the air. Eric and Asagi are sitting by the punchbowl, and I don't think either one of 'em's looked at anything but each other all night."
Daws shrugged philosophically. "It's a chance for them to relax together, for a change." She pulled a wry face. "And considering how un-relaxing that music Eric's so into is . . ."
Veeru laughed. "If they recorded it after 1970, it's just so much noise to you, isn't it?"
Daws raised an eyebrow. "Hey, don't try and talk until you've tried listening to modern music with hearing that's got twice the range of most people's, okay?"
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 9, 2006 23:22:48 GMT -5
"They just don't write fun songs anymore," Alex lamented. "It's all gotta be about... well, you know. People think anything else is for the kids. 'Little White Duck' is a lot more fun to sing than 'La Vida Loca'--I don't know why people don't think it's fun to listen to, too."
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Post by skybright on Sept 9, 2006 23:53:13 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "From what I've seen, I think a lot of people just don't want to be seen as old-fashioned. I know a kid who runs with Eric's crowd -- y'know, black leather and body piercings. He's secretly nuts about old Technicolor musicals -- but he'd be mortified if word of it ever got around."
Daws shrugged and leaned back in her chair. "I'm with you on this one, Alex. I'd rather listen to the good old stuff any day." She grinned. "Guess I'm just an old-fashioned girl after all."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 10, 2006 0:16:01 GMT -5
Proteus drummed his fingers on the side of his punch glass, looking around the table with a quietly amused smile.
"Yes... I think I could get to like you folks."
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Post by skybright on Sept 10, 2006 0:35:55 GMT -5
Caddy grinned lopsidedly. "Well, sure. We're extremely likeable people -- y'know, except Hubert, but he grows on ya."
"Hush, you." Hubert retorted, not looking up from instructing Caleb on hiding a coin in plain sight.
Daws laughed and raised her glass slightly to Proteus. "I'd say the feeling's mutual."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 10, 2006 21:50:32 GMT -5
Sid smiled and nudged Tara's shoulder. "How 'bout a dance with the old man, kid?"
With a grin, his daughter rose and took his arm, letting him lead her off across the floor. Vance watched the pair for a moment before raising an eyebrow at Alex. "He's not bad. More lessons from you?"
Alex shrugged. "He's watched me enough in eight years!"
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Post by skybright on Sept 10, 2006 23:46:33 GMT -5
Daws smiled. "You're a good teacher, too, Alex."
She watched as Tara whispered something into Sid's ear and then broke out laughing. Daws' smile widened. "I'm glad Tara's having a good time. As up-and-down as it's been for her lately . . . it's really good to see her smile."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 11, 2006 20:30:01 GMT -5
"She's doing better," Alex agreed. "I think that trip up to the cabin really helped her."
"It really helped a lot of us," Miriam said with a smile, leaning her cheek against Alex's shoulder.
Henry had been staring into his punch glass with a pained expression. Now, without looking up, he asked quietly but abruptly: "When are you going to be married?"
Miriam flinched slightly and frowned. "I--I don't know, Henry."
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Post by skybright on Sept 11, 2006 23:41:51 GMT -5
There was an awkward silence among the group. Daws cleared her throat quietly.
"I think they're a ways off from that, Henry. A lot of things've got to happen before any of us can think about planning the future."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 12, 2006 21:41:15 GMT -5
The discomfort of the moment was broken by Sid and Tara's return to the table. Sid sat down--but before Tara could, she was intercepted by Joey, who had been talking to some other younger resistance fighters nearby.
"Hey. Uh..." He ducked his head shyly and grinned. "Would you... maybe want another dance?"
Tara grinned at him. "Sure," she replied, and retreated back onto the dance floor with him.
Vance gave Sid a hard smile. "You better watch that kid. He's a little weasel." However, his tone was humorous rather than hostile.
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Post by skybright on Sept 12, 2006 21:57:36 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "Vance, why do I get the feeling you only keep insisting on sayin' that because you think it'll irritate me?"
She raised an eyebrow and grinned at Sid. "On the other hand, I do recall saying something earlier about having to drive the boys off. Just remember -- anything happens to that kid, and I have to go back to doing all my own filing. So play nicely."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 12, 2006 22:58:15 GMT -5
Sid grinned good-naturedly at Daws. "An' if anythin' happens ta my kid, now I'll know who to blame."
Proteus rested his chin on his hand, watching Tara and Joey. Although the movements of his silver eyes were unreadable, he turned his head slightly toward Daws as he asked, "That boy works for Tiernan, doesn't he?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 12, 2006 23:05:57 GMT -5
Daws smiled and shrugged one shoulder. "Well . . . yes and no. Joey and I met when I got pulled into Tiernan's organization, and I took a liking to him. One thing led to another, and he found out about our resistance."
Daws sipped her punch and continued "I didn't want the kid to get hurt, or to accidentally let anything slip -- so I convinced Tiernan to assign him to me as an assistant. Tiernan still pays him, but so far as I'm concerned, he works for Grimalkin, Inc."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 12, 2006 23:24:24 GMT -5
"Hmm." Proteus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Does he still spend much time at all around Tiernan's office?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 12, 2006 23:36:34 GMT -5
Daws frowned thoughtfully. "Well, I know he still lives down in Tiernan's bunker -- and he still runs the occasional errand, I think." She shrugged. "You'd have to ask him, I guess."
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