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Post by skybright on Apr 5, 2007 22:19:00 GMT -5
A few days after her visit to the Rosenstein home, Daws made her way to the Paragon Club. It was early morning and the streets around the club were nearly deserted, save for a few delivery trucks and vans.
Daws approached the club from the back, heading for the kitchen entrance -- where she'd arranged to meet up with Jerod Vance.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 5, 2007 22:27:04 GMT -5
When Daws arrived, Vance was leaning casually on the wall by the kitchen door, gazing thoughtfully into space as he smoked a cigar. Although he stilled looked slightly peaked, he seemed to be almost completely recovered from his near-fatal wounds. He had left Henry's house to return to his usual haunts the day before.
He smiled seraphically at Daws. "Good morning, Regina."
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Post by skybright on Apr 5, 2007 22:31:31 GMT -5
Daws grinned lopsidedly at him. "Good morning yourself. Nice day, isn't it?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 5, 2007 22:49:58 GMT -5
"Now that I'm out of Casselton's private mausoleum, it's fine." Vance stretched lazily as he pushed away from the wall. "I saw Sid's car in the lot, so I guess they're waiting for us. I just thought I'd get in a smoke before I invited myself in."
He grinned at her somewhat whimsically, then knocked on the door.
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Post by skybright on Apr 5, 2007 22:54:57 GMT -5
Daws leaned one shoulder casually against the doorframe and chuckled. "I hope Alex knows what he's getting himself into, here. I once started a fire trying to boil water, y'know."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 5, 2007 23:02:34 GMT -5
"And my cooking skills are limited to peeling potatoes. Handy's more the domestic type." Vance's lips twitched. "He'll be along after he finishes a couple errands. Any chance to hang around his little chickadee Gracie."
The door opened then, and Grace Duval herself smiled out at them. "Good morning! Come on in."
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Post by skybright on Apr 5, 2007 23:11:25 GMT -5
The pair followed Gracie back to the Paragon's kitchen, where the others were already waiting. Daws grinned in greeting as she shrugged out of her trenchcoat.
"Well, here we are -- reporting for duty." She announced cheerfully.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 6, 2007 21:56:36 GMT -5
"Mornin', Daws." Sid grinned proudly and put his hands on the shoulders of his daughter, who stood beside him. "Tara heard we were doin' some charity cookin' fer the Spooks, an' she asked ta come along an' help out."
Vance inclined his head to the girl. "Nice to see you again, Miss Rosenstein. Sorry I didn't say hello when I was at your place, but... I was sort of unwell."
"I'm glad you're feeling better now," Tara replied sincerely.
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Post by skybright on Apr 6, 2007 23:28:20 GMT -5
"You an' me both, kiddo." Daws replied, shooting Vance a teasing, lopsided grin. "He can be kinda hard to put up with when he's laid up."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 7, 2007 21:20:19 GMT -5
"He can be kinda hard ta put up with when he's not laid up," Sid replied, with a friendly grin at Vance.
"Okay, comedians." Vance put aside the coat he had removed, and began rolling up his sleeves. Sid's eyes widened slightly--but the Major only shrugged. "What's on the menu today?"
Miriam answered. "Oh, something simple. We're going to make chicken-and-rice soup for the Spooks."
"It'da been pheasant if we let Foxy have his way," Sid groused good-naturedly.
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Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2007 0:07:44 GMT -5
Daws laughed. "Probably. But hey -- there's nothing wrong with good old-fashioned chicken. Knowing Alex, it'll turn out five-star anyhow." Then she grinned and ducked her head. "Well . . . so long as you don't leave me alone with it, anyway."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2007 21:46:18 GMT -5
"You and me both," Vance grunted.
"Sorry to disappoint you." Alex grinned, handing Vance and Daws a pair of printed-out recipe sheets. "Here's your instructions. Since we're making so much soup, we'll all have our own pots to take care of. You'll only need me if you've got any questions."
He smiled at Tara and put his arm around her shoulders. "And Tara'll be checking up on ya for me--won't you?"
The girl grinned and nodded.
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Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2007 21:53:03 GMT -5
"Oh, jeeze." Daws shot a skeptical look at the recipe sheet, then at Alex. "Okay, but just remember -- you were warned."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2007 22:06:45 GMT -5
Sid gave Vance a poke in the shoulder. "Fer starters, ya can help me carry in the bags a' rice from the storeroom. There's carrots an' potatoes to peel, too. We put out the birds ta thaw last night."
"Maybe you'd better get somebody else for the heavy lifting," said Miriam, with mock concern. "After all, he's still convalescing."
"I'll show ya convalescing," Vance retorted. "Show me to the groceries, Sidney."
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Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2007 22:23:54 GMT -5
Daws grinned as the two men headed for the storeroom, then shrugged and rolled up her sleeves. "Okay, then -- I guess I can start in on peeling vegetables."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2007 22:33:24 GMT -5
"The glamorous world of culinary art," Alex grinned ruefully, and pointed to a large bag of carrots on the counter. "We're making enough to feed about thirty people. Mostly families staying over at Latimore's, but some of it's going to the ones camped out at Our Lady too."
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Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2007 22:38:44 GMT -5
Daws nodded and reached for a vegetable peeler and the carrots. "Padre said he manage to find a place for another family on Monday -- got 'em an apartment and found the father a job in a machine shop. That should help ease the crowding some."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2007 23:02:31 GMT -5
"Yeah," Sid murmured, as he came back into the kitchen with an armful of rice bags (and a similarly laden Vance in tow). "Maybe we can do some more about that after... uh."
He paused to glance at Miriam. "Say, Doc, maybe you an' Tara could go get the tomatas an' peppers outta the freezer."
Tara frowned slightly, but Miriam nodded in understanding and guided the girl away. Sid glanced back at Daws and Vance.
"On the quiet, I checked inta the sale of that Lusus Natural joint. It's legit, alright--at least as far as sellin' the property goes. I got the legal details... so I guess I'll be ready ta close the deal whenever we got the money pulled together."
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Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2007 23:10:04 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Okay then." She turned her attention back to the carrot she was peeling.
"Proteus said he had access to some cash for this little venture -- and I figured we could hit up Cole for anything that Proteus can't come up with." She gave a halfhearted sigh. "I guess once we get that figured out, all that's left is . . . you signing the papers."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2007 23:22:46 GMT -5
"I can take it," Sid murmured, with a stony face. "I kinda... kinda want to face him, in fact. I'll know if I can do that... I figure I can handle just about anything."
Grace, who like Daws was busy peeling potatoes, leaned over to squeeze her employer's shoulder. Vance frowned slightly, and it was clear he was not quite pleased with the idea of letting Sid meet Nocturne; but he made no objection.
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