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Post by skybright on May 26, 2007 23:32:18 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I think I can work that. Business deals like this usually have background checks associated with them -- I've run a few before. Maybe I can make that my excuse."
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Post by Jordanna on May 26, 2007 23:52:26 GMT -5
Vance nodded curtly. "Better to be there to run interference if Tiernan tries to get under Sid's skin. I assume the bat isn't aware that Sid knows who killed his wife, but it'd be like him to try pushing his buttons for the heck of it."
He turned to the Padre, shifting to a lighter subject. "So where have you billeted the Spooks you've still got on your hands?"
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Post by skybright on May 26, 2007 23:57:42 GMT -5
"Some of the families are staying with parish members; we've got the rest of the Spooks staying in the gym." Padre replied. "We've put the few sports teams that still play at this time of year on hiatus for the time being. It isn't exactly a private setup, but it's a roof over their heads."
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Post by Jordanna on May 27, 2007 0:15:43 GMT -5
"Hopefully we can clear some of them out by giving 'em jobs at Lusus Naturae," Vance remarked. "I still want to see if we can get Cole to do something more active than throw money for them at us, too. Cash can get 'em food for a few weeks, but it won't find 'em a situation they can do for themselves in."
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Post by skybright on May 27, 2007 0:26:21 GMT -5
Padre made a thoughtful noise. "Won't give 'em any incentive to try looking for one, either. Cole might be able to make some polite suggestions with business owners looking for employees -- once he's in a position to do that sort of suggesting, that is."
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Post by Jordanna on May 27, 2007 0:41:32 GMT -5
"Exactly my point," Vance murmured.
Roger wandered over to them then, slightly red-faced and winded. "Okay... except for what's going to my place, we've got all the soup unloaded. Thanks for the help," he added to Vance, with good-natured half-sarcasm.
His leader grinned back at him, in comradely appreciation of the humor that had never been possible in their Army days. "Thought you could use the workout, Rog. After all this time behind a desk, you don't quite have the old drill-field physique anymore."
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Post by skybright on May 27, 2007 0:48:48 GMT -5
Padre laughed. "Give him another week or two of chasin' those Spook kids around his place." The priest gestured with affectionate exasperation towards the ragtag group of kids who had once again latched onto Mike Whitebird. "That's what keeps Mike in the shape he's in."
Daws chuckled and shook her head. "We'd better get the rest of those pots to your place, Roger. I think the Padre can hold the fort down here."
"There's still enough Marine in me for that." Father Rick agreed good-naturedly.
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Post by Jordanna on May 27, 2007 0:55:25 GMT -5
"More like pure in-born orneriness," Vance retorted. "I guess we'll see you later then, Padre. Like I said, my boys will be around if you need to call in the cavalry."
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Post by skybright on May 27, 2007 1:04:29 GMT -5
"Much obliged, Boyo." Padre grinned and nodded to Daws. "Keep this upstart out of trouble, will you?"
Daws snorted and rolled her eyes. "Expect quite a lot of me, don't you, Padre?"
"I'm your priest. It's my job." He grinned crookedly and waved them away. "Take care of yourselves -- all of ya."
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Post by Jordanna on May 28, 2007 22:08:07 GMT -5
"Ourselves and everybody else," Vance retorted, waving a hand. "See ya, Padre."
The three mutants made their way back out of the church--passing the kitchen, where the refugee Spooks were already lining up for the handout of soup and the homemade bread someone in the neighborhood had contributed. Some of them glanced with suspicion and even contempt at Vance, Daws, and Roger as they went by.
Pushing open the front door of the church, Vance shook his head with a sigh. "That's gratitude for ya."
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Post by skybright on May 29, 2007 19:53:50 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daws shrugged. "We won't be winning any popularity contests with most of the Spooks anytime soon, that's for sure."
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Post by Jordanna on May 29, 2007 21:12:45 GMT -5
"I'd sooner ship 'em to the other side of the country than leave them in this city." Vance slid into the station wagon beside Daws and slammed the door. He was silent for a moment, then gave Daws a very serious look.
"In hindsight, I'm not so sure you and Proteus getting me loose from Tiernan was such a good move for the cause."
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Post by skybright on May 29, 2007 21:42:38 GMT -5
Daws raised an eyebrow at him and said nothing for a moment. Then she shrugged one shoulder philosophically. "You don't think so? Then look at it this way -- me trying to claw Nicholas Tiernan's eyes out would've been even worse for the cause. And I would've, if we hadn't pulled you out of there before . . ." She broke off and shook her head. "My critical thinking skills go downhill real rapidly when people I care about get hurt."
She gave a faint, self-deprecating smile. "I get too involved emotionally to be a good leader, Jerod -- I know that. Me and Sid and Miriam and everybody else have all got our strengths, but . . ." she nudged his shoulder gently, "We need somebody around who can think like a soldier."
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Post by Jordanna on May 29, 2007 22:02:14 GMT -5
Vance took that in for a moment. Then he chuckled, half-humorlessly.
"If somebody'd told me when I first walked in on you that you'd be saying that one day..." He shook his head in rueful amusement. "I don't guess this is an ideal moment for an 'I told you so'."
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Post by skybright on May 29, 2007 22:13:12 GMT -5
Daws shot him a faint, crooked grin. "Hey, it's justified. You knew what you were talking about -- I just wasn't too keen on admitting it. Of course, the threats of personal injury probably tipped you off to that."
She chuckled. "What can I say? You grew on me."
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Post by Jordanna on May 29, 2007 22:24:25 GMT -5
In the drivers' seat on the other side of Daws, Roger grinned crookedly. "Don't mind me, I'm just the fifth wheel. Daws, if you know any cute eligible lady mutants--send 'em my way, will ya? I haven't had a date in two years."
"What about Trudy?" Vance queried with a malicious smile.
Roger winced. "That doesn't count."
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Post by skybright on May 29, 2007 22:30:00 GMT -5
Daws raised both eyebrows and gave Roger an innocently interested look. "'Trudy?'"
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Post by Jordanna on May 29, 2007 22:47:29 GMT -5
Roger gave another wince that was even more pronounced. "Blind date. Bad idea."
"She was a bubbly little woman who'd manifested not long before, after bumping her head in a fender-bender," Vance supplied. "She'd acquired a knack for throwing off concussive bubbles, but she wasn't too good at controlling it. Especially when she got excited... or kinda tipsy."
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Post by skybright on May 29, 2007 22:50:08 GMT -5
"Oh, jeeze." Daws gave a sympathetic wince. "Yeah, drunk and newly-manifested is never a good combination. Especially since there's usually a lot of breakable stuff in the vicinity."
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Post by Jordanna on May 29, 2007 22:59:43 GMT -5
"It took a month's rent from half my tenants to pay for it," Roger lamented.
Vance smirked. "I support Rog in his wanting to hook up with somebody of our own kind. Only trouble is, the 'must be housebroken' part of the personal ad is kind of awkward."
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