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Post by skybright on Apr 17, 2007 22:29:15 GMT -5
"In that case," Daws grinned wickedly and tossed him an onion, "Just keep that away from any gasoline and we should be all right."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 17, 2007 22:39:52 GMT -5
"Yes ma'am," Vance retorted dryly, and proceeded to peel the skin off the odorous greenish-white bulb.
"Hey, at least I'm not making you chop my secret ingredient." Alex picked up a store-bought jar of slivered almonds.
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Post by skybright on Apr 17, 2007 22:49:44 GMT -5
Daws squinted briefly at the jar and then raised her eyebrows at Alex. "Okay, admittedly I'm new to this whole cooking thing," she gestured with her knife, "But those look like nuts. Already chopped nuts, I might add. You can put those in soup?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 17, 2007 23:00:02 GMT -5
"You'd be amazed what he puts nuts in," Sid remarked laconically.
Alex grinned. "Sure! Nuts really go great in all kinds of things, including soup. You don't choke it with 'em, of course--but they add a nice crunch to the texture."
Vance shook his head. "I've never understood this idea that food is supposed to have 'texture' like upholstry. As long as it tastes good, that's all I care about."
"You only notice texture when it's wrong," Alex replied philosophically.
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Post by skybright on Apr 17, 2007 23:04:40 GMT -5
"I learn something new everyday." Daws said. Then she pulled a face at Vance. "And thanks to you, now I have the truly bizarre image of couch soup in my head."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2007 20:31:06 GMT -5
Tara giggled, and Vance squinted dubiously at Daws.
"Speakin' of upholstry," Sid spoke up ponderingly, "I got the idea this Lusus Natural place is kinda shabby. Daws, you been there--what kinda work would ya say it's gonna need ta pull it up ta somethin' decent?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2007 22:02:37 GMT -5
Daws frowned thoughtfully at the onion she was peeling. "Well, I guess it sorta depends what you mean by 'decent'." She shot him an affectionate look. "I'm afraid not even you could pull it up to anythin' like this place. But . . ."
She pondered for a moment and shrugged. "The carpet needs replaced, for one thing -- it's gotta be older'n me -- and the walls are pretty scuffed up. It needs a good cleaning more than just about anything. Oh," she chuckled, "The stage is on its last legs. The old drummer for the house band put a bootheel through it last year."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2007 22:27:11 GMT -5
"Don't go thinking you can turn it into something glamorous, Sid," Vance advised. "One of the most important things for a mutie bar is that it doesn't attract attention. I'll admit the place could be brighter and cleaner than it is--but keep it simple."
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2007 22:29:37 GMT -5
"Yeah, and don't touch the pool tables." Daws added with a grin, "Or Carl Vargas will never let me hear the end of it. And I owe him one as it is," she added, with a brief glance in Vance's direction.
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2007 22:38:13 GMT -5
Vance caught the look. "I thought I recognized the guy behind the wheel that night. Was it purely mercenary, or did you put the cause over through that armored skull of his?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2007 22:48:26 GMT -5
Daws laughed shortly and shook her head. "Carl doesn't believe in causes -- unless you count pulling a fast one on unsuspecting pool-shark wannabes. He'll do a favor for a friend, especially if he knows he can call one in in exchange. But that's about as far as he goes."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2007 23:04:05 GMT -5
Vance's frown was the facial equivalent of a shrug. "Well, I guess I'm lucky you know people."
"How did you get hurt that night?" Tara asked him.
The Major winced slightly. "Uh. Well, Tara... you see..." He floundered for a moment, and at last decided on the partial truth. "I used to get into trouble, a few years ago. And the guys I ran with then didn't like it much when I reformed. I've been laying low ever since then, but I had... sort of a run-in with 'em that night."
Tara frowned. "Oh."
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2007 23:14:49 GMT -5
Daws cleared her throat faintly. "Don't worry too much over it, Tara." She said lightly.
"After all," She grinned wickedly at Vance, "He's got me to keep him outta trouble now."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2007 22:17:13 GMT -5
"That was my job!" Handy protested feebly.
"No, your job was to help me get into trouble--and it still is." Vance smirked. "I'm counting on you to run interference when the lady's mother-hen instincts kick in."
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Post by skybright on Apr 19, 2007 22:25:38 GMT -5
Daws wrinkled her nose at him. "Word to the wise, Major -- letting your opponents know your plans ahead of time is really lousy strategy."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2007 22:32:40 GMT -5
"You haven't seen Handy when he really gets to work." Vance gave his satellite a friendly slap on the shoulder.
Sid rolled his eyes. "Personally, I'd like ta see ya both stay outta trouble fer a while.
Tara blinked credulously. "Wow... detective work sounds reeeally dangerous. Now I'm not so sure I like that Joey works for you!" She said this to Daws with a slight laugh, but there was an underlying note of concern in her voice.
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Post by skybright on Apr 19, 2007 22:42:48 GMT -5
Daws smiled reassuringly at her. "Ah, don't worry, Tara. It's not as dangerous as all that. Besides --about the most exciting thing I ever have the poor kid doing is filing and taking film to be developed."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2007 23:00:02 GMT -5
Tara looked slightly reassured. Sid patted her shoulder.
"He's probably safer doing that than working the club," Alex retorted. He glanced at Daws with a longsuffering, lopsided grin. "Ed Fearney was back in the place last night."
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Post by skybright on Apr 19, 2007 23:03:25 GMT -5
Daws grimaced. "How nice for you. I suppose he was in his usual rare form?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2007 23:17:55 GMT -5
"Oh yeah. The same ol' perpetual birthday-boy." Alex made a face. "He ordered a slice of cake, and was trying to talk a girl into sharing it with him. Her fiance wasn't thrilled about that."
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