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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2007 22:52:13 GMT -5
Tiernan raised an eyebrow and deferred to Daws, and Sid looked at her confusedly, wondering what ploy she was thinking up to weasel around the dangers of this encounter.
"Er... yeah, Miss Dawson? What can I do for ya?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2007 23:00:16 GMT -5
Daws reached into her coat and withdrew a photograph -- one of the generic ones which she used to bluff her way through undercover work. She held out the photograph to Sid. "I'm hoping you may have seen this man -- especially tonight, but really at any time over the past few weeks."
Leaving the photo in Sid's hand, Daws turned towards Tiernan. "I'm not actually 'taking an interest in politics,' Mister Tiernan." She explained, "I can more or less take it or leave it. I'm on a case -- trying to track down this guy on behalf of his business partner. He's donated a lot of the money he embezzled from their company to Cole's campaign -- figured he might show up here." She shrugged. "The reporter cover is a holdover from the snooping I did at Cole's election headquarters."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2007 23:22:13 GMT -5
Tiernan raised an eyebrow.
"I see," he said neutrally, and it was uncertain whether he was convinced that Daws' presence was so coincidental. But if he had his doubts, he did not express them.
Sid gratefully focused on the picture instead of his desire to knock Tiernan's head off. As the nightly host of the club, he was good with faces, but the random picture was naturally a blank to him. After giving himself time to gather his nerves, he looked up at Daws and shook his head, handing the picture back over.
"Nah, sorry... I dunno the guy."
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Post by skybright on Jul 4, 2007 23:26:23 GMT -5
Daws gave a slightly frustrated growl and slipped the photograph quickly back into her pocket. "Kinda figured -- I haven't spotted him here tonight, and he doesn't seem to ring any bells with the campaign staff I've talked to, either."
She gave a fatalistic shrug. "Okay -- thanks, anyhow." She produced a business card from another of her pockets and handed it to Sid. "Should he happen to wander in -- sort of doubtful, but maybe -- give me a ring, would you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 4, 2007 23:39:04 GMT -5
"Uh--yeah, sure." Sid mechanically took the card and slipped it into his pocket. "Anythin' I can do."
Before Tiernan could begin questioning him again, Sid turned quickly to Marty. "Say, ah... you were wantin' ta ask me about the lights over the stage, weren't ya?"
Marty took the cue. "Right, yeah. Y'mind having a look?"
"Sure..." Sid glanced at Daws and Tiernan. "Duty calls, huh? 'Scuse me, folks..." And with a polite wag of his head, he retreated with his stage manager.
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 1:30:47 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. 'Well, so much for that lead." She glanced down at the empty cup in her hand. "Suppose I'll get some more punch and see how this whole dog-and-pony show turns out, anyway."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 20:12:56 GMT -5
Tiernan inclined his head. "Of course... I'll let you know when I have a meeting with Cole scheduled, Miss Dawson."
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 20:55:01 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Of course."
She slipped away from Tiernan, made her way to the punchbowl, and then returned to the table where Henry and Rico were sitting. She shot Henry a brief, faint smile -- Well, one crisis averted, anyway and retook her seat.
"What'd I miss?" She nodded to the screens above the stage.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 22:27:30 GMT -5
"Not much more than an anti-mutant protester trying to wrestle the microphone away from the reporter," Henry put in, with a shake of his head. "I'm not sure whether Cole's election is going to save the city or tear it apart."
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 22:30:55 GMT -5
Daws shrugged philosophically. "I figure the odds are about evenly split between the two options. Maybe it'll be a little bit of both."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 22:43:17 GMT -5
Rico frowned. "When you talk like that, it's... kinda scary. I think I better hide my skin pictures for a few days." He glanced at Daws inquisitively. "You know if the cops are ready for any rioting, Miss Dawson?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 22:53:24 GMT -5
Daws shook her head. "It's hard to say -- just depends on what kind of rioting we're talking about, I guess. My one contact in the P.D. is . . ." she chuckled dryly, "Is a little bit upset with me just at present. But I did gather that they're doing what they can to gear up for trouble."
She unsheathed the claws of her left hand and regarded them thoughtfully. "I hope we won't need 'em, but I guess it's better that they're ready for anything."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 23:01:16 GMT -5
"I never really gave much thought to that side of the reactions until now," Henry admitted. "I was more worried about--certain other ramifications. Cole must be a lunatic to want to face all this."
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 23:05:06 GMT -5
Daws chuckled quietly and sheathed her claws. "He's either a lunatic or a very brave idealist, Mister Casselton -- I don't know which. Of course, sometimes those go hand in hand."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 23:15:34 GMT -5
"Kinda makes me wonder if things really can get better," Rico murmured pensively.
Henry frowned up at the screen above the stage. "Hang on--it looks like there's a statement or something coming up."
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 23:21:28 GMT -5
The group turned their attention to the screens above the stage, where the coverage had returned to the in-studio reporters. One of them -- a blonde woman whose name Daws had always had trouble remembering -- cleared her throat slightly and then addressed the cameras.
"Well, fellow New Yorkers, the last of the results are in for the mayoral race -- and what would have been a surprising outcome just a few months ago is no surprise after tonights coverage.
"The winner by a substantial margin . . . independent candidate James Marcus Cole."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 23:27:46 GMT -5
The orchestra broke into a triumphal fanfare, and there was a hearty peal of applause throughout the room. Rico let out a long whistle, looking rather surprised that he was now not as jubilant as he had expected to be. Henry simply exchanged a knowing look with Daws.
"Heaven help him," said the undertaker sincerely.
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 23:33:55 GMT -5
Daws nodded and raised her glass. "Heaven help all of us," she added sincerely.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 5, 2007 23:44:10 GMT -5
"I wonder how long before Mister Cole makes a statement," Rico pondered aloud. "I dunno... maybe he'll even drop in here after a while."
"If the streets are safe," Henry murmured, glancing at Daws. "After what we were discussing, I'm a little worried about some of you--ah--obviously unique guests getting home alright."
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Post by skybright on Jul 5, 2007 23:55:07 GMT -5
Daws smiled crookedly at him. "I appreciate the concern -- I really do. But all the same," she tipped her head slightly in Tiernan's direction, "I think I'll get home just fine on my own."
The last thing we need tonight is Tiernan getting any more suspicious about my relation to you or Sid.
She glanced up at the screen again, just as one of the reporters was saying " -- Going now to our live feed for Mister Cole's acceptance speech."
Daws chuckled. "Well, there y'go. He's been mayor for five minutes and he's already got speeches to make."
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