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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 0:02:48 GMT -5
Henry gave a subdued chuckle. He had understood the look Daws sent him. The thought had occurred to him as well, and he had dismissed any thought of offering her a ride home--but he was concerned, all the same.
Rico grinned as the new mayor-elect appeared on the screen. "Man, I sure wouldn't look that happy if I was in his shoes."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 0:16:49 GMT -5
Cole did, in fact, look happy -- the expression of flushed enthusiasm made his already-youthful looks seem almost boyish as he stepped up to the podium in what looked like a small conference room and gestured for quiet.
"Friends," his gaze moved from the reporters directly to the cameras, "Fellow New Yorkers -- it is with real gratitude and pride that I accept the position of mayor of this great City." A small wave of applause onscreen, which set off a matching one in the Paragon ballroom.
"It is my sincere hope," Cole continued, "That this administration will serve, not to alienate anyone, but to embrace all New Yorkers. To work for better schools, better law enforcement, and more reasonable taxes, for safer streets, more prosperous business -- and most of all, for a New York which is dedicated to the ideas of social justice and basic rights.
"I firmly believe that this City is the greatest city on earth," Cole smiled smoothly, "And as its Mayor, I will be committed to making life in it great for all of its citizens. Thank you."
Flashbulbs went off onscreen and reporters clamored with questions as another wave of applause, louder and more boisterous this time, swept the ballroom.
Daws grinned wryly at Henry as she applauded. "Well . . . he knows how to make a speech."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 0:21:01 GMT -5
"I just hope he knows how and when to duck," Henry murmured.
Rico was grinning now, his enthusiasm recaptured by the speech from the man he had placed his faith in. "This is awesome. I hope I can still be a part of what he's going to do here."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 0:26:32 GMT -5
Daws smiled at him -- the enthusiasm in the room was infectious, even with the burden of additional knowledge which she and Henry shared. "I hope you can, too. Like I said -- he's gonna need all the good men he can get on his side." She chuckled. "Our side, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 21:51:27 GMT -5
With the official results in, Foxy and Grace had trotted back onto the stage to perform a victory number with a World War II theme.
"I sure hope so," Rico answered Daws. Then he bounded up athletically from his chair. "Mister Koopman was around here somewhere, wasn't he? I think I'm gonna go talk with him now. See ya later, huh?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 22:07:08 GMT -5
"Sure," Daws nodded. "Nice to see ya again."
As Rico made his way away from the table, Daws let out a relieved sigh and glanced at Henry. "I think I'm getting too old for this subterfuge thing."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 22:33:42 GMT -5
"I was born too old for it," Henry answered, with a shake of his head and a smile of pure nervous tension. "I don't know how you make a life's work out of business like that."
He sobered and cast a glance over the crowd, but did not immediately spot Tiernan. "So what happened with Tiernan and Sid? I lost sight of you. Everything alright?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 22:50:11 GMT -5
Daws shrugged one shoulder. "Sorta. I managed to barge in with a line about looking for an embezzler and gave Sid time to think of an excuse to get out of Tiernan's path."
She gave a frustrated sigh and drummed her fingers on the tabletop. "I'll be honest, Henry -- I'm worried." She said quietly. "This whole thing with Sid buying Lusus Naturae is just a powderkeg. With me, Sid, and Tiernan ending up in the same place all the time -- I keep gettin' this ugly feeling that something will tip Tiernan off. And if that happens . . . " She shrugged violently, leaving that unpleasant thought unfinished.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 22:59:16 GMT -5
Henry frowned. "The only solution I can see is to get whatever adjustments we're making to Lusus Naturae out of the way as quickly as possible. Then Sid can step back from it while a few trustworthy mutants take on the visible management roles. The sooner that can be done, the better we'll all feel, I'm sure."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 23:08:48 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "No doubt." She pushed her fedora back. "I think it'll help if I'm careful about how much I'm around for a bit. Give Tiernan a chance to get other things on his mind besides suspicions about who I associate with."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 23:19:04 GMT -5
"I can understand that. Besides, it sounds as if Tiernan intends to keep you busy watching Cole for a bit." Henry frowned. "Frankly, I'm far more worried about Tiernan catching onto Cole's connection to us--or even the fact of his... certain talents."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 23:21:59 GMT -5
Daws shivered. "It'd be the end of him if Tiernan did." She said quietly. "But I suppose if he's managed to keep it away from the press and the public for as long as he has, he can manage to keep it away from Tiernan."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 6, 2007 23:48:06 GMT -5
"I certainly hope so. I suppose Tiernan doesn't have any other telepaths around who could tell about Cole..." Henry grimaced slightly. "No one who could read thoughts could possibly play along with Nocturne voluntarily."
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Post by skybright on Jul 6, 2007 23:52:49 GMT -5
"Not unless they're the kind of crazy that I really, sincerely hope doesn't exist." Daws replied, with a faint shudder.
"Anyway, I'll do what I can to help Cole out." She gave a crooked, humorless smile. "He'll need all the help he can get. I just hope my loud thinking won't make it too tough for him to focus on Tiernan." Daws chuckled dryly. "If I could figure out how to think any quieter, I'd do it."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 0:13:05 GMT -5
"Don't ask me. I can't even imagine how telepathy works." Henry smiled ruefully, then glanced up at the now-ignored big screen. The newscast had shifted to showing the first restless hint of a brewing reaction to Cole's victory; a group of young punks had set fire to a trash can in Times Square.
Henry glanced at Daws. "I don't like this. Even if there isn't a real anti-mutant backlash now, there are are some hooligans who will take any excuse to make trouble. I know I can't offer to take you home, but seriously... do you think you and some of the others here will be alright?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 7, 2007 0:22:58 GMT -5
Daws glanced around the room and then back with a grim look. "I don't know about the rest of these people, but most've them came in groups -- there's safety in numbers."
She shrugged. "As for me, I know a thing or two about getting from here to my place without being spotted -- I've done it enough times, which I guess I have to thank Tiernan for.
"And barring that," She unsheathed the claws of her left hand and tugged on the lapel of her coat -- just enough to reveal the shoulder holster beneath it."I'm not exactly going out unarmed."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 20:36:23 GMT -5
"I'm glad to know that," Henry said with a slight smile. "And I'm glad Sid is our host tonight--it would have been embarrassing if anyone had searched you on the way in."
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Post by skybright on Jul 7, 2007 22:08:25 GMT -5
Daws feigned a surprised look. "What, do you mean that all small-time newspaper reporters aren't allowed to wander around with guns under their coats?" She grinned crookedly and readjusted her coat. "Well, I suppose that's something I should keep in mind."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 22:39:24 GMT -5
Henry chuckled. "Sometimes I think it isn't a wonder the police don't like you."
Then he sobered, prodding thoughtfully at the ice in his water glass. "I wonder what comes next--what Cole can realistically do to help us fight Tiernan. Especially when he's more than a little bit under Tiernan's thumb."
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Post by skybright on Jul 7, 2007 22:57:03 GMT -5
Daws shook her head slowly. "That, I don't know. Information, I suppose -- that's still our best weapon against Tiernan."
She frowned thoughtfully. "I'm gonna ask him about doing all he can to see that Miriam's case gets shuffled out of the top-priority cases. See if that won't give her a little breathing room."
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