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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 23:03:53 GMT -5
"I appreciate that," Henry said. "I know Miriam's restless. She keeps busy helping to care for Sid's children, but she can hardly leave the house without worrying that someone will see her and remember her picture on the news. I don't know what 'misplacing' the case file would do for that, but... at least it's something."
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Post by skybright on Jul 7, 2007 23:15:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "It can't hurt.
"Of course," She added, glancing around the room in search of Tiernan, "It won't do any good with her other problem."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 23:28:02 GMT -5
"At least she's not alone in that problem," Henry murmured. "Major Vance must have to be just as cautious about not being sighted by Tiernan's lackeys. In fact..." He frowned. "Considering they could be anywhere, I suppose he really doesn't have much more freedom than Miriam does."
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Post by skybright on Jul 7, 2007 23:33:41 GMT -5
"Maybe even a bit less, at the moment." Daws agreed. "It hasn't been all that long since . . . y'know. I imagine the Bat's still pretty hot about it."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 7, 2007 23:55:14 GMT -5
"That reminds me... I'd forgotten about his ex-wife," Henry recalled. "Did you manage to settle her quietly somewhere?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 0:06:02 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Yeah, Jai set her up with tickets and a place to live in England -- in the south somewhere. I guess she had some money of her own to get by on -- she wouldn't take me up on that offer." Her expression hardened subtly. "She's . . . quite a piece of work, that one."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 0:12:00 GMT -5
"I noticed that." Henry shook his head. "I suppose she never asked for any of what happened--and to hear Vance tell it, he takes a bit of the responsibility. Still... I didn't exactly find her charming."
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 0:18:02 GMT -5
"You or me either." Daws shook her head. "I'll admit, I almost lost my temper with her a couple of times. I kept from telling her what I thought, barely -- didn't want her to get huffy and decide to take her chances without our help. I don't exactly care for her, but I still wouldn't want Tiernan getting ahold of her."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 0:23:20 GMT -5
"Her or anyone else," Henry sighed, and rested his chin on his hand. "I'll admit it. When he was sitting beside me, I couldn't help thinking that someone--anyone--who was as close to him as I was then, even for a moment, could end all of this."
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 0:34:33 GMT -5
"I know." Daws sighed, examining the tabletop. "I think that a lot -- practically every time I wind up in his office. And sometimes I wonder if it'd be worth trying it . . ." She shook her head and let the thought trail off.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 0:46:52 GMT -5
"Do you really suppose his death could start something worse than what he's created on his own?" Henry asked gravely.
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 0:58:05 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "I don't know, Henry. Sometimes I think it'd be worth it to see. Other times . . ." She glanced up at the screens above the stage, which were now showing a barfight which had spilled out onto the sidewalk in a midtown neighborhood. " Other times I think no matter which way we play it, we're going to end up with a war on our hands -- an out-and-out one, I mean."
She smiled halfheartedly and glanced at the older man. "I try not to think that way too often."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 1:11:39 GMT -5
"It's strange," Henry mused. "Before all this started--even after I became friends with Miriam--I never gave much thought to the strain between mutants and humans. It was hard not to see that she was always on the verge of a personal disaster, if she was found out... but I never stopped to look at the broader picture. I always thought it would work itself out somehow."
He smiled thinly at Daws. "I suppose not even having a mutant as a friend is enough to teach us norms not to be naive."
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 1:21:30 GMT -5
Daws shook her head, smiling faintly. "It's not just you, Henry. Something like this is always easier to overlook -- until it simmers up and threatens to burn you."
She shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "I dunno. I really do think there's more guys like you and Sid in the world than there are guys like Tiernan. The ugly ones are just louder." Her gaze wandered back to the screen. "Maybe this will be enough to make the good guys wake up and start making some noise of their own."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 22:13:39 GMT -5
"I hope so." Henry sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin wearily. "Too many mutants who didn't die of old age have passed through my doors."
At that moment Sid sauntered over, glancing around cautiously for anyone watching his movements in particular.
"The bat's left," he murmured. "I guess he wasn't likin' being in a crowd."
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 22:19:21 GMT -5
"Good riddance." Daws said vehemently. "I hope I didn't put you too off balance, butting in like I did."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 22:43:46 GMT -5
Sid shook his head firmly. "Heck no. I 'preciated it. I was gonna start feelin' sick if I had ta look at his face much longer, smilin' like I don't know..." He concluded with a disgusted noise and a wave of his hand.
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 22:53:29 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daws nodded in sympathy, then turned her head as a small commotion near the door caught her attention.
The commotion gradually resolved itself into applause as James Marcus Cole -- accompanied by a small retinue of bodyguards and staffers -- entered the room.
Daws grinned crookedly and inclined her head in Cole's direction. "Well, well. Look who decided to put in an appearance."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 8, 2007 22:59:53 GMT -5
"Oops," Sid muttered, wide-eyed, and scrambled to meet the guest of honor.
Henry raised an eyebrow. "I didn't really expect him to turn up. Tiernan will be disappointed at having missed him."
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Post by skybright on Jul 8, 2007 23:05:53 GMT -5
Daws made a faint, almost affectionate scoffing noise. "He may be on our side, but he's still a politician, Henry -- can't imagine one of them passing up a photo op."
She scowled briefly. "As for Tiernan . . . he'll have his shot. More's the pity."
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