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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 21:39:32 GMT -5
The parish gym at Our Lady of Refuge was a big, drafty building with well-worn wooden bleachers and a hardwood playing floor that had seen more action than some battlefields. Several people of all ages, both genders and every place in the spectrum of mutant appearances milled around the basketball court: most were dressed in gym clothes, but a few onlookers and friends also perched on the bleachers. At one end of the room a trio of ten-year-olds from the local girl scout troop were peddling boxes of cookies, candy bars and sodas from a battered cooler.
Regina Dawson was perched at the far end of the bleachers from the rest of the room's occupants, twirling her fedora idly in her hands and observing the crowd as she finished quietly outlining her recent adventures to Father Rick.
The priest, who had a baseball cap with Referee lettered on it perched on top of his bald head, gave a brief laugh of amazement as Daws finished her narrative. "You just can't stay out of trouble, can you, Daws?" He asked, crossing his arms.
Daws held her hands out in a gesture of mock-protest. "Hey, Padre, I don't start the trouble -- I just seem to keep getting caught up in it, that's all."
"Well, I hope you're not laboring under the delusion that I'm going to let you play with your ribs broken," The priest said sternly. Then, lowering his voice, he added "And I hope you're right about Tiernan believing your alibi."
"I'm sure I am," Daws murmured. Glancing down to the far end of the gym, she suddenly straightened and raised her eyebrows as she caught sight of a familiar thatch of red hair . . .
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2006 21:55:46 GMT -5
Joey Falco looked around shyly as he wandered into the gym at Our Lady of Refuge. He was used to being around a lot of other mutants--but not ones his own age or younger. It was almost strange to see people like himself laughing and playing.
His eyebrows raised when his wandering gaze caught sight of a familiar trenchcoat. He hadn't expected to find Daws there at the same time he happened to visit. With a broad smile and a wave, he ambled toward her.
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 22:02:06 GMT -5
Daws waved and grinned back as Joey crossed the gym. The Padre watched the boy approach with his rear eyes, giving Daws a somewhat quizzical look as he did so.
As the teenager loped over, Daws stood (a little stiffly, owing to her still-tender ribs) and said brightly "Good t'see ya, kid!"
To Father Rick, she added "Padre, this's Joey Falco -- a friend of mine."
The priest turned to face the new arrival and nodded in greeting. "Father Rick Steele -- but most everyone calls me 'Padre'." He held his hand out to the teenager. "You play?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2006 22:09:25 GMT -5
Joey grinned. "You bet I do, sir! I never have anyone to play with--in my neighborhood, so Daws invited me to come here."
He tilted his head toward the noisy youths chasing the ball around the court. "Do they play with powers, or without?"
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 22:22:27 GMT -5
Father Rick laughed. "Even two tours with the Marine Corps didn't make me tough enough to convince these kids to play without powers." He slapped Joey jovially on the shoulder and motioned towards the group. "C'mon, let's get started, and I'll explain the rules."
He nodded sternly at Daws. "You stay put. You're benched on medical causes until further notice."
The detective snapped off a mock salute and sat back down. "Yessir."
As Padre led the red-headed boy towards the rest of the group, he asked casually "So, Joey, whereabouts do you live, anyway?"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2006 22:25:31 GMT -5
Joey hesitated. "Oh, I... I live uptown. But it's only because I've got a place to stay where I work. Otherwise I'd be closer to my mom in Brooklyn." He shrugged.
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 22:37:37 GMT -5
Padre nodded as they reached the edge of the milling group of athletes, some of whom called out jovial greetings to the priest. He put two fingers to his lips and let out a shrill whistle -- which brought an instant, attentive silence to the crowd.
"All right, everyone, let's get things started." The Padre glanced around and nodded, "We've got a couple new faces, so I'll go over the rules.
"Two teams, equal numbers. Everyone plays." He scanned the crowd for a moment and then gestured at two older teenagers. "Steven and Lucy, you're team captains today.
"All powers are OK for play. Those of ya who can fly," He shot a significant glance at a tall, slender girl behind him, "Feet haveta be on the court for at least half the game, or you're out."
The priest looked sternly at the entire crowd. "Powers used against another player -- first time it's an automatic foul. Second time, and you're outta the game.
"Anything else goes." He began pointing at people, numbering them off into two teams. Once they'd broken up he took off his cap and announced
"All right, let's play some ball. And remember --" He gestured at his four eyes, "You're not gettin' anything past this referee!"
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2006 22:47:45 GMT -5
Joey grinned and threw himself (almost literally) into the game. It had been a long time since he'd played with more than one other person, and he was reminded how hard it was to keep from colliding with other players as he bounced around. It was a little strange to be openly using his powers in a game, instead of trying to restrain them as he had with his old schoolmates, but he was glad to have an even playing field for once.
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 22:57:29 GMT -5
Daws watched with amusement as the first half of the game went by; it was nice to see Joey looking like he was having a good time.
Padre, of course, was enjoying himself tremendously; the man, Daws reflected wryly, was born to holler orders at people.
When halftime rolled around, Daws bought two bottles of water from the girl scouts and ambled over to the benches to offer one to Joey. She grinned at the teenager.
"You weren't jokin' -- you are good at this game."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 18, 2006 23:10:42 GMT -5
Joey grinned and shrugged. "I can't really help it, can I? Thanks," he added as he accepted the water. "It's great to be playing again. I'll sure keep coming back for this."
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Post by skybright on Apr 18, 2006 23:21:49 GMT -5
"Glad t'hear it." Daws replied.
Padre's whistle once again split the air. "All right, everyone, break's over!"
As the red-headed teenager and his teammates bounded back onto the court, Padre ambled over and stood next to Daws, raising an eyebrow quizically. "So tell me," He asked, as he turned to face the court (keeping his rear eyes on Daws) "Where'd you find our new player?"
Daws made a displeased face and glanced around to make sure nobody else was listening in before replying "In the basement at Tiernan Enterprises."
"That so?" Father Rick kept his voice carefully neutral. "And exactly what is it he was doing there?"
"He works for Tiernan," Daws sighed, watching the game. "He's just an errand boy -- pretty low-rung, from what I can figure out."
"Ah." Padre raised his voice briefly to bellow "Jenner, you watch what you're doin' -- the parish can't afford to replace those lights!" Then, to Daws, "And you're trying to pull him back from the dark side?"
Daws made a noncomittal noise in the back of her throat. "It just didn't strike me right, a nice kid like him cooped up with nothin' but Tiernan and his goons." She scratched behind her ear and added softly "It coulda been me, y'know, Padre-- if Jack hadn't found me."
Padre blinked in agreement, adding quietly "And there, but for the grace of God, go any of us." He cleared his throat and added "So long as he doesn't see or hear anything he shouldn't . . . . or at least, as long as he doesn't decide to tell Tiernan if he does."
Daws chuckled. "From your mouth t'God's ears, Padre."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2006 20:48:32 GMT -5
When the game was over, a grinning Joey loped off the court, receiving a number of congratulatory slaps on the back. The exercise had worked up a healthy ache in his muscles, but his team had won.
He glanced at his watch as he ambled back toward Daws. "I've gotta get back to the office in about an hour. Uh... the Boss needs me for an errand this afternoon."
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Post by skybright on Apr 19, 2006 21:19:31 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I'm glad you came down, Joey." She gestured at a few of the youth who had played on Joey's team and added "Looks like Jenner's glad, too. His sister gives him no end of grief when her team wins -- which is most of the time."
She grinned and patted the teen's shoulder. "I'll see ya around, kid. Take care of yourself."
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Post by Jordanna on Apr 19, 2006 21:37:09 GMT -5
"You too," Joey replied. "I guess I'll see you here or at work. 'Til later."
As he slowly wandered out of the gym--pausing to buy a candy bar from one of the girls selling cookies--he pondered again the coincidence of meeting Daws there. He wondered how anyone who worked for Nick Tiernan got to be friends with a priest.
Maybe the things he does really don't matter to anybody like us, he mused, feeling the twinge of regret that usually kept him from thinking about such things.
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