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Post by skybright on Oct 31, 2007 22:50:37 GMT -5
Contacting the Spooks that had been suggested as candidates for employment at Lusus Naturae took a few days, but eventually they all agreed to meet with Sid and the others on Saturday morning at the parish.
Accordingly, Saturday morning Daws strolled up the front walk at Our Lady, and found Father Rick lounging on the front steps. "Bit late in the year for sunbathing, isn't it Padre?" She asked with a grin.
Father Rick rolled his eyes at her. "Figured I'd get some fresh air while I could. I'll be inside with confessions all day tomorrow -- Father Benson at the next parish over is out of town for the week."
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 31, 2007 23:00:42 GMT -5
"I've lost track of everything I've got to confess," drawled the voice of Jerod Vance, as the Major sauntered up the walk from the opposite direction.
"Alone at last," he said humorously, spreading his hands. "I finally convinced Nate and Handy to babysit each other. Guess they figured I couldn't get into too much trouble in church."
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Post by skybright on Oct 31, 2007 23:05:22 GMT -5
Padre chuckled heartily. "Well, they obviously just don't know you too well, eh, Boyo?"
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Post by Jordanna on Oct 31, 2007 23:12:14 GMT -5
"Call it a temporary lapse of judgment," Vance grinned crookedly, and glanced around. "No sign of Sidney yet, I see. Have any of the Spooks gotten here?"
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Post by skybright on Oct 31, 2007 23:18:36 GMT -5
Father Rick shook his head. "Not yet, no. They should be along before too long, though."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 21:18:31 GMT -5
Sid arrived a moment later, looking uncharacteristically businesslike, with a portfolio tucked under his arm. He grinned and waved to the group on the front steps.
"Hiya, guys. How's every little thing?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 21:51:30 GMT -5
"Oh, not too bad." Daws replied with a lopsided grin. "What about with you, Sid?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 22:09:43 GMT -5
Sid made a comical face. "Last night we had another one a' them rare times a mutant showed up at the Paragon. Things got just hilarious when the house lights went down an' he started glowin' in the dark."
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 22:15:26 GMT -5
Father Rick chuckled. "I don't imagine the other customers were quite expecting that."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 22:33:23 GMT -5
"No kiddin'." Sid shook his head. "Ya know I love your kinda folks, but... that kinda thing puts me in a rocky spot. It's normal people that pay the bills--an' pay fer my donations ta the cause. Don't help much when the customers get spooked."
Then he sighed, grinned, and shrugged. "That's why I'm hopin' I can make a decent joint outta Lusus. I want mutants ta have a quality place ta go fer a good time--without either makin' the big spenders uncomfortable or puttin' themselves in danger."
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 22:42:44 GMT -5
"If anyone can do it, it's you, Sid." Daws replied with an earnest grin. "Once we get some employees lined up, I'm sure the place will be the talk of this end of town."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 22:50:17 GMT -5
Sid half-grinned, but it faded into a slightly skeptical look. "Well, if any a' them would-be employees show up, anyway..."
Even as he was speaking, the furtive dark-haired figure of the Spook called Sham appeared. He came slouching up the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face.
"Uh-oh." Sid glanced at the others. "We're gettin' the fun part outta the way first, I guess."
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 22:52:52 GMT -5
Daws groaned slightly and rolled her eyes. "Padre, if you've got any prayers handy you might spare one on asking the Almighty to keep my mouth shut for me."
The priest snickered. "If ever a man asked for a miracle . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 23:08:24 GMT -5
"I met this guy when my own people tried to make contact with the Spooks," Vance muttered. "We'd have gotten further talking to the brick wall he was pretending to be when we showed up."
Sham moved purposefully up the walk to the group, and stopped in front of the welcoming committee, placing his hands on his hips.
"I've talked to Proteus," he said without preamble. "He told me I'm to look out for the other Spooks you rope into this, and that's what I'm here to do."
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 23:13:51 GMT -5
Father Rick nodded. "All right, then. We're interested in their welfare, too -- no objections to your looking out for that welfare."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 1, 2007 23:22:11 GMT -5
Sham peered suspiciously at Sid. "I'll tell you this up front. I don't like the idea of my people working for a norm."
Sid gazed back levelly. "My daughter's a mutant, pal. Nobody wants ta see your people done right more'n me."
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Post by skybright on Nov 1, 2007 23:24:46 GMT -5
"And there isn't a regular human in this city who'll work harder to do right by 'em, either." Daws interjected. "Sid'll put his money where his mouth is."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 2, 2007 21:57:46 GMT -5
Sham scowled dubiously. "We'll see."
"You talk to the other Spooks we asked here?" Vance asked, and Sham looked at him stonily.
"Not yet. Proteus did that himself."
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Post by skybright on Nov 2, 2007 22:23:51 GMT -5
Father Rick shrugged. "Well, I suppose they'll show up if they're interested. We can't force 'em to take the jobs, after all."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 2, 2007 22:50:41 GMT -5
After a few more uncomfortable minutes, a hulking figure muffled up in a trench coat and hat arrived--much to the protective alarm of Mike Whitebird. The two big men squared off challengingly for a moment, but the stranger finally gave in. He removed his hat, revealing a craggy white-furred face and projecting tusks.
Sham smiled crookedly. "Hiya, Tusker."
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