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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 1:54:25 GMT -5
Daws stared at him for a brief moment -- and then broke out laughing. "Yeah, of course I'll stay for dinner, Foxy." She grinned slyly and added "A stray never turns down a free meal."
She hopped down from the bar stool. "Y'need help setting the table or something?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 2:08:37 GMT -5
"Nah, that's what the kids are for," Sid replied good-humoredly, and leaned around the kitchen doorway to call out to his children in the living room. "Okay, come get ready for dinner, guys!"
The three children trooped noisily through the kitchen and into the dining room, collecting plates and silverware on the way. Sid grinned smugly and gestured Daws toward the dining room with a flourish. Alex and Miriam followed, carrying the serving dishes.
As the group seated themselves and Alex began serving up the casserole, the two younger children could not disguise their youthful fascination with Daws. They peered at her curiously--making a genuine effort not to appear as if they were staring, but it could hardly be helped.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 2:15:50 GMT -5
Daws was used to being an object of fascination for young kids -- one five-year-old at Our Lady refused to call her anything but "Kitty", much to his mother's mortification.
She helped herself to a serving of green beans, made a faux-disgusted face, and leaned over to Caleb. "Does Alex always make you eat these things?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 2:23:31 GMT -5
Caleb grinned. "Oh, it's okay when he makes it. He knows how to put seasoners on things so even vegetables don't taste bad."
Alex poured himself a glass of water, blushing in a dignified manner, and said nothing.
"What's it like to have a tail?" Holly asked abruptly.
"Holly!" Tara hissed.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 2:28:20 GMT -5
Daws smiled and shrugged. "Kind of annoyin', actually. The first six months after I manifested -- turned into a mutant -- I kept forgetting I had it, so I'd shut it in doors a lot. I got used to it, eventually, but it still gets in my way sometimes." She took a drink of water and added "It does make my sense of balance a lot better, though."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 2:32:57 GMT -5
"Tara says we're gonna turn into mutants like her when we get older," Caleb said matter-of-factly.
"I did not!" Tara protested.
"You did," Holly seconded, looking unhappy. "I don't wanna be a mutant... but if I havta be, I wanna have wings."
Sid had long since dropped his face into his hand. Miriam smiled sadly at the children, and Alex looked uncomfortable.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 2:43:44 GMT -5
Daws took a quick survey of the other adults at the table, raised one eyebrow, and smiled gently at the kids.
"One of my really good friends has wings, Holly." She said, "He's got a job as a courier -- delivering things for businesses. But he's got the same problem I do with my tail -- they get in his way sometimes."
She set her fork down and glanced at Caleb, then at Holly. "It's possible that you guys may become mutants, sure -- like me and Tara. It's also possible that you won't. I don't really get the science behind it, but . . ." She shrugged.
"I know you guys have heard this from your dad -- because he's a good guy, who's taught you right -- but it's nothin' to be scared or ashamed of, being a mutant. It's just part of how some people are made."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 2:56:33 GMT -5
"I'm not scared," Caleb replied proudly, and Holly stuck her tongue out at him.
"Hey, now, you know better'n that," Sid warned his younger daughter. With a hapless sigh and a shrug, he looked up at Daws. "Kids. Eh, we're all doin' okay, but..." Another shrug, and he smiled sadly. "It ain't easy now. Ya know what I mean."
The remark passed over Holly and Caleb's heads, but Tara picked up his meaning, and leaned over to briefly rest her head on his shoulder. "You're the best dad ever."
Sid sniffed just a little and patted her arm, not even trying to reply to that in words.
Alex cleared his throat slightly and glanced at Daws. "We've been talking about going out to this lakefront place a friend of Sid's has in Connecticut, this weekend. It'll be a chance for Tara to... you know, practice... and... just a nice way to get away for a couple days." He shrugged. "Maybe you could drop in, if, uh--if you don't have to do anything for your boss."
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 3:05:35 GMT -5
Daws smiled and nodded. "I'd like that. I'll see how it goes with this new . . . assignment I've got." She shrugged and added "This fella's supposed to have some family Upstate, so I may be investin' in a train ticket this week, anyway."
Then, remembering that there were young -- and blissfully ignorant -- ears at the table, she quickly added "Would you pass the salt, Tara?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 3:08:58 GMT -5
Tara handed across the salt shaker as requested.
"Do you swim, Miss Dawson?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 3:14:03 GMT -5
Daws raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "I don't know how. I grew up in a neighborhood with nowhere to learn, and after I manifested," She shrugged, "It just went on that list of things I never got around to."
She sobered, remembering the near-disastrous incident at the river last night, and added quietly "But it might be high time I did."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 3:19:15 GMT -5
Tara grinned. "Well, if you come up to the lake this weekend, maybe I could teach you. I mean, it's really different for me now that--you know--but I was already on the swim team at school before that."
Sid grinned at Daws. "Looks like you're one of the family."
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 3:25:45 GMT -5
Daws raised her eyebrows at that -- and then grinned slowly in return. "Y'know, I like the sound of that. I really do."
Then she winked at Caleb and added "So long as it doesn't mean dish duty!"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 3:35:56 GMT -5
"Nah, it's Tara's turn for that," Caleb replied deviously. "Anyway, she likes the water!"
This time it was Tara who stuck her tongue out at her little brother--and by this point, Sid had given up protesting.
Miriam smiled at Daws. "There couldn't be a better family to have. I've found that out for myself. It could almost make what I've gone through worth it, if it weren't for... other people's sakes."
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 4:00:51 GMT -5
Daws smiled wryly and glanced down at her plate. "I sort of meant what I said about bein' a stray," she admitted softly. "I haven't got a whole lot of experience with bein' part of a family."
Then her grin resurfaced, and she added "But this one's definitely the one I'd have picked."
The rest of supper passed quickly; afterwards, Sid and Alex got ready to depart for the Paragon while Tara and Holly (who was drying this evening) headed for the kitchen. Daws said her goodbyes in the midst of what sounded like a dish-suds fight between the sisters, and slipped out just as Sid intervened.
Tomorrow morning she'd call Joey Falco and have him tag along with her to Cole's campaign headquarters: it'd give the kid some experience, and Daws a chance to make sure he was recovering from his somewhat jarring introduction to the resistance.
She couldn't help grinning as she headed for the nearby transit station; it was going to be good to work on some straightforward private eyeing for a change.
Yeah,She thought wryly, Even if it is wading around in political muck. Like I said, Ace -- it still beats dodging Tiernan's questions about the Doc.
That sobered her somewhat; as she slipped onto the train and took an empty seat, she offered up a quick but sincere prayer for Miriam's safety -- and the safety of all the people she'd just left.
They weren't through this yet.
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