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Post by Jordanna on Nov 2, 2008 23:49:21 GMT -5
Bright and early in the morning, Nate drove Proteus from the Valiant Motel to the city, delivering him a few blocks away from the ersatz research clinic. Now wearing the form of Quentin Beaudry, the shapeshifter boldly walked in the front door, using a key the real Beaudry had supplied to unlock it.
The front waiting room and reception area looked like something out of any doctor's office--and at the moment, they were deserted. Proteus interestedly sidled toward the hallway that he presumed led back to the exam rooms.
"G' morning," he called out experimentally, in case any of Beaudry's coworkers--real or fictional--had arrived ahead of him.
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Post by skybright on Nov 2, 2008 23:56:34 GMT -5
At Proteus' call, a petite young woman with her red hair pulled back in a tight bun stuck her head out of the first door down the hallway, waving vaguely.
"Good morning." She said, disappearing back into the doorway. "I've got the coffee started."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 3, 2008 23:18:11 GMT -5
From the bits of somewhat jumbled information he had gotten from Beaudry about the clinic's employees, Proteus thought the woman was another one of the hired actors. He sincerely hoped he was right as he walked into the room where she was--and he found himself wishing he'd asked how Beaudry took his coffee.
"I already had some coffee on the way," he improvised. "Didn't sleep too well... Any of the slave drivers around yet?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 3, 2008 23:23:39 GMT -5
The redhead shook her head. "Just us." She raised an eyebrow at him. "That MCF thing still has you pretty rattled, huh?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 3, 2008 23:48:58 GMT -5
"Uh... well, yeah. I guess so." Proteus affected a timorous grin. "This kind of thing isn't exactly just a bad review from a critic."
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Post by skybright on Nov 3, 2008 23:56:53 GMT -5
She smiled faintly. "Yeah, I guess not." She shrugged and spooned powdered creamer into her coffee. "Well, the cleanup crew is supposed to finish up this morning. I guess it'll be a little less jarring without the red paint across all the windows, anyway."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 4, 2008 0:02:51 GMT -5
"Here's hoping nothing else happens," Proteus said sincerely. As a subtle probe, he added, "I hope the cops are still keeping a close eye on this place. I'll feel a little better with them around, anyway."
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Post by skybright on Nov 4, 2008 0:12:18 GMT -5
"Really?" She cocked an eyebrow at him slightly. "I guess you're probably right. But as antsy as Dr. Clark and that Voegel guy seemed when the cops were taking notes, I just hope they keep their distance. Those two are jumpy enough as it is."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 4, 2008 23:41:56 GMT -5
Proteus took note of the names, and shrugged.
"Well, they oughta feel better when this place opens up, and they start seeing people's lives made better with their mutant cure... right?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 4, 2008 23:48:39 GMT -5
The girl wrinkled her nose. "You know Voegel -- I don't think he really cares about anything but his test tubes. More likely they'll be happy once they don't have you-know-who breathing down their necks."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 4, 2008 23:58:24 GMT -5
"Eh... yeah," Proteus murmured, rubbing the back of his neck; he could guess who the girl was referring to. "He's not alone there."
He frowned. "I can't figure it. If he thinks it's such a great idea to cure mutation... have you wondered why he hasn't used it himself?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 5, 2008 0:03:50 GMT -5
Her eyes widened slightly, and she shifted position slightly to glance out the door of the small kitchen. Then she turned back to Proteus.
"So it's not just me . . . you think he's a mutie, too?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 5, 2008 23:32:30 GMT -5
Proteus imitated her glance toward the hallway, then looked back at her and nodded gravely.
"I'm dead sure of it."
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Post by skybright on Nov 5, 2008 23:55:44 GMT -5
"Well I guess it'd explain why he gives me the willies." She said, stirring her coffee thoughtfully. "I dunno why he wouldn't dose himself, though. Maybe he's waiting to see if the trial proves it's safe."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2008 23:04:25 GMT -5
"That could be it, I guess." Proteus smiled wanly. "Maybe I've watched too many old movies, but I thought scientists were supposed to be those brave, noble explorers who'd try something out on themselves first, before they risked it on anybody else."
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2008 23:16:55 GMT -5
She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, right. I can't picture these scientists doing anything like that." She paused thoughtfully and added "Well . . . maybe Doctor Cohen, I guess. He really seems excited about getting some actual patients to help out."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2008 23:38:02 GMT -5
Proteus raised an eyebrow at that. If there was a doctor involved who sincerely wanted to help people, the resistance would have to consider whether he was innocent of the clinic's real purpose--and quite possibly protect him as well as the playactors.
"Yeah, maybe. I think I'd kinda like to know more about what he thinks."
The shapeshifter regarded the young woman, and decided to risk fishing for a name--one that might not be her real one, but would at least give him an identification.
"Always did get jumpy the closer it got to showtime--I guess the nerves really are settling in." He grinned feebly at the her. "I'm not quite sure I remember how to spell the name you're using..."
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Post by skybright on Nov 6, 2008 23:51:40 GMT -5
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "A-n-d-r-u-s-s." She rattled off. "I think it's silly to spell it that way when it's pronounced 'Andrews', but I guess I didn't write the character sheet, right?" She smiled thinly. "At least the 'Susan' part is easy."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 6, 2008 23:57:41 GMT -5
"Yeah..." Proteus chuckled thinly. "I keep forgetting to leave the 'GH' out of 'Strait', too. This media-relations stuff they've got me doing isn't exactly method acting--I feel more like a glorified secretary."
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Post by skybright on Nov 7, 2008 0:03:52 GMT -5
'Susan' laughed brightly. "How do you think I feel? I am the glorified secretary." She put one hand on her hip and cocked her head slightly, pitching her voice into a too-cheerful imitation. "Good morning, how can I direct your call?"
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