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Post by Jordanna on Jan 11, 2009 0:44:28 GMT -5
"Okay." Proteus gently but firmly closed his fingers over hers. "Just relax."
He changed his form then, taking on the features of a man who was a little younger, but quite nondescript: a bland face, brown hair and eyes, a build on the unhandsome side of average.
And as he changed, to a lesser degree, so did Steph.
Her pretty face became plainer and just a bit older, her red hair turning a mousy brown, as Proteus worked his power on the cells of her body. He chose not to alter her petite figure; he knew what he was doing was already causing her enough of a strange sensation, and he didn't want to frighten her any further. But it was enough to change her from a very attractive girl into a rather dull-looking woman who would barely be noticed at a glance.
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Post by skybright on Jan 11, 2009 0:53:08 GMT -5
Steph caught her breath as Proteus' face and body changed, and once the transformation was complete she cautiously put her free hand up to tug at a lock of her now-brown hair, examining it with a faintly astonished expression.
"Wow." She murmured, glancing down at their joined hands.
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 11, 2009 23:34:09 GMT -5
Proteus let out a breath that came suspiciously close to being a sigh of relief, and gave Steph a thin smile. "Thanks for not being frightened. And don't worry--it'll only last as long as we're touching."
He frowned and glanced out toward the street. "We've gotta hurry. Changing someone else costs me a lot of effort."
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 0:13:43 GMT -5
Steph nodded in understanding. "Okay."
She spared a brief, fretful glance towards the ruined clinic as the pair of them stepped out into the street; then she turned to Proteus. "Where to now?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 0:19:27 GMT -5
"A phone, if we can find one." Proteus frowned. "My friends might have moved Beaudry since I left them this morning. I've gotta find out before I'll be sure where to go."
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 0:24:32 GMT -5
Steph nodded. "There's a convenience store in the next street," She said, "I think they've got a pay phone."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 0:38:13 GMT -5
"Trouble is, I'm not exactly carrying any money," Proteus replied, with a slightly pained grin. "I've still got a trick or two that might work it, though."
Two minutes later, they had reached the convenience store, and the battered pay phone mounted outside its front door. Still holding Steph's hand, Proteus picked up the receiver and cradled it against his shoulder, then frowned in concentration and pressed his fingertips against the coin slot. After a moment he was rewarded with an acknowledging click, and drew back his hand, flexing his fingers with a grimace--the mechanism had pinched him unpleasantly when he tricked it into registering the drop of a coin.
He shot a reassuring look at Steph, then quickly dialed the number of Regina Dawson's office.
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 0:48:05 GMT -5
After a few rings, the call went through, and Daws' voice answered. "Grimalkin Investigations. What can we do for you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 0:53:56 GMT -5
"Miss Dawson." Proteus smiled wearily. "I'm glad I caught you. I don't know if you've heard any news--but my business today got complicated."
He breathed deeply. "I need to know if our friends have moved since this morning. I'm... not perfectly well right now."
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 1:05:09 GMT -5
"I see." Daws' concerned frown was almost audible. "No, they haven't moved, so far as I know. But my office is probably closer, if you don't think you can make it to Queens."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 23:02:38 GMT -5
"That's okay with me. You might let that boyfriend of yours know I'm coming around, too." Proteus paused, glancing at Steph. "And you'd better warn him I won't be alone. I ran into... a friend."
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 23:36:38 GMT -5
"Okay." Daws replied, "I'll give him a call and let him know you're on your way here. You and that 'friend' be careful."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 23:40:52 GMT -5
"Always," Proteus replied, and hung up.
He turned to Steph. "Under the circumstances, it's a little far to where Beaudry is--but I'm going somewhere closer to meet with a couple of those friends of mine." He studied her eyes gravely. "Do you still want to go that far?"
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2009 23:47:26 GMT -5
Steph nodded hesitantly. "I . . . yes. If nothing else," She smiled thinly and gestured to his injured head, "I at least want to make sure you make it to your friends alright."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2009 23:52:59 GMT -5
Giving Steph a gentle look, Proteus squeezed her hand more tightly.
"Okay, then... let's go."
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