|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 17, 2008 22:12:01 GMT -5
Long experience had conditioned Proteus against showing any startled or guilty reaction. He simply paused and smiled thinly, lowering the handful of papers to his side in a natural way.
"Uh, no, I'm..." He chuckled. "I'm just trying to think up some tactful way to describe my 'current engagement'. I've got some paperwork to fill out for a talent agent--you know, getting ready for the next job search, like we talked about."
The shapeshifter shrugged and smiled a little more widely. "I guess I'd better make a few copies of the form first, in case I change my mind about whatever I end up writing."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 17, 2008 23:24:11 GMT -5
"Not a bad plan." Mike said affably, moving down the hallway towards the rear of the building. "Guess that means you'll be keeping me company for a bit, huh?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 17, 2008 23:29:12 GMT -5
Proteus winced internally, but his only visible reaction was a shrug and a grin. "I'll try not to be in the way..."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 17, 2008 23:34:42 GMT -5
"In the way of me playing solitaire?" Mike shot back with a grin, "Hardly."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 17, 2008 23:51:21 GMT -5
Somewhat baffled, Proteus shrugged again. Mike's words seemed to indicate that his station was somewhere around the copying machine--but not, apparently, to do anything important, at least at the present time.
"I never thought much of cards as a one-man game," he admitted honestly. "
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 18, 2008 0:00:07 GMT -5
"Well, I suppose we could make it a two-man game," Mike shot back over his shoulder as he turned into a room at the end of the hall, "If you really want to lose another fifty bucks."
The room proved to be equipped with both a Xerox machine and a desk -- with a game of solitaire already half-completed on top. Mike took a seat behind the desk and examined the cards. "Now, lemme see, where'd I leave off last night?"
He chuckled. "I can't say I'll be sorry when this place opens. I'm used to waiting offstage for my cue, but this is getting a little ridiculous."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 18, 2008 0:14:51 GMT -5
Proteus smiled--cards were one worldly pursuit he had a dangerous knack for, mostly acquired during Prohibition when he dallied in darker ideals. However, he wasn't sure whether he should make Beaudry out to be a cardsharp.
"Well, lemme get these copies out of the way," he began. "After I go fill 'em out and maybe make a couple calls, I might just take you up on it--if you promise to go easy on me. I'm just a starving artist."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 18, 2008 0:17:07 GMT -5
Mike looked up from his cards with a chuckle. "Aren't we all, pal, aren't we all."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 18, 2008 23:48:04 GMT -5
Casting a slight grin over his shoulder, Proteus moved to the copying machine--and for a brief, hesitating moment, he stared grimly at the array of colored buttons on the control panel. He hated modern technology for a reason.
Finally identifying what he gathered was the "start" button for a basic copy, he slid the first of the papers onto the machine, and sent up a tiny prayer as he pushed the button. The copier gave a gratifying beep, and its inner workings began to whir and bump busily.
After a moment, the copier spat a warm copy of the paper into its tray. Proteus swallowed back a sigh of relief, and quickly moved to repeat the process with the next note.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 18, 2008 23:53:12 GMT -5
Mike turned his attention to the game spread out in front of him, idly turning over cards and paying Proteus no mind.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 19, 2008 0:07:26 GMT -5
Proteus had reached the fourth of five papers when he encountered a new setback: the copier buzzed and balked, and the words no paper flashed on the small digital screen. He flinched and bit his lip, glancing over his shoulder at Mike, and then back at the machine.
Hesitantly he probed down the side of the copier, looking for the place where fresh paper was supposed to go. The first panel he pulled open proved to contain the ink cartridge. Finally he located the paper tray at the bottom of the machine; then he turned to the question of where extra paper was kept. He checked the shelf above the copier, the cabinet beside it, and the table across the room, but he came up with nothing.
At last he resigned himself to the fact that there was nothing to do but ask.
"Uh... Mike?" he spoke up cautiously. "You know where they stash the paper around here?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 19, 2008 0:39:17 GMT -5
Mike glanced up bemusedly from his card game, then pulled open the desk drawers and rummaged around for a moment.
At length he looked up and shrugged. "I dunno. Ask Steph, I guess. She'd probably know."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 19, 2008 22:32:12 GMT -5
Privately relieved, Proteus nodded. "Yeah, I guess so... thanks, I'll be back in a minute."
He took care to remove all of the copies and originals from the copier, then retreated from the room and made his way to the front desk.
"Uh, Steph? Do you know where there's extra paper for the copying machine around here?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 19, 2008 23:16:30 GMT -5
The redhead looked up from the magazine she had been idly leafing through. "Oh, uh, yeah." She bent down and pulled open one of the drawers of her desk. "There's a ream in here somewhere . . ."
At that moment there was the sound of a door opening down the hall, and a moment later Voegel emerged from the hallway. He shot a quick, unreadable look at Proteus as he moved to stand in front of the desk. "Steph, do you have those numbers Doctor Cohen left with you yesterday?"
Steph looked up from the desk drawer and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, sir, they're here somewhere . . . " She began thumbing through the papers on the desktop, frowning slightly.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 19, 2008 23:30:17 GMT -5
Proteus edged back half a step and eyed Voegel, casually but guardedly. He guessed "numbers" might mean phone numbers, and that piqued his curiosity.
"Something I can help with?" he asked after a brief moment.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2008 23:07:53 GMT -5
Voegel narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Proteus, and Steph shook her head. "Oh, no, I'm sure they're just . . . ah." She produced a pad of paper and tore off the top sheet, handing it to Voegel. "Here you go, sir."
"Thank you." Voegel folded the paper in half and left the reception area, shooting another quick glance at Proteus on his way out.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 20, 2008 23:23:07 GMT -5
Proteus grimaced slightly, then glanced back at Steph.
"Slip me the next sheet of paper on that notepad, will you?" he murmured.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2008 23:33:03 GMT -5
Steph frowned slightly and glanced at the hallway as if to make sure Voegel was really gone, then tore off the sheet and handed it to Proteus. "Here." She pulled open the desk drawer once more and resumed her search for extra copier paper.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Nov 20, 2008 23:43:53 GMT -5
"Thanks." Proteus gave the preoccupied girl an apologetic grin. "And don't worry. You just keep up that nice receptionist smile--I'll take care of myself alright."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Nov 20, 2008 23:49:21 GMT -5
Steph smiled crookedly at that and pushed a ream of paper across the desk toward him. "I certainly hope so.
|
|