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Post by skybright on Mar 7, 2007 1:16:23 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I can understand that. When I thought you were . . . That you might . . ." she broke off and shook her head. "Well, it made me look at things differently, that's for sure. It made me realize that life's too short to leave things unsaid."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 7, 2007 1:32:23 GMT -5
If it were possible, Vance's scarred and weathered face might have been blushing--just a little.
"Well, you know how to pick 'em," he said, with self-deprecating humor. "A two-bit Robin Hood commando with a cracked-up marriage, half a dozen failed 'respectable' jobs, and a history of arson behind him. You're a detective--you've still got a chance to detect what's good for you."
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Post by skybright on Mar 7, 2007 1:43:42 GMT -5
Daws stuck her tongue out at him. "So who says I haven't?"
She grinned and shook her head. "Besides, I'm not the only one of us who knows how to pick 'em. I'm insufferably nosy, too stubborn for my own good, emotionally clueless, and I'm pretty sure I haven't got a domestic bone in my body. Not to mention the fact that I've been known to shed on the furniture." She chuckled. "So it's not like you're getting the better end of the deal."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 7, 2007 1:53:08 GMT -5
Vance chuckled. "At least I'm not allergic to you like Foxy is. Sinus medication is sort of a spoiler for romance."
He sighed and leaned back slightly. "I guess we've still got some things to work out before I can take you on an official date. Have you heard any more from Cole about putting the screws to Tiernan?"
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Post by skybright on Mar 7, 2007 2:05:14 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "He's got an appointment with the bat to hit him up for a donation." She grinned wickedly. "I don't envy Cole the headache he'll get out of it -- but I'd love to see Tiernan weasel his way out of that one."
She took a few bites of her dinner and chewed thoughtfully. "And here's an interesting angle for ya -- Cole's been talking to a friend of his who works with the zoning commission. Apparently at least part of the property that Spooktown was built on doesn't have clear ownership established. Cole's pal thinks the Spooks might be able to qualify for squatter's rights. They're trying to read through the legal kinks -- " Daws shrugged, "But it might give 'em an option, anyhow. Of course, if the Spooks did own the land, they'd have to rebuild according to code -- and pay taxes on the property."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 7, 2007 20:57:57 GMT -5
"That'd also mean rebuilding practically under Tiernan's nose," Vance murmured. "I'm not sure that's the smartest idea in the world--although, knowing those stubborn lunatics, nothing'd keep 'em from it."
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Post by skybright on Mar 7, 2007 22:00:15 GMT -5
"You said it." Daws pulled a face. "I dunno about you, but I've about had my share of trying to argue the Spooks out of anything they feel like trying."
She shrugged. "Anyway, there's a lot of legal hoopla that'll need sorted out before they even know if that's actually an option. For now, they're still mostly focused on raising funds to help the Spooks out with whatever it is they end up doing."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 8, 2007 22:35:34 GMT -5
"All this is probably apt to just make the Spooks that much more stubborn about keeping to their own ways." Vance sighed. "I know Proteus is concerned about not putting 'em at risk, but this is where we could use his influence. If he drifts in sometime soon for an update from you, maybe you can convince him to have one last secret conference with the Spooks, and encourage 'em to do..." He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Well, whatever we've decided is best by then."
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Post by skybright on Mar 8, 2007 23:05:38 GMT -5
"I'll try." Daws shrugged slightly. "I don't think Proteus will stand much in the way of convincing from me -- but if I tell him it's for the Spook's own good, he might go along with it."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 8, 2007 23:26:09 GMT -5
"Here's hoping." Vance thoughtfully swirled the water in his glass, then set it down and shrugged.
"With any luck, I'll be feeling good enough to get out of here in a couple of days. There's some things out there I can only do myself. For one thing, building some even deeper cover on some of our operations, now that the bat knows I'm alive."
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Post by skybright on Mar 8, 2007 23:39:33 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I might be able to give you a hand in that direction. I'd planned on getting Jai to scatter some false clues about your whereabouts, anyway -- set up a contradictory trail just in case Tiernan decides to send anyone but me after you. It may not be as good as being dead -- but it's done a pretty good job with Miriam."
She grinned wickedly at him. "Of course, your personality is a bit more explosive than hers is."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 8, 2007 23:53:24 GMT -5
Vance chuckled faintly. "That's something else I'm looking forward to. Whatever drug it was the bat's goons gave me, it probably wore off after a matter of hours--but I've been too weak even to pop off so much as a spark. That's why I let Henry light this." He tapped the saucer his half-burned cigar was laying on. "Not that I've needed any boomers around here, but I feel a little vulnerable."
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Post by skybright on Mar 8, 2007 23:59:54 GMT -5
"That's understandable." Daws grinned crookedly and unsheathed the claws of one hand. "There's some advantages to having your weapons come built-in, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 9, 2007 0:22:45 GMT -5
Vance eyed Daws' claws interestedly, with a faint smile. "You know, that's one of the things I like about you. Although I have a feeling they might get sorta hazardous for me one of these days."
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Post by skybright on Mar 9, 2007 0:38:01 GMT -5
"No." Daws sheathed her claws and shook her head. "I use 'em on bad guys when I have to, and I'll wave them around to prove a point -- no pun intended." She gave a faint, somewhat rueful smile. "But I don't use 'em on people I love. Not . . . well, not anymore."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 9, 2007 1:00:41 GMT -5
For a moment, it looked as if Vance's lips wanted to quirk in a grin, but Daws' tone sobered him and he nodded thoughtfully.
"I haven't really had any near-accidents with the boomers--well, other than Handy wandering back into my target building. I told you that story." He rolled his eyes slightly. "But for me it takes a real conscious effort, fortunately. I'm not as hair-triggered as I may seem."
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Post by skybright on Mar 9, 2007 1:09:16 GMT -5
"I imagine that's probably fortunate for all of us." Daws said with a faint grin. Then she shrugged and examined her hands, grin fading.
"It takes an effort for me now," She said, briefly revealing her claws once again, "But when I manifested, these were the first thing that showed up. I didn't know I could retract 'em -- at that point I was hurting too bad to know much of anything. And anyway, there wasn't time.
"I told you about my sister." She shrugged again and let her claws retract. "We were fighting, when it happened. There's a reason I never went back."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 9, 2007 1:13:37 GMT -5
"I see." Vance looked sober for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Well, if I'm going to introduce you to Nate someday when this is over, you'll just have to return the favor."
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Post by skybright on Mar 9, 2007 1:24:12 GMT -5
Daws smiled and nodded. "That sounds like a deal to me."
Then she chuckled teasingly. "And keep in mind -- just because I won't use the claws doesn't mean I'm without alternate methods of making you miserable. I'm a very resourceful woman when I have to be."
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Post by Jordanna on Mar 9, 2007 21:59:07 GMT -5
"So I've noticed." Vance grinned lazily. "Don't you worry--I'll get my own back."
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