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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 22:47:51 GMT -5
Shelly shook her head, looking perplexed. "No, uh, I don't think so. I mean, one of the times I saw him he kinda looked like he had a headache--but who wouldn't when they've got people and reporters and everything to deal with?" She blanched. "Uh... not that reporters are a pain or anything... um."
Joey muffled a sigh. He had long since given up writing down any of the girl's prattle, and was now engaged in drawing a surprisingly good charicature of her.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 22:52:29 GMT -5
Daws stifled a grin as she caught sight of Joey's handiwork and nodded encouragingly at the girl.
"No, I get what you mean. This is some really good stuff, Shelly, and I thank you for your time." She raised her eyebrows. "Is your boyfriend around? Maybe I could have a word with him next, or . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 22:55:58 GMT -5
"Uh, no, sorry, actually, he went down to the post office." Shelly shrugged. "D'you want me to invite any of the other team members in for an interview now?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 23:02:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "That'd be great, Shelly. Thank you again for your time."
She waited until the young volunteer had left the room, then raised an eyebrow at Joey. "Not bad," she gestured at the notepad, "But I think her left ear's a little bigger than that."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 23:09:07 GMT -5
Joey grimaced. "Is this really what you do all day when you're not shooting at people?"
Before Daws could answer, a brown-skinned young man with tattoos emblazoned on his upper arms loped into the room. "Shelly said you're interviewin' the volunteers. I got a few minutes."
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 23:15:05 GMT -5
"Great!" Daws' 'reporter face' instantly snapped back into place, and she grinned at the young man.
"Well, like I'm sure Shelly told you, we're with the Weekly Spiel, and we're trying to get a feel for the man behind the campaign, if y'know what I mean." She leaned forward.
"Have you interacted much with Mister Cole, yourself? What can you tell us about him?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 23:26:37 GMT -5
Rico Sandoval shrugged. "I seen him a few times. You know, he comes through and shakes hands when he's got reporters with him. Things like that. Mostly we talk to the man running things for him, that... Koopman guy. Man, that dude really needs to switch to decaf, you know?
"But Mister Cole--he's been a right guy, what I've seen of him. He's not all fake when he talks to ya, and he pays attention to what you're sayin'. He gives a good vibe, you know? Like he really wants to help people."
Joey had started out taking rudimentary notes once again, but after a very few moments, a movement at the corner of his eye distracted him. He glanced up, and with a slightly creepy feeling, he stared at the sinuous tattooed dragon that curled around the other young man's bicep.
The thing looked like it was staring straight at him--and he was positive that hadn't been the case when Rico sat down.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 23:31:06 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "What about Mister Cole's family? I understand his parents have retired to LA, of course, but," she cleared her throat, "I've been given to understand that there's a younger sister involved, as well. Is she active in the campaign?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 23:45:04 GMT -5
Rico scratched his head between his braided cornrows of hair. "Hey, I didn't know he had a sister until you just said so."
This time, Joey witnessed the proof that his eyes did not deceive him. As Rico stretched and leaned back in his chair, the "tattooed" dragon uncoiled and slithered further up onto his shoulder, as if it were a living thing perched on his arm.
"Hey!" Joey exclaimed, almost dropping his notepad.
Rico straightened and looked around, following Joey's stare to his left shoulder. Then he grinned, perhaps a bit sheepishly. "Oh, sorry, man. I forget. My day job is doin' tattoos, and this is how I model 'em for people before they get inked. I'm always movin' my skin pictures around so much, I do it without even thinkin'."
As he spoke, Rico stared at the dragon and concentrated slightly. As seamlessly as an animation, the creature grew more compact, sprouting wings and feathers as orange flames curled around its feet. In a mere few seconds, the dragon had transformed into a phoenix.
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Post by skybright on Jun 7, 2006 23:48:52 GMT -5
Daws grinned. "That's quite the talent, friend. I'd ask about your rates, but . . ." She shrugged and gestured good-naturedly at her furred skin.
"I guess that tells me why you got involved with the Cole campaign, too." She nodded, "So, tell me -- off the record, I mean. If I vote this guy into office, is he going to do what he says he will -- for us?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 7, 2006 23:55:57 GMT -5
Rico looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think he will. I seen him talk about mutant rights, and ya know, you can tell when a guy cares about somethin'. I dunno why he cares about people like us... but he does. I'd bet on it."
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Post by skybright on Jun 8, 2006 0:03:54 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Thanks very much for your answers." She extended a hand across the table. "You've been quite helpful. If there are any more volunteers out there, could you send them in?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 8, 2006 0:12:17 GMT -5
Rico shook Daws' hand. Then he looked down at his watch and frowned.
"Sorry, Ma'am, we got a meeting in a couple minutes. Like I said, that Koopman dude's like a turkey with its head cut off." The misphrasing may or may not have been unintentional.
"But you know, maybe you'd wanna talk to him. He's really the guy who deals with Mister Cole. I bet he could tell you anything you wanna know." Rico grinned. "He loves news people like fish love water. You want me to show you to him?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 8, 2006 0:23:49 GMT -5
"That'd be great, thank you." Daws stood and nodded to Joey. "We can get some great close-to-the-big-guy-himself stuff. Excellent, excellent - - I bet Carlos would bump us to page two with that!"
As they followed Rico out of the room and through a maze of overflowing wastebaskets, messy desks and dilapidated office furniture, Daws dropped back a few steps and nudged Joey's ribs.
"Whattaya say, kid," She murmured teasingly, "How do you like your first day on the job? Excitement's about enough to kill ya, isn't it?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 8, 2006 0:34:07 GMT -5
Joey resisted the urge to pull a facepalm gesture. "These people make the gang back at the Bunker look normal. You must be like an actor or something to deal with 'em so easy."
The pair had followed Rico toward a dais at the back of the main room. Rico bounded up the steps and tapped the shoulder of a man who had his back to them, and to all appearances was engaged in the chewing-out of a subordinate.
"Mister Koopman, a coupla reporters are here."
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Post by skybright on Jun 8, 2006 0:53:31 GMT -5
Mickey Koopman perked up at the word 'reporters' and immediately forgot whatever it was that he'd been upset about only moments beforehand. He wheeled around to face Daws and Joey, already wearing a meet-the-press grin.
Daws had to stifle a laugh, and managed to do so only with a choking sound. Mickey Koopman (who had been mentioned, but not pictured, Tiernan's file) wore thick glasses that gave his eyes a magnified appearance, a red-spotted bowtie, and suspenders. His ears were disproportionately large and rounded -- in other words, Mickey Koopman bore a more than passing resemblance to Mickey Mouse.
He stepped down from the platform and pumped Daws' hand vigorously. "Welcome to Cole Central," He announced grandly, "Thanks so much for stoppin' in. We're always happy to support our first-amendment friends."
He gestured Daws and Joey into chairs and perched on the edge of a desk. "Of course, we've got a sort of major volunteer's meeting going on in just a few, but we can always spare time for the press. Always." He smiled and blinked at Daws.
Daws, by now, had recovered some of her composure. She smiled and nodded at Joey. "Mister Koopman, my assistant Joey -- and I'm Regina Dawson, New York Weekly Spiel." She smiled broadly.
"We've already interviewed some of your volunteers, but . . . well, we'd like the chance to ask some questions of a man 'in the know'."
Koopman puffed out his chest. "Fire away, my dear, fire away."
Daws leaned back in her chair. "We understand from . . . well, shall I just say sources? . . . that Mister Cole suffers from headaches. There isn't any reason to suspect, well," she paused for effect, "Neurological problems, is there?"
Koopman stiffened. "Certainly not. Mister Cole is a migraine sufferer, as I should mention were Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Robert E. Lee. Furthermore, Mister Cole saw a European specialist a number of years ago, and Doctor Cabo --" He cleared his throat, "That specialist gave him a clean bill of neurological health."
Daws nodded quickly. "Understood." She glanced at Joey. "Did you get that?" She asked -- hoping the kid would realize she meant for him to write down Koopman's almost-slip of the tongue.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 8, 2006 1:02:42 GMT -5
Joey nodded at Daws. "Oh yeah. I got it." He tilted the pad just slightly toward her, underlining the fragment Koopman had let slip.
"Are those migraines, like, a family thing?" Joey asked Koopman, seeing an opening. "'Cause we asked one of the volunteers--'scuse me, 'team members'--if Mister Cole's sister is involved much in the campaign, but he didn't even know about her."
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Post by skybright on Jun 8, 2006 1:14:55 GMT -5
Koopman's lips tightened into a thin, displeased line.
"While I'm sure you're aware that Mister Cole's parents are well-known -- and, I should add, entirely supportive of their son's campaign -- Miss Cole has chosen to remain out of the limelight."
He cleared his throat delicately, "And really one can hardly blame her. Marla -- Miss Cole, that is -- has had . . . health problems of her own, although they don't include migraines, young man." He blinked owlishly at Joey. "Although she's very supportive of her brother, and the two are very close, Miss Cole rarely sees fit to venture into the City."
Daws cocked an eyebrow at Joey, and then nodded at Koopman. "That's very informative, sir. Thank you."
"Oh, naturally, naturally." Koopman peered at Joey. "Have you any other questions, young man?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 8, 2006 1:21:42 GMT -5
Joey grinned wanly. "Well, uh... actually, I'd be kinda interested in knowing more about Mister Cole's plans for helping mutants. I mean, I've read what's been in the papers, and I've heard him on TV, but I'd like to know if he's really got any specific ideas."
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Post by skybright on Jun 8, 2006 1:36:34 GMT -5
Daws nodded and shot Joey an approving look. Good one, kid.
Koopman relaxed visibly -- they were obviously back in the realm of questions he liked answering. "Well, that's an excellent question. For one thing, Mister Cole is quite staunchly opposed to all forms of the Mutant Registration Acts -- and has every intention, if such acts pass into law in the future, of crafting specific legislation which would effectively render them ineffective within the City.
"He has also expressed support for the so-called Mutant Rights Amendment, which, as you may know, is due to go before Congress yet again this coming summer."
Koopman smiled charmingly. "Now, naturally Mister Cole is not only concerned with mutant rights -- his passion, our passion I should say, is for true equal footing between mutants and humans. That, of course, is why we've chosen the slogan -- For All New Yorkers."
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