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Post by Jordanna on Nov 12, 2008 0:37:49 GMT -5
"I dunno," Proteus lied, with the appropriate tone of uncertainty. He was by no means ready to commit himself (and Beaudry's image) just yet, even to the apparently well-meaning Steph.
"It's just... awful strange, hiring actors to run the front office of a clinic. Why don't they want their own people in front of the public?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 12, 2008 23:12:31 GMT -5
Steph frowned down at her coffee. "I dunno. They said when they hired us that they just wanted some more congenial people to do the public relations stuff . . . and I guess with Voegel and you-know-who around, I can't blame them."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 12, 2008 23:24:09 GMT -5
Proteus nodded. "That's another thing. They're creepy enough on their own to make me wonder. Something just... doesn't feel right, you know?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 12, 2008 23:32:07 GMT -5
Steph shrugged. "I . . . well, I don't know. I guess I haven't really given it too much thought . . . "
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 12, 2008 23:43:23 GMT -5
"It was hard for me not to, after all that's happened," Proteus replied. He was fairly sure that was the real Beaudry's own sentiment, after his eye-opening night among mutants.
With a shrug, he went on. "I guess there's a chance I could get myself in trouble. But I've thought about it, and I can't just--just keep my mouth shut and play along with this, without having my questions answered."
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Post by skybright on Nov 12, 2008 23:55:12 GMT -5
Steph shrugged. "Okay . . . I mean, I guess it's your call." She smiled thinly. "Just . . .don't let Voegel catch on, huh? I don't know why, but somehow I pretty much know he wouldn't like it."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 13, 2008 0:05:53 GMT -5
"No kidding," Proteus murmured. Apparently Steph was not too willing to be of further help to him--but he couldn't blame her for that.
"Well, I think I'm gonna see if anyone else is here yet," he went on. "And if Voegel's shut up in his office, I dunno... maybe peek in a file cabinet or two."
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Post by skybright on Nov 13, 2008 22:19:15 GMT -5
Steph nodded. "Be careful." She smiled. "And you can skip the cabinet behind the front desk -- there's nothing in there but extra pens and my stash of candy bars."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 13, 2008 22:57:53 GMT -5
Proteus chuckled. "Thanks for putting temptation in front of me."
He waved a hand, then sauntered out of the room, and casually proceeded to glance into the offices along the hallway. One door was shut, but he could hear the sound of a drawer opening and closing, and guessed it to be the office of the ominous Voegel.
Finding no one else around, he stepped into the office next to Voegel's, and began a quick examination. The filing cabinet and even the desk drawers were locked, but on the desk, there was a thin stack of forms on yellow paper. None of them had been filled out. They seemed to be the sort of medical questionaires prospective test subjects would be given--but as Proteus' eye passed over them, he thought there was something about it that wasn't quite right...
In the present quiet of the clinic, he suddenly heard the sound of the front door opening and keys rattling. He snatched up one of the forms, hastily folded it, and thrust it into a hidden pocket he created in his clothes. Then he quickly stepped out of the office and moved toward the front desk, peering forward inquisitively to look for the latest arrival.
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Post by skybright on Nov 13, 2008 23:24:10 GMT -5
The door opened and a clean-cut, middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his dark hair entered the office, shrugging out of his coat. He caught sight of Proteus and nodded. "Morning, Beaudry."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 13, 2008 23:30:16 GMT -5
"Morning." Proteus effected a polite, rather hapless grin, giving the man a vague nod of greeting. "What's new?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 13, 2008 23:37:40 GMT -5
The other man smiled slightly and shrugged in return. "Not much. Didn't get the callback on that part in Vermont."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 13, 2008 23:54:37 GMT -5
"Ah. Sorry to hear that." Proteus promptly marked the man as another one of the actors on the staff; probably innocent of any real knowledge about the goings-on, and someone whose safety would have to be looked out for.
"Well, just another day on this job. Steph is here--and so is Voegel," he remarked, and watched for a reaction.
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Post by skybright on Nov 14, 2008 0:02:14 GMT -5
The other man grimaced as he hung his coat on the office coat tree. "At least it's not Doctor G., huh?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 14, 2008 0:11:36 GMT -5
"Yeah... he's not here yet." Proteus considered suggesting the man have some coffee, but he realized the danger of a gaffe if the man was not a coffee drinker. He dismissed the idea and looked for another opening to keep him talking.
"It's looking like kind of a slow day. I was thinking about making some calls to some casting agents, myself."
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Post by skybright on Nov 14, 2008 0:22:18 GMT -5
The other man cocked an eyebrow at him and shrugged. "Can't hurt, I guess, as long as Voegel doesn't catch you at it. Never too early to start looking for the next part, right?"
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 14, 2008 22:50:53 GMT -5
"That's what I figured," Proteus agreed. "How about your plans for the day?"
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Post by skybright on Nov 14, 2008 22:58:17 GMT -5
The other man grinned and shrugged affably. "Well, to start with, I'm going to get some of that coffee I smell brewing. After that, just sit around and look good, I guess -- it's what they're paying me for, until some actual patients start showing up."
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Post by Jordanna on Nov 14, 2008 23:06:27 GMT -5
Proteus smiled wincingly. "Can't say I'm looking forward to that much. I guess they shouldn't be as tough to face up to as all the reporters, but... well..."
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Post by skybright on Nov 14, 2008 23:10:26 GMT -5
The other man smiled thinly. "I'm not looking forward to the ones we have to turn away. You know there's gonna be a lot of 'em who take that personal."
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