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Post by Dr. Bradley Karrde Smith on Jan 17, 2011 17:01:48 GMT -8
Brad watched the scene between Polly and Tamika unfold before him. While what was said couldn't be heard across the room, it was fairly apparent Tamika was bothered. But whatever it was quickly faded as he watched them shake hands. He watched the redhead gather her food and approach.
"Oh sure, thanks." he replied to Tamika's indication of food. He walked over, gathered some breakfast then joined her at the table.
"So what was that about?" he asked, while starting into his burnt eggs. "Polly doesn't seem to kind to put someone on edge."
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Post by Tamika Weir on Jan 17, 2011 17:44:50 GMT -8
"She's not. It's just..." Tamika trailed off. "How do you explain to a guy that someone that you and him were dating. And that that someone also thought you were dating a crapload of other guys as well" Tamika blushed a bit as bit her lip, still thinking of what to say.
"You see," she finally said, "you're not the first guy around her she's seen me talking to. And she jumped to the conclusion that I was that I was dating all the guys I was seen with. Which is not true! I'm not dating anyone." Tamika's cheeks were even redder as she stared down at her eggs. "Fuuuuuuuck! Fuck, fuck fuck! Why can't I just eat breakfast?"
Tamika then tried to grab her coffee, yet sadly miscalculated the distance and ended up spilling about half of it on her lap. "AH! HOT! FUCK!" Quickly, she grabbed a napkin and began to try and dry her jeans while her cheeks turned as red as her hair.
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 17, 2011 18:17:04 GMT -8
York was late enough as it was- Emily had phoned to tell him to meet her outside the hotel and it was already ten minutes past- but watching him stroll into the dining room with his arm in a sling and the other raised negligently in his customary "invisible ear-piece" pose, one would never get the impression that he had a schedule to keep. He ambled in with the intention of making a beeline for the coffee machine, just in time to see Tamika's little accident. York waved at her as he passed.
"Hello, Tamika! Maybe you've been out here in the country for too long, because as I recall, we city-dwellers prefer to pour coffee down our throats rather than in our laps. But maybe I'm being too judgmental about other people's customs... After all, I once worked a case in Philly involving a man who heartily endorsed the usage of caffeine suppositories. I've never tried it myself, but if you're looking for an alternative method of ingestion, you might find it interesting."
He nodded at Brad and Polly in turn, then turned to the semi-laborious process of operating the machine one-handed. He continued to address the pair at the table from across the room, his voice raised accordingly.
"So what are you two getting up to this morning? Nothing too illegal, I hope."
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Post by Dr. Bradley Karrde Smith on Jan 17, 2011 18:43:43 GMT -8
Brad lept into action as soon as the coffee spilled. He quickly handed Tamika his own napkin and was in the process of moving dishes around to help straighten things up when Agent Morgan walked by, quipping at Tamika as he did. While normally Brad was a relatively peaceful and mellow person, something about this caused him to grow angry.
"Tell me Agent Morgan, is it just a lack of quality training coming out of Quantico that has their agents making idiotic assumptions about what is obviously an accident, or is it your own ineptitude shining through?" he spat back at the FBI man. "Now I'm quite certain it's not that loosened tie around your neck cutting off blood flow to that brain of yours, because if it were I'm sure you wouldn't understand this warning. FBI or not, you do not want to be on my bad side, or a coffee suppository will be the least of your concerns. Do I make myself clear?"
Turning back to Tamika, his tone changed back into his usual gentle demeanor. "Tamika, go ahead and go get changed. I'll grab you a cup of coffee for the road, okay?"
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Jan 17, 2011 19:02:32 GMT -8
Charlotte scrubbed a hand through her still damp hair as she hopped the last couple of steps. She was in an oddly good mood. She’d had some strange dreams... there had been a child, crying... and she’d been searching for them... but other than that the details were fuzzy. And it hadn’t been a nightmare... just strange.
She’d woken up with the desire to visit Greenvale’s library. She hadn’t been in a while, and she could always use more books to read. So she’d hopped in the shower (singing Fairchild quietly so as to not wake David). After getting dressed, she’d written him a note and left it on the pillow. She suspected he would worry if she didn’t.
Now it’s time for coffee.
Charlotte strolled into the dining hall, making a beeline for the coffee machine. A few steps inside, however, she paused. She saw a familiar face or two... but there were a couple of newcomers. She assumed they were newcomers, anyway. Maybe they were just new to her.
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Post by Tamika Weir on Jan 17, 2011 19:22:20 GMT -8
As York walked by, Tamika closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "That's it. This morning is ruined. Life just couldn't help but fuck me one last time, could it. Maybe I can run to my car and drive away before anything else happens?" Tamika was about to do just that, when Brad suddenly was spitting insults back at York. She just sat there and stared at the normally peaceful doctor throughout all this, ignoring her red face and now slightly burned lap.
Once he was done, she stared at him for a few more seconds. Tamika's jaw was hanging open and her eyes were wide with amazement. Then she shook her head, silently got up and began to make her way to the door. When she passed by Brad she whispered, "Thanks," and gave him a small smile. Then she left the cafeteria and went to her room without another word.
After she got in her room again, she flopped on her bed and stared at the ceiling. "I can't believe Brad stood up for me like that. Against an FBI agent no less. No one has ever stood up for me before. So why did he do that? For that matter, why has he done anything he's done since I met him? He's came to have breakfast with me, sang karaoke with me, and gave me a job just cause he heard I was having employment issues. Normal people don't do that. Though he's not really normal, is he? Yet, his...eccentricity can't explain everything. Why is he being so nice to me? Does he want something, or does he...like me?" She remembered what he had said to her earlier, when he was apologizing for whistling at that damn lingerie. "He was calling me sexy wasn't he? Ugh, girlie you really need to be less thick-headed sometimes." Tamika stared at the ceiling for a little bit longer, trying to figure out what to do with this new information. Nothing coming to mind, she sighed, got up, changed and headed out to the lobby. "I guess I'll just figure everything out as I go."
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 17, 2011 20:00:50 GMT -8
[Sorry about cramming two reactions in one post, just respond to whichever half concerns your character.]
"I'm sorry?" York said mildly, taken aback by the tanned man's harsh (or so it seemed to him) words. "I wasn't aware Tamika was in need of a bodyguard, with her superior knife-wielding abilities. But I suppose some people are more sensitive to words than to blades..."
After a moment's pause, his expression turned thoughtful as he looked at Brad. "Well, it's nice to see that my protector has protection of her own. I'm guessing you'll see her before I do, in which case, please tell her I said thank you for saving my life the night I came into town. I meant to tell her in person, but opportunities keep slipping me by... It seems I've missed this one as well, but I would at least like the sentiment to be expressed, however indirectly, before it escapes my mind again. I'll likely be too preoccupied with the murder investigation to be able to talk much with her socially."
Nodding as if to himself, York turned to attend to his own morning caffeine fix. In the mug he'd left inside the machine, his coffee was getting cold. The knowledge that this process was occurring hung forlornly in his mind, until the sight of the newcomer's red hair cheered him somewhat.
"Charlotte Jacobs! We finally meet face to face!" he called, then turned away and whispered, "Zach, this is all coming together. I'm not sure how or why, but it feels right. And I haven't even poured the milk in yet!"
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Post by Dr. Bradley Karrde Smith on Jan 17, 2011 20:16:48 GMT -8
A stern look crossed the doctor's face as the FBI Agent responded. Knife-wielding abilities? So that must be what she carries around... Regardless of his response, Brad had a mission. He had asked if Tamika had wanted coffee and said yes, and no arrogant lawman was going to stop him. He moved toward the coffee machine and grabbed a styrofoam cup. In silence, he filled and capped it with a lid, then turned to Polly. "I'm sorry for the disturbance, Polly." With that, he gave another stern glance to York and walked out of the dining hall into the lobby.
Brad waited for a few minutes out in the lobby, relaxing in the chair fiddling with the styrofoam cup. When Tamika walked in, he stood at attention, offering the cup to her. "Hey, I'm sorry about my outburst in there. I just didn't like what he was saying to you."
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Jan 17, 2011 20:17:37 GMT -8
Charlotte raised an eyebrow at the greeting called out to her. He knows my name. That’s... slightly disconcerting. How the hell does he know my name? He could have seen it when he signed in, I suppose. That didn’t seem quite right... How would he know that that particular name was hers, instead of someone else’s? Unless he’s met everyone else in the ledger...
She offered a friendly smile anyways, continuing on her way to the coffee machine. There was no way of avoiding him... since he was still standing by it.
“You... have me at a disadvantage, I’m afraid,” she replied. “Have you been waiting to meet me face to face long?”
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Post by Tamika Weir on Jan 17, 2011 20:31:13 GMT -8
Tamika took the coffee cup and smiled, "It's alright, I appreciated it actually. That guy has been giving me shit ever since I save his ass two days ago." She took a sip of the coffee and brushed a bit of hair out of her face and continued, "Anyway, I'm going to go give Atlas a lift back to the SWERY65 so he can get his car. Do you want a lift too, or do you just want to meet me and Atlas at the graveyard?"
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Post by Dr. Bradley Karrde Smith on Jan 17, 2011 20:51:36 GMT -8
"It's no problem, really." he said, returning her smile. "Sure, I'll take that lift. Besides, if you run into anymore shadows, I want to be there." Brad continued to smile as he held open the door to the parking lot for the coffee drinking girl. I wonder... he thought as watched Tamika walk through the door, then followed after.
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 17, 2011 21:21:49 GMT -8
York watched the doctor leave with the rather heavy impression that something hadn't gone quite right, but seeing Charlotte here seemed to be an event that had come along precisely to make up for it. He grinned widely at her and refused to move from in front of the coffee machine, putting down his mug in order to display his badge.
"FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan. David might have mentioned me; I believe you two were together in the hospital a few days ago, at the same time I was admitted. I'd like to ask you about that, but it can wait for the moment."
He put the badge away and pointed to the ceiling. "As for how I know you, it's all in the files. I took over your mother's case after Agent Henning had to be temporarily removed from duty, and there were a few documents regarding her daughter. You definitely have her hair... I can tell, even from the black-and-white photos."
His eyes dimmed to a level gaze as he looked at her. "It's just good to see you in person, as a reminder of how dire these events must have really been... It's too easy to forget sometimes, when you're simply reading a bunch of papers at a desk. Now, I don't want to get your hopes up, and I can't reveal any details, but there's a possibility that the investigation I'm working on here in Greenvale may involve re-opening Vanessa's case. In that situation, it might be useful if you were in the area. Are you in town for long? I noticed your name was in the hotel registry..."
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Jan 17, 2011 21:37:44 GMT -8
Well, that explains how he knows my name.
Charlotte couldn’t help the answering grin that blossomed on her face. Agent Francis York Morgan certainly was something else. He displayed that badge of his with one hell of a flourish, too.
“He mentioned you in passing. Once,” she told him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She... wasn’t entirely certain it was that... but he didn’t seem like a bad sort. Ah crap. Maybe he’d get distracted or something. She’d tell him the same thing she told Pornstache McGee about the being in the hospital... but she had a feeling he’d be a harder sell than the Pornstache.
The grin faded as he moved on to more serious matters. Though his comment about having her mother’s hair made her smile internally. Then he said something that made her heart leap into her throat. ‘There's a possibility that the investigation I'm working on here in Greenvale may involve re-opening Vanessa's case.’ Hope burned hotly for a moment, before her practicality took over. If it does, it does. If it doesn’t... well, it doesn’t.
“You probably noticed that I’ve been here a while already. I hadn’t planned on leaving any time soon. Staying here as well, I take it?”
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 18, 2011 8:05:38 GMT -8
"Even though my personal record for solving a murder case currently stands at three hours after it was brought to the Bureau's attention, I have a feeling this one is going to take much longer," York said, busying himself with the milk jug. "I hope David hasn't been trying to impress you by saying he's here on assignment, because he's not... In fact, I'm not sure why he's in Greenvale. Head office never even mentioned it, so I can only assume it's for recreation."
<I don't want to be an alarmist, York, but this woman... I'm picking up the same vibes from her as we got with the man in the white suit last night. Indirectly, the same way moonlight is really reflected light from the sun. I don't think she's dangerous, but she's been close to something that is... Recently, too.>
York finally moved over to give Charlotte access to the coffee machine, and began pouring milk into his own mug. As he listened to Zach, he watched the creamy spirals resolve themselves into a shape... One all too familiar, yet cryptic in its lack of context. He frowned.
"Charlotte, Deputy Emily told me that you and David were in the hospital due to some kind of road accident. I was as well, as it happened- in fact, that's how my arm got to be like this. I think there might be more than just coincidence between the two incidents, so if you don't mind, I would appreciate hearing your side of that rainy night... Unless, of course, you and David have some other business to attend to."
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Jan 18, 2011 16:04:28 GMT -8
Charlotte laughed, watching him busy himself with the milk jug. It would be nice if he’d sidle over a bit so she could get her own cup of coffee, but she wasn’t in too much of a hurry. And he was rather entertaining, so it was all right.
“He’s here on vacation, actually. Besides,” she added with a smirk, “He didn’t have to.”
At last he moved aside, and she grabbed a mug and filled with the dark, fragrant liquid. It wasn’t quite as good as tea, but still... she did enjoy her coffee sometimes. While she fiddled with the coffee machine, she kept an eye on the Agent. He was gazing into his coffee mug as he poured in the milk as if he was expecting to see portents contain in its depths.
“Actually, I was in the hospital for something completely unrelated to the accident,” she told him. Other than the fact that they were both caused by the same person, of course... “David was taking me to the hospital for that when we were run off the road. Well, they attempted to, anyway. I can tell you my side of things, anyway, though.”
She paused for a moment.
“Did you get a good look at the car or its driver?” Charlotte wasn’t certain just how much she could tell him about what happened with the Smoking Man on the road that night. This question, however... might help give her an idea.
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