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Post by Wes Uccello on Dec 2, 2010 22:36:59 GMT -8
Wes was unaware of just how thoroughly he'd just ruined the suited man's moment, but if he had known he would have been pretty happy with himself.
He watched closely as the other man acted a bit odd; leaning back, muttering something not quite intelligible, and smiling. What was that for? The longer Wes watched, the more he thought about it, the more this guy was driving him crazy. He didn't get it. He didn't get the man in the suit, the way he acted, what they had to do with each other, why this guy seemed like he did get it. Suit man knew something, and Wes knew nothing. This gnawed away at his brain, eating away his sanity, and feeding his paranoia.
Still, he didn't show it. His poker face was as good as usual; looking annoyed, and perhaps a little dizzy. He managed not to let suit man hold all of his attention, and looked over to Charlotte as she spoke (though, like last time, not in the eyes), keeping the other man only in his peripheral vision.
"You're the second person the ask me that today. You really think I'm that predictable?" He smirked. He was that predictable. Figures. He looked back over to the suited man, then down at the table.
"So, who's your friend?" he asked, figuring it was worth a try. He still didn't look up.
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Post by David Young Henning on Dec 3, 2010 6:54:15 GMT -8
Henning barely noticed Polly hovering over his shoulder, asking if they needed anything. "What?" he said, rousing himself. "Oh, hello, Polly. Uh... Do you have any tea? Earl Grey, something like that? Thank you, and a stack of pancakes would be nice... Charlotte, did you want anyth-"
He trailed off when he noticed Uccello was talking to her. Asking her about him. His first instinct, borne of irritation, was to tell the guy to address him directly if he really wanted to know, but then Henning reconsidered. This was more to his advantage. He couldn't decide whether it would be more beneficial to let Uccello know where he was from and put him on edge, or to retain the element of surprise- he decided both options had their merits, so whatever Charlotte told him, Henning would roll with the punches.
At the same time, he very much wanted to make it up to Charlotte afterward for getting her involved in his schemes. He leaned over to Polly and whispered, "Polly, you know that scrapbook you gave me... Would you mind if I showed it to Miss Jacobs sometime? Apparently she's a photographer, so I thought she might be interested in some of the history you've collected."
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Post by Atlas on Dec 3, 2010 6:58:41 GMT -8
"Thank you, Tamika." Atlas said kindly to the girl bringing him coffee. "No need to apologize. From what I've heard, you had a rough night last night."
Atlas sniffed the coffee while Tamika and FK exchanged names. The aroma alone seemed to bring a new wave of energy over Atlas that make him feel like he could stay up 48 hours straight. He took the mug to his lips and sipped. Hmm, definitely not the cheap stuff. Once again, another thing I can add to the list of things Deer Yard Hotel does well. he thought.
Tamika also seemed to sense that Kaysen was hiding something behind that huge grin and jovial demeanor. "You and me both. I'm still trying to figure out if his life is all sugarplums or if he's the leader of a notorious drug ring." he thought.
Willie was also taking an interest in Tamika.
"Heh, I don't know if Willie there drinks coffee or not." Atlas chuckled.
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 3, 2010 7:18:47 GMT -8
Charlotte had the distinct impression that she had suddenly ended right in the middle of whatever it was that was going on between David and the stranger with the bird. Raincloud. Tamika’s nickname really is an easier way to refer to him. She really wished she had a better idea of what exactly it was... she felt rather like she was walking into a minefield. Or putting together a jigsaw puzzle blindfolded. She glanced up at Raincloud, noticing that he was again not looking her in the eye.
“Just a little predictable,” she told him with a smirk, holding her forefinger and thumb the smallest bit apart. Then that smirk deepened as Raincloud asked who her friend was. Tilting her head and studying David for a moment, she made a decision. “I think my friend can introduce himself, actually.”
Unfolding herself from the chair (wincing slightly at the pain in her hip), she turned her attention to Polly.
“Tea would be lovely, I think. And pancakes,” Charlotte told her, smiling.
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 3, 2010 14:26:36 GMT -8
Willie lapped up the attention faster than his Master lapped up the pancakes, tail wagging a mile a minute. At least there was no doubt that the dog was truly friendly! Watching the pup, Kaysen laughed, extending a hand towards the girl.
"Well, that's great - poor Polly could use the help, I bet. My name is Kaysen - Forrest Kaysen. You'll see me 'round here and there. I'm a traveling salesman, see, and I stay here when I roll through town. Polly always has a room ready for me, even!" His smile was huge and his eyes were bright behind his glasses - he seemed to have a lot of energy, and he was CERTAINLY outgoing, wasn't he?
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 3, 2010 14:41:51 GMT -8
Polly took everyone's order with a nod and a smile, although she noticed that Mr. Raincloud seemed too intent on Mr. Henning to notice her question. I'll just bring him some pancakes and a cup of coffee--no, tea, I don't think I want to bring him anything to make him more nervous. She wouldn't charge him for anything, of course. He'd had enough trouble today. How do you present a bill to a man bleeding that badly? Besides become a doctor, she meant.
She made her way back to the kitchen for more pancakes. On the way there, she noticed that Tamika looked uncomfortable talking to Kaysen. She wondered if she should go over and rescue her somehow. She decided she'd deliver the other table's order and then come back and see. It was only Kaysen, after all. What was he going to do? Funny, he usually makes such a good impression on people. I wonder why he's making so many people jumpy today? she thought as she put more pancakes on her tray.
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Post by Tamika Weir on Dec 3, 2010 17:28:01 GMT -8
Tamika laughed slightly. "With the energy he has, I don't think he needs coffee!" Willie did not appear to be the only one with excess energy. "Note to self: If I ever get Forrest coffee again, get decaf." She politely shook Forrest's hand. "I'm Tamika. I just came to Greenvale a few days ago and I'm happy to help Polly." "Beats sitting in a room being afraid of shadows." Forrest's excess smiling was really beginning to send up some red flags to Tamika. "You're not the only person who can fake a smile Kaysen. I know you're not all happy and hyper. But what are you really?"
Eager to get away from Forrest, Tamika said cheerfully, "It was nice meeting you Forrest, but I'm pretty sure Polly probably has something for me to do. Have a nice day!" "Polly, PLEASE have something for me to do." Tamika began to leave, but then turned to Atticus and added, "And you as well, Atticus."
Tamika then headed to Polly and asked, "Anyone else need anything?"
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Polly
Junior Member
What's that? Oh dear, I'm afraid we're all out of pepper.
Posts: 88
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Post by Polly on Dec 3, 2010 18:26:50 GMT -8
Polly returned to the table, put down her tray and started distributing plates of pancakes and cups of tea. Hopefully, Mr. Raincloud wouldn't mind she'd brought tea instead of coffee. She had almost finished when she heard a voice at her shoulder. She jumped and spilled a little maple syrup onto the table. She turned around and saw Tamika's face. "Oh, you startled me! Well...I suppose if you're really not hungry we could start on the dishes. My goodness you like to work, don't you?" She looked around for a napkin and wiped up her spill. "I know everyone's still eating, but I made a bit of a mess cooking breakfast. We can probably deal with that and just keep popping out every once and a while to see if anyone needs anything.
"Is everyone all set? Any of you want sugar or milk for your tea?" she asked the table, putting her dirty napkin on the empty tray and looking around. "Oh, and Mr. Henning, I almost forgot. Of course you can show Miss Jacobs my scrapbook--that's only if you want to see it, of course," she said to Charlotte, smiling. "It's not exactly a work of art."
Polly was about to leave again when a thought occurred to her. "Did you ever find your 'BIRDFLU' man, Mr. Henning? I was thinking earlier and remembered the owner of the Panda Bear is named Wesley, too. I just didn't think of it because I don't ever go in there. Can't you just picture it? Me, in a gun shop." Polly shook her head and walked off chuckling at the idea of it.
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Post by Atlas on Dec 3, 2010 22:16:30 GMT -8
"You too, Tamika." Atlas replied. "Good luck with your work." he added as well.
he turned back to Kaysen. Once again, he was grinning. He hadn't changed expressions since he saw him first. "Either this guy's face is broken, or he just discovered the secret to attaching one's lips to the insides of their pants." he thought. The thought of that caused Atlas to shudder.
Still, he had better things to do. He sipped his coffee quietly. He wanted to pump FK for more information, but the questions were not coming to him. "I wasn't prepared to interrogate someone. If I had a list of questions and a few shock paddles, I'd have him squealing like a pig schoolgirl by now..." But maybe a bit more small talk would help.
"I'd like that. If somehow I figure out the secret to sprouting it, I'll have a red backyard." Atlas said to Kaysen. "Though part of lawyer training did not include gardening..."
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Post by Forrest Kaysen on Dec 3, 2010 23:47:08 GMT -8
Pleased with the introduction, Kaysen gave her his usual exuberant, jarring handshake, making a note of her name. Tamika. Another new transplant. Another new transplant who seemed rather keen to get away from him rather quickly. He watched her leave warily, his smile giving way to a little frown. So he WAS capable of more than one expression!
He turned towards Atlas, shrugging a little. "Gee, did I say something I shouldn't have? She ran like cheap mascara on a streetwalker." This dispensed with, he took a sip of his coffee, listening amusedly to his comment about the red trees. Oh, the lawyer would never get them to sprout. That required a technique that only he was privy to. No one else could do it.
Face not betraying what he was thinking, he licked the coffee from his lips.
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Post by David Young Henning on Dec 4, 2010 0:05:00 GMT -8
"I appreciate the gesture, Polly," Henning said distractedly. "Oh, and milk and sugar would be fine. No, I don't have the flu, but thank you for asking..."
He was marginally aware that Polly was telling him something important, but the thing he was most concerned with at the moment was the strange look on Charlotte's face. Her body language. He had the distinct impression that she was disappointed with him about something, and he supposed he couldn't blame her... Still, the task of introducing himself had landed back in his court, so he turned to Uccello and said, reasonably clearly:
"FBI Special Agent David Young Henning. I'm sure that's a mouthful to say, but don't worry about it. Just Henning is fine."
Again, his hands had started playing with the white cloth napkin on the table in front of him, quite involuntarily. The course of action he'd decided to take had been similarly instinctual. Henning wasn't used to working on the fly like this, but there was a peculiar sort of thrill associated with it. He added, "I'm sure you've both heard of this Anna Graham business, so I won't elaborate too much; suffice to say that particular case will fall to my colleague, who was supposed to be here already. Unfortunately, I'm only here on vacation... Which gives me plenty of time to get to know the fine residents of Greenvale."
Henning smiled pleasantly, then gave a final twist to the impromptu origami crane he'd made out of his napkin. Satisfied, he set it on the table between the three of them, with the beak facing Uccello.
"Little trick I picked up while working for a catering service as a teenager. Had to make two hundred of these one night. And what do you do for a living, Mr...? I don't believe we've been introduced... Not formally, anyway."
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Post by Wes Uccello on Dec 4, 2010 1:17:56 GMT -8
Wes was so wrapped up in being paranoid that he hadn't noticed Polly until the suited man went and mentioned her. Even then, he didn't have the presence of mind to request anything. He was much more occupied with Charlotte and her friend.
He remained unhappy with the disadvantaged position he held as Charlotte deferred his questions, handing the power over to the suited man again. The ball was in his court now, but Wes was watching it intently.
What was it that had him so nervous, really? It wasn't that he was trying to hide who he was. His name and identity weren't really sensitive information. No, what bothered him was why this stranger needed to know it, why he was interested, what he wanted to do with it. He didn't like any of the possible reasons he'd come up with.
He did finally acknowledge Polly as she entered; he was hungry, after all. He gave her a nod as she set down his plate and cup. Tea wasn't his favorite, but then he didn't prefer coffee, either. It left a bitter taste in his mouth lately.
"Sugar, please," he requested when she asked. This was probably the most polite thing he'd said all day. He went ahead and began eating, but almost choked when he heard Polly's parting words. His license plate; the guy must've watched him in the parking lot in the diner. That meant he really was being followed. Then there was his name; which did this guy learn first? Why was he asking this old woman about it? How long had this been going on?
He sat his fork back down and looked up at the suited man, his expression fierce, waiting for an explanation. What he got wasn't quite what he was looking for, but it was something.
First he dismissed what Polly said; did he really think he was fooling anyone? Then his name and title. FBI. That made plenty of sense, but Wes wasn't sure if he believed him. The crane. Was this Henning guy toying with him? And, not formally introduced... what was he trying to say?
At this point, Wes had lost his cool completely. He leaned forward towards the agent, slamming the table in front of the crane's beak. He looked straight at Henning's face, teeth bared, eyes widened (the effect of which was almost cartoonishly exaggerated by his already small irises).
"Agent. I am not stupid. I am not oblivious. Stop playing! What do you want from me? You know my name. I know you do! She said it. You're following me. You had better have a good reason."
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Post by David Young Henning on Dec 4, 2010 10:31:41 GMT -8
"What are you talking about?" Henning said, barely having to feign being taken aback. The kid's temper was shorter than he'd thought; he must be pushing the right buttons. "I was admiring your car in the diner parking lot and was wondering who it belonged to, that's all. Greenvale's a small town, so it didn't take too long before someone mentioned your name. Don't ask me who it was, though; I can't remember. You might say a little bird told me."
He turned to Charlotte and shrugged lightly, as if to say I have no idea who this crazy person is, but let's humor him anyway. He imagined this conversation would have gone very differently if Uccello had confronted him alone, but here in a room full of people, with Charlotte present, he didn't want to discuss what was on his mind too openly. Besides, these pancakes actually did look pretty tantalizing. He piled a few onto his plate while he spoke, getting more cheerful as he eased into his role:
"Polly just confirmed your name for me, Wes, but like I said, I still don't know what it is you do here. And you haven't told me how you and Charlotte met! Is that a story worthy of sharing, or just happenstance? You'll forgive me for seeming intrusive. Like I said, I'm not officially here on Bureau business, but sometimes curiosity gets the better of me."
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Post by Atlas on Dec 4, 2010 10:55:15 GMT -8
Atlas watched Tamika leave hastily. He was hoping that it was to get away from FK. Even Atlas was started to get a bit annoyed by the unnerving grinning, horrible table manners and loud voice of his dining companion. "I think it might have been a little more than something you said."
"Naaaahhh" Atlas responded to FK, pretending to show sympathy. "She probably has quite a bit of other work to do. After, it's crowded like a freeway during rush hour." "Great, now he's got me doing it. Screw you, FK."
He watched for a brief moment the argument between hawk man and the suited guy. He had only been able to make out a few words, including Agent, Anna Graham, Greenvale, Sugar, and Charlotte. "So this guy is the FBI Agent, or at least somehow related to him. Is he here because of Anna?" Maybe FK knew something.
"What do you make of those two guys arguing, Mr. Kaysen?"
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Post by Charlotte Jacobs on Dec 4, 2010 12:07:21 GMT -8
Anna Graham business?? Charlotte actually had no idea what he was talking about, and she made a note to ask him about it later. But for now, she was fascinated by the interplay between the two men. David was playing the clueless card, telling Raincloud that he heard his name in passing but he couldn’t remember who mentioned it.
When he turned to her, shrugging lightly in SUCH an innocent, ‘I have no idea what he’s on about’ way, she nearly laughed out loud. She managed to contain herself to an amused smirk instead. His deflection, of course, had her mind going a million miles a minute, trying to piece together what she knew so far. It’s obvious that he had his suspicions about Raincloud after running into him at the diner... I’m guessing he probably called the FBI as soon as his curiosity was piqued. Maybe I told him something that confirmed whatever it was he suspected about Raincloud. No idea what, though. She hadn’t known much to tell about the man in the first place.
David’s cheerful speech as he piled pancakes gave her a useful piece of information, though. His name is Wes. She sat back in her chair and laughed. At least I can stop calling him Raincloud and the strange man with the bird now...
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