Los Angeles: The Door Is Locked

[Dhavaer]

"Okay, I think I've got it. Zoom in a bit so you can tell me the streets when we get close."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Yep. That was the next thing on my list..." Tony saves the current map view, and then he zooms in close enough to show the local streets before saving that map view as well. "There. I saved both maps, in case my connection craps out again." He closes the laptop, and then he takes the grapes out of his bag. "Well, since we're on a mission of nosiness, Ros, I'll need to get warmed up a bit. So, do you want to tell us about your new friend?" He grins at Rocío, as he picks out a grape and holds it in front of Phoenix.

[Dhavaer]

"Well, as long as it's for a good cause. Her name's Mikhaela, she's a stockbroker from Washington and she was up here on business."
Phoenix gulps the grape down and squeaks happily.

[Toxic Avenger]

"Washington State, or DC?" Tony scratches Phoenix behind his ears, and gives him another grape.

[Dhavaer]

"DC."
Phoenix rubs against Tony's fingers and takes the grape in his claws, biting off half.

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony sees that Phoenix still has one empty claw, so he gives him another grape. Feeling his innate nosiness starting to kick in, Tony goes on with the questioning. "Mikhaela...sounds Russian. Does she come to L.A. often?"

[Dhavaer]

"She didn't sound Russian. She travels a lot, but not especially often to LA."
"So are you gonna do a long-distance, or was it just a one-nighter?"
Rocío shrugs.
"Probably a one-nighter. She gave me her DC number, though, so I'll give her a call."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Well I, for one, hope you get to see her again, Ros. Even on this bright sunny day, I can see that you're glowing. It's pretty neat, actually." Tony takes half a handful of grapes, and promptly eats two of them.

[Dhavaer]

Rocío grins. "Well, she knew what she was doing. Maybe not up to teaching lessons, but definately at the top of her class."
"Then we must meet this woman. Or Tony must meet this woman. And get the name of her teacher."

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony looks back at Tala and smiles. "Hey, careful now..." He says as he slowly extends his hand toward her. Four grapes rest on the palm of his hand. "I'm always up for improving my 'dance' technique; but if I get too good, then we might not ever leave the house again."

[Dhavaer]

"What about when you run out of food?"

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony continues to hold the grapes out in front of Tala, beginning to look confused, since she hasn't taken them yet. "Well, I suppose I'd have to convince someone to go get some more. That, or I could get Phoenix trained in the art of grocery shopping."

[Dhavaer]

Tala takes the grapes.
"I can see that. Flying the shopping back home one tiny bag at a time. He'd never finish."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Yeah, you're right, Ros. That wouldn't work too well. Hmm... I suppose I'd have to make an irresistible deal with one of you." Tony plucks a few more grapes from the bunch, and then he displays the rest for all to see. "Grapes, anyone?"

[Dhavaer]

"You might have a problem finding something to deal with if you spend all your time in bed."
Tala takes another grape, but Brad declines.

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony sighs, and he rolls his eyes a bit. "I said I'd never leave the house, not the bed." He hands two more grapes to Phoenix. "Anyway, I'm sure I could come up with something to negotiate with. Hmm... What if I offered to take over your dishwashing duties permanently?"

[Dhavaer]

"You'll need a little more than that, I think."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Oh? Like what?" Tony asks, then he shrugs as a particular thought passes through his mind. Damn, this conversation is getting beyond silly. "Meh, nevermind. It's not like I'd ever stay in the house all the time. I'd go nuts." His laptop starts humming faintly, and he frowns for a moment as he looks down at it. Mumbling under his breath, he touches a button on the side, and pulls out a CD. "Oh. I forgot I had that in there." He holds the CD up for all to see, and he smiles proudly. "The latest and greatest from the Mazzanti Recording Studio. Do you all want to hear it?"

[Dhavaer]

"Sure. Hang on." Rocío presses a few buttons on the radio. "Okay, put it in."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Excellent." Tony feeds the CD into the player, and then he leans back into his seat. "You all might recognise a few of these songs, but most of this CD is brand new material...and you'll get to be among the first to hear it."

[Dhavaer]

The institute is difficult to see from the road, being down a hill and sheltered behind a screen of trees. Tony can see the roofs of two buildings, one large and long and the other much smaller. The institute is blocked off by a tall, metal fence, broken by a boomgate monitored by a security booth.
"I don't think they appreciate nosiness as much as we do."

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony strokes Phoenix under the chin as he smiles back at Tala through the rear-view mirror. "Mm hmm, you said it, Tala..." He looks toward the institute with a steely-eyed gaze. "Of course, if they see a sleuth of bears as nothing more than 'research supplies', then I'm not surprised." After a few moments, he glances around. "Hmm...anyone seen any police cars?"

[Dhavaer]

"Not from here. Maybe they're inside."
"Or maybe they've already left."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Or maybe they haven't shown up yet. Not so likely, but it's possible." Tony looks down at his familiar, and gently pats him on the head. "I need to teach you how to use a camera, Phoenix. Then you could go scouting for us." He scratches Phoenix under the chin again, and then he reaches for his cell phone. "Hmm... I didn't bring my scanner, but I could give Lisa a call. She might be able to tell us what the cops are up to."

[Dhavaer]

"Go ahead. We'll keep an eye out."
"Would she have had the chance to hear about it yet? It did only happen this morning."

[Toxic Avenger]

Tony smiles at Tala through the rear-view mirror and nods. "Good deal. Thanks, sweetie."
He plugs in his hands-free set as he looks at Rocío. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's already heard, Ros. When something happens, she's usually on top of it pretty quick." Tony flips open his cell phone and dials Lisa's cell number. "She can't have heard everything about it, though." He raises his hand a bit and wiggles his thumb.

[Dhavaer]

The phone rings for quite awhile before Lisa picks up.
"Hey, Tony. What's up?" She sounds a little stressed.

[Toxic Avenger]

"Hi, Lisa. Is this a bad time?"

[Dhavaer]

"Yeah, but you aren't likely to find a better any time soon."

[Toxic Avenger]

"Oh, crap. What's going on?"