Jazz shot up, toast and jam falling aside as she strode over to the two, wild eyed.
"What?!" she demanded.
Sam handed her the paper. Jazz rapidly unfolded it, eyes scanning down the page.
"Vladimir Maximus Masters, age 39, Amity Park's 53rd mayor, billionaire of the year, blah, blah, blah....announced this Thursday that he would resign his duties due to....family problems that could not be resolved in his current office. The officials announced today-"
Jazz broke off, looking both angry and confused as she whipped to face them.
Sam shot a bewildered look at Tucker, who shrugged.
"Family? Since when does Vlad have a family?"
Sam picked up the paper again, scowling.
"Mr. Masters wishes to spend his retirement-as if the rich loaf couldn't do that before-in a small suburb located in Quebec." she lowered the now slightly crumpled paper in disbelief.
Vlad? Give up that much power over the world's most ghost infested town?
Tucker scratched his head, looking puzzled.
"Canada?! Why would Vlad want to go to Canada? Great bacon?"
Two pairs of eyes-one teal, one violet-shot the sheepish boy a nasty look.
Danny watched his father curiously at the breakfast table as Vlad argued on the phone, legs swinging back and forth about a foot ot so from the ground.
The day he got rid of these phonebooks would a happy, happy one indeed....
"YES. For heaven's sakes, I QUIT!"
The little ghost boy couldn't hide a smile. Just hearing that Dad had quit his job made him want to float....which, he had spent time doing for quite awhile this morning, positively delighted.
Daddy was quitting his job!
He was ACTUALLY quitting his job to spend more time with Danny!
The boy would've run around in giddy circles....but, his arm-still wrapped in light blue cloth, Vlad and Alfred's loopy signatures on-still shook with irregular pangs from the bad breakage, so he reluctantly sat this one out while Alfred continued making tea.
Vlad rolled his eyes. If the poor phone had a neck, Danny was fairly positive Daddy would wring it out of pure frustration.
"Why? I told you why! It just be nice to live in a town that doesn't nearly get destroyed every four days! And, NO. I am not prejudicious! I dislike each and every one of you EQUALLY!"
With a groan, Vlad snapped his phone shut, sinking back down to his seat after mock burying his head in his hands. Danny giggled.
"Little Badger-word of advice. Never, EVER go into politics. Your life will be much easier that way."
Danny just laughed harder, Vlad turning, then began tugging him onto his lap with a smile, hugging him tightly for a moment.
"You'll like Canada, son," whispered Masters after a moment, as Alfred bustled in with the gleaming, silver teapot.
The boy just turned to face his father with a confused look.
"But why do we hafta go?" He had memories of this place all of his life.
Masters managed a small smile, careful not to grip Danny's arm, which still hung limply, like a wet noodle. Vlad paused, pretending to look thoughtful.
"Well.....I suppose....if you want me to take up being a mayor again...."
Danny frantically shook his head in a small, raven colored blur.
"Nooo! No, no, no, no, nooooooooo."
Vlad chuckled before placing a light kiss on Danny's head.
"Just kidding, dear boy. The Moving Men will be here tomorrow."
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Danny groaned, watching from the window.
While people were busy hustling and bustling to and fro with their possessions, heading them out to several mauve trucks parked outside. Daddy had to go and supervise so that their valuable possessions (which was pretty much everything they owned,) would not become damaged. Danny wasn't very concerned about that.....but excited butterflies were rushing about his stomach, the anticipation mounting.
He and Vlad....the only ghost hybrids the world had ever known.
The boy shivered, reaching for his stuffed bunny and pulling the smiling, fuzz ball towards him as he watched them finally move in all the second story furniture.
Now, if they could just handle the third and fourth.....
Danny moved his fingertips to the icy glass, feeling his warm fingers coolen.
It was getting quite chilly nowadays. Winter seemed to have moved in early.
The boy sighed, plunking onto his beanbag, the only furniture left in his room.
Hopefully, Daddy wouldn't be too tired to play later. Or at least train. Danny looked forwards to their sessions immensely. He wasn't a very powerful or accurate shot, but his enthusiasm was real.
But no matter what Danny did, whenever he would train alongside Plasmius, he just wasn't very good at doppleganger yet. He usually just became a hideously distorted pile of ecto flesh.
Daddy attempted to console him, claiming that HE didn't have a ghost sense.
But what good did a little puff of smoke do?
Danny sighed, and reached for his book, which was lying haphazardly on the floor.
Maybe he would have a fighting chance when he was older. Right now, the sessions exhausted him. Right now, his small frame ached....
...it was so warm in here, as the wind rushed about in an absentminded frenzy outside.....
And Danny's eyelids grew heavy as his book slipped from limp fingers...
Vlad scowled, watching from the bay windows, eyes narrowing.
So, they had come at last, eh?
They were marching their way up the drive.
Jasmine.
Miss Manson.
And Mr. Tucker.
Very well...
They wanted to play?
Well....he had never been one for schoolyard games.
But he did know how to set up a mean checkmate.
Well....it appears Dad WAS right about the Angry Woman thing. Despite his being a fully trained hybrid, he couldn't help but shrink from the vicious glares the two were giving him.
Tucker had cautiously stepped away, scowling at Plasmius, dark, green eyes cold.
Vlad sipped his coffee, indigo eyes calm.
"So...what can I do for you before I have security throw you out?"
Jazz's eyes narrowed.
"I think you KNOW."
Vlad just raised an eyebrow.
"I don't-not in the slightest. So, where's Daniel?" he peered dully up, eyes scanning the room.
"Didn't bring the little badger with you?"
Tucker's fists tightened. Sam snarled.
"GIVE IT UP, YOU OLD, OVERPOMPOUS CROW! YOU HAVE DANNY, DON'T YOU?!"
Sam was glaring a burning hole in Vlad's face. The man frowned.
And to think, he had tried to be polite.....
The hybrid angrily slammed his fist on the old oak of his desk.
It would be so easy to go Plasmius and terminate the brats....
...but too much trouble. Better to just call security.
As a slim, alabaster finger pressed a button underneath his dek, Jazz stamped her foot.
"Danny goes missing. YOU happen to be nearby at the time. Danny doesn't show up-ghost, or human.
YOU in an awfully good mood, in all your press coverings."
Vlad just shrugged helplessly.
"I'm retiring. What is there NOT to be happy about?"
Tucker scowled.
"Seems to be some connection here...."
Vlad glared at him.
"I have no idea what happened to Daniel, and I certainly do not-" he paused, wide eyed.
"Someone....has Daniel?"
Sam stared at him, looking slightly doubtful.
"Don't play dumb, you evil-ghhhhaaaa!"
And Masters watched as security dragged out three violently struggling teenagers.
Vlad sighed.
He was doing this so Danny wouldn't be hurt! Why would he feel....
Guilty?
The ghost shook his head, like a dog trying to rid its ears of water.
It had been twenty years since Vlad began his life of crime. It was just a little late to grow a conscience.
This was probably Daniel's fault, thought the old ghost with grim satisfaction.
That little fireball of energy.....always fighting against the tide.
But what happened when the waters roared in response?
Danny blinked, sleepily.
Ah! He must've dozed off....
The boy slowly stood up and stretched his stiff limbs. It was almost time for dinner. Good. The ghost boy was a little hungry tonight....
Then again, he was always a little hungry, though the child never gained weight, much to Daddy's chagrin. He yawned, and peered out the window, a bit dazed.
Hmmmmm? Danny rubbed at his eyes, a bit puzzled,
Who were those strange people, going down the drive? A boy....a girl with orange hair that looked mildly familiar....
A girl clothed in black, green, and purple....
Ah, well. Probably some people protesting Daddy's abrupt move.
Danny slowly moved away from the window.
This probably had nothing to do with him.
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