Logfile from Brass&Steel. You walk into the park. Huron Park Walkways lead through a large, well-manicured lawn of grass, dotted with trees and small monuments. As if the huge, carved stone sign labeling this 'Huron Indian Cemetary' didn't give a clue that this was not the local pauper's graveyard, the fact that many markers have U.S. Department of the Interior or Bureau of Indian Affairs plaques attached might provide that hint. At one end of the park, near to the civic buildings, a rose garden is beautifully maintained, with sufficient surfaces for purchasing that many come here during the lunchtime hour to recuperate from the hustle and bustle. A recent renovation, dated August of 2000, is a series of plaques at the edge of the rose garden, detailing the entire history of the park and burial grounds. Zach is a tall man, probably about 6'3". Slim, well built and rather handsome, his apperance is one of goodnatured machismo. He carries himself well, with an air of cheerful confidence and a flirtatious sparkle showing in his green eyes. Movements are smooth and precise. His hair is relatively short cut, darkish blonde and wavy. A workman's tan is visible, and hints to much time being spent outdoors. In the clothes department he sports black jeans, a black armless t-shirt and a black leather jacket. The jacket is a typicel biker's jacket and has obviously seen a lot of wear. It is however well cared for with no visible tearings or holes. The boots are black Doc Martens. Harriet is a woman in her early twenties. She's below average in height, and thin and pale, as if she doesn't get out much. She has short-cropped, unruly, dark brown hair, and green eyes. Her round, open face seems as if it's used to doing a lot of smiling. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perch--slightly askew--on her nose. Harriet is wearing a cream-colored silk blouse, with a scooped neck showing a hint of her cleavage, a pair of trim, black slacks, and black leather loafers. Her hair is held out of her face by two silver clips in the shapes of tiny brushes. Tall and thin, the gentleman at hand stands some six-foot-five inches, but weighs likely no more than one hundred and sixty pounds. Vibrant, sapphire-blue eyes gleam brightly against his otherwise pale complexion. Though he otherwise seems no older than perhaps thirty-five, snow white hair falls down to his shoulders, where it curls just a touch at the end, clearly the product of either quality genetics or expert hairstylists. When he smiles, his teeth are perfectly even, gleaming brightly - again, either genetics or dentistry, but either way an exceptional result. His soft-skinned, long-fingered hands end in perfect nails, with nary a speck of dirt or dust to be found on them. He is dressed simply, in black slacks, with a dark green button-down, over which he wears a black suede vest. His silver belt buckle gleams with polish. His shoes are polished to the point where they gleam almost as brightly as his teeth. The faint, crisp aroma of an expensive aftershave, neatly applied, can be detected by the discerning, or those who get very close to him. The current time in Kansas City is 12:09 AM, Thu Oct 10, 2002. Harriet is still lying on her back, singing (not terribly well), and enjoying the sunlight on her face, and the ground beneath her. It's just past noon, and a weary modern-day saddlebum comes moseying along a path. As he hears singing, his curiosity is piqued and he starts moving toward the source of the song. Harriet is on a sunny hill, near the duckpond. A mostly empty bag of bread is beside her, her eyes are closed, and her singing is happy...if not particularly accomplished. Zach grins as he spots the source of the happy singing and fine-tunes his course. As he nears, he slips into the male voice in "I could have danced all night". Harriet starts, her voice faltering. She opens her eyes and raises her head to look around. Spotting Zach, she smiles, and waves. "Hello, there. You know the song, you know?" Zach chuckles and beams a bright, sparkling smile upon her. "Sure I do. It's a classic tune that one." Harriet nods and flops her head back onto the ground. With a grin, she says, "It certainly is. Oh, Roger was looking for you a couple of days ago, you know? Something about hanging out and pretty women." She wrinkles her nose in his direction and chuckles. Zach floomps down onto the ground next to her. "Oh really? I guess I'm in luck then, since I'm currently hanging out with a very pretty woman indeed!" Harriet chuckles and shakes her head. "You're incorrigable, you know?" She moves on quickly. "So, how have you been, you know?" Zach lets out a long, weary breath. "I've been busy at work, like insanely. It's been absolutely monstrous! Feel like a limp noodle I tellya." Harriet reaches over to pat him on the shoulder, her expression sympathetic. "I'm sorry. Lots of wrecks or something?" Zach shakes his head. "Naw.. Not bad like that, fortunately. It was just that three out of four mechanics working for my garage have been ill, and that left me having to cover for 'em." Harriet winces. "That indeed sounds like a lot of work, you know? I hope they're feeling better, now, though?" Harriet is still laying on that hill, Zach sitting beside her, chatting. Or, they will be, when Zach returns to this plane. ;) Zach nods smilingly. "Yeah, they are thank God! It's nice to get some time off again. Even if the overtime paid well." Harriet nods, and smiles. "You shouldn't work so hard, you know? You'll make yourself sick, as well." She looks him over. "I hope they gave you a couple of days off, at least?" Zach chuckles and yaaaaaaawns. "Hah. No, I have a few hours off right now, and then it's back on duty again. But it's ok. I get some extra monies." Harriet sighs and shakes her head sternly at Zach. "That's just not healthy, you know? And if you slip up around those tools when you're tired, you could hurt yourself." She looks up at the sky, and grins. "And if you got squashed, people would miss you." And now, at last, Lucian appears. His prior appearance disregarded, he now comes wandering up, satchel under his arms. He makes his way towards the duck pond with a faint smile. As his eye takes in the view of a certain pair lying in the grass, he turns sharply on his heel, making a deliberate beeline towards the pair. Zach leans conspiratorically over and smiles roguishly. "That's sweet of you to say. But don't worry. I never slip around my tools. It's a calling, remember?" Harriet scoots away and throws Zach a look that's half-wariness and half-amusement. "I never said that I would miss you, you know?" She says, then winks. "Although I would." She shakes a finger at him. "But let's remember about personal space, hmm?" Zach laughs and relaxes back on his elbows. "I said it was sweet of you to say, dear. Nothing more. But it's also nice to know that /you/ would miss me. Sorry if I crowded your space - didn't mean to," He says honestly. And finally, Lucian comes within distance. "Why, Harriet, my dear," he says. "And... Mister Ellis." His tone sounds, to say the least, suspicious, and the narrowed slits he stares through reinforce it. Harriet smiles up at Lucian, although her smile falters seeing his mood. She sighs and looks between the two of them. "Hello, dearheart." She gets up to hug Lucian, and says quietly as she embraces him, "I hope you two can at least pretend to get along for a few minutes, you know?" She glances up at him with a hopeful expression. Zach looks up on the newcommer and smiles broadly. Perhaps just a tad too broad. "Professor! Long time, no see, Szabo. How've ya been, old boy?" Lucian senses "Zach's eyes are bright and challenging and cold." Lucian says, "May I rez? :p" Harriet sighs and smiles. "But of course." Zach says, "Go ahead. :)" AutoJudge: Lucian rolls: 3 + 5 = 8 . Check die: 3 AutoJudge: Harriet rolls: 2 + 5 = 7 . Check die: 1 AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 1 + 2 = 3 . Check die: 2 Harriet says, "Failed, of course. :)" Zach made it. :) Harriet hasn't made a Will roll since she started playing. Zach patpats. :) Harriet is comforted. :) "Of course, my dear," Lucian replies softly to Harriet. Releasing the hug, he steps forward, extending his hand. "I have been exceptionally well, Mister Ellis." His eyes sparkle for just a moment. "It is a pleasure to see you here this afternoon. Why, just the other night I was wondering after you." Harriet is plainly delighted by this sudden, and unexpected burst of civility, and she beams approvingly at both of them. Lucian pages: Actually, the only thing that truly rings false is the pleasure. :) Zach continues to smile with sparkling eyes. "You were? Wow. Glad to hear you're well, pro." Lucian senses "Zach isn't buying the pleasure bit for a second." Lucian pages: OTOH, the local demons WERE wondering where that damnable blackwing was, and if he was up to something. ;) You paged Lucian with 'I'm assuming that I don't 'feel' the falsity just because you tried to resonate. I just keep on disbelieveing everything you say out of general principle. As usual. :)'. From afar, Lucian laughs. Long distance to Lucian: Zach grins. Paranoia is your friend! :) You paged Lucian with 'I bet you all wish I was a Stonie. That way you'd be safe(r). :)'. Lucian pages: See, we WANTED a Stonie Malakite, and got a StoneR Malakite... =p Long distance to Lucian: Zach *laugh!* :D Lucian drops his hand as it remains untaken. "How could I not be? My classes go perfectly, my life is in good order..." He takes a step back to drape an arm over Harriet. One might even call it... possessively. Harriet chuckles, and snuggles briefly, before dropping back down on the grass, and tugging on Lucian's hand lightly. "Sit down, you know? We're just talking," she smiles at Zach, "about Zach overworking himself." Zach remains sitting on the grass and gazes up on the pair, green eyes shining intensely with....well /life/ would be the best description. "Oh I'm not, Harriet. Honestly. Yes it's been real busy, but nothing I can't handle. A bit of bitchin' is traditional, y'know." Lucian chuckles as he settles into a small, folded position on the grass. "Of course, Mister Ellis. Far be it from us to interfere with tradition, hm?" He smiles, blandly. "Truly, however, you should be careful about your labors. One can suffer an engine to retain its clog, nu?" Zach snorts. "Absolutely not. Clogs must be removed with all due haste and skill." Harriet leans against Lucian, her head on his shoulder. "Hmm. I still say you're working too hard. But then," she grins wryly, "I can't exactly scold, since I've been known to do the same, once or twice, you know?" Lucian chuckles, slightly. "I work very hard. Up until quite recently, I was up late into the night writing lesson plans and such." A small, teasing smile flickers across his face as he looks towards Harriet, and winks. Zach raises an eyebrow slightly, and a shadow flits briefly across his eyes. "And now..?" Harriet chuckles, and snuggles a little closer, running one finger across Lucian's vest. "I /do/ hope I'm not interrupting your work, dearheart," she says with a smile. "You could always bring them over, you know?" Zach smiles wryly. "So you two have become quite the item, eh?" From afar, Lucian invites Zach Home to look at Lucian's favorite cave and meet the Family. ;) You paged Lucian with 'Ooo! Any little impies flitting around? :) You a daddy? :)'. Lucian pages: Naaah. :p Long distance to Lucian: Zach is disappointed. Aww... :) Lucian smiles, blandly. "I suppose it could be characterized as an 'item,' da, Mister Ellis." He shifts his head slightly, so as to hopefully move out of Harriet's field of vision, before fixing Zach with a triumphant sneer for just a moment. Lucian pages: Thpppt. :p Harriet says, "Hmm. I wonder if I should roll a Per check to see if I catch that?" Zach meets Lucian's sneer with a look of pure death. For just a moment. AutoJudge: Harriet rolls: 3 + 6 = 9 . Check die: 3 Harriet says, "Hell, no. Harriet is oblivious, yet again." Zach says, "Ignorance is indeed Bliss! :)" Harriet smiles happily and nods at Zach. "So it would appear, you know? Isn't it lovely?" Harriet mutters something about being doomed. You paged Lucian with 'You really should consider settling down and raising a famliy, you know. Take some responsibility! Marry a nice lilim. :)'. Lucian nods his head, agreeing. So very lovely, it is. In a warped way. Lucian pages: I've got my eye on this nice little Balseraph, y'see... ;) Zach smiles slowly and nods vaguely. "I'm happy for you two. Love is a beautiful, pure thing.." You paged Lucian with 'Lemme guess. She hasn't aquired the bal-prefix yet..? :)'. From afar, Lucian grins. Actually, no. Any non Bal-Seraphim are fit for concubines at best. :p Lucian nods in reply. "That is what the poets say, nu?" He cocks his head. "What of you, Mister Ellis? Have you an... 'item'?" You paged Lucian with 'You dawg, you! :)'. Harriet mmms in agreement, and leans forward to snag her bread bag. She looks within, then at the duck pond, and grins at Lucian and Zach. "Hey, I'm going to give the rest of this to the ducks, you know?" She bounces to her feet, revealing grass stains on her shoulders and seat. "I'll be right back, you know?" She starts to wander toward the pond. Harriet says, "In other words, it's my turn to go Away for a few minutes. Feel free to snipe at each other in the meanwhile. :)" Lucian snaps his fingers at the Baalim sniper in the trees. Zach abracadabras a huge, iron anvil on top of the sniper. Lucian says, "Hrmph." Zach | Sniper splats! Lucian says, "| Imp appears with a mop. | Your pose, Zach." Zach shakes his head. "Not in the poetical sense, no. I'm not part of such an item." Lucian twitches his lips. "You are too busy trying to rack up notches for the belt, nu?" He snorts, derisively. Zach sniffs in contempt. "At least I would recognize and appreciate the poetry, as opposed to certain blind and deaf cripples." Lucian shakes his head. "The poetry is written by humans for other humans, all to justify some sweaty groping to indulge their lusts. You merely facilitate it, with your oh-so-strapping form torn off the cover of some trite women's novel." Lucian gurgles, and must be going shortly. Where does the time go? Zach snorts and looks at Lucian with disgust. "The purity of love is the greatest miracle of all. But I hardly find it surprising that you cannot see it, since all six of your eyes are blinded." Zach says, "Aww... And we were just getting started. :)" Lucian says, "I know. :p Give it another five minutes and we might've started rolling around in the grass, hands wrapped 'round each others throats. ;)" Zach says, "With alluring, sweaty close-ups and slow-mo. :)" Lucian says, "What movies did YOU have in mind? :p" Harriet raises an eyebrow and fetches popcorn. Zach just saw the commercial for the latest brain-dead Hollywood action movie. XXX. :) "I see more clearly than you do, and I move freer than you. Tell me, child of a false 'virtue,' is it true that those chains are what keep you from Falling, because they weigh you down to the floor already?" Lucian says, "And somewhere in there should go a 'Lucian says with a sneer.' :p" Harriet finishes scattering the last of the breadcrumbs to the esctatic ducks, waves at the waterfowl camped around her feet, balls up her bag, and makes her way back to the, uh, gentlemen with a sunny smile. "That was fun," she says, with no little satisfaction. Zach rolls his eyes. "Aw come /on/! Can't you lot ever come up with something original? That taunt is as ancient as the bootprint on the Lightbringer's ass!" Lucian says, "Oooh, explain THAT one to Harriet. ;)" Zach grins! :) Long distance to Lucian: Zach is SO glad he ain't a Swordie!!! :) From afar, Lucian laughs. Why's that? You paged Lucian with 'Taunts like that one kinda pisses them off, the self-important gits. :)'. Harriet blinks at Zach, and looks with deep suspicion at them both. "What was that about, you know?" she asks, with a frown. Something flickers across her face. "Lightbringer? Taunt?" Lucian smiles, blandly, as he rises. "Alas, where does the time go? Tick, tock, the Wheels of Fate move on, and I must be about my duties. Office hours are coming up." He walks over to Harriet. "Do be careful, my dear," he says, hugging her. "I shall see you later, nu?" He walks off, whistling a sprightly air. Thankfully, it's NOT that self-important Rolling Stones tune that so many classless demons use these days... Lucian hugs all and really must go. Tall blonde is gesturing imperiously at the door. ;) Ta-ra, folks. Zach hugs! See ya! :) Lucian pages: Tee hee. Lucian's as much a victim of stereotypes as any Hell-child. You mean Malakim aren't all blood-drinking bondage fetishists with giant swords? ;) Harriet waves goodbye. "See ya!" Lucian has disconnected. Harriet says, "And he left you holding the bag. How typical, eh? :)" You say, "See ya'round Lucian.." Zach says, "Huh? 8)" Harriet hugs him back, but still looks confused and a bit irritated. "Lucian..." She sighs as he walks off, then turns intense green eyes to Zach. "You were arguing again, weren't you?" Zach meets her intense eyes with his own equally vibrant orbs. "Nah... Wouldn't call that arguing. More like stating our philosophical differences once again." Harriet flops down and glares at him. "You know, people keep doing that, and it's getting really annoying." Her expression turns curious for a moment. "Lightbringer, lighbringer," she mutters to herself, "I've heard that somewhere before, haven't I?" Zach smiles his most disarming smile. "What? Are there more people arguing around yuou than pokerspine and me?" Harriet she looks up from searching her memory. "Actually, I was referring more to the cryptic remarks that are never explained, you know? And don't call Lucian 'pokerspine'. That's not nice." She shakes her head. AutoJudge: Harriet rolls: 1 + 3 = 4 . Check die: 1 Harriet says, "Ha. I made an intelligence roll. Yay, me!" Zach cheers!! :) Harriet blinks and snaps her fingers. "Ah, I remember. Lightbringer is one of the names for the Devil, right?" She looks briefly pleased at herself, then very confused. "What's that got to do with anything, you know?" Zach ahs and inwardly curses himself for not being able to steer the conversation away. He nods. "Lightbringer is indeed one of the names given Lucifer the Morningstar. The one who rebelled against God and fell from Grace. It's a tragic story." Harriet says, "You have no /idea/ how many times in the past couple of weeks Harriet was seen things that just don't fit with what she's expecting. She's good natured, but not stupid. :)" Harriet raises an eyebrow. "Like in 'Paradise Lost', right? 'Better to reign in Hell,' and all that." She purses her lips. "That's one of Lucian's favorite books, you know?" Zach sighs softly. "Why am I not surprised... Lucian seems to have some misconception about God being a nasty, mean tyrant and Lucifer being some sort of heroic freedom fighter. He's got this thing about those little french guys in turtlenecks back in the forties and fifties, those who did all that moaning about how empty and meaningless life is." He pauses and sighs again, sadly. "People who just can't seem to see the wonders of the world. Of life..." Zach grins. :) Harriet shrugs and smiles. "You have something against little french guys?" She sighs, and looks up at the sky. "No comments on the religious stuff, since I'm one of the great unopinioned, you know?" Zach smiles wryly. "I have a beef with the little french guys who kept claiming that life is meaningless and bleak. Like Sartre and Camus. They never even /tried/..." He shakes his head ruefully. "I have a very simple approach to the stuff of religion. God is Love. Love is all around. All we have to do is accept it. I live it every second of the day." He smiles then. Harriet nods. "I'll grant you that. A lot of the philosophers were rather bleak, you know?" She smiles at him. "And I can go along with the Love thing, too. I'm in love, after all. Love is fun." Zach nods smilingly. "Not only fun. It's /everything/. Whithout it... I don't even wanna contemplate it.." Harriet laughs and grins with affection at Zach. "You're a romantic, you know? So am I, when it comes down to it. And it'd be nice if everything was Love. But..." she shrugs and her expression turns bleak. "sometimes it's not. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, everything falls apart. For a while, there, I didn't believe in love at all, anymore, you know?" She blinks, and takes a deep breath, cheer settling around her like a cloak. "But I'm much better now." Zach looks slightly concerned. "You didn't? Oh that's terrible... I guess we all go through times of doubt... Can I ask....what happened?" he asks very gently. His demeanor says that he expects to be told off. Harriet looks at him with an old pain in her eyes, but her smile is gentle as she shakes her head. "Even the short version would take more time than I have at the moment, you know?" She grimaces, "And possibly alcohol." She stands, and holds a hand out to Zach. "Despite the turn into dark territory, it has been a pleasure seeing you again. We're still friends, I hope?" Her expression is hopeful. Harriet says, "I gotta go for about four or five hours. :)" Zach takes her hand gently and breathes a kiss over her knuckles. He smiles lovingly to her as he too stands. "Of course we are, Harriet. And I am no stranger to darkness. You can't pass through life without encountering it at least once." Zach nods. I gotta go to bed shortly. Work tomorrow. Midnight now. :) Harriet chuckles. "This conversation is getting deep, and I've got work to do, so I'll talk to you later. Stay safe, you know?" She waves to him, gathers her bag, and walks out of the park. Harriet says, "You...feel...sleeeeepy..." Zach says, "Yeah. I do actually. :)" Harriet says, "Go to bed!" Zach grins and waves to her. "Take care, Harriet!" Harriet goes home.