Logfile from Brass&Steel. Zach knocks on the door marked 'Delia Fell, Psychologist '. A woman shouts from nearby, "Come in." You enter a small office. Psychologist's Office A well appointed office: oak bookshelves behind an antique desk; a long brown leather couch and a comfortable recliner in dark wool. The floor is covered in a persian rug, woven in intricate designs; the only decoration is a framed copy of her degree. No pictures clutter the desk; there is only a blotter, some pens, and a few small, leather-bound notebooks. Contents: Delia Obvious exits: Out Zach enters the office and smiles brightly to it's owner. "Hello there, Delia. My best wishes for the new year!" Delia smiles at Zach, warmly. "Hello, Zach; how were your holidays?" Zach gestures with his hands as he enters into the room proper. "They were a bit on the busy side, had to leave town on a week's mission. But it was good fun, and nothing bad happened to Harriet and ROger while I was away, so.. How 'bout you?" Delia says, "I have been well; all has been quiet here." Zach nods and sits down on a chair. "That's good to hear." He pauses a bit, then asks in a curious voice, "Hmm...say.. I fI were to give an elohite a Christmas present... What do you think would be well recieved? What do you guys enjoy getting?" Delia says, "I don't know, I fear; elohim are as individual as anyone else." Zach bites his lip and sighs. "That's not very helpful you know..." He digs in his pocket and comes up with a small, gift-wrapped box. It's about the size of an apple. "Well, I'm just gonna have to risk it then. This one's for you, and I'm sorry I didn't manage to get it to you in time." He hands her the gift. Delia laughs, taking the present. "Zach, you really needn't have; I didn't get you anything. I don't usually /do/ Christmas." Zach smiles. "I know, but I /do/ do Christmas. Not in the churchly sense, but I dig the whole concept of families coming together, people giving each other gifts and being nice and stuff. I like making stuff that I can give people. I really wanted to get you something, 'cause you've been so nice and good to have around!" Delia laughs again, turning the gift over in her hands. "Should I open it?" Zach nodnods and smiles eagerly. "Yes you should! It shoulda been opened like three weeks ago!" Delia unwraps it carefully; she seems to be the type who likes to keep the paper from ripping. Unlike a certain malakite... Well, the gift, when unwrapped and examined, seems to be a small wind-up alarm-clock. It's kinda stylish, in a brushed steel finish. But where normal alarm-clocks have two little bells on top, this one has 13 very small ones, in various sizes. And there's a small hammer for each. It's really an exquisite piece. Delia's smile brightens at Zach. "It's lovely, Zach; did you really make this?" Zach nods and beams at her. "Yeah, I did. Used bits and pieces I've found here and there." He grins. "Garbage mostly. It's amazing what humans throw away... The bells are tuned, so when the alarm goes off it'll play a melody." Delia says, "It's wonderful, Zach." Zach suddently looks a bit sheepish. "Uh... I was gonna make it play something by Mozart, but the mechanics became a bit too complex to do in the time I had. So it plays "Fly me to the moon" instead." Delia laughs, touching his hand. "It's perfect, Zach; no problems." Zach smiles in relief. "I'm glad you like it. And...it's just a gift okay? I'm not trying to bribe you or anything like that." Delia laughs, her smile warm. "I never thought otherwise, I promise." Zach looks relieved at this. It wouldn't do for him to be charged with attemting to bribe a servitor of Judgment after all. "Okay, so.. Have you seen Goldie around lately? You know the girl that's been fighting a shedite and wandered in the Marches?" Delia's expression turns to instant sadness. "No, I haven't; I fear I angered her the last time I saw her, and I have not seen her since. And I do not know what to do." Delia says, "I cannot tell her the truth of her life; she would break." Zach looks worried at that. "How long ago is it that you saw her?" Delia says, "Months ago." Zach relaxes a little then. "Ah, okay. I saw her a week ago. I accidently tripped over her at the cemetary, more or less. We spoke there, and I think I managed to get through to her for the first time. She is now seriously considering to allow me to help her." Delia looks awed. "Truly? What did she say? What did you say to her?" Zach smiles a bit, but keeps his optimism in check. "When she asked me if I wanted anything, and I asked her if she wanted a true answer or a safe answer... She wanted truth. So I told her that I wanted to kill her ghost. And from there on I /think/ I managed to convince her that that ghost can't ride me like it's ridden her and her family. That's what she's afraid of... For the shedite to take 'nice people' she meets. I haven't told her what I am, though. That'd freak her out. Hopefully she'll phone me in a few days, then we'll see." You say, "Can I count on your backup in this? I'm gonna need it..." Delia says, "Of course, Zach; I have been trying to learn more of the ways of the Marches, but it goes slowly; I do not know who to ask for help." Zach perks up considerably and leans enthusiastically forward. "Me too! I've learned the Corporeal Song of Dreams, but I'm not very well versed in Marches-lore. I think sending a request to Dream's folks would be the best. If they can't help us directly, they might at least send over some info.. Maybe you..." he hesitates and reins in his enthusiasm to avoid coming on too strong. "Uh, maybe you could ask the Most Just..? He comes by every week does he not? Or your nearest Judgment Senechal?" Delia says, "I have spoken to the Most Just; he felt that the matter should be dealt with by Dream." Delia says, "But he approved of my helping, also." Zach nods. "Well that's good at least. I too think that Dream should deal with this one, but I haven't seen any of them around so.. I cannot sit idly and wait for them when there's a chance that I might be able to help the child." He squares his jaw. "On pain of dissonance. I'll enter Goldies dreams sometimes within the next two weeks, then I'll hopefully know more." Delia says, "Be careful, Zach; she is so very fragile, and so quick to anger. She finds it very hard to trust." Zach nods firmly. "I know. Being around her is like walking on glowing embers. You have to consentrate very hard... Her fear is beyond the rational, but she tries so hard to fight it. We were talking about the horrors she's seen, and she was fighting the urge to bolt and run. But I wish I had Songs that could help her directly. Like Harmony, Solace or Ethereal Healing... I don't relish the day I may have to show her my wings. But I may have to - and I have to be honest with her. She looks straight through any BS." Delia says, "I have Harmony, and Healing - but they have not been enough to help her, yet." Zach sighs disappointedly. "Oh. But they will snap her out of it if she goes psychotic or hysterical though? Or?" Delia says, "If they work, I hope they will. But it is very hard to tell." Zach nods and takes a mental note of this. "Right. Well, I'll stick to being calm and straight-forward around her. She responds well to that. If we manage to help her out of this situation, and help her to heal, she'll make for excellent Soldier material. Especially for Dream. And I have a nasty suspicion that Nightmares is already aware of her talent." Delia says, "Her talent?" Zach leans forward to rest his forearms on his knees. "Yeah, her talent. Goldie can step outside her dreams. Or that's at least what she told me. When she can't stand them anymore, she leaves them. Steps outside... And she says she's seen more entities liek the one she drew in her book when she's been...'outside'. I think that fits nicely with the rest of the drawings in her book. The Nightmare tower, the Volcano, those bubbly things are probalby dreamscapes. I'll bet my steering-feathers that this is a very rare talent for a mortal to posess, so she'd be valuable to both towers." Zach says, "Sheesh, I'm starting to sound like Gandalf! :) "There's a union now, between the two towers..." Not bloody likely! :)" Delia says, faintly, "I hadn't realized; I - " She looks unhappy. "That is a dangerous talent. No wonder - " Zach nods and looks serious. "No wonder indeed. There is no way we can help her without drawing her deeper into these things. She has already explored her talents, and soon we're going to have to tell her what it is she has seen. It's either that or kill her." Delia says, "Surely not that." You say, "I certainly hope not. My Creator wouldn't approve, for one thing. Do you know anything about that talent she has? Because I can't say I've ever come across it..." Delia says, "I don't; I am sorry." Zach nods again and drags his fingers through his hair. "I've never dealt with anything like this before. I'm certainly learning new stuff these days, that's for sure. I'm glad you're here.." Delia says, "I wish I knew more to help; I feel quite at sea in the Dream realms." Zach flashes a crooked smile. "That makes two of us then. I'm sure we'll feel less so after this is over, though." Delia says, "I hope so." Zach rises up to stand in front of her desk. "Look, I have to go. I've taken up enough of your time. I'll let you know when I've been in touch with Goldie again, and keep you posted on any progress, k?" Delia says, "Thank you for coming to me, Zach; and thank you for the lovely present." She manages a smile, still troubled. "I am glad you are helping her; for I do not think she would come to me again." Zach smiles to her. "We'll see about that. She may yet change her mind. She needs you, but she probably has you penned as a 'nice person'. And those she does her damndest to drive away from her. To protect them from her 'ghost'... Remember that." Delia says, "I will, Zach; thank you." Zach smiles and bows gallantly to her. "Thank /you/, Power. I'll be in touch. Walk in the Love.." He turns and takes his leave. Delia hugs. Zach whee! :) And hugs back. Toodles! :) You leave the office.