--A LONG EXPECTED PARTY WITH LOTS OF SFX AND A FEW UNINVITED GUESTS--

Zach: Malakite of Creation IST the Wind
Harriet: Soon-to-be Soldier of Creation
Hachilah: Seraph of Creation IST Flowers
Brynn: Malakite of Fire

(The setup is that Zach and Hachi are going to try to Summon Eli, to get Harriet 
inducted as a Soldier, seeing as she needs that sixth Force.)


Zach has arrived early for the big day. Since his hands are filled with
Stuff and such, he uses his head to bang on the door. *thud, thud*

Harriet is bustling around in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches
on several homemade party trays. Since Harriet has a tendency to go a
little overboard on the cooking when she's not careful, there are a lot of
trays, filled to the brim with sandwiches, little pastries, chicken wings,
and other goodies.

Harriet hurries to the door, and opens it, wiping her hands off on the
apron that she's, for once, wearing. "Zach, come in, you know?"

Zach beams and leans forward to give Harriet a happy snog, then starts
engineering himself, the beer, booze, guitar, sheet music and various
doodah's into Harriet's appartment. "Hey there sweetie!" He sniffs
excitedly in the air. "Something smells good!"

Harriet helps with the hauling, dancing from foot to foot with a nervous
grin on her face whenever she doesn't have something else to do. "Thanks.
I wasn't sure what everyone would want, so I just started making things,
you know?" She gestures at the trays. "Vegan sandwiches to the left,
getting gradually more carnivorous until you get to the chicken wings on
the right. And wow, you brought drinks! Wonderful." she says with a hint
of relief.

Zach smiles like a little boy on Christmas eve, full of giddy expectancy.
"That looks just great and perfect and superb!" He places the guitar,
nicknacks and sheet away safe, then helps Harriet getting the beer into
the fridge. "Darn, there's hardly any room in here.. you need an
Eli-fridge! We all do..." he mutters while doing some reorganizing in
there.

Harriet chuckles, and rubs Zach's shoulder as he moves stuff around.
"Well, you should have seen it /before/ I started cooking, you know? The
poor thing," she gives it a consoling pat, "it's trying its best, but it
didn't know it'd have a madwoman for an owner."

Zach laughs as he pulls out of the cold and claustrophobic depths of
Harriet's Fridge. "True, true..." He beams at the poor thing then at
Harriet, closes the door and sweeps Harriet up into a Big Hug. "How are
you feeling today?"

Harriet laughs in delight as she's swept up in a hug. "I feel
wonderful...and nervous, you know?" She wraps her arms around Zach and
squeezes him firmly, grinning all the while.

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 black silk blouse, a colorful patchwork vest, and a
pair of old blue jeans that have been painted with variety of brilliantly
colored butterflies. Tiny rhinestones catch the light here and there in
their wings. Her shoes are yellow sneakers of a particularly brilliant
shade.

Zach swings Harriet around a few times before putting her back down. "Me
too! I haven't seen the Boss in so long... I've got butterflies in my
stomach and stuff! I hope I don't muck up the summoning.. That'd just be
so incredibly embarrasing."

Harriet giggles as she's swung around, and moves her hands up to cup the
sides of Zach's face. Looking up into his eyes, she says with conviction,
"You will /not/ mess up the summoning. I'm sure of it, you know?
Everything'll be just fine. Wonderful, even!"

Zach smiles this big, happy, loving smile that just marks him as utterly
devoted in the role as one of Harriet's pet malakim. "Thank you for that,
my dear." He snogs her then, just because.

Harriet snuggles enthusiastically against Zach for a moment, sighing. Then
she pulls back, and looks around at the apartment. Most of the stools have
been pushed to sides of the main room, leaving only heaps of pillows, a
large work-in-progress that looks vaguely like a ring of people, and a
shiny new wall mirror near the bed. She hmms speculatively. "D'you think
this'll be alright, you know? I wasn't really sure what to do
about...stuff. I'm not much of a party hoster," she admits with a smile.

Zach takes in the view and hmms with Harriet. He drapes and arm around her
shoulder and smiles. "I think it looks just great! Have you arranged your
pieces so that they're not easily bumped into? Except the big one, which
needs to be right where it is of course."

Harriet nods and points out shelves where everything has been put and
secured. "Yup. Oh, do you think you could tell if my new mirror's evil,
you know?" She frowns slightly. "Cosmo says it might be, but I think it's
just a mirror."

Zach blinks and gives Harriet A Look(TM). "I beg your pardon??"

Harriet heaves a sigh. "Someone gave me that mirror," she indicates the
wall mirror, "for Christmas, you know? Just wrapped it up and left it
outside my door. No card or anything. I'm pretty sure it's just a mirror,
but Cosmo says it might be evil." She looks dubious. "It hasn't done
anything naughty, but I thought I'd ask."

Zach takes a closer look at the mirror and tilts his head, still keeping
an arm arouns Harriet's shoulders because it's NICE! "Hmm... Did Cosmo
give you any clues as to how or why? He's not one for throwing around
comments like that out of the blue."

Harriet shakes her head. "He didn't think anything was wrong with it until
I mentioned that I didn't know where it came from, you know?" She leans
against him. "It'ds probably just another friend in the building who
forgot to add the card," she says, with a faint shrug. "I really doubt
it's evil."

<OOC> Zach says, "I assume I don't have to roll any relic-recognizing
thing now? :)"

<OOC> Harriet says, "No. It's not evil. :)"

Zach smiles and moves over to touch the mirror and its frame. "Don't feel
evil to me. I think I'd known if it was. It's just a very nice, beautiful
mirror."

Harriet beams with satisfaction. "I agree. Now, if you'd just inform Cosmo
of that next time you see him, please?" She chuckles. "He threw dirty
looks at the poor thing the entire time he was over, you know?" She hums
something cheerful to herself and does a quick little dance. "This is
going to be fun!"

Zach looks vastly amused by the image of Cosmo scowling at an innocent
mirror. "I'll try to remember telling him." He smiles at Harriet's dance
moves and goes to bring out his guitar. "You wan't some music with that
dance, dear?"

Harriet stops, looks at the guitar and Zach for a moment, then grins.
"Sure," she says, untying her apron and tossing it over a couple of
stools. "Play away, good sir!"

Zach starts fine-tuning it, while chuckling at Harriet's enthusiasm. If
y'can't love the Harriet, you're in Deep Shit and probably need several
paddles. Applied to your backside! "So what kind of dance do you want to
dance? Tango? Probably best with a partner... Hm.. Salsa? Calypso? Reggea?
Samba? Merengue? Flamenco? Waltz? Jig? Line dance? Square-dance? I'm not
much of a caller, though and you're only one.."

Harriet giggles. "There's a dance called 'merengue'? Oh, just play
whatever suits you, you know?" She winks and grins at him. "I'm sure I'll
figure something out..."

Zach grins and his fingers start wandering to create music. It starts with
a few dramatic, flamenco-sounding chords - then casually meanders into a
sweeping waltz Wienna-style.

Harriet lcloses her eyes and dances to the music, not attempting anything
as fancy as a waltz, but just throwing herself into the sounds with every
evidence of pleasure. It may not be graceful, but it's fun.

There is a knocking upon the door, coming from the direction of Terrace
Lofts -- Landings.

Since walz is one of the easiest dances there is in it's basics, Harriet
makes quite a good figure and Zach enjoys the heck out of the sight. After
a little while, the music meanders on to become something slightly more
challenging and salsa-sounding. Time to shake those hips, baby!

Zach shouts, "Come in!"

Zach is perching on a high stool playing the guitar, while enjoying the
sight of Harriet dancing to the music. It's currently changing from a
wiener-waltz to salsa...

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 3 = 7 . Check die: 6

Harriet is dancing as Zach plays the guitar, and getting rather giggly as
he changes the music to salsa-style. She plays it up, though, shaking her
hips and clicking invisible maraccas int he air.

<OOC> Zach <-- Guitar God! :)

<OOC> Harriet says, "Goood music!"

Zach looks to the door to see who's coming, and beams like a lighthouse
when he spots Hachilah!

Hachilah pads in quite bouncingly, leading an entourage of very
colorful-looking characters. Five teenagers, in total, and one
beleagured-looking homeless woman, by the looks of things. Of the
teenagers, three are girls, ranging in apparent age from 15 to 18. Two
teenaged boys, both looking quite young, possibly just 13 and 14, look at
their feet as they enter. All are dressed quite stylishly, actually,
inspite of the origins of the clothing... these are artists or musicians,
and you may have seen them in passing, on street corners looking for cash,
or at the Cathedral shelter. Hachilah beams right back at Zach, and
beckons her group of friends to follow her as she bounces over to join the
guitarist and his muse.

Harriet stops dancing as the door opens, and turns to beam at the visitor,
panting slightly from the exertion. She waves at everyone. "Hey, there,
guys!"

Zach grins and nods to each and all. "Hello ladies and gents! Welcome to
the Studio. Grab a bite, have a drink, join the orchestra!"

Fidelity has arrived.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "I'm not here, of course."

How predictable is this? The three teenaged girls look at each other,
whispering a bit as they approach the group. All whispering ceases when
they come into a decent distance, at which point the flirtatious smiles
and eyelash batting starts. Specifically, at Mr. the Mechanic. The boys,
on the other hand, lift their heads for a shy hello, then slip over to the
refreshment table.

Hachilah follows the boys with her eyes, shrugs, then says, "You may
remember Julie from the Cathedral youth group, Zach. Also, Chloe, she can
play anything. And Joann... she's interested in Harriet's work. Mary here
likes to sing." Julie is blond, Chloe has brown spiky hair, Mary is a
redhead, and Joann is the adult homeless lady. After saying their hellos,
people separate off to look at Harriet's work and the refreshments,
leaving Hachilah, Zach, and Harriet alone, more or less.

Harriet smiles at the happy new people, and hugs Hachilah. Because she
can, and it's fun. "Hi there! How are you doing, you know?"

Zach continues perching on his stool and playing his guitar. He smiles
warmly to all the newcomers, indulging in a wink to the girls and an extra
nod to the boys. They know how to get grub, and that's a good thing! The
music changes subtly from the merry salsa to a slow and smoky samba.

Hachilah smiles brightly at Harriet, and hugs back happily. "I am doing
quite well. Thank-you for asking. And you?" Very polite, isn't she?

"Hyper," Harriet admits shamelessly. "And he," she points dramatically in
Zach's direction, "isn't helping, with his salsa-playing ways, you know?"

The young boys perk up at discovering Harriet's latest work of art, namely
the food and snacks. There is chewy stuff in abundance, and they happily
grab chicken wings and sandwiches, while whispering to each other. This
might not be so bad...

Zach chuckles and shakes his head. Beaming at two of his favourite girls,
he says, "I'm just as hyper as you are Harriet. I need to do stuff, or
I'll explode! It's better that I perch here and play music than bounce
around and off the walls here, right?" Then, to the kids he asks, "So you
guys are all musicians, eh? I have this funny little piece I thought we
might try wrap our hearts and heads around.."

"Bouncing Zach?" Harriet seems intrigued with the mental image for a
moment, before she shakes her head and chuckles. As it looks like the
music people might start up something, she moves over towards Joann,
smiling at the woman. "This should be fun, you know? Although, what I know
about music could be written in a very small book...possibly a pamphlet."

Hachilah tilts her head to the side, grinning at Harriet and Zach in her
clueless, yet self-assured way. Her eyebrows ascend at the mention of the
piece. Ah yes, that was what she was looking forward to...

The kids and adult respond well, in general, having succumbed to the
atmosphere somewhat. Julie and Mary smile broadly, Chloe pulls out her
harmonica, grinning, and the boys, yet unnamed, nod between
forcibly-slowed nibbling of the snacks. Joann, the adult, nods back,
slowly. Of everyone, she seems the least comfortable... She gives Harriet
a grateful smile. "I don't think it matters much, so long as you sing from
the heart, little miss."

Hachilah looks on as people assemble around Zach.

You paged Fidelity with 'Some info about what we've planned. I took a look
at how to entice Eli, and have picked the "blind sculptor" thing as a
starting point... The music we are about to start learning and performing,
is one of the (few) works JS Bach did after he went blind. So there's a
sheet with the music written on, and soon we will have performers
performing it. It will probably disintegrate quite soon, as I expect
people to starts experimenting and building on it. ;P

Zach beams at the kids and ask one of the boys to bring the sheets of
music over. "They're right there on the table..." He stops playing and
starts explaining. "Now this piece is 250 years old, written by Johan
Sebastian Bach, so we'll be nice to it at first. When we get comfy with it
and it with us, we'll start jammin' for real ok? I'll play through it a
couple of times, feel free to join in as soon as you feel it. Any of you
who can read music are welcome to use the sheet - I know this one by heart
anyway. You ready? Right.." He starts playing the piece, filling the room
with music...

Harriet tilts her head as she starts to listen, and looks around. To
Joann, she says, "Pull up some pillows or a stool, however you prefer, you
know?" in a quiet voice. She takes her own advice, and plops crosslegged
onto a bright red pillow, beaming at the woman before turning her
attention to the music.

The assembled group starts to join in... there's a little bit of...
adjustment time, during which instruments are tweaked, apologetic and
reassuring grins are exchanged, and people get into the tune. This is...
somewhat different from what they are accustomed to, however, Hachilah
seems to have been discerning in her choice of guests... all show
reasonable talent, but more importantly, all show a love for the act of
creating beautiful, harmonious sound. Joann smiles brightly at Harriet,
grateful for the consideration, and pulls up a stool. Too many nights on
the street, perhaps, prohibit the use of pillows as a sitting implement.

The piece is called "Canon super fa mi a 7 post tempus misicum" and is
originally written for a big church organ. It can, as all good, classical
music, be made as elaborate or simple as one wants to. Zach is starting
simple, so that everybody gets the basic melody straight. His smile grows
wider and wider as the kids starts getting into the groove, and he quietly
encourages Hachilah and Mary to join in with vocals. "You guys are really
talented! I think we're getting the hang of this in no time flat!"


Harriet draws her knees up to her chest, and sets her chin on them. She
watches the muscians with interest, and then as the music starts coming
together and vocalists join in, her grin widens, and she closes her eyes
to better enjoy the sound.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah rolls: 6 + 6 = 12 . Check die: 3

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Ok, this is a horrible thing to have to say, but
that's a success *cough* and the CD is actually 6. <:)"

Hachilah doesn't need much encouragement. She and Mary grin at each other,
then start singing along. They seem to work well together, really, as if
they've perhaps done this sort of thing before. Mary stumbles a bit over
the words, and pronounciation, but she appears to be a bright girl... and
before long, there is a nice duet joining the instrumental melody.

Since Hachilah has scouted out such a talented group of kids, it really
doesn't take much time before everyone's got the hang of the melody. Not
very surprisingly, when you thing about things... Zach smiles, and
announces. "The jam-session is now officially in session guys and gals.
Now go with the flow and feel free to add variations. This is going really
great!" Taking his own cue, he starts adding variations, but so far only
the ones that are already on the sheet.

Harriet grins at Zach's enthusiastic emceeing of the event, and leans back
to make herself comfortable, her eyes still closed as she listens.

<OOC> Zach will make a lot of noise tonight, as I want to spend 6 Essence
to make sure the summonig TN is at least 12, and 2 Essence to boost CD.
Unless Fid lays down the smack?

<OOC> Fidelity says, "You pays yer money, you takes yer chances. ;)"

The kids are more than pleased to offer their own creative aspects to the
music! Sometimes a bit off, but... for the most part, actually kind of
groovy, their respective additions merge and intermingle nicely. Hachilah,
for her part, improvises with near supernatural perfection. Surprise.

<OOC> Hachilah eyes Fidelity warily.

Zach lets himself sink deeper into the groove. For his part, this could go
on forever. Old master Bach's work is given new life and love, and as they
all are now 'comfy' with it and it with them....it starts to evolve all on
its own. Zach closes his eyes, and calls out silently for the one who made
him and taught him... The one he hasn't met in several decades. The
ultimate groover...

AutoJudge:  Zach spends 6 essence.

AutoJudge:  Zach spends 2 essence.

<OOC> Hachilah's ears explode.

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 1 + 1 = 2 . Check die: 5

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 4 = 9 . Check die: 1

The music rolls on ... and on ... and on .... Really, not that long, but
when you've got that kind of energy build up, even a thirty second wait is
excrutiating torture, a fatigue like a marathon sets in to the
metaphysical muscles, a long hard burn. And just as the energy starts to
fade, there is a sudden banging from somewhere near the back of the loft
... from ... the bathroom?

Harriet's eyes open with a jerk, and she looks towards her bathroom with a
puzzled expression on her face, then back to Zach and Hachilah. One
eyebrow raises in inquiry. Well...at least it's clean in there...

From afar, to (Zach, Hachilah): Harriet wants to see us try and talk an
Archangel out of the shower...

Hachilah stops mid-syllable. She looks to Zach, beaming.

Zach is utterly spent, and hangs on to his guitar for dear life. At the
same time he is giddy with the elation that only a top-quality jam session
can give. He grins to Hachilah and nods for her to Investigate. The
mechanic is in no condition to do anything but provide taffel music right
now.

Hachilah, suitably charged by the Zach's tremendous expenditure of energy,
grins and bounds to the bathroom. She attempts the knob. It usually works.

Harriet stands, and simply can't help trailing curiously in that
direction. Her bathroom isn't usually the center of such expectation and
interest.

Fidelity pages: Make a Perception roll.

Meanwhile, the other musicians are also on the giddy and wow - just WOW!
side of existance. The Bach piece is now completely disintegrating and
evolving into a semi-jazz-hop-classical work with a bluesy undertow and
ghetto icing. People are having fun, even if the lady of the house has
lovers locked in the bathroom. OR maybe that's leprechauns.. Who cares?

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 2 = 7 . Check die: 4

The door seems stuck, but the combination of banging on one side and
tugging on the other yields the opening desire. A disheveled fellow with
rheumy eyes emerges. "sorry...fell asleep and ...." He looks around. "this
isn't the YMCA...."

Fidelity pages: There's something not right. You ca't put your finger on
it. Something's ... wrong.

Hachilah grins brightly, and rather obliquely, at the emergent fellow. She
tilts her head to the side. "Welcome to Harriet's bathroom." As usual, she
provides no real, or helpful information. "I hope you are arrived in good
spirits."

Harriet blinks at Hachilah, then at the newcomer. "I'm Harriet," she adds,
not really increasing the helpfulness factor by much. "Would you like
something to eat, you know? We've got stuff." That's right. If you don't
know what else to do with them, you can always feed them.

You paged Fidelity with 'Wrong in general where they are, or wrong about
the thing with the dude?'.

Fidelity pages: You're not sure yet.

Zach looks over at the door and the fellow and his grins fades just a
hint. He slides off the stool and hands his guitar over to one of the boys
with a smile, getting a sparkling beam in return. Then he makes his way
over to the girls and the fellow, looking about the room just a bit
uneasily. He looks at the man with a hint of concern in his eyes, "Hey
there, you okay...?" and lays a hand on his arm.

"Yeah," says Rumpleman. "Yeah. Food is good. Food is .... hey, you're that
guy. The one with the hair."

Hachilah quirks an eyebrow, regarding Rumpleman curiously, though still
quite cheerfully.

There is a knock on the loft door.

Harriet looks over at Zach, deciding to let him handle it. She does turn
and blink at the new sound, and wanders over to look out the little
porthole thingy.

Zach blinks and smiles bemusedly. "What hair? I only have this, y'know.."
He indicates his own hair. "Now come on and get some grub and drink, we
even have taffel music... ...now what..?"

Rumpleman says "Yeah, that's the stuff," gesturing at Zach's hair. "Right
there. That's the good stuff. You got any water?"

Zach grins to Rumpleman and start leading him over to the kitchen, still
keeping a hand on his arm. "Do we ever! What kind of water do you want, my
friend? Sparkly, unsparkly, plain-, straberry-, peach-, lime- or black
currant taste?"

Hachilah bobs her head quietly, cheerfully, to the music still continuing
in the living room. She gives Harriet a smile,then follows Zach and
Rumpleman.

Harriet peers through the peephole, does a double take, and then opens the
door just enough so that she can talk to the people outside. "Er. Hello,
there. Can I help you, you know?" she asks, rather bewildered.

"Just the plain stuff, thanks. Maybe something to eat. I .... was sleeping
off a lot of Sambuca. That stuff .... it's weird. Ever drink it?" The
tired rheumy guy makes his way to the kitchen, led along by Zach and
Hachilah. "Yeah, water."

Hachilah tilts her head cheerfully from side to side. "That's a liquer
that one typically ignites before drinking. Tastes of anise?"

The two men with armloads of pizzas. "Yeah, we got pizza. Someone ordered
twenty large pies? We thought it was a joke, but the credit card went
through properly, so here we are."

Rumpleman blinks. "Be...*FORE* .... drinking?"

Zach glances over to the door as they pass through the studio on their way
to the kitchen. "You okay there, hon?" he calls out to Harriet. Then he
opens the fridge and very carefully starts to ease out a big bottle of
plain, unfizzy water. He pours it into a big glass, and hands this to
Rumpleman. "Here you go, friend."

Harriet blinks again, then shrugs and nods. "Rightio, then. Thanks for
delivering them, you know?" She waves to two of the teenage boys. "Hey,
guys, pizza's here. Wanna bring these in while I sort out the tip,
please?" She retreats for a moment to get her wallet from her jacket.

Hachilah gazes plaintively at Rumpleman. "Perhaps it was a variation on
the method to which you are accustomed. But I assure you, I was informed
that it is traditionally ignited prior to consumption. Traditionally." She
grins. "Of course, traditions ought to leave room for variation in my
opinion."

Zach chuckles and grins to Hachilah and Rumpleman. "Indeed. One cool
variation on drinking Sambuca is to light it when it's in your mouth.
Looks cool! But you'd better not have any on your lips then, 'cause that
really hurts..." Again he scruitinizes the man, as if trying to figure out
something. "So...any idea how you ended up in Harriet's bathroom, dude?"

The two guys bring in the pizza. "Well, sure, okay ... uh ... we kinda
already got a tip put on the card, for an order this big ... though." He
looks vaguely embarassed to admit it. The two of them place the pizza
boxes -- more than 20 of them -- down, and are mobbed by the various
guests.

Harriet grins at them, and hands over a fifty. "Heck," she says
cheerfully, "just the party factor alone justifies it, I think." She
blinks at the boxes, and shakes her head. "Thanks a lot, guys. You take
care of yourselves, you know?" she says as she shows them back out, with
just a bit of a puzzled glance in Zach, Hachilah, and Rumpleman's
direction as she does so.

Long distance to Fidelity: Zach is focusing really hard (or trying to
anyway) to sense where, who or what it is that's making his neck hairs
stand on end and his wingmuscles want to twitch. Which in a vessel
manifests as a twitchy feeling around the shoulderblades...

Rumpleman sips at the water, and then makes a face. Somehow, 'twixt faucet
and lip, it's turned a pale yellowish color. He continues to hold it,
though.

Meanwhile, the pizza dudes make their way out the door, after an effusive
thanks and a glance around at the party.

Fidelity pages: +roll

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 5 = 10 . Check die: 5

Fidelity pages: You can't place it.

Zach notices the thing with the glass, and frowns slightly. Very, very
softly he says to the man, "Dude, you may wanna go easy on the
transformations today..." And even more quietly he says, "Eli?"

Hachilah quirks an eyebrow at the change in color, then shrugs. She
glances over at the pizza, following the pizza dudes with her eyes.

Harriet closes the door behind the pizza dudes, and wanders over to the
little group in the kitchen. A puzzled smile on her face, she says, "Well,
we've got pizza if anyone wants any. Lots and lots of pizza, you know?"

Rumpleman says "Oh, good to meet you, Eli," and extends a hand to Zach. He
sips at his yellow water. Makes a face again.

Hachilah glances sharply back at Rumpleman. Then at Zach, curious.

Zach shakes hands with Rumpleman, striving to hide his increasing state of
anxiety. "Hey friend, nice to meet you. My name's...." He hesitates, then,
"Arethas. Who're you, and would you like some more water?"

Harriet comes to a stop beside Hachilah, and reaches over silently to rub
her on the shoulder as she watches Rumpleman and Zach.

"I ... thought you said your name was Eli?" He looks confused now, and
drinks some more wine. "Anyway, no, this water seems like it's ... what's
that word?"

AutoJudge:  Harriet rolls: 4 + 1 = 5 . Check die: 2

"Off?" Zach suggests gently. "It doesn't look very fresh, that's fer sure.
Would you like something else?"

Hachilah looks up at Harriet, then to Rumpleman, confused.

Harriet cuts her eyes window-wards, and with another look at the group
moves over to the windows to peer outside. Keep moving, that's the ticket
for success, yeah.

Zach glances after Harriet to see what kind of oddness is going on this
time. He also notes that the kids are gleefully reducing the mountain of
pizza at a rather alarming rate. But then they're teenagers, and such
creatures are veritably bottomless! He exchanges a worried glance with
Hachilah, then focuses back on Rumpleman. "I didn't catch your name,
friend..?" he asks gently while waiting to see if the man wants anything
else to drink.

"Oh, uh, well, I was thinking it was a coincidence, but my name's Eli,
too. So ... uh ... that's why you confused me." He sets the waterglass
down. "This isn't the YMCA."

Hachilah quirks an eyebrow. She glances at Zach, grinning.

Zach closes his eyes briefly, saying a prayer of a sort. "It's good to see
you Eli," he says warmly and smiles. "And you're quite right, this ain't
the YMCA. This is Harriet's studio. Here we have paintings, sculptures,
pillows, food, drink, people, music and of course - Harriet. Now I'm
Arethas, this is Hachilah and the nice little lady over by the window is
Harriet."

<OOC> Zach says, "Emote, unskilled. Trying to be cool here..."

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 1 = 5 . Check die: 5

<OOC> Zach says, "And I make it! Call me mr Cucumber!"

Hachilah waves at Eli, smiling. She glances at Zach. "We've met", she says
with all seriousness.

<OOC> Hachilah needs shades! <BD

<OOC> Hachilah says, "...To gaze upon your Fonzy-like coolness... <:)"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Don't the ladies already call Zach that? Ahem."

<OOC> Zach says, "Mostly they just call me "Oh Zach". *deadpan*"

Harriet frowns slightly, moving from one window to the other and adjusting
her glasses as she looks intently into the darkness. Maybe it was an owl.
Possibly not even one bearing invitations to a magical school.

AutoJudge:  Harriet rolls: 3 + 1 = 4 . Check die: 4

Zach offers Eli a vegan sandwich from one of Harriet's many party trays.
"Won't you join us, Eli?"

Eli takes the sandwich. "Oh, okay. Is this cucumber and watercress?"

Zach smiles and looks at it. "You know....it very probably is. Why don't
we grab the whole tray and find some pillows to sit on over there?" He
gestures toward the living room-studio-area.

Harriet's eyes narrow as she stares at something out the window. Then she
turns and, hopefully casually, she strolls back to the little group in the
kitchen. With a slight smile, she says to Zach, "I really hate to
interrupt, you know, but I wonder if I could just have a moment of your
time? By the window." All the while attempting to radiate 'everything's
just fine. Nothing to see here' vibes.

<OOC>I'm trying to Emote as well."

AutoJudge:  Harriet rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 6

<OOC> Harriet says, "Not a chance. She's nervous and worried as all get
out. :)"

Hachilah's eyes narrow faintly in Harriet's direction. "What is wrong?"
She's none too discrete about it, either.

Zach raises an eyebrow and continues to look cool, calm and collected and
In Control. Even if that'd never hold water if Hachilah decided to look at
him hard. He puts the tray into Hachilah's hands and follow Harriet over
to the window. "What's up, hon?" he asks quietly, placing a hand on the
small of her back.

Hachilah shakes her head gently, gives Eli a shrug, then heads towards the
window.

Eli Rumpleman walks his way to a place to sit and does so gingerly,
looking the way a homeless man does when he's trying to be on his best
behavior, sure people are watching.

Joann the homeless woman eventually finds her way over towards the couch.
Eli Rumpleman. Now there's a guy she can relate to.

"Maybe nothing," Harriet murmurs, giving them both an abashed smile as she
leads them over to the window, and points down at the pizza truck and its
new friends. "Is it just me," she asks quietly as she stares down at it,
"or are those bunch of guys down there acting a bit suspiciously, you
know? And where are the pizza dudes?"

Zach looks down at the pizza truck.

Harriet pages: There are seven, maybe eight guys sitting on the hood of
the truck. The delievry guys are nowhere to be found. Page Fidelity if
you're looking for more details.

You paged Fidelity with 'What's going on down by the car?'.

Fidelity pages: Perception roll. :)

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 1 = 5 . Check die: 6

Fidelity pages: Eight guys. At least six have guns. Two don't, but one of
those just sang a Song you don't know.

Zach stiffens and grabs Harriet lifting her away from the window. "Fuck!
Stay down and call the police! They've got guns, at least six of 'em and
they're not all ordinary humans," he hisses. "Hachilah, take care of the
kids. We've got to get them out of here before it's too late!" He glances
out again, positioning himself so that he's not that easily seen from
below. And then he glances at Eli, wincing.

Eli, for his own part, is oblivious, sipping that water-turned-whatever
and eating the small sandwich. He chats with the homeless woman about the
best cardboard for sleeping on.

Hachilah pales significantly. She nods and turns to look at the group of
teenagers, hesitating. Fortunately, these kids are accustomed to
situations like this. The band together, looking to Zach for guidance.
Hachilah, meanwhile, looks more or less confused and frightened.

Harriet, for her part, walks quickly over to the phone in the living room,
and dials 911. Men with guns counts as an emergency in her book. In a
voice that shakes, she quietly relates the details to the operator when
she gets one on the line.

Telephone? What telephone. Oh, the one that's giving no dial tone? Yeah,
that can be a huge pain in the ass, can't it? For their own part, one of
the men on the car hood seems to realize he's been 'made'. He motions to
the others. Three of them fan out, out of the window's line of sight,
towards the building entrance.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "And this is why spending 8 Essence to summon your
mind-addled boss in a neighborhood of bohemian alternative lifestyles is
*bad*, boys and girls. ;)"

<OOC> Harriet says with admiration, "You're /evil/..."

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Hachilah and Zach... not the sharpest pencils in the
box... <;)"

<OOC> Zach says, "Are they at the front of the house? Is there a back
stair in the house? Is there a stair/ladder that leads out on the roof?"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "The roof access is on the next floor up. There's a
fire escape, out back."

<OOC> Zach says, "How close are the houses here? Is it possible to escape
across the roofs?"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Yes."

"They're spreading out and coming at us. Get upstairs and make your escape
across the roofs, kids. Harriet, you have to go with them. Take my cell
and keep calling 911, Roger, whatever you can. Call Brynn! I'll stall and
stop them. Hachilah - take care of the Boss." Zach's voice is very tense.
"Hurry!"

The kids are, needless to say, freaked out and panicking by now. There's
shouts of 'HEY!' and 'What the fuck?!?' Eli just sits, eating.

Hachilah regards Zach, quietly fearful and confused, as she hurries over
to the couch. "Are we going to follow you or Harriet?"

Harriet nods grimly, and reaches out to get the cell phone from Zach with
one hand. With the other, she takes an X-acto knife from her work stand
and slips it into her pocket. You just never know. She attempts to smile
comfortingly at the kids, and Joann while she waits for Zach's answer,
every muscle tense.

"Follow Harriet, he's in no condition to do anything unless you manage to
wake him up, kid. Harriet, if you get through to Cosmo or Brynn, tell 'em
to FLY! Now get moving." He grabs a tray of canapes and hurries to the
door, opening it and looking outside to make sure it's safe to flee.

"Right," Harriet says, looking at Hachilah with wide eyes. Then she turns
to the kids. "Alright, guys. Let's do what the man said, you know? Up to
the roof, quickly and /quietly/." She starts chivving them through the
door as soon as Zach gives the all-clear.

The current time in Kansas City is 10:10 PM, Tue Jan 14, 2003.

Hachilah quirks a brow at Zach, nods, then turns to address Eli. "We're
under siege. We must flee."

<OOC> Zach says, "Excuse me, player needs to read a desc.."

Terrace Lofts -- Landings

	A charmingly aged building, of small studio apartments and, on the
fourth and fifth floor, full fledged lofts. The stairwell is narrow but
shallow, making it an easy walk but tough for hauling large furniture, but
at the far end of the landing is an antiquated lift-style elevator,
carefully maintained, which might make the latter easier. A glass-enclosed
notice-board near the mailboxes are full of the usual notices for such
neighborhoods -- gallery shows, calls for portfolios, business cards for
intellectual property lawyers, and so forth.

Obvious exits: Number 4B <4B> Front Door <O>

Zach grabs a tin tray, throwing the sandwiches on the floor, then moves
out into the small corridor, listening for footsteps in the stairs and
watching the elevator.

<OOC> Zach grabs /another/ tray, so he now has two. One with food on it
and one without.

For his own part, Eli looks up as his conversation partner is dragged off.
"Hey, what's going on?"

Harriet gets the kids moving out into the corridor behind Zach, and points
out the stairway to the next floor in urgent tones. "Let's go, guys," she
says, and flips open the cell phone to dial Brynn as she hurries along
behind the rest of them.

Coming up the stairs are three guys with guns who have other ideas, of
course. And that is where things .... get complicated.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Okay, at this point, folks, we move into official
combat turns."

Hachilah regards Eli with a very thoughtful expression. Her fear seems to
be waning in the face of disbelief and perplexion. She speaks quietly.
"There are hellspawn currently on their way up to meet us. Most likely for
nefarious purposes." She puts out a hand to her Archangel. "We must flee,
or face dire consequences..." Too late. She looks over her shoulder in
slow motion...

Zach is covering the stairs that go downward, planning to sabotage the
lift by jamming its door. But then....bad guys happen.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Hachilah says 'Noooooooooooooo' in slow-mo and
throws herself in front of the Unholy Bullet meant for Zach? ;)"

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Heh ;)"

<OOC> Zach giggles! :)

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Just don't let her dive behind you firing a
Celestial Song of Light, Zach. Trust me on this one."

<OOC> Harriet giggles.

<OOC> Zach says, "Yeah that's just what I need. My ass on fire! :)"

<OOC> Zach . o O ( Like it's not hot enough! )

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Oh he-of-the-flaming-pants..."

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Okay, so ... combat rounds. Anyone taking a
non-physical action this round, raise your hand."

<OOC> Hachilah raise!

<OOC> Zach is gonna try to Eli-kite the canapes.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "I use simple stuff based on IN books -- Physical
actions go in order of Agility, non-Physical in order of Perception. Any
*purely* non-physical actions -- Songs knwn at high enough level to avoid
need for physical gestures, some Attunements, etc. -- go first by order of
Per, all other physicals and non-physicals then go in order of
Per-or-Agi."

<OOC> Zach says, "What kind of guns btw? Pistols, revolvers, hand-cannons,
SMGs, BFGs..?"

<OOC> Hachilah says, "REDEEMER. Of course! ;D"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Miscellaneous handguns."

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Order is Hachilah, Zach, 2 of the gunmen, Harriet,
last gunman."

AutoJudge:  Hachilah spends 3 essence.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah rolls: 6 + 1 = 7 . Check die: 5

Hachilah's eyes burn with a brilliant intensity. All fear gone, at that
moment she is pure, a Holy instrument. "Weaken, foul creature. Feel your
insignificance next to the Glory of the Almighty." This must seem pretty
weird to the non-celestials present. But hey. Yay, for Seraphim. It's sort
of a nice tune, actually.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Okay, Zach. You may assume Gunman #1 was 'hit' by
the effect. I will pose the results as part of his action this round."

Zach grabs a canape off his tray and throws it at Gunman #2.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 6

<OOC> Zach says, "That was perception"

<OOC> Zach says, "Now Throw"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 3 + 3 = 6 . Check die: 4

A small, forlorn canape flies throught the air and into the face of the
second gunman. Zach remains where he is, trying to shield those behind him
and being thankful for the small fact that the stairway is very narrow...

<OOC> Hachilah gives the canape an Oscar.

<OOC> Hachilah sniffle.

<OOC> Harriet says, "Charge of the Light Canape?"

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Were those light? ;)"

<OOC> Harriet says, "They were until Zach got ahold of them... ;P"

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 2 + 3 = 5 . Check die: 3

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 6 + 4 = 10 . Check die: 5

Gunsel #1 reaches the top of the stairs and fires a shot at Harriet's
retreating back a moment *after* Hachilah's beautiful melody washes over
him. His aim is *way* off, as if the shock to his concentration makes him
unable to do a damn thing but fire blindly. The bullet, noisy and deadly,
lands with a >SPACK!< into the splintering wood of the bannister.
Meanwhile, Gunman #2 seems surprised to have a faceful of Canape. It
doesn't hurt him much as he returns the fire in Zach and Hachilah's
direction ... but it likewise throws *HIS* aim off, and the bullet lands
far wide of the Mechanic with The Hair.

Harriet retreats, sure enough! Grabbing any of the kids (or Joann) within
arms reach, she heads at speed for the other end of the hallway, bent
double.

Long distance to Harriet: Zach grumble. The Eli-kite attunement has only
ever worked ONCE for me. And that was when I decked Lucian with a wrench.
Why won't it work on missiles?! <:)

The third gunman has no real line of sight just yet, and spends his moment
or three in the spotlight likewise running upward, trying to catch up. The
fog of war prevents him from spending too much time actually aiming, but
the cover fire he provides sure is annoying.

"That's what it is!" shouts Eli. "Hey, Eli, duck!"

Harriet pages: You realize, of course, that your Archangel is a complete
loon...

You paged Harriet with 'Oh god he's turned into Fizban! 8)'.

<OOC> Zach says, "This round I am going to....duck. I am in fact going to
duck straight into Gunman #1's middle section, since I assume he's more or
less in my face, and the stairs are too narrow to really allow two gunmen
on the same step?"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "They can squeeze past each other, but cannot fire in
the turn they do so."

<OOC> Fidelity says, "This time, the order goes: Eli, Hachilah, Zach,
Gunman #1, Gunman #2, Harriet, Gunman #3."

His warning barely given, 'Eli' moves in a blur of speed that belies his
addled mental fugue. The half-full tumbler of whatever yellowish thing it
is flies straight for Gunman #2 just as the man comes around behind #1 and
attempts a better bead on Zach. There is a shriek as the man drops his
gun, clawing at his face. Strangely, there is no Disturbance from this.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah spends 3 essence.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah rolls: 3 + 2 = 5 . Check die: 1

Hachilah cringes, visibly, at the gunshots. Her expression tinged with
fear, she manages to barely maintain that Holy light in her eyes. A
trembling hand lifts up, pointing at Gunman #3. Her voice quivers as she
intones, "Feel your thoughts torn by my tongue." A bit less convicted than
her former outburst.

Zach sighs a heart-felt 'thank-you' to The Big Dude Upstairs, lets go of
the trays and grabs for Gunman #1's gun, attemting to yank it out of his
hand. At the same time he pushes him...

<OOC> Zach says, "I'll roll Fighting and let Fid sort out the TN for this
one. :)"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 6 + 6 = 12 . Check die: 2

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Fortunately, Zach's base TN is really huge for this
sort of thing. ;) I pose now."

Gunman #1, already stunned more than a bit by Hachilah's Song of Righteous
Gospel is grabbed with a loud oof of protest. He's stronger than he looks,
though, and while the gun *does* clatter from his hand to the ground, he
isn't quite as manhandled as Zach would have wished. Gunman #2, still
clawing at his eyes, slips in the wet smashed glass all around him and
falls back down the stairs.

Harriet calls Brynn, pressed against the wall of the hallway, watching the
fight with wide eyes.

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 4 + 5 = 9 . Check die: 6

Gunman #3, stymied from running further by his companion's fall down the
stairs, simply fires at Zach. At this point, he doesn't seem to care that
his other buddy is dancing with the guy. And that's perhaps precisely why,
in the karmic scheme of things, the bullet misses Zach and hits Gunman #1.
Hard. It couldn't have been a better shot if the kid had *tried*. Gunman
#1 simply shudders in Zach's grasp as the bullet causes a good chunk of
his left side , in the form of an exit wound, to spray over Zach's
clothes.

<OOC> Zach says, "Damnation!! That was my best t-shirt!!!"

<OOC> Harriet says, "It fell in the cause of righteousness."

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Next round: Anyone doing something non-physical?"

<OOC> Zach says, "Not I."

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Not me. :)"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Order is Eli, Zach, Gunman #1, Gunman #2, Hachilah
and Harriet tied, then Gunman #3."

Eli turns to the window. "No," he simply says, and there is a sensation of
something happening that isn't quite Disturbance. Whatever is happening is
outside of everyone's field of vision, though.

<OOC> Zach says, "Is my guy dead?"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Not yet."

You paged Fidelity with 'Can I use Gunman 1 as a 'missile'? I want to
throw him on top of the other two? Or is that Fighting still?'.

Fidelity pages: That's fighting.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 5 = 10 . Check die: 4

Zach gives Gunman 1 a mighty shove, pushing him down the stairs on top of
the other two. At the same time he's trying to sense or hear or whatever
if there are more bad men coming up the stairs, or the lift or...
"Hachilah, check the fire ladder at the back!"

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 5 + 5 = 10 . Check die: 5

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 6 + 5 = 11 . Check die: 3

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 2 + 2 = 4 . Check die: 2

The three gunsels end up in a heap on the third floor landing, a tangle of
arms and legs and blood and guts and metal and .... well, you know, chaos.

You paged Harriet with 'Well... At least it's in one of my AA's spirit...
:P'.

Harriet pages: Indeed. Are you sure he's not hanging around... :)

Hachilah steps back with a little shriek, her hands going to her face. She
stares at the bleeding gunmen, stares at the pile o' bad guy guts and
metal, in near abject horror. She doesn't seem to hear Zach, at all, in
her distress.

Long distance to Fidelity: Zach sighs morosely. "Well, at least I'm
feeding Jay's Word. Mayhem hath verily Ensued..." :)

Harriet looks around frantically as she waits for the phone to connect,
but also doesn't do anything like, say, sprint to the back to look at the
fire ladder.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Non-Physicals?"

<OOC> Zach says, "Nope"

<OOC> Hachilah says, "No.:)"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Same order as last time, then."

Eli just stands there, staring out the window. NOW some kind of glow is
apparent, coming from outside. Is he doing something, or stopping
something from being done? Who knows? Perhaps not even he does.

Zach makes haste down to the next landing to confiscate guns, check for
deaders and see if any more baddies are coming up that way.

<OOC> Zach says, "Have we heard any disturbance yet from bullets, Songs,
people being thrown down stairs...?"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Nope."

There are guns, two of them -- the third having skittered too far away.
Suddenly, however, there is a very *loud* tympanic disturbance, at least
to Zach and Hachilah's ears. To her, still in the field of vision, the
source is obvious, as a demon (well, with the Numinous Corpus distorting
that body, it's *clearly* a demon or hellridden mortal) *appears* as if by
the Song of Motion just a few yards from Eli's unprotected back. This is
especially unfortunate because the demon has one taloned claw-hand on the
shoulder of a fourth gunsel who, though his Master is clearly spent by the
effort, is well-trained enough to open fire immediately. "DIE, ANGEL,
DIE!" And the bullets tear through the Archangel of Creation's back.

You paged Fidelity with 'Did I just get Dissonance btw? Oath no 4: 4)
Always protect my allies in combat...'.

Fidelity pages: Yes. A note. :)

AutoJudge:  Hachilah spends 2 essence.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah rolls: 5 + 6 = 11 . Check die: 1

It was supposed to be such a nice party. Oh, well. Harriet gets Brynn, and
wastes no time shrieking into the cell phone, "Men with guns! My
apartment! Zach says FLY!" and her head jerks up towards the sound of
gunfire.

You paged Fidelity with 'Ow! See Arethas enter Ultraviolent Cherukite
Mode....'.

Hachilah steps further back, eyes-wide with horror, staring at their
stricken Archangel. Words come out of her mouth like a half-spoken,
half-whispered nursery rhyme, a broken and hesitant tune...

<OOC> Harriet thinks we all need a snuggle. Including Eli.

<OOC> Zach agrees!

<OOC> Hachilah whispers, "The horror. The HORR -- whee, snuggles? :D"

<OOC> Fidelity says, "THis round -- Eli, Hachilah, Zach, Demon, Gunsel #4,
Harriet."

For his own part, Creation is thrown forward by the barrage from the
little submachinegun -- wow, those Mini-Uzi's are something, aren't they?
-- and crashes into the wall. Something resembling human blood, but
clearly not that, spatters on the wall, and he spins around a moment after
impact, eyes bright and shining. Whatever he was doing outside ceases, and
loud sounds can be heard from without. "No," he repeats, and the voice is
drunk and lost no more. "Not until all of Creation falls. Not until then,
and perhaps not even." And with a casual flick of a wrist, the Archangel
of Creation -- oh, yes, he has the Attuned gifts of ALL of his Choirs of
Angels, remember -- sends a handful of spare pocketchange in his off hand
into the Demon's face, with enough force to cause at least a minor
explosion of not-human flesh and bone and gore.

<OOC> Hachilah cheers! :)

<OOC> Zach says, "Eli'd whup Mike's ass any time!!! He just doesn't
wanna!! :D *ahem* Don't mind me..."

<OOC> Harriet is just in happy awe.

Hachilah blinks at Eli, and slowly stops mouthing her useless
incantation... She watches... fearful, confused, and awestruck, her last
word hanging on her lips as she watches.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Obviously, Zach is down a flight of stairs and can't
*see* what's going on, but he maybe hears mumbling, gunfire, and minor
explosions of flesh."

Fidelity pages: Also, he obviously feels a momentary note of Dissonance
wash over him, then fade an instant later.

As Zach picks up the second gun, glancing down the stairs disaster
strikes. A demon bamfs in with a gunman in tow, firing at Zach's
Archangel! As the bullets hit Eli, Zach cringes in acute pain and looks up
in utter horror. Something in him snaps and he acts on the pure, primal
instinct that's been hard-coded into his very soul. He charges wildly back
up the stairs and aims straight for gunman and demon. The enraged mechanic
and his Hair will gleefully tackle both if they stand close enough.
"AAAAAAAARRRGHHH!!!"

You paged Fidelity with 'The small touch of it was quite enough! Zach has
Traumatic Experience with that sort of thing... :)'.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 2

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Give me one more +Roll, Zach, since I have to
determine randomly which one you hit. :)"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 6 = 10 . Check die: 1

AutoJudge:  Fidelity rolls: 1 + 1 = 2 . Check die: 6

<OOC> Zach eyes the CDs grumpily.

The clawed creature is closer to the door, and as Zach barrels past
Hachilah, he is enough in the demon's field of vision that it has enough
time to see ... and dodge. Despite his injuries, or perhaps because of
them, the Demon decides to grin a wolfish grin with what remains of his
face, and begins to chant something ritualistic and demonic. Uh oh. The
gunsel, eyes wide, simply *runs* for the door, as if what he's seeing now
is more than he signed up for.

Harriet is still pressed against the wall, in her awkward crouch. The
phone drops from her nerveless fingers and she just stares in
open-mouthed, wide-eyed awe at the whole scene.

"Arethas." His Master's Voice. Emphatic, for all that it is at spoken
volume. "Stop. Now." It is clearly Eli now, still. "All of you, in fact.
Stop. Now. That goes doubly for you, Punisher."

Okay, /that/ does tear through the roaring curtain of flaming anger that
had taken Arethas over. He stops and snaps to attention.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Does anyone plan to do anything other than stop? If
not, we leave combat time."

<OOC> Harriet says, "Not I. Most emphatically."

<OOC> Hachilah says, "er. Not me. :)"

<OOC> Zach is a Good Malakite! He Follows Orders!

Hachilah's eyebrows go up gently. Her eyes are tight with confusion and
weary distress. She looks from Eli to Arethas to the punisher, uncertain
and frightened.

Harriet stands up very, very slowly, still staring with slack-jawed shock
at the little tableau.

Seeing no disobedience, Eli continues, stepping forward. His physical
vessel clearly *is* injured, and the effort of maintaining his sense of
Self right now is clearly costing him on a level beyond the physical, but
still Creation is Himself at the moment. "You," he says to the Demon, "are
clearly a Virtuoso of Motion. So get out of my sight, and back to the
Langell House. You have leave to go in peace if you go *now*. You tell
your cur of a master that I have no plans to take back my Holy Place right
now, but I can't speak for my Angels, who still remember him and his. Go
and tell him, Punisher, that Creation will still defy him to the last."
And as the demon tries to hold shattered jaw together to Sing a Song of
Departing, Eli turns to the two Angels.

Under the brilliant gaze of her Maker, Hachilah succumbs, weary in spirit
and mind. A tear wells up in her eye and falls, glistening down her cheek.
She looks up at Eli, at his torn vessel, into his eyes... and she shakes
her head sadly.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Aw."

As the blood-fog departs and Eli's voice sounds again, Zach starts to calm
his breathing. The first painful lashes of afterthought whip across his
mind and heart, and his swallows. He forces himself to meet his
Archangel's eyes, mortified at the disaster he caused. His jaws tightens
as he awaits the judgment he so richly deserves.

Harriet lurks, looks generally worried, and is quiet like the mouse.

To Hachilah: "Go. Your friends are better equipped to deal with the police
than someone who can speak only Truth. Bo Ling's isn't far. If your friend
over there." -- a gesture in Harriet's direction -- "still has her
cellular phone, I can give her a number to call to ensure they'll let you
in." Without waiting for a reply, he says to Zach: "Arethas, one of my
cousin-brother-sons is outside, still, waiting for his current comrades.
His name is Nathaniel and he is a fallen Friend. You are not to touch him,
do you hear? I still have hope that he will return to Heaven. If any
reinforcements you've summoned shows, *they* are not to touch him either.
Go see to it. I return your Essence to you ... I would do more, but it's
hard enough defying my own will to return my Self to me right now. Just go
... and sin no more."

Zach swallows again and bows to Eli. "Your will be done, my Archangel." He
starts forcing his feet to move, but as he passes the threshold he turns
slightly. "She is Harriet, she wishes to join us..." He gestures to
Harriet then leaves.

Hachilah nods slowly to Eli, and glances tearfully at Zach before slipping
down the stairs, and heading for Bo Ling's. Apparently, she isn't
concerned about being refused entrance. As she goes, her weariness seems
to lessen... Her pace quickens, and she disappears from view.


To (Zach, Hachilah, Brynn), Fidelity pages: WHen Zach and Hachilah emerge,
Brynn, pose based on what you've been told. Z, H, in a nutshell, there are
some more folks out there, a cluster thereof. And sirens in the distance.

You step outside. Plaza/Westport -- 41st and Terrace
	A neighborhood popular with the artistic and creative types --
writers, sculptors, painters, actors, and so forth -- who have gravitated
to it as an urban commune, revitalizing the area. With a handful of
reasonably old townhouses and apartment buildings, scattered among many
far newer buildings, the place manages to pull off the eclectic, Bohemian
look without appearing too seedy or ragged.
	Of course, given the occupational makeup of the neighborhood,
there is plenty of activity; every telephone pole seems to add more flyers
for someone's debut exhibition almost by the hour, visited by the leaflet
fairies who come and go armed with staplers and sacks of printed papers.
The activities advertised by these leaflets sometimes spill out into the
street, and there is never really true quiet, what with all the frustrated
young musicians in the area.

Needless to say, it's rather dark at the moment, but it's still possible
to see Brynn approach. She does so rather fast, perhaps moving at... oh,
well, pretty fast. She could get a nice place at the Olympics, in all
likelihood. She quickly slows down when she notices the thugs and Zack
(and she does), and tries to conceal herself behind any parked cars there
may be, eyes locked on the leader of the thugs.

<OOC> Brynn makes a Move Silently roll, if that's okay with the two of
you.

As Hachilah steps gingerly out of the Terrace Lofts apartment building,
her eyes go to the horizon, divining the direction of the sirens.

<OOC> Zach says, "Sure"

<OOC> Hachilah says, "Sure :)"

AutoJudge:  Brynn rolls: 3 + 4 = 7 . Check die: 2

To (Fidelity, Zach, Brynn), Hachilah pages: How many thugs? :)

<OOC> Brynn says, "A modified 4."

To (Zach, Brynn, Hachilah), Fidelity pages: Half a dozen, easy.

Hachilah eyes the cluster of thugs, and takes a fearful step backwards.

Long distance to (Fidelity, Hachilah, Brynn): Zach sprints out the door
and stops, making sure to cover Hachilah. "Nathaniel! Leave now! The Boss
says you get to live," he calls out. "If there's any of my friends here,"
he continues, "You have to leave him alone. The others don't matter
though."

<OOC> Zach says, "Tries to spot Brynn - TN 3...."

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 1 + 3 = 4 . Check die: 5

You paged Hachilah with 'I'm okay with you leaving. You must be knackered!
:)'.

AutoJudge:  Hachilah rolls: 4 + 6 = 10 . Check die: 1 Y <OOC> Hachilah
says, "Well. La-di-da. :)"

Hachilah pages: Thanks :)

You paged Hachilah with 'Thanks for the RP! :)'.

Hachilah glances at Zach, hesitant to go. But the order of an Archangel
has placed little wings on her feet... she gives Zach a forlorn look, then
sprints off, heading south.

To (Zach, Harriet, Fidelity, Brynn), Hachilah pages: G'nite all, I'm going
to bed. :)

Hachilah has left.

From afar, to (Brynn, Zach): Fidelity allows you both liberties on the
Soldiers. One or two will have token rsistance and be easily dealt with
before cops arrive.  Nathaniel -- Zach, you met him once, at the Langell
House, as he's the guy Marmesh stared down -- starts to run faster than a
human possibly could, but his path is going to take him right past Brynn.
I trust you both. Play it up.

Brynn proceeds towards the group, making few noises at all. A faint crunch
of snow, a low scrape of rubber against asphalt, but nothing much. When
Nathaniel runs by, she leaps out, and attempts to tackle him. Should she
succeed, she will try to immobilizing him by forcing his arms around his
back.

From afar, to (Zach, Fidelity): Brynn nods. "Okay. Brynn will try to
tackle him, though, so... what kind of resistance should I expect?"

To (Brynn, Zach), Fidelity pages: He'll try to dodge and flee. Zach, you
may +roll his Dodge. Assume the total TN is 10.

AutoJudge:  Brynn rolls: 2 + 2 = 4 . Check die: 4

<OOC> Brynn says, "Modified CD of 7 for the fighting roll."

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 6 + 6 = 12 . Check die: 6 INFERNAL INTERVENTION!

<OOC> Brynn says, "Oh my."

You paged (Fidelity, Brynn) with 'Nathe got an II......'.

<OOC> Zach laughs hysterically!! This has been a VERY LONG SESSION and now
THAT! :)

<OOC> Fidelity takes care of the pose.

With a loud, wet >thwack<, Nathaniel is forced to the cold, damp cement,
his head grazing the dirty slush that fills the curb. "LET ME GO!", he
shouts, starting to struggle, And then there is a very quiet near-echo,
"Yes, let him go," says a voice that drifts through the winter chill like
oil over a still pond.

Zach sprints over to the scuffle at top speed, grabbing Brynn and
desperately trying to pry her off Nathaniel. "Let go of him! Let go of
him!" he gasps, desperation and incredible urgency in his voice. "Let go
or I have to fight you!"

Oh, this isn't good... Brynn glances up at Zach, but doesn't let go just
yet. "Don't you have a ward to take care of?" she asks in a colder voice
than one could expect from a Servitor of Fire. And that evil voice! But
she continues to hold him right now, if possible.

For his own part, Nathaniel's eyes go wide at something *more* than Brynn.
"Ohshitohshitohshit! LET ME GO!" But it's too late. That silky voice has
his attention now. He simply whimpers, "Prince Morningstar, help me....."
Oh, *that* silky voice. Yes, coming from, you know, about 3 or 4 yards
behind Brynn, where the shadows between two vans are deepest, and a
man-who-isn't in an impeccable overcoat emerges.

"Let him GO Brynn! Archangel's orders!" Zach shouts it out loud. "Flee!"

The redhead's lips move in a brief, silent prayer, but she doesn't let go
yet. "No," she says, because she's the stupidest Malakite in creation. Her
eyes wander to the nice gentleman, which, of course, means that her
attention isn't fully on the fiend below her.

The 'nice gentleman' simply takes another step forward, curious now. "Oh,
I should intervene, I just know I should, but somehow," and with this, the
Fallen Lord of Light simply smiles, "I think I'd rather just watch." Yes,
it's clear who he is. Yes, it's pretty damned blatant.

Nathaniel, of course, *screams*. Sirens come closer in the distance.

Zach is beyond desperate, and in Oath conflict to boot! He rips the bumper
bar clean off the car standing next to them and beans Brynn with it as
hard as he can. "Prime Oath you idiot!!! Let go and RUN, damn you!!"

<OOC> Zach says, "Perception"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 1 + 1 = 2 . Check die: 2

<OOC> Zach says, "So close... Now uh...club, TN 8, power +3 total"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 4 + 5 = 9 . Check die: 1

<OOC> Zach says, "Damn! Literally"

Brynn manages to evade the bumper, though this means that she's forced to
let go of Nathaniel so she gains enough mobility. Of course, it's possible
she did it just because. Hooray! The Judas wannabe is free! She tries to
get to her feet.

For his own part, Nathaniel starts to scramble away, on his hands and
knees until he can get enough purchase to rise with a flailing of arms and
a surging forwad motion.  "Such incredible survival instincts," says
Lucifer, as the young Impudite flees. "How remarkable. I really must find
an appropriate Word for that lad." He watches the two Malakim. "I suppose
this means you'll both go your separate ways an deny me the pleasure of
watching two Warriors of the Lord of Hosts grapple in fierce combat?"

Zach drops the bumper with a *clang*, grabs Brynn to help her up and
starts dragging her away from....HIM. Or trying to anyway...
"We're....leaving now," he confirms in a forced voice. Just getting the
words out is a struggle. This has NOT been a good night.

Harriet pages: Smarmy bastard.

You paged Harriet with 'Well yes. He /is/ the capital-D Devil after all.
:)'.

Harriet pages: Yes. But it should be said by someone, anyway.

Brynn, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be too willing to vacate the
area. "Let me go," she growls as Zach's hands lock around her... well,
whatver they lock around. Initially, Zach is likely to find it relatively
easy to drag her away, but she attempts to gain purchase on the cold, cold
ground, because she could, you know, do a whole lot against Lucy. Well, at
least the ground is slippery and maybe even full of white stuff, so she
might not have much luck.

From afar, Brynn has a feeling she's going to owe Zach so bad. After she
regains her senses, but...

Zach is not bloody likely to let Brynn go. This evil is one that he will
just have to allow to live for now, and he isn't going to give Brynn a
choice if he can help it. He grunts with the effort and lifts her up in
order to be able to move FASTER away from.....HIM. "Good bye, Lucifer..."
he manages to grunt as he struggles away.

"As in 'God be with Ye', Virtue? Of course He is. He is never far from
*my* thoughts." And with that, the Prince of Darkness steps backward, into
the shadows of the vans.

Long distance to Fidelity: Zach accepts a note of Dissonance. :) I think
Brynn shouldn't have to for the Prime Oath, since I sorta forced her. :)

His voice, however, can be heard before he fades completely, "He came back
to himself tonight, I feel it. Tell the Lord of Creation that I wait for
him still, down in the Darkness, which he likewise Created. Tell him that
Hell is waiting for him, any time now....." And then there is a quiet,
single, subtle note of something Disturbing, and the Dark Prince is gone.

Brynn wants to yell something clever at Lucy. She really does.
Something... memorable. However, even though she tries to rummage her mind
for clever words, she finds none. Indeed, were she to open her mouth right
now, it's unlikely anything but a scream of rage would emerge. Besides,
there's nothing dignified about being carried away.

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Oh, just kiss him. ;)"

<OOC> Zach says, "Ben, Fidelity, Lord Of Brass & Steel - Let it be known
that I am officially In Awe! WOW!"

<OOC> Zach laughs! :)

<OOC> Fidelity has his moments.

<OOC> Brynn agrees. It was quite lovely.

Zach hasn't drunk anything today, and that is a good thing. It means that
he hasn't wet himself. Be grateful for the little things, Arethas. Be
grateful. The other thing he is really grateful for right now, is that
Brynn's Vessel is short. Easier to lift. He hustles over to the door and
inside before he lets her down. "Shit. Shiiiiiiiiiit...." he whimpersighs.
And then - he gets the shakes.

<OOC> Brynn says, "Oh, damn."

<OOC> Fidelity says, "Mmm...short and willowy Malakite..mmmmmmm."

<OOC> Brynn really wanted to know what the worst thing Lucy had done this
week was.

<OOC> Zach dies! You wanted to resonate HIM?! :D

<OOC> Fidelity says, "You can't resonate a Superior-class being, remember?
Ineffable. ;)"

<OOC> Brynn says, "Ah, yes. I forget."

<OOC> Brynn says, "But it could be sweet!"

<OOC> Zach says, "YOu can if they let you. Which he might have done just
to be... You knwo, mean."

<OOC> Fidelity leaves you two to RP whatever happens now. Ciao.

Fidelity has left.

Brynn doesn't resist when she's put down, and pretty much just sits there,
staring blankly into the air. She says nothing! Nothing! It's pretty dull,
too.

Zach is shaking like a leaf all over, breathing coming in short, forced
gasps. He isn't aware of it, but tears are running down his cheeks.
It.....HURTS.

The sirens are now very close, as the cavalry are showing up. Too late as
per usual... Brynn looks up at Zach, but doesn't say anything. It isn't
unlikely she just feels... numb. Like an Elohite on Thorazine.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 2 + 3 = 5 . Check die: 4

Zach makes an effort to gather his senses somewhat. Damn sirens... He
forces himself to stop shaking, or at least shake less. "B-Brynn. Thank
you for coming to our aid, sister. You may leave now before the cops show
up if you want. I have to..." He makes another visible effort to calm
himself, "I have to go to Harriet now. You can come too if you want." He
starts moving towars the stairs.

Brynn continues to just sit there, for good or ill, almost as if she
didn't really hear him. As for what goes on inside her head, Zach is left
to speculate. It may or may not be: 'Lucy not here? Lucy gone? Where Lucy
go? ...Sure Lucy not here? Lucy doesn't *seem* to be here... but Lucy
sneaky...) Okay, it probably isn't.

Zach touches her shoulder as he passes her by, gives it a squeeze in fact.
"The police are coming. I'm going up." Then he makes haste up the stairs.
To Harriet!

You paged Harriet with 'There's a knocking without the door!'.

Harriet pages: The door is still open a crack, blocked by sandwiches and
stuff. The lights are on, and there's silence within.

Oh, right, the police. Not that Brynn cares that much about them right
now, it appears. She doesn't react much, just blinking once. So dull.
Sadness.

<OOC> Brynn says, "Thanks for the RP."

<OOC> Zach says, "Likewise! *hug*"

You enter the Terrace Lofts building.

Zach opens the door and walks in silently. He is shivering slightly and
looks around at the chaos. Not that this is all that bad. The chaos on the
3rd floor landing, now /that's/ Bad. "Ha-Harriet?" he asks weakly.

Harriet is standing next to a ruined table, a bottle of what used to be
mineral water in her hands. She's staring at it, her eyes...not unseeing.
Possibly as far from unseeing as it's possible for a human to get. But
she's also clearly not paying much attention to the here and now, until
Zach's voice penetrates. Her eyes focus on him. "Zach?" She takes in the
shivering. "Zach? What's wrong you know?" She crosses over to him, and
wraps a supporting arm around his waist.

Zach swallows and swallows. At first completely unable to answer. But the
horror in his eyes is plain to see. It's as if he just had a run in with
the very Devil himself.

Harriet stares into Zach's eyes, and without a word, steers him over to
the bed and sits him down on it. She puts the bottle of Eli's wine in one
of his hands. He obviously needs a drink, and it's certain to be a good
vintage. That done, she strokes his hair and back, looking for any gore
that didn't come from Bad Guys.

Zach just holds the bottle, eyes closed. Tears starting to run down his
cheeks again. He is so tense, so tense. Shivers run through him like
cramps. "H-Harriet.. I'm so sorry. H-how.. Are y-you okay?" he whispers,
finally looking at her.

"I'm fine, fine," Harriet says, softly, doing her best to ignore the new
stuff happening in her head while she focuses on Zach. She crawls behind
him and starts massaging his shoulders. "Zach...what happened, you know?"

Zach pulls himself together with superhuman effort. Now the sirens can be
heard on the streets just below the windows. The cavalry are finally
here... "I... Brynn was already there when I came down. I had to stop her
from taking Nathaniel. And..." He closes his eyes again, trying to force
that horrible, nice, cultivated and deeply disturbing voice out of his
head. "And then someone came. But he left again and we still live." There
is dread but also something like wonder in his voice. "Where is Eli?" he
asks suddently, looking around.

"I don't know," Harriet admits, quietly, as she scoots up close to cuddle
him. Someone? She doesn't ask, yet. "I...he...gave me some wine. And
th-things changed, you know? I think he must have slipped out while I
was...listening."

Zach blinks and then turns his head to look at her properly. "You can hear
it now?" A smile flashes over his face, and relief. Then he gets worried
again. With such a traumatic evening, will she regret it? "Um... And
how... How do you feel?"

You paged Brynn with 'Are you still sitting there when the police arrive,
or do you Lurk where they can't see you?'.

In answer, Harriet smiles in joy, love, and absolutely no regret at all.
And since Zach has his head tilted around already, she bends close and
kisses him, for good measure.

That has to be good enough answer for now. Zach reacts purely on instinct
again, letting the Word he serves take over. So he embraces Harriet and
answers her kiss. Just like so. Thank God in Heaven it wasn't all in vain!

Brynn pages: No, wait, she would go all ninjarish.

Harriet closes her eyes and just lets herself enjoy kissing Zach and being
kissed by Zach, and hugs him back just as tightly as he hugs her. And, if
she has any say in it at all, he will never know what she gave up. Never.

Zach keeps on kissing all the way up till the police comes trampling up
the stairs and bang on the door. Only then does he stop and very
reluctantly tears his lips away from Harriet's. "Let's deal with /them/
now.. And talk more later..." he murmurs. A faint shiver pass through him
again, and he swallows. But he doesn't let Harriet go. Oh no. He's glued
to her side like the cherub he would have been had Eli not interfered with
his fledging.

Harriet nods, and gives Zach a reassuring smile, and presumably with him
attached, goes over to let the nice men with guns (as opposed to the evil
men with guns) inside. The fact that now both she /and/ Zach are smeared
with Bits 'O Baddie seems to make an impression on the nice policemen. For
her part, she keeps an arm around Zach at every opportunity, and answers
the questions in a tired voice. No, she didn't know the bad guys, no she
doesn't know why they'd storm her building, no, she's not hurt, etc.

Zach does the same. He tries to give as much detail as he can on the
baddies that got away, even mentioning that someone said something about
Langell House. It doesn't hurt to remind the authorities about that
derelict pain in the proverbials. No he wasn't trying to play hero, but
yes he did push those guys down the stairs. He doesn't have to pretend to
be shaken at least. It's plain for all to see.

Harriet actually doesn't seem as shaken as Zach, and is more...solemn than
anything else. And periodically, she can't help but stop and cock her
ears, as if listening to something. But she holds together admirably well
throughout the questions, and cuddles Zach constantly.

Fast-forwarding, and the police have left. The crime scene has been taken
care of and silence sets in slowly. Zach constantly fuss around Harriet.
It's much better than thinking... "What happened to that table?" he asks,
finally noticing the broken furniture.

You paged (Brynn, Harriet) with 'We've fast-forwarded past the police
intervention, so if you'd like to come up... :)'.

"Couple of stray bullets, I think," Harriet says, glancing at it. "From
the machinegun, maybe?" She seems if not perfectly happy to be fussed
around, at least able to recognize that Zach needs to do it. She stares at
the gore on Zach's shirt. "I don't think that's going to come out, you
know?"

Brynn has arrived.

Zach looks at his t-shirt and shrugs. "Shit happens. A ruined shirt I can
handle." He sighs. "I guess we'd better start cleaning things up in
here..."

<OOC> Brynn tries to sneak in?

<OOC> Zach says, "Go ahead! :)"

AutoJudge:  Brynn rolls: 2 + 4 = 6 . Check die: 1

<OOC> Brynn says, "3."

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 6 + 5 = 11 . Check die: 4

<OOC> Zach says, "I see nuffink! and hear...NUFFINK!"

Harriet keeps staring at the shirt. And then she notices her shirt and
vest, with secondary gore. Carefully, she stands up. "Please excuse me,"
she says, and walks calmly towards the bathroom, and closes the door
behind her. The perceptive might hear retching sounds shortly afterwards.

<OOC> Harriet isn't even going to roll. She's really not able to notice
much at the moment... :)

Zach frets and drats and ends up just banging his head against the wall a
few times, the removes the bloody t-shirt. This leave him bare chested,
but he can take it.

<OOC> Zach says, "Did Harriet lock the door?"

<OOC> Harriet says, "No."

Brynn opens the door... stealthily! Because it wasn't locked. Something
like that. As such, she's probably just standing in the doorway suddenly.
And her eyes are almost not red! And there's a bare chested Malakite.

After having removed and dustbinned the offending article of clothing, he
quietly pads over to the bathroom door knocking sofly. "Harriet? Are you
okay? Can I..?" He tries the door and finds it open, so he peeks in. There
must be something he can do. Like backrubs. Or fetching water. Or getting
rid of the other bloody shirt... He is completely oblivious of being ogled
by Brynn.

Harriet emerges from the bathroom after a few moments, her shirt and vest
balled up in her hand. This means that she's also barechested. She sees
Brynn, and blinks. Then she continues to walk calmly to her wardrobe, and
put on another, clean, shirt. The entire procedure appears to be on
autopilot.

Brynn has now seen two of her associates barechested. It's a start. She
just stands there, however, like an Elohite on a Ritalin, Thorazine and...
and... that other drug... that the African hunters would take! Anyway, she
closes the door (quietly! Like ninja!), and continues to stand there, like
the good Malakite she is.

Zach hovers a bit, but Harriet seems to have a course set and he's not
going to play iceberg to her Titanic. So...he hovers. And finally sees
that there is a person standing where none was standing before. He starts,
but relaxes when he sees who it is. "Brynn. Hey... How are you?" he asks
with a small frown of worry and care. Since he's topless, it's plain to
see that he's tense. His muscles just refuse to relax and let go.

<OOC> Zach says, "A physiotherapist would weep! :)"

Harriet buttons up her shirt, one-handed, and fishes around in the bottom
of the wardrobe for a plastic bag. In go the offending garments. Then she
turns back, bag in hand, and smiles at Brynn. "Sit down, Brynn. Would
either of you like something to drink? Most of the booze didn't even get
touched, you know?"

"Still alive." Yes, a certain -someone- ruined a perfectly good
pseudo-suicide thing of hers. Despite Harriet's gracious offer, she
doesn't even answer the woman. "What happened?" she inquires instead,
because she indeed can. She continues to seem a bit absent, however, as if
her mind where somewhere else.

Zach heads for the fridge and gets out a sixpack of beer that he puts on
the bench. Beers gets handed out to anyone who wants one. Or two. Or many.
He sighs and looks at Brynn. "Druggies from Langell House attacked.
Fleurity's miserable worms. Eli was here..." He takes a good, long drink
form his bottle.

Harriet takes one, although she normally hates beer. She pops the top, and
drinks down a long swallow. Alcohol is good. "Eli got shot," is her
contribution to the conversation. "And I'm a Soldier. For real." Her tone
doesn't vary from the bland or pleasant.

"I see," Brynn says in a subdued voice, giving a small nod, though mostly
to herself. She sits there, doing little but stare mildly ahead of her.

<OOC> Harriet says, "Poor Zach. Stuck with the Thorazine Twins!"

Zach fights off another shiver. They happen at infrequent intervals now.
He puts the beer bottle gingerly down on the kitchen desk. He drags a hand
over his eyes, tiredly. "I can't BELIVE how stupid I was! I can't belive
Eli let me live. I put kids, /human children/ in harm's way! Children!" He
chokes and stands sliently, both hands on the desk supporting him, head
bowed in shame.

<OOC> Zach says, "And Thorazine Twins stuck with Mortified Malakite in
full I Hate Myself mode. :)"

Harriet blinks at Zach, and wanders over that way, absently dropping the
bag on the floor, and placing the bottle on the desk beside him. She wraps
her arms around him, and just holds him with one arm while the other
beckons to Brynn to come over.

<OOC> Brynn says, "How sturdy is the desk?"

<OOC> Harriet says, "It's the kitchen counter, I'm guessing, so it's very
sturdy."

Brynn doesn't stand. Instead, she opens her jacket, and messes with
something inside. This gives the two time to do... whatever.

Zach grits his teeth and just keeps his eyes closed tightly while the
enormity of the things that happened here tonight crash down on him in
full. "Children... And you..." He embraces Harriet with one arm, pulling
her close to him, but still keeps the same stance. "You could have been
killed too! And I got Eli shot!"

Harriet thinks about it for a moment, and nods slowly. "The party was a
mistake," she states calmly. "As for me...I could die or be killed any
day, you know? I knew that when I signed up. As for Eli..." she sighs and
her arm tightens around Zach, "...he already addressed everything that
happened this evening, didn't he?"

<OOC> Brynn makes a throwing roll. Spoke to H about it.

AutoJudge:  Brynn rolls: 6 + 5 = 11 . Check die: 6

Swiftly, Brynn's hand emerges from her jacket, holding something shiny and
sharp. Her arm is brought down, then a bit upwards, though diagonally
rather than in a curved arch. The blade darts through the air, and *TAK!*
impacts. The blade has hit the wooden chopping block not too terribly far
from Harriet and Zach quite nicely, and has sunk into it pretty deep, as
well.

"You could always deal with it my way," Brynn's voice comes from where she
still stands. "Yet, did your Superior order you to suffer?" Zach's own
words. The lesson is: Don't say anything to Brynn. "I intend to teach them
a lesson they aren't likely to forget."

And it's the Hitler Jugend knife. Yeah.

Zach looks at the knife, where it stands vibrating in the block. Then he
looks at Brynn. "And your way is to throw knives at your friends, sister?"
If he tenses more now, he'll burst. "And yes, Eli did order me to suffer.
He ordered me to make sure noone laid a hand on the Taker, because he
wants him back."

Harriet is lost at this point, but that's okay. She blinks at the knife.
Oh, yeah. With her free arm, she reaches into her back pocket and pulls
out an X-acto knife, and places it gingerly on the counter. Much better.

"I rarely miss, Zach," Brynn says, simply enough, without a hint of regret
in her voice. "I hope your memory isn't that addled." She turns on her
heel, and heads towards the door again. It's a nice door.

Zach keeps still and follows Brynn with his eyes. "Good for you, sister. I
am sorry for what happened outside, but I was honor-bound to do what I
did. There was no other choice for me." He sighs softly and gives Harriet
a squeeze. Mm. Nice Harriet.

Harriet will want an explanation about what the hell is going on, that
much is clear from her expression. It's also clear that this is not the
time, however, so she leans against Zach as she is squeezed, and lets out
a sigh of her own. "Please don't argue, you two. There's been too much
conflict for one night, you know?" she pleads, wearily.

Brynn does indeed not argue. Hooray! Victoly! Instead, she opens the door,
and, barring divine (or infernal - Lucy has a thing for her) intervention,
steps outside, and closes it quietly behind her. Again, barring eerie
occurances.

<OOC> Harriet says, "Lucy has a thing for Brynn...now /that's/ scary. :)
*HUGS*"

Zach doesn't lift a finger to stop her. He's a malakite so he knows a
thing or two about how she feels. It burns him too.

<OOC> Brynn says, "He does!"

<OOC> Zach nods! *hug* "I think he 'has a thing' for kites in general!
He's a smarmy bugger!"

Harriet doesn't stop her, either, although she does watch the departure
with sad, green eyes. After the door closes, she takes a deep breath and
lets it out slowly. Her eyes drift to the knife.

<OOC> Harriet says, "Well, I can sympathise with him there. Malakim are
cool. :)"

Zach also breathes out, and relaxes somewhat. It wasn't at all nice, the
thing he did to Brynn. She has every right to be pissed off. He sidesteps
and yanks Brynn's knife out of the chopping block. Lays it gently down on
the counter. "I love you Harriet, no matter what else madness there is."

<OOC> Brynn steps outside, allowing you to RP and whatnot.

Harriet looks at the knife, then at Zach. "I love you, too, Zach. And
madness...well, we can deal, you know?" She smiles at him.

Zach looks at her with a strange exspression on his face. Then he smiles
and chuckles. "Yeah! We'll deal!" ...and starts to laugh outright.

Harriet peers up at Zach, trying to decide if that's genuine laughter, or
disturbing hysterical laughter. And if it's the former, what exactly is so
funny. She adjusts her glasses, as if this will help make the decision.
"Are you...okay, Zach?"

It's genuine laughter born form the fact that this night have been so
utterly insane that there's nothing left to do tight now, but laugh. It's
a great way to get some of the tension out of the system! He just nods,
laughing helplessly (and rather contagiously).

Harriet smiles back at Zach, and chuckles a bit, to show willing. Despite
this, she seems mostly immune to the laughter, and goes over to cuddle
some more, and buries her face against his bare chest, listening to the
rumbling of his laughter with a quieter happiness.

Zach hugs Harriet like there's no tomorrow. And for a while there, it was
really toutch and go! His laughter does him good and it unfogs his brain a
bit. Oh, and there's Harriet. He has Harriet! Not hurt, accepted and
inducted by Eli, and seemingly happy. After a while, the laughter dies
down and only the occational, deep chuckle is heard. Harrietback is
stroked and Harriethair is kissed.

Harriet smiles, and rubs her cheek against his chest, while her hands
stroke his back in a soothing motion. She closes her eyes and leans hard
against him, because Zachs are good for leaning against and are warm and
huggy too. It's all good.


Zach lifts Harriet up, deftly manages to snatch their beers with his
fingers, carry Harriet and beers over to the bed, gingerly place beer on
bedside table, then place Harriet on bed, then climb into bed to arrange
some massive cuddling sitting leaned against the headborad or wall or
whatever. In silence...

<OOC> Zach says, "I'm guessing we're at approximately +time here, since
the police probably took some time? Ada is knocking on the door now. :)"

Harriet practically purrs, and tries to curl around Zach as she's put on
the bed. There's a lot more of the towering tree-'kite than there is of
Harriet, but it's none the less a valiant attempt. She doesn't seem
inclined to move, and especially not to think for a long while. In fact,
she seems to be falling asleep at a rapid pace.

Zach just holds Harriet close and cuddles, kisses and comforts her to
sleep..


--- Scene End --

<OOC> Harriet calls her Player a wuss, but the sad fact is that I'm about
to fall over. :)

<OOC> Harriet says, "It's 8 am here..."