Logfile from Brass&Steel.

You step down into Club Bluebird.

The place is rather quiet at this time of day, but the sweet sound of jazz
music is flowing from the speakers. A few people sit around at the tables
or perch by the bar. The door opens to reveal a tall dude who comes
ambling in from the hot outside.

Ruby sits down at the bar. The bar.

Ruby is sitting to herself...quietly...at the bar. With a drink and a
smoke. Looking bored...and tired.

Zach takes off his shades and glances around the club. He makes his way
toward the bar and comes up next to the woman. As he places himself on a
stool and waves for the bartender, he recognises Ruby. "Oh, hey! Miss
Ruby, how are you on this lovely day?" He smiles warmly.

You sit down at the bar. The bartender lets you know he'll be right with
you. The bar.

Ruby looks up, "Not too good, to be honest.", she says and sips her drink.
A clear liquid...vodka maybe. Or gin...

Zach gets a slightly concerned glint in his eyes. "Oh dear.. Rough morning
then?"

Ruby shakes her head, "No. Lonely nights.", she says and sips again.
"Long, lonely nights. And a -stupid- meeting with an -oaf- of a
competition CEO this morning. Who had this idea to call me "Babe", "Chick"
or "Toots" consistently during a three hour meeting."

Zach ouches. "Bad and more bad... How can a stunning womain like you be
left lonely? Did you come here totally alone?"

Ruby nods, "Same deal as last time. I'm not interested in someone comming
back to my apartment to have a conversation with my bodyparts."

Zach chuckles. It's a soft, warm sound. "There's a time for body talk and
a time for conversation talk. It's a pity so many people don't know one
time from the other."

Ruby shakes her head, "Zach...I'm a person. I have needs. Drives. Desires.
LOTS of them. I am just tired of people having needs, drives and desires
that involves my extremities and mammaries but NOT my brain."

Zach shifts around on his stool to face her. The bartender slides a
dew-fresh beer to him. He inclines his head a bit. "I've yet to walk in
your shoes, so I cant

You say, "...say I know how you feel. But I think I understand the
frustration. Do you want me to fuck off? If so, just tell me and I'll
scoot."

Ruby shakes her head, "No. I could use a sympathetic listener...or
conversation partner. I am just pissed off and having a bad day that's
all."

Zach takes a good, long drink from his pint. "I'm good at listening.. So
you wanna tell me about this putz at the meeting?"

Ruby heh's and downs the rest of her drink and gets a refill, "What do you
want to hear?"

Zach considers. "Well what kinda dude was it anyway? You said cometition
CEO, what does that mean? Is that a CEO for a competing business trying to
snare you, a CEO for the competition division of your company - if there
is such a thing, or what? I know very little about the corporate world of
fashion..." He smiles.

Ruby shakes her head, "Actually it was a CEO of a minor brand who might be
bought up by us sometime soon. If so, I'll make -bloody- sure he doesn't
get to see his lifework flourish while sitting in a comfy chair."

Zach nods. "So why were you in a meeting with the schmuck? Are you
involved in the business part of Lee as well as lending your beauty to
their billboards?" He seems genuinly interested, and it's pretty obvious
that the topic it unfamiliar territory.

Ruby nods, "I have enough sense about me to demand a voice in decisions
too. They could've had any other model but I can be persuasive."

Zach runs a hand through his hair and rests his elbow on the bar. "That's
sounds very wise. So I suppose you've studied economics and stuff?"

Ruby nods, "Oh let's just say I have an intimate knowledge of the workings
of the human mind...which is rather valuable for marketing purposes."

Zach drains his beer and gestures for another one. "I see, so you're a
natural talent right?" He smiles.

Ruby nah's, "Training and hard work.", she says, "Nothing comes without
work."

Zach nods. "This is very true. The Lord helps the one who helps herself."

Ruby bah's, "I have no faith in the almightys benevolence, remember?"

Zach hmms. "Yeah, you did say something to that effect. I still think it
sounds kinda bleak." His lips move in a small, vague smile, but his green
eyes keep twinkling with warmth and maybe a hint of...something deep down.

Ruby shrugs, "Bleak or not, it's how it is.", she says and sips her
refilled drink.

Zach smiles a bit broader. "All you have to do, is to be the best you you
can. And to take responsibility for your own life and actions. That's what
I do anyway and it works like a charm."

Ruby nods, "That's what I'm doing. I do that by -my- volution. Not because
of some divine presence. Mankind today will answer anything with -prayer-.
And -forgiveness-. Bullshit. "Forgive me, Father I have sinned.", "Yes, My
son, what have you done?", "I have killed my daughter, father. She tempted
me...so badly. I...couldn't resist her. She was six years old and such a
little temptress. So I raped her and strangled her.". "That is terrible my
son. But god will forgive you. Say fifty hail maries and light ten wax
candles.". And the man leaves the church -absolved-?? No...uh uh. Don't
buy it. Not for a -second-. Any faith that will justify that kind of crap
isn't worth ascribing to."

You say, "Oh.. But what you are describing is a human institution. When
Christ said his things about sinning, repentance and forgiveness, he was
kinda hinting very, very hard to the fact that you need to actually /mean/
it. Forgiveness in it's pure form is a very powerful and profound thing.
That whole stuff with the hail maries and candle lighting is only so much
waste of breath unless there is genuine and absolute repentance behind it.
And that is, unfortunately, too rare."

Ruby uh uh's, "ooooh no. You're quite wrong. I'm describing a divine
institution. The apostle Peter was the very first pope. Ever since him,
there is a direct line of "Gods voice on earth" in the papal chair. The
very institutions of the catholic church were set down by Peter himself,
-by- the teachings taught to him by that young judean carpenter. So unless
you're willing to admit that Jesus of Nazareth was a fraud and a
hoax...the catholic church is, by -automation- divine."

Zach pahs. "The stuff that the Nazarean said is valid enough. But unless
you live it, it ain't worth the paper it's written on. The catholic church
started out as a very good ide, but from what I've read it didn't even
take 50 years from the crusifixion until the sect split. Peter was a human
speaking to other humans, trying to do it in words they could understand.
Things quickly became muddled up in rituals and rules and obscure wordings
and shit. The start may have been divine, but what followed..." He shrugs
and shakes his head ruefully.

Ruby nods, "1092. Pope Urban the third goes out in front of the
congregation in Avignon and declares that any man dying to reclaim the
holy city from the moslems is a saint and that he has died in righteous
battle for the Lord.". She shakes her head, "Love thy neighbour? Thou
shalt not kill? Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife, his house or his
wealth? Oh no. Christianity is a sick idea. Islam isn't any better. Karl
Marx was right. "Religion is opium to the people."."

Zach snorts half in laughter, half in exasperation. "Pope Urban the third
was human. Just like the popes before him and the ones that have followed.
Ninetynine percent of all the hot air and rituals and stuff in the church
is man-made. We were given free will and the ability to think for
ourselves. The problem with religion as we see it in the world is that
thinking bit. People think entirely too much. Make simple and straight
foreward stuff into utter gibberish."

Zach smiles. "All you need from the Bible is the following: 'Do unto
others as you would have other do unto you.'"

Ruby nods, "That's not the point. Christianity is a human concept. Made by
humans. For humans. And it stinks. The divine isn't in it. As it isn't in
-any- religion. And that sentance doesn't hold water. One sufficiently
sick masochist and that whole concept falls apart. The world is a rotten
place. It only WORKS because it's a rotten place."

Zach shakes his head. "Nobody's born a 'sufficiently sick masochist'. They
get some 'help' along the way. In one form or another."

Ruby shakes her head, "People are born with serious mental handicaps.
Twisted perceptions of the world. Voices in their heads. It's part of this
great wondrous multitude of life that we have sprawling to excess on this
planet. Sick people have a right to be here but that doesn't make them any
less sick."

Ruby says, "and even -without- that the do unto others thing doesn't work.
Because tastes vary. So what -you- might want done to you isn't
necessarily the same thing as John Doe the shoe-salesman."

You say, "Then find out what John Doe wants done then. Find out what would
brighten his day, if even for just two seconds. That's what it's all
about, miss Ruby. Being the best, noblest you you possibly can. So the
world is kinda shitty in general, does that make it ok to just give up and
be shitty right back? I don't think so. Sometimes all you have to do to
brighten it, is to smile to a stranger on the bus."

Ruby shakes her head, "Then it's not "do unto others what you want done
onto you.". Then it's "Do onto others what othes want.". Serving their
selfish desires and needs. There isn't a line of truth in the bible that
can't easily be countered by simple logic.", she says and finishes her
next drink and her cigarette...and lights a new one and gets a new drink
as well, "I'm not being shitty right back but I see -no- reason why I
should lift a finger for the world."

Zach watches the gloomy lady with bemusement. He gestures widely with his
hands. "Because it's Cool! Tell me something if you will, miss Ruby: Are
you happy? Do you have fun? Are you content?"

Ruby shrugs, "Occasionally. On and off. And if I was content, I'd have no
drive to better myself, so no."

Zach finishes his beer and studies her again. "Only occationately? Do you
have anyone to share the fun and happiness with?"

Ruby nods, "From time to time, yes...not always."

You say, "And do you share their fun and happiness too?"

Ruby shrugs, "Depends. Sometimes, yes...if it's something I find amusing
as well...then certainly."

Zach considers. He seems to pause a bit at her words, but lets them pass
for now. "And the rainy days, miss Ruby? Have you people to share them
too?" He shifts into a more comfortabl position on his stool. "Oh, and if
you don't like my prying - 'cause that's what I'm doing - just tell me and
I'll change the subject."

Ruby shakes her head, "I don't really care if people pry. What're they
going to learn, after all? And no, I don't share my rainy days."

Zach taps his fingers on the bar and watches Ruby with a steady gaze. "Yes
you do," he saus softly. "You're doing it right now. With a complete
stranger no less."

Ruby laughs, "You think -this- is a rainy day for me?"

Zach considers and smiles impishly. "Well maybe not pouring, but
definitely damp."

Ruby nods, "That much I'll admit to. But it's not as bad as some days."

Zach chuckles. "See? See?? Like I said: You've just been sharing wetness
of the emotional kind with a total stranger." He holds up his index finger
and taps the tip with the fingers of his ogher hand as if checking a
microphone. Then he holds the finger out toward her. "And how do you feel
now, miss Ruby, after this sharing of emotional dampness?" His eyes are
sparkling with goodnatured, spitefree humour.

Ruby looks at you for a moment and her eyes grow hard, "I see enough
papperazzi in everyday life, thank you."

Zach's index finger crumbles and dies. "Ouch! Lightning strike." He blows
gently on it and puts the offending finger-mike away. He's still smiling
though. "You said you enjoyed your work the other day. But I gotta wonder
- exactly what is it that you enjoy? Being famous doesn't seem to be it."

Ruby shakes her head, "I think the secret of what I enjoy is one I will
keep to myself a while longer.", she says, matter of factly but...with a
certain note of finality.

Zach doesn't seem to have a problem with that. "I just hope for you sake
that it's more that the bottom line of your bank account." He catches the
attention of the bartender, who comes over. "Do you want something more to
drink, miss Ruby?"


Ruby shakes her head, "That it isn't. Money isn't really an issue though I
don't complain.", she says and nods, "Yes, I wouldn't mind another drink.
Just one...not too many or I get drunk."

Zach smiles and tells the bartender to get the lady whatever she's having
and a soda for himself.

Ruby looks at her drinks glass, "Just a cup of tea, thanks."

The bartender brings tea and soda to the two people and then leaves them
alone again. Zach sloshes down some of the nice, cold sodawater. "Would
you like something to eat. It's way past lunch.."

Ruby shakes her head, "I've had a few crackers. That'll keep me going
until later...I'm not really hungry today."

Zach bites his lip and looks a wee bit concerned again. "You gotta get
some proteins and stuff in you, lady. Dieting on vodka and crackers ain't
good enough. You sure you can't murder a curry?"

Ruby raises an eyebrow, "Terry Prattchett's Discworld. Quote Death...",
she says, and can't help but chuckle, "Curry gives me spots, unfortunately
but I suppose I could go with something less spicy."

The current time in Kansas City is 3:27 PM, Fri Aug 16, 2002.

Zach beams at her. "There's a very nice BBQ place a short walk from here.
They serve all kinds of wicked goodness."

Ruby nods, "Let's go then."

Zach slides off his stool and leaves some money on the bar to pay for the
drinks. He offers her his arm more or leww reflexivly.

Ruby takes it and follows...


South Metro -- 85th Street

Zach smiles and point over to BJ's. "There is is. Let's go inside and see
what's on the menu today."

From afar, Ruby is...gonna have to run...

<OOC> Zach says, "Okay. Just let your beeper beep or something:)"

Ruby looks at her pocket. "Hmm...I've got to take a raincheck on that.",
she says and takes out her cell and answers it. A few words are exchanged
and then she hangs up, "Yeahh...I gotta run. I'll see you some other time.
Take care Zach..."

Zach awws. "I'll hold you to that, miss Ruby. Anyone who can spot a
Pratchett reference is well worth hanging onto." He smiles and half-bows.
"Take care yourself." HE watches her run for a taxi.