Logfile from Brass&Steel.

Upstairs Flat -- 789 Minnesota -- Downtown -- KCK(#321Rhng)


Brood, brood, brood. That is the default state of the Zach these days, and
his activities at home confirms this. He is sitting in a chair by the
window, looking at the plants and the phoenix, and brooding.

Harriet is not stranger to that, but she seems rather cheerful as she
approaches Zach's door, and knocks briskly. She has a huge, and rather
familiar-looking, oversized picnic basket under one arm, a blanket folded
neatly on top of it.

Zach unbroods at the knocking and rises with a soft sigh. Now who can that
be? Better not be a Triad... That could get ugly. He trundles over and
opens the door, "Yeah? Oh! Harret." He smiles, happy to see her and not
the Triad. "Come on in, sweetie! Want me to help you with that?" he points
at the basket.

Harriet enters. "That's why I brought it," she says, cheerfully, and looks
around the living room, to see if there's enough room to spread out the
blanket. "I thought maybe we should have a picnic, you know? I made
stuff." She smiles a bright and cheerful smile up at her bestest pet
Malakite, and gives him a one-armed hug.

Zach hugs Harriet right back, firmly and with much warmth. "A picnic?" he
puzzles. "But is't freezing outside!" He ushers her inside and closes the
door. Harriet will note that he is unshaven, so there is an abundance of
manly stubble on his cheeks and chin.

"Indeed it is," Harriet says happily, and snuggles for a moment, before
pulling away to put the basket on the table. She takes the fuzzy, flannel
blanket, and (assuming there's enough room), flaps it out to lay on the
floor. "Which is why I thought we'd have it here, you know?"

There is indeed enough room, at least as soon as Zach moves a couple of
chairs. He reacts on autopilot out of sheer befuddlement. "Well... Okay,
that's possible I guess." He blinks a bit and hovers uncertainly. "Um..
Anything I can help with?"

Harriet beams at the confused Angel, and points at the blanket. "Sit," she
orders. "I brought everything we need, and I'm going to take it all back
with me when we're done, you know?" She hauls the basket onto the floor,
and settles down beside it.

<OOC> Harriet's bid for the Word of Befuddlement is still on track!
Hooray!

Zach obediently sits down. He is nothing if not good at following orders
these days. Following orders is ever so much more easy than /giving/
orders. Still befuddles, but also very happy to have a Harriet in his
room, he suddently blurt out, "Heaven help me but I love you Harriet! If I
were human I'd be on my knees begging you to marry me!" And with that
blurted, his face goes all horrified. He did NOT just say that out loud?!
He did? Oh God... A groan escapes from his throat and he just curls up
into a very embarrased ball on the floor, idly thumping his head in it for
good measure. "Crap.."

<OOC> Zach >:)

Harriet stops and stares at Zach. Okay, /that/ was unexpected. She blinks
a few times, then scoots over to the mortified Zachball, and embraces him.
"Don't beat your head against the floor, dearheart. There's no reason to
do that," she says, in a soothing voice. Okay, she's blushing furiously,
but Zach obviously needs supportive and cuddly, so supportive and cuddly
is what she is.

<OOC> Harriet says, "You're torturing your poor character. I'm sure that's
a sin... ;P"

<OOC> Zach | Zach . o O ( I hate my player so much right now..
GAABRIEEEEEEL!!! )

<OOC> Harriet giggles.

<OOC> Zach . o O ( *sob* Gabriel.... Make her stop... *sniffle* )

<OOC> Harriet says, "Poor, poor Zach...*high-fives his Player*"

<OOC> Zach hi5s Harriet('s player) right back! >:::)

Zach does not uncurl, but he does stop banging his head on the floor.
Harriet gets treated to an extremely rare sight, namely that of Zach
blushing the most /incredible/ shade of intense, dark red. He rocks a bit
back and forth, tearing at his hair and making groaning, unarticulated
sounds. "Crap, crap, crap.... Oh please, Harriet I'm so sorry. I dunno why
the hell I /said/ that! Oh man that was...." He whimpers in utter
embarrasment and mortification. "I'm sorry."

Harriet's shade of red matches his own, so that they look like a pair of
tomato-heads. Her hands come up and gently pry Zach's hands away from his
poor, abused hair. "Don't be sorry, Zach. That was probably one of the
most wonderful things that anyone has ever said to me, you know?" Still
holding his hands in her own, she bends down and kisses him gently. "It's
okay. Absolutely and completely okay."

Zach lets her pry his hands away, and stops rolling around like a big
piece of tumbleweed. At being kissed, he stills completely and closes his
eyes. He really, really, really wants to answer that one but he daren't.
Still blushing furiously, he unballs a little and bites his lip. Swallows,
then looks up at Harriet with uncertain dread, confusion, guilt and
embarrasment radiating off him. "I wasn't supposed to say that... Not like
this, anyway. I'm... Is it?"

<OOC> Zach says, "Harriet's power of Befuddlement wreak havoc yet again!"

Harriet smiles gently, and nods. "It is," she says, firmly. She raises his
hands to her mouth, and brushes her lips across his knuckles. "You are the
sweetest, kindest, most amazing person I have ever known, you know? I love
you, Zach. I really, really do."

Zach really misses his wings. His body language is hampered by the lack of
wings, just like that of a cat or a dog would be hampered by lack of tail.
But he ain't got any wings on this body, so it'll just have to do.
Squirming a bit to sit up, he moves his hands to touch her face, caress
her cheeks and just trace her hairline. "Th-thank you, Harriet..." he says
softly. "I really didn't mean to embarrass you so."

Harriet sighs, closes her eyes, and leans into hs caress. "Don't worry
about it," she murmurs. "The occassional bit of blushing is good for you.
Keeps the circulation moving, you know?" She smiles, eyes still closed.
"Besides...you're wonderfully cute when you blush."

<OOC> Harriet wonders what Zach's wings would be doing if he had them?

Zach was beginning to unblush, but at Harriet's last comment, his color
intensifies again. This is one of the laws of nature; that when a blush is
pointed out, it will invariably intensify. "Ah....thank you..." He coughs
and pulls her to him and hugs her tightly on pure reflex. Hugging is safe.
...but he can't stop himself from kissing her hair and her brow and her
nose... Just managing to turn west as he passes the Harrietnose and land
the last kiss chastely on her cheek.

<OOC> Zach says, "They would twitch and shuffle and dip and unfurl and
furl and fluff and droop and rise and.... :) Plus, they're very good for
those extra special hugs. When arms aren't enough! :)"

<OOC> Harriet awws! Cute!

Harriet hugs Zach fiercely, and after the kiss on the cheek, buries her
face against his neck, absently rubbing the side of her face against the
manly stubble. Her voice muffled against his skin, she says, "I wish..."
and trails off with another little sigh.

Zach holds her tight and mutters into her hair, "Wish what..?"

There is a knocking upon the door, coming from the direction of KCK --
Downtown.

Harriet just shakes her head a little, and tightens her grip on him.

Zach lays a finger under her chin, gently trying to make her look up at
him. "What?" he asks with a shaky voice and all sorts of emoitions in his
eyes; hope, dread, love, confusion, embarrasment... And then there's a
knocking without and he stiffens.

Harriet looks into his eyes, and her own blush comes back full force. And
then the knocking. Oh, goodness. She clears her throat, and looks away.
"Y-you should answer that, you know?" She scoots back away from him so
that he can get up.

Zach blinks as she scoots off and swallows, sensing that A Moment just
slipped away and escaped. Crap. He lowers his eyes and gets up slowly,
making his way to the door and opening it.

Brynn enters from the outside landing.

Zach opens the door and sees... Brynn! He looks rather flushed and his
face has this interesting shade of red to it under the manly stubble
that's growing on it. "Uh... Hello Brynn.. Er... come in?" And he isn't
his usual, confident self either!

Brynn carries a black backpack over her shoulder! And she nods without a
word, and moves to step inside. Because she can! ...As long as Zach
doesn't block the way.

Harriet is sitting on a large, flannel blanket in the living room, not far
from a huge, closed picnic basket. She's also rather red, and keeps
darting half-wistful, half-troubled looks at Zach's back. "H-hi, Brynn,"
she says, and tries to smile casually. It doesn't really work.

The room is just stuffed to bursting with embarrasment. Even Brynn can
tell that with half a glance. Zach doesn't hinder Brynn in any way, and
closes the door after her. "Uh.. We were just embarking on an indoors
picnic, courtesy of Harriet," he haltingly explains. "Would you like to
join us? Knowing Harriet it'll be food enough in that basket to feed a
small army.." He shuffles his feet a bit and keeps glancing toward Harriet
with regret and...something.

"Not really," Brynn says in a neutral, somewhat cool tone of voice, paying
little heed to their flushing and embarrassed behavior. She looks from one
to the other, however, watching them in silence. Brynn's arrival doesn't
seem to have lessened Harriet's embarassment at all...in fact, it adds an
extra component of guilt. Fun! She clears her throat nervously, looking at
the nice, plaid pattern on the blanket. "Um. How are you doing, you know?"

Zach gestures out to Brynn. "Well, have a seat at least... Can I get you
anything to drink? And yeah, how're you doing?" Must fuss. Must find
something to do. Will explode or vapourize if left standing here for long.

"Just fine. I'm on my way to kill a few people." Brynn continues to stand
there, and glances over at Zach, locking her eyes on him as she speaks. "I
would like you to tell me what the drug addicts looked like." Her eyes
venture to Harriet. "And I would like you to sketch them."

Harriet prefered the proposal. She just stares at Brynn, going rather
pale. "Um. You want me to sketch people so that...you can hunt them down
and kill them?" She makes a little whimpering noise, jumps up, and runs
for the bathroom. The door bangs shut behind her.

<OOC> Harriet has to idle for a little while. The door /is/ locked (if it
can lock), and she isn't going to respond to any calls for a little while.

Well! That takes care of the blushing for sure. Zach pales a little, too.
He clears his throat and scrutinizes Brynn. "Lemme get this straight.. You
going to attack the Langell House?"

"No. I will take them one by one, two by two, three by three, how many I
will have to," Brynn tells the Malakite as she looks towards the bathroom
the warrior artist disappeared into.

Zach relaxes. Thank goodness... "Oh, okay. That makes sense. Now the
druggies, you saw them as well as I did. The ones who came upstairs all
died by my hand. Except one, and him I didn't see very well. Like at /all/
- I was busy punishing a Punisher at the time."

"They had not scattered by the time you emerged building," Brynn tells
him, because it was -probably- true. That part being vague and everything.
She waits.

You say, "Yes, and?"

Zach tilts his head and doesn't understand. "Then you did see them,
right?"

"Yet, you didn't look at them?" Brynn inquires, peacefully. Placidly,
even. Like Rudolf Hoess as he gave his testimony, only not. "I was too far
away from the building."

Harriet emerges from the bathroom around this time, still looking pale.
She looks at them both, and goes silently back to the blanket, and sits
down.

Zach frowns. "I did look at them, but I wasn't that close when Nathe
bolted and you jumped him. And then I had to take care of that situation,
leaving the others to flee."

You paged Fidelity with 'How great was the disturbance from the battle,
btw? All in all?'.

Fidelity pages: Nobody is sure. :)

"I suppose I will have to find a solution by myself." And verily does she
continue to stand there, lazy wretch that she is.

Harriet looks guilty, guilty, guilty. "I...can sketch stuff if you need
it, you know?" she says, the words sounding like they're dragged out of
her with fishhooks. "A-and you shouldn't go off and do stuff on your own.
You could get hurt."

Zach moves over to Harriet and slips a supportive arm around her. "That's
her job, Harriet. Her reason to exist. Brynn is a hunter, and a damn good
one I suspect." He sighs and eyes Brynn thoughtfully. "We'll come up with
descriptions between us. Together we should be able to come up with
something. But if you do not want to be part of this Harriet, then we will
respect that," he adds pointedly. "You are a pacifist, and we have no
right to push that."

Brynn glances at Harriet, but doesn't comment, nor say much of anything to
her. Her attention returns to Zach. Even though he isn't wearing red
leather pants right now. "What were Eli's orders?"

Harriet stiffens a little. "I said I'd do it, Zach, and I meant it, you
know?" She looks at him, at Brynn, then away. "If I can help, I will..."

Zach squeezes Harriet comfortingly. "The Fallen, Nathaniel, is not to be
touched. The Boss says he has redemption potencial. As for the others, he
gave no orders. My Archangel will not move to take back Langell House at
this point, but he has placed no restrictions on his angels regarding
that. As for /me/, I have orders from one of our ranking Word-bound to not
go there." He pauses and sets his jaw. "The Soldiers and the other demons
are free game."

"A shame. I'm sure Nathaniel would know the identity of these
individuals." And no, Brynn doesn't sound like she considers going after
him for this reason. Really. Look at that face! Would it lie to them? "So,
I suppose I will just have to kill indiscriminatingly."

A knock. On the door. Quoth the accountant; 'Smite'. In other words, Cosmo
is here.

Harriet flinches, at that, and looks like she's considering the merits of
becoming a Harrietball. But there's Zacharm around her, so instead she
just leans hard against him, and listens quietly. Until the knock on the
door. Then she straightens up, and sighs.

Zach reluctantly releases Harriet to go and see who the latest arrival is.
"Oh hey Cosmo, c'mon in." He looks somewhat subdued and tired, stubble
covering his cheeks in a manly way. "Close the door after you, we were
just discussing the attackers from Langell House. Brynn's going after
them." He pads back to Harriet and embraces her again. On the floor is a
big, flannell blanket and a picnic basket. There is some tention in the
room in general.

Cosmo takes off his hat as he steps inside. He pats Zach on the upper arm.
"Did you get a chance to go by Bo Lings? I've beeen...occupied." He slips
out of his coat as well, then offers a smile to the two ladies. He studies
Brynn a moment, brow knitting. "It would be unwise to attempt to attack a
tether directly and on your own, Brynn."

"Really now," Brynn says, in that calm, cool way of hers. Well, the way
she sometimes says things. When she's being calm and cool. Yeah. She folds
her arms under her chest, and stands there for a while, looking... like
her usual lovable self. Except she has a black backpack over her shoulder.
It appears to contain something heavy.

Harriet looks around at everyone. She's been patient, she really has
but..."What exactly is a tether? I mean, aside from a line to hold
something, you know?" She shakes her head, "And what's Langell House?
And...should I just be quiet, now?"

Zach sighs. "She's not going up against the Tether itself, Cosmo. She's
going to hunt the Soldiers who attacked us." Then he looks down on Harriet
and smiles softly to her, giving her another squeeze. "A Tether is a
direct connection between this world and Heaven. Or Hell. Each Tether is
tied to a specific Archangel or Demon Prince. Among other things it works
like a Star Trek transporter for us celestials. It's a quick and safe way
to move betwwen the realms. Langell House was a Tether to Creation. It
fell to Drugs in the early seventies after..." He sighs. "After the
Heavenly Inquisition pulled all Creationers away from here for
questioning. It left the Tether defenseless, and the demons moved
quickly."

Cosmo ohs softly at that. He pulls his gloves off one finger at a time,
focusing on Brynn's backpack. "I see nothing wrong with that strategy.
These young men are de facto soldiers of drugs, they prey upon their
fellow humans. While I disagree with current human policy regarding drugs,
that does not change the evil they do. If they can be cornered one at a
time, and we can clean up the neighborhood then the Tether could be
weakened. With the right plan, properly executed, we may even be able to
change its association entirely." He looks for a spot to sit and winds up
propping against the wall.

"The Heavelnly Inquisition being Doctor Fell and her associates," Brynn
adds, being oh-so helpful. Her eyes wander to Cosmo as he speaks, and a
faint smile appears on her lips. It vanishes as he falls silent, however.
"As I said, one by one, two by two, or three by three. It makes no
difference to me." She takes off the backpack. "Of course, this vessel
might die, but I will fight them as I have to." The backpack is put down
-carefully-.

Harriet sighs, and nods. She eyes the backback as it's put down, but
doesn't ask any questions. There are some things she really doesn't want
to know. Instead, she closes her eyes, and leans against Zach.

Zach takes himself and Harriet over to the coach to sit. He nods
approvingly to Cosmo. "I've been entertaining the very same thoughts. I
know your guys have been working for years to get the place closed down
via town council... Cleaning out the neighbourhood might be a good thing,
but... They /will/ retaliate - just so we don't fail to consider that."

The current time in Kansas City is 1:51 PM, Sun Jan 19, 2003.

"Retalliation is acceptable. I think we've got the pieces to take the
Tether back, though." Cosmo looks at Brynn at the next, staring at her
steadily. "But we have to work together, and we have to be subtle. Too
much noise around the tether and it collapses. We all know that." He lets
his eyes travel around the group. A smile starting to form. "Harriet,
there's going to be work for you too if we're going to do this. Retaking a
tether is not /just/ a military exercise. We have to wage this battle on
several fronts. Do we all want to do this, and do this right?" He looks
over at Brynn again. The one most likely to go off on her own.

Now it's Brynn's turn to look uncomfortable, albeit just vaguely. She
doesn't say much of anything, preferring to consider why, oh why, Nintendo
screwed its customers over by not announcing the release of the improved
GBA until after Christmas. Or maybe she's wondering about the issue at
hand. You never know.

Harriet opens her eyes, and blinks at Cosmo. "I'm in," she says, flatly.
"But if I'm gonna have to move into another apartment, tell me before I go
out and buy a new table, you know?" A faint smile. "I hate moving
furniture."

Zach nods to Cosmo. "Can I have my hivemind back now, plese?" He actually
smiles. "We have to work the schools, the streets, the parks... Urban
renewal done from the top down and, more importantly, from the root up.
Art, music, restoration, neighbourhood watches, et cetera, et cetera. And
- of course - more direct guerrilla warfare. Taking out the Soldiers
should be done far away from the Tether itself." He pauses and looks
around. "If we're to do this, it had better be /right/. And it /is/ going
to place Harriet in very grave danger. They know about her. They know who
visited her. And we cannot expect any active support from Him."

Cosmo gives a nod to Zach. He adjusts his cuffs, and then offers a smile
to Harriet. "I know we warned you when you signed up Harriet, this might
cost you your life but I doubt you expected it might happen this quickly."
He takes a breath and looks around. "Zach is precisely correct though.
Brynn, you've got to work /with/ us takign these folks out. I know you
don't like that, but if you do, we can do far more good then just wiping
otu a few soldiers. Having you work with is will be vital."

Brynn folds her hands, but lets her arms hang down. "Does this mean I will
be told things?" she inquires in a non-hostile, placid voice. "Anyway, I
doubt I will have time for lobbyism." As for the danger to Harriet thing,
she seems to ignore it, because she's mean.

Harriet shrugs, and smiles at Cosmo. "It's okay," she says. She actually
expected to be splattered against a wall long before now, anyway. Then she
looks at her watch, and frowns. "Blast it. I have to go, you know? I'd
stay, but Katherine's stuck at the theatre unless I pick her up." She
stands. "Sorry, guys. Let me know what you need me to do, and I'll get
right on it." She smiles down at Zach. "You can keep the basket and food.
Enjoy!" Then she heads for the door, unless someone stops her.

Cosmo stops her long enough to give her a hug. He's quite proud of her,
that's obvious. "Be well." Zach rises and follows Harriet to the door,
giving her a tight hug and a gentle kiss. "I'll bring your stuff back to
you, ok? Thank you for....coming over. This didn't go the way it was
supposed to, but we'll deal hm?"

Brynn watches. She doesn't object, at least. So... Harriet's escape will
go as planned... she is safe... for now.

Harriet senses "Zachs eyes are serious and concerned and oh so loving.
It's obvious he wants to say and do more, but he can't. Not with all these
other angels around."

Harriet hugs Cosmo back, tightly, and even sneaks a quick Brynn-hug in on
the way to the door. To Zach, she looks up and nods. "Nothing ever does,"
she says, not without humor. To everyone, she says, "All of you be safe,
you know?" And then she's gone.

Cosmo takes his suitcoat off adn folds it in half. He drapes it over a
chair and loosens his tie. "Of course you'll be told things. You're going
to be working with us, Brynn. I have a few ideas, but we need to go over
them and refine them. As Zach said, we're going to have to establish art
programs, we're going to need to setup a clinic. We have to plan both
offense and defense. So why don't we all have a seat and get to work?

Zach moves around, removing the blanket from the floor and putting the
chairs back where they belong. He brings out paper and pencils, putting
them on the table. "Yes, let's throw some thoughts around. It'll be
interesting at least, I'm more used to the 'toss em a ton of plastics and
blow 'em to smithereens' type of tactics, but I'm willing to learn."

"Who was that person that came out with you, Zach?" Brynn asks with a look
at said person. She remains where she is, as well, naturally, because
that's just what she's going to do.

Leaning forward, Cosmo picks up a notepad adn a pencil. He writes in a
hand so neat it could be typewritten; Supplies. He stops and looks up at
Brynn's question.

Zach frowns in confusion at Brynn, then remembers and goes ah. "The girl?
That's Hachilah, my sister in Creation. She's a seraph and she is in
service to Flowers. Very young, has only been down here for a year or so.
She does most of her work out on the streets or at the shelters. Working
with the homeless, mostly kids. She'll be an asset to this operation."

You say, "And before you start frowning - Eli bade her leave for the Trade
Tether. She had to go."

"You see, that's the sort of things I would like to know. Are there any
other Celestials around? Anything else I should know?" And then! Brynn
continues to stand there, looking... peaceful. Like Gabriel on Ritalin.

Cosmo puts a neat line through 'supplies'. He writes above it, 'Assets'
instead. "We need to first list our assets." He neatly writes down each of
their names beneath that heading. He puts down Hachilah. And beneth that
Roger. "Anyone else that may be of assistance to us besides Roger? Brynn,
I think you know everyone that we do at this point. Besides the guy at the
hospital. He's a non-issue though."

Zach lifts an eyebrow. "What guy at the hospital?"

"I don't know who he works for, but he is a non-issue. He's guarding Mr.
Anderson's file for Someone. He was somebody at one time, on one side or
the other, but no he's relegated to making sure nobody looks at that file
from either side." Cosmo replies, filling both of them in on the details.

"I..." Brynn begins, more than a tad reluctantly. "No, i don't know anyone
that will be of assistance to us." Did she put a bit of emphasis on
'will'? Hmm. And she continues to watch, too. "What do you want me to do,
anyway?"

Zach sighs and considers. "There is also Marmesh the Angel of Jazz. But
old man Jazz keeps his own council and I cannot speak for him. If you two
don't know his current Role, then I'm not allowed to reveal it to you
either. He'll tear my head off if I do. There's another seraph around too,
of Creation, but I've only met her once. Clarity is her name, and I think
she's a student up at the University. With Stone I only know of a Soldier,
and he is one they are very, very reluctant to risk.  And there's Omar,
but I'm not sure who he works for."

Cosmo turns his gaze on Brynn. "You're positive you don't know anyone that
will be of assistance?" He listens to Zach name those, nodding herea dn
there. "Stone won't help anyway. They don't consider drugs a problem. And
I doubt Dr. Fell would be of much assistance either. Zach, if you can
contat Marmesh, he might be interested in helping retake the Tether. I'll
write him down with a question mark." Which he does, in that same perfect
script.

"Clarity's a Seraph?" Brynn asks with a furrowed brow. "Anyway..." she
says, trying to ignore her own thoughts, because they're eerie. "Martin is
insane anyway," she notes, narrowing her eyes a bit, as if he is so simply
to annoy her. "As for Omar, he's in the service of Khalid."

Zach ahs at that. Khalid.. A most....interesting Archangel. "Mm. Delia's
job is to watch, listen and offer counselling to angels and Soldiers who
have a rough time. I'll talk to Marmesh next time I see him, but don't
expect anything. He's the one that told me to stay away from Langell
House. It's a strong Tether."

"Alright. I'll jot down Omar and see if I can at least speak with him. DO
either of you know how to contact him." Cosmo can't quite understand why
Marmesh wouldn't want to at least try and retake the tether. But he
doesn't question Zach over it. "Alright, my first inclination is pretty
bold. Land in that area is incredibly cheap due to the fact that it is
known to be a haven for drugs. So we purchase a building, preferabbly as
close to the Tether as possible." He waits for the looks of horror at that
idea.

"Omar used to serve milady," Brynn confides to the two. "I may be able to
contact him." As for the look of horror, well... it fails to appear.
Instead, she nods, apparently finding the idea appealing for some reason.
"Can you get me a zweihander?"

More like a look of incredulous interest! "I'm listening..." says Zach.

Grinning a little, Cosmo simply nods to Brynn. That sort of thing should
be relatively easy to get ahold of. "We buy the building and we wire it
with explosives. We do the same with several other buildings in the area.
We let the drug tether know that if any of us lose a vessel, or any of our
human Soldiers take a hit, then..." He puts his hands together in a double
fist and lets them blossom like an explosion. "All that disturbance would
wreck the tether. We'll have to work quietly to do this, but once the
explosives are set, we've got them in a situation where they have to act
with subtlety too. They won't be able to go on the offensive against the
other Heavenly tethers eitehr, they'll be too worried about us."

Brynn nods once, but doesn't say anything. It seems she approves... or at
least doesn't disapprove. Of course, she has things to worry about, so she
does that for a while.

Zach isn't as reserved with emotions and stuff as Brynn is. He is in fact
grinning like a complete loon! Yay explosives! Boom! Hee hee hee! Ahem. He
beams to Cosmo, for the moment completely out of his funk, even if there's
still a hurt inside. "Cosmo.... Are you sure Marc didn't buy some forces
from my Boss when he made you? That is a wonderful plan, if hellishly
expensive. I'm game for that. I'll even talk to some of our brothers
working for Janus about how to set the explosives. Get a course or
something."

"He might have. He might have." Cosmo laces his fingers together around a
knee, having set aside his paper and pencil. He nibbles his lower lip for
a moment. "Harriet has money. And I'm certain I can get ahold of some as
well. If necessary, we'll incorporate and get a grant from the foundation.
But look, that's just the first few steps, setting up a failsafe so that
this war is primarily an idealogical one. We'll turn our building into a
clinic to help people get off of drugs and start a new life. We'll have
art and music classes for the kids in the neighborhood. We'll talk to this
Jerzy fellow that you saved that night about putting on some sort of
charity performance." He looks to each of them for more feedback.

Cosmo as a partial Creationer? The horror! Of course... it -would- explain
a thing or two. Brynn watches somewhat skeptically, but doesn't object
outright. "It will be a hard struggle; it's much easier to destroy than
build." Hence, why she isn't an engineer. "Nevertheless, I believe we will
have a fighting chance. Naturally, I have my doubts regarding how useful
I'll be. I have some matters to attend to."

"Security is where you'll be useful, Brynn. Plus, when we need to
eliminate a drug dealer or one of their soldiers, we'll need your help."
Cosmo looks over in her direction. "If you need to go, we understand. But
I'll stop by in a day or two."

Zach nods and contemplates. "I like what I'm hearing... It matches my own
rather confused musings well. People tend to be happier and more positive
when surrounded by beauty. Renewals and restoration of the houses in the
area will be a major part in this, as will working the schools. Now I
don't have any money to contribute with, but I've been a machine and
mechanical engineer for nearly two hundred years. I can do a lot of the
hands-on work. Pretty handy with plumbing and stuff..." He looks at Brynn.
"Why don't you tell us where your expertise and talents lie then?2

"I don't know how useful I will be in that regard; I have a few projects
to work on, so I can't be there all the time. However, cleaning jobs, as
well as search and sweep assignments wouldn't be a problem." Having said
that, Brynn looks from Cosmo to Zach, then back again.

Zach nods happily to Brynn. "We know that you get missions from your
Bright Lady, and we will not do anything to disturb that, Brynn. I'm glad
you agree to help and to work together with us. I know you're used ot
flying solo.."

Cosmo smiles at her, giving an approving nod. "Of course. We don't expect
you to ignore your other duties. And we will desperately need your help on
cleaning jobs."

"I have a personal project, as well," Brynn notes, because she doesn't
like the thought of being useful. She doesn't let the understanding and
friendliness ruin her carefully neutral demeanor, and just adds, "I don't
know how many adore and cuddle endeavors we will undertake, but I can do
those solo."

"None of us will be able to work on this 24-7, not as long as we have to
work our roles as well. And I for one have to earn my rent, just like your
regular J. Random Person." Zach smiles all around. "But we have more hours
in our days than do humans, so we'll cope." At Brynn's last comment, he
blinks a bit and is about to say something. But he controls himself,
masterfully. It wouldn't do to play into Faction's hands..

"We all have personal projects, I'm certain. I do have to maintain my
role, even if there isn't quite as much work as it looks at first blush."
Cosmo glances over at Zach, then back to Brynn. He lets his lips turn
upward in a smile. "The important thing is for all of us to coodrdinate,
so that we don't butt heads. And that if we have a problem, we rely on
each other."

<OOC> Zach has to hit the sack in about half an hour.. <:)

<OOC> Cosmo nodnods.

"That's how I plan to refer to search and sweep missions when your ward is
around," Brynn informs Zach, when she sees he'd like to comment. Once
more, her eyes and attention returns to Cosmo, and a vaguely guilty look
slowly appears on her face, and just as slowly disappears. "I have
something to show you."

<OOC> Brynn will destroy you!

<OOC> Zach squeals and hides behind the big, strong and macho Cosmo!
"She's a meanie!"

<OOC> Cosmo says, "Yes. And it makes her so lovable. :)"

<OOC> Zach ponders.....ponds.

<OOC> Brynn awws! Like a rabid pitbull!

Zach keeps quiet and just nods to Brynn with a certain warmth in his eyes.

<OOC> Brynn loves being a holy serial killer.

<OOC> Zach prods Cosmo?

Cosmo says, "Ahhh." Cosmo replies as she explains. He's never bothered
hiding things from Harriet. Better she learn that Violence is sometimes
good. He stares at her as she tells him that. "Alright. What do you need
to show me?""

Brynn usually doesn't sugar things anyway, but sometimes they'll likely
need her not to have one of her episodes in the bathroom. Besides it's
'adore and cuddle'. That doesn't really *need* a reason. "Both of you. It
can wait. It'll have to." And she'll get a zweihander! YAY!

Zach tilts his head and eyes Brynn curiously. Secrets, secrets, secrets...
You'd think she was in service to Alaemon! "We have time now.." he offers.

Cosmo gives a nod of agreement with Zach. "If we need to go somewhere
else, my car is right outside."

"Not now," Brynn tells them in a firm voice. And it'll be so lovely! The
zweihander, that is! It's about as tall as she is!

Zach nods his head. "Okay, whenever you're ready Bee." He turns to Cosmo.
"HEard anything about Roger's situation yet?"

Cosmo gives a little sigh. "No. Nothing. I hope to have some
correspondence from Marc soon though. I finally managed to file my
complete report on the Anderson affair. He should get back to me soon."

Zach sighs. "Okay. Let me know. If you don't get anything, I'm going to
have to go to the Cathedral..." There is a very big capital 'C' in that
word...

Brynn nods lamely, pretending she knows what they're talking about.
"Cathedral?" she asks, glancing at Zach.

Cosmo explains for Brynn's sake. "We've asked Laurence to arrange for
Roger's induction as a Soldier, as he has the potential. So far the
Commander is not acting and Roger is becoming rather despondant." He
doesn't sound happy about that.

Zach nods slightly unhappily. "Yeah, as in Laurence's Cathedral.. I
promised Roger. If Cosmo's enquiris don't have any result, I'll go
upstairs and very formally sign Roger into their books. And for the
record, Roger /is/ a Soldier. I inducted him myself, ok? It's just that
he's currently serving no Archangel - just...us."

"Right. And stay away from Aria, okay?" Brynn tells Zach rather abruptly,
sending him what is... well, not an entirely impolite look. It has a
certain piercing quality, but it's not hostile. Really.

Cosmo doesn't know what Brynn means about Aria. But he looks at her
soldily. "Why? We're suppose to be sharing information here. So why is
Aria to be stayed away from?

Zach looks confused. "Huh? What's Aria got to do with it?"

"Don't get any ideas about recruiting her." Brynn would be forced to deny
Zach access to her collection of kittens - and surely, he doesn't want
that. Dreams about felines and ultra heavy and long blades aside, she
simply continues to stand there.

Zach sighs and shrugs. "I don't even know the kid. She's /your/ roommate.
I have Roger and Harriet to take care of, and that's enough for the time
being. Roger is the biggest headache, because he is suffering. He was
picked by a Swordie who disappeared without a word after hacing summoned
Laurence. I had to pick up the pieces after I came here and met Roge. He
is Symphonically Aware, he wants to serve - he /tries/ to serve, there are
demons who know him and are targetting him - and he is no Creationer or
Windy so there's only so much I'm able to do for him." He sighs. "I won't
sniff around Aria, if that's what you're worried about. But if you, or any
of your contact should need it - I do know the ritual to bring a potential
Soldier into the Symphony. Let's leave it at that."

"I have too much on my plate to be recruiting more soldiers. I'm trying to
help with Roger and with Harriet as best I can, while coordinating the
fight against the infernals and doing my assigned jobs. I won't try to
recruit her either. But if you think she has potential, then don't shy
away from asking for help with her."

Brynn sends Cosmo a mildly horrified look, and quickly looks away from
him. At Zach. Even though he isn't wearing those pants, damn him. "I,
ah... don't need a Soldier." Because it might be useful, you know. "I can
help remove those that trouble him, I'm sure."

Zach nods to her. "Sounds good to me. There's a shedite and an impudite.
The latter haven't been in town for weeks and weeks. I think she may have
fled after having me sniff around, planning her demise.. But the shedite
is around. It has made threats at Harriet too, and I've been hunting it
for weeks."

"The Shedite," quoth the Brynn. Know what 'brynn' means? No? Good. Don't
want to. Seriously. "I don't suppose you know how to trap it in its host?"

Zach gets up and dons his jacket. "Now I'm sorry to have to walk out on
you guys, but I have to go to work. I have a late shift with my tow truck
to attend to. Please feel free to use my flat as long as you like. Don't
break anything and lay off my guitar, ok?" He rummages in his pocket and
hands Cosmo a key. "Lock up when you leave, I'll come see you later. I
need to visit the Tether anyway..." he adds with a pained, shamed
expression.

Zach looks at Brynn and shakes his head. "No I don't. Part from knocking
the host unconscious. But that'll only work for about half an hour..."

Cosmo takes the key, then smiles over at the pair. "Ketamine is your
friend."

Brynn doesn't get the key! Sadness! She will have to destroy him!
"Ketamine and alchohol?" she asks, smiling faintly, because she's a freak.
"I'll catch you later, Zach."

You say, "Yeah, but with sheddies it ain't that much help. They get
expelled from the host if the host is unconscious for more than half an
hour."

Zach puts on his jacket and heads out. "I'll see you later guys." A smile.
"I'm looking forward to this!" And he exits..

Cosmo ahhs at that. He gives Zach a wave. "Take care, brother."