Logfile from brass. From afar, Bazil rings up your shop. Long distance to Bazil: Zach answers his cell. "Hullo, Zach Ellis here. How can I help you?" From afar, Bazil replies, "Hi, Zach. It's Bazil. My car finally broke down, I'm afraid." Long distance to Bazil: Zach sounds delighted. "Baz! Well, hey there. You need towing and fixing?" From afar, Bazil replies with a bit of a laugh in his voice, "Yeah, I'm afraid so. I'm at Plaza and Westport, the country club plaza?" You paged Bazil with 'Okay, I'll be there in a bit. Be good! *chuckle* *beep*'. Country Club Plaza - Plaza/Westport There is a very European feel to this huge shopping district, which gives it a small and homey charm despite its size and the fact that the boulevards are clearly wide enough for automobiles rather than being restricted to pedestrians. The place is scattered liberally with towers, fountains, statues, and mosaics, creating an old-world ambiance in the heart of such buildings as the Board of Trade, the Cheesecake Factory, the Sheraton Suites, and more than one church or temple. More specifically, some highlights include the tallest tower in the park, near 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway, which has a Spanish look to it; the fin-de-siecle Edwardian British statue of the wine god Bacchus, which forms a fountain next to the Cheesecake Factory's side entrance; a bullfighting mural at the plaza's far east side ... there are more, too many to enumerate, and this place is constantly busy with a wide variety of people ranging likewise to an extreme degree, from business men heading back and forth to the Board of Trade to tourists wandering in awe through the plaza itself. Contents: Bazil Ellen Ashley(#406PXcJn) Obvious exits: Board of Trade North on Main Northwest on Roanoke East on 47th Southeast on Ward Ashley blinks. "Why, what happened in the park?" Ashley pages: Please make a Perception roll at a +1 bonus when and if you look at Ashley. :) AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 1 + 3 = 4 . Check die: 5 Ashley pages: If that's not a success, you're sad. ;) You paged Ashley with 'That totally makes it. :) :)'. Long distance to Ashley: Zach pthbbtt! Ashley pages: To those who know what to look for, there's something about Ashley that sets the Celestial Senses a-tingling. Something that sets her apart from the masses of humanity around her. Something that confirms, without a doubt, that she is not one of them. "Haven't you read the news, Ashley?" Ellen asks the girl with a slight lift of her eyebrows. "There was a.. terrible, gruesome murder there a couple nights ago." She gives another slight shudder, and looks to Bazil. "I haven't seen them since last time," she admits. Bazil nods a bit as he waits by his car, stress and worry clear on his weatherbeaten face. "I'm not sure how well they're taking it, frankly," he adds. "And yourself?" Ashley folds her arms over her chest and smiles a little at Ellen. "I don't get the newspaper in the dorms, and I don't have a computer. So no." She listens with interest. "And you were there? You saw it? What happened?" The sound of a large car approaching, can now be heard. The engine roar is getting louder fast. Someone is apparantly speeding just a little... Around the corner, a big, yellow tow truck appears and slows to a halt when it happens upon the two dames and the geezer and the car. *HONK HONK* "I am.. being more careful," Ellen replies to Bazil. Worry shadows her face too, and she runs a hand over her hair. To Ashley, she shakes her head, "I only arrived when it was over, Ashley. Chris and MeiQin were there, and.. the body. Bazil was sketching it for the police." She glances at the man, then gives another slight shake of her head, lowering her voice. "Apparently a man and woman were attacked by a group of four or five assailants. The man was killed. The woman survived." She looks at Ashley for a moment, thoughtfully, but does not add anything else. Ashley says, "Two dames. Geezer." Bazil says, "Geezer!" Ashley eyes Bazil. Geezer?? Bazil grrr. Bazil is 43! Zach says, "So?" Zach geezer means tuff guy, where I come from. ;P Bazil blinks, pats Ellen's hand, worried for a moment, as he listens to her. Then, as he hears the honk, his worried brow looks- well, not less; he's still worried about Ellen, but it's hard not to smile when he see's Zach's truck drive up. He waves in greeting. Bazil chuckles. "That's probably the original meaning; to me and mine, it's associated with /old/ geezer. Ashley raises an eyebrow. "Huh." That's all she says. She looks back and forth between Bazil and Ellen for a moment. "Well, that's pretty scary. Not every day you get to be that close to somethin' like that, huh?" She looks over her shoulder at the honking, and just sort of watches. "Who's Chris?" she asks, offhandedly. "I'm assuming you don't mean Cristobal?" The truck rumbles to a halt, and a smiling Zach hops out. "Hey guys, I hear there's a poor car here in dire need of mechanical aid?" He walks over and shakes hands with Bazil, and offers a quick, gentle pat on the arm for Ellen and peers curiously at Ashley. Bazil looks up in relief when Zach shows up. He shakes the mechanic's hand firmly and sighs. "I should have taken her in to you today, like we planned- but the company had an emergency call; some of the union negotiations out-state were breaking down..." He shrugs. "Can you give me a ride, and a tow?" He nods politely to Ashley and Ellen. "I'd stay to continue, but I've got work early in the morning... I thought I was going home the first time." Bazil says, "And I promised someone RP earlier; it just got called in. Sorry!" A frown creases Ellen's face at the mention of the name 'Cristobal', as though it is not welcome to her ears. She shakes her head. "No, this is a different Chris -- a woman. She's a film artist; came to town a while back." Her head turns as Zach arrives. She does not exactly smile, just puts a polite, bland look on her face, and draws her arm lightly back as Zach touches it. "Good evening, Zachary," she nods politely. Ashley nods in response to Ellen's explanation, and then turns to regard Zach's truck, planting her hands on her hips. "Nice," she says, sounding impressed, and grins at Zach. "You know what they say about guys with big trucks." She winks at him, and then goes back to the contemplation of the big yellow truck. Yay for primary colors! AutoJudge: Ashley rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 1 Ashley says, "Rats." Zach smiles wryly at Ashley, "They say things about guys with big trucks? I can imagine... Like, 'get outta my way you wanker!' Or, 'Think you own the damn road?!' I get some of that, yeah." He trundles over to the car. "Well Baz, I'll just take a quick look under her hood and then I'll hook 'er up. You can ride with me, no problem." [Ashley] This girl is petite in build, small and just a tad on the skinny side of slender, with an almost elfin look to her heart-shaped face. Her eyes are blue as ice, set wide apart above a small, delicate nose and petal-pink lips that always seem to be just on the verge of curling into an impish smile. Her straight hair is sandy brown, with streaks of black and bright red dyed into it. It is cut short at the nape of her neck, but her bangs need trimming, as they always seem to be falling into her eyes. She has a ring through her left eyebrow, her ears are pierced four times each, and when she speaks, a perceptive observer might notice a metallic glint from another piercing in the center of her tongue. There is a tattoo on the back of her right shoulder that shows a silhouette of a bat breaking up into dozens of smaller bats. She is wearing a brand-new pair of jeans. Other than a small hole in the left knee, the blue denim is still sturdy and unfaded. On top of that, she wears a camouflage-patterned tank top that stretches tight even over her thin frame and displays the outline of her small breasts. The stitching on the hem is coming loose, but otherwise the shirt is in one piece. On her feet are a pair of black sneakers which have obviously seen better days--the left one has a noticeable hole in the toe, and the right is missing its laces. Both are caked with mud and dirt. Bazil blinks a bit... "Damn- I have to hurry. I forgot, I promised to check in on Harriet and Chris. Look, I trust you," he hands Zach the keys. "I'll just grab a cab, and see you in the morning?" Zach grins and points. "Harriet's is just up the block, thataway. You hardly need a cab, old man." *wink* Bazil looks embarrassed. "Oh, right- yes, of course." He chuckles. "Thanks, Zach, you saved me a probably far too expensive cab ride. See you in the morning!" He walks off, waving. Ellen's expression grows closed once more at the mention of the name 'Harriet'. She says nothing, simply stands around and watches as arrangements are made. Bazil heads northwest on Roanoke. Ashley laughs. "Well, okay, that too." She winks at Zach. "But I was thinkin' more like, it takes a lot of man to drive a truck like that. But that's just me." She looks over at Bazil again, smiling. "Always on the go, huh? Well, see ya around, then." Zach chuckles and lifts the hood of Bazil's car, after the man strides off. "Hmm... Well, that's a myth young lady. Anyone who cares to, can drive a big truck. Hmmm....Oh dear. Total melt-down here.." he mutters. "This is gonna be pricey for poor Baz," he states and straigtens up. Slam goes the hood. "What's your name, by the way?" he asks Ashley. "I don't think we'be met before?" Long distance to Ellen: Zach resonates. You paged Ashley with 'May I resonate?'. Ashley pages: Noooooooooooo! Yes. Long distance to Ellen: Zach adds a ?. That was supposed to be a question. <:) "Good night, Bazil," Ellen waves to the man. Freemason that he is and all. Quietly, she watches Zach and Ashley get acquainted. Ellen pages: Go ahead. :) Zach says, "Right. Ellen, then Ashley. Are we standing close enough for a +1 CD? (1 yard)" Ashley hmms. Probably. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 3 + 6 = 9 . Check die: 2 AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 2 + 3 = 5 . Check die: 3 Zach says, "Fail, success." Ashley says, "Wait, actually, that depends. Where did you put your truck?" Zach says, "As close as possible. But never mind. A CD 3 is a god CD! :)" Ashley says, "Okay, then I'll give you that +1. :)" Ashley says, "And on a similar note, would you say it's been a minute since I last tried that resonance?" Zach says, "Yes." Ashley glances over her shoulder at Zach and smiles cheerfully. "Oh...I'm Ashley. You can call me Ash if you like, though." She starts walking slowly around the truck, admiring it from all angles. AutoJudge: Ashley rolls: 4 + 5 = 9 . Check die: 5 Ashley sighs and fails again. Zach's car is TUFF! "Pleased to meet you, Ash," Zach says smilingly and starts hooking up Bazil's car on the tow line. "So, what've you been up to lately, Ellen? I haven't seen you around in a while. You okay?" "I believe so," Ellen nods to Zach with the same lightly detached courtesy. "As for what I have been up to, the usual things.. writing, teaching politics." She stretches a little, smiling blandly. "And how about you, Mr. Ellis? Has business been good?" She glances at his big yellow vehicle, not finding any lewdness in it as Ashley did, however. Ashley pages: Noble: Cajoled some important information out of someone. Tried to protect the home of a friend. Tried to get her friends to work together after they'd been driven apart. Ignoble: Resorted to violence in a moment of frustration. Gave away some rather personal information. Has been unable to patch up a relationship that she views as important. Ashley frowns a bit and turns away from the truck to watch Zach hooking up the car for towing. "Need any help with that?" she offers. Zach pulls out the hook, and secures it under the bumper on Bazil's car. A quick tug to test, and then he looks up. "Hmmm. No, this is a piece of cake, hon." He steps over to push the button that starts the winch. The car is slowly pulled up to rest its front wheels on the back of the truck. Zach's player lacks the proper lingo for the technical details here. Bear with me, please. <:) Ellen has even less knowledge of what they should be than you, so never fear. ;) Ashley says, "Same here. :)" Ellen watches the operation, quietly, arms lightly crossed in mild detachment. Ashley shrugs. "Okay." She steps back to stand beside Ellen and mirrors her position, although she seems somewhat more intent on the proceedings. Zach smiles to Ellen, "Business is okay. There's always work to do, so I'm not exactly idling much." He makes sure all the fastenings are secure. "So, any of you ladies need a lift somewhere? It's getting early..." Ashley will first try the winch chain thingy. ;) AutoJudge: Ashley rolls: 1 + 3 = 4 . Check die: 2 Ashley made it! Hah! Ellen nods to Zach, then shakes her head. "I think I can get home okay, thank you." She continues to calmly watch the car getting hooked up. Ashley says, "It takes 5 Body Hits, and there's 1 point of Disturbance. And, uh...damn, I can never remember the effects of a sophisticated res..." Ashley says, "I think, for a CD 2, it doesn't break right away, but it's visibly weakened, and any further stress on it will probably make it go snappy-snappy." AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 5 + 2 = 7 . Check die: 6 Zach freezes suddenly and purses his lips. Then he lifts his head as if he heard something and frowns. "Hmm." He eyes the truck and the wire and the car. "/Hmmm./" You paged Ashley with 'That was a Preception for the Disturbance, yes. :)'. Ashley appears not to notice Zach's sudden concern. She waves a hand breezily. "Nah, I like walking. Or running, as the case may be." She grins and jogs in place a bit to emphasize her point. Ashley adds, "Thanks, though. That's really sweet of you," and blows Zach a kiss. Ellen shows no sign of hearing anything. She continues to watch from her mild distance; though she can't hide a flicker of interest as Zach goes about his mechanic's work. As though it reminds her of something. She sighs slightly, brushing a hand over her hair. Zach peers closer at the wire and mutters a few choise swearwords under his breath. "That was /not/ a smart move..." he murmurs darkly and sighs. Giving Ashley a look and a wry smile, he grabs a coil of solid rope from the back of his truck and moves over to the car. "Oh, so you're a jogger, eh?" Ashley cocks her head at Zach, but doesn't ask any questions. She just gives him an innocent smile. "Yeah. Well, sorta. I just joined the track team at my school." Ellen smiles a bit at Ashley's words. "I jog too.. but hardly competitively. It is simply something I do for my own fitness." She watches Zach wrap the rope, contemplatively. Zach starts securing Bazil's car to the tow truck with rope. It shouldn't be necessary, but given the swearing there may be something demonading it anyway. Such is the life of the working class man, always struggling to get ahead. Ahem. Zach grins to Ellen and Ashley, "Well congratulations on getting on the team, Ash. Are you thinking of competing on the national, or even international level? Me, I prefer Tai Chi..." Zach tug knot stretch knot tug tug fasten mutter. Ellen giggles at that typo.. 'demonading'. ;p Ashley does too. :) Ellen says, "If life hands you a demon, make demonade. ;)" Zach LAUGHS! Ashley rotfls!! Zach says, "I think I'll keep that one. :) :)" Ashley hides. I don't wanna be demonade!! Ashley shrugs. "I have no idea. I'm just doing it for fun now, but maybe if I get good at it, I'll see if maybe I can do something with it." She smiles, apparently pleased with the concept. "You sure you don't need any help there, Zach?" Again, Ellen stands back while the two discuss Ashley's athletic plans, watching Zach's strong hands fasten the rope. Zach finishes with the extra rope work and stands back, "There. That oughta do it, unless someone's -really- trying to piss me off," he smiles. But his voice has a slight edge to it. Perheps he's a wee bit tired and grumpy, who knows... "Thanks for the offer, though, Ash." Ashley shrugs once more and nods. "Okay. Well, I'm gonna head off, then. Nice meeting you, Zach." She smiles sweetly at him. "Sorry I never shook your hand--you were busy. See ya around, Ellen--take care of yourself, okay?" She gives Ellen a one-armed hug, while casting one last glance in the direction of the cars. Ashley pushes her luck. ;) AutoJudge: Ashley rolls: 3 + 4 = 7 . Check die: 3 Ashley says, "Nope." Ashley lets go of Ellen and wanders off into the night, lighting up a cigarette as she goes. Zach smiles to Ashley. "It was good meeting you too, Ash. Take care." Ellen hugs Ashley back, smiling at the girl. "Take care too, Ashley. Sleep well." Ashley has left. From afar, Ellen mms, and tries to find a reason to keep Ellen around. Harriet's the only person she's /refusing/ to talk to, so.. ;) Zach says, "Well, there isn't really much of a reason for Zach to mooch about here. He needs to get the car to the shop, I think. :)" Zach says, "Unless we come up with something brilliant and, and....STUFF! Yeah." Zach mutters. Should _probably_ concentrate a bit on work and get some things done before the weekend starts. Bah. Zach hugs Ellen in any case. Thank you for the RP! :)