Logfile from Brass&Steel.

Bo Ling's Chinese Restaurant

	An elegant, upscale Chinese restaurant. Red and black and gold
laquered designs hang every few feet on wall the color of a dark cream,
alternating between the stereotypical dragons and other symbols such as a
golden buddha holding a sack of gold and smiling beatifically. The low
lighting lends a mood of intimacy, of thoughts whispered in agreement, of
business dealings and romantic liaisons. There is always the scent of
fresh-cooked food, and the rattle of trays and plates, and the low lull
of conversation.
	Even when closed for business, Bo Ling's often serves as an
informal gathering place for local upper-middle-class and upper-class
Chinese families, who come for tea and conversation, for alliances and
dalliances. Once lunch time begins, and sustaining all the way through
closing, those families form a knot of Asians near the back of the
restuarant, beyond which, through beaded curtains, even more of them can
be seen in the restaurant's semi-private and private dining areas.


Zach comes wandering into the restaurant. He enquires a waiter about
whether mr. Willingham is present.

Cosmo is indeed here. He is waiting at a table, having a light salad. The
waiter shows Zach to the table and Cosmo stands up, offering a hand.
"Hello, brother."

Zach clasps his hand firmly and bows his head almost formally to Cosmo.
"Hello brother. May I join you?"

Cosmo gestures to a chair. "Of course." He gives a warm shake in return
and a firm squeeze. He settles back into his seat. "How are you today?"

Zach takes a seat and purses his lips. "As can be expected. Sore and
shamed all over. Have you had a chance to speak to the Seneschal yet?"


	Not a particularly tall man, perhaps five and a half feet or so
in height. Dark hair cut neatly, going to grey at the sides and
indicating he is perhaps in his later thirties or early forties. Wrinkles
at the corners of his brown eyes also indicate his age. His thin, sharp
face gives him a serious demeanor. He is clean shaven, without a touch of
facial hair. There is a faint scar in the cleft of his chin.

	 He wears a suit. It is a simple, conservative cut. The suit is
black, white shirt and a black tie. The clothes fit well on his trim
form. Black wingtips complete the look. The cufflinks are silver with
obsidians.

"I've asked for an appointment." Cosmo replies. He lets out a little sigh
of impatience. Ofanim must feel like this all the time. "I haven't gotten
it yet. I'm sorry. If I had any say, I'd take you back to the Tether
right now."

Zach lets out small sigh and nods. "Thank you Cosmo. Trade's Seneschals
are always busy, it was expected. I just hope I can start redeeming
myself soon, because the hurt is driving me up the wall." He restrains a
shiver. They pass through him at regular intervals, just like a drunkard
in the last stages of the dread cold turkey.

Cosmo reaches over and places a hand on Zach's forearm. "I understand. I
do. I'm sure it is difficult to work with that hurt gnawing at you." He
casts a glance toward one of the rear doors, as if hoping to catch sight
of someone.

Zach shakes his head. "Sometimes I have trouble hearing myself think.
That and I'm even less concentrated than my usual state. I made such an
ass of myself with Harriet last Sunday, embarrased her and myself six
ways from Sunday, blurting out with stuff I really shouldn't have. I need
to get my balance back."

"It is...difficult to keep things straight when the noise interrupts the
symphony." Cosmo speaks quietly. At this time of day the place isn't as
busy and he doesn't want to be overheard.

Zach nods firmly and leans forward speaking in a very hushed voice, "You
know what the real hell of it is? Discord hurt a lot less. They're just
/there/. Ugly, dangerous and annoying. But they don't /hurt/. Not like
this. They just sit there like ugly tumors..."

Cosmo lets out a soft sigh. "That is true. But that is a dangerous path,
Zach. Of which I am certain you are aware. I know it is difficult, but
perservere a bit longer and I will try to speak with the Seneschal
again."

Zach snorts. "I know that /very/ well, Cosmo. That's why I'm able to tell
you what the two feels like. I am not soiling myself with Discord ever
again if I can help it. I will perservere. I am taking up new Oaths as
well, but I want to do that /after/ a period of service. The Oaths aren't
appropriate to heal this hurt, as they stem from a different cause." He
leans back on his chair.

Cosmo gives a little nod. "You have decided what those are to be? I have
been considering another myself, after the little...misadventure
concerning Harriet the first time we eliminated Lucian's vessel." He too
leans back, lacing his fingers together and resting them on his stomach.

"Yes, I have decided on them. I know exactly what they're going to be."
Zach smiles a little at Cosmo's revelation. "Harriet told me about that.
You asked her to come up with an oath didn't you?"

"I asked to offer me some suggestions for one." Cosmo confirms. It's not
quite the way Zach phrased it. I'll want to decide on the final wording
of course, but yes, I asked for her input on the matter."


Zach nods with a small smile that fades soon after. "Yeah, the wording is
important." He breathes a small sigh. "Anyway - I spoke with Brynn last
night. She wants to start sparring with us. Find out how good you and I
are."

Cosmo lets his eyes widen and he grumbles something unintelligable. "I
suppose that's good. I have to admit that my forte is not on the
corporeal plane. At lest, not in regards to direct combat." he smiles
thinly. Now, choking someone from behind while invisible, that he has
down pat. "

Zach keeps an /amazingly/ straight face. "I was going to offer to train
with you some, while I'm here. But if Brynn's gonna beat us both up, I
guess I don't have to.."

Cosmo smirks just a bit. "Well, it wouldn't hurt for us both to train
together when not working with her." Besides, eh sort of likes folks
underestimating him, then laying down the ethereal smack on them from out
of nowhere. "Also, Instead of just getting a zweihander for her, I've
order a replica with a dulled blade. It's cheaper and easier to avoid
regulations. I imagine you can put an edge to it?"

Zach raises his eyebrows and whistles softly. "Oooh... I haven't done
that in /ages/! I'm a machine engineer, not a smith. But if the steel is
good, it should be possible to make it...proper." He muses a bit. "It's
going to be good to do some training again. I haven't sparred for years.
Been flying solo for too damn long."

Cosmo chuckles again at the raising of eyebrows. "I thought as much. And
yes, the steel will be good. There is a company that supplies theatrical
swords that are replicas in every regard save the edges are blunt." He
takes a sip of the teacup that is on his table. "And yes, sparring with
humans is not as challenging. You have to hold back too much."

Zach peers at Cosmo, but nods in agreement. "I don't spar with humans if
I can avoid it. They're too easy for me to hurt. However, I've been
thinking about Harriet. She should learn some basic self-defence at the
very least. And that goes for my sister as well. If I can find her.."

<OOC> Cosmo Grrs and has to go. I've got to do some errands. :(

<OOC> Zach nods. Okay, pose out. Thanks for the rp! :)

Cosmo gives a nod of agreement. "I've been taking Harriet to jiu-jitsu
classes, though she has missed quite a few of late. She could use..." He
frowns as he hears his cell phone beep. He takes it out and looks at the
display. "I've got to run, Zach. Apologies. I will speak with you later?"

Zach nods. "I'll see you around, bro. Take care!"