Logfile from Brass&Steel.

Harriet is sitting on a low wall across the street from the City Hall,
sketching the building's face.

The current time in Kansas City is 3:56 PM, Mon Sep 23, 2002.

Zach comes strolling up 12th, whistling a merry tune. His hands are in his
pockets and his eyes are happily gazing around to look at buildings,
people, cars, dogs, litterbins and all the rest of creation. As he notices
the artist working he gets curious and wanders over. A smile breaks out on
his face as he recognises her. As she seems to be concentrating, he
doesn't disturb her by speaking to her - he just comes over to wait and
watch.

Harriet lowers the sketchpad to her lap after a few moments and reaches
for the thermos of tea by her side. She catches sight of Zach and smiles.
"Hello again," she says, and takes a sip.

Zach smiles merrily and takes the final step over to stand next to her by
the wall. "Hi there, Harriet. Nice to see you again. How's life trating
you today?"

Harriet grins. "Seems to be going well, so far. Haven't gotten sick or
anything, so I assume that I've escaped the curse of Sweet Delights." She
looks him over. "You seem to be in a good mood. I hope life is treating
you well?"

Roger arrives along Oak.

Zach chuckles and twinkles a wink to her. "It usually does. I guess I'm
just one of nature's optimists. So what's that you're sketching?"

Harriet is sitting on a low wall, across from the City Hall, talking to
Zach.

Roger steps out of City Hall, joining the masses of people that stream by,
having gotten off early from work.

Harriet laughs. "It's good to meet another one." She looks down at the
sketch. "This? Oh, I was thinking of doing a project involving the City
Hall. So, I'm sketching it."

Zach ohs and looks very interested. "Would that be the mural I've heard
rumours about?"

Zach is as usual chatting up some female person. :)

<OOC> Zach says, "That one was for Roger:)"

Harriet shakes her head. "No, the bas relief is still in the great
wasteland of Planning. I know what I want to do with it, but I haven't
gotten all the pieces together." She smiles. "This is something
different."

Zach beams back to her. "That's interesting. Wanna tell me more about your
project?"

Roger Pauses to chat with another off duty policeman for a few minutes
before moving on. As he ambles by, he catches the sound of Harriet and
Zach's voices and looks over. He waves as he spots them and turns in their
direction "Good afternoon ladies and gents."

Harriet looks over and beams at Roger. "Hello! Haven't seen you in a
while. How are you?" She looks back to Zach, and chuckles. "It's no big
secret, although I don't know if it'll go off. I need the measurements of
the building, and haven't tried to get them, yet."

Roger leans against the wall "I'm pretty good." He glances down at the
sketchpad she's holding "Drawing city hall? What do you need the
measurements for?

Zach looks up and is mightily pleased to see Roger. "Roge! Good to see
you, mate!"

Roger grins at Zach "Hey there, hows it going?

Harriet gestures at the building. "Scale. I want it to be right, even
though most people wouldn't notice if it wasn't. You remember that odd
little story in the paper a while back? About the dragon? The project's
related to that." She takes another sip from her thermos.

Roger thinks for a minute and then nods "Yeah yeah, I remember that.
People claiming to see a flying dragon right?

Zach's eyebrows rise. "Oh wow! /Now/ I'm curious! SO what are you planning
to make? A painting? Sculpture? Model? That'd just be wicked!" He looks
genuinly interested and excited about the idea.

Harriet bobs her head. "Yeah, that one. Since it was seen around here, I
was thinking of doing a scale model of the City Hall, with a dragon of
some sort, probably Asian-style, coiled around it." She looks excited. "I
was thinking of doing the building in plaster, of course, but the coils in
copper. I love working with copper."

Roger grins "How big is it going to be?"

Zach smiles and stretches his neck to sneak a peek at Harriet's sketch.
"Oh /nice/ idea. Sorta brings to mind City Hall held in a draconic choke
hold, or protected by a dragon."

Harriet makes a gesture encompassing about the space of a large hatbox.
"Not very big. My apartment couldn't handle much more." She grins. Her
face turns momentarily serious as she nods to Zach. "The thought had
occurred to me, and I originally wasn't going to do it because of that. It
appears to be more political than I usually do, especially when I haven't
been around long enough to know the local politics.

Roger nods thoughtfuly "Huh, sounds pretty cool. Are you going to put it
on display somewhere once it's done?

Harriet nods. "Yeah, it'll be a part of the showing, whenever and
whereever that is." She grins. "I haven't thought much about it, since any
show is months away."

Roger chuckles "Well I hope I get an invite. I'd like to see your stuff.

Zach nods and smiles. "Ditto. Well, actually I'll come even if I don't get
one. I like showings."

Harriet grins. "You'll both get invitations," she holds one hand over her
heart. "I solemnly swear it. But, enough about me," she closes the
sketchpad, "what have you two been up to?"

Roger shrugs "Not much really, work mostly

Zach grins and bows gallantly to Harriet. "You are most kind, ma'am. And
as for what I've been up to - mostly work. And a visit out of town for
more work."

Roger nods "Where'd you go?"

Harriet tuts. "Such dilligent gentlemen, you are."

Roger grins "Hey, I'd like to be promoted one day."

Zach chuckles. "And I'm sure you will Roge. Me I like what I do, in
addition to having to pay rent and stuff. So you could say I enjoy my
earning of dineros."

Harriet grins and nods. "Granted. Were you involved in any of that mess
with the Sweet Delights?" she asks Roger.

Roger shakes his head "Wrong juristdiction.

Roger says, "Were you there?"

Zach listens to Roger and Harriet for now.

Harriet grimaces. "Only as a bewildered bystander later that evening." She
smiles at Zach, then looks back to Roger. "There was this poor man. I
think he was ill. They called an ambulance for him."

Roger nods "That's too bad, do you know why they sent in a SWAT team?

Harriet shakes her head. "Haven't a clue. The officers at the cordon were
very professional." She grins. "So I'm clueless. Lucian, I, and another
person eventually ended up going to the Cup of Life to get our coffee
fix."

Roger nods "Nice place, still I'll miss Sweet Delights, they had a good
cup of coffee.

Zach nods at Harriets tale. "He seemed pretty bad. Sounded like he was
trying to cough up his lungs." To Rogers question he shrugs. "I asked a
bystander, but no-one knows. It was a federal raid."

You say, "Where's the Cup of Life?"

Roger frowns "Odd, I mean were they laundring money or something?

Harriet umms at Zach, and waves vaguely to the East. "Somewhere over
there? I wasn't driving, I'm afraid." She shrugs. "I don't know what they
were doing, but one of the people did mention that hospitals had been
informed of things to watch for."

Zach shakes his head. "I have no idea. FEMA seems to be behind the
operation here. That doesn't fit with money laundering..."

Roger scratches his head "How wierd. Did they make any sort of statement?"

Harriet looks at Zach and shrugs helplessly. "If they did, it wasn't while
I was there."

Zach looks back at Harriet. "Same here. According to my source, a woman
held a long speech outside about FEMA and it's deputy director's fine
accomplishmants. A lotta doo-dah without actually saying anything
important."

Roger chuckles "Sounds typical.

Harriet grins wryly. "Sounds like election time."

Zach frowns a bit and scratches his chin. "I dunno... Seems weird. What I
do know, though, is that the hospitals have been alerted to look for
Trichinosis."

Roger frowns "What's that?

Harriet grins at Roger. "Exactly what I asked."

Zach makes a face. "From what I've been able to look up, it's a disease
that is spread via food. It comes from a tiny small parasite."

Roger makes a face "Well ick, does it spread easily. I mean I have eaten
there before."

Harriet reaches down and pats Roger on the shoulder. "If you haven't
gotten sick already," she says with a reassuring smile, "you probably have
nothing to worry about."

Zach shrugs. "If the food isn't cooked properly, then the parasites infect
you when you eat it. Incubation time is 5-45 days. But it only spreads via
animal meat, so I wouldn't worry too about having caught it here. Unless
they for some unfathomable reason have /deliberately/ infected their
chokolate with it. It's not nice, but it can be treated with medicine. It
it ain't treated you probably die unless your a real tough so-and-so."

Roger makes a face "Well, at least that info I suppose." He perches
himself on the wall next to Zach.

Harriet sighs. "Infecting chocolate with anything, including that horrible
cherry-flavored paste, should be considered a mortal sin."

Roger complains "Hey I like that cherry flavored paste."

Zach grins to Harriet. "It is! Haven't you read the Special Edition of the
Mortal Sin Pamphlet?"

Harriet mock glares at Roger. "Heathen." She raises an eyebrow at Zach.
"The what?"

Zach's grins widens. "The Special Edition of The Mortal Sin Pamphlet. It's
got the sins they cut from the official version to make a neat and
symbolic number."

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 dressed in an untucked
blouse of slippery-looking, bronze hued fabric, black slacks, and
sneakers. The blouse has a couple of paint trails on the arms, and the
sneakers are liberally stained, but otherwise the outfit is mostly clean.

Goldie arrives along Oak.

Roger grins "Oh, do list them. Sounds interesting."

Harriet nods enthusiastically. "Please do."

Harriet and Roger are sitting on a small wall facing the City Hall. Zach
is standing next to them. They seem to be chatting and enjoying
themselves.

Goldie wanders along the street, entering this rather upmarket area as it
heads towards evening. There is a faintly pensive expression on her face
and her hands are tucked firmly up her sleeves as she walks, oblivious to
the passersby or anyone she might passby herself.

Zach chuckles. "Allright... The cutaway mortal sins: Infection of
chokolate with horrid Stuff, Infecting ice cream with horrid Stuff,
keeping plush dice anywhere in or near your vehicle/mount..."

Roger shakes his head saddly "I'm sure so many people must have been
damned in the 50's under that last one.

Harriet nods and looks a little guilty. "I suppose it's double damnation
if they're pink and sparkly?"

Zach looks shocked and appalled. He stares at Harriet. "You have such
abominations in your car?? Oh dear. That vehicle needs an excorsist and
fast!" He grins then.

Goldie pauses slightly as she hears a somewhat familiar voice, slowing as
she glances at the light crowd for a sign of who had spoke. Spotting the
man in question, she called out loudly, "Hey, Zach!"

Zach's head swivel around to look for the caller. Spotting Goldie, he
smiles and waves. "Hey Goldie! C'mon over!"

Zach calls loud enough to be heard.

Roger is a large black man, about 6'1 and 180 pounds. His curly black hair
is cut neatly and his brown eyes twinkle cheerfuly. He has heavly muscled
arms and legs, proof of his time at a gym. His smiles are rare but when
they appear they seem to light up the room.
 Roger is off duty at the moment and his clothes reflect that. He's
dressed in clean bluejeans and a plain white short sleeved t-shirt which
is tucked into his jeans. Over the shirt is a red long sleeved flannel,
the cuffs neatly buttoned at his wrists. On his feet are a pair of white
sneakers.

Harriet sniffs. "I won them at a Fair. Trophies of war are excluded, no
matter how silly they might be." She looks to Roger for help. "Right?"

Roger nods firmly "Of course, no one can damn you having things you won at
the fair."

Goldie grins and heads towards the trio, ducking around people with
surprising ease until she reaches the wall that the three are agthered
next in time to hear that last comment, "Trophies of war? Dare I ask?"

Zach looks horrified at the very thought of pink plush dice in a car.
"Can't you at least take 'em out of the car? It's cruelty to cars that!"

Harriet grins at Goldie in a friendly manner. "Pink fuzzy dice. Playing
the rigged games at a Fair qualifies as war to me." She sticks her tongue
out at Zach. "Hush. They're cute, you know?"

Goldie nods and replies with a small smirk flitting about her lips, "Oh,
those! They are perfect if you know what to do with them, especially those
real small ones."

Roger nods "Exactly, spoils of war. Perhaps they'll help guard her car."

Zach knows he's fighting a losing battle, but keeps objecting. "No.
They'll just hang there looking fussy and pink. Ick! Poor car."

Harriet blinks at Goldie, turns the words around in her mind a couple
times, then blinks again, her cheeks a little red.

Goldie interjects, now openly grinning at Zach, "Hanging? That's not what
you do with them. A little superglue and then you can... " She breaks off
at Harriet's blush and adds, not quite condesendingly, "You said dice, not
'spheres'."

Roger waggles a finger at Zach "What's wrong with fussy and pink?" She
then simles at at Goldie "Good afternoon

Harriet blinks again, and then firmly shoves whatever she was thinking
into the deepest recesses of her mind and locks the door. She looks at
Zach. "My dice are staying in my car. And they're not fussy. Just fuzzy."

<OOC> Harriet says, "Argh. I have just been summoned by a higher power. It
was fun playing with you guys!"

<OOC> Zach says, "We'll miss you, babe! :)"

<OOC> Roger waves!

<OOC> Goldie waves, "It was nice seeing you, abet breifly."

Zach grumbles and smiles. "Your choice.."

Harriet glances down at her watch and sighs. "Well, it looks like I'm
going to have to take my fuzzy dice and go home. I'm expecting a phone
call." She jumps down, and waves to all. "Hope to see y'all again, you
know?"

<OOC> Harriet says, "Indeed. :)"

Harriet heads South on Oak.

Zach smiles and sayes bye-bye to Harriet.

Roger waves to Harriet as she leaves and then glances at Goldie "Aren't
you a little hot in that coat?

Goldie gives a small shrug and replies, "You get used to it after a while.
You alright at that altitude?" She gestures vaguely towards Roger's
height.

Zach glances at Roger, but 'tis too late. So he leans back to watch..

Roger grins "Yep, a little hard to breath but hey...I'll live."

Goldie put on a vaguely doubtful expression, "You sure? If you ever need
to, I can find somewhere that rents chainsaws in a hurry if you needed to
prune yourself down a little?"

Roger raises an eyebrow "No, thank you. I'm fine."

Zach chuckles. "Careful Roge, or she'll cut us both down to size."

Goldie chuckles for a moment herself, sobering quickly but with an amused
glint in her eyes still, "Don't worry about it. If I got too annoyed I'd
just find some crimping shears and see if that lady was interested in
another set of fuzzy pink... dice."

Roger winces slightly but says nothing, wisely perhaps."

Zach winces and eyes Goldie carefully.

Goldie asks pleasently, "We gonna change the subject from each other's
personal appearance then? I think I won that round, but if you want
another go at things..."

Zach then grins and glances sideways at Roger. "She does like her
chocolate, though..."

Roger chuckles and gives Goldie a half bow "You win my lady."

Goldie nods then looks to Zach, "So, what you up to just now then? I saw
you and thought I'd better say hi for a bit."

Roger nods "What have you been up too lately?

Zach smiles and sits on the wall. "That's nice of you, G. I'm just
schmoozing right now. I saw Harriet, got into a chat that ROger then
entered. And right now I'm hanging with you and Roge."

Goldie gave Zach a look and murmured something to him before answering
Roger in a louder voice, "Not that much... Either you two any good at
maths? I've kinda run into a problem I can't solve."

Goldie whispers "I thought we weren't gonna mention dangly things..."

Roger shakes his head "Nope, fraid not."

Zach splutters out in laughter!

Goldie fails to look innocent as Zach laughs.

Roger looks puzzled but says nothing.

Zach snickers and giggles and finally manages to control himself enough to
answer Goldie. "I don't think I'm good enough. I could always look at it,
but I'm better with nuts and bolts." He grins wickedly.

Goldie gives an idle shrug then sighs, "It's a pity anyway, the stupid
thing is bugging me." She glances at the two men then asks, "Well, what we
gonna talk about now then?"

Zach tilts his head. "Well what kind of mathematical problem is it?"

Goldie replies promptly to that question, the complex string of words
coming out fluently, "It is concerning the use of vectors in a matrix
notation and fitting them into the standard formulae used in forced
percepctives by most graphics packages... and I think I've lost you
already, haven't I?"

Roger looks like he has a slight headache now "You've certanly lost me!"

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 5 + 4 = 9 . Check die: 2 

<OOC> Zach says, "Int roll:)"

<OOC> Goldie hmms?

Zach sighs and rises his hands in defeat. "Yeah. That one was quite beyond
me. I like stuff I can manipulate with real, physical tools."

Harriet arrives along Oak.

Harriet is walking down the sidewalk, her hands shoved deep into her
pockets, looking rather irritated. Her head is bowed, and she's scowling
at the unoffensive sidewalk.

Goldie hmms for a moment then tries again, "It's the sort of thing that a
computer would use when doing 3-d graphics for a game so it could show
where something is moving and have it look right."

Roger nods, frowning slightly "Ok, I can understand that. I guess. Oh,
hey, it's Harriet."

Zach hmms. "Maybe Ada would know something about that? She's quite a
computer wiz... So are you trying to work out the maths of computer games
or..?" Look a little lost still, but bravely braves the wilderness of
computers, maths and other beasties.

Lucian arrives along Oak.

Harriet looks up as she nears the group, and smiles. "Hey, guys. Still
here?"

Roger nods at Harriet "Yep, and we're currently being baffled by a math
problem."

Zach waves and greet Harriet. "Yeah, what Roger said."

Goldie looks at Harriet quizically, "You know anything about matrix
notation?"

The current time in Kansas City is 6:11 PM, Mon Sep 23, 2002.

Harriet looks blank. "Oh, dear. Sorry, I don't do math, beyond
measurements and scale conversions." She grimaces. "I don't even know what
that is."

Goldie gives a sigh, leaning against the wall the group is standing next
to and asking almost retorically, "There a reason everytime I mention this
stuff people look blank at me? It's just maths out a textbook..."

Roger shrugs "Most people don't take higher maths. I know I didn't"

Harriet clambers back up on the wall, and nods at Roger's remark. "I took
the complete wuss way out of math requirements, Comp Sci 101 and 102." She
takes on a droning tone, "This is a mouse, and this here is the
keyboard..."

Zach smiles a bit sheepishly. "I was just crap at maths. Period."

Goldie shrugs, unzipping her fleece just far enough that she can reach in
and pull out a small black notebook before fastening it back up again.
Opening it carefully, she offered it the trio, "It ain't that much
'higher', look I figured out this bit easily so you should be able to
follow it fine."

From one of City Hall's exits - coincidentally, the one closest to this
gathering of mathematical genius (??) - emerges the unmistakable form of
Lucian Szabo, polished and wearing one of the the crisp black suits he's
recently decided to favor.

	Tall and thin, the gentleman at hand stands some six-foot-five
inches, but weighs likely no more than one hundred and sixty pounds.
Vibrant, sapphire-blue eyes gleam brightly against his otherwise pale
complexion. Though he otherwise seems no older than perhaps thirty-five,
snow white hair falls down to his shoulders, where it curls just a touch
at the end, clearly the product of either quality genetics or expert
hairstylists. When he smiles, his teeth are perfectly even, gleaming
brightly - again, either genetics or dentistry, but either way an
exceptional result. His soft-skinned, long-fingered hands end in perfect
nails, with nary a speck of dirt or dust to be found on them. Presently,
Lucian is wearing a simple black suit. It is neatly tailored, with
mother-of-pearl cufflinks and a simple silver tie clip, with a faint
engraved design of a serpent on it. His lapel pin is a simple, silver
circle, with a bit of polish to it. Again, there's a faint embossing on
it, which if you examine closely can be seen to be a serpent coiled around
a staff, rearing to strike.

Roger looks down at the notebook and shakes his head "Nope, sorry."

Harriet says, "looks at the black notebook with a wary expression. "I'll
take your word for it, but my brain's had all the confusion it can take
for one day.""

Zach also peeks at the notebook and sighs a bit. "That's a whole lotta
letters and arrows... Sorry.."

Goldie pages: Are you taking the note book from Goldie or just glancing at
it when she is holding it?

Long distance to Goldie: Zach is glancing and puts a finger on a page to
see better just there and then before he gives up. :)

Goldie gives a sigh and closes the notebook with a snap before giving the
other three, supposedly older and wiser, people a disgusted look.

Harriet grins sheepishly and spreads her hands. Pushing her glasses up on
her face, she looks around. Her eyebrows rise as she spies Lucian, and she
waves.

Did someone say Older and Wiser? Lucian draws near the crowd, looking over
the gathering with a bit of surprise. "Why, such a gathering of persons I
know..." He looks over them all, favoring Goldie and Harriet with
something that could be called friendly nods, and barely acknowledging
Roger and Zach.

Roger looks over as Lucian speaks and nods politly to him "Good afternoon"

Goldie nods to Lucian, the black notebook still held loosely in one hand,
"Afternoon, Professor. Just trying to work out why this lot keep giving me
blank looks when I ask them if they can elp me with a maths problem."

Zach sighs softly when Lucian comes smarming along. "Oh hi, pro. Nice
suit." He keeps his visage calm and blank.

Harriet looks over the suit with a smile. "Haven't seen that outfit
before, Lucian. It looks nice."

Lucian looks the group over. "Well, let us see. One is an artist, given to
far more developed works of the right brain rather than the intensive
left-brain work your mathematics require. One is a police officer, who,
while clearly a man of education, is far more suited to the investigative
work of putting clues together rather than mathematical equations." As for
the last... Lucian's eyes fall on Zach. "What do you expect from a
drug-addled mechanic?" He sniffs, dismissively.

Roger raises an eyebrow at Lucian's last comment "Drug adled?"

Goldie tilts her head to one side as she looks quizically at Zach, but
says nothing for the moment.

Harriet looks rather shocked. "Lucian!" she says, her disapproval obvious.

Zach just sighs and shakes his head somewhat. "You are so sad, pro. Angels
weep for you."

Lucian arches an eyebrow and snickers at Zach ever so slightly. Looking at
Roger, he nods. "I have a reasonable suspicion that Mister Ellis has, on
more than one occasion, utilized various recreational substances,
including marijuana. Given the amount of time you have spent with him,
Lieutenant, I would have thought you knew that..." He smiles, blandly.

Roger frowns at Lucian and straightens, sounding a bit more offical
"Professor I dare say you should be careful about throwing suspicions
around that can't be proven. Be carefull of slanderious talk."

Brooke arrives along Oak.

Harriet looks from Lucian to Zach, and back again, her eyes wide and
worried, and shifts on her seat on the wall.

Zach puts a hand on Roger's arm. "Easy now, buddy. He /wants/ to piss us
off. Comb your hair down, 'cause he ain't worth listening to. He doesn't
like people who work with real things, and for some reason he's targetting
me with all that dislike. Let it go."

<OOC> Roger waves to Brooke"

<OOC> Zach says, "Hi Brooke! :)"

<OOC> Brooke says, "Hey gang. :) Having fun?"

Roger frowns but nods at Zach "As you say." Still he can't help but give
Lucian a dark look."

Lucian spreads his hands. "Would I make a baseless allegation? He even
propositioned me to accompany him to a secluded location to engage in the
use of such substances." He sounds quite disgusted.

Goldie stands exactly where she is, neither finching nor backing away from
what seems to be a growing confrontation. Her face is a placid mask,
almost unnaturally so, as she glances between those who are taking part in
this near arguement.

Zach eyes Lucian steadily and curls his mouth into something resembling a
small smirk. "I did? Why on God's green earth would I do something like
that? Have you any idea how crazy you sound?" He chuckles. "Oh /man/!"

<OOC> Brooke says, "Could someone give me an idea of where everyone is?"

Everyone's sitting on or standing next to a low wall facing City Hall.

Harriet shifts again in her seat and looks at Lucian. "Maybe it wasn't
exactly what you thought it was? I mean, it's entirely possible that you
made a mistake, you know?"

Lucian shakes his head. "What possible reason, Mister Ellis, would I have
for concocting such a story?" He shakes his head and looks at Lieutenant
Freeman. "He definitely offered me such matters. We were at the Club
Bluebird one evening, and he offered me... I believe he referred to it as
a "doobie.""

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

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

<OOC> Lucian crosses his fingers.

You paged Roger with 'It's a good thing this ain't news... :)'.

<OOC> Lucian says, "Goldie, Harriet, if you want to roll your own Wills to
resist that, you can... you don't really have to, since it was targeted at
Roger, but I guess you might be in the fallout zone."

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

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

<OOC> Zach says, "Isn't that thing one person only?"

<OOC> Lucian says, "As many as I have Cel Forces, actually."

<OOC> Zach says, "Eek! :)"

You paged Lucian with 'No CD 6es this time, though! :)'.

Roger eyes Lucian, seeming to pause to think about it for a moment and
then shakes his head "Naah, Zach wouldn;t be that stupid."

Lucian pages: The funny thing about this is, Lucian is telling the Truth
as the Symphony sees it. :p

<OOC> Roger says, "ha! little do I know :)"

<OOC> Lucian says, "That's the funny thing about this... :p"

<OOC> Lucian says, "Anyways."

<OOC> Zach sniggers. :)

You paged Lucian with 'Yeah! It's a nice paradox! :) I'm the one doing the
UnTruths here! :)'.

Lucian pages: Damn it, couldn't you have taken "I Shall Not Tell Lies" as
an oath? :p

Harriet bites her lip, glances at Zach, and looks even more miserable and
embarassed, but doesn't say anything.

Lucian sighs, and shakes his head. "Believe what you will, Lieutenant. I
merely wish to make certain that I was not accused of withholding
evidence."

Goldie simply looks at Lucian now, doubt in her eyes but her face still
rigidly calm. There is a quiet sound as the black notebook in her hand
begins to bend slightly in a white knuckled fist.

Roger looks at Lucian, frowning "So noted then."

Zach shrugs. "What reason? I have no idea, pro. You've been looking down
your nose at me since the first time we met. You obviously can't stand me,
so... Whatever. Keep slagging me, Liar, see if I care."

"Excuse me!" Brooke grumbles with a whirl of her head as some passing
person rudely bumps into her and interrupts her walk. If only some people
would watch where they are going. And with that thought...thunk! The
attorney finds her self the offensive one this time, as she runs right
into the white haired 'professor.' So much for paying attention. "Ohmygod,
I'm so sorry," she says rather quickly. She hasn't noticed the familiar
face yet.

Standing at 5'2 and weighing about 125 lbs, Brooke Bradford isn't /thin/,
she's...normal. Soft blonde ringlets cascade down her back, and small
silver frames settle over sparkling ocean blue eyes. A light spray of
faded freckles crescends across a pert, tanned nose. A few wispy golden
bangs frame her features. Her smile is accentuated by a single dimple on
the left side.

Brooke is dressed casual in a pair of faded blue jeans and a dark gray
t-shirt, neatly tucked in. A lightweight white button up shirt, about 2
sizes two big finishes off the ensemble, and the sleeves are rolled just
above her wrists. There sits a dainty silver watch. A pair of white
leather tennis provide for comfortable walking to see the sights. Cast
over her left shoulder is a black leather backpack.

Harriet jerks as if slapped when Brooke bumps into Lucian, and leaps down
from the wall, her paralysis broken. "I'm getting out of here," she
mumbles, eyes downcast, and walks away from the group without looking at
anyone.

Roger looks over at Harriet and nods slowly "I'll see you around Harriet."

Zach looks at Harriet's retreating back with a small frown. "Now look what
you did, pro. You've been rude enough to scare her off. What the Hell's
gone into you lately?"

Lucian looks down at Brooke. "Be CAREFUL," he snaps reflexively, and then
his head spins towards Harriet. "Hell and damnation," he mutters, and
turns, ignoring Zach as he goes dashing after Harriet...

Harriet heads South on Oak.

Goldie takes a slow and even breath, the air almost hissing as she exhales
and stands straight and rigid. For those with good ears, there is a sharp
but muffled crack as the cover of the notebook snaps in her hand but
Goldie herself seems to pay no attention to it.

Zach mutters quetly to himself: "Too damn right..."

Roger looks down at Brooke, noting her for the first time "You ok Miss?"

Lucian heads South on Oak.

Roger looks at Zach "Sheesh, what was that all about?"

Zach sighs and shakes his head. "Dude hates my guts. Frankly I find it
hard to scrounge up any positive feelings for him as well. I suppose you
could say that we have vastly different philosophical points of view...
You ok there, G?" he looks at Goldie.

Eeeps, was that that professor...what's his name? Brooke doesn't have much
time to find out as he dashes off. She looks a bit startled as she turns
to Roger, "Why yes, thank you. So sorry to interrupt ya'll," she says,
readjusting her backpack and brushing her curls from her cheek. "Ya'll
have a good day." A smile, a dimple, and a very southern drawl.

Roger nods "Still, trying to slander you in public..." He shakes his head
"Hasn't he ever heard 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything
at all?"

Roger smiles at Brooke "Sure thing, sorry about that fellow's rudeness."

Goldie stays where she is for a few moment longer, then finally turns
around to face the other two. Her face is tight, the mask of her calm held
only with effort as she strides up to Zach and hisses, "I need to talk to
you. Now." Her eyes are dark and unreadable as she glares at Zach, utterly
unrelenting.

Zach rises an eyebrow, "Sure thing, G," and slips down off the wall while
nodding an appologetic smile to Brooke. He wanders off with Goldie to get
out of hearing range.

Brooke turns to walk on down the street. Strange place, this Kansas City.

Goldie's hands loosen slowly as she walks away with Zach, her notebook
falling forgotten to the pavement as they move out of easy earshot.
Looking straight at Zach, she says something in tone fierce enugh that it
is audible even if the words are not clear.

Roger nods to Brooke "Well, see you around miss."

Goldie whispers "You will now explain what the hell he was talking about."

Goldie seems tense, almost on the verge of leaping at Zach if he does not
give a good enough answer to the question she just posed.

Roger looks over curiously as Goldie's voice reaches his ears and he
shoots a somewhat embarrased glance at Brooke "Man, some people are just
intense."

Zach stands straight and gazes at Goldie while considering his answer. He
regards her closely, quietly while his eyes convey silent emotions.

Goldie senses "Zach looks both sad, determined and fiercely proud. His
green eyes are steady and clear."

You sense Goldie simply looks back at you. There is something in her eyes,
a glint of stark terro being firmly held down as she waits for the answer
she has asked for.

Brooke turns to the sound of Roger's voice, as she stands from tying her
shoe. "Evidentally. But then, who am *I* to talk, seeing the complete
klutz I have become." She grins a little and glances towards Zach and
Goldie. "That guy looks vaguely familiar. I seem to run into the same
people over and over..."

Roger chuckles "Well KC's not that big a town. Well, except when we have
NASCAR racing. Maybe you do know him, his name is Zach Ellis."

You whisper "You want the full truth? Well here you go: I offered him a
smoke of weed and he took me up on it. I was trying to get him relaxed
enough to reach him. Unfortunately it didn't work, so he still hates my
guts. Whatever's going on between myself and the pro - trust me: You do
not want to get involved. It just has to run it's course. I /only/ ever
use normal, natural weed and I /never/ smoke and drive. Nor do I drink and
drive. Do you have a problem with this?" to Goldie.

"Zach.." Brooke says quietly, "No, can't say I recognize the name." She
shrugs, unable to recall the specifics. "I met that other guy, the
Professor, once before too. He seemed much nicer then." She smiles some,
dimple showing once more. "Of course, I didn't exactly run into him then,
either." The young woman pulls a dainty hand from her pocket and offers it
towards Roger, "Brooke Bradford," she says, eyes alight. "It's a
pleasure."

Goldie simply stares back at Zach as he states his answer, listening to
the words and the long sentences without comment. When he finally stops
she simply nods, giving no sign whether that is acceptance or mear
acknowledgement before she turns and starts to walk away.

AutoJudge:  Goldie rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 4 

Roger hops down off the low wall that he is currently sitting on and takes
the hand "Roger Freeman, nice to meet you Miss Bradford." He looks in the
direction that Lucian has gone in "Yes, he was much more plesent when I
first met him also...then I got to know him a bit better."

Goldie begins to run after a short distance, her steps eating up the
distance remarkably quickly as she changes from merely leaving to hurrying
to running in an all out sprint.

Goldie senses "Zach sighs and says softly, as she turns. "I'd never offer
you weed or alchohol, though. I know you hate both. You said so long
ago.""

<OOC> Goldie says, "Anybody chasing or trying to stop Goldie?"

<OOC> Roger says, "not me sorry,"

<OOC> Zach says, "Will try to follow."

<OOC> Goldie nods.

Goldie heads West on 12th.

Zach calls after Goldie as she starts to pick up speed: "Hey Goldie.. Oh..
Damn.." He jogs after her, looking very worried.

You head West on 12th.

Downtown -- 12th and Broadway

Zach comes jogging and calls after her. "Goldie! Hey kid - take it easy...
What's the matter?" He sounds worried.

Goldie sets a rather hectic pce, but there is only so much that she can
manage with her shorter stride. At Zach's call she glances back and
literally blanches at the sight of him, tripping on a curb as she crosses
it and falling.

Roger comes along 12th from the East.

Zach rushes up when she falls and sqats next to her to see if she's hurt.
"Oh Christ, Goldie. Did you hurt yourself? Are you ok?" He sounds worries
still and his eyes are full of concern.

You whisper "Dammit kid! Will you talk to me instead of fleeing, please.
We can sit right here on these steps. I won't touch ya, there's lots of
people around. You have nothing to fear - I give you my word of Honour.
And that /does/ mean a heck of a lot to me." to Goldie.

Roger heads east on 12th.

Goldie lands heavily, but when she starts to turn over and sees Zach
approaching she starts scrambling away and only stops when she has managed
to put herself out of his arms reach. She stays silent, her jaw clamped
closed, but stays where she is after Zach whispers something to her.

You sense Goldie is breathing rapidly, her face having gained that
peculiar sheen that comes purely of fear. She is not just afraid of
something, but absolutely terrified.

Zach sits down on the broad steps he indicated. He gestures for Goldie to
join him. He doesn't make one single movement to try and grab her or touch
her in any way. His green eyes look sad and pained. "Please? Will you talk
to me Goldie? Why are you so afraid of me? I would /never/ do anything to
harm or hurt you. I swear."

A few passersby are giving odd looks at this scene, but no one has
commented as yet due to the fact that both Goldie and Zach seems to be
sitting calmly. Goldie, for her part, slowly pulls her legs towards her
and supports her right arm with her left hand and watches both Zach and
seeming the air immediately around him.

Zach notices her arm and winces. Softly he says: "Oh man.. Are you hurt?"
Now he looks plain guilty and very, very sorry. "I'm sorry for whatever I
did to scare you so. Please... What's made you so terrified of me?" He
keeps his voice low enough for only Goldie to hear him.

Goldie gives a small shake of her head and starts to stand up, still
cradling her arm. Her eyes flick to the Cathedral for a moment then back
to Zach, staggering for a moment before she starts towards it.

You sense Goldie does not seem to be looking at you precisely, but instead
at the area immediate about you as though she expects something to appear
there.

Roger comes along 12th from the East.

Roger has arrived.

<OOC> Roger says, "ok Brooke is still idling so I'll come wander by :)"

Roger comes hurrying along the street looking around.

Zach's eyes widen for a split second. He rises, but keeps an arm's
distance away from her. "Goldie. Why are you looking at me like that.
What're you loking for? What's happening? Please, I need ot know. "I'm
begging you, please!" He speaks to low for Roger to hear but urgently,
sounding /very/ worried.

<OOC> Roger says, "where are you guys standing, I'm assuming not in the
middle of the street."

Zach and Goldie are heading for the Cathedral it seems. Goldie first, Zach
trailing after talking to her it seems.

<OOC> Goldie says, "The pavement near the Cathedral."

It takes Roger a few minutes to spot Zach and Goldie heading towards the
Cathedral.

Goldie seems to finally manage to unclench her jaw, saying something
quietly to Zach as she makes her way towards the Cathedral itself.

You sense Goldie's voice is strangely calm, despite her demeanor, held
forcibly level as she says, "I'm fine... I'm fine. I'll be just fine."

Goldie senses "Zach urgently whispers back. "No you're not. I or something
you've seen about me have frightened you badly. It can't be my few and far
between joints, so... What is it you see, Goldie? You're scaring /me/
now." He sounds a bit freaked out, actually."

Zach whispers something urgently to Goldie. He looks a bit freaked.

Roger pauses and studies the two of them looking somewhat uncertain."

Brooke comes along 12th from the East.

You sense Goldie said, her voice slowly becoming more shrill and her words
speeding up, "You don't have a ghost do you? You said one thing to me, but
if Lucian said it right then you lied to me after that and you seemed like
a nice person but then you'd be trying to give me something to make me
feel or act or think differently.... But Lucian just said it and they all
beleived it like it made sense, so -I- can't have been thinking straight
so somethingmusthavedonesomethingtomeagain..."

Roger is watching Zach and Goldie who are walking slowly towards the
catherdel.

<OOC> Zach says, "Ok, let me just read that carefully.. :)"

Goldie is backing away from Zach, seemingly slowly becoming hysterical and
babbling something to Zach despite his calm demeanor and attempts at
soothing her.

From afar, Goldie grins, "It is a babble, but it does makes sense if you
can sort the words out and follow a rather paranoid version of logic.

Long distance to Goldie: Zach can! :)

And Brooke. Is anyone tired of seeing the unemployed attorney yet? She's
just heading down the street with a paper rolled up in one hand, and her
other hand laced through the strap on her backpack. She nods politely
towards Roger as she nears him on the sidewalk, "We meet again..."

Roger glances at Brooke "Well that's not so suprising as I just a few
blocks away." He can't hide the worried look on his face as he watches
Zach and Goldie "Wow I wonder what's wrong."

Zach stops dead and closes his eyes. When he opens them there are tears
glistening in them and he looks really pained. "No. There were no lies.
Only withheld truths." His voice is calm and steady.

Zach mutters to Goldie, "What I... truth...."

You whisper "What I told you after Lucian left is the truth. And I have no
ghost. They can't touch me." to Goldie.

Brooke shrugs some as she follows Roger's gaze. "I haven't a clue." She
shifts her weight to one foot and glances down at her watch before looking
to the couple once more. Oh, she shouldn't be so nosy. Eyes shift downward
towards her feet as she stands there, a bit awkwardly.

Goldie takes a deep breath, obviously trying to force herself to calm down
but still shivering slightly. From what can be seen, she has had a panic
attack of some kind but with an intensity that most would not have seen
before.

Zach stands where he is and doesn't move. He says something more to
Goldie.

Roger quickly tries to divert Brooke's attention "So, what is it you do
when you'r enot running into english professors."

You sense Goldie says almost plantively, sounding far younger than she
seems and still panicked but no longer quite as terror stricken, "But they
can get everybody and you don't know that they're in your head, making you
want all these things until you can't let yourself do -anything- which
feels nice or makes sense..."

Zach mutters to Goldie, "I know.... the monsters... do. But... can
handle... so, by the look... things,... a warrior... you... can tell...
I... kinda... you're... Maybe... in..."

You whisper "I know. I've seen what the monsters can do. But I can handle
them. And so, by the look of things, can you. You have a warrior soul, G.
If you want, I can tell you what I know about that kinda ghosts you're
describing. Maybe it'll help in your fight." to Goldie.

"English Professors?" Brooke says, without thinking and with an arched
brow. "Oh! You mean..earlier?" She chuckles some, a bit embarrassed.
"Well, I just moved here about a week ago. Still trying to decide what I'm
/going/ to do, but I was an attorney back home." She leans against a
lamppost. "And what about you?"

Roger grins "I'm a police officer. What sort of law do you practice?"

Goldie shakes her head, closing her eyes as though to blot out a vision or
memory of something.

Goldie whispers "Please, I don't want to have to think about it. I have to
go asleep again and it is always bad enough without having to think about
it before. Please?"

Zach swallows and asks Goldie something.

Zach mutters to Goldie, "... the... it that... dreams?"

You whisper "It haunts your dreams? Or is it the memories of it that
haunts your dreams?" to Goldie.

"I went to law school to practice Corporate law," Brooke replies. "But, it
wasn't really my thing. So, now I'm thinking Legal Aid or something,
maybe." She smiles politely and looks up at Roger. "Care to walk?" Perhaps
towards 18th and Oak.

Roger nods and glances at Zach and Goldie "Sure, they seem pretty involved
and I don;t want to interupt."

You sense Goldie starts to breath faster again, "I can't tell the
diference... I couldn't ever tell if it is me or it or me or it or..."

And so they do...walk.

Roger heads east on 12th.

Brooke heads east on 12th.

Zach nods and lifts a hand. "Easy, Goldie. I do understand. Do you want to
go into the Cathedral? Maybe down to the shelter to have someone take a
look at your arm?" His eyes are still pained, but the moistness has been
blinked away. And through the pain a look of steely determination starts
elbowing its way.

You whisper "Belive it or not, but I might actually be able to help you
get rid of that...critter. They /can/ be fought, chased off and even
killed." to Goldie.

Goldie shakes her head, the motion almost convulsive now. Her hand is
gripping her arm tightly enough that her fingers are almost going pale,
but she manages toi say, "N.o... No, I jst need to go away. I need to go,
please, I need to leave..."

You whisper "You need /help/ from someone who knows what he's doing. There
is no way I can let you carry this burden all by yourself. Not when I
/know/ that I can help you. I have travelled a lot, seen many things. Do
not worry about me. Like you, I'm tough as nails. I can handle it." to
Goldie.

Zach's voice is now firm and determined. He is completely serious, and
seems very, very sure about what he says.

Goldie pages: I am sorry, but I need to go for RL reasons. It is about
twenty past four in the morning where I am just now...

Long distance to Goldie: Zach grins. I was wondering when you'd be falling
asleep:)

To (Goldie, Zach), Roger pages: ICly your characters probably just heard
gunfire.

Goldie pages: I can make Area Knowledge and Running rolls for Goldie to
get away at this point, ro would you just let her leave for now?

You say, "Look, I'm not gonna push you more now, G. But Belive this: I
/can/ help you get rid of it. I'll be around. Please think about it, ok?"

Zach looks around at the sound of the shot. "Shit!"

You paged (Roger, Goldie) with 'From what direction?'.

<OOC> Goldie blinks, "A shot? I might hang a round a little longer
then..." ^_-

To (Goldie, Zach), Roger pages: from 18th and oak.

<OOC> Zach says, "Heh!:) Let's jet!"

Zach starts running shotways.

Goldie blinks as the shot rings out, turning and dashing towards the
source of the noise rather than away from it.

Downtown -- 12th and Broadway

Downtown -- 12th and Oak

Downtown -- 18th and Oak

	A downtown intersection undergoing a new renaissance, with newly
renovated lofts, townhouses, and storefronts stretching a few blocks in
every direction, as the current generation of downtown yuppies rush
hither, thither, and yon. The upside of this is that the culture here is
one of economics, not ethnicity, and no one race or religion dominates
this little section of the downtown urban grid.
	Because this *is* downtown, and more to the point a slice of
downtown where people live as well as work, it is highly active at all
hours, and the fact that a Kansas City Police Deparment patrol car passes
through here every 10 minutes or so should indicate just how seriously the
city council takes the renovation of this area. 

Contents: 
Brooke 
Roger
Toland 
Lucian 
Harriet 
Transit Bus

<OOC> Lucian says, "Eh, we'll let the tire blow out."

Goldie arrives along Oak from the north.

If she could become one with the wall, she would. Another squeal passes
through Brooke's lips in response to the ringing shots, as she
involuntarily covers her face and slinks further to the ground. People all
around are running to and fro as chaos reigns in the area.

Lucian hits the floor when the shots ring out. By dint of having her arms
around him, Harriet may well topple down with him...

Zach comes running flat out southwards trying to use his eyes to get a
load of the situation.

Roger is standing in classic fireing pose, having just gotting a shot off
at a fleeing cat

<OOC> Roger says, "car :PP"

Goldie follows Zach here from the north, panting for breath as she
screches to a stop from a dead sprint.

Harriet does, and rolls when she hits, so she's not stuck on top of
Lucian. She lies face down on the concrete, hands oflying up to hcover her
head.

The car door slams, Roger's shot fires, lightening in the sky cracks
across the clouds. The sound of reverberating thunder echos through the
streets as tires skid, a flattening tire. It doesn't stop the car though!
The Mercedes guns the engine, and tires continue to roll at a speed that
could be hazardous as it speeds away, leaving a white streak of sparks
flying behind it. Car horns honk, and people on the sidewalks gawk at the
sudden scene.

It happens quick. It happens elegantly. It happens with a quickness that
almost makes it seem, in afterthought, that time was in slow motion.

Morris hangs on to the news stand, just standing still as everything
happens before his dazed, 'what the f-' eyes.

<OOC> Roger says, "so err did I hit the tire or not?"

<OOC> Toland says, "Yes, you did."

Zach sprints up to Roger. "What the Hell's going on?!" His eyes follow the
car and dart around to spot people in various states of emergency.

Roger lifts his gun for another shot, but then curses as the car zooms
away. He doesn't look at Zach "Get under cover now!"

You paged Goldie with 'How close to me are you?'.

From afar, Goldie was about to pose, "Fairly close. I have Running which
helps a lot..."

Goldie shivers as the thunder peals, inhaling air desperately as she tries
to keep up with Zach and throwing a somewhat suspicious look forwards at
the seemingly tireless man.

Zach backsteps to stand in front of Goldie. "Down! Get down!" he hisses to
her. His eyes keep darting around to assess more of the chaos ensuing.

Billowing street haze looms around Morris' feet. Like a cloud, he pushes
away from the news stand. Yeah. Nobody noticed that scene. One finger
plugs into his ear as he digs, then looks at his new treasure. A squint of
broad brows, a glance to the left, a foot kicked up to the heel for a
moment. He turns away from the news stand, the trenchcoat causing the
ploom of smog to follow him briefly, it's entrails being sliced from it's
corporeal form like twisting fingers, trying to hold the man back. Heavy
boots fall towards the store, where he leans, watching the situation
unfold as one grungy hand reaches into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes
and a obvious bomb-looking lighter.

Goldie senses "Zach does breathe more heavily than after a stroll, but he
seems to be /very/ fit."

Goldie pages: You just sprinted two city blocks and had enough breath to
yell at people...

You paged Goldie with 'Yes I did, didn't I. :)'.

Roger holster his gun and calls for backup. Once that's done he scans the
area for the injured man and hurries over to him "Sir! Sit down, you're
hurt, let me call you a ambumlance."

Lucian raises his head up. "Most unusual," he repeats, softly. "This
usually is a better-patrolled area than to allow that sort of thing." He
looks towards Harriet. "Are you well?"

Goldie starts to do as she is told, for once, but freezes for an instant
as her eyes move in Morris' direction. Biting her lip, she finally
remembers to move after a few moments but straightens as Roger holsters
his gun...

Harriet lifts her head from the concrete. There's a small, raw mark on one
cheek where she scraped it against the ground, but she nods. "If it's
over, and everyone's alive, then I'm fine," she says, with a shaky attempt
at a smile.

Zach walks after Roger as it seems that the immidiate danger is over and
someone is hurt.

Brooke leans forward on her toes and pushes up off the ground, using a
hand to keep her balance. She's had enough kluzty incindences for one
night. Brushing off her jeans and readjusting her hair provides enough
time to check around. Doesn't appear anyone is hurt other than the
trenchcoat guy. She leans back against a lampost, and slides her hand in
her back pocket, to watch from a distance.

As Roger walks up to Mr. Morris, grey eyes watch his approach. "No, I'm
fine." Morris says raspily, as he lights his cigarette with the
bomb-looking lighter. He reads the digital display on the side of it, it's
pretty late. He takes a drag as the carton and lighter return to their
home among lint and fur. Smoke furls demonically around Morris' head as he
thinks a second longer, looking at the end of the cigarette. "Nice job
scaring that guy off. I think he was trying to mug me or something." Yeah.
That's the ticket.

Roger places a hand on Morris;s shoulder he shakes his head "I saw him
stick a gun in your mouth for God's sake. You need to go get checked out."

Goldie waits, looking around to see if the 'excitment' is over, then slips
away as Zach walks over to talk to Roger. Glancing at Morris, she shivers
and her pace quickens slightly.

Lucian rises to one knee, dusting his suit off. He shakes his head back
and forth, as if to clear it. With a sigh, he stretches up to his full
height and bends towards Harriet. "Let me help you up."

Goldie heads north on Oak.

Morris allows a little bit of blood to be spit out around a red tipped
cigarette. "You're absolutely right. I'm gonna go to the hospital right
now. They got great security, too." He starts to try and walk in the
general direction of... parabola leftish.

From afar, Goldie is heading off now while you are otherwise occupied.

Zach's eyebrows rise somewhat as he listens to the exchange between Mr.
Trenchcoat and Roger. But as the mysterious man seems to stand quite
straight and ain't swaying, he looks the rest of the crew over. "Any
others hurt?"

Roger steps in front of him and shakes his head firmly "No sir, please
wait for the ambulance."

Harriet accepts Lucian's hand and climbs, trembling just a bit, to her
feet. She dusts herself off and luaghs softly. "There have been better
days, you know?"

You paged Goldie with 'Yep. Thanks for the great rp!!! :) You rock!'.

Lucian chuckles. "Indeed," he says with a sigh. "Not quite what I had in
mind, I must say, for a pleasant evening downtown." He chuckles some more.

From afar, Goldie smiles, "Thank you... Although you should know that you
are on a mental list of Goldie's now. It is the one labelled 'Nice
Person/Avoid or drive off at all costs to keep them safe'..."

"Sure." Morris says, and stands still. He looks up towards the sky, and
then coughs some. Yep. Kansas City. What do they make here again? "What's
yer local economy there.... my african american friend? What the hell are
you? A cop or something?"

Long distance to Goldie: Zach is just as stubborn as Hachilah:)

Goldie pages: Night... And Hachilah is already on that list. ^_^

Roger frowns and pulls out his badge "Officer Roger Freeman sir, may I
have your name." Oh what the hell, maybe he'll even need an attorney.
Brooke pushes away from the lampost and walks over to where Roger and the
trenchcoat guy stand. She flicks a hand towards the man, a white
handkerchief dangling between two fingers. "Here you go, sir. Looks like
you might need this," she says, her voice soft as she motions towards his
mouth. Oh, and wouldn't you like a business card, too?

Harriet looks over at Roger and the man, and sighs. "Should we stay? I
mean, since we were here and everything? I suppose someone will want to
ask questions." She looks decidedly unhappy at the prospect.

Lucian frowns. "Quite possibly," he says with a sigh. "I must say the
prospect does not appeal to me..."

Roger looks over at Harriet and Lucian and nods "I'll be needing your
statments, so if you two could stick around...."

Lucian sighs. "I knew it," he mutters.

Harriet gives Roger a tired smile. "Somehow, I knew you'd say that." She
sits down on the curb, and puts her chin in her hands.

Just as Morris is about to answer Roger with some witty remark, Brooke
happens into the picture, handing him a hankie. "Me? I'm Morris." And
we'll just leave it at that. Meow. "Thanks, lady. The way you came over
here, dressed like that, must mean you're either a lawyer or another damn
cop." A smile at Roger. "No offense, my minority-equipped police friend.
How long until that ambulance gets here? I think I might of lost a tooth."
He sucks on his cigarette, and blows it towards Brooke.

Harriet Lucian=Hehehe, he seems to be a lot of fun. Although, Harriet is
consigning him cheerfully to the bowels of Hell, right now. :)

You paged Fidelity with 'Have you had a chance to look at my xp-spending
yet? :)'.

Roger says firmly "Sir, I need your name."

<OOC> Harriet says, "page Lucian=That's it. I'm not fit to own a keyboard.
What *IS* it, tonight?"

<OOC> Roger laughs!

<OOC> Lucian patpats. ;)

<OOC> Harriet says, "ARGH! I give up. I'm just going to sit here and
brood."

<OOC> Zach hugs Harriet!

<OOC> Lucian says, "Better than sitting here and breeding, I guess. =p"

<OOC> Zach thwappies Lucian! :) :)

<OOC> Lucian says, "Yes sir, can-I-have-another?"

"Brooke Bradford, Attorney-at-law," Brooke replies, almost as if on cue.
She fishes a business card out of her pocket, between the same two fingers
the handkerchief rested. She casts a little shrug towards Roger and looks
to Morris, "And, if you need my services, Mr. Morris, don't hesitate to
give me a call." She brushes a curl from her cheek and turns her head to
avoid a mask of thick smoke hovering towards her head. How rude!

<OOC> Harriet says, "glares. "Don't tempt the typo demons. I have no
dignity left.""

If he must know. "Sure. Toland Morris. I'm a professional gambler." he
says around a soft, blood caked smile. "You could say I always like to
hide an extra hand up my sleeve. Or at least a finger or two." If only his
old friend was there.

Zach narrows his eyes as looks over at the very rude trenchcoated man. But
Roger seems to have the situation under control.

Roger carefuly writes that down "Well Mr Morris, I'm sure the ambulance
will be here very shortly. In the meantime can I get a statment. I highly
doubt that it was simple mugging. Muggers don't have nice black cars pick
them up."

<OOC> Roger needs to go in a few minutes."

<OOC> Zach aww! :(

<OOC> Harriet sniffles. "But people are getting shot and everything!" :)

<OOC> Roger says, "sorry, trying to get Fidelitys attention"

<OOC> Charity says, "Yes. :)"

<OOC> Zach stealthcuddles the invisible Charity meanwhile. :)

While Morris definately is focusing entirely on Roger, his brain does seem
to be somewhere else. No doubt the man behind the man apologizes for this.
"My statement. Right. Well, I was just walking out of the alley there,
when he jumped me and demanded I fork over all my dough. Of course, being
a man of honor, I couldn't allow that to happen. So he gets a little
jumpy, and I give him a thing or two, then he pulls a gun. Sure, I beat
him around some, but he gets a lucky blow in on my mouth and pushes me out
into the sidewalk. I think you saw the rest yourself."

Roger frowns and writes this all down "I see. Did you know the man,
perhaps you gamubled with him before?"

Roger is clearly very suspicious of thos Toland Morris.

The sound of sirens can be heard off in the distance.

"Actually I have." Morris says, flicking the cigarette away with a pluup
of smoke. "He's Deacon. He is the right hand man of a guy down in Vegas
who runs an establishment. He's not he brightest guy around. He can't even
count to ten anymore." Hee hee hee.

<OOC> Brooke says, "Brooke needs sleep. Beauty sleep."

<OOC> Harriet says, "Awww. We're losing people left and right. Well, have
a good night. :)"

Long distance to Toland: Zach tries to resonate, unless you mind very much
OOC? :)

Roger nods slowly as he writes "I see...the mob is it? Well we'll have you
down to the station once you're released from the hospital." He lifts his
head as he hears the sirens "Good, I'll let the people with juristrion
take over when they get here. In the meantime let me get your address."

<OOC> Roger snugs "Thanks for the rp.

<OOC> Toland says, "Good night."

<OOC> Zach says, "Sleep tight! :)"

The siren sounds get louder, bouncing off the nearby buildings, as a
police car makes its way down the street. It stops in front of Roger.

Toland pages: Oh, go right ahead. But I got to sleep real soonishly. I'm
dying here.

AutoJudge:  Zach rolls: 3 + 3 = 6 . Check die: 1 

Toland pages: So I don't get lost, what are you trying to do? :P

Roger looks pleased as the police car pulls up and he waves the officers
over."

You paged Toland with 'Most noble /or/ ignoble deed last week according to
your own standards:)'.

Harriet sighs and raises her hands over her ears. "I'm going to need two
aspirin, and possibly some alcohol after this," she says.

Toland pages: Blew off Deacon's index finger while being rampaged through
a casino in a heated gun fight.

Two officers are in the car. One steps out and strolls over to Roger. The
other stays behind, on the radio.

You paged Toland with 'Is that good or bad?'.

Meanwhile, more sirens can be heard in the distance.

Toland pages: It's bad, but he liked doing it. ;)

You paged Toland with 'Ok. Thanks! :)'.

Lucian checks his watch. "They are slow tonight," he remarks with a sigh.
Finally, he sits down on the curb next to Harriet. "I suspect the aspirin
would be better than the alcohol."

Roger steps away from Toland "Please stay there." He quickly fills the
arriving officer in and hands Toland over to him and points to Lucian and
Harriet, mentioning they stil need to give statments.

Morris stands there, looking at the police cars. Looks like he's familiar
with this scene. He spits some blood on to the sidewalk and caresses his
jaw with the knuckles of his right hand. "Never much liked the taste of
.38. Always gives me an upset stomach."

<OOC> Roger waves and needs to take off "Thanks for the rp you all!!

<OOC> Toland salut!

<OOC> Zach says, "Likewise! :)"

Harriet leans against Lucian's shoulder. "You're probably right. I
probably wouldn't get to forget anything that happened before I started
drinking." She sighs wistfully.

The current time in Kansas City is 10:14 PM, Mon Sep 23, 2002.

The cop looks over at Roger and Harriet, then heads over. He's a tall
fellow, a nice strapping young lad. He approaches Morris first. "Evening,
sir. Ma'am. I'm going to need to get your statements concerning tonight's
events."

Morris already gave his statement to Roger, but he reiterates it again,
before being escorted off to the ambulance. Let's consider Toland
effectively gone from the scene for the night now.

Zach looks on as the action is wrapped up.

The cop dutifully takes names, details, etc. from Toland and Harriet. He
wanders back to the car, muttering to his partner.

Charity pages: Thanks for the stealth snuggle, btw. ;)

Harriet sighs as the officer finishes with her. "That was even less fun
the second time around," she mutters to herself.

Lucian was, presumably, included, and sighs. "Quite. Tuxedoed thugs with
pistols indeed." He shakes his head. "As long as everyone emerged more or
less intact, I imagine, it will be considered a fortunate occurrence."

Harriet nods. "Yeah," she says, and brings a hand up to massage her
temple, hissing briefly as her fingers skate across her small memento of
the occassion.

The radio cop mutters something into his radio, and a short time
thereafter, the sounds of distant sirens stop abruptly. An ambulance
appears within minutes to cart Toland Morris away. Another night, another
shoot-out, it seems.

Zach looks at Harriet. "You want me to hail you a cab, ma'am?"

<OOC> Lucian says, "Actually... hate to say it, but I have to go, too. :("

Harriet looks warily in Lucian's direction, but smiles at Zach as she
shakes her head and stands up. "No, but thank you, Zach."

<OOC> Harriet says, "It's the Great Player Migration! Look out! :)"

Zach smiles to her. "No problem."

Lucian glares at Zach, and says nothing. With a long exhalation, he looks
towards Harriet. "Will you need an escort to your home, Harriet?"

Harriet shakes her head again. "I'll be fine. I think I'm going to," she
gestures vaguely, "go for a walk before I head home, anyway. Clear my
head."

Lucian nods, slowly. "If you would prefer solitude, then?" He takes a step
forward. "I would not mind at least a memory of where we were when all of
this so rudely interrupted us." He smiles, faintly.

Harriet smiles and chuckles. "If something else nasty and improbable
happens, you realize that I'll be very upset." She steps close to Lucian
and hugs him tightly, as only someone who's been seriously shaken and
desperately needs a cuddle can.

Zach takes this scene in with some surprise and a shadow moves over his
face. Oh dear. He closes his eyes and remains calm.

Lucian returns the hug. "I highly doubt it will." He holds her close. As
he looks over her - height is a wondrous advantage, he looks towards Zach.
Were his eyes open, he'd have spotted Lucian flash a wide, taunting smile
while his head is just past Harriet's line of vision. When Lucian finally
releases the lady, the smile is the perfect image of warmth and care.
"That seems to have worked out well, nu?"

Harriet looks around for gunfire, drunks, or other unhappy things. Finding
none, she gradually relaxes, and smiles up at Lucian. "Yeah, I guess it
did."

"Then, perhaps, we will have to do it again sometime." Lucian smiles down
at her, and reaches out a hand to gently touch her (non-scraped) cheek.
"Be safe, my dear Harriet," he says, and takes a step back, perhaps to
allow her the solitude and walk she desires.

Harriet mumbles, "Perhaps," with flushed cheeks. She nods at both men, and
then starts to amble down the street toward the Crown Center, her hands
pushed into her pockets, her gait thoughtful.

Harriet heads south on Oak.

Zach has opened his eyes again and still remains calm. He glances around
just to see that there is no more excitement. He nods to Harriet as she
walks away.

Zach peers coldly at Lucian. "If I were you, Serpent, I'd start running,"
he says softly. It's unclear whether this means here and now, or more in
general.

Lucian looks up and down the street. With a chuckle, he stays where he is,
signaling at the yellow cab that fortuitously is just headed down the
block. "Ah, Mister Ellis... fear not. We shall resolve our differences...
indeed, I definitely look forward to it." His teeth flash white, and he
drives off.

Zach puts his hands in his pockets and darkly watches the professor leave.

Club Bluebird
	
Harriet walks in, looking tired and still a little shell-shocked.

The place is hopping, and filled with people enjoying the music. Zach is
perched on a stool at the bar, nursing a glass of scotch.

Harriet wanders up to the bar, grimacing as people brush against her, and
claims an empty stool. "A Grasshopper, please," she says to the bartender.

The bartender bustles about to fulfill the lady's wishes. One Grasshopper
comin' right up!

Zach looks over to see Harriet. Well fancy that - she does seem to pop
outta the woodwork lately. He lifts his glass in a small salute and smiles
a tad tiredly, but friendly to her. However there is a shadow of concern
or worry or something lurking in his eyes.

Harriet catches the movement from the corner of her eyes, and looks to see
Zach. She smiles, and nods in a friendly manner. "Fancy meeting you
again," she says with a fraction of her usual humor. Her drink arrives and
she gives the bartended a bill and a grateful look.

Zach smiles crookedly. "We seem to run into each other all the time,
ma'am. You allright?"

Harriet grimaces at him. "When did you start calling me ma'am, and why
haven't I noticed until now?" Before answering his question, she takes a
long sip on the drink, closing her eyes as it slides down her throat.
Finally, she nods. "I'm okay. I've been better, but nothing's broken, so
I'm okay, you know?" She scrutinizes him. "What about you?"

Zach chuckles softly. "Sorry. Didn't mean to offend." Again the crooked
smile, and for a secont a teasing twinkle in his eyes chase the worry
away. Then he grows more sombre again. "I'm okay. Wasn't there when the
shot went off. I'm just glad noone was seriously wounded or killed."

Harriet nods solemnly. "So am I. When that man put that gun in the other
one's mouth..." she trails off, her eyes growing haunted. She shudders,
and gulps a little of her drink. "I don't like guns," she says after she
swallows.

Zach agrees. "I'll drink to that. Don't like 'em much either." He pauses.
"So... What happened there?"

Harriet raises her glass with a little smile. "Amen." She takes a sip.
"You mean on the street?" She shakes her head. "I don't know, really.
Lucian and I were talking," she laughs, "or I was yelling, and Lucian was
talking, and then this guy came out of one of the buildings, and another
one followed him, and everything went to Hell."

Zach shakes his head. "Shit. That's just crazy - like some old gangster
movie or something. But they do say that reality frequently outclasses
fiction."

Harriet smiles. "I guess it does." She looks at Zach, her face growing
solemn. "Oh, Zach...I wanted to apologize about that whole thing,
earlier." She shakes her head. "I don't know what got into him, but Lucian
never should have brought that up in front of Roger."

Zach looks a bit surprised. "Eh? Oh come on, lady. You have absolutely
nothing to appologise for. You were quite needlessy witness to the
not-so-good relationship between myself and the professor. I don't know
what posessed him either. He's become steadily more... Oh nevermind." Some
whiskey gets downed and the "drug-addeled mechanic" sighs and smiles
appologetically to her.

Harriet looks relieved. "I'm glad. I mean," she smiles, "in college, there
were several people who resorted to, uh, alternate forms of inspiring the
muse. I never felt the urge, but I'm not sure there's anything really
wrong with it, either."

Zach smiles a bit. "I confess to enjoying a joint once in a while, but
that's all. Herbs are all well and fine, but the anything stonger... We'd
be better off without it. Did the good professor tell you the rest of the
story? The bit he left out in front of Roge?"

Harriet looks uncomfortable. "No, I'm afraid that's the only part he
mentioned." She takes another swallow of her drink, then looks down in
surprise to find it empty. She pushes the empty glass away.

Zach notices this. "Can I get you another drink?"

Harriet shakes her head with a smile. "I don't feel like being moderate
with my drinking at the moment which, experience tells me, is exactly the
time that I should be." Her smile widens. "The edge has been blunted, and
that's all I really need."

Zach smiles and nods. "You're a wise lady. Admirable." He winks and then
gestures for the bartender to get him another scotch. "How's that scratch
doing? Not bothering you too much I hope?"

Harriet raises a finger to her cheek, and prods the spot gently. "It's
okay. I'll disinfect it and stick a bandage on it when I get home. No big
deal, you know?" She smiles. "Thank you for asking, though."

Zach flashes a small smile, his eyes warm and sincere. He nurses his new
drink for a while in silence, then finally works up the courage to ask:
"Ehm... This is like, really not my business, but... Um.. You seem a bit
taken with the professor...?" He looks uncomfortable.

That makes two of them. Harriet looks away, down at the bartop, and
strives for a casual air. "I suppose I am, a little." Her smile is gentle.
"I suppose you do not approve?" She looks up to meet his eyes.

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

<OOC> Zach says, "My willroll:) Crappy! :)"

<OOC> Harriet says, "Awww." Harriet patpats. "I know the feeling.""

Zach fidgets with his glass and clears his throat a bit, meeting her gaze.
"Er." He fidgets some more. His green eyes are sincere and filled with
deep and absolute worry. "I... No. I don't. I fear..." He searches for
word, but Eloquence seems to have left out the back door. "He just ain't
no good."

<OOC> Zach says, "Fail with a CD6. Ick! :)"

Zach blushes as he hears his own inane stuttering.

You paged Harriet with 'Well! Congratulations! You've made Zach blush.
That's a first! :)'.

Harriet sighs, and smiles. "I realize you and he don't get along, Zach,"
she says gently, "but don't you think it's a little, um, inconsiderate to
map that to the man's whole existance? Everybody has things that makes
them a little unbalanced."

Zach shakes his head. "He's got a dark heart, that one. Please be careful,
Harriet. You're too good for him."

Harriet blushes and looks away. "You're a very nice man, Zach, and I thank
you for worring about me." She smiles. "I won't be in town for more than a
few months, anyway, I never am." She shrugs. "I'm sure it won't go
anywhere."

Zach smiles a slightly embarrased, boyish smile back to her. "I hope you
stay long enough for KC to get to see your artwork. I'd love to see it,
and my kid sister would love it too. She's really talented with pencil and
paper."

Harriet looks interested. "Really? That's wonderful. Art is a very
rewarding pursuit," she chuckles, "but then, I'm terribly biased. And I'll
stay at least long enough to set up a show, so no fear about that." She
looks at him curiously, "how old is your sister? High-school, right?"

Zach nods. "Yeah, Hachi is 16. At least that's what she says. I only
recently found her. Our dad's a bit of a vagabond, see..."

Harriet nods, prompting him to continue by stint of her total attention.

Zach smiles ruefully and sips his drink. He looks less uncomfortable now.
"He's apparantly left kids all over the place with various women. Every
once in a while a new sibling pops up. I have a bit of the same
wanderlust, so I've found a few new brothers ans sisters. She's the latest
find. Wonderful kid. I'm lucky to have her as family."

Harriet smiles and nods. "I have a big brother, myself, and it's great to
have family around." Her eyes grow a little faraway, as if she were
thinking of something else. She shakes herself, and asks, "Is she thinking
about going into the Arts in college?"

Zach shakes his head. "Don't think so. She's dropped out of high school.
She spends a lot of her time helping out up in the Cathedral and around
the shelter there. I hope she'll take her exams anyway, cause she's quite
bright. But a very free spirit too. She can't be forced into anything." He
grins and clearly remembers some episode or other.

Harriet lifts one corner of her mouth in a crooked smile. "Well, it's good
she knows what she wants. Well, if she changes her mind, or decides to
pursue art without a degree, let me know." She sticks her finger into her
empty class, wipes a little of the creme de menthe off the side, and licks
it off. "I'm not famous or anything, but I know a few people in a couple
of Universities. Talent should be nurtured," she ends, on a firm note.

Zach actually straightens up and beams to Harriet. "Amen to that, sister.
I couldn't agree more! I hope I can get to introduce the two of you some
day."

Harriet grins at Zach. "We've met, briefly. She had a bucket, if I
remember correctly." She looks puzzled. "What was that about, anyway?"

You say, "The bucket?"

Harriet nods. "The bucket," she affirms.

Zach chuckles and prodly sings his sister's praises. "That bucket is a
percussion instrument. It's one of Hachilah's many talents to take things
that others consider mundane, or even trash, and make little wonders out
of them. She uses that bucket as a drum, in addition to carrying stuff in
it. Once she made me a steamboat out of soda cans, a small candle and some
tubes!"

Harriet is suitably impressed. "Wow. Sounds like maybe she doesn't need
college after all. I've never heard of someone making music with a bucket
before..." she pauses to consider it. "It must make a very interesting
sound."

Zach grins. "It makes several sounds actually. All depending on where you
hit it, how you hit it and whether there's anything in it or not. She had
Sarah and me dancing in the park to her beat."

Harriet breaks out into delighted laughter. "Really? Oh, my. I would pay
money to see that. I really would. Do you think I could hear her,
sometime? I love music, but I'm afraid that I have no talent there, unless
breaking glass is considered a good thing."

Zach chuckles happily. "Of course you can. She loves playing that bucket.
If you want, I can bring my guitar and we can issue you with a small
cardboard box with peas in it. Or one of Hachilah's homemade maraccas.
Then we'll be a band!"

Harriet is helpless with laughter, now. When it tapers off to giggles, she
takes a few deep breaths and says, with some difficulty, "Oh, my. And what
shall we call ourselves, you know? I'm voting for Wandering Lunatics,
myself."

Zach smiles a wide, utterly happy smile. His eyes shine and twinkle. "I
vote for 'The Bucketeers'!"

Harriet gapes at Zach. "That's..." a giggle, "that's..." a chuckle,
"that's just..brilliant!" And she's off again, laughing so hard that tears
are brightening the edges of her eyes. "The B-b-bucketeers!"

Zach joins in to keep her company in the mirth and laughter.

Harriet recovers herself, after a while, and shakes her finger at Zach.
"You, sir, are a very silly man." She doesn't seem unhappy about this.

Zach rests his right elbow on the bar and beams at Harriet. "Am not! I was
being serious! ...ish... And that's a very cute finger you're waving," he
adds teasingly.

The current time in Kansas City is 01:15 AM, Tue Sep 24, 2002.

Harriet looks at Zach with amused green eyes. "Any person who can suggest
'The Bucketeers' as the name for a band, even on featuring a bucket,
seriously, needs more help than I can provide." She looks at her finger,
and withdraws it very quickly. "And a flirt, as well, I see."

Zach chuckles and spreads his hands in surrender. "Guilty as charged,
ma'am. And I think I'm the one providing help here. The scare you had
earlier probably subtracted from your life time expectancy. Now all the
laughing has added to it, healing the damage from the Scare. See?" He
seems quite relaxed now, and the worry that was plain on him an hour ago
has vanished.

Harriet nods, her own expression a lot lighter than it was a little while
ago. "And I thank you for it, Zach." She smiles. "I guess I wasn't quite
as enamored of solitude as I originally thought, you know?"

Zach tilts his head in a sideways nod. "Yeah. That goes for me too. You
know you're really pleasant company, Harriet. It's easy to be 'silly'
'round you."

Harriet appears rather embarrassed at the compliment. "Thank you. It's
odd, actually. Before I moved to Kaycee, I would go days without talking
to anyone. Now, I'm actually knocking off work to go out and see if I
can't find some people." She grins. "Y'all must be good people around
here."

Zach downs the last of his drink. "It's the BBQ they have here. Makes
people outgoing."

Harriet grins and shakes her head. "I swear, everyone in this city
worships the 'cue. Do they put aphrodisiacs in the stuff, or something
that I'm not aware of?"

Zach grins. "Don't think so. They're just very, very good at what they do.
It's a gift from up above!"

Harriet snickers. "Apparently. Still," she says, holding on to the last of
her native dignity, "I haven't seen anyone throw a pig-pickin', so I'll
still assume that the South is the reigning queen in that catagory."

Zach nods his head enthusiastically. "She certainly is! You a dixie
chick?"

Harriet nods. "Indeed I am. North Carolina, born and raised, about an hour
and half out of Asheville." She glances at Zach. "You said you had a bit
of the wanderlust...ever run across a hole-in-the-hall called Burgandy?"

Zach thinks a bit. "Hmm... Asheville - that's up in the Appalachians,
right? I've been through there once, but I don't recall a place named
Burgandy. Sorry.."

Harriet waves a hand. "Don't worry about it. There's a couple of schools,
a few stores, and more churches than the human mind can bear, and that's
about all." She looks suddenly wistful. "The mountains are beautiful,
though. And you?" she looks at Zach with twinkling eyes. "What female
population was first fortunate to encounter the indisputable charm of
Zach?"

Zach has the good greace to lower his eyes, his grins definitely self
ironic. He looks back up. "That would be the girls in Winner, South
Dakota. But I left as soon as I could drive a car out of there."

Harriet nods. "I don't believe I've run across it in my own wanderings,
but I definately understand the sentiment." She raises an imaginary glass,
"Here's to the life of wanderers, may they always find dry roads and
friendly natives."

Zach raises his own invisible glass to join the toast. "Hear, hear!"

Harriet clinks invisible glasses with Zach, then stands up. She rubs her
hand across her eyes. "And on that note, I'm afraid that I'll have to
wander myself back to my apartment. All this...excitement has wiped me
out." She makes a little bow in Zach's direction. "I have enjoyed your
company, very much."

Zach smiles. "May I see you safely home, Harriet?"

Harriet shakes her head. "I'll be fine, and I like to walk. I'll see you
around." She suddenly becomes serious. "And I will try to be careful, you
know?" Then she turns and slips her way through the crowd to the door.

<OOC> Harriet says, "Thanks for the RP, it was much fun."

<OOC> Zach says, "Ditto! Sleep tight! :)"

You say, "I'll see you later then, Harriet. I hope."

Zach lets his gaze follow her as she leaves...

Harriet waves as she leaves. "Count on it!"

Harriet steps outside.

The End...