Logfile from Brass&Steel. There is a gentle knocking at the door. Zach hums softly as he puts his jacket on, then pauses as he percieves a knocking without. He loafs over and opens the door, "Yep? Oh hey babe!" He beams. Ada smiles and steps in, sliding her arms around Zach's shoulders. Zach hugs her back, tightly. "Lovely to see you, sweetie. How've you been?" Ada presses herself tight against him. "I," she declares quietly, "am going to love you forever. You are so thoughtful." Ada looks up. "I've been okay. I've missed you a lot. How was your trip?" Zach rubs her back gently. "It was okay. I did the job and had a few laughs, but I couldn't quite relax. There's too much going on here." Ada nods and purrs, nearly melting against him. You say, "Have you been seen any of the others? Like Hachilah? Roger, Harriet?" Ada shakes her head. "I've been sort of reclusive. Lots of work to do." Zach looks at her and tilts his head. "You taken on a new contract?" Ada nods. "For a company in St. Louis. They wanted a new website by the new year. Finished it yesterday." Zach ahs and snugs her. Ada cuddles happily. "You're warm, love." Zach chuckles. "Yup, that's one of the advantages of having one of these living body thingies." Ada giggles softly and kisses Zach's neck. "Do we have to stand here in the doorway? Were you going somewhere?" Zach smiles and closes the door behind her. "I was gonna go say hi to the ducks, but they can wait. Did you like the cookies?" Ada nods! "We can - I mean, if you want..." Zach blinks in confusion. He's obviously not quite fine-tuned to female-speak today. "Uh..? We can what?" Ada says, "We can go see the ducks, if you want. I don't want to interrupt that, although I'd like to change outfits first if we're going to do that. This one's a little chilly." You say, "Naw, s'oaky hon. Want something to eat and drink?" Ada sighs and smiles. "If you're having some, sure." Ada just looked at you. Zach releases her and gestures toward the sofa, then takes off his jacket and heads for the fridge. "Humm... I've some lemon and raspbelly cheesekake here. Tea or coffee?" He pulls the cake out and straightens up, smiling fondly at Ada. Ada blushes faintly and looks away at the mention of cheesecake. "Um, coffee, please." Zach blinks. "Raspbelly! Rasp-belly?!? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...." :P Ada giggles! Zach doesn't even want to know... 8) Ada sits on the couch and fiddles with the buttons on her blouse. Zach starts going through the cofee making process and takes cups and plates out of the cupboard. He notices her blush and raises an eyebrow. "You don't like cheesecake? I can whip up a few sandwitches if you like?" Ada shakes her head. "Cheesecake is fine." [Public] Orc wiggles a tentacle tiredly. [Public] Roger pats Orc and offers him a cookie. Zach continues fiddling with coffe and cake, and serves both as soon as the coffee is done. Then he floomps down on the sofa next to Ada and relaxes. "So have any plans for the new year?" Ada lays her head on Zach's shoulder. "Not really. I came over to see if you did." Ada says, "With one exception, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather ring in the new year with... and you're on equal footing with her."" You paged Harriet with 'Has Cosmo done anything to un-scare Harriet? :)'. Harriet pages: Well, he did dress as Santa. :) But to be serious, no. But she's repressing, so everything's cool. Long distance to Harriet: Zach argh! Repressing is unCool! Bad thing. Not good. Did you say Santa?? Zach again blinks in confusion, but then catches up. He was talking about the new year and she seems to be talking about new year's eve. Right, at least part of his brain is still functioning. Wonder what Adrian put into the liquor... He breaks into a smile and cuddles Ada. "Well thank you for that, honey! I don't have any plans for tomorrow that I'm aware of, as for the next year I have my jobs to do and life to enjoy." Ada eep! "Oh, I'm sorry, I misinterpreted... I, um, am resolving to meet more people next year!" she says, proudly. From afar, Harriet would disagree. Repressing keeps her from yelling at Cosmo, or worrying Roger by getting very, very drunk, so she's all for it. And yes. Santa. Complete with the fuzzy hat. It was so cute! Long distance to Harriet: Zach thinks Cosmo kinda deserves a yelling-at. But the Santa think shows promise.. :) Zach grins and affectionately ruffles her hair. "Good on ya, girl. Meeting peoples is great!" Ada ack and fusses at Zach's hand. "I think so too." Harriet pages: But Harriet hates to yell at Cosmo. He just stands there and takes it. Cristobal is much more fun to yell at. :) Zach drinks his coffee and gobbles up some cake. Ada sips at her coffee. Long distance to Harriet: Zach chuckles. I can belive that! :) :) You say, "You seen any sign of that upstairs neightbour of yours lately?" Ada shakes her head. "Not recently." From afar, Harriet grins. He has the greatest /glare/. She thinks it's...cute. :P Zach hmms and frowns slightly. "I wonder what she's up to. I haven't seen or heard of her for months. Maybe she's buggered off... Or better yet - dead." He sighs. Ada says, "It could be. Although... you know, I haven't seen Sarah in about as long." Long distance to Harriet: Zach laughs. Oh man! Harriet has no real understanding as to how incredibly dangerous a balseraph is then? :) (Zach's player became a bal on the demon-band test, btw! HA! :) Zach nods. "I've not seen much of her myself, but she's around. Others have had dealings with her, and I'm staying away for the time being." From afar, Harriet has no real understanding as to how dangerous /Cris/ is. To her, specifically. Mostly because he keeps getting really angry, and then doing things like tucking her into bed. *grins* Me, too! And a Seraph on the choir-test. Ada nods and finishes her coffee. Ada says, "I was.. really put off by her, the last few times we saw each other." Long distance to Harriet: Zach grrs! He's upstaging me! This means war! I mean - War! >:) Maybe. It'd be real cool if HArriet somehow managed to redeem Cris. :) *giggle* I'm an elohite when I put my white hat on. :) Elohite/balseraph - nasty combo! You say, "Was she being mean to you?" Ada blushes quietly. "I'd rather not go into it." From afar, Harriet cuddles. Don't worry. Cris is not going to win any cuddle tests...he'd just never been around for one of Harriet's meltdowns, and it obviously confused him a bit. And yeah, that's definately a mean combination. :) Zach frowns and lays an arm around her. "I'm sorry hon, I didn't mean to upset you." Ada says, "It's okay. You didn't upset me. It's just..." Long distance to Harriet: Zach smiles. A balseraph trying to understand the human condition - it's cute in a very scary sort of way. :) You say, "Hmm?" Ada shakes her head. "I'll tell you when I'm ready." From afar, Harriet giggles. "It is, isn't it? And he's really the only person she can yell at without feeling really, really guilty about it, later." ;) Zach nods and finishes his cake and coffee. "S'okay." You paged Harriet with 'Yeah. I guess he has his uses. ;P'. Harriet pages: Now if only her friends weren't quite so determined to smoosh him into paste. *grin* Ada leans up and kisses Zach softly. Ada says, "I remember when life was simple." Zach thinks we should go outside to some public location. So many people online and so little rping. Not good! I might have to start waving whips and tongs at people! >:) Ada says, "Hey, I asked if you wanted to go see the ducks! ;)" Zach nods and answers her kiss. "Me too, but I wouldn't go back." Ada giggles softly. "Neither would I." Zach says, "I thought they'd get their arses over here, but they haven't. :) And just as well, since this is just a very small flat..." Ada says, "We need to go out and do something, love." Zach nods. "Yeah I guess we do. Can't sit holed up in here all day. Anything in particular you wanna do?" Ada says, "I dunno. I want to go to a park." Ada gets up suddenly and starts shedding clothing. "I hope you don't mind if I change first." Zach nods. "We can pop over to Huron park, it's just round the corner. I have some old bread for the ever gluttonous birds there." He smiles as she starts changing. "Not at all, but my stuff'll be a bit to big for you, I think.." Ada says, "No, love, I left an outfit here." Zach ahs. "Okay." Ada grins and emerges from the bedroom. Ada says, "That last time we really got to go out, I brought a duffel and changed here, remember? I forgot the duffel when I left, and then you went out of town... but I'm glad it's here. This thing is warm!"" Ada is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with hair dyed all the colors of the rainbow that hangs to her shoulders, and blue eyes. She looks to be in her late teens or early twenties; her body is slender without being skinny, her curves understated, her fingers long and tapered. Her skin is pale, her lips a light pink, and her nose curves upward ever so slightly. She is dressed to kill, in a black bodysuit with green metallic threads woven into the fabric to resemble circuitry. Over this she wears a black leather trenchcoat that falls to her ankles, calf-length form-fitted boots of the same material, and oddly bulky black gloves with the same circuitry design as the bodysuit. Her multi-colored hair fairly glows, and her glasses are dark and sweep around her face, obscuring her eyes. Zach smiles and nods. "It looks great too!" He dons his own jacket after having cleared away the dishes and taken the bread out of its box. "Time to go say hello to the ducks!" Ada exits the flat and closes the door. Ada has arrived. [Public] Zach glares around. "Are you lot just going to hang around and goof? Or are you going to rp?" *makes another will-check to stay stern for at least 10 seconds* You walk into the park. Huron Park Walkways lead through a large, well-manicured lawn of grass, dotted with trees and small monuments. As if the huge, carved stone sign labeling this 'Huron Indian Cemetary' didn't give a clue that this was not the local pauper's graveyard, the fact that many markers have U.S. Department of the Interior or Bureau of Indian Affairs plaques attached might provide that hint. At one end of the park, near to the civic buildings, a rose garden is beautifully maintained, with sufficient surfaces for purchasing that many come here during the lunchtime hour to recuperate from the hustle and bustle. A recent renovation, dated August of 2000, is a series of plaques at the edge of the rose garden, detailing the entire history of the park and burial grounds. Contents: Harriet Obvious exits: Out Zach waves! Sternly! :) [Public] Roger laughs Harriet waves back, sheepishly? Ada enters the park. Harriet was attempt to draw Anime!Harriet. And failing miserably. Zach points to himself and Ada. "Here comes the Mountain, and over there is Mohammed." *points at Harriet* "Wow, you've such big....eyes..!" ;P Harriet is out on a small hill, assembling what appears to be a little girl, made out of snow, sitting on a bench. And singing 'Silver Bells' in a cheerful, if rather off-key voice. Ada giggles. Harriet is suitably chastened and impressed. From afar, Roger is on his way :) The Mountain makes its four-legged but steady way into the park. It seems to be carrying a bread. Amazing! Upon hearing a familiar voice, it changes course and soon spots Mohammed doing interesting things to some snow. You paged Roger with 'I think you want the wrong way. The park is over /here/! ;P'. Harriet will roll Artistry, to see how well the snow-girl turns out... AutoJudge: Harriet rolls: 2 + 4 = 6 . Check die: 6 Zach says, "Sweeeeeeeeet!!!!" Roger pages: well you moved! Harriet says, "It's a real little girl!" Harriet doesn't notice the Mountain, as she's thoroughly invested in trying (and succeeding!) in making snow look like her little snow-girl's dress...admittedly with the help of a large stick. Roger says, "what's the scene?" Zach comes lofing along hand in hand with Ada, and comes right up to Moharriet. He beams wildly at her and her latest piece of work. "Holy mother of flowers! /That/ is just plain amazing!" he exclaims. Harriet is out on a small hill, assembling what appears to be a little girl, made out of snow, sitting on a bench. And singing 'Silver Bells' in a cheerful, if rather off-key voice. Zach and Ada just walked up to her, bread in hand. Or pockets. :) Roger is walking though the snow, cheerfuly kicking it up. Harriet yelps and starts at the exclaimation, nearly poking Snowgirl in the belly with the aforementioned sharp stick. She whirls around, and beams at Zach and Ada. "hey, there, y'all!" She glances at the bench, mildly sheepish. "Hope you weren't planning on sitting here, you know?" Ada smiles wryly. "We just came out to see if anyone was around. And Zach likes throwing bread at the ducks." Roger pulls his scarf around his neck and pauses to admire the sculpture. Only then does he notice Harriet. With a grin he waves "Hey there/ Harriet just looked at you. Harriet chuckles, and says solemnly, "Hey, it's an important job, you know? Otherwise they might run amok and nibble the citizens to death, you know?" She winks, and waves at Roger. "Hey, yourself!" Zach grins and releases Ada's hand in order to visit a Mighty Hug upon his favourite artist! "How've you been, sweetie? And we were going to chuck bread /to/ the birds, not /at/ them!" He laughs. 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 wearing a longsleeved, man's shirt, at least two sizes too large. Although originally a sedate white, the shirt has been tie-dyed and studded here and there with tiny spots of glitter. The shirt flops over paint-splattered blue jeans, with the blinding yellow of her sneakers an oddly appropriate accompaniment to the whole thing. Harriet is also wearing a large, thick denim jacket, which has been patched, whether it needed it or not, with numerous squares of rainbow and tye-dyed cloth. Ada waves to Roger as Zach releases her hand. "Yeah, sort of like Killer Tomatoes, only with feathers." Roger blinks and then waves at Ada and Zach "Hey there!" You paged Jerzy with 'The Huron Park Scene is open to all if you have a chance to come by! :)'. Ada waves back to Roger. "Been a while. How're you?" Harriet is hugged mightily! And verily, she does hug back, grinning up at Zach. "I've been great! It's good to see you're back, you know?" She peers around him to chuckle at Ada. "Sounds like the next B-movie classic to me!" Ada does the picture-framing thing with her fingers. "I can see it now - Attack of the Killer Duckatoes!" Zach grins to Roger as he releases Harriet and then visits a Mighty Hug upon Roger as well! Only this one's more of the manly sort, see. "Roge, my man!" He chuckles as the movie plans start to form. "I can see a few spin-offs there... Count Duckato, Count Duckato's Duckling, Ducatenstein, Ducatenstein's Bride...." Ada giggles. "Son of Ducatenstein! Roger cuckles and hugs back, waving at Ada as well "Hey there you two. How's it going? Harriet places her hands over her ears, laughing. "I think I'm going into Pun Overdose, here!" She flops down in the snow by her sculpture's feet, and absently starts working on the shoes. Ada says, "Still alive. Kinda chilly. Giving Harriet some Deep Hurting."" Zach laughs with Harriet and sneaks an arm around Ada again. "We seem to be doing just fine, Roger. How 'bout yourself?" He takes the time to look extra closely at Roger, sizing him up as it were. Roger grins "Aww, that's just mean. Bad puns and all. You paged Roger with 'Trying to resonate, +1 cd for closeness. :)'. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 4 + 2 = 6 . Check die: 3 From afar, Roger nods Harriet nods, and tries to look pitiful. Which isn't all that difficult, sitting in the snow as she is. "It's terrible abuse on my poor, innocent ears, you know?" You paged Roger with 'Most and lest noble deed last 7 days, 3 most and least noble deeds last 365 days. :)'. Roger pages: most noble, helping comfort Harriet after she was frightened by Boh. Least noble, flirting with Traci. Most noble for the past year, Becoming a Solider, being willing to get killed by the Shedite to protect Harriet, trying to fight the Shedite. Least noble, sleeping with Traci, not being able to help Zach and Cosmo fight Lucian, being jelous of Lucian because Harriet loves him and not Roger. Zach melts on the spot. Neer has he had any real defence against such devestating tactics as the one currently being employed by Harriet. "Awww... Poor sweet thing, you! I feel a need for repentance coming up! Ay, oy! Will warm apple cake and a foot massage do?" His eyes twinkle mischiveously. Zach says, "Neer = Never" Ada Looks at Zach, but is only half-serious. The smile is obviously trying to break free. Zach says, "Ada got nice cheese cake and coffee! Plus! She gets a helluva lot more'n just foot rubs... :) :)" Ada coughs. :) Roger grins Harriet snickers, and rolls her eyes playfully at Zach. "I think I'll survive," she says with amusement, "but thanks for the offer, you know?" She chuckles, and her hand starts to sneak back to doing detail work on the Snowgirl's dress. Roger chuckles "Aww, I don't get temped with with a foot rub? Ada gets a sly gleam in her eye. "Well, *I'd* give you one..." You paged Roger with 'As Zach eyed you, both concern and then approval shoowed in his eyes.'. From afar, Roger grins Zach launches himself after Roger with a wild hoot in an attempt to wrestle him to the ground and rub snow all over him - /especially/ down his neck... Yay! It's winter! You say, "I'll give you a rubbin', you big lug!!" Roger yells as tumbles the ground "No! I got tickled by Harriet today. Isn';t that enough! Harriet laughs, and glances over at Ada. "We should sell tickets, you know?" Ada grins at Harriet. "I dunno. If you and I were doing it, and *they* sold tickets..." Harriet raises an eyebrow. "They'd make more money?" she asks, innocently. Zach woots and shows no mercy on his victim! Roger gets wrestles around in the snow, and his assailant strives mightliy to shove some snow down his neck. Accidantally leaving his face and front necline open to attack.... Zach softly curses his non-existant typing skills.... :7 Ada raises the matching eyebrow. "Likely." Jerzy pages: What's the scene? Long distance to Jerzy: Zach smiles. "Harriet is sculpting a snow girl on a bench, Zach and Roger are currently playing in the snow trying to shove as much of it as possible down each other's neck. Ada and Harriet are commenting on this.. IOW: Fluff!" :) Jerzy pages: Ah. Well I'm sure Jerzy's bodyguards would ruin the mood. Roger is happy to take advantage and scoops up a handfull of snow which he stuffs down the front of Zach's shirt. Long distance to Jerzy: Zach chuckles. "If they're of the serious and starched type they do run the risk of being snowballed." :) Harriet grins. "I think we should leave the frostbite in inconvenient places to them, though, you know?" She looks thoughtful. "Although, a snowball at the right time..." Jerzy pages: They fight back with guns. ;P You paged Jerzy with 'Hey! No fair! :)'. Ada says, "True enough." Ada crouches and scoops up a snowball, packing it nice and firm. Zach yells out in delighted surprise as the shock of cold snow happens down the inside of his shirt. "Yaargh! Oh shit that's cold!" He scopps up more snow and place it solidly in Roger's face. Vengeance is a dish best served cold! Roger lets out a half muffled yelp and blindly grabs some snow, rubing it to Zach's hair. Ada tosses the snowball up and down in her gloved hand, waiting... Harriet eyes Ada and scoots a foot or so away from Snowgirl, and begins to subtly arm herself, as well. Well, not /that/ subtly... 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. Roger says, "brb" Zach eeps and scrambles around to attempt to get some more snow down Roger's neck. Or up his back, whichever is easier. This project is somewhat hampered by him at the same time desperately trying to get rid of some of the snow that got down his shirt. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 3 + 2 = 5 . Check die: 1 Zach says, "That was perception to see the snowball brigade." Zach says, "Worked, but not very well. Snow inside shirt is more pressing! :)" Jerzy enters the park. Jerzy has arrived. Harriet waves! Ada waves too! Zach waves! :) Jerzy waves. A blue sedan pulls up to the parking lot. A man in a black suit gets out of the front seat. He glances around for a moment and then opens the back door. Jerzy steps out. He looks up at the guy, frowning a little. He looks positively miserable, but glad to be walking away from the guy...which he does. On a hill in the park, Roger and Zach are rolling on the ground, stuffing snow down each other's shirt and apparently enjoying themselves. Ada and Harriet are nearby, armed with snowballs. Oh, and there's a little snow sculpture of a girl sitting on the bench near the group. Jerzy walks in a meandering pace, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. He watches the frolicking in the snow as he walks. Roger eeps suddenly as Zach manages to stuff some snow down his shirt. Harriet finishes packing her snowball to a satisfying firmness, and eyes the wonderful abundance of targets with a calculating expression... Zach scrambles away from Roger and gets up, frantically shaking his shirt to get the show out form under it. He is laughing freely and happily, his whole face beaming in childlike joy and not yet quite aware of the danger posed by Thelma and Louise... Jerzy's gaze shifts over to the ball-packing Harriet. He shakes his head a little and grins to himself. Golden blond hair falls just so, caressing the tall young man's face. His eyes are the color of a lightening bolt, his face strong and beautiful, but most definitely male. Slightly pronounced cheekbones give him a bit of an aristocratic air, but the lopsided smile that so often lingers on his full lips sends that air plumeting back down. Slightly arched eyebrows and a wealth of thick golden eyelashes enhance his eyes naturally, the frame for a masterpiece. Just a trace of softness about the jaw indicates that the young man is still in his teens, and not fully matured. The kid's wearing a short-sleeved, button-up shirt worn untucked from his pants. The shirt is a light olive green with darker green vertical and horizontal lines. His pants are tan khakis with cargo pockets on the legs. They're just one size too large for the kid and are held to his slender waist with an olive green belt. His shoes are black Docs worn under the pant legs. They look new and unscuffed. Under his hair can be seen a single silver hoop earring in each lobe. Zach(#777PXcen) Zach is a tall man, probably about 6'3". Slim, well built and rather handsome, his apperance is one of goodnatured machismo. He carries himself well, with an air of cheerful confidence and a flirtatious sparkle showing in his green eyes. Movements are smooth and precise. His hair is relatively short cut, black and wavy. A workman's tan is visible, and hints to much time being spent outdoors. The clothes he is wearing are flashy: Flaming red, tightfitting leather pants and a long, white shirt that fits quite tightly around his well-trained torso. It is hanging outside his pants, and the top three buttons are open. The shoes are black Doc Marten's. To ward off the cold weather, he is wearing a black, wool winter jacket. It's got deep pockets to warm frozen hands in, and a big collar that can be turned up to help cover frozen ears and cheeks. Roger sits up, very wet indeed. He shakes a fist at Zach and grins. Zach prods Ada? Ada is watching the snow fight with interest. Harriet isn't as patient as Ada. She stands calmly. Two targets, one sitting...hmmm... "Take that, copper!" she shouts suddenly, and hurls her snowball at Roger's chest. And then she darts away from the group, and the retribution sure to come. "Ammo, I need ammo..." Roger yelps again and scoops up some snow. Not bothering to really pack it, he tosses it at Harriet. Ada grins and leaps to Harriet's defense. "Hey!" She lofts her snowball in the general direction of Zach and Roger, and tries to find a tree to hide in. Zach finishes unsnowing himself and is just reaching out a hand to help Roger up, when the white missile explodes on the officer's chest. He woots and laughs, then noticing that Ada too is armed, decides to dive for cover behind the bench. He flashes a happy, mischiveous grin to the young man walking by. As Ada fires her missile, he starts making his own... Roger ducks most of Ada's snowball and starts scooping up more snow. Zach finishes making his snowball and peers over the bench to locate his targets. He jogs around the bench and lobs his missile at Harriet's back as she searches for more ammo. Zach makes a Throwing roll just for fun.:) If I fail miserably, I hit Jerzy... :) AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 1 + 2 = 3 . Check die: 3 Ada coughs. Zach says, "Phew!" Harriet is pelted with bits of Roger's attack as she runs in Jerzy's direction. Seeing the young man, she skids to a halt, grinning and waving madly. "Ware the snow, Jerzy, these guys are..." SPLAT! Zach's snowball strikes her square in the back. "Eep! Take cover!" She hits the snow and starts preparing return fire, gesturing at Jerzy to do likewise. Ada hides in a tree, scooping snow off the branches and bombarding the gentlemen. Roger yells as Ada bombards him and Zach and shouts to Zach "Quick, we have to gang up on them. Our digity requires it. A brown van with tinted windows pulls into the parking lot. From afar, Harriet wants to see Zach resonate a snowball... ;P Roger fails to notices the brown van as he currently being pelted by cold snow. Zach is now bombarded left, right and center. And Harriet is trying to recruit more fighters to her team! He takes a quick assesment of the battle field, and decides to get the commander first. "Roger, take care for that sniper up in the tree! I'll deal with the artillerist over here!" He scoops up a handful of snow and starts running toward Harriet, dodging the odd snowball. He sees the van, but thinks nothing of it. Harriet scoops up snowballs, and hurls them in the general direction of the guys, preferring quantity to aiming. She doesn't see the band as she winds up, and focuses the barrage on the attacking Zach! You paged Harriet with 'No. You. Don't. Well maybe you do, but you don't wanna get hit by one of those. It'll probably kill you.. :)'. Jerzy leans back against a tree, hands stuffed firmly in his pockets. He watches the snowball fight with a faint grin on his face. Harriet pages: I didn't mean in /this/ fight. I meant...just in general. :) Harriet says, "band=van. Weird typo night, it is!" You paged Harriet with 'This is a very dishonorable snowball! It must melt!'. From afar, Harriet giggle! Roger nods at Zach and sends a snowball zinging towards Ada. Ada gets pelted full in the face and falls, landing flat on her back in the snow. "Ow." Zach makes a spectacular and flashy dive to avoid Harriet's barrage. He launches his own snowball from from a horizontal position, and it fails miserably to hit HArriet. What it does hit is the tree a certain young man is leaning against. No more than foot above his head in fact, spraying him with snow as it explodes. "Oops!" exclaims Zach a little /too/ innocently, as he gets up and continues his attack on Field Commander Davis! Wrath says, "Zach, make a Perception roll please." AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 4 Zach says, "Feh!" Harriet eeps as her enemy encroaches ever closer, and darts off to the left, throwing two snowballs at Zach as she goes. She sees Ada fall, and cries out, "We're doomed!" How's that for a rallying cry, huh? She dives behind a bench and loads up with ammo again. Jerzy slides his back the trunk of the tree so he's squatting comfortably, resting back against the thick trunk. He continues watching the mock melee. Roger lets out a cheer as Ada tumbles backwards and then drats as Harriet dives behind the bench. A muffled sound like a sledgehammer hitting a leather sofa cushion whispers through the air followed by a dull thump. The man in the dark suit who let Jerzy out of the car falls face forward into the snow, a halo of blood forming around his head. Ada sits up, shaking snow out of her hair. "That didn't sound like a snowball." Roger's head jerks up suddenly. Clearly he has heard the sound or something like it before. He shouts out to the rest of the party as the driver falls "Get down!" and draws his own gun. Zach stops dead in his charge toward Harriet and whips his head around to see what the hell that was. Oh. Shit. "DOWN!" he bellows and starts running toward the kid. He did hear Harriet say his name... "Holy fuck!" Jerzy calls out when he looks over and sees his bodyguard dead in front of him. He starts to back pedal but trips in his haste and falls backward into the snow. Ada ack and falls back again, her hands over her face. You paged Wrath with 'Can I have a new go at perception to see where the shot came from?'. Harriet turns, looking curiously at the sound. Her eyes widen, but since she's already down, can only lie motionless. Two men in black pants, sweaters, boots, gloves and ski masks are moving from the parking lot toward Jerzy. They have rifles with the telltale bulge of silencers on the muzzle. The seem quite calm and collected. The current time in Kansas City is 9:30 PM, Mon Dec 30, 2002. Wrath says, "Okay, we're going to go into the combat sequence now." Wrath says, "If someone wants to use a supernatural power, page me now." You paged Wrath with 'I'm going to resonate my snowballs.'. Roger would if he had any :) Zach's 'invetory' reads: ============================================================================== Set by Zach on date Sat Jul 13 11:44:32 2002: In the pockets of his jacket + jeans: Paintbrush, sheet of music by J.S. Bach written 1749, pen, wallet, condoms, car keys, string, nuts and bolts, swiss army knife. ============================================================================== Wrath says, "Zach, roll perception please." AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 3 + 6 = 9 . Check die: 1 Long distance to Wrath: Zach sigh. :) Wrath pages: Your resonance attempt is unsuccessful. Wrath says, "Zach, if you wish to move please pose your movement." Zach will! Wrath says, "Today, if you would, please. ;-)" Zach runs over to Jeerzy as quick as he possibly can. The he sees the men with rifles and curses furiously, placing himself to cover for the kid. "Get behind the tree, Jerzy!" he hisses to him. Zach appologises. Isn't very fast typist... <:) Wrath says, "Ada, do you wish to move?" Ada says, "No." Roger curses softly as he sees the two men approching and pulls back the safty on his gun, ready to shoot if nessary. The two men with the rifles are moving in a calm walk in the direction of Jerzy (and Zach). Their rifles are aimed casually in that direction as they approach. Wrath says, "Roger, do you wish to move?" Roger moves halfway behind the tree for cover, his gun raised and pointed at the two men. Zach says, "How are the men positioned in relation to Jerzy's car and the dead bodyguard? Is he lying between them and the car, or on the opposite side of the car?" Wrath says, "The car and van are in the parking lot. Let's arbitrarily call that "north." The two gunmen are approximately 10 yards south of the lot. The dead bodyguard is approximately 5 yards south of them. Jerzy and Zach are approximately 10 yards south of the dead bodyguard (and 15 yards south of the gunmen, and 25 yards south of the parking lot)." Wrath pages: I'm going to rule that your use of resonance was intended to aid an action and thus does not, itself, count as an action. Wrath says, "Zach, you may take an action now." You paged Wrath with 'Is this 'next round'?'. Wrath pages: No. It's still the first round. Wrath pages: Step 1 = Supernatural Powers. Step 2 = movement. Step 3 = Actions. Step 4 = Dodging. Step 5 = Damage Resolution. Wrath pages: We're in step 3 of round 1 at this time. Zach fires the only missile he has - a snowball. Straight toward the head of one of the gunmen. Zach says, "Throw roll" AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 1 + 4 = 5 . Check die: 5 You paged Wrath with 'Ah, things start to make sense! Thanks. :)'. The snowball rockets across the distance and plasters one of the gunmen squarely in the face! Wrath says, "Ada, do you wish to take an action?" Wrath says, "Ada?" Wrath says, "Ada is stunned by the circumstances and may not act this round." Wrath says, "The gunmen are going to shoot at Zach." Wrath says, "Gunmen #2 will receive a penalty from being pelted in the face with a snowball." Jerzy snickers. "You go, Zach!" Zach says, "Are you standing behind me or still lying on the ground (behind me) J? :)" Jerzy says, "I'm lying on the ground behind you shitting my pants (figuratively)." Ada has disconnected. You paged Wrath with 'Good! J lying down means I can dodge. Kinda. :)'. Wrath grumbles. "Where are the instructions for the frickin' dice command?" Zach says, "Are there any? +roll" AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 4 + 3 = 7 . Check die: 6 Gunman #1 takes a shot at Zach. The bullet pelts the snow near his feet. AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 1 + 3 = 4 . Check die: 4 Gunman #2 takes a shot at Zach. It's a hit! Wrath says, "Roger, do you wish to take an action?" Roger says, "yes" Wrath says, "Please pose." Roger assumes proper firing posion and returns fire. Roger says, "shall Iroll?" Wrath says, "Yes, please." Roger says, "right. TN of 7" AutoJudge: Roger rolls: 3 + 2 = 5 . Check die: 4 Wrath says, "At whom did you shoot?" Roger says, "at guman 2" Roger says, "err gunman" Wrath says, "Poor gunman #2. A snowball _and_ a bullet." Roger says, "heh" Wrath says, "Harriet, do you wish to take an action?" Harriet says, "No, thanks. She'd just get in trouble. :)" Wrath laughs. "Okay. Jerzy, do you wish to take an action?" Jerzy says, "Ayup." Wrath says, "Okay. Please pose." You paged Harriet with 'I am currently wondering why I took those durn cheruby oaths... :)'. From afar, Harriet awws and cuddles. :) Jerzy attempts to scramble to his feet and run behind the nearest tree. Wrath says, "That's technically a movement and should have been done during step 2, but I'll allow it this time." Jerzy says, "Doh!" Wrath says, "Zach, you have a 9 power bullet hitting you. Please roll Agility." Zach says, "Ag+Dodge or just Ag?" Wrath says, "Oh, yes, right. Agility + Dodge." AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 5 You paged Wrath with 'CD6 due to TN13.'. Wrath says, "You suffer 3 points of body from the gunshot." Wrath says, "Gunman #2 makes a dodge attempt against Roger's bullet." Zach says, "I don't remember how the hit command goes, so I'm writing my hits down by hand at this point. :/" AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 2 + 5 = 7 . Check die: 6 Wrath says, "Gunman #2 fails to dodge and suffers 7 points of body from the gunshot." Roger says, "whoohoo." Wrath says, "The bullet appears to have severely wounded him." Roger shudders at all the paperwork this will cause though. Harriet laughs and patpats Roger. Zach :) Wrath pages: Okay, it's step 1 of the 2nd round. Are you going to use a supernatural power? You paged Wrath with 'I want to resonate another snowball if I can?'. Wrath says, "Zach, roll perception please." AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 1 Zach grr... Wrath says, "Zach, do you wish to move?" Zach will try to make sure that Jerzy's covered at all times. Zach says, "Either by tree or by Zach." Wrath says, "Fair enough." The gunmen halt their slow advance. Gunman #2 is down on one knee, obviously heavily damaged from the gunshot. Wrath says, "Roger, do you wish to move?" Roger says, "does shouting something count at moving?" Wrath says, "No. That would have to be done when you take an action. This time is strictly for movement." Roger will move Wrath says, "Please pose." Roger starts crawling on his belly thought the snow towards Jerzy and Zach. He shoots a glance over at Ada and Harriet, making sure they're keeping down. Wrath says, "Harriet, do you wish to move?" Harriet says, "Not even a finger. :)" Wrath says, "So noted. ;-) Jerzy?" Jerzy says, "Psh. Figure the odds." Wrath will take that as a no. Wrath says, "Zach, please pose your action." Harriet says, "We noncombatants have to be flippant about our wussiness. ;)" Jerzy says, "The closest thing I have to a combat skill is dancing. =P" Zach grunts in pain from the hit in his thigh and clenches his teeth. He throws another snowball. This time at Gunman #2. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 5 + 1 = 6 . Check die: 1 Wrath says, "It's a hit. Gunman #2 will suffer a penalty to act this round." Roger pages: using your Makalkite of Creation ability? You paged Roger with 'Without any success whatsoever so far... :P'. Gunman #1 immediately turns his weapon on the gun-wielding Roger and takes a shot... Zach says, "Grr. Wrong gunman! Oh well. Next round maybe... :)" AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 2 + 6 = 8 . Check die: 1 The snow near Roger's feet erupts as a bullet sinks into it. Gunman #2, distracted by pain and a snowball, likewise takes a shot at the gun-wielding Roger. Despite the distractions, he seems very professional. AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 4 + 5 = 9 . Check die: 3 Some bark on a tree to Roger's left explodes. Wrath says, "Roger, you may pose an action now." Wrath can't roll for crap. ;P Zach cuddles Wrath's dice! :P Wrath says, "Please clean them when you're finished." Roger ducks as the bullets fly around him and shouts "Police! Stop firing and put your hands above your head!" Then he keeps crawling towards Zach and Jerzy Zach laughs! :) Roger says, "how long will it take for me to get there?" Wrath says, "Crawling is a movement, Roger. You already took a movement this round. Do you wish to take an action?" Wrath says, "One more round of crawling and you'll be there." Roger says, "will fire again, at Gunman 2" Wrath says, "Roll, please." AutoJudge: Roger rolls: 6 + 2 = 8 . Check die: 2 Roger says, "miss" Wrath says, "Harriet? Jerzy? Either of you "wusses" want to take an action? ;-)" Jerzy says, "Not I said the little bear!" Harriet says, "Aside from whimpering quietly? No. :)" Wrath says, "Okay, round 3." Wrath pages: Do you wish to use a supernatural ability? You paged Wrath with 'Same as last. :)'. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 6 + 5 = 11 . Check die: 6 Zach eeek!! Harriet flinches. Roger says, "that was close." Wrath pages: You may not use that ability for 3 hours. Wrath says, "Zach, do you wish to take a movement?" Zach says, "Yes" Wrath says, "Please pose." Zach places himself at the side of the tree Jerzy's hiding behind, to further act as shield and to get a posibility of cover. You paged Roger with 'You can probably crawl up behind me and my wooden friend.. :)'. Both gunmen start to walk backwards to the parking lot, facing the action at all times. They appear to be making a fighting retreat. Gunmen #2 is in obvious physical distress. Wrath says, "Roger, do you wish to take a movement?" Roger says, "yes" Wrath says, "Please pose." Roger will continue crawling towards Zach and Jerzy. Wrath says, "Okay, you arrive at their location this round." Roger nods Wrath says, "Harriet and Jerzy, I'm going to skip you guys until you say otherwise." Jerzy says, "Okay with me." Harriet nods. Wrath says, "Zach, please pose your action." Zach fires yet another snowball at Gunman #2. "Roge, do I follow them?" he hisses. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 2 + 2 = 4 . Check die: 2 You paged Wrath with 'Do you rule resonating as a supernatural thing or an action or both?'. Wrath pages: Please disregard my message that you can't use your Malakite of Creation Attunement for 3 hours. That mechanic is for resonance, not attunements. Wrath pages: Resonance is a supernatural power. You will have to wait until next round to do it. Long distance to Wrath: Zach nods. :) The snowball hits poor gunman #2 in the kisser again! Making a fighting retreat, both gunmen fire at Roger again, he being the only one with a real weapon in hand. Roger pages: yey :) AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 4 + 5 = 9 . Check die: 1 Gunman #1 misses. AutoJudge: Wrath rolls: 3 + 4 = 7 . Check die: 1 Gunman #2 misses. Wrath says, "Roger, please pose your action." Roger is finaly at the tree with Zach and Jerzy and fires again at Gunman 2 AutoJudge: Roger rolls: 3 + 4 = 7 . Check die: 5 Roger says, "make it" You paged Roger with 'Sweeeeet! :D'. From afar, Roger grins Jerzy says, "Gunman #2 attempts to dodge." AutoJudge: Jerzy rolls: 4 + 4 = 8 . Check die: 4 Jerzy says, "Gunman #2 goes down. He's quite soundly dead." Wrath says, "YAY!" Wrath says, "Crap, I mixed up my windows." Wrath :( Roger patpats Wrath says, "I knew I was going to do that eventually. ;-)" You paged Roger with 'I'm loving the way your killing him. No disturbance! :)'. Roger pages: ain't Mortals great :) Zach grins and patpats Wrath. No worries mate! :) Wrath says, "Okay, round 4." Wrath pages: Do you wish to use a supernatural ability? You paged Wrath with 'I try to blessed well figure out the proper way to fire a blessed snowball! :)'. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 5 + 6 = 11 . Check die: 5 Wrath says, "It's just not meant to happen, Zach." Harriet eyes Zach's dice. Wrath says, "Zach, do you wish to take a movement?" Zach is deaf, dumb, blind, senseless and sooooooooooooo Not In Tune! Roger patpats Zach says, "No, I'll hold to wait for Roger's answer." Gunman #1, having reached the edge of the parking lot, turns and bolts for the open side door of the van. Wrath says, "Roger, any movement?" Roger says, "can I see the licence plate of the van?" Roger says, "if so I'll memorize it." Wrath says, "It doesn't appear to have one." Roger says, "in that case, no movment." Wrath says, "Zach, action?" Zach says, "Are there any other people around who can see us?" Wrath says, "There are a couple of random, stunned bystanders." You paged Wrath with 'Damn! Then I can't *poof* :)'. Zach stays where he is watching to make sure no more surpises are on the way. Zach says, "surpises = surprises" Wrath says, "Okay, well the gunman is going to jump in the van, which immediately burns off and speeds away." Roger says, "can I attempt to shoot out a tire?" Wrath says, "Well you would suffer a -2 difficulty modifier and a -3 range modifier." Wrath says, "So you can try." Roger says, "eh I'll try" AutoJudge: Roger rolls: 5 + 4 = 9 . Check die: 4 Roger says, "it is to laugh" Harriet patpats. Zach says, "Are we going out of combat rounds now? :)" Wrath says, "Yes." Wrath says, "And I'm going to take a brief potty break." Roger watches the van drive off and slowly holsters his gun. As soon as it looks like people are done shooting, Harriet pops up and shouts, "Is everybody okay?" while running towards the group as fast as her shaking legs can carry her. Wrath goes home. Zach steps back and squats down next to Jerzy, scrutinizing him to see that he's not hurt. "You okay, kid?" He lifts his head to yell a "Yes!" back to Harriet. Roger nods at Harriet "I'm fine. They missed me." Jerzy doesn't seem to hear Zach. He's looking at the downed bodyguard. "Oh shit," he murmurs. "Alex. Oh shit." He slowly starts to walk in the direction of the body, stunned and shaky. Roger pulls out his cell phone and calls his local police station, reporting the insident. Harriet skids to a halt on the snow, throwing worried looks at just everyone. "Zach...Jerzy...Roger..." Okay, so she's not terribly coherent. Zach just rises to follow the kid in silence, laying a steadying hand on his shoulder, and keeping an eye out for 'surprises' still. Jerzy says, "Alright, well as much as I hate to do this, I have to bail and get to bed. I get in 6 hours. =P" Jerzy says, "The police will arrive shortly." Jerzy says, "Jerzy's aunt and other bodyguards will meet him down at the police station." Roger says, "do we find any info on the dead guy?" Roger says, "ID or anything. I assume not." Zach grins. "We'll let them and the rest of your posse deal with you then. Thanks for the scene!!" Harriet says, "My, that was bracing! :)" Roger says, "thanks for the scene :)" Jerzy says, "No ID. I'll post more details tomorrow, including a newspaper article. Send @mail to Wrath with any IC questions/poking around." Jerzy says, "Goodnight." Jerzy goes home. Jerzy has left. Roger says, "night!!" Harriet says, "I assume we skip to after the police come and haul away Jerzy and the Dead Guys?" Zach nods. Sounds sensible. Roger nods [Public] Brynn smells the blood of... something, something. Zach sighs and returns to Harriet's side, laying an arm around her and pulling her close. "You okay?" he mutters. [Public] Zach just smells blood. His own. Ow! Roger looks worriedly at Zach "You ok? I saw you get hit.? [Public] Brynn says, "That must be it." Harriet stares at the bloodstains in the snow, after the flashing lights receed, her hands jammed deeply in her pockets. "My god," she murmurs. "Poor Jerzy. That poor kid..." She leans into Zach. "I'm fine, you know? What about you?" She looks at him with concern. Zach wrinkles his nose and shrugs, touching his left thigh. "I took a small zing in my thigh. My pants took more damage than me, s'okay." Zach looks annoyed at this. He /likes/ his red pants! Roger sighs "Normaly I'd say let's get you to the hospital, but hey you're an angel. You'll surive. Harriet frowns. "We should still bind it up, you know? I have a first aid kit in my car," she offers hopefully. Zach smiles to her. "Let's go to my place, eh. It's just round the corner and I have band aids there. Then you can bind up my thigh to your heart's delight." He winks, trying to lighten the mood a bit. You paged Roger with 'Have you learned Corp. Healing yet?'. Roger pages: nope. Roger pages: rember I failed to learn it. You paged Roger with 'Then we should harass Fid about that! Zach will have continued to teach, and Fid did hint at it taking slightly less time to get at trying again.'. Roger pages: sure :) Harriet chuckles weakly, more to reassure people than because she finds anything about this even remotely amusing. She keeps taking little, appalled glances at the snow, and swallowing. "Your place is fine with me. Roger?" Roger nods "Sure, fine with me." He sighs "Damn, I'm probably going to be put on admintrative leave for this. Zach gently steers Harriet from the spillage and starts leading them all out of the park and toward his flat. He keeps an arm firmly around Harriet to calm her, but turns a puzzled eye toward Roger. "Whatever for? You were only doing your duty!" Harriet is calm. She's floating in a sea of calm. She glances over at Roger, and frowns. "Yeah. You didn't even shoot first, if I heard right, you know?" Roger nods "It's department policy. You say, "They make you shift paper around until the thing has been investigated?" Roger nods "Yep. At least it's paid leave. You head out of the park. You head up into the flat. Upstairs Flat -- 789 Minnesota -- Downtown -- KCK(#321Rhng) You see a tiny flat laid out before you. It's a cosy little place painted in bright and lively colors; yellow and green being prominent. On one wall hangs a tie-dye poster of Che Guevarra looking his usual heroic self. Underneath the poster stands the combined bed and couch. It is far from new, but covered in a bright red blanket. A small coffee table stands in fromt of it. In the corner to the left of the couch rests a guitar case, covered with stickers from all over the world. In the other corner stands a big toolbox. Next to the window stands a small warderobe freshly painted like a rainbow, and a fridge. To the right of the entrance a door leads into a closet sized bathroom. Next to the bathroom there's a small nook with a 3' working bench with a sink and cupboards above and below and a cooking stove. The window has five pots of healthy-looking plantlife residing in it. Obvious exits: Front Door Roger enters from the outside landing. Roger has arrived. Harriet enters from the outside landing. Harriet has arrived. Roger sighs "You sure your ok Zach? Zach digs out his extensive first aid kit from the closet and goes into the bathroom. There he takes off his pants and takes a closer look at his wound. He flashes a grin at Roger. "Heck yeah. This is just a scratch. I'm not even bothering to miracle it closed." The door into the tiny bathroom has been left open. Zach isn't especially bothered by shyness of any kind. Roger nods and sits down on the couch, giving Harriet a worried look "You ok sweetheart? Can I make you some tea or something? Harriet figures Zach is capable of bandaging himself up, and sees no reason to peek in the bathroom. Instead, she hugs Roger. Roger is huggable. "I'm fine. Really. Just a little shaken, you know? And poor Jerzy!" Roger hugs back tightly "Yeah, and his poor driver. Zach cleans up the wond and slaps a band-aid on it, then he hangs up his beloved red pants and gets some other clothes on. Zach is a tall man in his thirties, probably about 6'3". Slim, well built and rather handsome, his apperance is one of goodnatured machismo. He carries himself well, with an air of cheerful confidence and a flirtatious sparkle showing in his green eyes. Movements are smooth and precise. His hair is relatively short cut, black and wavy. A workman's tan is visible, and hints to much time being spent outdoors. On his right upper arm is a magnificent, intensely colored tattoo depicting a phoenix sinously rising from an inferno of flames. In the clothes department he sports black jeans, a black armless t-shirt and black Doc Martens. Harriet nods. "God. And when I think...that kid has been trying to avoid his bodyguards everytime I've seen him, you know?" She shakes her head. Roger says, "nods "Who would shoot at Jerzy?" Zach sighs as he rejoins his friends. "Yeah, poor kid. He's seen so much loss already. That just ain't fair." He shakes his head. "Anyone want a drink?" Roger nods "Yeah, scotch if you got it." Roger is clearly somewhat shaken by all of this. Harriet raises a hand at the offer. "I'd like some water, please." She sags back against the couch, and rubs Roger's back with one hand. Zach gets them whiskey (a nice Scottish single malt) and bottled water. He gets two bottles, actually. One with fizz and one without. Roger gets a double dose of the amber liquid, and Zach has one as well. For medical purposes, of course. Roger takes a swollow and sighs "Jesus, this is this first time I've ever killed anyone." Harriet thinks Roger needs much cuddling, and does her best to provide it, without jarring his drink. She doesn't say anything, though...Harriet's brain still hasn't worked its way past simple sentences, yet. Harriet needs more arms, to cuddle both of you. Roger says, " heh" Zach places himself on the table, knee-to-knee with Harriet and Roger. He winces slightly as Roger parts with that information and sighs softly. "Aw man, I am sorry. But you did your job and your duty, you did them honorably - both as a policeman and as a Soldier of the Almighty." Roger nods but still seem glum. He takes another swollow of the drink "Yeah, but these were just two normal mortals. I mean they're certanly not good people, but they're still humans. Not demons or anything." Harriet clears her throat. "You were acting in defense of others, you know? You gave them the opportunity to surrender. They chose violence. You did everything right, Roger..." She hugs him tightly. Zach regards Roger steadily. "As far as we know, yes. They were most probably human. They murdered a man right in front of our eyes, and they were going to either murder or kidnap a young boy. ...and what Harriet said. Being a Soldier, especially one of the Sword, is a lot like being a cop. To protect and serve..." With a smile he adds, "Well, in the very broadest sense.." Roger manages a small smile at that "Well that would help if I was a Solider of the Sword. No one's come to talk to me yet." Harriet leans back out of the hug to get her water and sip from it, keeping one hand on Roger's shoulder. She looks back and forth between the two, silently. Zach darkens. "I wonder what the hell they're playing at. You clearly need and /deserve/ a better and more structured guide than me, so why the...." He breaks off and bites back the rant that's been building for months now. "Whatever else you are, Roger - do not ever doubt that you are a Soldier of God. I swore you in myself, and just because no Archangel has claimed you does NOT mean that God hasn't." Roger smiles weakly "Thanks." Still he looks a little depressed "What's wrong with me that that an Archangel doesn't want me. Am I not good enough?" Harriet squeezes Roger's shoulder. "That's /not/ possible, Roger." Her tone is firm. "You're a damn good person, and anyone with any sense would be overjoyed to have you work for them, you know? Just because they seem to be having...organizational difficulties..." let's be polite in front of the angel, "doesn't signify a damn thing about your worthiness." Zach shakes his head slowly. "I have no idea what goes on in the minds of Archangels. Not even my illustrious choirbrother and the youngest of the lot... The only thing I can think of is that the Traci thing can have something to do with it. He probably saw it in your heart that one time his servitor summoned him. But the Lord Commander isn't one to waste Soldiers like that. I do not understand. If Cosmo hasn't heard anything by the next time I speak with him, I'm gonna go visit the Cathedral in person and register you extremely formally... This just sucks. Plain and simple." Polite in front of the angel indeed! Roger chuckles softly and takes a sip of his drink. He gives both of them quick hugs "Thanks for the kind words you two." Harriet pages: The original phrase was 'just because they've got their heads up their feathered asses'...she felt a need to rethink. Long distance to Harriet: Zach grins. Zach wouldn't have minded. He's been thinking the same thing.. :) Harriet sighs. "This does suck." She turns to Zach, looking rather irritated. "Don't they realize how much it hurts to be left out here, without any direction, without knowing /what/ you're supposed to be doing, or /who/ you're supposed to be doing it for, you know?" Zach shakes his head again to Harriet's question. "They can't even begin to conceive it, because they have never been there. Nor have I. Angles and in particular Archangels know full well what their task is and who they work for. The closest they can come to understanding this is by using their resonance to read human emotions and morals and relationships. And that's still far off the mark, from what I understand." Roger sighs "It would be nice to get some direction down here you know. I mean what does the Sword need done that I can do around here? "Blast and damn," Harriet mutters. "I swear, sometimes you guys are so..." she shakes her head. "We all need pamphlets, I'm telling you, you know?" Zach smiles wryly to Harriet and Roger. "So do 'us guys'. You humans are so incredibly diverse and complex, and we continually fuck up down here because we do not understand you properly. And we never will... Only God has the full understanding and he ain't telling." He sips his drink. "But I stand by my word. If Cosmo doesn't get any results, I'm bringing this case directly to the Sword in person." Harriet smiles back. "I was actually including you in the 'we all'," she says dryly. Then she nods. "I think that's a good idea, Zach. I mean...it's not just disconcerting, it's dangerous, you know?" She takes a deep breath and looks at Roger. "But I'm sure it'll all work out." Roger nods "It's much appreated. Zach Roger says, "Do you think you'll be able to talk to the Sword himself?" You paged Roger with 'Not that Zach looks forward to facing the starched shirts of the Sword, but... :)'. From afar, Roger grins Zach shakes his head. "I don't think so. All the Archangels are very, very busy all the time. Laurence is prpbably the busiest of them all, since he is the Commander of God's Army on Earth. If Mark can't get hold of him, then I most certainly can't either. I'll be seeing one of his officers, and they'll bring the matter on." Roger nods "I suppose that's the best I can expect. You paged Fidelity with 'Hey there! :) Did the little Relievers come to look after Roger and Harriet while I was away?'. Harriet sighs, and takes a drink of her water. She gives Roger a look of sympathy, and a one-armed cuddle. Fidelity pages: Maaaaybe they did, and maaaaaybe they didn't. :) You paged Fidelity with 'So they didn't show up for any briefing from me, iow? I kinda thought they would, but I guess Jay picked whatever he needed out of my brain. :)'. Zach downs the rest of his drink. "Have you guys been okay otherwise the two weeks? I've been very worried.." Roger mmm's "Did anyone mention that the Shedite been acting up? Harriet frowns, hesitates, but finally bites the bullet and says, "And that Lucian's back, you know?" Zach sighs heavily. "When and when," is what he'd like to know. Roger sighs "Let's see. It approched me in the Divine Comedy a few weeks ago. Threatened Harriet." Zach nods. "Yeah, Harriet told me. Has it been acting up while I was away? And when did the tapeworm return and who is he this time?" Harriet nods. "Cosmo threatened Sarah into calling it off, but it either didn't listen, or she didn't do it, you know?" She sips. "I found out Cristobal was Lucian a couple of days after you left, and was yelling at him when the Shedite called. Things kinda got interesting from there, you know?" Roger says, "Not that I know of. Or at least it hasn't bothered me." Zach mutters a soft curse. "I'm glad it's stayd off your back Roge, but I am deeply worried. I need to do something drastic about the shapeless one. Soon." He looks at Harriet and drily notes, "I can imagine... Did they do anything to you?" You paged Roger with 'Poor Sarah. She seems to attrackt malakim by the score! :)'. Roger nods "Please do." He shoots Harriet a worried look "It threated to make Harriet do horrible things. Roger pages: yeah, first Comso now Zach. They all seem to think that Sarah has some kinda of influnce over Boh :) Harriet says in the flat tone of one who doesn't expect to be believed, "Well, I was kinda pissed when it called, so I told it to do its worst, you know? When Cristobal figured out who I was talking to, he took the phone, told it it had better things to do, and hung up." She shrugs. "Then he said I was exhausted, I could yell at him tomorrow, and left." You paged Roger with 'Zach doesn't really. He's been staying away on purpose. :) He wants to make a space alien out of her. :)'. From afar, Roger nods "She got his present :) Long distance to Roger: Zach grins happily. It was cute, silly and...well...sincere. :) Roger pages: heh. At least he's not threating to kill her :) Zach raises his eyebrows. "Well! That's....interesting. Sounds like he has some hold over the Corruptor. We'll see one way or the other." Roger nods "What can we do about it? Zach really Needs to sleep now. I'll just sign off and let you two continue if you want. Make yourselves at home and be nice to the furniture, including yon malakite. ;P Roger needs to head to bed too. You say, "I'm going to have to kidnap one of it's hosts while its inside." Harriet nods! Zach snugs and hugs! Thanks for the rp! :) Roger says, "Umm, how are you going to make sure it stays inside?"" Roger hugs "See ya! Harriet hugs all. Harriet says, "It was much fun. And bullets!" You say, "By catching the host when noone else is around for it to jump to, then driving out of town and away from people."