Hachilah wanders up from the Cathedral basement, in the company of a couple of other young teenagers. She is smiling slightly, her head tilted downward, as the other two converse somewhat rambunctiously. She looks up, and her attention is drawn immediately to Zach. She watches him quietly for a brief period as the teenagers make their way toward the door. Zach turns his head as he hears the pleasant sound of kids being kids. He smiles as he sees them, and then his face just splits from ear to ear when he sees Hachilah! "Well as I live and breathe! If it isn't my favourite bucket virtouso!" The other two teenagers stop their chatting and give the exuberant Zach a kind of odd look. Of course, they are teenaged girls, and Zach is rather handsome, so the odd look lasts about a nano-second. They look at each other, then at Hachilah, with a kind of surprise. Hachilah grins happily, and gives Zach a happy wave. "Hey Zach!" She wanders over, bringing the other two girls with her. Zach smiles his bright, warm smile to them all. He gives Hachilah a quick hug and plants a kiss on top of her head. "Hey yourself, Hachi! How's it going, sis? And who are your friends? Aren't you gonna introduce us?" The two girls seem to be in their mid-teens, and dressed much like Hachilah, in clothing obtained from second-hand stores and thrift shops. The taller one has brown hair, shaved on one side and long on the other. The shorter one is dark of skin, with long braided hair and a tiny diamond stud in her nose. They are both taller than Hachilah. Hachilah hugs Zach and turns to face the other two girls. "Certainly." She smiles and indicates the shorter black girl. "This is Anita, and..", she indicates the taller brown-haired girl, "...this is Jen. We were just hanging out at the shelter downstairs." Anita smiles beautifully, putting her hands in her pockets and looking at the ground, before looking back up. "Hi", she says. Jen smiles too, though she is much cooler, almost flirtatious. "Hey. Nice to meet you." Zach smiles warmly to each of the girls looking them in the eye. "Anita, Jen - I'm happy to meet you both. How are you ladies on this fine and beautiful day? Hachi's not bossing you around too much I hope?" Roger enters from the street. Roger has arrived. Zach and Hachilah are standing in the foyer with two teenage girls, chatting. The two girls seem to be in their mid-teens, and dressed much like Hachilah, in clothing obtained from second-hand stores and thrift shops. The taller one has brown hair, shaved on one side and long on the other. The shorter one is dark of skin, with long braided hair and a tiny diamond stud in her nose. They are both taller than Hachilah. Jen and Anita giggle a bit, clearly charmed. Jen says, "Nah, she's not so bad today. Been kinda quiet and stuff, you know." Hachilah looks mildly confused, but doesn't say anything. She smiles innocently, just happy to be among friends. Roger comes strolling in, hands in his pockets and sunglasses perched on his head. He glances around, easily spoting the small group and walks towards them. Zach grins. "Well I'm glad to hear that!" A horn can be heard beeping insistently from somewhere outside the Cathedral. Jen looks at the door, and rolls her eyes. She grits her teeth. Zach turns his head toward the door. "Your ride, ladies?" Roger glances towards the sound and hides a grin as the look on Jen's face. He calls out "Zach, Hachilah" Jen looks apologetically all around, and then says, "Yeah, that's probably my mom." Zach notices Roger and smiles to him. "Hey man!" Jen says, "We gotta take off. Come on Anita." She looks kind of irritated. She waves and takes off. Anita waves and follows. Hachilah waves at the girls, then waves at Roger! Zach waves after the girls. "Nice to have met you, ladies. Take care now!" Roger nods politly to the two girls as they pass him and waves back to Hachilah "Hey there, how it going? Jen and Anita look back, smiling at the charismatic dude. Zach winks at the girls as they turn. Jen and Anita giggle quietly and open the door, leaving. The door shuts heavily behind them. Roger flashes Zach a smile "Ah, two more hearts in the bag. Zach chuckles. "I'll keep them on the shelf if you don't mind. A bag is so...undignified." Roger says, "Well, we can't have our resident heartbreaker be undignified can we."" Hachilah raises an eyebrow and gives Zach and Roger an odd look. Roger winks at Zach and turns to Hachilah "So hows it going for you dear? Hachilah looks at Roger and smiles a bit. "I'm doing alright. How are you doing?" Roger shrugs slightly "Could be better Zach looses some of his carefree manners and looks Roger over. "You wanna go somewhere else? We have some things we should talk about. All three of us." Roger glances around "Sure, where too? Hachilah looks at Zach, nods and her smile slips slightly. Hachilah says, "Duck feeding?" Zach smiles lightly. "Well you know how I'm a sucker for parks, right? I found this beautiful one over by the college campus. We could go there?" Roger nods "Snopes Park? Hachilah looks at Roger. "Swope Park?" Roger says, "Oops yeah, Swope park. Sorry, thinking of the website" Zach shakes his head. "Nope. Hodge Park. C'mon I'll drive." HE turns to walk out the door Roger grins and follows along, offerinf his arm to Hachilah You enter Hodge Park. Hodge Park Zach parks in the nearby parking lot and leads the company into the park. "Lovely, ain't it?" Roger glances around "Nice little park, shall we wander towards the river? Hachilah wanders into the park after Zach and Roger, swinging her bucket absently, looking up at the sky... "Quite lovely." She looks at Roger and shrugs with a small smile. "Sure." Zach smiles. "Okay." Roger heads for the Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Hodge Park / Shoal Creek Zach looks around. "Reminds me of the Amish..." Roger glances towards the log cabins and smiles slightly "I rember coming here on field trips. Hachilah takes in the settlement with a placid expression. She bends down to pick up a wayward leaflet and opens it, reading a bit. Roger smiles at Hachilah "Ever been here before?" Hachilah looks at Roger and smiles back. "Yes, I have. Just... wandered through, though. It was somewhat confusing, at the time, as... I was quite new to this..." She looks mildly self-concious. "I indicated to one of the townspeople that it was very interesting that they chose to do without the amenities of modern living. Of course, then it was explained to me that this place is a replica of early American civilization..." She blushes slightly. Roger chuckles "You were around back then I assume. Was it really like this? Hachilah tilts her head at Roger, examining him closely. "I've only been in the Corporeal for 7 months, now. This is my first assignment here, so, I'm afraid I can't tell you." Roger says, "Ah. I see. But how old are you, how long did you spend in Heaven before coming to Earth?" Zach chortles. "We're not all antiquities you know, Roge." Roger smiles over at Zach "Well aren't you angels? Created and the beginning of time and stuff? Zach grins. "Yes we are, and no we're not." Hachilah raises her chin slightly. "I'm not exactly sure... I was created around 20 to 30 years ago... I've spent my entire existance in Heaven, up to seven months ago." Roger squints at Zach "What do you mean? Hachilah lets her gaze shift to Zach. Zach explains: "There are only a few left of the most ancient angels. The majority of the Host is less than 2000 years old. It's the War you see. It has a lot of casualties. And new angels fledge regularly. I'm about 200 years old myself." Roger nods and glances around before looking at Zach "So, whats on your mind?" Zach leads them all over to a nice, somewhat secluded part of the museum where they find a bench to sit on. "Practical stuff." Roger sits down "Ok, such as? Zach looks seriously at Roger. "You are an officer of the law, so I guess you know what will happen if the body of a young, white, pretty schoolgirl is found?" Hachilah takes a seat, and pulls her legs up onto the bench, hugging them to her chest. She watches Zach, then looks at Roger. Roger face tightens and he nods "Oh yeah" Hachilah looks at the ground, chewing her bottom lip absently. Zach sighs. "It'll be an uproar. Media frenzy. It will be less of a frenzy if she is never found. Normally this would not bother me in the least, because I'm usually just passing through. But seeing as I'm bound to stay in town for a while, I gotta try to be suttle.." You say, "Frustrating and slow as it is." Roger nods slowly "How are you going to do it? Just shoot her? Hachilah frowns quietly. Zach shrugs. "Breaking her neck is quiet and leaves little or no spillage around. But if she is tough, a weapon will be quicker. Preferably not a gun, they make a lot of noise. That's not the biggest problem, though. The real difficulty comes when I'm left with a dead vessel to get rid of. Unnoticed." Roger raises an eyebrow "Is that where I come in? Zach nods. "Do you know of any places one can make a body disapear in this town?" Hachilah shakes her head and looks at the ground. Roger lowers his voice "Well weighting it down and dumping it to the river is always a good way." He looks over at Hachilah and sighs "I'm sorry dear, but it's the truth." Zach reaches out and rubs Hachilah's back gently. Zach hmms. "How regularly does kids her age go missing in this town?" Hachilah's jaw tightens, and she continues to look at the ground. She looks up and meets Zach square in the eye, clearly upset. "We should be discussing how to help her redeem." There is a trace of authority in her voice, probably the first time she's used the tone with Zach. Roger rubs his chin "I'm not sure of the exact number, at least you won't have parents screaming at you though. Still the school might wonder." Roger notes that there's a reason he's not working for Flowers :) Zach gives Hachilah a sad but determined glance. "We will discuss that too, sister. But we must also face the grim reality that she may not want to. They rarely do. If we fail to lead Traci to the light, then I must do my Sacred Duty. And I would hate for any of us to get in trouble with the mortal law when it could be avoided." Zach looks back on Roger. "And even if we should manage to nudge her toward the Light, we will still probably have to kidnap her. So Roger nods and gently pats Hachilah's hand. Roger frowns at Zach "Kidnap her? Why? Hachilah simmers quietly, pulling her knees a bit closer. Zach sighs to Roger. "To get her to somewhere safe. And away from her flat. The fact that she lives next to Ada worries me. I've been seen there a number of times." Zach considers. "Say.. When you were with her - were you at her flat?" Roger nods slowly "Ok, but that might be pretty hard. Hachilah looks at Zach. "There may not be an immediate need for... removing Traci from her flat." Zach nods to Hachilah. "I hope so, but.." Roger peers at Hachilah "WHy do you say that? Hachilah looks at Roger. "She was lying about living with her aunt." She looks at Zach. "And Ada doesn't need to be home when...." She trails off, blinking a bit and frowning. Hachilah says, "...when we visit Traci..." Roger nods "It would probably be best that she's not at home. Zach mms. "That's why I asked you where you had your trysts with Traci, Roge. The aunt. Did you ever see any traces of this aunt of hers?" Roger shakes his head "Nope, never. She said that the aunt traveled a lot." Hachilah peers out at whatever is in front of the bench. "I've never seen her aunt. Not once." She looks at Zach and Roger. Zach nods. "So there probably will not be any relatives bothering the police /if/ she goes missing." Keeps rubbing Hachilah's back with a warm, strong hand. "We'll get to the bright stuff sonn, sweet. Just a little more grit now..." Hachilah glances at Zach. She nods. Zach shifts on the bench and crosses his legs. "Roger. Do you know if she has any form of security camera in her flat? Did she ever take pictures of you? Film? Webcam?" You sense Hachilah leans very very slightly against your hand. Much less than usual, but she is definitely taking some comfort from it. Roger thinks back "Not that I know of at least You say, "Does she have your adress or phone number?" Roger nods "She does." Hachilah says, "We need to order a Celestial Cleaner ;)" Zach says, "I'd love one of those! I'm overdosing on Responsibility here! :)" Hachilah says, "Heh" Roger laughs Roger says, "Creators and responsibility don't go together :)" Hachilah says, "Yeah, we're a good bunch. :)" Zach says, "Damn straight! And me leased to the Wind as well! Jay is gonna go Spare!! :)" Roger patpats Roger glances at Zach "Why do you ask? Zach frowns and taps his fingers on his lips. "If something dodgy enough happens to get the police involved they'll want to know how come she knew you." Roger likewises frowns "Well then, we have to make sure that nothing dodgy happens. Zach sighs. "Yeah. That is my one great wish right now." Roger says, "So, how are we going to do this?" Hachilah simmers quietly, listening to the two responsible ones discuss this apparently distasteful topic. Zach reaches out and puts his arm around Hachilah's shoulder. "We are going to visit her and talk with her. Hachilah and I will do that." Roger hestates "Could I be there? Hachilah looks up at Zach, then back at Roger. Zach also hesitates. "Like I said the other night, I'm having doubts about that. If I'm right and she's an impudite, your relatively safe. They don't kill humans. But there is other things she could do to you. On the other hand I understand and appreachiate your wanting to be there. /You/ are after all the one she preyed on." Roger needs to go in about 15 minutes Hachilah :( "Aw." Zach says, "Ok :(" You say, "How badly do you wan to be there, Roger. I will not ask you to walk into a demons den with me. I have no right or authority to do that." Roger takes a deep breath "Pretty bad, it would mean a lot to me." Zach says, "And Larry'd have my guts for garters if I went and broke one of his Soldiers..." Zach nods. "Then I guess you're in. My first priority in this will be to keep you safe from her." You paged Roger with 'I'm making a check-up resonate on you now. +1 CD for being within 1 yd.'. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 5 Roger pages: did you make it? Zach says, "Bleh..." You paged Roger with 'No:)'. Roger pages: whew :) Long distance to Roger: Zach eyes Roger. From afar, Roger looks innocent. Zach squeezes Hachilah's shoulder. "So, have you any ideas about how we proceed when we go to her? You knew her pretty well didn't you?" Roger smiles at Zach "Thanks. When are we going to do this?" You say, "As soon as we can find her at home." Roger nods slowly. Hachilah's expression is grim, yet stubborn. She proceeds, speaking somewhat uncertainly, hesitating every so often. "We must isolate her. Speak to her." She starts to look greatly uncertain now. "Ask her why she serves Hell, and explain to her that it is wrong." Roger looks at Hachilah and nods "Sounds like a good idea. Hachilah looks at Zach. "That should suffice, shouldn't it?" Roger sighs "I hope it will Hachilah." Zach sighs. "It's a start." He does not look very optimistic. You say, "HAve you ever tried to spot her talents?" Hachilah raises an eyebrow. "Her talents?" Zach nods to Hachilah. "Yes, what she might be good at?" "Oh." Hachilah says, as she grows more thoughtful. "Yes I have. I was never able to determine her full potential, though." Roger says, "What did you get anyways?" Roger looks down as his beeper goes off "Damn, that's work. I need to head out." Zach looks up at Roger. "need a ride?" Hachilah looks at Roger. She seems somewhat chagrined as she says, in spite of herself, "Well... I was able to determine that she was quite skilled, sexually. However. It is apparent that most of us here are aware of that particular fact." Roger shakes his head "It's ok, I'll grab a cab. Hachilah looks up and quietly watches Roger go. Zach shifts to sit sideways toward Hachilah when Roger leaves. "Yeah, I guess we knew that. Nothing else? Do you know anything about her that we might use to nudge her in the right direction?" From afar, Goldie hmms vaguely, "Dare I ask if you and Hachilah want to remain alone in the park?" Long distance to Goldie: Zach grins. Feel free to gatecrash! :) Hachilah leans in closer to Zach. "Actually, there's something that I need to tell you about Ada. She informed me recently that..." She pauses and lowers her voice. "She is a servant of God, Zach. But not one of us. Like a soldier, but not... a human. She serves Jean." Zach gapes and boggles at Hachi. He splutters. "What?!" Goldie comes along the creek. Hachilah is sitting on a bench, her knees drawn to her chest, looking rather solemn. Hachilah waits a moment for Zach to recover from his apparent utter shock and surprise. Zach is sitting close to HAchilah on the bench, arm around her shoulder. Goldie enters the area, ignoring the fact that there is little of crowd she seems to prefer here at the moment. In fact, from the look on her face and the warry way she is glancing about it seems as though she is trying to avoid crowds for the moment. Or perhaps it has something to do with the way she is holding one arm with the other... Hachilah mutters to Zach, "... She said... was... the... of... know... thought... you, perhaps, might." Hachilah whispers " Yes. She said that she was... a project of Orc... the Angel of Networks. I don't know the name, but I thought that you, perhaps, might." Zach mutters to Hachilah, "Well... me! I... I've... tought about... very... working..." You whisper "Well fuck me! I knew she had potential, I've even tought about contacting the very people she's working for!" to Hachilah. Zach nods to Hachilah, yanking his jaw up into it's normal position. Hachilah shakes her head and looks quite thoughtful. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "It... a... to... as well." Hachilah whispers " It was a complete surprise to me, as well." Hachilah almost smiles. Zach mutters to Hachilah, "... Orc.... Did..." You whisper "I've heard of Orc. Never met him though. Well, well... Did you...tell her about /us/?" to Hachilah. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "... was... pleasant..." Hachilah whispers " Though, it was a pleasant one..." Zach grins and ruffles her hair. "Yah!" Hachilah looks at Zach and tilts her head. Hachilah mutters to Zach. Hachilah whispers " The topic... didn't actually come up." Hachilah smiles, this time with obvious amusement. Goldie pauses as around her the various displays and demonstraters of 'how we used to live' begin closing up shop. It is late in the day, the crowd virtually negliable, so the sight of a familiar face sitting at a bench is not as hard to notice as it might otherwise have been and at the sight of Hachilah she stops dead in her tracks. Zach glances around the place as he shakes his head. "Well fuck me!" He laughs. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "Although,... really... informed I..." Hachilah whispers " Although, she really should be informed I suppose." The first thing you notice about this small figure is the mop of short blonde hair, clean and shining, a colour so golden it almost gleams. From beneath the fringe of hair peer out dark brown eyes, wary and suspicious of the world. The face beneath the eyes has only begun to show hints of femininity, still much more girl than woman. As your gaze moves from her face, it becomes obvious that her body is that indeed of a young girl, no more than sixteen at the most. It would be generous to describe her build as 'slender', 'skinny' or 'scrawny' probably being closer to the truth. Combined with a sense of hollowness about her face, it's pretty clear she doesn't always get enough to eat. Though she's not imposing, or indeed much more than at best 'pretty', there seems to be an almost disconcerting intensity to her. It is as though she is exactly who she is and nothing can change that, the force of her personality leaving an impression which quite belies her size. She wears a rather worn looking grubby fleece jacket, the right length for her, but too big around her body, its zipper done up all the way to her neck so as not to reveal whatever is beneath. A pair of somewhat dirty jeans cover her legs, clinging to the curves of her developing hips, the cuffs rolled up a bit so as to keep the cuffs out of the dirt. On her feet are a pair of worn sneakers - not quite ratty, but definitely getting in need of replacement soon. Zach nods. Hachilah looks at Zach, smiling. She is still somewhat subdued and tense. Zach mutters to Hachilah. You whisper "Say - isn't that Goldie over there?" to Hachilah. Zach rubs Hachilah's shoulders gently. Hachilah glances over in Goldie's direction. Her smile fades, matching her overall body language. Zach looks toward Goldie. Hachilah mutters to Zach. Hachilah whispers " Yes. Yes it is." Zach waves a little wave in greeting and smiles to Goldie. Zach mutters to Hachilah, "Anything... Who... she?" You whisper "Anything the matter? Who is she?" to Hachilah. Goldie finally seems to make up her mind and she settles herself, her arms half folded with her left hand clutching tightly at her right forearm. Her jaw tightens slightly and she heads directly towards the bench where she can see Hachilah is seated. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "... Is... doesn't..." Hachilah whispers " Goldie. Is a very angry person. She doesn't care for me." Hachilah watches Goldie approach with solemn interest. You whisper "Celestial or human?" to Hachilah. Hachilah looks at Zach. Zach whispers something to Hachilah with a worried look on his face. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "I..." Hachilah whispers " I don't know." Hachilah looks back at the approaching Goldie. Hachilah mutters to Zach, "... she was..." Hachilah whispers " I just assumed she was human..." Hachilah shrugs. Zach watches Goldie, and frowns in concern when he sees her clutching her arm. Goldie slows to a stop as she gets near enough to Hachilah to speak, a faintly strained look on her face and an expression there as though she had something bitter in her mouth. For a moment she doesn't say anything, then says weakly, "Hey there, Hachilah..." Hachilah maintains a mostly neutral expression, though there is a wary sadness in her eyes as she responds to Goldie with an awkward wave. "Hey there, Goldie." She pauses. "Haven't seen you much, lately." Goldie gives an awkward nod, her expression slowly smoothing over to a calmer mask. A touch of anxiety can still be seen in her eyes though, "I've been looking a few places where I don't think you go much." Her eyes flicker to one side and she asks, "Whose your friend? I don't think I sen him before." Zach peers at Goldie's arm. "Hey Goldie.. We met at BJ's the other night.. What happened to your arm?" Hachilah looks at Goldie's arm. AutoJudge: Hachilah rolls: 5 + 3 = 8 . Check die: 4 Goldie gives a small nod of greeting to Zach, her voice fairly level as she replies, "I think I vaguely recall you now. The arm?" She looks down at it and lets go, her arm not quite falling to her side but definately hurrying in its decent. Her face pales slightly before she says, "I kinda banged it up a little..." Zach rises. "Woah, kid. You'd better take a seat before you fall over. I'll get you something to drink. Any preferences?" He motions her toward the bench and is ready to prevent her from fallin gif she should faulter and faint. Hachilah regards Goldie very intensely. Her eyes brighten slightly and she tilts her head to the side, a thoughtful gesture. Her eyes narrow slightly as she watches the girl, but her expression relaxes almost immediately, revealing pity and confusion. Her mouth falls open slightly. "Her arm is hurt very badly..." Goldie steadies herself, throwing a look in Hachilah's direction before replying to Zach, "I'd like just water, if you can still get any. I won't mind that seat either." Stepping over to the bench, she takes a seat, suppporting her arm with the other hand once more. Hachilah idles briefly... :/ Zach jogs out of the museum, and returns a short time later with a couple of bottles of water. It's the non-fizzy stuff. He opens one and hands it to Goldie. "Here you go, kid." You say, "Mind if I have a look at your arm?" Zach is looking at Goldie with warm, concerned eyes. Goldie looks at Zach, her dark eyes hard. After a few moments she nods, still seeming a bit suspicious but turning so that the large man can get access to her arm. Speaking to Hachilah she comments, "Mind if I sit with you for a bit? I just fele like I should sit down for a bit." Zach carefully peels back some clothing covering her arm and looks closely at it. He feels it gently. Goldie shakes her head, "No, but it is badly bruised and has a cut in it where the gash on her sleev was. Her arm is also rather thin and scrawy, the only thing covering it being the sleev of her fleece." Zach frowns when he sees this. "Shit. How did this happen? You need to see a doc." Goldie gives a small wince at the reaction, beginning to pull her arm back from Zach's grip, "You know those old fire escapes they have on a couple of buildings. Think about what happens if you take a tumble on one of them and put your arm up to keep yer face from meeting rusty metal." She pauses, her already unfriendly expresion darkening, "I just need to get it cleaned and it'll be fine. The cut ain't deep." Zach grumbles, but lets go of her arm. "You should at least get a sling on it for a few days. Keep it easy and supported, yaknow. It's more than a little banged up. I know all about banged up." He meets her hard, stonewall eyes with a focused and ernest expression. You paged Goldie with 'And he resonates, unless you mind?'. Goldie pages: Go ahead. AutoJudge: Zach rolls: 1 + 6 = 7 . Check die: 5 You paged Goldie with 'Missed:('. From afar, Goldie shrugs, "Oh well..." Zach digs around in his pockets. "I have a couple of painkillers on me somewhere... Paracetamole. You can have'em. Maybe they'll ease the pain for a bit." Goldie cups her arm, rolling the sleeve back into place carefully, "I'd try, but for some strange reason I ain't the type of person to lug a sling about with me all the time." The tone of her voice couldn't quite strip paint, but it woudl likely do a good job of scouring pots. When she hears Zach's nest suggestion, her face goes cold enought that 'ciy' is an understatement, and she replies with a stern denial, "-No.- I ain't taking -anything-." Zach raises his hands in defeat. "Fine, fine... Relax kiddo. I ain't gonna drug you and kidnap you, ok?" Goldie doesn't quite glare, but neither tdoes she settle down. She still bristles slightly as she says in an overly calm voice which is clearer than the normal muddled accent she uses, "I wasn't accusing you of anything like that. I just don't like drugs of any sort." Hachilah has connected. Hachilah ergh. :) Hachilah says, "Sorry about that, guys. :/" Goldie says, "What was the last thing that you saw?" Zach patpats Hachilah Hachilah says, "Don't worry about it. :)" Zach digs around in his pockets. "I have a couple of painkillers on me somewhere... Paracetamole. You can have'em. Maybe they'll ease the pain for a bit." Goldie cups her arm, rolling the sleeve back into place carefully, "I'd try, but for some strange reason I ain't the type of person to lug a sling about with me all the time." The tone of her voice couldn't quite strip paint, but it woudl likely do a good job of scouring pots. When she hears Zach's nest suggestion, her face goes cold enought that 'ciy' is an understatement, and she replies with a stern denial, "-No.- I ain't taking -anything-." Zach raises his hands in defeat. "Fine, fine... Relax kiddo. I ain't gonna drug you and kidnap you, ok?" Goldie doesn't quite glare, but neither tdoes she settle down. She still bristles slightly as she says in an overly calm voice which is clearer than the normal muddled accent she uses, "I wasn't accusing you of anything like that. I just don't like drugs of any sort." Hachilah sits and listens to the pair with rapt interest, and a great deal of confusion. Zach sighs and nods. He smiles very slightly. "Ok, I won't push." You say, "Peace?" Hachilah watches Goldie closely for a response. Goldie nods in victory, if not satisfaction. Although she seems to have won this point, she doesn't seem completely pleased for some reason, "I won't attack you, if that's what you mean." Zach smiles slightly. "Thank you. I was rather hoping you wouldn't tear my ears off just yet." Hachilah tilts her head to the side, clearly confused by this girl, in general. Goldie gives a shrug, repressing a wince at the motion, "Not worth the trouble, is it." She notice the motion from Hachilah and says, "Something gone wrong? You ain't been saying much just now." Hachilah's eyebrows go up. "You confuse me." She states it simply, but perhaps that is her way. She regards Goldie apprehensively. Zach is looking from girl to girl. Both very young, but oh so different in demeanor. Goldie looks back at Hachilah, some ill-defined emotion flickering behind her eyes. After a few moment she sighs and says, "I told you that you didn't want to know about me. Before, I mean." Hachilah looks very thoughtful, and it is slowly becoming apparent that her apprehension stems largely from a kind of hurt confusion. "And I've explained that you needn't fear judgement from me." She looks at Zach, then back at Goldie. "In spite of what you have told me, the horrors that you confessed... I want to... bring what solace I can to you." Hachilah senses "Zach rises an eyebrow to you over Goldie's head." Hachilah glances briefly at Zach, then returns her attention to Goldie. You sense Hachilah regards you with a solemn expression, her eyes tinged with sadness, hurt, and confusion. She conveys no useful information. :) Goldie says, suprisingly softly, "And I... I think that I shouldn't have walked up to you. I'll try not to bother you again, Hachilah. You really don't want to be around me." Hachilah's eyebrows peak and she blurts out, "No no no." She shakes her head, dismayed. "That wasn't my meaning at all. Quite the opposite!" Goldie looks at the two, seeming to draw back in on herself. Her accent has returned to it's normal, almost unplacable mixture as she says, "I should get off anyway. You two were talking in pirvate and I don't want to get between the two of you like that." She starts to stand up as she speaks, giving no sign of wanting to remain. Zach clears his throat softly. "Can I at least offer you a ride wherever you wanna go, kid? Like to somewhere they can rinse and stitch up that gash on your arm? I know you're proud, self-reliant and fight your own battles thankyouverymuch - and I respect that in a person. But I /do/ get concerned when I see someone hurt. And I'd be a right bastard if I just looked the other way and went conveniently, temporarily blind." His voice is gentle, but firm and confident. Hachilah remains silent, watching Goldie and waiting for her to respond to Zach. Goldie pauses, half stooped and again holding her own arm. Finally she gave an exasperated sigh and said, "If you got a clean sink that I could use, maybe some bandage, that'd do. I don't think it's bad enough to get actually sewn up, but..." Hachilah offers quietly, "You can come to Ada's apartment..." She looks at Zach, then back at Goldie. "Zach lives in a truck." Goldie hesitates again then answers confidently, "I'll go, but I ain't staying there. I've got a place of my own for tonight and I shouldn't be this trusting anyway. Just for a bit now, you hear?" Hachilah nods gently. Zach nods. "Yeah. I hear you. Come on then, ladies. Let's go." You head out of the creek area. 14 Terrace St. - Apartment 3 Goldie follows along behind the two, keeping a careful and habitual eye out as they move through the streets. She slowed as they reached the building, and only hesitantly followed the other two inside the appartment. Hachilah wanders in gingerly, taking a look around. She looks back over her shoulder and quietly says, "We... can't stay here long. Ada doesn't like strange visitors..." Zach nods. "Yeah, lets dig out the first aid kit. Bathroom's over there.." Hachilah wanders over to the bathroom, and turns on the lights. Goldie nods, seeming somewhat... twicthy inside the appartment from the moment that the door closed. Taking a deep breath, she reached up and unzipped her fleece before stripping it off her body to reveal the threadbare t-shirt she wears beneath it. Hachilah pages: I don't know if she has a first aid kit... you woulnd't have had one in your truck, by any chance?:) You paged Hachilah with 'I definitely do! :)'. Goldie's fleece sits oddly where she has put it over the arm of a chair, seemingly weighed down in odd places by things inside it. Zach brings the first aid kit into the bathroom. "C'mon, Goldie. Let's get your arm fixed up." Hachilah stands back quietly and watches. Zach waits for Goldie to enter the bathroom. He starts filling the sink with water and gets out towels and such. Goldie cautiously enter the bathroom, her eyes continually on Zach as she walks over to the sink. Close inspection of her arms shows a number of smaller bruises on her other arm and small scratches on her hands, as though she had caught herself after almost hitting into somethign rough and hard. Zach carefully proceeds to clean her arm and rinse her wound. When her arm's dried off, he takes out a few woundclips to keep the gash on her arm closed. Then he continues with bandaging the whole thing. He frowns at the state of her arms and hands, but keeps quiet. Zach says, "I am not sure what those 'woundclips' are called in English..:)" Goldie isn't sure either. Hachilah watches with great interest, keeping her mouth firmly shut. Hachilah says, "Sutures." Hachilah says, "I think :)" Zach says, "Ah. Yes, that would make sense:)" Goldie ahhs... Zach works with calm confidence. Obviously he know his way around bruises, cuts and first-aid kits. Goldie bites her lips as the wound is tended too, stay very still through the process and making no sound at all. A faint tremble runs throug her as the cut is dealt with, but that is the only sign given that she felt anything, her eyes remaining stead and locked on Zach's hands. Goldie senses "Zach's fingertips are calloused, and his hands are a workman's rough hands. But they are also very gentle." Hachilah keeps on watching, very quietly. Zach finishes up with making a sling for Goldie's arm. "There, that should do it. Come sit down and breathe. It's not healthy to hold your breath for so long." Zach steers Goldie to a chair. Hachilah's eyebrows go up slightly, and she offers, "Would... anyone care for a glass of water?" Goldie lets out the breath she hadn't been aware that she was hold, commenting with a laugh as she shrugged off the hands trying to guide her, "Don't worry about it, you can't kill yourself that way. You just faint first." Goldie looked at Hachilah then nodded, "Don't ask how I missed actualy managing to drink that stuff that Zach got me back at the wierd place." Hachilah glances at Goldie. She blinks, then offers, "I could check if Ada has something... stronger... if you like?" She seems excessively helpful. Goldie stared at Hachilah for a moment, as though she were not certain that she had heard the other girl correctly, then said, "Nah, just water. Thanks." The thanks was added almost as an afterthought to the statement. Zach cleans up after the medic session in the bathroom and then joins the others. Hachilah, who seems monumentally relieved to be able to actually _do_ something for Goldie, heads off into the kitchen. Zach smiles after Hachilah. "You two known each other long?" he asks Goldie. Goldie took a seat, pulling her fleece onto her lap with her good hand before looking at Zach and replying, "For a bit. We've talked at times, and I try to keep her from doing too stupid stuff when I see her. She doesn't seem like she's from this planet, if you underdstand me." The sound of cupboards opening, and running water emanates from the kitchen. Zach chuckles a warm laugh. "Yeah, I know what you mean. You're kinda protective of her aren't ya? She has that effect on people..." Goldie nods then says quietly, "She really shouldn't hang about near me. Some of the people hwo know me would like her in the wrong way, if you see. I shouldn't have come and talked to her tnight really." Zach hmms. "You hang with a pretty rough crowd I take it?" Goldie says, "That depends on your view. I said, 'people who know me' not 'people I stay around'." Hachilah emerges from the kitchen with a glass full of sparkling water. She approaches Goldie hesitantly and offers it to her, putting the glass near her good arm. Zach nods to Goldie. "Yeah. There might be a difference there. Interesting way of putting it. But why would they go after Haci just 'cause you talked to her?" Goldie takes the glass in her good left hand, drinking a sip from it then stopping with it still touching her lips as Zach asks his question. She lowers the glass and looks at Zach then Hachilah before saying tightly, "Hachilah can work out why, I don't know you well enough to be saying details." Zach shrugs. "That's ok. I am very protective of Hachilah myself. If anyone were to hurt her I'd take it extremely personal. So hopefully they'll leave her alone." Hachilah glances at Zach and grins. She is rather subdued, otherwise, one might suspect that she would have just tackled Zach in a huge hugpile. As it is, she simply regards him affectionately before glancing back at Goldie. Goldie sips a mouthful of the water again, taking her time over drinking the glass and looking betwee the other two as if trying to understand the way they seem to be treating each other. After a short while she asks bluntly, "Hachilah, if I'm bothering you by being here say so and I'll head off. I don't want to be scaring you just now." Hachilah blinks. Her eyes widen as she pauses, gathering her wits for an appropriate response. "I'm very sorry if I gave you the impression that you were unwelcome... please don't leave." She is very dismayed by these sudden statements. She looks at Zach, clearly confused. She looks back at Goldie, shaking her head and looking rather sad and perplexed. "I just don't know how to talk to you, without making you angry. Or making you run away... Perhaps that is why I don't seem to... talk much..." Zach streches a bit and takes a look at the time. "Oh, Hachi.. I gotta split. You gonna be ok for tonight?" Hachilah glances at Zach and nods with a small smile. "Yep. I'll be alright, as usual." Hachilah says, "Goldie, do you want to go with Zach? ;)" Hachilah says, "I mean to bed." Hachilah says, "er." Zach smiles warmly to Goldie. "Well take care now, kiddo. Be nice to your arm for a while, ok?" Hachilah says, "Never mind :)" Zach eyes HAchilah. Goldie snugs back, yawning slightly, "This had even started to be become nice and complex. Now if only my brain would cooperate." Hachilah says, "Yeah, quality time with Goldie where she hasn't left me running at high speed. Whee :)" Zach rises and pulls Hachilah into a big, warm hug. "See ya, sweetie!" He plants a kiss on top of her head. Hachilah hugs happily. Hachilah says, "Bye Zach." Hachilah grins. Goldie watches this exchange of affection with masked eyes and a neutral expression. Zach turns to walk out the door. He flashes one final, sincere smile over his shoulder to Goldie. "Hopefully I'll see you again too, kid. Bye all." You open the door and walk out into the hall.