Logfile from Brass&Steel. Zach knocks on the door marked 'Number 4B <4B>'. A woman shouts from nearby, "It's unlocked!" Terrace Lofts -- Number 4B A large, bright loft on the fourth floor of the building. To the right of the door is a small kitchen area, and it's apparent that there used to be a table there. Now there are just four oak chairs, looking rather forlorn. One of the chairs is splintered on the back, a bullet hole clearly visible. Nearby is the closet, and the door to the bathroom. The living room lacks typical furniture, instead there are a multitude of huge pillows in a variety of jewel-like colors, and stools of all shapes and sizes. Art supplies, and art projects in various states of completion dominate the area. Sketches are scattered all over everything. The sleeping are is a small alcove at the far end of the apartment, holding a queen-sized sleigh bed of cherry, a CD player, and a Macintosh personal computer. A nearby bookcase has one shelf of books, one of CDs, and the top shelf is cluttered with framed photos. There's a large wall mirror near the bed, and posters for Broadway musicals adorn the walls. Overall, the apartment is in a state of clean disarray. The bed is unmade, and CD cases are in the oddest places, but there's no trash. The only thing in the room that could be said to be scrupulously neat, though, are the art supplies. Their strict order appears to originate from another person entirely. The room smells of flowers, from the numerous filled vases on the table, windowsills, and kitchen counter. Contents: Brynn Harriet Harriet shifts uncomfortably on her pillow. "Brynn," she asks carefully, "what exactly are you doing. I don't think you can drink it like that, you know?" She cradles her own glass protectively. That /can't/ be healthy... "I doubt it'll kill me," Brynn tells her, and places the bottle on the table. She then takes the glass, raises it a bit in a 'cheers!' fashion, and brings it to her lips. Then she drinks a good bit of it. She keeps an eye on the door as well, naturally. Harriet and Brynn are sitting on the floor. Each has a glass of orange juice, but Brynn /also/ has a bottle of ethanol. Harriet looks a bit worried. She glances at the door as it opens, and looks /more/ worried as Brynn drinks the orange juice. "I don't think you should do that!" Zach enters the studio loft quietly and looks around to see where the voice he just heard originated from. He knows who spoke, but where is she? Spotting Harriet after closing the door and taking a few steps into the room, he smiles to her and to Brynn. Although.... Maybe it faulters just a wee bit as he sees Brynn. Surely he didn't wince? "Good afternoon, ladies.." Harriet is wearing a thick and extremely fuzzy sweater, with blue and yellow stripes, and blue jeans. Added to the bright yellow sneakers on her feet, and the whole effect looks sort of like a large, friendly caterpillar. With glasses. Brynn has that effect on people, even though she doesn't think her vessel is that hideous. Alas. She doesn't react much, and simply lowers her glass of orange juice. Yum yum. "Have you acquired the things I requested?" she asks with a look at the warrior-artist. Harriet stands up, and looks down at Brynn. She nods, looking even more worried. "I have," she says, then turns to look at Zach. "Hey there," she says, and smiles at him, a bit concerned as she studies him. It's hug time, although it's kind of a careful hug, because she's holding a glass of orange juice. "How are you doing, you know?" Zach cuddles Harriet and plants a kiss on top of her head. He's mindful of her glass with juice in it, so there's no spillage. "I'm okay sweetie. And you? You look a bit frazzled?" His voice is warm, as is his hug. He glances over her head toward Brynn. That don't look like a proper booze bottle... It doesn't, no. It looks like a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but, hey, close enough. Brynn drinks s'more, and waits for Harriet to get her cuddle fix. Harriet cuddles enthusiastically. "I'm fine," she assures Zach, and moves away a bit to set the glass on the kitchen counter. Then she looks at Brynn. "Did you want your stuff now, you know? And I /really/ wish you wouldn't drink that. I can get you another glass..." Harriet senses "Zach isn't at all relaxed. Not as bad as he was just after Eli left and the police were crawling all over the place, but still rather tense. And just as she moves away, she might belive that she felt a slight tremor running through him. But that might just have been pure imagination." Zach raises an eyebrow at Brynn and her bottle. "Why are you downing that horrible stuff, Bee?" "I don't need a refil just yet," Brynn informs Harriet, "But I would like my things now." She glances up (and up) at Zach, then over at the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Then she shrugs. Brynn says, " "I used to date this Servitor of Fleurity..."" Harriet stares at Zach for a moment, before nodding to Brynn. "Zach, sit down, youk now?" she says, softly, and hurries into the kitchen. From a bottom cabinet, she pulls a heavy cloth shopping bag out, and brings it back into Brynn. "I think you said two pounds? I got three, just in case." Zach looks from Brynn to the bottle to Harriet and the mysterious bag. And he frowns. He takes his winter jacket off as he wanders over to a chair and sits down on it. "What's going on?" "Good thinking. Thank you." Brynn takes the bag, if possible. Hers! And only hers! She then puts it down on the floor with a quiet bump, because she still has some evil juice to drink. Harriet gives up the bag with a sigh, and wanders back behind Zach's chair and starts rubbing his shoulders and neck. "Brynn wanted some sugar, you know?" she says, quietly. And tries not to look really worried, although Zach probably doesn't have eyes in the back of his head, anyway. "Sugar," he echoes flatly. "Did you get her yeast while you were at it?" He sighs. "I can't recall if I said this already... Probably didn't remember too in all the excitement, but.. Thank you for coming so quikly to our aid the other night, Brynn." He looks at her with his green, warm but slightly haunted eyes. Voice sincere as he nods. Oh! Harriethands on neck. Mmmmm....ouch!..mmm... Brynn shrugs again, not being the most sociable of individuals right now. And, indeed, she drinks the rest of the evil juice, then places the glass on the table. "I'd better get going." Harriet twitches at the flatness of Zach's voice, and shifts from one foot to the other while she tries to figure out what yeast has to do with anything. To Brynn, she nods. "Okay. If you must...although you could stay and, um, have something to drink that isn't quite so...strong, you know?" Her voice is slightly uncertain, and she keeps rubbing Zach's muscles, because it's so much nicer than fidgeting. Zach's muscles are totally rubbable, if not compliant. He nods in agreement with Harriet. "Yeah, do stay. I hope you're not leaving just because /I/ came by?" he asks, looking a mite worried. Brynn stands up, and grabs the cloth bag. HERS! All hers! "I have some matters to attend to," she explains, for good or ill. Harriet frowns and frets, and finally nods. "Well...if you must go, then you must go. But feel free to drop by again, you know?" She gives Brynn a smile. "It was good to see you, again." Zach smiles to Brynn and lifts a hand in farewell. "See you later then, sis." His smile softens. "Be well." Brynn nods to Harriet. "Right. I'll keep that in mind." Then to both of them: "Later. Try not to die." And then she heads over to the door. Should nothing hinder her, she will vanish out of it, as well. Harriet won't try and hinder her. Or even follow her. This time. Mostly because Zach is here, and all unhappy, so Harriet has to fret and hover, and give massages. Which she does, although her gaze follows Brynn all the way to the door. Zach's eyes are also glued to the Hottie, as she strides to the door. "We'll try avoiding the next gangster attack, yeah. Later." He gives a dry chuckle, first one since... For days. Brynn goes all vanishy-like! Like a ninja! ...That uses the door like an ordinary person. Brynn says, "Thanks for the RP." As soon as the door closes, Harriet moves around to face Zach, and looks deeply into his eyes. "Zach, what's wrong, you know? I've never seen you this...tense. Ever." She runs one hand through his hair in an unconciously maternal gesture. Zach lifts his hand and gently, lovingly caress her face. "It's okay, babe. I'm just struggling to come to terms with what happened tuesday night. I need to be absolutely sure that I have analyzed everything and learn all I can from it. Because this can't happen again. Not like that." Harriet frowns slightly. "What /did/ happen, you know? You and Brynn...you said that someone showed up, and you've both been acting a bit strange ever since." She keeps stroking his hair in a comforting motion as she watches him. Zach pulls Harriet to him and down on his lap so he can hold and cuddle her properly. He sighs and shakes his head glumly. "Someone much tougher than us came. An evil someone that we had no chance against. So I chose to break one of my Oaths in order to protect Brynn. And myself. I carried her away from that 'meeting' with force, and she's not happy about it I suppose. I'm not either, but it's not like I can go back and change it now." Harriet ohs, and hugs him tightly. "I imagine she's not...Brynn...doesn't deal well with people getting in her way, even when she's about to do something really not bright, you know?" Harriet snuggles. "At least you're both still alive. I'm really, really glad about that," she says, firmly. Zach nods quietly against her cheek. Mmmm...soft Harrietcheek. "Yeah, we are. And since it was my actins that brought her here that night, and my choice to haul her away - I'll just have to face the consequenses like a man. OR rather, like a malakite." Harriet strokes the back of his neck, and frowns slightly. "What are the consequences, Zach? I mean...you say you broke one of your Oaths, but what does that mean, exactly?" She nuzzles him gently. "Are you going to be okay, you know?" Zach huggles Harriet and nuzzles his face against her neck. "Well one obvious consequence is that she's pissed off with me. So the Zach's in the doghouse." He pauses for a long time. Then, "Breaking an Oath... For those of out Choir, that means going against our nature and purpose. That is a very, very bad thing. Our honour is our lives, breaking the Oaths that bind us... Bad, bad, bad." Harriet tightens her embrace. "She'll get over it," Harriet says, quietly. She'll blow some things up, and feel much better. "But...what's going to happen to you? I mean...you /will/ be okay, right? Is there anything that I can do to help, you know?" Zach smiles slightly and shakes his head sadly. "No there ain't, Harriet. This is something I have to rectify myself. There are ways to go about that, and I must do it soon. I've made arrangements, and I won't have to leave town for it. I won't leave you.." Harriet pulls her head back and smiles gently at him. "As glad as I am to have you around, Zach, I'm a big girl, and can take care of myself, you know?" She caresses his cheek with one hand. "If you have to go, I'd be okay. I promise." Zach leans into the caress. "I don't have to, so that'll be fine. And yes, you are quite capable to take care of yourself. Even though... /Some/ might say that hanging around malakim isn't the healthies thing to do. We tend to get into a lot of.....excitement. You must be gatting quite used to bullets flying by now.." He tries a smile, and finds that he is capable of one. A genuine one. "I chose my path," Harriet says, smiling back at him. "And I don't regret it, you know?" She chuckles. "I'm also not used to bullets flying around, and I don't think that I ever will be, but that's okay. I'm sure everything will be okay." Zach tickles her nose and crincles a smile to her. "/You/ are such a babe!" Harriet laughs and raises an eyebrow. "There are two ways I could take that, but I take the nicest way possible, you know?" She grins at him, and leans in to kiss him on the nose. "And you are just a perfect Angel. Always and forever." Zach almost winces, but manages to hold it back for Harriet's sake. "Thank you, Harriet." He hugs her, then withdraws a bit (as much as that's possible, what with her sitting across his lap and all) and tilts his head. "So.. How are you dealing with the Music?" Harriet smiles and shrugs. "Still walking into things on occassion, you know? But it's...the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced." She beams at him. "I don't even have the words for it..." Zach mmms and snugs her a bit. "It's really something, yeah. At least /that/ part went well." You say, "I threw Cosmo in the duckpond yesterday." Now it's Harriet's turn to look fleetingly uncomfortable. But it passes quickly, and she smiles as she nods. "Indeed it did." Then, of course, her jaw drops. "You did what?! /Why/?" Zach misinterprets her uncomfortableness by thinking it's just her wincing at the memory of mayhem. And now it's time for explanations. "He tried tough-loving me yesterday in the park. Turns out I'm the toughtst of us. So in he went." "Oh, my," Harriet murmurs, wide-eyed. "Was he hurt, you know? Are you two still speaking to each other?" Zach raises his eyebrows and just Looks at her. "Of /course/ we're still speaking to each other! Why on earth wouldn't we? He tried to help me! Even if that particular "help" was a damn foolish thing to do in the middle of a public park." Harriet stares back at him, blank and uncomprehending. Obviously, 'help' and 'picking a fight' are not phrases that go together in her personal vocabulary. Finally, she just sighs and shakes her head. "Malakim. I don't think I'll ever understand you at all, you know?" Zach kisses her cheek. "I am probably the cuddliest and huggliest malakite in existence. And that's all Eli's doing I think, because I've always been like that. Mostly we don't go in for the touchy-feely stuff, and tend to be on the rough and tough side of the diagram." Harriet has to go! Alas, alack! Harriet will remain and be cuddly and supportive and ever so slightly worried for as long as Zach's around. :) Harriet hugs. Thanks for the RP! Zach will take off soon! :) Zach says, "Thank you!"