| Logs |
2001 September 16
| NachtMusik |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: NachtMusik Logs |
"When She Smiles"
Shateishael shakes his head, rolls his eyes, puts his beer down, and says, "Okay, that is enough of that!" He rises smoothly, scoops the cat up, and tosses it lightly into Rosen's lap. "Here, take the little monster outside and get him a crow, wouldja, Rosen?"
Sax says, "Right on, brother."
Shateishael grins, re-seating himself and picking up his beer again, "And don't let him back in until he's got one!"
Rei arches a pale eyebrow. "If he can make dumb jokes with onomatopoeia, do you really want to give him something that can form actual phonemes?"
Thessaloniki says, "It's a risk we'll have to take."
Shateishael grins at the lilim, "He typed that last honker. Maybe speaking he'll show some good taste... finally?" He has a sip of the beer, then with mock-sorrow adds, "Aw, who'm I fooling..." He grins.
Rosenstern erps! -and almost falls backwards in his chair if not for the back of it. "Ah, right!" he says, standing and shifting Tay-Tom into a much more comfortable (for the both of them) position. He stands and begins to head towards the doorway, "Shan't be long, I think!" he says cheerfully.
Taygeta meows indignantly as his vessel is tossed to Rosenstern, then purrs as he's carried out. It wasn't that bad.... He's already alert for crows or other useful birds as he's carried outside, though. Shateishael grins at the Novalite, "Thanks, man."
Rosenstern hums a bit under his breath as he steps outside. "At the very least, Tay," he says, glancing a bit over his shoulder to inside the house, before scanning the skies for birds and crows, "I'm sure Nick'll take care of the cat..."
Taygeta-tom purrs in Rosenstern's arms as he reaches out and Dominates a crow circling the field nearby. The bird glides down and lands on the Novalite's shoulder, the beak opening and a harsh-voiced comment emerging. "Don't have to give up the cat, you know. Not unless I need a human too. And I can type better that way than this."
Rosenstern blinks to Taygeta-crow and gives a wry smile. "All right. I'll never understand how you Kyriotates can bear listening in stereo, but that's your nature, not mine..."
Sax looks at the Lilim. "Three gets you five..." She hrms, "Not taking those odds for love or money."
Thessaloniki smiles, and quotes, "Hope springs eternal." He looks over at his two unusual guests -- he must be getting used to Rose and Tay, and he's very comfortable with Slate -- and fills the little lull by asking, "Is there anything I can get you folks while we've got a minute? I'm sorry we kept you waiting. I usually try to be a better host than that."
Sax says, "Uh... well, as long as we're waiting, how about a beer?" Rei smiles a little and shakes her head. "Nothing for me, but, um... you think I could use your bathroom? I wanna towel off here."
Shateishael has another sip of beer after the two angels have departed... then glances at Nick with another grin, "Hey... wanna call Aric while you've got some peace 'n quiet? And... give him my thanks too, wouldja, when you do call him?"
Thessaloniki says, "Hey, that is a good idea." He looks at Sax, "Oh, no problem. Do you want a dry shirt? I'm sure I've got something around here someplace... the house seems to collect useful bits of clothing." He grins.
Shateishael nods and gestures towards the bathroom for Rei... then grins at Nick's comment, "Hey, I usually turn up and use 'em again... eventually!"
Thessaloniki chuckles, "You are, by far, not the only one, Slate. I think the pool and the hot tub do it. People shuck 'em and forget 'em."
Shateishael chuckles rumblingly at the Eliite, "Yeah, right... the tub. You know as well as I it's you..."
Sax shakes his head. "Nah. I'm good. Rei got it worse than I did." The Bright Lilim frowns. "Sure, as soon as I ask to borrow the overcoat, the rain stops. Dork." She mock-glares at Sax as she pads off to the bathroom. Saxon just snickers quietly.
Thessaloniki chuckles and says, "Excuse me for a moment, then." He meanders out of the office, leaving the door open and pointedly ignoring Slate's commentary. He stops to rummage in the kitchen for a few moments, then can be seen wandering off deeper into the house, dialing a cordless phone.
Rei comes from the bathroom, wearing just her snap-side pants, a few fasteners undone, and low quarter-socks. She rubs a soft towel through her hair, leaving the other end curled over her shoulders. She pads into the back room, humming to herself. Shateishael blinks, straightening to look a bit bemusedly after the Bright... then turns and looks at Sax, "Did y'all bring a change of clothes?" He wonders if Lilim get cold, or if Rei would want a shirt... although it is nice to see someone that's not fearful of nudity.
Sax shakes his head. "Rei left her car here about three years ago, and it's been at the Alamo since. If it still starts, I'll drive it back... it's got some clothes and stuff in it." He turns and kisses the Bright on the forehead, "I'm gonna go settle that bet with Nick. I'll be in the garage." Rei grins, "Go easy on the guy, you just met him." Sax shrugs and wanders off. Rei lets the towel drop around her neck, the ends dangling to cover strategic real estate. She explains as the Cherub departs, "Sax is convinced he can name some military drive-train parts Nick won't recognize. They have some kind of bet going. I think Sax is cheating himself out of five bucks, you ask me."
Shateishael gives a small snort of laughter, looking after Sax. Then he grins, shaking his head amusedly as he turns to look at Rei. "So... you comfortable, or d'you want to borrow a shirt for the interim?"
Rei grins, "I'm fine. Unless it bothers you?"
Shateishael smiles and shakes his head, studying Rei with open, honest curiosity, "Nope. Nice to see someone that isn't afraid of their bod-" His eyes widen slightly, looking at her lower torso, and he gives a low, soft whistle, then adds, "Man, that must've been a wicked blade that laid you open there! Good thing you had back-up." He looks up at her face unselfconsciously, "Did Sax get the attacker for you?"
The Lilim absently scratches her stomach; a long, jagged scar, wide and the same pale color of her skin, stretches from her right hip up to the base of her left breast. She looks down. "Oh, this? Not a blade..."
Shateishael looks faintly puzzled, studying the scar more closely, "Not...? What kind of attack was it then?"
Rei smiles thinly. "Always keep your promises, big man."
Shateishael's eyes narrow as he studies Rei puzzledly... with his usual tact and diplomacy he says, "Uh... is this a 'I don't want to talk about it'?"
The Lilim shrugs pale shoulders. "It's a long story. You can't always change what you are, y'know? Sometimes it can get cut out of you, though. There are other ways than obeying to lose a Geas... they just aren't much fun."
Shateishael's eyes widen again, "Isn't that... sometimes..." He pauses, then straightens a bit, almost with a touch of formality as he smiles faintly, touching his loosely fisted right hand over his heart, then putting it palm down towards her, "That... must've taken courage. I commend you." He then slouches comfortably again, curiously asking, "So d'you mind talking about it? Who'd you work for? Hey!" He straightens a bit again, although this time it's obviously at an idea, "Did you work at all for Lust? If you did can I ask you some questions?"
Rei finds a seat and sits down, folding her arms under her chest. She tilts her head a bit. "Lust? What do you want to know about that she-he?"
Shateishael says, "I know someone that works for him and is terrified of him. I was wondering... how'd you get away from him? Maybe she can try it too, y'know?"
Rei says, "I didn't 'get away' from him, big man. He got tired of me." She sighs a little, looking at the floor, then adds, "Well.... maybe that's not entirely true." Shateishael looks faintly crestfallen, but continues to listen interestedly. Rei continues, "Andrealphus loves him some Lilim." She smirks, "Sometimes four or five at a time, actually." Shateishael grins in amused bemusement, but doesn't interrupt.
With a little chuckle, she goes on, "But I guess Saminga had something Andre wanted... really badly. Really, really badly. I don't know what it was... he never said. But normally Andrealphus won't even talk about Saminga, let alone to him. So it must have been something pretty important."
Shateishael frowns thoughtfully, "So... you got traded for, am I understanding that right?" He sighs, "Well, shoot. I can't do that for her... but maybe someone..." He pauses, considering the likelihood of anyone Lauren knows having the ability to, in effect, 'buy' her from Andre... then just sighs softly and shakes his head, "Oh well. So... how come you're not terrified of him too?"
Rei stops smiling. "When you work for Saminga... not much frightens you."
Shateishael thinks about that a moment... then just nods once. His voice is low and thoughtful, "Poor kid." He doesn't say who he's referring to... instead he rests his chin on his crossed arms, on the back of the chair, watching Rei in quiet fascination, his forgotten beer bottle dangling from his fingers, and just asks curiously, "So... what's Andre like?"
Rei smiles a little. "Really strange guy. Always looks nice, always smells nice... not something I can say about Saminga, for obvious reasons, or Vapula, who doesn't smell bad exactly... but he always smells like he just stuck a fork in the microwave."
Shateishael grins, wrinkling his nose slightly at that mental image, then just nods once, his gaze returning to Rei, "Why strange? Does he change sex?"
She shrugs. "I've heard that he has a bunch of vessels that are one or the other or both, even. He was never a woman around me, though. He's strange because... well, I mean... he's always thinking about sex. And not like, sex, I mean he's thinking about serious fucking, all the time. I'm not talking about cable porn here! Strictly rental. When he looks at you, it kind of makes you crawly wondering what's going on in his head. Either one."
Shateishael rests his chin on one large fist, "Rental? Don't know that one." He grins at her last comment.
Rei smirks, "Am I going too fast for you, Leif?"
Shateishael laughs again, then grins and shakes his head, "Gimme a break... I hung out with mortals, not Lilim. What's rental mean?" His grin gets lazier as he adds, "And it was Gunther, not Leif."
Rei grins, "Yeah, you look like a Gunther. Rental... you know. Rental pornography. Leather Vixens Unchained, that kinda stuff? The tapes they keep in the back aisle and that are always kinda sticky?"
Shateishael says, "Oh, those!" He laughs again, with easy amusement, remembering the Impudite that considered him "quite the tussler" and recommended a video to poor scandalized Rosenstern... then smiles quietly at the Bright, "Glad you got away then, however it was accomplished." He sighs once, frowning, then adds slowly, "So... how does one um... encourage Andre to get bored? And..." he ponders a bit, remembering the knife slash on Lauren's jacket, and asks curiously, "-did he ever attack you or anything?"
Rei mms. "Me? Nah. Smacked me raw with a cat o' nine tails once, though. He never hit hit me. But I heard that he did do that sometimes... sometimes I'd see a girl with a black eye or busted fingers."
Shateishael rumbles thoughtfully, "Knife slashes, ever?"
Rei makes a face. "Ick. Nah, Andre's not into snuff films. Reminds him way too much of Death, and he can't stand Saminga. He likes to fuck live bodies, not cold ones."
Shateishael frowns, considering. There's something wrong with the information he's got... if the knife wasn't Andre, then who? He'd assumed it was whomever Lauren was terrified of... ooh... maybe he does know who it was -- Furfur, perhaps. "Hey, you ever work around a guy named Furfur? Does he tend to use knives at all, d'you know?"
Rei shrugs. "I've only heard of him recently... just in the past few days."
Shateishael puts his chin in his fist again, absently swinging the beer bottle slightly in the other... "Huh. Well, I'm out of ideas on anything that might help her... unless you know some way to bore Andre?"
Rei shrugs. "Not really." She grins suddenly, "Unless she's really lousy in bed."
Shateishael snorts amusedly, "Doubt it somehow..." he grins, "-and she wouldn't tell me even if she was." He shrugs mentally to himself -- guess that line of questioning for Lauren didn't pan out at all -- and shifts his mental gears, "So... how come you're a Bright now? What changed your mind? Do you ever talk to other Lilim that aren't Brights?"
Rei sighs, "Me? Well... I was pretty happy working for Andrealphus, to be honest. But... Saminga changed everything for me... I wasn't giving people enjoyment anymore. I was still giving them escape, sure... but..." She frowns, gathering the towel around herself like a cloak. "I always liked making people happy. Sure, I used that to get them to do things for me, but... I'd rather they were doing it because I was giving them something they liked." She sighs. "Saminga made me find humans and seduce them. Then... when their guard was down... one of his undead creeps would tear them apart."
Shateishael thinks about that for a bit, trying to figure out what she means -- and pondering Lilim in general. He winces slightly at her concise description, rumbling quietly, "I'm sorry." He changes the subject slightly -- hopefully that'll help her cheer up some, "So... I don't understand. Lilim like making people happy too? How'd that get turned into evil?"
Rei says quietly, "Not your fault, big guy." She smiles a little. "Lilim can do whatever they want. Remember who my Mom is! We're all different... I just liked it when people said that I made them happy."
Shateishael adds in slow puzzlement, "Hey... if your mother is Freedom... how come she keeps it only for herself, and y'all are all geased?"
Rei grins a little. "Well... there's a price for freedom, I guess. But... hey, those Geasa got me away from the shithead, and they help me occasionally nudge a human to do the right thing."
Shateishael frowns again, thinking hard. So many things he's always wondered about and never been able to ask... "What did she pay? Loss of heaven?"
Rei smiles. "I don't know, big man... I'm not a philosopher, and I never did ask Mom about it."
He adds bemusedly, "Why not? Is she like an angelic Superior -- you just don't ask some things? Are her daughters afraid of her? Is it true that the demons are all afraid of their Princes? And... why did you enjoy working for Andrealphus, but Lauren doesn't?" He sips from his beer, considering, then says slowly, "She's a stripper... maybe... maybe she's just not as emotionally sturdy as you?" A thoughtful moment later he quietly rumbles, "David says Lilith's just another demon and should be destroyed... I... think I'm glad I've never met her. I'd want to ask so many questions... probably get myself into trouble..." He sighs softly and hushes up, giving the Bright a moment to answer.
Rei laughs softly. "Aren't we curious." She shrugs, toying absently with the edges of the towel. "We don't see her often. We have things we need to be doing, and so does she. But she does look out for us. I was never afraid of her... would you be afraid of your parent? Now, other Princes... gah. Saminga's scary because he's just so mean and so stupid. He's totally random... you never know if he might hurt you for no reason. Andre occasionally likes to jump you with no warning; but..." She sighs, "Well, you get used to that, sort of. I wasn't afraid of Vapula so much as of the stuff he'd build... he's not big on control, and they occasionally throw a piston or just go nuts. Gotta watch your head down there. I've never met any other Princes, but I've seen some of them on Hell TV. I can see where you'd be scared of Belial, or Beleth."
Shateishael grins unselfconsciously and nods at her comment about being curious, then listens in fascination. He covers a grin with the beer bottle at Rei's description of Vapula, hoping she'll go on if he doesn't interrupt. Rei thinks a moment, "Actually... I saw Baal on TV a lot. The Media is a great propaganda machine, and Baal's a snappy dresser, so they like him a lot. He reminds me a little of Michael. They... they walk the same way. I don't think his guys were afraid of him... they all seemed to kind of look up to him. At least, that's what I got from overhearing stuff in Shal-Mari."
Shateishael looks, if anything, even more fascinated, "Huh! Look up to him... so he rewards competence too, then? I guess..." he pauses, trying to verbalize something he doesn't quite understand himself, then says slowly, "So... if most of the demons are all terrified of their Princes... how... how can it work? How come it doesn't all fall apart, y'know?"
Rei smiles a little. "Fear, they say, is a highly efficient motivator. And it's not like that all the time. It's like... well, you see how you're acting now? You're all relaxed and hanging out. Now... if David showed up, like right now... you'd act different, wouldn't you?"
Shateishael says, "Sure. I'd be more formal. But I don't fear him." He pauses, checking to see if that's true... then says slowly, "If I fear anything about him, it'd be... disappointing him, y'know? Failing him." He looks curiously at the Bright, "Are you saying that's what folks mean when they say they 'fear' their demon Prince?"
Rei grins. "I think you're getting it now. See, what I've noticed about Heaven is that Archangels aren't so extreme as Princes are. See, when you do something huge for a Prince, you're hella excited! You're gonna look good to your Prince and get one over on all the other poor shmucks jockeying for position. And when you fuck up... you're way more scared than you would be if you failed an Archangel... 'cause no matter how pissed off an Archangel gets, they probably won't kill you. A Prince wouldn't think twice about it. Some of 'em wouldn't think once. And Saminga doesn't think, ever. You see what I'm saying?"
Shateishael is still for a moment, thinking... then says slowly, "Are you telling me that demons never make friends? -that they can't afford to?!"
Rei says, "I didn't say that. But it's always a good idea never to get too comfy around your friends."
Shateishael shudders slightly at that thought, a curious mixture of horror and pity on his face, "I... wish there were a way to show them the Truth..." He frowns, "Then again... they wouldn't believe it anyway, would they..." He looks suddenly curious, "Would they believe you?"
Rei grins. "Hey, it worked for me." She adds, quickly qualifying, "But I didn't have any big revelations about Truth and God and all that... I just decided that I love people and all the cool stuff this world has to offer too much to let Hell trash them. I've been to Hell... I don't want Earth to become like it."
Shateishael frowns, his chin resting in his hand again as he thinks, the beer once again forgotten... finally he says, "So... what do you think about god now? And... don't the Princes worry about letting their folks out, if Earth has this much effect... no, wait, you must be unusual, right?"
Rei thinks about that for a long time. Finally she says, "I don't know. I've never met the guy. But... I've met angels, and I've met humans in Heaven. And if he's the source of what they're working for... then he must be right. Because I don't believe for a moment that what we do is wrong." She grins precociously, "Of course I am, big man. Remember? Lilim, Bright or otherwise, are all unique."
Shateishael's chuckle is a low rumble at her words, "Okay, guess I walked into that one." He smiles quietly, then curiously asks, "Hey... maybe you know this Lilim then... her name is Lauren? Red head, wears a beat-up leather jacket that she's actually taking care of?"
Rei laughs, "Big guy, do you know how many Lilim are redheads?" She giggles a little, and shrugs. "I'd have to see her... there are a lot of us, y'know... can't know all of your sisters."
Shateishael smiles unruffledly and shakes his head, "Don't know how many Lilim there are either." He thinks a bit, trying to remember Lauren in particular, instead of the jacket... "Well, Nick said she had really striking hair... but she was covering bruises with make up when I first saw her, so I don't have a real strong picture of her face in mind. Just that she's a stripper, that she'd met Lucifer before and he 'forced his favor on her' and..." his gaze goes back to Rei, "You have any idea what that means? Um, and what else... she's the publicity manager for Stool, she's left-handed and doesn't appear to know beans about fighting... and she's almost as tall as me if you count the hair too." He grins, "Sorry, that's all I really know."
Rei just grins and shrugs. "Don't think I know her, but if you show her to me I can tell you for sure." She grins slowly. "So why're you so interested in this Lilim anyway, mmm? You looking for some exotic companionship? Figured you'd have girls in every town you pass through."
Shateishael laughs again at the Bright's comment, "Yeah, right... tease." His tone is relaxedly good-natured.
She adds coyly, "I never tease, big guy."
Shateishael nods relaxedly, "Can't do that... she's on tour with Stool." He chuckles quietly at her come-back, then sips his beer and thinks a bit, "Hm... why am I interested..." He's silent for a moment, then says slowly, "Well... y'know how you say you like folks to be happy? Well... me too, although I think I look at it more in a group sense, if that makes sense? And... there's this sort of mental checklist in my head, y'know? -of things the folks in the group want... and if I might be able to get some of those things, I see if I can. Well..." he considers a moment more, then says slowly, "I think... I feel a bit sorry for her. She had a fresh knife slash on her jacket arm when I first met her, and marks she said were from an old boyfriend, and she was... hurting inside, I think, y'know?" He sighs softly, then smiles ruefully, "Not that I think she'll take my advice and be pickier in her choice of boyfriends next time..."
Rei grins, "Yeah... I've heard about you guys. I'm glad someone besides just Jean and Michael is looking out for us. Not all my sisters like being where they are... but they just don't see yet how good it feels... when you make someone really happy without expecting something for it. You get so much back unasked... you don't live in fear... and I even found Saxon."
Shateishael looks curious, "'Us guys'? What do you mean?" then suddenly smiles, slow and quiet, "Ahh... Sax is special to you? That's... always lovely to have happen."
Rei says, "Yeah... Sax and I helped each other through some tough assignments. We've been through a lot together."
Shateishael nods, his eyes distant with pleasant memory for a bit... then he sighs quietly, still smiling, "Yah... so, who's 'us guys'?"
Rei grins, "You Stone guys. I've heard how you guys think in groups. But I didn't know they looked like you," she smiles coyly again. "I figured they were all skinheads and such."
Shateishael laughs softly, running one hand over his somewhat tousled, long blonde hair, "Ehhh... leftover from my first assignment... kinda a sentimental attachment, y'know?" He grins, his eyes bright with amusement, "Got me some real weird looks when I was riding with the Comanche years later!" He chuckles again quietly and has another sip of beer, then adds idly, "So... d'you have any idea what Satan meant when he said he 'forced his favor on her'? She wasn't afraid of him, I noticed, not like she was when she thought Nick was part of the Game, or like she's supposed to be of Andrealphus... what does Lucifer d- ooh..." he pauses, considering, then continues, "...maybe... maybe he gave her a Word she didn't really want?"
Rei says, "Could be. He's the last word on Words, down there. He gives 'em out personally."
Shateishael nods, musing idly, "Wonder what she got stuck with..." then blinks, looking a bit surprised, "Hold on. Who do you mean by 'us' that we're looking out for?" He pauses, considering, then says honestly, "I may not agree with all the other archangels, but I know they'd look out for other angels... or..." he sounds curious, "-do you mean just Brights? Surely folks aren't prejudiced against you in Heaven?"
Rei says flatly, "There was a Triad here today... I don't think I need to tell you that not everyone in Heaven is trusting."
Shateishael scowls in spite of himself... then shakes his head, "Man, sometimes I wish I had Nick's faith. Woulda been damn rude to have whacked that guy... tempting though it was..."
Rei adds, "And a sure sign of guilt, to them. Why do you think they go in threes?"
Shateishael sighs and nods, "Yeah. Nick's right about 'em -- they're just doing their job -- but sometimes I wish they had... I dunno... a little more grace about them?" He pauses... then tosses his head back in a laugh, as he realizes he, a Seraph, is criticizing the behavior of other angels!
Rei smiles. "You're all right, big guy."
Shateishael grins, "Ehh, high praise, I guess, from someone who's seen both sides of the coin?" He chuckles again, "You're not too shabby yourself, ma'am." He thinks a moment, then asks curiously, "So, how long're you 'n Sax -- Saxon? -- gonna be in the area?"
Rei smiles, and it would stop a human's breath to see. "Relievers call me ma'am. You call me Rei, okay?" She sits back a little. "Couple days at least. We'll be taking the device back when Taygeta's finished testing it, but we might be coming back afterward. I do have to get that car back; it's been in that parking lot for years."
Shateishael grins quietly, "Yes'm- er, Rei." He mentally changes his previous comment, Nope, she's not shabby at all... she's got a kick-ass gorgeous vessel! He chuckles again at her comment about her car, "Take Nick along, if you're worried about it starting... he loves fixing cars up, and he really likes pretty folks like you 'n Rosen."
Rei grins. "Might do that. Thanks for the compliment, but careful about comparing me to your friend... I've been afraid to look him in the eye; I don't want to accidentally put a hook in him."
Shateishael snorts amusedly, "Ehh, that's Rosen." He pauses with his mouth open to say something else, then changes his mind and asks in curious fascination, "Hey, how does that work?"
Rei smiles. "Easy. I look you in the eye..." She leans forward a little, coincidentally letting the towel fall slightly out of place, "Like this. Then I see what you need most of all... what you want most, deep down... and then I give it to you. Then I get a hook. After that, all I have to do is say... 'Now... maybe there's something you could do for me?'" She grins and leans back again. "Though... to be fair, mostly I just get humans to do the right thing, when I hook them. Demons, on the other hand..." She grins. "I get them to do the right thing, too."
Shateishael watches her fascinatedly, not thinking to look away -- or perhaps just having a lot of blind faith in her inherent decency, "That's it? So what happens if the person just says no? That's what they always tell us to say... is having a hook that bad for you?"
Rei smiles. "They never say no. But it's the accepting what I give them that seals it... if they say no, then I just roll it up and call in the favor later. And having a Geas in itself isn't bad for you. It's trying to back out on one that's not healthy."
Shateishael nods, "Right, I said that backwards... that you should always say no when the Lilim offer you something." He frowns thoughtfully, considering, "So... knowing what someone wants isn't painful or anything then? And if they just refuse what you offer them... does that keep the geas from happening?" He adds with interest, "What's it feel like?"
Rei nods. "They have to take what I give them... after all, it wouldn't be fair that way. What does what feel like?"
Shateishael says, "Having a geas, knowing what someone wants... any of it, I suppose?" He thoughtfully adds, "Is being refused nothing? -or is it kinda like getting slapped when you're trying to be nice to someone?"
Rei grins. "It changed. At first, it made me feel... powerful. Knowing that I had what people wanted... or could get it, anyway. Makes you feel strong. Wanted. That changed, though. It got more and more empty, the more I had to use it to end peoples' lives... and when I switched sides, after I learned everything I could from Vapula, I started enjoying it just for the sake of helping people. Making their lives a little easier. Calling in favors to nudge them to do the right thing. I still feel powerful... but I feel like I'm changing things for the better."
Shateishael nods slowly, "Yeah... I can see how that could happen. Always feels good when I successfully got a new little colony started. Interesting..." He folds his arms on the back of his chair, after setting the empty beer bottle aside, and rests his chin on them again, "So... have you met Lilith since changing sides? How does she feel about daughters that change sides?" He pauses, then says slowly, "Did she... well... I mean, I always wondered... are those old stories about her, about why she left Eden, are they true?" He pauses again, then closes his mouth firmly... best not to mention his bemusement as to how she was handled...
Rei smiles, "No, I haven't seen Mom in awhile. But she's Freedom... and she knows that we're all big girls and respects our freedom to do what we want to with our lives."
Shateishael hesitates, pondering... he'd really like to know more about Freedom, to understand her better... but... maybe he'd better not ask. He knows how David feels about her... and he wouldn't want to give David the wrong impression. He sighs softly -- besides, it's not like his Superior hasn't had a lot more time to learn what the Lady of Freedom was like, and to make a thoughtful conclusion on how to deal with her. Instead he asks quietly, "So... are Ethereals all as bad as everyone says they are? I... always felt a little sorry for them. I mean, yeah, they weren't 'pure'... but... well, I know they weren't all evil either, y'know?" He pauses, then grins ruefully, "Well... maybe I should ask first if they ever leave the Dream realms, right?"
Rei says, "I'm not qualified to say. Only ever met a couple, and they were pretty busy trying to save their own asses at the time."
Shateishael nods slowly, letting all the amazingly cool information he's gotten burble around fascinatingly in his brain for a bit... then he looks faintly sheepish, "Man, where are my manners... you got any questions you wanna ask?"
Rei smiles. "Yeah. We've been talking for an hour and you haven't ogled my breasts or stared at my scar. How old are you?"
Shateishael laughs softly, "'Bout a thousand, why?"
Rei smirks, "Because I'm betting your shoujo friend is gonna come back soon, and if he sees me with my shirt off, he's gonna blow an aneurysm."
Shateishael grins lazily, his eyes teasing as he gestures at the towel, "Well, you covered 'em up, lady -- that's no way to get a guy to fall over goggle-eyed!"
Rei smirks a little. "Shows what you know. I've hooked guys with less. You trying to tell me something?"
Shateishael stifles a delighted snort at her comment about aneurysms (rather poorly), then grins, adding "I've got some nice soft flannel shirts if you want... and no, I'm not casting any aspersions -- you really do have a very nice vessel. I just..." he pauses, considering... why isn't he ogling her? He says slowly and thoughtfully, "I... like pretty vessels as much as the next guy, but... well, if I'm gonna fall in love, I wanna fall for the person, not the vessel, y'know? -and I know getting stared at like you're a piece of meat gets old real fast." He smiles slowly, his eyes far away, "And... the most beautiful woman I ever met, that I fell head over heels for... she didn't have what you'd call a beautiful vessel, y'know? but, oh, she could light up the tipi with her smile..." He sighs softly, his eyes seeing distant memories... and then he remembers himself and pulls himself together, looking faintly self-conscious, "Sorry... I imagine you didn't really care to hear about that."
Rei grins. "Sounds like someone's got a hook in you already, big guy."
Shateishael chuckles quietly, "She's a soul in Heaven, Rei. She was mortal."
Rei smiles and shrugs. "Some hooks don't slip so easy."
Shateishael rests his chin on his arms again, thinking about that for a bit... then nods, "Guess so. When she died I just rode away from the Comanche... it was like it was over, like that job was done." He sighs again, then rumbles quietly, "Still miss her... her and my other real wife. Wish they lived longer..."
Rei nods. "Well... you gotta help 'em while they're here. That's why we're here."
Shateishael nods slowly... then sighs and mentally chastises himself for being morose. Instead he looks curiously at the Bright, "So how old are you? Does age really matter as far as whether other folks ogle you or no?" He covers a grin, "Y'know, if you enjoy it, you could always hang around Nick like this more?"
Rei says, "I'm about two-hundred years old. Little bit more than that actually, but I'm not really counting." Shateishael nods interestedly, hoping she'll answer the other questions too... or ask more. Either'd be interesting, he thinks. She grins. "I don't normally hang around half-naked outside my own home, but I got sidetracked."
Shateishael laughs! -then grins, "We're just a sidetrack to you? Nick 'n Rosen'll be crushed!" He smiles, obviously just teasing lightly, then adds, "So... do the younger angels stare more, or were you just curious?"
Rei grins. "I had a Reliever flit up to me when I first came to Heaven, ask me what my name was, and then flit back to his friends, and whisper, 'She's so pretty!' They're cute. I get most of my stares from humans... but yeah. The younger angels tend to stare more. Not out of desire, I don't think, but I took a lot of time on my Vessel. I'm proud of how I look, and yeah, I know I look distinctive. This eye color just doesn't happen in nature." She laughs softly. "I think most of them are just curious."
Shateishael chuckles rumblingly, studying her with quiet interest... then nods, smiling, "You did a good job. I was thinking earlier you had a kick-ass gorgeous vessel."
Rei smiles a little, and maybe even blushes faintly. "That's sweet, Slate."
Shateishael chuckles quietly again, "S'truth. Of course."
Rei grins. "Of course." Then she stands slowly and turns toward the door, stretching a little. "I think my shirt ought to be dry now. I'm gonna go get dressed, then let's go see how badly Sax got himself into debt."
Shateishael laughs! -then rises easily to follow her, "You got it." He scoops up the empties for the kitchen, then adds quietly, "Hey. Thanks for letting me pester you with questions. Appreciate it."
Rei grins. "My pleasure. Maybe you can answer some for me sometime." She winks and heads back toward the bathroom for her shirt.
Shateishael smiles quietly, "No problem." He dumps the empties, gets himself a fresh beer, then settles back in a comfortable chair in the living room.
Thessaloniki comes meandering back in, wearing a warm and fuzzy looking cardigan of his own, with the phone handset in one pocket. He has a long-sleeved flannel shirt over his arm and the requested beer for Sax, slightly incongruous in the aluminum can with a cotton cocktail napkin. Sax, entering a moment later, grins. "Bitchin'. Thanks."
Thessaloniki comments, "I put a kettle of water on, too. If anybody wants tea or coffee or something hot, we can arrange that in a few minutes."
As Rosenstern reenters the house, he happens into the hallway adjoining the bathroom. The Bright is wandering out of there at that very moment, pulling her tank top over her head again as she steps out. With her arms over her head still, the Novalite is afforded an unimpeded view of her upper body. Smooth, pale skin, the comma indentation of a navel, gentle curves just so... and a wide, jagged scar in the same pale shade that slashes from just beneath her left breast to her right hip.
Rosenstern blinks, and several things go through his mind at once: first, an appreciation of the Bright's physical Vessel. To put it mildly. This doesn't quite make him drop Taygeta, fortunately, because the sudden motion of near-dropping sees the cat dig in with all claws on all paws into his arms. Yes, this does indeed go far to bringing the Mercurian Novalite's mind back to the here-and-now. He swallows the sudden sharp yelp he's about to give.
Second, he notices the jagged mark. At first thinking it some sort of tattoo -- not horribly uncommon -- he dismisses that thought immediately. It's some sort of scar, and a wicked one at that. He has time to wince at the thought of what would cause such a wound, when he realizes he should do something. He banishes any untoward thoughts from his mind and, perfectly casually and intimating he had seen nothing, coughs a little, "Oh! Hello, Rei! I hope nobody in there's allergic to feathers."
Rei smiles brightly. If she noticed him watching her, she doesn't give a sign. "Hey, Rosen. Guess you found one." She walks up to him, making very little sound on the floor in her socks, and says, "Jeez. C'mere." She stands on her toes, rubbing his head with the towel. "Shitty day for this stuff."
Taygeta-crow squawks and shakes out his feathers. "Careful, Rei. I don't need to be dried."
Rei grins, "Well, hop over, then. Your taxi here's all wet. C'mon, let's get back in the living room; warmer in there."
Taygeta-crow flaps his wings and lands on the offered shoulder. "Good point." His cat-self jumps down and runs ahead.
Rosenstern can think of much worse and unpleasant things to go through than what Rei is doing. From beneath the towel he gives a muffled chuckle. "Yeah, pretty much. The flowers certainly aren't complaining, though." And neither is the Mercurian of Flowers, actually. As the towel is removed, Rosen shakes out his lengthy hair a bit to get it out of his eyes, and grins quietly. "Thank you... erp!" This last as the cat bounds from his arms, and the crow leaps off his shoulder simultaneously.
Shateishael looks up as the cat comes in, followed by Rosen, and Rei with the crow on her shoulder, then grins quietly, "Man, that brings back memories. Useta have a fosterling-daughter that had a pet raven for a few years." He's silent for a moment, remembering... then just smiles quietly and remains silent.
Rei smiles, deftly flicking the towel around the Mercurian's shoulders. "Don't mention it." She stretches a bit. "So. What's on the agenda for right now?"
Thessaloniki doesn't too blatantly admire the stretch in a damp top. He does say, "Hey, Rei, I rummaged around and found this." He tosses her the dry shirt and adds, "And if you want something hot, I've got water on." He then says, "So! Now that we can all talk, where were we?"
Taygeta-crow squawks, "Nevermore!" He waits a moment for the groans of disgust to die down, and adds, "Always wanted to do that."
Shateishael eyes the crow... then just shakes his head, "Don't land on me, Tay... not 'til you learn some manners."
Taygeta-crow somehow seems to be grinning, but turns his attention back to the issue at hand. "You were going to tell us how to work the gremlin-catcher."
Shateishael says, "Um..." He sips his beer, considering, "-been three days since the festival, so everyone should be doing fine, essence-wise. Still got the gremlin-catcher and the Tokamak to deal with, though." He notes mentally to himself, ...and Mitrah... but that should wait until there's just the four of us here.
Rosenstern listens quietly, holding the towel about his shoulders for the time being as he turns his attention to the tasks facing them. Mindful of Shateishael's request from somewhat earlier, he remains silent about the things that Nick and Slate ran into before, though they are the first things that come to his mind. "Well... if Technology wants the Tokamak working properly it's not likely he'll have gremlins anywhere around it, so we can't really do two things at once..."
Rei oohs at the shirt, "Thanks, that's excellent." She steps around the corner to change, coincidentally not entirely out of the Mercurian's peripheral vision -- and the Kyriotate's, though he's less likely to care. Sax has a pull on his beer and says, "Well, that's easy. You find a nice quiet place to put 'er... you flip these switches here, here, and here," gesturing with his free hand at the prototype's controls, "-and let her go. Come back in two days, flip this big one here, then flick the other three back in reverse order. Pretty much works all by itself." Rei returns, the shirt apparently about three sizes too large for her, wearing it open and exposing a narrow strip of white in the middle. "It's actually really simple. It's like a Celestial roach motel. We know it works, and we even got it to where it's selective and won't suck up Relievers. Just need performance data now."
Shateishael watches quietly and interestedly, sipping his beer. Taygeta squawks, "Sounds easy enough. What's the most likely failure mode?"
Thessaloniki says, "That sounds straightforward enough." He nods, and asks, "What's the catch?"
Rei grins, scratching the back of her head. "We don't know what happens if we overload it." Sax qualifies that. "We don't know where the threshold is, either. All we know is that it holds a big old buttload of Gremlins and/or Imps. It's got a huge Reliquary factor -- it can hold a ton. We're just not sure when it breaks." Shateishael snickers... what a... not-beautiful mental image that phrase brings!
Rosenstern does what he can to keep his attention on Sax's device and not what's going on elsewhere; technology, of course, is not nearly as fascinating for him as flowers and people. And it's not hard to get confused by the explanation. He does look over as Rei returns and joins the conversation, then blinks and looks between Taygeta and Nick, stifling a little grin. Then he frowns. "If it 'collects' gremlins... they aren't going to be very happy little blighters. If the thing fails, and they escape..."
Thessaloniki raises his eyebrows, and says, "And no idea what happens when it hits its unknown limit? Might just get clogged up, might break and let 'em all loose, might explode in cataclysmic fury? Any ideas at all?"
Rei says, "A whole lot of liberated, pissed off little grab-asses is our best guess. Doesn't store Essence like a normal Reliquary so it's not likely to blow up or anything." Sax adds, "Might raise a lot of Cain in the Symphony, though. All kindsa racket, I'm guessing. There's a failsafe that's supposed to kick in when it hits its max recommended load and seal it. But... heh, well, this is why they call it a beta test."
Rosenstern nods slowly, "So it, ah..." The unbidden mental image of "a buttload" of honked-off Gremlins swarming unimpeded through a mortal enclave makes him wince; that would certainly make giving comfort and succor... challenging. He nods at Taygeta's evaluation. "Someplace where it'll get a workout, but not too much of one." The DMV might be a real bad idea, then...
Thessaloniki mms and nods to Rei wordlessly. He thinks, I'm glad I didn't sign this thing out. He decides to let Taygeta worry about that, and instead looks at something much closer and more pleasant. Taygeta squawks, "Indeed. So, it needs a spot not too empty of the critters, and not too full either. What happens if an Infernal runs across it?"
Sax says, "Steal it, worse case scenario. However, I'm attuned to that thing so I'll know if someone's fucking with it. More likely he'd fuck with the controls and let the little mothers free, or break it."
Taygeta -- both of them -- nods. The crow-half adds, "Just need a place to hide it for three days, then. Somewhere where the mortals won't bother it."
Rei nods. "A closet somewhere would do fine."
Taygeta nods again. "Sounds like we have that issue sorted out, then. What's next on the agenda?"
Shateishael glances at the crow, "Where you're going to put it... and how you'll get it there."
Taygeta-cat meows. The crow squawks, "Not a government building. They'll think it's a bomb or something."
Rosenstern deadpans, "And with the number of Gremlins at one of those, it'll likely overload in five minutes..."
Thessaloniki remains quiet. The device is the Kyriotate's problem. Taygeta squawks, "Maybe an office somewhere, or... what about the warehouse we used for you-know-what? Find a similar one?"
Shateishael says, "Not much going on in those. That what you want?"
Rei says, "No good. Not enough traffic."
Thessaloniki says, "Get a hotel room in a big hotel downtown. All sorts of travelers and such to attract chaos."
Rosenstern nods to Thessaloniki. "That sounds like a good idea! Particularly a hotel with a reputation for not being able to do a good job."
Taygeta nods. "Perfect. Rent the room for three days, set it up, hang a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door."
Thessaloniki shrugs. "Just leave it in a bag in the closet. The DnD for three days might be noticed. But sure, pretty straightforward."
Shateishael nods, with a sigh of relief, "Finally. Okay... now, what about the Tokamak? Last we left it, we needed Tay to shadow the student, and to get the map of the underground tunnels from Darius, right? Anything else?"
Thessaloniki says, "Decide which crazy plan to implement to try and find it, I guess."
Shateishael frowns, shaking his head, "I want more data before we start nosing around, Nick. Too easy to summon Tech himself, otherwise."
Thessaloniki nods, "If we can get it, all the better. I've had just about enough of summoning folks, you know?"
Rei says, "Y'all need help with that? Jean wants an update."
Shateishael looks at Tay at Rei's question -- then grins ruefully at Nick, "No kidding."
Rosenstern gives Nick a quiet smile. "I don't blame you."
Thessaloniki says, "We promised Marius and Darius we'd try and help 'em out. We've got, at worst, some extra eyes and different skills to come up with different ideas." He grins wryly, "I've been a bit tied up for the last few days, so I haven't been able to ask 'em how it's going."
Shateishael says, "Hey, Nick, why not call Darius now and see if he's got those maps for us?"
The crow and the cat actually seem to confer with each other for a minute as Taygeta considers the situation. Finally, the crow looks up and flips its wings. "We need information first. The tunnel maps, and then whatever I can find by shadowing the fellow. Can't make plans without that much data."
Shateishael waves a hand at the crow, "Go start shadowing, geez. Quit stalling."
Rei says, "Well, if V-man is directly involved, it's best if I stay out of it... he's sure to notice me. Saxon here, on the other hand..." Sax glares, "Hey now, don't go volunteering me for this..."
Thessaloniki happens to have a telephone in his pocket. He says, "Not a bad idea. 'Scuse me." He turns a bit away and dials for Darius. Rosenstern blinks to Rei as she says that... and says nothing, instead looking to Thessaloniki.
The phone clicks. "Yo, talk to me."
Thessaloniki says, "Hey, Darius. This is Nick. Any word on those maps we were looking for, or new information?"
Darius's grin is nearly audible. "Got mucho paydirt for you, chombata. Came up with the official steam tunnel maps. Gang of freaks from the EE and Philosophy departments found 'em in some blueprints they were using to go elevator surfing... I got 'em to scan me a copy, and I got another copy for y'all. If Whackula made alterations they're not likely to be on here, but at least it's the lay of the land, you know what I'm saying?"
Thessaloniki gives y'all a thumbs up, and says, "That's good stuff. Any new action from whatshisname, the lab tech?" Shateishael smiles at the thumbs-up.
Darius says, "Vilson? Nah, he's keeping his regular schedule, just like in the folder. Noticed the l33t hax0r quotient dropping off lately; I think it's cause summer's almost over." The Ofanite adds, "Fall's comin', gotta add that homework in to the already busy timetable of constant masturbation."
Thessaloniki says, "Maybe that'll be good for us, too. Less randoms around. The maps are great news, though. We'll see if he'll lead us right to 'em." He makes mundane arrangements to get copies of the maps. Darius arranges to fax them post-haste. His computers, he assures the Creationer, will talk to anything. He takes it as a point of pride. Thessaloniki laughs, and says, "Well, my fax awaits." and gives a number. He adds, "Let us know if anything comes up. We'll see if we can keep an eye on Vilson, and find out where he goes. We'll let you know if we hear anything, too."
Shateishael waits until Nick hangs up to say hopefully, "Good news?" Thessaloniki relays the news to the others. Taygeta-tom purrs at the information. The fax is not long in coming. Darius was, as he put it, on it yesterday, bro.
Rosenstern nods as he hears the news. "Well, that's hopeful. It shouldn't take long to trail him." He considers for a moment. "We should keep an eye as well on how many people come and go to that place, too, besides Vilson."
Thessaloniki says, "So, besides having Tay try and shadow Vilson in, in the guise of various innocent woodland creatures, and looking for obvious things on the maps, and maybe asking Rei if she has any insight on where this sort of thing would be... I'm pretty tapped out of good ideas on what to do to help them." He looks curiously at Rei. Hopefully she's not offended at the idea.
Rosenstern says, "I'm afraid I am, as well." He glances to the clock. "Erp... and I should go to Zara's place, let her know we're back and everything's okay, and get back to work." He considers. "Probably a good idea not to mention anything about the Tokamak to anyone at the shop, though are there any people there that anyone can think of whom I should keep an eye out for?"
Taygeta-crow squawks, "Not anyone who'd be likely to show up there. We'll send you any descriptions, though."
Thessaloniki says, simply, "Don't talk about the Tokamak to anyone unless someone on the short trusted list introduces them."
Shateishael nods, adding, "Considering it's been three days since the festival, I'm guessing we're all okay, essence-wise. Tomas 'n Lauren are out touring with Stool. Zara's still in town, right..." He thinks a bit, then adds, "Nick and I told Tomas we thought he should let poor Marty 'die' so the band and the kid's family can get on with their lives. Only other thing I can think of for us to do is get introduced to the Old Guy. Oh..." he glances at Nick, "Rei wants to pick her car up from the Alamo. Says she left it there for like three years and doesn't know if it'll start. I recommended you." He grins... then adds quietly, "And I need to do some personal research."
Taygeta-crow squawks, "I'll come along if you want to charge the battery."
Rei mms, thinking about Nick's question and leaning back against the doorjamb. She folds her arms. "Well... I'm a social engineer, not a researcher. But I know Vapula likes to bury himself in bunkers and tunnels... he likes the aesthetic. Y'know, bad air, weird smells, exposed wiring, open vats of caustic liquid?"
Rosenstern nods to the crow. "Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for any messages from you." He grins to Nick, "And a short list it is, indeed..." Then he blinks, and looks a bit surprised to Rei. "Three years?"
Thessaloniki laughs, then says, "First, Tay, the way most of you Jeanies 'charge' things blows batteries right up, and she's much better off with a plain old jump start. Second, the tires and brakes will need looking at too -- if it hasn't been towed." He grins, and adds to Rei, "We'll make it right."
Rei blushes faintly and grins. "Yeah, uh... it got kinda weird the last time I was down here and I haven't been back to Austin since."
Thessaloniki hmms, then asks her, "So, the tunnels are likely. Do you know if he'd be likely to try and add new space, expand, or just use what's there? Or can't say?"
Rosenstern grimaces, though he does find some humor in the term, 'social engineer.' Never heard that term quite used that way before! "Well, then, we find the lair of the mad scientist, and we've found the Tokamak..."
Thessaloniki comments, dryly, "I can see exactly how that could happen. My last trip there was quite notable."
Rosenstern nods understandingly to Rei's explanation. "'Kind of weird' seems to sum up Austin, sometimes..."
Taygeta-cat has been peering at the faxed map. The crow squawks, "Must be new additions. There's no official spaces down there large enough to hold it."
Thessaloniki points to the map, "These connect everything. It could be in any building's basement or unused storage."
Taygeta nods, then squawks, "Could be, but not likely. Unused or not, these spaces are known to the mortals and might be visited by official sorts."
Saxon says, "Austin's a screwed up place. Mexico... now there's a happening place." Shateishael yawns... then notices no one's on the computer. He shifts over to start using it, browsing on the web, occasionally scribbling notes to himself.
Rosenstern says dryly, "I'm almost afraid to ask." Then he looks at the time again. "And I really should at least stop by Zara's place. Er... Nick, may I ask you for a ride there, on your way to bring Rei to her car at the Alamo?"
Thessaloniki says, "Sure, Rosie." He considers, and asks, "Do you drive?"
Shateishael looks up at Rosen's request, asking with his usual straightforwardness, "You want just a ride, or a ride with the pretty girl?" Thessaloniki doesn't grin and watch Rosenstern's reaction. He does glance at Rei to see hers.
Rei just smirks. Saxon does, too. "It's the leather pants," he says. "Everyone wants to ride bitch when the driver wears leather pants."
Shateishael gives Sax a curious look, "Don't know that one... 'ride bitch'?"
Thessaloniki shakes his head, and says, "Wouldn't work if I wore 'em, Sax. It's just not the same. And I do drive." His grin there is a little manic, his Ofanite-ness showing.
Saxon grins. "Figured you'd know that one... back seat on a motorcycle."
Shateishael laughs! "Nah... I wear chaps, and I don-" he pauses, thinking... then honesty compels him to amend, "-and I've not noticed anyone interesting hinting."
Rosenstern starts to answer Nick, "I can, somewhat, but my own car's still in the Morgue-" He seems to freeze in mid-syllable at Slate's question. "Errrrrrr... ah," he tries his best to look abashed and innocent at the same time, "I mean, really, I do need a ride, and ah, if... they're going in the same general direction..." He adjusts his collar a little when he realizes nobody's going to believe him.
Shateishael grins amusedly at Rosen. Thessaloniki comments to Slate, "It probably would work for you," and grins.
Shateishael grins at Nick lazily... then just turns to Rosen, "You're stuttering again, guy. Yes or no?" His grin takes any sting from his words.
Taygeta purrs and looks as smug as only a housecat can. Thessaloniki gently says to Rosenstern, "Say 'yes,' and ride with the pretty girl."
Shateishael nods at Nick's directions to Rosen, "'kay..." and goes back to web browsing.
Rosenstern tucks his hands into his pockets and says, with mild dignity and a wan smile, "Going for a drive with a pretty lady," and he bow-nods towards Rei, "-is a perfectly fine way to... well..." He sighs in mock-defeat, looking to Nick. "Okay. 'Yes'." Shateishael chuckles, still reading the computer screen.
Thessaloniki rummages in the pocket of his shirt, producing a little, tiny, battered pad, and starts making some notes to himself about tools to bring. He quietly asks Rei, "What kind of car? Most importantly, American or foreign, and around what year?"
Saxon looks at Rei. "Well, he's a Mercurian, all right." He smirks a little and has a pull of his beer. Rei says, "Ford Escort. Blue. Uh... '93. It's got a bunch of clothes and stuff inside. I'll point her out, don't worry."
Thessaloniki says, "Ford. '93. Both sets of tools. Right." Rosenstern probably correctly realizes there's no argument he could possibly make to that comment from Sax, and with mild comedy glances Heavenward.
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