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Tashio
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:00
London


Harry Dresdens Office
Harry

The antique clock in the corner stuck 8, one chime for every hour passed midnight. Harry Dresden slept, his head resting on his folder arms.

The thick London fog closed in dispersing the light shining from the street light above. Figures moved about casting shadows. Feeling something brush up against him, Harry spun around to find nothing. The bells of Big Ben chimed in the distance.

The dream faded into reality the chiming of Big Ben and the clock in sync.


Rest for the Weary
Sean

The shelter bustled with the early morning traffic, those who had slept the night and those seeking food to start the day off. Sean had been awake for over an hour, running relays of food back and forth. The constant babble of noise was disturbed by the clash of a metal tray and a loud yell.

An elderly orc stood, confronted by a young man, his plate of food tipped on the floor.


Streets of London
Valya

Valya dashed down main street, her grapple attached to one of the local cabs. Last of the early morning deliveries done, she had about an hour before businesses were up and running. The taxi turned left without warning sending Valya wide across the lane. Quick reactions brought her back inside avoiding a collision with an oncoming bus. Heart pumping, adrenaline rushing through her body, she released the grapple ditching the cab.


Rest for the Weary
Ashton

Ashton woke with a start. A loud crash and yell roused him from his sleep in an out of the way corner. It had been a late evening, cruising the matrix, trying to find scoops on the latest tech and hot ware. Putting a mental note away to find a quieter and more private place to sleep, Ashton got to his feet. Tony faded into view.

"Oooh a fight lets go check it out, more interesting than watching you sleep."
Trigger
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:01

Rest for the Weary, London Barrens


Ashton

"Everything's more interesting than watching me ain't it Tony?" Ashton rhetorically asked the virtual person standing above him. Why in the bloody hells don't I ever shut him off?.......Because then I wouldn't have no one to talk to in this hell hole Ashton debated with himself as he slowly drew himself up from sleep. His left side ached like hell, his cyberarm and leg tight and unresponsive in the early morning. Cheap bastards he cursed his parents and their social stature once again as he stretched the metal limbs as he has done for the last year since losing them to some fraggin' drunk bloke on the road.

Cueing into the cheap commlink on his wrist he summoned up his virtual hellhound pup Cinder to keep him company, much preferring the loyalty of the virtual pet to the extroverted and wild musings of the virtual man. His AR glove still stuck to his hands from his virtual browsings last night, so he felt the slight tactile resistance as he reached out and petted Cinder behind the ears, smiling to himself at the deep rumbling sound of joy that came from the throat of his friend. Remebering why he was awoken he grabbed his discarded long coat from the pile of random articles of clothing that acted as his sheets and donned it while slipping his worn out Ruger Warhawk into the concealed holster inside and a couple of speed loaders into his pockets. Lastly he grabbed his glasses from the side table, actually an old milk crate, next to his bed and put them on as well. It was sort of a habit to wear them, even though they were no longer needed since he got his cyber replacements, but they were comfortable and they helped to hide the obvious signs of the fake eyes.

He quickly cued up his list of subscriptions on his actual commlink in his PAN. The comm hidden away in his skull was something he hadn't minded putting out the 'yen for, making it much harder to steal and mucher easier to access. His biomonitor showed that he was healthy, albeit a tad under nourished, and that his drone buddies were active and well hidden aroudn his room. He called one of the Dobermans from an alcove in the closet to his side, syncing the virtual pet program of Cinder to the overlay of the drone as he did so. The drone danced around his feet like the puppy it now resembled and Ashton smiled all the wider at the display. Finally feelign prepared for the harsh world of shadow London outside his door he turned to Tony and said, "So lead me to this disturbance you seem so fond to find."
ErrosCallidus
Monday February 17th 2070, 0801

Rest for the Weary, London Barrens


Sean

Oh Bloody Hell... they're starting already thought Sean. He looked in the direction of the impending rukus, while Rest for the Weary was a good place to work and live it was definately a little on the "rough" side as shelters went. Of course here in the Barrens everything had a ragged edge to it. Wouldn't hurt (too bad) so long as you didn't rub it the wrong way. The trick was knowing which way that was and Sean was definately on the steep end of that learning curve.

I don't recongnize them, but that doesn't mean much. I've only been here a week or so. Better see if I can sort this out before the old sodder gets hurt. Sean quickly serves the two "patrons" at the table in front of him, then he straightens his priest collar and slips his silver crucifix back under his shirt from where it had fallen out earlier. It's not "magic" (though he's starting to have his doubts), but there still seems to be a modicum of sanctity and respect given his collar, even in the Barrens. He's not sure of his standing with the Church, but until told by God to take them off he'll keep wearing the traditional black and collar and trying to help.

He starts to make his way toward the disturbance, carefully picking his way around tables and pallets. Tactfully trying not to jostle any of the various humans and metas in various states of cleanliness and disarray. While stepping over a particularly large and aromatic troll, he quickly looks around for his friend Ashes. They'd met when Sean first arrived at Rest for the Weary and Ashes had begun helping Sean get his bearings in the squalid Barrens. "I thought I saw him come in last night, but that kid can be hard to spot if he wants to be... it'd be good to have him here in case this gets, well, 'ugly'" He's close enough now to start taking in the details of the altercation, not that you have to try too hard...
warrior_allanon
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:00
London Harry Dresdens Office


At the chiming of the clock Harry finds himself with his head already raised slightly, and staring at the old skull on his desk. "What the?" he starts to ask himself and then his brain finally kicks into gear once more. Closing up the loose ends on the case for scotland yard thats what he had been doing. Studying his case logs so that when it came time to be in court in a week he would be ready. Dragging himself to his feet he wanders over to the ice box and pulls out a can in with an almost ancient monogram on it. He opens the coke as he walks over to the window and looks out. The london barrens isnt exactly the best part of town, but it was what he could afford on his retainer, not to mention the only place where he wouldnt be encountering extremely high tech equipment in the buildings very construction.

Out across the way was the "Rest for the Weary" shelter whose occupants were also getting their day started. From where he stood though, he didnt like what he saw. An older orc was standing, confronting a younger man with something in the floor between them and to one side. Harry couldnt see what it was but he could guess. "Hey Bob." Harry turned and looked at the skull who slowly grew glowing orange eyes.

"Stars and stones harry what time is it." The skull answered, "Sweet goddess its only 8 oclock, wake me in 12 hours."

Before the skull could completely blank out again harry responded, "Yes its 8, and i'm going down to get some breakfast, watch the office till i get back."

A mumbling is heard from the skull but it sounds like assent so Harry grabs up his duster, staff and checks to make sure his bracelet is on before heading out the door of the second level office and locking it behind him, walks toward the ruckus.
HeySparky
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:00
Valya's Neighborhood


Big Ben tolls in the distance, it's peals echoing far and strangely in the fog. It's drizzly. Cold. The jumpsuit spares her, even at speed, from the worst of the chill. Wind driven drizzle has reddened her cheeks, plastered them with strands of electric peacock blue hair. She grins to herself, she'd just scored a nice tip from a job. Scrip, so nothing she had to report. In her head it was already spent and she hadn't yet brought herself down with the knowledge that there really wasn't ever any extra money. But it was a nice dream, and, as the luxuries went, pipe dreams were cheap.

The cab she's grappled makes a sudden turn. Whooping in startlement she raises her arms to balance. Recently retreaded wheels read the terrain and compensate. Propelled by the cab's sudden turn, the girl rockets along on her new, faster, slightly-unfavorable-and-potentially-abruptly-uncomfortable trajectory. She pops her wrist just so and the head of the grapple takes a higher arc. That gives it more time to spool up as the servos buried deep in her upper arm whicker to life. She crouches and shoves her legs away, leaning left, swerving past the bus back into the regular flow of traffic. She flashes a tusky grin at the driver and flips him a salute. The kind generally not sanctioned by military authority, where they take all that rubbish very seriously. She catches a glimpse of the driver as his hostile, screwed-up face flashes by, his hand coming down on the center of the steering wheel. Val's audio dampers kick on an off.

The road slopes down, disappearing into thicker fog in the lower troughs of the streets of her neighborhood. She wipes the drizzle building up into bonafide droplets on her goggle glasses. Bleedin' peat, can't see my nose. Brake lights flare ahead and she hops sideways onto the sidewalk. Honest folk are indoors, at home or at work already. The sidewalk is mostly clear. A guy steps out from a building. No glance side to side. No warning. Just steps out. Right in front of her. Wanker. Valya clenches her teeth and pushes the tail of her plank forward. Her jobs are done. She's in no hurry. And he's sorta good looking, in a rumpled, scruffy sorta way. She leans back and skids to a juddering halt just a hands' breadth from bone jarring collision. Just like she likes it. Standing on her board she's under six feet tall. She steps off of it and is more like five and a half feet. She gives the plank a smart kick and with one hand catches the end that pops up obediently; the other hand shoves the goggles up onto her forehead. She scowls up into the man's face, "Oi! You ruddy bacon, mate?"

She's decked out in a safety yellow jumpsuit, complete with helmet, festooned with RFID beacon tags. Shoulder insignia identify her as a courier with one of the big franchises in town. Though she's not packing a grapple gun. She must be off duty. A rounded chin, lifted angrily. High cheekbones. Pale skin. Bright blue hair and dark brown eyes. The eyes look to be natural. Or a really nice vat job. Just now they're flashing a challenge at the stupid ped who cramped her run.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:08
Valya's Neighborhood


Harry whipped around at the screaching stop of the jumpsuited boarder and tried to get out of her way yet only managed to get more into it.

"Oi! You ruddy bacon, mate?" she yells at him, confirming his assumption of gender, the shoulder flash says she's a courier, and for her metatype, fairly attractive.

"Sorry miss," Harry responds, "Let me make it up for you by getting you some breakfast." He gestures across the street at the shelter, but he's got some scrip in his hand so he's planning on giving a donation for their trouble.
Trigger
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:03
Rest for the Weary, London Barrens


Ashes gimps as quickly and quietly out of his room as he can, which isn't very well considering the fact that his cheap cyberleg is about an inch shorter than his actual meat leg. That and the Nissan Doberman on his heels was as loud as a drunken troll trying to be sneaky. The halls going up and down from his room are relatively quiet compared to the rest of the building, the only other occupant of them at the moment being an ork passed out in a small pool of what Ashes hoped was its own vomit. The virtual extrovert Tony danced down the hall towards the entrance of the place, whistling a ridiculous 'trix jingle from some Sim Porn site that Ashes had stored in the memory of his false commlink. The thing on his wrist was trashy and beaten as all bollocks and loaded to the gills with Porn, sim recordings and BTLs, all to throw off any clue of his real Matrix skills.

Following the lead of the digital fairy that he called a friend, Ashes stepped out of his hallway towards the entrance only to see Warren, the Rests owner, in an argument with a scrawny human bugger, probably some dealer that Warren didn't want dealing in his establishment. Ashes wasn't too worried about Warren though, the old ork could handle himself pretty well, but he left Cinder a command to watch the argument and to protect Warren if he needed it. Then he gave a quick look around the Rest to see who else was up and about because of the spat. If the wrong tenants got involved things could get real ugly real quick and Ashes really didn't want that happening so early in the morning. he quickly picked out the black of Father Chulain among the crowd, apparently already doing some work with the sick this morning. The man was nice and fiercely dedicated, but very much lost here in the Barrens, much like Ashes when he first arrived. Ashes had taken it upon himself to help the man get acquainted with the underground world around them and he had quickly grow to count the man as a friend.

"Oi, Chulain, don't you ever sleep?" Ashes asked the priest as he gimped slowly towards him, offering a friendly smile to the man.
Tashio
Monday February 17th 2070, 0801
London, Rest for the Weary

"Buzz off you wrinkled old toad. Don't need your kind around here," the kid yelled at the orc.

The elderly orc seems to slouch in a sigh. Bending over in an attempt to pick up the fallen tray, the kid brought his elbow down on the back of the orcs head, knocking him to the floor, his face landing in the spilt food on the floor.

A circle of people formed around the pair, a combination of people avoiding the altercation, those watching out of curiosity and a group of young kids cheering in support as the orc hits the floor.


ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February, 0805
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Sean

Before Sean has a chance to respond to Ashes, his eyes widen as he hears the younger antagonist yelling and then the distinctive sound of a body hitting the floor. "Let's go." he says as he nods Ashes towards the sounds of a fight getting underway.

He shoulders his way through the growing crowd of onlookers just in time to see the elderly ork's face land in a pile of eggs. "That is QUITE enough of THAT!" shouts Sean as he clears the crowd. He kneels down to see if the ork is hurt and glares at the younger assailant. "What is the meaning of this?" He demands. His Irish accent thickens almost noticably with all the emotion straining through his voice. He holds the boy's stare intensely and without wavereing while waiting for an answer.
Tashio
Monday 17 February, 0805
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens



The young man stared back at Sean meeting his glare.
"If it isn't the pathetic priest to the rescue, you can't save the world you know."

He spat in the orcs face before turning and storming off into the crowd. The group that had formed around the altercation split up and returned back to the morning bustle.

The orc slowly tried to get back onto his feet. "Thank you kind sir."
Trigger
Monday 17th Febraury, 2070
Rest for the Weary, London Barrens


Ashes hobbled over to the outburst of violence as quickly as he could, but he couldn't keep up with the priests pace. So, instead he quickly ordered the Cinder/Doberman down from the fight, knowing it was cycling up to claw and bite and shoot anybody who got near to the old man. Instead he had the drone circel around the priest and the orc, hoping to keep more of the onlookers away from the fight.

Ashes pruposefully ran into the young man as he retreated from the priest, glaring the punk down. While doing so he quickly hacks the kids commlink on the fly, breaking through what Firewall the kid has implanting some spyware that will make the kid a spam bullseye in any node. With that he moves on to the priest and the orc to check and see how the old man is doing.
HeySparky
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:03
Across from Rest for the Weary, London Barrens


Oh, one of those. And a septic, too. Her eyes rivet on the scrip in his hand. It's a hefty donation for the Rest. Her belly rumbles and happy spendthrift dreams for her own scrip fade. Meal's a meal. She pulls her eyes off the scrip and looks up at the yank. She shrugs and and peels the helmet off, keeping the goggles loose around her neck. Her hair is packed down, darker patches of blue where she's sweated. She scrubs a hand across her head to loosen up her do.

She squints at the man, "I'd put that up." Across the street at the Rest some chump is hassling an old man. A priest is scurrying up. No one that Valya recognizes. "So, yank, you new 'round 'ere? Need someone to show you around?" She eyes the scrip again. What a creep. Nice eyes though.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:08
Valya's Neighborhood


"Yeah, kinda new" harry said sliding the scrip back in his pocket, "Did some work for the bobby's back home an now they need me to testify about it. Lousy thing is that they're not putting me up so i need to get some work around here to pay the bills, know what i mean." thinking for a minute as they cross the street, "Yeah, i could use a guide, all i could assure is you'll be well fed, but if any work comes our way i'll split the take with you 50/50."

Tashio
Monday 17 February, 0805
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


The youth scrambled to his feet, cursing at Ashes, running almost before he was fully up.

The doberman drone, quickly convinced anybody thinking of sticking around to do otherwise.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 Feb 2070, 0806
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


As Sean gently helped the dazed and bruised ork slowly to his feet his hands began to shake. The ork collapsed into a waiting chair and Sean relaxed into another nearby chair. He brushed his jet black curls out from in front of his eyes, bright green eyes that were jerkily scanning the aftermath of the outburst. I can't believe I just did that. What came over me? Sean's heartrate and adrenaline levels slowly return to normal as he focuses inward and lets the normal sounds of the shelter wash over and through him. His turns his focus from inwards and then back outwards... his focus continues outside of himself and when he opens his eyes they are glowing a piercing emerald green. WHAT?! What's happening? Everything in the shelter has taken on a faded and offset appearance... except the patrons. The people all seem to be shining with an internal brilliance that is similar yet distinctly different from each other. He tries to concentrate on Ashes... and, odd... things begin to become more clear...
HeySparky
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:09
Valya's Neighborhood

This bloke's dim or dangerous. She whistles under her breath, "Trusting sort, eh?" She grins to herself, shaking her head. She strolling along easily, comfortably. So it's strange when she half-staggers and catches herself, eyes wide. The priest, his eyes...
Trigger
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:06
Rest for the Weary. London Barrens


Ashes follows Chulain and Warren back into the Rest, helping the orc into a chair inside. He kneels down next Warren and quickly scans the orc over with a trained medical eye, making sure that nothing was broken or seriously injured. The old orc had a slight bump on the back of his head, but nothing serious and besides that he looked more disheveled than hurt. He would give him a scan over with his Biomonitor later though and treat anything needing attention with his Medkit at that time too.

He heard Chulain slide down into the chair next to Warren and after inspecting the orc he turned to his friend to make sure he was alright as well. What he found was Chulain staring at him with the most piercing emerald eyes he had ever seen, glowing slightly and looking at him, but not really at him. It was as if the priest were staring through him, into his soul and counting his sins. Ashes couldn't make himself move from such a stare, he felt guilty under it and it weighed upon him like the cyberware on his left side.

Dear God, I am sorry...
warrior_allanon
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:09
Rest for the Weary. London Barrens


Snapping his sight from the astral Harry proceeded into the shelter and approached the elder orc and those around him "Perhaps i can be of some assistance father? I am trained slightly in healing and would not mind helping a bit."

Turning to the young man whom the priest is staring at so intently Harry says more. "And you son, are you injured or just spooked?"

ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February, 2070, 0809
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Sean glances at a young ork girl and an older man with a staff approaching, he starts slightly when he looks at the man. The man is... shining. What is going on and what is bothering Ashes so much? wonders Sean. He blinks a few times and somehow wrestles his perception back to normal. His eys slowly return to normal as he asks; "Ashes, my friend, what is wrong? The fight is over... there's nothing to fear anymore..."

The man with the staff arrives in front of Sean and askes to help. "Of course, my friend here has scanned this gentleman already," he gestures towards Ashes, "but if the gentleman agrees you may see if anything was missed." "Excuse me," Sean touches the now eating ork on the shoulder, "would you like this gentleman to examine you as well?" As Sean turns back to the man to intruduce him to the elderly ork, the man with the staff has just addressed a question to Ashes that Sean didn't hear. "Ashes?" Sean asks again, "are you alright?" What have I done NOW? wonders Sean concernedly as he looks at his friend.
HeySparky
Monday 17 February, 2070, 0809
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens

He didn't even blink. Valya rapidly revisits her assessment of the man she'd thought to make some easy cred off of. She trails into the shelter behind him, looking warily between him and the priest with the now-returned-to-normal-but-previously-freakishly-glowing eyes.
Trigger
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:09
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Ashes hears the voices addressing him, but he doesn't know what to do. Those eyes, the eyes of a messenger from God, they had dug into him....Ashes just shook his head and started up to his feet. His shoulders were slumped and his head hung loose on his neck.

"I'm fine, just a little worn out," he lied to them as he called Cinder over to him. Tony came strutting over too from the crowd, his virtual body still moving around each person instead of walking through them like he could have.

"Saw the angel, eh boy? What are you going to do now?" the program asked him, knowing quite well what Ashes thought. Ashes hated the virtual alter ego, the program created as a image of his subconscious thoughts.

What is Chulain? An angel? A magical hand of God? Ashes thought to himself as he found a seat and looked over at his concerned friend. What are you?
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0811
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Sean watched Ashes make his way uncertainly to another table and sit down. I'll have to ask him about it later when he's perked up a bit thought Sean. He turnes to the formerly shining newcomer in the large coat.

"Welcome, welcome!" Sean beams, "Thank you for your assistance and I do apologise for the disruption, normally things are quite quiet around here, at least at breakfast... I'm Father Sean Chulain, and the good man whom, frankly I'm still a little worried about, is known as Ashes. He's been a great help to me as I'm still fairly new in the area." Sean is a still a little buzzed from the encounter and contines talking somewhat excitedly. "Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name... oh! and this lovely young lady following you would be?" He finally pauses for a breath and thinks;That's a bit thick innit? I must still be nervious from, from... whatever that was that just happened. THIS man doesn't seem phased in the least at the event, wonder why? "Would you both like something to eat? I'm guessing that's why you're here, you can tell me about yourselves while I get the tea boiling."
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February 2070, 0811
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"While i dont know the name of my young guide yet, my name is Harry Dresden, I'm a private investigator and wizard for hire." Harry replied to the priest and then turned to Ashes as the priest walked away pitching his voice only for the younger man. "You neednt be afraid of either me or your friend the priest there, we both simply have somewhat of the same gift, though i would bet that his is tied more to his religion than mine is."
HeySparky
Monday 17 February, 2070, 0812
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


The young woman startles and snaps her mouth, which had been hanging indelicately open, shut. She shakes her head and blinks, "Pardon, Father. I'm Valya."

"Uh, breakfast would be brilliant."
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0813
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


At the mention of wizards, Seans face suddenly clouds. It's gone as quickly as it's come and Sean is bright again as he turns to lead the way to the kitchen.

"Well, today all we've got is eggs and sausage. If we're quick we can grab a couple muffins before the other guests consume them all." He glances back to make sure he isn't losing anybody. When he notices Harry is a little behind and out of earshot he asks Valya, "So when did you meet Harry and what is it that you're guiding him to? Looks like he'll have to move fast to keep up with your wheels!" He finishes his question with a grin and a nod toward her board.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February 2070, 0813
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"Yes, sausage and eggs would be great," Harry replied. With a grin he then joked, "i guess from the crowd you scramble them instead of make them to order. Maybe some soy caf to go with them, if not i'm sure my guide here would know where to get some."

Harry stood rubbing his hands together, "As for where my guide is showing me, i figure we'll do some touristy stuff to start, but mainly i need her to get me to and from Scotland Yard once a week and around the city for errands on a daily basis."
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0814
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Sean starts and then smiles when Harry answers the question. Must have good ears, or wizard's ears more like thinks Sean.

"Yes, scrambled are easiest... hmmm, looks like things have settled a little, I'll see if I can get something a little more palatable? How would you prefer your eggs?" He opens a couple fridges and rummages aroudn in the second one. He finally pulls out a couple of brown eggs. He glances at Harry and asks "I've been wanting to ask somebody this for awhile, let me know if it's too personal. How exactly does one become a wizard, mage or whatever?" Sean hides his nervousness about the question by cracking a few eggs into a frying pan. But it's pretty easy to see his hands shaking again. The sounds of eggs frying fills the room like Sean's tension. "Over easy?" he smiles nervously as the delectable smell of burning diffuses through the shelter.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February 2070, 0814
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"Oh, however you wish to fix them father will be fine with me." Harry responded to being asked about the eggs, to the other question he grinned a touch gently shaking his head. "Father, its honestly something that one is born with. Now, those that have the gift can tell another who does by looking at them in the astral plane, like you were doing earlier when i walked in. The glow i'm sure you saw around me is the indication. If i was to hazard a guess though i would think that yours is more closely related to your religion than anything so it might be wise for you to seek out the brotherhood of Saint Sylvester for more training."
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0815
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Sean's face noticably hardened when Harry mentioned the word "religion." "My religion doesn't want to know I exist, I've already tried to get help from that direction and got more trouble than I had already... so yes it would be a hazard for you to guess on that account. I've never heard of the Order of St. Sylvester, but then again the Church has many secrets. I've not had any delusions about that."

Sean glances at the rapidly carbonizing eggs and curses, "Damn, sorry dear, let me try again." He smiles forlornly at Valya on his way over to fridge. Fresh eggs in hand he returns to the griddle and continues his conversation with Harry. "I've only recently discovered that I can do things and every time I do them, something worse happens. What's just happened to Ashes is a good example of the results of my, unnatural, abilities"

With a flip of the pan Sean finishes the eggs, sunny side up, and flourishes them onto a plate. He presents them mock triumphantly to Valya. "Here you are my lady!" he exclaims. Turning back to Harry he says "The soykaf is the one thing we can NEVER run out of! There'd be a full scale riot on our hands and I'd be leading it! Right this way sir, and we'll have you your black gold." Sean turns and leads the way back towards the main room and a couple large water boilers with spickets on the front. Though he seems to have recovered from his earlier meloncholy there still an air of weariness and sadness about Sean as he fills two cups full of steaming black soy-kaf.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February 2070, 0815
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Harry followed the priest into where the coffee urns were kept and drew a cup for himself. "Father i'm sorry, i didnt mean to offend. Most with the ability to use magic that have strong religios leanings have a tendancy to focus their magic in that direction. You mentioned what happened there with the young man you call Ashes, that was you astrally percieving. You were looking into the plane of existance that spirits occupy normally and thus it allows you to see things about people that you normally wouldnt. Control of it will only come with practice and use and i think thats all you probably lack is simple control. If you like i will take the time every morning to come over here and help you with it if you like."
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0815
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens.


Sean slowly sipped his soy-kaf, contemplating for a moment before answering. "I should probably be more clear and less on edge. My religion is that of the Catholic Church, currently they would rather I didn't exist or at least stop bothering them with my existance. My faith on the other hand is where these... powers, seem to spring from. And my faith, while connected to my religion, is a deeply personal and complex thing. So you were half right my friend. I would very much like to know more about these things and how to control them." He looks at Harry thoughtfully, "Please feel free to come by anytime as sometimes the mornings are a little more hectic than other times." He laughs and continues, "Though I guess you could see that for yourself!"

Sean looks over Harry's shoulder and calls towards Valya. "When you take this Yank sightseeing, how much would you charge a fresh off the boat Paddy? I've only arrived in town myself and wouldn't mind seeing the sights." He looks back toward Harry, "Of course, that is only if you don't mind an extra tag-a-long?"
HeySparky
Monday 17 February 2070, 0816
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Valya answers briefly, still a bit unsettled. She takes the plate of eggs with a grateful murmur, nodding thanks at the priest and the wizard when they both return with mugs of coffee. She answers Sean having barely swallowed. "'Course, Father. You can pay what the wizard's payin'."

She cradles the mug in her hands, leaning back in her chair, plank leaned on the table beside her. She tosses her head, hair flaring, "What's with him?"

Valya looks over at Ashes in the doorframe, the drone bebopping at his feet.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0816
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens

Sean looks sideways at Harry, "...and exactly how much would that be?" The question is left hanging for either Valya or Harry to answer...

Sean continues, "Ashes has had a pretty rough time of it the last few years, occationally it gets to him. I'm not sure what exactly is bothering him today." He thinks for a moment "Sometimes he's up pretty late on the Matrix doing whatever it is he does on it... still, you don't think it's because I was, astrally percieving him was it? Does that hurt if someone does that to you?" He looks at Harry, face stricken with the thought of unintentionally harming his friend.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February 2070, 0816
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"The more the merrier i say father, though actually the young lady and i hadnt come to a sum yet. I say that since she's showing me around, and since i'm employing her, she does as I say while she's on my nuyen. As it was i was thinking along the lines of 10 nuyen an hour, plus meals, snacks and drinks." Harry shoots the young woman a firm look brooking no nonsense.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0817
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens

"Cagh-oop," Sean spluttered, "That's, uhh, very generous of you sir. Unfortunately, Miss Valya we are sitting in my dining room. You see, I also live here at the Shelter and cash is currently a little tight. Would you take a tag-a-long for 2 an hour? I'm afraid that's the best I can do for now."

"Although," he says with a glint of humor in his eye, "I can offer a warm place to sleep anytime you want it and at least 2 warm meals a day! Right here in my house!" He finishes with a grandiose sweep of his arm encompassing the shelter in all it's run down, broken, dirty, crowded and noisy glory. "I can even swing a little more private room upstairs, you might have to share a room with Ashes though." Winking at Valya he looks the shelter over to make sure things are running smoothly. Somewhat satisfied he looks back towards Harry, "Where were you planning on going first?"
Trigger
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:17
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Ashes listens to the conversation half heartedly as he sits and thinks with Cinder dancing around his feet. Chulain is a mage? And that Yank? Does that mean they are reading my thoughts right now? Do they know what I am thinking? Are they going to turn me into a frog for insulting them? Play it cool Ashton, maybe they will leave you out of their mojo stuff and dealings with wizworms and such....

Ashes moved into the kitchen silently, grabbing a plate of slightly burnt eggs and sitting in one of the corners to eat them. Well, that Harry fellow sure makes magic sound like it si natural and all, but I don't know. The 'trix has all sorts of reports of crazy happenings around spell-slingers...I have to watch my back even more now....
warrior_allanon
Monday February 17th 2070, 08:17
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"I dont know, i've never been much of a tourist myself. Probably should see some of the more historic aspects of the city, London bridge, the Tower, Parliment, Trafalgar square. You know, just the stereotypical tourist drek." Harry answered and then leaning in close to the priest, "and i only said that much since she said she would charge you the same as me, i was prepared to pay up to twenty total anyway, so i can cover your part." with that he winked at the father and returned to his scrambled eggs and coffee.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February, 2070 0818
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens

"Oh, thanks!" whispered Sean. He looked quickly around until he spotted Ashes in the corner. He brightened up and called over to him, "Ashes! Would you like to go sightseeing? It would be a good break from all your Matrix running, that stuff will rot your brain!" Sean smiled and waved his friend over, "We've even got a tour guide!" He's pointing at Valya excitedly and smiling ear to ear. "If you want to go, um... when were we leaving?" He looks back toward Valya and Harry questioningly.
warrior_allanon
Monday 17 February, 2070 0818
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


"After we clean up from breakfast should be sufficient," Wolfgar said before draining the last of his mug and then going over to refill it. "What do you say lass, 10 an hour seem sufficient to you, or are we going to have to dicker over the costs."
Trigger
Monday 17th February 2070, 08:19
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Ashes continued to pick away at the breakfast, looking up at Chulain when he asks him to join them for the day wandering London. Sure, why not, wander the city all day that I have lived in all my life..... the sarcastic voice in Ashes head was a mixture of his own and Tony's, but then his sense of friendship to the strange priest kicked in.

"Sure, sounds like fun. Let me get my stuff together and I will join you guys," Ashes said to the priest and Harry as he walked out of the kitchen towards his room in the back of the building.

In his room he cued up his FlySpy and had it join him along with Cinder while he grabbed a messenger bag and filled it with a Medkit, a Survival Kit, a collection of patches, and his satellite link. He checked the Ruger in his coat then returned to the kitchen to join everyone for their outting into greater London.
HeySparky
Monday 17 February 2070, 08:20
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Valya mentally shakes her head at both wizard and priest. Nutters. 10 an hour! Probably no tips though. She makes a face at no one, then shrugs and tosses her hair again, Might be fun.

"Right then, let's go."
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0820
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens

"Right! Let me get changed into something a little less, attention getting." Sean gestures towards his black priestly garb. "I'll be down in just a second." He fairly bounds out of the kitchen and heads to his room upstairs. As he's passing Ashes, who's coming back downstairs, Sean glances at Ashes' bulging bag and coat pockets. "Moving out?" he asks with a smile, "I'll be down in a sec. Just getting into something a little more practical for walking."

Sean gets to his room and quickly changes into jeans and a button-down shirt. He tightly laces his pair of hiking boots and slides on his leather jacket. He's retained the black and white collar of a priest and his silver cross. As he's headed towards the door he stops abruptly and turns back to chest of drawers. He pulls an unassuming wooden box from the top drawer and draws a teakwood rosary from it. It goes into a pocket of his jacket. He also pulls out a rare trid pic that's actually printed on paper. He turns to go, still staring at the pic, and as he passes his night stand he absent mindedly grabs his commlink and glasses.

He's still looking at the pic when he returns to the kitchen. He shakes his head as if returning from a dream and looks up trying to slide the pic innocuously into his jacket pocket. With his exuberance noticably curbed he looks at the others gathered in the kitchen and says, "Well, sorry for the delay, shall we go then?"
Tashio
Monday 17 February 2070, 08:25
Rest for the Weary Shelter

The kitchen is quiet as breakfast is almost over, a few people remain behind their attention focused on washing the rather large stack of plates and cutlery.

With, a faint popping sound, a small skeleton about one foot in height appears between the group in the kitchen. Floating about three feet off the ground, most noticeable, is its lack of a head. Spinning around in a circle its one arm slowly raising up. It's spin comes to a halt it's arm pointing at Harry.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0825
Rest for the Weary Shelter

What was... Sean never finishes the thought becuase by the time he turnes around what appeares to be a miniature skeleton(?!) is floating in the air pointing at Harry. Sean's mind is stuck racing blankly nowhere, the only thing he can do is stare and unconciously cross himself.
Trigger
Monday 17th February 2070, 0825
Rest for the Weary Shelter, London Barrens


Ashes returns from his room with his messenger bag of gear and Cinder on his heels, only to see a headless skeleton in the kitchen pointing at Harry. Ashes ffroze in his steps at the sight of the undead, his hand going to the concealed revolver in his coat I knew he was fraggin trouble...he is a fraggin' necromancer!.
warrior_allanon
Harry stood and stared in shock for a moment before speaking, "Bloody....Bob, is that you?"
HeySparky
Monday 17 February 2070, 08:26
Rest for the Weary Shelter

At the spirit's appearance Valya yelps and rolls out of her chair with a vulgar oath, she comes to her feet with the table between she and the headless skeleton. She holds her board across her body like a shield, and - to her surprise - a fork in a white-knuckled fist.

Gadzooks... is that... is that... what is that?
Tashio
Monday 17 February 2070, 08:26
Rest for the Weary Shelter

A voice echo's from approximately where the head would be if it was there. "You have a visitor."

The skeleton vanished as abruptly as it had appeared with a rattle of bones.
warrior_allanon
"Stars and stones, alright folks," Harry sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "It seems someone just showed up over at my office and i need to check on it. I shouldnt be gone long so we'll start off as soon as i get back." Digging in his pocket Harry pulls a wallet out and walks over to Valya. "Here's your first day's pay, in advance." He said proffering a hundred nuyen note, "Wait here for me." With the note in Valya's hand Harry turns and lopes off toward his office across the street.
ErrosCallidus
Monday 17 February 2070, 0827
Rest for the Weary Shelter

Sean looks significantly at Ashes and then Valya in turn...

Then he bursts out laughing.

Gasping for air Sean finally says, "A wizards answering service! Don't I feel a right fool, I thought the devil himself was here for my soul!" He looks up from where he's nearly fallen into a kitchen chair, sobering, but only slightly. "Though I do feel a bit safer with the two of your reflexes nearby, I could only stare, if it had been the devil, I'd be winging my way to judgement."

He reaches over and rights Valya's toppeled chair, "Might as well wait in what comfort we can." He nods Ashes toward the other chair and in a conspiratorial tone says, "Now, how can we surprise our friend the same as he's surprised us?" His wicked grin borders on disturbing coming from a man of the cloth.
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