Library, Wednesday

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Anyone expecting a quiet redhead behind the circulation was in for a rude surprise--emphasis on the rude. There was a lanky brunette behind the counter today, watchful and on edge. There was a knife strapped to her hip and a gun within easy reach under the desk.

Zee wasn't taking any chances with the creepy guys that were suddenly around the island today. She was going to be the sister in view for the rest of the week, their other classes and identities be damned. One surprise attack that had them appearing in one of those weird machines was more than enough, thanks.

Don't expect a lot of help from today's substitute library aide, unless you were planning a trip out to put the hurt on some of those tire-wearing freaks. Then Zee was all yours.

[ooc: Open for all of your BDE library needs!]

Comments

Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Don't expect pleasant conversation, okay? Someone had attacked her baby sister. Stuff done got real.

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

Wait. Stop. Back up. Constantine stopped and peered at the strange girl behind the desk.

"You aren't Sho."

Gold star, John. Really.

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Ordinarily, Zeela would have made a snarky comment about his observational skills. That she didn't was a testament to how shaken--and angry--she still was.

"Nope," she agreed, voice low. "But as long as there are strangers on this damn island, I'm going to be taking over her shift."

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

"Roommate, friend, girlfriend, or relative?" John asked. "As long as there are 'strangers on this damn island,' I need to know who the hell is in my bloody library."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"Isn't 'student' enough?" Zeela asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not some tire-wearing freak--" Rage smouldered when she mentioned them and her jaw clenched. "--does it matter what else I am."

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

"No, it's not." There was something harder in John's gaze as he put his hands on the desk. "I don't know you."

"You show up, I don't hear shit from Sho - who is about the most responsible person on the bloody planet about her shifts - and you're giving me shit about questioning who the hell is behind the desk of the library I bloody well run? There is dangerous stuff in here, princess, that I don't want falling into the wrong hands, and for all I know you're one of the strangers. Now. Who are you?"

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

There was a wary respect in Zeela's eyes when she looked at him.

"Sholeh's..." Deep breath. "She's my sister. My baby sister. And we--she got attacked today. So she's not coming out until they're gone."

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

"Oh for--" John threw up his hands. "Now they're attacking people. Brilliant."

"Did you get her to the clinic, or do you need me to pry her out from under her bed?" He'd do it, too, if she was injured enough to need it.

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Zeela's eyes dropped and her voice lost all emotion. Flat. Monotone. She hadn't quite gotten to the part where she could pretend to be flippant about it.

"There are these weird machines around the island now. They...if you die, they bring you back. One minute, you're standing there, staring down at the bleeding holes in your dress and feeling your knees buckle and your breathing stop and the next everything's blue and you're being put back together."

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

Right then. John was going to stare for a moment, then hold up one finger to indicate she should wait before going back in his office. If Zeela was listening carefully, she might have heard some crashing and swearing.

When he emerged a half-hour later, he tossed two bags on to the desk in front of her. "Put 'em under your pillows or in your bags, I don't care," he said bluntly. "Filled 'em with Lagus, Naudhiz, Isa...and some chamomile, because it can't hurt. 'S a quick job but should at least blunt the nightmares."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"What does all that mean?" Zeela asked, snatching at the bags like he might take them away. She didn't trust them, exactly, but the nightmares...

Not that she was admitting to the possibility or anything.

Re: Talk to Zee

[talentforlying]

"Means that I'm a magus - or mage or whatever you call it where you're from - and if I can bind demons, I should be able to manage decent dreams for two little girls," he answered bluntly. "Not my usual skillset, mind, but runes and herbs are basic enough."

"And I do want both of you to see a doctor in the next few days, just to be safe. Once Sho is feeling up to leaving her room, I'll walk you both there myself."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"You bind demons?"

There was a whole lot there for Zee to react to, but that one stuck out most. She withdrew from him a little, wariness rising in her eyes. "Some kind of demon hunter?"

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

It wasn't until after being grabbed for his call to Pandora that Evan realized that something was a little amiss in the library itself. It was with a worried look on his face that he made his way over to Zeela.

"Hey... Um... What's up?"

Translation: 'You look angrier than usual. What happened to Sholeh?'

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"Evan."

Zeela gave him a short nod.

"Can I help you with something? Sholeh's not here right now. She's...resting."

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

Resting? See the worried look on Evan's face deepen at that.

"Zee... what happened?"

All kinds of worried. With a bit of a 'who do I have to destroy' undercurrent running along with it. Which was still a little unsettling coming from someone who had just puppyfaced a total stranger into agreeing to help save the island.

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"She died again."

They died again. Again.

"Enough information for you?"

Trying to downplay the trauma from shocking others? That was a coping mechanism?

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

Evan flinched at how bluntly Zeela put that, but not even his wince could hide the faint crackle of raw power at the corner of his eyes. He took a deep breath and willed it back.

"What can I do?"

Because he wanted very much to find whoever did this, and make them regret doing it. A lot.

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"Unless you can get rid of every single tire-wearing asshole on the island, not a whole lot," Zeela snapped. Where had he and his anger and his power been this morning? When they'd been needed? "Sholeh's not coming out unless it's safe."

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

Not even Evan and his power could be everywhere at once. Why hadn't Zeela been more careful about where Sholeh was wandering alone when there had been hostiles on the island for days?

"Then I do what I can to make the island safe," Evan replied, squaring his jaw, not letting Zeela's attitude get his hackles up. If Sholeh had died, so had Zee and Zhari. She was allowed a little attitude today. "I already spoke to someone who says she can help. This... whatever this is... it won't last forever."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but until today, the hostiles had been content to hang around and dig while making smarmy radio broadcasts! That didn't suggest that other random people were going to show up and start shooting and stabbing!

"You spoke to someone?" Zee asked. "Who is this someone? Why are we waiting for her to show up and help? You have powers! So do half the people on the island! I have weapons! Why are we waiting for some outsider to come and save us? Sholeh died?! I died!"

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

"There's a doctor... she's an expert in whatever Hyperion is digging for," Evan murmured. "So, while I could run out there and blow half the island to kingdom come, there's no guarantee that whatever's been uncovered out in the preserve won't cause trouble in the long run. This is Fandom. It does that."

Maintaining calm in the face of Zeela's hysterics was a bigger challenge than convincing Lilith that they needed help here. It figured. He pulled in another slow breath, and then swallowed.

"I didn't know they were killing people until just now, Zee. I'm willing to bet the same goes for half the people here. I'm pretty sure there would be more people out there kicking ass if we were aware that people were dying now."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"Well, great. Let me just stand up here..."

Zeela climbed up on the circulation desk and shouted at the assembled researchers. "HEY! GUESS WHAT? PEOPLE ARE GETTING MURDERED OUT THERE. ONE OF YOUR CLASSMATES GOT CARVED LIKE A TURKEY ON HER WAY BACK FROM TOWN!"

"There," she snapped, jumping back down and whirling to face Evan. Her eyes were suspiciously bright, but she blinked furiously to clear them. "You think that'll help?"

Re: Talk to Zee

[genesishero]

Evan had a lump in his throat. He wasn't quite certain where it had come from, except that it was a stubborn one, and it took him swallowing a few times before he could manage words again.

"... Probably. Would... you like an escort back to the dorms, Zee? The library's open now, people have what they need. We can fly, no need to even get close to anything that might get the wrong idea..."

Re: Talk to Zee

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

"Oh, noooo," Zeela snarled. "I'm armed now. I'm just waiting for one of those freaks to try something. I hope one of them does. I'll show him what it feels like to be taken by surprise. And if I'll be waiting by the closest regeneration station in case he comes back so I can do it again!"