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Library, Wednesday

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!]

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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."

"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."

"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."

"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?"

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."

"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.

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."

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."

"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.

"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."

"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?"

"Hunter? Bloody hell, no. Mostly it's just to keep them out of my fucking business. Couple of 'em seem to think I owe 'em my soul or something." YOU DO, JOHN. "'M a Humanist. Dignity of humanity, the value and agency of sentient beings, individually and collectively-- blah blah blah. Heaven an' Hell need to fucking butt out of human affairs already, and let us live our own lives."

Zeela nodded slowly, though she seemed a little tenser than she'd been before. "I'll let Sholeh know that you're worried about her," she said, ignoring that whole 'him walking them to the clinic' thing. Because that wasn't going to happen. For a variety of reasons. "But don't worry. I messed up today, but I'm going to keep her safe."

That was her job. To protect her sisters.

"'M serious about the Clinic, sunshine." Nice try, but John was a con-man and noticed omissions like that. "If you can't find me, call a teacher and tell them what happened."

...

"Wot's your name, anyway?"

"I know you are," Zeela said, which still wasn't agreement. She knew Sholeh was physically fine, though she was also okay with sending her to the clinic--once it was safe for her to come out again.

"Zee. I'm Zee, I mean. That's my name."

Or most of it.

John pinched the bridge of his nose. Dark hair, slight, rebellious... "Of course you're a Zee," he muttered softly, almost to himself. Because every single god there was enjoyed fucking with his life, and right then John missed his Zee (not his, never his) with a passion. She was so much better with kids than he was.

"Just... go right back to the dorms after your shift, yeah? And give that to Sho."

Zeela shifted slightly, her posture suggesting a little more of that rebellion he'd noticed. "Consider it done," she said, making sure the bags went into her pockets.

Someone sharp-sighted would notice the wicked-looking knife Zee had strapped to her hip. It was possible she'd only agreed to one of Constantine's orders.

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Library, Wednesday

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