GoldenCat/Howling04

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Grand Theft Eir

And then, time passed.

When Moon came back for Copper, she was sound asleep. And she snores! However, trying to pry the bag away from her made slithering scalpels of bronze get... angry. Cynar ran away, but said he'd gather some cool children of his' to the orphanage. And for Moon not to worry, he'd shagged every sort of bitch around, and there were some huskies there.

And back at the Old Heaven House, things were just... fine! The Pack was about, eating some of their spoils on Highlane, some couples kissing on the corners, waiting for Moon to show up and give them some sort of order. Dana, Duncan's sister, was nowhere to be seen.

Seventh Moon: They looked something like a circus rolling into town as they came down the street. Moon had managed to dig another handcart up and pulled both along behind him, the rackety wooden cars all but spilling over with their pilfered contents. Duncan was steering, in a fashion, seated on Moon's shoulders to keep a lookout for pot holes, and the skin-and-bones pup from up on the hillside comfortably curled up in a pile of curtains atop one of the carts.

Moon had nearly tossed the thief-girl onto the back of one of the carts to boot, but they were drawing enough of a crowd without her snoring alerting the other half of the city of their whereabouts.

At least things seemed quite back at the old Heaven House. Too quite, really, given that he'd left that load of lazy-asses with orders to clean the place up. Dropping the carts off by the door and leaving Duncun with orders to stand watch, Moon loomed through the entry way, giving the gang members scattered around the room a sweeping, silent glare, before finally announcing his presence.

"Hey! Knock the fuckin' pettin' off and get ta unloadin'!" Moon shouted as he stomped the rest of the way in, giving the nearest ass a slap in passing to punctuate. "Gotta whole mess'a shit outside. Just haul it in, a'ite? Don't eat it or nothin'."

Searching Hannah out of the gather, he saddled up to his kinda-sorta second, ready to ask her how things had gone when something else caught his attention first. He looked back and forth a moment, then gave his jaw a scratch. "Where's the kid?"

The Pack: The pack scurries to and fro, moving about, picking all the loot... Duncan does the same too, the skinny dog growling at them over the loot at first... but then picked by two of the Pack girls, petted, and then just moving around watching them move about, pleading for food, wagging what's left of his tail and getting whatever crumbles they can spare with the face of one who thinks those are heavenly delicacies!

Hanna herself comes down from the stairs, and the girl is covered in a lacy, throughouly overdone white dress with far too many extras... she looks like a very, very well-dressed little doll. Except dolls don't look fearfully at everyone. "Oh, here. Vivian let some of the old dresses here, and nobody stole them... a little too large for her, but it's been awhile since we got a girl this young, so Vivian might not even remember she has those here!"

Seventh Moon: Taking a look over his shoulder to make sure things were going in relative order, Moon turned back in time to watch the vision of frilly white awkwardness come down the stairs. He passed Hanna a glance, questioning just who'd picked the gown out.

"I won't tell her if you don't." The Pack leader chuckled. Squatting down onto his haunches, he held up a hand towards the bashful girl and gave her the least frightening or inciting smile he could manage. "C'mere darlin'."

• Dana looks over at Moon... then back at Hanna... not wanting to let go of Hanna's hand. But then she does, and takes very, very tentative steps towards the Lunar... saying nothing, only staring at him with her large, large blue eyes...

Seventh Moon: Poor thing seemed easier to spook than a back-alley cat on dog street. Rocking forward just a little, Moon gently took her hand between his fingers. With a sweep of his arm, he raised her hand up and spun her around on her toes, sending frills flaring through the air around her. As her spin came to a stop, he painted his face with the most surprised expression he could, releasing her hand and leaning back with a whistle.

"Well shit, Hanna. Ought'a told me we were gonna have royalty comin' ta visit."

... alright, it was a lame one, but hell, how often did he deal with fragile little girls? Seemed better than asking if Hanna thought they could really fit her on a shelf, which had been his first thought. Anyway, being a leader usually meant knowing when and where to pass the buck. In all fine tradition, Moon cupped a hand to his mouth as he hollered towards the doorway the Pack passed back and forth through.

"Hey! Duncan man! Get ya ass over here!"

• She giggled... it was probably a lame one, but she was small enough and scared enough not to cared. She was almost beaming with the words and the spin! And then a moment later, Duncan jumped in, with another broomstaff he got from... somewhere, on hand, making gestures as if mimicking some martial artist sage, like those of the Boil dojos of old, before that Cold Sky disappeared. "Heeereee! What'll it be? We gonna kick some ass?"
  
  ... he said, in his best facsimile of 'Pack guy voice' with what he gathered from their talks.

Seventh Moon: "... what?" Was it that time already? Moon squinted as he looked at the window at the distance face of the Dons, visible through the burnt out shell of the building across the street. No, no where near late enough to go kick ass. They had a good hour yet. "Naw ya knucklehead. Put the fuckin' stick down an' come over here 'n tell ya sister how nice she looks."

Duncan: Duncan stops and visibly goes 'awwwwwwwwws', the stick falling to the ground... but then he finally notices his sister, opening a broad smile. "Dana! You look great! Wow... I had no idea those people here had stuff like this! It looks so... so...." He says, walking around her, and as he does, she feels safer and safer... "So classy! Where did you get it?"

Seventh Moon: Leaving the flattery in Duncan's more than capable hands - little bastard was doing better at that age than Moon could manage now - Moon rose off his haunches and stepped away, motioning for Hanna to follow as he casually strolled closer to the door.

Hanna: The Pack's Princess, the Dragon of the Boil followed Moon, with a last glance to them...

"Gotta say, they're adorable."

Seventh Moon: "Yeah, they ain't bad," Moon sort-of agreed, sharing the look back with her and smiling despite himself. Taking Hanna's arm, he steered the dragon-girl into the doorway, pressing her back against one side and he leaned on the other, just barely leaving enough room between them for the rest of the Pack to pass through. "Look darlin', I got one more run ta make, but I don't exactly wanna have the pup nippin' at my heels for it. Shit might get a lil... dangerous, y'know?"

Hanna: "I know. He'll prolly rush in head-first." She shakes her head. "Great way ta get yerself killed. 'specially nowdays, right?" She looked outside. With all the creepy things walking around. Makes one even wonder if some of the gangs were still human... "So, he's stayin', I'm goin', now?"

Seventh Moon: "Well..." Moon scratched his jaw as he trailed off in that way guys did when they knew they were probably going to get in trouble for what they were about to ask.

"... see, thing is, 'fraid if I try ta leave the lil guy, he'll take it on himself ta sneak off after me or somethin'. Where I'm goin', be hard enough with a kid I know is on my heels, even worse ta have 'um pop up outta no where on me, y'know? So I was kinda hopin'..."

He didn't really ask, just sort of gave her that hopeful, questioning look. If that failed, it meant sweet talkin'. Or bribery. And Hanna could be hard to do either with.

Hanna: "... oh no you don't."

The finger was on Moon's face before he could blink.

"A good scrap, a good excuse to bash some heads an' cut loose, and you're leaving me out? Oh no fucking way in hell. You know, I never get a good excuse to kick some ass here lately! All this power... all this... and I wanna beat some heads, damnit! And don't even gimme that girly crap. Your fuckbuddy is twice as girly as I am, and she isn't left in babysitting bussiness!"

Seventh Moon: Moon winced, yes he winced, as the fingers snapped before his eyes. He was quick to grab her hand though, clutching it between his broad paws.

"Hanna, darlin', there ain't no one else here I can fuckin' trust ta look after 'um! I mean what, ya think I can count on Blue ta keep 'n eye on 'um? Fucker'll be shit faced stoned on the floor before I'm even ten feet out the door."

Kissing her knuckles, he squeezed her hand. "Ain't 'bout whatcha got between ya legs or nothin', s'bout dependability 'n shit, y'know? I know I can trust ya with 'um! Sides, Duncan likes ya!"

Hanna: "He likes to stare at my tits, ya mean! Like everyone else!" She makes a face. Yes, they were big. Yes, they bounced alot. No, people cannot fucking stare, damnit! She looks away, "Just another fuckin' pervert. When he realises he's... what? Two, three years younger 'an me? It'll be so much worse." She sighs.

"So bein' dependable means I get to stay home? Why didn't I Exalt as fuckin' Fire? "

Seventh Moon: "Fire? What?" Moon blinked rapidly, looking back up at her face with a moment of blank confusion that he quickly shook away. Well, she was the one who mentioned them, damn it! "Look, I'll make it up to ya darlin', I promise! This is just somethin' I think it's better I do myself, a'ite?"

'Hanna: She looked up at him.... her eyes of diamond narrowing to look at his...

"Make up how? It's not like you don't go all by yourself all the time! "

"This better be good, or I'll just run after ya! With Duncan under my arm!"

Seventh Moon: "Oh it'll be good darlin'! It'll be great! It'll be the best damn thing ya ever saw ever! " Flashing her a broad grin, Moon cupped her face and planted a kiss onto her lips. It was warm and deep, the sort of kiss that could curl a ladies toes, his body pressed up against hers snuggly for a moment before he started to twist and peel out of the doorway. Backing away, he thrust a finger in Hanna's direction. "Ya the best darlin'! Ya won't regret it! Have a great fuckin' time! Thank's a million!"

Spinning around on his heel, he started to run, wondering just how far he'd really get before she realized that she hadn't actually agreed yet.

Hanna: It wasn't very long, and soon Hanna blinked...

And behind him, Moon just heard the shout.

And the Heaven House trembled as the Iron Diamond spoke.. "Moon, you BASTARD!!! "

Narrator: The far reaches of the Ashen District.

The Boil is a large city, and the Ashen is a slum that reaches far.... and one whose fire and path of explosions and destructions hit particularly hard. Especially due to the fact that nobody bothered to defend it in any way, shape, or form. Moon had no idea who had actually fought in the Ashen. Was it fights that toppled all this over, or just fire? Were there players he had not even known, like the bird and half-fae he had seen in the big battle, rusty's iron children, that big... steam-thing, the undead... a battle so big, who had fought here?

But in the end, what it left was a good bunch of the Ashen in ruins. The Ashen was a gigantic slum in points, and sinuous, more-labyrinthine-than-usual streets ran really, really deep, and most could just become lost in them... and wouldn't go in them for any payment. There was crime, intense poverty there... and even the sort of thing that involved sex but could never be done in the Red-Lantern. But now, there was Ashes... and rubble. Lots of rubble...

... and people.

Of course, people tend to be the problem, so many times.

The rubble went to the start of Highlane, to the place they fought Niremar on the Ashen, to the outskirts of the Industrial, too. So if there were predators living on the Ashen, they could go as far as any beat-down place on the edge of other districts... like, Duncan and Dana had been.

Seventh Moon: And this was where Moon had to go to find his Alchemist. Those ladies sure could pick the spots...

The Lunar kept a low profile as he trod through the ruined district, less worried about trouble than he was simply drawing attention to himself. His eyes wandered back and forth like a man keeping watch on the shadows, but he was more survaying the destruction. Here was a place Alex wouldn't find much opposition in rebuilding; there wasn't really anything left to rebuild. Not that it would help. Changing the place wouldn't change the people. The Ash would still be a slum, full of violence and misery. It would just be a prettier one, for a while. Before the trashed it and started another fire.

The Ash was as much Moon's own target as it probably was the princes, though. This was the place the worst of the gangs always came from. The most violent and and nasty bunch of fuckers you'd ever see. They hurt folk who were already hurting bad, for no reason beyond hurting them. Gave everyone a bad name. There was no real getting rid of them though. Moon could have marched through here now, bashing in the head of every asshole flying colors he saw, but that would have just meant a new breed of assholes would spring up to take their place a month or a year later. They were the reason there needed to be a place to keep the kids off the streets...

But for now, they weren't why he was here. Moon didn't know if the Eir ladies clinic was still standing or not, but chances were that if he was going to find one anywhere, it would be somewhere around there. So, he flipped his collar high and shrugged deep into his coat, looking unappealingly dangerous for any of the sad, desperate sods who might give him an eye as someone worth making a go at.

Narrator: The clinic is still standing, and he can see it from afar.

And even from afar, he can feel the scent of the chemicals and the blood. The battle the Iron Alchemists waged to protect their more gentle sisters within. The Eir was a good thing to break, what with the role they undoubtedly would have(and had, so far) in healing those hurt in the battle... and it was so heavily targeted. But in the end, the great hospital and laboratory still stood, against all odds.

His senses could hear the crying from within it even now. But it was far away, and it had been a while already.... nearly twenty days, and the world went around. People were all around, creating new lives for themselves, cleaning the mess, some odd cabanas all around, little fires... and violence. He could smell blood, and even see a corpse here or there if he squinted. And Eir...

Yes, it did not take too long to find an Eir, brown-haired and eyed and in the nun-nurse uniforms of the order, walking around the wounded and prescribing drugs and medicine and water and rest, looking for people to take back to the clinic... she was more wary, however. Much more wary. They used to walk even in the Ash with more security. People don't seem to be respecting their immunity much anymore...

Seventh Moon: Well, it was going to be really disrespected here in another few seconds. But, Moon reckoned that he wasn't really from the Ash, so it didn't technically count. Pulling off to the side where a fire crackled in a steel-drum barrel (from the scent of the smoke, it use to be a waste barrel), Moon pretended to warm his hands while he watched the alchemist at work. He liked the Eir ladies, really he did. Even when he was just a dumb little punk (y'know, opposed to being a big dumb punk), he knew there was something special about them. And it wasn't just the clothes they wore, though hell knows those were pretty damn special. It took a lot of guts to put yourself on the line like that, helping people mend their ills for nothing more than a thank you and hoping to heck and back they were going to return that same good will by not robbing you. Or doing worse.

Moon had put his paws on a few Eir ladies before. He'd like to say that he felt bad about it, but... well, shit just don't work that way. They didn't feel bad about it afterwards, so why should he? The Eir ladies who came into the Red-Lantern were a bit more use to that sort of thing. Knew that it was different than the Ash and that they weren't in any real danger there. Never took more than a serious protect to get him to stop or pull one of the other Pack punks off, but they didn't get many of those. Hell, to the Pack, it was almost a way of saying thanks for patching them up. One good turn deserved another, right?

This one though, the brown haired lady, she wasn't in much danger of that sort of pawing.

... a'ite, so she was in a little danger of that sort of pawing, but it was mostly going to be incidental. Mostly. He had good reason to grab her, for once. Moon mulled over how to do it though. Rush in and nab her? Engage and then grab? He could probably just ask, but... that took all the fun out of it. No reason to be a gang member if it's the same as just being any other fucker, y'know?

Finally settling on a course of action, the Lunar dug his hands back into his pockets and started forward. Eyes and feet equally intent, he cut down the middle of the cluttered road on an unearing course towards the lady in white. He tried not to lick his chops. Helped to remind himself it was "that" sort of grab. He needed a lot of reminders.

• "... water and lots of rest. Just that! Try not to smoke, though, or I won't be responsible for it! You can hold off 'till you are done with it, can't you?" She asked the sickly middle aged woman sat in the door of her house, with a sweet smile, the sort only Eir Nurses could give, before getting up, and looking around for where to go next.... and then she noticed Moon.

Seventh Moon: "Hey darlin'," he greeted her almost the moment her eyes were upon her, a smile quirking his lips. "Hope ya don't mind, but I'm gonna have ta borrow ya for a bit. Sure there ain't no one here whose gonna topple over without ya, y'know?"

He said it all so casually, so calmly, almost polietly for his type. As if he were only asking 'Hey, can you take a look at this cut on my hand real quick?' His hands never left his pockets as he drew closer, his posture didn't really shift from that confident one-purpose swing. But in one second, there had seemed to be still yards of distance between them and in the next he was against her, body to body, his face looming high above, his teeth flashing white and his caste mark glowing pale thruogh the black cloth of his bandana. Moon wrapped his arm around her waist and hoisted her dainty form up, slinging her over his shoulder in a storm of flailing legs and flouncing skirts. Holding tight, one hand resting on her now upturned bottom to keep her balanced (honest!), Moon swung around and gave the cluster of people who had been waiting for the Eir ladies attention an apologetic now.

"Sorry folks! She'll be back later today, a'ite?"

He didn't give them time to answer. He didn't want to give them time to even think about it. That might lead to a whole lot of rocks getting thrown his way. Prize in hand, Moon set off at an easy trot back down the street towards the Red-Lantern.

• She did not even understand what he said 'till she was in his grasp.
  
  Nobody else did, either.
  
  And when they blinked, he was already too far, far away.
  
  And in fact, it took her seeing them disappear on the distance to finally react, what she did with a "Eeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkk!! " shriek that could break glass! And punching on Moon's back! "Hey! Let me go! We are in the Ash, you are not supposed to be around the Ash, Moon! You are not! I am telling on you, damnit! Let me gooo!"

Seventh Moon: She probably hadn't noticed when he'd jumped, either, but suddenly the ground was somewhere way bellow. They coasted through the air, sliding smoothly across the sky, her flailing limbs making them look like some big, awkward, and damn funny looking bird.

"Ya sure 'bout that hun?" Moon asked, letting his arm loosen around her teasingly as they crested his leap and began to make a decent towards the still-standing roof top he'd seen from the distance. "Cause, uh, that ain't exactly gonna be a soft landin'..."

• She screamed, when she opened her eyes to that.
  
  She screamed in such pitch that this humble narrator lacks the correct onomatopaeia.
  
  "... no! No, don't let me down! Not now! "

Seventh Moon: "Sheeyit, ya always this fuckin' indecisive or I just catch ya on an off day?" Moon demanded as they came down, tightening his arm around her again. They hit the rooftop just long enough for Moon to bend his knees and shove off towards the next, the sprawling squalor of the Ash flying past bellow them.

• "Yes! Now, let me down no --- Nooooooooooo! Damnit! Stop Jumping! "
  
  She shouts, as they come back again....?
  
  "Please?" She asks with a pout when they hit the ground...
  
  ".... nooooooooooooooo! " She says when they go up again!

Seventh Moon: Moon winced, gritting his teeth as her voice rose and fell with every leap. "Darlin', if ya don't knock that the fuck off, the next time we land I'm gonna pull ya panties off 'n use 'um ta gag ya the rest'a the ride. Now calm the fuck down. I ain't gonna drop ya!"

• "... but you can't take me! The Iron Alchemists will come after you! I'm not one of those girls they send to the Red-Lantern, Moon! You can't do this to me, damnit! I'm not going to calm down, you're going to drop me down! Now! Do it, damnit!" She looked down, then closed her eyes again... "... as soon as we land again!!!! "

Seventh Moon: "Ya mean ya ain't never been ta the Red-Lantern?" Moon asked, not really listening to anything else beyond that. In midair, he suddenly swung her off his shoulder! The alchemist went flying! Snapping out ot the end of her arms, both her wrists still held firmly in Moon's grasp, the whipping air tugged her upwards as they began to fall down. He twisted, falling back-first towards the next roof top as he peered up at her, his eyes caressing over her body as the rush of air plastered the cloth against her. "Ya fuckin' with me? Pretty thing like ya? Sheeyit... we was missin' out somethin' awful. Don't worry none though, ya gonna love it! Well, ya'd probably love it more if'n it weren't mostly a smokin' pile, but if ya work 'n the Ash that should be hold hat ta ya, y'know?"

Moon went on chattering as the rooftop began to loom increasingly larger over his shoulder...

• "No, I never did!" She said, looking... angry. So very angry. "Why would I?!? You think I am like one of those... those.... girls?!? I am not like the girls you are used to, ok?" She says, cold sweat down her face... trembling, trembling so visibly in his hands. Full of fear, full of anger...

Seventh Moon: "I dunno..." Moon pursed his lips and eyed her secptically. "I'm use ta quite a few kinda ladies by now."

Moon swung his legs, his whole body following, corkscrewing around as he traded her hands between his own and yanked her closer. Puling her arms around his neck, he reached back down under her skirt and snatched her legs, drawing them up and around him. The roof imposed itself on them seconds later, the building quivering as the Lunar landed with an ungraceful thud!

This time, though, there was no other leap to follow. Moon paused, glancing back at the face that hovered over his shoulder. "What makes ya so different?"

• Her hands tightened around the Lunar's neck, so much that if he wasn't so sturdy, she'd cut off his air supply. Her legs entwined around his', too, trying not to fall... and also in a foolish hope to deter him from jumping again! There is a moment of silence as they fall, and she breathes a sigh... "B... because I am not easy! I am a not a whore like those girls in the red-lantern! I'm nothing like that, nothing! I, I know what girls there are like! Don't you dare to compare me to them!"

Seventh Moon: "How do ya know what any'a 'um are like? Ain't like ya ever been there." A big, bright grin flashed itself for her and Moon's hands slid teasingly up her thighs. "Could be they ain't easier neither and we're just real fuckin' charmin'"

• "... because, you aren't! Hey, watch that hand! No touching!"
  
  "I don't need to have been there to hear about them. And no girl can be hard if she spreads her legs for a little jade shoved between them!"

Seventh Moon: ... well that was a new one.

"I... uh, ain't sure 'bout what kinda stories ya heard darlin', but thats one kink I ain't never seen in any pleasure house." Sounded pretty damn painful, in fact. How the hell would the dynamics of that one even work? Bits? Obols? ... oh shit! Talents!

Moon shook his head to clear the horror of that image from his mind. "The ladies gotta make a livin' somehow, y'know? Ain't everyone that can do what the do for free, y'know? Ya think any better'a of 'um if they didn't charge?"

• "It wasn't meant to be literal!" She says, blushing with him imagining that...
  
  "Maybe I would. Then they'd actually get proper jobs, instead of selling the temple of their bodies. If they did it of their own volition, they'd be just sluts. I have no idea which is worse. One that has no principles or one that sells them."

Seventh Moon: Great. Fuck knows how many Eir ladies out there and he had to grab the prude of the bunch. Moon leapt once again, carrying the alchemist along through the air as they continued the trip towards the Red-Lantern. Wither she wanted to or not.

"There ain't nothin' wrong with it, darlin'. People gotta live and there ain't exactly a lotta jobs out there most of 'um could work. Think they're better off toilin' in the mines or foundries? Burnin' up or gettin' black lung so they can make half as much in twice the time? I ain't sayin' that every lady's livin' the fuckin' high life out in the Lantern, but for plenty it's a grand sight better 'n they'd get elsewhere."

• "It'd have dignity, at least! Not spreading their legs to some uncouth man and screaming like... you know! I'd never do things like that!" She nods, her chin touching his shoulder. "And the mines and foundries help create things for the city, help it grow! You think I look down on the sisters who toil in our labs?"

Seventh Moon: "Heh, so do the pleasure houses. Where d'ya think most of the folks who work in the mines 'n shit come from? "

• "... oh. Um." She stops, not knowing quite how to reply...

Seventh Moon: "And for fucks sake, where'd ya get the idea that swingin' a picks got more dignity to it?" Moon demanded as they hopped along, keeping up the pace verbally and physically alike. "Who the fuck ya think keeps the 'oh so fuckin' dirty' pleasure houses in business? They ain't exactly got no moral high ground ta stand on when they're the ones doin' the ruttin'. Sheeyit... half'a the miners in town probably started out gettin' rounded up and auctioned off as prison details by the fuckin' Garrison."

"Fact'a it is that dignities whatcha make of it, not what the fuck ya do for a livin'. Theres ladies and lads who think like ya do 'bout what they do. Y'know where they end up? In one'a those fuckin' flesh factories. Y'know, all but fuckin' chained ta a bed in a dark room for half the day while one bastard after another comes in and ruts on 'um? They don't got shit for dignity. Ain't got any kinda self-respect, most'a the poor fuckers. Ladies the work 'n places like the Heaven House got more class 'n the whole fuckin' Highlane District put tagether."

• "I... see..." Her voice was full of... wondering? Imagining...?
  
  "More than Highlane? Really? In a place you walk in?"

Seventh Moon: "Fuck yeah darlin'. I ain't the best representative'a the place, but Lanterns got some real class acts." He chuckled, a bit surprised at the easy turn around, but glad at least they didn't have to stand around debating ethics for the next half an hour. Without giving her much warning, he dashed forward a few steps and leapt off the edge of the rooftop, gliding up on the currents of air as they arched onward. "In fact, I'm takin' ya ta meet a couple'a the biggest right now and plannin' on introducin' ya 'round ta more."

• "O... k...." She says, just a little giddy with the prospect of meeting people so... classy. And a little scared, too. Butterflies floated on her tummy and Moon could almost hear their wings beating. She held her breath as he leaped off, screaming.... and finally realised that, despite all her resistance, she knew nothing. "But... but...why? Why are you taking me?!?"

Seventh Moon: "Cause ya were the first Eir lady I saw?" Down they went, bounding off another roof-top, landing almost in the middle of some sort of party taking place. There was fire cooking something and a cluster of people with make-shift instruments and another twisting around together in dance. Not to mention enough pot smoke to kill a yeddim. What the hell? Were they cooking their meal _over_ burning marijuana?

No one even seemed to notice when Moon landed in the middle of their throng and bounce away again. Not even a few minutes later when several would realize the pipe they'd been passing around had vanished, the glass smoking piece now held between Moon's teeth. They'd probably notice the missing bottle of rye too, which had manifested itself into Eir woman's hands.

"Sides," Moon said around his new bong. "Looked like a lady built ta be pressed up against a body for a time, y'know?"

• She wished to move her hand and slap Moon... but she couldn't. What good would it do, by now? All she did was laugh oddly, a little awkwardly, at his words... barely noticing the pot and party, even though the smoke left her just a bit more relaxed... but her situation was so surreal that if Iron Tears himself came down from the heavens right now to molest her, she wouldn't find it too strange "So... what for? What do you want with an Eir?"

Seventh Moon: "What does anyone want with one'a ya?"
...
"Well, y'know, other than that."

• Now she does slap him on the back of his head!
  
  "That one, you deserved! I said I'm not that kind of girl, damnit!" She chuckles a bit. She didn't notice how easily she was leaning on him now. It was hard not to be friendly with a guy like that. So hard... "So... who is sick? Or wounded?"

Seventh Moon: Moon gave her a shit-eatting grin that completely agreed. He totally deserved that one.

"So far? Not a fuckin' soul. Thing is, kinda like ta keep it that way, y'know?" They hit another roof top and moved on, Moon picking up the pace a little more as they started growing closer to the edge of the Ash. He'd have to do this more often. Not like there was a lot of traffic up here clouding things up. This was the only way to travel!

• "So... you want me to be, what? A babysitter? Well, I do have nurse training..." She nods and ponders, wondering what it was exactly... "It will require some donations to the Eir to keep me away from the clinic, though... we do our thing, but on the clinic, close by, but if I am to stay away... do you even have enough for it?" She asks... then sighs.

"You never asked my name."

Seventh Moon: "Ya never asked me mine neither." Moon pointed out.

• "You are Seventh Moon, everyone who didn't get soot in their ears knows you."

Seventh Moon: "Then do ya really gotta ask if I got 'nough?"

Not that it wasn't a good question. He had fuck all to fund this with and there was only so much you could loot from a city that had already been gutted. Meant he was going to have to ask someone. Alex, Selina, maybe even Iria might be able to shell out something.

"Lets make it bit more even though. What's ya name?"

Maria: "Maria." She nods. "Maria Five-Iron."

"Yeah, my father worked in the foundries. It is not as bad as you think, really."

Seventh Moon: "Take ya word for it. Ain't never been."

The line between the Ash and the Red-Lantern use to be a gradual one. Apartments slowly started to get a little better. Streets a little cleaner and less crowded. Alleys wider. It was mostly housing for those working girls who weren't given free boarding at their Houses or those who just wanted a place away from the sounds and scents of sex all the time. They'd called it Perfume Lane.

That was before the rebellion though. Perfume Lane had been sort of the boundary line where the dead had seemed to give up trying to crush the Red-Lantern into dust. That only meant that the ladies homes had taken a through beating of their own.

Moon's next leap didn't land them on a roof-top, because the next building over didnt have one. The standing wall on one side revealed itself to be damn near all that was left of the whole upper half of the building. There was a support wall still though, sloping down sharply like something huge had chopped the head off the building.

Moon landed on that instead, sliding down the length of broken wall and tumbling neatly off the edge into the street bellow. Most of the other buildings around them weren't in any better shape and most of the people on this street were the now homeless working girls, trying to clear the rubble and scrape together whatever they could of what they'd lost.

"Wanna walk from here?" Moon asked the woman in his arms, tipping his head as he looked down at her.

Maria: "Oh fucking please! " She says, her mouth saying something so dirtyfor the first time.

She looks around.. "It got hit bad, here..."

Seventh Moon: "Good," Moon said, nearly dropping her flat, though catching her at the last moment to land her on her feet. He stretched and groaned, rubbing his back with a pained expression. "Ya were gettin' heavy... the fuck ya hidin' under those skirts? Bricks?"

... he looked around as wel. "Yeah. Lotta the ladies lost their places 'n shit. Too many looters 'round too makin' it harder for 'um ta get back on their feet, y'know? Hate fuckers like that. Ya just don't take shit from folks who ain't got fuck all for ya ta take anyway."

Maria: "Medicine." She smiles, slapping the back of his hand again. "And it, and me, are not heavy!" she points at his face! Not heavy at all! She works out not to get fat, damnit! She looked around as well, walking with him... "Well, it's the Ash, it's the Red-Lantern, it's the Boil. Dog-eat-dog world..."

Seventh Moon: "Yeah, I know..." Moon pursed his lips and sighed. He'd eaten quite a few other dogs to get to where he was now. Couldn't say shit like this back when he was still scrapping for the top. Now that he was there, it was hard not to look down sometimes. He took her hand, the same that had smacked the back of his head moments before, and pulled her along. "C'mon darlin'. We got folk waitin' for us."

Maria: "Alright..."

She lets Moon guide her along, and they soon get... wherever Moon intended to bring her! Seventh Moon: Even without jumping roof-top jumping, they were there in no time. There wasn't a whole lot of foot traffic around yet and probably wouldn't be for weeks, if not months. There was a lot of reconstruction to do. Most of the houses had at least closed until they could renovate. Others weren't going to be in any condition to handle business without serious work. More than a few never would again.

Which made the sight of the old Heaven House so strange among the ruins of burnt out buildings and still-standing structures covered with scaffolding. It was... pristine. Perfect. Untouched. As if some giant hand had reached down and covered this place. Moon had heard rumors already. People talking about Iron Tears creating a shell of steel to guard the old Heaven House. About the statues of the Smiling Lover that flanked the door, the only two in the entire district still intact, coming to life and seducing the dead into leaving the building be. Even about Moon himself, transforming into a giant watch dog that kept all the dead at bay. The truth of it was every bit as fantastic, though not nearly as fun.

"So whatcha think?" Moon asked as they drew closer to the building, tipping his head to the side as he looked out under his brows for her reaction. This was his home, or use to be anyway. He couldn't help but be a little proud. "Pretty nice, ain't it?"

Maria: Maria watches the House, as crimson bangs fell over her emerald eyes... yes, yes, it was beautiful. She had heard a story that could be of that, but she had no idea. The names of brothels just slipped off her mind, really. But still, she watched, she thought... "... I guess it is, yes. You want me to nurse whor... the girls?"

Seventh Moon: "Naaaaw," Moon swung a hand through the air dismissively. "The girls ain't even in there any more. Got some new folks gonna be stayin' there that'll need checkin' in on time ta time though..."

As they reached the doorway, and after pausing to caressing the naked breast of one of the statues (tradition was tradition, damn it, even if there weren't any more ladies ta tumble!), Moon banged a fist against the door. "HEY YA FUCKERS! THE GODDAMN WOLF IS AT THE DOOR! SEND OUT THE TOUGHEST BASTARD YA GOT AND THE NICEST LOOKIN' LADY TOO!"

• There is a heavy sound of steps on the stairs.... and then the door opens, hard!
  
  And within... there is Duncan, trying his best to look like the toughest guy they have there indeed!
  
  And Dana... not helping but looking like a doll.
  
  Maria looks at them... then at Moon... "Wha...?"

Seventh Moon: Moon's grin nearly broke his face in half. "Maria, like ya ta meet two'a the new residents'a the Heaven House. This is Duncan 'n Dana." He gave each a grand wave of the hand in turn, then crudely jerked a thumb the alchemists way. "The two'a ya? This here is Maria. I kidnapped her just ta meet ya, so be on ya best, a'ite?"

• "Hi, Maria! I'm Duncan! Are you really an Eir?"
  
  Dana looks up, fearfully... twiddling her thumbs. She looks up, then down... "H... hi... Maria..."
  
  And Maria herself regarded Duncan, then turned to Moon... "They are adorable"

Seventh Moon: Moon's big hand came down and rested on Duncan's head, giving his hair an affectionate and decidedly un-tough ruffle. "Yeah, but try not ta remind 'um too often. Don't want that shit ta go ta their heads."

Maria: She picks up Dana, "How sweeet! What is your name, darling?" She asks, with the smile and the bedside manners of an accomplished nurse. Moon had just said her name, but she wanted to hear it. Dana had to say it, and she did. "That is a beautiful name, Dana! I am Maria, and I am here to take care of you. You can trust me, alright? Anything at all. It is no problem, really..." And so on. Getting Dana to relax, to open, to be more herself...

Seventh Moon: So, alls well that ends well? Moon folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the Heaven House, watching Maria draw Dana out in the sort of way he and the other punks probably never could have. Not bound to be a gang girl, that one. But, that was sort of the point, y'know? Not everyone was cut out for the life. Didn't mean they should be cut down before they could find one they were suited for.

He'd tell Maria the whole plan in detail later. Bring her to meet the Pack, to meet Cynar. They could work all the details of this shit out together. What mattered though was that it was happening. It was really happening.

Moon sunk down onto his haunches and patted himself down until he found the pipe he'd stolen earlier and a paper-packed wad of marijuana. He ripped it open and stuffed the bowl, lighting a match against the Smiling Goddesses thigh and taking a few long tokes. Spying Duncan from the corner of his eye, a faint grin spread across his face and he held out the pipe to the kid without comment.

"Hell of a day, huh man?"

---

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