Ghostie aftermath?

[sharktoothtotem]

 Taylor had gotten up about an hour ago, since then she had hobbled to the kitchen and took stock of what they had.  She knew that Dean had a roommate, she hadn't seen him yet, but felt wrong cooking just for herself and Dean.  

As for Dean, he could complain about her hobbling on her foot later, after coffee, and well, bacon and eggs were usually a good start.  Poking around she saw a lot of ramen, but she figured breakfasts needed something a little more than noodles.  Even if she was known to do ramen eggs and slices of spam while on surf trips.

Coffee wasn't hard to track down either and she made a pot, sipping at a cup as she fried up bacon. Pancakes were next once she found the ingredients to make them.  They wouldn't be the same as the ones she made in Hawaii, but she could handle without coconut flakes sprinkled on top.  Taylor was humming softly, hobbling a little to get things from the counter to the stove, and trying to stay quiet to let the others sleep.  

"And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence"

Her voice stayed low as she sang softly.  It was one of the songs that she kind of got hooked on thanks to her uncle's brother.  He had hummed it once when they were stuck together on a hunt.  It had helped pass the time in a storm, and since then it was a comfort song for her.  After the nightmares she had about her mother in the night, she needed something comforting at least.

Comments

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

Dean hadn't managed to self-medicate himself into any form of sleep last night, he'll things ripped too open, too wired from The unexpected hunt, and too worried about whether the damn ghost was going to end up at the apartment regardless. So he ends up scouring lore books from home all damn night until he eventually crashes about 1am. He's up again by 4.30, jolted awake from his crash position at the desk and panting as the nightmares fade from earlier discussions. The house is quiet when he awakens, so he goes back to obsessing over the books after chasing off the last of the adrenaline thay snapped him out of sleep with a good dose of hunter's helper. He's contemplating creeping out and getting coffee to help with the headache he's trying to massage out when breakfast smells start drifting towards him, as well as the quiet sounds of singing.

Oh, shit, had he been that long already? He ducks into the bathroom on his way out, taking long enough to shower and not smell like he just crawled out of a whiskey bottle and humming to himself quietly as he does with that song now firmly in his head, and to dress, before making his way to Zack's room. He gives the door a knock, indicating it was time to drag his currently human ass out of bed before heading directly for coffee. "Smells good. What's cooking?"

[ablacksun]

Having spent has first day in a human body, and feeling shredded from the inside out, emotionally, and mentally, Zack had unsurprisingly been exhausted. In his usual body, he doesn't need much sleep, unless he's been doing the whiteout thing. He can lie in the dark and think for hours, but this time, he actually falls asleep the way humans do.

Twenty minutes later he's wide awake and sitting bolt upright in bed, having lost consciousness and finding it utterly alien.

Then... he needs to pee. Which means he staggers around sleepily finding the bathroom, and then growls his displeasure with the whole situation all the way back to his room. Unused to sleeping this way, what he does manage is fitful. Dreams feel different. No more or less vivid, but just very different.

When he's woken by Dean's knock, Zack sits upright, startled that he can't remember falling asleep again. He always remembers that shit. This time... he has nothing. He rouses himself and pulls on the bathrobe that he owns. Opening his door, he can smell food, which is... amazing actually. But he's filled with self-loathing right now. He feels sticky and unpleasant and Gaia's fucking arse, humans are such animals.

He will keep that opinion to himself, however, and as he makes his way to the bathroom he shouts back towards the kitchen.

“Ngh. Shower. Everything's vile.”

Probably more information than they needed.

[sharktoothtotem]

And Dean's words actually startle her, so there is a small squeak. She manages to not spray hot grease though. "Damn, was hoping that I'd be done before you woke." She bit her lip. "I didn't wake you did I?"

On the counter is a plate loaded with bacon, another has a stack about a foot tall of pancakes. "I may have made too much. I'm used to feeding an army." She said reaching for her coffee cup. "Do I need to make more coffee?" Actually she should get off her ankle, but she's being stubborn.

When Zach shows up she gives a polite hi. "You must be Zack. Dean said he had a roommate."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

The shower shout gets Dean looking back towards the bathroom, before he just shakes his head with a chuckle. It's somewhere between amused and bewildered, this whole damned situation still being... strange. Strange is what he has decided to label it. He holds up a finger before addressing the question, before downing half the mug, and sighing. Better. Now he'll address her, feeling way more human.

"Nah, I've been awake for a bit. More surprised you're awake just yet." He's definitely not clarifying how long he's been awake for. "And that's fine, feeding one Zack is like feeding an army." And until he decided to live off of the healthier shit, so was feeding Sam. No wonder he was so damn tall. "And no, I got it. Now get off that damned ankle before you undo my damned work." It's... mostly teasing. Although the edge of it is still morning-gruff, for someone who sleeps so little, he is definitely not a morning person.

When Taylor greets zack, he turns towards him with a smirk. "Mornin' sunshine. Taylor, Zack. Zack, Taylor." A pause, as it occurs to him he never actually made Zack aware of the sleeping buddy, yesterday had been a lot, and he had pretty much retreated straight to his room to just not have to cope for a couple of hours in privacy. "Oh, by the way, we had a guest stay last night. Knew there was something I was supposed to tell you before I hit the hay last night."

[ablacksun]

At least Zack is squeaky clean when he makes it to the kitchen. He's scrubbed himself almost sore, washed out his hair, and attempted to negotiate an electric shaver he 'discovered' (or stole, he's not prepare to say which) which proved too much for him, so he has some small degree of scruff. This is actually good for Zack. If he can't hide behind the facial marks, he can damn well grow a beard. Let's just hope he's not stuck like this for that long.

“Hnh. Morning,” he grunts, and pours a coffee. It's meant to work wonders on the human body, judging from Dean's sudden post-caffeine transformations in the mornings. The young woman who's greeted him, is introduced. Excuse him, but he's fairly surly even when he's in a good mood.

“Taylor.” A gruff nod. “You did food.”

Zack is shite at cooking. The first time they tried a recipe, he just gathered and then ate the raw ingredients. Thinking they'd somehow combine to make lasagne.

The sheets of pasta had been somewhat crunchy.

“That's kind,” he adds, attempting to make their guest feel welcome.

[sharktoothtotem]

She actually giggled a little at him holding her up a moment. When he sighed she took it as he was okay with how she made the coffee, a little stronger, than most people liked, but that was because other than Kona coffee, she needed more milk and sugar in it so stronger made it less watered down when she did that.

"After a few nightmares, I needed to get up. And yeah I know I shouldn't be on my ankle just yet, but I owe you an explanation, and well I always talk better over a meal." She had left her bracer in Dean's room and had one of his shirts on over the clothes she had come in, so at least she's a little more covered than just a bikini and mesh sleeves. Ghost could have waited until she had at least gone back inside to put real clothes on.

Taylor snickered a little. "I know I was probably out of it a bit last night, but next time it happens I'll make sure we stay quiet." She turned back to the skillet. "Now both of you, how you like your eggs? And yes I cooked. I never can seem to make small amounts so guess when I come over I can at least make up for things if we keep you up." She was going to take the giant's gruffness as he's not a morning person.

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"Your mom?" He questions the nightmares statement. He figures that'll come up in the talk though do he doesn't push it.

Dean just half-rolls his eyes as he focuses on finishing his coffee while she snickers, before pouring another pot and putting another on the brew. Guess who also makes it strong, so she shouldn't be too disappointed after ruining it with milk and sugar. Not enough caffeine for this yet. "Sunny side up."

However, there is always time to tease the roomie and as he clocks the stubble. "If you're doing anything about that, avoid the shaver with the silver handle." He wiggles his eyebrows at him twice and starts moving to help in the kitchen. He's definitely not used to the one being cooked for, outside of diners and just standing here is making him feel like a spare part. He really should do something about this baseline restlessness, but at the moment there just seems to be too many fires to put out, so to speak. Teasing is his way of letting him know yesterday was yesterday.

[ablacksun]

“Don't mind. Sunny side's good.” It's been long enough for Zack to know the difference in how eggs are done. He sits downs and finally takes a long draught of the coffee. His eyes open wide as the caffeine hits.

Now he gets it. And drains the cup in one.

“Might grow a beard,” he informs Dean. “Safer all round.” In more ways than just the shaver.

Now the coffee has bitten his human senses, Zack quickly catches up with the conversation so far. Something Taylor said about being quiet next time, hits home now.

“You mated?” he asks them both, bluntly. Zack is still in many ways ignorant of what is and what is not, acceptable conversation. Dean has done pretty well with him, but they haven't covered every topic or situation. He hasn't missed the question about Taylor's mother, but maybe he'll get to that next. He's just the tiniest bit confused.

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor nods as she cracks open some eggs. "If you want start helping yourself. I'll make these and join you."

She gave a faint nod at Dean's question though. She had been part of the nightmares.

Taylor had been about to take another sip of her coffee when Zack said the two words. She was glad she had stepped away from the stove so when she sprayed the coffee she didn't spray it all over the skillet. "Huh... not this time." She mumbled reaching for a towel.

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"Well, can't say I'm complaining about the choice of attire this morning, in either case. Maybe next time, when you've rested a bit." Is he nagging? Yes.

Dean, however, is well into drinking his second cup of coffee and ends up snorting the damned thing down entirely the wrong hole, making him cough and end up wearing more of it than drinking it. "Son of a-"

He looks up to course correct that line of questioning, and- Oh. Oh no. No, no, no. That's the look in young Sam's eyes when he started the whole damned bag of Halloween candy, had the biggest sugar (although in this context, caffeine) high of his short, young life at that point, and run Dean ragged until he barfed multicolours. Sure, he was young enough Sam didn't remember it happening, but Dean does in alarming, screaming clarity. "You'd better not have downed that fucking thing because you ain't having more."

He might not be awful at reading Zack, but he is much more well-versed at reading his brother's everything when Sam's not going out of his way to keep it hidden and lied about.

The best thing to do? Distract him with what Zack likes best. He starts bringing food over, with plates. "You, uhh, might want to go a bit easier than usual." He comments as he puts it in front of Zack.

[ablacksun]

“You know this stuff's too good to waste,” he informs the pair of them, now they've both had coffee accidents. He has some inkling he''s said the wrong thing but he protests at Dean's outburst. “Why wouldn't I down it? It's great.”

Zack now examines Taylor's attire more closely. It doesn't usually occur to him to ogle, or to look, or to deliberately decide if he finds somebody attractive. There's a lot of skin under the shirt and for a second or two Zack stares. It's not so much him as the human hormones. Fortunately before another Balthazar incident occurs, Dean is suggesting food. But now Zack really wants more coffee and feels slightly put-out that it's suddenly forbidden. He'll probably wait until he has the kitchen to himself and then he'll hit that stuff hard.

“Thanks,” he mumbles as breakfast is put in front of him. Remembering what the angel told him yesterday (all of it true) he decides not to argue about the food. The pancakes are good. Everything tastes different as a human. It's the one saving grace of his predicament.

“Dean's right though,” he tells Taylor, between mouthfuls. “You look nice. And you should rest if you're hurt.”

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor snickered a little at Deans comment holding back one she wanted to say because yeah, company!

"Oh dear, is he not used to military strength coffee?" She looked worried when he turned to worrying about Zack. "And thank you, just don't eat too much that it makes you sick alright?" Yes she's in worried mom mode. "Dean it's alright coffee wears of quick. I'd worry more if I had made Death Wish coffee Navy strength."

She was glad she had a healthy tan to hide any blush. "I'll get off it as soon as you two are seated." She snagged the skillet serving their eggs before starting to make her own. "Besides, I cooked one of you can do the dishes after." She had done them as she went along so there weren't many.

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

He quirks an eyebrow at Taylor, because bitch you ain't living with him. "You're cleaning up the mess. I know that look."

There. Coffee unforbidden. But so help him Tay, this is on you. Or not, because you're injured and he's not that much of a dick. But good goddamn, he will blame you intensely.

But he sits, starts helping himself to food. "Thanks, Tay. This is great." Weird not cooking, but definitely not in a bad way. As he starts in eating, he throws a look to Zack, quirking half a grin. "Unless you got anything planned with anyone else, we'll take a break on proper learning until after this shit is blown over if you want?" It's up to you if you clarify what shit. He's assuming you know what shit.

[ablacksun]

He was going to offer to clean the kitchen because it's one thing he can do without screwing up. Mostly because it might leave him alone in the kitchen with the coffee pot; but when Taylor stands up for him, it's all Zack can do not to smirk at Dean.

“I'll do the dishes,” he offers now for a completely different reason. Because Taylor is now a friend in Zack's eyes.

Another pancake meets its doom and grabs the pot to refill his cup. “It is good,” he agrees, starting on his eggs. “Thanks, Taylor.”

Pausing for a moment to swallow down more coffee, Zack decides Dean’s suggestion makes sense. And the shit is painfully obvious. “I s'pose. It's enough to get used to being a sasquatch,“ yes he now understands the full implications of the word. “Let alone having blood and a heart and breathing. And parts that want to do the thinking for me.”

[sharktoothtotem]

Nope she's not, though she'll help deal with the aftermath. Her fault after all.

She sets the skillet on a towel on the counter so it can cool a little before it gets washed and takes the space between the two of them giving a slight sigh glad to be off her ankle.

"No problem, I figured least I could do after my mess last night." She glanced at Zack about the sasquatch comment, though looking at him again she could see how it fit. "Are you normally... well machine?"

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

Dean, however, is too busy snickering into his breakfast to respond in any helpful or reassuring way to Taylor's comment about last night. "Right there with you buddy. You better hope this is temporary, because it never stops doing the thinking."

He's so helpful, he knows.

He's gonna let Zack answer Tay himself, though, because it really ain't his place to explain on Zack's behalf. The kid seems pretty open about things, but that doesn't mean anything.

[ablacksun]

It's a toss-up between being dismayed that he could be stuck this way, or relief that among humans at least, it's normal. Zack will cope with that one later. "Might have been easier to be female," he can't help muttering.

As for Taylor's question, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Soundwave's a mechanoid, so's his mate. There is a community of them here in the Nexus. Instinctively, Zack brings up a hand, used to showing people what he actually is. Then he stares at the human hand, realising it's just meat and bone. "Nobody seems to have a name for what I am," he tells her. "Reconstituted spirit. Golem. Hellspawn." Another mouthful of coffee. "I'm made of dust and dirt, normally."

[sharktoothtotem]

She gives Dean a questioning look but decides now is a good time to just nom on a pancake.

When he made his female comment she coughed a moment. "Yeah, probably not. Medical issues aside, a lot of people seem to think we're the 'weaker' sex. I've put a lot of sailors who were just out for some fun on the islands in the ER for that train of thought." She sipped at her coffee. "Though okay yeah I screamed about a ghost, first time alright?" She sighed.

"I see," Hey she's seen Lucifer, heard there are more angels there, and she's friends of sorts with Megatron, so far she's handled the Alien aliens well. Might be because she's dealt with an Isu artifact before, hell it's hidden in her necklace. "Take it you made a wish like I did then?"

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

And Dean gives a bark of both amused and dismayed laughter. "Ha, no. No." But then he's imagining quite how pissy Zack would be as a woman if the usual luck struck and he can't help laughing to himself while shaking his head. And then he remembers Taylor is sat there next him, and manages to control himself long enough to finish off with a small cough and offer "God no."

He'd move out for the week.

"I'd be more concerned if you didn't, to be fair. That's a normal people reaction."

Don't mind him sitting here, very quietly, poking at his food like he's still eating it well. He has nonidea what is about to come out of Zack's mouth and he's a little worried about how much detail there could be. That and as much as yesterday is yesterday, doesn't mean that this isn't still a little bit of a sore point.

[ablacksun]

There are no preconceptions here about females being weaker. When you're as plugged into nature as Zack (normally) is, you know that for a lot of the time, females can be profoundly more dangerous than males. Especially if you get between one and her young.

“They don't have number ones: though!” he protests. It's a minor miracle he doesn't name the offending boy part. But after the snooty sales assistant episode, he resorts to the list of numbers. “But fine. Guess m'used to being male. Don't need to be freaking out over having a pair of eights.”

Unlike Dean, Zack takes a large mouthful of food when Taylor asks about the wish. It saves him having to answer for all of ten seconds. It's a sore point all round, really. And he still feels like an idiot.

“Opened my big mouth, didn't I,” he tells Taylor. “Just wanted to be...” he trails off, deciding that it's somewhat private and he doesn’t want to hand over all the information. So this time, he engages his brain, because ironically he now has one. “to be more useful.”

And at this, he colours. Zack can feel his stupid skin burning. He takes it out on a poor defenceless piece of bacon, stabbing at it with a fork.

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor giggled a little. "Aw, worried that he'd be a monster on shark week?" She has a feeling that at least was the safe way to say it.

She snagged a piece of bacon nibbling at it lightly. Though the numbers... Confuses her and she glances at Dean to see what Zack is talking about.

"Just a little but it's okay." She smirked. "Okay that, was a little better than mine. I have a feeling I really don't want to have a real chance to meet my mom because of this." She shuddered. "Bacon hon, is finger food."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"You've just seen first thing in the morning. Even I have limits." Dean smirks back to Taylor, although he is clearly doing his best to not lau-

He's failing at not laughing at the numbers, although there is a fond eyeroll to accompany it. He's pretty much done with food now, though, regardless. Health Ed had been a saving grace, because the talk had been thoroughly avoided by the men in the Winchester households beyond Keep it wrapped, stay away from weird rashes and in Dean's case You don't fuck about with more than one at a a time with a little extra spice added in after the Amanda shitshow. And now it looks like he's having to give the talk to a hellgod trapped in a currently human form in his little brother's body.

What the fuck even is his life anymore?

"This is one of those things we're talking about later, Zack."

[ablacksun]

The bacon is lying shattered on Zack's plate, so he picks up the pieces and eats those. He knows that holding bacon is the way to go, but he was feeling stabby. That homicidal desire melts away to some degree when he sees he's managed to make Dean laugh.

"Was that your wish? Just to see your mother?" he asks Taylor, then adds the qualifier of "S'okay if you don't wanna talk about it." After all, he doesn't want to talk about his own fuck-up. It wouldn't be fair to press Taylor on her wish.

"'Kay," he nods meekly at Dean, pleased not to have to ask what shark week means. Thanks to Dean, Zack already has an understanding that physical form and function are not topics for public airing. Considering his numbers are a mystery to Taylor, then her marine life might be along similar lines.

Maybe he should... just close his mouth and keep it that way. Or grab another coffee. Give it something to do.

[sharktoothtotem]

Taylor snickered. "Aw am I going to have to make up for going to the limit?" She tucked the hair out of her face.

Taylor snickered a moment. "Stabbing pancakes is a little more satisfying honestly." She remarked. When asked about her wish she sipped at her drink. "Well, Mom died when I was three." She held the cup in both hands. "Murdered by the man that raised me, I was kind of his trophy for it." Taylor didn't look up. "Let's just say it, wasn't at all like I had thought it would be."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"It never is." Dean comments soberly to Taylor, a fair amount of sympathy and empathy in his tone. He could entirely understand the want to see her mom, as he'd previously said, but he'd also had a worse than bad run of luck with it. The only time he'd seen her that had gone any kind of well, and she'd been saving their life from a poltergeist as a ghost. And even then it was brief and he'd been able to say nothing to her except her name and she'd apologised (and although he had a good idea for what now, he'd had no clue at the time). So still not really what he wanted. Other than that, it was Djinn poison, time travel, and fucking heaven when she'd told him all the things about himself that he'd suspected was true. He still wasn't 100 percent sure if that had all been Zachariah, either. So yeah. Never quite what he wanted or expected.

He's actually proud of the amount of empathy being shown by Zack right now, reaching over and giving the hair a ruffle with a small but encouraging smile. Doing good, kiddo.

Dean's just going to take this opportunity to grab some more coffee, taking his not finished but definitely done with plate. Top it up with a little scotch from his flask while no-one's over his shoulder because this morning definitely took a turn for the dour. "Probably a stupid question, but you want me to bring the pot through?"

[ablacksun]

The temptation to draw his blade and spear what's left of the stack of pancakes is admirably resisted by Zack. Instead, he snags one with his fork, and sets about murdering it.

The hair ruffles earns a delighted grin though. It's always good to know he's doing something right, even if he's not entirely sure what it is. This time Zack has a good idea though.

"Hells yeah," is the response to the coffee. "Please," is remembered some few seconds after.

Taylor's story about her mother is met with ... probably more sympathy than one would expect from the hellspawn. In fact, at first sight, it's surprisingly similar to his own. He may be a prize as opposed to a trophy - the two are slightly different in his mind. Abe may not have directly murdered Zack's parents, but ... it all resonates, and later, he will think hard about this last part.

"I was ten. I'd starve for a century to see my parents." Translation: he doesn't blame Taylor one bit for that. "What happened to the man who killed her?" A little blunt, but he's intrigued now.

[sharktoothtotem]

"Yeah, well... My world, magic isn't a thing remember?" She rubbed her arm a little. She chuckled about the coffee though. "And if you can make mine Irish sure." She picked a little at her pancake.

"I was three. And he's still alive, currently he has a bounty out for me, either dead or alive. Let's just say when I did leave him, I took some information he needed." She bit her lip a little. "And he forgot, I have more friends in the communities he looks for his assassins in. So I can usually keep ahead of him, if I can't, Mother's people now know I wasn't killed, so, I'm pretty sure they have a team working near me, honoring her wishes for the most part to not fully involve me." This is all stuff she was going to tell Dean anyway. "Back home I have some power, but not enough yet to take him down without his people hurting too many innocent people in retribution. So, I'm biding time until I can safely expose him and his people for the monsters they are. And longer I stay out of sight, the safer my uncle, dad and gramps are."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"Wasn't quite what I meant." Also, he's not going to point out where they all are right now and the fact she was here before him. Though, her use on that particular excuse is starting to run thin. "But sure, let's go with that."

So he stops back in at the liquor cabinet on his way in with the pot, a half a fifth in his hand. He didn't actually look at what, this time. He tops up Zack first, a clearly curious look on his face. "I don't think you told me that bit." It's more a curiosity over what happened than anything else. But also not poking.

And then Taylor with a generous amount of Irish in the top for good measure. He takes up leaning against the side in the sitting area's door frame to hover and listen after returning the pot to the kitchen and machine, his own coffee plus Irish in hand.

Tay's explanation gets thoughtful quiet as a response. There's a few things he could say, but he ain't gonna. Not while the chatty train is rolling with these two. Instead he settles for the far safer route of "You realise with somethin' like this, there ain't gonna be such a thing as 'safe', right?"

[ablacksun]

Steadfastly staying out of the magic conversation - after all, he's been a big plonker in that area - Zack just looks up at Dean with a little nod as his coffee is topped up. He doesn't ask for alcohol because driving this body is hard enough, without overoiling the cogs and falling over.

Maybe later though... for now he's distracted from that train of thought. "I was a kid. S'been over seven billion years. Don't remember." He grunts out the words, and largely, it's all true, apart from remembering what he did. You never forget your first, and Zack has never quite been able to push it out of his mind. It's not something he thinks anybody here could forgive, so ... well. He launches into his coffee, frowning.

Taylor's story seems a good escape route, and as she's now a friend, Zack wouldn't want to see her harmed, or upset because her family have been harmed. "Better off in the Nexus, then," he chips in, taking Dean's observation into account. "Grow strong. Take 'em down when you can. You got your menfolk living here too?"

[sharktoothtotem]

"Thanks." She took a sip and made a mental note to get Dean a few bottles of the single malt she had at one of her safe houses back home. One was a good 50 years old.

"David doesn't know that they're blood, it keeps them out of sight a while longer at least." She knew it would be a matter of time, but until then, the fact that they had changed their names was also helping. Nathan and Sam Morgan no longer existed.

She had been thinking about it though. Only people she really cared about back home were her uncle, Gramps and her Dad. But she wasn't even sure how she could really protect them. At Zack's question she shook her head. "No, they're on a hunting trip last I heard they were in India. I want to ask them about things, but I don't want to draw David to them. And I won't go to the Brotherhood, I think they're trying to protect me as much as they can, but I don't know if I can trust them. I've been trying to come up with a plan so that I can move here, and still slip over to see them. Thinking if David thinks I'm dead... Well he wouldn't have a reason to go for them." Her hand went to her shark tooth. "And I'd keep something potentially dangerous out of their hands."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

At the number seven billion, he goes to say something, his brain stalls, and he stops and starts a sentence a few times before he just holds up a finger and downs his coffee instead.

Man, he hopes life doesn't beat that optimism out of you, Tay. Or that your world is just not as harsh as his. However, there's a bigger issue here. "Keep what out of their hands?" It hasn't escaped his notice how you hold onto that thing. Drew attention to it during their first meeting, too.

[ablacksun]

It's a great conversation killer and Zack reckons it also beats Dean's best deflection tactics by miles. Light years, even. He still kinda hopes Dean won't stop calling him 'kiddo' though.

Zack hasn't missed Taylor's hand on the pendant either, but Dean asks first. So instead, Zack tells her, "when you know where they are, send someone over to bring 'em. Someone this David doesn't know. You got friends here." That last sentence isn't a question. Dean is obviously a friend. Zack's letting Taylor know he sees her as a friend too, and is prepared to be one.

Zack won't offer to go without first consulting Dean, but he would do it.

[sharktoothtotem]

She took off her choker at Dean's question, carefully removing the shark tooth, showing a hollowed area in the back. "It's an Isu artifact, or part of one, it has jagged edges so I think it was broken at one point." She pulled the gold item that was glowing brightly from the tooth. "It's what David is looking for. In the hands of someone like him, he'd... Well he'd probably try to become the one and only world leader. Mom's people, the Brotherhood, would hide it. I, still haven't used it. It calls to me begging me to, but, I'd rather be it's guardian." She kept it in cupped hands, a sliver of gold only about two inches long, glowing with almost what looked like a heartbeat to it's pulse. Though she was willing to let both men see it.

"Isu... Are the race of beings that existed on Earth before Humans, at least if you believe the lore." She watched the pair.

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

There's a small rash of irritation that he doesn't let show on his face or in his voice, Oh yay, more shop talk, which he stamps down on mentally.He wants to help, he needs to help, this is not like him at all. "What's the lore?"

He's also pointing at the pulsing thing hidden in the giant shark tooth. "And you know I gotta ask what hte hell that is if it ain't magic. because it looks like magic." Yeah, okay, he's calling you out on that bullshit excuse now.

[ablacksun]

Curious as ever, Zack peers at the small glowing sliver. It seems to breathe.

"Is it alive?" he asks, dead curious now, and unable to fathom anything about it in this human form. He can't even say it's magic for sure. "What's its power? What does it do?"

Zack finds Dean's sceptical tone amusing, and bites on a thumbnail to stop himself chuckling.

[sharktoothtotem]

"For this? The texts that were in the temple where I found it said it would aide the bearer in some dark hour type thing. So it is part of some sort of weapon. Though I don't think it was completed. Or if it was, I'm worried that the people who raised me might have the rest of it." She glanced up at Dean, then at Zack. "And I'm not about to let them get this piece. I saw the damage that a completed artifact could do. It's why the Church controls most of our world. People like the man that raised me find artifacts and give them to whomever they have running things. The Pope, is just a puppet ruler that they get rid of once he isn't useful anymore."

"And it's not magic. It is energy, low grade radiation, low levels, you get more of a dose of harmful radiation frim sunlight than this gives off." She looked at Zack. "Honestly I don't know how it works, I just know that I really don't want the asshole that raised me, or the Brotherhood getting it. One would use it to take away the human's right to free will, and the other... I just don't trust them as much as I trust my family of thieves. You two are the only other ones right now that know I have it. I didn't even tell my uncle or grandfather, and I tell those two almost everything when I check in."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"So... what if it just disappears somewhere else? No way to find it or get to it?" He has taken in the information she's given him, and honestly a church-ruled world ain't exactly high on his list of things that need to happen; even if it's not in his world. He also may or may not be thinking of the bunker, being nigh-impenetrable to basically everything that you wouldn't want having anything like that. As Zack said, they're friends and he does want to help, even if he's mentally bitching that he can't even have breakfast without something cropping up. "They can't find out you have it if you don't."

[ablacksun]

If Dean has a good hiding place, at least the object can't be taken from Taylor, but it doesn't mean they won't come after her, or her family. Or that they'll believe Taylor doesn't know its location.

"We should do both," he ventures. "Hide that thing and get your kin to safety. Or destroy it. That'll end any argument." Zack can be a bit of a blunt instrument, but removing the problematic and dangerous object from the equation makes sense to him.

[sharktoothtotem]

"They don't know that it's found now. And most of the research I did with him, I destroyed his copies, and hid mine, to access it they need me." She rubbed her arm, where usually the bracer was. "Only information I couldn't hide, they need someone of my bloodline to walk around in my memories. And well I don't have a kid, so they can't look. Apparently they need someone who is descended, doesn't work the other way, but getting stuck in that machine they use... I'd rather not have to deal with that again." She closed her eyes. "Being blind for a week sucked."

"Though, I know it can be taken off world, it still being with me here is proof. I'm willing to try. Uprooting my family though... I mean it's just three people, but those three have lives. I don't know if they'd be willing to just uproot and start from scratch."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

It's the kind of logic he can't really argue with, so he doesn't. "Fair enough."

He shrugs, although probably looking a little confused at the whole thing. Memory walking and machines? Blind for a week? Sounds way above his pay grade. Just... give him monsters. Nice and easy. It's still way too early in the morning for all this. "Well, if you need a place to dump it in a hurry, you know where to ask. I guess the main question is what're you doing about your immediate problem? Hanging with Megatron for the foreseeable?"

A thought occurs to him, and with a small sigh somewhere between tired and frustrated, he also aims "and speaking of immediate problems, I'm shopping today. If you need anything, write a list." at Zack without really looking at him, as he's busy making headway on the coffee. Zack should know who he's speaking to and why. Hopefully.

[ablacksun]

"Better uprooted than dead." Being human has driven that home, and Zack can't help being his usual blunt self. He still thinks the thing should be destroyed but knows it's not on to wreck other people's property.

He too balks at the machine thing. Advanced tech generally goes way over Zack's head, unless he can see the thing, and if someone explains how to use it. He can handle the PINpoint and its little icons, or speaking into it. Dean was patient while showing him, and Zack does have a sharp mind, he can figure things out pretty well once he has the basics. Going blind though... that's not good tech, surely?

"'Kay," he responds to Dean, draining his coffee and fishing in his pocket for the PINpoint. He's grateful to his friend for not letting on that he's illiterate, and will repay the favour by not discussing the mountain of stuff they probably need to shop for. "Want me to come with you? I can help out."

After three cups, he's feeling very lively and willing to assist.

[sharktoothtotem]

"He doesn't have a problem with it. And I stayed on the beach the whole time, Megatron's lace was still a good half hour walk from where..." She nodded. "I'll be there, I want to make a trip home for some things, but that can wait." She slid the sliver back into the shark tooth. "And if I go back I'll leave this with you and hop over to Tokyo instead of Honolulu, I can get most of what I need there and blend in slightly better."

"The line of business I'm in back home... We could die any moment. Half my scars are from the ocean throwing me into a coral reef, the rest... Getting stabbed and shot is just part of the job. To be good, you have to make sure to have to be quicker than the others, or stay useful until backup arrives."

Though they were right, she wanted them safe at least. And the Brotherhood's motives. "I'm seeing about building a place further down the beach honestly. Was thinking a beach shack. I may have to make it a little bigger if I'm bringing my family over."

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

"He has a point." It may be fantastically blunt, but Dean ain't exactly a master of tact either and he's not going to call him out on just that as it wasn't wrong or insensitive - I.e. it's exactly what he would say next anyway. "The beach shack aounds like a good shout, though. There's also a dude who owes Loki a favour, which he's said I can use. If it comes up before you manage, I can call that in."

It's probably going to surprise neither that he's got on well with the god of mischief. It may be more of a surprise how they bonded, if Dean cared to share, which he doesn't overly. It's inconsequential to the entire discussion. "And sure, I'll hang onto it whenever, just give me a shout when you need me to."

He contemplates the offer of help for a minute, then shrugs with a small smile towards Zack, grateful of the lack of comment. "Sure, if you ain't got nothing better to do then crawl around shops with me. Your call."

[ablacksun]

Tay's line of business sounds like Dean's. If either could die at any moment, only Dean won't... so Zack says nothing. Or he might inadvertently start blabbing about the mark, and that's not for him to bring into any conversation.

Tact. He totally has it.

Except when he doesn't.

Instead, he winces at the mention of scars and coral reefs. "Human bodies hurt," he grumbles, more in solidarity with Tay than anything else. Walking into the door when half asleep is uncomfortable enough. Being cut to ribbons in salt water doesn't bear thinking about.

"Not in the mood for the usual stuff," he tells Dean. Zack really is feeling good and awake now, so he gets up and starts clearing the dirty plates.

[sharktoothtotem]

"I'll have to talk to them about it." She had a feeling one of them might come over, but all three might be pushing it. Though hearing Loki's name she giggled. "If he's the one that Megatron knows, I know him only by what I've been told." Though she did get serious again. "Would be nice to actually build one. I did one before, back home, there's a small lagoon that friends and I bought. I know it would be safe from David at least. We built a small resort that has a certain client base that he wouldn't dare attack." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I have a soft spot for kids, and the kids there, are all disabled, but the lagoon gives them a chance to swim with wildlife that they wouldn't normally ever see." She gave a warm grin. "And my name isn't on the place, I just help fund it with my hunts."

She chuckles again at Zack's comment. "Yes, Human bodies do hurt. Though there's some pain that is worth it. My scars, meant I survived. I wear them proudly.

[has_a_phd_in_teddybear]

He shrugs a little bit. "No idea, he was never mentioned and the only robot I met was the guy who was a jet but... also not? Pink hair on his... Holo-something. Avatars?" That sounds about right. "Besides the point. Could be him, but might not be. The beach shack sounds awesome, kinda sweet you would do something like that for kids you don't know. Makes the scars worth it, eh?"

Dean looks to Zack, and gives his eyebrows a wiggle as he says "And so you know? chicks dig scars. Or fellas. Whatever." Ragging on him a little bit? Maybe. All the playful smirks as he grabs the dishes. "And yeah, that's cool. I'll help Tay back whenever she's ready and we'll go."

[ablacksun]

The talk of robots pricks Zack's ears up. "I met Soundwave," he tells them as he wipes the table over. "Talks a lot. Patient though, and empathic. Either of you know him?" Soundwave had been kind while Zack had a meltdown over being not-free. He might be crushing a little.

While he cleans, Zack is thinking about beach huts, children, and kindness.

There seems to be a lot of that in the Nexus.

He grunts at Dean's comments about scars, enjoying the attention of a bit of ragging, but playing to it with his usual gruff manner. "Got more of those than I should. Surprised I haven't been mobbed."

[sharktoothtotem]

"I haven't met that one Dean. And I heard of Soundwave from Megatron. He's a friend of my host's." She added. "And the scars bit Dean said, I will totally agree with. Because sometimes the story of the scar makes people more interesting."

"And I'm fine getting back to Meg's don't worry Dean I'll be fine getting back, it's a sprain not a break. I don't think I'm going to run into a mob of treasure hunting asses in the mile and a half it'll take me." She tucked the hair from her face. "I promise I won't do anything stupid for at least 24 hours."