(([@Pree]))

Cas set off to do the rest of what she needed to accomplish that day in the way of deliveries.  First she stopped by her place to drop off her groceries, but shortly thereafter she was once again hitting the streets, heading across Enigma.  She made sure to check her drop boxes for any notes from people wishing to employ her services in passing, as she did every day, even the ones she didn’t work.  Everything was carefully recorded in her notebook -- client name, delivery, date, any relevant information.  She kept detailed files, everything from the person hiring her, the package recipient, and parcel type to pick-up times, delivery receipts, and any relevant details about the people or job -- anything and everything she might want to recall later, or for future deliveries.

By the time she checked off all but the last two of her deliveries, it was several hours later in the afternoon.  She’d saved these two for the end deliberately.  Working with Ms. Susan was always rather tense, especially at the beginning.  The woman was far more suspicious than the girl, and she’d had decades to refine her paranoia.  But the encounter went as smoothly as might be hoped, and Cas left the Slums carrying a box she knew contained a number of children’s books.  It didn’t take her too long to reach her destination.  The courier shifted the package to one hand and knocked on the door of Kharlee’s bookstore.

Kharlee was staring at the new security shutters that ran up and down all the windows of the bookstore. There were four of them now, all working between two posts and marine grade materials that weren’t going to break apart at the sign of fire. The bookshelves were moving around with the slightest touch, Kharlee had seen [i]The Mummy[/i] too many times to want anyone to knock all the book shelves down. Endre wouldn't clean that up. Kharlee definitely couldn't. 

Endre had wrapped her wound up again, and she had promised not to fiddle with it. She didn't mind Endre not being there, knowing she would have to accept he wouldn't be there at every part of his life when her parents died. He would have to move on too, to other things if not to other worlds. She had her hands on her hips, her hair tied back into a pony and wearing a construction hat. The workers looked at her a couple of times between every movement that they had to do. Her eyes lit up bright blue as she asked, “Is me being here distracting your men?” she asked the foreman as he tried to keep his chin up looking at her face. 

When she heard the door knock she growled, [color=lightcoral]“THERE IS NO ONE IN THERE. DO YOU WANT TO CATCH ON FIRE?”[/color] It was not a threat that she would set someone on fire, she was after all putting in mechanisms to protect the building from fire. But her mannerism changed when she realised it wasn't a customer, but a courier. With the children’s books. [color=lightcoral]“You,”[/color] she said, half flying to the girl. [color=lightcoral]“You are the delivery girl,”[/color] she said, making an obvious statement. [color=lightcoral]“Do you have more books?”[/color]

Cas was startled when the voice didn’t come from inside, as expected, and had to silently count her breathing to keep herself calm as she turned to face the harpy.  [color=thistle]“I do,”[/color] she answered, nodding at the box she carried.  [color=thistle]“But I’ve told you before, Ms. Kharlee, I’m not a girl.”[/color]  She glanced in the direction from which the other had come.  [color=thistle]“What’s going on?  Aren’t you normally inside at this hour?”[/color]

[color=lightcoral]“Yes, yes, [i]boy[/i],”[/color] Kharlee replied, but pointed to the windows as she excitedly took the children’s books. [color=lightcoral]“Making the place a little more ... fireproof,”[/color] she said, looking at the human girl. Boy. How did this one not fear for its life constantly, and dare to go out among the outer world. [color=lightcoral]“You are human, yes?”[/color] she asked softly. Kindly almost. 

[color=thistle]“I...yes?  I am.”[/color]  The young woman regarded the shutters with polite interest.  [color=thistle]“You have reason to believe a fire might break out here?”[/color]  She’d not heard of random fires breaking out anywhere in Enigma, save for that one time someone had left one unattended in the Slums.  That had been a disaster.  Well, that wasn’t entirely true, but pissed off fire mages or elementals didn’t really count as random, and the blazes were usually dealt with swiftly.

Kharlee sighed, petting the little girl. BOY. She had to remember to say that. She put her hand on the tall one’s head. A bit shorter than Cas when it came down to it.[color=lightcoral] “If anything bad happens, come to me. I will try to help,”[/color] she told the little, yet big creature. Kharlee didn’t like seeing people get hurt. [color=lightcoral]“I know people,”[/color] she just said, nodding. [color=lightcoral]“Unless you kill someone. Or do something bad. Don’t come to me then, I would be in trouble with Endre.”[/color]

The courier danced backwards, moving herself out of petting range.  The touch made her decidedly uncomfortable.  She knew the harpy, yes, but didn’t think of the monster as a friend, and even from friends she was reluctant to allow much physical contact.  But Kharlee’s words were surprising.  While the woman was always eager for book deliveries, Cas would hardly have described her as nice, nor thought her to have much concern for the welfare of others.  [color=thistle]“Ah, that is kind of you…”[/color] she said, looking at the harpy with an odd expression.

Kharlee didn't mind the person moving away. She assumed if she were human she wouldn't be a big fan of monstrosities either. She really wished people would get along. Maybe she was staring too much, maybe her eyes were too blue. She shrugged and said, [color=lightcoral]“Anything else, BOY?”[/color] She wanted to be nice to the little creature, let alone she get hurt while anything was happening.

[color=thistle]“Yes, actually.  Endre usually handles it, but there is the matter of payment for the books, and the courier fee.”[/color]  Cas opened her bag to pull out her clipboard and a pen, making a few notes on the first sheet before pulling it free.  [color=thistle]“Here is your receipt, and I need your signature here,”[/color] she said, indicating the right place on the topmost of the papers still attached to her clipboard, holding out her pen.  The girl glanced at the newly-installed shutters again, hesitating a moment before she followed with a question.  [color=thistle]“Is there...something going on that I should be aware of, when I bring the next set of books?  Trouble in the neighborhood, problems you are anticipating…?  I doubt it would change delivery fees, but I do prefer to be aware of what’s going on, so I can provide prompt service and avoid damage to parcels.”[/color]

[color=lightcoral]“I wish I knew,”[/color] Kharlee said, taking the little docket and signing it with her initials. She frowned at it, and took some money out, having some lying about as she was paying the construction costs. She was making the entire place a lot more secure. She raised her head up at some priests who had come forth and just nodded to them, looking at the little girl. [color=lightcoral]“I’d do my best to stay out of trouble if I were you,”[/color] she said a bit solemnly, paying the girl as she backed off.

The courier swiftly squirreled the money away.  She’d separate it into her pay and what she needed to give back to Ms. Susan later, somewhere less open.  [color=thistle]“I always do, Ms. Kharlee.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me, should you need my services before your next scheduled delivery.  Have a nice day.”[/color]  Cas tugged the brim of her cap and bobbed her head politely, before heading off.  Privately she wondered what had happened, that the harpy was flameproofing her store, and acting so differently.