#earthrunes

Another groan

August tries the door, just in case it's unlocked.

It is not locked! And he can go in if he wishes

though it may scare the hell out of the mortal inside

He taps at the door, eases it open. "Hello? I'm here with your friend. Are you ok? My name is August."

After announcing himself, he eases the door open a little more; there's no way anyone would be startled, at least.

"Freen? I..."

Velvet opens the door further so she can be seen, and waves. It can be hard for sluagh to be heard so she shoots August a grateful look for his voice

The girl is about Velvet's age, and she looks miserable. There is a fresh needle mark in her arm, and the flush on the daughter of eve is not natural

"Oh" says the woman, looking at Velvet "its you... I'm just a bit .. out of it.. don't want to be in it"

August, with his Scouting training, assesses the scene; any obvious dangers? The mortal is clearly under the influence. Does it seem anyone else is there? Weapons in reach?

There is a knife, sharp, clean, and on a table. No one is holding it. No one else in the area

August takes control of the knife, moving it well away. Then he approaches the girl. "Hello, I'm August. Do you mind if I help you?"

"Are you here to kill me?" She laughs "That would help" The laugh is brittle, as if it breaks if it touches anything sincere

"It would not" Velvet fusses "such an end to your story would deny ... well, the story itself, the worth of it "

And the handsome young black-haired man with Velvet gives her a heartbreakingly gentle smile. "No. I'm not here to kill you. Velvet is right, that won't help." He reaches out slowly, giving her time to withdraw... and if she does not, he takes her hand in his.

She doesn't... "You're cute, naive but ...do I know you?"

They've not met, but it is possible a part of her senses his fae nature in her drugged state

The hands are in contact

"I don't think I've had the honor; I'm sure I would remember." He looks into her eyes, getting a feel for her pupil's reactions. He might also be holding her hand in such a way he can feel a pulse.

The pulse is rapid, a bit too much so. She's warm.

"Call me Vera B" The woman says "Velvet, why is he here? I don't want an audience"

"He is here because he knows better than I how to say things" Velvet says "I need his help to help you"

"Please, don't think of me as an audience; think of my as a friend, for I would like to be." he says gently.

"You can't help me, every day is miserable, every moment a drain. Even drugs just create a buffer... and then... well, that buffer wears thin" Vera B says "Just.. I'm just taking up space"

"What did you take?" still soft and gentle.

"Bit of molly, bit of vanilla sky" She answers "Dealer said it would help. It does, but not long"

"Vera, I believe in you." he says with a gentle squeeze of her hand "I want to help you, and so does Velvet. There are resources we have. You don't have to decide now, or do anything... except let us help you live a little longer. It does get better. Will you let us help?"

"I tried... I'm tired of trying. Can't you let me make it 'over'? I think I'm all out of try" she says and looks about briefly as if seeking an exit and finding none

August suspects she was looking for the knife

As far as she can see, it's gone.

"Then let us try for you, hm? Why don't we make some choices for you? You don't have to be responsible for now, if you don't want to be. We'll do it."

"That's.. not fair to you is it? It's me that's fucked up my life" Vera B insists

"Tish tosh, we're not interested in fair.. we're concerned for you" Velvet says "And... sometimes I like bossing people about."

That makes Vera kind of laugh, weakly

(Charisma plus Empathy(or Persuasion) for August)

/roll 7

Vera looks at August "Okay... but... no .. no rehab center. It's not the drugs, its me. Deal?"

He gives her a charming mock-scolding look "I thought you didn't want to try? No decisions? Let us take care of it? Tell you what, no rehab for -now-, ok?"

"Velvet you know I was trying to kll myself before drugs" Vera B says

"yes... I know" Velvet says "but they're no longer helping anyway so ... let us try something else besides them"

"Fine... okay.." Vera B says "You two make the choices... "

Velvet nods, "We will." Then looks to August "Take her with us? Or.."

August nods. "The Free Clinic."

Vera B looks guarded, but Velvet whispers "August knows folks there , you won't be forgotten. Now, let us give you a lift. Lean on us if you need to"

Vera B nods and lets them help her up

"You won't be forgotten, you will be seen and helped, and you won't be packed off anywhere." August promises firmly; his pro bono legal work and church volunteering have given him contacts at the Free Clinic. He knows a guy.

August helps Vera if she needs steadying, and together they gather a few things for her and lock the apartment up as they head down to the car.

She does need help. Searching finds more drugs, and at least one poison (not counting drugs) and a rope that is far too useful for noose. Vera had been 'shopping'. Fortunately, they can make sure those things don't go with her to the Free Clinic.