#elsewhere

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DOCKING BAY 94

It took a little doing, but the security guard is on his way back down the dock, with a wave to Kerri as he goes.

The easy part was convincing the security guard to ignore the teenagers scuttling around. "Oh, they're always trying to get into some mischief around here."

The hard part was convincing him that he couldn't get her number. Poor guy, then again, he's only (some fraction) of her age. It was a compliment, really.

It's certainly not the first time somebody's tried to make a play for her. As long as they mind their manners, she doesn't mind.

Oh, Officer Bob was disappointed, but very gallant.

...Then she sees her, a short, pretty redhead, running towards the water.

Are those wisps of smoke?

Hard to tell, it's dark.

She waves and smiles back. Then the smile fades as she turns to try to find the kids...and sees her.

Kerri takes off running after her.

She collapses to her knees at the edge of the dock and reaches for the water, shoving her hands in.

Kerri hurries up, and she catches the scent of burnt flesh. "Oh, no. Here, let me help."

It is, of course, saltwater. A cry of pain.

"Here, here...give me your hands..." Kerri's kneeling by her, her hands making swirling, stirring motions to start gathering glamour.

She turns to see another Troll, and winces, but... what other option does she have. Trembling, she pulls her hands up and offers them to Kerri.

OUCH. No first degree burns here, a bit of lotion. Nor second, ah, that will need a blister pack. No, these are third degree burns, right into the meat. It must be... well, it would be excruciating, except that she's lost some nerves for certain. Still around the edges, excruciatingly painful!

The kind of burns that make Dirk say, "Hey, who's BBQing?"

Kerri's face becomes a mask of composure. "Yes, that's bad. Try your best to hold still. I think I can make it better. Take deep breaths."

Is that a shape burned into her hands?

Kerri lets go of Cairrean's hands, and gestures as if she's holding a bowl in one hand, the glamour swirling near her palm. With the other hand, she dips her finger tips into the glamour, and then gestures as if brushing the glamour along the clurichaun's palms. Long, slow strokes.

The bunk gives her plenty of time to look at that shape. Can she figure out what it is?

A curve, two curves, opposed at the top, and the lines coming to a point at the bottom, and the deepest part of the burn, blackened in a slash through the middle.

Kerri frowns, but she continues the bunk. The cantrip isn't proving enormously successful, but the wounds are starting to heal somewhat, perhaps enough to sooth some of the raw nerves.

A shaky sound of relief as the wounds start to heal. "Thank you." She whispers, staring at her hands. The healing starts, and then flickers... the skin closes, but a shiny patch on each palm remains - a scar in that shape.

Kerri nods, still inspecting the healing. "It's a start. Another round might help. What happened?"

She's in healer-mode. If that weren't the case, she might well be shaking this girl to find out what she's done with the others.

"A cantrip got away from me. I don't know how. I've handled this art a hundred times, I know it like the back of my..." She trails off, flexing her fingers carefully to make sure they work.

Ah, she got cocky?

"Hm." Kerri sits back on her heels. "I think you tangled with something you didn't understand. Now you've got a reminder to keep with you. Where are the others?"

The gentleness has gone from her tone.

"Excuse me? I understand my art inside and OUT." Clurichauns have a proud streak, and this one is no exception!

Then she snaps her fingers, or tries to, then winces at the sudden pain. Stupid "That nasty whart's-her-name - she interrupted me! That must have caused it..."

"Your art yes. Your realm, not so much."

Kerri interrupts, saying sternly, "Where. Are. They."

"Don't go in there." She warns the lady even as she nods towards the small building down the way. "I don't know what's going on, but it can't be good. Also, it was already crowded A-F. Bumper to bumper with trolls."

This is said in a tone that clearly is being helpful, and oughtn't you thank her for it?

"I'm not afraid of crowds. Lead the way." She makes a gesture indicating that, yes, Cairrean is going to go back in there.

She plants her feet. "No. WAY."

"Not willing to face the consequences of your actions?"

"I have self preservation, thankyouverymuch!"

"You think I can't protect you?" A tone that suggests that this better not be what Cairrean is thinking.

"We had a deal, me and Ms. Blondie in there. I work the magic, and then I walk away. My FEET are just fine, and I intend to use them."

"If she agrees that you had a deal, you're free to go."