[color=007236]"How does Smith drink this crap?"[/color] Noreen asked herself, her head seated on a table with her body just behind it on a chair.  In her hand was a mug of coffee.  Noreen for one couldn't stand coffee, but she hadn't gotten much sleep last night, so the caffeine would have to do to keep her up.  Noreen for one much preferred rum.  At present, she was admiring a picture of a fictional pistol.  Firing 13 millimeter custom-made explosive shells with mercury tips, it was 39 centimeters long, 16 kilograms in weight, with 6 rounds per magazine.  If only a weapon like this would exist, and if only Noreen could fire it just once.  That would be something to look forward to.  Maybe it was something she could try getting custom-ordered if she saved up her paychecks?

Pouring the rest of the coffee down her neck to drink it and making a sour expression that spoke volumes of how she didn't like the drink, Noreen picked up her head and made her way to the sink, carrying her head under her right arm and dropping off the mug in the sink.  Noreen also made sure to grab a can of beer on the way out of the kitchen.  After drinking that crappy coffee, she needed some quick alcohol in her.  It would keep her awake, at least long enough to meet the boy that was going to be in their protection from now on.  What kind of person was he again?  Some kind of science student, right?  Neat.  Maybe he was into engineering and could be talked into making Noreen some sick new weapon.

[color=00aeef]"U-Ummmm... hello? Is anybody here? This is Kyosuke..."[/color]

Oh, speak of the devil!  That would be him now, wouldn't it?  And Smith said she could address the boy however she wanted, right?  Just don't hurt him, and make sure nobody else does either.  Easy.  Tucking her head in under her arm just long enough to pop open the beer can before switching back to holding it in her hand, Noreen started moving toward where she heard the voices.  Seemed Charlie was pretty quick to show up to this boy's side.  That was a harpy for ya, Noreen figured.

[color=007236]"Don't scare the human, Charlie,"[/color] Noreen grinned once in earshot and the same room.  Pouring some of the beer down her throat, the dullahan continued [color=007236]"He's probably jittery after getting almost killed.  Man, for somebody to plant a bomb just for one guy..."  [i]If only everybody could be so loved.[/i][/color]  With a friendly nod toward the human boy, the dullahan wrapped up with [color=007236]"Name's Noreen.  I'm the weapons expert around here, and I also used dabble in fortune-telling sometimes.  You've got a girl out there down the line."[/color]  Noreen's past expertise in fortune-telling was, of course, a lie.