Poking the Bear

[hazlogs]

Date: Friday, 9/20/2002

Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 65 degrees
Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the
northeast at 8 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.14 and falling,
and the relative humidity is 39 percent. The dewpoint is 40 degrees
Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Full Moon phase (93% full).

Location: Harbor Park, by the fountain.


Renee is seated at one of the benches, sketchpad on her lap. Her hands move
over the page restlessly, adding lines to the pages.

Alicia heads into the park on a pair of roller blades, skimming along on the
sidewalk, hopping over cracks and bumps in her way. She has on a pair of
knee pads and wrist guards, and her hair is dyed blonde and red now.

Renee purses her lips and continues sketching, not paying to much attention
to the world around her.

The roller blading Gaian leaps into the air, skids her wheels along the back
of a bench, then lands perfectly on her feet without so much of a wobble.
She spots Renee out of the corner of her eye and spins herself about,
calling over. "Yo!"

Renee nearly jumps out of her skin, the sketchpad slipping from her fingers
and hitting the ground infront of her. The Gnawer looks around wildly, then
focuses on the Gaian. "Hey, Alicia. Yo. Whats up?"

Skidding to a stop before the Gnawer, Alicia slips down next to you,
unshouldering her sneakers. "Not much, just getting some exercise in. Hey,
wanna know a sure way to get in good with the Elders?"

Balur walks tired, the kind of walk a tourist lost on the street for hours
might have. He seems to be heading towards the fountain. In one hand, he
holds a small bound daytimer sort of notebook, and there is a pack slung
casually over his shoulder. Tired as he may be, he seems rather happy.

Renee bends over and picks up the sketchpad, closing it to cover her latest
drawing. "Huh. Yea sure. What?"

Leaning forward so that the conversation is between the two Galliards,
Alicia says in a soft voice. "Sepdet is seeking out Garou to take shifts for
one month to patrol the bawn, kinda like a rotation process. She's looking
for volunteers before she starts seeking 'em out. Show some gumption?" She
says in a murmur.

Balur finds a bench a bit away from the other two to plop himself and his
butt down in. With a weary sigh, he heaves his pack to the ground and rubs a
shoulder. His dark eyes watch the park, often drifting over the other two
here.

Renee drops the pad on the bench beside her, before leaning back and draping
her arms over the back of the bench. "Be interestin', ab' I'd like to help.
I ain't that good in the woods, ya know. Tend ta get lost."

Alicia nods her head. "You won't be the only one out there. Kinda like
playing musical guardians." Shifting her eyes some to the pad, she caught a
glance at the picture, then blinks, snagging it quickly with a fluid motion,
peering. "....."

"Hey!" Renee yells indignantly, jumping onto her feet and making a grab for
the sketchpad. "Hey, gimmie that! Its mine!"

Dancing back quickly, Alicia holds the pad away, blinking, staring at the
picture. ".. What the hell? Renee, this is my Ben!" She says, jabbing her
finger at it, poking the paper. "... I.. um... what... err... "

Renee snarls, hands curling into fists as she advances on the taller woman.
"Gimme that back now. Or else."

Balur opens his book onto his lap. Slowly, a hand reaches ito his coat
pocket and rumages there. A black pen is extracted and Balur uncaps it. His
dark eyes then drift over from where he is looking and drop onto the two
chatting folk. He watches their doings..

"Or what? You ganna bite my ankles. Simmer down." Alicia says in a hard
voice back at her, glancing from her to the picture, then back again.
"Why're you drawing my twin for?"

Balur looks down and makes some notes. When he finishes, he returns to
watching.

Renee goes absolutely rigid for a heartbeat as she snarls. "I'll do more
then bite your ankles off! Give me that back now!" With that, the Gnawer
aims a sucker punch at Alicia's gut.

Already anticipating the on edge Gnawer to throw something at her, knowing
her rep, Alicia is already stepping backwards, quickly swatting out with a
hand to knock her strike away. "Tell me why you are drawing him first. I'm
serious Renee."

As her punch is blocked, Renee follows up without pause. The Gnawer is very
sensitive about what belongs to her and the moon isn't helping matters any.
The Gnawer throws herself at the other Galliard, literally.

In the dimming light of the city park, Jarred saunters into the area, hands
in his pockets as he eyes the Gnawer once again loitering in the park. He
approaches quietly, saying nothing, even as the Gnawer's aggression becomes
apparent.

Balur sits quietly on a bench by himself, not far from the action but
definatly not in it. He has a book open on his lap. The book appears to be
the daytimer sort. At his feet is an overstuffed pack. Once and a while, he
can be seen taking notes and then returning his gaze to the fighting ones.

"Whoa, hey!" Yi's voice rings out, coming from the opposite end of the park
by the river and running towards the fighting pair.

"MMph! Bitch!" Alicia says as she hits the ground, rolling herself backwards
quickly upon instinct, and trained, if not drilled into, by John. She lifts
her knees as she goes, attempting to flip the Gnawer clear over her head
with the momentum, pushing hands up into her shoulders. "Chill /out/."

Balur quickly starts taking furious notes, trying to write while keeping one
eye on the action.

Renee grunts as the other Galliard's feet connect with her stomach and she
goes flying, rolling as she hits the ground a short distance away. Bruised,
but undaunted, Renee gathers herself back together and just glares at
Alicia. "Give it back, now!"

Jarred moves into the area, still slow and calm, allowing the two garou to
settle this in their own way. His brow lifts as the Gnawer makes her demand.
The his glance moves to Alicia.

Alicia rolls back to her feet, blades actually, skating an inch or two back.
"Renee, I'm dead serious here. Why ya drawing my bro for?" She closes up the
book, dusting off the cover, then hands it out to her, eyes narrowed,
determined and serious.

Yi puffs out a breath as the momentary clash is just that. Her approach
slows, and she adjusts her sweatshirt before walking a bit more calmly
towards the two galliards, catching the Coggie's question. Dark eyes turn to
Renee, wondering just what's going on.

Renee continues to growl, teeth bared in a snarl. Her eyes focused on Alicia
as she stiffly approaches the Gaian, a hand out to snatch the sketchpad
back.

Alicia lets her snatch it away, her own eyes focused in a cool glare upon
the other girl. She heaves in a deep breath, arms crossing over her
shoulders. She has yet to register that Jarred and Yi has came upon the
scene, or that Baldur is taking notes in the distance. She looks focused and
determined.

Yi isn't any halfmoon. Letting the chips fall, she just looks between the
two galliards and then around the park to see if they've got an audience. An
audience of one, maybe, with Balur off by the benches. "What's up?" she
asks, a little softer and a little calmer now.

Renee clutches the sketchpad to her chest and backs away, before checking
the item over for damage. Scowling at a small rip in one corner. She is
still inspecting this minor bit of damage, as she answer Alicia. "I draw
lotsa people. Whats yer problem?!" The Gnawer's eyes look back up, focusing
on the Gaian. "Don't. Touch. My. Stuff."

Balur looks up and stops taking notes as the action seems to wind down.
Slowly, his dark eyes drift over the others assembled.

Jarred smiles at that. Simple. To the point. He glances over to Yi, nodding
politely to her if she looks in his direction.

Shooting the Gnawer a glare and a roll of the eyes, Alicia leans over and
unbuckles her blades, one strap at a time, then slips out of them. "If you
are trying to make a pass at my brother, I'll put a boot up your ass so far
you choke on my shoe laces."

Yi does glance once at Jarred, and then back at the Coggie and Gnawer
talesingers. She shakes her head once, sticking her hands in the pockets of
her flannel-sweatshirt. "Whatever," she says in a very classic
learned-from-TV manner, slipping off towards the fountain to sit by.

Renee snarls. "Don't threaten me. Ya know just as well as I do, that you'd
have a hard time doin' that."

Jarred's grin widens at the Gnawer's backbone.

Alicia slides her shoes on, then turns her eyes, cutting them at Renee.
"Don't push it with me Renee. I wear a size Ten." She glances over to Yi,
faintly recalling her voice somewhere in that, then spies Jarred. Great, her
night keeps on getting better. Tossing her blades over her shoulder, she
ambles after the Ragabash Gnawer, huffing in a loud voice.

"And I bite," Renee shoots back, continuing to glare at Alicia as the Gaian
moves closer to the fountain.

Jarred chokes back laughter.

"Ankles." Alicia says back in a quick witted retort, coming up along Yi's
side, shaking her head. "Geezus Christ."

Yi hums something else to herself, turning her head to glance over her
shoulder as she hears the huff. The asian pauses, and then sits down on the
concrete of the fountain, palms planting behind her. "All this over a
harmless piece of paper," she chides aloud, making evident her note of the
situation.

Balur can't help it. -That- was funny. For a moment, he breaks, and a small
snort-snuffle laugh emerges.

At Alicia's comment, Renee actually pulls out a bowie knife that was tucked
into the back of her pants and hidden by the jean jacket. Bloody murder in
her eyes.

Jarred crosses his arms, cocking his head slightly. He looks as if he might
just allow this situation to escalate further, though the smile fades just a
bit as the knife is brought into the night air.

Balur's eyes narrow as the noise gets cut off in mid snuffle. Then, a very
small sadistic smile comes to his face. He begins to scribble more notes,
while watching with one eye.

Alicia tilts her head some, peering over at Renee with the knife. She raises
up a brow slowly, clearing her throat. Absently, she pats her jacket,
narrowing her eyes. There is also a moment of brief concentration, lips
tugging.

Yi stands up slowly, simply out of the fact that someone with a giant knife
is coming towards her, even if not aimed at her. "Renee, put the knife
away," she says quietly, "There's eyes watching." Hands drop to her side, to
show she's not doing anything confrontational either.

Dane looks around curiously, trying to figure out where the noise is coming
from.

Balur closes his book and looks at Yi..right at here. The expression dips,
the sadism gone. He cocks his head just a bit, and smiles a sweet smile. He
could pass for a midwest prom date right now.

The corner of Renee's left eye twitches and her jaw clenches, as she makes a
visible effort of trying to bring herself back under control.

Yi remains calm as she can be, one hand coming up (again slowly) to grip one
side of her jacket and adjust it again. "Just put it away," she says again,
keeping some eye contact. "Public scenes aren't good, you know."

"At least," the Shadow Lord intones, "you know that she was serious. Gnawers
do tend to value their possessions and territory, don't they. And this time,
a Coggie's natural wit and charm aren't quite enough to solve the problem. I
see your quest to become Fostern material is forging ahead with its expected
awkwardness, Alicia."

Dane slips closer to the noise and studies whatever is drawing all the
attention.

Unsure if Renee is still going to freak out or not, Alicia remains
defensive, staring at her, cool and calm. As Jarred speaks, she turns her
head towards him, raising up a brow. "Yi, is it just me, or is he speaking
about 'us' outloud for the world to hear? Ya'know, isn't that against the
rules or something?"

Balur is a bit away, but not too far. Reflexivly his head snaps over at the
names of the tribes. The eyes narrow. Oh yea. He knows.

"So, I said, 'kay, I have halfa grilled cheese sandwich, an' I can share,
but I'm gonna hafta find a lot more if I'm gonna feed everyone, Mister
Squeakers. And he squeaked, 'cause he's a rat, but I think he understood.
An' I'm not sure if Mister Mario's ever gonna figure out where all those
sandwiches went, but they were good, an' the babies liked them too."
Anneka's walking out along near the river, a wiry bundle of arms and legs,
bony knees and elbows, with a rat perched on a shoulder. "You woulda done
the same thing." The rat bobs up and down, this may be a sort of answer.

Jarred tsks. "Now, Alicia... you know we're all family here." he smiles
unpleasantly. "And what would you know of rules, anyway? You'd spent your
entire life breaking them with that same bovine dim-wittedness that has
always plagued your kind."

Salem stalks into view from the direction of Bridge Street, hands buried in
the pockets of his long black coat, the breeze tugging at his long black
hair. His face is utterly composed, tightly controlled under the full moon's
pull. His steps slow as he notes the tense gathering, his eyes narrowing.

The hand holding the knife shakes, as Renee tentativly holds onto what
little controls she has left. Spinning around, the Gnawer Galliard turns her
back on Alicia.

Yi's only movement is a switch from looking at Renee to looking at Jarred.
Her eyes narrow dangerously. "You really trying to spark a fire here aren't
you? Gods be bloody damned. For someone who's supposed to be higher on the
ladder, you certainly hit your head too many times on that glass ceiling."
She steps forward once, towards the fostern Shadow Lord.

"Jarred, don't you have anything else better to do then try and goad a fight
out of me? By the way, that guy over there was taking notes the entire time,
and he's about a short feet away from you, and listening quite keenly. Now,
if I were you, I'd try and figure out why he just wrote down everything you
said, word by word." Alicia says in a plain voice, pointing straight at
Balur, shrugging her shoulders. "Your mess, I suppose you can clean it up."
She turns and starts off, not really wanting to get into it with him.

Balur srands and puts his book into his pack. The pen goes there too.
Grabbing the straps, he hoists the heavy thing up and looks down at the
pavement. Softly, a strong voice speaks from the kid. "Because I am like all
of you" Then he looks up and again that prom date smile.

Jarred grins at Yi, then at Alicia. "You didn't take much time to smell the
air around you, did you, or look into his eyes and see his reactions to your
little spat? As I said, we're all family here." He glances back to Yi. "I
wasn't picking a fight. She needs to be put in her place periodically. I
consider it a sacred duty."

Salem's mouth thins into a grimace, the muscles in his jaw tightening. His
hands come out of his pockets as he starts toward the group, angling his
path to intersect with Alicia's. He's not quite in earshot yet, but he'll be
there fairly shortly.

"And whatever happened to 'respect those beneath you'?" Yi hisses below
outer earshot, clearly with annoyance growing. Must be the air indeed.

Dane coughs and steps into the mix. "Now then, what's all this about?"

Renee finally calms down enough to put her knife away, a light shudder
running through her body.

Showing to be the better Garou, Alicia doesn't fire back at Jarred's
comment. She continues on trudging forward, gritting her teeth, cooling
herself. Her face remains neutral from behind cooled lips, not even noticing
Salem approaching.

Jarred chuckles at Yi. "I'd respect her, if she realized that she /is/
beneath me..."

Balur drops the smile right there pretty much. Now he just watches.

Renee bends over and picks her sketchpad up off the ground, then begins
looking for her droped pencil.

Anneka turns in her course towards the gathering, her hands stuffed in
ragged pockets, her ugly sunglasses settled down low on her freckled nose.
The rat looks about, shiny black eyes on dark fur, the sandy-haired young
woman looks along at the ground ahead. "Okay, so I had alla the sandwiches,
an' that was okay, but there were a lot, an' how was I gonna walk 'round
with a buncha sandwiches without someone noticin'? 'Cause someone's gonna
sit there an' go, gosh, that's a lotta sandwiches, even if they don't know
what all th'sandwiches are doin' standin' around in the park." The rat
offers no comment.

Salem's good eye sweeps over the group -- the Galliard Lord, the three Bone
Gnawers (and his gaze lingers rather sharply on Renee and her knife, yes
indeed), the Child of Gaia Philodox... and the stranger. His gaze lingers a
moment or two longer on Balur, expression narrow. Then he turns away, moving
toward his Gaian packmate, speaking her name just loud enough to catch her
attention. "Alicia?"

Yi shrugs, shaking her head. "If she disrespects you, perhaps it's because
you don't deserve your face." The Gnawer ragabash turns off, to have a
better look at Renee and possibly calm the galliard down some more.

The name jerks her mind out of its concentrated wall, allowing Alicia to
glance over towards Salem. She pauses for a moment, then continues to keep
on walking, shifting a shoulder in a hitch. Her face is set in stone, lip
biting.

Jarred turns to Renee as well, not answering the raggie, since it's
generally fruitless to try and argue with them anyway. He said nothing to
the Gnawer, but it's clear he is in her corner in this particular
unpleasantness.

Balur feels the eyes and turns to look at the source. Then he moves his gaze
to Yi, and smiles that prom smile once more. "Good one. Mind if I use that?"

Salem briefly casts a look skywards, and for a moment the tense, controlled
mask of his face has a rather rueful look. Then he continues after Alicia,
quickening his step, long-legged strides letting him catch up with his
packmate easily.

Jarred calls over his shoulder without looking back at Balur. "As long as
it's not on me, whelp."

Well, well, well, what have we here? Or at least, that seems to be the
general look on Scuro's face as she approaches the fountain. Two books are
tucked under one arm, and she seems to be somewhat taken aback by the
surprisingly large number of persons gathered here.

Yi turns her gaze once at Balur, evidently not recognizing him. But since
Jarred's the one who's shot out the 'whelp' term, there is a short note made
mentally. "Whatever," she says again, before looking back to Renee. Anneka's
murmurings do get the ragabash's attention for a moment.

Renee grunts softly as she finds her missing pencil, stuffing it into a
pocket. Shoulders stiff and holding the sketchpad protcetivly close to her
chest the Gnawer begins to walk away.

Balur looks over to Jarred. The smile vanishes. It takes a few moments of
faceless concentration before the smile returns. "Hah!" A small pause.
"Whelp!" Another pause, and he quotes "You funny, Doctor Jones!"

[Salem follows Alicia away from the fountain, to another part of the park.]

Alicia continues on a bit, turns a few corners, then sinks down onto a
bench, pulling a knee to her chest, leaning into it. She sucks in a deep
breath, shaking visibly.

Salem rests his hands against the back of the same bench and leans against
it, the unscarred side of his face toward the Child of Gaia. He observes her
quietly, solemnly, not saying anything, presumably waiting for her to speak
first.

Alicia grips her hands tightly into two fists, to the point her knuckles go
from red to white. She bites her lip hard, blood trickling down the corner
of her mouth. Still shaking, she fights whatever it is inside that has
billowed up.

"What happened?" Salem asks Alicia, finally. His voice is very calm, very
quiet. Over the in-born lunar tension, he's got a facade that's cool as ice.

Renee isn't going to go anywhere near the two children of cockroach if she
can avoid it, as her feet hurriedly carry her through the park.

"Fucking Jarred, butting into my buisness for no reason, going off insulting
me for the fuck of it." Alicia says, voice wavering, choking. "I didn't even
say a fucking thing to him an he just started in on me, calling me worthless
an shit, telling me I'll never be a Fostern. An he's saying this shit
outloud, in front of strangers, then acting like its a not a big fucking
deal who hears." She grips harder at her palms, nails digging into her flesh
as she licks the bood off her lips. "I've half a mind to go home, get my
shot gun, come back an blow his fucking head off an then take a shit down
his gaping bloody throat. Son of a fucking bitch."

Renee climbs over the rusty fence and onto Bridge Street, quickly
disapearing from view.

Salem's jaw tightens, tensing as he straightens up from his lean against the
bench. "Jarred." He says the name with quiet venom, sounding as though he'd
been forced to eat a rotting weasel sandwich. He walks around and takes a
seat on the bench next to Alicia, his sighted side still toward her.
"Jarred," he says, firmly, "is a moron who should never have been Rited,
much less promoted in rank to Fostern."

"The stranger happened to be a Garou, but it was obvious Jarred never
fucking met 'em. He was out there, talking about the Garou as if it was just
alright, like it was no big fucking deal." Clenching her fists, then
releasing them, Alicia slowly draws in a breath, a tear revealed upon her
cheek. "I'm fed up with him treating me like shit. I'm tired of him bashing
my tribe, calling us mongrels, that we are beneath him." She hisses between
her teeth. "I'm sick of it Salem. He makes me sick."

Salem nods once. "He's a fool, a coward, and a murderer without honor." He
folds his arms across his chest, leaning back, arranging his tall form into
a faux-relaxed posture. He notes the tear with thinned lips, a flicker of
anger around his eyes. Then it's gone, carefully repressed. "Have you
considered challenging him? Not for rank, but for his..." He pauses with a
frown, fishing for the right word.

Alicia shakes her head. "No. Cuz he'll beat me at whatever he comes up with.
He knows how to get me. He knows how to hurt me without even touching me.
He'll do it. God, he acts like my fucking dad did." Wiping at her eyes, she
sucks in a slow, shattering breath. "All he would do is call me worthless
and pathetic, an then he'd beat me up an rape me. At least Jarred keeps his
hands off. But if I challenge him, he won't fight me. He'll be crafty, make
sure that something happens that I fail purposely, an he'll make sure that
its all my fault, an then throw it in my face."

Balur walks from the fountain, shaking his head just a bit to himself. There
is a small smile drawn on his thin lips, ,odtly he looks down at the path in
front of himself.

Salem's frown deepens; he acknowledges this with a rueful nod and a bitter
twist to his lips. "Yes. That's... very true. It's an old game, with his...
family. An old and very simple game, really." He shifts his weight,
stretching out long legs and crossing them at the ankle; again, the facade
of relaxation's just that -- a facade. "The solution for it is to make _him_
challenge _you_... but, be honest." He turns to look at the Child of Gaia.
"He's _not_ worth it."

Swallowing, Alicia nods, leaning forward to wrap her arms around Salem,
giving him a strong hug. Her features crumble a bit, sighing, closing her
eyes. "I know he's not worth it. I just hate the feeling of being pathetic
and worthless and laughed at. I really don't know where I stand in the eyes
of the Elders. I hate this waiting game." She blinks her eyes a bit, then
leans back away from him, smoothing down her shirt.

Salem tenses slightly at the hug, then shifts his weight on the bench again
and puts his arm around the Gaian's shoulders. The expression on his face
hardly changes, though it's less hard than earlier. "Mnh. Have you thought
of asking them? The ones worth asking, that is. Who would you challenge, if
you could?"

"Kaz.." Alicia answers without thought. "Kaz.. only Kaz... she is like a
sister to me. She'd be fair in her challenge, and still give me a good one
to make me work for it. She really cares about me too, she's not some
fuckhead who looks at me like a pissant. Kaz /rocks/."

Salem's mouth twitches; it's not quite a smile. "Then ask her what she
thinks, when she returns." He sits up, giving her shoulder a light squeeze
before he takes his hand away and folds his arms across his chest. "And, as
best you can, ignore Jarred."

"I ignore him an he finds it insulting, I speak to him he attacks me. I'm
kinda damned if I do, damned if I don't." Alicia says, slumping back against
the bench, huffing out a breath.

Salem snorts. "Let him be insulted, then." His eyes narrow. "Don't worry
about it. Fate will rise up to slap him soon enough."

Alicia nods her head slowly, then lets out a breath. "Thanks Salem.. for
listening to me. It took a lot of willpower to not rip into him or do
something stupid."

"What are big brothers for?" says the Glass Walker, dryly. "And I imagine
that's exactly what he was trying to get you to do. You did well, walking
away from it."

"Thanks." Alicia says, giving him a pat on the chest, then stands up slowly,
shoulders rolling a bit.

"Any time," Salem replies, making his voice sound almost lazy. The eye that
follows her movements, though, is sharp and alert. "Will you be all right?"

Nodding, Alicia glances back to him, her features muted some. "Yah. I will
be. I just need to beat the crap outta the punching bag I suppose."

Salem pushes to his feet. "I'd offer, but." He glances upward, toward the
full moon, his eyes narrowed. "There might be accidents." He slips his hands
into his pockets.

"Its quite alright. Not a good moon to be doing it on. Maybe I'll do
something juvenile and hire some thugs to egg his car or some shit." A
slight smirk upon Alicia's face. "Nah."

Salem's lips part just enough to display the edges of his teeth in a very
thin, utterly humorless half-smile. "Talk to Tatt. The woman is half a
coyote. She'll have some marvelous ideas for you, I'm certain."

Alicia blinks her eyes once, then simply grins, cruelly. OH, the look on her
face is simply classic. "Thank -you- again."

Salem bows slightly to the Gaian, the perfect gentleman, the gesture almost
quaint in its old-fashioned nobility. "You're welcome," he says as he
straightens up. "And walk safe."

"Ganna try to." Alicia says, turning on heel and starting towards the park
entrance, chin lifting up a bit, confidence reinstilled.

Salem watches her go; when her back's turned, his face settles back into a
neutral mask, with a hint of satisfaction around the edges. A few moments
later, he heads off himself, in a different direction.