Full Moon Snippy

[hazlogs]

It is currently 18:13 Pacific Time on Thu Dec 19 2002.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 41
degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The
barometric pressure reading is 29.68 and rising, and the relative humidity
is 96 percent. The dewpoint is 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waning Full Moon phase (98% full).

Big Red Barn

The barn is built in the old style, a vast three level structure that is
greater in height than a mere three stories, actually closer to five.
Great wooden posts support the weight of the upper levels and roof, sunk
into the hard-packed dirt floor of the first level like a sparse forest of
regularly spaced, naked trees. The stalls and flagstones which once were
here have been torn out to leave a rather open area where even crinos
Garou may roam freely without fear of running into anything but the
supports or the walls or the ladder at the back which allows access to the
other two levels.

The first two levels are relatively open to each other, the second being
only little wider than a catwalk going around all the walls but the front
one, which has massive, twenty foot tall doors set into it. The third
level is a true second floor except for a place cut out that allowed hay
to be tossed down to the ground floor when the farm was actually worked.
Now, it is a hayloft where Garou can sleep outside of the house.

Ebony chuckles quietly and shakes his head. "Don't even go there, kids,"
he responds, running a hand back over his shaven head.

Renee slowly gets to her feet, eyes darting to the Ragabash and back.
"I'll get his right, you can get his left."

Talk about timing. The barn door slides open and a dour-looking Jack Salem
stalks in, his hair wet and tied back into a ponytail.

Craig stands up as well, dusting off his pants with his hands. "Nah, you
come quietly, varmint," he drawls, feinting towards Ebony with an open
hand.

Well, the sight infront of Salem probably doesn't make him any happier.
Almost looks as if there are two Gnawers, ganging up on a single Walker
kinsman.

Salem pulls up short at the scene, and he does, indeed, look unhappy. His
eyes narrow, the dead one closing to a mere slit. "What," he says, "is
going on here?"

Ebony glances up towards Salem, his dark skin somehow paling a little.
"Just chattin' an' havin' a laugh, Salem," he replies steadily, though his
expression says he might just baulk at any moment.

Craig straightens up. "Jes' messin' around," he says, digging his hands
into his pockets and trying not to look too guilty.

Renee straightens up and crosses her arms, scowling as she turns to face
the Philodox. "Jus' goofin' Salem. Chill, would ya?"

"It's a full moon, or haven't you noticed?" Salem scowls at the trio, the
two Gnawers in particular. His next comment, though, is directed
specifically at the kin. "You're playing with fire, especially where _she_
is concerned."

Non-existant hackles lift and Renee growls, glowering at Salem.

"Um...fuck...sorry Eb," Craig says as he steps between the seething
Galliard and the kinsman.

Ebony rises carefully, absently brushing himself off and straightening his
glasses. "It may sound funny to you, Mr Salem, but I don't tend to boycott
my friends just because they're getting angsty over the moon. If I get
beat up 'cuz of it, then you're welcome to say you told me so, but until
then, or until I die, I'ma take my chances," he replies, his tone somehow
managing to be both deadpan and polite.

Salem's mouth thins. "That's an interesting point of view, considering
what happened to your father."

Closing his eyes briefly, Ebony replies rather coldly, "You can leave my
family out of this. My father died because he provoked an attack, not
because he sat around chatting. Give me some credit - I've got more smarts
than to get in a row during a full moon." And, as if proving his point, he
heads for the door rather than provoke the Elder.

"Flamin' anal jackass," Renee snarls, fixing her eyes on the Philodox.

"What the fuck..." is Craig's response as he catches up on current events.
"That was pretty fuckin' rude, rhya," he adds as Ebony starts to leave.

Salem steps aside, giving the man plenty of room in which to exit; his
gaze is following Ebony at the moment and continues to do so as he says,
off-handedly, "Shut _up_, Renee. Your past record in the self-control
department leaves a great _deal_ to be desired." He turns to face her
then, staring right back. Craig is ignored completely.

Ebony is rather stiff-jointed as he leaves, the usually-placid man stirred
to some emotion or another. Nonetheless, sticking to what he said, he
slips out of the barn without further protest.

Renee's lips pull back from her teeth, is something that would never be
considered a smile. "Try an' make me. Past history is one thing, current
reality is another. Odd ya know, how I get along better with some of yer
kin, then you do."

Craig doesn't press the issue with Salem-he's said his piece. Instead, he
starts walking after Ebony, intent on making sure the kinsman is alright.

"Not that far past," Salem replies icily, his posture stiffing with every
ounce of the regal, high-born arrogance that Renee has come to know so
well. "Jeremy may have a short memory, but I do not. Craig may be every
bit a Ragabash, but _you_ have a temper that's almost as quick as mine,
and I've yet to see anything that shows that you've got more than the most
modest skill in controlling it. Plus, as far as anyone knows, you're still
under the influence of whatever it is you got yourself contaminated with,
and you have _no_ idea what the hell that might have done to your head."
He pauses a beat in his lecture, glowering. "So forgive me if I get
somewhat _tense_ when I come in here and find you and your cub gleefully
starting a wrestling match as though you hadn't a fucking care in the
world."

Renee's nostril's flare and her teeth clench, as her hands curl into
fists. Barely controled Rage boils just bellow the surface, as the Gnawer
looks away. Unable to stand against the Walker's good breeding, which in
itself, demands a certain amount of respect. "Well, you could try treatin'
me with a certain amount of respect an' stop badmouthin' me ta my frinds
while I'm in the fuckin' room. As fer what was done ta me, I'm as worried
about that as you fuckin' are." The Galliard lets her eyes, meeting
Salem's good one for a split second. "An' I did not do anythin' ta get
myself Tainted. Still don't have a fuckin' clue as ta how it happened."

Salem grunts. "I didn't say you did it deliberately. I _do_ give you
_that_ much credit." He folds his arms across his chest. "Speaking of
which, did Andrea say how long she wanted you to stay out here?"

Renee shrugs and runs a hand though her blue-streaked hair. "No. She did
mention havin' a Mage look at me."

Salem's eyes narrow thoughtfully. "The same one that assisted us when we
took back the caern, I presume. Interesting."

Renee rubs at the back of her neck. "Wouldn't know." The Gnawers eyes
narrow, as she studies Salem. "What got ya worried 'bout me in the first
place, anyway?"

Salem lifts a brow slightly, eyeing her. "In which sense?" He reached into
his coat and removes his cigarette case, fishing out one of the handrolled
cigarettes and setting it between his lips.

Renee hooks one shoulder in a shrug. "Ta make ya want ta check fer Taint."

Salem lights the cigarette with practiced gestures and pockets both the
case and the lighter. He takes a few puffs before answering. "A hunch. You
mentioned that you were feeling watched, that you got bitten or stung by
something... you said you saw blood and you were close to the warehouse."

Renee scowls and cross her arms. "Don't remember bein' bitten or stung, or
tellin' you anythin' ta that affect."

Salem frowns. "You said it felt like you'd been jabbed."

Renee shakes her head. "No I didn't," she denies.

Salem exhales twin streams of smoke through his nostrils in an irritated
kind of way. "You did. My memory is quite keen. You may not _remember_
telling me this, but you did."

Renee scowls, shifting from one foot to another. "Got a perfectly good
memory," she mumbles. This bit of news obviously bothers her, alot.

"Maybe," Salem says, "but you were under an unnatural influence at the
time. It might have affected your memory. Such things are not unknown." He
leans back against the barn wall, gazing thoughtfully at the rising eddies
of cigarette smoke, his eyes narrowed.

Renee scratches at her cheek, as she is silent for a time thinking. "Loose
the memory, loose the reason fer worryin' an' bein' suspicious."

Salem gives her a short, brief nod. "One of the reasons why we work in
packs and such, after all. Checks and counter-checks." He inhhales a
lungful of smoke, slowly, and then lets it out, just as slowly; the act
actually seems to have something of a calming effect on the high-rage
former Ronin.

"Not enough fuckin' people in the city," Renee mutters in complaint. "Ta
get the basics done, let alone form a pack."

Salem hmphs. "That, at least, we can agree on."

Renee sighs. "Fuckin' fustratin'. Called a moot before this shit started.
Ended up with only a few Garou respondin', mostly Kin showin' up."

"Mm." The Walker takes another drag. "We're _usually_ outnumbered by
kinfolk," he points out.

Renee shakes her head. "Not in this city. Ya know that jus' as well as I
do."

Salem wrinkles his nose slightly, glancing down at her. "Yes, I know." He
flicks ash down onto the floor near his boot. "The Walkers aren't in much
better shape, numbers-wise. As much as it pains me to admit it." His tone
is cool.

Renee grunts. "Yea. Ya seemed ta go downhill kinda fast, after John kicked
the bucket. Personally, I'd like ta gather my Tribe in one place an'
collectivly kick their asses until they actually started goin' out an'
doin' shit. That an' I got two fuckin' cubs ta deal with. One that knows
squat, but is mostly willin' ta try. One I've cramed full of info, but is
tryin't ta pretend she is still human. Fuckin' crock."

Salem arches an eyebrow, then hazards a guess. "Craig and Lyra,
respectively?"

Renee shakes her head. "Aiyana an' Lyra. Craig is doin' fine. New an'
shit, but learnin' fast. Jus' haveta be a bit careful 'bout him an' the
Umbra. Kid loves it. You'd think he was a knife moon." The Galliard
scowls. "Aiyana spends too much fuckin' time with Jeremy, is hard as hell
ta track down an' doesn't come ta the junkyard fer trainin'. Like I told
her too. She asked me what a fuckin' Formor was yesterday, for Gaia's
sake."

The barn door creaks a little as it's opened, with Ebony poking his head
around. "'scuse," he mumbles, heading over to the corner he was sat in
before, apparently looking for something.

Salem glances up. It's quite a different scene from earlier; the pair of
urban Garou are conversing in a way that, if not warm and friendly, is at
least civil. The Walker flicks ash onto the ground again, nodding slightly
to the kinfolk before turning to Renee. His mouth takes on a sour little
twist. "We would _both_ like for Aiyana to spend less time with Jeremy,
but I presume that you don't want _me_ doing the persuading." His delivery
is deadpan, without any obvious humor.

Renee watches as the kinsman makes his way acorss the barn, brown eyes
tracking his movements. "Lose somethin', Eb?" She turns to attention back
to Salem. "Honestly, I couldn't give a flying fuck about her an' Jeremy
hangin' out. So long as she fuckin' puts some effort inta learnin' shit.
Said as much ta her an' all I got was bitchin', about how there isn't
anyone ta train with. Fuckin' pathetic. An', as soon as I start pushin',
she gets all cranky an' offended. Got no sense when it comes ta rank an'
doin' what yer fuckin' told ta do."

Ebony plucks something out of the hay near where he'd been sat; a small
case for glasses, by the looks of it. He takes his glasses off and tucks
them into it, before offering, "I spoke to Aiyana a day or two ago. She
mentioned the Rite of Passage."

Salem grunts in response to Renee's complaint about Aiyana; his opinion of
the Ahroun cub is clearly not high. "Did she? In what sense?"

Ebony straightens and walks over towards Renee, to loiter nearby. "She
dropped by t'see Jer. He wasn't in, so we got to chattin'...she seemed
pretty keen on her Rite when I asked about it." He shrugs loosely. "To me,
anyway."

Renee sighs. "She has the will, but not the skills. Not yet."

"...And Lyra has the skills, but not the will?" Salem looks from the
burning ember at the end of the filterless cigarette to the Gnawer
Galliard.

Renee scowls, looking up at the Walker. "Yea. Stuck between a fuckin' rock
an' a hard place. Gonna Rite Lyra an' hope ta Gaia, she has enough sense
ta come back alive. Be doin' some more prayin', in hope that she grows up
enough ta actually fuckin' pass. Aiyana... Don't know quite what ta do
with that one, yet."

Ebony coughs quietly. "Sounds frustratin'," he comments. "Have they ever
worked together on somethin'?"

Salem takes a drag on his cigarette. He remains quiet while Renee answers
Ebony's question.

Renee shakes her head. "Not that I know 'bout. Tryin' ta pin down one
of'em is near fuckin' impossible. Haven't managed to grab both of'em at
the same time. Not taht I haven't fuckin' tried."

Ebony crosses his arms loosely. "Maybe y'should. Collar one, an' talk
about it, then the other. Let 'em work themselves out. Maybe Aiyana 'll
motivate Lyra, an' maybe pick up some skills in the process, eh?"

Renee snorts. "Look, Eb, ya manage ta get the to of'em together in the
same place at the same an' I'll happily give that a shot."

Ebony grins faintly. "One thin' I'm learning doin' my manager trainin' at
work. Renee, is that sometimes, y' just gotta let 'em get on with it. See
'em individually, an' make /them/ work out when they're gettin' together.
Saves you the stress, an' gives 'em more responsability t'deal with. I
figure only if they don't do anythin' about it, you have to get involved."

Renee grumbles and crosses her arms, but appears to be giving the
sugestion some thought.

Ebony anyways. "I gotta get back to the flat an' get changed before work.
Startin' at ten sucks ass," he murmurs, excusing himself with a cordial
nod towards Salem in the process. "I'll be back up in a couple'a days,
'nee."

Renee nods. "Thanks Eb. Was good ta see ya."

Ebony slips out and heads home.

Salem finishes off his cigarette and stubs it out against the bottom of
his boot. He nods toward Ebony. "I'm going inside for a bit."