Kin Contact

[hazlogs]

It is currently 15:11 Pacific Time on Tue Jan 28 2003.

Currently the moon is in the waning Crescent Moon phase (28% full).

Currently in Saint Claire, it is mostly sunny today. The temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.23 and steady, and the relative humidity is 71 percent. The dewpoint is 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.)

Ebony pages: *cellphone rings*

You paged Ebony with 'Salem here."'.

Ebony pages: *slightly muffled* "'ey Salem, s'Ebony. Got a couple'a minutes? Kinna need t'talk t'you."

Long distance to Ebony: Salem grunts. "Fine. Your place?"

Ebony pages: Sure thing boss. See y'inna few.

You paged Ebony with 'Right. *click*'.

Whispering Pines - Jeremy's Apt

This apartment gives a look of high expense, not in the building itself, but it's contents. The walls and ceiling are painted pure black, and the carpet matches the darkness, save for some off color fuzz, being that it's a pretty new carpet. Across from the door in the living area is a large black entertainment center consisting of a not suprisingly black 42" TV, a large fully digital stereo system with CD and tape players, AM/FM stereo, a setting for the TV, and a useless setting called 'phono'. There are various gaming systems tucked into the entertainment center as well, baring names like Dreamcast, Playstation and Playstation 2, various systems with the word 'Nintendo' upon them... 3D0, NeoGeo, and finally something called a 'colecovision'. This system is complemented nicely by a high quality Bose surround sound speaker system. Two black leather couches are on the left and right of the living area, angled at the entertainment center. A large chest rests on the ground between the couches and the entertainment center, working as a foot rest. The only sources of light are the LEDs on the stereo, the TV, and a small blacklight bulb in the fan in the center of the apartment. A door to the right of the apartment leads to Roger's bedroom(+view) and the small kitchen is visable on the right side of the apartment, almost a part of the living room. The kitchen is lit up by a hallogen lamp, resting next to the front door, pointed towards it.

Salem's knock comes about a half hour or so after the phone call.

Ebony is somewhat expecting this, so he's not on his computer, instead lounging on the sofa. "S'open," he calls out, after glancing up at the door monitor.

Salem enters, taking off his sunglasses as he does so; the tall Philodox is well-bundled in coat and gloves. "Afternoon, Ebony," he greets smoothly; the moon's thin, and the rage has subsided to a dull roar in the background. He closes the door behind him. "So. Is this about UL, or something else?"

Ebony waves a hand languidly to the couch. "Somethin' else," he replies genially, rising from his own sprawl and heading for the kitchen. "Wanna drink 'r somethin'?"

Salem's mouth thins out slightly, but he answers genially enough. "Water's fine." He shrugs out of his coat and takes a seat on the couch, legs stretched out.

Ebony returns from the kitchen a few moments later, with a glass of orange juice, and another of water. The latter is offered over to his Elder, before he settles down in a chair. "S'like this," he begins, casually enough. "I met this other kin, a couple'a days ago. She's not gettin' much contact with 'er own Tribe, 'fer one reason 'r another, an' she wanted t'know if I could put 'er in touch with someone 'o could tell 'er more about what's goin' on in St Claire. Figured it weren't really my place to, so I guessed I'd ask you."

Salem arches an eyebrow. "Hm." He takes a sip of water. "Nothing wrong with one kin giving another information about the city, but I'd be happy to meet and assist her. What tribe is she kin to?"

"Get 'f Fenris," Ebony supplies. "She's engaged to one'a them...can't 'member which, though. Thought maybe I'd give you th' heads-up first, instead 'a just givin' her yer number. S'ok if I call her up now, an' invite her over?"

Salem frowns slightly. "Engaged... is her name Elisabeth, by any chance?"

Ebony mmhmm. "That's her, yeah," the kinsman replies. "Know 'er?"

Salem grunts. "Met her. Helped her and Jamethon rope in a Get cub." He shakes his head and sets his glass of water down. "Go ahead and call her. Frankly, I'm surprised at Jamethon, but I suppose he's been too bust organizing a Dancer hunt." This seems to bring a sour taste to the Walker's mouth.

Ebony plucks his cellphone out of a pocket and dials up the appropriate number. He's just as informal with Elisabeth as everyone else, the entire dialogue on his part consisting of 'Yo Beth, s'Ebony. Wanna come over 'fer a bit? 'f got Mr Salem 'ere, an' he's happy t'talk t'you about stuff.', then a short pause, before the other conversant hangs up. He sets his cellphone aside and voices, "She'll be over in a couple'a minutes."

Salem nods, settling back on the couch and crossing his legs at the ankles. "How's Jeremy been, by the way?"

Ebony sips his orange juice. "He's been ok," the kinsman responds. "Busy, workin' a lot. Poor guy's swamped, at work. They need all th' hours he can give, an' he's not yet sayin' 'no'. How's stuff with you an' th' other roachies?"

Salem grunts. "As well as can be expected. I'm planning to call a meeting of the tribe sometime next month, perhaps after the Sept cleans out the UL warehouse. Nothing especially exciting, but we need to get back in touch with each other."

Ebony hehs quietly. "Count me in," he agrees. "Whenever. Can take th' day off work if it interferes. Figure family's more important."

There is a knock at the door and those glancing at the monitor, will see Elisabeth standing on the other side.

Salem's smile is crooked and sardonic, and it vanishes when the Get kinswoman knocks on the door.

Ebony glances up and, as with Salem, calls out that the front door is open, and for Elisabeth to just come in. "So y'said y've met her, mm?"

"Once," affirms the Glass Walker, as he gets to his feet. "If it's the same woman."

Elisabeth

The woman before you is tall, standing a height of 5'10. Elisabeth's age seems to rest somewhere between her late teens and early twenties. Her facial features are strong and somewhat rectangular, with slightly raised cheekbones, small chin, and hawk-like nose. Beth's hair is straw-blond, with streaks of darker brown hairs running through it. The woman's eyes are a beautiful ice-blue, perfectly set in her pale face. Physically, the kinswoman is impressive. Regular physical activity, having blessed her with toned muscles and an athlete's grace. Her hands, if one bothers to look at them, are covered in a series of small scars and the palms are toughened by physical labor. On her right hand, a golden engagement ring encircles one finger.

Currently, the woman is wearing a pair of blue jeans, a form fitting white top, and a leather jacket. Her feet are clad in leather boots, the type favored by bikers.

Elisabeth steps inside, giving the apartment a quick once over. Attention finally settling on Salem. "Evening."

It's easy to tell this is a Walker's apartment. Yep. Technology all over. Ebony lifts a hand in casual salute to the other Kin, offering a cheerful, "'ey Beth."

"Pleasure to meet you again, Elisabeth," Salem greets smoothly, extending a hand. "Ebony here says you've had some trouble hooking in with your tribe?"

Elisabeth shrugs easily, before extending her hand and skaing the offered on firmly. "You could say that. They're never around."

Salem resumes his seat on the couch. "That must be frustrating... considering that one of them is your fiance." His tone is polite, if a touch bland.

Ebony listens for a moment, then gestures to his glass of orange juice, silently offering Beth a drink, if she wants one.

Elisabeth sighs softly, fustration showing through rather clearly. "Yes. It is. I would like to some of the other Kinfolk in this city. Get more involved with what his happening."

Salem nods. "Laudable. Ebony is much more, mm, personable than I am, and I imagine will be glad to introduce you around to the other kin. If you're definitely interested in being involved, I can add you to my list of contacts... someone to call when information's needed, or something else needs doing that kin would be more suited to than someone like myself." He reaches into his coat -- which is currently draped over the back of the couch -- and withdraws a slim black notebook. "Do you have a telephone number where you can be reached?"

"Thankyou Ebony," Elisabeth murmurs, as she accepts the glass of orange juice. "Yes. That'll do." She rattles off a phone number.

Salem scribbles it down quickly, along with a quick note, then flips to an empty page to write his own number down. Just the number, no name or anything else. He tears this off and offers it to the woman. "My cellphone. If it's not on, leave a message and I'll get back with you shortly."

Elisabeth takes the offered piece of paper and folds it into a neat square, before slipping it into a pocket. "Thankyou. Are there many kin in the city?"

"There's at least five," Ebony pipes up, cheerfully.

Elisabeth ohs. "You, your roomate. Who else?"

"Me, Jeremy, this other chick I know called Tia, Rhiannon - another 'a th' Walkers, an' you," Ebony counts off on his fingers. "And a whole bunch'a canine Kin down at this place the Gnawers use."

Salem takes a sip of water after putting away the small notebook. "I don't think the Gnawers' dog-kin will be of much help to anyone but the Bone Gnawers," he notes mildly to Ebony. Then, to the Get kinswoman, he says, "There's a _human_ Gnawer kin named Meiran who runs the Yellow River Medicine Shop. I haven't met her personally. There's Rina as well... our previous elder's widow."

Elisabeth nods, storeing the name in memory for later use. "I see. Would it be possible to get contact numbers, for these Kinfolk?"

"I can give y' Tia's number, if t'like. Jeremy can be contacted here, an' I think y've got th' flat number, right?" Ebony prompts.

Elisabeth hmm-hmms. "Yes. I have the number for this place."

Ebony nods. "A'aight then," he murmurs, scrolling through numbers on his phone, and then offering it over to the other Kin once Tia's number is on the screen. "Here y'are."

Elisabeth takes out her own phone, quickly punching in the numbers. "Thankyou."

"And Meiran's shop is in the phone book, or should be," Salem says, toying with his water glass. He studies the woman thoughtfully. "Tell me, Elisabeth. Is there anything in particular that you're interested in? Any skills or talents I should be aware of?"

Ebony sips the last of his juice and voices, amusedly, "Scarin' the everlovin' shit outta' wimpy Walker Kin."

Elisabeth crosses her arms, considering the Walker for a moment. "I'm a mechanic. I can fix anything on two too four wheels. I'm a professional kickboxer. First place in the College tournaments back home."

Salem glances sidelong at Ebony. "That's _my_ job," he deadpans, and then turns back to Elisabeth. "Where are you employed?"

"Currently," Elisabeth asks. Part time at a bike shop." She rattles off an adress. "I'm working on getting a job at a jym, teaching kickboxing or self-defence."

Ebony just /eyes/ Salem for a moment, a split-second of uncertainty touching the kinsman's expression before he relaxes into a grin.

Salem nods. He takes a sip of water, thinking. "Would you be willing to give lessons to other kin who are interested? Or even cubs? The less, mm, angry ones, at least, and on the thinnest moons of course."

Elisabeth grins, shifting lightly from one foot to another. "Sounds like a rather good idea, to me." Actually, the woman sounds more the eager. Then again, she is a Get of Fenris Kinfolk. That Tribe is always spoiling for a fight.

Salem smiles thinly, not showing his teeth. "Excellent. I'll pass the word along."

Elisabeth nods. "Good. I'd enjoy doing that."

"In fact," continues Salem, his manner completely serious, "I'm sure that Ebony will be at the top of your list of eager students."

Elisabeth's eyebrows lift, as she turns her head to reguard the kinsman.

Ebony's brows arch, somewhere between bemused and mischevious. "Absolutely, Mr Salem," he agrees, tone deadpan. "Between work an' sleep an' research, I'll have hours t'spare on learnin' how t'look after my junk 'f a car." A pause, and then, "Though, I can't say I'd object t'spendin' more time with Beth." The latter, decidedly in jest.

Salem's lips curve into a faint, wry smile of amusement. He finishes his water and gets up. "As I said. Top of the list." He heads into the kitchen to put his glass in the sink.

Elisabeth snorts. "I believe he was talking about kickboxing, skinny-boy."

Ebony snickers amusedly at the other Kin. "Uh-huh. If you can turn me, epitome 'f geek, into a fightin' machine, then yer a miricle worker," he replies.

Elisabeth looks the kinswoman over, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. "Probably. Given time, I could make you look like less of a stick."

Ebony absently peers down at himself, patting his loose hoodie. "Mm. Maybe," he agrees dubiously.

Elisabeth shakes her head, looking the kinsman criticly. "I could set up a weights program for you. You could use some muscle mass and toning."

Salem returns from the kitchen. "I'm sure you'll do admirably, Ebony," the Walker Elder says, briskly. He looks to Elisabeth. "You might wish to speak to the Gnawers as well, since I'm certain that their cubs could use some lessons in human-form fighting, too. Meiran's niece Lyra in particular."

Ebony just...snorts, giving in to the pressure. "A'aight, a'aight. I'll see what I can do," he agrees. "No promises though."

Elisabeth's nose wrinkles. "Gnawers? Honestly, they're a little... disgusting as a rule."

Ebony points out dryly, "You would be too, if you lived on th' streets. Give 'em a break."

Salem keeps a straight, neutral face, but glances sidelong at Ebony for a brief moment. "Lyra's hygenic," he tells the Getwoman dryly. "And has a noble heart. She also sleeps in a bed, with her aunt, and bathes regularly." He picks up his coat from the couch and shrugs into it.