"You used to pack with JJ Malone, didn't you?"

[hazlogs]

It is currently 17:43 Pacific Time on Sun Dec 14 2003.

Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous Moon phase (60% full).

Long distance to Daniel: Salem leaves a message then. "You know who this is. I'd like you to reconsider your feelings about Renee. She's having a bad time right now, and could use a friend." He pauses a beat. "Think about it." *click*

Harbor Park -- Fountain

Situated in the center of a large, open meadow is a clustering of six trees, a flower bed, a few steel-and-wood benches set firmly into concrete, and a flagstone courtyard that is dominated by a large fountain.

The fountain is a wide circular pool of water some fifty feet across and about five feet deep in most places. The sculpture in the center is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern: eight concrete-and-stainless-steel slabs about six feet high are set in a rough Stonehenge-like circle around the center of the fountain. Water flows from their tops, cascading in bright mesmerizing sheets to the pool below. Rising above the steel circle is a large marble statue of the Water Bearer, an androgynous figure draped in robes of flowing water. It bears a large jug carved with various Greek symbols, from which pours a seething torrent of water into the pool at its feet.

Cars on the nearby street have an excellent view of the park as do any residents of the tall buildings which line the waterfront.

The murky waters of the Columbia River flow swiftly along the east side of the park. Bracketing the park to the west is First Street and the city of St. Claire. Recent construction work is creating an earthen berm several feet high all along the borders of the park in all directions.

It's a foggy, cold early evening in good old St. Claire. Salem stands near the fountain, bundled up in his big black coat with his hands stuffed deep into his pockets and the hood of his sweatshirt covering his head. He appears to be studying the sculpture, his expression abstracted and thoughtful.

The glow of Cutter's cigarette is what likely first draws attention to him as he moves toward the fountain. Wrapped in his own big black coat, he trudges up the path from Bridge Street.

Salem looks up, his gaze fixing on the Shadow Lord, and his mouth twitches into a thin, sardonic smile. "Just the man I wanted to see."

Cutter tenses briefly. "I hope that's a good thing," he replies as he moves closer. "Like you wanted to see me, and not beat the crap out of me."

Salem utters an amused-sounding 'hmph' noise and shakes his head. "Wanted to talk to you. You used to pack with JJ Malone, didn't you?"

Cutter dips his head. "Did the best I could. Ended up having the pack die out from under me. Alpha of one."

Salem grunts and nods. "I'm forming another pack," he says, folding his arms across his chest. "Or, rather, Signe and I are. A city pack. Interested?"

Cutter says "Might well be. Jarred's also talking about a pack." He glances over his shoulder. "Sell me on it. What do you want to do?"

Salem's mouth thins at mention of Jarred. Broad shoulders lift and fall. "That's open at the moment. I'd like to see what talents we have to pool together before cementing down a goal."

Cutter purses his lips. "Honestly, I'm a little reluctant to pack with Jarred seeing as I might end up taking the tribal eldership from him. That could be socially awkward."

Salem's eyebrows lift. "Mm. Yes, it would." He pushes his hands back into his pockets. "I'm planning to recruit Jean as well, if she's interested. Think she would be?"

Cutter says "I think that she ought to get into a pack. I also think that she should have been taken to the caern sometime before last week. She wants to be an asset and hasn't been given the opportunity."

"I agree," says the Glass Walker evenly. "Admittedly, I've not had good experiences with your tirbe in the past..." A thin, wry smirk. "...But Jean's impressed me somewhat and the fact that Malone packed with you is as good a reference as any, in my opinion." The smirk fades. "Signe's a little leery, but she wants to meet with you two. I'm sure she can be persuaded." He shrugs.

Cutter winces. "I'm sure I didn't leave as good an impression on her as I did with JJ. But I can be very persuasive when the situation calls for it. But I want it to be a bylaw that packmates are not allowed to pop each other's heads off like daisies."

Salem utters a brief, amused 'heh'. "Duly noted." He wrinkles his nose, glancing off at a passing car, briefly. "Don't make any decisions yet, anyway," he says, turning back, his expression serious. "Wait a day or so before you decide. You might change your mind."

Cutter shrugs. "If Signe kills me then I probably won't join. And I still want to know what you want to do with the pack. You planning to head it up?"

Salem's lips thin. "...Probably, yes," he says, after a moment's thought. "Unless Signe has serious objections." He grunts. "Maybe even if then."

Cutter rubs his nose with the back of a finger. "So if she doesn't eat me and she doesn't challenge you and Jean says go, who else are you looking at?"

"Charlie," Salem answers. "Fianna from Boston. Tatt's back in town... theoretically. I don't know if she plans on staying." His eyes narrow thoughtfully. "I've got a cub that'd do, too... once he's Rited. Which shouldn't be long." He shrugs. "You, Signe, Jean, Charlie, and me should do well for a start, though."

Cutter says "Okay. So skills. I'm not much for fisticuffs, but I have friends on the Other Side. Plus I seem to get along with people a little better than most Garou."

Salem nods. "With you and Jean, we'll be well-suited for that sort of thing. The Other Side. And Signe and I can handle the heavy bruising. Which leaves Charlie, who's a dark moon sort of person, if I remember correctly."

Cutter says "Sounds like a reasonable balance there." He temples his fingers, almost melodramatically. "Possibly leaning toward a sort of Urban Guardian role."

Salem inhales a breath and lets it out slowly. "God knows the city could use it," he mutters. He cocks his head, eyeing the Shadow Lord Theurge. "Do you know anything about Rough and Tumble? Renee's pack, mostly Gnawers?"

Cutter shakes his head. "They're centered out of the zoo. They watch the park. They've got a freak baby. Damn thing bit me. They seem to be the closest thing this city's got to a pack right now."

Salem's mouth thins at 'a freak baby' and he nods. "Something you should know... because the rest of the Sept will find out soon enough anyway. That freak baby is Renee's. Renee's and Craig's." He frowns a bit, though his expression's hard to read. Mixed. "Pre-change accident."

Cutter blinks, startled briefly. Then he nods. "At least it was an accident. Leonard know yet? He seemed pretty het up on it."

Salem's face is easier to read now. It's grim, and there's anger not so far down under his skin. "He knows. Yi told him. One of Renee's packmates."

Cutter says "So do we know what the Alpha's going to say? Or are you the judge for this one?"

Salem shakes his head. "Megan's judge. I... knew about it, you see." He shrugs, a nice bland expression settling on his face as he studies Cutter's reaction.

Cutter cocks his head and furrows his brow. "That doesn't sound good. Is she pissed? Or had you known about it because you did a judging?"

Salem inhales a breath and lets it out. "I knew about it because I found out she was pregnant and questioned her. And I kept it quiet, because..." He shrugs. "You know how some people are, accident or not. Besides, my silence meant she'd have it rather than aborting it." Ruefully: "I didn't think she'd keep it. And I didn't think she'd be foolish enough to bring it to a _Moot_."

Cutter licks his lips. "And I know how Megan feels about metis. Sounds like you may be in for a spanking." He sounds more sympathetic than scolding, but he's mostly 'better thee than me pal'.

Salem shrugs, subtly tense. Well, the moon's still pretty fat. "It wouldn't be the first time."

Cutter stubs his cigarette out on his boot sole and tucks the butt into a coat pocket. "You have any idea what she's going to decide on those two? It was an accident so they'll probably live."

Salem nods. "I think so as well. Megan's not in a culling mood. As for what she'll decide... I don't know. She's... very traditional, and you know how her people get about matters of honor. It doesn't help Renee's case any that she's done some serious lying since Leonard started his crusade."

Cutter shakes his head. "No. That doesn't help much. I wouldn't contradict an elder philodox on a matter involving the litany, and hindsight is amazingly helpful, but maybe she should have gone public."

Salem grunts. "Hindsight's fucking useless. Maybe she should have, yes. She was scared. And, frankly... I didn't have much faith in the Sept's compassion." He shrugs sharply, glancing off toward the river. "When in doubt, I perfer to keep my mouth shut."

Cutter lowers his eyes. "Like I said. You were there, I wasn't. And it's a stratagem I'm certainly in favor of."

Salem looks back at Cutter. "Good," he says quietly.

Cutter says "So. Before I say anything else stupid, maybe I should go."

Salem manages a wan smile. "Right." He takes a breath and straightens a bit. "Pass the word on to Jean if you see her before I do?"

Cutter tips his hat briefly. "Will do. I'll also keep an eye out for Signe."

"Excellent," says the Glass Walker. "Be seeing you."

Cutter fishes in his pocket for another cigarette and waggles it in farewell as he turns back toward the street.


Cockroach Mansion -- Elder's Office

Phone call.

"Yes?"

'tis Daniel's soft american-accented voice on the other end. "I got your message, Mr Salem, about five minutes too late."

Salem's voice is guarded. "...Oh?"

"Uh-huh." The accent fades to a more recognisable Englishness. "She found me just as you were ringing. Kinda had my hands full at the time. I'm still in one piece though, and she seems happy to see me dispite."

Salem sighs. "That's good, at least. Did she tell you what happened?"

Daniel sounds grim. "Yeah. What's going to happen to her, Mr Salem?"

Salem answers honestly; he sounds rather tired, really. "Truthfully, I don't know. She won't be killed -- I'm certain of that. Neither will Craig or Squeaks. I don't think they'll be driven away, either."

Daniel exhales softly, the sound relieved. "Good. *pause* I didn't wake you did I?"

Salem grunts. "No, I was just getting home."

Daniel uh-huhs quietly. "Was there anything else, Mr Salem?"

Salem grunts again. "...No. Nothing else. You, er... adapting all right?"

Daniel sounds faintly pained. "Inasmuch as it could be said to be right. I haven't killed anyone, at least."

Salem hmms quietly. "That's something. Listen. If you need any help... don't hesitate to ask." Stubbornly: "You're still Family, and always will be."

Daniel mms quietly. "Alright. And you, you come to me if I can possibly help you, okay?"

Salem hehs. "Will do. Be well, ah..." _Did_ the kin-vamp mention his new name to the Walker Elder?

"Daniel, Mr Salem. Daniel smith. Walk with Her. *click*