"You may yet be of use to the Garou, but you are of no use to _me_."

[hazlogs]

It is currently Sat Dec 20 2003.

Currently the moon is in the waning No Moon phase (19% full).

The Zoo -- Gnawer Turf

The Glass Walker contingent arrives in the person of Salem and Rina, the former driving the rust-orange Yugo that he seems so attached to. The unlovely little European vehicle is parked across the street. Salem looks around, then leads Rina into the Zoo -- entering Gnawer turf without any sign of fear or worry.

Near the entrance to the zoo, Raul lurks. He's in Crinos and is cradling the metis cub on one hip, keeping her entertained with half a basketball. Just half - the other part is Gaia only knows where. She seems to be enjoying chewing on the thick rubber, though. Once the two Walkers have entered he stalks down the hallway to the cage, apparently expecting them to follow. His ears are folded back against his head and Squeaks growls a bit at the tense vibes.

Salem walks straight and tall, light on his feet despite his size, unintimidated, his expression blandly neutral. He keeps close to the kinswoman as they follow the Crinos with the metis pup.

Rina's jaw is set, her expression too grim to pass for neutral. It grows less pleasant still at the sight of the Crinos and his charge. Her jacket is half-on, only draped on the left--the reason is clear enough, her left arm cradled in a canvas sling with a cast covering her hand almost to the fingertips.

Yi is not tense. She hasn't moved for hours. She was tense earlier though, having had her attempted break-out session. The glass left from the broken beer bottle is all but brushed to the corner. Now she simply sits, waiting, thinking about who knows what.

Fixes-Stuff opens the cage to let Salem and Rina in, waking Renee up via their pack link and telling her that "guests" are here. He himself says nothing, save to sooth the Mule with some high-pitched growls.

Before you stands a towering and rather hairy beast, right out of legend. Easily eight and a half feet tall, this creature resembles the werewolves of old, save for the fact that he's stood right here, very real.

The Garou's overly-muscled frame is covered by thick black fur, patterned here and there with flashes of white or ginger, a stripe of grey appearing over one shoulder. Large teeth and even larger claws also make something of an impression, his lupine face often snarling or growling, making him seem all the more fearsome. Only his eyes, a sharp icy blue, betray some form of human-like intelligence.

Rina's shoulders give a visible tic at the low sounds, but her eyes focus on Yi, intent and dark, a scrutiny that is notably not hostile. She steps past the bars, giving the young woman a nod; the touch of concern in her eyes is the only break in her businesslike expression.

It takes some time for Renee to respond to her packmates call, eventually shuffling out of her room down the hall. The Galliard's hair is disheveled, eyes red rimmed, and oddly unfocused. When she sees who the visitors are, she comes to a stop and blinks blearily.

Salem, for his part, seems not the least bit sympathetic. His manner is cold, all business... there's even a strong sense of distaste in his body language. He stops facing Yi, nostrils flaring at the rather gamey smell of the makeshift cage, then turns to see Renee. His mouth thins into a tight, grim line as he makes a beckoning gesture.

Fixes-Stuff comes into the cage as well, keeping Squeaker entertained. He sits down against one of the walls, cradling the mule in his lap and generally making sure she's pacified so she doesn't start gnawing on a guest instead.

Yi's eyes open slowly once the feeling of being surrounded returns. Being watched. Still, she doesn't particularly move. Only her eyes, briefly unfocused, turn to watch those in her view. No greetings come from her.

Renee's eyebrows scrunch together and she seems confused, as she tries to organize her thoughts. Leaning against the wall for support, she eyes the Walkers warily and doesn't move any closer. "What are you doing here?" She rasps.

Rina gives Renee the merest glance over her shoulder, and then looks back to Yi, her dark eyes intent. "We're here to resolve this matter between Three-Blades and the Glasswalkers. Scar has some words, which I'll pass on."

Fixes-Stuff raises his muzzle at that. ~Scar can speak for himself,~ the Theurge rumbles, though it comes out as an almost hyena-ish high frequency squeaking. ~He has been punished and should not attempt to /circumvent/ that punishment by remaining silent.~ For his part, though his ears are folded back, he feigns indifference to his own affliction.

Salem reaches -- slowly, of course -- into his coat and withdraws a couple of folded pieces of paper. He nods once at Rina's words; Fixes-Stuff is, simply put, ignored. He looks to Yi instead, making sure that she is awake, aware, and paying attention.

Yi does move at that. A slight straightening of the spine, and then she rises to her feet. She seems expectant of her fate. One might even think, honored, to finally be released. The ragabash clenches her jaw, waiting, staring with bare blinks.

Rina tips her chin up, her eyes narrowing as she regards the Crinos, lips pursing slightly in a not-at-all amused Mafia-don smile. "If one of you would be so /courteous/ as to translate?" Her right hand goes out, palm-up, to snag the sheets from Salem; she does not look away from the Crinos, however."

Renee just isn't all there at the moment, as she shakes her head in an attempt to clear it.

Fixes-Stuff does not seem inclined to simply be ignored, continuing to rumble in that high-pitched manner, ~How noble of a Philodox, to try and avoid his punishment when it came about because of _his_ suggestion.~ Yeah, so he's being a bit disrespectful. It's not like he can get any lower. He even shifts down to Glabro to translate the things he says. Obliging of him, no?

Salem wrinkles his nose. He turns and fixes Raul with a direct, dominant, alpha-wolf stare; his upper lip wrinkles up to show his teeth.

Yi says nothing at this jabbing, but her eyes come to rest on Rina's pieces of paper.

Rina's gaze goes flat black. "Or maybe I just don't want to listen to that grating whine from /anyone/, let alone my capo." She returns her attention promptly to Yi, and some of the hardness leaves the dark eyes.

Fixes-Stuff holds Salem's stare for a long moment before looking away, re-taking Crinos and settling down with Squeaks again. He isn't silent however, murmuring soft things to the cub, the whine in his voice most likely for Rina's benefit.

Salem snorts; Raul's display has done nothing to make the tall Glass Walker any less displeased with Rat's tribe. Turning back to Rina, he hands her the first piece of paper, then looks steadily at Yi.

Rina takes a shallow breath, and lowers her gaze to the page to read. "From Jack Salem to Yi Three-Blades:" Her voice is quiet, emotionless, holding none of the content of the words.

Renee pushes off the wall and shuffles closer to the cell, looking like some pathetic dug-addict.

Yi upturns her eyes to meet the Walker Elder's, only momentarily. At this point, though, she has begun to wonder why she isn't lying face front on the concrete from a torn out throat. Again, the answer must lie in the paper Rina holds. The no-moon moves her gaze that way, only pausing to glance at the sling the kinswoman's arm is in. The beginning of the 'letter' startles her.

The kinswoman continues to read. "I do not forgive you. You do not exist to me; you are dead to me. However, there are still things you must do, and therefore you are not allowed to be dead in truth. I withdraw the command I gave you the other night, at the gate of the Dominion.

"In regards to your debt to my Family, that will be handled by Rina Vencenzo. I will have nothing more to do with you. Suffice to say, you are not welcome at the Dominion, and I would suggest that you keep your contact with my cubs at a minimum.

"You may yet be of use to the Garou, but you are of no use to _me_."

Renee cackles softly in the background, as something in Rina's words amuses her.

Yi blinks a few more times, the words for now floating in the surface of her mind as they are read aloud. There is a brief hiss from her, as if something did indeed sting.

Rina glances up from the page, to Yi; a brief flicker of sympathy or pain crosses the young woman's wan face. Schooling her expression again, she glances down to the page.

Salem regards Yi for one more moment, then turns away from her with a certain... finality. His gaze fixes on Renee, and he hands Rina the second paper. There's more writing on this one than the first.

Renee doesn't seem to notice the Walker's gaze, having gone back to leaning against the wall and trying hard just to stay upright.

Something crosses Rina's face, a moment's hard anger and distaste. She does not so much as look to Renee, though she does the Gnawer the courtesy of turning toward her slightly. Her expression remains utterly flat this time, as does her voice.

Yi bears the sinking reality with a quiet calm, but that is a mere shell. Each word is ingrained deeper as she turns them in her mind.

Rina reads, "To Renee Sees-True-Nature:

"We have had our differences in the past, but I had come to trust you as I do few others. I invited you into my home without reservation, and you repaid my trust with attempted murder.

"You said you wished me to feel pain, as you did when I came to punish you for attacking my kinfolk. This, I understand. Had you challenged me formally, I could forgive you. Had the gun been loaded with ordinary lead, I could forgive you. Had you come after me with your claws and teeth, as I came after you, I could forgive you. You did none of these things. Instead, you pointed silver at my heart and you pulled the trigger.

"YOU POINTED SILVER AT MY HEART AND YOU PULLED THE TRIGGER. This, after I had told you that Yi did not have to kill herself to satisfy me. That is not trying to _hurt_ me. That is trying to _end my life_.

"Under most circumstances, your actions would have been considered an act of war, and at the least would have resulted in your ostracism or death. However, the Sept is already too few, and we cannot afford to fight each other. Therefore, for the good of the Sept, for the good of the Bone Gnawers, for the good of your pack, and for the good of your _daughter_, I will not call out for judgement against you. It ends here.

"Do not think that I forgive you. I don't. You are no longer welcome at the Dominion. You are no longer welcome to teach my cubs. I will deal with you when and where I must, but outside of necessity, you do not exist. If you ever wield silver against me again, I will not be so merciful."

Rina adds, with a brief glance to Renee, "Neither will I." She turns crisply away.

Yi closes her eyes at the second paper's reading. Looking to Salem's back, she could feel her mouth go dry. There is a certain hollow deadweight inside that grows with the end of the letter. Shallowly, she sighs and takes a step back.

Renee doesn't answer with words, as her shoulders start to shake. At first its hard to hear, but the young Galliard is laughing. Its not a healthy sound. Not in the least. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with?" She manages, after a space of time.

Rina steps toward Yi, her back turned to Renee. She holds out her hand, and says, quietly, "Three-Blades."

Fixes-Stuff rises to his feet, towering somewhat over Rina. With some force of will he manages to make his lupine throat approximate human words enough to convey, "She is not yours." Presumably, about Yi - if one Walker rejects her, all do. He comes to stand behind his packmate, still carrying Squeaker.

Salem wrinkles his nose, mouth twisting into a grimace at Renee. She gets no answer from him, though. As Raul moves, he tenses, turning that way; in a few steps he's at Rina's side, his eyes narrowed.

Yi tenses here. Her eyes fall to the floor, then to the outstretched hand, then back up as Rina addresses her. Wetting her lips, the no-moon peers at the hand some more as if trying to understand the gesture. Raul's words make her turn her head. "This is my debt," she utters, trying to keep the grating of her nails-on-chalkboard voice to a minimum. Then, she steps forward to meet Rina. The gesture is still not understood, and she looks to the woman as if wanting explanation.

Rina touches her hand to Yi's and then laces fingers with her, giving a brief squeeze. When she speaks, she does so in Cantonese, her accent slightly off, the syllables painstakingly memorized, the statement short.

As far as the young Kin is concerned, there may as well be no one present but Yi. A measure of pain touches her eyes, and she says, quietly, "I'm not good at forgiving. But I'll try. Will you come by the studio, in a coupla days?" For the first time, the mask of the competent soldier is gone entirely.

Yi's eyes narrow at the statement. Her fingers interlaced with the kinswoman's tighten with tension as she comprehends the statement. The reply is short, whispered, a little harsh, but the emotion she tries so hard to keep behind her the floodgates leaks and finally bursts through the cracks. The fingers let go, and she crashes to her knees before the kin, tears flowing openly.

Salem shifts his weight, but his attention, distrustfully, doesn't stray far from Raul.

Fixes-Stuff's ears flatten as Yi begins to cry, and Squeaks is upset too. She struggles to try and get to 'Auntie Yi', the Theurge setting her down so she can fuss in the most puppylike manner over the knelt-down Ragabash. For his part, Raul rests a much-clawed hand on Yi's shoulder, unknowing of what else he can do.

Renee has since slumped to the ground and she sits there, back against the wall. Eyes closed, chest slowly rising and falling.

Salem's good eye flicks downward to the metis pup, and maybe his expression softens a bit. Just a tad. He shifts his weight, gloved hands still loose at his sides, and then looks sidelong at Rina.

With an effort, Rina steels her expression--but she closes her eyes for a moment, touching Yi's dark hair with her good hand. "I'll talk t'you. Soon. Somewhere else." When her eyes flicker open, they see the young creature; a flicker of disgust crosses her features, and she steps back and turns away. Military-crisp, she walks out, leaving squalid cage and Crinos cub and one friend behind.

Yi's bout of a breakdown continues for some time. The licking of the metis cub's rough tongue over her cheek does bring a bare response. Her sobs soften, the tears wane and eventually she simply kneels there, breathing raggedly.

From afar, Rina nods. She's hard to read, because so much is going wrong.

Salem gives the room another, final, glance before turning on his heel and following Rina out and back to the car.

Medical Center, Near the Waterfront

From Riverfront Drive to Beaugregory Boulevard, the Hilliard Memorial Hospital rises, a massive building surrounded by well-tended lawns and tall trees. The Hospital spreads northwards to Hospital Drive itself; across Silver and Beaugregory from the hospital proper are research buildings and office buildings: billing offices, small medical libraries, and the rooms with classrooms and laboratories for medical students to learn and experiment. Along Riverfront, on its eastern side, food vendors have set up small stands which receive a brisk business in the noon hours, shaded under the trees lining the street. North of Hospital Drive, the administrative buildings continue, spreading another block or so north to I-90, which slashes across the city streets in an abrupt divider.

Rina keeps her expression hard and schooled, until they are well out of the zoo. A few blocks later, though, she is blinking a touch too often, and she turns her face away to hide the shimmer of her tears.

Salem wordlessly opens the car door for her, helping her in with his usual solicitude. His brow furrows at what he glimpses of her expression, though, and his hand falls on her shoulder; he looks at her questioningly.

"I'm sorry," Rina says hoarsely. "I don't understand it. Any of it. Why. And I want to fucking kill them, and--" Her mouth twists with anger. "Fuck it."

Salem inhales a deep breath and lets it out noisily, cheeks puffing out. He shakes his head, looking irritable and frustrated, and wordlessly moves around the car to get in behind the wheel.

When they are moving, Rina tips her head back against the seat, trying to stifle a wince. "I shoulda killed her," she says quietly. "When she hurt you. I shoulda fucking filled her with silver."

Salem makes a short, curt noise. It comes from the back of the throat, a negative sound, though as growls go it leaves a lot to be desired. It's snerly and peevish. His hands tighten on the steering wheel; he shakes his head, stares at the road. His jaw's gone tight.

She looks over to him, then. "Sorry," she murmurs. "I'll-- I'm just gonna shut the fuck up now." Tipping her head back again, she is silent for the rest of the ride.

Rina pages: Incidentally. She didn't stay at the Mansion last night...left late evening, after the ghost business with Cat (who probably just got a good scare, according to Snaik, and we'll resolve details later). Showed up earlyish in the morning.

Salem shakes his head again quickly, but says nothing, and his grimace is pained. He cuts a quick glance sidelong at her, then focuses on the road. He's taking the route toward the studio, rather than to the Dominion.

When she notices, she looks over to him guardedly. "Why are you--" A swallow tightens her throat, and she makes a simple statement instead. "I'd rather be close to you. And the kids."

Salem, pausing at a stoplight, looks over at her again and blinks, as though it hadn't occurred to him. Then he smiles wanly and nods, taking the next right and heading northwards instead, uptown. Way uptown.

Rina pages: She looked hurt. Scared, almost, before she wiped it away and turned her face from him.

Rina sinks into the seat almost visibly, with relief. "I gotta talk to you about somethin' when we get there," she murmurs, closing her eyes. After that, she stays quiet, her features set in the slight grimace of someone fighting off pain.

Salem nods again. The rest of the drive is, more or less, uneventful until they reach the Dominion, though all through the trip he keeps sneaking glances at her that are half worry, half grateful relief.

She needs a hand out of the little car--for once, she doesn't even attempt to clamber out on her own. The taut expression does not entirely conceal her pain, and by the time they reach the parlor her breathing is shallow and controlled, her face paler still.

Salem helps her out of her coat and onto the couch, doing his best to make sure she's reasonably comfortable before he even unbuttons his own coat.

The silent acceptance of help says more than any groan of pain possibly could. She collapses gratefully onto the couch, and closes her eyes. "It's about Cat."

Salem's mouth thins, and he nods slowly as he rids himself of that outer layer -- coat and gloves and hat and scarf. He lays them almost carelessly on a chair nearby, then settles down crosslegged on the floor near her head.

The dark eyes flicker open. "I asked Cutter, if maybe he'd help out with some teaching." She looks over to him, a little guardedly. "We'll figure out how to compensate him for it, negotiate somethin', whatever. But since we don't have a Theurge, and I trust him..."

Salem nods again. He looks down, mouth thinned, then reaches over and, after fishing in a pocket of the big black coat, retrieves the pad and pen that's rarely far from him these days. He writes, "Cutter's OK. Might pack w/him. Maybe."

Rina reads, and a flicker of relief touches her expression. "Aright. So we got Joshua, and Cat; anyone else? Didn't we have another one?"

From the front hall, The doorbell at the front door rings.

Rina lets out a breath, and closes her eyes. "I'm not goin' anywhere," she murmurs. "If you wanna get that."

Salem writes down a name. "Katrine." Then he looks up, frowning, and with a sigh sets down the pad and pen and goes to check the front door. And hit the control to close the damned gate out at the end of the drive.

Aubrey pulls up, parks her bike and moves up to the front steps. She stands militantly at the front door, waiting for someone inside to open it to her. The Fianna Theurge is wearing a cowboy hat to match her attire.

This woman is not noticeably Irish, although there may be some key features in her looks that bring out her nationality. Her ethnicity is simply a mixture of European, mainly the type that would come to Britain some hundreds or thousands of years ago before migrating to the United States. Her hair is a natural light chestnut color with flows straight and smoothly to her gangly shoulders. Her long bangs fall loose around her defined face. Her lashes are thick, shading vivid golden-ginger eyes which are set below high arched eyebrows. She has a piecing over her right eyebrow. Thin lips sit below her sloped button nose. Her ears display a half-dozen earrings along her ear lobes. Clothing seems to be something that Aubrey is frequently changing from in and out of, especially with the reoccurring trends and latest styles.

Her form is short but also curvaceous and her body performs in fine athletic shape. Her upper torso consists of a tea-stained, cotton peasant top that clings close to her skin. The collar has a lace that has been split, showing off a bit of her chest. A leather thong hangs around her neck from which dangles a Celtic cross. On her lower torso sits a pair of hip-hugging blue jean pants. A large buckle is seen around her hips as it hooks through the belt loop of her flared blue jeans. For shoes, she wears a pair of black leather motorcycle boots. On cooler days, she can be seen wearing a heavy sheepskin duster. Her chestnut tresses have been gathered up into a ponytail with a leather band.

Salem opens the door and greets the Fianna with an arched eyebrow.

Aubrey looks up to see Salem. "Ah," she begins, giving Salem a bit of a bow. "Good evening, I have come to ses if Rina was here. I hear that she needs some assistance. I was here earlier but she wasn't awake, and I dislike to distrub anyone." The Fianna remains on the step until she is formally invited into the home.

Salem looks Aubrey up and down, then nods wordlessly and ushers her inside and into the parlor, where said kinswoman is reclining on the couch, with pillows.

From the front hall, Aubrey removes her hat as she enters the house and wipes her boots on the mat just inside the house. Gracefully, the young Theurge walks across the floor after Salem towards the parlor.

Rina's stretched out on the couch, left arm in a sling and cast, her upper body propped up with a few extra pillows. She is watching the archway when the two come in; her brow furrows a little when she sees the Fianna. "Hey. You're a friend of Tobin's, yeah? And Cam. I remember you... it's, um, don't tell me. Fianna... Ari? Ani?" She looks decidedly under the weather, pale and drawn, her eyes shadowed.

Aubrey seems to give a frown as Rina mentions Tobin's name, while she has been spending months trying not to think of him. "I am...," she replies, lightly shaking her head. "It's Aubrey."

Salem stands at one end of the couch and behind it, near Rina's head, his hands resting on the back of the piece of furniture. The Walker's expression is solemn, his eyes tired.

Rina manages a faint half-smile. "Sorry. Too much codeine, lately. W'sup?" One hand waves the young woman to a seat, careless; the dark eyes are anything but, following Aubrey's movements.

Snaik pages: Where your eyes meet the opposite wall you can distinctly pick out the ghostly shape of a butler waiting stiffly near the door. Normal in every respect; dark uniform, perfect poise, except that he doesn't appear to have a mouth. At all. Just seamless flesh.

Salem stiffens subtly, hands tightening on the back of the couch, and looks down at the wounded kinswoman.

Aubrey nods slowly. "You need some healing..." she answers. Her eyes shift to Salem as his hands tighten around the couch, there is a bit of worry that crosses the knife moon's expression. "I have been asked by Cutter to come, and I do so by choice.... so please don't refuse."

Salem's glance cuts to Aubrey; he grimaces and shakes his head -- not in refusal of her offer, though, because he makes a 'go ahead' sort of gesture as well, waving her toward Rina.

Rina's expression turns guarded. "You sure you wanna waste it on me? I mean... there's a cost, when you heal... right?" She musters a wry, game smile, an echo of flirtation. "Much as I wouldn't mind havin' you touch me, again..."

"I think your health is an important factor right now, Ms. Vencenzo." Aubrey replies, her voice carrying an undertone that she realizes what is going on in this house and is a little concerned that no knife moon that she has been aware of has been alerted about it. "It won't be much of a waste," Aubrey replies. "It has been awhile since I have used this gift." The young woman moves across to Rina. "Now, what is it that needs attention?"

Rina's smile tugs upward at one corner. "It's Rina. Please. Any friend of Cameron's is a friend of mine." She gives a little lift of her chin toward the left arm and the cast. "Broke three bones in my hand, and cracked a rib on the left side."

Salem says nothing, not that this is much of a surprise. He spares a glance toward the door.

"I am more than a friend to Cameron," Aubrey smiles lightly. "He is my own packmate." She listens patiently to Rina and nods her head. "I will heal the broken rib first and as far as the the healing will allow, I will attempt to heal the broken bones in your hand." She crouches near Rina while the kinswoman is resting on the couch.

"Don't tax y'self," Rina says hoarsely. "I seem to remember I already owe you at least one..." The wry smile flickers again, as she watches the Fianna.

Aubrey rubs her hands together as if warming them. "Then you'll own me another," the Theurge says. "I do not ask for many favors." Her hands stop their movement as she spreads her fingertips hovering across the kinswoman's chest. A blue light speads across to Rina, working its way into the tissue, bone, and muscle to undo the damage that has been done and to make the bone like new. It is nearly effortless for this Theurge now, having spent a long time profecting this art of healing. Once she is done, she heals Rina's hand. The glow from her fingers vanishes and she stands. "There," she says, stuffing her hands deeply into her pockets.

Staring up at her, Rina takes a cautious, deep breath--and then swings her legs over the edge of the couch, sitting up abruptly. "God /damn/," she murmurs. "Good not to hurt anymore."

Salem glances away from the door as Rina rises, and the tall Walker nods his approval, unsmiling.

Snaik pages: Softly in the back of your mind, "Would the master of the house like to retire?" It seems to come from the butler.

Aubrey nods her head to Rina. "Good," she says. Her eyes look to Salem.

Rina lets out a small sigh. "You're straight, aren't you," she murmurs, one corner of her mouth quirking up wryly.

Salem's expression flickers; he glances over at the door again, then gives his head a shake as though to clear it. With a sigh, he inclines his head to Aubrey, then gives Rina a dour look.

Aubrey blinks with surprise. "Whhhat?" she asks. "Yes, yes..." She looks to Salem, looking a bit curious. "Why do you continue to look towards the door, Salem?" she asks.

You paged Snaik with 'Is the butler still there?'.
Snaik pages: No. He faded when you shook your head.

Rina glances to Salem sharply. "Are they back?"

Salem grimaces and shakes his head again, then moves away from the couch in order to gather up his carelessly-discarded coat. He leaves the parlor briefly, long enough to hang his things up in the front hall closet.

Aubrey watches Salem and then turns her attention back to Rina. The Fianna sits down beside her on the couch.

Rina glances over to her, and then quickly looks away. "Sorry," she murmurs, rubbing at the back of her neck with her right hand--the healed left still stuck in a cast. "I, ah. I'm just a lech. Don't mind me."

Salem, returning, drops into 'his' chair with a huff of breath and looks over at the two women, his eyes narrowed, his expression closed.

Aubrey chuckles and shakes her head. "Why? Are you looking for someone?" she asks Rina. "There is a new Fianna who is... well... she is..." The poor Theurge even has a little difficultly saying it.

Heading into the parlor is Jeremy, laptop bag slung over his shoulder, looking a bit happy for a change. His face is read, having worked up a sweat while hanging out at the Gym. "Hey guys."

Salem looks up as Jeremy arrives and does a little head-jerk-nod thing in greeting. He seems to be in a bad mood.

Rina slants a look over to Aubrey, amusement in the dark eyes. Her attention shifts to the doorway, though, when Jeremy enters. "/You/ look cheerful," she observes. He isn't the only one; Rina herself is sitting up, lounging comfortably.

Aubrey looks up as Jeremy enters the room and smiles up at him from her seat on the couch next to Rina. "Hello Jeremy," she says in a friendly manner. She avoids Salem's negativity as must as she can, although it is almost unaviodable.

Snaik pages: A maid follows Jeremy in, as if escorting him, and then drifts back out.

A bright grin forms over his face as Jeremy spots Aubrey. "Hey yourself. Nice to see yer'still 'ere. I left a text message to Salem." Then, to Rina, he inclines his head. "I bested a new bench press for me. I'm up to a hundred and thirty, which isn't bad since I weigh a hundred and fifty. I only got the bar up three times, but, still.. you know. There is improvement and I'm putting on more weight." He grins, sliding the bag off his shoulder.

"Wicked good," Rina says, offering him a smile. "Go you." She glances to Salem, something speculative in her eyes. "Hmm."

"Actually," Aubrey replies. "I came back." Her eyes give a studying look to Jeremy. Her gaze shifts from him to Rina, then over to Salem. "You look like you need a strong drink... lots." Aubrey remarks to Salem, giving a light scowl.

Salem looks over at Rina, then deliberately cocks an eyebrow at her. Then Aubrey's remark comes, and he gives the Fianna a scowl of his own and, with a smooth and sudden gesture, gets up and stalks out of the parlor. Moments later, from somewhere in the back of the house where his office is, a door slams.

Cockroach Mansion -- Elder's Office

Salem's office is an extension of the same elegant display of wealth which characterizes the rest of the mansion. Most noticeable, from the doorway in the southern wall, is the large black-veined white marble fireplace taking up half of the northern part of the room, contrasting sharply with the ebony-paneled walls. A rug of forest green carpets the floor from wall to wall, while red velvet frames the wall of windows to the west.

The other decor is typical of the private office of a wealthy, old-world businessmen, from the ponderous mahogany desk along the eastern wall and the equally heavy chairs set before them, to the brass and glass chandelier dangling from the ceiling. A reproduction of Van Gogh's _Starry Night_ hangs above the fireplace, and the bookshelves behind the desk are, so far, nearly empty.

A door at the far end of the office leads into an adjoining bedroom and bathroom. This door is usually kept closed.

Rina doesn't knock--just slips in, shadowed eyes looking for him.

Salem is sitting in his chair, elbows propped on the desk and, when she enters, his forehead resting against his clasped hands. The room is dark, the only light coming in through the window, from the security lights that illuminate the Dominion grounds.

His head jerks up as she enters, his body tensing. That fades quickly, though, and he sits back, rubbing a hand over his face.

She circles around to his side of the desk, concern written in every line of her expression. Without speaking a word, she comes to stand beside him, and wraps both arms around his head and shoulders, careful not to bonk him with the cast. She gathers him into an embrace, somewhere between motherly and not, her head bent over his own.

He lets her. Which says something about his current state of mind, perhaps -- or his exhaustion. Eyes closed, he leans against her, his arms resting limply on those of the chair. Once, he clenches his teeth and swallows, hard.

"Whatever it is," she says quietly, "you can talk t'me. Anything. I don't care about-- what I said to Raul, was just 'cause he was bein' a prick." No, it's definitely on the wrong side of mothering--at least, she cradles him gently to shoulders and chest, making him thankful for the stuff layer of tape that keeps off too much contact. "You're-- if you're mad at me, about-- about what I did today--" Mercy: she lets him go, backing off a step to look at him, the dark eyes shadowed with worry.

Salem is shaking his head when she guesses about him being angry at her; the gesture is weary, half-hearted. He reaches out to take her hand, the unfettered one, and give it a light squeeze. Then he hauls himself to his feet, heading for the adjoining bedroom.

Stricken, she watches him go. "Jack--?" Her lips press together, until they whiten; the dark eyes well up with tears.

Salem pauses and turns back, his face in shadow.

"I'm sorry," she says quietly. "Whatever it is that... I do. You'll be strong. You'll be fine."

Long distance to Rina: Salem . o O ( Oh, look, Jack, you asshole, you made her cry. Stupid bastard. )
From afar, Rina . o O (Whatever it is that makes me not enough.)

Salem lowers his head slightly and, after a moment, just nods. His hand rests against the doorframe, and he lingers there, hesitating.

"I'm sorry," she says again, softer. "Just, if I can do anything, just tell me." She musters a broken smile, and turns away, leaving swiftly.

She's almost at the door when he calls her name, his voice cracking in that horrible, grating high-pitched way. His hand tightens against the doorframe, and his shoulders hunch.

Rina ducks her head, her shoulders mirroring the flinch of his. She turns, then, to look at him, the dark eyes shadowed with sympathetic pain. Not pity--but hurt, for his hurting.

Salem swallows and, distantly, mumbles a good night or something like it, then disappears into the bedroom. The door remains open, but only a crack.

Rina stands quiet still for a time, watching where there is nothing to see. Then she turns and steps out, carefully closing the door to the office.