It is currently 22:13 Pacific Time on Thu Feb 12 2004.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (52% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is clear outside. The temperature is 33 degrees
Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric
pressure reading is 30.00 and falling, and the relative humidity is 85
percent. The dewpoint is 29 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degrees Celsius.)
Farmhouse: Hallway and Living Room
All doorways in the front part of the house lead to the front hallway, a
J-shaped area with the short tail starting at the stairs, the front door
hitting the bottom curve, the doorless opening to the living room halfway
up the long side, and the also doorless opening to the kitchen and dining
room at the very top. The hall has a simple wooden floor, and decorated
with a generic print of soft-colored flowers hanging on the wall to the
right of the front door, and a tall table sitting under the print which
serves as a place to toss keys. A closet under the stairs serves as a
place to hang coats or to toss shoes.
The doorless opening to the living room is halfway up the side of the hall's J,
and the word cozy might spring to mind when looking into is, as it seems
to radiate comforting vibrations. A long couch sits against the south
wall beneath a large bay window curtained only by sheers that manages to
obscure the view in but only filters the day's light. A variety of
out-of-date magazines are strewn atop a low coffee table; more neatly
presented are the plethora of books filling the small bookshelves which
line the eastern wall. Three chairs sit about the room, focused inward,
to allow group conversations. Large floor pillows are stacked in one
corner of the room, except one, which lies carelessly in the middle of
the floor, apparently left out the last time it was used.
An opening in the northern end of the hallway allows access to the kitchen and
dining room at the back of the house, while carpeted stairs twist up at
the other end of the hall, leading to the second floor. A door at the
base of the J lets out to the front porch.
Joshua smirks, leaning back forward. "Ha. See, I wasn't far off with
'Quiet-Earthquake-Rhya', now was I?" The cub takes another sip of his
coffee, a little less sullen. A little, anyhow.
Olga laughs, drawing her legs up underneath herself, readjusting the Cub's a
little. "Seriously, three flights?" she questions Anthony in amused
disbelief. She grins broadly at Anthony. "Great story, Tony, well told,"
she says, "and properly embarassing, too." She nods easily, and grins at
him. "Your turn," she says.
Taslyn sits in one of the chairs, across from Olga and Emma on the couch...
With Emma sound asleep or passed out on the couch. Jacinta, Josh and Tony
sit around in other chairs or where they can find a place. It seems they
are all playing Truth or dare and having a great time.
Jacinta is watching the proceedings with open curiousity, sitting somewhat
uncomfortably on a chair near the edge of the gathering.
No footfall is heard. No sound or word spoken. A small brown woman descends
quietly from the upstairs rooms who most certainly has not been seen in
this house within the memory of most of those in the room, and heads for
the kitchen. She looks oddly distracted.
"Tony, guess it's your turn." Taslyn remarks and sips at her beer a little more.
Signe is talking with Salem as she pushes through the front door. "Fuck that,
Jack," she says, the door squeaking. "I'm not talking about anything
elaborate, just.." catching sight of the small crowd, she stops and
grets. "Hey."
Rounding the front of the house and up the porch is Alicia, on the heels of
Salem and Signe as they head inside. "Hey guys. You just get here too?"
She asks, peering within. "Damn. Look at all the people, and I'm not even
cooking for a change. Whats the occassion?"
Taslyn looks at all the new arrivals. "Hey Olga... Maybe we should slip Emma
upstairs and into bed. It would clear off some room on the couch." She
looks to Alicia. "Got a game of Truth or Dare going... We got bored."
Anthony eyes up Josh momentarily, starting to ask him what kind of question he
wants, when the three enter; he sits up in his chair quickly and
straightens his shirt collar.
Salem shakes his head at Signe, one side of his mouth slanting upward in a
half-smile. Looking past her to skim the room, he catches sight of the
small brown woman in passing and does a mild double-take. "Sepdet?" He
sounds startled -- but _not_, it should be noted, squeaky or nasal or
grating or any of those horrible things. His normal voice is much, much
easier on the ears than the Jackal's.
Jacinta rises immediately at the entry of the three, head dipping politely.
"Camai'i, Fostern."
Joshua stands up as all the Elders enter at once, demeanor gone from nice and
playful to suddenly serious. "'Evening, Rhyas..." He murmurs, quickly
pacing off to the Kitchen to get more coffee started. As he enters, he
calls back. "Uh, can I get any of you anything?" He totally misses or
Salem's reaction to whoever is already in there.
Signe missed the little Strider on the first sweep. Her brow knits when Salem
uses 'that name', and she quickly looks around. "You seeing ghosts /here/
now, Jack?" she asks, until she too spots the Strider. "Fuck me."
"Woah. Its Sepdet, back.. /again/." Alicia says as she peeks around Signe, then
clears her throat. "Welcome home.. for the moment." She says, flashing a
teasing grin.
Olga looks confusedly at Taslyn when she makes her suggestion, glancing at the
Fosterns entering. "Don' see why," she replies easily. A second glance
and a brief moment reminds her of protocol: "Oh, right. Uh, sure.
C'm'ere, Em," she mumbles, lifting the small girl up in her arms, who
mumbles slightly in protest. "'Scuse us," Olga mutters, looking down,
looking to move past the three coming in. Noticing their expressions, she
stops, Emma still in her arms, looking at the woman they're all staring
at.
Sepdet makes a beeline for a low cabinet, and there is the sound of crashing
and clanging pots. Eventually she retrieves a venerable, plain bottle of
something homebrewed and alcoholic and alarmingly murky, its sanctity
ensured by the ghostly shapes of a few small onions bobbing inside the
container. She inserts a claw she ought not to be displaying in polite
company, and a faint odor of vinegar and sour onions begins to waft
unpleasantly from the kitchen into the main room, making Joshua's foray
into the room rather daring. Patiently, the young woman pours out all the
contents of the onion beer into the sink, and something small, black, and
brittle hits the basin with a clink. There is a FOOSH and a sudden flash
of fire, filling the metal sink for a moment or two and then
disappearing; the alcohol and onion scent are quickly consumed. She
pockets the small black object and returns to the living room, looking
somewhat more relaxed.
Taslyn cranes to look at the woman and turns back to look at the others. "That
was interesting." She shakes it off a bit and looks to Tony. "Well, come
on... Time is wasting."
Sepdet's accent has not improved through lack of use; the rusty growl of Garou
carries over into her homid speech, making her sound rather dusky. "Good
evening, Alicia. You look well." She glances towards Signe and shakes her
head. "I think not, but thank you."
Taslyn does let out a bit of a chuckle at Sepdet's response to Signe.
Anthony scratches his head at the three lavishing attention on the woman,
though he's got good reasons for not recognizing the guest of honor. "Not
now," he replies quietly to Taslyn. "I mean, I think it'd be kinda
impolite..."
"Yeh'look good too, Sepdet-Rhya. It seems like all the big wigs are crawling
out of the wood work these days. First Siggy, Megan, now you. I bet you
got a few stories to tell around the campfire soon, huh?" Alicia asks,
stepping forward, rolling her shoulders out of her trench coat, tossing
it onto the back of the couch.
Salem recovers his composure with a slight, quick shake of his head. The Glass
Walker looks like he might have asked just what Alicia did, if not in
exactly those words. Leave it to a chatty, extroverted Child of Gaia to
be quicker on the verbal uptake.
Signe wrinkles her nose at the Strider's pyrotechnics, an uneasy, discomforted
tension in the Get as she watches Sepdet pocket the item. But it's the
adren's comment that makes Signe's lips pull back in a snarl. She does
not make a retort, though, instead simply nudging Salem rather hard, "I
hate when she does that."
Jacinta takes a step to the side. She turns in order to see who the elders are
speaking to, eyes sweeping across from the stairs to the hallway until
they come to rest on the Silent Strider. Taking her cue from the Fostern,
she bows her head to the stranger, but remains silent.
Taslyn nods and looks to the elders, watching and quietly taking 'notes' of
what is going on. She looks a little confused and simply sits and listens.
Sepdet says "Few that I can repeat." She raises a thin eyebrow at the mention
of Megan's name, but favors the ones she doesn't know with a thin,
disarming smile. She moves towards her old perch on the back of a sofa,
hops up onto the narrow spot in a crouch, and regards Salem with a
mixture of appraisal and understanding, as well as respect. "Alpha.""
There's some clamoring as the Walker Cub hurries about, cabinets opening and
closing in a resumption of the insane symphony of coffee brewing. A few
moment later the Cub shuffles back in, setting some beers and mugs on the
table, before Joshua scurries back in again, coming out with a fresh pot
and setting that down next to the beverages. He takes a few steps back
from the group, falling silent with his head tilted submissivly, like he
was supposed to when three Fosterns suddenly just happen in.
Salem gives Signe a wry look, then shakes his head at the prodigal Strider.
"Not anymore," he says, shrugging out of the big black leather coat.
"Megan leads the Sept now. I just lead my tribe."
Olga remains in the centre of the living-room, Cub resting in her arms. Her
foot taps within her shoe, and she then begins swaying slightly, rocking
on the sides of her feet, her way to the stairs rather blocked.
"Well, hopefully you can repeat the ones you /can/ tell, so that I can pass 'em
around." Alicia says in a typical cheery tone, arms folding behind her
back. "Yer like a day late of our last moot. It woulda been cool if you
showed up. So, you back for good or just traveling through town, stopping
for gas?"
Signe gives the Strider a wide berth, snatching up one of the beers Joshua so
kindly brought out. She looks between Salem and Sepdet, watching the
Strider's reaction to the news, before she moves to Olga. "You need help
with Em?"
Salem does not, people may note, take a beer, though he does manage to rid
himself of his coat.
Taslyn sits and keeps watching around, almost not sure of when to speak or
not...
A petite young woman of African descent with somber manners at odds with the
glint in her dark eyes, she holds herself with a confidence beyond her
twenty-three years. She's bony and wiry, with dusky brown skin and neat
black cornrows whose uneven hairline betrays a faint scar on her temple.
Clothes seem to be a concession to human tastes, but barely. She wears a
battered jeans jacket and a spaghetti-strap gray tank top, and bare
calloused feet jut from rust-colored tight-leggings that reach to
mid-calf. A large suede beltpouch marked with an Egyptian star rests
against one hip and a waterskin slung from one shoulder against the
other. As always a handful of charms hang at her neck: a wooden
cartouche, carved fish, a tiny curved blade, and a small beaded medicine
wheel.
Olga looks up at Signe's question, curious. "Uh, no, I got her," she says
quietly. "She's still light," Olga adds, a little bit of concern in her
voice, looking down near the ground. "Jus' bringing her upstairs," Olga
finally explains, stepping forward to the stairs now that the Fostern are
dispersing slightly. "Thanks," she mumbles in return.
Anthony sits politely in his chair, hands clasped in his lap and eyes scanning
the floor as if he was looking for a lost contact lens.
There is a flicker of approval in the Strider's young-old eyes at that bit of
news, but she also gives Salem a thoughtful private look, as if examining
tea leaves. Does that sit well with him? She will not ask in so public a
place. Instead she inhales through her nose, getting the scent of cubs
and cliaths. Fingering one of the charms at her neck, a small white
cowrie shell, she falls silent as she takes stock. "Passing through. It
is ten years since I first laid eyes on the caern of the Wheel Renewed,
which you call Hidden Walk. Ten years to the day since my first battle
defending it. A few ghosts were very insistent that I ought to stop by
and pay my respects." She grins wryly.
"Well, that sucks ass." Alicia says bluntly. "I miss hanging around you and
listening to yer' tales and all that good stuff." She crosses her arms
over her chest, glancing around at all the heads in the room, then looks
back to the small Strider, offering up a grin. "Place hasn't burnt down
since ya left."
The mention of 'ghosts' gets a quiet reaction from the Walker cub, more of a
quick glance than anything. The look is quickly stilled though, Joshua
looking back down at the floor. Nope, ignore the cub near the wall. No
one here.
Jacinta listens with a nod of approval, and a flicker of recognition at the
former name. "The ancestors must be glad of your return," she says with a
slight bow of her head.
Salem makes his way through the loitering bodies, giving Joshua a glance on the
way. Reaching the sofa where the small Theurge has made her perch, he
takes a seat, stretching his legs out. As to Sepdet's considering look at
him, he answers that with a slight shrug and a thin almost-smile that
suggests he'd say more in private.
Signe eyes the Strider once more, sniffs idly at the air, and wanders toward
the front door. "Think I'll take a walk," she says, nodding toward Salem.
Muttering toward everyone else, she offers a simply 'g'night'.
Sepdet says "Possibly because I am not here to set myself on fire any longer,"
the Strider observes drily. She nods slightly to Salem, then shifts her
attention to the quiet young one who just bowed. "Some of them, anyway.
But I find I miss speaking to the living. Sepdet, they called me, this
side of the mirror. Yourselves? Gift me. Your names. And tell me, each of
you, one hope.""
Someone opens the sliding glass door in the fridge, then comes the obvious
sound of it closing. Some heavy footsteps indicating a rather large
person, then the sound of a glass bottle hitting the ground, but not
quite breaking, bouncing once or twice then rolling around a bit, "Holy
shit..." comes James nearly mumbled exclamation, and it is obvious enough
who he is looking at.
Joshua clears his throat once, not looking up to the elder still. If it's
someone Salem's deferring to, then... "Joshua Doyle, The one who keeps
the human mind with the heart of the wolf." He intones flat, with an edge
of nervousness to his voice. "Full Moon cub of the Walkers On Glass.
Please to meet'cha, Sepdet-Rhya." He glances quickly to Salem's feet,
adding. "Uh... I hope I can get ready for my Rite in time... so I don't
let my pack mates down..."
Jacinta straightens and offers a slight smile as she takes a single step toward
Sepdet. "I am Jacinta Aketachunak, Wendigo born underthe Warrior Moon,
descended of the Yup'ik people of Nunam Iqua and renamed Pierces Ice. I
have come only recently from the Sept of Clear Water, answer a call for
aid from Brings the Buffalo Home. I am honored to greet you."
Taslyn lowers her head a moment to Sepdet, "Taslyn Forrester, Tas for short.
Defends-Her-Worth, Fianna Half-moon." As she gives a bit of a smile. "A
pleasure to finally meet one we have only heard such good things about."
She raises her eyes back up.
Olga threads her way on up towards the stairs, naked feet making little sound
against the floor. She stops and turns when Sepdet asks for
introductions, jostling Emma slightly about in her arms. Her head is
lowered slightly, and glances up at Jamethon as he enters, just out of
the corner of her eye. She stands there silently, and raises her face up
now to look out the front door, at the scenery outside as the others
introduce themselves. "'M Olga," she says, turning to Sepdet, now. "'R,
Fat-Ripper. Gnawer Theurge. My hope's like Josh's," she explains, nodding
at the Cub, and the one in her arms, "that these Cubs succeed 'n their
Rite 'f Passage, all of 'em." She nods simply, backing up a step, looking
longingly up at the stairs.
Nodding slightly, Tony clears his throat. "I'm, uh, Anthony Bonavitacola. They,
uh, call me Shakes-the-Earth ... I'm a Glass Walker, a Ragabash, from
Sept of the Green," he says, stumbling over his words slightly. "I kinda
hope the same thing as everyone else, 'cept kinda different, that I can
find a good chiminage or something, but, uh, um, yeah..."
Sepdet listens intently to each in turn. She is not much older than they, save
in her manner, and a small smile plays across her lips as they speak in
turn. "There is wisdom here," she says softly. "You named the one hope:
cubs." She inclines her head to Anthony. "And the gift of one's aid is
also hope. It is a pleasure to see the next spoke of the wheel, those who
care for what I cared for."
Taslyn has been thinking all this time. She then speaks, "My hope... To be
accepted and be able to know each tribe as they truly are so that I can
be the best at what I am called to be." She shrugs a little, "That is my
hope."
Salem folds his arms across his chest, his expression a little wry when Anthony
speaks and downright intense when Joshua makes _his_ introduction.
Sepdet gives a sudden burst of laughter at Taslyn's answer: not mocking, just
cheerful. "Well, there is at least one Philodox in the making, Salem."
Alicia offers up smiles to everyone as she shrugs her shoulders some. "Can I
get anyone, anything to eat while I'm here?" She asks.
Joshua blinks, trying to work his way over the words of the Theurge that
everyone was treating with such respect. Young Josh plays it safe and
doesn't say anything; cringing a little at Salem's expression.
Olga nods her head down slightly as Sepdet responds, and her eyes flick up to
the top of the stairs, and then down at the Cub in her arms. "'Scuse me,"
she says low and quiet, turning to pad up the stairs. She doesn't even
respond to Alicia's offer of food, just makes her soft way up to the
attic.
Jacinta turns sharply toward Taslyn at her words, mouth snapping shut even
before she can state her hope. After a breath drawn, staring at the
Fianna, she returns her attention to Sepdet and nods. "I hope to see the
turn of the wheel on a bright day, I hope to have cubs take my place, and
see Grandmother hale and well."
"We're not much lacking for Judges these days," Salem murmurs in response to
Sepdet's comment.
Sepdet inclines her head to Olga and the little one she carries, eyes soft and
distant for a moment, but Jacinta drags her back to the here and now.
"Washte," she murmurs.
Taslyn becomes quiet again, settling back in her chair and finding something
interesting on the chess board. She begins to move the pieces, finishing
the game.
"Alright. I guess not." Alicia says, shifting her eyes about a bit
distractedly, then slips her hands into her pockets, rocking a bit on her
feet.
Olga mounts the stairs, pausing briefly at the landing before continuing up to
the second floor.
Joshua doesn't seem at ease at all the rank just standing around in the room.
In fact, even if he wanted to say or do something about now he'd be
lacking the will to say it. So the cub stays where he is, Stock still.
Sepdet smiles again. "I fear I have left them all as quiet as Striders. There
is no need for silence, I promise." She rises and hops down, padding over
to the teapot, and begins to pour several mugs. The observant will note
her hands tremble slightly.
"Yah, well.. there isn't much to talk about these days Sep'." Alicia says with
a shrug once more. "I made Fostern and I'm now the Alpha of Rough and
Tumble. If that means anything as far as a conversation starter goes."
Salem nods, absently picking at a stray thread on his shirtsleeve. "Synthesis
no longer exists, though I and some others are looking for form another
city-based pack."
Jacinta bows again. "I have a cub that I must tend to. May the yua appreciate
your travel here, and grant that you stay with us awhile. Excuse me."
Signe reappears again, though she doesn't look too pleased. She finds a vacant
chair, or if there isn't one she evicts a cub to create one. "Yeah," she
says on the edge of Salem's comment. "Speaking of. We need a name, or
something."
Joshua looks up at Jacinta briefly as she starts her way on the out. "I will be
out tonight as promised, Pierces-Ice-Rhya, once I clean up here. I will
try and not be late." He isn't sitting, still standing, so he's safe from
Signe's evictions.
Sepdet inclines her head to Jacinta. "Walk well, kola." She nods to Salem and
Alicia. "Walking with ghosts behind you makes it hard to look forward. A
new pack. I..." She pauses, and sets the pot down carefully before
finishing her query. "Has Martiya caused any more trouble? She gave me
the slip."
Anthony offers his chair to Signe, taking his can of soda and motioning towards
the emptied seat. "I should, uh, get going, too," he says, bowing
slightly at the collection of elders.
Jacinta offers a gentle smile to Josh on her way toward the kitchen. "Quyana.
Good night."
"I was thinking we'd wait on that until we've gotten a totem," Salem says to
Signe. He glances over at Anthony, nods to the other Walker, then turns
to Sepdet. His head shakes a bit, his expression faintly grim. "Got a
phonecall from her in December, but haven't seen her. She's...
travelling, I suppose."
Anthony excuses himself through the kitchen as Jacinta had.
Taslyn watches Jacinta leave and takes a deep breath. She stays in her chair
and stays quiet... Seems to be a pattern here.
Jamethon bends over and picks up his beer now, after a step back into the
kitchen to retrieve a towel which is thrown over spilt beer to soak it
up, the bottle left behind in the kitchen. "Sepdet-rhya, I... I could use
your counsil. How long are you planning on being around?"
Signe grunts in response to Salem, shrugging. "Yeah, yeah, I know." she sips
from her beer and gets comfortable. "Spirits."
Sepdet seems to have to steady herself after Salem's words; it's the only sign
of discomfiture she's shown during the strange visit. She turns back to
James after a pause. "I... honestly am not certain. I have duties
elsewhere, and this was an ill-advised journey. But now that I *am*
here--" she spreads her hands. "Speak on."
Alicia clears her throat and offers a slight smile to the group, then makes her
way into the kitchen. "I guess I'm going to head into the Caern t'night
guys and do a few things. Nice seeing ya 'gain, Sepdet."
Joshua glances quickly at Salem, clearing his throat once, before looking back
down. "Salem-Rhya... should I excuse myself for a while...?" He shifts
uncomfortably, adding. "Give Rhya's some privacy..."
Sepdet smiles. "Take care, Alicia." She looks faintly troubled. "Joshua, I do
apologize."
Taslyn looks to the elders as well. "I can head on up to my bedroom if you do
need more privacy. Be glad to." She bites at her lip.
Salem fixes mismatched eyes on Joshua, his expression unreadable. "Stay and go
as you wish, as long as you don't leave the Bawn." His tone is neutral
toward the cub, neither fond nor hostile.
Joshua nods once, turning to leave. "Yes Rhya... I'll leave you alone then."
And then when Sepdet makes her responce, he stops, looking over in her
direction. A confused visage pins itself up on his face. "... excuse me,
Sepdet-Rhya?"
Sepdet shakes her head at Taslyn. "I would rather my visit were not an
imposition on those I think rightly belong here," she murmurs. She
straightens as Joshua addresses her, favoring him with a thin smile.
"Yes?"
"She doesn't bite, Joshua," Salem remarks, deadpan.
Signe mutters. "No, that's me."
"You... don't need to apologize, Rhya." He stammers out. Too much rank in one
room for this cub. "Good night." With that he half-hurries over to the
empties from the day (Lots of them), gathering them up as fast as he can.
Rina comes in with a creak of the door and a flurry of cold air, a hand coming
up to brush back the hood of her jacket. She is sweaty and windblown, her
cheeks flushed. As soon as she looks over the room, her expression goes
blank with shock, and then the delicate, gaunt face floods with delight.
Jamethon waits for Sepdet to finish answering the cubs question before
discussing his own problems. When that is finished he waits no longer to
speak his mind, "Well, as I'm sure you remember I have been Gatekeeper
for some time... finally finding the ritual to open the inner sky and
just performed it at the latest moot. Well, at that moot... Jarred stood
and claimed the role of Warder. I have been known to be a friend to
Jarred... but I am not going to be known as one who stood aside while a
Shadow Lord took over a Caern and of such a diverse Sept." Jarred himself
welcomes the challenge... but I am still cliath and he is Fostern. Megan
holds rank in greater regard than even many here have in the past... and
while I am involved in a challenge for that rank, I do not yet possess
it. Do I wait till I reached that rank, and risk any damage Jarred may
have done in this time... or go for it now, a lesser rank. It is
difficult to say how the Shadow Lord will use the fact that I am cliath
to his advantage. I do not seek the position because I desire it... but
to allow one of them such a powerful and responsibility driven role..."
Salem gets an irritated look on his face as Jamethon speaks. His answer has a
touch of impatience. "Cliath or no, you _are_ allowed to challenge him
for Warder. Just as Luke was allowed to challenge Megan for the
alphaship." He scowls a bit and remarks, to no one in particular, "I
think everyone got the wrong lesson from that little incident..."
Jamethon narrows his eyes now, Salem's words seemingly irritating James in
return. "Do not..." he pauses and takes a breath, "Please do not bring up
Jeadagh-Rhya. Not tonight... not till the Gathering."
Rina blinks at Sepdet, her expression poised somewhere between joy and
disbelief.
Sepdet chews her lip. "It is not the tribe," she says softly. "I have known
Shadow Lords who served in such positions with honor. But you know what
my own choice would be between the two of you. If you are ready to be
Warder, you are ready to be Fostern. My own counsel would be to work
towards Fostern first, but I do not know who there is for you to
challenge at this--" she pauses as the door swings open, turns, and
blinks. "Rina?"
Taslyn bites at her lip and sighs. "I think I will head to bed... A pleasure to
meet you Sepdet-Rhya. I hope to hear your stories some day." She gives a
bit of a bow and heads up the stairs.
Salem's nostrils flare at Jamethon's tone, and he stares flatly at the Get
Theurge.
Joshua is still bent over as he gathers up the empties, head tilting as Rina
speaks. "Oh... er, 'evening, Miz Rina." He greets quietly, trying to
stack the nights pile of bottles on his arms.
Taslyn does stops on the steps, seeing the look between Salem and Jamethon.
Jamethon at first seems to be driven to anger at Salem's continued staring, but
then relents, giving first a solumn nod then looking down in submission
with a quick, "Sorry." The Get theurge then speaks more at Sepdet during
her distracted state, "I am currently challenging Cutter for rank. At the
Theurge moot tomorrow night he will announce the terms. If you are able
to make it, I'm sure we would not mind having your there... for old times
sake and whatnot."
Rina swallows. She manages to speak, her voice hoarse and small from the cold.
"Sashi--" The tensions escape her, for once; the Strider might as well be
the only thing in the room. She glances to Joshua, as if the kid must be
part of the miracle; then the dark eyes return to Sepdet. "I was...
looking for my cub..." One hand waves vaguely at Joshua, and she takes
two hesitant steps toward the couch.
Signe looks between James and Salem, but says nothing. Lifting her chin, she
offers to taslyn, "Hey. Night." Rina gets an amused look as well.
As it seems tempers have calmed down, Taslyn walks upstairs and heads for bed.
Salem utters a low, gruff noise, sibling to a grunt, and then glances over
toward Rina. His expression softening somewhat, he waves her over toward
the sofa where he sits and where Sepdet perches.
Sepdet sets one of the mugs of tea she just poured in front of Rina, looking
her over with the familiar glance of someone who is used to cataloging
the extent of the damage wreaked by the woman's latest adventures, and
sets a hand on her shoulder. "Still me. You look well."
Joshua's arms are full, so he carries the bottle off to the Kitchen, clinking
as he deposits them inside the trash can. The cub comes back, keeping at
cleaning up after elders fun and games...
Rina swallows, and tugs the Strider by that hand, gently. She blinks over at
Salem, and looks back to Sepdet again, tugging her closer. "Hi," she says
weakly, pulling the Strider into an impulsive hug. Without heeled boots,
she is barely taller than the little Strider woman.
Sepdet hugs Rina, blinking rapidly. "Heya," she murmurs in her ear. "Thanks. It
is good to see you in one piece." Evidently that qualifies as "looking
well".
Salem smiles faintly at Rina and Sepdet, though the tension from his brief
staring contest with Jamethon adds an edge to the expression and makes
his relaxed posture less sincere.
Jamethon grunts now, offering to Rina, "Yellow one." He says cryptically before
looking back over the others. "I think I should get back to my patrols...
anyone require anything of their Gatekeeper before I do?"
Rina closes her eyes tightly, leaning her cheek on the Strider's shoulder.
"Good to see you," she murmurs, slowly releasing Sepdet and putting her
hands on the younger woman's shoulders. She gives a little squeeze, and
glances over to Jamethon. "See you sometime this weekend? Maybe Saturday,
Idunno..." A hand remains on one of Sepdet's shoulders, as if it belongs
there.
Sepdet looks up at Rina and laughs ruefully. "If you are asking me, I do not
have the foggiest idea what day or month it is."
Signe stares at the adren theurge, shifting a little uncomfortably in her
chair. She sighs and sips at her beer.
Rina shakes her head, glancing over to Sepdet with a wry little smile. "Nah.
But we need to talk, sometime..."
Salem grunts at Rina's remark and rubs his clean-shaven chin in a thoughtful
kind of way.
Sepdet ducks her head. "Catch up on the world of the living. I have been far."
Rina, probably more than anyone else, will hear the rough edge in her
voice; she is speaking, but it is definitely a foreign tongue for her now.
Joshua glances over to the Odd-ish Adren for a bare moment as she mentions the
whole piece about 'the world of the living', hand running over the balded
head, before he continues about his cleaning.
Swallowing, Rina brushes a hand over Sepdet's braids; she gives a tiny nod, and
looks over to watch the cub.
Olga comes slowly down the stairs, an hour after she went up them. Her feet
make little creaking sounds against them and the wooden floor, as she
walks towards living-room, despite her efforts to remain quiet. A large,
'kerchiefed head ducks in through the open doorway, regarding those
within, eyes wandering over the room. She nods at anyone who notices her
and the rest of her body follows her head into view, and she jams her
hands into her jacket's pockets. "She's down," Olga says quietly, to
explain her absence, addressing the announcement primarily to the Get
Cub's Elders.
Jamethon doesn't seem to be regarding Olga's words as he makes his way back to
the kitchen and outside once more.
Salem glances over at Olga as the Bone Gnawer returns, then turns his attention
back to the others.
Sepdet smiles wistfully at Rina's fond gesture, a memory touching her eyes. But
it is a private one, and a sad one. "I fear I am not all here even now."
She turns to look at Olga, worry touching her face before she realizes
what the woman must mean.
Rina glances toward the newcomer, and for a moment looks nonplussed by her
presence. "Yo," she says quietly. Her hand pets the Strider's hair again,
as if to reassure her. "It's aright, Sashi," she murmurs. "I
understand... least, as much as I can."
Salem shakes his head slightly, expression rueful, then straightens up, getting
off the couch. "Need to head back." He looks over at Sepdet and bows
slightly to the much-smaller Garou. "You're welcome by the Dominion
Estate at any time. It's Walker territory now." He smiles faintly, proud.
Sepdet smiles ruefully at Rina. "Then you have the advantage over me. I have
grasped a little of the world of the city you tread, but my last true
connection to it has given me the slip." She raises an eyebrow at Salem's
pronouncement and smiles faintly in return. "My thanks, Salem. Very good."
Olga looks slightly confused, as Rina greets her, by the woman's demeanour, her
brow creasing and her hands coming out of her pockets. "Hi, Rina," she
says quietly. Olga turns to look at Joshua as Salem announces his
departure, and at the words she freezes. "Oh, ah, Salem," she says,
adding a quick, "-rhya. I wanted t' ask you, if you mind me teachin' your
Cub here," Olga asks, jerking her head towards Joshua. "After what Meg
said 'nd all," she explains further, quickly.
Rina catches her lower lip between her teeth; her eyes narrow slightly as she
looks over to Salem. "What Meg said?" she murmurs.
Joshua stops, bottle hovering in the air as he looks up to the Gnawer with an
incredibly odd look. "Uh, that Anyone outside a Cub's tribe needs
permission to teach a cub, now."
Salem, on his way to fetch his coat and head out -- after a brief, fond look at
Rina -- pauses to fix Olga with a sharp glance. "As it happens," the
Glass Walker says, "I _do_ mind."
Olga's quiet, looking aside at Joshua when Salem fixes his eyes on hers. For a
brief moment she says nothing, and then a brief "A'right," is all that
comes out of her. She puts her hands back into her pockets again, and
leans against the doorframe, looking awkward.
Sepdet looks opaque. "Megan is reinstituting some of the old customs."
Rina nods curtly to Joshua. "Way it oughta be," she murmurs. Her hand gives
Sepdet's shoulder a little squeeze, and she hugs the Strider again
tightly. "Where y'stayin'?"
Joshua chews lightly on his lip, stacking the bottle with the others. If he has
something to say about Salem's decision, it doesn't show, and he doesn't
say it.
Sepdet says "Home," Sepdet replies without thinking, and then winces. "If I am
still permitted there. It is a night of some importance to my tribe,
Rina, in fact, of paramount importance."
Salem's eyes narrow as he looks at Olga, then Joshua, then back to Olga.
Shrugging into the big black coat, he speaks to the Bone Gnawer in
smoothly chilly tones. "And you can assume that you're not welcome to
teach _any_ of my cubs. At any time. Is that clear?"
"Follows," Olga replies blankly, eyes off vacantly considering the wallpaper.
There's a very slight shifting of fabric as her hands ball up in their
pockets.
Salem's upper lip curls, briefly showing teeth. Then he turns away from the
Gnawer Theurge in a dismissive sort of way, pulling out his gloves
(black, natch) and tugging them on.
Rina draws away from the Strider, her expression tightening a fraction into a
pained look as she regards Salem. One of her hands twines with Sepdet's
briefly, making a lattice of white fingers and brown. She looks back to
the Adren. "You'll come by... sometime? Or I'll be down here, probably,
day after tomorrow."
Sepdet seems barely to notice the inevitable threads of tension that have
changed names and faces but not substance during her absence. She gives
Rina's hand a firm squeeze. "I will not be here the day after tomorrow, I
fear, but I will have to hunt for you sooner rather than later." She
rises to her feet. "Keep well, all of you.",
Joshua sets his jaw, putting the last three on top. There had been just a
little drinking that night... the cub shuffles off to the Kitchen,
dropping them in the bin with a loud clinking noise. He walks back into
the Living room yet again, starting to clean up after the coffee... he
looks as the elder starts off, "Good night, Rhya." He murmurs, keeping at
his chore.
Salem glances to Sepdet and gives another slight bow toward the Strider. "Gaia
keep you, Hope-Star-rhya," he says, with formal respect. He gives Rina a
glance, then heads out the front door.
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