""That's so precious it's almost pathetic."

[hazlogs]

It is currently 17:44 Pacific Time on Mon Mar 29 2004.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is mostly sunny today. The temperature is 77
      degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in 
      from the southwest at 12 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.76 
      and steady, and the relative humidity is 25 percent. The dewpoint is 39 
      degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Half Moon phase (58% full).

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      out-of-date magazines are strewn atop a low coffee table; more neatly 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, ever mindful of what image he portrays to others, sleeps curled up
      behind the couch. Sure, it's only 6 but the Ahroun seems intent on a nap, 
      probably from how warm and sunny it was outside. He still hasn't gotten a 
      new shirt, sleeping 'as-is'.

Konstantin knocks on the door a couple of times, then comes inside the
      building. He steps down the hall a bit, peering around the corner into 
      the living room, before turning his head to glance up the stairs quickly.

Joshua, oblivious to knocking, snoozes on. A pair of boots sticks out from the
      end of the couch, and that is about it. Josh seems to be alone down there 
      for the moment.

The Shadow Lord glances at the couch again, the furniture shaded by the growing
      twilight. He lifts his shoulders and heads into the kitchen, where one 
      might hear the fridge door open.

Joshua is still throughly asleep. More or less. If the door didn't wake him,
      the fridge is not about to.

Flash comes trippily down the stairs, and trippily is indeed the word; the
      Gazer's dressed all hippy, complete with little round glasses and 
      tie-dyed shirt. "...There is a season, turn, turn, turn," he sings 
      quietly, one hand trailing the bannister as he descends. "And a time to 
      every purpose under heaven..."

Flash(#2873Pce)

        He's tall but gawky, a rail-thin, bit-over-six-foot beanpole with dark
      blond hair that's almost brown and muddy blue eyes that usually are 
      forced to peer out from behind overlong bangs. While he's not out-and-out 
      ugly, his youthful, nerdish features are not particularly handsome, 
      either, and depending on what he's wearing he looks to be anywhere from 
      his late teens to his mid-twenties. His tenor voice, which tends to rise 
      in octave when he's worked up, has an accent that's hard to pin down.

        His tie-dye t-shirt is all yellows and oranges and greens and bears a
      faded Grateful Dead logo on the front. It hangs loose over a pair of old 
      bell-bottomed blue jeans with faded cuffs and an American flag patch on 
      each asscheek. A couple of earthy-looking beaded necklaces hang from 
      around his neck, and his overlong bangs are kept out of his eyes by a red 
      and purple tie-dyed bandana. A pair of little round glasses with red 
      lenses sit low on his nose, and on his feet are a pair of cheap-looking 
      Birkenstock knockoffs. 

Konstantin's in the process of returning from the fridge with a can of soda. He
      looks at Flash coming down the stairs with a faint smirk. "Peace out, 
      man," he says, giving Flash the "V" sign with his fingers.

Konstantin is a young man in his late teens with a lean, wiry build. He has a
      generally unruly collection of close cropped sandy brown hair, long, 
      almost delicate fingers and a definite, although not unattractive Slavic 
      look about his facial features. He's dressed like a typical preppy 
      teenager, wearing a pair of freshly polished and stylish leather loafers, 
      a pair of snazzy looking and freshly pressed khaki colored dress slacks 
      with a button up cotton knit short sleeve shirt. The shirt is covered in 
      a vaguely tropical motif. Around his neck is a simple woven leather rope 
      with what seems to be a raven charm.

The nutcase is enough disrupt his sleep, Josh sitting upright at the singing.
      And from the look on his face, the visual assault is almost too much for 
      him. "Wha... uhg." He grunts out, rubbing his jaw with his knuckles.

Flash returns the gesture with a lazy-looking grin. "Likewise, man." He glances
      sidelong at the waking Ahroun and greets him with a casual, "Hey, Josh, 
      man, how's it hangin'?"

Konstantin glances back at the couch, shakes his head and says, "He's not into
      peace. Man." He cracks open the soda and takes a sip from it. "Who the 
      hell are you anyway?" he asks Flash.

Joshua uses the back of the couch to haul himself up right, snorting. "Ah, fine
      words from tight lipped comrade Konstantin, eh?" He grunts back, a scowl 
      quickly forming. "Nice to see you too."

The gangly hippy sticks his hands into his back pockets. "Name's Flash, man.
      Like, Ragabash of the Stargazers. I'm a fuckin' metis, man. Hey, I 
      thought communism, like, went out'a style in the eighties."

"Hell if I know," Konstantin says. "I'm an independent businessman, myself."
      The Lord eyes Flash thoroughly, before offering a few air kisses toward 
      Josh. "Anyway. I'm Konstantin. Or Comrade Konstantin, if you like."

Konstantin's standing next to Flash near the bottom of the stairs, looking into
      the living room at woolly headed napper Josh, who's propped himself up on 
      the couch.

Joshua offers another snort, crossing his arms at the blown kisses as he stands
      full upright. (Stupid shit.) Josh spits out in german, the scowl now 
      firmly etched on his face. "Anyhow. Pleasure to see you here, Comrade. 
      Why the sudden choice to bless this place with your presence?"

"Cool," says Flash lazily, nodding his head a bit and looking as sleepy-eyed as
      any pothead.

"Oh, you know," Konstantin says with a bored shrug, "Got bored driving around
      Saint Claire aimlessly. Thought I'd see what's new out in the sticks. 
      Maybe if Helen was around we'd go do something fun." He lifts his soda 
      can. "May I fetch you a drink?" he asks, his intonation extremely 
      obsequious.

Cutter raps twice on the door as he opens it, stepping into the main room. A
      lit cigarette dangles from his lips and his hat is tugged low over his 
      face. "Yo."

Tall, lean and wiry with long legs and an angular face. The current look evokes
      young Sinatra--the blue eyes topped with short well-kept red hair and a 
      felt fedora with a black feather tucked into the band. He wears a 
      retro-cut black suit and sunglasses with black leather loafers. The spot 
      of color is his royal purple tie.

Joshua clears his throat, arms dropping to his side. "Cutter-Rhya." He greets
      simply, before adding aside. "Helen is almost here. Try their turf. Where 
      they do things like, perhaps, work."

Flash glances back over his shoulder at the door, then turns, looking the
      newcomer over with approval. "Hey, it's, like, Frankie. Like, before he 
      got old and shit. How's it hangin', man?"

Konstantin's eyes slant toward Cutter, and he grins at the older Lord. "Boss,"
      he murmurs, pointing at Flash while the other ragabash's back is to him. 
      He mimes some roach inhalations at Cutter, continuing to point at Flash. 
      "Surprised to see you here," he adds. "I've been meaning to look you up."

Cutter is already rummaging for something in his inner jacket pocket. "K-Dogg.
      Guard Dogg. Aaaaaaand... whoever the hell you are." Having performed the 
      rites of greeting, he tugs a foil packet out and tosses it to Joshua. 
      "Got your magic shit. It was fifty bucks--I'd love to be reimbursed if 
      you can arrange it."

"Flash," says the hippy. It's his name, apparantly. He raises eyebrows and
      looks at Josh. "Dude, how the fuck you gonna come up with fifty bucks?"

Joshua catches it, a brief grimace forming on his face. "It will get paid
      back." He grumbles, looking over the foil packet closely. "I remember my 
      debts..." He starts to trail off, when Flash gets his attention. He looks 
      up and over to the Metis. "I have my ways. How you think I paid for the 
      good booze?" Oooh. Cryptic.

"He's got some ho's," Kon murmurs, conspiratorially toward the hippy. "Cutter,
      you just playing mule or do you have time for a chat?"

Cutter eyes Konstantin for a long moment. Then he nods. "Sure thing." He turns
      to Flash. "So, anything else you'd like to mention as the new kid in 
      town, so I can respond in kind?"

The front door opens, and Anthony slips inside, pulling off his windbreaker and
      casually tossing it in the hall closet.

Flash eyeballs Josh consideringly for a few moments, then turns his eyes over
      to Cutter. "Oh, y'mean my creds? Ragabash of the Stargazers, man, if 
      that's what'cha lookin' for." He rolls bony shoulders in a shrug, hands 
      still stuffed into his back pockets.

"... what you say... pimping out on the bawn, yes." Josh offers evenly, a cool
      smile replacing the scowl. "All the septs are doing it these days. Good 
      rates, much profit. Or, we could all put away the crack..."

Konstantin was in the midst of drinking from his can when he gets A Look from
      Cutter. He almost chokes and gives the Lord a "what was that for?" look. 
      He remains silent, but subdued.

Anthony wanders up the hallway and towards the kitchen, though along the way he
      stops to peer into the living room, leaning against the edge of the wall 
      opening as he considers the people inside.

Cutter gives Flash a sweet smile. "Cutter Thomson. Fostern Lord, knife moon.
      Pleased ta." He looks back to Kostya and jerks his head toward the 
      kitchen.

Joshua hefts the foil package, peeking inside for a bare moment before folding
      it closed again. "Good." He says, mostly to himself. The Ahroun bends 
      over, retrieving his sheathed knife, reattaching it to his side.

Flash gives Cutter another smile and a peace sign, then turns to Joshua. "Y'not
      gonna say what's in that shit, are ya?" He doesn't wait for an answer. 
      "Nope. Gonna be all cryptic and mysterious. Either that or pissy."

Cutter points at the packet. "I expect to hear what you discover on this inner
      journey to the soul, by the way.

Cutter goes through the aperture at the northern end of the front hallway to
      enter the back room of the house.

In the back of the house, Konstantin's set his empty can on the counter next to
      the sink. "Want to talk a stroll?" He nods out the sliding glass door to 
      the barnyard.

"Not going in." Josh shakes his head, cracking his neck for a moment. "Wrong
      direction. Heading... outward." He looks to Flash, shrugging. "Why be 
      pissy or Cryptic? Spirit quest. Remember, I already told you..."

Anthony frowns at the two in the living room, and continues along into the
      kitchen.

In the back of the house, Cutter dips his head. "Take a walk around the
      premises--" He pauses as the new fellow enters. "You're Tony the Walker, 
      right?"

In the back of the house, Konstantin glances toward Tony, pausing his progress
      outside.

In the back of the house, Anthony looks mildly surprised at being recognized,
      absently reaching for his cap and taking it off. "Um, yeah, why?" he asks 
      a bit hesitantly.

In the back of the house, Cutter says "Natalie tell you I was looking for you?
      Want to talk to the both of you briefly."

Flash nods slowly. "I figured on you bein' the type to take the shortcut, man."
      His expression's distainful; he sniffs once, then turns his back on Josh 
      to wander into the kitchen, since that's where the refreshments are.

In the front rooms, "Is not much of a shortcut. Seeing how the other way
      involves bleeding to near death." Josh cuts back, heading up the stairs. 
      A moment later, he's down with a white t-shirt on.

Konstantin eyes Flash with an unhidden smirk as he enters the kitchen.

"Huh, no she didn't." Tony puts his cap back on. "Haven't talked to her lately.
      So, uh, what did you want to talk about?" he asks, making a pitstop at 
      the fridge.

Cutter says "You're a no-moon--are you sneaky at all? There's a situation I
      want scouted before I try to make with the battle plan."

"I suppose, yeah, some," Anthony replies as he roots around in the fridge, not
      exactly brimming with confidence.

Flash glances back toward the retreating Ahroun and snorts. "Stupid
      motherfucker," he says, and then shrugs and saunters toward the fridge.

Cutter says "There's something extremely funny going on in one of the
      warehouses down by the riverfront. I'd like a couple of no moons, at 
      least a couple, to look the place over and bring back whatever 
      intelligence they can. Then I want a collection of pipe-hitting garou to 
      go in and clean it."

"Er," Konstantin says, focusing on Cutter. "It's gone. It's moved. Somewhere
      else."

Flash rummages around in the coldbox, taking out the carton of orange juice. He
      stands with the fridge door open, drinking directly from the carton.

Cutter blinks in surprise, but quickly recovers. "Was this what you wanted to
      talk about?"

"In part," the Shadow raggie nods. "There's more, but I don't feel like
      broadcasting it to the whole world."

Anthony side-steps away from the fridge to let Flash in, cracking open the can
      of soda he retrieved from inside and drinking it as he listens to the two 
      Shadow Lords talk.

Cutter nods, and returns his attention to Anthony. "Okay. So never mind the
      scouting thing. Sorry to have bothered you."

Flash lowers the OJ. "Oh, yeah," he says casually, interjecting. "Like,
      speaking of no-moons, I need to find one that needs to, like, learn 
      Talisman Dedication bad enough to learn it from a fucker like myself."

In the front rooms, Joshua clears his throat, turning his way into the kitchen
      instead of the door. Something that was said?

Konstantin says "Sorry, dude," Konstantin says to Flash. "I already know it --
      and I don't think there's enough pot in all the world to get someone to 
      learn anything you have to teach.""

"Eh, it's okay. I'll tell Nat that you got a hold of me." Anthony starts to
      head back out into the hallway, but Flash's offer draws his curiosity.

Cutter slides open the door in the kitchen, passing through into the back yard.

Konstantin slides open the door in the kitchen, passing through into the back
      yard.

Flash nods to Konstantin, smiling lazily with the OJ carton still in hand, then
      turns his gaze onto Anthony. "How 'bout you, dude?"

"Well, uh, I have been putting it off for a while now, and I guess it'd be
      pretty useful," Tony replies, wrapping both hands around the can of soda 
      and drumming his fingers thoughtfully. "Why you offering, anyway?"

Joshua looks over both of them first Anthony the Flash. If he has anything to
      add, he doesn't.

Flash acts as though he hasn't even noticed Josh is there. "S'for my chimmy,
      man," he answers Tony. He takes another gulp from the carton, wipes his 
      mouth with his arm, then puts it back in the fridge and closes it. "Gotta 
      teach another Raggy how to Dedicate, 'n then gotta teach a rite to two 
      other Garou. You wanna be the Raggy?"

"Huh, that's it? Geez." Tony thinks about it a little more, then shrugs. "Sure,
      sounds fine to me," he replies, punctuating it with a swig of his soda.

Joshua clears his throat again, mostly for his own benefit. "You need to teach
      rites for chrimage, then?" He starts slowly, chewing on the edge of his 
      lip.

"Cool." Flash grins at Anthony, then glances over at Josh, considering him.
      "...Yeah, but, see, there's another catch. Those two other Garou? They 
      can't be of the same tribe as the Raggy. Won't count if they are. So, 
      sorry, man, you're outta luck for now."

Flash doesn't sound very sorry, actually.

Joshua shrugs with one shoulder, so-so. "Who said I was asking? If I had time,
      I would be still studying under Trevor-Rhya..." He looks up and down 
      Flash, as if debating telling him something.

Anthony glances back over his shoulder at Josh, giving him a shrug as well.

Flash cocks his head. "Then why do you give a fuck?"

Joshua frowns, that scowl returning. "Am 'dumb-as-a-bear,' remember? You know
      bears, always poking their nose into stuff. Very slow witted. Do not 
      realize things that should be very apparent, need to find out over and 
      over again."

Anthony rolls his eyes as he leans against the counter. "Jeez, quit being such
      a martyr."

Flash also rolls his eyes a bit, though his expression is almost pitying, the
      way he looks at the Ahroun. "That's so precious it's almost pathetic. 
      Really. Look, Josh? You're not made to be subtle, so don't bother. And 
      while, yes, you're a complete moron, bears /aren't/. Winnie the Pooh 
      excepted."

"That was as subtle as a rock, dumbass." Josh lifts his chin. "For the sarcasm
      impaired, that's my way of saying, 'thanks for reminding me what a dick 
      you are.' Perhaps people might be willing to make things easier for 
      you... if you tried not being one. Just a, you know, casual suggestion."

"Yeah, you're great at sarcasm, Josh, I'm glad there's someone around like you
      to explain it to us," Anthony replies flatly, putting the can of soda 
      down on the counter and folding his arms.

"That's what I meant, fucktard," Flash replies, leaning back against a counter
      and looking down on the Ahroun. "Sarcasm? You suck at it. And as 
      for not being an asshole, check for the plank in your own eye before you 
      go lookin' for the mote in mine. I'm workin' hard to be a bigger shithead 
      than you, and it's something I do /deliberately/, so what's your excuse?"

"Ah, great. I get to take language pointers from the Fish and his belly button
      tracking side kick." Joshua rolls his eyes in true teenage fashion, a 
      gesture he hasn't gotten to use in a long time. "Yes, I am an ass hole. 
      It comes from not being able to put up with shit like this. So, if you 
      want to get off your soapbox, I -might-, and I stress, -might- know 
      something that would make it easier on you."

Flash folds his arms across his chest and smiles in that smug, insufferable way
      of his. "Oh, I think not being able to put up with shit is the /least/ of 
      your problems, Joshie m'man, but go ahead."

Anthony doesn't seem to have much to say in response to Josh, instead just
      shrugging and letting his gaze wander elsewhere through the kitchen.

"You are still on your goddamn soapbox, and if there is one thing I cannot
      stand, it is a soapbox." Josh doesn't growl, tone doesn't raise, and 
      heck, his face seems level. Where did this come from? "I -might- recall a 
      few names of people who -might- have been looking for rites who -might- 
      not have been a Fish. But, with all this shit your flinging at me, I 
      honest to god cannot remember who."

"Then why didn't you say so, instead of talking about bears or whatever that
      was?" Anthony asks, looking back to Josh.

Flash sniffs. "...Probably can't stand the soap, either," he murmurs,
      off-handedly. "But, oh well. Guess I'll just have to do the legwork 
      myself. Can't teach more than one person at a time anyway." He turns to 
      Anthony. "When do you wanna start, by the way? Tomorrow?"

Joshua says "It might have something, I don't know..." Josh shrugs slowly.
      "Maybe to do with how big of a... what you call it, douche?" He looks 
      over to the door. "God, you can't say I didn't try."

"Tomorrow should be fine, yeah, though maybe the day after might be better?"
      Anthony offers, counting off things on his fingers absentmindedly.

"Hey, whichever, man," says Flash, ignoring Joshua entirely now. "I'm easy.
      Like, I'm here just about all the fuckin' time anyway, right?" He grins 
      at the other no-moon.

"Well, when I'm not working on my chiminage crap, I'm usually here, so I guess
      it'll probably be pretty soon, then," Anthony replies with a grin of his 
      own, also ignoring Josh now.

Joshua does head for the door in question. The glass door slides open, the
      closed behind him.

"Groovy," says the Stargazer. He straightens up. "I'm gonna head out front and
      catch some swings on the porch, get some air."

"Okay, have fun." Anthony considers the fridge again, and heads over to it in
      search of a quick dinner.

Flash flips Tony a peace sign and saunters off.