Professional Opinion

[hazlogs]

It is currently 21:10 Pacific Time on Thu Nov 15 2001.

Currently the moon is in the waxing No Moon phase (1% full).

Currently in Saint Claire, it is partially cloudy. The temperature is 41
degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The
barometric pressure reading is 29.87 and rising, and the relative humidity
is 100 percent. The dewpoint is 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.)

Harbor Park -- Fountain

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

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

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

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

Kaz is perched on the back of a bench, reading. It's an actual book, and
not a comic book.

Salem stalks into the park, the tails of his black duster sweeping back
behind him with each long stride. Upon spotting Kaz, he makes a direct
path toward the Bone Gnawer. His expression is coolly masklike,
businesslike and brisk.

Kaz raises her head at the movement of Salem's duster; once she focuses on
him, she puts the book down and just watches him for a few moments. Then
she says, once he's closer, "Yo."

"Evening." Salem's small, brief smile is pleasant enough, if a bit lacking
in warmth or even much actual _feeling_. "I thought I would find you
here."

Kaz shrugs. "It's a pattern. What can I do you for?" She's polite. What a
concept.

Salem lifts one eyebrow -- the right, the one above his good eye -- up a
notch. "More like the opposite. Have you given any thought to what you'd
like me to do?"

Immediately, Kaz says, "Yeah. An' it's a lot more fun than a hole in the
ground." She adds, almost regretfully, "I can't really think of anythin'
all humiliatin' an' shit, an' I gots myself problems, so I figured I'd
just dump 'em on you. I need advice. From a philodox. You up t'it?"

A twitch of some unreadable expression flits across Salem's face at
mention of Owen's hole. He unpockets gloved hands, spreads them slightly.
"I'm at your disposal."

"Yeah, ok, sure. D'you got that truth tellin' thing?" Kaz slides down into
an actual seat, watching him.

Salem nods. His hands vanish back into his pockets; he looks expectant.

Kaz speaks relatively quickly. "Ok. We had a cub. He was a pain in the
ass. He was a failure as a Garou. He had no idea how to submit to anyone
or anything, he was a putz, we finally decided to cull him. We offered him
the chance to die in the sewers, with some honor. He took it, except then
he got four tribes to whine at me about culling him, not that I'm bitter
about that part, but /anyway/, that's not my point. My /point/ is, some
guy killed him, made it look like suicide, denied having done it /to our
faces/, and then, after he gave me something of great value that'd ensure
I got to be Elder, confessed that he'd done it. He agreed he owes the
Gnawers something. I just... don't know /what/. I tol' him I wouldn't keep
it hangin' over him like whatsisface's sword, so I can't just say, "Yes.
Do us a favor. Someday." But I ain't real good at..." She suddenly sounds
defeated. "Figurin' out the value of a cub's life. Y'know?"

Salem's eyes narrow slightly, the blind one squinting almost closed. As he
listens, muscles tighten in his jaw, flashing anger -- real, sharp,
snarling rage. He gets it back under control heartbeats later, but it
remains echoed in a posture that's a mite more rigid than usual. "Being a
cub does _not_ make a Garou's life worth any less," he says, once Kaz is
done. His frown deepens. "Even a difficult one. Still. It's not the death,
is it, but the method."

Kaz watches him carefully. Eventually, she says, sounding tired, "That's
part of why this's goin' around in my skull. I mighta decided he hadda be
culled, but he was /family/. /My/ family. And that /means/ something. So
yeah. Method. Frankly, I don't give a shit if he decided then and there
the kid hadda be culled; I mean, Rotem'd called Brittany a backstabber to
her /face/ practically the day before, so I wouldn't fuckin' blame him.
It's the... Coverup part."

Salem nods. He's silent for a few moments, staring thoughtfully downward.
"The crass bribe was rather insulting too, wasn't it?" he says quietly.
"Hm." He's considering.

Kaz mutters, "A tad."

The silence stretches for another minute, and then Salem looks up. "If it
was a judgement you were looking for, I can think of several," he says,
folding his arms across his chest. "But if it's a _favor_ from him you
want... well. Much depends on what he's able to do for you. What are his
assets? Material, spiritual, or otherwise. And, how much do you want him
to _hurt_ for this favor?"

Kaz's jaw sets. "I don't--" She breaks off. "I hate this," she eventually
says, conversationally. "I'd rather just have a fuckin' judgement and be
done with it. I'm _tired_ of this. I think J-- the guy was a putz. I think
he was wrong. I don' trust him further'n I can throw him, now. But havin'
him _hurtin'_ for a fuckin' favor'd just fuckin' keep the fucked up cycle
goin'." After a moment, she adds, almost unwillingly, "Spiritual, I dunno.
But he's sorta um, influential with his tribe and he's sorta rich."

Salem studies the Gnawer's face carefully. "He's not looking for penance,
is he." It's not quite a question.

Kaz exhales. "He said... That he was willin' to pay th' price for what he
did. So he'd take penance type of shit. I just felt it'd be more
productive if we didn't have more breast beatin' and punishment an' shit.
I thought it'd be more productive if I didn't shout it out to the whole
Sept. I thought it'd be more productive if we both of us got a result
that'd lead t'him helpin' us out in a mutually beneficial relationship,
even if I /do/ think he's scuzzy scuzz. Now. D'you think that's... A bad
judgement? D'you think I should put it t'a half moon f'official judgement?
I'll /take/ your advice. 's why I'm here.'

Salem shifts his weight, bearded chin tipping upwards a notch. "It's as
you said. What price can you put on a cub's life, even a doomed cub? What
price on lies and bribes? Too, there's the fact that once you enter the
game of favors with a dishonorable individual, you'll find it difficult to
get _out_ of it. It will always be there, and always remembered.
Particularly by _him_." A grimace flits across his face. "You're not a
Shadow Lord, Kaz, and I wouldn't recommend that you become one." He pauses
a breath for emphasis, and concludes, "I think you should ask him to put
himself up to judgement."

There's a long pause. "And he /is/. Yeah." Kaz looks over at him with a
humorless sort of smile. "Wanna take the case, or you wanna go off an' get
Adam's thing done with?"

Salem is tempted, at least to judge by the glint of interest in his eye,
but the Glass Walker shakes his head. "I'd rather get the ostracism over
with, yes."

Kaz nods. "Awright. Works f'me." There's a pause, and she adds, "Wanna
contact list? Kin an' stuff?"

Salem arches a brow at the unexpected offer. "Certainly."

Kaz produces a somewhat battered photo-copied list from somewhere in a
pocket and hands it over. "John's prolly got one, but whatever. Anyways.
Thought it might be useful."

Salem accepts the list, skimming over it before carefully folding it and
tucking it away inside his coat. "Thank you." He pauses, gaze flicking
over toward the river as he takes a breath; turning back to Kaz, he asks,
"Will that be all?"

[It was.]