Meeting Renee Properly

[hazlogs]

It is currently 18:02 Pacific Time on Sun Nov 25 2001.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (68% full).

Currently in Saint Claire, it is raining lightly. The temperature is 43
degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in
from the north at 7 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.91 and
rising, and the relative humidity is 93 percent. The dewpoint is 41
degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.)

Regan Avenue, Downtown

Tenements, small businesses, and tiny restaurants line the street. Heavy
metal bars encase the glass fronts of the stores. Battered cars, almost
falling apart with rust, are parked haphazardly here and there along the
sidewalks. People travel in groups, here, wary of the small gangs of young
boys at street corners. Several blocks have the same dull repetitiveness,
from Fifth Street all the way to Twelfth. Only the graffiti marks a
difference between the blocks, the occasional rudeness sometimes broken up
by light colors and strange designs.

Renee has wedged herself between a grafitti covered building and a
dumpster. A sketch pad resting on her knees, as she add more detail too it
with a pencil. Oddly enough, the groups of young boys that travel in
preditory packs, avoid the scrawny kid.

Salem pauses outside the old building to pull on his gloves and turn up
the collar of his coat; his breath emerges in white clouds. Scanning the
street, left and right, he does not spot the girl.

Renee is wearing a jacket, now that the weather has turned cold. Her
fingers remain uncovered as she draws, and she occasionally stops and puts
them under her arms to warm up the digits. While warming her hands, she
looks up and spots Salem standing in the entrance-way of the Walker Safe
House. The girl frowns, eyebrows scrunching together. Renee glares at the
Walker without realizing it, as her mind begins putting together a few
details.

Salem begins walking down the sidewalk, his step brisk and businesslike;
the direction he's heading will take him right past Renee's hidey-hole.

Renee picks up a small bottle cap, as Salem aproaches. She consider her
options for a few seconds, then pitches the metal projectile at Salem's
back.

The impact is light, though not so much that Salem doesn't notice. The
Walker stops short, frowns, and turns on his heel to look behind him; his
eyes -- one good, one dead -- narrow as he scans the street again.

Renee pokes her head around the edge of the building. One grubby hand
apears as well, moving back and forth in what could be considered a wave.

Salem lifts an eyebrow, a flicker of bemusement passing across his scarred
face before he arranges it into a pleasant, if aloof, little smile. He
crosses the distance back toward the girl, gloved hands tucked away in
coat pockets. "Well. Good evening."

"Hi," Renee replies. Looking between the Walker and the safe house. She
hikes a thumb toward the old building that the Walkers call home, before
stuffing her hand back into a warm spot. "Ya live there?"

Salem follows her gaze toward the house before shifting his attention back
to her face. "Usually, yes."

Renee nods. "Someone told be that only certaing types live there. Mabye ya
know her. Named Yi."

Salem considers for a moment, and then shakes his head. "No. Then again, I
don't know _everyone_ by name." His face reveals little.

Renee scratches at her head, which dislodges a flea. The little
bloodsucker hops from her hair too a shoulder and disapears into her
winter jacket. "Mabye ya know Kaz?"

Recognition flits across Salem's eyes; a moment later, he nods once. "Kaz,
I know. Fairly well, in fact."

Renee grunts. "She's been teaching me and stuff." The girl shrugs. "Name's
Renee. Spend mosta my time drawing. Sorry 'bout makin you mad before."

Salem makes a dismissive gesture. "It's forgotten." A thought occurs to
him. "Still, if you're one of Kaz's relatives, that explains much. I'd
wondered why you weren't spooked by the park."

Renee shrugs and scratches in the spot, that the flea disapeared into a
few minutes ago. "Not too much bothers me."

Salem dips his head in acknowledgement. "Good." He glances at his watch
briefly, then turns his gaze back to the girl. "Give my regards to Kaz
when you see her next, would you?" He's got all the mannerisms now of
someone who wishes he could linger, but is already nearly late for some
appointment.

Renee ehs. "No tellin when I'll see her again. But yea, I'll say
somethin."

Salem nods once, then turns and continues on his way down the street.