Salem Being a Jerk

[hazlogs]

7/16/02

Currently in Saint Claire, it is mostly sunny today. The temperature is 80
degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in
from the west at 10 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.92 and
falling, and the relative humidity is 45 percent. The dewpoint is 57
degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Half Moon phase (45% full).

Location: Whispering Pines - Jeremy's Apartment


Salem raps on Jeremy's door. Knock, knock.

Aiyana hrms, on her usual spot on the couch, squinting thoughtfully.
Ignore the fact she's wearing a pair of Jer's pants and one of his shirts.
Yes. "Not one for wrestlin'. And is all you got black?" The sudden tap on
the door makes her blink and glance towards it. "...you expectin'
someone?"

Jeremy glances over and shakes his head, then makes his way to the
bedroom, snagging the clothing bag on the way. "I'll throw on another
pair. See who is at the door?" He slips inside.

Aiyana pushes herself off of the couch and strolls towards the door.
"A'ight." Before opening she glances at the camera, stops, and just
stares. "Aw, damn..." Shaking her head, she unlocks the door, opens it,
and waves. "Hi? Can I help you?"

Salem is just about to lift his hand for another knock; he drops it as the
door opens and then, as he sees who answers it, his expression tightens.
"...Is Jeremy in?" asks the Glass Walker coldly.

Aiyana takes a step back, nodding a little. "He's, ah, in the back. C'mon
in." She moves to the side to allow Salem to enter, while wondering just
how fast she can bolt out of the door if she should need to.

Salem does absolutely nothing to put the Bone Gnawer at ease; the
sternness of his expression doesn't let up an inch. He gives her a chilly,
"Thank you," as he enters.

Aiyana bites her lip as she keeps her distance from Salem. "Drink? Snack?
Illegal drugs? Er, never mind that last one."

Jeremy peers his head out, then comes out into the living room, dressed in
a pair of black jeans and a solid green shirt. "Hey Salem." The kin says
as he glances over at the big mean looking Garou.

"Glass of water," says Salem to Aiyana. "With ice." He turns toward Jeremy
then, and his manner toward the kinfolk is considerably warmer, if only
when compared to the reception that Aiyana's gotten. "Evening, Jeremy.
Feeling better tonight?"

And now there's another knock on the door.

Aiyana dissapears into the kitchen, where she lets out the sigh she's been
holding for the last few minutes. "This oughta be fun," she mutters
quietly to herself as she fills a glass with water, puts some ice in it,
then heads back towards the living room. "Who now?" Her route takes a
detour as she peers at the screen, then goes to open the door again.

"Ahh.. Yes. I do. Thank you." Jeremy says, tilting his head forward some
as he releases a soft breath. "And you? You alright?"

Salem glances over at the door for a moment, then nods to Jeremy. "I'm
fine. Listen," he says, "I came over here to pick your brain a little."

Rhiannon blinks when she sees Aiyana at the door and not Jeremy, but her
surprise is quickly hidden as she gives the Gnawer cub a faint smile.
"Aiyana. Good to see you. Is Jeremy in?" It's apparently been a busy day
at work: her left hand is bandaged quite thoroughly.

Aiyana nods and holds the door open. "Yep. C'mon in. You want a drink
too?" She's trying to play nice hostess, at least. Leaving Rhi for a
moment, she heads towards Salem and holds out his glass to him. "As
ordered..."

"Right here.." The non gothy version of Jeremy speaks up as he rounds the
corner and glances over at Rhiannon. "What can I do for the two of you?"
He asks, shifting his gaze from kin to Garou.

Salem gives the Bone Gnawer a curt nod of acceptance as he takes the
water. His thanks holds only the bare minimum of courtesy. He arches a
brow slightly at sight of Rhiannon, but inclines his head to her in
greeting.

Aiyana is sure to put some distance between herself and Salem, seeking
refuge in the safety of the kitchen area.

[Rhiannon gets a call on her cellphone and vanishes into the kitchen to
have a pissed-off conversation in Spanish.]

Salem turns back to Jeremy. "Anyway," he says. "There's something you
could, perhaps, help the Sept out with in regards to cleanup."

Jeremy glances off after Rhiannon, picking up on the conversation a bit.
Him, being fluent as well. Shrugging his shoulder, he glances over to
Salem. "Oh? What can I do?" He asks, sounding quickly enthusiastic.

Aiyana eyes Rhi as she hurries off, smiling a little to herself. "Might as
well snag myself a drink..." She heads for the fridge, rinses out the
glass she had earlier, and pours herself some milk.

Salem takes a sip of ice water. "The Dancers left quite a bit of chemical
waste, the kind of thing that's not so easily disposed of. Or, at least,
the kind of thing that can't simply be dropped off in a restaurant
dumpster." His lips thin. "Roger, of course, was our resident expert in
all things chemical. Was." He pauses a beat before continuing. "I imagine,
though, that you'd picked up a thing or two from him."

Jeremy looks thoughtful for a bit, furrowing his brows. "Well, I know of
ways to absorb spills and to contain them. You could always use spill
socks and absorbers that you can possibly find at the water treatment
plant. Then use polyethylene bags to contain it. You know, perhaps we may
have a tie or two in the EHS, and they can get a field service team out
near by to at least clean up the major stuff that has embedded itself into
the soil. Dunno, depends how comfortable you guys are with the idea."

Aiyana leans against a wall, glass in hand, as she watches the two in the
living room. She stays out of the conversation for now.

Salem takes another sip of his water, frowning. "Kin are being allowed on
the Bawn. No humans who are not related to us. It's far too risky."

Jeremy ohs quietly to himself as he rubs the back of his neck. "Well, I
can make a few calls and see what I can do. Perhaps get in touch with
Lianne also, since she is rich and has a lot of friends here in the city.
I can help clean up, I just don't have the means to really get the
equipment.." He trails off, sagging his shoulders back some.

Salem shakes his head. "Information and organization is vital. Whatever
you can do for the problem is appreciated." He sounds quite sincere about
that.

Aiyana puts her glass into the fridge for now, takes a breath, and heads
for the living room with a slightly cautious look on her face.

Jeremy nods his head slowly. "Thanks for that confidence boost, though I
want to do more. I wish I could snap my fingers and make things happen,
like Roger could."

Rhiannon returns from the other room and tucks her cellphone back into her
pocket, obviously expaserated. "Sorry," she apologizes to everyone. "It
seems bad news travels with the speed of light."

Salem takes a seat on the couch. "I imagine that will come in time," he
tells Jeremy, and then turns toward Rhiannon. "Bad news?"

Aiyana smiles towards Rhi. "Welcome back." She relaxes a little, but folds
her arms across her chest.

Jeremy nods once again, then glances over to Rhiannon.

"My mama, despite appearences, occasionally suffers from empty nest
syndrome." She tries to keep from sounding too bitter over this, and
almost succedes. "But, that's life." She waves the conversation aside with
her injured hand, and jerks her head at Jeremy. "Some news you might find
interesting."

Salem takes another sip of water, his gaze resting expectantly on
Rhiannon.

Jeremy looks over to the older kin and lifts up a brow. "Oh?"

Aiyana just stays in the background, trying not to draw any attention to
herself. It's safer that way.

Rhiannon asides to Salem, "You heard some of this the other night." She
then addresses Jeremy. "An anonymous tip got called into the precinct a
couple days ago. Dylan Seagrave, an SCCU student, was arrested today for
killing George Costas." Not sure if Aiyana should be privvy to the
significance, she doesn't mention where it fits in.

Salem nods at the aside, and then his eye falls on Aiyana. His look is
distinctly unfriendly.

Aiyana blinks and coughs, almost instantly looking away from Salem. She
then glances down at her clothes and mentally swears to herself several
times.

"Ahh.. Dylan. He sells drugs, Crystal Meth actually on campus to some of
the freshman. His father is quite the popular figure in the law
department. In fact, word is he pulled a few strings now and then to get
his son out of trouble and to put the blame on other people." Jeremy says
softly as he wrings his fingers together. "So, I suppose Rina is out of
hot water eh'?"

Salem continues to stare at Aiyana for several more minutes. Then he looks
to Rhiannon and, quite calmly, takes another sip of ice water.

Rhiannon grunts, and narrows her eyes. "Well, that depends on the water.
Out of one tank, and into another. Our friend from the South is still on
the list, as is whoever hired Dylan."

Aiyana resists the very strong urge to retreat to the bedroom. She
inhales, tries to relax, then lets out a quick breath, all while avoiding
Salem for the most part.

Jeremy nods his head slightly, then scratches his neck, out of habit
again. "Mmm.." He softly murmurs to himself. "Maybe Dylan just blasted him
for no reason, or maybe George was a buyer who couldn't come up with the
dough?"

Salem remains quiet, listening, his expression pensive.

Rhiannon shakes her head. "I'd give a lot for it to be so simple. However,
Dylan paid Costas' fiance--fucktoy, whatever--five grand to give him a key
to the place. He sure as shit wasn't saving that money mowing lawns."

Aiyana snickers quietly at Rhi, then quickly glances towards Salem to make
sure he's not aiming anything towards her head.

"And whats to say that perhaps his fiance' paid him to kill George?"
Jeremy asks, shrugging. "I mean, she is an accessory to the crime now."

Salem is, for the moment, not looking at the Bone Gnawer. "That still
leaves the question as to where the fiance got the money," he says to
Jeremy. His tone suggests that he already knows the answer to this riddle.

"I'm thinking this goes higher. Seagrave's dad, in Salt Lake City, is
known as a mob accessory." Rhiannon's grim tone says what she thinks of
that connection. "I don't know enough yet to be certain the kid was hired
by the mob, but it's way to neat for me to ignore."

Aiyana partially listens to the conversation, while the rest of her mind
wanders.

"Well, have you checked George for signs of narcotics abuse yet? See if he
was a user or not. That could simplify the case, unless you want to go
after the big dog, which of course may be hard, seeing how he knows the
law as well as the next lawyer. That and he is -good-." Jeremy notes.
"He's rich, has a lot of resources to back himself up."

"Nothing," Salem says dryly, "is ever easy."

Rhiannon grins, her expression a touch feral at the thought of going after
someone like Thomas Seagrave. "That's okay. It's more fun like that." She
opens her mouth to say something else, but her cellphone rings again. With
a grimace, she looks at the caller ID, and glowers at her phone. "I'll be
right back," she murmurs distractedly, and retreats into a different room
again. At least this time, she shuts the door.

Aiyana stretches and yawns a little, then realizes who she's in the room
with. Jeremy, she doesn't mind. She's seen him in his underwear, so he's
no problem. But the other one...Salem... She shudders a little.

Jeremy watches Rhiannon go, then shrugs his shoulders, heading over to
Aiyana. He lightly pokes her in the shoulder. "You two want to order a
pizza or something?" He asks.

Salem drains his glass and then rises from the couch. "That's quite all
right. I've intruded on your evening long enough." Once again, he gives
Aiyana a cold look, then turns back to Jeremy.

Aiyana glances up and smiles, nodding. "Sure. You can pick the toppings
this time, if you want." She then mutters, a little softer, "Hope you pick
better toppings than you do boxer colors, otherwise we're all in trouble."
Salem gets a polite nod. "Nice seeing you again, sir..."

Jeremy blushes slightly, then glances over to Salem, adjusting his glasses
a bit on his nose. "You are not intruding at all, Salem. You have no clue
how good it is to see you, or anyone from the tribe. I've really missed
you guys since.. Roger dying, and you all taking back the Caern. I hope to
get together with all of you.."

Salem's expression softens a notch, and he nods. "Yes... Things... have
been, mnh, busy. Still." He takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "We
_should_ be having that get-together for Roger fairly soon."

Aiyana just sits there like a good little Gnawer, trying not to draw any
attention to herself. Become one with the wall...

Jeremy nods his head, enthusiasticaly. "Yes, we should do that." He says
quietly, voice trailing off. He glances instinctivly about the apartment,
shifting some on his feet. "Lonely now.. I miss him a lot. Sometimes when
I come home from work, I hope to hear his voice ringing out... Where is my
dinner at kin!? Which tends to mean... get chinese take-out, or die."

Salem nods slowly. "I remember the day he charged up from the basement,
smelling of sulfer and raving about the bomb suit." His tone is tinged
with a wistful nostalgia. He shakes it off sharply and hands the empty
glass to Jeremy. "He was mad in all the good ways, and he _is_ missed."

Aiyana chuckles softly. "He sounds like he was a nice fellow," she
comments. Rising to her feet she places a hand on Jer's shoulder, her way
of trying to be comforting without doing something to make Salem glare at
her more than he usually does.

Salem doesn't glare, though his expression grows several degrees cooller
when the Gnawer comes into his field of view.

Jeremy smiles slightly. "He was one son of a bitch." That is surprising,
coming from him. "Definitly crazy in the best ways. A genius." Shifting
some, he takes the glass, then leans in to bump shoulders to Aiyana as he
passes her.

Aiyana hmphs. "That's a'ight...I'll get you later," she hisses to Jeremy.
"I know where you live, where you sleep..."

Rhiannon emerges from the other room at last, looking only a little less
annoyed than she was before. This conversation was also nowhere near as
loud as the previous one. "I can now say for certain, I will not be
getting interrupted by *them* anymore," she assures everyone.

Now Salem _does_ glare, though he waits until Jeremy's back is turned.

Jeremy deposits the glass into the kitchen, then comes back out, wiping
his hands off on his jeans.

Aiyana grins to Rhi. "Good to hear. Wanna stay for some pizza?" she asks,
before glancing over to Salem. "Um...hi?"

Catching Salem's look to Aiyana, Rhiannon surveys both Garou and Jeremy
carefully, trying to take in the situation. She bites her lip but again
doesn't mention anything, and chooses to answer Aiyana. "Wow. That's
pretty damned cool of you, and yes, I think I shall. I, don't suppose
anyone like anchovies on their 'za?" The question is hesitant, as she
expects she might be alone in that particular preference.

"Aiyana." Salem's expression remains stern. "May I speak with you in
private for a moment?"

Jeremy pauses at the scenario set before them, then frowns himself. He
lets out a ragged sigh between his teeth, stubbing his boot into the
carpet. He doesn't look very pleased.

Aiyana goes to reply to Rhi, but the question/command gets her attention.
"I...guess so," she says quietly, brushing a piece of her hair out of her
face. "Lead the way." A quick look is given to Jeremy, one of those 'if
I'm not back in 15, call the cops' type of expressions.

Salem gives the Bone Gnawer a chilly, "Thank you," and gestures toward the
front door.

Rhiannon barely contains the urge to interfer, but it's Garou business,
and she's not quite brave--or stupid--enough to get between Salem and his
problem with Gnawers. She does watch him order her out with clear
frustration, however.

Aiyana sighs and heads for the door, opening it to allow Salem to exit
first. "After you."

Jeremy turns red, gritting his teeth together. Turning on heel, he stomps
his way over to the kitchen, shaking his head.

Salem heads out into the hallway, waiting for Aiyana to join him before
closing the door. Once that's done, the Glass Walker folds his arms across
his chest and simply glowers down at her with an stern expression worthy
of a judge.

Aiyana would whimper, if she was in a form suitable for it. So instead she
hunches over a little, gaze fixed on the doorframe nearby, once she's out
of the apartment. "What's on your mind? I know this ain't no simple heart
to heart talk."

Rhiannon glances at Jeremy, and finally advises, "Let him say his piece,
then you can make your case to John if he's too heavyhanded. He's not
gonna try anything too drastic right there in the hall." With uncertainty,
she adds, "I hope."

"Don't know Salem very well." Jeremy murmurs from the kitchen. "Ya'know.
They did this same shit with Kit and I. Aiyana and I are just friends.
Thats it. She's been a good ear since Dizzy cheated on me and left." He
sighs heavily. "Now its like I can't have friends from other tribes
without having 'the talk'."

"How deep is your relationship with Jeremy?" Salem asks Aiyana. "Merely
platonic, or have you fucked him?"

Aiyana blinks and frowns, her eyes narrowing a little. "It's platonic,"
she replies in an even tone. "We ain't done nothin' like that. Honestly."
And yes, she's telling the truth. Can Gnawers do that?

Salem nods curtly, then leans close, his gaze burning a metaphorical hole
into the Gnawer's skin. "See that it _remains_ platonic. As long as it
does, I've no problem with your association. _However_..." And here the
Walker's voice turns to steel. "The very _moment_ that you and he indulge
in sexual activity of _any_ _kind_, you are in a great deal of trouble.
Understood?"

Rhiannon sighs. "They're just trying to watch out for you, is all. I know
it feels like smothering." She sounds sincere, and manages a wane smile as
she says, "I speak from experience."

"I've been clued for the past fourteen years of my life. I am perhaps more
experienced then most cliaths are in this field. I find it insulting that
I would get treated like some child." Jeremy starts opening cupboards and
the fridge, rummaging around in it. "Its fucking ridiculous."

Aiyana resists the urge to step back. She barely manages to hold her
ground, nodding once, her expression still one that's not all too happy.
"Understood, -sir-," she replies. "May I go back inside now? I don't want
to keep your precious time any longer..."

"You're also not even 21, and Kin," Rhiannon explains. "This may seem a
little crazy, but as much as they run out there getting shot and slashed
and burned, we're the fragile ones." She can't help but toy with her
bandage. "We're the ones who die easier, and don't have the luxury of
healing. They're aware of that, even if they don't show it in the most,
*endearing* ways."

Salem straightens up and gestures toward the door, clearly dismissing her.
"I'll ignore that snide attitude. And yes, go. Please give my regrets to
Jeremy and Rhiannon. I have an appointment elsewhere." The last two
sentences are all chilly courtesy.

"Regardless of how we die, it shouldn't damper my dating life, as non
existant as it is." Jermey says, taking out something from the fridge. It
looks to be a coke can, just longer. "And I could be fourty, and they
would still do this to me." He sighs, hipping the door shut. "But,
whatever. I'll just nod my head and take it. Thats my job afterall."

Aiyana turns, not even bothering to reply this time. She just opens the
door, walks into the apartment, shuts the door, and lets out a sentence or
two of every swear word she can think up, both English and Spanish.

[Salem leaves.  Presumably, the three of them bitch about him behind his
back.] ;)