s[Matthews] Hunter nods his head to Lukas without hesitation, speaking up for the both of them.
"Ya' bout right. Not bad's puttin' it lightly tho' don't mind me sayin' -rhya."
Wait, did Hunter just call someone rhya?
[Drawn in Blood] The look on the Modi's face when Lukas informs him that perhaps the Jarl can find him something more productive to do than what he was doing tonight is easily translated as a dry Oh, hah hah. He cannot vocalize this, and he doesn't come up with any way of attempting to thank the Ahroun Elder for passing along the information as to where he could find the rest of his tribe. Blood-stained fingers take back the paper, then the pencil, which he hands off to Joey. Wiping his face one more time, the still-nameless-to-her young man looks to Drew, his expression briefly apologetic, then steps away from the congregation and starts off down the street without excusing himself.
It isn't for lack of awareness that that is the socially acceptable means of leaving a conversation, but of all the things he is worried about, seeming rude doesn't appear to be one of them.
[Drew Roscoe] Drew had, for the most part, stood near the curb, distancing herself from the whole congregation of Garou without moving too far away, out of earshot, or appearing to be separate from the group from an outsider's point of view. She stood with her hands in her coat pockets, after she'd shaken the snow from the hand that had offered it to the Modi with the broken nose, and listened in. Watched as writing utensils were passed to Drawn in Blood-- realization spread on the Kin's face there, but faded into nothing soon enough.
All goes back and forth, Lukas's attention hops from Drawn in Blood to Hunter and Joey (A pack, huh? Really now?), and the Modi takes the chance to glance toward her, look somewhat apologetic, and then make his way up the sidewalk. Drew pauses, but only for a moment, before nodding briskly to the three left in front of the cafe.
"Joey, Lukas. Glad to see you're both still around, I'll have to catch up with ya sometime. Gonna go... be Family for the time being, though." Hunter gets a momentary stare, a shake of the head, and she's walking after Drawn in Blood with the low, dull clack-clack of utilitarian work heels on the pavement to carry her away.
[Oliver] Joey watches Lukas and the Ahrouns. Drawn in Blood isn't the only one to shoot Hunter a quelling look, though the look from his Beta is less skin-melting. There's no point in pointing out the obvious, once they've all figured it out.
When the Modi hands her back her pencil, she accepts it with a wry grin. He leaves without a word, perhaps in search of the rest of their tribe in Chicago. Joey watches his retreat, nods to Drew and waves. "Yeah, later."
Then, her attention's back on the sept's war leader.
[Lukas] Lukas turns briefly from the Vanguard to nod to the departing Drew, a faint smile turning up the corner of his mouth. "It's good to see you're back, Drew." The polite corollary would be to wish Joe well -- but something, some sixth sense, some intuition, keeps Lukas from saying it. "See you," is all he says before turning back to the Vanguard.
"That's good," he says, "because things have been quiet in the area, but I doubt it'll stay that way. It'll be good to have some advance notice. Where do you guys usually roam? Lakeview?"
[Matthews] "Bronze, southside." He repeats, and he watches the retreat of Drew while he says it. It isn't a look that roams her form or finds appreciation in a beautiful woman. It's a look like, she don't like me much I dun know why!
"Speakin' a which, been in contact with Imogen n'Kora. Got some funky shit goin' down on my side'a town mainly. Some in the green too but mostly my side. Don't know much yet but it seems.."
He frowns.
"S'like corporate fronts n'shit ya' know? But worse'n that, it's them that live out north if ya' catch my drift. I'm sure ya' heard bout' it already but yeah. Keepin' busy with that right now."
[Drawn in Blood] [THANKS FOR THE SCENE SUCKERS]
[Simon Zahradnik] Simon spots Lukas outside and he is drawn in that direction once he has some coffee. His hoodie is pulled back on, however, and he moves to find the group. His attention sliding over the others outside the building. Curiosity about why he has been summoned here, and what, exactly, his elder wished of him. Lukas was more than just an Elder Ahroun, or an Elder, he was an Elder Shadow Lord and no matter how one might attempt to separate individuals from their tribes there would always be a link there between them.
He greeted all those gathered outside. A little smile worn as he lifted his cup before turning his attention to Lukas."You rang Rhya. I got here as quickly as I could."He says figuring he should announce his presence properly. It was only then that he took the time to acknowledge the others gathered. Joey wasn't technically lower in station but it was Lukas he came to meet... Besides the old man was getting up there in years and bound to be a little farther ahead rank wise than Joey!
[Lukas] "Good. I was going to reassign you to Bronzeville if you weren't there already. Most of the skirmishes that go down in this city seem centered there. Cabrini looks like hell, but the Fenrir seem to keep it under control.
"I want you and your packmate to keep tabs on that place and whatever might be going on. Keep lines of communication open with Dark Sky, too. They'll probably be joining you in the area. We might need to recon the Hive area again soon, too. The Knights at the Church have been taking heavier losses again recently. Something might be up, and right now the two of you are looking more and more like my best scouting pack. So be ready for that."
A beat.
"So don't fuck around getting in brawls." It takes a certain sort of person, personality, and composure to sling off obscenities so smoothly, so sternly. "In Lakeview, of all places. What was that all about?"
[Matthews] He listens, nods, pays attention. It isn't often Hunter Matthews gets the chance to look like a soldier rather than a charismatic thug. Sure he is a leader in battle, a warrior, but this isn't natural right here. This is practised.
"Keepin' em, Keepin' em" he says almost quietly to himself when Lukas mentions lines of communication with Dark Sky.
And when finally he gets asked a question? He doesn't sigh, he just raises both his eyebrows.
"I just said hello to the guy s'all called em' dibs cause that's his deed name n'all. He's been hangin' with JoJo a bit so thought I'd try get friendly with em' but guess he took it the wrong way."
"I ain't come here for a fight, I just ended one s'all."
[Lukas] And:
"Simon. No need to hurry -- just wanted to talk about the war-readiness of the packs of the Sept, but let me finish up with the Vanguard first. I was just telling them that I might pair your packs up in Bronzeville's defense. You spend a lot of time down in that area, don't you?"
[Oliver] Hunter listens, pays attention. Joey watches on, silently attentive. Her attention becomes more focused at mention of scouting the Hive.
"I'm gonna talk to Honor's Compass about challengin' for Ragabash leader before the month's out, boss. Someone's gotta rally the scouts."
She falls silent again when talk turns to the brawl, but this silence holds a different weight to it. It's thoughtful, considering.
"That guy's gotta lotta pride. You saw how he was 'bout trying to communicate." It's all she says aloud.
Dibs? Seriously? The questions are not amused.
[Lukas] "Fair enough. Fenrir tend to take their names seriously. It's a thing of pride for them, particularly their Ahrouns. Just ask Joey. You didn't know better, but now you do. Find him and make peace with him. If the only peace he'll accept comes at the expense of an all-out brawl, then forge your peace that way -- but do it somewhere where the humans can't see you.
"And before you say it -- I know he started it. But you're an Alpha with a strong totem, and he's a metis without a pack. That puts the responsibility on you for keeping your relations civil."
To Joey, then, "Good. I haven't seen Leaves No Trace for months. That either means he's doing a very good job or a very bad one. I suspect we'll find out which when you challenge."
[Simon Zahradnik] He nods his head and shrugs his shoulders."Dark Sky has largely been based in Lake View but we're at war. I'm not gonna fuck around or fuck with someone's territory but for the most part I go where I am needed. If that is Bronzeville then that is where I will go. If that is the middle of the ocean... That's where I go too. Cept space... I don't do space. You want someone up there get a Glasswalker they love that kinda crap anyway."He corrects at the end. It was his way of cracking a little joke.
"I've been doing some hunting and searching on my own... But it's hard without proper organization and orchestration between packs to really gain much ground. So if you want us to start working together I have no problem doing just that. I'd much rather we head more in that direction anyway... Not gonna help any of us if we bicker about who gets to defend what side of town when our enemies are united against us."He says with a little nod of his head. He's apparently already in agreement with this as it seems to be something he's been thinking about already.
"If any pack needs us we stand ready to respond. If not the rest of my pact then you can sure as hell bet that I am ready. Anytime anywhere..."He says with a sharp nod of his head.
[Matthews] "I'll sort it." He confirms with Lukas in response to his relations with the new metis Modi and that is the end of it. His eyes shift to Simon to listen to him talk. Man can he talk. It just so happens though that the topic is of interest to the Alpha of the Vanguard.
"Don't mind help in ma' hood if I know's bout' it. Don't liken no surprises when it comes ta' shit like that. We should have'a sit down sometime, keep up healthy outlooks n'all that for when the shit hits the fan."
That's all he has to say about that really. His eyes go back to Lukas.
"Well ya' know what ya' got in ya' corner. When the time comes we'll be up there, just like our name. Ain't nobody gettin' in and out like The Vanguard."
His eyes go to Joey, then back to the War Leader and Simon. An obvious raised eyebrow. That all?
[Lukas] "I know," Lukas replies, and then gives both Hunter and Joey a nod. The dismissal couldn't be clearer if they were all in uniform and saluting. The big Shadow Lord turns to his tribesman instead, his hands sliding into his pockets as he tilts his head toward the parking lot.
"The humans inside are too jazzed up for us to talk in there. We'll have to talk in the car." He takes his keys out, tosses them to Simon. "Give me a minute to grab a coffee and I'll be right out."
[Matthews] And that is that.
"Last one home has ta' do dishes." He says to Joey, and makes a bolt for his car.
[Oliver] Hunter bolts for his car, Joey just watches him go. She turns to Lukas. "Later, Lukas." No rhya. Feels so weird.
She doesn't run for Cassius. She doesn't have to.
[Simon Zahradnik] He watches the other two leave with a silent and Empty look on his face and then he watches Lukas through the window. He wasn't going anywhere... He would wait and do as he is told/directed by his elder.
[Oliver] [woo thanks for the scene, ya'll!]
[Prayers to Broken Stone] People in Lake View are accustomed to seeing some strange things.
Sometimes, usually when there's a full moon in the sky some really odd occurrences happen, too. Tonight there's barely a sliver of one left yet it didn't stop the Ahrouns having a fist fight in the middle of the Cafe. It also doesn't, apparently, prevent a Fianna Galliard from appearing around the corner of a block covered in drying black goop; it dots his coat; the shirt beneath which was some lurid colored abomination that set off the uncanny blue of the Fiann's eyes.
He's broad-shouldered, bares the breeding of a son of Stag and is accompanied by a Silent Strider who, while not as coated in grime as he, also bears the signs of a recent battle. The blond has his hands in his pockets; his eyes downcast; though every now and then he raises them to glance at his companion and frown.
He does not slow down, as they come upon the Cafe. Or seem to care, particularly, if he gets the odd glance, an up and down of uneasiness.
[princess] Asha is napping in the backseat of Lukas' car. It's almost sweet. Her dark head is pillowed in a cloud of gleaming back hair, and she's curled up in a fetal position - sleeping the sleep not of the dead, but of wolves - which is to say, she'll be deeply asleep until she's startled awake by movement outside.
And then she will be immediately, utterly awake.
[Sarita Ecos de la Risa] She's walking along at Patrick's side, in a much better mood from the looks of it than the Fianna. "...don't worry. You loosened the lid of the jar, so to speak. I just finished it up." Whether Patrick was worried or not about that may be a completely different story, but she's putting it out there anyway as they walk along. If Sarita is worried about what people think of her and Patrick's odd appearance, she sure as hell isn't showing it. In fact, when someone on the corner gives them a strange look, she pauses turns her head in their direction.
"OIL! Go tell J.P. Morgan, we struck ]black gold! Texas tea, right here in River City!" The now thoroughly-wierded out person gets the excuse they need to escape their rage, and Sarita grins and speeds her steps to make up the small amount of lost ground.
[Lukas] Lukas is back outside in record time. It seems no one in the cafe wants to delay his order. He's fasttracked to the front of the line, and then his drink is fasttracked past a row of empty waiting cups. Two, three minutes tops and he's coming back out with a steaming cup of joe in hand. If he's surprised to see Simon still waiting, he doesn't show it. He tilts his head toward the car, holding his hand out for his keys as he goes.
The front doors unlock. Asha comes instantly awake, and then Lukas climbs in, depressing the car on its shocks.
"Have you met Asha? Asha, this is Simon Bone-Grinder, my tribesman, fellow Ahroun, and current Wyrmfoe of the Sept. Simon, Asha K&+257;lar&+257;tri, my packmate, also an Ahroun."
[princess] Too bad Thomas wasn't asleep in the front seat. He'd introduce Asha properly. Instead, she's to be contented with two names and a moon-sign. The creature straightens, pushes a hand through sleep-tousled hair and yawns once, revealing perfect rows of sharp white teeth before she snaps her mouth closed and shakes free of the lingering hints of sleepiness, chasing them from the edges of her consciousness like cobwebs burned from the darkest corners of the room.
"Hi." Asha says, making a mental note that they've not been properly introducted. Keeping it mental so as not to shame her Alpha.
[Simon Zahradnik] Simon follows... Why Lukas would be surprised if at all would be beyond him! The Full Moon had asked him to stay so they could speak! It would actually be rather impolite to disobey his elder like that would it not? Still he walks to the door and glances in at the sight of Asha. He smiles a little and he nods his head...
"She distracted a dragon for me once... But Adam scared it off before I could strike the killing blow. Ruined what woulda been a great story to tell my eventual children about their father. Still we made it out alive so it's all good!"He says with a grin."It's a pleasure to meet you Rhya..."He did not know if she was his elder or not, the rank was not mentioned but she was Packmate to his alpha so he opted for respectful.
His smile showed as he looked her over. Cautious and curious to see if she recalled that little bit of history.
[Prayers to Broken Stone] She's trying to comfort him about the gigantic garden worm from Hell they just slaughtered and set on fire in Bronzeville; and the Fianna walking at her side slants her a rather incredulous look, and punctuates it with a snort. It's good natured, though, at least as good natured as you were likely to receive from Patrick right now.
Ahead of them, a blaze of Rage in the form of the current Ahroun Elder walks out of a Cafe with coffee in hand, and gets into a car where another two Garou sit -- he recognizes the passenger in the front seat, and one of his eyebrows crawls upward a little. "What the Hell," he says under his breath; a mixture of genuine bemusement and irritation.
"They conduct meetings in their cars, now?"
Patrick comes to a stop outside the Cafe, slouches his back against the brick facade and promptly pulls another of Sarita's cigarettes out -- he'd held onto the packet, what a prince -- he lights up; fostering nothing to disguise his interest in what was going on inside the car. "Whose the guy in the front seat with Bone Grinder?"
This, an aside to Sarita, like she's expected to know.
[Sarita Ecos de la Risa] The semi-sorta good-natured snort from Patrick gets a little twinkle in the mischievous Latina's eye. She's making headway. She pulls out another couple of cigarettes and passes Patrick one before she lights up.
"Who, what?" She looks ahead, squinting a bit at the car. "Oh...that's Simon--obviously--and Lukas. Simon's tribe. Ahroun. Master of the Challenge's packmate, and I think he's the tribe elder if I remember my conversation with him right. I was a tiny bit stoned at the time, but I think I got that right."
[Lukas] It's still warm in the car -- lingering effects of the heater. It gets warmer when Lukas fires up the engine, but they don't go anywhere. He thumbs down the window on his side a little to vent. Too much rage, too much body heat.
"You're both Cliaths," Lukas says, sips his coffee, and then passes into the back in case her highness wanted some. "Anyway, Simon, I wanted to talk to you about taking on a more active role. For a long time Wyrmfoe's been largely a ceremonial role, but you're a Shadow Lord, and we're pragmatists. I doubt you would have taken it on if you didn't want to do something with it.
"So this is the first thing I want you to do. I want you to go around to each pack and assess their combat ability. I don't care if this means fighting them, taking them out to fight with you, or giving them a questionnaire -- as long as you get answers and those answers are reliable. I want to know how good they are, and I want to know if you'd classify them as scouts, warpacks, or something else altogether.
"Then I want you to start training Garou who need training. I don't expect a Child of Gaia Theurge to be at the caliber of a Get of Fenris Ahroun, but I want everyone in the Sept to be competent."
A pause, another sip.
"I know you wanted to take a bigger role in actually getting packs to mesh, too, but I'm going to put someone else on that. Maybe Joey, if she wins her challenge. It's not that I doubt your conviction, Simon, but you're a warrior. A weapon. Social graces aren't your strong suit, and you've got a strong, polarizing personality. Someone like Joey, someone who gives off the impression of being laid-back and easy to talk to, will ruffle feathers much less as she goes around sussing out conflicts and how to mend them."
[princess] Naturally, Asha assumed that Simon addressed her as -rhya out of natural deference to her breeding, her blood, her tribe. She nearly tells Lukas that when he mentions it, but thinks better of it when he passes his coffee back to her highness.
Lately, she's preferred her eminent highness, thank you very much. So: her eminent highness takes a deep drink of coffee, mouth curling. It is perhaps here that Lukas might rethink giving that girl caffeine.
Still, she flashes him a winning grin, all razor-wide, all white teeth - and bounces experimentally on the back seat. "That's good," Asha tells Lukas, opening the back passenger's door already. "I'm gonna go get it in Super Extra Venti with a double-shot and some chocolate sauce. Be right back!"
[princess] (this is liz going to bed! night guys!)
"Ya' bout right. Not bad's puttin' it lightly tho' don't mind me sayin' -rhya."
Wait, did Hunter just call someone rhya?
[Drawn in Blood] The look on the Modi's face when Lukas informs him that perhaps the Jarl can find him something more productive to do than what he was doing tonight is easily translated as a dry Oh, hah hah. He cannot vocalize this, and he doesn't come up with any way of attempting to thank the Ahroun Elder for passing along the information as to where he could find the rest of his tribe. Blood-stained fingers take back the paper, then the pencil, which he hands off to Joey. Wiping his face one more time, the still-nameless-to-her young man looks to Drew, his expression briefly apologetic, then steps away from the congregation and starts off down the street without excusing himself.
It isn't for lack of awareness that that is the socially acceptable means of leaving a conversation, but of all the things he is worried about, seeming rude doesn't appear to be one of them.
[Drew Roscoe] Drew had, for the most part, stood near the curb, distancing herself from the whole congregation of Garou without moving too far away, out of earshot, or appearing to be separate from the group from an outsider's point of view. She stood with her hands in her coat pockets, after she'd shaken the snow from the hand that had offered it to the Modi with the broken nose, and listened in. Watched as writing utensils were passed to Drawn in Blood-- realization spread on the Kin's face there, but faded into nothing soon enough.
All goes back and forth, Lukas's attention hops from Drawn in Blood to Hunter and Joey (A pack, huh? Really now?), and the Modi takes the chance to glance toward her, look somewhat apologetic, and then make his way up the sidewalk. Drew pauses, but only for a moment, before nodding briskly to the three left in front of the cafe.
"Joey, Lukas. Glad to see you're both still around, I'll have to catch up with ya sometime. Gonna go... be Family for the time being, though." Hunter gets a momentary stare, a shake of the head, and she's walking after Drawn in Blood with the low, dull clack-clack of utilitarian work heels on the pavement to carry her away.
[Oliver] Joey watches Lukas and the Ahrouns. Drawn in Blood isn't the only one to shoot Hunter a quelling look, though the look from his Beta is less skin-melting. There's no point in pointing out the obvious, once they've all figured it out.
When the Modi hands her back her pencil, she accepts it with a wry grin. He leaves without a word, perhaps in search of the rest of their tribe in Chicago. Joey watches his retreat, nods to Drew and waves. "Yeah, later."
Then, her attention's back on the sept's war leader.
[Lukas] Lukas turns briefly from the Vanguard to nod to the departing Drew, a faint smile turning up the corner of his mouth. "It's good to see you're back, Drew." The polite corollary would be to wish Joe well -- but something, some sixth sense, some intuition, keeps Lukas from saying it. "See you," is all he says before turning back to the Vanguard.
"That's good," he says, "because things have been quiet in the area, but I doubt it'll stay that way. It'll be good to have some advance notice. Where do you guys usually roam? Lakeview?"
[Matthews] "Bronze, southside." He repeats, and he watches the retreat of Drew while he says it. It isn't a look that roams her form or finds appreciation in a beautiful woman. It's a look like, she don't like me much I dun know why!
"Speakin' a which, been in contact with Imogen n'Kora. Got some funky shit goin' down on my side'a town mainly. Some in the green too but mostly my side. Don't know much yet but it seems.."
He frowns.
"S'like corporate fronts n'shit ya' know? But worse'n that, it's them that live out north if ya' catch my drift. I'm sure ya' heard bout' it already but yeah. Keepin' busy with that right now."
[Drawn in Blood] [THANKS FOR THE SCENE SUCKERS]
[Simon Zahradnik] Simon spots Lukas outside and he is drawn in that direction once he has some coffee. His hoodie is pulled back on, however, and he moves to find the group. His attention sliding over the others outside the building. Curiosity about why he has been summoned here, and what, exactly, his elder wished of him. Lukas was more than just an Elder Ahroun, or an Elder, he was an Elder Shadow Lord and no matter how one might attempt to separate individuals from their tribes there would always be a link there between them.
He greeted all those gathered outside. A little smile worn as he lifted his cup before turning his attention to Lukas."You rang Rhya. I got here as quickly as I could."He says figuring he should announce his presence properly. It was only then that he took the time to acknowledge the others gathered. Joey wasn't technically lower in station but it was Lukas he came to meet... Besides the old man was getting up there in years and bound to be a little farther ahead rank wise than Joey!
[Lukas] "Good. I was going to reassign you to Bronzeville if you weren't there already. Most of the skirmishes that go down in this city seem centered there. Cabrini looks like hell, but the Fenrir seem to keep it under control.
"I want you and your packmate to keep tabs on that place and whatever might be going on. Keep lines of communication open with Dark Sky, too. They'll probably be joining you in the area. We might need to recon the Hive area again soon, too. The Knights at the Church have been taking heavier losses again recently. Something might be up, and right now the two of you are looking more and more like my best scouting pack. So be ready for that."
A beat.
"So don't fuck around getting in brawls." It takes a certain sort of person, personality, and composure to sling off obscenities so smoothly, so sternly. "In Lakeview, of all places. What was that all about?"
[Matthews] He listens, nods, pays attention. It isn't often Hunter Matthews gets the chance to look like a soldier rather than a charismatic thug. Sure he is a leader in battle, a warrior, but this isn't natural right here. This is practised.
"Keepin' em, Keepin' em" he says almost quietly to himself when Lukas mentions lines of communication with Dark Sky.
And when finally he gets asked a question? He doesn't sigh, he just raises both his eyebrows.
"I just said hello to the guy s'all called em' dibs cause that's his deed name n'all. He's been hangin' with JoJo a bit so thought I'd try get friendly with em' but guess he took it the wrong way."
"I ain't come here for a fight, I just ended one s'all."
[Lukas] And:
"Simon. No need to hurry -- just wanted to talk about the war-readiness of the packs of the Sept, but let me finish up with the Vanguard first. I was just telling them that I might pair your packs up in Bronzeville's defense. You spend a lot of time down in that area, don't you?"
[Oliver] Hunter listens, pays attention. Joey watches on, silently attentive. Her attention becomes more focused at mention of scouting the Hive.
"I'm gonna talk to Honor's Compass about challengin' for Ragabash leader before the month's out, boss. Someone's gotta rally the scouts."
She falls silent again when talk turns to the brawl, but this silence holds a different weight to it. It's thoughtful, considering.
"That guy's gotta lotta pride. You saw how he was 'bout trying to communicate." It's all she says aloud.
Dibs? Seriously? The questions are not amused.
[Lukas] "Fair enough. Fenrir tend to take their names seriously. It's a thing of pride for them, particularly their Ahrouns. Just ask Joey. You didn't know better, but now you do. Find him and make peace with him. If the only peace he'll accept comes at the expense of an all-out brawl, then forge your peace that way -- but do it somewhere where the humans can't see you.
"And before you say it -- I know he started it. But you're an Alpha with a strong totem, and he's a metis without a pack. That puts the responsibility on you for keeping your relations civil."
To Joey, then, "Good. I haven't seen Leaves No Trace for months. That either means he's doing a very good job or a very bad one. I suspect we'll find out which when you challenge."
[Simon Zahradnik] He nods his head and shrugs his shoulders."Dark Sky has largely been based in Lake View but we're at war. I'm not gonna fuck around or fuck with someone's territory but for the most part I go where I am needed. If that is Bronzeville then that is where I will go. If that is the middle of the ocean... That's where I go too. Cept space... I don't do space. You want someone up there get a Glasswalker they love that kinda crap anyway."He corrects at the end. It was his way of cracking a little joke.
"I've been doing some hunting and searching on my own... But it's hard without proper organization and orchestration between packs to really gain much ground. So if you want us to start working together I have no problem doing just that. I'd much rather we head more in that direction anyway... Not gonna help any of us if we bicker about who gets to defend what side of town when our enemies are united against us."He says with a little nod of his head. He's apparently already in agreement with this as it seems to be something he's been thinking about already.
"If any pack needs us we stand ready to respond. If not the rest of my pact then you can sure as hell bet that I am ready. Anytime anywhere..."He says with a sharp nod of his head.
[Matthews] "I'll sort it." He confirms with Lukas in response to his relations with the new metis Modi and that is the end of it. His eyes shift to Simon to listen to him talk. Man can he talk. It just so happens though that the topic is of interest to the Alpha of the Vanguard.
"Don't mind help in ma' hood if I know's bout' it. Don't liken no surprises when it comes ta' shit like that. We should have'a sit down sometime, keep up healthy outlooks n'all that for when the shit hits the fan."
That's all he has to say about that really. His eyes go back to Lukas.
"Well ya' know what ya' got in ya' corner. When the time comes we'll be up there, just like our name. Ain't nobody gettin' in and out like The Vanguard."
His eyes go to Joey, then back to the War Leader and Simon. An obvious raised eyebrow. That all?
[Lukas] "I know," Lukas replies, and then gives both Hunter and Joey a nod. The dismissal couldn't be clearer if they were all in uniform and saluting. The big Shadow Lord turns to his tribesman instead, his hands sliding into his pockets as he tilts his head toward the parking lot.
"The humans inside are too jazzed up for us to talk in there. We'll have to talk in the car." He takes his keys out, tosses them to Simon. "Give me a minute to grab a coffee and I'll be right out."
[Matthews] And that is that.
"Last one home has ta' do dishes." He says to Joey, and makes a bolt for his car.
[Oliver] Hunter bolts for his car, Joey just watches him go. She turns to Lukas. "Later, Lukas." No rhya. Feels so weird.
She doesn't run for Cassius. She doesn't have to.
[Simon Zahradnik] He watches the other two leave with a silent and Empty look on his face and then he watches Lukas through the window. He wasn't going anywhere... He would wait and do as he is told/directed by his elder.
[Oliver] [woo thanks for the scene, ya'll!]
[Prayers to Broken Stone] People in Lake View are accustomed to seeing some strange things.
Sometimes, usually when there's a full moon in the sky some really odd occurrences happen, too. Tonight there's barely a sliver of one left yet it didn't stop the Ahrouns having a fist fight in the middle of the Cafe. It also doesn't, apparently, prevent a Fianna Galliard from appearing around the corner of a block covered in drying black goop; it dots his coat; the shirt beneath which was some lurid colored abomination that set off the uncanny blue of the Fiann's eyes.
He's broad-shouldered, bares the breeding of a son of Stag and is accompanied by a Silent Strider who, while not as coated in grime as he, also bears the signs of a recent battle. The blond has his hands in his pockets; his eyes downcast; though every now and then he raises them to glance at his companion and frown.
He does not slow down, as they come upon the Cafe. Or seem to care, particularly, if he gets the odd glance, an up and down of uneasiness.
[princess] Asha is napping in the backseat of Lukas' car. It's almost sweet. Her dark head is pillowed in a cloud of gleaming back hair, and she's curled up in a fetal position - sleeping the sleep not of the dead, but of wolves - which is to say, she'll be deeply asleep until she's startled awake by movement outside.
And then she will be immediately, utterly awake.
[Sarita Ecos de la Risa] She's walking along at Patrick's side, in a much better mood from the looks of it than the Fianna. "...don't worry. You loosened the lid of the jar, so to speak. I just finished it up." Whether Patrick was worried or not about that may be a completely different story, but she's putting it out there anyway as they walk along. If Sarita is worried about what people think of her and Patrick's odd appearance, she sure as hell isn't showing it. In fact, when someone on the corner gives them a strange look, she pauses turns her head in their direction.
"OIL! Go tell J.P. Morgan, we struck ]black gold! Texas tea, right here in River City!" The now thoroughly-wierded out person gets the excuse they need to escape their rage, and Sarita grins and speeds her steps to make up the small amount of lost ground.
[Lukas] Lukas is back outside in record time. It seems no one in the cafe wants to delay his order. He's fasttracked to the front of the line, and then his drink is fasttracked past a row of empty waiting cups. Two, three minutes tops and he's coming back out with a steaming cup of joe in hand. If he's surprised to see Simon still waiting, he doesn't show it. He tilts his head toward the car, holding his hand out for his keys as he goes.
The front doors unlock. Asha comes instantly awake, and then Lukas climbs in, depressing the car on its shocks.
"Have you met Asha? Asha, this is Simon Bone-Grinder, my tribesman, fellow Ahroun, and current Wyrmfoe of the Sept. Simon, Asha K&+257;lar&+257;tri, my packmate, also an Ahroun."
[princess] Too bad Thomas wasn't asleep in the front seat. He'd introduce Asha properly. Instead, she's to be contented with two names and a moon-sign. The creature straightens, pushes a hand through sleep-tousled hair and yawns once, revealing perfect rows of sharp white teeth before she snaps her mouth closed and shakes free of the lingering hints of sleepiness, chasing them from the edges of her consciousness like cobwebs burned from the darkest corners of the room.
"Hi." Asha says, making a mental note that they've not been properly introducted. Keeping it mental so as not to shame her Alpha.
[Simon Zahradnik] Simon follows... Why Lukas would be surprised if at all would be beyond him! The Full Moon had asked him to stay so they could speak! It would actually be rather impolite to disobey his elder like that would it not? Still he walks to the door and glances in at the sight of Asha. He smiles a little and he nods his head...
"She distracted a dragon for me once... But Adam scared it off before I could strike the killing blow. Ruined what woulda been a great story to tell my eventual children about their father. Still we made it out alive so it's all good!"He says with a grin."It's a pleasure to meet you Rhya..."He did not know if she was his elder or not, the rank was not mentioned but she was Packmate to his alpha so he opted for respectful.
His smile showed as he looked her over. Cautious and curious to see if she recalled that little bit of history.
[Prayers to Broken Stone] She's trying to comfort him about the gigantic garden worm from Hell they just slaughtered and set on fire in Bronzeville; and the Fianna walking at her side slants her a rather incredulous look, and punctuates it with a snort. It's good natured, though, at least as good natured as you were likely to receive from Patrick right now.
Ahead of them, a blaze of Rage in the form of the current Ahroun Elder walks out of a Cafe with coffee in hand, and gets into a car where another two Garou sit -- he recognizes the passenger in the front seat, and one of his eyebrows crawls upward a little. "What the Hell," he says under his breath; a mixture of genuine bemusement and irritation.
"They conduct meetings in their cars, now?"
Patrick comes to a stop outside the Cafe, slouches his back against the brick facade and promptly pulls another of Sarita's cigarettes out -- he'd held onto the packet, what a prince -- he lights up; fostering nothing to disguise his interest in what was going on inside the car. "Whose the guy in the front seat with Bone Grinder?"
This, an aside to Sarita, like she's expected to know.
[Sarita Ecos de la Risa] The semi-sorta good-natured snort from Patrick gets a little twinkle in the mischievous Latina's eye. She's making headway. She pulls out another couple of cigarettes and passes Patrick one before she lights up.
"Who, what?" She looks ahead, squinting a bit at the car. "Oh...that's Simon--obviously--and Lukas. Simon's tribe. Ahroun. Master of the Challenge's packmate, and I think he's the tribe elder if I remember my conversation with him right. I was a tiny bit stoned at the time, but I think I got that right."
[Lukas] It's still warm in the car -- lingering effects of the heater. It gets warmer when Lukas fires up the engine, but they don't go anywhere. He thumbs down the window on his side a little to vent. Too much rage, too much body heat.
"You're both Cliaths," Lukas says, sips his coffee, and then passes into the back in case her highness wanted some. "Anyway, Simon, I wanted to talk to you about taking on a more active role. For a long time Wyrmfoe's been largely a ceremonial role, but you're a Shadow Lord, and we're pragmatists. I doubt you would have taken it on if you didn't want to do something with it.
"So this is the first thing I want you to do. I want you to go around to each pack and assess their combat ability. I don't care if this means fighting them, taking them out to fight with you, or giving them a questionnaire -- as long as you get answers and those answers are reliable. I want to know how good they are, and I want to know if you'd classify them as scouts, warpacks, or something else altogether.
"Then I want you to start training Garou who need training. I don't expect a Child of Gaia Theurge to be at the caliber of a Get of Fenris Ahroun, but I want everyone in the Sept to be competent."
A pause, another sip.
"I know you wanted to take a bigger role in actually getting packs to mesh, too, but I'm going to put someone else on that. Maybe Joey, if she wins her challenge. It's not that I doubt your conviction, Simon, but you're a warrior. A weapon. Social graces aren't your strong suit, and you've got a strong, polarizing personality. Someone like Joey, someone who gives off the impression of being laid-back and easy to talk to, will ruffle feathers much less as she goes around sussing out conflicts and how to mend them."
[princess] Naturally, Asha assumed that Simon addressed her as -rhya out of natural deference to her breeding, her blood, her tribe. She nearly tells Lukas that when he mentions it, but thinks better of it when he passes his coffee back to her highness.
Lately, she's preferred her eminent highness, thank you very much. So: her eminent highness takes a deep drink of coffee, mouth curling. It is perhaps here that Lukas might rethink giving that girl caffeine.
Still, she flashes him a winning grin, all razor-wide, all white teeth - and bounces experimentally on the back seat. "That's good," Asha tells Lukas, opening the back passenger's door already. "I'm gonna go get it in Super Extra Venti with a double-shot and some chocolate sauce. Be right back!"
[princess] (this is liz going to bed! night guys!)
Post a Comment