[Victor Oseragighte] "Oh. Try a bit whatever you like. Ah, meat, though. Veggies and... ah... roughage I don't do so good with." How to explain his strict dietary needs openly? Kin might understand, but others... Victor might well need to come up with some sort of excuse, like training, he's seeing. He smiles, though, a genuine expression, and is happy to try whatever JB will offer him.
[Cigney] The arrival by taxi is hard to miss...and the way he's dressed, Cigney watches Adrian a moment or two longer than she should have probably. As the grillmaster speaks, she turns to him instead and gives a warm smile. She opens her mouth just as she moves back to the table. Awkward. So it is with Cigney. Out of place just doesn't quite sum it all up.
Two kids start shoving each other, and Cigney goes to intervene. Separating the two and threatening a penalty box. They then run off to play again. She watches the food table now for a moment, before calling a break so the kids can reorganize and start round 2 of their game.
[Archie] He nods back at Trent and pauses to look around at the area."Well if you don't mind I think Jamie and I will have a little look around to see what needs to be hit and once we have a plan ready we'll get to it. I know Jamie was looking forward to the free food so best we get crackin' to earn our keep."He adds with a little laugh before turning around to head back towards the truck to begin getting himself set up.
[JB Cavanagh] There's no genuine way to explain. Not here. The other man on the grill bears no pure blood at all, and the waitress with the candy-apple red hair and the tight tanks and tees is equally normal, human. Human enough to shy just away from Victor, in this way that is barely noticeable, spooning out a serving of the corn salad onto someone's plate by way of refill.
JB meets Victor's gaze with rather more directness than most kin can manage. Maybe it's that he's taller than the Garou. Maybe he doesn't understand what or who Victor is. After all, he doesn't have the sense of blood ties that Garou have. There's a whole world underneath his skin, and Lucy's, that he cannot see or sense. "Atkins diet, eh? You know, I'm pretty sure that roughage is part of it though. Just fruits you can't have." And, so saying, he serves Victor a pair of plain burgers, no buns, with a gesture toward the salads and toppings. "Help yourself. I swear most of those won't up your carb-count."
--
One of the children in the center of the shoving is Lucy, who is still small for her age and cute as a button, with shining dark hair and huge blue-gray eyes, set in a perfectly round face, rosy cheeks a contrast to her pale skin and dark hair. It takes just a bit - more, to pull her away. Louder voice, a stronger hand on her shoulder, but it doesn't really go beyond kids being kids, except in the way she stares down her opponent when it's over, then eschews the second round of the game as baby-ish, prefering to circle back to Cigney, curl an arm around the young woman's thigh, and look up at her, bright-eyed. "What's your name?"
[Adrian Sandenberg] Catching Cigney looking his way, he offers a smile - and it's a model's smile, a runway smile, that's half smirk and all smooth. In fact, he's full of that runway look - he's hardly stunning, but there's just something about him. The way he fills out the jeans and shirt, maybe. The way he drops his aviators to cover his eyes. Something.
"Thank you, Trent," he answers easily, and a hand brushes over Victor's shoulder briefly - clearly, he knows both men, and is friendly with them. The accent is a bit British-like, but not really - something about the vowels, the way his Ws and Vs resolve into something different. Whatever it is, it's certainly not American. "It looks like a good turn out. I meant to be hear earlier, but there was a department meeting - I'm not too late, am I?"
Of course there's still work to be done; there's always work to be done.
[Trent Brumby] Laughing low at the mention of how Jamie is looking forward to the free food, he nods to the other man and tells him: "Thanks for coming along. If you need a hand, there's plenty willing around, and if you've got any more questions I'll be roaming around." Then Archie is heading off towards the truck and Trent is moving in the opposite direction.
He gives a glance towards the children and Cigney, offering a woman a smile and a nod of her head. He doesn't come over and see if she's alright, because well, there were times in his life that he would have had his head bitten off by suggesting that they couldn't handle children, after all they are women and know how to raise children best -- all for just asking if they needed a hand. Some habits are hard to break and he leaves her to it.
Over at the food, Adrian asks about being late. "Never too late," he remarks easily, "I think we'll be here until late afternoon. Then pack up and call it a day." With this he looks up, meeting John's eyes as if to see if that was alright with him. Trent likes working in teams when he has to make decisions, he doesn't like to delegate unless he really has to. This whole event had been something of a challenge for him. But challenges are met head on and with plenty of drive behind it.
[Cigney] Must be a style thing, these aviator sunglasses. Cigney pushes her back up the bridge of her nose and offers a half smile in Adrian's direction until she's startled by something, or in this case someone wrapping around her leg.
"Oh...well, my name's Cigney. How about you?"
She smiles and pushes a strand of hair from Lucy's face. The way the child looks and approaches her is interestingly different. There's a force behind this girls actions that interest Cigney. The kinswoman notes that the girl isn't playing anymore...but lets it go unless the girls wants to talk about it more.
A small wave in Trent's direction. Here in just a little bit she'll make sure the kids return to their families and suit up for some trash detail.
[Victor Oseragighte] He sees that JB doesn't quite understand and nods politely, foregoing the toppings even so to have at the burgers themselves. Adrian's brush earns him a smile, one of the few present he actually knows. The Wendigo wanders off to the side to eat and watch, thinking to have his snack before he gets to work.
[JB Cavanagh] "My name's Lucy," returns the curl with her arm curled around Cigney's leg. She lifts her chin in the direction of the grills, the two cooks, the waitress with her hair the color of red patent leather, and that 50s pin-up girl haircut, the straight strong bangs and the straight strong bob. "My dad's over there."
Both the waitress and the tall, dark-headed chef have an eye on the girl, are aware of her place at all times. Lucy is wearing jeans, the cuffs frayed and worn, with Converse all-stars and a pink and gray t-shirt. There's a cursive P in a circle on the back, which baseball fans would recognize as the Philadelphia Phillies' symbol. "He's cooking," Lucy adds helpfully as she watches her father serve up another burger with a smile, and then gesture down the line at the salads.
The waitress, meanwhile, is digging among the coolers hidden underneath their tables to start refilling some of the catering tins.
--
Trent suggests late afternoon as a stopping point, and JB glances over at one of the kin familiar to Garou and the rest from the Brotherhood. "That sounds great to me. Then maybe a quick break-down and a round of drinks for the - " pause, "extended family? I don't have my beer and wine license yet, but I know the Coltranes would be happy for the custom at the Brotherhood."
"We'll serve lunch a bit longer," he continues, "then set up the desserts. Cookies and brownies from the cafe, and the baked goods folks have donated."
[Cigney] "I see..."
Cigney glances over at them, then turns her attention back to Lucy.
"So...you mind if I ask what a locavore is? Cause like...I'm kind of scared it means your part dinosaur or something".
She grins.
[Trent Brumby] "That sounds great. I really appreciate all the effort you've gone to," this isn't the first time he's said it to John, and the other man is probably getting sick of hearing it, "and I know I've said it before, but if there's anything I can do, you just give me a yell."
Instead of taking up John's busy time, Trent moves along the table to get himself some food. He's been running around after folks here and there, and even if it's not Kinfolk or Garou getting his attention, there's plenty of other people here that knows him, either by name or simply by the fact he put his name behind getting this together and is the loose organizer of the day. Amusingly enough, most of those he does know is women. Women that needed a Mr. Fix It that looks like Trent; manners like a gentlemen and a body from the gym. Even if he's getting sick of all the questions just for the sake of talking to him, he's polite and patient.
But right now, he sneaks a break, standing off to the side with his food in hand, munching it down while keeping an eye out on, well, everyone.
[JB Cavanagh] "It is just like being dinosaur," Lucy informs Cigney, in this oh-so-solemn way. This may have been a story she's heard since she was a little girl. Her shoulders are straight underneath her baseball t-shirt, and her gleaming hair a bit tangled. A mother would have pulled it back for the day's work, into a French braid or a well-made ponytail. JB has made sure that Lucy is washed, her dark hair gleaming. It was combed earlier, a pair of those plastic barrets tucked into the mass to hold it back from her face, but it's tangled now, except where JB or Cindy, the waitress, or Cigney herself has smoothed it down, tucked the odd strand behind her ear.
"Dinosaurs didn't eat stuff that got shipped in from Austalia or China or Japanese - " so perhaps the child's knowledge of the world wide food economy leaves something to be desired, "or all the way on the other side of the world or the country on the other ocean or anything, they ate what was close, and if you do that then you - uhm. You - "
Lucy frowns, a fierce little look, as she struggles for words.
"Well," the frown hasn't resolved, but she's emphatic on this point. "It is way better for the polar bears and stuff. And aminals like them."
[JB Cavanagh] (guys! I'm'a switch to Kora. (grins) I'll still play JB as long as folks want to interact w/him, but Kora knows everyone here. :) )
[Cigney] Lucy's description of supporting localized food intiatives surprises her. So much so that Cigney looks shocked, then chuckles and nods at the sentiment the girls is getting at.
"You know what, you're right. That must mean I'm a locavore too...wow, it's nice to meet you. We should hang out sometimes and do dinosaur stuff".
And with that, Cigney gives a loud whistle and tells the kids its time to clean up. She dumps her cup in the recycle bin for plastics and decides to grab a trash bag, gloves and a poker-majigger.
[Kora] "My dad," Lucy tells Cigney proudly when Cigney remarks that she's a locavore. The girl nods over at the cafe Lulu tables, where lunch services is winding down. " - you should come to our place sometime!"
- so the exchange ends, as Cindy coaxes Lucy away with promises of setting up the cupcake pyramid, while the restaurant crew starts serving up the remaining burgers, before shutting down the grills.
---
"Victor," Kora's been further downriver, closer to the mouth, closer to the edge of the Caern. Working sometimes, watching sometimes. She doesn't trust the world not to shift suddenly, doesn't trust the waters to remain still, foetid but still. She knows the sort of nightmare things that come out in the world. Now, though, with the lunch crowd drifting back to start picking up trach and recyclables again, she comes back, lowers herself beside the Wendigo briefly, where he has segregated himself to eat. "I know you've met Trent and Adrian. How about Cigney?"
"C'mon," she suggests, by way of invitation, waving to Cigney and Adrian as crosses the green space of the riverfront, heading toward Trent as he takes a break. "I'll introduce you, but let me say hello to Trent first, yeah?"
[Archie] Archie and Jamie are... Well... This is what they do for a living. So they are quickly suited up in the white suits that would imply the area was the victim of some kind of terrible chemical spill. Though there's no need to cover their heads more than eye glasses for basic protection. Before long a few of the others join them in getting suited up and grabbing hold of bags, shovels and all manner of other tools to begin the work of getting the place clean.
After a little instruction on how to search and systematically remove every bit of trash from the area as efficiently as possible the little group is off, breaking up into smaller teams of two who are soon working to get the area cleaner than it has been for some time.
[Victor Oseragighte] He looked up as Kora came over, not surprised he's not the only Garou who thought that the river was too dangerous not to have somebody there to watch over their kin, their family, effectively. He rises at her urging and finishes the last of his meal, depositing the plate in a recycling bin before he wends his way after her, falling in at her side once he catches up, half-filled bag tucked under his arm, thumbs hooked into his pockets.
[Cigney] Cigney swears she's developing a sixth sense for Kora. The silvery grey eyes have no problem finding her midst the small crowd. She gives a small wave back before picking up her stuff headng down to the river to do her part. The kids tell Cigney just how much trash they're going to pick up, attempting to impress her as kids often do with adults. She smile and offers encouraging words.
The kinswoman works by herself, content to do as such.
[Trent Brumby] Watching this person and that, he talks to a few passing by between bites of his meal, snippets of conversation that come and go with the passing tide of wandering helpers. He watches Archie get together his official crew, hopes to the Gods that those white suits doesn't scare off people from actually helping out, as he swallows down a chunk of burger. They break off into their own groups and start to systematically work their way through the area and Trent lets his gaze drift.
When he spots Kora, his eyes light up and he quickly polishes off the rest of his food. He turns away before she can leave Victor, throwing his trash away, and moving to quickly snag another plate full of good food, explaining its for the girlfriend. So by the time Kora does get to him, he turns to her with a lemonade and a plate full of good food.
"Look, it's burgers," he jests. There's so much they have to talk about, that's been avoided, but none of that crops up here and now. Trent's been happily pleased by the turn out, feeling some sense of achievement for the days efforts, and his mood isn't easily swayed from that. That she's here and coming to say hello just makes him feel that more proud. He's a simple creature, really.
[Kora] "With a rather suspicious-looking amount of vegetables, to boot," she returns, the familiar curve of her smile deepening. There's no reservation here and now. The night last, she was tense - speaking with her tribesmates, mistrusting now both their intentions and their staying power. The cynicism lived under her skin rather than on her tongue, but it suits her ill.
Trent receives the full benefit of her mouth engaging smile as she and Victor cut through the humans and kin to meet him. She accepts the plate full of food from his hand easily though, vegetables and all.
"This is great," the width of the smile stills a bit. She lifts her chin, up and down the waterfront, indicating the turnout. The folks in their official suits for the major decontamination, and the ordinary people picking up fast-food wrappers and old tires and broken shoes and driftwood and all the flotsam and jetsam accumulated on the water. Not just the food. Meeting his eyes, with her customary directness, her own are shining with a sort of reflected pride.
Not just at what Trent has accomplished, but that the rest of her kin are here, too. Izzy's police officers, Cigney and Adrian. "You guys have really accomplished alot. It's good to see."
Kora leans in to brush a chaste kiss over Trent's cheek, then leans closer, her mouth briefly close to his ear before she pulls away.
When Cigney and Adrian come back to exchange full bags for empties, she gestures them over, too. Time for introductions, all around.
[Kora] Her mouth close to his ear, she murmurs, You are so getting sex tonight. before she pulls away.
to Trent Brumby
[Adrian Sandenberg] Adrian is not particularly trying to keep up with the ebb and flow of lunchtime conversation - he'd been fed at the meeting he came from, though he'll gladly snake a cupcake or similar when the time for such comes. Kora's arrival, though, is noted, and he gives her a smile from behind his aviators - looking like a very clean, very stylish, very well put together workman, he.
He does, indeed, come to exchange a full bag for empty, and there - again, he's friendly with the Garou, known and knowing.
"Hej, Kora. It's good to see you - you're well?"
The hair, so often teased to wild abandon, is pulled neatly into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck today, the better to be out of his way - already, some bits are struggling for freedom, but for now they're trapped.
[Trent Brumby] "Yeah, but you don't have to eat them if you want an unbalanced diet." He wasn't going to pressure her, but he could be amused about it. They had this battle of food choices constantly. Sometimes he gives in, sometimes he pushes, but they always find common ground.
Then looking back over the place, he tucks both his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, elbows sticking behind him, and surveys the people working hard. "It's an unexpectedly good turn out, and I've made a few networks getting this organized. John and the Coltranes had a winner with the food, a real crowd pleaser."
He gets kissed then, and his hands slide out of his pockets, one reaching to touch her back. A glow of pleasure flares through him an a spark of interest in a look he gives her, but he says nothing other then what can be found in the outright grin he gives - rare for him, but full of laugh lines and teeth.
"Cigney, you were a hit with the kids today," he tells her when she comes over, presumably, to join the gathered. "Thanks for all your hard work. It's really appreciated."
[Victor Oseragighte] He has to smile at Adrian, the effort put into looking good and looking like he's not even trying. Even here, at such an event. He wonders how much of his bravado is show, though, knowing that with Karl and Moira gone he's lost some very close friends and supporters. Silent, the Half-Moon nods to him and then glances over to Cigney, mentioned by Kora but not actually met yet.
[Cigney] The amount of garbage in this city it doesn't take long to fill the bag at all. Upon her return she makes her way to Kora and says hello. Looking at those who are with her. At Trent's praise she blushes a little and shrugs.
[Kora] Kora's dark eyes linger on Trent's face a moment longer, than unexpected glow that suffuses his skin, before she turns Adrian, opening the little circle as he greets her to include him, and Victor, and Cigney.
"Quite," Kora returns to Adrian, that lingering edge of her engaging smile still curving her mouth, still gleaming in her eyes. Perhaps to Trent's surprise, she's enamoured enough of the summer vegetables - the fresh end of season tomatoes - that she snags a trio of slices and eats them with a sound of unexpected pleasure. Summer tomatoes, sweet corn - for some pleasures there are no substitutes. She looks, as she says, quite well, a healthy glow about her in the later afternoon sun.
" - and I'm glad that you're here, yeah? Thanks for coming."
Then, "Cigney," her rage, and Victor's are enough to give the small group a bubble of privacy, particular as the lunch crowd returns to the work up and down the river. "I'm glad you're here, too."
And then, the introductions, neatly managed. "Victor, you know Adrian and Trent. This is Cigney, also my kin. Cigney, Adrian, Adrian, Cigney."
Then, a glance up at the Hazmat team. An aside, to Trent. " - who are the guys in the suits?"
[Cigney] "It's nice to meet you Adrian".
Cigney takes off the gloves and offers her hand. He won't sense any PB...just her scent, and that she's pretty solid with a good balance of lean muscle mass. Her smile is warm and friendly.
[Trent Brumby] "That's Archie Hackett and his crew, he actually works for the EPA I think," he tells her quietly when she asks it of him. "I wasn't expecting the suits, which is a bit overkill for a day like today. Everyone's going to think there's some chemical spills or something," which is something he's worrying about considering a large group is heading back this way. The timing was just off, is all.
"I don't know if any of you are interested, but John suggested we head somewhere after all this is finished up. Maybe have some drinks and unwind." It's meant for the lot of them, collectively. "Rounds on me." As some sort of thank you or something.
He's glad to see Kora eating and watches her out of the corner of his eye, while his hand rests neatly on the middle of her back, a solid presence there without taking any sort of liberties.
[Cigney] "And you as well Victor..."
She extends a hand to him as well. Busy remembering faces to names at this point for future reference. The kinswoman watches him a moment, a warm engaging smile on her face before turning to Trent.
"It sounds like fun..."
[Victor Oseragighte] Victor's polite, friendly even despite his terse usage of words; when he speaks, it is brief and simple, but does not come across as unpleasant. The Wendigo accepts the offered hand, his grip firm but not testing, his hands heavily scarred and callused, the hands of somebody who is anything but idle. "Same here."
[Adrian Sandenberg] "Nice to meet you as well, Cigney." He gives his hand, once it's divested of its glove (clean, as new as his jeans and shirt), for a shake - reasonably strong, but not crushing, bruising. It's just a shake, paired with that smile he'd given earlier. "Are you new in town, then?"
He's not quite shy, but he's certainly not outgoing either - doesn't talk a lot, but isn't quite reticent either. What he is, is reserved. A bit distant. He keeps himself to himself, and it may well be part of that look of his.
[missing posts?]
[Victor Oseragighte] He shook his head; he figured that Trent was simply interested in arranging for the river to be cleaned up. He remembered how adamant he was about arranging the whole event, and it certainly seemed to be successful beyond anything Victor had expected. He watched as people departed and waits for Kora's explanation, though he does nod toward the bank and head that way to resume the pickup.
[Adrian Sandenberg] Adrian, after a fond, light bump against Kora (strong kin, so [relatively] comfortable with the Galliard) moves to get back to work as well - with a stop by Cigney. "I think it's safe to assume that you know what I mean when I say I'm one of hers," he offers with a jut of his chin towards Kora. "And less . . . moon-driven. I'm working on my masters at University of Illinois."
Which is to say, of course, that he's Fenrir kin. And, the more he talks? The clearer his not American-ness becomes.
"If you've need of a number to call for company or assistance, I'll be pleased to share my mobile number."
[Trent Brumby] After dealing with some group that soon disperse, he finds his way over to where Archie is and comes up along side him. Trent's snagged some gloves and a bag for himself, cleaning up along the way, but he comes over to strike up some conversation with the other Kinfolk. "Archie, isn't it? We're going to go for a few drinks after this if you want to come along," he nods back to where Kora and that are, "with that lot of there."
"Drinks are on me," he adds with a smile.
[Adrian Sandenberg] ((Which is to say! It's 1am, and time for bed for tired CCs everywhere.))
to Archie, Cigney, Kora, Peeker, Trent Brumby, Victor Oseragighte
[Trent Brumby] [thanks for playing CC!]
[Victor Oseragighte] (( That's cool. Rest well! ))
to Adrian Sandenberg, Archie, Cigney, Kora, Trent Brumby
[Cigney] Cigney nods and exchanges numbers with Adrian, curious to know more about him. But she doesn't keep him.
"Good luck in your studies. Please let me know if I can ever assist you as all. I'm a physical trainer and work with a few gyms in the area".
[Kora] "There's a shrine to Sparrow close by," Kora begins, her voice low, " - outside one of the old Eagle pack's kinshouses. When I first came here with Joe, we cleaned it up, started back taking care of that shrine, you know? I have a few deals like that - seed and water, free access, that sort of thing, in exchange for a bit of message work or fair warning of changes in the land. There are other birds," and the doubled suggestion, of course, of bird-spirits, " - that like to roost in the bell-tower of the church.
"So, Roman and I were there taking care, refilling the feeders, that sort of thing, when the wind kicked up. Strangely, yeah? We crossed over and found an air elemental that wanted our aid. It said that there was fighting at the river, and the spirits were losing.
"Running, we followed it, booking through the territory. We found the spirits of the river and a fire jagglling fighting this huge - sort of poisonous oil-thing, formed of trash and filth. And losing they were. Roman and I joined the fight. Somehow, the huge thing swallowed me, almost whole. I started fighting my way out, but could feel the - poison, the filth burning my skin. Couldn't see a thing - my nose, my mouth, my ears were all full, and everywhere I moved, slashed my claws, the mass seemed to move with me.
"I don't know how long I was in there, fighting. Couldn't have been long. Then suddenly it all dissolved around me. I found Roman in the river, floating, unconscious, humanskinned, and didn't know at first whether - " she leaves this blank, for Victor to fill in. Whether Roman was dead, or whether he had raged back from death. The results were the same.
"The poison was working through me. I didn't have much time, no real way to stop it, and I was sick, and getting sicker. There was little time, so I appealed to the elementals in the water to come heal Roman before I succumbed to the poisons. They healed him, and cleansed me, neutralizing the poison.
"So," she finishes, some of the solemnity that comes with the telling of the tale fading from her features, chased away by the fond width of her smile. "This his way of offering chiminage. Mine, too. The river borders our territory - cuts right through the heart of the city."
[Kora] (night CC! thanks for the RP! and if uhm: anyone who wasn't there wants to pretend they were there for the story, please pretend. alternatively, kora's likely to tell it again when they go for drinks!)
[Adrian Sandenberg] ((Night, and thanks! *poofs*))
[Victor Oseragighte] It made sense. It was logical. Respectful. Reverent even. And he'd have to climb up and give his own thanks to those high-up spirits. As she told him her tale, he went about picking things up, the gloves pulled on once more, snugged tightly into place.
"So you have much to thank the river for." He finds an irony there; a river once nearly took his life, and he still bore the spiritual scars of this. Yet this river, another river, had saved Kora's, and Roman's as well. He drew his fingers through some muck, skimming from it a plastic bag he shook out first and then stuffed into the bag.
[Kora] "Exactly," she returns quietly. No gloves, just her hands as they move and work. " - and, more than that, that huge - thing, we fought was made of oil and chemicals, and trash, the sort of household trash that fills the river. So maybe cleaning things here will - reduce the power of such things, on the other side. Hell," she continues, " - imagine if we had lost, and that poison had spread to destroy and corrupt the river. If the river had been lost," she breathes out quietly, her nostrils flaring, a brief spike of her normally quiescent rage at the thought.
"So, yeah. I'm - " a glance back, she can see Cigney working, Adrian. Trent. " - thankful." Maybe that was the word.
[Cigney] Wanting to clean up before joining everyone for drinks, Cigney excuses herself. She thanks Trent and Kora for the invitation for the clean up, and again tells Victor she's glad to have met him and hopes to see him later.
Returning her gear, Cigney waves and heads off to her car.
[Cigney] ((And on the heels of CC...I'm on my way to bed. ;)
[Trent Brumby] [Thanks for playing!]
[Kora] (sleep tight and thanks, MoonLily!)
[Victor Oseragighte] "One side reflects the other," he agreed simply, a lesson he'd learned many times over. He glanced out across the other, and felt her anger, understood it, even responded to it in kind a little at the thought of this poor choked waterway defiled. Victor might not like the water, but he hardly wanted to see it corrupted and ruined.
[Kora] (ack! non-refreshing thing.)
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Did that to me also. ))
[Trent Brumby] After talking with Archie, Trent made his way along the bank, spending some time doing some active cleaning himself. He threw the occasional glance over to where Kora and Victor were, did some chit chat with Cigney and Adrian as they worked, steady and constant.
Until the sun was starting to go down towards the tall buildings and the light was beginning the first fades from the sky. He helped pack equipment away into trucks and vans, hands on with helping anyone that had came out today and required it - and even if they didn't. Busy, the Black Fury kinfolk was making sure they didn't leave any mess behind them, as often tends to happen with things like this - ironic, really.
[Trent Brumby] [stupid thing.]
[Kora] Kora agrees, quietly enough, about the idea of reflection. One side reflects the other. It started as a stray thought, a quiet exchange, and turned into this. By the time the light is shifting and the cool evening air - such a contrast to the recent heat of the summer, this first hint of fall - even the pair of Garou have filled some trash bags. Few humans come close to them, and Kora spends as much time surveying the water, the dark places along the land, the street above, the abandoned warehouses - for any dangers that might be hidden away, waiting for something to happen, waiting for something to strike.
By the time the trucks and tables and food is being packed away, Kora and Victor have returned to the bank. The best Kora can do is to stay out of their way. Most humans do not feel comfortable, not entirely, in her presence. Instead, she finds a place to perch - a picnic table, a retaining wall - and polishes off a pair of oatmeal raisin cookies, the last two snagged from the trays, before rounding up those who remain for a round of drinks, after.
[Kora] (I am thinking that IIII need to sleep. So tired. I might bow out, and leave you two to it if you want. Or we could end it there and you can go play something else?)
to Archie, Trent Brumby, Victor Oseragighte
[Trent Brumby] [I think we might leave it there for the night. I've got to run off in an hour or two in any case. But thanks for everyone that came along.]
to Archie, Kora, Victor Oseragighte
[Victor Oseragighte] Victor has it a little easier; the Curse is not felt so keenly with the Philodox, though he still unnerves many. Like her, he's spent more time keeping watch than cleaning, but he does his part, and is good and filthy by the time they're carting everything away. He nods his farewells largely, before tagging along with Kora and her crew of kin.
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Sounds good to me. ))
to Archie, Kora
[Cigney] The arrival by taxi is hard to miss...and the way he's dressed, Cigney watches Adrian a moment or two longer than she should have probably. As the grillmaster speaks, she turns to him instead and gives a warm smile. She opens her mouth just as she moves back to the table. Awkward. So it is with Cigney. Out of place just doesn't quite sum it all up.
Two kids start shoving each other, and Cigney goes to intervene. Separating the two and threatening a penalty box. They then run off to play again. She watches the food table now for a moment, before calling a break so the kids can reorganize and start round 2 of their game.
[Archie] He nods back at Trent and pauses to look around at the area."Well if you don't mind I think Jamie and I will have a little look around to see what needs to be hit and once we have a plan ready we'll get to it. I know Jamie was looking forward to the free food so best we get crackin' to earn our keep."He adds with a little laugh before turning around to head back towards the truck to begin getting himself set up.
[JB Cavanagh] There's no genuine way to explain. Not here. The other man on the grill bears no pure blood at all, and the waitress with the candy-apple red hair and the tight tanks and tees is equally normal, human. Human enough to shy just away from Victor, in this way that is barely noticeable, spooning out a serving of the corn salad onto someone's plate by way of refill.
JB meets Victor's gaze with rather more directness than most kin can manage. Maybe it's that he's taller than the Garou. Maybe he doesn't understand what or who Victor is. After all, he doesn't have the sense of blood ties that Garou have. There's a whole world underneath his skin, and Lucy's, that he cannot see or sense. "Atkins diet, eh? You know, I'm pretty sure that roughage is part of it though. Just fruits you can't have." And, so saying, he serves Victor a pair of plain burgers, no buns, with a gesture toward the salads and toppings. "Help yourself. I swear most of those won't up your carb-count."
--
One of the children in the center of the shoving is Lucy, who is still small for her age and cute as a button, with shining dark hair and huge blue-gray eyes, set in a perfectly round face, rosy cheeks a contrast to her pale skin and dark hair. It takes just a bit - more, to pull her away. Louder voice, a stronger hand on her shoulder, but it doesn't really go beyond kids being kids, except in the way she stares down her opponent when it's over, then eschews the second round of the game as baby-ish, prefering to circle back to Cigney, curl an arm around the young woman's thigh, and look up at her, bright-eyed. "What's your name?"
[Adrian Sandenberg] Catching Cigney looking his way, he offers a smile - and it's a model's smile, a runway smile, that's half smirk and all smooth. In fact, he's full of that runway look - he's hardly stunning, but there's just something about him. The way he fills out the jeans and shirt, maybe. The way he drops his aviators to cover his eyes. Something.
"Thank you, Trent," he answers easily, and a hand brushes over Victor's shoulder briefly - clearly, he knows both men, and is friendly with them. The accent is a bit British-like, but not really - something about the vowels, the way his Ws and Vs resolve into something different. Whatever it is, it's certainly not American. "It looks like a good turn out. I meant to be hear earlier, but there was a department meeting - I'm not too late, am I?"
Of course there's still work to be done; there's always work to be done.
[Trent Brumby] Laughing low at the mention of how Jamie is looking forward to the free food, he nods to the other man and tells him: "Thanks for coming along. If you need a hand, there's plenty willing around, and if you've got any more questions I'll be roaming around." Then Archie is heading off towards the truck and Trent is moving in the opposite direction.
He gives a glance towards the children and Cigney, offering a woman a smile and a nod of her head. He doesn't come over and see if she's alright, because well, there were times in his life that he would have had his head bitten off by suggesting that they couldn't handle children, after all they are women and know how to raise children best -- all for just asking if they needed a hand. Some habits are hard to break and he leaves her to it.
Over at the food, Adrian asks about being late. "Never too late," he remarks easily, "I think we'll be here until late afternoon. Then pack up and call it a day." With this he looks up, meeting John's eyes as if to see if that was alright with him. Trent likes working in teams when he has to make decisions, he doesn't like to delegate unless he really has to. This whole event had been something of a challenge for him. But challenges are met head on and with plenty of drive behind it.
[Cigney] Must be a style thing, these aviator sunglasses. Cigney pushes her back up the bridge of her nose and offers a half smile in Adrian's direction until she's startled by something, or in this case someone wrapping around her leg.
"Oh...well, my name's Cigney. How about you?"
She smiles and pushes a strand of hair from Lucy's face. The way the child looks and approaches her is interestingly different. There's a force behind this girls actions that interest Cigney. The kinswoman notes that the girl isn't playing anymore...but lets it go unless the girls wants to talk about it more.
A small wave in Trent's direction. Here in just a little bit she'll make sure the kids return to their families and suit up for some trash detail.
[Victor Oseragighte] He sees that JB doesn't quite understand and nods politely, foregoing the toppings even so to have at the burgers themselves. Adrian's brush earns him a smile, one of the few present he actually knows. The Wendigo wanders off to the side to eat and watch, thinking to have his snack before he gets to work.
[JB Cavanagh] "My name's Lucy," returns the curl with her arm curled around Cigney's leg. She lifts her chin in the direction of the grills, the two cooks, the waitress with her hair the color of red patent leather, and that 50s pin-up girl haircut, the straight strong bangs and the straight strong bob. "My dad's over there."
Both the waitress and the tall, dark-headed chef have an eye on the girl, are aware of her place at all times. Lucy is wearing jeans, the cuffs frayed and worn, with Converse all-stars and a pink and gray t-shirt. There's a cursive P in a circle on the back, which baseball fans would recognize as the Philadelphia Phillies' symbol. "He's cooking," Lucy adds helpfully as she watches her father serve up another burger with a smile, and then gesture down the line at the salads.
The waitress, meanwhile, is digging among the coolers hidden underneath their tables to start refilling some of the catering tins.
--
Trent suggests late afternoon as a stopping point, and JB glances over at one of the kin familiar to Garou and the rest from the Brotherhood. "That sounds great to me. Then maybe a quick break-down and a round of drinks for the - " pause, "extended family? I don't have my beer and wine license yet, but I know the Coltranes would be happy for the custom at the Brotherhood."
"We'll serve lunch a bit longer," he continues, "then set up the desserts. Cookies and brownies from the cafe, and the baked goods folks have donated."
[Cigney] "I see..."
Cigney glances over at them, then turns her attention back to Lucy.
"So...you mind if I ask what a locavore is? Cause like...I'm kind of scared it means your part dinosaur or something".
She grins.
[Trent Brumby] "That sounds great. I really appreciate all the effort you've gone to," this isn't the first time he's said it to John, and the other man is probably getting sick of hearing it, "and I know I've said it before, but if there's anything I can do, you just give me a yell."
Instead of taking up John's busy time, Trent moves along the table to get himself some food. He's been running around after folks here and there, and even if it's not Kinfolk or Garou getting his attention, there's plenty of other people here that knows him, either by name or simply by the fact he put his name behind getting this together and is the loose organizer of the day. Amusingly enough, most of those he does know is women. Women that needed a Mr. Fix It that looks like Trent; manners like a gentlemen and a body from the gym. Even if he's getting sick of all the questions just for the sake of talking to him, he's polite and patient.
But right now, he sneaks a break, standing off to the side with his food in hand, munching it down while keeping an eye out on, well, everyone.
[JB Cavanagh] "It is just like being dinosaur," Lucy informs Cigney, in this oh-so-solemn way. This may have been a story she's heard since she was a little girl. Her shoulders are straight underneath her baseball t-shirt, and her gleaming hair a bit tangled. A mother would have pulled it back for the day's work, into a French braid or a well-made ponytail. JB has made sure that Lucy is washed, her dark hair gleaming. It was combed earlier, a pair of those plastic barrets tucked into the mass to hold it back from her face, but it's tangled now, except where JB or Cindy, the waitress, or Cigney herself has smoothed it down, tucked the odd strand behind her ear.
"Dinosaurs didn't eat stuff that got shipped in from Austalia or China or Japanese - " so perhaps the child's knowledge of the world wide food economy leaves something to be desired, "or all the way on the other side of the world or the country on the other ocean or anything, they ate what was close, and if you do that then you - uhm. You - "
Lucy frowns, a fierce little look, as she struggles for words.
"Well," the frown hasn't resolved, but she's emphatic on this point. "It is way better for the polar bears and stuff. And aminals like them."
[JB Cavanagh] (guys! I'm'a switch to Kora. (grins) I'll still play JB as long as folks want to interact w/him, but Kora knows everyone here. :) )
[Cigney] Lucy's description of supporting localized food intiatives surprises her. So much so that Cigney looks shocked, then chuckles and nods at the sentiment the girls is getting at.
"You know what, you're right. That must mean I'm a locavore too...wow, it's nice to meet you. We should hang out sometimes and do dinosaur stuff".
And with that, Cigney gives a loud whistle and tells the kids its time to clean up. She dumps her cup in the recycle bin for plastics and decides to grab a trash bag, gloves and a poker-majigger.
[Kora] "My dad," Lucy tells Cigney proudly when Cigney remarks that she's a locavore. The girl nods over at the cafe Lulu tables, where lunch services is winding down. " - you should come to our place sometime!"
- so the exchange ends, as Cindy coaxes Lucy away with promises of setting up the cupcake pyramid, while the restaurant crew starts serving up the remaining burgers, before shutting down the grills.
---
"Victor," Kora's been further downriver, closer to the mouth, closer to the edge of the Caern. Working sometimes, watching sometimes. She doesn't trust the world not to shift suddenly, doesn't trust the waters to remain still, foetid but still. She knows the sort of nightmare things that come out in the world. Now, though, with the lunch crowd drifting back to start picking up trach and recyclables again, she comes back, lowers herself beside the Wendigo briefly, where he has segregated himself to eat. "I know you've met Trent and Adrian. How about Cigney?"
"C'mon," she suggests, by way of invitation, waving to Cigney and Adrian as crosses the green space of the riverfront, heading toward Trent as he takes a break. "I'll introduce you, but let me say hello to Trent first, yeah?"
[Archie] Archie and Jamie are... Well... This is what they do for a living. So they are quickly suited up in the white suits that would imply the area was the victim of some kind of terrible chemical spill. Though there's no need to cover their heads more than eye glasses for basic protection. Before long a few of the others join them in getting suited up and grabbing hold of bags, shovels and all manner of other tools to begin the work of getting the place clean.
After a little instruction on how to search and systematically remove every bit of trash from the area as efficiently as possible the little group is off, breaking up into smaller teams of two who are soon working to get the area cleaner than it has been for some time.
[Victor Oseragighte] He looked up as Kora came over, not surprised he's not the only Garou who thought that the river was too dangerous not to have somebody there to watch over their kin, their family, effectively. He rises at her urging and finishes the last of his meal, depositing the plate in a recycling bin before he wends his way after her, falling in at her side once he catches up, half-filled bag tucked under his arm, thumbs hooked into his pockets.
[Cigney] Cigney swears she's developing a sixth sense for Kora. The silvery grey eyes have no problem finding her midst the small crowd. She gives a small wave back before picking up her stuff headng down to the river to do her part. The kids tell Cigney just how much trash they're going to pick up, attempting to impress her as kids often do with adults. She smile and offers encouraging words.
The kinswoman works by herself, content to do as such.
[Trent Brumby] Watching this person and that, he talks to a few passing by between bites of his meal, snippets of conversation that come and go with the passing tide of wandering helpers. He watches Archie get together his official crew, hopes to the Gods that those white suits doesn't scare off people from actually helping out, as he swallows down a chunk of burger. They break off into their own groups and start to systematically work their way through the area and Trent lets his gaze drift.
When he spots Kora, his eyes light up and he quickly polishes off the rest of his food. He turns away before she can leave Victor, throwing his trash away, and moving to quickly snag another plate full of good food, explaining its for the girlfriend. So by the time Kora does get to him, he turns to her with a lemonade and a plate full of good food.
"Look, it's burgers," he jests. There's so much they have to talk about, that's been avoided, but none of that crops up here and now. Trent's been happily pleased by the turn out, feeling some sense of achievement for the days efforts, and his mood isn't easily swayed from that. That she's here and coming to say hello just makes him feel that more proud. He's a simple creature, really.
[Kora] "With a rather suspicious-looking amount of vegetables, to boot," she returns, the familiar curve of her smile deepening. There's no reservation here and now. The night last, she was tense - speaking with her tribesmates, mistrusting now both their intentions and their staying power. The cynicism lived under her skin rather than on her tongue, but it suits her ill.
Trent receives the full benefit of her mouth engaging smile as she and Victor cut through the humans and kin to meet him. She accepts the plate full of food from his hand easily though, vegetables and all.
"This is great," the width of the smile stills a bit. She lifts her chin, up and down the waterfront, indicating the turnout. The folks in their official suits for the major decontamination, and the ordinary people picking up fast-food wrappers and old tires and broken shoes and driftwood and all the flotsam and jetsam accumulated on the water. Not just the food. Meeting his eyes, with her customary directness, her own are shining with a sort of reflected pride.
Not just at what Trent has accomplished, but that the rest of her kin are here, too. Izzy's police officers, Cigney and Adrian. "You guys have really accomplished alot. It's good to see."
Kora leans in to brush a chaste kiss over Trent's cheek, then leans closer, her mouth briefly close to his ear before she pulls away.
When Cigney and Adrian come back to exchange full bags for empties, she gestures them over, too. Time for introductions, all around.
[Kora] Her mouth close to his ear, she murmurs, You are so getting sex tonight. before she pulls away.
to Trent Brumby
[Adrian Sandenberg] Adrian is not particularly trying to keep up with the ebb and flow of lunchtime conversation - he'd been fed at the meeting he came from, though he'll gladly snake a cupcake or similar when the time for such comes. Kora's arrival, though, is noted, and he gives her a smile from behind his aviators - looking like a very clean, very stylish, very well put together workman, he.
He does, indeed, come to exchange a full bag for empty, and there - again, he's friendly with the Garou, known and knowing.
"Hej, Kora. It's good to see you - you're well?"
The hair, so often teased to wild abandon, is pulled neatly into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck today, the better to be out of his way - already, some bits are struggling for freedom, but for now they're trapped.
[Trent Brumby] "Yeah, but you don't have to eat them if you want an unbalanced diet." He wasn't going to pressure her, but he could be amused about it. They had this battle of food choices constantly. Sometimes he gives in, sometimes he pushes, but they always find common ground.
Then looking back over the place, he tucks both his hands into the back pockets of his jeans, elbows sticking behind him, and surveys the people working hard. "It's an unexpectedly good turn out, and I've made a few networks getting this organized. John and the Coltranes had a winner with the food, a real crowd pleaser."
He gets kissed then, and his hands slide out of his pockets, one reaching to touch her back. A glow of pleasure flares through him an a spark of interest in a look he gives her, but he says nothing other then what can be found in the outright grin he gives - rare for him, but full of laugh lines and teeth.
"Cigney, you were a hit with the kids today," he tells her when she comes over, presumably, to join the gathered. "Thanks for all your hard work. It's really appreciated."
[Victor Oseragighte] He has to smile at Adrian, the effort put into looking good and looking like he's not even trying. Even here, at such an event. He wonders how much of his bravado is show, though, knowing that with Karl and Moira gone he's lost some very close friends and supporters. Silent, the Half-Moon nods to him and then glances over to Cigney, mentioned by Kora but not actually met yet.
[Cigney] The amount of garbage in this city it doesn't take long to fill the bag at all. Upon her return she makes her way to Kora and says hello. Looking at those who are with her. At Trent's praise she blushes a little and shrugs.
[Kora] Kora's dark eyes linger on Trent's face a moment longer, than unexpected glow that suffuses his skin, before she turns Adrian, opening the little circle as he greets her to include him, and Victor, and Cigney.
"Quite," Kora returns to Adrian, that lingering edge of her engaging smile still curving her mouth, still gleaming in her eyes. Perhaps to Trent's surprise, she's enamoured enough of the summer vegetables - the fresh end of season tomatoes - that she snags a trio of slices and eats them with a sound of unexpected pleasure. Summer tomatoes, sweet corn - for some pleasures there are no substitutes. She looks, as she says, quite well, a healthy glow about her in the later afternoon sun.
" - and I'm glad that you're here, yeah? Thanks for coming."
Then, "Cigney," her rage, and Victor's are enough to give the small group a bubble of privacy, particular as the lunch crowd returns to the work up and down the river. "I'm glad you're here, too."
And then, the introductions, neatly managed. "Victor, you know Adrian and Trent. This is Cigney, also my kin. Cigney, Adrian, Adrian, Cigney."
Then, a glance up at the Hazmat team. An aside, to Trent. " - who are the guys in the suits?"
[Cigney] "It's nice to meet you Adrian".
Cigney takes off the gloves and offers her hand. He won't sense any PB...just her scent, and that she's pretty solid with a good balance of lean muscle mass. Her smile is warm and friendly.
[Trent Brumby] "That's Archie Hackett and his crew, he actually works for the EPA I think," he tells her quietly when she asks it of him. "I wasn't expecting the suits, which is a bit overkill for a day like today. Everyone's going to think there's some chemical spills or something," which is something he's worrying about considering a large group is heading back this way. The timing was just off, is all.
"I don't know if any of you are interested, but John suggested we head somewhere after all this is finished up. Maybe have some drinks and unwind." It's meant for the lot of them, collectively. "Rounds on me." As some sort of thank you or something.
He's glad to see Kora eating and watches her out of the corner of his eye, while his hand rests neatly on the middle of her back, a solid presence there without taking any sort of liberties.
[Cigney] "And you as well Victor..."
She extends a hand to him as well. Busy remembering faces to names at this point for future reference. The kinswoman watches him a moment, a warm engaging smile on her face before turning to Trent.
"It sounds like fun..."
[Victor Oseragighte] Victor's polite, friendly even despite his terse usage of words; when he speaks, it is brief and simple, but does not come across as unpleasant. The Wendigo accepts the offered hand, his grip firm but not testing, his hands heavily scarred and callused, the hands of somebody who is anything but idle. "Same here."
[Adrian Sandenberg] "Nice to meet you as well, Cigney." He gives his hand, once it's divested of its glove (clean, as new as his jeans and shirt), for a shake - reasonably strong, but not crushing, bruising. It's just a shake, paired with that smile he'd given earlier. "Are you new in town, then?"
He's not quite shy, but he's certainly not outgoing either - doesn't talk a lot, but isn't quite reticent either. What he is, is reserved. A bit distant. He keeps himself to himself, and it may well be part of that look of his.
[missing posts?]
[Victor Oseragighte] He shook his head; he figured that Trent was simply interested in arranging for the river to be cleaned up. He remembered how adamant he was about arranging the whole event, and it certainly seemed to be successful beyond anything Victor had expected. He watched as people departed and waits for Kora's explanation, though he does nod toward the bank and head that way to resume the pickup.
[Adrian Sandenberg] Adrian, after a fond, light bump against Kora (strong kin, so [relatively] comfortable with the Galliard) moves to get back to work as well - with a stop by Cigney. "I think it's safe to assume that you know what I mean when I say I'm one of hers," he offers with a jut of his chin towards Kora. "And less . . . moon-driven. I'm working on my masters at University of Illinois."
Which is to say, of course, that he's Fenrir kin. And, the more he talks? The clearer his not American-ness becomes.
"If you've need of a number to call for company or assistance, I'll be pleased to share my mobile number."
[Trent Brumby] After dealing with some group that soon disperse, he finds his way over to where Archie is and comes up along side him. Trent's snagged some gloves and a bag for himself, cleaning up along the way, but he comes over to strike up some conversation with the other Kinfolk. "Archie, isn't it? We're going to go for a few drinks after this if you want to come along," he nods back to where Kora and that are, "with that lot of there."
"Drinks are on me," he adds with a smile.
[Adrian Sandenberg] ((Which is to say! It's 1am, and time for bed for tired CCs everywhere.))
to Archie, Cigney, Kora, Peeker, Trent Brumby, Victor Oseragighte
[Trent Brumby] [thanks for playing CC!]
[Victor Oseragighte] (( That's cool. Rest well! ))
to Adrian Sandenberg, Archie, Cigney, Kora, Trent Brumby
[Cigney] Cigney nods and exchanges numbers with Adrian, curious to know more about him. But she doesn't keep him.
"Good luck in your studies. Please let me know if I can ever assist you as all. I'm a physical trainer and work with a few gyms in the area".
[Kora] "There's a shrine to Sparrow close by," Kora begins, her voice low, " - outside one of the old Eagle pack's kinshouses. When I first came here with Joe, we cleaned it up, started back taking care of that shrine, you know? I have a few deals like that - seed and water, free access, that sort of thing, in exchange for a bit of message work or fair warning of changes in the land. There are other birds," and the doubled suggestion, of course, of bird-spirits, " - that like to roost in the bell-tower of the church.
"So, Roman and I were there taking care, refilling the feeders, that sort of thing, when the wind kicked up. Strangely, yeah? We crossed over and found an air elemental that wanted our aid. It said that there was fighting at the river, and the spirits were losing.
"Running, we followed it, booking through the territory. We found the spirits of the river and a fire jagglling fighting this huge - sort of poisonous oil-thing, formed of trash and filth. And losing they were. Roman and I joined the fight. Somehow, the huge thing swallowed me, almost whole. I started fighting my way out, but could feel the - poison, the filth burning my skin. Couldn't see a thing - my nose, my mouth, my ears were all full, and everywhere I moved, slashed my claws, the mass seemed to move with me.
"I don't know how long I was in there, fighting. Couldn't have been long. Then suddenly it all dissolved around me. I found Roman in the river, floating, unconscious, humanskinned, and didn't know at first whether - " she leaves this blank, for Victor to fill in. Whether Roman was dead, or whether he had raged back from death. The results were the same.
"The poison was working through me. I didn't have much time, no real way to stop it, and I was sick, and getting sicker. There was little time, so I appealed to the elementals in the water to come heal Roman before I succumbed to the poisons. They healed him, and cleansed me, neutralizing the poison.
"So," she finishes, some of the solemnity that comes with the telling of the tale fading from her features, chased away by the fond width of her smile. "This his way of offering chiminage. Mine, too. The river borders our territory - cuts right through the heart of the city."
[Kora] (night CC! thanks for the RP! and if uhm: anyone who wasn't there wants to pretend they were there for the story, please pretend. alternatively, kora's likely to tell it again when they go for drinks!)
[Adrian Sandenberg] ((Night, and thanks! *poofs*))
[Victor Oseragighte] It made sense. It was logical. Respectful. Reverent even. And he'd have to climb up and give his own thanks to those high-up spirits. As she told him her tale, he went about picking things up, the gloves pulled on once more, snugged tightly into place.
"So you have much to thank the river for." He finds an irony there; a river once nearly took his life, and he still bore the spiritual scars of this. Yet this river, another river, had saved Kora's, and Roman's as well. He drew his fingers through some muck, skimming from it a plastic bag he shook out first and then stuffed into the bag.
[Kora] "Exactly," she returns quietly. No gloves, just her hands as they move and work. " - and, more than that, that huge - thing, we fought was made of oil and chemicals, and trash, the sort of household trash that fills the river. So maybe cleaning things here will - reduce the power of such things, on the other side. Hell," she continues, " - imagine if we had lost, and that poison had spread to destroy and corrupt the river. If the river had been lost," she breathes out quietly, her nostrils flaring, a brief spike of her normally quiescent rage at the thought.
"So, yeah. I'm - " a glance back, she can see Cigney working, Adrian. Trent. " - thankful." Maybe that was the word.
[Cigney] Wanting to clean up before joining everyone for drinks, Cigney excuses herself. She thanks Trent and Kora for the invitation for the clean up, and again tells Victor she's glad to have met him and hopes to see him later.
Returning her gear, Cigney waves and heads off to her car.
[Cigney] ((And on the heels of CC...I'm on my way to bed. ;)
[Trent Brumby] [Thanks for playing!]
[Kora] (sleep tight and thanks, MoonLily!)
[Victor Oseragighte] "One side reflects the other," he agreed simply, a lesson he'd learned many times over. He glanced out across the other, and felt her anger, understood it, even responded to it in kind a little at the thought of this poor choked waterway defiled. Victor might not like the water, but he hardly wanted to see it corrupted and ruined.
[Kora] (ack! non-refreshing thing.)
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Did that to me also. ))
[Trent Brumby] After talking with Archie, Trent made his way along the bank, spending some time doing some active cleaning himself. He threw the occasional glance over to where Kora and Victor were, did some chit chat with Cigney and Adrian as they worked, steady and constant.
Until the sun was starting to go down towards the tall buildings and the light was beginning the first fades from the sky. He helped pack equipment away into trucks and vans, hands on with helping anyone that had came out today and required it - and even if they didn't. Busy, the Black Fury kinfolk was making sure they didn't leave any mess behind them, as often tends to happen with things like this - ironic, really.
[Trent Brumby] [stupid thing.]
[Kora] Kora agrees, quietly enough, about the idea of reflection. One side reflects the other. It started as a stray thought, a quiet exchange, and turned into this. By the time the light is shifting and the cool evening air - such a contrast to the recent heat of the summer, this first hint of fall - even the pair of Garou have filled some trash bags. Few humans come close to them, and Kora spends as much time surveying the water, the dark places along the land, the street above, the abandoned warehouses - for any dangers that might be hidden away, waiting for something to happen, waiting for something to strike.
By the time the trucks and tables and food is being packed away, Kora and Victor have returned to the bank. The best Kora can do is to stay out of their way. Most humans do not feel comfortable, not entirely, in her presence. Instead, she finds a place to perch - a picnic table, a retaining wall - and polishes off a pair of oatmeal raisin cookies, the last two snagged from the trays, before rounding up those who remain for a round of drinks, after.
[Kora] (I am thinking that IIII need to sleep. So tired. I might bow out, and leave you two to it if you want. Or we could end it there and you can go play something else?)
to Archie, Trent Brumby, Victor Oseragighte
[Trent Brumby] [I think we might leave it there for the night. I've got to run off in an hour or two in any case. But thanks for everyone that came along.]
to Archie, Kora, Victor Oseragighte
[Victor Oseragighte] Victor has it a little easier; the Curse is not felt so keenly with the Philodox, though he still unnerves many. Like her, he's spent more time keeping watch than cleaning, but he does his part, and is good and filthy by the time they're carting everything away. He nods his farewells largely, before tagging along with Kora and her crew of kin.
[Victor Oseragighte] (( Sounds good to me. ))
to Archie, Kora
