Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He walks into the bar, squinting a little to let his eyes adjust to the darkness inside. He nods to the bartender, going up and picking up a bottle of Scotch...same style as always, the bartender doesn't even have to ask. He pays with cash and heads over to a table, sitting down and glancing at the hole in the wall, where someone's head when through once.

Danni Anderson: You'd think, by this time, she'd have learned to keep her mouth shut. But she just can't, and it was just so damn easy. He'd left himself wide open for that joke, and she'd thought it was pretty funny. But apparently, he and his buddies had not. She made a faint -hurk- sound as the guy grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked her forward, nearly off the chair. "Hey. HEY. That's my fucking beer you nearly spilled, asshole!"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He unscrews the bottle cap and pours the scotch into the glass, half-full. He's just about to raise it to his lips when the commotion breaks out, and he looks up with a frown. Heeeell, no. He rises to his feet and starts to head over.

Danni Anderson: She doesn't want to waste a good beer by having to break the bottle and stabbing someone. That would be a serious waste. But the bartender saves her that issue by telling them to break it up. She's pushed back and released, but she sneers at their retreatiing back anyway, sliding into a stool. "Fuckers."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: A raised brow as he looks first Danni, then the man, over. He looks to Danni, head cocking. "You all right?"

Danni Anderson: It seems to take her a moment to realize she's being talked to. She glances back over her shoulder at Aerin with black eyes. Wary, and untrusting. "Yeah..."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "I'm Aerin." He extends his hand to her. "And drinking alone sucks. I've got a booth claimed, and a full bottle of 18-year-old Chivas Regal. Wanna join me?"

Danni Anderson: She watches him a bit, and then reaches out to grasp his hand. "Danni. And if you're offering me free alcohol, I'm not going to be turning it down."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He smiles, though it's exceptionally faint. "C'mon. Drunkenness awaits." He turns and heads back to the booth, sliding into the seat next to the hole.

Danni Anderson: She slides off the stool, bringing her beer with her. Not going to waste alcohol, you see. Some cash is tossed on the bar, and then she heads back to the booth with Aerin, sliding it. She watches him a bit, and then chugs down what's left of her beer.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He picks up his glass, taking a good, strong swallow of the scotch. The "good scotch" face follows, and he sets the glass dont, fishing out a cigarette. "New to town?"

Danni Anderson: "Nope." She says, eyes flicking to the cigarette. "Can I bum a smoke off you?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Sure." He stes the pack down on the table between them. "Sorry...just haven't seen you around. Not that I hang around the usual places myself, but..."

Danni Anderson: "I try not to draw attention to myself." She says by way of explaination, reaching out to take a cigarette. She nods in thanks as she lights it. "I move from bar to bar anyway. Got this fuckin' habit of getting kicked out. Fuckin' regulars don't like a girl it seems." A small smirk as she blows out smoke.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Yeah, I don't have much luck with bars myself." Just the slightest emphasis on the word. "I tend to mistrust the owners."

Danni Anderson: She flicks her eyes up to him, cigarette dangling slightly from her lips as she pours herself a glass. Dark eyes watch him intently. "Yeah. Somthing like that."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He nods slightly, leaning back and exhaling a drag of smoke. "Well, I wouldn't suggest stopping by that bar in Midtown. The new owner's a fuckin' asshole."

Danni Anderson: She continues to watch him with that intent gaze as one hand plucks the cigarette out of mouth, and the other raises the glass of scotch. "Really now. Guess it be a moot point to stop by then."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He shrugs. "Probably. There's a really good bar out of town, up aways. They seem to be really good folk."

Danni Anderson: "Ehhh. I don't do so good with the out of town." She swallows the scotch, making a face momentarily. "I don't do so good in any bar, really."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He nods a little bit. "Again, I can relate. Had some fucked up bar experiences in my time." He lifts the glass to his lips, draining the rest, and pours himself another. "Shit happens, right?"

Danni Anderson: "One fuck up was enough for me." She says, the smirk fading into a frown as she stairs at her glass momentarily, smoke leaking from her lips.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Sorry to hear that. At least you're smarter then me. I didn't get the hint after the first several tries."

Danni Anderson: "You probably just had more faith in people. Never had that." There's that smirk again, downing the rest of the scotch.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Yeah, faith's a real bitch." He swallows the glassful in one down.

Danni Anderson: "S'why it's easier to have none."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Yeah, well, I'll go for that faithectomy next chance I get." Another refill of the glass.

Danni Anderson: She makes an amused little sound, pouring herself another glass and downing it. There is a choked cough afterwards, but she seems fine otherwise.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He glances up at Danni when she coughs. "You okay?"

Danni Anderson: She nods, lifting her head again and pushing hair out of her face with annoyed. "Fine, fine. Fucking can't hold my alcohol like I should be fucking able to." She adopts an almost pained expression. "Bastard friend asked me to cut back, for my health. Cause you know... outta all the damn fights, and the staying up late and the alcohol and the fucking cigarettes... he thinks the alcohol is the worst. Or something."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He smirks a little bit and nods, though there is a look of genuine concern. "I think I know the feeling, though at least I don't have someone telling me my drinking is a problem. Mainly 'cause I don't go drinking around the people who would be worried, I think. And I don't do it that much...but the fights, staying up late, and smoking...yeah."

Danni Anderson: She looks up again, her smirk bitter. "I know I have a drinking problem. It's pretty damn obvious to him. But I'm not gonna stop. The quiet's gotta come from somwhere."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "The quiet?" He cocks his head a little bit, watching her curiously.

Danni Anderson: "You know." She says, leaning back. "The quiet. Where you don't gotta think. Where you just are, and you don't gotta deal with the thoughts or the emotions."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Ahh, yeah." He nods a little bit, understanding. "That's a place I'd like to find myself."

Danni Anderson: "Just drink until you find it." Another smirk. "S'not that hard. Just a little expenisve, unless you get teh cheap stuff."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: A hollow little chuckle. "Sadly, my former employer ruined me to the joys of cheap alcohol. As evidenced." He gestures to the bottle, and takes a drink from the glass.

Danni Anderson: "To me, alcohol is fuckin' alcohol. Unless it's that fruity crap. Seriously. Who thinks up that shit?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Cheerleaders on crack, probably. Only people peppy enough to think peppermint schnapps is a good idea."

Danni Anderson: She grimacs. "Thanks. Now I'm going to have nightmares about crackhead cheerleaders force drinking me schnapps."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He shrugs a little bit, taking a drink. "There's worse nightmares to have."

Danni Anderson: "Yeah, but... -cheerleaders-." She looks most aghast at the thought.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "There's worse."

Danni Anderson: "It's a joke." She says, her voice going eerily flat.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "I know." He nods a little bit. "I was thinking, like, clowns on crack force drinking me schnapps. MUCH worse then cheerleaders."

Danni Anderson: "See, I ain't go no issues with clowns. I think the cheerleaders are more scary." A pause. "What about clown cheerleaders?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He looks up at that, staring at her. "...oh, gee, thanks, Danni. Not that I didn't have enough nightmares. Now I have clowns with pom-poms stalking my dreams with bottles of Boone's Fuzzy Navel."

Danni Anderson: "You started it!" It's a grin, but a tired one. "Sorry. You can give me worse nightmares at a later date. Promise."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "I'll take you up on that," he warns with a bit of a smile. Faint, but there, at least. "One of these days, I'll tell you about this purple lobster. Trust me, you'll wish I hadn't."

Danni Anderson: She raises an eyebrow, though her look is starting to get a little bit hazy as the alcohol takes affect. "Purple lobster? Riiiight."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Yeah, that's what everyone says. Trust me, though...the purple lobster's a fuckin' doozy." Another emptying of the glass, and a refill.

Danni Anderson: "Weeelll then. I'll have to hear it at some point so I can have awful nightmares in returns for th one's I gave you." She pours herself another glass as well.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Sounds like a plan." He looks up to Dannie, smiling a little bit, his cheeks a bit flushed from the effects of the scotch. "I've got quite the nice list of nightmares to toss your way."

Danni Anderson: She smiles at something but it' distant, as she downs the glass. "I'm sure... you do."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "So, you don't hang around the bars...what do you do?" Another cigarette lit.

Danni Anderson: "I'm a private investigator." She pours herself another glass.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Like the work?"

Danni Anderson: She swirled the alcohol around a bit, watching it before downing it again, making a face. "Most of the time."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Makes sense." He leans back and downs his glass. "What kind of PI work do you typically do? The whole gamut, or or a particular area?"

Danni Anderson: "I do a lot of cold cases." Still watching that swirling alcohol. "Sometimes I get the normal shit. Cheating wife, runaway kid, that kinda stuff."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Which do you prefer?"

Danni Anderson: There's silence for a moment. "... I guess that depends on the outcome."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Fair enough." He nods and pours. His aim is losing a little focus, but he's not spilling yet.

Danni Anderson: She downs that alcohol miiiiighty quickly, coughing a little and immediately putting more in her glass.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: Another glass downed, content to drink in silence, for the moment, at least.

Danni Anderson: "...snerk." She says after awhile, trying to stay upright, and allowing herself to slump down. "Iiiii am going to get my asssss kicked going hoooome. It will be fuckin' FUNNEH."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "What makes you say that." He tilts his head, watching her, a little grin coming to his face.

Danni Anderson: "I... am an -asshole-." She laughs, tilting her head back. "And I'm even MORE of a fuckin' asshole when I'm drunk. An' I'm kinda drunk. An' I gotta -walk- home. I'll say -somethin-. And it will be -funny-."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Well, ya just happen to be in luck...I happen to be a bodyguard. Or ex-bodyguard." He frowns a little, then shakes it off. His words are a little thick, but not truly slurring yet. "Anyway, I'm still security at a club. So I'm bodyguard-ish."

Danni Anderson: She looks at him with one eye. "I soooo can't pay you. There is no money involved here, riiight?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Nope." He shakes his head. "Don' need to pay me. Jus' what I do."

Danni Anderson: "Oooo. You're handy. I'm going to keep you." A sage nod.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Careful. Last few people that've said that've r'gretted it."

Danni Anderson: "M'sure... by the end..." A little grin, "you'll be'the one r'grettin' offerin' me a drink."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: More down the hatch. "Mebbe we'll BOTH r'grettit."

Danni Anderson: "M'sure... by the end..." A little grin, "you'll be'the one r'grettin' offerin' me a drink."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: More down the hatch. "Mebbe we'll BOTH r'grettit."

Danni Anderson: "Prolly!" She says, a little too gleefully, wavering a bit as she pours herself another glass and drinks it.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He laughs a little bit at her exuberance, and shakes his head. "Danni...if you'll forgive my obvious cribbing of a classic film...but drunkenness...mutual regret...nightmares...this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: ((Only make that slurred. *Headdesk*))

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: ((Only make that slurred. *Headdesk*))

Danni Anderson: She blinks at him, and then laughs. "Ish that a good thing... or a bad thin'?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Weee'll see." He slumps back a bit, reaching out and fumbling for the pack of smokes.

Danni Anderson: "You... aren't drivin', riiiiiight?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Fuuuck no..." He shakes his head. "Nah tell th' hangover sharts."

Danni Anderson: She snorts, in amsuement, fingers taking a couple tries to grab her glass and down the last of the alcohol. "Goood..."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: The cigarette finally makes it's way to his mouth and he lights it, taking a deep drag before exhaling it out. "Fuck'd-up shitty."

Danni Anderson: "Th' whole worl's fucked up." She snorts.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He considers that for a moment, as if he wants to disagree. "Well..." A pause, and he sighs, looking at his glass. Empty. Damn. "Yeah."

Danni Anderson: "Not evry'one... but a lotta th'm" She nods slowly, frowning.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "No...not ev'ryone." He smiles a little bit. "There's s'm good people out there. Reeeeeal good p'ples." The smile quickly fades, though, and his lips purse. "They don' last long, d'ough."

Danni Anderson: She doesn't answer that, staring at the table, her face slack, blank. Black eyes are very bitter though. Extremely bitter.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He grabs the bottle, pouring the last bit into his glass. "Shorry."

Danni Anderson: "Huh?" She says stupidly, looking up to him blankly. "Wha' for?"

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Looksh like-ah shaid shomthin' wroong."

phone call: "Ring," says Aerin's phone. "Ring! Ring!"

Danni Anderson: "Naaaaaah." She waves a hand at him, and then pauses to look at her own hand. Innnnteresting.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Hmm?" He looks at his phone and fumbles with it, answering after three rings. "YELL-lo..."

phone call -> Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Aerin?" Bliss' voice, very tense.

Danni Anderson: She looks around at the noise, and then at Aerin, blinking.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Blish?" He sits up, straightening a little bit. His head shakes a bit, as if he can shake off the drunkenness. "Whashup?"

phone call -> Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "You alright?"

Danni Anderson: She sloooowly inches the alcohol back to her, pouring herself another glass.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Umm..." He finds something funny, and a little laugh escapes. "Moshtly. Whashup? Ita 'kay?"

phone call -> Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Fine. I have an entirely different problem. Something attacked Marika. I've pulled Cloud out of there, but Marika...I think it was a bane maybe. I don't...I think...Cloud says she thinks she's breathing better, but...." This cannot be good.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "...fuck." He looks around. "Ah...shiiiit. Where?"

phone call: "Cloud's bringing her to the house out in the woods. If you can't get there I have one chance, but it's brutal. I can come get you, or go to them if you can't...."

Danni Anderson: She blinks at Aerin, glass halfway to her lips.

phone call: (*kicks pm under the rug*)

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Cum gemme. Ah'll be in Bat'ry." He pauses, and looks at Danni. "May bring-a new friend, if she don' mind an' you don'."

phone call -> Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Right now I don't care if you want a pony. I'll be there." *click*

Danni Anderson: She raises an eyebrow veeeery slowly.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He slips the phone in his pocket and looks to Danni. "I gotta helpa fren'...sooon-t'-be fammly member. Shomeone ah theng y'might wanna meet. Yoo wanna cum 'long?"

Danni Anderson: "... I'm...trashed." She says, veeeery slowly. As if trying to figure this out.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He nods. "Mee too. Mebbe t'gether wee'll form a sober person."

Danni Anderson: She pauses, and then giggles. Yes, giggles. "Kay."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Cool." He's not giggling...he's dead serious. He gets to his feet and staggers out of the booth, moving to help Danni out as well. She started early, she's had more.

Danni Anderson: She stops giggling, staring at him briefly. She maaaay have gotten into something she shouldn't have. She grasps him and staggers up, staggering after Aerin with a severe frown.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He leads her out to the street, crossing over to Battery Park. Even swaying drunkenly, he's right at Danni's side in full bodyguard-mode. No longer joking.

Danni Anderson: Fingers twitch as she staggers with him, eyes roving around a little madly. She wished he had her gun on her right now.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [And, before people have to start sleeping....] Shortly after Bliss pulls up to the entrance to the park, and waits there a moment. It's not like you can really not notice him. Right?

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: d10: Per+Alert(Drunk/WP): 4,8,9,

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: Even drunk, the man can be alert, and he notices Bliss quickly. He gestures with his head to Danni and starts walking that way. The swaying is starting to go away a little bit.

Danni Anderson: Her swaying? Still there. She narrows her eyes, and moves after Aerin with eyes still narrowed. Starting to get paranoid again.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He walks up to the car, opening the back seat to help Danni in. "Hey. Blish...Danni. Danni...Blish. There, ya met."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Swaying? In full blown over-protective mode he slides out of the car and runs to meet Aerin, slowing at the last second to a standstill and embracing him. You'd think it had been years since they'd last met, or Aerin were hurt and not drunk, with all that production. He doesn't seem to register Danni until he has Aerin, and catches sight of her over his shoulder.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: (Or not. *L* Hold on....)

Danni Anderson: She makes a particularily confused face at the hugging and the stuff and the whuh? Yeup. One confused drunk Danni. "Huh?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Hi Danni." Bliss says. "Nice to meet you. Shall we?" He is impatient, all barely contained energy.

Danni Anderson: "... hi." A little delayed.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Yeh, let'sh." He follows Dannie into the back...this is urgent, no time for his staggering around the car. He shuts the car door and pulls a cigarrette, offering one to Danni too. "So, a lil' more d'tail, pleeeze?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I don't really have any." He pulls off at a sane speed, nothing like tickets and cops to delay him. "She's unconscious. Breathing. Better than she was, Cloud says. They're out of there."

Danni Anderson: She has a little issue getting in, and then staggers into the back. A little drunk smirk as she reaches out to take the cigarettes. "Muh momma alwaysh told me not ta get inta cars with strange men..."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Gotit." He sighs and sits back. "Wash a Bane, y'shay?"

Danni Anderson: She snaps eyes to Aerin. Oooo. He didn't say it was THAT kinda stuff. She's no good at that stuff. She makes a faint face.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I'm strange as they come, snowflake."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He looks over at Danni, shrugging a little. Maybe a hint of apology in his eyes.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I think it may have been, or one may have been involved. It sounds wrong."

Danni Anderson: "Snow what?" She looks back to Bliss. "Where goin'?"

Danni Anderson: She frowns more. Christ, it was hard to think while trashed.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "...shi-at." He lights the cigarette finally and leans back. Thank the Goddess it's a bit of a trip to the house. Time for his Garou-y constitution to process the alcohol.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Snowflake, it's a term of endearment, arguably. And out to meet Cloud and Marika."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Cloud'sh a fammly member. Marika'sh...a fammly member, too."

Danni Anderson: "... the feck you get Sno'fleck?" She asks, mildly puzzled. She nods absently to Aerin, and then holds out a hand for the lighter.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Ether. Do not light my car on fire. I mean it. I have enough to worry about right now."

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: "Not intha plan." He cracks the window.

Danni Anderson: "Will -not- light yer car on fire. Jes' maybe meself." A smirk.

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: He manages a very faint grin, leaning a little against Danni. "Less' try 'n avoid that, kay?"

Danni Anderson: "Psht." She says to Aerin. It takes her a couple times, but she finally manages to light the cigarette, without lighting herself or the car on fire.

Bliss: [And...to Upstate Open?]

Danni Anderson: ((Sure))

Bliss: [Off to there!]

Aerin Thomas [Shitty Bar Near Battery]: ((*Flees*))

 

UPSTATE CABIN

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Upon reaching the cabin Bliss parks and rushes the door, which seems briefly in danger of being kicked in rather tan opened. "Cloud?" He calls as soon as the door is open.

Surly: *working out and drinking tea. keeping an eye on Marika. sweatshirt top shed, tanktop still on. stops at teh call* what? *grumbles her sweaty way to the door* she's in here. still breathing.

Danni Anderson: She moves after Aerin, much less drunk now. Just a little tipsy. Fucking Garou Physiology.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Are you alright? Where is she?" He seems almost to have forgotten Aerin and Danni for the moment.

Aerin Thomas: He moves along right behind Bliss. He's all business, looking around the outside of the place for ambushes until they hit the house. All nice and sober-y now, and ALL business.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Per+Alert: 7,10,9,7,2,6,

Surly: *steps out of his way and jerks a thumb* in there. yo, Aerin. yo, chick i've seen and don't know.

Danni Anderson: She waves a hand to Surly, black eyes flicking around nervously.

Surly: *grabs her sweatsuit jacket and slides it on. now that she's not moving hard, it's a tad chilly*

Danni Anderson: d10: per+alert: 2,5,8,9,2,9,

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Ah. Cloud, Danni. Snowflake, Surly." And that introduction makes perfect sense to him. With it made he walks in to look at Marika. The cabin is nice, fireplace, couches, quilts draped over them, heavy braided yarn rugs on the floor between the couches. Kitchen a bathroom, and two bedrooms on the first floor, loft above.

Aerin Thomas: He nods to Surly and heads along behind Bliss, unless he's stopped. He pats Surly on the shoulder on the way.

Surly: *eyes Danni* don't call me Cloud. *smirks* and i won't call you Snowflake. *rolls her head to crack her neck*

Danni Anderson: She hangs back. She doesn't know these people, she doesn't know these places. It made her more paranoid than normal.

Danni Anderson: "Deal." She grunts to Surly.

Surly: *comes close to automatically decking Aerin, giving him a look of utter astonishment--she got touched!! wtf?? she does, however, resist the urge to hit him*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Marika, especially to Aerin who has seen her while awake and animated, looks more dead than alive. Lying on the bed Cloud dragged her to, she's limp, with dried something flaking off of her skin. Bliss steps in and to the side of the doorway, just looking at her.

Surly: *smirks to Danni again* kitchen, there. hot tea. *there. that was mannerly, right? you are supposed to offer people who come over something to drink, right? whatever. heads to the bedroom to see what the boys are doing to Marika*

Aerin Thomas: d10: Sense Wyrm: 10,3,4,8,4,

Danni Anderson: She shakes her head a bit to Surly, eyes still flicking around in a paranoid sort of way. She looks at Marika over the two males shoulders.

Surly: *gives Danni a short nod*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: Yes. All over Marika, a bit on Cloud.

Aerin Thomas: He steps inside, lips pursing at sight of Marika. "Please tell me someone here can cleanse, or that you've got that cleansing drink, Bliss."

Danni Anderson: A small shake of her head.

Surly: *jet brows raise sharply. cleansing....drink? nah, can't be the same thing. shoves her hands into her pockets and frowns slightly* eh?

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I've got the spring they're made from." He shrugs. "Whichever." He seems to shrink. He's akward here, beside the injured or dying. "The spring is...kinda brutal though, wild and untamed. It bites." He mimes biting at something, teeth clicking as his jaws snap shut.

Danni Anderson: She has noooo idea what's going on.

Surly: *pulls out the crunchy stuff and blinks at it. shrugs, and stuffs it back into her pocket. it's dead weed. what could it do?*

Danni Anderson: She glances at what Surly pulls out of her jacket.

Aerin Thomas: "We need to get some. Quick." He moves to Marika, pulling off his trenchcoat and ripping one of his sleeves off. He wraps his hand in the sleeve and proceeds to check her vitals, taking care not to get the flaky stuff on him.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Per+Medicine: 2,7,5,3,5,3,

Danni Anderson: She rubs her face and frowns. "The hell you get that stuff?" She nods to Surly.

Surly: *dried-ish water weedy-looking stuff* that stuff poison or something? *scratches her head* guess i need a shwoer for other than getting my sweat off.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I'll get something." He slips out with a sigh of relief, walking into the kitchen.

Surly: off her. *nods to Marika* more specifically, off the railing where it was tying her.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: She's alive, seems stable, if not as strong as she should be. And unresponsive to him.

Danni Anderson: She raises an eyebrow. Huh.

Surly: *nods to Danni and shrugs*

Surly: so, Aerin, what the hell was that shit? plants don'tnormally grow out of people.

Aerin Thomas: "You need to be cleansed too, Surly." He pulls away from Marika with a sigh and looks back. "Do you feel any different from before you got attacked? What happened, anyway?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He returns, offering Aerin a wooden box, covered in glyphs.

Danni Anderson: She remains in the background

Surly: cleansed? *baffled, then annoyed* look, i know i'm sweaty from working out, but i do bathe. twice a day, actually. *glowers at him* no attack on me. got up to begin the day like normal. someone rang the doorbell. i answered it, and there she was. had a weed growing out of her wrist tied to the railing. it's in here. *pats her pocket* part of it. some red wolf was running off. *face flickers at the remembered emotions the wolf inspired. almsot softening. before she scowls more darkly* got her in and started yanking out the roots. bigger ones, i had to burn off her. it likes blood and lighter fluid.

Danni Anderson: And the eyebrow raises again.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "A red wolf? I'd not seen a red. Had you?" He asks Cloud softly. "It was a new one?"

Surly: *nods* yeah. *thinks about it* had a limp, but moved fast. some kind of markings i didn't catch. seemed like a nice wolf. oh, yeah. the vine things--definately seflf-automated. they moved when i tested to see if they like blood, and they moved away from the fire. they screamed, too, i think.

Aerin Thomas: "I meant spiritually cleansed, Surly." He's otherwise quiet, listening.

Surly: *blinks at Aerin, hard, lovely face blank* what? *he's a nutcase. got to be it. a nutcase. she hasn't set foot in a church since she was...well. she never has that she can recall*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I doubt it was a nice wolf, out there. Screamed and moved?" He frowns, and then shudders. "Drownings...."

Danni Anderson: "Do you want me to look into mysterious drownings?" Its the first thing she's said in a long while, her voice low as she looks to Bliss.

Aerin Thomas: Something about this...just seems off. "The drownings...the vines? Weren't they what was dragging people under the water?"

Surly: *scowls darkly* if i were a nicer person, i'd say it seemed like one i'd like to know. bah. and yeah. they screamed and moved. tried to whack on me, but i got out of the way in time. once i'd gottne them off her, i called you. you know the rest. i didn't finish burning the ones i'd pulled off her, though. the little ones died almsot as soon as i got them off, but the mid-sized lived a while longer. the big ones that were here. *points out a few places on Marika* i had to paint with lighter fluid--which they liked a lot--and then burn. which they did not like.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I'm not sure they're mysterious as they used to be...." He's not quite there, and it's eerie, because even when he looks at Danni it's somehow not like he's looking at her at all.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "You liked it? Bloody hell."

Danni Anderson: She doesn't seem to be phased at all by the look. "You want me to just look into drownings then? See if they're concentrated in an area?"

Surly: you guys want this? *takes out the dead weed from her pocket and holds it out* otherwise, i'm trashing it. regardless, i'm going to go work out. lemme know if she dies. or wakes up. ((because i'm about to pass out from lack of sleep. 8chuckels*))

Surly: *shrugs at Bliss* it just looked all right. not a clue why. or how Marika got back. i think they were vampire weeds or soemthing, because they did respond to blood. dripped some in the trash can, teh vines went after it that were still alive. dripped some on her, and one of the vines moved a leaf to suck it up. freaky.

Aerin Thomas: "The red wolf is a friend, I think." And that's all he seems willing to say on the matter. "Thanks, Surly."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Yeah, we've got it, Mel. Don't worry. We'll talk soon."

Surly: *waves Aerin's thanks away irritably* just try to keep her alive. she's a good sparring partner. *and turns to head outside for a real workout. the weed going into the first trash can she sees on the way out*

Surly: *eyes Bliss a moment--Mel? who, what where? whatever. time to pretend to kill things. that will be good.*

Surly: ((night, guys, and thanks. *ss*))

Danni Anderson: ((nightnight))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [Night. *hugs*]

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He misses Cloud's look entirely.

Aerin Thomas: A sudden, sharp glance to Bliss.

Aerin Thomas: "Bliss. Look at me."

Danni Anderson: She leans against a wall, out of the way.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss looks over at Aerin, curiously. "Yeah...?" Maybe it's being directly addressed, maybe it's Aerin, but he seems to be paying attention. Of course, he seemed to be paying perfectly good attention to Cloud too.

Aerin Thomas: ((Wow, I ~TOTALLY~ missed being handed the box.)) "Tell me who I am, where you are, and who just walked out of the room." He takes the box over to Markia, sitting down in a clean spot next to her and opening it, eyes on Bliss the whole time.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He frowns at Aerin a little, puzzled. "You're Aerin, we're in my cabin in New York, and Cloud just left. You okay?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Inside, nestled into a satin cushion, are four cut crystal vials.

Aerin Thomas: "I'm fine." He nods very slightly, and pulls out one of the vials. Taking the sleeve and wrapping his hand in it, he sets the box down and rises. The covered hand moves to prop Marika up while he administers the contents of the vial with the other.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He watches Aerin, still frowning a little. "Will it work if she doesn't drink?" He asks, though that's not quite all he wants to ask. Something just happened, and he doesn't know what.

Aerin Thomas: "They're your cleansing drinks, Bliss. I don't know. I can get her to swallow them, though...people do have a natural reflex to swallow liquids in their mouth, too."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Really?" He asks, not really curious. "They were a gift. I know no more than how to refill them." He shrugs. "It's like a fountain pen, knowing how to put in the ink has no real bearing on what will be written."

Aerin Thomas: "Well, we'll see." He very carefully pours the drink into Marika's mouth, a little at a time, so as not to choke her.

Danni Anderson: She remains silent and out of the way.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He does coax her to drink the water from the vial, slowly and carefully.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: Aerin wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't been holding her, but something is happening, he can feel her getting warmer, less like a corpse, some actual tone returning to her body, though she isn't stirring.

Aerin Thomas: A raised brow, some relief at least coming to his posture. "Seems to be helping some." He pulls the vial away once he's done, and focuses on her again.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Sense Wyrm: 10,9,9,5,2,

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: He can still smell lingering traces of it, but the stronger presence is gone.

Aerin Thomas: "She's still tainted, but...it's mostly gone. We should get her cleaned up...this flaky residue can't be helping any."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss nods. "I'll...start the water." And he slips out again. He seems about as comfortable here right now as Danni.

Aerin Thomas: He lays Marika back down on the bed and looks over to Danni. "Sorry."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: There is the sound of water running in the next room, too loud to be a sink.

Danni Anderson: "It happens."

Aerin Thomas: A little sigh, and he nods. "So, you want an explanation, best as I can give?"

Danni Anderson: "It be nice." She glanced at him.

Aerin Thomas: "All right." He moves from the bed, leaning against the wall where he's close to Marika, if she needs him. "So, there's a development just outside the city that a pack of Spirals has moved into. Bliss tracked them down here, and has been investigating, trying to see what they've been up to." He pulls a cigafette and lights it.

Danni Anderson: "Fuuuun."

Aerin Thomas: "Gets better. Apparently, gang violence is on the rise...and there's an artist who's been doing paintings that show Wyrm influence. I personally think he's getting warnings through Dreamspeech. He painted pictures of these drownings...vines dragging people below. And now, there's been drownings."

Danni Anderson: "Even more fun." Came the sarcastic response, the girl looking away.

Danni Anderson: She shoved her hand in her pockets, her look strangely bitter as she turned away. "If you really need me, I'll be outside."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: The sound of water stops.

Danni Anderson: She moves out the door before Aerin can answer.

Danni Anderson: ((Night everyone))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [Night. *hugs*]

Aerin Thomas: He looks back at Danni, opening his mouth to respond, then frowns. Dammit. He sighs and takes a drag off the smoke, witing for Bliss to return.

Aerin Thomas: ((*Hugs on* Night!))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss seems not to be returning, the water stops, but there are no footsteps, no sounds of movement, save Danni's headed for the door.

Aerin Thomas: He frowns and looks to the bathroom, then moves over. He knocks on the door. "Bliss?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: After a slight delay. "Mmmmm...?"

Aerin Thomas: "We ready to get Marika cleaned up?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Yeah. The water's ready."

Aerin Thomas: "All right." He opens the door, peering inside.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: The tub is half full. Bliss is curled against it, legs pulled up to his chest, head resting against the side of the tub, back to the wall. He doesn't move more than to look up at Aerin's opening the door.

Aerin Thomas: He sighs and moves into the room, dropping to a crouch next to Bliss, sitting on his heels. He reaches out and pets the other's hair. "Talk to me."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He sighs at that, relaxing a little. "Talk? I thought you were taking care of Marika?"

Aerin Thomas: "Marika's stable right now. And at the very least, I'll need you to move so I can get her in the tub." He smiles a little bit, watching Bliss as he pets away. "Right now, I'm worried about you. What's going through your mind at the moment?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Nothing. I was all half asleep until you came in." He moves a little, so that he can lean into Aerin instead of the side of the tub. "You're warm." He says this like it's an observation of some merit.

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah. Well, warmer then the tub, I'd imagine." He hugs Bliss, lightly, and keeps petting the Shadow Lord's hair. "Bliss...do you realize that you referred to Surly with the name of one of the kinfolk at your Sept?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Did I?"

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit. "You called her Mel."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Mel?" He smiles a little. "Not entirely surprising. They're both violent and kinda on the edge of sanity. Except I doubt Cloud and I will starting sleeping together anytime soon. Is that what bothered you?" He nestles his head under Aerin's chin, in the easiest surrender he's ever given anyone but Storm that Aerin's seen. He still has to think about it, it isn't that automatic reflex, but it's not hard anymore.

Aerin Thomas: "No, I wasn't bothered, so to speak. Just...concerned. I've seen a lot of people flashback to other places in periods of high stress. I've done it once or twice myself."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I really only do it when I'm waking up, forget where I am. Wonder ridiculous things like why I don't smell breakfast and lavender. I'm alright Aerin. Stressed as hell sure. Dead tired, yeah. But I'm alright." [And, just for fun...Perception/Empathy]

Aerin Thomas: ((I was just about to do it, anyway. *S*))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Per+Empathy(WP): 6,5,8,6,5,3,6,

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: He's a little more shaken by what just happened than he wants to be. And while the stressed and tired part is true, the alright parts are a little strained, as if he's struggling to believe them. Under all that theatric playfulness and arrogance is something very fragile.

Aerin Thomas: He just nods, and continues to hold Bliss, petting his hair with slow, easy motions. "Just relax, Bliss. I'm here. We're fine, honestly. Marika and Cloud are going to be fine...and so are you."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: And the other thing that Aerin should get, if he hadn't already, is that Bliss is not comfortable with being in control of his own life, not all of it. He resists control he sees as in the wrong direction, but he doesn't trust himself enough not be under someone's direction. It's not the kind of insecure lack of faith in his ability to change things and to lead, but more a lack of faith in his ability to judge right and wrong. He seems afraid he'll become a monster with power. It's not something Aerin could miss for long.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: That draws a soft whimper from Bliss, but despite whatever protests he might have prepared he just nods. "Okay."

Aerin Thomas: He tightens the hug for a moment, and then sighs. "I promise." He nuzzles the other's temple a little. "C'mon...let's get Marika cleaned up, all right?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Does that mean I have to move?" He asks with a soft laugh. And by the time he's on his feet, offering Aerin a hand up, all his body language reads relaxed confidence. [Cut here for now?]

Aerin Thomas: ((Good spot. *Hugs*))

Surly: ((*G* question. there's been a long enough span for Surly to have showered and stuff? *tilts head*))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [Now, if I can keep two NPC windows straight, we'll be set. 8) We're going to assume, for the sake of ease of re-entry, that Bliss and Aerin get Marika all groomed and de-gunkified, and then into one of the ground floor rooms. Anyone want a quick recap on the cabin layout?]

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [Yes. Totally enough time for a shower for Surly.]

Aerin Thomas [11/15]: ((Yes, please, on the layout))

Surly: ((cool and layouts are good. *G* and Surly would've reclaimed the clothes Marika was almost wearing--since they were hers! or, attempted to. *L*))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: The main entrance to the cabin is up the steps, onto the front deck, and into the front door. This leads into the main room which is a large living room/den. There is a stone fireplace, with a couch across from it, and a couch to one side. Two recling chairs sit opposite the couch. The space between is covered with thick, multicolored braided yarn rugs. Folded quilts are draped over the back of the couches. The kitchen is separated by the counter, rather than a wall, four barstools are on the living room side. Doors lead to two bedrooms and a bathroom, stairs lead up to a loft above. The bedrooms are funished with beds, a desk, a dresser, and a recling chair.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: (reclining chair. I can type.)

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss watches over Marika, not really seeming so much concerned or upset any longer as simply protective.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas [11/15]: To Aerin, who has seen it, there are definite similarities to Storm's cabin, similiar colors, similar style furniture. Though here too, Bliss has more elaboate decor. There was a yarn rug in Storm's cabin too, in front of the fire.

Aerin Thomas [11/15]: He takes a lean against the door frame, watching Bliss & Marika calmly. "I don't know what else...I can go Umbral, see if there's something hanging over her, but she's mostly clean. A little residual taint, but little more." He sighs, and looks to Surly, one of those crystal vials in his hand. "You should drink this."

Surly: *pokes her scowling head into Marika's room* she wake up yet? *grumpy* i made more tea. rose hips, orange peel, and lavendar in a green tea base.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss nods. "You're the only one here with the faintest idea how to fix people. Your friend okay, you think? She seems about as good at this as I am."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Not yet. We're consulting."

Aerin Thomas [11/15]: "Hope so. She's outside...I'll talk to her later."

Surly: *eyes the vial dubiously* why? what is it? *frowns, as if it's about to suddenly morph into poison. or worse, some kind of drug that'll take her edge off*

Aerin Thomas [11/15]: "It'll cleanse your system," he answers, holding it out to her. "Get rid of any...toxins that the vines left in you. I'd suggest soon, too."

Surly: *eyes Aerin a long moment* it's not a drug, is it? i don't do drugs.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He reaches up to massage his temples, letting Aerin handle Cloud for now.

Aerin Thomas [11/15]: "No, it's not a drug." He smiles faintly, managing to avoid the Mr. Mackey 'Drugs are baad, mmkay?' joke. "Trust me for a moment. You'll want to." A glance to Bliss, requesting backup on this.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "It's alright Cloud. It's what I've been putting in your shakes. Nothing to hurt you."

Surly: *takes the vial dubiously. grunts. shrugs* it ok to put it in my tea, or do i gotta drink it straight?

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "You can have it however you want."

Surly: *blinsk at Bliss and scowls even harder. her face may crack soon. or freeze. scary.* why am i not surprised? don't answer that. i'm dumping it in my tea. if you two want tea, speak up before i get back from thh kitchen. *and with her usual lack of social skills, she turns to head thattaway*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Because you know I'd lie to you and still sleep like a baby if it suited me. I smashed my cricket years ago."

Surly: *a loud snort at Bliss's answer. faintly amused*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "See. She's...worth keeping. She gets me."

Aerin Thomas: He looks between Sulry and Bliss, then shrugs. "I'll see if there's something on the other side. If I'm not back in ten minutes, find the big purple lobster stuck in my ass and beat him down."

Aerin Thomas: "Very much worth keeping," he agrees quietly.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Aerin, we need to work on your metaphors...."

Surly: *heads back to the room. with no tea for the guys. sipping her own cautiously.* other side? purple lobster? you're weird, Aerin. *heads to the bed to peer down at Mar* she looks like she'll live. that's good. i hate losing sparring partners.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Me too. Good sparring partners are hard to find."

Aerin Thomas: "Since when was any of that a metaphor, Bliss?" Yes, he's dead serious. A nod to Surly, not denying his wierdness, and he focuses himself, looking in the mirror over the bedroom as he moves to step through the Gauntlet.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Gnosis (WP): 10,9,10,10,5,

Aerin Thomas: ((Dayum. The Force is with him...))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Aerin...." He shakes his head. "Be careful. Do-do you want company."

Aerin Thomas: "No, stay here with Surly," he says, before he's just...gone.

Surly: *nods emphatically* yeah, they are. speaking of, you should get in a few more spars. *smirks* be good for you. take your mind off stuff. then again, i'm biased. i think everyone should spar at least once a day. more if possible. *a harsh chuckle and she eases herself down onto the foot of the bed. blue eyes daring anyone to suggest her caution might be due to not wanting to wake up the injured woman. you know--that she might actually ~care~ enough to want her to rest since she needs it*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He blinks when he realises Aerin's already gone, and looks at Surly. "You're okay?" Aerin having vanished into thin air, not so much an issue to him.

Surly: *blins at the Aerin-shaped bit of...air* OK. that was weird. you sure there wasn't anything odd in that stuff he gave me? *her tea gets the evil eye*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss moves to the reclining chair. "There's a lot I should do."

Surly: so, why don't you? *eyes the tea again, and sips it. she's thirsty.*

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15] -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: Once on the other side, he goes to shift up, looking around with a wary frown. If nothing is immediately attacking, he focuses on Marika's Umbral Reflection.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15] -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: d10: Sta+Primal Urge: 2,3,8,2,8,

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Because there are only twenty-four hours in a day, and I'm deprived of my former staff. And no, nothing odd."

Surly: umph. *ponders, then shrugs agreement* i'm luckier than you. all i have to do is hit things. *a fierce sort fo grin* so, what happened to Aerin. i'm not drugged, drunk, sleep depped, or fevered. so, i'm pretty sure that he just up and poofed. 'sup with that?

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: Marika's reflection is...paler than she looks across the veil. Horrible looking tears in her skin cover her in curving lines, presumably where the vines sent their roots.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "He stepped into the spirit world. It's called the Umbra."

Surly: *a long look* the spirit world. *a jet brow arches slowly* that sounds...religious to me.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "It's...spiritual, but it's real. It's less religion to some than others. More to me. But I maintain fanatics have all the fun."

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15] -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: A deep frown, and he moves closer, looking over the wounds. ((Int+Enigmas to figure out how to heal them? Or Garou Lore, maybe Wyrm Lore?))

Surly: *snickers* can't argue that point without being a hypocrit, seeing how i view my area of expretise. so, how'd he do that? whatever that was. i always figured you had to die to go to the 'spirit world'. *sometimes, not being the brightest candle on the tree is a good thing. makes it easier to accept some stuff*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: (I'll take either roll, but let me know which.)

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15] -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: d10: Int+Wyrm Lore (WP): 2,3,9,6,4,

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "We can do that. Cross. One of our gifts." Bliss smiles. "Not being human has to have some perks."

Surly: *eyes him* i'm not going to suddenly start doing that, am i? i like it just fine here.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: If Marika is healed, she should be alright. Healing the physical wounds, minor as they are might help. Otherwise, time should.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "No. You're kin. You stay human. Being kin means you're able to bear our presence, to see what we are, but aside from being blessed, you're perfectly human."

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15] -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: A little sigh, and he slips back into Homid before moving back across...making sure to be in the corner so that he doesn't spook Surly.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: d10: Gnosis: 7,4,2,10,4,

Surly: *blows out a breath* good. fine with me. so, basically....all i can do is handle it when you guys go big, hairy, and toothy. right? *grins toothily herself* and mouth off. but i do that to everybody.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Yeah. That's about it. Some kin have other gifts, but most don't." He swallows, eyes closing briefly. That expression is all pain, though it's gone quickly, replaced by the drained look he had when she first came in. Bliss without masks seems not to be very happy.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: He fades into view in the corner of the room, not quite as quick as he vanished, and moves straight to Marika, pulling his trench coat sleeves back. His hands come to rest on a line of Marika's wounds, eyes shutting as he takes a deep breath, calling on the Goddess in his mind.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Aerin...."

Surly: *not even she can miss that look* what up? *sips her tea slowly. almost time for a fresh cup. the boys shuld be pleased--that means she's almost done with their funky "magic" water*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I knew only one, and she died. Some years ago."

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: He pauses where he is, eyes remaining shut. "She just needs to be healed, near as I can tell. No Banes on her or anything."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Good."

Surly: *eyes Aerin as he poofs back in and watches him closely as he fondles the woman. ok, all right. not fondles, but still....eh, whatever. he's not molesting her, looks like. which sadly means, no excuse to hit him*

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: d10: Mother's Touch: 2,3,5,8,10,8,

Surly: mmm....did she go down fighting? *arches a brow at Bliss* or even simply defiant? *blinks at Aerin* i'm not going to bother asking how you know that. or what the hell a bane is in werewolf-speak. i probably wouldn't get it, even if you told me. *shrugs* who's cooking dinner?

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: Once the wounds are healed, he allows himself a wince at Surly's comment to Bliss. "I know that because I've got a certain...knowledge of our enemies, Surly. And a Bane is a corrupt Spirit in the service to our Enemy." She didn't ask, but he's answering anyway.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: Aerin feels warmth flow through him, likely the first real sense of peace he's has for awhile. All too quickly it starts to ebb away. The pinprick wounds are all healed, Marika's color better, normal now.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "She died...she died after being kidnapped. Must we persue this conversation?"

Surly: mmm..*wrinkles her nose*not good. all right, we can drop it. *ew. emotion. yuck!!* spirits can be corrupt? freaky. why do i have a feeling that if i manage to meet up with one of these bane things, i'm going to die? if i'mnot already dead. i'm not a spirit, after all.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: "If you encounter a spirit in this side of the the world, not the spirit world, then run, Surly." He smiles a little bit as Marika returns someone to normal, at something he senses in her, but it fades. He takes a step away from Marika, moving to Bliss and putting a hand on his shoulder. "She's all right now. She needs to rest, I think...and she'll be fine." The hand is for comfort, more then just for Marika.

Surly: *shrugs to Aerin, frankly* chances are good, i won't. i'm too damn stubborn for my own good sometimes. and besides. if one shows up where even i can see it, how am i going to know it's a spirit, and not some freaky whatever, like the thing that jumped through the window at the house that night? *blinks at Marika* she really does look better. cool. and so you know, i'm not cooking, unless you two want salad. *smirks*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "She's dead, she can have all the...oh. Marika. Yeah." He laughs softly, reaching up to squeeze Aerin's hand. "This is why I shouldn't go home, I'm off balanvce for months. Marika will be fine. Storm wouldn't replace her favorite student with anyone less than exceptional. She just needed a little nudge. Thank you."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I can work a microwave. But they planned for that, when they stocked the cabin."

Marika: There is a soft groan and fluttering eyes. Healed and cleansed, she seems about to wake.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: "You're welcome." He smiles a little bit to him, warmly, and looks between them. "I'll cook. Not great, but I don't burn water, so it sounds like it falls to me by default. Someone else is on drink detail, though, and I'm going to need a few. I killed a damn good buzz on the way up here, and I mean to get it back."

Surly: you do know that nukers put off poison vibes, or vapors, or something, right? *grins* or so rumor would have it. all right. i'll nuke. but someone else gets to wash whatever dishes get used. fair deal? *chuckles softly, empty teacup dangling from pale fingers*

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: "And if you don't run, Surly, then I'll knock your ass out and run with you." It's not said without some warmth to her...he respects the fight in her. It almost seems joking...almost. He looks over to Marika as she stirs, moving toward the bed, but staying back a bit, in case Bliss wants to be there.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Drinks I can handle."

Surly: works for me. *ndos to Aerin* Bliss, you want drink duty or dish duty? *looks to Marika* joyous, coming back to the land of the big, bad world.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss seems to have little interest in being near Marika right now. "Well, it seems Aerin's cooking. For four. Five, with Snowflake."

Surly: ((*loves the crossposty goodness!*)) then i do dishes. *keeps where she is, observing Marika* she going to be good for eating? a cup of my tea wouldn't hurt her, either. it's good stuff. healthy shit.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: He finishes the close to the bed, dropping to a crouch next to it. "Marika? You with us, yet?"

Marika: Her eyes open, wide. Without makeup she looks a good few years younger. Her mouth moves, but she doesn't say anything, just mouths words. Her anxiety seems to ease a little when she sees Bliss.

Marika: Aerin and Surly, closer, get her attention second. She reaches out to poke weakly at Surly. Aerin, closer and talking, gets a faint smile.

Aerin Thomas [Umbral; 11/15]: "Hey." He smiles a little to her. "How are you feeling?" His bedside manner is, perhaps not surprisingly, quite calm and soothing.

Marika: "Okay. I must not have been, before."

Surly: *smirks at teh poking* it lives! and it's going to have some tea, if i have to pour tea down it's throat. *gives Marika an evil grin. nope, not going to admit to relief. emotion--shudder!*

Marika: "I could have some tea." She smiles. "Since I know you won't lower yourself to making coffee."

Aerin Thomas: "Hardly." A glance to Bliss and Surly, then back to Marika. "You feel up to eating?"

Aerin Thomas: ((The 'hardly' in response to having not been okay before.))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Marika talking, he curls into the chair and closes his eyes, just listening. He doesn't so much need to see now.

Surly: coffee, ugh. back in a sec, but don't expect me to wait on you for long. *chuckles and heads for the kitchen. perhaps a slight lightness to her steps*

Marika: She nods. "I feel fine. It's okay. I know you must have helped. Thank you." She pats Aerin's arm gently. "But this is hardly the first time I've woken up like this. We're at war. There is no luxury of waiting on the sidelines. Don't tell me this has never happened to you."

Aerin Thomas: "I have." He nods. "And I've always found that at least thirty seconds of downtime before leaping back into the front lines tends to be a good idea. In your case, I suggest a tad longer...maybe the whole night. I believe that's standard for when Wyrm-tainted vines burst out of you." A gentle way of presenting it as if it was an option. It's not.

Marika: "I'm okay with that as long as the front lines don't come here." She smiles.

Aerin Thomas: "It's a deal."

Marika: "Tou three alright?"

Surly: *comes back in with two cups of tea, one held protectively close to herself. offers the other to Mar*

Aerin Thomas: "Good as ever, I think." His eyes flick to Bliss very briefly, then back. "There's another of us here, too...a private eye, name of Danni. She's outside."

Surly: some where around here. *shrugs* me, i'm not bleeding, so i'm good. *inhales the steam from her cup. eyes half-closing, and then sips*

Marika: She sits up and accepts the tea, holding it with both hands.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: She nods to Aerin, then leans over to whisper something to him, letting go of the tea with one hand to brace herself.

Surly: it's hot, and strong. be careful. *she advises gruffly. maybe she should drink that mix more often. from her expression, it seems to have almost mellowed her*

Marika: [Dammit! I need more caffiene!]

Aerin Thomas: ((We've all done it before. *S*))

Aerin Thomas: He leans into listen to Marika.

Marika -> Aerin Thomas: "He's dangerous. Brilliant maybe, but dangerous. Compassion is one thing...but if he's upset now, it's only a matter of time. Don't be too close."

Surly: ((*giggles and hugs* i do it frequently...*wry grin*))

Aerin Thomas: A raised brow, and he responds to her in a whisper.

Surly: *eyebrows arching as she watches them whisper to each other. curious, but not enough to pry at the moment*

Aerin Thomas -> Marika: "I don't plan on getting far away. I appreciate the warning...but I think I'll be fine. Those who are dangerous don't deserve to be pushed away, just because they are."

Marika -> Aerin Thomas: "I tried." She seems saddened, a little, that Aerin seems to disregard her warning.

Marika: She pulls away from Aerin, and smiles at Surly. "Kill anyone before I while I was out?"

Surly: *it's a scowl, not a pout, darn it!* no. *sighs heavily* unless the vines i yanked off you count. *chuckles* those thigns were freaky. vampire vines. heh. bloodvines. and stupid--i had to burn some of them off you. they liked the lighter fluid, but were too stupid to realize why i was putting it on them. *yeah, she just casually informed the woman that she could've been burned badly there.*

Aerin Thomas: A moment spent watching Marika, face hard to read, and then he rises, moving out the door to go cook. A hand goes to rest on Bliss's shoulder before he's out of the room.

Marika: It doesn't bother Marika at all. "You torch all of them?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He opens his eyes at the touch, offers Aerin a tired smile, and closes his eyes again.

Surly: *shakes her head* didn't have time. Bliss wanted us out of there asap. you're heavy, by the way. see to it you don't pass out so i have to drag you around again. *smirks. she's teasing the woman? wonders will never cease!* i got the little weeds off you, and they seemed to die right off the bat. the mid-sized took longer, but i don't think they'd live long without a food source. the big ones i couldn't pull out, so i burned 'em off you. Bliss, try this. it's good stuff. *offers the man her cup*

Aerin Thomas: Out of the room, he pauses to light a cigarette and makes his way to the kitchen, setting to cooking. It's spaghetti time...it's his talent for cooking.

Marika: She smiles back at Marika. "I'll try."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss sits up slowly, and takes the tea. He doesn't look terribly interested in it. "Thanks."

Surly: go on, try it. *awkwardly gives his shoulder a pat, hand dropping away swwiftly as if burned. not so good with the comfort thing, here. grins at Marika* see that you do. or go on a diet. *laughs. not a single person in this house needs to go on a diet*

Marika: "Alright, so caution and celery sticks just in case." Marika laughs. Her eyes dart to Bliss anxiously, not so much concerned for him, but about what he might do.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Yeah. It smells good. I'll...get some honey or something. I'm sure I have some. No idea where they put it." He rises and starts toward the door.

Surly: *nods to Mar* exactly. *tilts her head at Bliss, without the slightest clue of what to do or say* um, there's more of it in the kitchen. *almost uncertain*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Honey?" He nods. "Good."

Marika: Her eyes narrow a little. She's not so sure about Bliss and Surly.

Aerin Thomas: He's got the cigarette in an ashtray on the counter, currently dumping noodles into the water-filled pot and setting it on the oven to boil. A tired expression is on his face, moving with purpose. Making food. Step one, then step two, then three.

Surly: *arches a brow at Mar* what?

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss sets the tea on the counter then starts to build a fire in the fireplace.

Marika: She shrugs. "I'm not sure if I'm more surprised he let you do that or that you did it."

Surly: do what? *frowning, puzzled*

Marika: "Decide what you thought he needed and do it without asking his permission or waiting for an invitation."

Aerin Thomas: A glance goes to Bliss, and then back to the cooking.

Surly: what, the tea? *shrugs* it's good for him. and for you. *eyes Mar's cup. which is not yet empty*

Surly: *shifts a moment, uncomfortable, and then stills herself, scowling slightly*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "It gets cold. Not all of us are our own little chimneys. Besides, mine's bigger. You should come sit down when you put that on. As I recall, the boiling takes awhile."

Aerin Thomas: Once the noodles are cooking and the sauce is getting ready, he picks up his cigarette and moves back out into the main room, watching Bliss with a vague sort of expression on his face.

Marika: She obediantly takes a drink, grimacing only a little. She's not a tea girl.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "How are you?"

Surly: *smirks evilly to her* see? good shit. better for you than coffee. Pop used to say that a good cup of coffee'd put hair on your chest, which is why i never drank it. habit stuck with me, even though i know better now.

Aerin Thomas: "Good as usual."

Marika: "Well, for me it's an occupational hazzard." She smiles. Aside from wearing sweats and no makeup, she looks normal. "Are you staying here tonight?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Meaning stressed as hell?" Fire lit to his satisfaction he drops onto the couch. "Sit. You're right. You need a few drinks. You want to start now, or wait until dinner?"

Surly: *snickers* for you, the occasional chest hair isn't so bad. you'd look ridiculous when you werewolf out without it. although it might be an interesting weapon--your enemies might just die laughing at the Amazing Naked Werewolf. huh. i have no idea. i'll ask Bliss later.

Aerin Thomas: "Now would be good, I think." He nods slightly, staring at the fire. "I'd like that buzz back."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Okay. Usual?"

Marika: "What? If he looks ridiculous naked?" She giggles, toes wiggling. It's like nothing ever happened.

Aerin Thomas: "Please."

Surly: *snickers* i think, if i ever see a werewolf without fur, when he should have it, i'm going to run for the nearest camera. although i'm sure no pics would ever be developed.. so, what happened to you? where did those vampy vines come from?

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss nods, and walks to the kitchen. He comes back with a six pack of Coke and a bottle of rum. "Glasses incoming. I figure we'll just kinda hang out here and get nice and drunk. Plan?"

Aerin Thomas: "Perfect." He takes the glass. "Stupidly drunk to the point of unconsciousness is on my agenda. Probably Danni's, too."

Marika: "I was out jogging, by the park.. I thought I heard something. A splash. I could see ripples on the water, I got closer, and then...I think I fell. Got nudged. Not sure. It's fuzzy about there."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Well, it wasn't a plan, but I'll take it. I could proabably do with a nap. Should I get another glass? Go find her?"

Aerin Thomas: "I'll check on her later." He takes a drink from his glass, moving to take a lean against the wall. He doesn't feel like sitting down, right now.

Surly: think those things are smart enough that they were trying to lure you in? *an eyebrow arches* and which park? people, i can punch fairly well. those vines, though.....not really enough to punch, and if they have something in them to knock you out, i'd be fairly well screwed. *scowls*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Aerin. Please. I don't know any way to help you if I can't reach you."

Marika: "Maybe, but I don't know. The one with the playground that overlooks the lake."

Surly: mmm. *nods slowly* if i go by there, i'll try to stay away from the lake. you have no idea how you got back to the house?

Marika: "No. I thought Bliss and his friend...?"

Surly: *shakes her purlpe and blue head* nope. i heard the bell ring, so i checked....opened the door and you were tied to the porch rail by some of that stuff. all i saw was a gimpy red wolf running off, so i guess that one must've been a werewolf. i doubt your average real wolf would know how to ring a doorbell. *frowns slightly, still disturbed by those fluffy emotions engendered by lil red.*

Aerin Thomas: A slightly frustrated look on his face. "I can't right now, Bliss. I've got too much to do. Shit, by all rights, I should be heading back to the farmhouse right now. But I'm not. That's the best I think I can do right now...anything else will debilitate me."

Marika: "Wow. There's anouther Garou? Or was I bait? A distraction?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Aerin, what exactly do you think you should be doing right now? Everything? Just tell me."

Surly: Garou! that's the word. couldn't remember it. *shrugs* i guess it was, although i didn't exactly get a chance to ask. maybe you were bait, but i have no idea since Bliss wasn't there.

Marika: "Yeah. I dunno. It doesn't make much sense." She frowns.

Surly: heh. maybe it was an attempt to pull a body snatchers on you. like that old movie......you know, the vines eat you, and soemwhere a pod grows and out pops Evil Marika. *smirks*

Marika: She shudders. "I hope they can't do that."

Surly: *nods, sobering* ditto. although it does beg a question. maybe someone should keep an eye out for people who suddenly start acting radically different, after a disappearance. that would not be my field. i'm not exactly a people person, given to noticing who's acting like they're got perma-PMS all of a sudden.

Aerin Thomas: A deep sigh, and he closes his eyes, thinking. "Let's see. We need to find out what's going on with these vines. I need to guard my mate from the slavering hordes of vampires out to slay her for existing. I need to try and wean my kinfolk off a Setite's Blood Bond. I need to try and help Ingvar figure out if Gavin Brooke is corrupt and had anything to do with the attack on the Sept or not. I need to protect my children from all these things, and myself. I need to bury my best friend before he starts to fucking rot. Ummm...what else."

Marika: "It's okay. You're good at other things."

Surly: *snerks* no, i'm good at ~one~ thing, and proud of that fact. *considers* two, if you count teaching.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Okay. Aerin, deep breath, okay? Finish that. I'll make you another. Everything's going to be alright. We can bury the dead. There's more than enough space up here if you'd like. Otherwise, it's your choice. One thing at a time, okay? Just one. How do you want to handle burial?"

Marika: "Two things. Teaching counts for a lot. Who we learn from makes us who we are."

Surly: *chuckles* no wonder i'm a freak, then. i msut've learned from too many people. but i have no regrets.

Marika: "That's good. You shouldn't do things you regret. It makes you afraid to die."

Surly: *a full-throated laugh* i accepted the fact of my death a very long time ago. some would say that i seek it out, but i don't see it that way. i see it as a constant test. a search to make myself better. and someday? i'm going to pick the wrong fight, one i'm totally outclassed for, and i'll die. not looking forward to that day, but if i were to be about to head into a fight and somehow know that this fight's going to be my last? i'd go in anyway.

Aerin Thomas: "I'm already handling that. Jody's got his body in...I don't know. Some sort of stasis for now. She said it won't last forever, though." He finishes off the glass and sighs, leaning his head forward and pinching at his nose. "There's too many people who need closure...he deserves more then that. We can't just bury him quietly and without occasion."

Marika: Marika smiles. "Good. You'll make Thunder proud."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Okay, so we need a ceremony. An audience. It's fitting, you should honor the dead. Do you plan to do the ceremony? Did you have someone in mind?"

Aerin Thomas: "I...hadn't gotten that far."

Surly: *wry grin* i made my Pop proud enough before he died, and i try to keep up to his standards. i've heard Bliss talk about thunder like it's a person, too. what's that all about? *flops down into the chair vacated by Bliss, finally*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "All right. It's all right. We're going figure everything out. Come back here, let me make you a new drink. Headache?"

Marika: "He's our father. Like Gaia is our mother. We're their chosen children. They need us to be their hands, their voices. It's why we do what we do."

Aerin Thomas: "No worse then the usual." He shrugs and pushes off from the wall, moving to Bliss and handing the glass back.

Surly: *frowns, shaking her head* sounds religious to me. like that spirit world stuff. which, by the way, is a bit unsettlign to see happen. the going there part, i mean.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Sit. I'm going to try to help with the headache." He fixes another drink, heavy on the rum. "You're burning yourself out. You'll be no good to anyone if you don't get enough rest to recollect yourself. This is why you need a sept Aerin, and a pack. Sometimes you have to trust other people long enough to recover. You're going to be fine. Please, sit down."

Marika: "It's a great place. It's...like a dream sometimes. But it's wonderful. Once you see it, you just understand so much more about the world. What's wrong with it. What it should be. What we have to make it."

Surly: *blinks slowly* sounds peachy. too bad i won't see it until i die, then. *laughs softly*

Aerin Thomas: He smiles at something there and nods, exhaling a drag of smoke away from the other man. The drink his taken with a grateful half-smile, and he moves to the couch, sitting down and taking a good, strong swallow from the glass.

Aerin Thomas: ((the other's = Aerin's. So not the other's. :P And it's cool, Fox. *Hugs*))

Surly: ((*hugs a Fox* mmrr...we can pause, if you like, again? *skotc* thank you for the scene, though!)) *blinsk slowly* yep. spiritual stuff i don't get at all. *wry grin* eh, well. so long as there's things to beat up, i'm good to go.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He moves to support Aerin, still rubbing gently at his temples. "I'm not going to be able to convince you that this can be done in the morning, am I?"

Aerin Thomas: "Oh, it can be done in the morning. I won't be sleeping much one way or the other, and you know it, but it can be done in the morning."

Aerin Thomas: ((Pausing is fine with me, too.))

Marika: [We can give it a few. If I leave now, I will be alone in bed. Which means I won't get much more sleep anyway. 8) And I will not know how this episode of Criminal Intent ends.] "I promise you, in war there are many things to beat up and kill."

Surly: *smirks* good. jsut point me in the right direction. *a short laugh* so long as you don't try to "protect" me by sending me off to supposed safety.

Surly: ((whenever you need to. *hugs tight*))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "You don't have to sleep Aerin. Just rest. Relax. Deep breaths, nice and slow. You need to rest. Even if only for a few hours. Hopefully we can get you to take a nap or two, but if you just rest a little I'll be happy."

Marika: "Pointing the right people in the right direction is a trademark of the woman who trained me."

Surly: *smirks* so long as i'm being pointed at a fight, that's a good trademark. i hope you aquired it from her.

Marika: "I hope so."

Aerin Thomas: "All right. I'll try for rest." A moment's pause. "Can I still be stupidly drunk?"

Surly: *grins. the expression would be impish on anyone else* except with pointing yourself. at least where lakes with carnivorous vines are concerned....heh. you know, on that note, it wouldn't hurt to go to that park and try to figure exactly where you were. you people can turn into wolves. i'm sure you have a better shot than i do of sniffing around with a chance to figure if anyone else was there.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Yes. Yes you can. But only if you promise to eventually be sober enough to drive. I may nap on the way back to wherever...." He hugs Aerin lightly. "Because I may be much better, but I am still a bit tired. We both are. We need a sept, both of us, maybe even a pack. It's past time."

Marika: "Because no one will notice a wolf sniffing around...." She rolls her eyes.

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah, we do." He nods as little, leaning into the hug. "I was thinking maybe the one out on the front porch may be able to help us with that...maybe. I dunno, yet." He sighs. "At the very least, there's us...and two is a pack, albeit a small one, with very tired people."

Surly: *that earns her a truly evil grin* i have a good answer for that. it's called a collar. i own several, as you know perfectly well.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I'm working on that. But practically everyone I've almost packed with has had trouble sleeping. Except one." He moves his attention to Aerin's neck. "Actually the same one who told me this would help, right before he almost carried me to bed. I wasn't very well. But then he didn't, which leaves me with one more untried experience." His voice is pitched low and soothing.

Marika: "Uh-huh...."

Marika: She gives Surly a wicked grin. "Just like a puppy would wear." Just a touch of sarcasm.

Surly: heh. for that, i'll ~find~ something with dainty pink rhinestones on it. just for you. maybe even those cheap little ribbon roses. *snickers, still grinning* and i'll find something covered in blue glitter for Bliss. that, however, ~you~ can give him. i'll be ready with the camera to catch the look on his face.

Marika: She giggles, toes a-wiggling all over again. "Ohhhhhhh...that I'll help with."

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles a little at that, eyes closed, and takes a drink off the rum and (very little) Coke. "Always thought Dream was a very ironic deed name. Still better then No-Face, though." A brief pause. "Long story. Dunno if I told it to you or not, but...long."

Surly: you are so on, wench! *laughs. let's hope the boys didn't overhear their fiendish plot* we should get one for Aerin, too. i already have my fave.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [And...now I will accept pausing. Because it's taking too much effort to type. *hugs* And we should be able to pick this up soon. You guys around Monday night, or anytime Tuesday?]

Aerin Thomas: ((Both for me))

Marika: [And, just picking up where we left off. Aerin (in theory) making dinner and Cloud and Marika plotting.] She smirks at Surly, glancing at the door and lowering her voice to a near-whisper. "What color?" You wouldn't guess she'd nearly died this morning, she looks for all the world like a delighted fifteen-year-old girl at a slumber party.

Surly: *smirks* i'm thinking the brightest frickin' tie-dye i can find. failing that, glow-in-the-dark.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "No, you never told me." He keeps kneading at Aerin's neck, much less hesitant about that than touching Aerin's face. "You'll have to though sometime, it sounds great."

Marika: "Glow in the dark?" She giggles. "I have clearish glow in the dark nail polish we could paint OVER tye-dye...."

Surly: *gives Marika a very slow, wicked grin* good plan. wench, we should so not live under the same roof. we plot too much. *snickers* i'll try to get back to the house tomorrow and see if i can get that polish.

Aerin Thomas: "Oh, yeah, it was peachy. Fox Park shit. Ever mention how much I love that place, and hope it's TOTALLY not burned to the ground so I can piss on the ashes?" He smirks faintly before he moves to check on the noodles and sauce.

Marika: "Or the mall...."

Surly: *shudders* ew. you did know that malls are filled with small screaming things? people call them 'children'. i prefer to think of them as mutant cockroaches.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "No, but I can hear the joy the mention of the place brings you." He lets Aerin go, staying on the couch. "I mean, hell, half my sept wants to kill me, half my sept is terrified of me, and almost none of them want me to darken their doorstep - that nonwithstanding, I'd still trust them to back me up almost without exception. It must have been something if you don't want to go home...."

Marika: "I could go...."

Surly: if the boys don'ttie you down while you *makes quote motions* rest and recover your strength. which, incidentally, means feeding. you can get up and out there on your own, or are you gonna keep playing Vicrotian maiden? *smirks lightly*

Marika: "I can get up. I have yet to hear there's food out there. Wouldn't want to arrive early at the table." Her tongue flicks out at Surly. "They might try to make me set it."

Aerin Thomas: "Wasn't home, Bliss. Just pretended it was, for a while." He frowns slightly as he strains the noodles through a colander, and goes to rinse it. "Portland was my home, until the joys of psilocybin brought about my First Change. New York's the only thing that's even begun to approach home since."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "And you...." He sighs. "Yeah. That...that's not right. I'm sorry for that."

Surly: heh. why d'you think i'm still in here? i volunteered to do dishes tonight. you can do it tomorrow. or, you can cook. i've got plenty of salad fixings.

Aerin Thomas: "It's all right." A shrug. "And I...what?"

Marika: "Well, Bliss certainly won't cook. Maybe I should. I can at least turn on a stove." Her eyes roll.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Up goes an eyebrow. "Mmmmmmmm...?"

Surly: *chuckles* truth. but he's a dab hand at dialing delivery--which means we'll starve if we put him on cooking detail.

Aerin Thomas: "You said, 'And you...' and then trailed off. I was curious to know the completion of that." He looks over, a faint smile coming over his face.

Marika: "Yeah. Pretty much."

Surly: *sudden smirking grin* if all else fails, i'll start cooking, i guess. i'm sure everyone'll learn to enjoy the pleasures of watercress eventually.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "And you don't understand yet quite what I'm talking about, because understanding it isn't having it. Even exiled as I might be for now, my strength is still my family, still comes from them. I could still call them, they still might show up at my door at four am if they're around and need help...it's family. We may not always get along, but...."

Marika: "Hey! Wolves need protein!"

Surly: *laughs wickedly* i'll add tofu....

Aerin Thomas: A sigh, and he nods. "I'm abnormal in the extreme for our people, Bliss...I am aware of this." The noodles go into a large bowl, and he starts adding seasonings to the sauce, slowly stirring them in. "Doin' what I can on that aspect. Last 9 months haven't helped much...but they have, too. I think it's kept me pretty even in my abnormality, all things considered."

Marika: "Bitch," she growls, but there's an affectionate undertone in there somewhere.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Well, we're planning to change some of that. It'll be good for you. And even if Ita isn't kin, she's maybe got a place at Gaia's Hand. So you can still have your family."

Aerin Thomas: "I know." He nods a little, his attention entirely focused on his cooking.

Surly: you know it, wench. *smirks cheerfully right back at Marika* mmmmph. i'm starting to smell something vaguely foodlike in nature. i'll make sure i sit near Aerin. if it sucks, i can puke on him more easily.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss nods, head resting on the back of the couch, watching Aerin. "It would kill you to be torn apart from them. Especially as they're all the family you've really had. Your sprite is determined to stay with you, whatever it will cost her. She will be a fine mate." He is perfectly serious, calm, no trace of sarcasm.

Marika: "That'd be a sight...."

Aerin Thomas: That causes a hint of a smile to come over his face. "She is. Not will be. Is." A brief pause, and then he looks up to Bliss, nodding. "Thank you."

Surly: *nods and grins* heh. that happens, i wonder if i can force myself to play the delicate flower. so they'd have to clean up. *thinsk about that a moment* nah. not a chance i could pull that one off.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "She is." He smiles back. "For what?"

Marika: "I doubt it." Marika grins. "You've been to fierce. They're too proud to believe you are weak."

Surly: *a short chuckle* i am fierce.

Marika: "Uh-huh."

Aerin Thomas: "For your words. They mean a lot to hear, even if I knew you felt it already."

Surly: *points a finger at the woman, smirking* don't make me prove it, wench. *snickers* after all--you don't know that i didn't take pics of you sleeping like a baby, before the vine shit went down, mmm?

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He chuckles. "Stop thanking me and feed me." He wilts theatrically against the couch. "Sometime before I starve."

Aerin Thomas: A quick taste of the sauce, a touch more rosemary, and then he starts dishing up with a chuckle. "It's on its way...I doubt you'll perish on me in the next fourty seconds."

Marika: She grins. "And, I have a dolly. I also happen to be the embodiment of Gaia's vengence." She snaps her teeth in a mock-bite in Surly's general direction.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "I might. I'm unpredictable."

Surly: bah, i can still kick your ass. *laughs* sometimes.

Marika: "Yeah, when you club me unconscious in your sleep...."

Aerin Thomas: "Well, try to hold onto dear life for me, if you can." The plate comes out, handed over to Bliss, as he calls out to the other room. "Food's ready."

Surly: *snorts lightly* big talk, from a wench who's still in bed when there's food out now. maybe i'll beat you down after dinner. *smirks and--since nobody but them is there to see--offers Mar a hand up*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He accepts the food with a smile and sets the plate down, glancing at it, then at Aerin with a puzzled little frown.

Marika: She accepts the hand up, though she doesn't really seem to need it, and goes tromping into the main room.

Aerin Thomas: A raised brow. "What'd I do?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "You set yourself up to be my alpha, and now I have to re-evaluate how I do practically everything." He doesn't seem upset, just puzzled.

Surly: *smirks at Aerin and Bliss* i'm told--usually by blithering idiots--that chicks are the so-called weaker sex. which means you *eyeroll* big tough manly things'd better feed us before we faint or some shit. *heads for the food*

Aerin Thomas: "Ahh." He nods a little bit to Bliss. "What's proper in this situation?" A grin goes to Surly at her comment, and he moves to dish the women ip.

Marika: Marika blinks, and edges toward the food to fix a plate. She's not touching that conversation, or even approaching it. She sits on one of the counter chairs to eat.

Surly: *takes her plate with a grunt that could be thanks, and sits on the floor, legs folding comfortably. begins eating* not bad.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "That's what I'm trying to figure out." He gives Aerin a little glare. "But you and your non-traditional upbringing and Hippie-commune tribe are too much for me sometimes."

Aerin Thomas: "Hey, at least we bathe. Some of us, at least." He chuckles and, once everyone else has food, he gets himself some. "Thanks, Surly." He takes 'not bad' as a serious compliment, it seems.

Marika: Her eyes flick to Surly when she just flops on the floor and digs in, astonished.

Surly: *jet brows arch. wierd convo. at least, she does keep her voice slightly down, glancing up to Mar* time to redye the hair. thinking about yellow and green stripes this time. or white, with blue roots.

Marika: "That'd be neat. Maybe little licks of orange or blue."

Surly: good thing you bathe, or you'd've walked into a waterhouse at some point. *grins to Aerin and scarfs down more food. gives Mar a "what?" sort of look*

Surly: nah, i stick to two tones. *smirks* it's sort of my trademark, not that anyone tends to notice i have a trademark other than perma-PMS.

Aerin Thomas: He moves to the couch and sits down next to Bliss, starting to eat. "Wow...doesn't even taste poisoned. I've outdone myself...Ita must be rubbing off on me."

Marika: "Didn't anyone train you?"

Surly: *blinks at Mar* been learning to fight for as long as i can remember. *yep. her brain is blissfully uncluttered by clues*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss starts fixing drinks. Too busy with drinks to eat first...yeah. That makes for an excellent excuse not to eat yet. And then once Aerin starts eating he nudges the glass to him, and settles back to eat.

Marika: Between Surly's absolute lack of understanding of what she just did, and Bliss' possible submission she's reduced to just looking at them. "Twilight Zone...." She mutters, and begins to eat.

Aerin Thomas: A look to Bliss, and he smiles a little, shaking his head slightly, before he nods. "Thanks for the drink."

Surly: *eyes Mar dubiously* you sure all those vines are totally out? *almsot concerned. defiantley confused. and this is damn good sketti*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: "Look, some of us were raised to observe formailities...." He sighs. "Though that seems mostly to have gone the way of chivalry."

Marika: "Yeah. Remind me never to bring you to a r...traditional sept. Ever."

Surly: *completely baffled, looking between the trio*

Aerin Thomas: "Baah. Formalities are for those who don't wish to get their ass kicked at inappropriate moments."

Aerin Thomas: ((inopportune))

Surly: *brows begin to slowly draw together*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: A little of the tension eases out of his shoulders at that comment, but he looks puzzled again. After a few seconds though, contemplating just how that means he should respond gives way to eating again. He is kinda starving.

Aerin Thomas: "And I'll have you know, Marika, that despite anything REMOTELY resembling a cohesive plan, I managed to get us all in and out of Gaia's Hand without so much as a stern talking to. I'd like to think I even did well at you're guys's place." A little smile, and a raised brow, as he picks up his drink and takes a mighty swallow off it.

Marika: "They wouldn't...we'd have to teach you manners first. You're...just not trained." She gestures rather helplessly with her hands. "He didn't tell you how to behave?"

Surly: *she rather resembles Bliss's pet name for her at the moment. slowly gets up to put her empty plate in the sink*

Marika: "Not you. Sky." She gives Aerin a look that is either translateable as 'not you, you insignificant cockroach' or possibly, 'my protection doesn't extend to you, why would I bother?' It's one of those looks that really should have a sentance to qualify it.

Aerin Thomas: "Ahh." He looks at Marika for a moment, analyzing the sentance, and then goes back to eating. Not too concerned about it for now.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss watches the whole exchange with gentle amusement. "You don't train stormclouds any more than you herd cats. I would not take such a gift and then insult it." The explaination seems more for Cloud, than anything else.

Marika: She looks over to Surly. "Home after dinner?" She asks rather suddenly.

Surly: *and she doesn't come back out of the kitchen. back door opens, and closes. not as if she's trying to sneak out, but neither is she slamming it, at least*

Surly: *nor, at the moment, answer. time to work out*

Aerin Thomas: A glance to Marika and Bliss, and he sets the plate down, rising to his feet and moving toward the kitchen.

Marika: After a moment, she slips out the front door, edging past Bliss cautiously.

Aerin Thomas: He slips out the back door, frowning a little as he looks around, letting his eyes adjust to the light.

Surly: *simply outside, a bit away from the house, beating up invisible demons. face set in a fixed scowl, eyes narrowed. never mind the wet. it's time for a bit of stress releif*

Aerin Thomas: He comes up to her, head cocked to the side. "You winning?"

Surly: *grunts, smacking 'enemies' around a bit more before answering* there's no winning. there's surviving.

Aerin Thomas: A moment's pause, watching the woman, before he nods slowly. "Want something more solid to try and smack around?"

Surly: *arches an eyebrow* you offering?

Aerin Thomas: "Wouldn't have said it if I wasn't..." A calm gaze to the kin.

Surly: always up for a spar. *turns to face him fully, stepping slowly to the side as if about to try and circle him* let's go.

Aerin Thomas: He slides out of the trench coat, tossing it aside...the man knows, despite many Matrix viewings, that one does NOT fight better in one then without. The shoulder holster follows, as well as his shirt. He gets into a ready position...something Aikido-ish, and just waits for her to go.

Surly: *notes his prep and stance with a nod. andcarefully pulls off the gloves--and the rings--setting the second inside the first. tied shut and tossed toward the trench. and sends a kick in his direction*

Surly: d10: kick: 7,2,10,5,4,4,4,7,

Surly: d10: : 10,

Surly: d10: : 5,

Aerin Thomas: He twists to the side, reaching out to grab her leg in the process. ((Rage spent; Dodge, then brawl))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Dodge: 2,6,8,5,8,

Aerin Thomas: ((Strength+1 Damage; will roll for the grab to the leg after))

Surly: d10: dmg: 6,3,2,4,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 9,9,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strength+Brawl(Hold): 4,3,3,6,4,

Surly: *she begins to grin slightly, eyes lighting up. and tries to jerk her leg toward herself, not really trying to get free, but to simply get him off-balance*

Surly: d10: jerk: 6,6,7,

Aerin Thomas: ((Strength+Brawl, vs. a new Str+Brawl from Aerin, who is also spending another Rage))

Surly: d10: str/brawl: 5,5,5,6,5,2,10,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Str+Brawl: 3,6,10,4,9,

Surly: d10: : 6,

Aerin Thomas: He keeps a grip on her leg, maintaining his stance, then twists his body, grabbing her leg and attempting to throw her away.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strength+Brawl: 7,6,6,4,8,

Aerin Thomas: ((grabbing her leg with his other arm as well, in other words))

Surly: *her grins widens further. and she just lets him toss her*

Aerin Thomas: And she goes flying...a good five or six feet away. He turns to her, returning to his stance, letting her get to her feet.

Surly: *chuckles softly as she rolls to her feet and stalks back toward him, grinning like a maniac. once close enough, she cocks back a fist, shulders tensed. and then attempts another kick*

Surly: d10: kick: 8,3,9,5,8,3,1,4,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Wits+Alert: 9,5,9,2,9,7,

Aerin Thomas: He sees the attack coming, watching Surly's chest, not her eyes, as she comes in...by doing so, he sees the faint and moves to dodge it.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Dodge (WP): 3,2,3,9,7,

Aerin Thomas: Surly's kick sails over his head as Aerin bends himself fliudly back a bit, just out of range.

Aerin Thomas: Surly's kick sails over his head as Aerin bends himself fliudly back a bit, just out of range.

Surly: *laughs again. eyes blazing with delight. and goes for that punch she tried to make him think she was going to throw before*

Surly: d10: punch: 9,3,4,8,4,9,9,2,

Aerin Thomas: Oh, shit...he tries to throw his arms up to block the punch.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl(WP): 8,3,10,5,4,

Surly: d10: dmg: 10,4,7,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 10,6,

Aerin Thomas: The punch makes it through the block, and it hits hard, but the man barely even oofs. And he moves for an elbow to the woman's chest.

Surly: *and she attempts to dodge, for once*

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 7,7,5,9,5,

Surly: d10: dex/dodge: 7,4,2,4,9,5,6,4,

Aerin Thomas: It's close, but Surly manages to dodge out of the way of the incoming elbow.

Surly: *she looks either transported into Heaven, or psychotic. hard to say which. and launches another punch at him*

Surly: d10: punch: 3,7,2,9,10,1,5,10,

Aerin Thomas: Another block attempt from the lanky hippy-looking man.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 6,1,1,10,5,

Surly: d10: : 4,6,

Aerin Thomas -> Surly: ((Ahh, yes. Surly would be able to easily note the strange scarm directly over the man's breastbone, in the shape of a weeping rose. I always forget that.))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 7,5,

Surly: d10: dmg: 10,4,3,4,5,3,

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Bliss slinks out onto the tiny back porch in lupus. It's cold and wet. Ick. He lays on the driest section of porch he can find.

Surly -> Aerin Thomas: (*nodnods* she'd think it's just a branding. tats and brands as body decoration, she approves of. earrigns, no.))

Aerin Thomas: The punch makes good contact, but doesn't have the force it should. He grins a bit, and as close as they are...goes for a knee to the gut.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 8,3,1,3,9,

Surly: d10: soak: 3,4,3,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Damage: 7,2,1,10,

Surly: *grunts and staggers as the knee gets her solidly, breath lost for a moment. but, she's still grinning like a freak*

Aerin Thomas: He takes a step back, and alters his stance a little...he's been using more blocks, so he goes to an approximation ot Muy Thai, arms up, legs ready to raise and block.

Surly: *laughs, a bit breathlessly, and steps back in for another kick.*

Surly: d10: : 10,3,4,6,9,5,7,9,

Surly: d10: : 4,

Aerin Thomas: He raises his leg for a block, grinning a little. He needed this, too.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 2,7,9,1,2,

Surly: d10: : 5,8,2,6,4,8,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 7,1,

Aerin Thomas: Oooh, THAT one made impact. He staggers off to the side, a hiss of pain coming from him...he doesn't wait long, though, before stepping back, aiming a punch to her stomach.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 5,7,2,2,2,

Surly: *attempts to dodge*

Surly: d10: : 8,10,5,10,8,7,6,8,

Surly: d10: : 8,9,

Aerin Thomas: ((Holy SHI-at))

Surly: ((*boggles!* oh, dear Gods!! if this turns into another Abbey/Schulyer thing...i am going to laugh until i cry....))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: His ears flick sharply at the sound of Aerin hissing and he lunges half to his feet before laying back down. Sparring...not killing....

Aerin Thomas: The punch is off-balance, and Surly is just SO on, Aerin's nowhere NEAR where he needed to be by the time it's all done.

Surly: *grins widely. even if he pounds her into the ground, she can take pride in that bit of the exchange. she goes for another punch*

Surly: d10: : 6,4,8,3,6,2,2,6,

Aerin Thomas: And Muy Thai isn't working...he tries to switch back to his mostly-aikido, dodging like there's no tomorrow, then reaching out for a Joint Lock (i.e. Clinch; Rage spent).

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Dodge: 8,3,5,10,9,

Surly: d10: : 3,9,5,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 9,5,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strenght+Brawl: 4,8,6,8,2,

Aerin Thomas: The punch connects, but doesn't have the impact needed, and Aerin grabs the arm, twisting it painfully and holding on. ((Damage begins next round))

Surly: *grits her teeth against the pain and tries to hook his leg with one of her own*

Surly: d10: dex/brawl: 9,9,10,5,10,9,6,5,

Surly: d10: : 9,6,

Aerin Thomas: He attempts to maintain the hold, a little smile on his face, holding her unless she breaks free.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strength Damage: 4,5,2,

Aerin Thomas: ((Gaah, will roll Strength+Brawl to maintain the hold, contested...little chance of succes, though. ;) ))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strength+Brawl: 2,3,7,8,7,

Aerin Thomas: Surly catches Aerin's leg and sends him onto his back, and he loses his hold on her.

Surly: *grins widely and attempts to set her fingertips at his throat in what would be--were she not holding back in a big way--a move designed to have him choking on his own blood. if this weren't a spar, that is.*

Surly: d10: dex/brawl: 5,5,4,9,1,2,9,9,

Aerin Thomas: He tries to roll out of the way.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Dodge: 4,4,4,4,

Aerin Thomas: ((WELL, then. Four 4's...good poker hand?))

Surly: ((LOL! and gets you...hrm...16 points in some NeoPets game or the other....))

Surly: d10: : 1,5,2,9,8,

Aerin Thomas: ((YAY! I R TEH NEOPETS 31337!))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 3,3,

Surly: ((*ROTFL!* used to go there EVERY day....))

Aerin Thomas: The shot catches him in the throat, and he winces. Then he reaches up, grabbing her and planting his foot in her stomach to flip roll her.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl(WP): 1,5,4,

Aerin Thomas: ((*Headdesks*))

Surly: *tries to roll off him before he can accomplish this task*

Surly: d10: : 4,8,5,8,3,5,7,9,

Surly: ((*giggle*))

Aerin Thomas: She rolls away, and he grabbs at air. He scrambles to his feet, trying to get ready to dodge any incoming attack. ((Free shot as he gets up.))

Surly: *kicks at him, grinning widely*

Surly: d10: : 6,3,9,3,9,7,3,1,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 8,3,

Surly: d10: : 1,7,9,10,7,3,

Surly: *and attempts to roll farther away from him so she can get up without getting walloped herself....*

Surly: d10: : 2,9,3,4,6,8,9,10,

Aerin Thomas: The kick knocks him a little aside, and he straightens out. "All right, Surly...that was fighting a human. This...is fighting a Garou."

Aerin Thomas: d10: Stamina+PU(WP): 7,3,6,6,

Surly: *laughs softly* about to get my ass handed to me, i take it. *not afraid of the idea, in the slightest.*

Aerin Thomas: And he shifts up...not Crinos, just Glabro. Growing to a good 6'8", just over 300 pounds.

Surly: *eyebrows raise. the bigger they are, the harder they fall. and gets ready*

Aerin Thomas: He does nothing the first round, merely taking a position as he...concentrates, a little smile on his face.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Luna&#;s Armor: 1,7,4,8,

Surly: *narrows her focus. he exsists. nothing else does. and moves toward him slowly, still grinning. eyes blazing. this is life*

Aerin Thomas: As long as Surly isn't attacking, he's merely waiting...letting his body heal, bruises fading away as he focuses once more.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Strength of Purpose: 3,1,5,8,3,

Surly: *and goes for another punch*

Surly: d10: : 1,10,6,8,3,8,1,3,

Surly: d10: : 2,

Aerin Thomas: He lets that first punch come...and launches one of his own.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 3,4,4,10,

Surly: *attempts to dodge*

Surly: d10: : 2,2,9,6,7,4,5,2,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Combat Healing: 10,3,8,3,1,

Surly: d10: : 1,2,3,9,

Aerin Thomas: The punch from before has no real force...and Surly manages to avoid the incoming punch, as the last of the bad bruises fade away from Aerin.

Surly: *hmm, a kick or a punch? let's go with another kick, this time*

Surly: d10: : 5,6,9,8,5,5,7,7,

Aerin Thomas: He takes the punch...and punches back.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 9,3,2,7,5,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Combat Healing: 7,3,7,4,4,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Damage: 6,8,4,5,4,9,

Surly: *again, attempts to dodge. 300 pounds of man is not somethign she'd enjoy connecting to her person*

Surly: ((dlp))

Surly: d10: : 8,9,3,3,6,5,4,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Soak: 7,2,10,6,10,

Surly: d10: soak: 10,2,2,

Aerin Thomas: The punches connect; Aerin's, not surprisingly, has more force, and it staggers her back. ((She's taken 3 Bash so far, if I've counted right?))

Surly: *grunts, staggering back. and she's still grinning from ear to ear over it*

Aerin Thomas: And he tries for the coup de grace, aiming two kicks right for her gut. ((Rage spent))

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 7,5,3,5,4,

Surly: *attempts to dodge these*

Surly: d10: : 6,4,6,2,10,4,7,7,

Aerin Thomas: The first kick is dodged...he goes for the other.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Dex+Brawl: 5,8,4,8,2,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Damage: 9,5,7,7,8,8,4,

Surly: d10: dodgey goodness : 3,9,8,3,5,4,3,2,

Surly: ((DLP. LOL!))

Surly: d10: soak: 3,2,3,

Aerin Thomas: And that second kick pretty well lifts Surly iinto the air and back several feet, knocking her ass beyond out.

Surly: *and that second kick sends her flying. this time, she stays down. the woman still has a huge grin on her unconcious face*

Aerin Thomas: He immediately drops back into Homid, moving over quickly, but unhurried, with a look to Bliss. He leans over Sulry and drops to a knee, placing his hand on the enormous, foot-sized bruise on her chest...definitely a couple cracked ribs, too. He closes his eyes and focuses, calling on the Goddess for aid.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Mothers Touch(WP): 7,9,6,8,1,10,

Aerin Thomas: d10: Reroll: 2,

Surly: ((Gaia LOVES Aerin. *G*))

Surly: ((and fade for now? *chuckles*))

Aerin Thomas: ((Pause for now. *Nods*))

Surly: ((*grins and hugs tight* thanks, hon. see you tomorrow! *falls asleep*))

Aerin Thomas: ((Just continue from where we left off?))

Surly: ((cool by me. *soft chuckle*))

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [Sounds good to me.] He rises but with Aerin not panicky, he seems alright with everything, alert, but not too anxious to go get more wet.

Aerin Thomas: ((So, Surly just got 4 Health Levels healed, and she had taken five bash to add to the for she already had...this leaves her at 2 Lethal, one Bashing.))

Surly: ((*nods* so, she's concious, but not exactly feeling in top shape? or still conked out?))

Aerin Thomas: ((She's conscious, yes. Probably bruised or cracked ribs.))

Surly: *coughs as she opens her eyes, with a wince. and a grin*

Aerin Thomas: He smiles a little bit. "Hold still for just a moment...don't move too much." One more try on the healing, eyes closing.

Aerin Thomas: d10: Mothers Touch: 5,7,8,10,3,7,

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Yeah, she's okay. He lays back down.

Surly: *eyes him a moment. got to get her bearings before trying to sit up, anyway. plus that whole hurts to brethe thing*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: [And, does he fight Bliss trying to talk in his head again?]

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ((Nope. Visible little twitch as always, but it's an instinctive reaction, and he doesn't fight.))

Aerin Thomas: "There you go." He stands up, offering her a hand to help her up to her feet.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "So, unless you still want to beat on things...can we go inside?"

Surly: *slaps her hand into his and permits the hand up. resisting the temptation to use the grip to try and throw him. it's hard* that was fun.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~MS~ "We can go inside, yes. Thought she could use the sparring...and so could I."

Aerin Thomas: A little twitch at something, and he nods with a little grin. "It was fun. C'mon, let's get inside." He moves to collect his shirt, trench, and holster.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Yeah. It does take the edge of a little, huh? You look better."

Surly: good idea. *follows to collect her gloves and rings*

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "I feel better. Some. Think she got the point, or did I just make things worse?"

Aerin Thomas: His clothes balled up under an arm, he heads to the door, nodding to Bliss with what can only be described as a grin out of nowhere.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "I think you underestimate Cloud."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "How so?" Curiosity.

Surly: *blinks at the wolf* you look like a cat not wanting wet feet. sort of.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He rises and waits at the door. Aerin can open it, as someone lacks opposablr thumbs right now.

Aerin Thomas: The door is opened, of course, and he holds it open for the others. Common courtesy, this one has.

Surly: *yeah...that glittery collar. good call.*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "She can work these things out. I think you helped. But I think she'd have come out here and worked it out."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "And tell her yes. Sort of."

Surly: *stalks into the room. hey, she remembers to sort of wipe her feet off on the door rug*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He steps inside, and goes to lay in front of the fire.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: "That wasn't what I meant, but yes, I agree she could have worked it out on her own."

Aerin Thomas: A look to Surly, and he grins, referring back to her comment about the cat not wanting wet feet. "He says yeah. Sort of." He tosses the wet clothes on the counter and goes to get a towel, to dry his upper body off.

Surly: *nose twitches* getting a towel. Aerin? *questions. much better mood of a sudden* Bliss, you're getting one too.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "What did you mean?"

Surly: *blinks and shakes her head slightly* he says. wish i could understand that. *shrugs and gets herself a twoel once Aerin's gotten his. and she does get one for Bliss* roll, or am i drying you off to save my nose?

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "I was trying to make a point. She's a great fighter, a good person, and a hell of an asset, among many other, more important things. I'd hate to see her decide to try and take out a Crinos or Glabro, and end up a needless casualty. Heroes don't last long...nor do people who live for the thrill of the fight and think of that rather then the overall picture."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He looks up at Cloud lazily from his nice warm place by the fire. 'Move?' those eyes seem to ask.

Aerin Thomas: He starts drying off, moving to the coffee table and picking up his cigarettes. One's popped into his mouth, and lit.

Surly: *snorts a laughs. towels herself off roughly and wraps the thing around her dripping hair before settling down beside Bliss and flopping the towel over him. rubrubrubrub* you might be a wolf, but you smell like a wet dog.......urk.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "I showed her that once. But she's...some f our kin are fighters. It's not about living long enough to win, it's about living while you're here."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: His eyes close. Attention. If wolves could purr....

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "The more you're here, the more living you can do. And frankly, if she's doing something important, living for the fight makes her a liability. And I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but..." A mental shrug.

Surly: *snickers at the kittywolf*

Aerin Thomas: He chuckles a little bit, watching the two and running a hand through his wet hair. It drops down to his chest, rubbing at the scar over his breastbone idly.

Surly: *nods at that scar* brand?

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "She wants to live, not die. She's got some sense."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Good. I've seen enough good people die in the last two months. I'd like to wait at least until January for the next."

Aerin Thomas: "Sort of." He nods to Surly. "It's my Rose...umm. Bit of a story behind it."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Good people will die. This is war. But I hope it can wait that long too. Especially for you. Death is just...one more thing to me after growing up with it like I did."

Surly: *scratches the towel on her head* story, mmm? *arches a brow* good mems or bad. *yes, she keeps towelign the wolf off*

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "I know it's war, Bliss. Never thought otherwise."

Aerin Thomas: "A lot of both."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Everything will be alright."

Surly: *mulls that over,then shakes her head* i have memories that are one or the other, not both. *shrugs* sole exception being while Pop was busy dying. those aren't pleasant.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He licks at one of Cloud's hands.

Surly: *scritches under the wolf's chin, moving up along to scritch his ruff. either she's had dogs, or she's petted a wolf before somewhere*

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "I know. I have faith."

Aerin Thomas: "Bittersweet is a good word to describe much of the last year or so as a whole, Surly." He shrugs a little bit, picking up his still somewhat full glass and downing some. "But that's my past. Looking ahead as much as possible, now."

Surly: mph. i rarely look behind. can't change what's past. i don't usually look ahead very far, either. too much in the moment, i suppose. *pets, as if she's not really thinking about it. simply doing it*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "As do I."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He doesn't remind her, likely reminding her will make her stop petting. It is Cloud.

Surly: *Bliss is a very smart werewolf, too....*

Aerin Thomas: "Nothing wrong with being in the moment, most of the time. You have to look ahead, though, sometimes, to see the job through."

Surly: *nods* truth. luckily, for what i do, that looking ahead's not needed far in advance. *shrugs* i have one goal other than bettering myself. that's to eventually open a dojo of sorts. maybe. at some point.

Surly: *yes, still petting Bliss absently*

Aerin Thomas: He leans back, bar skin of his back against the couch, watching Surly. "What do you define as your purpose?"

Surly: to fight. to teach fighting. *shrugs* to be the best fighter i can possibly be before i pick a fight i can't win.

Aerin Thomas: He consiers that for a moment, frowning contemplatively. "That's a fairly short-sighted purpose, Surly...if you'll forgive me saying so."

Aerin Thomas: ((Sorry, comp problems))

Surly: *arches a brow at him* according to what i could piece together from Pop, i don't have meny other options when it comes to your sort. fight, or breed. and i have nothing remotely resembling mothering instincts. more like smothering instincts.

Surly: ((*hugs* NP, hun. *sktoc*))

Aerin Thomas: "That's...a fairly narrow view on a kin's options." He looks at Bliss, then back to Surly. "Kin, to me at least, are much more then just fighters or breeders. They're the most important part of the Garou Nation, because you risk just as much as us, but without our inherant gifts. Kin do much more then just fight or fuck, to be vulgar."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: [*bites a Ravyn's computer - ALOT* Bad!]

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He licks at Cloud's hands again,, even that likely will stop her petting.

Surly: ((sorry, power went out for a moment...mrp!!)) *shrugs* i wouldn't know. you people are the first ones of your sort i've spent any real time around. *eyes narrow, just slightly* this "training" business does not bode well. *blinks down at the wolf and grunts. stops petting, although she leaves a hand on him. hey--her fingers are cold.*

Aerin Thomas: "Training." It's a statement and a question, all in one.

Surly: whatever the fuck Marika and Bliss, and you were yapping about earlier.

Aerin Thomas: A little frown. "That was Marika...I never said anything about training." He sighs. "There are some things I probably am not best to explain...I'm hardly your stereotypical Garou. And I'm sure there's elements of being Shadow Lord and corresponding kin that I haven't the foggiest clue about. As best I understood, it was simply talking about certain ways to talk to higher-ranking individuals...I'm sure you can understand that, if you're wanting to open a dojo."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "I didn't train her, because I didn't intend to bring her to anyone who would want her cowed."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Makes complete sense to me."

Surly: *ponders this and nods a bit* point. one of my senseis used to say, "in the circle, there is only one Master." however.......in a dojo, you dun have to kowtow to people simply because they happen to be able to sprout fur coats. and outside of the circle, with the sole exceptiong of the master and his assistants, if he has 'em, you don't treat anyone else as lesser than you. not if you want to keep learning there, assuming it's a good dojo.

Aerin Thomas: "And in an ideal Sept, it's the same way," he says with a nod. "Rank is gained on merit among the Garou...it's gained based on your past accomplishments in the ways of Glory, Honor, and Wisdom. Part of the Litany stats 'Respect all beneath you, for all are of Gaia.'"

Surly: and by beneath you, i expect you include Kin. *absently begins petting Bliss again*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He stays still, letting Cloud pet him, listening.

Aerin Thomas: "Most do. I disagree, but like I've said, I'm not normal." He smirks slightly. "It's a simple fact that, by simple inherant skills, Garou can do things that Kinfolk can't. We can take more punishment, deal more punishment, enter the Umbra, the spirit world. We have Gifts from Gaia besides that...abilities taught by the spirits we communicate with, serve, make pacts with, and sometimes even befriend." A pause. "And with all that said, I've personally seen some Kinfolk who have accomplished far more then some high-ranking Garou I can think of."

Aerin Thomas: ((Gaia = the Goddess. Baah.))

Surly: *smirks lightly* i suspect that, if you people would stay the fuck in this shape *smacks herself on the breatbone*, i'd probably be able to take most of you down, one on one, in hand to hand. *she's not boasting. fact as she sees it* however, that "most" bit means one very clear thing to me. i don't want to be in the mainstream of your sort. i will not grovel to anyone. and i won't back down from someone who hasn't proven that he or she deserves my respect. i can't. it's alien to my nature.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "And this is why I can't take her home."

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit, smiling slightly. "You remind me of someone, Surly. And that's a good thing...mostly."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Yeah, no shit." A mental sigh. "Think Gaia's Hand might get along with her a little better? I can't imagine Gavin Fucking Brooke dealing with her well..."

Surly: *raises an eyebrow at him* who? *pet the wolf. takes the towel off her head* mph. going out tomorrow to get my hair bleached, so i can redye it.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "We can hope. She's not petting enough. You should come help her. And later we can introduce her to Pearl. See how she takes."

Aerin Thomas: "An old friend." The smile widens, yet becomes a little sad, too. "A couple of them, actually."

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He gives a little playful bark at Aerin.

Surly: *smirks to the wolf* you should get a dye job yourself. maybe blue lightening bolts down your flanks.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Sounds like a plan. You realize that, in entreating me to come help pet, you're making me move, right?"

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Sounds like a plan. You realize that, in entreating me to come help pet, you're making me move, right?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Are you saying I'm not worth it?"

Surly: *tilts her head to Aerin* you'd better not have just called me old. *mock-growls. she's had a spar. she feels good now*

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He barks at Cloud and then looks up at Aerin, tail starting to wag a little.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Yeah, yeah...on my way." A sense of amusement.

Surly: *snorts to Bliss* don't make me go buy a Scrabble set. one bark, you wnat a dye job. two, you don't.

Aerin Thomas: "No, no. You don't hit old until you approach my age, at least." He rises from the couch, moving over to drop down next to then and start petting the attention-starved wolf.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: Two sharp barks at Cloud.

Surly: *shakes her head at Bliss* you dunno what you're missing. nothing like the lingering stench of bleach and colorful chemical cocktails to wake you up in the mornign. every day. for at least a week. no matter how many times a day you wash you're hair. *snickers to Aerin* you aren't ancient, either. yet.

Shadow's Blissful Silence: His eyes close again when he's being petted by all available people in the room.

Aerin Thomas: "Baah. I hit 29 in nine days. I'm practically in a walker." He chuckles a little bit.

Surly: *eyes Bliss, then Aerin* he do this much? *smirks* at least you're dry now. so i'm not being choked to death by the smell of slightly scorched wet wolf.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "I may survive now. Thanks."

Aerin Thomas: "He does it all the time, yes." A warm grin down to the wolf.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "No problem. Glad to be able to ensure your survival by avoiding utter neglect."

Surly: *eyes Aerin* ahem. i'm not that much younger than you, so you can keep those comments to yourself. *smirks* and no,i'm not going to divulge my exact age.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Hey, I was all stiff from laying out in the rain watching you fighting with Cloud. It's cold out there."

Aerin Thomas: "Yes, but you're young in heart. I'm an old man in spirit, these days." There's a casual, almost conversational tone to it, and his lips quirk at something, brow raising to Bliss.

Surly: *smirks to the wolf* why am i not shocked.

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Hey, you had the nice warm coat. I was practically bare-ass naked."

Surly: *snorts loudly* no, i'm a ninety-year-old man with bad breath and a severely soured look on the world at heart.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "You got a work out. I was lying down and being drizzled on." Clearly the greatest injustice in the world.

Aerin Thomas: "No, you're disaffected youth. With bad breath and a severly soured look on the word. There is a difference...mostly stylistic and propensity for violence."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "And you never thought of just watching from the open door?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence: He gnaws on one of Aerin's hands lightly.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "And you're not old. You're in mourning. And of course not. I was planning this from the beinning."

Surly: *snorts again* i do not have bad breath, thank you very much. although i agree with the prone to violence part. i think he wants more spaghetti.

Aerin Thomas: "No, I'm just not petting with both hands. This is a horrific crime, you see."

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "I felt old long before Micah and Trevor died, Bliss."

Surly: neither am i. *smirks to the wolf* keep in mind i bite back. grr. *chuckles a bit*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "You haven't been spending enough time with me. I make everything better. You should pet me more."

Aerin Thomas: He grins faintly and pets a couple times, with a little more gusto to it, before he rises to his feet. "Well, it's late...I'm going to go talk to the girl out on the front porch for a bit, then do that 'waking up screaming twenty times in the middle of the night' thing that others call sleep." A glance to Bliss. "I leave you in Surly's capable petting hands."

Surly: heat some milk. add doublestrength chamomile tea. *shrugs* Pop used to have that himself. never knew what his nightmares were all about. *she does keep petting Bliss a bit*

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "You want me to stay with you while you sleep?"

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Once I go to sleep, that might be nice. Just...don't wake me unless I'm really screaming. I don't sleep enough as it is."

Aerin Thomas: "I've tried stuff like that, Surly. Doesn't help. And I won't take non-herbal sleep aids, other then drinking myself into a stupor, which oddly, despite earlier proclamations, I don't feel like doing. Thanks, though." A nod to them both, and he heads out onto the porch.

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Have I woken you yet?"

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "Just call me. I'll be there."

Surly: *nods and shrugs* your choice. *stretches a bit*

Aerin Thomas -> Shadow's Blissful Silence: ~ms~ "Thanks."

Shadow's Blissful Silence -> Aerin Thomas: ~ms~ "What else is family for?" And his presence fades out of Aerin's mind.

Surly -> Aerin Thomas: ((*hugs* thank you, hon. *skotc*))

Aerin Thomas -> Surly: ((*Hugs* I belive they're draggin Surly along to Gaia's Hand, if you wanna come with. :) ))