The discerning might notice a pattern. For the third night in a row, Bernie is curled up with a book, this time in the corner of the couch, bare feet drawn up beside her. As she's apparently confined to the apartment anyway, she's not dressed as before, but rather in a big, loose T-shirt proclaiming "Depeche Mode '87" and a loose pair of grey sweatpants. Her nose is buried deep in the latter pages of Cryptonomicon, and she's idly finishing off a bag of miniature Mars Bars while she reads. She seems quite a lot calmer than she did most of the previous evening.

The sound of the lift does not precede Kaz's arrival, since Kaz doesn't /use/ the lift. Instead, the sound of key in a few locks does. And, then, the dropping of keys onto the floor and then quiet swearing. Once that's recouped, Kaz arrives, flute case in hand, along with a Julie trailing along a bit behind. She is evidently in a mood, from the way she's hiding behind her bangs. Kaz shuts and locks the door, calling, "Yo!"

"I just don' like it, Kaz. Just don't," Julie mumbles as the two step inside, then she goes quiet and picks a nice empty spot on the wall to lean against, near the door.

Bernie looks up from her book at the sounds of the entry, and smiles a bit, though perhaps a bit more subdued than some of her other greetings. "Yo," she replies, in conversational tones, and holds out the candy in her hand, "Mars Bar?"

Kaz also has a small paper bag in her other hand. "I know, Jules," she answers, putting down the flute under the couch, "But /you/ know how it is." Taking a breath, she gives Bernie something resembling a grin, and says, "Sure. You want some Chinese?"

Julie snorts derisively, then peers through the veil of pitch-dyed braids directly at the girl on the couch. "She the one?" the black-clad and black-mooded young woman asks.

Kaz, while she gets a Coke, calls, "Sure is." Returning, she adds, "Name's Bernie."

"Sure," Bernie replies, with the ghost of a grin, "I've got some Spanish, some French, and a couple words each of German, Italian, and Japanese; wouldn't mind some Chinese as well..." Glancing at the smaller woman, she nods and intones solemnly, "Yup, I'm The One. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the...," he rnose wrinkles, and she grumbles, "damn, I can never remember the rest of that."

Julie mutters, "Yeah, well, it'sa load o' crap, anyway. M' name's Julie, we met the other night." A wry half-grin.

Kaz mutters, "Beginning and end of all things. Or somethin' like that." Handing Bernie the bag, she notes, "General Gao's. So anyways, Yi tell you anythin' useful after I left?"

Bernie snaps her fingers, and takes the bag, "RIGHT! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end..." She breathes in, and the smell of the food reaching her, and concludes, "And I am freakin' starving. Thanks. Yeah, Yi did that turning into a wolf thing again..." A pause, as it clicks, "...Julie?" She looks at the other girl, and then smirks, tossing her a Mars Bar from the nearly empty bag beside her. "...and she told me some of th' same stuff again, and some more about th' change thing..."

Julie's thin hand snaps out to catch the candybar, which is promptly pocketted. The sour expression never seems to change. "How's yer dreams? They okay, 'r nightmares?"

Kaz runs a hand through her hair. "Cool. Way I figure it, I don' wanna have t' lock y'up're nothin', but till you shift and get at least a little handle on Garou life, y're a danger t'yourself an' others -- so I figure, little enforced vacation, it'll only be a week or so. Meanwhile, we can babble at you about Garou laws and customs and What It All Means, and hey, get you more books later, too."

Bernie glances at the book in her hand, closed over her finger to hold her place while she talks. "That'd be good, this one's not gonna last more'n a few more hours, I think... and," she glances to the sour girl, "I 'most never remember any of my dreams, so I guess they aren't THAT bad, whatever they are." She glances around for a wrapper to use as a proper bookmark, and then opens the bag of food, glancing inside. "Yi said y'all'd prolly be doing something to royally piss me off t' get me to change..."

Julie glances at Kaz, then back to Bernie. "Do you /wanna/ change? Sometimes, well, really, once inna blue moon, you can, first time, without bein' royally ticked." She goes quiet again.

Kaz makes a sour face. "I'll leave that part to Signe. It didn't take no pissin' off for /me/ to change, and frankly, I'd rather try it /without/ doin' the Incredible Hulk bit, for once. Unless you wanna change, like, right now, in which case, Julie'n me can do it for you."

Bernie shakes her head a little, "...well, 'least I wanna eat first. But let's say I was gonna try to just DO it, how'd that work? I mean, d'you concentrate real hard or something, and what on if y'do? Hey, is this cashew chicken?" She looks up from the bag again.

Kaz says, a little vaguely, "General Gao's. There mighta been some leftover cashew around somewhere, yeah." Flopping onto a free couch space, she says, "Hm. Jules, you could switch into lupe, so she could have a template, and then, yeah -- basically /picture/ yourself as a wolf, get a good grip on it in your mind, and just /wanna/ change. It does work, although often first change you gotta be in the grips of some kinda passion."

Julie simply grunts, agreement, disdain, something. Hard to tell with her.

Bernie nods once, and sets the food down on the floor -- carefully, no need to reprise the cola problem -- before standing and heading toward the kitchen. "Do I hafta really truly deeply believe it's gonna work, or just try real hard?" There's a little clinking of metal, and she reappears in the doorway with three forks, asking, "You guys want forks?"

Kaz fsshts open her Coke, and takes a swig, thoughtfully. "I think, prolly, yes, if you're goin' the safe and sane route. If you're goin' the 'get so pissed you can't think' route, hell no. Max sure didn't believe we was true, when she shifted."

"Whyfor? Ainchu ever used yer fingers t' eat Chinese? It's funner that way." With that, Julie stalks forward off her lean, and crams a rather dirty hand into the bag, plucking up some of the contents.

Bernie shakes her head at Julie, gesturing toward the couch with the fork-filled hand. "Get sauce on th' pages if y'do that... evil thing t' do to a book." She disappears back into the other room, and comes back with only one fork, and a soda, as well. "An' I -saw- Yi change, so I believe at least -she's- true, and no reason t' think y'all aren't if she is... it's just the ME bit I got my doubts about."

Julie, despite the messiness, delicately eats what is in her hand. A shrug about the book, then she's licking sauce off her hand. A glance to Kaz, again, remaining silent.

Kaz explains, "Well, odds are, you see Yi change and you didn't go batshit, you're either related or a Garou. I'm bettin' Garou, 'cause those spirits ain't often wrong. But humans as see us in Crinos, even f'the brief time you saw Yi changin', they go insane. It's parta why they can't know about us."

As if on cue, Julie's form begins to stretch. Slow it is, and painful to watch, though she has done it enough for it not to hurt...much. Clothing fades, changing into thick, shaggy fur. Joints pop as bones change shape, length. Her face malforms, jaw and nose elongating, ears migrating and thinning, growing pointed. Feet and hands widen, fingers and toes grow longer, razorsharp claws erupting from skin that is quickly covered by fur. Julie, in Crinos, now towers over the two women at 7', a realization of movies and nightmares in the flesh.

Kaz jerks a thumb at the Crinos, remarkably unconcerned. "Warform. Crinos. Batshit wolf thing outta people's nightmares."

Bernie nods once, and starts to say something in reply to that, when Julie starts to shift. Her mouth stays open, and her eyes widen again behind the glasses as she watches. She takes an involuntary step backward, clutching the fork tightly, and after a moment recovers enough to breathe, with a mixture of terror and fascination, "...Fuck."

Kaz says "Y'can see why it'd be one've the tenets've our laws not t'tell humans, if they'd go off the deep end when they saw somethin' so much a part of us?""

Heartsight growls low, causing black lips to ripple over yellowed teeth, eyes glittering with rage barely contained. Clawed hands flex at her sides.

Currently unable to tear her eyes from the huge monster, Bernie nods, with a rather strangled, "Uh huh..."

Kaz regards the cub calmly, and then tells Julie, "Sic 'er."

Heartsight lifts her head, and lets a long, keening howl tear free, born from deep inside. It is filled with rage, and power, laced with Gaia's gift. As it trails off, the creature's gaze returns to the Unchanged cub.

Right after that howl there's a fist pounded on the door, loud and insistent. Thump thump thump.

Kaz mutters, "Fuck," and goes to check the peephole. It being just Ethan, she hisses to Juie, "Left a little," and unlocks things.

Heartsight growls, and quickly drops to one side, an easy ripple of flesh into a dog's.

Bernie yelps, eyes, if such a thing is even possible, widening further, and the fork falls out of her hand, hitting the floor with a quiet clatter. Her eyes dart toward the door for a split second, then back to the huge creature as it shrinks.

Heartsight howls again, for affect, and she is sitting. Her ears are perked, tongue lolling, and tail sweeping the floor. See? Just a dog making a bunch of noise.

Like a stormcloud personified, Ethan makes his arrival. There's a scowl that's firmly planted on the kid's face, for the room in general and then Bernie, the stranger, in particular. "What the hell do you people think you're doing down here?" he demands harshly. "Jesus fuckin' H. Christ." He stabs a finger across at Bernie. "And who the fuck are you?"

Kaz says, calmly, "Julie's howlin', just like dogs howl when, you know, they're hungry. That's Bernie, she's new. Do you want your damn birthday present or're you gonna keep growlin' all night?" Hello, this is a greeting.

The tell tale sound of the elevator, if you can call it that, is heard rumbling down the shaft before it stops at the bottom nice and noisely a second before the door is opened and Jamethon walks in with a gruff pissy expression on his face as well as a growl held in check in his throat. He makes a beeline for the sink for some tap water then returns to give Ethan a nod as greeting, looking at Kaz a little oddly for a moment.

Heartsight whuffles and sneezes happily, dancing and prancing about Ethan's legs. Yesyes, two-legger has chocolate!

Kaz locks the door calmly after Jamethon arrives.

The poor cub looks completely frantic at everything that's suddenly going on, and though a look of relief passes over her face for a moment as Ethan arrives and the danger seems to pass, it disappears as she's so aggressively addressed, replaced by first shock, and then... a steadily growing anger. Bernie's now empty hands clench, and she glares at the boy, starting off in a coldly furious tone, "I'm Bernice Ruth Rosenberg," and melting seamlessly into a yell of frustration and fury, "and who the FUCK DO YOU THINK -YOU- ALL ARE?!?" The end of it is almost unintelligible, going into a rather pained sound as the originally desired effect is apparently achieved, though perhaps not how the others had intended... she starts to change.

Ethan's in rare form tonight given the relative smallness of the moon. He's bristling visibly, that scowl that was previously all for Bernie's benefit sliding down to fix on Heartsight as she capers about. He kicks, not hard and not purposeful should the Gnawer think to slip out of range, just something to let her know that he's thinking about her -- so to speak, anyway. "What the hell, howling inside the apartment, what do you think you're doing, huh? I could hear you out in the common room clear as day-- aw, fuck."

Kaz, on the other hand, beams. "Rock on, kid. Don' let it freak you, neither. Just let y'self flow with it."

Heartsight dances away from the kicking foot, Wanted more choco...hrrr? The now-lupe spins about, surprised. At the sight of Bernie, and the fury in the girl's voice, she quickly resumes her previous warform, in case the Changing cub does lose it. This time, though, her eyes do not hold the same depth of rage as earlier, herself keeping it under control.

Jamethon just grins now, and carefully sets his drink down in the kitchen where he's standing and steps over to help 'calm' the cub if nessisary. He definatly has a feral and predatory gleam in his eye coupled with a similar grin to a ahroun about to ragebomb.

Sometime before, or maybe as, the Gnawer cub is exploding, Ethan does an about-face and turns to storm off. "If you break shit in here, Signe'll kill you," he says before slipping out, the barest opening of the door as he does. Amazingly enough, he still manages an impressively loud slam.

Jamethon just backs off a step or two and waits to see how things will turn out, not wanting to step in for another Tribe's cub too soon.

~You were saying, Ears?~ Heartsight chuckles, the sound raspy, with a high pitch undertoning it. She keeps herself in view of the panicked cub, her gaze seeking Bernie's. Her hackles rankle at Ethan's loud departure, but that is all.

It takes only a few seconds for the girl to end up fully in the new form, but by the time she finishes, it looks as though she's so startled she's forgotten half her anger. She stays in place, blinking down at her talons and the torn t-shirt. As the night before, her mouth apparently recovers before her mind, and she sounds rather dazed as she tries to mutter something. Unintelligible. Her eyes narrow a bit, and she growls, looking around somewhat accusingly at the others in the room.

This part, too, Kaz is used to. "Yeah, I know, sucks shit. You gotta learn to talk, and you gotta learn to walk, and alla that stuff. You wanna get used t'the feelin', or's talkin' important enough t'wanna shift back now?"

Jamethon folds his arms and huffs, almost seeming disapointed.

Heartsight growls at Jamethon, and snaps lightly at the air. ~Hopes too high? She not Get, so ease off.~ She rolls her eyes, then smirks as best as a Crinos can, with a quick wink his way, before her attention reverts to Bernie.

Jamethon just grins now and chuckles, an odd sound from the agitated Get.

Bernie opens her mouth to reply, and immediately looks annoyed again. How's she supposed to answer that, perform an interpretive dance? She fingers the ripped fabric of her shirt again and her furry brow furrows; it looks as if she's concentrating.

Kaz quirks a grin. "Nod once for yes?"

Jamethon looks over at Bernie and actually helps. "Hey, if you are trying to shift down you might want to wait till you have replacement clothing, unless you like being bare pussy naked." Odd, he doesn't /look/ like he he thinks he is being profane.

Kaz slaps her head. "Shit, I did it again. Fuck me." Sighing, she notes, "We got clothes in Sig's room, so that's covered."

Bernie shoots a look at the stranger, and then back to Kaz, tilting her head questioningly, then stops, and looks her arms over again. She shakes her head a little, lifting one hand in the normal 'just a sec' gesture, and starts checking the form out a bit more, looking closely at her hands, touching her head and face, and eventually trying to walk a bit.

Heartsight grates out another chuckle, then she watches Bernie.

Jamethon looks at the expirenced Crinos and then the cub. "Hey, show her how its down. Especially the whole thing about balencing with one's tail."

A giggle from Julie is an odd thing, anyway. But one in Crinos? A sound beyond description. A nod at Jamethon, and she slowly turns, to give Bernie a good look at herself, then begins pacing the room.

Kaz flops back down on the softa. "You're cool, kid. Most people're like, "I needa TALK!" and shift down quick. Experimentin's the way t'go. Take a lil' jog in here, get a grip."

Jamethon grins over at Heartsight and mentions with a quite sarcastic tone and a grin as she uses her tail so obviously, "Hey, nice ass."

Heartsight flips Jamethon off with a long, clawed finger.

Jamethon just rumbles with deep laughter that is low amd nearly inaudiable in his chest.

Bernie gets something resembling a smirk at that interaction, though it's fleeting. She nods to Kaz, and fixes her eyes on Heartsight, watching her movements closely. After a full minute of this, she gives it another try herself, glancing over her shoulder to see the tail, and figure out how she controls it.

Kaz still doesn't shift herself (funny, that), but grins nostalgically. "Tail's the best thing ever, you better believe it."

Heartsight growls at the two other 'experienced' Garou, mock aggressive. She doesn't push it though, as the rage needed to maintain this form needed an outlet if aggrevated too much. At least for her. A light smack of Bernie's nose, and shake of head. ~Let tail do its work. Watching it will make you fall.~ She glances to Kaz to translate.

Jamethon is still chuckling lightly, problem more then the shared joke deserved... but it's nice to be able to laugh every now and again. Doesn't seem like the Wolverine-following Get has had alot of chances for it lately.

Startled at the bap, Bernie almost does fall right then, but manages to catch herself. She looks forward again, and takes a few steps, tentatively, watching her feet at first. Damn, they look weird.

Kaz translates, in her own special way. "Don' watch it, you'll fall on your ass. Just let it do its own work."

Jamethon giggles at something entirly different now. "Heheheheh... What I told this cub totally remind me of the first time I came down from my first change back into homid. Man, that was something. You ever taste a human's spinal fluid before, Kaz?"

Kaz says, "Uh. No, can't say's I have," in a slightly revolted tone.

Bernie stumbles again, catching herself on the wall, and looks back over at Jamethon, eyes going wide once more. Pushing back up to a straight stance, she starts practising the walking some more, gradually getting the hang of it, when she stops thinking about how to hold her tail so much.

Banecruncher leads his crew to where the scent of Ears stops at a door, then scratches at the door.

Jamethon holds on to the grin but stops with the chuckling. "Yeah, well... tastes nothing like chicken. Rather the funny part was me standing there, completly naked, with an erection out to space and no excuse for it. Didn't find it funny at the time, but hell, why not laugh now."

Heartsight wrinkles her nose, overhearing Jamethon. A low growl, then she is watching Bernie again. As there is scratching at the door, she instinctively lunges for Bernie, pushing/carrying the cub into the kitchen, and into hiding.

Kaz mutters, "Jesus, it's an invasion. Bern, get to the left," and peers out the peephole. Barely spying lupii at the door, she snorts and unlocks it. "C'mon in," she tells them, "But quick, we got changers inside."

Three-Blades slips in through the narrow doorway, hugging the wall and chuffing lightly to all of them.

Banecruncher moves in quickly, clearing the doorway so the twoleg can make it in and the door can be shut.

Bernie emits a slight yelp as she's forcibly moved, not having expected it and feeling her balance get precarious again. Once she recovers a bit, though, she sees Three-Blades and lifts one taloned hand in a slight wave, with what looks rather like a sheepish grin. A very toothy one, in this form.

Jamethon looks to the newly arrived and then back to Julie. "What, a little anatomy bothers you?" he asks with the same worn grin on his face, he hasn't been this friendly in months.

Signe comes out of the bedroom, hair slicked back after a shower. The recent deluge of garou seems to have brought her out of her hole, however. "Did I miss a memo?"

Heartsight snarls at Jamethon as she rights herself, lumbering back and giving Banecruncher a rumbled greeting. She does refrain from howling, as Signe enters. ~Morning, Defiant-Storm.~

Banecruncher rumbles amusedly. We must plan the next scouting trip into the sewers.

Jay follows after the other two Gnawers, dipping his head to everyone as he glances about.

Signe eyes Banecruncher and asks, "Has anyone talked to the mule Strider?"

Kaz snorts. "It's a fuckin' moot," and then blinks at Baney. "Oh. Sure boss." To Signe, she notes, "Not since that mage died."

Three-Blades whuffs as she finds a spot to sit next to the wall and Banecruncher, bobbing her head to Signe. Greetings, Signe-rhya. Her amber eyes turn towards Jamethon, the new face and scent unfamiliar to her, before flicking around to watch the activities.

Signe doesn't see the connection between the mule and the mage, and it shows in her confused look. "Why not?"

Jamethon nods a head to Signe in greeting and difference.

Banecruncher only knows the Strider by scent.

Signe looks from Banecruncher to Kaz and then the others. "Well, does anyone know where she can be found?"

Kaz explains, "She and the mage were close, so she's busy bein' depressed. I have to go find her anyways, I gotta message for her, so I can just add ours onto the pile, yeah?"

Signe nods to KAz. "Cool."

Three-Blades knows only of the Strider by name, she gestures in lupus apologetically.

Heartsight growls quietly, growing somewhat agitated by the suddenly large number of people in the small room, she and Bernie in Crinos, and Bernie a First Changer. It was unsettling, and showed in her eyes, her stance.

Three-Blades turns her ears towards the quiet growl, spotting Heartsight and Bernie. It's probably best you shift back. We are all Garou here. She assures the two crinos, though her eyes are curious to the cub's first change.

Signe seems not to have noticed one of the ones in cirnos was the newest cub. When it dawns on her, she becomes more alert, watching Bernie with a keen eye.

Banecruncher agrees. If her skill with spirits is the equal of her healing skill, we need her assistance.

Kaz blinks in confusion. "Why? She's gettin' used t'it, we're all Garou, we're in a basement so she can't fuck up the floors..." She trails off, and shrugs. "But Bern, you wanna get outta here, take a walk? Figure, could tell you some stuff, while they're doin' a war council."

Signe adds, toward Banecruncher. "More than that, she apparently knows every inch of those sewers. I'd say that makes her more important than any no moon we have."

Bernie glances around at the huge gathering, and her eyes flit over to Jamethon as she remembers what he said earlier and then glances down at the torn shirt and sweatpants. She nods, both to Three-Blades and to Kaz. One hand touching the wall periodically for support, she wanders over to the bathroom, and goes inside, grazing her head slightly as she doesn't think to duck at all. Her goran is audible as she closes the door behind her.

Banecruncher pricks his ears. That is very important. I knew she was familiar with an old hideout there, but if she knows all the sewers, it will be great help.

Jamethon looks over to Signe as an aside. "Not too big a deal, but thought you might like to know. I've learned the Spirit tongue."

And that would be the best advantage we'd have, Blades adds. Jay and I were only barely into the sewers before we were attacked. We know of the target area, though. I've asked Dante to accompany us in a second scouting mission.

Heartsight rumbles a type of agreement at Yi, then lumbers to the bathroom door, shifting downward to homid along the way. She presses her hand to the door. "Bernie?" she murmurs, "just r'member who you are, whatchu be lookin' like."

A rather imperative knock sounds at the door, followed by a hoarse voice. "Yo. Anybody home?"

Banecruncher immediately sits, doing his best doggie impression.

Three-Blades lies down against the wall, making like a faithful, obedient watchdog.

Signe nods to JAmethon, understanding.

After several minutes, the bathroom door opens a crack, and Bernie's voice comes floating out. "Um... could, uh...someone please bring me my bag? The bigger one, I mean... please?"

Three-Blades's ear turns for a brief moment towards the voice in the bathroom, then back towards the door, expectant.

Heartsight is standing there, and so she leans, peeking inside. "What bag?" Oooh, so evil! And her expression is as straight as Bud Abbott's.

The voice calls out again, and a fist bangs on the door once more. "Yo! Bueller!"

Banecruncher looks toward the door expectantly.

Kaz checks the peephole, grins, and lets Chaser in. "It's a convention, c'mon in, don' let the dogs bite."

A moment of silence from the bathroom. "The big canvas duffle bag," Bernie elabourates from behind the bathroom door, "near th' door..."

Julie snorts in amusement. "Kay, I'll get it. Hold onna sec." She moves through the throng, searching for the bag for Bernie.

Chaser snorts as she comes through the door. Ducking her head, she runs a hand through her hair and rubs at the back of her neck; then she tosses a shock of dark hair out of her eyes. "Wassup?" Hard eyes glance about the room. The woman lifts one eyebrow slightly as she counts the Garou present. "Christ. You weren't kiddin', eh."

Jamethon sees the bag easily from where he is standing and points it out for Julie.

Julie grunts a greeting Chaser's way as she follows Jamethon's pointing finger, and snags up the dufflebag. Then she is pushing her way back toward the bathroom door, bag bumping and thumping in passing.

Chaser stays out of the way, leaning back against the door and eyeing the commotion.

A quiet but crisp three-beat knock sounds on the apartment door.

Three-Blades rises back up to a sitting position, gazing at the newcomer, another new face and scent to learn. Her tail thumps lightly against the wall. Truly a large gathering. Her eyes stray to Julie, then back to Banecruncher. So what to do with the sewers? We should scout again as soon as possible. The Stri... her sentence is cut off as again she assumes the watchdog position.

Banecruncher rumbles as he sniffs the stranger.

Chaser reaches back and opens it without ceremony, turning to check the newcomer before letting her in.

Sepdet gives Chaser a thinlipped smile and steps in without bothering to explain.

Kaz edges back against a wall, looking a bit fenced in. And then she blinks. "Well, shit, I was just gonna look for you, Sepdet."

Banecruncher rumbles. Good. He settles down and lets Ears do what she does best.

Chaser shuts the door again, and turns the lock. "Well. If we're discussin' the sewers, I want in." She glances to Three-Blades, eyes narrowing as she measures up the stranger.

Julie reaches the bathroom, finally, and knocks. "Gottit, Bernie."

Sepdet looks around slowly, measuring the disparate collection of city folk and seeking some space fit to wedge in. Good thing she's tiny. "Well. I'm here," she says shortly. "What will you need of me?"

Banecruncher stands and sniffs around Chaser, getting more than just the basic "I'll remember this person" this time. You got the right attitude.

Three-Blades finds Chaser eyeing her and returns the gaze, though unchallenging and calm in the presence of the stranger. Apparently she's getting used to seeing so many new faces around. Her ears turn towards Sepdet, however.

Signe greets Chaser with a decidedly pleased expressions, and she eyes the strider with smoething less familiar, but no less pleased. Settling in, she waits to see if Banecruncher has anything specific to say, first.

A rather plump and somewhat pale but unmistakably human arm emerges around the door, followed shortly by Bernie's face. "Thanks, Julie," she replies gratefully, taking hold of one strap of the bag and pulling it toward her.

Banecruncher looks around at the others, then at Kaz. Make sure we all have whatever information you have to spread. Then we'll all be starting from the same paws.

Julie manages a smile, the first in this form tonight, as she nods and lets go of the bag. "No prollem."

Kaz ticks off on her hands. "Lesse. Sewers fuckin' with the Farmhouse. There's a bane nest under Osprey Circle Fountain. Jay and Yi scouted and it fucked 'em up. We needa do more scoutin', with more backup. What else you got to add, Baney?"

Standing behind the door, Bernie opens it enough to get the bag fully inside, then shuts it again. It's about five minutes before she finally emerges, in her stocking feet, and now in her shirts and jeans, toting the bag along with her. She leaves it leaning against the wall, and heads toward the couch, where her boots and jacket rest, and begins to put on her shoes.

Three-Blades rises to her paws, being the one of two that ventured to the sewers. This one would be ~Yi.~ She gazes around, then decides to add into the introduction. New moon cliath, Three-Blades to Garou. And yes, the area we scouted was below the fountain. We were attacked first by one, which managed to taint Jay until Jarred had his mage-friend, Perrin, heal him. We're looking for more to help in a second scouting. This one has heard from Jay that Sepdet knew of the area we suspect, as a shelter before for Gnawers.

Banecruncher looks at Sepdet. We need your knowledge of the sewers, Rhya. We also need more than just one full-moon to guard the scouts. One-Rage and Three-Blades have already asked to be allowed to go back in. We need to know more before we attack.

Chaser studies Kaz quietly, lips pursed in thought. When the bathroom door opens she glances to the newcomer, but her attention returns quickly enough to Three-Blades, Banecruncher and Kaz.

Sepdet's voice is as quiet as ever, but a certain unsettling coolness in it may or may not disturb those who recall her from kinder days. "I knew the sewers well once upon a time, especially in that corner of the city. There was an extensive bunker below and near Osprey Fountain. I can give you a layout." She fixes Yi with a sharp glance. "I gave Jay healing and Cleansing. It did not hold?"

Three-Blades flattens her ears in a negative answer. No, it did not. This one is grateful that you tried to heal her packbrother. Now the mage that healed Jay, though, is sick with Jay's illness. Elan-rhya has need of those who know the cleansing rite, to help heal our friend.

Sepdet touches the large black feather behind her ear. "I will do what I can," she murmurs tightly.

Once Bernie has the bag, and is getting her shoes on, Julie starts hedging for the door. Crowds on mootless nights made her edgy.

Chaser's eyes narrow as she studies Banecruncher. "If y'need a scout, I'm it," she says curtly. "Chaser-Never-Rests. Fostern Rotagar of the Get. I know this city pretty fuckin' well, and if the Strider chick gives me a map..."

Sepdet's rather dour expression flickers briefly into a crooked smile; apparently the "Strider chick" is well acquainted with the blunt-spoken Get.

Jamethon thinks for a moment and looks over at Three-Blades now with a thoughtful frown. "If Sepdet-Rhya is unavailable for whatever reason, I can perform a cleasing in her stead. Not with her expertise perhaps, but still, a cleasing."

Banecruncher looks up at Chaser with Respect. You are the Chaser? Even as a cub I heard of you. If you have ideas for successful scouting, I would be happy to follow your guidance. Attack is my strength.

Signe interupts, "Who whoa, wait a minute. What mage is this we're talking about now? and is it the same one that died?"

Julie quietly slips out, and even has the presence of mind to lock the door behind her.

Sepdet's grim mood crystalizes behind her eyes in a sudden glower at Signe's question.

Three-Blades glances to Sepdet, to Jamethon, to Signe, and back. The mage who healed Jay, is one named Perrin. Her gaze turns towards Jamethon and Sepdet, ears rising back to the normal pointed position. This one would be grateful if you could help Elan-rhya in healing Perrin. I owe him.

Jamethon frowns a bit with, "A mage?... hrm..."

Sepdet looks to Jamethon. "A mage," she says flatly. "If that troubles you, I will do it. Otherwise, my time in the city is somewhat limited right now."

Three-Blades adds to Chaser, a bow of her furry head. I have also asked Dante Leaves-His-Past to help in the scouting, and he spoke of asking Ethan as well.

Chaser nods to Three-Blades curtly. "Be a good training experience for Ethan, yah."

Signe indicates she has no problem wiht anything planned so far by nodding.

Jamethon looks to Sepdet and shakes his head. "If it is a force for Gaia, then even a mage is deserving."

Chaser snorts. "Tell that t'Nightflash," she mutters, sarcasm heavy in her tone.

Signe takes a deep braeth, her impatience finally showing. "So, where and when do we move next? And how much backup muscle do the scouts need?"

Sepdet's hands clench. "Ethan," she says, speaking the name bitterly, "Does not share your views, Jamethon. I might as well tell you I will -not- hunt with that murderer." She leans back against the wall, face still while she wrestles temper back under control. "So. Any scouts may receive the same taint as Jay."

We've not scouted the Shadow, Blades continues, scratching briefly at her ear before settling her paw back down. When we ventured into the sewer, we did so in daylight. The Shadow would have been darker than the night I was born under. We will need crescent moons. I suggest two packs, one in the Realm, one in the Shadow. There were at least 20 banes in the Realm, who came at the sound of one. We could not go further.

Chaser glances to Sepdet, her jaw tightening. "The kid had no idea who she was. He just followed his Alpha's lead. Don't call him murderer f'that." Her voice is low, rough.

Kaz asks, "Like, ever? Not even in shit like Revels?" She seems to be asking mostly for clarifacatory purposes.

Sepdet looks like she'd right to argue with Chaser, to judge by the curl of her lip over her teeth, but she merely shakes her head, refusing to respond to Chas or Kaz just at the moment.

Jamethon looks to Sepdet and even with her grin expression decides to speak up for Ethan a bit. "He told me he tried the warn the mage well before she was killed to leave, and she did not do so."

Chaser's jaw tightens, and she returns her attention to Three-Blades. "We'll discuss it later," she growls. "So. Twenty, in the realm? This was in the sewer, yah?"

Sepdet gives Jamethon a cold glare. "We are discussing a hunt right now. If you want me to break your jaw again, by all means, keep talking about that other matter."

Jamethon closes his eyes a moment in thought and lowers his head. "If protection is needed, I'm usuable as a fighter as well as a Godi. I was trained by Ahroun after all."

Three-Blades nods, a rather human-like gesture. Maybe more. I don't want to imagine what lies directly under that fountain. Sepdet would know of how large the shelter is. Her gaze glances briefly at Banecruncher before turning back to the group. If possible, I'd rather we slip in and out as quickly as possible, without fighting.

Signe is more than a little surprised at the Strider's attitude. Indeed, her 'impudence', justified perhaps or not, makes the et Jarl climb out of her chair. It's unclear whether she admires the mule, or wants to put her in her lpace, but there's a smile on Signe's lips all the same.

Chaser's mouth curves in a thin, humorless smile. "Throw /down/, girl," she murmurs appreciatively. Then the smile disappears, and she jerks her chin at Jamethon. "And who the fuck are you, 'Godi'?"

Having finished lacing and tying her boots, Bernie is watching all of this quietly, just taking in the odd discussion for the time being, and looking slightly lost.

Banecruncher agrees that not fighting on a scouting mission is preferred, but doubts that it will be so easy.

Kaz wanders over Berniewards, still looking a bit overwhelmed by people. "You wanna go take a walk, kid?"

Jamethon looks over at Chaser and after another long sip of his water gives his introduction. "One is Jamethon Ethan Black... Fights-For-Hope. Cliath Godi of the Get of Fenris, once child of Weasel and now of Wolverine."

Three-Blades growls lowly, sensing some growing tension among the Get and the Strider as she hugs the wall a little closer. Perhaps we should come back another time, Banecruncher?

Banecruncher thinks it may be wise, if Defiant Storm is as fond of her home as I am of mine.

Signe eyes Jamethoin like he's mising a few marbles as he refers to himself as 'one', but she doesn't say anything. Growing impatient again, she says, "No one's coming back later. We make a plan now. I'm tired of waiting."

Chaser purses her lips, and nods. "Knock off the 'one is' crap. Wolverine's a kickass totem, though." She glances to Three-Blades, and says, "I'm with Sep. Let's get our proverbial fecal matter aggregated, here."

Bernie looks to Kaz, and nods, picking up her jacket from the arm of the sofa. Looking at it, she asks the woman, quietly, "Um... am I going to be changing like that more? Unexpectedly, I mean? 'cause I really don't wanna ruin thi-" She breaks off, a hand going to her neck, with a soft, "...shit." Her eyes start scanning the floor, among the crowd.

Jamethon just shrugs and takes another sip of water. "It's what I grew up with, but it's not important. So, who is doing what?"

Kaz mutters, "Whatever it is, you ain't gonna find it in this fuckin' crowd. As f'changin', well, y'get too pissy, you might, till you learn to control it -- an' even then, dependin' on y'auspice, sometimes y'can't control it. That's why we don' want y'loose too much, these first couple weeks, y'lack've control."

Chaser glances down to her feet, frowning, beginning to scan the floor. "What was it?" she asks.

Three-Blades sniffs, now noticing the cub among the larger Get. Her eyes glance towards the floor as well, the temporary change in subject gladly taken.

"My necklace," Bernie replies, hand still against her throat. "'s a li'l gold star of David... th' chain musta snapped when I changed..." She lets the jacket lie back on the sofa, looking somewhat distressed.

Sepdet grimaces and turns in place to scan in lost-contact-lens mode.

Jamethon looks down at the ground in a fond remembering manner then just sighs.

Banecruncher lowers his head and sniffs, swinging it from side to side as he tries to find the lost cub-stuff.

Sepdet observes during the sudden silence, "Off the subject, I'm forming a pack for healing and cleansing and occasionally ripping large bloody holes in the Wyrm. Mage-haters need not apply. I'll be at Lake Arthur when I'm not helping you folks."

Chaser glances over to the girl, rare surprise touching her expression. "Lake Arthur, eh? You gonna claim it?" Her eyes narrow slightly, measuring.

Kaz crouches down and just peers, before raising her eyes to look at Sepdet. "Yuh. Got a Totem in mind?"

Three-Blades gets up on her paws and sniffs around, more towards the kitchen where Bernie had been in when she saw the cub in crinos. A short ways away from the kitchen door, her muzzle bumps against the golden necklace with a slight tinkle of metal. With a short chuff, Blades looks at Bernie. Found it.

Sepdet says shortly, "Yes. And several." She looks up to meet Chaser's eyes directly for a moment, expression suddenly tired. "I was going to hold it for Quiet until she came home, but plans have changed. And I'm going to need help. Come by sometime and talk to me?"

Signe puts her hands on her hips, mostly just watching the others look for the necklace. She does loko around here, though, and eyes the Strider as she mentions her pack plans.

Signe's eyes move from Sepdet to Chaser. "actually, I had pack ideas too. I was hoping you'd sit on those. Your choice of course." She says this as if there really wasn't a choice to be a made, in her opinion.

Chaser glances to Signe, and nods. "We'll talk, yah."

Bernie smiles at Three-Blades, and threads her way gingerly through the crowd to retrieve the necklace, giving the lupine a grateful ear scritch as she crouches to pick it up. "Thanks," she says, standing again and looking over the broken chain. With a slight sigh, she slips it into the pocket of her jeans, and makes her way back over to Kaz. "A'ight," she says, "'s not THAT cold, I'll just leave my jacket I guess..."

Sepdet's eyes dart between Signe and Chaser, and she gives a faint nod. "Just spread the word for me, then. Anyway. Banes. We got a scouting party? A way to keep 'em from getting tainted like Jay?"

Three-Blades licks the cub on the hand before returning to her spot next to the wall, where ther is a little more space. I think it was something he ate. A piece of the bane, perhaps. He'd been attacking the thing in darkness, tooth and claw. A wry lupine grin spreads over her features. Chew, don't swallow.

Banecruncher rumbles. Chaser commands the scouting mission. Fights-for-Hope, One-Rage and Three-Blades will support. Sepdet will provide the information she has, in whatever way she and Chaser work out. Anything else you need, Chaser-Rhya? This is too important to leave to chance. Who do you suggest for an Umbral scout?
Banecruncher thinks we need any theurge you would recommend, Sepdet-Rhya, to study the spirits and warn what may be their greatest danger.

Chaser frowns, her brow furrowing a little. as she considers. "We gonna try to scout this quiet, rather than throwin' down right away? Scout it, then come back another night?"

Kaz agrees, "Ain't cold," and unlocks various locks. "C'mon." To Signe, she adds, "I'll bug you later f'details."

Signe waves to Kaz, nodding.

Banecruncher rumbles agreement. We will. I think we will need more force than we have to destroy it. We may have to call on warriors from the woods.

Jamethon thinks a moment though. "I must mention... with hanford around the corner I'm not sure where I will be in recent time. So it would be nice to know when you plan on doing this, so I can plan around it."

Sepdet cats around the apartment searching for something. "Anyone have a notepad?" she mutters. "Stylus? Pen? Charcoal?" At Banecruncher's request, she grimaces. "Unfortunately that was Quiet's knack, and I'm not sure any of the other older theurges have it. I'm familiar with a fair number of spirits, so I may be able to peg 'em for you, but I can't guess a weak spot just by smelling them."

Chaser glances to Signe, perhaps for confirmation. "Might wanna drag in Dante. Kid's got a good nose."

Sepdet casts around.

Three-Blades paws at her muzzle and gives a small shake of her fur. Not even a force of five would be able to destroy what is in there, she intones with a grim growl of discomfort. Dante has agreed to help. I've asked him this afternoon. Eamon-rhya also may want to join. His den is near there, I think.

Banecruncher is more concerned with their strengths, so we can warn the warriors against them.

Chaser nods, a little jerk of her head.

Bernie follows Kaz out, grabbing her backpack on the way, and gives the assemblage a quick wave as she exits.

Kaz pushes out the door, hands stuffed in her pockets. "Din' wanna rush back there, but I was gettin' all claustrophobic and shit. Anyways. There's a Rite'll let you shift without rippin' your clothes. 'Case you're curious."

Bernie nods a little, following along, one hand clutching the strap of her backpack. "Rite... like, magical rite? Does that have anything t' do with alla them talkin' 'bout Mages an' all?"

Kaz shakes her head, bangs flopping, inevitably, into her face. "Nope. Different kinda shit. I dunno how Mage magic works, so good, but it's not /natural/, kinda. They sorta bend the world with their brains, and sometimes the world bends their brains back for 'em. Us, with our Gifts an' Rites an' stuff, it's, um, to quote some Gaian I once knew, 'In harmony with Gaia and her intentions.' In other words, we don't cheat. But it's sure magic, yeah." She looks over at the younger woman, a slight grin arising. "Gotta whole world of it openin' up."

"I think the world's busy bending -my- brain," Bernie mutters, but then grins, and shakes her head disbelievingly. "Man, I'd love to've done that back at school an' seen Todd Masters' face... heh... so, yeah, this Rite thing, does someone do it to you, or do you do it? 'cause I really don't wanna be endin' up half-naked anytime that happens... an' plus, bras are 'spensive."

The metis snorts. "Don't I know it. Mostly, I finger 'em, but sometimes I gotta pay, an' sheeeyit. Anyways." Getting back to the subject at hand, she explains, "It's somethin' you can learn, but not till after you get Rited -- become an adult in the eyes of the Garou." She ducks around a lamp post. "We c'n do it for you, although /I/ can't, 'cause I dunno the Rite, m'self. I know some folks who do, though, so I'll bug 'em.

Bernie nods a little, glancing around at the surroundings as she walks. "Cool... thanks..." Her free hand slips into the pocket of her jeans, fingering the broken necklace. "I gotta get this fixed... or a new chain, 'least." She sighs, and changes the subject again, "...so who -were- all those people?"

Kaz mutters, "A buncha clowns in a clown car, basically," and then thinks. "The guy in lupe, looked like a pitbull, that's Banecruncher. He's a Gnawer, like us, an' an ahroun." There's a short pause while she reviews facts, and then she asks, "Anyone explained stuff like what an ahroun is, yet?"

Bernie shakes her head, "Nope. Wha's an ahroun?"

Kaz stops, to lean against a lamp post as she explains. "OK. You were talkin' about us shiftin' only when the Moon's full, which ain't true, but we are /affected/ by the moon. Whatever phase y'born under, it kinda affects, f'one, how pissy you are, how much've the Rage you got, and f'two, what your role among the Garou is. Ahrouns, they're the whup ass fighters, the real pissy ones. They's born under the full moon. Folks like me, we're Galliards, we're the storytellers an' information passers among the Garou. Born under gibbous moon. Then there's half moons, Philodoxes, they do the judgin' and the balancin' of tribes and shit. Crescent moons, theurges, they deal with the spirit world, an' guys born under dark moon, they're Ragabashes, they're tricksters and scouts and questioners of the way. Good bunch, them, but there ain't no way I'd wanna be one."

"Balancin' of tribes?" Bernie echoes, "an' how come you wouldn't wanna be one?" She stops as well, and, having nothing to lean against, herself, shifts her weight slightly from one leg to the other, then grins broadly, and laughs, "Hey... it's like, character classes! Ahrouns're Fighters, Galliards'd be Bards, Theurges'd be Wizards I guess, and Ragabashes'd be Rogues... huh... I dunno what, what was that one? Philadoxes? what they'd be though...," a smirk, "GMs, maybe. Heh. So how d'ya know which you are, anyhow? Just go get an old calendar?"

Kaz shrugs. "They get a lotta shit f'r bein' who they are, 'cause most Garou're more conservative than Phyllis Schlafly on acid, an' me bein' Bone Gnawer /an'/ metis, it ain't like I need /more/ shit shot my way. She listens to the young woman's translation into terms she can understand with a faint smile. "Theurges is kinda more like Clerics, they do a lotta talkin' t'spirits an' healin' people an' stuff. As f'you..." She hefts her bag. "Actually, I swiped Signe's almanac outta her place, las' night. S'when's y'birthday?"

Bernie smirks at that comparison, and straight out grins at the Almanac. "Thursday, November 22nd, 1984... I know it was a Thursday 'cause it was Thanksgivin'." She pauses, and then asks, "So, 'nother question... wha's "metis"? An' I remember you guys said Bone Gnawer was one of 13 tribes; that's mine too, right? There somethin' wrong with it?"

Kaz slings her pack off her shoulder, gets the almanac out, crouches down so she can flips through it easier. "Huh," she mutters, reflectively. Looking up at the cub, she grins. "You'd better meet Max quick, you'll either chew each other up or fall in love. She's a Raggie, too, jus' like you." Stuffing the book back in her pack, she rises again, leaving the pack at her feet. "A metis is a breakin' of the first law. The first law bein', 'Garou shall not mate with Garou.' 'Cause what you get is someone that's got some kinda deformity, who can't never have kids. Most Garou kinda look at us like we're soapscum. 'cept Gnawers, but y'know." At the last question, she shakes her head, firmly. "Ain't nothin' wrong with bein' a Gnawer, Bernie, it's just some tribes think we're sorta useless. See, we're the folks that work in the trenches, in the City, dealin' with stuff that's gotta get done. We sometimes don' use tactics they /like/, which is why th' more conservative guys don' cope so good, but that's their problem. An' yeah, you're a Bone Gnawer. Welcome to the club."

Rina paces westward, jacket thrown around her shoulders, an occasional flash of pale thigh showing at the hem of her skirt. Her hair is tousled, windblown.

Bernie listens avidly, nodding every so often, and grins at the verdict, "Raggie -- that'd be the Rogue one, yeah? That's pretty cool, I c'n do that...." She pauses, remembering some of last night's conversation, and asks, with poorly concealed amusement, "Max, is she th' one who painted that wall? 'cause, not t' be a bad guest or anythin', but it -is- pretty funny, seein' that... an' anyway I'm kinda useta people bein' snobbish at me, so hey. But, um..." She looks Kaz over again, before continuing, "no offense or anythin', but y'don't -look- deformed..." She doesn't notice Rina yet.

Rina notices the two beneath their streetlight, and lifts her head; her pace slows a little, and she watches them closely as she approaches.

Kaz does notice. She's been wary of passers-by as they talked, occasionally quieting slightly as a car went by, even. She pauses as she catches sight of the woman, and then relaxes as she figures out who it is. She raises her hand in a wave, and then goes on, slightly quieter, "Yeah. That's Max. Signe's like the anti-pink, so I kinda thought that was a good one. She's gonna get her ass kicked, though. Like I said t'Signe, she gets caught, she deserves what she gets. As f'deformity..." She pushes her hair out of her eyes. "That's one. I got worse in other forms, but I'll show you later -- I ain't shiftin' in public."

Rina flashes Kaz a quick, tentative smile; then her attention shifts to Bernie. She leans down, propping a boot on someone's front steps to retie the laces.

Across the street, two teenage hoods slow their lanky walk, to stare.

Seeing Kaz wave, Bernie glances over her shoulder, and waves herself as she recognizes the girl from the park. She turns back to the other woman, and looks at her eyes a moment, before nodding, "Yeah, I r'member y'said it was secret an' stuff... I think y'r eyes are kinda cool, by th' way. And I kinda gathered that 'bout," a slight pause, "Signe?" She seems unsure if she's pronouncing it quite right. A grin passes over her face again as she jokingly asks, "So 'zat the second law, 'don't get caught'?"

Kaz snorts. "It's /my/ second law. Y'want, I'll tell you the /real/ second law," she glances at the two youths, "Later."

Rina straightens, and walks toward them, flipping dark hair out of her eyes. "Heya, Bernie," she offers, giving the girl a warm smile, and then turning a slightly quieter one on Kaz. "Everything okay?"

Bernie smiles back at Rina, and shrugs a little. "'s bizarre, but okay. I'm cultivatin' zen."

Rina's smile widens a little as she looks to Bernie's face. "Zen's good," she answers. "I got a little trouble with that, lately." She wets her lips, and glances down, one hand digging into an inside pocket of her jacket.

Kaz stuffs her hands in her pockets again. "This kinda shit's fucked to handle at first, f'most folks. Me, I wouldn't know, I was born into it."

Rina's lips twist a little. "Yah. It's tough when ya get it all thrown atcha at once." She gives Bernie a wry, sympathetic glance, and then shrugs the jacket into place on her shoulders, ducking her head.

Bernie runs a hand through her curls, somehow avoiding getting it stuck in there, and nods a bit. "'s, uh... not 'zactly how I was plannin' on spendin' th' last day or so... but I guess at least I pretty much believe y'all now..." As she says that, her hand goes into the pocket of her jeans, and seems to fiddle with something therein.

Rina nods minutely. "You know about kin, yet?" she asks softly.

"It don't never come at a good time, lemme tell you." She's keeping an occasional weather eye out for the two teens on the stoop -- who've yet to go away.

Bernie glances over at Kaz before she answers. "...Kinda, I think. No one's really focused on it yet, but from what everyone said, I gather kin's people who're related t' us and don't freak out at the whole changing thing... that's all I caught so far, though." Having noted the older woman's suveilance of the teens, she makes an effort to keep her voice down a bit.

Kaz says, "'Zactly. 'Cause we're so pissy, they can do stuff with humans we can't, get stuff done in city hall, that kinda stuff. So they'se good allies. An' family, of course."

Rina nods, offering Bernie an encouraging half-smile. "Yeah, we're kinda here t'help with real-world shit... sometimes your side of the family isn't so great with the people skills. There's a lotta kinfolk lawyers, doctors, politicians, that kinda stuff."

Bernie nods to this, but looks thoughtful for a moment. "That's... see, that's one thing that's kinda weird, 'cause I don't gen'rally get pissed off so easy... I mean, I've always been pretty laidback, y'know? Like," she looks over to Kaz, almost sheepish, "when that guy came in and did that, us'lly I wouldn'ta, um, exploded or anything. Though, I mean, I -have- hadda worse temper than usual this year..." She gives a slight snort of a laugh and shakes her head, "Heh, I don't even know what I'm tryin' t' ask."

The metis shakes her head, a bit of a smile emerging again. "No, see, that's the thing. First of all, you're a Raggie, so you don't tend to get all that pissed, really. But y'temper this year, it's a reaction to gettin' ready f'y'first change. It's kinda t'help get y'ready f'stuff."

Rina tilts her head, listening, watching Bernie with a faint smile. "There's other stuff y'can do, too... for control."

Kaz raises a curious eyebrow, under her hair.

"Control," Bernie echoes, "...wasn't that the good guys in Get Smart? What can I do for 'em, capture some KAOS agents?" She grins, "Do I get a shoe-phone?" She glances over at the loitering boys, and adds, "Conea Silence'd come in handy..." Looking over to Rina, she asks, all innocence, "..or is that not whatcha meant?"

Rina's grin shines for an instant, and she ducks her head, raking a hand back through her hair. "Nah. I, ah, kinda meant... martial arts, meditation and stuff."

Kaz mutters, "Missed it by /that/ much," and her eyebrow goes down. "Oh, yah, them. Chugs had Jules doin' that kinda shit, back when she was explodin' all the time. It's damn useful."

Rina nods slowly. "Yah," she murmurs. "But if you're a Raggie, shouldn't be too much trouble."

Kaz nods. "Yeah, just other things is trouble. Like gettin' Get ahrouns in your face."

Bernie shoots a quick grin at Kaz, and then nods again. "I know Karate, and Tai Kwan Do, and Jujitsu, and Aikido," she begins, in an offhandedly arrogant tone, and then concludes, in her normal voice, "... an' a buncha other oriental-type words. When I fight I just kinda whack and kick and bite at people 'til th' proctors take us to the office. Heh. I read a lot 'bout meditation for a project in English once, though."

Rina's grin widens again, briefly. "Well. I bet you'll learn. There's anythin' they won't teach you, just come to me."

Kaz says, in tones of vast enjoyment, "Oh, you'll learn more," and then shoots a very small grin at Rina. "An' we ain't no Fianna, neither. You got any good stuff she don' know, feel free."

Relief flashes across Rina's face, and she meets Kaz's gaze with swift gratitude in her own. "Thanks. Y'want I should teach her to shoot? Prolly can't hurt, what with those dancin' types runnin' around."

"/Fuck/ yeah. An', well, you got any extra guns you ain't usin'..." Her tone on that last sentence makes it clear it's a joke, but half serious nonetheless. "We can cover the more furry shit, obviously, but if you got time and inclination, I sure don' mind other folks helpin' out."

Bernie smirks, "Hey, it worked pretty well..." but shrugs a little, not averse to being improved in that department. "What's Fianna, and d'y'all have somethin' against ballerinas, or what?"

Kaz explains, "One've the tribes. Buncha Irish assholes with attitude control problems. Well, most of 'em," she amends. "But, uh, ballerinas?"

Rina offers Bernie a wry smile. "Not somethin' to discuss on the streets," she answers.

(At which point everyone was tired so we decided we went back home and went to sleep.)