Alicia blinks a bit and nods her head slowly. "Well... ah'didn't think we rilly 'ada choice in all o' it ya'know. Ah'mean. Ah'm ganna be fo'reals an all that, but if ah'gotta be a tree huggah, then ah'm ganna do muh best ta' be th'best lil tree huggah ah'want." She shrugs. "Th'only thang tha'ticked me off 'bout Adam, is that 'e said ah'could teach, when ah' offered him ta' learn Fencing from me. Ah'thought it was dumb, 'e said'cuz' ah'm a cub, ah'can't teach stuff. Now, that may seem a bit 'tarded don'tcha think? Like, since ah'know French, so ah'can't teach ya french, cuz ah'm a /cub/."

Bernie wanders up the lane toward the porch, greeting the pair thereon with a wave and a grin as she approaches, following it up with a "Hey," as she gets close enough to speak.

Smoke hangs in the cold winter air, judging from the redolent scent it is imported British tobacco.

Alicia is flicking ash off a cig to the side, replacing it back in her mouth.

Matt searches for an appropriate response, and takes advantage of Bernie's approah to give her a smile, He moves his legs so Bernie can climb the steps up to the porch. Turning to Alicia, he finally says "Oi doubt Adam meant you can't /ever/ teach. Just that you ought ta be focussed on learning for now. Truth: there's a lot of know-how they've got ta cram in yer loaf before ye Rite, or ye'll die fer sure. Or quickly after. Learn for now. After ye Rite ye can teach /me/ ta fence."

Alicia shrugs her shoulders a bit, then looks over to Bernie with a wiggle of her fingers. "Hey there hot stuff, whats shaking?"

"Your fingers," Bernie replies cheerfully, and leans down to poke one of her own a bit experimentally at the top of one of Matt's blond spikes as she passes by him, climbing the steps. Unlike Max, she wouldn't go so far as to actually -ruffle- the gelled protrusions. She plops herself down on the swing, and starts it moving gently as she regards her fellow cubs. "'sup? Anythin' new an' excitin' with you guys?"

"Nah," Matt replies, fishing out his crumpled pack of cigarettes and offering one to Bernie, then Alicia. "Slow day at work, not much fibre for my skyrocket. 'Eard the Righ's back from 'oliday though, so Oi may Rite in the Soon."

Alicia waves off Matt as she still holds a lit cig in hers, not quite finished yet. She smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "Nutt'n new 'ere, jus'kicking it old school farm house style."

Bernie leans over and accepts the proffered cigarette a little tentatively. "Soon, huh? G'luck... y'll hafta tell th' rest of us all 'bout it when you get done. I gotta find some rited types with some free time t' get back t' teachin' me stuff. I'm all... stagnatin'." She turns the cigarette over in her fingers a few times, idly, while she talks.

Matt's lighter appears as if by magic, open and lit, offered to Bernie, if she's willing to lean forward a little. "Aye, assuming oi make it through. Still, if you've got questions, ask me. Oi 'ave a feeling Oi'll be teaching cubs quite a bit after Oi'm Rited, so oi might as well get started early." He gives Bernie an easy wink.

Alicia smiles as she watches the two, falling silent. Nursing the rest of her smoke, she flicks the last bit of ash away, then pockets the butt. Blowing out the smoke in long curls, she clears her throat a bit.

"You will," Bernie replies in a tone that implies it's an incontrovertible fact, and leans forward to light the cigarette. "...then you c'n come back an' lord it over us poor unejimicated peons," she teases, grinning. Relaxing back into the swing, she takes a drag from the cig, and pauses a moment -- she doesn't smoke very often, and this is not quite what she's used to when she does. She manages to adjust without going into a coughing fit or anything, at least, and shakes her head slightly, eyeing the thing, as she exhales.

Matt has no difficulty with his cigarettes, to no one's great surprise. He crosses his legs, stuffs his hands inside his jacket, and relaxes.

Alicia blows on her hands a bit, rubbing them together. "So Bernie, why doncha talk to that Kaz chick an hook up with her an learn? She seemed pretty decent."

Squall strolls up to the porch, stifling a massive yawn as he comes to a stop at the first step. He offers a quick grin to Alicia, and a pleasant enough wave to the Fianna and Gnawer. He carries his left hand a bit close to his body, holding it protectively near his stomach.

Matt moves his legs again, allowing Squall to pas if he wishes. He smiles around his cigarette.

"Yo' Chief, you ok?" Alicia asks from her rooted spot on a chair, glancing over to him and the way he carries himself.

"She's the one who taught me so far, th' lit'ny an' all that, et cet'ra... but she's busy lately an' anyhow, I'm s'posta get taught by th' Raggies, y'know...?" She trails off, flashing a smile at the new arrival, cigarrete held idly in one hand, off to the side, the smoke making patterns int he air as she swings gently.

Squall seems comfortable enough at the fringe of the small group, standing on the lowest step of the stairs. He blinks at Alicia, feigning ignorance. "I'm dandy, why do you ask?" The Wendigo cracks a grin.

Alicia points a finger at his stomach and hand, curiously raising up one brow.

Squall glances down at his hand, held against his stomach with the wrist held rigid. His head comes up, both eyebrows arched and a playful smirk on his lips. "Well what d'ya know! Heh, it's nothing. Sorta. Just took a facedive off a boulder earlier. Friggin' bird tried to burrow into my ear or something. Thought all those bastards went south for the winter." The cub gives an involuntary shudder.

Alicia lets her eyes roll slightly as a smile plays upon her lips. She can't help but grin a bit. "If your hurt, shift to a new form, prolly Glabro or something an just insta-heal it. That is, unless ya inta' pain or something."

Squall snorts, rolling his eyes. "Nah, I'm not a masochist or anything. If I ever saw a dominatrix I'd probably have a damned heart attack and run for it. Just that I'm starting to get into this whole 'I'm a man, I can take it' mood lately, so I'm dealing with it and using it as a reminder of what a clutz I can be. So far it's working, 'cause it hurts like a bastard."

Matt nods in agreement. "Shifting out of yer breed form heals most ills." He leans up and forward, offering a hand. "Matt Fulton, Fianna philodox cub."

Squall nods slightly to the Philodox, grasping the other's hand with his right, the good one, and shaking a few brisk times. "Good to meet ya. Squall Akshani, Ragabash of the Wendigo, and rebellious snot of a cub. Just don't tell my elders eh?"

Matt's eye crinkle as he smiles. "Oi'm sure they'll figure it out soon enough."

Alicia grins. "Ah'm sho' they already know. Lil shit." She grins, winking to the wendigo.

"They still think you're a Philodox?" Bernie asks innocently, and grins, leaning forward to offer her hand as well, and an introduction, "Bernie Rosenberg, Raggie Gnawer cub. Notta r'bellious snot yet but I do my best..."

Squall winces, offering a quick glance over his shoulder. "Fluck, I hope not. Joseph would sooo beat me silly. Or worse, lecture me in Lakota, and demand I go on a vision quest or something." He snickers at his own joke, shaking his head. "He's a cool guy though, just totally outta the movies. It's like watching Geronimo get stuck in Boston or something, funny as hell."

Squall grins and nods to the Gnawer, shaking hands, again with his good one. "Heh, give it some time, you'll get there. Though from what I know of the Gnawers, ya shouldn't have a whole lotta reason to rebel. Good folks, I know a few."

"Ah'm not rebellious." Alicia says with a smirk. "Ah'm a good lil cubby." Her eyes twinkle with mischeviousness as she leans into the chair, slumping down a hint.

Matt glances askance at Alicia. "Roiiiight. Perfect, you are. Never a bundle of trouble waiting for a dancehall in which ta happen."

The Wendigo cracks up, shaking his head in obvious disbelief, his rather wild and tousled hair waving around a bit. "Oh like hell you are squirt! You're the biggest damn flirt I've seen, and I've never even seen ya drunk either. Ya tree hugger." He adds the last with a squint of his eyes, grinning.

Bernie moves her free hand, once shaken, to pat Alicia on the head. "Of course y' are, dear," she agrees tolerantly, and then sits back down, eyeing her cigarette suspiciously.

Alicia grins a bit and blows a kiss to Squall. "Didn't mean to put a hurt on your pants Sitting Bull." She drawls off in that husky, street voice she's so used to playing on the fragile ego's of young male minds. "Ah'll jus'be less flirty." Her eyes shift to Bernie and Matt, holding that smile. "Ganna smoke dat'? O' start at it all day Bernie?"

Squall rolls his eyes. "Aw hell, don't worry your pretty little hormones 'bout that. I've been out in the woods so long I think if a doe and a chick in a miniskirt walked by, I'd be more likely to kill the doe then bother to check out the girl." He grimaces.

Matt snickers. "Done deal then. You kill the doe, Oi'll check out the twist."

Squall says, "Mmm, venison. Still haven't killed a deer yet, they're too friggin' fast and I always end up slamming into a tree or something. Rabbits and squirrels are nice and stupid though, thank god, or I'd never eat except for what I leeched here." He nods to the farmhouse.

Bernie looks at the cigarette a bit longer, and her cheeks look suspiciously pinker; she shakes her head, and takes another drag off it, making a face at Alicia and blowing the resulting smoke at the other girl, not looking at the male cubs just now.

Alicia leans back some and grins. She scoots her chair closer to Bernie, then slips out, plopping onto the swing next to her. Her eyes then train towards Squall and Matt, finally, leaning towards the other girl, whispering something suspiciously as she continues to eye the males, nodding faintly towards them.

Alicia whispers "Watch this, I betcha Squall gets paranoid an wonders what ah'm saying to you."

Apparently the whisper's something amusing, as Bernie ducks her head slightly and snickers, nodding in response with a bit of a smirk. She glances sidelong at the boys, and then murmurs something back to Alicia, equally quietly.

You whisper "Y'think? Wonder how long it'd take for 'em to get nervous..." to Alicia.

Squall peers at Alicia, suspicious... Grunting slightly he pointedly ignores the Gaian, instead finding his fingernails of his good hand fascinating.

Alicia nods her head and bursts out laughing, a faint red hue spreading along her cheeks. Wetting her lips, she leans forward and whispers again, clearing her throat.

Alicia whispers "Mmm.. Yup. I know Squall, right now, its eating him up inside wondering what we are saying, but he'll play it off. But just watch, he'll get twitchy"

Squall taps his food impatiently against the step, glancing from Matt to the two girls. At last, the Wendigo breaks down, "Bah! Allright, the hell are you two giggling and whispering about? Come on, out with it."

Matt rolls his eyes at the ladies, raising an eyebrow at Squall, but obviously curious about the answer as well.

Bernie giggles, nodding to Alicia, and seems about to reply to her as Squall's outburst interrupts. She pauses a second, looking at him, and then bursts out laughing, nodding to Alicia again. Lifting a finger in a 'hold on' gesture, she presses her lips together, and swallows the rest of the laughter, then grins at the Wendigo, "...how long it'd take b'fore you just -had- t' know what we were whisperin' 'bout..."

Squall grumbles, but still replies. "About three seconds. Now spill the beans, come on. Both of ya."

Alicia glances over to Squall, clearing her throat. She eyes him up and down for a moment, almost as if regarding. Finally, she looks back to Bernie, then shakes her head, that grin still set on her lips. Leaning back to Bernie, she softly whispers again.

Alicia whispers "Told ya'. He gotta crush on me ah'think. I think its funny as hell what guys will do for a girls attention"

Squall starts to growl low in his throat, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned. Suddenly he drops the gruff exterior and whines in an absolutely irritating tone, "Puh-leeeeeaase? Pleasepleasepleaseplease? Come on, this is sooo not fair!"

Matt shrugs, willing to wait. It will, his posture seems to say, either come out in the open and be funny, or cease to be important. He smokes his cigarete almost to a roach, then shakes his third out of the pack.

Bernie gives Squall a sidelong glance, and then murmurs to Alicia, tilting her head a bit. The posture seems to imply that she might be suggesting they tell, but, well, who knows?

You whisper "Yeah?" Her tone changes slightly, a bit less cheerful as she comments, "...I wouldn't know, really...," but quickly brightens again, "so what shall we tell 'im? Obviously th' truth isn't good enough for 'im..." to Alicia.

The Wendigo's lower lip starts to quiver, and his eyes begin watering, growing as wide as they can from their normal almond shape. He makes a series of sniffling and whimpering noises, bringing both hands to clasp in front of him. He winces as he jars his left wrist, but manages well enough to hold it still.

Alicia listens to Bernie for a moment, then glances over to Squall. She watches him for a full minute in silence, then finally, she speaks. "Your right Bernie.. I think hot chocolate sounds good right now. I'll make you a cup."
Alicia stands up and moves for the door, tossing her hair back.

Squall suddenly stops, brow furrowing. "Bah, you little twerp. That's it." With a brief cackle, Squall jumps up onto the porch, speeding towards Alicia. "You are soooo getting a vicious wedgie!"

Matt perks and calls to Alicia. "Make four, and Oi might remember the words ta 'Finnegan's Wake.'"

"Don't forget the marshmallows," Bernie calls after her, and grins as she watches the attack.

Alicia laughs and back peddles as she turns around, scooting through the door. "Now now Squall, remember the litany, No hands down the pants. You can get busted fo' that." She darts through quickly, heading for the living room.

Matt raises an eyebrow, then mutters, mostly to himself: "'and down th' trews? /That's/ not mating..."

Bernie pulls her legs up onto the swing, sitting crosslegged, and stays quiet a few moments, looking at the cigarette again -- or, this time, actually, more gazing thoughtfully into the rising smoke.

Bernie laughs quietly, replying, "If it were, my sister'd've had her baby yeeears ago.." Her eyes remain focused on the smoke.

Matt cranes his head back to look at Bernie. "So, he says, trying to fink loike a Ragabash, what is it ye need ta know?"

A slight pause while Bernie seems to consider that, and then she shrugs, shaking her head, "Dunno, sadly. I hate when I don't even know what I don't know..." She shifts the cigarette, watching the smoke move, and takes another puff, blowing it out slowly into the air. "I know they're s'posta teach me more 'bout fightin' an' all..."

Matt nods, gesturing with his cigarette as he replies. "/That/ Oi can 'elp wif. Oi've been sparring on an off wif Megan for the better part of a year."

Bernie does glance over at Matt now, flashing a quick half-grin at him through the curls cloaking her face, "You wanna beat me up, huh?" She inhales the smoke again, and lets it out, nodding slightly. "Thanks... couldn't hurt. Well, a'ight, could hurt like hell, but as far as th' learnin' part goes, I mean."

Matt smiles ferally. "Which d'ye think ye'd learn more from: surviving a read an' write, or readin' about it?"

Bernie half-smiles over at Matt again, pushing a curl uselessly behind her ear, the others still dangling in a mesh curtain across her visage. "B'lieve it or not, I've -been- in my share of 'em already... jus', not with any act'al trainin' an' with Marquis of Humanity rules -- you know, no fangs, no claws, no bitin' below th' belt..."

Matt raises an eyebrow, eyes twinkling with humor. "No bitin' below the belt? Why not? Hurts like a Son of a, an' Bob's yer Uncle."

"Nah, Frank's my uncle, Bob's my li'l brother," Bernie replies, with something more like her usual grin, apparently distracted from whatever was loweinrg her spirits a bit. "An' 'cause I wouldn' wan' 'em t' get th' wrong idea, y'know. If I bit any of 'em there they'd be tellin' th' whole school I wanted t'..." She suddenly flushes bright red, and ducks her head, the curls covering her face completely a moment before she lifts it again, only slightly pink, and finishes, "...you know. Anyhow mosta them were wearin' jeans at th' time an' my teeth're only so sharp." A slight pause, and the grin returns, more malicious than usual, "Though, I did give at least one of 'em a permanent smile-mark on 'is arm. And then I gave it eyes when he tried t' pull a knife on me th' next day. Bet he'll have a happy face scar f'rever. ...that's why I got s'spended."

Matt grins, then shakes his head. "Well, if we spar an' I'm mush-headed enough ta give ye a clear shot an' ye don't take it, I /will/ thrash you. Beyond the Farmhouse the game is live, and the other team plays fer keeps, roight?"

Bernie nods. "Roight. Uh, right." A pause, then, "I -hit- people there, just never bit. ...anyway." Her eyes drift back to the smoke.

"Not ta worry," Matt smiles. "Oi'm /very/ protective o' me tackle."

That wins a bit of a giggle, and the Gnawer nods again, "Wise. I hear they're hell on earth t' repair or replace...." She shifts position a bit, sitting up to stretch her back out before resting her arms on her thighs again, and glancing at the door. "...so they grindin' the cocoa beans, or debatin' the finer points of whether wedgies are a violation, y'think?"

Matt stabs out the remainder of his cigarette, pocketing the butt, as usual. He stands, offering Bernie a hand of the swing. "Well, in either case, it's probably time ta get in out o' the cold, neh?"

Bernie follows suit, accepting the hand as she unfolds and rises. "Mmm, might not be a bad idea, nah..." She slides her bag back onto her shoulder, and shakes her hair back behind her shoulders, out of her face. "Right. Onward t' glory."

Matt shakes the cold off and presses onward to the kitchen.

Bernie follows.

Squall is perched on one of the counters, already chugging from his mug, holding it with both hands. Glancing up at the two cubs entering, he lowers his mug and lips his top lip. "Choc's ready, I think Ali went into the pantry for something."

Matt nods. "Sandshoe," he says, headed to the cabinet to pull out a mug for himself and one for Bernie.

Squall blinks, mug freezing on it's way to his mouth. "Sand..shoe?" Both eyebrows are arched, and from his tone it's fair to say he's clueless.

Bernie glances pantryward, and nods, wandering over to the cocoa. "Thank you," she translates absently, peering into the drink, "What... no marshmallows?"

Squall ohhs, nodding in understanding. He points with his right hand to the bag of mallows by the already poured mugs of cocoa, next to the fridge.

"Ah," Matt admits, seeing the already poured mugs. He replaces the ones he was pulling out before grabbing a mug for himself.

Bernie gives the poured mugs and marshmallows an accusing glare. "I think they were tryin' t' 'void us..." she remarks indignantly, and takes the remaining mug for her own. "Well, they won't get away -that- easily."

Squall guzzles down the last of his, ignoring the scorching of his tonsils. He squints at the chocolatey sludge in the bottom of the mug, tipping it over his open mouth and patting it with the edge of his left palm to dislodge the sugary goop. After satisfying his craving, he nods once and sets the mug down. "Man, I haven't had hot chocolate in like...ten years I think."

Matt nods, sagely. "Wanting ta be alone, taling about undergarments...sure sign of Litany-Breakers."

Squall snickers, shaking his head. "I tried giving her an atomic wedgie, but turns out she's wearing a thong so my work was already done." The cub rolls his eyes. "Leave it to her to spoil even that little of a prank, Christ."

"Yes indeed," Bernie replies, noddding sagely, "it's just a short step from undergarments to, well... Social Ruin and the Heartbreak of Soiled Honour. Not to mention soiled linens." She manages not to blush -too- hard as she says it. Sipping her cocoa, she ahhs at Squall, "So the atomic wedgie blew up in your face, huh?"

Matt blushes slightly (less than Bernie), then admits "I never bother meself. It seems silly to perform a Rite of Talisman Dedication on a pair of undershorts, but ta not means Oi lost a pair every time Oi shifted."

After a moment, Bernie adds mostly to herself, in an undertone, "'Heartbreak of psoriasis' really sounds better...."

Squall sighs and nods. "So now I gotta think of a new strategy. Shortsheet her bed maybe, or go with the old but faithful hand in warm water... Decisions decisions." He chuckles.

Squall says "I was lucky enough to get my clothes Dedicated pretty quick when I came here. Sepdet managed it, and thank Gaia too. Running around nekkid as the day I was born after shifting around is not my idea of fun."

Matt rolls his eyes. "Oi can only imagine this must be what Ragabash moots must be loike. 'What shall we do to Steven?' 'Put shaving cream in his hand while he sleeps!'"

Since their comments came at the same time, it takes a second before Bernie registers Matt's... whereupon she turns redder again, and adds a few marshmallows to her mug. Gelatinous sugar is safe. Yes. "...y'oughta do somethin' original, if you're gonna... like, hmm..." She ponders, eyeing the dissolving blobs in her drink.

Squall snickers, shaking his head. "You kiddin'?! Aw man, the shaving cream bit is sooo outdated. You wanna shrek someone bad, ya gotta hit 'em where it counts."

Matt shrugs. "Ah. Oi /am/ behind the times. How /will/ the ragabash come to accept me?"

Squall gnaws on his lower lip, evidently thinking... After several moments pass his eyes light up and he holds up both hands. "I got it! Replace her toothpaste with--" He frowns, brow furrowing as he breaks off, mumbling, "No no, that won't work, it's grey..."

"Mm.... you could squi..." Bernie murmurs absently, poking at a marshmallow, and then looks up, startled, and breaks off mid-word. Grinning, she shakes her head, and sips the drink.

Squall's eyebrows go up. "No no, keep going!" He grins, motioning her on with his hands. "Can't be that bad, right?"

Matt listens to the Ragabash plot with some amusement, either oblivious to or ignoring the cocoa moustache he now sports.

Bernie shakes her head, still grinning. "Nahhhhh," she replies, "wouldn't be fair. Y'know, brotherhood of ma... well, sisterhood of woman, or whatever. PLus, y'know, she's my friend an' all. So it'd be wrong of me t' suggest, say, squishin' her shoes, or putting temp'rary dye or maple syrup or somethin' in her shampoo, or anythin' like that, y'know?" She actually manages to pull the comment off with an almost convincing innocence, sipping the cocoa again as she finishes.

Squall nods solemnly, shaking his head with a heavy sigh. "Yeah.. Yeah I hear ya. Well, it's good to know you, as her friend, wouldn't suggesting replacing all her shampoo with say, Nair, or spiking her drinks with laxative. That would be absolutely horrendous!" The Ragabash just barely keeps a grin off his face, as he pokes at his empty mug.

Matt pretends to stifle a look of shock. "remind me ta spenda week in Lupus if Oi ever get one o' you arsed at me."

Squall snickers. "Oh hey, we're not always this bad. Sometimes. Just that Alicia totally deserves to be shrekked, big time." He stops, turning to Bernie, a slow grin spreading on his lips. "Come to think of it...so do you. You were her accomplice."

"Def'nitely not," Bernie replies seriously, and rather self-righteously, "....Nair smells tot'lly diff'rent, plus you hafta leave it on for it t' work, so you'd wanna make sure you added it to a leave on conditioner..." She grins at Matt, eyes widening as Squall turns his attention to her, and glances in his direction, ".....me? Be fair, 's my job, innit? ...anyhow, I told youwhen y'asked, not my fault if y'don't b'lieve me..." She reaches up to straighten and polish an invisble halo.

Squall chuckles quietly, nodding. "We'll see. Just stay away from shampoo you haven't kept locked up for a week or two eh?" The Wendigo's grin widens more

Squall hops off the counter, shoving off with both hands. Picking up his mug, he traipses over to the sink and rinses it out with hot water before setting it down in the sink. Stretching his arms above his head, he groans and sighs. "Man, I gotta head back to the bluff. Gonna need a fire if I wanna stay marginally warm tonight, even in wolf fur." He snorts, shaking his head.

Matt finishes his cocoa as well. "Aye. An' oi need ta get ta sleep. Work in the corning."

Squall nods to Matt and Bernie, grinning. "Nice to meet ya both. Always good to meet a fellow cub and all. I'll catch ya later. Gaia's blessings, and safer paths." Waving over his shoulder, the Wendigo heads for the sliding glass door.

"Y*..." Bernie starts, then seems to think better of whatever she wa about to say. "Havva nice fire, then...." She glances at the clock, finishing off her cocoa as well, might as well make it unanimous. "THink I'll take in some Bohemian Decadence as well...."

Matt ushers Bernie upstairs. "Y'know, eventually people are goin' ta talk..." He winks.

Bernie laughs, only turning the slightest bit pink as she heads toward the stairs. "Should hope so, hand signals are only so communicative," she replies, starting upward.

Matt snorts, shaking his head. "Goodnight, Bernie."