The afternoon rays of light filter in through the window as Alicia lazes about the living room, waiting for Adam. She's dressed in a long flowing skirt and a halter top. Usually when he comes over, she tries to look more coggie'sh.

In the back of the house, Adam steps into the dining room through the sliding glass door.

In the back of the house, Adam squints at the change in lighting from outside to inside. He lets the door close behind him, stifling a yawn with a free hand.

Bernie comes into the house via the front door, as usual, backpack over her shoulder, nose in a book. She looks slightly different than usual; her wild curls have been forcibly restrained into a fairly high ponytail, the flannel shirt seems to be taking a brief vacation, and her usual tank top is replaced by, apparently, a black leotard, with a neckline somewhat lower than the other shirt. She flashes Alicia as grin as she enters, and wanders over to plop down beside her, setting her bag on the floor with a clinking of the various contents. "Hey. 'sup?"

Alicia glances over and blinks in surprise, a faint grin spreading along her lips. "Hey there Bernie, you look good." She eyes your current style of clothing, then grins. "I like th'change."

In the back of the house, Adam's eyes adjust, and he peers into the living room, seeing a cub of his own and...someone who does look a little familiar. To investigate, he heads there, staying in the hallway for the moment.

Alicia lifts her chin up and glances behind her towards Adam, a wide smile crossing her lips. "Hey Adam-Rhya." She drawls, eyes glinting with mischeviousness.

Adam's eyebrows lift, knowing that look in Alicia's eyes. He stays right in the hallway, thankyouverymuch. "Evening, Alicia," he says, actually giving a smile. He looks over to Bernie. "Who's your friend?"

Bernie blushes very slightly at Alicia's compliment, and shrugs it off, though she smiles at her, "Yeah? Thanks, 's just, y'know, old stuff..." She trails off as Adam is addressed, and glances up to look at him. Her eyes widen slightly, and she blinks a couple times before she flashes him something resembling her usual grin, and a bit of a wave.

Alicia smiles and peers at Adam, eyes flashing. "This is my friend Bernie, a new moonie of the Gnawers. Bernie, this is my teacher, Adam, he used to be a backstreet boy until the first change. Now he's just this really cool guy who teaches me stuff and guards the bawn."

Bernie nods, confirming Alicia's assertion, and stands up, walking over to Adam and offering her hand, a little shyly, "Like she said, Bernie Rosenberg, also called Reads-In-Darkness, Ragabash Bone Gnawer cub.... hi, niceta meetcha."

Adam ahs, and relaxes, chuckling. "I thought I had seen you someplace before," he says, giving both girls a wide smile. "Adam Bowden, Dies-for-Others. Cliath halfmoon with the Children of Gaia, Groundskeeper and Guardian of the Caern. Nice to meet you as well, Ms. Rosenberg."
Adam, as he speaks, takes Bernie's hand, shaking it firmly.

Alicia watches the two and lets them get acquainted. She pulls her knees up to her chest, placing her hands over them.

Bernie shakes fairly firmly as well, and grins, "...please don' call me Ms. Rosenberg... only person who ever did that's my ol' principal, an' only when I was gettin' lectured or punished for somethin'..." She glances at her hand and retrieves it, looking slightly startled to notice that she hadn't yet. Both hands slide into her jacket pockets, and she smiles, then wanders back to the couch near Alicia.

Adam leans against the wall again. "As you say, Bernie," he replies. "What are you two up to, then?"

Alicia shrugs her shoulders absently. "Nothing actually. Bernie just got here as you did. Kinda like Deja Vu' from last night. Oh hey. Steven told me that someone must have raised me right." Her eyes shine.

Bernie grins, and nods, "Yup. I c'n c'nfirm that. Threatened t' marry her, too..." She smirks, and pulls her knees, but not boots, up onto the couch.

The look Adam has in response to that last bit, while not unkind, makes it appear as if a bad taste suddenly formed in Adam's mouth. "Why did he say that," he asks, before giving Bernie a shocked look. "He did that?"

Alicia nods her head and shrugs her shoulders. "Um.." She glances to Bernie to answer this one.

Bernie bursts out laughing. "What, scary guys aren't allowed t' exaggerate once inna while? He just liked 'er lasagna, an' that she brought 'im another beer without 'im havin' t' ask. ...'course, from a fem'nist pointa view, it was all very offensive..." She shrugs, leaning back into the cushions with a grin. "Don' worry, I don' think there's any 'lopements planned."

Adam hehs, now looking relieved again. "Well, having been there, I do agree. Alicia's cooking is worth writing home about. As for the beer...hey, some people can tell when folks want something, I suppose."

Alicia grins. "He's Fianna, 'nuff said. Matt said the way ta' a Fae's stomach is through his bottle. So ah'figure.. Hmm.. Elder Galliard of the Sept..how can I butt kiss with him? Oh! I'll get him drunk."

Bernie giggles, and pushes one of the few curls not forced into the ponytail back behind her ear. It doesn't work any better than when all of it's hanging free. "If y'r gonna try that, I sure hope he's a happy drunk..."

Adam chuckles softly. "Well...for a Fianna, that is a Lot harder than it may seem. I got dared to a drinking contest when i was a cub, bot got warned about it before anything drastic happened."

Alicia grins a bit and shrugs her shoulders and brushes some bangs away also. "Well, in any case, I made him a happy Fianna, and I take it he likes me. He even joked with us for a bit."

Bernie nods, giving a slight stretch. "...'sall good. Speaking of cooking. 's 'bout dinnertime, don'tcha think? Shall we make somethin' new, or is there still lasagna in there?"

Alicia um's. "There's still some lasagna in the fridge last I checked. Unless Matt got to it."

Adam chuckles softly. "You two can go with whatever you want. Already ate," he explains. He steps into the room. "You've met Matt, then?"

Bernie glances to Alicia, then back to Adam, "Which of us? ...not that it really matters, since it's 'yes' either way, but..."

Alicia chuckles. "We've both met 'em. The three of us are really good friends."

Adam flashes a grin. "Well, yeah, Matt's a good kid," he says. "And what else have you been up to?"

Alicia shrugs her shoulders again. "Nothing? Hung out with Dante the other night and played the guitar, did some singing together. Otherwise, its been lonely an just waiting on you."

Adam looks surprised. "For?"

"For.. you know.... Garou teaching cub stuff?" She says in reply, curiously lifting a brow.

Adam nods slowly. "I understand," he says. "I am just trying to decide where to go next with you. Between Lise and myself, we've got the Litany completely covered."

Bernie listens quietly for the moment, and leans over to looks through a pocket of her backpack.

Alicia nods her head in reply. "Well, ah've been picking up stuff from whenever someone walks in. I kinda snag someone an yap their head off about Garou things when you guys aren't around. I figure its a lot better then just passing the time away with a word search. I'm learning a lot tho' and its cool. I talked to Simon, he was so cool, he's ganna help me with some Galliard stuff when he can." She starts to babble cheerfully. "He is so nice, I really like him and Dante, oh, you too Adam."

Alicia says "Oh! Also, Jarred came by an like totally apologized to me for whatever happened that one day. He said his reasons for being a total prick is cuz' he's jealous of Tom, cuz ah'guess like ah'm one of his good friends an he felt that he'd lose time in hanging out with me. Isn't that totally so highschool? Ah'dunno what ta' think 'bout it. Matt says ta'be careful, he may be doing some kinda shadow lord shit. Y'know, pulling th'wool ovah' my eyes."

Adam chuckles again. "Well, glad to see I'm liked, at least. And, it was honorable of Jarred to say so, but...his Tribe does carry a reputation for messing with people's heads. WHo knows, he might actually want friends. But...it is hard to tell with some people, you know?"

Alicia nods her head. "He was like close ta' crying yo'. Tha's what totally tripped me out. Ah'mean, ah'know he's notta bad guy an all. But..still.. Ah'm kinda wary 'round him, Evah since he thru' down wi' Luke in th'barn an kicked his ass. Y'know.. Scary stuff."

Adam hrms. "I heard about that. See, there's a ton of Fianna here, and Jarred beat down one of them, who's a Cliath in good standing, to boot. I think there's a lot of fear, there."

Alicia rubs the back of her neck. "Yah, ah'was there, ah' had ta' watch it."

Adam nods at that, and gives Bernie a sidelong glance bafore speaking to Alicia again. "There's a lesson there I want to discuss with you, and I want to do that tomorrow night. After dinner, and someplace we can speak alone." He looks apologetic to Bernie. "No offense of course, but it is a tribal matter."

Alicia nods her head at Adam, then stands up, heading to the stairs. "Excuse me... I gotta do something, y'know, powder my nose." And up she goes.

Bernie nods, looking up from the xeroxed pages she'd pulled from her bag,a nd nods, with an easy smile, "No prob, I understand an' all." She glances after Alicia as the other girl heads up.

Adam smiles as his cub leaves. He looks to the pages. "Um, unless I am intruding...what do you have there?"

Bernie glances back down at the papers, and grins. "Oh... nothin' too terr'bly excitin'... li'l bita city history, couple other semi-random things I got kinda int'rested in..."

Adam takes a seat, curious. "Oh? What have you discovered?"

"Well...." Bernie shuffles the pages slightly, moving a different sheet to the top, "started with th' beginnin', 'course... first settlers here, an' who was here before 'em... an' moving through to it becomin' a real town... y'know, th' whole life-of-th'-city sorta thing."

Adam scratches the back of his next. "Is it fun? Interesting, I mean?"

Bernie laughs a little, looking down at the papers again. "Well, for me, both," she replies, in a slightly self-deprecating tone, "but then, I'm a total geek. Most people'd probably be bored stiff by it all." Yes, she suddenly seems to have found all those missing syllables, at least for the duration of that sentence. "For example... St. Claire started out as a mining town, and this area, here..." she draws a fingertip along a small section of a faint map, "was the red light district, and took in a large proportion of the miner's wages... which I guess kept the money in the region, at least..." She looks up again, and suddenly her manner of speech changes right back, "So, yeah, 's not 'zactly gonna be ht' next major motion picture 'r anythin'..."

Adam can't help but smile. "Probably not, but that information is good to know. You can ask around, seeing about the history of the Caern in relation to the city. It's fascinating, I think."

Bernie nods, and grins. "Tha'd be cool... I haven't act'ly been t' th' caern but once, yet. So maybe I'll see if I c'n find Kaz an' get her t' take me soon."

Adam hmmms. "Kaz is good people, too," he says. He thinks for another moment. "If, while you're out there, you meet Robert, my Edler, pack Alpha, and Warder, ask him for a little history of the caern itself. It's not a bad story."

Bernie nods, seemingly making a mental note. "Robert," she repeats, "...got it. I'll do that if I see 'im... thanks." She pauses, and looks at the cliath for a second or two. "So... what sortsa things are you in'trested in, then? When y'r not teachin' cubs an' all."

Adam finds he really has to think about this. "I have my duties. As Groundskeeper, I needs to keep the Bawn and Caern relatively clean, and protect it as a Guardian, and answer questions or disputes people have, when in need of a Philodox."

Bernie's brow furrows slightly at that. "Okay, cool as that sounds... don'tcha do anythin' for fun? I mean, on y'r own time an' all? Things that aren't duties?"

Adam chews on his lip, here. "I...well, I dunno. I got caught up in my work, for a little over a year. I've been told I should take a vacation, too. JUst...have to get through a few things first, before I can think about it."

Bernie mmms, and nods thoughtfully. "You prolly oughta take somethin' up then. Like, Alicia dances an' stuff. An' I read. An' I ustea play role-playin' games, she an' I are gonna try an' get some people t'gether t' do that, you wanna join in maybe? 's fun an' stuff."

Adam chuckles quietly. "Tried that when I was younger," he admits. "It was okay, but...I dunno. AFter three years of this, I can't see imagining stuff being any better."

That elicits a bit of a grin, "Yeah, tha'sabout what 'licia said. Only I figure, it doesn't hafta be -better-, jus' diff'rent, right?" Bernie shrugs, "guess we'll letcha know if we ever get it goin'?"

Adam chuckles. "Hey, I won't be able to join you, but it doesn't hurt to ask others?"

Bernie shrugs. "A'ight, fair 'nough I guess." She slides the xeroxes carefully back into her bag. "Think I'm gonna grab a li'l dinner in th' kitchen. You c'n come with if y' want, 'course."

Adam stands up, shaking his head. "I am sorry, but I will have to decline. I need to get back to patrols, myself."

Bernie nods, standing, and picking up her bag. "No prob. Like I said... niceta meetcha... nice talkin' t' ya, too. I'll try t' look up Robert t' find out mor e'bout th' caern."

Adam nods, and offers the girl a light bow before he goes. "Gaia light your path, Bernie Reads-in-Darkness."

Alicia heads back downstairs, stiffling a long, drawn out yawn.

Bernie smiles, and makes a small approximation of a curtsey in return, "Thanks..."

Adam nods, and smiles again as he sees his charge come down the stairs. "I will come get you tomorrow nigth, Alicia," he says.

Alicia blinks her eyes a bit. "Oh.. your going now?" She asks.

Adam looks a bit sad at that, nodding. "I need to get back to my patrols."

Bernie grins, "Yeah, I scared 'im away..." She starts toward the kitchen door again.

Alicia grins to Bernie, then strides over to Adam, wetting her lips a bit. "Oh. I'll miss you."

In the front rooms, Adam smiles. "I'll miss you, too," he says, and goes.

In the front rooms, Adam leaves through the front door. You can hear the screen door swing shut again with a clatter.

In the front rooms, Alicia watches him go and takes a deep breath, drawling. "Gah... what a /hunk/."

Bernie nods, opening the fridge and slowly surveying the contents. "Damn, you c'n say that again..." She shakes her head, managing to control the slight blush that threatens, and pulls out the remnants of the lasagna, as well as a soda and some fruit. "You hungry?"

In the front rooms, Alicia laughs and peers out into the kitchen, a smile on her face. "Nah, its ok, Ah'm ganna call Tom an see if I can pester him over." She's fumbling with her cell phone.

Bernie nods, putting together a plate of dinner for herself. The serving of lasagna isn't all that big; there's enough left to be worth returning ot the fridge. "Sounds like a plan..." She pauses, setting the oven to warm the pasta. "Um... told him 'bout th' other night thing, or are y' gonna?"

In the front rooms, Alicia um's, "'Bout Jarred apologizing to me? I haven't yet.."

Bernie shakes her head, "Not what I was thinkin' of..." She puts the rest of the food in the fridge, and starts peeling an orange, sitting at the table as the pasta warms up. "...but, come t' think of it, wha'd Jarred do anyhow? I only barely met 'im once, an' I didn't hear 'bout th' whatever."

In the front rooms, Alicia ums'. "Jarred caught me an Tom moching on the couch once right? New Years night.. It was just the two of us. He comes storming into the front door, then freaks. Cuz'.. Ahem... It was getting busy right? So he shifts to glabro an tells Tom if he ever comes back, he'll find trouble and scared the crap outta the poor kin. So Tom bolts and freaks out and he's scared as hell, he won't come out of his house. Jarred and me got into a huge fight. He says Tom is too old for me an I shouldn't be having sex, which I'm /not/. " Clears her throat.

The oven timer dings, and Bernie pulls the plate out, setting it down and getting a fork and knife. "Ohhhhhh. Got it. So he 'polagized for that, and now you gotta let Tom know an' all, yeah?"

In the front rooms, Alicia nods her head. "Yup. Thats what ah'm ganna do." She smiles, clicking on the phone and dial's.

In the front rooms, Alicia says "Hi Baby, whats up? You sound tired."

In the front rooms, Alicia paces around the room as she continues to talk. "I'm sorry.. Oh hey, check it out. That Jarred dude came over an totally apologized and shit. He said he felt hella bad to do that an he's ganna leave us alone. He said he was just jealous because I was kicking it with you too much."

In the front rooms, Alicia sighs heavily and flops onto the couch. "Nono... you should. He won't hurt you, trust me. Adam an Robert will kill his ass if he so much as touches you. And he has nothing to be jealous of, and neither should you." She slumps to the side, craddling the phone against her ear.

Bernie sighs softly, and starts eating, quietly thoughtful.

In the front rooms, Alicia sighs heavily, closing her eyes. "Tom.. yer no safer in yer bedroom then you would be here. Look, Bernie is over here also k? Ya'remember her right, my girlfriend. Look, Adam just left the house, so he's near by. You won't be hurt." Her voice wavers for a moment, pondering. "He was just being pissy that night, but I promise,he won't hurt you."

In the front rooms, Alicia sighs even harder now and bites her lip. "Um.. what if.." She ponders, glancing to the kitchen, then back to the phone. "What if Bernie escorted ya over here, y'know, so you'd be safe, that is if she was ok with it, would you do that?"

In the front rooms, Alicia runs a hand back through her hair, letting out a harsh sigh. "Yes.. I understand...sorry." Her voice softens a bit.

In the front rooms, Alicia bites her lip a moment. "Yer not weak Tom... Your a normal guy who was scared by a werewolf, I think even die hard nazi's would be scared if it happened to them also."

In the front rooms, Alicia sighs once more. "I don't know, probably not for a long, long time. I won't be able to go to the city for awhile. Maybe not till after my passage."

"Hey," Bernie suggests, "...he could meet you outside, only on th' grounds still? Maybe that'd feel safer?"

In the front rooms, Alicia shakes her head, covering the phone. "No.. I can't leave the farmhouse or barn. I'm stuck here. They won't let me go anywhere on my own."

Bernie nods, "Yeah, I -know-, but, the fields don't count? Or you -could- hang in th' barn...." She shrugs, and munches slowly.

In the front rooms, Alicia says "No.. He won't come out here period. He's scared to death. Completely. You should hear him, he's 'bout ta' cry."

Bernie winces, and nods, brow furrowing. "Mrm. Gotta think on it then. Hey... think maybe you could get Jarred to call 'im an' say it's okay? I mean, won't help right now, but 'least it could clear things up more, maybe?"

In the front rooms, Alicia says "You wanna talk ta' him? Yer a new moonie, see if ya can make him laugh or something."

In the front rooms, Alicia shakes her head. "No way he'd wanna talk to Jarred."

Bernie shrugs, swallowing her bite, "Well, I could try, I guess...."

In the front rooms, Alicia nods her head and crosses into the kitchen, handing over the phone.

Long distance to Tom: Bernie's voice comes over the line, "Hey, 's Bernie. 'licia gave me th' phone. 'sup?"

From afar, Tom is obviously a bit suprised. "Oh, she...did?" Why? he think sto himself. "Um, well...nothing..nothing is up I suppose."

Long distance to Tom: Bernie sounds pretty cheerful. "Yup! An' nothin'? NOthin' at all? That's no fun. You should come by an' see us. Really. We got lasagna," she sing-songs teasingly.

From afar, Tom sighs softly, apparently getting it. "No," he says simply. "I'm...fine here. Have some work I need to catch up on and such."

You paged Tom with 'So bring it over! C'mon. Don'tcha wanna see 'licia? 'cause y'know she can't go see you 'til they let her off house arrest. An' it's not gonna be any fun if she goes all mopey. -I'm- not stuck here, I'll come by an' kick yer ass for her..." From her tone, that's quite obviously an idle threat, not something she's really inclined to do. "'f y'want, I c'n chaperone or somethin', make sure it's all prim an' proper or whatever. C'mon!'.

Alicia slips onto a chair at the table.

From afar, Tom snorts. "Look, I'm not going. I don't know what they told you, but I can't stand it anymore. It's...too much for me. You guys creep me out, no offense." There's a sigh and he continues, "I just...can't handle things, I can't."

Long distance to Tom: Bernie sighs. "All of us? You prolly better tell 'licia that, then, don'tcha think? Though pers'nally, I think y'oughta just try an' put it aside, 'least f'r her sake. But, whatever. 's too bad. I'll give ya back t' her; I tried."

Bernie hands the phone back with a sigh, shaking her head a bit.

From afar, Tom just sighs, not even replying at this point.

Alicia takes it and blinks, leaning back into the chair.
Alicia says "Hello?""

Alicia glances over to Bernie and gives a slight smile, then sighs. "Well.. can't say we didn't try eh?" Into the phone.

In the front rooms, Lucca steps in from the porch, closing the front door behind her.

In the front rooms, Daisy steps in from the porch, closing the front door behind her.

Alicia sighs and kicks the chair next to her. "Yer not defective Tom." She mumbles into the phone, casting a look to Bernie.

Bernie gives Alicia a shrug, both hands palm up, and then goes back to her dinner, peeling a slice of orange off the fruit.

In the front rooms, Lucca holds the door open for Daisy's entrance, closing it behind the girl as she enters and then calling out, experimentally, "Anybody home? More company!" Yay! Eh heh.

Alicia sighs a bit and glances over her shoulder towards the living room, calling back. "Hi Lucca!"

Bernie lifts a hand, waving toward the doorway, silent, since her mouth is full. Ahhh, manners.

Alicia says "Oh.. Thats Lucca, she came over with a friend, she's always wired." Alicia says into the phone. "Kinda like on full time sugar."

Alicia says "Ok, well, Ah'm ganna go an reheat the lasagna. Good night Tom.. Sleep well."

Alicia hangs it up and slips it back into her pocket, grumbling a bit as she looks to Bernie.

In the front rooms, Daisy offers up a simple "Hello" by means of universal greeting. She sticks close to Lucca.

Bernie finishes her bite, washing it down with some soda. "Hey!" she greets, and then gives Alicia a sympathetic look. "Sorry... not really my area of expertise there.."

In the front rooms, Lucca's ear twitches oh so slightly as a click is heard, and she starts to march over towards the kitchen, looking Stern. Not Howard, mind you. "Okay, tell me that was your communicator and you were talkin' with the transporter officer on your starship 'cause I know you didn't have a cellphone here just now." She's not -yelling-. But she's being, well, authoritative.

Alicia raises a brow up at Lucca. "That was my communicator and I was taling to my transport officer on my starship."

Lucca smirks slightly and sticks out a hand. "C'mon. We don't wanna get tracked or anything. Megan makes me go drive to the goddamn town if I wanna check voice-mail, it's for everyone. Nobody tell you? Oh, this is Daisy," she says with a quick jerk of her thumb, letting Daisy do more introductions herself - but noting to her, "This's Alicia, and that's..." Glance at Bernie. Refresh her memory - who the heck are you?

Alicia raises a brow up at her. "How 'bout if I just don't use it in the house? No.. no one told me I couldn't use it. Its my only form of communication with our kin." Leaning back into the chair, she looks to Daisy, and then back to Lucca.

"Bernie," the plumper girl responds obligingly. "Hi." SHe tilts her head at Lucca, thoughtfully. "Think maybe I say you b'fore, but I don' think we met...?"

Lucca nods once at Bernie and finishes, "Bernie. I'm Lucca, Glass Walker, good t' meet you. Daisy, you wanna Coke?" She turns towards the fridge, letting it go with Alicia for the moment - once she pulls it out again, THEN it goes away.

Daisy offers her usual wallfloweresque greeting after Lucca (who does not live on the second floor) finishes chastizing Alicia. "Daisy. Cat-Killer. Claith. Glass Walker. Theurge. Lupus." Each word is disconnected from the other. Effort--and time--goes into forming each one. "Yes, please," she responds to Lucca's query, standing with her back up against the wall while observing the room's occupants.

Alicia glances over to Daisy and blinks a bit, wouldn't even know she was born feral. Waving a hand to her, she clears her throat. "Ah'm Alicia Jackson, Pretty-Paws. Galliard born for the Children of Gaia, cub too."

Bernie regards Daisy a moment after her introduction, and nods, "Bernie Rosenberg, Reads-In-Darkness, Ragabash Bone Gnawer cub. Niceta meetcha, Daisy an' Lucca." She eyes the few remaining bites of her pasta, and stabs one with her fork.

Lucca gets out two aluminum cans, and almost tosses one to Daisy, but decides to walk over and hand it to her directly. Yeah - she's proud of Daisy, in a strange kind of way. Admittedly, it's got more to do with 'hey look, we gots a lupus' than anything actually based in fact, but -still-. "Yeah, pretty much everyone here's a homid, though I think Banecruncher - he's a Gnawer full-moon, also a lupus - visits sometimes." Aimed at Daisy. What cubs?

Daisy doesn't seem particularly interested in other lupus or other tribes. Except one. "Other Glass Walkers?" she inquires. "Glass Walker kin?" She's definitely not a wordy person.

Alicia steps past them and out into the living room, giving polite smiles to them all.

Bernie glances after Alicia, and shrugs, going back to finishing her dinner.

Lucca shakes her head, looking at the floor. "Us. Roger. Big guy named Rik I saw once. Other'n that... there's Rina and Lianne, far as Kin goes. That's all I know about." She sighs, and slurps from her Coke. "I'm glad you're here, Daisy."

Daisy mumbles, "Rik." This is followed by a pregnant pause. "Tribe dying."

Bernie glances up at the mentions of Roger and of Rina, but doesn't comment. She finishes off the lasagna, and stands, rinsing the plate off before picking up the soda and orange and starting for the back door. "Niceta seeya," she remarks, "...later."

Lucca's response, straight out of any Japanese comic or RPG video game, is "....." at first. "Yeah, I guess it is," she says, shoulders slumping a little. "Maybe we oughta - I came here from the Sept of the Salt Lake, maybe they can spare a couple folks..." Probably exactly two. Mmmm. Mormon Glass Walkers. That'll be fun.

"Bye, Ber-nie," Daisy says, fumbling her first attempt at the Gnawer's name.

Bernie looks over her shoulder and grins at the Lupus, nodding slightly. "Bye, Daisy." With that, she pushes the door open, and heads outside.

[In the Barn]

Bernie sits on a bale of hay, cross-legged, her bag beside her, sipping a soda and idly eating an orange, a few xeroxed papers in her lap.

Matt pokes his head into the barn quickly, looking around and up at the loft to see if there is anyone inside who would object to the lit cigarette dangling lazily from his mouth.

Bernie glances up at the feeling of the slight draft from the direction of the door, and her somewhat preoccupied expression disappears, chased off by a warm smile that brightens the place by a lumen or two. "Hey! Hiya, Matt. How goes?"

Matt shrugs, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth. "You don't mind do you? he says, referring to his smoking. "Needed a fag after work."

Bernie shrugs back, and shakes her head. "Nah, 's fine with me. Long day then?" She waves vaguely at the bale she's seated on, "'s plennya room if y'wanna take a load off."

Matt smiles, relieved. He starts toward the seat offered, but stops about halfway there. Giving Bernie an appraising up-and-down, he asks "You've done somefing. Oi can't put my 'ands on it. Haircut?" He then continues to take a seat on the bale, close but not uncomfortably so.

Bernie pushes one of the few curls still free behind her ear, and as usual it immediately pops right back out. "...not 'zactly, I was kinda thinkin' 'bout it though... I jus' put it inna ponytail, 'so 'course it looks kinda shorter, y'know? ...orange?" she queries, offering a segment. A quick grin, "So now I guess you could put y'r hands on it..." She blinks, and blushes, covering her mouth, "...oh, that didn't sound right..."

Matt chuckles, taking a bit of orange. "Oi dunno, doesn't sound so bad...Jus' against the rules, that's all." He gives her a big, disarming grin.

Bernie blushes harder, ducking her head slightly, but smiles a bit in response, glancing sideways at the grin. The curl gets ineffectually moved again, and she looks down at the orange as she peels off another segment, "...is it? Thought the rules were against, um... certain partic'lar things. Might be onea those tribal interpretation things, y'think? I r'member Kaz was sayin' how the lit'ny's same phrasin' but diff'rent interpretations by tribe. Sounds kinda like th' diff'rent kinda Christian sects, dunnit? Oh! Hey, I found somethin' for ya yesterday..." She finally seems to put a breath in there, popping the orange slice in her mouth and leaning over to rummage in her backpack a moment, papers precariously balanced on her leg. The bag clinks a bit.

Matt nods, a bit ruefully. "Different interpretations by tribe? I've 'eard different interpretations between different philodox, m'dear." He reaches out to hold the papers still, eyeing the backpack and its possible contents. "Moi tribe, fer instance, is not so upset about a little trip ta the vicar's, so long as there's no..." he blushes and sputters, gesturing to find the right word.

"Trip t' th' vicar's?" Bernie echoes curiously, unable to parse that one. Her own blush seems to have settled down a bit for the moment, although at a rather pinker level than her usual complexion. A few more clinks, and a fleetingly triumphant grin, "..there!" She withdraws a small metal bottle opener, with the union jack painted on it. It's obviously not new; the metal is fairly heavy and the paint is faded and flaking a little. She offers it over as it sits in her palm.

"Oi!" Matt cries, surprise and delight painted across his face. "Me Da 'ad one o' these! Wherever did ye find one?"

Bernie grins widely, pleased and a bit proud that it's so well received. "I was just wandrin' through onea th' thrift stores, an' I saw it onna shelf with some other stuff, an' I thought maybe you'd like it, so..."

Matt beams. "Loike it? This is great!" Quickly and unexpectedly, he leans over and kisses Bernie on the cheek. "Sandshoe, luv. This is bloody marvellous."

Bernie turns bright red and ducks her head again, beaming herself. "...yay," she replies, "an' you're welcome, 'course..." That curl's displacement gets a third attempt, no more successful than the others, and she reaches into the bag again, pulling out a bottle of Guinness and setting it on the bale, where it's rapidly joined by two siblings before she pats the bag loosely shut again, and adds, "...figured you oughta have somethin' t' use it on, seein' as I don't think it'd be so useful on th' cans..." She peels another segment off the orange, and adjusts the seating of her glasses slightly.

Matts smile is completely unabashed. "Exellent. You fink of everyfing, you do. A loaf of bread..." he indicates the orange, "a jug of wine..." he uses the new bottle opener to pop open a Guinness and salute her with it, "...and thou." He offers her the open Guinness, prepared to open one of its mates for himself.

Bernie giggles, and accepts the bottle, offering the orange segment in return. "Well, I try..." she replies with exaggerated modesty, pressing one hand to her chest in overdone humbleness, and then smiles widely at him again. She sets the papers aside, atop her bag, and shifts positions on the bale slightly, getting more comfortable again.

"Mmph," matt says dribbling a bit of orange juice down his chin. "Remind me to cook for you sometime. Least Oi could do by way of repayment." He shifts a bit closer to Bernie, looking over her shoulder to the papers on the otherside. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it likely couldn't shift and regenrate like Matt can.

"A'ight," Bernie replies, taking a sip from her bottle, "keep that in mind..." The papers are xeroxed from a book, or perhaps books, judging from the one on top and the visible slivers of a couple below it. There's what looks like an old line-drawing map of the city many years ago, and some text, of course; the words 'Harbor Park' appear a few times. Wielding another orange slice in her free hand, the girl queries, following up on her own curiosity, "so... wha's a trip t' th' vicar's, then?"

Matt's sly grin grows wider and more devillish. "Well...Oi could /show/ you..." he chides, "but we might want ta go up ta the loft first. Just in case someone else comes in 'ere." He takes a quick slug of the Guinness, perhaps to calm his nerves, or to stifle a laugh.

Bernie cocks her head slightly, regarding Matt sidelong, one eyebrow arching upward a bit as she takes another sip. "...yeah, a'ight..." she replies after a few moments, sounding intrigued, the corner of her lips quirking upward.

Matt slides off the bale, standing and offering his free hand (the one not holding his beer and cigarette) to Bernie. His smile is enigmatic now, and a bit unsure.

Bernie pulls an empty ziploc from her bag and pops the remaining couple bits of orange within, closing it and slipping it and the papers into the backpack before sliding that onto her shoulder, reclaiming the beer from beside her, and taking his hand as she, too, drops down to the floor. She looks a little unsure herself, but still intrigued.

Matt doesn't let go of Bernie's hand, instead leading her over to the ladder to the loft. Sliding his arm around her, he pulls her close, very close, and asks "Why is it then, luv, that you blush whenever someone shows you any affecton? Hmm?"

Predictably enough... Bernie blushes again, eyes glancing downward, though she doesn't pull away; on the contrary, she leans in slightly. "...I dunno," she replies quietly, after a second's thought. "s'pose I'm just not so much useta it?" She glances toward Matt again, and smiles shyly, "I wish I wouldn't though. 's embarrassing. Which's kinda a vicious circle, 'course."

Matt leans back against the ladder, pulling Bernie to him in a comfortable hug. One hand comes up and makes another idle attempt to push that unruly lock of hair back into place (with no more success than ever, of course). He brushes her cheek gently with the back of the same hand, and just looks at her for a while.

Bernie hugs back, careful not to tip the bottle and spill it all over, and does her level best not to blush any harder or start staring at the ground again. The effort is mostly successful, for once, and she looks back shyly, a small, somewhat embarrassed and uncertain smile playing over her lips.

Alicia enters the ground level of the barn through one of the doors.

Matt's eyes dart up and toward the door as he hears it being opened, and quickly untwines his arm. He sighs wistfully. "If ye /really/ doan't know, Oi'll expain it later. Perhaps while we relax in Bohemian Decadence. Roight now, Oi fink it only fair ta offer Alicia that last Guinness ta celebrate me new Britney opener."

Alicia strides into the barn, wearing a pair of head phones, spandex work out shorts and a sports bra. She seems to be sweating, hair tied back into a pony tail. Blinking her eyes a bit, she glances over to the two and pauses for a moment.

Alicia says "Um... am ah'm interupting sum'tin?" She asks, one brow raised in amusement. "Cuz'ah was just stopping by fo'a second ya'know..um..."

Bernie nods, taking a slight step away from Matt, the bottle held in both hands as she nods. "...a'ight... you c'n 'splain it later?... an' yeah, sounds fair 'nough..." One hand unwraps itself from her Guinness and waves at Alicia, a bit of a finger wriggle. "Hi, 'licia...." She doesn't seem to blush at the other girl's question, but then, she already looks a little bit pink.

One Guinnes stands alone on a hay bale, a perfect match to the two Matt and Bernie are sporting. Taking a long (sort of nervous) drag from his cigarette, Matt steps over to it and opens it, using a well-worn bottle opener enameled with the Union Jack. "Noice, eh?" he says, indicating the opener. "Just like me Da's."

"Yeeeah...." Alicia says softly, inching her way back to the barn doors. "Um... nice seeing ya'll. Ah'll jus'get back ta'th' farm an get my sleep on."

"'s open now," Bernie points out, fighting that one still-free, recalcitrant curl again. "'f you don't drink it, 's prolly gonna go flat, an' get wasted..."

Matt proffers an open palm, in a 'what she said' gesture. "'s true. Besides, ye look like you were goin' ta work out, or dance, neh?" He sits down straddling the hay bale.

Alicia clears her throat. "No.. No dancing Matt." She says, cheeks tinting a bit, but well hidden by the fact she just got back from a run. "Ah'was ganna jus'hit th'bag a bit. Kick the shit outta it."

Matt raises an eyebrow. "You went running like /that/? That's no way to run."

Bernie nods in agreement, brow furrowing a little, "Aren'tcha cold? Y'want my jacket? I got long sleeves at least..."'

"Not whot Oi meant..." He shifts, blurring quickly into lupus.
Speaks-Circles This is how to run! he finishes.

Alicia crosses her arms over her chest, a light smirk playing upon her lips. Something's up, she can't place her finger on it. "Ah'm not cold. Ah'always run like this if ah'wanna do sum'think'n." She glances to Circles, then back to Bernie. "Ah'm fine, ah' still gotta bit o'a rush"

Bernie laughs and shakes her head, "Damn, still not useta thinkin' of that yet..." She takes a drink from her bottle, taking her own advice about what happens if they don't get drunk. The beers, that is.

Speaks-Circles pads the length of the barn a few times, then shifts back. In homid, he retrieves his cigarette and beer. "Can't let these go to waste, though," he winks.

Alicia heads over to her duffle bag near the hay bales and bends over, digging around inside it, finding a flannel shirt. Pulling it out, she simply ties it around her waist. There, that'll keep the heat out.

Bernie flashes a grin at Matt and wanders back over to the bale of hay she'd been sitting on earlier, setting her backpack down again, and hopping up to reclaim her seat. Landing, she wriggles back a bit to get comfy, and takes another drink from her bottle. "So.... you gonna drink this or not, 'licia?"

Alicia shakes her head, offering a warm smile. "Nah. Not after that run. It'll get my stomach all upset. Can't be ralphing all ovah' da' farm house now can ah'?" She bats her eyes a bit, stiffling a soft yawn as she covers her mouth.

Matt shrugs, and tips his beer back, taking several seconds to chug it. "ah guess it's up ta the Fianna... again." He drops the butt of his cigarette into the empty and takes Alicia's. "Next lesson, ladies. Drink first, run later." He grins around the new bottle, raising it to his lips.

Bernie makes one slow, grave nod, and lifts her bottle to Matt solemnly. "We listen and learn, oh great and wondrous guru..." She can't hold it any longer, and the smirk escapes as she moves the beer toward her mouth for another gulp.

Alicia twists her lips up into an impish grin, dark, opaque eyes shining brightly for a moment. She looks between the two, lips parting to let a snippet escape, but closes them once more. "Hmmm..." She mummers softly, then makes her way towards the hanging punching bag.

Matt watches Alicia approach the bag, leaning back against Bernie's shoulder. "You know," he comments, "that bag isn't going ta give you as good a work out as say... a /real/ sparring partner." Another pull on the Guinness hides his sly grin.

Alicia smirks, glancing over her shoulder to him coyly, one hand sliding to her bare hip. "That ya' way o'saying ya wanna wrestle around on the ground with me Matthew. And you thought dancing was dangerous." Winking in his direction, she whirls her body around, one foot swiping the air to strike the bag mid height, sending it careening back. Perhaps Luke taught her something after all.

Bernie reciprocates the lean, and grins, nodding slightly. All wide-eyed innocence, she agrees, "He's right, y'know. I mean, th' bad guys prolly aren't gonna hang there an' letcha hit 'em, mosta th' time anyway..." She takes another sip, and snickers a little at Alicia's reply, shaking her head. The curls of her ponytail bounce with the movement.

In response, Matt simply stands, quietly and slowly removing his jacket and laying it gently on the haybale next to Bernie. "'ang onta this for me, hmm?"

Alicia shifts her legs a bit, sending out another foot, slapping the bag hard as both of her fists come up defensivly. Whipping out a fist, she punches the bag solidly, but without much strength behind it. A love tap at best. Obviously, her legs pack a lot more then her arms. Glancing over to Matt, she smirks. "Well.. Ah'm kinda really not in th'mood fo' actual physical contact y'know. Um.. last time wi' Luke ended up...badly." She clears her throat, glancing away slightly, troubled.

Bernie whips off a quick mock-salute, and nods. "Yessir. One jacket, bein' held onta, check." She crosses her legs on the bale, then reaches over and pulls the coat across her lap, giving it a light pat as she sips from the rapidly dwindling Guinness.

Matt quirks an eyebrow, stepping into the cleared area in the center of the barn. "Really? He's never beaten me. Care ta try your luck? Oi'll do my best ta teach you somefing."

"Matt.. I'm serious." The Galliard's voice grows deadly as she stares at him. "I don't want to. Last time turned serious ok? I'm not ready."

Matt spreads his hands out, placating as he approaches her. "All roight, fair enough," he says. Closer, he asks, "Serious how?"

"Ah'freaked Matt..." She says, taking a step back. "When we was fighting.. ah... freaked. AH'was raped by muh step daddy fo' years. Luke pinned me down during our fight an I flipped out. Leda almost killed him for it too." She sighs heavily. "Ah' just can't ok?"

Bernie winces a little, and sips her drink again, staying out of things for the moment, and just observing.

Matt shrugs, then returns to his seat on the haybale, leaving His jacket in Bernie's lap. "Let me ask you somefing: when you frenzied on Luke, did you win? He had ye pinned, roight? Did you take him?"

Alicia shakes her head. "It was a pretty even fight. Ah' was getting in a few good shots. But when he pinned me an held me down.. Ah'couldn't move. It just.. kinda all came back ta'me." She says softly, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "An ah'didn't frenzy.. ah'broke down an started ta' cry, then nearly gouged out one of his eyes."

Bernie glances from Alicia, sidelong to Matt, and then becomes engrossed in the label on her bottle a moment. "...sounds like kinda a problem. So, um.... maybe if you practise mostly with females a while? 'cause that sounds like it might be... dangerous, y'know?"

Matt's expression turns hard. "/That/ you will /have/ to overcome. You won't have the luxury of freezing up when a fomor has you pinned to the floor. Shut down like that and you /will/ wind up dead, sooner or later." This he states matter-of-factly, as obvious and true as stars.

"Yah ok, well, seeing how I've only been a Garou for a month, ah'think ah've a temporary excuse Matt." She states back, matter of factly in return, sounding a bit hurt as well. "An' ripping inta' a monster, is a lot different then ripp'n inta' a friend. Ah've a reason to hit a whole lot harder an not hold back." With that, she turns and aims for the door, taking a deep breath. "Ah'll leave ya'll alone ta'yer devices. Ah'm ganna turn in."

Bernie bites her bottom lip lightly. "...sleep well, 'kay, 'licia? 'll see ya in th' mornin'..."

Matt,shamed and embarassed, doesn't look up from his beer, letting Alicia go in silence.

Alicia doesn't answer Bernie as she leaves, slamming the door closed behind her hard.

Bernie winces again, and sighs a little, getting a sudden interest in the liquid in her own bottle. "Maybe," she remarks quietly after several moment's silence, "I oughta go after her. Or something." The idea doesn't sound like it really appeals; upset people aren't really her forte.

"Fuck," Matt sighs. "Nah, she's roight. Oi was out of line. Oi'll apologize tomorrow." He leans back against Bernie. "Oi just don't want ta see 'er get hurt, you know? If beating the Brad Pitt outa me keeps 'er alive later then it was worth it, neh?"

Bernie nods, transferring the bottle to her other hand, and slipping the now free arm about Matt's shoulders in a reassuring squeeze. "...yeah, I know... s'spect she does too, really. Think it'll be okay, y'know?" She sighs slightly, and finishes off the bottle, setting it beside and behind her on the bale.

Matt cranes his head around to look up at Bernie. "That goes for you, too, y'know. If y'need, Oi make a better punching bag than that ol' fing."

Bernie grins briefly, and nods. "Yeah, you said th' other day you were gonna kick my ass some," she replies, tone mildly teasing. "...an' I promise if I wanna hit somethin', you c'n be target number one."

Matt smiles warmly. "Glad ta be of service. So, question. Why the interest in Harbor PArk? Anything beyond the obvious?"

"What's th' obvious?" Bernie queries, adding somewhat coyly, "I like th' park..." Without waiting for an answer, she glances about swiftly, free hand rests in her lap, lightly atop the jacket, and adds, "...I'm doin' research t' see if an idea I had's feasible... gotta find out how it useta be b'fore I try t' figure out how t' do it..."

Matt shrugs. "The Weaver and the Wyrm have driven off most of the people that used to spend their bird there, including the Gnawers." He smiles. "It would be noice to see what it used ta be like. If you need any 'elp..." Somehow, the two are not very far apart once again. She might even feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek.

Bernie smiles, and nods a little, eyes bright, "I'll ask you then... it'll be cool if I c'n figure it out... most of all," she pauses, obviously excited about the idea, "...I haven' told anyone 'bout this, so secret, a'ight? ...'pparently, th' fountain's been all boarded up like that since th' old fountain got blown up, an' it was like -years- ago. Thinkin', wouldn't it be cool if suddenly one night it got fixed? Sorta like, reverse vandalism... dunno if it'd work, but..." She hasn't removed her arm from his shoulders yet, and almost seems to have forgotten it's there, now.

Matt quickly crosses himself. "Swear," he says, or tries to say. It's cut off at the end by a stupendous yawn. "Mmn. Tired. If ye'd like, yer welcome ta join me for some Bohemian Decadence." He gives the hand around his shoulders a gentle caress. "If ye like," he repeats.

"'S gettin' late," Bernie agrees, with another nod, and adds more quietly, a bit shy again, "...I'd like." She reaches over to do up her backpack, one-handed, and hoists it back onto her shoulder, then gently lifts the jacket from her lap, and offers it over. "You'll be needin' this, I'm sure..."

Matt extricates himself from Bernie's lap as she gets up, receives his jacket, slipping into it casually while standing himself. He dusts the hay from his jeans, and steps close to Bernie. "Fanks again," he says, slipping his arms around her. "Oi owe you."

Ah, now the blush returns. Bernie shakes her head, smiling a little, "Nahhh... I mean, wha' for? Didn' do anythin' so special or anythin'..." She does put her arms around him in response though, and gives him a tentative hug, "...an' 'course you're welcome."

Matt tips her face up to his. "You brought me a nice token o' me father. An' Oi owe you an...explanation...of 'a trip ta th' vicar's.' First step goes like this." He leans down and kisses her, gently, on the mouth, breaking off after a moment to see if he's going to get slapped or not.

Bernie doesn't seem inclined to slap, so the fighting lessons, at least, look like they'll still await another day. She looks back at him, somewhat startled for a couple seconds, lips slightly parted, and then smiles, ducking her head again as her cheeks flush. After a moment, she looks back up, softly asking, "...'splain that part again, real quick?"

It appears to be Matt's turn to blush, making his hair seem even more white agains the ruby of his face. A releived smile plays across it, however, and he nods slightly. This kiss lasts longer, and he shifts a hand to cradle her head below the ponytail.

Bernie actually kisses back this time, experimentally, and closes her eyes, relaxing a little. Her arms stay loosely around him, even as the kiss breaks, and she sighs softly, opening her eyes again. "...I think," she decides quietly, "I like that step."

Matt smiles. "Me too," he agrees. "We may want to practice it a bit before movin' on ta later steps, 'owever. Best ta get these things right." His eyes twinkle with humor.

Bernie nods solemnly, "...yeah, 's always wise t' get th' basics down b'fore y' try t' build on 'em, otherwise th' foundation might not hold, y'know?" She breaks into a grin, and risks leaning up to initiate a quick kiss herself. "...yeah. Practice is good. ...Bohemian Decadence, y'think?"

Matt accepts her kiss eagerly, then slides around so they can walk toward the house. "Bohemian Decadence it is," he says, grinning.