Cindy slips her hands into the front pockets of her sweatshirt and she chuckles softly. "I feel your pain... but hey, why don't you work on things that you've been taught? I used to do that... if there's noone in the barn you can use it to test your senses." The philodox offers the cub a grin, "Just don't tell anyone I said so."

Alicia grins back and shrugs her shoulders. "Hmm... Well, ah'doubt ah'd find anything cool in there. 'Cept maybe mice o'something."

Bernie slips in the front door, carrying a rather beat-up looking plastic sack as well as her usual backpack, and takes a quick glance around, flashing a grin at the other girls. "Hey," she greets them cheerfully, "...catch." The plastic bag launches in a quick swing from her hands in the basic direction of Alicia's lap.

Cindy shrugs her shoulders and her gaze drifts to the book in Alicia's hands. "But cross-word puzzles don't do much to ease the boredom either." The half-moon turns her head as Bernie enters and she offers the newcomer a broad smile. "I love it when they come with gifts."

Alicia blinks and reaches out quickly, snagging the plastic bag in mid air. She glances down at it curiously. "Whats this Bern?"

"It's a plastic bag," the ragabash replies brightly, and then smirks slightly. "C'mon, it's not like I overwrapped it. 's a gift. Open it." She shifts her gaze to Cindy, and tosses off a quick wave as she wanders toward the couch to take a seat, "Saw you in th' barn th' other night, right? Hi."

The cliath nods her head, "Yes you did... I'm Cindy, Cliath half-moon of the Glasswalker tribe." Cindy's smile is genuine, "Are you a cub as well?"

Aaliyah steps in from the porch, closing the front door behind her.

Alicia peers into the bag, then grins widely as she takes out the camo pants. "So dope Bernie! Thank you so much. This will look so good with my black sports bra and my navel ring." Her eyes flash a bit.

Bernie offers a hand, smiling back, and nods, "Yup, Bernie Rosenberg, sometimes called Reads-in-Darkness, Ragabash 'Gnawer cub... niceta meetcha, Cindy." She turns to grin at Alicia's comment, and drops not too elegantly onto the couch cushions, removing her backpack. "Cool beans. Hope they fit, I hadta guess an' all."

Aaliyah walks through the door just as Alicia makes such an...odd comment--well, at least to her it was. At the least, it makes her stumble a bit as she heads in.

Cindy shakes the Ragabash's hand before her attention drifts to Alicia's gift. "See? The day's getting brighter by the minute... go try em on!" The half-moon grins with amusement.

Aaliyah skirts around the three with a smile and an 'excuse me' as she heads for the bookshelf. Milne? No. History of the Crusades? No. Hey...Bloom County!

Alicia glances over at Aaliyah and wiggles her fingers a bit, then grins. "'scuse me. Ah'll be right back." With that, she hops to her feet and climbs up the stairs to the attic.

Aaliyah gives a general wave from behind the precious copy of Bloom County Babylon. "Aaliyah, halfmoon cub of the Children, Adam-rhya's student."

Brown eyes move towards Bernie for a moment and Cindy offers her a wry grin. She then turns to face the book-wielder. "Cindy, Shows-The-Path. Half-moon cliath of the Glasswalkers."

Bernie tilts her head slightly, and studies the new coggie cub a moment, thoughtfully. "Bernie Rosenberg, Reads-In-Darkness, Raggie 'Gnawer cub, butcha prolly heard that when y' came in..." She grins at the book, commenting, "...'s a good one, that. Too bad he r'tired, y'know?"

"Hiya." Mind still on the adventures of Milo and his "Quest for Lost America", she turns a page, and looks up. "Would you prefer Cindy-rhya? Or just Cindy? And it is too bad, Bernie..." she offers to the Gnawer cub. "I really hated Outland--well, what my brother showed me of it. He's the big Bloom County fan, bigger than me."

Cindy casts a glance towards the stairs where Alicia disappeared to. "You may call me what you feel most comfortable with, sis." She grins to herself and says nothing more. The older girl finds a spot along the wall where she leans comfortably.

"'s no Bloom Coun'y," Bernie grants, "but, y' know, it was still better'n 99 percenta th' other strips out there..." She shrugs amiably, and leans down to open the backpack by her feet, pulling out a rather large book on, apparently, local history, possibly someone's senior or doctoral thesis, judging by the binding. She rests it on her lap, leaning back into the cushions int he corner of the couch.

The Galliard finally comes back down the stairs, wearing the new baggy camo pants and her black sports bra. She has her worn looking trench coat which hangs just past the end of her hips. Knee high boots thunk heavily on the ground. Clicking her tongue ring, she does a few turns, grinning. "So whatcha think? Am ah'ghetto o'what?"

Aaliyah puts a finger in the book to mark her place before closing it....naah, she knows the book too well. She just closes it, and gives Bernie a nod of agreement. "That much is true, but I never liked the one little black girl in there." The look she gives Alicia is a tad pained--for whatever reason that may be. "That's an...interesting...fashion statement."

The 'Gnawer may not be the height of style herself, but the reaction fron the other cub earns a rather pointed up-and-down appraising of Aaliyah's outfit before Bernie looks back to Alicia, grinning again, and declares, "Y'look kickass, 'licia. They fit better'n I even thought. Suit ya, too."

The Glasswalker begins to laugh. It's light at first, but after a few seconds she's on her hands and knees cackling. "You look... like every girl... I ever went to high school with..."

Alicia feels her smile drop a bit at Aaliyah's voice, but does her best to blow it off. "Yah well... ah'm jus'representing the crib." She plops down onto the couch next to Cindy.

Aaliyah's jaw drops slightly, as she realizes what she said. "No, no....that's not what I mean, Alicia, you look nice, but it's just....my family, you see....oh, never mind." In a snit at her behavior, she opens the book. "I'll just hush now."

The cliath's laughter subsides and she adds with a giggle, "You look fine..." She sits up straight and rests a hand against her belly. Cindy lets out a soft breath and eyes the other cubs for a moment.

Bernie crosses her legs, and leaps back a bit in the conversation, pointing out, "...Ronald-Ann was in Bloom Coun'y, too, t'ward th' end, y'know... but, nah, jus' wasn' th' same..." A quick resettling of her glasses, as she glances down tot he book in her lap.

Alicia lets out a soft breath and draws a knee to her chest, leaning against it. "No problem." She replies casually to them, shifting her eyes to Cindy, smirking.

Aaliyah agrees quietly. "So was Opus, but you're right. There was something different." She turns a page. "Oh, yeah..."

Cindy slips her hands into the front pocket of her sweatshirt and she's on her feet again. "To stay or to go, a decision to make..." She trails off with a smile. "Can I trust you kids to be good?" There's a teasing tone in her voice, and the Glasswalker nods her head before any answer is given. "Good! Nice meeting you Bernie, you too Aaliyah."

Alicia glances over to Cindy and quirks a brow. "Where ya going to?" She asks quickly, standing up as well.

"If we can't be good, we'll be careful," the ragabash assures her archly, and then grins again. "Niceta meetcha too. Seeya 'round, yeah?"

Aaliyah says quietly, "Nice to meet you too. Bye."

Cindy offers Alicia a grin, "I don't know yet. Still need to set myself up in the city... with Dakota gone I've got nowhere to stay." Her grin remains, despite her statement. "And maybe I can track down Dante later."

Alicia nods her head at that. "Ah.. I gotcha.. I gotta head upstairs an take a shower anyways. Ah'm ganna be dyeing my hair blonde tonight."

An eyebrow is raised at that announcement. "What?" Cindy nearly blanches. "Why wold you do such a thing? You'll look... weird in your lupus form."

Bernie oohs at Alicia, "Y'd'cided for sure then? Cool beans... y'want I should help? With th' dyin', natch, not th' shower...." She trails off, blinking at Cindy, "...really? didn' think that kinda thing'd carry over. I mean, I'm not a shaggy curly black-coated wolf..."

Alicia blinks a bit and offers a shrug? "Um.. ah'dunno. Ah'guess ah'want ta' give Adam an heart attack." Her eyes twinkle a bit. "Ah'look good as a blonde. Anyways. Take care!" With that, she's heading up the stairs.

Cindy blinks at that and she watches Alicia as she moves up the stairs. "I'm only a couple years older and I never did such a thing..." She grins warmly. "What 'bout you, Bernie?"

Bernie doesn't directly follow, tilting her head a bit. "...What 'bout me which? 've I ever dyed my hair, y'mean, or...?"

Cindy shrugs her shoulders and she offers the cub a soft laugh, "Never mind... so are you alright? Anything you need help with?" The half-moon doesn't quite leave yet, she remains near the door with her attention on Bernie.

Bernie grins again, with a quick nod, "Oh, yeah, thanks, I'm peachy... lotsa things I need help with, really, but I dunno 'zactly what, y'know? Cub stuff. Like, talkin' in Crinos, thassa project, for 'zample... thanks for askin'."

The older Garou grins with amusement as she listens to Bernie speak. "Speaking garou comes naturally, though talking like a human while in crinos takes work. I still can't really do it."

"Sure I'll do fine once I get people t' start teachin' me it," the Gnawer agrees confidently. "'side from that, it's mostly onea those things where y'know y'dunno but y'dunno exactly -what- y'dunno, y' know?" Hey, say THAT ten times fast.

"I dunno..." Cindy says in a blank tone. She erupts into another fit of laughter, "I like you already, Bern..."

Bernie smiles, gaining just the slightest hint of a blush, "Well, thanks. I like ya too." She shifts the book a little in her lap, lifting it so she can pull her knees up and curl more closely into the corner of the couch there.

Cindy grins at that and she nods her head politely. "If you'll excuse me... I should be back to the city by now. Enjoy your book, and if you need any help or have any questions look me up. I usually drop by here once every few days."

"Thanks!" Bernie exclaims, quite sincerely, "...might do that. G'luck findin' a proper place t' stay an' all. Later..."

Cindy's grin widens, "Thanks, I'll need it." She bows her head again and then slips outside.

[...a bit later that day...]

Bernie is curled up in the corner of the couch with a fairly large book, apparently about local history, and seems quite engrossed in it, for the moment. She's not snacking or drinking anything, and though a few xeroxed pages emerge from the backpack beside the couch, she really seems to be focusing on the book on her lap.

Alicia strides down the stairs with a few boxes of blonde hair dye. She's still wearing the dark camo plants with the black sports bra. Her trench coat is gone though, most likely hidden upstairs. A slow smile crosses her lips as she looks over to Bernie on the couch, eyes sparkling. "Hey you." She drawls to her, plopping down next to the Gnawer. "Got th'stuff."

Yi's face appears in the window before the door opens and she steps into the room. Her arms are full with a bag of groceries, mostly healthy stuff. Seeing Bernie and Alicia, she gives them a little wave of a few fingers and smiles.

Bernie glances up, with a quick grin, "Th'... oh! Cool!" She slips a bookmark into the tome and pushes it into the backpack. "So where d'we..." She trails off as she looks up, and sees Yi enter. "Yi!!!" she exclaims, "HI!"

Alicia idly glances over to Yi and continues to grin. "Yo Fortune-Cookie, your just in time, Bernie an ah''re ganna dub thee' Christina Acguleria. We're all ganna go blonde." She nudges the cub new moon to play along. "We all started up our own band. Y'know.. Big Bad an Blonde."

Yi grins wider, shuffling the paper bag around in her arms before returning the exuberant 'hi' with one of her own softer ones. Then turning her eyes towards the galliard cub, she gives her a rather blank look. "Who's Christina Aquilera? Band? You mean pack?"

Bernie blinks once, glancing sidelong at Alicia, and nods, "Yeah, we figure, y' know what they say, blondes have more fun... so set the groc'ries in th' kitchen an' brush up on yer musical instr'ment of choice..."

Alicia giggles. "Yup, a pack alright. Y'know, kinda like the chipette's, but with a lot more fur." She crosses her legs, still wearing her knee high combat boots. "Anyways... Mandi." She says to Bernie, trying not to laugh. "You wanna do my hair first?"

If she were any more clueless, Yi would be lupus born. The groceries do in fact go in the kitchen, before she returns without much more understanding to the inside joke. The cliath's eyes stray down to the hair dye, then back up at Bernie and Alicia to get a good look at them.

Bernie nods solemnly, "Sure thing, Tiff'ny. Kitchen, y'think?" She finishes packing up her backpack.

Alicia nods her head in reply, growing serious. "Yup. C'mon Christina." She calls over to Yi, then marches into the kitchen with a purpose, holding the boxes.

Yi goes back into the kitchen, having just come out of it and looks on the activities with interest.

Bernie rises, and follows, humming some bubbly pop-song as she goes.

Alicia strides in after her, steel toed boots thumping heavily along the ground. Placing the boxes down, she starts to take out the contents. Dye, plastic glove thingys, and the instructions.

Yi leans against the sink, casually gazing over the precedings with curiousity gleaming in her eyes. The inquiry is restrained from reaching beyond her throat. Only a small gurgle of interest makes it through.

Bernie, rational creature that she generally is, picks up the instructions first, giving them a quick skim, then reaching over for the gloves as she reads the paper more closely. "Hair properly dampened, Tiff?"

Alicia grins and runs a hand through the still lightly damp hair from her shower. "Check Mandi."

Yi raises a brow, but says nothing. The raggie cliath strays towards the pair of them, curiosity just eating at her like a bane. She waits for the opportunity to snatch the box and have a proper look see at the 'stuff'.

Alicia slips her wet hair out of the scrunchie, pulling the dark hair free.

Bernie nods approvingly, and picks up the bottles of solution, giving them a shake and mixing them per the instructions. "Great. Allll righty then...."

Yi chews on her lip briefly, then leans in to see. "What are you going to do?" comes her question, finally.

"We are going on a wild and adventurous ride through life. You will experience great magic. We are all....turning our hair blonde." She gives a wide smile, then clears her throat. "Ok.. Ah'm ready." Alicia says with building excitement. "Lets do this."

Bernie gestures dramatically at a chair. "Be seated, oh she-who-is-soon-t'-be-bleached...." She holds a gloved thumb over the tip of the bottle, and shakes it vigorously.

Yi backs up instinctively. The experiences with ketchup bottles and shaking of them has made her wary of anything similar. "Why would you want to dye your hair blonde?"

"Because Yi... don't you know.. dark hair is the path to the Wyrm." The Galliard can't help but chuckle as she plops back down in a chair next to Bernie.

Bernie grins, looking the paper over again, and starts partioning Alicia's hair, blithely coating it all, scalp to tip, in the odd, smelly liquid.

Yi sniffs, and auto-wrinkles her nose before moving over to the window and towards fresh air. Strange, for a Gnawer who grew up around docks where the stenches of fish and piss were everywhere. She makes no comment about the 'dark hair is the path to the Wyrm'.

Alicia squirms a bit at the cool goo' on her head, grinning. Wrinkling her nose as well, she clears her throat. "Gah.. no backing out now. Britney Spears, prepare to eat yer' heart out ya lil tramp."

Bernie hums, rubbing the goop into the hair until it's all in one big sticky pile atop the Galliard's head. "There, now, looks like... gotta sit there, what, fifteen minutes? Yeah. Lemme..." She glances at her sticky gloved fingers. "Yi, couldja set ht' timer for fifteen minutes, please?"

Yi glances around for the timer, and then twists the little knob to '15' and sets it back down on the table top. Another curious sniff, and then Yi sits down on a chair next to the table. "So how have you been doing, Bernie?"

Alicia sways a bit, glancing to the two. She keeps her head still so that the gak won't fall down into her face and sting her eyes or something.

Bernie breaks into a brighter grin for a moment, seemingly not too bothered by the smelly goo. "Doin' pretty well, overall... tryin' t' learn stuff... where've you been lately? An' now thatcher back, y' gonna help me out with th' raggie stuff I need t' learn, by any chance?"

Yi nods, running a hand through her own hair and appreciating it not being full of gook. "I've been learning about the wild, out here in the forests. Feeling the form of the wolf. But in my eagerness to learn, I forgot about teaching. I'll help you out. I'm sorry for not remembering." Her eyes cast down towards the table briefly in apology.

Alicia drums her fingers along the table top and leans into the chair. Yawning loudly, she covers her mouth, batting her eyes a bit. She suddenly feels drained of energy for the moment. Garou's kryptonite, that hair goop.

Bernie smiles at Yi, and nods. "Thanks," she replies, checking the timer quickly, "...I'm doin' okay getting taught all th' other stuff, I think, but th' stuff that's jus' basic'ly raggie, not so much."

"Well," Yi murmurs, tapping a finger thoughtfully on the table. "I suppose we could start with scouting. I'm not the best, but better than not being able to, na?" She grins wryly, quirking her head towards the galliard cub for a moment to eye the hair. "There's a lot to learn, and even I'm not done. Guess we can learn together, eh? What would you like to learn first though, I'm curious to know." The raggie cliath turns her eyes back to her fellow Gnawer.

Bernie shrugs a bit, "Dunno what there is t' learn, y' know? Scoutin' sounds like a good place t' start..."

"Well, what do you know about scouting?" Yi queries, already starting up on her possible strategies of tackling teaching.

Bernie lifts a brow. "Y's got Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts," she replies dryly, "Girl Scouts got Daisys, Brownies, Juniors, C'dettes, an' Seniors, an' they camp an' sell cookies..."

Yi blinks, then gives the cub a raised eyebrow. "What about sneaking around in the dark? In the city?"

Bernie grins, and shrugs,"...yeah, I c'n do that, I guess... like, hide an' seek?"

Yi nods, giving the cub a grin. "Hide and seek, yes. Except we also do the seeking. The Wyrm hides, and we seek it out. Our moon is the darkest of them all, and it's up to us ragabash to find the fishbait in the shadows."

Bernie mmms, and nods. "Got it, then... so, you'll show me how to do that, then? What d'we do when we find it, kill it? Or go get th' troops?"

Yi takes the bottle of hair dye and examines it, before setting it back down and gazing up at Bernie. "We aren't meant to do the fighting. That's what the fullmoons are for. More often than we like, the monsters we find are far too tough for a lone scout to handle. But without us to guide the ahrouns to the source, even the most trained warriors would be running around like wild chickens." The ragabash leans slightly against her chair. "It's our job to go in, get the information, and get out without stirring up the shadows. We've got gifts too, to help us with that."

An odd puttering growl percolates up the lane, If one were to look out the window, one might see a lonely headlight winding toward the farmhouse.

Bernie nods, about to say something, but stops suddenly as the sound drifts into the room, a bright grin suddenly breaking across her face as she glances toward the window. "....'kay," she replies, after a second, "that makes a lotta sense." Fifteen minutes being up, the buzzer sounds, startling her a bit.

Alicia blinks her eyes open a bit, yawning slightly. "Mmm... eeh?" Rubbing at her eyes, she smiles. "Cool. Sorry 'bout that. Kinda faded."

Yi smiles, and then turns as the sound of odd growling catches her attention. As Alicia comes back to reality, she chuckles softly and continues to look towards the origin of sound.

"Yi? Could you turn off the timer, please?" Bernie asks, drawing her glance from the window back to the instructions, "Now, lessee... I guess we rinse it out now, huh?"

Alicia stands up and shakes out her hands a bit. "Yah, we do. Want ta' do that in the sink?" She asks, motioning over.

The puttering gets closer, until it sounds like it's right outside the farmhouse, then cuts off with a cough.

"Is that... safe?" Yi asks, turning off the timer with a small click. The puttering outside gets her distracted attention, before she turns her gaze to the mop of gooky hair atop Alicia's head, then the sink. "Washing off that stuff, goes to the river doesn't it?"

Matt steps into the dining room through the sliding glass door.

Bernie nods, pushing her own curls back with the still-clean backs of her hands. "...yeah, should work better'n doin' it at th' table," she jokes, stepping toward the sink, goopy gloved hands held out in front of her like a doctor going into surgery. As Matt enters, she breaks into another bright smile, and waves slightly. "Hey! They fin'ly paroled ya, huh?" she greets him happily.

Alicia stops at the sink, glancing over to Matt. Her hair is full of white'ish looking goop. (Do not get the wrong idea). She turns on the sink and winks, then bends over, rinsing beneath the warm water.

Mumbling softly about not being responsible if this poisons the river (in Cantonese of course), Yi strides over to the sink to gaze down at the goop being rinsed into the drain. "Hello," she greets Matt with a small nod.

Bernie leans over and gingerly starts massaging the goop from Alicia's hair, directing the water to aid in removing as much of it as possible. "'s food in th' fridge," she directs to Matt, "...real stuff, an' donuts, too." A slight pause, "...an' there's a couple not-cold Guiness in th' pantry if y'r thirsty." She continues to scrub the goop from the coggie's hair until the water runs clear.

Matt blunders in, shouldering the door aside and preceding himself with a grocery bag full of, well, who knows? Setting it down on the kitchen table, he takes in the scene, gives Bernie a smile and a returning wave, then raises an eyebrow to Alicia. "Cor, finally talked 'er inta cleanin' up, hey? We do 'ave a shower upstairs though. Don't fink Oi've taken the Buster," he addes extending a free hand to Yi. "Them's whot call me call me Matt, or Mr. Fulton if they're from the manor. Oi'm guessin' your kith and carry, so Oi'll tell you I'm half the month frough Fianner, and a bit of a yobbo, least until I take 'oliday with the Righ."

Yi curiously dips a finger in the liquid running down the drain, and looks at the goop on her finger. Matt's introduction almost completely draws a blank from her, the accent too strong even for her mind. She does catch Fianna though, and his name Matt. Assuming it's an introduction, she bows her head slightly. "I'm Yi, Three-Blades to Garou, cliath new moon of the Bone Gnawers." She smiles smally, then wipes the goop on her finger against the side of the sink and rinses the stuff off.

Alicia watches the sink finally rinse away her goop, then smiles. Reaching for a towel she brought down, she wraps it around her head, covering it all up, then leans up. "Very funny Matt. Now we jus'gotta teach you how to speak English." Her eyes sparkle brightly for a moment.

About this time the sliding glass door is being opened and Jamethon is stepping though. "An' I'm Jamethon a hungry son of a bitch, who wants food and wants it five minutes ago. Er... hi everyone."

Bernie giggles a little, squeezing out Alicia's hair to be sure all the dye's been rinsed off, and removes the icky gloves, pulling them inside out as the other girl sits up. "What? Made perfick sense t' -me-..." She grins, putting the gloves in the trash, and wanders to the fridge, opening it with a flourish, "Ta da!.... leftovers!"

Jamethon only nods and looks over the offered food. "Might I ask where this was prepared?" he asks.

"If that doesn't suit your stomach, you can have some of this," Yi says, drawing up a bag of apples from the grocery bag she'd set beside the table earlier.

"In here," Bernie replies with a shrug, "...'cept th' donuts, they're from th' shop near th' Hostel."

Alicia has her hair wrapped up in the towel, hiding the new dye job. She smiles and strides past them, towards the living room. "Ah'm ganna go blow dry my hair. Ah'll be right back."

Jamethon looks over the leftovers again and shrugs. "Food is food is food is food is food... Theres five levels to food you see. Just like... nevermind." With that he picks some mostly randomized leftovers and and pulls them to the table digging in, cold. He did manage to grab a nice warm guiness on his way back as well.

Matt returns Yi's bow. "Pleasure is all mine." He waits until Jamethon has put his meal together before slipping the styrofoam containers out of the bag Matt brought in. He slides one into the microwave and grabs a Guinness out of the pantry. "And Oi need ta buy some more Macready's, don't Oi?" he muses. The smell of steak wafts from the microwave. When it dings, Matt slides the new york stip onto a plate and sits next to Jamethon. "Looks, 'andsome, Mate. What 'r ye 'avin'?"

Bernie stretches a bit, nodding as Alicia leaves, and just takes a seat at the table, watching the others, quiet for the moment.

Yi leaves the apples sitting atop the table, glancing for a moment at the exit Alicia left from. "Food is food," she repeats with a wry grin towards the Get.

Jamethon looks over to the british-git. "Chicken... at least I hope it is under all this cold friedness."

Matt gets up again to retrieve a glass, and a can opener. Glancing at Bernie, he holds the Guinness over the glass and punches a hole in the can, on the side near the bottom. There is a bit of a mess as the contents are under slight pressure, but Matt gets almost all of the beer in the glass, without engaging the nitrogen disc at all. "...and Bob's yer uncle. Well done, Bernie."

Bernie grins widely at Matt, and, though sitting, makes a fair little bow, complete with the arm movement. "Thank you, thank you, no 'plause please, jus' send money..." She settles her elbows on the table, and rests her chin lightly on her hands, looking pleased.

Jamethon looks around at the cubs then over to Yi with an exasperated expression. "You'd think they were in high school or something."

Yi shrugs, not bothered really by the attraction between the two cubs. "So... what's been happening around the caern? Unfortunately the time I spent around the Wendigo territory has left me a little behind on the news." Her dark eyes glance towards the crescent moon of the Get, perhaps hoping for a bit of an update.

The Galliard finally strides back through the kitchen doors, a huge smile worn upon her face. At first glance, you probably would never even recognize her. She's wearing a slim, form fitting skirt, and a white blouse. Her /blonde/ hair spirals down to her shoulders, blown dry and fluffy. She almost looks like a country singer or some sorts. Clearing her throat, she simply looks towards the gathered, waiting for reactions.

Jamethon glances back at the other Cliath, still chewing mightily on cold chickeny goodness. Though the small amount of mush in his mouth he grunts out, "Me and Jarred are looking for interested Garou for a pack. I hear that some Walker mule named Roger is in a contest with that psychopath Lucca over the eldership of that family in St. Claire... and some new walker just shown up in town or something. I think Seppydets still locked herself away on that island, but I could be misled on that one. Lemme think... anything else?" he muses.
At Alicia stepping back in he glances over in her direction and but nods approvingly, seeming to not really care just what she looks like... and not seeming to care about the whole 'blond' thing too much.

Bernie blushes slightly and glances down at the tabletop a moment, smile dimming slightly. "Well, I -was- 'til alla this 'rou stuff started up," she mutters to herself, glancing up again at the throat clearing, and her grin returns, "Hey! Turned out cool, 'licia!"

Yi nods at Jamethon's update, the mention of packs perks a small part of her mind. She then turns her head towards the galliard cub, her eyes widening slightly at the sight. Dyed hair wouldn't normally take her off guard, but the alteration on Alicia gives her a bit of a surprise. She nods her approval. "It looks nice," she comments. "How long does it last?"

Matt raises an eyebrow. "What are you rabbiting on? Oi just commented ta Bernie that you wooden planks 'ave no idea 'ow ta drink a pint. Put these discs in the top o' the can whot chill it all whoosh. Books 'ere offered a solution, which Oi'm happy ta announce, works loike a ch...Noice, Alicia."

Alicia gives a beautiful smile, that one she loves to flaunt and runs a hand back through her hair, bangs spiraling over her cheeks. "Why, thank you guys." Moving with fluid gaze, she slips down into a chair, crossing her slim legs.

Bernie smiles at Matt, and shrugs, "Well, seein' how they worked just seemed logical, y'know? ....anyway." She straightens up in her chair, pushing her curls back behind her ears, and adjusts her glasses. "...y'all are makin' me thirsty. There a soda or somethin' over there?"

Yi gives Alicia another look over on her new hairstyle. "So you and Jarred are looking for another Garou to pack with?" Her question aimed at the Get again, though she looks for a soda for Bernie.

Jamethon thinks on this carefully a moment and just nods a couple of seconds later. "Yes. Potential packies... Who we can get along with. We're looking for the long term here, and we want those who can be sisters and brothers... Not just associates."

Alicia Leans back and listens to them talk, stealing a glance towards Bernie and Matt every so often.

Matt smiles a little, enjoying his blissfully tepid Guinness. "'M sure Blackjack would've fought of it, if it required 'igh explosives..." He glances Alicia up and down briefly before asking "Bored, or planning ta large it, wif yer kin, hmm? getting off yer face?"

Yi nods slowly, getting up to stride over towards the fridge and rummage around. Scrounging up a trio of Cokes, she offers a can to Bernie, sets one down beside Alicia, and pops one open for herself. "Well, if there are as many Garou as I think there are here, you shouldn't have much of a problem finding some to pack with," she replies to Jamethon before sipping her Coke.

Alicia smiles brightly to Yi, then turns her attentions back to Matt. Wetting her lips, she replies softly. "Ah'thought that maybe ah'could use a change. Thats all. Tom doesn't even know 'bout it."

Bernie presses her lips together slightly at Matt's query, seemingly stifling a laugh, and shakes her head a tad. "Oooh... thanks, Yi, jus' th' thing..." She pops the soda open, and takes a sip, leaning back in her chair.

Jamethon shakes his head quickly enough at that comment from Yi. "Many Garou..." he says before taking another sip of Guiness. "There are many here... many in packs, many who we know would not make good packmates. Like I said, we don't want to just ragtag us together. We want a real group that can respect each other. If you know any people like that... and yes, if you are interested yourself... let us know."

Yi nods and sips her Coke. Bringing the can away from her lips again, she sets it down and looks at the tab in a thoughtful manner. "Has anything been done about the sewers yet? Another scouting group planned, or even just any activity at all?"

Matt leans in over the table a bit, the better to converse without getting between Yi and Jamethon. "Still got yer wings clipped, neh? Well, fer after, Oi fink there are some battles out toward the University, if ye'd like a night on the tiles." He smiles broadly, including Bernie in his offer.

Jamethon glances over at the brit cub with an air of confusion before looking calmly back to Yi. "I think someone has /plans/ to take care of the sewers... but that's been going on a while now. So, whatever they are doing... it don't look like it's happening any time soon. Nor does it look like only one pack should go down there. Sure it would be glorious to go down fighting the wyrm in a dangy sewer... but as a theurge I have to argue against the wisdom of this."

Bernie sips her soda, and nods at Alicia, "...hope they letcha out soon... I mean, y'been behavin' an' all..."

Alicia shrugs her shoulders and smiles a bit. "I doubt they'll ever let me go at this rate." She sighs, running her fingers back through the blonde hair. "Ah'm not sure if Adam trusts me or not."

Matt glances at Bernie and taps his nose, then points in Jamethon's direction. "Sewers. Harbor Park," he mouths silently.

Yi chews her lip slowly and nods, taking a gulp of her soda. "One hopes that whoever /is/ planning it, that they decide on a date soon." The raggie cliath runs a hand through her hair. "I can only hope to see this day another year from now, and have something to show for it." She smiles slightly, drinking a few more gulps of Coke. "What better way to celebrate my day of birth than with friends, a soda, and a roof over my head? Or maybe a year from now, I'll be in the sewers chewing on bane instead of cake."

Bernie's eyes open a bit more, eyebrows lifting a fraction, and she tilts her head a bit, listening perhaps a bit more closely to the cliaths' conversation.

Alicia glances over to Yi and blinks a bit. "Its your birthday!? Damn chick! Why the fuck didn't you say so." She hops up to her feet, heading to the cupboards. "Bernie, yer with me. We got a cake to build. Chop Chop!"

Bernie takes another swallow of her soda, and nods, "Check!" She pushes out from the table, standing, and ducks quickly into the pantry, calling back, "...whatcha think... mix or scratch? Gotta pref'rence, Yi?"

Matt chuckles to watch Bernie and Alicia scurry, then raises his glass to Yi. "...an' 'ere's to ye. May the best of yer Yesterdays be the worst of yer Tomorrows." After toasting, he drains the glass.

Yi blinks, smiling sheepishly. "Don't trouble yourselves, you two. The newmoon chuckles away some nervousness. "What do you mean mix, or scratch?"

Jamethon looks at Yi and just chuckles. "She means from a cake mix or from flour and egg and shit."

"Les'jus' get the mix Bernie, she won't know the difference anyways." Alicia grins, tugging out a box of chocolate cake mix she finds in the back. "Hmmm... Now we need eggs.. milk....um... help me out Chef Girl'R'D."

"Eggs, water, cooking oil, icing," Bernie rattles off, passing over the bottle of oil and a measuring cup. "...I c'n make th' icing while y'do that bit. Yi, y' like choc'lit or v'nilla?"

Yi simply 'uhm's, unsure of the sudden activity. Birthdays for her passed quietly, or at least until now. Bernie's question draws a gurgled response. "You pick?" Matt's toast earns him a confused look as well.

Matt gets up and heads for the fridge, waiting for an opening and dodging between cubs to reach the door.

"...choc'lit it is," Bernie replies cheerfully, gathering her supplies form the pantry and dumping them unceremoniously on the table as she heads to the fridge for a stick or three of butter. She stops, seeing Matt already in there, and pauses a second, waiting.

Alicia nods her head to Bernie and starts searching for a cake pan, flipping the new dyed hair back. Finding one of the glass ones, she places it on the oven and opens up the box of mix.

Matt looks up from rummaging. "Yes?"

"Any butter in there?" Bernie asks, peering in over his shoulder. "...oughta be over in th' door 'bove th' milk... need a stick or two."

Jamethon looks over at Yi. "Get used to it with the girls around... they've not been bloodied yet... so you can expect a certain humanistic vibrance in them... give them time to temper and they'll be as grouchy as most of the rest of us."

Matt passes up the butter, and retrieves himself a coke. "'arry Nutter it is, Books. 'ere ya go."

Yi blinks at Jamethon, a small grin spreading over her features. "I'm sure they'll still be just as pleasant even after their rites," she replies. Her eyes stray towards the activity of the two cubs.

Alicia continues to go about her activities, following the directions, using measuring cups and all that good stuff. She seems quite the busy beaver, focused upon her tasks.

Bernie quirks a brow, accepting the butter, and thinks a moment as she replies, "Thanks... Cricket." A slight smirk as she heads back to the table, and starts to mash the butter into paste in a bowl.

Jamethon sighs into a smile and nods. "One can only hope."

Alicia begins to hum loudly in her throat as she works, mixing the batter together with a wooden spoon. Her body sways in the rhythm which is in her head, hips moving from left to right. Her skirt plays against her legs, swishing, her body making the ends of her hair bounce.

Matt relaxes back into his chair, and pops the top on his coke. "Oi 'ope ta be largely unchanged. Wouldn't do ta come back all naffy."

"If you come back naffy, then you'll probably fit in with the rest of us na?" Yi grins, downing some more of her Coke. "What do you think your rites will be like?"

Bernie pours the appropriate amount of powered sugar into the butter -- at least, one hopes it's the appropriate amount, as she does it straight form the box without botherng to measure. A splash of vanilla, and she mixes it all up for a while, adding a bit more sugar after several turns of the spoon. "Def'nitely not," she agrees, "an'," now to Yi, "haven' got th' foggiest..."

Jamethon raises his can in the air and proclaims. "Bloodshed, honor, and death to the wyrm!" and then he chuckles a moment.

Alicia grins over to James. "Typical Get way of looking at it. Rarrr! Killing things! I bet mine is going to be something like..saving lil kids, or..putting out a forest fire, something like that. Maybe see if I can consectivly hug and heal 400 people in a row."

Bernie giggles, finding a double boiler and filling the bottom with water, pouring chocolate chips into the top. "How 'bout, bloodshed an' death t' th' Wyrm, an' we keep th' honour for ourselves?"

Jamethon shakes his head towards Bernie. "I swear you had to know what I meant... otherwise you're just daft." With this he stands and looks over to Yi, "Just think about it..." he says cryptically before addressing everyone in general on his way to the livingroom couch. "I'll be enjoying some sleep... please wake me when the cake is done and I'll share in a piece or two... till then, bother me only if the Wyrm itself is knocking on the door and needs a lesson in manners."

Matt smiles. "Well, when Oi've got the /good/ bo peep on, oi'm behind a podium, and asked ta spell 'philodox.' Then this Lombard bloke pins a gold star on me chest and Oi'm off. Truf? Oi'll put a paul down as a john it'll be a barmy mindfuck and no mistake."

Yi simply eyes Matt, having no idea what he said despite having lived in the previously British owned HK before coming to the US. "What?" It's all she can muster, the look of confusion expressing the rest of her silent statement.

Bernie just rolls her eyes slightly at Jamethon even considering that she didn't know what he meant, and continues melting the chocolate with careful attention. You wouldn't believe how easily this stuff burns. Matt's answer catches her attention though, and she laughs, "Oooh, spellin' bee, I could ace -that-..."

Alicia pours the batter into the glass tray, smoothing it out with a spatula. Waving to James, she takse a moment to pause and listen to the conversation. As she does this, she turns the oven on and starts to heat it up.

"Sorry," Matt grins unapologetically. "Slower for the septics: In my dreams, it's cake. What Oi am willin' ta bet on is, it'll be a right bend in the grey matter."

Yi shakes her head slowly, the Fianna cub's words just confusing beyond her. "What do you mean by that?" she queries, figuring if she wants to understand, she'll make herself understand.

"Technic'ly," Bernie points out, "Yi i'n't a septic... but anyhow," she glances at the other ragabash, and translates further, "...in his dreams, like he'd like it to be, it'd be really, really easy, but it's almost certainly gonna be," a pause, as she catches herself about to use a potentially confusing slang phrase of her own, "...very difficult and hard on the brain...?" She eyes Yi, to see if that helped any.

Matt shrugs. "Oi'm an 'alf moon, so inter'retin' th' Litany's moi job, roight? So Oi'm goin' ta find meself on a fine line, forced ta balance several diff'rent points and make the best choice out o' a bunch of right wankers."

"So.." Yi breaks it down further, like breaking down cake into it's raw ingredients, "You are saying that you'd like your rite to be easy, but it's probably going to be hard to figure out." She looks at her translator, then at the one she tried to decipher.

Bernie eeks as she catches the melted chocolate just on the point of burning, and pours it into the rest of the icing. Quickly, she begins to mix it together again, and nods, glancing at Matt to make sure she doesn't put too many words in his mouth, "...pretty much th' siza it..."

Alicia has the cake pan in the oven, starting to cook. It'll be quite some time tho'. She leans against the counter and listens to the three of them, silent for once.

Matt smiles. "Roight on the tip, ol' bean. This time next year, Oi'll 'ave you nattering in the bang bang wif the best of me ol' china 'round the battle."

Yi sniffs the air, scenting the melted chocolate with a smile. "It'll be hard enough to prove you can make it, and do what you're meant to do. Also to make sure you can make decisions, the right ones that is. For some of us, it's just to survive." She casts a glance towards Bernie, one little reassuring look.

Bernie grins at Matt, and pauses a moment, then, "...no, 's no good, I c'n understand it but I jus can't do it yet. Alas! Next year then, I'll learn t' rabbit on like tha' an' leave th' other septics scratchin' their loaves..." She pushes the bowl of icing toward Alicia, "...there, for when y' need it."

Alicia nods her head and takes the bowl, placing it to the side. "Cool, Thanks." Smiling, she heads to a table at the chair, slipping down into it, getting comfortable.

Yi eyes Bernie, processing the 'slang' in her head with a futile hope of deciphering. "Loaves?" She's as clueless as the yeast in the bread.

Matt nods, taking a sip of his coke. "...of bread. Rhymes wif 'head,' see?"

Yi runs a hand through her hair, but nods. "What do you mean by 'septics'?"

Bernie drops into a chair, reclaiming her now mostly flat coke, and grins almost proudly, taking a sip. "Yanks. From septic tanks, also rhymes, y'see? 's how mosta them work. Real flatterin' one there, huh?" she asks, with a slight giggle.

Matt shrugs. "So call 'em Shermans if ye like 'em." To Yi he explains, "Sherman Tanks, again rhymes wif 'yanks.'"

Yi at this point is a bit bungled in the boggler, and leans back into her chair to digest the material. Rubbing her eyes, she offers a bit of a smile. "It seems I have a lot more to learn of the language. You two are quite like dictionaries."

"Well, seein' as I -am- one," Bernie points out, but still doesn't really seem offended. She finishes off the flat soda, making a bit of a face, and tosses the can toward the trash bin, waiting to see if her aim is true or not as she adds, "An' tha's us, a'ight, Merriam-Webster an' th' OED..."

Yi leaves those names untouched, her braincells seeped in various rhymes, reasons and rutebegas. She glances over to the cake, the smell of that fresh, homemade bakery good wrapping itself to her nose. "Is it... done?" She motions towards the cake with her hand.

Matt finishes his soda as well, but carries it to the trash. He flicks on the oven light and peers inside. "Gettin' close, by my lights. One o' the chefs wanta check it?"

Alicia pushes herself out of the chair and smiles. "Ah' got it." She opens the oven door, releasing the warm smell of chocolate cake.

Bernie looks over to the oven, tipping her head a bit to peer at the cake.

Alicia takes an oven mit and slides it out, placing it on the top of the stove. It looks edible. And smells good, so, maybe she didn't such a bad job this time around.

Good or bad, the cake smells good. Yi looks on with interest and a little bit of rumble. "Should we wake up the sleeping one?" she grins smally, somewhat mischieviously.

Matt is beginning to look worn down from work, and though he perks at the smell of fresh baked cake, he quips, "'salright. Oi'm awake, really."

Bernie grins, and shakes her head, "....nah, we'll just save some for 'im. He might mistake us for a nasty if we disturbed 'im now... just gotta let it cool al i'l, an' then th' icin'."

Alicia grins and glances to Bernie. "You have the honors to put the icing on." Smiling, she inhales the aroma deeply, then feels her stomach rumble.

Yi chuckles, taking in a whiff of chocolate and vanilla. "Thank you, for making the cake," Yi says with a bow low enough her head almost hits the table. "It's more than I could ask for, really."

Bernie nods, eyeing the cake. "A'ight... pass the th' bowl anna spatchla then, wouldja? An' set that sucker right down here...." She pats the spot on the table in front of her, and then blinks at Yi, "...'s not so much, an' 'course y'r welcome..."

Alicia takes the mits once more and picks up the cake, then carries it to the said destination Bernie needs it at. After that, she passes the icing and spatula over and muah's. "Take the floor, its all yours."

Yi waits for the icing to be spread, though quite ready to just dip a little into the icing. "I thank you anyway," she smiles. "And there'll be some leftover, it seems." Her eyes gaze over the large cake.

Bernie touches the cake gingerly, and then shrugs, stirring the icing up in the bowl with the spatula, and scooping a bunch of it up to plop it smack dab in the middle of the top. That done, she starts to spread it out carefully and slowly, humming to herself a little as she does so.

"You've never seen a Fianna eat," Matt notes with a yawn. "There /may/ be leftovers."

Bernie scoops up the remainder and spreads it about the edges of the cake, taking a few moments to smooth it all down nice and even. "Tada!" she announces, dropping the spatula into the bowl and pushing it away, "c'est magnifique!" She grins, leaning back, "So, we needa knife an' forks an' plates an' candles, yeah?" A quick, curious look to Yi, "...how many candles?"

Alicia grins and claps her hands a few times. "Um... ah'think she's pushing 'bout 40 now." She teases the Gnawer. "I think we should make Matt be useful an he can get the plates an forks."

Matt sighs. "Oi'm knackered. Bernie, bring me a slice up, if you're staying? Oi'd loike ta eat it in Bohemian Decadence."

Yi looks thoughtful for a moment, then replies, "18." She nods to the tired Fianna, giving him a smile in thanks for his company. "Good night, Matt."

Bernie glances at Alicia, "...mmm, guess thassa 'no'..." and then back to Matt, with a nod. "Sure, only y'better not be asleep b'fore I get there, or I'm gonna be forced t' eat it m'self, an' we can't have -that-." She quirks a slightly crooked smile at him, and adds, "Y'a'ight with milk? It's gonna need milk."

Matt nods to Yi. "'appy birthday. Yer up on me by about nine monfs." He takes a deep wistful inhale of cake aroma. "Milk's great. oi'll hold me minces open til ye get there." he climbs the stairs quietly, exuding fatigue.

Alicia smiles and gets down a few plates and forks, placing them along the table. "Ya got any candles here? Or matches at least?"

Yi hunts about, but comes up empty. She's not that used to moving around the farmhouse yet, nor where everything is. "There's no need for candles, if we can't find any." The thought of matches on the cake is a strange mental image, but if they insist she won't resist.

Bernie's eyes follow the Fianna as he wanders out of the room and upward, then flick to Alicia, "Well, we c'n do wi'out candles, I guess, but we -gotta- have a big ol' knife..."

Alicia hmm's and opens up one of the drawers and takes out a suitable knife. Its the biggest one in there. A steak knife. "How's this?" She says with a grin.

"...Lovely," Bernie decrees, accepting it and deftly partitioning the cake into quarters, then pausing, "eighths, twelfths, or sixteenths?"

Alicia grins. "12th's of course. Good sized pieces and its 'enuff ta' go 'round"

Bernie nods, making two more quick cuts across the cake. "Check. Twelfths it is." She wedges the knife under a slice, lifting it. "Plate?"

Plate? Who needs a plate. Yi offers just her hand as the platter for her serving. "Looks delicious."

Bernie plops three slices of cake onto plates and one on Yi's hand, smiling at hte other Ragabash. "Happy birthday.... enjoy it." She stands, then, and gets glasses for milk, pouring it out.

Bernie hugs the others good night after finishing her first slice, and picks up the spare plate and glass, standing and heading for the stairs. "Seeya in th' mornin', guys... have fun."

The other two Garou enjoy a few pieces of cake throughout the night, laughing, having a good time. As the hours go by, the morning approaching, Alicia yawns and softly begins to pull away. "Good night guys. It was a blast. I will catch you all in the morning or something." With that, she heads out the door to the living room.