Bernie is, currently, lying on her stomach at the edge of the second floor, such as it is, and reading one of her books by the glow of her old green Scooby-doo flashlight.

The barn door creaks as Matt edges around it into the dark barn. "Bernie?" he calls, unsure. "Oi got the note you left..."

Bernie glances up from her book and over the edge at the sound of the opening door, and grins, the scarce light reflecting briefly off the white of her teeth. "Hey," she calls back cheerfully, flicking the flashlight off and popping it and her book into her bag. She doesn't bother to close it, letting them stick out as she hefts it and drops rather quickly down the ladder to the main floor.

Matt glances down at the note in his hand, then up at Bernie, looking up from under the ridge of his brow. "So..." he says. "'Meet me in the barn after work.' it says. So 'ere Oi am, all alone wif you, in this dark barn..." He smiles, a feral grin in the slivers of moonlight that filter through the slats in the roof.

Setting the bag on the ground as she hits the floor, Bernie wanders toward the other cub, and grins back. "Now why," she asks, "do I suddenly feel like Li'l Red Ridin' Hood?" Hands resting lightly in her jacket pockets, she stops rather close to him, tilting her head slightly to one side.

"Oi suppose Oi could 'uff and puff," Matt quips, "but we're boaf Big Bad Wolves, remember?" He runs a finger and thumb gently up and down along her lapel as he speaks, occasionally brushing her body with his knuckles.

"Bet they'd be less'n thrilled if we blew th' house down," Bernie replies solemnly, eyes sparkling a bit in the dimness of the room. She takes a step closer, and gives him a quick kiss. "...was thinkin', maybe if y'r not too tired, we could practice some stuff? An' I figured out s'more of th' constellations... if you wanna go see 'em sometime soon." She watches him a bit, without stepping back again.

Matt laughs, returning the kiss. "Oi, Megan'd be totally arsed, if we did. So no Ragabash big finkin', hey?" He stretches, popping the joints in his shoulders. "Practice whot, hmm? Oi'm not tired if ye want a bit of Barney."

Alicia heads into the gym, stiffling a yawn behind her hand. She looks a bit tired, but boredom has drove her from the farm house. The squeaking of barn doors gives away her entrance as she clears her throat a few times, waving a hand through the dusty air.

Bernie giggles, "Aw, an' I was jus' startin' t' figure out how it could be done, too..." She starts to lean in again slightly, but takes a neat step back as the door squeaks, glancing over to it as she continues, "...well, I was thinkin' either How t' Talk in Crinos 101, or maybe some combat practice, though I dunno how masochistic I'm feelin' t'night..."

Matt studiously does *not* whip his head around as the door advertises Alicia's entrance. He does glance, however, reassuring himself that it is a familiar silhouette. "Oi can do either, an' ye might get some practice wif Amharm in the war-form, hmm? Doan't worry. It won't 'urt after an 'hour or so out o' yer breed form, an' if ye beat me, Oi'll draw you a hot steffi ta soak in."

Alicia hearing the two familiar voices, the shadowy form pauses for a moment. "Oh.. Hey Guys.. didn't know you were here..." She doesn't move from her spot, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "If you want, ah'll leave ya'll alone. Ah'm jus' doing a bit of walking back an'forth."

Bernie waves at Alicia through the shadows, "Hey, 'licia... you 'kay? Y'sound kinda down..." Glancing back at Matt, she adds, "...an' what if I lose? Kinda think I'd need it -more-, then... but yeah, a'ight. Deal."

Matt grins, even more ferally. "Oh, if you win, you'll need it all roight." He finally turns to Alicia. "Yer welcome ta join us, an' it please ye. Very little like a good read ta bring ye aout o' the doldrums."

"Oh.. well, ah'm fine. Ah'jus miss Tom." The Galliard says softly, edging back to the door. "Jus'trying ta' walk it off. Ah'll leave ye'two alone. Be careful, and have a nice night."

Bernie sighs, nodding to Alicia, "Sorry... hope y' feel better soon, y'know?" She pushes her hands further into her pockets, and glances at Matt.

A soft sliding of the barn door reveals Yi, blinking in the darkness to look around for some usual farmhouse occupants. "Hello?"

Matt returns the glance, with perhaps a bit of elderly-brother concern mixed into it. "Be careful, Alicia."

Alicia nods and turns around to leave, nearly bumping right into Yi. She doesn't have a happy face on this evening. If anything, she looks downright miserable.

Yi's face turns from a gentle smile to a more inquisitive look as she takes in Alicia's none-too-happy expression. "Trouble?"

"......hey, Yi," Bernie greets the other ragabash, with a quick smile and a glance to the ceiling of the darkened barn. Aside from that, she just shifts her weight slightly from one foot to the other, waiting for everything to sort itself out.

Matt does not question women who have made up their mind. Instead, he favors Alicia with a steadying grin, and wanders closer to the light switch. "Cover yer minces, everyone," he adds.

Alicia glances over towards Matt, then back to Yi. Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath and plays with the end of her blonde hair for a moment. "No, no trouble. Just.. stupid shit."

Yi shifts a little towards the heels of her feet. "So..." her voice trails quietly, throat clearing softly before taking a deep breath. Perhaps it's not the best time for this, but the solemn feeling creeping upon her is a bit uncomfortable. "Whasssaaaaaaap?" This questioned in a lame attempt at imitating the famous Budweiser commercial.

The barn door opens and sends a chilly breeze inside. A young woman in her late teens slips in and quickly closes the door behind her. "Brrrrrr... a walk in the forest, 'great' idea Cindy..." She mutters under her breath. The girl turns to face the others and a grin forms on her face, "Oh... thought I heard someone in here."

Bernie closes her eyes, but opens them again at the sound of the barn door opening yet again. For the slightest moment, she looks rather exasperated, but it disappears as she cracks up at Yi. "Uh...hi, Cindy..." she manages, as she recovers again.

Alicia smiles a bit at Yi's words, then glances over. Her face brightens a thousand times at the sight of Cindy, eyes shining. "Hi!" There's some enthusiasm.

Yi smiles a little sheepishly. Still have to work on that intro. She turns as the door behind her opens and closes, facing the newly arrived. "Hello," she greets with a small nodding bow of her head. "I don't think we've seen each other before..." The newmoon smiles, "I'm Yi."

Cindy offers the barn at large a wave of her hand, "Hey cubs, what's shaking?" Her grin widens as she turns to face Yi, "I'm Cindy, half-moon of the Glasswalkers. Cliath."

Yi breaks down the invisible barrier as the Walker decides to bring the info out on the open. "Three-Blades to Gaia's children, cliath newmoon of the Bone Gnawers." Another polite bow of the head. "So, what is going on?" she asks again curiously to Bernie and the others. "Being in this cold barn, something must be interesting enough to drag us out here right?"

Matt starts to look confused, parsing this complete Americanism not at all. His attention is dirverted however, by Cindy's arrival. "Not /that/ cold out. Doan't be sooch a southern fairy." He smiles to disarm the jibe. "Name's Matt, Matt Fulton, 'alf moon as well, o' th' Fianna, and cub. Oi was going ta give Bernie 'ere some pointers. Not that oi'm Joe Frazier or anyfing...."

Brown eyes regard Yi for a moment and Cindy offers a thumbs-up, "Nice to meet you, Three-Blades. I'm Shows-The-Path to furry things, though Cindy to the two-legged variety." She winks and moves further away from the door. "Hello Matt, it is very nice to meet another half-moon."

Bernie leans against a nearby structural pole, shaking her head, "...I -was- readin' in here, an' then I -was- gonna get some combat practice, only -now- I'm startin' t' get p'rformance anxiety... an' imaginin' y'all in y'r underwear i'n't doin' any good, either." She grins, shaking her head a little.

Matt looks innocent.

Alicia smirks a bit to Bernie. "Not to worry, ah'don't even wear underwear." Slut. Following after Cindy, she grins. "So, whatcha been up to Cindy? Went to the city? Anything cool happening?"

The Glasswalker offers Alicia a wide grin, "Ran into Dante the other day..." Cindy's smile is genuine. "I mentioned you, though our conversation went elsewhere. I did say that I thought you were doing good, though."

Yi raises an eyebrow in interest. "Combat training, from who?" The cliath ragabash casts a glance over the possible trainers.

"Really?" the Gnawer cub asks after Alicia, all wide-eyed innocence, "..funny, 's not what -I- heard..." She breaks into an evil grin, teasing, "...I s'pose that's an even -better- way t' foil a wedgie, though." She glances at Yi, and then tilts her head at Matt, "Cub Yoda here was gonna give me some jedi tips." Pause. "...I 'spect t 'be able t' lift ships from swamps by Sund'y."

Alicia smirks at Bernie, then nearly follows in Cindy's shadow. "Yah? You didn't 'ave ta'y'know." She says softly, cheeks tinting with a hue of red. "Dante is rilly coo'. Ah'wish ah'could 'ang out'wi' 'im a bit mo' tho."

"So do I." Cindy murmurs to Alicia. The cliath then offers Matt a curious glance, "Are you sure it is your place to teach combat tips? If you give her the wrong lesson it may prove fatal in the future. Perhaps that should be left for her elders?"

Matt smiles, a bit abashed. "Well, Oi offered, as a sparrin' partner. Oi been takin' the read an' write wif Megan on an' off fer almost a donkey, so Oi figured...." he trails off as Bernie explains even better in American.

Yi casts the everpresent confused look at Matt, one that perhaps will never go away when she's around the fianna. "Well, I'm one of Bernie's elders. I don't mind him teaching Bernie a few things. Sometimes it's the best way to learn." She strides over to a wall support and leans slightly against it, arms folding over her chest as she hides an amused smile. "Care to show us your skill?"

"Yeah," Bernie fires back at Cindy, "an' if no one gives me any tips or practices with me, which no one HAS, I stick t' my high school 'sperience an' -def'nitely- get killed. Thanks, but no freakin' thanks." She relaxes a bit at Yi's remark, and shoots the other ragabash a quick, somewhat grateful smile.

Cindy's grin widens and she finds a spot along the wall to lean. "Well if the elder approves, then I'm all for it!"

Alicia flips her blonde hair back and says in a cheer leader voice. "Like.. oh my gawd. Fighting will so break one o'my claws. Fer'shure. Pfft. Who needs rage when ya got style. Ch-Ching!"

Matt's confidence drains, as he tries to determine how serious Yi is. "All of you? At the same time?" He shrugs. "Fine. Oi'm goin'ta 'urt afters, but what the 'ell." He drops his jacket in a corner and kicks off his shoes. Down to a plain red t-shirt and jeans, he bounces on the balls of his feet in the cleared-out center of the barn.

Bernie blinks, watching that, and then looks back to Yi, a bit concerned, "...'s not what you meant... was it?" She reaches up, pulling her hair back into a quick ponytail with the elastic band she had around her wrist.

Cindy's eyes drift from the cubs to the other cliath and she grins faintly, "I think he misunderstood you, Three-Blades."

Yi grins mischieviously and nods. "No, not all at once. Just with Bernie first, or would you like to see a few things first before getting into it?" Her eyes gaze at Bernie. Let the pupil decide which way she wants to learn.

Alicia yawns a bit briefly, then slips off her jacket to reveal her toned curves of her body. Stretching up her arms, she folds the coat and places it to the side, then flexes out her fingers. "Ah'don't gotta participate, do ah?"

"You don't have to, unless you would like to," Yi replies, standing up straight now instead of leaning against the support. "Remember the goal is to prove you could hit your opponent. Don't actually do it...yet. Stop just before."

Bernie considers, and shrugs. "...Either way, I guess..." She reaches to her lapels, glances at Alicia, and sighs very slightly before slipping off her own jacket to reveal the decidedly untoned and rounder curves of her own body. Following Matt's lead on suitable garb, she leans down and starts to untie and loosen her boots.

Matt smiles, stretching his upper body, still bouncing around from foot to foot, like a Capoeira dancer...or a punk warming up for a Sex Pistols mosh pit. "Hit away if ye like. Oi can always spend the night in th' wolf. Though if ye'd rather Oi didn't hit yer cub," He nods to Bernie, "oi'll joost tap 'er. Fair?"

Cindy's laughs softly as she watches the two cubs prepare for their bout. She reaches out to ruffle Alicia's hair, "Your pants are nice, even second time you wear em." She grins towards the cub before letting her gaze drift to Matt.

Yi shrugs, simply nodding. "Whatever you like. If you have no problems with hitting women, that is." She grins wryly.

Alicia returns the grin back to Cindy, sliding an arm around her waist to lean in a bit. "Thanks, ya'can borrow 'em if ya wanna." She drawls, turning her eyes towards Bernie and Matt.

Bernie straightens, stepping out of her boots and setting them neatly beside each other and her jacket. "A'ight, I guess... though I really wasn' -plannin'- on signin' up t' replace World Wrestlin' Fed'ration as t'night's enjoyment of other people's pain," she remarks dryly, glancing around at all the spectators. "...right, so. Where d'we start?"

Matt falters in his bouncing for a moment, tripping, it seems, over the nerve Yi has struck. "Um." He says, trying gamely to get his rhythym back.

Cindy nudges Alicia with her elbow as she watches Matt and Bernie. "Remember that a fight's goal is not always to hurt your opponent. Sometimes it is better to remain on the defensive."

Yi looks thoughtful for a bit. "Well... first off, often the goal is to disable your opponent. Quickly. To do so, you need to know some points that cause pain." She strides towards Matt, coming up beside him like a life-size model of the basic human.

Matt gets Yi's idea, or so he seems to think, and tries his best to stand still and be a good pincushion. Not easy for him, once he gets the mood on.

Bernie leans back against the pole again, and watches with interest and a slight smile, crossing her ankles. She tries to put her hands in her jacket pockets, but since they aren't there at the moment, settles for the ones in her jeans.

Alicia smiles slightly to Cindy as she watches Matt and Yi. Shifting a bit on her booted feet, another soft yawn escapes her lips.

Cindy's eyes are on Yi now, and the cliath remains silent as she watches the lesson.

"The most vulnerable place to start off," Yi begins, "is here. The neck. This is where the vital point is. Here, one can strike at the windpipe, paralyze with a strike to the back of the neck, or at worst rip out the life vein." She accompanies these movements with an example. Her hand shifts from fist to the area near the adam's apple, then a slow chop like motion at the connection from skull to spine, then last a claw like hand does a makebelieve version of ripping out a jugular. Gruesome to the imagination.

Matt closes his eyes, briefly, awaiting an actual blow. When one doesn't come, he opens one eye, glances around, then the other.

Bernie nods slowly, observing each of Yi's movements closely.

Yi continues, trying to remember what sort of things she was taught. It has been awhile since she'd done any actual practice. "Another couple of points, are the connections between arm and shoulder. Around here, a spot to grab is the muscle on the collarbone." Again, the claw like hand comes to grip the middle of the muscle between neck and shoulder. She presses slightly for effect, only causing a bit of mild discomfort for Matt.

A blast of freezing air follows the Fianna Galliard inside the barn. He glances around at all of the people here, and then makes a short grunt which approaches but doesn't quite manage to be a greeting.

Alicia taps her foot along the ground as she listens, toeing a few strands of hay. Brushing away a few blonde locks of hair, her attention turns towards Steven curiously.

"Moving on," Yi says while releasing her grip on Matt's muscle. She lifts his arm to make for a short example strike towards his armpit. "I see this one sometimes in movies. And it is true that if you strike this place hard enough while holding your opponent's arm, it can be enough to crack something." She purses her lips slightly. The entrance of the Fianna galliard attracts her attention and she nods towards him in greeting.

Other than being moved around by Yi, Matt has managed to slip into a fidgety version of the parade rest that Luke used during /their/ long nights of combat training. He sketches a nod in Steven's direction when the elder enters, a nod with a bit of a question in it.

Bernie is leaning back against one of the poles, jacket and boots on the floor beside her as she watches Yi's explanation avidly. With her arms bare, the blast of wintery air does get her attention, and she pulls her hands from her jeans pockets to cross them over her chest as best she can, rubbing her upper arms for warmth. She looks rather startled to see Steven, and flashes him a quick, small smile, and a tiny wave before returning her focus to Matt and Yi.

Cindy laughs softly, "You are a walking Bwuce Lee movie, Three-Blades..." Her laughter fades as Steven enters. The older Garou receives a polite nod of her head.

"The only useful thing," Steven begins, "I ever learned from a Bone Gnawer was how yellow snow tasted. All the stories are true, kids: don't eat the yellow snow." He lifts his chin toward Matt, a look of vague disapproval set on his face for the rest of them.

Alicia furrows her brows together at Steven's words, sighing a bit. The young TreeHugger shifts a bit on her feet, clearing her throat with a soft cough.

"Unless that yellow snow happens to be lemon flavor," Yi murmurs softly as she catches Steven's look of disapproval. She gives Cindy a small grin and nod in thanks of the compliment. "Well, so the upper part of the body is very vulnerable, you can see. Sides of the ribs, chest, and stomach are all points to hit." She demonstrates accordingly, angling fist or imitation claw to strike at points that would crack bones and damage internals.

Matt tries, with reasonable success, not to flinch or blink at each mock blow. Never know when a ragabash is going to be done fooling around.

"Look," Steven persists, "If you're nine feet tall, have wicked sharp claws, and have a neck-high stack of muscles to throw them around with, explain to me why you need to act like some kind of fruity martial artist to cause someone harm."

Bernie nods again, still watching closely, brow slightly furrowed. One corner of her mouth quirks up at Yi's first comment, the only sign that she's listening to the rest of the activity in the room.

The half-moon cliath remains silent as the others speak. Her gaze remains on Steven and she regards him curiously. Cindy nudges Alicia again and she begins to draw away.

"Because Steven-Rhya." Alicia speaks up. "You can't always shift in the middle of the street to protect yourself, if the veil may be in jeopardy." Her voice is quiet, but enough for all to hear. At Cindy's nudge, she starts to move away with her.

"Because, we can't always fight in forms that are nine feet tall and a tonne of pure muscle," Yi agrees with Alicia. "And, these points are just basic to know, even when fighting a fomor or bane. Every opponent has a weak point that one could strike and bring down."

Steven snorts dismissively. "You've all seen too many like night chop-saki films."

Yi runs her fingers through her hair, the only indication she might be in the slightest annoyed. "Should I prove some of my points then?" she says to the Fianna galliard, dark eyes questioning if he'd like to join in on the lesson.

Matt, suddenly in between two elders arguing semantics of how to kill a target (in this case, unfortunately, him), blanches.

Steven grabs his crotch, thrusting it toward the Gnawer. "I've got your point right HERE," he retorts.

Alicia snorts back in distaste. "Well now..." She mummers, squinting her eyes. Those dark eyes glance to Yi and motions with her head. "Hey Song Yi, lets go for a walk and just enjoy the rest of the night. Maybe you can show Bernie and me some stuff another day."

"There's hardly a need for 'that'..." Cindy snaps harshly. Her eyes remain on Steven, "It's rude to interrupt when someone is teaching their cub." There's hardly any edge to the cliath's words, but her expression is as stern as a mother's.

Eyeing the crotch with a raised eyebrow, Yi turns to Bernie and notes some more, "And that, is another vital point. If you can, grab, twist, and pull. Lightly, or with all the strength you have depending."

Bernie watches, biting back several comments, and catches Matt's eye with a sympathetic look. Yi's comment draws a fleeting grin, and she nods, "...right. I've actually had the opportunity to note the effectiveness of that one first hand..." Not a trace of her usual dropped syllables, for some reason.

Steven's attention goes to Cindy. "Who the fuck are you?" he asks, harshly. "And who made you my mom for fuck's sake?" His gaze quickly goes back to Yi, and then Bernie.

"What lies beneath it, applying the same technique, quite often stops your attacker from pursuing anything more. And I think it grows back, for some," Yi adds with the evident suppression of an amused smile.

Alicia groans loudly. "Guys.. Is this all necessary? A lesson in combat, has turned into an elementary playground name calling fest." She tugs on Cindy's arm, motioning her towards the doors. She's heard of Steven's ferocity, not a good thing to be testing.

Cindy grits her teeth and she eyes Steven for a moment. Her expression is harsh, irritated and angry... though it's intensity is lost when Steven's gaze returns to Yi. The Glasswalker tears her arm out of Alicia's grasp and turns away.

Matt exudes calm and patience. It may or may not be his turn to get his ass kicked tonight. Good friends might notice the muscles at his jaw clenching it tighter than usual.

Bernie lifts a hand to adjust her glasses, and nods again, just slightly, as she continues to watch.

Steven shrugs, diffidently. "Contrary to what some tribes teach, this sept is not a hippie love-in. Sometimes, it's okay to get in touch with your inner bastard, let him run around, pee on the walls a little." He quirks a funny little smile. "Matt. There's been talk. Talk about a Rite for you." Toward Cindy, he says, quite seriously, now, "Who are you?"

Yi moves over to Bernie, giving Matt a nod of thanks for being the mannequin for tonight. She lets introductions get done, noting to Bernie softly, "We'll continue this later, na?"

Matt drops any attemp at impartiality. He takes a step toward Steven, asking "Cor, yer 'avin 'me on. Truf? When? How? Oi was beginnin' ta fink waitin' fer my Rite /was/ my Rite."

The young woman breaths out a sigh of air before she turns around again. "I am Shows-The-Path, Half-moon Cliath of the Glasswalker Tribe." Her voice is calmer now and she folds her arms across her chest. Cindy casts a quick glance towards Alicia and she smiles faintly, "Sorry kid."

Alicia shrugs her shoulders a bit, still looking a bit peeved from all the tension in the air. She's not a hippie love-in type person, but she really can't see the point in bickering and bitching people out for no reason. With a sigh towards Cindy, she heads for the door.

Bernie relaxes slightly, nodding at Yi, and flashes a grin at Matt before stepping back into her boots and leaning down to tie them back up.

Steven smirks, faintly, catching Cindy's introduction. "Not at all," he says toward Matt. "There are still the particulars to arrange, of course. But I'd say it's not long now, kid." Turning square toward the Walker, he offers an answer to Cindy. "Steven Heart-of-Fury, Fostern of the Hidden Walk, Galliard of the Fianna, Inner Bastard." He finishes with a flourished mocking bow.

The older Garou receives a firm nod of her head and Cindy murmurs, "I'm pleased..." She shifts her weight to one side, "I do not remember you from before, perhaps we never met until today?"

"It seems quite likely, don't you think?" Steven replies. "I am only going to hope that you're not fundamentally fucked up like most of the other Glass Walkers here. Hope springs eternal."

"I was born as one of your tree-huggers..." She offers in a harder tone of voice. Cindy's grin widens and she mimicks his bow, "How is that hope now? The Glasswalkers are unorganized, but they are not fucked up."

Alicia pauses for a moment, then slips out the door, closing it behind her, rather none too gently.

Yi gives her fellow Gnawer cub a light pat on the shoulder, and nods to the others. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Cindy," she starts up, heading towards the barn door. "And you as well, Steven-rhya." Giving them all a nod of departure, she pulls the hood over her head and heads out.

Steven follows Yi's exit with unveiled amusement. "We are a people of action; lies do not become us." He glances back at Cindy, shrugs at her and grunts. "Whatever. It's your mess not mine." He lifts his chin to Matt once more. "Anyway. You're not forgotten. Thought you should know."

The Philodox nods her head, "My mess, right. Bye, Steven-rhya." Cindy turns to follow the others as they exit the barn.

Matt nods, thankfully, and steps back to his shoes, pulling them on but not bothering to tie them.

Bernie finishes pulling her jacket back on, and waves cheerfully to Yi. "Later, Yi. Thanks..." She stretches a little, giving her arms a quick, warming rub through the leather, and then wanders to a haybale somewhere in Matt's proximity, seating herself crosslegged atop it.

Steven turns then, for the door, shivering as the door cracks open. "Colder than a witch's tit out here..." Then he's through it, shutting the door behind him.

Matt sighs, a great whooshing exhale of air. To his surprise as much as anyone's, he's apparently been holding his breath for a while.

Bernie watches the crowd file out, and then turns her attention back to Matt, grinning. "So they didn' forget 'boutcha after all... 'cited?" She reaches up and frees her hair again, since it doesn't seem to matter much now.

"Fook yes," Matt blurts, then more calmly: "Oi mean, sure. Oi really /was/ beginnin' ta fink that the waitin' was part o' th' test, though. 'M sorry you didn't get any real sparrin' in. Unless ye want to now..."

"'s ai'ght, I got some good 'dvice, 'least, an' that never hurts..." Bernie remarks, and glances sidelong at the other cub. "..an' we could, if y'wanna... or, y'know, whatever. 's lotsa options an' all."

Matt sweeps his jacket on, then dusts the hay from several of the patches. "Sure. We could fookin' celebrate. Oi'm finally goin' on me Rite!" He grabs Bernie in a bearhug which almost ends in a kiss--Matt pulls up short to look Bernie in the eye.

Bernie laughs and hugs back happily, cocking her head curiously at Matt as he stops short. "...kin'a disappoin'ed it doesn' look like I'll get t' go with, but still... 'bout time!" She smiles at him, looking right back, for the moment.

Matt shakes his head. "Sorry. Just memorizin'. Reasons ta defend the caern ta me last breaf, that sort of fing."

Bernie grins, and shakes her own head in response, curls bouncing a little. "Somehow, I doubt there's gonna be an essay question..." She leans in and gives him a soft kiss before quietly adding, "You'll ace it."

Matt grins and leans into the kiss, nearly folding Bernie over the haybale in his intensity. Coming up for air, he breathes "I just 'ope they play ta me strengths. Now, do we wanna go look at th' stars, or are you more for Bohemian Decadence?"

Bernie catches her breath, and grins back, "..mrm... gettin' late, so maybe we oughta aim for th' Decadence an' save th' stars for, say, t'morrow... an' I think there's a li'l cake yet if y'wanna proper celebration." She doesn't make any move to achieve that yet.

Matt perks. "Yi's cake? Mmm. Good cake." He also makes no attempt to get up, and continues to hold Bernie close. "Sorry ye won't get to go wif me," he says quietly. "you'll be spared th' brunt o' Steven-rhya's fevered 'magination, though."

"Gotta admit," Bernie comments somewhat wryly, "got no partic'lar desire t' have -him- testin' me... maybe if I wassa Fianna, y'know, but bein' a Gnawer an' all, I jus' don't get th' feelin' it'd be th' best position t' be in... still, wish I c'd go with anyhow." She gives him a quick, tight squeeze, and grins again, "...speakin' of nice positions, though."

Shaking his head firmly and emphatically, Matt pulls her to her feet, standing with her and resuming his hug. "No way. Oi'm not putting you in that kinda barney wifout a nod from /yer/ elders. You 'ave any idea the brad Oi'd be in if I took you? Very dishonorable, and no' very wise." He smiles his thanks at her offer however, backing it up with a kiss. He parts her lips with his, and finds her tongue.

Not currently in much of a position to argue, Bernie wraps her arms back around him and joins the kiss eagerly, eyes drifting shut, though she's still a bit tentative as she slides her tongue lightly against his. One of her hands creeps it way to the base of his head, and rests there, fingertips brushing against and into his hair.

"Decadence?" Matt almost-whispers.

"...Decadence," Bernie confirms a shade huskily, and nods. "...gotta get my bag on th' way, though."

Matt nods. "Aye, better take it wif us." He slides out of the embrace, leaving his right hand in her left, fingers entwined. There, enough freedom of movement to walk, and carry things, even.

Bernie leads the other cub to the ladder beside which her bag reposes, and leans down to swing the backpack carefully onto her shoulder. "A'ight... think I got everythin'... an' I don't s'pose anythin' I forgot's likely t' go walkabout in th' night," she decides, and gives his hand a squeeze, leaning her shoulder to his as they head to the doors.