Evening, and the Library's somewhat emptier than some days, but no quieter. This is mainly because Felix is standing in the couch-area of the room playing guitar, and he has the amp up fairly high. It makes it harder to hear his singing, but since there's no audience but himself at the moment, possibly he doesn't care. "I say fuck authority, silent majority! Raised by the system, now it's time to rise against them!" There's a pizza box on the couch, along with a half-empty bottle of cheap bourbon, and although he's not smoking just at the moment, the air suggests he probably has been.

The door swings open to reveal Justin who is wearing a black hoodie and a pair of cargo pants. Blood is splattered along his clothing, some of it dry, mostly still wet. As he limps through the room he starts for the stairs to head upwards. His hood is pulled over his head to try and protect his glabro features.

"We're sick of your treason, sick of your lies, fuck no we won't listen--" Felix surely can't hear the door opening, but the change of the light when it lets in the street's gets his attention, and he glances that way, stopping short, a hand flat across the strings to silence the guitar, when he recognizes the form and apparent state of his packmate. "Fuck, you look like shit," he greets him, "...but not dead, so that's in the pros column. You need anything, man? An' aside from the obvious, how'd it go?"

As he trudges up the stairs, Justin can be heard mumbling to himself under his breath in Spanish, and he appears to be distraught. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. As he disappears up the stairs, his footsteps can be heard leading back to the bathroom.

Felix watches after him, head slightly tilted, then sighs and sets the guitar in its spot. He turns off the amp and picks up the pizza box, heading with it over to the kitchen. A couple of the remaining pieces get nuked on a plate, a Coke gets pulled out of the fridge, and he heads up the stairs with both. No particular hurry, since he isn't all that inclined to follow Justin into the bathroom, and the moon's much too large for him to just sit and wait all that long.

Clothing is strewn on the ground in front of the bathroom, as well as a pool of blood as the shower turns on. There is a loud hiss of pain from within, and steam begins to spill out of the door. After a few minutes, he shuts the shower off and trudges into the hallway naked, reaching for a towel in the hamper he built. His body has deep wounds along his sides and across his chest and the rest of his skin looks as if he was set on fire.

Well, the mess at least gives Felix something to do for part of that time, even if it's mostly 'put one of the grungier towels over the puddle to sop it up'. He leans up against one of the doors, and waits until Justin emerges, giving the Ahroun a rather clinical appraising look when he does. The 'you look like shit' verdict remains in effect, but at least nothing appears to be falling off -- that's good, right? "Pizza?" he offers, after a moment.

As he emerges from the bathroom, dripping and naked, Justin turns his eyes to Felix and stares sat him with a hollowed gaze, then wraps the towel around him slowly. He seems to be staring at him intently, glancing him over. With a heavy breath, he reaches out for the plate and pulls it close to him.

Felix looks... fine. Standardly Felixy for the time and place, uninjured and unable to stay entirely still. He hands the plate over, and offers the soda as well, that without the vocal component. He lets the Ahroun eat in peace for a minute or so, and eyes the wounds again.

Taking a bite of the pizza, Justin lets out a heavy breath. "Gotta talk to him tomorrow and see if I passed or not." He mumbles to him. "Supposed to take tonight and reflect on what happened." His shoulders droop somewhat.

"He's makin' you wait another day to find out? That's kinda fucked up," Felix says, although apparently only on the casual end of fucked up, not the outraged one. "So that leads to the obvious question: what happened? Seriously, man, you look like shit, an' I don't even just mean the," he gestures to the wounds, then to the state of Justin's skin at large.

Justin lets out another heavy breath as he continues to stare at his packmate, then finally adjusts his eyes and takes another bite of the pizza. He shifts his jaws slightly, then says, "I had to watch all of you die." He mumbles around the bite.

Felix's eyebrows go up. "...that whole 'don't know shit about bein' an Ahroun 'cause you ain't had packmates die' thing you said he was on about before? Yeah, that's also fucked up. Losin' people ain't some kinda..." he says, and sighs, stepping over to try to give Justin a one-armed hug. "We ain't really dead, though, we're fine. So it's kinda like havin' a nightmare, right? A real convincin' one, maybe, but even so."

"He sent me to the battlegrounds, where all I saw was people die. I saw them blown apart. I watched limbs get torn off." Justin says as he leans lifelessly into the hug. "I was set on fire, I was shot, I went at it with a Spiral, then I watched all of you die, right before I was killed as well." He squints his eyes a bit shut. "He took me through every war ever fought."

"That's a lot of fuckin' wars," Felix says, keeping his arm around his friend. "So, okay. All that shit sucks. We know it does. But he wants you reflectin' on it, so: whatcha reflecting?" After a moment he adds, "How did we die?"

"I don't want to tell you." Justin says as he shrugs out of the embrace a bit, then adjusts his towel. "Only one of us should have nightmares tonight. Let's just say it was the Apocalypse and we all went out in glory."

Felix lets go when he's shrugged off, and leans against the wall. "Well. I reckon if we gotta go, that's the way we're designed to do it, right? Prolly beats havin' my last words be 'hey, y'all, watch this'." He gives the Ahroun about half a smile. "...didn't answer 'bout the reflectin', though." He considers briefly, then offers, "Wanna get drunk? I mean, I know you're generally a boy scout about shit. But I would."

"I don't know what I am to reflect about. War is shit. You lose your friends. You miss them but you gotta push on, right? That is what we do." Justin runs a hand back through his hair. "He sent me into the Battlegrounds on purpose to fuck me up. Probably thought I would piss myself or something. At first I thought it was just like playing a movie, right up until I saw you guys. What am I learn from that? When your friends die, don't fall to pieces?"

"Yeah, that's what we do," Felix agrees. "We sack up an' keep goin'. Remember 'em, avenge 'em if there's a way, keep fightin'. That ain't just war, though. War just makes it more often an' more obvious. An' I don't figure it was somethin' you didn't already know, so I dunno. Maybe he just figures you gotta be ready for if it happens in front of you?"

"Maybe. I don't know. Only thing I learned is that I don't ever wanna go back there again." Justin mutters as he lifts a hand up to wipe at his face, rubbing his dark eyes with the flat of his palm. "I think he just wanted me to respect my role a bit more or something. Take shit more seriously as an ahroun. Harden myself up for harsh realities."

Felix nods, giving Justin a sympathetic look. "Well, d'you think you weren't takin' it seriously enough, respectin' it properly an' all?" he asks, and it sounds like a genuine question. "...were you bein' our Alpha there too? 'cause I reckon it's prolly different some losin' folks when you're the one who has to make the calls, too. Even if they're the right calls. But someone's gotta make 'em."

"No, I just don't think Marcos thinks a lot about me which is why he did what he did. He wanted me to get all fucked up." Justin says as he lets out a loud sigh. "And yeah, I was your alpha there. I led you all to your death. There was nothing we could do to stop it. No matter what strategy I employed, we all died." He stares at the slice of pizza, then trudges down the hallway. "I need clothes."

That first bit gets a bit of an eyeroll, and a nod. "Well, he ain't never made a great impression on me to start with," Felix says, "so fuck his stuck-up inbred ass anyhow. An' if there's no way to win, ain't your fault if we don't. That Kobayashi Maru shit only works in movies." He lets Justin head away, but after a moment adds, "Hey. No matter what strategy anyone employs, we all die. Everyone, no exceptions, best we get to do is put it off. Ain't sayin' it don't matter or don't suck, or we shouldn't try, just... don't let him go ahead an' get you all fucked up over it, man. Sounds to me like you did your job."

"Yeah, I did my job. I got you all killed. Woo fucking hoo." Justin mutters in the hallway. "I don't think I'm gonna get much sleep tonight. I feel sick to my stomach." Once he steps into the room, he rustles about for some fresh clothes, then heads back out dressed, sipping at the soda in his hand. "So what are you up to besides singing?"

Felix waits while Justin changes, pressing the sole of his boot against the wall, then practicing a few kicks on it, form only, pulling the force so they just tap against the surface. Don't need any more holes to fix in here, after all. "Nothin' much else," he answers, "playin', havin' dinner, waitin' to go pick up Lilah since they put her on swing today. Y'know, all the excitin' shit."

"Yeah, all the exciting shit. Well, at least I came back alive so that I can ask Bella out." Justin leans against the wall and gives the soda in the can a swirl. "Of course if I lose and get stuck at cliath she'll probably not find me so desirable."

<OOC> Winter says "Mind if I murder... join... join you?"
<OOC> Justin says "I am actually about to head out for a little bit to snag something from the mall."
<OOC> Justin says "Should not take long. You two can RP while Justin heads upstairs to get fresh air?"

Winter steps out from the stacks with a young rat on his shoulder nibbling at a small piece of good ol' stereotypical cheese. In one hand he has a book so well read that the cover has slipped right off. In the other, he's got his hat which he is in the process of putting back on. "Felililili," he sings out in a ululating fashion. "Hi," he adds, straight faced and soberly.

Felix is coming down the stairs as Winter emerges from the stacks, the Galliard looking a bit thoughtful for this time of the month and carrying a plate with about a slice and a half of pizza on it. Someone paying attention to detail might notice there's a box with probably what else remains of said pizza in the kitchen area, and about half a bottle of bourbon, closed, hanging out on the couch in the little recreation area. Felix is not particularly paying attention to detail at the moment, which is probably why he briefly looks startled at being greeted, before flashing the Ragabash a grin. "Hey! 'sup? You want some pizza? Or does your friend?"

Winter shows a huge grin and speaks faster than his mouth allows with something along the lines of "OhmygodyespleasethankyouthatsoundsamazingthankyouandPetetooyesthanksohmygod." The little rat perks his head up from what to human-sized people is just a quick bite but to him is several minutes of nibbling, then returns to working away on that hard cold piece of cheese.

Felix grins again, and heads over to pass the plate. "The part one, Justin had the rest of," he explains, "If y'all want more, there's still some in the kitchen, just leave a couple slices for Lilah when she gets off work. Hi, Pete." The rat gets a slight inclination of the head along with the greeting. "Whatcha readin'?"

The rat chitters in response, though that could just be coincidence. Winter takes the plate and sits down on the floor with it. He picks up the whole piece and then sets Pete down with the other piece. The rat looks up at Winter with these wide chibi eyes that seem to water in joy and confusion. Winter answers this look with, "Yep. All you, little guy." With this the rat drops what's left of the cheese as if it were the worst thing ever, and instead of eating the pizza right there, grabs the piece and starts to drag it off. The Fostern takes a nice bite, at least a third of the slice and savors it. Finally he looks back up to Felix. "Thanks. Starvation is a cruel master. What's going on with all the things?"

"Just got s'more shit in the kitchen," Felix says, gesturing that direction, "Ain't swanky or nothin', but oughta keep folks from starvin' pretty okay." He watches Pete with the pizza (peteza?) and laughs as it's dragged away. "...ALL the things? That's a lotta things," he says, "Lessee... Justin just got back from his Fostern challenge, but he don't get the verdict 'til tomorrow. I finally met the fabled Salem, an' apparently Fae sent him back to junior high, so that's a thing. We still got vampires we're workin' on dealin' with. I miss havin' the rest of a band, that ain't news but I reckon it counts as a thing. Oh, you met Isabella yet? She's prolly 'round here somewhere, or gonna be soon, if she's out somewhere..."

Winter laughs, "Justin a Fostern? That's... remarkable." He takes another bite and chuckles through his chewing as Felix continues, then nods thoughtfully. He considers aloud, "One does not always meet Old Scar and live, I hear. Or... Young Scar, as the case and all that. Well done." He then looks around as he chews through another bite, as if searching for something then shakes his head, "Isabella?"

Felix leans up against a table, digging in his pocket for an Altoids tin that proves to contain his cigarettes and lighter. He lights one up, then tilts the tin in wordless offer toward the Fostern. "Yeah, I heard he hates everyone, but if so he was pretty civil about it. Did get kinda pissed when I told him 'bout the vampires, but didn't seem like it was at me. 's amazin' how much of people gettin' pissed off around here ain't at me, frankly, at this rate I'm gonna start gettin' used to it." He takes a drag off his cigarette, watching the smoke float when he exhales, and nods. "Isabella. Kin, been in town... near on a month now, I s'pose? From the same town as Lilah. Also blonde, ridiculously hot. If I hadn't actually been to the place I'd be convinced they been puttin' somethin' in the water there. I got suspicions even so."

Winter waves off the cigarettes, "I gotta keep my vices selective, thanks." Then he thinks for a moment and offers in gruff, clearly angered tone which sets off his throat injury and his voice gains an unusual amount of rasp, "I hear he and the leeches have some history from his old old old Sept. But don't know what kind. Never is good though. Only thing Vampires are good for is being put down." He rubs a gloved finger across his throat scar as he takes his last bite of the pizza... well, not counting the crust which he sets down on the plate in front of him where he sits on the floor. Not too far away, a young but healthy rat (might know that Winter has picked one out and calls it Pete. They're buddies now) is chowing down on about a third of a slice, which is what's left of the half-slice he was given.

Felix is leaning up against a table, smoking, as they talk. He flips the tin shut in a practiced move, sliding it into his pocket. "Me too. I select all of the above," he replies, and hops up to sit on the table's edge. "For future reference, which vices d'you prefer? But yeah, I reckon we're all on the same page with the vampire thing. 'specially these ones. He sure as hell didn't look like he was aimin' to bring 'em a casserole. Leeches responsible for that?" he asks, indicating the touched injury with a tilt of his chin.

Winter is lost in memory, not entirely pleasant ones apparently when he comes back to reality and gives a couple of coughs even though he isn't the one smoking. Clearing his throat, Winter offers evenly while the scowl on his face normally seen when he isn't around his own kind, hasn't quite entirely disappeared. "When I was a cub. With my practice pack. She was old. I mean, didn't look it, but apparently she was old as shit. We didn't know what we were getting into, but we figured we'd get some props so... I tracked her down, we laid a trap for her, and fought. She moved like. There's no joke for it. No metaphor. She was fast. We moved in slow motion even pounding all of our rage into her. None of us left that fight without some kind of battle scar. She didn't leave it at all." He shakes his head, "Mother Larissa was pissed. At us for pulling that shit. Especially cause apparently they wanted her alive. And more at her warleaders and of the sept for letting it be a group of cubs that tracked her down."

After spending some time on the roof to 'chill out' as best he can, ie, throw up a couple of times, Justin heads back down with a heavy thump thump of his boots on the ground. He is still in his glabro form, with peeled burned skin and now his body wrapped in gauze here and there.

Felix listens, leaning back slightly and supporting himself with his free hand. He nods a couple times in the telling, but it's the ending parts that get a wince. "Awkward," he says, "I mean, given the options, glad y'all won, but yeah." He glances over his shoulder at the sound of boots on the stairs, and lifts his cigarette to wave to his packmate. "Hey. How you doin' now, man?"

Winter shake his head again, slower than before and shrugs. "In the past and all that. I wasn't even a Bone Gnawer back then." He looks up at Justin now, and is taken out of his own sullen reverie. "I'm gonna go ahead and guess this is related to your challenge, young Mister Justin?"

"M'fine." Justin says as he reaches them, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. Drawing it over his head, he lets out a soft sigh. "Yeah, had a great time." He says as he leans back against the wall with a grunt of discomfort.

"Well, may I congratulate you on your impeccable taste?" Felix says to the Ragabash, and slides back off the table, heading toward the kitchen. He gets a Coke from the fridge, turning and holding it up to the others; do they want one? "Mrm. Unless you're plannin' to spend the whole night reflectin', J, we oughta come up with somethin' to take your mind off it some."

Winter tips the book in his other hand in a bit of a salute to Felix and then pushes to his feet. Pete finishes his slice and runs over to 'recover' the crust left behind on the plate which he runs off and disappears with, perhaps to share with the rest. Winter turns to Justin and nods, solemnly, and his voice holds a strong timbre as he states authoritatively, "Bitches."

Squinting his eyes at Winter, Justin frowns for a moment. "... What?" Running a hand back through his shaggy hair, he slumps down slowly to the floor. "And, whatever you wanna do, Felix. Not like I'm sleeping tonight. So, pick something and I'll try and roll with it."

Felix closes the fridge door without getting any other sodas, since no one seemed to want one, and Winter's apparent prescription gets a laugh. "Man after my own heart," he tells the Ragabash, "Though admittedly our options're kinda limited by the whole havin' to heal up thing..." He studies the Ahroun thoughtfully while he opens the Coke. "Lessee here. What can we get away with..."

Winter grumbles a little, though clearly in good nature. He steps more fully into the kitchen and then shrugs, "Chicks dig scars... or, ya know, horrible injury that will be scars." He looks over at Justin and considers for a little while. "I got a connection at the el-cheapo theater a few blocks down. Slips me and friends in the back. I keep him in good weed." Then apparently realization strikes and a lightbulb goes off, "Ooh! I got weed?"

".. Yeah. I'm sorta saving myself for my left hand. Kinda like a stranger in the dark." Justin says with a soft snort before he rubs at his nose. "Sides, I got someone that I've been peeking at and I wanna see where it goes with her first before I bump fuzzies with random whores."

"Truth," Felix says to Winter's claim, "Although the horrible injury version's kinda more specialised. An' the Glabro part's doin' no favours. Plus, he needs a haircut." The last's said with a teasing grin toward the Ahroun, whose response gets a soft snort. "I hear if you sit on your hand 'til it goes numb it's like someone else is doin' it," he tells him dryly. "Anyway, they ain't whores unless you're payin' 'em. Which I guess is an option, but." Shrug. He nods consideringly to Winter's first suggestion, and brightens even more than one might expect at the last bit. "That's a thought," he says, and looks the Ahroun over again while he talks to the Ragabash. "...also I wanna know the people you know. I don't got nearly enough connections 'round here yet."

Winter swallows at that request from Felix and then offers, "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime," He reaches into one pocket and pulls out a medicine container which he squeezes to release the sweet smell of chronic, and his other hand gets a lighter and small glass bowl from the other. "Guaranteed pain relief and muscle relaxant!"

Justin wrinkles his nose and tugs the hoodie further over his head. "That stuff smells like shit. I don't know why anyone is into that." He says as he gives another wince as he curls himself up into a bit of a ball against the side of the wall. "You guys can smoke up if you want."

"Well, if you actually tried it, you'd prolly get why folks're into it," Felix tells Justin reasonably, "I think it smells good, personally. I'd say we could make you brownies or somethin', they just smell like chocolate, but seein' as I don't actually know how to do that, be kinda an empty suggestion. An' I already offered to get you drunk, so..." He looks to Winter. "Y'know, straight-edge guys are fuckin' hard to relax." He thinks another few moments, clearly considering and rejecting various ideas, then offers, "We could find somethin' to blow up, maybe? Or, y'know, there's movies."

Winter looks a little hurt as he closes the cap and puts the container away, followed by the pipe and lighter. "Some other time then. So. No bitches. No weed." He looks quite perplexed, as the Fostern glances over to Felix with a shrug, "When I am bummed, can't smoke, and no ladies are available... which I mention there were a whole lot more available at the Green..." he seems to muse on this thought for a moment then adds, "I'm always up for a flick. Where do we watch?"

"Sorry." Justin mumbles as he lets out a grunt. "You two go have fun though. Don't let me stop you. I'm probably just going to fall asleep on the roof, or at least try to. I've had a shitty night so far and I ain't gonna be good company to anyone."

Winter looks over to Felix, then back to Justin and takes a long slow breath. "Dude. We don't have to do anything. But we are Gnawers. We are here with you. Can just lay back on the roof and chill and look at the stars and if you pass out? Cool. If not... we're fucking there, man."