This old and spacious building was once a fairly large carriage barn, but has been converted first as garage, and then into something else entirely. It once had massive two-story front doors, but they've been permanently closed, and a smaller door built into them. (It seems to have been reinforced at some point recently.) The walls, too, appear to have been reinforced in some way, making them stronger and somewhat soundproof. The size of about two large rooms, the first floor is undivided. It's got wooden plank flooring, and has exercise equipment dotting its expanse, with free weights in one area on the door's side of the building, a punching bag in a corner, and other equipment scattered about. There's a rough ladder up to the second floor loft, which is carpeted, but has unfinished walls, a few dangling light bulbs, and is apparently serving as a somewhat informal bunk area. The lighting is, understandably, somewhat inadequate. The floor mostly consists of mattresses, innumerable throw pillows and bed pillows, warm bedding, and the occasional glimpse of carpet. There are a few shoes resting against the wall near the ladder; clearly, people are expected to take their footwear off once they get up here. One can peer down from the ladder-opening, or from the edge of the loft. (There's about three feet of space between the edge of the loft floor and the barn walls.) A wooden door on the upper part of the garage leads into the second floor landing of the house. There is no exit to the house from the first floor of the barn.
Compact is the word for him: wiry, maybe 5'6" in his beat-up black combat boots, with a sense of compressed energy and imminence like a coiled spring -- or a cocked gun. Never quite still for long, balance flowing through the balls of his feet. There's a striking intensity to his narrow blue-green eyes, the colour contrasting with his fair skin and spiky copper hair; just below the left is what at first appears to be a faint mole, but closer inspection reveals as a small, long-healed scar. His features are appealing, with high cheekbones and a good jawline, but it's the confident mien and roguish smile that most often seem to draw people in.
He's in a well-worn biker jacket of the traditional sort, all fairly closely fit black leather and silvery zippers and snaps. Beneath it, he's got old black jeans with a rip in one knee and the cuffs half walked off and a faded plain black t-shirt which fits rather snugly, in a flattering sort of way. There's a couple leather-and-bead bracelets on one wrist and a length of ball-chain disappearing beneath his collar; his nails were apparently painted black some time ago, since they're starting to show chips. Late teens, most likely, and when he speaks it's in a mellifluous, southern-accented baritone voice.
Here is a young woman who is built like a track star with shoulder length brown hair and matching brown eyes. Her skin borders on the slightly tanned due to being kissed from the sun from her outdoor activities. Alicia is of caucasian descent with a hint of peruvian mingled into her DNA. Her apparel tends to be a mix of urban streetwear in the form of loose fitted cargo pants and crop shirts, to long skirts with button down blouses. Fairly tall at five-eight, she looks to be a young woman who has seen her share of scraps, and radiates an aura of confidence and showmanship with how she walks. Under her shirts, her stomach has a number of hacksawed looking scars along her skin that criss-crosses around to her back and just under her breast.
Thane isn't a man who's appearance stands out much. He's caucasian of skin tone with a faint swarthiness should he stay out in the sun long enough to catch a tan. His bones are pronounced, giving him the appearance of leanness despite having a solid, even musculature that speaks of someone who's gained his athleticism through rounded activity versus focused weight training. His hair is a tawny brown in most lights and usually kept in a short style. Often, there's a good day's growth of beard on his face which seems to hide small nicks and old scars. His eyes are a mid-tone blue, often held under pensive brows.
There is a look to him, the weight of something undefined. It's like looking into the eyes of a man who has seen terrible things and was never quite was the same after. It's even more haunting considering his blind right eye is couched in scars like an attack from a bear.
Usually, he's casually dressed but cleans up when the need calls. He's never seen among the normal public in anything but long sleeves regardless of the weather, underneath showing massive scarring on on his forearms. They don't seem to restrict movement, but the oddly darkened scars are numerous like lightning bolts across his skin. Another deep slice runs at the upper portion of his abdomen.
It seems that Alicia is here at the barn early in the morning, working on the pull-up bar. The Galliard is dressed in a pair of spandex workout shorts and a matching sports bra. Her body is covered in sweat, glistening from the exertion. Up and down she goes as her tight muscles pop beneath her bronzed skin. No longer pregnant, it seems that she is busting her butt to get back to where she was.
Thane has been lurking more and more around Edgewood and the woods and today is no different. The Lord elder is passing by the garage when he hears the noise of someone in there and dutifully pokes his head in to see who it is. "Ah, Alicia." He remarks upon recognizing the woman. "No rest for the wicked, I see?"
As she lets out another grunt once her chin rises above the bar, Alicia drops down to the ground with a thud of her feet. Giving a stretch of her body, she ambles over to the Shadow Lord with a grin on her face. "I am sure you know all about those who are wicked, huh? I can't wait to get back into action."
Thane snorts faintly. "It's part of my job to know, but no, not all. Some things you don't come back from once you know them. There's plenty for you to get back involved in. I take it all's well with the child? I didn't get the opportunity to ask the other night. I had no desire to be around that Ghost. Disgusting thing."
The door in the upper part of the garage opens, and Felix moves through the loft to peer over the side, apparently looking for someone. Probably not the people he actually finds there, but what can you do. "Mornin'," he greets, fairly cheerfully, "Hope I ain't interruptin'."
"The child is fine. Got a boy, born on a full moon. I will find out soon when my cousin baptizes him to see if he is bred true." Alicia says as she steps up closer to him, giving him an easy smile. "Look at you, getting all growling over the Ghost. You should not let yourself get so worked up over the stupid stuff. Focus on the prize. Getting that tower knocked down.". Reaching up, she gives a tug at his shirt quite coyly before she perks up at the sound of Felix's voice. "Hey there.". She calls over to the other Galliard. "You look perky."
"Let's hope Gaia and Luna looked favorably on him. I need to check on my own girl, she's getting near the low end of the threshold for the Change." Thane says, though he doesn't comment further regarding Ghost or the tower at the moment and merely grunts at the pull to his shirt. He glances over his shoulder on his good side, spying the other Galliard. "Ah, Felix. What brings you out this way?"
"Nice time of year," Felix replies, apparently as a reason for being cheerful, "...an' I see you ain't pregnant no more, congratulations." He climbs over the railing, possibly to sit on it, but loses his footing and slides right off, landing on his feet on the ground but stumbling a bit too much to make it look really intentional. It doesn't seem to have done him any harm, at least, though he gives the railing an accusing look for its part in things. And then continues as if nothing had happened, "I was lookin' for my packmates, couldn't find 'em in town this mornin'. An' it's a nice drive."
"Ah, yes. Packmates can be elusive at times during the holidays. I am hoping to find a few of mine as well." Alicia says as she lets go of Thane's shirt and heads back to the workout equipment. "I am hearing that things are going along smoothly in regards to the tower and we may be seeing battle soon. I need to get back in shape."
"Smooth in that no one has come to kill us," Thane remarks. "But still woefully lacking in some critical information. But, we'll make due with what we can. Even if we have to take the risk of mortal attention and destroy the building off-hours to minimize unwanted casualties. We just have to be very careful nothing can be traced back to us. Either of you have any enemies you need framed?"
Felix looks more thoughtful about that question than he probably ought to. "Don't think so, but now I kinda wish I did," he says, "Reckon I could make some good ones if I went out an' tried. ...are we talkin' about blowin' it up, here? 'cause that sounds fun."
Thane crosses his arms as something seems to occur to him with a briefly gleeful, malicious flicker in his expressions. "Actually, that may be a good idea... tell me, Felix, how likely do you think it would be for your pack to find us a scapegoat should something.. cataclysmic... happen to the Tower? Ideally, another Wyrm force in the area that we can point the mortal world against. My kinsman, Peter, is working inside the Tower. Between him and the Walker, Briari, they should be able to held gather any details about the Tower as needed."
"I do not have enemies, just people that annoy me." Alicia says as she drops down and starts to work on her push-ups, letting out soft huffs under her breath. "At least we know who is running the show now over there with the Spirals. I am going to reach out to my contacts and see if I can get any intel on her. Rank and such."
Felix grins at the question, and takes up an unreasonably comfortable-looking lean against the ladder he didn't come down. "Sounds like somethin' we could definitely look into," he says, "...what exactly's the story on the tower, anyhow? All I been able to really get so far is 'don't go there', which might be good advice but it ain't real informative. It's got Spirals?" That question goes with a glance to Alicia, since she's the one who just mentioned them.
"Their security force seems to be a pack of them." Thane says aside to Felix. "One particularly nasty looking woman there 24/7. If she's not an Ahroun I'll chew off my own hand. She's head of security. Top three floors we can't get info on but that's certainly the hub of activity. While mundane humans work the lower floors unaware, most are all cleared out off hours. But the rest of the place remains rather active, including the elevator. I hadn't run into them, but word had the super fomori originated from there."
"'s too bad we can't just frame THEM," Felix says, "Like, I dunno, they infiltrated security to get inside the place an' then suicide bombed it. Or just weren't real good at bombing. Like they're some activist group against... whatever the fuck they do in that place. Officially do, I mean, not whatever shit's makin' super fomori." It's not so much a suggestion as a potentially awesome movie plot.
"It's a good fallback plan." Thane says, "But think of it this way. Wyrm followers are paranoid. If one thought another group was trying to undermine them, you turn the Wyrm against itself and divert their attention. If we blame the security force, for example, it might fool the mortals but the Wyrm forces will likely know it came from an outside source. They're careful about who they let into their upper ranks and information circles and the head of security is going to have access to those upper floors. And who else in the area would want to get rid of them the most? Us. Now even then, it may only serve to divert them for awhile but it buys us time to be ready if they realize we did it. Now though, thinking of that, there's a gift you Galliards have to walk in dreams. I know it's not tasteful, but what are the chances of sneaking into this Amelia's head?"
"Hm, interesting. I could give it a shot. It is how I took down the Hellfire pack.". Alicia says proudly as she pops back up. "I was able to follow them about in their dreams and locate where they were staying. I am sure that I could get into her head and plant some seeds, manipulate her dreams."
Felix looks faintly startled at the statement that it's a good plan of ANY stripe; it's fleeting, but there. He nods to the rest of Thane's rationale, looking thoughtful again as he listens. "So basically we need to find other Wyrm types that it'll be convincing both to mortals AND the Wyrm types already involved that our fallguys would wanna and be able to do it. Huh..." At the bit about the Gift, he glances to the elder Galliard, nodding faintly when she says she knows it, and the note about having done so gets an interested look. "I dunno that one yet," he says, "but that's pretty cool."
"So it seems like we have two lines to take." Thane continues in the 'planning outloud' sort of mode. "We snoop in her head, maybe enough we convince her out enough to jump her and bring her to question. Doing that will, of course, likely alert the Tower but it can help us get information we might not otherwise obtain. We lose the element of surprise though and given what they may have lingering around it may not go well for us. Or, we don't draw her out and just go by what information we can get, but, we can see about implanting ideas that another force may be angling to move in on their operation. The Coyotes here can assist in finding and setting up a scapegoat for us to point the Tower forces at. If we're lucky, they go and we're home free. If not, we drop the Tower and hope they believe the plant. If not, we prepare to take out who's left. I can't speak for what the latter may do in the Umbra, but at this point I'm more inclined to play clean up then play cautious."
"I can alter dreams, but if I push too hard they will find out. The best thing to do is snoop until I can find something valuable, then I adjust the dreams to make her paranoid. Turn her against a packmate. Find a way to bring her outside. But, such tactics also may upset my totem, Black Unicorn.". Alicia admits as she gives another long stretch of her body, then slaps her firm stomach a few times to determine the tightness.
"Seem like good tactics, though," Felix says, glancing over at that remark and the slapping, then back to Thane, "...Implantin' ideas would be awesome if she made some kinda report about being worried about this other force, for people to find later. 'cause hopefully she ain't gonna be able to pass on those kinda suspicions after."
Thane sighs as he waves a hand, "Pah, stubborn totem. Do what you can. Misdirecting them will be the safest, if more complicated, option for us. The sept doesn't have the numbers for a full on assault. We can't spare our lives as easily as if there were dozens of us here." He turns to look back to Felix, "Do you think your pack can find someone to blame? If you need information about employees at the Tower, as I said, speak to my kinfolk Peter or Briari. Val is a valuable resource if you need far far-ranging information. I don't have contacts suitable for this. We tend to work alone. Anyone you know, Alicia?"
"Hell, they are coyotes. Blame them.". Alicia grins to Felix and Thane. "But, I will give Western Eye and Fallen Snow a few calls and see what I can do.". Working her shoulder in and out a few times to loosen the joints, she flashes her grin at the pair of them. "I would rather us pull them from the tower and attack instead of trying to manipulate them. It will be easier and cleaner. Less work on our plate. Most Spirals bite at the chance to fight us. If we can prove we are a threat to the tower, they may be drawn out."
"Well, we COULD blame us, but I wanna actually be guilty of it, especially if we blow shit up. So that ain't real crafty, " Felix says, grinning, although it fades as he adds, "Most of my contacts ain't even in this part of the country. An' even the ones I been workin' on here, this prolly ain't exactly their thing. But as for findin' a scapegoat... gotta be someone, right? We'll go lookin', see what we can find."
"And if they don't bite?" Thane asks of Alicia. "We're the ones performing the siege for once. That have a fortress and an army of unknown size in there. All we know is there's at least one pack of Spirals but there's likely far uglier things in there. They'll likely hole up there until we come rushing in, at which point they'll be well prepared to meet us. Or, we're forced to drop the Tower itself and risk them finding a way to direct the fallout back on us. It's how I'd fight us. They have the advantage right now and this sept is extremely vulnerable. They have no need to meet our call for war. Better to turn their eye away to look for a false enemy then we come in at their back. Fear is a valuable ally. The only way we can directly face them is to know Who and What is in that Tower. So if you can find that out in her dreams, Alicia, then maybe we can survive walking in through the front door. Otherwise, we need to play dirty."
"I suppose we will find out together whether or not I am successful.". Alicia grins at them both with a shrug of her shoulders upwards. "If I can turn them against each other on the inside that is a win. If not, we will go with a plan B and then a plan C. Either way, they have been quiet for months. They have to be bored by now."
"Unless they got 'em doin' shit we don't know about," Felix says, nodding once, "If I had to sit around pretendin' to be a security guard for months I'd be half comatose by now. Get jumpin' at any excuse to do =somethin'=. 'course, they might be patienter, I s'pose."
"And at least we /have/ plans." Thane says with a nod of his head. "It's more than anyone else has bothered with so far among the so-called elders in this sept. Once we know which plan is the most likely to succeed we'll need to see about getting others onboard to ensure we have a force to meet whatever we might run into. Hanford may be the more dangerous threat but if we can remove this enemy at least it'll free up our resources considerably." He glances to Felix with half a nod. "Suppose that depends how tight their leashes are held but no Garou does well at playing a dog forever."
"True, but if this bitch is as powerful as she is to head up security you can only imagine /her/ handler is far scarier.". Alicia says as she gives a grin to Thane. "So, handsome, you want to burn off some energy and spar for a bit?"
Felix stretches a bit, straightening up. "We got any ideas who or what her handler is?" he asks.
Thane shakes his head to the Gnawer, "None yet, though presumably whoever is running the place. We'll see if Alicia can find anything out." He looks back to Alicia then with a faint grin, "Maybe later. I need to save my hide if I can manage to find Jacinta. No doubt she'll have the itch to punch a few holes in it."
"You are turning down a fight with a Child of Gaia? Maaaan... I may have to call you a pussy.". Alicia goads with a twinkle in her eye. "I think you just do not want to get your clothes dirty. Sides, you. may need the practice if Jacinta takes a poke at you."
"You want me to soften her up for you?" Felix offers much too innocently, managing it a few seconds before the grin escapes. "Why's Jacinta gonna want to aerate you?"
"Maybe I /don't/ want to get dirty." Thane retorts to Alicia. "Or I have other business to attend to, like finding said Wendigo." He looks back to Felix and remarks, "Well I intend to challenge her. I know full well I am not the only Garou in this sept who would prefer a more involved Alpha. This sept is far too fragmented and we're too small to afford divisions, especially with the enemies we have. Information is being hoarded, Garou are allowed to go unanswered and directionless. That needs to stop. Somehow, I doubt she'll take it well."
"Felix, you would not last two seconds in the ring with me. Maybe three if I am generous." Alicia says to Felix with a wink towards him, then nods to Thane. "I will see you tonight then for our coffee and brainstorming then at our usual time."
"Now see, people always underestimate me," Felix says, shaking his head sadly, "I reckon I'd make it a full five." He grins again, then. Thane gets a nod, and "Justin mentioned you were thinkin' of that. Be interestin' to see how that all goes."
"Even if I fail..." Thane says, though there's a brief glance he passes to Alicia, giving a single lingering nod, then to wordlessly look back to Felix. "It'll serve, hopefully, as inspiration for her to get up and do her duty and lead or be challenged by someone else. Ideally I'd be an Athro to do it but time is getting to be of the essence in this. So I'll work with the odds I have. It's not going to be looked on favorably given my tribe but no Lord expects the other tribes to believe he has good intentions."
Nodding her head, Alicia gives a wry grin to the Gnawer, then nods her head. "Step into the circle little wolf. Let's see if you can make it to five." To Thane, she says, "Jacinta is very proud and she most definitely will fight you, but I think it will open quite a few eyes though in the Sept after she beats you senseless."
Felix shrugs to the lack of favourable looks. "People're kinda stupid, sometimes," he says. He doesn't look like he actually expected to be taken up on his joke, but since he is... well, he straightens up again and saunters toward a more sparring-appropriate piece of floor. "Any particular kinda rules or anythin'?"
Thane snorts quietly at Alicia's words. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." He remarks dryly. "But no, I don't figure it'll be an easy fight or test. Even if it makes me life more difficult if I can get the sept in a better position for it then I'll have done my job. Contrary to popular belief, we Lords are not about leading. We are about ensuring the right leader is on the throne." He gestures Felix towards Alicia. "Good luck, kid. I'll see you both around. Business to tend to."
There is a wide grin towards Thane as she nods her head, then looks back to Felix. "No rules.". She takes a kick boxer stance, bobbing back and forth on the balls of her feet. "Come at me any way you want. If you last five seconds, I will buy you lunch."
Felix gives Thane a light salute for the wish of luck, and studies Alicia. He melts into a rather similar stance, weight well balanced, fists up higher than one might expect, nearer his temples. The position of his legs suggests he's a southpaw, if one's paying close attention. When he does as she asks, it's swift and sudden, a jab followed by a quick, hard kick toward the inside of her lead thigh.
The grin upon Alicia's face continues to remain as she holds her stance. She steps back quickly as his kick is thrown towards him, blocking it with her outside leg. There is a flash of her eyes as she locks her stare with his, followed by a beautiful euphoric feeling of the greatest high. Rainbows. Unicorns. Tickles up the spine. Enjoy your one-way trip to Wooze-City.
Felix may have expected any number of things, but that was not one of them. He drops back into the stance as though it's habitual enough not to require any thought -- which is good, because there may or may not be any. He doesn't make any move to attack again, instead half-laughing, "Shiiit." He =sounds= high, for sure.
Alicia giggles as she sees his reaction, then gives a stretch of her arms. "Three seconds." She walks past him, giving him a firm 'thump' on the shoulder to 'attack' him and wake him out of his daze as she heads for the door with her usual saunter.
"Hey... how d'you know I was done?" Felix protests as she heads away, "I can fight high!" There's a particular tension, a slight movement, that suggests that there's a good fraction of a second in there where part of him's decided continuing the fight regardless is a great idea before, thankfully, his brain catches up and keeps him where he is. Still ready. But at least not moving. "That ain't sparrin', anyhow. It's awesome, though. Somethin' I could learn?"
Alicia gives a shake of her head. "It is a gift only the Gaians know. It is called the Dazzle. Very effective in stopping your opponent, though to attack them afterwards is considered highly dishonorable. It is designed mostly to diffuse tensions. Thane knows this gift very well, as he frenzied once and nearly killed Mackenzie and I had to stop him with it. Come on, I will buy you lunch anyways."