Eamon hears Cameron in the back of the house and glances in that direction.

Alicia glances over to the door as Eamon steps in, waving back with a bright smile as always. "Good evening Eamon. How ya doing? Cameron decided to do a woman's job and wash the dishes. Kinda cool of him eh?"

In the back of the house, Cameron snorts again, and growls, "Gotta do /something/."

Bernie closes the door behind her as she walks in, just in time for Alicia's comment. "...frequently -this- woman's job," she remarks, cheerfully. "'sup, y'all?" She wanders vaguely couchward, looking slightly stiffer than usual.

Rusty shrugs at Bernie. "Not much."

Eamon chuckles. "Cool. Actually, I was looking for him. Rusty, have you met Alicia?"

Rusty hmms, looking at Alicia. "Don't think so. Heya."

Alicia turns her eyes towards Rusty and gives him a quick wink. Leaning back into the cushions, she drawls out a bit. "Ah' don't believe so."

Eamon nods. "'Scuse me." He heads toward the kitchen.

In the back of the house, Cameron shrugs his shoulders a little, then looks over his shoulder to give Eamon a respectful nod, then returns to scrubbing plates with a vengeance. "Hey. Heard the latest?"

Alicia smiles at Rusty and extends her hand to him. "Ah'm Alicia Jackson." Her voice is almost a soft purr. "Child of Gaia."

In the back of the house, Eamon says "Uh, don't think so. What's the news?"

In the back of the house, Cameron does chuckle a little to himself at Alicia's attempts. Oh dear, if only she knew...

In the back of the house, Cameron looks up at Eamon. "Chaser stopped in here late last night. Bad news."

Rusty shakes hands with Alicia, smiling. "Rusty Fitzpatrick. Eamon's my uncle." He grins. "No-moon of the Fianna."

Bernie drops into a corner of the couch, slipping her backpack off and setting it by her feet. Since everyone seems fairly busy, she slips a small notepad and pen from a pocket of the bag, and flips it open, scribbling something down.

In the back of the house, Eamon grins. "Well, Chaser's always bad news, but was there something specific?"

Alicia grins a bit. "Yah? Fianna eh? You know, ah' think ah've just 'bout met all'a yer' tribe by now." Her eyes sparkle over with hint of mirth, if not adoration. Her hand still holds his for the longest of moments, before it withdraws, fingertips creeping along his warm palm. "Eamon is a real nice guy."

In the back of the house, Cameron nods jerkily, and turns back to his washing up. "Bad shit in the city. Rusian Mafia moving in, and they're all wyrmy. Flesh trade and Fomori. And a hit list. There's a few kin on it." He twitches a little, and stares intently at the plate he's washing.

In the back of the house, Eamon cranes his neck to see what's going on in the front room, particularly to see if Rusty's squirming.

Rusty arches an eyebrow slightly at Alicia, then nods, smiling. "Yeah, he is. He was real good about taking me in after mom tossed me out."

In the back of the house, Eamon arches an eyebrow at Cameron. "Oh yeah? Fuckin' bastards. Whose kin?"

Bernie glances toward the kitchen, listening. Evil mob plans are much more interesting than Alicia flirting again, even if she -is- one of her best friends.

Alicia wets her lips a bit, leaning forward just a bit to peer at him. "Oh? You know, my step dad did th' same thang ta' me. Looks like we got some'tin in common." She can't help but keep up that smile of hers, eyes wandering over the male to memorize how he acts, how he holds himself.

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

In the back of the house, Cameron stops washing up, and leans over the sink. "I dunno. Sep wasn't happy about one named Robin being on it. And another I can't remember. The list was shredded at the end, but..." He twitches again. "I also know that Rina's on it. I uh... caught her flying out of a speeding mafia limo a few weeks back." He shakes his head a little. "She's on it for sure."

Rusty shrugs at Alicia. "Sounds like it, a little. It was mom's boyfriend that got her so upset that she threw me out. He went ballistic when he found out I was gay."

Alicia grins even wider, almost as if that was exactly what she wanted to hear? "Yah? Well, fuck him. Well, not literally. Hey, I have a friend who's also gay." She winks once. "Maybe ah' can hook ya two up."

Rusty arches an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Bernie glances down to her notepad a moment, stifling a quick grin. The news from the other room helps with that, of course.

Alicia nods her head slightly and wets her lips some. "But I, of course have a question to question the questioner of ways. Is it against the litany to bump nasties with a Garou of the same sex? Since, its not mating an all."

In the back of the house, Roger opens the sliding glass door and steps in, quickly looking over those present. "Good evening," he offers on his way to the front area.

In the back of the house, Eamon frowns and nods. "We'll have to take care of them. However, first things first. I need to teach you something. C'mon upstairs." He grabs a bottle out of a cabinet over the stove.

In the back of the house, Roger turns to look at Eamon with a bit of surpise and grins casually. "I haven't heard from you yet Mr. Fitzpatrick." He says a bit sarcasticly.

Bernie pulls her legs up beside her on the couch, and watches the others in the room for a bit, now.

Rusty snorts softly. "You'll find a lot of people think it's against the litany, yes."

Alicia hmphs a bit. "What do /you/ think?"

In the back of the house, Cameron sighs, and empties the sink. Drying his hands on a towel, he looks at Eamon with his head tilted slightly. There's a lot of tension there, but he just shrugs and reaches for his jacket, then moves for the stairs.

In the back of the house, Eamon says "Oh, hey, Roger. How's the guitar working out for you?"

On his way to the stairs, Cameron gives Rusty a nod and a tight smile. "Long time no see. Doin' good?"

Rusty shrugs. "I can see arguments either way." He smiles, and nods to Cameron. "Heya. Good t' see you again."

In the back of the house, Roger nods quite pleased. "I'm very happy with it. It sings better then I do."

Bernie lifts a hand in a slight wave to Cameron as he passes, a quick smile joining it.

Alicia grins slightly and clears her throat, eyes shifting over to Cameron. She wiggles her fingers in a gesture, then coughs once. "Hi Bernie!"

In the back of the house, Eamon nods. "Good. Well, we'll talk later. I have some business to attend to."

Cameron treats Bernie to a grin. "Heya." Alicia just gets a slightly uncomfortable look, and he heads for the stairs again.

In the back of the house, Roger nods at this. "Business..." he murmurs as he steps into the front areas.

Eamon walks toward the stairs, then waves Rusty over. "Hey Rusty, c'mere. You can help out with Cam."

Bernie smirks slightly at Alicia, with a dry, "...yeah, figured you'd notice 'ventually. Hey." The smirk slips back into her normal grin, and she waves lightly to Roger as well, as he walks in.

Rusty grins. "OK, cool..." He nods to Bernie and Alicia. "Later...." Then he turns to follow after Eamon.

Alicia waves to the two Fianna who go upstairs, then looks back to Roger and Bernie. "Is it just me? Or am I on a streak of pissing people off?"

"I dunno, who'd ya piss off?" the Gnawer queries fairly cheerfully, with a slight shrug.

Roger steps in, nods to Bernie, waves to Rusty, and grins to Alicia. "Haven't pissed me off... yet."

Alicia shrugs her shoulders a bit, keeping whatever thoughts she has to herself. "You two want anything to eat?"

Bernie shakes her head. "Nah, thanks. ...though actually..." She flips her little notepad shut and slips it back into her bag before standing, and heading toward the kitchen. "Either of y'all want somethin' while I'm up an' all?"

Roger politely shakes his head at Bernie, "I've uh... eaten already."

"No thanks Bernie, I'm jus' in the mood to make an bake, not really eat." Comes the reply of her best friend, voice a bit downtrodden.

Roger glances at Alicia. "Farmhouse cubhood gettin' ya down?"

Bernie opens the fridge, leaning in a bit. "I was just gettin' somethin' t' drink, so 'f either of ya want somethin' 'long -those- lines..." She snags one of the bottles of Guinness still remaining in the fridge, and bumps the door shut with her hip before wandering back to her place on the couch. She gives Alicia a concerned look, "...you 'kay?"

Alicia wets her lips a bit, then shrugs. "Nothing I wanna talk 'bout yet. I'm just getting ansty or something, who knows."

Roger thinks on it a moment. "Ain't the moon I don't think... Is it anything Garou related at least?"

Bernie leans over and gives the other cub a warm, one-armed hug, then looks toward the bottle she's holding. She gives it a quick, arrogant smirk, and the bottle top pops off. Managing to catch it in her hand, she relaxes back to normal, and offers Alicia a sip if she'd like.

Alicia shakes her head to Bernie, waving off the drink, then pushes herself up to her feet. "Um... its girl stuff. Y'know, time of the month junk." She heads quickly into the kitchen, ducking her head down a bit.

Roger glances over towards Bernie. "Why do I not believe her?"

Bernie gives Roger a quick, apologetic smile, and stands, following the other cub into the kitchen. "I dunno," she replies, as she goes.

Alicia is digging through the fridge busily as always, wondering what she can find to whip something up.

Bernie leans against the open side of the fridge, in a nice casual position, and murmurs something quietly to Alicia.

You whisper "'s wrong? D'ya really not wanna talk 'bout it, or jus' not with Roger 'round?" to Alicia.

Alicia takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Turning to Bernie, she leans over and whispers back a reply.

Alicia whispers "I kinda don't want to talk about it... but, I get the feeling I'm making a few people here uncomfortable."

Bernie makes a face, and nods slightly, saying something else softly to the other cub before shifting from her position to give her another quick hug.

You whisper "Mrm... well, you d'cide you wanna talk about it, I'm here, yeah? Now... whatcha plannin' t' make, an' ya wan' any help?" to Alicia.

Alicia shrugs her shoulders a bit and lets out a long sigh. "Nothing.. I don't know what to make. I dunno.. I just gotta be alone." She turns around, giving Bernie a quick, strong hug back, then slips out the back door.

Bernie sighs, taking another sip of her drink, and shuts the fridge, heading back into the living room and dropping back into her seat in the corner of the couch.

Roger is just sitting back on a couch, reading a paperback book.

Bernie curls up in the corner of the sofa, staring thoughtfully and a bit worriedly off into space as she absently but effectively works on emptying the bottle in her hand.

Roger seems to slip off into dreamland, the book he was reading slipping from his hands and falling on the floor revealing it's title, Ender's Game.

Bernie glances down at the book as the sound of it falling interrupts her reverie. "...good book," she remarks to herself, and then is startled to discover that taking another sip doesn't work, as the bottle's empty. Hate it when that happens.

[...about half an hour later...]

Coming down the stairs with a nearly-empty bottle of whisky in his hand, Cameron gives Bernie a quick grin, and a lazy salute. "Wanna drink?"

Alicia heads back inside, body drenched with sweat. Her arms are slightly shaking, cheeks red.

Cameron tilts his head, and eyes Alicia with concern.

Rusty frowns, seeing Alicia. "What's up?"

Alicia shakes out her hands a bit, knuckles swollen and bloody. Lifting up her chin at the voice, she turns her gaze to the couplet of Fianna, shrugging. "Nut'n. Jus' taking out some frustrations in th' barn."

Cameron's eyes flick to the bloodied knuckles, and back to her eyes, searchingly. "Why haven't you healed up yet?"

[... and a lost connection for me! ...]

Alicia steals a glance back to Cameron for a moment, but still keeps to herself on the couch. She wraps her hands around her knees as she balls up in the corner of the couch, keeping a good sized noticeable distance between the he an she.

Cameron shrugs. "What training? You just saw it. Apart from that, all I'm doing around here is chores, and beating the shit out of the punching bag.

Bernie wanders back into the room from the vague direction of the nearest bathroom, rubbing her slightly damp hands on her jeans, and looks rather startled to see that in her absence, the place has actually become populated again. "Um, hey," she greets everyone.

Rusty frowns. "I'll talk to Duncan, have him work with you."

Alicia glances over to Bernie and nods her head in her direction.

Cameron nods again, chewing his lip slightly. "That'd be real good." He gives Bernie a friendly smile, but his eyes still flick over to Alicia ever now and again.

Bernie's eyes register Alicia's knuckles, and she arches a brow at the coggie cub, but says nothing about it, just moving over to claim a spot on the sofa. "Niceta see people 'round again. Almost fell asleep, earlier..."

Rusty smiles. "It's comfortable out here. Nice place t' sleep."

"I want to be daylight in yer' eyes. I want to be sunlight, only warmer. I want to be daylight in yer' eyes, I want to be love, but only stronger." Comes the enchanting voice of the Galliard. "I want to know you better, I want to push you baby, but never too far. I want to show you heaven, I want to be like you, just as strong as you are. I want to be daylight in yer' eyes, I want to be sunlight, but only warmer." Her eyes are closed, the words just perhaps a bit above a whisper, slightly lower then a hush. "I want ta' live forever, want to touch yer' hand and float like a star. I want to stand beside you, always be together wherever you are."

Cameron was about to speak to Bernie, but as Alicia murmurs the poetry, or song, he sighs and leans back in the couch again. "Very nice." He says softly, and tries to get her to hold his gaze for a few moments.

Bernie pulls her knees up toward her chest, wrapping her arms about them, and watches the other cubs a few moments, expression somewhere between curiosity and worry. "..mmhmm," she agrees, after a few moment. "Yours?"

"MMm.. I don't know anymore.. jus'came ta' me." Comes the voice of Alicia, gentle like the wind as she draws her coat about her frame tighter, bunched up in a ball. "Not a biggie, jus' felt like a lil bit o' sharing." Her eyes are still closed, not facing, or even wanting to catch Cameron's eyes.

Cameron stands abrutply, and heads for the front door. "Yeah, well. I think I need some air." he says neutrally. He hunches in his jacket, and stalks out onto the porch.

Rusty hmmms, watching Cam head out, and gets to his feet. "I'll be back in a few."

Bernie watches Cameron head out as well, and nods as the other Fianna follows. She looks over to Alicia after they're gone. "'lish? 's th' deal?" she asks softly, sliding over closer to the other cub and giving her a gentle hug.

Alicia hears the dual slams, her eyes only flickering briefly behind her eye lids. Feeling the arms of her friends, she bites on her lip hard, liquid pools trembling to release tears. Taking a deep breath, she turns around, burying herself within the shelter of her best friend.

"Aw, 'lish," Bernie murmurs, pulling her friend in close. "Shhh, 'sa'ight..." One hand comes up and strokes the other cub's hair reassuringly, and she falls silent, not sure what else to say at the moment, or do other than be there.

"Ah'm so confused, ah'don't know whats going on. I to' ya. People don' wanna be 'round me." She says, voice muffled in the fabric of the Gnawer's shirt as her lips work against her shoulder.

"Like who doesn' wanna be 'round ya, huh? I wanna... I'm not seein' anyone leavin' when you walk in..." Bernie smiles slightly, and adds, gently joking, "...that seems t' be more when _I_ walk in, dunno why. I mean, hey, I bathe..." She gives the other cub another squeeze.

Alicia sighs heavily, then leans back some, wiping at her face. "Its jus' Cameron. Ah'can tell he's uncomfortable 'round me." She sniffs once, then blinks her eyes a bit to clear them. "God... I think he's fallen for me o' something, an he found out 'bout Tom, which is good cuz' ah dunno." She slumps back a bit. "An.. last night he kissed me." Her voice strains at the words. "Shit.. I just want ta' bury my head in the sand."

Bernie considers that a few moments, and nods slightly, "...c'n see it bein' uncomfortable. But, he didn' seem like he didn' wanna be 'round ya, 'least not what I saw." Another pause, as she thinks about this. "...kissed ya, huh? So did you tell him not t' do that, or what? An' don' bury your head in th' sand. You'll get sand in your ears."

Alicia sighs and shakes her head. "It came outta no where. He was turning ta' leave, next I know, bam! He leaned over an did it. Ah y'know, he was kinda upset, so ah' kissed 'em back. He's tripping 'bout this whole Rina thing y'know an I was just trying ta' comfort him. We didn't wrestle lips or anything, jus' an innocent peck." A quiet whimper passes her lips. "Still tho'. I'm scared ya'know? Ah' don't feel things fo' him like that. He's jus' a friend ta' me"

Bernie nods. "..y'tell him that? I mean, 'course you're gettin' inta areas here where all I know's what I read in th' papers, as it were... but still. Hell, I don' even know what th' whole Rina thing is..." She sighs a little.

Alicia twirls a finger in the air. "Rina an him I guess were getting cozy. She busted his heart open cuz' she's with some guy named spider. She's caught up in this mafia wyrm shit now." She leans back into the couch. "So, he's in need of affection or something, stuff an stuff an stuff."

Bernie nods a bit, making a face. "...an' th' first parta my question?" she asks quietly.

Alicia shakes her head. "Not yet. Ah' jus' want some time for us ta' kinda maybe cool down a bit, have some time apart. Maybe he'll just get over it y'know."

Bernie considers that a few moments, looking less than completely sure that's likely. "...y'know, I c'n tell him 'f y'want," she offers. "But he oughta know where he stands. Y'know? 's prolly worse not knowin'..." She trails off, and shrugs. "Anyhow. I don' like seein' y'all all upset an' shit." As she speaks, one hand absently creeps up to play with the key about her neck.

Alicia shakes her head. "No.. Don't want you to say anything. Your better off as a spectator." She offers a slight grin to her, then wipes the rest of her misery away from her face. "Everything will be ok. Its not a big deal, its not going ta' get too far. I'm just stressed out. I told this huge story of my life an Sepdet is avoiding me kinda. I disturbed her with all the rape stuff."

"Well," Bernie points out matter-of-factly, "it's disturbing. That sorta thing oughtn't happen t' people." She sighs, notices she's fiddling with the key again, and drops it, letting it fall against her chest. "...anyway. Okay. I won't say anythin'. But you should. Don' let it fester an' shit, okay? Jus' talk t' him an' tell him how it is."

Alicia nods her head in agreement, then glances down to her bloody knuckles from beating on the bag. "I guess I should heal these up soon, maybe go to the barn and shift." She doesn't seem to comment any more on the matter at hand. "Thanks for listening to me rant again. I'm starting to wonder if being a Garou is like a soap opera."

Bernie laughs a little. "As The Farmhouse Turns," she agrees, and favours Alicia with a somewhat wry smile. "An' yeah, you should heal 'em. I got my ass kicked last night, an' check it out, no more marks, not even limpin'. Go healin'. NOw 'f only it didn't still -hurt- when it happens. An' you know anytime, on th' lis'nin', right?"

Alicia nods her head, leaning over to kiss your cheek gently. "I know. Thanks a lot. Anyways, who kicked yer ass last night?" She asks curiously. "Sparring with Yi?"

Cameron stalks inside quietly, hands in pockets, and casts a cautious look about the room.

Bernie shakes her head, stretching a bit and getting comfy on the cushions again. "Nah," she replies, "Th' Timinator. Think I didn' do too bad though; think Kaz an' Max were kinda s'prised." She grins broadly a moment, "...but, like I siad, he kicked my ass."

Alicia giggles softly, then turns her eyes towards Cameron as he heads inside. She looks to be a bit happier, but still, no healing just yet. "Well, I'm glad you held yer' own.."

Cameron chews his lip and stands there for a few moments before finally saying, "Uhm. I'm gonna make some cocoa. Anyone want some?"

"Tch, such smutty language," Bernie teases Alicia, then glances up, and flashes Cam a grin, "Yes please. Jus' don't forget th' marshmallows, yeah?"

Alicia smirks back at Bernie, then shakes her head no. "Nah thanks. Not really in th' mood for anything.."

Cameron raises an eyebrow at Bernie, and mumbles. "I didn't know we had them... well /that/'s gonna change." He eyes Alicia worriedly, then heads for the kitchen.

Tecmessa pushes in the front door, a little dusty, and murmurs a greeting.

In the back of the house, Cameron makes the noises of cocoa making, and - hearing Tecmessa enter - calls out, "Cocoa, Tecmessa-Rhya?"

Tecmessa thinks about that for about two seconds. "Gaia yes," she shivers, heading into the kitchen, "This weather will destroy me yet."

Alicia pushes herself up and turns, giving a slight smile to Bernie, then heads into the kitchen.

Bernie shrugs lightly and joins the migration, pushing up from the couch and heading into the kitchen as well.

Cameron has three mugs out, and is waiting for the kettle to boil. There are also three marshmallows. The mugs are already filled with the vital ingredients.

Cameron watches the kettle, rather than any of the others. It's easier.

Tecmessa rummages in the fridge, apparently feeling welcome, and finds some bread. She sets about making toast.

Alicia glances over to Cameron for a moment, then briefly smiles. After which, she slips outside.

Bernie glances at the other cubs, but her eyes settle on Tecmessa. "...Hi," she greets the somewhat older woman, "seen ya 'round here a couple times, but I don' think we've met. I'm Bernie."

Cameron clears his throat, looking after Alicia, and gestures absently at the mugs. "Uhm... it's all ready... uh.. add water and stir. Don't worry if mine gets cold." He slips out-side after the Galliard.

Tecmessa studies Bernie. Ever the paranoid, she asks, "Presume you're family?"

Bernie watches the other cubs exit with what looks like the hint of a nod, and looks back to Tecmessa. From the fact that she only gave her first name, one could assume a touch of paranoia there, too, but she replies, "Yup. City-based brancha th' fam'ly," and watches to see what the reaction is.

Tecmessa says, "Hm." Her voice is even, and she smiles faintly, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Wyld based, myself. I'm Tecmessa. Feels the Balance. Half moon, and Black Fury. I pack with Megan, if that helps any."

"Somehow," Bernie replies, "I've managed t' spend inordinate amountsa time here for months now, an' I -still- haven' run inta this mythical Megan." She grins, and it does reach her eyes, and offers a hand, adding, "Bernie Rosenberg, Ragabash Bone Gnawer cub. Sometimes called Reads-In-Darkness, 'mong other things. Niceta meetcha."

Tecmessa's handshake is firm, and not overly long. "She's around and about. Occasionally. But she's just as mythical as Brian is, really." There's a short pause. "Which, currently, isn't saying much, I suppose."

Bernie shakes fairly firmly herself, and retrieves her hand as it's released. "Oh, but -him- I actually saw with my own eyes." A pause, as she moves over to regard the half-made cocoa, and then, "...twice! Though I haven't managed t' -meet- him, so hey, they could be lyin' t' me I guess."

This smile actually reaches Tec's eyes. "Somehow, I doubt it. When were these glimpses of the Wild Brian, in his natural habitat, if I may ask?"

Bernie pours some hot water into one cup, then holds it above another, giving the Fury a 'shall I?' look. "Lessee," she replies, "once 'bout three weeks 'go, when Sepdet lit Steven's ass on fire," the cub can't completely contain her smirk at the memory of that, "...an' then 'course I saw him at th' last moot." A pauses, as she considers, "...I mighta seen Megan there too, come t' thinka it, but no one poin'ed her out, so I dunno."

The Fury nods, evidently quite willing to get warmed up, inside. "Sepdet lit..." She pauses. "That must have been fascinating." Her tone is dry, but her eyes are laughing, if nothing else. "And yes, I believe Megan was there, though it's hard to tell, with so many Garou about. Adam Challenged her."

In the front rooms, Glissa knocks, of course, at the front door. It may take a few raps for her to get loud enough to be audible.

Bernie fills a second mug, and stick spoons suitable for stirring in each before handing one over to Tecmessa. "Fascinatin', yeah, that's among th' things it was," the cub replies, grinning again, and leans against the table as she stirs her cocoa. She goes thoughtfully silent for several moments, and then nods, "OH! Yeah. Now I gotta image who she is. Megan, I mean."

Tecmessa gives Bernie a rather larger smile at Bernie's grin. She's just taken her mug when Glissa knocks. She murmurs, "Hm," and then, "Pardon," and goes to get it. Still holding the cocoa in one hand, she says, giving the woman an interested look, "Yes?"

In the front rooms, Glissa braces her cheek against her wooden staff, meager self-defense against the awkwardness of social visits. She eyes Tecmessa. "Oh, dear."

Bernie trails curiously after Tecmessa, and smiles as she sees the newest arrival. "Hey," she greets Glissa cheerfully, "how goes? Got more news? Want some cocoa? Couple people ran off without theirs, so we got more'n plenty..."

People with cocoa in one hand are presumably somewhat less intimidating than people without it. In theory. At the woman's slightly distressed comment, Tecmessa's smile rises, just slightly. "Am I not what you expected?"

Glissa launches brightly into a stream of babble, covering fire for her worried expression, "Hi, I'm a neighbor, or sort of an ex-neighbor, really, and I've got a bit of ah--well, heh, I shouldn't like to say, but... is Megan Kaftan about? Or that striking young lady that calls herself Chaser? Oh. Bernie?" She looks over Tecmessa's shoulder helplessly at the cub.

Tecmessa says, mildly, "I'm Tecmessa. I'm something of a neighbor myself." Glancing backwards at Bernie, she asks, "Should I know what's going on?"

Glissa looks hopefully at the face she recognizes. "A little news, yes. Is it quite convenient for me to share it, Bernie?" she asks plainly.

Bernie lifts a hand, wriggling her fingers in a wave, and smiles. "Yeah, it's peachy. Got th' conea silence lowered an' all. Only we should prolly finish comin' inside an' all."

Tecmessa looks relieved, and then steps back from the door, offering, "Care for something to drink?" before adding, once the door's closed, "Megan's my packmate, in case that matters at all."

Glissa seems only slightly relieved, and enters the room fully so they can shut the door behind her. "Right. Well then. A spot of cocoa would be pleasant, thank you." She gives Tecmessa an apologetic smile as she limps over to the large padded chair where she usually takes refuge. "My name is Dr. Nicholson, and it is my strange honor to have been married to a Strider. There's been a Veil problem at the campus where I teach. I've dug out a little more on the subject."

Bernie nods, and sets her own mug of cocoa down as she heads into the kitchen to whip up another.

Tecmessa looks at her cocoa speculatively, but shakes her head and starts into the kitchen, only to pause when Bernie goes in before her. Returning to the living room, she sits in a chair near Glissa's. "I am, by the way, Tecmessa Ardenas, and I am a philodox -- judge -- of the Black Furies. And yes. I'd heard. There's a pack looking into it, now. But if you have more information, I'd be glad to convey it to them."

Glissa outlines the specifics quickly. "It's fairly definite now: they've found a Garou skeleton." She rummages in her pockets and comes out with several sheets of folded-up colored copy-paper, each of which bears glowing descriptions of the Information Technology Resources at SCCU's library on the front, and some rather rough notes and sketches scribbled on the back. "I've spoken to the professor, Mark Clark, who's in the archaelogy department, and also one of his graduate students, who was so kind as to leave her field notes out where I could get a glimpse of some of them in the library. Walkmans are quite a useful way to keep someone from noticing you're spying on them; perhaps you could install them on all humans you're investigating." She rummages through her papers.

Tecmessa hisses through her teeth as she looks at some of the papers. "Should definitely get Walkers in on this, we're going to have to be dealing with eradicating technological evidence, now."

Bernie emerges, fresh cocoa in hand, and offers the mug to Glissa, looking down at the papers with definite interest as she does so.

Glissa unfolds them as best she can on the arm of the chair. There are several roughly-copied sketches of an oddly-shaped skull drawn from various angles. "This is all I could see of her sketches... I'm afraid I'm not as good an artist as she is, but I suppose you don't need to be accurate to guess. Also she was checking some web sites on Dire Wolves and the La Brea Tar Pits, downloading some detailed data. But she mentioned DNA testing, and Professor Clar said they'd sent samples to the Smithsonian as well."

Tecmessa winces as she looks at the picture, dismayed. "Good Gaia. The only positive out of all this is that at least it's not a /living/ metis. Clark's going to follow up on this, obviously, yes?" After a brief moment, she adds, "You've done considerable work, here."

Glissa shakes her head and holds up a hand. "I'm afraid I've got more."

Tecmessa pauses. "Mmm?"

Bernie retrieves her own cocoa, and takes a seat herself, perching where she can get a decent view of overything brought out.

Glissa takes the cocoa with a grateful smile at Bernie. Her nervousness is an ever-present hovery sort of feeling, but she's a little less obviously fluttery when she's relaying information. "Ling said they have 70% of the skeleton intact. They're being housed in the basement of the University museum. I've tried to get down there once to check on some Roman coins in the collection. I wasn't paying enough attention, I'm afraid, to give you a complete layout of cameras and such, but I remember there -were- cameras, and I think there may have been guards, and on top of that you'll find the filing system is not so much a system as an alien tongue. Perhaps you've got some way to sniff out your own kind?" she asks with faint hope.

Tecmessa says, glumly, "Not dead ones. But," she adds, thoughtfully, "On the bright side, there is a gift we have, some of us, that can disable technology for a time. Presumably you didn't see the skeleton itself, but rather the coins?"

Glissa spills a little chocolate on her shirt and flinches before nattering on. "No, becausae this was several years ago. One small point in your favor is that nothing's being published, and Clark doesn't want to tell the media yet, until he's gotten it figured out more. Ling said they're not letting anyone see the bones yet." She sighs. "At least, that's her story, and she's sticking to it. There's just one problem." As usual, she can't leave anything unsaid that -might- be said, and corrects herself immediately. "One more problem, I mean."

Tecmessa says, "Other than the tabloids, you mean?"

Glissa says "Exactly. You've seen it then." She exhales. "This McQuire person who's waving around bones on the cover of the dailies is the very one who led Professor to the bones, got him to come out with some students and 'discover' them. And if that isn't suspicious, I'm a fish." She breaks off for a moment, sudden clarity flashing into her usually rather unfoccussed blue eyes, and frowns. "And Ling was less than pleased herself that McQuire's apparently kept some of the bones, and is now spreading Bigfoot rumors hither and yon so as to get paid juicy bonuses by reporters.""

Bernie makes a face, and sips at her cocoa. "Lovely," she comments.

Tecmessa echoes, "Ling? She would be Clark's grad student, then." She seems to be filing information somewhere. "McQuire, hm. So you think he might be doing this... Deliberately?"

Glissa takes another shaky gulp of cocoa. "I'm wondering. So was Ling, by the look on her face when she mentioned it. But I -think- the bones are real, because she hinted she'd gotten some inconclusive but interesting results in the DNA tests. Which means someone who knows about you is trying to let -us- know about you."

Glissa turns bright red at that turn of phrase but can't think of a way to rescue herself, and shifts position uncomfortably.

Tecmessa doesn't jump on this comment. Perhaps she's known alienated Kin in her time, or lost Kin. "Yes. I can't say I disagree with your conclusion." She still hasnt touched her cocoa. "There anything else...?"

Bernie remains fairly quiet, thinking about all this. In contrast to Tecmessa, she's been absently drinking her cocoa the whole time, and has just about finished it.

Glissa nibbles her lower lip. "Well, um. No. Except maybe some suggestions?" She trots that out like a groundhog on Feb. 2nd.

Tecmessa says, finally taking a sip of cocoa, "I am always ready for suggestions, Dr. Nicholson. Please?"

Glissa steps up to bat again, after peering furtively at the glop at the bottom of the mug and deciding she shouldn't suck in polite company, or in dangerous company either. "The way I see it, ladies--er, well. The way I see it, you've got two loose links in this chain." She expounds on her fingers. "One is that Ling and Dr. Clark both have the weakness of academics everywhere: they resent the other departments wanting a piece of the action, or the media either, and I was able to go far with Clark by sympathizing about bio science wanting to get their paws on this." She blinks at them suddenly. "Er. Fingers. So anyway, they're doing a -little- containment on your behalf. Also, they're determined to find the truth and won't pretend it's Bigfoot if their tests show a 'short-nosed bear'... Clark's working theory."

"Be nice if their tests would show up showing it was, then," the cub murmurs, eyeing the last few sludgy drops in her own cup. Instead of giving up on them, she just tilts her head back slightly and waits to see if they'll pour out by themselves.

Tecmessa narrows her eyes thoughtfully. "Wonder if we can somehow replace the information in the tests..."

Glissa nods. "Or just contaminate the bones somehow with bear remains."

Tecmessa snaps her fingers. "Rather less involved, that one. Thank you."

Glissa launches again. "Second point is that McQuire's pandering to the Bigfoot crowd. That means you're due for a shipment of woods-tromping loonies. But that also discredits the discovery to those who have synapses. You might start putting out trash cans in St. Claire with the face of the Virgin Mary, getting the birds in Kent Crossing to sing Elvis, leaving little UFO scorch-marks over in the next township, drawing crop circles in Hanford, that sort of thing. Disperse the loonies over a wider area, and convince everyone else they're nuts."

Bernie decides it would be easier just to make more cocoa, and lowers the cup again, nodding. "Well, 'f they already did somea th' tests, you'd wanna have somethin' contaminatin' them too, so they didn't think it was too weird when they started gettin' new results..." She trails off, and grins broadly at Glissa's second idea, "...damn, that'd be fun. Oh, god, there's gotta be a million diff'rent things y'could do...."

Tecmessa actually chuckles, faintly. "Bernie, you want to be in charge of the disinformation society, for the moment?"

Glissa smiles weakly. "Well, it would, really. But you know: they're still arguing cold fusion, and they're still claiming they've found life in a Martian rock, and the scientists can argue merrily all they want, but the rest of the world gets bored, gets up for beer during the science segment of the news, and comes back to watch sports highlights."

Tecmessa adds, "Probably, the first person you talk to will take you off it, but -- you can give them good ideas, yes?"

Glissa pipes down and goes into the kitchen to wash out her cup (and surreptitiously slurp up the clumpy bits at the bottom that have the high-chocolate density which is the real reason for the whole exercise).

Bernie nods, still grinning. "Oh, hell yeah. Hmm..." She rises, and heads over to the backpack beside the sofa, pulling a notepad and pen out of it before she sits again, and flips it open to make a few notes. "'spose we'd wanna have mosta th' stuff happen -not- 'round th' woods, 'cause we don' want everyone trompin' all over th' bawn or anythin'. Maybe in way far bitsa th' forest land, though."

Tecmessa takes a longer sip of cocoa. "Would think a few nearby, and then spreading out, so to speak."

Bernie nods, "...only y'wouldn't want too mucha an epicenter, so oughta make it a semi-random distribution, I think." She makes another note, then considers, and jots down a few more things.

Glissa pokes her head around the doorway suddenly. "David Cox. Gracious. I'd quite forgotten."

Tecmessa says "Indeed. It's hard to make it random enough to seem natural, but..."

Tecmessa then tilts her head at Glissa. "Who?"

Glissa returns with water splatted onto her cuffs. "Um. Ah. Well..." she temporizes for a split second, very much not good at keeping her composure, but it's not like she's been calm all evening, "He's the head of Wolf Woods Park. I dropped a white lie at Professor Clark that I'd seen a few large wolves while I lived out here, and I was a bit weirded out til I spoke with Mr. Cox, who said there's a bit of inbreeding in the local wolf population that's produced some gigantism. Which is of course not true. But, well, Mr. Cox might be persuaded to say so. He's kinfolk as well."

Tecmessa blinks, slowly. "Really. Hadn't heard of him." She looks at her cocoa, and puts it down, carefully. "Have another Kin, of my tribe, working over there, as well. I'll have to see if I can track Mr. Cox down."

Glissa suggests, "You might tell him about the bones, too. I mean, about how to alter them, if you can get your hands on them. He probably knows about that sort of tests from the line of work he does."

Tecmessa nods. "Would think I'd have to explain why I'd be asking him to say that, so yes, that would be covered. You're a wealth of useful thoughts, you are. Have any more?"

Glissa looks a little pale. "Just..." She shakes her head. "No."

Tecmessa wrinkles her forehead. "I -- Please?" She's not ordering, nor pressing, but she does sound honestly curious.

Glissa retrieves her walking stick, as if making ready to leave. "Well." She takes a deep breath. "I don't suppose...you've ever seen my husband's grave?" She finds strength to say this steadily. "Because I'm not allowed, you know. And the last I was told, the body had still not been located."

Bernie looks up, at that, blinking. She seems about to say something, but looks curiously at Tecmessa instead. Maybe there's some rule involved here she hasn't learned yet..

Tecmessa stills in faint shock, and dismay. "They do not--" She breaks off. "I have seen it, yes. I-- It is a spot I found soon after I came here, less than a year ago."

Glissa looks at Tecmessa's eyes. "Perhaps sometime I will ask for a bit of earth from it," she says softly. "But nevermind now. I should go. Thank you."

Bernie looks somewhat lost at this. "So, wait, then why can't..." She trails off, confused, but gathering this might not be the best time. "Um. Thank you for all your work an' stuff on this, Dr. Nicholson..."

Tecmessa murmurs, "I think sooner, rather than later, I shall go there again," as she holds Glissa's gaze for a brief moment -- and then looks away herself. Perhaps out of politeness. "Dr. Nicholson, you have my thanks. Our thanks. Would a check in at another time, would it make sense? Were more information to come available."

Glissa nods shakily. "I'll come by or call Chaser. And.. glad to help," she says automatically. She pauses at the door and looks back at them with a sudden sharp clarity, pained pride. "I -am- glad to help you know. I served Gaia before I ever heard of you people."

Tecmessa's nod is slight. "I do not doubt it. More than just my people serve the Mother."

Bernie makes it unanimous by nodding a little herself, the end of her pen tapping lightly against her paper.

Glissa lets out a few muscles she was holding in reserve in case they might make a break for freedom, to judge by the shift of her shoulders. She nods to them both. "Blessed be." And then makes a somewhat calmer escape than usual.

Tecmessa glances at Bernie. "Strange rules this place has."

Bernie glances toward the door as it closes again, then toward the Fury. "...why isn't she 'llowed t' go t' her husband's grave?" she queries. "Thassa rule no one mentioned t' me b'fore..."

Cameron steps in with a slightly bemused expression on his face. "Mmm. We had guests?"

Tecmessa says, "Mounds. They're on the Bawn. No Kin on the Bawn." She shrugs. "Most places I know, this is not so." Cameron gets a brief smile. "Strider associate, yes. I, meanwhile, should go myself. Thanks for the cocoa, folks."

Cameron's face falls a little. "Crap. You didn't let mine go to waste did you?" He jerks his head towards the porch, referring to the guest.

Tecmessa chuckles. "More can easily be made. I, however, must get to patrolling. Walk well, both of you." She stops to put her mug in the sink and then heads out the door.

Bernie nods slightly, considering that. "Well," she opines, "that sucks like elctrolux. Someone oughta, like, ask for a dispensation... or somethin'..." She glances over to Cam, and shakes her head, "Nah, I gave her yours. You c'n have 'licia's, 'f you want. Where's she, anyhow?" Going right back to Tecmessa, she continues, "...so 'f I'm gonna do this stuff, who should I be coordinatin' with? I don' wanna mess stuff up, or, y'know, draw -extra- people 'f we don't have a lotta 'em t' start with, y'know?"

Tecmessa stops, after she puts her mug away. "Leda. Do you know her? She is one of my tribesisters."

Bernie thinks, and nods, answering slowly, "...yyyyyyes... met her once, jus' 'bout positive. While ago, though. So prolly I should find her, then, like, t'marra?"

Cameron shrugs, and doesn't step on anyone's toes, waiting instead for the two to finish their conversation before answering Bernie's question. He leans against the doorframe into the living room.

Tecmessa says "That would be good, yes."

Tecmessa adds, "She is often at the house my sisters and I inhabit. It is some distance down the road, nearer to Kent Crossing."

Bernie nods, and stands as well, with her empty mug. "A'ight.... thanks. I'll try t' do that, then, an' talk t' her. Have a good night, an' all!"

Tecmessa's smile is rather larger than it was when she came in. "And you, as well." Nodding to Cameron, with a similar sort of smile, she heads out.

Bernie wanders toward the kitchen, flashing a grin back at Cameron. "C'mon, th' other cocoa's still waitin' in here." Her own mug finds its way to the sink.

And no wonder, what the the news given her as she entered... still. Cameron shifts himself away from the door, and follows the other cub into the kitchen.

Bernie rinses the remaining cocoa goop from her mug, and then pulls a chair out at the table, flopping into it and eyeing the Fianna for a few moments. "..so where -is- 'lish?" she queries.

Cameron drops his head, and his mouth twists. "I don't know." He scratches the back of his head. "She's probably gone for a run, in lupe. You know. Someone probably told her it makes for good stress relief." Not referring to himself, of course... He heads over to the kitchen, and decides to make something stronger. Coffee. "Yeah. I... think I don't think I cocked that up /too/ badly." he mutters.

[...and then he ran away to watch X-Men.]