All doorways in the front part of the house lead to the front hallway, a J-shaped area with the short tail starting at the stairs, the front door hitting the bottom curve, the doorless opening to the living room halfway up the long side, and the also doorless opening to the kitchen and dining room at the very top. The hall has a simple wooden floor, and decorated with a generic print of soft-colored flowers hanging on the wall to the right of the front door, and a tall table sitting under the print which serves as a place to toss keys. A closet under the stairs serves as a place to hang coats or to toss shoes.
The doorless opening to the living room is halfway up the side of the hall's J, and the word cozy might spring to mind when looking into is, as it seems to radiate comforting vibrations. A long couch sits against the south wall beneath a large bay window curtained only by sheers that manages to obscure the view in but only filters the day's light. A variety of out-of-date magazines are strewn atop a low coffee table; more neatly presented are the plethora of books filling the small bookshelves which line the eastern wall. Three chairs sit about the room, focused inward, to allow group conversations. Large floor pillows are stacked in one corner of the room, except one, which lies carelessly in the middle of the floor, apparently left out the last time it was used.
An opening in the northern end of the hallway allows access to the kitchen and dining room at the back of the house, while carpeted stairs twist up at the other end of the hall, leading to the second floor. A door at the base of the J lets out to the front porch.
A lathe-turned wooden railing runs the length of the porch save where the steps are, well-worn with use. To the right of the stairs, a wide swing is suspended from the overhang which shelters this area; to the left, a small table is the centerpiece for several chairs pulled around it, all of which face out to the front yard and the fields and trees beyond. The biting cold of winter is tempered somewhat by the sheltering of the roof, but it is still enough to make the porch an inhospitable place to tarry for long. Even the low shrubs seem to avoid it, their leafless woody stems closed in tight upon themselves.
An aging screen door newly refurbished stands between the heavy inner door of the house and the outside air. Four steps lead down to the lane, a number of pots with small flower seedling carefully arranged alongside them.
Homey is the first word to come to mind when looking at the farmhouse's kitchen. Dark, wood-paneled wainscoting covers the walls to about waist height, dark beige wallpaper continuing to the ceiling. Twin refrigerators occupy the north wall, facing the large six-burner stove on the south. The kitchen counter runs the length of the eastern wall, broken only by the double-basin sink. Cabinets run above and below the counter and a twin-pane window is set in the wall above the sink. A small pantry is set into an alcove alongside the refrigerators, presumably holding the deep freezer as well as shelves of dry goods.
Some twelve feet above the floor, a large chandelier hangs from the ceiling, lighting the dining room and casting long shadows over the bar to the kitchen. A long table occupies the center of the dining room, three chairs setting along each side, and one on each end. On the west wall, a large window looks out on the trees alongside the western pasture. Set into the north wall is a large cabinet, its glass doors closed on shelves containing a full compliment of fine china and glassware as well as a few decorative nicknacks. On the east, a wide bar separates the dining room from the kitchen.
An opening in the southern wall allows passage to the front entryway of the house, while a sliding glass door in the kitchen opens to a clearing behind the house.
The barn is built in the old style, a vast three level structure that is greater in height than a mere three stories, actually closer to five. Great wooden posts support the weight of the upper levels and roof, sunk into the hard-packed dirt floor of the first level like a sparse forest of regularly spaced, naked trees. The stalls and flagstones which once were here have been torn out to leave a rather open area where even crinos Garou may roam freely without fear of running into anything but the supports or the walls or the ladder at the back which allows access to the other two levels.
The first two levels are relatively open to each other, the second being only little wider than a catwalk going around all the walls but the front one, which has massive, twenty foot tall doors set into it. The third level is a true second floor except for a place cut out that allowed hay to be tossed down to the ground floor when the farm was actually worked. Now, it is a hayloft where Garou can sleep outside of the house.
The front door opens, and Bernie walks in. Well... almost. Limps in, to be fair. She must have hurt her left leg somehow. Despite the implied pain, or at least discomfort, she looks remarkably cheerful, humming as she shuts the door behind her.
Alicia hops down the last step of the stairs and heads into the living room, carrying her bag. Glancing over, she grins brightly, but, as always, one that quickly fades at the sight of her friend hurt.
Bernie grins at the cub on the stairs. "Heya, 'lish!" she greets the girl, "an' how's my fav'rite Childa Gaia doin' t'day?" She wanders vaguely toward the kitchen, though not into it, moving a bit slowly and yet not seeming to pay any real attention to the limp. "...whatcha got yer bag for?"
Alicia smirks. "I don't know, I haven't seen Adam in awhile, an we all know he's our favorite lil dolphin saver." Teasing, she eyes her leg, then frowns. "What happened to you? Are you ok? You are hurt..."
Bernie smirks a little and teases back, "Well, he -is- easy on th' eyes... an' how're =you=?" The Gnawer drops her backpack on the sofa, and limps toward the fridge. "Kaz took me patrollin' in th' Umbra, this mornin'," she continues, by way of explanation, sounding a bit proud, and opens the fridge, surveying the contents. Her gaze darts back to Alicia, "...you gonna get upset 'f I help Cam get rida onea these few remainin' improperly chilled Guinness?"
Alicia follows after her. "No, I won't... an what happened? Why are you /hurt/ though, are you ok? C'mon, tell me yer' ok.." She blinks once. "Of course you are ok, but yer' limping, an it should be healed now right? So, yer' not ok? Why aren't you ok Bernie?"
Bernie pulls out one of the cans and pauses as she straightens, blinking at her friend. "Whoa. Maybe =you= oughta have this," she teases, holding the can out so the other girl can, in fact, take it if she wants to. "I'm okay. Honest. Y'wanna, we c'n sit down an' I'll tell ya 'bout it. Yeah?"
Alicia wrinkles her nose at the beer, hesitating. It appears that she almost 'may' just take it, but, in the end she withdraws her thoughts. "No thanks...an.. Ok..tell me.. as long as yer' ok.."
Bernie shrugs affably and bumps the fridge shut with her hip as usual -- a mistake, today, judging from the silent wince that passes over her face. "A'ight," she replies, popping open the can as she heads back toward the couch, and takes up her usual position in the corner there. She doesn't curl up, though, leaving her legs out straight for a change.
Alicia follows after her, furrowing her brows together. She looks curious and concerned all the while. Slipping down next to her, she cozies up, waiting.
Bernie leans friendly against the coggie, and sips her beer. "So, a'ight. This mornin', I wake up all early, 'cause Kaz is knockin' on th' door. An' she says, I should come with her an' do an Umbral Patrol. So I'm like, cool, just let me change an' all, an' I did, an' we went t' th' Ri, t' start from there."
Alicia nods and continues to listen to her, draping an arm across her shoulders. "Ok.."
Bernie sips the beer, relaxing contentedly into the cushions and the Galliard. "So, we pop otherside, 'course, an' y'know, th' place's act'ly pretty nice, but y'get outside it a bit, there's lotsa Weaver webbing an' some Wyrmy shit, too, an' so first, we helped these two raccoon spirits get mosta th' webbing offa their buildin', an' warnin for th' future, somea that shit is =sharp=. I got cut all on my hands an' arms. So be p'rpared."
Alicia blinks a bit, having never seen the spider webs before. She takes note to ask about that later to her Elders. "Ok.." She says again, the usual reply as she listens intently.
"So, we did that a while, an' th' racoon spirits helped too, an' they were pretty cute, gotta say, an' then we figured we got enough offa it for now, an' we went t' patrol more, an' Shadow Claws finds this... Wyrmy thing. It's all big an' purple an' oozy, gelatinous, y'know? An' it has these green... fronds. Like ferns have? An' Kaz says, we should kill it." The ragabash pauses for another drink. "So we d'cide t' surround it, th' threea us, an' we do, an' Kaz gives th' signal, an' we all leap outta hidin' an' attack it, right?"
Alicia nods her head, listening as she narrows her eyes a bit. A mixed series of emotions riddling her face.
Bernie grins as she relates the story, looking -- and sounding -- fairly excited. "So, see, th' fronds, they're, like, suckers, tentacle things, kinda, so we tried t' get rida them first, so it couldn't bite us an' all. An' I clawed one off, an' Kaz got one, an' Shadow Claws too, so we started off with it three down already, only =then=, it whips out this pseudopod, an' =whack=, it gets me in th' legs an' I end up like right in th' middlea this thing, like ridin' a bouncy castle."
Alicia blinks once and purses her lips in thought, brow rising up a bit. She continues to listen, one hand reaching up to rub at her temple.
Another sip of the Guinness, wetting her throat, and the Gnawer continues. "So, I'm like, well, I guess if I'm in th' middle here, I might 's well start slashin' th' thing proper, right in th' center, so I do. An', 'course, Kaz an' Shadow Claws are still wailin' on th' thing too. Only =then=, I catch my rear claws on onea th' fronds, an' it isn't enough t' r'move th' thing, an' it, like, =strikes=, an' buries itself in my thigh," she gestures to the limping leg with her can, "an' I guess it starts tryin' t' digest me. An', so, I'm not real thrilled with that idea, so I turn 'round an' start hackin' it with my front claws, by th' bottom, where it's attached, and then, splootch, I rip th' thing off. An' th' stuff's all in my bloodstream, makin' me think weird? So I got this frond-thing in my hand," she giggles a little, "an' I start =beatin'= it with its own body part a few times, 'fore I realise claws really work better, 'cause I was =pissed= 't that thing. An' so, I give it a good rakin', an' Kaz an' Shadow are meanwhile busy kickin' its ass too, 'course, an' BOOM, it 'splodes in a furya mess an' goo." Pause. "....well, a'ight, didn' strictly ='splode=, but it did spray a metric shitloada white goop, which is what th' thing bled. An' then, it was dead, an' we stood triumpant, good vanquishes evil, allat good shit." Story essentially done, she grins wider, and takes another drink.
Alicia blinks a bit and lets out a breath. "Wow... that is cool, I guess, but.. you are ok?" Who cares about the story! IS SHE OK!?
Bernie bursts out laughing, and pokes Alicia lightly on the nose. "Meep," she remarks, grinning, "...yeah, except for havin' gotten a big ol' Wyrmy sucker-tentacle thing halfway through my thigh, I'm peachy-keen, jellybean. Like I already told ya what, three times? An' even tha's not so bad; it oughta be better, like, t'marra, next day maybe."
Alicia furrows her brows a bit, then lets out a sigh. "I've never had a chance to fight against the Wyrm. I'm... jealous."
"You will," Bernie replies, sympathetic but certain. "There's plennya 'em, that's f'r sure. It =was= pretty cool, though. Pain aside." She nudges the other cub, grinning, "anyway, di'n' I change a while b'fore you? So I =oughta= be doin' shit first, right?"
Alicia smirks at her and pokes. "Blah." She states, simply at that. "Long as you rite with me, thats all I care 'bout."
"We c'n hope!" the Gnawer exclaims, and finishes off the beer, setting the empty can aside. "Thinkin', how much would it kick ass if you an' me an' Matt all got t' Rite t'gether? An' then we c'n drag y'cityward..." She grins.
[...then Alicia had to run. But a little later...]
In the back of the house, Matt parks his scooter behind the farmhouse and slips quietly into the kitchen. He's still in work clothes, but has a rucksack over his shoulder. His jeans are filthy--looks like someone had an accident with potato soup...
Bernie is seated on the couch, reading a book, or rather, she was until she heard the familiar sound of the scooter. By the time Matt enters, the book is closed and being set aside as she pushes up to her feet, and, seeing him, heads toward the kitchen. "Hey!" she greets him exuberantly, despite the limp she seems to have, for some reason. "...wow, what happened t' you?"
Matt is headed for the stairs, actually. He pulls up short, seeing Bernie. His deep frown disappears, momentarily, then returns at her comment. "Fookin' bint ran inta me wif a gallon cambro of soup. Damn near shifted on 'er. Hurt a bit, too. So Oi drove over here in glabro. Fank gaia fer helmets, neh?" He shifts his rucksack to a more comfortable position and eyes the stairs. "Oi was goin' ta shower, actually, and--" He finally notices the limp. "Whot 'appened ta you?" Concern washes over him and he drops the ruck on the floor.
A knock comes at the door.
Bernie blinks. "Glabro," she repeats, "I knew I was forgettin' somethin'... well, y'know when Kaz came by at God knows what hour an' woke us up knockin' an' all t' take me on patrol with her in th' Umbra, this mornin'? ...though, you were kinda still asleep when I toldja that..." She trails off at the knock, and makes a face, limping back toward the door to answer it.
Summer stands outside, a broad smile lighting her features when the door opens. "Oh, hello..." She has a grocery bag in the crook of one arm. "How are you?"
Matt frowns with concern as Bernie limps to the door; a frown which doesn't disappear at the appearance of a stranger. Even a stranger bearing groceries. His work uniform is pretty filthy unter his jacket--it looks like (amoung other things) someone has poured a tureen of soup on him.
Bernie, on the other hand, seems perfectly cheerful, if a bit startled to see Summer there. "Hey," she greets the girl, surprise evident. "doin' a'ight, you? ...seein' as you got groc'ries there, I'm guessin' you're not here 'cause your bike gotta flat, again?"
Summer shakes her head, offering a warm smile. "No. I thought I'd bring by some fruit, from the market. Like, sort of a neighborly gift. I found a place not too far from here, just moved my stuff in, so I thought I'd stop by to let you know."
Matt brightens--a little--as Bernie seems to know the girl. "Friend of ours, Bernie?" He glances again at the stairs. Why doan't Oi get cleaned up, and we can make proper introductions in a tic, neh?"
"Couldn' hurt," Bernie replies to Matt, then adds to the new arrival, "Act'ly, I di'n' catch your name last time we met..." She trails off, prompting.
The girl offers a crooked grin. "Summer," she answers, holding out her free hand. "Please... enjoy." She holds out the grocery bag--full of grapes and tangerines and other fruit.
Matt peeks, then actually smiles. "Fruit. Hmm. Well, doan't stand out there catchin' yer death of cold. Books, 'ere'll 'elp ye find a place fer those in the kitchen. Oi'm gonna shower and put on some new alans."
Bernie nods agreement with Matt's comment; accent or not, she doesn't seem the slightest bit confused. Or expect anyone else to be. "Yeah, like he said..." She takes one slightly limping step out of the way of the door, gesturing with a wave of her hand for the girl to enter.
Summer glances past Bernie to the stranger, offering him a quick grin and then coming inside, the paper bag rustling in the crook of her arm. She glances about, looking for the kitchen and then heading that way, a glance over her shoulder directing her voice to Bernie. "Didja, like, sprain your ankle or somethin'? You okay?"
Matt picks up his rucksack and starts up the stairs. "Oi'll be back in time ta see if we can bodge some jim outa' that mess, roight?" he trundles up the stairs. A few minutes later, the muffled rumble of a shower can be heard.
Bernie catches herself before attempting to close the door with her foot -- that would've hurt -- and pushes it shut with one hand before trailing the girl to the kitchen, not too terribly slowly, but still definitely limping. "Yeah, I'm a'ight, jus' hurt my leg. It'll prolly be okay t'marra, y'know how it is. Y'pull a muscle or somethin', end up walkin' 'round like, I dunno, Quasimodo or somethin'..." She glances upward at the sound of the water, and looks rather distracted for a moment before shaking her head once and opening the fridge. "We c'n put that in here. So, where's this place y'found near here, then?"
Cameron steps in from the front door, quietly, and surveys the room. He just stands there for a moment, staring at Bernie neutrally. After a moment he blinks, and smiles warmly at Summer. "Hello... what're you doing back here? Bike's not busted, I can see."
Summer leans over to set the fruit into the fridge, a bit at a time. She glances toward the door, a startled smile lighting her face. "Oh. I, ah, moved in not far from here. Renting a room with, like, this family of local people..."
Alicia knocks once on the door, then strides on in. She's all smiles at the moment. "The fuuuuun has arrived!"
Bernie looks slightly unsure how to react to Cam's stare, and ends up just ignoring it, for the moment, rather unnecessarily answering, "She's dropped by t' give us some fruit..." Her grin returns as Alicia announces her presence, "...I dunno, think it's legal t' have so much fun in one place? I wouldn' wanna be, y'know, committin' any felonies..."
Eyeing Bernie and Alicia each, Cameron looks a little uncomfortable for a moment. This is quickly banished for the moment, as he smiles at Summer. "Well, that's good. We'll be able to see a lot more of you." He stalks into the kitchen and snatches a Coke out of the fridge. "Well, I'm going to go do stuff." So saying, he sends an almost sincere smile to everyone in the room, and heads out the back door.
Summer puts another bunch of grapes into the fridge, straightening abruptly and following the young man's progress outside, frowning a little. "Um, anybody want some of these or should I put them all away?" she asks distractedly.
Alicia raises a brow upwards as Cameron departs, her smile falling for a moment. "MMmm.... OOoh k... Hey, Hi Summer." She drawls off with a quick grin, winking to the other girl. She stares at her for a moment, then shifts her eyes over to Bernie, leaning over to whisper.
Alicia whispers "OOoh... Is Cameron all hot an bothered 'bout the hotty being here?"
Bernie looks kind of startled again as Cameron runs off, and seems to come to some sort of realization as Alicia whispers to her -- either that, or she puts too much weight on the injured leg, 'cause she winces a bit. Shaking her head once at Alicia, with a half-smile, she says, "...y'all 'scuse me? I'm gonna go check somethin' with Cam. 'lish, you c'n help Summer with this, yeah?" She doesn't wait for answers before limping toward the door.
Summer shakes her head minutely. "Um. No, it's fine, I don't need any help or anything..." She watches the girl go to the door and then glances back over to Alicia. "They like have a fight or something?" she asks.
Alicia shrugs her shoulders as Bernie leaves, glancing over to Summer. "No clue. You know guys an their hormones. They all outta control an shit." She gives a half grin. Leaning against the doorway that leads to the kitchen, she peers in at the blonde. "So.. Summer, I overheard you may be seeing a lot of us more? Thats cool, could use another face."
[Porch]
Cameron is leaning on the porch, sipping his coke and staring at the sky.
Bernie limps out of the front door, and takes up a position beside Cam on the porch, leaning there as well, a foot or two away. "Hey," she greets him, quietly. "You 'kay?"
Cameron gives a neutral nod and sips. He looks at her out of the corner of his eye. "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
"'cause y'ain't actin' like it," Bernie replies, calmly. "Anyway. 'f y'wondered, yeah, I r'member whatcha said, an' no, I di'n' tell 'lish or anyone else. Which I won't, either; I'm not inta tellin' people's stories for 'em. A'ight?" She looks out over the front yard, such as it is, for most of the, but looks sideways back at him as she concludes. "I like ya. I wanna keep bein' friends. Yeah?"
Cameron sips some more, and turns to look at Bernie with a slightly pained expression on his face. "Yeah, fair enough. Also... I dunno. I don't really feel in a cheery mood, y'know? Having an Alicia burst in behind you screaming isn't good for one's nerves." He turns back to looking at the sky, and sighs lightly. "Appreciated, Bern. Appreciated." After a pause, he adds casually, "You and Matt an item, now?"
Bernie laughs a little at the remark about screaming. "Yeah, I know whatcha mean... maybe it's a Galliard thing, seems like mosta th' ones I know gotta tendency t' be larger'n life..." The smile dims a bit at the question, and she looks out over the yard again, one hand moving up to push a curl back behind her ear. "...I wouldn't say that," she replies after a moment, shaking her head slightly, "..why d'you ask?"
Cameron watches the gesture and the facial expression keenly, and at the words, he just shakes his head dismissively, rolling his eyes somewhat, then staring back at the sky, mutters, "Fucking... nevermind." softly. He takes a healthy-sized slurp from the coke can.
Bernie gets annoyed, and looks directly at Cameron now. "What do you want me to say? Y'want me t' say, yeah, we're thinkin' we'll get married in a couple years, have a kid or two? No. Sorry t' disappoint you. We could hate each other, or we could fuckin' be soulmates an' destined for some mystical true love t' last th' ages or anyFUCKINGthing in between an' it doesn't fucking MATTER, okay? ...goddammit." Her jaw clenches, and she pushes up from the porch, seeming not even to notice the pain in her leg. "Happy now?" she asks, soft and bitter, starting toward the door.
Cameron moves fast. Very fast. Grabbing her arm, he snarls, "No! I'm abso-fucking-lutely ripped up. Because this /sucks/. Because it's just /fucked up/." He pauses, just staring at her. "Because I just had this thought a few nights ago, and funny thing, it wouldn't go away. And I just thought, "Oh /God/ no..." His voice softens, and he lets her go. "I dunno. I suppose I just wanted to know if everything's OK - and wish you caution, discretion, good luck, and hope that you part on good terms." He starts to take a few steps away to go back and lean on the railing.
For a moment after he grabs her, Bernie looks as if she might hit him; then it becomes clear that she isn't moving anymore, not to hit him, not to go inside. She remains that way for a second or two after he retreats, too, before she inhales deeply, and a touch raggedly, and all the fight escapes. Her shoulders drop an inch or so, and her head bows, eyes closing. It's fairly clear that she's trying to avoid crying. Apparently, she wins this round, since when she speaks after a long pause, her voice is level, if soft. "...thank you," is all she says, before swallowing slightly, squaring her shoulders determinedly, and turning to open the door and head back in.
As she finally makes her way inside, Cameron sags over the railing, holding his head up with one hand. "God, I suck." He mutters.
[Farmhouse: Hallway and Living Room]
In the back of the house, Matt's fingers brush hers lightly as he takes the fruit. "Sure an' Oi wouldn't lie to ye. Most blokes find their feet on the path almost before they've finished their business."
Bernie comes back inside, looking... well, looking decidedly less cheerful than she did earlier in the evening. She pauses inside the door, after closing it behind her, and adjust her glasses, then pushes a stray curl back behind her ear. As always, it pops right back out; as always, she doesn't appear to notice.
In the back of the house, Summer purses her lips slightly, and glances past him to look toward the girl. "Hey," she calls out cheerily.
In the back of the house, Matt turns with a smile on his face, which vanishes upon sensing Bernie's distress. "So," he growls. "Do Oi need ta kick 'im in the teeth?" Before waiting for an answer, he pulls her down a Guinness from the pantry.
In the back of the house, Summer leans back against the counter, uncertainly.
Bernie swallows slightly, shaking her head, and limps across the room to the kitchen. "Hey," she replies to to Summer, somewhat subdued, before looking to Matt, watching him get the drink. "Nah," she replies, quietly, "...sorted things out, I think. He c'n prolly keep his teeth." A pause, as she reaches the table and slides into a chair, and then the ghost of a smile. "For now, anyway."
[Farmhouse: Kitchen and Dining Room]
Summer chews on her lip. "Cameron?" She glances to the girl, concerned. "Is he okay?"
Matt raises an eyebrow. "Fer now, 'e is. Sounds like it anyway." To Bernie, he asks "are /you/ all roight?"
Bernie regards Summer a moment, thoughtfully. "Mostly. He prolly wouldn' mind if y'wan'ed t' go out an' say hi, though. He was happy t' see ya an' all. 'lish kinda overwhelmed him with her exuberant entry, though..." She trails off, and looks back to Matt, silent a moment before gesturing to the beer he's retrieved, "...c'n I have that?"
Summer glances to Bernie, and then to Matt. "I guess I should go, huh? Sounds like... family stuff." She gives Bernie a speculative glance, almost.
Summer offers Matt a quick smile. "Enjoy the produce," she offers in a lighter voice. "See you around."
Alicia heads into the kitchen, bursting with happiness. She has this huge grin plastered all over her face.
Matt tips his beer in a salute, as he hands Bernie the other. "'opefully. See you soon."
Bernie accepts the bottle rather gratefully, with a quiet, "Thanks..." and glances at the top for a fraction of a second before her eyes flit to Summer. She slouches back a little in her chair, wincing as she moves her leg, and waves the free hand to the departing girl. "Later," she says to her, before turning the wave to Alicia and continuing, "...hey." She doesn't look as cheery as earlier. The second the front door shuts behind Summer, the Gnawer shoots the bottle top a fierce look, and the thing jumps off almost immediately, landing on the table with a clatter.
Alicia blinks at the trick, but keeps her grin on her face. "I just met... Andrea. She is home! She's back home to the Sept. An Adren of my tribe, thought missing in the realm of Erebus, she was the Voice for the Sept, the greatest Gaian ever here. And.. I just met her! Shook her hand! And she's going to help teach me. Wow, that was better then sex, my heart is still pounding!" She squeaks, grabs Bernie in a tight hug, then Mmmmms!
Matt leans forward, a bit concerned. "So, that's it then, take it out on a poor defenseless salmon, only 'opin' ta do ye a good turn.... Seriously, you goin' ta be all roight? Let me look at that leg..." He looks up at Alicia's outburst. "Who's back from where?"
Bernie looks decidedly startled at Alicia's immense enthusiasm, and only barely manages to avoid spilling the freshly opened beer. "Uh... well, cool," she remarks, taken aback, "...that th' one th' others were talkin' 'bout comin' back?" She untangles herself from the hug just enough to take the first sip of her drink, and then adds, to Matt, "....I was only helpin' it get t' its hope faster... an' I oughta be a'ight... yeah." There's something a bit sad in her voice, but she tries to hide it, particularly so as not to quash Alicia's glee.
Alicia nods her head, smiling. "Yah.. Moon-Laughs-Quiet. Andrea, an Adren of my tribe. I can't wait to have my first lessons with her." Swallowing a deep breath, she cuts her gaze back and forth between the two, but notices Bernie's new mood change from earlier. She pauses for a moment, letting the silence draw between them, then starts putting numbers together. "Bernie.. whats wrong? Are you ok?" Its hard to pass things by those silly empathic Children of Gaia's, especially who's you're best friend.
Matt leans back, uncomfortably silent, taking in Bernie's reticence. He spares Alicia a smile, appreciating her happiness even if he really doesn't get the reason for it. Having nothing good to say, he communes with the bottle.
Bernie glances between the pair of them, and smiles a bit, shaking her head. "Gonna be okay, honest. Leg'll heal, an' Cam an' I jus' hadda talk 'bout some stuff, an' somea it made me think 'bout things I di'n' really wanna, that's all. 's a'ight."
Alicia nods her head, the smile long gone now, replaced by a look of concern. "Oh? Um.. ok.. is he going to be alright? I just saw 'im on the porch. Should I talk to him?" She strays her eyes to the living room. "I haven't had time to talk to him really, you know..we've kinda been just passing each other by, I miss him."
Matt nods, acknowledging. His frown is pretty deep, however, and it is possible to see the thunderheads forming behind his eyes. It doesn't take a genius to figure that Bernie + hurt + Matt = trouble.
"I dunno," Bernie replies to Alicia, lifting a brow very slightly at the other girl, "...I think Summer went out t' do that." She takes another drink of her beer, adding, "...but, you could always pop out an' see if he wants t' talk t' you too... or if she left already, come t' thinka it."
Alicia shrugs. "I didn't see her out there, so, I'll go out and see if I can make him smile. Its one of Simon's homework: "Make your pack smile and laugh, when in times of need, be the inspiration." So... I'll see what I can." Clearing her throat, she heads to the living room, then out the door.
Bernie sips her beer as the Gaian leaves, and takes the opportunity to silently take in the sight of the other cub for a little. Eventually, an odd expression crosses her face, and she asks curiously, "...not that I'm =complainin'=, 'zactly... but you were in a real hurry t' get back down after th' shower?"
In the front rooms, Alicia slams the door shut behind her as she comes back inside, sighing heavily.
Matt makes like he's going to get up. "All roight," he sighs, "since everyone wants me ta put me dickey on.... Sometimes Oi actually manage to ferget, y'know. Why I doan't 'ave much feelin' back there?"
A fleeting wicked smile flashes across Bernie's lips, not well hidden by the sip of beer she follows it with, "...siddown, you... I =said= I wasn' complainin'... jus' curious..." Alicia's sigh grabs her attention, though, and she glances toward her blinking. "Man," she comments deadpan, "Cam's sure gotta effect on th' ladies t'night. Too bad it's that one..."
Alicia heads into the kitchen, shrugging, then makes a bee-line for the door. "He's just fine, he has a new blonde to play with. He's out there laughing and having a good time, I guess there's nothing to talk about." Looking uncomfortable, and disturbed, she grips the door, turning the handle.
Matt's smile is rueful. "Sucker for a noice bubble and pair o' scotch."
Bernie hrms, and looks after Alicia, confused. "You a'ight, 'lish? My turn t' ask now, I guess..."
Alicia opens up the door, pausing for a moment. "Oh sure, nothing can phaze me, I'm super Galliard." She forces a huge smile, one that drops quick, then heads out. "I'll just catch you all later."
Matt finishes his beer, and sets it neatly on the table. His gaze is noticable unfixed, and as he pushes up, he's slightly unsteady. "Oi fink Oi'm goin' ta get some bo peep in th' Original Decadence. Talk ta 'licia, Books, if ye need to, an' maybe ye can crash upstairs wif me after."
Bernie nods, and sighs. "She looks fazed t' me, yeah. An'..." She looks at Matt rather wistfully a second or two, and then sighs. "Yeah, I'll join ya. I mean, I'm not gonna walk home t'night, not on this. I prolly oughta sleep in lupus or somethin'..." She looks down to her own beer, and takes another sip.
Matt smirks. "All roight, but if ye get fleas in th' blankets, /you're/ doin' the laundry." He leans over to give her a lingering peck on the forehead, then heads upstairs.
Bernie smiles a bit, and watches him until he's out of sight before she stands, Guinness in hand, and follows Alicia out the back door.
[Big Red Barn]
Thump, Thump, Thump; comes the sound of small fists striking the bag. She's not pummeling it like she usually does, these are met without much enthusiasm. The Galliard sighs, then taps it once more, then drops her hands slowly.
The door opens, and Bernie slips in. As soon as it's closed, she slips up to Glabro, and heads toward the haybales for a seat, sipping what's left of her beer.
Alicia glances over and offers a slight smile, then stops the bag from is jerky shakings. Turning around, she lifts her eyes up some. "Hey.."
"Hey," Bernie replies, voice distorted by the form. "'s wrong, 'lish?"
"Nothing's wrong." Replies the MoonDancer. "Not with me at least.. why did you and Cameron talk about?"
Bernie sips her beer thoughtfully a moment before replying. "He was uncomfortable with me t'day, 'cause last time we talked, he accident'ly told me somethin' he didn't mean ta. So I went out an' told him his secrets were his own an' I wasn't gonna tell 'em t' anyone else for him. Y'know, my lips are sealed, an' allat."
Alicia wrinkles her brow a bit. "What kinda secret is that? Is it bad? Is he ok? Is it important?" She questions, wetting her lips.
"'s important t' =him=," Bernie says, finishing off the beer. "'s just past stuff. Yeah, he's mostly okay. An' I'm not sayin' more 'bout it than that... 'kay?"
Alicia shrugs her shoulders. "His life, whatever is clever." She turns around and taps the bag, saying nothing more on the matter.
Bernie nods a little. "...yeah...." she replies, the word lingering a bit.
Alicia pushes the bag away from her, then sends a solid fist hard into the flesh. "So, anyways, I can't wait to talk to Andrea again, this is so cool. She's like what every Gaian strives to be."
"Mm?" Bernie asks, really just a prompt for the Gaian to go on.
Alicia nods and slowly thumps the bag again. "Yah.. she's a high ranking one, and very involved with the tribe." She says softly.
"That," Bernie says, with no little emphasis, "is cool. Involvement, I'm in favour of..." she stifles a yawn, and makes a face. "I wanna hear more 'bout her, an' all? But Kaz woke me up at like 4:30am t' do th' patrol, an' I haven't slept since, an' I'm dyin' here, 'specially after all th' stuff this evenin'... forgive me if I go in an' sleep?"
Alicia nods and lets out a long yawn herself, then smiles. "I'm going to bed also, I want to be up early to see Andrea again." She makes her way to the door. "Night?"
Bernie hops up, and gives the Galliard a quick, gentle hug. "Do me a favour?" she asks, "I'm gonna sleep in lupus, t' heal better an' all. Let me inta th' house b'fore ya go?"
Alicia hugs her back and ums. "Well, I'm going to the compound right now, not sure when I'll be back. Why not just sleep in the glabro form? You'll heal the same if thats what you mean..."
Bernie shakes her head, "No, I'm goin' t' bed too, I jus' mean, open th' slidin' door an' let me in, then close it b'hind me. Please?" Slight pause, "...there prolly won't be -room- t' sleep on th' bed in glabro."
Alicia rubs her neck. "Well, they got rules 'bout people being in the furry form inside the Farmhouse.." She trails off a bit.
Bernie shakes her head. "Last I saw, th' rules were 'bout -shiftin'- in th' house. That's why I asked. So I could shift -here-, an' still get inside."
[...and she went poof. So I'm just going to assume Bernie got let in. ;)]