Basement Frenzy.
Saturday, 31 December 2011 13:00![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flint_garouSome things happen to be topics of a more … sensitive nature.
31 December, 2011
The moon is in the waxing Half (Philodox) Moon phase (43% full).
Flint has spent the greater portion of the day so far, after having emerged briefly for breakfast, in his bunk, sleeping, or at least visibly so, blankets over his head and curled up. But that's done with. Or at least, the young cub seems to actually be waking up this time, humming to himself after he's dressed, with a book open in his lap now that he's actually sitting up.
"Don't let the elders catch you lounging around like this all the time," Devon says as he comes into the bunkroom. He's been up, dressed, and out since early morning. He wanders toward the kitchenette, scarred hand going into a jeans pocket.
The boy nods, absently, turning a page of the book even as he acknowledges Devon's presence. "I know," he responds, almost snapping at Devon. "Just." No further explanation is offered, and then the book is set aside on the bed, but Flint doesn't climb down, yet.
"Just," Devon prompts, glancing over his shoulder to the younger boy. With one hand he finds a glass, filling it with water from the tap. His attention stays on Flint, watching him, motions for filling the glass turning absent minded rather than focused.
"Nothing." Forced nonchalance accompanies the answer, even more snappish than the first, though it does nothing to hide the wavering tone. "Just nothing." Flint looks away, no longer paying that much attention to the other cub.
Devon turns the faucet off and walks toward the bunks, sipping at his glass as he goes. "This about Kavi," he asks, sitting on the edge of his bed, setting his glass down on the floor near his feet. "Yesterday, with the shooting thing? Y'know he wasn't doing it to seriously hurt you or anything. He's not like that."
"No." That answer's honest. "Just stuff. Just …" Another shrug, and movement shakes the bunk bed as Flint fidgets, quiet again.
Devon's eyes lift at the movement, though he stays quiet for a moment or two. "I've been here a couple of months already," he begins again, quietly. There's a creak to his bunk as he moves, shifting backward until his back rests against the wall. "Seems more like home most days, than home ever did."
There's a moment of silence, and then wordlessly, the younger cub climbs down, shaking his head a moment as he walks out of the bunkroom. His hands are shoved in his pockets, but it's easy enough to see that something is bothering him as he heads for the stairs down.
"What the hell," Devon breathes out as Flint takes off. He's not far behind the younger cub, however, keeping a pace behind as he follows from the bunk room and down the stairs. "Flint, dude. What's the matter with you?"
It isn't long before Flint's made his way all the way to the ground floor, and then to the basement, down the stairs and then some, and then just standing there, one hand shoved in his pockets still. The other hand comes up to rub at his forehead. Whether or not he heard Devon's earlier question is impossible to tell, nor does he acknowledge the older cub following him.
Devon slows on reaching the basement, arms folding over his chest as he watches Flint. He breaks that study for just an instant, glancing up the stairs the way he'd come as though considering the intelligence of getting one of the elders. "What's going on," he asks, looking back at the other cub. Concern is written into his features, forming creases across his brow. "If you don't want to be here, trust me, it gets better. Running away from this place won't be a good idea."
The grumble turns into a full snarl, and then it's quite clear why Flint made his way down to the basement quite as fast as he did. The shift to crinos takes only a moment, and the young cub launches into a lope across the basement, not at Devon, nor the stairs, but snarling and enraged just the same.
Devon edges back toward the stairs when Flint takes on the war form, though he doesn't make a retreat nor really seem afraid. He does shift into Glabro, holding there should he need to redirect the younger cub or otherwise defend himself. "Letting it out that way's sometimes good, too," he asides to himself, brow arching slightly.
Cheese Doodle was heading on her cheery way, skipping down the stairs to go visit the new cub. Was being past tense. When she hears the snarling and growling, the Fostern quickly shifts up to crinos and begins scrambling down.
On reaching the section of empty wall, the young cub nearly runs into it, missing the bookshelf by a bit before turning around, nearly oblivious to either Devon or Cheese Doodle. But that's the direction he goes in anyway, the low growl and snarl more of a whine as he does so.
Devon turns toward the sound on the stairs, practically throwing himself out of the way of the oncoming Fostern. As he moves, he shifts again, this time settling for lupus and keeping himself just out of reach of either Crinos-shaped Garou.
Cheese Doodle nearly stumbles over Devon as she pushes past into the basement, and pauses at the landing. Seeing that nothing is in immediate danger, she takes her time, powering on some backpack looking thing on her back. Quickly, the backpack shaped thing digs into her back, pumping something into it, and her arms begin to swell. Skin gets replaced with steel and titanium, and muscles with servos and hydraulics. The walker charges forward in a gorilla knuckle walk towards the new cub, and begins throwing wild haymakers at his brainpan. ~Gaia. Damnit. All.~
All-in-Stride snarls over the whine, the young cub launching himself forward at the fostern even in the wake of the blows that do hit, with no regard for anything.
One-Foot-Forward grumbles in a snarlish, growling way, lips peeling back to show a flash of teeth at the Fostern. He keeps himself well away from frenzying cub and mechanical Crinos, skulking along the wall to get to the side opposite the stairs.
Cheese Doodle raises one arm to block off some of the blows, but it's sloppy, and she takes some claws across the shoulder. This seems to make the philodox all the angrier, and after a hay maker, she doubles up her fists to slam him over-top his head. ~Get! Down! Please!~
All-in-Stride takes the blow in the middle of what was going to be another launch at the fostern, and the young cub crumples down, most likely unconscious where he's fallen on the floor.
One-Foot-Forward sneezes, a derisive sound, once the other cub has gone down. His ears twist back slightly as he glances toward the Fostern, then pull forward again when his attention returns to Flint.
Cheese Doodle pants a bit, clearly not pleased with such unexpected physical exertion. She gives Flint a poke with her foot to ensure he's still breathing (though how that's supposed to promote breathing is anyone's guess), and then turns to One-Foot-Forward cheerfully, offering a titanium paw. ~Hi! I'm Cheese Doodle! Sorry about that!~
The Ahroun cub looks at the paw that's extended to him, then lifts his head to look up at Cheese Doodle. He takes a step toward the Fostern, unassuming and certainly without challenge, explaining in that lupine way that he's called One-Foot-Forward, Ahroun cub.
~Oh! I'm a Glass Walker. And a Fostern Philodox. I guess I should add that. So…~ Doodle drops into a crouch, planting her knuckles on the ground in a simian fashion. ~… That's the new one?~ She asks, motioning to All-in-Stride.
Very new. There's a pause, One-Foot-Forward taking another step forward, eying the still out-cold cub. Both Cockroach wolves, is added, indicative of himself and the Galliard cub.
Cheese Doodle nods emphatically, as if to prove she's mastered the homid gesture. It's a little much, in fact. ~Any reason he went off? Or just new cub jitters?~
All-in-Stride twitches awake, no longer out fully cold, pushing himself up a bit slowly, before turning, and making his way further into the basement and away from the other garou present. His head turns between Cheese Doodle, and the older cub, gaze settling on One-Foot-Forward for a moment longer.
One-Foot-Forward seems unsure, knowing only that the other cub was not happy and stormed off. He followed the other cub who took war form, and then Cheese Doodle-rhya appeared. The Ahroun looks at All-In-Stride when the Galliard cub begins moving, hackles lifting a little.
~No fighting, please!~ Doodle asks of the Ahroun, as she spies his hackles beginning to raise. And to the Galliard, she pats him on the head (A poor idea, given the half-mechanical crinos just bludgeoned that). ~Sorry about that! Hi!~
Uncertain, Takes-It-All-In-Stride looks up at the fostern. ~Hi.~ The younger cub echoes, carefully, before backing up further into the room. There's a slight whine that follows, general and without any purpose.
One-Foot-Forward's eyes flick toward the Fostern, head lowering a little. His ears splay in a sign of submission to the elder Garou, posture relaxing a fraction, though his attention returns to All-in-Stride.
Cheese Doodle drops back into her crouch, resting on her knuckles again. The fostern looks between the two cubs, as if trying to figure out what the hell is going on between the two. Her head cocks slightly to the side.
There's a period of time where the younger cub ignores both of the other Garou present, before finally remembering, and then he shifts back to homid, drawing his knees up to his chest where he sits. "Sorry," Flint says, to both, but more to the Ahroun cub, before falling silent again.
One-Foot-Forward relaxes fully once Flint has returned to his human form. He shifts himself, a moment later, returning to his birth form as well. "The hell was that all about," the Ahroun cub asks quietly. "What's bothering you?"
Cheese Doodle stares at either of them, clearly not knowing what the hell is going on between the pair. So she sits down.
Flint shrugs, without moving his arms from where they are wrapped around his knees. "Just," he starts, glancing over at Cheese Doodle, before looking back to the older cub. "This is the first place that has ever felt like home," he eventually manages, speaking quietly. "I don't know… what to make of it."
"Be glad you're here," Devon suggests with a small shrug. "Or something, I don't know. Seems a strange thing to get angry at, living here."
Cheese Doodle cocks her head slightly, looking at the newer cub befuddled. After a moment, she seems to decide he isn't going to flip out again just now, she shrinks back down to lupus. As she does, the mechanical enhancements seem to first shape shift with her, before pulling back under her skin, and returning to more normal looking forelimbs.
"I am," Flint responds, still quietly, pulling his knees closer to his chest with a sigh. "I'm angry at other things, before here." He pauses, before looking fully at the older cub. "And I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Devon shakes his head. "Good, next time you do it, I'll kick your ass." It's hard to say if he's joking her not, though his tone hints at it while his expression and posture don't. "Just try and leave behind the 'before here' part. You're here now."
Cheese Doodle clearly has no clue what's going on. She gets up, and begins poking in the corner, occasionally flicking an ear back to two cubs.
There's a creak from upstairs, and the sound of footsteps moving across the floor at a brisk pace. Then the door at the top of the stairs opens.
Flint nods at Devon's words, eyes squinting shut for a moment until the door opens, at which point he just pulls his knees up to his chest further. "Yeah, okay," he agrees. "I will." Anything about trying is left out entirely.
There's a moment where Devon looks like he might want to say more as he half frowns at Flint. His hands jam into his pockets with a glance at Cheese Doodle, shoulders rising as though to explain everything with the single gesture. He turns for the stairs just as the door above opens, hesitating a little as he watches.
Cheese Doodle turns, and despite the fact she's bleeding, seems to brighten considerably. She gives a sharp yelp to whomever is coming down the stairs, apparently feeling like she knows who it is.
"Hey," Mouse says, as she appears. She's been smoking, that unmistakable smell just seems to waft along with her as she descends. Cheese Doodle gets a blink and a closer look, cutting off whatever she was about to say. "You alright, Doodle?"
Flint looks up at Mouse and then ducks his head towards his knees, silent unless he's spoken to. One hand goes to rub at the top of his head, as well.
Cheese Doodle puts on a pitiful display for Mouse's benefit - the cubs brought to believe she'd since suffered an ailment since being walloped by Flint. No, it hurts, she whines, ears laying back. Need icecream to make it better.
Mouse's mouth twitches upward, just a little. "There's icecream in the freezer in the breakroom. Wash your shoulder first." And then her gaze focuses—not on Flint—but on Devon. "Oi, you." And she draws one hand out of her pocket and tosses him, of all things, a wrapped bar of soap. "Go take a shower." And then she emphasizes, "A long one. Make sure you put clean clothes on after."
"I always put on clean clothes after," Devon says as he catches the bar of soap. He looks down at the object just long enough to identify it, brows knitting together. He looks at Doodle and Flint, as though maybe the reasoning behind the required shower were with them as he begins climbing the steps to leave the basement for the cub's bunkroom.
Injury? What injury? Cheese Doodle starts running up the stairs at the mention of ice cream, only slipping a bit from the injurious claw marks.
Flint looks over at Mouse after Devon's already climbing the stairs, only then offering an explanation, though the words are still very quiet. "I'm sorry," he says. "I came down here like you told me to, because I was …" a pause, before he manages the word, "angry. Devon followed me when I left the … when I left the bunkroom, and then." A shrug.
Mouse looks from the fast departing Doodle to the cub. "Try harder next time. But this is partly what cubhood is about." She jerks a thumb over her shoulder. "You'd better go snag some of that icecream before Doodle eats it all herself."
Flint nods, and grins just a little, before pushing himself up to his feet. A shirt is grabbed from the corner by the stairs, probably where the cub had dropped it on his way down, shrugging it on. "Alright," he says. There's a moment of pause, where the boy reaches up and rubs his head, and a muttered complaint of 'ow', before he too walks up the stairs.
31 December, 2011
The moon is in the waxing Half (Philodox) Moon phase (43% full).
Flint has spent the greater portion of the day so far, after having emerged briefly for breakfast, in his bunk, sleeping, or at least visibly so, blankets over his head and curled up. But that's done with. Or at least, the young cub seems to actually be waking up this time, humming to himself after he's dressed, with a book open in his lap now that he's actually sitting up.
"Don't let the elders catch you lounging around like this all the time," Devon says as he comes into the bunkroom. He's been up, dressed, and out since early morning. He wanders toward the kitchenette, scarred hand going into a jeans pocket.
The boy nods, absently, turning a page of the book even as he acknowledges Devon's presence. "I know," he responds, almost snapping at Devon. "Just." No further explanation is offered, and then the book is set aside on the bed, but Flint doesn't climb down, yet.
"Just," Devon prompts, glancing over his shoulder to the younger boy. With one hand he finds a glass, filling it with water from the tap. His attention stays on Flint, watching him, motions for filling the glass turning absent minded rather than focused.
"Nothing." Forced nonchalance accompanies the answer, even more snappish than the first, though it does nothing to hide the wavering tone. "Just nothing." Flint looks away, no longer paying that much attention to the other cub.
Devon turns the faucet off and walks toward the bunks, sipping at his glass as he goes. "This about Kavi," he asks, sitting on the edge of his bed, setting his glass down on the floor near his feet. "Yesterday, with the shooting thing? Y'know he wasn't doing it to seriously hurt you or anything. He's not like that."
"No." That answer's honest. "Just stuff. Just …" Another shrug, and movement shakes the bunk bed as Flint fidgets, quiet again.
Devon's eyes lift at the movement, though he stays quiet for a moment or two. "I've been here a couple of months already," he begins again, quietly. There's a creak to his bunk as he moves, shifting backward until his back rests against the wall. "Seems more like home most days, than home ever did."
There's a moment of silence, and then wordlessly, the younger cub climbs down, shaking his head a moment as he walks out of the bunkroom. His hands are shoved in his pockets, but it's easy enough to see that something is bothering him as he heads for the stairs down.
"What the hell," Devon breathes out as Flint takes off. He's not far behind the younger cub, however, keeping a pace behind as he follows from the bunk room and down the stairs. "Flint, dude. What's the matter with you?"
It isn't long before Flint's made his way all the way to the ground floor, and then to the basement, down the stairs and then some, and then just standing there, one hand shoved in his pockets still. The other hand comes up to rub at his forehead. Whether or not he heard Devon's earlier question is impossible to tell, nor does he acknowledge the older cub following him.
Devon slows on reaching the basement, arms folding over his chest as he watches Flint. He breaks that study for just an instant, glancing up the stairs the way he'd come as though considering the intelligence of getting one of the elders. "What's going on," he asks, looking back at the other cub. Concern is written into his features, forming creases across his brow. "If you don't want to be here, trust me, it gets better. Running away from this place won't be a good idea."
The grumble turns into a full snarl, and then it's quite clear why Flint made his way down to the basement quite as fast as he did. The shift to crinos takes only a moment, and the young cub launches into a lope across the basement, not at Devon, nor the stairs, but snarling and enraged just the same.
Devon edges back toward the stairs when Flint takes on the war form, though he doesn't make a retreat nor really seem afraid. He does shift into Glabro, holding there should he need to redirect the younger cub or otherwise defend himself. "Letting it out that way's sometimes good, too," he asides to himself, brow arching slightly.
Cheese Doodle was heading on her cheery way, skipping down the stairs to go visit the new cub. Was being past tense. When she hears the snarling and growling, the Fostern quickly shifts up to crinos and begins scrambling down.
On reaching the section of empty wall, the young cub nearly runs into it, missing the bookshelf by a bit before turning around, nearly oblivious to either Devon or Cheese Doodle. But that's the direction he goes in anyway, the low growl and snarl more of a whine as he does so.
Devon turns toward the sound on the stairs, practically throwing himself out of the way of the oncoming Fostern. As he moves, he shifts again, this time settling for lupus and keeping himself just out of reach of either Crinos-shaped Garou.
Cheese Doodle nearly stumbles over Devon as she pushes past into the basement, and pauses at the landing. Seeing that nothing is in immediate danger, she takes her time, powering on some backpack looking thing on her back. Quickly, the backpack shaped thing digs into her back, pumping something into it, and her arms begin to swell. Skin gets replaced with steel and titanium, and muscles with servos and hydraulics. The walker charges forward in a gorilla knuckle walk towards the new cub, and begins throwing wild haymakers at his brainpan. ~Gaia. Damnit. All.~
All-in-Stride snarls over the whine, the young cub launching himself forward at the fostern even in the wake of the blows that do hit, with no regard for anything.
One-Foot-Forward grumbles in a snarlish, growling way, lips peeling back to show a flash of teeth at the Fostern. He keeps himself well away from frenzying cub and mechanical Crinos, skulking along the wall to get to the side opposite the stairs.
Cheese Doodle raises one arm to block off some of the blows, but it's sloppy, and she takes some claws across the shoulder. This seems to make the philodox all the angrier, and after a hay maker, she doubles up her fists to slam him over-top his head. ~Get! Down! Please!~
All-in-Stride takes the blow in the middle of what was going to be another launch at the fostern, and the young cub crumples down, most likely unconscious where he's fallen on the floor.
One-Foot-Forward sneezes, a derisive sound, once the other cub has gone down. His ears twist back slightly as he glances toward the Fostern, then pull forward again when his attention returns to Flint.
Cheese Doodle pants a bit, clearly not pleased with such unexpected physical exertion. She gives Flint a poke with her foot to ensure he's still breathing (though how that's supposed to promote breathing is anyone's guess), and then turns to One-Foot-Forward cheerfully, offering a titanium paw. ~Hi! I'm Cheese Doodle! Sorry about that!~
The Ahroun cub looks at the paw that's extended to him, then lifts his head to look up at Cheese Doodle. He takes a step toward the Fostern, unassuming and certainly without challenge, explaining in that lupine way that he's called One-Foot-Forward, Ahroun cub.
~Oh! I'm a Glass Walker. And a Fostern Philodox. I guess I should add that. So…~ Doodle drops into a crouch, planting her knuckles on the ground in a simian fashion. ~… That's the new one?~ She asks, motioning to All-in-Stride.
Very new. There's a pause, One-Foot-Forward taking another step forward, eying the still out-cold cub. Both Cockroach wolves, is added, indicative of himself and the Galliard cub.
Cheese Doodle nods emphatically, as if to prove she's mastered the homid gesture. It's a little much, in fact. ~Any reason he went off? Or just new cub jitters?~
All-in-Stride twitches awake, no longer out fully cold, pushing himself up a bit slowly, before turning, and making his way further into the basement and away from the other garou present. His head turns between Cheese Doodle, and the older cub, gaze settling on One-Foot-Forward for a moment longer.
One-Foot-Forward seems unsure, knowing only that the other cub was not happy and stormed off. He followed the other cub who took war form, and then Cheese Doodle-rhya appeared. The Ahroun looks at All-In-Stride when the Galliard cub begins moving, hackles lifting a little.
~No fighting, please!~ Doodle asks of the Ahroun, as she spies his hackles beginning to raise. And to the Galliard, she pats him on the head (A poor idea, given the half-mechanical crinos just bludgeoned that). ~Sorry about that! Hi!~
Uncertain, Takes-It-All-In-Stride looks up at the fostern. ~Hi.~ The younger cub echoes, carefully, before backing up further into the room. There's a slight whine that follows, general and without any purpose.
One-Foot-Forward's eyes flick toward the Fostern, head lowering a little. His ears splay in a sign of submission to the elder Garou, posture relaxing a fraction, though his attention returns to All-in-Stride.
Cheese Doodle drops back into her crouch, resting on her knuckles again. The fostern looks between the two cubs, as if trying to figure out what the hell is going on between the two. Her head cocks slightly to the side.
There's a period of time where the younger cub ignores both of the other Garou present, before finally remembering, and then he shifts back to homid, drawing his knees up to his chest where he sits. "Sorry," Flint says, to both, but more to the Ahroun cub, before falling silent again.
One-Foot-Forward relaxes fully once Flint has returned to his human form. He shifts himself, a moment later, returning to his birth form as well. "The hell was that all about," the Ahroun cub asks quietly. "What's bothering you?"
Cheese Doodle stares at either of them, clearly not knowing what the hell is going on between the pair. So she sits down.
Flint shrugs, without moving his arms from where they are wrapped around his knees. "Just," he starts, glancing over at Cheese Doodle, before looking back to the older cub. "This is the first place that has ever felt like home," he eventually manages, speaking quietly. "I don't know… what to make of it."
"Be glad you're here," Devon suggests with a small shrug. "Or something, I don't know. Seems a strange thing to get angry at, living here."
Cheese Doodle cocks her head slightly, looking at the newer cub befuddled. After a moment, she seems to decide he isn't going to flip out again just now, she shrinks back down to lupus. As she does, the mechanical enhancements seem to first shape shift with her, before pulling back under her skin, and returning to more normal looking forelimbs.
"I am," Flint responds, still quietly, pulling his knees closer to his chest with a sigh. "I'm angry at other things, before here." He pauses, before looking fully at the older cub. "And I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Devon shakes his head. "Good, next time you do it, I'll kick your ass." It's hard to say if he's joking her not, though his tone hints at it while his expression and posture don't. "Just try and leave behind the 'before here' part. You're here now."
Cheese Doodle clearly has no clue what's going on. She gets up, and begins poking in the corner, occasionally flicking an ear back to two cubs.
There's a creak from upstairs, and the sound of footsteps moving across the floor at a brisk pace. Then the door at the top of the stairs opens.
Flint nods at Devon's words, eyes squinting shut for a moment until the door opens, at which point he just pulls his knees up to his chest further. "Yeah, okay," he agrees. "I will." Anything about trying is left out entirely.
There's a moment where Devon looks like he might want to say more as he half frowns at Flint. His hands jam into his pockets with a glance at Cheese Doodle, shoulders rising as though to explain everything with the single gesture. He turns for the stairs just as the door above opens, hesitating a little as he watches.
Cheese Doodle turns, and despite the fact she's bleeding, seems to brighten considerably. She gives a sharp yelp to whomever is coming down the stairs, apparently feeling like she knows who it is.
"Hey," Mouse says, as she appears. She's been smoking, that unmistakable smell just seems to waft along with her as she descends. Cheese Doodle gets a blink and a closer look, cutting off whatever she was about to say. "You alright, Doodle?"
Flint looks up at Mouse and then ducks his head towards his knees, silent unless he's spoken to. One hand goes to rub at the top of his head, as well.
Cheese Doodle puts on a pitiful display for Mouse's benefit - the cubs brought to believe she'd since suffered an ailment since being walloped by Flint. No, it hurts, she whines, ears laying back. Need icecream to make it better.
Mouse's mouth twitches upward, just a little. "There's icecream in the freezer in the breakroom. Wash your shoulder first." And then her gaze focuses—not on Flint—but on Devon. "Oi, you." And she draws one hand out of her pocket and tosses him, of all things, a wrapped bar of soap. "Go take a shower." And then she emphasizes, "A long one. Make sure you put clean clothes on after."
"I always put on clean clothes after," Devon says as he catches the bar of soap. He looks down at the object just long enough to identify it, brows knitting together. He looks at Doodle and Flint, as though maybe the reasoning behind the required shower were with them as he begins climbing the steps to leave the basement for the cub's bunkroom.
Injury? What injury? Cheese Doodle starts running up the stairs at the mention of ice cream, only slipping a bit from the injurious claw marks.
Flint looks over at Mouse after Devon's already climbing the stairs, only then offering an explanation, though the words are still very quiet. "I'm sorry," he says. "I came down here like you told me to, because I was …" a pause, before he manages the word, "angry. Devon followed me when I left the … when I left the bunkroom, and then." A shrug.
Mouse looks from the fast departing Doodle to the cub. "Try harder next time. But this is partly what cubhood is about." She jerks a thumb over her shoulder. "You'd better go snag some of that icecream before Doodle eats it all herself."
Flint nods, and grins just a little, before pushing himself up to his feet. A shirt is grabbed from the corner by the stairs, probably where the cub had dropped it on his way down, shrugging it on. "Alright," he says. There's a moment of pause, where the boy reaches up and rubs his head, and a muttered complaint of 'ow', before he too walks up the stairs.