Garou are moody.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:00![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flint_garouBack off and try not to take it personal.
18 January, 2012
The moon is in the waning Crescent (Theurge) Moon phase (33% full).
Footsteps come down the stairs, but it's Flint who makes his way in, Kevin's iPad in his hand. He pauses at the bottom of the stairs, looking around. "Hey," he mutters, a nod of greeting when he gets down, as if he's not sure whether coming back downstairs was a good idea or not. Another moment of hesitation, and then Flint makes his way over to Kevin. "Here, I updated it with today, an' everything else I could recall from having had talking about them, period." The iPad is offered.
Morgan settles onto the couch, and probably falls quiet. Probably because there's a baby napping on her, and she mostly just wants to stare at Zoe.
Chris shakes his head at Kevin. "No— that facility was the big problem during my time in London; things quietened down after. Then I came over here." He seems about to say more, but Sadie's question gets him off guard. "Er. Summer is living in London. I don't know exactly where, and I'm not sure I want to know." He swallows. "Little Kevin's nearly one now. Turned out to be garou, too. Another raggie. He's with her."
Devon looks at Sadie when he's addressed again, brows raising a little. "I…" His reply fizzles before it's begun, and he glances between Flint and Kevin. Letting out a short breath, he looks over at Morgan and Zoe.
"Thanks, dude." Kevin pats Flint on the shoulder, and takes the iPad off him. Then Chris mentions the name of his son, and Kevin does so extreme a double-take that he almost drops his expensive toy, and has to juggle it in mid-air for a few seconds. "Aaargh!" he gasps, but just manages to stop it landing on the tiled kitchen floor, to its likely detriment. And stares at Chris. STARES.
Sadie lowers her brows a bit to this. She doesn't seem to think on the name too much before she offers. "Why don't you care where she is? Hell if someone had my baby I'd want to know where they were." She gives Chris a highly disappointed look to that. "You leave them or something? Don't be a stereotype, Chris." It seems that Sadie thinks she can talk to Chris as family, he was almost family. Then she looks at Kevin almost killing the iPad and then over to Devon and finally to Flint. "Oh hey! I don't know you." She offers that megawatt friendly smile towards the boy and offers her hand. "Sadie Stevens, kin of Glass Walker."
Chris meets Kevin's gaze levelly, without commenting on it. But his attention is then taken back to Sadie. There's a visible tic that runs through his face, his constantly twitching arm spasming hard a couple of times as a flicker of suppressed rage runs through him. "I decided… realised that a newborn infant, an injured mother and a short tempered garou were not the most perfect or fitting family unit. And Summer was just… too scared of us all by the end." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black wand. He murmurs a few sentences over it in some sort of brief rite, then sucks on it. A blue light flickers at the end of the rod, and he exhales a thin cloud of vanilla scented vapour. "We keep in contact. Through intermediaries."
Flint gets a rather tense look on his face himself at the direction the conversation is going, moving over towards Devon idly, though he nods to Sadie. "Flint, Takes-It-All-In-Stride, Galliard cub. Glass Walker." Shoulders are tense, hands shove immediately into his pockets.
Morgan's nose twitches rapidly at the vanilla scent, but otherwise she seems to have divorced herself from the conversation entirely. She's slumped, very still, against the corner of the couch, both hands occupied with baby (and the other two still well out of sight).
Devon watches Flint, brows lifting slightly in askance. After a beat, a glance goes to Chris and Sadie and Kevin, then back to the cub. He offers just a shrug to the younger boy, for whatever that explanation may be worth.
Kevin stashes his computer in his shoulder bag before any harm can come to it. He gives Chris a hugely sympathetic look. "Sucks. But I understand why. You using email and anon remailers?" He doesn't overlook Flint's tenseness, and moves closer to the cub, though he doesn't make the move look sinister or threaten Flint's personal space.
"Family stays together." Sadie offers. That seems to be the end of that discussion. Although, it's probably Summer striking a negative Nancy chord in the happy kin. She smiles at Flint a bit. "Galliards are some of my favorite people." Then she is turning her back to put away the groceries.
Flint tenses a little further yet at the kin's words, grimacing. It's obvious enough that they've set off something in the cub, though, and abruptly, he pushes his way past Kevin towards the kitchen, as if looking for an escape route or something.
"Sometimes that's not possible." Chris states bluntly to Sadie, before looking across to Devon and Flint. "Sorry, you guys. Not introduced myself properly." He seems about to say something else when Flint is suddenly barrelling straight towards him. "Whoah!" He yelps, stepping back to get out of the way but being failed by his duff leg. He stumbles and falls back against the counter by the sink, colliding lightly with the cub as he scurries past.
Devon's gaze flicks to Kevin when he moves, then lowers a fraction to Flint when he notices the younger boy's further tensing. He reaches out to catch Flint's shoulder when the cub moves, to steer him toward the door and away from the others, offering just a quiet, "C'mon."
For the highest ranked Glass Walker present, Kevin doesn't do much to take control of the suddenly volatile situation. He just stands there, opening and closing his mouth, and looking very uncertain of himself.
Sadie glances over her shoulder for a moment, but it doesn't appear that Flint is barreling at her. So she continues with what she is doing. However, she's angled for two things. One to watch him and two to bolt for the door if need be.
Flint ducks half a nod to Chris, almost indecipherable, backing up just as quickly as he managed to run into the Fostern. There's a faint struggle against Devon's hand on his shoulder, but the cub lets himself be steered away, grumbling under his breath.
Chris straightens himself up with a push of his brawny arm. "Easy, kid." He states to the young galliard, taking a few slow and deep breaths himself. "Squishies present."
Morgan visibly relaxes as the scene rights itself. Now she's just sitting still because of the baby, and it's not deer-in-headlights still.
Devon keeps a steady grip on Flint's shoulder, not rough but certainly controlling, only letting go once Flint's stopped trying to get away. He keeps the cub pointed toward the door leading outside, regardless of whatever the weather may be doing now, giving the boy a slight push once to keep him moving.
Kevin gives a long sigh, and turns to head for Morgan, giving Chris a sign to follow him along. He mutters something irately under his breath, then composes himself, so that by the time he reaches the metis and her infant charge, he looks pretty much back to normal.
The push to keep him moving propels Flint towards pushing the door open, jacket shed to one side as Flint goes. The cub's trying, but the tension is evident in his posture and in every step, with another few attempts at struggle under Devon's guidance.
Devon glances back, first to Morgan then Kevin, apologetic. He opens his mouth to say something, gaze remaining on Kevin for a beat longer. But whatever the thought was is set aside, replaced with a soft spoke, "Sorry, we'll be back shortly," before he follows the cub outside.
Once outside, Flint pulls free of Devon's hand rather quickly, moving further away from the house for a little, and ignoring Devon again entirely. Familiar pattern, but the cub's honestly still trying not to lose it.
Devon lets Flint go off a little ways alone, before stepping off the porch and following himself. His arms fold over his chest, like a self-hug meant to ward off the still-falling snow. But his attention remains on the cub. "You need to let it go, Flint," he says loud enough for the other boy to hear, but not travel into the house. "Not worth it, not now that you got people who care and are looking out for you."
Flint doesn't turn back towards Devon, yet, but the rage that shakes his shoulders is evident, and hands in his pockets are most likely balled into fists from the angle that his arms stick out. There's no response given, either, just a sort of 'who-cares' shrug.
"Why're you still hung up on them," Devon asks, honest yet relentless. "You found something better. Besides, they haven't come looking for you." He walks closer, longer legs covering the distance more quickly. "You know we'd come looking for you. Just let it go."
The cub snarls under his breath, turning and whirling on Devon as he does so. It gives way to a much louder snarl, as the cub's last bit of control gives way to the pent up rage and anger, launching forward wordlessly at the Ahroun.
Devon makes it to Glabro before he's overtaken by the cub, but he comes up with a punch meant to knock the other back. As he throws the strike out, he makes a final push to get himself into Crinos before any claws catch him.
All-in-Stride stumbles backwards a little against the snow, a much louder and sharper sound of frustration given as the cub resumes the attack, claws and teeth coming against the Cliath in his attempts.
Red-Hands bats aside a first then second claw, the second obscuring the cub's mouth so that teeth miss. A third, wild swing catches him clean across the face and lances red lines through flesh, though the Ahroun is quick to retaliate. No claws from the Cliath but a solid couple of fists set to pummel All-in-Stride's head and knock him out.
All-in-Stride launches forward more, snarling, and the strikes catch the back of his head and his shoulder, still trying to attack the Ahroun despite everything, though weakened from his initial attempts.
The cub's claws reach little, grazing the Ahroun's chest as he twists backward to stay out of their reach. He lifts a foot in a goal-shot kick, aiming to catch the cub in the gut.
All-in-Stride stumbles backwards and falls into the snow, attempting to push himself up off the ground once he's down. The cub gets as far as all fours, turning towards Red-Hands once again.
Red-Hands jumps at the chance, literally, trying to land on top of the cub. Fists come down as well, once again aiming to knock the kid out.
All-in-Stride is neither fast enough nor agile enough to get out of the way, and once he's pinned, there's the same struggle there was against being guided outside in the first place, ineffective and then the cub slumps as the blows connect, face in the snow unconscious.
Red-Hands takes a breath to slow his breathing once the cub's stopped moving, backing off to kneel down in the snow and wait. He lifts a hand, using the inside of his wrist to dab at his muzzle while he watches All-in-Stride.
Long minutes pass before there's a twitch of consciousness, though there's only a hint of the previous rage as he pushes himself up. More confusion, and when he looks over at the Ahroun, there's a half question to his glance. ~Did…~ It trails off, though, one of the cub's hands reaching up to cover the back of his head.
~You better now,~ Red-Hands asks rather than answer the question. He straightens, standing at his full height and looking down on the cub. ~You've got to get over this. It can piss you off, but you cannot let it take you so easily.~
All-in-Stride doesn't get up yet, still rubbing at his head. ~I think,~ the cub answers, looking up a bit at the Ahroun. ~I didn't mean to.~ There's still the lingering note of confusion to the words. ~I tried to try harder.~
~Let it go,~ Red-Hands states, heavily emphasizing each word. ~There are far more important things to focus your Rage on.~ He pauses, still watching the cub, wary for any signs of returned frenzy. ~That life is gone, All-in-Stride. It doesn't matter now. You're with us, you're better, more than what they had to offer.~
The cub pushes himself upright, now, cautious as he returns to standing. There's no rage left, for the moment. ~Yes, Red-Hands-rhya,~ comes the assent, apologetic. ~I…~ It trails off, and with a half wince, the cub shifts back down, Glabro and then his birth form, hands returning to his pockets.
~Don't,~ the Ahroun states plainly, ears slanting back in annoyance. ~No more of this. Be angry about it, bitch and moan. But this…~ He growls quietly, teeth showing as lips peel back and muzzle furrows. It lasts just a second and he shifts to homid as well. "Letting yourself frenzy over it is a weakness. You've got to learn to control your Rage sooner rather than later."
Flint nods, gaze remaining on his feet once he's done so, and then looks over at the Ahroun after a long moment. "Yes," he acknowledges, no argument or even hint of argument given.
Devon tips his head toward the door, a signal to get back inside. "You need to apologize to everyone in there," he further continues, taking one step to the side to let Flint pass in front of him and lead the way inside.
Kevin clears his throat again. "Morgan, she's trying to be nice," he points out to the metis.
The door opens again, and it's Flint who leads the way in, followed not long thereafter by Devon. The cub makes his way over to the seating area, eyes downcast and gaze on the floor, shoulders slumped. Very little remains of the tension that was evident when he went outside. A moment passes, and Flint's gaze flicks to Kevin, cautious.
Sadie arches her brows again and pulls her hand back. "I see." There is a look of annoyance on her features now as she looks at the metis and then the baby. She is standing near the couch where Kevin, Morgan and Chris are at. Morgan is still holding the baby. She turns her eyes to watch the returning duo with an air of caution.
Devon follows a couple of steps behind Flint, a little scratched up but no worse for the wear. He closes the door behind him quietly before moving into the sitting area. A glance toward Sadie is meant to be assuring, probably a difficult feat with the scratches on his face, but he moves up to stand behind and a little to the side of the cub, ready to move should things prove unready to be social just yet.
"I'm sure," Kevin reassures Morgan. "Metis," he adds to Sadie in a sort of stage-whisper, as Flint and Devon come back inside. He looks the two younger garou over suspiciously, as if to wonder what mischief they've been up to.
Morgan's jaw tightens, and she lifts her chin. "Hello," she says to Sadie. It's rather… declarative, maybe a little forceful. But right after that she gives Kevin a questioning look.
Sadie lowers her brows even more and stares at Kevin. It isn't the metis thing, or maybe it is. "Hello? Don't you have a proper introduction? Elijah had one." That causes a smile upon her features at the mention of that metis. Then she takes a natural step back at the jaw tightening and forceful hello. Her eyes move to Kevin again. "Okay, what am I doing wrong here to get all the hate?"
Flint looks over at Kevin, and at everyone, half a glance back to the cliath first. "I um." The boy tilts his head at the interaction between Sadie and Morgan, falling silent and waiting before saying whatever he has to say.
Devon meets Kevin's gaze briefly, mouthing the word 'frenzy' just before turning his attention to Flint. An elbow is jammed, not lightly but not overly rough either, at the cub's side, the rougher side of encouragement from the Ahroun.
Kevin lifts his hands in a gesture of frustration and drops them wearily back to his side. Then he seems to remember something, and glances at Flint before looking back to Morgan. "Er. Morgan. Don't suppose you've had any unusual dreams lately, have you? That may have felt significant?"
Morgan stares at Sadie, and this time, her gaze isn't particularly pleasant on purpose. "No," she answers Kevin, without looking at him. "No dreams. Even sleep in the Caern."
Sadie sighs. "Okay… I get it. I guess I'll leave. Food is put away." She nods towards Flint and Devon. "I'll avoid you in the future… Morgan." She offers a smile and then pushes off to head out.
Flint looks over his shoulder at Devon, acknowledgement when he gets elbowed. "I'm sorry," the cub states plainly, before Sadie manages to leave. It's left at that, though, for the moment, a nod given to the kin.
Kevin gives Sadie a hopeless, apologetic look. "Well… if you do get any dreams, Morgan… can you let me know?"
Devon looks at Sadie, then Morgan, then back to Sadie. His brows lift, pushing up to his hairline and a look of askance is directed toward Kevin.
Morgan's lips peel back from her teeth. It's likely only the presence of the baby that keeps her from rising out of her couch slouch, but she enunciates, very clearly, "What is your problem?"
Sadie looks at Kevin. "Can you please explain the problem to her? She's being nothing but rude and I think my comments are only going to make it worse. You look apologetic, so you get it."
Flint takes half a step back, a faint look leveled at the kin. However, the boy remains calm, and quiet, simply watching.
Kevin looks as if he wishes the ground would open up and swallow him. Or possibly that it would swallow Morgan and Sadie. "Morgan, please don't talk to my tribe's kin like that. It's not polite. Sadie, please don't talk to garou like that. It's not good for your health."
"Flint," Devon says quietly, watching the goings on. "…Why don't you …go get everyone some beer. Out of the fridge. Or… find some chocolate to share."
Morgan's lip pulls upward a little more as Sadie speaks, but something about what Kevin says seems to mollify her a little. There's a visible biting back of her temper, though her brow remains pulled down, and she looks irritable.
Flint seems happy for the excuse to escape the tense situation. "Yes, Devon," he responds, a nod given to everyone before the boy disappears into the kitchen for a little.
Sadie sighs softly at Kevin. He can be her ambassador. "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. I offered my hand and was polite. I was friendly and welcoming. I got rude. I am allowed to be offended too. Kin are important, sure I'm not fighting the front lines but I'm still a bit important." She looks more hurt than angry at this point. "I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, the moon is even low."
"Sometimes garou have things on their mind," Kevin points out, still attempting to play the peacemaker, "and aren't always as thoughtful as we might be."
"Ain't that the truth," Devon asides. He takes another passing look from Sadie to Morgan, before sighing. "If you know anything about Garou, Sadie, it's that we're moody. Back off and try not to take it personal when someone gets grumpy around you."
Morgan huffs. She eases up now, and very, very carefully, moves to pass the dozing baby to Kevin. "Should stop talking," she says to Sadie, sounding more exasperated than angry, at this point. "Garou getting angry at you, you shush. Unless Garou asking you something. Even if you think is very unfair, shhhh. Not make demands, not act like Garou too stupid to understand you. Even with little moons, we get angry. Important. And if I want you go away and not talk to me ever, I say so. Didn't say so."
Sadie grinds her teeth to this. It's clear she's getting more insulted by the moment. However, she just shuts up. She doesn't say a word.
There is a lot of puttering in the kitchen before the cub returns to the living area. Several bottles of beer are placed on the table, along with a bottle opener, and the boy carefully retrieves his already open drink from beneath his arm.
Kevin doesn't avail himself of the beer. "Morgan's got a point," he says apologetically to Sadie. "It's like a motorbike getting into an accident with a truck. The truck driver might be the one to blame, but that doesn't mean the biker is any less squashed."
Morgan's eyebrows lift sharply. "Yes, like that," she says. "And can talk now. I mean when Garou are getting angry. We make faces like this." And she makes an appropriately pissy face, pulling her lips up from her teeth again. "Is okay now."
Sadie sighs. "Morgan… I don't know you." She's not talking with an attitude. "I'm not sure what I've done to not get the greeting. Everyone else got them. So that's the part I don't get. What I did to start getting that face." She's staying near to Kevin. Her tone is not argumentative. She's simply asking and perhaps trying to understand.
Morgan looks considerably baffled. "I said hello. You know my name. I not give Garou greeting at all today. Not singling you out."
Sadie jumps at the sharp tone and takes a hesitant step back. "Kevin, I have to understand so not to do it again. If I don't ask…" Then Morgan speaks. "Oh! Well see, that part I didn't know. It seemed like me. I thought maybe you had a thing against kin or something. It felt like you were talking to everyone but me."
Seemingly, whatever distaste the cub might usually have for alcohol, the beer in his hands is sipped from, a long glance to Devon. But the cub remains quiet, aside from the impression that he's bristling a bit too.
"Doesn't matter if she gives you a Garou greeting or not," Devon interjects quietly. "It's not your place to know anything but our human names. Our rank, auspice, tribe? S'all extra stuff we tell you, to be polite. Only ones where all the rest of that has any weight or bearing is with other Garou."
Morgan scratches her jaw, frowning at Sadie. "Haven't talked very much." She lets her hand drop. "Why I have a thing against kin? That very weird thing to think. Haven't met a lot of kin."
Kevin jerks a thumb at Devon. "Yeah. With the Glass Walkers, you're our family, and generally speaking we're open with you. But sometimes — " He breaks off for a second, making hand gestures as he searches for the right words. "Sometimes there are garou things that it's better for kin not to know. For their own good, their own safety."
Sadie lowers her brows. "Wait… wait. I was taught that it is proper to give a full introduction to any kin of garou. I was told that we are supposed to know so that we know their rank and tribe. That way we know if it is someone we should avoid in tribal conflicts and where their rank and respect is if there is an issue. Now you are telling me I'm not supposed to know?" She looks around the others and sighs a bit like she's confused. "I didn't grow up in the know, this is still new and I thought I had it down until just now."
"What do you care about what rank or auspice someone is?" Devon turns now to look fully on Sadie. "You're kin, doesn't matter who's what Rank or what moon they were born under because you end up pissing one of us off and you'll be in trouble no matter what the rank. Even a cub's dangerous to you if you say or do the wrong thing. You just be respectful and learn to back off when you realize someone's in a bad mood."
Morgan huffs again, her nostrils flaring. "Problem is, you're being pushy. And weird. And when I not do what you want, you assume weird things, like how I not like kin. Or how maybe I'm stupid." She raps her chest, a little harder than she might usually. "Adren Fianna Metis Galliard."
Flint grimaces slightly at Devon's words, another long sip taken from the drink in his hands.
"Normally names and things aren't a big secret, no," Kevin agrees. "But if someone doesn't share them, don't assume they're being bitchy to you. Assume they've got a good reason not to talk to you. Maybe they're a spy under a false identity. Maybe they've had the worst day ever and want to be left alone because if they lose their temper they may kill you." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Look. I'm going back to town. Anyone who wants can come back with me."
Sadie looks between Morgan and Devon for a few moments. "You know… I'm just going to leave. Have a great day." She smiles a bit at Morgan. "I don't think you are stupid at all. I have never thought that about you. Nor was I demanding information. I was trying to understand is all." She steps a bit with Kevin. She's not staying in unfriendly territory without friend. "Thanks Kevin… I really am just trying to understand all of it."
Flint nods to Kevin, slightly. "Sounds good," he asides to Kevin. "Anyway." The boy focuses on the drink for a moment. "I should get home, yeah?" A glance to Devon. "Later?" Unspoken question that it is.
Morgan's lips peel up from her teeth again, and she says, very slowly, every word pronounced clearly, "Don't ask me things if you aren't going to listen." And then, just as carefully, "I'm trying to explain to you. Don't just leave. Think about what I said." She looks, it must be said, a little exhausted at the end of that, but still grumpy.
Kevin beckons Flint with one hand, and Sadie with the other. "And hopefully next time we all meet, we'll understand each other a little better." Kevin must have been oiling his hoper — it seems to be working very energetically today.
Devon shakes his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, not trying to be unfriendly. I'm just not going to sugarcoat it. I'll see you guys back in the city." He nods slightly at Flint. "I'll catch the bus, though. Don't need to be 'unfriendly' around Sadie anymore."
Sadie smiles towards Morgan. "This time it wasn't you putting me on edge. It's cool." She nods towards Devon though and offers a smaller smile. "Yeah… like Kevin said. Things are better next time. If you are ever in the city, Morgan, maybe we can talk there?"
Morgan gives her head a rough shake — not really a 'no' gesture so much as an attempt to foist off some of that frustration around her. She turns, returning to the sleeping baby.
Flint looks from the ragabash to the ahroun and back. "Maybe I'd better go with Devon." That's said, and the cub goes to return the ignored drinks to the fridge.
18 January, 2012
The moon is in the waning Crescent (Theurge) Moon phase (33% full).
Footsteps come down the stairs, but it's Flint who makes his way in, Kevin's iPad in his hand. He pauses at the bottom of the stairs, looking around. "Hey," he mutters, a nod of greeting when he gets down, as if he's not sure whether coming back downstairs was a good idea or not. Another moment of hesitation, and then Flint makes his way over to Kevin. "Here, I updated it with today, an' everything else I could recall from having had talking about them, period." The iPad is offered.
Morgan settles onto the couch, and probably falls quiet. Probably because there's a baby napping on her, and she mostly just wants to stare at Zoe.
Chris shakes his head at Kevin. "No— that facility was the big problem during my time in London; things quietened down after. Then I came over here." He seems about to say more, but Sadie's question gets him off guard. "Er. Summer is living in London. I don't know exactly where, and I'm not sure I want to know." He swallows. "Little Kevin's nearly one now. Turned out to be garou, too. Another raggie. He's with her."
Devon looks at Sadie when he's addressed again, brows raising a little. "I…" His reply fizzles before it's begun, and he glances between Flint and Kevin. Letting out a short breath, he looks over at Morgan and Zoe.
"Thanks, dude." Kevin pats Flint on the shoulder, and takes the iPad off him. Then Chris mentions the name of his son, and Kevin does so extreme a double-take that he almost drops his expensive toy, and has to juggle it in mid-air for a few seconds. "Aaargh!" he gasps, but just manages to stop it landing on the tiled kitchen floor, to its likely detriment. And stares at Chris. STARES.
Sadie lowers her brows a bit to this. She doesn't seem to think on the name too much before she offers. "Why don't you care where she is? Hell if someone had my baby I'd want to know where they were." She gives Chris a highly disappointed look to that. "You leave them or something? Don't be a stereotype, Chris." It seems that Sadie thinks she can talk to Chris as family, he was almost family. Then she looks at Kevin almost killing the iPad and then over to Devon and finally to Flint. "Oh hey! I don't know you." She offers that megawatt friendly smile towards the boy and offers her hand. "Sadie Stevens, kin of Glass Walker."
Chris meets Kevin's gaze levelly, without commenting on it. But his attention is then taken back to Sadie. There's a visible tic that runs through his face, his constantly twitching arm spasming hard a couple of times as a flicker of suppressed rage runs through him. "I decided… realised that a newborn infant, an injured mother and a short tempered garou were not the most perfect or fitting family unit. And Summer was just… too scared of us all by the end." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small black wand. He murmurs a few sentences over it in some sort of brief rite, then sucks on it. A blue light flickers at the end of the rod, and he exhales a thin cloud of vanilla scented vapour. "We keep in contact. Through intermediaries."
Flint gets a rather tense look on his face himself at the direction the conversation is going, moving over towards Devon idly, though he nods to Sadie. "Flint, Takes-It-All-In-Stride, Galliard cub. Glass Walker." Shoulders are tense, hands shove immediately into his pockets.
Morgan's nose twitches rapidly at the vanilla scent, but otherwise she seems to have divorced herself from the conversation entirely. She's slumped, very still, against the corner of the couch, both hands occupied with baby (and the other two still well out of sight).
Devon watches Flint, brows lifting slightly in askance. After a beat, a glance goes to Chris and Sadie and Kevin, then back to the cub. He offers just a shrug to the younger boy, for whatever that explanation may be worth.
Kevin stashes his computer in his shoulder bag before any harm can come to it. He gives Chris a hugely sympathetic look. "Sucks. But I understand why. You using email and anon remailers?" He doesn't overlook Flint's tenseness, and moves closer to the cub, though he doesn't make the move look sinister or threaten Flint's personal space.
"Family stays together." Sadie offers. That seems to be the end of that discussion. Although, it's probably Summer striking a negative Nancy chord in the happy kin. She smiles at Flint a bit. "Galliards are some of my favorite people." Then she is turning her back to put away the groceries.
Flint tenses a little further yet at the kin's words, grimacing. It's obvious enough that they've set off something in the cub, though, and abruptly, he pushes his way past Kevin towards the kitchen, as if looking for an escape route or something.
"Sometimes that's not possible." Chris states bluntly to Sadie, before looking across to Devon and Flint. "Sorry, you guys. Not introduced myself properly." He seems about to say something else when Flint is suddenly barrelling straight towards him. "Whoah!" He yelps, stepping back to get out of the way but being failed by his duff leg. He stumbles and falls back against the counter by the sink, colliding lightly with the cub as he scurries past.
Devon's gaze flicks to Kevin when he moves, then lowers a fraction to Flint when he notices the younger boy's further tensing. He reaches out to catch Flint's shoulder when the cub moves, to steer him toward the door and away from the others, offering just a quiet, "C'mon."
For the highest ranked Glass Walker present, Kevin doesn't do much to take control of the suddenly volatile situation. He just stands there, opening and closing his mouth, and looking very uncertain of himself.
Sadie glances over her shoulder for a moment, but it doesn't appear that Flint is barreling at her. So she continues with what she is doing. However, she's angled for two things. One to watch him and two to bolt for the door if need be.
Flint ducks half a nod to Chris, almost indecipherable, backing up just as quickly as he managed to run into the Fostern. There's a faint struggle against Devon's hand on his shoulder, but the cub lets himself be steered away, grumbling under his breath.
Chris straightens himself up with a push of his brawny arm. "Easy, kid." He states to the young galliard, taking a few slow and deep breaths himself. "Squishies present."
Morgan visibly relaxes as the scene rights itself. Now she's just sitting still because of the baby, and it's not deer-in-headlights still.
Devon keeps a steady grip on Flint's shoulder, not rough but certainly controlling, only letting go once Flint's stopped trying to get away. He keeps the cub pointed toward the door leading outside, regardless of whatever the weather may be doing now, giving the boy a slight push once to keep him moving.
Kevin gives a long sigh, and turns to head for Morgan, giving Chris a sign to follow him along. He mutters something irately under his breath, then composes himself, so that by the time he reaches the metis and her infant charge, he looks pretty much back to normal.
The push to keep him moving propels Flint towards pushing the door open, jacket shed to one side as Flint goes. The cub's trying, but the tension is evident in his posture and in every step, with another few attempts at struggle under Devon's guidance.
Devon glances back, first to Morgan then Kevin, apologetic. He opens his mouth to say something, gaze remaining on Kevin for a beat longer. But whatever the thought was is set aside, replaced with a soft spoke, "Sorry, we'll be back shortly," before he follows the cub outside.
Once outside, Flint pulls free of Devon's hand rather quickly, moving further away from the house for a little, and ignoring Devon again entirely. Familiar pattern, but the cub's honestly still trying not to lose it.
Devon lets Flint go off a little ways alone, before stepping off the porch and following himself. His arms fold over his chest, like a self-hug meant to ward off the still-falling snow. But his attention remains on the cub. "You need to let it go, Flint," he says loud enough for the other boy to hear, but not travel into the house. "Not worth it, not now that you got people who care and are looking out for you."
Flint doesn't turn back towards Devon, yet, but the rage that shakes his shoulders is evident, and hands in his pockets are most likely balled into fists from the angle that his arms stick out. There's no response given, either, just a sort of 'who-cares' shrug.
"Why're you still hung up on them," Devon asks, honest yet relentless. "You found something better. Besides, they haven't come looking for you." He walks closer, longer legs covering the distance more quickly. "You know we'd come looking for you. Just let it go."
The cub snarls under his breath, turning and whirling on Devon as he does so. It gives way to a much louder snarl, as the cub's last bit of control gives way to the pent up rage and anger, launching forward wordlessly at the Ahroun.
Devon makes it to Glabro before he's overtaken by the cub, but he comes up with a punch meant to knock the other back. As he throws the strike out, he makes a final push to get himself into Crinos before any claws catch him.
All-in-Stride stumbles backwards a little against the snow, a much louder and sharper sound of frustration given as the cub resumes the attack, claws and teeth coming against the Cliath in his attempts.
Red-Hands bats aside a first then second claw, the second obscuring the cub's mouth so that teeth miss. A third, wild swing catches him clean across the face and lances red lines through flesh, though the Ahroun is quick to retaliate. No claws from the Cliath but a solid couple of fists set to pummel All-in-Stride's head and knock him out.
All-in-Stride launches forward more, snarling, and the strikes catch the back of his head and his shoulder, still trying to attack the Ahroun despite everything, though weakened from his initial attempts.
The cub's claws reach little, grazing the Ahroun's chest as he twists backward to stay out of their reach. He lifts a foot in a goal-shot kick, aiming to catch the cub in the gut.
All-in-Stride stumbles backwards and falls into the snow, attempting to push himself up off the ground once he's down. The cub gets as far as all fours, turning towards Red-Hands once again.
Red-Hands jumps at the chance, literally, trying to land on top of the cub. Fists come down as well, once again aiming to knock the kid out.
All-in-Stride is neither fast enough nor agile enough to get out of the way, and once he's pinned, there's the same struggle there was against being guided outside in the first place, ineffective and then the cub slumps as the blows connect, face in the snow unconscious.
Red-Hands takes a breath to slow his breathing once the cub's stopped moving, backing off to kneel down in the snow and wait. He lifts a hand, using the inside of his wrist to dab at his muzzle while he watches All-in-Stride.
Long minutes pass before there's a twitch of consciousness, though there's only a hint of the previous rage as he pushes himself up. More confusion, and when he looks over at the Ahroun, there's a half question to his glance. ~Did…~ It trails off, though, one of the cub's hands reaching up to cover the back of his head.
~You better now,~ Red-Hands asks rather than answer the question. He straightens, standing at his full height and looking down on the cub. ~You've got to get over this. It can piss you off, but you cannot let it take you so easily.~
All-in-Stride doesn't get up yet, still rubbing at his head. ~I think,~ the cub answers, looking up a bit at the Ahroun. ~I didn't mean to.~ There's still the lingering note of confusion to the words. ~I tried to try harder.~
~Let it go,~ Red-Hands states, heavily emphasizing each word. ~There are far more important things to focus your Rage on.~ He pauses, still watching the cub, wary for any signs of returned frenzy. ~That life is gone, All-in-Stride. It doesn't matter now. You're with us, you're better, more than what they had to offer.~
The cub pushes himself upright, now, cautious as he returns to standing. There's no rage left, for the moment. ~Yes, Red-Hands-rhya,~ comes the assent, apologetic. ~I…~ It trails off, and with a half wince, the cub shifts back down, Glabro and then his birth form, hands returning to his pockets.
~Don't,~ the Ahroun states plainly, ears slanting back in annoyance. ~No more of this. Be angry about it, bitch and moan. But this…~ He growls quietly, teeth showing as lips peel back and muzzle furrows. It lasts just a second and he shifts to homid as well. "Letting yourself frenzy over it is a weakness. You've got to learn to control your Rage sooner rather than later."
Flint nods, gaze remaining on his feet once he's done so, and then looks over at the Ahroun after a long moment. "Yes," he acknowledges, no argument or even hint of argument given.
Devon tips his head toward the door, a signal to get back inside. "You need to apologize to everyone in there," he further continues, taking one step to the side to let Flint pass in front of him and lead the way inside.
Kevin clears his throat again. "Morgan, she's trying to be nice," he points out to the metis.
The door opens again, and it's Flint who leads the way in, followed not long thereafter by Devon. The cub makes his way over to the seating area, eyes downcast and gaze on the floor, shoulders slumped. Very little remains of the tension that was evident when he went outside. A moment passes, and Flint's gaze flicks to Kevin, cautious.
Sadie arches her brows again and pulls her hand back. "I see." There is a look of annoyance on her features now as she looks at the metis and then the baby. She is standing near the couch where Kevin, Morgan and Chris are at. Morgan is still holding the baby. She turns her eyes to watch the returning duo with an air of caution.
Devon follows a couple of steps behind Flint, a little scratched up but no worse for the wear. He closes the door behind him quietly before moving into the sitting area. A glance toward Sadie is meant to be assuring, probably a difficult feat with the scratches on his face, but he moves up to stand behind and a little to the side of the cub, ready to move should things prove unready to be social just yet.
"I'm sure," Kevin reassures Morgan. "Metis," he adds to Sadie in a sort of stage-whisper, as Flint and Devon come back inside. He looks the two younger garou over suspiciously, as if to wonder what mischief they've been up to.
Morgan's jaw tightens, and she lifts her chin. "Hello," she says to Sadie. It's rather… declarative, maybe a little forceful. But right after that she gives Kevin a questioning look.
Sadie lowers her brows even more and stares at Kevin. It isn't the metis thing, or maybe it is. "Hello? Don't you have a proper introduction? Elijah had one." That causes a smile upon her features at the mention of that metis. Then she takes a natural step back at the jaw tightening and forceful hello. Her eyes move to Kevin again. "Okay, what am I doing wrong here to get all the hate?"
Flint looks over at Kevin, and at everyone, half a glance back to the cliath first. "I um." The boy tilts his head at the interaction between Sadie and Morgan, falling silent and waiting before saying whatever he has to say.
Devon meets Kevin's gaze briefly, mouthing the word 'frenzy' just before turning his attention to Flint. An elbow is jammed, not lightly but not overly rough either, at the cub's side, the rougher side of encouragement from the Ahroun.
Kevin lifts his hands in a gesture of frustration and drops them wearily back to his side. Then he seems to remember something, and glances at Flint before looking back to Morgan. "Er. Morgan. Don't suppose you've had any unusual dreams lately, have you? That may have felt significant?"
Morgan stares at Sadie, and this time, her gaze isn't particularly pleasant on purpose. "No," she answers Kevin, without looking at him. "No dreams. Even sleep in the Caern."
Sadie sighs. "Okay… I get it. I guess I'll leave. Food is put away." She nods towards Flint and Devon. "I'll avoid you in the future… Morgan." She offers a smile and then pushes off to head out.
Flint looks over his shoulder at Devon, acknowledgement when he gets elbowed. "I'm sorry," the cub states plainly, before Sadie manages to leave. It's left at that, though, for the moment, a nod given to the kin.
Kevin gives Sadie a hopeless, apologetic look. "Well… if you do get any dreams, Morgan… can you let me know?"
Devon looks at Sadie, then Morgan, then back to Sadie. His brows lift, pushing up to his hairline and a look of askance is directed toward Kevin.
Morgan's lips peel back from her teeth. It's likely only the presence of the baby that keeps her from rising out of her couch slouch, but she enunciates, very clearly, "What is your problem?"
Sadie looks at Kevin. "Can you please explain the problem to her? She's being nothing but rude and I think my comments are only going to make it worse. You look apologetic, so you get it."
Flint takes half a step back, a faint look leveled at the kin. However, the boy remains calm, and quiet, simply watching.
Kevin looks as if he wishes the ground would open up and swallow him. Or possibly that it would swallow Morgan and Sadie. "Morgan, please don't talk to my tribe's kin like that. It's not polite. Sadie, please don't talk to garou like that. It's not good for your health."
"Flint," Devon says quietly, watching the goings on. "…Why don't you …go get everyone some beer. Out of the fridge. Or… find some chocolate to share."
Morgan's lip pulls upward a little more as Sadie speaks, but something about what Kevin says seems to mollify her a little. There's a visible biting back of her temper, though her brow remains pulled down, and she looks irritable.
Flint seems happy for the excuse to escape the tense situation. "Yes, Devon," he responds, a nod given to everyone before the boy disappears into the kitchen for a little.
Sadie sighs softly at Kevin. He can be her ambassador. "I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. I offered my hand and was polite. I was friendly and welcoming. I got rude. I am allowed to be offended too. Kin are important, sure I'm not fighting the front lines but I'm still a bit important." She looks more hurt than angry at this point. "I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, the moon is even low."
"Sometimes garou have things on their mind," Kevin points out, still attempting to play the peacemaker, "and aren't always as thoughtful as we might be."
"Ain't that the truth," Devon asides. He takes another passing look from Sadie to Morgan, before sighing. "If you know anything about Garou, Sadie, it's that we're moody. Back off and try not to take it personal when someone gets grumpy around you."
Morgan huffs. She eases up now, and very, very carefully, moves to pass the dozing baby to Kevin. "Should stop talking," she says to Sadie, sounding more exasperated than angry, at this point. "Garou getting angry at you, you shush. Unless Garou asking you something. Even if you think is very unfair, shhhh. Not make demands, not act like Garou too stupid to understand you. Even with little moons, we get angry. Important. And if I want you go away and not talk to me ever, I say so. Didn't say so."
Sadie grinds her teeth to this. It's clear she's getting more insulted by the moment. However, she just shuts up. She doesn't say a word.
There is a lot of puttering in the kitchen before the cub returns to the living area. Several bottles of beer are placed on the table, along with a bottle opener, and the boy carefully retrieves his already open drink from beneath his arm.
Kevin doesn't avail himself of the beer. "Morgan's got a point," he says apologetically to Sadie. "It's like a motorbike getting into an accident with a truck. The truck driver might be the one to blame, but that doesn't mean the biker is any less squashed."
Morgan's eyebrows lift sharply. "Yes, like that," she says. "And can talk now. I mean when Garou are getting angry. We make faces like this." And she makes an appropriately pissy face, pulling her lips up from her teeth again. "Is okay now."
Sadie sighs. "Morgan… I don't know you." She's not talking with an attitude. "I'm not sure what I've done to not get the greeting. Everyone else got them. So that's the part I don't get. What I did to start getting that face." She's staying near to Kevin. Her tone is not argumentative. She's simply asking and perhaps trying to understand.
Morgan looks considerably baffled. "I said hello. You know my name. I not give Garou greeting at all today. Not singling you out."
Sadie jumps at the sharp tone and takes a hesitant step back. "Kevin, I have to understand so not to do it again. If I don't ask…" Then Morgan speaks. "Oh! Well see, that part I didn't know. It seemed like me. I thought maybe you had a thing against kin or something. It felt like you were talking to everyone but me."
Seemingly, whatever distaste the cub might usually have for alcohol, the beer in his hands is sipped from, a long glance to Devon. But the cub remains quiet, aside from the impression that he's bristling a bit too.
"Doesn't matter if she gives you a Garou greeting or not," Devon interjects quietly. "It's not your place to know anything but our human names. Our rank, auspice, tribe? S'all extra stuff we tell you, to be polite. Only ones where all the rest of that has any weight or bearing is with other Garou."
Morgan scratches her jaw, frowning at Sadie. "Haven't talked very much." She lets her hand drop. "Why I have a thing against kin? That very weird thing to think. Haven't met a lot of kin."
Kevin jerks a thumb at Devon. "Yeah. With the Glass Walkers, you're our family, and generally speaking we're open with you. But sometimes — " He breaks off for a second, making hand gestures as he searches for the right words. "Sometimes there are garou things that it's better for kin not to know. For their own good, their own safety."
Sadie lowers her brows. "Wait… wait. I was taught that it is proper to give a full introduction to any kin of garou. I was told that we are supposed to know so that we know their rank and tribe. That way we know if it is someone we should avoid in tribal conflicts and where their rank and respect is if there is an issue. Now you are telling me I'm not supposed to know?" She looks around the others and sighs a bit like she's confused. "I didn't grow up in the know, this is still new and I thought I had it down until just now."
"What do you care about what rank or auspice someone is?" Devon turns now to look fully on Sadie. "You're kin, doesn't matter who's what Rank or what moon they were born under because you end up pissing one of us off and you'll be in trouble no matter what the rank. Even a cub's dangerous to you if you say or do the wrong thing. You just be respectful and learn to back off when you realize someone's in a bad mood."
Morgan huffs again, her nostrils flaring. "Problem is, you're being pushy. And weird. And when I not do what you want, you assume weird things, like how I not like kin. Or how maybe I'm stupid." She raps her chest, a little harder than she might usually. "Adren Fianna Metis Galliard."
Flint grimaces slightly at Devon's words, another long sip taken from the drink in his hands.
"Normally names and things aren't a big secret, no," Kevin agrees. "But if someone doesn't share them, don't assume they're being bitchy to you. Assume they've got a good reason not to talk to you. Maybe they're a spy under a false identity. Maybe they've had the worst day ever and want to be left alone because if they lose their temper they may kill you." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Look. I'm going back to town. Anyone who wants can come back with me."
Sadie looks between Morgan and Devon for a few moments. "You know… I'm just going to leave. Have a great day." She smiles a bit at Morgan. "I don't think you are stupid at all. I have never thought that about you. Nor was I demanding information. I was trying to understand is all." She steps a bit with Kevin. She's not staying in unfriendly territory without friend. "Thanks Kevin… I really am just trying to understand all of it."
Flint nods to Kevin, slightly. "Sounds good," he asides to Kevin. "Anyway." The boy focuses on the drink for a moment. "I should get home, yeah?" A glance to Devon. "Later?" Unspoken question that it is.
Morgan's lips peel up from her teeth again, and she says, very slowly, every word pronounced clearly, "Don't ask me things if you aren't going to listen." And then, just as carefully, "I'm trying to explain to you. Don't just leave. Think about what I said." She looks, it must be said, a little exhausted at the end of that, but still grumpy.
Kevin beckons Flint with one hand, and Sadie with the other. "And hopefully next time we all meet, we'll understand each other a little better." Kevin must have been oiling his hoper — it seems to be working very energetically today.
Devon shakes his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, not trying to be unfriendly. I'm just not going to sugarcoat it. I'll see you guys back in the city." He nods slightly at Flint. "I'll catch the bus, though. Don't need to be 'unfriendly' around Sadie anymore."
Sadie smiles towards Morgan. "This time it wasn't you putting me on edge. It's cool." She nods towards Devon though and offers a smaller smile. "Yeah… like Kevin said. Things are better next time. If you are ever in the city, Morgan, maybe we can talk there?"
Morgan gives her head a rough shake — not really a 'no' gesture so much as an attempt to foist off some of that frustration around her. She turns, returning to the sleeping baby.
Flint looks from the ragabash to the ahroun and back. "Maybe I'd better go with Devon." That's said, and the cub goes to return the ignored drinks to the fridge.