Cockroach Mansion -- Downstairs

The heavy, dark opulence to this mansion known as Dominion is perfectly exemplified by the room vistors first enter, this front hall. Dark-stained wood serves as paneling on the walls, gleams with high gloss in the hardwood floor, and supports a semi-circular balcony in carved pillars. The heavy double doors, made of oak, open into the hall from the south, opposite the huge, hourglass-shaped staircase composed of red and black gneiss which soars up to the balcony; both are fenced in with a wooden railing of simple spiraled posts. Several doorways can be made out on the second floor, nearly blending in discreetly with the back wall. The wall to the left of the front doors is composed entirely of windows which run from the forty-foot-tall domed dark wood ceiling to the floor; if drawn, the heavy velvet drapes of deep red would completely mask them from view, but when parted, as they often are, one has a marvelous view of the grounds outside.

A doorway to the right of the front doors leads to a parlor, and towards the back are the kitchens, the large dining room, and Salem's office.

Contents:
Wolf-Heart
Anthony
Cat
Salem

Obvious exits:
Tower Stairway Salem's Office Front Doors

Wolf-Heart sits rather happily on 'his' chair, oblivious to the whole Tony thing. Head turns slightly, jerking back as the TV comes on, but he quickly remembering what -that- thing is. He stares at the screen, although he's not really interested, just watching it idly.

Anthony takes a moment to quit flipping through the channels to look down at his shoes, then kicks them off, letting them fall to the floor; then, back to the television.

Cat makes a face and rolls over onto his good arm, curling up a bit as he tries to tune out the noise of the TV. His stomach makes a long, loud rumbly noise (has anyone seen him eat since they got back?) but he just shifts position.

Salem cocks his head, hearing the television, and wanders over toward the parlor. "Evening... oh, good. Cat."

Wolf-Heart's head turns to face the Ex-Elder before he enters, chuffing out a light greeting to Scar-Rhya as he does. TV is forgotten, since it wasn't really interesting anyhow.

Anthony apparently finds the TV quite interesting, by contrast, since he only takes a moment to look back at Salem.

Anything else Salem might have to say is forestalled by the ring of his cellphone. He takes it out of a pocket and answers it quickly. "Salem."

The blond boy opens one eye, then quickly sits up and winces as his arm protests. "Hi Salem-rhya," he murmurs, picking off the remains of his bandage and folding it neatly into his pocket. Cat glances at Joshua and Anthony curiously, before staring back at the Philodox.

Salem frowns. "Cat, shift to a healing form." The frown continues as he speaks into the cellphone. "What issues?"

Wolf-Heart's ear quirks once, making a half attempt at listening to the conversation before he hops off the seat. In a moment, Josh is back up to Homid yet again. The Ahroun stretches again, watching Salem and the Phone with acute interest.

Natalie comes through the back door into the kitchen. If the sliding door were not enough to attract ears, there's shortly the sound of water running in the sink.

Looking bewildered- and faintly nonplussed -Cat shifts back down into lupus and skews his ears towards Salem.

Salem stiffens, but his voice remains calm. "Move him out. Now. And anyone else who's living with you two. I suggest Kent Crossing." He paces out of the parlor -- not that he was more than a couple of steps into it anyway -- and back into the front entryway. "Might want to change your appearance, get a haircut, dye it, that kind of thing."

Anthony puts down the remote after eventually settling on the news, sprawling out on the sofa and trying to get comfortable. Whatever anyone else is doing apparently isn't worth his attention right now.

Joshua glances at Cat, arching a brow. His body language says it all, and says it loudly. 'what's he talking about?'

The lupus swishes his tail in a confused way. I don't know. Should we ask him?

The water stops, and a few moments later Nat heads down the hallway. She edges past Salem on his cell, stopping in the doorway to the parlor. "Well."

Cat freezes at Natalie's appearance, then dart-limps behind Joshua and curls up behind the Ahroun.

Salem clicks off the cellphone with a short, snapped-out Slavic word, stares at it for a moment, then pushes it back into his jeans pocket and wanders back into the parlor.

Joshua nods briefly at Cat, although the brow does the raising bit again as he darts behind him. "Everything all right?" He calls out to Salem as he re-enters the room. "Ya don't look happy 'bout something."

Anthony turns down the volume on the television a little as Natalie and Salem enter the parlor.

Natalie's attention's recaught at Salem's exclamation; with a frown of her own she moves out of the doorway and into the parlor, giving those within a distracted nod. "Anything good on TV? I heard AMC was playing Army of Darkness tonight."

The wolf peers out carefully from behind Joshua's shoulder, blue eyes focused on Salem. You look like you've had a rough day, he understates, adding, Or might still be having one.

"I dunno," Tony says. Right now all he's watching is CNN. "Wanna check?" he asks, offering the remote over his shoulder.

"The Russians know where she lives, and about her husband. And considering what they've done to Rina out of spite, or the way they sent a team after Jeremy..." Salem shakes his head and runs a hand back over his short hair... and then focusses his attention on Joshua and Cat. Mostly Cat. "Cat, Natalie and I have heard Josh's tale about the Rite of Passage, but I haven't heard you tell it."

Time travelling Ash slips from Nat's attention as Salem's words catch it. "'Scuse me? Russians? They know where who lives?"

Joshua curses softly in German, for those who might recognize it. "Bloody hell..." He trails off as Salem turns his focus on Cat. The 'Draftee' steps out of the way between Salem and Cat, Giving the ladder a quick smile as he moves over to the couch. "Alicia-Rhya, then?"

Salem closes his eyes, then opens them. "Alicia. Right." So he's distracted. So sue him.

TV goes click, picture fading. Tony twists to face the conversation, propping himself up on the back of the couch.

Joshua sits next to Tony, a clear grimace reading across his face. He doesn't add anything at this point, crossing his arms and boots.

"Lovely," is Nat's sarcastic comment. "Did she give you any more information? Anything else we need to know?"

Cat's ears splay in a sign of discomfort when the meat shield leaves, but nothing can be done about that. I haven't been hiding, he replies a little defensively. Actually he had been, but not from Salem at any rate. I'll tell you now if y'want. You just seem... kinna busy.

Salem shakes his head. "Just that they know who they are, their names, where they live, et cetera. She doesn't even know how they know."

Natalie offers a tired, "Hell. Well, nothing we can do about it now, right?" She glances at Salem to double-check before finding a chair to sink into.

"Though we should do something about it soon," Anthony amends. "They're starting to get info faster and faster now..."

The front doors open up to reveal the Gothic, making his way inwards, arms folded behind his back. He has a serious expression on his face. He has been gone for the past day or so, leaving a message on his answering machine that he was just out of town.

Cat's tailtip flicks about gently as he glances from adult face to adult face. He clearly doesn't understand the situation, but it doesn't keep him from listening - he's got an apt namesake, at any rate.

Salem grunts. "Alicia might have done something careless..." Then he nods to Natalie. "Not much we can do until Jeremy can report back something. I don't suppose you've had any luck ferreting out that damned Shadow Lord?" Rite of Passage tale-telling seems to have been forgotten.

Joshua mumbles, mostly to Tony, "One might wonder how the hell they're doing that, eh?" The Ahroun leans back into the couch. "Oy."

Natalie says, "Hardly. I've been working on that damned greenhouse all day." She shakes her head, irritably, and searches 'round for Cat, offering him a forced smile in a deliberate effort to shake off the mood.

Anthony's lip quivers irritatedly at Josh's comment. "What's that supposed to mean," he mutters back, digging his hands into the back of the couch.

"Hey guys." Jeremy says as he grows closer to the group, staring at them intently for a moment, but holding himself back a few paces. Lots of Garou in one place.

Salem arches an eyebrow. "Speak of the devil." The halfmoon finally goes to sit, taking his usual chair.

"It means they got one hell of a fountain of information." He muses back, oblivious to the mood the Ragabash was in. "That, or they got people watching the people they know about. Veil breach, met scissors, eh? Eh... its out side anything I know jack about..." He looks up from the Couch. "Oh, Heya, Jer." [Josh]

Cat looks like he's about to chuff something, but then Jeremy appears and distracts everyone again. The new cliath doesn't look irritated though, just somehow amused. Tired, he whuffs lowly, probably to Josh or Salem - and then he pads out of the parlor, careful not to bump into Jeremy.

Natalie too looks over, forced smile retreating under a real one. "Jeremy - you back in town?" Obviously. "Wanna come pow-wow about these damn Russians? Salem just got a call from Alicia. Apparently they know where she lives, too."

Anthony considers the explanation, then relaxes a little, returning to the conversation at large; he offers a slight wave and an even slighter smile to Jeremy.

"...Oh shit..." Jeremy pauses for a moment in step, then heads over to the group, glancing up at them. "Yes, I'm back in town." He says. "They know about Alicia? Does that mean they know about Dakota and Karl?"

"Alicia didn't say," Salem answers, unsmiling. "She only specifically mentioned herself and Tom. I told them to move out, asap, and consider changing their look."

"If they know about Alicia-Rhya because they have someone watching them, that'd be a yes." Josh doesn't really say this too loud, and most of the people in the room are in danger of missing it entirely.

Natalie says, "I wanna know how the hell they know about us. Are they just starting with the people they know about, and working their way out from there?"

"How do they know that they know about them, anyway?" Tony pauses to sort out his question. "I mean, how does Alicia know that the Russians know what Alicia's up to?"

Frowning, Jeremy crosses his arms over his chest, then rubs the back of his neck. "...That's... not good...I still don't got any information on the tapes that I'm recording. Its like the guy won't go downstairs or something...an he isn't using the phone for anything important."

Salem's mouth twists into a grimace.

Joshua shrugs slightly. "That's how you do it on networks... once you got one address, you see what it communicates with, and follow it there." This time he's slightly louder, giving a clear answer to the question posed by Nat. "Have you ever followed who ever you got bugged? Like, for a full day? On foot, that is." He poses openly, directed at no one.

"As if," Natalie hypothesises sourly, "They knew we were waiting for them to do that." She considers Josh's question, then turns to Jeremy for the answer.

Salem says nothing, just steeples his fingers and narrows his eyes into slits. Thinking, perhaps.

Jeremy lets out a breath and shakes his head. He sighs. "Fuck... man... fuck." He trails off slightly, then rubs the back of his neck. "I don't know what to say...I didn't know they were this deep. I figure you know... since they broke into my house and didn't know shit about my security, meant that we had them at a tactical advantange."

Quietly, Salem says, "Who wants to take odds on when they strike the Dominion?"

"I am thinking..." Josh grimaces. "That is a no, to my question then, eh?" Salem's question takes him aback, glancing around the room. What ever chipper attitude or cheer he had quickly drains.

Anthony scratches his nose thoughtfully. "Probably the day after you leave," Tony muses.

"It sounds to me," says the new Elder, "Like you're recommending we go after them now. How paranoid do you think they are? That is, how many bits of paper do they have floating around writing down what they know - or think they know?"

"We blow their house up, they'll turn around and blow up ours. I am sure they know all about us here." Jeremy says. "They probably know who visits us here as well. We should pull a head count of our recent visitors and pass word on the Galliard grapevine to 'em." He glances slightly to Natalie. "Or whatever is more secure... cell, email, carrier pidgeon."

Salem's gaze flicks toward Anthony and fixes on the Ragabash for a long moment while Natalie and Jeremy speak. "...Not their house," he says, turning to look at the others. "Not the house we bugged. Their center." He grimaces. "Not that we know where their center is. I don't suppose anyone's had any luck getting in touch with Konstantin?"

Joshua glances at Salem breifly. "You can't find him with that string trick of yours? I thought you could find anyone you knew with that..."

"Wait, wait, wait. Who's Konstantin?" Tony asks, leaning over the back of the sofa slightly.

"Their center? Hmm." Jermey trails off slightly as he thinks deeply for a moment, then begins to pace, sliding a PDA out of his pocket, tapping away.

Natalie says, "I haven't, and I haven't heard anything from Alicia, either. She said she'd take care of him." She stresses the 'she said' lightly, arms crossed and scowling at Salem. "Dammit, I feel like I'm trying to bail water with a fork. No wonder you're leaving."

Salem bares his teeth back at Natalie. "My leaving has nothing fucking to do with the damned Russians."

Joshua, ever astute, shuts the heck up and looks anywhere but at Salem or Natalie.

Natalie'll see him bared teeth, and raise him a soundless snarl. "Yeah? Fine. Then you tell him who Konstantin is."

Jeremy taps a few more things on the PDA. "Guys, big moon... less stress, por'favor. I don't want to get in the way of claws and shit."

"And besides," Tony starts, though Natalie and Salem's expressions shut him up.

"Konstantin," Salem grates out -- and Jeremy's right, the moon is fat and getting fatter -- "is a Shadow Lord Ragabash who, many many months ago, wanted to make himself useful to what was, at the time, the Alpha of the Sept. Since he was of Russian descent and interested in the city, I put him on the job to get some information for us. To weasel his way in. I didn't hear a damned thing from him until I found out from Cutter and Jean that he'd been Tainted, and I haven't even seen him since he'd been Cleansed."

Natalie keeps an eye on the Philodox until he's done, then deliberately looks away. Toward lucky Tony. "That answer your question?" She pitches her voice lower, trying for the 'act calm and you'll feel calm' mantra.

Anthony nods slightly, considering for a moment before continuing his statement. "How do you know Konstantin's not an informant?" Tony asks next, pressing on along his line of questioning.

Raising up a brow, Jeremy asks. "Are you hinting that perhaps Konstan is working for them, and that is how they are getting their information?"

Salem's nostrils flare. Quietly -- though no less viciously for all that -- he says, "If he is, I will gut him and then strangle him with his own entrails."

"I think... if anyone cares, which you all probably don't, that someone should stick a no-moon on the Russian's tail." Josh idly comments, uncrossing his boots. "Someone who is good at blending into the city, and someone who doesn't spook the natives. Follow the guy, see where he goes, who he talks to. Build up our own network on them. That would answer alot of questions." Josh seems rather fool hardy, and doesn't seem to care much if he gets mauled. Ah, the innocence of suicidal tendencies.

Natalie takes a deep breath, lets it out. "It makes a certain weird sense. Either willingly or not - like Salem said, he was Tainted. Who knows what happened?" "--I'll help you run him down, Salem."

"Craig..." Jeremy trails off. "The Gnawers fit right in to the city and I do believe that we haven't had much contact with 'em since the shit went down. We could go to them."

Anthony starts to say something after Josh does, but at Jeremy's recommendation of the Gnawer, he again shuts up, sinking back down into the sofa a little.

Salem grunts. "Better someone that the Russians don't know about. That Konstantin doesn't know about."

Natalie, damn her eyes, points out, "We have a Ragabash. Don't we, Tony?"

Anthony is again up on his knees. "Konstantin doesn't know about me," he suggests, rather optimistically.

Jeremy glances over to Tony, then offers up a grin. "Sweet, dude, if are you up for it, more power to you!"

"Craig-Rhya 'n I are on pretty damn good terms. If Natalie-Rhya wants, I could ask him..." He offers, looking to the new Elder. "Considering I've been in and out of the house a total of once, I doubt they got anything on me. But Tony... He's been in and out a lot. Give them lots of oppertuntity to see him. If that's how they're networking, then he'll be dirty." (Josh)

Rina comes in quietly, stepping over to hang up her jacket in the closet.

Salem lowers his head slightly, fingertips massaging at his forehead lightly, like a man with a sudden stabbing headache.

Natalie has a pressing need to comb her hair. A lot. With clawed fingers. "...Damn." All the Walkers are gathered in the parlor, scattered about in various chairs, in various states of tense. "I'll think about it. Salem, Jeremy, what're your opinions?" She hasn't, as yet, noticed Rina's entrance.

Salem looks up, his expression grim. "Josh is correct about getting a Ragabash, a trusted Ragabash, to tail the Russian. Tony or Craig, but it has to be someone who can be subtle. Also, we need to get Konstantin, sit the smarmy-mouthed little fuck down, and get him to talk. By force if necessary."

"My opinion is that I start looking for a new apartment. I'd also like to pull the head count of our visitors so that we can send word. I'd also suggest a buddy system when traveling in the city at night. So far, the attacks haven't taken place during the day, but, I wouldn't put it past 'em." He ponders, scratching at his chin. "Someone needs to find Konstantin, and perhaps..." He looks at Salem. "Use a truth telling gift on him once he loosens his lips." He glances back to the group, arms folding behind his back as he leans forward some. "Be real careful of what phones you use from here out. Stick to the cells, and at least know they are protected from being cloned or bugged. Don't leave 'em anywhere, and don't use analog based phones on a land line." [Jeremy]

Rina stands some distance from the archway, looking into the parlor -- watching Salem with bleak eyes. She has clearly been crying -- a fast plummet in mood, from a couple of hours ago.

Anthony pretty much gives up, knees again sinking back into the sofa cushions. "I guess Craig would be better," Tony mumbles quickly at the floor.

Natalie gives her hair another raking. "You saying you can't be trusted, Tony?"

Salem bares his teeth suddenly. He also hasn't noticed Rina. "Someone told the fucking Russians that I was a werewolf, and I know for god damn sure that I haven't been Crinos-dancing in the park."

Joshua looks to Jeremy. "Uh... what all do you keep on the netwo..." The outburst is cuts off his question, Josh falling silent for a moment. "Because if it's anything critical, we might want to switch to RJ-45 for a bit." He finishes quietly.

"Well, uh, no, but..." Tony also stops at the outburst, waiting a good few moments before continuing. "...if you need someone subtle I'm not sure I'd be the best for that." Jeremy's question brings Tony's gaze up towards the parlor door for a moment.

"The network is fine. Just keep your cell phones, don't lose it, an we'll be alright." Jeremy murmurs softly. "Sides, since the entire thing, I buried everything so deep that it'd give Gates a hard on if he tried to bust it." Glancing over his shoulder, he stares at Rina for a moment. "Hey... you alright?"

Rina doesn't look away from Salem. "Not really," she says in a hoarse voice.

Joshua shakes his head a little. "Remind me to talk to you soon about the network later, Jer..." He trails off quietly as he lets the two talk, crossing his boots again. And looking like he doesn't want to be there all of a sudden.

Salem looks up to see Rina, meeting her eyes for a long, silent moment. His face changes, turning very bland, very neutral, and very very guarded.

"Well, that doesn't exactly make me feel better, Rina." Jeremy says with a huff, furrowing his brows, then pulls his trench coat tighter around his body. "Are you in trouble? Besides... the kinda shit all of us are already in?"

Natalie studies the Ragabash for a minute, then nods as she turns toward Rina. "All right. 'll talk to Craig, then, or maybe that Theurge of theirs - the duchess, or whoever." And then she shuts up, letting Jer do the interrogation.

Joshua leans in to Natalie, and mutters something low, before sitting back into the couch. ("Olga. And I know her pretty well too. She doesn't like most Walkers though, so if you want an introduction...")

Rina's jaw tightens a fraction, and her fists clench visibly at her sides. Then she walks in and crosses the room, swift long strides, until she stands in front of Salem. Her right arm whips back and she slaps him, hard, leaving a slow-rising red print on his cheek.

"...oooh... k..." Jeremy trails off slowly. He glances over to Natalie, then Joshua, clearing his throat. "I think the Don and Rina may need a moment to... talk. Anyone care for a coffee?"

Salem's head rocks slightly with the impact, though it's a statement to the halfmoon's sense of self-control that he doesn't even show a flicker of rage. Or, perhaps, he was expecting something like this. "I'm not 'the Don', Jeremy," he says evenly, not looking at Rina anymore.

Natalie murmurs back to the Ahroun, her eyes watching Rina. ("That's right. Yeah, maybe. I'll...") The Galliard tenses at the slap, but doesn't rise.

Joshua grunts once, standing up and walking around, far around, the couch, headed for the Kitchen. "Some Bean-Water sounds pretty good. Jer, you got your iBook on ya?" Josh mumbles, as he heads out to the kitchen.

Anthony says "Coffee, whatever, anything," Tony says quietly as he climbs off the couch, apparently agreeing fully with Jeremy's recommendation."

"Sure, got a bean maker and a laptop upstairs." Jeremy says, motioning to the stairs as he starts for the doorway. "Nat, you coming?" He asks. "Ya'know...for 'bout ten minutes or so?"

"Maladrino," Rina whispers. "Sciagurato. You fucking coward son of a bitch." She backhands the other cheek for good measure.

Salem's jaw tightens. "Not necessary," he says through somewhat clenched teeth. Pushing to his feet, he suddenly looms over the petite Italian woman. "Keep discussing the Russian shit. I'm going out." Still without looking at Rina, he brushes past her toward the door.

Rina stands very still for a moment, closing her eyes, her hands clenching at her sides. She is shaking visibly.

"I'm not," and Nat isn't. The arms of her chair aren't going anywhere either, not with the death-grip she's got on them. "Walk safe." This to Salem, apparently, despite the fact that she's watching Rina with a hawk's eye.

Joshua pauses at the door, watching the ex-elder head out. He looks very badly like he wants to head back in, but he waits to see where everyone else is headed.

Anthony stops his march towards the parlor door as Salem rushes out, looking a bit lost as he scans the room, as if he's searching for clues plastered on the walls.

Jeremy lets out a breath and glances over to Rina. "Need a brother-sister moment?"

"No," Rina says. The dark eyes flicker open, to stare at the floor. "Not really."

Salem does not rush. He stalks. He has long legs, long strides, and he's not wasting time, though, so it's not long before he's at the hall closet and getting his coat.

Joshua looks weakly back at Rina through the door, as the ex-cub really looks like he wants to do something. As if he had any idea what exactly he would do, anyhow.

"Well, alright. I guess I'll just keep doing what I do best, and thats be a geek." Jeremy says cheerfully enough, before clearing his throat some. Glancing off after Salem, he lifts up a hand, lightly waving off to the stalking Garou, sighing to himself. "Well...um... I guess. I'll go to bed."

Natalie opens her mouth, closes it. Tries again, mildly. "Anything you'd like to add to that, Rina?"

Anthony rubs his temples intently, looking like he's caught Salem's headache.

Salem, while he shrugs into the big black leather coat -- the one Rina had given him (a birthday, a Christmas?) -- finds himself staring at Rina's jacket hanging there. But, still, he doesn't waste time, and within moments he's out the door... which slams behind him.

Rina glances to the young woman, her eyes red-rimmed and narrowed. "Yeah," she says dully. "Congratulations. We'll talk later. About the fucking Russians, and whatever else." She turns and walks numbly from the parlor.

Natalie gives the slam a glance, then rises to call, "Rina." It's not precisely a command; the perceptive would notice more than a note of... desperation?

Anthony looks up to the Galliard between splayed fingers. "Nat," he protests, in the same manner.

Jeremy lets out a soft breath as he lingers by the door. "Guys, we really should get together tomorrow, when we have all calmed down, and discuss our future here in Claire's, and our survival."

Joshua stands still at the door, looking rather baleful as Rina leaves. He even whimpers a little, even if he doesn't realize it, as she passes. With a sigh, he turn and heads into the Parlor.

Rina brings a hand up to touch the hardwood framework that lines the parlor entry; she leans on that arm, letting her head fall against it. "Yeah, what."

Natalie drops Tony a nod: she sees him, but refocuses on Rina. "I... I need you. All of you. Of us." Each word comes slowly, the Galliard extra-careful with what she says. "You want your room back? I'll sleep in one of the, one of the empties."

Rina shakes her head minutely. "No. I can't sleep here. I'll be at home. I'll come tomorrow. Or something."

Jeremy nods his head slowly and lets out a breath. "Just like cockroach, we will survive." He raises up a brow. "An be even harder to kill."

Natalie licks her lips. Rina can't see it, but she makes no move to hide it from the other Garou. "You want... someone to drive you home?"

Joshua just sort of watches Rina, that same kind of baleful/disappointed that he can't do anything look stuck on his face. He lets the others do the talking, though.

"No," Rina says blankly. "No thanks. I'm fine." She pushes away from the wall, and steps out, going to the closet to get her jacket and helmet.

As the doorway is unblocked, Tony decides to take his leave, too. "I'm going now," he declares to whoever's still around to care as he heads out into the main hall.

Josh half follows the Kinswoman into the hall, still watching her. "Ride safe? Please, verkratzt Ohren?" He asks quietly, an almost pleading note creeping into his voice.

"Well... G'night then Rina." Jeremy says softly as he lifts up a hand to wave towards the other kin, before climbing up the stairs, yawning. "Night Nat!" He calls down, his voice disapearing.

Natalie wipes a hand across her mouth before snapping out, "Let her be. --G'night, Jeremy," she adds, calmer, though she still watches the trio of Tony, Josh, and Rina.

Anthony makes his way to the front doors of the mansion, passing through the double doors and out to the rest of the estate.

Rina glances over to the new-rited boy, her eyes quiet. "Yeah. Get rest. Heal up."

Joshua nods minutely. "Okay. I'll do that." He turns back down the hall, slowly making his way to where he had been sleeping, shoulders stooped slightly. "Night, Miz Rina." He offers as he slouches off.

Natalie takes a step, two, toward the door, then stops. Pitches her voice low. "Cockroach watch your steps, Rina. Sleep well. I'll see you... later. We need to talk."

Rina nods curtly as she finishes tugging on her jacket. "Yeah. Later." Then she stalks out, fast and purposeful.

Joshua shifts down into Lupus, curling up over the vent he's been calling his bed recently, the ex-cub attempting to comply with the order to sleep. It takes a while, but he gets there. He doesn't, however sleep well at all.

"Damn," Natalie says as the door closes. She turns away, toward Salem's abandoned chair, her eyes closing, hands closing into loose fists at her sides. And again: "Damn." She putters around in the parlor for some moments, doing what sounds like moving furniture, then stalks out into the hall. When she catches sight of the wolf her temper focuses, eyes narrowing. "Get up." It's a tone that doesn't accept mere unconsciousness as a reason for ignoring it.

Joshua's heads raises sleepily, the Ahroun apparently having started drifting off already. He tilts his head as he looks over: What?

Natalie aims an irritated kick at the wolf that's designed to fall well short. "Get the hell up. You're a Walker, not a Talon. Go sleep in a damn bed, not in the middle of the fucking floor."

Wolf-Heart glowers irritably at the Galliard, rising to his paws. His hackles rise slightly, the Ahroun curling the corner of his lips back. Last he checked, being a walker did not mean he had to sleep in some uncomfortable manner.

Natalie lifts her own lip, showing teeth, leaning forward. "Yes. It does. Every damn time I turn around these days, you're in lupus. Shift up, and shift up now. You said you could control yourself? Prove it. Show me I can trust you to act like a Walker, not a Wendigo, and GET THE HELL OUT OF LUPUS!"

Wolf-Heart does shift up. In fact, he burns up to Glabro in a bare instant, looking very badly like he wants to beat the living daylights out of Natalie. He finishes the gesture, shifting to Homid. "I could give a damn if you trust me or not." Josh replies icily. "I will be leaving here soon enough, you'll be happy to know. Good night, Don." He turns his back, starting down the hall. And making much noise of it.

Natalie takes a single step after him, her own fists clenched, teeth bared. "You want to leave? Leave. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. Get the hell out of my house now."

Wolf-Heart alters his course, grabbing his BDU Jacket out of the closet. He throws it on over his shoulders, heading for the door. He doesn't pay the Galliard any additional attention while doing this either...

Natalie pivots to follow the Ahroun, never taking her eyes off him. "You got a key? Leave it."

Joshua pats his pockets to indicate they are empty as he continues on his 'merry' way. The door opens, and he steps out, not slamming it behind him.

Natalie stalks after to watch his exit from the doorway, obviously not trusting him to make his way to the gate unsupervised.

Joshua carries on, though, heading out of the gate and curving slightly as he goes. Destination? It appears Bawn, Via way of Zoo, if one is keen on these things...

There is the sound of a door creaking upstairs, soon footsteps heading along the hallway to the stairs.

Natalie waits until he's well and truly past the gate, then ever so carefully, as if it were made from spun sugar, closes the front door. She takes in one deep breath - in through the nose, out through the mouth - and another.

The sound of footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs, soon followed by the sight of Jeremy. He is wearing a pair of black boxers and a baggy white shirt. There seems to be a gold necklace dangling around his neck, tucked beneath the thin white fabric. "... Nat?"

The atmosphere's clearer, now that most of the Garou have left. Only one of them remains, in fact, leaning on braced arms against the front door. She tenses at the kin's words, then quite deliberately turns, her face a mask and voice light. "Sorry, Jer, did I wake you?"

"I don't even know what sleep is. I was up all night researching today's tapes and phone bugs, this time more carefully in a slower speed." Jeremy says, hopping down to the last step and rubbing a shoulder. "So, what just happened with Josh?"

"I threw the bastard out," Nat replies lightly, rolling her shoulders in an effort to release the tension still crouching there. "Damn idiot's been running around in lupus; sleeping on the goddamn heat vent, and when I told him to knock it off he thought he might get uppity on me."

Nodding his head slowly, Jeremy doesn't really have anything to say. He just blinks his eyes slowly a bit. "Ah." He shifts some on his feet, leaning against the stairwell some.

On to more immediate concerns. "He know the gate code, d'you know? He claims he doesn't have a key, but Gaia only knows if he really does or not."

"I'll change it and send a text message to the tribe in the morning." Jermey says as he folds his arms behind him.

Natalie says, "Great. Until I say otherwise, he's not to be allowed back. Damn Salem... when he gets back, I really need to talk to him. Booting the bastard from the tribe's looking better and better, and I really need to talk to someone else; see if it's a rational decision."

Nodding his head, Jeremy lets out a soft breath, staying silent as you speak. His features are neutral, obviously displaying the 'good soldier' routine.

Natalie has another go at the 'deep breathing for calmness' routine. It apparently works well enough that she's able to step away from the door without radiating rage. "Right. Thank you. Anything else you think I should know? Right now, I mean. If not, I'm gonna try and get some sleep."

Jeremy shakes his head. "Nothing that is too important. Stuff came up the past couple of days and I'll reveal it when I feel its necessary." He flashes her a quick smile. "Otherwise, I bid you good night, Miss Don." He says with a wry grin. "I won't turn in until sunrise. I'm going to be busy."

Natalie offers him a weary smile as she heads up the stairs. "Gaia forbid you should see the sun. G'night, Jer. If it's important enough, wake me. I'll be in Rina's room one last night, but I'm moving out of it tomorrow."

"Mmm. Alright." Jeremy says with a slow nod of his head, offering up a supportive smile. He reaches to his shirt and lightly touches the necklacess, playing with something behind the fabric, then starts for the stairs. "Take care."

"Cockroach walk," Nat answers automatically, heading up the steps. Scant minutes later a door opens, then closes. Silence.

(Before she turns in, Nat writes an email:

Subject: Josh banished

Until I give further notice, Joshua is not to be allowed back on the grounds of Walker Central. Jer's changing the gate code; you ought to have a message with the new one. No one is to be given the new code without my say-so. Salem, I want to talk to you.

[End of log]