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:
Jeremy
Dakota
Salem

Obvious exits:
Tower Stairway Elder's Office Front Doors

Salem sets his coffee cup aside and steeples his fingers. His face is grave, and he's quiet for a moment before speaking. "I don't consider kinfolk to be... 'territory'. I find that attitude to be demeaning, even insulting." He looks back over at Jeremy, looking at him steadily. "I'll protect them, react swiftly if anyone should hurt them... but their personal lives are their own." He turns back to Dakota. "But I'm not the elder of the Glass Walkers anymore, and so I'm not the one you should be speaking to."

Nodding his head slowly, Jeremy lets out another breath as he gives Dakota's hand another firm squeeze, offering a slight smile towards Salem. "If anything, we are both happy with the decision." He says, tongue clicking over his teeth.

Back in the kitchen the sliding door opens, then closes. There are a few muffled noises, as of someone moving around.

Dakota nods her head in agreement to Jeremy's words, a soft smile touching her face. "Well, you were when all of this happened. When I should have spoken to you. So I did want to make sure you were informed."

Salem grunts. "Make sure you speak to Natalie, though, and soon." He picks up his coffee again and sips. "For what it's worth... congratulations."

"Thanks Jack." Jeremy says with a chuckle as he rubs the back of his neck with the free hand, then glances over towards the movement out the door.

"We will." The Gaian says, offering a grin. "And it's worth a lot, even if we're going to give some people heart attacks." She give's Jeremy's hand a firm squeeze, squinting towards the door as he does.

The noises in the kitchen continue, complete with cupboards and the refrigerator opening, then closing.

"Got a place yet?" Salem keeps his tone light, though his ease is more facade than sincere; it's barely more than skin-deep.

"We haven't really thought of that yet. Kinda waiting for the Russian thing to blow over." Jeremy says with a smile as he shrugs his shoulders.

"Yeah." Dakota says quietly, face falling a bit. "Until then, I'll just keep livin' like a refugee, since Ali's place isn't safe anymore."

In time Natalie appears at the door to the parlor, glass of orange juice in hand. Her tuneless whistling cuts off at seeing the place occupied, and she looks between Philodox, Kin, and Theurge before coming further into the room. "Morning."

Salem's expression quickly turns sour as he nods. Then he looks over toward Natalie. "Good morning," he says blandly, and then glances significantly at Dakota.

Jeremy tilts his head over towards Natalie and offers up a quick smile. "G'morning. Dakota and I got married on Tuesday in Vegas, and I'm just about done piecing together everything that I ripped off of Boris's harddrive. I'm just doing Russian to English conversions which are taking up time."

Dakota lifts up a brow at Jeremy, letting out a sigh as she looks over to Natalie. "...yeah, what he said."

Nat stops as if she'd just walked into a wall. "Um?" Anything else she'd add - more coherent, hopefully - is interrupted by the sound of the gate buzzer. "...I'll get it." She ducks back into the hall, only to call a moment later, "Anyone know this guy?"

There's a figure at the gates waiting to get buzzed in. He's wearing a long black leather trenchcoat, collar pulled up. His face is distinctly Slavic looking.

Salem gets up, leaving his coffee behind by his armchair, and goes to check the monitor. He stares at the figure for a moment, and then says, flatly, "Let him in. It's Konstantin."

"This will be interesting." Jermey says as he rises up from his seat, making his way out after Salem, letting go of Dakota's hand. His face turns buisness like, brows furrowing.

Natalie buzzes to let the gate open, the likewise the front door when the Lord approaches it. "Mhm."

Dakota tilts her head slightly to one side and gets up from her seat. "...I better be going, leave you guys to buisness. I gotta go talk to Alicia anyway." She slips her hands in her pockets as she slips after everyone.

Konstantin takes his time coming up the front walk of the house. His head swivels here and there, occassionally pausing to pick out this or that detail. He finally arrives at the door, looking Natalie over. "Konstantin," he tells her. He glances past her. "Suppose to see Natalie."

Salem stays in the background, his arms folded across his chest. If he's surprised to see the Shadow Lord here (and under his own power) he doesn't show it.

"Why don't you come in," Natalie offers mildly, dropping Dakota a nod as she passes. "Have a seat in the parlor," she adds after closing the door. The Walkers wouldn't have their Elder playing doorman, would they?

Konstantin lifts his eyes toward Salem with a nod. "Jack," he says, tersely. "Got something for you." He pulls a brown paper sack from the pocket of his trenchcoat. He sets it on a wing table as he passes into the parlor.

Salem arches an eyebrow at the sack. Glancing over at Natalie, he gives her a nod, then goes over to examine the sack and its contents.

Jeremy glances over towards Dakota and nods his head slightly, offering a quick smile to her. "Take care." He says, being polite as he can be as his eyes drift once more towards Konstan, then to the package. "That going to blow up or something if we open it?" He asks bluntly without much humor in his voice. "That seems to happen more and more as we get unusual parcels."

Dakota gives a nod to Natalie in reply, a grin to Jeremy, and to Salem, a, "Thanks for seeing me." Giving Konstantin only a curious squint, the Gaian turns to the doors and heads out.

Konstantin finds a comfy chair in the parlor, draping his coat over the back of it.

Natalie paces after Konstantin, orange juice in hand. When he sits she does as well, choosing a seat across the room and turning it to faces his. "I'm Natalie. Called Holds-The-Line. Galliard and Elder." All of it delivered in a neutral tone. "You have something to tell us?"

Salem glances into the paper bag Konstantin provided, raises an eyebrow, then folds the top over closed. He joins the others in the parlor a few moments later, having left the (apparantly harmless) parcel there on the wing table. He doesn't sit, but stands near the doorway, arms folded, his gaze focused on Konstantin. [Truth of Gaia]

Leaning into the doorway, the Gothic stares at Konstan silently now, chains jingling lightly against his person as he stops moving. He swallows once, allowing the collar around his throat to bob once.

"I have a debt to pay. After today, I consider it paid in full." The Shadow Lord begins. "And, since we haven't met before, I'm Konstantin Romanovich Radolenko, Stormcrow's Silent Wing, cliath Shadow Lord." He glances over at Salem. "I was under the impression this'd be a private chat, not some kind of recital."

"You know what they say about assuming," Salem says mildly.

"When you're ready," Natalie invites, settling back into her chair. "I believe we require information of what happened to you since you infiltrated the Russians."

"Sure," the Russian replies. His English is unaccented, upper Midwest bleeding through sometimes. "What's happened? Well, I have been engaged in a lot of business through out the city. I've been trying to work my way up the ladder to meet the upper echelon of the Mafia's organization. I've been somewhat successful with that so far. There are certain things I have to do to gain the trust of the leadership. I'm working on those things."

Jeremy tilts his head slightly as he listens, furrowing his brows.

Natalie listens silently, sipping her juice.

Salem keeps silent for now, his attention focused on Kostya.

Konstantin steeples his fingers together. He doesn't seem inclined to continue speaking without a question to speak to. He seems relaxed in his seat. He crosses one leg casually.

Natalie says, "Well, that was amazingly uninformative. Details." She leans forward, elbows on her knees, juice glass cradled between her hands as she eyes the Ragabash. "I want to know... everything that's happened between when you first started infiltrating the Russians until now."

"Jeremy," she adds, glancing over at the Kin, "Could you tape this, please?"

Anthony lets himself in through the front door, taking a moment to put away his jacket before proceeding on towards the parlor.

Jeremy offers a quick smile to Natalie, but otherwise he doesn't move from his spot. His eyes look coy though.

Konstantin lifts an eyebrow, shakes his head faintly. Then he smirks. "Isn't it already on tape?" he asks. His eyes dart around the room toward likely spots for security cameras.

Salem might as well be a camera himself, a machine, for all that his stoic body language and bland expression show. The only real sign of life is the small tics and tension of a rigidly-controlled temper.

"Consider it a reminder," the Elder says, settling back in her chair.

Wherever Jeremy has the security buried at, he doesn't point it out or let his eyes roam. He continues to lean into the doorway, eyes squinted some. "Where do you tend to meet them at?" He asks curiously.

"A lot of different locations," the Shadow Lord answers. "Look. Just my being here is a big advantage to you guys -- and since all this is on tape forgive me for speaking in generalities. You want specifics, then we go somewhere neutral one on one with the Elder and no recording devices."

"Why would we need to go somewhere 'neutral', and one on one, when you are among safer territory and allies?" Jeremy asks with a raise of the brow. "Wouldn't it be easier to talk among your peers, when you have safer enclosures to not only protect your neck, but ours as well?"

Konstantin snorts, faintly. He looks at Natalie, still keeping an even keel in his tone and body language.

"Cute," Natalie offers, "But no. You made the deal with the Elder, you're talking to the Elder. I'm right here, Konstantin. Talk."

Konstantin shrugs. "Fine. I'll tell what I'm willing to have recorded for posterity."

Jeremy glances over to Salem. "This is getting us no where." He cuts in right after Konstan. "I'm starting to wonder who's side he is on."

Natalie says, "You'll tell us everything," crossing her ankles. "This isn't an option."

Anthony opens the parlor door slightly, looking inside at the interrogation momentarily before slipping inside.

"Yes, of course," Konstantin replies, smoothly. "So where were we?"

"You were telling the Don where you meet these people, as in, some locations. Try some names too while you are at it." Jeremy says, fingers flexing among his fingerless gloves. His voice is flat, eyes squinted some. "Since you said you were 'climbing up the corporate' ladder, I do beleive we are curious to which rung you have stopped on."

"I'm still a grunt," the Russian says. "I don't have any authority in the group. I earn money -- usually a lot money. As for where we meet, I already said, we meet all over the city. In cars, too. Public garages."

"What is this money used for and where does it go? What services are you providing them?" Jeremy asks with a faint narrow of his eyes as he glances once to Natalie, boredly.

Natalie grunts, in a "I hear you," fashion, still watching the Lord.

Konstantin shakes his head at Jeremy. "Guess," he says, flatly.

"Do I look like Miss Cleo to you?" Jeremy says with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not going to guess, because I don't have a clue. For all I know, you could be trafficing drugs, or killing people for them." He says the last almost accusingly.

Konstantin lifts his shoulders. "Could be," he says evenly. "Could be."

Salem shifts his weight, his frown deepening, impatience trying to leak through the neutral mask. "Have you killed anyone for them?"

Konstantin shakes his head. "No," he answers, looking right at the philodox.

"So, you are pushing drugs then instead? Is that how you got tainted last time?" Jeremy asks bluntly, soon as Konstan finishes his breath.

"No," the ragabash says. "That isn't how I got tainted."

"So how did you?" Jeremy asks as he fiddles with a chain on his pant leg.

"I honestly don't know," he says. He's still looking at Salem. "I was making deliveries to a certain abandoned warehouse by the power plant. I don't know what the deliveries were. And now there's nothing there where I'd been sent. They moved somewhere else. Someone else is doing that job I guess."

Anthony leans against the doorframe, folding his arms and drumming his fingers on his sleeves impatiently, and occasionally taking his gaze off Konstantin to roll his eyes at the other Ragabash's non-answers.

Jeremy glances over to Salem, as if silently asking him a question.

Natalie says, "So you just woke up one morning and you were tainted. I see."

Salem grunts. Shifting his gaze briefly to Natalie, he says, "He's not lying. Not that I can detect."

"I'm telling you the truth," he says, nodding at Natalie. "See?"

"No," Natalie corrects with a faint smile, "You're not lying. Continue."

"Just because he's not lying doesn't mean he's telling the whole truth," Anthony comments.

"The ground rules for this interview," Konstantin says, "is that I would tell you everything, just as your Elder indicated."

"Moving on." Jeremy says. "Name." He states. "Who have you talked to, and don't say you don't know, because I doubt they just walk up to you, give you a package and walk off."

"I've talked to a lot of different individuals in the organization. As for the deliveries for the warehouse? Those were blind drops. I get a phone call, the voice says, "Pick up a package at such and such a place. The destination's written on the package wrapping."

"So all this time, you don't got a single name?" Jermey asks again with a frown on his face.

Konstantin says "About the warehouse? No." The ragabash shrugs. "Sorry. Wish I could be more helpful.""

"You don't have any names in general?" Jeremy asks again.

"Uh, sure. But not related to the business at that warehouse." Konstantin reclines in his chair. "Nice house, by the way."

"Thanks." Jeremy says curtly. "So, the names of those who you do know?"

"There's Tatianya. I sometimes drive her to appointments with her customers. And Vasily. We meet up to share a bottle of vodka. Sometimes I get a call on my phone from one of my clients. I like to keep myself free for any sudden business which might come my way."

Natalie seems content to let the kin do the majority of the questioning. She herself remains quietly in her chair, ankles crossed before her, watching Konstantin and taking occasional sips of her juice.

Jeremy glances over to Salem again slightly.

"Have you given them any names?" Salem asks. "Garou names, or those related to Garou?"

Konstantin frowns deeply. "Fuck no," he says, with conviction.

"They know who Alicia is, where she lives at, and who she is married to, yet, she hasn't been active in the city for four months." Jeremy says simply as he stares at Konstan. "She went to compromise Boris's son at the Temple the other day and he recognzied her immediately."

"Have you ever heard any of our names, Garou or kin, spoken by the Russians?" Salem's gaze is direct, his voice bland. He doesn't act as though he's even heard Jeremy.

Konstantin looks thoughtfully at Salem. "Didn't hear it from me," the Shadow Lord replies to Jeremy. "I don't even know who you're talking about." He takes a breath and then his brows bunch up as if he's in thought. "Aside from what I told you in the park, Jack, no."

Salem makes a low 'mmm' noise, staring at the Shadow Lord thoughtfully, rubbing absently at his stubbled chin as he does so. There are deep circles under his eyes, though he doesn't act overly weary. "Have you witnessed anything supernatural in your dealings with the Russians? Personally witnessed?"

The Shadow Lord nods faintly. "At that warehouse, yes. Well, I think it was supernatural. It certainly wasn't a campfire jamboree." He glances at Natalie. "Some kind of ritual chanting, a lot of really nasty stench. I didn't want to get any deeper in that shit without a lot of backup, so I made my deliveries and got the hell out."

"Anyone you recognized there?" Anthony asks, stepping away from the wall.

Natalie leans forward, bracing her elbows on her knees again. "How many people did you see?"

Konstantin says "Didn't recognize anyone there. I just gave the packages to a security guard inside the door and left. So I don't know."

Salem lapses back into silence, arms folded across his chest again, his expression thoughtful, with narrowed eyes.

The kinfolk has slipped away from the group during the questioning, retreating further into the house.

Natalie looks over to Salem, then Anthony. "Any other questions about that?"

"About the warehouse?" Salem shakes his head. "No."

Anthony steps back against the wall, shrugging slightly. "Not about the warehouse."

Natalie says, "Then if we know where this warehouse is..." She turns back to Konstantin, settling into her chair again. "Was this when you found yourself Tainted? After this delivery?"

"Ahhh, well, it wasn't just one delivery, right? It was several. Just this one delivery in particular was all messed up." The ragabash shrugs. "I don't know when precisely I was tainted. It was like a cold -- built up over a week or two."

The gate buzzes. Salem glances over at Anthony.

Anthony nods, and excuses himself from the parlor.

Natalie frowns to herself. "Did, hmn, any of what you saw look familiar? Wanna-be Satanists, High Mass, that sort of thing?"

"It wasn't what I saw, so much as what I smelled and heard. If it was amovie or something, I would've guessed it was some kind of spell, or something. But I don't know any more than I just said."

"He's in the parlor," Anthony says, holding the door for Signe. "Along with Natalie and Konstantin."

Natalie nods slowly. "All right. Continue. Where was this... 'spell' in relation to your tainting? Before, during, after? Did you ever hear anyone mention Salem's name?"

Salem, still standing near the doorway, glances over toward the front hall, his attention straying briefly from the Shadow Lord.

Signe makes her way in, scowling faintly at the mention of the Shdaow Lord. She walks toward the parlor, nodding to Salem when he glances. For now, though, she doesn't say anything, instead listening to Natalie's questions.

Konstantin serves up a big smile for Signe. "Hi. Join the party," he says, overly cheerfully. "It was before," he says. "A week? Ten days? I don't remember. That whole period around the rescue is kind of fuzzy. And no, I never heard Salem's name at the warehouse. It was like... some kind of foreign language. Thick guttural sounding."

"Lovely." She looks over to Signe when Konstanin does, her brows drawing down. "I'm not sure this is a good time." [Natalie]

Signe looks from Kostya to Natalie. "I can come back later," she offers.

Anthony makes sure to shut the door before returning to the parlor, following Signe.

"Please," the Elder replies. "Would you care to wait in the kitchen? You could also go visit the greenhouse."

Signe nods.

Natalie turns back to Konstantin once the Get's left. "Did you ever hear anyone mention Salem's name?"

Salem shifts his attention back onto Konstantin. He frowns minutely.

Anthony walks back into the parlor as Signe heads outside, retaking his spot near the door.

Konstantin nods at the woman's question. "I heard from a guy I was working with for a while -- a real bruiser -- name's Anatoly, I believe. He mentioned Salem to me and I told him I didn't know the guy."

Nat asks, "What else did he say? Did he just mention it out of the blue?"

Konstantin nods at her. "He asked me if I knew this guy who matched Salem's description. I said no, I'd never heard of him. He told me I ought to avoid him -- that he was a bad news guy. I thanked him and we didn't talk about it again."

"All right." Natalie's eyes go distant for a moment, then return to Tony and Salem. "Either of you have any more questions?"

Salem's mouth thins, but he shakes his head.

"No, not really," Anthony says, shaking his head as well.

"Then thank you very much for your time, Konstantin." Nat stands, her hands smoothing down her shirt. "And for your... cooperation."

"Yeah," he says, standing and collecting his long leather coat. "It's been a pleasure." The ragabash shrugs into the garment. "I can see myself out. Thanks."

"If you do think of anything else," she continues, turning to watch him move, "Do be sure to keep us informed. Don't be a stranger."

"Give my regards to your elder," Salem says mildly.

Anthony doesn't have any last words, instead just nodding slightly to the Russian.

"Oh, you guys are right at the top of my list. Trust me," Konstantin answers with a faint nod. "Jack," he murmurs with another respectful lift of his chin toward the man.

Salem looks rather dubious, but nods to the Shadow Lord all the same.

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

Natalie drops back into her chair on an exhale, her eyes more than a bit shell-shocked. "Well. Wasn't that fun."

"Every time I think I've got something figured out about this, I find out the next day I'm all wrong," Anthony mutters, shuffling to the sofa.

Salem prowls over toward his usual chair and drops into it with a grunt. "In summary, he hasn't found out dick-all and I doubt he's really tried. But I don't think he's the source of our leak."

Natalie says, "I don't think he is, either," watching Salem cross. "I take it he didn't try and lie?"

Salem shakes his head. "Not a blip until that parting remark, before he left." His nose wrinkles. "I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for anything further from him."

"That's something, anyway. Tony? What do you think?" She crosses her ankles out in front of her again, placing her juice on the floor to one side."

"Sounded like he was more interested in the girls and booze than anything." Tony slumps onto the sofa. "He only saw that ritual thing by coincidence."

"Then it sounds like we're agreed?" Natalie says as much as asks, glancing between the two. "Konstantin was not the leak, and he doesn't know much of anything else. I want to keep him on a leash, especially to see if anything else trickles down about our attack on Boris."

Salem nods. "Don't leave Cutter out of the loop. Courtesy." He gets up again, taking up his nearly-empty coffee mug. "I'm going out for a bit. I'll tell Signe she can come in. Oh, and Natalie... you can move into the office and the bedroom back there whenever you wish."

Natalie nods and resumes her 'thinking' pose, mulling over the morning's events.

"I'm gonna go too," Tony says, rising from the sofa. "I have some calls home I'd like to make."

"Be seeing you," says the halfmoon, gathering his coat and heading out.

[End of log]