Cockroach Mansion -- Elder's Office

The Elder's office is an extension of the same elegant display of wealth which characterizes the rest of the mansion. Most noticeable, from the doorway in the southern wall, is the large black-veined white marble fireplace taking up half of the northern part of the room, contrasting sharply with the ebony-paneled walls. A rug of forest green carpets the floor from wall to wall, while red velvet frames the wall of windows to the west.

The other decor is typical of the private office of a wealthy, old-world businessmen, from the ponderous mahogany desk along the eastern wall and the equally heavy chairs set before them, to the brass and glass chandelier dangling from the ceiling. A reproduction of Van Gogh's _Starry Night_ hangs above the fireplace, and the bookshelves behind the desk are, so far, nearly empty.

A door at the far end of the office leads into an adjoining bedroom and bathroom. This door is usually kept closed.

Obvious exits:
Out

Natalie's just going into her office - still in glabro, still moving stiffly. She leaves the door open behind her, and neither is there the sound of someone sitting in the chair.

Coming down the stairs, Leala spots Natalie heading into her office. "Hey," she calls after the Galliard. "You needed to see me?" She doesn't blink an eye at the glabro form, and follows Natalie into the office.

Natalie's over at the far wall, in front of the fireplace. She turns at the Ragabash's call - too swiftly, for she immediately winces and puts a hand to the bite on her shoulder. "...Yeah. Sit, if you want." The Elder's less than formal today. "I wanna know. What're your plans for the Walkers, if you get Elder?"

Leala blinks, taken slightly aback by the question. She sits, her eyes on the bite mark. "Well, it's become pretty slim pickings as far as Walkers go lately. I hardly see anyone besides you, Tony, and Jeremy around. I'd like to try and recruit some new blood into St. Claire, maybe send out an open call for members. I'd like to pack under Roach, with Tony, and possibly any other interested Walkers. We really need to get back to what we used to do, which is fight the Wyrm wherever it may dwell. That means taking on the hospital in some form or another." The Ragabash shudders slightly at the mention of the hospital. "The taint there runs rampant and completely unchecked. We need to start patrolling the sewers again, the way we used to. There are many banes there. There was always talk about creating a cleared out patch of Umbra here in the city. With no Theurges, such an undertaking has been hard, but I believe it is necessary." She takes a deep breath, sighing. "We have neglected this city for far too long." There is some resignation and guilt in Leala's face.

"According to Thomas," the Galliard returns, "the hospital's too big of a bite. He said several experienced packs tried to take it out and failed." She tosses this out, waiting to see how the Ragabash will reply.

"There are other ways to combat the hospital than a full-scale attack." Her eyes slide across Natalie's face. "We have a doctor-kin who can help us gain information. We have Jeremy, who can hack. With Roach, we will be able to read their datastreams in the Umbra, if we dare to enter it. Information-gathering may lead us to what is behind this taint. With the proper information, we may be able to mount a strategic, directed attack at the source, rather than continuing to wear ourselves thin." Ragabash to the core, she straightens her back as elaborates.

Natalie lets this pass with only a nod. "How about the recruiting? What are you looking for?"

"Well, we need fighters. That's for sure. You're pretty much the only... scrappy..." She trails off, eyes returning to the bite mark and changes the subject. "Theurges are something we really need as well." Leala runs her hands through her hair. "I'm not sure how we'd attract any to St. Claire. With our caern, I'm surprised we don't have more. If we can't recruit, we can try getting some of the Theurges from other tribes to help us with what we need." A wry grin follows. "We have two perfectly good Ragabash that could do some sneaking. So really, warriors and spirit-talking folks are the ones we need most."

Natalie bares her teeth in a smile, leans back against the mantel. "So you want to recruit them, but you're not sure how you'd do that?"

"There's the Internet. There's the Galliard network." Leala shoots a meaningful look at Natalie. "I have some contacts in New York that I can call. Just because I'm not sure how to do it doesn't mean I can't find a way," Leala says, raising her eyebrows and waggling them.

Natalie only snorts. "What about Joshua?"

"It seems as if Megan's made up her mind already, and we haven't had a chance to talk to her about it," Leala says pensively. "If it were up to me, I would let him find a new tribe. Forcing him to fit in with us, when he has no interest or desire to is foolish. I wouldn't make him a Ronin, however, unless he actually did somethig worth punishing. Something to hurt the tribe or the Sept. There are many kinds of Glass Walkers in this world. Not all of them are city-dwellers." She flashes a tense grin.

"Everyone I've talked to thinks he's a loose cannon," Natalie retorts, bringing her hand up to her shoulder again, then letting it drop. "No control."

"I'd be perfectly glad to have everyone who wants to speak up about him come and we can meet on it. I, however, have not had any personal experience that would lead me to believe such." She looks directly at Natalie. "I am willing to accept that his behavior towards me is not the norm. For this reason, I would be willing to hold a meeting about it, where people could speak their stories, or their opinions. Then, I could make a more informed decision." She sits back, crossing her arms. "However, I don't feel that condemnation should be based on one's unpopularity or one's behavior when provoked. Whether that is the case, I am not sure. The kid has always behaved fine around me."

"Then you're the only person who thinks that." The Galliard lays this out plainly, almost baldly. "Tony, Emma, Ash - Artemis, Signe, Thomas. Myself. Those are the ones I've talked to. So. Let's just say that we do hold this... meeting of yours, and let's also say that everyone but you thinks the way I do. Then what?"

"If the Sept truly believes that Joshua should be banished, and that is what the entire Sept wants, and they can provide proof that his behavior was reckless and engangering those around us, then I would approve of the decision to perform the Rite of the Lone Wolf." She sighs, and rests her chin on her hands. "I can make the hard decisions. I just wouldn't make it lightly, which is what I feel others have been doing with regards to Joshua. They have been quick to want him tossed out."

"By others, I speak of Megan," Leala adds, lest Natalie think she meant herself.

Natalie quickly lifts a hand to stop that line of reasoning. "Whoa Nellie. Why's this a Sept matter? He's a Walker, right?"

"I did not say that it was a Sept matter. It is a Walker matter. If others in the Sept feel that he's endangering the Sept, then it becomes a reason to perform the Rite. If they just think he's obnoxious," Leala says wryly, "then that isn't truly a reason. You and Tony don't get along with him. If he tried, really tried, to kill one of you without provokation, I would banish him. That is a Walker matter. You are telling me that Emma, Ashley, Artemis and Signe don't like him and think he's a loose cannon. If they get involved and tell me he tried to harm them, or created a veil breech, it is still a Walker matter. But the Sept becomes involved because we are going to them for an explanation or proof." She stops and sighs.

Natalie tries to wave that off again, then drops her hands. She seems more tired than when the Ragabash came in. "...Never mind. Thank you, Leala, you've answered my question. When will you be getting your Challenge together?"

Leala looks confused for a moment, but nods. "I'm sorry if I misunderstood your question." She, too, seems more tired than before. "I had thought that we were going to speak to Megan about this matter before the actual challenge meeting, so I have been putting it off. Since it has been so hard to get all of us: You, me, Tony and Megan together, should I just proceed with the organization?"

Natalie says, "Go ahead, yes. If I can get - if we can get together with Megan before it happens, that would be great. But don't... don't use that as a reason to not go ahead with your Challenge. ...Damn Fianna."

"At least we agree on something," Leala adds with a wry grin. "I will leave a note for Megan, Jacinta and Signe, as well as a voicemail to you proposing a time." With that, she stands up. "If that is all, I have to be going." She looks at her watch. "I'm late for an appointment."

Natalie waves a dismissal, not looking away from the windows. The Ragabash only gets a few feet down the hall before there's a quiet, disappointed, "Damn," from the Elder's office.

[End of log]