Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (77% full).

Just a bit shy of the beginnings of the lunch hour hustle, Emma slips out of the Brownstone apartment to meet up with her packmate. The weather turned again, she has her coat on, her ballcap on, and her hands stuffed deep into her pockets. A nod is given to the Galliard as the younger Garou falls into step beside her. "This weather here sucks."

Natalie's got her bomber jacket on, but it's not zipped up. "Oh, I don't know," she says by way of greeting, leading the way across the street. In the middle of the street, of course, so they're forced to navigate around traffic - or traffic's forced to navigate around them. "The weather's nice enough. At least we're not hip deep in snow. Or," she adds, pulling up to let a woman towing a toddler nervously hurry past them, "--hip deep in mud."

Emma shrugs, "I just hate the back and forth stuff. One day it's real nice, then back to this crap." The Get is moving a bit stiffly yet, her back kept more straight and rigid than her normal casual posture. "Getting to be about time that I'm around the safehouse more often again. Anything need doing there?"

Natalie glances down at her packmate, clearly taken aback. "I thought you were back already, until I came by this morning and you weren't there. Um... not really. I mean, you're still teaching Kevin, right? You can fill me in on what's happening with him."

Emma nods her head, "Yah still doing that. He's doing alright, he's not real focused though- but I guess that's not unreasonable all things considered." She takes a short breath as her hand slips from her pocket to rub her nose, "Been laying low last few days. Staying tucked away ever since that night at the pool hall. Heard you got another cub, how's that one doing?"

"Pool hall?" Nat asks instead, nodding to Mr. Wu as they pass his grocery. "What happened at the pool hall?"

Emma clears her throat slightly, "We should save that for an indoor conversation." She lifts her cap up then to scratch over her short hair. "Got some other things I wanted advice on too, stuff I can't really talk to Signe about." A slight blush comes to her cheeks, "None of it's bad though, just, ya know. Stuff."

Natalie grins faintly. "Yeah? Those an indoor conversation too? I can't think of anything new around my house that isn't an indoor conversation. Oh, except that Signe still wants to adopt Kevin, so we're going to take it to a judge to decides who gets him."

Emma nods to this, "Yah, heard about that, but my nose don't belong in that one so... you'll not hear a peep about it from me." She gazes down the street slowly, watching as people mill about, "The other one, nah, it can be heard. It's about Mitchell, and stuff like that. I'm not quite sure how the whole thing works for us. I know it's not about picket fences and the status quo two kids and a little black lab. But, I mean what happens when?"

Natalie is silent for a few minutes, her expression distracted even though she nods politely enough to the shopkeepers and anyone brave enough to catch her eye. "--I dunno what to tell you, Emma. I mean... do you want to marry him? Or do you think this is just a fling? Or is it something in the middle?"

Emma chuckles shyly, "He's my first male interest Natalie, I've no clue. One side of me is shouting that this is the greatest thing on earth. The other is terrified of what comes next. I feel like a kid still, just- one with a lot of responsibility."

Natalie says, "Well, you are. Sort of." She stops at the corner, though whether for the red light or the heavy traffic is debatable. "I can tell you what I did, but I don't know how much it'll help. All right? Or do you want me to keep my yap shut and just make encouraging noises when you stop to breathe?"

Emma laughs a little, "No, I want your advice. You've prolly been down this road before, so I wanna know what to think and expect and decide. Signe won't work for this kinda stuff, and Brom is, more of the caveman type. I know it's not like normal,- but can't it be a little bit? I mean, during the alright times of the month?"

"You can... try," Nat agrees, nodding her head encouragingly. "Lord knows Jon and I do. Just always remember what you are - both of you - and, well, don't try to make it into anything it's not. And /talk/ to him. That's probably the biggest thing. I had a fling when I was back in school. Not with someone like Jon, just a regular boy." The light changes, but she doesn't move until the people across the street are halfway to their side. "Whoops. Come on."

Emma skips a few paces to catch up, "Yah I know. We're alright with that. I mean he is real into his heritage, and his role. He's supportive and doesn't let me get away with whining and moping. Just sorta afraid that if I press into wanting more, it'll spook him. I mean it spooks me. And at the same time, I don't want to miss a chance at it, because who knows if it'll come again."

"So ask him," Nat says again, then looks over her shoulder to see Emma hurrying to catch up. "Sorry." Once they're across the street she turns to the left, once more taking the lead. "It's good that he pushes you back, you know? I was running roughshod over Jon for a while without really realizing it. You know how we are - we push and shove until someone pushes back. So now he carries when he's around me, and I remember that he can push back. It really helps."

Emma narrows her eyes, "Carries?" she questions. A hand slips out of her pocket again to rest on her abdomen, pressing firmly. "Oh you mean carries -right? Like, something that'd slow us down or just normal?" An oddly familiar face passes by them in a wide berth and the Get tucks her head a little, trying to avoid eye contact. "Hey- think we could get off the streets 'till lunch passes?"

Nat confirms, "I think it's a Glock," then looks curiously down at the Get. "Uh... I guess. I thought we were supposed to walk around -during- lunch, though. What's the problem?"

Emma shrugs, "Paranoid. I think that guy recognized me. I mean how many short bald girls go around in Mariners caps?" She huffs with some irritation then, shaking her head.

"--What guy?" Natalie looks up blankly, then twists around to try and spot this mysterious stranger. "Why would some guy recognize you, and why are you worried about it?"

Emma nods back a ways, "Because he was there at the pool hall, and-" she bites it back then, "Gah, we're close to my place, can we go there?"

Nat looks around for the guy again, as if she expects him to be wearing a big neon sign, and then shrugs. "Sure, I guess. Or we can go back to my truck and drive around a little. That way we're still patrolling, even if we're not on the street. Your choice. You know the guy."

Emma grunts, "Let's head to the brownstone, I can explain it all there." Her hands get roughly shoved back into her pockets as she makes an about-face.

[Travel deleted]

Brownstone -- Basement Apt.

The basement of the brownstone has been split into two sections. The stairwell leads down into the northwest corner section, which contains the boiler room, furnace, and the elevator shaft. The rest has been converted into another apartment, and Signe's made it into a rather fortified one at that. The only entrance is through a re-enforced steel door with no less than three dead-bolts. There are absolutely no windows at all in any of the four concrete and brick walls. It's a rather stark but functional space. Overhead, the air ducts and plumbing pipes are exposed, while the cement floor is covered by a ragged dark wine and gold Oriental throw rug. A makeshift shelving unit of two-by-fours and cinder block has been erected along the length of the wall with the door, and it houses a stereo, tv and old vcr. Directly opposite this is a beat-up leather couch and two mismatched recliners. The kitchen is small but functional, with a round wooden table and four chairs. Half of the back end of the building has been walled off for a private bedroom, while the rest is open to the living area. This space has been converted into a home gym--complete with wrestling mats, weights, and a full weight boxing bag.

Obvious exits:

Out Bedroom

"I didn't realize you and Mitchell were staying down here," Natalie says as she lets Emma lead the way into Get central. "Isn't that... kind of stupid, considering? And I thought you were avoiding Signe."

Emma nods two both, "Yah, but Mitch is home upstairs, and Luna is kinda fat for our barging in to talk shop. Signe is out a lot, and well, better to tear up on her than Mitch." She tosses her ball cap to the side. "Was at the pool hall the other night. Requiem was there too, and they called me over to talk. Well two thugs decided to hold up the place, armed and everything, and the boys under Fenris' planned on stopping them. Shots were fired, I got hit- managed to keep control of myself till I got outside and ended up losing in on Dillen. But, the guy Brom nailed with the cue stick fuckin' died. So now it's not just a brawl, it's a stupid goddamn homicide."

"--Great," is Nat's sarcastic after-a-second comment. "At least they're not coming after you, though. Or us. Just Brom. --Wait a second. You said you lost it on Dillen? Outside? What sort of lost it are we talking?"

Emma nods her head, "It was in the alleyway behind the hall. No one saw it." She doesn't look that pleased with it either, "I got shot in the fuckin' gut- I'm surprised I made it out before shifting at all." She shrugs, "But yah, I think that guy we passed was there, and yah I didn't get involved with the fight, but I was with them... and I got shot and walked out without freakin' like a normal person woulda. So I am staying low.

Natalie waits until the girl's finished before nodding and shrugging out of her leather jacket. "Smart. Not perfect, but smart. Anyone else know about this besides... wait a minute. You said it was just Requiem and you. When did Brom show up?"

Emma snorts, "Brom joined Requiem, he took it over. He's packed under Fenris before and wanted to pull those two together. I'd have let them get away with the money and trailed 'em after. But.. I guess that's the difference between a girl and a stupid testosterone filled boy."

"Now you see part of the reason I wasn't so keen on him joining Havoc," Nat says, tossing her coat after Emma's hat and running a hand through her hair. "Like I told Signe: Vex says 'no mercy'. He doesn't say 'be stupid while you're at it'." She and the Get are standing just inside the door. "But huh. I suggested he join Requiem when he was pounding his chest and trying to impress me. Maybe now they'll be useful."

Emma nods her head, "He's not used to big cities. I told him, if he's willing to listen to me, I'd help him learn to be subtle without turning into a pansy." She grins a little, settling down and leaning against the counter."

From outside comes the sound of the lift operating, followed by footsteps across the floor outside, and a firm knock on the door, four sharp, staccato raps.

"According to him," Nat begins, then stops, frowning, at the knocking. "You expecting someone?"

Emma pauses and looks over, shaking her head, "Not really." She steps to the door and peeks out the peephole, grinning widely. "Awesome. It's KL," she announces as the door is unlocked and opened. "Hey KL, c'mon in. Natalie is here, you two can finally meet up all proper like."

The Black Fury stops trying to look casual while waiting for the door to open and smiles at Emma. "Hi Emma." she says, taking a couple of steps into the room before turning to look at Natalie. "Hiya." she says, "Pleased to meet you - I've heard so much about you." There's a sort of forced note in her voice, a slightly nervous tension that's echoed in her stance, her left arm reaching across her chest to clasp her right upper arm.

At a little over five foot tall and with a slim build, KL is hardly awe-inspiring on first sight. She appears to be around seventeen years old and still carries a teenager's air of disenchantment and irritation.

Her mid-length mousy-brown hair is brushed back out of her eyes and behind her ears. It's not exactly styled, as it appears to have been hacked at without any hint of hairdressing expertise, but it's at least had contact with a brush at some point recently. She would be quite attractive - in particular she has a very cute, upturned, nose - were it not for the sullen and aggressive set of her mouth and the hostility of her gaze. Her hazelnut eyes look out with disappointment and poorly hidden anger, as if the world were a holiday villa that didn't match the travel agent's description. Her skin is oddly pale, and on her right shoulder-blade a two-inch-square tattoo of a winged horse is visible. Physically, she's well proportioned, and her bare arms show a tight musculature that speaks of regular exercise.

She's got a habit of slouching and of leaning up against any available support. When she forgets to slouch, however, she moves with a surprising degree of grace and compact poise.

She is wearing a faded and beaten up pair of blue jeans that are just a little too large for her, and have holes in the knees, a pair of worn combat boots and a faded red tank top with "And your little doggy too!" emblazoned across the front. The tank top has a badly-repaired tear across the chest, causing the word "little" to be have its second "t" deformed. Similarly, the jeans have a set of unrepaired holes on her left thigh, pale skin showing behind the rents.

Natalie doesn't look particularly welcoming - at least, the woman isn't open and friendly. She's waiting for the Fury's entrance with her feet shoulder-width apart, thumbs tucked into the front pockets of her jeans, and eyes fastened squarely on the newcomer. "Good things, I hope," she says, but her tone doesn't match the usual lightness the words are delivered in. Once Emma's gotten the door closed she makes the introduction formal: "Natalie Baker, called Holds-the-Line, Cliath, Galliard, and Elder of the Glass Walkers here in St. Claire. I'm also Havoc's Beta. You're... the Ahroun Emma's been talking so much about?"

Emma clears her throat, eyeing KL with a winning look, "Yeah, of course all good things. Right KL?" She moves to the kitchen and into the fridge, "I'll get us some water or soda, what ya'll want?"

"Just water, thanks." KL says, shooting a glance at Emma before refocusing on Natalie. "I assume so." she answers, releasing her grip on her arm and placing the hand on her hip. "I'm KL Cole, called Escapes-From-Money, Cliath Ahroun of the Black Furies. And yeah, pretty good things, and not just from Emma."

Natalie relaxes at the Fury's words, or perhaps when her eyes flick away from the Galliard's. "Water's fine for me too, thanks, Emma." Despite it not being her place, she jerks her head to invite KL to the sofa, claiming the far end of it for herself. "Emma says you're thinking of joining Havoc, huh?"

Emma returns with the waters and hands them over, looking between the two of them with a curious gaze. She keeps her mouth shut for now, but seems very interested in gauging Natalie's reaction.

"If you'll have me." KL says simply, waving a hand in an open gesture before taking the water and sipping it. "I've met Signe and Gunnar, and obviously Emma." She takes another gulp from her drink, and looks back at the pack Beta and, obviously very consciously, takes her hand off her hip and puts it behind her back.

"And what do they think of you? --Thanks, Emma." A nod for the Get and she turns her attention back to the brown-haired Fury. "I remember Emma was going to take you on some patrols, get you used to the territory. What do you think of it?"

Emma clears her throat, "She did well with me on our last round. Saved my ass." She smiles at the Fury and then uncaps her water bottle, chugging it down.

KL grins at the Get girl. "Yeah. You have interesting alleys." she says, turning back to the Glasswalker. "As bits of city go, it's OK, I guess. Patrolling was fun, even if most of the things I was jumping at were shadows."

"You're not used to cities, then?" The Galliard continues her third-degree, folding her left leg up and tucking it underneath her. "Where are you from, originally?" A glance up at Emma, and she gives the girl a wry little smile.

"Denver," KL says with a shrug, "but it's been a good five years since I spent any real time there - before I firsted. Most of the time, I was out near the Rockies, so I'm a little out of practice at being an active Garou in the city. I mean, I've slummed around in them enough, but at patrolling and stuff, I'm rusty."

Natalie unscrews the top off her bottle, still watching KL. "All right. And I'm sure you know Vex is a Wolverine. Are you going to have problems with that? 'No Mercy'."

This gets a genuine snort of laughter from KL. "Probably not. 'Backing down' and 'stopping' aren't things I'm exactly famous for." she says. A thoughtful look crosses her face. "Still, I guess that means you have to be a little careful about when you start."

Natalie says, "Exactly." She toasts the other girl, then glances up at Emma again before looking back at KL. "For instance. You're hanging out at, oh, some little restaurant. Couple guys come in waving guns around and announce they're robbing the place. What are you going to do?"

KL bites her bottom lip. "Nothing unless they open up." Brief pause. "Too many people around. I'm not the police, either. Maybe follow them when they leave, if I've got some responsibility, or I think there might be a reason to get involved. Then we can go in and deal, or get someone to report stuff to the police." She blinks a couple of times. "And I'd hate every second of not doing anything."

Natalie's glance back at Emma is decidedly approving; she 'toasts' the Get with her bottle before taking a swig. "And that is why Brom leads Requiem, instead of joining Havoc."

Emma chuckles at the Walker, her smile growing in sincerity and size. "Good call KL, and yeah, it does suck. About as much as getting shot in the gut." She smirks dryly at this, but her overall mood seems to be one of approval and excitement.

KL grins tightly, and looks across at Emma. "Of course, there's a difference between what happens when it actually happens, and what happens when it's set as an exam question but," she gestures at herself with the half-empty water bottle," I'm still alive, and I haven't ripped the veil to shreds yet." She looks up at Natalie. "You won't know you can trust me for sure until you fight alongside me."

Natalie nods at KL, settling back against the arm of the couch. "I know. But I've already got a better feeling about you than I did Brom. It helps that you didn't come storming in here waving your dick." A smirk for that, and she gives Emma a jerk of her head. "Come sit, Emma. Then you can finish telling me about the pool hall."

Emma grins at this and smiles in the Fury's direction. She comes back to sit down, leaning back with a pained stretch. "What else ya wanna know about it? I don't think I am being looked for or nothing, I just want people to forget they saw me there, two people got hit and no one checked into the hospital- it just opens up all kinds of weird." "-Or get my hair to grow back and not look like such a freak. That'll help me stop sticking out like a sore thumb too."

"The pool hall?" KL queries, squatting down and laying a hand flat against the floor. "I read something about that in the paper. Was that you?" she looks at Emma with an eyebrow raised.

Emma smirks. "No, it was Brom and his little Fenris' runners." She pauses, "And you know, I swear, Fenris is going to get pissed at me for saying it like that. Two guys came in to rob the joint, armed. Brom stood up and Dillen and Kenneth got into place. Me? I sat my ass still, one, too many people, two, the boys had it covered. Well shots went out, I got hit. Brom shoved a pool stick into the guy and Dillen stabbed the other. The one died... so now it's a big fucking mess."

"Ah." KL says. Conflict rages across her face, concern and worry warring with a schadenfreude-inspired grin. Eventually, she manages to school her expression into a bland neutrality. "That sounds more likely. What's the problem? No-one shifted, surely? And there's no question of them being arrested?"

"One person died, that's the problem," Natalie explains. "So the police are looking for whoever did it. Homicide, you see. And since Emma was there..."

Emma shakes, "I shifted in the alley and went nutso on Dillen. But no, no one shifted in sight. Just that a whole pool hall full of folks saw Brom and company go after these guys. Good Samaritan or not, they were just robbers, and now Brom and Co. are technically murderers. Makes it worse that White Bear has 'banned' Brom from the bawn, so where the hell is he supposed to go until this cools down?"

KL grimaces. "I see the problem." she says, shifting her weight further back on her haunches and taking a final gulp of water from the bottle. She doesn;t offer anything more than a shake of her head.

Natalie shrugs and takes a long pull from her bottle. "That's Fenris for you - no offense, Emma. And we can't point many fingers - Havoc's nose isn't exactly clean. I don't know how Signe wants to handle it, though. I think Brom needs to keep his head down for a couple of months, but from what I saw of him I don't think he will. And he's not exactly Mr. Inconspicuous either."

Emma nods. "It'd be good to get him outta the city for a while. But where? Like I said, the whole White Bear showdown thing is keeping him pinned in limbo land. Anyway, it's cool you two finally met up face to face. Hey maybe KL can take the rest of my patrol with ya today. I'm feeling kinda off."

"If it was anyone else..." KL says, with a little shrug. She looks at Emma with some concern. "What's up? Apart from this pool hall thing?" She cocks her head on one side, studying the Get Ahroun carefully.

"Buy a wig," Nat suggests, tossing another glance Emma's way. "Or some hair dye. Both. It's going to be a while before you're back in full coat."

Emma grimaces. "I don't want a stupid wig, and I'll be damned if I go all goth on you guys." She grunts, looking to KL. "Jus' paranoid people are gonna recognize me and then the cops will be asking questions."

Natalie flicks an irritated hand at the Get that would - if they were in arm's reach of each other - knock the girl's cap off her head. "I said hair dye, not lifestyle change. Cripes, Emma. Then if you aren't going to listen to advice, just sit here and mope."

KL grins at Natalie's reaction. "Yeah - you'd look cool as a brunette, Emma. Artificial intelligence, and all that." She looks brightly at Emma, and indicates her own hair with her hand.

Emma just gives them both a little smirk and a growl, "Oh shut up you two. Geez, it took you all of fifteen minutes to start ganging up on me." She settles her hat down on her more firmly and folds her arms over her chest. "Brown, blonde, red or green, it's still freaking short!"

"So get a wig," Nat says again, fumbling around on her lap and frowning. "Dammit, where'd that thing go? --Anyway, with a wig your hair can be long. Duh. And you can get more than one, too."

KL doesn't say anything, but remains in her crouched position, watching the interchange with interest.

Emma snorts, "No. I am not wearing a wig. It wouldn't stay put and it's for old people. Can we drop this now?" she huffs, standing up and pacing back into the kitchen to throw out her empty water bottle. "What did you lose?" she asks of Natalie.

Natalie says, "Then stop whining about your hair. --Bottlecap." She rocks up onto one hip and twists around to peer under herself, then scrabbles to pluck the offending white object out from under her leg. "Hah. There it is. --All right, KL, let's go stretch our legs. We," a jerk of her head toward Emma, "only really got started before we came back here. I want to check out the Black Drop. Things have been a little woogy around there for a few days."

"Woogy?" KL enquires, standing up with a little bounce. "And how likely is trouble?" She hitches her jeans up a little, then straightens her t-shirt and pushes her hair back behind her ear. "Ok. Ready."

Emma give a nod to the two, "See ya later KL, come back here when you're done okay? I wanted to talk to you about something."

Natalie rolls easily to her feet, then shrugs. "Not that likely, but there's always surprises." She nods back at Emma, then crosses to fetch her bomber jacket, absently screwing the cap back on her bottle at the same time. "I'll take good care of her, Emma. Don't worry. C'mon, KL. Let's go show these city slickers what a pair of bitches can do."

Emma lets out a laugh at that, "Thanks Nat. Glad ya took to her better than ya did Brom." She jokes lightly and then gets to fixing something to eat. "Have fun kids."

KL takes a couple of steps over towards the bin and throws her empty bottle carcass into it. Having done that, she turns to Natalie and nods her head to the door. "OK, let's went."

[Nat and KL take to the streets, and Nat does her usual prying. Gets - for the most part - good answers out of the Fury.]

[End of log]