Rec Room
This is, indeed, a large box of a recreation room; for use only by residents and their guests. Much like the rest of the building, mirrors are prominent - but in this case, it's probably for the benefit of those wanting to use the gym equipment that takes up a large portion of the room. A significant distance away from the sweat-shop, stands a large home theatre system, with an incredibly expensive-looking couch in front of it, which just screams out 'Don't spill anything'. For those who might, there's also two matching side-chairs, and a bean-bag on the floor - far too close to the television to be good for anyone's eyes. Two other corners of the room are occupied by a kitchenette and bar, and a decently-sized hot-tub - surrounded by lush greenery, helping to create a slightly relaxing atmosphere.

Sepdet says tightly, "You are connected with it, John. I do not know how. You, and leeches, and ghouls, and a wolf bitch torn to pieces by those who should suck milk not blood. What have you seen?" She throws out the words like a gauntlet, a challenge.

Bzzzt! Yep, trust a newmoon to ruin a possible challenge. Yi takes a look around the outside, her senses heightened to their max lately as she almost crouches against one of the walls of the building. Her hand slips a small stone away.

John straightens a little, and vague surprise registers on his face. "Who told you all this?" he asks quietly. Putting his drink down on the bar counter. "Who told you I had anything to do with this?" He appears to ignore the buzz for the moment, though he begins to move slowly out from behind the bar, and towards the entrance of the rec room.

Sepdet gives a curt laugh at that, finding some humor in the question. "Gaia." Her eyes narow again as he moves away. "I saw you, John Smith. Younger then. But you were there."

Yi takes a quick check around again. Paranoia, multiplied by recent events. Hands start to wring a bit, impatiently, but with one fist wrapped around the stone that guided her here, she taps her foot and rings the buzzer again.

Sepdet starts at the alien noises and peers towards the door, glad for once that she kept herself in her disguised shape. She rises to her feet and moves back towards a corner that's more lacking in mirrors.

John frowns at the Theurge, and his lips twist into something approaching a scowl. "Tribal business. Years ago." he growls, turning. "You'll excuse me if I see to our guest." he mutters, striding into the lobby, and peering at the small screen showing a slightly nervous Yi standing outside. Struck dumb for a few moments now, he casts a suspicious look back to the rec room, and the Strider, before jabbing a button accusingly, and unlocking the door. "Yi. We need to talk." he grunts.

"So you said," Yi nods before stepping in with a dip of her head. It's not that she's tall or anything, just a gesture of respect. "What do you ha--" she cuts off, as something tells her there's another in the room.

Sepdet's expression eases. She tags after John cautiously, however, to make sure there's no one else. "Pack-sister. Didn't expect to see you!" Whatever tension was between her and John is tucked away as she steps around the corner into the lobby.

John scowls more readily, now. He folds his arms, and watches the two young women with a vague impatience.

"Sepdet!" Yi looks just surprised to see her alpha here in all places. "What are you doing here? What'd you do? Bring the whole pack along?" She tilts to a side as she lays a hand on the Strider's shoulder, peering behind as if expecting. Not seeing anyone come tearing around the corner, the newmoon turns back to the scowling John. Then the thoughts come to her. "Ohhh..." Now this is something. "I suppose, you know about her visions then, na?"

John snorts. "Not really." The Walker eyes Sepdet, and tilts his head. "Perhaps some detail might be nice, if she can remember."

Sepdet exhales. "It is not pleasant. John hinted that someone was in town coming after you, Yi, and I thought my visions were beginning to unfold." She moves back towards the interior of the elaborate household, her reflection again leaving disturbing images in her wake. The beanbag chair is still her favored perch, but she sits on half of it, leaving room for Yi to join her if the girl wishes. "So."

Sepdet casts her mind back, sifting through images, the alien language she's forcing herself to use in the city, and her wish to keep from alarming Yi more than she must. "There were only brief glimpses. Yi caged by a leech and its minions, who were causing her discomfort." Her manners grow stiffly formal, tone flat. "A wolf mother being torn by her young. Yourself watching, John, and then walking away without offering aid."

Yi follows her packalpha to the chair, opting only to stoop partially on the offered seat. She nods slowly, remembering Sepdet's talk of visions. "No surprise he sent somebody instead of coming himself," she mutters softly as Sepdet repeats her explaination. The newmoon notes the vague tones in them, making no other comment. "So, there's bloodsuckers involved. That's pretty normal. Triads fighting, Wyrm rising, all this is normal...for us anyway. What isn't though, is me. Why me? I don't understand it." She shrugs, looking between the two.

John glares at Sepdet, and the description of her vision. "Dangerously close to insult, that. I've offered Yi more than I've had to." he grunts. Stepping back behind the bar, and picking up his whiskey again, John knocks the drink back, and prepares another. "Andy Lai sent someone to tail me, two nights ago. Something to drink?"

Sepdet's face is briefly transfigured by a genuine spasm of pure hatred. "Because they can? Why do leeches do anything?" She gives John a cool glance. "It is what I saw, John. Your secrets can keep themselves--have I not seen more in you than I say?-- but not when my packmate's life may be at stake."

Yi flickers her eyes between the two, just gathering in auras and words. "Just something to keep a throat clear, John," the newmoon puts in as a request to his offer of drinks. "Andy sent someone... what was the tailer's name? Assuming of course, you know because they made a mistake."

With an effort, the Walker manages to calm his face into an expression resembling mere irritation. He pours a glass of water for Yi, and places it carefully on the bar, then looks to Yi - setting his expression carefully, and watching her - considering. "Rina was tailing me too. Fool woman got it into her head to try and find out what I do, and spotted him. We had a brief chat, but things went downhill fast, and I had to kill him. He was spouting lies, and incoherent nonsense. It was upsetting Rina." The Walker's face darkens. "No name, no organization, but I know he was Lai's. Young amateur, with potential." He looks to Sepdet for a moment - slightly accusingly - before looking back to Yi. Seeing if she's got this so far.

Sepdet has perfected a mask of neutrality, as part of her Strider upbringing, to give more than a glimmer of what she's thinking. Only a tightening at the corners of her eyes suggests worry. She doesn't bat an eyelash at the mention of killing a human, only turns towards Yi. "Lai?"

Yi thanks John for the water. It's appreciated, even though she checks it for any partially dissolving...bits. "Lai... new name here, small name there. Looks like he was looking into American 'business' as a way of earning favor, or even breaking off on his own branch. But it's rather hard to keep secrets when you're in a family." She sips. "So did you tell Rina?" Her gaze goes sidelong to John. "She isn't going anywhere, I hope."

John shakes his head. "She stays with me. And I stay here. But I wanted to warn you, Yi. You're going to hear a lot of things, over there, by the sound of things. Maybe things about American Walkers, or, more specifically... myself. My old master. I just want you to know... things aren't as they seem." He looks uncomfortable, all of a sudden - acutely aware that the explanation isn't enough. Another faintly accusatory look to Sepdet. "As far as I know, they just want to know who we are. If we are who they think we are. And when the people sent to find out, wind up dead... They're going to make the right assumptions."

Sepdet gives John another glance of assessment, nods tightly to herself, and leans back in the beanbag chair with a sifting creak. "Great. So now they know." Surprisingly, she asks, "I don't suppose John could see his way clear to accompanying Yi back there, since he has some... former associations... with them."

Yi takes another few gulps of water before shaking her head. "I'd rather no one go back with me because it would be a little more conspicuous. They'd know. They always do." She glances at John. "Whatever I hear, I'll make note of it." There's a faint smirk from her. "I won't make any bad assumptions, ok? The truth will come under the wind's whispers."

Sepdet chews her lower lip, unconsciously echoing a gesture of Rina's. "Whispers on the wind," she echoes softly. "Well, I will tell Kshema to keep an ear open for you, then."

John shrugs lightly. "Hong Kong is different." he says, simply. "I want nothing more than to go, but I have a pack in formation, and a few other tasks to complete, here." He frowns at Yi. "Be careful at how you look at the truth, too, Yi - if you find it. It's not always pleasant. You need perspective." He shifts his shoulders uncomfortably, and straightens up. "I left your passport and cash inside your apartment. You should get better security." he grunts. "You got them?"

Sepdet rests her chin on her knees, staring away from them now with a look of resettling herself, grounding as much as she can in a place where the ground is caged under so much concrete.

"I have security. You just don't know." Yi grins around her water glass. "I found the passport and the cash. And, what better Garou to look at things with different perspective than a newmoon?" She sets the emptied glass onto the bar counter and glances over at Sepdet before looking to the concrete wall. "It's going to be dangerous. But there's no life without the danger of death, na?" She glances at John. "I don't think I'll bother with the shipping docks here...not yet. The best way to kill a leech, is to cut it's head off." She looks down at her hand, wiggling her fingers. "I'll leave as soon as possible."

Sepdet nods, adding simply, "They also take harm from the sun's light. But I expect a no-moon may have tricks up her sleeve her alpha cannot dream of." Slight emphasis on the final words turns into a smile, the edge of what passes for a joke in the dry lands of Sepdet's humor.

John eyes his own four-fingered hand, and then looks back to Yi. "You're taking this too lightly." he growls. "Do /not/ underestimate the leeches. They hunt better than any Ragabash. And if you /ever/ start to feel your mind slipping... You stop whatever you are doing and /concentrate/." Slightly calmer, he adds, "My teacher and I visited some time ago, and caused certain changes in the Glass Walker organization. Some of this may be the result. Contact me when you find things out. I can... perhaps sift through some of the lies for you. And maybe give you a better idea of what's gone before." Again - slightly nervous. Uncomfortable.

Sepdet drops her eyes. "I need a drink," she says abruptly, rises swiftly, and heads for the bar.

Yi curls her fingers into a paw-like formation, glancing over as her alpha heads to the bar. "The loudest clown hides the blackest tears with laughter." She glances up at John. "Making tidal waves in the HK riptide na?"

John frowns, and then his face smoothes over into an impassive expression. "Managerial restructuring. Neccessary changes, that's all." he says, mildly, then looks to Sepdet. "What's your poison?"

Sepdet has found a bowl from somewhere and demures, "Water. Desert's lifeblood."

Yi smiles a bit at Sep's words. "I asked a friend of mine in school once, why she never drank water. She told me, 'fish pee in the water'." The newmoon chuckles softly. "Innocent times." She gazes up at John. "I was wondering if you could leave a message for me, John. For Mr. Doh." John lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck. "Yeah." he murmurs, non-committally. "Well I would rather he leave his messages with you than on the answering machine, you know?"

Yi taps at the beanbag beneath her. "I ask you tell him that... I'll be back to catch up with him later, and to contact Grandmother Rui if he'd like."

Sepdet locates a faucet and returns, again having to move slowly and with some care to will her hands not to wobble. She sets the bowl on the floor, sits down again by the beanbag, moves it to rest on her knees and laps delicately at the surface.

Yi's eyes slide down at Sepdet drinking the water. Ok, it's not the funniest thing in the world, but still. Doubt the newmoon will get used to it really. She bites her lip to withhold a bubbling of giggles. Her body leans forward until eventually she's almost at Sepdet's head level. "I'll have to learn how to do that someday too." Fascinating.

Sepdet looks up and blinks, then down at her bowl. "Oh." She gives Yi a bemused look. "Have you any idea how long it took me to learn to use a fork without piercing my lip?"

John nods at Yi, and fixes himself another drink. He watches the Strider drink, with an eyebrow raised - curiosity. "Grandmother Rui. Got it." Tilting his head and continuing to look at the two of them, he murmurs, "Should get you two to spend time with Daisy."

Yi looks down at the bowl too. Wonder if it could be down with rice. "I imagine it was easier than learning how to eat with chopsticks." She sits back upright, finally giving a little chuckle. "Who is Daisy?" Her eyes go back to John, inquiring about the name.

John looks faintly surprised at Yi's ingnorance, and his expression darkens a little. "The Elder of the St. Claire Glass Walkers." With an eye on Sepdet, he adds, "Lupus."

Sepdet raises her head at that. "Elder now? Good. Rik has been such an unreliable assassin."

John tilts his head. "Explain?"

Sepdet says matter-of-factly, "I don't meddle in other tribe's affairs unless they threaten the safety of the entire sept. Certain individuals are not suitable as elders."

Yi's turn to be quiet again. Well, almost. "Rik?"

Sepdet rolls her shoulders. "A Glass Walker ahroun who should have had the guts to challenge when unsuitable elders took over his tribe. As I reminded him. But that seems to have resolved itself." She takes another few laps from her drink.

John frowns at Sepdet. "Roger has proven to be a valuable individual when given appropriate tasks. One might almost take that sort of dealing as a personal insult, on behalf of the tribe. The Walkers are directing themselves usefully, now. I see no reason for any challenges to take place." He tightens his knuckles. "Rik... if he ever deigns to show himself... is a Walker issue, now." Making it clear where his stance is.

Yi, not knowing any real names except for Roger and even that's iffy, gives a light shrug. "Roger seems to know things. Though the rivalry between him and Lucca is quite clear, even from the beginning." She smiles a bit at the prank of spitting in Roger's spaghetti. Then it comes to her, how odd this scene must be as well. Three tribes together just hanging out. Sort of. "So. You two, ah, have any more hints about fighting vampires for me?" It's clear where her mind is revolving around lately.

Sepdet nods quietly. "This was before you arrived, John," she says quietly. "And I owe it to Toxic Fourmoons." Yi's question brings her back to a more personally painful subject with a sigh. "My experience with them, largely, has been what not to do. They are fast, sometimes faster than we are. They manipulate the will. Avoid their eyes. They are also vain and pompous creatures, who enjoy doing deeds for the show of it, more than need. Gloating is a weakness I have seen in at least two."

John lowers his head, accepting Sepdet's comment. "Fear them, Yi. They manipulate as a hobby, and many of them have had hundreds of years to perfect it. They can stalk you unseen, and slip out of reach of your claws at will. Some can strike you as hard as a crinos, and others even attempt a grim parody of the werewolf form. They can slip into the earth to retreat, and some of them are strong enough to withstand almost any punishment, and still move. Even sunlight, for some amount of time."

Sepdet's thin eyebrows lift up at that, obviously taken offguard by that bit of information.

Yi clears her throat at the descriptions of her enemy. She knows she has a lot to learn, that's for sure. "Sunlight I know. They're hurt by silver too, the ones I've fought anyway." She rubs at the back of her neck. "Can they reach into the Shadow too?" She lifts a brow. Things like this, make it obvious Yi hasn't been cliath long enough.

Sepdet exhales. "That, I am fairly sure they have not managed yet."

John looks sideways at Sepdet. "Long enough in the sun to dash from cover to cover, healing the burns they suffer. If you're running from one, the arrival of the sun will only slow him down as he searches for shadows." Looking back at Yi, John narrows his eyes. "No. They're dead. Spirits will have nothing to do with them, either."

Yi nods a bit, her left hand reaching up to finger the ankh tied around her pack's gift as she sends a glance Sepdet's way. "Movies aren't always as fake as they seem, na." She taps a finger on the ankh. "You said the vampire in your vision... was..." she flickers her eyes between John and Sepdet. Is it safe to reveal these sorts of things? She shakes off the impending question and sighs softly. "I'll try to send as many letters and call when I can, regularly."

John's eyes slide suspiciously to Sepdet. "The vampire was what?" he asks, lowly.

Sepdet shakes her head. "Only that it had servants, Yi, by which I assume it is one of those who can control humans... maybe Garou too. They were around the cage." She nods gratefully to Yi. "I am so sorry to send you with a cloud hanging over your journey. But forewarned is forearmed, as my human-born mentor used to say."

"Well they like to .. 'play with their food' so... I am expecting it." Yi wets her lip. "Better to have warnings than none at all right?" A side of her lip quirks up wryly. "Cages can't hold a newmoon anyway. A little help from the spirits, and the toughest lock should open up with some effort."

John's frown deepens. "Cage? What the hell did you see, exactly?" A haunted look plays about his eyes.

Sepdet looks sidelong at Yi. "She was being held captive in a cage. It was silver, Yi. But I suppose you can manage just as well in forms that don't get burned."

Yi bristles invisibly, eyes hardening and jawline tensing though she seems to remain perfectly still. "And the vampire controlling some puppets on strings of sorts." She exhales slowly. "Sounds like something from a bad movie."

John's eyes widen slightly. A hint of wildness about them, now. "The vision... could be wrong? Proven wrong? The future isn't set so rigidly..."

Sepdet drains off her bowl in a swallow that almost hurts. "It remains a possibility rather than a fact, John, although I am afraid that the gift seldom misses. But sometimes it speaks in riddles. I have seen deaths of friends as they actually happened--in spite of my warnings and best efforts. I have also seen things that were signs, not events. This much I am sure: it means capture, and it means some connection to the blood-drinkers.The details may not be the same." She adds, "My guess is you may not even see him, only his slaves sent to catch you. "

John continues to stare at Sepdet. Piercing. "Leeches do not have Garou captured, and not enjoy the sport while they can. That sort of perverted pleasure does not come easy." he says, dully.

"I'll be busy enough with them. It's not hard to find help." Yi gazes sidelong at John. "And you're very reassuring, thank you." Mm, deadpan. "Bloodsuckers, ghouls, probably those banes that just love to suck up fear and pain..." Each mention gets a small touch of her finger against the ankh. "I'll do my best to avoid traps." She scratches at a small spot on her hand. "What about forms? Can they tell... well. Can they tell a Garou from a normal...being?"

Sepdet looks down at her hands. "I know, John," she says softly. To Yi, purses her lips. "I think so. The one I ran into in New Orleans as a cub seemed to know perfectly well what I and my elder were. But their minions? I think it depends on which humans they have enslaved. One of them almost managed to control my Lady, long ago, and if that happened once, it could happen again with another Warper skilled in recognizing us."

Yi drums her fingers against the side of the bean bag, sliding down to the hard floor. "How strong do you think, a vampire that could control minds would be? I mean, all I've heard are stories. Most of the suckers that are high powers don't really show themselves at all. They like being discreet, unless something lures them out into the open." Game plans forming, she glances over at John and wonders if all this talk of leeches is simmering his blood.

John's face tells no stories. Merely grim, and bleak. Eyes dead, and staring at the drink he's poured for himself. Another one. "Cages of silver have no seals." he murmurs darkly, then downs the shot.

Sepdet presses the heels of her hands against her eyes as if, for a moment, she'd rather be clawing them out. Her own breathing is a little unsteady, memories barely bottled in. "I don't know. I've heard stories. None of 'em have ever tried to control me, they just pinned me-- too strong for me. The one in New Orleans just walked a few blocks with me stuck to his leg before he ripped me off and threw me. But I was a cub, that was a long time ago. The others, they turned the world dark around me and pinned me with tentacles. But one put a gun to my head, which suggests he at least had no other way to hurt me. So at least some can't, or don't choose, to use mind control. "

"If they don't have seals, how to you get something in them in the first place?" Yi queries John with an oddly interested look on her own face. "Or perhaps they do. You know don't see them outright." She then shrugs at Sepdet. "Maybe it's a 'talent'. We have some ways of influencing minds too... just not as strong for some of us and depends who you try to convince." Her eyes float back to John however. "If there's a way in, there's always a way out."

The Walker eyes Sepdet, and pours another. "They can make you frenzy. They can convince you that a friend is an enemy. Some of them can make you do whatever they damn well please." Looking over to Yi, John tilts his head, and blinks. As if she'd asked a nonsensical question. "Forging it around the captive, I imagine..." he murmurs, absently.

Sepdet's scattered thoughts resolve themselves into a sudden stab of words, almost an unconscious declaration that she isn't aware she's making. "The minions are the key. Cut the strings."

Yi looks thoughtful at John's words then at Sepdet. "The minions? There are always more. I'd cut off the puppet master's hands. Or his head, whichever comes into view first." She gets up and starts pacing. Up until now, she's been pretty calm for it to be her auspice's phase. Now it's just tense energy radiating from her. "If I can find out who Lai is in contact with, then I can find out who they are and who is the head of all of this. Likely some head of a triad, but if they're vampires then maybe I could ask for the other Garou to help in the fight." She rubs a hand along the back of her neck. "With more forces though, there's still a plan needed. And that will have to involve scouting." Pace pace pace...

John shrugs, and pours himself another drink. It's having an affect on the big guy, though... he frowns to concentrate. "My take is this. Lai is part of a breakaway movement. Has to be. If the Hong Kong Walkers were to move into St. Claire, they wouldn't use someone as young and obviously inexperienced as Lai. He's working in secret, possibly with other tribes - more breakaways. I don't see where vampires fit into this, unless they're just stirring things up, or using the chaos to make a profit. Only things that make sense to me."

Sepdet smiles fondly, watching the no-moon's mind go into motion. "Unfortunately, I have another errand in the city, and then need to get back to the lake," she says regretfully. "But is there anything else I can answer for you? I fear my knowledge of the... betrayers of life... is sadly limited, but you know I'll give all my can."

Yi stops in her pacing, and the hard furrowed concentration leaves her in a spot of warmth. She dips her head softly. "I'm sorry, I'm just... feeling tense." She offers a hand to the Strider to help her off her knees, and looks over at John. "Breakaways aren't uncommon. Maybe the vampires are protecting them though, from the wraths of their elders."

Sepdet gives her first laugh of the evening, a pure soft sound that's closer to her cub days. "I don't doubt it, pack-sister. Well. Consider a little more. Then let it rest in your mind and brew there; thus one most often finds wisdom. And come to the lake. Take its peace into your heart, which they cannot touch, and run with me there." She squeezes Yi's hand and starts to move towards the neearest convenient mirror.

John's lips take a wry turn, and he merely looks away, to empty glass. "Walk the paths under Luna's light. What little there is now, Sepdet." He sips at his drink, now.

"I'll be there before I go." Yi replies softly. As Sepdet gets a little more out of earshot she looks at the floor and murmurs in Cantonese, "{To say good bye.}"

Sepdet looks over her shoulder at John, and then Yi, on whom her gaze settles in a brief silent blessing. "Keep well you both." She turns back to the mirror and slides from view.

John looks up at Yi. "Don't know what to tell you. 'Don't go' springs to mind, but I'm aware that won't work." He sounds slightly bitter. "I don't even know what you think you're going to achieve. /I/ just want to keep my streets clean." He eyes the bottle in one hand, and the empty glass in his other, and then winces. Caps the bottle.

Yi watches Sepdet disappear, and turns back to John. "That's what Sepdet said -- well, the 'don't go' part anyway. But you and I know how bad it can get over there." She sighs. "As for what I'm going to achieve? I'll achieve whatever I can do to keep the Wyrm and bloodsuckers away from my family. My friends. My sept." She touches upon the pendant around her neck. "My pack." Her hand falls away to slip into a pocket. "How much trouble did Lai send after you? Just one tailer?"

John shakes his head distractedly. "Just a kid. Good, fast, but unlucky. Rina spotted him. He wasn't expecting to be tailed, himself." The big man actually starting to sound a little melancholy. The effect of the drink, perhaps. He's had a few, now. "Idiot wouldn't shut up. Would've had to kill him, anyway, but the less said, the better."

Yi nods a bit. Then a short thought occurs to her. "I wonder... how I'm going to get to an airport from here." Resume pacing.

John folds his arms, and leans over the counter of the bar. "I'll give you a lift, if you need one."

Yi blinks a couple of times, before separating an elevator from an offer for a ride. She dips her head a bit. "I suppose it would be another favor owed." She straightens a little and then looks towards the entrance of the rec room. "I should be going, na. Preparations are almost finished." She glances back to the Walker. "I suppose I'll call you when the time comes."

John grunts, in response, and drags himself from the bar - massaging his temples with one gloved hand. "If you see-- nevermind. I'll let you out, now. Pack light." He steps out into the lobby, heading for the door.

Yi smirks a bit, and nods to the unsaid warnings before stepping out the door. "I don't have much to bring back anyway. Good night John." And in a few more seconds, there's not much trace of her left.