Scars Don't Heal Themselves
7/19/2006
05:58 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (40% full).
It is currently 17:45 Pacific Time on Wed Jul 19 2006.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is mostly sunny today. The temperature is 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 9 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.07 and falling, and the relative humidity is 41 percent. The dewpoint is 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius.)
The Prairie House: Main Floor(#2245RJ)
A small foyer leads into the prairie-style house from the front door. A set of stairs veers off to the immediate right of the foyer and curves around to the second-floor. The long, narrow hallway walls are a coral color with glazed porcelain floor tile the color of artifact clay. To the side of the front door is a LCD screen that monitors the home by a computer as it leads into the other rooms located on the main floor. The 'living and dinning room' are seen immediately to the left of the long, narrow hallway. The walls are a dark grey colored with slate-gray tiles which are covered by a plush red floor rug.
A linen-closet and powder room are seen on the right side of the hallway just before the kitchen. The 'kitchen' looks like the inside of a spaceship with steel appliances and a high-tech design. The countertops have a translucent, geometric aqua-tinted glass with a modern looking sink. The kitchen table is simply an angled kitchen bar with barstools that unite the nook with the kitchen. Connecting the garage with the kitchen is a utility room with a washer and drier. To the back right corner of the house is a 'family room' with a fireplace that looks as through it has been turned into an office. The walls are the same as the living and dinning room. The Master Suite is found at the end of the hallway to the back left corner of the house.
(Type '+view' for more details of the rooms and other rooms)
Contents:
Xia
Obvious exits:
Master Suite Outside
Dinner is being made inside of the house as the time draws closer to that hour. Xia has her hair caught up in a bun as she tries out her cooking skills in a kitchen that is near dummy-proof.
The closing sound of the utility room notes Kenneth's re-entry through the garage. He walks with a quieted step though, eyes examining side to side as he travels through to the kitchen. Like an errant stray returned, the philodox doesn't immediately greet, but tests the air with a sniff. "What's cooking?" he asks from a few feet behind the woman's shoulder.
Xia doesn't turn around to look at Kenneth as she stirrs vegetables around in a stirr-fry pan with seasonings. "Boneless chicken and some fried vegetables, would you like some?" she asks, although she still made extra just in-case.
"Sure. Sounds like 'Healthy'," Kenneth comments with an interested step forward. "You feelin' any better? Sleeping that is. Nothing's been botherin' you lately right?"
Xia smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "Well, I have some French silk pie for dessert," she replies with a mischevious look. "Yeah, I have been sleeping better." she replies.
Kenneth arches his brows up at the mention of pie - surely he seems to have a sweet tooth, given past eating habits. "Good to hear. I'll grab some plates," he notes with a second checking glance over at the kin as he turns. "I met this Strider cub at the farmhouse. Y'know what they've called him? 'Criminal'." Couple of clinks later, the halfmoon brings down a pair of dishes.
Xia is nearly finished cooking. The only thing now is to place the food from the pans onto plates. "Are you asking if I know?" she asks, sounding a little confused by the Philodox's question.
Kenneth shakes his head. "Just that it's not a very good start for a cub, gettin' a name like that. He's... interesting though. Real interesting." Eyes following the food and then on up to the kin's face to hold there.
"All I got from what he said was something about 'killing' but I didn't understand it." the kinwoman replies. "What is so interesting about this kid?" she asks. She places the vegetables on the plate first, followed by the fried vegetables. One plate is handed to him with a fork and knife.
Kenneth stabs at a stirfried carrot, twirling it a couple of turns before popping it into his mouth. "Thinks he's a judge, jury, and probably executioner of bad guys. Finds out he's a werewolf, decides he's going to take it nice and subtle, and start offing people he thinks don't deserve to 'crawl around and fuck up the planet'," the halfmoon summarizes. It's hard to say whether he agrees or disagrees, given the neutrality of his expression. "Can't say he isn't gonna get in trouble again later with that attitude around here though."
Xia walks over with her plate, sliding up in one of the kitchen stools. "Oh," she says. "Should I be cautious of this cub?" She forks at a cucumber slice and then begins cutting up pieces of chicken.
Kenneth shakes his head again, unconcerned. "No more than you'd be of anyone else who can turn into a nine foot tall wolfman and take your head off." There, an attempt at humor. "Don't let him give you no lip though. 'Respect Those Beneath Ye' being one of our laws, he better learn that one right or he'll have more than an angry elder on his ass." The halfmoon starts in on his plate as well, looking up occassionally from his plate as he eats. "You hear from anyone else?"
"I have talked to Stacey some," Xia replies in a casual tone, that suggests that Kenneth might want to ask her what the two girls were talking about when they were together. Her appetite is back, and fairly better than it ever has been, as she eats less like a bird.
The kin's guess is right, though he doesn't ask outright. Kenneth chews away at a mouthful of chicken and veggies, his appetite having no problems. Instead of a vocalized question, his is one made in posture of inquiry.
Xia leans over and ruffles Kenneth's hair. "Actually, it was about you..." says the pretty Asian woman. "And I gave her a birthday gift."
Kenneth flinches a little with the hair ruffling, canting his head a little further as he swallows down the food in his mouth. The philodox doesn't go for another bite just yet. "What'd you get 'er?" he asks warily, as if deliberately searching for michief in her eyes, and clearly pointing with his tone to the talk about him instead of the talk about birthday gifts.
"A bead kit," Xia replies. "She really liked it." Then, finishing off the last piece of food on her plate, since she probably gave Kenneth more than what she had, she slides it back from her. "Kenneth..." she says, sounding like she has something important to say.
Yielding to curiosity, Kenneth looks up from his plate directly. His reply is a waiting silence, though his fork pokes at another piece of chicken left in his portions.
"Stacey is willing to take you to her homeland," Xia replies, although there is also a tone in her voice that sounds as if there is little room for arguement.
Kenneth's eyes narrow a touch. "What about her homeland?" The philodox doesn't understand. "And what's that got to do with me?" That seemed to bleed the curiosity down a few levels, as he resumes his eating. Though not blatantly arguing, the philodox remains testy.
"Look, thinks are going to get any better between us unless something is done." Xia answers. "Stacey told me that her homeland is the place of healing." She doesn't bother rising from her seat to place her dish away just yet.
Kenneth's eyes flow back up from his plate as he chews. "What do you mean get any better? I'm trying to come 'round more aren't I? You said you wanted me to stay here, and I'm doin' that when the moon's waning... What's Stacey's homeland got anything to do with me? With us?"
Xia places her hand up to her forehead. "It hasn't dawned on you.... that Stacey's homeland can fix battlescars." she replies, surprised that she known this knowledge before he ever had.
Everything stops, except time. Kenneth stares at the woman in a way that suggests perhaps she had grown a third eye right there in the middle of dinner. And then he starts to cough, choking upon the mouthful of food he had. It takes a few anxious moments for him to get over, and even then he pushes himself up from his seat and leans against the counter. The halfmoon grips his support hard enough to get a little pale around the knuckles, still coughing loudly and sucking in for air.
Xia watches Kenneth, lifting an eyebrow towards him. Then, watching his reaction, she leans over in her chair. "Kenneth, are you alright?" she asks the other Hakken. She gives a sudden start and jumps up from the chair, fetching Kenneth a glass of water, which she returns with quickly.
Kenneth gasps, but he looks alright. Still he does reach for and drain half the glass of water before setting it heavily onto the counter. Disbelief tinges the recovering expression of his features, and he stares wide-eyed and accusingly at the kin. "Was that... your idea of a sick joke, Xia?"
"Uh, no." the kinwoman replies slowly. "Why would I be joking?"
"Because whatever you're suggesting, it's not funny," Kenneth finishes, with a tone that would be halfway towards menacing if he weren't so ridiculously recovering from a brush with death by chewed up chicken. "Battlescars...," he grasps at, like the very words he says were drilled into him in the past, "are badges of Glory. Of hardwon victories against your enemies..." He pins a look on her, but it falls away weakly and he turns to pace a few feet away and stop, facing away. The halfmoon's shoulders set tensely, a hand lifted to his mouth to hold down any coughs that wish to come still.
"But," Xia nearly sputters out, "how are you going to have any children?" Her arms cross over her chest slolwy while waiting for Kenneth's reaction.
Kenneth straightens like he's gotten zapped in the lower back. The halfmoon's head turns to look back over his shoulder. "Children? I'm seventeen fucking years old, and I can't even stand up to take a piss. Why the hell would I be thinking about /kids/?"
"Kenneth..." she replies, trying to grab words out of the air but its not working very well. "Perhaps that is something that you need to stop and think about."
Kenneth follows through and turns back to face the kin. "Why? Why in God's name should I be thinking about that, when I've fucking got this?!" He gestures down south on his torso. "I don't know what sort of things Stacey told you, but I'll tell you it's mighty fucking sick of you to pull that sort of talk on me. If there was such a place like this, you'd think there'd be a whole shitload of battlescarred Garou lined up to get healed up and go back out to fight the Wyrm. What they don't tell you, Xia, is that healing a scar up is like... like..." He tenses further, but cuts himself off, not finding any suitable words to end with.
"Then, it isn't going to be possible for me to stay in Saint Claire once my family discovers that they are not any suitable suitors for me here." Xia replies quickly, sucking in a sharp breath. Its now time to take the plates and set them in the sink, making sure to shut-up before she gets into something that is way over her head.
Crashing mentally to a halt, Kenneth stands there lightly trembling as he fights down his inner urges. His eyes widen slightly at the woman's statement, and he doesn't move save for his eyes, tracking her. She might've shut up, but Kenneth's silence is a stunned one. "That's why you stayed?" he asks quietly, gaze casting down and then quickly rising again.
"Well, I came back... because, I thought that I could convince you... I don't know." the kin shrugs her shoulders loosely. "I am getting tired now of lying to myself, Kenneth."
Kenneth takes steps closer, his hand setting on the counter. "Convince me of what?" he asks plainly, wetting his lips and clearing a throat that has gone dry.
"Or perhaps it was convicing myself," Xia replies. "It doesn't matter." She knows that she is just going on now, babbling uncoherently.
Kenneth, still riding down the slope of frustration, huffs loudly and takes even more steps towards the woman until he's in front of her and staring down at her face. "You're not making any sense," he states obviously. "What are you trying to suggest to me? That I go with Stacey to the homeland of the Children of Gaia and get... healed?"
The kin listens, then bluntly replies, "Yes." Her eyes look rather confidently up at him. "I am sugguesting that you go with Stacey to the homeland of the Children of Gaia."
"You realize," Kenneth fights, "that Stacey's never been there. And neither have I. And I seriously doubt either of us know how to get there?" He might be arguing, and yet it's just a train of logic. "And that the last time I went anywhere, I disappeared for three months. Lost three months of my life, more like. And that Stacey's a Guardian, and can't leave the Bawn."
"She is going to find a replacement for the time that she is gone." Xia replies calmly. "Besides, the guardians need to train new Garou." The girl sets her hands on her waist. "It might be a battlescar, Kenneth, but /I am/ offering you a child and a possibility to spawn off more Garou." Her eyebrow raises, waiting for him to respond to that, after all this time that the Hakken kin has boasted her independent lifestyle.
Kenneth stares with narrowed eyes like he's still trying to figure the kin out. And despite his discipline, it for a fleeting moment still travels down the rest of her figure. Then his lips tighten. "Xia," he answers slowly, and relatively calmly, "I'm not interested in having any children." He looms closer, bringing his face nearly nose-to-nose. "At least, not before I hear a little more about this supposed homeland of Stacey's tribe."
Xia takes a shallow breath as Kenneth brings his face nose-to-nose with hers. Her eyes downcaset for a moment to avoid his stare, although slowly draw back towards his eyes again. She nods her head slowly without any audible reply.
Kenneth holds his gaze for a long, heavy moment and then he draws back up to stand straight. "I don't know what you two talked about when you met," he says as he turns towards the door, "but I can't say that I'm surprised." There's a small smirk tugging at the corner of the firm set of his expression. "I'm gonna go find Stacey. Be back later." He lifts a hand and heads for the door, but before he exits the kitchen he pauses. "Thanks for dinner." That said, the halfmoon continues on out until the front door can be heard opening and shutting with a click.
Xia smiles softly. "See you later," she replies, almost letting her sigh of relief slip from her as she cleans up what is left from dinner.