Meeting Aja and Testy Jacob

6/27/2007

01:04 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Full Moon phase (82% full).
It is currently 13:01 Pacific Time on Wed Jun 27 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.09 and falling, and the relative humidity is 50 percent. The dewpoint is 46 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius.)

Big Red Barn(#3420RA)
The barn is built in the old style, a vast three level structure that is greater in height than a mere three stories, actually closer to five. Great wooden posts support the weight of the upper levels and roof, sunk into the hard-packed dirt floor of the first level like a sparse forest of regularly spaced, naked trees. The stalls and flagstones which once were here have been torn out to leave a rather open area where even crinos Garou may roam freely without fear of running into anything but the supports or the walls or the ladder at the back which allows access to the other two levels.
The first two levels are relatively open to each other, the second being only little wider than a catwalk going around all the walls but the front one, which has massive, twenty foot tall doors set into it. The third level is a true second floor except for a place cut out that allowed hay to be tossed down to the ground floor when the farm was actually worked. Now, it is a hayloft where Garou can sleep outside of the house.
Contents:
Stacey
Aja
Obvious exits:
BarnYard  

The clouds outside mask much of the sun's warming rays, but it doesn't keep them from filtering on through the cracks of the barn walls and windows up on the higher levels. Sitting up on the hayloft, the Shadow Lord philodox props one knee up to his chest as he waits for a couple of someones to arrive. A lone piece of straw dangles from his mouth, chewed on in restlessness. Dark eyes flick to the barn door and away, back and forth. His fingers tap rhythmically against the loft's wood, putting out some seemingly random beat.

Stacey is the first of those someones to arrive. The young girl pushes upon the barn door and slips into the dimmer room, her gaze scanning the area before finally settling on Kenneth. "Hey," she offers, then peeks back out, grinning over at Aja before she steps aside to let the other, old girl enter. "Aja, Kenneth. Kenneth, Aja."

[look Aja (homid)]
Reaching a height of five foot nine, the girl can't be more than sixteen years old. Her brown skin is quite dark, contrasting sharply against her white, straight teeth. Her almond-shaped eyes are mud-brown in color, while her broad but small nose is set above her overly full lips. A large and well-tended to afro sprouts out from her head, the dark curls frizzing out to an even and clean cut halo, reminiscent of the 70's hair-style. Her body is quite long-limbed and sinewy; her curves appearing a bit exaggerated due to her lanky build. She usually moves with an unfocused, lethargic grace that adds onto her apathetic but calm presence.
She is wearing a white tank top that stops just at her navel. Her gold and wine-red skirt is a wrap-around that hangs low on her hips and reaches her ankles. The skirt has the tendency to flap about her and offer glimpses of white bicycle-shorts worn underneath. She is also wearing a pair of brown flip-flops, showing her rather calloused feet. Her only accessories are a pair of bright, amber-lense sunglasses used as a hair-band and golden hoop earings. A keychain dangles from a loop on her skirt, supporting a large number of keys. Constantly on her person or around her at least is a MkVII British Gas Mask bag.
Carrying:
Aja's Dice Roller
keychain

Suffice to say, Aja's afro can be seen from behind Stacey, giving the tall figure an extra five to six inches. Peering into the barn from over Stacey's head, Aja spies Kenneth before her lips curve up into a broad grin. "Aaah, so /you're/ Kenneth. Fuckin' A, man." She steps into the barn and heads towards the ladder to pull herself as well. "I was hoping you had the villain 'stache however, especially with a name like 'Kenneth' and a Shadow Lord."

Kenneth stops his chewing when the barn doors open again, turning his head and gazing towards the entering Children. The reserved 'hey' seems to be said for Stacey only, and instead an scrutinizing stare is aimed down towards Aja and her 'fro. "Sorry to disappoint. Must've left them in my other pants," he replies, spitting the straw out somewhere. The Shadow Lord gets up from his post, moving along on down to the loft ladder and joins them on the floor. Kenneth comes to a stop at a polite, but conversational distance. "Kenneth Far-Cry, cliath philodox of the Shadow Lords." The introduction is clipped around the edges, pruned in tone to be as neutral as he can make it.

Stacey chuckles, remaining to the side for a moment to allow introductions before she jumps in again. "How've you guys been? Been a bit since I've seen either of you." She moves back to flop down on one of the bales of hay. "Least a week or so, but so damn much happens in a week lately."

"Aja Fox, Shrouds the Truth, Ragabash aaand Cliath." Aja then turns to regard Stacey for a moment before she shifts her weight awkwardly, "Well, actually I had an encounter last night. It wasn't pretty. A young vampire who was way too charming for his own good." Her hand reaches up to rub at the side of her neck warily. "Cole helped me get rid of'em. Suffice to say, my nose is clogged up with the smell of burning flesh."

"Shrouds-the-Truth?" Kenneth repeats the name, brows furrowing at it. "Some name to give a philodox." Then he turns too, attentions returning to the ahroun briefly at her question. "Not much on this end," he replies in kind, half an uncommitted shrug given to accompany the lack of news. Then Aja mentions vampires, and he immediately looks back to her. "Vampires?"

That also gets Stacey's attention, her brows raising as she looks toward Aja. "Vampires?" she repeats with disgust, although still managing to look impressed with her tribemate. "Where was this, woods or the scab? Good that you both were able to handle him, though."

"What can I say? My mentor had a sense of humor. Lets just say I tend to over-analyze things," Aja returns towards Kenneth with a light grin before she moves to settle down next to Stacey on the hay. "Vampire. Only one that I encountered. He was easy to kill once you got over his charms, I'm guessing he was pretty young. It was in the Industrial sector, he was handing out ecstacy pills to help him snag women even more. Fucker nearly got me if it wasn't for Cole's punch."

Kenneth's expression darkens like a cloud passing in front of the sun. "What was his name?" asks the philodox with a brow arching. The tone of his voice almost hisses with 'something personal' inside it.

Stacey glances briefly toward Kenneth at that tone, her own expression harder to read as she looks back to Aja. "It's good that Cole was there, then. Just further proof that ya always got to be on guard."

Quirking her eyebrows at Kenneth's intensity, Aja glances once in Stacey's direction before replying, "I think the girl called him..." She frowns as she tries to remember, "Bobby? Something like that. Why? Is there one we should be wary of?" At Stacey's words, Aja bobs her head sagely, "No fucking kidding. I need to learn to be more sneaky. He caught onto me way too soon."

Kenneth eases back just a little with the name drop. Must not have been who he was expecting. "As long as you torched his ass after. Vampires are assholes who just don't know when to die, enough said." Turning away, the halfmoon stalks off to take a little time for himself, mood having soured.

Stacey gives a crooked grin to Aja as Kenneth steps away, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad that all worked out. Don't make ma have to worry after ya!" Taking in a deep breath, she changes the subject, "We've got another cub. Rebecca, Theurge. Make three around the Farmhouse for our Tribe."

Blinking at Kenneth's reaction as he moves to sulk, Aja stares for a few moments longer before she turns back towards Stacey, "Did I say something?" But at Stacey's words, Aja can't help but grin, canting her head to the side, "Yea, it was a lucky situation. Rebecca, huh? Nice, we're really startin' to puff up in numbers, aren't we?" She sneaks another glance towards Kenneth, but this time it seems more out of wariness than worry.

With the subject moving on to more pleasant topics, Kenneth doesn't yet rejoin the pair of Gaians as they converse on about cubs. Eventually though, he rubs a hand along the back of his neck and turns back around to return to the invisible chat circle calm and more composed. "You Gaians aren't the only ones with growing numbers," he inserts.

Down the lane is heard the rumble of Anabell as Jacob pulls in toward the farmhouse. Doors are shut and things go quiet for a short while until the Galliard opts to check in the barn. "Cole? You around?" The door slides open and in steps the Token Male of Clan Carebear. "Chief, Aja. Hey glad you're here-" He stops short when he spies the third person in the barn, canting his head curiously.

[look Jacob (homid)]
A man of slightly above average height, Jacob stands at six feet tall and is built in a rather non-descript way. There's an obvious level of fitness about him that suggests he is no sluggard, but there is also no show of obnoxious bicep, pec or shoulders. Dark brown hair, worn just long enough to shag across his brow and curl around his ears frames a face that is both youthful and aged. It's hard to discern his age by looks alone, and depending on his mood he can quickly gain or shed a few years in appearance.
Green-grey eyes look at the world with a guarded clarity and apprehension; the kind of calculating look that makes one wonder if he can see beyond them, or through them. He often walks with his hands loosely in his pockets and his shoulders slumped, giving him a rather lackadaisical nature to his gait. Everyday clothes are his typical wardrobe; jeans, tee's and gymshoes.

Stacey nods to Aja. "I cubnapped her from a skating rink before she firsted. Wasn't easy. Poor thing." She rubs at her hand absently, then looks over at Kenneth with a grin. "Nah, your tribe's been growin' lately, too, eh? I hear from Felix there's a new cub. And yesterday I met the most interesting fellow, Fostern Ragabash of your tribe, named Moon Otter. Former Guardian, too, just returning." She turns her head as the door opens, then grins again. "Jacob! Hey, come meet Kenneth."

"Shadow Lords are puffin' up as well?" Aja asks, although there is an unreadable expression that filters across her face as she asks that. The expression doesn't last however, as she hears the barn door being opened and Jacob steps in. Her lips curves up into a broad grin, "Hey there, Shaggy. What Scout said, meet Kenneth and hear the news. We got ourself another cub. Rebecca."

Kenneth doesn't answer Aja's question, using Jacob's entry to mask the reply. Stacey's mention of more tribemates, though, earns her a pointed look. How does she know? Then he looks towards Jacob, straightening up and observing the other young man up and down.

"Another new cub huh? That's unnerving, actually." Jacob moves forward then, nodding to the Lord. A hand comes out as well, offering a genuine shake. "Jacob Seth. Galliard of the bunch here." He nods to his tribemates with a small smile that quickly fades. "Just got back from the city, with Olga. Passed on the news about the meeting and about the hunt. Something she did, got me to thinking- and what you just said, well it adds another piece to the puzzle."

"Keep runnin' into them on the bawn," answers Stacey to that pointed look from Kenneth, as if the question had been asked aloud. "Unnerving?" asks Stacey with a raised brow. "I assume Olga will attend, then? I spoke with the Uktena Elder. He will be there as well, if I didn't tell you before." At Jacob's last words, she tilts her head, waiting for elaboration. "Puzzle?"

Another glance is given towards Kenneth as Aja eyes him warily still, especially at his silence. Tearing her eyes away to focus on Jacob as he mentions a piece to the puzzle, Aja frowns, "Another piece? What Scout said, what puzzle are you talkin' about? What did Olga do?" don't keep the Ragabash hanging, man!

Kenneth shakes hands politely, like one competitor to another. "Kenneth Far-Cry, cliath philodox. Of the Shadow Lords." There's a slight pause between naming himself and his tribe, originally not present in his first intro to Aja. The handshake is quickly broken off once done. "We've fought together before, on the scrag hunt," he asides to Stacey. He then takes a sideline sort of observational role amongst the trio of Unicorn's children. Indeed, what did Olga do?

Jacob nods his head to the Lord first, "Ah right. I was pretty new around here at that point, and was nose deep in scrag. Was a good fight." He looks back to his tribemates then, focusing first there, and then including Kenneth. "How many metis does the sept have, and how well are they kept track of? Olga posed a question to me, one I had the answer for, but- until she asked it I didn't have the scope wide enough. Why would the Dancers send packs, one at a time after us?" He waits a half beat. "Because they're not out to kill us- they're out to thicken their numbers. Think about it. They came here when our Hunt was to happen. If we were out in the middle of that rite, it would have been easy pickings. And where did they head? Now the caern, the lane, the road to the farmhouse. To the cubs. All of a sudden, we have this influx of cubs and they show up. We need to keep a close eye on our most easily lured; the cubs, and the metis."

Stacey sobers completely at Jacob's words, the subject not at all one that sits well with her. "What you say makes sense, Jacob," she says, even if she's still scowling at the idea, invisible hackles raising protectively. "There's no other real reason for them to attack in this direction. And we /will/ keep a close eye on the cubs. I will not be far from here until this is resolved, and I've begun teaching Coriander, at least, combat. The others should learn soon as well. I'll /not/ have them defenseless. They may desire more numbers, but they'll not have them!"

As Jacob details his idea out, Aja falls silent as she considers that, canting her head to the side as she regards him. Finally she bobs her head at that, pursing her lips into a thin line. At Stacey's words, Aja bobs her head in agreement, seeming to agree with every word her Elder has uttered. "So what if we tried a pre-emptive attack? If what you're saying is true, maybe...Maybe one of their packs can lead us to their main hideouts? I dunno, maybe set a bait or trap for them. Just to see where they would take the metis or cubs."

Kenneth folds his arms over his chest with the question posed. "The caern's fallen once already to them, and I was told it was because of one of ours going to them. A lost cub, and a Fury. Wouldn't be surprised if they were looking for a rematch at this point."

Jacob looks to each in turn, tightening his jawline for a moment. As the Lord retells the story of the last falling with more detail, the Galliard turns his head down abruptly and brings a hand up to his temple. "It won't happen. It will, not, happen." Suddenly flushed, the Galliard peeks out from under his shaggy haired gaze and shakes his head, "It won't!" He turns then and strides just as quickly out of the barn as if something had turned his gears and put him in a hard reverse.

Stacey still scowls. "I don't like the idea of any of our cubs, nor any of us, in their hands for too long. There's a danger in that. There's a lure to the darkness, else we'd have fewer enemies. And, as Kenneth said, that is all too similar to how the Caern was taken before. We must learn from our past, that we do not let the Caern be defiled again."

As Jacob moves to stride out, Aja stands up and reaches to grab his arm and stop him from going too far. "It won't happen if we think this through logically and rationally - the more brainpower we have, the better our chances. Don't let them get under your skin." With that, she turns towards Stacey and frowns, letting out a low breath, "I was thinking of one of the metis admittedly, less likely to fall into the trap since, well, Cliath and all. But you're right, the chances of it working are far too slim."

"Logically? Rationally? The Dancers are mad," Kenneth remarks with a snort. "They were lobbing heads of slaughtered campers onto our bawn, for Christ's sake. The longer we just sit here is the longer they have to pick at our defenses. As for our cubs and metis, any one of them thinking about joining them should die, immediately."

Jacob is halted by Aja long enough to hear Kenneth's ideas on the matter. "Oh that's nice pal, do you know how they work? They get in your head, they twist you and turn you until your own head gets warped. It's like... the serpent in Eden. Deceit is their game, and our cubs, and metis are prime targets. Especially the metis, because what do we offer them? A world of bullshit for crimes that aren't even theirs."

"Exactly!" growls Stacey after Jacob's words, and she stands to her feet, glancing at each of them before continuing. "Exactly why I would not easily stand behind a plan that put one of our own - Metis, cub, or otherwise - in their hands for too long. Kenneth is right, you're both right, actually. They're insane, messed up." Her eyes narrow as she looks over at Jacob for a moment, then she nods. "First things first. Spread the word, to the Warder, Alpha, the other tribes. Also, none of our cubs are to be alone. I may move them further into the bawn if things get risky. They can do with some survival training."

"Fair enough," Aja relents as the others object. "I just don't like sitting here like ducks as they send in wave after wave or have a chance to plan too much. They may be crazy, but like Shaggy said, they don't mind being back-stabbing sons of bitches either. So we can't just sit on our hands or herd the cubs to and fro like cattle. We have to stop them as well."

Kenneth once more folds his arms across his chest, listening to each in turn. Jacob gets a stare, the philodox's reaction growing a touch hostile. "I've seen their work. I've had to cleanse patches of the forest where they've been. /Don't/ assume that I don't know or can't imagine what they are capable of, 'Shaggy'."

Jacob turns his eyes on Kenneth, though the nod is directed toward Aja. "She gets to call me that, not you. As for knowing what they can do, unless you've faced them eye to eye, heard their voice... then no. You are not prepared to deal with them, let alone cubs and metis." His jaw tightens once more, and a deep breath is brought in through his nose. "Aja's right though, too much sitting is just as bad as anything else. That's why we need a pack- someone that can get around, scout it out, get the information and bring it back for the elders so we -can- wipe them out."

Something about what is said really annoys the Ahroun. It's rather unclear /which/ one of them said it, Stacey is just starting to look plain frustrated. "Don't think you're the only one who's dealt with them, Jacob!" she growls, her voice more strained. "We've struggled against them before at this Sept! I saw one of my good friends die at their hands, a Silver Fang I respected, cared for! Don't mistake us for someone new to going up against Spirals." Her gaze then turns to Aja. "We will /not/ just sit on our hands, but /we/ cannot fight them alone. The other tribes, the Sept, /must/ be told, so that we can better take action against them. While I will see our cubs protected, I will not just be satisfied with that. We will Combat the enemy, those corrupted by the Wyrm. A pack may be useful, Jacob, but it could also take time to form. We may not have that time before this must be addressed."

Aja shifts her weight, stepping next to Jacob at Kenneth's words. It's hard to see if she's doing it to side with Jacob or to grab him in case the Galliard loses it. Still, her posture is relatively relaxed despite the chokingly high amount of tension in the air. "I am not saying we should run after them like headless chickens, but neither should we just surround the cubs and form defenses. Pre-emptive attacks will help us either way. We can use this to help solidify the 'pack' we keep talking so much about by working together to collect information and spread the word as Stacey has mentioned."

Kenneth takes steps forward towards Jacob, eyes burning cold. "Did I not just say, don't assume? Maybe you need to get some of that hair out of your ears, /Shaggy/." The nickname is said deliberately. "This here?" He gestures to the group gathered. "This isn't a pack. It's not even close. Maybe /you/ should go out and spend some time with the wolves and learn a little bit about lupus before you come talking about packs."

A slight trembling overcomes the Galliard now, as not only the Lord raises the tension, but now his alpha as well. It's to her his gaze comes snapping at, "Yeah Stacey? Well until one of your good and respected friends dies at /your own/ hands- don't tell me you understand how this works." The debate blurs together for Jacob as the more sensible parts of it unfold, and like a set of coded cliffnotes that point out only one side of a story, he hears accusation alone from the Lord. He bristles at the nickname, and with a scowl of teetering control he brings his hands up open palmed in gesture, and attempt, to shove the Philodox back.

Jacob's words strike a cord with Stacey, and for a moment, her expression reflects pain, more so than the others, save Kenneth, had seen on her before. Her fist clenches, starts to lift, but she lets out a growl of frustration, lowering it sharply, glaring instead. "I am your Elder, Jacob," she says, again in that low, strained voice. "And I'd have you remember I'm /not/ new to this. We all have some darkness in our pasts. But I'll be damned if you can just disrespect me like that." But when Jacob moves to shove Kenneth back, the Child steps in front of the Philodox, to be pushed back instead.

Jacob's words strike a cord with Stacey, and for a moment, her expression reflects pain, more so than the others, save Kenneth, had seen on her before. Her fist clenches, starts to lift, but she lets out a growl of frustration, lowering it sharply, glaring instead. "I am your Elder, Jacob," she says, again in that low, strained voice. "And I'd have you remember I'm /not/ new to this. We all have some darkness in our pasts. But I'll be damned if you can just disrespect me like that." But when Jacob moves to shove Kenneth back, the Child steps in front of the Philodox, to be pushed back instead.(re)

As Jacob moves to shove Kenneth, Aja also starts to move in, this time reaching out to grab Jacob by the shoulders and pull him back and away from Kenneth if she can. "Enough!" She growls out after Stacey, "We've all had our bad experiences! So why don't we just pool our knowledge instead of bring out our claws like fools?!"

Kenneth peels his lips back in an all too lupine baring of his teeth. He too is barely shaking with the unsteady control of his Rage. When Jacob shoves Stacey back into him, that brings the boiling point over. The Shadow Lord makes it all the way up to his warform, an undedicated shirt shredding to pieces with the change, before the Beast is harnessed in. Barely. Still, a snarl rips out of the philodox's wrinkled muzzle at the Galliard.

It was the least worry in his mind really; the thought that Stacey would step in place of the targetted Lord. His hands push back to strike out, and his eyes go wide as the littlest elder gets shoved into the Shadow Lord. At just about this moment is when Aja gets her own hands into the mix, and as his shoulders are grabbed, Jacob not only stops, but takes a stuttered half step back and drops down to his knees. His chest rises and falls quickly in exaggerated motion as he reins in his own rage, and while the Lord behind Stacey swells up into Crinos for that heartbeat of time, Jacob's eyes remain on the young Ahroun. Fists don't unwrap quite as easily, but in that tense moment, the Galliard turns his gaze away and tips his chin up in a show of throat to his elder. All of this done in silence only broken by the sharp intake of breath.

The feeling of being pushed is unpleasant, as is feeling Kenneth shift up into Crinos behind her. Although considerably calmer than the Lord, Stacey also shifts, up into Glabro, then steps hastily away from the dark werewolf. Her gaze lowers to Jacob, taking in his stance, and then she nods to him, accepting the surrender before she glances back toward Far-Cry. "The moon is larger," she growls after an extended silence.

As Jacob falls back down, Aja turns her attention to the rearing Crinos, baring her own teeth towards Kenneth before she hisses out while stepping in front of Jacob a bit. "Control yourself! We aren't the ones who should be fighting each other. Not one of us." Her eyes flick down towards Stacey and Aja inhales sharply through her nose, her nostrils flaring momentarily as she continues to struggle with her own lower rage. "Logic and rational. Fuck."

On the brink, the Shadow Lord can be seen trembling with an inner struggle. The silence helped, until Aja's command sharply grabs the black crinos' attention. Whatever it was, the halfmoon looks to almost do the complete opposite of the ragabash's words. The look of frenzy, for those that know it, is right there and he lurches forward for another tense moment. He stops though, foaming spittle dripping from black lips. The next few seconds pass by tensely.

Jacob brings an arm up to wipe across his mouth in attempt to draw the budding snarl off it. Aja acts now as both barricade and shield, It isn't until he gauges his elders acceptance of his posture that he moves from that position, and when he does it is slow and strained. "I could do for some air," he points out in what is truly more request than statement at this point. The surly galliard is treading carefully on this ice now.

Stacey holds up a hand to stop further words from Aja. Or really, from anyone, her own figure still tense, holding back all that rage. "Air's a good idea," she finally adds, giving Jacob permission, should he need it. Her gaze slides back toward Kenneth, then, waiting.

Standing her ground, Aja fixes her eyes on the Shadow Lord, not shifting up nor backing down just yet. At Jacob's and Stacey's words, Aja relaxes and pulls back, seeming ready to clear the air between Jacob and Kenneth, literally and figuratively. She remains silent however, shifting her weight from one foot onto the other.

As no one dares to so much as breathe a whisper, eventually the halfmoon finds his control returning. The staring eyes blink, and his claws unflex ever so slowly. His pink tongue runs out from between his fangs, and the Shadow Lord forces himself to step back as well, and to shift down. Remaining wordless, and looking a little tired even, Kenneth casts his gaze over all three Gaians before settling on Stacey. A long glance is given her before he turns away from the three, putting distance between himself and them.

Jacob pulls himself fully upright now, glancing at his elder first. It's brief, but not as brief as the glance the Lord gets. He turns to exit the barn then, slow, strained steps that only stop to turn and face Aja. The look she gets is longer, and full of gratitude. Then the door slides open and he steps out.

Lefty nearly runs into Jacob as he moves to step out. The Gnawer ragabash was on her way to opening the sliding door when it opened seemingly by itself in front of her. "Hey!" She greets, grinning far too cheerily. "I thought you might be in there. I'm back." Only after this does the perceptive fostern get a hint of the still lingering tension in the barn before her. The grin slowly fades as she gets a glance at Aja, Stacey, and in the shadows what might be Kenneth.

Stacey meets that glance from Kenneth with one of her own, then slowly lets out a sigh, sinking to sit down once more as she slowly shifts down into her homid form. She tenses again slightly as Lefty enters, but then offers a smile. "Hey, it's been too long. Welcome back."

Letting out a low breath, the Gaian Ragabash reaches up to rub the bridge of her nose, looking rather tired all of a sudden. Aja then turns look towards Jacob as he begins to walk out, catching his look before he continues onwards. It's because her eyes are still on his that Aja catches sight of Lefty. Blinking and widening her eyes, the presence of the Gnawer seems to pump new energy into her and she can't help but grin. "Lefty! You're back!"

Far-Cry retreats to the far end of the barn, seating himself on one of the haybales where he remains with his back partly turned towards the others. Lefty doesn't even so much as get a look as the Gnawer ragabash enters, though his shoulders do tense once again when she speaks in the grating voice of the jackal. Instead, the Shadow Lord busies his hands with plucking off the shirt bits left upon him.

What should have been a cheerful return home for Lefty, is heralded by a Jacob in hurried exit. His face is flushed and there's a sharpness in his gaze, and what the Gnawer gets in place of a welcome home, is a hissed slam. "Oh, you decided to come back. Home sweet home Lefty. Have at it." Then he brushes past the older Gnawer with a hard bump of his shoulder.

Lefty takes a step to avoid the worst of the brush off--physically, anyway, but she still gets bumped and her eyes shift from Jacob to Aja, and then Stacey. Her expression is both confused and somewhat irritated. It asks the obvious question without forcing her friends to endure the pain of the Jackal's Voice, 'What the fuck is that all about?'

Stacey glances briefly toward Kenneth, then lets out a sigh, running her hand over her hair. "Large moon, Spirals tried to attack the Farmhouse, long week," she says, trying to explain as neutrally as possible.

"Well, that didn't go as well as I had hoped," Aja finally murmurs as she looks at the group and how they have situated themselves. She watches Jacob's back before glancing towards Lefty, "What Scout said. Large moon, stressful week." Her fingers reach up to rake through her hair, her eyes flicking back towards Jacob's departing back as she wonders if she should follow.

Lefty lifts her chin, her expression shifting from confused and questioning to vague understanding. As all of what Stacey tells her begins to sink in, that understanding deepens. "Shit," she eventually sighs out, the squeaky grating voice removing all the softness of the exhaled word. "I have the worst timing, ever. I guess I need to get caught up, huh?"

Stacey lets out another sigh, wincing faintly at Lefty's voice, then nods. "Yes, caught up, but no, not worst timing. You're needed here. Give me a few, and maybe I can explain. Although I could sure also go for a drink," she adds with a smirk. "Of water."

"Yea? You sure?" Aja asks towards Stacey with a light smirk, "I wouldn't mind for something stiffer. Or more green." With that, she hooks her thumbs onto the hem of her skirt before she fixes her eyes on Lefty. "I am so fucking glad you and your voice is back. Some people need more than one boot up their asses." Blinking, Aja looks around before she reaches up to rub the back of her neck awkwardly. "No one here," she assures them.

Lefty blinks at Aja, but the other new moon's words are not only comforting, they're downright hilariously amusing to the fostern Gnawer. she laughs. Unfortunately, even her laugh is touched by the Jackal's Voice, and it comes out like cackling weasel. she wraps her one good arm around aja's shoulder nevertheless and adds, "I'll buy. I had a little luck while I was away and have a couple bucks in my pocket." She gestures for Stacey to follow and then hesitates, spying Kenneth again. Looking to the Gaian alpha, her question look asks her if the shadow Lord should be included.

Kenneth eventually runs out of shirt pieces to pick off, and so he stands. The Shadow Lord gathers the cloth together in a fist and starts on his way out. He sticks close to wall around the group in the open floor area, pausing briefly when Aja's comment about boots and asses makes it to his ears. Her disclaimer gets him moving again.

Stacey smiles over at the pair, then glances toward Kenneth. Her glance, the shrug of her shoulder, is her way of asking him if he wants to join, without really pressing the point. She, however, does add, "Not all that sure I want to really stray out of the area, though. Got three real new cubs here, and I'm feeling too high strung to be 'round too many folks."

As Lefty drapes her arm around Aja's shoulder, Aja relaxes a bit, seeming more than grateful that an older and more experienced Ragabash is about. "You're right, Scout. No leavin' the compound. The moon is too full and I still want to hear what the fuck Lefty has been up to." Leaning into the Gnawer's arm a bit more, Aja glances over towards Kenneth as well, but seems just as wary as when she first saw him, no more and no less. Canting her head to the side, she continues to watch him curiously.

Lefty explains, "I'm not hitting any bars with this voice. So, the farmhouse kitchen is our pub tonight, I guess." Looking between Aja and Stacey, she adds with a teasing grin, "As for 'buying', I'll replace whatever we steal out of the fridge. I double promise and cross my heart."

Kenneth catches the glances going his way, serving only to make him linger a little longer and eavesdrop on the conversation. It's when Lefty speaks though, that he grimaces at the tones and shakes his head. The Shadow Lord makes his way towards the door again, sliding it open and shut behind him without another word spoken.

Stacey watches as Kenneth leaves, then smiles over at the others. "Actually, think I'd rather run off some steam. I'll take my drink from the creek. But I'll catch up with you two soon?" Another strained smile, then she also moves toward the door.

"Alright, sure thing Scout. Just...take care, alright?" Letting out a low breath, Aja watches the two depart before she turns to look back towards Lefty. "Not much of a welcome-back party you were expectin', huh? Come on, lets go light a joint and I'll fill you in on everything." She reaches up towards her afro and puffs it up a bit with her hand before Aja glances back to Lefty as she moves to step out, offering a little tidbit to tease her with, "I got my first kiss at least."

Lefty looks slightly disappointed, but she accepts both Kenneth's and Stacey's decision with a simple nod. To Aja she offers a simple and pleased grin. "Just you and me then." The other ragabashes words widen her grin, and the size of her eyes. "No shit? Tell me more." The two disappear together, toward the farmhouse proper.

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