She is, after all, a Gnawer. But she did make an attempt to clean up a little for him.
And so it is, she arrives at his door, and lifts a hand to knock. Knuckles rap twice in quick succession, and then she waits, patiently.
[Wyrmbreaker] As welldressed as he often is, Lukas doesn't seem particularly taken aback when he opens the door to a tattered Gnawer. The Ahroun is sipping what looks like a large mug of morning coffee -- at 10pm -- and beckons her in with his free hand.
After she's in, he leaves the door ajar, tapped closed but not latched. The mug clunks down on his nightstand. He sits on his bed, motioning her to his desk chair. That's also the only chair there is in the room.
"There's coffee," he says, nodding to the coffeemaker on his desk. "Help yourself."
[Marni] She grins a little, a memory of the ready smile she had before she lost everything, before Max disappeared, and Indira died, before she was suddenly forced to remember just how bad it could be. She's better now - fighting her way back, but she's still not quite up to par.
After all, she's alone.
..ish.
She swings her pack down and drops it to the floor by the chair, and gets herself a cup of coffee, holding the mug in both hands and inhaling deeply of the scent, before she takes that first sip. There are few things so good as fresh brewed coffee.
"Thanks."
She seems a little unsure - as she settles to sit in the lone chair. Not quite sure how to start, exactly, and still off kilter, for a multitude of reasons now. Finally, as is her way, she just busts out with it. "I came to talk about.." pause, a shake of her head, a bounce of damp curls. "No, not exactly." A deep breath and. "I come to challenge you for the right to claim Ray Ostermann as my mate."
There. It's said. Can't take it back now, Marni... it's begun.
[Wyrmbreaker] The coffee, Marni might be surprised to find, is not some $30-a-pound, whole-bean, fresh-ground gourmet blend. Instead, it tastes like coffee, decent but inexpensive, the sort one might buy at your corner Peet's or Tully's, or perhaps online in one of those coffee-by-mail programs.
Still. Hot. Caffeinated. Mmm.
While Marni helps herself, Lukas sits back on his bed, leaning against the wall. His shirt is plain and white and cotton; his slacks soft and grey. His feet are bare, and the window is open a crack, letting in a thread of cool night air. Summer has been slow in the coming this year.
Then Marni lays out her request. Lukas's eyebrows hop up; it's an involuntary response. After a beat, "What's Ray think about all this?"
[Gina McClaren] [Thin walls + curiosity flaw = bad news]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8 (Success x 3 at target 7)
[Gina McClaren] *Theron's room. Gina spent more and more of her time here lately. With good reason. It seemed everywhere in the Brotherhood held a ghost of some kind. Walking its halls provided her little comfort from the dead. Withdrawn, walking the city provided little comfort from the living. The formerly sunny pikey leaned against the wall that separated Lukas's room from Theron's, listening idly to the distorted babble of voices within. Theron had gone some time ago with promises of returning later and sincere wishes to find the Silent Strider kinswoman still curled messily amidst his bedsheets. She'd smiled and waved the rogue out of the room. Now, several hours later, she found herself bored. Possessed with a need to wander that was only half satisfied trying to make out the conversation next door. Lukas and - someone she couldn't place... Bangles clink as she runs a hand through her hair and strains to hear details.*
[Marni] His brows hop up, and she can't help the slight smirk at his surprise, though she hides it mostly behind the coffee cup as she takes another sip. The surprise goes both ways, really - after all, she had expected his first statement to be no, and then a get out, and possibly some one-sided discussion of her ancestry and tribe. So a good eyebrow raise is perhaps a good start.
She scratches at the back of her neck, lightly, and then admits... "I haven't made my intention to speak to you known yet." before he protests though... "However, Mama had told In.." here, a catch in her breath, a hitch in her force... it's hard to say her name. "Indira and I - and Ray - that she intended to claim him for the Gnawers, to help take care of her tribe. For whatever reason, at the moot she did not step forward and do so. Due to some... news... I received this morning, I've decided to claim him for myself, instead."
She sets the cup down on the desk, and settles her hands into her lap, clasping them tightly. "It's not my intention to tie him down - I'm well aware of his love of all kinds of women. I know he's fond of me, and I of him. It's not love, but a genuine caring that might grow into that someday. However.. it is my intention to see that my Family is taken care of in the best possible way. Especially if something should happen to me... I need to be sure that he will be there."
[Wyrmbreaker] "Maybe Mama Anklebiter thought better of 'claiming' a kin of Thunder," Lukas replies dryly, "after she heard the exchange between Mila and I."
Fortunately for their eavesdropper next door, Lukas's back is to the wall, and the bass registers of his voice vibrate easily through the thin, thin plaster. There's a quiet -- Marni's voice more indistinct, being higher -- while he listens, reaching to scratch idly at his breastbone for a moment. By the time the Bone Gnawer finishes, the Shadow Lord is frowning.
"Wait. This isn't even a challenge for mateship? You want your Tribe to claim Ray purely to gain access to his resources?"
[Marni] She shakes her head, and drops the bombshell. Sure, she should tell Ray first - but... there are traditions, and reasons, and she's
So she just takes a breath, and lays it out... "Mate. That was Mama's intention. Mine is quite a bit more selfish - because by Family, I mean the kid."
[Gina McClaren] *Now the two were getting to the meat of things. And it would appear it was something worth listening to, one sided as the conversation was to mortal ears. Perhaps were she more wolf, she'd be able to pick up more than the odd word from Marni through the wall. Instead she's left guessing, but with key information none the less. Hooked, Gina shifts against the wall, bed creaking as she's scooting closer. This could have relevance to her own situation, if in a backwards sort of way.*
[Wyrmbreaker] Lukas's face is still.
"You're pregnant?"
[Marni] She just nods. "Yeah."
It's clear it wasn't planned - but well. Gaia has a way of throwing the best laid (...heh...) plans right in the faces of those that least expect it. "Chick at the Hill House confirmed it this morning."
[Gina McClaren] *Gina winces. Oh Ray. Sowing your wild oats out of tribe. What was it with Shdaowlords knocking people up?! A twitch of her smile dips melancholy at the thought of a child that never was.*
[Wyrmbreaker] Amongst Shadow Lords, amongst Ahrouns, perhaps even amongst Garou in general, Wyrmbreaker is frequently a level, calm, controlled presence. He listens. He speaks like he's thought every word out beforehand, in the instants between threads of dialogue. He apologizes when he's wrong. He even has a sense of humor.
None of that changes the basic fact: this Garou is the alpha of his Tribe. This Garou is a Shadow Lord, and an Ahroun, and has enough renown already to be recognized as a greater rank than he's allowed himself to challenge for. And his eyes are cold now, as cold as the paleness of the blue insinuates. They are level, and hard, and unflinching.
"Do you realize," he says softly, "that I should rip you open and reclaim what is mine?"
That hangs in the air for a moment. It's not an idle threat. Something savage moves behind his eyes: the predator judging the lay of the land, the pattern of the prey. A moment goes by, and then he straightens -- the words a little more indistinct through the wall now.
"Ray Ostermann is kin to Thunder. My kin. And for the sake of peace and unity in this Sept, I have been tolerant. I have been lenient. I have given my kinfolk the freedom of choosing who they associate with, who they help, who they take into their beds. I have been willing to turn a blind eye if one of those in their beds happens to be a Garou of another tribe. I have done all this under the assumption that those who benefit from my generosity will show proper respect for my territory."
That was loud and clear, wall or not. His territory. His.
"But there are limits, Sticky Fingers." Her name is all but spat out -- rather appropriate for the situation, all told. "You have gone far beyond them. You haven't been merely fucking around with my kin. You've been mating with him. You've mated with a kin of Thunder without any legitimate claim, any attempt to challenge. You've stolen our blood from us. You've disrespected our claims and the body and person of our kin. I am not going to accept a challenge rooted in such dishonor."
Low, that; a growl.
"Ray Ostermann stays with Thunder. And you stay away from my kin.
"And as for the cub," his eyes flick briefly to her abdomen, "consider yourself lucky that we need warriors more than I want vengeance."
[Gina McClaren] *Harsh words, clear and low. That low rumble that cuts straight to the core of a person and squeezes until it feels as though all the air in the world won't lend one the bravery to breath. Gina's not even actively involved in the conversation directly, and she's holding her breath. A shudder as she wets her lips and eeeeases off Theron's spare bed, a snake slithering away from trouble. Were it not for those cursed bangles that clink and clatter, heavy with charms for the dead. Theron's door clicks open as the kin Lukas's packmate was shacked up with slips into the hallway with a swish of skirts. (Once again Kin, but not Theron's kin. A trend in this sept, and a dangerous one.) Finally she breathes, tossing her hair back and managing.*
Jaysus Mary'n'Jospeh.
[Marni] "I will have my say, rhya..."
Her voice is soft, but there is steal behind it. She stands, and grabs her backpack, slinging it up on her shoulders before she continues. Even still, her voice is oh so carefully controlled.
"..but it will be brief. Make no mistake, Wyrmbreaker. I had no intention of this - of ever trying to trespass on anything of yours. I enjoy the time spent with Ray - and I did not do this to trap him, either. I was careful. Extra so. But.." a hitch of breath, a clench of her jaw, and she continues... "I was grieving, and he was there for me. He reminded me that my loss could be survived, he reminded me of what she would have wanted, and I slipped up - I forgot, one time. And here we are."
She takes a step and smirks, slightly, amused - if only for a brief moment. "As virile and free as he is with his favors, you are lucky that I am the first. I know others who were trying to be..."
She shakes her head, her shoulders straighten and she moves toward the door. "Ray has no purity of his blood. This child has none either. And since you dismiss me - you dismiss what this child could be as well. I trust you will inform Ray of the decision you've made for him, what you've stolen from your own and tossed aside as yesterday's garbage. Honorably, of course."
A beat, as she reaches to open the door, and then. "As for the cub, consider yourself lucky I'm far more protective of it, than of myself, -rhya."
[Wyrmbreaker] For what it's worth, Wyrmbreaker doesn't interrupt; doesn't cut Marni off. He listens -- sitting on the edge of his bed now, elbows on knees, eyes glittering, utterly savage for all his fine clothes, his civility, his eloquence.
"You already owe my tribe a debt of honor," he says as she reaches for the handle of the door. Which is ajar. Which is open far enough that everyone can see Gina outside, jesus-mary-n-josephing. Wyrmbreaker doesn't seem to care that they have an audience. "Don't deepen it by insinuating blame on my kin for your mistakes.
"As for the cost of raising the child," the human term is ironic, "if you and your tribe haven't the means to raise the child, bring him to us before you offer him to another tribe."
[Marni] She doesn't bother with the first, and simply smirks at the last.
"Not a fucking chance in hell."
And she steps outside the room, and past Gina, without another word.
[Gina McClaren] *Gina isn't the most lauded of kin. She's made plenty of mistakes, many well known to the sept at large for their far reaching repercussions. She's curious when she shouldn't be and a notorious bedhoppper to boot. But she knows better than to step into the middle of an argument when an ahroun's eyes are glinting murder, and a ragabash has a chip on her shoulder. Especially when that argument involves respect of territory, a law which she was even now, leading the full moon's packmate astray in following, slipping from his bedroom like a thief because.. well, how else was a pikey expected to move?.*
[Wyrmbreaker] Lukas's eyes go directly from Marni to Gina. One eyebrow flicks up. He sounds remarkably calm:
"Can I help you, Gina?"
[Gina McClaren] *A small brown hand slips to her collar, satin tanktop rumpled from an unexpected stay in the comfort of Theron's room. Once, she'd been overfamiliar, but hardly clingy. Now she stuck to the Theurge like a noisy shadow. The deep furrows of a clawmark play under her fingertips, brushed nervously as she shakes her head. Singsonging in that damndably enchanting and damn near incomprehensible voice.*
Nae Darlin.. .. Ye sure, mayhaps ah cannae help ye?
*A glance after Marni, then back to the Shadowlord, pikey wincing in apology.*
.. Whiskey?
[Wyrmbreaker] That eyebrow quirks a bit higher. "Thanks for the offer," he replies -- gently, or at least a good approximation thereof, "but I don't think I need help managing the affairs of my tribe. I'll have a scotch with you, though."
He gets up from his twin-sized bed, which -- college-long or not -- seems barely able to accommodate his frame. On his way out to join Gina in the hall, he grabs his key off the inner doorknob and pulls his room door closed behind him.
Hanging the key around his neck from its lanyard, he glances up the hall. "Are you living in the Brotherhood again?"
[Gina McClaren] Nae the managin o' affairs reckon ah figured ye needed elp wi. More managin tae keep a fine mood en the process. But effen scotch'll dae tha, ah'm moore'n agreeable.
*The diminutive kin steps back as Lukas prowls into the hallway. Perhaps in the world of an ahroun stalking was walking and a quirk of an eyebrow wasn't a coy offer of murder. To most kin however, full moons were somewhat terrifying. Gina is not most kin, and Lukas is not most fullmoons. Both are strongwilled, the better to deal with one another without bloodshed perhaps. Still, the Shadowlord approaches and the Strider kin gives ground. Answering his question with a resigned smile.*
Nae loves. Nae livin o the brotherhood.
[Wyrmbreaker] That stops Lukas. A suspicion twists to life, and he abruptly leans in and sniffs. A second later he's rearing back, dismayed.
"Did you just come out of my brother's room?"
[Gina McClaren] *Lukas leans in close and finds a pikey retreating. Sharply. Into the wall. There's no thought in that reaction, its not the careful step back she'd taken to give them both room to associate through the thrum of rage. Its instinctive. Run rabbit run as the Lord abruptly invades her space. Violates her calm with his sudden presence inside her personal bubble. She's all too happy when he rears back, allowing her room to find her breath, tripping over words.*
th-w, ah.. Aye. Ah stay wi' yer Theron some nechts.
[Wyrmbreaker] The Shadow Lord's cool eyes survey Gina for a moment. "I apologize for frightening you," he says then, "but believe me when I say, if I had a problem with you, I'd have the self-control and respect to go to your warder.
"Speaking of which -- is Thoth still your guardian?"
[Gina McClaren] Ah thenk sae.
*Why was it this kin never knew who the hell was warding her? Surely it couldn't be that complicated. Gina tugging at her shirt. That intimate charm is lackluster. Subdued. Woman's softness a quieter, wounded thing. Less the raucous hell raiser she'd been when Lukas had been lumped with protecting Sampson's kin.*
Nae sure effen ee's dashed oor nae. Nae fond.
[Wyrmbreaker] Lukas's arms fold over his chest; he looks away from Gina for a moment, frowning down the hall. Laundry room down there. Someone's clothes whump-whump-whumping around a dryer. He turns back to Gina.
"I'm not going to ask," he says, "because I'd like to keep believing that my packmate isn't a complete idiot. But if you and Theron are getting serious about each other, then he needs to challenge Thoth honorably. Or if Thoth is gone, then some Strider, preferably your blood-relative. Because if my own packmate knocks you up before he's formally challenged, Gina McClaren, I swear to god I'll beat you both to death with a box of condoms."
That may or may not be a joke. Quite possibly not.
[Gina McClaren] *Gina purses her lips, eyes slipping to the floor. She'd told Theron she wasn't going to hide their involvement like he was a dirty little secret. Yet apparently thats precisely what she was. A small nod. Beaten to death by condoms. She had it. It was a lateral move from Thoth throwing severed penises at her in an indignant and heartbroken rage.*
Aulrecht.
[Wyrmbreaker] One more beat of silence, the Shadow Lord staring at the Strider kin as though to gauge whether or not he got through to her. Then, with an exhale, he sets his shoulders, drops his hands to his sides.
"I think I'll drink alone tonight, Gina," he replies -- some effort, at least, at courtesy. "Thanks for the offer, anyway."
[Gina McClaren] Aulrecht. M'saerry darlin.
*Unsure exactly what she's apologizing for, but she does indeed feel like one sorry pikey at the moment. Bangles clinking as she slips down the hallway away from the shadowlord, and back to Theron's room to fetch her things.*
G'necht.
