correcting a misunderstanding.

[Sofie Janssen] It's somewhere between the busy flux of folks coming and going. Downstairs the dinner rush is slowing down. Food wafts up the stairs to the second floor where Sofie is playing a game of billiards solo. With the weather outside, this insane blizzard storm that has hit the city, the Kinfolk wasn't planning on going much of anywhere. She had already been out earlier that day and decided that was a bad idea, that there wasn't anything so pressing that needed her attention, and bunking down inside and networking with Garou and Kinfolk was the better option.

Right now, though, it's just her.

Dressed in a pair of jeans, her feet were bare, and a hoody she wore was loose and comfortable with the sleeves pushed up above her elbows. Beneath it she wore a white t.shirt, but only a hint of the material would peek out from under her collar down and again. Blonde hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, keeping it out of her face as she lined up another shot in the back corner pocket.

[Derek Anderson] He made his way upstairs after a meal at the restaurant. His steps were light, almost silent. Not even by design, simply out of habit. He wasdressed in a pait of jeans, boots, long sleeve shirt with the sleeves pulled out and a winter jacket under one arm. He was a tall, muscular man in his early to mid 20's with short blond hair, kind blue eyes and a friendly smile. He moved with grace, confidence, almost in a regal way. He wasn't dressed as royalty, btu surely there mgiht be some in his blood. His face was good looking, handsome even, his features american with still some traces of russian ancestry.

He stopped hwen he reached the top of the stairs, taking a look around before stopping his atention of Sofie "Good evening"He said, in a deep warm voice, his accent not local, but somewhere in the States.

[Sofie Janssen] Doesn't matter how silent one moves, unfamiliar stairs creak. They did so softly underfoot, covered by the sounds of the kitchen behind him. Clanging pans, beaten pots, steamers, fryers, people yelling out orders and making sure food was getting out into the restaurant - it's all very busy. Sofie doesn't hear him come up the stairs, but she feels his presence. It's not Rage, he doesn't have it, but its her own gut instincts that are honed well enough to know if it feels like someone is watching, someone is.

Paused with the cue in her hand, half leaned over the table, she turned her head and glanced towards the unfamiliar man at the door. "Hey," she greets back casually. A flick over his clothes later and she's turning back to her game, using the cue smoothly to knock clinking balls across the green carpet.

[Derek Anderson] He placed his jacket on the back of one chair, still watching her for a few seconds then looked around, taking everything about the place, trying to commit to memory every doors, corners he could see, the placement of the furniture. He won't be able ot do it with only one visit but still, he knew he could paint a pretty accurate picture of the palce after tonight,

"Would you mind another player?"He ask, stepping closer to the table but not closer to her. On hisway, he picked one of the cue and looked at it, trying to see if it was straight, waiting for her answer before actually using the table to roll the cue on, to test it.

[Sofie Janssen] While he looks around she continues to play balls across the table, aware of where he is and vaguely what he's doing, but not offering up conversation. When he comes to ask if he can play, already grabbing a cue from the rack on the wall, she looks over to him. "Sure."

Leaning her cue against the side of the table, she fetched the triangle from the hook on the wall and set it on the table. Balls were gathered and set inside it and she began to arrange the colours. "Do you stay here?" She asked, flicking a brief glance up and over at him. The girl has often been mistaken for a trueborn, just because of her eyes or the features of her face. There's something decidedly wolfish about them. One can easily imagine that nose turning black, or the way her eyes are shaped with the brows, transforming into different angles.

[Derek Anderson] He watched her with a smile. He wouldn't dare presume if she was Kin or Trueblood but she didn't give off the feeling of Rage msot did. Then again some possess less Rage than others. He let her set up the balls, tilting his head at her question "Here in the city or here in this place?" He ask her with a slight smile.

When the balls were ready, he stepped away slightly from the table, motioning her the other end of the table with his "You want to break?"

[Sofie Janssen] "Obviously you stay here in the city," she points out, "unless you're taking a flight out before midnight, and with the weather the way it is, I very much doubt that."

Picking up the triangle, she slipped it back onto the hook on the wall, leaving it to dangle and nodded for him to go ahead. "You can." She didn't seem to be very competitive or looking to take this seriously. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere up here for the time being and that was fine with her.

[Derek Anderson] He nodded with a smile and went ot the head of the table. He picked the white ball and placed it slightly at an angle with the first ball, no directly in line with it. He leaned forward, twon fingers spread, playing with the cue over his extended thumb. With a sharp thrust, he hit the ball hard and it collided with a loud CLACK with the other balls, sreading them all over the table without knocing one down a pocket.

He raised his head, looking at her as he straigten up "No I don't live here. I rent an appartment in (insert middle calss neighbord..not sure of them yet) I jsut moved here two days ago"

[Cold Victory] Lukas keeps strange hours. At 4am, he's downstairs in the kitchen -- quiet now that the bustle of day is done, quiet still before the bustle of breakfast begins -- sitting alone at the high-topped table where Garou and kin alike could grab a quick bite without sitting down in the main dining room. He has a bowl of cranberry-oat cereal, drenched in cold milk. And a copy of the Wall Street Journal, folded into quarters, turned to the business forecast pages.

When Hunter enters -- here by his invitation and request, he looks up. Lukas looks freshly showered, hair wet, clothing beyond casual: white undershirt and thick lounge pants. He waves with his newspaper, crunching down a bite of cereal.

"Hey, Hunter. Want a late-night snack?"

Apparently this wasn't breakfast after all.

[Sofie Janssen] [since we're set earlier in the evening, we'll move.]

[Cold Victory] [aw, no! i was gonna go join you guys after this scene wraps :] ]

[Cold Victory] [i can just set my scene earlier. lukas has no schedule *LOL*]

[Sofie Janssen] [Aw, well. I put it after dinner that's why I'm in Night, not Now. :) ]

[Cold Victory] [okay, that works for me! just change Lukas's last post to "Want dinner?" -- while eating cereal. *LOL*]

[Sofie Janssen] Standing back, she watches the other take his shot. The balls go skittering across the table, clicking their way into various locations and coming to stand still. Too bad he didn't knock any in. She moved over to the white ball, glancing over the arranged, studying whether the option was better to set some up or sink.

"Hell of a time to move into a city." Sofie jests about the terrible weather outside. "How you liking Chicago so far?"

Leaning a palm against the edge of the table, she uses the knuckle of her raised thumb to balance the cue and takes a slow shot, hitting the edge of a ball and sending it towards the corner pocket, where it sinks in.

[Hunter] Sometime after dinner Hunter stops by the brotherhood but he is because he has orders amongst other reasons. He enters through the alleyway with one hand stuffed into his coat and the winds are heard screaming at his back upon his entrance. It all goes quiet when that door closes behind him. Silence and the crunching of a pork chop or something other decidedly delicious looking piece of meat.

Does he want dinner?

His response is slow, cautious. This seems rather odd. "Already ate thanks though." He offers the superior wolf and flicks a look towards the stairs and then the doorway into the bar. It's busy out there, not so busy that Lukas and Hunter can't hear themselves, but the remnantsof the dinner time patrons voices mask anything said within the confines of the kitchen.

"Ya' wanted ta' see me?"

[Derek Anderson] Hewatched her play with a smile and shrugged at her question "Can't say I have visited the city much yet with the weather, nor could I really pick when I could move. Jobs transfer are like that. But I'm used to the cold. Pittsburgh is ont the warmest place on her."

He say with a grin, moving out of her way when she look for another angle to hit her next ball. He was homding the cue straght along his body, one end on the floor. He wan't playing with it or twirling it, jsut holding it, looking prerfectly at ease in this new surroundings.

[Sofie Janssen] Chuckling quietly, she had to admit that was a good comeback to her earlier remark. She can appreciate that. "What's your job?" The girl was full of questions and not afraid to ask them, even of a stranger.

Moving around the table, she canted her head to the side as she debated her options before lifting the cue again. Her hand moved just past half way and gripped it firmly. Her next shot was also soft, not smacking balls across the place, coaxing them instead and sliding two balls to separate.

[Cold Victory] "Yeah." Lukas takes a last bite of cereal, crunches, swallows, and then sets his spoon down. The quick swipe of a napkin across his lips is reflexive, the byproduct of a strict and cultured upbringing. Even like this -- eating cereal in what may as well be pajamas -- there's an unconscious sort of courtesy, a grace in his movements, the placement of his utensils.

"Earlier on, at Kora's, you didn't look happy when I mentioned Simon might be asking Kora's pack for help." He sets his newspaper down, turns his hand palm-up -- a gesture of invitation and question. "I just wanted to know why."

[Derek Anderson] He smiled at her question and moved to pick his target. He looked into her eyes as he answer with a slight grin "Promise not to run away?"He say with a pause "I'm a cop, detective actually" He say, watching her reaction before leaning forward, aiming and hitting his chosen ball with accuracy and it went directly into the desired pocket.

He straighten up, moved and went to pick another one. He looked at the table fror a long time. He chose one of the balls further down but in direct line with the white ball, instead of closer "easier"shots that would need a small rebound from the of the sides. He lined the shot and hit the ball precisely, pocketing it.

[Hunter] He's silent, it must be unsettling for some who know him better to see him like this lately but things change, people change. He waits patiently for Lukas to ask his question or voice his thoughts - whatever the reasons he brought him here were - and then thinks on the question. It takes him a second or two to respond and when he does it is with his own question.

"Can I speak plainly?"

[Cold Victory] "I wouldn't have asked you if you couldn't answer freely," Lukas replies.

[Sofie Janssen] Sofie didn't look impressed. She didn't gush over the idea that he's a detective. Whatever expression he was looking for was, well, mild. "Oh yeah?" A small raise of her brow came with the question and she gave a small nod, watching him right back.

"You work for a certain like.. . I don't know, what do you guys call them? You work for like some drugs, or sex offenders, that sort of thing, or just some sort of general detective?" Sofie doesn't have a clue what she's talking about really. Detectives are big city folk.

[Hunter] "It sounded like you were suggestin' I wouldn't ask for help, n'from what I hear outta Simon he was thinkin' tha' same thin'." The reply is immediate after the acknowledgement of free speech from Lukas.

[Derek Anderson] He smiled at her reaction. He wasn't really expecting her to be impressed. He actually never liked when people reacted strongly to his job, eitherin a good or bad way. That's jsut who he was after all. SOme people a ccountants, nurses or mecanics..he was a cop. "And detective is my rank. I got promoted from officer to detective recently" There was a touch of pride in his voice. After all he made detective pretty quickly. He didn't expect her to know how hard it is to become one, or the usual lenght of time it takes. Doesn't stop him from being proud of his acheivement.

He moved to hit one of the balls for a banked shot. He hit it exactly were he wanted to, but he miscalculated the rebound and the ball wet to stop near the pocket, a little to the left instead of in it. He offered her a smile and shrugh, as if saying well..your turn

[Cold Victory] A brief frown flickers over Lukas's brow. He shakes his head.

"You read too much into it," he says gently. "I wasn't suggesting that at all. I'm pretty straightforward, Hunter. A lot of my tribesmen don't understand that, but I've always believed having the strength to say what you mean, good or bad, is a truer sort of strength than hiding behind lies and innuendo.

"I said what I said because Simon's the Wyrmfoe, and he's already let me know that he might call on others for help. And I said it because Simon's packed under Twister with an Alpha that's stronger in song than in war. It's a lot more likely that Dark Sky will need backup before you and Joey do."

[Sofie Janssen] "Soo..." Tapping her fingers on the cue, she watched the balls play across the table again, and the way he took his shot. "That didn't answer the question. Or you're saying you're a generic detective?"

Pushing away from where she was standing, she walked around the table to view the different angles of her shots, taking her time with it. She doesn't even know his name just yet but she seems content to talk about his job and pry into that part of his life. He did offer it up.

[Hunter] "Me'n Joey n'John n'Eve." He corrects Lukas. "I made some changes, I might pick up a strider too, Sarita. Joey is checkin' her out for me."

The words from Lukas get given thought though. A shadow-lord who says what he means and values that sort of thinking. It isn't exactly an impossible concept to grasp but it isn't a common one either.

It is dismissed a second later. "Regardless, shit's fuckin' bad and I need more soldiers. So I got em', at least some of em', Last Watch helpin' wit tha' intel still, maybe offer up Roman for recon wit' Jo."

The tip of his tongue touches a canine as lips part but the gesture isn't threatening, rather it is thoughtful.

[Derek Anderson] He nodded "Yes, right onw I"m a generic one, working to be transferred into homicides. Might take a few more years, but I have a good chance of making it.I"m taking part time classes to lear forensics, so it would be a plus" He say with a smile, tilting his head as he looked at her picking her shot.

"And you, what do you do? School? Work? In between?" He ask with some interest in her story

[Sofie Janssen] "I think that would be a conflict of interest." Teeth flash in an instant grin over the table at him. "Don't you cops have to report everything you hear, even if you're off duty?"

Another shot is taken, and she doesn't seem too concerned about sinking something this turn around. Instead she's knocking one of his balls against the side with one of hers, pushing out of line with one of the pockets.

[Cold Victory] "Congratulations," Lukas offers by way of acknowledgment of Hunter's pack's growth. "I'm glad to hear the Vanguard's growing.

"Roman's a good Ragabash. And Joey recently took Alphaship of her auspice, didn't she? She should be able to rally the Ragabashes as needed. Which reminds me -- I had a task for her. A favor to ask, really. Tell her to come find me sometime when she gets a chance, will you?"

He picks up his spoon again, starting to crunch through his cereal once more. "As for Bronzeville," he adds, "Simon mentioned some sort of suspicious industrial movement. Have you found anything else?"

[Derek Anderson] He frowned at her shot. He was more or less out of straight shots. He wil have to do some more baking shots, or lock some balls form the sides and into the middle of the table. He make a sound at the back of his throat with his tongue and moved to aim for his next shot before looking at her

"Well, usually yes, but in your case and in the case of those hanging here, I have to make an exception right? Wouldn't want to try and arrest a trueblood or the mate of an Ahroun you know because of pretty thieft or unpaid parking tickets or something"He say with a grin and took his shot, knocking one of his balls from the side and placing it in the "lower"right side of hte table if where you stand for the brak is the "upper"side

[Hunter] A smile, it is forced but he doesn't try to hide that fact either when Lukas congratulates him. And Joey recently took Alphaship of her auspice, didn't she? A slight nod of the head to confirm, a rumble in his throat follows it to indicate that yes he will let Joey know that Lukas needs to see her.

"Nothin' much industrial wise, though Kora probs knows more'n me bout' that sadly. Findin' nests lately, not just sickness wanderin' in on the wind but full blown livin' arrangements for that greedy fuckin' serpent in my own back yard. I'm takin' back some land I lost over tha' next week or so. Kora thinks I should see bout' some junk yard' on king boulevard that used ta' be held but ain't no more. Probs start there."

[Cold Victory] "Do you want me to join you?" It's an honest question; more an offer than a test. "Or do you have it under control?"

[Sofie Janssen] Her laugh is low and brief. "Yeah, that's probably not a good idea," she agrees with him.

Derek is a good looking man. He looks older than her, not by much she doesn't think, but older. City wise, too, for obvious reasons. Her thoughts drift as she wanders around the table again, becoming less focused in the game and more in their conversation. It makes the game go slow.

"So why'd you transfer into Chicago? Was it just for the promotion and a spot opened up, or did you have some other ulterior motives?" Leaning her side into the table, she held her cue with the base touching the ground, gripping it gently along her side. The woman was watching him now.

[Hunter] An eyebrow raised. Hunter's lips quirk.

"Think I got it boss, thanks for tha' offer though." And it actually sounds genuine, it means something to the Gnawer that the war leader made this offer.

[Cold Victory] There's a flicker of returned humor on Lukas's face, seen more in the crinkling at the corners of his eyes and the faint tilt of his mouth than any extreme expression. "I thought you might," he says. Then, serious again, "Keep me posted. I'm more or less entrusting Bronzeville to you and Simon, so if a situation arises, come find me. Or call me. You have my number?"

[Derek Anderson] He offer her a small smile "Well, I actualyl wanted to get away from my family. My older sister is a trueblood and I was pretty involved with the Sept you know. And if felt ot me like no matter what I did, not matterwhat I accomplished, she kinda was looking at me liek a loved pet or trained monkey than her actual brother. So i asked to be transferred and there was a spot here" He shrugh "Might be stupid but I wanted ot do my thing, live my life without sis watching over me with her almost prepetual frown or her condescending smile."

He leaned against hte table, near her, but with his back to it, his head turned ot look at her "Istill want to be of help to the Spet, how could i not. But I also want to protect those who can't, that includes the rest of the city."He grin "Some say it's foolish or idealistic, but still someone has to do it"

[Hunter] This last part actually makes Hunter frown, it is probably the most expressive his face his been throughout the entire conversation. "Nah, nah I don't actually."

His hand reaches into his jacket pocket and retrieves a scratched up cellphone, he hands it to Lukas.

"Chuck it in there ye'?"

[Cold Victory] Lukas punches in some numbers and hands it back. "That's my cell. You can always ring the BroHo too and hit extension 02. That'll get my room line, though I'm not here all that often these days."

Then he finishes his cereal, lifting the bowl to drink the last of the milk. When he sets it down, there's condensation from the bowl on his palm, which he wipes off against his shirt before extending his hand.

"Thanks for coming down, Hunter. And -- I'm sorry if you felt slighted earlier. You want me to explain it to Kora the next time I run into her?"

[Hunter] He shakes his head, smiles.

"Nah, kora's got a head on her, she probs didn't see what I did." He looks through the door to the bar again, contemplates a drink and then decides against it. His eyes return to Lukas.

"In tha' past, I'll let ya' know if I need a strong-arm fill in next week ye'?" He grins.

[Sofie Janssen] That's not what she expects to hear. It makes her watch him closer, head turned to take in the expression on his face or the look in his eyes. After a moment of silence she leaned off the table and lifted her cue from the ground again.

It's not until she's lining up her next turn that she asks: "What Tribe are you?" His previous comments easily labeled him as a fellow Kinfolk. It also sounded like they didn't have much in common either. Sofie's trying to reserve judgment.

[Cold Victory] A faintly crooked smile, "And same back to you." Lukas gathers up his newspaper and his bowl. "I'll see you around, Burnout."

[Derek Anderson] He shook his head with a slightly amused smile "Well if you don't want to tell me what oyu're doing because I"m a cop, there are chances that you will stop talking to me when I tell you my tribe"He say, watching her with those kind blue eyes. "Well my name's Derek Anderson by the way and the Silver Fang's blood flow throw my veins"

He tell her, waiting ofr her reaction. He had a feeling that she might see his tyribe as stuck up like many do. If it's the case, well maybe she will choose not to get to know him better. Hopefully she will chose otherwise. He had a feeling they could actually become good friends despite being pssibly pretty different.

[Hunter] "Night boss." He says, takes one last look at the bar before turning around and pushing his way back out into the freezing weather in search for his own cold victory.

[Sofie Janssen] Silver Fang she hadn't expected. Glass Walker seemed to be more likely, so when he told her his Tribe, she flicked a quick glance up and over to him. "Really? You don't look like one." Not that she's had much experience with the Tribe. In fact, Sofie hadn't much experience with many Tribes. Most of what she knows is through flavoured eyes of her own blood and a bare few others.

When she sinks her ball this time, by knocking it with another, unfortunately one of his went down in another. Making a disappointed tsk against the back of her teeth, she stepped back and gave him run of the table. "I'm Sofie."

"And I'm Kinfolk to the Get of Fenris."

[Cold Victory] [k, i really meant to have lukas come up and join the scene, but the bit with hunter ran longer than expected and now i should probably hit the sack *LOL* night, guys!]
to Derek Anderson, Sofie Janssen