theron's birthday.

[Sasha Hadziosmanovic] Sasha had heard about the affair in one manner or another. He wasn't exactly the type of man that attended these sort of things regularly, but there were a great many Garou (and Kin) within the city that he'd yet to meet.

Sasha is no longer clad in the casual attire of dark denim jeans, a cotton tshirt and Doc Marten boots. Tonight finds him in a very comfortable fitting navy suit with a pale yellow shirt beneath. His hair is carefully styled in a faux-hawk and he's clean shaven.

When he enters the club it takes him just a moment to find someone to point him toward Theron's position inside E-Sixx. He doesn't come bearing a package for the Shadow Lord's birthday, instead there's a very plain and crisp white envelope in one hand.

"Theron. Salutations my friend." He says once in speaking distance of the Theurge.

[Theron Locke] It doesn't take Theron long to sense the approach of Sasha, the man's rage giving anyone advanced warning of his arrival.

Theron turns his head and greats his tribemate with a smile as he watches the man approach. "Evenin Sasha, glad you could make it. Can I get you a drink at all?"

[Sasha Hadziosmanovic] "Yes, White Russian. Here, is for birthday." The envelope that had been held in his hand is given to Theron. "So, how old today? He asks, digging a comfortable amount of cash (neatly folded) from his front slack pocket to pay for his drink.

[Theron Locke] Theron turns to the bartender and places the order "A bit of a girly drink isn't it" Theron teases when he turns back to Sasha, a grin curling his lips.

He looks at the envelope and offers the man a smile in thanks "Thanks man I appreciate it and I'm 25 years old today." As he then places a hand on Sasha's stopping him from taking the cash from his pocket "Nah put that away, open bar tonight."

As he begins opening the envelope to see what was inside.

[Leslie Chadwick] Leslie was juggling a sheet cake as she walked into the night club, there had a been a memo that someone had to pick up the cake, and well, after awhile of just staring at that memo she lost it. It just had to be taken care of and that was that. Making her way precariously around the tables and looked around. "Ugh...alright, who's the birthday boy?" She said it as chipper as a dark voiced woman could, it sounded like she had, once upon a time, smoked, heavily.

She found a place to rest the cake for a moment with a relieved sigh, as she checked the receipt, and then glanced around by the bar where everyone was.

[Theron Locke] Theron looking up from the envelope he was inspected, drawn to the voice that asks about a birthday boy "Umm that would be me." as he raises a hand to indicate who was speaking and to get her attention.

Theron is standing near the bar on the closest corner nearest the door, allowing for new arrivals to spot him easily and head in his direction. He watches the female put the cake down "So I guess that's mine? I'm Theron by the way.. Theron Locke. Who is the cake from?"

His nostrils flaring as she gets close, her scent filling his nose as his eyes take on a strange glint "It would seem that you and I have something in common , beyond you just being the bearer of gifts."

[Leslie Chadwick] "Ah, well, happy birthday, I hope you like Marble cake." The woman gestured at the cake with a grin, rolling her shoulders a little, that was a hell a walk from her cab inside the club. "The cake however...I think some of the Brotherhood kin ordered it for you, me, I just got the memo and delivered it." Leslie smiled, her nose wrinkling a little as she did so. "So, I guess it is yours."

Certainly she had expected to just dump off the cake and head out the door, but she wasn't one to be impolite. "Leslie Chadwick, nice to meet you." She held out her hand, no doubt to shake, noting the boy's expression with a nod. "However, I have to say...its not my birthday Mr. Locke."

[Theron Locke] "Hey all cake is good cake. So I'm not complaining." he inspects the cake, and then asks the Bartender to find him a knife. "Ahh well I'll have to thank them and I appreciate you dropping it off, especially if it was out of your way."

He offers her a smile "Pleased to meet you Leslie" taking her hand as he slides his fingers around hers as he claims her hand shaking it briefly before releasing it "As for your birthday that's not entirely what I meant. It would seem Miss Chadwick that you and I share a familiar connection."

[Leslie Chadwick] Leslie shook her head, "It wasn't an issue at all, " she waved a freehand dismissively as she shook Theron's hand with an executive grip. "After all, it just wouldn't be a birthday without cake, and I'd hate for anyone to go without." she laughed lightly, pulling her hand back and pulling her loose hair behind her ear.

"Ah, I see. Well, the pleasure is all mine, I suppose I wasn't aware there were members of my 'family' out here." if she was making small talk, she might as well stay a spell, she walked up to the bar and ordered herself a cocktail before turning back to Theron. "But that's more a pleasant surprise."

[Theron Locke] "Well that's good to hear. Yeah it's good to have a cake... haven't had one in awhile." and then Leslie makes a comment that has Theron taking a second glance as he raises an eyebrow. Biting back a comment as a thought pops into his head.

He was about to offer her a drink, but watches as she orders herself a cocktail.

"Quite a number of us actually, have you had a chance to introduce yourself to Lukas Kvasnicka. He is the leader of the tribe in Chicago. Don't worry it's safe to talk here it's a private function."

[Leslie Chadwick] "Oh yes, I talked to Wyrmbreaker-rhya when I came to Chicago." Leslie started to busy-body while she talked, offering to cut the cake for the birthday boy. "He seems like a pretty good guy."

[Theron Locke] "Ahh good to hear, I guess he gave you the regular drill and all that." Theron watched the kin as she moved around and busied herself as if gauging her, forming an initial reaction to her.

"Yeah he is, I'm a member of his pack. So Leslie what brings you to Chicago anyway, or are you actually a regular around these parts?"

[Leslie Chadwick] Leslie nods, "Oh yes, seemed like it was pretty easy guidelines if you ask me." She cut up some cake and started to put some of the pieces on the tiny plates that came with the order, handing the first one to Theron. She was returning the favor, giving him a quick once over before taking a piece for herself.

"Well that's nothing to sneeze at. A member of the Tribal Elder's pack. " she grinned toothily as she took a bite, "Oh me? I suppose I'm from all over the place, though my father's Sept was in Colorado...I just got back from overseas...But what about yourself? Native of Chicago?"

[Gina McClaren] *New moon overhead. Gaia's assassins and hooligans are out in force, doing her dark deeds while she looks the other way. This was the place. Gina's looking around as she enters, scoping the place with dark eyes and a merry smile. Her dress, if you can call it a dress - hugs tightly to dangerous curves, a shimmering cream color that sets caramel skin off nicely. Dark hair is brushed, long and lustrous. These are working clothes. The better to distract a man as you pilfer his wallet. It was celebrating she had in mind tonight however, a few drinks, and a good time. Bangles clink as she raises her hand above her head and waves, her voice a loud singsong.*

Happy Birthday Darlin!!

[Theron Locke] "Yeah he's like that... pretty straight forward." as he takes the plate and tastes the cake "mmm this is good"

Theron chuckles at her comment "Well yeah you could say that, Lukas' might have some comments to add though." and a strange look comes over his face then. Soon shaking it off as he answers her question "Nah not a native, from New York originally myself."

And then he's twisting his body as a lullaby singing voice fills his ears, as a broad smile cracks across his face. His eyes finding Gina "Hey Gina, glad you could make it. Fancy a drink or a slice of cake?"

"By the way this is Leslie Chadwick, one of my tribe. Leslie, this is Gina McLaren kin of the Silent Striders."

[Leslie Chadwick] "Oooh, New York, such a lovely city, I love how active it is." Leslie almost cooed thinking about it, but then shrugged, "Well, I think its quite the achievement." she pointed her fork at Theron and then licked the frosting off of it before turning with a smile at the newcomer. Giving her a wave and pushing a piece of cake in front of her.

[Iona McNevin] The New Moon. PMS time for all Ragabash. And so it was for Iona.

She came in, and looked around. Well, atleast Theron was smart enough to hold his party in a bar. In her hand was a box, wrapped in dark green foil with a light green bow. She was dressed..nice. In a pretty mint green sweater, and new black jeans, and were those heels? She had even done her hair and a touch of make-up.

Slowly she walked the room, nodding to those she know, until she found Theron. "I suppose I should be sayin' Happy Birthday, hm?"

[Asha Singh] It is a Monday night. It is the daylight savings time Monday night. Before Theron's birthday party was scheduled, the E-Sixx staff planned to throw a "DST Monday" party, with specials on Kahlua-based drinks. There are still some tattered signs of the previously planned event scattered around the club, though few enough ordinary patrons have turned up - and they have all been turned away by the bouncer at the door, with a snarled private party.

Asha is not turned away. She stands barely shoulder high to the burly man, tips up her head, and smiles at him - white teeth perfect behind her full mouth. It is late and it is dark, but she is wearing huge sunglasses that cover her eyes, and the bouncer's reflection is doubled back at him, distorted by the curve of the dark glass.

"I'm invited." the girl declares, her grin still somehow savage even when her mouth closes firmly over her white teeth. "I'm going in."

In she goes.

[Gina McClaren] Ah aulways fancy a bit o giggle water darlin. Can ye recommend one wi' a bit o' bite?

*She's all sashaying skirts and tinkling charms as she approaches, tossing a bare arm around theron's waist and molding a spiced body against the theurge. Familiar, apparently. Dark eyes look him over carefully for injuries. Garou, never in one peice. Or perhaps she was just conditioned by Get. A soft delighted smile is offered up to Leslie, cake taken with thanks. Sniffed appreciatively. She raises on her toes to speak quietly in Theron's ear, her voice distractingly pleasant.*

Ah'm nae interruptin, am ah peaches? Ah can make like a tree, gi' ye yer gift laters?

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] No line at the door tonight: just a small throng of diehards disappointed that they were being denied access to their favorite club. They fall back when Lukas, or any other Garou, goes for the door. Must be someone important, they think to themselves. Must be a V.I.P., getting in with the club closed and music still thumping through the walls. Must be some sort of exclusive party in there. Or a drug deal. Or a goddamn sadomasochistic sex dungeon, who the fuck knew, with all these scary serial-killer fucks going in. Let's blow this joint, it sucks tonight.

Inside, the bass rolls through your bones. Not much of a line at the coat check tonight, so Lukas just leaves his coat there. His jeans are deliberately distressed, his shirt deliberately rumpled. He looks sharp. He always does: it's as much part of the care he puts into himself, his demeanor, his interactions with the wider world, as anything else.

Some have brought gifts or alcohol. Lukas does not appear to be the gift-giving type, though he cuts directly for his packmate, nudging Asha with his elbow as he catches up.

"Hey." He's shouting, and barely audible. "Can you see with those things on?"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray arrives, dressed...well not for the club. A slate grey pin stripe suit covers his body as only an impeccably made suit can. He strides through the door after tipping the bouncer, who know's having him on your good side could prove useful in a night.

His casts his gaze around the room, taking in the sights and sounds of the club, and recognizing several individuals. First stop though, as with any birthday, was to the birthday boy! He makes his way through the lightly packed group and approaches Theron, his best smile plastered across his face.

"Happy birthday Theron, and many, many more to come." At that he produces an incredibly old bottle of scotch, top shelf and well aged. "To make your night a little sweeter."

[Theron Locke] "Yeah it is rather active, Chicago seems a little sleepy at times in comparison. I miss the nightlife" He comments to Leslie. "As for the compliment, I'll take it" a smile given.

Gina asks for a drink and Theron leans over to the bartender and asks for him to make something .. a sweet cherry whiskey. A soft sigh of accent as Gina slides her around his waist, the only sign of injury are the faint red marks at his neck but nothing more serious. Turning his face to her ear as he answers "Not interrupting at all." giving her a small squeeze with his arm.

Then his attention is drawn to his pack who approaches, that familiar tingle able to be sensed as she approaches. A polite nod given to his packmate "I suppose, I'm glad you could make it down here though even if you don't. But a happy birthday would be welcome from my packmate." and then he's interrupted by the arrival of his kinsman "Thanks Ray, I hope there are too" and absent-mindedly Theron rubs at his neck with his free hand. As he is presented with the bottle , a wicked grin curls at the corner of his mouth "Oh you sure do know how to makes friends Ray."

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine shows up with her elder brother in tow. The crowds don't exactly part for them like the Red Sea, but there's a definite murmuring and drawing back from the rage-hinted blond one, dressed to the nine's in pristine white figure hugging jeans and blouse; diamond earrings dangling from lobes, wrists and neck and an elaborate winter-coat with faux-fur trim thrown over shoulders.

Trailing behind her is Edward; probably slightly less regally attired than his Half Moon sister; but screaming Royalty from beneath his veins enough that one paid both the Bellamonte heirs equal attention; at least in passing. Truth's Meridian has a bottle of french champagne from her cellar tucked beneath an air; finished with a large bow. When she sees any she knows beneath the din of music and the strobing lights; she nods -- though her pathway, like her Alpha's leads directly to her pack-mates unerringly, even lacking their totemic connection.

"From my family's vineyard," she says loudly, her voice curling around; investing the Shadow Lord's ears with that touch of french. "An excellent year."

[Asha Singh] Iona has taken care with her appearance - dressed finely, brought out her heels. Asha has done no such thing -- or rather, she has taken no more care than she usually would, in dressing herself. Her clothing is fine; the finest - a well-skinny black jeans tucked into expensive black suede boots. Beneath her black coat - shed when she arrived, tossed negligantly in the general direction of the coat check, as if she were used to having someone follow her around and pick up all the pieces of her world - she wears a constructed white blouse, fitted to her lean frame, just on the modest side of sheer. There are two concessions to frippery - the handkerchief hem, and the loose lace cuffs. It looks rather like some louche young man's shirt, minus the cravat, from the 19th century.

Lukas behind her. "Hey!" The girl looks up, sharp, the chaotic array of lights in the place gleaming over the surface. She grins - oh, that grin - and, "NO!" she can't see a damned thing. Though, it seems by the unerring tip of her chin that she can at least see him. And, by the easy confidence with which she carries herself that she knows just where to put her feet, anyway.

[Iona McNevin] Iona smiled a bit and handed over the gift. A special brew of her father's reserved only for the best occassions. She then found Ray next to her, and her smile brightened more. "Hello, Ray."

[Gina McClaren] *There's a beat. A heavy thumping base rythym that has the dancefloor beckoning. It teases her hips into a sway, keeping lazy time as she nibbles at cake appreciatively. People were entering. Some she knew, some she didn't, all apparently friends of the sweet theurge celebrating his birthday. The arrival of the Fangs (Asha unknown to her) sets the little woman slightly on edge, madness and rage and more rage as the gathered garou approach. The Cherry whiskey needed and downed with a hard slam of it on the bar, dark eyes sparking as she wiggles fingers in hello to.. well, everyone. Yes. Edward included, smile in place even for him.*

Allo loves.

[Leslie Chadwick] Leslie sighs in nostalgia, but doesn't say much more to Theron, since well his real guests started to file in, a couple of familiar faces here and there, but not enough to really warrant sticking around. Especially not at the risk of seeming rude, after all, she was a party crasher. Not an actual invite. Just the caterer.

"Well I tell you what Birthday Boy, I should probably mosey." She pulled out a card and slipped it into the Theurge's hand. "Some other time." It takes her a moment however, to figure out where -out- is.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Then take them off!" Lukas shouts back, because apparently being in a noisy environment means you not only shout your sentences, you also speak the obvious.

Then he's making his way over to Theron, swinging his hand out to clasp the Theurge's in a sliding grasp, forearm to wrist to heel of hand. "Happy birthday, brother," he says. "Many happy returns."

[Ray Ostermann] Ray claps the man gently on the shoulder. "Enjoy it, it is your night. If you excuse me..." He was about turn away and talk to the bartender, he is stopped by Iona's presence and he turns that warm smile on her.

His eyes watching her with a knowing smile. "Iona, what a treat it is to see you here." His voice smooth like fresh honey as he raises a watches her a mischievous bent entering his smile.

[Ingvar Urgalti] Ingvar presses through the small crowd of humans taking the short way back out through the door, avoiding the serial- killer convention suddenly taking place inside. Occasionally a bank shot happens as one or another of the hapless plebs comes close to colliding with the stoic Magyar, and is deflected off the stairs with a well timed push.

It is, after all, a Gucci coat, and one must remain mindful of priorities.

Holding the door open, he ushers Rosanna in ahead of him, a longish, book- sized box held under one arm.

[Iona McNevin] She blushed lightly. "I dinnah think ye'd be here, Ray." She gently took his hand then kissed him softly. "But now I'm am glad tha I decided tae come tonigh'."

[Rosanna Kardos] The woman followed closely on the Magyar, head turning as she glances around the parking lot and then towards the crowd as they slip in through the front door. A hand pressed to the small of her back to usher her first inside.

She tucks her clutch purse under one arm, strappy high heels adding a few inches to her already tall height, providing her an advantage to see over the crowds as they entered the club. She says nothing, moving with quick steps to stay up with Ingvar as they made their way in. A short black cocktail dress, strapless hugging the contours of a curvy frame, and diamond hoop earrings and bracelets catch the light as they cling to her ears and cover her wrists.

[Ray Ostermann] Ray gives Iona a wink after the brief kiss and gestures about to the gathering garou and kin, like it was some grand spectacle that was a rare event, that could not possibly be missed. "How could I even conceive of missing the birthday of a fellow Tribe member, or the chance to mingle with so many lovely ladies such as yourself, come to pay the man of honor his due respects."

He motions to the bartender and orders a scotch on the rocks, for himself and the drink he saw Iona drink the previous night. "Lovely ladies such as yourself of course."

[Edward Bellamonte] "Happy birthday," Edward adds to his sister's greeting, all hands in his pockets, all devil-may-care, all playboy-rogue charm tonight. He's made a call, invited someone to join him here - Kate knows, though no one else does yet. Just in case, you see - Edward is wary about these things. One never knows, and all that - it's not the same as a sudoku or crossword puzzle, as a thing to be figured out or put together. It's a completely different kind of mystery.

There's a smile from Gina that gets returned with nearly a schoolboy sort of guilt - things had gone poorly there, of course, but there's no need to air that here and now.

Edward is, in fact, dressed quite well for the occasion - in a suit that his sister no doubt chose for him, button down shirt and a loosened tie, though his hair is in disarray, and it's quite possible he forgot to shave this morning.

[Iona McNevin] He knew how to make her smile, and she did, quite brightly now after she had followed him to the bar. His comment made her soften. "Tis a good thing I am nah tha jealous type, love." She sipped her wine, glad he remembered the kind she liked.

[Asha Singh] "NO!" Asha will not take her sunglasses off. She continues, all shouty-like as the pair of Ahrouns reach the bar. "I LIKE THE WAY THEY LOOK." There is something - silky, something confident, something smug in the girl's grin - which opens up after that as they reach Theron. She does not shake the shadow lord's hand. She does not call him brother. She does, however, swing a bottle of something up onto the bar. "Happy birthday!"

The glass is dark, the liquid clear inside and - horror of horrors - the seal has been broken open, with perhaps an eighth of the contents consumed. The writing on the label is wholly incomprehensible. There is no English, and neither Latin nor Cyrillic letters have been used to scribe it. There is, however, however, a picture of a six-armed blue elephant gentleman riding another elephant, covered in finery, on a fading blue-printed sky behind it.

Gift giving complete, Asha hops easily up onto the bar. Yes - hops up, and sits on the bar, spins around lifting her long, dark-clad legs up, and slides down the other side, flashing a brilliant, patented grin at the startled bartender. She continues, still kinda shouty, "WHERE IS THE BLENDER?"

[Theron Locke] Theron picks up that unmistakeable french accent and he gives Kate a smile and his hand wraps around the bottle and places it on the bartop "Thanks Kate and Edward, much appreciated. I'll be sure to savour it."

He watches Gina slam down the drink with a grin, leaning in to Gina's ear as he whispers "Once I've thanked people for turning up we can go dance."

A nod is given to Leslie "Awww okay then, stay if you want too though. Plenty of room about." and then a card is slipped into his pocked "Okay another time" he says with a firm nod and smile. Ray excusing himself as his attention turns to his packmate. Eventually approached by his Alpha, responding to the man's hand as he returns the grasp "Thanks Lukas, I appreciate it."

Distracted as a bottle of something comes flying past him and his attention flicks back to find his potential packmate hopping up onto the bar, shaking his head with a bemused smile. "Evenin Asha... glad you could make it."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas finishes his well-wishes with a solid clap on Theron's shoulder, then turns away to let Theron respond to his other guests. There's Asha, shouting about blenders and sunglasses; Lukas gives the bottle a curious moment of study.

"Well," Lukas says -- shouts -- reasonably, "they do convey a sort of housefly chic, if that's what you're going for."

[Ray Ostermann] "Or I might have walked away tonight without a face to see with hmm?" Ray jokes with Iona as he downs a portion of his drink, savoring the taste with a indulgent sigh.

When the rowdy and bombastic woman in her glasses hops up onto the bar, he can't help but take in a eye full and chuckle at her antics, who couldn't find her activities at the very least amusing and at the very most quite attractive.

"Tell the tender to bring out the biggest blender imaginable, tonight anything less won't do." He says up to Asha, that award winning grin flashed her way, before he looks out at the growing crowd and leaning against the bar, casually, despite the rage filling the room to the brim.

[Gina McClaren] *There's kissing and clasping and congratulations, and Gina nods. Dancing was an excellent idea. The caramel sensation bumps Theron with her hip, gives him an easy grin, and backs up with cake in hand. Hopping up onto the bar to settle with a flash of thing and dangling feet. Klunk-ka-klunk, high heels OFF. She's surprised immensely as Asha mounts the bar at nearly the same time, offering the intense woman an easy laugh and a grin.*

Well.. Allo! Best seat en the house darlin.. Asha es et? Ah'm Gina.
Lukas! Yer voice es better!

*All holler. All the time. But with a voice like that, she could sing an EmineM song and still sound heavenly. Another holler to the bartender.*

Somethen spicy an' bitter?

[Leslie Chadwick] The kin laughs, and nods, maybe she would loiter about, but she didn't want to be in the way, especially among so much mixed company, instead she sort of hovered towards the door, trying gracefully to keep out of the way.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Yeah," Lukas replies to Gina, "and not a moment too soon." Leslie: heading out. Lukas: raising his chin and his eyebrows at her, a sort of voiceless hello-goodbye all in one. Back to Gina, then. "I met one of your tribe the other day. Sent him your way. Did he find you yet?"

[Gina McClaren] (lets be clear. she's flashing THIGH not thing. Whatever thing might be.!!!))

[Iona McNevin] She giggled softly and leaned in to whisper to Ray. "She is nah even 18." She laughed a bit and sipped her wine. "I was wondering, if'n ye would go tae tha bonfire with me?"

[Coraline Emerson] She is not bedecked in diamonds. Nor, it shall be noted, does her clothing bare any sort of designer label. Which is not to say that it is all knock-offs and trash' not at all. But in the fashion world of degrees she dwells on a lower spectrum than most around her.
In truth, she's forgotten all too much of this kind of lifestyle and it would be a stretch to say she ever really indulged in it often even in her university days. She wore a dress, then, a black baby-doll affair, short and flirtatious of skirt, empire waist, the bodice more than well filled out. [she's recently discovered the latest achievements of Victoria's Secret. she approves.] A hint of sequins here, a swish of chiffon against sateen there. The coat she'd left at the front had saved her upper body well enough: Her stockinged legs were absolutely beastly freezing. Heels, yes, though they are attached to zip-up boots because pumps just aren't her thing.
Moving with a stride that is graceful only in its quiet command. Self-awareness that is nothing at all like self-consciousness. [yet?] A relatively plain-face. A figure that is all real curves on a tall frame. Softness over something more tempered. Her hands are empty. Like the little drummer boy, she has no gifts to bring. What does one give to someone one has never [bluidy] met? The heavy bass has at least ceased making her flinch slightly; she adapts well. All that is left is seeking out the person who invited her.

[Gina McClaren] Aye darlin.

*Is the over-loud singsomg. Merry. Raucous*

Name o Thoth? Left 'im sleepin o me house! Poor theng was tuckered!

*How? Why? Because of walking or other activity? She doesn't fill in details, just offers a cheeky wink and flounces her hair over a shoulder, grooving to the music on the bartop*

[Sinclair] Nevermind the fact that the last time Theron saw Sinclair, she was walking out of their shared bedroom half-drenched in his blood. He's still her packmate. And it's still his birthday. She arrives later than the others of the Unbroken, in her own glossy green El Camino. The lot is nearly empty. So is the enormous club belonging to one of her moon. Sinclair blinks at that when she comes in the doors, dressed in -- what anyone can see when she's at a distance and it's dark -- something sleeveless and something short.

Her eyes scan for her pack. And then she throws up her arms, lets out a loud WEEEOOO! and runs pell-mell across the pretty much empty dancefloor, flailing her arms over her head as she bolts towards the rest of the Unbroken.

[Asha Singh] "I do not - " let us assume for the remainder of the evening that Asha is shouting. Now, she is shouting to Lukas from her perch behind the bar. " - look like a bug." She says this without any sort of obvious rancor. She says this as if her statement could not possibly be contradicted. Though sometimes - at the right angle - she does rather look like a bug - some sort of predatory little beast, her arms and legs too long, still, for her torso - a sort of sinuous, tenuous grace evident in the minor movements.

Ray receives a flash of a grin. She looks just directly at him. And shouts. "I will!"

Then turns her big bug-eyes on the bartender before disappearing beneath the bar. An impressive array of ingredients are slowly accumulating on the bartop near the blender. Halfway through her foraging, she pops her head up toward Theron again - likely just before he takes Gina off to the dance floor, and nods to the bottle with the elaborate depiction of Ganesh on the label. "That's good stuff! You should drink it!" Then disappears again.

Somewhere, a blender whirs.

[Ingvar Urgalti] The thump and vibration of the bass pulls severe features around to scowl briefly at an artfully arranged stack of speakers. It had been a very, very long time since the hard man had been inside such an establishment and it shows. The jangle and snap of Rage is sharply banked, kept from the fore of his mind as he makes his way to Theron and cants his head. At least the percussive thrust of his voice makes it across the distance smoothly enough.

'Enough' under such circumstances, not necessarily meaning 'ideal' or even 'adequate'

"Happy Birthday, Cousin.."

ingvar holds the box toward Theron, cradled in both palms. Poured gold eyes glint in something that seems awfully similar to sincerity as he rumbles. "May there be many more. Enough that grandchildren swarm your house, yes?"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray turns his attention back to Iona and considers her question for a moment, his tumbler held before his mouth. "I've heard about it, when is it? I haven't bothered to ask about the details, I'm not usually one for bon fires."

He says with a casual shrug, it really shouldn't be unusual that its not his thing, his idea of a bonfire is a nicely contained fireplace not some great roaring thing out somewhere in the cold forest.

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine takes up a spot at the bar as Asha ducks beneath it and sets to work foraging beneath it. The Silver Fang elder leans over, resting on her elbows. "Asha, are you quite sure you're old enough to be behind there?"

[Gina McClaren] *Eyes narrow as Sinclair whoops and rushes towards the bar to greet Theron. Pikey wary, dark eyes slipping from the Galliard in order to take in the new faces. Ingvar's rumbling voice and distinct accent getting a further narrowing of her gaze. Russian or Hungarian? It mattered. She nibbles cake, and downs another shot. At this rate, she was going to need several. Ankles swing, bangles clinking on the pretty gypo. Still Katherine gets a quirked grin, shot slammed down on the bar with barely a grimace.*

[Edward Bellamonte] Ed is, for the moment, with the rest of the Unbroken - not the tallest, not the best looking, not the shortest, not the anything-est. He is, in fact, pretty [completely] average in things physical.

He's also watching for a new arrival, so when she gets there, it's not long before he notices and gives her a wave, the better to draw her over to his pack. (Except for his sister, who's wandered to the bar.) When she gets to them, she gets a smile [more genuine than most have seen in a long time] that fades away in short order as a hand falls to the small of her back [protective]. "This is Cora," he says, to whoever's still there.

[Iona McNevin] "Tis thih' comin' Saturday in tha woods. There will be drinks, food, an' games. An' there are plenty o' places in tha woods tae disappear ...." Her fingers played with his lapel. "Fo' alittle fun, love."

[Rosanna Kardos] She glances around, looking at the crowd. Faces she didn't know swimming past her eyes as she fell quiet. A nod given to Theron as the gift was presented. Rosanna stands back, arching an eyebrow with interest.

[Marni] So, here's how it works. A party means one thing: Free food. Free food means one thing: Gnawers will show up in droves. Or at least in short cute curly haired and stacked packages named Marni.

How she heard about it is anyone's guess. How she got in is anyone's guess. Why she bothered to come is obvious, as once she enters the bar, she's making a beeline for any snacks that might be pilferred...

Which means she walks past Ray at some point, and pinches his ass on the way by. She doesn't stop moving though, as there's food in here somewhere, and she's gonna find it.

[Asha Singh] Gina gets the first drink. Asha does not serve her from the blender, fortunately. Instead, she pops up again and blithely opens the bottle she's just gifted to Theron, finds the fanciest glass she can find in 2.3 seconds underneath the bar and sets it on the bartop. Then Katherine is addressing her, something about old enough and Asha grins wide at Katherine, pointing at her left ear with her pointer finger, miming the universal I CAN'T HEAR YOU sign.

She procures another fancy glass - Martini glasses, with crooked stems that make the bowl of the glass itself look cantilevered and architectural - and places it in front of Katherine. And pours. From Theron's birthday bottle, pushing one glass to Katherine, and another to Gina before returning the present she's so far sampled and stolen quite deftly. Somewhere in there, she confirms her name with Gina, mutters a laughing curse in a language that only the pair of them are likely to share - if, indeed, they have even that in common, then pushes the remaining 5/8 of the bottle of back toward Theron and disappears again beneath the bar.

[Sinclair] It isn't Theron that Sinclair goes to first. She all but runs into Lukas, headbutts his chest, then whips around and backhands the Theurge across the shoulder. "I didn't get you a present. However!" One finger in the air like a lash. "I will teach you how to not embarrass yourself so very, very deeply in a physical altercation --"

oh is that what that was?

"-- in the future. Because. Seriously." She pinches his bicep. "Seriously."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Sure," Lukas placates without any sort of obvious sincerity, "of course you don't."

Then she's gone, ducking behind the bar to blend something up. Lukas turns back to Gina -- entirely too much of a gentleman to smirk at any mention of activities. Nope, that's not a smirk: just a smile, and a nod. "Good! I'm glad to hear that."

He doesn't mix a drink. He doesn't know how, anyway. He grabs a scotch from one of the upper shelves -- that height comes in handy, after all -- and sidesteps a whooping Sinclair as he pours, bottle to glass, both suspended midair. Edward introduces his date to whoever's listening, which happens to be Lukas, heading over to find out just that answer.

"Cora," the Shadow Lord repeats, "it's nice to meet you."

Though both of the Unbroken are dark-haired, that's where the resemblance ends. In Edward's friendly, somewhat soft features, there's nonetheless an unmistakable air of blue blood, the royal and ancient lineage of western europe. In Lukas's face, something else entirely. Cutting, pale blue eyes scan his brother's date, then turn back to Ed. Lukas's smile is almost jarring: unexpectedly charismatic, warm.

"What the hell, Edward," he complains goodnaturedly, "you haven't breathed a word about your friend."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [ack!]

-- and somewhere in the middle of that, Sinclair, despite Lukas's best efforts at sidestepping, manages to headbutt the Ahroun. His hands are full, bottle, glass, but he briefly hugs her anyway. "Hey," he says, which is all he has time for before she's gone again.

[Coraline Emerson] There is instinct at play here and she is usually [at times eerily so] well attuned to that intangible weight of intuition. At the moment it is conflicted: This place feels unnatural given from whence she hails, more so it feels all bout festering with Rage. She picks out Edward a tic before he notes her arrival and waves. Forward momentum pushes her along until she is at his side and the warmth of his hand at the small of her back becomes something like foundation. There is goose-flesh along her bare arms: It has nothing to do with an actual chill. The club is quite warm. She isn't shivering; not cowed nor cowering, but to say that she seems to...fit in, ah, now, that would be stretching it. Still, Edwards smile is answered with a crooked one of her own, and a muttering through one side of her bow-formed mouth, something momentarily vivid in moss-green eyes.
Lukas gives his greeting with charisma and good nature and she responds with something far more hushed, but nonetheless genuine. Her smile is real, if nothing else. There is reserve there, but not aloofness. Quietness but not of the delicate damsel. "Same to you... ah, are you the Man of the Hour, then?"

[Ray Ostermann] "I can make no promises Iona, but ill see what i..!!" *He would have finished but he jumps slightly as his ass is molested by the passing gnawer, to whom he flashes a dirty smile and shakes his head, hand absently rubbing where she had pinched.

"It's nice to see you too Marni!" He calls after her, and he almost starts to walk after her, but he stops, not friendly to just walk away from Iona.

[Theron Locke] Theron relaxes against the bar as he watches people meet and mingle. He watches with a small chuckle as Sinclair makes her presence felt as she is making her way towards them.

Turning to Asha behind him "So what is it ?" as he locates a glass and begins pouring himself whatever is contained in the strange bottle. Once that task is complete, he turns back to the club to find Ingvar approaching him. An eyebrow raised with interest as he's greeted.

"Thanks cousin, I'm glad you could make it. I hear congratulations are in order for yourself as well. I hear your challenge was successful." Taking the gift as it's presented to him and he opens it "Oh why thankyou Ingvar" as he fingers the cufflinks and gloves . A strange look over his eyes as Ingvar makes his final comment "Yes indeed, especially as war soon approaches.. but now is not the time for that." A smile as he turns to Rosanna and returns the nods given, politely.

And then he is letting out an "Ow!!" as his pack sister backhands him across the shoulder. He can't help but chuckle and shake his head at her comment "I will look forward to more of our lessons. Hey!" as his arm gets pinched "Well yeah... I could probably do with some physical training. I'll look forward too it."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Nope," Lukas replies, steps back and turns, indicates Theron with the bottom of his bottle. "That would be Theron. I'm his brother." The bottle clunks onto the bartop; Lukas offers his hand. "Lukáš."

[Iona McNevin] She nodded, and leaned in to kiss him softly. "I unda'stand, love." Then she giggled at Marni. "Go, Ray, have fun. Ye are't mine.....well yet." She winked.

[Sinclair] Sinclair balls up her fist and punches Theron on the shoulder. "Just a bit. Happy Birthday, man. Try not to get killed this year. I'm getting a fuckin' drink," she tosses it, and goes towards the bar, all but vaulting over it to join Asha before leaning idly on the counter. "So," she drawls, "what are we doooing?"

Closer up now, the others can see that Sinclair is wearing a black t-shirt with
HARDER
BETTER
FASTER
STRONGER
down the front in ragged green lettering. The sides and sleeves of the tee have both been torn, fringed, and knotted back together with green ribbon. It looks obviously hand-done, but actually the handiwork is rather good. She's dressed up, for her, and clearly not interested in what's considered fashionable or suitable for the locale. Her skirt is short, tight, and worn over black fishnets. God only knows what's on her feet, but it's too dark to see. Her gloves are black, and they didn't come fingerless but they sure as hell are now. There are pentacles painted on the palms in white.

As a joke.

[Edward Bellamonte] "It's Theron's birthday," Ed says helpfully, as a gesture finds his other packbrother. "He's just there. Lukas is one of my oldest friends. And Cora is . . . special," he says with a raised eyebrow look at the woman at his side. There are things he hasn't said, of course. "And I did say we needed to get together for drinks. This just happened first, is all."

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine's fair brow arches, smilingly and she accepts her drink with a small toast to the young Ahroun and an unspoken admonishment to behave herself in the mode of an eye-roll. Then, still smiling, drink in tow she drifts back toward the gathered surrounding Theron. The fair Half Moon's coat is carefully shrugged off and lain over a chair and she returns quite in time to witness Cora's introduction and to swarm up beside her sibling; framing Cora in a cozy pocket of warm, emanating Rage.

Pale eyes sweep the Kinswoman.

"Enchante," she says, her voice barely audible. "You are the one I've heard so very much in regards to."

[Gina McClaren] *Toddy wine! Gina accepts the drink from Asha in thanks, laughs at a turn of phrase she knows is terrible only by the inclusion of a few word's Uncle Yann had snapped at her time and time again. Bare feet rub together, lighter toned soles toughened by years of walking hither and yon with a cursed ragabash, and now, on her own. She offers her half eaten cake to Asha, and by default, Katherine as well. A full peice not condusive to the ass shaking she fully intends on doing shortly on the dancefloor. Cora is getting the meet and greet, looking somewhat, well ..uncomfortable. Gina offers her a sympathetic smile, hoping to ease a stranger's apprehension. Sometimes all it took was someone friendly and not brimming with supernatural anger. Then Sinclair is vaulting over the bar and its Gina's turn to look uncomfortable, slipping to the ground with a jingle of charms, and moving towards Theron's side once more, teasing as she tugs on the Shadowlord's shaggy hair.*

Good turn oot darlin.. Yer a popular bloody felly, aren't ye?

[Marni] She whips her head to look back at Ray, her dark eyes and lopsided little knowing grin just filled with mischief as she lifts a hand and blows him a kiss. "Surprised you recognized me...." clothed she means. She doesn't say it though, though the grin she flashes him is completely unrepentant.

...and then she spies the food table and she points in that direction in a 'I'ma be over HERE' kinda way, and she makes a beeline to the table. She wastes no time in piling up a little plate until it's overladen with all sorts of yummy looking items.

[Ingvar Urgalti] It is enough. Precisely so, in fact. With the ease that comes to any philodox, Ingvar seperates himself from the easy banter and pack dynamic continuing to unfold around the Theurge and retrieves two shots from behind the bar. Both are dark, powerful, and vaguely smell of licorice.

"Chushmya-" The word thrust toward Rosanna as he taps a shot to the bar in front of her. raises his own, vaguely in Theron's direction. "Egeshegedre"

With that he tosses the contents of the small glass back, clearing his lips with a flash of teeth before canting an eyebrow at the eyeballing gypsy.

"Ready?" He looks back to Rosanna.

[Ray Ostermann] Ray lets out a bright laugh as he bows to Iona. "Not yet...no you are right. I will be back, you can count on that." At that he finishes his tumbler of scotch and steps around Iona with one last look before proceeding along the bar to the gathering of Gina, Asha and Sinclair his debonaire smile flashing up at them as he watches them..work? play? become incredibly drunk? eitherway he pipes up. "Ladies, what is the special tonight? What are your devious minds concocting as we speak?"

[Asha Singh] "YOU HAVE TO GUESS." This, to Theron, with an extra bit of shout in it because Asha is working now. The bartender is allowed to draw draft beer and pour the odd shot, but otherwise he has been displaced. The blender runs, and runs, and runs. There is a tray on the counter set beneath the bar, which is gradually filling up with multicolored drinks. Well, multicolored in that they have become brown from all the colors running together.

Sinclair vaults the bar to join her and sees: two filthy blenders, seven different bottles of contrasting alcohols, every sort of citrus wedge or fruit chunks - pineapple, peaches for blinis, melon and maraschino cherries for topping drinks - a whole armory of plastic swords and a beach full of paper umbrellas. As the Galliard joins her, Asha lifts the lid from the blender, carefully, while it yet whirs. A gout of liquid churns up, spattering over the bartop. Asha dances neatly out of the way as the contents rain down around them.

"We're making drinks!" she declares, setting three or four of her initial creations up on the bar for all and sundry. They look like liquid mud pies, and are topped by an exotic array of fruit slices speared with plastic swords. In short: delicious. There is a wide, flashing sort of grin then - "I'm experimenting!"

[Sinclair] Sinclair gets splattered with an alcoholic slush. All over her pale hair. All over her face. All over her neck and shoulders. She's stunned. And suddenly cold. And a bit of the sludge runs down under her shirt and she yowls like an animal with its tail pulled.

"CHRIST."

[Coraline Emerson] A hand offered and a hand taken. His the larger and the stronger; hers deftly built and barring the juxtaposition of smoothness and firmness that are old callouses. She has nothing to prove in her grip and nothing to hide either. That she cannot quite hold his gaze for any length of time that would accommodate scrutiny is something she's slowly - slowly - becoming used to. "Lukáš." Her own accent marks her as a foreigner, which is perhaps why she's able to mostly manage the way he accents his own name. "A plea--" Edward is speaking, though it isn't because of that that her words cut off.
More heated Rage [at play or not, a predator is still a predator]; expensive and exquisite scents. She is framed, yes, but here and now it is something like framing the Mona Lisa while beside her stands a Venus. A blink. A glimmer of stray memory. Then, "I suppose I would be, yes... Katherine? It's good to finally meet you." She might say more, but she's having to strain her voice as it is to be heard in this setting. So, instead, in quite the European manner, she turns and leans in to touch her cheek to each of the other woman's.
The fine hairs beneath her dress are standing on end. Over Katherine's shoulder she spots Gina's look and smile and briefly closes her eyes before moving back slightly, reclaiming some personal space, her smile light but unwavering.

[Rosanna Kardos] "Happy Birthday, Theron." She offers to the Theurge, flashing him a pleasant grin, "Hope you enjoy the gift."

She moves to the bar, head snapping up at the sound of that word which snares her attention immediately. She picks up the shot, tossing it back as her eyes crinkle up, nearly closing. She clears her throat, slamming the shot glass back down and draws the back of her hand across her mouth.

She grins at Ingvar, "Yes."

[Iona McNevin] A nod, and a captivating smile she rarely gave anyone. But one was given to Ray as he looked one last time to her. Then she slipped onto a stool and sipped her wine, watching the crowd, and feeling very clausterphobic.

[Marni] She blinks as the blender takes a life of it's own and splashes Sinclair, watching for a moment before just chuckling and shoving a mini quiche into her mouth, adding one to the WAY filled plate and then hoping up to the chair at the table closest to the food table. Because she's a Gnawer, and that's what is expected. And also because she's fuckin' STARVING. It's been like.. 4 whole hours or something.

She watches Ray for a long moment, and then lets her dark gaze slide over at all the other folks in attendance too. She's only met Theron in passing once or twice when shes invaded Princess Kate's loft, but it's clear he's the birthday boy as everyone says something to him.

....a present. Hm. She wrinkles her nose, slightly, and considers the possibilities - all the while working her way through the plate of nibble worthy foodstuffs.

[Asha Singh] Sinclair cannot see Asha's eyes. Because they are hidden behind giant sunglass that look like nothing so much as the many-lensed infindecahedron eyes of a giant housefly. Still, the girl's eyes widen as Sinclair howls. When the yowling is done, she hands Sinclair a bottle of Tequila, and a bowl of limes.

"Here. Have a drink!"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray, the brave man that he is picks up one of the drinks and raises it up in salute to the women, before taking a drink. The mixture is bizzard, and probably incredibly strong, so much so that Ray almost coughs as he finishes sampling it.

He laughs as he wipes his lips and looks up to the women gathered. "I think you can call this one the 'no man standing' If you keep churning these out nobody will be walking home tonight."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Pleasure's mine," and behind him, a geyser of alcoholic slush explodes. "Jesus." Lukas puts his drink down, goes to lean over the bar,

and bellow: "HAVE YOU EVER USED A BLENDER BEFORE?"

[Katherine Bellamonte] "Mm," Katherine raises her glass to her lips and takes a sip. Her eyes water, and she calmly forces the swallow, her lips curving at one corner in her irresistible, seductive expression of coy interest at Cora as she leans in and exchanges kisses with the Philodox. "The pleasure, I assure you, is all my own."

Her pale eyes leave Cora's face for a beat to rest on Edward's own, her smile gleaming back at him like her eyes when the strobe lights catch them. [cat with a mouse; tiger flexing claws].

[Theron Locke] Theron chuckles at Sinclair "I'll try.. I make no promises though" watching as she disappears up onto the bar.

He watches the interactions between Ingvar and Rosanna with interest and then he receives a birthday greeting from Rosanna "Thankyou Rosanna....I'm sure I will. Though..." he lets the rest of the comment drift off "Thanks for stopping by both of you. " acknowledging it seemed the philodox was keen to leave.

He hears his name being mentioned and his attention is drawn back to Edward and his Alpha " Nice to meet you Cora" as he extends a hand.

Feeling the contact of Gina returning to his side, his arm returning to her waist as he guides her closer. Grinning as she tugs on his hair "Yeah a very good turn out... and it seems so doesn't it. Though some might think too popular."

Just as there was a crash and splash of liquid, twirling on the spot to look up at Sinclair covered in the contents of the blender. The Theurge then erupts into laughter....

[Sinclair] The correct thing to do when a creature like Sinclair gets covered in whatever concoction you've been blending is to distract her, quickly, before she lunges at you. Asha, Wise Asha, shoves a bottle of Patrón into one of the Galliard's hands and a bowl of cut limes into the other, and this

this is the correct thing to do.

The Walker looks at Asha, looks at the tequila, looks at the limes, looks back at Asha with a confused look on her face beneath all the slush. "How can you even see in those things?"

[Edward Bellamonte] There is somethng murmured in Cora's ear, brief, and then, "Yes, Kate, this is Coraline Emerson. Cora, this is my sister, Katherine Bellamonte." Katherine, who knows [almost] everything about the situation thus far. "I met her at Maman's, while I was gone." That, Kate doesn't necessarily know. But there it is, now.

And Kate, of course, gets a look back. Play nice, Kitty, that look says - she knows it well. There's genuine mischief to it, which is better than she's seen of her brother in a long time . . . as is the fact that he hasn't had at least two drinks yet.

[Asha Singh] "I'm not walking." Asha says, back to Ray, some of the latest concotion spattered across her glasses, ruby red - thank god - rather than brown much. Still grinning. " - that's why I have a goddamned butler."

When Lukas leans over the bar, Asha is crouched down again, perfectly balanced, pulling out more glassware from the storage trays beneath. Has she ever used a blender before? "NO!" she says, tipping her head up, the light shining across the surface of her sunglasses. "IT IS SO AWESOME. I NEED TO BUY ONE. WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK?"

[Asha Singh] Then: to Sinclair! "I can't!" Asha's wide grin remains firmly in place; the elegant curls into which someone styled her hair are beginning to come undone. "That's the fun of it!"

...and, assume Asha continues to mix drinks for the rest of the night. At some point, she might also get into a swordfight! In lieu of dancing. After all, we are all friends here.

[Gina McClaren] *She'd escaped just in time to avoid chocolate blender rain, the disaster covering her discarded slice of cake, and getting a hearty yelp of laughter. Still, she's tucking close to Theron's hip as he says goodbye to Rosanna and the possible Russian. Cora is watched with some interest, Strider kin a creature of comfort and care at heart, worrying for the girl that seems ill at ease. Gina remains a cushioned accessory on Theron's arm, though she glances at Edward in curiousity. Feeding the girl to the wolves? Er.. liter-gah.. lets not think on that. You know what.. fuckit.*

ALLO! LASS!

*Its hollered. Loud and lively and distractingly pleasant and fun over the thudding bass beat. Gina waving to Cora.*

YE DANCE?!

*Five feet of busty strider obnoxiosness, and she's only 3 drinks in! Gina tilts her head to the dancefloor and begins to head over.*

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "OKAY." Lukas straightens up. "BUT PUT THE LID," he mimes it, "ON THE JUG BEFORE YOU HIT THE BUTTON."

[Sinclair] "LISTEN TO HIM HE IS A GENIUS."

This is what Sinclair yells to Asha and Lukas from where she stands at the bar, running her words together. She only has one shot glass in front of her. It's wet on the inside. But there are four sucked-dry lime wedges in front of her, too. Girl works fast.

[Ray Ostermann] "If only we were all so lucky." Ray says to Asha before he turns and looks about for a moment, at last finding Marni over by the food on her own, and he strides over to her.

"I think this is better in your hands then mine." He says with a smile as he watches her eat her fill. He motions to the drink and then hands it to her. Its big, and unidentifiable, like some horrible experiment gone wonderfully wrong.

[Marni] She continues to chow down, dark eyes sweeping over those in attendance, ones she knows, ones she doesn't. She licks her fingers between bites, her belly quite happy with the speed with which she shoves various little dainty bites into her lips.

Lukas is yelling at someone, and Gina is headed to the dance floor and Ray is drinking at the bar, and... yeah. She's watching Ray - hoping to catch his eye and mime a request for him to bring her a drink.

And there's Princess Kate, talking to someone else, and she makes a mental note to pop into the Loft sometime again soon. All in all, the precocious lil gnawer watches, and eats.

[Coraline Emerson] A blender explodes - kinda; all over someone at least - and that does detract some of the womans attentions. A flash of a sudden, brief grin, humour in her gaze. Were the place not already teeming with Rage and Sinclair not relatively distant her reaction may have been far more one of wariness. But at the moment it strikes her as natural and humorous. Welcome.
That was a peripheral notation. Right now she'd no more take her eyes off Kate than she would let them stray from a lioness on the prowl. There is sensuality and play from the younger woman [the deception of appearances], to which Coraline is... wryly amused? Somewhere. Somewhere behind the sense of walking around potential land mines.
Someone short and soft and lovely-voice is asking her to dance.
Does she dance?
Tonight?
Yes.

"Well... when in Rome." With a smile of apology and excuse to the Bellamontes and a, "I'll be back, then." she slips off, heading to the dance floor with the lively, curvy, sparkly creature.

[Marni] (Aaaaaaaaand lookit him sneaking in before me. *adjusts*)

And when he joins her, she grins as she takes the drink and sniffs it suspiciously. "Why Mr. Ostermann, are you trying to get me drunk already? You already KNOW I'm a sure thing..." but she takes the drink anyway, and a couple healthy swallows - that leave her blinking and coughing.

"Holy hell - whats in that?!"

[Ray Ostermann] He laughs as she coughs and sputters at the sheer power of the drink he'd given her."I have no idea, but its courtesy of the young woman standing on the bar." He says pointing a thumb over his shoulder to Asha as she continues to work her....well, well just call it miracles for now. "I'm sure shed be pleased to know you find it so intense. I named it the no man standing drink. Enjoy."

His smile turning into a mischievous grin as he picks up some of the food for himself.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Coraline departs their company. Lukas, crisis averted, returns to his longstanding packmates, picking up his scotch as he comes.

"So," he says to Edward, eyebrows up. "Your girlfriend?"

[Marni] She laughs and takes another sip, because she's just that daring. And, as a true test as to how fond she is of the man, she doesn't smack his hand away from her food, but actually shares. "I'll be sure to let her know I approve."

Then with a little lift of her chin in Iona's direction. "That the Fianna or a new conquest?" Curious, Marni, though there's not a speck of jealousy in the question. She's all filled with devilish mischief and fun - it sparkles in her eyes, shows in her little knowing grin.

[Theron Locke] Theron turns from the scene at the bar and watches as his date and Edward's begin heading towards the dancefloor. Shrugging, he excuses himself from those nearest him, and begins following.

Eyes locked on his target as he begins moving to the music. Catching up with Cora and Gina as they begin to dance.

[Edward Bellamonte] So. Your girlfriend? A look is shot Kate-wards, then after Cora before his eyes return to Lukas. ".....you could say that," he says, noncommittal. Which is to say, it's complicated. And there's likely more to it than Edward's saying at the moment. But (he's hoping) it's enough for now - it's one thing to speak with his oldest friend over drinks, or with his sister during a flight to Paris, and then back to New York, and then home to Chicago, and a very different one to do so here, in font of . . . well, far too many people.

Edward is not exactly shy - he can be quite the exhibitonist, in fact. But this is something he holds close to his chest.

[Gina McClaren] *Poor darling. Gina's on the dance floor, swaying to the beat and extending a hand, her name hollered in greeting above the music to Cora, exotic features falshing under colorful lights.*

Ah'm Gina! Strider Kin! Nice tae meet ye!!

*Hips hitch and bounce pleasantly in time, woman flexible as a serpent, grin devious as she looks over her shoulder to an approaching birthday boy. Crooking a finger in come hither and laughing.*

Ye've met Theron?

[Ray Ostermann] Ray looks over to Iona at the bar and nods to Marni's question. "Yes, her name is Iona, and she is the Fianna I told you about." He raises a brow in curiousity to her mischievous grin.

"Why? Are you planning on going over and saying hello?"

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine merely looks at Lukas for a moment; wordless but expressive in the manner both her eyebrows shoot upward and she then turns to examine Edward's face and catches the look cast her way. Yes?, her innocent [playful] smile demands of him.

Before she performs a small spin on the spot and watches the Kinfolk on the dance-floor with a keen, watched stare. Greedy, almost, for every last second of distant evaluation of her new Ward.

[Marni] She laughs. "You, darlin', sound like you are hoping I will, and hoping there's some big cat fight over ya..." She shakes a finger at him, and then shoves another mini quiche in her mouth, and chews contemplatively.

"But I might. She might try to scratch my eyes out though - and I know you like my eyes. And... various other parts of my anatomy..."

[Iona McNevin] Iona continued to stay at the bar, made it easier for Ray to find her if he returned. She ordered another white merlot, and sipped it slowly, just watching and listening to the crowds around her.

[Ray Ostermann] "I would rather see you both intact and whole. as much as a good cat fight might be entertaining." He winks at her with that, playful and almost daring. But he takes another small snack and eats it.

"I think we might want to keep things civilized here, at the birthday party of another True, if it was your party...well I'd say go right ahead."

[Coraline Emerson] Well now, next to Kate she overshadowed in beauty [without rancor, it might be said] and next to Gina dancing she is undoubtedly outmatched in grace of artistic performance. Not that it bothers the woman; the Strider kin's demeanor is a balm to her own nerves right now and while she is not an epitome of serpentine sensuality, she can at least hold her own on the dance floor. Of course, she seems nearly a giantess compared to the minuscule woman -- oddly matched outside of the genuine quality of earnest smiles. Her own name is half-hollered back. "Coraline! Silver Fang! Same t'you!"
She looks to the man making his way over and her smile retains its warmth if not quite the easy glow she'd been able to conjure up with her fellow [blessedly non-Ragey] kinfolk. "Well, now I have -- pleasure, Theron -- and many returns, tonight, y'eh?"

[Marni] She grins at him and winks. "Good. Besides if I was all busted up again, how could I ever persuade you to drag me off into a dark corner and take total advantage of me once I'm done eating?"

Dark corner, dance floor, bartop. Shameless, shameless Marni.

She glances around and points at Theron. "That's the birthday boy right? I've only met him a couple times... Gotta figure out a gift for him since I'm gonna demolish these mini quiches. My god they're good..."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas studies Edward for a moment. Then he leaves the subject be. Too many people about; too damn noisy, besides. His eyes track out over the dance floor, finding Gina and Cora amongst the bodies; Theron moving to join them.

"Well," Lukas says lightly, "she's a lovely woman. You're lucky to have her friendship, and luckier if you have more than that."

[Sinclair] There's a sudden thud from behind the bar.

[Ray Ostermann] Ray shrugs at her words, not entirely sure what to suggest. "So far, from the looks of things the predominate gift has been booze. But since I don't think you have any on you...maybe just a friendly hello and congratulations on his birthday. In exchange for the quiches."

He considers her other offer and chuckles. "I think I had best play nice on both sides for now."

[Gina McClaren] Ye seemed a shake ill at ease darlin.

Ye related tae the Bellamontes?

*A soft noise in her throat as the pretty pikey gives Cora a spin, anything to lighten her mood.*

Reckon there's enough anger here tae send this place oop like a fookin tinderkeg. AH'm jes waiting fer tempers tae flare. Dancefloor seems safest tae me!

*Its a valid concern, delivered in a voice thats all smoky laughter. Her nose wrinkles, Gina squinting in goodnature and looping an arm around theron's neck once he's close enough. Wriggling to the ground and back, sensual and easy as breathing. It should be. Its a dance she's been doing to get men's blood up since before she was old enough to be legally thought of in such a sordid manner. A flick of her lashes up to the theurge who was king for a day. Oh yes. It was good to be the king.*

How auld are ye now Theron?

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine's eyes flick from the dancefloor to the bar; she slips over to it and slides up onto a barstool to peer over the top.

"Did the blender actually explode?" She cries over the music.

[Sinclair] Sinclair is lying on her back behind the bar, giggling. "Ow." She lifts a limp arm and points directly at her temple. "I hit my head."

Kate can count the lime wedges now on the counter, if she wants. But only if she's really feeling particularly obsessive compulsive at the moment. Suffice it to say: a lot.

[Edward Bellamonte] "I am, yes. She's rather . . . impressive, is Coraline." In many ways, from the things they've discussed. And he's quite pleased to have her friendship (and more), indeed.

[Theron Locke] Theron dances nearby to the kin ladies, his lithe body moving to the music.. surprisingly well it should be commented for a white guy. Perhaps it was a mis-spent youth spent at nightclubs just like this.

"Thanks and nice to meet you too Cora, I think Ed made mention of you in passing the other day when we were talking. Didn't mention your name though, so it pleases me I have it now." a warm smile.

As he turns he spots the eyes of Marni on him, and he offers the true a smile, before he twists away in a dance move. His neck then claimed by Gina as he moves in to dance with her. The way she moved against him....oh yes it definitely was good to be the king.

"Twenty Five" he manages to get out...somehow.

[Marni] "Chicken." She just grins at him, utterly shameless, as always. Ray's a player, and she's no less than the same, and they enjoy playing together often enough. She looks down over herself and back up at Ray. "Nope, not a speck of alcohol on me. But in me..."

and she takes another swallow, before she hops up shoves the last bite of goodies into her mouth - intent on going to say hello to the birthday boy - right up until the pikey does a little dance that has Marni laughing in delight. "I...think I'll wait to say hello. He's only gonna have eyes for her for now, I think."

[Katherine Bellamonte] "Merde," she says, laughing, and sets her barely touched drink on the counter in favor of hopping; absurdly ladylike, even in this; over the bar and landing deftly on the other side; dusting off her hands and holding out a hand for her pack-mate to heave her to her feet. "How many have you had? You're worse than I am."

Kate starts examining several of the 'concoctions' left over, and actively recoils from one of them, nostrils pinching. "I think I clean my floor with some of these ingredients."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "I'm glad for you," Lukas says quietly. He means it.

A moment later, though, he's turning to yell over his shoulder: "Oh-ho! Well, that's a pretty big claim to make, Katherine, considering how shitfaced I found you at the Signature Lounge!"

[Sinclair] "I know what that means!" Sinclair says excitedly, her eyes still squinting shut and her arm going straight up in the air. "That means shit! That is French fancy-crap for SHIT."

Kate grabs her hand, and Sinclair opens her eyes and smiles up at her sister. "If I could tell you how many I had," she slurs happily, "I probably... would have had the good sense to stop, now don'tyouthink? HEAVE, YA WENCH!"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray shrugs, not ashamed by her words, that smile still plastered across his face as he looks about the room. "I think I may call an early evening though. I have an early meeting tomorrow that is going to be particularly painful."

He leans in and gives Marni a kiss, before winking at her. "Enjoy the Quiche, and do say hello to Theron."

[Marni] He leans in to give her a kiss, and she slides her fingers around the back of his neck, and holds him there, pressing against him to make it a kiss he'll not soon forget tonight. When she pulls back, she runs her tongue over her lips, gathering his taste from them with a content little grin.

"Maybe I'll pop in for a swim later." She winks, and then swats him on the ass as she heads over toward the Dance floor and the birthday boy.

[Coraline Emerson] "I used t'wonder what all it maught feel like t'be the hen when the foxes come t'call -- Reckon I know now!" It aptly surmises the situation, so far as her being 'ill at ease' is concerned. "I'm new t'this." It isn't a defensive explanation; it's a statement of fact. She rolls her eyes slightly, lightly self-deprecating humour, and is then.. well.. almost.. mostly?... absurdly spun about by a woman who stands nearly a full foot shorter than herself. It coaxes a laugh from her throat, full and true, and a bit of a spine pop and she moves to accommodate. "If y'r trying to fell the Giant, I'd prefer a rock t'the forehead, wee-Davida."
Theron receives a smile, broader for the after-affects of laughter.. and then she is nodding off towards the direction of the restrooms while Gina and Theron intertwine naturally. "Thanks for the twirl-about." Simple words but her gratitude is clear in abundance.
Off to the little girls room she goes, brave soul that she is.

[Iona McNevin] Perhaps it was the wrong time to look, but she saw the kiss between Ray and Marni. Her smile faded and she turned more towards the bar and finished off her wine, now ordering something ALOT stronger for her gullet.

[Ray Ostermann] He grins widely as he watches move off. "I'll be waiting." He calls after her before moving back towards the door, but stopping at the bar first where he see's Iona going for something stronger, he had a feeling he knew exactly what she'd seen. But he steps towards her anyways.

"No socializing tonight?" He asks her as he steps up beside her.

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine holds up her finger to Lukas in the universal gesture for silence. She scowls, but it is as meaningless as her gesture in the venue. "You are a terribly poor secret keeper, Lukas Wyrmbreaker," she sniffs, and heaves Sinclair to her feet with a little grunt. Then, she props her upright and turns to capture Iona's glum expression.

Beaming, the Silver Fang sets a glass of Scotch before the Fianna. "Cheers!" She calls, the word sounding oddly casual on her upper-class lips.

[Iona McNevin] She looked at him and smiled a bit. "Nah my time o' tha month tae be socializing. With tha new moon in tha sky an' all." She heard Kate and nodded to her packmate before giving Ray her attention again.

[Sinclair] Sinclair, shorter than Katherine but not by much, flops against the Philodox, her shirt and skin and hair sticky with Asha's spilled concoctions. She sniffs at Kate. "You smell like booze now."

And laughs in her ear.

[Edward Bellamonte] "Thank you," comes Ed's answer, as genuine as Lukas' sentiment. "So am I." About that, but it's a start. It's better than he's been since his return, certainly - there's the occasional unforced smile that actually makes his eyes, and he's actually mentioned plans for the future on an occasion or two. It's a good thing - Cora's a good influence on him, apparently.

[Ray Ostermann] He watches her face, looks into her eyes and smiles at her, its a reassuring smile. "We promised each other there would be no jealousy." He leans in and gives her a daring smile. "Is there any reason to be jealous?"

[Iona McNevin] She smiled a bit more. "I dinnah know. I swore I would nah be jealous. Bah its hard. Atleast I am nah all yelling an' fighting, aye?"

[Marni] She wanders up to the birthday boy, and taps him on the shoulder with a grin. She doesn't dance, really, but Marni, Marni has a natural kind of rhythm of one who just has way too much energy packed in a smallish, and delightful package.

"Hey, Theron, right?" because she's only met him... once... maybe twice and only in passing.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "It's not a secret if two people know," Lukas counters. "Or seven."

The Shadow Lord turns in time to catch Iona's expression fall. His eyes follow hers out to the dance floor -- he misses the kiss, but he sees Ray and Marni part. They return to Iona, but whatever he might've said goes unspoken. Ray arrives, and Lukas's pale eyes cast over his packmate's head to the kinsman.

He's too far away to hear the conversation between the two. But the Shadow Lord's watchful gaze lingers on Ray a moment longer, then turns away.

A second later he's smiling again, passing his emptied glass over the bar in Sinclair and Kate's direction. "Pour me another one, huh? Whatever it is you're making back there."

[Edward Bellamonte] And, after that? "Pardon me," he says, and moves after Cora - his 'time of the month' too, as it were, but it manifests far differently in him than it does in his packmate. He is playboy mischief, is gleeful trickster (came a-calling), is Cheshire [wolf] cat.

He's quiet, slipping up behind the kin, though she can likely feel his presence a bit before he taps her on the shoulder. "Having fun, are you?"

[Gina McClaren] Ah'm only sex years en meself!

*Singsongs a pikey loudly over the high eletronic trilling of a woman's voice. Cora gets a friendly wave farewell, before Gina casts dark smiling eyes upwards, watching the reaction of the man (wolf) she currently snaked her body against. Twenty five. A good old age, as far as wolves go. Her hand slips up to tug at the Birthday Boy's hair a little overhard, as she turns to face him on the dancefloor. Unconcerned with being the sole woman currently dancing, until Marni arrives and makes it not so. A nuzzle to the man's chin and a murmer, before she leaves Theron to his new friend, heading to collect her heels and slip from the club.*

[Katherine Bellamonte] Sinclair can feel as much as hear Katherine's laughter; that genteel gurgle of amusement, paired with genuine dismay resounding from her chest. "I am only fortunate that the lighting is poor enough in here that none can see what my clothing appears as, now with you leaning on me."

Katherine does now smell like a brewery, paired with designer perfume. It's a heady mix. She reaches for her glass and sips from it; examining the body language between her pack-mate and the Shadow Lord Kinsman with pale, focused eyes that are eventually tugged away when Lukas sends his emptied glass over the bar. Katherine glances at the mixtures with a faintly wrinkled brow.

"I'm not sure you want to drink some of these."

[Ray Ostermann] Ray chuckles as he keeps his attention completely on Iona, his eyes to hers. "If this isn't going to work, tell me now." He doesn't tell her what will happen if she does, but he does offer her the opening, a chance to maybe get out. "He stands there, and he briefly catches Lukas look and his smile falls ever so slightly, before he returns his gaze entirely to Iona, waiting.

[Sinclair] Breaking away from Kate, Sinclair wavers over to Iona and Ray, slapping her hands down on whatever surface happens to be nearby. Even if that's a wall. Or the back of a chair. "If it's hard to be Not-Jealous," she says, "that means you Are-Jealous. And if you Are-Jealous, then cowgirl up and say:"

Sinclair blinks, pauses, belches into her fist, then slurs: "'Scuse me," and continues:

"You say," she goes on, and whips her head around to Ray: "Buddy, me or her! And if he picks her, or whines about being made to choose, you mooooove on." She throws up her hands: "Let the church say Amen!"

And promptly falls on her ass again. And hits her head on the floor. Again.

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine; pouring Lukas a glance, peers at her pack-mate as she hits the floor again.

"She'll be alright," she confirms to the E-Sixx at large, "she's just resting."

[Iona McNevin] She straightened up and she looked dead serious, a scary serious. "No! Ima in it fo' tha long haul. AN' Ima do my best tae wan' ye tae wan' me. Just remember, true tend tae....geh fiesty when two o' them want the same thing. Now tis ye'r turn. Ye wan' me tae fight fo' ye, o' nah?"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray's brow raise up at that and he seems to consider her words for a moment, not quite ready to answer that question. "Your not planning on throwing down right here and now are you?"

[Theron Locke] Theron gives a parting nod and smile to Cora as she politely excuses herself, continuing to dance the night away with Gina. Free now to respond to her dance moves.

Leaning into Gina so he can better hear the murmured words. Nuzzling back into her neck as he whispers his own words in response "I will". Watching as Gina begins heading from the dance floor with a sigh.

Turning to Marni , as a look vanishes from his face to be replaced with a friendly smile "Hey yeah.. I'm Theron... Marni right?"

[Iona McNevin] ((Just caught Siclair's comment))

Her eyes move to Sinclair. "Och! Warcry, shut tha foock up! I dinnah need tha advice o' someone who would sleep with tha wood o' a bat then a real dick!"

[Sinclair] [Willpower. +1 diff for being totally shitfaced]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 (Success x 2 at target 7)

[Sinclair] [Wait wait wait. This is Sinclair. Disregard that roll.]

[Iona McNevin] ((To Ray)) She shook her head. "I told ye, Im nah gonna go ask tae be claimin' ye tomorrow. Buh I want tae know ye answer befo' I risk tae much mo'."

[Coraline Emerson] Her... date... slips up behind her, something she feels, not because of his Rage tonight [not in this crowd, hell no] but her own sensitivities to her surroundings. So she is half turning when he speaks and in those high-heeled boots the difference in height between them is negligible if there at all. A bit of warm breath at her ear; one corner of her lips tug upwards in a smile. "Well, I think it'd be more festive if I could get well and schlockered with with rest." Her shoulder rubs against his, animal affections, her nose brushing barely along his jawline something more. "Bit overwhelming, truth be told.. but not so bad. The woman Gina was a breath of fresh air...and y'r mates amicable."

[Sinclair] "I'm not resting, you halfwit, I banged my he--"

Iona snaps at her to shut up, throws in an insult. And Sinclair is on her feet a moment later: it's called a ki-up, and though it's not something she's been seen using often, that might be because she's not often knocked flat. She's in a crouch first, then lunging at Iona, fist heading towards her face.

[Marni] She grins up at at Theron, and waves at Gina as she moves off. "Dude, I didn't mean to interrupt your dance or anything, sorry bout that." She wrinkles her nose, and then grins. "I just wanted to say Happy Birthday and shit."

She pauses, and nods. "Now, I don't got no official gift or nothing - BUT, there is something I can offer you that ya might like being all Shadowy n shit. So, here's what I got. I can memorize a whole bunch of info word for word, and recite it back verbatim. Which means I can carry a metric fuck ton of info as a message to whoever you want. So! That being said - in honor of the day, I'll letcha call on my particular talent exactly three times - without demanding payment of any type from ya. I'd say 2.5 because you're like 25 right, but I can't go for half a message - so we'll round up. How's that sound?"

[Ray Ostermann] Ray was about to respond to her question when a very drunk sinclair lunges at Iona, its at this point that most men would try to get in the way, try to be a man and take the hit, protect the lady. But in this case, the woman was a trueborn, as was the woman attacking her, getting in the way now, could mean the loss of something very precious to him. So just gets out of the way.

[Iona McNevin] Sinclair might be quick, but Iona knew it would cause a stir. She readied heraeld for the Galliard, and when Sinclair went to lunge and punch, Iona went to grab the punching arm and throw Sinclair.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Ray doesn't try to get between the two females. Wise man. Lukas doesn't get in their way either. Sinclair settles her arguments with fists when words stop working; Iona, by his reckoning, probably just wants a target since she couldn't bash Marni's face in.

So the Shadow Lord stays where he is. He sips whatever it is Kate poured for him, and he watches, and then his eyes flicks away.

"Ray," loudly enough to carry over the music, "come here for a second."

[Ray Ostermann] Ray has no problem at all backing away from the fight between the two women, if he wasn't paying such close attention to the fighting, he might have had thought better about coming over to Lukas....not that he really had a choice. He turns from the fight and looks up at the large Alpha.

"Lukas, what can I do for you?"

[Theron Locke] Theron shakes his head and chuckles "It's alright we'll catch up later I'm sure. Apparently she has a present waiting for me." and there is a sparkle in his eyes and a grin of mischief on his lips.

"But thanks for the birthday greeting, glad you dropped by not that we've really gotten a chance to chat. Sorta caught up with my own stuff. So apologies if you didn't think I was friendly or such."

As Marni is offering her gift, Theron's eyes go narrow as he starts calculating "Hmm that actually sounds like the best gift I've received so far tonight. Very useful.... and I think that's only fair" he adds in response to the rounding up .

[Sinclair] [+7]
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 2
to Iona McNevin, Lukas Wyrmbreaker, sunglasses, Theron Locke

[Marni] "I'll just bet she does..." she quips with a devilish little grin of her own. She waves off his apologies though. "We've only met the couple times, when I am feeling mischievous and invade Princess Kate's loft. ONE of these days I'ma cannonball into that pool of hers."

She winks at him, and then chuckles as she knows that calculating kind of gaze all too well. "Just keep in mind - after three? It'll cost you. But I'm TOTALLY worth it."

[Edward Bellamonte] "Gina is quite lovely, yes," he says, affirmative, "and yes, they usually are. Are you . . . you can have a drink, maybe two, can't you?" He's had health ed, of course - he's fairly modern as these things go, was brought up in the best of schools. That doesn't mean he retained information he'd never thought would be necessary; even then, he'd been allergic to the idea of responsibility and growing up. But then, there's a spark in his eyes.

"Or . . . I could take you home." Of course he means her home. What else could he mean? But there's that sparkle, and he's leaning in to kiss her, slow and deep, heedless of who might be watching. ".....if you'd like, that is."

[Katherine Bellamonte] Sinclair calls her a halfwit, and the Silver Fang merely peers down at her pack-mate wordlessly; apparently the fact that Sinclair was saying this while lying on Gaia knew what for the second time flat on her back was barb enough in the Fostern's eyes. She glances between the Fianna and the Glass Walker; and finds herself a perch behind the bar.

Observing.

[Theron Locke] Theron chuckles, humour was easy for him as well it seemed. "Heh you so should ... but only if I'm there to watch the reaction of the others."

He laughs then "Oh I'm sure it will... and rather self assured aren't you" sliding her a wink "not that is necessarily a problem."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas has, by now, downed two or more shots' worth of scotch. Their effect shows, at best, in a faint dilation of his pupils. Or maybe that's just the predator in him: eyes adjusting to allow for more light when the hunt is on.

He watches Ray approach, making no move to meet the man in the middle. When he's within earshot, Lukas leans in to speak without shouting, his words for Ray alone.

"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life or who to date. I'm not going to save Iona from herself either. But if you play my packmate and later on she wants to get even, I'm unlikely to intercede on your behalf. Understood?"

[Marni] She grins up at him. "And why shouldn't I be? I'm damn good at what I do - and well, it keeps my belly full often times when there are precious few other options. We Gnawers tend to adapt as necessary, and this is just one of those things I can do, in order to keep me and mine fed."

Not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouths, after all. "I ain't got a phone, but I'm always around. Send a howl round, and the barking chain'll pick it up. Unless, of course" and here that grin turns sly, teasing, and oh so full of mischief... "you wanna provide a phone so I can be your beck n call girl for the duration..."

Shameless, she is. Completely shameless.

[Coraline Emerson] "Mmm... I probably shouldn't, no." There is an air of regret, of course. Alcohol is general something she looks upon with great favour. There's a spark in his eyes and she knows him well enough at least to have her interest piqued, twin eyebrows arching upwards, her gaze mingling speculation and a deeper [softer] pleasantry. A kiss well returned in equal measure, and a smile that is braille against his cheek, readable by touch alone. "Yes. That'll do."

[Ray Ostermann] Ray tries to keep a neutral face, but something in his eyes just make that impossible to do. He swallows as Lukas tells him how things will be and he nods.

"I understand, thank you for telling me." He's certainly hoping he's not implying that she might try to kill him...but you never do know.

[Edward Bellamonte] "Well then. Let's say goodnight to my packmates and be on our way, shall we?" Which, of course, they will and do - but the players of both Coraline and Edward are both tired enough that I'm breaking the fourth wall to say this. G'night!

[Coraline Emerson] ooc: G'night!

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] The Ahroun nods; some tension abates. Meanwhile, his packmates are trashing the E-Sixx. Or each other.

"Another thing," he adds. "I potentially have a task for you soon involving the Hive up north. You, and potentially Leslie Chadwick. I might be in touch about it in the next week or two."

[night!]

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [two potentiallys? wtf. change second one to possibly.]

[Theron Locke] Theron chuckles "Good to know.. I'd hate for you to be an amateur. Well I have no problems with Gnawers, you guys are extremely useful when you need something ferreted out."

Shakes his head with a bemused smile, this girl had a hide... he kinda dug that "I'll see what I can do... probably be able to manage something. But I'm sure you'll get my howl in the meantime, or via other messengers" he was a Theurge after all.

[Ray Ostermann] The mention of actual business seems to bring Ray back to his old self, that smooth smile creeping back across his lips as he hears about a potential job, eager to prove his worth, especially after this debacle.

"Of course, may I ask what the task may be? Just so I can be ready for any contingencies of course."

[Sinclair] There isn't much trashing going on over at Iona's corner of the bar. She grabs Sinclair's right arm, but the Galliard shakes her off with a snarl. This doesn't stop Iona from planting both hands on her packsister's shoulders and shoving her back hard enough that --

anyone else in the world would stagger. Stumble. Even fall. Sinclair does not. Her sneakers skid backwards across the floor, but she doesn't so much as waver. And then her head slams into Iona's, and if the Fianna weren't as tough as she is, if she weren't just about as tough as Sinclair were, her head would have split open.

As it is, Iona barely even blinks.

Which leaves the two blondes relatively untouched, evenly matched tonight. "The guy I'm fucking?" Sinclair says quietly to Banshee, her tone dangerously level. "ISN'T. FUCKING. AROUND." That isn't quiet. Or level. "So don't you fucking dare spit venom at me, Iona, like somehow I'm the pathetic one for trying to help. Fucking hell." She wipes her forehead. It's sticky from drying alcohol. "Have gun embarrassing yourself, then. Emo the fuck out over the Pussy Whisperer over there, for all I care. Christ."

[Marni] She dimples into another grin, then. "Good. I ain't got no problem with Lord's either. You're extremely useful in your own way as well."

She nods, and nudges him with a grin. "Excellent. Enjoy your evening, Theron. I'm headed back to the snack table - there's some SERIOUSLY good shit over there.." and with that, she turns and heads that way, even though her gaze is mainly on the scuffle in the corner.

[Sinclair] [Have gun? Have FUN.]

[Theron Locke] He nods "That we are"

Nudging him "Knock yourself out Marni.. plenty there for everyone. If you've got some extra mouths to feed , maybe drop by later. Should be plenty of leftovers and be a shame for stuff to go too waste."

Watching her leave, as he follows her gaze to the scuffle as he begins to head in that direction.

[Iona McNevin] "Och, an' here I thought ye pussy were made o' acid so tha' no man could touch it." She smirked. "Do nah lecture me on how I deal with my love life. Is none o' ye'r foocking business how I live!"

Her mouth went into a snarl and she started for the door. "HAPPY FOOKIN' BIRTHDAY, THERON!!"
to Katherine Bellamonte, Lukas Wyrmbreaker, Sinclair, sunglasses, Theron Locke

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine frowns, and leans forward from her observation perch. Had they their totem-link, this would be an entirely silent reaction: "Sinclair! I had no idea you were seeing somebody." Of course, she does not quite use the words Sinclair had to put the arrangement into context.

And then: Oh, Iona.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "I don't have all the details yet," Lukas replies, "but the Wyrm has a lot of holdings up in the north. A lot of power, financial and political. Killing banes and burning buildings will only get us so far. It might be necessary to conduct a few hostile takeovers your way.

"I should know more next week. If we can use your skills, I'll certainly give you a call."

[Iona McNevin] "Och, an' here I thought ye pussy were made o' acid so tha' no man could touch it." She smirked. "Do nah lecture me on how I deal with my love life. Is none o' ye'r foocking business how I live!"

Her mouth went into a snarl and she started for the door. "HAPPY FOOKIN' BIRTHDAY, THERON!!"

[Sinclair] For a moment, Sinclair -- drunk. very. very drunk. -- is just stunned. "ACID pussy?" she howls back, after Iona has whirled about to snarl her way to the door. "Joker Penis!"

Her feet go out from under her. Iona couldn't knock her down. But by god. Patron sure can.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] -- and that's when Iona bellows a happy birthday and goes for the door. "Christ," Lukas mutters under his breath. Then, "Excuse me a minute, Ray."

He follows Iona out.

[Iona McNevin] She shoved the door open with all her might and called back "TITLESS WONDER!!" Then she was gone, or atleast outside, should someone want to follow.

[Marni] She watches from the snack table, filling up another plate fulla goodies before she heads back to that nearby table, and takes her seat.

Her drink still there, she takes another swallow, dark eyes seeking Ray's once again, a questioning brow lifted should she catch it even as she eats like she hadn't eaten just a few minutes ago.

[Ray Ostermann] "I can't wait, I hope to hear from you soon." He says as he watches as Iona snarls her way out, he seems to consider going after her, but when Lukas goes instead. He just stands there. Suddenly feeling very very uncertain. He turns to the bar, and picks up whatever untouched drink is present shakes his head, and then starts to drink.

[Marni] He turns to the bar instead, and she grabs her plate, makes her way his direction, setsher plate on the bar next to him, and hops up to sit on top of the bar. Because barstools are boring.

"So... she gonna kick my ass or what?" That grin? oh that grin says she'd welcome it if it happened, because it's just another kind of adrenalin rush she'd enjoy.

[Katherine Bellamonte] Truth's Meridian sighs, and delivers the Shadow Lord Kinsman a decidedly unfriendly look as she goes around the side of the bar; stopping when she glimpses Warcry's newest bed. She raises a hand, and then drops it to her side and shrugs, settling for adopting a stool beside Sinclair's prone form and navigating patrons around it like an airman signaling a plane in to land.

[Fabienne Bartelle] *Fabienne is compiling a rather eclectic and unwanted knowledge of new and interesting curses, since having taken up residence in Chicago. She'd smiled appropriately at the bouncer, entering the club around the time JOKER PENIS was snapped in her direction. If the Silverfang kin could hear properly, that one would be going on the list. Iona storms out. Sinclair falls, and Lukas is shouldering after the Fianna now on her way out. Fabienne blinks, and steps carefully aside, lips pressing in a thin line. The gift box she bears in hand is held a little closer as she tries to get her bearings in the noisy club, elegant in a sleek white pantsuit. The sudden bellow of Titless wonder from behind her causes her to start, a muted frown forming on regal features.*

[Ray Ostermann] He looks up, but hes not smiling when he does. He holds up the drink and tilts his head slightly. "I don't know, It may be my ass she wishes to kick, who knows at this juncture."

[Sinclair] [Clarifying this since that's the second confusion: Sinclair didn't yell Joker Penis at Iona. It wasn't an insult. It was something that popped into her head and wasn't directed at anyone. *L*]

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] It's not Ray that follows, though that might've been what Iona was hoping for. It is a Shadow Lord, though. Tall, dark, full of rage.

The door shuts behind him. The trebles and midrange is shut out; the bass rolls right through the walls.

"Iona." They don't have to shout out here. Lukas's ears feel stuffed full of wool after the noise inside. "Don't take your lovelife PMS out on your packmate. Sinclair's drunk as shit and blunt as a hammer, but she had your welfare in mind. She gave you good advice in there. You'd do well to follow it."

[Sinclair] Sinclair doesn't get up this time, even when Iona yells back another insult. It washes over her, floating on the tequila in her brain, and she forgets it as soon as the door slams behind the Fianna. She looks up at Kate as the Philodox comes to sit nearby, and laces her own hands over her chest. "Yeah, well," she slurs, yelling the rush of words over the music, "it's kinda new and weird. Anyway. You should drink more, Kate. It's awesomesauce. Awesomesauceumsauce."

[Marni] She tips her head, looking at him, and the lack of smile. Her legs swing idly, bumping against the bar under her in a display of constant motion. She reaches up and runs her fingers through his hair, and nods. "Look, ya said you didn't lead her on - any more than ya did me. You ain't claimed by either of us, and clearly, I ain't gonna do nuthin but tease you about having a Garou in every corner. - and hope I'm one of them. I like ya, but I know you aren't ready to be claimed and are loyal to your tribe. I ain't ready to go claimin' folks either. I ain't gonna push shit."

She nods, and looks out over the bar, then back to Ray. "Much as I enjoy being with ya? If you think it's causing too much shit, I'll start cannonballing in Princess Kate's pool instead. Won't be NEARLY as much fun, but I'm not gonna cause ya no grief. S'your call."

[Iona McNevin] She turns, shaking her head. "First thing they taught us, Lukas? Dinnah fook with a garou when their moon is high. Now ye know why I stay in my room fo' these 3 days. I take everathing wrong. Buh just so ye remember, I dinnah throw the first punch, no' dih I even move tae throw one. Her drunk ass dih. I just protected meself." She sighed and just grathered up her hair, and put it up in a ponytail. "I'm nah an idiot, Lukas. I know he's a playa. Buh I though' I might atleast have a chance. Unlike most Fianna, I dinnah tag evera piece o' meat tha' walks by. Ray was me second. So I dinnah appreciate being teased."

[Ray Ostermann] Ray shakes his head, and a tight smile crosses his face. "I'm not going to quit doing things how i choose to do them because of one little hick-up. My pool is still open to you Marni, as are a few other things." He says casually before drinking, the liquid courage seeming to return him to normal.

[Katherine Bellamonte] "I think you're doing quite well for the both of us tonight," the dainty Fang replies with, crossing her legs on the stool and looking down and over her pack-mate with her hands clasped on her chest. "Besides, everyone knows that when I drink I turn into some horrendous creature that cannot stop giggling." She shifts her weight, tosses her waves over a shoulder.

"Non, sobriety suits me far better."

It's about this point that she notices that Fabienne has stepped into the Club, and the Kinswoman receives a little smile and nod from her elder before her attention returns to Sinclair, comfortable at her floor level position.

[Kyle] (hey all :) )
to Fabienne Bartelle, Iona McNevin, Katherine Bellamonte, Lukas Wyrmbreaker, Marni, Ray Ostermann, Sinclair, Theron Locke

[Marni] She grins at him and nudges him with her foot then. "Good. So quit lookin' like you're about to walk the plank, and smile at me like you mean it."

A beat, and a grin. "Or do I need to steal your iPhone again and go getcha another picture..."

[Theron Locke] Theron makes his way back towards the bar, watching his packmates with keen interest as Iona suddenly up and leaves, shouting at him to have a happy birthdraw.

He is just left blinking

Turning to the doorway he spots the arrival of one of the other Kin of the city. Heading in her direction, actually surprised to see her here.

[Theron Locke] (( that should be - other Silver Fang kin - meaning Fabienne ))

[Sinclair] "It's not my fault," Sinclair says, put-upon. "Asha gave me tequila!" She shakes her fists briefly. "Blame the Ahroun! Blame the tiny, tiny, teeeeny tiny," she squeals the words, squinching her finger and thumb together, "Ahroun."

Her hands flop to her sides again. On the floor. "If she joins the pack I'm going to blame her for everything. And give her noogies. It's gonna be fuckin' awesome. Y'know why? Cuz she's a brunette. And I didn't know we even allowed brunettes in the pack!"

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas shakes his head, quick, dismissive. "I could care less about the punching. I could care less if you two tore each other up. Sometimes it's necessary. I even understand why you're pissed off right now. But don't let it blind you. Your packmate had your back in there. It was ungrateful of you to throw it in her teeth.

"As for Ray -- he's having a little fun. He probably thought you were too. But if you can't stand that, then you better think carefully about what Sinclair suggested."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [sup kyle!]

[Fabienne Bartelle] *Fabienne moves only when it seems there's not about to be an altercation. When moving wasn't to become prey in the eyes of a predator looking to hunt. Katherine is acknowledged with a demure drop of grey eyes, carefully done, accompanied by a nod. Still her path takes her not to Katherine, as one might expect, but to her Warder's packmate. The Shadowlord theurge who's party this was, boistrous as it was. her voice is crisp and polite as she meets him on the dancefloor, and presents the man with a small gift box, (inside, platinum cufflinks. tatseful and no doubt expensive.) *

Mr. Locke. A pleasure to meet you again. Please do accept this gift in honor of your birthday.

*The slender fencer looks about idly. People on the floor. Kin drinking like they need to forget. Cursing, barging out. Oh yes, this looked delightful.*

I regret, I cannot stay long. Prior commitments, you understand.

[Iona McNevin] She looked down and away. "Wha' do ye think I should do, Lukas? I dinnah mind him seein' others, nah right now. Buh how will I know ifn he kin be my mate if I just give up now? Do ye even think he could settle down someday?"

[Ray Ostermann] That gets a laugh from Ray, his smile becoming more genuine at last, and he shakes his head. "No...no i don't think I need anymore photo's. Why would I need those when seeing you in person gives a much better picture."

He sips his drink again, but this time it actually hits him and he makes a sour face. Before sliding it back onto the bar. "I think there was a whole lime in that one." He shivers and goes to stand. "I think I've generated enough excitement and turmoil for the evening. I think i'll be heading home."

[Kyle] Once again he couldn't sleep. Nothing unusual for him these days. Absently Kyle makes his way inside after going through the usual rigmoral at the door. (Yes the ID is real.... Yes he's over legal age.... No he's got no concealed weapons....) Stiffling a chuckle he absently looks around as he adjusts the studded leather collar around his neck. Moving some hair out of his face as he looks to see if he notices anyone.

[Kyle] (thanks for the heads up about everyone in here. teach me to look at the bottom of the chat listing screen lol.)
to Lukas Wyrmbreaker

[Katherine Bellamonte] Katherine's lips twitch, amused. "It's heavily frowned upon," she says, dead-pan [not] serious. "But we do make exceptions when we meet a suitable candidate." A beat, Sinclair is going to blame Asha for everything. "Oh, I thought that heavenly joy should fall to her Butler, you both seemed so close."

[Marni] She dimples into that knowing grin again, and nods. "Good."

He thinks he should be heading home, and she tips her head slightly. "Want company? No pressure, of course. I know ya got an early morning. If not, give us a kiss and I'll catcha pool side later."

[Theron Locke] Theron smiles apologetically to Fabienne for the current state of the party "Oh it's a shame you cannot stay longer, but I understand."

He opens the gift box and a smile curls at his lips "Very nice. Thankyou Fabienne... you flatter me. Are you sure you can't stay for one drink. A glass of champagne perhaps?"

[Sinclair] Sinclair's eyes, which lack the intensity of shade that makes Kate and Lukas's so piercing but carry a ethereal paleness, widen considerably at what the Fang sitting near her says. There's something inherently protective about the way Kate's perched herself on that barstool, the way she sits near Sinclair and makes sure nobody steps on her.

Kate talks of Asha's bartender, and Sinclair barks out a laugh. "He's not bad. But he shouldn't have been apologizing for her like that. For fuck's sake, she's a Garou. Keep your fucking mouth shut, she doesn't need her kinsman apologizing for her. She's not a child. I don't care how young she is, or how proper he is, that was rude as shit of him and he needed to get smacked for it."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [oh fuck, i totally missed iona's post!]

[Ray Ostermann] "As much as I would love it...you'd keep me up far past my bed time and tonight, is one of the few nights I mind." He stands, and leans forward, almost kissing her before he steps back with a mischievous grin as he backs away towards the door quickly. "You've had more then enough tonight...ill see you soon Marni." He waves lightly, before turning now, and heading for the door.

[Fabienne Bartelle] *For a moment, Theron only gets a slightly blank look, glass grey eyes meeting his without challenge as she tries to dechipher what he'd just said. Realization dawns with a polite smile.*

Of course. One glass would be fine.

*Even though she doesn't drink champagne. Even though she generally doesn't drink at all. It was this creatures birthday. Exceptions could be made. Her hand slips to his arm, just so, as the Silverfang darling allows herself to be led towards the bar.*

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "I think," Lukas says rather firmly, "the last thing you should be considering is matehood if you don't even have fidelity. Other than that, I'm not going to speculate on him or you or what the two of you should do. I'm your Alpha, not your babysitter.

"I will say this, though. You're not okay with him seeing other people. You might think you are, but a fool could read the look on your face earlier."

[Marni] She laughs and throws a balled up napkin at him. "Tease!" But she doesn't argue, she remains where she is sitting on top of the bar, her legs swinging as she goes about filling her perpetually empty belly from the plate sitting next to her hip, and watches the rest of the room.

[Katherine Bellamonte] The Silver Fang's eyes gleam with humor, her voice turning wry. "Well, to be fair to Thomas, he has been brought up to do precisely that. He is her herald, and to him, her faults are his own, much like a mate's become those of the Garou that claims them. My tribe has many old customs, as you are no doubt beginning to see."

Theron begins to lead Fabienne toward them, and the Silver Fang's spine straightens; she raises her chin a degree. Ah, the imperious grace of the very tribe she was just speaking of.

[Kyle] The only person that Kyle recognizes is Ray as he almost bumps into him. A warm smile as he gives a slight wave in greeting as he plays dodge the patrons around him.

[Ray Ostermann] And at that, Ray slips out the front door, heading out into the night unless he is stopped ((But i really need to get to bed, so please dont :P Thank you all!))

[Sinclair] "I was brought up to praise Jesus, hallelujah," she says, "that doesn't make it the way I gotta stay. And no: her faults aren't his own. Maybe his faults become hers, since he. Is her. Kinfolk. It's not the other way around, Kate. If that's the custom of your tribe, it's a stupid fucking custom and it doesn't make sense. What, you want the Kinfolk you claim going around apologizing for your behavior when you aren't even wrong? Bullshit! I call BULLLLSHIT!"

She covers her face with her palms. "Oh god. My head really actually hurts now."

[Iona McNevin] She growled a bit. "I AM FINE WIT' IT! Does nah mean I want tae be seein' it though."

[Theron Locke] Theron offers Fabienne a polite smile as he begins guiding her towards the bar. Upon reaching it, he gestures for the bartender for a tray of champagne glasses.

Reaching for the bottle the gift from the Bellamonte estate, popping the cork as he begins pouring out the contents for the remaining guests " To celebrate my birthday, thankyou all for coming" as he gestures for the others to take a glass, passing one over to Fabienne.

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] [night man!]

[Katherine Bellamonte] "Still," a touch of steel in her voice, however diplomatic her words. "It is ourcustom, and it has had a place within the tribe for a reason for centuries, Sinclair. I do not claim intimate knowledge of Asha's own House, but that they are very traditional, and that Thomas was sent with her for a specific purpose. I shall respect it, as I in turn believe she shall respect my own House customs.

It is our way." A beat, Katherine hops up, nodding at Fabienne and Theron. "Stay there, though I do not know where you would go but to roll over, I am getting you some water." Katherine goes to fetch this first, before she accepts any glasses of champagne.

[Sinclair] "Whatever, Kate," Sinclair snaps from behind her hands, rubbing her forehead. "You're the one who made the crack about me getting along with Thomas. I think it's rude and disrespectful -- not to mention hurtful -- to apologize for someone in public like that. But fine. Next time I'll hold my fucking tongue."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] The Ahroun's eyes turn cold; his lips wrinkle back and he bares his teeth at Iona like an animal.

"Growl at me again and I'll take it as a challenge, Banshee." Soft as silk, that. "Believe what you want, but don't take your shit mood out on your pack."

[Iona McNevin] She put her head down. "Fo'give me, ~rhya. I'm nah thinkin' right."

[Kyle] Weaving past people, Kyle makes his way to the bar and manage sto order a drink even over the noise. The quiet goth standing there waiting for his drink as he looks around.

[Fabienne Bartelle] Mlle Bellamonte, Miss Sinclair. A delight to see you again.

*Proper. Polite. Damn near unflappable. Fabienne weathering the sudden calling of bullshit and snappish arguing with a look of placid calm. Hell, maybe she can't hear it over the thump thump of bass. A wayward curl tucked away from her forehead. Theron had mentioned champagne, and when a glass is provided for her she lifts it in toast, before proceeding to sip it steadily. Once katherine has returned with water, the kin speaks up.*

Oh yes. Mlle Bellamonte, I recently entered into a business agreement with an affable gentleman of the Nation by name of Paul Kellog. He and his associate Luis inquired as to a loan and investement advice. I've set this up for them, and in leiu of monetary compensation, I arranged for them to owe my warder an as of yet unnamed favor. As you're currently my warder, that favor would of course be yours to call in.

[Katherine Bellamonte] Kate goes to fetch Sinclair a bottle of water from behind the bar, and, despite the fact that Sinclair just snapped at Katherine and Katherine coolly reminded Sinclair of her tribe's ways, there is no disguising the concern with which the Silver Fang lowers herself to her haunches beside the Glass Walker and twists off the cap of the spring water; holding it out for the other blond to accept.

Her eyes lift to meet Fabienne's and she listens, head cocking to one side at the sound of the two names. "Paul Kellog, Child of Gaia, is he not? And Luis, I do not believe I know of this one, but I appreciate being informed of it, Fabienne. Merci."

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] A short silence. Then Lukas draws a short breath, lets it out.

"It's forgiven."

Then it's back to the previous subject as though nothing ever happened: "If you don't want to see it, though, that means you don't want to know about it. And if you can only cope with Ray's behavior if you willfully blind yourself to it, I'd argue that means you're not really okay with it.

"You're hotheaded right now, Iona. Cool off. Then think about it. Figure out what you honestly can and can't cope with. Then figure out what you're going to do about it all.

"I'm going back inside," he concludes. "I'm going to say my goodbyes and take off."

[Iona McNevin] She looked up, and his advice was sound. She nodded, a light touch of a smile. "I will, Lukas. Thank you. I think I'm just going to go home and lock myself in my room til the moon is over. Good night, ~rhya~."

[Theron Locke] While Fabienne conducted her business Theron just lent against the bar and sipped on the glass of champagne. Eventually his eyes would be drawn to the goth who just arrived, the face unknown too him.

[Sinclair] The Galliard's hands melt away from her face. Sinclair peers at Kate, cockeyed, as her sister crouches down and snaps open the bottle of water to offer it to her. A fleeting expression twists her features, and then she pushes her hands down on the floor and sits herself up. Could shift. Burn rage, burn away the alcohol. Could activate a gift. Not feel the headache from slamming her noggin on the floor three times. But

why remind herself again how inhuman she is? How inhuman they all are, at the end of the night?

She takes the bottle with a murmured thanks, Kate and takes a long drink. Fabienne speaks to the Fostern, and Sinclair just... keeps drinking.

[Fabienne Bartelle] Of course.

*An invisible bit of nothing is flicked off her pantsuit. Grey eyes averting from the spectacle in front of her. It was one thing to associate with lesser tribes, but to hover over them like a wet nurse was... unseemly. Katherine is graced with a carefully polite smile. The last of Fabienne's champagne sipped, glass set aside. Cordial farewells given, Happy Birthday wished once more, and the silverfang kin is excusing herself to an early morning.*

[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Night, Iona," Lukas replies. The Fianna goes one way; the Shadow Lord returns to the club, music rolling out of the open door like a shockwave.

[I'm fading Lukas out here! He'll go in, wish Theron another happy birthday, then say goodnight to the packmates and/or see-you-back-at-the-TB and bow out.]