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The small woman is currently sitting on the steps to the Manor. Her head is bowed over a tablet, oblivious to the goings on around her. The pen in her hand moves at a stable pace, and she's humming a gentle tune.

The young girl can be heard from quite a ways down the lane as she makes her way towards the house, her voice strong and proud and completely out of place, the passionate music that spills from her throat in this quiet place of perfectly mowed lawns. Every now and then the voice changes in tone as though she were singing more than one part at the same time.... "...I just came to say goodbye luv...goodbye love...goodbye....Hello Disease....."

Kristine frowns a bit at the caterwalling. She lifts her head slowly from her writing, the humming of "This Used to be My Playground" stops. She sets the pen down against the tablet as she awaits the owner of the carried tune.

The tall ash-blonde girl never stops even as she makes her way down the driveway, a smile lighting her face up as she sees the other cub and she waves. The song changes and she jogs a few of the last steps up, alighting the stairs with an easy gait. "Hi!" She offers and looks down before sinking onto the steps beside Kristine. "How're you doing?"

Kristine scoots away from the girl in a shy display, but the frown on her face is very disapproving of the girl's actions. "I'm fine. It was a lovely evening, so I thought I'd sit outside," She answers, closing the tablet hoping the action doesn't draw attention.

Ada nods a little and leans back on her palms, her dark eyes closing as she inhales deeply. "You're right, it is lovely out here. I love this part of the city..it reminds me of Druid Hills..in Atlanta? It's a lot like this." She pauses, her eyes opening as she looks at the other girl. "Except there's that heat you can cut with a knife and the smell of confederate jasmine and honeysuckle."

Kristine shrugs, bringing the tablet close to her chest. She's not trying to inch away from the Galliard anymore, but there is still a sense of uneasiness and hesitation in her actions. "I wouldn't know. I've lived in St. Claire all my life. The only other place I've been to is Bellefonte, Pennsylvania."

Ada nods a little. "I see. Well, I can't say I know very much about St. Claire myself. Haven't ever been here before I got....um, 'napped." She tilts her head to the side and leans forward, hugging her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees, just looking out at the driveway, humming to herself.

Kristine looks at the other cub, and tilts her head. "Is the South nice?" She hugs the tablet closer to her and chuckles, "'napped. Such a strange term. Not the kind of thing you write home to Mother, 'Hi Mom, I got kidnapped. Won't be home for dinner. Love ya'."

Ada chuckles softly and shakes her head. "No, not really. But there's always the, 'Hey mama, how's the family? Yeah, yeah,"Her hand is up to her ear in imitation of a phone, " 'No, actually I'm spending the night with a bunch of werewolves. Yup, I'm one too.' "She shrugs and smirks to herself, calming a little at the mention of family. "And yes, I am from the south as if you couldn't tell by the accent. Snellville, Georgia to be exact, just south of Stone Mountain."

Kristine brings her hand up to cover her mouth from the childish giggle at the 'phone conversation'. It would seem that the girl isn't some wall-flower after all. "Actually, that's what I'm doing. Writing to my mother. She's the type that would worry and call in the National Guard into find me." She then wrinkles her nose. "Snellville? Didn't you ever get teased about that name? like, Smellville?"

Ada rolls her eyes. "Oh God, you have, like /no/ Idea. 'So, does that mean every one there's slow? Heh heh...' " She shrugs. "But we usually tell people from around the state we're from Brookwood. It's a quad A school and we're first in our region in just about everything. Cross Country team got a spot on a Nike commercial last year."

Logan can be sighted off a ways, approaching the driveway from afar.

Kristine chuckles a little, finding it safe to re-open her tablet. "Sounds interesting. I never did sports. My High School years are something I'd care to leave behind me, as it were." She sighs and looks towards the horizon. A breeze picks up a few locks of hair, smacking them across her face as she closes her eyes, not noticing Logan. "But I have to wonder, does it even matter anymore?"

Ada grows silent for a little bit opening her mouth to speak and then closing it, thinking. "Well, maybe not in the long run it won't, but it really does to me right now. I still get up every morning at six o'clock and think, 'okay, Physics test fourth period, that paper's due in College English, the track meet's Saturday and today's voice lessons. Do I remember that piece Alessandro gave me? Am I gonna get a head cold?' I dunno. I'm sure It'll wear off after a while but I'm not ready for it to leave me..not yet at least." She looks out and blinks suddenly as her Teacher starts up the driveway. "Oh.....God Bless a Milk cow! Hide me! Logan's gonna murder me for leavin him..." She jumps up and makes a cheap attempt at hiding behind the other girl.

Kristine shrieks, standing up, her tablet now decorating the lawn before her. She just blinks staring at the person making up the drive-way, and only one question seems to come to mind right at this moment, "Ada, what the Hell are you doing!?!"

It takes some time for the boy to close the distance, and when he's about halfway to them he breaks into a sprint until at last he comes to a stop at Ada's side, looking playfully annoyed and just a little winded. Oblivious to the conversation at hand and, for the moment, the other girl, he wags a finger at his pupil. "I let you out of my sight fer /one/ second." He throws his hands up in a huff. "That's it, young lady," he scolds in motherly fashion, "Yer grounded to yer room."

Ada grins to herself and curls up into a little ball, holding her hands over her head and giggling. "Sorry...." She offers weakly peeking out and sticking her tongue out at him. "But if you weren't so /slow/ I wouldn't have left you! And you can't ground me to my room, I don't have a room! So nyah!"

Kristine places her hands on her hips, and one would have to wonder where that shy girl ran off too. "Next time," her words are obviously directed to Ada, "Don't shout! I have enough problems at the moment without you trying to give me a bloody heart attack! And the next time you try to hide behind me," she waves a finger at the Galliard, her lips trying to hide a smile, "Find someone Taller!"

Logan snorts, still playful in his derisiveness. "Well, /excuse/ me, /princess/. We can't /all/ be track stars!" He kicks gently at Ada's rear, nothing more than a tap, really. He grins a little as he turns his eyes to Kristine, nodding a little greeting.

Ada looks up at first the girl then the boy and lets out another little giggle. "I'm sorry. And yes, thank you, I am a princess. And I'm hungry too, can we go out for pizza tonight?"She tilts her head to the side looking at Logan. Then after a second she leans her head back to look up at Kristine. "Have y'all met?"

Logan shakes his head in response to Ada. "Nope. Although I'm gonna bet yer our new cub, huh?" He doesn't wait for confirmation. "Name's Logan Reed, Words-of-Truth to the Garou. Cliath Philodox of the Silver Fangs. Runnin' with the Dawn's Fire pack an' son of Merlin." He smirks a bit to himself, waiting to see if he's said too much of a mouthful for the newcomer.

Ada snorts and mutters to herself, "Startin to sound like a Get, Logan."

Kristine crosses her arms over her chest, her head tilted up in a way that only Little Rich Princesses can do. She stays like that for a moment, before bursting up in giggles. Then she turns to Logan and raises her brow. Seems she's just a bit too riled up to shrink back, "Kristine Vaughn, most call me Kris. Velia mentioned something about being called Dawn's Promise. And Merlin's been dead for about 14 centuries."

"Hey!" the younger of the two, despite his being the teacher, exclaims, then folds his arms over his chest, feighning offense with an all-too-cute and exagerated pout. "I resent that remark, Ada."

Kristine looks to Ada, and whispers, "What's a 'Get'?"

Ada smirks up at him. "Not my fault. You do! Listen to yourself sometime!"She pokes him in the leg with her toes and then leans back again to look up at Kristine. "You know how we're Silver Fangs, right?"

Logan chuckles. "Dawn's Fire's me'n Velia's pack. She'll be leadin' in Scott's absence. He's our alpha--leader, that is. You know Garou run in packs, right? An' Merlin... eh. She's a hawk spirit that our pack follows. A totem, if you will. Hoboy," he lets out in a sigh.

Logan taps her bottom again with his boot.

Kristine rolls her eyes. "Don't get me going on Spirits, I'm going to have to deal enough with that thank you very much." Sitting again on the stairs she nods to Ada, "Pretty much."

Logan holds his hands up, palms facing outward, "Hey, spirits ain't my department, no loss here. I'd jus' as soon not have to explain it anyway."

Ada smiles a little and pats her shoulder. "It's okay, we won't get into spirits now. But we're Silver Fangs, right? And that's our tribe and there are, twelve other tribes Logan? Yeah, I think that's right and one of those tribes is the Get of Fenris and they're known for having....realllllly long introductions."

Kristine chuckles a little shaking her head, "And a pension for being long-winded, I presume. You'll have to exuse my knowledge. Brigid has tried to tell me everything, well a peice of everything I should know. Velia has just started telling me about the Litany." She shrugs then, then wrinkles her nose. "Did someone mention food?"

Logan nods a little in approval at Ada. "Tha's right. The Get... they're kinda arrogant, I guess, some would say. The stereotype's a Nazi in wolf's clothing, if you will. Don't get that in yer head, though. Stereotype's are there for a reason, yeah, but don't make judgements 'fore ya meet at least a half dozen of any given tribe. Not usually likely to happen all at once or anythin', but yer better off not gettin' notions in yer head that they'd be more than happy to throat yer ass if ya ever say it to the wrong set o' ears."

Ada grins brightly at the mention. "Yes! Getting back to the important topic! Food,"she looks up at Logan and gets the full Princess pout face. "Logan?" She whimpers, "/Please/ can we go get something to eat? I'll pay, I'm sooo hungry."

Kristine wrinkles her nose up at Logan, wondering if she would have to treat him with the same vigil she's been treating Velia with. "Throat my ass?" The question's dropped as she turns to Ada. "I'll treat, I'm rich," That statement given with a chuckle. Then she blinks, "Do I have to stay here because Brigid isn't with me?"

Logan grins at Ada. "Y'know what? I'm yer teacher, right? An' therefore... I have jus' as much right as any other teacher. Yer my responsibility, my charge, an' dammit, I say we're goin' out for pizza." His grins broadens, then slips slightly as he turns to Kristine. "Uh... Kris, I'm afraid so. I can't take you out now, especially with you bein' so new. We can bring ya back some, though...?"

Logan offers this last bit in an attempt to be helpful, though it probably doesn't do its intended job too well.

Kristine brings her knees up, and nods. "That'd be fine. Mushrooms and Onions please." She gives a hesitant smile up to him, and no, she's not liking this cub-grounding one little bit, "I'll beat up Brigid to take me out when I see her. Velia said I'll be under her teachings for a while, something about auspice sharing and some stuff." She leans down to begin picking up the tossled papers from her tablet, mumbling something about mother is going to love mud.

Ada sits up straighter, obviously quite happy. But at the last bit is added on she sinks a little but hugs Kristine before standing up. "Mushrooms and Onions? Okeydokey...Mind Pepperoni?"

Kristine returns the hug, muddy tablet papers and all. "No, Pepperoni clashes with the acid reflux. Shoddy nerves and all that."

Ada nods and pats her on the head, grabbing Logan by the arm and dragging him down the road. "We'll be back in a little bit Kristine!" She runs off, dragging her laughing teacher behind her and slowly disappears. And then, in the distance, the singing begins again.....

Brigid steps outside from the house.
Brigid has arrived.

The young woman is kneeling on the ground, slowly picking up sprawled pieces of paper. The sound of an occasional sniffle, perhaps from crying, can be heard.

Brigid sets foot outside of the Estate, folding her arms over her chest as she looks up at the sky. The sound of rustling paper catches her attention, and she quickly leaves the shelter of the doorway. "Kristine? What happened?"

Kristine turns sharply to look behind her. Tear streaks are easily seen on her cheeks over the dusting of earth on her face. She holds the papers close to her chest, wiping her hand across her right cheek before answering, "N-nothing."

Brigid frowns as she looks the young woman over, "Don't tell me nothing's wrong, you've been crying." Leaning down, she offers her hands to get Kris up off the ground. "Come on, dear, tell me what happened?"

Instead of taking the hand, she just drops backwards to sit fully on the ground,letting the papers again fall. "Logan and Ada were here. We were laughing and joking," she begins, apparently unable to keep much from her mentor and closest friend, "I wasn't trying to hide from them. In fact, I actually yelled at them both." She chuckles a little, before breaking down in tears, "They went out, I wanted to go with them. I actually felt normal again, Brigid. But Logan said I had to stay here, and it just hurts to be confined in such a manner. It hurts to to have your freedom taken away."

Brigid carefully kneels down beside the tearful woman, "I know, Kristine, I was confined once myself. And I know it won't do a stitch of good to say that it's for your own good."

Kristine closes her eyes, her fingers uncurling and curling. She twists the delicate features of her face in a grimace. "But why, Brigid? It felt so good to laugh. Is it wrong to be happy?"

Brigid shakes her head, "No...it's never wrong to be happy. We just want to protect you, Kristine. Is that wrong?"

Kristine stands up, her barefeet walking over the paper that was to be a letter to her mother. "Why? No one's ever wanted to offer me any sort of protection." She sighs, wiping at some tears with the back of her hand. "Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe..maybe I'm in the wrong to be hurt like this."

Brigid rises to her feet and sighs, "No, Kris, you're not wrong. I felt much the same way when I was in your position." She looks back to the house for a moment, "At least you have a more comfortable place of confinement than I did."

Kristine stoops down to begin cleaning up her mess. "I'm just confused. And those damn 'Walks aren't helping any. Damn near fell down those very same steps this morning and cracked my skull open. I want what I had before, and I know I can't have it. How am I supposed to fill these shoes I've been given, Brigid?" If former conversations are any example, Kristine should have fallen back to the wall-flower act quite sometime ago. But she hasn't, she's just to upset to concentrate on being reserved.

Brigid moves after Kris, helping her pick up the scattered papers, "You learn, and do the best you can." There's a heavy note of understanding in Brigid's voice, and she's far less talkative than she's been before. Seems a reversal of roles has taken place.

Kristine throws her hands up, but she does keep a grip on the papers. "And not to mention I feel like the old maid of the group!" She grimaces a little at one piece of paper in particular. The discreet and delicate penmanship has long since been smeared by the dirt and mud. That one in particular is immediately crumpled along with a muttered, "My mother can bloody well wait for an explaination on my absence." A rare moment for her, but Kris is definately angry. She begins ascending the steps before turning and waving the crumpled papers at Brigid, "You know, it's times like this that make me believe that if Mother was smart and hadn't slept with some stranger, I wouldn't be here in this position to begin with."

Brigid shakes her head slightly and trails after Kris up the steps.

You enter the house, stopping in the foyer.
Foyer
This is a small entry hall into the rest of the house. The actual foyer is large enough to hold several people at once, but is mainly used for a greeting area. The closet to the left of the door is for coats and the like. A small mirror is set into the wall, over an end table and above a small potted plant.
The Jefferson Estate(#2599RLM)
Main Living Room
The living room has been kept spacious, its decor keeping a certain quality rarely found in more modernized apartments. Indeed, it's almost archaic, with a large brick fireplace, terraced balcony, and true wooden furniture. A large, overstuffed couch takes center stage, flanked by a pair of armchairs, all interconnected by a pair of corner tables. Each table has a lamp for additional lighting, and several coasters of lace, while the center coffee table is kept stacked with a small array of light reading novels atop its hardwood surface. All of this rests on an expensive Eastern rug, the room's edge having plants both hanging and sitting on tables. To the south lies the foyer and guest room, the north having a hallway that splits into the kitchen on the left, bathroom on the right, and ends with her bedroom. Lastly, the east is the balcony.
Obvious exits:
The yard

Brigid walks into the foyer from outside.
Brigid has arrived.

Kristine pushes the door open with a shoulder, not wanting to get dirt on the door, she's getting enough of it on the floor. She stalks to the kitchen to toss the trash away, before returning to stand in front of Brigid. "Listen, I'm sorry, I've lost my temper. It's just some things get me so riled, I can't seem to contain it."

Brigid shuts the door after the two of them and follows, dropping the rest of the papers into the trash, "And I'm not much help, either."

Kristine shrugs, then frowns turning at the dirty floor. "You're letting me rant. I doubt Velia would give me that privilege."

Brigid moves to wash her hands off in the sink, "A fault of mine. I clam up when people get testy. Guess it's left over from listening to Mother rant when I was younger."

Kristine mirrors Brigid's action, sighing. "With me, I was pampered. Shipped off to private schools until High School; was placed in classes and such to keep me away when I was home. I was given good treatment, but it was because Mother didn't want to see what my Step-Father was doing to her. I found out well enough when I became a freshman, and they divorced two years later." She stares off for a moment before shrugging, "My problem was I was always confused on whether to state my mind, or to conform to what I'm 'expected' to do. Shrink called it Dominant Trait Conflict, or something."

Brigid gently shakes her hands dry, then reaches for a nearby dishtowel, "I was always a reclusive child, despite all the parties and social functions Mother dragged me to." Her voice softens and she seems to talk to someone else a moment, "Maybe that's why I talk to you..."

Kristine raises her brows at Brigid, then clears her throat in an attempt to remind the other she's still here. "Mother was always curious. The 'Walkings...Have I told you about those yet?"

Brigid blinks a moment as though startled, then recovers admirably, shaking her head, "No...you haven't. 'Walkings?"

Kristine nods a bit, turning and hopping on the counter. "I sleepwalk. But, it isn't normal sleepwalk," She stops suddenly, "Promise me you won't tell Velia. I'm not sure how she'd respond to it."

Brigid nods and listens, "I promise..."

Kristine licks her lips nervously, "Well, I sleepwalk, like I said. But it's strange. I only do it when I have these wacky dreams. There's always this woman, she's got really blond hair, I finally managed to grab her accent as Russian. She's always babbling nonesense, like a cackling witch. And she can shift. I realize she's doing what you and I can do, the Changing thing. But what's scary are the times when I'm her. I have some strange 'Walks when that happens."

Brigid blinks and looks curious, "Does the woman ever seem familiar to you?"

Kristine shrugs,then chuckles. "Sort of. I've never seen her, or anyone like her before. But she has my eyes, you know my color green." She sighs, and closes her eyes. "I -feel- as if I should know her, Brig, but I don't. I couldn't have known her. The time in my dreams is no later than the early 1600's."

Brigid thinks a moment, "There might be a reason for that, but I'll have more time to explain that later."

Kristine scratches at her temple, "Really? More spirit stuff huh? You know, it would help if I knew who my father was," She snaps a look at Brig, "Don't tell Velia that either. I have a feeling she'd have kittens if she knew I was some bastard brat." Kristine chews her lip, obviously disturbed at the slip.

Brigid smirks softly, "Don't think I'll be telling, Kris. Do you think anyone but you so far knows that I talk to myself?"

Kristine chuckles, the anger having long since passed away. "We're just a couple of secret-keepers aren't we? But wouldn't you think that my father would have been able to explain some of this, if he hung around? I know he knew about me."

Brigid leans against the counter and shrugs lightly, "Who knows? I barely know anything about my father, myself. He died when I was seven, never really knew him."

Kristine nods slowly, "It is difficult to grasp isn't it?" She glances around the kitchen for a few minutes, mumbles something about mushroom and onion pizza then looks to Brigid, "I found out a little bit about a tribe called Gets. or something."

Brigid's mouth twists into an amused smirk, "Ah, the Get of Fenris. Lovely bunch they are."

Kristine begins tapping her fingers, "Lets see, Ada and Logan told me they're long winded with Long introductions, something about Nazis, can be nice people, but just as soon as rip someone's throat out than look at them. I think that was it, I think I'm misquoting them."

Brigid smiles, "They've got it rather right, as far as I'm concerned."
Kristine chuckles, "Two down, what, elven more to go? I also need to sweep the floor. I don't want to be known as a messy tenant."

Brigid chuckles and glances down at the dirt on the floor, then back up, "I'll help you clean up, two work faster than one."

Kristine hops off the counter, and nods. "True. Where does the Mistress of the Manor keep the brooms?"

Brigid holds a hand to her mouth as she looks around, "You know...I have no idea. I never was here long enough to look..."

Kristine turns to toss a grin up to her, and giggles. "Oh boy, we're going to be going through the manor looking for brooms, get caught and be accused of snooping."

Brigid grins mischieviously, "I'm ready when you are..."

Kristine walks out of the kitchen, and glances around, "Where to start? Check coat closets and the like. Those are logical places for cleaning supplies."

Velia comes down the stairs with a broom and dustpan in hand.

Kristine stops seeing Velia, probably causing Brigid to run right into her. She smacks her hand across her mouth to keep from giggling.

Brigid bumps right into Kris, peers around her, and blushes, also giggling as she sees Velia.

Velia smiles a bit. "I think you were looking for these? I had some things to clean up up stairs. Normally, they're in the kitchen closet."

Kristine bites off another chuckle, and reaches for the broom and dustpan. "Thank you, Ms. Varro. I sort of tracked some dirt in, and wanted to clean up my mess before anyone caught it. I think I'm a tad late."

Brigid, still blushing a bit, pipes up, "And I was just about to help her."

Kristine looks to Brig, and lowers her head, but she's grinning. After all, they do look like a couple of toddlers who were caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Velia hands over the cleaning things. "That's a very good thing. Miss Jefferson is extremely...anxious about dirt. Please, go to it."

Kristine takes the offered items with a nod of thanks. She then turns to Brigid, giggling again she moves to sweep up the foyer.
Brigid manages to hold her reactions to a furious blush as she ducks her head and moves after Kris.

Kristine whispers to Brigid as she sweeps up the pile of dust, "Red is definately not your color, Brigid."

Brigid snorts and giggles, giving Kris' arm a gentle whack as she takes the dustpan, bending down so the other woman can sweep the dirt into it.

Velia glances back and forth between the two women with a slight hint of a smile. "I see you're getting along quite well..."

Kristine humms gently as she sweeps, pushing the dirt into the dustpan. It seems she's got it all, apparently she's used to cleaning. "Well, We had to, after all I lived with her for a week, even wore her clothes, I'm still wearing them." That brings another giggle, it seems that for this evening, the shy little girl has been shelved.

Brigid looks up from holding the dustpan and smiles brightly, cheeks still flushed a bright pink, "That's true. Sharing that much does make you closer."

Kristine murmurs as she takes the dustpan, "Here, let me have that." She then moves into the kitchen, disposing of the dirt, and returning the broom and dustpan to their proper places. Afterwards, she's right back at Brigid's side.

Brigid stands up and dusts her hands off, giggling as Kris returns to stand next to her.

Velia sits down in the chair by the coffee table. "You two seem in a good mood tonight. Or, did I walk in on something private? Should I leave?"

Brigid shakes her head, "Nothing...truly private, just talking about each other and the past."

Kristine looks to Velia, then to Brigid, then giggles. "Um, We're usually like this when no one's looking." Then she nods at what Brigid says. "Yeah, just getting more acquainted and all that. You know how it goes."

Kristine shifts a little, then chuckles. "Might I get a bath? Would she mind if I used the tub?"