It is currently Thu May 29 2003.

Currently the moon is in the waning No Moon phase (7% full).

Studio

The studio is airy, elegantly modern and full of light: a large, high-ceilinged square room with almost an entire wall of windows. It still smells of paint, though there is no evidence of current painting. Rolled canvases lean in one of the corners, and a few finished pieces adorn the walls. A six-foot length of pipe hangs a painting behind the couch, creating a slightly more personal space that evidently serves as a bedroom; the piece is a dark, strange cityscape, an oddly skewed view of the world beyond the glass seen through otherworldly eyes. The edge of a futon can be seen beyond it; the walls around the bed bear swirling patterns of colors, calming shades of undersea blue and green. These patterns gradually soften as they grow out into the rest of the room, where walls are visible; angles replace curves, until the mural becomes a mix of ocean and circuitry. The sofa is quirky and curving, a work of modern art upholstered in green velvet. A Turkish rug in vibrant tribal colors occupies much of the hardwood floor; the coffee table, a sculpture of recycled blue and green circuit-board and shiny aluminum, rests on it in front of the couch.

Opposite the windows, a compact kitchen is marked off by a crisp stainless steel counter. The west wall nearby has doors to a closet and to a small, sparsely-appointed bathroom. The east wall holds bookshelves of pale wood, supporting a small stereo, collections of pictures and found objects, and a good number of books; the corner between shelving and the wall of windows holds a plain wooden desk with a slim notebook computer and phone atop it, and an elegant mesh rolling chair.

Dinner is, as always, excellent. But Rina's apparent upswing in mood makes it better than it has been for quite a while. She seems... almost happy. At least, almost normal, laughing whenever Salem tries to make her laugh, giving Cat that rare affectionate smile the boy brings out in her. After dinner, they're in the midst of dishes--Rina washing, Cat drying, and Salem putting away--when she glances over to Cat, and asks, "You gonna tell him about church?"

The kinswoman's good mood is catching, or it's simply the _fact_ of it that has the Philodox in a good mood himself; that crooked, roguish smile is more in evidence tonight than usual. At Rina's remark, Salem glances over at the cub and arches a quizzical eyebrow.

He almost drops the plate, he's so surprised that he forgot! Cat grins proudly and sets his towel down to turn to Salem, fishing for something that's fallen down the neck of his shirt. "When Miz Rina an' I went to church-" he keeps looking up to speak to the Philodox and so misses whatever he's looking for "-I was going up for communion and the priest who was giving it? I knew him!" Finally he fishes it out and holds the silvery cross up for Salem to see, adding happily, "It was Father James from Saint Bartholomew's and he gave me -this-."

Salem's smile fades a little, his brow furrowing. "You knew him?" His gaze flicks to Rina, then back to Cat. "Did he know _you_?"

Rina glances to Salem a bit soberly. "That was kinda what got us talking, yeah. So we went in the back and had a chat. And it turned out he was an OK guy, and Cat said we could trust him. So if there's any static from that direction, Cat and I will take the heat for it. It was his decision, and after talkin' to the guy I supported it. He's a visitor, he's not from here, and I thought he seemed aright." She returns her attention to scrubbing the baking dish.