It is currently 17:02 Pacific Time on Sun Jul 24 2005.

Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous Moon phase (78% full).

Safehouse: Common Area

The foyer of this house is set off from the living room with its octagonal
      bump-out by a four foot high halfwall. Stairs lead up from the foyer, 
      turning and disappearing to the right, and a wooden door with a keycard 
      lock claims the wall opposite the living room. The rest of the main floor 
      is taken up by a small bathroom across the hallway from a dining room 
      which is separated from the kitchen at the back of the house by another 
      half-wall. The decor is decidedly sparse - white walls, beige carpeting 
      in the living and dining rooms and down the hall, unremarkable vinyl in 
      the foyer and kitchen.

A used couch and a pair of recliners are grouped around a coffee table in the
      living room, with a foursome of wooden chairs claiming the bump out for 
      quieter conversation. The dining room boasts a white laminate table with 
      four aluminum and vinyl-upholstered chairs - too new to be 'vintage', too 
      old to be trendy. The appliances and cupboards in the kitchen are new - 
      or at least refurbished to look like it - and a door leads out to the 
      backyard from there.

Up the stairs are a number of empty rooms where anyone affiliated with the Sept
      can crash and an office for private meetings. The Glass Walkers have 
      their own area accessible via a locked door off the foyer. The main doors 
      themselves lead back out to the front porch of the house.

Obvious exits:
Porch  Guest Room  Office  Glass Walker Area  

Ring Ring Ring goes the buzzer at the front door.

A somewhat disheveled and wet-haired Thomas Grey answers the front door, his
      face as closed as ever. He regards Alicia for about half a second before 
      stepping side to let her in. "Door's supposed to be unlocked until 
      sunset," he remarks, polite and crisp and without any sign of warmth 
      whatsoever.

"Yes, but if ya' barged inta' my house when ah' jus' got outta tha' shower,
      ah'd kill ya." Alicia teases as she heads past him, giving the man a pat 
      on the shoulder. "Hey, how's it hanging big guy? You doing OK? The family 
      cool? Everything dandy?"

Grey's jaw tightens at the touch, then closes the door behind her -- an action
      which allows him to put distance between them. "The house, this side of 
      it at least, is for the Sept's use. You've as much right to barge in as 
      anyone." His irritation's obvious, but perhaps that's just an effect of 
      the moon.

"Alrightie then. I'll just take the rest of my unanswered questions as Yes, Yes
      and Sure." Alicia says, flashing a bright smile to him. "I got news for 
      'you' of all people, you got yourself an invitation."

Grey folds his arms across his chest and remains standing, not far from the
      front door. His brow furrows, his frown turning wary. "Invitation to 
      what?"

"You know that Yi has challenged James Yuf for Fostern." Alicia lets that soak,
      just for a tick, before continuing on. "Her test is to get from one end 
      of the Bawn to the other in Lupus and... not get seen, or spotted. If she 
      is seen or spotted, he or she who has spotted her has to call out her 
      name, and the two face off in combat. They have to fight until first 
      blood in the Lupine. If she strikes blood, she moves on. At any point she 
      doesn't get first blood, she loses. James Yuf personally selected you if 
      you wished to attend."

Grey's face goes deliberately blank as Alicia reiterates the challenge terms.
      His eyes narrow slightly. "Really. When?"

"I'll get that information for you asap. James just wanted to know who was
      interested in coming so that he can get a bunch of people together on the 
      same night. Looking at a half moon type situation, so that ya'know, its 
      not too dark and not too bright. No rewards on her side and no chance of 
      someone killing each other also." Alicia says. "So, you in?"

"I'm in," the Glass Walker answers with an unsmiling nod.

"Cool beans. Poor Yi." Alicia says with a ghost of a smile touching her lips as
      she looks you over for a bit. "So, that was pretty much it. Not much else 
      to toss at you. Any news you want to disclose to me that I may need to 
      shuffle forward?"

Grey thinks for a second or two. "There's a Glass Walker Ahroun in town.
      'Scratch'."

"Oh? He came back, huh? Cool, I heard of him but... I can't remember if I met
      him or not. These days people are in and out so fast its hard to keep a 
      track. He's here for good?" Alicia asks.

Grey shrugs. "He didn't say. He isn't staying at the safehouse and didn't give
      me a number. Natalie's met him, and that's all I know."

"Gotcha, then let him know that I would like to speak with him. Call me Megan's
      personal answering machine while she is having... um.. I guess you can 
      say quiet time with her pregnancy." Alicia squints her eyes a bit, arms 
      folding over her chest. "So, Seeker also has said that he wants Havoc, 
      Resonance and Birdseye to do a good deal of patrolling in the city, 
      especially 'bout the hospital parts. He wants us to get into the Umbra 
      and take a quick peek while the moon is fat to see the situation of the 
      explosion." Another tick. "I'm going to be leading that lil excursion. 
      Interested in backing me up?"

Grey seems less enthused about this... not that he's seemed especially enthused
      about anything so far. "Possibly. Bit of a large crowd for a scouting 
      party, though."

"Well, I'm not saying all three packs are going into the Umbra. Just saying
      they are ganna be doing routine patrols around the area in the realm. I'm 
      hand picking my lil group to go in there. So far I got Eamon and Jervis 
      on my list." Alicia reaffirms. "Definitly an in and out situation. No 
      combat. At least.. not trying to. I'm ganna talk to James also to see if 
      he'd be willing to come, just in case."

Grey nods slowly. "...All right," he says. "Circumstances willing, I'll come."

"Great. I'll be giving you a call then and letting you know what is going on."
      Alicia says with a flash of a grin, a quick one, before starting for the 
      door. "Also, Seeker is looking for /any/ helping hands to help patrol the 
      Bawn and tighten up the security. If you bump into anyone, let 'em know 
      for me, please? Ridgeline and Requiem right now have taken over that job, 
      but they always can use the help." She tugs the door open and spins to 
      face him, brightening some. "You hungry?"

Grey shakes his head. "Not really. But thanks."

"Alright, then I'm snagging up Fresh Choice and heading to the farm. Peace out
      big bro." Ali' flashes him the V sign, then slips out the door, closing 
      it behind her. Her voice is muffled. "Cockroach protect!"

Grey mutters, "Likewise," at the closed door, then stalks back into the Walker
      side of the house.