When she wants it
Apr. 16th, 2010 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shelbyrouIt is currently 10:25 Pacific Time on Fri Apr 16 2010.
Currently the moon is in the waxing New (Ragabash) Moon phase (17% full).
Country House
Entering the cub house on an early Friday morning, Zosia looks tired. Her keys get tossed on a table and she digs about in the refridgerator, pulling out a glass jar of yogurt from a local dairy. She doesn't bother on a bowl--she just acquires a spoon and starts to eat.
At least she's not drinking Al's beer. That would be Bad. Up the stairs from the basement comes Shelby, absently playing with the zipper on her jacket as she heads into the kitchen. Vrip-vrip. Vrip-vrip. Vrip-vri... "Zosia-rhya." She sounds surprised to see the theurge - surprised, and perhaps a little wary. "I, um - good morning."
The motions of eating are neat, precise, and careful. Looking at the cub thoughtfully, she swallows before saying, "Good morning, Shelby. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you," Shelby replies automatically, thank Gaia for manners. "And you? Looks like it might be a nice day." Hands drop back to her sides as she goes for a glass.
"Doesn't look like rain, at least. So. We need to discuss what it is you're learning and what you need to work on. Have a seat." Zosia carefully sets her food and spoon aside, folding her hands together on the tabletop.
Shelby promptly veers away from the cabinet and circles back to the table. Fingers interlocked, she rests her wrists on the edge and focuses on Zosia's yogurt. "Al and Kate-rhya went over the creeds yesterday. I've been spending some time on the bawn as well, mostly in lupus." She pauses, but adds with a sour twist to her mouth, "I don't think I'm getting any faster at shifting, though."
"That comes with time and practice, pure and simple. I wouldn't worry about it yet." Zosia nods slightly. "The creeds are useful though mostly only handy because some elders love to hear people reciting them. If you aren't a moron, they should be self-explanatory, really."
"Al said something like that," Shelby agrees, her lips twitching. "Only he said 'fuck' a lot more." Because he's Al. "I believe you know the rest...?"
"The rest?" Zosia asks, though a smile ghosts about her lips at the report.
Shelby waves a hand. "You know, the rest. That's all that's really new since the last time we talked." Oh, the rest. The old stuff.
Zosia just stares at Shelby for a long time, tilting her head slightly. "Do I?"
Way to make the cub panicky, mean Zosia. Eyes widening, she quite clearly is searching her memories of the past few days, finally coming up with a tentative, "...Yes?"
"Tell me what I apparently know?" Zosia asks in a dry voice.
Blinking, Shelby refocuses on a spot over Zosia's shoulder, and rattles off what she and Zosia both apparently know: Shelby knows about the tribes, the Litany, the creeds, the auspices and breeds, how to shift, and about the Umbra. "I can... go into detail about the tribes and Litany, if you like?"
"Not yet. I'd rather hear your take on them once you've met more of them." Zosia exhales, staring off into space. "We'll get you into the umbra once the moon gets bigger. You need to start learning how to fight."
"I've only met... about four other tribes," Shelby agrees, having to think about it for just a moment. She grimaces about 'how to fight', her eyes dropping back to her hands, but nods, just like she has a choice.
"If I don't teach you how to fight, I might as well cull you now," Zosia says. It is gentle, rather than threatening. "We all fight. Regardless of Auspice."
Shelby nods again, not looking up. Aren't fingers just so... fingery. "I have the feeling 'fighting' is going to be like 'tracking', though."
"No. It'll be painful and not fun. But. We're Gaia's Warriors." Zosia shrugs a bit and glances out the windows.
"Of all the things in my life that have been fun, I think it's pretty safe to say that 'being a Garou' is right down there in the bottom ten," Shelby agrees dryly.
"It isn't all bad," Zosia says wryly. "It's just different. But, by the same token, you can make a direct difference here. At least in the scope of the Sept and your packmates."
Shelby? Not so much with the 'immediate agreement'. But of all the things she could- say (90% of which would promptly get her beaten or shot), what she ends up saying is, "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
Zosia rolls her eyes then, shaking her head. "August will, as his duties allow, handle the bulk of your fighting teaching. I suppose Kate may be all right too. I haven't seen her fight so I don't know for sure. August I do know."
The Ragabash makes a face like she's not sure where the smell is coming from. "Is she allowed to teach me? I thought she had to complete her chiminage first. --She and Al were talking about it yesterday."
"Not precisely," Zosia says with a sigh. "She can't be your formal teacher. But you have an obligation to at least listen since she's a cliath."
"Oh, I do," Shelby hastens to assure. "I just wanted to make sure I had everything straight."
"No formal teaching from her until the chiminage is set, yes," Zosia says with a nod, clucking her tongue. "So listening is fine but if she tries too hard to push some teaching, tell her to speak with me."
"I will." Shelby is all agreeable, see? "What about - well, do you want me to learn to shoot, too?"
Zosia's lip curls in distaste. "I dislike guns. They aren't honorable and we aren't in a city Sept. Not while a cub. If you choose to learn as a cliath, so be it."
Prompt agreement from the cub, though she's still sitting in the same position she started in, like she's reciting for class. "I don't think Al will be unhappy to hear that." She waits a beat or three, before taking a hesitant stab at, "How is Ellie?"
"She's good." Zosia's expression relaxes and she smiles faintly. "Tristan's pointed out he can't even move about much and the house is set against Dancers so they'll stay there for now." She shakes her head. "I don't like it but..."
Shelby says, "So I - we don't have to move to the bawn?" like she's not sure if she should be happy or bummed. "Has there been any other news?"
"You might still. Other kin aren't so lucky so we shall see. Besides, you're due to spend some time living in lupus for a bit anyway. You learn very fast that way." Zosia shakes her head. "Nothing."
Shelby repeats, "Living... in lupus." She almost says something once or twice but ends up falling back on the old resigned standby: "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
"Yes. We spend plenty of time in it for the sake of moving about the bawn. It isn't ideal and some people are too wedded to the idea," Zosia's lip twists a bit at that. "But."
"I've been in lupus quite a lot," Shelby points out, even though logic has never actually affected anything before. "Claude and I have been running on the bawn this week, and yesterday I think I spent most of the day in lupus."
"Good. It will make the time extended time you'll spend in it much easier." Zosia's amusement finally shows. "You aren't getting out of it."
Resigned: "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
Snorting softly, the theurge adds, "You'll get more in touch with your other side and shifting will get easier. Besides, it'll toughen you up too. And," she adds, "make you appreciate this more. Besides, it won't be forever. We have standards."
Even the old 'standards' quip doesn't do much more than bring a faint smile to the Ragabash's lips. "Will you ask Al if I can have my things back?" she asks instead, turning to a different topic. "Or can I at least go out and wash my car? It looks absolutely horrible."
"You may ask Al yourself." Zosia says that calmly but there's a hint, on her expression, that the answer should be yes. "And you can go wash your car. If you have your things, though, don't go driving around. Not right now. Don't want to tempt anything."
Shelby studies Zosia for a moment. Maybe two. "I don't have my keys," she points out, with a thread of excitement underlying her words. "I couldn't drive if I wanted to. Besides, where would I go? I'm not that stupid Fianna, to go off and get captured."
"I'd rather make sure I spell things out for you." Zosia snorts faintly and reaches for her yogurt.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? "...May I have my keys, please?" Asking Zosia for things may not have been explicitly mentioned, but faint heart never won fair lady, right? Of course, faint heart doesn't get Shelby shot, either.
"No." Zosia glances up, eyeing Shelby closely. "Too eager for 'em."
"Of course I'm eager for them!" Shelby responds unwisely. "They're my keys. It's my car. Is this some stupid Zen thing like what Tim does where you can't get something until you don't want it anymore?"
Taking a breath that's a bit too deep, Zosia says with a hard edge to her voice, "Right now? You don't have anything. You earned back what you've earned back. Don't make me take it away immediately."
Shelby wants to say something, oh how she wants to say something. Quite possibly a lot of things. All the unwise things go prancing across her face, doing unpretty things to her jaw and nostrils. But after several seconds of shutting up, she manages to croak out an angry, "No, Zosia-rhya. I'm sorry."
Pushing to her feet, Zosia sighs. "I have to get on bawn and check that things are doing all right. Want me to drop you off to get some lupus practice in?"
Shelby mutters, "Yes, thank you," when what she'd probably rather say is something exceedingly rude.
Smiling to herself, Zosia does just what she says before disappearing deeper into the depths of the bawn in a blur of white.
Currently the moon is in the waxing New (Ragabash) Moon phase (17% full).
Country House
Entering the cub house on an early Friday morning, Zosia looks tired. Her keys get tossed on a table and she digs about in the refridgerator, pulling out a glass jar of yogurt from a local dairy. She doesn't bother on a bowl--she just acquires a spoon and starts to eat.
At least she's not drinking Al's beer. That would be Bad. Up the stairs from the basement comes Shelby, absently playing with the zipper on her jacket as she heads into the kitchen. Vrip-vrip. Vrip-vrip. Vrip-vri... "Zosia-rhya." She sounds surprised to see the theurge - surprised, and perhaps a little wary. "I, um - good morning."
The motions of eating are neat, precise, and careful. Looking at the cub thoughtfully, she swallows before saying, "Good morning, Shelby. How are you?"
"Fine, thank you," Shelby replies automatically, thank Gaia for manners. "And you? Looks like it might be a nice day." Hands drop back to her sides as she goes for a glass.
"Doesn't look like rain, at least. So. We need to discuss what it is you're learning and what you need to work on. Have a seat." Zosia carefully sets her food and spoon aside, folding her hands together on the tabletop.
Shelby promptly veers away from the cabinet and circles back to the table. Fingers interlocked, she rests her wrists on the edge and focuses on Zosia's yogurt. "Al and Kate-rhya went over the creeds yesterday. I've been spending some time on the bawn as well, mostly in lupus." She pauses, but adds with a sour twist to her mouth, "I don't think I'm getting any faster at shifting, though."
"That comes with time and practice, pure and simple. I wouldn't worry about it yet." Zosia nods slightly. "The creeds are useful though mostly only handy because some elders love to hear people reciting them. If you aren't a moron, they should be self-explanatory, really."
"Al said something like that," Shelby agrees, her lips twitching. "Only he said 'fuck' a lot more." Because he's Al. "I believe you know the rest...?"
"The rest?" Zosia asks, though a smile ghosts about her lips at the report.
Shelby waves a hand. "You know, the rest. That's all that's really new since the last time we talked." Oh, the rest. The old stuff.
Zosia just stares at Shelby for a long time, tilting her head slightly. "Do I?"
Way to make the cub panicky, mean Zosia. Eyes widening, she quite clearly is searching her memories of the past few days, finally coming up with a tentative, "...Yes?"
"Tell me what I apparently know?" Zosia asks in a dry voice.
Blinking, Shelby refocuses on a spot over Zosia's shoulder, and rattles off what she and Zosia both apparently know: Shelby knows about the tribes, the Litany, the creeds, the auspices and breeds, how to shift, and about the Umbra. "I can... go into detail about the tribes and Litany, if you like?"
"Not yet. I'd rather hear your take on them once you've met more of them." Zosia exhales, staring off into space. "We'll get you into the umbra once the moon gets bigger. You need to start learning how to fight."
"I've only met... about four other tribes," Shelby agrees, having to think about it for just a moment. She grimaces about 'how to fight', her eyes dropping back to her hands, but nods, just like she has a choice.
"If I don't teach you how to fight, I might as well cull you now," Zosia says. It is gentle, rather than threatening. "We all fight. Regardless of Auspice."
Shelby nods again, not looking up. Aren't fingers just so... fingery. "I have the feeling 'fighting' is going to be like 'tracking', though."
"No. It'll be painful and not fun. But. We're Gaia's Warriors." Zosia shrugs a bit and glances out the windows.
"Of all the things in my life that have been fun, I think it's pretty safe to say that 'being a Garou' is right down there in the bottom ten," Shelby agrees dryly.
"It isn't all bad," Zosia says wryly. "It's just different. But, by the same token, you can make a direct difference here. At least in the scope of the Sept and your packmates."
Shelby? Not so much with the 'immediate agreement'. But of all the things she could- say (90% of which would promptly get her beaten or shot), what she ends up saying is, "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
Zosia rolls her eyes then, shaking her head. "August will, as his duties allow, handle the bulk of your fighting teaching. I suppose Kate may be all right too. I haven't seen her fight so I don't know for sure. August I do know."
The Ragabash makes a face like she's not sure where the smell is coming from. "Is she allowed to teach me? I thought she had to complete her chiminage first. --She and Al were talking about it yesterday."
"Not precisely," Zosia says with a sigh. "She can't be your formal teacher. But you have an obligation to at least listen since she's a cliath."
"Oh, I do," Shelby hastens to assure. "I just wanted to make sure I had everything straight."
"No formal teaching from her until the chiminage is set, yes," Zosia says with a nod, clucking her tongue. "So listening is fine but if she tries too hard to push some teaching, tell her to speak with me."
"I will." Shelby is all agreeable, see? "What about - well, do you want me to learn to shoot, too?"
Zosia's lip curls in distaste. "I dislike guns. They aren't honorable and we aren't in a city Sept. Not while a cub. If you choose to learn as a cliath, so be it."
Prompt agreement from the cub, though she's still sitting in the same position she started in, like she's reciting for class. "I don't think Al will be unhappy to hear that." She waits a beat or three, before taking a hesitant stab at, "How is Ellie?"
"She's good." Zosia's expression relaxes and she smiles faintly. "Tristan's pointed out he can't even move about much and the house is set against Dancers so they'll stay there for now." She shakes her head. "I don't like it but..."
Shelby says, "So I - we don't have to move to the bawn?" like she's not sure if she should be happy or bummed. "Has there been any other news?"
"You might still. Other kin aren't so lucky so we shall see. Besides, you're due to spend some time living in lupus for a bit anyway. You learn very fast that way." Zosia shakes her head. "Nothing."
Shelby repeats, "Living... in lupus." She almost says something once or twice but ends up falling back on the old resigned standby: "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
"Yes. We spend plenty of time in it for the sake of moving about the bawn. It isn't ideal and some people are too wedded to the idea," Zosia's lip twists a bit at that. "But."
"I've been in lupus quite a lot," Shelby points out, even though logic has never actually affected anything before. "Claude and I have been running on the bawn this week, and yesterday I think I spent most of the day in lupus."
"Good. It will make the time extended time you'll spend in it much easier." Zosia's amusement finally shows. "You aren't getting out of it."
Resigned: "Yes, Zosia-rhya."
Snorting softly, the theurge adds, "You'll get more in touch with your other side and shifting will get easier. Besides, it'll toughen you up too. And," she adds, "make you appreciate this more. Besides, it won't be forever. We have standards."
Even the old 'standards' quip doesn't do much more than bring a faint smile to the Ragabash's lips. "Will you ask Al if I can have my things back?" she asks instead, turning to a different topic. "Or can I at least go out and wash my car? It looks absolutely horrible."
"You may ask Al yourself." Zosia says that calmly but there's a hint, on her expression, that the answer should be yes. "And you can go wash your car. If you have your things, though, don't go driving around. Not right now. Don't want to tempt anything."
Shelby studies Zosia for a moment. Maybe two. "I don't have my keys," she points out, with a thread of excitement underlying her words. "I couldn't drive if I wanted to. Besides, where would I go? I'm not that stupid Fianna, to go off and get captured."
"I'd rather make sure I spell things out for you." Zosia snorts faintly and reaches for her yogurt.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? "...May I have my keys, please?" Asking Zosia for things may not have been explicitly mentioned, but faint heart never won fair lady, right? Of course, faint heart doesn't get Shelby shot, either.
"No." Zosia glances up, eyeing Shelby closely. "Too eager for 'em."
"Of course I'm eager for them!" Shelby responds unwisely. "They're my keys. It's my car. Is this some stupid Zen thing like what Tim does where you can't get something until you don't want it anymore?"
Taking a breath that's a bit too deep, Zosia says with a hard edge to her voice, "Right now? You don't have anything. You earned back what you've earned back. Don't make me take it away immediately."
Shelby wants to say something, oh how she wants to say something. Quite possibly a lot of things. All the unwise things go prancing across her face, doing unpretty things to her jaw and nostrils. But after several seconds of shutting up, she manages to croak out an angry, "No, Zosia-rhya. I'm sorry."
Pushing to her feet, Zosia sighs. "I have to get on bawn and check that things are doing all right. Want me to drop you off to get some lupus practice in?"
Shelby mutters, "Yes, thank you," when what she'd probably rather say is something exceedingly rude.
Smiling to herself, Zosia does just what she says before disappearing deeper into the depths of the bawn in a blur of white.