*Merria is looking at you.*
Piddles skips into the park merrily, hands buried in the pockets of his trenchcoat.
*Kathryn is looking at you.*
Quaid looks at Morgan a moment, then focuses on Merria. "Hello. Merria right?" His face seems to break into a slightly more friendly expression. He pulls out a pair of leather gloves from a pocket and begins tugging them on.
Morgan's radiant smile turns into a broad smile, as she nods back to Merria. "Yeah, suppose so." Her arms cross, as she checks out Quaid. Piddles gets a quick nod from the fostern. "Haven't seen you here before," she comments idly to Merria. "Don't believe."
+weather
Currently on this breezy and cold winter midday in the general St. Claire area, it is 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.8 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming from the north at 5.35 mph. The ground is snowy. Skies are cloudy with a definite chance of precipitation.
Piddles grins broadly at Morgan and waves eagerly. He skids on his bare, calloused feet across a patch of ice gleefully and bounds toward the Fury. "Izza buddeee!" he exclaims.
Merria nods to Quaid. "Yeah, that's right." To Morgan she says, "Merria Parker," and extends a grimey hand and a sunny smile.
Arlen comes through the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Merria's head whips around at the new voice and her grin, if anything broadens at the sight of the eccentric man in the trench coat, but then she looks back at Morgan, trying to be polite.
Morgan oofs slightly as a huge pile of Gnawer ahroun collides with her enthusiastically. "Heya," she grins, despite herself. "Nice to see you, too."
Merria takes a step back and giggles as her two focuses of interest collide.
Quaid looks around a moment then mumbles. "Hey, hey the gangs all here." He looks at Kathy a moment, then toward the river.
Kathryn looks around at all those present, and squirms uncomfortably. She manages to gather the courage to speak to Morgan, as she doesn't look as intimidating now after the collision. "We still okay about, y'know? I don't think ye have met me friend, Quaid. Family."
Arlen hoves into view, kicking her soccer ball around, and breaks into a grin at the small knot of people.
Morgan manages to separate herself from Piddles' embrace long enough to look over Quaid. She gives a small grunt of acknowledgement. "Hi," she says to Quaid, her frame drawfed almost comically by Piddles. She turns back to the big Gnawer. "Hey," she says, with a small grin, "could not drool on my jacket?"
Merria whirls around again at the new motion in the corner of her field of vision and calls, "Arlen!" waving once again. "Wow, cool."
Piddles hugs Morgan in the course of respectfully setting her aright on her feet. He squints around at everyone else. "Oooo-oooh," he says, blowing like a foghorn through pursed lips. He leans close to the fostern and says, not quite quietly enough, "Izza fambly or kin Pid, ya know, gofer eet?" He jingles his little bowl politely, its few bits of silver flashing in the afternoon light.
Quaid nods respectfully at the woman. "It's a pleasure meeting you." He smiles a moment then asks to no one in particular. "How much /family/, is in this town anyways?"
Merria gives Quaid a wide-eyed look, and then inspects Morgan and Pid. "Lots?" she suggests.
Arlen kicks the ball over to Merria. "Heya," she calls, and jogs over.
Piddles pauses suddenly to peer over his glasses at the assemblage in something approximately a scholarly fashion, stroking his protuberant beard with one hand and cocking an eyebrow thoughtfully.
Kathryn looks towards Arlen's soccer ball, and starts to move towards it slowly, with a slight grin on her face.
Morgan's nose wrinkles faintly. "You need a bath," she comments, glancing down at his bowl. "Why do those poodles put up with your lack of hygiene?" she muses, mostly to herself. Arlen's appearance rates another warm smile from the Fury.
Merria darts over for the ball and fields it deftly - though this fact obviously pleases her enough to suggest she doesn't take it for granted. She starts to kick the ball back to Arlen, then changes her mind at the last minute and passes it to Kathryn, instead.
Kathryn controls the ball deftly with her instep, and plants her foot atop it. "Heads up, Quaid!" She flicks the ball up into the air, in Quaid's general direction with a quick motion on her foot.
Quaid rolls his eyes toward the soccer ball. "I'll bring a real football next time. If I woulda known there'd be enough people here for teams I'd have brought one with me this time." He crosses his arms, brooding obviously over the fact he doesn't know how to play.
Arlen gives Morgan a quick hug, and just grins at Quaid. "It's not like there're rules to this, at least not right now."
Quaid let's out and "OOF" as it strikes him square in the gut.
Piddles sniffs. "Pid hadda showa yestiddy."
Merria makes her way back to Morgan and Pid, eyeing the latter with pleased anticipation. Before she says anything, though, she looks over at Arlen to catch the woman's eye, encompasses the rest of the throng with a sweeping glance, pants once or twice with her tongue just barely out, and raises her eyebrows in a not altogether discrete pantomimed question.
Arlen takes a quick look around the group, and makes an 'ok' symbol with her fingers.
Kathryn giggles at Quaid. "I'll teach ya sometime." She turns her body, and looks over her shoulder. "See if ye can get it in front o' me."
Merria grins widely and then turns to Pid, sticking her somewhat grubby hand out and saying, "Merria Parker," with her most engaging smile.
Piddles sticks out his platter-like hand and encompasses Merria's. "Izza Pid!" he exclaims proudly.
"Pleasedtameetcha," Merria says. Then, speculatively, "Izza gnawer?"
Quaid recovers quickly, his face shows with obvious embarrassment. "Boy for a guy that's trying out for SCCU's football team, I could try and show a little more grace." He kicks the ball forward awkwardly, dribbling it as he'd seen it done earlier.. It seems he has potiental for the game, but little patience.
Piddles' face gets very long and serious for a moment as he peers around at the group. Then he shrugs. "Yupyupyup!"
Morgan eyes dart from Arlen to Merria. She coughs, once. "Smooth," she says under breath, with a frown. "Morgan Kiriakis," comes her own short introduction. Her chin lifts again, as she stuffs her hands back in her coat.
"Me too," Merria confides.
Arlen gestures at Morgan. "She's the mechanic."
Merria swings her attention back to Morgan. "Pleasedtameetcha," she says. And then, at Arlen's footnote, she says, "Oh, /cool/. Really pleased to meet you."
Piddles' eyes gets huge, a grin cracks his face from ear to ear. "Sista!!" he exclaims, throwing his arms around Merria and swinging her around with an ahroun's casual lack of awareness of his own strength. He performs a little hopping dance of delight.
Merria yelps as Pid surprises her, and then clings to the ahroun and giggles madly as he swings her around.
One of the Morgan's eyebrows arches casually at Arlen. She nods to Merria. "Nice to meet you too." She shakes her head some at Piddles, but still grins, in spite of herself. "How's things?" she asks Arlen.
Scott picks his way down the park, coming from the north.
Arlen shrugs. "Well, you're better at it than I am," she mutters. "And things, things are fine. This place is... hopping."
Scott makes his way south, quietly and perhaps with surprising stealth as he follows the sounds of the gathering on the meadow.
Quaid keeps an ear on the conversation. Throwing in his name. "Quaid Dugan." Toward those who might not know his name. He continues to work the ball with his feet, looking somewhat comical.
Kathryn sighs, and approaches Quaid. She points down at the ball, and starts to move to her left, swiftly changes her direction, and moves off to the right, the ball at her feet. "S'easy Quaid, when ye played a few times." She passes the ball back to him, slowly.
Morgan nods. "No kidding," she says, glancing back to Arlen. "Haven't had a chance to follow through with that gun yet." Her sigh comes in a cone of condensed breath. "I'm sure we'll get it though."
Piddles sets Merria down after a moment, but continues his happy dance for a few seconds more, until another patch of ice claims his balance and he goes flat on his butt in the snow.
Scott glances vaguely over the gathering before moving over towards the Fury twins.
Morgan snorts out a chuckle. "You need some shoes, Piddles. And better balance." She nods to Scott. "Afternoon," she says to Scott. "Glad to see you got your invitation. Apparently, we're having a party."
Merria staggers drunkenly, still giggling, laughter renewing itself as Pid flops over. She goes over and offers him a wildly improbable hand up, digging her heels into the snow in the vain hope of getting purchase.
Quaid shrugs somewhat frustrated. "I'd rather be carrying it. Or hitting the person who is carrying it." He watches Kath shaking his head as she moves the ball easier than he. "I think we should open this informal moot." He says jokingly.
Scott nods slightyly and murmurs softly,"I was just swinging by the fountain when I heard all of you down here. Not sure if this is too bright an idea, but I suppose there are so few people about the park, no one will notice the fact it's unusual to have a gathering of people in one part of it."
Kathryn grins at Quaid, and flicks the ball up into the air, catching it easily. "Ye wants to hit me, does ye?" She tucks the ball under her shoulder, and tries to look like she knows how to play football.
Arlen says, innocently, "We're just playing soccer." She nods at Morgan, and says, "We certainly will."
From afar, Merria beats scott up.
"Damn," comes Morgan's disappointed sounding reply. "And I was just about to get the party favors."
Scott wrinkles his nose. "That's the thing, Arlen. No one plays soccer in the park anymore." He lifts a shoulder in a half shrug before his eyes go assessingly to the new faces.
Arlen says, quietly, "Ah, that curse thing? Well," she says, a wry tinge to her tone, "We're reinaugurating the tradition, perhaps?"
Piddles giggles at Morgan and holds up his bare feet. "Pid's a looooopy puppy and he don't gots no shooooos," he croons quietly at the Fury, his usual tone deadened by the newcomer. Then he grabs onto Merria's hand and attempts to haul himself upright.
Quaid smiles evily, suddenly lurching forward. Catching Kathryn in a textbook tackle, taking the trouble to not be to rough. They both go down into the snow. "Now this is hot to play /football/."
Long distance to Merria: Piddles helps you beat up Scott.
Kathryn tries to grab at Quaid's head as she hits the ground, laughing. "I think I should teach ye how t' play Hurley. Tis a great game, ye'd like it!"
"No wonder people offer him spare change," Morgan asides to Arlen about Piddles. Her attention flickers to Quaid again, quickly, frowning once more. "You met Pete yet, Arlen?"
Arlen perks up. "Hurley? You mentioned that awhile ago..." Taking the everpresent apple out of her pockets. "Met him last full. Had an entertaining time, over on the other side."
Merria makes a valliant effort, putting in more determination than her small frame suggests is likely, but in the end she is no match for Pid's weight and the slippery footing. Having only heaved the ahroun about an inch up, she slips forward and lands on top of him. Merria rolls over onto her back in the snow and hoots with laughter.
Morgan inhales a touch sharply. "Oh yeah," she replies, her eyes giving a flicker of remembrance. "Heard about it. He was impressed with you, as I recall." Her tone hints at her pride. "Why do I suddenly feel like a baby-sitter?" Her mouth grins again, showing her amusement.
Quaid gets up, helping Kathryn up as well. He shakes the snow off and looks toward Scott. "Heya, Scott. I just let myself out the other night. Didn't want to out stay my welcome ya know." Looking to the two others in the snow he laughs.
Piddles oooofs as Merria lands on him, knocking the breath out of him, and lays in the snow gasping for a few moments, although it is unclear whether it's because he's been jabbed in the solar plexus or because he's laughing too hard.
Kathryn grins as Quaid helps her up. She looks over at Arlen, and says "Hurley, ye gets to hit each other with big sticks tryin' t' get a little ball into a hole. Great game!" She beams.
Scott lifts a shoulder again. "If you all want to draw attention to yourselves, that's your business. Me, I think I'd prefer to avoid any unpleasant entanglements such attention is likely to bring. For what it's worth Morgan, we've got a bit more info on that project Andrea and I were working on, but it basically boils down to staying the hell away from the place that artifact was unearthed. And that I don't think there is anything roaming about the city. Anyways, catch you ladies around."
Merria's laughter subsides a little, and she props herself up on one elbow to watch Scott as he leaves.
Morgan eyes the Fang Galliard a bit quizically, even as he turns to leave. "Mmmkay," she answers him with a nod. "Thanks for the warning."
"Sounds like lacross, only without a net." Arlen's eyes flicker at Scott, and she says, calmly, "Frequently, I get into odd entanglements simply because of my clothing. I assure you, I do not intend to... do any breaking of any laws." She nods at Morgan, then, eyes still tense, and says, "He impressed me, as well. Good man, I think."
Merria's nose wrinkles just a little as she gazes after the departing Fang. "Who was that?"
Quaid nods at Kathy. "Sounds like a game my people play. Pretty rough actually." He looks toward Scott shrugging slightly, not suprised at not being heard over the crowd. He scoops up some snow in his hand and starts forming it into a ball. He eyes Scott a second but then shakes his head. Thinking better of getting his attention that way.
look arlen
When at rest, this woman is content to rest. But she can burst into movement at the drop of an interesting comment, eyes alight. She's about 5'5", and stocky, although it's obvious she's in quite good shape. Her face is somewhat square, not at all beautiful, but strong, interesting, and eyecatching even so, with fierce brown eyes and short brown, almost black hair, with a rat-tail trailing down practically to the small of her back. She seems in her mid twenties, a certain studied calm in her eyes.
She wears battered blue jeans, one thumb hanging from the front pocket (unless there's something more interesting to do with it), and a battered jean jacket, with (today) a light green shirt emblazoned with "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." on it. Her boots are black, and well worn.
Kathryn nods to both Quaid and Arlen. "Kinda like lacrosse, only the sticks are more like hockey sticks, an' there be a hole in the ground fer a goal, most o' the time." She scoops a little snow up herself, following Quaid's example.
Quaid knows what's about to happen with Kathryn's ball. So he takes the intiative and clips her shoulder with his zipping Snowball. "Ha gotcha first!" He screams as he spins away, trying to get around the group to protect himself.
Arlen steps out of the line of fire, absently.
Scott fairly much ignores Arlen's departing comments, and throws over his shoulder to Morgan,"Pass it on to the other Alphas, if you see one of them. He catchs Quaid's gaze and gives the man a small nod of greeting before continuing on his way.
Scott travels north, making his way through the tall grass to the fountain.
Kathryn wipes the snow from her shoulder, and nods at Quaid. "Someone getta hold o' that un, please." She walks slowly towards Quaid, moulding the snow into a tight ball, letting the heat of her hands melt the outer surface a little, making it a little sloppy.
Morgan follows Arlen's example as she moves over closer toward Merria to answer her question. "Scott Van Traelin. Got a bit of a chip on his shoulder sometimes, but he's an alright sort."
Arlen mutters, "Same to you, m'sieur," and watches Kath with interest.
Piddles sits up finally, panting and making little sighing noises, his grin still plastered on his face. He looks at Merria. "Izza Scott. Heeza..." He pauses and screws up his face, as if trying to remember something. "Heeza muchacho con mucho macho!" Pid makes expressive and vaguely obscene gestures of length along his thigh, illustrating his point.
Merria, who seemed to have been thinking about getting up, watches Quaid and Kathryn and settles back on the ground where she is. "He's probably a nice guy, but his logic is full of fuzz." She giggles at Pid and nods comprehension.
Quaid scoops up another handfull of snowy ammo. "Back off Irish. Don't want to get any snow down your shirt or anything." He is distracted at Piddles comment and begins laughing, exposing himself for strike.
Morgan smirks at Piddles, "That's a bit less charitable than I think he's used to."
Kathryn shakes her head at Quaid, and draws her arm back, waiting for the right moment to launch her sloppy projectile.
Merria grins. "It probably isn't macho that gets him, though, it's angst-o! I seen his type. They get lots done, but sheesh."
Piddles tries valiantly to wrap his Texan tongue around the word "angst". He spends several long moments at it.
Arlen just shrugs, and puts her gloves on.
Merria pages: Character analysis qua Frances, Merria style.
Morgan exhales a deep breath and nods once to Merria. "Suppose so," she says, glancing towards the northern end of the park. "I need to finish my patrol." Her face lights into a small grin. "Catch up with you all later."
Merria wrinkles her nose and gets to her feet. "'m sorry. No business to go mouthin' off about someone here, my second day. Just seemed weird, him objecting to human folks getting together in a human kind a way, having fun. I mean, for one thing, if anyone does see us, then it makes more sense to them if they see us together again, some other time. But anyhow." She brushes the snow off herself, leaving herself very damp and rosy-cheeked.
Arlen says, shortly, "Exactly." She takes a breath, and lets it out, and adds, calmer, "I'll see you around, Morgan. Thanks."
Morgan touches Arlen's shoulder in passing. "Any time, sister." She nods at the others, and walks northward again.
Morgan travels north, making her way through the tall grass to the fountain.
Piddles rolls to his feet, still attempting to frame the word, and dusts the snow off his butt.
Quaid sights in Kathryn and prepares to fire. "Some just take life alot more seriously than others I guess." He doesn't throw, distracted by Morgan leaving. "I don't think she cared much for me." He says with a tinge of concern.
Merria grins at Arlen, unconcerned. Then, to Pid, she says, "Ahhhhhhnnnnngggg. St."
Kathryn seizes her chance, and launches the dripping snowball at the distracted Wendigo, giggling.
Arlen shrugs. "You wanna be liked by everyone, you're in for a big disappointment, for certain."
Piddles frowns, mouthing the word along with Merria. Finally, he pronounces it successfully. Then he frowns again. "What meenz ahhhhhhnnnnggst?"
A wet smacking sounds echoes across the park as Quaid's face is covered in slushy snow. "Ack." Is all he manages as it strikes. He takes a few moments wiping it clear and looks with blurry eyes to Arlen. "Hey I know. I still like making decent first impressions though."
Merria shrugs. "It's like, havin' bad things happen to you, and then mopin' around and takin' yourself too seriously about 'em. Doen't mean you can't be a good guy, anyhow, just....sometimes takes the kick outa things a little."
Piddles' mouth forms a perfect 'O'.
Kathryn walks over to Quaid, grinning. "Sorry, lets just call it even, okay? I don't want to embarass ye in front of all these people!"
Quaid pats Kathryn on the back. "Sure thing Pal O' mine." As he says this he slips some of the wet snow he was scraping off his face down her neck. He chuckles. "Now we are even!"
Kathryn bites her lip as the cold snow falls down her back, and punches Quaid in the stomach. "C-c-cold! Ye bastard!"
Piddles rustles around in the deep pockets of his jeans and comes up with something in his hand. "Izza Stuff!" he exclaims, extending it palm-down to Merria. "Izza welllcumm t'Santa Clara, yah?"
Merria holds out her hand curiously.
Quaid Oofs agian but continues laughing clear through it. "Remind me to tell Coyote that even you can be had!" Tears form in his eyes as he cracks up.
Arlen's attention flickers to Piddles, now.
Piddles drops a handful of cold gooey stuff in her hand. "Izza Flubbbbur," he explains.
Kathryn grins at Quaid. "I tink the hair joke were better than yer snow."
Merria yelps again in surprise at the sensation and closes her hand around the green goo, laughing. "Flubber!" She poke her fingers through the slime, fascinated. "Did you get it from McDonalds? I been seeing their signs."
Arlen mouths "Flubber?" and peers at it, sidling closer.
Quaid Looks up in suprise. "That was a joke!?"
Piddles beams.
Kathryn laughs at Quaid. "Ye means ye still be takin' in with it? It be a permanent one, too!" Kathryn doubles over, clutching at her sides, giggling hysterically.
Merria schloops the green goo from hand to hand, watching it become more runny as it gains warmth from her hands. She holds it out to Arlen with evident delight. "It's a Disney movie, I think, an' MacDonalds got it to give away with things. I haven't gotten any, though, yet. Isn't it cool?"
Piddles nods. "Izza Mickee Deez, yah. Pidza gots da alla Barbees an' stuffs too!"
Arlen pokes at it, curiously, and then runs a hand up and down it. "Haven't seen the movie. Maybe I should. This stuff feels... Weird."
Quaid scratches his head a moment. "But?" He turns and paces a few yards away. He looks down at the snow kicking it around between his boots.
Merria wrinkles her nose at Pid. "Barbies suck, man," she says without rancor. "They've got like deformed feet and inflatable boobs. /Flubber/, now. Flubber is cool."
Arlen gestures. "Phenominal cosmic hips. *Itty* bitty living space. So to speak."
Merria separates the goo into two blobs and proffers one to the Fury.
Merria laughs at Arlen. "Yeah!" she says. "That."
Merria adds, "*Itty* bitty waist line."
Piddles shrugs. "Pid tinks dey kinda kyooot. Pidza offer dem as heez cheemeenaj, but de alpha no tink dey kyoot eeder." He grins.
Merria says "Didja try him on the Flubber?"
Arlen grins at Merria. "Ex/act/ly." She fondles the goop in her hands, and says, "This stuff is far too odd. Thanks."
Merria grins. "No problem."
Piddles shakes his head sadly. "Nope. No gots Flubbbbur den. Jus' dee Barbees. Dey all cullurful, yah?" he offers by way of explanation. "Dey funnee lookin' an' prittee cullurs. Don' look nothin' like de humans, nope nope, but de humans, dey tink dey do. See why Pid like dem? Izza a beeeg deeeloooshun," he concludes triumphantly.
Merria's eyes widen. "Yeah," she says after a sec. "Sheesh. I could get to like 'em too, if I thought about it like that."
Kathryn glances over at Arlen, Pid, Merria and the Flubber. "Quaid, tink we should check out the goop?"
Arlen's eyes are sad. "Yes, and it really messes up many of the human women, as well. It's a delusion I could do without."
Merria grins sideways at Pid. "Sorta a Gazer thing, hunh? The Zen of Barbies." She holds her handful of green slime out to Kathryn obligingly. "It's cool, see?"
Quaid Looks toward Kathy. "No you go ahead." He picks up some snow, balls it up and tosses it as far across the park as he can.
Piddles studies Arlen carefully. "Izza Barbee Blob? Helps gurls groo up 'helpless but prittee'?" he asks with a tentative grin, evidently not sure he's remembering aright.
Arlen doesn't let confusion derail her. "Exactly. It's... destructive. I don't, however, recognize 'Barbie Blob'?"
Kathryn takes a handful of the Flubber, grimacing at the sticky feel. "This stuff is not right, feels all icky." She looks to Quaid, then at the Flubber, and grins. "Quaid, c'mere an' take a look at the goop!"
Merria eyes Kathryn warily. "Don't you be doin' nothin' with my Welcome to St. Claire present, now," she says, mock-warning.
Piddles grins, spreading his hands. "Pidza not shur he member rite? Dis laydee atta ol' sept, she inta dis comic book an' she teech Pid alla bad cussin' wurds outta it. 'Hothed Piedzan?'"
Quaid takes a minute. "Okay sure." He walks over and places a finger in the flubber in kath's hand. "It's interesting." He looks to Piddles and asks. "You collect alot of neat stuff like this?"
Arlen beams. "Good, very good comic. I mean, the art is awful, but it's... women's rage, encapsulated in written form."
Merria peers between Arlen and Pid. "Hothead what?"
Arlen's grin threatens to fill the Park. "Hothead Paisan. Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist. Comic book. I've got a few I could show you, if you want, sometime."
Kathryn takes a small fragment of the Flubber and dangles it in Quaid's face. "This stuff smells bad, Quaid. Take a sniff!"
Merria blinks. "Um, okay. Cool." She looks a little startled, but her grin is quite sincere and there can be no doubt that she will take Arlen up on this offer.
Piddles nods at Arlen. "Dat's eet!" Then he grins at Quaid and adjusts his pants in an excellent imitation of machismo. "Pidza da man wit da Stuff!"
Merria absent-mindedly wipes her hands on the seat of her pants, leaving fluorescent green streaks.
Arlen sticks a thumb in her pocket. "What, the lesbian bit frying your circuits?"
Merria giggles. "No, the homicidal terrorist bit. I mean, aren't there enough 'evil lesbians' in the comics?"
Arlen absently tosses the flubber from hand to hand. "Oh, yes, certainly. But she's not /evil/. She's merely very, very angry."
Quaid pulls back from the goo. "Ugh I smell it from here, that's fine."
"Oh," Merria says wisely. She thinks. "Guess I'd have to see it, hunh? Are you a lesbian?"
Piddles nods eagerly. "She blow lotsa tings up big!"
From afar, to Piddles and Arlen, Merria shrieks with laughter at the timing of that.
Esther comes through the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Arlen says, with a slight smile, "Nope. Bi. I'm a dyke, though. Are you a lesbian?" She grins at Piddles. "That she does. And very well, too."
Piddles seems to realize his mistiming and stops. Feebly, he says, "Well, Morgan, she blow tings up big, dunno bout Arlen..."
Quaid smiles at Arlen. "An angry lesbian? I didn't thiink that was possible."
Kathryn puts the flubber back in her hand, and offers it back to Merria. "Icky stuff, keep it! Ugh!"
Merria gives Arlen a sort of 'aw, shucks' grin an says, "Heck, all I've been so far is too busy."
Reggie climbs over the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Merria takes her flubber back a little absentmindedly. "Thanks," she says, not quite paying attention.
Arlen looks at Merria speculatively. "Well, I hope you find out someday." She snorts at Quaid, and then snorts again, with more humor, at Piddles. "I've certainly blown things up in my time. But not quite on the Hothead level."
Piddles observes quietly, to himself, "Morgan, she *get* blow up big sumtimes too..."
Esther pauses at the edge of the park, takes a look about, and heads over to the conversing group with easy strides. Once she's within earshot, she gives them all a "Hi there."
Merria turns her attention back to Pid. "Really? What has she blown up? And what blew her up?"
Piddles blinks and opens his mouth to explain, then peers at the new arrival with a bit of consternation.
Arlen's expression tightens, slightly. "Yes. She has. Thank you, Piddles, for the rescue." She glances over at Esther, and waves. "Hello."
Quaid looks toward kathryn. "A joke?" He asks agian.
The hefty figure of Reggie treads on the sidewalk into the park, trailing a cloud of smoke from a cigarette. Cold though it may be, he's comfortable in his fur jacket.
Kathryn nods at Piddles. "I seen her blow up bad, at me! Kathryn MacRonan, by the way. Ye be Pid, right?" She turns in the direction of Esther's voice, and glances at the new arrival, not recognising her. Kath turns her attention back to Quaid. "Oh aye, a joke. Yer hair, thought I'd see if I could get away with it. Guess I did."
Quaid mumbles. "You can make a guy feel rather silly." He scratches his head and looks toward the new arrivals, asking Arlen. "More family?"
Arlen shakes her head. "Don't know about this guy. Esther, I know her, though. She's family indeed. Sort of related to you, in a way, Quaid."
Esther also sees people she doesn't recognise, and, like Quaid, looks to Arlen for cues, limiting herself to "Esther Parnell, for those that don't know me," as she reaches the group.
Merria glances at Arlen first, then grins cheerfully to the newly arrived woman. "Merria Parker. Pleasedtameetcha."
Quaid raises his eyebrows. "Oh?" Is all he sats in response as he turns his attention toward Esther. "Quaid Dugan." He states to the woman.
Arlen shrugs at Esther, and murmurs something to her.
Kathryn looks from Esther to Arlen, and makes one hand into a claw, cocking her head quizically.
Reggie inspects the vastness of the park before making it his business to grin, walk near the group with Esther, and study its various components.
*Reggie is looking at you.*
Piddles nods at Kathryn and grins at her, says, "Pid no de guy, he wuz atta citee meet." He extends his hand to Esther. "Izza Pid!" Then turns back to Merria. "We bin in dis house, goin afta dis guy who be poisonin' da foods, an' Morgan an' Jeemmee an' me, we go to da Relm an' facin' down dis guy. All de udders, dey downstair on de udder side, an' dey messin' wit tings down dere. De guy, he go all squooshy an' go 'way under da door, so Pid, he go tru da door. We chasin' him down de stair, an' he get downstair an' he blowd hisself an' dis grill ting up BIIG, an' Morgan, she all on fire, an' she falldownboom ontoppa Pid, who all burn up -- see de scar heer?" He points to a faint pink patch on his scalp. "An Pid, he go boom ontoppa Jeemee. An' Pid, he pick up Morgan an' we all run outside."
Arlen blinks at Piddles, and then simply murmurs, "Don't know this guy. Everyone else is family, however," to Esther.
Just like Arlen, Esther also blinks at Piddles. Pair of owls the both of them. She smiles slightly, and gives a generalised friendly nod.
Merria listens to this narrative, engrossed. "Cool," she says when it's done. "No wonder you guys are friends. Do you know him?" She nods past Pid's shoulder at the large man approaching.
Piddles nods, frowning. "Pid just say he did." Pid waves at Reggie with a big grin.
Reggie's teeth bare in a grin as he notices Merria's nod, and pushes himself towards Merria with a hand held out for a shake. "Nope. I'm Reggie's evil twin, Rags."
Merria shakes Reggie's hand with a delighted grin. "Very cool. Merria Parker, aka Nosy."
Kathryn squints at Reggie. Recognition dawns in her eyes. "You were in the truck that night, wern't ye? Ye ran Elan over, an' then got jumped by, um, sometin', right?"
Reggie moves Merria's hand up and down in an extravagent motion, "Merry! Looks like we're all family. You can be my sister, okay?"
Arlen's gaze sharpens on Reggie. "Looks like," she mururs. "Arlen Kosmopoulos."
Merria laughs. "You got any other siblings I should know to watch out for?" A glance at Kathryn, then back to Reggie, "You ran Elan over? What for? He's so nice." She grins.
Reggie, while still pumping Merria's hand, turns to jab a finger in Kathryn's direction. "Stupid guy jumped in my way", he starts with a belligerent note, which fades into a more neutral note, "Yeah. The girl who wanted her pony."
Esther gives Reggie a broad, slightly sly grin. "When you've finished with the brotherly bit, this evening sometime, want a game at the Pool Hall? Catch up on the news and that?" she looks around at the others, frowns a little, and asks, "Arlen, you play?" It looks like she'll have to wait for an answer, though. Besides, she'd rather like to know about this running Elan over business, too.
Quaid sweeps from Esther to Reggie. "Quaid Dugan." Stating it as if it's all that needs to be said. His attention drifts back toward Kathryn for some inexplicable reason.
Arlen nods, watching Reggie. "Occasionally. I'm nothing resembling any good at it, though."
Kathryn nods. "The little lost spirit in the storm... She got ya good, right? Round the neck?" She doesn't seem to notice the attention from Quaid.
Reggie sobers momentarily to nod to Esther, "Yah", he casts an inspecting look at Arlen, and nods again, "The more the merrier? --hey, Merry, remember the place: The Sticks, on second street. It's my place, so you better drop by sometime or I'll be heartbroken."
"Your heart breaks too easy," Merria says mock-reprovingly, but she doesn't seem adverse to the idea of visiting.
Esther nudges Reggie with an elbow. "Hold another party? Last one went okay."
Piddles peers at Reggie. "Wuzzat yur partee wit alla beeeeer, or wuzzat jus' Jeemmee?"
Kathryn's ears perk up. "Did someone jus' say beer?" She looks interested.
Reggie rubs his throat in uneasy memory. He smirks at Merria with "It's made of glass. Very fragile." He looks considering at Esther, "Hm. Anything'd be better than that one up north, even with the sideshow afterwards." He echoes back Piddles' mangling of words, "Jeeemmeee Creeket, that pirate guy? He couldn't hold it without my help!"
Esther rolls her eyes. "What've I just started?" she asks, with a slight smile.
Quaid rolls his eyes. "Here we go." He steps a little back from the group at large and examines his surroundings.
Piddles grins broadly. "Wuzzit dat partee dat Pid, he dance an' he go flop?"
Merria looks at Esther out of the corner of her eye. "Which bit?"
Kathryn eyes Pid. "Ye means Jimmy, Shakes, right?"
Piddles nods at Kathryn.
Arlen just smiles, slightly.
"Ooooh", Reggie replies to Piddles, "The one where just about everyone went flop."
Esther eyes Merria in return. "I mentioned the 'p' word."
Merria grins. "And around gnawers, too. What were you thinkin'?"
Kathryn grins in Esther's general direction. "An' around a Fianna. I tink ye should organise it, c'mon. I got some money, lets get a crate o' beer!"
Piddles grins big. "Parrrrteeee!" he intones.
Arlen folds her arms. "I'll just go to it. Could be the bouncer, maybe?"
Kathryn nods at Arlen. "I would nay try to force me way past ye, I've seen ye fight!"
Sally MacKay climbs over the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Merria folds her arms, imitating Arlen. "I bounce," she suggests.
Esther gives a short laugh. "I'll stand the pretzels. Just remember I do the driving."
Arlen looks at Merria thoughtfully. "You're too cheerful," she decides, flashing a grin at Kath.
Piddles draws himself up to the full height he never usually achieves and declaims in a James Earl Jones sort of voice, "We *all* bounce."
Merria nods to Arlen. "Bouncy." She grins.
Reggie laughs at Merria. "There'll have to be a bouncing contest", he suggests. "What's the occasion?"
Arlen says, "Indeed," and doesn't go for the literalist explanation.
Merria flashes a surprised look at Pid and giggles.
"We could get one of those inflatable bouncy things they get for kid's parties?" Esther suggests.
Bopping along Regan Avenue, Sally makes a left and heads into the meadow. She starts for the fountain, then makes a detour once she spots the group. "Hey," she calls as she nears.
Kathryn shrugs at Arlen. "I'm a Fianna. Violent mood swings. Plus, someone mentioned beer! And a party!" She looks at Piddles and grins. "Mufasa?"
Quaid let's out a sigh. "I guess I'll get to drink you under the table after all Kath." He looks around a minute and does his stereotypical Hollywood Injun. "Fire water, white man's poison."
Arlen murmurs, "Inflatable sheep," and shrugs at Reggie. "Late New Year's party?"
Esther gives a quiet "baaaaa," grinning.
Reggie starts making a suggestion, "Or a trampoline--", he breaks off, his brows lowering in a suspicious look, then waves a hand as Sally announces herself. "Hey, hey", his expression slowly lightens.
Merria looks over at Sally, and then makes her now-habitual check with Arlen.
Piddles shudders down to his normal slouch. "Oooooh, do it again!" he grins at Kath.
Sally MacKay heads straight for Reggie, her hands shifting to her hips. "And just where where you last night young man?" she asks in her best mother-hen tone.
Arlen tells Merria, "She's family, but only vaguely related. Kin, you might say. Afternoon, Sally."
Merria's mouth forms a silent 'O,' and she grins at Sally.
Kathryn giggles. "Mufasa, Mufasa, Mufasa!" She raises an eyebrow at Quaid. "Ye really tinks so? I don't. I bin drinkin' since I were, um, very young." She nods, to give her words extra strength.
Reggie remarks, his tone turning dry, "Why--planning your surprise party. It was a surprise when you didn't show."
Sally MacKay glances over only once she hears her name, missing the identification of herself. She waggles her fingers at Arlen and smiles, then gives Merria a curious look and includes her in the wave.
Merria sticks a grimey hand out jauntily. "Merria Parker."
Sally MacKay snorts as she looks back towards Reggie, "Yeah, right. But I'll be big; you're forgiven," she informs him with a smile.
Kathryn looks around at the others. "We gonna have that party then?"
Reggie bows, sweeping a hand to the ground, but not touching it, in an overexagerration of gratitude towards Sally. "I haven't slept all night in fear and worry, now I'm content." He smirks again, as he exhales cigarette smoke.
"Sally, or Mustang. Either's cool," the blonde returns the introduction. Her hand starts to move either to shake or perhaps on its way higher to wave, when Kathryn's word catches her attention. "Party?" she asks with no small bit of interest.
Arlen mutters, "I think it's radar."
Sally MacKay inclines her head towards the Uktena, to all appearances taking his words seriously. "Glad I could help set your mind at ease, dude."
Esther tries not to giggle.
Merria sticks her hands back in her pockets and does giggle.
Quaid Looks toward Sally. "Least she hasn't pulled a knife yet." He says under his breath.
Piddles peers around, apparently lost for the moment in the flurry of bizarre human interactions.
Kathryn nods to Sally. "Aye, party. They were talkin' about one. Seems we got similar tastes, right?" She gives one of her dazzling smiles, and starts to pat her pockets for something.
Reggie bites back a quick reply, and substitutes another smirk and a respite from conversation, as he grinds his cigarette underfoot and starts a fresh one.
"I'm there," Sally nods to Kathryn, then takes a look around the group again. Her eyes settle on Esther and she tilts her head to the side slightly. "We met yet?" she asks. "Sally, 'case you were snoozing the first time around."
Merria unobtrusively slides over closer to Arlen so that she can whisper something to her out of the corner of her mouth.
An odd expression crosses Esther's face for a moment, as is if some unpleasane recollection was triggered by Sally's question. "Yeah, we met. At the old church. You were sharing out the whisky," she reminds Sally.
Sally MacKay oh yeahs and nods, taking another look at her. "Right, okay. The bottle Arlen gave me," she tosses a smile at the mentioned gift-giver.
Kathryn remembers herself, suddenly. "Um, to all those who don't know, Kathy Mac. Um, Arlen, can I say the rest?" Kathy finds what she's looking for, and reaches into her pocket. "Mind if I smoke some?"
Arlen starts chuckling, and clamps down on it, ruthlessly. "Personally, I don't go into details outside in the open like this."
Merria grins at Arlen's reaction and slides away again.
Esther wrinkles her nose, but says nothing. Reggie, after all, is already smiking like a chimney; and she, happily, is upwind of both. As far as introductions go, she nods emphatically in agreement with Arlen.
From afar, Merria whispered to Arlen, "A human! I met a human in St. Claire!"
Long distance to Merria: Piddles breaks!
Quaid watches Kath fish around in her pocket. The step a bit upwind, coming up beside Esther. "Clearer air up this way?" He asks to her with a smile.
Shadow Eyes climbs over the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Kathryn pulls a long joint from her hip pocket, and places it in her lips, lighting up with a cheap disposable lighter. She inhales deeply, exhaling the smoke after a second or so, and smiles vaguely. "I need this right now."
Merria gives Kathryn a perplexed look.
Arlen shakes her head, fetches her soccer ball, and moves away from all the smoke. She doesn't make a big production out of it, though; she just starts fiddling with the ball, and drifts.
Shadow Eyes pushes his way though some vegetation, and sniffs. Happily, he bounds over to Piddles and brushes his not-very-clean side against his packmate.
Esther gives Quaid a wry smile. "Looks like," she says, shortly. With mild interest, she turns to watch Arlen.
Piddles leans down and scritches Shadow Eyes just behind the ears, then swoops the dog in a big hug.
Sally MacKay's eyes pass over the 'dog' as it nears the group, instead she watches Arlen kick the ball for a moment or two.
Merria glances over at Shadow Eyes, does a double take, grins, but carefully doesn't stare or comment just yet, eyes drifting back to Kathryn, whom she watches curiously but without comprehension.
Merria says "How come you need it right now?"
Shadow Eyes meeps, (an interesting sound indeed for a dog to make) as he is hugged, and begins to slurp Piddles face. Curious, he looks to the others, and gives a broad happy wag to see Merria.
Quaid points to Arl. "See? I gotta get a football for the next time we come out here."
An old woman also drifts across the park, her shuffling feet taking her to the overflowing garbage disposal bins, where she shifts through the remains, gathering up cans into a plastic bag.
Piddles grins and muses quietly, in flawless accent,
"'Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,
Hound or spaniel, brach or lym,
Or bobtail tike or trundle-tail.'"
Kathryn shrugs. "I felt the need, is all Merria. S'alright." She looks a little uncomfortable as she takes another long drag. "Want some?"
Arlen says, succinctly, "Addiction," and kicks the ball - softly - over towards Quaid.
Merria shakes her head emphatically, wrinkling her nose. "Naw. it makes you all slow and sleepy. What fun is tha--" She breaks off, turning eyes as round as quarters on Pid. "Do that again!"
Shadow Eyes growls at Kathryn, suddenly, interrupting. No. He glances to Merria, and then back to the Fianna. No.
As the hugged dog produces a squeeze-toy like sound, Sally takes another look. She ohs, then smiles a bit. "Hey there E-eh," she catches herself and finishes, "-eh, Hi."
Kathryn glances lazily at Piddles, and back to Shadow Eyes. "Huh?"
Piddles grins up at Merria and says,
"'Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all.'"
The old woman squeaks as her eyes open at the growling dog, and she shuttles back from the bin and the group, cans and litter falling and rolling over the ground.
Quaid stops the ball with his foot and gives it a somewhat more graceful kick than he did earlier, back to Arlen. "Hey I might get the hang of this, if you guys help." He smiles and adds. "Still not as good as football though."
Shadow Eyes tries to wiggle from Piddle's grasp, but does appear to love the poetry.
Merria goggles at Pid, but has the presence of mind to lift her voice and call, "It's okay, lady. he wouldn't hurt a fly, really, he just sound nasty. 'Sides, my friend's got a hold of him. Honest."
Sally MacKay gives the old homeless woman a dismissive glance along with a slight wrinking of her nose, then quickly looks back to Shadow Eyes as he growls. She watches him, her hands slipping into the pockets of her long coat.
Arlen corrals it, and glances over to the woman. She tells her, earnestly, "He belongs to one of our friends. He's nice to people he doesn't know, really." This done, she kicks the ball back to Quaid. "Like I said. Easy, when there's no pressure."
Kathryn finishes her joint, and looks around for a stone to put it out on before it burns her fingers.
Piddles looks up at the old woman, hands Elan over to the nearest person, and shuffles after the woman, looking as small and harmless as he can manage. He rustles in a pocket and endeavors, gently, to press a small wad of bills into her hand.
Casper comes through the rusted chain-link fence along the street into the park.
Reggie smirks at the discomfort of the woman, as he starts a new cigarette, and he comments to Esther, "It's turning into a poetry recital."
Sally MacKay ehs as Shadow Eyes is pushed against her leg. One of her hands reappears and settles upon his shoulder. "Stay," she says, though if it were really a command, it'd be half-hearted at best.
Kathryn finds a stone and put out her joint, scraping the ash off into a small baggie, and places the spent end inside aswell. She ties the bag off, and puts it in her pocket.
Quaid takes the ball in under his foot, as he tries to stop it he nearly loses his balance. "Heh. Okay no pressure." He hops it up into the air and knees it. Hitting it a bit to hard it sails up a ways and lands back in front of Arlen. "A bit to high. My first trick though." He smiles.
Shadow Eyes whuffles as he is passed over like a football, and cold-noses Sally. He shakes himself, and pads over to Merria, bumping her in a friendly manner. Still, his tail is bushy and held high; something's got him upset.
The old woman scuttles away a few more steps, cringing to make herself smaller from the group's regard. At Piddles' approach, she swings her plastic bag, containing several pop cans, and hits him on the shoulder with as much force as she can do, which results in more noise than impact.
Casper trudges across the park, his feet sinking deeply in the snow. He gets a curious grin as he sees the gathering and stands back to observe for a moment.
Kathryn walks over to Arlen, a little calmer now, and watches her play soccer with Quaid.
Piddles winces and looks intimidated, and drops the money carefully on a dry spot of the pavement before scuttling backward with a hopeful grin. He shuffles back to the crowd.
Merria crouches down, looping an arm around the dog' shoulders as though to keep him in place, though in fact she exerts no pressure. "What's up?" she asks, as one might of a pet, expecting no answer. Catching sight of Pid's maneuver, she grins appreciatively.
Arlen grins at Quaid. "Good show, that," she calls, and spends some time futzing with the ball before kicking it back to him, in a standard fashion.
"Yeah," Sally says as Shadow Eyes walks away, "That's a good dog, gotta get you a choke-collar or something," she jokes quietly.
Esther looks between the bunch near Shadow Eyes, and the two playing with the football. Curious, she catches Arlen's eye, and makes a small gesture with her hand, deciding to join in with the more vigorous pursuits.
Quaid let's the ball roll up his leg and grabs it in both hands. "So what's the deal? Number of players on a team and such? I always got pissed in school when they marked up /my/ field with there Soccer boundary lines." he let's it fell and punts it back to Arlen. "Doesn't seem so bad now I guess."
The old woman shakes her bag after the retreating Piddles, before looking sharply at the notes, and does a shoulder-check with a nervous, birdlike glance, before reaching for the notes with a bird-like peck of her hands. Her twisted hands manage to pick it up on the third grapple.
Shadow Eyes sits in a protective stance by Merria's legs, ears alert.
Arlen shoots it over to Esther, smoothly, and says, "11 on each side. Defenders, Forwards, stuff like that. Don't use your hands, unless you're a goalie, and other'n that... Not a lot TO tell. Other than offsides."
Kathryn glances between Arlen, Esther and Quaid. "We could have a little two on two, though. Like in Basketball?"
Merria glances from Elan to Pid and back again. "Shoulda guessed you two'd know each other," she murmurs.
Esther stops the ball dead with a shin, taps it a bit from side to side on the ground, and kicks it backwards with her heel, towards Kathryn. It goes somewhat wide; not the best of shots, but it's clear it's not the first time she's tried this.
Piddles wanders back to Merria and company. "Izza alla Pid gots right now," he tells the others. "Wishin' Pidza had more." He wiggles his toes in the snow and studies them.
Sally MacKay wanders closer to Merria and Shadow Eyes. "Looks like he likes you," she nods downwards at the 'dog'.
*Sally MacKay is looking at you.*
Merria looks up at the ahroun from where she sits hunkered down with Shadow Eyes. "Hey, man, it's more'n she had before. S'pretty cool." She grins at Sally. "I got a way with dogs," she confides.
Kathryn steps into the path of the ball, stopping with her instep again. She rolls it up onto her foot, flicking it upwards, and kicks it over to Arlen on the volley. It is pretty obvious that she has done this quite a bit.
The old woman shakes her bag in defiance at the dog, before acquiring an alarmed look, and shuttles off in a short-strided, quick jog to a region where she won't be around people who know she's holding money.
Quaid looks to Esther. "You a full moon. Just out of curiosity?" He says it in a low voice that couldn't be overheard easily.
"Yeah," Sally says, reaching out to give Elan a quick pat, then kind used by one who's not much of a dog-lover, "So I see."
Esther turns to Quaid, frowns, gives an ever-so-slight shake of her head, and suggests, "Come over to the Pool Hall in a bit. More relaxing place to talk."
Quaid nods. "Sorry about that. Just struck me to ask is all." He consentrates on the ball waiting for his turn.
Arlen hits the ball before it has even reached the ground, tapping it over to Quaid.
Casper sniffs the air and blinks a little, curiously. The smell breaks his trance and he resumes walking, eventually reaching Sally's side. He reaches down and gives Shadow Eyes a scritch.
Piddles smiles at Merria, a little sad.
"'For it so falls out
That what we have we prize not to the worth
Whiles we enjoy it, but being lack'd and lost,
Why, then we rack the value; then we find
The virtue that possession would not show us
Whiles it was ours.'" He rises, with a glance of habit at the sky, skritches Elan quickly and executes a low bow to the group. "Fare thee well, sweet sisters, brave brothers, for now the curtain falls and Piddles must needs away, reminded of those he is sworn to aid." His body comes up, rod-straight, for a moment, then falls into its familiar slouch. "Pidza seein' y'all layter."
Sally MacKay gives the Gnawer poet a curious look, then nods and waves. "Catch you later, man."
Quaid recieves the ball scooping up with the inside of his foot. "Hey check this out. This legal kath?" He passes it toward Esther with his foot.
Merria gapes again, and gives Pid a delighted grin. "You," she says, fixing him with a pleased look, "I'm gonna see around."
Reggie states, "To be or not to be", and waves a hand to Piddles. "'tis all the same to me", he finishes the rhyme.
Arlen looks at Piddles with great interest.
Kathryn nods to Quaid. "Nice.. Try it on yer head..."
With long, loping strides, the Gnawer full moon departs in the direction of the Regan Hope Project.
Back to home.