Log edited with Logedit 2.6.6pl on Mon Aug 24 15:37:27 EDT 1998

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Marie comes in from outside, bundled in her brown leather jacket. The normally smiling kinfolk seems sober today, with the characteristic dark smudges around her eyes that indicate stress or a lack of sleep. She heads for the counter first, not immediately noticing Jeremy.

Sarah shakes her head a little, wry smile evident. Her attention, however, goes back to the book in her hand.

Antonio looks almost insulted for a moment. "My art," he murmurs quietly, "is not sloppy, and does not attract too much negative attention. That is one of the points my superior back east had accepting. He preferred less...subtle works."

Jeremy, however does notice Marie. His expression warms as he sees the other kin, and then subdues slightly as he sees her mood. He does call out a greeting though,"Heya Marie."

JJ Malone is seated across the table from Antonio and speaking to him quietly. The blond's eyebrows go up eloquently, conveying mild surprise and disbelief, but then she dips her chin shallowly. "Then you might work here well. How much have you been told about what's going on here?"

Jeremy did give a small shrug, and his lips turned a touch wry as well as Sarah goes back to her book, however.

Marie glances over her shoulder as she hears her name called. She smiles wanly at Jeremy, then leans over to finish her order. Without indicating to the server where she'll be sitting, she moves toward Jeremy. Her voice is somewhat flat, but she doesn't seem angered by the other kin's greeting. "Hey, Jeremy."

Antonio's smirk returns in force as his rich Italian voice murmurs softly, "I was told that things had been going to hell out here. I figured being sent here was more of a sentencing than a vacation. But..." he stretches his shoulders lazily, taking a sip of his coffee, "...I like to think I can adapt to and make the best of any place."

Jeremy furrows his brow lightly, studying Marie's expression for a long moment. He says softly,"S'been a while, Marie. You don't look so hot though. Something wrong?"

JJ Malone cradles the coffee cup in her fingers again and sips, blank-gaze still fixed disconcertingly on the man across from her. "I'm sure the Dons think that about here, but it's not *quite* hell. They're right in that there's not enough of us, and those here not cut out for the job we're trying to fill," she says bluntly. "It's a place of opportunity. You'll either take to it like a duck, or drown like the others." The metis suddenly gives another sardonic smile. "For my sake, if nothing else, I hope you can swim."

Marie lets one side of her mouth lift in a crooked grin. "Yeah, you could say that." She sits down at the counter seat on Jeremy's other side, leaving him between her and Sarah. She drops her voice a little, but it's still not a whisper. "You hear about Chris?"

Jeremy furrows his brow, trying to place the name. Then finally he does, and then nods slowly, his expression becoming a touch wary. "No, I didn't."

Sarah flips another few pages in her book, then speeds through the rest, letting pages rifle past her thumb, as she fans to the back cover. Another snort, and she tosses the book down again. Taking her feet off the chair opposite, she stands, and takes both the bottle and her now empty glass back to the counter.

Marie speaks bluntly, her eyes sliding down to the counter. "He's dead."

Antonio finishes his coffee, simply uttering, "Quack."

Antonio glances about the cafe, then refocuses his attention on Malone. "So," he asks quietly, "what do people do for fun around here?"

JJ Malone's mouth twitches. "Who has time for fun? There's all the usual here as any other big city, just not the redundancy. Give me your phone number where I can reach you, and I'll try to put you in touch with some of the locals. You been warned about that? The diversity?"

Jeremy drops his eyes, it seems the cop has been at his job well enough to sense that kind of news before it comes. Still, he isn't so de-sensitized it doesn't affect him. A swallow tightens his throat as he looks back up, saying softly,"I'm very sorry to hear that, Marie. And for your loss." Sarah's approach draws his eyes, a touch of wariness slipping into his expression before he looks back to Marie.

Antonio nods, "I wasn't warned, but I dug it up on my own. Here," he replies, sliding his wallet out of his suit, and producing a business card from it. "This is my cellphone number."

Marie doesn't look up at Sarah, playing with something under her shirt by rubbing at the hollow of her neck. "Yeah, it pretty much sucks, all right." She tries another smile, then goes on, "They had a funeral, but I couldn't go. But someone that knew us both way back took my words to him."

JJ Malone takes the card, slipping it into an inner pocket of her jacket. "Give me a couple days with it."

Antonio nods, "Will do."

Antonio stands, giving Malone a curt nod before slipping his mirrored shades out and heading smoothly for the door.

Sarah puts down both empties on the counter of the bar, giving the attendant behind it a short nod, and a, "Thanks." Marie earns a moment's study, and Jeremy's given another one of Sarah's short nods, before she turns, and heads for the table once more.

Jeremy inclines his head fainly, reaching out to touch a hand lightly on her shoulder, the gesture meant to be reassuring. He draws it away after a moment, before saying,"Yeah, I imagine it does. It's hard losing someone close to you." Anger lights in his eyes though. "They didn't? That's fucking bullshit. Arrogant bastards."

Jeremy nods faintly to Sarah in response to her own, watching her for a moment as she heads back to her table before looking over to Marie again.

Cassandra walks in the door and closes it quietly behind her before running the same hand through her hair. She looks around, a brooding expression on her face that lightens a bit as she sees Jeremy. She doesn't, however, walk immediately over to his table, instead sinkign down into the nearest chair.

Marie lifts a shoulder, then drops it. She says dully, "It seemed important to Megan. Anyway, I'm finishing out some things here, then I'm going to tell MIT that I solved the circumstances that gave me hardship status." She grins, humorlessly. "My dad's fine now, and that's why I was able to get it. I just hadn't told them, because staying here with Chris..." She trails off, then shrugs again. "Well, it was important at the time. That's gone, now."

JJ Malone drains her coffee, then slips out of her chair, leaving the yellow rose on the table where it was left and heading up to the counter to where Marie and Jeremy are talking. There is a moment's hesitation as she realizes she'll be interrupting, but she clears her throat and then adds, "Afternoon, Detective," as she leans her hands onto the counter, waiting for the serving person to attend her.

The server comes with Marie's dinner, which turns out to be a cup of coffee and a toasted chicken-salad sandwich. He looks at JJ reluctantly, sticking to his duty even with the customers that give him the willies. "You need anything else?"

Jeremy nods slowly, letting out a long breath. "Well, that may be good for you. Let you get a fresh start. Though I know hearing that may not ..." He trails off as he hears the Glasswalker's words and then gives her a shallow nod. "Hello, Malone."

Marie had been looking into her coffee as it was thrust in front of her, but the name causes her to look up and glance over at the ahroun. It's as if she recognizes the name, if not the person.

JJ Malone pauses to order. "Pastrami and corned beef on sourdough roll." Then turns to Jeremy. "Thought I'd ask you if you had that info I'd asked for, before I headed to work."

The server nods and turns back toward the kitchen area. He does not ask if she needs a refill or anything else to drink.

Jeremy blinks faintly, furrowing his brow at Malone. "Refresh my memory?" He then stops and glances between JJ and Marie. "Oh, sorry. I'm being rude. Malone, this is Marie. Marie, JJ Malone."

The first name is common enough that it doesn't ring any bells with the Glass Walker ahroun. She gives Marie a cursory nod, and says to Jeremy, "About our friend, the Halloween buff."

Sarah rises again, and leaves the cafe, leaving the book she was reading on the table.

Marie says quietly, "I've heard of her." She pulls out the silver-colored charm she's been playing with under her shirt so it can hang freely. To the uninformed, it looks rather like one of the stylized scarabs that's come back in vogue. Both JJ and Jeremy are close enough to see it's actually a roach, about an inch and a half in length, with spread wings that have tiny zigzag symbols on them.

Cassandra's eyes scan the room, but she seems mostly immersed in her own thoughts, and to judge by the look on her face, those thoughts seem to be of the sleep she didn't get last night.

Sarah walks through the archway into the bookshop.

Jeremy nods a little. "Yeah, I've got the files out in my car."

Sally MacKay strides in through the archway from the bookstore and grins as she glances around, appearing rather pleased with herself.

Cassandra is sitting in a chair near the door, her eyes open and scanning the room but without much apparent attention; in fact, her earlier energy appears to have worn off and she's now leaning against the wall in her chair, more asleep than awake.

JJ Malone glances sharply back to Marie at her casual comment, between her face and then the pendant she's just now revealed. Her head tilts to one side with an expression that is probably 'thoughtful', giving Jeremy a nod, then smiles thinly at Marie. "Then I think you're one up on me?"

Marie shrugs and tucks the charm back under her sweater. Her voice is still without music, though it doesn't hold anger. "I thought Chris had given you my name, and maybe Rik, too. Marie Talbert."

Sally MacKay's smile brightens as she spots Jeremy. Weaving between tables, she heads across the cafe towards him, then gives the others a smile and a nod hello before saying to him, "See? Ontime, as usual."

Marie glances over her shoulder as someone altogether too chipper to be breathing joins the small clump of people on the counter area. She looks back at Jeremy, then takes a bite out of her sandwich while JJ responds.

JJ Malone's forehead furrows, then dark eyebrows quirk upwards, a bare sign of mild surprise, on the other side of Jeremy from Marie. She gives Sally a sour glance as well, but then goes around both the bouncy blonde and the dour man to approach Marie more directly. "Don't think I know anyone around here named Chris, but I recognize yours. Malone, J.J. Malone. I'm sorry for your loss, and sorrier that none of us got into contact with you sooner." The words, superficially, are simply conversational, but there's just the slightest twinge of attempted sympathy there to the perceptive.

Jeremy returns the Glasswalker's nod, and keeps a half eye on the conversation between JJ and Marie. He blinks as Sally makes her way over to him, saying eloquently,"Huh?" Quickly followed by,"Heya Sally. What's up?"

Marie glances again at Sally, then says, "I don't suppose it matters anymore whether I call him Chris or Alexander. But thanks." She shifts in her seat, then says, "As to the other, it's just how things went around here once Arjun retired. I don't know why. My friends in Chicago have given me a couple of names in Boston. Maybe things will owrk out better there."

JJ Malone tilts her head, looking surprised again, but it doesn't reach her voice. "You're leaving, then?"

JJ's less than warm look bounces right off Sally, and the blonde is quick to jump onto the vacated seat next to Jeremy. "Not much," she says, giving him a grin then a light nudge of her shoulder against his before helping herself to one of his fries. "How're you doing?"

Jeremy rolls a shoulder,"Not bad, Sally. Just taking a quick break from work. You met Malone or Marie here, or should I introduce you?" He jerks a thumb towards the other two.

Sally MacKay leans forward to look past Jeremy. She shakes her head after checking Marie out, then points a finger at JJ and smiles, "You hang at Reggie's, right? Don't think I caught your name, though."

Marie nods at JJ, answering her before looking again at Sally. "Yeah. I was really only being a help to Alexander and his group, and I think it hurts both of us to hang out now. I watched my dad fall into crippling depression because he wouldn't get on with his life, after Mom died. I don't want the same thing to happen to me. And maybe there, I'll be more of a help."

JJ Malone's jaw works, but then she says softly, "Well, he was supposed to have been arranging to let me meet you, but I don't think that's enough. I'm sorry no one got to you sooner," she repeats herself, with a hint of anger not particularly directed at the Kin. Only then does she turn to face the couple, focusing first on Jeremy. "Should we know each other?" she asks the man.

Cassandra's eyes open and she sits up, leaning one elbow casually on her table and her chin on her hand, considering the small clutch of people on the other side of the room. She doesn't say anything, not seeming inclined to make her presence felt.

Jeremy nods faintly at JJ. "Yeah, blood ties and all that. You are distintly related, like you are to Marie."

Marie looks back from her glance at Sally to smile faintly at JJ. If still a little bitter about the tribe's failure to contact her, she doesn't appear to hold it against JJ personally.

"Sally," the blonde introduces herself to Marie, before glancing questioningly at Jeremy. Her eyes move back twards JJ and she gives the Garou a more evaluating look.

JJ Malone's second look at Sally is longer for Jeremy's information, then offers a hand out. "Malone. J.J. Malone."

Sally MacKay reaches past Jeremy to shake it, then lets her attention return to Marie, her expression more curious and open than it was for the Walker.

Marie looks back at Sally, still nibbling on her toasted sandwich. Dark smudges line her eyes, and there isn't much curiosity in her expression.

Jeremy offers,"Sally, this is Marie Talbert. Marie, Sally MacKay."

JJ Malone mutters. "Nice to meet you, too," then jerks her chin a fraction at Jeremy. "Those files? Have them here?"

Sally smiles and nods to Marie, and though her eyes do flicker across the dark circles and the general set of the other kinswoman's expression, she does not comment on it. After helping herself to another of Jeremy's fries, she says, "Nice to meetcha."

Jeremy shakes his head. "Nah, out in the car. It's parked outside, I'll go grab 'em for ya. Now if you are in a hurry?"

Marie manages a smile and a nod, but she doesn't seem up to extended small talk. "Pleased." is her only response.

JJ Malone flicks a fresh cigarette to life expertly, then blows out a plume of smoke. "If you can. I'm on my way out."

Cassandra stands up quietly and walks through the archway without a backward look.

The server brings JJ's roll, finally, disappearing again without asking if she wants anything else.

Sally MacKay continues to eat Jeremy's fries, swirling each in ketsup first. She gives the Garou another side-long look as she reaches for the cop's drink.

JJ Malone walks through the archway into the bookshop.

"So, you're working?" Sally asks once Jeremy returns and the Garou leaves.

Jeremy says "Yeah, I am. Got to get back to work in about a half-hour or so."

Marie continues work on her food, glancing to each person as they speak.

Sally MacKay aws softly, but she's still smiling. "Hey, when's my permit going to come through? Do you know?"

Jeremy wrinkles his nose and lets out a long sigh,"I don't know. It might be a while, with your .... incident the other night."

Sally MacKay ohs, sounding like she hadn't thought of that. "Damn, that'd effect it, huh?"

Marie does look faintly curious at that, but doesn't ask. She drinks coffee.

Jeremy says "Yeah, yeah it will. More because it was resisting arrest than anything else, I think."

"Damn," she repeats, then smiles at him hopefully, "Can I have it back anyway?" she asks, only half-joking.

Jeremy says simply,"No." The look he offers shows he brooks no arguement.

Sally MacKay takes his hand into hers and looks into his face. "I was just joking. You okay?"

Jeremy squeezes her hand lightly, offering a small smile. "Yeah, yeah I'm okay. It just isn't a good situation for me to be in, Sally. You giving other cops a rough time."

Sally MacKay's eyes fall onto her hand in his. "Oh," she says. "Didn't think about that."

Jeremy nods slowly, and the offers teasingly,"You say that alot, you know."

Sally MacKay tisks and raises mock-incredulous eyes to his, then gives a low chuckle, "Watch it, you, or they'll be adding 'Assulting an officer' to my rap sheet."

Marie hides a smile in her coffee as she finishes her drink, then digs in her purse to place her money down. "I'm going to take off," she tells Jeremy. Her eyes going to Sally, she adds mechanically, "Nice to meet you."

Sally MacKay uses her free hand to wave to Marie. "You, too."

Jeremy nods slowly to Marie,"Okay. Hey, if you ever want to talk or anything, just give me a call, okay. I'll see you around."

Marie nods again, then pulls her coat back on as she walks toward the door.

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