DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 1998
Place:  The High Note


---- Recall start ----

Murphy walks in exactly on time. He gives the room a practiced once over and 
   then heads over to join the others at their table. Those he knows get a 
   polite nod. He looks slightly scruffy, but his mood has improved since the 
   last gathering. He attempts to claim a chair with a good view of the exits. 
   "Evening all."
JJ Malone is dressed as he usually is for formal occasions in the black and 
   white suit, a burning cigarette cradled in a heavy glass ashtray just to 
   his left. He's as calm as anyone usually sees him. He gives a nod to 
   Murphy, reaching for his cigarette. "Evening, John," he greets barely above 
   a mutter.
Lisa has claimed a small chair near the back as her own, her backpack tucked 
   against the legs of the chair.
Nigel walks into the dark confines of the club from the street outside, to 
   where one of the other employees waits to take his coat.
Phydeaux has arrived.
Bailey is seated in a chair across from the No-Moon. He nods in greeting to 
   Murphy, and goes back to stare at the full water glass he holds in front of 
   him, moving the glass around so that the water swirls a bit.

Phydeaux's desc:
A double handful of wriggling curly fur, this clumsy bright-eyed little puppy 
   is clearly quite young. A mostly-uniform pale brown coat (with faint 
   suggestions of markings to appear later) is clean and smells slightly of 
   organic shampoo. The miniature paws are still unsteady and the eyes, though 
   bright, are still a little unfocused and not yet used to looking at the 
   world. Ears flop slightly, the tail has the faintest suggestion of a flag, 
   and the bright pink tongue covers everything indiscriminately with puppy 
   spit.

Nigel enters with an odd bulge in his chest, and is quickly stopped by the 
   hostess. He takes out his wallet and gives her a bill, and then a second 
   one, at which point she steps back and lets him proceed.
Daisy is seated near JJ, sticking to him like she's been told to stick to him 
   like glue. Everything about the restaurant and the people seems to be 
   fascinating to her in one aspect or another.
A young waitress comes by the table with the Garou as if on cue to take their 
   order, as Nigel makes his way up to them. She looks to Murphy with a 
   friendly smile, first. "What'll you have?"
Nigel spots the other Walkers, points them out to the creature dangling in the 
   baby-tote on his chest, and moves towards them.
Phydeaux squeaks, muffled by Nigel's shirt.
Lisa peers at Nigel's...bulge...for a bit, before smiling.
Murphy's eyes go up questioningly at Nigel's bundle but strives not to say 
   anything. He turns his electric smile on to the waitress and says, "Just 
   make it a ginger ale for now, hon. I'm the designated driver."
The Galliard blinks, peering curiously at the squeaking bundle the City Farmer 
   carries. A slight grin begins to turn up the corners of Bailey's mouth.
The waitress's smile takes on that recognizable look in the warmth of Murphy's 
   smile, and lags slightly as she turns to Bailey. "And you, sir?"
The question brings Bailey out of his present inner thoughts. He smiles at the 
   Waitress, and shakes his head. "Nothing else, thank you. But, if you can 
   keep the water coming, I would appreciate it." He doesn't say this as a 
   demand, just as a very polite request.
Lisa roots through her anorak and withdraws a small bendy-straw encased in 
   paper. Tearing the paper loose and planting it in another pocket, she dunks 
   the straw in one of Bailey's water glasses and takes a sip.
Nigel catches the waitress's eye. "Would you have a nice Zinfandel, preferably 
   Italian? Australian? Oh, that's fine. And, um, maybe some bread and a glass 
   of milk?"
"Oh, Lisa," Bailey chuckles, noting her action, "I wanted to tell you. I 
   talked to that tell woman last night. The one who looked like Lucy?" He 
   can't help it, as a grin rises on his face again.
Lisa slurps a bit, then says, "Nice to see someone being social. How'd it go?"
The shorter Walker rubs his chin, but the grin remains there. He says the next 
   with a low voice, so the waitress does not hear. "Diana was very sociable, 
   and laid back. Not what I'd expect from this Sept's Fury Elder."
Nigel takes a seat across from Daisy, adjusts his midsection with great care, 
   and gives the lupus a nod and smile. "Good evening to you."
Murphy mumbles something that sounds like, "Oh, yeah, we're not too blatantly 
   obvious as a pack of freaks," as he reaches into his own jacket and gathers 
   up his own cigarettes and lights one with a zippo.
Lisa chuckles and says, "So the Fury elder is Xena's earthy avatar? How oddly 
   appropriate." She straightens up a bit, tugging at the sleeves of her 
   anorak.
When the waitress gets to J.J., he grunts softly. "Just water is fine with me, 
   too. Perhaps a pitcher?" He glances at Daisy, waiting to see her order.
Daisy skootches her chair out a few inches so she can stare at what things are 
   on the floor. She looks over as JJ speaks and gives him a decidely confused 
   look.
Bailey sits back in his chair, nodding. "She has pondered, from what she told 
   me, naming her motorcycle Argo."
Lisa says, "She should only do that if it shows up when she whistles.
Daisy purses her lips in dreadfully acute levels of shyness and nigh-whispers 
   at the waitress, not looking at her face, "Wahtur? Puhlease?"
A slight nod of the head and the chewing of his lower lip are the only 
   indications that Bailey thinks the idea of a chopper coming when the owner 
   whistles is hilarious. But, he's being respectful tonight, so he goes back 
   to his water.
The waitress pauses at obvious difficulty Daisy has with the words, but then 
   smiles the condescending encouragement of someone faced with someone 
   slightly slow. She heads back to the bar to fill the orders, and the ahroun 
   knocks the table with the knuckles of his right hand lightly. "Alright, 
   let's call to order. Everyone know each other, or do introductions need 
   made?"
"I believe we can get to business," Murphy states looking around the table. He 
   takes another drag and flicks some ash off the end of his smoke.
Nigel leans back in his chair and tugs on the collar of his pullover.
Lisa tucks her hands in her pocket and says, "Skipping the intros is fine with 
   me."
Bailey gives another nod. "We all know each other, I believe."
JJ Malone takes a drag on his cigarette, and exhales while answering, "Good, 
   then. I don't have anything set on the agenda, this was mainly to make sure 
   everyone had a chance to meet Lisa and Murphy and give status reports, and 
   a forum for whatever business you feel the Family should take care of. 
   Anyone have anything?"
Phydeaux squeaks forlornly, trying to squirm out of Nigel's baby-sack.
Noticing the waitress's return, Murphy gives her another of his smiles and 
   slips a bill onto her tray. "That should take care of us." He waits for her 
   to pass out the drinks before he pipes up. "I had an offer extended to me 
   that I feel I should bring up. A tenative request has been made for me to 
   add my services to the Untouchables. I figured I would refrain from 
   accepting before I got input on whether this would be beneficial for the 
   Tribe or not."
Nigel shifts position awkwardly, trying to talk and deal with a squirming 
   puppy at the same time. "Um, actually. There's been...I've been 
   thinking...are you open to other offers?"
Murphy nods slowly. "Do you know of another offer, Nigel?"
JJ Malone's eyes glance sharply at the squirming...something...under Nigel's 
   jacket, leveling a glance at him briefly in question, but then clears his 
   throat and answers Murphy. "Untouchables used to be half Glass Walkers. I 
   was the last one to leave it. I'd say a Glass Walker'd only be truly useful 
   in that pack if they were happy being relegated to near low on the totem 
   pole or had the guts to force good ideas down their throats. Taken 
   individually, they're...okay," he summarizes with obvious mixed feelings. 
   "Taken together, they're a force of nature."
Bailey nods in agreement with his Elder. "There's a lot of other around who 
   barely know there are still Walkers in this city. Joining a pack lets you 
   meet a lot of people really quickly, and lets the rest of the Spet know 
   that the Family is an active part of it. And Untouchables, they're always 
   cool to talk to, and have a reputation for being tough customers. If they 
   asked you in Murph, that's a real powerful sign of respect."
Nigel straightens, and unconsciously checks to make sure the waitress is busy 
   elsewhere. "The thing is, there's a demonstrated need in this city for a 
   group of...environmentally-conscious individuals...who're adept at using 
   technology and dealing with pollution in a longer-term style than can be 
   accomplished with your normal smash and grab tactics. Individuals who can 
   work together on a number of levels...similar to the way we've worked 
   together so far on the Turner project."
Lisa watches one speaker, then the next, eyes jumping as if she was following 
   the ball at a particularly good soccer game. Brushing a lock of hair from 
   her eyes, she seems more content to listen for now.
JJ Malone shakes his head at Bailey, cigarette in his fingers. "Not 
   necessarily. They've been hurting for people since before I left. I think I 
   should know." He gives a slight snort. "I have to wonder how they've 
   managed to hold on to Fog, too. They're about as subtle as a Mack truck."
Murphy sits calmly considering the weight of what both the elder and the other 
   Galliard have to say. His face is a mask. Then he turns back to Nigel and 
   prompts him on, "And you're suggesting the possibility of forming such a 
   grouping of individuals I take it."
"I agree there, JJ," Bailey says. "But, sometimes fog just comes out of 
   nowhere." He turns back to Nigel and Murphy, curious.
Nigel nods. "Sepdet-rhya and the other Theurges agree that the only way to 
   permanently resolve the River problem, and prevent similar problems down 
   the road, is to find a group of people willing to be Guardians of the city, 
   to stop polluters. The problem is, none of the current packs have the time 
   right now. Or, I think, the capacity. The folk around this table, on the 
   other hand...I think, if we got together, we could accomplish things no one 
   else could."
JJ Malone's expression draws into a shrewdly thoughtful mask. "It'd be good to 
   see a pack of Family. I think *that* would be good for it," he comments, 
   with the subtle air of an outsider.
Murphy takes another drag and blows a smoke ring towards the ceiling. "Sounds 
   like a good proposition to me, Nigel. I say we get started as soon as 
   possible. I'm willing to give it a shot. Hell, be better than just getting 
   into some combat pack and getting killed for no reason."
Bailey just sips quietly from his glass, listening to the discussion.
JJ Malone checks on Daisy, but then gives Lisa a deliberate, curious glance at 
   Murphy's words.
Nigel adjusts his glasses as a little smile appears on his face. He glances 
   around the table, with special attention on JJ. "Would other people be open 
   to this idea?"
Daisy has managed to sit still, mainly listening (or trying to keep up in 
   listening) to the discussion. Sometimes she simply turns around to see 
   what's going on at nearby tables.
Phydeaux, who has been quietly chewing a hole in Nigel's yellow pullover, gets 
   bored with her occupation and squeaks imperiously, demanding to be put down.
Lisa breaks her silence and says, "I would, though it would depend on the 
   pack's patron..."
Bailey shakes his head. "It woulds like a great idea, Nigel, but I'm already 
   bound."
JJ Malone shakes his head a little. "I'll be more than happy to help out where 
   I'm needed, but I think I'm better off staying a free agent for a while 
   more."
Murphy sips off his ginger ale and then looks over Nigel and Lisa. "Looks like 
   it's just the three of us then, for now. Well, this should be interesting."
Bailey turns to Nigel, and raises a brow. "Is the pack going to be 
   Walker-only, or did you have other people in mind to join?"
Lisa knocks back some of Bailey's water and says, "Not in the Chinese sense, I 
   hope, Murph."
Nigel reaches under his pullover and lifts Phydeaux out before she tumbles. 
   Cradling her, he bites his lower lip as he thinks about Bailey's question. 
   "I'd have no objection to other tribes, as long as they're comfortable with 
   tech and our general philosophy...that guy named 'Sacab-Survivor'? He, um, 
   might not go over well."
Murphy takes a final drag off his smoke and crushes it out. "I think if were 
   going to function like we want to, we should be pretty careful adding 
   outsiders to our little clambake. We're gonna want people that function 
   well in certain peculiar circles."
JJ Malone suddenly chuckles drily at Nigel's comment. "I know him somewhat, he 
   most definitely wouldn't." He knocks back the rest of his water, and 
   refills the glass from the pitcher the waitress brought.
"Tee Vee," Daisy chips in to the discussion.
Bailey nods to Nigel. "Touch Deer? Ok guy, but definitely not a prospect for 
   your pack."
Phydeaux scrabbles between Nigel's hands briefly, then falls asleep over the 
   effort, her paws splayed out comically.
Lisa fiddles with a lock of hair and says, "The people who are interested will 
   find us. Anyone who isn't interested will probably make snide comments 
   about us behind our backs." She glances at Nigel's companion and says, "Ok, 
   off topic but...what's with the pup? She family?"
Bailey chuckles at Lisa, and reaches a hand out to gently scritch the pup. 
   "Yeah, Nigel. Who's our new friend?"
Nigel tucks her back down onto his lap. "Oh, no; she's just a castaway. I 
   found her the other day while I was getting soil samples--she managed to 
   claw her way out of a sack some bastard had stuffed her in, and was 
   floating in the river half-dead. Isn't she cute? I named her Phydeaux."
Murphy tosses back the rest of his drink. "Sick fucks. Sorry 'bout smoking 
   around her Nigel."
"Original," J.J. comments drily with subtle sarcasm. "But, gives me a thought. 
   Daisy," he indicates the young girl sitting next to her. "Time someone else 
   took responsibility for teaching her. Whose going to volunteer?"
Lisa waves to the pup and says, "Heya, Phydeaux. Welcome to the Family." 
   Leaning back into her coat, she looks to Shades once more.
Nigel raises a hand tentatively. "I was going to ask if she could teach *me*, 
   actually. My first few attempts at dealing with Phydeaux on all fours have 
   been...well, a bit traumatic. For both of us. I'd gladly trade mentoring."
Murphy observes dryly, "Don't think you want her picking up any bad habits 
   from singer types."
Daisy purses her lips and ootches back in her seat a bit at the sudden onset 
   of attention, clearly not very comfortable.
JJ Malone's slight smile at Murphy is glacial but polite, but then looks back 
   at Nigel. "I'd appreciate it if you could take her in. You'd be a better 
   teacher for her, anyway." Under the usual tone of his words is an 
   intangible defensive bristling.
Bailey smiles at Nigel. "I think that would work."
Nigel looks down at his lap, then up again with a blink. "Take her *in*? Um. 
   Well, give me a day or two while I relocate; I can bribe the maid to 
   overlook a litter box, but a live-in teenager's another story."
JJ Malone's eyebrows go up. "I figured you'd had a place lined up already. My 
   apologies. When you can, then." He looks around again. "Anyone else? In 
   case no one's heard, the other sprat we had should be considered adult. 
   Nadine Bryant's her name, if you've never met her."
Bailey shakes his head. "Don't think I have. No word from Jen, then?"
Murphy says, "Is there a reason she isn't here tonight?" His tone is 
   deferential to the elder.
Lisa murmurs, "Great, another name to remember. I need a zip disk for my 
   brain..." to herself.
Nigel snorts softly.
"Disappeared again," J.J. responds to Bailey with an irritable snap in his 
   voice. He lights another cigarette before responding to Bailey. "She's an 
   adult, she obviously had reasons not to come, just like Jayson." The 
   ahroun, by tone and emphasis, seems to proscribe less forgiveness for the 
   former than the latter for missing.
Bailey hrms softly to himself, not saying anything.
Nigel takes his glasses off and polishes them thoughtfully. "J.J.? What is 
   Salem's current status?"
Bailey looks to Nigel. /This/ definitely has him curious.
Lisa lifts her eyes at hearing Salem's name mentioned.
JJ Malone taps ash of his cigarette, a muscle in his jaw twitching at the 
   question. "Still in limbo. I'm asking all of you," he looks around the four 
   cliaths, "to speak freely about it. Nigel, Lisa, Murphy, you're probably in 
   the best positions to evaluate him. He wants in. I told him he has to prove 
   himself. If he hasn't done so in the time that we're clearing up this 
   Turner issue, then he's out. If you he passes muster, though, I've agreed 
   to offer him a spot. After he's explained to satisfaction how he came to be 
   without family to being with. And made the proper admission rituals. Anyone 
   have any thoughts they want to share about it?"
Bailey hmmms. "There's not a lot of us. Part of the question is: Can we afford 
   to turn him away, if he does indeed pass muster? This way, at least he has 
   responsibilities to something around here."
Murphy reaches for his pack again and then looks over at the sleeping puppy 
   and drops it. Instead he reaches for the water pitcher and pours a glass. 
   "He's knowledgeable, I'll give him that. He knows the law and the way. Plus 
   it would be better to have him as ally than foe." John stops to sip his 
   drink. "But he is a risk and a loose cannon. Still, I think it is better to 
   be able to point him towards the targets we want him to be pointed at. It 
   all depends on whether he can prove he can behave himself or not in 
   delicate situations and negotiations."
Lisa shakes her head and says, "Well, you asked for free speech. Salem, when 
   I've seen him, seems damn eager to belong to a family again, though he's 
   also spitting enough testosterone to grow hair over the entire city. And 
   he's got anger in his eyes. That worries me."
Nigel examines his knuckles. "I'm not the best judge of character. But our 
   family was founded, originally, by folks from other tribes. Bringing him 
   in--keeping a CLOSE eye on him--would be part of that tradition of taking 
   talent the other folk are stupid or set in their ways to see."
Lisa says, "We got a file on him? Some background data, anything? I've got a 
   guess or two about his former tribe and a few glimpses at whom he is when 
   he's having coffee, but that's it..."
"Agreed," J.J. says to Murphy and Lisa with a nod, fingers tapping at the 
   table briefly in consideration. "That's part of the deal with getting him 
   involved, *actively* involved, with the break in you. You two," she says to 
   Murphy and Lisa, "I want you to keep an eye on him for exactly that 
   behavior. If he can't hold his temper most of the time, he's no good to us. 
   Also," he takes a long, perhaps overly long, drag on his cigarette before 
   proceeding, "keep an eye on him for drug use."
Nigel looks up, startled.
Bailey nods to Lisa. "I do too. And if I'm right, I'd be curious as to what he 
   did that the particular tribe kicked him out. But that raises a question 
   I've had. Has he said that he was booted from his old Tribe? I used to hear 
   stories of Garou that left of their own volition."
Murphy nods slowly. "I know some of the back story, Lisa. But I can't reveal 
   anything unless I have to for our good." Then he turns his attention back 
   to the elder. "What kind of drug use and what sanctions are in effect for 
   dealing with him should he prove /unredeemable/?"
Lisa says, "What kind of drugs? Speed, crack, heroin, barbituates?"
JJ Malone gives Bailey then Murphy sharp looks, saying gruffly, "He'll have to 
   tell the story himself if he wants in." Then with growing subtle agitation, 
   "Some sort of depressants. I'd guess heroin, but I didn't bother to test 
   it." To Murphy, he says succinctly and with deadly seriousness, "If you 
   find out he's on drugs again, we kill him."
Murphy nods again, his face a blank mask. "For now I would attest to his being 
   clean. If I discover that situation has changed, it will be dealt with." 
   For all the emotion he shows, he could be discussing grain futures.
"Done." The word comes from Bailey with a sudden ferocity, as his expression 
   had been darkening quickly from the mention of drugs before.
Murphy nods again, his face a blank mask. "For now I would attest to his being 
   clean. If I discover that situation has changed, it will be dealt with." 
   For all the emotion he shows, he could be discussing grain futures.
Lisa says nothing, taking another sip from Bailey's water.
JJ Malone gives Bailey a swift, assessing glance which lingers briefly, but 
   then turns to Murphy. "'We', I said. Jack's fully aware of the terms, and I 
   have to be in on anything 'dealt' if there's need. Why don't you two check 
   into his background, though. Routine check, like any newcomer. Probably 
   time it was done."
Bailey nods, another grin parting his lips. Obviously, he's been waiting for 
   the word to do just that.
JJ Malone sips at his water. "Then. Any other business to attend to?"
Daisy merely spills he glass of water, but manages to catch and right it with 
   a clumsy fumble. A few thimble-fulls of water slosh over the edge in the 
   process. "Sowwy," she apologizes.
Nigel looks at Lisa and Murphy. "Nothing that can't wait."
Murphy reaches into his his jacket and removes a pen and a small piece of 
   paper. On it he writes some information. He hands it to Nigel. "There, home 
   and cell numbers. Call me as soon as possible to begin organizing things." 
   He looks back at the rest of the company. "I, also, have nothing further to 
   add."
Bailey shrugs. "I have nothing to add."
Nigel glances at the info, nods, and tucks it away. "Excellent. Do you have my 
   card? Or you, Lisa?"
Murphy says "I do, from earlier."
Lisa says, "Yep, I lifted one earlier."
JJ Malone's eyebrows quirk briefly at Lisa's comment, but then says, "Meeting 
   adjourned. You all know how to find me." He begins making to leave.
Nigel pauses as he thinks of something. "Lisa, how're you at viruses?"
Lisa looks up and says, "Biological or computer? In either case, I'm only 
   average. My specialty is forgery and...image inhancement."
Murphy follows JJ's lead and also makes to leave. He takes a twenty from a 
   pocket and leaves it for the waitress. He turns to both Lisa and Nigel, 
   "Let's get started on this as soon as possible." Then facing the rest, 
   "Night all. And it was very nice meeting you, Daisy. Have fun with Uncle 
   Nigel." On the way out he finally lights up before he hits the door.
Bailey rises from the table, also, leaving a twenty on the table. "Great 
   seeing you all again. You have my cel-phone number, so feel free to give me 
   a ring."
Murphy walks out the door, the grinning doorman nodding suavely as he holds 
   the door for him.
Nigel rubs his chin. "Okay. Might be a bad idea, anyhow--leeches get mad when 
   their businesses self-destruct. Take care, everyone." He slides an arm 
   under the sleeping puppy and eases himself upright, managing to get his 
   wallet out, get a bill from it and toss it on the table one-handed in 
   slightly less time than it would take to build a bridge.
Daisy gets up as Shades does, following him out after giving a briefly timid 
   wave of her hand at the remaining Walkers.
JJ Malone stifles an exasperated sigh for his shadow, but heads out of the 
   club with Daisy in tow.

---- Recall end ----