an important job, but not one that keeps you popular.

Erich Storm's Teeth

So Erich calls Avery wanting to meet, and over the phone he sounds all nervous and excited and can't-sit-still-y. They set a place (Cold Crescent) and a time (now) and agree to meet. He thanks her, several times, and then hangs up.

Now he's there. 43rd floor, not camped out the way he used to back before this place was an official Sept again, back before it had real Guardians up on the floors, back when he put his sleeping bag and randomcrap over in the corner near the outlet and texted people howling about being bored. Now: just standing by the window, occasionally bouncing on his toes a little, trying not to cast that challenge mat too many glances.

When he sees her, Avery would justifiably expect him to burst into exuberant wolf-form and go prance all around her. He manages to contain himself, though, and instead just jogs over grinning. "AVERY-RHYA!" he yells, and then there is a bear hug, which in turn is followed by: "So, I'm gonna challenge. Like to level-up."

Avery Chase

Let's be honest: Erich being excited and animated and mobile is hardly that uncommon or unexpected or out of character for him. Avery merely sounds delighted, despite his nervousness, and not amused by it, not mocking it. Just happy, of course, to hear from him. She tells him she's been quite busy with some launches, openings, and of course the patrols that always need to be done. So they meet at Cold Crescent, so she can do two things at once: talk to Erich, and do her duty.

Avery comes up the elevator and steps off, wearing her dedicated gear, but currently shrugging out of the hoodie because, well, it's a bit bloody. He sees, perhaps for the first time, the scar over her left breast, revealed only in part by the scooping neckline of her tank top. He sees, if he sees her back, the small discolored scar of the exit wound. It is always startling, to see someone so otherwise perfect so marred. She smiles when she sees him, her hair disheveled, her body unwounded.

"Storm's Teeth," she says happily, as he's jogging over.

He hugs her. Big and tight and excited. She huffs a laugh, waiting for him to put her down -- as his hug did, indeed, lift her up an inch or two. She tips her head, reaching up to undo her bun and shake her hair out while he tells her he's! Going! To Challenge! Like to level up!

Avery's grin is large and bright. "Why, Erich, that's wonderful! When! And who are you going to challenge? Where! Come, we're going down to the dormitory to wash my jacket and you'll tell me everything," she adds, turning, smoothly looping her arm through his, walking him back towards the elevator.

Erich Storm's Teeth

The fact that Avery saunters in DRIPPING BLOOD doesn't alarm Erich. It doesn't send him into a protective frenzy either. She is, after all, a Fostern and a Judge of remarkable combat prowess. A Lawman, you might even say, with all the connotations of justice won with the barrel of a gun, or the edge of a sword, or the tip of her teeth.

He does note it, though, and as she's asking when-who-where-let's go down to the dorms he's asking her, overlapping the end of her words, "So what'd you run into? Man, I bet they wish they never met you. I bet you just ruined their night," saying this admiringly, happily, like this is an awesome thing. Which it is.

"And," they step onto the elevator, which hasn't had a chance to depart the level yet, "soon. Probably here? I mean, we all put so much into getting this place back up again, it seems dumb to run off to Eff Cue to challenge. As for who, well. That's kinda why I wanted to talk to you?"

The elevator is humming downward now. And Erich is leaning against the rail, gripping it lightly in both hands, looking at Avery. " 'Cause honestly, I'd love it if you'd oversee my challenge. I'd be honored, really. But ... I don't know if that's appropriate. I kinda think maybe it's not?"

Avery Chase

Please. She is hardly dripping blood. It's just a bit on her jacket! Calm yourself, Erich. Calm your silly towheaded self.

She bats a hand at his questions. "It was just a snively little thing on the other side. It's surprising that they even have blood, can you imagine? I suppose it's part of the way to purely imaginary blood, so perhaps it will just wash right out. Now enough about me," she says, with some insistence. Tsk, Erich, she's asking you questions!

Avery presses the button for a lower floor, slipping her arm from his again, listening as he finally answers her. She smiles to hear that he wants to challenge someone who has come to protect Cold Crescent, and looks at him as they begin their brief descent. As for who, that's why he wanted to talk to her!

Her eyebrows lift at that.

They lower, and draw together, when he says he'd love it if she did it. She shakes her head, even as he's saying it might not be appropriate. "No," she confirms gently for him, as the doors open again, "it's really not. Erich," she goes on, stepping off the elevator, "I'm neither your tribe nor your auspice. Unsettlingly, my packmate is a fostern of your moon. I think it would be inappropriate if that weren't the case, but it would be a mark of disrespect from both you and I to Javed if I accepted your challenge, and a mark of dishonor to you if you presented it officially."

She lifts her brows at him again, not displeased with him, nor even strictly disappointed, but chastising, all the same. "So it is a good thing this is just a friendly conversation," she says, wink wink. They walk, turning a corner towards the dormitory's laundry facility. "All the same, I'm flattered that you would even think of it. I do treasure our friendship, but it could also be seen as bias in your favor. I would be happy to help you consider other options, if you'd like."

Erich Storm's Teeth

"Sometimes I actually feel bad for the really little ones," Erich says, regarding snively little things. "Like the ones that are obviously just graduated Wyrm College like... a week ago or something, and just have no idea what they're doing? And they're all OH LOOK A WOLF I'M GONNA EAT YOU OH GOD OH MY GOD YOU'RE EATING ME."

That's about when Avery says enough about me, and so -- that's where that tangent stops. They talk about the challenge, and whether or not she'd be appropriate, and she answers with a gentle but rather firm no.

"Yeah, I thought that'd be the case," Erich replies, mildly disappointed but largely un-crestfallen. He really had thought it would be the case. He just, well. Wanted to give it a shot anyway. Just in case his understanding of decorum and law was flawed.

"I was sorta thinking another Shadow Lord, in that case. Just 'cause I don't really have that close a relationship with my own tribe? And I think it'd be nice if another Lord could take a look at me and be like, yup. You're up to snuff."

Avery Chase

Avery can't help but laugh. Wyrm College. Just graduated! She can just imagine the wormy little things tossing their caps up in the air. It's ludicrous. She goes on laughing, shaking her head at Erich's portrayal of a terrified sniveling things, oh god oh god.

But they go on. And the laughter does make the Bad News a little easier to take for both of them. At least she isn't appalled that he was even thinking it; after all, they are friends. She is a Fostern, and trustworthy one, and it's not out of turn for Philodoxes to manage the challenges of even garou outside their auspice. It's just... in this particular case... it would be even more strange.

"I think you're quite right," she tells him, opening a washing machine and tossing in a packet of detergent and spraying some stain remover all over the hoodie, which is still wet from that spurt of blood the sniveling little thing from Wyrm College let out when she slammed her paw down on it, piercing it with one wickedly curved claw.

"You are a full moon of Thunder," Avery tells him, tossing the hoodie into the warm water, closing the lid, turning to him to meet his eyes, "and sometimes you seem as though you aren't entirely sure what that should mean to you." She shakes her head. "I don't think it's simply about being told that you're up to snuff -- the spirits and the nation know your renown, Erich. You already are up to snuff. It's about understanding what that means within your tribe. Our tribes are not the only things that define us, but... they are a deep part of us, transcending even the bonds of family. I think you know that better than most."

Erich Storm's Teeth

That,

not her gentle refusal to accept a dishonorable challenge, nor her reminder that such a challenge would be dishonorable, nor even the subtly sad thought that maybe the wyrmlings they fight are just misguided and stupid and don't really want to die either,

but that, the reminder that one's tribal ties can transcend even the bonds of blood: that makes Erich's crest fall a little. It makes him quieter, and a little sad. He nods as she starts her laundry. "Yeah," he agrees. "Unfortunately.

"And you're right. I was never really around Shadow Lords -- or even just Garou in general, really -- enough to know what, if anything, being a Shadow Lord Ahroun is supposed to mean. And honestly? I think some part of me is afraid that it means I'm gonna have to be cruel and cunning and always calculating five moves ahead, and not trusting anyone, and always putting myself first, and stuff like that."

Avery Chase

She picks up on that ripple of sorrow, and her brows draw together as she looks at him, the washer starting to pick up speed. Her head tips slowly to one side, and she reaches out, resting her hand on his upper arm. "And the rejection of others, whether family or tribe or sept, does not define us entirely, either," she says quietly. She gives his arm a small squeeze, then withdraws, nodding toward the door. "Let's see what's in the kitchen."

Maybe they drift that way, then, as Erich is telling her what he's afraid of. "You told me, once, that you imagined that the worst thing that could happen if your family member turned out to be another tribe was if they were a Shadow Lord," she tells him quietly.

Her head shakes a little. "That made me so sad. Because you are a Shadow Lord, Erich, but that does not change who you are. I do not think that all Shadow Lords fit that awful stereotype. You certainly do not have to."

Erich Storm's Teeth

"Well, good," Erich says, lopsided-grinning. " 'Cause I don't want to. But, yeah. It'd be nice to understand my own tribe a little better. And figure out how I fit into that picture, and all. You have any suggestions? On who to challenge, I mean?"

They're making their way from the laundry room to the kitchen. They're moving through halls that just a few short weeks ago were silent and empty, almost creepy in the dead of night. It's different now. Life has returned, little by little, to this building. Erich wasn't the only wolf on the 43rd floor when Avery arrived. There are shrines there again. Avery's isn't the only load churning in the laundry room, and when they get to the kitchen, they'll find the fridge stocked with sandwich supplies and TV dinners collected on some trip to Costco or something.

"It's nice," Erich mentions. He nods -- well. All around. At everything, "that people are back here. It was really quiet for a while."

Avery Chase

Avery smiles at him. "I may have to start taking a closer look at the Shadow Lords in this city, so I can be of more help to you," she says, giving an odd little laugh as they reach the kitchen. She goes rooting through the fridge, hungry in that way where everything and nothing looks good to her.

"I agree," she adds, after he mentions the life returning to Cold Crescent. "There's a long way to go. Leaders to select. I --"

She pauses, glancing around, then looking at him. "I've been considering challenging as Master of Challenges," she tells him quietly.

Erich Storm's Teeth

"Okay well, if you find one that's just super cool, let me know." And he reaches past her to snag a five-pound tray of sliced honey-roasted turkey breast.

Definitely Costco.

And then! She confides. And he all but drops the tray of turkey, turning to her with an expression perhaps best expressed as :D!

"You. TOTALLY. Should." He's not very quiet about this. "I think you'd be awesome. And you should be something. Everyone looks up to you and listens to you anyway."

Avery Chase

Erich is beaming. Granted, Erich was super excited when she became a Fostern, and when she showed up, and when she existed. Erich is an excitable young wolf, who is coming up on not being so young anymore. She has no thought, whatsoever, that he will not destroy his challenge, conquer, return victorious and 'leveled up'.

He's not quiet at all, and she blushes, touching her face, fingers curled under and knuckles resting gently on her cheek. She smiles up at him, and she looks terribly charming, hair all askew and loose and coiled in memory of the bun she wore it in while fighting tonight.

"You don't think it's presumptuous?"

Erich Storm's Teeth

"No!" Erich almost looks baffled. "Why would it be? I mean this is our Sept, and you had a hand in making it a real Sept again as much as anyone. Plus it's not like you're a fresh Cliath who just rolled into town last week. You've been here for months, you've earned a rank here, not to mention the respect of pretty much everyone you've met. And everyone knows you're a really good Half Moon who respects justice and fairness."

A tiny hesitation, then. Tiny.

"Though," he adds, "I guess I'd be a bad friend if I didn't say this. Master of Challenges is a really important office, and maybe the one that Half Moons aspire to more than any other? 'Cept maybe the Sept Alpha. But ... sometimes it's the job that gets no thanks at all. 'Cause if someone wins their challenge then they figure it's 'cause they're awesome. But if they lose, sometimes they'll just blame it on you instead of sucking it up and admitting they weren't as good as the other guy.

"I'm not saying everyone's like that. But just. Yeah. It's an important job, but sometimes it's not one that keeps you popular."

Avery Chase

She smiles. "Thank you, Erich," and she means it, sincerely. Because he tells her the truth. He tells her even though he's excited and he thinks she should. "I suppose I would be very weak indeed if I allowed my popularity to choose my course, though."

She nods at the turkey. "I don't even want to make a sandwich," she admits. "Let's just eat the meat."

Erich Storm's Teeth

Erich nods. "And you're the opposite of weak. So yeah. Avery for MoC!

"And," he quips, "I've got a gluten allergy anyway. Let's eat."