Offer [August]

[Drew Roscoe] There's no preluding phone call to this visit, no warning that there would be guests. If Drew were a Garou, she'd be in deep shit for strutting up on someone else's territory without announcing herself or making clear her intentions to visit. As luck has it, though, she wasn't born True, so the Litany doesn't quite apply to her so much as it does her Warden or her Jarl. Her actions may reflect upon them tonight, but she was certain that it could be worse by far, and she was certain that whether they agreed with her approach or not, the end result was something that everybody desired.

So Drew walked up the sidewalk along a stretch of road lined with brownstones. This was the kind of place that rich people lived in, the kind of place where parking spots were assigned, paid for out the nose, so she didn't bother to drive and hunt for blocks for a place to park-- she'd taken the subways instead. She was rejoicing in the warm weather that February had surprised them all with. It was a teasing taste, things would of course become much colder before it stayed this way, but it didn't stop her from enjoying it. Her hair was windblown, suggesting she'd been out all day doing goodness-knows-what, with no make-up on her face and no business in her attire. She was dressed in a pair of tennis shoes, jeans, and a pale yellow hoodie that was one size too large (just the right size if you asked her, it was comfortable when loose like this) and zipped up to her collarbone with a large red fire department emblem printed onto the back.

She was hunting for a number near the doors, marking the home that she wanted. Goodness knows where she got the address from, she probably asked the right person like everybody else did. When that right number does appear, she's walking up the stout front steps to stand in front of the door, searching for a doorbell, then changing her mind (remembering there was a six-month-old child inside that could be sleeping) and knocking on the door instead.

Hands would go back into her hoodie pockets, and she'd rock her weight back onto her heels and wait.

[August Grant] The night had been a quiet one. She'd been back home for several days now - since the heat was fixed. The few cold night she spent at the chruch she mostly kept to herself and purposefully avoided the large number of Trueborn's who lived there. Once she'd gotten the word that her home (rather.. Aanon's home, which she was being paid to watch and keep up) was no longer lingering in the mid 40's for a high, she'd simply left a note saying thank you to Kora and her kind and returned home.

August pushed herself up off of the couch as the knock at the door came. A brow rose slightly and her gaze lingered on the clock for just a moment. Who would be coming by at this hour? Very few people knew she lived here. Fewer still knew Aanon was out of town on business.. and it wasn't exactly the time of day that people came by trying to sell girl scout cookies.

Anyway.. the blonde Coggie kin headed for the door - pausing just a second or two in the mirror to make sure that her hair was moderately in place and she didn't look too much like a mess before pulling the door open.

August left the screen door closed - it provided a small amount of security, at least in her mind. She was dressed simply enough in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt which just hinted at her growing belly.

"Can I help you?" The face was vaguely familiar..

[Drew Roscoe] Drew looked like a ragamuffin, to say the least, especially when stood beside the tall blonde with the 'just pregnant enough' glow about her, whose had the luxury of a moment to fix her hair. Drew's was in need of a brushing (but that's what happened when you went for a motorcycle ride), left down to form something of a wild mane over her shoulders and down the back of her hoodie. The hood was left down even though the sun had sunk beyond the horizon-- the warmth lingered, a wet and welcome thing. Drew didn't regret going about and staying on the streets into the night without returning home for gloves and a coat.

Big brown eyes hopped down August real quick, lingered on her belly for half a second, then were back up at her face in an instant. Drew was short, the she wore were tight at the thighs and rear to indicate a heavier-than-average build of muscle that came with her choice of sport, the rest of her slim enough to make up for that. There's a pause, August's asking if she can help, and Drew's eyebrows hop up in half-surprise before relaxing again. She flashes a smile that's polite and cute, that curves her mouth and rounds her cheeks just so.

It could be noted, though, that a hand doesn't extend for a shake, despite that smile.

"Here I thought it was supposed to be the other way around. I'm Drew Roscoe. Don't suppose that rings any bells?"

[August Grant] She smiled lightly, warmly as Drew spoke. Yes, she recongized the name now.

Hazel eyes slid past the kinfolk to the sidewalk behind her. August was a little paranoid every now and then and perhaps a bit more so tonight with the sudden unexpected visitor. No one passing by seemed to draw attention to themselves. There was a couple, walking a small white dog - but otherwise, it seemed quiet. Her attention then shifted to the woman before her and she pushed the screen door open carefully.

"It does.. actually. I knew I recognized you - just couldn't think of the name. Would you like to come in Drew?"

[Drew Roscoe] Drew didn't bring anybody with her, no protection (aside from the magnum sheathed at the small of her back, hidden under the bulk and length of her hoodie. a good girl never left home without) to cover her back while she conducted Kinly business. There were no Garou lurking nearby, offering muscle and eyes. From what either can see no Wyrm-beasts had tracked her to this doorstep. Apart from the couple walking their dog, all was clear.

August offers to let her inside, and Drew glanced in, thought about it, then nodded. "Just for a minute," she confirms before stepping over the threshold. She would hover near the front door, not bothering to go find a couch or a chair to make herself comfortable. Her hands keep in her pockets, still, and she glances about again, hunting for someone or something, clarifying what she must be hunting for while she searched with: "Where's the baby?"

And whatever answer she gets is met with a nod before she cuts to business.

"You were aware, then, that my Jarl pretty much ordered me to share my house with you?"

[August Grant] August shut the door behind her - even if Drew planned to linger in the entry way - it was still too cold to keep the door open. She spoke as she pushed her weight against the stubborn door until it gave a satisfying click and the draft stopped leaking into the older, but well maintained home.

"The baby's asleep upstairs." A beat. "Do you want something to drink?" August had turned to usher the kinswoman further into the home, but turned back when Drew spoke.

"Uh.. no, I was not aware. I had heard Kora say something about it if the heat couldn't be fixed.. but as you can tell it's working now."

[Drew Roscoe] "Huh. Well that sly...," and she trails off, half-frowning and not really managing to mean it, and glancing about the room. For weapons, for lurking Garou or homeowners, she'd heard that August was here with some Shadow Lord, but she had no idea who, didn't know if he was home or if he'd pop in from the Otherside at any minute. She was checking corners and windows just to be safe. The battle readiness of her people was rubbing off on her and manifesting to appear to be nothing more than the paranoia of a Kin who's had too much bad come straight her way.

"Alright. Well, she probably didn't tell you any of this, but this is the lowdown: She wanted me to clear out my guest room and let you stay there with your kid and kid-to-be. Said that you would manage to pay half the rent, utilities, and just needed a place to be and an ear to talk to. The problem with that is this: we ain't tribe. I'm sure you're perfectly nice? But you're a complete stranger, and I'm not keen on letting those under my roof.

"I figured the budget you'd be dealing with-- rent and utilities and food all put together you'd be looking at about $800 a month. I did some searching around and found you a nice lengthy list of apartments that you could afford for that much, and you could be a family, self-sufficient, a mother for your children standing on your own two feet." Her eyes came back to August's face finally, content with finding no lurking Beasts or Warriors in the corners, at the tops of stairs or around doorframe edges. There was a light of fire behind those big brown eyes, the kind of zealous attitude that was instilled in her on certain topics-- like the one at hand-- by a couple of young boys just over a year ago.

"It ain't in our people to be weak, you see. I won't disrespect you by presuming that you can't help yourself. I'm here willing to help you help yourself, see? You pick an apartment, I brought a list..." And she's pulling a wad of papers folded over into quarters from her back pocket, five sheets thick, and holding it out for the Child of Gaia to accept. "You find something that suits you, go look around, check the neighborhoods, figure what you want, and I'll be willing to pay the deposit for you if you need it.

"That's my offer, and it's yours to take."

[August Grant] August was.. stunned into silence. At one point a brow probably rose a little.. but mostly she was just trying to keep her jaw from dropping in sheer shock and awe.

The house was quiet, save for the low drone of the TV in the background. No monsters lurked. No weapons were anywhere in sight. If one didn't know a scary, unastable and dangerous Garou lived here - everything would seem quite normal.

"I.. uh.." August paused, attempting to gather her thoughts so it could come across in a way that didn't seem insulting.

"Thank you for the offer, Drew. But.. I'm ok here. I just needed somewhere where it was warm for a few days for the baby. The furnace is old, went out when it got super cold .. but I got it fixed. I'm ok living here. I don't really need an apartment and I completely understand your desire not to share an apartment with a stranger."

August did try her best to be polite, so that when the papers were offered out - August took them, but didn't bother to examine them at the moment.

"I know that Kora just wants the best for me - and I really do appreciate that. But I have no reason to impose on you, nor your time for looking for a safe neighborhood. I work for Aanon and I get to stay here as part of the payment.. so really, I'm ok."

[Drew Roscoe] "August."

The Kin's tone of voice was flat, but the expression on her face when she looked up at the taller Kinfolk, the buxom blonde with curves granted by motherhood, amplified by another go-around with a second child, she was hard. Determined. Pushing. All of this without being angry or threatening. The polite and warm smile that had been there when she'd opened the door was gone completely, leaving behind the Fenrir blood that August could not see, smell, or taste, and the lessons that had gotten her back on her feet many a time and kept her going to where she was now.

"This guy isn't your Tribe. He isn't your Mate. You can't impose on him like this. You need to be turning to your own Family for help, not to outside tribes like you have to Kora, or to whoever this person is. You need to show some Loyalty and some knees and get up off the crutches you're leaning on and stand for yourself. All this charity? What happens when it shifts? What happens when this guy dies like all the rest? You move on to the next person who will house you, clothe you, keep you warm?"

She makes a sharp 'tsk' noise and shakes her head, frowning softly, but still appearing somewhat imploring through all this. Wanting August to hear her, understand her, and step up to her words. "When you were some hot single lady that might have been fine, but your kids can't bounce around like you do. They need stability, and you're all the stable they're gonna have, understand?

"Pick an apartment, and move out of here."

[August Grant] Before she was a little taken back. Now - now she was just flat out insulted. Her smile faded and the fleeting thought that someone might have cared about her was gone. No, they cared that she was 'imposing' on someone else. How dare they!

"Ms. Roscoe." Her tone was even. "I don't believe you know me well enough to be making the assumptions that you are. I am not 'imposing' on Mr. Drinkwater. He insisted that I come to work for him instead of living completely unprotected. What this is isn't charity - it's one person caring about another and him having the necessity of someone to tend his house. And yes, there is benefit to me as well. I get to be the one to raise my children and not some stranger down at the daycare center and I don't have to work for minimum wage."

"I.. well.. I'm even sure what else to say to that. But.. if there's nothing else?"

[Drew Roscoe] Drew's expression went flat to match the even tone of her voice. It wasn't so much a frown, it wasn't so much disappointment. It was some less invested cousin of the two. She takes a breath, then shrugs her shoulders and pulls her hands from her pockets, reaches back to tug the hood of her sweater up over her head.

"Alright," she relents. "Enjoy your life."

And with that said, Drew turned and opened the door, waved a vague farewell over her shoulder, and was back out the brownstone and heading up the street once again.

[August Grant] "Tell Kora if she wants me out of the city to come tell me herself - not send you after me. And I'll know not to come to her for anything again." August calls after the woman just before shutting the door.