Currently the moon is in the waxing Full Moon phase (96% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is clear outside. The temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.07 and steady, and the relative humidity is 80 percent. The dewpoint is 49 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius.)
It is currently 21:52 Pacific Time on Mon Oct 1 2001.
Harbor Park -- Fountain
Situated in the center of a large, open meadow is a clustering of six trees, a flower bed, a few steel-and-wood benches set firmly into concrete, and a flagstone courtyard that is dominated by a large fountain.
The fountain is a wide circular pool of water some fifty feet across and about five feet deep in most places. The sculpture in the center is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern: eight concrete-and-stainless-steel slabs about six feet high are set in a rough Stonehenge-like circle around the center of the fountain. Water flows from their tops, cascading in bright mesmerizing sheets to the pool below. Rising above the steel circle is a large marble statue of the Water Bearer, an androgynous figure draped in robes of flowing water. It bears a large jug carved with various Greek symbols, from which pours a seething torrent of water into the pool at its feet.
Cars on the nearby street have an excellent view of the park as do any residents of the tall buildings which line the waterfront.
The murky waters of the Columbia River flow swiftly along the east side of the park. Bracketing the park to the west is First Street and the city of St. Claire. Recent construction work is creating an earthen berm several feet high all along the borders of the park in all directions.
Dane is sitting on the edge of the fountain and looking out at the river.
Dizzy jogs through the park, dressed in her exercising outfit. Black sports pants with double white lines running down the sides, an slightly large, thin, off-white sweater jacket, zipped up and held close to her. She is without hat or sunglasses, her hair in a ponytail that bounces as she jogs along. She slows down and frowns as she nears the familiar coggie.
Dane hears the sounds of someone approaching and glances that way. Seeing who it is, he pinches his eyes together.
Dizzy ponders just flipping the guy off as she passes him, but she is without car tonight and he'd just run around saying she wasn't submiting to him again. What a pain. So, she slows down to walking speed and offers him a simple "Yo" instead.
Dane nods. "Good evening. Are you having a good jog?"
Dizzy nods curtly, flipping her head back a bit, brushing some of her bangs back with a hand. "Yeah. I've been working out lately, getting back in shape. Used to do gymnastics."
Dane nods. "Gymnastics are good. It's always a good idea to be able to move in ways that surprise an opponent. Good to be flexible, too.
Dizzy puts her hands in the jacket's pockets, "Yeah. I'm learning martial arts now, so I've, you know, got to be in shape for that. That and normal every day woods stuff."
Dane nods. "So you're getting some time in the woods, eh? That's a good thing. Even though the city is your place, it's good to be familiar with the woods, even if you're nto comfortable there.
Dizzy shakes her head negatively, "Nah, not much time in the woods. But, I've got to be ready, right? In case my test involves survival in the wilderness."
Dane nods. "Yup. It's good to see someone planning ahead and taking it seriously.
Dizzy shrugs, "Hey, I don't want to end up like Hops."
Dane cocks an eyebrow. "Hops? I take it this is someone who fucked up?
Dizzy shrugs, again. Typical slacker. "Hops is one of my cubmates. Fucking up is doing normal for him."
Dane nods. "Well, if he wants to survive his test, he'll have to pull it together. Anyone who's not able to survive their Rite is someone who would have been a danger to those around him in a serious situation.
Dizzy fehs, taking her arms out of her pockets and crossing them across her chest. "Serious is something I haven't seen that boy do."
Dane hmms. "Sounds like an interesting situation. Not even when your elder is dealing with him, eh?
Dizzy shakes her head in disgust. "Nope. Don't go near the pattern spiders they told him. What does he do? Tries to talk to one. Stupid."
Dane shakes his head. " Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity."
"He's not stupid," Dizzy says defensively, "He just does like, dumb things."
Dane cocks an eyebrow. "He may not be stupid, but if his behavior shows no evidence otherwise...well, as Mr. Spock says, 'A difference that makes no difference is no difference.'"
"Well," Dizzy says impatiently, rocking back on her heels, "Spock also said Na-noo Na-noo. What of it?"
Dane laughs. "No, that was Mork from Ork. A completely different alien."
Dizzy shrugs, not finding any humor it whatsover, "Whatever."
Dane chuckles. "Putting it another way, Mork compares to Spock the way Tim Allen compares to our Alpha.
"Do I care?" Dizzy asks in an annoyed tone. She starts to walk off, shoving her hands back into her jacket pockets.
Dane shrugs. "Do you? Only you can tell that."
Dizzy grumbles something as she takes off.
Dane watches as the cub leaves, with a half-smile.