Anita Blake

Richard's settled, back against the couch arm, watching the tv. His gaze settles on Anita at her words, smiling at her in return. "Progress is good." Always good.

He just hope that it passes. To not have to worry about his job would be a wonderful thing.

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Jason snickers from the kitchen chair he's straddling in the corner. "You think you'll out yourself if it passes, Richard?"

He rests his chin on the chair back and contemplates the TV. "I'd love to be there for the march."

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"Why don't you go?" Micah asks, nodding to Jason as he leans against the wall. "It would be nice to have the option to out yourself if it does," he half-agrees.

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Jason snorts, sucking on a beer. "You kidding? My family's there. Last thing I want to do is run into them. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them protesting the march."

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Richard glances at Jason with a raised brow. "No, I'm not planning to just out myself because I can. But it means I wouldn't have to worry if something came up and it leaked."

Even after it passes, he knows it will take time for people to fully be alright with the law. Everything always took time with the shifters.

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Donovan has asked for an alcohol-free beer, and got one, never mind who might think him a wuss for it. Politics and alcohol don't mix well, in his experience.

"We are people," he simply says. "It's time we got the same rights as other people. We're not monsters. Not even you wolves are, no matter how much you like to claim you are."

He had this discussion with Jason before, in Milliways, so it's Jason he looks at as he talks.

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anita_blake

"No one is a monster," Anita insists softly.

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Jason rolls his eyes and holds his beer to his forehead. "No, we're not monsters. I don't feel like we're monsters, but we're not human. Humans would never understand half of our lifestyle or the traditions in the Pack. Especially not the ultra-conservative ones."

Like his family.

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Richard's frowning softly at Donovan for that monster comment. Curious about where exactly that topic had come up and why the wolves were singled out in it.

"They don't even have to understand. Just accept that we're different. You can't tell me humans understand even half of what the vampires do, but they do it in public and are mostly accepted for it."

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"To accept it, they'd need to understand," Micah says. He doesn't want to know why Donovan pointed out the wolves, but he shoots him a warning glance to not do it again.

The last they need is one of the groups being antagonized. "The vampires don't turn into something different on a regular basis. We do."

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"The vampires are considered dead, we're not," Donovan says. "Also, I really think normal humans don't like to think of themselves as possible prey. They think they have the right to be top of the food chain. As a swanmane, I know I'm not. But it scares the bejeezus out of an ordinary human being."

Beat.

"That's why they're so scared -- but if they've overcome it in case of the vamps, why not in case of the shifters?"

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anita_blake

Anita raises an eyebrow at Donovan.

"Donovan, you've never been a normal human being, and neither have I, so I think the 'ordinary human being' contingent is one we're not going to hear from or speak about. Quite frankly, vampirism is managed by the law, there are rules for making a vampire." She looks back at the television. "No rules about making lycanthropes. You can get it from vaccinations, a little scratch from someone infected... it's easily caught. Vampirism is a bit more difficult to pass on."

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Jason smiles wryly at Donovan. "Big difference, though, Donovan: a vamp can use a human as prey and they'll usually still be alive. We feed off a human and it's game over. A vampire at least still looks like a person you can try to reason with to the average human. People don't try to reason with animals who are trying to eat them."

He polishes off his beer and stumbles off his chair for another. "Anyway, we'll see what they can pull off. Micah, you got anyone in Washington to lobby for the Coalition if this goes through? Because I'm sure Congress will be scurrying to throw up roadblocks. Be nice to have someone on the sidelines."

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Richard's gaze narrows on Jason just a little, "We don't feed off humans." It's a big difference between the two races, in his opinion. Vampires eat people, shifters shouldn't be eating people. Especially not ones from his pack, he wouldn't tolerate it. "That's why we hunt in forests, why we have wolves to sponsor new wolves when they are first changed."

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"I got a couple maybes...nothing particularly solid," Micah answers. "But yeah...Congress probably won't like us being covered by the Disabilities Act. But what can we do but deal?"

At all the talk of eating and feeding off people, Micah just shakes his head. "Can we not discuss eating people today?"

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"Gladly," Donovan says. "I'm a vegetarian, anyway."

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anita_blake

Anita wrinkles her nose.

"Eating people is not a suitable subject at any time," she says.

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Jason rolls his eyes. "Oh come on, it's not like any of us would do it on purpose. But you can't pretend that accidents don't happen."

He turns his attention to Micah. "That's what lobbyists are for. If you don't have anyone who knows Washington well enough, there are companies you can get to represent your interests, but either way it's a good idea to at least have the Coalition represented."

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There's a look directed at Jason. Short of new wolves, there shouldn't be any accidents. They all had more control than that, or should.

"Having someone there would be a good idea. Get the Coalition's voice heard as soon as possible." His attempt to leave the eating people subject behind.

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"True. I'll look into that, as soon as I can." He's not doing it tonight because he still wants to see the verdict first, and not count his chickens before they hatch, so to speak.

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"I think my parents might know people that know people," Donovan says, quietly, but more than happy to talk about politics. "I can make a few calls and give you some phone numbers and email addresses; the younger ones have them now."

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anita_blake

Politics were the lesser of two evils in recent conversation topics, Anita thinks, and she's happy to focus on them at the moment.

"Whether its a positive or negative verdict, it would be good to have a group in Washington fighting for the rights of lycanthropes. It's highly unfair that vampires are citizens protected by all laws humans are, but lycanthropes aren't. I mean, I know the law if oftentimes unfair, but if you can't kill a vampire on sight, then the same should go for a lycanthrope."

Anita personally hates the vermin laws.

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Jason nods quietly, listening to the group. "Donovan, we should chat later about your contacts. We might be able to brainstorm."

He so doesn't want his father's company involved.

"I'm with Anita on this one. It'll take time to get through to a lot of those politicians: it would make more sense to start winning them over before we have to. And it sure would be nice to be able to go somewhere without researching whether or not someone can legally kill us there or not."

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"You never know how good it'd be to have people on our side even while they fight and decide either. More people in the right places on our side and it could help swing the vote, maybe," Richard offers.

Jason has a point too. Only having to worry about dealing with the pack in a territory would make some traveling easier if people wanted to go places for vacations or something.

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Micah listens to them all talk politics, and for a few minutes, even if they're on opposing sides, the peace is kept. "It would be best to have someone on our side as quick as possible, yes," he says.

"It would be nice to not be categorized as vermin," he murmur, on a sigh. A disability isn't his favorite term for lycanthropy, but it's a step.

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"I'll make sure I'll hurry up and get my contacts to you," Donovan says. "I mean, swans aren't really considered vermin much There's too few of us to waste a lot of thought on. But it's better we all pull on the same rope, together. It's called solidarity."

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anita_blake

"But you're not considered human, either."

Anita stares at the muted television.

"I'd just like everyone happy." It's become her personal mantra lately. "And right now, a lot of lycanthropes I know are not happy. Happy would be not having to hide what you are just to pay your bills."

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Richard smiles at Anita. It would do a lot of good if this passed. "Your leopard wouldn't have to worry about her job as a nurse."

He's said all his thoughts on the being there part. So he'll let those who can do things openly work things out from here.

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Jason gives a short laugh. "Hell, I could probably get a job. You know, if I ever get too old for stripping."

He says this as if that is highly unlikely.

He turns his attention back to the silent TV, watching the coverage of the protesters.

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Micah's eyes glance at the clock, and then he looks at Anita.

"We need to get going," he murmurs to her. "Nathaniel will be home alone, and he doesn't like that."

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anita_blake

It's only now that Anita realizes the time, and she nods.

"You're right. Nathaniel will be fine for an hour or so, but he really isn't used to be at the house alone."

She stands up, stretching a little, giving Richard a smile.

"You're right, though. Cherry would be free to be what she is without fear, just as you would. I think it's a hell of a step in the right direction. I just hope it actually happens."

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"Hope and keep watching with baited breath," Richard murmurs with an offered smile for Anita. It really would be wonderful if it passed, if they never had to worry about loosing their jobs just because of who and what they are. Himself included.

He stands, moving to give Anita a soft kiss goodbye.

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anita_blake

Anita doesn't mind the kiss. In fact, she takes a moment to deepen it just a bit before stepping back.

"I'll call you about plans," she says, holding his hand for a moment. "Maybe we can see a movie."

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There's a soft rumble from Richard, liking that kiss. Tease, slides through the marks with a small feel of desire to add to the kiss, even as he doesn't.

His hand squeezes hers, "Sounds like a good plan."

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anita_blake

"You know I love you."

There's a little smirking, and then Anita's saying goodnight to Jason and Donovan. She takes Micah's hand and heads out of Richard's house, towards the car, ready for a relatively early night.

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