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 Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:41 am
Rory set the plate of pancakes down in front of the woman hard enough for the ceramic to be audible as it met the wood. "Oi! Lee's a good girl. She ain't done a thing wi' Fao or me or anyone else. Donnae know what sorta boy you think I be, but I donnae plan t' be makin' babies any time soon. I care enough fae your daughter t' not gae screwin' up her life or mine wi' bairns w' ain't needin' right now." He moved to the stove to get the eggs and bacon coming back to set their plates down as loud as he had the pancakes.
"Furthermore, Auntie, this be Lee's home," Rory told the woman, leaning on the table to look her in the eye, "an' you may be her mum, but you gae t' respectin' tha' this ain't your home an' w' went through th' trouble t' make enough brekkie fae you t' eat wi' us. You can yell at her all you want after you be civil an' sociable enough t' enjoy a meal." He straightened up, hands casually resting on his hips, his voice much more calm. "Now, d'you be wantin' coffee wi' your meal or milk?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:59 am
There was no "almost" or "maybe" anymore; at that moment, Lee was sure that she loved Rory. A hand covering her mouth, she sighed with affection and actually managed to smile, despite the circumstances.
Well, Rory certainly slowed the woman down. Mrs. Katan sat speechless for a moment, mouth slightly agape, not even sure the scene before her had actually taken place. "How dare you..." her voice was low, a bit incredulous. "Who exactly do you think you are, talking to me that way? I should crush you like the little cockroach you are." Looking the boy up and down, she tilted her chin up, pushing herself up to stand. "Furthermore, boy, I didn't come here to socialize. I came to take back my daughter." Her voice had grown much stronger, and she was very clearly on the offensive.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:09 am
Rory looked the woman over, arms folded across his best. "Who th' <********> d'you think you be, eh, t' come into a didikai camp an' talk t' her people like tha'? Lee wasnae stolen away, she came o' her own free will an' she'll be leavin' th' same way. You mightnae hae respect fae me, an' tha's understandable since you be ignorant, but t' insult me like tha' in front o' your daughter shows you got no respect fae her, either. She's joined us, Auntie, an' t' call me a cockroach is t' be callin' her 'un, too."
He moved to stand beside Lee, taking her hand in his. "Frankly, lass, I see why you left. If me own mum, gods forbid, were th' hellbeast you've had lordin' over you, I think w'd hae conviently left her somewhere when w' moved on." He looked back at Mr. Katan. "W' taught t' honor an' respect our parents an' elders, t' uphold th' ideals o' family. You gave birth t' Lee, but you've certainly been nae mother t' her."
Letting go of Lee's hand, Rory placed his palms on the table, leaning over it so his face was mere inches from Mrs. Katan's. "I'd like t' see you try an' take her from here if'n she ain't willin' t' gae. She's an adult an' she has her own mind. She'll decide what life she'd rather hae: your tyranny or our freedom."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:57 am
Lee couldn't find her voice to speak, couldn't tell either of the two to calm down. They didn't need to fight, she'd already made her decision.
Jaw clenched, Mrs. Katan could actually feel a vein in her neck bulge. She was so rarely challenged, especially by someone so below her. Calming herself, she smiled, speaking clearly and confidently, not a hint of the anger inside of her showing aside from her slightly cocked eyebrow. "You call our home tyranny? Come now, who's the real tyrant here? Everything she could possibly want, I can give her. Totally free of responsibility, free of financial worries, free to have whatever she wants..." Turning to face Lee, the woman donned a manipulative grin. "You name it. Clothes, cars, houses, anything. I could find you a nice man, too, I'm sure." Smirking back toward Rory, she continued. "And what can you do for her? Trick her into having children she doesn't want, children she likely can't care for? Working as... hell, don't know, a showgirl, probably... While you take it upon yourself to find prettier, younger wives, replace the poor girl for a newer model. What kind of life is that, hm? That's what you have to offer?"
She took a deep breath, smiling the whole time. "You've got it wrong, boy. I won't need to force her to do anything; Lee's my daughter, and she'll choose wisely."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:23 pm
Rory straightened, standing next to Lee with his arms folded across his chest, scowling at her mother. "I would ne'er do tha' t' her. I want bairns wi' her one day . . . when w're married, but w're both too young t' be haein' them now. Lee can hae any job here she wants. W' wouldnae tell her what job t' hae."
He sat down at the table, shrugging. "An' just 'cause our culture an' traditions allow fae us t' marry more'n one wife, most o' us donnae do tha'. My father has only e'er been married t' just me mum--who is a showgirl, by th' by--an' they're happy enough wi' each other. I only want one wife. I want Lee." The last part was said as he smiled up at the girl, affection clear in his eyes.
"You offer a lot o' pretty things t' your daughter," Rory said, looking back at the woman. "You shouldnae hae t' buy her love, though. Besides, where's th' fun o' it if you hae everything handed t' you? An' what strings be attached t' all the freedom you want t' gi' her?" He twisted in his chair, wincing a bit at the pain in his ribs, and looked at Lee. "You an' me hae already talked on this, lass. I wonnae hold you here if you wanna gae home, and I wonnae forget you or stop carin', e'en if they donnae let me see you anymore."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:02 pm
Mrs.Katan decided to ignore the statements on marriage -- they were young, stupid, and she knew better than to give it too much thought. After all, it appeared her daughter had already gone through one unsuccessful marriage, and it was likely that, if they decided to go through with it, the next would end the same way. Simply scoffing at Rory, she found she could only really argue with one point. "I suppose you're probably referring to the boundaries we'd have to set in place to ensure she wouldn't get tricked again by the likes of you. But why call them strings? They are merely part of the lifestyle she'd have. And they're for her own good."
Sensing she seemed to be losing ground, Mrs. Katan looked away from the boy, not wanting to be tested any further. "I'm tired of you..." A quick flippant wave of her hand and she looked back at her daughter. "Ready to come home now, dear?" Her toothy grin and warm voice were clearly for show.
Lee'd spent most of the conversation looking down at her feet, listening to the two go back and forth, her adoration of Rory growing and her respect for her mother dwindling with each rebuttal. Finally, she tilted her head up, looking from her mother to Rory, searching for the words to say before simply shaking her head and looking down again. "I'm not doing this to get back at you... and I don't want to ruin the family name, but... But I'm not going back. You can keep talking all day, and it won't change a thing." She could feel her heart sink lower and lower, realizing what exactly she'd done to the relationship they'd had by speaking her mind.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:11 pm
Rory's eyes widened a bit at Lee's words. He stood up to wrap his arms around the girl. "You're stayin'?" He didn't know what else to say, just wanting to hold her. He tilted her chin up gently, looking into her eyes before giving a soft smile and leaning down to kiss her.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:36 pm
Smiling back up at Rory faintly, she uttered a small, "I told you I would..." before he kissed her, finding at least a small shred of comfort in him.
Mrs. Katan stood dumbstruck, completely at a loss for words. Lee said "no" to her. "B-but..." Her eyes wandered away, staring at nothing as she tried to piece what had just happened together. "Lee! Don't be a fool." Her voice was getting emotional, and she was quickly losing her ever-present composure. "You're throwing your life away. I've worked so hard to guarantee your success, and here you are, giving all that up. Why are you doing this to me, Lee? Everyone's talking, wondering where the Katan child ran off to. What am I going to tell them, hm? You can't be 'on vacation' the rest of your life." Her hands were shaking, either with disgust or fear of losing the control she'd worked so hard to gain. At least, for once, her emotions were real.
"I'm sorry..." was all Lee could say, clinging to Rory's hand for strength.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:40 pm
Rory looked at the woman, squeezing Lee's hand gently. "Tell them she's moved away, found love elsewhere." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Or better yet, tell them th' truth--tha's none o' they're business. Your daughter's nae fool, Mrs. Katan. I think fae th' first time, she really knows what she wants an' not just what people hae told her she needs."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:57 pm
Covering her mouth with one hand as she thought, Mrs. Katan shook her head. If they didn't offer an excuse, they'd assume the worst -- gossip would spread that she joined a cult or they killed her, or worse yet, they'd guess correctly that she ran off with a pikey. Stepping closer, she sighed, jaw slightly jutted. "You're too young to know what you need." Pausing for a moment, she looked to the side, not wanting to see her daughter's face as she spoke. "You know we can't just take you back after this, right? You'll get none of the family money, influence, inheritance..."
"I know... we don't need it..." Lee's eyes were wide, not having been prepared for her mother to start what seemed like a resignation speech.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:03 pm
Rory rolled his eyes a bit. "Mrs. Katan, all tha's not needed. She'll hae th' clan. W' look after our own. I just wish you wouldnae think you hae t' disown her t' try an' shame her into gaen home."
He moved around the table to stand near the older woman, pulling the chair out for her. "Look, you know what she's decided an' neither you nor me are gonna make her change her mind in any direction. Might as well sit an' enjoy this fine brekkie I made tha's prolly cold now. Talk t' your daughter. Really talk t' her, not just try t' bribe or threaten her. She still needs you an' her dad. You're her family."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:41 pm
"I've heard enough from you. How old are you? Twenty? Twenty-one? Perhaps a few more years of experience and you'll understand. Money is important. Power is important. You'll be begging that your little princess here still had her parents' support in a few years, if you two even make it that long." She was beyond irritated with this boy; he had no idea what she'd gone through, and what she would continue to go through now that Lee's mind was made up. They were from completely different worlds; how would he know whether or not a reputation was important and worth upholding when he lived in this dump? "Trying to shame her? I'm not doing anything of the sort. I'm protecting the family name." Sticking her nose up at the boys seemingly peaceful gesture, she continued. "A family name that she apparently doesn't even want. This is all about what Lee wants, isn't it?"
Cocking her head, Lee wasn't sure if the woman was throwing a tantrum or just trying to manipulate her. "I-I didn't -- I still wanna be part of the family..." Wow, she was confused. She'd never seen her mother act this way; she was so childish.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:48 pm
"It should be about what she wants," Rory said, confusion in his features. "She's your child, you should care about her happiness, eh?" He stepped back a bit. "I know enough o' money. I do work, after all. Somethin' I'm sure you know little about. I prolly done more t' earn me own way in my sixteen years o' life than you hae in all your years o' experience. I'll ne'er be rich or powerful, nae, but it ain't tha' important. I can put a meal on th' table an' clothes on the backs o' my family true enough."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:12 pm
"Of course, I... I care about her happiness, but..." Her head was too clouded with frustration to come up with a response. She was flustered, humiliated, and wasn't about to try to form the long overdue bond with her daughter that Rory seemed to be waiting for. She'd had enough. "You're making a huge mistake." Turning on her heel, she wanted to believe she still had the upper hand, but she knew she'd lost. Heading for the door, the woman didn't bother to turn around before saying, "I have nothing left to say to either of you..."
Lee breathed in slowly, sliding into a seat before sighing, eyes wide and unblinking with slight shock, staring down at the food Rory'd prepared. "...Is it bad that... I'm kinda glad she left?" It was her own mother, but she was hard to handle, even if she still wanted the woman to be proud of her.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:16 pm
"Not really. I was gettin' worried she might try t' stab me wi' a fork just 'cause I dared t' love you," Rory answered, moving to shut the door. He looked back at Lee. "Donnae think too much on it now, love. Just eat if'n you hae th' appetite fae it then we can curl up on th' bed fae a bit if you want."
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