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 Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:18 pm
"Raaaaaaaj. Open up!"
The side of her hand was growing numb, but still she slammed her clenched fist against the closed door of her friend's flat, determined to wake the woman within from the dead if she had to. It had been two days since she'd returned from the Ward tree, and she'd sat in her flat staring at the totem she'd brought back without moving, waiting for something to happen. She'd never thought to ask how long it took for the totem to...well...do something, and now she wished she had.
"Raj! I know yer in there! I'll bang on this door til hell freezes, gypsy, an' don't ye think I won't!"
A tiny squeak made her pause and she crouched down, finding the little white mouse she'd sent under the door had returned. "Wee Daegus, is she there?" The tiny mouse jumped into her open palm, running up her arm to her shoulder with a squeak she took as an affirmative. "See, Raj!" she yelled at the door again, going back to banging on it. "Ye've been ratted...er....moused out!"
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Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 1:13 pm
It was several moments more before the door was wrenched open by a snarling gypsy. Rajani dodged the hammering fist and watched with no small satisfaction as the Gaels woman stumbled. "What the bloody hell do you want?" she growled.
It could be noted that, instead of the usual layers of piece-meal skirts and bodices that she favored, the gypsy was instead clad only in a soft, velvet robe with the edges of a thin shift peaking out from under its edges. The anomaly could be explained, perhaps, by the fact that her hair was glistening with water and the faint scent of lavender wafted around her.
Oh, she had seen the damned mouse, alright. She knew it wasn't her white, live-in rodent because the intruder was smaller. Sharp, green eyes narrowed on the little thing, noting its perch on Soibhan's shoulder. "And if you send your rat snooping in my house again, I'll feed it to Hawthorn."
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:54 am
Soibhan sniffed, catching the hint of lavender. It wasn't a smell she'd ever caught on the gypsy before and she had a moment to wonder if her friend had a fella over. Peeking surreptitiously over Raj's shoulder into the flat, she said, "He's a mouse, no' a rat, an' I'm pretty confident he can hide before Hawthorn so much as squawks." When the gypsy continued giving her a murderous glare, the gaelic woman shrugged, unphased, and reached into the leather pouch hanging from her belt, lifting her hands to show the item to her friend. The totem was warm in her grasp, the orange whorls undulating slowly around the body of it. If she looked at it too long, she would find herself completely enraptured by it. "Please le' me in?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:55 am
"Not if I flush him out," she said, and there was something in her tone that said she might not be bluffing. No one and nothing came into her home without her permission. Not even a pet mouse.
When Soibhan revealed the little, glowing totem, the gypsy only scowled more fiercely. Somehow, she was not the least surprised to see the thing. It was only a matter of time, after all, before a Guardian as insane as Soibhan recognized her and decided that she would do just nicely. Because unless insanity was a power, the Gaels woman was clearly no hedge witch.
Rajani was unimpressed.
She was also very tempted to slam the door in the other woman's face...and bar the windows. However, she suspected that even that might not be even enough to be rid of her, what with how she'd been whining about not being Chosen. Not in so many words, perhaps, but there her been a look to her. Regardless, she had the thing, now, and seemed as eager and impatient as a child with her first fancy toy. So, instead of slamming the door, Rajani stalked inside, still growling under her breath, and said, "Shut the damn door."
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:35 am
Scowling, Soibhan stalked after her friend, slamming the door behind her with probably a little more force than necessary. "Why're ye in such a tizzy, today?" she asked, immediately settling into one of the plush wing chairs that had made her so determined to have a few in her own flat. "Ye could at least pretend te enjoy seein' m'smiling face," she added, giving the gypsy a wide grin. Then she looked down at the totem, the grin shifting to a warm smile. The little mouse, against maybe better judgement, peeked out from under her hair where he had curled up behind her ear. "Maybe a wee bit o' compassion fer yer confused friend, eh?" Her look turned wry and she curled her legs up under herself, settling the totem in her lap. She spotted a flash of movement outside the window and saw Comghan settling on the sill, his baleful blue eyes peering through the wavy glass. Raj could try to send Hawthorn after Daegus, but the tiny mouse had a threatening, if unlikely, protector.
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Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:58 pm
"Tizzy" was not quite the word that the gypsy would have chosen. However, the sentiment was the same. "Perhaps I simply wanted a day all to myself, away from the rest of the bloody world," she said, which was certainly part of it.
Between one thing and another, the gypsy had been running herself ragged. Oh, she was starting to recruit a few trusted hands of her own to share some of the burden, but that presented a whole new barrel of problems and responsibilities. Part of the life she had left behind, it seemed, had caught up to her despite her best intentions.
For the most part, Rajani could handle the responsibilities she had taken upon herself. No matter how endless they were. However, there was only so much one woman could take at once - and right now, she was at the ragged end of her rope. She needed a day of self-pampering. Playing Dear Daisy with the loud and boisterous Soibhan had most certainly not been on the agenda.
Attempting to resign herself to her presently unwanted house guest, the gypsy put a kettle on, intent on enjoying some soothing tea, at least, while the Gaels woman invaded her home.
"So perhaps you'd be so kind as to ask your questions quickly so I can get back to that," she added. "Or better yet, come back tomorrow."
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:03 am
Soibhan's mouth turned down in a frown. As if relying on a last resort, she sighed and dug in her pocket for a paper packet of candied almonds, tossing them at the unsuspecting gypsy. "So sorry fer m'excitement, Raj," she said with a wry smirk. "I willna take up much o' yer time, I promise. I jus'..." Staring down at the totem, her smirk turned into a smile. "I don't know, I jus' wanted te share it with someone. An' since yer the best friend I have, ye were the first te come te mind. I can leave if ye truly want," she added with a shrug. Soibhan could have gone to Desmond first, as he had become such a staple in her life. But what she said was true; the gypsy was indeed her dearest friend, apparent attitude problems aside. Soi could also see that part of that attitude was indeed her fault; the gypsy had never been one for the unexpected.
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Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:38 am
The gypsy blinked and stared at the little packet that she had snatched reflexively from the air. Even had she not recognized the wrapping - impossible, it was from her favorite vendor - the faint cinnamon aroma and its warmth in her hand would have been clue enough as to its contents.
Bloody Gaels woman.
It was not often that Rajani felt guilt over her words. She had sharpened her tongue for the sole purpose of driving people away, after all. Why feel remorse over a desired effect? Of course, most people were not her friends - people she was supposed to make allowances for and show a little compassion to, not attack for interrupting a bath. Just then, the gypsy felt like a right a**. It was not, she discovered, a particularly comfortable feeling.
Shoulders tense, she kept her back to the Soibhan as she fiddled with her kettle. "Just...sit down so I can make some tea," she said, not nearly as gruffly as she might have wished. And never mind that Soi was already sitting.
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:08 am
Smiling, Soibhan settled more deeply into the chair, pleased with herself for guessing right. Daegus' soft whiskers tickled her neck and though she tried coaxing him down, apparently the threat of being fed to Hawthorn was enough to keep him hidden. She gave him one of the last candied almonds she'd kept for herself and he nibbled it contentedly. She wanted to tell her friend what had happened that night, but she couldn't figure out how to start. Or even if Rajani would care. Though that slime wasn't the first man to try such things, he had been the closest to actually succeeding thanks to her level of drunkenness. That worried her and would probably worry her for a while. Rubbing the totem between her fingers, she looked up at the gypsy's back. The set of her shoulders looked marginally less tense now. "How are ye, Raj?" It was a simple question, but she wasn't looking for a simple answer and she hoped her friend understood that.
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:25 pm
The gypsy wanted to droop; she wanted to slump her shoulders and bow her head and collapse. But not even here, in her home and in the presence of probably the closest thing to a best friend that she had, would she permit herself to display even that much weakness. Not now. Not after everything that had happened. The betrayal was too fresh. Her emotions on the matter too confused. Her trust stretched too thin.
"Tired," she said. Though it was only two little syllables, there was a depth of weariness in her voice that added layers of meaning to the word. Leastwise, it was true, though it was far from the whole truth. Soichan might be able to detect an odd, flat note in the gypsy's voice when she added, "I think I just...need to rest a while." Rest, and lick her wounds in private. Or better yet, flee Palisade for a while. Flee this very flat. She wasn't sure how she felt about living here anymore. It had come to be her home and she hated herself for that weakness. Maybe she could buy it off of...well. Maybe she could buy it. Then it would be hers outright and she wouldn't be owing anything to anyone.
Rajani had plenty of coin stashed away and would be getting plenty more still on top of that. She had been moving nonstop from one thing to the next for over a year, now, often working on what seemed like dozens of things at once; and she knew she could keep on doing it. She just...needed a break. After all, despite her best efforts, she was only human.
Could Soibhan understand that? Had she noticed the gypsy's long hours and longer trips? Had she any idea as to half of what Rajani got up to?
Did she realize that a nice, safe little corner of her world had been turned upside down and could never be the same again?
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 9:47 am
One word, but it held so much. Rajani was such a private person that even Soibhan didn't know half of what went on with her. But she'd heard rumors, plenty of them by now, of Raj's extracurricular activities. And it hadn't gone unnoticed whenever she left town for extended trips. Soibhan had never asked, because it wasn't truly her place to. If Raj had wanted her to know, she would have told the gaels woman. She had a feeling, however, that the weight in that one word wasn't entirely from Rajani's other jobs. Something had happened, but what? And dare she ask? With her luck, the gypsy would roust her right from the flat without so much as a goodbye, and possibly with a knife wound. No, Raj would have to tell her. Soi would wait. "If ye ever wan' te talk," she said softly, and left it at that. Staring down at her totem, Soibhan felt a little silly and a little guilty. She had been so excited to show Raj her totem, but now she felt that she should have paid more attention to her friend. "I say take a rest. Now's the perfect time, in this damn lull we're havin'. We can manage while ye ge' yer steam back."
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:23 pm
She might, someday. Want to talk. If she could decide exactly what she was feeling. Maybe...what was the point. She didn't want to think about it just then. Better to think on something else. Removing the shrill kettle from the heat and setting a fragrant, soothing blend to steep, Rajani returned to her sitting area. She offered the Gaels woman a cup.
Perhaps she was right. Maybe now was the time - not just for a few hours or a day, but maybe a week. Maybe more? Yes. It was something to think on.
"You didn't come here to listen to me whine," she said. "Why don't you tell me about it." Now that her misdirected anger had subsided, her curiosity had surfaced. Soibhan was one of the precious few she counted among her friends - and perhaps the only one she would want to see just then. The gypsy knew how much a totem must mean to her, and she truly did care. It wasn't often she though about the call - hers had happened so long ago, but she remembered it clear as day. What had happened to Soibhan?
She settled back in her chair and opened the paper packet, enjoying the warm aroma while she waited for her friend to speak.
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:30 am
Excited as she was to share her tale, at least part of it anyway, she felt loathe in leaving her friend in such a mood. What had happened? Because now Soibhan was certain that something had indeed gone very wrong in the gypsy's world. Shifting, she lifted the warm totem and set it on the small table beside her chair. It was a proud little thing, all four legs firmly planted with it's head held high. Staring at it had become a favorite pastime of hers. "Well," she said, sighing in resignation. "Ye migh' as well ge' the entire story." As much as it pained her to remember her weakness at the start of that night, she began the tale from the beginning. How she had felt upon entering the tavern to begin with, a feeling that had driven her to drink as heavily as she ever had before. When she could hardly stand, she'd decided to leave, and that had been when her attacker struck. Her voice lowered and filled with anger and disdain, feelings aimed at both the man that had tried to rape her and at herself for even allowing herself to fall into such a situation. She'd fought off plenty of such men before, even while drunk, but this time had been far too close a call. For that, she was having a difficult time forgiving herself. "Bu' then I heard him," she said, smiling at the totem. "He was callin' te me in his own way, an' he angry with me. It broke me ou' o' my stupor an' I was able te figh' the man off." Her voice trailing away, she added, "M'dagger found his belly. I doona regre' it." The totem's orange eyes and whorls seemed to pulse at that. "After tha', I fel' ...somethin'. I couldna ignore it. Was like somethin' pullin' me te the Wardwood. An' o' course he was righ' a' the top o' the damn tree."
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:54 pm
The gypsy felt her anger stir once more as Soibhan carried on with her story. Of all the vile, loathsome, cowardly men in the world, those that thought to take advantage of a woman were amongst the most despised by her reckoning. And Soibhan had almost fallen victim to one of them. It was infuriating. It could also only add to her impotent anger. What use were the feelings without an outlet of some kind? And spirits knew she already had more than enough confusing emotions swirling helplessly around inside of her.
The fact that her friend had probably killed the beast mollified her somewhat. It did not stop her hand from stroking a dagger.
"Good riddance," she said. If she were feeling in a particularly accusatory mood, Rajani might have berated the gaels woman for being so stupid as to let herself get that vulnerable, but it sounded like she was already feeling bad enough about that. Besides, just then she wasn't feeling much up to lynching anyone but herself.
Instead, the gypsy looked at the little, glowing totem, her own hand reflexively curling around Oberon's. "They know when they're needed."
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 1:54 pm
Soibhan gave a small smile, wrapping her fingers around the totem and bringing it back to her lap. "Yer righ. I wouldna though' i' possible, bu'...There's no denyin' wha' I fel'." "Bu' wha' do I do now? How do I raise a wee fawn te be a big strong buck like Oberon?" There were a lot of things she'd never thought about concerning the guardians, which was a hindsight on her part, because all knowledge of them was useful, no matter how mundane. "Do they ea'? Do they need te sleep,or de they do i' jus' te keep from gettin' bored when their chosen sleep? How fas' do they grow?" When do they manifest?
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