[Tsi’la Yanisan] She needed to get out. Needed to just go and walk and think and be far away from the streets and alleys she’s come to learn. Away from the watchful eyes of the people she sees day in and day out. The eyes, the questions, the routine.
She moves along on her crutches slowly, in no rush to be anywhere. She’s clear on the other end of the city from home and she’s off duty for covering the shop. She’s wearing a baby blue dress, sun-dress style but long to cover as much of the cast as possible. Her long dark hair is pinned up at the sides to prevent it falling into her face as she walks, and tries to keep herself to the side and out of the way of anyone else doing the same. Never fun trying to catch yourself from falling when someone trips over your crutches.
The crutches themselves are an eyesore. The bulky metal having more holes than they should up and down the length of them. From big teeth. Bite marks. Canine bite marks. She does have a canvas book bag tied to one of them, but it only has a couple of small things in it. Wallet, notepad, a couple of books.
[Marni] Marni well understands the need to get out, to walk and think and simply get away. She spends most of her days doing exactly that. Currently, that means sitting on a little brick half wall in front of some structure or another. At the bottom end, tattered jeans are frayed over bare feet that thunk idly back into the wall as she swings them. The middle section bulges behind a bag of doritos, t-shirt pulled tight over the obvious swell of her belly. The top is crowned by a mop of blondish curls, spilling to her shoulders in barely controlled disarray.
She seems more intent on her doritos than anything else, but truth be told, she watches, and misses very little. She certainly doesn’t miss the chick on crutches, especially with that kind of breeding shining through.
So she watches Tsi’la, and doesn’t even try to hide it.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She isn’t off in her own world, her thoughts not that consuming. At least, not so much that she doesn’t watch where she’s going, or even watch the movement around her. She might not know where she’s going, but at least she isn’t walking into objects, people, or swinging legs of a pregnant woman going savage on a bag of doritos. And a pregnant woman that trickles the burn along her skin at that.
She blinks her eyes over to the woman, and offers up a warm, friendly smile to her. Eyes drawing to her belly for a moment. She takes a step back, looking back up to her face, then nods and moves out away from the wall as if to move around her. “Excuse me”
[Marni] “Yer excused,” comes the reply, with a little bemused smirk. She continues to watch her though, a brow arching slightly, before she offers the dorito bag.
“I ain’t that scary, am I? Want some?”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She stops, head tilting back to her and blinks again. “No… I just… was brought up to have manners? When you walk into someone, or come close to it, you excuse yourself. Wooden spoon to the knuckles from a fiesty grandmother a few times ground that lesson in.”
She gives her another smile, her voice soft and gentle as her features. There’s a native accent there, enough to tell tale that english isn’t her first language, but the words flow clear enough. She shakes her head no to the offered bag. “Thank you, but no. You’re eating for two, and I had a big lunch.”
She looks at the belly again, and chews on her lip for a moment, then finally asks. “When are you due?”
[Marni] She just chuckles again. “I gotcha. Ain’t one t’stand on ceremony or manners, me – specially t’hear some folks round here talk.”
She turns down the chips, and then Marni’s outright laughing. “Hell, chica, before I got knocked up folks said I ate for four. Jus’ for two is a step up.” Marni’s all curves and curls and easy going smiles. No stick thin gal, even before the Bean, but it’s clear she works it off just as fast as she eats it too. Blessed gnawer metabolism…
She wipes the dorito dust onto a denim clad thing, and then pats her belly with a little grin. “Beginnin of February, far as I kin tell.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She giggles, nodding to her. “You’re lucky then.” She offers out a hand. “I’m Tsi’la” When she says it, she pronounces it Jeela.
She blushes a little at the burst of laughter and comments of her appetite, but her eyes light up. “Really now. Well, another great lesson I got from my grandmother was how to cook, and how to cook for very big appetites. So if I ever get into a place with a kitchen, you’ll have to come by.” She beams a smile at that. Someone that likes to eat, imagine that. And not just meat judging by the doritos bag. This could be the start of something fun and almost feeling like home.
“Febuary? Well that’s not so bad. The extra padding makes for good extra body heat in the winter, so whatever cold comes will be a little more tolerable.” She smiles (she does that alot, apparently) and nods. “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?”
[Marni] She wipes her hand across her thigh again, and then slides her fingers into Tsi’la’s. She tips her head as she hears the name. “Aaaahhh.. so your the one.”
Cryptic, hm?
But food takes precidence and Marni’s face lights into an easy smile – as she does that a lot too. “ANYtime someone else is cookin – I’m there. Ray’s idea of cookin is pickin which take out menu to eat offa! I ain’t so bad, but much prefer havin someone else do the heavy liftin, so to speak.”
As for the bean.. “Nope. Probably gonna keep it a surprise, much like th’fact he exists at all, ya know?” Course, she hasn’t been to any type of professional either, which is the main reason she doesn’t know anything definite about any of it.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] That comment gets a curious look. And a few blinks. Her head tilts a bit. “I’m… the one?” A bit wary at that. She looks around, then back to the woman a little nervously. The hand draws back and unconsciously smooths at her dress, a nervous gesture.
She licks her lips, and chuckles. “Well unfortunately, there’s not a kitchen where I am staying now, but really I’m not one to eat out if given the choice. I have a head full of grandmother’s recipes and like to take care of people. Most especially people in special conditions.” She nods to her belly, grinning again.
“Nothing wrong with that” She shakes her head some, chuckling
[Marni] She nods, slightly.
“The one Wahya claims to guard.” A pause, and she tips her head, curiously as she eyes that cast. “Not very well, it would seem.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “Oh” She chuckles, nodding. Her eyes go down to the cast on her leg, then come back up to Marni “Yes, Wahya is my guardian. And this was my own stubborn fault. Wrestling matches over the bathtub when the bathroom is at the top of a flight of stairs isn’t the smartest move I’ve made.”
[Marni] “He tell ya he ate one o’my Tribe’s kin?”
Blunt, ain’t she?
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “I… didn’t have details of what happened, no. But I knew something bad happened. I was the first to have contact with him when he came to my home.” She shudders, frowning and looking down.
[Marni] She tips her head, slightly. “Something bad….” She snorts. “He ate – not just killed but ate a kinfolk. A kin just like you – cept she was one of mine. Ya ain’t worried he’s gonna want another midnight snack?”
Marni clearly is.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She shudders again, and winces. “I’m so sorry for your loss…. truly I am.” She looks back up, and her expression shows she truly means that. “But no, I do not fear him. I would think… if something like that were to happen it would have happened already. He has paid constantly for what he did, and is trying to atone now.”
[Marni] “So you think it’s fine that he got a slap on the wrist for EATING A KINFOLK. And you’re not worried because oh hey, it ain’t happened to you? An’ just how has he atoned… he ain’t licked ya where ya ain’t wanna be licked? What has he done to pay his debt to my Tribe?”
She leans forward, and studies the kin… “You ain’t gotta stay there and risk ya life with him, ya know. Ya do have a choice.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She shakes her head no “No, I’m not saying what he did was ok, or that his atonement is close to being over with. Wahya’s debts are his to pay, and he is still paying them. He was judged, and it is not my place to question any of that.” She pauses a moment, hand smoothing over her dress again, over the cast. “I don’t know what you mean about licking. I am not his mate, I am his ward. The task set on him by my family for part of the atonement is just that. To be my keeper, since I am not permitted to go without one.”
She gives a curious look to Marni, frowning a little. “Choice? No, there is not a choice. There is my duty to my family, and Wahya wants me there at the shop staying with family.”
[Marni] She just shakes her head, and chuckles. There is no amusement to it, though.
“There is always a choice. And if your family believes that’s yer duty? An’ ya ain’t got enough stones t’stand up to them… Well, I’ll send em flowers. An’ maybe a dinner fork. ”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She looks confused at that. “No no…. I think you misunderstand.” She chuckles softly, shaking her head. “That is my duty not just to tribe, but nation. I am a caretaker. And in that, family comes before others, and they both need me there. Whether or not Wahya has insisted I stay there, I would still do it. If it is physical healing or emotional, it does not matter. I am doing my… job. My skills and talents are needed there.”
“Has nothing to do with having the stones to stand up to them.” She nods down to her chewed up crutches. “I speak my mind and have my temper problems. It’s… hard to explain, I guess.” She frowns, shrugging a shoulder.
[Marni] She arches a brow, and lets a little grin curl the corner of her lips…
“If its yer duty to stay there, why are ya here…”
There can be very little doubt as to the gnawer’s auspice, hm?
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “Because it was just me and the girl that comes in to run the shop sometimes there, and she doesn’t like me. Besides that, those are quite possibly the two most aggravating, frustrating men I have ever met. I’d rather deal with my father during a full moon some days.” She snorts, then blinks and her eyes go wide. Her cheeks fill with color.
[Marni] That? That right there makes Marni laugh out loud. She settles back to her seat and resumes munching on her chips as she watches the kin.
“So, then…” A pause, and an arch of a brow. “You made a choice.” There are always choices, after all.
[Kyle] (mind if I wander in?)
to Marni, Tsi’la Yanisan
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She puffs, her nose wrinkling up at some flitting memories. Her head shakes to clear the thoughts, and she blinks some more. “I cannot leave there, I am enough of a burden without that being passed off to another tribe.” She gives a soft smile. “Besides… with some recent things that have happened… it would be best if I stayed near Mister Chou.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] [I don’t mind!]
to Kyle, Marni
[Marni] She snorts. “If you say so.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She shrugs a little, and gives a soft smile. “I thank you for the offer though. But…” She looks to the swollen belly, and nods, shifting the line of conversation just enough to dance away from the details of her reasons of recent events. She reaches up and tugs the shoulder of her dress a little closer to her neck uncomfortably and draws a little more hair from the back over her shoulder. “I… am well versed in medicine. Should you need anything at all. It was one of my duties at home to care for situations like yours.”
[Marni] She tips her head, slightly. The only midwife she’d heard of was a fuckin’ Lord, and well – she’d rather do it alone. She notes the shift in stance, the way she strives to hide her neck – but lets the subject be changed. For now.
“Ya a midwife, then? How many babies ya delivered?” Protective of the bean, most certainly.
[Kyle] (Kyle Nightmare Test)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 6, 10, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Tsi’la Yanisan] There isn’t any smell of blood, or open wounds. And it seems more embarrassment that makes her shift around than anything else. She ponders the questions a moment, frowning. “I’m… a healer. And a nanny, and a midwife… a cook… I am whatever care-taking duty is needed at the moment. I have delivered two pups in the last four years, and helped deliver half a dozen in the last six.”
[Marni] She continues to watch her, and wrinkles her nose. “Kin or True?” The mother’s, most likely.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “Two of the assisted were true.”
[Marni] She lifts a hand to slide her fingers through her curls, and then takes a low breath, before she admits…
“I ain’t seen no one about th’bean since I had the test done at the Hill House. The only other one I done heard of that helped us was a fuckin’ Lord, an’ well, I’ll do it on m’own first.”
[Kyle] It had been a long day for Kyle. He’d spent most of it helping a friend move house and his whole body felt liek it weighed a tonne, which for his slight frame was probably an improvement. Stiffling a yawn, he batted at some of the dust that had managed to collect on his jeans and shirt. HE was decked in his usual all black and the heavy thud of his boots on the ground with each step was joined by a soft jingling sound from the straps he rarely bothered doing up. Fiddling with the clasps on his leather collar he loosens it a little to let some air flow between it and his skin. His hair was a mess and made him look like he’d been in a fight or something. The newest addition he had was a pair of light blue tinted sunglasses. A thank you for his help today.
Wandering along he lets his feet guide him as he makes his way towards the pair chatting away, without really noticing them.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She wrinkles up her nose a little, tsking at the woman. “Well… My skills are decent enough for it, but it’s… home care, obviously. The medicine I know wasn’t taught to me by any medical schooling. And no one would fault you for avoiding those ones.” She chuckles, shrugging a shoulder. “I can offer to do what I can, and be the midwife if you want one, but the decision, ultimately, is up to you. The offer is there, and it is a standing one.”
[Marni] She rests her hand on her belly for a minute, two, then nods. “I’ll talk t’Ray. See what he says. Course..” and here she grins again, clearly very fond of the father of her kid. “He’d rather me be in a hospital surrounded by modern technology n’shit. We’re tryin’ for a compromise, since that obviously ain’t gonna happen.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She nods and smiles. “Think it over, discuss it with your mate. I’ve nowhere to be, and it’ll be nice to have something other than grumpy and grumpier to deal with. A hospital… would not be in your best interest, no. When the time comes in the last stages, the mothers I’ve seen have not held their skin completely. It was one of the reasons I stuck to what I can do so strongly.”
[Marni] “I got enough obstacles without havin t’worry about the hospital..” said softly, almost as if she didn’t realize she said it out loud. The Gnawer’s road has not been an easy one, for sure.
She shakes her head, and digs for the last crumbs in her dorito bag then, and chuckles. “I’ll let’im know. If he says yes, it’ll give ya a reason to get away from th’Kin Eater and th’weird dude.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] Finally, she blinks and turns her head. Color rising up in her cheeks and a guilty look. All the talk of the business of babies, she didn’t even notice Kyle at all. She feels bad for that, and it shows. “Kyle… I’m so sorry. How are you doing? I didn’t even see you.”
She chuckles at Marni’s comment about the dynamic duo that she lives with, nodding. “Well you know where to find me should you choose to accept.”
[Kyle] Absently his a hand starts tapping against his side as a tune creeps into his head. He’s not sure why it’s there but it sure is giving him a little more bounce in his step. His feet start to shuffle as he sways to the music in his head. If only he had a music player then he wouldn’t look so weird. But hey he’s an unusual goth and ignores any glances he gets. The way he moves shows he’s really getting into the song. Looking up at his name being called out he shuffles towards the pair and gives that broad smile and a casual bow to them both. His voice barely noticable as he speaks.
“Hey don’t worry. I’m used to being either missed or ignored. How’s things going ladies?”
[Marni] She lifts her gaze to look at Kyle, and waves her almost empty chip bag at him with a nod. “Hey.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She wiggles her nose at him and looking a bit on the rough side. “Better than you look today, apparently. What did you do to yourself?”
[Kyle] Tilts his head as he looks at Tsi’la and chuckles softly.
“Thought I’d try a new grunge look out. What do you think?
Removes his glasses so they can see his face. He thought they’d appreciate him not being anti-social hiding behind his shades.
[Marni] She just grins – she is, after all, a Gnawer. Even if she showers often.
“Works for me.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “I think it makes you look more punk than grunge.” She laughs softly “But it’s cute.”
[Kyle] Moves some hair from his face and ponders that for a moment.
“Nah haven’t got the safety pins or tollerance for that. Guess I’ll just go back to the old trusted look.”
Shrugs as he runs his hands through his hair to combed it down a little.
“So what are you lovely ladies up to this evening, apart from gossiping?
[Marni] She doesn’t answer, too involved with tipping her head back and shaking the all but empty bag over open mouth to get the last of the crumbs…
She simply lets the kin talk.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “Babies.” She smiles, looking over to Marni’s belly, then back to Kyle. “Babies, health care, things of the like. Speaking of health care, did you eat today?” Her brows knit together and she gives him a suspicious peer
[Kyle] Now taht gets him snickering as he nods.
“Yes I had a jelly bean so I’m all good.”
Smirks as he winks at her before continuing.
“Had a decent lunch today so I’m all good.”
[Marni] She crumples up the empty bag, and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. She glances over at Kyle, then back to Tsi’la, before shifting her gaze to yonder trashcan – taking aim and shooting the bag into it.
score.
She wipes her hands on her thighs, and then settles again as she listens.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She chuckles, lifting one of her crutches to make an attempt at a menacing waggle at him. It might work….. if she were in any way intimidating. “Good. If you get in a pinch, too, there’s something at the tea house for you. So just go by there if you don’t make any money to eat.”
She looks over at Marni and smiles, trying to resist the urge to reach over and touch the belly. Head tilting a bit at the sudden quietness of the woman.
[Kyle] “Thanks.”
Looks between the two women as if thinking something over.
“Is it something in the water or just me? There seems to be a population explosion this year amongst a lot of people I know.”
[Marni] She arches a brow at Tsi’la, as she looks her way.. and then with a roll of her eyes, she snorts. “Go on, give it a pat. What is it about bellies that make folks wanna touch? The Bean’s sleepin though, ain’t gonna feel much.”
She straightens, so that the kinswoman can give the belly the pat she wants too. “As for it bein in the water – i dunno. Who else got knocked up?”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She starts to reach over to touch the belly, but Kyle’s words make her hand stop in mid motion. Something flickers across her gaze and she moves back away from Marni. Eyes darting between the two of them uncertainly. Odd uncomfortableness settling over her “What…..?”
[Kyle] “You can’t get pregnant from touching someone who is. Doesn’t work that way.”
Winks at Tsi’la then gives a shrug.
“Not sure of anyone new but almost every second person I meet is pregnant. Not to mention a few associates I know are expecting in the next few months and fairly sure a close friend is but she claims it’s food poisoning.”
[Marni] She blinks at Tsi’la, and shakes her head. “An’ ya a midwife, and ain’t know that?”
She shrugs. “I’m th’only one of us I know of right now, but that ain’t mean nuthin.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] “It’s not that… just….” She shakes her head and laughs awkwardly. “Just something that happened yesterday. The whole babies in the water thing.” She reaches up to her shoulder again and fidgets with her dress, her hair. “I.. know how baby making works.”
[Kyle] Snickers at Tsi’la’s reaction. Takes an elastic band from his wrist and ties his hair back.
“Well unless there’s been a group or wander’s come through I’d say it was just a case of spring madness. Mind I always through you had a population boom in summer because of people keeping warm during winter?”
[Marni] She tips her head at Tsi’la, and studies her a long moment – but in the end, she doesn’t say anything.
[Tsi’la Yanisan] She’s not likely making much sense, but that’s ok. Kyle’s amused and not quite getting it, and that’s fine with her. The looks from Marni though, the studying gaze, that makes her squirm some more. She tilts her head to them both, giving them each a warm smile even through the awkwardness. “I probably should get going. Mi Ling will squeal on me if I’m not back before the shop closes.”
She shakes a finger at Kyle. “Don’t forget either, I won’t hear about you going without eating again.”
Then she smiles to Marni and tips her head. “Let me know either way, ok? The little one deserves proper care.” She does finally reach over and lay her hand on the belly with a light touch. Then she turns, and starts moving off slowly
[Kyle] “Sure thing. I won’t tell you then.”
Grins as he gives a thumbs up.
“You becareful and take car okay.”
[Marni] She just nods, and then hops down off the wall she was sitting on finally. “I will.”
Then, with a grin for Kyle, she too turns to head off. “Speaking of eating.. it’s bout time for me to get home for dinner.. Take it easy, Kyle.”
[Tsi’la Yanisan] ((Lol sorry guys. Is muh bedtime ~slobbers on~ ty for the play!))
[Kyle] “You too Marni. Take care of the two of you.”
Nods and then wanders away.
[Marni] (thanks for the play! :) s’dinner time!)