[Soledad Gutierrez] It was chilly out, but then again it was December, what else could be expected? At least it wasn’t snowing or hailing or sleeting or anything else quite as miserable and wet as that. There were patches of clouds in the sky, making this the first night in some-odd number of days that a patch of honest-to-god sky could be seen beyond dense gray cloud coverage. Not that it really mattered too much, Luna was hiding tonight.
Soledad Gutierrez’s clothes had finally become too restrictive for her, she had to discard them. While Hatchet never approved of her methods, Soledad never learned any other way to dress herself than the dishonest way– by thievery of some sort. This time around she’d lifted some money from a man she’d spied in Chinatown selling drugs to what she was convinced to be an eleven year old girl and gone into a store, bought herself a bag and filled clothes with it. This didn’t resolve the problem of her not having food or shelter, but at least she could keep a bit warmer now.
So she could be found in the Cabrini tonight, walking because she wanted to see something other than neon and smell something other than incense and sex. She was dressed in a plain black canvas work coat with the hood left down, her hair braided and left to fall down her back. Her stomach stretched out the front of a gray cable-knit sweater, and a pair of relatively new looking jeans. She had a green beanie tugged onto her head, pulled down over her ears, and her hands were jammed into her coat pockets. There was a dufflebag tucked against her left hip with the shoulder strap crossing over her chest.
Nothing to see here, folks, just a wandering wolf.
[Gina McClaren] *The radio had reported a frigid low of 29*F tonight. Gina believed every word of it. Her hair hung long and shaggy about her ears, falling down her back. Her curvy form is shielded from the wind by a pawnshop’s tattered canopy, scarf hanging long from her neck as she counts money in a gloved hand.*
Christ, they dinnae pay fer gold like they used tae, dae they?
*She asks to ether, sighing and looking down the street, only to have a smile bloom softly on her lips. this time when she speaks its directed, and resonant with warmth.*
Soledad!
[Soledad Gutierrez] If there had ever been anything warn about Soledad Gutierrez, it had fled her in infancy. This was apparent in every line of her body, cut as though from granite, in the fact that there was never a smile on her face, hadn’t been one since she’d come to Chicago. She never laughed, and nothing remotely close to smile lines would ever have the chance to manifest at the corners of her eyes.
The Cold Death.
And the yin to Gina’s yang, it seems. Or something like that.
When her name was called, the Ahroun lifted ice-chip eyes from the sidewalk that they’d relaxed into staring at to seek out the voice she recognized immediately. Up ahead under a maroon canopy that flapped in the wind with some exclamations about selling watches and guitars and guns in the windows behind was Gina. Soledad lifted her chin some in acknowledgment and closed in– she was walking in that direction anyways, after all, no need to change course.
“Gina,” she stated blandly, looking down at the Kinfolk before her.
[Gina McClaren] *Gina’s greeting is not so bland as her warder’s. She makes her jingling approach, money tucked hastily in her satchel, brown eyes alight with something that had been missing in recent weeks. Hopefulness. Apparently that hope extends to Soledad not slapping her for the overt familiarity with which the pikey curls her arms round her. A pleasant embrace as she looks to the Uktena.*
Wha news darlin? How are ye? How’s yer asshole asian felly wha yer thenkin o groupin up wi?
[Soledad Gutierrez] Hugging Soledad was getting to be something of an awkward experience. The petite pikey wrapped her arms around the Ahroun, who didn’t protest and instead dropped her hands lamely between the Kinfolk’s shoulders in an imitation of a returned hug as though she didn’t really know how but was going through with the motions anyways. Gina wound up with a firm stomach that may as well have been a basketball stuck under that knit sweater pressed into her chest for a few seconds before Soledad moved her hands into her pockets once more and stepped back.
“No news, no change.” Soledad sniffed a bit against the biting chill in the air and glanced into the pawn shop, squinting through the glass window of the front door to view whoever was working the counter, as though checking to make sure they passed her approval for having had contact with her Kin. Of course she wouldn’t tell Gina that she was bothered by the increasing difficulty that shifting was obtaining, that she was growing anxious because she honestly didn’t think that she’d carry the baby this long and had instead thought it would miscarry for sure, that a life without shelter was wearing on her worse this year than it had ever come close to doing, or that it infuriated her to feel so fucking weak.
Rather, she turned eyes that would reveal nothing to Gina McClaren and lifted dark eyebrows in inquisition. “The Eagles, how are they treating you?”
[Gina McClaren] Fine darlin.
Curata’s kind enough when ee’s en the mood tae be, an Joss es a dream tae be round. Ah’ve nae seen Andrew round, oor Silence oor Sandman yet reckon. Jes me an the two wha brung me.
*An impressive shrug, Gina’s hands slipping to the side of Sole’s ever growing belly. A click of her tongue in mild disapproval. A belly like that was better suited to a kinfolk. God only knew how long until some nasty wyrm beast took a swipe at it in an alley, and ended a life. Gina’s face pinches with the thought, before she shakes her head and runs a hand through her long hair, dismissing the gory image from her mind.*
Fook, ye stell en alley’s an sooch? Oor hunkered down atop Bai’s curio shop?
[Soledad Gutierrez] Gina’s face pinched with unpleasant thoughts and concerns for whatever was growing inside the stomach between her hands, and Soledad’s shifted slightly with discomfort, a subtle change but noticeable by the grace of comparison– when a face never changes, the subtle shifts are more apparent. Her tongue pressed against the back of her teeth and she shifted another step back so Gina’s hands fell away. She watched the Kinfolk drag fingers through thick dark hair, then tucked her elbows closer to her side and glanced over her shoulder, scanning the street as she spoke.
“I apologize for my inability to shelter you. If you seek to request the guardianship of the Eagles instead I will understand.” As for herself, she shrugged. “The snow has stilled for now, the alleys aren’t so harsh that I cannot survive in them.”
[Joss Lehrer] You know what they say.. speak of the devil…
Though few would suggest Joss is a devil, even though she loves a good prank as much as the next person. It’s patrol time, and it leads her to turn the corner just about then, joining Gina and Soledad on the street that’s somewhere in Eagle territory. She had given permission for Sol to check on Gina, loosening the borders just that much, as long as the rules are adhered too. Silence may have done it differently – but he isn’t here, and Joss is now Eagle Beta.
Which still makes her laugh to think about it, truth be told. The smallest of them all leads them….
She is dressed as she always is, her only addition a scarf and some gloves, due to the cold. Otherwise it’s her sweater, and skirts, flats on her feet, dreads up top, godi bag at her hip.
[Gina McClaren] Sole, nae.
*Her brows pinch together, hair tossed back over her shoulder as she regards Soledad with an expression of consternation and faint hurt. A shake of her head, resolute.*
Yer daen yer job. Hell, yer daen my job tae. *A helpless sort of grin, quiet as she gestures to the belly Sole was so uncomfortable with. The kin had a soft pleasant manner about her, more than just a side effect of generous curves. It was the force of her personality, that charm that had a habit of turning strangers into friends and casual conversations intimate. They made a strange pair, the kin and the Uktena. Gina tsking quietly.*
There’s nae guarantee they’d even wan me darlin, trouble ah’ve been. An reckon ah’m sticken wi’ yer stubborn self. Regardless.
*Someone moves in the corner of her vision, and Joss gets a warm smile and a wave.*
OCH! Allo Loves!
[Soledad Gutierrez] Gina gestured down and commented on the fact that Soledad was doing her job and that of a Kinfolk as well, and the Ahroun huffed quietly, pluming visible breath into the air in front of her face through her nose with the depth of her exhale. She wouldn’t call it a sigh, but that’s pretty much what it was. The Kinfolk went on to explain that she intended to stay with Soledad, and the underfed Uktena’s sharp, thin shoulders rounded with relief.
“Good,” she stated, and that was all.
Then Gina was calling out, and this had Soledad turning her body to look behind her, to spot the small Fenrir Shaman making her way up the sidewalk. Strong-fingered hands moved from her coat pockets, grasped the open edges, and moved them closed in front of her, helping some to obscure the swell of her front self-consciously. She was tired of the topic and figured that pulling attention away from it by covering it up would help keep it under the table.
When Joss was near enough, Soledad nodded her head respectfully and greeted in the same manner that she had Gina. “Gossamer Wing.”
[Joss Lehrer] She smiles as Gina calls her name, and lifts a hand to wave. She tugs the earbud from her ear, and thumbs her ipod off, before tucking it back into her pocket, all before she reaches the pair on the walk.
Soledad tries to cover her swollen belly, and it doesn’t do much to hide it, but Joss has never been one to bring up something the other didn’t wish to discuss unless necessary – so she doesn’t mention it.
“Soledad, Gina – how are you? I was about to go get something to eat, would you like to join me?”
[Gina McClaren] Tha we would.
*A nod, as Gina answers on behalf of both of them. Why? Well, because Muerte Fria was stubborn and entirely too broke to accept on her own. Gina bumps the Uktena with a hip, continuing.*
Where ye’ve en mind? An peaches, did ye gi the pie wha ah left outside yer door? Oor ded ye step en et? Reckon ah heard alot o’ ruckus oop there thes mornin.
*A wince fades into a good-natured grin, curvy kin settling hands on her hips as she waits for Joss to lead the way.*
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad’s chapped lips had parted to politely turn down the Get of Fenris’s offer, but Gina bumped a plentiful hip against her own bony one and the Ahroun pressed those lips closed once more, cutting dark amber eyes down toward Gina before looking to Joss again.
Old habits are hard to break, and Soledad had fallen back into an old-as-time one of hers.
Silence.
[Joss Lehrer] “Good. I don’t like to eat alone.” She grins and touches the pikey’s arm, before pointing down the way to a little diner. “This time a night they’re mostly cleared out – and we get all the good stuff at a discount. Big Bob is kinda growly, but he can cook a mean chicken fried steak!”
Then Gina mentions the pie and Joss flat out moans her appreciation. “I DID… It was fantastic… thank you! The lights let me know you had left it, so i didn’t plant my foot in the middle of it.”
[Gina McClaren] Checken Fried Steak. Christ.
*Gina laughs and begins towards the diner, offering a smile and a welcoming gesture of hands back to sole. come On . She seemed to say, eyes widening in emphasis. Then something occurs to her.*
Wait wha?
Yer lights darlin? Like.. yer wee christmas lights? They’re alive an’ thenken? Ah thought they were jes fer decoration.
[Soledad Gutierrez] [[ Skip on over me for a few turns. Soledad’s just gonna be a quiet sentry for now. :) ]]
[Joss Lehrer] She laughs and nods. “Of course they are. They help ward the Packhouse, and the attic especially since half of it’s actually open to the sky. They love music, and the twinkly colors. They’re thrilled to see all the lights popping up all over the city for the holidays.”
It’s likely a fair bet that most things in her attic have been ‘alive’ or used for some purpose at least once, or have been collected in order to be so at some point in the future. “They helped protect me against the Master that was invading our dreams for a while…”
[Gina McClaren] Fook me dae ah ever hate fookers wha play aboot en yer mind.
*The pikey’s pleasant voice takes on an uncharacteristic rancour. Dark eyes narrowing as she jingles along between the godi and the ahroun. Sole’s silent, but thats hardly new. It was only recently the Uktena had begun to open up to her. Gina’s attention focused on her temporary roomate.*
Ah reckon ah heard aboot tha bit o nastiness. Ah’m awfi glad et skepped me, thes time.
Ye kain when Silence es coomin back?
*The return of the terrifying Modi who loathed her bells was something that weighed on her mind every day she stayed with the Eagles. *
Ee kains ah’m en the house.. aye?
[Joss Lehrer] She shrugs her shoulders, and smiles. “Dunno. He went for his Rank challenge – could take days, or months. He’ll return when he’s completed it.”
And here her chin lifts, a little proudly, but not disgustingly so. “And I’ve won Beta. It’s my decision in his absence, so yes, it’s ok that you’re staying with us for a bit until you’re back on your feet.” Her smile is warm for Soledad as well, encompassing them both.
“‘Sides, he stays in the other pack house most often. I think he’s abit scared of my cheerful demeanor, if ya ask me.” That grin there? It’s pure mischief.
[Gina McClaren] Och fook, house es doubly scary than wi tae lassies.
*A soft smile. She was growing rather fond of the crazy Godi, despite herself, spending more time with the Fenrir lately than the Scotsman who’s bed she visited infrequently. Cooking, and jabbering pleasantly. The wind tugs at her thin olive trench and the skirts beneath, charms rattling metallic as the strider kin moves.*
Sae he’ll be wha? A bloody Athro? Jaysus christ darlin.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad was comfortable in silence, a large advocate of the theory that you looked wiser, more intelligent when you remained quiet and spoke only when you had something important to say. Flapping jaws gave more opportunity for your weaknesses to be discovered, or so she believed.
The trio of women reached the diner, and Soledad reached out over the heads of the small women walking ahead of her and pulled the door open, holding it for the both of them.
Thus far Joss hadn’t looked much of anywhere beyond her face, so Soledad was comfortable and fine with letting her jacket fall open again.
[Joss Lehrer] She smiles at Soledad as she opens the door. “thank ya..” and then leads the little treo inside. She nods to answer Gina’s question. “He’s amazing, ya know? Sure, all scary as fuck, but.. he’s Decker fuckin Rohl…” There’s a starry eyed cub’s adoration of a hero in the way she says that. He’s not here – he can’t cuff her for it. This time.
She heads toward the back of the little diner, where there’s an empty corner table where they won’t distrub ayone, and still have a bit of privacy in the late night crowd.
[Gina McClaren] *A pleasant look back at Soledad as Gina scoots through the door. There was a lot of rage walking into the diner with her. Her skin prickled with it, but when one spent their spare time driving garou men wild, one grew accustomed to the sensation. The pretty pikey moves to claim a booth, glancing to sole and reconsidering, choosing a table with chairs instead. Joss squees about Decker, and Gina laughs.*
Och, ee’s a bit o a brute. Reckon ah’ve met hem a time oor tae. Hes lass an ah gi’ on like hot oil an’ cold water. Imo’s nae me cup o tea, ah reckon.
[Joss Lehrer] He’s a bit of a brute, Gina says, and Joss simply grins. “Of course he is – he’s Fenrir.” There’s a distinct bit of pride there, of one who shares a Tribe. It’s not that she believes them better than anyone else… ok, not true. In her eyes, Fenrir top the list of What Garou Should Be – but at least she is not fanatical about it. Quite.
“Imogen’s amazing too. She helped me a lot when I got here, all starry eyed and hopeful… and helped guide me to get what I wanted. She might not even know that she did it… and she hasn’t killed me yet for the little car’s stunts, so that’s a good thing!”
She unwraps her scarf and pulls off her gloves, and smiles. “Order whatever ya like – it’s on my Papa. He sent some extra Christmas cash.”
[Soledad Gutierrez] A diner employee near the front register’s eyes widened and they took a small step back when Joss, Soledad and Gina stepped through the door. The woman, thirty-something and denying it, stared with wide eyes as the three invited themselves back to a table, then scampered away to go find the bravest person she knew to serve them or chase them out. They felt like trouble, and she didn’t like it one bit.
Soledad followed the Silent Strider and Get of Fenris to the table in the back that they had chosen, pulled out a chair, and eased herself down into it, sitting with her legs open and her feet planted before the front legs of her chair, posture far more masculine than feminine, contradicting the current state that proved undeniably her gender. She leaned back, let her arms fold and rest atop her stomach, and closed her eyes as she tipped her nose into the air and smelled.
The conversation wasn’t one she would contribute to, though, so she maintained her streak of silence.
[Gina McClaren] Och nae darlin. Ah couldnae. Ah’m already usin yer heat, yer loo, an yer packmate.
*A warm and wiley grin as the expressive strider kin lifts her eyebrows in mischief. She unfolds a menu, leaning to sing quietly to Sole as the Uktena gets settled.*
Would a burger an’ sooch serve ye darlin? Reckon yer eatin effen ah’ve tae climb atop ye an beg ye tae.
*Gina’s singsong resounded melodic and teasing. Warm as cocoa after a sleigh ride, and just as comforting, despite the mocking tone. Its with the clink and jingle of charms that she plunks into a seat, levelling a wink at Joss. She’d been coming back to herself more and more as she stayed with the Eagles. Though her long disappearances continued at random.*
[Joss Lehrer] She laughs and shakes her head. “I don’t mind.” She doesn’t even have to look at the menu, she’s already decided what she wanted the moment that she decided to hit this particular establishment, with the scared waitresses.
As for her using her packmate, Joss just laughs and nods. “Someone has to. I swear, between him an’ James there’s WAY too much testosterone some days.”
There’s something there, too, under the words – but nothing Gina hasn’t already figured out. Joss simply hides it with a smile though.
[Soledad Gutierrez] If Soledad was bothered at all by the notion of her Kinfolk sleeping around willy-nilly with whatever Garou she fancied at the time, it sure didn’t show in even the smallest line on her face or body. As far as she was concerned, it was all Gina’s choice, so long as the Kinfolk was healthy and happy that was all that mattered. If a lover grew possessive or jealous or bothered Gina too much, Soledad would step in and have a ‘talk’ with him. Otherwise, her nose stayed far, far away from who Gina laid with at night.
An eye opened and rolled over to focus upon the Kinfolk when she suggested a burger, and Soledad wrinkled her nose up just a little and shook her head.
“I am eating, but nothing so greasy. Something red, something rare.”
The friendly threat of being climbed on top of may have been taken differently were she male, but Soledad hardly seemed to notice any implication that outsiders might view in the words. She just closed her eyes again and did her best to be placid and cool while the only male employee in the establishment, the cook, came over to take the order.
[Gina McClaren] *Plop. Gina’s hand is tossed down on Joss’s, warm and silently reassuring. The Godi was lonely, and in want of a fellow to call her own perhaps as much as the pikey was, though likely for drastically different reasons. Curata and his like were fine for now. They were stolen moments to get her by and warm her in the night, but nothing so permanent as she found herself wanting. Sole speaks, and Gina peruses the menu for something that fits her criteria, pointing at a steak for the woman, and ordering for both of them when the cook comes to take the order.*
Rare reckon, an tha beef dip fer meself, effen ye could add extra peckles on tha side, ah’d be much obliged. Och! an a Cocoa.
Thank ye.
*She looks to Joss expectantly, waiting for her to order before singing to both garou.*
Either o ye been tae see Boy mayhaps?
[Joss Lehrer] Joss smiles, softly, as Gina takes her hand briefly. She knows the pikey sees too much, knows too much sometimes, but she respects that gina doesn’t toss the knowledge around. It would be embarrassing. She has everything she needs here – she has Eagle, her pack, Maelstrom, her spirits, herself. She is content.
Just lonely.
So she forces the thought away, and grins at the cook. “Chicken fried steak and eggs, crispy on the hashbrowns, overeasy on the eggs and hot chocolate, please – extra whip cream. Thanks!”
…because she still eats like she’s 12. Thank goodness for Garou metabolism!
She shakes her head at the question. “I’ve not seen him since the moot.”
[Soledad Gutierrez] Gina went ahead and ordered for her, and Soledad appreciated it. Speaking with strange humans never felt right, even before the change. It would take her months to speak anything beyond ‘yes’ ‘no’ and ‘thank you’ to her foster parents in her youth whenever she changed homes, and now that she recognized the distance between herself and the Herd, she acknowledged them even less.
Steak, rare. That sounded appropriate, and probably came with some vegetables too. Hopefully they weren’t overcooked like they always tended to be deeper in the south of the United States.
Gina asked about Boy, and Soledad spoke without bothering to open her eyes back up just yet. She was recharging her batteries here in the diner, before she had to go back out and submit herself to the cold streets. “I have spoken to him. Why do you ask?”
[Gina McClaren] Ah worry. Partly my fault he’s cooped up like ee es. Wan tae apologize, tae breng hem thengs tae make hem comfortable, tae visit, but reckon ah cannae now, sae .. ah worry.
*She doesn’t ask about Wahya. If he was still starving himself and refusing help she might be inclined to do something stupid. Gina was going for obedience these days, best the curvy kinfolk was able. Though one would hardly know it given the way she’s constantly busting Curata’s balls about everything. brown eyes fall to Soledad’s resting form. The soft clink of bangles giving away Gina’s motion as she leans forward and pushes several runaway strands of dark hair back from the Uktena’s face. A sigh as she settles back into her seat finally.*
Ah’ll be awfi happy effen the cety would jes.. calm the fook down fer a time. Nae wan dyin oor gaen aft.
[Joss Lehrer] She falls quiet as Gina speaks of Boy, of it being her fault, of wanting to help. And then speaking of hoping things die down a bit, calmer, with no one dying or leaving, or simply disappearing.
Joss hopes so too.
[It was your fault. Do better.]
“If you want to send something, I can bring it to him.”
[Soledad Gutierrez] Gina reached out to brush away hair that once again was starting to really need a wash, locks that had escaped the braid most of the rest of the mane of black had been tied back into, and Soledad opened her eyes up and surveyed the Kin, watching her face carefully. Those cold eyes shifted over to Joss, and the Ahroun was quiet for a moment before leaning back forward, reaching for her glass of water, and downing half of it before setting it on the table once more.
She wiped her mouth dry with the palm of her hand, scrubbed her hand on the thigh of her jeans, and after exhaling a deep breath slowly and fully she spoke again.
“He has his pack and his mate to do such things for him, Gina. Bringing him luxuries makes his punishment less so.”
[Gina McClaren] Well aye but mayh-*Gina begins, only to stop short and fall silent. Mayhaps what? He could share with Wahya? Don’t even think it. How many different ways did someone have to deny your help before you stopped trying pikey? Fine dark brows pinch and Gina exhales, nodding. An apologetic smile to Joss, thanking her silently for the offer, before she nods to Soledad.*
Aye darlin. Aulreacht.
*With thats its the kin’s turn to fall silent, napkin crinkling it as she begins to fold it into a limp oragami swan.*
[Joss Lehrer] She is saved from having to say anything by the appearance of their dinner – or, for her, a late night breakfast. Sure, it’s faster service than most would get, but there’s an awful lot of rage at the table – even Joss, for all her smiles and calm, is harboring a monster under her skin.
She smiles her thanks, and promptly sticks her finger in the whipped cream atop her hot cocoa, and sucks the sticky treat down with a happy grin. “Whip cream makes EVERYTHING better…”
And then she’s attacking the mess on her plate like she hasn’t eaten in days – you know, except for the whole pie left on her doorstep and the fact she’s PRETTY sure that Gina’s bound and determined to get her fat. Not that she’s complaining…
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad didn’t need to execute stern stares to try and enforce her point upon Gina. The Kinfolk usually did a fine job of comprehending when people were serious and meant what they were saying on her own, and the benefit of speaking rarely was that when you finally did have something to say people were more likely to pay your words heed. It’s been working well for her thus far, the Ahroun saw little reason to change, especially with the positive enforcement of that mindset setting right in front of her.
She did, however, at least make efforts with Gina as far as acting a little less like a glacier goes. The Kinfolk fiddled with her napkin, folding it into oragami, and the Uktena reached out to swipe a hand over Gina’s head, fingers brushing through her hair and settling to rest for a few seconds at the back of her skull. When she felt the appropriate amount of time had passed and her point of ‘it’s okay’ had been made, Soledad withdrew her hand and let it settle over her stomach again.
Oh look, food.
Just as Joss, Soledad ate as though she was starving, though she was certainly clean and quiet about it. The only difference was that Soledad actually was starving.
[Gina McClaren] *Dark eyes slip shut as Sole makes to comfort her. It wasn’t much in comparison to Gina’s affectionate mannerism, but from the lone wolf known as Cold Death, such a gesture was nearly unheard of. The paper crane curled in a small fist as Gina ducks her head and sighs. Food arrives, and the pikey opens her eyes again, smiling up at the Cook in an attempt to put him at ease.*
Och, lovely. Thank ye darlin.
*There was a reason for Gina’s refusal to accept Joss’ charity tonight. The diminutive kin had already made a full meal at the Eagle’s packhouse, and set the leftover in the fridge, eating only a small portion for herself. Still, she was rather full. Her plate, also rather full. The reason for her ordering despite these facts becoming clear when soledad all but inhales her steak. Gina having eaten the salad that came with her meal, she keeps her hot chocolate and her pickles, and nudges the plate of tender beef and bun towards the Uktena. Singing a white lie.*
Och, reckon ah misjudged how hungry ah was darlin.. Ye wan thes?
[Joss Lehrer] Having Gina at the packhouse is the best thing ever, with Randi going home. Means home cooked meals again, which Joss has taken to eating for breakfast, before collapsing to sleep, only to get up and go about her business again. If she were even the tiniest bit less honorable, she’d steal the pikey and keep her for her very own.
The chocolate chip cookies alone would be totally worth it.
Soledad might not notice what Gina has done, but Joss does. She hides the smile behind her mug of cocoa though, and continues to eat her meal.
[Soledad Gutierrez] It didn’t take very long for the steak to vanish. Soledad had always eaten quickly, like an animal well aware of the fact that their meal could be interrupted at any moment and gone by the time they had a chance to return to it, stolen away by some other animal. Now with gut-gnawing hunger stacked on top of it (this would have been the 20th hour gone without food) the speed was justified and enhanced, and the steak was dwindling down to nothing when Gina was partway through her salad.
The beef dip was slid toward her, plate nudging close to her own, and Soledad stabbed a stalk of broccoli, mopped up some of the steak juice on her plate with it and popped it into her mouth, chewing a little slower as she surveyed the sandwich. She glanced up to Gina, licked her lips, then nodded.
“Thank you.”
As always, the words were heartfelt, even if they didn’t really sound like it. She moved the sandwich from Gina’s plate to hers, pushed the bun open, and proceeded to pluck the meat up and fold it into her mouth. Packing away what she could while she could, and quite grateful for the chance.
[Gina McClaren] *A nods, Gina’s attention now on her hot chocolate. She raises dark eyes to Joss, a little less cheery than she had been, but then, the Godi had had the displeasure of seeing Gina limp and listless, moving around the kitchen like a ghost trapped in memories that wouldn’t shake. The soft curve of a smile she gets is a far improvement on that. She was no longer attempting suicide via Fenrir either, all in all, Gina was changed, but doing alright. A slurp of hot chocolate and a laugh as she comes away from the cup with a cocoa mustache, wiping it with the back of her hand. She looks between Sole and Joss.*
Ah’ll have enough fer a place soon darlins.
[Joss Lehrer] She wrinkles her nose, and laughs softly. “Close by I hope. I dare say I’m gonna be a regular in your kitchen from now on, no matter where that kitchen is. Soledad, she made this stew the other day that made me think I’d died and gone to heaven! It was melt in your mouth good…”
She winks at Gina, and then sops up the rest of her gravy mess with a biscuit and plops it into her mouth. “and don’ even get me started on the cookies… s’like Christmas every day.”
[Soledad Gutierrez] And soon the beef dip had been demolished as well. Soledad picked up her glass of water and finished it off, then lifted the glass and nodded to the server that she’d like a refill. That right there, that eye contact and simple nod, was the largest amount of communication that Soledad Gutierrez had had with a human being (apart from Huang Min-Su, the noodle woman in Chinatown that had fostered Gina for a couple of days) beyond beating their skulls into walls.
Gina mentioned that she’d have enough for a place to live soon, and Soledad looked over to her, reaching for the new glass of water that had been set on the edge of the table so that the server wouldn’t have to come in close contact with either of the Rage-beasts in the back of the diner. Another third of the glass of water was consumed before Soledad went easy, crunching on an ice cube while Joss explained a mouthwatering stew and some Christmas-day cookies.
Sol nodded to Joss, but went back to the thought of shelter. Of a house. She looked to Gina again and nibbled another piece of broccoli.
“Good. Where will you be?”
[Gina McClaren] Nae certain yet. There are a few places wha’ll serve. Though… There’s a place wi’ a seperate loft ah’ve been chattin wi. Thenk ah may be able tae barter et entae me price range. Ets a young felly wha’s gi’en married soon. Ah might ba able tae throw en a bachelor party an gi me rent reduced.
*Gina had a reputation, and it seemed she was unabashed about living up to it, should it benefit her. She cracks a sheepish grin, wiping her fingers on the crumpled swan napkin, and taking a sip of cocoa before levelling her eyes to Sole’s. Holding the ahroun’s gaze long as she can. Voice soft.*
Will ye move en, wance ah’m settled?
[Joss Lehrer] Truth be told, she admires the little Pikey for having a reputation, and living up to it with such freedom. She’s never met anyone quite like her. She’d probably be surprised to know she’s part of her weekly letters home lately, which undoubtedly gives Papala a minor heart attack or three, wondering what his precious baby girl is learning here in the big city.
She lets them talk, as it really has nothing much to do with her – so she concentrates on her cocoa, and the remainder of her whipped topping.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Gina’s eyes bored into the side of Soledad’s head, since she’d glanced back down to her plate when the Kinfolk started talking about rent and bachelor parties. That kind of heavy stare and silence had the Ahroun blinking once, then glancing up toward Gina, head tipped to the side just a little bit as she waited for the gypsy-kin to say what she wanted.
It was an invitation, an offer to come live with her once a home was established.
Perhaps Gina thought that it would be a heavy question, that she was stepping on some precarious grounds by extending such an option. Garou were volatile creatures, and their Rage was a powerful, ever-burning thing, particularly amongst the Full Moons. Anything could trip their wrath, as she’d seen when tension had kicked high between Boy and herself when the topic of the baby came up. She wasn’t there when Soledad had yelled, snarled and Raged at the Philodox, but lingering hesitation hinted to it.
Here, however? Soledad nodded immediately. It was that easy. “Yes, thank you.”
[Gina McClaren] *Gina’s response is a bright smile. Sunny. That was easy. She’d been expecting the churlish Uktena to deny her. Too spout some drivel about tending sickness or some other such bollox as to why she couldn’t stay with her ward. She’d certainly been reluctant to stay when she’d had the house in bronzeville, unlike Hunter who’d arrive unannounced and make demands of her without the courtesy of a please and thank you. The pretty caramel kin is so surprised its a moment before she says anything at all. Finally clapping her hands together, charms tinkling as she sings.*
Well good.
*She pivots in her chair, head tilting to joss.*
An reckon yer welcome en me kitchen anytime darlin. Sae long as ye gi’ a call ferst sae ah can prepare, aye?
*Folks popping out of the umbra and dropping in had nearly caused a few altercations, and given recent events, Gina’s being a little more choosey as to who she invites to stay in her home. Lest she not have a home to return to. A shadow falls over her sunny expression for a moment, but she blinks and its gone. A yawn as she rests her head on the table.*
Fook am ah tired.
[Joss Lehrer] She laughs. “Of course. I’m Fenrir, not uncivilized!” Respect the territory of another, even if said territory belongs to a kin. Perhaps even especially so.
Soledad accepts the offer, and Joss can see the tension roll away from Gina, which makes her smile. She’s coming into her own, again, and that’s good.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad watched Gina, glanced toward Joss, then nodded simply, finished her glass of water, and stood. She put her hand on the back of her chair to help with balance when rising, then tugged at her coat to adjust it. First, she addressed Joss, nodding her head respectfully, keeping in mind the Get’s rank.
“Thank you for the meal, and for allowing me within your territory to visit my Kin. I would not be so bold as to take your understanding and push it to allow myself into your home, however, and so would request that you please see her home.”
Another dip of her head, and she would wait for an answer before turning to Gina. Again, fingertips touched over the Kinfolk’s scalp, this time more briefly than earlier.
“I will see you again.”
And this being Soledad’s idea of a farewell, she would shove her hands into her coat pockets, roll her shoulders up to brace for the cold, and make her way on out of the diner, leaving the other women to find their way back home to their respective beds.
[Gina McClaren] hmm. G’necht darlin. Be carefy. Please.
*A futile request. Gina knows full well the ahroun would launch herself at anything evil and unfortunate enough to cross her path. Sole stands, touches her kin’s scalp in goodbye, and gina’s fingers rise to brush against the inside of her wrist in a similar fashion. Just as Soledad was learning what set the strider kin at ease, so too was Gina learning her warder. Sole brushes out the door, and Gina sighs, offering Joss an easy smile. Weary.*
Ah’ve a movie about a wee boyscout an a floatin house o’ home. Ye wan tae watch et?
*Dark eyes slip sideways, then back to Joss, shifty as she fights back a smile. It was better without the smile.*
Ah’ve ah tin o cookies wha ah made yesterday, stowed away frem the damned Fellies.
[Joss Lehrer] She nods, and smiles. “Of course, Soledad. You are welcome to call on her any time. I thank you for trusting us with your ward.”
She watches her go, and then smiles at Gina as she offers a movie and cookies she hid from the boys – the smile of a happy teenager offered something fantastic. “Sounds perfect. Come on then.”
She takes the check, and goes up to the register to pay, then, once Gina joins her, she smiles and leads the Pikey home.
[Joss Lehrer] (thassawrap!)