Ita McNairee: *the little pikey woman is pacing about the kitchen, baby boy in her arms, her dogs taking up all the space under the kitchen table. on top of the tale rocks a babyseat, tori shaking a yellow teether ring like it was for justice. Ita hums softly to herself*

Ita McNairee: *a smeck as her lips press to the sleeping boys cheek. thank god he'd finally stopped wailing. she smiles down at him, a small smile, the scottish woman a little less boistrous lately, things heavy on her mind. she moves towards the stove, peeking at the potatoes. bedrest. pah.* Och.. soon they'll be ready aye loves? *she looks to tori, who shakes at her*

Ita McNairee: *she sighs to herself, opening the fridge door with her free hand and looking to the crisper for carrots. of course they'd have carrots. Micah lived on rabbit food. she pushes a bell pepper out of the way, then bites her lip, face crumpling as she freezes*

Ita McNairee: *a hard swallow, eyes misting up as she leans against the door with a heavy breath. she slowly moves back into action, fetching the carrots with a bowed head and moving to sit at the kitchen table, a sniff as she shoves the dog out of her way with a moccassined foot and a jingle*

Ita McNairee: *the carrots are peeled a little awkwardly, as she has one and a half hands while holding the baby, job in silence, but for the tinkle of her bangles and the shaking of tori's teething ring. Archie squinches his face and makes a noise that sounds for all intents and purposes like glip*

Claudius: There is a knock at the back door, soft but audible.

Claudius: ((Gaah...so not used to not playing him as with NPC colors. :P))

Ita McNairee: *sad brown eyes shift to her son, and she smiles softly, dipping her head to tickle his pink face with her hair, far longer now than it had been in the last 13 years. archie makes a sour face and twitches in response, eyes squinting with no clarity. a throaty chuckle* och.. wha's tha ye wee blighter.. ye dinnae like bein disturbed when yer 'aven a kip than? well.. reckon yer jes reapen wha ye soow the noow, keepen aul oos oop aul necht... *she looks up as their is a knock on the back door, cocking her head. she'd thought blis had finally gone home.. a slight frown as she struggles to her feet, dumping the carrots off in a pot of water before detouring to the door, adult dogs already barking in response*

Claudius: He stands at the door, in his usual, Obfuscated form. The former Prince of the Camarilla smiles warmly as Ita opens the door, bowing his head to her. "Good evening, my dear."

Ita McNairee: Brutis shhhh.. *she asks while already unlocking the door. all wariness and tactics this one, she opens the door and gives a squawk of pleasure upon seeing who it is* Och.. allo darlin! *she steps out of the doorway to let him in* Ah didnae kain ye were coomen taenecht..

Claudius: He steps inside. "I apologize for not notifying you...I do not know how safe that is. How are you?"

Ita McNairee: *she slips an arm around him in a hug, smiling up at him with an impressive shrug, brown eyes on his as she lullabies* been busy.. a wee bet sad.. boot look darlin.. *she looks down to her son, then back up* ets archibald. *tori meanwhile is shaking the HELL out of her teether.*

Claudius: He looks down at the two children, smiling gently to them. "They are adorable, both of them, Ita." His eyes cast back up to him, joy shining toward her. "You must be both ecstatic and exhausted."

Ita McNairee: och aye.. bet o both ah reckon.. coome .. take a set.. *the dogs seem contented that its claudius, though they do move further under the table. Ita hugs him again quietly, then moves to get tori off the table* .. dae ye like wee wans love? ah never thought tae ask..

Claudius: He comes and takes a seen on the couch, relaxing a little. "I adore children, Ita. I have difficulty relating, for obvious reasons, but I quite like them, yes."

Ita McNairee: Och.. good loves. *Ita turns the food down before plodding to the livingroom to sit on the couch with claud, tori set on the coffee table as she gurgles happily, her chair given a rock to amuse her, the pikey sighs and sits gingerly, smiling affectionately to the vampire* cause reckon yer grandpa. *a chuckle as she looks to tori* ye've nae met tha lass.. ave ye? thes es wee Tori.

Claudius: He smiles to the little girl, leaning over slightly to better show his wamrth to her. "Hello, Tori."

Ita McNairee: *pudgy baby arms wave as he gets closer, teether shook. Ita smiles and rubs claud's shoulder. she'd missed him. she prods him with her head, smiling* messed ye.

Claudius: "I missed you too, my dear." He smiles to her, a mildly cold hand reaching out to rest on her forearm. "I have been worried about you."

Ita McNairee: aye.. *she nods and gives a frown, crawling on the man, archie included, to sit on his boney lap, she leans back and sighs* och.. bollox cammarella.

Claudius: "Yes." He frowns, deeply. "Ita...I have something I need to tell you. I did not want to tell you this over the phone. It is not bad, it is merely...unfortunate. No one is hurt over this, yet."

Ita McNairee: *she shifts ger body with a wince, looking up at him as she settles into his shoulder. a look of concern on the pretty pikey's face as she sings* .. wha's tha trouble darlin...?

Claudius: "Ita...the person who betrayed you to the new Prince and the Camarilla...it was someone that you know quite well." He sighs, his hand still on her forearm, comforting.

Ita McNairee: *she frowns, looking to her lap. someone she knew betrayed her to the cammarilla. she tilts her head back up* .. boot loves.. cassie doesnae kain. an ah've nae tauld alec. och... *she seems to get it, eyes narrowing angrily* Tyrone. *she looks up* et was Tyrone, was nae et? ee'd figured et oot.. tha bastard.

Ita McNairee: ah should o thrown tha damned rock a mite harder.. *she feigns spitting over her shoulder, lips curled back unpleasantly*

Claudius: "No, love. It wasn't Tyrone, or Mr. Golden, who seems to have left the city...though the Seraphim's Tears remain in operation." He looks deeply sad to be telling her this. "It was Gunther, my dear."

Ita McNairee: *her brown furrows* Gunther? .. nae darlin.. gunther wouldnae. tha'd be tyrone's hand en thengs.. *she looks sure of it, trying to make the old nosferatu understand* Gunther wouldnae o.

Claudius: "I heard him tell Heinrich, in my presence, the instant after I was deposed from the Princehood."

Ita McNairee: *she looks at claud a long moment.. eyes searching beneath the obfuscated mask, as if he's maybe hiding the truth under there.. then she makes a high noise in her throat and blinks back tears. a feeble shake of her head as she manages thickly*.. nae..could stell be tyrone's doin.. could o... made hem.. ee's a bad man..

Claudius: He nods. "It could be. However, whichever the reason, Gunther is no longer your ally, I am afraid. Something I am taking steps to correct...but these steps are slow, and will take me time. He will betray your location to the Prince if he can, right now, my dear."

Claudius: "And worse, he will do so to the Archon. And Kenneth seems to have decided to investigate the matter, no matter what I arranged with Heinrich. Quite possibly, at Heinrich's permission. The Toreador is a fool."

Ita McNairee: nae.. *she shakes her head* nae loves...ah'll jes talk tae hem.. ah'll.. jes.. ee wouldnae. .. *no. tears streaming down her face, she swallows and curls into the nossie, baby tucked protectively to her breast. too much within too short a time. danger lonliness birth death and now betrayl? no... sometimes even a pikey breaks, sobs starting violently in her chest*

Claudius: He sighs, sadness showing in his face, as she breaks down. He moves to kneel in front of the woman, hands on her arms, looking up into her face. "Ita...I am sorry. But realize that this is not the end. You must trust me on how to handle this."

Claudius: d10: Cha+Empathy (WP): 9,6,4,8,1,5,

Ita McNairee: *a choked noise as she draws her knees up, tucking the baby closer and trying not to rock him too much with her violent sobbing. she just shakes her head, hard to tell if she's even absorbing anything as she curls up tightly into a ball*

Ita McNairee: d10: willpower: 2,1,2,6,2,2,1,

Ita McNairee: (*laughs*) *the pikey wimps. she trusts claud. he'd make the gunther bit better. she's sure of it. but it doesn't do much for the sting of it on top of everything else*

Claudius: ((Why can't Aerin do shit that well? *Flails*))

Ita McNairee: ((*giggles* .. i dunno.. might he be pikey whipped?))

Claudius: "My dear..." He leans forward, watching her. "You must not make contact with Gunther, under any circumstances. For the safety of you, your young man, and your children. Give me time, and I will resolve this. All right?"

Ita McNairee: *she raises her head and looks at him, face tearstained and haggard.*... ah dinnae hate em. ee'll thenk ah hate em. *suddenly her eyes grow wide, face paling in horror*

Claudius: "What is it, my dear?" His face frowns in concern.

Ita McNairee: *she stares at the wall behind claud a long moment, frozen, it was a hate crime.. and gunther hated her.. had betrayed her.... oh Micah.. a choked sob as she stares.. then shifts sorrowful brown eyes to claud's face, tears rolling down her cheeks*... ah have.. tae speak tae gunther.

Ita McNairee: *a nod, that gains in strength as she makes to stand*

Claudius: "Ita...you understand that speaking with him could put the life of you and everything you hold dear at risk, right?" He sighs, deeply. "I can have you contact him by telephone. But under no circumstances whatsoever will I allow you to speak to him in anything approaching in person."

Claudius: Stand up? Now, she's not. His hands remain on her arms, gently stopping her from standing. "Ita, you will stay where you are and take care of your children. And you will speak with him over the phone."

Ita McNairee: *she nods, having to sit with little force, as the babies in one arm. she looks to claud*..loves.. ah jes 'ave tae eer hem say ee didnae dae et.

Claudius: "Didn't do what, my dear?" He frowns, cocking his head...he's made it quite clear the man did give out Ita's name.

Ita McNairee: didnae kell.. micah. *her voice drops soft. aerin had said he didn't think so. but.. aerin didn't know this. and rightn ow, ita can't decide whethere she thinks thats a good thing or not.. she looks to archie, face srumpling and lips drawn tight as she tries not to cry again. he was never going to see micah. it .. gunther couldn't hate her so much.. could he? why? she looks to claud* Why? claud.. why? dae ye kain why?

Claudius: A shadow passes over his face. "You may contact Gunther to ask him, my dear. Under no circumstances should you use anything but a portable phone, and under no circumstances whatsoever should you let him know that you've left the city, or most importantly, where you are. Do you understand?" He sighs out old, dead air. "I do not know why...but whatever the reason, he is under the scrutiny of the Archons now. They will not harm him...however, even if he regrets what he did, he will be obligated to listen to them and obey. One does not defy an archon, especially if one is a ghoul."

Ita McNairee: bollox.. *she mutters. she defied the archons just fine. a hand scrubs her face, tugging at clauds arm* ets aulrecht.. ah'm safe.. an effen tha archons wanned me.. couldnae they jes call? like when ah was aul banjanxed wie tha technobug en me brain? *a sniff, she nibbles her lip, voice without the usual warmth and spice to it*

Claudius: "Something I am taking steps to avoid. I must assure you that until I am positive of this, you are not safe, Ita. Kenneth will not hesitate in eliminating you and your family. I am sorry to say it this way, but it is true. For now, please, allow an old man the comfort of knowing that the woman he looks at as a daughter is being exceptionally safe with herself and her loved ones." He smiles a little to her, comfort and support in his face.

Ita McNairee: *she nods and darts a hand out with a jingle, grabbing the nosferatu's sleeve and tugging him towards her, should the old vampire allow it*

Claudius: He allows himslf to be tugged, moving close to her and putting his arms gently around her.

Ita McNairee: *she makes a mrrooowl noise in her throat and hugs the dead man tightly as she can with one arm, mumbling into his chest* thank ye.. *a deep breath as she slumps into him* thank ye loves... ah'll be carefy. an ah'll stay put..

Claudius: "You're welcome, Ita," he says with a little nod. "I will make this all right, if I possible can. I promise you."

Ita McNairee: och.. dinnae forget aboot ye.. *she nuzzles into the nossie's shoulder, archie making a noise as he's cupped to the cushion of her breasts* ye be carefy tae.. yer family tae damnet.. *a deep breath as tori's sudden "i'm going to cry" noises draw her away from claudius*

Claudius: "I will remain safe, myself." He nods and draws away, allowing Ita to take care of the infant girl.

Ita McNairee: och.. *another jingling swipe at tears, an exhausted looking pikey moves to gather the baby.. but with archie in her other arm.. its somewhat difficult. she looks to claud, and tries for a smile as she requests with a gesture that he take the sleepy litle boy, so she might get the squalling girl*

Claudius: He looks at Archibald for a moment, and then hods. he reaches out and takes the boy into his arms, moving with an easy, natural gentleness.

Ita McNairee: *another attempt at a smile, abit of releif as she curls tori into her arms and sighs heavily* ... och.. aulways trouble. *she whispers to noone in particular, before looking back up to claud with the little boy, who fidgets in his sleep, uneasy*

Claudius: He smiles a little bit at her statement, though he's not sure quite who she's saying it in reference to. He sits back on the couch and holds Archer...not perfectly, but certainly in a wat that is at least knowledgable, and definately gentle and caring. He looks up to Ita, sighing a little. "I am sorry the last few weeks have been difficult on you, Ita. I would have you happy and peaceful, without such stresses, if I possibly could."

Ita McNairee: *she tries again for a smile, managing this time as she sighs once more, reaching over to move his hand just a little, for better support on the baby's neck. she arranges herself so she can melt into his side, head resting on his shoulder* hm, och loves.. ets aulrecht. reckon et'll pass.. *she nods, convincing herself* aye.. et'll gie fexed oop.. jes fer a wee bet.. aye? ah love ye awfi. missed ye tae.

Claudius: "I love and have missed you as well, Ita." He lets the woman place his hand as she feels best, and then smiles to her, letting her clean against him. "This will be resolved, of course. We will find a way. And enough thinking of that for now, hmmm?"

Ita McNairee: aulrecht. *she nods, giving the man's shoulder a nip for old times sake. a grin mustered over the weariness* ye been painten?.. reckon ye''ve moore time noow.. aye?

Claudius: "I have been painting some, yes." He nods a little bit. "Though I'm afraid I have been having difficulty with my work. It is...just not coming right, I am at...what is it they say? I creative block."

Ita McNairee: *she rocks tori gently, soothing* och nae.. *she frowns in dissapointment, then shrugs up to him* och. ye'll gie past et doves. yer clever. *a reasurring head bump, and a sigh as she looks to archie, a tender smile spreading across her features*

Claudius: "I know I shall." He looks down to Archibald, following her gaze to him, a little smile. "I'd forgotten how small infants can be," he remarks softly.

Ita McNairee: och.. *a grin to the old vampire* wesh ee'd been a mite smaller. they ad tae cut tha blighter oot o me damn gullert.

Claudius: He blinks to that...obviously, C-sections are a bizarre sort of concept to him. "They cut him out?"

Ita McNairee: aye darlin.. ee wouldna fet through tha proper passage.. look o hem.. ee's near as beg as wee tori an archibalds nae a week auld.. *she sings quietly, stroking the boys head with her fingertips before kissing tori's head. she looks to him* jes cut hem oot me belly's aul. gave me a needle o pain killer tae tha spine, tha numbed et recht oop.. nae woories doves. ah'm proper agawn.

Claudius: A little nod, as realization hits. "Ahh, of course...I see." Sudden reminder of how much has changed since he was worrying about children. He smiles a bit and looks between the babies, then up to Ita. "I'm happy for you," he says with a soft smile. "You deserve this."

Ita McNairee: *she leans forward and kisses the man's cheek, touching his face affectionately* an reckon ye deserve tae be 'appy tae darlin.

Claudius: "My happiness is found in the joy of others, these days, Ita. And the well-being of the city I call home." He leans a little to accept the kiss.

Ita McNairee: aye darlin.. then ah'm glad yer 'appy. ah'll help wie wha ah can.. *another kiss and a nuzzle of a hawked nose, then she sticks a finger in his ear, observing suddenly* ah'm sae glad ye dinnae 'ave maggots darlin.

Claudius: He chuckles a little bit. "As am I, my dear. As am I."

Ita McNairee: *finger removed, she relaxes against him, cradling tori as he holds archibald, troubles pushed away for a moment as she just enjoys the old nosferatu's company*