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*