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* Angel, for all the world, looks like the world's worst bodyguard, sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on the desk, his wide-brimmed hat tipped over his face as though he were sleeping. * Jewel pauses in inventorying her latest acquisitions to glance over at him with a bit of a fond smile. {Hoping to deceive by appearances, are we?} <Angel> ::coughs:: No. Too much of that damn homebrew that Ink brought by last night. The light is killing my head. <Jewel> ::with a touch of concern:: Does the eye hurt? <Angel> ::tilts his hat back a little:: I should either drink less. Or more often. <Bienca> ::walking in, her hair done unusually - one long braid down her back:: I vote for more often, Angel. There's some.. ahem. Business you should look into. A brewer by the name of Jangles wants sponsorship into the guild. I told him I'd pass it along, so here I am, passing it along. <Jewel> ::grins:: I'm with Bie. Can't have a bodyguard that's prone to topple over from a bit of tipple. Afternoon, Bie. Is his brew any good? <Angel> ::takes his hat all the way off his face and places it on his head:: Would you be so kind, then, to look after my lady? While I attend to this ... ahem. Business? <Jewel> ::grins wider:: That's what I like about him. Takes his mark's suggestions to heart right away. <Bienca> ::shrugs:: Pretty good, actually. He cuts his ale with fruit, so there's a really interesting taste going on there. And the rum is to die for. And that's not quite a figure of speech. Potent. Almost as strong as that ... oh, remember that flaky woman who you used to hang about with? Lisa? <Angel> ::flatly:: Lisl. * Jewel's eyes widen slightly. "Lisl? Like what she drinks?" <Bienca> ::laughs and takes Angel's seat:: Yes, her. Like that paint thinner that she drank. Only this tastes better. Easier on the sinuses. <Jewel> ::raises her eyebrows and looks over at Angel:: Easy on the rum, then. <Angel> ::tips his hat to Jewel:: Your word, my lady, is the same as a command. I will go add to our slowly growing family... and perhaps get dinner on the way home. Is there something you've a fancy for? <Jewel> ::bites her lip, looking faintly embarrassed, and glances at Bie:: {You know that fish place near where Dawn and Dusk's used to be? Are they still in business?} <Angel> {I can check.} I shall see what I can find. If you close up before I return, I'll see you at home, my lady. Bienca. ::he gives Bie a stern look:: Keep an eye out. * Bienca snorts. "Better than you were, just now. Go on. We ladies can handle it." <Jewel> ::nods and winks:: {Love you, husband.} <Angel> ::gives Jewel a quick smile:: {I know.} ::he leaves:: * Bienca stretches with great exaggeration. "I thought he'd never leave. How do you find time to go to the privy, with him stuck to your hip like that?" * Jewel smiles and shrugs a little. "It's a gift. Although... it's just not fair. The man *still* curls my toes." <Bienca> ::sighs:: Must be nice. * Jewel nods again, still smiling faintly. <Jewel> Although... I don't know how regular people do it. Have bodyguards all the time, I mean. Perhaps they're just better at pretending they're not there. <Bienca> ::nods:: I guess it can be pretty tough, but being dead is tougher. <Jewel> ::looking subdued:: Point. ::cocks her head at Bie, and smiles again:: So... why else are you here? <Bienca> ::starts slightly:: That obvious, am I? I'll have to work on that, I guess. <Jewel> ::smiles wider:: I'm a mindreader, remember? Seriously, though, I didn't peek. You just seemed a little anxious to see Angel leave. <Bienca> ::swallows:: I... wanted to talk to you, actually. You're pretty good at keeping secrets, even with the ::she makes a vague not quite magical gesture with one hand:: going on. <Jewel> ::raises her eyebrows a little:: If anything, that's what makes me *less* of a blabbermouth. What's up? ::she folds up the velvet cloth holding her latest appraised pieces, wraps a cord around it, and sets it beneath the counter for later:: <Bienca> ::takes a deep breath:: Would you... ever do something that you didn't think Angel would like - at all - if it was what you wanted? <Jewel> ::both eyebrows go up to her hairline, and she settles back on her stool to consider it:: I think... there are a lot of "depends" attached to something like that. Depends what sort of thing, why he wouldn't like it, why and how badly I wanted it... that sort of thing. <Bienca> ::sighs:: Probably not speaking to you again. For a long time. Well, not that he can... but that doesn't matter, I guess. He won't care much. But Dawn will... oh, he's going to be furious. * Jewel cocks her head, puzzled, and leans both elbows on the counter. "Maybe you should back up a little?" <Bienca> ::buries her face in her hands:: I told myself I was going to tell you, but it's harder than I thought. <Jewel> Bie... ::with a worried frown, she slips off her stool and comes around the counter to stroke the taller woman's braid lightly:: This isn't a question about me, is it? What's wrong? I promise, it doesn't go beyond this room. <Bienca> ::wipes her eyes:: No, it isn't... it's not even really the same. I mean, you know how he feels - everyone does. That makes a big difference. <Jewel> You mean... I know how Angel feels? <Bienca> ::nods:: <Jewel> ::nods agreement:: For the most part, yes. ::smiling a little:: When it comes to emotions, Angel is very, very honest. <Jewel> ::softly:: But it's not Angel's reaction you're concerned about, is it? <Bienca> ::shakes her head:: Angel... he'd just tell me to stay off the rooftops for a while. He doesn't mind things like that, you know. He could be Nip's da. Probably isn't, but anything's possible. <Jewel> ::thinks a bit, still stroking Bienca's hair absently:: Bie... are you... in a family way again? * Bienca nods, then suddenly bursts into tears, shuddering. <Jewel> Oh! Don't cry, we'll figure something out, really! ::fishes a clean hanky out of her bodice and offers it to her, wrapping her arms around her, disturbed more than she expected to be to see such a usually confident woman break down like this:: <Bienca> ::her voice cracking:: It would be different... if it *weren't*... but I haven't... shouldn't have let it... I didn't *mean* to! <Jewel> You didn't want to get pregnant? Bie, how far along are you? If it's not to late, there's a woman I know, there are herbs... <Jewel> That is... ::bites her lip:: Do you want to have the child? <Bienca> ::sniffles:: No. ::she looks up at Jewel, almost defiantly:: I want this baby. It's... all of hi.. all of them I can have. <Jewel> ::arching an eyebrow:: It sounds like you know whose it is? Or at least... have it narrowed down? <Jewel> Is that why you're worried about it? You're worried what the father will want? <Bienca> ::uses Jewel's hanky to do a more thorough job on her face:: It's either one or the other of them's. Can't be anyone else's. I haven't been - well, I don't do that sort of work anymore. <Bienca> ::she laughs suddenly:: I never thought I'd be sorry about *that.* <Jewel> ::a little shocked:: No! I mean-- well, I wasn't implying... but it's your own choice, who you sleep with, and I didn't know if there were... well, others. ::cheeks pinking, as she clears her throat:: So. Dawn or Dusk, then? <Bienca> ::nods:: They don't... well, they don't sleep apart much. I accommodate them. ::she flicks her eyes at Jewel briefly:: * Jewel nods, and steps down quite firmly on her curiosity. "So... you're worried at how they'll... take the news? Do they know, either of them?" <Bienca> ::pulls one leg up onto the chair and wrapping her arms around her calf:: I'm not worried. Worry implies some doubt. I don't have any. Dawn's going to hit the fucking roof. <Jewel> ::moves back, hopping up on the edge of her counter and idly swinging her heels:: Why? He seems pretty laid-back about the rumor that he could be Nip's dad. Or is that because it can't be true? ::bites her lip:: I'm not trying to pry, Bie, I'm just trying to feel my way through this. <Bienca> ::snorts:: It can't possibly be true. I didn't even meet them until Nip was three. Or four, maybe. <Jewel> ::grins:: Well, Dusk's sneaky enough that... naaah. But... Dawn cares about kids. I *know* there's more to grabbing those kids for the temple than Iselyn's "fees." <Bienca> ::peers at her:: Do you know about Dawn? I mean, where he came from? <Jewel> I know he was... sunshine. Before he was Guild. <Jewel> I... Snowman explained a little. I didn't really want to pry. <Bienca> ::her voice faintly pained:: He has nightmares, you know. All the time - even now. Several times a month. He tries to hide it, but Dusk and I both know. When the dreams are particularly bad, he goes out and finds some new sunshiner and puts a crimp in his lifestyle. Permanently, if he can. <Jewel> He never... ::frowns, chewing her lip:: I know this isn't the sort of thing that's really, er, "done" in the Guild, but... he hasn't ever really... talked to anyone about it, has he? <Bienca> ::shrugs:: Just Dusk. And me, sometimes, if the dreams are bad... he thinks it makes him weak... and being weak... well, no one wants to be a sheep. Not here, with the wolves, you know. <Jewel> ::pressing her lips together, eyes narrowing a little:: Believe me, I know. But covering over a wound doesn't mean you don't have one. <Bienca> ::shakes her head:: Men. <Jewel> ::snorts:: Well, *yes.* But if he still... ::shakes her head slowly:: Gods... that means he's still... he's still living there. <Bienca> He does what he does - with the children - because it's the only balm for him. But he's not... well, he's not the family type. And if I hadn't been so *stupid*... ::she sighs:: <Jewel> ::clucks her tongue:: No fetching back salt spilled in the ocean, as Ma always said. It's done, accidents happen. And that sort of thing *does* happen when you do that sort of thing. ::she winks:: <Bienca> ::nods:: That much, I know. No herb tea is foolproof. But that's not what I meant, exactly. I broke the silent law. I don't suppose Angel ever told you about that, did he? He wouldn't have, I suspect. <Jewel> ::frowns, puzzled:: Silent law? <Bienca> Don't fall in love. <Jewel> ...oh. ::blushes faintly again:: No, but then... I think we shattered that one pretty quickly. Even *before* we had sex. <Bienca> It's stupid, isn't it? It's not like we're not capable of it, but everyone likes to pretend that we don't. Because it makes you weak. It doesn't, exactly. It makes you *vulnerable*. Look what happened to Snowman - to his wife - because his enemies knew how to hurt him most. <Jewel> ::softly:: Look what happened to Mace... because he wanted to be with me. To keep me safe. <Jewel> ::cocking her head at Bie:: *And* all of *you* safe. <Bienca> I pity the man who thinks Angel is weak. ::she shrugs:: But it doesn't change things, does it. I am. And he's not. <Jewel> Are you... sure he's not? I mean... I could see him not *admitting* it, but... are you sure he's not? <Bienca> ::flatly:: Dawn loves Dusk. It's not that sort of love, but it's so all-encompassing, I can only barely *touch* it. <Jewel> ::nods, her mouth twisting wryly:: Aye... but... ::frowns a little:: You said, too, you weren't sure... which? I mean... I'd say I can tell whose you *want* it to be, but...? <Jewel> OH. ::suddenly sits up strait, staring very hard at the floor:: <Bienca> ::blinks:: What? <Jewel> ::shakes her head quickly:: Nothing... or... well, yes, something, but... something else I'd been wondering about just made sense. ::waves her hand:: Aside from... all this. Never mind. Ignore it. What I meant to ask, though... do you feel the same about Dusk? Do you know how *he* might react? <Bienca> Dusk? He's... well, he's Dusk. He won't... well, he won't *care*. He won't be mad or anything. He's just. Distant. <Jewel> ::snorts:: It involves both of them, and you think he won't care? <Bienca> ::shrugs:: It's my problem - he'll think that, at any rate. He certainly won't take any interest in the child. It probably won't be easy to tell. If I was... well, I'm dark, so any darkness on the child's part will be expected. <Jewel> But he'll care about how Dawn feels about it, I'd expect. <Bienca> ::sighs glumly:: You're probably right. <Jewel> ::forehead creasing:: Hells, I'm sorry, Bie. I didn't mean to give you *more* to worry about. But, well... there *are* two of them. <Bienca> ::quietly:: It'd be wrong to hate him, for it. But sometimes I do. <Jewel> ::sighs:: The heart does as it wills. But... ::chews her lip:: ...maybe it... sort of gives you an ally? <Bienca> I don't know. It seems like everything was so much simpler a month ago. <Jewel> Heh. Love does like to throw a wrench in things, doesn't she? ::pulls a lock of hair forward and nibbles it meditatively:: Bie... what is it that you want? I mean, what do you *really* want out of this? Do you... want to settle down? With a family man, I mean? * Bienca stares incredulously at Jewel for a long moment, then laughs. <Bienca> Well, not like *that*, anyway... being a thief is too much fun - and much too profitable - to give up for the white picket fence, you know. <Jewel> ::smiles a little, and nods:: So. No retirement... no... family man? Do you want your kid to have a father? <Bienca> ::sighs, then nods:: More than Nip does, on any road. Nip's a street kid, and that's not so bad, but something more would be... nice. <Jewel> So... you want the baby, you want a husband... or at least someone who will be there for the kid. ::chews on her hair again:: Hm. ::breathes out a sigh and slumps a little:: Now all we need is a fairy godmother. <Bienca> May as well wish for the moon in the net. <Jewel> Well... figuring out what your expectations are is a start, at least. The picket fence would have been... a little harder, I admit. <Jewel> ::runs a hand through her hair:: You didn't answer my other question, before... do they know? Either of them? <Jewel> Or at least... did you tell them? <Bienca> ::shakes her head:: Are you kidding me? No, I haven't told them. <Jewel> Well... ::takes a deep breath:: my advice would be to tell Dusk. Maybe not Dawn, right away, although... gods, you're right, he's not going to react well to any of this, so why should keeping an extra secret make things worse? Dusk might be able... might be willing to help you. You never know. ::laughs nervously:: At the worst, *he* might tell Dawn, and then at least you'll have time to cover your ears. <Bienca> ::takes a deep breath:: In a few weeks, maybe. Anything could happen. Not much point upsetting the applecart, if I just... well, you know. <Jewel> If it... doesn't happen? <Jewel> Have you... done that before? <Bienca> ::nods slowly:: A while back. When I was still .. working. <Jewel> Well, that sort of thing can cause damage, I've heard. And the herbs can... affect things. Have you taken any since? Or... when did you have Nip, after you stopped working? <Bienca> I wasn't working then - not full time, at least. Mace came in and... well, he got most of the girls off the streets and into houses. Nip was born after that. <Jewel> ::nods:: So, at least you know you can carry to term, right? ::takes a deep breath, and a quick swipe at her eye with the edge of her sleeve:: <Bienca> ::peers at Jewel suddenly:: Is there... something you're not mentioning? <Jewel> No... well... ::looks wry:: It's just... a topic I've been a little... jittery about, lately. I had... kind of a false alarm myself, lately, and it's... well, it's certainly not like it's from lack of trying. ::grins weakly:: <Bienca> ::shakes her head:: Trade you. Angel would be ... well, I don't know exactly what he'd be, but he wouldn't put your stuff on the doorstep. <Jewel> I know. Hells, I wouldn't even be trying if I didn't think he wanted it, too, but... ::shakes head:: unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. <Bienca> May as well wish for the moon in the net... ::she repeats, looking somewhat wistful:: <Jewel> Heh. Oh! ::puts a hand to her mouth:: Stupid me. I forgot about something in all this mess! Just a moment... ::hops off the counter and moves around behind it again, rummaging beneath it:: <Bienca> ::raises an eyebrow:: <Jewel> Hmm... no... no, that won't... oh, nice, but not quite appropriate... Aha! I knew I'd seen something. Here we go. ::she emerges from behind the counter again carrying a small, somewhat shopworn fabric-covered box:: <Bienca> ::rolls her eyes towards the sky and says something quick and under her breath in her native tongue:: * Jewel gently sets the box in Bie's open hands, and goes on tiptoe to embrace her and give her a light kiss on each cheek, drawing back to regard her with a warm smile. "You're having a baby. Congratulations! Go ahead, open it." <Bienca> You... ::looks at a loss for words:: Thank you. ::she opens the box:: <Jewel> ::As Bie flips the lid back, there's a faint click and a whirr. A circular panel on the face lights up brightly from beneath, illuminating a moving ring of silhouetted dancers and throwing their shadows onto the ceiling. Within, a music box tinkles out a sprightly dance tune:: <Jewel> ::smiles ironically:: Damn near gave the thief who lifted it a heart attack. He was glad to be rid of the thing. <Bienca> ::laughs:: Thank you, dear. <Jewel> You're most welcome. ::smiles:: Someone had used it as a night light for their child, a long time ago. It's what made me think that you should have it. <Bienca> ::touches Jewel's wrist lightly:: Thanks. For more than just the gift. You know, I wasn't sure about you, when Angel first brought you around - I was worried for him and you didn't really fit it. Although I never saw someone so determined to try. <Bienca> But I'm glad you're here. It's nice for someone to remind us all, once in a while, that we're all human. |
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