characters: Taryn, Maigyn, Chavaleh
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Room Two (Rising Sun) Taryn is sitting in the corner of the room, knees drawn to her chest. Or at least as much as possible while remaining comfortable. Head is resting on the girl's knee, her hair creating a dark curtain around her form. Left hand is propped against the other knee, a portion of her already crimson shirt wrapped tightly around palm and fingers, damp with blood. Whatever caused the injury has been stashed or simply undamaged. Taryn's trembling heavily, back shaking with silent sobs. Chavaleh shoves the door open all the way, pulling herself up lightly on her toes in case she needs to run and get something. "Is she okay?" Maigyn moves quickly, without seeming to rush, kneeling beside Taryn and reaching out to take the girl's hand. "Let me see that..." Taryn lifts her head, revealing a tear streaked face. "'m sorry .." She winces as she recognizes the other woman, shifting her arm slightly closer to Nox. Maigyn nods, unwrapping the improvised bandage as she speaks. "Go downstairs. Ask Angel for the oaken box." Chavaleh nods shortly and snaps into a pivot, darting down the stairs. Chavaleh exits through the open Hallway. Maigyn [to Taryn]: What happened? Taryn closes her eyes, rubbing cheeks against the dark fabric of her shirt as she speaks, "'Tried t' get up .. fell." Enough said. Maigyn nods, easing the last of the wrappings off, examining the wound. What does she see? Not deep enough to create any real problems, but certainly bad enough to make a mess. And leave a bit of a scar. The cut runs from the just above the girl's thumb to between middle and ring fingers. It's jagged, as though the skin caught on something and pulled. Typical of a fall. [Taryn] Maigyn studies the cut, prodding at it gently. "Nice job..." she muses. Chavaleh arrives through the open door to Room Two. Chavaleh bolts through the door, an oaken box on her head. Kicking the door closed with her heel, she dives for the floor near Taryn and Maig, her arms already out and offering the thing. Maigyn glances up, reaching for the box with her free hand. "Did she give you anything else?" She sets it easily down. Chavaleh blinks confusedly for a moment, then nods emphatically, drawing a bottle of vodka from the crook of her arm and handing it directly.. and reluctantly.. to Nox. Maigyn nods, opening the bottle. "This is going to hurt," she says to Taryn. "Brace yourself." Taryn tenses, obeying the woman's words as she presses herself against the wall and clenches her good hand. She's not going to say anything about the Vodka. Not like it'd help anything. Maigyn pulls the sheet off of Chavaleh's bed, dropping it under Taryn's hand. Without another word, she tilts the bottle of vodka, pouring a steady flow over the cut and lifting up a spare corner of the sheet to help in her cleaning. Taryn swears loudly, everything but her hand jerking back. She's got some control, at least. Tears are freely flowing now as she 'claws' at the wooden flooring with her free hand, doing all she can not to pull away entirely. Maigyn is gentle, but efficient. Half the small bottle of vodka is soaking into the sheet, mixed with blood, before she's satisfied. "Deep breaths. It'll stop stinging in a minute." As predicted, the fiery burn ceases after a few moments, leaving Taryn gasping for breath between raking sobs. She's been crying a lot lately, it seems. The shirt, after obvious tampering, has been misplaced to leave much of her chest, and stomach bare. The 'bandage' was obviously taken from the lower portion of the front, snapping the laces in the process. "Gods, stop .." She manages, eyes closing on further tears. [Taryn] Maigyn reaches over to the box, flipping the latch and the lid up in one motion, revealing rows of small bottles and phials, different colours and shapes, their contents varying from brilliant elixirs to colourless or iridescent gels. She takes out a small one. "This, however, won't hurt." Taryn's hand is outright shaking by now, making any treatment a bit .. difficult. "Why don' ah b'lieve y'?" She hisses, accent decidedly worse. Maigyn tilts the vial. "It can't hurt -worse-" she says, logically enough. Her grip tightens slightly, holding Taryn's hand a bit steadier. "So maybe the hope that it'll make it feel better is worth it." Taryn closes her eyes tightly, and braces herself anyway, "Jus' do i'.." She whispers. Maigyn tilts the vial a little further, applying a layer of its contents. It's some kind of thick liquid, seeming to cool the burn and soothe - maybe even numbing it a bit. "There." Taryn relaxes slightly, which means more crying. "Gods, I'm sorry .." She's apologizing again, though she doesn't seem inclined to explain /what/ it is she's sorry about. Ah well. It's a nice change from her cocky arrogant streak. Her hand goes slack, finger bending slightly, despite any pain it might cause. She's either passing out, or it really did numb it. Maigyn takes out a strip of white linen and binds the cut carefully. You say, "See?" Taryn winces, biting her lip in an effort to calm herself, "Aye .. damn .. thanks.." Maigyn nods. "I know...the alcohol hurts like a bitch. But I don't know any better way to clean it." Taryn forces herself to look up, dark eyes clouded with tears. At the mention of alcohol, she sighs, "Jus' get it out of 'ere. This is 'ard 'nough.." The bottle has already disappeared, Maigyn's nimble hands having stowed it sometime when Taryn wasn't looking. "Already gone." [Maigyn] Taryn nods slightly, swallowing hard. She's under control again, if breathing a bit hard, "Thanks.." Chavaleh, who had been silently watching for some time, scooches ever-closer to Taryn and Maig. "What happened, ma'am?" Taryn glances up at Chava, struggling to focus on the girl, "Fell." Simple enough. Chavaleh cants her head to the side and shakes it in disbelief. "You cut your hand that badly by falling?" You say, "Looks like she caught it on a corner or something." Taryn forces a laugh, ending up in a cough that forces the girl to lean forward and struggle to catch her breath. . o O (This /better/ be worth it.) At Nox's words, Taryn nods, content to remain silent. Chavaleh wrinkles her nose and falls back on her heels, her gaze falling to her bloodied sheets. Sighing, she turns to Maig. "Nox, where do I take the sheet?" You say, "There's a basket of laundry down in the back room." Taryn murmurs another apology, watching Chava closely. Or at least as closely as she can. The girl keeps .. moving. Chavaleh nods and snatches up the sheet, carefully keeping the blood away from her dress. Already had it cleaned -once- recently.. and then darts out the door. Maigyn studies Taryn carefully. "You're not going anywhere." Chavaleh trots back in the door a few moments later, wiping her hands on the sides of her dress. Taryn forces her attention to Nox, even as Chava returns. No fast movements. "I dou' I coul'.." She winces heavily, leaning forward as pain washes over her. It gives some relief. Chavaleh, having caught the conversation as she came in, nods emphatically to Maig. "I was going to offer her my room, anyway. I'll find somewhere else to stay for a while." Maigyn speaks without turning. "Chava, you can have room One. Taryn...where does it hurt?" Taryn hisses, "Feels like damn cramps.." Her good hand is clenched in pain, nails digging into the soft flesh of her palm as she waits it out. Maigyn mutters. "Shit." She reaches down, taking Taryn's arm. "Coming in waves?" Chavaleh again falls down on her haunches, watching quietly from a few feet off. She's played the midwife a few times, yes, but that was always with help. Might as well just sit back and stay low. Taryn doesn't answer for a moment, muscles of her arm taut even in the other woman's grip, "Aye .." She releases the tension as the pain begins to ease. Struggling for her breath, she glances up at Nox, then to Chava, suddenly catching on, "Oh shit .." She closes her eyes, head falling against the wall with a dull thud. "Gods, it's too early .." Maigyn nods. "In the bed. Now." Her voice is soft, but brooks no argument. "Lie down, and relax." Chavaleh immediately jumps up, clapping her hands together softly and bouncing from foot to foot. "What do we need?" Maigyn tilts her head, glancing at Chavaleh. She rattles off a string of about six herbs. "Go downstairs. You or Angel make a tea of those." Chavaleh closes her eyes briefly and nods. "Can do!" And it's off again out the door and down the stairs. Taryn chokes on a sob, using her good hand to lift force herself upright. It's not going very well. The girl stumbles, catching herself on the wall then looking to Nox helplessly. "'lready know 'can't walk .." She's skipping words, merely because it's easier than forcing them out. Hard enough to catch her breath. Maigyn moves, surprisingly strong for her small frame, to help Taryn stand. You feel Taryn's eyes travelling over you. Taryn leans heavily on Nox, doing her best to 'walk' to the bed. Reaching the edge, she collapses, freeing Maigyn of her burden. Rolling onto her side, the girl pulls into herself, centered around her abdomen. She's whispering something - almost a chant - like a prayer, breathlessly. Maigyn speaks softly, but firmly. "Relax....you have to rest..." Taryn swallows hard, struggling to uncoil herself, both form and tension. "Gods, don't let this happen .." She whispers, curls damp with tears. Maigyn brushes her hair back from her face, frowning. "Now...the tea Chava's bringing up is going to taste vile, but if anything'll help, it will." Chavaleh scampers back in, tea kettle balanced, once again, on her head. Skidding to a stop at the bed side, she jerks the kettle up and to the left to keep anything from spilling and then hands it calmly to Maig. "One tea kettle." Taryn turns her attention to the girl, vision swaying a bit as a hand goes out, futily, to grip something. "'s starting again .." She does her best to draw a deep breath before the heavy cramping sets in, causing the girl to choke back a cry. Chavaleh quickly darts a hand forward for Taryn to hold, already bracing herself for the inevitable squeezing. "Take my hand," she coos. Maigyn wraps her hand around Taryn's wounded one, keeping it from tensing too far.. "Breathe. Relax..." It's a soft chant. Taryn puts pressure on both, increasing the bleeding of the injured hand and undoubtedly making Chava 'uncomfortable'. The girl's stronger than she looks. That's saying quite a bit. "Damn!" She cries out, head jerking back as her back arches involuntarily, the pain reaching a point before easing. As it does, Taryn collapses back onto the bed, sobbing openly. Through the tears can be heard a constand, "Damn him .. damn him .. damn him .." Maigyn looks at Taryn, eyes narrowing. "Drink." She pours a mug of tea. "All of it. Now." Chavaleh closes her eyes and kneels beside the bed, chewing gently on her bottom lip and rocking back and forth. Softly, and more for her own comfort than for Taryn.. though no one else has to know that.. begins to hum a soothing melody. Taryn takes her hand from Chava, as gently as .. well .. possible, and uses it to prop herself up. It spurs another wave of pain, though not nearly as intense, and she takes the mug from Nox, looking up at the woman for a moment, as if for assurance, then downs the concoction. Doing her best not to gag, or even worse, lose it entirely, she clenches her teeth, face streaming with tears. Maigyn nods, watching. (It tastes vile. Bitter.) Taryn allows herself to lay back, still holding Maig's hand firmly, despite any pain from the wound. "I should've killed him." She hisses after a moment, eyes glazing over. Hallucination? Maybe. More likely just a way to cope with the obvious contractions, and more, the trauma of the whole situation. "Basta**.." Maigyn's eyes flicker, glittering. . o O ( There's a certain satisfaction in doing so... ) "You get another cup of tea as soon as the wave passes. You've got that to look forward to." Her voice is dry. Taryn lifts her head enough to look at Maigyn. Her expression is beyond readable, eyes glossy. "'e tried t' kill me .. and my baby .." Now she's ranting, "I was sca- for th' love of.." She breaks off as Maigyn's foretold 'wave' begins, whether less or or not, it's still enough to knock the girl's breath. Maig's hand is squeezed tightly, sending a new wash of blood over the bandages, and the other grips at the material of the young woman's shirt, a feeble attempt at 'fighting' the pain. Maigyn waits out the contraction, face set. "Chava...another cup of tea." Chavaleh nods and obediently sets to the simple task, pouring the tea nearly to the brim and cutting off just before it spills, then handing it steadily to Maigyn. Maigyn takes it with her free hand. "Drink." Taryn gasps, "Can't.." If the contractions have done anything, they've gotten longer. Another cry escapes, the pain tinged with a deep fury. Aye. The girl should talk more. Suppose that's what they call 'bottled up emotions'. Falling limp and gasping for air, she stares up at the ceiling, unable or unwilling to move. Maigyn says evenly, "Drink it. Now. Or give up and have the kid." Taryn closes her eyes, in some attempt at thought. . o O (If that girl's right, the child's lost either way. Damn, Ryn, /do/ something.) She tenses suddenly as another, unexpected pain hits. Fast and heavy, finalizing the girl's, and her child's fate. "Gods, Nox .." She squeezes Maigyn's hand, "Th' waters broke .." She's looking to the other 'girl' for support of some kind. Or so it would seem. The drink has been forgotten. Won't make a difference now. Maigyn swears under her breath. "Six months, right?" She sets the mug down. "Push." Taryn shakes her head, sending tangled curls sprawling on the pillow, "Seven .. more." With that, she obeys the order, bearing down. *** Time passes, in which the actual birth scene is conveniently fast-forwarded through *** Maigyn gives the baby to Chava, holding it inexpertly at best. "Can you wash her...?" Chavaleh cradles the baby in her arms and nods distractedly, smiling sweetly down at the little girl. "Yes, ma'am." Taryn's breathing is still labored, if anything, but the pain gone. Well, the contractions at least. The girl's hand is throbbing, not to mention the side-effects of giving birth. "Th' baby?" She whispers, barely audible. Her question is obvious. Is the child all right? Maigyn glances at Chava, who ought to be washing the baby :). "Your daughter's fine. What are you going to call her?" Chavaleh slips a fresh blanket around the baby after it's clean and gently rocks it as she pads over to the bedside, offering the little girl to Taryn's arms. (She was, I just haven't a clue how to wash a baby. :P) Maigyn . o O ( How do I get involved in these things? I haven't been around a baby since...well, since Mother died. ) The girl relaxes noticably, nodding slightly. . o O (Thank gods.) "Her .." She muses, obviously exhausted. At Chava's offer, Taryn raises a hand to lift the blanket away from the infants face, enough to glance at her. The baby could be a miniature of Taryn herself, from ebon curls to the minute features. Eyes are open, unnaturally dark for a newborn, but all the same watching Chava with an almost unusual interest. The baby's still 'alert'. She'll no doubt fall asleep in an hour or so. Taryn nods again and lays back, making no move to take the child. She didn't even plan on children. The very thought of the girl being a mother seems rather odd. Too late now, eh? Well, she has an excuse. Phantom pains plague the young woman mercilessly, hand still bleeding from the undo pressure. "Thank you." This is towards Chava, of course. With a wince, she locates Nox, gaze unreadable as she examines the young woman. "You saved her life .." She whispers. Enough said. Taryn owes Nox her own. [Taryn] Dark lashes half-lower, a slight nod acknowledging Taryn's words. "Take her...you need to hold her for a few minutes, so she knows her mother." Her voice is soft, rougher than usual, as if holding back emotions - but Nox never loses her cool, it can't be that. Must just be exhaustion. "What will you name her?" [Maigyn] Chavaleh slowly retracts the baby from Taryn's reach and pacing the room with a gentle bouncing step. That, combined with the slow rocking of Chava's arms and a nearly inaudible lullaby manage to push the infant into at least a silent daze.. if not sleep. At Maig's words, she makes her way back to Taryn and again offers the baby. Taryn watches Nox for a moment more, gaze intent, then looks back to Chava, offering the girl a slight smile before taking her daughter, the infant lulled by Chava's efforts and remaining such as her mother lifts the infant to her chest. Closing her eyes for a moment, she murmurs, "Is Nox your full name?" Illogical question, but it works, either way. Maigyn shakes her head. "Nox isn't really my name at all," she says softly. Taryn's eyes remain close, voice soothing - for the child's sake, "What is 't?" Maigyn's voice is even, soft. "Maigyn. Maigyn Alanna." A pause. "And I'd appreciate it if nobody knew that..." Chavaleh clasps her hands behind her back and takes a step away from the bed, grinning at Maigyn. "Why not, Nox? I think it's beautiful." Taryn lifts an eyebrow, glancing back to the child, "I jus' won't tell anyone I named her after y'.." She sighs and props herself against the headboard, still watching the baby. Maigyn answers Chava, her voice obviously under deliberate control. "I...the only people who use my name are...close to me." Her eyes widen slightly at Taryn's words. "Name her after me?" A disbelieving smile curves her lips. Taryn nods slightly, brushing a damp curl from the child's forehead, "Maigyn." Taryn finally looks up, searching for Nox's gaze, "Y' saved my child .. Nox." A glance towards Chava, "An' you saved me. Maigyn Chavaleh." The last bit is directed towards the infant. A dubbing of sorts. Chavaleh's eyes light up at the child's middle name, an ear-to-ear grin spreading across her sparkling face. "-Really-?" Maigyn's cheeks flush faintly. "I'm honoured..." she says softly, eyes glittering suspiciously. "Truly." She reaches out for the baby, then stops. . o O ( I'll drop her, or break her neck, or something. ) "...and now you need to rest." Taryn draws a deep breath, watching the other woman's movements, "Take 'er, hon .." She whispers, eyes closed again, "'m a drunk with knives. If I c'n do it, so c'n you." Then, towards Chava, "Aye girl, if y' don't mind.." Taryn's near sleep already, voice slurred a bit. Maigyn lifts the child, carefully, inexpertly, something in her face softening to an intense focus as she holds her. "Chava..." Her voice is definitely rougher. "...stoke up the fire in here a bit...we don't want either of them getting cold." Chavaleh immediately shakes her head, nearly bursting with happiness."No, -ma'am-! Not one bit!" Nodding to Maigyn, she skids to a kneel in front of the fire and begins prodding at the smoldering logs with a poker, turning them over. Maigyn strokes the tiny cheek, watching as the baby turns toward her touch. "She'll be hungry in the morning...I think..." She pulls the bottom drawer of the dresser out, arranging the blanket stored there into a nest as best she can while still keeping a decidedly nervous grip on the child. Taryn goes limp as the baby is lifted from her arms, "Don't call m' ma'am.." she whispers softly as her head cants to one side, the girl falling into blissful unconsciousness. She is clad in a white nightdress, loose and sleeveless, and mysteriously clean. Maigyn [to Chavaleh]: Here...we can tuck her in here for the night...I'll see what I can scrounge up tomorrow... Chavaleh nods reticently as she prods the fire, twisting the poker until the sparks catch again and the flames flare up, the heat knocking Chava backwards. Shaking her head, she stands and dusts herself off. "Yes'm." Maigyn frowns slightly. "If I pull a cot in here...could you stay to help take care of her, if she needs it?" A slight, wry smile. "I'm almost at the end of my knowledge about babies." *** End RP, with Chava's agreement and Maigyn's exit, as the two of them had to go. *** |