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Seas Of Erin > Cecilia > What to Expect When


Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 10:29 PM
It was not a very good day. Concetto hadn't shut up about the dogs all night, the Captain had joined the Navy, and Lang had gotten a bucket of cannon grease spilled down her front. Luckily, a dwarf had spilled it, so it was only a large brown stain that started about midthigh and dribbled downward. Onto a not so nice dress anyways. But it was the final straw as she marched toward her corners, swearing under her breath in an appealing mix of German and dwarven.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 10:48 PM
Spider, for her part, wheeled away from her station, looking lime-green beneath her usual pallor, her mouth hanging ajar. About halfway to the railing her amble turned into a jog, then to an all-out run. Her shoulder slammed into Babs; holding out her hands, she moved as if to apologise . . . then clapped her hands to her lower face, shook her head hard, and carried on to the rail where she was messily, loudly, sick.

When it was over she dropped to her knees, sweating, and laid her forehead against the cool metal.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 10:51 PM
Lang was pushed back, and nearly lost her balance. Instead she got a lovely view of Spider being sick and went to the other girl's side, bending down beside her, putting a hand to her shoulder.

"Spider." She said quietly. "Is that the first one for today, or?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 10:55 PM
Shivering in spite of the heat, Spider hunched her shoulders and held up two fingers. She started to push her way back up.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 10:58 PM
Barbara let out a noise that was somewhere between a groan and a sigh, grasping the girl's hand. "Come on. Get out the sun, we'll get you something to drink and you can get me some pants." She told her, yanking Spider towards the quarters she shared with Andre. "Or skirt. Or whatever it is you wear."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 11:11 PM
Spider wiped at her mouth and, feeling about ten years old, allowed Barbara to shuttle her along to the captain's quarters. "Good neighbour. Just no water, please, it's the worst thing for it, I'll just get cramps. I've still got my town-dress? Could let it out for you." She held the door open.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 11:17 PM
"Ugh." Lang said, at the thought of Cecillian dress, as she began to unlace her bodice, entering. "I don't want to throw up like you did. Of course, it'd be because I was actually sunsick."

She began to yank and pull at her other clothes. "Maybe we can just use some of the petticoats or something, it's not like the dwarves are going to be looking at me, and I can still use my bodice." She thought out loud to herself, looking around the cabin. "So when did you think you were going to tell me?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 11:22 PM
Spider looked up from digging for petticoats. "Tell you . . . is there somethin' I was meant to tell you?" She was completely honest in her confusion.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 13 2008, 11:24 PM
Elaine, having learned the opposite end of this lesson the hard way, knocked on the cabin door. "Papa!? Spider?!"

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 13 2008, 11:26 PM
Alannis followed behind the younger girl, looking around curiously.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 11:28 PM
Lang rolled her eyes and turned away from the door. "Playing coy isin't funny." She informed Spider. "It's just us, Sylvie, come in!"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 11:31 PM
"That's Elaine, not Sylvie. Elaine knocks and waits; Sylvie knocks then tries the door to see if it's latched." She laid out the clean folded skirt over the back of a chair, wiped her face quickly, then moved to the door. "See? Elaine," she said to Barbara.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 13 2008, 11:35 PM
Elaine grinned. "Sylvie doesn't even knock half the time," she pointed out. "This is Alannis. She's taking your place on Judith's ship, and I thou-- Jesus." She said, looking Spider over. "You don't look too hot."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 13 2008, 11:38 PM
"Sylvie?" Alannis asked, looking at Elanie. Then, to Spider and Barbara, she gave a little wave and said, "Alannis Brey. It's nice to meet you."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 13 2008, 11:43 PM
"That's nice." Lang said, grabbing the skirt, pulling it on and then starting in on retying her bodice. "I just got her out of the sun, and she was about to take a nap." She called to Elaine, before turning around, appraising Alannis and then in a feat of self control, not rolling her eyes. "I"m Lang." She said by way of introduction, fiddling with the tie off on the bodice.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 13 2008, 11:54 PM
Spider roused herself to express a faint bit of interest in her replacement, her colourless brows going up. "She's replaced me again? What happened to the drunk?"

Faint colour came to her face, and she gave Barbara a wry look before addressing Elaine. "Your da's likely off with Moreau, but it's gettin' late, he might be back soon. Er . . . is um. Is Judes by any chance in the middle of anything?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 13 2008, 11:56 PM
"Alannis is spying on the drunk to find out where he keeps his liquor," Elaine explained. She looked back to Alannis. "Sylvie is my twin sister. She sails with Papa. Umm..."

She bit her lip. "Judith's about, I think. We were trying to get ready to set sail. I've been, um. Sort of avoiding her since this morning."

She gave Spider a cautious look. "Are you sick?"

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 12:00 AM
Alannis definitely didn't look towards Barbara as the woman fixed her bodice. "I hope you don't mind that I replaced you." She said shyly to Spider, feeling a bit like she was intruding. "I'm sorry if you're feeling sick."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 12:04 AM
"Are we going to go visit Judith again?" She asked, twirling her hair, before shaking her head at Elaine. "Ashon put something nasty in the stew last night and we were all up paying for it." Lang explained, shooting a look at Spider.

She glanced over at Alannis. "Spider's probably grateful."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 12:14 AM
"I don't mind," she told Alannis, instantly. "I've met the other bloke. I mean, he does good work, when he ain't pissed, but the trouble is it's rare he's not pissed and Judes don't hold with drinking." After a half-second, she clarified. "On the ship. Off-ship you can do what the hell you want."

She gave the look right back to Barbara, looking pained. "Oh, hell. I'm sick. But we're not sure it's that kind of sick. That's why I wanted to speak to Judes before she cleared off."


Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 12:17 AM
Elaine's expression was grave. "Do you think it's something serious? You're not getting iron-sick or something, are you? Um, Judith's there, if you want her. I'm not sure what she'd do that your doc can't do for you."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 12:22 AM
"I didn't know we were allowed to do things when we're off the ship." Alannis muttered. Speaking more loudly, she said, "Uh, I'm glad you're not holding a grudge against me or anything!" She told Spider, trying to look concerned that someone she'd never met was sick.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 12:24 AM
Lang snorted, pushing her way out of the room. "Come get me when you all figure it out. I need to go whack a dwarf upside the head." She called over her shoulder, heading back towards the cannons.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 12:32 AM
"Nah, why should I? I knew she'd get around to replacin' me eventually. Go ask for me father, he should have all me old gear stuck up somewheres. I've replaced it so I don't really need it anymore." She limped, rather heavily, to sit at the edge of the bed, propping her hands on her knees. "I . . . am not sure how to break this," she admitted to Sylvie. "Maybe the old one about 'how would you feel about havin' a brother or sister'?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 12:35 AM
Elaine's eyes went wide. "Well, shit," she swore. "I don't know. I mean, I'm on Judith's ship, so it's not like you can wrangle me into diaper-changing. How do you feel about it? Do you want a baby? Does Andre know?"

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 12:38 AM
"Oh dear." Alannis muttered, feeling very much as if she was in a conversation she shouldn't be a part of. "Congratulations, I suppose."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 12:45 AM
Spider looked as if she were in a conversation she shouldn't be part of. Her sympathies were entirely with Alannis at the moment. "Sorry," she muttered, swinging her feet. "It's just that, well, I'd kind of like to tell Elaine here before she gets drug off by your captain, and I'm not sure how soon that'll be."

She nodded, with a weak grin, to Elaine. "He knows. At least, he knows I might be. Neither of us know-know. And I don't want to ask Goddard because he's all . . . " She crooked up her index finger. "Y'know. Hooky."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 12:51 AM
Elaine laughed, out loud. "Yes, I wouldn't want that near my baby, either. Judith can tell," she assured Spider. "She did it for me once. She made me lay down on the floor and she squished around. Um..."

She bit her lip then. "Look, I'm happy if you're happy. I mean, I'm old enough it's not really changing anything about my life. You know I don't think Andre was exactly the best father, but I don't think you'll let him mess up the way he did with me. And I sort of-- she wrinkled her nose. "I'd be more of an auntie to it, I guess. I've never really been around any babies."

Then she gave Alannis an apologetic smile. "Um. Welcome to the family?"

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 12:56 AM
"Squished around..." Alannis repeated quietly, looking a bit pale. This really was a day for learning new things she'd never, ever wanted to hear. "I, uh... thank you, I guess. That makes me feel a little less like I'm intruding." She smiled weakly.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 01:07 AM
"Squished around?" Spider repeated faintly, with one hand cupped across her middle. "Look, I just didn't want to show up howe'er long from now and be all 'oh, yes, and this is your new brother-or-sister that we knew about maybe but didn't bother to tell you when we had a chance'. And there's always a chance it's a false alarm." She looked ill. "Er. How squished around? Outside or in?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 01:12 AM
"Oh!" Elaine looked mortified for a moment, then touched her belly where Judith had. "Outside, outside. Right here. She pressed a few fingers around and told me no. It was painless," she assured the other girl. "And then she gave me things so I wouldn't have to worry about it again. Not that I've had to, anyway. I figured for sure..." She cut herself off, watching Spider curiously. "You are happy about it, right?"

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 01:15 AM
"There are things you can get so you don't have to worry about getting pregnant?" Alannis blurted out, feeling immediately as if she'd said something terribly inappropriate.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 01:25 AM
"Aye," Spider replied grimly, still holding her stomach. "You can not go to bed with men. I'm told that works."

She looked helplessly up at Elaine. "I'm fine with it. What I'm not fine with is chuckin' up all morning and draggin' around feelin' like shite. I want to know if I'm pregnant or if I'm dying, and which one's gonner take longest."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 01:27 AM
Elaine looked suddenly concerned. "You want us to walk you over there?" she offered. "I...I really hope you're not dying."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 01:31 AM
"I... I wasn't planning on..." Alannis decided that this was not the time to fret over her own uncertainties, and gave Spider a concerned look. "I'll help if I can." She offered.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 01:37 AM
"I'm kidding," she said tightly. "I don't think I'm really dying." She stood up uneasily. "Anyways, I can't go anywhere 'til Andre comes back. Knocksie's not up to snuff yet, and if anything happens it's on my watch."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 01:44 AM
"You sure?" Elaine asked. "You look like you're getting up," she pointed out, but she gave the older girl a smile. "Do you want anything in the meantime? Food, or up, something to drink?"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 01:51 AM
"Just don't tell my da', right?" She rolled her eyes ceilingward. "I mean, let me tell 'im. After I know. Just don't tell I told you two first. He'll clam up for the rest of the year. And don't tell Uncle Gwydion, neither; he won't be able to stop himself from tellin' Da'."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 01:55 AM
"I won't say a word." Alannis promised. "When I actually meet them, I mean... I've not gotten the chance yet."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 01:58 AM
Elaine laughed, then crossed her heart. "Promise I won't," she answered, grinning. Then she made a face at the girl. "Just don't tell Jochy, or the whole world'll know."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 02:00 AM
"Who?" Alannis asked, tilting her head to one side. "I don't think you've mentioned him."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 02:06 AM
Spider looked startled. "Oh, she is new, ain't she?" she asked Elaine. "Jochy's . . . well, I think Judes has sworn him off again. He's back with us." She did not look particularly pleased at the placement. "So you don't have to worry much about him."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 02:10 AM
"She doesn't have to," Elaine assured Spider, waggling her eyebrows informatively at the blonde. "Judith caught us in bed together this morning," she said, rather abruptly. "Only it was-- it was because of the dogs," she added helplessly. "And we didn't do anything! But she was livid."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 02:15 AM
"I just joined on today." Alannis replied. "I don't know a single person, except for Elaine and a few boys. But it's a shame that she was mad at you if you didn't even get to do anything bad. It's horrible when that happens."

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 02:24 AM
"Ah, they ain't a bad lot. The worst of the lot is Starling and Key, and Starling you can turn off by threatin' to tell his grandmumma." She bit her bottom lip. "I can't say anything, Elaine. Knowin' you two, I'd be pissed off too."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 02:27 AM
"She called me a tart," Elaine complained. "We weren't. We weren't doing anything. He was having nightmares. And it's not like anyone else came to check on me! Papa didn't even come in."

She scowled, then looked to Alannis. "Alannis met Starling. He's in a mood, and he's got a chicken that he's keeping in a cage because it saved his life."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 02:32 AM
"I liked Starling, but that was a terrible, evil chicken." Alannis replied. "It bit me." She held up one scabby finger to show Spider the damage. "So I think he may be a bit insane, carrying it around like that even though it bites. I'd have just killed it." She confided.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 02:40 AM
"He might've just been teasin' you," Spider warned Alannis. "He's not mad. Too clever by half, mostly." Although, upon reflection, chickens were a bit odd, even for one of Starling's pranks.

"Elaine," Spider said, a little pained. "I can't stand up for you on this one. You two got a past. E'en if you weren't doin' nothing this time, what's she gonner think if she catches the two of you in bed together, of all things? She was wrong this time when she might've been right a month ago."


Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 02:44 AM
"I'm pretty sure it was a real chicken," Elaine said, before looking helplessly at Spider. "What am I supposed to do, ignore him completely?!" she asked, throwing her hands up. "Jochy's the only person who pays any attention to me, apart from Starling, and I--" she growled. "I'm not a tart."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 02:49 AM
"I'm paying attention to you!" Alannis chewed on her lower lip, looking distressed. "And I just don't understand why sex is good and then it's bad and you're not supposed to have it!"

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 02:58 AM
"Because you get tangled up in messes like this!" Spider snapped back at Alannis. "Because you end up stuck on people what ain't no good for you when you're supposed to be concentratin' on something else entirely or else you get yourself with a bellyful of someone's baby and you're not e'en sure you want to stay with them for the rest of your damn life. It's complicated!"

Posted by: Andre Romain Apr 14 2008, 03:02 AM
There was a cough from a rather white-faced Andre in the doorway. "Ah," he said hesitantly. "I came as soon as-- Lang told me you felt ill."

He looked around the room rather tensely, eyes settling on Alannis. "Who's this?"

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 03:04 AM
"She's from the Red, the new sailmender." Lang explained from behind Andre. "And that Elaine was here too." She put helpfully, shooting Spider a rather triumphant look.

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 03:06 AM
Alannis' eyes widened, her face paled, and she blurted out, "I'm never going to have sex with a man, ever ever ever!"

Then she noticed that Andre and Barbara had come in and her face made a dramatic shift from white to bright red. She squeaked something that might have been her name.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 03:20 AM
Rather than looking mortified, or furious, or even bursting into tears for the third time today, Spider simply looked very, very worn out. She threw up her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I've been feelin' ill. You know I've been feelin' ill. You know why. Now so does everyone else on this ship. Possibly on the next ship o'er as well."

Posted by: Andre Romain Apr 14 2008, 03:28 AM
Andre sighed. "I meant in a right-this-moment sort of way more than an in general sort of way," he said apologetically, stepping over to touch her hair. "Did you get to talk to Judith yet? I'm sorry I wasn't here," he said, looking a bit helpless. "It's been...overwhelming."

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 03:29 AM
"That's my father," Elaine whispered to Alannis. "He's not very good at it. We'll see if he's any better with a third one."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 03:38 AM
"I see." She whispered back. "Alannis Brey. Nice to meet you, sir." She said more loudly, only slightly less squeeky and red now. She was feeling like she was interrupting again.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 03:39 AM
"Well I'm glad we don't all have to pretend that you've a stomach problem and are constantly sunsick." Lang intoned. "You'll be fine Spider. It's no use keeping secrets." She said, leaning against the doorway.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 03:45 AM
"I weren't pretending, I thought I was sun-sick!" Spider protested. She hung her head, for the first time in living memory too physically worn-out and harried to even make a swat at defending herself. "I haven't spoke to her yet," she admitted to Andre. "I were waitin' for you to get back from Moreau. Do you want me to go ahead now?"

Posted by: Andre Romain Apr 14 2008, 03:49 AM
"Do you want me to come with you?" Andre asked, reaching up to rub the back of her neck. "If you don't want me in with Judith, I can wait for you outside. I just-- the dogs were still out last night. I'd rather you not go alone."

He looked over at Barbara. "Lang, can you manage being in charge for an hour or two?"

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 03:50 AM
"Alannis and I can take her," Elaine pointed out. "We've got to go back anyway."

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 03:52 AM
"I'm happy to help." Alannis said again, more or less completely recovered from her previous embarrassment. "And I'm probably really good at fighting dogs, just in case." She added helpfully.

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 03:58 AM
"Yes." The woman replied politely. "I can do that. And Spider, we're happy for you." She pointed out.

Posted by: Spider Ceallaigh Apr 14 2008, 04:05 AM
"We can all go," Spider concluded. "The girls don't need to out alone either if the dogs ain't settled yet."

She cast a rather bleak look to Barbara. "I know you are," she said quietly.

Posted by: Andre Romain Apr 14 2008, 04:09 AM
Andre gave Spider a tight, one-armed hug, reached for a hat, and propped it on her head before he led her to the door. "Come on, girls. Have either of you seen Sylvie?" he asked as he started out.

Posted by: Elaine Romain Apr 14 2008, 04:09 AM
"Not in a day or so," Elaine answered as she followed. "And Alannis doesn't know her."

Posted by: Barbara Lang Apr 14 2008, 04:11 AM
"Good luck." Lang said nicely to Spider, before turning and heading off, waving her arm and yelling a command in dwarvish.

Posted by: Alannis Brey Apr 14 2008, 04:12 AM
Alannis followed Elaine, grumbling to herself about people not having faith in her ability to kill dogs.

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