Say It Ain't So

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Her eyes hurt even if no tears could stream down her cheeks, even now there was a slight hiss and sizzle as her fell-flames seared her tears away.

Mhairi had gone for a walk, still wearing yesterday's cloths, trying to clear her head, but ended up following the path she'd taken not that long ago, to Seraphina 's apartment.

Nodding to herself she makes her way to the door and knocks.

[Seraphina]

To say Sera had not been expecting company would have been an understatement.

In fact, she had just gotten home from the gym. Hence the gym clothes and thin layer of sweat that coated her skin and clung to the clothes. Not that it didn’t look good on her, but it wasn’t a look she’d wear to a club.

Dropping her gym bag, she opens the door, very surprised to see Mhairi. Who looked like she hadn’t changed and maybe had been crying?

Sapphires widen in shock, “Mhairi! Are you ok?” comes the concern, “Come in.” she steps aside to let the Wisp in.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

In the countless second between her first knocking and Sera opening the door Mhairi decides and fires off a text to Ingrid .

Hey can you meet me @ Sera's? I have something I need to tell you both.

"Oh...you're busy. Sorry. I can come back later. Sorry. I-I should have called first." she mumbles heart pounding. please don't send me away even as she retreats from the door about to flee from her Motley mate.

[Seraphina]

Blink.

“No, I’m not busy, I just got home.” She says, realizing the mess she probably, no, she was. A hand then carefully reaches out to the Wisp, and if allowed, she will gently pull her in the apartment. “And you’re here now, and something is wrong. So even if I was busy, I’m not anymore. You’re more important.” Matter of factly, she wouldn’t budge on that.

“Want something warm? I have coffee and hot chocolate.” She offers. Not knowing what could possibly be going on to have her motely mate in such a condition.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

"Okay. Okay." Mhairi nods and lets Sera lead her inside.

The feels warm at the words a s it just crushes her heart more. She's going to leave this...

"I texted Ingrid. Invited her over. Hope ...hope that's okay. I." she says, "Hot chocolate please." it was a comforting thing, while coffee would spark a d jolt. Making her a twitchy mess.

"I. Do you want me to say what's...what's wrong now? Or umm. Wait for Ingrid?" she asks, if her motley wanted her to go over it twice or thrice or however many times she would. Even if it hurt b

[Seraphina]

The door closes quietly behind Mhairi, “Please, have a seat wherever you want. Couch, floor, counters, your pick.” She says with a small smile.

“Ingrid?” took her a moment to register, “Oh, sure, that works.” Now she wished she was wearing something else and had showered. But she could work with what she had.

“Hot chocolate it is!” and she set about boiling some water on the stove and pulling a round canister from a cabinet. Three cups were set out as she turned and rested against the counter, looking at the Wisp.

“Well, if it involved Ingrid, maybe we should wait for her. Unless it’s something you need to get out now. I mean, obvious something is wrong. But I’m ok waiting for Ingrid, gives the water time to boil and all that.”

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Woodenly she nods, following Sera through the space, looking around she half guiltily funds a chair to perch upon.

With dull, dim fires smouldering nearly to eldritch embers she watches the Fairest, glorious even in worn workout cloths. "Thanks," she whispers as Sera puts the pot on and not just chucking a mug in the microwave.

"It's not about Ingrid." said because she didn't want to make Sera think badly or...something of her Queen and Motley mate. "Only it is. But also not. It's...it's about you too. And me. And us as a Motley. I guess. Well more then guess. I...yeah. We should wait for Ingrid." she strings together uselessly, stumbles words and errant thoughts.

[Ingrid]

Timing was everything.

Fortunately, Ingrid was knocking off sneaking out early from the office when she received the text. The Darkling was starting to find the regular day job dull and tedious. Not exciting at all and much too mundane. The text and the possibility of spending time with her Motley was too much resist.

"I'm here!" The Darkling purred naughtily as she rasped at the Fairest's door.

"Look! I bought doughnuts! And drinks!" Ingrid brandished the bag and the box like weapons as she gained access.

The happiness continued to burst off of her until she spied Mhairi.

"What?" She asked, seeming to shrink into her clothes.

[Seraphina]

Ok, that answer was more than a little confusing. And probably the look on her face relayed that.

So she simply nods and begins to pour the water once it was boiling.

And then the knock and voice, Ingrid!

The door was quickly opened and the Darkling ushered inside.

“Oh! Donuts! Perfect!” nothing like sugary food to go with whatever was on Mhairi’s mind. Sugar was great for anything.

The hot chocolate was then handed to the Wisp carefully, the mug a little warm.

Then a shrug, “I’m not sure yet, we were waiting until you got here.” But there was concern in her voice.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

Ingrid comes in like the life of the party, drinks and donuts, the glass of her Antlet Crown gleaming, Mhairi smiles, abit weakly at the display, then droops when all that vibrancy is stolen because of her.

"Sorry." she says, again. It's meaning plain, but the word inadequate. She sighs and feels like she should drag her legs up onto the chair. Hug them to her, like a shield. But these women are her Motley, so her limbs hang uselessly, dangling like weights.

She looks up at each women, interesting and vibrantly alive in different ways, they'd still have each other, maybe they'd have have a better time of it without Mhairi wet blanket and downer dragging them away from Desire.

"I'm leaving." like a bandaid. Pull it off quick. "Remember what I said about my mom? Well. She's been found. I need to...I can't stay here when I know where she is. I need to...it's my mom" she explains but it still feels horrible to her. She'd weighed the worth of her life here and realized she wanted to stay, but the guilt of that and the fact that the women who lead her to Autumn, finding her, helping her seemed to mean little in the face of life lead her to nearly drown in vodka. "I'm sorry." she says again. Consoling herself that at lead she wasn't Land.