RP:A Place To Stay

Summary: Meri shows up on the docks of the tranquility in need of a place to stay. Khitti will not refuse her sister, of course.

The Tranquility

Meri would not be turning up on the Tranquility's deck straight after she ended things with Callum, that would have the blonde arriving to the ship at an odd hour. It's not that Meri felt like she would not be welcomed even at the oddest of hours, but she still decided to show up at a more civil hour. The main reason for this is more her own sanity than the sanity of anyone on the ship. Time was needed to mentally prepare herself for this conversation. When she does show up at that very familiar ship, it is with a horse, two dogs, and her pregnant self. Packed on her horse are her personal affects. It's probably not every single belonging from the house, just the essentials. Rather than waltz onto the deck of the ship, Meri waits toward the bottom of the gangplank. Normally Meri does not have an entourage of animals with her when she shows up, she's not sure what sort of ruckus they might cause. Meri instead waves to a crew member, calling out to them once their gaze is upon her. "Hey. Snag Khitti for me, will you?" And there Meri would wait, running this conversation through her brain while blue eyes on the boardwalk. Her eyes would of course find focus on Khitti once the redhead did appear.

Khitti’s sister was right in assuming that she would be welcomed at any hour, but that wasn’t the case here. Instead, one of Brand’s crewmembers found her during the day and gave her the few details they had on Meri’s situation (ie: the fact that she had a lot of stuff with her, including animals) and that the blonde wanted to see her. Surprisingly, Khitti’d not had one of those “feelings” of hers. You know, the ones she usually had when something bad was going to happen? She hadn’t before, but she certainly did now as she made her way up the stairs and ladders in the belly of the ship, hauling Dominic along with her. Crimson brows furrowed as Khitti caught sight of Meri, the templar asking soon after once she made her way down the gangplank to meet her, “Hey… what’s wrong?” There -had- to be something wrong, right? Why else would she have everything? Dominic, for his part in this little meeting, squealed with joy when he saw his Aunt Meri and yelled, “Frak!” The fact that her child was swearing no longer seemed to phase Khitti… or anyone else that lived and worked near them.

What's wrong. A simple question with a simple answer, but the words do not fall quickly past the blonde's lips. She furrows her brows but Dominic breaks the silence before Meri does, letting out a sound 'Frak'. Instead of knitting together out of concern, those brows are now lifting in surprise. Khitti may not be concerned but this was news for Meri. The shock and surprise is short lived, Khitti's question still needs an answer. "Nice job, kid. I suppose it was only a matter of time." Meri says first and foremost to her nephew, aunts are meant to be a great influence like that you see. These words are obviously meant for his mother, "Ah. Well. We need a place to stay for a bit if that is okay? I'll stable the horse. But..." The pregnant woman shifts around awkwardly, blue eyes ultimately falling away from Khitti and down to the belly that just keeps on growing rapidly, as expected. "It won't be for long, I promise. I'll get myself figured out soon. Well. Where to live at least, I will figure that much out at least."

Khitti blinked a couple times, processing what Meri said before she finally smiled and nodded, “Well, duh. Of course, you can stay here. I’d say that you can stable your horse on the ship, but I don’t know if it’s as easy to get her down there as it is the cats. Your doggos are definitely welcome. We’ve got some furnished rooms already too.” With her free hand, Khitti waved over another of Brand’s crewmembers, “Take Meri’s things downstairs into my old room, the one on the second floor. We don’t need her to try to climb up all the ladders like I did.” Pause. “And take her horse to the nearest stable here!” Khitti grabbed her sister’s hand and dragged her up the gangplank and down into the belly of the ship. “Are you hungry or thirsty or anything? You look entirely wore out. And you can stay here as long as you need to, you know. Or there's the apartment too if you want to borrow it for a little while, if you need some privacy.” This prompted a slight frown from the redhead, but she was doing her best to keep things positive for Meri. Stressing out while pregnant was not a good thing--Khitti would know after all.

Meri smiles gently toward Khitti when she hears that 'well duh', confirming what the pregnant woman was already confident on. The asking was more a formality, even family deserved politeness, and Khitti was pretty much the only family Meri had. The crew was given their orders and Meri would not stop them, may not be so far along that she can't see her toes anymore...but if she did not have to do extra labor then she would definitely not. Meri was content to follow Khitti, and the pups were happy to be lead along by Meri. Except Mountain. For such a large dog he was having some reservations about climbing up the gangplank. It would take some coaxing and some leading by example, but they'd all make it up onto the the Tranquility. Meri would follow Khitti to whatever room that the redhead deemed appropriate, honestly Meri was just happy to be in the company of a familiar face right now. "Well since you're bringing it up..." Food and drink. Both of the dogs seem to perk up at the use of the word 'food'. Spoiled. "I won't say no." Meri also won't be picky either, she's not listing any special requests because whatever the kitchen had readily available would be great. "I guess it doesn't really matter to me where I stay. That's entirely up to you. I don't really have any special needs for privacy. Just whatever is easier for you and yours." Meri points to her belly as they move through the ship. "And I know I could stay as long as I like...I just figure I am going to have to figure things out sooner...or sooner, based on what you told me about Alvina and her's."

Khitti would probably try to correct Meri on that, and would try to say that Brand and Lionel could be considered her family too, but of course, Meri’s thoughts weren’t voiced and Khitti wouldn’t have the chance to argue. Khitti offered Meri a bit of a soured smirk, one eyebrow raised at the blonde, “Meri, you -are- one of mine. Quit talking like you’re not.” She’d lead the psion into the galley, offered over her son to his aunt, and went about grabbing stuff from the ice box. “Are you sure? You realize we’ve got enough room to spare here despite having about a hundred people on board? And we’re definitely capable of making more room too… cause, you know, that whole ‘bigger on the inside’ magic we’ve got going on here.” She grabbed some leftover stew and set on the stove to heat up, then snatched up the last of the strawberry cheesecake. A fork and the plate was brought over and sat in front of Meri while the redhead peered over at her kid, “Look, Dominic. You’re going to have to take the fall for your Aunt Meri today. There’s no telling when your dad’ll get done with work and you know how he likes to have his cheesecake afterward. I’ll make more, but you gotta pretend like you ate it and didn’t throw it across the room like the little hellion that you are. I’ll even let you play with your singing chicken toy for as long as you want tomorrow.” He’s really not a hellion, to be honest, but he might be some day, considering who his parents are. Finally, Khitti’s attention settled on Meri again, the redhead taking a seat briefly while she waited for the food to get warm, “I’m not gonna pressure you though. But, you will have a place here as long as you need it. Doesn’t matter how long it takes. And don’t worry about the kid, honestly. A lot of Brand’s crew has families of their own and they’ve been around Dominic enough lately too.”

Both brows are lifted in surprised when Khitti shoots her that soured smirk, this expression is followed by Meri intentionally giving her sister a cross-eyed look. "Ah come on. That's not that I meant. I am one of yours, yes. I am your sister." She points to Dominic shortly after she plops herself down into a chair while Khitti bustles about heating up some stew for Meri. "And I am one of his too. What I mean is...Whatever is easiest for you and Brand, because you are doing me a huge favor and making life a lot easier for me right now too." Meri had half a mind to decline the cheesecake as she knew this was something scared to Brand, but she didn't. Meri did not even think twice before cutting a chunk off with her fork and shoving that piece into her mouth while Khitti coached the kid on their story. "Auntie Meri will make it up to you one day when you are old enough. I'll take you to the Office, teach you about strippers." Would she really? Naw, probably not, she's just making a joke to try and keep the mood from getting to heavy. "I know..you have plenty of room on the ship. I don't feel pressured. You're just trying to look out for me. The truth is that I have no idea what I am doing, so I really appreciate that I can take as long as I need to figure out what the heck..." Meri smiles toward Khitti, because she does appreciate. "But I also don't think it would be a bad idea to try and find my own space before I have this kid, rather than after. Heck, maybe you can even help. And then you can help me decorate." Meri bats her lashes toward Khitti.

“I’m sure if you don’t take him, then his dad probably will. Maybe. Unless Dominic voices that he has no interest in that stuff whatsoever, which is also perfectly fine.” Those visions Khitti and Brand had shared awhile ago foretold that Dominic 2.0 was likely to be as much of an asexual sprout as Dominic 1.0. That was well and fine with Khitti, though. That meant she likely wouldn’t have to act as an overprotective mother bear to keep her kid from harm… though it’s not like she didn’t do that already with people that she cared about. “Well, first thing’s first, I guess, is the ‘where’,” the redhead said as she got up out of her chair to check the rest of the food. It’d heated up quite nicely, and Khitti even threw in a bit of bread and butter to go along with it, the bowl and plate set before the blonde. “I figure Larket’s pretty much the only place that’s out of the question. And, of course I’ll help you decorate.” Khitti did owe Meri after all, for the help with decorating Dominic’s room on the ship.

Another smile of appreciation is sent toward Khitti, but Meri does not dive right in. She'll give it a few moments to cool, which allowed her to respond to Khitti. "Well yeah. If he does not want to then that is perfectly fine too. I am not going to force him." Dominic can be whatever he wants to be, and Meri would adore her nephew all the same. She's not one to force her loved ones into doing things they do not want to do, especially in those regards. "Anyway...." Her soup is given a swirl to help with the cooling process but a piece of bread is taken up in the mean time, nibbling on bites as she goes on to explain. "I thought about Larket. A lot actually. I could just...reopen the Rebel Room. I really do not think I am a person of note to Macon and Josleen despite it all. I am just...a fly to them. And who is to say my child is really a witch? Heck, I could easily lie and say it's not even Cal's." Meri shrugs, not looking like she is very sold on Larket. "...But I think we both know the only reason I moved to Larket to begin with was so that I could be closer to Cal. So since I have put myself in a position where I have to really think about where I want to live again...My choice would be to live by the ocean. I could go back to Rynvale. Or maybe move closer to you guys here and look around Cenril...Or I could say screw it and run off to Chartsend."

“No, I doubt you’re really a target to them, and while you’ve been around the witches, it’s not in the monarchy’s jurisdiction anyway. I also certainly wouldn’t argue with you on reopening the Rebel Room. I know you’ve not been into doing the art thing in awhile, but it might be stress-relieving? I’ve been debating on whether or not to start painting again as well. I need some sort of therapy or self-care after Venturil. Work between the guilds isn’t helping much and there’s only so much Brand or you or Lionel can do to help too.” She pondered on the thought for a moment, then shook her head and sighed, “Regardless, you need to find something that will keep you mellow. Stress while you’re pregnant isn’t good. And if that’s reopening the Rebel Room or going back to Rynvale or even living here? Then you do what you feel is going to be good for the two of you.” The other person being her kid, of course.

Meri certainly understood who the two of them were, it has been something that has not really left her mind since she made the decision to leave even if she was doing a good job of keeping herself moderately composed. "I will do the best that I can with it all, I suppose. I have no real choice." In that, she cannot shut down entirely and hide from the world like she would almost prefer to do right now. Because she has a baby coming. "But I can't promise you that I am not going to be stressed. I am past the point of 'please don't stress.'" Meri sighs and shrugs and then shoves a couple more bites of food into her mouth, because food is certainly a great cure for stress. And Meri has already consumed cheesecake, bread, and almost an entire bowl of stew since being here. She's not so self-absorbed in herself that she doesn't hone in on what Khitti is saying. "Well, even if I decide to reopen the Rebel Room. Or relocate it. Or keep it shut down and try my hand at some sort of new business entirely....I guess either way it might be good for you to pick painting up. I mean, you still have most of the supplies readily handy, no? ...And if you're running low on certain items we can always pick them up for you." Meri nods. "But what has been on your mind since Venturil?"

Khitti nodded, offering a faint smile, “I know. I wanted to at least say it, even if it does happen. I mean… I wasn’t exactly lacking in the stress department when I was pregnant either.” Khitti would shrug as Meri and shake her head when Venturil was touched on again, “Nothing. Bad dreams again is all. Not anything out of the ordinary after something like that. Sleep’s always eluded me anyway, so it’s nothing new.” Pause. “There’s more if you want it,” Khitti said, motioning to Meri’s nearly empty bowl with a slight nod of her head. “Whatever you end up doing, just don’t do it on your own, okay? Being a mother is hard enough as it is, let alone trying to have a business… or do anything else. People like Alvina and Hudson, with all of their wealth, make it seem really easy, but it’s not like that for people that basically live from payday to payday or anything sort of like that. Basically,” she said with a sigh,” you’ll be tired the first few months, so don’t hesitate to ask for help, alright? I know you’re a lot like me, with wanting to be as independent as possible, but… there’s just sometimes where we don’t get that luxury. I’ve tried, heh… It’s a wonder I’ve not spontaneously combusted yet with all the things I’ve put on my plate, between the guilds, the bakery, and being on the ship. I don’t even want to think about how crazy things might get if Kahran ever comes back.” It’s too late for that, unfortunately, because Khitti -has- been thinking about that.

Meri nodded in agreement, Khitti's pregnancy was certainly anything but stress free. Which now has Meri thinking back to that stress-filled time and frowning with worry as she recalls that one time that Khitti got shot in the belly with that thing and Meri was convinced that they would not even have baby Dominic enter their lives. Meri sighs, trying to push those dreams to the back of her head. "I'll need help. For certain. I will probably have to hire someone for help...Because just like you I am not always good about staying stationary." She likes to get out and find trouble, and child or not she still plans to. "I am not wealthy like Alvina and Hudson, but I don't live payday to payday like some." She made off with a pretty good haul of gems not too long ago with a certain fox friend. Plus the gems that she can get from Chisel, really as simple as keeping the creepy murder doll company. How she manages to say on her good side is a mystery to Meri. "And I am thinking that...If I do re-open my business, maybe I will give it a face-lift. Maybe it won't be an art store, where I am stuck doing inventory and monitoring sales and hosting painting classes, or doing tattoos. I always wanted to open up a gallery in addition to the studio....I think that would afford me more of my own creative liberty -- rather than having to plan a lesson based on what someone else will enjoy. If I give a lesson or a tattoo, it'll be to a few select individuals..." Meri shrugs. "Maybe we can sell some of your pieces in there too." Which leads to Meri circling back to the dreams. "If you get back into painting that is. It might be cathartic to paint some of the dreams you see at night. Healing is different for everyone I guess...But dreams are definitely not abnormal after a trauma." For example, Meri has nightmares about the people she loves ending up burned alive. Imagine that.

Khitti shook her head, “No. Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you do that. More just that… not everyone can afford a billion and one servants like them--” If they even had any? Khitti doesn’t know. It’s been a long time since she’s set foot in the Landon household and she only did it… once? She thinks? Oi. Whatever. They’re hella rich, regardless. “--nor do everyone live on a ship with tons of people who also have kids and don’t mind babysitting. Thank the gods Dominic is quiet and does nothing but blow snot bubbles and plays with his chicken.” Khitti attempted to wipe the exhaustion from her eyes, failed, and sighed, “I probably should start, regardless of whether or not I actually try to sell it. I’m going to have to either do it in the apartment when Dominic’s not there… or find a separate room for it on the ship. S’pose I could even do it at the guild hall too when I’m not busy. I just don’t want him to see it. It’s… not at all pleasant.” She would eventually shrug and nod, returning to the topic of what Meri should do with herself, “Doing something completely new tends to help me for a while, so the gallery would be nice. I think that’s why I’ve managed to put my foot in the door of so many different things since I’ve been back… Gotta keep moving or I’ll keep thinking. Of the not-good stuff, that is.”

Meri shrugs off Khitti's apology. Not in a way that suggests that she is upset, but more than it was not even needed. It's not like the two women talk money every day -- plenty of other things, but not money. "I mean I am no kid expert, which probably makes me the most qualified to declare that...Dominic is a pretty easy kid to watch. Haven't accidentally killed him yet." Meri smirks. "I think we've probably hashed out plenty of the details for now. We can fine tune more of it as we go along. What I want to do. Where you want to paint." Meri noticed the exhaustion in her sister's eyes. The blonde was tired, but not to the extent that Khitti seemed to be. Plus she still had the kid to deal with and trying to get him to bed. "You're tired, hopefully the kid will down quickly tonight. I can clean up the little bit of mess we made." Especially since Khitti heated dinner up and served it, it was the least Meri could do. "And then I will show myself to bed."

The exhaustion was more mental than physical but Khitti was welcome for the chance to go to bed. She would nod to Meri and her offer to clean up the mess that’d been made, “Alright. He’s not had his nap today, so it’s definitely an early bedtime for him tonight. Isn’t it, sprout?” Khitti scooped Dominic up out of his highchair, asked him if he could wave to Aunt Meri--which he did--and then headed to the door. The redhead stopped just before she could step through the doorway however and turned just enough to eye her sister, “There’ll be a big breakfast in the morning. It’ll be there for whenever you want it. No need to get up early if you don’t want to.” She smiled and headed off finally, leaving Meri to her own devices.