Both Ruarc and Laoise were frozen in nearly identical poses. Mid shift towards reaching for their silverware, faces turned downward somewhat as they surveyed their food, and eyes looking curiously towards Jane and Eryl. Although Ruarc did adjust his gaze towards Eleanor and the mention of the alternate religious denomination. For what it was worth, it was more or less the same degree of comfort in taking part in the prayer as he had before. More accurately, Ruarc was now more curious than anything else. He’d never been all that interested in religion, so he could only imagine if he had heard of The White before. Even his own pagan roots were more of a professional consideration than anything else; and then there was Laoise’s peculiar relationship with divinity. Shaking the stupor quick enough, Ruarc moved on to helping himself to food.
“Is that a common faith around here? Or is it something your family has passed along?” Ruarc asked as he buttered some bread.
[Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
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Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
Only concern remained in the gunslinger’s expression as she watched Eryl’s internal struggle spill into the world. It was reflex that made a steadying hand dart out and catch the abjurer by the elbow. Seeing her steady, the grip was just as quickly relinquished.
“S’okay,” Jane reassured her before turning to her mother to explain. “Yonder valley, there’s people what believe in a Man Jesus. They call im a heavenly host too. He was a good and wise man, worthy o The White as I heard it told.”
Eleanor nodded as if she was listening, but her eyes were distant and red-rimmed as she fought down emotions once more.
“Seems like ain’t more n a handful know The White by name outside. So I guess ye could say is local. But they know the power o good, an they have their own names fer it. In the Far East they still kennit as Yin, so it ain’t all gone.”
Eleanor gave another absent nod.
“S’okay,” Jane reassured her before turning to her mother to explain. “Yonder valley, there’s people what believe in a Man Jesus. They call im a heavenly host too. He was a good and wise man, worthy o The White as I heard it told.”
Eleanor nodded as if she was listening, but her eyes were distant and red-rimmed as she fought down emotions once more.
“Seems like ain’t more n a handful know The White by name outside. So I guess ye could say is local. But they know the power o good, an they have their own names fer it. In the Far East they still kennit as Yin, so it ain’t all gone.”
Eleanor gave another absent nod.
Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
Jane’s touch was a mixture of incensing stimulus and soothing assurance, as Eryl settled more fully. She was still rather embarrassed about misreading the room and having gotten so carried away. So, she tried to listen intently, although she was still very distracted by her own internal turmoil. This wasn’t anything new, so it was easy to quell for the moment, as Eryl took another steadying breath.
Then, something Eleanor had said lit up a portion of the triclops’ mind like a match, and she perked up. She looked at Jane and asked her.
“I didn’t know you had any siblings, Jane.”
Eryl opened her mouth to say…
But I suppose I didn’t know about your mother either.
Finally thinking before doing, she closed her mouth, and smiled politely.
Then, something Eleanor had said lit up a portion of the triclops’ mind like a match, and she perked up. She looked at Jane and asked her.
“I didn’t know you had any siblings, Jane.”
Eryl opened her mouth to say…
But I suppose I didn’t know about your mother either.
Finally thinking before doing, she closed her mouth, and smiled politely.
Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
"Two siblings, at that," Laoise mused amid handling her own food. The familiar thought back to the pictures she'd looked at in the hall, but the only other child she could recall was a young boy; she hadn't seen a third child in the family portrait. "I'll admit to being curious about our resident Mysterious Stranger."
"Be careful about the sibling line of questioning. Eryl or myself can fall on that sword," Laoise cautioned Ruarc.
"Oooookay, wasn't planning on pulling that thread anyway, all yours," Ruarc thought back.
"It's certainly my first time hearing about The White. It couldn't have anything to do with the Prophet, could it? A unique sounding religion in the area, and the town over is facing a unique sounding cult. Not saying The White is the cause, so much as the Prophet is a natural derivative many religions end up facing."
“Makes me wonder if the area’s druid is able to cover the area properly… actually, does Texas have a druid vanguard in residence?” Laoise wondered aloud. “I’m just picturing Clint Eastwood in a cloak rather than a duster, and I don’t hate it.”
“The Southern States and Central America do have druids, but with how spread out everything is out this way I imagine they work in a regional rotation. Even then, a place as out of sorts as this… magically speaking, I mean… would probably steer them away unless they felt certain something was going on in the area.”
"Be careful about the sibling line of questioning. Eryl or myself can fall on that sword," Laoise cautioned Ruarc.
"Oooookay, wasn't planning on pulling that thread anyway, all yours," Ruarc thought back.
"It's certainly my first time hearing about The White. It couldn't have anything to do with the Prophet, could it? A unique sounding religion in the area, and the town over is facing a unique sounding cult. Not saying The White is the cause, so much as the Prophet is a natural derivative many religions end up facing."
“Makes me wonder if the area’s druid is able to cover the area properly… actually, does Texas have a druid vanguard in residence?” Laoise wondered aloud. “I’m just picturing Clint Eastwood in a cloak rather than a duster, and I don’t hate it.”
“The Southern States and Central America do have druids, but with how spread out everything is out this way I imagine they work in a regional rotation. Even then, a place as out of sorts as this… magically speaking, I mean… would probably steer them away unless they felt certain something was going on in the area.”
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
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Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
The talk about siblings seemed to stir Eleanor back to life. She took a deep breath and sighed. Today seemed to be a day of many emotional trials for her. She addressed the matter of druids first. "I dunno bout all that druid business, but I ken this valley keenly. Ain't none of em roun here.
"As fer chilren, yes: they been the three greatest gifts John er gamme." Jane grabbed her mother's hand again, and she had an unusual expression. It was not unusual in itself, but in its presence on Jane's face. In it were many things that seemed foreign on her: the fondness of nostalgia, the deepness of familial bonds, and the comfort of unconditional love. Eleanor reciprocated the gesture with a squeeze and a glance before eying all her guests.
"Lil Whittaker came first, but he wasn long fer this world. He was my lil trooper, though, an he was three when I had James. Actually..." She rose slowly, and stepped into the hall briefly. She was carrying the photo of Jane and the sandy blond boy. She handed it to Laoise. "Thas my Jamie an Janie. He was, oh... two?" The mother queried the daughter for confirmation.
"Almos three, mama," she said with a nod.
"Thas right. He was near on three years older than my Janie. She was always her daddy's princess--"
"Mama!" Jane exclaimed, with a twisted expression. Was she embarrassed? Was that the faintest hint of a blush?
"--But lil Jamie was my hound dog. So eager to grow up an be his papa, always tryna fill bigger britches." Her gaze became listless as she lost herself in the memories and the accompanying feelings. Things she hadn't felt in a long time.
Jane smoothly slipped into the empty space her mother had left. "Ye could prolly say it th' other way roun-- the Prophet firs came roun preachin The Good Word with little twists to it." There was acrid disdain in the way she emphasized 'twists.' "I'm worried. If he somehow got his devil claws back in them small folk, then..." She shook her head.
"It won be pretty, no matter how we play it. Steel yerselves. Innocent folk turned inta tools ain't no less dangerous."
As if sensing the finality in her daughter's words, Eleanor rose and cleared her place at the table. Jane instinctively rose to assist her. The older Smith merely placed her things in the sink and turned to face her daughter. She looked her up and down again, much the way she had the first time. But her gaze and heart were soft now, drinking it all in. "Ye grown good an right, Janie," she said and leaned in to hug the gunslinger.
"Thankee, mama." Her body language gave open tenderness, another alien expression on the American warrior.
"Now, watchin ye spring out the earth like a bad dream, well it's wore me down to my bones. I'm tuckin in, but y'all keep yer own time. An tidy up for me, will ye?"
Jane smiled reassuringly. "Course, mama. Get some rest." She took a deep breath, settling into the sensation of all these warm feelings while she watched her mother retire.
When she turned back around, only the ghost of that smile remained, but that ghost seemed to possess her. Nothing she did was different per se, but everything she did seemed to lack the weight that had yoked her all the years the menagerie had known her. She returned to her seat to finish her food.
"As fer chilren, yes: they been the three greatest gifts John er gamme." Jane grabbed her mother's hand again, and she had an unusual expression. It was not unusual in itself, but in its presence on Jane's face. In it were many things that seemed foreign on her: the fondness of nostalgia, the deepness of familial bonds, and the comfort of unconditional love. Eleanor reciprocated the gesture with a squeeze and a glance before eying all her guests.
"Lil Whittaker came first, but he wasn long fer this world. He was my lil trooper, though, an he was three when I had James. Actually..." She rose slowly, and stepped into the hall briefly. She was carrying the photo of Jane and the sandy blond boy. She handed it to Laoise. "Thas my Jamie an Janie. He was, oh... two?" The mother queried the daughter for confirmation.
"Almos three, mama," she said with a nod.
"Thas right. He was near on three years older than my Janie. She was always her daddy's princess--"
"Mama!" Jane exclaimed, with a twisted expression. Was she embarrassed? Was that the faintest hint of a blush?
"--But lil Jamie was my hound dog. So eager to grow up an be his papa, always tryna fill bigger britches." Her gaze became listless as she lost herself in the memories and the accompanying feelings. Things she hadn't felt in a long time.
Jane smoothly slipped into the empty space her mother had left. "Ye could prolly say it th' other way roun-- the Prophet firs came roun preachin The Good Word with little twists to it." There was acrid disdain in the way she emphasized 'twists.' "I'm worried. If he somehow got his devil claws back in them small folk, then..." She shook her head.
"It won be pretty, no matter how we play it. Steel yerselves. Innocent folk turned inta tools ain't no less dangerous."
As if sensing the finality in her daughter's words, Eleanor rose and cleared her place at the table. Jane instinctively rose to assist her. The older Smith merely placed her things in the sink and turned to face her daughter. She looked her up and down again, much the way she had the first time. But her gaze and heart were soft now, drinking it all in. "Ye grown good an right, Janie," she said and leaned in to hug the gunslinger.
"Thankee, mama." Her body language gave open tenderness, another alien expression on the American warrior.
"Now, watchin ye spring out the earth like a bad dream, well it's wore me down to my bones. I'm tuckin in, but y'all keep yer own time. An tidy up for me, will ye?"
Jane smiled reassuringly. "Course, mama. Get some rest." She took a deep breath, settling into the sensation of all these warm feelings while she watched her mother retire.
When she turned back around, only the ghost of that smile remained, but that ghost seemed to possess her. Nothing she did was different per se, but everything she did seemed to lack the weight that had yoked her all the years the menagerie had known her. She returned to her seat to finish her food.
Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
As the conversation went on, it was hard not to feel the time lost. Eryl knew what is was like to walk streets that felt like other planets. If she wanted to speak to family, she could only talk to weathered and broken gravestones. So, to witness the pain of Eleanor Smith was an empathy she wasn't ready for.
Little, quiet tears plipped onto Eryl's dinner plate, the weight of time squeezing them out of her. Her hand clutched a small amulet at her chest, holding the only surviving image of her father.
"My goodness," Eryl wiped her eyes, "Now that we've met her, I quite look forward to the opportunity to get to know your mother better."
Little, quiet tears plipped onto Eryl's dinner plate, the weight of time squeezing them out of her. Her hand clutched a small amulet at her chest, holding the only surviving image of her father.
"My goodness," Eryl wiped her eyes, "Now that we've met her, I quite look forward to the opportunity to get to know your mother better."
Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
“Aww, Princess~” Laoise echoed softly as she took a degree of delight from such genuine reaction from Jane, and wondered how dangerous it would be to attempt to call her that again in the future; you know, for funsies, between girls. Ruarc on the other hand was a little more somber. Similar to what Eryl was feeling, the Irishman thought of the waning size of his own family. Like Jane, ever since Grandpa Flynn died and Conall decided he had better things to do than have a family, Ruarc was down to having just his mother for blood relatives. Of course he had Laoise as well, but ever since she was resurrected in the Elementia he had been feeling as though their bond was weakening. It was silly of course, and Laoise was still his sister in bond and spirit; but he couldn’t dispel that shadow from his mind.
Having been eating for the duration of the conversation, Ruarc was the first to finish his plate. Then, with a quiet shift of his seat he stood and started to carry some of the spent dishes back to the kitchen, and began cleaning up while the women sat around the table.
“She reminds me of Saoirse in a lot of ways,” Laoise spoke, her tone suggesting she was feeling relaxed. Tilting her head towards Eryl, she clarified. “Mama Flynn. She is a kind woman, but strong enough to stare down a ram. I heard she didn’t even bat an eyelash when she first met Grandpa Flynn’s bear familiar. But… you can see her heart break a little every time Ruarc visits home with a new scar, while wondering how long it will be until his next long-awaited visit. I know it might be a hard thing to manage since Mama Smith lives way out in the back forty’s back forty, and might even be preaching to the choir; but I know your Mum would like to see you more.”
Having been eating for the duration of the conversation, Ruarc was the first to finish his plate. Then, with a quiet shift of his seat he stood and started to carry some of the spent dishes back to the kitchen, and began cleaning up while the women sat around the table.
“She reminds me of Saoirse in a lot of ways,” Laoise spoke, her tone suggesting she was feeling relaxed. Tilting her head towards Eryl, she clarified. “Mama Flynn. She is a kind woman, but strong enough to stare down a ram. I heard she didn’t even bat an eyelash when she first met Grandpa Flynn’s bear familiar. But… you can see her heart break a little every time Ruarc visits home with a new scar, while wondering how long it will be until his next long-awaited visit. I know it might be a hard thing to manage since Mama Smith lives way out in the back forty’s back forty, and might even be preaching to the choir; but I know your Mum would like to see you more.”
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Mr. Blackbird Lore
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Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
Eryl's comment about Jane's mother sparked another unique response: a proud smile. Of course, the gunslinger's pride was legendary, part and parcel with her mythos. But that was revealed in the way serious way she spoke, her stern demeanor when she taught, and the gravitas that she invested everything that held meaning to her: these things spoke softly of deeply instilled pride. It was quite another thing to see it written so plainly on her face. It seemed coming home had unveiled the many deeper layers of the gunslinger.
She glared sharply at Laoise when she softly repeated her mother's words, but there was no vehemence to the look. It was the look one friend gave to another when they were being teased. Who knew Jane understood how to be teased?
Her visage became much more subdued when Laoise brought up Ruarc's family. "Ain't we jus two peas in a pod, eh, Flynn? Hardy folk born o hard folk." She rose from her seat at the table and began to clear it. She also took Eryl's dishes, and when the woman made to protest, Jane interrupted. "If ye wanna help, ye can help me wash up. Now, coffee er tea?"
Jane glanced up at Ruarc and Laoise. "Same fer ye: coffee er tea? Or I spose I can check the cellar, if folks need sumin ta ease the spirit. I jus might anyway... jus in case. Feel free ta help, or jus hang round. There's still plenny ta discuss."
Her sleeves were already rolled up, so it was easy enough to dive right into her chore, scrubbing plates and passing them to Eryl for drying. And she found herself feeling perfectly at ease. Perfectly. No matter what else had or would happen, she was home, doing dishes after a homecooked dinner from her own mama. Her heart was swollen with the comfort and joy only nostalgia and a heartfelt homecoming could provide. Her smile was small, but unwavering, crooking the corner of her lips all the while. It was easiest for Eryl to see as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and Jane would flash it her way every time a dish was passed between them.
She glared sharply at Laoise when she softly repeated her mother's words, but there was no vehemence to the look. It was the look one friend gave to another when they were being teased. Who knew Jane understood how to be teased?
Her visage became much more subdued when Laoise brought up Ruarc's family. "Ain't we jus two peas in a pod, eh, Flynn? Hardy folk born o hard folk." She rose from her seat at the table and began to clear it. She also took Eryl's dishes, and when the woman made to protest, Jane interrupted. "If ye wanna help, ye can help me wash up. Now, coffee er tea?"
Jane glanced up at Ruarc and Laoise. "Same fer ye: coffee er tea? Or I spose I can check the cellar, if folks need sumin ta ease the spirit. I jus might anyway... jus in case. Feel free ta help, or jus hang round. There's still plenny ta discuss."
Her sleeves were already rolled up, so it was easy enough to dive right into her chore, scrubbing plates and passing them to Eryl for drying. And she found herself feeling perfectly at ease. Perfectly. No matter what else had or would happen, she was home, doing dishes after a homecooked dinner from her own mama. Her heart was swollen with the comfort and joy only nostalgia and a heartfelt homecoming could provide. Her smile was small, but unwavering, crooking the corner of her lips all the while. It was easiest for Eryl to see as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and Jane would flash it her way every time a dish was passed between them.
Re: [Texas] Chapter 2.1: You Shouldn't Have Come Back
"Tea?"
Eryl found herself following the light that was this new, illuminated Jane around the kitchen. She had been drawn up from her chair as if she were attached by a string, not letting modesty slow her down. This renewed energy of the prodigal daughter was infectious, and it sent the triclops searching for hand towels to get the drying done.
"Tea! Of course," finally, Eryl had summoned the words, "We'll need to clear the table."
Eagerly, she joined in the drying of dishes, enjoying the mere fact of sharing in the work. Whenever Eryl visited the ranch, she had always been a guest. She had to fight to do anything for Jane, so each little cup, plate, and fork was a victory.
Then there was that smile. It was like the sun breaking the clouds every time it came her way. Eryl's heart thumped, threatening to break out of the cage of her chest.
"Oh! Actually, maybe something to settle the nerves," admitted Eryl, feeling she had gotten the caffeine she needed in the moment.
Eryl found herself following the light that was this new, illuminated Jane around the kitchen. She had been drawn up from her chair as if she were attached by a string, not letting modesty slow her down. This renewed energy of the prodigal daughter was infectious, and it sent the triclops searching for hand towels to get the drying done.
"Tea! Of course," finally, Eryl had summoned the words, "We'll need to clear the table."
Eagerly, she joined in the drying of dishes, enjoying the mere fact of sharing in the work. Whenever Eryl visited the ranch, she had always been a guest. She had to fight to do anything for Jane, so each little cup, plate, and fork was a victory.
Then there was that smile. It was like the sun breaking the clouds every time it came her way. Eryl's heart thumped, threatening to break out of the cage of her chest.
"Oh! Actually, maybe something to settle the nerves," admitted Eryl, feeling she had gotten the caffeine she needed in the moment.