Itching for a Fight

[Daiyu]

Mara listened to their conversation, Liam and the pretty blonde lady, like she was listening to a story for the first time. Eventually, she scooted a little closer, then a little more, then a little more. Finally, she waited for one of them to pause, and she quietly asked: "What's christmas?" 

[Rachel Shale]

Four things. She had four things. That meant something. Rachel knew it did. She just wished it would stay in her mind instead of going away. It would leave again. She knew it would. This was her new normal, and nothing was going to change that. She was trying, but was getting so tired.

Rachel wasn’t sure about dancing with Lily. She wanted to, like holding her, but didn’t think it was a good idea. It was one thing to stay still, but another to be moving. Thankfully she was saved the decision by the approach of a young woman. Rachel had noticed her come down, but she had sat by herself and was watching. It appeared that she had been listening though. She asked about Christmas.

Rachel was silent for a little bit, but summoned her courage to speak to her. ”Christmas is a holiday in December. There is food, presents, and decorations. It started as a religious holiday - Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus, but other people celebrate too. Lots of people have their own traditions.” Rachel hadn’t spoken down to the woman, offering the best explanation she could think of. Hopefully Liam could add more. She wasn’t very good at such things.

[Legione Sumus]

Liam Wilson

Mara asked about Christmas. Liam looked at her with surprise. Rachel answered the question in a politically correct way but Liam grinned. "Nox has gone overboard. Or maybe it was Sage or Sky. I don't know."

Liam took both of their hands and stood up. "Come on. Let's up stairs." Liam let go of them. "We can do Christmas now -- at least the decorating part."

Liam whistled and pulled the attention of everyone else. "Mara wants to know what Christmas is. Let's go decorate the tree." Most of the rest of the kids had been waiting for days too decorate the tree that was in the other room. Liam looked down to Rachel. "You can bring Lily upstairs for me?"

[Jared Vanders]

Jared had asked the question, but never received an answer. The young man - Jared wasn’t sure of his name - had brought up decorating a Christmas tree.

The word Christmas reverberated across the room. Excitement fell on the kids’ face. Gen, who had been so excited about trying to heal Nox, was now excitedly heading towards the stairs. Jared let out a chuckle as he was left kneeling on the mat alone. The kids weren’t being selfish. They were being kids. He stood up, Elyse was there with a bright smile. Elyse looked at Rachel who was with the young man and a young woman - Jared assumed this was Mara. The gaze was there. Elyse liked Rachel very much. Emily had told him this, but he could now see the truth of it. Jared knew it was reciprocated.

”Its okay to like her,” he whispered to Elyse. Elyse didn’t look at him, but just smiled and gave a nod. ”Go to her.”

The problem before had been Rachel’s feelings may not have been her own. Her struggles had made her emotions confused. There was still some of that, but Jared knew Rachel and Emily still more. It had been Emily who had pointed this out at one of their dinners. She liked Elyse - very much - and this could be good for her. It was the whole reason Elyse had been hesitant. She simply hadn’t wanted to confuse the girl.

[Elyse]

Elyse didn’t hesitate after Jared’s command to go to Rachel. The words meant more than what they said. Elyse didn’t need their permission to be with Rachel. Neither did Rachel. The blessing of Jared Vanders meant the blessing of Emily Shale. And Emily always wanted what was best for her sister. The words had meant that Emily and Jared thought Rachel’s feelings were real, not some facsimile created by Lucio’s messing with her head.

Elyse had smelled it. When she had walked away from Rachel, her scent had changed. It was always slight - buried in fear - but it was different. Desire - not lust - it wasn’t the need for sexual gratification she had smelled when she had first met Rachel. It was tamer - more in control. Desire. Still - she had smiled then, thinking of Rachel checking her out as she walked away.

Given the gift of the blessing had just made it time for Elyse to do something. Liam had her hand, but she had Lily, so Elyse went to her other side to help her stand up, and when Rachel looked up to see who had helped, she smiled.

”You want to go?” Elyse asked. Rachel nodded.