Babies, Companions, Kisses and Preachers
After the reaver issues and also the threat from the slavers, no doubt the ship is on a bit of high alert. Helena is up late with an infant in her arms. The woman dressed in green satin pajamas and her long red hair worn in a loose braid over her shoulder. The baby is a bit fussy and the Companion is walking her with a little bouncing step to soothe her water boils around a bottle. <English>
Kit is still unaccustomed to the planet's rotation and as such is up earlier than most. Expecting to find common area empty, the tall woman stops seeing the redhead and the baby. Reaching up she rubs the heal of a hand against one eye, trying to rub the sleep out of it. Padding barefoot towards what she hopes will soon be a pot full of coffee, the brunette is dressed in a faded t-shirt advertising some island resort on a Core planet and a pair of boxer shorts. "Coffee," she asks quietly, not wanting to upset the baby. <English>
Helena looks up as she sees the woman enter, a pause as she tightens her hold on the baby reflexedly before common sense gets the better of her. "The new gal?" She asks in a soft voice as she relaxes. "Let me get the bottle out and the water should be good for the coffee." She says as she slips into the kitchen and pulls the bottle out of the water by the nipple and sets it on the counter to cool a bit. "Tea might help you settle into rythem a bit better though." <English>
With a nod she offers her name in the same quiet voice, "Kit Wilson." She looks over at the baby and frowns a little. "Poor tyke. Boy or a girl?" The idea of tea makes Kit realise she doesn't know quiet where it is and so stares bankly at the cupboards for a long minute or two before quietly opening one to look inside. <English>
Helena nods as the name as offered and shifts the babe into one arm as she moves back into the kitchen, "I am Helena Byrne and this is Bay. She is the daughter of the slave we freed last week." The one who died alas. It seems as if this woman has taken on her care. She moves towards one of the cabinets and pulls out a wooden box with many draws in it. She opens two of them. "A pinch of each of these in a cup and pour the water over it." Some tea leaves and spices. <English>
"Mmmm, yes," says Kit. "Esther and Conoger told me about it. Storn and I found the woman who helped deliver the baby." She smiles at the offer of the tea leaves. "Thank you, Helena." A glance at the tired woman has her making two cups of tea rather than one. "Who named her?" <English>
Riley shuffles in from the aft of the ship. He's wearing only a pair of shorts. A few old scars faintly show on his slightly tanned body. His usual pale sheen has darkened significantly thanks to their extended stay at the Paquin beaches. His hair is sticking up all over. He looks half asleep. His eyes are closed as he drags his way into the galley, so he doesn't notice the two women that also seem to have trouble with sleep. <English>
Helena leans against the counter with the baby cradled in one arm and reaches for the fresh made bottle. The comment about the woman found has Helena looking up, "Was she able to say anything about the woman and the baby? What the woman had called her? One of the crew named her Bay I believe for we knew not what she was called." She looks up as Riley joins them in the kitchen and smiles at Kit, "Better make that three cups." <English>
The action of crossing her long bare legs at the ankle causes the boxer shorts she wears to shift slightly as does leaning back against the counter. Kit glances down at the water. Standing close as they are Helena could see, if she chose to look, the faded track marks on the insides of both of Kit's arms and a myriad of faded scars on her legs; the kind which come from fights but also the kind which clearly were meted out as abuse in the distant past. "She's an old healer in Twin Oaks. The slavers blackmailed her, threatening to kill her family if she didn't help them. They kidnapped her and took her out into the middle of nowhere on a MULE each time they needed her help. So if she did deliver the baby it wasn't at the monestary but elsewhere. I -," her head turns at the sound of Riley's arrival and with a nod she pushes her hips away from the counter and reaching for a third mug, adds a pinch of tea leaves and hot water to it. <English>
The zombified pilot opens his eyes as he hears conversation and shuffling about. It takes a minute to process, but when he realizes he's not alone he looks visibly disappointed. Looks like sneaking that drink is out of the question now. He smiles politely at the girls. "Thanks." he mutters and looks over at the baby, then up at Helena. "Do they ever let you sleep at that age?" <English>
Helena listens quietly to what Kit had found out and just shakes her head, "The more I hear the more I just want to hide away from humanity. To make slaves of people is not something I will ever understand." She murmurs as she tests some of the milk before giving the babe the bottle. Yep this is what the babe needed as she instantly quiets and sets to sucking. She looks up to Riley and gives a tired smile, "Such I am learning, but for the smiles she gives it is worth it. I never thought myself as ever becoming a mother. Even if temporary I am enjoying it." <English>
Kit leaves a mug on the counter for Helena then takes another and holds it out to Riley. "Storn and I are hoping we can get some others to go with us and find this camp they took the old woman to. We got a map off of and admirer I found in the bar." She takes the third mug for herself and carefully blows across the surface of the hot tea. <English> Riley takes the mug and raises an eyebrow at the conversation. He's been kind of out of the loop for a few days. "What's going on now?" he says before taking a sip of the very hot tea and nearly burning himself. <English>
"Some guy is claiming to be Bay's father and is giving us a week to return her. It is the asswipes that enslaved her mother, we are sure of it. I will be taking the ship kids to hiding before they come unless we can find another way to deal with things. Several of our gun hands are down thanks to Reavers. Esther and Connie are out of action, so the rest of you guys will have to be ready." Helena says with a bit of an edge to her voice. She has grown quite protective of the little one. <English>
"I think that sounds sensible," says Kit, though she's only the junior engineer and junior security person. "There should still be enough of us left to do it, provided their camp isn't too heavily fortified. Or we're ridiculously out numbered." She takes a careful sip of her tea. "It stands to reason that if the latter were true they would have already tried to take the monastery back." Her head turns towards Riley, "I can fill you in if you like, Ri?" <English>
Riley pants a bit too cool his burning tongue. "It's fine. I know most of the story. Hell, I was there when we rescued the baby." He can't help but remember the poor bastard who's brains he blew all over himself, and shudders a little. "I just missed the recent turn of events. Honest, though, I expected more violence. They weren't the most skilled guns out there nor the most organized, but there's no way they were gonna back down after the mess we left." <English>
"Well it seems they plan too and neither Esther or Conoger will leave the monastery until they are sure the danger is passed even if neither are fit to defend it." Helena responds as she continues to feed the baby at the enter of the storm. "I was either going to take the Kids to Kyronis's ranch or my apartment in Persephone. I am leaning to the former, at least he is apart of this. The tower has guards, but I would rather not make the place a target. Most of us still are dealing with the memories of the attacks a few years ago." <English>
Kit merely nods. She wasn't part of the crew and really doesn't know what happened to them years ago. She wasn't even part of it a week ago. "I'm just small time," she says, despite being almost the tallest person on the ship, "I'll do whatever they need me to do." Her head tilts and she looks at Riley, "How're you feeling? No residuals from the venom?" <English>
Riley chuckles sardonically. "The only residuals is the doc still not let tin' me drink." The wound on his calf is actually looking pretty good. The bandages are off, it's well stitched and healing nicely. He does look at Kit with a little concern. He know's she's been through a lot. It's written all over her body. He's obviously not to thrilled with the idea of her getting shot up so soon after their reunion...or at all for that matter. The pilot looks back at the baby in Helena's arms as it greedily nurses the bottle. "You're gonna cause us all kindsa trouble aren't you sweet heart?" <English>
The bottle has finished and the babe is already heading to dreamland as well. Helena looks to the other two, "Perhaps we can talk more in the morning. Going to go to bed while I can." She says as she pushes away from the counter, grabbing the teacup in a free hand. The words of Riley draw a slight nod, "But worth it." She murmurs before heading off to the cabin she shares with Conoger. <English>
"Sleep well, Helena," says Kit quietly, not wanting to wake the baby. "And thank you for the tea." She sips her own tea and watches as the woman and the baby walk away. <English>
"G'night Ladies." He says quietly to Helena and the baby. He turns back to his tea and, over the lip of the mug, he scans his 'wife's' body noting the scars. It's such a foreign site. He's always remembered that skin beautifully smooth and unblemished. He has no clue what happened to her, but he can't help but pity her and blame himself. "You sure you want to get tangled up in all this?" <English>
"I'm not going to leave again," she says. "And not just because I'd be doing the Verse a favour by killing those slavers." Kit looks around and nods towards one of the sofas before moving over to sit down on it. "I don't know if I believe in God anymore, but fate maybe...and if fate is real she sure wanted you and I to end up in the same place again. I've been thinking, Ri, you know," she looks up at him and swallows thickly, "that's got to mean something." <English>
Riley follows her to the sofa and listens with a storm of conflicting emotions brewing up in him again. "I don't know what it means." he says quietly as he sits beside her. "Those bastards are asking for a bullet, for sure, but it ain't gonna be an easy fight. I'm not sure I like the idea of you in the crossfire." Turning to sit sideways, he locks eyes with her. Those bright blue eyes are harder than he remembered. "It ain't my place to stop ya, I just want to make sure you know whats at stake." Raising his right hand, unsuredly at first, he tenderly brushes some hair out of her face and over ear. "If you /do/ decide to fight, I'm not letting you out of my site. I'll be between you and them every step of the way." <English>
Kit leans into the touch. Perhaps surprisingly her face is devoid of any markings as if it was the rule of whomever her abusers were in the past that she was to never be disfigured by their ill-treatment. "Just don't do something stupid and die on me Riley. I'd be really pissed off if you did that." Trying to ease the seemingly perpetual tension between them she smirks a little and jokes, "Even more pissed off if it came down to me to clear out your porn collection." <English>
"I think Covis has dibs on the porn." he chuckles. The mood is starting to lighten, and Riley notices that he's staring. He doesn't break his gaze though. He hasn't really looked at her since she's been back. Not like this anyways. She's still gorgeous. For all the years that have passed, she's only become stronger...more beautiful. Before he realizes it, Riley leans in to kiss her. That was dumb, and he's not really sure what he's thinking, other than that this is probably not a good idea. But there he is anyways, eyes locked, and his softly parted lips what feels like microns from hers. <English>
Her smirk shifts into a grin at his words. Kit tugs at the front of her faded t-shirt, just drawing attention to the fact she's wearing nothing beneath it rather than deflecting the look of interest in his eyes. Her own blue eyes widen as Riley leans in closer. A myriad of thoughts run through her head but all of them culminate in one thing; her leaning forward to meet him halfway. Her hand, warm from holding the mug she just set aside, moves over to rest lightly on his knee. "Ri," Kit whispers his name against his mouth in a soft sigh before her eyes slowly close. Yeah, probably not the best idea but why change a lifetime of behaviour now? <English>
It is that time of day which is neither late at night nor quite early morning but the hazy grey period between. The common room is quiet, but only because its sole occupants are seated on one of the sofas, both in their respective version of nightwear, and rather wrapped up in becoming intimately re-acquainted with one another's tonsils. <English>
Riley runs his fingers through Kit's hair as their lips meet. Years of pain and longing are in that kiss, and he gets lost in it. Her hand on his leg, and her warm breath in his lungs is enough to drive him wild. The thin cloth of his shorts, doesn't do much to hide his excitement. <English>
Reno steps into the common area, reading from a leatherbound book while he walks. Truth is, he's engrossed in the tome to the point where he bumps his head on a gorram beam - the danger of being taller than most people, y'see - and grunts. He closes the book on his index finger and rubs his forehead with his other hand, only then realising he's intruding on something. Clearing his throat slightly, the big Shepherd says, "Ah. Excuse me... ah, you two... I'll... just..." And then he ducks over to get himself a drink, fumbling a little with the glass. His broad back turned to the pair, Reno says nothing more. <English>
With obvious reluctance Kit pulls away. She isn't quite ready to relinquish all contact with Riley, however, and shifts on the sofa so she is snuggled up against his front. The hand she pulls through her hair is trembling with the aching need he has created in her, but her gaze follows the...Shepherd? "I didn't know there was a Shepherd on board." Thankfully her faded t-shirt and boxer shorts provide enough coverage to be respectable. <English>
Riley 's heart nearly stops when he hears Reno come in. His Catholic upbringing still plagues him, and he instantly feels guilty. Why he should feel guilty for kissing his wife is beyond him. He is glad that she moves over to lay against him though, her body hides his rather large...indiscretion from the preachers view. "Uhhh Hey...Preacher. *ahem* Can't sleep?" <English>
Reno turns from getting himself some coffee (or whatever), and seems to have recovered from the surprise of walking in on the couple, judging by the warm smile he's wearing. He takes two steps toward the pair, and says to the woman, "Reno Morse, ma'am. And I'm just a passenger, so I don't reckon I warrant much note when it comes to a discussion of the crew." The big man says to Riley, "I was suddenly drawn into a rather remarkable passage. Happens to me sometimes - the Scriptures get a hold of me and, well, captivates my attention. Perhaps another time, I'll share what I'm reading, Mister O'Hare. But, I've already interrupted you two, so I'll get going back to my bunk." <English>
"My mother used to spend hours reading the scriptures," says Kit. She smiles at Reno, even if she is a bit embarassed at his having caught them necking on the couch. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Kit Wil-" her head turns just enough that she can see Riley, "O'Hare." Kit leans over and picks up her tea from the floor then takes a sip. <English>
Riley is caught off guard by her introduction to the intruding guest and it breaks all awkwardness of the moment before. He's never actually heard her take his name since the Shepherd announced them at their wedding. It makes it real, and it hits him like a ton of bricks. He can't help but smile, and he affectionately wraps his arms around his wife and kisses the top of her head as she lays against his chest. <English>
Reno's expression changes a little as the woman's introduced, his smile widening a little more (if such a thing were possible) and he inclines his head to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs O'Hare," the man greets. Reno notes Riley's bright smile, and the affectionate display is met with a grin. "Reading the scriptures is an excellent way to spend a few hours," he agrees, adding, "but I really /should/ be getting back to my studies." Lifting the book demonstratively, Reno quips, "There are at least 5 sermons that have leapt out at me." <English>
"Good night," Kit says to Reno. She doesn't delve more into the religiousity of sermons or the good book, rather instead turns her attention back to Riley. "That was okay, yeah? I mean, I didn't ask. Maybe I should have..." <English>
Riley wonders to himself if those sermons are about him. "'Night Preacher." he says, glad that he's leaving. He looks back at Kitrina fondly. "It's...it's fine. We /are/ still married. I just...I haven't heard that name in a LONG time." He leans over and kisses her cheek. <English>
Kit finishes her tea and sets the mug aside again then reaches for one of his hands. "I want to ask so many things about what has happened to you, about where you've gone and been and seen and done." Her fingers brush over his as she meets his gaze. "Do you know I was jealous when I heard there were so many women on board. I thought one of them would be with you." <English>
Riley blushes and laughs nervously. "Not for lack of trying." He takes her probing hand in his, and lightly rubs the back of it with his thumb. "Trina...when you left I..." he looks away wondering how to say it. "I let myself go." He sighs heavily. "I may not have been with anyone on this ship, but that speaks better of their character than it does mine." He looks down at her hand, and can't help but see the tracks and scars on her arms. With his free hand he softly traces the marks. "What happened to /you/?" <English>
She leans her head forward until their foreheads are touching. "I don't care about the women, Ri, they were in the past," she says softly, trying to absolve him of that burden of guilt. Kit stills briefly, more in response to his question than to his soothing and curious touch. "I thought I was signing on to work for a merchant, but they were slavers. They used drugs to keep us compliant, near comatose sometimes. If we resisted or tried to run we were beaten. But never on the face. That damaged the goods." Her shoulders rise and fall as she breathes in deeply and exhales on a heavy sigh. "I was like those women you all found here. Only I was lucky enough to never end up pregnant." <English>
As she tells her tale, Riley begins to understand her insistence in joining their little adventure. At the same time a new hatred for those Huen Dahn rises in his heart. It's personal now. He's gonna kill as many of them as he can get his hands on. They may not be the same people that had Kit, but he's gonna make them pay as if they had. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea." he says with resolution in his eye. <English>
Kit reaches up and cradles his face between her hands, "There was no way for you to know, Riley. They took me off world. I spent five years praying I would die and wishing I had never been foolish enough to leave you." She smiles faintly, "And then one day an old man helped us escape. "I didn't know what to do, didn't have any skills, was so addled with the drugs..." her head shakes lightly as if she still cannot believe she survived, "now look at me. I'm here with you and you still smell so good." <English>
Riley smiles at the last part. "That's only cause I haven't been partying." As she raises her hands to his face, his moved to her hips. As he stares into her eyes again, he's thankful for whatever providence brought her out of all of that, and back to him. He can't hold on to the pain anymore. She's already paid too much for leaving. He just wants to make sure she never hurts again. <English>
Kit laughs at that and shakes her head, "No. Even when you were dusty and sweaty underneath it all you still smelled...I don't know how to explain it. I've never been able to explain it." She is aware that she sounds like a sap and looks like one too. "So the two docs, they share the medbay right? I mean they sleep there?" <English>
Riley thinks the question over for a second. He never really thought of it before, but years of indecent living, and pornography make his mind go to quite inappropriate places at the thought of those two ladies alone in the medbay. He doesn't say it of course "I guess so. I know Chloe's been planet-side with her rancher boyfriend lately though." after another seconds thought "Where do they have /you/ bunking up? This ship is pretty cramped." <English>
"I'm in the women's bunks," answers Kit. "All," she smirks, "on my own. Well me and some crates." Her long arms drape over his shoulders, her wrists resting one atop one another behind his head. "You know, in case you want to walk me to my bunk or have a sleepover or something. Shepherd free zone down there." <English>
Riley grins wickedly. "It /is/ pretty dangerous in this ship, what with all the random shepherds and folk wandering about. I REALLY should walk you back to your bunk." <English>
Kit fights back her laughter, but it's there glittering in her eyes, as she nods in agreement. "So very dangerous. And confusing too. I need someone to help me find my way and look after me." <English>
Riley rises from the sofa...he's not the only one thats risen. He grabs her hands and lifts her up to join him before offering his arm, like a proper escort. <English>
Even in her bare feet Kit is several inches taller, but then that's always been the case and she's never much cared. She slips her arm through Riley's offered one, grinning at him as she does. <English>
