Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I..."

The weight of the lies between them settles in around Cindy, almost crushing her. She can't refute Jaina's line of thinking, explain that she is interested in men, without the lies rearing their ugly head: if she isn't a lesbian, if she isn't only interested in women, then why was she cast out of her home? 

"Thank you," she says instead, lowering her eyes. "I wish I wasn't such a disappointment to you, that I was interested in Will. But I... I wasn't looking to date Mel, I was just looking for friendship. I knew she was interested in boys."

[Smith Family]

"Cindy Black!" Jaina straightens, eyes flashing a bit. "You have never been a disappointment to me!"

[Tethras Clan]

Lie. A part of Aveline notes it, notes the.. strangeness of it. She doesn't know Cindy well but... "So is Seli." She coughs, then pushes on. "And me. I mean, you can like both."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy flinches, but doesn't respond to her mother. "I... I know, Liz likes both, but Mel didn't... I mean I never asked but... it seemed... we were children, I didn't have my life figured out and neither did she."

[Tethras Clan]

"I didn't know until I was past thirty," Aveline puts in. "So she might have. Or might not."

"Nor, I think, does it matter. Jai's point is that while she would have been sad if you and Mel had been together and stumbled, she would have understood and loved you both regardless." Seli smiles faintly, eyes looking at something unseen. The other two exchange faint smiles, knowing full well that look means she's thinking of the twins. Jaina's hand drifts down to rest on her own stomach.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Stumbled," she says bitterly. "If I had killed--"

She cuts off then, wiping the fresh tears from her eyes. "I failed Mel, but not as badly as I failed Liz," she says, quietly. "I think it's probably best I remain solitary. I have... I have always felt kinship with cats, after all, and many of them do not take kindly to other cats in their territory."

[Vigile]

Vigile mews loudly, the tone if disagreement and protest plain. 

[Tethras Clan]

"So he is your familiar." Seline smiles, nodding slightly. "I had suspected. He's far too clever to be mundane, even for a cat."

[Smith Family]

"If you had killed her, then yes, I... it would break my heart. But it's a mistake you hold, not a knife, daughter of my heart. And you deserve to be happy and loved."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy sniffles. "Vig adores me, but I do not think Whiskers feels the same toward him," she adds, as if to prove her point. "He is not mundane, but... He is more Liz's than mine."

She takes a deep breath, then, turning to Jaina, though it takes her a moment to put words together. "I... Liz nearly died. Would have died if I had not had to use the facilities. I nearly killed her with my negligence."

[Smith Family]

"At least you had a hand in her saving." Jaina speaks in a whisper, one filled with still uncleansed shame. "I... I know your home was unsafe. But I didn't want to push, to risk and it took you from us for almost a year. I don't deserve to have you back in my life. I'm your mother and I failed you." She takes a deep breath and glances at Seli, who is frowning at her. "I know that's... bad thinking. That you were an adult and didn't ask for help. That while I could have done more, I did try. Just like you." Two daughters I failed. Gods, forgive me for my shame, but I can't help praying for another boy. I've better luck with boys it seems.

[Coquette Blacquin]

My mother thinks she failed me, thinks that what I went through was her fault. The thought hurts, the weight of lies driving the spike of it into her heart. Because I wasn't honest. Because I kept secrets. Because I always keep secrets. She thinks I....

"It's not," she whispers. "My home wasn't.... I can't speak of what happened, but, it wasn't as you think. It wasn't... you didn't fail me. You were... You and Kyle saved me, in the ways that truly matter."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline clears her throat softly. "Jai, I'm... going to go run a bath. Seli, maybe do up the guest room?" The Joyous glances at the paladin, confused, then nods slowly. "Of course."

[Smith Family]

"Oh, a bath sounds like just the thing. After you eat just a bit more." Jaina fixes her daughter with a firm look and slants her eyes towards the plate pointedly, just for a second. "I can wash your hair, if you like." She's old for it, especially starting, but... it was always a soothing thing with my own mother.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No," she whispers, swallowing. "I... thank you, but..."

She does, however, take a slice of the untouched fruit, forcing herself to chew, swallow. It tastes like nothing so much as mud in her mouth, hated and dense, but she forces herself to swallow. Forces herself to do something for her poor suffering mother.