Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy unstoppers the vial, but she pauses, staring down at it for a long moment. Finally, she throws it back with all the expertise of one used to alcohol, shivering only slightly as she does. There. It will help. It must. It won't be like before.

[Tethras Clan]

The liquid tastes of mint and... faintly of salt. Not the best taste but inoffensive in most regards. As she swallows, Cindy feels... much the same really. No sudden damping of her thoughts or senses, no clamminess or disorientation. Just a slight coolness in her stomach. "It does take a minute or so to start to work. And you'll want to keep some water on hand, as it can dry your mouth out a touch. 

"I find that troubles fewer people than the other two popular variations. Children will spit the green right back out as it tastes of sour black tea and lavender and the the pale green can upset the stomach something terrible after it runs its course for those of a more delicate constitution." Seli studies Cindy for a moment. "By your reluctance, I gather you've had prior experience with such tonics that went poorly?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I lost time," she says quietly. "It doesn't matter. Thank you. I... If this goes poorly, I... Thank you. You have been a good friend to my mother and..."

[Tethras Clan]

"Hey no, none of that! I've only just started to get to know you, Cindy, and I don't wish to hear a goodbye just yet." Seli offers a smile and steps forward again, arms spread in clear offering. "I love Jai dearly, it's no hardship to be with her, I assure you."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She shakes her head, minutely, drawing back into herself. "I... I must keep my composure."

[Tethras Clan]

Bah. Composure is for Vangalites. "As you like," Seli replies out loud. "Sit then and try to focus on your breathing. I'm sure Jai and Kyle won't be much longer."

[Smith Family]

As Cindy takes the advice of the Joyous, she has only a few more moments of waiting before the elder Smiths enter the room. Jaina has a drawn, worried expression as she pushes the tea cart in the room and busies herself with preparing tea for everyone. Kyle's expression is more hang-dog, though he musters a supportive smile for Cindy as he takes a seat. One not next to his wife, who sits herself next to Seli. Taking her friends hand, Jaina looks at Cindy. "Go on then." Her voice is steady, firm, but her eyes give lie to the facade with the fragile worry in them.

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy bows her head, taking a deep breath. Now or never. This is it. Do the thing, do it well, and then you can rest at last.

"I have a confession to make. Many of them, actually," she says quietly. "I have been lying to you since the day we met. Over the years, my lies have become greater and greater, spiraling out of control. I have never been who you thought I was. I wanted to be, but now I see that that desire was wrong, that I cannot... I cannot lie my way into someone else's family simply because my own has become too jaded, too accustomed to my habits to believe in me any longer."

She takes a deep breath, unable to risk more than a glance up at her mother's face as she continues. "My name is -- was, for I am disowned now -- Lady Coquette Blacquin, eldest daughter of Judge Harrod Blacquin and his true wife Melindre. I am drow-blooded, and have used my natural talents for intimidation and terror in my secret life as the Silver Scale. It was my fault your son Will was nearly killed, and when I vanished from your life in Glaley, it was because I had been arrested, not because my parents had had me locked away for being deviant."

[Smith Family]

Jaina stares at Cindy- Coquette?- blankly, her mind whirling madly. Cindy is- my Cindy is- that man's da- no. No, I refuse to- but she can't be- Wait, the Silver Scale? Is that what- what does she mean to... Will? What does she mean by- oh. That night, when he was... but Will said... Will said the Scale saved his life? I... But Blacuqin? Him? How could my Cindy be Hardship Harrod's daughter?

[Tethras Clan]

Pushing Jaina back against the sofa, out of the curl she'd been developing, Seline pops the top of another vial. "Jai, love, drink this? Please?" Cindy's keen eyes might note that this vial is not pale blue but instead almost silvery in color, with hints of brown. Jaina blinks at the Joyous in a daze, then meekly lets herself be dosed. "There we go, there we go. That'll steady you a touch, alright?" And helps prevent the onset of shock or hysteria, more importantly. "Deep breaths for me?"

[Smith Family]

Jaina sucks in a few deep breaths as requested, eyes squeezed closed. "I- I'm okay. I'm okay," she gasps out after. "I just- but- But all that can't be..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Every word of that is true," she replies quietly. "And so much more, I... When you tried to comfort me, after what happened to Liz, I couldn't, I couldn't accept your comfort, knowing I was lying to you. I got Liz into dangerous things, pushed her too hard and too fast, and she suffered for it. Just like Will suffered because I couldn't give you up before. But I won't... I won't let the new babe suffer that way. It ends here. I'm leaving Nyra. Kyle convince me... He said you deserved to hear the truth from me, and he was right. But you've heard it and I..."

Her voice cracks, and she glances up again, her cheeks still dry. "I'll go, now."

[Smith Family]

"Cindy Smith Black, if you get up off that sofa, it'll be to go across my knee!" Jaina flares, surging to her own feet. "We'll be having a long talk about honesty and reckless, don't think that we won't, but I've lost too many children to cast one aside, ever. So don't you dare say that sort of thing again, do you hear me? Well?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy stares at her mother, then, eyes wide, frozen, utterly shocked. For a long moment, she doesn't dare to so much as breathe -- and then she crumbles, bursting into sobs, pressing her forehead to her knees. "I-- I-- You st-still--"

[Smith Family]

Kyle smiles faintly. "I told you she would, didn't I?" he says softly. 

"Must be nice to be told such important things," his wife cuts in, causing his smile to convert to a grimace in an instant. "I suggest you go and change the sheets in Will's room, as you'll be using it for the next while."

"...right." With one last supportive glance at Cindy, Kyle rises to his feet and heads for the back of the house. Suppose it's well that Will is starting to use the barracks more and more. Hopefully he won't mind being there every night for... damn. Should have insisted he get a longer bed, this shall not be a good 'while' I think.