[D5 EA] Stray (Stray’s Townhouse)

[Chantelle Rossette]

“I don’ really own a lo’,” she assured Marcus, “it won’ ta’ long to trow it in some boxes. Some of it’s awkward, dough, de bed, de shelves for my plants.” She’d be able to move a few things over later that day, and get most of her things packed before the Apple Festival.

“Afta shoppin’, T’Jack, I wan’ to show you some tings fo’ your web store, if you still wan’ to do dat.” She could put all her shoes on eBay while she was at it, oh, dat gon’ hur’, but at least she didn’t have to worry about schlepping them all to the new place.

[Tiffani]

Tiffani stood there in the midst of the others as they made their moving plans, but their words simply became garbled nonsense after a time - when she stopped paying attention to what they were saying. Obviously, they had everything well in hand without her help so there wasn't any point in asking.

Her expression was decidedly neutral as she watched the others in mute silence. There were any number of things she would like to say, but there wasn't much point in that, either. She could feel their suspicion and mistrust toward her eminating off them in tsunami-like waves - and that made her feel, well, it was like plumbing the depths of her darkest fears. She saw Chantelle's narrowed eyes. Marcus's frown. At that moment, she was more willing to deal with whatever punishment would befall her for a broken oath than she was willing to mingle with a group of people whose thoughts of her were so low.

Without a word, she threw her fringed leather jacket - all the rage in the 1980s - over her shoulders, but before she could flee, her eyes misted over and a single tear escaped between her eyelids to slide down her cheek. Quickly, she wiped it away hoping no one had seen it.

She paused in front of the door, her hand on the knob. Tiffani gave a look back over her shoulder, the kind of look people often give when gazing upon something for the last time. That doubt. That mistrust. That suspicion. It was too much. If that was what they thought of her, she honestly couldn't understand why they even asked her to join this group much less take an oath.

None of these thoughts would be evident to the others, however, only the sole escaped tear leaving any indication as to how she felt. She heaved a little inaudible sigh, pulling open the door and slipping through, closing it quietly behind her.

[Jack Doyle]

Jack followed, stepping outside. "Tiffani? When would you like to go shopping tomorrow?"

[Tiffani]

Tiffani is several steps away from the door, her back to both it and Jack when she hears him ask his question. She honestly thought about not stopping, to just keep right on walking. But she realized she didn't feel the same negativity from him as she was getting from the other two.

As such, she did stop, giving her time to put her jacket on rather than wear it like a cape. Her head was down - and it stayed down even as she responded to him.

"Maybe ... " She could only get out that single word before she had to pause. Her voice was already beginning to break. She cleared her throat. "Maybe early afternoon," she continued, her words quickly spoken. It was as if she had to say them before her voice broke again. Even so, her voice was tremulous, shaky. She sniffed, the kind of sniff of someone who had been crying.

She lifts her head up then, but doesn't turn around, and continues facing forward. "Is that okay? I'll ... come by the apartment then." Another somewhat lengthy pause. "If that's okay with your schedule." Another sniff.

[Marcus Kendall]

Meanwhile indoors, Marcus turned to Chantelle. "Well shit." There wasn't much else to say. "Like, she went from chirpy to moody in a snap." he tilted his head to the side, trying to make a contact with the egret. "You are people person. You should talk to her."

[Jack Doyle]

Tiffani is several steps away from the door, her back to both it and Jack when she hears him ask his question. She honestly thought about not stopping, to just keep right on walking. But she realized she didn't feel the same negativity from him as she was getting from the other two.

As such, she did stop, giving her time to put her jacket on rather than wear it like a cape. Her head was down - and it stayed down even as she responded to him.

"Maybe ... " She could only get out that single word before she had to pause. Her voice was already beginning to break. She cleared her throat. "Maybe early afternoon," she continued, her words quickly spoken. It was as if she had to say them before her voice broke again. Even so, her voice was tremulous, shaky. She sniffed, the kind of sniff of someone who had been crying.

She lifts her head up then, but doesn't turn around, and continues facing forward. "Is that okay? I'll ... come by the apartment then." Another somewhat lengthy pause. "If that's okay with your schedule." Another sniff.

He continued to walk towards her, but remained a few steps away.

"That would be fine." he said, adding, "I have some time now, if you'd like to talk."

[Tiffani]

Tiffani stands where she is, still as a statue as if she's debating Jack's offer with herself. The urge to simply walk away was almost overpowering - almost - but she was able to bring herself to turn around. Several more tears had obviously escaped her eyes despite her best efforts to contain them but, then again, she hadn't expected anyone to follow her out, either.

She simply looked at Jack with her unusually large gray eyes for a few moments, saying nothing, not even knowing what to say. She could only imagine the conversation between Marcus and Chantelle on the other side of that door.

"Alright ..." she says at last. "But not here. Somewhere - anywhere else but here."

[Chantelle Rossette]

“I dought dat was ‘er ting?” Chantelle massaged the top of her beak, just below her eyes. After a moment, she followed Jack outside, relieved to see that Tiffani hadn’t gotten far. “Tiffani, will you come ba’ inside, please?” The egret radiated calm, like lavender.


——
[D5 EA] And Breathe... (Presence 4, Empathy 2, Calming 1, Dramatic Voice 1): 8d10o10h8 2

[Tiffani]

She had just gotten done speaking with Jack when Chantelle stepped outside. She closed her eyes then, a look of barely contained frustration on her face. She just wanted to leave peacefully and be done with it - but no - it was turning into a bloody circus.

She took a few calming breaths - she really needed them - and eventually said, "Fine ..."

Tiffani brushes past Jack and Chantelle on the way back inside the apartment. Once inside, she neither removes her jacket or strays too far from the door. Arms across her chest, she has an expectant look on her face, obviously waiting to see precisely what Chantelle wants.

[Chantelle Rossette]

“Tiffani, please,” she offered gently, “if someting is wrong, please don’ just storm off. We can’ do anyting to ‘elp if you leave.”