Let it Out [End]

[Nako]

It had been a while since Zuberi had visited, but assuming they were in the apartment that they'd lived at since last time, she'd find it with no problem. But goodness.... it had been quite a ride. The bumps of the road had turned her stomach something terrible.

Feeling very much more -green- than she'd felt before she got onto the carriage, she stepped down onto the ground with a great sense of relief, and the doormen were offering to carry her things and help her to wherever she needed to go. She'd never gotten this attention when the '8' was still emblazoned on her chest. In truth, they still looked as if they weren't quite sure what to do with her. She was still a club, after all.

Zuberi hadn't carried much... just enough amenities to get her through the few days she'd be in the Courts. She'd send word ahead, but sadly she hadn't given them much time to prepare, or to even send a response back. She -had- assured a certain amount of urgency, so she was sure her friends would not turn her away.

Taking a deep breath, she put a hand on her stomach. She was not yet showing much, if any sign of pregnancy. Only if someone felt carefully for it would the feel the slightest of roundness where the child was growing; a child she'd been trying to pretend wasn't in her body for weeks now. Well.. no turning back now.

She brought her good, unsplit hand up and knocked on the door.

[Satra]

[Getting a reply out for you before I have to bury myself in this watercolor assignment for a while. P:

I'm playing her as a Queen now, fyi]

Heilyn felt rather anxious about the letter and while she usually didn't like it when people dropped by with little to no notice ahead of time, the tone of the letter actually made Heilyn glad she would be seeing her friend so soon. She would have not enjoyed sitting around waiting to find out what was wrong.

She didn't feel much like doing paperwork, the anxiety rendering her able to do little more than pace around the room. She would have come down to meet the woman, but the letter made no indication as to what time she would be arriving. The servants would direct Zuberi to Heilyn's new room.

As soon as there was a knock at the door, Heilyn answered almost immediately.

"Zuberi!" she greeted with a mix of emotions, "Come in, please." She moved aside to let the woman in. "I've already arranged a room for you to stay. Your bags will go there unless you have any objections."

[Nako]

Zuberi felt a most distinct relief when she saw Heilyn's worried face in the doorway. Not angry, but in fact concerned. She'd been desperately hoping that she wasn't intruding.

"No, I don't mind at all. They less I intrude, the better." The doorhop was already taking her things away; she was glad she had someone to assist her in finding Heilyn's room. She had... done a bit better for herself since last they met, but then again.. the rank on her chest would make the reason for that a bit obvious. She managed a smile at the woman.

Regardless of the fact that the woman's intimidation ability no longer affected her, she was still intimidating in her own right, if only because she was Seth's wife. Anyone with the strength to deal with that man for so many years couldn't have a nose turned up at them.

The door shut, and she just stood there, ringing her weak, partially split left hand absently. She'd bound the split finger with string but... it didn't really help hide it. Zuberi found her lip trembling despite herself. She was... trying to keep it together but....

"H-Heilyn... Some... something bad happened..." She gave a soft, hiccuping sob.

[Satra]

She'd been too busy to travel all the way to Midori to visit the woman and had only heard of her Human form as described to her by Seth. The wings hit a nerve with her, bringing up uncomfortable memories of a certain other human who had a similar mutation. Still, she is lovely, Heilyn thought, looking her up and down as she walked in, getting a back view as well as the woman walked in past Heilyn, Very lovely. Her body tensed as she caught a view of Zuberi's hand. That injury... it looked so familiar. She closed the door immediately, looking up at the Midori woman.

"Zuberi. What happened?" the look she gave was intense, her worry and fear obvious. What the hell happened? That injury only got the gears of paranoia turning. Could it be...?

[Nako]

The look on Heilyn's face was just... too much. Her lips quivered and her breath was sucked in raggedly. It had happened. It had... really happened.

"It was a-a-a... man... A blue haired man. He.. he called himself..." She could hardly get it out, seeming to mentally curl up and wrap her arms around herself. She shut her eyes, sucking in a breath and forcing herself to take in a slow, calming breath. Well, it did little to calm her, but at least she was able to stop her sobs enough to get words out. Shaking, she looked up at taller woman. "He called himself Finistris. He did.. oh Heilyn he did somethin' -horrible- to me. I... I didn't remember, but... I remember the fight. My hand... and..." She shook violently, feeling very ill as she leaned against the wall. "I'm.. I'm pregnant. Pregnant with this monster's child.."

[Satra]

As soon as Zuberi said it was a blue-haired man, Heilyn knew. Her eyes narrowed at the sound of the name. But why was she getting so worked up? What...?

Then it came out. Her mouth hung open and her eyes widened. "Zuberi..." she said in a whisper and closed the gap between them, pulling the other woman into a hug. She had no words. What the hell could she say? Hmm, oh those were a good choice of words.

"Say the word, Zuberi. Just say the word and you'll have your revenge," she said, pulling away only slightly so she could look her in the eyes. This woman helped raise her children, she was almost family in Heilyn's mind.

[Nako]

A hug; that was very much what she'd wanted. Zuberi needed a physical contact that wasn't just a friendly squeeze. She needed a sympathetic heart who actually gave a damn that something absolutely -horrid- had happened to her. Her arms still wrapped around herself, it seemed as if she wouldn't open up to the embrace, but she quickly huddled in and rest her head on the slightly taller woman's collarbone, her sobs ceasing after a few moments into a more sober, sniffling bout of hiccups.

She gave a soft sniff as Heilyn spoke, gaze looking back toward the Bog woman and gave a small nod. Though still visibly upset, her mouth had thinned out with a purposeful expression. "Revenge... Aye. I'll be goin' to... the Court of Clubs. Tellin' them as well. I... I just cann'a go on living knowin' he's running about free." Then her lips turned up into a bitter grin, managing a harsh laugh. "I... I got 'im with one o' my abilities... left his hair behind. Made a liddle doll of 'im an' I've been stabbing his sorry self in the crotch -every- day. Oh, if I could find him and see the look on his face when ah' do it.."

Another laugh.. a sad sound though, really. It was a sound of mirth that really didn't reach her eyes. "I... you're da first one I've told. I.. I knew what he did when I woke but... I tried to pretend it didn't happen..." A hand went to her belly, and she looked away, feeling ashamed. "Mornin' sickness and a lookover by the shaman made it obvious ah couldn't ignore it forever."

[Satra]

Heilyn gave a nod. She didn't know the other woman had connection with the Court of Heart that would cause her to go there for help rather than asking Heilyn, but she figured Zuberi had her reasons. She pulled her back closer and rested her cheek against her pink hair.

"If there is anything else I can do for you. Anything. Just ask, and I'll see what can be done. I can probably dig up something in Bernard's lab to amplify the magic of the doll for starters." She brought her hand up to pet the grieving woman's hair. She turned her head to kiss the woman's forehead.

"I will make arrangements. You can stay here for as long as you need. You have use of our facilities and doctors, should you wish for the birth. I cannot express how shocked and saddened I am to hear this. I am here for you. I will help you through this."

[Nako]

Despite herself, the Midori woman leaned into Heilyn's affections, finding comfort in her arms and the soft lips upon her forehead. For all that she spent her life jealous of the woman, in that moment she could tell with stark and sudden understanding why Seth found her so enchanting. A blush rose upon her dark cheeks, so subtle and easily mistaken for the flush that had overtaken her from the crying and grief.

"Aye... I might.. have to take you up on dat offer. I'd rather not let me ma see the child until..." She turned her eyes down to the ground, suddenly quite ashamed. "I know not the manner of creature this Finistris was. If it be a monster... I'd rather not subject me family to such t'ings when it be born."

Clearing he throat, Zuberi made an attempt at some sort of self confidence, looking the woman square in the eye. "I.... I'll be needing to travel a bit; to make sure this man is brought to justice. But if your offer still be open when I am done, I will be most appreciative.

Her eyes began to water, though she forced them back with what seemed to be great effort. "I.. I do not t'ink I can continue living knowing that he still walks this plane of existance! And with that admittance, it was as if a chord had been cut, and she slumped against the woman once more. Though no tears came; the heaviness of her grief was obvious.

"I'd saved myself for -so- long, Heilyn. I do not even know what I was saving it for. That was a lie; she was saving it for a dead man; a man who could never even truly claim it.