Topic: O'Double Trouble

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:04 EST
((Edited and posted with the kind permission of all players involved.))

It had taken a while, but Shauna was finally healed up after her encounter with magic eating monsters, and prepared to go out and explore RhyDin properly. And as such, she was currently exploring RhyDin from the comfort of an armchair, with a large map book spread out across her knees and an equally big mug of cocoa in her hand.

Brishen walked along the streets of Rhy'Din, tugging Niamh in his wake. "Hurry up, woman. Ye're movin' slow again." He teased, glancing over his shoulder at her as the pair turned the corner that put them on the street to the tea shop.

"Ach, m'movin' as fast as I can," came the grumbling reply as Niamh hurried to keep up with Brishen. "Yer strides are tae long, that's th'problem." She grinned impishly up at him.

"Yer legs are tae short." He countered. "It's what ye get for bein' so tiny."

She gave him a pouty look. "Ye wouldnae be complainin' m'legs were tae short if'n ye didnae take steps the size o'a town," she complained sweetly. "Isnae my fault ye cannae walk normal like ev'ryone else."

"I do walk normal. Ye donnae stretch enough tae take bigger steps, so ye take them little baby ones instead." Grinning, Brishen turned and stopped in front of the tea shop, reaching out to tug the door open with a merry chime of the shop's bells.

"Listen, mister, if'n I was tae stretch more'n I do already, this bairn'd be out and chasing after me on th'end o'it's bit o'rope," was her rather crude reply as she skipped ahead of him and into the tea shop.

From her seat, Shauna tilted her head curiously. She knew one of those voices, very well in point of fact. Had Niamh said bairn?

He laughed and slipped through the door after her, glancing around. "Fine, fine. Quit yer complainin' an' go take a seat. What d'ye want tae drink?"

"Liquid's a good bet," Niamh grinned back at him, before relenting and having a quick look at the menu suspended above the counter. "Ach ... jus' tea'll be fine fer me, love. Where'd ye want me tae sit?"

"I didn' swindle nothin', don' give me tha' when yer the one who's go' the fault'y wares!" A familiar holler would float in behind the pair as the shoppe's door chimed open and slipped closed; but it was brief.

"Somewhere with seats." He shrugged and turned toward the counter, but paused to glance over at the door. "Lilli?"

Grinning, Niamh turned to see Lilli entering in. "Well, if it isnae this year's May Queen," she announced, dropping into a curtsey that would have looked a whole lot better had she been wearing a skirt instead of her jeans.

Hearing a third voice enter the mix, Shauna's curiosity couldn't take it anymore, and she twisted around the side of the arm chair in which she sat, peering across to the three figures by the counter. There was no mistaking the tiny dark-haired bundle of nonsense that was her sister, but who were the other two? Friends, by the looks of things.

Oh it was Lilliana all right, but she was just outside; one set of fingers were half wrapped around the door while the others cradled a small bulk of some half wrapped package. Probably the same package she was hollering about. Turning back towards the door with a shake of her head, the gypsy swung the door back open with a slight twist of her lips. Catching sight of her family, however, turned that frown upside down. "I'm no' nothin' ye'! An' I blame ya' all!"

Scurrying forward to hold the door open for her sister witch, Niamh chuckled impishly. "Dinnae get yer garters inna twist, yer brother's done an' got yer revenge fer ya."

"May Queen's been in the shop already." Then he rocked on his heels, eyeing his sister. "What d'ye blame us for?" His head shook soon after the question was voiced. "Ach, ne'er mind. Gods know ye'll nae make sense if ye try an' explain it." So, he turned to order his and Niamh's drinks, pausing to glance back over at the pair. "What'll ye have tae drink, Lilli?"

"I didn'... Wai', wha'?" Confusion blossomed to life between the clash of two voice-sets hitting her ears; they were still ringing from the disagreement she was having with a vendor outside. "Black t'ea's good..." She added finally, recovering her grin right-quick.

He nodded and turned forward, ordering their drinks from the bemused woman behind the counter.

"What've ye been doin' tae get him out there sae worked up?" Niamh nodded towards the vendor outside as she made to draw Lilli further inside.

Not long later, Brishen turned and precariously carried a trio of cups toward the women. "Grab yer teas already 'fore I drop 'em all."

Laughing, Niamh reached out to rescue her cup with an affectionate kiss to Brish's cheek. "Thank ye, love."

Now completely turned about on her seat, Shauna was kneeling up on the cushion, leaning over the top of the chair with a wide grin. Any moment now, someone was going to notice the obscene amount of interest she was taking in the trio.

"Ra' bast'ard t'ried t'swindle me fer a damn queen's ransom fer this mask I go'..." Motioning with the arm that carried her boxy burden, Lilliana slipped completely inside, but not without one last scathing look over her shoulder. Her hand free meant she could take up the tea her brother was barking about. She took a grateful sip.

In the moment he turned to grin at Niamh, he caught a glimpse of someone who was paying them all a bit too much attention. "Who's that?" He whispered in question, nodding toward Shauna.

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:04 EST
"Ach, ye should've said ye wanted a mask done up," Niamh grinned. "I would've made ye one - got his'n'mine tae make as 'tis." She blinked as Brish whispered to her, glancing toward the eavesdropper absently. One look ... a double-take ... "Damnu ort! Shauna O'Donovan, what th'hell're ye doin' here?"

Laughing at the slow response from her sister, Shauna pushed herself out of the chair and moved over to the trio. She stood only a couple of inches taller than her big sister, and where Niamh was dark, she was fair, but there was no mistaking the resemblence when she opened her mouth. "Fine way tae greet yer kin, ain't it?"

"Goddess an' all the hells NIAMH wha' are ya' screamin' abou'?!" Jolted, burning her lip, the witch shot her sister-friend a sharp look before nudging a booted foot at her brother. "Cont'rol yer woman... Tha' babe's gone t'her hea-" Then she actually began paying attention to the dialog exchange and turned that sharp look towards Shauna.

He leaned over and peered over Niamh's shoulder again. "O'Donovan?" Then he glanced at Lilli, then back at Niamh, then Shauna. "I dinnae know what tae do tae control her, Lilli. She's all kindsa crazy."

"Fine way tae greet ye ..." Niamh grumbled, turning to push her cup into Brishen's free hand. "Yer s'posed tae be in Dublin, miss, nae traipsin' 'bout RhyDin like ye own th'place!" Then she grinned, and fairly flung herself at her little sister, forgetting for a moment that introducing Shauna might be a good idea.

Brishen leaned over to Lilli. "I think they know each other." Nodding sagely, he raised his voice."Niamh, quit stranglin' people, it's nae nice."

Shauna blinked in surprise at hearing the fiery-haired woman's comment on babies, and her jaw dropped open at the implication that Niamh was somehow in a relationship. But she didn't have a chance to say anything, because her arms were suddenly full of Niamh, and she was hugging her sister just as tightly in return.

"Mmm... Double t'rouble now." The gypsy witch gave a quiet snicker as she chanced another sip from her tea.

"Och, 'tis good tae see ye!" Pulling back with a wide grin, Niamh turned to look at Brishen and Lilli, almost glowing with cheerful good humour. "Aye, I know her - an' I ain't stranglin' her, neither," she added to Brish with a wicked chuckle. "This here's m'baby sister, Shauna."

Wearing a nearly identical grin to that of her sister, Shauna nodded to the pair with them. "Grand tae meet ye both, sure she'll offer up yer names soon," she chuckled. "Give her a year or more, she'll get 'round tae it."

Brishen stared at Niamh. "...ye have a sister? Right." He lifted the cup to have a sip and frowned, that was Niamh's tea. The other cup lifted, sip. That was the coffee. "Hi."

"St'ranglin' would imply tha' the lil' one would be red in the face." That mile wide grin the buxom was so infamous for began to reveal itself in full force as she gave a heavy tip of her head towards the younger sibling. Embelishing a bit with a tip of her hand to? Yeah. "Name's Lilliana McClae darlin' dear."

"Aye, I've two," Niamh nodded. Then she paused, looking a little guilty. "I havenae mentioned 'em, have I?" Her smile returned with only a little awkwardness. "Well, I've two, this here's th'baby, an' if Aoife turns up, I may jus' drop th'bairn on th'spot."

"That's nae healthy." Brishen shook his head. "Tae much dirt on the floor."

"Right pleasant tae meet ye, Lilliana," Shauna was saying, before her ears caught up with what she was hearing. She levelled a look on Niamh. "That's the third time I've heard one o'ye mention bairns. Dinnae tell me ye've gone an' made a right respectable woman o'yerself?"

"Bett'er ge' used t'tha' Brishen Garridan... I'm goin' t'ge' Ma nex' week aft'er Beltane's pas'." Lilliana warned her sibling with a slow, tempered drawl and a waggle of her finger. Oh yeah, she knew he'd have some explaining to do... Then again, so would she, so the witch just let that lay for now.

"Ach, get on wi'ye," Niamh laughed, taking her cup from Brishen again and taking a sip. She glanced guiltily to Shauna as her little sister spoke. "Let's sit us all down, shall we?"

"Right. M'Brishen." Then he nudged Niamh. "Ye were s'posed tae find us a place tae sit when we first got here!" Huff!

"Brishen, aye?" Shauna now looked at the man with her sister. "Have ye gone an' stuffed a bun in m'sister's oven?"

"Shauna!" Looking scandalised, Niamh's cheeks flushed bright red, and she turned away, moving to thump herself down on the nearest couch. "I cannae believe ye jus' said that."

"He's a bast'ard isn' he? An' he says I always worry t'much abou' their b'hind closed doors life!" Oh beware cheshire cats, soon they'd be calling it a Lilliana smile. Hearing the younger ODonovan's mouth, the witch bawked with laughter and snuck her rump into a nearby chair to the couch Niamh had claimed. "I see tha' t'ongue runs in the family."

"Aye." He nodded and moved to take a seat. "She got mad at me though, 'cause I left it in tae long and it was lump o'coal after that."

If Lilliana had a biscuit of sorts, she would have thrown it at her brother for that pun.

Snickering loudly at both gypsy's comments, Shauna grinned. "I kin see why she's wi'ye both," she laughed, moving to resume her seat in the chair opposite Niamh. "How'd ye do it?" she asked then. "She wasnae one tae settle doon wi'anyone, last I saw."

"Ye've nae seen me fer three years, keep yer trap shut," Niamh muttered, rolling her eyes. "They dinnae need tae know what I was like years ago."

"Uh...I just kinda smiled and winked at her, then she was puddy in m'hands." Brishen replied with a self-assuring nod.

"Oh this is t'oo precious..." Anything to get Lilliana's mind off the upcoming week and all it's madness for a few moments. She'd been greeted by far too many people she'd never really associated with before since her name was up on that May Queen roster. As her thoughts drifted, she caught the tail end of her brother's words and gave a quiet snicker snort.

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:05 EST
Looking Brishen up and down, Shauna's own cat-caught-canary grin reappeared. "Kin see why," she snickered merrily. "Betcha most girls'd be putty fer a kiss from ye."

"Prolly." He belched, just to add to the ridiculousness of his claims, and took a sip of his coffee.

"He's taken, put yer tongue back in yer mouth," Niamh growled at her sister warningly. "Find yer own gypsy tae settle down wi'."

"Ach, must be love," Shauna teased. "Last person ye got protective o'er was Tom, an' that didnae end sae well, did it?"

"She'll have her pick o' the litt'er when the family comes rollin' int'o t'own a' MidSummer." Murmured the gypsy witch quietly into her teacup.

Niamh frowned at her sister. "Shush, you." She shifted a little closer to Brishen, looping her arm through his. "Ignore her, she's possessed."

"Is the whole family comin' again?" He asked Lilli, apparently not listening to a word the sisters were saying.

Oh her ears perked at the name "Tom", but even more so when Niamh was trying to brush it under the proverbial rug. "Tom eh? Had a nice thumb did he?"

Sharp ears had always served Shauna well, and she zeroed in on Lilli. "Gonna be lots o'handsome fellas comin' along, is there?" she asked curiously.

"O'course!" To both questions, Lilli's eyes alight with mischief. "Ya' think yer da' is goin' t'miss sayin' hello t'Niamh again w'his gran'child ripenin' up in there? B'sides, i's always been like tha' if ya' haven' not'iced... Somethin' abou' tha' part'icular bi' o' the year they all like t'be one big body an' no' so scatt'ered."

"Should be a good do again, then," Niamh joined in, hoping to move the conversation away from her past. She stuck her tongue out at Shauna with a cheerful smile, which faded into grimacing chuckles at Lilli's tender reference to her state.

"Gran'child?" Shauna stared. "Sae y'are pregnant!" She slithered off her seat down onto her knees, lifted Niamh's shirt and kissed her sister's burgeoning little bump. "Hello, baby! M'yer Auntie Shauna!"

"Ye know...I'm nae followin' half o'this conversation." He cleared his throat and pointed at Shauna. "Dinnae go scarin' all m'cousins..." Then to Niamh. "Uh...ye need tae market yer campaign more." Then he paused and stared at Shauna more, before turnign to Lilli. "An' I dinnae understand any o'what ye've been sayin' the whole time."

"Get yer mouth off've m'belly, I dinnae know where it's been!" Niamh poked at Shauna until her sister moved away, shaking her head with a laugh. She looked up at Brishen. "Whaddya mean, m'campaign? I ain't doin' anythin', it's yer daft plan tae get me crowned. I voted fer Lilli there soon as th'ballot went up."

"Mother likes the family together as one big body at least once during the year if you haven't noticed, my dearest brother." Clear, concise, and damn near alien sounding; yes, Lilliana without her accent meant her eyes were narrowing. Though there was a noticeable tick trying to twitch her brow up. Seeing Shauna's zeal, she grinned again though before her eyes slipped towards Niamh. "I vot'ed fer ya', swee'lin'.. Though I nominat'ed Shylah."

"An' I got several people tae vote for ye...nae offence, Lilli." Brishen shrugged. "But Niamh's gonna kick yer arse."

Sitting back on her heels, Shauna grinned up at Brishen in a familiarly impish manner. "I willnae make any promise tae behave m'self if'n there's sexy men around," she insisted cheerfully, pushing back into her own seat. "Isnae a pregnant May Queen a bit wrong? S'posed tae be 'bout th'Maiden, innit?"

"Tae hell with tradition, Niamh's gonna win." Brishen, evidently, was quite firm in this belief.

"I'll abdicate," Niamh threatened on the heels of Brishen's affirmation with a grin of her own.

"Like hell!" Brishen exclaimed. "Ye want tae build the nursery yerself?"

"Yeah, bu' wha's wrong w' jus' t'akin' i' ou' o' a bi' o' tha' t'radit'ional cont'ex' an' givin' int'o the idea o' the green o' new an' soon t'come life?" Lilliana personally though the idea was wonderful, what better a vessel of virility and life than an expecting mother? The maiden was merely the potential, yes, but still. Something sounded right.

"Aye, I will," Niamh snickered. "I'll abdicate in favour o'Lilli. She's th'perfect choice fer May Queen!"

"I'm no' a maiden either!" She had the grace to at least blush a bit.

"She's really nae. She's worse then ye are, even."Another sage nod from the Garridan.

"Hey, nae bullyin' m'sister," Shauna warned Brishen - family came before everything else, remember. "Ye cannae be makin' her build nothin' unless yer prepared tae carry th'bairn for her."

"An' ya' be watchin' those sexy men! No' a good one among the lo'." And yes, she said this confidentally even with her brother so close; turn about was fair play.

Brishen stared at Shauna. "Hush ye! M'nae above tyin' the pair o'ye up. See, I'm the only good one." He nodded firmly. "An' m'nae available."

"I'd love t'see ya' handle t'wo women... " Lilli chuckled. "Ya' t'ried tha' once back in the day, an' if I recall, i' didn' t'urn ou' well fer ya', brother."

"Y'tie me up wi'me sister, an' I'll make ye do all yer own cookin' fer a year," Niamh grumbled, rolling her eyes.

"But then we'll only have coal!" A whining gypsy is not the best advertisement for the clan.

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:06 EST
"What, d'ye nae think I kin handle a few sexy men on m'own?" Shauna asked Lilli with disarming sweetness. "I learned from th'best, y'know." She nodded towards Niamh with a snicker.

"Dinnae ye dare, Shauna," came the darkly muttered reply.

"Think ye're a touch young, anyhow." He said, eyeing Shauna. "What are ye...fourteen? Fifteen?"

"Oh I'm sure mama' here's go' her skelet'ons... I've mine t'oo. I can' wai' t'hear the hollerin' from our ma' abou' Brishen bein' younger an' the firs' t'have a babe." Eye rolling, Lilliana? No... Well, maybe. 'Mama', being Ms. elder-sibling-oDonovan, of course.

"Nineteen!" Shauna replied indignantly.

"Right. Sixteen." Brishen nodded. "Sorry."

"Aye, I've a few skeletons, right 'nough," Niamh nodded, glancing between Brishen and Shauna with a grin. She couldn't wait to see how Shauna defended her right to flirt with this one.

Shauna scowled. "See now why yer wi'him," she whispered loudly to Niamh. "Man's worse'n y'are."

"The point is, if I see ye doin' anythin' tae scare m'cousin's, I'll lock ye away faster'n I got Niamh tae sit in m'lap," Brishen warned the younger O'Donovan. "An' that was damn fast."

"Aye, she's a rare flirt is our Niamh," Shauna agreed with a grin. "M'nae scary. M'jus' as big o'a flirt as she is, is all. An' ye didnae hold off from her fer long, by the sounds o'things." She leaned over to Lilli. "How long've they bin t'gether?"

"It wasnae that fast," Niamh objected, poking Brishen's arm. "Ye were drunk, as I recall. Didnae gimme much choice."

Lilliana snorted sharply. "Our cousin's migh' scare her, who're ya' kiddin'? Have ya' seen Jeremiah an' Marco la'ely? They've sho' up abou' five damn fee' in less than t'wo years!" Indignant! Yes she was... the gypsy witch evened out just a hair above five feet and a five. Gesturing towards Shauna, she laughed softly. "They'd t'oss her 'round like a damn rag doll."

At that, Shauna's grin widened wickedly. "Promises, promises," she snickered. "Some as like it rough, then, aye?"

"If I recall, ye were sittin' here the night I started talkin' tae ye." He said to Niamh, patting his lap. "I'mma have tae introduce her tae Eugene," was then said in an aside to Lilli. "The mousy one."

"Shauna O'Donovan, if'n I hear ye've been corruptin' young'uns o'Lilli's clan, I'll tan yer hide good an' proper," Niamh looked sternly at her sister. Then she blinked, and stared at Brishen. "I never!"

"Oh ya' keep tha' cock-sure grin o' yers, darlin'... Don' underest'ima'e a bi' o' the Garridan clan blood." Tick, tick, waggle, waggle went the elder gypsy's finger towards Shauna with an overly exaggerated smirk and narrowing of her eyes. Hearing her brother, however, she gave a pause, frowning. "Tha's jus' no' nice... ya' don' throw ou' the weakes' link t'the lions!"

"She'll lose interest in the rest once she sees 'im," Brish insisted.

"M'more persistent than ye think," Shauna laughed, curling her legs under her on the chair. "Weedy'uns are th'most int'restin', I find."

Lilli was mumbling quietly. "St'ill no' nice... Some o' those lads are st'ill apron st'rung."

Niamh snorted with laughter. "She's got ye there, love," she nodded to Brishen, looking across to Lilliana. "Reckon we should tie him up an' let her play wi'the big boys?"

"Tie who up? Eugene! Poor lad has enough trouble as it is, if anythin', she'll finally give him a bit o'confidence. Besides, he may surprise ye. Got an odd mind that one."

Lilliana merely shook her head, laughing softly. "If any o' Z'ev's sons were alive, I'd poin' her in tha' direct'ion.... now there's the tes' o' a woman." Back came that ear to ear, oh so smug smirk as she finished off her tea.

"Yer nae settin' her up wi' one o'them," Niamh objected laughingly. "I dinnae want tae have tae teach her 'bout dealin' wi'chafin'."

Brish snorted and eyed Niamh. "An' ye'd know all about that, huh?"

"Who's Z'ev?" Shauna asked curiously, intrigued by the wide grin from Lilli. She flashed Brishen a wicked grin. "An' if'n ye gimme this Eugene fella, I kin guarantee ye he willnae be anythin' but confident by th'time m'done."

"Pfff, poor man doesn' have no sons lef'. T'ime an' wars all bu' gobbled them up, Niamh, no worries.... Tha' is, unless yer sis here likes the girliers t'oo." Chuckling.

"Hey, m'nae sae cruel as tae deny th'menfolk a chance wi'an O'Donovan girl," Shauna laughed to Lilli. "Girls're easy tae fetch. O'Donovans're a handful."

Niamh's smile turned suddenly very innocent. "Nae all 'bout it, love, dinnae worry." She patted Brishen's arm sweetly.

She got a flat stare in answer. "Uh huh. Nice try, love. Spill it."

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:12 EST
Turning as she heard Shauna's quip, the witch chuckled again, shaking her head slowly as she pulled the wrought gold key from it's hiding place in her cleavage by its delicate chain. "M'lover... Clever thing."

"M'nae spillin' anythin' in front o'her," Niamh indicated Shauna. "Dinnae want tae give her ideas."

Snickering, Brishen rolled his eyes. "Ye c'n bet we'll talk about this later t'night, then."

Niamh smiled impishly. "Aye. Never know, ye may learn summat."

He was staring forward for quite a bit of time, turing to eye her afterward. "Huh?"

Shauna blinked then, looking at the key in Lilli's hand. "Yer lover is ... a key?"

"Mm, no, this is a bi' o' him though.... Made i' abou' a month back. Opens all his doors an' any." Lilliana's voice held an edge of mystique she coudln't deny as she answered Shauna. The key was quickly tucked away again though as she rolled her shoulders in a slight shrug.

Laughing, Niamh leaned over and kissed Brishen gently. "Ye'll see." She nodded toward Lilli's decolletage for Shauna. "Firs' time she used that, she ended up locked in our closet."

"Willin' tae bet she uses it tae spy on him," Brish added.

"A bit o'him?" Still confused, Shauna couldn't help the snort of laughter that bubbled up at Niamh's words. "How'd ye get locked inna closet? It's a key, is it nae?"

"Mm... Things aren' always wha' they seem. E'er hear tha' expression 'for every door there is a key'? Well, this key is e'ery key." Hearing her brother, the witch turned to stick her tongue out at him. "I don' need t'spy... b'sides, I coudln' if I want'ed t'oo, his hearin's ridiculously good fer 800,000 years old!" Came her quiet, purposeful huff.

"See, she doesnae need tae spy on him," Niamh pointed out cheerfully. "M'willin' tae bet he does more spyin' than she does."

"Must come in handy fer when yer trying tae be quiet," Shauna commented mildly on the acute hearing comment. "Y'know, ye want tae let him know yer enjoyin' it, but ye cannae make tae much noise in case someone comes in." She grinned innocently.

"Ach, I dinnae want tae hear 'bout m'wee sister's sexual deviances!" Niamh whimpered.

Again, Brishen was left staring at the O'Donovan girls. "Ye two are tae much alike."

"Told ye I learned from th'best, didn't I?" Shauna's smile could have peeled paint, let alone melt butter.

There would come a long, slow blink from those big molten eyes of Lilli's. The recovery time could be considered record, however, and soon Lilliana was laughing loudly. "Aah, another screamer, eh? No worries... If ya' have the righ' t'ouch sounds no' a problem. Bu' no... The key's jus' a mode o' t'ransport'at'ion."

"Ye stop that right now," Niamh hissed at her sister, rolling her eyes as she laughed. "An' what d'ye mean another screamer?" she added to Lilli. "What's he been sayin'?"

"Wha' makes ya' think I was t'alkin' abou' ya'? I'm havin' a bondin' momen' w' yer sis here!" Trying not to let her shoulders shake the gypsy held further laughter in.

"Ye keep yer shirt on, miss, thank ye very much." Niamh waggled a finger in Shauna's direction; some things sisters just know about one another. "Bondin' or nae."

Brishen just leaned back and enjoyed his coffee, despite the fact that it was now a touch too cool.

"I'm t'alkin' abou' comin' ou' an' causin' t'rouble w' me some nigh'... A' leas' if I've go' m'eye on ya', Niamh here can have a sense o' peace tha' ya' have a safet'y ne' b'neath ya' incase those manly hands abou' ge' t'oo graspy." There was a nugget of honesty in her tone, really. One mustn't forget all the slavers and big bad men running about.

"Ye're eye's hardly reassurin'," came the quiet comment from Brishen where he was leaning back.

"S'better'n nothin'," Niamh pointed out, agreeing with Lilli. "She doesnae know 'bout ... y'know." Her fingers touched over her belly, over the scar left by a bone knife.

"Don' be callin' me a bull shitt'er, Brishen Garridan... I'm no' the one who's had night'mare beast'ies aft'er me. An' do ya' see a collar abou' m'neck? I don' think so!" Huff.

"M'nae completely defenseless," Shauna objected indignantly. "Fought off a load o'monsters on m'first night here, I'll have ye know, an' m'here tae tell th'tale!"

"Wasnae Brish who had th'nightmares," Niamh pointed out quietly, her expression solemn. Evidently the residue of the incubus' attacks was still bothering her. She glanced at Shauna with a frown. "What d'ye mean, monsters?"

"Collar?" Brishen stared. "What in the hell are you goin' on about, Lilli?"

"I mean monsters," Shauna nodded insistently. "Big black things wi'wings an' claws what goes hiss when they get wet. M'friend says they eat magic, tae. Got m'self knocked about a bit, but m'still here, ain't I?"

Molten eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she gave her brother a firm back and forth shake of her head. "No' here... No' this one's business t'know. All she needs t'know is tha' there are some prett'y nast'y men-folk abou' here masqueradin' as fine fellows. Or worse, snat'chin' up w'ou' warnin'."

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:13 EST
A brow arched slowly before he turned to eye Shauna again. "Cannae e'er just be nice an' simple in this city."

"Ye should've run," Niamh was telling her sister with a frown. "Nae cause tae go fightin', nae when ye dinnae know how." She glanced up as she caught the tail end of Lilli and Brishen's conversation. "Aye, an' dinnae go trustin' just anyone."

"M'nineteen, nae a wee child," Shauna protested with a pout. "Way th'three o'ye are goin' on, anyone'd think someone was 'bout tae snatch me off've th'street an' make mince outta me."

"Travanix." The witch hissed towards her brother before shaking her head once more. Lilliana turned her sharp demeanor towards Shauna quite suddenly, however, her lips set in a firm line. "I'm damn near thirt'y an' ripe w' power mos' shouldn' right'ly be messin' w', an' I was nearly t'aken over body an' soul... Don' le' those brigh' years o' yers blind ya' t'evil."

Shauna snorted; clearly the confidence of youth was still going strong in this one. "S'nae such thing as evil," she shook her head with a laugh. "Jus' folk what dinnae know what's best fer 'em."

"Oh yeah, wat'ch ou' fer a man named Anubis t'oo... Mos' call him the egypt'ian an' he's a dirt'y bast'ard." Lilli pressed despite Shauna's airy reply.

"Ye dinnae think she'd be a better prize 'cos o'Ma, d'ye?" Niamh asked suddenly, her brow creased in concern. "I dinnae think she knows 'bout it all ... hope she doesnae."

"She won' be nothin'... T'oo many willin' ones runnin' around these days. St'upid cun's w' there head in the clouds an' their legs no' far b'hind." Lilli muttered darkly.

Shauna was, by this point, totally lost. "What th'bleedin' hell're ye all talkin' 'bout?" she demanded. "Ma's been dead three years, Niamh, or did ye forget that in all yer married bliss?"

"Ehhh..." Brishen eyed Shauna yet again and then glanced between Niamh and Lilli. "Ye're both better at tellin' stories'n I am. Sae...have fun wi'that."

Niamh looked awkward. "S'nae a story that can be told, really," she frowned slightly. "Mebbe s'best left fer th'light o'day. I dinnae want tae revisit that wi'out bein' somewhere safe."

"Mmm... I don' think they'd do nothin', Niamh. They know I don' mind gett'in' new scars." Grinning with a big degree of knowing lurking behind her smile, the witch shook her head and pointed towards the nasty starburst peeking out from the line of her bodice. Lilliana nodded, however, about the story being saved.

Niamh couldn't help smiling with Lilli at that. "Aye, fairytales're best left fer daytime anyway," she nodded with a grin to Brishen. "What d'ye reckon, love? Should I tell it tae our wee'un, 'bout how ye turned intae a handsome prince fer a day?"

Looking back and forth between the three of them, Shauna gave in in defeat. "I give up," she sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Keep yer secrets, then. Jus' dinnae blame me if'n I fall foul o'any o'yer friends."

"M'pretty sure I jus' stood there an' let e'eryone else do all the work." Brishen pointed out.

"Ach, ye saved th'day, love," Niamh insisted with a smile, leaning affectionately against him.

"Nae. M'certain I didn' do much," Brish insisted. "Sae dinnae goin' 'round spreadin' lies. Else I'll have tae whip ye."

"Yeah, bu' ya' go' all the looks, Brish. no' the magic. So yer job's t'look prett'y anyway." Chortling quietly, Lilli took another sip from her cooling tea..

"M'nae lyin'!" Niamh laughed, rolling her eyes. "Ach, yer a nightmare, y'are."

"Magic?" Shauna perked up again. "Ye've got magic, Lilli?"

"She's a damn witch, she is." The younger gypsy couldn't help butting in to give his sister a backhanded compliment.

"Yer kiddin'." The younger O'Donovan turned an awestruck look onto Lilliana. "Is it teachable?" she asked excitedly.

"Eehhh, t'an ext'en'." The elder gypsy looked skeptical, but there was a smile sneaking out; how couldn't there be.

"Yer sister's got a bit, tae," Brishen added absently. "Though she likes tae break thin's wi'it."

"There's a lo' o' lil' things tha' even a dol' w' no magic in them can do if they'd only ut'ilize wha' nat'ure grows an' gives abou' them." She added with a slow nod.

"Reckon ye could - what?" Shauna's head snapped around to stare at Brishen. "Niamh isnae magic, dinnae be sae daft," she snorted, rolling her eyes. She turned back to Lilli. "I've nae magic in me, d'ye think ye could learn me a wee bit?"

"Nae. She is. I remember one time she did somethin' with wind an' nearly tore the bedroom apart ..." Brishen mused with that roguish grin on his lips.

Niamh hid her smirk behind her hand, carefully avoiding her sister's eyes. The magic conversation was going to come shortly after the Sidhe conversation, she was almost certain of it. Her hand slapped against Brishen's arm. "Dinnae be spinnin' yarn fer her."

He grunted indignantly. "Hey! Dinnae deny it!"

"Ye were in th'way," Niamh laughed. "If'n ye'd moved, ye wouldnae have been in th'middle o' it all."

"Mmm, there's a bi' ya' could learn. Bu' i' t'akes t'ime an' t'rial an' error." The buxom conceded after a long series of thoughtful moments.

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:15 EST
"Och, I'd be willin' tae spend as much time as I needed," the younger sister nodded enthusiastically to Lilli. "I kin be focused, I promise." Shauna glanced at the lovers with a sigh. "They always spin stories t'gether?"

"Abou' as much as m' an' mine do." Lilli replied with a quiet snicker-snort.

"That's nae true. Ye lie more'n I do, Lilli." Brishen nodded firmly, staring at her. "An' Niamh's got magic, trust me! Niamh, throw somethin' at the wall."

"Yeah, bu' Z'ev never lies, so i' evens ou'." Lilli shot back her her sibling with a semi crooked smirk.

Snickering back, Shauna's eyes flickered down to her watch. "Ach, m'late agin," she exclaimed. "Betsy'll be wond'rin' what've been doin' wi'me day ..." She turned an unconvinced smirk onto Brishen. "Dinnae be sae daft, Niamh's as normal as me."

"She's got ye there," Niamh grinned at Brishen. "I am as normal as her."

"An' ye're all kinds o'strange, Shauna." Brishen snorted. "All the women in yer family this hard headed, Nee?"

Starring daggers at her brother, the gypsy witch pantomimed strangling hands towards him behind Shauna's back. Shush! Another night! She mouthed silently.

"M'Irish, what else d'ye expect?" The fair-haired O'Donovan laughed, rising to her feet. "S'nice tae meet ye both, Brishen, Lilli. C'mere." This last was spoken to her sister, with arms raised for an embrace. "Keep in touch, y'hear?"

"Aye, most o'us," Niamh chuckled to Brishen as she, too, rose, wrapping her sister in a warm hug. "Aye, ye'll be hearin' from me, nae worries on that score. Take care."

"Mmm... Wha' she said. T'ake care, don' be a st'ranger, eh? I'm oft'en haunt'in' the Red Dragon an' m'caravan's in the southern glen, Shauna." The witch offered.

"Dinnae tell her where we live, love," Niamh heard Brishen saying behind her. "I dinnae want strange men comin' over."

"Aye, well, ye'll be seein' me, then," Shauna nodded to Lilli, laughing at Brishen's addition to the leavetaking. "Ye take good care o'my sister, mister, or ye'll have more tae worry about than keepin her in line." She waggled a finger at the tousle-haired gypsy, before grinning and moving to slip out through the door.

There was a moment of silence following Shauna's exit, in which Niamh was just waiting for the comment to come. And right enough, it came from Brishen.

"As if one o'ye wasnae enough."

Thumping back down onto her seat, Niamh chuckled. "I cannae believe she's here," she shook her head in that disbelief. "How's that e'en possible?"

" 'Bou' as possible as anythin' in this damn t'own, Niamh, ya' should know bett'er than t'quest'ion somethin' like tha'."

"What she said." Brishen thumbed toward his sister.

"I jus' dinnae learn, s'a failin'," Niamh grinned to Lilli, resting her cheek against Brishen's shoulder. "Well, least now ye know m'nae unique, aye?"

"Oh shi', are ya' act'ually agreein' w' me, Brish?" Setting her long-empty tea cup aside, Lilliana rose to stretch a bit as she eyed the expecting pair with a slow smile. "Wha'ever ya' say, Niamh..." Annnd there was that grin again. Goddess knew it wouldn't be gone for long.

"That's debatable, love." He smirked, then rolled his eyes at Lilli. "Aye, m'agreein' with ye. I know, shockin', aye? Call the press."

Niamh snickered impishly at Lilli's grin. "Well, mebbe m'a little bit unique," she conceded. "If'n Shauna gets up th'duff from one o'yer lads at Midsummer, I'll be insistin' on a weddin', y'do realise that?"

"Ye want her tae get married but refuse tae do sae yerself?" Brishen asked, brows raised into his curly hairline.

"Hells, tha' Marc Franco would have a hear' att'ack, wouldn' he?" Laughing softly as she moved to bump at her brother's knee with her leg, the buxom Lilli moved to collect her cup and bring it towards the unmanned counter. "Ah don' worry... I'll be slippin' a bi' o' this an' a bi' o' tha' in her drinks when I see her now." Lilliana ontop of population control? Of course.

"I didnae refuse, ye havenae asked me!" Niamh laughed at Brishen's argument, rolling her eyes as she watched Lilli move away. "That Franco man'd have a heart attack tae find out there's another O'Donovan in town, leastways one what might get wi'another gypsy!"

Lilliana feigned a hurt expression as she turned to peek over her shoulder. "Ain' nothin' wrong w' bringin' new blood t'the clans..."

He arched a brow at Niamh then, before glancing at Lilli. "M'almost certain her an' I have had this conversation b'fore."

She arched a brow at Niamh then, before glacing at Brish. "M'almos' cert'ain ya' did t'oo, brother."

"Ye've ne'er asked me tae marry ye, all ye've done is ask me what I think o'marriage," Niamh insisted merrily. Her eyes turned to Lilli once again. "Shauna's nae sae confident as she pretends, ye know. Pick wisely, if'n yer set on seein' her mated."

"Euuuugeeeeene." Brishen drew the name out in a long drawl. "Only good lad left, in my opinion."

Niamh Garridan

Date: 2010-04-27 11:16 EST
"That mean yer nae a good lad, then?" Niamh asked with a sweet smile.

Bawking with laughter, the witch shook her bright, kinky mane. "Yer both nut's, I ain' playin' mat'chmaker w' no one.... Ma'll be doin' tha."

"M'nae available." Brish pointed out.

"Off the marke', as they say." She added with a nod towards Niamh, grinning once again.

"Damn right yer nae. And yer mother'll have her hands full wi' Shauna, I kin almost guarantee," Niamh laughed, curling her arm about Brishen's waist.

"Pff, wha' kind o' soul do ya' think could handle raisin' this an' tha'?" Lilli's hand gestured between the ruddy blonde head of curls and her own.

He snickered and lifted his arm to drape it around Niamh's shoulders. "Eh. If I can handle ye, Ma' can handle yer sister." Then he nodded in agreement with Lilli. "Both o'us."

"Ach, yer both as bad as each other," Niamh laughed again, leaning into Brishen's side with the almost absent-minded loving that coloured her affection for him. "Jus' ye wait, Lilliana McClae, until ye've tae try an' raise yer own. Now that'd be summat worth watchin'."

"Tha's righ'... Tha' woman's no joke. She's one o' the only people on this earth I'm afraid of!" Hence Lilli's mild dreading of bringing dear old Mama Melina into town for Niamh's check ups. Speaking of children and check ups and Niamh, her eyes narrowed towards the woman. "I ain' aimin' fer no babes fer some t'ime, lady, don' ya' be wishin' tha' hoo-doo on me!"

"Tae bad ye'll be busy raisin' ours tae watch." He replied laughingly. "Gonna be a handful."

Opening her mouth to answer Lilli, Niamh was forestalled by Brishen's laughing comment. "How many're ye plannin' on havin' there, a baker's dozen?"

"One Garridan child is the same as a baker's dozen o'normal ones, love." he patted her shoulder. "Ye'll soon learn that."

"He's makin' a lis' an' checkin' i' t'wice... Don' be surprised if he's gonna' check under yer skirt's soon t'oo t'make sure the specs are righ'." Cackling? The witch? No, never... Maybe now though. "Ahh, a small tribe o' lil' Niamhs an' Brishs, tha'd be a sit'e."

"Aye, s'right, frighten me intae miscarryin'," Niamh snorted at Brishen, before turning a mockingly horrified look on Lilli. "Dinnae wish a whole clan on me! M'nae big 'nough tae deal wi' more'n two'r three!"

"Two'r three?!" He leaned away for a moment. "Now who's plannin' on a clan?"

"Well, have tae have a spare in case summat happens, an' ye cannae let yer own child be lonesome fer comp'ny," she shrugged with a smile.

With feigned horror and resignation, he lifted a hand and rubbed his face. "Gods, m'gonna have tae build six more rooms now."

Lilliana wiggled her fingers threateningly towards Niamh's belly. "I could do a blessin' or t'wo if ya' like..."

"Ye do anythin' an' I'mma tell Ma' on ye." Brishen waved a reprimanding finger in his sister's direction.

Niamh made to laugh, but her merriment was cut off by a jaw-cracking yawn, her hand rising swiftly to cover her mouth. "Och, m'sorry," she apologised. "Didnae realise I was sae weary."

"Ye're always sleepy. Ye're just tae stubborn tae admit it most o'the time." He grinned, nudging Niamh lightly. "Get up on them tiny legs o'yers sae we can get ye home. Gonna take a few hours since ye're sae slow."

"HA! Ma' would wan' ya' t'have a small t'ribe, she'd probably give me point'ers." Lilli countered across the way to her slimmer sibling before moving around the bulk of the Eire rose's chair to give her shoulder a pat.

"Nae if I twist the words the right way." Brishen countered, grinning deviously.

"I've nae objections tae a small tribe," Niamh offered, sticking her tongue out at Brishen as she moved to stand up. "Happen I like a noisy home."

"An' who's the one wantin' a baker's dozen again!?" He laughed, rising with her.

"Eight at th'most," she grinned, patting his hand.

"Eight?! Ye said two or three a minute ago!"

"Yer a shi', Brish... Bein' the baby's only gonna' help ya' fer so long." Shaking her head, the elder gypsy moved to reclaim her package from earlier and tuck it beneath an arm as she headed towards the door. "I migh' go ou' an' pick up a drink ye'..." She announced with a small smile.

"Aye, ye should," Niamh nodded to Lilli with a grin. "Make sure folk know their Queen 'fore she gets crowned."

"Gods, ye get pregnant wi'one an' ye're suddenly all about this giant family thin'." Then he scowled. "Ye're gonna be the May Queen, nae m'insane sister."

"M'nae th'one what bypassed all th'potions an' spells tae get me pregnant in th'first place," Niamh pointed out laughingly. "Stop complainin'."

"I could give a rat's arse who's queen, I've already go' a greenman either way." Oh yeah, Lilliana was VERY happy she wouldn't be spending this year's solstice's alone. With a hand to the door, that lazy smile drifted wider as she pulled the chiming face open for her kin.

Brishen rolled his eyes and snagged her hand with his, walking toward the door. "We're nae startin' a new clan."

"Nae ... jus' addin' tae ours," Niamh nodded, skipping along after him with a wink to Lilli. "All th'lads'll be Garridans, all the lasses be O'Donovans. Works out fair, don'tcha think?"

"Who said anythin' abou' a new clan? Yer' jus' addin' t'the old ones ya' already have..." Nodding as she caught the dark haired lovlie's words as she skipped on up, Lilliana grinned. "Aye."

"What if we're married by then?" He asked, shooting Lilli a look of feigned fear at the prospect of a houseful of children.

"S'that s'posed tae change summat?" Niamh grinned, backing into the street. "Quit yer complainin' and take me home." She smiled to Lilli, leaning over to hug her sister-witch warmly.

Sneaking her big arms around the smaller woman, the buxom chuckled and touched a kiss to Niamh's cheek before reaching over her head to swat at Brishen playfully. "Jus' as long as ya' keep Ma' ou' o' MY hair."

"Keep outta her stomach an' I'll keep Ma' outta yer hair." He winked, tugging Niamh along. "G'night, Lilli."

"Night, Lilli!" Waving, Niamh allowed herself to be tugged along, looking forward to a warm bed, and a good sleep.

"Mm... Don' know wha' I'm gonna' do w' those t'wo." Laughing softly to herself, the gypsy tucked herself into the shop's doorway for a moment, simply standing to enjoy the trickle-by of the cool night air.

Two? Shouldn't that be three, Lilliana? After all, now there's double trouble on both sides, don't you think?