Closed [Shiress' Apartment] Heresay {Shiress}

[Hadyn Skellig]

1st of Spring
514 AV
8th Bell

"Shiress! Curse it, woman. Open this door!"

Hadyn thudded her fist on the entrance of her friend's apartment, brow knitted as she called into the relative silence. It been almost thirty days since she'd seen Shiress and the girl's absence was sorely noticed. Admittedly Hadyn wasn't playing her part as a friend either. Between Liam, returning to work this season and Orion she barely had time to think beyond the next moment. But she had a bit of time on her hands with her son in the care of the nanny and she wanted an explanation. Shiress stopped visiting her at home and checking in. But the weaponsmith heard the girl was out and about so she was clearly well. Annoyance played on her fair features as she stood before her friend's door.

"Shiress, it's Hadyn." Her tone calmed significantly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Obviously the brunette had done something to irk her friend but she couldn't for the life of her remember what it was. The last time they'd seen each other they left on good terms. It was an utter mystery and Hadyn was not particularly well versed in sorting through the complicated emotions of others. Friendships were tedious but Hadyn truly cared about the girl and if she had done something to hurt Shiress she was here to make it right. Albeit after she quit yelling and hammering on the door and was allowed entrance.

Art by Anona

[Shiress]

Shiress shuffled sleepily around her tiny apartment lighting candles and table lamps, and, after hanging a pot of water above a newly kindled fire, she slowly made her way back to the bed, tugging loose the braid that draped across her shoulder as she stepped. With a low, deep groan she dropped down on the side of the bed and yanked a hairbrush from the table and pulled it through the long waves of her thigh length hair, yawning deeply.

After a long, loud and obnoxious night at The Stallion, pushing and pulling mugs of ale and mead, shots of liquor, and tall glasses of wine, Shiress had woke up a little more than grumpy this morning. Her head ached, her stomach lurched and churned each time she moved, and she couldn't quite figure out if there was smoke in her apartment, or if it was just her glassy, blood shot eyes deceiving the air around her. Either way, the bartender was quietly cursing herself for spending her night off at The Stallion - At The Stallion. For you see, the pushing and pulling of all the alcohol filled vessels was of her own doing, for her own consumption. Alone. In a corner. All night. Drinking and pissed off at the world, at least, last night she thought it was at the world. In truth, for whom it was that she was angry with could be easily narrowed down by counting the fingers on one hand. One finger actually, maybe two, but she was loathed to admit it.

A knock at the door erupted through her senses like a metal hammer striking a bell right next to her ear. She blew out a painful breath with a cringe "Who the petch is that!?" she wondered allowed, not making any move to answer the door. Her wondering was short lived, however, when a familiar voice called out with another bang on the bell. "It's Hadyn!" she quietly exclaimed to her cat, her green eyes growing wide.

Another few taps came from the door and Shiress stood reluctantly, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes, and moved across the floor. She knew this day was coming, and that she couldn't avoid the weaponsmith forever. She also knew that that damned woman standing on the other side of the door would break it down if she didn't open it.

Stretching out a hand, Shiress wrenched open the door, the rush of air from the corridor stirring the hair around her face and shifting the long strands that curtained her upturned, glossy eyes "What" she snapped, closing her eyes as a wave of pain from the sudden outburst bounced between her ears. The throb subsided quickly and she slid her eyes open again, and spoke in a more level, but yet still irritated, tone "do you need?"

[Hadyn Skellig]

Dark straight brows rose with no small amount of bemusement at tepid response from Shiress upon opening the door. She was tired, that much was evident but her tone seemed entirely unwarranted especially considering the weaponsmith announced her presence. Dropping the fist readied to thump against the wood the brunette gave her friend a quizzical look. There was something off about the whole thing, hence the reason Hadyn came calling and Shiress' grumpy mood was not helping the matter.

"Been a good while since I've seen you," she began casually, glancing to the chamber beyond the auburn haired barmaid's slim shoulder. "Thought I'd stop in. Make sure you hadn't skipped out on the city."

Truly Hadyn had no fear Shiress would do such a thing with Jordan gone. At the very least she anticipated the girl would notify her if she felt the necessity to leave. Besides, Yorick mentioned seeing her at the Stallion only two nights prior. The woman maintained a nonchalant expression but there remained an expectant gaze in her brown eyes, tacitly waiting for an explanation.

Art by Anona

[Shiress]

Green eyes lingered on Hadyn's brown a chime, before a smile curled the corner of her mouth, with a sarcastic chuckle issuing through her nose."No, I'm still here." She said, brushing back ringlets of hair from her face. "I've just had a lot going on, a lot on my mind, you can say." She added, turning away from the open door with a snap of her body.

Crossing the floor Shiress began snatching up scattered clothing from the floor, the back of a chair, and finally, the bed, forming a decent mound in her arms. "Sorry for the mess. I wasn't expecting visitors." She said, casting a wry glance over her shoulder to the brunette, while tossing the items in her arms into an open trunk near the wall. Stepping up to the table she gently removed a slumbering Shadow from a chair and dropped him to the floor. The cat scurried off to resume his nap elsewhere. "Have a seat." Pulling out the chair she motioned for Hadyn to sit. "I'll get us some tea."

Shiress pulled the cauldron from the fire, placed it on the counter, and drug two cups from a shelf. "I trust you and the baby are doing well?" She inquired, tipping the steaming cauldron over one cup, before moving it to the other. "Bout' time to head back to work, right?" Pulling the freshly brewed tea from the counter, the girl turned and joined her friend at the table.

Clasping her fingers around the backside of the cup, Shiress cleared her throat and slid her eyes up to meet Hadyn's, pausing a chime with a lingering, chilly regard for her friend. Finally, puckering her lips sideways, she sucked her teeth and spoke, her tone flat. "Heard from Orion lately?"

[Hadyn Skellig]

"You call this a mess?" the brunette followed her friend into the room with a drawn eyebrow. "Glad you haven't stopped by my place."

Assuming the seat recently vacated by a less than pleased cat Hadyn watched Shiress as she moved about the apartment. Her behavior was odd, cagey almost. Why had she avoided seeing the weaponsmith and the baby she so dearly loved? Hadyn was here for answers. But she would draw it out of her friend carefully.

"Aye," she replied with a slight nod. "Liam and I are well. I'll be startin' up again in the next day or so, thank the gods."

The woman did not miss the dry tone employed to inquire after Orion. It didn't surprise her overly much - the two were rarely on the best terms. But it piqued the brunette's interest that Shiress would ask so quickly about the squire. Settling into the chair Hadyn observed the barmaid with a sharp, appraising gaze. There was something afoot though she could hardly guess what it was. But Shiress was not acting like herself and in all likelihood it had something to do with the incorrigible Orion Michaels.

"He comes now and again to see his son," she replied evenly, catching Shiress' gaze and holding it. "You seem keen to ask after him."

Art by Anona

[Shiress]

Raising the cup to her lips Shiress cocked a brow, listening to her friend, as she spoke. The girl felt like shyke and, with the ache in her head pounding in sync with every word coming out of her mouth, she decided to get straight to the point.

Pausing to savor the taste of the warm liquid in her mouth, the bartender raised the brunette's gaze to a hard glare, her lips twisting, with a sarcastic, nasally chuckle. "To see his son, huh?" Shiress asked, lowering her cup to the table. "is that all?" She didn't leave her friend time to answer, before jerking herself from the chair. Running long, thin fingers along her temples, she turned her back and stepped away, her lack of balance showing.

Gods my head hurts

After a tick's pause, she turned to face the woman again, a forced calm about her expression. "Hadyn" she began, hands perching on slender hips "Orion paid me a visit, oh, I don't know, maybe twenty-some odd days ago." She stepped forward and grasp the chair she had just vacated, hoping to look more stern, than unsteady. "Do you happen to have any clue of what he may, or may not, have had to say to me?" she straightened, crossing her arms over her chest "Well, let me help you out! He had a bone to pick with me, you see, about a bit of gossip."

Shiress rounded the chair, taking a step closer to Hadyn "A bit of gossip that he says.." leaning in, the girl pointed a trembling finger at the brunette's nose, her face red with anger "you informed him of!" Shiress let her angry gaze linger, before stepping away, shaking her head. "Know-it-all, gossiping, low life, no good, lonely, arrogant bitch, were just some of the things he called me, all while he stood on top of a table, in the middle of The Stallion." she stopped and turned, her downcast eyes glistening with tears, a dejected smile creasing her lips. "Orion said I ruined the trust between him and you, said I must have forced you to listen to me." her green eyes lifted, finding Hadyn's brown "Is that what you told him? I made you, forced you, to listen?"

Turning her back once again, Shiress chewed her lip and lowered her face, frustrated at the tears that flooded her eyes. She didn't want to cry, she didn't want to do anything but yell and scream and tear Hadyn apart with her words. But, other things began to threaten, other feelings and emotion, thought to be long forgotten, buried and forgiven, began to stir and awaken. Shiress fought to subdue the swell of old jealousy and latent resentment, growing in her chest.

Her head throbbed and pounded, relentlessly, against her skull.

How could she do this to me...

...again

Her head was going to burst open..

She felt feverish and hot.

Her head ached..

She felt nauseous.

Her head ached..

"You told Orion everything I told you." She said, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks, as she lifted her head and turned, green eyes searching for Hadyn's brown, her voice shaky "Did you tell me, when I confided in you that night, that you had just fucked the man, I told you I loved, three days earlier? And how long did it take you to tell me you were carrying his baby, again?" Shiress paused, swiping a sleeve under her eyes,"I see who has your loyalty" Stepping away, the girl swayed and grabbed for the back of a chair. As her balance returned, she slid her eyes up to the brunette.

"Just go.." she said, calmly.

[Hadyn Skellig]

Slender brows rose with the result of her observations. The girl was agitated and was attempting an admonishing tone as she regarded the weaponsmith. Slight confusion registered plainly on the woman's face as Shiress relayed her interaction with Orion and the supposed gossip. A muscle in her jaw clenched as an accusatory finger pointed her way.

Hadyn wasn't much for gossip so this was news to her, her posture unmoved by the allegation as she waited for an explanation. Shiress was clearly worked up by this transpiring of events and it certainly accounted for her avoidance of the weaponsmith and Liam. As the story unraveled it became clear what the source of Shiress' angst was, though it did little to dim the bemusement on the brunette's face.

"Shiress," the woman began as the girl turned from her. "Didn't I warn you it wasn't something to be shared? Orion and I have to be honest with each other. There's no way for us to tolerate each other if there are secrets."

It wasn't much for an explanation. Frankly Hadyn had no interest in defending or explaining her reasoning. There'd been a fair amount of uneasiness when Shiress shared the gossip to begin with and it wouldn't be right to keep it from Orion. She hadn't expected it to come back and bite Shiress in the arse but she wasn't about to apologize for being honest. Standing the weaponsmith deemed it time to depart, Shiress' unhappiness permiating the room. Hadyn was ready to bid her adieu and express her condolence for Orion's behavior when the girl finally lashed out. The weaponsmith responded with a frown. Everything? She barely told Orion anything.

"Now wait a moment -"

Hadyn's interruption gained no traction, indignation threatening to disrupt the already shaky relationship between the two. Shiress was releasing seasons worth of pent up frustration and hurt. Biting her lip to avoid retorting with a rational retaliation the weaponsmith let her finish, standing patiently until it was over.

"Yes," she agreed quietly, after a several moments of silence. "My loyalty is directly tied to my son's father. I am sorry that hurts you. But if there can be any semblance of normalcy for Liam I have to be honest with Orion." With a heavy sigh the brunette softened her gaze, hoping not to appear aggressive toward the girl.

"As for those offenses you're still hangin' on to... I'm sorry. Truly. I certainly didn't mean to hurt you. My concern was for the upset it would cause you to know Orion and I had been together. I never imagined it would result in a child. But Shiress," the brunette paused, ready to take her leave before thinking better of it. "You aren't still in love with him, are you?"

Art by Anona

[Shiress]

"No!"

The girl's answer issued forth in a semi-growl, with unintentional rage saturating her tone, her wide, green eyes trailing closely behind the answer to meet Hadyn's brown. "I. Am. Not." Her intention's was to watch her friend to the door, and say nothing, as she exited, but the last question caught her off guard. If there was one thing the girl knew, it was that she had no love left for Orion Michaels. If she ever did love him to begin with. "What I thought was love was a girl's mistake -a child's mistake- of attention for love. But" Shiress drew up her shoulders and waved an arm, "what does it matter? Obviously, how I feel is beside your honesty."

Lowering her gaze to the table, the girl fell silent, pondering her friend's words and her own answers.

"And yes" she admitted, turning her head slightly to make sure Hadyn was still there "You warned me not to share. So, why did you? Did he happen to ask, or did you offer to tell him?" she sighed "Hadyn, who helped you through the emotional up's and down's, as you carried Liam? Who talked you through the good and the bad? Who Worried about you? Who prayed for you? Who helped to deliver your baby?" Lowering her eyes, she paused, shaking her head. "It sure as fuck wasn't your son's father" she added, putting sarcastic emphasis on the last three words.

Her tone turned casual "Do you remember that day in the gardens, the day I gave you that locket? I'm the one that told you to talk to Orion, to try, to do what you could to build a relationship with him. Do you remember that?"Leaning over, she pulled the mug to her lips, her hand clutching at her churning belly, as she sipped and swallowed. " I wanted you to have love. Hell, I wanted you to have Orion."" she grinned, knowingly, as she replaced the mug "I wanted you to have what I couldn't and..you do. No further explanation is needed, nor wanted, of your loyalties."

Sliding back the chair, Shiress stood and stepped to the chest, at the foot of the bed, and pushed it open. Stooping, she pulled out a white shirt and stepped back across the floor to Hadyn. "This belongs to Orion. Oh, and
do tell the good doctor it was very nice to see him again, but next time, maybe it should be me getting wet and not him" she winked, offering the shirt forward. "He'll know what you mean."


OOCSorry for the crappy post. I'll do better next time