Babysitting Blues (Laina)

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


"I'll send some minions over to fetch it and Morrigan's crib." After all, it was a very nice one! She still felt tempted to put a sedative in Laina's food. The amazon would probably try to kill her, but it would be for her own good. "And I'll give Eileithya a call. She's got plenty of commitments with the upcoming attack on the Xioqzo, but I'm sure she'd come by." You just needed to pry her away from trying to convert monkeighs to the True Faith.


"Eileithya's nice," Elpsis opined more or less randomly. She knew the Priestess...well. That reminded her that she needed to find out how Cora was going. She hadn't seen the cuddly terror for a while and found that she missed her. "Think I can stand with some help."

 

[Laina Silvias]

"Thank you, Siobhan." She said softly, tiredly. And yes, if she did put a sedative in her food Laina would be livid when she woke. And chances are there might be blood. "I just, we just all need rest. Just would feel better with her there to care for Morrigan. Unless you are up for that task. Morri doesn't sleep through the night yet, so you'd have to get up to feed her. Maybe change her." She added.

Laina nodded, and stepped over to Elpsis to help her up and support her as best she could. "Let's see if we can get you up, and get to the speeder so we can get back to the villa."

Aella had Morrigan still, holding the still sleeping baby gently. "I can carry Morrigan, or I can hand her to Siobhan, if you'd like, Laina. Then I can help with Elpsis."

"If you want to Siobhan, taking Morrigan would be great. Or you can help me with Elpsis. Your choice. I don't mind either way."

[member="Elpsis Kallikora"]

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


"I can carry her. Come on," Siobhan said quickly. That said, as much as she loved the baby girl, she'd pass on changing diapers. Being a Countess had to give you certain privileges. Reaching out with her hands, she gently took Morrigan into her arms, holding her close and with great care. Meanwhile Elpsis got to her feet and managed to stand without keeling over thanks to Laina's support. The healing was wearing off and her back had started to hurt her again, but she managed.


So they presumably made their way out of the room and ultimately the hotel after Siobhan paid at the counter. Their speeders were waiting outside. Soon the amazons could look forward to warm beds in the shiny villa.

 

[Laina Silvias]

Aella carefully passed the little sleeping girl over to Siobhan. She even took the time to make sure she was all tucked in against Sio. "There we go." She said quietly, and walked over grabbing the baby bag, before she stepped over to Elpsis, to support her on the other side.

Out they went and it wasn't long before they were on their way to the Villa. Laina was getting more and more tired on the way, nearly asleep herself by the time she arrived. Exhaustion and the day's events had clearly taken their toll.

Once at the Villa she was slow to get out of the speeder. Though she waited patiently for Aella and Elpsis to get out, so she could help the redhead inside. "I assume my old room is still free?" She asked Siobhan.

Aella got a good look at the Villa and seemed a bit wide eyed and shocked. "This is where you were staying? Goodness." Such luxury she wasn't used to in the least.

[member="Elpsis Kallikora"]

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


"Yep, it's unoccupied. Everything's the same as when you left," Siobhan said reassuringly, holding little Morrigan close against her chest. Her ample bosom was a good place to rest in since it was soft as a pillow and with plenty of space. "Come on. Not far," she added, seeing how bloody exhausted Laina was.


"Ain't used to it either," Elpsis muttered under her breath so that only Aella could hear her. "Overwhelmnin'. Makes me feel a bit like a stranger." She was not sure how to deal with the luxury and magnificient opulence on display.


For her part, Siobhan was enjoying the attention. "Yep, all mine and my family's. But I wasn't born with a golden spoon in my mouth. I came from the gutter and fought my way up. Unlike all those privileged rich kids," she was quick to point that out. She might've had a bit of a complex about it.


Elpsis felt like making a snarky comment, but then clamped down on the urge and held her tongue. Meanwhile, a familiar face had appeared as Mei-Ling entered the scene. "Hey, Laina, welcome back. You ok?" The Atrisian, who was wearing a pair of pants and a t-shirt, asked. "Let me carry that." Seeing how tired Laina was, she gently took the baby bag and offered the amazon her arm in case she needed help.

 

[Laina Silvias]

"I'm glad." Not being far, also a plus at this point. Little Morri was sound asleep, though squirming slightly. The tiny baby managed to free a hand from her blankets and reach up to clutch at Siobhan's shirt tightly. The kiddo radiated contentment and warmth.

Aella nodded, helping to support Elpsis as best she could. "No kidding." She whispered in reply. "World we come from isn't like this."

The amazon nodded, "It's lovely. Just, not something I've often seen." Aella said loud enough for Siobhan to hear this time.

Laina spotted Mei-Ling and smiled a bit, "A little worse for wear, but I'm alright. Just tired." The woman knew she looked like hell, felt like it too. She passed off the bag without hesitation. "It's been a long day." Understatement of the year. Only now did Laina actually accept the help, wrapping her arm around Mei-Ling's for a little support as they headed for her old room.

Soon enough they came into the large suite, and Laina headed first for the bed, with the Atrisian's help. She just needed to sit. Aella wasn't too far behind helping Elpsis onto the bed. "You're going to be sore, sweetie. Gotta lay down and rest." It didn't even cross her mind to put Elpsis anywhere but in the very same bed with Laina. Share beds, and rooms were quite the norm among the tribe, with a lot less clothing at that. "You two both need to rest." Sure she did too, but she didn't have a baby to look after, and she wasn't severely injured in the fight.

Aella glanced between the women, looking a bit worried. And of course she had her concerns for the baby too, wondering who exactly would be watching the little one. Though Morrigan seemed more than happy to cling to Siobhan and not let go. That much brought a smile to her lips. "I think she likes you."

[member="Elpsis Kallikora"]

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


Siobhan was fine with Elpsis and Laina sharing a room. It meant she didn't have to give the redhead her own! Yep, she still wasn't totally over the argument on the yacht earlier. Not completely anyway.


Elpsis was bloody exhausted and didn't need any additional encouragement. She kicked her boots off and snuggled up against Laina. It would not take long for her to fall asleep. Siobhan made a mental note to tell the girl clearly to comport herself with more decorum and take her shoes off immediately after entering the villa.


As for Morrigan, the baby was being adorable and clinging to Siobhan tightly, refusing to let go. Ouch. She had a strong grip. "That she does. I'm glad. I love the kiddo," Siobhan said sweetly and stroked a soothing pattern across Morrigan's back. "Let's leave them to rest," she said and beckoned Aella to follow her. She sat down on a sofa, looking outside she found that it had started to rain. A servant girl fetched a baby bottle in case the little one got hungry. "You wanna stay with them?" she asked Aella. "Bed's big enough, if you like. Eileithya should be here soon."

 

[Laina Silvias]

"She certainly seems to love you." Laina said softly as she laid down on the bed. It was an attempt to rest. She still wasn't sure she'd actually sleep. At least it looked like an attempt to sleep and maybe Sio wouldn't notice if she couldn't actually sleep. Reaching over gently, she laid an arm around Elpsis, stroking her hair gently.

Aella nodded and followed Siobhan out. She took a seat near Sio on the sofa, wanting to make sure she was near to the little one to help care for her and guard her. The brunette shook her head, "I don't want to disturb them. Elpsis is extremely sore and I worry that trying to share the bed with them would wake her. Laina will have enough trouble sleeping. I don't want to be a distraction for her when I know she'll want to talk. They both need the rest, and I'm fine sleeping just about anywhere. A couch, the floor, it doesn't really matter to me."

"I just glad they are all alright. Laina, Morrigan, Elpsis. It wasn't what I expected when I got here. Then again what do I know. I just came all this way to have Laina's back and try and protect her from the other tribal sisters."

[member="Elpsis Kallikora"]

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


Elpsis purred as she succumbed to sleepiness and drifted into the realm of Morpheus. She seemed thoroughly content curled up against the darkhaired amazon. Even if she'd probably rather do other things to her. Some of her contentment might've bled over to Laina via empathy. Maybe it would help her a bit.


Outside, Siobhan kept stroking the little one. "Ok, dear. There's a spare guest room in the same hallway. You can sleep there," she spoke. Aella might be fine with sleeping on a couch or the floor, but Siobhan was not having that. After all, the villa was big. One wondered how many bedrooms it had. Probably as many as the plot demanded.


At this juncture the doorbell rang and a moment later, after a servant had opened it, Eileithya entered. As our two ladies would find when the Priestess entered the room, her coat was rather soaked and her firemane was a bit mess because it had been raining a lot outside.


"Why is it that every time I visit you the weather is awful?" Eileithya asked rhetorically. Well, the last time it had been snowing. "If I were particularly grumpy I'd say it's a sign of the Goddess' disfavour." A servant girl came to collect her coat and the Priestess took off her boots before approaching the two. "Oh, there's the little one. Hello, Morrigan." You could not stay grumpy for long when in the presence of the baby.

 

[Laina Silvias]

Laina did feel the contentment a bit. Even as exhausted as she was, as worn as she was, sleep didn't come easily. Her mind was on her little girl that was outside with Siobhan and Aella. It took a while longer before she fell into a restless sleep. Even in her dreams she was worried.

"That'll work, thank you." Aella said softly. "Mmm, the weather did turn nasty, fast didn't it?" It wasn't that bad when they were out there last. "You must be Eileithya. I'm Aella, a tribal sister of Laina."

Morrigan, finally seemed to truly stir. Squirming she finally opened her eyes, waking up. The little girl seemed slightly confused as she turned her head to and fro, looking for her mum. Then spied Eileithya. The redhead, got her full attention, looking quite the different one of the bunch. Then the fussing. The little one seemed a bit hungry, as was expected for her just waking from a nap.

"Do you want me to take her?" The brunette offered. "She's probably just hungry."

[member="Elpsis Kallikora"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


This one has decided to switch accounts for totally valid reasons. Not at all just to troll Laina's writer! Little Morrigan stirred. Unsurprisingly the poor girl was a bit confused by the sudden change of scenery and the apparent disappearance of her mother.


Siobhan stroked her little head soothingly. "It's ok, sweetie. Your mother is just resting. Auntie Sio is here for you. That's Eileithya. She helped you after you were born." Much of this would probably go over the baby's head, but the softly spoken words might reassure her a bit.


"Hello, Morrigan, you've grown," Eileithya spoke gently, sending a gentle stream of empathy to reassure the baby a bit. Fussing ensued as Morrigan discovered she was rather hungry. This could be expected since she'd just woken up from a nap and had a rather big day.


"I can take here. I don't mind. I've looked after babies before," she added when Aella made her offer. It looked to her like the amazon needed her rest. Siobhan nodded and passed the baby over gently. Maybe Morrigan would also show Eileithya what a strong grip she had.


"And you do need your rest, Aella," Siobhan interjected, since she was playing concerned matriarch.


"You're hungry, Morrigan? I've got something nice and yummy for you." With that she took the baby bottle and opened the cap so that Morrigan could drink from it. A servant girl soon entered the room, offering drinks to the adults.


"So, Aella, you and Laina go way back?" The amazon had helped Laina, so Siobhan's question was not born out of suspicion, but she was genuinely curious. After all, the mama bear counted as family.

 

[Laina Silvias]

Trolling this writer! Soooo mean!

It took the little one a moment or two to figure out who was around her, recognizing presences in the force more than anything. Eileithya and Siobhan being quite familiar to her by now, which helped to keep the baby girl a little quieter.

"I suppose I do. Just a bit protective is all. That and it's what we do for one another back home. We care for each others' girls as if they were our own. So a bit habit too." Aella said softly, "I've known the situation for so long, and well I was sent here with the others as a test." She gave a shrug, "I don't think they expected I'd side with Laina, and help do all I could to protect her little girl."

Morrigan fussed and squirmed as she was passed over to Eileithya. However, the bottle soon solved that problem with her happily drinking it. And her little tiny hands reached for the redhead's long hair, gripping it tightly. After all, it was bright and shiny and she liked that!

"Yeah, we do. We were born a few months apart, and raised together by the tribe. We were the only two born for a few years. So, it was natural for us to be practically joined at the hip. We were always best friends. Went through so much together, good and bad. Out of all my 'sisters' Laina, is ... my meimei - meaning my dearest sister. I consider her blood. I've missed her terribly this last year, been so worried for her, and for her girl. Last thing I wanted was for Laina to be hurt or worse. And I certainly didn't want Morrigan ended up back in the hands of the tribe. Not with how bad things have gotten." Aella stopped, and shook her head. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


This one would only troll Laina's writer in the most loving manner!


Eileithya nodded understandingly, then winced when Morrigan gripped her firemane tight. Well, the baby had good taste! "Gosh, you weren't kidding about how strong she is. I cannot fault her good taste though," she said, stroking the baby girl's tiny head and using empathy to calm her down. The Eldorai was rather comfortable to cuddle against. Especially her ample chest.


Siobhan chuckled and patted Aella on the hand. "I don't mind you rambling, sweetie. It's cute and I like hearing about you. I'm glad Laina has someone like you to watch out for her, and that you could escape your Matron's clutches."


"She sounds like some of our Star Queens. Power-hungry, megalomaniacal tyrants twisting Her word for their own ends."


Siobhan raised an amused eyebrow. "Anti-monarchist words out of your lips, Eileithya? That's almost blasphemous."


Eileithya knew that the Countess was trolling her and shrugged. "I am devoted to the Goddess Ashira and her Viceroy, the Star Queen. But though she is Her governor, the Queen is still mortal and can do wrong. Otherwise we'd have less palace coups."


"I know, sweetie. I was just trolling."

 

[Laina Silvias]

Aella chuckled watching Morrigan grab a hold of the Priestess' red hair. "Well it is bright, shiny and lovely. I can see why she'd want to grab it." The amazon was quite amused at the sight. "So cute."

She then nodded to Siobhan, "As long as you don't mind. As for the Matron, I don't think I'd have been able to get away if it hadn't been for her deciding my loyalty needed to be tested. She didn't expect that I'd choose loyalty to Laina over anything thing else. I just, things have gotten bad, really bad. There's no way I could continue to support the Matron."

"Sounds about right, honestly. I think the power has gone to her head. She's gotten so controlling of everyone and everything. I think in part, she is afraid of losing her grip on the tribe. Unfortunately, she's strangling it in the process. And too many sisters are paying for it with their lives. Or otherwise exiled permanently. It's never been done before in the numbers we are talking about now. It's got the tribe at a tipping point. And I fear things will get a lot worse before they'll get better. Laina was set to be the next Matron, with her gift of Prophecy and the like. She was grooming her for the position, all until the point that Laina went off and fell in love. A mistake in our dear leader's eyes but not mine. And certainly not a mistake she should have to die for."

Aella smiled, catching the exchange an the trolling. It was all rather sweet to her. And as for little Morri, she finally relinquished her grip on the redhead's hair, content to have her meal. Little hands and fingers tried to clutch at the bottle, though still too small to actually hold it.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


Eileithya looked quite amused. "So you like red, do you, my dear? I'll have to remember that." After all, the Priestess had needs! By that we obviously mean a strong need to enlighten others about the tenets of the Goddess Ashira. Truly.


However, the levity passed when Aella spoke of the internal strife within her Tribe. Eileithya was feeling rather grateful when Morrigan stopped holding her firemane in a death grip. Seeing that the baby was trying to hold the bottle, she tightened her grip on it, holding it close so that Morri could drink. "There, there, dear. I'll hold for you. It's too big for you now," she spoke soothingly. "It's always the most painful when family is pitted against itself. Many things about your Tribe seem admirable. It saddens me to hear that its leadership is so heartless."


"So Laina wants go back and challenge her. How strong is the Matron's support in the Tribe? As in actual believers as opposed to just fence-sitters," Siobhan interjected. Laina wanted to gather the exiles, but if it came to both sides throwing down in battle things would get messy.

 

[Laina Silvias]

"Who doesn't like red?" She smiled, clearly interested.

Aella nodded, "It is. I wish there was an easy solution to this all, but unfortunately there isn't." It was all a mess, all terribly complicated and with little option but creating a small war to end it.

Then Siobhan brought up the all important question. "Honestly, Laina doesn't have a lot of option unless she wants to be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life, wondering when the next attack is going to come." The brunette sighed heavily, "The stronger the Matron grips the tribe enforcing her control, the more people she drives away from supporting her. I don't know, she's maybe got thirty or so who would never oppose her and will always be on her side. That leaves the rest of us. The tribe isn't all that big. Couple hundred people in all. The rest of folks are on the fence, but fear stepping out of line for loss of their children, exile, or even death. Laina's got a decent chance, I think. If everything plays out well."

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


The situation was grim to say the least. If it came to an all-out battle, many clan sisters on both sides would lose their lives. No matter the outcome, it would leave a hole in the small tribe."Then I suppose your best bet is to gather the exiles and perhaps cultivate some of the doubting ones in advance, if there's any way to communicate with the Tribe without being noticed by the Matron's agents. If you can whittle away at her potential support, it'll weaken her when she's challenged," Eileithya spoke thoughtfully.


Of course, this brought with it considerable risks, but unsurprisingly the Priestess wanted to limit loss of life. "I'm reminded of when Anya returned from exile and came to blows with Nalia," Siobhan remarked. Realising that Aella wouldn't be familiar with the history, she elaborated a bit. "Anya's the present Eldorai queen. She was an exile for many years. It's long story, but to give you the Cliff Notes, she returned from exile after her mother died. Her cousin Nalia tried to seize power from Anya's sister Silaqui. Anya killed Nalia's champion in an honour duel, Nalia was a sore loser and there was a short civil war. I beheaded the queen."


Eileithya scoffed. "People here call it the 'game of thrones'," she evidently disapproved of that term. "Like dejarik. Anyone who thinks people's lives are pieces on a board deserves to lose." Ironically, Siobhan was a fan of a show called Game of Stars.

 

[Laina Silvias]

Aella nodded sadly. It wasn't ideal and she knew the risks too well. It didn't matter how well it played out, both sides were going to suffer losses. Greater losses than most, given the tight knit family the tribe had created. These weren't just any people. These were her sisters. She knew everyone of them. So did Laina. "That more or less was what I'd been planning on, helping to find the Exiles. Getting word back to the Tribe is going to be difficult. It's a secluded community that sticks to itself, outside of collecting mates." She chose not to elaborate there since she wasn't too sure of the opinion of the ladies in the room.

She nodded, "I do imagine it's going to work a bit like that. I am hoping enough of the tribe will trust Laina over the Matron. I don't want to see a drawn out conflict. It would destroy what we've built. It could destroy everything we have, our lives included. And I really think Laina's the only one in a position of having enough power and respect to actually take on the Matron and her minions and win."

Aella scoffed as well, "I couldn't agree more. Lives aren't something to be toyed with and moved about on a whim, to make a play to gain some small advantage. That's just, no. It's not acceptable in my eyes. No one is just a piece on the board. Not when all lives are interconnected in one way or another. One has to respect the life lost, knowing that even in death those lives can still touch us, change us and effect us in the most unexpected of ways." She gave a shrug, realizing she'd rambled off again, getting a little lost in her own thoughts.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Laina Silvias"]


And people said being 'darkside' meant you were automatically incapable of valuing and respecting life. That stereotype was probably the Sith's fault, since being a Sith required you to be a murderous monster. Or rather a high school bully with space magic. Usually with a sob story to 'justify' your murderous urges.


Eileithya probably picked up on the meaning behind collecting mates, but chose not to comment. The Eldorai had their own strange traditions. A certain redhead might soon be on the receiving end of one of them. So the Priestess nodded after Aella had spoken, feeling saddened but understanding.


"Death is not the end of the road. The dead are still with us. I pray to the Goddess that you can overthrow the Matron without too much bloodshed and bring your tribe back together," she said honestly. For even if she were toppled, fissures might still remain.


"Like I said, we'll help you in any way we can," Siobhan added. Meanwhile Morrigan had been happily sucking on her bottle. The little one was quite hungry and it showed. Then a rather foul odour filled the air. Siobhan crinkled her nose at the smell. "Uh, I think she needs...changing?"


"I'd imagine so. It's what babies do," Eileithya said, not at all trolling. "You're not being squeamish, are you?"


"No, not at all," Siobhan insisted firmly, though she looked a bit put out. "Harmony, come over here!" After all, changing diapers was a bit beneath a Countess!

 

[Laina Silvias]

"Thank you, dear. It's appreciated." Aella was a bit quieter now. Her own tiredness was creeping in.

"Thank you, Siobhan. The assistance means alot to me and I know it means a lot to Laina as well." Then of course the little one had to interrupt in a way only babies can. "Yes, certainly seems like she needs it." Siobhan in this moment, Aella found terribly amusing.

"I don't know, seems a bit squeamish to me." The amazon just had to tease.

"I think, if it's alright I should head to bed to try and get some rest. There'll be extra guards about, yes?" She asked, still quite concerned for her sister.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]