runya's blog

February 3, 2010

Okay, exciting few days, so I may not catch it all here. I'm a bit overwhelmed. Call this part one of two.

I popped by Ro's and Trin and Ais were there, visiting. I'm a pretty good poker player, but I was just ANGRY to see him and I'm sure I wasn't as smooth-faced as I could have been. And now I'm starting to wonder if he really thinks there's nothing wrong with hitting and threatening women, or if there's something else going on.

Rowan burst out and yelled at him, spilled that he'd threatened to take the twins away, all the while, Ais curled up like a puppy at his feet. She's also a puzzle. Is she as clueless as she seems to be, just that self-centered, or does just compartmentalize really really well?

It's all beyond my ken. Anyway, I had Tom coming over that evening, so after Rowan made the odd couple leave, I got her and the sprogs settled, then went home.

He arrived with bags of food and lots of small talk while he cooked and I more or less got in the way, although I did dice the veggies pretty well. Finally got to the meat when I couldn't wait any longer, asking him what he'd found out about Piper.

Cue the thrilling music. He said, and I kid you not, Blank Page, that he thinks she's tied in with some Russian criminal types.

Yes, in Hathian. Because this is the urban mecca for Eastern European crime lords.

But he's convinced, even got a name on one of the guys, and then he changed the subject and we sat to eat. More chit chat, really, and he started to tell me a story, when I got called in, even though my broken arm has me on leave. Gang fight, woo hoo. So I had to cut dinner short and go.

By the by, no nightmare returneth, not yet, not since Wani and me at the fire barrel.

Right, next day. I'm at the TT, wanting an Irish Coffee and talking a little bit with Pia when in walks a man who's familiar in that dream sort of way? Then I pegged him. Cal Revestal, the cop who found me along with Rowan after the attack.

I hadn't realized he was so handsome. Anyhow, I wanted to thank him finally, and then I just wound up spilling the beans, telling him everything that I'd learned in the past week. He actually recommended street justice, then at the same time suggested I contact this other detective, Dax Carver, even though he agrees that my identification of Piper isn't really court-worthy. He seemed more interested in the Russian thing, and around that time, Tom showed up for work (he bartends at the TT) so I got to introduce them before Cal had to head back to the station.

Then things got, well, a little crazy. This blonde woman came in, emaciated, snake-paper skin, and I pegged her for a long-time junkie the moment I saw her. I've certainly seen enough of them in hospital beds. Sickly, and deluded, and carping for a drink, and then asking for Ellis, saying she was his sister.

I just played dumb. I like Ellis and I know he's trying to recover from addiction. Then of course, he comes in. Him, and a load of other people, the bar just filling, and Tom being kept busy serving drinks. And it turns out, this woman? She's his mum.

The stuff that was coming from this woman's mouth. I've never heard such POISON from a person before. It must eat her from the inside, causing such rot in her mind. I've never, EVER though that no family was better than ANY family until then. I can't imagine how Ellis copes with the notion that he's sprung from the same loins as her. The horrible, belly twisting AWFULness of being so viciously hated and jeered at by your own mother.

I just lost it. She bent over, and I hauled off and I pushed her with my foot, sent her sprawling. And Tom, he leaps over the bar and swept me out the door.

Yes, Blank Page. I got bounced from a bar for fighting. I was in a mood though and I laid a fat kiss on him before turning to leave because he just looked so damned PUT upon with another fight springing up by the dance poles.

He had me wait, and then we walked towards the beach. I got worried, because I just don't know what's been holding him back and he finally came out with it. He was worried about giving me the wrong idea, because he's the wandering gypsy type and I might be boxing him in a white picket fence and a Honey Do list of home repairs.

I set him straight without details, but I'll put them here. Rico was the one I wanted that from, and he's gone. I'm finally accepting that. But I don't want husband and babies. Not now, maybe not ever. I want to explore, to have the freedom to enjoy relationships and express and celebrate life with friends and lovers, without worrying about who's doing the dishes tonight.

He got it, I think, and finally, the man gave me a proper kiss, there in the road.

Walked me home... and instead of coming in, he bid me good night.

I think I'll kill him when next I see him. These gentlemanly impulses are making me crazed.

More later.