Let Your Tears Fall...

[Anonymous]

She blinked for a few moments as the man opened the door and invited her in. It had not been what she was expecting. In fact, she had thought he would turn her away without a seconds thought...or listened to her story and deemed her and unworthy begger who deserved to die on the side of the road...

Or maybe something less morbid than that, but she expected to be turned away never the less.

After all, who hadn't turned up their nose? No one saw a starving young woman, struggling to keep her children alive! They saw a dirty girl who couldn't keep her legs closed and was now paying the price. It was some sort of bad karma or something...some sick disease that would rub off if they even associated themselves with her. With those thoughts, they had turned her away.

But she had to think...

If a woman in her position had come to her before now, what would she had thought? She certainly wouldn't have turned her away! No, never that! But....could she honestly say that prosititute wouldn't come to mind as a first reaction? That judgment would always be there, so how could she expect anything less?

With a moments hesitation she stepped inside and tried to calm her beating heart as the bouncer placed his hand on her back to lead her through the brothel. She was nervous...that much was obvious...but her heart beating as hard as it was at the moment was enough to irritate the bruise on her chest and remind her just what she was getting herself into. After all, this was a brothel....she was an Emotional...she had never heard of an Emotional selling their bodies for pleasure, it was dangerous business....Their emotions were linked to their health, a damaged spirit caused an Emotional to die and she was sure that laying with other men would only remind her of the wonderful man she had lost and increase the effects.

How long did an emotional live after being torn apart form their true love? That too had yest to be tested....her mother had died from consumption when she was still a babe, and even though she was a strong Emotional like her daughter, she had never been torn from her husband, and there were no records of those who had....

Was Rayne a first? No....but she would be the first to test its boundaries. After all, she had to live...she had to fight for her life until she found a cure and returned to him....returned to him and returned him to the man with whom she had fallen in love.

The man's call to one of the whores tore Rayne from her thoughts. She could already feel the effects of the aphrodesiacs in the air and was more than thankful when Jofei led her into a seperate room. She had never taken well to drugs, her small frame pretty much absorbing anything that could possibly alter her mentally.

"Thank you, Jofei" she murmured, making a point to say his name. It was important to her to remember the man who had brought her inside when everyone else shunned her. It was also important to let him know that this meant a lot to her, just through saying his name.

"My name is Rayne," she added, "And these are Zawayn" she pointed to the boy, "And Eolynne. They're about three months....although I could be wrong, I haven't been very good at keeping track of time." It was true too. She had lived by the day, by the hour for the past months and couldn't even say what day it was. But that didn't matter. Her children had grown stronger, and she used their growth to judge the passage of time.

She took a moment to glance around the room, noting the dark woods...it was comely...and it brought a wave of nostalgia sweeping over her. She couldn't say why...it was more a feeling of deja vu in a way, but it calmed her as she took a deep breath of the clean air.

"Do you..." she started to ask, when the door opened causing her to turn quickly, a deep blush rising in her cheeks as she saw the man who had entered. A man who, in fact, was the most beautiful creature she had ever laid eyes upon. It took all of her will to keep from gaping...He was....seriously too pretty to be a man...but...a man he certainly was. It was unnerving.

And his words....they stung. It sounded as if she was a stray dog found by a young boy who brought it home to beg his mother if he could keep it. It made her blush deepen as she lowered in head in silent shame. She knew she shouldn't have come......

"I'm sorry if I've intruded" she murmured to her feet, strands of her hair falling to cover her deeply reddened face, "I just, I didn't know where else to go." She paused for a few seconds, realizing that she was not doing well if this was any type of interview. She should keep her head high! If this Peach fellow believed she was shamed to be in his brothel there was no way he'd higher her!

With that she lifted her head, trying to look as dignified as her flushed cheeks would allow, "If I may...I would like to work." as anything really....whore, or the one who washed the whores' sheets. Anything to keep her babes from starving.

(Ok Gold, let's get a-posting! Post transfer...complete!)

[Anonymous]

Jofei smiled and nodded. "It is no problem, Rayne." He responded, and then looked to the two infants as he was introduced to them. He had the most overwhelming urge to gently brush along their soft little heads with his hands. But he knew mothers were protective of their children usually, and did not like for strangers to touch them.
"Such elegant names." He mused, still smiling. He really was a gentle giant, his bright green eyes full of warmth from the heart.

He turned to the door as Peach entered, and rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, another employee, I think..."

Peach blinked at the woman's reaction, and then blushed alittle. He wasn't used to wearing men's clothes, and didn't think he looked all that good in them, so to get a reaction like that...well, it was nice.
"I see, hello miss! I'm Peach, the owner here."
He tilted his head at Rayne's sad words.
"Ah, no, you are not intruding at all!" He insisted, waving one delicate hand. No where else to go...
He could understand that.
And he could also tell by looking at her that she was not suited for the life of a whore. And it was not her starved body. It was the look in her hollow eyes.

There was a knock on the front door, and Jofei turned a bit. "I'm sorry Rayne, I'm on duty now. I'll leave you with Peach." He bowed to them both and quickly strode out, Peach waving him off before turning back to miss Rayne.
"Rayne...I like that name, it is very pretty, like you with some food in you." Smiling once again, he set himself daintily upon the bed, and crossed his legs, resting his hands on his knee.
"I have just the job for you miss Rayne. Can you cook?"

No, Peach wasn't a cruel man. As if he'd make her sell her body here...
Just because it was a brothel didn't mean there weren't other jobs available!

[Goldie]

Rayne, honestly, was a bit saddened to see Jofei leave.  For a few minutes he had been her lifeline, her hook onto some small ounce of kindness in the world and she was loath to see it leave.  But he did have a job...she had to respect that...and this peach man...maybe he was just as nice as Jofei...

Oh!  The...the beautiful man standing before he was Peach!  That made her cheeks redden even more and then darken again when he said she had a pretty name.  'Like you with some food in you.'  It was the first time she had ever heard anyone say she was pretty...at least since Aniketos...and it was enough to lighten her spirits slightly.  She wasn't vain, heavens no, but every girl enjoys getting compliments especially when they're sure they look the worst they have in their entire life.

It was heartening.  Perhaps she would get a job here!  No more running...no more starving and begging on the streets.....anything, any job she could possibly have would be enough.

"Cook?" she asked startled.  She had been thinking she would accept any job offered, but she hadn't really expected to be offered anything but selling her body!  And this...this was more than she could have asked for!  This was perfect...she loved to cook....although....she had never touched meat in her life, but that couldn't be too difficult to learn, could it?  And she had gotten good at shopping and bartering and she knew what a good price was and what was inflated.

Cooking...yes, oh yes she could cook!

"Yes!  I can cook!" she breathed in relief after a moments pause that could have been taken as diliberation, but in truth it was silent shock.  After he mentioned it she had already agreed in her mind!  "There are some things that I'll need to learn...but I'm a fast learner!  And.." she thought of anything else she might be able to do.  This offer had opened a whole new doorway for possible things she could do to help around the house!  "I was about to open a seamstress business before I was forced to leave so I can help in the way of making and mending clothing and the like.  If needed of course."  it was amazing what a spark of hope could do to change a person.  Already her eyes had regained some of their former gleam; and she was smiling, truly smiling, for the first time since that night.

Yet....it caused her heart to ache.  The deep bruise over her breast sent a shiver of pain dancing across her torso making her smile faulter as she winced in some air, her hand resting gently over the area.  Her knees shook as she tried to force herself to breathe normally.  The pain would pass, it always did, but it was almost as if her magic was refusing her to find even a smidge of happiness away from him.

But she wouldn't let it.  She had found happiness....no matter how slight....she would nurture it and hope that the agony in her heart would dissipate with time.

[Anonymous]

It was funny really. Peach thought nothing of paying out such honest compliments to her, or any other woman really. Most ladies loved how sweet he was.
Too bad he strictly liked men.
In any case, he smiled at her reaction, glad to see some spark of life and happiness in her starving face.

Peach clapped his hands happily as she told him she could cook, and was a fast learner. "Oh, excellent!" Alot of his mannerisms really were rather feminine...
Just wait until she saw him in his usual attire: A dress.
A seamstress??
Even better!
The brothel owner actually bounced up and took Rayne's hands happily.
"That's wonderful! You're perfect! Poor Fiona has had to drag all our torn fabrics to an outside vendor to get them fixed!"
No more! Rayne had just solved two of their biggest problems, food and clothes mending. Amazing!

He then noticed her pain, and all the cheer washed from his face, a frown moving in to replace it. "Are you alright hun?" Of course she wasn't ok, but he meant it more as a 'what's wrong??', since the pain seemed to be in her chest.
Not good, not good at all.
"Shall I take you to the doctor...?" Pure worry reflected in his voice, and he gently laid a slender hand on her shoulder.

(Dude, I misspelled doctor three times...lol)

[Goldie]

It took her a few minutes before she finally regained her composure.  The initial pain was diminishing, leaving behind the dull ache to which she had become accostumed.  It was normal for the pain to flare, but she had hoped it wouldn't have happened until she was escorted to her room, or the kitchen, or somewhere that no one would notice if she doubled over in pain for a little while.  RIght now, right here, in front of the Brothel owner himself was not what she would have called an ideal moment.

"No...no" she mumured, taking as big of a breath as she dared.  It wouldn't do to invoke another spasm of pain by trying to expand her lungs too far!  But a doctor...no....no doctor would be able to cure her, no matter what they tried.  In the end, she would continue to get sick and they would be completely baffled.  More than likely they'd accredit the illness to some kind of curse.

That was closer to the truth....but no where closer to a cure.  There was no cure for a magic that destroyed one from the inside...

No!  She couldn't believe that!  She had to find a cure for Aniketos...she had to believe that there was such a thing!  His magic...it was far worse than what was paining her....it changed him into a man he had tried so desperately to avoid...it had taken his humanity and transformed him into a monster.

There had to be a cure...there must....she had to find it...and no amount of pain was about to stop her!

"No...I don't need a doctor" she told Peach once she was sure of her voice, her hand dropping down to rest on the cheek of her babes.  It wouldn't be enough, simply telling him she was alright...she needed an excuse to tide her over until things got too out of hand, then she'd have to tell him the truth, but for now....no....for now she couldn't risk getting fired, "I just fell...it's a bad bruise, is all."

To emphasize her point she pulled down her shirt to reveal a small sliver of her left breast where the bruise ended.  Oddly enough it didn't make her uncomfortable, but then again, she had seen more skin showing on every other person in the place.  It was also to cover her story.  He might not believe her word and send for the doctor anyway.

"It should fade in a few days, I'm sure."  well, it would if it was a normal bruise.  Now all she could ask for was that the bruise grew in a way that she could cover with clothing.  As if on cue, the room started to spin and she felt her knees buckle.  Gyah!  Not what she needed!  But this wasn't her illnes...no...this was from lack of food and water.  Her tongue was swollen and her stomach was beyond rumbling and decided to try and eat itself based on the pains that persued.  Without thinking she sat heavily on the bed, hoping that she wouldn't pass out on the spot.  Especially not with her children still nestled against her bosom.  Thankfully they had been quite through this entire ordeal, but she knew that when they woke they would be screaming bloody murder until they got enough food to fill their bellies and send them snoozing again.

"I'm sorry.." she muttered, holding her head in her hand, "I don't know what's come over me...." Duh....yes she did, she was starving...but she also wasn't the type of person to go asking her new employer for some food on the spot.  She was expecting to be shown around first and then maybe given something....or...

actually, after Peach's reaction to her being able to sew, she really wasn't sure what to expect.

[Anonymous]

Peach gave an exhasperated sigh as she refused a doctor. He wasn't one to force people to do things they didn't want to do...
But still, she seemed to be in so much pain. He couldn't help but want to make her go to a doctor's.
Finally though, she gave him a reason for her pain, and his ice blue eyes, an incredibly pale color, looked over the bit of bruise she showed him.

Well, it didn't exactly look life threatening...
Then again, he couldn't see how extensive that bruise was, nor did he realize just how serious her affliction was.
"Well, alright then, if you insist..."
He still didn't sound please, the worry still painted all over his beautiful face.

Rayne's dizzy spell sparked a whole new wave of worry, and Peach carefully took her arms as she sat, just to make sure if she did pass out, she wouldn't fall over.
"Ah, food and drink, of course. Forgive me."
He quickly rushed over to the door, turning to look over his shoulder.
"Just wait there hun, I'll be back for something for you and your babes. Then you can take a shower if you like." With a soft smile, Peach dissapeared out of Jofei's room.

He was quick to sweep into the kitchen, which was behind a door nearly hidden by drapes, and was directly across from the door that led to the hall with the bouncer's rooms from which he came.
Peach was quick to whip up an easily digestable meal of a sort of gruel with a distinct fruit flavor, along with a roll of soft bread. He also prepared two glasses of milk, as he had no bottles. But he could improvise. He placed soft, thick cloth over the top of the glasses, securing it with twine, and then creating a sort of nub out of the cloth and tying that off as well. That way, the babies could suckle on that and still get the milk out of the glasses.
Scooping it all onto a tray, he quickly carried it back toward the rooms, getting quite a few strange stares from his prostitutes as he swept by.

Soon enough, he was nudging the door of Jofei's room open with his hip, and then placed the tray down on the bed next to Rayne.
"There you are! And even something for your children when they wake. I just hope it works out ok..." He smiled a bit sheepishly, unsure if his little patch job with making bottles would work.

[Goldie]

Embarassment didn't even begin to explain what she was feeling at the moment.  She was very nearly mortified.  Here she was, just finished begging a job off of a brothel owner and she has to start falling apart!  It wasn't what she wanted for a first impression!  Not at all!  She wasn't a weak person, not in the least!  After all, how much had she gone through before this?  The curse that very nearly killed her right as they found the cure, her brother's death, nearly dying in childbirth because her uterus collapsed...this was nothing compared to those things!  Yet here she was, dizzy and falling over and crap.

Gyah!  It was frustrating!  She hated seeming weak, and she hated having her weaknesses shown in such a manner.  It would be different if it were life threatening or something...

Because nearly starving to death wasn't life threatening or anything.  Yup, her judgement was screwed up big time.

She nodded as Peach said he'd be back and swept out of the room.  And he really did sweep...honestly, he acted more like a woman than a man, and even his manly attire was decorative enough that he could be one! But she did notice that he didn't have any boobs and everyone seemed to refer to him as a "he" not "she"  or at least...not that she'd heard?  It was all too confusing.  Almost like, a woman's spirit was trapped in a mans body...a beautiful man at that, but a man just the same.

If she was a jealous person his beauty would have upset her, but Rayne being Rayne, she was just shocked that such a beautiful person actually existed!  He was simply angelic!  It made her acutely aware of how she looked and, gods she had to admit it, how she smelled.

"A shower would be wonderful" she replied after he was gone, more talking to herself than him anyways, "A nice...long...shower." Gods how long had it been since she had done more than splash water over her face and dunk her babes into a small basin?

Too long.

But that was about to change, just as her hunger pains were about to be satisfied as Peach returned with the food.  Simple as it was, Rayne was never one for extravegant foods, and the hot cereal made her mouth water.  She wanted to take the porridge and eat it all in one fast slurp and then ask for more!  And she would have, too, if Aniketos' voice didn't fill her head, telling her that it would do more damage to eat quickly after barely eating at all for months.  In the end, it would make her sick and she would more than likely be bedridden for weeks, sometimes longer.  There were benefits to marrying a doctor, that much was true!  And it was also nice to see that Peach seemed to understand the type of food that was best for a starving body.  Nothing rich, no creams or meats, just simple foods that would sit in her stomach and make her stronger until she could handle foods with more substance.  It was nice that someone actually knew, and cared.

And the bottles for the children!  They made her laugh until she realized that it might seem rude and she stiffled the giggle behind her hand.  They were makeshift, hastely created, and absolutely perfect.  Of course, she would have been fine with a few glasses of milk and then a small spoon....but this worked too!  And it proved that Peach was all that she originally thought upon his first introduction, that he was kind to the core.  Well...so she hoped.  It certainly seemed that way now!

"Thank you" she told him with a smile, "This...all of this...means more to me than I can ever say."  she she spoke, she pulled the sling from around her head and gently laid the babes down, silently thankful to have their weight off of her pained chest, and doubly thankful that they continued to sleep.  She could feel by their emotions that they were stiring, but they wouldn't wake for a few minutes, enough time for her to finish her meal, which she took to with as much restraint as she could muster.  Eat slowly now....eat slowly....eating quickly would only make things worse.

"I've been wandering for nearly three months now" she muttered between the spoonfuls of porriage, she needed to let him know just how much all of this kindness meant, "Out of all the places I tried to find work, this is the first that has ever invited me inside."  With her last sentence she looked straight into his pale blue eyes, her own glimmering with hope.  Yes, they still had the haunted look of a seventeen year old girl who was mentally too old for her age, but hope and the kindness she had found had renewed some of her youth.

[Anonymous]

The giggles that came from the starving woman made Peach blink in confusion. He had no idea what she could possibly be laughing at, but...
It was just nice to know she could still laugh. He wasn't offended by it at all, just a tad bit confused.
Peach smiled at her thanks, blushing slightly with humbleness. He really didn't know what to say to that. 'Oh no, it's nothing' was so incredibly wrong, for it was something, something great and beautiful for his guest, who had suffered a long time as was obvious by her appearance. But a simple 'you're welcome' didn't seem proper either.
He had never really been thanked so deeply from the heart before...
Poor Peach fiddled with his braid alittle, before bowing his head slightly in return.
"Just let me know if you need anything else."
And he truly meant that.

He sat beside her, but not too close. Some people did like their space after all, and Peach had gotten good and reigning in his own touchy-feely persona to make others more comfortable around him. She ate slowly, which was good, and he knew it was hard for her.
He'd known starvation briefly in his life, and understood how difficult it was to not gulp all that food down.
He also knew from experience how sick that could make you!

"Three months??" Peach couldn't help the horror in his voice, though it was kind of high-pitched, and of course feminine.
Maybe he really was a woman trapped in a man's body...
But that feel away at her next words, and the amazing stare she set upon his ice blue eyes.
He could truly say he understood how much all this meant to her now.

Peach smiled at her and simply gave a brief nod. He had seen her hope, and he wasn't about to crush it.
"You're hired! We'll take good care of you, no worries! You get free room and board, so feel free to save up the money you get so you can eventually move on to better things, okay hun?"
Hun was something he used alot, and everyone was used to it by now.
And on that note, he glanced over at the sleeping babies, a finger to his lips.
"Would you like some help feeding them when they wake? After all the eatin' here is done, if you're up to it, I'll take you to the showers so you can get washed up. If not, Jofei wouldn't mind you taking a nap in his bed."
And how did Peach know that? He and Jofei were childhood friends, and he knew Jofei would have no qualms about letting Rayne use his bed to rest her tired body for awhile.
He was working anyway, and wouldn't be back into the room for quite awhile as it was.
"Sound alright hun?"

[Goldie]

ooc:  Eep...sorry if this post sucks.  Exhaustion and training all day are enough to kill a muse ._.

ic:

There wasn't really anything more that Rayne could possibly ask for, but Peach's remark added to her gratitude.  She could sense that he meant every word, but even without her gift she would know that he was sincere.  It was heartening to know that people like him and Jofei, and possibly others in the brothel, were still in the world.  She had just about given up when she happened to stumble upon them.

Thankfully.

She was no doctor, but she didn't need to be told that both she and her babes would not have survived much longer.  Now she didn't have to worry about starving to death or dying of some disease brought on by uncleanliness.

Hahaha....if Aniketos were here she would be condemned to the bed for weeks!  Luckily it seemed that Peach wasn't going to try and force her to do anything.  She had a very firm sense of duty and wanted nothing more than to start working right away.  It wouldn't do to get a job and then rest until she was 100 percent!  It didn't take too much to cook!  As for sewing, she could be sitting down to do that and that counted as resting!!!  The hardest part to all of this would be restraining from eating all of the food she was preparing for everyone!

It would be awful to take a half eaten plate of vitals up to anyone!  Not to mention, they'd probably notice if they were given an apple or something with a huge bite in it!

She smiled warmly as he offered to help and readily accepted his aid.  It was hard to calm two screaming children, and once one of them started eating, the other would know right away and scream until it was their turn!  This way they'd be able to be satisfied together.

"And I think a shower is best," she replied, wrinkling her nose and she looked down at herself.  Her dress use to be blue, but dirt and grim from her travels stained it making the color nearly unrecognizeable.  The hem had deteriorated quite a bit and now just about reached her knees.  Her sleeves had been torn off at her shoulders purposefully and now created the sling that held her children.  Not to mention, she had lost a good deal of weight in her flight and her dress which fit her perfectly before, now hung loosly over her figure.  She was sure that she had lost ten or fifteen pounds over the last three months, possibly more.  One thing that was definite was that she had lost the weight she gained in her pregnancy and more.

"You...wouldn't happen to have any clothes I might use...." she muttered, finishing her porridge and setting the bowl back on the tray.  A moment or two after the bowl had left her hands, Eolynne stirred and let out a piercing cry.  A hungry cry, it was something to which Rayne had become accustomed.  Before it would make her heart ache to listen to their wails, but now she knew she could give them what they needed.

With a slightly guilty smile at Peach, Rayne reached over to pick up her daughter, and almost immediately, Zawayn broke into wails.  Picking up one of the make-shift bottles, she started feeding her daughter, making sure that her children didn't drink too fast or else they would be even more sick than she would have become.  They needed to drink slowly, but they needed to drink the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Peach nodded. "Alright, shower it is!" He bet she was dying to get clean! He'd hate to be that dirty!
Peach was by no means a total clean freak, but if there was one thing he did NOT like getting dirty, it was his person!
He took a shower every day, no matter how early in the morning or late at night it ended up after all his work was finished.

He had not really taken a good look at her clothes befor, but when she mentioned them, he did a quick once-over. Wow...
Yes, she would definately need new clothes. Unfortunately, no one here was as short and slender as she, so they'd have to improvise.
At least until Fiona went shopping.
"Yes, yes, I'll get you some."

And then the children began screaming for their food. Peach smiled warmly and moved to take up the other, the boy. Glancing at Rayne, he copied her, holding the bottle in exactly the right way for the little boy to drink.
Obviously he'd never fed a baby before, but he did amazingly well for his first time. He was a quick learner!
And it also probably helped that he looked like a woman too. Sometimes babies could could nervous around men if they had only been with their mother, and would refuse to eat.
So for now, he just happily fed the little boy in the crook of his arm, matching Rayne's posture exactly as he sat next to her.

And by the look on his face, he was thoroughly enjoying himself as well!

[Goldie]

Rayne couldn't help but grin when Peach scooped up Zawayn and mimicked the way she held Eolynne.  He was a natural!  Almost as if his maternal instincts were kicking in!  It was also a relief to know that when they were awake they could both be fed at the same time.  Before, she would have to feed one and suffer the wails of the other until the process switched.  Now they were both content, suckling on the make-shift bottles with a vegence.

They were finally being satisfied.  No longer would she be torturted by their emotions, knowing that there was no way she could provide for them.  Now she had hope.  What started as a small spark when the door was opened by Jofei, blossomed into a radient fire that coursed through her veins.  Whether it was the food in her stomach or the great gift of hope she had received that brought life back into her sunken eyes, she didn't know.  All she understood was that she was content, for the first time in months.

"Thank you for helping." she murmured, tracing her finger along Eolynne's cheek bone as she drank.  She couldn't thank him enough.  Everything that he was doing for her was enough that she wanted to fall to her knees and worship the very ground he walked upon.

Kindness....

It really hadn't died.

Caring....

it seemed that the two came hand in hand and could be found in the last place expected.  Who could believe that both of these traits, so missing in the world, were in a Brothel where pleasure was the main adjective of the house.  Yet, where one sells their bodies doesn't mean that they sell their hearts.  A heart was freely given, and could never be bought with coin.

The bottle was empty.  For the first time in weeks, Eolynne gurggled quietly to herself instead of scream for more.  She was full.  With deft gracefullness, Rayne sat the babe on her knee and struck her back a few times until a large burp escaped Eolynne's lips, followed by two others before she was finished.  Her blue eyes, her mother's eyes, scanned the room intently, looking for anything that might grab attention.  It was something new!  Almost as if she had woken up in a completely different universe with new colors and new faces!  It was exciting!  And

OH!  Her eyes landed on peach and she giggled.  There, was the most interesting thing in the entire room, completely.

"I think she likes you." Rayne grinned, casting a sly glance at Peach.

[Anonymous]

Peach found the entire job of feeding this tiny little person to be truly exciting and amazing. He had never been around babies all that much. He was an only child, and had been pretty independent all his life, with only Jofei as a companion. He had seen babies, sure, when walking up and down streetways or glancing through windows as he passed.
But he could never say he had ever actually held one before.

The little babe was light, probably too light, but was still a squirming ball of life. And he was so dependent on others. His food, his cleanliness, his happiness and sadness...
It was all dependent on another.
And Peach, for once, was the one giving him one of his needs: food.

And he was grinning from ear to ear as he did so too.

"Not a problem! Besides...he's so cute...and this is alot of fun!" Peach answered, a bit giddy from his little taste of motherhood.
What man did that??
A man like Peach apparently...one who was practically a woman as it was. Hmm, maybe one day he'd adopt...
He watched as Rayne burped her baby, and then glanced down at the baby in his own arms. Hmm...he didn't quite trust himself to do that. He was too afraid he might hurt the delicate little boy.

Peach glanced over at the two, mother and daughter, at Rayne's words. The look on the baby's face was pure magic, and he smiled.
"I think so! Um..." He shifted Zawayn a bit, and looked a little sheepish as the baby finished his bottle. "Do you think you could do his burping thing? I'm too afraid I might hurt him or something...Baby trade?" And he held the little boy towards his mother, quite willing to take the full-and-happy baby girl for Rayne.

[Goldie]

ooc: gyah!  forever and a day!  ._.  I'm sorry!!!!

ic:

Rayne smiled at Peach's reaction to both Eolynne and the joys of feeding a babe.  It truly was a wonderful experience.  It had meant more to her when she was the one providing for her child through the milk of her own making.  Then it had not just been wonderful, it had been very nearly close to a miracle.  If there was anyway she could show Peach that feeling, she would have, just from the expression this feeding placed on his features.

Of course...there really was no way a man could ever understand how wonderful it feels to breast feed.

Unless....he really was a woman?  But no, women all had breasts and that guy certainly did not.

"Baby swap" she echoed with a grin, lifting Eolynne into her arms and depositing her into Peach's, at the same time grabbing Zawayn.  Immediately he began to fuss, his stomach aching to release extra gases, and she propped him on her knee and tapped his back.

"That's Eolynne" she smiled at Peach, "And this little rascal is Zawayn."  It wouldn't do for him not to know their names!  After all he'd done for her, the least she could do was introduce the babes that enchanted him so.

Finally Zawayn finished burping and settled comfortably into his mothers arms, looking around the room with as much interest as his sister.  New surroundings always entranced children, and these two were no different.  But while Eolynne's eyes had found Peach, Zawayn wasn't interested in anything in particular and was content to glide his honey-brown eyes around the room, taking everything in.  Although they were twins, and their faces reflected that, both children looked different from eachother.  Zawayn's brown eyes had come from their father while his hair, although still tinted with a hue of red, was definitely closer to their mother's.  Eolynne's eyes on the other hand, were undoubtably her mother's while her red-gold hair unmistakenly came from Aniketos.

And they were beautiful.

[Anonymous]

(Aww, tis not a problem! ^^)

Peach happily took the little girl, nearly grinning from ear to ear. Awww, she was so adorable!!
"Both your children are so gorgeous Rayne!" He couldn't help but say it, putting his fingers against the little girl's tiny fist to let her grab them.
He had officially decided!
He loved babies!!

"Eolynne and Zawayn....wonderful names." They were definately fitting of such enchanting children...
They were beautiful.
However, Peach knew he couldn't continue to gawk at the children. There were things that needed getting done for Rayne.

"Alright then miss Rayne. Let me show you to the showering room. You and your babies can get washed up while I dig around for some clothing, alright?" Even as he spoke, he was standing and moving to the door, Eolynne still in his arms, carefully held.
He led her the few steps from Jofei's room to the right, where there was a door at the end of the short hall.
He knocked, and since there was no answer, he opened the door and peeked in.
"All clear! You three can bath by yourselves. There's soap and towels already in there."
Indeed, the circular room, done entirely in blue tile, had towels and soap on the wall directly across from the door. The other two sides had spickets high up on the walls for showers, and there was a large, also-circular tub in the middle.

Handing Eolynne back to her mother, Peach smiled. "Take your time. I'll put a sign up on the door. And I'll bring back some clothes."
With that, he bowed himself out of the room and shut the door behind him.

(Bah, I was so distracted during this post! I hope I didn't make any funky errors, lol...)

[Goldie]

Rayne followed Peach with a new bounce to her step.  How long had it been since she had had a bath?  A real bath with soap no less?  Ah!  She could hardly contain her joy!  Her unadalterated joy!  Soon she would be able to pass as a normal human, not some girl who slept in stables and conceived babies in hay bales.  She would be Rayne, a young mother....a young mother with two beautiful children...and a young wife....a woman who still love him and yearned for him every waking hour....a woman who would give her life for her babes.

She would be Rayne.

Looking into the showers, she smiled to herself, anticipation exploding in her veins.  This was the greatest dream that could have been answered at the moment.  One day at a time...one minute at a time, and this minute held her captivated with happiness.

"Thank you" she told Peach again, accepting Eolynne from him and standing on her toes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek, "Thank you for everything."

Hopefully he wouldn't get annoyed with her thanks...because she was sure he would be hearing it for at least the next week, if not month!  She owed him her life, and would work every moment until she repaid her debt.  Even if he didn't think there was one to be paid, she knew in her heart that she would do almost anything for him for the kindness he'd shown her this day.

As the door closed behind her she breathed deeply, quickly stripping herself of her dirt and sweat stained garments.  Now it was even more apparent how much weight she had lost as she gazed down at her sickly thin body.  Every bone seemed to stick out outlining her entire skeletal frame through her skin.  That certainly was not a good thing.  With a sigh, she took the clothes from her children as well and carried them to the tub.  They were the first priority.

With nervous hands, she turned the spicket and watch the water run into the tub, fascinated, not for the last time!, as the water poured forth.  She was so use to having to drag buckets back and forth that this was an added luxury.

She filled th bath a few inches high and placed the babes inside, making sure the water didn't cover their heads, and then she began to wash them.  How long it took, she couldn't say.  All she knew was that when she was finished, their skin was pink with the amount of scrubbing it took to removed the caked grime as well as from the heat of the water.  They were clean, and although they weren't too keen about the water sloshing over their delicate skin, an hour and a few times filling the tub later, they were perfectly spotless and contently sleeping on a pile of towels, small hands tightly clasped together as they dozed.

Now, it was time for her.

With a sigh of relief, she headed over to the spickets, not even worrying about the tub.  She was so filthy it would take far too long to get clean in that!  She needed the dirt to run off, not sit in water!

Turning on the shower she submerged herself under the deluge, breathing in the rich sents of the soaps and different fragrances of the bathhouse.  It was a beautifuly thing, feeling the water pour over your body.  It seemed to wash away every ache, every worry, every piece of dirt that clung to her broken body.  For a few moments she didn't even think about the past, completely and utterly content with the now.

It must have taken forever, she was sure, before she was content with herself and wrapped a towel tightly around her body, trying to cover as much of the bruise as she could.  Unless Peach insisted on dressing her, he would have no idea of its extent.

With a smile at her sleeping babes, she went to the door where she had entered and peered outside, hoping that Peach was waiting....it would be more than a little bit awkward if she started roaming the brothel in a towel.....

[Anonymous]

And thus Peach was left with a dilemma, and a thankful kiss on the cheek. Well, he definately couldn't fail her now! But...where the heck was he gonna get baby clothes?? Or clothes to fit Rayne's emaciated body for that matter??
Hmm, he'd gotten himself into quite the pickle.
Think Peach, think...

Ah-ha! The only woman in this entire establishment that had semi-modest clothing was Soias. He knew she had to have some clothes that didn't fit somewhere in her wardrobe...
So he turned, and entered the door that was directely to the left of the shower door, if one were facing away from the shower door. He knew Soias would be alittle miffed, but she'd get over it quickly enough.
Riffling through all her clothes, he managed to locate a dark green skirt that would hit Rayne's knees, and a long-sleeved black shirt. Grinning, he also grabbed a pair of Soias's simple sandals, and tucked everything under one arm.
Right...
Now for the babies.

With long-legged strides, Peach was once again in his room, and setting the bundle of clothing down, he started to go through all the fabrics in his possession that were not yet clothes. He found a length of the softest cloth, cut it, then added that to the pile along with some simple, white cotton cloth to serve as diapers for the babes.
Once more, all was stuffed under one arm, and Peach took a moment to notice that it hadn't taken him quite as little time as he had thought.
Oops...
Again he was hurrying, and made it to the door to the showers just in time to see Rayne's wet head peek out.

A smile was quick to his face. "Hello Rayne! I've gotten you some clothes." He placed the bundle into her hands.
"I couldn't find anything for the babies really, but I did get some pieces of the softest cloth I had, and you can wrap them in that. Is that alright? I wasn't really sure..." He grinned and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He had to just guess as to what would work, and he was rather proud of himself for having thought to give her cloth to wrap the little baby bums in as well.

[Goldie]

She couldn't help but grin, almost foolishly, as she accepted to clothing from him, listening as he explained his dilemma with the babes.  She hadn't really expected him to magically have baby clothes sitting around a brothel!  In fact, she had planned on wrapping them in towels, thinking he might have only been able to find clothes for her.

"No no!  They're perfect!" she assured him, holding the clothes against her chest as her eyes danced, "I couldn't have done better myself."  With another smile, she whipped back into the room, closing the door behind her as she dropped the towel on the floor and quickly pulled the clothing over her head.  It was a little big, to be expected, but they fit well enough that tears formed in her eyes.  No one other than Ani had ever gone out of their way to help her like this.

Once the clothes were on, she opened the door again and went back to her babes.  She just wanted him to know that he wasn't locked out of his own bathroom...that would be kind of strange.

With deft fingers, she wrapped the bades in their clothes, knowing that she would have to make any outfits that they might wear in the future.  She wasn't about to ask Peach to help her with that!  It wouldn't take long either...to make two small shirts and cut more fabric squares to cover their bums.

Scooping the sleeping babes into her arms she went back into the hallway, smiling sheepishly up at Peach.

"There...wouldn't happen to be a place where I can let them rest?"  After all, she would know when they woke, and know when they cried, thanks to her being an Emotional.  Sometimes it paid to be able to sense the feelings of those around you, and sometimes it paid to be unable to block out the emotions of loved ones.

Sometimes.

Sometimes it hurt, like the bruise that was steadily growing over her heart showed.

But for now, it was good.  Like a personally baby monitor in her head!  Fantastic!

"I'd just like to lay them down and then, if you please, start working." she didn't want to waste any time!

[Anonymous]

Peach couldn't but be amazed at the sheer happiness on Rayne's face. Maybe he was just so used to being nice that he didn't realize not everyone was around kindness all the time. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside to see her so happy over something that he did.
Awww....

He waited patiently outside the door, and didn't enter even when Rayne opened the door once more. He was quite content to just wait for her out here, that kind smile still in place.
Those babies were so cute! They looked so peaceful while asleep...
That smile faultered, however, at her words.
"Oh no Rayne, I can't have you working right away, not in your condition! Please, take a rest with your babes. Besides, Johan is already working the kitchen today, so there's no rush."
The smile returned, and he gently led her back to Jofei's room, opening the door for her.
"Jofei won't mind if you use his room to sleep." His grin widened a bit, and his icey blue eyes took on a childish manner. "As your new boss, my first directions are...go to sleep and get better!"

Smiling, he bowed himself out, shutting the door behind him without giving Rayne time to protest. Honestly though...he wasn't too keen on the idea of her working until she was better. She still needed quite alot of sleep and food to get her back to even 60% of herself.
He just hoped she'd be alright...

[Goldie]

Before she could protest the door closed firmly in her face, her objection dying on her lips as she stared agape at the back of the door.  How could she possibly just rest?  She was tired, yes that was true, but she didn't want to seem weak!  Despite everything, she had her pride!  At least, it was slowly returning, and it was more of a determination thing....

After all, she was never ever stubborn! *cough*

And she was ordered to rest?  Not cool!  It was the last thing she wanted to do right now!  At least he could have given her some clothes to mend or something and then she could work and rest at the same time!

She sighed heavily and turned from the door to lay her babes on the bed. Smiling down on them the two children she and Ani had seen before she realized she was pregnant flash before her eyes.  They would both grow to be beautiful children....she only hoped that they would be happy....that they wouldn't blame her or Aniketos for how things transpired.

But for now, she couldn't just sit around.  At least she wanted to get a feel for the place!  Her babes would be safe, of that she was sure.

As for her order to sleep and get better?  Well....he didn't say now....she'd sleep after wandering around the place for a little while....


ooc:  ahahaha...so I suppose it's thread hopping time?  hmmmm....which one shall I infiltrate?