#Latchkey Saints|Original Verse

[brooklynislandgirl]

Inbox asks: "So, I know it's still two months out, but any tips on what you'd like for your birthday this year?"

Asks Open Forever

Unlike most people, Beth and Andy don't keep their things in the attic, but instead use the space above their apartment, a portion of the sixth floor, for storage. And with Spring in full bloom, inching ever closer to summer, Beth invited Tabby to come keep her company while she sorted to some things to be taken to a variety of donation centres. For a moment it seems like she hadn't heard Tabby's question, kind thought it was, as her attention fixed on a scattering of dust dancing through a beam of sunlight. Tiny motes that held a fiery gleam like floating lights or embers from a Fourth of July sparkler. Really, though, she was just processing the question. Both in terms of the actual words, fracturing the already broken sentence and putting it back together with with the glue and thumbtacks of context and micro-expressions. It's a sweet inquiry but Beth doesn't have an actual answer for her. The older she gets, the less inclined she is to make a deliberately big deal about it. But to say nothing or ignoring the question would be entirely too rude. She tilts her head toward Tabby and smiles. "I suppose wakin' up t' coffee an' breakfas' in bed might be nice. Real malasadas or King's French toast would be really ono. Spend whole day lounging around, or mebbe go t' da library, or down t' da beach. Dinner wi' friends. Don' really need gifts, much beddah for people t' donate f' charities, ya know?" Beth catches the corner of her lip between her teeth. "You t'ink dat's too mean f' say aloud? I t'ink mo'beddah I should jus' be grateful f' what ya might have in mind, an' dat it comes from a place of pure aloha."

[brooklynislandgirl]

"What is one thing you have always wanted to do but haven't had the chance yet?"

Asks Open Forever

Having come to the end of their session, Beth winds down on her yoga mat by stretching almost all of her muscles in Gomukhasana pose, or as she calls it sometimes, Open Cow Face. Ever mindful even without the endorphin soaked bliss she's currently in, Beth knows that she is more fortunate than literally most of the world. She doesn't really have many wants or desires that involve the material world, she only really needs the time and ultimately the effort to do any of the things someone else might name. The natural answers that do, eventually, float up in her mind all hold little dour things to them; The desperate desire to have children, even a single one, in her life and underfoot at the apartment, filling its walls with a love and joy and freedom that she and Andy hadn't had growing up, someone to lavish every single maternal wish and whim on. That feels far too personal for what she can only assume is a casual question, and Beth doesn't want to cast that kind of pall over herself. The less distinct desire to be as happy as her brother is, building a life to go forward with and someone he loves very much. The same new spark that Jay seems to have these days too. And Cory. And Tabby and Brian. And...well, most people. That is also incredibly selfish and seems a disingenuous thing. She might like to stop going to Mass then Sunday dinner with the Admiral, which is why she's working more and more shifts on that specific day out of the week when she can manage to trade or talk the Director of Nursing to schedule her. But the more she skips out, the more tension comes home sitting on Andy's shoulders. Eventually she uncurls herself. Legs sweep to the side before she shrugs and takes a sip from her water bottle. "Ya know...uhm. I t'ink I don' really have a lot t' wish for, or complain about, so I try f' stay mindful of how bless we are as a family an' as people." Something screams 'cop-out' in the back of her mind and for a brief second, she winces. "Okay, mebbe once I wan t' be Odette in Bolshoi Ballet's Swan Princess, but hones'ly I'm not tall enough or blonde enough. Now I know I could dye my hair but really, is not my colour." After a moment she nudges Cory's arm. "Wha' about you? If you had a chance t' get away wi' literally anyt'ing for twenny-four hours...wha' would you do an' why?"

[brooklynislandgirl]

Beth knows that Jay, for all that her sister walks on the wild side, is probably a slightly adultier adult than she is, and can get by perfectly well without Beth meddling, but she can't help it. The cabal is particularly overprotective of one another, and stuff rolls down hill, or so they say. Andy harps over Beth, so she in turn has to threaten anyone Jay might be interested in, as a friend or a relationship. "One of ya specialities should be a haupia stuffed malasada. You know. For Reasons." Beth glances shadily askance. One of the treats she most misses from the place she will always consider home no matter how long she lives in New York. And Jay happens to know how to make the pastry-doughnut shell, as well as the coconut pudding. Then she shakes her head. "I hones'ly don' miss midterms. I hated dem." The two women were a Dyson-sphere of stress back then, each in their own right, with little in the way of relief, at least as a pair. "You know," Beth says slyly, picking at a speck of imaginary lint on her sleeve, before side-eyeing her hanai-sister. "We could make him a kept sleeper. Could jus' hand over some contracts on refurbishin' da buildin'…maybe he could finally find a way t' fix my elevator, an' transform some of Riley warehouse into affordable living, or some oddah project. Could keep him busy in New York for like, years, really. Jus' puttin' dat out dere." A little wink comes along as punctuation to what she's saying before she stretches across the counter to kiss Jay's knuckles. "I say.. we order in, go pantsless, an' catch up on our shows. I t'ink we whole t'ree seasons behind Chicago Retirement Home."

Jayden gigged. She knew full well that Beth was not lying about her threat. And yet instead of being offended and getting upset at the idea, it just brought a certain type of warm fuzzy feelings to dance around in her chest. While the look of confusion on Eric's face would have been priceless, sad to say it would have to wait.

"I mean we do have to come up with specialties for next week. And I still need to work out next month's schedules with the midterms coming up for my staff, no I don't have date night plans."

Jay finished wiping down the counter after putting the aloe and bandaids back from whence they came. Better safe than sorry. Being prepared for a mishap to happen. And better a happy nurse shark than a foaming at the mouth tiger shark. She'd learned that lesson well after the third month into picking up boxing again two years prior.

"Eric's still in Chicago. He's got another two weeks on his current job before he can step away to come out here." Jay said, emptying the sanitation bucket into the drain near the sink. Placing it inside the sink to dry, then draping the cleaning cloth over the faucet to do the same. Turning she moves until she is across from beth, hands clasping together as she leaned on the counter with her forearms. Looked up at Beth admiring the way the lighting brought out the brown in the hazel eyes she was so familiar with. "Sucks to be you kid, but looks like you are stuck as my only source of entertainment."

[brooklynislandgirl]

@smolcuriouskitten {{xx}}

"Sorta. Uh, my grandfaddah. He Rokea…uhm…wereshark. My maddah is kinfolk…carry da gene, but not Rokea herself, same wi' me." Except Beth cannot have children, so she fails her duty to both tribe and to Grandmother, to Sea. The word 'defective' wafts through her mind, but she pushes it down. Rocky doesn't need to be dragged down by Beth's internal struggles. She takes hold of some of the other woman's joy and uses it to shape a smile on her face. "It's all a little weird, but yeah, you can nibble. Promise not to fully nibble back." A flash of her small sharp teeth that sit imperfectly in her mouth. The hug is returned with as much tenderness as the one offered the kiss and raspberry make the giggle from Beth more genuine than Beth might have imagined it at first. "Ya bein' way too nice." Beth is uncomfortable with compliments and it makes a show with the blush on her cheeks. "Sometimes. I mean I do a lot of charity galas and such but ya know. Dat's more obligation dan fun. I'm a small kine ole tutu of a woman." No one would say Beth had any grandmother qualities just looking at her, but sometimes she does feel old.

[brooklynislandgirl]

"You smell edible all the time, I wanna bite you like a chocolate bar. But thats cannibalism so I cant do that."

"Is probably cause...I'm part fish, an' ya part feline, yeah? I mean technically I am sorta ya natural prey except I dunno any cats dat try f' eat shark." The little witch giggles only because no one is quite around yet to hear them. Otherwise she wouldn't be so open about heritage or abilities, and a host of other forbidden things. "But if it set ya mind a' ease...I happen t' heal insanely fast an' I don' mind bitin' much." She twirls on her feet and her dress flares at her ankles. "I hope dis is okay f' ya show. I don' wanna embarrass ya brand or anyt'ing."

[brooklynislandgirl]

Beth can't help but laugh at the line from Finding Nemo. Rocky is terribly adorable sometimes, and holds an innocence that is rare in the world. Or maybe compared to the people Beth is typically surrounded by. The cynical and the sarcastic and the deeply wounded of the world with thick armour to keep anything else from hurting them. When Rocky takes the idea to a more or less creative conclusion, Beth laughs a little harder before shaking her head. "Yeah, naw. Neptune is a haole god, we have Kanaloa and Nāmaka, but Rokea tend to have more kinship with Sea and Her daughters." She doesn't say more than this, not comfortable sharing a culture that she is a second-class citizen in but also protective of it at the same time. "Same-same," she agrees and allows herself to be moved. "No, you are, my little Bastet." Beth accepts the abundant affection in stride and commiserates over Rocky's diatribe. She feels that way about most social engagements she has to handle as a brand ambassador as her family. "After you," she says, grabbing her clutch on her way to the door.

Listening closely, she nods as she connects the dots. A soft gasp left her lips and she thought about it with a nose scrunch. "Well you are the meaning of fish are friends, not food! I never heard of such a thing but its so cool to see it in front of me, I imagine mermaids and Neptune were best friends with your family as well!" She chirps, trying to keep the happy vibe going for now. Sad to say but she understood the same struggle of being infertile but now wasnt the time.

"I will only nibble, no biting." She made a salute motion and giggles, hugging her and gently rocking her. "You deserve the sweet and nice nature of folks! You are amazing!"

"I agree, theres too many obiligations. I wouldnt be here if I didnt have to donate and be a beneficiary." She sticks her tongue out and makes an 'ick' face. "At least you are here to lift the mood and keep me bubbly!" She once again showers the womans face in kisses before holding her hand. "Ready to go? Its starting in a bit!"