Friends...a good thing
It was an extraordinary night. The air was cool for summer, at least any summer's Fallon could remember, and yet it was obvious summer was still in full bloom, along with all the flowers native to Nachton. The air was still a bit humid and heady with all kinds of wonderful scents.
Since she'd come to realize her cat abilities were giving her added perks, Fallon had just accepted it and started enjoying them. It was that much more incredible when she and Cyrus would run in the forrest, and it also seemed to allow her change to happen more smoothly. That, or all the practice was paying off, as she never seemed to have any anxiety about it anymore.
She had also refrained from too much contact with Suki over the past week, thinking it would be easier on the three of them this way. Trying not to give the girl orders or instructions was more difficult than Fallon had thought it would be, only because Suki was just so helpful all the time. So distance was the only way she could see clear to try and break the cycle. Cyrus was Suki's master, and only master. For Fallon she could be a friend, and that was all.
In the grand scheme of things Fallon preferred it like that anyway. She had no desire to have the responsibility of anyone else. Outside of the responsiblity she felt for Cyrus, which was only a responsibility in so far as one lover would have for another. Being responsible for a familiar was too much like having a child. Not anything Fallon had the need for.
But Fallon did need to get together with Suki to start planning the party they'd be having when the new house was finished. Ever since Fallon had invited her few friends over to her little cottage for the get together, she'd wanted to have another celebration. She loved playing hostess, and visiting with her friends, and since Cyrus didn't seem to mind, the new house was just the excuse she could use.
And speaking of friends, and new houses, she was just as excited to be seeing Ana again, and thrilled she and Suki and Fallon could spend the evening together. Since Cyrus had to meet with his buyers, it worked out well for everyone.
Since Ana had only moved into the cottage a couple days earlier, Fallon wanted to make sure everything was still working well, and hoped to hear her friend was settled and enjoying her new home.
Finding it more difficult to be cooped up inside these days, Fallon chose the restaurant at the marina to meet at. She loved the smell of the ocean, and the seating at the outside patio was perfect. Once she parked the RAV and walked up to the hostess, she found she was the first to arrive. Leaving her name with the friendly woman, Fallon went to her table, and watched a few small boats sailing back and forth across the calm water, as she waited for the others to arrive.
After the past week of time spent with Cyrus she was very clear on her limits he set for her. Speaking of the clan was one. She was quite able to discuss her assistance to him regarding the house, shopping or networking but the later not for the real reason. The orders she had now were very fresh and detailed, like a blossomed rose. She clutched them in her hand, mindless to the thorns that pricked her.
Their server arrived with the wine and stood poised to take their orders. With her mind still frantic, Suki simply looked dumbly down at the menu in front of her.
When the waiter arrived, Fallon deferred to Suki first, since she was closest to the waiter. Her friend seemed somewhat confused though, and for a fleeting moment Fallon had to wonder if something had gone awry as it had the night not so long ago.
"Suki? Are you okay...do you know what you want to order?" Cyrus supposedly had reestablished the master/familiar tie that had become muddled with Fallon's unintentional interference, so she couldn't see how that could be Suki's cause for unease.
Looking to Ana, Fallon wondered if she saw anything wrong. Maybe Fallon was being overly sensitive.
This of course was not meant to be, the baked lobster dish with a crab stuffing came with one side. At her look of panic the waiter started listing the sides. When he said steamed fresh vegetables she nodded empathaticly yes and he moved on to take Ana's order with a polite 'And for you Miss?'.
Closing her eyes she tried to find her calm center. Despite her nerves it was close at hand. After several deep breaths she finally talked herself out of the utter state of panic and fear. Fallon had broached the subject, not Suki. Cyrus had never instructed her how to react to this so she fell back upon the rules. She could respond to the questions but not speak directly about he clan. Thus, she could answer Fallon's question honestly once the waiter left their table. Taking a few more deep breaths she ceased tying her hair in knots and brushed it out with her fingers before pushing it behind her shoulder.
Still her gaze remained on her lap as she waited for the server to leave.
"Do you need some air?" Fallon whispered as she leaned closer.
"Before I order, I'd just like to comment that I'm deathly allergic to both mustard as well as shellfish, so please let me know if either are likely to be present or to be prepared at the same time as my meal. If you do not know, no offense, but I'd like to walk out of her, and please bring over someone who does." When the waiter smiled at her and nodded (doubtless wondering why a woman allergic to shellfish would come to a seafood restaurant), she rattled off her order. "I'd like the pan-seared white-wine-marinated swordfish steak with steamed seasonal vegetables."
"Those should be fine, ma'am, but I've made a note on your order of your needs."
"Thank you, ... ?" Ana replied, fishing for a name.
"Jack, ma'am."
"Thank you Jack."
When he stepped away, Ana looked back and forth between her two dinner companions, hesitant to speak.
Listening to Ana with a half ear, waiting her turn to order, Fallon was impressed again by Ana's confidence in handling her food issues. Had she always been this forthright, or was Fallon seeing a new side of her friend? Either way, Fallon admired Ana's ability to handle things in a way she wished she often could. Though getting better, she was still a little intimidated by people she didn't know.
Ordering a Crab Louie, Fallon gave Ana a look of concern and turned back to Suki. The waiter had departed, and it was just the three girls again.
"There are certain things about my service that I cannot speak of. It is impossible for me to go against, really. When it was so, casually mentioned, I um, freaked?"
Taking a deep breath she tried to find her calm once more, to push the fear aside. "I am so sorry. I did not mean to disrupt the evening."
Knowing she was vague and probably not even very coherant, the young woman hoped for the best. Fallon would understand somewhat, she was aware of Suki's real role in Cyrus' life. Why she spoke so casually of clans was beyond Suki. Maybe Ana was her familiar?
"Suki! My god hun...no one here wants you to betray anyone's confidences, or talk about things you don't want to talk about. But I'm sorry, I still don't understand...did I say something that you feel jeopardized you in some way?"
Fallon felt worse now, trying to think back to what they were talking about...and feeling responsible, yet again, for making Suki's life more confusing and hectic. It had been her inadvertent requests to Cyrus' assistant that drove Suki to mix up her allegiances in the first place.
"And as for disrupting this evening...unless we can't resolve this, I don't think anything has been disrupted too badly. We're all friends, aren't we...aren't friends supposed to be there for each other, and help each other through crazy times, as well as enjoy the fun times?"
Fallon glanced at Ana, with pain in her eyes, not understanding at all what was going on.
"This is not a confidence, but more of a command. I am not allowed to speak of certain affiliations unless it is to Cyrus directly." Suki's tone was strained and whispered. She found a lock of hair in her hand again being tortured.
Covering her face with her hands she took several deep breaths and calmed herself. The rules had been adhered too by her, everything was fine. Maybe she should ask Cyrus to give Fallon the list of the rules that applied to his familiar. Looking up she hoped the issue was now understood at least by Fallon.
"Oh!" Fallon gasped, but managed to do it rather quietly, and it was now her turn to bite her lip. The clan. That was the only 'affiliation' Fallon had mentioned, and she'd done so without even thinking. Of course she knew Suki would have that information...how could she be Cyrus' familiar and not. As Cyrus' familiar, Suki was also part of Anantya. And as for Ana...Fallon trusted her life with her friend...she knew Ana would never do anything to jeopardize Fallon, or what she was. It never occurred to her to keep that information from Ana, any more than she planned on keeping the fact that she could change into a cat secret.
But at least now she knew why Suki had almost stroked out.
Scooting her chair around to be closer to her, Fallon pulled Suki into a hug. She did it quietly, and without a great deal of movement, but felt the need to let her friend know there was nothing to worry over.
Whispering into her ear, Fallon hoped Ana didn't take exception.
"Suki...it's okay. You did nothing to worry about. It was my big mouth that spilled the beans, so don't fret. Cyrus will be very proud of you when he hears how well you reacted."
Though Fallon would have liked a little less drama, she had to believe Suki was still walking a thin wire these days. She hoped things settled down fast though.
Moving back around to where she had been sitting, again she looked to Ana, and gave a small shrug. She would explain the clan thing to Ana later, and omit any part Suki played in the vampire's world. Though she did trust Ana with her life, it wasn't her place to discuss Suki.
Waiting to make sure Suki was okay, Fallon sipped her drink.
Sipping from her water glass, she waited for signs of the night's continuance.
With a compassionate look towards Ana, she wondered how the other woman found something to eat here. "Will you be ok with my dinner close to you? Or is it simply eating that you are not allowed to do?"
Suki knew a boy in High School who could not even be near the smell of peanuts without reacting. Hopefully that was not the case here. Knowing she was probably acting schizophrenic to her new friend she smiled with a look of apology evident upon her face.
She shrugged with an accepting smile. Unless medical knowledge changed drastically to rewrite her genetic code, Ana couldn't imagine ever being able to so much as taste crab, lobster, shrimp, or even spicy brown mustard on a good hot dog, without her throat closing up and her face and body swelling like so many balloons. "Thank you very much for your concern, Suki."
"Here's to no more seriousness, and just fun and laughter. For the next little bit what say we pretend the outside world doesn't exist and with its disappearance so goes all other woes, from allergies to work." Tapping her glass to Ana's at the mention of allergies, and to Suki's at the mention of work, Fallon again raised her glass before drinking.
"Ana...I need to tell you...if you EVER are in need of finding anything in this city, from a special food, or dress, or even maid or limo services...Suki knows it all, truly. This woman is phenomenal at who she knows and how she gets things accomplished."
Rubbing Suki's arm and smiling, Fallon then turned her attention to Ana.
"And Suki...if ever you need a friend, I've never met one as loyal and giving as Ana. She is the one person I've ever met who I can honestly say would give you anything she had if she knew you needed it."
And this time Fallon stroked Ana's arm.
"I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have you both as my friends."
Raising her glass yet another time, Fallon was still smiling.
"To friends."
Her friend's words about her caused heat to build in her cheeks, and she felt untold appreciation and gratitude for the point of view of her friend. She raised her glass. "To a strong and sympathetic woman, who has helped keep my feet grounded and sanity in check during a rough point in my life. Thank you, Fallon, for everything you are. And to Suki, I hope we do become good friends, up to and including and beyond piling into a car and going for a pointless drive!"
Ana wasn't quite sure where that idea came from, but it sounded like fun... She hadn't aimlessly driven in SO long... "To friends."
"To friends. The unwaivering understanding, acceptance and grace at this table humbles me. May our friendship grow stronger despite our differences and our lives richer for it."
Clinking the side of her wine glass to the other ladies' happily as the fear from earlier faded away completely. The wine was lovely, in that fabulous white whine way. Cool, crisp, lightly fruity and a hint of sweet. Suki savored the sip before swallowing it to enjoy that brief tingle of alcohol on the back of her throat.
Looking up at the ladies she grinned at Ana at the thought of them taking a road trip. "While a lark is fun, the driver always asks for directions where to take me! And dragging Fallon around could prove problematic at times."
"Waaaaitt!! Now I need to be drug around, and am problematic?!" Fallon mustered up her most indignant tone, and gave Suki a chastising look. Fortunately the look and tone lasted all of about fifty seconds before her face broke into a huge grin.
"I'm totally kidding. I know more than anyone that occasionally I require a keeper, and I know you two are well aware of that.
However...that said, I do have a car you know, and if we were to get a really early start I think it would be fun to take off some night and just drive. Pick a direction and see what we see. That's kind of how I arrived in Nachton." Although Fallon's psyche was in such a better place now, than it had been way back then.
"AAAANNNNNDDDD...with both of you along, I wouldn't have to worry about forgetting the time, or doing anything too stupid."
The last part of her sentence Fallon said while looking at Suki, but again laughing when she finished, and squeezing Suki's arm in the process.
"I say we give this whole thing a lot more thought, and then we do it!"
She sincerely hoped Aishe was okay, having not spoken to her in some weeks. "I'll get started on making up a menu unless we wanted to eat out every meal. It'll be nice to take a vacation with friends..." Smiling, she looked from teacher to right-hand-woman and back.
Not wanting to get too distracted by the thought of someone 'coming out' to their family about vampirism, she shelved the thought and listened to Ana's ideas.
"You can drive my portion! I don't drive. Never saw much need in learning how and now I have Ginger at my fingertips to ferry me about."
The idea of a road trip would be fun to Suki, in a huge chauffered vehicle. That way they could sit in the back and visit, eat and drink. Though it was not really roughing it that way, which was probably part of the allure of doing the whole lark business.
Things with Cyrus were still new. Hell, vampire life in general was still new, as was her life as a cat. Even if she could stand the thought of being away from Cyrus that long, there were still things she didn't feel in complete control over, at least not enough to brave days on her own. But most importantly...she would miss Cyrus.
Laughing at Suki's antic, Fallon stuck her tongue out back, but only very quickly so that Suki and Ana might see. She knew the restaurant they were in was on the high end, and she did want to come back some time. Hearing her mention Ginger, Fallon had to wonder if that really wouldn't be a better idea. That way if they did get stuck somewhere after daylight crept up on them, she'd at least be safe. The limo was, as Cyrus always sought, safe for emergencies. Besides which, then they wouldn't have to worry about designated drivers.
"How about we do a test run some night soon, and let Ginger do the driving. If it all works out, then maybe we can make it a couple nights longer?"
Biting her lip while glancing at Ana, Fallon hoped she didn't ruin the girl's idea or fun. She really would do better being away from Cyrus in short spurts, so to speak. Heavens, even tonight was the first time they'd been apart for ages. Certainly she was really enjoying herself, and hoped he was too, but she could also relax in the thought that later she would see him, and again rest in his arms.
"Besides...I...well, there has been another change in my life that I'm still...dealing with."
She wasn't trying to be cryptic, but she couldn't just blurt out the news. It was something that required at least a little build up...prefacing...forewarning?
"And I'm just not totally ready to take off for parts unknown, until I get a better handle on things."