voice is rusty ; possibly AX

[housing]

No, no.

This won't do at all. This place, take me back. It isn't my home, and that ship you're thinking upon. It's ghastly. What of my things? What of the silver. Oh, the silver must be shined, and the wood must be polished. One must keep up on a house of that nature. A fine house indeed.

But the boy is there? [It sparks an interest at least.] I am rather fond of him. Perhaps there is a child there. My child. How I would like that. Very much so.

Oh, but I can't go. I must stay. For the baby, for the house, for Charles, as useless as he was.

Comments

[filthyworld]

You're going on a ship?

[housing]

Perhaps. [A nervous laugh as she touches her cheek.] A spaceship. What to think?

[heltersskelter]

[look at that face, Nora, it's the face of someone who really likes you]

It's not so bad.

[housing]

Oh? [She smiles a little nervously, a tick. She doesn't trust it, but he says so. He's always been so sweet.]

What of it then, tell me why I should forsake my beautiful home?

[heltersskelter]

It's more like a vacation. [and he closes the distance between them, looking up at her.] There's a lot to see. There's a garden.

[goodpath]

You have a baby?

[housing]

Oh, but I couldn't. The house. It needs me. [But the look and the hope in his eyes.]

Is it pretty? The garden?

[smolderingchild]

[Wow, Nora. You and your cleaning... it's just a house.]

I'm sure the house will be fine without you.

[Though Nora was weird, and everything that had happened to their family was kind of her fault, Violet didn't hate her.]

You'll get new stuff when you go to this ship right? That's how it goes.

[housing]

I-- [She stops, smile faltering.] I did, little one. His name was Thaddeus.

[housing]

Oh, but who will keep up with it? Moira? [She scoffs.]

Sometimes. But things are getting scarce, I'm told. And what of my wedding dress, hmm? My mother would simply be appalled if I didn't have it.

[gazeboed]

Relax, princess. Your precious house is on pause while we're stuck in space. Nobody's touching it.

[ and now to plant the awful seed ( no pun intended ), the draw to having Nora show up on board with her- ]

Besides, think about it. We'll have better luck at finding a baby there than we ever could back in that freakshow of a house. Do you know how many people are on board there? Healthy, living men and women clawing at each others jumpsuits all day long? We could practically pick out what we want our babies to look like. [ hayden no ] And that bitch isn't there to take them away this time. Think about it, Nora. [ all earnest now, like this idea wasn't psychotic the first time, and definitely isn't now ] Your baby could be there waiting for you. Forget Tate, forget your asshole husband. Your baby.

[housing]

['My baby', she mouths. She can't quite voice it, too enthralled in the thought. She can't breathe. Not that she needs to, but Hayden truly knows how to break her into a thousand little pieces. The house is put aside, Charles is gone from her mind. Even Tate is, as much as she truly does love him like her own (as much as she could, the love an unstable person isn't very lasting).

She thinks of her small child, holding him. She was a good mother in her delusional memories. But to have him. Hers, her own. Her precious. No, it's a thought that holds at her, smiling in a way only someone who has truly lost everything only to be offered it once more.]

Truly. Thaddy? He could be there. He could come, and I could have him?

[gazeboed]

[ there's just a split second that her eyes shift sideways, a quick glance that absolutely reads 'uh, is the lie worth it?', but as always, her selfish mind shouts YES and she nods, her eyes finding Nora's again, wide and hopeful and assuring. ]

He could be. The ship's so huge, I haven't seen everything, or met everyone just yet. There are children though, I know there are. Little boys and girls. Thaddeus could be one of them. [ or they could create NEW BABIES. but. she does have a soft spot for the little abomination, so. ] We wouldn't have to be alone anymore.

[smolderingchild]

Who knows? [A shrug. Like she gives a shit.]

It will be tucked away nice and safe in the house like you left it. It's really not that big a deal.

[housing]

But I won't have it. [God, girl. What dearest Tate sees in you, she doesn't know. Keep up with her.]

I won't have any of it. I'll be penniless, worthless. [It's worse than being married to Charles and his failings.]

[housing]

[And she clasps her hands together, the thought making her smile all too genuinely.]

No, I suppose we wouldn't. And the children there, what are they like? Have they mothers?

[Because worse comes to worse, she can kidnap one.]

[hallowedqueen]

[ No, no. It wouldn't do at all. And Chad is a spiteful party pooper. ]

There's no babies, and even if there were, nobody in their right mind would let you near them, you batty old witch.

[housing]

Hayden says there is, and look there, a child. Silence your tongue. You know nothing of taste nor children.

[She has that air of a wealthy socialite, far better than him. She is, if you didn't know. He probably couldn't even afford to clean her silver.]

drags to RG anyway

[hasevolved]

[ Youuuu are not. Getting her little brother. Get over it, Nora. ]

Hey, I think a little fresh air and scenery will do you good.

[ And everyone else, too. ]

[smolderingchild]

And that sucks, I get that. [Tate saw lots of great things in her, thank you very much.]

Well, hey you could start over? Living in that house sucks anyway. A space ship sounds much cooler.

[hallowedqueen]

Hayden. Well, if you want to finger someone with no taste, she'd be at the top of the list.

[ He takes the insults very personally, but they just fuel his spite, really. The sad thing is that Nora probably doesn't get the dual meaning of fingering someone. So sad. ]

Let me tell you about your precious house. It was a dump when I got my hands on it. We renovated it back to its original state. More fool me, I should have gone with my second idea.

[heltersskelter]

It's bigger than anything you've ever seen. Like a jungle, and flowers. [there's a flicker in his eyes as they flick up to hers.] Blue flowers. Like your eyes.

[gazeboed]

[ yeah she's right there with you on the kidnapping thing. meanwhile both of the children she's seen around are, um, superpowered. BUT YOU KNOW. DETAILS. not like they can die again. ]

They're just kids, stuck on the ship the same as everyone else. They need mothers, I think. People like us, who'll love them and take care of them. But. [ let's stray a bit from the kidnapping idea- ] Wouldn't you love to have a baby? One you can raise as your own? We can make that possible.

[gazeboed]

[ somEONE HOLD HER EARRINGS!!!! ]

No taste?! That's hysterical coming from you. How's the hubby, huh?

OH WAIT.

[hallowedqueen]

Oh no. [ Laying his hand on his forehead, palm faced out. ] How could you?

[ His hand drops to his chest, balling up across his heart. ] I'm devastated... My poor, little feelings. How will I ever carry on?

Only a trashy little trollop like you would consider going after someone else's man.

[gazeboed]

Technically... Wouldn't that make you a trashy little trollop too?

I mean, it's not like your man was ever really yours, now was he?

[hallowedqueen]

No, sweetheart. He's the one that settled for second best, while I get a spaceship full of delicious morsels to sink my teeth into.

Whereas you, on the other hand... Tell us again what happened to the last guy you slept with?

<3

[housing]

We so seldom get out. [It's true. She does miss the world outside her home, but still, the house holds such power over her. Not just the actual power that it did everyone, but that slightly neurotic way. The way everything must be perfect.]

[housing]

[She has that look upon her. Like a mother who is truly blessed to have their child. She touches his face softly.]

Perhaps you will take me there one day, child.

[housing]

It is not just the house. [But the deeds done. For a moment she looks a bit weepy. All that has happened, all that she had a hand in. There is far too much sorrow for one place.]

Perhaps you should like it, but it sounds like something they would read over the radio of the commonfolk.

[housing]

[She sighs softly, that smile back on her face.] You would help me?

[housing]

[DOES NOT GET THE INNUENDO. Lalalalala.]

She is a dear, isn't she? [Chad, it's two against one.] Hayden and I shall once again team up. [Only you're lucky it's not to make anyone crazy. Just for babies.]

Well you've always been a fool. That's no secret. Look at what you did with the wallpaper. Honestly.

[hallowedqueen]

The whole world quakes in terror. [ It probably should, actually. ]

You should be grateful. Most people nowadays wouldn't dream of investing in a dusty, broken down old money pit like it was when we moved in.

[ Shaking his head, with just a touch of his Swivel of Cockiness intact. ]

I assume you preferred it with the fire damage intact?

[heltersskelter]

I want to, and there are so many people. You could make a new baby. [he says it faR TOO earnestly] Will you come?

[housing]

The girl still has much to do. But she will try. And perhaps I will have my baby, yet.

[heltersskelter]

[Tate leans his cheek into her palm.]

It's okay. I'm not going anywhere.

[housing]

[It's all the sweeter, and she feeds into so preciously. He is the perfect son, always giving and always loving, much more than she's ever known.]

Then I will urge her all the more. [She fixes a few stray hair on his head before running her thumb on his cheek.]

Are you well, dearest? Is it treating you good, this ship?

<3 !

[hasevolved]

Understatement of the year. [ Since they only get out the one day. Sigh. ]

[housing]

It would seem so. Are you out?

[housing]

What do you mean? [She's in that do you mean? She's in a cheerful, dilusional mood. It's what she keeps from truly weeping at her life. Moments like this, she's not dead. She never lost her son. Things are as they should have been.]

You ruined the walls.

[heltersskelter]

It's better than anything. [he says it all in a rush, like he's been dying to tell someone who could understand] I have friends up here.

[housing]

[She smiles a little wide, glad to know he is well.] Then you are not alone? That is even better.

[heltersskelter]

No. [and there's a bit of a glaze to his eyes when he thinks about them.] No, I'm not. [then they sharpen again.] I hope you get to meet them.

[housing]

I will. She's got nearly half of that thing written. It would be such a waste now.

[hasevolved]

Yeah. It's an underwater city, pulled from the 50s.

[ There's a pause. From what she knows of Nora: ] You'd probably like it.