Dec 03 03:14:51 106 PA - The dam bursts

From Chronicles

The large garage has a small corner desk, with pieces of paper and catalogues of machine pieces on shelves against the wall. Along three of the walls, huge metal shelving units hold a variety of brown boxes, each marked with some arcane mechanics scrawl that indicates the contents. The other has two separate workstations against it, and a series of hooks and shelves, upon which tools sit, in apparently random order, behind one. The other has a large cupboard designed for paper, drawing implements and a line of tools. The workstation is designed for the drawing of schematics, and the other workstation bears the weight of half a dozen dismantled machines of varying sizes. The floor is concrete, stained with oil, with patches of sand here and there. A large tub containing sand squats beside the garage doors, a shovel sticking out of the top as if someone shoved it there after use. A row of pegs against the wall by the workstation has various coveralls, coats and other things hanging on it and a large noticeboard has a range of oil stained pieces of papers stuck to it with pins. Along the beam that runs the length of the garage, several jars have been attached with a nail through their lid. They seem to be storing small components of different sizes.

A door exits the garage, apparently allowing entrance to the upper floor by the use of a key pad.

INFO: If a PC is paying for services from this garage, please pay the credits to Caliopa, along with an @mail to explain what you paid and what for. She will then pay the employees.

The current game time is: Sat Dec 03 03:14:51 106 PA.

Earler in the morning, despite it being the weekend, the garage is open and the music blares out. Inside, the petite mechanic is settled at her workbench, her head bent over the opened corpse of a machine, its intestines spread across the bench. Despite this happy task, she is not cheerful, her expression serious as she talks softly to the machine, her eyes unfocussed. Beside her, a glass of water and some crackers are abandoned.

Vixen comes in much like she did before. Coated and quiet. Her mood balanced for the moment. Though this time she comes right over to Cali rather than hanging back. Not directly, but around to the side of the workbench. Not saying anything, but moving into line of sight smoothly, then waiting for a few moments.

For the moment, the machine gets all the attention from the woman, the brown eyes focussing. The light reveals a paleness to her skin, shadows beneath the eyes and her lips are pressed together. Finally the intestines vanish back into the machine and she gives it a small smile, pushing it away. "See, told you it weren't a problem." The words are spoken to it, and she turns to look at Vixen with a small frown. "How long you been here?" Not unfriendly, but not welcoming.

"Not long, but I figure what you dropped on me, its worth being patient for," Vixen replies, shifting to lean back against the wall next to the bench. "Good thing you told me too, cause I had to quiet up that boy of yours. He ain't got a clue, but he was dropping them at the Alibi. Didn't seem anyone picked up on it though." Her head turning a bit to scan some of the nearby parts and pieces that make up the garage.

Caliopa's shoulders slump, leaning back in the stool seat, her hands rising to rub her temples lightly. "Ain't plannin' on tellin' him, not 'til I'm real sure." Her gaze flickers to the crackers and she shakes her head. "That ain't the truth. Ain't plannin' on tellin' noone. Reckon it were jus' the shock of seein' you made me blurt it out." A slightly resentful look is shot Vixen's way and then Caliopa shakes her head again. "I'm real sorry over the Ordo crack. That weren't reasonable to say."

Vixen frowns and murmurs, "It's something that don't exist no more, Cali. Remember that." She looks at the other woman. "I don't know no Ordo, ok? She did, I don't." Her words firm, but controlled. She then lifts a hand to wave off the topic. "So what are you gunna do? Pretty obvious you didn't plan this. And not telling is fine.. gives you a lot of options. I figure if you were happy about this, we wouldn't be having this conversation.. at least, not this way."

"There ain't many options. Only one way out of the place that is in." Caliopa doesn't look overly pleased at that idea. She pushes the stray strands of hair from her face, turning to look at Vixen properly, her face pale. "Reckon Ali got to notice soon. It ain't like it ain't gonna be obvious." She looks down at her coveralls, frowning, despite the lack of any change. "Comes at a bad time. I mean, I've gotta keep this place up, 'n' there is the trip to Madhaven 'n' all..."

"Should have been safe if you didn't want this happening," Vixen notes, shaking her head slightly. The obvious passed by even as she notes it. "Ain't like you can run this place the way you do with a kid. Before or after you have it, girl. So I only see one solution to this. Can't give much advice on it, though. Never had one.. you know." Her shoulders roll. But I don't suppose it will be all that hard. And he doesn't have to know either.. not if you don't want him to." Her shoulders rolling again, that left vague. Not her place to delve.

"I get jabs. Seems like they ain't workin entirely like they ought." Caliopa reaches slowly for a cracker, nibbling the edge unenthusiastically. "Can't not run this place." She points out logically, "Done me no harm runnin' round my pa's feet when he was workin'." Vixen's next comments gets an honest to god look of confusion, utter bewilderment. "'Course he'll know. Ain't like he won't notice it."

Vixen frowns faintly. "Cali, you ain't understanding me.. what I'm saying is you can get rid of it." Her tone serious. "You can't be working while you're big, girl. Not cause you don't wanna, but because you just won't be able to at all. Not without hurting yourself. You gotta understand that. You ain't ready for something like this. Maybe later once you got some fallback, but not now. Only question is if you tell Ali or if you don't."

"Can't live off ..." Caliopa is focussed on the work aspect as the other suggestion sinks in, and the look she gives Vixen speaks for its. Her eyes widen, horror and shock in her face. "I can't do that." Her hand moves to touch her stomach protectively. "That ain't right, not... " She shakes her head firmly. "I ain't sure I'm rightly ready, 'n' it'll be a bind tryin' to work but I ain't... no." The cracker is nearly a third gone, and the enthusiasm hasn't grown at all.

Vixen seems to expect the reaction. "You can. You should," she states. "You've seen knocked up chicks before, right? Seen how big they get? Imagine trying to crawl around on machines like that. Heard one of my old half friends bitching about being tired and moody and moaning about her goddamn ankles." Just thinking about it seems to infuriate her just a little. She shakes her head. "Unless you can get someone to run this place full time, you can't. You gotta do what you gotta do cause you ain't exactly got other options."

"I ain't killin' to avoid havin' trouble workin', Vixen, that ain't....No." The last word is a flat refusal, given with a shake of her head. "I'll work 'til I can't, then mebbe let the garage out, enough to cover my livin' for a while." She leans her elbows on the bench, giving a heavy sigh, and closing her eyes. "Ain't lyin' over being tired, 'n' all. Seems like I ain't got enough sleep 'n' I get woken up, throwin' up all the time." Caliopa shakes her head. "Reckon I can put off tellin' him a month or two, but I got to do it sooner or other."

Vixen makes a face. "Ain't like you can't do it again." She shrugs her shoulders, straightening from the wall. Obviously, the issue isn't so complex from her standpoint. "Way I see it, you letting other people tromp around in your garage, fucking around with your tools ain't gunna go over well. And all that stuff you've been feeling? That's what happens when you get knocked up. Gunna get worse." She takes a few steps and turns around, arms lifting to cross over her chest. "But I guess you're gunna do it your way anyway, huh?"

There is a tension that shows clearly in Caliopa's face and body at the mention of others in her garage, touching her stuff, and she glances around, her gaze lingering on tools here and there. "I can't do that, Vixen." The words are whispered, but the hint of a panic in her face shows clearly enough and the cracker in her hand becomes crumbs of cracker. "I ain't got not choices with that, not if I wants to be livin' with meself after."

Vixen shakes her head slightly. "Cali, it ain't nothing yet." She steps up to Cali, hands lifting to rest on her shoulders. "It ain't a kid. If you're thinking like this, why even use protection? Cause you're killing little kids everytime you do it, right? You gotta think logical about this, girl. Ain't no reason for you to be fretting and thinking about all this. This shouldn't have even happened anyway, right?"

The fear level radiating from the girl makes it obvious that this isn't something lightly thought about.

The fear level radiating from the girl makes it obvious that this isn't something lightly thought about. Still, she shakes her head, her eyes glittering, emotion obviously close to the surface. "Ain't the same. Jab prevents it happening or meant to, but it ain't killin' somethin' a couple months old ..." Then, the cracker has its revenge and Caliopa's eyes widen as she shifts in her chair, then bolts for the toilet, losing that little piece of cracker.

Vixen frowns at the start of the protestations, then she's a bit startled at just how quickly Cali's away. So she's a few moments following after, her expression tense. Though when she arrives, she has a gentle hand to lay on Cali's back and another that lightly strokes back her hair. "Can't be working like this, girl. If you're having it, you oughta be off your feet now. Gunna be months like this." Even her tone softens some as she rubs Cali's back.

When it passes, Caliopa sits back on her heels, looking up at Vixen as she silently reaches for a cloth and a toothbrush by the sink. "Ain't got that many choices, 'n' I ain't doin' that." The stubbornness shows clearly in her voice and her face, as she puts the brush back. Clearly happening enough for her to store these here. "I'll manage. Hire on some help for a bit. Advertised but ain't had no replies." They are in the toilet off the garage. Caliopa steps out into the main garage, shaking her head. "I'll manage. I'll tell him when I'm ready."

Vixen breathes out a sigh as Cali remains adamant about what she's going to do. Easing back as the woman makes herself presentable again before following her out after. "Tell him soon. Longer you wait, the more trouble its going to be," she notes. "Remember how you always get on me when I don't tell you shit. Time to practice what you preach, if you're a hundred percent that you don't wanna just end it."

Alistair makes it in in a somewhat ragged shape, though he's managed to protect the backack well enough. The door is closed behind him - he's iced over on one side, in terms of that flaking, crumbling sheet of ice that has collected, and he's a bit wild-eyed. Nature just really seems to have it out for him today, and he releases a broken breath, rubbing his arms quickly for a moment before continuing inside.

And of course, catching the last part of it, it gives him pause - "End it? ... " he looks from one to the other, his expression exactly what one might expect from misinterpretation of those last few words.

Caliopa is nodding slowly, in resigned agreement, as Vixen speaks. "You ain't wrong." The words are spoken softly before Alistair speaks. The look of guilt on her face as she turns to look at him is unhidden and she stares at him in silence for a moment. "Ali. Weren't expectin' you today." His greeting is stilted, and the look she gives Vixen is seeking something, her eyes wide. "I...got to tell someone that I ain't hirin' them." She stumbles over the words, forcing a smile onto her lips.

Vixen frowns when she comes around from behind Cali to see Alistair present. And her mood lingers on the low when Cali moves at once to deflect him once more. "Damn it, girl. Just fucking tell him before he clues in someone that's a sharper pencil than he is," she grumps, arms lifting to cross her chest once more. "Otherwise you're going to have half the city knowing before he does."

"Oh" Alistair smiles, though the smile looks a bit worn - don't worry, it's just the cold. "I brrr-br-ought" his teeth want to chatter you see, and he pauses for a moment to exhale, "The papers I did" for accounting, that is - and then he looks to Vixen, blinking his eyes a few times. It takes him a moment to reply, though his response might be unsurprising: "I trust Cali - h-hey now ... " his brows hike up a little at the implied accusation.

The look Caliopa gives Vixen is distinctly unfriendly and she turns back to Alistair slowly, reluctantly, brown eyes searching his face for his reaction. She takes the out he gives her, shaking her head. "See, there ain't no need." The next two words are addressed to Vixen, oddly, "Not yet." Almost a plea, Caliopa's eyebrows lifting slightly, her forehead wrinkling. "Papers are good. Ought to look over accounts." Never before has any woman been so keen to look at numbers.

Vixen frowns and shakes her head. "Fine, fine.." The young woman turning, arms still crossed, to walk across the room and find an unoccupied space of wall to lean back into. Quiet for the moment as work matters come to the fore.

Alistair breathes in as the tension is released, at least a little. He nods his head and makes his way to the counter to lay out the accounting books, taking them out from the backpack - as well as a package of crackers. "I brought you these too, but ... is this a new diet? You don't need to lose weight or anything" he says to her softly, but he doesn't wait too long for an answer before opening the books. He looks to Vixen and smiles at her for a moment too, perhaps in greeting, and then back to the books. "So you two made up?"

Caliopa takes the crackers slowly, her eyes flooding with tears unexpectedly. She sniffs, using an oil covered hand to brush at her eyes as she turns to put them down on the bench. The movement at least allows her to pretend the gesture didn't bring on the tears. "Jus' taken a fancy to them." She replies, her tone a little subdued, and his next question gets Vixen a glance, uncertainty in that look, "I reckon so...?" She is asking Vixen, unsure.

"Yeah, we're fine," Vixen murmurs, her head turned to send her gaze off in another direction. Though she looks back towards the two after that, attention passing over Alistair before fixing on Cali. "Yeah, we're cool. Just a few disagreements, but what else is new?" Her eyes flit to Alistair then, her expression remaining balanced for now.

Alistair starts a little at the tears - not a huge motion, just visible - his expression concerned for a moment, but he seems to decide to leave it alone for a moment, save for a touch on her shoulder and her hand. "Oh, okay, good!" he smiles, nodding to both of them. "We can look'em over real quick if you like, I know you don't like them books. I don't think there are any mistakes, and I took care of the tax stuff too, but it isn't completely finished."

Alistair being nice doesn't seem to help with the sniffling problem and Caliopa grabs one of the cloths from the bench, giving her face a quick rub before she turns back to him, forcing a smile in the hope that he didn't notice. "Got to look over them, I reckon I need to hire folks to cover Zackary 'n' that leavin'." She glances at Vixen, apparently for balance, her own off kilter.

Vixen shrugs as Cali looks her way, perhaps misinterpreting. "Don't look at me, I do computers and security. And a little tinkering. I don't got your kinda skills and this kinda work.." She glances around. "I don't think it agrees with me. And Leo's clueless on most mechanical things too."

"Oh - yeah, but it isn't a disaster" Alistair comments on Zachary leaving. "It is a real pity though, he was nice too" he murmurs, looking a touch sad. "But anyway, I can do a lot of stuff, I mean, there's things you know much better than me, but I can at least handle the time consuming regular maintenance stuff and heavy lifting? How about that? I can fix most things well if it isn't too complicated, that way you won't have to work so much" he looks to Caliopa, then to Vixen, "But can't he sell things to um, enhance ... things?"

Caliopa takes a cracker, nibbling on the edge of it, giving Vixen a brief glance before her gaze snags on the pile of job sheets. "Ain't suggestin' that. Jus, got to hire someone on." She is eating the cracker incredibly slowly, cautiously, interspaced with sips of water. "Reckon it'll work out. Some way or other." Possibly unfounded optimism as she sits down on her stool, putting the cracker down.

"Yeah, maybe. There's always maybe," Vixen replies, straightening. "Though I guess I ought to be thinking about getting me something steady anyway. Something more real. Ain't too sure what, though. Well, I guess I do know what sort of stuff, but none of it is feeling like I really want to do it." Her shoulders roll and she considers Cali carefully.

"It will" Alistair smiles, nodding his head a little at he watches her eat that cracker. "Mmm ... " and he takes a breath so as not to dwell on it; he looks towards Vixen and blinks his eyes. "Are you not happy with Leo?" he inquires, tilting his head a little. "Or do you mean a different sort of job? I thought you did pretty nicely with the news."

Caliopa returns Alistair's look, blushing suddenly, her gaze dropping to the floor, the picture of guilt. She turns towards the bench, reaching for the item she finished and the pile of worksheets. Slowly, as alistair asks after Vixen's job and love life, she sorts through them, seeking the right one. Then, she tapes the sheet to the machine, rising from the stool, and turning to put it aside. The rising doesn't go as planned, the colour fading from her cheeks in one wash of white, and her knees buckle, the machine dropping to the floor as she faints.

Vixen quirks a brow at Alistair. "Leo's fine, man. I'm talking about a job. Ain't doing the radio gig no more. Wasn't feeling right. So I.." Then Caliopa goes down and she startles. Frozen a moment before she straightens and advances. "God damn it.." Muttered as she goes first to roll Cali onto her back.

"Oh, okay - I guess maybe it's that sort of time of the year" Alistair smiles, nodding his head, looking over at the 'clunk' as the machine drops, and being close he quickly leans in to prop Cali up, a little awkwardly, but preventing her from hitting the floor if that's where things were going. "Cali!" he calls out, trying to get into a better position, and likely making things easier for Vixen as well.

The faint doesn't last long, but Caliopa's cheeks are pale where the blood has abandoned head and mind for less challenging areas, like feet. The mechanic lifts a hand to her forehead, rubbing it lightly with her fingers. "Sorry, ...it ain't nothin'." The mumble is matched with an attempt to rise, but she submits to her body's demands to wait for a moment, sitting on the floor, leaning against Alistair. "ain't nothin'."

Vixen is somewhat relieved when Cali isn't out long, but after that she gets a bit irritated again. Giving Cali a meaningful look. "You're about two seconds from getting carted off to the KEC. THen there won't be nothing unsaid," she states. "Ain't just you, you know? Not now. Ain't just you."

Alistair puts a hand on her forehead, checking for fever, concerned, "You just fainted" he murmurs, nodding his head a little; he also seems to be in agreement with Vixen as well. "If you're feeling ill like this the hospital is a place to go to, I'll take you - I mean, it isn't any good to overwork yourself like this, and what if no one was around and you fell? No one wants you to get hurt" he murmurs.

Caliopa glances between the two, the paleness covered briefly by a blush that rises. "I'm not ill." She mutters, reluctantly, as Vixen's insistence is clear. "It ain't sick, Ali." She pushes herself away from him, scrambling to her feet and moving to lean against the bench. She is still pale, but for two red spots on her cheeks, as she looks between the pair of them in silence for a moment. "Uh, ain't sick precisely." She starts, stopping almost immediately.

"Sick is just part of it," Vixen murmurs, having moved to help balance Cali in her rise. Lingering if allowed with a hand on her shoulder. "Cali girl, just do it. Like pulling a bandage. Yank it and its done." She places firm eyes on the other woman, but stops short of actually doing the deed herself.

"Okay, how about sitting down?" Alistair brings a stool so at least she can sit down, his concern growing now at the antics as he tries to encourage her to sit. "I'll get you some water" he adds, and then looks over at Vixen with a frown. "What are you talking about now? Pullin' bandages and stuff ... there are better times for passing secret notes and stuff."

Caliopa does sit, as if her body allows her to make the choice herself, looking between the pair before she closes her eyes. She is silent for a moment before she speaks, keeping her eyes closed, "I'm late, Ali." She reaches for her glass, her water required for the dry throat. She leaves the interpretation up to the man, avoiding looking at him by staring hard at her glass.

"I'm respecting Cali, man," Vixen tells Alistair with a firm look. "So don't you even think about leaning on me over nothing." She lingers next to the woman, though as she says the first, Vix leans in a bit and murmurs to Cali, "You want me to stay or not?" A simple, honest question.

"Late?" Alistair blinks his eyes, "Not like late for dinner - what does late have to do with being not exactly sick and fainting anyway?" he asks, distracted for a moment by Vixen; that response elicits a frown for whatever reason, but he shakes it off and looks back at Cali, "Or are you eating late ..." he blinks. The mental checklist is starting to have tickmarks put onto it. Heck, one might even see it displayed above his head now, getting checked off: Eats twice as much. Gets mad for no good reason. Cries for no reason. Fainting at random. Not exactly sick. Guilty looks, late period. There's a sound from him, and a big grin then. "Really?" as energy starts to pile up and pile up now ...

Caliopa gives Vixen a firm shake of her head, a look that says "Don't leave me." Alistair's checklist is watched in silence, the colour taking its time in returning to Caliopa's cheeks. Then the sound and the grin, and the energy. She doesn't look so pleased, as her gaze drops to the floor. "I ain't gettin' rid of it." The words come out on a rush, her cheeks flushing slightly, red against the pale backdrop of her skin.

Vixen nods her head simply and moves closer to Cali's side, slipping an arm over her shoulders lightly. Her lips form a straight line and as Alistair responds and she replies to him, the young woman goes silent once more. Not a time for her to be saying certain things and so the lips remain tightly sealed.

Alistair doesn't voice any objections - rather he leans in, reaching with a hand for Cali's chin, even though Vixen's getting in close. He'll try to turn Cali's face towards him gently for a kiss - an excited one, though nothing rough. The other hand reaches for one of hers. "Love you" he murmurs, brows hiking up a touch as he leans back to look in her eyes.

Caliopa accepts the kiss, letting him take her hands. The look she shoots Vixen though is panicked, and the fear of this shows clearly on her expression. "I..." She doesn't have words, but she dips her head down, staring at her feet for a long moment. "I..." The words aren't coming, and she shakes her head, bursting into tears.

Vixen frowns faintly. "Dunno how long she's been hiding it.. depends how long she's known, but obviously this is going to cause problems," she tells Alistair, being the one to hammer into him the necessities as she gives Cali's shoulders a squeeze. "She can't work no more. Bad enough she's been pushing herself now, but she can't be crawling all over machines now."

"Oh.." Alistair blinks, and squeezes one of Cali's hands, "I'll be here for you" he assures her, then he looks to Vixen; he frowns faintly, "That doesn't really warrant describing it as yanking a bandage" he states rather firmly. "I'll help Cali. I may be naive but I'm not stupid - I'll do all the heavy stuff if she still wants to work" he looks to Cali, "Just sometimes you'll have to tell me what to do. I'm not going to tell you you have to stop everything and just coop up at home ... but also don't forget I han do all the tough stuff, so you won't have to, okay? And if you do need to stop, we'll work that out too."

"I'm not stoppin' work." Stubbornness is in every line of the woman's body and the panic in her face hasn't died down. "I... ain't sittin' at home, thinkin'. This place is mine, 'n' it never hurt my pa havin' me runnin' around in his workshop." The panic shows more as she slides from the stool, releasing Alistair's hand and moving to her workbench, touching her tools lightly. "I ain't stoppin'."

Vixen frowns at Alistair. "You see what a doc says when you take her to see one," she states simply, looking at Cali. "I ain't talking about after, I'm talking about now," she states. "Take some things to do at home, sure, but you're going to have to take it easy soon. After the baby comes, you can do whatever you want. That's all yours, but right now you need to go with him to the doc and get real advice on this. Cause I don't know much and what I know I got second hand from watching."

Alistair reaches for Cali's shoulders, "No one is taking this away from you" he says, and looks to Vixen for a moment; he nods, agreeing with that assessment. "Just need to be careful for now, that's all. Seriously, let me do all the heavy lifting and stuff at least, and we'll talk to a doctor. Okay? It's still your shop, I just want to help."

Caliopa steps back, lifting her hands up, her head shaking. "I ..." The word baby brings her head up, looking at Vixen, her eyes widening, the first time that word is spoken aloud. "I've got work to do. I ain't got time to see no doctors, 'n' there ain't one that ...No." She takes a few panicked steps backwards, giving herself some distance from the others. "Ain't like most women see doctors, folks can jus'..."

"Cali!" Vixen's voice snaps as she gives the woman a firm look. "Damn it, if you want me here, you better damn well listen to what I'm saying. It. Ain't. Just. You. I know you're scared of shit, but if you're going through with this, you gotta get the hell over it. Make time, go see a doctor. This ain't a splinter or little cut you can bandage over. There's a lot of shit you gotta know and I know that cause my dumbass friend wouldn't shut up about it all."

There's three people by the workbench - Cali is backed away, trying to get away from the other two, looking panicked, while Vixen seems to be making some sofrt of stern comment. Meantime Alistair looks startled at first, perhaps due to the continued panic; he tries to aproach Cali once more, his hands up. "Please, Cali, calm down at least a little! We're just having a talk here, right?"

Caliopa shakes her head, stepping back until she is backed up against the truck waiting to be fixed. "I ain't goin' near no doctors. I'll rest up a piece, take it a bit easy. I jus'... No." She is shaking her head all the time she is speaking, her face still pale. "I'm listenin', I ain't seein' no doctor." Her voice is rising, the hint of hysteria underlying it.

"But you ain't thinking," Cali, Vixen states. But she can feel she's not in the mood to coddle, so instead she reaches out to lightly push Ali towards her and turns, taking a few steps off whether she succeeds or not. The message is the key. He's got the patience she doesn't at the moment.

Seeking some normalcy once more with her friend, Sage has decided to visit her friend and roommate with a little food among other things. She opens the door to the garage without any formal announcement and begins to wander in. It certainly sounds like someone is around, but the conversation seems to be one that is better sampled before interrupted. She makes a slow approach in case she should need to wait or change her mind about visiting right now.

Alistair stumbles forward a little, apparently having been leaning forward a bit - and then he takes the next step too, closing with Cali to give her a hug. "Okay, I don't know why you're afraid of doctors" he says, trying to give her a warm hug. "Whatever happens I'll be with you all the way. You aren't going to be alone. Just relax a bit for now, please" he asks of her softly, trying to soothe her.

Caliopa's voice is high enough to be heard outside the garage, even as she puts her hands out to keep Alistair from hugging her. "No!" The single word is a shout. "I told you. Ain't that enough for now?" Pleading, the fear in her voice is obvious, and she is crying again. "I'll go but I ain't goin' now, I got work on and there ain't noone else 'n' I ain't able to hire noone and..."

Vixen glances toward Sage as she comes in, her mood in a dour state. After having vanished for a time, she doesn't hang up on formality, waving the woman towards Cali. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her," she says, turning to consider the couple, arms lifted to cross her chest.

It doesn't take her empathic senses to tell her that there's emotional turmoil going on in this room as Sage approaches closer. Her gaze considers Vixen and Alistair first, before she simply settles her gaze upon more distressed person in the group, Cali. "What's this all about?" She asks simply as she approaches, trying to keep a frown from her features.

"No one is making you go anywhere right now!" Alistair replies, "Just relax and take a few breaths" he replies, trying to take her hands into his instead then. He turns his head a moment towards Sage, "Miss Sage!" looking surprised, "We ... uh ... " he blinks a few times, "Cali ... seems to be pregnant" he blurts out, "And she is scared" where Alistair was jumping for joy not too long ago, though he's plain concerned right now, looking back towards Cali.

Caliopa is openly crying now, lifting her hands to push her hair from her face. Her skin is an odd mix of pale with blotchy from the tears. "I don't need to see no doctor. Nothin' is wrong that ain't normal for this!" She directs an appealing look at Sage, eyes wide, showing the distress. "There ain't no call for doctors and the like." She can't back up any more, her back pressed against the bench.

"She ain't told nobody until today. She's had it a while. She needs to talk to someone that knows how to handle this," Vixen states, her arms remaining crossed. "But she ain't thinking straight." It's all real simple for her.

When the man seems to be the first to give a reason for this strange behaviour, Sage looks to him first. She raises a brow faintly at the revelation. "Your's?" She asks simply, before glancing towards Cali. She considers her a moment before glancing towards Vixen briefly. She nods slowly to the words offered as a whole, before looking back to Cali. "She's right, there's no call for a doctor." She states simply, before setting down the bag that she'd brought with her. She begins to slowly walk towards Cali. "But, you'll have to talk to me... one way or the other." She adds, simply but firmly.

Alistair nods his head to Sage with a smile, and then looks to Cali again. He looks Sage again, and then Cali; he gives her a bit of space, his smile fading a touch. For now though he leaves the talking to Sage, though he doesn't stray far at all - in fact he's poised to take one of Cali's hands if the opportunity arises and it doesn't look like she might get terribly upset by it.

"It ain't anyone elses!" Caliopa's tone reveals enough frustration to float a ship. "I ain't worried over talkin' about it. I jus' ain't stoppin' work or seein' no doctor. I got all this to do, 'n' I got to go to Madhaven, 'n' I got to ..." The coherence stops in a flood of tears. "I ain't gettin' rid of it." She is clear on that point, giving each of them a hard stare.

Vixen frowns at Sage's response. "So then you know everything there is to know about this then? Fine.. what do I know anyway?" She frowns, obviously bothered by things. Keeping her distance for now and her arms crossed over her chest.

Sage can't help but smile faintly at the frustration of the confirmation, but doesn't let it linger long enough to draw much note. She wanders ever closer to Cali until she's close enough to reach out her hand where Cali could grab it or choose to let it touch her. "Take my hand then." She says simply, before looking over to Vixen. "I was the main healer and midwife to a community and its livestock... and, it would be a simple enough matter for me to determine if anything is wrong and what needs to be done." She says simply, looking back to Cali.

"It... is a trying time" Alistair says uselessly, taking a breath - but he watches still, his eyes on Cali. He looks to Sage as well, his expression relaxing a little; a glance to Vixen as well, and then back to Cali. "We're all just saying we got your back" he smiles, tilting his head a little.

Caliopa's gaze flickers between them, the panic easing down a little at the reassurances of no doctors. She hesitates before stepping forward enough to give Sage her hand. The colour in her cheeks begins to return to normal as the crying eases off and the other hand is used to rub at her cheeks, trying to remove the evidence.

Vixen just eases back against the wall again, leaning into it. Now likely the least happy one here, though for the moment she contains it. Eyes dipped, lips pursed, she focuses on.. something as the other two tend to Cali.

" ... so you'll help us then?" Alistair asks quietly, looking to Sage for a moment, and then to Cali. "And I can help around here, right?" he asks, brows hiking up a little. "Uh..." he turns to move quickly where he can get a glass of water, and brings that to Cali. Then, he waves Vixen over too.

Giving Cali a soft smile, Sage let's her ability to sooth away the worst of Cali's fear throw through the other woman as her hand is taken. "You are like a sister to me, Cali... and, I have thought about asking you to adopt me... but... no, now is not the time." She comments, before taking a moment to brush those thoughts off to the side. "If I could carry this burden for you, I would... but, perhaps you could tell if anything beyond being too busy has you concerned." She gives the hand a gentle squeeze. She glances towards Ali. "That depends on you..." She comments, faintly amiling.

The ability helps, and Caliopa's breathing slows down from the panicked breaths as her shoulders relax a little amount. Alistair's comment doesn't help, reminding her of the problems and she half turns towards him, her cheeks flushing slightly, but Sage's questions bring her back to the other woman, "I ain't sure, jus' throwin' up, 'n' tired, 'n' I got so much work on. Don't reckon it is different..." A hesitation, before she blurts out, "Missed three..." The blush at discussing this at all rises, filling pale cheeks with colour.

Vixen straightens and moves closer, but not much so, her arms still crossed over her chest. "She can't work like she does now. She already threw up today over a cracker and passed out too. She pushed herself over the edge enough when she wasn't knocked up." Her voice calmer, but to achieve that, a bit emotion dead. Simple facts as she sees it.

It seems that people are starting to remember to blush, and so does Alistair. He holds up the glass of water for Cali, so she can take it if she wants to, and he makes a bit of a face at Vixen's comment. He looks at Sage also, a little confused at the response, but he doesn't push. His smile starts to return, bright.

Content to let Alistair think on her vague response, Sage gives a soft sigh and a small nod to Vixen's words. "You do work yourself hard... too hard sometimes, Cali." She says softly, before she pauses briefly to look to Vixen. "I don't suppose you could find out if there's people that can help... you had your finger on the pulse of the city at one point." She comments, deciding not to get into the disappearance of the woman for the time being. She turns her attention back to Cali, "And, if you don't start putting your... and the baby's health as the priority, I may just have to figure out a way to enforce it whether you like it or not." She comments, giving a small smile to her friend. She glances towards Alistair with a look that suggests that he might be enlisted for a related task.

Caliopa is listening, finally, the tears stopped as she does so, returning a tiny smile to Sage. "Alright. I'll pass up some of the work, see if I can't pull a favour..." The words are resigned, as Caliopa gives in, caving to pressure. She sighs as she glances at Alistair, then Vixen, a faint flush rising in her cheeks. "I'm sorry. Ain't meanin' to get emotional." The words are gruffly spoken as the woman drops her gaze. "I don't want to lose my garage."

"I dunno who you've been talking to, but I've never had my finger on any pulse," Vixen replies to Sage with a faint frown. "Could ask around some, but Cali says she's already been advertising." She looks to Cali then and murmurs, "Don't think I know that? But you got other stuff to lose. Way you was carrying on before, I'd think maybe that might be a little more important." Perhaps a bit too firm, but she seems to have gotten majority control over her own emotions.

Alistair still has the glass of water there; "I'll pick up some of it" he states, nodding his head, "You aren't going to lose it" and then he looks to Sage too; he smiles nervously at her, "Of course I'll look after Cali" he murmurs, and turns to look at Vixen again, and asks, "How about congratulations?" he suggests.

A faint shrug is given to Vixen by Sage as if to dismiss any concern over the comment. All that seems to matter to Sage for the time being is that the other woman agrees to the suggested task. She gives a slightly bigger smile to Cali, "And, if you're good, I may make up some brews to settle the sickness... or things to follow." She comments, before pursing her lips. She listens to what the other people have to say for the time being. She nods briefly to Alistair's comment. She pauses briefly, before looking between the people assembled. "In the meantime, perhaps you two could leave her with me... just to make sure that everything's fine."

Caliopa half turns towards Alistair, reaching for the glass of water, her gaze on him. The C word brings a flush to her face, the pregnancy having been more cause for panic than congratulations until now and she drops her gaze to the water in the glass. "Things to follow?" That phrase brings a worried expression to her face, "This gonna get worse?" The complete lack of enthusiasm for that idea is reflected in her voice and she sits down on the stool abruptly. "Reckon the garage ain't the best place for this." The admission costs her.

Vixen frowns at Ali for that last. Cause he puts her on right on the spot with those three words. Which is worse, to say no or to try and bluff what she doesn't feel at the moment? But Sage offers an out that she takes. "Cali.. we can talk later ok?" she offers. "Talk.. not shout." She offers a small grin then turns and starts towards the outside world.

"Must I?" Alistair asks and bites on his lower lip. He looks from Cali to Sage and back, then at Vixen again - he waves the free hand at her now, and looks back to the other two; it's liekly obvious that he doesn't want to go, but then again with things settled a bit better ... he does show some concern now about things getting worse.

A small smile comes as things seem to settle down, before Sage glances towards Alistair at his question. She purses her lips as she considers the man, before briefly turning her attention to the departing Vixen. "Take care..." She calls softly after the woman before looking back to Alistair. "I suppose you could remain as long as you aren't disruptive... otherwise, you'll have to go." She comments, before turning her attention back to Cali. She tries to give a re-assuring smile. "No... not worse... you'll feel better after you pass this phase... but the baby will have needs that will need to be met." She comments, "And, we can go wherever you'd be comfortable..." She adds, before getting ready to depart once more.

Caliopa returns Vixen's look and gives her a slow nod, her forehead wrinkling as she does note the out. "Alright." Her reply is soft, and she takes another sip of the water. "Better'd be good." The wry comment is offered with a hint of the sunny smile Caliopa usually carries, as she puts the glass down. "I'll lock up." The statement is stopped as she looks at Alistair. "Will you lock up? Make it safe?" Another hesitation, and she speaks slowly, "Uh, put a sign up." She gets up from the stool slowly, reaching for her coat.

Vixen doesn't say anything, she just heads out of the garage quietly, focused on getting herself buttoned up before she braves the cold.

Alistair smiles at Sage, "Sure, I'll be good" he nods, looking somewhat relieved at the fact that things will get better - looking to Cali as well he blushes at the comment, acutely aware that he's had a ... hand in the current situation. He smiles at her brightly and nods, "I will ... don't worry about a thing, I'll take care of it like it's my own. Sign?"

Content that the two will be able to figure out how to arrange the closing up, Sage simply nods to Cali as she moves to grab her bag once more. She begins to prepare for the cold outside and ponders what may be to follow.

"Sayin'..." Caliopa hesitates, her coat hugged around her, "Uh, sickness I guess." She turns slowly to follow Sage, her fingers brushing lightly across the surfaces of her garage, affectionate little touches that speak for themselves.

Alistair's brows hike up just a touch, and he nods. "So ... is it okay if I come or?" he asks to Cali, since Sage has already agreed, but goes to find something to prepare the sign; he'll be coming in a little later than the departing women.