Four months pregnant. Marissa could hardly believe it, even as her body was changing shape. Though she couldn't feel the baby growing inside her yet, the proof was irrevocable. There was no real cause to believe anything might be wrong, but she was still worried. It wasn't Emrys' bloodline that worried her so much as her own, though she'd had a hard time explaining it all to him and had left the more confusing elements of her history out. She could have chosen to live a life of luxury, but instead, she had chosen a simple life with simple pleasures. Uncomplicated. For the most part, she was happy with the choices she'd made, well aware of the choices that some of the other Marissas had made in other timelines and realities. She hoped that some of them had found some measure of happiness, but none of them had found anyone like Emrys. As much as she wanted to share everything with him, there were some things a woman needed to do on her own, some things that would only confuse and upset him. Though she may not have explained everything, she had not kept any secrets from him. Not really, but now that she was with child, she needed to make sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that the child or children growing inside her were healthy before it was too late.
There were a number of ways she could accomplish that, either through magic or mystical means or by way of technology. Rhy'Din had its share of healers and midwives and doctors, and then, there was the tribe with its shamans and medicine women; but Marissa rejected them all in favor of the kind of technology that was only available at the Spaceport. It would be expensive, to be sure, but the cost would be worth it to make sure her children were healthy. And so, she asked Demeter to accompany her, knowing that the sights and sounds of the Spaceport would only shock and confuse Emrys. It was a seedy place, but no seedier than some areas of Rhy'Din, so long as one was careful. She had carefully chosen the place where she was going, feeling just a little bit guilty for not taking Emrys with her.
Demeter had been more than happy to come with Marissa, though she was not as frequent a visitor to the Spaceport as others might have assumed. What need did a 'shifter have for the superior technology available here, after all" Still, warned ahead of time, she had dressed to fit in reasonably well, more than capable of protecting both herself and Marissa if it became necessary.
This was a place where Emrys would have experienced culture shock; where people from all across the Nexus converged. It was a dangerous place, too, but Marissa knew it well enough to take all the proper precautions, and she had made sure Demi was prepared likewise; but if there was anyone in whose company she felt safe, it was that of the white tiger. Asked to wait outside while Marissa endured some poking and prodding for the sake of her child, Demi was witness to some interesting views. While Rhy'Din City struggled with the rights of humans and non-humans, it seemed the Spaceport was teeming with a variety of races, some of whom were rarely seen outside the Spaceport. Rhy'Din's so-called diversity was nothing compared to the Spaceport.
It was certainly an experience to be flirted with by a two-foot fruit bat with only stumps for wings and the dirtiest laugh she'd ever encountered, but Demi found that little fellow more amusing that anything. She was subconsciously on guard, however, and that brought out one troublemaker who just wanted a good fight. Apparently she was too clean, too well dressed, too human-looking. Just too everything for this one. He wasn't exactly an oil painting himself, and he smelled worse. A carrion-feeder, she determined with one delicate sniff in his direction, adjusting her stance as he threw a fist in her direction. Sighing, she caught his fist, twisting his arm up behind his back until she felt something snap. Her other hand wrapped about his gnarled face, nails extending into claws as she growled into his ear. Whatever passed between them was enough to send him lurching away, whimpering at the pain in his shoulder, as Demeter resumed her lean against the wall. No one else bothered her after that.
Thankfully, neither Neville nor Emrys was there to witness any of this nor were they likely to find out. Marissa was cautious, taking most of what she saw here in stride. It was nothing new to her, after all, though the trip to the Spaceport was nothing more than a necessary evil today. She had no intention of visiting it again, for more reasons than she had bothered to share. It wasn't long after Demi's encounter with the alien that Marissa exited the clinic, a relieved expression on her face quickly glimpsed before she drew the cowl of her cloak back up over her head.
"Did you have any trouble?" she asked as she rejoined her friend.
And being what they were, there was no need to even glance at one another as Demi pushed out of her lean. She knew Marissa by scent alone these days. "All done?" she asked, apparently to the street at large. Her lips curved in a laughing smirk at Marissa's question. "Apparently I have just the right hips for a Zoronian to suckle, and there's a bottom-dweller seriously rethinking his life choices somewhere around here, too. But trouble" Nah."
"Scumbags," Marissa muttered, not having to ask what a Zoronian was or what the so-called bottom dweller wanted. "Sorry about that," she apologized, as though it was her fault somehow, but she had deemed Demi capable of taking care of herself. They were alike in that way, anyway.
"Oh, don't be." Demi smiled. "I quite enjoyed it. I haven't had much opportunity to be properly scary for a while, I'd forgotten how much fun it is." She flashed Marissa a grin. "Where to now?"
"This place is weird. Emrys would hate it," she said, taking hold of Demi's arm. Let people think what they wanted - that they were lovers or sisters or friends - Marissa didn't much care. "I know this place ....Best burgers on Rhy'Din. A little seedy, but ..." She shrugged her shoulders, as if it was nothing they couldn't handle. Who really wanted to piss off a pair of weretigers, after all"
"Emrys would have left a trail of bodies behind him by now," Demi agreed. "Neville wouldn't have been much better, either." She let Marissa take her arm, falling into step beside the younger woman easily. Seedy didn't bother her, despite her usual outward appearance of preferring the finer things. She had been raised by a pirate, after all. "Oooh, red meat. You're spoiling me."
"Why do you think I didn't bring him?" Marissa asked, not expecting an answer. "So long as you don't mind not having to hunt it down first," Marissa remarked with a smirk. They had hunted together on occasion, a natural bond growing between the two women, as tigers amidst a small pack of wolves. She led Demi away from the clinic, down a street paved with shops, not unlike that of the Marketplace. It wasn't the seediest part of town, but it wasn't exactly tame either, the smell of broiled burgers leading them to a bar and grill that was only just a little less seedy than the infamous Stars End.
Inside the decor was less than cozy, but it was the smell of the burgers that had drawn them here. She ignored the looks they received from those already there, leading Demi to a small corner booth where they had a clear view of the entrance and a quick escape route out the back. They ordered lunch without incident and settled in with a wary eye for those around them.
"It's probably silly of me to have come here when I could have just gone to Rhy'Din Hospital," Marissa mused aloud. "Emrys would have a cow if he knew what this place is like."
Demi had deliberately sat herself with her back to the back exit; of the two of them, Marissa was the more precious if anything untoward should happen, though she was more than capable of looking after herself. The comment on the general hospital made her smile faintly. "They're good enough, if you're human or mostly human," she shrugged one shoulder. "But there's a reason most of the non-humans have their own clinics and healers. If this is where you can get the answers you need, this is where you come. And I promise not to tell Emrys or Neville about how rough it is."
There were a number of ways she could accomplish that, either through magic or mystical means or by way of technology. Rhy'Din had its share of healers and midwives and doctors, and then, there was the tribe with its shamans and medicine women; but Marissa rejected them all in favor of the kind of technology that was only available at the Spaceport. It would be expensive, to be sure, but the cost would be worth it to make sure her children were healthy. And so, she asked Demeter to accompany her, knowing that the sights and sounds of the Spaceport would only shock and confuse Emrys. It was a seedy place, but no seedier than some areas of Rhy'Din, so long as one was careful. She had carefully chosen the place where she was going, feeling just a little bit guilty for not taking Emrys with her.
Demeter had been more than happy to come with Marissa, though she was not as frequent a visitor to the Spaceport as others might have assumed. What need did a 'shifter have for the superior technology available here, after all" Still, warned ahead of time, she had dressed to fit in reasonably well, more than capable of protecting both herself and Marissa if it became necessary.
This was a place where Emrys would have experienced culture shock; where people from all across the Nexus converged. It was a dangerous place, too, but Marissa knew it well enough to take all the proper precautions, and she had made sure Demi was prepared likewise; but if there was anyone in whose company she felt safe, it was that of the white tiger. Asked to wait outside while Marissa endured some poking and prodding for the sake of her child, Demi was witness to some interesting views. While Rhy'Din City struggled with the rights of humans and non-humans, it seemed the Spaceport was teeming with a variety of races, some of whom were rarely seen outside the Spaceport. Rhy'Din's so-called diversity was nothing compared to the Spaceport.
It was certainly an experience to be flirted with by a two-foot fruit bat with only stumps for wings and the dirtiest laugh she'd ever encountered, but Demi found that little fellow more amusing that anything. She was subconsciously on guard, however, and that brought out one troublemaker who just wanted a good fight. Apparently she was too clean, too well dressed, too human-looking. Just too everything for this one. He wasn't exactly an oil painting himself, and he smelled worse. A carrion-feeder, she determined with one delicate sniff in his direction, adjusting her stance as he threw a fist in her direction. Sighing, she caught his fist, twisting his arm up behind his back until she felt something snap. Her other hand wrapped about his gnarled face, nails extending into claws as she growled into his ear. Whatever passed between them was enough to send him lurching away, whimpering at the pain in his shoulder, as Demeter resumed her lean against the wall. No one else bothered her after that.
Thankfully, neither Neville nor Emrys was there to witness any of this nor were they likely to find out. Marissa was cautious, taking most of what she saw here in stride. It was nothing new to her, after all, though the trip to the Spaceport was nothing more than a necessary evil today. She had no intention of visiting it again, for more reasons than she had bothered to share. It wasn't long after Demi's encounter with the alien that Marissa exited the clinic, a relieved expression on her face quickly glimpsed before she drew the cowl of her cloak back up over her head.
"Did you have any trouble?" she asked as she rejoined her friend.
And being what they were, there was no need to even glance at one another as Demi pushed out of her lean. She knew Marissa by scent alone these days. "All done?" she asked, apparently to the street at large. Her lips curved in a laughing smirk at Marissa's question. "Apparently I have just the right hips for a Zoronian to suckle, and there's a bottom-dweller seriously rethinking his life choices somewhere around here, too. But trouble" Nah."
"Scumbags," Marissa muttered, not having to ask what a Zoronian was or what the so-called bottom dweller wanted. "Sorry about that," she apologized, as though it was her fault somehow, but she had deemed Demi capable of taking care of herself. They were alike in that way, anyway.
"Oh, don't be." Demi smiled. "I quite enjoyed it. I haven't had much opportunity to be properly scary for a while, I'd forgotten how much fun it is." She flashed Marissa a grin. "Where to now?"
"This place is weird. Emrys would hate it," she said, taking hold of Demi's arm. Let people think what they wanted - that they were lovers or sisters or friends - Marissa didn't much care. "I know this place ....Best burgers on Rhy'Din. A little seedy, but ..." She shrugged her shoulders, as if it was nothing they couldn't handle. Who really wanted to piss off a pair of weretigers, after all"
"Emrys would have left a trail of bodies behind him by now," Demi agreed. "Neville wouldn't have been much better, either." She let Marissa take her arm, falling into step beside the younger woman easily. Seedy didn't bother her, despite her usual outward appearance of preferring the finer things. She had been raised by a pirate, after all. "Oooh, red meat. You're spoiling me."
"Why do you think I didn't bring him?" Marissa asked, not expecting an answer. "So long as you don't mind not having to hunt it down first," Marissa remarked with a smirk. They had hunted together on occasion, a natural bond growing between the two women, as tigers amidst a small pack of wolves. She led Demi away from the clinic, down a street paved with shops, not unlike that of the Marketplace. It wasn't the seediest part of town, but it wasn't exactly tame either, the smell of broiled burgers leading them to a bar and grill that was only just a little less seedy than the infamous Stars End.
Inside the decor was less than cozy, but it was the smell of the burgers that had drawn them here. She ignored the looks they received from those already there, leading Demi to a small corner booth where they had a clear view of the entrance and a quick escape route out the back. They ordered lunch without incident and settled in with a wary eye for those around them.
"It's probably silly of me to have come here when I could have just gone to Rhy'Din Hospital," Marissa mused aloud. "Emrys would have a cow if he knew what this place is like."
Demi had deliberately sat herself with her back to the back exit; of the two of them, Marissa was the more precious if anything untoward should happen, though she was more than capable of looking after herself. The comment on the general hospital made her smile faintly. "They're good enough, if you're human or mostly human," she shrugged one shoulder. "But there's a reason most of the non-humans have their own clinics and healers. If this is where you can get the answers you need, this is where you come. And I promise not to tell Emrys or Neville about how rough it is."