The Niceties Of Nieces (Chrystal Dark, Amethyst Lady and Labyrinth)

[AmethystLady]

There is a theory, mostly confined to science fiction, that the future spreads out from the present like branches spreading from the trunk of a tree. Every decision to be made by every person results in a new branch. Some decisions are insignificant, like whether to wear a blue shirt or a black one. But others can have a profound effect on the direction of the person's life. Like choosing to wear a tee shirt with a stylised flower on it that bore a striking resemblance to the human female genitalia, on a Sunday, when being forced to attend her mother's Greek Orthodox Church. As if the Mohawk and tattoos weren't bad enough, when Romy took her coat off, her Pink Floyd Tee shirt was revealed. The ultra-conservative congregation was scandalised and, as Nina had hoped, she was banned from ever again showing her face in the church.

What she hadn't anticipated was her mother's total over-reaction.

And so it turned out that Andromeda Theodopolous found herself exiled from her friends - well, more comrades than friends, really, but still, and sent to live with Aunt Ariadne.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Aunt Ariadne was insisting she get a job! "What job?" She yelled back. "There's no fuckin' jobs on this fuckin' backwater island!" The argument had spiralled from there and resulted in Romy slamming the door as she stormed out of her aunt's house. She walked randomly for a while, finding herself on the seafront and looking out over the English Channel at a grey wall that moved rapidly across the sea. Not a tidal wave, she decided. No, this was a rainstorm. If she'd bothered to check the weather forecast, she would have known it was coming, but she was too annoyed. It arrived even as she was turning to look for somewhere to shelter, big heavy drops of cold water that quickly had her soaked to the skin.

It was suddenly very dark, too, even though it was about 11:00 in the morning. A flash and almost instant boom made her jump from surprise. Thunder wasn't supposed to be that loud or that close to the lightening, was it?

There was a place within easy reach, lit and warm-looking, a chippy and café. She took shelter in the doorway, but the smell of coffee drew her in. Romy looked around, taking in the elderly couple drinking tea at a table near the back, and the blonde woman behind the counter. She sighed and wiped the drooping hair of her sodden Mohawk out of her eyes. Leather jacket over the back of a chair and she sat, thanking the gods that she chose a black Tee this morning, which wasn't see-through.

"Uh, large black coffee, please?" She asked as the blonde looked in her direction, fishing for her phone to pay for the drink.

Well, look the storm blew in. The blonde, one Cornelia Ingrid Jaeger thought as she looked upon the poor soaked example of punk that dragged herself into what she liked to think was her humble but welcoming little domain.

Wood, stone and generally warm colours were the dominant themes of 'Cornelia's Den'. The front of the established formed by large three pane windows framed in dark golden-brown wood flanking the main door through which Andromeda entered. Two small little padded benched resting within the little C-shaped nooks formed of the windows as beyond the rain from a darkened sky. Small lamps hanging within the little alcoves.

The right most wall of the establishment formed of visible bricks, ochre and soft brown with a set of wooden shelves along showing all manner of knick knacks and a large board above that seemed dotted somewhat lightly with various pictures. Some of them showing the very woman that was in front of Andromeda alongside a rather tall figure with white hair sat astride a bike with their arms folded.

A bevy of chalk covered blackboards covering the wall showing the offerings of the Den becoming coming to the bar that was set apart by its wood panelling and creme coloured shelves dotted with cups and pots while the bar itself gleamed from what looked like marble. The bar dotted with the typical coffee machine and other such things one might find of a cafe while in the back there was the unmistakable scent of rich and fried food. A series of low backed benches dotting the outside of the bar.

The rest of the 'floor' bearing the usual assortment of durable looking wooden seats upon a actual wood floor.

"Coming up." The blonde offered, a notable inflection in her accent that was unmistakable of a German sort before bleeding into something of a more local accent. The lips from which those words came from before curling into a sympathetic smile were soft, almost pouty and pink against a pale visage. A soft rounded face with a modest chin and a delicate aqualine nose upon which rested a pair of circular glasses hued in silver before a pair of moss green green. A strong brow completing the look of the woman that didn't look much into her twenties.

A long neck flowing down to a turtleneck that wrapped about a form that some might have considered slendar but there was certainly some bulk to the woman. The soft terracotta turtleneck concealing much of the younger woman's form, her hands long and delicate as they set to work upon her the nearby coffee machine, levelling her moss coloured eyes at Andromeda.

Distinctive was an understatement, the rocker/punk woman stood out a bit like a sore thumb in the establishment as soft jazz played out through the speakers and the only other customers seemed more than happy to ignore the new arrival and leave her to her business. "New to the area I'm guessing?" For all of her accent, the woman's voice was soft and breathy though all indications gave a hint that the woman wasn't at all incapable of being more forceful if needed.

Jazz. Why did these places never play decent music? Romy scowled as she pulled her phone out, and realised that her earbuds were not in her pocket. She'd stormed out of the house in such a rush that she'd forgotten all about them! Her own preferences went from The Sex Pistols, The Jam, The Cure, The Cult, The Boomtown Rats, and The Wallflowers, through to AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Motorhead, Meatloaf, White Snake, Def Leppard, The Blackhearts, Blondie, Atomic Kitten and The Bangles.

Jazz was right up there with Country, classical, Rap and R&B at the top of her hated music genres list.

Romy shrugged as Cornelia asked if she was new. "O'vious, is it?" She responded, her South London drawl coming out even in those three words. Not a trace of her mother's Greek accent to be found. "Fuckin' weather..." The profanity was muttered under her breath as she looked out of the window at the downpour.

She accepted a large mug from the blonde with a grateful smile, and sipped, cuddling the hot china mug in both hands. "Mmm, 's good. Cheers." And then her belly decided to remind her that she'd stormed out without breakfast, and it was nearly lunchtime. "Ah, if you ain't busy, d'ya think ya could whip us up a sausage sarnie? I kinda skipped breakfast, yeah?"

Busy was the one thing it wasn't. In fact, Nina had difficulty imagining this whole town as being anything but dead. She'd been here a week and had seen no sign of life whatever.

"Bit, yeah." The blonde offered to the question of obviousness. with a playful smirk as she returned to her labours, such as they were, only to hear the soft rumble of the punky looking woman's stomach… and no sooner did she make her request that the blonde was already setting to work on making the requested sandwich. "'Ready on it. Any particular sausage you want or just happy with any? Any toppings?"

The notes of the Germanic accent somewhat accentuating as she spoke, moving to pull an uncooked bread bun from a small little nook bearing several such uncooked buns that she had prepared for the next few hours. The blonde twirling in place as she turned to face a well sized oven atop the counter before her.

A practice motion of her hands set the bun into place, the door closed and set to cook, illuminated by the soft orange glow of the internal light as she made towards a fridge beneath the counter, producing a dark looking sausage that she quickly sliced a series of neat diagonal cuts along before placing it into a skillet she quickly oiled.

The soft 'click click' of the gas oven filling the air and igniting the flame upon she set the skillet. "So then? What brings a London girl out this way?" The blonde asked, tilting her head back as she looked to the new arrival. "I'm Nele by the way." The blonde complimenting her introduction with a small wave of the spatula she wielded.

Any particular sausage? "Er, third one from the left?" Romy replied sarcastically. The idea that there might be different types of sausage was totally alien to her. Richmond® bangers were her staple back home. Hayling Island was part of England, so far as she knew, and a straight forward banger buttie shouldn't be too much to ask for, should it? "Brown sauce. HP if you got it? Thanks"

She sipped her coffee and looked around at the Olde-worlde look of the place. It was comforting, to an extent Romy found surprising. "Oh, well, I'm a bad girl. Mum can't cope wi' me actin' up, when they got five other kids, so they exiled me to my aunt's in this fuckin' arse-end of the country." She shrugged. "Nellie? Cute. Let me guess. Short for Cornelia, right?" That was a logical deduction, based on the sign over the serving counter, the same as the one outside the shop that she hadn't actually seen. "M' name's Andromeda. If y' think that's too long, I go by Romy."

The place was warm and cosy, and quiet, the elderly couple holding a quiet and private conversation, minding their own business. Romy smiled gratefully when she was handed a plate with her order on and took a bite. "Mmm, nice, thanks! So wharabaht you? 'Ow come you ain't left this place fer the bright city lights? I mean, it's kinda dead!"

"One in the same." Nele retorted at Romy's rather logical and yet surprisingly uncommon connection between her name and the sign at the door… she wondered for a moment if that meant this Andromeda woman was especially clever or just most people she'd met were dumb. The answer probably lay somewhere in between she figured.

She smirked at the question. "Well, first off please to meet ya, Romy." She opted to try Andromeda and though it was a fancy, even impressive name… it didn't quite roll off the tongue, if anything the name seemed contrary. It seemed like a name you give little girly princesses with over inflated egos to match the name. This Romy looked more like some punk rocker and was as common sounding as they came, Nele was certain there was a cosmic irony in there… somewhere. That made Romy interesting, even if she did just imply her home was an arse-end of England.

And she did like interesting folk, especially hot and edgy sorts.

"As for the city? Been there, done that, not my thing." Nele smirked. "Not like I hadn't had my share of staying in them cities, Berlin, Stuttgart, Koln, Paris, Marseille, even London for a year or two." She waved a spatula. "Have an aunt that took me all sorts of places on the continent when I was a kid on her bike." She smirked at the thought of just what Romi would make of said Aunt if she ever met her.

Everyone always had interesting takes on Aunt Sash. "Six kids though?" A firm sharp whistle left the lips of Nele as she sharply snapped her head to the right in something of a shake for a moment as if trying to process the challenge of that. "My parents gave up after two." Nele leaned her head back. "Auntie? Uncle? You two needing some more tea over there?" Nele asked of the elderly couple, the older man giving his wife a momentary look before nodding his head and no sooner did she get the call that she flipped the sausage that was cooking and quickly moved to wash her hands and gather up a small tea spoon, gathering up several ground tea-leaves and depositing it within a generously sized tea pot before filling it with freshly boiled water from a nearby kettle.

In short order, the pot itself along with two cups was placed on a tray and nestled beneath a tea cozy. "Do us a solid, love? Could I convince you to give this to old Uncle and Auntie over there?" Nele's lips curled in a charming smile for a moment before she returned to the buntie, gathering the freshly baked bread and slicing it in half as she set to work, barely missing a step.

 

[AmethystLady]

She was lost.

The storm was messing with the service on her phone and thus her GPS wouldn't load and thus she couldn't get to where she was going because she'd never actually been there before. That was how Tabitha Meecher found herself sat in her little pale blue Mini Cooper forehead against the steering wheel as she stared down at her phone which just buffered and buffered and buffered some more, "Why did I spend so much money on you, you useless sod?!" She hissed at it before tossing it into her purse before finally sitting up to get her bearings on where she'd parked.

Apparently outside of a chippy.

She wasn't big on fried stuff, unless in an existential crisis because, according to her father, cleanliness was next to Godliness and that included clean eating, but she could at least get a coffee and maybe directions, right? Rather than just sitting there idling in her car, wasting gas and patience. That's how she found herself stepping out of her little car, the low, pale cream coloured heels she wore immediately splattered, but she was not so vain as to pay them any mind. The simple a-line dress she wore was a soft shade of mauve and over the top she wore a conservative raspberry coloured cardigan that was buttoned to her throat. The wind immediately pulled at her glossy, pale blonde hair; mussing it and spoiling an otherwise polished and prude exterior. Beauty wasn't something she lacked, but it was almost dimmed by the tortured look in her eye and her beyond conservative fashion choices. She was like a beautiful butterfly someone had prevented from breaking free of its chrysalis.

She hurried up onto the curb, locking her car before dropping the keys into the interior of her bag, and then into the chippy with a shiver, wiping her heels off immediately before casting her distressed hazel eyes up over the customers taking shelter from the rain. She smiled politely at any eye contact, though her eyes remained down for the most part, before making her way toward the counter, her hands clutching the handles of her back in front of her, her slender frame giving off the image of fragility as she scanned the menu overhead for something she could partake in without guilt. She'd had far too much of that of late.

"Good morning." She chimed to the lady in the back, mostly being her usual polite self and certainly not rushing her along as she had no real idea what she wanted yet, though her tummy was telling her she'd skipped breakfast.

Romy shrugged and stood. "A solid, huh? Always loved that expression. I mean, as opposed to a liquid?" She sniggered and carried the tray to the back of the shop, where the elderly couple were sitting. "'Ere we go, me dears, Enjoy."

As she turned away, the door chimed again and the cutest blonde dashed in, looking only slightly bedraggled. "Mornin' sweet-cheeks!" she offered by way of greeting, and moved to stand next to the blonde. "Disgustin' wevver we're 'avin, ain't it?"

Romy turned to the owner and grinned. "So, Nells, this solid ya owes me, Ya run this place by yerself? So, 'ow abaat this: you give me a job doin' whatever the fuck you like, an' pay me whatever ya wants, an' ya don't need ta ask fer favours. 'Ow's that sound?"

Romy winked at Nelle then turned to look at the blonde. "Name's Andromeda, but no one 'cept my mum calls me that. Romy, if ya wanna live! Ha ha!" She held a hand out to the blonde but instead of shaking the reciprocated gesture, raised the blonde's fingers to her lips in a gesture more suited to an 18th century romance.

The blonde certainly took the attention of Nele, looking every bit like a lost and very cute little lamb that had found its way within her humble establishment.

Of course, her attention was quickly claimed by the quips of her other new customer… and apparently for all of her wild look, she certainly had a good eye for things… and apparently was quite brazen yet accommodating. Either way, her little retort earnt her a chuckle from the silvery-blonde maned woman before being offered the butty she had requested. Sausage cooked to perfection, properly buttered and seasoned, the bread itself still steaming after being so freshly baked.

"Think up a number that's make it worth your while while I serve the lady, then we'll talk." Nele replied, looking over momentarily at Romy… and certainly taking her time to admire the wild looking punk woman. She liked a woman with flair, and Romi certainly had that in spades.

If nothing else, she'd be interesting and entertaining to keep around.

But then she turned to look towards the sweet little lamb. "Pull up a seat, petal. What'll ya have?" She chimed.

Tabitha turned, immediately startled at the sight of the woman that had spoken to her; a more juxtaposed visual to herself she could not imagine. She tilted her eyes curiously - shyly - over the punky visage of the one called 'Romy', though she thought Andromeda was a fine name. She didn't say as much, not wishing to risk her life and when that hand was offered she slid her own into it to shake, only to find lips against her well moisturised skin.

That curious tingly thing that happened to her when she looked at pretty girls kicked up and she let out the faintest noise behind her nose; a noise of distress because she knew she shouldn't feel tingly when a pretty girl kissed her hand like some sort of punk-historical romance crossover.

She realised shortly after that she'd not said anything in a while, was just staring and lightly squeezing the hand in her own and she startled, only to startle right after because the woman behind the counter had closed in and she snatched her hand back with an apology muttered immediately, as if she'd been the one to initiate the contact.

"Hi, yes... sorry. Nice to meet you, Romy." She managed, voice an octave higher than it had been, "Tabitha Meecher. Most call me Tabi" She managed with a stiff smile and she obeyed the invite to sit, soon perching in the seat nearest the counter. She felt more assured having sat down and she ordered from there.

"Could I have a small latte, please?" Her stomach protested loudly at being denied yet again, but the menu wasn't exactly salady. "And some directions, if you can..." She pulled out a little slip of paper she'd written the address down on before her hurried departure from home.

"Do you know where... um... 'Bucks and Dames' is? I think I got turned around." She explained, looking quite embarrassed about it. Far too reliant on technology, apparently.

Romy's eyes lit up and if she'd had a tail, she would have wagged it. If this cutie is heading for the gayest dyke bar in Portsmouth, she's gotta be gay!

"Sure, You're on the wrong island, though. You need to go back the way you came, up to the A27, and take the first exit from the roundabout, so you're heading West. Once the M3 joins, and you're on the M27, get into the left lane, and take the exit for Portsmouth and Southsea. Again first exit from the roundabout. Stay on that road, that's Eastern Road, until you get to the big crossroads at the end. You want to go straight over so get in the right-hand lane. Then keep going until you see Jaeger Motors, turn left, and it's on your left!"

She smiled warmly at Tabitha. "Tabby, huh? Like a cat? You have orange stripes?" she winked playfully. "I bet it would be fun to find out?" She deliberately sat next to Tabitha, placed a hand on the blonde's forearm, as she set the plate with the sandwich on the table. This is mine!

Then she addressed the other question. "Let's see. Minimum wage is eleven quid and a bit. How about fifteen quid an hour net?" She shrugged and offered a reasonable figure to the shop owner.

Nele gave a charming smile to the cute young blonde, though was quick to note the soft rumbling of her stomach as she nodded her head. A soft whistling leaving her lips as she made towards the stand of hot food, looking over the blonde for a spell as she proceeded to head towards one of the heated cabinets, looking over the pies on display that she'd made earlier that morning, before looking back over her shoulder at Tabitha as she was being spoken to by Romi.

She was getting definite vegetarian vibes from this one. Shame. She opted to grab one towards the bottom, a mushroom and potato pie bearing a golden crust along the edge. Her hand moving to quickly pluck it and place it upon a plate, landing it in front of Tabitha.

"Here you go, petal, something to settle the stomach. Name's Cornelia, but call me Nele." Nele's voice rang softly and sweetly, but there was a firmness to it that hinted that any refusal to take the modestly sized pie would not welcome as headed off to make the coffee.

"If that's what you're willing to work for, I'm game, I'd have gone for maybe eighteen but I'm good with fifteen." The extra three pounds and hour would be worth it to have such an amusing and colourful figure working the tables.

Not too hard on the eyes either, punk aside… Then the fact that she seemed to know exactly where that delightfully infamous pub is made things even more interesting. She looked towards the elderly couple, seemingly quite content with their tea. "Got some business with the guvnor of the place or something?"

Tabitha blinked twice at Romy, then let out a nervous giggle, before she sighed, "That would explain a lot." She pulled a sleek gold pen out of her bag, twisting it to extend the tip and quickly wrote down the directions she'd been given; knowing she'd not memorise them and she'd end up God only knows where!

Once done she twisted the pen again and placed it and the little notepad she'd written on back into her purse, "That's brilliant, thank you so much." She said brightly, relieved to be back on track given that she'd not actually had her father's blessing for this trip and the quicker she did it, the less likely he'd rage at her when she returned. It didn't matter she was twenty-two, she answered to him and feared she always would.

"A bit like cat, I-" She blinked again - a fanning bat of her lightly mascara covered lashes - a warm glow rising on her cheeks once again as the punk woman sat beside her and touched her. She touched her. Tabitha bit her lips together, eyes locked onto the spot where the clearly female hand was resting atop her arm and despite her skin not showing, it burned her. She didn't seem capable of moving, of speaking for a moment, but thankfully Nele saved her from further embarrassing herself.

The pie was placed before her and she almost protested, but it gave her an excuse to carefully draw her arm out from under the touch of Romy and she took up fork and knife, looking up to Nele, "Thank you, this looks lovely."

She tucked in, glancing nervously at the woman who sat so near, but as long as she was eating her limbs were tucked in and saved from touches. It was clear the punk was negotiating a job, so perhaps that would distract her from any focus on Tabby.

"Sort of..." She said, taking a bite of the pie, then she groaned happily at the flavour; she'd forgotten how nice buttery pastry tasted and potatoes! Ohhh, and creamy sauce. She whimpered after the second bite and for a moment or two she just ate; two more bites followed, then she took a deep breath, "... my auntie Rosie works there." She explained.

Nele gave a soft whistle as she saw the young woman absolutely demolish, or at least well on the way to demolishing, the pie she had provided. That was until mention of Rosie came to her ears.

"Ah yeah, Lea's missus." Nele chimed with a smirk. "My Aunt Sash uses her, though I wasn't aware she had much in the way of family." Nele shrugged.

It might just have been she didn't know the woman well, but in all their discussions together which admittedly included either Sascha and/or the afforementioned Lea, she hadn't spoke of her family much. Her other half though was stuck to her like glue most of the time.

Her eyes turned to look at Romi for a spell, the hot punk couldn't have been more obvious in her interest of the delicate little doll if she'd put a neon sign over her head and saying 'Hungry blonde loving dyke here'. "Got Lea's number on me if you'd like to phone ahead, only time Rosie's anywhere near away from is when she's working in her office. Good chance she'll be nearby."

She wasn't exactly sure what business the blonde had with her aunt, but it seemed to be her day for offering a helping hand.

This was Rosie's niece? "Oh hey. Yep, Mrs Meecher-Beaulieu has two kid brothers, as I understand it?" Romi raised an eyebrow at Tabs for confirmation. "I also understand that they're both intensely religious, and about as homophobic as it's possible to get without actually going around doing physical damage!"

Again, Romi glanced at the cute blonde next to her for affirmation. Her face took on an expression of sympathy. "Seriously, honey, if you grew up wi' one of them fuckin' nutcases as your dad, I'm not surprised ya wanna go live with Auntie Rosie and Aunclie Lea." She deliberately used the gender-neutral term for Lea, because, frankly, she'd only met the person once and was still not sure of their gender, despite the insistence of everyone around them. For that matter, she wasn't totally sure of Sascha!

"But, hey, you c'n always come live with me if ya want?" It was an off the cuff suggestion, to Romi it was a natural follow-up to her open flirting with Tabby. A finger lifted and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind the girl's ear. Then she looked up at Nele and gave her a wry grin.

"Nah, seriously, I live with me aunt Ari. And she's got at least two other people livin' there, plus she kinda takes up the space o' two on 'er own!" She giggled. Her aunt's physique was not a matter that the older woman was embarrassed about at all, but Romi did enjoy teasing her about it occasionally. "So, I mean, yer welcome, but ya'd be sharin' my bed...!" She said it as offhandedly as she could. A casual throw-away line, while watching the blonde's face.

She was convinced that Tabby was gay, and most definitely femme. Her gaydar had only once let her down, and that was with a boy she'd thought was gay, but who turned out to be bisexual and started hitting on her when she had been casually flirting with his sister.

Licking buttery pastry from the corner of her lips, her large eyes tilting between the two as they seemed to know her auntie, "My family isn't exactly in contact with my auntie, but I've got a problem..." Wait, why was she telling these strangers details about her life?! She blushed, alabaster cheeks tinting a bonny pink shade and she dropped her gaze, "... doesn't matter..."

When the telephone number was offered she nodded eagerly, "Yes, please. That would be so helpful, I don't have it, I'm afraid." Which said a lot to her mention of her family not being in contact with her auntie. "Thank you so much."

Tabby looked to the punky woman and nodded her confirmation that her auntie had two brothers, including her father, only for her pink tint to flare scarlet and her eyes dart away; shifting uncomfortably in her seat, "Yes, they... yes." She cleared her throat awkwardly; it was part of the problem she was having and wanting to talk to her aunt about.

"I'm not moving in with Aunt Rosie, I just need some advice." She whispered, feeling completely exposed and out of place and unsure if she should have come except she had to come. She had to. And there was literally no one else she knew she could talk to about her problem.

And Romi wasn't helping at all. "I'm... I... don't... know you." She peeped, also looking to Nelle, but more for help than anything. The hair tucked behind her ear made her eyes widen, even as her skin tingled and her heart jumped into her throat. She let out a faint noise of distress, unable to catch her breath. This woman was bold and sexy and nothing at all she was prepared for that rainy day.

Romy let out a "Pffft!" and wrapped an arm around Tabby's shoulders, gave her a hearty hug. "Aw, sweetie, ya know what they say, a stranger is just a girlfriend ya ain't fucked yet!" She grinned broadly and then sighed. "Okay, sorry, I'm just teasin' ya. But, look, there's no judgment, okay? If you're straight, just say so an' I'll back the fuck off, 'kay?"

She had left her arm wrapped around Tabby's shoulders and only now removed it. She was still just a little bit damp from being caught in the storm earlier, and even though it had eased up, there was still a steady, light rain falling.

She shrugged and looked up at her new boss. "So, Nelly, when do I start? Or haver I already started?" She giggled and stood up. "Ya gonna show me how ta work the techie stuff? Coffee machines, cash registers, philosophical overweight monks?"

As she said the last three words, she nodded at the receptacles filled with hot oil used for cooking the fish and chips in traditional manner. A snigger followed. "Always wanted ta make that joke!"

A soft 'oh' left the lips of Nelle as she looked towards Romy, blinking blankly (or at least seeming to).

"Oh, you're done with chatting up the customers are ya?" Nele asked, though the faint curl of her lips hinted that as chastising as she sounded, there was some amusement at Romi's antics, enough at least to keep the chippy owner from throwing her out… that and either the two other customers were either blissfully unaware of what they were doing… or more possible just ignoring Romi.

Ah, the level up where you stop giving a shit… if it didn't come with so many aches and pains Nele would have envied the two. She wiped her hands and moved to wave over the mouthy, and admittedly hot, rocker gal. "Right, get over here before you get pulled up. Don't suppose you know how to make Greek food, judging by the name and the fact your Aunt is 'Ari', guessing you mean the Prof that lives up on Carnelian Road?"

To be fair, how many people were named Andromeda these days? And hey, a gal was hope. Nele was nothing if always wanting to find new ways to make cash…

Tabby looked at Romy with wide eyed shock. She felt a tingle at having a gorgeous woman's arm around her, hugging her in. She didn't know how to handle the feelings, she didn't know how to handle gorgeous women, she didn't know how to come to terms with her own urges and all of that culminated into her being an awkward idiot.

"No, don't... be sorry," She said quickly because why should someone be sorry for being themselves? Just because she had no idea how to accept and own her identity didn't mean that other people needed to suffer in such a way.

She blushed vibrantly soon after and became quite interested in the remainder of her pie; certainly not telling the woman to 'fuck off' because, while that would be easier, she kind of liked the attention and her family wasn't there to shame her. She blinked, only just realising that and she peeked over at Roby again, who had moved on to better things, but still.

She admired her for a moment, her strange and yet sexy alternative look, the details of her face, the shape of her body. She bit at her lip, doing something crude and sinful and wondering what said body looked like beneath. Oh, God. She was going to hell. She instead focused on Nele, but she was also gorgeous and Tabby felt like she'd entered one of her many sapphic dreams, where the three of them would end up naked and... nope! Bad call.

She fanned herself with her hand, sipping her coffee, trying to clear her head.

"It feels like everyone knows everyone around here..." She commented curiously.

The punk girl laughed and abandoned her attempts to get into Tabby's panties. "Geek food? Ya mean like vegieburgers an' meatless meatballs?" She sneered. "Which are jest balls, ha ha!" Her mistake was pointed out, and she shrugged. "Fuck no! Gimmie pie an' mash, or sausage an' chips, or fish 'n' chips. Or a decent thick steak, but can't fuckin' afford that! Nah, can't stand that foreign crap! Aunt Ari tried servin' it a few times, but, nah, not fer me!"

Then she blinked, confused. "What prof? I dunno any profs."

She smiled down at Tabby, kissed her own fingertips and tapped them to the cute blonde's forehead. "Later sweetie. Don't ypu go runnin' off 'till I get ye'r number. In fact, here, gimmie ye'r phone a sec..." She took Tabbitha's phone, and the girl's right hand, used the blonde's finger to unlock it, and then tapped a few times before returning the phone. Her own phone buzzed in her jacket pocket, and she retrieved it from where it was left on a different chair. She saved the new number as "Cute Tabby". Tabby's phone would now have a number saved as "Romy (My Girlfriend)".

Romy was nothing if not forward.

"Right, Boss Lady, What's first?"

Nele was certain at that moment that one of two things would happen.

The first was that she'd utterly regret bringing this little hellraiser into her midst, the second was that she'd rather relish her presence and this choice. Either way, it was going to be a hell of a ride…

"Shame, might have been nice to have some that fare made in-hosue." Nele sighed, shrugging her shoulders, ah well, was a small sacrifice for the entertainment value she figured. "You can start by tidying up and then I'll show you how everything works, then you can show me what you can make."

At the mention of everyone knowing everyone from Tabby though, Nele just smirked. "It's a small little community, love. So certain folk stand out more than others. Her aunt's one of the long-timers here and she at one of those houses up at Carnelian Street, been around longer than I've been alive. As for Lea and Rosie, pretty much family at this point."

She wasn't about to say that it 'paid for we dykes to stick together', not in front of the older folk. She wanted to keep her business after all and though she had a feel they wouldn't care, why ruffles feather's needlessly.

Tabitha finished her pie with a happy hum and she used a fingertip to gather up the flakes remaining on her plate, suckling them off every so often while watching Romy cautiously because she was a dangerous woman, that much Tabby had already decided. She felt like Nele was less dangerous, but not by far; gorgeous women who were outgoing and full of sex appeal? Not what she was used to and a danger to her before she could get advice from her auntie.

"That's nice, a close community like that! It's like that in the church for the most part." She said fondly, but perhaps sadly too; she felt like she didn't belong there anymore because of her invasive homosexual urges, so she'd only been attending on Sundays and not all the other days and the bake sales and the gatherings. She felt like she'd lost something coming to the realisation she did.

"So, do you know my auntie well, then?" She asked, flicking her eyes over the two women.

Tidying up? Romy nodded and picked up the crockery that was used, took it behind the counter and looked for a sink or dishwasher to put it in. Then she grabbed a cloth that she wetted under the tap and began wiping tables.

All the while whistling what sounded a bit like a cheerful tune, but those in the know would recognise as being about a teenage girl murdering her classmates in school. At least, that had always been Romy's interpretation of that song, one she'd found on the internet and fallen in love with.

When her newly acquired (but as yet unaware of the fact) girlfriend asked about her aunt, Romy shrugged. "Nope, never actually met 'er, but ya can't be Gay in this part o' the fuckin' country an' not know the Bucks an' Dames..." She paused and, so as not to be gender-biased, added "... Or the Wiltshire Lamb, if yer a bloke!"

She shrugged. "I 'eard on the grapevine, 'ow Missus Meecher-Beaulieu was allus trying ta piss 'er brothers off, cos they'relike these super religious Jesus freaks or some bullshit like that!"

And now suddenly, Romy had another earworm, that she started humming. A lot less cheerful tune, but she couldn't help it, and definitely not one from her chosen genre of music!

"We don't spend weekends together, but Lea and I are mates since she hung around my aunt and thus I know Rosie through her…" Her features shifted in pensiveness as she raised her hand and waved it in the air, twisting at the wrist in a 50/50 manner. "As I said, she's the accountant for my aunt's garage, she's a bit scary but she'll treat ya like gold if you don't give her guff."

She formed a pensive look on her features. "Or potentially bear hug ya since you'd kinda be like family… so don't stand too close, she's strong for her age." Nele shifting her head as a soft crack could be heard of her neck as she remembered Sascha's bear hugs. The butch wasn't the most expressive creature, but she damn well liked to see if could squeeze you. She gestured with her head to Romi. "But that sounds about right for Rosie, can honestly say you're the first of her family I've ever met."

Tabby gave a small smile, liking that she somehow randomly ran into a friend of her auntie or rather her auntie's partner. It made it feel like she was in a tight knit community which appealed to her quite a lot. Safe, was the word, she felt. "That's awesome. I don't have too many memories of my Aunt Rosie, but what I do remember is nice." She admitted, knowing that the falling out happened when she was wee.

"I've got no guff to give." She said with a weak smile, looking down at her empty plate with a bit of guilt curling in her belly for devouring the pie like a heathen. She looked up, brows raised, before letting out a nervous laugh, "I fear my bird bones would splinter to dust. I can say with confidence I have never been bear hugged by anyone." She giggled, she couldn't help it and for a moment her gluttonous guilt went away as she looked between the pretty women before her.

"Yeah, there was a really bad fight between my father and my aunt when I was little, I remember hiding in my room under my bed because the yelling was so loud and so angry and I never saw her again after that." She knew now it was because her auntie had come out to her father and her devoutly religious father had been consumed by rage. She'd never heard him yell like that since.

She looked to Romy with a weak shrug, as if to say 'you're completely accurate', "That's kind of why I am here, to be honest."

Nele gave a soft, sympathetic smile on her lips.

She liked to think she knew all about having 'unusual' family members, and family members that didn't get on with one another… thankfully in her case, even as peculiar as her Aunt Sascha was, none in the Jaeger family would have turned her away and vice-versa.

This cute little thing though? She had none of that, and to say that tugged on her heart-strings was an understatement.

Thus after a time, she folded her arms and leaned them on the table, looking towards Tabby.

"Tell you what." She gestured with that chin towards the door and the rain beyond. "That rain's probably going to be a while, what say you stick around and I'll shut up a bit earlier than usual this evening and I'll take you to the 'Bucks and Dames' personally." Then she gestured with her head to the stand. "Ain't a clue where Rosie is during the day but during the evening its fair to say she's not far from her beau, so figure you want to meet Rosie, that's the place to do."

She pushed up to stand up right. "In the meantime, you can catch me onboard my newest worker and help yourself to as much chips, pastry, tea and coffee you'd like."

Not like she was make any money today given this rain, and the idea of being the means to a sweet family reunion tickled a sentimentalist side of her. "What ya say? Can even bring Romy along." She teased.

Tabby's nervous eyes flicked to Romy then back to Nele as she settled down near her and got on eye level. She clutched her fingers in her lap, back rigid and her face pale and her eyes anxious, but her smile was sincere and she managed a nod that didn't disturb her still wind mussed hair despite her having dragged her fingers through it more than once to try to tame it.

She took a deep breath and expelled it through bowed, pink lips before nodding once again, more decisive, "Yes, please. That sounds really good, thank you. I am not sure she'll want to see me, it would be nice not to have to enter the bar on my own." She said, voice slightly strained and it was clear she was petrified and yet she was still going; that was very much who she was.

She looked to Romy again, giving a sweet sort of smile, "You'll come too, yes?"

Romy shrugged. "Yeah, I'm up fer it. We c'n make it our first date... Or maybe this is our first date an' that c'n be our second?"

She grinned and then stopped. "Wait. Shit, I missed summat important... Nel, did you say your aunt is the Jägermeister?" The mock terror on her face was purely for show, as she used Sascha's unofficial (and secret) nickname, that no-one would ever dare use to her face.

"Wow, talk about a small world!" She shrugged and began humming a Wallflowers' song called "Fancy That".

With the tables cleared and cleaned, she sat down next to Tabby again and put an arm around the cute blonde's shoulders, then looked up at Nele. "So, ah, Nel, um, I didn't mean to, like, cut you out, ya know? You're deffo my type, but tabby is more my type, yeah? If ya don't mind sharin', I'll date both of ya?" She was actually blushing, because it was a really weird thing to ask...

"Jägermeister!" The word uttered amidst a bevy of rich, deep laughter from Nele as she dropped her head forward, her shoulders trembling with mirth at the nickname as she nodded her head in affirmation, watching the form of Romi move around and admittedly quietly admiring the way the punk gal moved.

She wondered if it was something genetic in the Jaeger blood that drew them to leather and 'devil-may-care' attitudes. From the fencing scars on her grandfather, the rough and tumble leatherclad butch that was her mother, even to some of the emo and leather aspects of some of her cousins and siblings.

There was definitely something of a unconventional streak in this little family from Bavaria, and in her case… well… Romi's rather erratic nature nature was tugging on that streak.

Though her musing was interrupted by the suggestion from Romi, her eyebrows raising high.

"You are different, ain't ya?" Nele rolled her tongue against her cheek… and then she shrugged her shoulders. "Buy me a drink first, and we'll talk."

Hell, why not? Wasn't as if she was exactly swimming in women, and yet fate decides to drop a punky gal and a little kitten in her lap with the former basically being part gay bloodhound!

Romy's words pulled a nervous laugh from the inexperienced Tabitha, her eyes closing as she whimpered with glee, "Is it that easy for you? Just... declare stuff like that? Don't you go over it over and over and over until your brain hurts?" She asked, blinking over at her in fascination.

She glanced to Nele, unsure who 'Jägermeister' was, besides an alcoholic beverage as far as she could remember, but she seemed to be famous around these parts, or infamous? She couldn't be for sure.

Soon enough Romy was by her side again and she peeked at her with a smile from under carefully mascara'd lashes, her lip caught briefly between her teeth before it popped free, only for her eyes to go wide with shock at the proposition that poured so easily from Romy's lips. Who just... said what they were thinking?!

"Sharing?" She wheezed, flicking her gaze back and forth between them, "Y-you want to... share?" She looked to Nele for help; surely this woman was crazy and unstable? And yet... the mere idea of being sandwich filling for Romy and Nele bread made her clamp her thighs together.

"That's... batshit crazy." She giggled weakly, her hands lifting to hide her blushing face.

"Brain? Wots Dat? DURRR!" Romi giggled.

"yyyyeeeah, no. Never over-think things. If ya do, ya'll never do nuttin'." She shrugged. "Ya know the Nike slogan, yeah? 'Just Do it' (Registered trademark). That's me!" She grinned and then let out a hearty chuckle at being called batshit crazy. "Nope, 'My muvver 'ad me tested!'" she quoted the character Sheldon Cooper.

But she was forced to admit that it was just a little bit crazy. She didn't know either of these women, and yet she had just made a randomly ridiculous proposition to both? Okay, maybe she was just a little crazy. And now she had a new Earworm.

"But we're never gonna survive, unless, we get a little crazy!" She sang softly as the afternoon wore on and the rain continued.

"I'm not gonna force either of ya, but... Well, I reckon it could be fun, yeah?"

A rumbling chuckle and a shiver of Nele's shoulder hinted at the Jaeger's amusement at this whole thing.

"I'm not against it, but like I said, buy a girl a drink and we'll talk about your crazy plan." A soft clatter of a glass cabinet being slid open filled the air, and with it the scent of ever more food. "Would make things interesting though."

The pale haired woman then moved to place another morsel before Tabitha and Romi, these one each a piece of strawberry cheesecake that she smiled. "Eat up then, loves, we'll leave in a few hours. Romy, you get in the car with her and I'll take the lead in mine."

And that, as it were, seemed to be the last word as the Jaeger returned to the business of minding her chippy. All the while wondering just what sort of madness she'd signed up.

But then, Jaeger's were a mad lot, so like met like she guessed?

 

[AmethystLady]

The rest of the afternoon played much as was expected in Nele's opinion, customers had come and gone but the rain had certainly kept people home, but she had to admit (privately at least) that Romi helped keep things entertaining.

She doubted she'd ever been not bored during a lull period.

Eventually though it was time to pack up, and the rain had seen fit to be stubborn but thankfully now down to the typical drizzle as they made their way away from the coastal, if currently dreary, sights of Hayling Island and moving more inland albeit westwardly and then back out towards the suburb of Portsmouth. A smooth, if somewhat sodden trip as the two cars formed a curious pair.

At the head of it was the modest BMW 3 Sedan seemingly melding into the rather desaturated colours of the afternoon with its gun-metal grey and smooth, almost organic form from the curve of its bonnet with the intake and front lights looking almost like some snarling mechanical creature to the wide windscreen framed in black as all the other windows were.

All in all, perhaps fittingly for Nele it was an understated sort of car, good and practical and not too flashy with Tabby's car following suit.

Nele wouldn't deny some amusement as she imagined that little hellion she'd hired taking pleasure in the fact their path took them exactly where she had. They'd gone back the way that Tabby had come, up to the A27, the first exit on the roundabout and westword until the A3(M) joined eventually finding them onto the M27 and merging to the left before taking the exit to Portsmouth and Southsea.

Then came the exit on the roundabout as they remained on Eastern Road leading up to the crossroads ahead, going straight and into the right lane.

Their final turn would come as Nele saw that familiar building and the trio would find themselves making a left turn off into an industrial park by Rodney Road and Fratton Way, eventually coming to a lone parking lot at the back of a nondescript bar seemingly alone in the afternoon. Well, nondescript save for the small neon-title upon the back door, an afterthought compared to the sign up front. The sign itself simply reading "Bucks and Dames" with a notable neon cartoon of a rather well dressed young woman atop a horse that was attempted to throw her off. A sign that was still notable from the back entrance all the same.

The soft dripping of freshly fallen rain drill dripping from the various bits of plumbing, awnings and gravel that littered the scene. The lot filled with a myriad of bikes, mostly cruisers of varying and notably custom builds and many of them covered in tarps to protect from the night as well as even greater procession of cars and the like.

The building across from it was even less notable, save for the form of a figure leaned back against the wall of the opposing building, shelted from rain thanks to an overhang of the room. A figure whom immediately caught the eye of Nele as she eased her modest (but well looked after) car into one of the available parking berths between the two and setting her ride into park, shut it off and ensured everything was secure for lock up. A quick gathering of an umbrella and she was out into the world again.

The air was certainly cold, and crisp beneath the grey skies that felt even more dreary in this rather industrial looking area that some could have said was positively rundown.

She wasted little time in crossing the distance with Tabby's car, waiting for the two as she raised her hand to wave at the figure leaning back in the distance whom met her motion with a wide, circular wave. The plumes of smoke coming off from them making clear they were probably out for a smoke break, but whom it was quite undeniable to anyone whom knew the place.

Tabby hid her smile behind her fingertips at Romy's silliness, quite awed by the woman because she seemed very brave and secure in herself and those were two things Tabitha Meecher had never felt before. She found Romy inspiring and quite the woman indeed, even if she seemed a little crazy.

Tabby just shook her head at her, smiling helplessly as Romy started singing soon after, a dreamy look crossing Tabby's face before shaking her head at the question, rather a dismissal than a rejection, "Fun, yes. I just..."

But what she 'just' was never mentioned because cheesecake appeared soon after and she let out a moan as if she'd just discovered sex. "Ohhh, I really shouldn't..." She whimpered, a hand on her belly as if she feared it had gotten pudgy just by looking at the caloric dessert, "It's an indulgence." That's what he father called anything that wasn't 'grown on God's green earth!'.

Biting her lips together, eyes glued to the cake, she fought between being rude and being a glutton, but rudeness was absolutely uncalled for so she gathered up her fork and took the tiniest piece and nearly wept when she put it in her mouth.

She ate like a little mouse after that, but she polished the slice off and looked terribly guilty afterward as they left the chip shop and she hurried to her car, using the fob to unlock it so they could get in right away and out of the rain.

She settled into the driver's seat, carefully buckling after she put her purse on the backseat and did her checks of mirrors and readings before finally pulling out of the spot, happy to be able to just follow dear Nele so she wouldn't get lost again.

Romy would learn that, much like everything she did, Tabitha was a safe driver, obeying all traffic laws, hands and ten and two, and checking her mirrors even when it wasn't fully necessary. She was driving more cautiously still because she had a passenger and she wanted to be sure they were both kept safe.

When they arrived at last she looked out the window beyond the swishing wipers and looked mildly concerned for a moment, just staring at the sigh above the door as she seemed to struggle with whether or not she wanted to get out, but Nele was already out and they were already here and the worst that could happen was a little public humiliation if Rosie didn't want to see her. It'd been years after all, she'd only been six or seven when the fight had happened.

At long last she sighed and reached back for her purse, staring straight ahead as she slipped out of the car and into the rainy evening. Purse strap on her shoulder, she kept close to Nele, who seemed to be knowledgeable about things and looked back for Romy who was crazy, but her confidence was a comfort.

"Woah, Cheesecake!" Romi didn't need a second invitation, and made no protest as she devoured her slice - in a manner her mother would have described as inhaling it. "Of course, there's a totally other and sexier meaning of 'cheesecake'!" She giggled and gave the young woman next to her a hug. "And I hope to see the both of you in such a state very soon?"

And then they were piling into cars in the drizzle, Romi in with Tabby-cat, and a hand resting casually on the woman's knee, until it was pointed out that she was distracting the driver, and so she desisted.

She was more than a little smug about the fact that she had the route down pat. Romi had the sort of memory that retained things like maps. People had called her a walking sat-nav. She waited until Tabs had the car parked and slid out into the drizzle. She, too, noticed the figure standing outside Jaeger Motors, and quickly turned away. So far as she knew, there was no real connection between her aunt and Ms Jaeger. The former being - so far as Romi knew, straight as a ruler, and the latter being queer as (to quote her granny on her dad's side), a nine bob note, whatever that was...

Instead, she hooked herself onto the other side of Tabby, arm around the girl's waist, and marched happily into the bar.

Rosie Beaulie-Meecher looked up from her laptop as the door chimed. It wasn't the busiest of Friday evenings, and it was well past nine at night with only a handful of the regulars in, mostly due to the weather. Lea was somewhere dealing with something, and she preferred to be in the company of others while not working. She recognised Cornelia Jaeger, and the punk girl was vaguely familiar, one of the Pachis clan, she seemed to remember.

But the girl in between them, she didn't know, but looked so very familiar... Could it be? She closed the laptop screen and stood, slid out of the booth and walked uncertainly towards the trio. "Cornelia, welcome. And, ah... Andromeda? We did meet once or twice, didn't we?" She turned her attention to the young blonde. "Um, I feel I should know you, dear. You look remarkably like my sister-in-law...?"

On instinct, on conditioning, and even on habit Tabitha wanted to separate herself from Romy the second she was latched onto, but deep down where her true self lived she was comforted by the closeness that this strange, bold woman offered her and today, on that very important day, she needed it. She needed comfort.

She even slid her trembling hand into Nele's when they made it inside, squeezing it urgently as if to say 'I need you' in a vulnerable sort of way. This journey she'd gone on was to face herself, which was often the scariest of journeys, and that she had found friends along the way was a mighty comfort to her. She wasn't so sure about 'girlfriends' just yet, despite having the strangest urge to do what Romy wanted if it made her happy.

She looked to her auntie, who looked just as she remembered her from the near two decades that had passed since she saw her last, and felt her eyes burn at the backs which forced her to blink rapidly to rid the sting and stop herself from bursting into tears and in that moment she pressed further into Romy, held tighter onto Nele, and gave a weak smile.

"That would make sense, Aunt Rosie. I'm Tabitha. Y-your niece?" She whispered, loud enough to hear, but clearly nervous because she wasn't sure how her aunt would react. The fight felt fresh in her mind, the screaming, the words used. 'Disgusting dyke bitch' and 'filthy, blasphemous whore' were ones she remembered, but didn't know what they meant at the time. Her father wasn't one for swearing, but he swore mightily on that day.

Nele herself was probably the least prominent of the three, simply following after the willful rocker and the mousy blonde with her hands resting within her pockets as she followed the two through the automatic doors of the Bucks and Dames, and in short order opened the more manual ones that were clearly closed to keep the cold out, though as she opened it, she felt the hand of Tabitha slip into her own, and quickly the waifish woman would find the hand of Nele squeezing ever so.

Gently, yet firmly enough that she was aware of her as she courted this trial.

Their entrance met with a burst of warm air that embraced them all like a shawl, as they were met with a curiously designed sort of places that blended a sport bars, a nightclub sort of place (albeit it quite inactive now) and a proper pub in a radical mess of ideas that Nele knew was partially due to its original founders.

The pub of course was the main one, due in part to the wife of the woman they were seeking out, Lea Beaulieu. The sports bar was very much due to Adan Forger's influence and the the night club was all the 'Gothy Queen' Elenora Avros' idea.

Cherry Red of course of was the main colour, along with most of the clientele dressed in the manner of Prohibition America with mostly white shirts and pants, suits and frocks and denim and leather.

The wooden tiles on the floor were cherry red with green mats here and there. The walls that notable tone of mauve/cherry from what one could see as they were festooned with football and cricket and rugby memorabilia. Along the walls, inset into various sections were red upholstered booths with square tables and opposing stools with hanging lamps bearing ornate shades about them that bathed light in the room. The ones at the back somewhat raised, and it was there where her aunt Sascha could be found on the days she frequented.

The pub itself was wide, and much of the main floor was devoted towards a sort of haphazard dance floor that was empty at this point.

Across the floor was the centrepiece of the room, a large cabinet of fine dark wood that had been hand-crafted by the Arkwright family. A three sections cabinet of that same cherry wood lacquered to perfection with the left and right sections bearing multiple shelves ever more finer liquors behind an ornate pane of glass that was slightly frosted and bore a simple golden border. The middle section itself hosting the more modest liquors, though it was clear the founders had their tastes. Whiskeys, with a preponderence of Scotch, at the top then you had vodka and tequilas and whom knew what else. All of this behind a large C-shaped bar made of the same cheery wood with several lamp posts with cup-like tops breaking the table, many of the regulars taking up stools along its length, no doubt ready for a good evening's drinking.

At the welcome from Rosie, she raised her hand to wave at the woman with a soft smile. She kept it at that, not wanting to deny Tabby the reason that she had come all this way for, though she kept herself near Tabby just in the event the waifish woman would need the backup.

She didn't know this woman to be fair, but she knew enough to guess what her background was, and she knew Rosie enough to add a fair bit of info to that guess. Suffice to say, she was certain Tabby would have her heart in her throat or be ready to pass out or whatever. The Jaeger family might well have not been the most normal of families, but they were at least tight knit, so she wouldn't say she had the widest breadth of experience in dealing with shaken up families.

But, Tabby needed help, and help she would get. Even if she had to shore up the little waif physically.

Rosie grinned. "Of course, dear. How could I not recognise my darling brother's daughter. Welcome to the Bucks and Dames. In fact, Welcome to Portsmouth." She grinned again then shrugged and added, "Although technically this is Fratton, but who's counting, eh?" She turned and beckoned the three young women to follow her into the quiet corner that was the usual hang-out for "The Kittens" and their partners, also waiving to the bartender to come over. She took a seat in the secluded booth and as the barmaid approached, smiled at her and said "A white wine spritzer for me please, and whatever these three ladies want. On me." Lea might bitch about her giving away the profits, but Rosie did the books and the B&D was doing well enough that a few drinks wouldn't hurt.

Besides, she enjoyed giving her sadistic wife a reason to punish her...!

She quickly pulled her mind out of that particular gutter. "So, what brings you here, Tabitha?"

Romi squirmed at the use of her full name. "Romi...!" she muttered, but the older femme's attention was now on her newly acquired girlfriend. She followed Rosie to the booth at the back of the bar, where she'd never been allowed to sit before. She made sure that her arm was around Tabby all the time, and glared at the few patrons who dared to show an interest. Mine! Not that any of them were really showing that much interest, it was just a paranoid fantasy, but it was an enjoyable one.

Asked what she wanted to drink, her reply was "Guinness, a draught pint please." And she pulled Tabby closer so the blonde was practically sitting in her lap.

With her new friends in hand, close to her, holding her hand, she felt strong, at least until her auntie greeted her, lowkey shamed her father, and then made some awkward small talk about geography. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she'd secretly been hoping that perhaps she might be happy to see her and maybe hug her? She'd been a little girl when it happened, but perhaps she blamed Tabby too, by proxy?

Tears stung her eyes and the urge to turn and run away overcame her, but she was held fast by Romi and by Nele and she felt braver than she was because of this. She blinked away the sting and shook her head, "I just wanted to ask you something, but I'd prefer not to do it with a crowd of onlookers. It's quite private." She said softly, her voice warbling as if she might cry, but she held onto her dignity best she could.

She declined a drink, as she knew she was not allowed to consume alcohol because it was a sin and, above all, unladylike. She peeped when she was pulled so close to Romi, her cheeks flaring bright, "That can't be comfortable..." She hedged, peeking at the bold as brass woman she was practically sitting on.

"Spitfire, a pint please." Nele chimed, before gave a look to Romi, partially consternation, partially exasperation as she squeezed the hand of Tabby.

She got it, Tabby was cute and judging by the fact that she was about to come undone needed support… but she doubted the way Romi was handling her was to anyone's benefit. She wondered if it was a thing with these Pachis, that they were all… colourful.

Her attention though was quickly claimed as she noticed a new figure saunter out from the bar. A well maintained tuff of shortly cut golden hair, well-pressed shirt, suspenders rolling over a rather generous bust and holding up a pair of well pressed slacks. The look admittedly was a common one in the "Bucks and Dames" but the fact that the suspenders had special clasps shamed and "B" and "D" respectively in what Nele would admit was a tad tacky did single out whom the figure was as they were cleaning their wet hands with a rag… and taking a quiet interest in just what was happening as the drinks were being made.

The 'Guvnor', such as she was called, Lea Beaulieu.

Rosie was not necessarily the first to notice the new arrival, but definitely the first to greet her. "Darling, Hey, how did it go?" She left the question hanging, leaving Lea's earlier absence from the bar as a mystery the two of them alone shared. She stood and allowed herself to be kissed, groped and spanked, whatever her mistress was in the mood to do to her in this public place.

"Please meet my niece, Tabitha Meecher, the daughter of Reverend Meecher." Somehow Rosie managed to make the word "Reverend" sound like the worst insult she could possibly imagine... "And I'm sure you know Cornelia, and this delightfully colourful young lady is Ah..." She paused, nodded and continued, "Romi, Ariadne's wayward sister's daughter." She giggled and the asked, "Or is it Ari who's the wayward one? I've never been clear on that."

Romi was about to throw a hissy-fit, but held herself in check, In truth it wasn't that comfy having tabby's buttocks crammed up against her hip. It would have been much better it the cute blonde had sat on her lap. But that wasn't going to happen.. And then Meecher-Beaulieu had been about to use her full name again. But that didn't happen either, so she smiled and nodded,

Rosie wasn't finished talking though. "Girls, this is my wife, owner and quite literal pain in the backside, Lea Beaulieu." She waited until greetings were shared all round, and then smiled directly at Tabitha. "So, what brings you here today, Tabitha?"

The squeeze from Nele was needed, because she was feeling a bit like she'd made a big mistake coming here and, honestly, she wished she'd have just found the telephone number online and called. She watched her aunt move, watched her react when the new comer appeared, and soon realised that this was surely Lea, the woman she had never met, but remembered the name of simply from the fight that had affected her so deeply when she was little.

Tabby lifted her free hand in a pathetic greeting, speechless for the time being as she thought of 'Reverend Meecher' and how viciously angry he'd be when she returned home. She shivered and leaned her head against Romi's shoulder, just for a moment; these two practical strangers were the closest thing to comfort and safety she had in those moments, so she accepted their grace unto herself. That they were there with her meant more than she'd ever be able to say and they didn't even know her. She loved them for that.

Tabby gently shifted to her own seat, but she did stay near the edge of it to remain close to the fearless Romi, her hand still in Nele's, as Rosie asked her what brought her there.

Tabitha's pale gaze lifted, slightly glossy in the ambient lighting, "Um, I w-was actually hoping that maybe I could have a private chat with you, auntie Rosie." She said, looking pallid and a little like she might faint, "I just need some advice and I... well... I think you're the only one that can help me."

And whatever Lea did was very much done as she slipped towards the form of Rosie, wrapping her arms around the waist of her wife, calloused palms brushing along her hips ever so in the process as she lavished a kiss to the cheek of Rosie, holding her close and allowing herself a faint smirk at the jab towards Rosie's brother.

An irony because by marrying Rosie, legally speaking the good 'Reverend' was her brother, and she imagined somewhere in Rosie's mind that she enjoyed the unintended twisting of the knife that meant. Throw in the fact that she came from a different religious sect…

Though she quickly wiped that look from her face as she heard that the rather waifish woman between the niece of her mentor and the rather punky looking woman.

"Think its other way around with Ari, my love." Lea chimed, resting her chin on the shoulder of Rosie as she looked at Tabitha… and waif was right, between Nele and Romi she looked like a nervous and very, very skinny rabbit. Little more than skin and bone and shivering like a leaf, she thought as she waved one of her hands at the three in greeting.

"'Ello." she chimed warmly to the trio, before allowing her wife to continue. There were times for come and dominate a room and her wife, and there were times when she was there to shut up and look pretty. This one, from the vibe in the room, clearly demanded the latter as she listened to the little Bunny.

And when said little Bunny finished speaking, Lea nibbled at the ear of Rosie pensively. "Right, ya heard the Bunny-girl, Nele and Romi, shift. Let's go play some snooker while these two have a bit of a aunt/niece heart-to-heart." The tone of the blonde authoritative as she looked at the two with eyes that brimmed with quiet intensity.

Nele rolled her tongue against her cheek, looking up at the intense look in Lea's eyes that made it clear that refusal was not an option… and she wasn't nearly as 'nice' as her wife in anyway. The eyes of Nele turning to look Tabby and Romi respectively.

"You gonna be alright?" Nele asked, and almost immediately regretted it. Of course she wasn't going to be 'alright', but it was clear that some privacy as well needed.

Romi rolled her eyes at the audacity of this woman ordering her about, but a glance at her girl's face made her decide to do as asked. Nele removed herself from the end of the bench. Tabs was between Romi and the way out. "Okay, fine. Let's go whack some balls..." Her deliberate double entendre made her grin, as she intentionally made a big thing of scrambling across Tabitha, rather than letting the blonde get out of her way. "It's more fun this way!" She whispered in Tabby's ear, then kissed her softly on the cheek, "Good luck!"

She followed the other two to the snooker table, waited until the balls were set up and picked up a cue. "Closest to the baulk line but not over it, breaks..." She placed the cue ball within the D, chalked her cue, lined up and struck the white ball so it ran to the far end, bounced off the top cushion and returned, trickling to a stop about 2cm from the baulk line.

She placed a coin on the side frame of the table, in line with the cue ball. "Right, who's next?"

Meanwhile, Rosie waited until the other three were far enough away and then reached across the table and took Tabby's hand. "Now, Tabitha, dear, how can I be of assistance?"

Bunny-girl, that was not the first time she'd heard something akin to it and the comparison seemed to follow her no matter where she went! She wondered if she looked rabbit-like or maybe she seemed nervous and flighty? She wrinkled her nose a little, but didn't argue with it, just sat there with her back rigid and her eyes down.

When Nele checked on her, the soft green gaze lifted to find her and she nodded, "I think so." She whispered, paler than she had been, but seemingly steadfast in her decision to do this. She took a deep breath, only to startle with a little cry when Romi crawled over her lap, forcing a laugh out of her because the woman was just... outrageous! Wicked! Naughty! And, ultimately, fun... fun wasn't something Tabitha had much of in her life and she appreciated it more than she could say.

She got a kiss then and she quickly wrapped an arm around Romi's neck, hugging her, "Thank you." She whispered into her ear, letting her go quickly after the awkward hug, watching them walk away before turning to look at her aunt.

She took a few breaths, the question hanging on the air once it was asked, and then - with as much decorum as she could muster - the confused, frightened, and conflicted young woman asked.

"How did you know you were gay? Well, are... gay. How did you know?"

A faint curl of her lips, and a glimmer of amusement shone within the eyes of Lea as she watched Romi, while in contrast the eyes of Nele only rolled at the antics of her newfound employee.

Well, at least she knew who to handle around the punk. Either that or she'd be getting some interesting complaints… and well, given her penchant…. That was when Nele's mind dipped into much more spicy territory, and she thanked whatever willpower she had that it didn't show on her face.

The trio quickly relocating outside the snug with Lea leading the pack, hands resting within her pockets as the blonde looked for all the world to be sauntering while Nele kept turning her eyes back at Tabby. She could make some educated guesses about what their conversation would be about, but that as they said was 'none of her business'.

Lea herself quietly (and perhaps contrarily) deferred to Nele, raising her hand out to the silvery-maned young woman to take the next shot as she chalked her own cue.

Nele herself only shrugged her shoulders and made towards the table, chalking her own for a moment before leaning over. The motion serving to accentuate the rather sleek, toned and shapely woman. To say that a certain robustness and muscularity seemed to be a theme with the Jaegers was apt, though Nele was certainly far softer than the butch across the road who was her aunt.

She also moved graceful as both Lea and Romi would be treated to a few of her from behind, legs parted before Nele drove the cue forward, sending the cue ball towards the baulk line with a loud crack. The stark white ball rolling along the felt for a time before finding itself roughly neck and neck with that of Romi's ball, though it was questionably just which of them was the 'better' in that situation.

Lea announced her move with a soft cluck of her tongue as Nele marked her own place with a coin much as Romi had done.

Lea in contrast to Romi and Nele was unquestionably the butchiest, though very much in that sort of 'dapper dandy' way that the blonde carried like a bit of a badge of honour. She place the cue back in it's place, leaned forward and with a loud crack sent the ball rolling along to its final destination just a solitary centimetre from the baulk line.

"Guess that's me then." Lea chimed, fluttering her eyes at the two before casting a glance back towards her lady love and the Bunny-Girl in the snug.

Andromeda smirked as her new boss put a coin down just millimetres short of her own. "Oooh, close!" She grinned and then frowned as Lea's ball trickled to a stop just that tiny bit closer to the baulk line. "Pfeh, beginner's luck," She scoffed. "Okay, Missus dandy pants, your break. But how about we make this interesting?" Romi had a big shit-eating grin on her face, "Pot a ball in the correct sequence and both opponents remove an item of clothing, Give away a penalty, and you remove an item of clothing. What say, you dykes up for it?"

Meanwhile...

Rosie nodded and smiled reassuringly as her niece asked her question. She had a feeling it would be something like that. Unfortunately, she wasn't really sure how much help her answer would be.

"Sweetie, first of all, you need to understand that when I was your age, things were very different. There was no such thing as gay marriage, gay rights were considered second place to racial equality. Don't get me wrong here, without the racial discrimination laws, gay rights would still be in the Stone Age in this country."

She paused and then after a deep breath went on, "But the fact is, I didn't know. I was raised by your grandma, after your grandad died in the Falklands, and she got religion, something that rubbed off on your dad and uncle. And I always assumed that the reason I didn't enjoy having sex was because God was punishing me for doing it outside marriage."

That brought a wry smile to her lips. "And then I met Lea. And there was something there, between us, right from the word go. I don't believe in love at first sight, but that's what it was. To quote The Monkees, I'm a believer. Lea kind-of seduced me, but honestly, she didn't have to try very hard. I mean, I took her back to my place, and we did it on the first date! Yep, I'm a slut!" Rosie laughed and shot a lust-filled glance at her young wife.

"I suppose, looking back, the signs were there. I didn't find men to be attractive, I didn't enjoy sex with the two I did try it with, and I'd always admired the female form. But these things weren't spoken of in the home I grew up in. Hell, sex wasn't spoken of. When I got my first period, I was scared that I was bleeding to death. Fortunately, I was on good terms with the family doctor, and he explained it to me after I made an emergency appointment." She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"So, dear, let me ask you. Do you think you might be gay?" A glance towards the snooker table, "That young punk girl certainly thinks you are. Or maybe she just hopes that you are? Do you find her attractive? Do you imagine yourself naked in bed with either of your two suitors, and how does that make you feel?"

Tabitha did understand that they were generationally separated, she just wanted to know how she knew, more than how it would be perceived. She knew her family would disown her and she knew she'd lose all of her friends, so she just wanted to know if it was real before she blew up her entire life.

She lung to every word her aunt said, her brows pulled together and her eyes damp, nodding a little here and there to show she listened and understood, but she was stone silent while her aunt spoke. That it was Lea that helped Rosie understand her sexuality felt exceptionally romantic and she couldn't help the smile appeared and the comment about being a slut soon after caused a nervous little laugh that sounded almost rusty; laughter was not something Tabby did often.

She quieted soon after, feeling anxiety twisting her stomach until the nausea she always felt returned. Nauseated anxiety was her base emotional state in the last few months. She was nodding again, her fingertips pressed against her sharp cheekbones, her tired and miserable hazel eyes unfocused for a moment as she mulled it all over.

That her auntie's pubescent life was so difficult broke her heart and brought her back into focus, reaching out to gently take her hand to squeeze it; her own a bony little thing that was cool to the touch and a little shaky.

When asked - outright - if she thought she might be gay she felt tears brimming and she looked away to try to hide them, "Yeah." She choked out, her voice an octave higher as she tried so hard not to cry, "Yeah, I'm afraid I do." She turned her head the other way to look at Romy, letting out a nervous giggle, ending on a tearful hiccup.

"I just met her today when I got off at the wrong junction. I find her terribly attractive. And Nele too. I pictured what both of them might look like in the nude." She shrugged weakly, "Maybe I'm a slut too." She laughed hysterically before she covered her face with both of her hands, elbows resting against the table.

Nele gave a dumb-founded look to Andromeda, her face hanging for a moment yet not quite slacking so as to make her mouth open as she looked towards the punk.

"Seriously?" Nele asked, hearing only a warm laugh coming from Lea's lips.

"Hey, I'm game, wouldn't be the first time this lot have seen my bare-naked arse." She gave a soft smack of her lips as she looked over the forms of both Nele and Romi. "And I'll admit, would be nice to see what the Bunny-Girl is gettin'."

Lea made a mental that should she lose, a quick streak over to Rosie and finding a friendly nook to indulge herself to her wife was in order.

If she won….

She gave a pensive look as she threaded the cue through her arms and behind her neck, enjoying the faint pressure as she craned it ever so. Ah well, she'd figure it out.

She pulled the cue down, and took it firmly in her hand as she gathered up the cue-ball. Her eyes darting about the felt expanse to get a measure of each of the balls and where each was placed, in particular where the red balls were.

A soft series of 'tsk' filled the air as the sleek guvnor moved to lean over, and struck the cue ball, watching it zip towards it target and strike the red ball towards the middle, sending it flying into one of the pockets. The thuddy clatter it sinking and quickly collected beneath the table filled the air

Next came a green ball that looked tempting, as Lea struck the cue ball, sending it careening towards her target.

All the while Nele having a quiet feeling in the depths of her gut that she was going to end up the one bare-arsed if this was what Lea could do, whom knew about Romi.

Romi blinked in shock. "Holy fucking fuck-balls! Did you just pot a red on the break? I don't think even Steve Davis ever managed that!"

She shrugged and stripped off her jacket - it was more of a hindrance anyway. The green ball rattled from side to side of the right hand baulk pocket but didn't drop. Of course, the thing about the power-break meant that the red balls were now spread randomly all over the table. Lea had left one lined up beautifully.

Romi cued up and tapped the white ball with just enough backspin to pot the red and wind the ball back onto the green. That went down too, on her next shot, and the cue ball rolled neatly up behind the yellow. "Ha. Snooker!"

Rosie glanced over at the shout from the snooker table. "She owns the place and has nothing much else to do all day, so yeah, she's pretty good..." She murmured to her niece, then shook her head. "Sweetie, you must never be afraid to be who you are. If you're gay, own it. As for being a slut, honestly, there's no such thing these days. Not unless you start sleeping with every woman in the Bucks. If you want to spend the night with either of them, go for it."

She shrugged and added "Or, well, if they're both interested in you, and I think they are, and you want to be with both, you should make sure they are okay with it, but, heck, polycules are a lot more common these days and tend to be accepted. The only thing you have to watch is the bigamy law, cos that's still illegal, so only two of you can marry, and the third has to live with them. But honestly I can't see that being an issue."

Rosie paused and smiled reassuringly. "Sweetie,, if you find women attractive - more attractive than men, then you should act on that, and not be ashamed. And don't worry about your dad, or your uncle Alvin. I'll handle them."

Tabby sniffled, trying not to burst into tears. She felt... lighter? Less burdened.

Her auntie's advice - own it, be gay, do sex! - had her face heating and she fanned at her tears and her blush, letting out a helpless little laugh, because all that had been on her mind lately had been girls and God. Would God still love her if she loved girls? Did she want his love if he made her this way and then hated her? Too many hard questions she'd never get the answer to unless she could find a gay religious figure to talk to, she supposed. Certainly not her father, who she always talked to before now.

"I think they are. They seem to be. Romy is already calling me her girlfriend." She said with a hysterical laugh, ending in a hiccup, "Polycules?" She whispered, brows furrowed in her confusion; she felt like she had a lot to learn about alternative relationships. She pulled her phone out and Googled it, for later reading, before setting her phone on the table.

"I don't find men attractive at all. I've seen exactly one penis - a guy I was seeing for a bit - and I cringed and said 'ew!' before I could stop myself and he got so upset he started crying. I felt terrible." She covered her face with her palms, shaking her head, "Why are penises so ugly and weird?" She asked, muffled by her palms before her hands dropped.

True fear flashed through her blue eyes, her brows furrowed and her chin quivered, "If my dad finds out I'm going to be disowned." She breathed in terror, "What will I do? Where will I go? He still supports me."

The smirk that rose up at Rosie's 'defence' of her made Lea stand just that tad bit more proudly, though the surprise from Romi was still satisfying all the same.

Though apparently the spicy little punk had some measure of skill, even to the point of snookering her!

And here she thought it'd be a boring evening.

"Oi, love!" Lea rang out, as a thought came to her mind, slowly circling the table as she mapped out just how she was going to undo this little snooker. "If she needs a place to stay, tell her we've got plenty of room, would love to have her!"

The offer made loudly, enough for probably a fair few of the patrons to hear the promise. Lea was no stranger to the familial 'issues' around her wife's family, that and understanding the struggles of being not only gay but also not the 'in vogue' sort of gay while also being religious in her own right gave her a rather unique viewpoint to all of this.

Or so she liked to think. She'd certainly had her own experiences with her wife's family, real 'prizes' that lot were. But, she'd married into that family, and in spite of what they might have thought that meant they were entitled to her help when it was needed. Disapproval be damned. If the Bunny was the kid of the brother she was thinking, she imagined there being a lot needing to be done… maybe also keeping some of the razors and anything else sharp locked up while she stayed with them.

Just in case.

Either was, it'd be good to demonstrate that she hadn't made a bad choice coming and seeking her aunt out. Lea smirked though as she looked at both Nele and Romi, having a feeling that her offer of a roof over the Bunny Girl's head will not be needed.

Especially since it was a long way away if she was remembering where Nele's shop was and where Romi was staying these days.

The sound of a cue striking the ball filled the air as Lea loomed over the table, holding the cue at a rather sharp angle, sending the cueball rolling along the felt to strike at a red ball with a clatter. The force of it easily pocketing the ball. "Now, about that little snooker. Yellow." Next, the very same yellow one that she had been snookered behind was sent flying which found it quickly pocketed.

Nele's lips pursing and eyes widening at the sight, looking towards Romi for a moment, and trying her best not to let her… curiosity she'd call it… at just what the punk looked like beneath that all.

Finally, Lea came to the second red ball as she sent the cue ball flying towards it with a loud clack, sending it rolling toward the edge of one of the pockets…

Only for it to stop short of its goal, a loud cluck of Lea's tongue filling the air.

"Bollocks." Lea grumbled, sighing with a shrug as she set the cue upright in her right hand, before flipping up her left hand, palm up to indicate Romi and concede the table for her turn.

Rosie smiled, and then let out a guffaw. "BWAAHA! Yes they are ugly. Even the plastic or rubber ones that some people like to wear are so disgusting to look at. Personally I prefer having my pussy licked. That's called cunnilingus, by the way, and also by the way, that isn't an Irish airline!" That was a joke as old as Aer Lingus, but still funny. "A woman's pussy is much prettier to look at, even straight women will admit that, at least, as long as it's looked after properly. But there are other reasons to be a lesbian, than not liking the look of cocks."

And then she turned serious at the agonised question, opened her moth to answer, only to have her wife beat her to it. Rosie waved an acknowledgement at her wife. "I guess you heard that, sweetie? You can stay with Lea and me for as long as you need to."

She smiled and gripped the hand that was in hers. "And your girlfriends are more than welcome to stay over any time you want to invite them"

She talked on for some time, telling her niece more about her own experiences, in particular about the reason that she no longer believed in the Christian deity.

"So yes, I basically decided that all the so-called miracles were fakes, certainly ones that happen these days and there are probably really good explanations for all the ancient ones too, we just don't know enough about what really happened to work them out."

Just then the other three women came traipsing back over, pulling clothes back on as they came. "Hmm, so who won?" She asked, mischievously.

It was Romi who answered, defiantly. "No idea. I dun' even know what fuckin' game we were playin'. Someone kept changin' the fuckin' rules!" She glared at Lea, then shrugged. "Was fun, though. So, my pretty tib-tab, you all sorted? Shove up, there's a good bunny!" She slid into the booth next to Tabby, then nudged her along to allow Nele to sit on the end, deftly positioning herself in the middle.

"Auntie Rosie!" Squeaked the virginal blonde, her hands hiding her face as said face bloomed scarlet at the words her aunt spoke. A nervous giggle sounded behind her palms as her shoulders trembled, peeking out between long, perfectly manicured fingers to eye her aunt for her scandalous talk and word usage.

Her hands lowered slowly when her aunt's wife spoke up, selflessly offering her space for the aftermath that would come should her father ever find out that she was - and let's face it, she already knew she was - gay. She blinked back tears, nodding helplessly, "Thank you." She managed to wheeze, fingertips swiping at tears that had caught on her lower lashes; cheeks still heated, but now more because of the mention of her 'girlfriends'.

This whole day was a lot, honestly, and she was feeling a little overwhelmed by it; from Romi and Nele to the kindness of her aunts and to finally admitting to herself privately that she was a lesbian. It was a lot to sleep on.

So, when her aunt began to tell her more about her life post-gay awareness, she simply listened quietly and tried her best not to blush too often. She nodded quite often when talk of the church, Jesus and God, and the religion in general came up. She still loved Jesus, but she was certainly questioning the interpretation the church took on it. If Jesus could love everyone, shouldn't that mean he also loved queer folk?

"That makes sense." She finally spoke, meaning the miracles. Science was real, it made sense, and often using the bible as an excuse seemed entirely wrong to her, in truth.

When the others came back she was eyeing up her two, lower lip caught between her teeth as strip snooker nudity was adjusted and soon enough she had Romi back and pressed in close as Tabby gave up space to make room for her. "Yes, I think so. I might stay for a couple days, honestly, just to try to sort my head out before stuff starts to unravel."

With as much confidence as she could muster she gently bent to the side to let her head rest on Romi's shoulder, peeking around her at Nele with a sweet smile, a hand sliding across Romi's lap so she could gather up Nele's hand; she was feeling bolder since talking to Rosie, clearly.

"I can help in the pub." She offered, eyes back onto her aunts, "I don't want to be a freeloader."

"You had fun, so I don't see the problem." Lea retorted, batting her eyelashes in a look of utter cheek as she sauntered over to Rosie, running her fingers through her wife's hair. Her digits gently massaging the scalp as she listened to Tabby speak. "You take all the time you need, home's always open to family."

She gave a slight smirk, a devilish glint in her eye. "And don't be shy to ask for help, I've…" She gave a look down to Rosie. "Well let's say I've had some run-ins with your Dad, I can handle him."

Her eyes watching as Nele moved to follow Romi. The younger woman definitely a stark contrast from Sascha that was for sure, but it seemed she had the usual Jaeger taciturn quality. She wondered how that'd work in this burgeoning dynamic, though it was clear Romi was a bit of a human battering ram.

The suggestion of helping in the pub though made the lips of Lea purse, looking down to Rosie. Domme she was, and definitely the proprietor… but Rosie had far more say on the little Bunny.

"Well, I'd be happy to have ya, but uh…" Lea gave a sheepish smile. "Not sure if you'd be up for it, don't let the fact we're all girls here deceive ya, a fair few of the butches and some of the femmes here put some blokes to shame with how rowdy they can be." Lea chuckled at the next though, though she especially watched the look of protectiveness dawn on Nele's face. "Mind you, fun to throw them out." Lea cleared her throat, looking down at Rosie "Maybe you'd like a bit help your way, love? Been meaning to get you an assistant."

"Aye, but I still don't want to be a freeloader," She reiterated, "Or overstay my welcome!" She said with a faint tint to her cheeks, "And you shouldn't have to handle him just because I'm darkening your doorstep. That'd be a cruel fate when you're being nothing but kind to me." She muttered, rubbing her fingertips over her forehead with a pinched look of distress as her tummy churned uncomfortably. She'd selfishly come here, not once thinking about the repercussions for her auntie Rosie and Lea. She stiffened visibly, back to being ramrod straight when she'd just started to relax into the environment.

She was glad she wasn't hyperventilating, as that would just make things worse, and she concentrated on breathing gently through her nose so it made no sound, letting her belly extend and then letting out the deep breath through her slightly bowed lips. She'd read online that this helped with anxiety; she couldn't be 100% sure it was helping, though.

She managed to tune back into the conversation, her body stiff beside Romy's and her smile stiffer still, though she was trying hard to be present as her brain seemed to go static-y and chaotic while she pictured her father kicking down the door, crucifix in hand, damning all these lovely ladies to the pits of hell. She clutched Romy's hand under the table, tears burning the backs of her eyes, but she blinked them away and gave a slight nod.

"Yes, anything. I'm not sure I'll end up staying that long, in truth." She backtracked, just the thought of her father putting the fear of God into her - just like he wanted - and now she shook like a leaf, pale and anxious, looking at her aunt while she clung to Romy out of sight. She was so confident, so free, so bold, and Tabitha wished for any little bit of that to rub off on her in that moment so she didn't start ugly crying in public.

She needed to get out of there, she needed fresh air, she needed to hide in her car, but she was trapped and she was picturing all the ways her presence there was going to mess up the peaceful life of her aunt; all she could hear in her head was that fight between her aunt and her father that still gave her nightmares.

"Could you scoot out for a second, please? I need to use the ladies room." Sorry for lying, Jesus, but I gotta get out of here!

Rosie shrugged at Lea's comment. "I'm fine, I've got Tina in the office, who is still spying on me for your dad, by the way Tabby. She thinks I don't know and has been doing it for the past 8 years! But I think Tina is probably a very good reason why you shouldn't work for me. Even if you only helped out with my work here, she'd see your name on the payroll, and it would go straight back to Reverend Meecher! Not that I can't handle my brothers, but seriously, I really don't want to put you through that, Tabitha, dear."

Romi, meanwhile, couldn't help but notice something was up, and when Tabby asked to be excused, she nodded and nudged the chippy owner. "Hey Nell-nell, shift yer arse, let the lady get up." She slid out of the booth and offered a hand to assist Tabitha.

Then the punk-girl rolled her eyes and announced, "Actually, I could do with a piss, me-self. I'll come with ya," She shrugged and followed Tabby towards the ladies' room - not that there were an actual men's room in the Bucks & Dames - that was near the entrance.

 

[AmethystLady]

As soon as they were out of sight she caught up to her gal and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, What's up? And don't tell me 'nothing' or you're 'fine'. I'm no fuckin' guy, I know when a woman is upset, 'cos I'm one too, okay?" She held the door open and followed Tabby out into the chill night air. "Talk to me? I'm not tryin' to pressure you into anything, Tabs, but you're cute an' I like ya, an it was fate that brought us together. You don't wanna be my girl, that's fine. Say the word an' I'll leave you alone. But I reckon we could at least have a try, yeah?"

Lea's eyes silently watched Tabitha, orbs of blue slowly scanning along as she made to flee towards the 'restroom', Nele herself seeming almost reluctant to allow the girl to flee for but the tiniest of moments, before yielding.

She was a Jaeger alright, taciturn to a fault.

It was almost cute that the little bunny thought she was being subtle or deceptive when Lea and probably everyone else at that table could have seen the stress resonating off her like a pebble dropped into still water.

She held her tongue.

Being at that age and going up against your folks wasn't exactly an easy thing, and when they came in 'Hellfire and Brimstone' like the Meechers (whose beliefs she took her own deep issues with in terms of the actual content and presentation, but that's neither here nor there).... well, easy to see how a bunny like this would have been made.

She quickly noted the form of Nele rising up, moving to follow after both Tabby and Nele with hands in her pockets, making more a saunter than anything. The fingers of Lea moving to caress the mane of her wife as she leaned down to plant a kiss to her crown.

"Think the lasses are gonna be a while."

Nele's skin tingled as she felt the cold against it, though to look at her one would think it could have been nigh arctic and she'd be able to shrug it off as if it were a chilly spring day. Her pale silvery hair fluttered in the wind and those eyes of hers locked upon Romi and Tabby.

"Don't think its you that's the problem here, Romi." Her tone casual and deadpan. "Her da's one of them hellfire types, inni?" She rolled her tongue against her cheek as she looked at Tabby. "Ain't so easy for everyone to just go 'fuck it' like you do, Romi." She looked towards the Pachis in question. "Sides, who said I wasn't pitching my tent at Camp Tabby."

That her father had a spy was … just … messed up! The whole situation was confusing the sheltered young woman and she was pretty sure she was having a wee panic attack and she simply couldn't breathe. She just nodded at her aunt and scooted into Romi a bit more, trying to get free of the booth where she was trapped. When the two women shifted out she nearly clawed her way out of the booth and ran-walked out of the bar toward the restroom, her hand clutching at her chest as her lungs burnt and her eyes stung with tears.

Just a quick cry in the ladies and she'd be fine! She often locked herself in places to have panic attacks! She should probably be worried she was so often having panic attacks, but she tried not to think about it too hard. Romi had followed her, though, which was not going to help her have her freak out in private and she whined a little when she caught up and stopped her from fleeing outside which is where she'd turned toward when she realised she wasn't going to be alone.

She took sharp, fast breaths and tried to smile, but tears had gathered on her lashes and she felt the world closing in on her as she turned to face the punk woman once she'd been steered outside. She took a breath, ready to speak, then she burst into tears and practically fell forward into Romi, wrapping her arms tightly around her before sobbing into her neck. It'd been an intense day for her and she'd simply reached her breaking point.

When Nele appeared an arm reached out and pulled her in too and then she had her face smushed between them, clinging to both women as her knees quivered and their strength held her up, her arms clutching them to her.

It took her a couple minutes to regain some semblance of grace and soon she had her cheek resting against Nele's shoulder, her fingers gently curled into Romi's hair to be sure she remained close, "Yeah..." she hiccupped, "...super hellfire." She whispered.

Her red rimmed eyes closed, but her body more relaxed than she'd been all day now that she was basically squished between them. They smelled good and they were soft and she felt safe, "I came here to talk to my aunt about her queerness because my dad disowned her when I was little and then when they started pressuring me to get engaged to a guy I am friends with, I freaked out because... ew." she shuddered, then held a little tighter to her girls, "And I needed to talk to my aunt about... how she knew she was gay. Because I was pretty sure I was gay too." She whispered, "I still live at home. But I can't pretend anymore so I don't think I can go back."

This was ... Uncomfortable? ... Embarrassing? ... Upsetting? Romi honestly didn't know what to call the emotion she felt as Tabby collapsed into her and burst into tears, then reached out and grabbed Nele too., Her arms went around the girl, holding her tight. Then one slid out and around Nele.

She was, unusually, at a loss for something to say. There-there was meaningless. Don't cry was worse, because telling someone who was crying not to was, in Romi's opinion, cruel and insensitive. But what else dis one say...?

And then, memory stirred, of a webcomic se had read not so long ago, about a transgender girl in high-school. And one scene where the heroine was comforting her girlfriend after the girlfriend was abandoned by her mother...

"It's okay, you cry if you need to. Crying is good for you, sweetheart. Take as long as you need."

And she just held on, allowing Tabby to cry, a quiet but challenging look at Nele daring the chippy owner to contradict her.

A look that Nele met with an almost stoic quality as a hand rose up to gently rub the back of Tabby, while also pulling both of them in closer together, ever mindful of the cold around them (to say nothing of the fact that Tabby was effectively skin and bone and not exactly the best at retaining heat)

"She's right." Nele replied as she noticed motion out of the corner of her eye.

A towering form of muscle, ink and a crop of silvery hair not unlike herself clearly having taken note of the little scene, but as Nele laid eyes upon one Sascha Jaeger she gave a faint shake of her head. Lea was one thing, Tabby would probably have a heart attack if she was introduced to her Aunt in this condition.

She returned her attention to Tabby. "Know you're probably feeling a little adrift right now, that's very natural. World's looking as though its all turned on its head and you've got nowhere to go." The voice of Nele measured and soft. "But you know you've got options. You can stay with Lea and your aunt, could always stay with me." Nele suggested, looking towards Romi. "Maybe even Romi can offer up a room, your Auntie's fairly nice..."

To say a few other things. Nele added mentally, remembering a few times she had seen the good Professor 'demonstrate her less agreeable side' to someone who annoyed her. "Fact is, you're not just off on your own here."

If Tabby could read Romi's mind she'd tell her that it was mostly embarrassing, but mostly because she wasn't one to make a scene in public. She squeezed a little tighter to the woman who had been flirty with her all day and for the first time in a very, very long time she felt... safe?! She pressed in further, huffing the sweet scent of Romi into her lungs like it was a drug because it felt like one; it was making her head clear a little and she relaxed as soon as Nele was against her too.

It was only a couple more minutes before she quieted, much of her weight on Romi now - not that she had much weight - and she'd adjusted herself so that she was the sandwich filling between her sexy slice of bread girlfriends. She let out a borderline hysterical giggle at this thought, but she wasn't ready to let go just yet.

Their words were so comforting, so kind, so supportive and she simply wasn't used to that; her life was criticism and prayer.

She took a few breaths in before finally straightening up, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of the coat she'd never actually taken off and then used a dry part of the sleeve to wipe Romi's neck with a shy peek up at her with red rimmed eyes, "Sorry, cried all over your pretty neck." She hiccupped before turning back to look at Nele with soft eyes.

"I don't want to get Lea and Rosie in trouble, honestly." She whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Nele's cheek before blushing and looking away meekly, "I... I'll stay with one of you, if I can, please?"

Romi noticed the impressive looking crone across the street, noticed the shared glance and subtle signal that passed between Nele and the older woman. The young punk smiled secretively. Wouldn't mind a bit of that myself... but then a cute girl, about her own age, came out of the workshop, wearing dark blue overalls, dark hair in soft curls that fell to just above her shoulders. She walked up behind the older woman and wrapped her in her arms.

Romi shrugged and turned her attention back to what she seriously hoped was a developing Ménage à trois.

"Hmm... Yeah, no. I mean Aunty Ari takes in waifs and strays all the time, but she's been screaming blue murder at me to get a job, and think if I brunged a Gee-Eff home, fer more'n a one-night stand, she might decide to kick me out an' keep you instead, ha ha!"

She shrugged, then glanced at Nele. "So, um. Any chance you can take me in as well, Nell?" That elicited a giggle. Then a serious question. "No, seriously, I... know we only just met, but I kinda want to get to know both of ya better, yeah?" She grinned and glanced back at the seriously age-gapped couple who were now apparently canoodling in public under the arc lights outside the bike workshop.

"Lets go back in, yeah? It's fuckin' cold out 'ere."

As the headed in, She nudged Nele. "Who's that? Relative of yours?"

 

[AmethystLady]

The request struck Nele offguard, Tabby was one thing… but Romi was certainly another… but given she was firmly putting her foot into Meecher business… what was the harm in getting wrapped up Pachis business? The Professor was at least reasonable and the fact was that she'd be giving Romi that job that the Prof was 'screaming blue murder' for.

Seemed as though she'd be opening up a sort of shelter for young dykes with challenging families… or was it more a bordello? She asked, smirking at herself as she shook her head at the thoughts that were racing through her head.

This isn't the start to your own little harem. The taciturn silvery maned woman mused.

"Sure, why not?" Nele asked rhetorically, moving in with the two only to feel the nudge from Nele, arching her eyebrow as she looked towards where Romi was indicating. "That's my Aunt Sascha, you wantin' to meet 'er?" Nele asked.

 

[Labyrinth]

Tabby let out a borderline hysterical laugh before she hiccupped, her fingertips flicking tears off of her lashes before wiping beneath each eye because she'd surely cried off her mascara at that point and she must look a hot mess. Poor Nele! She was being inundated. As they made their way back in she wrapped an arm around the woman's waist and rested her cheek on her shoulder; an apologetic sort of walking-cuddle-hug.

As the other two spoke of Nele's auntie, she stayed quiet and just leaned against her companion until they were back to their table and only then did she let go, taking up her napkin once she'd scooted in to gently wipe her eyes free of her smudged makeup, leaving her otherwise fresh faced. She took a deep breath and gathered up the menu that'd been left behind.

She wanted something sweet and she'd already fallen off the wagon; in for a penny, in for a pound!

"Nele?" She asked, her voice slightly rounded after her crying, "Do you have room for three in your place?"

 

[Chrystal Dark]

Romi glanced back at the big butch silver-haired older woman. She shuddered. Meet the Jägermeister? Frankly, she'd rather eat her own cooking... for a month... She was a terrible cook! "Hmm. I'll think about it. Hmmm..., thought about it. Nope. Thanks all the same, but I'll pass. Besides, it'd be a shame to interrupt their little PDA, hmm?"

She followed the other two back into the club, sulking just a little because Tabby was giving all her attention to Nele.

That got her thinking. Nel-ee, Tab-ee, Rom-ee... That was horrible. "I think I want a new nickname," She muttered as she sat down on the end of the bench. "Call me Meda, or Drom."

She sighed, slipped out of the booth ad headed to the bar. "Pint of Spitfire, please?" Because she was getting herself a drink, not having to drive anywhere - not having a driving licence, who needs to drive when you live in London with its great public transport network, congestion charging and low emission zones? And she fancied a pint! - But because of that she missed the kitten, asking Nell about having room for three.

She also missed the answer. She arrived back at the table with her pint in her hand and a frown on her face.

 

[AmethystLady]

Nele couldn't help the sympathetic look that dawned on her face in the wake of not only Tabby's crying, but also a faint smirk when she saw the level of raw, blantant 'nope' radiating from Romi.

*Well, at least she wouldn't have to worry about Romi trying to chat up her *Tante*." Though that thought made Nele's features twitch quite handily. She did not want to think about that!

Though she did miss what Romi muttered about as she went to get a Spitfire.

"Should be room enough if you don't mind sharing with Romi." Nele chimed. She also imagined that was a state of affairs that the punky woman did not mind at all.

Though, given her handsiness… there was a possibly for three in a bed. As she looked down at Tabby, part of her found a sort of amusing irony in that. The repressed young dyke… and her first time is a threesome.

Though she had to admit, she wasn't quite sure of how she felt about that… for now.

 

[Labyrinth]

"Drom." The blonde giggled, biting at her lower lip, eyes falling to the curve of 'Drom's' arse as she wandered away, only to look ceilingward as if to apologise to Jesus for being such a huge bum loving dyke. She took a few breaths and then settled her gaze onto Nele with a little smile that was struggling to reach her eyes.

"I don't mind." She murmured shyly, eyes averted and brows gently furrowed as she actively tried not to think about sharing with Romi!

"Do you live far?" She asked, absently reaching up to pluck a stray hair off of Nele's shoulder, brushing the spot clear soon after. She didn't mind terribly one way or another, she was just curious about where she'd be rooming for the foreseeable future given her dread about going home.

 

[AmethystLady]

"From here? Ya. Have a flat above the shop that you were in, have two rooms, fairly well sized. It's not too far from the main road as you saw and when its not pouring its actually a fairly nice walk about the place." Nele explained as she watched Romi return… or was it Drom now?

Personally she didn't get the punky dyke's newfound issue, but that wasn't her business… yet. "So, figuring unless you're wanting to stick around and drink Drom, might get back into the cars slipping out all quiet like 'fore Tabby's auntie decides that she wants to keep her." Nele couldn't help the faint smirk that came to her lips.

She wagered Tabby never had anyone fight over her before.

 

[Chrystal Dark]

Andromeda winced. "Gods and goddesses, I hate my name!" She blurted out,

It was the main reason she was a tattooed punk atheist, and a decent part of the reason she knew she was gay. Although in fact that last part, while a discovery rather than a choice, had probably done more to get back at her strict Greek Orthodox parents than any of the others.

Andromeda was a pretty name to be sure, and when she was younger she'd loved it. But it was four syllables, and everyone shortened it, mostly to Ann, or Andy. She'd also been called Android, And, Ampersand (she's considered formally adopting that and signing her name "&", but it was too much like hard work).

She kept trying different combinations, but none ever sounded right. "Ugh. Okay, this has to be sorted if we're going to be a proper throuple." She shook her head. "We can't all have names ending in '-ee'. So how about 'Rom' for me, 'Nel' for Cornelia, (Unless you'd prefer 'Corn'? Snigger), and Tigger, for Tabitha... Or 'Tab', I guess...?"

That settle the matter. "Okay, let's go back to the Anus of Albion, where the hail never ceases, the summers are bleak, and the winters are like a scene from a disaster movie!" A soft giggle followed her condemnation of Hayling Island. She downed the rest of her beer far too quickly, belched loudly. "I'm not driving!"

 

[Labyrinth]

"Aw. I like your name." Tabby whispered softly, reaching out and pressing her cool fingertips just above Andromeda's left breast as if to touch her heart and also maybe her boob just a bit.

"It's very... sci-fi meets femme fatale. At least you don't sound like you were named after a fat, angry cat." She giggled a little, then blushed and withdrew her hand, soon slipping out of the booth to stand, her fingers lacing into Nele's to bring her out too.

"Rom. Nel. Tab. Everyone gets a syllable and no one is named after a cartoon tiger with ADD." She grinned a little and soon had Rom's hand in hers too, leading them both toward the exit behind her, though she briefly let go to snag her auntie into a tight hug with a promise she'd be back soon. After that they were out of the pub and into the chilly, rain slicked night.

Back to her car she turned to look at them with a little smile, "Can you go with Nel, please? I'm gonna call my dad on the way back to let him know I'm going to be away for a little while and I really don't want you guys to witness that." She shuddered, hugging herself soon after. "I'll follow you guys back so I don't get lost again." She whispered, looking at least two shades paler now knowing what she was going to do on her drive back.

 

[AmethystLady]

Whom died and made you the Queen? Nele, or rather 'Nel' now, thought as she looked at Rom, and then to Tab whom somewhat resolved this 'matter' in something of a diplomatic way.

She could see this one would be a degree of trouble… but then again, she did like trouble in its own way. Especially when wrapped in such a deliciously punky form. She all but had to restrain the smirk as she let a few… fanciful thoughts ring through her mind at just what possibly she might do to demonstrate 'discipline' to Rom and how fun it would be.

But, she digressed as her attention turned to Tab… and pursed her lips again. The blonde's father was clearly a source of much bother in her life… and she'd rather have avoided subjecting the clearly traumatised and frightened little waif to more.

But still, whom was she to tell her not to face the lion?

She gave a short nod to Tab, and moved to swat at the arse (and lovely it was) of Rom. "Come along then." She slipped past and exited out of the pub, a wave thrown at Sascha whom had seemingly finished her break and was heading back inside. Her eyes not at all missing the gaggle of little femmes in the window casting looks that could have only been called longing towards the elder butch.

Ah, her Tante had unique problems… suppose she did as well.

She returned to her car, the slam of the doors serving as a final sound before they were once again enveloped in that lovely warmth. The car turned on in short order as she began to drive out from the lot, keeping one eye of the rear view from time to time as the made their way back.

For a night to remember, she'd hope.

 

[Chrystal Dark]

Rom raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" She asked softly, but then shrugged. "Okay, see you back at the chippy."

She turned away, then squeaked as her backside was slapped. "YEEP! What the fuck?" But she wasn't annoyed or even upset, really. The swat was playful, and Rom was in a playful mood too. As Nel drove, Rom laid a gentle hand in the blonde's lap, palm down.

Fingers curled casually down between the diver's legs. Rom was not looking at what she was doung. Rather she was gazing out of the window as the industrial estate that used to be Portsmouth Airport slid past on the left.

She let out a soft sigh, then shrugged. "I don't feel good about letting the tabby-kitten alone in her car. Suppose her dad talks her into going home? Or suppose she gets distracted and has an accident?" She turned to look at Nel, briefly, then looked forward through the windscreen. "Anyway, assuming she does come home with us, is your bed big enough for three?"

She giggled and squeezed gently with her right hand, then took it away.

 

[Labyrinth]

Tabitha nodded with a forced smile, standing there watching them until they were safely buckled into Nel's car, then turning to get into her own so she could follow them back as not to get lost again. Once they were on the road she took a deep breath and prodded her phone's screen where she'd clipped it to the dash, the ringing filling the car through the bluetooth.

"Tabitha! Where are you?!" Barked her father's voice, projecting to the back of the church despite just being on the phone; he always talked like that and it made her shoulders tighten up immediately. She took a shaky breath and expelled it; white knuckling on the steering wheel.

"Father. I'm vi-" She grit her teeth, blinked back tears, and finished, "Visiting auntie Rosie."

The silence was as bad as his yelling and it went on for so long she had to check to see if it had disconnected. "Father?" She pressed, waiting for the yelling, for the threats about Jesus not loving her if she remained where she was, but when he spoke it was with an unnerving quiet that made Tabitha's stomach cramp.

"Why would you be doing such a thing, Tabitha?"

And then she was at a crossroads; turn left and lie, which was a sin... or turn right and confess her feelings, which were also a sin.

But Tabitha had never lied to her father before, though she didn't want to come out over the phone. She blinked back tears, shaking so badly that she had to fight to stay in her lane, eyes on the tail lights ahead of her, comforted to know Nel and Rom were in that very car and they would comfort her however this was about to end.

"I needed to ask her something." She evaded pathetically.

"And what did you ask her?" His eerily calm voice sounded.

Tabitha took a steeling breath and said with as much power as she could manage, "How she knew she was a lesbian."

She could practically hear his gritting teeth through the phone as he hissed out, "Why?"

Tabitha wanted to close her eyes, but couldn't as she was driving so she just squinted a tad and choked out, "Because I'm a lesbian."

Silence.

Silence.

Then the tone of a call being ended.

When she tried ringing back, multiple times, it rang out and then it stopped ringing which told her he'd turned his phone off.

By the time they reached their destination she was dissolving, carefully putting her car in park before bursting into tears as she clutched the steering wheel as if it would bring her comfort.