(no subject)

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

WHO: Mairead O'Sullivan [NPC] and Clio (bits of Nicholas)
WHAT: Solace
WHEN: Tuesday night
WHERE: Clio's house



It was understandable that her parents had to deal with a lot of stress since moving from Ireland to America. It was even understandable that sometimes they didn't deal with the stress in the best ways. What Mairead had trouble dealing with was the increasing amount of time her parents spent screaming at each other.

Spending time with Patrick during the day helped, though Mairead had never spoken about her parent's situation with him. It gave her a chance to have some solace, but the nights got worse and worse until Mairead hear glass shattering and her mother screaming. She froze and her eyes widened and for a moment she didn't even breathe. When her there was another crash and her father swore, Mairead was sure neither of them were too injured.

She was also sure she didn't want to stick around. Instead she grabbed her coat and climbed out of her window and down the fire escape to the alleyway below. It was dark and probably not really all that safe for a fifteen year old girl to be wandering in the city alone. Being at home right now wasn't all that safe at the moment either. Not wanting to just aimlessly walk around the city by herself, Mairead headed somewhere she knew she'd he safe.

In twenty minutes she was knocking on Clio's door and hoping that nine thirty wasn't too late to show up.

Comments

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

Clio had just finished putting Ella to bed, and was about to try and coax Nicholas out of his room to watch television with her. She let him take his time to tell Patrick if he wished, but she wasn't letting him become a hermit either. She knew how bad that could be.

Not expecting anyone she frowned at the door, then glanced at her phone. No message from Patrick to let her know he'd be coming over, so it wasn't that. Her worry increased when she opened it and saw Mairead. "Oh love come in." Gently she pulled the girl inside, wondering what had happened to bring her here. "You alright?"

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Mairead smiled weakly at Clio for letting her come over. She had only met Clio once, but Patrick trusted her and so that meant Mairead could. "Hi. I...I would have gone to Patrick's, but I don't know where he lives and I could have called him but I don't have a mobile-" Mairead sighed and she wrapped her arms around herself. "My parents are throwing things at each other and I didn't want to be there to hear it. I don't want to intrude but can I stay here tonight?"

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"Never intruding." She smiled and guided Mairead inside, closing the door behind her and sitting her down."You're free to stay here but you'll have to use my bed." she didn't mind using the couch at all. "I have a friend staying here for a little bit, and he's using the guest room."

She sat down beside her, "But do your parents know? They'll worry. You can use my phone to call them if you like?" She wouldn't push, but she could understand the worry of a parent, being one herself. "And would you like something?"

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Mairead shook her head to calling her parents. "They won't notice I'm gone," Mairead admitted. "They don't really notice me much at all these days and I know why, but it's still banjaxed." She heaved a heavy sigh as she tried not to cry.

After a moment, she shrugged, "what do you have?"

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

She hoped that was right. She'd still text Patrick, later, to make sure he'd be aware of this. "I know how that feels. It's never nice." She set her hand on the girl's shoulder, unsure if she'd want more then that.

"Anything and everything. Tea to hot chocolate. I have some of dinner left over too, if you're hungry. And feel free to turn on the television or something, just keep it down a bit. Ella's asleep. You'll meet her tomorrow if you like."

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Mairead did want more than that. She turned to hug Clio tightly, clinging for a moment before she let go and was a little bashful at having done that.

"Heh...actually- Dinner might be nice? And hot chocolate? I'd like to meet Ella tomorrow. I like babies."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

She returned the hug just as tightly, letting the girl cling as much as she wanted before releasing her with a smile. "Okay I can do that." Smiling she motioned Mairead to follow and took her into the kitchen, easily heating up the left overs and starting on the hot chocolate.

"Have a seat. And she likes people so you're lucky."

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Mairead sat down and she watched Clio potter around. "Thanks. They've been fighting all night long and apparently that was more important than dinner," she said, looking miserable.

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"I'm sorry." She gave Mair a worried look, "does that happen often?" When the food was heated enough she set the plate in front of the girl. "Here you are. I fyou want something else let me know. I have plenty."

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

She pulled the plate towards herself and she took several wolfing bites before she nodded. "Yeah," she admitted. "They didn't used to, but they are really mad at each other all the time now and they hardly notice I'm there ever."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

She couldn't say much more then sorry and she didn't want the girl to think Clio pitied her, rather then had sympathy. "Okay. Well I'd like to let Patrick know you're here. Is that okay?"

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

"Of course," she nodded, inhaling more of the food. "I don't mind if he comes over if you want him here. He knows my parents, maybe he can make them stop being so horrible."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"I'm sure he'd try." She let Mairead eat and went to her phone, giving Patrick a text then walking to her guest room to let Nicholas know of the girl.

[amending.insanejournal.com]

Nicholas glanced up as Clio entered. He was using his laptop to search for places he could volunteer to try to absolve himself from the things he had done. "Clio? Is everything okay, you look worried."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"Understatement," she glanced to the living room before explaining. "One of Patrick's clients is here. Apparently she slipped out because her folks had a bad argument. I gave Patrick word but you needed to know too. She's not doing well."

[amending.insanejournal.com]

Despite everything, Nicholas still cared greatly for people and a poor girl who had fled from her house because her parents were bitching at each other sounded a lot like his childhood. "Damn. Do- do you think I could do anything to help?"

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

She smiled because that was why she was helping Nicholas. He was such a nice person, really. So much like Patrick. "I don't know. She doesn't know, about me, so it's hard to explain I know what she feels like without it getting complicated. But maybe you could talk to her? I don't want her to think it's her fault."

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Nicholas rose and he crossed the room to pat Clio's shoulder just for a tiny moment before withdrawing his hand. "I'll try."

He followed Clio back out into the kitchen where Mairead was finishing her dinner. She looked up at him and her eyes grew wide. "...hi?" she asked, totally frozen.

"Hi, I'm Clio's friend Nicholas."

Mairead turned bright pink and she ducked her head, clearly attracted to him, "Mairead."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

At least he appeared to be getting better. And he was coming out of the room. That was a little something at the very least.

She followed him and watched the two, saying nothing and not even smiling. She wouldn't want to embarrass Mairead. "Nicholas is staying until he straightens a few things out. He also knows what you're going through." She walked so she could sit next to the young woman. "I figured you might like that. I don't really understand."

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

She nodded and then glanced Nicholas over before she said, "so your parents were shiteheads sometimes too?"

Nicholas smiled and he took a seat so he could see Mairead. "Yes, sometimes they were. And it took a long time for me to realise that wasn't my fault. And I couldn't fix them either."

Mairead put her fork down and she nodded. "Sometimes I could kick 'em in their shins but I don't reckon that'd help much."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

That, she knew how it felt. She had that every day with her father, but Zeus may just take that a little worse then how she meant it. Or wouldn't appreciate it. When she finished making the cocoa she set a mug in front of the two and then took a seat.

[shamrocked-.insanejournal.com]

Mairead took hold of the mug and she drank deeply. It warmed her from within and she smiled a little. "Thanks for giving me somewhere to escape to," she said to Clio.

"Having a safe place can be priceless. Mine used to be my best friend's house."

Mairead frowned a little when she said, "Clio and Patrick are my only friends."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"Always." She hardly minded. She was just glad Mairead had known to come here. She gave Nicholas a look then. "Still is you know. And I'm quite honored to be your friend."

[amending.insanejournal.com]

Nicholas' look was slightly hangdog, but he kept most of his attention on Mairead. "I can be your friend too, if you'd like."

Mairead blushed, but she nodded. "Yeah, okay!"

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

It was cute and obvious and she said nothing. The girl could use a bit of normal things. "See, making friends like mad. I'll get you something to wear for tonight and wash your clothes. What would you like for breakfast." she glanced to Nicholas, "and you?"

[amending.insanejournal.com]

"Pancakes?" Mairead asked cutely.

"Pancakes sounds delicious," Nicholas agreed. "I can even help."

[famedhistory.insanejournal.com]

"Wonderful. Pancakes it is." Grinning she rose from her spot to go find Mairead something to wear. She was pretty sure she had something laying around for the girl.