Vivamus, Moriendum est (Rorschach x oc)

34. Take a Chance on Me

Mary's P.O.V.

We ended up at a department store called Meier and Frank's. It certainly was no Gimbels or Bonwit Teller like Dior had warned but it was still nice. Dior (whom I had tried calling Elizabeth, but she seemed even more offended by that than the horrid nickname James had given her) would not let us leave until we had scanned the each and every corner of the store. I had tried on hats, jewelry, longue wear, skirts, pants pantsuits, every type of shoe the list was endless.

Finally, she seemed satisfied enough to bring us over to the check out. I felt a bit embarrassed as I hoisted a mountain of merchandise over the counter. I watched in horror as the little number on the register climbed higher and higher. It was a good five minutes before the last item had been rung up. I looked at the final cost and nearly fainted. Years of shopping with Irene at much nicer stores and we had never come anywhere close to spending this much.

I pulled Dior to the side and tried to explain I couldn't accept all this, but she just laughed it off.

"James expects us to look nice, doesn't he? It takes some pounds to do that he can fork over a few."

"Dior-this is too much. I-"

"Don't worry about it." With that she sauntered back over to the register and happily handed over the cash. The salesclerk appeared more aggravated by the second but eased up a bit when she realized we would pay after all. 

Just like that we were off on our way with a quick stop to a nice cafe on the edge of town.

Dusk had settled when we finally pulled back into the long shady drive to the ranch. As Dior put the truck in park, I awkwardly began gathering up all the packages shoved into the cabin with us.

"Oh, don't worry about those the stableboys got them." Dior informed me.

"Stableboy?" I repeated daftly. Still, it felt weird for someone to bring all this up without me at least helping a bit, so I gathered up the packages that had been on my lap. Only for them to be taken from my hands as I stepped out of the truck. A boy a bit younger than me who looked to be the spitting image of the porch man stood before me. His hair was notably shorter than the man's though. 

"Oh, uh thank you." I said.

The boy gave a curt nod and reached around me picking up about four more packages from inside the truck.

"You don't have to-I"

"It's, alright Mary get inside." Dior called from the porch, "Thanks Akikta!"

"Yes, thank you." I backed away and ran after Dior.

"Akikta is one of Tala's sons. Nice boy, they're all so quiet though." Dior explained. Ah, Tala that sounded familiar. That's the porch man's name! Oddly, enough no one had really formally introduced themselves to me yet. James and Roger's names had only just started to stick. 

Tala poked his head out from the kitchen. "Dinner is ready. Mary! You're up and about maybe tonight's the night you finally join us?"

Dior had already made her way to the dining room. She kissed James' cheek before sitting down to the right of him. I was wary of joining them. Especially after Dior had spent an hour's car ride warning me about him. Yet she kissed his cheek and sat beside him as if the talk had never happened. Roger was on the other side of the table, facing me. He gave a cheeky smile. I was at the base of the stairs deciding whether I'd go up or not. Then my stomach rumbled. The pastry stop had been a while ago now and it had only been one small pastry. 

"Alright sure." I conceded going over to the table. Roger patted the seat beside him. I went and took it. To his left was the redhead, still dressed in flannel and her hair braided down her back. And on the other side of her was a boy younger than even Dakota another spitting image of Tala his hair long and dark as well. 

As I sat down Akikta ran in with all the shopping, he bolted right up the stairs with them. No impedance whatsoever, impressive.

"Akikta! Dinner is on the table! Put those away and come down alright!" Tala called up to him.

A loud, 'yes pa' echoed back down the stairs.  

Tala carried a large pot over with over mitts over his hands and placed it on the table.

"Tonight, is succotash." He announced with a smile taking a seat at the head of the table.

"Sounds lovely." I said with a small smile. Honestly, any homecooked meal sounded wonderful no matter what it was at the moment. 

James had had his head down this whole time, but now his cold gray eyes lifted and stared directly at me. I found his gaze unnerving. I was grateful I didn't have to sit near him but having that cold gaze fixed on me wasn't much better.

"It's an improvement." He said, eyes fixed on my face before turning away and staring out at presumably nothing. His comment was ignored, Akikta joined the table sitting at the other side of his father across from the little boy who I was willing to bet was his brother. 

Everyone then joined hands, quickly I accepted Roger's hand that he had extended out to me. Then everyone closed their eyes, so I quickly did so as well.

Tala's smooth deep voice echoed through the house in a chant from a language I had never heard before and didn't recognize. When he finished there was a short pause before another female voice with a southern twang came next. The redhead.

"God is good. God is great. And we thank him for this food."

There was a chorus of 'amens'. Everyone opened their eyes and dropped hands. Though there was a light squeeze from Roger before he dropped mine. 

Tala lifted his glass, "welcome to Cocopah Ranch Mary. Hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you." I said with a small flush rising to my cheeks, the attention was unsettling.

"You seem a lot better." Tala commented.

"I am. Thank you for the hospitality." 

"Have you been introduced to everyone yet?"

I shook my head.

Tala gestured to the boys on either side of him, "these are my boys, Akikta and Ahanu."

I smiled, "such beautiful names."

That brought a wide smile to Tala's face in return.

"And this," He said gesturing to the redhead, "is Daphne. Not quite my daughter but she might as well be. And I'm sure you're quite familiar with these gentlemen, and Dior of course."

Daphne sent a small scowl in my direction. James did not appear to be paying attention he had taken one of the many dishes on the table and piling his plate. 

"Oh, yes of course." I replied, "nice to finally know everyone though."

Roger sent a gentle nudge my way.

"Yes, yes welcome welcome and whatever. Nice to have you. Now shut it. Doesn't have to be a long-drawn-out thing. You're here hooray." James muttered. 

Despite the sudden negativity injected into the air dinner was still a merry affair. I was happy I could finally contribute to conversation and coherent enough to participate in my surroundings. I was trapped with these people but maybe it didn't have to be dismal. At least for the moment. Maybe I could help them all get away from James Oliver. As soon as I figured out if that was necessary or not. I supposed it'd be a while before I figured out his true nature. Dior seemed to just be playing along for the moment. I'd let her do so, but if what she warned me about was true....What would I even do if it was?

How long would it be before I figured thing out and made it back to New York?

Did I even want to go back?