Gentry woke with a start, again. This was becoming an all too familiar habit that was beginning to leave her feeling drained and sluggish. One could only wake up so many times a week after two to four hours of sleep and function like a human being, or any other specimen of life. Grabbing the pale blue cell from her nightstand, she glared at the time. Six A.M. Of course it was six bloody A.M. She had got off of work at about three, which meant she probably hadn't even gotten in bed till four to four-thirtyish. Gen groaned before rolling over and pulling one of her many pillows over her face.
At one time Gentry used to dream of handsome men coming to rescue her from some form of danger, it always changed based on what show she watched on TV or what book she had been reading. Now she dreamt of terrible wind storms that ruined miles upon miles, buildings crumbling from decay, a darkness that can't seem to ever be penetrated. Doomsday stuff. Not your typical dreams for a pretty happy, optimistic person. Especially not when she really just wanted to see him again. Not knowing his name, or what he really looked like, she still knew this mystery man of her dreams. It probably wasn't a good thing she was getting attached to a man in her mind that all she did was talk to, but really she didn't have any other form of male-female relationship. She figured she was desperate to have to talk to a man in her mind.
The soft knock at the door told Gen she had been lost in her inner dialog for too long, because her friends were wondering where she was. With another groan she got out of bed, wrapping the blue and white blanket over her shoulders with a yawn as she trudged to the door. Pendragon stood out in the hall, Gentry's weary and tired look mimicked upon her best friend's face. "Sphinx is making coffee now and CB is already here too."
The two trudged down the stairs and into the gianormous kitchen, the girls had renovated the whole house and one thing they had agreed on was the kitchen. State of the art, yet artistically pleasing. The whole thing was done in blacks, whites, with splashes of red thrown in. For the most part the kitchen was a mixture of modern appliances and Asian accents, creating a blend that Gen found very Zen. She and Enjeru had won out on the kitchen design, which included a breakfast nook as well as a second table and chair. The second chair was in an area that used to be the pantry, before they had it changed, now the walls had been knocked out leaving a small room that fit the a table the same height as a coffee table, with four very large and squishy pillows. The whole room was painted a rich red and could be covered by a paper screen. This little area was where the girls spent their morning alone, even though Gentry insisted on four more pillows and the table could easily seat as many as eight. Especially if a couple of those people were getting cozy.
The small room didn't take from anything, they did have the spare breakfast table, that was more of a desk or a clutter spot and they still had the dining room off the kitchen with a table that could fit at least twenty people, if not more. The girls had yet to try to fill that one, and really it went unused for the most part too. In truth after Pendragon and Sphinx, who were the most reserved about the idea for the space and the concept of sitting on the floor, fell in love with the small red room.
Gentry plopped down on her black cushin, a hot chocolate with mini marshmallows already steaming on the spot. She eyed the hot drink wondering if she wanted to even bother lifting her arm to pick up the steaming mug. Deciding it could use a few minutes of cooling, she put her head on the table. "What's today?"
"Monday," Sphinx said around her mug of coffee, she took another sip, frowned and added more cream.
"Monday? You mean my day off?" Gentry brightened up, this meant she might get in a nap.
"You're day off, I have to work still," groaned Pendragon, "Can I call in dead?"
Gentry nodded "I say yeah. Not like we really need the money, it just keeps us from going bat shit crazy," she added as an afterthought "And it keeps people from wondering too much about us"
Pendragon smirked, "That shit makes me bat shit CRAZY!" She belted out the Nickleback lyrics at the top of her lungs, causing Gentry, who was sitting next to her to shrink away.
"You're bat shit crazy period, but we love you anyway," Enjeru smiled.
"You may be crazy but I still think you're beautyful." Sphinx said in a slurred voice as she leaned into Pendragon with a goofy smile on her face. Gentry just smiled as she looked at the collective freaks she calls friends and sisters. She couldn't help but thinking they were one hell of a screwed up bunch, but then she wasn't much better herself, so it all worked out.
Gen smiled at her friends, "Well at least we're all in a better mood now, either that or slap happy."
She heard everyone call out "SLAP HAPPY" as loud as they could, then burst into a bunch of giggling that left everyone laying on the floor in an heap around the table. When they finally pulled themselves up Gentry fixed them each with a tired gaze. "We're in trouble here, you know that right?"
"It would help if we didn't have to deal with this alone," Sighed Enjeru.
"CB is right," Pendragon rubbed her face. CB was short for Cherry Blossom, a nickname that came from Enjeru's cherry blossom tattoos. "But honestly right now, the only choice we might have is a shrink…"
Sphinx snorted, "Yeah that will go over well. "Yes Doctor McBigHead, I know dreams of doomsday are quiet normal, you have said it before. My childhood? Oh my father was an abusive bastard that I hope dies a slow and painful, torturous death while I watch. Then I wish to dance over his grave. Oh, my, that is a lovely white coat. It's nice and warm too. Oh I'm going on a car ride, this shall be fun!"" Sphinx shook her head, "Greeaattt idea there."
"Not everything goes back to the childhood," Gen tilted her head to the side slightly, "I guess my problem is I obviously want to kill my mother because she has my Da, and I want to sleep with him…" she shuddered, "Damn Freud was one sick puppy."
"Got that right," Enjeru put her head on the table top with a small thump, "Ow."
"Don't do that, it hurts," Pen chimed in.
Gentry just shook her head, "We could try and find help…elsewhere."
"Yeah, like the Gods and Goddesses are going to bless us with their assistance," Snorted Sphinx, "They've been anal raping us with a sandpaper stick full of nails our whole lives. And we haven't even gotten one kiss or hair pull. If you gonna ride my ass in any way I demand some hair pulling."
Enjeru lifted her head, her nose wrinkled in disgust, "Well thanks for that mental image."
"Oh I thought it was quiet lovely, very accurate," Gen gave Sphinx a golf clap, "Poetry in the most masochist of forms."
"I am just that good," Sphinx smiled, "You may all bow down to me."
The others did a mock bow with their arms in the air while chanting "We're not worthy, we are worms."
"Bwahaha, dance my puppets dance," Sphinx rubbed her hands together trying to mimic a stereotypical bad guy.
"Hey puppets, its almost seven. Work for some of ya'll," Gentry was laying on the floor, her upper body outside of the screen so she could see the clock.
"I'm dead," Pendragon pulled her cell from the pockets of her pajama pants and pushed the button for work.
"I got turned into a newt," Enjeru repeated the procedure Pendragon had.
"But I wanted to be the newt," Sphinx pretended to pout as she got up to go get her phone. "Fine, I guess I get to go with simply being sick. How dull."
Gentry looked up, "Wait wait wait, we're all going to take the day off? Together? That hasn't happened in... Since I think the week we moved here!" She got to her feet, "The weather guy said it would be a nice day today. I say we go out and enjoy it. Window shopping in the Quarter, and going to the market. Oh, I could pick up something fresh for dinner." Gen was practically dancing with joy at the idea of shopping with everyone. Generally she did all of that on her own, it was her job after all.
Sphinx came down with a raised brow, "What's up?"
"We're apparently going shopping, you in?" Pen supplied.
"Hells yeah!"
"Oh, but I better run home and explain things to my mom and stuff. I can tell her I am still going to work." Enjeru nodded, "How about, in two hours we plan to go out?"
"Sounds like plenty of time for Pen and I, but you know Sphinx she's going to probably need three some hours or more. So when you get back, we'll play cards or something." As Gentry finished the sentence she got a pillow in her face from Sphinx, "Eww, you're butt was on that!"
"Yeah, it's a good thing I have a damn fine ass!" Sphinx pretended to be mad as she stalked off to her room.
The girls were up and moving, each to their own destinations.
When it was all said and done, it had taken Sphinx near three hours to completely get ready, with her "rushing". During that time Pendragon had threatened to kill Gentry about two dozen times during Uno, and when Enjeru joined the whole came ended up with Uno cards everywhere. They even found some stuck on the ceiling fan. How that happened they had yet to figure out. Now they were headed down toward the Lilac and Lace, a female boutique shop. Gentry was carrying a long wide box, she had talked the others into stopping to drop off the box before they got into some heavy shopping, though Gentry loved to shop in the store. For one thing, the owner always made sure to carry clothing for women who were above size eight. Bride also made sure that everyone felt welcome in her store, it also helped that her husband was total eye candy.
Enjeru rushed forward to hold the door open as Gentry maneuvered her way into the store with the huge box, "Hey Bride, Vane." She put the large box on the counter, as much out of the way as she could, where Bride had waved her to set it. When the tall, red head was done she rushed over and began opening the box.
"I can never wait to see what you've created each time you come in," Bride lifted the lid and started moving paper around, pulling out mask after mask. All of them were wire framed pieces of art with fabric backings, each was in the style of a holding mask and each was one of a kind. Gentry even made matching jewelry for a few of them. As Bride pulled out each mask, she admired them with gentle fingers and appreciative sighs. In that Southern lilt of her's she addressed Gen again, "Oh some of the costumers were wondering if you're open to make customs. Oh and I have had a few requests for animal shaped ones."
Gentry leaned on the counter a little with a sigh, "Custom ones would cut into the time of the others. I would have to also limit them to about ten a month, that way I don't get bogged down. Animal ones take longer, depending on the beasty I am making. If they want ones with just ears or horns, that are easier to do, but if they want them with muzzles, obviously a different story." Gentry waved a hand, "I'll have to think about it. I mean it takes more time and stuff and I'm already producing so few a month…"
Bride waved a hand in a dismissive way, "Its not a big deal if you can't. I mean you are making them all by hand. It has to be a big job," Gen watched the other woman's face light up as her husband, Vane, came over with an envelope. He handed Gentry her share of the money for the masks, it had taken her forever to get a deal to sell the pieces of work. She didn't want to have Bride buy the masks and then it turn out no one would buy them, so the deal was Bride sold them and got part of the profit.
Gentry nodded, "I will defiantly try and do a few animal ones. I will try but I can't promise anything really. I have only made a few animals in the past. Most needed more work if you ask me. If they aren't up to my standards I can't sell them though…"
Vane nodded, "We understand… what are your friends doing?"
"If it involves any intimate pieces of clothing, I probably don't want to know." Gentry turned around to see Sphinx chasing Pendragon around with a pink thong in her hand saying something about it looking so cute between her cheeks or something along those lines. She just shook her head, "Yeah, don't want to know. Don't worry I'll pay for anything they break... On the upside we're also going to be shopping and biased on the pile in Enje-chi's arms, I say we're going to be needing a dressing room."
Bride burst out into laughter before shaking her head and going to unlock a dressing room for the girls. Gentry made a bee-line for some jeans. Bride always carried the best jeans, in the right sizes and in many styles. The next thing was the shirts and underwear, after finding Bride's shop a year ago after they moved to New Orleans, Gen never shopped anywhere else for under garments. Especially since Bride only carried good quality stuff. Gentry walked over to Sphinx and snatched the thong and tossed it back into the bin, "You do know the hot men that hang around this place are going to think you're nuts."
Sphinx smirked, "We are. And all the hot men in the place are mated."
Gen just shook her head before going to the dressing room, Enjeru was already in one trying on some of the clothing she found. Even Pendragon was gathering clothing, and getting Pendragon to actually try on clothing or even buy. Well it used to be that way, not sense the found the Lilac and Lace. Gen stopped to put the envelope into the overly decorate blue backpack she always used.
Screw purses, she thought for the millionth time as she closed the bag. Honestly purses never had enough room in bags for all the things she insisted on carrying. Going into the room she left her bag just outside the door, somewhere she could see it but where Vane and Bride wouldn't have to worry about her stealing. It helped that Sphinx came over to stand by it while she waited for the other girls to come out.
"So, who wants food some food once we're out?" Gen asked as she shimmied into a pair of trouser jeans.
"I'm in!" Enjeru called from her stall, "Oh, can I get you're guys opinions?" Gen poked her head out as Sphinx and Pen came to look at the oriental style number Enjeru had shimmied into. The dress suited her.
"Get it," Gentry disappeared back into the room.
"I'm up for food too." Sphinx had shouldered the backpack so she could look, "Dear Gods and Goddesses do you have rocks in here."
"I fourth that. So food it is." Pendragon called from the rack of jewelry she was looking at.
"Food it is, and coffee for you too. And actually, yes there are rocks in there Sphinx." She grabbed the clothing she tried on and folded them up, planning to get the whole lot. As she came out she eyed the two of her friends as they opened the backpack, obviously checking for the rocks. Gentry rolled her eyes, there WERE crystals in one of the pouches she used to keep everything organized, and crystals were rocks.
Enjeru made a little gasping noise from the dressing room, Sphinx and Pendragon were by the door as soon as Gentry was. Their speed mostly born out of worry for their fear. Vane walked over, "Everything okay?"
"Perfectly natural," Gentry smiled up at Vane, "She just shocked herself a little in there."
Enjeru's voice sounded small as she spoke, "Yeah, just a bit of a shock is all. I have to be more careful next time."
"See, all ish good." Pendragon smiled up at Vane in all her six foot three glory, "Hey! Dressing room time for me." She shuffled off to get out of the line of heat.
Gentry could tell Vane knew something was up, something the girls weren't talking about, but he wasn't going to be nosey. Gen rushed over to the counter with her arm load, setting it aside, "I'm going to look some more, okay. I am getting this though." She walked over to Sphinx and took the backpack from her before going to look at the jewelry, most of which was custom made. Hell, a couple of the pieces were Gentry's own handy work, she could see the wax seal on the cards of each. A rose pressed into a silver blue sparkly wax. She ignored her own pieces as she looked over everything else. Everything was so beautiful but nothing that really suited her or her friends when it came to shinnies. Finally she picked up a pair of earrings, like it took her forever to come to the decision to buy them, actually it had. Everyone else was working on getting rung out. Gentry blinked, she obviously lost herself or everyone decided they needed to get their asses out of dodge.
Once everything was paid for and bagged, and the ladies were out back out in the morning sun, they each took a turn looking at Enjeru. She shook her head, "I need to get some food, ground myself."
"Beignets," Gentry pointed to a little coffee shop and headed right over to it. She ordered enough for everyone, as well as coffee. Being September it was still warm down in Louisiana, but not nearly as hot as it would be in another hour or two, or even what it would be in the summer. She passed the coffees to Pen and Sphinx, the Chai to Enjeru and kept the green tea for herself.
Enjeru got through half her beignet before the questions started.
"You okay?" Gentry nettled.
"I'm fine now, more tired than I was before," Enjeru rubbed her eyes a little, "I'm sure I'll be fine in another few minutes."
"So, you going to tell us what you saw?"