Chicago, Friday Night

[romanywitch]

Jenny was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking from a styrofoam cup, swilling what was possibly the strongest coffee she'd had since...well, the last time she'd visited her family. Strong coffee would be fine, but this stuff had been left on a burner for at least half a day.

Unfortunately? At least five of her aunts and uncles were screaming at each other in a mixture of at least three different languages. Jenny had been sitting here, twisting her styrofoam cup, trying not to sigh loudly enough to draw attention to herself. Su's plane had landed probably a couple, three hours ago, and she was supposed to be taking the train to Jenny's family's apartment.

Gods, she hoped Su got here soon. Then she'd have an excuse to bug outta here and get some real food.

OOC: Due to distance, NFB, thanks.

Comments

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan could hear the shouting through the door, and she looked at the apartment number with trepidation. Oh dear. Jenny really hadn't been joking. Hesitantly, she knocked on the door, then with increasing strength.

[romanywitch]

"I'll get it!" exclaimed Jenny, popping up from her seat on the sofa and tossing her half-full styrofoam cup into the garbage can with a splash. She conveniently ignored the wild gesticulations of her aunts and ran for the door, pulling it open.

"Su!" Jenny smiled in very obvious relief, wondering if she could get away with running like hell and not introducing Su. "How was your trip?"

"Bring your gadje friend inside and introduce her, Janna," yelled her uncle.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

'Gadje?' Susan mouthed, then said, "Sorry I'm late? And it was fine, really. Very easy to negotiate, your Chicago system." She paused, looking into the apartment. "My. What a lot of people."

[romanywitch]

"Non-Roma," mumured Jenny. She shrugged apologetically, and stepped forward to give Su a hug. "Oh, tell me about it." Two of her younger cousins ran by, shrieking and shooting each other with Nerf guns, and Jenny started spewing out a torrent of angry Romanian at them.

They stopped, stared at her, and then ran away, eyes wide.

Jenny rolled her eyes. "We're a rowdy bunch. You notice?"

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"I notice," Susan agreed, hugging her back. "Thanks for having me. If it's too much trouble, I can make myself scarce--"

A very old woman stomped over, glaring at both of them, then asked Jenny a pointed question in Romanian, studying Susan narrowly.

"--or we can run away?" Susan said under her breath.

[romanywitch]

"No!" exclaimed Jenny, a touch of panic in her eyes. The old woman repeated the same phrase again, looking expectant.

"Su, this is my Great-Aunt Ilinca," said Jenny. "Aunt Ilinca, Su is one of my friends from work. No, she doesn't know Angel. No, she's not--"

A spate of Romanian from Great-Aunt Ilinca had Jenny sighing and rolling her eyes.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan plastered a smile on her face and held out one hand to Jenny's great-aunt. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm sorry, but no, I've never met anyone named Angel." She chanced a look at Jenny out of the corner of her eye. "Nor am I likely to, I suspect."

[romanywitch]

"He's a nice guy," commented Jenny. Aunt Ilinca glared at her. Jenny shrugged and smiled. "They never listen when I tell them that."

Aunt Ilinca took Su's hand and shook it gingerly.

"Pay no attention to that," said Jenny. "She is awfully worried about baba. So, coffee? And I'm going to be checking into a room in your hotel while you're in. Wouldn't want you to feel abandoned."

Something about Jenny's expression might have indicated she desperately needed a break.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that's--" Susan looked around, and reconsidered. "So very helpful. Thanks. Should I meet everyone else?" Her expression might look a little plaintive. "Or perhaps we can go and get something to eat before that?"

[romanywitch]

"You know, we might want to escape sooner, rather than later," murmured Jenny. She raised her voice. "Su's kinda hungry, guys. Wanna feed her?"

At least half a dozen flat stares were turned Jenny's way.

"Right!" exclaimed Jenny brightly. "Silly me." She turned to her guest. "Gosh, Su, we have to go out to eat. Anything in particular you're wanting? There's a British-style pub nearby, if you're interested. The Red Lion Inn? Pretty haunted too, rumor has it."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"That would be brilliant," Susan said firmly. "I'm so sorry to inconvenience you by taking Jenny with me," she told the room. "Truly. Your understanding is greatly appreciated."

[romanywitch]

"See you later, guys," said Jenny. "You've all got my cell?"

Dead silence.

"Oh, and by the way? Angel says thanks for the curse, but next time, could you just send him a fruit basket?"

She ducked out of the apartment on the tail of a spate of Romanian curses, chuckling the entire time. "Shall we?" she asked Su.

OOC: ...and I'm outta here. Wanna reply and then FTB?

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Let's. Lord, and I thought Alberta and Harold were a trial," Susan muttered as they escaped. "You'll need to explain about Angel and the fruit basket to me later, but for now? Please feed me. We can plan our weekend after that, I think. With time to avoid your family as much as we can."



[ooc: *salutes and FTB's!]