The Tezca Legacy
"I'm quite serious - the park had one of those breakdancers. Of course I gave it a closer look."
Her aggressive, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners editorial style was just what the Peskidani Times needed. The CEO of the paper had said that outright, during the phone interview. They had footed the bill for for moving her meager furniture out to the small house she had outright bought for surprisingly cheap.
"I'm not going to say if I did or if I didn't. And there's no pictorial evidence either way!"
Ebony's laughter was sweet even over the phone. The news that followed was even better.
"Crimson is dating? Who? Oh, do tell, Ebony! You know he's still . . . well, you know."
Ruby kept the smile firmly in place as she listened to her sister (technically a many-greats aunt) explain the latest family news. As they'd grown older, Ebony had gently taken over Butter's position as head of the family. Ebony was the one they all talked with, and Ebony was the one who made sure that everyone kept in contact.
Her father was an unbelievably sweet and kind man, but he hadn't taken one of his chicks flying so far from the nest entirely well. And then there was Crimson.
That had been another reason to move - her twin had been very upset over Ruby's accidental lampooning of his last (previously only) relationship. And worst of all in his eyes, she wouldn't even regret it (in her opinion, her brother deserved a lot better than a hoity-toity, waffling, high society-craving twit like Layla turned out to be). Ruby loved her brother dearly, but they drove each other up the wall at times, and that last one incident had made it all to clear that they both needed some distance.
"The job is fantastic. I'm already in good terms with the boss - he and the main editor were part of the welcoming party, actually."
"No Ebony, I didn't know that when I was raking him over the coals for that awful, biased article about the natives. I thought he was the press manager. He said he liked my technique and laughed."
And treating him and the others to a homemade lunch had helped smooth over the rough start. Ruby had never gotten the hang of biting her tongue on volatile topics, and by now she was too old to even try. And look at where it had landed her? In Peskidani, a moderately urbanized island with a native population that made her tingle with investigative curiosity.
Seriously - a culture entirely made up of green people with black eyes? Anywhere else in the world, they would be the offspring of sims and pollinators . .
"We're going to have fun here, aren't we Salmon?"
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Months later, and Ruby had settled in better than she had expected. Her home was comfortable, her cat was company, and work was going swimmingly. Already she had several articles about the ruins, the locals, and the natives under her belt.
Investigation, the pressure of deadlines, finding that right turn of phrase, all of it was invigorating in a way she'd known she would feel ever since that first visit with her birth mother in her teens.
The men around here were frankly fascinating! So far, almost none had been upset by her blunt introductions.
Well, mostly.
But those who did take her introductions well, thrived on them. Ruby had lost track of how many times she'd started with a contradictory, passionate position based on something she overheard them saying only to have them slip her their phone numbers by the end of the conversation.
Some were even more forward.
A few times Ruby had thought that perhaps the weather was at fault - the island barely had a winter at all, and the worst that winter ever did was rain some hail and lots of rain. Rest of the year, it was hot, humid, and beautifully sunny day after day.
She blamed the weather for forgetting to get dressed before meeting her first native - it had been roasting that day, and she'd not bothered with more than the bare necessities once she got home from work. She'd just seized the chance when he walked past her house a little after dusk.
What she'd said (snarled) at him greeting was something to embarressing to remember, not even in her diary. And he'd laughed before speaking with a smile. "Do you always greet with such vigor, Wild Woman?"
She liked the sound of that.
" . . . in all honesty, that's the root of it all. By now, with all the news from the outside world, we know they were Pollinators, but the traits are so well-spread in our culture and in our genes, we still consider ourselves the Starborn."
"Thank you, Jezzemba. It's . . . wow, that's an amazing heritage."
It could have been hours, but really, it felt like minutes. The conversation flowed naturally and easily, and Ruby couldn't stop smiling.
Just couldn't stop smiling. Between conversations and play for hours, she really should have been exhausted the next morning. Should have been.
But she'd been buzzing with energy all day, and when she got out of work, Ruby took a chance. And it panned out beautifully.
Much, much better than she had been dreaming of.
After that first one, it was like potato chips - she couldn't stop! Even though it didn't always pan out right away each time . . .
. . . and sometimes took a little extra work (and stronger hints) . . .
. . . each one eventually fell to her charms. Like that cute gardener, Brian, that kept the city park in shape - from his short black hair to the strong curve of his thighs, he'd been a tempting eyeful every day she'd taken lunch there.
Or Edward, who worked in the paper's accounting department part-time, and at the local coffee shop the rest of the time. He'd been attentive, and so very, very sweet. And a headboard-banger.
Then came Jared, who worked at the local city hall (or so he said). But with Michael, she didn't even need to bother finding out where he worked - he was blazingly eager when she finally called him. And his backside was just as well-formed as she remembered it looking in those jeans. Although how he stood wearing a sweater in this weather, she just didn't know.
Work was going splendidly, and so was Ruby's love life, on top of having made a wonderful, amazing friend - the little house was finally starting to feel like 'home'. Everything was humming along at top speed and beyond amazing - everything was unbelievably good!
Not even accidentally setting the stove on fire literally minutes before a dinnertime 'rendezvous' brought down her high.
After all, Lingam Pottsam had already proven he was a lover not phased by incidental trifles. But that's where the trouble started.
Once again, he'd been just as fun as ever in bed. But this was the first time he'd re-dressed immediately to follow her out into the kitchen afterwards.
He just stood by, watching her with a small frown as she filled up her usual glass of water, and stared after her as she headed for the bathroom. Ignoring him, she quickly found her after-fun-pills and took one.
Lingam ambushed her as soon as she stepped back in the main room.
"Just what the hell was that about?! Doesn't the potential father get any say in it before you abort his child?"
"What the he-"
"It's my responsibility too - do you hate me or something?"
"What the heck is wrong with you Lingam? There is no 'child', and there won't be! Birth control prevents pregnancy, not aborts it, and it's my life!"
"I't s my life and my choice to even try for a child, and I'm not about to do so at this time, or at this point in my career! And if you can't accept that, then I don't want you in my home!"
" . . . I'm sorry, Ruby. I over-reacted . . forgive me?"
" . . . sure. A kiss before you go? I do have work to do."
Maybe it was time to stop inviting Mr. Pottsam over.
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"Jezzemba, I need help. Oh god . . . no, no, it's not that frantic. I'm sorry, I'm just really, really distracted right now. I never thought this would happen to me . . "
"Oh, I dyed my hair a few days ago. And a new haircut. But that really isn't the issue here."
"He was a co-worker. They transferred him a few days ago back to the mainland - I think he's a reporter for Strangtown News or something. I'm sorry, I know I'm babbling."
"I don't know why or how we ended up the bedroom - he honestly wasn't to my tastes."
"Oh god . . it was so frantic, so primal - damnit, I'm sorry I'm babbling on about this. I'm sorry Jezzemba, I shouldn't babble, but really, it had me completely distracted, I forgot to take my pill afterwards. Jezz-oh god."
"Jezzemba, I'm pregnant."
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It was probably the long workday between the late-night reassurances and finally being able to talk face-to-face with her best friend the next day that had Ruby jittery all over again. Time and time again, she'd had the thought roll through her head: She, Ruby Tezca, daughter of Butter Tezca, was pregnant. Her dads would be ecstatic to have a grandchild to spoil. Personally, Ruby had a horrible time not throwing up in front of her co-workers, especially with every little odd scent setting off waves of nausea.
"I seriously don't know what I'm going to do, Jezz! I mean, I can afford a baby, but I can't if I have to stop working. I never planned on this!"
Having him laugh quietly and shrug wasn't what she was expecting.
"I honestly don't see a problem - you've proven your fertility, surely there are plenty of males falling over themselves to be your mate? I know it would be so inside the tribe - even for a male who's with child."
She seriously thought about throttling him for a second - just long enough for her to take a really firm grip on him. And ignored the little flutter his smile caused, so calm and collected and confident. "Jezz! This is the rest of my life we're talk- . . . wait, what? Males with child?"
In her distraction, he gently shrugged free of her grip.
"Yes, males with child - much like how male abductees come back pregnant. Our starborn founders were all 'male', but Pollinators are a race of two genders, one sex: both can produce children, but in my tribe's mixed bloodline, males who can birth children are becoming uncommon. It used to be the most productive families would be those formed of four parents, two of each gender, but with how close all the bloodlines have become, it's become rare-"
"But that has nothing to do with what's going on now! I'm pregnant, Jezz!"
"Yes, you told me that."
"PREGNANT! I have no idea what to do! I'm not prepared to become a mother - I hadn't even thought of the chance except to prevent it from happening yet. Yet I completely forgot to . . . to . . . oh god. What am I . . ? I'm going to be a horrible mother . . ."
"No, no, don't fret. If it is all so frightening, then I will move in and help - I have the time, and no dearer friend." Almost before his words sunk in, Jezzemba wrapped Ruby up in a tight hug that she unconsciously returned. He didn't comment on how her hands were trembling. "I will stay, and I will help. Okay?"
"O-okay."
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Part 2
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Bwaaahahahaha! Photobucket blocked the three shots involving pixelated barbie nudity! *snort*