Logs:Sevenday Present
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| RL Date: 13 March, 2016 |
| Who: C'ris, J'sae, Lyrisa |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: C'ris worries over new fatherhood while J'sae has a present for Lyrisa. |
| Where: Nursery, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 7, Month 4, Turn 40 (Interval 10) |
| Weather: A layer of patchy clouds covers the sky. The air feels cool and damp, but there is no rainfall today. |
| Mentions: Quinlys/Mentions, Risca/Mentions |
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| The nursery is mostly empty on a spring morning, with the nannies taking their more rambunctious and older charges outside to play off excess energy. It leaves only those nannies assigned to infant care and those said infants behind; though, it also seems like it has left C'ris behind. With Lyrisa only a sevenday old, he hasn't dragged himself back to his wing (or nominally, his, since the dissolution of Frostbite) or his duties. At some point, perhaps, he had good intentions of leaving his daughter in the nursery and letting her adjust to it, but now, he is curled up with the soft, pink baby in his arms in one of the rocking chairs, half-dozing with warm, brown eyes half-slit open as little Lyri lays swaddled against his chest in her own sleep, mouth slightly open. The nursery is an odd place to find J'sae, though it seems like he knows the nanny on duty at any rate for he pauses to have a quick (unsurprisingly smiling) exchange with her before he heads toward C'ris, a small bundle (fabric wrapped and tied with a bow!) in his hands. As he edges closer to the other bluerider, his pace slows a little, brows drawing down, as if he might be unsure if a 'half-doze' might really be a whole one and unwilling to intrude on the precious rest of a new parent. Still, he does quietly address, "C'ris?" as he draws nearer. "Hey," is C'ris' half-hoarse whisper that meets J'sae in greeting, his gaze opening barely imperceptibly but the slow, soft smile that tugs at his lips unmistakably aware and awake. His voice gains volume as he continues, adding, "Don't worry about waking her. She can sleep through a lot of noise, as long as you don't startle her or anything." A pause as unabashed pride floods his expression and he shifts his daughter a bit so that her face isn't so against his chest. "J'sae, this is Lyri." "Babies," J'sae says with a wide smile, amused, indulgent and certainly the sort of thing that only a person who likes children would wear. "Congratulations. I heard that she'd been born. She's perfect," he compliments, as all babies are, naturally. "I brought something for her. Well, you and her. You'll be grateful for it possibly more than she'll know to be." He rambles, but manages to stop before too much. "It's just a rattle and some teethers for later." No biggie. Nevermind that they're just about the prettiest carved any baby here is bound to have. Drowsy and warm and happy, C'ris returns that smile with a slow exhale of laughter that might just be agreement for the single-worded sentiment. But then he's flushing slightly as he accepts awkwardly, "Thanks. She's-- Yeah, she is perfect. I feel like-- such a different person, you know? I already love her so much, it hurts." His smile fades slightly, but he shifts to sit up as he offers, dismissing the other subject to press on, "Do you want to hold her? We can trade." He makes a vague gesture between his daughter and the present. "My father used to tell me that there are some experiences in life that you have that make you forever changed. Sometimes, you don't notice, but some of them are so important that you can't miss them. He said the first time he held his son," not J'sae in this case, "was one of those times. You have opinions you never even thought to have opinions on before that moment, and you feel certain of things you never thought you could feel certain about, and-- anyway." J'sae gives the new father a lopsided grin. He looks to the baby and then with a shrug and nod, he'll accept the trade, carefully. He must have had some recent practice at this for he doesn't hesitate in how he takes her, careful to support her head and he almost immediately settles into a slow, bouncing rock from the knees. "This-- Yes, it's exactly like that, really. And like I need to adjust to this new self that I am, that all I want to be is the best man that I can be for her--." There is some soft of relief in C'ris' warm expression for J'sae's understanding, marked because perhaps he wasn't prepared to find it. He watches the other bluerider with his daughter for a long moment, only somewhat of concern about Lyri's reaction to this transition, but she only fusses a little before quieting again without ever truly waking. "You didn't have to get us anything, really, but-- Thanks, you know," he adds after, once he's started unwrapping the gift. Jase dutifully keeps up the gentle 'mommy rock' to help Lyri's transition from familiar to unfamiliar, to give C'ris some time with both his hands. His attention is even mostly on his little charge until he's sure she's settling back into sleep, only then does he look up to the other bluerider with another little shrug and dissembling smile. "What's the point of having a gift if you don't use it to give gifts to your friends on appropriate occasions? It was just some scrap I had. Consider it a service you've done me. By having a child, you've given me practice with a purpose." How considerate of C'ris! There's humor in Jase's voice, of course. "I don't know. Having a talent like yours-- I am grateful that you're willing to spend your time making things for me. It means a lot," is what C'ris answers thoughtfully, in juxtaposition to Jase's humor. Not that he isn't without a smile, especially as he draws the baby rattle out of the packaging and inspects the dragon carved into it. "It's beautiful. It-- This will last forever. We can use it for the next, even." But that has some humor in it as he raises his gaze to the other man with a quick grin. "Thank you, really." "Oh, I don't know. It's meant to be played with. I can always make another for the next." J'sae returns with a smile, pleased by the reaction from the other bluerider. "I tried to round all the edges so there wouldn't be anything she could do real damage with," he explains. "I learned to make them only a handful of turns back, for my sister's oldest, and haven't had a whole lot of reason to practice them since, so it's good, really." The practice. "I made different shapes for the teethers because my sister said some babies seem to like certain ones and hate others and it's impossible to know which'll be The One. So, some options for her. You know, when she hits the point of having teeth," which is probably a crazy thought at this juncture and J'sae must know that, given his grin. The thought that not just any teether will do is probably a crazy thought at this juncture, since C'ris seems surprised by it, brows curving up and eyes finally widening somewhat as he drops his gaze back to the teethers still in the package. "Oh, I-- Yeah. Thank you. I'm sure we'll figure it out; I mean, which one she likes or doesn't like and all," he agrees, exhaling slightly on the words. But he goes on to add, "Or good practice when you have your own, right?" He's only been a dad for a sevenday, and apparently he's ready to encourage others to join him. "Yeah, of course you will," carries such bolstering, quiet confidence that J'sae's very genuine vote of support for C'ris is clear. "And if you have trouble, you'll ask for help. I'm told this is how it works. In the meantime, you just... enjoy and hang in, I guess." His shoulders have a little roll, "Yeah, I'm sure it'll happen for me sometime. Maybe a flight or something." Even if Zajeth doesn't chase overly often. "I'm sure by the time it happens, at any rate, you'll be able to tell me everything I need to know and sound like an expert about it." He grins at the other man. "How're you finding it all so far?" Dad-ing. "Yeah. Yeah, my mother's already given us a ton of advice and taught me some of it, a little at a time when I need to know," C'ris answers, sounding more confident in himself in light of J'sae's answer, though not without a touch of self-deprecation. Of course he doesn't know everything, yet. "Don't worry; I will tell you everything I know at that point until you're sick of it." But he's got his own little shrug as he watches the bluerider and his daughter, falling thoughtful again, "It's more overwhelming than I thought it'd be. I've always liked babies and kids, but it's a lot." "I hear that's what happens," comes with humor, whether for C'ris' mother or for C'ris telling him until he's sick of it or both, it's hard to say. J'sae's sway continues rhythmically, his smile softening as he looks down at the babe in arms, because... babies. The former woodcrafter draws his eyes back up to his fellow bluerider, nodding slowly. "I remember them telling us when I was a new weyrling that having a hatchling to care for was like having a baby, and I remember thinking that it didn't seem likely. So much to learn in such a short amount of time, sure, but hatchlings can move independently and can tell you in words and feelings what's wrong or what they need. Babies... they're more mysterious, I think. But look at you here, with her. You're a great dad already." J'sae encourages. "It's probably rarer for that in a Weyr than a Hold, though I guess even there most bigger Holds have nannies for-- well." He stops himself from rambling on. C'ris nods, a simple enough gesture of agreement even as it is obvious that his thoughts are running away from him, until he admits in a low murmur, as if he doesn't want the nannies to hear, "I know. But, I don't want to give her up to the nursery. I don't want someone else raising my child while I get to see her once a day, at most, for how long?" His fingers flex in a helpless gesture, before he dismisses the thought with a shake of his head before adding, "Quinlys doesn't agree, I think; she thinks she belongs in the nursery. But I don't think she'll think raising a hatchling is like a baby anymore." The last is offered as a joke to lighten the mood. J'sae's brow furrows and some thing about the way C'ris gestures has J'sae stepping toward him to lean to transfer the sleeping infant back to her rightful place in her father's arms. "I think..." He considers a long moment before starting again, "I think, C'ris, that raising any child takes more people than just her parents. You'll be raising her, but so will other good people who'll love her, not as much as you, but plenty enough for her to be safe and well cared for. I don't think it's any less your place to be here because Quinlys thinks it's hers. You're both Lyri's parents, you're both entitled to love her and care for her, and she's so lucky to have that. But having help isn't a bad thing. Having other people who love Lyri isn't a bad thing, particularly when one has responsibilities and a lifemate." And then he's quiet, because perhaps he's concerned that he may've over-stepped. Advice of the non-parent to the newly minted. It seems that C'ris is ready to have his daughter back into his arms, quickly settling her into the curve there between the lean muscle of his chest and the protective wrap of his arms. "It's not-- It's not that I mind the help or that I think I could do it all on my own," he says softly, his gaze falling to his daughter's soft features. "It's that I will miss so much. If I could quit, resign from the wings and focus solely on her--." But that's impossible, so he doesn't pursue that thought any further as he exhales a quiet sigh. But he agrees in the end with a simple, "I know that it's-- I know having other people helping raise her isn't bad. I will get used to the idea, I think. But not yet." J'sae's lips press briefly together, something sympathetic in the look of his eyes. "Dragons are a lifetime commitment." The harsh truth of it is said gently. "Anyway, I won't distract you anymore today. Enjoy her. I hear they grow fast." He offers that with another smile before he's turning to head back the way he came. "Thank you again, Jase. I-- I'm sorry," is C'ris' farewell, his own lips twisting into a hint of a frown as he watches J'sae leave. At least, until he's disappeared. |
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