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Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 23, 2009 23:57:13 GMT -5
It was still debatable if this was a good or bad idea. Rosemary wasn't particularly thrilled beyond belief to be in the Wood with the man she had managed to get pregnant. However it wasn't like she could just steal the child and run away with her to the Wood. Not only would that piss off Pale, she would be stuck with a child. Adorable and all, but she would make traveling entirely too difficult. This had spectacular failure written all over it. She glanced back at the shirtless man who was holding the small child. She was sleeping rather soundly in the man's arms. An adorable little pure bred squirrel with paper coming out of her spine. A strange and adorable child worth every bit of pain this nightmare was going to be. She paused outside of the door to her childhood home. Glancing back one more time at the man and the child. She had already given him the warning about her parents, hopefully.... this would be a good day for Mom. She rang the bell and waited.
Kazi was in his workshop. He had been there more and more in the passing days. He could only hope for good to come out of those bad days, and all the fuzzy days in between. He hoped that Rosemary would come back, and that he could explain to her what had actually happened. He hoped that Femi wouldn't have such a miserable time. The bell snapped him out of his haze. Setting down his tools he hurried his way downstairs. Perhaps it was Rosemary? He just hoped that Femi wouldn't answer the door before him. |
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 24, 2009 0:26:13 GMT -5
There just hadn't been any question in the man's mind. Of course he would be going with Rosemary, as much as he hated the woman. There was no way he'd let Linnea out on her own with someone Rhiannon had known and trusted but had banged him and in the process, knocked him up. Clearly she was the sneaky sort, and Apocalypse didn't trust anyone other than himself and the other Hearts nobles when it came to the raising of his daughter. As it was, the journey had been quiet. Silent, in fact, except for the times when ex-weapon spoke with the child he kept close. Now, when they'd finally reached their goal, he waited beside her, clutching the sleeping child in strong arms. His orange eyes were untrusting, a fang showing through as he nibbled on his lower lip, a nervous tick he'd picked up at some point or another. As they waited for an answer at the door, he shifted his little girl, absently running a hand across her blonde mane. When Rosemary glanced back at him, he gave her a grudging nod. He'd be a Good Boy. After all, if Linnea wanted to meet her grandparents... he'd let her. And he'd make sure no harm could possibly come to her in the process. |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 24, 2009 14:13:33 GMT -5
He opened the door with his best smile. However when he absorbed what was standing in front of him it quickly faded away.
Why was Rosemary coming home with a man? His face twitched into a frown as he looked from his daughter to the man, completely missing the bundle of fur in his arms.
"Rosemary, what's going on?" Kazifel asked as normally as he could muster. The strain, however, was clearly in his voice. Hearts. A king of Hearts. An outsider with a region he couldn't place. It was just more and more nerve racking the more he thought about it.
Rosemary sighed as she moved past her father, who stepped to the side for her. "I did something stupid and I got His Highness Apocalypse pregnant. The adorable fluffy thing in his arms is Linnea. Mom's not around is she?"
There was an awkward silence as Rosemary went to make herself comfortable. Kazifel struggled to process the information as he slowly shut the door after Pale and Linnea entered. His daughter had gotten someone pregnant. His daughter.... which meant he was a grandfather.
His eye twitched. "I'm going to make some tea, and get some snacks. Make yourself comfortable. If you... want anything Mr. Apocalypse please just ask."
The small child twitched for a moment before giving a small squeaky yawn. She blinked sleepy up at her "father."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 24, 2009 17:12:56 GMT -5
The door swung open, and Apocalypse couldn't help the brief flicker of interest that went through his eyes. Rosemary's father had a human form... That was interesting, even if he was a bloody Club bastard. He shifted Linnea in his arms so that the other man could get a slightly better look at the child, but his attention was entirely focused. Rosemary's father looked... Nervous. That was good. He liked that. Respectful fear of Hearts was always a plus in the feline's mind.
At Rosemary's explanation of the situation, however, he gave a rather noticeable flinch, and the corners of his mouth fell, a hint of fang showing. Damnit. He really hated Rosemary. She didn't have to put it that way.
All the same, he managed a courteous nod to the man who's house he was stepping into. "A pleasure to meet you," he said, slipping into the role he so often played when he was doing some important Court-related task. It wasn't a pleasure, but he could pretend it was easily enough. In this situation, diplomacy seemed to be the best possible approach. After a moment of standing and looking awkward, Apocalypse sat on the couch as well, looking around the room and chewing a brand new sore on his lip.
Ow.
Then, Linnea stirred in his arms, and a smile twitched at his expression as he looked at the child. "Hey, we're here," he said softly, the tone of his voice clearly excluding Rosemary from the conversation. This was between him and his baby girl. "Are you hungry or thirsty?" He didn't feel like eating or drinking anything, but if the squirrel needed something... Well. It would be a good way to test her... grandparents. Damnit.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 24, 2009 17:42:25 GMT -5
The little squirrel made a happy noise when Pale asked her the question. Did she need something? Or maybe she should just go back to sleep? Was she hungry? She gave him a rather serious look (as serious as a two year old could get) and announced happily, "No!"
Rosemary certainly did feel excluded. However, she decided to focus on wondering where her mother was. What would she do when she saw Linnea? She was a baby... and a squirrel and they looked fairly similar.
Kazifel had made his way to the kitchen when everything was clear. He took several deep breaths as he took the teapot off the stove, checking to see if he left anything in it. Rosemary had a child? She was the first one to have children? How on earth could that possibly happen? How had she managed to get a Heart noble pregnant.
And what about Femi. Oh... oh lord.
Before he could finish is nightmarish thoughts the teapot gave a rather loud whistle. He had gone through all the motions without actually realizing it. Still slightly flustered he poured tea for three, and grabbed one of the trays with a few cookies on them. When he reappeared in the living room he set the tray on the coffee table.
He gave the child a curious look. What region was that? And why did she have air tanks? Was she from that place that Rosemary had ranted about? He eased back into his chair, taking a small sip of his tea. "Your mother is taking a nap," he said quietly glancing at Rose. He then looked towards Pale. "I'm sorry that my daughter's... a bit rude and I'm sorry I'm so shocked. I just never really expected Rosemary to have children."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 24, 2009 18:00:16 GMT -5
Oh by the freaking Highland Hills, she was a sweet child. As much as Apocalypse hated her other parent and the circumstances that had lead to her birth, as much as he loathed the terrible marking that destroyed her otherwise perfect little body... He loved his daughter. She was adorable, and whenever he looked into her wonderfully yellow and slit-pupiled eyes he couldn't help but feel a twist of parental pride.
Of course, that was sometimes difficult for the man to show, but surrounded by strangers he found it to be easiest to just fawn all over the girl rather than pawn her off on Xiven or Heilyn.
"Just let me know if you change your mind," he returned, falling back into silence and leaning back, making sure Linnea was well-balanced in his lap before resting his hands against his chest. He shot Rosemary a sidelong glance, his expression saying "if you kept your woman-dick under control, this would never have to happen". Then there was a whistle, and he turned his attention back to their host. Tea. It really was like being in the courts. He took the offered cup, turning it slowly in his hands.
When the man spoke, Apocalypse let out a soft laugh, grinning despite himself. "I can honestly say I never thought I would, either," he replied simply. There was no need to go into detail there. Really, the fewer people to know what he had been, the better. Little did he know the man in front of him would likely understand better than most... "We won't be in your hair long."
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 24, 2009 18:23:04 GMT -5
Rosemary rolled her eyes at the look as turned to her father. Maybe she should just blurt everything out to piss off Pale even more. Maybe her father would be a little more accepting of the man if he knew the full situation.
And Pale had screwed up more than she did. She couldn't even talk to Rhi now. The thought made the fur on her tail stand on end. "It's more of a fact that he didn't know he could have children until a rather unfortunate twist of fate. He has a rather.... interesting story like you Dad. Though more Heart orientated than yours. Anyway, I brought them here for you and Mom to see. I figured it would be horrible of me to let you two not know about Linnea. Even if..." she took a sharp inhale as she felt tears in the corners of her eyes. She wasn't going to cry like this. Not right now.
Forge gave her a comforting mental nudge, knowing full well the room was entirely too "crowded" for him to come out.
Linnea remained comfortably perched on Pale's lap as she watched her grandfather. Her eyes were locked on his bright red as she watched him move. "Pretty..." she said quietly, the tip of her tail twitching.
Kazifel was taken aback by Rosemary's comment. Story like his? Did she mean... about the doll...? His face briefly flashed confusion until she went on, and he noticed the little squirrel staring at him. "Thank you, very much for coming. It means quite a lot to me, at the very least. I should go and wake up your mother...."
He carefully set down the tea and left to go and wake her.
Linnea made a disappointed sound as she watched the pretty leave.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 24, 2009 18:35:59 GMT -5
The tension in the room was rising, even though it seemed like Kazifel himself didn't have too much of a problem. Comparatively speaking, of course. Apocalypse shot Rosemary a sidelong glance, his brows furrowing as she looked like she was about to speak. Then she did. His entire body went tense, and his eyes lit up with a fury so deep it almost appeared that it would crawl right out of his face and strangle the woman. In an attempt to soothe himself he stroked his daughter's head again.
At least something good came of this. Even if it is her fault that she isn't a Heart.
Apocalypse forced another smile, feeling more entertained by his daughter than anything else. She liked red. That made sense... Maybe it was some inner and back-asswards Heart pride showing through? "Of course," he returned simply, forcing his expression back to a casual sort of smile, not betraying too much or too little. He was just doing right by his Linnea, after all.
That was almost enough, but the second Kazifel left, Apocalypse leaned in closer to Rosemary, gently putting his hands over the little girl's ears. She would know what this meant. Daddy had to lay the smackdown. "Don't," he whispered sharply, voice kept low enough that the conversation would be utterly private. "Don't you fucking dare. I'd really hate to eviscerate you with your best friend, but if you go spilling Court secrets then I suppose it'd be my job, wouldn't it?"
This was his story to tell, and he wouldn't let Rosemary do it for him. Feh.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 24, 2009 19:13:20 GMT -5
Linnea was confused when her ears were covered. She looked up at her Daddy with large around eyes as she watched his mouth move. Was he saying something important?
Rosemary was unimpressed by the threat. If it weren't for Pale part of her life wouldn't be like an open festering wound. Funny how that seemed to work. "My father was a Doll for about twenty years of his life. My mother and a Tulgey mage were the only way he became human again." She gave him a withering glare, "And what do you expect him to do? Run around telling everyone? He lives in the Wood and anyone on the Outside would think he was crazy. Furthermore its your fault I can't be friends with Rhi anymore because of your hatred of Clubs."
She growled. "So stop bitching about it. If I really wanted to screw up your entire life like you have mine, I would have spread your secret in Esterberry or Corvistowne. Be happy I still love Rhi despite her hatred towards me, otherwise you'd be on a dissection table."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 24, 2009 19:50:01 GMT -5
As Rosemary spoke, Apocalypse's face ran the gamut of emotions. Disbelief, fury, bewilderment, a flash of joy, and when it settled, he almost looked... depressed. Of course, this came right back to Rhiannon. How could he have expected that it wouldn't? She was still the center of his life, no matter how hard he tried to push away from it. How many times had she begged and pleaded with him to let her speak with a Club who had been a friend, only to forcibly restrain her from causing them actual harm the second they stopped speaking?
The man squared his shoulders and sat up a little straighter, his eyes narrowing. "I'm guessing your father didn't want to be a doll anymore." he replied simply, in a tone that implied very clearly that he was perfectly happy with being a Weapon. Then he snorted, turning away from her. Being alive was great. Except when it wasn't. "I never asked for this."
Then he took his hands off Linnea's ears, leaning in and kissing the girl's forehead, smiling reassuringly at her. When he reached for the tea to take a sip, waiting for their host to return, he was rather disappointed to find it was now slightly lukewarm. Just one more thing to blame Rosemary for in what already seemed to be a completely full book of excuses.
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