What to do with a baby bump? [DONE]

[Kari Muffin]

Oh that wouldn't do at all. That sarcastic little apology and then practically saying that the Court of Spades was "good enough" to raise a child. If Zether was partly his responsibility that wouldn't do at all.

"Sorry? You think that magically makes everything better?" Christopher said as he leaned forward, completely ignoring the glass that the child had knocked to the ground. "You haven't even taught him simple manners and you think a smile sorry is going to make a difference. Honestly they didn't teach you the meaning of the word in the Court of Spades. Which, frankly, doesn't compare to Esterberry in the slightest when it comes to proper education."

With that said he snatched up the glass that had fallen to the floor. Thank the bloody suits he had given the boy water rather than something that would stain his white carpets.

"If you want me to be in his life he's going to get an Esterberry education." He used his matter of fact tone for that statement.

[Greenie]

Dysthymia couldn't help himself and snorted. 'Magically makes everything better'? He'd thought the sarcasm had said otherwise. Obviously someone hadn't quite picked up on that.. or felt like being an ass anyways, either was quite possible. "He's hardly old enough to walk, let alone learn manners. If you'd been paying attention, you'd know that. The sorry was hardly a sorry at all, so no, it's not going to make any difference."

He watched as he picked up the glass, an eyebrow still risen at the manners comment. The kid couldn't even talk and he was supposed to know manners already? High expectations much? Well, fine. If he wanted Zether to be so intelligent, he could damn well do it yourself. "You want him to have an Esterberry education? Then you can damned well come to Spades and give him one yourself, because he's not staying here." The ferret sat back and stared over at him, daring him to challenge it. He vaguely wondered how they'd gone from 'having a conversation' to arguing so quickly, but didn't question it if it got him what he wanted.

Zether blinked when the glass was suddenly gone, then whimpered a bit when he got no attention. A bit dejected, the puppy slunk back over to Mia and sat at his feet, absently playing with a string of carpetting since he had nothing else to play with, and could sense that he would get in trouble for bothering his mother.

[Kari Muffin]

Ahahaha. That was wonderful. Christopher's lip twitched as he tried not to smirk. This was aggravating and absolutely ridiculous. What he hell had Dysthymia bothered to come all the way to Esterberry if he was going to be as dense as a post?

"If you had been paying attention you would have realized that you're very much in my home in Esterberry. If you didn't want my opinion on raising Zether, then you shouldn't have bothered to come here." Christopher growled as he set the glass on the coffee table.

The canine's eye twitched at the Court of Spades comment. "Using him as leverage to drag me to the court of Spades is something a simpleton like you would do, isn't it? It never occurred to you that you could easily hire a skilled tutor for the boy at the Court of Spades? With your intelligence I would be surprised of the the boy grew up to be a halfwit."

[Greenie]

"Really. Am I?" Mia questioned, looking around as if he'd suddenly realised where he was, then turned to give him a completely innocent look. "I thought I was just visiting the asshole that got me pregnant. Sorry, next time I'll get it right. No shit I know where I am. I never said anything about not wanting your opinion, I merely suggested doing it yourself."

Though he was somewhat satisfied at the twitch - it meant he was getting somewhere, even if Christopher wouldn't admit it - Mia barely managed to keep from rolling his eyes. Sweet Suits, he was annoying sometimes. He put his hand over his eyes for a minute and forced himself to calm down before he said something he'd actually regret - the list wasn't long, but it existed. "Look. I don't care, I really don't. If you want him to get your fancy education, then you can damn well do it yourself, or he'll learn from whoever happens to be at Spades - I certainly don't have time to teach him myself, nor do I have time to find a proper tutor." He paused, his eyes narrowing, "Insulting my intelligence isn't going to get you anywhere." Even if you don't know what you want, He silently added, glaring.

He knew this was a bad idea. Too bad he never thought about it beforehand..

[Kari Muffin]

If that's how he wanted to play the game...

"Oh your Excellency I'm so very sorry I misspoke." Christopher said with a flourish of his hands, the sarcasm dripping off of his voice. "It never occurred to me that someone as brilliant as you would come all the way to Esterberry just to say hello and wouldn't have the time to find a proper education for their very own child."

The canine snorted. "Why are you here if you're so determined to prove me wrong? You say you don't have time to find a tutor but you obviously had time to come to Esterberry and you took time away from courts when you were pregnant. Finding proper educational instruction isn't a difficult task--but apparently simple task are too taxing for titled court members." He rolled his eyes. "If you're so content on being stubborn get out of my house."

[Greenie]

"Oh for the love of God." Mia swore, and pinched the bridge of his nose before he just ended up verbalizing the stream of swears going through his head. He was trying, actually trying to be semi-nice about it, and all Christopher was doing was bitching back at him. At this point he wasn't even sure what Christopher was going on about - prove him wrong on what? That he didn't care if the kid didn't get an education? At this point he really didn't. Education wasn't necessary for half the possibilities in life, and it was obvious that Zether was highly intelligent naturally, so he'd be fine without some prissass Esterberry teaching him he was better than everybody else.

Suits, maybe he was better off without Christopher teaching him..

"Fine. I was trying to- Nevermind." He abruptly cut off, his energy dropping like a rock. Hurt, but too proud and pissed off to admit it, the ferret pushed himself off the chair and simultaneously grabbed Zether by the scruff of his neck. He wordlessly hefted the puppy onto his back and headed for the doorway, fully intending to go find a tree to sit and think under until he could come up with something better to do.

[Kari Muffin]

Christopher clapped his hands together three times when Mia began his march to the door. "Your feeble attempts at kindness were greatly appreciated. Your Excellency I'm so very happy you could come to visit my humble abode."

He rose and swiftly made his way to the door. A smirk graced his face and reached for ear to ear. He opened the door to allow the ferret and child to exit. "I do hope you have a place to stay the night, because if you come crawling back I might be out having a wonderful time all to myself."

No. He didn't feel a bit of pity or remorse for Dysthymia. If he wanted to say that education wasn't important, he could. If he wanted to come here and make demands, he could. Of course he was going to leave empty handed. It was a small victory for the Esterberry, but any victory was sweet.

[Greenie]

Mia rolled his eyes and just calmly walked out the front door, not much paying attention to the puppy that was nearly falling off. If Christopher wanted him to leave.. he would. No fights, no arguments - clearly this entire trip had been a waste, and he would have been better off just simply not informing him in the first place. It was the saluki's own damned choice if he didn't want to be a part of Zether's life, and as much as it pissed Mia off there wasn't anything he could do about it - and he certainly wasn't leaving him here.

The ferret didn't have a place to stay - he had expected to either have found a motel, been offered a room or would have been gone in time to find somewhere a town over, but none of the options had happened. Ah well. He'd spent nights outside before, thanks to his mother, but Zether hadn't.. and this wasn't the City. Mia couldn't help himself though, just as the door was closing he flicked the Esterberry off - he wasn't above small victories himself. Asshat. Why had he slept with him in the first place? Odd, how he couldn't remember anymore. Mia almost wished he'd been drunk, so he had a viable excuse now.

He sighed and gently detatched Zether from where he was clinging to his fur, and set him down in the grass to romp around while he sat at the base of a tree, broodingly staring while he tried to figure out why what had just happened happened.

Perhaps he'd just leave and send another letter informing Christopher of his plans to leave him with some 'simpleton' family he'd dug up over in the Lakes - and that being the Excellency he was, he obviously had no time for a child.

It would be completely false and Christopher would probably just laugh.. but it would make him feel better.

[Kari Muffin]

The Esterberry cheerfully slammed the door behind the pair, completely ignoring the ferret's rude gesture. Honestly, he could careless what that uncultured boy thought of him and his attitude. Once Mia brooded properly he would realized that setting some bridges on fire was a bad idea, especially when you had no place to go and a child in tow.

He smirked at his small victory as he went to actually drink his tea--which was now cold blast it--and clean up the kitchen a bit. Christopher wasn't about to worry about the pair of them when he had things to do. After he cleaned the kitchen he would sit and read a relaxing book, maybe break out a bit of scotch and probably go over some material for the lecture he was supposed to give that week at the university. Everything would work out for the better as long as he let things cool off.

He was right after all.

[Greenie]

Contrary to that, Mia had no regrets about what had happened other than simply having come in the first place. The argument, if you could call it that, had made him realise that he was better off on his own for now, and until Christopher made a decision to be involved, it would do neither of them any good to push it - Mia most of all. Plus, he was an asshole, which didn't help whatsoever.

The two of them made it back to Spades in one piece, though a bit tired. The ferret finally just activated his speed ability and made it halfway through Esterberry until they hit a fairly urban town, where they were able to find a motel for the night. Mia immediately begged Vessatha to keep Zether for a few weeks, at least until he'd figured out a way to take care of him and get his work done at the same time.

Except it didn't work quite that well.