Aftermath [Finished]

[carcinoGeneticist]

Why was he even still here? Apocalypse shifted again, feeling more and more uncomfortable as time passed. There was just too much tension, and there didn't seem to be a damn thing he could do to ease it. As soon as Xiven accepted the baby - Nerissa, he supposed she was - he stepped back towards the pen and the other infant, who's crying only seemed to get worse the longer he went without being touched.

Bloody suits, was he the only one who heard it? They were talking about him, sure, but neither made any move to actually... help the boy. It wasn't right for him to be the most sane person in the room. He eyed the women for a moment before scooping the little King up again, lightly flicking the boy's forehead. It was more of a pet, really, and he started to bounce the kitten absently, his pupils narrowing.

Maybe he didn't want children after all. Linnea had been so bloody easy, he hadn't imagined things would get this complicated. "What do you think of that, hmmm, Caith?" he asked the boy, lifting him into the air and nuzzling his chest. He felt very un-manly.

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven nodded emphatically at Mephit's suggestion. Yes, that seemed very fitting for the boy. And she was happy that her name suggestion fit the little baby in her arms that was still filled with rage.

The boy's cries didn't go unnoticed, she just couldn't exactly do anything about it. Every time she tried to move she ended up in pain. Operations, what wonderful things. If only she had a better ability to ignore pain, but then again maybe it was a good thing to feel such pain.

"Nerissa and Caith," She said quietly as she let the girl gnaw on her hand. "I think it's very fitting."

She glanced over to Mephit and Pale. The tension was still in the room. Mephit. She didn't look right, or act right. It was just... so strange that this child had her eyes. At least the little girl's fangs weren't poison... but she did seem to make the King uncomfortable.

[Vyn]

Mephit tried to keep calm, to not worry about the wrongness and the child... The child was apart of the wrongness. Instead she thought about names, and how the children were healthy. Xiven didn't look so upset anymore, either. That was why she was here, to be a good King. She kept reminding herself that and it seemed to work to keep the panic from attacking too heavily.

"Those are good names," Mephit agreed and smiled thankfully when Pale took the whining boy.

There, now things weren't so crazy.

She didn't want to physically touch either of the kids right now, touching seemed weird even though she couldn't figure out why. "Are you feeling better, Xiven?"


Caith was instantly all happiness and purring the moment he was being held again. He liked the attention, loved it. Being set all by himself was just awful. So he cooed and allowed himself to be lifted up and down, purring extra hard when he was nuzzled. The pale man had a stinky head that made the kitten sneeze and try to bat at the strands.

[carcinoGeneticist]

It was hard to resist the urge to listen in on the two women's conversation, and Apocalypse was feeling more and more uncomfortable by the second. He wondered if he should just leave. On second thought, he was almost positive that he should. He snuggled with the little boy for a moment longer, then lightly kissed his nose before tucking him in against his chest. "Shh, now, don't fuss, let's see if your momma wants to hold you..."

He raised his head, peering through his hair at the two women. Probably. Hopefully. He just knew that he couldn't deal with the weird feeling for a minute longer, and the new parents probably had a lot to talk about that they didn't need him to listen in for.

He stepped to Xiven's side, extending the boy for her, ready to snap him away if her reaction seemed to be anything other than favorable. "Here. I'll leave you two to discuss whatever you need to figure out. If... you need me," he paused, glancing at Mephit. He didn't know what to say to her, but the worry was still clear in his eyes. "...I'll just be right outside."

[Kari Muffin]

Feeling better? She shook her head. She honestly felt like someone had drop kicked her in the uterus. And that was pretty damn close to the truth. "Still feel like crap," she commented with a small shrug. She honestly wanted to just go back to sleep. It was easier than dealing with all that was going on right now.

Pale was getting along rather nicely with the boy. A smile crossed the feline's face. And he had been so worried about not being a good father. She gave a small happy sigh, promptly wincing at the feeling it caused. The newly dubbed Nerissa had finally fallen asleep at the very least.

She hesitated to take the boy. Pale was going to leave? She didn't want him too, and her expression might have given that away. But she ultimately took the child. It was difficult to get away from the fact that he looked so much like... that bastard. She could only hope he'd grow up to be a proper King. "All right, Pale," Xiven said quietly.

[Vyn]

Mephit's blue eyes shot to Pale when he mentioned leaving. What... was she supposed to do here? She felt like a fool just standing there, smiling, trying to pretend she was useful. The woman didn't have a clue about parenthood or... or anything, for that matter. She wanted to turn and just leave, but duty - she understood that - kept her nailed to the floor. The panic welled up and she pushed it down.

She nodded slightly, biting her lip when the simple movement stretched the dead tree along her back and ears. Oh suits, the pain was everywhere. Why had that blasted tree been so big? It would be nice if she could even remember her secret, but she didn't even have that much.

Slowly she moved over and settled onto the edge of the bed, staring at the two children. Nerissa. "I'm sorry things have been so... unusual."

Let me see, Nerissa. The weapon had been unusually silent in the back of Mephit's mind since the black out but suddenly it stirred back to life and grabbed for the child. She said nothing else, just pushed with urgency to see the little fanged child.

"How about I take Nerissa and give you a bit of a break from being chewed on?" She smiled, but it felt so false. At least the weapon would quiet down again.


Caith made a weak 'mew' as he was passed from Pale to Xiven again and he stared up at the woman with big, uncertain eyes before he realized that all was well again. Instantly he snuggled against against her and returned straight to purring. He was a needy kitten, but at least he was easily pacified.

(Sorry this took so long >_> Finally got things figured out with Mephit's weapon enough that I should be able to move it along fine now~)

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven offered Mephit the sleeping child so she could focus on the other little monster. It was difficult to get past the fact that he looked so much like her brother. Hopefully he would be a little less... everything. She just wanted him to be completely normal. And somehow she doubted that was even possible.

This entire situation was a boat load of awkward that she would like to get off of. Unfortunately it wasn't like she could abandon the children that she had given birth to. She had responsibilities, and she had to at least try to be a good Mother.

Even if she could already feel herself failing just as she looked at the boy. She scratched him lightly under the chin. What the hell was she going to do about him and his sister? Mephit wasn't... right and just... everything seemed to be falling apart. Maybe she was just tired and over reacting?

The little child that was handed to Mephit shifted into the blankets making a grumpy hissing sound.

[Vyn]

Mephit smiled briefly, a reflex, when Xiven handed her the child and her expression remained strained and blank as she stared at the infant in her hands.

What was she supposed to do with this? She held her with an awkward tenderness, trying to mimic what she would imagine a parent might do but none of the emotional connection was there. Was a parent supposed to feel nothing when looking at their child? Most likely not. Then again, Mephit could focus on very little at the moment just a constant... paranoia. One moment it seemed to stem from the weird child with her eyes and another it came from the room, from everywhere.

And then the weapon purred. In the back of her mind she could feel the press, the eagerness. It wanted out, wanted to see the baby, it was so intrigued. The very thought felt wrong. Everything did. Mephit ignored the unusual thoughts and grinned instead, moving the child to better see her and (secretly) to agitate her further. "Such a feisty child... What could make her so angry?"

Had Ophelia been there, she would've made nasty remarks about a similar fanged deer but she was not and Mephit's memory was, at the moment, frightfully hazy.

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven gave a small shrug, wincing at the pain she was feeling. Painkillers would be nice right about now. Or maybe they weren't working quite yet? The Queen bit the inside of her cheek as she watched the baby wiggle a bit in protest. "I'm not sure really... all my other children were far more well behaved.."

The cat-deer kicked lamely as it was shifted. The hiss grew louder as it struggled. Why was it being bothered by these people? It snapped it's mouth when it Xiven reached out to carefully brush the little girl's head. Her hand instantly retracted at the snapping.

"Maybe we should let her sleep a bit more?" Xiven asked as she looked at the baby in the blanket. Her unnatural eyes staring back at her. What exactly had happened to Mephit and did this little child have something to do with it?

[Vyn]

Mephit still felt that strange unpleasant stirring when she looked at the child, but the weapon's insistent fondness drowned that out. In fact, she just felt drowned out by the weapon on a whole. Perhaps she was still dizzy? Definitely not entirely herself, that was certain. Xiven's suggestion received a small nod from Mephit (though the weapon hissed in protest) and she carried the child back to its cradle.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate that more than being toyed with more."

The fluffy little boy wiggled upon the return of his sister, purring energetically though he would most likely just receive abuse from the other infant. How unfortunate, Mephit thought to herself but the momentary smirk that had touched her muzzle was wiped away as a wave of dizziness hit her as she straightened once more... Hm, that really wasn't good?

"I think I should probably step away and speak to someone about this concussion I seem to have." Mephit forced a smile, awkward though it was. "Perhaps you should rest as well? I'm sure you're still in pain." She would make sure to send either Pale or the nurse in to tend to Xiven once she left so that her Queen got the proper pain relievers.