Issue 1 Downtime

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:54 pm**

It had been a peaceful night of Claire watching the baby. She'd fussed a bit, but for the most part hadn't been much trouble. It was a fact that had allowed Claire at least some time to breathe and go to wash out the nursing bottle.

In the other room though, the baby unexpectedly started to laugh and coo.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:58 pm**

Claire gets up, easing the door open.

"You okay, little one?"

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:01 pm**

Indeed, the wee one seemed rather entertained. The source of this entertainment was apparently a gangly creature not unlike an arthritic gibbon, a single horn protruding from its forehead. It made a number of absurd faces at the baby as it perched on the edge of her crib.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:02 pm**

Claire frowns, looking annoyed as she steps into the room.

"Enough of that. Get away from her," Claire says in that rather severe tone nurses can pull out at will.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:04 pm**

The thing shrieked, taking a leap to swing off of the mobile that hung over the crib, before vaulting at Claire, biting and scratching!

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:10 pm**

Claire grabs the blanket over her shoulder and throws it at the creature's face.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:12 pm**

The creature, faced suddenly with a palpable, primal uncertainty regarding its own existence or lack thereof, struggled under the blanket for a few moments before dissolving to a mist that smelled rather like flatulence on taco night.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:35 pm**

Victoria, her shopping in hand, frowned as her hand hovered over the doorknob. Something feels... oh my goddess, why am I just fucking standing here thinking if something FEELS WRONG IN THERE! The door unlocked with a click, simply because she wanted it to, and she threw the door open, shopping bags falling forgotten next to the doorway as she hurried into the room.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:31 pm**

Claire had started to move to check on the baby, but when Victoria enters the room she simply steps aside to let the mother handle things without a word.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:34 pm**

Victoria looked around in a slight panic. "What happened? Something happened, what happened?" she asked, making sure that her baby was all right, then looking frantically around the room.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:36 pm**

Claire picked up the blanket, folding it calmly.

"A nasty little creature was bothering Vivien. I got rid of it," Claire says.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:40 pm**

Victoria blinked, then shuddered and picked the baby up reflexively. "What did it look like?" she asked, trying to sound calm, which she absolutely was not.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:45 pm**

"Like an ugly looking overgrown monkey with a horn," Claire says, "It didn't seem particularly dangerous. But it did wake up the baby and tried to attack me when I asked it to leave."

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:58 pm**

Victoria shuddered. "Oh goddess... I..." What is it? Well, it doesn't matter, it's not mine, and it can't be Morgana's, so... doesn't matter. Just have to ward the place. "...I can fix this," she said, trying to convince herself.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:01 pm**

"Can I help?" Claire asks, actually looking a little concerned now.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:02 pm**

"I... maybe," she said, trying not to sound helpless. "I... should be able to take care of the baby during breaks, or before meditating, but..." Oh goddess, who am I kidding, how am I supposed to do a four-hour warding ritual with a baby who's likely to wake up crying at any minute...

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:11 pm**

"I can work longer shifts for you," Claire suggests gently.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:29 pm**

She swallowed. "It... would just be four hours. Maybe five if it gets a little complicated. I just... " She squeezed her eyes shut. "Goddess, I'm a horrible mother..."

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:33 pm**

Claire shakes her head, "You're fine. You're just feeling overwhelmed."

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:48 pm**

"How many parents do you know that've had wild fae or devils or whatever the fuck that was creeping around their babies?" Victoria asked in a tired voice.

Posted: **Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:56 pm**

"None," Claire admits.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:08 am**

"Or need a sitter because they have to spend four hours drawing runes and sacrificing a duck to keep their baby safe at night?"

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:11 am**

"Well, that's pretty common I believe," Claire says.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:34 pm**

Victoria burst into a frustrated half-laugh... which really just went to show how much this was all wearing on her. Then she sank down onto the sofa, elbows on her knees and head in her hands.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:16 pm**

Claire stood awkwardly, "...So, what are you going to do?"

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:28 pm**

"Magic, basically," Victoria said, her voice somewhat muffled. "I mean, I can get into details if you want. But basically I'm going to lock the room up harder to keep things like that from getting in. I think. I hope."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:30 pm**

Claire takes a step forward and hesitantly puts a hand on Victoria's shoulder.

"It'll be alright," Claire says, her best attempt at being comforting.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:41 pm**

Victoria leaned her cheek reflexively against Claire's hand, her normally-cool skin probably feeling icy to Claire. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I... really hope so. And... thank you. I'd have been even more of a bloody mess the past few weeks if it weren't for you."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:45 pm**

Claire fights down the urge to shiver at Victoria's touch, "It's not a problem. We're friends, right? That's what friends do. They look out for each other."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:49 pm**

Victoria managed a smile. "I don't really know anyone who'd say that I make a good friend," she admitted, a bit regretfully.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:51 pm**

"Haven't crossed me yet, so there's one at least," Claire says, "Hungry? I could whip you up something to eat."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 7:11 pm**

Victoria sighed. "Yes, but no. I ought to fast if I'm going to be doing this." Goddess, I hate rituals... "Besides, I should be making you something."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:56 pm**

Claire laughs, "I'm fine. You're the one that's going to be scaring off the boogey monsters. You should at least get a chance to relax a little first."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:59 pm**

Victoria laughed weakly at that. "I haven't relaxed in months, darling, and I don't see myself getting to any time soon." She smiled, patting the couch. "Tell you what... take a seat, I'll order in, and I'll try to relax."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:02 pm**

"Sounds like a good compromise to me," Claire says with a smile, stretching a bit before taking a seat on the couch.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:12 pm**

Victoria smiled a bit, then walked across to pick up her cell phone, picking up the baby along the way and letting her sleep on her chest as she sat back down on the couch. "Anything sound good? Just not pizza, it still isn't quite agreeing with me."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:13 pm**

"Food," Claire says with a grin, "Preferably tasty."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:16 pm**

"You know, I do need to practice spanking for when she gets old enough to be that contrary," Victoria said with a mock glare at Claire as she dialed up the Chinese place and, in Chinese, placed an order.

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:20 pm**

Claire laughs, "Contrary? I'm not contrary. In fact, I'm going to have to disagree with you and say I'm the least contrary person you'll ever meet."

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:24 pm**

"If I didn't have a baby on my chest right now, I'd put you over my knee, young lady," Victoria said with a smirk.

Issue 1 Downtime

I8DT - Mind the Baby

I8DT - Mind the Baby

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