|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 10, 2009 4:28:08 GMT -5
Alexander and Armand hit the castle running-- Alexander went straight to find their dad, and Armand went straight to find Zizzy.
He half-flew into their now joined room, mentally willing his urgency down a few notches. He tended to blow things out of proportion when the welfare of his family came into question.
Odd... he hadn't thought of them... Zizzy, the baby... like that before. Family had always been Alexander, Genn... his parents, and they still were. But Zizzy was his family.
"Zizzy?" he called.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 10, 2009 4:38:20 GMT -5
Zizzy was snuggled up in a chair that faced the large window, which would explain why Armand hadn't seen her. She was enveloped in a blanket she'd pulled of their bed and when he came in she put the book down and turned around in her seat so that she was kneeling on the cushion, facing him now.
He looked worried, tired, and immediately her stomach dropped. "What is it? What's wrong?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 10, 2009 4:42:23 GMT -5
He smiled a little, seeing her, despite himself. "You look snug," he commented, giving her a kiss on the top of her forehead.
And then, on to seriousness. He sighed. "Something's happened with the Edge, with Nightmare's... and probably Dream's too... ability to get fear." He repeated the story he and Alexander had already told October, and would soon relate to everyone else.
He ended with, "Alexander was able to get through... but it practically wiped him out, and you know how powerful he is..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 10, 2009 8:13:39 GMT -5
Zizzy digested this in silence. If Alexander could barely get through, there wasn't a chance she'd manage. And it had already been a few days since she'd last fed and she was so much more hungry than she usually was.
"This is bad." She said (thank you Captain Obvious). "I won't be able to get in, I'm not that scary." The meaning of the news slowly sunk in. There would be panic, starvation...what a perfect time to be pregnant. "The baby...Armand, this is really bad. I need more Fear than normal, what're we going to do?"
Of course, this was just how the universe worked. When more Fear was necessary for her survival, there was a Isle-wide food crisis.
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 10, 2009 19:59:34 GMT -5
"I know," he said, stroking his thumbs down her cheeks in an effort to better relax her. He'd thought of all those things already, in addition to not being able to provide for them himself.
"But we'll be fine. My family isn't just going to let us starve, and we have more than one strong Nightmare among us. It'll be okay."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 10, 2009 22:51:45 GMT -5
Zizzy's mouth twisted into a worried frown, "But there will be so little. I can't ask for more than everyone else." She wanted to, to insure their son survived, but she doubted she was the only pregnant woman in Morpheus, and some of them would be unable to ensure they got enough.
"It's not fair. Some people won't get any, will they?" The enormity of this issue was threatening to swallow her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 12, 2009 22:08:49 GMT -5
The edges of his mouth tipped just slightly up. "And you think you wouldn't make a good Queen." Kissing her brow (these little touches nearly tripled in quantity at times of stress), he sighed, choosing his words. "There's a good chance some won't be able to attain food at all," he admitted. "But I promise you will be taken care of."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 12, 2009 22:33:38 GMT -5
It was frightening, too much, too big, too suddenly. Just the other day things had been fine without a dark cloud in the sky (figuratively, at least), and now the entire Isle was in horrible danger. She smirked a little at the Queen comment, but held back the snort of derision.
Usually, Armand could soothe her, but her imagination kept slipping away to paint horrific scenes in her head and whisper apocalyptic thoughts that made her heart sick. "I know." Her lips twisted into a small smile. It was hard to balance feeling sure that you wouldn't starve with the guilt that others would.
"You will too right? I want you to eat in front of me." It was too easy to imagine Armand giving her his portion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 12, 2009 22:49:29 GMT -5
He raised an eyebrow. "Don't trust me?" he questioned dryly.
Well, she was right (he wasn't sure whether to feel annoyed or touched that she knew him so well). He wouldn't give up his portion every time, but certainly he planned to go without so she could go with.
"It will be hard," he told her, softly, with a small laugh devoid of much warmth. "Rotten timing."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 12, 2009 23:27:12 GMT -5
She grinned and shook her head, "I know you too well to do that." She teased. It felt nice to joke around a bit. But it couldn't, wouldn't last for long before she was back to considering the near-hopelessness of the situation.
Zizzy leaned against him, "My timing is usually this impeccable. I'm going to be a burden."
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 12, 2009 23:35:29 GMT -5
He would be as much of a burden as she was-- utterly incapable, as he was, of obtaining any fear. He hated feeling so dependant on the actions of others for the well-being of his family, but there wasn't a lot he could do to fix it.
"Nah," he said in a dismissive, carefree tone. "You're too pretty. People are happy to serve you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 13, 2009 0:17:14 GMT -5
Zizzy laughed outright and pulled him down by the collar of his shirt so she could kiss him. She realized then that she must have been getting a little less hormonal, since her reaction to his overwhelming bad news had not been dramatic or preposterous. Zizzy hadn't really felt pregnant, she was still barely showing and it probably didn't help she was so small to begin with.
But that had changed. "I felt the baby move today. It's like little butterflies." She danced her fingers along his neck to demonstrate the sensation best she could. Looking up at him she sighed, negative thoughts kept pushing their way in as much as she tried to force them out. "Is he going to be okay?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 14, 2009 19:47:54 GMT -5
He couldn't find the sincerity he wanted to put into his reply; he didn't know, how could anyone say for certain during times like this? "Yes," he whispered and kissed her. One hand fell from her face to move over her stomach, caressing where she had felt the life of their child-- willing the statement to be true.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Jan 14, 2009 21:10:51 GMT -5
Zizzy reacted to the kiss like a person lost in the desert might to an oasis. "Come on. I want to do something before it's too late." She knew the amount of Fear she'd be getting would be enough to keep her alive, but in what state was the question. She doubted she'd be out and about, running around and full of energy. And even if she was, who knew what the streets would be like, if the Monarchy would be appreciated or hated.
She slipped off the chair, leaving the blanket behind. "You've put it off for too long, I want to see your special place. I know, I know, I'm pregnant and it probably involves strenuous physical activity, but if we have to climb two inches and take an hour break, I want to see it before things...spiral." Zizzy fit herself against him wrapping her arms around his neck and made puppy-dog eyes at him. "Please?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Jan 14, 2009 21:37:02 GMT -5
"You are pregnant, and it does involve strenuous physical activity," he said, with dry defeat, since he already knew he would give in to her request. "And I am not soliciting this... but okay."
|
|
