Chapter Text
A soft rustling was heard as the camera was adjusted, shaking the recorder quite a bit. The noises of soft humming were made clear in the background. One tiny, blue hand covered the lens, smudging it, though it soon moved out of frame. The camera focused, showing a young troll lying on his stomach with one hand caressing a pale green egg. Atop the egg sprouted a tiny bit of yellow hair. The egg sat on a bed, surrounded by blankets and pillows to keep it staying upright and warm. The touch was gentle for a child his age, and he had a grin on his face as he hummed. “JD, wave to the camera!” Giggled a voice from behind the recorder.
JD, or more accurately John Dory, glanced over, smile broadening as he waved to the camera and its holder. “Spruce, c’mere. Look at your sibling. Can you believe it?” Said the eldest, giving the egg a small pat. “You’re gonna be an older brother! I promise it’s fun.” Stated John Dory as he attempted to fix the camera in Spruce’s tiny hands. The younger swatted the hands away, instead turning it on the egg. “I know, but I don’t really wanna share my toys.” Spruce whined, accidentally zooming in on the egg. “I didn’t want to either, but I had to. It’s not that bad.” John Dory responded with a small shrug, his face still shining with a smile.
Spruce huffed, both at the reply and his struggles to fix the camera. “Y’know, I got this from Grandma’s room. She never really used it, anyway, but we can! I’m gonna get so many funny videos of our sibling.” He rambled, some strands of purple hair covering a part of the lens. “What's the name gonna be?” Spruce then asked, making John Dory’s brows furrow. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it for a bit. Grandma let me name you, so I’m trying to come up with a name almost as good as yours.” The older brother rested his head atop his hands, deep in thought.
“Huh. Well, there’s lotsa good names, right? I don’t know any, but you do,” Spruce exclaimed, turning the camera to his brother. “I was thinking about Quill or Clay.. Something starting with a K, I think that’d look cool.” John Dory said, kicking his legs as his tail flicked. The younger brother nodded before commenting, “it would be, but I like Clay more.” John Dory hummed at that, offering a small nod. “Me too.” A thick, uncharacteristic silence filled the air for a second, the two and the camera watching the egg with rapt attention.
A sigh came from John Dory as he sat up, shooting a glance at the door. “Grandma might want me to help her with dinner soon.” He commented offhandedly. “Oh! I like your dinner! Better than whatever Granite gives his kids.. I never, ever wanna eat their food again!” Spruce exclaimed, turning the camera around to show his scrunched up, angry face. John Dory chuckled at that, mirth filling his eyes. “You won’t, don’t worry.” He said, hopping off the bed.
“Now turn the camera off and get ready for bed, yeah?” John Dory affectionately ruffled Spruce's thick hair. “Okay!” The younger brother searched for the off button, the camera still facing him. His tail curled in mild frustration, grunting to himself, as John Dory walked out of the room. He then accidentally turned on the flash on the camera, the sudden bright light making him wince as he immediately turned it off. “Where is it..” He mumbled before a loud crack filled the room.
Spruce’s head snapped up, looking at the green and yellow egg. His gasp when he noticed the large crack was loud, and he whipped the camera around to record the hatching. “No way..” He murmured before calling out, “John Dory! Grandma! It’s hatching!” Spruce was practically quivering with excitement when his eldest brother was next to him not a second later. “What? You’re kidding!” Spruce shook his head, “nuh uh, look!” He pointed to the crack, a second one quickly forming. Soon enough, there was another, and another. Eventually, Grandma Rosiepuff had entered the room. “Oh, really Spruce? Well that’s rather early.” She commented, unseen from behind the camera and its holder.
John Dory huddled closer to the egg, taking it into his hands. “I can’t believe this is on the camera!” Spruce said, wonder in his voice. He gently placed said camera down on the bed, making sure it faced John Dory as he held the egg. “Right? So cool..” Both young trolls smiled when there was a final crack and a head poked out. “Hi Clay..” Murmured the eldest, hugging him closer. “I’m your big brother.” Spruce got up on his tiptoes, peeking at the little Clay. “I am too! I’ve got a younger brother and an older brother now!” He commented, cheer present in his voice as he continued, “you’re pretty slimy.” Was all Spruce said.
Rosiepuff, just barely present by the corner of the screen, spoke gently. “That’s right, Spruce. We’ll get him cleaned up and we can all have dinner together.” John Dory turned to her, nodding. “Yup! Do you like the name I picked for him?” He questioned eagerly. “Spruce helped,” he added, Rosiepuff nodding. “It’s fitting.” Was her brief reply before she ushered him away, following suit. Spruce quickly snagged the camera from its place on the bed, following the two. John Dory still held Clay tightly as he padded into the bathroom, filling the sink with warm water.
“Why not the tub?” Asked Spruce, him and the camera looking at the baby. “Tub’s too big. ‘Sides, i’m just rinsing him off.” There was a small moment of silence, before an admittedly heavy question was spoken by Spruce. “Do you think dad’ll come back? And stay?” He looked up at his older brother, eyes hopeful. “I dunno.” Was the only response from John Dory, hopefully left unsaid. The eldest’s tail curled around his own leg as a small source of comfort as he finished quickly cleaning Clay, right as Rosiepuff reentered the room.
“All done? I’ll hold the little one soon.” She mentioned before turning to the purple-haired troll. “Now Spruce, turn that camera off, okay? The baby doesn’t need a camera right in his face right now.” The middle troll’s tail flicked in acknowledgement, going to turn off the recorder. Rosiepuff patted both boys on the shoulder, turning to finish whatever had to be done with their dinner. “This was so cool.. I can’t wait to use this all the time!” Were the last words on the tape, a small hum of agreement coming from John Dory whilst the two stepped out of the bathroom, the tape coming to an end.