Work Text:
On a small side table in the library sits a blank book labeled “Clan Pregnancy Journal.” Inside the front cover is a note scrawled in Rei’s handwriting:
Please use this space to document your day-to-day experiences so we can better understand what is happening and address any problems.
*~*~*
All,
It is of the utmost importance that we maintain optimal physical health during this time. To that end, everyone should meet me in the courtyard at 5 am tomorrow for training.
Dante
I fully agree. I will assist with the training regimen.
I’ll be there!
What sort of training is it? I may join you after morning prayers.
No.
I apologize, but I must stay in my room for a while. Please don’t worry, and please stay away.
Lord Jackass, can I join you too?
Young lord,
You surely must have a death wish.
^^.
5am? Are you fucking kidding me?
Fine, I’ll be there, even though I’m not even having a kid.
Please refrain from using this space as your personal calendar. Also, I will not be joining you unless you would like to watch me vomit everything I’ve eaten in the last 24 hours.
You said this was a journal of our experiences. My experience is training my body. Besides which, most of these symptoms can be resolved with simple mind over matter. After all, I have yet to experience even one of these alleged effects of gestation. No doubt fueling your body with something heartier and undertaking some physical activity would benefit you greatly.
Mr. Rei,
If you’re feeling poorly, I can bring you a cup of ginger tea. Would that help? Healing magic is dubiously successful and not recommended for morning sickness.
Father Olivine,
Thank you, but I will be all right.
Sun Lord,
Would you prefer I prove my illness to you by emptying my stomach onto your bed?
Aster,
Please request that Chef refrain from adding so much sugar to the pastries. They were far too sweet last time. Perhaps cutting the amount in half would be reasonable?
All,
Where was everyone for training this morning? I waited, but the only one who showed up was the e-droid. You must stay vigilant if you wish to remain in excellent prenatal health.
Sun Lord Dante,
I’m sorry! Karu said you were asleep on the bench in the garden, and I didn’t want to wake you. I promise I’ll come next time!
Sun Lord Dante,
I apologize as well. When Edmond and I finished our morning prayers, we went to the courtyard, but no one else was there. Perhaps we were late?
Can you all please just do as I asked and describe how your body is feeling? Enough using this space to pass notes like you are students sitting through a dull lecture.
Master Rei,
If you wish to know how it feels, why not monitor your own symptoms, hm?
^^.
Old fox,
I can and have done so.
Master Rei,
Just who are you calling “old”? I am clearly in my prime.
^^.
Fine.
Today I spent the better part of the day meditating and training my body in preparation for birth. I have come across an old Solarian technique for discerning the gender of the unborn child. Using this method, I have determined I am expecting a male child. If anyone else would like to learn this skill, please let me know.
Sun Lord,
Oh, is it similar to what the priests use? I would love to learn!
Sun Lord Dante,
Are you sure? Karu and I think your scent smells more like it’s a girl.
Young lord,
Please do not use misdirection to cover for the fact that you have been practically hibernating for the last few weeks. Yesterday, I stumbled across you sleeping on the floor. Dishonesty is unbecoming.
^^.
Fox,
I would have been sleeping in my bed, except someone has removed all the pillows. I wonder who that could be.
Kuya,
The shitty little vampire said to tell you to please stop taking all the cushions from the lounge. No one has anywhere to sit anymore.
I have removed only the things I need.
^^.
By “removed” and “need” you mean making pillow forts in people’s bedrooms. What the hell are you doing, anyway?
Young master,
Surely even someone with as dull a mind as yours understands the need offspring have for a comfortable nest? Perhaps I should be grateful you are not the one bearing my kits.
^^.
Kuya,
Human children can’t sleep in a pile of pillows. They’ll suffocate. I am also glad Never mind.
Young master,
You too seem to have a death wish.
^^.
Ku-ku, helping you make cute nests is so so fun! Where should we put one next?
Aster,
Please request that Chef add extra sugar to the pastries. They were far too bland last time. Perhaps doubling the amount would be reasonable?
Eiden,
Do you have some time later? I wish to speak with you. It is absolutely not related at all to wanting to do that, although I would certainly not mind so please keep your thoughts clean.
Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do with my piercings? They hurt terribly, but I am afraid that removing them might close the holes and I will need to re-pierce my nipples.
Olivine,
I have some ointment that my mother sent. Would that help? I should warn you that it feels very good a bit unusual.
Olivine,
Wouldn’t you need to eventually take them out anyway to feed the baby? I don’t really have any experience with this, though.
You have a house full of people who would be more than happy to help you re-pierce your nipples. Would you mind if I sit in when you do? It would provide valuable information about your essence.
Master,
If you’re going to the market, can you bring back some of that pickled prickly pinefruit, some sour green berry ice cream, and a dozen mouse-pigeon eggs? Thanks!
Garu,
Sure thing! After all, you need to take extra care with two babies growing! Just be careful not to combine too many of those foods, okay?
Rei,
Is Yakumo quite all right? I haven’t seen him about lately, and he isn’t answering his door.
The serpent is fine. He’s guarding his eggs. Don’t worry, I have an eye on the situation.
Eggs? Eggs?!
Kuya,
Put the damn pillows back!
[No entry. Just tear stains and a smudged paw print]
Quin-quin, why are you so sad? I have extra handkerchiefs if you need them.
My old friend isn’t sad. He’s been moved to tears by the little knit cap the priest gifted him. This is what happens to humans when they reach his age and are experiencing the birth of their first child.
^^.
This is actually what happens when an aging human is pregnant with multiple kits because his pain-in-the-ass fox partner didn’t take proper precautions.
I see the number of people seeking death at my hands has increased by one.
^^.
Today I was thinking about what to call the little one, but I haven’t come up with anything I like. Has anyone else decided on possible names?
You need a good, strong name that will indicate your future hopes for your child. I can lend you a book of the most popular ones in Solaria.
Perhaps I could make some suggestions.
^^.
Troublesome.
Aster,
Please request that Chef refrain from adding so much sugar to the pastries. They were far too sweet last time. Perhaps cutting the amount in half would be reasonable?
Olivine,
What about a family name? Rei and I will be naming our children after family members who have passed on.
Vice-Captain,
When was that decided? Was I there? We will discuss this later.
Darling,
The “empathy belly” you made for me is so cute! I can’t wait to see what everyone’s super round, super cute bellies look like!
Pain-in-the-ass fox,
Stop setting things on fire. It’s hot as hell in here.
Offspring require warmth in the early days, that is true, but I was not the one who added more wood to the fire. Check with the young lord. I believe he prefers it hot enough to melt the paint off the walls.
^^.
I had nothing to do with the temperature.
Which of you fools ate all my sour green berry ice cream?
Aster,
Stop sending me with deliveries of ice and cold foods to Yakumo’s room. First he wants it hot, then cold, then hot, then cold. I’m losing my damn mind, shitty little vampire.
Aster,
Please request that Chef add extra sugar to the pastries. They were far too bland last time. Perhaps doubling the amount would be reasonable?
Eiden,
Do you recall that…conversation…we had? I would appreciate if we could discuss it again. Several times.
[No entry. A large, black scribble dotted with tear smudges and another paw print.]
Everyone,
This is getting out of hand. I’m so tired I can barely stay awake. Yakumo hisses at me every time I pass his door. Edmond has been in my room nearly every night for essence regulation. Normally that would be great, but it’s damn tiring. I think I’m getting sympathy pains in my chest from my gemstone resonating with Olivine’s? It’s weird and I have no idea why. Quincy sobs buckets if I so much as glance at him, and now I’m getting paranoid about doing anything that might make him cry. At the risk of having my ass burned, Kuya is driving all of us nuts with the pillow forts in every room. They are pretty cozy, though. Ahem! Garu keeps sending me out for the weirdest foods, but I have to admit, the marinated fire plums do go really well with monster milk cheese and spicy walnuts on a salad. I tried out Dante’s training routine, but both of us fell asleep before we could finish it. I am a little worried about Rei, who seems to be living on soup and some kind of nutritional powder. He must be feeling better because I think he’s messing with testing my essence again by putting something in the water that makes me have to pee constantly. I’m so stressed by this whole thing that I’m barely holding it together. This morning, my stomach was in knots, and I ended up puking up my breakfast from all the anxiety. I don’t know if it’s someone messing with the temperature in here or what, but I keep going hot and cold.
*~*~*
Eiden reads back over what he wrote, tears welling up. He’s not even sure exactly why he’s so upset, but being in the middle of things has been difficult. He wipes his eyes and finishes looking over the paragraph.
Something isn’t right.
No. Oh, no, no, no. It can’t be.
Leaving the book open to the page he was just writing on, Eiden leaps up, knocking over the chair. He races down the hallway.
“Rei!” he yells, banging on the door. “Fucking open up!”
Rei peeks out, looking worse for the wear with his hair a mess and dark circles under his eyes. Eiden almost regrets coming to see him. Almost.
“What is it?”
Eiden swallows. “We have a new problem.”
Rei’s eyes drift downward and then back up to meet Eiden’s. “Ah. Well, shit.”