[ He slips on the ring she gave him- the roots weaving up to protect them from view. It settles him more than a little to have this- one basket he opens to lay out their meal, little dried sausages, wedges of cheese, butter, bread, berries, and a bowl of thick hearty stew. ]
[Ah, this is much better. The little dome, the privacy. She pops a berry into her mouth, then starts picking out her meal properly from the rest. She does have a weakness for sausages.]
Dare I guess what the other has?
[Zevran can be sweet and spontaneous, though not exactly her choice for a mate, and his presents are always very thoughtful.]
[ Nestled within little Luccio is dozing, blonde curls framing his face, pointed ears peeking through. Small and tanned and with a nose that very much resembles Zevran's though quite a bit smaller-
[She opens the basket and it's absolutely the last thing she could possibly have expected. She gasps, takes a second to register that he is not actually giving her a baby, comes down from a spike of panic, and then begins fingering the edge of the basket in lieu of touching the baby. Touching the baby might wake it, and it's always a bad idea to wake a sleeping baby.]
Oh.
[She doesn't ask how this happened because...duh. She just stares, trying to make the reality that was a second ago meet the reality that is now.]
[ It still feels strange to say that- my son. His son. For the moment Lucci remains asleep and oblivious- but his nap is due to be over soon and there will be much squirming indeed. ]
I did not know I had a son until two weeks ago. I have been trying to keep it quiet as I was uncertain if I would keep him here with me or not. But the longer I have thought on it- the more I realized that anyone I would trust with his care? Is already in Skyhold.
[ Zevran slips a hand into the basket, fingers combing through Lucci's hair. ]
Serena would have kept him but she is to marry a Merchant Prince. He would not have been safe with her.
Most babies do. [One reason a sensible braid is her default style. She lifts the baby and props him against her shoulder before flipping him around so he can look out, even with so little to see.]
Do you see Papa, da'len? Do you see Papa?
[It's still surreal, Zevran having a baby, though it makes plenty of its own sense. Her feelings on the matter are settling into joy. Babies are always a joyful thing.]
[ Lucci squeals happily, fat little fingers reaching for Zevran's hand as soon as it's offered.
Simply hearing that, himself referred to as Papa- it cuts at something old and forgotten in him. Leliana had been right. This is what he wants. What will be best for both of them. ]
I have been assured he is perfectly healthy and Mia has been helping me mind him.
[She scoffs faintly, but really, she doesn't think Mia would do poorly with a baby. It might be what she needs to unwind, actually. A few little ones of her own so she isn't controlling everyone else.]
He's perfect, Zevran. I--is that why your apprentices have been all over the library these last couple of weeks?
Yes. She has been a blessing, truly. Without her help I wouldn't have time to sleep myself.
[ Lucci catches hold of his fingers and, as expected, pops it in his mouth to gum. ]
For books on child rearing? Yes. But much of the information is conflicting. Let them sleep on their own, let them sleep with you, use brandy soaked cloth for them to suck on, use mint- I have been muddling through.
That's how it goes for every child. [She peers at Lucci's face as he gnaws Zevran's fingers.] He's teething. I can make icy rags for that, for when he starts crying. Put them in a box of ice and they'll last a good long time.
I've been using rags with corners soaked in a tincture of elfroot, mint, and honey. I tried brandy at first but the face Mia made...Ice would work well.
Don't let Mia control you. Though on this, she and I have to agree. Brandy will only irritate what's already sore.
[She bounces the boy a little.]
Though all three of those herbs are good for this, and taste pleasant to him. I could make you a box of rags like that, frozen. All together, it would be perfect.
You've nothing to worry about. She told me never to speak to her again, and she seems the sort to mean it.
[She smiles down at Lucci.]
Cold silence is probably the worst you can expect. Isn't that so, da'len? Grown-ups who don't like each other just accept that they don't have to talk to each other. Isn't that much better than war and feuding?
We're not feuding, she just hates me. I was helping Cullen with something secret and didn't let her in on it until he said it was all right. She didn't like that.
She does become terribly concerned with such things, and Fereldans tend to have rather personal interpretations of honesty and honor. But- she is dear to me, as are you, and you shall both have a place in Lucci's life.
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[ He slips on the ring she gave him- the roots weaving up to protect them from view. It settles him more than a little to have this- one basket he opens to lay out their meal, little dried sausages, wedges of cheese, butter, bread, berries, and a bowl of thick hearty stew. ]
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Dare I guess what the other has?
[Zevran can be sweet and spontaneous, though not exactly her choice for a mate, and his presents are always very thoughtful.]
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[ Nestled within little Luccio is dozing, blonde curls framing his face, pointed ears peeking through. Small and tanned and with a nose that very much resembles Zevran's though quite a bit smaller-
It is no question that this is his child. ]
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Oh.
[She doesn't ask how this happened because...duh. She just stares, trying to make the reality that was a second ago meet the reality that is now.]
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[ It still feels strange to say that- my son. His son. For the moment Lucci remains asleep and oblivious- but his nap is due to be over soon and there will be much squirming indeed. ]
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[Stating the obvious because she cannot yet fathom anything else.]
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[ Zevran slips a hand into the basket, fingers combing through Lucci's hair. ]
Serena would have kept him but she is to marry a Merchant Prince. He would not have been safe with her.
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[It catches in her chest, as she looks at him. The part of her heart that is already a mother, and has no child.]
He's beautiful. May I--?
[Everyone wants to hold a baby.]
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[ Lucci's squirming himself awake already, blinking bright, blue eyes up at both his father and Pel. Almost immediately, he's smiling. ]
I would caution you- he likes to pull hair.
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Do you see Papa, da'len? Do you see Papa?
[It's still surreal, Zevran having a baby, though it makes plenty of its own sense. Her feelings on the matter are settling into joy. Babies are always a joyful thing.]
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[ Lucci squeals happily, fat little fingers reaching for Zevran's hand as soon as it's offered.
Simply hearing that, himself referred to as Papa- it cuts at something old and forgotten in him. Leliana had been right. This is what he wants. What will be best for both of them. ]
I have been assured he is perfectly healthy and Mia has been helping me mind him.
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[She scoffs faintly, but really, she doesn't think Mia would do poorly with a baby. It might be what she needs to unwind, actually. A few little ones of her own so she isn't controlling everyone else.]
He's perfect, Zevran. I--is that why your apprentices have been all over the library these last couple of weeks?
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[ Lucci catches hold of his fingers and, as expected, pops it in his mouth to gum. ]
For books on child rearing? Yes. But much of the information is conflicting. Let them sleep on their own, let them sleep with you, use brandy soaked cloth for them to suck on, use mint- I have been muddling through.
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[She bounces the boy a little.]
Though all three of those herbs are good for this, and taste pleasant to him. I could make you a box of rags like that, frozen. All together, it would be perfect.
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[ Such is the way of things and it is not often when he hopes to meddle in the business- but Mia is important to him, just as much as Pel. ]
I think that would work quite well, yes. It would calm him enough to perhaps sleep a few hours more.
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[Pel smooths back Lucci's hair and starts to rock him.]
I don't know how much you know about Cullen. How much I should say. But she hates me.
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[ It is a celebration of light and life- squabbling would not be appropriate. Traditional for Antivans, of course, but not appropriate.
Lucci burbles happily, reaching up to grip Pel's shirt. ]
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[She smiles down at Lucci.]
Cold silence is probably the worst you can expect. Isn't that so, da'len? Grown-ups who don't like each other just accept that they don't have to talk to each other. Isn't that much better than war and feuding?
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[ Who giggles happily in Pel's arms. ]
Face a charging ogre? Any day. Stand between feuding women? Never.
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