[Sometime This Week...] Glad I Did That Again...

[51stcentry_jack]

A warm spring morning, with a hint of rain in the air, though for now, the sunlight streams in through the windows of the clinic. A day full of life, a good day for a child to be born

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[drownedfuchsia]

Fuchsia's waited nearly a day before coming to meet the newest mansion resident. She was having a serious case of anxiety about meeting the baby. What if she breaks the baby.

"Is everyone well?" No hello, or announcement, just a voice from the hall.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Right as rain, both of us," Jack's cheery voice calls out. "Come on in, there's someone I want you to meet."

If she ventures into the room, she'll find Jack lounging in an armchair, a small bundle wrapped in a blue flannelet blanket held to his chest, in the crook of his arm. "I called that one: it's a girl," he says, "This is my daughter, Verrity George Harkness."

The bundle might emit a snuffle, as if to say hello, or 'leave me alone, I'm sleeping'.

[drownedfuchsia]

The bundle's had a busy day. Of course she wants to sleep and stop with the gawking residents.

So, yes, Fuchsia does walk in, but she's making an extra attempt to be quiet. "Verrity's a pretty name but who's George?" There has to be some reason the poor little one's been given such a middle name.

From where she's standing, all she can see is blue flannelet. There could be nothing in that blanket, and she wouldn't know the difference.

[51stcentry_jack]

"George was what one of her other dads suggested, whether I had a boy or a girl: thought it was a funny choice myself, so I kept it, since he's a funny kind of guy," he says, parting the blankets swaddling the kidlet.

And uncovering a tiny, crinkled pink face, one eye shut, the other open and looking about; she'll someday have Jack's oddly shaded blue-grey eyes, though right now, they're a brighter shade.

[drownedfuchsia]

"One of her other dads? Don't you know who it is yet?" That's confusing enough but, "You gave her a name because it's funny?"

She looks at the pink face and wiggles her fingers, as if waving hello. Still, she doesn't stand too close, as if she might frighten the poor thing. There are days where her hair is a thing to scare others.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Got it narrowed down to two gents: one's a warden, t'other's a gambler; couldn't be more different in professions, but they're both charming and clever in their own way. Kind of guy I like for a dance partner," he says.

Verrity opens her other eye, looking up in the general direction of the visitor. "Hey, you waking up for your Auntie Fuschia?" Jack asks, his voice softened.

Verrity's reply is to stick her tongue out and shut her eyes.

[drownedfuchsia]

"Warden?" Fuchsia knows that one. "He gave me flowers." That would be enough to earn Fuschia's equivalent of a second date, but not now that he has a family. In her head, the first one mentioned, the one she knows, is the father.

The bundle's response leads to only one conclusion, "Do you think she doesn't like me?" Oh, the trauma.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Nah, she's just tired: had a long day, and she's still getting used to being out in the world and the bright light and the fresh air," he says. "She'll get used to it, once she starts to grow into herself more and the world stops being so strange and starts to be interesting."

[drownedfuchsia]

"So she thinks I'm boring."

That's what Fuchsia took from that.

"I'll try not to be so boring."

She looks about for a chair, then snags one.

[51stcentry_jack]

"No, not boring, just strange and unfamiliar: the world is as new to her as she is to the world, likely has her overwhelmed," he says, running a fingertip over the wee one's tiny hand.

[drownedfuchsia]

Fuchsia nods, as if she understands. "She's had a busy day."

"Have her daddies come to see her?" Fuchsia strains her neck to get a better look. This one certainly looks different from Titus.

[51stcentry_jack]

She's likely prettier, even this teeny: she gets that from the guy who carried her. "The Warden's been around to see her, haven't seen Eames yet, the heel-dragging lout," he says, with an affectionate lilt.

[drownedfuchsia]

It's not a great accomplishment to be better looking than Groan babies. They're not pretty creatures.

"Eames? I don't know him. I don't think." She's too busy trying to stare, yet not stare at the bundle to remember simple things like who she's met in the past.

"Did he bring her flowers too?" What do you bring a baby that may or may not be yours?

[51stcentry_jack]

"Hard guy to miss: tad shorter than me, needs a shave, always seen wearing a bad suit or a loud shirt. Guy makes his own style and follows his own rules: love folks who do that," he says. "Might cause me a load of trouble, but it's worth it: keep things from getting dull."

[drownedfuchsia]

"He might have caused her!" She's not sure that's how one should be speaking about the baby's daddy.

There's a joke to be made there, but Fuchsia wouldn't get it.

"She's not going to be trouble." Being from a world where women are cat-crazy, or just crazy, Verity's got a few steps up on the gals from Gormenghast.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Kids are a mix of trouble and joy: sometimes in equal amounts, sometimes one outweighs the other," he notes, sagely, but pleased. Then with a glance at Verrity, he adds, "This one's half-sister was a handful when she was small, but she turned out well: grew up to have a family of her own."