a_manxome_foe

[hopewasleft]

[ she was in the library curled in a chair with a stack of books beside her-- books on pregnancy (no matter how many she'd gone through, new knowledge never hurt anyone) and chains (no matter that glen was her best friend, it was always good to learn things from other peoples' points-of-view, as well), with one lying open on her lap. a cup of tea

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[a_manxome_foe]

Jabberwock inclines his head deeply, politely. He knows Jack. Not her specifically, but Jack.

"Yes, it is. I had a question or two."

[hopewasleft]

Her smile is brilliant, and she shifts to offer him a seat, carefully settling in hers again. She doesn't have a second cup for tea, so she doesn't take hers up again-- it would be rather rude.

"Of course, I'd be happy to answer questions." Her smile flickers, turning a bit sad. "Considering how long you've all been separated, I can hardly blame you for being wary."

[a_manxome_foe]

"I should be clear- I don't suspect you of mistreating him."

It isn't that simple.

"My concerns go a little deeper than that. There are two of them. The first is- what time are you from? What do you and Glen have to do with one another?"

[hopewasleft]

"I'm from just before or around the time of the Tragedy that the rest of you experienced," she answers readily enough-- she'd sorted that out for herself. In fact, it was probably a little after their Tragedy, considering that her boys were older than the other Gilbert had apparently been at the time. "Glen and I are.." Complicated. But becoming less complicated now that they'd sorted out what they were to one another.

"He's my dearest friend," she starts out, voice soft, "but he's also the man that I'm in love with." She places a hand against the gentle curve of her belly, flushing a little. "This child is his. We're.. all but raising my boys together already. I've known you and the other birds since I was just a little girl."

She hopes that answers his question, more or less.

[a_manxome_foe]

"Owl should not live through the tragedy again. Owl cannot live through the tragedy again. It almost destroyed us all, and it would kill the little bits of child left in him. I don't want that."

He shakes his head.

"If you are returned home, as your contract, he would no doubt follow. Already, he would be losing his whole family-"

[hopewasleft]

"He won't," she promises, shaking her head. "My Glen doesn't have a reason to create it. He's allowing Lacie to rest, and we've addressed his eventual need for a new body." She offers a faint smile, gesturing toward the rest of the mansion with a hand.

"I can ask him to talk to you later if you'd like. He's.. not like the other versions of him here. He's not as weighed-down with the past, anymore."

[a_manxome_foe]

"Addressed? How?"

If he's suspicious... well, it's only natural. Owl cannot be that vessel.

[hopewasleft]

"I have a few ideas," she admitted, seeming thoughtful. "We talked about the possibility of a newly-deceased body, or.. or even a construct." She pressed her fist to her mouth, gaze a little sad. "I don't-- we're trying to avoid living people altogether. I know that it's.. normal for all of you, because he's been doing it for ages, but.."

But if there was a way around it, she was going to find it.

"Back home, you and the other Chains have been helping us look."

[a_manxome_foe]

"How would that Owl take it? Would he be welcomed into the fold?"

A seperate issue. It could be a tremendously isolating situation.

[hopewasleft]

"Considering how easily you all welcomed me, and then my boys when I adopted them, I don't think Owl will have any trouble at all," she reassured him with a bright smile. "He may not be that Owl, but he's still.." She gave him a helpless, fond look. "He's still Owly."

[a_manxome_foe]

"Then you have my blessings."

He nods.

"I only have one last thing to ask."

[hopewasleft]

Blinking, startled, she nods. "Of course, Jabberwock. Whatever I can do for you." Goodness knows he's never asked too much of her, after all. If she can do something to ease his mind, she has no problem with it.

[a_manxome_foe]

"A contract is a deep thing, an all-ecompassing thing. A contract means permanence, it is a huge commitment. It should only be entered into in the steadiest of states, with the clearest of minds. Owl has neither of those things right now."

He shakes his head.

"Give him time, that's all I ask. Be there for him, without demanding alleigance of him."

[hopewasleft]

Her smile softens at that, and she shakes her head. "You have nothing to worry about, Jabberwock. He has a lot of people to talk to and a lot to think about before I'll allow us to Contract."

She pulls herself up straighter, folding her hands loosely together in her lap. "Right now, he knows that I'm willing to have him--more than that, happy to--and that he can come to me at any time. That should give him the support he needs while he's deciding what he really wants."

[a_manxome_foe]

That earns a real, relieved smile out of him.

"Good. Thank you. Good. His happiness means a great deal to me."

[hopewasleft]

"He's one of your fledglings," she says with a brief, breathy laugh, fingers curving against her belly. "I understand how you feel, believe me."

After a moment, she reaches over, gently pressing his hand. "I know you're not my Jabberwocky, but still-- you all mean the world to me."