Bloody need for wards. Bloody need for protection. Eva simply wasn't used to it. Yes, she realized that she was, for Lord only knew what reasons, precious to individuals including and beyond her beloved family, but she just wasn't used to it.
Beyond the safety of the large, warded property were demonic and human dangers alike to her very soul. But, in times passed, she didn't let this stop her from leaving and exploring what she could out of the company of the men in her family. However, with-child, she had more to regard than her own dissatisfaction... even if a little fresh air would have been nice. She was simply too... intimidated to ask any of them to take her somewhere anymore.
Although Sparda was almost instantaneously warming up to her in the way he once had been, she was still wary there. Dante would have no doubt escorted her to anyplace she requested, but she knew how trapped he was feeling recently... and what, with his departure for Russia nearing, he needed to be left to his preparations. And Vergil... Vergil was absolutely out of the question.
So, on the front porch of the tri-level did Eva sit, as that was about as close to fresh air as she could get, reading a gun magazine, with her adorable little rabbit sitting in her lap, asleep and comfortable.
Asellus, finally approaching the Sparda demesne and cursing herself quietly for not having the foresight to at least have taken a taxi, was full able to see Eva from a distance, and for a moment she fought that rising nervousness that she usually attributed to an extreme respect for the woman and worry that she might come across as... she didn't quite know. Since a long-ago near-forgotten confrontation involving the nature of her relationship with Dante, she'd felt the need to step lightly around Eva, afraid of risking her displeasure for some odd reason. It was silly, she knew, and not really warranted, but she'd been unsuccessful in trying to stem it.
But this time, she was able to shove that nerve back down and shift, holding the heavy basket with one hand and waving with the other as she got within hearing distance. "Eva!" she called, raised arm flailing-- and a shower of daisies falling-- with her enthusiasm.
Eva had been reading over an article for her very beautiful sniper rifle she'd received from the men in her family for Valentine's day, one hand lightly scratching the crown of Pengy the Rabbit's head, when she heard her name called. For a moment, she thought it was the crazy sister of the two brothers that housed next to the Sparda residence (a woman as lustful as her brothers, only towards Eva's husband) until her eyes fixed out on the caller.
A bright smile came to her face as she dropped the magazine to the deck and stood up; Pengy being placed behind her, where she'd once been sitting. Clunky boots clopping, Eva hopped off of the porch and crossed for the property line, where the ward was still good, to greet the young woman dating her beloved son. "Asellus! My goodness, hasn't it been quite a while?" she asked, clasping her hands together. "How are you today, love? What an honor to see you here!"
"Well," Asellus admitted, smiling brightly in response to Eva, "I'm going to smell like wildflowers probably until I die, and I could have made a fortune selling these things for the number of questions I got about them, but I'm fine. I wanted to see you again, since it's been..." she couldn't even remember how long it had been, and this bothered her, "...a while."
"And I remember you were talking about wanting fresh air, and I can't really help with that, but I thought maybe these might be able to," she gestured towards the basket in her hand. "I didn't come at a bad time, interrupt you or anything... did I?"
Eva's lit up at the basket of flowers, almost falling all over herself. As much a kick she seemed to get out of the ways of modern times, one thing that depressed her so was the simple lack of nature all around. It was why she'd practically begged Sparda to allow her to turn the backyard into some sort of elaborate garden. At the promise of a fancy pond and koi, he had finally agreed. But that would be coming some time later.
Needless to say, she became absolutely delighted at the sight of a basketfull of wildflowers. "You charming little thing you!" she said, clapping her hands together once, before reaching out and taking hold of Asellus's free arm to tug her gently towards the house.
"You most certainly didn't come at a bad time, darling," the Britishwoman continued. "After all, didn't I tell you that you were welcome here anytime, day or night?"
"Still," Asellus responded, but it wasn't even a protest. She followed Eva, tugging the basket along (it was heavy; she wondered exactly how many wildflowers were in here), letting herself be tugged. It was a long time since she'd seen anyone friendly for any prolonged period of time, and she was just happy to be out of the dorms. Nice a school as it was, the rooms were small. She was starting to look into her own place, but she wasn't sure where to start.
"How are you feeling, though? Everything alright?" For all her time in life, Sellz had seen actual pregnancies perhaps twice-- she'd always visited people after births, purely by coincidence--, and she was half-fascinated, half-worried about the condition. Mystics never got pregnant-- it was a purely human function, in the Realms.
Still holding the young woman's arm and leading her along, Eva smiled at the questions. "Well, that depends to what you refer."
Deciding to glance over the most prominent of the negative--the fact that she and her eldest twin son, Vergil, were not on the best of terms yet again--she went to the most positive, which led her to pat at her stomach, which had become a little paunchy compared to her bodyframe. "Apparently, I am to get something called a 'sonogram' on the little bugger. Whatever that is. Do you happen to know? I haven't had a chance to harass Sparda-love."
She released Asellus when they reached the porch, stepping over to her seat, where Pengy the Bunny still sat, patiently and docile, watching her as she approached.
"There's my little baby," she cooed at the black and white bunny, pulling it up into her arms, to carry over to Asellus. "You need to meet Asellus, Pengy!" she cooed again, before holding it out at arm's length for Asellus to see. "Asellus, darling, meet my precious furry baby, and the bane of Sparda's domestic existence: Pengy."
"A sonogram..." She knew that word. She'd read about it-- yes, she had done research, though she would never, ever admit such aloud-- "It's, um... Kind of... They use sound, to see what's going on inside. Usually to check and make sure everything's progressing smoothly. Sometimes, they can tell gender through it..." Her face contorted as she tried to remember what else there was about it, but the expression was quickly dropped for one of slight confusion as she was face to face with a bunny, its little nose twitching and looking, on the whole, painfully adorable.
Asellus liked animals, after all-- well, not horses, but you couldn't really blame her, could you?--, and things with big eyes and floppy ears and soft fur were a secret soft spot of hers. That secret was... probably safe with Eva. It's not like she'd tell anyone, after all, and anyone she MIGHT tell would hardly do much about it. She reached up with her free hand, gingerly stroking the rabbit's head-- she'd heard horror stories about their teeth and she wasn't entirely sure it wouldn't try to.. eat her, or something. Maybe she'd seen that Monty Python thing one too many times. "Um, hello, Pengy. Having fun sending Sparda into conniptions?" She still remembered hearing something about the rabbit and the shower and Sparda, and the resulting image was such a far cry from the Demon Lord she'd known when she first came to Squenix that she had to supress giggles again.
The rabbit just hung there, little feet swinging around as Eva held it out to face the young woman, and barely flinched when the older woman brought him in to be cradled and cuddled. In fact, he ended up crawling up and nuzzling his head against her neck, earning him a gentle rub to the back. "Darling little thing," Eva said, so fond of Pengy.
And then her attention was back on Asellus once more as she strode for the front door, looking a bit put off. "But, love, what is so necessary about having to see the child? I suppose it would be quite fascinating, but... hum. I wouldn't wish to know the gender of the child, certainly. That would just be awful."
She opened the door and held it with her foot. "It isn't like I don't appreciate medical advancements, I intend to make full use of everything... I wish not to fall ill as I did when I gave birth to the boys, but this sonogram idea is a bit..." She hummed, unsure how to word her displeasure about that without sounding absolutely ignorant, like she was sure she already was.
Asellus could hardly stifle the smile she had at Pengy's display of affection, not at all surprised. But her mind was still on the sonogram. "Well, they like to make sure that the cord won't get in the way when it's time for delivery, and that you have enough amni-somethin-or-other fluid. They also make sure the baby's big enough for how far along you are, I think. The book said a lot but I don't remember much. But if you don't want to know the gender, you can tell them not to tell you." She hurried to take the door with her free hand, balancing the basket.
"I know what you mean, though. My aunt used to tell me about how my mother and father were convinced I was going to be a boy. They had my room painted and everything-- they weren't expecting a little girl at all. I had nothing but stuffed trucks to play with until I was two and my aunt could afford more toys. But back then, sonograms were still... really new, in Shrike. Apparently they didn't want to risk anything."
"There's no risk involved, they say now. And it's one of the best ways to keep track of the baby's growth or something." She shrugged. "All I know about babies is what I've read, though..."
Eva nodded patiently as she listened to Asellus, allowing her to pass through first before following her. "Hopefully I won't forget again. All this medical care, I'm afraid, was a bit unheard of back nearly a hundred and ninety years ago. 'twas mostly habit to rely on a midwife."
Which was a story and a half, for Eva, and made her feel quite nostalgic. The woman had been a friend of her mother's, and just about as quirky. "I hope there is no risk, because as I said, giving birth to those boys was no walk in the park. I was down for well over a month after their birth. Huge lads, those two..."
Oh, but she didn't regret it, as said the smile on her face when she spoke about it. As frustrating as they were anymore (especially Vergil), they were absolutely her life. "'twasn't pleasant, even for poor Sparda."
Asellus nodded, having seen a few medical advances in her time, though mostly uncaring about them. She didn't have much use in watching the medical community when she hated doctors so much, after all. "They still have midwives, but it really is supposed to be safer in the hospital. Less chance of taking septic, too, whatever that means. But the doctor will tell you if there's a risk, you know? They won't keep you in the dark."
Burning curiosity confused and frightened Asellus a little-- she didn't much know where it was coming from, and she hesitated a bit, before deciding not to hesitate at all. "...What's it like? Being pregnant, I mean? And giving birth?"
Eva let out a small laugh. Well, she could honestly say she'd never been asked that before. She stopped in the middle of the front room and gently placed Pengy down on the floor, nudging him in the rear to get him hopping along. He knew how to get to his cage, and would head off that way when he was ready.
"Well, I suppose it depends... when?" Placing her hands on her slightly paunchy stomach, she let out a small laugh. "Right now, it feels... something like butterflies in your tummy. Or like someone's tickling you on the inside. When the baby is full grown... well... Again, my case was a bit different. The boys were large, and... two. I imagine, unless this one is actually two, this will be far easier on me. With Vergil and Dante, it was actually really uncomfortable. Even in the womb, they battled one another."
She paused a moment, and then let out a small laugh. "And you feel like you have to go to the ladies' room all the time. Plus, just forget housework!" It was said with another light-hearted laugh, as she headed off to find a vase to place the flowers into in a china cabinet stationed in the dining room.
Asellus smiled, moderately unsurprised to hear about the boys' in-womb antics. She supposed that all siblings were like that on some level, though Dante and Vergil certainly took it to new and progressively bloody heights. For a moment there was that pang of regret that she'd never know exactly what it was like, and then a flash of alarm that she'd even had that regret. With an expression of concentrated calm, she shoved that regret back into the dark recesses of her mind, where it'd come from.
It hit her then that this was really the first experience with an actual in-the-process mother that she'd had in... almost ever. Since she was small, for sure. The thought made her feel vaguely warm. "But it's worth the discomfort, right?" Stupid question, of course, but she wasn't especially intelligent at the moment.
Smiling, Eva stood there and shuffled her feet against the floor a little bit. "Pregnancy is definitely a labor of love, Asellus. A woman suffers for months with contortions and possible medical problems... deprivements of essential things to their health--" She had heard those vitamins she was given were to help with that, though. "--and then when she gives birth, it can, for most, be the absolutely most painful thing they could experience, as a mother giving life."
She added that last part, being a woman who suffered two painful deaths, one because she was living up to her duty as a mother and a protector.
"But when you sit there, when 'tis all done, and you hold your child, or children for the first time?" She cradled her arms in a nostalgic fashion, to holding both her sons, the smile on her face growing far more fond at the memory. "Well... there's simply nothing to compare. At all. And it makes it all absolutely worth it, I say."
Something about Eva's expression touched Asellus deeper than she'd thought possible, and the smile that crossed her face was tinged with about a thousand emotions, predominately a strange sort of affection. She'd always considered mothers-- any mothers-- to be almost holy, since she'd been Changed. The feeling had only intensified since she'd lost her own ability to have children and to experience whatever was giving Eva that almost-glow that she'd found most mothers had.
Truth was, there was a very strong vein of admiration within Sellz for this woman; not only for raising two of the most frustrating young men she'd ever met, even though that was a huge, huge part of it, and not only because of her sacrifice for those two, which was even more a part of it, but also because she'd managed to profoundly touch the lives of most everyone she'd met. Asellus included-- she hadn't been much for getting along with women of any type, but for some reason her boyfriend's mother was someone entirely different.
"I..." What was there to say, in response to that, that didn't seem childish and weak? That she wondered if her own mother had felt the same in the six months between her daughter's birth and her body's death? Asellus wasn't sure she wanted to burden anyone with that incredibly depressing thought, and she hesitated before covering her tracks. "...It sounds like it's a beautiful feeling."
Beyond the safety of the large, warded property were demonic and human dangers alike to her very soul. But, in times passed, she didn't let this stop her from leaving and exploring what she could out of the company of the men in her family. However, with-child, she had more to regard than her own dissatisfaction... even if a little fresh air would have been nice. She was simply too... intimidated to ask any of them to take her somewhere anymore.
Although Sparda was almost instantaneously warming up to her in the way he once had been, she was still wary there. Dante would have no doubt escorted her to anyplace she requested, but she knew how trapped he was feeling recently... and what, with his departure for Russia nearing, he needed to be left to his preparations. And Vergil... Vergil was absolutely out of the question.
So, on the front porch of the tri-level did Eva sit, as that was about as close to fresh air as she could get, reading a gun magazine, with her adorable little rabbit sitting in her lap, asleep and comfortable.
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But this time, she was able to shove that nerve back down and shift, holding the heavy basket with one hand and waving with the other as she got within hearing distance. "Eva!" she called, raised arm flailing-- and a shower of daisies falling-- with her enthusiasm.
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A bright smile came to her face as she dropped the magazine to the deck and stood up; Pengy being placed behind her, where she'd once been sitting. Clunky boots clopping, Eva hopped off of the porch and crossed for the property line, where the ward was still good, to greet the young woman dating her beloved son. "Asellus! My goodness, hasn't it been quite a while?" she asked, clasping her hands together. "How are you today, love? What an honor to see you here!"
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"And I remember you were talking about wanting fresh air, and I can't really help with that, but I thought maybe these might be able to," she gestured towards the basket in her hand. "I didn't come at a bad time, interrupt you or anything... did I?"
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Needless to say, she became absolutely delighted at the sight of a basketfull of wildflowers. "You charming little thing you!" she said, clapping her hands together once, before reaching out and taking hold of Asellus's free arm to tug her gently towards the house.
"You most certainly didn't come at a bad time, darling," the Britishwoman continued. "After all, didn't I tell you that you were welcome here anytime, day or night?"
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"How are you feeling, though? Everything alright?" For all her time in life, Sellz had seen actual pregnancies perhaps twice-- she'd always visited people after births, purely by coincidence--, and she was half-fascinated, half-worried about the condition. Mystics never got pregnant-- it was a purely human function, in the Realms.
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Deciding to glance over the most prominent of the negative--the fact that she and her eldest twin son, Vergil, were not on the best of terms yet again--she went to the most positive, which led her to pat at her stomach, which had become a little paunchy compared to her bodyframe. "Apparently, I am to get something called a 'sonogram' on the little bugger. Whatever that is. Do you happen to know? I haven't had a chance to harass Sparda-love."
She released Asellus when they reached the porch, stepping over to her seat, where Pengy the Bunny still sat, patiently and docile, watching her as she approached.
"There's my little baby," she cooed at the black and white bunny, pulling it up into her arms, to carry over to Asellus. "You need to meet Asellus, Pengy!" she cooed again, before holding it out at arm's length for Asellus to see. "Asellus, darling, meet my precious furry baby, and the bane of Sparda's domestic existence: Pengy."
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Asellus liked animals, after all-- well, not horses, but you couldn't really blame her, could you?--, and things with big eyes and floppy ears and soft fur were a secret soft spot of hers. That secret was... probably safe with Eva. It's not like she'd tell anyone, after all, and anyone she MIGHT tell would hardly do much about it. She reached up with her free hand, gingerly stroking the rabbit's head-- she'd heard horror stories about their teeth and she wasn't entirely sure it wouldn't try to.. eat her, or something. Maybe she'd seen that Monty Python thing one too many times. "Um, hello, Pengy. Having fun sending Sparda into conniptions?" She still remembered hearing something about the rabbit and the shower and Sparda, and the resulting image was such a far cry from the Demon Lord she'd known when she first came to Squenix that she had to supress giggles again.
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And then her attention was back on Asellus once more as she strode for the front door, looking a bit put off. "But, love, what is so necessary about having to see the child? I suppose it would be quite fascinating, but... hum. I wouldn't wish to know the gender of the child, certainly. That would just be awful."
She opened the door and held it with her foot. "It isn't like I don't appreciate medical advancements, I intend to make full use of everything... I wish not to fall ill as I did when I gave birth to the boys, but this sonogram idea is a bit..." She hummed, unsure how to word her displeasure about that without sounding absolutely ignorant, like she was sure she already was.
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"I know what you mean, though. My aunt used to tell me about how my mother and father were convinced I was going to be a boy. They had my room painted and everything-- they weren't expecting a little girl at all. I had nothing but stuffed trucks to play with until I was two and my aunt could afford more toys. But back then, sonograms were still... really new, in Shrike. Apparently they didn't want to risk anything."
"There's no risk involved, they say now. And it's one of the best ways to keep track of the baby's growth or something." She shrugged. "All I know about babies is what I've read, though..."
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Which was a story and a half, for Eva, and made her feel quite nostalgic. The woman had been a friend of her mother's, and just about as quirky. "I hope there is no risk, because as I said, giving birth to those boys was no walk in the park. I was down for well over a month after their birth. Huge lads, those two..."
Oh, but she didn't regret it, as said the smile on her face when she spoke about it. As frustrating as they were anymore (especially Vergil), they were absolutely her life. "'twasn't pleasant, even for poor Sparda."
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Burning curiosity confused and frightened Asellus a little-- she didn't much know where it was coming from, and she hesitated a bit, before deciding not to hesitate at all. "...What's it like? Being pregnant, I mean? And giving birth?"
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"Well, I suppose it depends... when?" Placing her hands on her slightly paunchy stomach, she let out a small laugh. "Right now, it feels... something like butterflies in your tummy. Or like someone's tickling you on the inside. When the baby is full grown... well... Again, my case was a bit different. The boys were large, and... two. I imagine, unless this one is actually two, this will be far easier on me. With Vergil and Dante, it was actually really uncomfortable. Even in the womb, they battled one another."
She paused a moment, and then let out a small laugh. "And you feel like you have to go to the ladies' room all the time. Plus, just forget housework!" It was said with another light-hearted laugh, as she headed off to find a vase to place the flowers into in a china cabinet stationed in the dining room.
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It hit her then that this was really the first experience with an actual in-the-process mother that she'd had in... almost ever. Since she was small, for sure. The thought made her feel vaguely warm. "But it's worth the discomfort, right?" Stupid question, of course, but she wasn't especially intelligent at the moment.
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She added that last part, being a woman who suffered two painful deaths, one because she was living up to her duty as a mother and a protector.
"But when you sit there, when 'tis all done, and you hold your child, or children for the first time?" She cradled her arms in a nostalgic fashion, to holding both her sons, the smile on her face growing far more fond at the memory. "Well... there's simply nothing to compare. At all. And it makes it all absolutely worth it, I say."
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Truth was, there was a very strong vein of admiration within Sellz for this woman; not only for raising two of the most frustrating young men she'd ever met, even though that was a huge, huge part of it, and not only because of her sacrifice for those two, which was even more a part of it, but also because she'd managed to profoundly touch the lives of most everyone she'd met. Asellus included-- she hadn't been much for getting along with women of any type, but for some reason her boyfriend's mother was someone entirely different.
"I..." What was there to say, in response to that, that didn't seem childish and weak? That she wondered if her own mother had felt the same in the six months between her daughter's birth and her body's death? Asellus wasn't sure she wanted to burden anyone with that incredibly depressing thought, and she hesitated before covering her tracks. "...It sounds like it's a beautiful feeling."
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