(Untitled)

[reallyaduck]

Duck's been snoring slightly on a table in the middle of the room, head pillowed on a piece of paper, when -

do you have the resolve, little duck?- she wakes up with a start, shaking her head to get the last wisps of weird half-memory out of her head

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[gorgonfondness]

This isn't the nursery.

But that's okay. This still has everything Mia needs right now.

"I'll make a deal with you," she whispers to the bundle sleeping on her shoulder. "I won't tell Papa if you won't."

She happens to see Duck and decides to see what's going on, approaching softly and quietly.

"Everything all right, Duck?" Mia quietly asks.

[gorgonfondness]

So there's a wizard as well and he gives his daughter some Polyjuice Potion or a spell so that she looks like the witch, who is apparently a princess. And it fools the prince.

Put this way, the story could be quite frightening to Mia, but she has a better grip on these emotions.

"That's not why he said he would marry her, I think," Mia says, gently moving the pram back and forth to lull Cepheus to sleep. "I think, when the daughtert was pretending to be the princess, the prince believed her. So he still thinks he's marrying the princess."

[reallyaduck]

"It's not like she's dressed the same, though . . ."

Not that that necessarily means anything, in ballet. On the other hand, costumes can be pretty significant!

Duck sighs and shrugs this distinction off. "Um, so anyway, when he realizes he goes out to say sorry to the swan, and the bad guy shows up and . . . then they both die. Because it's the only way they can be together . . . but because they loved each other that much, all the other swans are free to be girls again, but - I don't know."

She twists her fingers together. "Isn't it better to be a swan than to be dead?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Ah, but is that for the prince to tell the difference or is that for the audience to tell the difference?"

Mia ponders the question at the end, suitably saddened by the ending.

"That's a hard thing to answer, Duck. Personally, I never think death is the answer to such a situation. As long as you're alive, there's always a chance to change your lot in life."

She looks to Cepheus.

"I hope he always keeps that in mind."

[reallyaduck]

"A lot of stories end with people dying . . ."

Or vanishing.

"But - but I think it's definitely better when nobody dies! Not even the bad guy! Everyone should have a chance to live happily, and - and - that's a real happy ending!"

[gorgonfondness]

Mia smiles a little sadly.

"It is better that way."

Life doesn't always work that way, but it's better that way.

"Not a lot of people think about it, Duck, but the bad guys are people, too. They grew up, had families, some were even heroes before being bad guys. It's not really fair if people forget that, is it?"

Cepheus has been lulled to sleep and Mia gently traces his face.

[reallyaduck]

Duck nods, her round child's face earnest and solemn.

"I think when people are mean it's usually just because they're sad or angry or scared . . . not because they really want to be!"

[gorgonfondness]

"I think you have a point, Duck."

Mia pulls the pram closer.

"I hope he keeps that in mind as he grows up. I've got a lot of stories to tell him and the more he thinks of that, the better he'll take them."

[reallyaduck]

Duck feels a little weird when she hears Mia talk about telling stories . . . and she's not sure why.

"Well . . . I'm sure he'll go up to be really smart and all that stuff," she says with a slightly nervous laugh. "I mean, there's no way he won't!"

[gorgonfondness]

Mia notices this.

And decides now might be the time for cute distraction.

"Do you want to hold the baby?"

Yes, Mia trusts Duck that much, but will be around to help if Duck doesn't trust herself that much.

[reallyaduck]

!!!!!!! says Duck.

"But I - but I - but I -"

WHAT IF SHE TRIPS?

[gorgonfondness]

"It's okay. You can stay sitting down if you're nervous. And if it makes you feel any better, Draco was nervous the first time he held the baby, too."

Mia gently picks Cepheus up.

"And I'll be right here. Okay?"

[reallyaduck]

"O-okay," Duck stammers, and swallows.

She can hold animals and things, but . . . this is a real tiny person!

All of a sudden she has a new appreciation for how hard it is to be the leader in a pas de deux.

[gorgonfondness]

"Mind his head and you'll be just fine."

And then, very carefully, with a skill that only a new mother or a magician can have, Mia places the baby in Duck's arms so he's mostly supported by her shoulder. Cepheus instinctively grasps at Duck's shirt and gives her a sleepy yawn.

[reallyaduck]

"- mind his head?" squeaks Duck, staring down at the baby in a certain degree of fascination.

"Uh - how?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Keep your hand on his head to support it," she says, helping to guide Duck's hand to the right spot.