socrowdedinhere | (no subject)

Daithi: *spots Tam and swoops in close. He doesn't dare speak in town, but he'll land, then take to wing and swoop to a perch down the way, wait for Tam to catch up, and then swoop off down the road again until they leave town. Only then will he speak.* Optimus is not far from here.

Tam: *won’t bother arguing with him – he has /zero/ interest in doing so, but seems he’s not going to be given a choice, ugh . . . spots Daithi and follows without being obvious about it, nods and keeps going, finally finding OP*

OP: Tam! Are you all right? We’ve been worried-…why are you carrying a protoform?

Tam: A what? Oh…baby? Yeah, funny story that. *tone /flat/, it’s not funny at all*

Daithi: What happened? Did you see Wes?

Tam: I did, yeah. *and he’ll explain everything*

OP: *frowns* I’m…sorry about the woman. Does this make you the baby’s new…parents.

Tam: Hells no! I’m not going to be responsible for her. I’m barely responsible for myself. I think our best bet would be to find a family that will take her in.

Daithi: Or we take her home with us. There are plenty of people at home who would know how to care for her.

Wes: *approaches them* We’ll take her. It was her mother’s request. *will take the baby from Tam since he seems uncomfortable.* Daithi? Can you track down Raizen and the others and let them know Tam is found and safe and we’re heading home?

Daithi: *nod* I’ll see you all at home*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tam: */grateful/ to give the infant over*
OP: *can't help his fascination, leaning close to get a good look at the tiny creature - he's never seen a human protoform /this/ young, and never really seen one at all this close up*

Wes: *gives OP a little smile* Would you like to hold her? *to Tam* You said her mother's name was Riana, correct?

OP: .......... I don't want to hurt her. I've heard human babies are very fragile.
Tam: Yeah...?

Wes: In many ways they are, but if you're gentle, she'll be fine. *he nods to Tam* I think it would be appropriate for her to have her mother's name, since her mother did not name her before passing.

Tam: ......you don't think that'd be weird? *then again, he's the only one who met the mother alive so there'd be no association . . . nods* I guess we could.

Wes: It is not uncommon for a child to be named after a parent. I was named after my father. *looks at OP* Would you like to hold her? *he really believes OP can be gentle enough, he's see how careful he is when he plays with Jendayi, Khepri, and Mitham. Even how gentle he is in training Quin and Mitham. He's seen how careful OP is when petting Crackers or Squeak. No, he's not worried about OP hurting the newborn.*

OP: I...would like to, yes. If you think it'd be all right.

Wes: *nods* Just be gentle. Crook your arm and just support her. *he'll pass little Riana to OP. The new orn stirs a bit but doesn't wake.* There. *gives OP a little smile.*

OP: *the infant lays on the bot's forearm as on a shelf, and he lightly rests his hand on her to make sure she stays there*
Tam: ...I'd really like to go home now, guys.

Wes: *nods* Have you eaten recently? *has food Tam can eat as they walk if he's hungry.*

Tam: *nods* Yeah, thanks. I had stew this morning.

*And so they'll travel. They'll have to stop several times for Wes to change and feed Riana, and he's /grateful/ to OP for being willing to carry her now and then. Wes is happy to explain anything about babies that OP wants to know. They'll also have to stop and camp that night. The next afternoon they're finally approaching the den. Terris and Naijah are just getting back too, and the two inriomai returned earlier to let everyone know that Tam had been found and everyone was on their way home.*

*OP can carry her /and/ her milk – he doesn’t tire like the humans do. Tam will help feed her, but…yeah, no, he’s not changing her, ick. He’s VERY glad to be home! He’s all but /tackled/ by Rihn.*

Jendayi: Big brother! *has to throw her arms around Rihn too in order to hug Tam. She's fine with that.*
Khepri: *will slip in to snig to his side*

Tam: *HUGS TIGHTLY to everyone!*

Jendayi: You're not allowed to leave like that again.
Khepri: Right. Yeh have teh always come home safe.

Tam: Oh, /trust/ me, I’d never /choose/ to take a jaunt like this. It’s all manner of /not/ fun. *not to mention frustrating, humiliating, /painful/…scary…*

Jendayi: *snuggles close, and gives Rihn a comforting pet.*
Khepri: *also snuggles close.*
Squeak: *Taaaaaaaam! Omg Tam you're home! I can't believe you're home! Why did you leave me?! Never leave me! The squeaky fox wiggles in close trying to get to where she can lick and softly nip at his face to show her love. She'll slip away again only to return with a pair of his underclothes she'd managed to snatch. Here. You can have these back. She kept them safe for you.*

Tam: *will wind up sitting with the girls in his lap and Rihn crouched at his shoulder, and then he has excited fox in his face and he loves on her too . . . a-and then the jester is actually blushing softly even as he /laughs/* Okay, who let Squeak into my clothes again?

Squeak: *will reluctantly let him take his underwear if he reaches for them.*
Nyri: They probably got snatched while Wes and Terris each grabbed a clean set for you. *smirks* Man, honey, I wouldn't have thought it possible to make you blush. *she'll come crouch by his other shoulder and will lean in to steal a kiss.*

Tam: *ah YES he’ll take those back now…unless they’ve been chewed at all, then he’ll let her keep them – smirks at Nyri* It’s not much, but I do have /a/ shred of decency. *leans to kiss her back…a-and hisses a bit as he straightens – yeah, it’s time for new meds, or some attention from Raizen or Jerrica*

*They're mildly chewed, but there's only one small hole, so they're salvagable. Besides, they were clean so not much of his smell on them to make her want to chew.*
Nyri: Ha! Now you're being funny. *she straightens* Spirit or traditional? *for dealing with his wounds*

Tam: *salvageable, yes, but…they’re getting washed at /least/ twice before he wears them again – snickers at Nyri* When am I /not/ being funny? *the grin turns to a mild grimace* Traditional for now, knock me out at bedtime for Spirit. *looks over at either Raizen or Jerrica, whoever he can see easiest (or glances between the two of them if he can see both)* Though I guess I should /ask/ first, either way. It’s only polite.