2nd Mark // [Video]

[reluctantchampion]

Oh by the Maker, this is why I never wanted to be a Mother. If anything, I was going to adopt a street urchin some day and teach her how to be a wisecracking rogue like her not-mother. At least then I could skip over the rest of... of this.

[It's almost a little hard to tell the baby is really Hawke, except for the mop of messy black hair on its head, nearly covering her eyes.]

Aveline, for the love of Andraste tell me you're willing to babysit. I may not be the best person in the world but you know as well as I do that if this child is left in my care it may not survive a day.

Comments

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[theguardianherself]

[ What was that, Hawke? Now suddenly you want Aveline to babysit you? She might just have to keep that in mind the next time a complain about her surveillance habits is brought up. Not that she really has much time for it nowadays, but--

But the narration digresses. ]

Babysit? You have your guard duties mixed up, Hawke.

[ Ogres? Abominations? Not a problem. But this? ]

...Did you hear what the others here said? These are supposed to be... us.

[ Aveline looks down on the bundle in her arms. The connection is not difficult to imagine: Bright green eyes, ginger hair and an early display of great determination in attempting to get hold of the necktie her adult counterpart is trying to keep out of reach. ]

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[reluctantchampion]

Even more reason to get it the hell out of my custody, Aveline. And what guard wants to say they didn't do everything in his or her power to prevent infanticide?

[She almost sounds genuinely distressed about this. She's not ready to grow up and be a big girl yet, Aveline. Her own mother left shoes too big for her to fill. But she only ALMOST sounds genuinely distressed. Great effort is being put in to prevent any sincerity from showing.]

Just... Do you at least know how to dress one of these little monsters?

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[theguardianherself]

You won't leave me alone with the both of them.

[ That deserves instant clarification. But Hawke has a point. And Aveline has one more reason to sigh heavily. ]

...I'll be right over.

[ With a heavy knock at the door and a ginger infant on her arm. The battle for her necktie was lost, it seems, but at least the child is all the more happier for it, sporting the new accessory / chew toy proudly. ]

Action

[reluctantchampion]

[Hawke answers the door by turning the knob with her foot. Both of her hands are currently occupied holding her child self away from herself.]

Oh, good, so you do know how to dress them.

[She sounds a little haggard, though still trying to be sarcastic.]

How well have you fared in keeping yours from trying to gnaw your breast off?

action and apologies for the delay forever;

[theguardianherself]

Well enough, but not without sacrifices.

[ She nods towards her forsaken and drool-soaked necktie in the baby's grasp. It was supposed to sound like a light-hearted remark as well, but somehow it only comes across as grave and weary.

Stepping into the room Aveline gets right down to business in her best morning report voice: ]

They need food, napkins, a bath and something to occupy them until they decide to sleep, but I wouldn't count on that too soon. I suggest we make a schedule. I can watch them and get her [ A tiny nod towards a tiny Hawke ] dressed while you fetch something from the kitchen.

Action It's okay; to be honest I'm not too terribly sure how to go with this event anyway

[reluctantchampion]

We will remember it always, or however long it takes for me to forget about it.

[Even Hawke's jokes seem desperate at this point. The moment the words "I can watch them" leave Aveline's lips, Hawke has shoved her miniscule counterpart into the other woman's arms.]

Yes. Good. I will go fetch something from the kitchen, immediately.

[She's already at the door.

... Maybe it's no small wonder Hawke has mother issues.]

[video forever]

[brainkegger]

[Tara isn't usually one to, well, swap parenting stories. Her situation is unique and she figures it doesn't exactly compare to others'. But she can offer advice, at least.]

What parts of "this" are you having trouble with? Some things are easy enough to deal with if you figure out the tricks.

[reluctantchampion]

[The situation is pretty unique as well, so it's perfectly understandable.]

The part where "This" exists at all is something I'm having a great deal of trouble with, but if you have any idea how you are supposed to keep a child away from sharp objects when they show a nearly suicidal willingness to climb a sheer surface to reach them?

[brainkegger]

Oh dear. Well, I'd say keep such things locked up somehow. At the very least, up too high for her to climb.

[reluctantchampion]

Yes, well. Let's hope my innate knack for picking locks and doing very stupid and dangerous things doesn't extend back quite that far.

[brainkegger]

I'm sure a baby isn't quite that coordinated. Assuming any of those sorts of things are innate in the first place...

[reluctantchampion]

One would certainly hope not, wouldn't they.

[She seems less convinced. That could conceivably be because the last time she was anywhere near an infant was when her twin siblings were born, and she was the provider, not the caretaker.]

[brainkegger]

Just tire her out with playing, if you're that worried.

[reluctantchampion]

Right. Playing. Good. If it works on a mabari, why not an infant? Perfect.

[brainkegger]

[Alice smiles politely.]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with mabaries...

[reluctantchampion]

What, you've never seen a dog before?

[brainkegger]

...Must be a breed I haven't heard of before.