Post by zuyuri on Sept 9, 2015 18:43:49 GMT -5
After being away from the animal tent for a long time, Belle was returning to i. Blindfolded. The casual grunts of Toothless leading the way were the only indications of where to go. If she went the right way, he wouldn't grunt. So it was a bit of a struggle weaving through the labyrinth of the tents that she could do without bumping into something or hitting a person by accident. Some people were making noises of surprise seeing a blindfolded girl being led to a tent by a dragon. Some just thought it was an act and applauded. Beneath the handkerchief, Belle rolled her eyes. Humans could be idiots some times.
Suddenly, Toothless let out a quiet roar, or his 'indoor voice'. Belle took it as a sign that she could finally take off the itchy blindfold. When she did, the pratice arena of the animal tent had been set up with a small table cluttered with presents. A sign overhead, made from recycled advertisements and splotched with paint read, "IT'S A BOY" and "WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS, XANDER."
Xander. Short for Alexander, which was the name Belle and Duncan had decided on for their baby, which they learned from the fourth ultrasound was going to be a boy. And Belle had no intention on giving the son a long string of old leaders like Duncan's name was. Heck, even he had dropped the fourteen other middle names to suffice with the name of her father in law.
"There she is!" Esmeralda's excited cry was far from mistakable. The witch pretty much hurdled the table to give Belle a tight hug, careful not to press into the baby bump. Belle was due in October, and that meant extra care for Xander. Belle patted her friend's shoulder with a huge grin. Only Esmeralda would be this creative to get a few people to host a private baby shower in the animal tent.
"Esme, you've outdone yourself," Belle chuckled, admiring how beneath the simplicity of it all there was an overwhelming amount of love.
"I had some help," Esme admitted, tucking a strand of hair into her hairband. Shanti, who had been helping herself to what looked like apple crumb cake, waved shyly. Aisling was swinging her legs nearby, chewing on her piece. Well, even getting help from the assistants and her own daughter was something worth while. But even two other people, who were busy chatting with each other and lost in their company, were by a bale of hale. Belle would thank Quasimodo and Cinderella later. Right now, she just wanted them to be happy. Two strong arms hugged her from behind, and well, she didn't need to turn around and see who it was, even as he pecked her on the forehead.
"Okay, careful not to squish my grandson," another voice called out. Duncan respectfully let go as, with one hand on his signature walking stick, Moses emerged. There was a look in his eyes that said so much and so little at the same time. Belle's eyes watered a tiny bit. They went out of their way to get Moses to come to Germany and be here? Did that mean some other people were coming to. She ran to her father, who stroked her hair as they embraced. He placed a hand on her bump as Duncan had continued to do every day before going to work. Belle let a tiny grunt as the baby kicked a little. "Well," Moses chuckled, "I guess he's happy to have me as a grandfather."
"Does that mean Zelda's here?" Belle asked excitedly.
"She's with Facilier and Odette in the caravan," Esmeralda answered. "She didn't say much about the baby. I think she has something on her mind and wants to get that out of the way first. But she said to give you her regards."
Belle nodded. Well it made sense. Zelda always had something to discuss be it Hylian politics or some new magic spell she wanted to pass down. Being a queen was hard work.
"Come on, Aunt Belle!" Shanti ran over to grab Belle to sit her on the hay bale. "Let's see what a lot of us got you!" The dark haired girl, despite not being born from Esmeralda, shared that passionate fire for making people happy. The first present she plopped down must have a been from that family. A wooden book-shaped object, which held nothing when opened, was all that lay beneath the paper. "But watch this." Esmeralda and Shanti both held their fingers over it and snapped their fingers. Instantly, tiny holograms began acting out famous child-friendly stories before disappearing in a puff of a smoke. "It took all our magic to make it," Esmeralda sighed.
The baby friendly gifts ranged from basic needs to surprise magic. Aurora had gotten them a mobile that spun even without the wind. Cinderella had given them a baby blanket with a tiny applique of a happy looking bear in the bottom corner. Facilier and Odette had given them a stack of fireproof diapers - "just in case he inherits dad's breath", the note said. Aisling had woven a tiny bracelet of an unidentifiable plant with some bits of hay. Howl had given them a small rattle which, of course, looked like a dragon; with it came a burned CD of guitar covers of Mozart, which Belle assumed was Molly's contribution. Quasimodo had found a stuffed lion which, much like the applique on the blanket, had a cheerful smile. The Roths, as Belle called Gaara and Raven's family, had complied a box of toys that babies usually played with to enhance their intelligence. Zelda's gift was a beautifully crafted bottle made from an iridescent crystal.
And then Moses approached with something under his arm. The object was a soft cedar, a tree that grew in arid environments. But in the wood were intricate carvings of spirals and figures. Twin vines met at the crest of the head, where the Triforce was flanked by two full blown roses. Again, he was wistful. "Julianna and I agreed we would hand this down to you when you settled with your family. Well, it happened." Belle gasped, covering her mouth. He was giving her the cradle she had been raised in, somehow still in tact, and all the way from France...
"A little feminine, don't you think?" Quasi's remark was cut off by Cinderella elbowing him gently, who responded with, "Did you carve that yourself?"
"A long time ago," Moses answered. "I could talk on and on about embarrassing baby stories." Belle flushed bright pink as everyone laughed. "But no, today is about Xander, and how happy he'll be in the cirque, surrounded by a wonderful family on one side of the world to the other."
________________
Belle had volunteered to help clean up once the baby shower had ended, but Esmeralda stubbornly told her to stay where she was. Eventually, Cinderella and Quasimodo were asked to escort her and Duncan back to their house. The father was cartelling the presents back and forth, most of them being able to fit in the old cradle. But there was something off about both men. As Belle and Cinderella were chatting about recipes to give the babies, both men were...quiet.
"Is everything okay?" Belle finally asked.
Duncan and Quasi each looked at her, but the latter just stammered. He knew what he was concerned about, he just didn't know how to word it. With his increased strength in his lion form what if he hurt the baby? He couldn't do anything like to their child, and even if it was an accident, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for it. "Oh...Um...I guess we're here," he stammered. Sure enough, the paper butterflies Belle and Duncan had hung outside their tent to make it stand out from others was to their right.
"...So we are," Duncan chimed in. "Thanks you guys, for walking us back. I'll make sure she's taken care of." All the while he was giving Belle curt nods, a silent signal to 'get inside'. Belle thanked her friends again, hugging them both, before entering her and her husband's house. She glared at him as he set the cradle down.
"Okay. I want answers," Belle stated bluntly. "You're acting super weird. Well, weirder, I should say. What is going on? And why aren't you telling me anything?"
Duncan couldn't even make eye contact with her. She deserved answers to what had gotten him so riled, but with the happiness of the baby shower, he didn't want to take a scene of it in front of everyone. Even in the privacy of their own home he was worried. Whatever he was going to say would either have her smacking him and calling him stupid or, well, he didn't know how she'd react to this. Belle was a fighter and not someone to give up so easily in the face of danger, and this would be beyond dangerous.
"I'm sure you know we have...in-law problems." On one end, anyways. Moses and Zelda were ideal in-laws, supporting both the spouse and their daughter/goddaughter. But with Duncan, family ties were phenomenally complex. Particularly with his father. And well, the paternal grandfather was the major issue. "Belloc knows about the baby..."
Belle's hands instinctively flew to her baby bump. "If he thinks he can rip this child out of me, he's sadly mistaken."
"Don't worry. He doesn't want...that." He sighed, getting back on track. "It's a whole...blood ties thing. Since we're both royalty of, well, them, we're siring what could be a future Kaiju ruler. And that means..."
"...He's going to try and steal Xander," Belle finished. Her hazel eyes were steeling over. Security against a rampaging dragon was not going to be easy, especially given to Belloc's own strength and intense fire breath being added to the table. Her hands were close to the baby, and the Agniastrate in her ring glittered; Duncan's did likewise. Xander as a Kaiju heir was dangerous. Duncan had been lucky to gain a half-dragon form because of his blood. But the chances of Xander surviving the initation of becoming an heir...very slim. Not to mention the intense regimes that Belle barely survived - yes, apparently a 'welcome to the family' to Kaijus meant 'try to kill this one dragon before it kills you - could leave their baby injured beyond repair.
Belle staggered backwards. Her face was unreadable, with multiple emotions filling her that even the jewel didn't know how to react. At times it glittered, other times it clouded over, and other times it became so bright it was almost white. She put a hand on her head, settling onto the chaise lounge. The only thing she could say was, "Duncan...get me some lemon balm." So rare was it that Duncan was the one supporting Belle, but the tables had been turned...
Suddenly, Toothless let out a quiet roar, or his 'indoor voice'. Belle took it as a sign that she could finally take off the itchy blindfold. When she did, the pratice arena of the animal tent had been set up with a small table cluttered with presents. A sign overhead, made from recycled advertisements and splotched with paint read, "IT'S A BOY" and "WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS, XANDER."
Xander. Short for Alexander, which was the name Belle and Duncan had decided on for their baby, which they learned from the fourth ultrasound was going to be a boy. And Belle had no intention on giving the son a long string of old leaders like Duncan's name was. Heck, even he had dropped the fourteen other middle names to suffice with the name of her father in law.
"There she is!" Esmeralda's excited cry was far from mistakable. The witch pretty much hurdled the table to give Belle a tight hug, careful not to press into the baby bump. Belle was due in October, and that meant extra care for Xander. Belle patted her friend's shoulder with a huge grin. Only Esmeralda would be this creative to get a few people to host a private baby shower in the animal tent.
"Esme, you've outdone yourself," Belle chuckled, admiring how beneath the simplicity of it all there was an overwhelming amount of love.
"I had some help," Esme admitted, tucking a strand of hair into her hairband. Shanti, who had been helping herself to what looked like apple crumb cake, waved shyly. Aisling was swinging her legs nearby, chewing on her piece. Well, even getting help from the assistants and her own daughter was something worth while. But even two other people, who were busy chatting with each other and lost in their company, were by a bale of hale. Belle would thank Quasimodo and Cinderella later. Right now, she just wanted them to be happy. Two strong arms hugged her from behind, and well, she didn't need to turn around and see who it was, even as he pecked her on the forehead.
"Okay, careful not to squish my grandson," another voice called out. Duncan respectfully let go as, with one hand on his signature walking stick, Moses emerged. There was a look in his eyes that said so much and so little at the same time. Belle's eyes watered a tiny bit. They went out of their way to get Moses to come to Germany and be here? Did that mean some other people were coming to. She ran to her father, who stroked her hair as they embraced. He placed a hand on her bump as Duncan had continued to do every day before going to work. Belle let a tiny grunt as the baby kicked a little. "Well," Moses chuckled, "I guess he's happy to have me as a grandfather."
"Does that mean Zelda's here?" Belle asked excitedly.
"She's with Facilier and Odette in the caravan," Esmeralda answered. "She didn't say much about the baby. I think she has something on her mind and wants to get that out of the way first. But she said to give you her regards."
Belle nodded. Well it made sense. Zelda always had something to discuss be it Hylian politics or some new magic spell she wanted to pass down. Being a queen was hard work.
"Come on, Aunt Belle!" Shanti ran over to grab Belle to sit her on the hay bale. "Let's see what a lot of us got you!" The dark haired girl, despite not being born from Esmeralda, shared that passionate fire for making people happy. The first present she plopped down must have a been from that family. A wooden book-shaped object, which held nothing when opened, was all that lay beneath the paper. "But watch this." Esmeralda and Shanti both held their fingers over it and snapped their fingers. Instantly, tiny holograms began acting out famous child-friendly stories before disappearing in a puff of a smoke. "It took all our magic to make it," Esmeralda sighed.
The baby friendly gifts ranged from basic needs to surprise magic. Aurora had gotten them a mobile that spun even without the wind. Cinderella had given them a baby blanket with a tiny applique of a happy looking bear in the bottom corner. Facilier and Odette had given them a stack of fireproof diapers - "just in case he inherits dad's breath", the note said. Aisling had woven a tiny bracelet of an unidentifiable plant with some bits of hay. Howl had given them a small rattle which, of course, looked like a dragon; with it came a burned CD of guitar covers of Mozart, which Belle assumed was Molly's contribution. Quasimodo had found a stuffed lion which, much like the applique on the blanket, had a cheerful smile. The Roths, as Belle called Gaara and Raven's family, had complied a box of toys that babies usually played with to enhance their intelligence. Zelda's gift was a beautifully crafted bottle made from an iridescent crystal.
And then Moses approached with something under his arm. The object was a soft cedar, a tree that grew in arid environments. But in the wood were intricate carvings of spirals and figures. Twin vines met at the crest of the head, where the Triforce was flanked by two full blown roses. Again, he was wistful. "Julianna and I agreed we would hand this down to you when you settled with your family. Well, it happened." Belle gasped, covering her mouth. He was giving her the cradle she had been raised in, somehow still in tact, and all the way from France...
"A little feminine, don't you think?" Quasi's remark was cut off by Cinderella elbowing him gently, who responded with, "Did you carve that yourself?"
"A long time ago," Moses answered. "I could talk on and on about embarrassing baby stories." Belle flushed bright pink as everyone laughed. "But no, today is about Xander, and how happy he'll be in the cirque, surrounded by a wonderful family on one side of the world to the other."
________________
Belle had volunteered to help clean up once the baby shower had ended, but Esmeralda stubbornly told her to stay where she was. Eventually, Cinderella and Quasimodo were asked to escort her and Duncan back to their house. The father was cartelling the presents back and forth, most of them being able to fit in the old cradle. But there was something off about both men. As Belle and Cinderella were chatting about recipes to give the babies, both men were...quiet.
"Is everything okay?" Belle finally asked.
Duncan and Quasi each looked at her, but the latter just stammered. He knew what he was concerned about, he just didn't know how to word it. With his increased strength in his lion form what if he hurt the baby? He couldn't do anything like to their child, and even if it was an accident, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for it. "Oh...Um...I guess we're here," he stammered. Sure enough, the paper butterflies Belle and Duncan had hung outside their tent to make it stand out from others was to their right.
"...So we are," Duncan chimed in. "Thanks you guys, for walking us back. I'll make sure she's taken care of." All the while he was giving Belle curt nods, a silent signal to 'get inside'. Belle thanked her friends again, hugging them both, before entering her and her husband's house. She glared at him as he set the cradle down.
"Okay. I want answers," Belle stated bluntly. "You're acting super weird. Well, weirder, I should say. What is going on? And why aren't you telling me anything?"
Duncan couldn't even make eye contact with her. She deserved answers to what had gotten him so riled, but with the happiness of the baby shower, he didn't want to take a scene of it in front of everyone. Even in the privacy of their own home he was worried. Whatever he was going to say would either have her smacking him and calling him stupid or, well, he didn't know how she'd react to this. Belle was a fighter and not someone to give up so easily in the face of danger, and this would be beyond dangerous.
"I'm sure you know we have...in-law problems." On one end, anyways. Moses and Zelda were ideal in-laws, supporting both the spouse and their daughter/goddaughter. But with Duncan, family ties were phenomenally complex. Particularly with his father. And well, the paternal grandfather was the major issue. "Belloc knows about the baby..."
Belle's hands instinctively flew to her baby bump. "If he thinks he can rip this child out of me, he's sadly mistaken."
"Don't worry. He doesn't want...that." He sighed, getting back on track. "It's a whole...blood ties thing. Since we're both royalty of, well, them, we're siring what could be a future Kaiju ruler. And that means..."
"...He's going to try and steal Xander," Belle finished. Her hazel eyes were steeling over. Security against a rampaging dragon was not going to be easy, especially given to Belloc's own strength and intense fire breath being added to the table. Her hands were close to the baby, and the Agniastrate in her ring glittered; Duncan's did likewise. Xander as a Kaiju heir was dangerous. Duncan had been lucky to gain a half-dragon form because of his blood. But the chances of Xander surviving the initation of becoming an heir...very slim. Not to mention the intense regimes that Belle barely survived - yes, apparently a 'welcome to the family' to Kaijus meant 'try to kill this one dragon before it kills you - could leave their baby injured beyond repair.
Belle staggered backwards. Her face was unreadable, with multiple emotions filling her that even the jewel didn't know how to react. At times it glittered, other times it clouded over, and other times it became so bright it was almost white. She put a hand on her head, settling onto the chaise lounge. The only thing she could say was, "Duncan...get me some lemon balm." So rare was it that Duncan was the one supporting Belle, but the tables had been turned...