three.

[thraxios]

[Gideon's handwriting isn't nearly as neat as usual: the letters wobble, and there are splatters and swipes of ink around the words. Holding a squirming, squalling baby while trying to write using pen and ink in a journal that doesn't want to stay open to the proper page isn't an easy task.]

It won't stop crying.

What does one do

[and there's a particularly large spill of ink]

when it won't stop crying?

I've tried everything I can think of.

((OOC: Gideon is now father to a little girl who's old enough to have hair just like his, but not so old that she can say what she wants. >D))

Comments

[heloise]

You ought to calm yourself, first. Even a babe can sense your anxiety.

[thraxios]

Anxiety seems reasonable enough given the-- situation.

I should like to think myself calm considering the circumstances.

[Tense, yes. But not panicking. Yet.]

[heloise]

Babies have simpler needs than we do. Food, warmth, comfort. Is it lacking any?

[thraxios]

If it is, it has not deigned to say so in any [splatter]telligible language.

[heloise]

That comes later.

You can offer it each in turn.

[thraxios]

And should it reject those?

[heloise]

Try and offer it comfort. Love.

[thraxios]

It seems a bit young to grasp complex emotions. [Also, he hasn't yet figured out the difference between bouncing the baby and jostling it.]

[heloise]

Love is not so complex.

[kethedammit]

You fed it yet?

[thraxios]

Attempted to.

[kethedammit]

Okay, now check the other end.

[thraxios]

Tried that.

[kethedammit]

See any rashes while you were down there?

[thraxios]

[There's a long pause before Gideon answers, almost as though he was double-checking.]

No.

[kethedammit]

It napped any?

[thraxios]

Not sure - I wasn't aware [splotch] it until it started crying.

dictated;

[peacockherald]

See if she must be changed or needs to eat first. Otherwise, she might simply want your attention. Carry her, sing, read, play with her. Occupy her. Usually, though, crying suggests a more immediate need.

[written forever]

[thraxios]

[And it no longer looks like he's just throwing ink at the page, which is a definite improvement.]

The crisis has passed for the moment, but I appreciate the advice.

Re: [written forever]

[peacockherald]

I do what I can. I helped look after my friend's child, so I am used to it and I was here the last time through this as well. I know it can be taxing for those not used to it.

[thraxios]

Infants are simply -

[and there's a long pause before he decides how it is he wants to describe his experience with them]

an uncommon sight in most of the places I've lived.

I'm Gideon Thraxios. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?

[peacockherald]

Vanyel Ashkevron. Nice to meet you Gideon.

And do not worry. We're all here to help each other with the little ones, at least, so no one has to go it totally alone.

[thraxios]

Likewise.

That is a comfort, I suppose. Were you given one as well?

[peacockherald]

Yes, a boy this time. I had one last year, but... my partner for that is no longer among us. He's called Luke... and is quite the handful. It seems between me and my partner, we have created a magical nightmare of a child.

[thraxios]

I'll count myself lucky that Zipporah is years from any manifestation of magic. [Imagine throwing ill-managed magic into the mess of caring for a small child. Gideon feels a sudden pang of sympathy for this Vanyel Ashkevron.]