[003]

[talks_too_much]

 [Her journal opening was an accident. The sound of a crying child, in Sam's half asleep state, just made her think of her alarm clock going off on a weekend. One of the few weekends she'd ever had, really but a weekend nonetheless. So when she reached to turn the non-existent alarm clock off, she knocked her journal to the floor and curled up closer to Jack.

The baby kept crying though and Sam finally had to roll over and look.

And look a little longer.

Just a little more.]

Jack? I don't remember there being a baby here when I went to sleep.

Comments

[fishesandfights]

[He was in the background, really, but the journal would have some trouble translating his half-awake mumbling.]

Baby? What baby? Don't remember any baby.

[Then he became more alert]

There's a baby in the room, Sam. [A pause] An unexpected development.

[talks_too_much]

[How astute. She smiles and rubs at her eyes.]

Looks like she has a little pink bow. This she snuck in and somebody is looking for her?

[fishesandfights]

How'd she get in?

[He sat up, blinking in the light]

I think she has your eyes, though.

[talks_too_much]

I don't kno--

[Oh wow, she does. That's really weird.]

She has your nose, too.

[fishesandfights]

[There is a long pause]

Ok, this has just gone from mildly concerning to very, very weird.

[But there's a crying baby. And he responds in the best possible way, picking her up]

Hey there, kiddo. What's the matter, huh?

[Because though it had ended in tragedy, he had been a father before. He knew the voice to use]

[atadiscoverer]

You, too, aye?

[Yes, there is a happy gurgling on the other end.]

No, no, that's daddy's journal...

[talks_too_much]

Too? As in, this isn't just an isolate incident?

[Oh that's just precious.]

Daddy, huh?

[atadiscoverer]

Heheh... Aye. This is baby Rodney. Say hello, son.

[A happy gurgle.]

It doesn't look like an isolated incident, no.

[talks_too_much]

His name is Rodney?

[Her issues with Rodney were pretty much gone but still.]

Well that's a little bit of a comfort.

[hullo_sweetie]

This sort of thing happens. It's a tradition here.....

[talks_too_much]

A tradition? For babies to suddenly appear?

[hullo_sweetie]

I happens every year, it was happening when I first arrived last year.

[talks_too_much]

How is this even possible?

[No, she already knows the answer: magic. But it's still... There's a baby with her eyes here, it's just strange.]

[blazing_stag]

Wow. Looks like everyone got one.

[There's a low growl.] For the last time Rattata, Arthur is not a toy!

[talks_too_much]

You too, James? I don't even know how-- I just woke up and there she was. At least she's happy while Jack is holding her.

[blazing_stag]

Same here. Hermione seems better with him than I do. She has all these parenting books all over the place.

[talks_too_much]

I should probably find a few of those. At least we both have someone that knows what they're doing though.

[linguistical]

[ .............................


What.







Well then. ]

Congratulations?

[talks_too_much]

Thanks, I think. Definitely didn't see this one coming.

Feel like coming to meet Gracie?

[linguistical]

Yeah, neither did I. [ At least they aren't the only ones?? Yeah, that somehow doesn't make the whole situation any better. ]

Sure, give me a few minutes.

[talks_too_much]

Apparently it's tradition... One I would have really liked to be clued in on beforehand.

We'll be here

[zeke_developer]

You guys too, huh? Looks like it's contagious.

[There's a mechanical-sounding crash in the background.]

Hal! The Mark II isn't a toy!

[talks_too_much]

[Oh, ouch! That sounded bad.]

Hands full, huh?

[zeke_developer]

[Huey whirrs over to collect his son, currently entangled in the Mark II's manipulator arm, and set him on his lap.]

Might say that, yeah. If he's not reaching for my tools to bang them on the table, he's using the models of my robots for chew toys, or trying to play tag with the Mark II. My room's not very childproof, you know?

[He turns to address his son.]

Now Hal, the Mark II can do a lot of things, but playing with a little boy who can't quite walk yet isn't one of them.

[A childish giggle and a Huey-yelp later, Hal's got daddy's glasses.]

Hal! I can't see! Give me back my glasses!

[talks_too_much]

Can't say my room is any better for kids. At least Jack knows how to take care of her, though.

[Oh god, this is going to be a large nightmare for them all, isn't it?]

Maybe you could wish up a pair of fake glasses for him to play with?