Labor Pains on Labyrinth Gardens

Kiva Kijewski

September 16, 2008 9:35 PM

Labor Pains by Kiva Kijewski

Kiva walked through the maze like she did every evening. The lessons had long since ended for the day and Kiva trusted John enough to know that he could handle the students without the need for her to be there. Actually, she shouldn’t really be on her feet much at all these days being as it was close to the end of her nine long months of pregnancy. But, Kiva liked to keep up with the creatures that inhabited the gardens, like Art, and be sure they’re still being treated well and had the food that they need.

Most of the student body and staff would most likely be eating dinner now, but with the weather having warmed up greatly and the sun remaining in the sky a little longer each day, Kiva liked to do her rounds in the early evening without very many souls to interrupt her. Not that she was able to do her rounds all that often. Once a week, if she were lucky, she would walk the gardens. Usually around this time, she was either in Cascade Hall with everyone else stuffing her face with the fine cuisine, in her office finishing up her daily paperwork, or resting in her quarters. But, there were days when she felt well enough to walk the gardens, both for the fresh air and to visit with the creatures.

As she walked, a book of baby names inhabited one of her hands while her other rested peacefully on her enlarged stomach. Or, as her mother called it, her basketball because it literally looked as though Kiva had shoved the ball beneath her shirt. She was heading back to the school after having travelled around the gardens as much as her feet would allow her. But now, she was aching. Her back was aching. Her feet were swollen. She was an all around mess. And, what was more, a dull pain had begun to form in her lower back that was slowly creeping its way towards the front of her abdomen.

Spotting a bench, Kiva took a seat, giving her a chance to breathe and hope that the dull pain was due to all the walking. She sat, doing a routine breathing technique to help relax her, but it didn’t seem to help calm her or ease the pain. Instead, the pain suddenly erupted. Intense pressure engulfed her lower abdomen. A soft cry of pain emitted from Kiva as she held her stomach. Fear gripped her, paralyzed her. Was this normal? What was happening? Kiva suddenly felt very alone in the gardens.

Glancing up, Kiva could see the roof top of the school. She still had a way to go before she reached the door, let alone her office where the fireplace was waiting to take her to her hospital. This could be very bad.

After the pain subsided for the moment, Kiva stood back up and waddled as quickly as she could back toward the school. She could have located the Pecari common room as it would be closer, but Kiva didn’t want to have to explain that she was in labor, nor did she want to have contractions in front of possible students or a peer. She preferred to just try her damndest to get to the school, to the nearest fireplace, and floo her way to the hospital. That was how it needed to go. That was how she planned. Well, technically, she planned it a week from now and not in the beginnings of labor pains, but it was what she had idealized.

Another contraction hit Kiva, forcing her to stop and grab a branch for support. She made little noise but the pain was evident on her features. Merlin, she wanted to cry. And this was only the beginning contractions, childbirth was bound to be unbelievably worse.

“Okay, Kiki.” Kiva said to herself in hopes of being able to pep talk herself into moving again. “It's just a bit further. Keep moving.” The school was closer, but she still had to pace herself if she planned on making it there before giving in and just crying. “Go on, go.”

6 Kiva Kijewski Labor Pains 5 Kiva Kijewski 1 5

Irene Liddowe

September 20, 2008 1:27 PM

Re: Labor Pains by Irene Liddowe

OOC: She's due in April right? If I am wrong please ignore my time references ;)

BIC:
Irene was a little flustered. She had lost it. She couldn't believe she had lost her necklace! Irene had been out in the Gardens earlier doing her homework. She preferred the warm spring air to the common room. Spring, after all, was her favorite season and her birthday was very near. May was only a month away! Fourteen. It held so much more maturity than thirteen, didn't it? The thought of being fourteen made her feel... excited in a way. Irene didn't want to be looked down upon because of her age. Growing older left that behind. But right now that didn't matter. She had to find her necklace.

Irene circled the bench she had seated herself upon not hours before, her blue-green eyes squinting for a speck of silver or a glint of green. What if she couldn't find it? This wasn't just some trinket she was losing, this was the last relic she had left of her mother! What had she been thinking, taking it off? Sure, the chain was too long, therefore allowing the ring-on-a-chain to dangle in front of her view of her writing, but that was no excuse! Suck it up, Irene! Irene knelt down, running her fingers through the grass. After a few fruitless minutes, she sat back, leaning up against the bench with a sigh. Where could it be? That horrible feeling, that constriction of her throat that always came before tears threatened to take over her. The brown-haired girl took a deep breath, blinking fiercely and gazing around the Gardens. She knew she was a sensitive kid. Her emotions tended to get the best of her from time to ti--

Irene looked around sharply as she heard a small gasp and the sound of struggling feet. Her eyes found a figure across the lawn and a second later (after observing the rounded tummy) she reccognized the woman as Professor K. Irene had been about to call out a greeting but her voice faltered in her throat. It seemed that her favorite professor was... in pain? Irene jumped to her feet, jogging across the stretch of grass towards her teacher, the grief of her necklace lost.

"Professor K?" She said, slowing her pace to match hers. It was obvious she was struggling and, with a stab of panic, Irene came to the conclusion she had stupidly missed. Sweet Merlin, she was in labor. "Here, let me help you..." Irene placed her hand on her arm, praying she wouldn't swat her hand away and claim she could do it herself. "The school's not too far, but you shouldn't try to get there yourself. Let's get you to a hospital." After glancing quickly around for another adult figure, Irene looked back to her Professor, giving her a smile that she hoped showed comfort rather than the slight panic racing through her.

0 Irene Liddowe Re: Labor Pains 106 Irene Liddowe 0 5

Kiva

September 21, 2008 1:07 AM

They are terrible. by Kiva

OOC: Late April, almost May. So, you're fine. BIC:

Kiva began moving again, her focus solely on the roof of the school that was gradually growing nearer. She could totally do this. Really. Her contractions were still a good distance a part from one another and her water had yet to break. She was still in the clear. She still had plenty of time. She just had to get to the school. That was all.

The sound of her name startled Kiva. She hadn't realized anyone else was around having thought they were all at dinner. "Oh, Irene. I'm sorry, I didn't see you." The attitude that Irene was giving her made Kiva realize that the third year had seen her just before the contraction had ended. Well, so much for trying to keep any of the students from having to see her in this state. Since the contraction had passed, Kiva was able to think clearly once again and felt entirely embarrassed that her episode had been witnessed by anyone.

"Oh… I dropped my book." Kiva said rather suddenly when she realized both her hands were now empty. She felt completely loopy since she became pregnant. Always forgetting something. Her doctor explained that because she was under stress with her job and the baby, her mind had to cope in ways that only made since to it. So, her memory not being on par seemed to take a hit. "I'm alright, Irene, I just need to get to my office is all." Kiva explained, hoping to ease any panic the young girl might have had on Kiva's predicament. Always the professor.

The third contraction came sooner than the last one had and Kiva still had not reached the school. As before, she made very little noise in show of the pain, but she stopped walking and hunched over almost as though she were protecting her stomach. The pain was steadily getting worse, which meant that Kiva would have to be much quicker getting to the school. Though the pain, Kiva spoke, "Irene, please, do me a favor and try to find Mr. Tellermen or another staff member? I just… I just need to rest for a moment."

0 Kiva They are terrible. 0 Kiva 0 5

Irene Liddowe

September 21, 2008 3:01 PM

Like "No cookies left in the jar" terrible? Tag: Mr...(cont) by Irene Liddowe

OOC: ... Tellerman or Staff Member!

BIC:
Irene silently let out a breath, keeping herself in control of her own mind. As much as the Professor might try to seem like nothing was going on, there was nothing she could say that would make Irene agreed and wander off. At the Professor's request, "Irene, please, do me a favor and try to find Mr. Tellermen or another staff member? I just… I just need to rest for a moment," she nodded and took off at a jog towards... Wait, where was she going? She didn't know where the Groundskeeper was! She could go towards the school, couldn't she? For some reason her instinct was screaming to stay close to the Gardens. Wasn't there a spell or-- Yes! Irene pulled out her wand and a crumpled piece of parchment from her pocket, scribbling a note on it. Thank Merlin she had gone to Charms Club... Mr. Tellerman, HELP PLEASE! Prof K is outside the maze and needs some help. -Irene Liddowe

Irene closed her eyes, focusing on every detail of what she remembered of the Groundskeeper. "Exsto Locum!" She said strongly. The paper lifted into the air and hovered in the opposite direction. Satisfied with the work, Irene turned back towards her professor. In the process of turning, however, her foot landed on something foreign to grass. Looking down, Irene spotted the shining silver she had been searching for previously. She plucked it from the grass and exaimined it to conclude there was no damage. Letting out a sigh of relief, she slipped it over her head.

"I sent the Groundskeeper a message," Irene said as she reached Professor K. "Is there anything I can help with? Anything at all, really, I don't mind." After a brief pause, Irene grinned at her teacher and said, letting some excitement slip out, "Professor, you're having a baby!"

0 Irene Liddowe Like "No cookies left in the jar" terrible? Tag: Mr...(cont) 106 Irene Liddowe 0 5

Master Paul Simon Tellerman

September 22, 2008 10:24 AM

Summoned by Master Paul Simon Tellerman

OOC: It probably takes a few minutes to catch up, so I'm assuming you're up and walking again by the time I come into the picture. BIC:

Like he did every Thursday evening, Simon hurried along the paths of the Garden, keeping to the lesser used ones not because he was embarrassed by his attire but because even he felt the disconnect between what he was wearing and what the people of Sonora expected from a Groundskeeper. They'd seen him in everything from an old west cowboy get-up to his usual grass-stained jeans and t-shirts, but a sharp black tuxedo with long coattails that fell nearly to the backs of his knees, dress shoes that gleamed, and a crisp white dress shirt was in an entirely different category. Only the tall top hat and electric blue bow-tie distinguished him clearly as a stage magician rather than a misplaced member of a wedding party.

When the message first fluttered near him, he tried to wave it off. "Not now," he complained at it, "I've got to be in Vegas in half an hour." True, he only had to reach the apparition barrier and he'd be there instantly, and the show wasn't technically for another hour and a half, but the casino manager like his acts to arrive an hour before showtime unless they had a really good reason not to.

But the message persistently chased after him and continuously bumped against him until Simon stopped walking and grabbed at it in annoyance. "Fine, I'll read it. But I'm not doing anything about it." Huffily, he opened up the short crumpled note and started to read the few words written there as though doing the piece of paper a huge favor. The attitude didn't last beyond the third word and vanished entirely by the mention of Kiva.

Simon turned on his heel and ran back the way he'd come from, coat tails streaming out behind him and not caring in the least if he scuffed his shoes. They weren't meant for running though, and he stumbled a couple of times before he finally careened around a corner, one hand holding his top hat in place and the other thrown out to the side for balance, still clutching Irene's note.

He'd been expecting Kiva to be huffing and puffing and with a baby half out of her already (this being, of course, the fear every man has when being commanded to come 'help immediately' when a pregnant woman is involved), but the two were just walking back towards the school, with Irene lending a bit of support.

"Oh, Thank God," he said with entirely too much relief to keep them from hearing it. "I've many talents but midwifery isn't one of them. What do you need?" he asked coming up on Kiva's other side to offer his own support if she needed it. She did look a bit ragged.

Plus, it was just about impossible to not be chivalrous when dressed in a tuxedo. He was very nearly required to offer his arm to a lady in distress when he was attired so formally. Now that the panic had fled, his posture was much straighter than normal, too - not that he had much choice, what with the fit of his topcoat and cummerbund. Fortunately, he hadn't felt the need to call Kiva 'milady' or anything of that sort. He wasn't sure, but he may have adopted a very light English accent, though. Probably not though. He'd still been flustered when he'd spoken; that was hardly in character for the unflappable Simon the Magnificent.

1 Master Paul Simon Tellerman Summoned 14 Master Paul Simon Tellerman 0 5

Kiva

September 22, 2008 11:13 PM

Yes, Irene. Much worse than cookies. by Kiva

Irene left her side and Kiva breathed her way through the contraction. Her doctor and coaches lied to her. There was nothing pleasant in this feeling and there was definitely pain. It wouldn’t have been so terrible if it was only the pressure in her abdomen, but there was a sharp pain that was shooting right up her back too that felt as though it was going to split her straight in half.

The third year returned rather quickly. Kiva had expected to be waiting awhile, but when she stood up straight again, Kiva didn’t see a staff member with Irene. “Oh, alright. That’s smart of you.” Kiva commented, her breathing returning to normal. Kiva didn’t even think of sending off a note. Perhaps it was because she stubbornly thought she could make it on her own? Kiva offered Irene a tight lipped smile at her excitement and bit back a reply that probably was less than professional. She had to remind herself that Irene was happy and young and couldn’t possible understand the absolute fear that was rushing through Kiva’s veins with every contraction that hit her.

She had wanted to be a mother for a long time, longer than even she had acknowledged. Now that she was here, she thought she would be excited, maybe a little nervous, but not scared. And yet, here she was, terrified out of her mind. Panicked and feeling unbelievably alone. A sudden voice startled Kiva and she turned to see Simon heading towards the two of them. Her eyes traveled over his attire and a questioning eyebrow rose at the sight of him.

“Midwif-oh, no, I’m not at that point yet.” Kiva assured him, taking his offered support without hesitation. She appreciated Irene’s company, but Kiva felt better having another adult help her with the walk. “I’m sorry, Simon, if I knew you had something to do tonight, I wouldn’t have suggested you. You were just the first person I thought of.” She tried to apologize with a smile, but she didn’t think it turned out all too well. “I was checking on the animals when, well…” She pointed at her stomach. “I just need help getting to the school, Irene stumbled on me and, no offense Irene, but I thought the trek back to the school would be easier with another adult present.”

Kiva doubled over in pain again almost as soon as she finished her explanation. Her grip tightened unconsciously around Simon’s arm. She had been scratched, bitten, burned, cursed, and even trampled during her life when dealing with the animals around the world, but none of that measured up to the pain of childbirth. How did women do this all the time? There was nothing natural about this feeling. Deep breaths. She just had to remember to breathe and the pain will pass.

“Irene, please don’t think any less of me if I start to cry.” Kiva asked of her student when she finally had her breath back. “You either.” She motioned to Simon, releasing his arm from her tight grip after realizing she had been doing it in the first place. She felt terrible for involving the both of them for something as simple as walking back to her office so that she could floo straight to the hospital where her doctor was located. Her doctor was a Wizard who specialized in Muggle techniques and had been very good to her thus far.

“I’m sorry; this is silly, I can walk myself. Irene, I’m sure you have some homework to do. Simon, you’re dressed up for a reason, I’m keeping you from that. Seriously, the two of you should go. I’ll manage.”

0 Kiva Yes, Irene. Much worse than cookies. 0 Kiva 0 5

Simon Tellerman

September 23, 2008 9:57 AM

Then that is terrible by Simon Tellerman

Simon smiled with encouragement as Kiva leaned on his arm even as she tried to apologize for cutting into his evening plans. Before he could assure her it was fine, she doubled over and Simon had to shift and grab hold of her with his other hand as well. He looked over at Irene to see if she had any better idea than he did as to how to help ease Kiva through this, but then a sudden deep breath yanked his attention back to his friend and colleague.

"Promise," he swore at her request that he not think less of her for crying. So far as he could tell, bawling was a perfectly reasonable response to the situation.

And then, seemingly as suddenly as it started, it was over and Kiva was trying to get rid of him again. Simon shook his head and would hear none of it. "Don't worry about it, Kiva. If all I've got to do is walk you inside, I've got plenty of time. The show's not for another hour and a half and my manager can deal with it if I'm a little late for make-up. Relax. I'm not going anywhere until you're with a doctor."

1 Simon Tellerman Then that is terrible 14 Simon Tellerman 0 5

Irene

September 30, 2008 5:11 PM

Indeed... indeed... by Irene

Irene let out a sigh of relief as she spotted Mr. Tellerman running up to the scene. She would love to help Professor K, but she thought she was smart enough to know when she was over her head. And a teacher in labor was definitely over her head. The prospect of a baby finally coming into the world was exciting to her, but she wasn't about to go around thinking she could single-handedly handle this. She was thirteen, after all. No matter how old the "teen" part of her name made her feel, it didn't block the panic that ran through her veins. At least now there was an adult here. As the professor doubled over once more Mr. Tellerman's eyes landed on Irene. She felt stupid for having nothing else to do but stare, paralyzed at the sight of the pain coursing through the CoMC teacher.

"Irene, please don’t think any less of me if I start to cry." Irene nodded quickly, feeling her own emotions beginning to take over. She had this strange want to help, but wasn't completely sure if she would serve that much purpose. Would she just get in the way? It would be weird to ask, wouldn't it?

“I’m sorry; this is silly, I can walk myself. Irene, I’m sure you have some homework to do..." Irene resisted the urge to shake her head. She had finished it earlier that day. "Seriously, the two of you should go. I’ll manage.” The young girl felt an urge to speak up, but Mr. Tellerman had wiser words. Irene gave the slightest of nods at his words before speaking up, voicing the question she had just been telling herself was weird to say.

"If it's not any trouble, I'm definitely willing to help," she said in a rushed tone, "I don't want to get in the way, but if there's anything I can do... I really don't mind, as long as you don't mind," her blue-green eyes landed on the older female as she sent an unsure smile towards Professor K. She did want to help. She wasn't sure if she could stand sitting in the common room, but she would. It was her baby after all, it was all up to her.

0 Irene Indeed... indeed... 0 Irene 0 5

Kiva

October 05, 2008 7:51 PM

Does it make you want children now? by Kiva

Kiva gave Simon small smile of appreciation as he helped her walk through the paths towards the school. Kiva was, by nature, a private woman. She didn’t like to talk about how she was feeling, and didn’t like others to know if something were bothering her. She just let it all in. Her father had told her time and again before he passed that she would end up with an ulcer with everything she kept to herself. So the idea of showing pain, let alone crying, in front of a staff member as well as a student made Kiva very uncomfortable.

She knew that she shouldn’t even be thinking about appearances or anything like that during this time. She was having a baby. Her baby. People would expect her to be in pain and probably screaming or crying her eyes out, which Kiva would be doing if she were alone, but for some reason, in front of Simon and Irene, Kiva couldn’t give in to those urges. Though, as they still had a bit to go, that may change depending on how far apart these contractions remained. She knew that as soon as the gap between them began to close and they lasted longer than they have been, she was in trouble.

Her gaze turned to Irene as the teen spoke up. Kiva considered Irene to be a very strong person, emotionally, mentally, and physically. She was also a very honest girl. Kiva could remember their first conversation and how Irene had admitted to her about her father. It must have taken great courage to admit to a near stranger such a dark terror that had been corrupting her youth. Kiva envied her spirit and could only hope that Irene never lost that as she grew older. “Thank you, Irene. I appreciate your help, but I’m not so sure the Headmaster would enjoy knowing that a student witnessed me in this current state.” Kiva advised. She still believed that Manfred was disappointed in her, but had otherwise left her alone with her choices.

“How about, I promise to send you an owl to let you know everything is alright?” Kiva suggested, her breathing was labored again as the pain had never quite subsided, but that was too be expected. Her feet were swollen and hurt with every step. All she wanted to do was sit down on a nearby bench, but knew that if she decided to sit there would be no way she could get back up again. And if she couldn’t get back up again, Simon would be doing more than just having played a doctor on television. “We’re almost to the school now, you should head back to your common room.” Kiva’s looks soften a bit as she smiled to Irene. “Really, Irene, thank you. You’ve been very considerate and helpful. So, unless Simon says otherwise, I think we’ll be okay.”

0 Kiva Does it make you want children now? 0 Kiva 0 5

Simon

October 10, 2008 10:59 AM

I've Cousins. That's good enough for me. by Simon

If Simon understood the relationships of the students correctly, Irene was the girlfriend of the best friend of Saul's closest roommate. According to Saul, this made her practically family, and consequently Simon knew far more about what she ate for breakfast on a daily basis, how many solid catches she made during an average Quidditch practice, and who all her closest friends in the school were than he really thought was necessary or possibly even appropriate.

For someone as oblivious as Saul seemed, the boy could talk about anyone for hours. It wasn't necessarily all true, of course - Saul was as prone to applying dramatic license in his story telling as Simon was, and the groundskeeper was fairly sure that, at the very least, Irene did not have a plans to become rich by crossing nifflers and puffskeins and selling them to Hollywood as the next Gremlin type of movie creature - but Simon did hear enough about her think of her as a friend of the family.

So her obvious wish to be helpful clashed up against Kiva's seeming wish to send her away and Simon wasn't entirely sure whose side to take. On the one hand, Kiva had tried to send him away so she was obviously not thinking clearly through the contractions. On the other hand, Irene was a student and was possibly making this more awkward for Kiva simply because of that.

He decided he could give Irene one last opportunity to be useful before sending her on her way. He nodded up toward the building ahead as it came into to sight through a break in the hedges. He fumbled in his pocket for the key to his side entrance that was visible right in front of them and tossed it to the third year girl. "If you get the door to the school open, I think we can manage it from there, Irene, thanks."

It occurred to him then that he'd been unconsciously directing their walk toward his usual entrance, a small door on the side of the building that led to his own quarters and maintenance storage. It was used mostly by himself and the prairie elves and the plaque on it read STAFF ONLY quite clearly. Kiva might have used it before she became a head of house, but now her rooms were in a different part of the building entirely, up near the library. She probably used the main doors more now.

Simon realized quite a bit of time could be shaved off if they bypassed her quarters entirely and just used his. "Do you need anything in your room, Kiva, or is the floo in mine as good as any?" He was grateful for all his second and third jobs, his auditions and gigs all over the States, including many magical venues for which he was allowed to keep an active external floo connection.

1 Simon I've Cousins. That's good enough for me. 14 Simon 0 5

Kiva

October 20, 2008 8:42 PM

No Daddy Simon then? by Kiva

Kiva was grateful that Simon had taken the lead with Irene. It wasn't that Kiva wanted to force the girl back to her common room; she knew that if she were in Irene's position, she would have wanted to stay and help too, but Kiva was also aware of her position at the school and she couldn't involve a student anymore than she already had. But Simon giving her a direct request included Irene but also kept the relationship as much as staff/student as it could be in this circumstance.

The pressure in her abdomen intensified once more, causing Kiva to hiss through clenched teeth. She stopped walking for a moment, clutching her sides trying to find some relief to the sharp pains running along her spine. A half sob, half groan left Kiva just as quiet as her other sounds were, but it was still proof that another contraction had hit. This one came sooner that the last. Although she wanted nothing more than to just force the baby out and be done with the pain, Kiva counted through the contraction, trying hard to concentrate on her breathing and what Simon was asking her.

"Um…" Kiva mumbled, trying to focus on what she would possibly need in her office. It was hard to count and make conversation, so she was slow to respond to his question. "I have my… hospital bag… up there." She finally answered, breathing heavily so the words came out sounding breathless and strained. "But, I can …get another… bag later." 14, 15, 16. "As long as… your floo is connected… we'll make it." She huffed.
The pressure eased up again, allowing Kiva the ability to walk again. She ended the counting in her head, noting that the contraction had lasted longer than the others. Her water hadn’t broken yet, so she was still good. She didn’t need to panic just yet. Even so, she could feel her heart pound against her rib cage. She couldn’t tell if it was merely because of the adrenaline pumping through her veins or because she was scared out of her mind at this point, but didn’t think the difference mattered all too much at the moment.

“I do not know how women can have twelve kids. Right now, I think getting clawed by a Chimera is more pleasant than this.” Kiva commented, running a hand through her wild curls and wishing that she had thought to bring a hair tie. “I don’t know why I thought I could do this alone.” Kiva gave a rather pathetic laugh before shaking her head. “No turning back now. Your floo will get us to Albuquerque, right?”

0 Kiva No Daddy Simon then? 0 Kiva 0 5

Simon

October 27, 2008 5:52 PM

The thought rather terrifies me by Simon

"My floo's connected, able to get you anywhere in North America," Simon confirmed firmly, trying not to sound too relieved that they would only have to make it his room instead of hers. Well, Alaska or some of those Central American countries might be pushing it, but it could definitely do Albuquerque. "Hang on." He snapped his fingers and called out crisply, "First Order Janitor!"

A prairie elf appeared almost instantly, seemingly from nowhere, and Simon felt the usual rush that came whenever he remembered that he had his very own minions, ready to carry out his every whim. Even after nearly seven years, it hadn't faded. It was part of the reason he was still here. (The other part being that he still hadn't been hired to act in a blockbuster movie - or even a made-for-TV movie, sadly enough.)

"Could you go fetch Professor Kijewski's hospital bag? It's in her," he looked over at Kiva, suddenly realizing he wasn't quite sure where it was. "Is it in your office or your quarters? What does it look like? My first Order of Janitors are the best elves at the school -" extravagant praising of said minions never hurt morale, made them slightly less likely to abuse themselves, and tended to invoke unfailing worship - so Simon never missed an opportunity. "This fine example," whose name he couldn't quite remember at the moment, "would be proud to fetch anything you need and bring it to us at my fireplace with all due speed."

The elf in question looked beyond honored by the opportunity, nearly overwhelmed enough to swoon though he did manage to contain himself enough that he merely swayed on his feet. Simon could spot a few others who hadn't been quite as fast to respond to his summons looking on with envy and wistful hope that they might someday earn a chance to be given such an important mission.

His eyes were bright as he lowered his voice and added more quietly but no less delightedly, "Have I mentioned how much I love my job here?"\r\n\r\n

1 Simon The thought rather terrifies me 14 Simon 0 5

Kiva

October 29, 2008 9:46 PM

I'd think you'd make a good Dad by Kiva

Kiva nodded, relieved to hear that she wouldn't have to try to make it up all the stairs to her office. She could barely make it to this side door; she didn't think there was any possibility that she could make it to her own fireplace. It also didn't help that she was waddling. And she was waddling because of the pain in her back. And she was fairly certain the pain in her back was being caused by the pressure in her abdomen. And, on top of it all, her ankles seemed ready to just give up on her entirely.

"What?" Kiva asked when Simon suddenly called out something rather random and then nearly jumped when a Prairie Elf was nearly instantaneously in front of her. It dawned on her, albeit a little slower than usual, that Simon had given his elves a specific name for when he called for them. She wasn't exactly sure why the name included Janitor in it. Most people wouldn't think being called that as a good thing. But, then again, Simon was a bit odd and the Elves were all their own characters.

Simon began to ramble a few questions. Kiva, still struggling to keep pace with his banter, wasn't able to answer any of his questions before explaining about the elves. All Kiva could do was nod while he spoke, trying to pay attention to the words while clutching his arm for support.

The look the elf's face had Kiva smiling, though the fact that she was in pain probably made the smile look a bit strained. In spite of that, at Simon's whispered confession, Kiva laughed. It seemed like such an easy icebreaker. A reminder that she was going to be perfectly fine, absolutely no reason to panic. "It does seem to have its perks." She commented before giving her attention to the elf. "My bag is against my bed in my quarters. It's red. Hard to miss." There were times, much likes this, when magic really was quite useful. "Thanks Simon for letting me borrow him." She paused for a minute before adding, "And for helping me too."

0 Kiva I'd think you'd make a good Dad 0 Kiva 0 5