halcyon_houses

When: Late Afternoon
Where: Head of Halcyon; Their Room
Who: Rozlyn and Axel

It was quiet in the house. Aidan was in his room with a movie, Axel was on guard duty, and Jadyn was finally asleep. She was there...just a few feet away...but Rozlyn couldn't bring herself to move back onto the bed and lay down with her. No Rozlyn sat on the floor, staring across the room at the small form. So tiny…so innocent…her calm breaths making her move just faintly beneath the blankets. A girl...Rozlyn knew always that there was risk of this and yet she had not been prepared for it.

Within the questions raged, a cycle that left Rozlyn feeling as though she'd very well snap under the force of them.

( What if.... )

When: Late afternoon
Where: Their room to start, then med clinic
Who: Rozlyn, Axel, Aidan and Xael

Rozlyn had been taking it easy as directed. Not by any doctor no, but by a large demon named Axel that gave her a good glare anytime she got up for too long or tried to fuss around the house. Apparently he and Aidan could handle it. He didn’t seem to get what a scary thought that was. So of course more then once while he was at his classes she’d gotten up and cleaned up around the house or saw to work. She still had her class after all and work didn’t just do itself no matter how handy that would be. Aidan was quick to help in any way he could. She allowed him to write the scores on papers and even had let him type a few things up for her. Which was a rather slow and tricky process but he liked to help! Never mind that it made her have to take even more time on that current project then it would normally take. That wasn’t the point.

Still as active as Rozlyn liked to be she was not able to be up and about for too long anymore. The kid was well and truly kicking her ass. Apparently in the last week it had decided that it was going to try to beat Aidan’s title for baby that kicked the most. It made relaxing rather difficult and sleeping all but impossible. Not that Rozlyn was sleeping well regardless. The dreams were less then friendly…and so she took exhaustion over being woken all shaken up. It wasn’t the best choice really but the kid wasn’t given her many other options. When she became really exhausted she drank a few teas with sleep aid and tried to get a full nights rest. Sometimes it worked…sometimes it really didn’t.

“Aidan what are you doing?” Rozlyn called from the bedroom where she was currently laying. Axel would be back soon from his later afternoon class but until then Aidan would be likely trying to get away with sneaking himself some treats or grabbing a few for Goliath. He tried to be a helpful little bugger and tried so hard to behave but he just couldn’t seem to say no to that amble opportunity to sneak candy since mom wasn’t looking.

“Nooottthiinnnnnggg.” That long drawn out sound was nothing but confirmation that he was indeed doing something he shouldn’t be. He hadn’t quite caught onto that fact yet. Rozlyn sighed, pushing herself up to her feet slowly. Her robe was tugged on, though the entire place was hotter then most would like it Rozlyn still managed to find way to be cold. Happened when a little demon was sapping all the heat and energy away from you.

“Nothing huh?” Rozlyn questioned as she walked down the hallway and into the living room. “You’re supposed to be resting!” Aidan protested loudly…how he thought sending her back to bed would work when he was currently standing on top of one of the counters she had no idea. “And you’re not supposed to be on the counters, so it looks like we are both being bad children.” Rozlyn remarked, crossing her arms against her stomach and giving Aidan that well known motherly look. “I was….ummm getting you tea!” oh nice save for Aidan. She couldn’t say he hadn’t been since she caught him before he got into the treat cabinet. Couldn’t have all those goodie sweets in the normal cupboard or Aidan would gobble them all down the moment that they were put away.

“Oh you were? Well that is very sweet of you but I think I’m okay with the drinks I have.” Which meant of course that before Axel left he had brought her tea, juice, water, and damn near anything else he could think of in some hopes that she wouldn’t get up too much while he was gone. “Oh…Okay” Aidan remarked, managing to suppress a pout for being caught. He climbed on down and Rozlyn couldn’t help but smirk. Poor boy really did think he was so sly sometimes. “How about we go watch a movie and maybe afterwards you can get a treat before dinner, our secrete.” That made his eyes light up all too quickly. “Okay!”

In a rush he came over, taking Rozlyn’s hand and walking back with her to her room where he’d been hanging out a lot now. Keeping her company after all. Once in the room the little boy climbed up onto the bed as Rozlyn went to the tv. “What movie do you want to watch?” she questioned and Aidan in all his excited glory began to bounce on the bed. Bounce bounce “Lets watch…” bounce bounce “Aidan! What did I tell you about bouncing on the be...” quickly he dropped to the bed at that mom stern shout, no more bouncing. But Rozlyn groaned slightly, pressing a hand to the table top near her. “Mom?” Aidan crawled to the edge of the bed and saw water on the floor. Or at least it looked like water. Little eyes went wide and as he heard the front door open he went dashing out to find dad.

“Dad I broke mom!!! I was bouncing and she got that mom voice and I stopped but I broke her I think!” If Rozlyn's water hadn't just broken she might have laughed for the little boys description of the event.

( Around her there was blood )

Rozlyn awoke with a start, a faint gasp for air as claws curled against the twisted fabric of her bed sheets. Sweat creased her brow; her lips were pulled back in a sneer…she felt as though she could still taste the blood upon her tongue. A groan barely sounded as she curled onto her side, shuddering in the residual feel of the dream.

She was alone on the bed, Axel was to his class and Aidan was in his room watching a movie. In the faint distance Rozlyn could hear the sounds of it and Aidan’s laughter when his favorite line was spoken. He had been told to be good, that she really needed to rest her eyes just for a little while. Aidan could see the signs of exhaustion in his mother’s eyes and had quickly nodded his head that he’d be good. Mom needed to get her rest.

The problem was that Rozlyn wasn’t able to rest. Every time she closed her eyes she awoke like this. She dreamt of death, she saw the memories of countless slaughters, wars, murders. Her past was filled with destruction and each moment of it came back to tempt her when she sought sleep.

With each pregnancy the dreams had always become stronger. They kept her up at night; they stole away all ease a good night’s sleep should give her. But it was worse this time….she knew it was worse.

There was a hunger inside for chaos. A tugging desire at the back of her mind. At first she had dismissed it as simply lingering affects from so recently falling to her own insanity. It was common place after gaining control again to have…residual effects. To crave, to want, to nearly painfully need that chaos. To test those bounds of control.

But now she wondered if the dreams were confirmation to what she already worried was the truth. What she feared was the truth.

That the babe growing inside of her was a girl.

Slowly Rozlyn detangled herself from the sheets and climbed out of bed. Her steps were slow, her face still wore signs of wear. Vaguely her robe was tugged on before she made her way out of the room. She thought to get something to drink, to try to wash away the memory of that taste. But where she went instead was to Aidan’s room. The little boy looked up, it was obvious that he was confused to see her awake so soon. But the little one didn’t say anything or question. All he did was wrap his arms around Rozlyn’s own when she laid down on the bed to finish watching the movie with him.

Who: Halcyon Staff
Where: Common room in the Staff Building
When: Saturday Afternoon
What: Staff get together

The week had been a quiet one for Dove, and she was happy to have that brief moment of calm. The student body, even though she knew there was always some social drama happening, had been in a good mood this week. There wasn't anybody clamoring at her door to get in, no one seemed to have had any vent worthy situations to talk about. Not too many in the school had any serious problems, most of the time people just needed to vent to someone that had an outside perspective on the situation. It amused her sometimes though, when people of the same social circle would knock on her door, all with related problems. She always encouraged them to talk to their friends about it, they would undoubtedly be a wonderful support system for them, when she herself wasn't always available. Of course, if they actually listened to that particular piece of advice, she might be out of a job. On the other hand, she didn't know too many psychologists who would deal with supernatural beings.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft chime sounding from an alarm on her laptop. There was a staff get together of some fashion happening today, and Dove decided she would make an appearance. Having been here for awhile, she was friendly with the staff, but between the newcomers and everyone's busy schedules, she hadn't devoted as much time to them as she should. It was healthy to have social connections, and unhealthy not to maintain them. That's what the general gist of most of her books had told her, and she just happened to agree. It was time to put a name to new faces and remind herself of others. Dove was a cheerful person and very easy to get along with, so she didn't feel that anxiety some might about a bunch of people in the same room together.

Shutting her laptop down and tidying up her desk she got ready to head down to the commons room in the staff house. Quickly, she scribbled a note on a post-it that would be taped to her front door. It explained that she would be out of her office for the afternoon and if an emergency came about to find a guard who would be able to reach her. She never knew when someone would try to unhinge her door in an existential crisis. It didn't take long to get herself together, and she was off.

Arriving in the commons room, she had hoped she dressed appropriately. It was a saturday, but it was still a staff gathering so she wanted to appear casual and professional at the same time. She wore a pair of dark jeans, black healed boots, and an emerald green wrap around sweater. He hair was left loose in long curls and her make-up wasn't much, a very light dusting of eyeshadow and clear gloss. Deciding she was presentable enough, she walked into the room.

Dove would thank Rozlyn an the other staff who helped put this together at some point, they certainly created a warm and friendly atmosphere. It wasn't overly formal or fancy, something she appreciated. There were a couple couches, some chairs and coffee tables set up - more of a room for conversation than anything else. Dove headed over to one of the tables first before she sat down. Coffee, tea, and food platters were provided, and there was some light music playing in the background. At the very least, it was going to be a much deserved afternoon of relaxation for the staff that worked at Halcyon.

Before long she had a hot mug filled with herbal tea, and a small plate filled with fruit. Sitting down in one of the chairs, she waited for more people to arrive.

When: After late afternoon classes
Where: Leecee’s room
Who: Leecee and Rozlyn

Rozlyn’s time was often divided between her classroom and her home. She didn’t venture around the school all that often unless it was to take Aidan outside for awhile or let him run around. There were a few people she kept in contact with but Rozlyn was the sort to always keep a busy schedule. Difficult to not have one with the little demon she had to care for. But today she’d made sure to have some time set aside to meet with Leecee in regards to the staff gathering coming up this weekend.

How successful it would be Rozlyn didn’t really know. Most spoke big games of showing and wanting to know everyone but when the time came more then a few always backed out. Some just couldn’t break out of that want to keep to themselves. Either way the plans would be made and people could come and go as they like really. Wasn’t any set thing really. Just a chance for everyone to run into each other in a way other then crossing path in the halls.

The watcher for the little demon today was Axel of course. He was just a bit on the extra hyper side lately. Likely it was the fact that Rozlyn wasn’t able to keep up with him as well anymore and it was becoming more and more apparent that her attention had been going to the soon to be bundle of joy. Aidan was a bit of an attention fiend. So he’d made sure to be extra loud and extra clingy. A little much for most sitters to handle really. Plus Aidan always loved spending time with his father, like having a big kid to play with.

There was no denying that part of why Rozlyn was so focused on the pregnancy was because she was nervous. Worried. All the words similar to those that would fit really. She knew that fretting over all of it would do nothing and she simply had need to avoid that stress. But that wasn’t always so easy for Rozlyn. Of course all those reasons were why Axel had convinced her to not find out what sex the child was on one of the few check ups that Rozlyn went to. The argument hadn’t exactly been pretty but Axel won it. He knew Rozlyn well enough to know that it was better to simply…try to keep her mind off of it.

Maybe that’s why she’d taken on responsibility of planning this get together. Gave her something to do.

With the little one amply distracted Rozlyn tugged on her coat, kissed the bigger demon goodbye, and left her room...not exactly having to go too far to find her way to Leecee's door. Probably a good thing really, Roz was a bit worn down lately but thats what happened when you weren't getting near enough sleep and were carrying a squirming kicking thing inside of you. Thankfully, so far, it wasn't beating on her nearly as bad as Aidan had.

Once to the door Rozlyn gave a loud enough knock, waiting for Leecee to answer.

When your age went into the hundreds birthdays ceased to be important days. Just another year gone to add to the many that had already passed. Rozlyn scarcely remember her own and all others with age that she knew, were very much the same way. It would be easy for both demons to simply let the day go as any other day before it. But it wasn't just them that they had anymore and little demons were always looking for ways to make a day into something far more then it was. So once Aidan learned that Thursday was his father’s birthday...it was game on for the little kid in terms of making a fuss about it.

Thursday morning Axel woke to the entire wall outside of their bedroom papered in HAPPY BIRTHDAY, courtesy of Aidan. He also had made at least three dozen cards and had Rozlyn not woke early that morning he would have tried to make a real mess of bringing dad breakfast in bed. Thankfully Rozlyn was able to intervene and help out in cooking. Which involved convincing Aidan to let his father sleep and eat breakfast whenever he finally woke. Not any easy one to sell the kid on but Rozlyn managed...though that probably did have something to do with Aidan planning to go wake his father up with a tackled pounce of happy birthday. Rozlyn wasn't nearly as quick as she used to be anymore. Pregnancy sort of did that to a woman. Especially with how far along Rozlyn was getting.

Needless to say the morning was a loud adventurous one. One not even remotely calmed until Axel eventually left for his classes. Aidan tried to convince his father that he should skip classes today but somehow that was sways with a promise that Aidan could help out in his basic physical combat class. Rozlyn did not envy Axel on that one...not even a little bit. But at the least Aidan would really help to give those kids a work out.

After the morning hoopla the day went as it often did. Rozlyn saw to her one class and after that had her hands full with work and with Aidan. There were also dinner plans to think of. A family affair that Rozlyn had to prepare for. Amazing that she could at all with Aidan so eager to help like he was. Somehow Rozlyn did manage it though, having it all set up and ready by the time Axel showed later that night. The food was varied, come on she was pregnant and craved all too much. But for Axel it was steaks. And for Aidan of course, he wanted to be like his father after all.

Thankfully after dinner there were plans all set in place for Axel and Roz to get a bit of alone time. Aidan, though he was none to happy about obliging with the task, was off with a sitter for the night. The little hellion did have time to give over some well crafted hand made presents to his father before he went though. Like all child gifts they were put up on a shelf to be admired till Aidan or Goliath managed to break them in one of their many tears around the house.

Once Aidan was gone for the night Rozlyn was set to pamper the big demon for the night. He did so often enough for her, was only fair on his birthday of all days to return the favor…not that she ever really lacked doing so regardless.

But she knew what he really wanted for his birthday..and they had the whole night alone to enjoy it.