"The itsy bitsy spider, climbed up the water spout," Lyra sang, walking her fingers up the chest of the baby in her arms. His name was Sam and he was, quite possibly, the cutest thing that Lyra had ever seen. She was babysitting for the day while a friend dealt with family issues that Lyra hadn't pried into.
Lyra - who had always adored children and babies - was enjoying the whole thing immensely. Sam seemed to be an extraordinarily happy baby as well.
There was a knock on the door and Lyra, smiling down at Sam, said, "shall we go answer the door? Yes, let's go answer the door and see who's come to visit us." With Sam cradled in the crook of her arm she peered through the peephole and smiled even more brightly when she saw that it was Thanatos. She unlocked the door and said, "this is a pleasant surprise."
He'd initially come to see Lyra for rather obvious reasons. He liked being close to her and waking up with her was just nicer. Especially because today he'd actually needed to do his duty. He needed her brightness.
He was taken aback by the child she was carrying and he turned down his thoughts. He was never too sure around children though (they always seemed to just know about him) and even less so around babies. "Hello," he gave the baby a look and titled his head. "I did not know you were busy."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 04:20 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Babysitting," Lyra smiled and then jiggled the boy in her arms a little. "Isn't that right, little Sam? We're having the best time, aren't we?" Looking back up at her boyfriend she said, "come in though."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 04:28 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He was a bit confused, but he hadn't called ahead. He shouldn't assume she was always free. He gave the baby a look before stepping inside and removing his coat.
He didn't want the baby to cry at him so he stayed at a distance. But he still wanted to be around Lyra. "they know," he motioned to the child, "they can sense me I think."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 04:33 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Well, maybe Sam is like me and doesn't mind death," Lyra said cheerfully. Sam had gone very quiet though, but he seemed more interested in who Thanatos was than afraid of him.
"What brings you my way?" Lyra asked, moving closer so that she could kiss Thanatos in greeting. Sam made a grab for Thanatos' coat. Sam, Lyra had discovered, was really enjoying his opposable thumbs. She could barely keep anything out of his hands. It was just lucky he couldn't walk yet.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 04:38 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He sat down and watched the child as he watched him. "All children mind death. Too much life in them." He had always felt it harder to take children then those who were older. He'd done it far too much in his opinion.
He returned the kiss but leaned out of the touch of the child. He half feared he'd claim the child, even if that would be impossible. "I wanted to see you. I was brought to someone's side today. I wanted to have some of your cheer. Selfishly."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 04:45 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "That's not selfish," Lyra told him. "Or if it is, it's the sort of selfish I'm okay with. I like making you smile." Sam reached up and tugged on her hair and Lyra made a face at him. He giggled and tugged harder, which hadn't been the reaction she was hoping for. She untangled his little fingers as she smiled at Thanatos. "Love you. You can come to me any time."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 04:55 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He did smile to that, "I know. It's a good thing. I did not know you were occupied." He frowned at the child tugging at her hair but didn't interfere. He wouldn't even know how to do all that anyway. "As I love you. Perhaps you should put him down?"
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 05:19 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "He's alright," Lyra said, bouncing him in her arms. "Actually, could you watch him for a minute?" she asked hopefully. "I'm dying to go to the bathroom but you don't have to hold him or anything." She tilted her head curiously. "Unless you want to try holding him?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 05:28 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He drew back against the couch at the mere mention of holding the child, "no. Just put him down. I'll watch him." He really, really, really didn't feel qualified to do this sort of thing, but he wouldn't leave Lyra to it. He would at least attempt to help her.
"I'm not great at this. I worry I'll hurt them."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 05:35 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "You won't hurt him," Lyra promised, putting Sam down on the couch beside Thanatos. "You can't take people unless it's their time, isn't that right? So unless it's Sam's time - which I really hope it isn't - then he's fine. Babies aren't as breakable as you think."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 05:39 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "No, I would see it," and he didn't. He stared at the child and inched a bit away. "I am not used to children. They have never factored into my existence very much." He glanced to the baby with a frown, "they are odd."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 05:53 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Well, we were all babies ones," Lyra said and then frowned. "Except... I can't really use that reasoning with you." She crouched down, smiling brightly at Sam. "Some people in this room aren't normal human beanies like us," she told the baby in a sing-song voice and then blew a raspberry against his chubby arm, something which made the boy laugh in delight.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 05:57 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He shrugged, "you said you needed to go use the washroom," he tilted his head before looking to the child. "You know what I am I think, and I am not sure if I was ever like him. You'd have to ask my mother. I imagine I did not arrive the way I am now." He shrugged, "but you never know."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 06:03 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Okay," Lyra said, standing up. "I promise not to run away to China and leave you with him." She grinned and headed off down the hall, hoping that Thanatos would survive.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 06:11 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He sighed and watched her leave, placing pillows near the child so it wouldn't go and get himself hurt. "I am not good at this," he sighed to the child. "But Lyra is nice. She'll be good while you're here. I'll just be useless and add to the scenery."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 06:14 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select When Lyra returned she lingered in the doorway and watched for a few moments before coming back to sit down, putting the little boy on her lap again. "You lived," she told him, trying not to tease him too much. Being death around babies had to be - at the very least - weird.
"You know," Lyra told him, trying for casual. "One day I'm going to have kids. If you want to be part of my life you'll have to get slightly less afraid of them." This was probably a slightly heavy discussion for someone that she'd only been dating a few months, but she did love Thanatos and wanted to be with him and it was important he understand that, for Lyra, children wasn't an optional thing.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 06:22 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He watched her, wondering how she got so good at that. He gave her an odd look and half a smile, "well yes. I can't really die so," he shrugged and glanced to the child. It was harder then it looked to remain somewhat casual.
Her comment made him look to her and frown. "You know I want to be a part of your life. But I have very little to do with children." He sighed, "I cannot give you any of my blood, this you already know. And you haven't met most of my family so you do not know how much of a benefit that is. Regardless, I will calm down in due time. Give me some patience."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 06:28 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "A kid doesn't need to have your blood to be yours," Lyra said and attempted a shrug. "Just like a child doesn't need to have my blood for me to love it like it was my own." She cleared her throat. "But, uh, this is very early into 'us' to be even talking about this idea." She smiled at him warmly. "I have a lot of years before I'm ready for one of these of my own anyway. For now I'm happy with babysitting and feeling clucky."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 06:33 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He was a bit relieved when she said it was a bit early to discuss this, "oh, good. I'm not always sure on timelines. It get's fuzzy sometimes. I do want to discuss this with you Lyra, but once we've settled into us a bit more. I quite like having you to myself right now. And I will learn, in said time." Smiling he kissed the top of her head, "For what it's worth I am sorry I cannot give you your own."
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[info]gardhouse 2012-01-04 07:02 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Timeline wise this is very early by anyone's standards," Lyra nodded with a smile, feeling awkward about this whole conversation. "Give it another five years and if we're still together then we can start talking about it. But," she added, "Sam's mom will be coming to collect him in an hour or so. After that I'll be completely yours."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2012-01-04 07:06 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I plan to stay with you. I hope to have you then still," he was serious about that, but then again he planned to stay with her until he had to take her to Hades' realm. He was very determined to keep this. "But alright. IT can be an item to discuss. And good. Like I said today I am selfish and need you."