Log: Auset and Mandy BACKDATED Who: Auset and Mandy When: BACKDATED 3 April Where: Baby shop What: Wanting to destress, the two women go shopping for the triplets Rating: G Status: Finished
The week hadn't been particularly kind to Mandy Krum. The majority of it spent with the 'flu hadn't been great at all, but the cherry of insanity on top of her sundae of a crazy week was the fireworks set off in the Astronomy Tower on April Fools Day. She hadn't been there, but it wasn't long before she knew about it, and when she'd walked into the school the next day, hell had been raised with students and (certain) staff alike. Friday, though, was much more calm, and the prospect of shopping that afternoon after school was one that buoyed Mandy's mood. It'd been wonderful of Auset to offer, and Mandy hadn't even really had to think before accepting.
And shopping itself had proved itself to be exactly what she needed. As if her thickening waistline and tighter-by-the-day clothes weren't clue enough, Mandy'd been seized of late by an ever-growing desire to, simply, nest. She had a few catalogues at home and she loved looking through them and had more than a few lists of what she needed and what she wanted laying around the house. Now it was time to capitalise on all of that.
Brow furrowed, Mandy pulled a tiny, tiny romper from the rack and held it up for Auset's approval. "What do you think of this one? It's sort of gender-neutral..."
While baby clothes were not exactly her area of expertise (that was saved for shoes mostly, and accessories) Auset still considered herself able to handle this new venture. She had been browsing through the racks, searching for anything that was suitable when her coworker called her attention to the small romper. Delicately, Auset reached out to feel the fabric and examine the workmanship of the garment.
"Well it is very lightweight, which can work in the colder months with layering. But it might tear. What is the fabric material?"
Mandy caught the soft fabric between her fingers and looked at the tag. "Cotton. I like it. I think. Merlin, I don't know. It'd be easier if we knew what we're having."
Her eye was caught by something pink and cute and she looked at it almost longingly. Somewhere deep inside she really, really wanted a little girl. "This is sickeningly adorable. I should get it... and if I don't have a girl I'll give it to Lisa."
"You know, my mother told me she knew she was pregnant with a girl when she felt herself drawn to all the items designed for a little girl." Auset nodded sagely as she followed Mandy's gaze. "After bearing three boys she knew the cravings rather well I would believe. And there is a one in three chance that one of your children is female."
Mandy smiled; she'd been told several similar stories from her own grandparents and her mother. "I think it's more that I really want a girl, than simply being drawn to cute little girl clothes. Mum said she knew that I was a girl because of how she carried me. I'm carrying three babies, so does that mean I'll be all over the place if I'm carrying at least one of either gender?"
A display of hats caught her attention. "Ohh... look at these. They're so tiny."
Seeing all of these baby clothes made Auset want to have a baby herself, almost. Her parents kept asking when she would bless them with grandchildren, but quite frankly she was not exactly thrilled with the idea. She felt her lifestyle of traveling was not conducive to being with child, and furthermore she didn't think she'd be a good mother.
"I can still not believe that you are having triplet, it is a very uncommon occurrence," she remarked, picking up a pair of yellow booties. These were adorable, and the stirrings returned. "Maybe Jameson and I will be lucky enough to have children of our own one day."
Mandy glanced up at her companion, eyebrow raising. "I can hardly believe it myself," she admitted, turning a hat around in her hand contemplatively before putting it back. Across the aisle the bedding and blankets started and she reached out to touch one. It was a soft yellow, and Mandy could easily see a baby stretched out on it. "Do you want to have children?"
The booties nestled in there place once more, Auset turned to examine what her fellow teacher was looking at. She reached out and rubbed the fabric between her fingers and smiled. "It is so soft. And if I am blessed with children it would be... well a blessing. If I am not then I will be fine with that as well. Right now I am focused on my career and my husband. We are too busy to adequately care for children."
Mandy nodded; that had been her position before she and Viktor had moved to England. Hence she couldn't really find fault with Auset, even if a part of her wanted to. She swallowed her criticsm, picking up a package of swaddling blankets. Except... "But that doesn't answer the question. Do you want children? Not as something that may or may not happen, I mean."
A slight shrug of the shoulders was the initial reaction. Her family expected her to have children, after all her two older brothers were already well established with their families and now that she was married it was her turn. But it wasn't something Auset liked to spend too much time thinking about. "It is not something that I could fathom ever being good at. I travel too much to places that could be dangerous for a fetus. And... this sounds selfish, but I do not want to give up that freedom my life currently provides. At least not right now. But I am not reversing in age. I guess I do not know."
Again, Mandy nodded. On one hand she could understand that thought process; it had only been within the last few years that she had even really wanted children. But on the other she couldn't help but have to quash a thread of... irritation? Annoyance? Censure? She wasn't sure what it was. "I'm still debating whether I will be a good mother. Viktor assures me that I will be... but I sometimes think that he tends to see me as a better person than I actually am."
Absently she rubbed her stomach, frowning when she realised that she was both hungry and really had to use the loo. "... Did you happen to see where the ladies's room is here? I think one of the babies has made my bladder his seat."
"I did not, but we can inquire as to its whereabouts from a sales associate. I cannot think they would not have such amenities for women in your condition." Auset looked around the store for an employee. "That is if we can track one down."
Mandy laughed softly, leading the way to customer service. It was mere moments later that she was walking in the direction indicated, moving more quickly than she would have otherwise. "Would you like to find something to eat? Or shall we call it an evening? I think that I'll have to wait until next time to buy anything."
'How can a woman that pregnant woman move that quickly,' Auset wondered and she set off to keep up. "I would be amiable for grabbing a quick bite to eat before parting ways. But first, let's get this taken care of. And then we can be off, yes?"
"That may be the best plan that I've heard all evening," Mandy huffed a little. "I'll be back in a mo', Auset." She was as good as her word, re-emerging minutes later, looking much more comfortable. She gestured towards the exit, her mind already turning towards dinner. "The only thing I need is to make sure that where ever we eat, that I can get something that isn't incredibly spicy..."
"So we shall find you something that is adequately bland and safe, and yet still delicious," Auset replied teasingly. "I believe I know just the place. Shall we?"
Mandy gestured for Auset to lead the way, looking forward to food and sitting down.
Auset looped her arm around her friend as she led her out of the shop and onto the busy streets of London.