ᴡᴇ ᴘɪʟʟᴀɢᴇ, ᴡᴇ (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} plunder) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} valarlogs,@ 2016-11-12 15:54:00 |
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What: Tas comes by to see the baby, and they decide a map leading to actual buried treasure would be good for the nursery
When: Today?
Where: Haus of Disney Villains
Rating/Warnings: Low!
Status: Complete
| There wasn’t much Tas loved more than babies (well, at least in passing. They could get rather dull after spending some time with them). They were just so cute with their fat fingers, and chubby cheeks, and teeny-tiny toes. He loved the way they cooed and gurgled, and looked at the world with a fresh sense of wonder. It was a look that was often found on Tas’ own face. And lately, he’d especially grown to appreciate that they were smaller than he was. He was a little hurt that Killian hadn’t told him about the baby, and Regina had even lied to him. Lying wasn’t an especially nice thing to do, and he’d grown to think of her as one of his close personal friends after they’d spent such a lovely afternoon in the store together. Still, he supposed he understood their reasons for keeping it so quiet. And if he really thought about it, maybe a surprise baby was even better than one that he had to wait for. Fatherhood really was difficult, as Killian was learning - since Meara only knew how to cry to express herself (at least at this stage of the personality-developing game), sometimes it was a challenge during those colicky nights when she just wouldn’t cease. Every parent went through that to some degree, he supposed, as they sat up until the wee morning hours trying to soothe a cranky little bit. Feeding her, changing her, reading to her, even just holding her or something ridiculous like running the vacuum - the answer would lie somewhere; these trials and tribulations were par the course. Killian wouldn’t change any of it, however. He loved his wee starfish more than anything. And he wanted to tell his friends about Meara, before they brought her home, but as good as he was at what he did (pulling strings, that is), there was still always the miniscule chance the adoption could fall through. It’d have been devastating to have to re-hash that with many people, rather than with only a few. So he hoped then when he invited Tas over to meet the precious bundle of joy, that he would forgive his pirate mate for this transgression. Though Killian couldn’t imagine the kender remaining upset about much of anything for too long. “Alright, here we go, official introductions,” he was holding baby Meara in the crook of his arm, balance and security, with her freshly-prepped bottle in his good hand. “She also happens to be hungry, if you want the experience of feeding an infant.” “Oh, I’d love to,” Tas said, holding out his small arms eagerly. “The last time I fed a baby, it was my little sister!” he said cheerfully. He hadn’t seen his sister in some time, and thinking back to that time he frowned thoughtfully to himself. “Actually, I was probably about the same size as I am now! Isn’t that funny? That I should grow so much and then shrink down just in time to get to feed another baby. Maybe that’s a sign of some sort. Like she’s real family!” Of course, Tas was too old to really be an older brother. Maybe more of an uncle. Uncle Tasslehoff had a nice ring to it. And there the baby went, with Killian gently placing her in Tas’ waiting arms. It was an adorable sight, really, seeing such a small fellow hold a bite-sized mermaid warrior (or starfish, seahorse, princess - honestly, Meara had about a thousand different nicknames). He chuckled, passing over the bottle as well. “She’s family, aye,” he agreed, and he didn’t mind close friends considering her as such - in fact, Killian welcomed it. Uncle Tas was certainly alright in his book - even if it would make Regina roll her eyes a little. Meara would have no shortage of unofficial, not-related-by-blood aunts and uncles as integral parts of her life. “I think she likes you.” The baby gurgled - and she even smiled, the reflex having disappeared and the real ones lighting up a room. Toothless and very sweet, and her proud papa had already taken plenty of pictures. “Sorry again about not telling you about her, mate. But we just wanted to get everything in order first. Regina initially broached the idea, and I know she’d have been rather upset if the adoption didn’t go as planned.” He sort of had a feeling she would become set on adopting Meara as soon as she was told about Zelena being pregnant - and it didn’t take much convincing for Killian to agree. Tas smiled cheerily back at her. “Well, I like you too,” he said, rocking the baby gently in one arm while he held the bottle to her lips with the other. It was all very exciting, though it would probably be even more exciting if she could do anything but gurgle and smile at him. “Oh no, that’s fine,” Tas said, turning his attention back to Tas. “Though, you probably could have told me. I’m really good at keeping secrets,” a bald-faced lie which was proven to be such when he assured Killian that he’d only told two or three or ten people the embarrassing story about Caramon that he was now relating to the pirate. “And you see, that’s the kind of story that just begs to be told to everyone, so the fact that I kept it so secret is really something. And Regina didn’t need to lie to me.” Buying baby gear for all the other parents that they knew. Tas should’ve seen through that. “But I am glad that it went exactly as you said it would. She’s really cute! She hasn’t really done much so far, but she’s pretty cute!” Killian snorted a laugh - what in the bloody hell was that? Next time he ought to share an embarrassing story about Kit. But then again, anyone who knew embarrassing stories about Kit likely weren’t alive to share them - dead men tell no tales, you see. “You’re a trip, Tasslehoff,” he observed, which seemed to be the understatement of the century. “Give her a few months, she’ll be learning all the pirate skills she needs to know,” he assured - was he kidding? Likely, but who could tell. He certainly planned to teach his daughter all the important things - how to make maps, how to navigate by the stars, how to sail and tie knots. Though speaking of maps - he had a project for his friend here. “Do you think you’d be interested in making a map for her nursery? It’s sea-themed. But a map to treasure there for the wall might be nice.” It didn’t have to lead to actual treasure, but that went without saying. Then again, with his companion, maybe it did need saying. Tas stared at Killian, wide eyed, staring up at Killian. “Really?” he asked, and for a moment he was so overcome that he was at a loss for words. For a moment. Then he took a deep breath. “I would love to! I can make a really big one, and oh! I can crumple it up and soak it in tea for a while so it looks really old, and we can have it framed. Oh! Do you know where the treasure is? Or should we go out and bury some that she can find when she’s older and decides to follow the map!” Because of course she’d try to follow the map. Who wouldn’t, when they had a wonderful treasure map hanging on their wall for their whole life? Tas knew he certainly would have wanted to. “No clue where the treasure is - perhaps we should bury some?” Killian agreed with that suggestion. Well, why not? It would probably require filching some, but that did happen to be what he did best. A little pirate in the making should definitely have one of her first adventures be to track down the buried treasure marked in an X on the map of her room. Meara looked a little heavy-lidded at the moment; after a nice warm meal, she was clearly lulled by milk and a full belly. Now let’s hope she didn’t spit some of that up, but if she did, Killian would volunteer his own shirt as a casualty. “Here, I’ll bring you upstairs and show you what you’ve got to work with,” he said as he eased the baby back into his arms, where she promptly nuzzled his shoulder and cooed drowsily - a spare burping rag had been placed there, just in case, and he patted her back soothingly. “You probably need to see the nursery for...inspiration?” “Oh, we definitely should!” Tas said cheerfully as Killian took the baby from him. “We can make a day of it! And we can find the very best hiding spot, one that no one else will be able to find without a map! What fun!” It wasn’t often that Tas looked to hide things, but he’d been very good at finding things, even if they were well hidden, so he imagined hiding treasure couldn’t be much more difficult. And if not, well, didn’t pirates hide treasure all the time? “Oh, the only inspiration I need is the path we take!” Tas said. He thought quietly to himself that that should have been obvious, but he politely chose not to say anything. Especially since he’d heard that taking care of babies was a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. “But I’d love to see it anyway!” The fellow spoke in exclamations a lot, didn’t he? If Killian was even the slightest bit sleep-deprived (he was, a little, but well used to it given his lifestyle) then five minutes of talking to Tas would be like an injection of sugar syrup into the veins through an IV. And perhaps it was silly, but he lived with an interior designer. Aesthetics were important, or something. The colours should at least be noted, yes? Not that Tas would remember them later, but anyway. Upstairs they went, into the nursery - the sandy-coloured crib had been put together by Killian and Birkhoff, and it was quite the amusing project. For outsiders observing and eating popcorn. But the space did indeed look very beachy, very nautical. There were glittering stars, a map of the constellations, on Meara’s ceiling and a mobile of plush sea creatures spinning above that crib, the words twinkle, twinkle little and then a starfish stenciled on the wall which was painted a calm turquoise. There was also a bookshelf stuffed with titles like The Little Mermaid and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, old vintage copies, along with the additional crocheted sea creatures gifted by Kenzi. “She sleeps in a cradle in me and Regina’s room for now,” Killian explained, bouncing the baby a little. “But will soon be in here. A treasure map would go nicely, I think.” “Oh wow!” Tas exclaimed as he took in the bedroom. He did indeed speak in a lot of exclamations. In fact, if he ever stopped it likely meant he was on his deathbed and couldn’t muster the energy (though, no doubt he’d still try). His eyes just passed over the books, but he was very interested in the stars, and especially the mobile which was just too cute, and he made sure to turn it on so he could watch the creatures swim through the air. “I would have loved to have a room like this,” Tas said. Not that his room growing up hadn’t been something. The walls had been covered in maps, mostly of his parents making, though once he started making his own collection he’d added those too. And filled with colourful knick knacks, but certainly with none of the organization or theme of little Meara’s room. “And I think a big map would look great over there,” he said, pointing to a blank space on the wall. “I could make it really big too. Like this-” he spread his arms, and with dismay realized that they were too short these days. “Well, bigger than this.” Killian cracked a smile at poor Tas and his short arms - he was indeed a lot smaller than he was when the Captain first met him, but good for getting in and out of tight spaces? That was a positive. “Aye, that’d be perfect,” he agreed. “What’s your going rate for maps in baby nurseries, mate?” He knew that Tas did illustrations for books, works of fiction and the like, but since this was bigger he didn’t mind paying more. It’d be for something very important. Killian wanted his daughter’s room to be her sanctuary - and for her to have bits and bobs from it that she could keep for a long time and pass along to her own children; the idea of family heirlooms was nice. Tas blinked in surprise at Killian’s question, taken aback a little. “Oh, nothing at all!” he said, quickly recovering from his surprise. “I don’t need money. I wouldn’t dream of charging my friends for something that I want to do! Especially not if we’re going to have a fun little adventure burying everything!” “Alright, just checking,” Killian rumbled a laugh. “I do appreciate it. And will find some way to pay you back.” Even if it wasn’t monetarily, or he just bought Tas many pints of ale in pubs for the next couple of months - he still wanted to repay the favour. It was just that part of him that didn’t like debts being forgotten. A slim code of honour and good form, or something along those lines. He shifted the baby to hold her in the crook of his other arm; she was a sleepy little thing, it was bloody adorable. At least she wasn’t projectile shitting for company. He’d thank his lucky stars. “Meara says thanks too. Right, starfish?” Really, she just gurgled, but it counted. “You just let me know when you want to go bury some treasure. I think I know just the place.” “Oh, that’s just what friends do,” Tas chirped, though he would not be opposed to Killian getting him drunk every now and then. It wasn’t that difficult these days, given his stature. “But I will for sure! Oh, we’re going to have so much fun!” |