RP: Twins?
Who: Draco & Dora then Dora & Callie What: Gifts for cousins & Potential Underlings When: May 25th (backdated) Where: Zabini Home Warnings: Talk of babies, being hurt during dueling, etc. language likely.
Draco had been meaning to make more time to visit with everyone but with the sudden booming success of the shop he was having trouble finding time to get away to visit. He was even bringing work home with him, far too much work if you asked him. He’d found a beautiful desk though that he knew screamed Blaise. He had been working on it in his spare time so that he might be able to give it to Blaise before long. It usually sat under a tarp in his workshop at the house so that if Blaise did happen to come into his work area, he wouldn’t notice it or think it was anything spectacular. Draco wanted to surprise the hardest man in the world to surprise, he needed some help.
It was why he had asked Dora over, or at least part of the reason. He had also missed her and needed to pick up new bracelets from her. He had been without for a few days because there were still a few boxes stuffed into the corners of his room and the boxes that held the last shipment he had received before coming home had gotten lost in the shuffle. His mark had been showing for at least a good day now and he had worn long sleeves, despite the discomfort, the entire time. His dark mark was one thing he hated to have showing because it hadn’t been his decision.
“Thank you for coming here, I’ve just been so busy since the store opened. We’ve been a success so far, I’ve just got to get some new pieces. I think a trip might be in my future, just a day one to Scotland or something.” He was thinking about asking to Blaise to come with, company was always appreciated. “I did get something in though and I don’t know if it’s needed at all, so please tell me if I’m overstepping but I got in a few cribs from this old estate. They had bought new for every child they had and they had five.” Draco led the way into his office, holding the door open for Dora. In the center of the very large room were five cribs side by side that Draco was intending to work on to put in the shop. There were so many pregnant women around town that he would have been a fool to turn down the estate. “I understand if you want to bring Ewan back, but I figured if you hated all of them? You don’t have to bother him.”
The cribs ranged from the various years that had passed between the siblings. There were a couple that seemed more elegant, all soft wood and slopes. There were other’s that were chunky almost resembling a sleigh bed that an adult could own. “If you don’t like any of these options, I will be getting more in. I’ve put out my feelers since it seems everyone is settling down. Why not capitalize on it? You get first choice, free, and I’m doing any of the customizations that you want.”
"Of course, darling. I know how it goes with being busy. I've been a bit so myself." The shop was, as always, busy. She'd turned it into a successful business since having to move here apparently permanently now. She was very good at her job.
She wore a dark blue dress with silver trim, high waisted. Nothing fancy but definitely soething nice like she almost always did. It didn't hide the baby bump that had finally eclipsed her breasts in going outward. "I'm really glad to hear your shop is doing so well, though. I bet you're rather pleased."
Her smile widened a bit as she saw the cribs and heard him talk around them, a bit. He just didn't want to admit he wanted to give her something for the bairn, she could tell. They might not have socialized much growing up, outside of Slytherin house, but she and he had spent some very stressful time together during the war, both against their will; a bond had been forged then.
"I'm always willing to take a look," she assured him. "Besides, you know my tastes. I would have a few special requests, though." She walked among them, running a finger along n edge here and there. She always leaned towards old, antique, but refined and elegant. She could see past the neglect to see the good in the wood now. "Though you know I'd pay for it."
“I am, Mother is fantastic at her job. She’s been making new friends left and right, I believe a new friend is taking her out for drinks tonight. She was telling me about him, youngest wizard to do something.” He waved his hand dismissively, he didn’t care. His mother was getting worse now that they were back and it was just a matter of time before people noticed that Narcissa Malfoy was dating a younger man. This was her second new boyfriend since they’ve moved back, though Draco had a feeling he was using the term boyfriend and no one else in the situation was.
He smiled though, a warm smile that was a bit unfamiliar on his face. It was a new look he’d grown over the years, Blaise was the first to receive it ages ago, and Daphne more recently. “You can make any changes you like. I was thinking that since you’re much better at charms than I am, you could do any sort of handiwork you wanted to it.” He waved at her words about paying, “I’m not kidding, don’t even think about it, alright? I want to do this for you..” It was awkward and Draco wasn’t the best at being able to give gifts or share his emotions. He was getting better but apparently telling Daphne Greengrass that you’d like to see her on the regular was completely different than telling your cousin that you loved her and wanted to give her a gift without stepping on anyone’s toes.
“There’s a few more estate sales going on next month that might have more cribs that are more your style too.” He piped up, “You might want to come with? We could make a day of it or something, with Ewan and Blaise.” He had no idea why he kept adding Blaise into the equation. Well, okay so that wasn’t true. He knew at least a part of the reason why he was doing it but he wasn’t addressing that subject just yet.
Dora snorted softly and tried not to laugh. She didn't bother to suppress her smirk, however, and she patted Draco consolingly on the arm. "Poor fellow," she said, trying to not snicker. She couldn't honestly say she blamed Narcissa, after everything, but it did have to chafe a little bit.
The witch bit her darkly painted lower lip and then sighed quietly, one hand going to rest on her rounded stomach. She felt quite distinctly one of the babies move. "Then you may do it for me," she conceded, and her mind was turning a thought over for a moment. "Though if you're doing cribs, cousin, I suppose I must warn you... I've twins, not a single, in here, so we can either apply a charm to expand the crib so they can sleep together -- which I'm not sure if it's recommended or not, I'm dreadfully uneducated there -- or end up with two cribs. I'm really not certain which is best."
She smiled. "I never mind estate sales. I find some of my favorite things for the shop there. And that's how you end up with some of he odds and ends I don't want or need." Certain things didn't go big for charmed objects, but others did. Wardrobes were ever popular and she made a good galleon on expanding the innards of those.
Draco just shrugged, he had made peace with the ridiculous situation ages ago. He was just glad that he knew that Blaise would never go on a real sort of date with his mother. He knew she would escort her to a party here or there but it would not be a real sort of date. He was always thankful for that.
A smile split his face the second that she said she would let him do the crib, “Fantastic!” At first the words warn scared him, warn him? He instantly thought that something was wrong though he couldn’t imagine what was wrong. He was jogged from his inner worries when she said she had twins. “Really?!” She was still going on about something, something to do with the cribs. Draco however had come over to her and hugged her, maybe even lifting her just a fraction of an inch off the ground before he was setting her back down. “Twins? You really have two in there?” He asked, looking at her stomach then and just shaking his head with a laugh. “You’re going to lose your ever lovin’ mind but you’re going to be a fucking amazing mother.” He could just feel it.
“We’ll figure out the days for the estate sale, whenever you’re up for it. You’ve got to be exhausted.” He couldn’t imagine that having twins in there was terribly fun. He moved away then, just so that he could grab a black marker that he had on the counter with all his tools. “Do you like any of them? I’ll mark the one you want. We’ll do whatever you need to it, duplicate, or expand. I’m completely at your disposal.”
She eeeped quietly but didn't smack him as he lifted her up and then set her back down. She trusted him so she wasn't worried on that count most of the time. Her bad days were something else, but she was doing all right today. "Yes, you can tell because I'm fatter than most women as fit as me at this stage of proceedings," she said dryly. And her belly was a bit bigger.
Really, she was mostly belly. Otherwise she was still thin and muscular, her breasts only a little bigger than normal, her collar bones still visible. Despite how fit she'd always stayed, though, her stomach seemed intent on reaching outward, and she and her toes were starting to have issues -- as were she and putting her head between her knees, a pretty impossible task these days.
"Ha, yeah, right, when did you become an optimist?" she said with a laugh. "But yes, it's going to be insane."
She walked around the cribs thoughtfully again and stopped by one. "I like this one. I think I'm going to have to ask someone what sleeping arrangements are best, before we do anything drastic." She felt something then, another kick, and she hesitated thoughtfully before offering him her hand. "Do you... want to feel them? They're getting more and more active, lately."
Draco just shot her an eye roll, he didn’t get why woman got so hung up on how big they got. They were growing human life, it was a miracle and it was amazing. “You’re growing two human lives inside of you. That’s wildly amazing. If you gain a few pounds? Well, screw whoever says anything about fat or whale. You look gorgeous.” She looked like a pregnant Dora, he really didn’t see much of a difference other than the fact that she had a very rounded stomach that was filled with new life.
“I don’t know, I want to say sometime after that house warming party.” Draco knew that had been the turning point. For some reason when Daph had admitted that she was dying, he had given her an entire pep talk and he had even planned a ridiculous date that would get her heart racing. Taking her to an amusement park. It had been more fun than he’d like to admit and he rather thought Daph had enjoyed herself as well.
He had come over to the crib she was indicating so that he could mark it. He marked with a D and a 2, just to indicate that it was for Dora and that there were twins. He looked up when he heard her question, his brows perked in interest. The battle was written across his features, he wasn’t sure if he could. He wanted to feel it though, it was a miracle and such a beautiful thing. He’d never experience this for himself, his family line was ending with him. It was far enough from the full moon that he didn’t have to fear about anything ridiculous happening. Finally after a moment he gave a nod, “I’d like that..”
"I feel like a bloody whale," she muttered mulishly. "I'm used to being light on my feet. Yeah, not anymore." But she wasn't complaining-complaining, just bitching, really. Aside from the perpetual nausea she was dealing with, she was pretty happy, honestly. Afraid, in secret, a lot of the time, but also happy. If only her worst fears didn't come o life, she would be fine.
Dora never offered lightly. She hated being touched by strangers. These days her family could do it, and always Ewan, and a couple of her friends -- Nora, Alec, Luna. And she wouldn't blame him if he said no, it just seemed that something about him said he would like to feel them. Though it was by marriage, still, they would technically be his ... second cousins? First cousins once removed? She used to know how it worked, but she couldn't recall at the moment.
So she took his hand and with her other, she felt along the curve of her belly and then patted, feeling a push back. So she brought his hand there and pressed it firmly there. "He's usually more awake during the day," she said, feeling another kick. "She's usually more awake at night, which rather sucks to be me." Not that she slept well at night. Her best window for sleep these days was her after work nap, especially when she came home a bit early. That late afternoon time was rather perfect. Though there were times they were both quite active.
Draco just chuckled and shook his head. She was fine and he knew it, if she were really that upset he doubted she’d be talking about it like this. He nodded his head “You’ll be light on your feet again. I wonder if after having them you’ll be a bit off your game. Maybe that’ll be when I can finally best you in a duel, I’ll be sure to ring you up then.” He knew she was better, there was no doubt. He could hold his own though, at least enough to not be out of the round in under two seconds.
His eyes watched her hand as she touched her own stomach, just moments before she was taking his hand and putting it to the same spot. “You’re sure this won’t hurt them? I mean, it’s not too hard?” She was the one pressing his hand there, he supposed that meant that it was more than okay, but he still worried. It gave him this odd panicky feeling. The feeling seemed to go away though as he listened to her talking, he and she. He was grinning a bit more then, “Boy and girl? Aren’t you lucky, mum.”
That panicked feeling was dying away as he focused on anything but his hand on her stomach. That was until he felt movement, what was that? He had never felt something so foreign and… It was strange! He was so glad that she was holding his hand because he was certain if he had his hand there on his own, he’d have jerked back at that movement. “Is that them?” He asked with wonder in his voice, his eyes were now glued to her stomach.
"Oh I can still kick your arse even now, don't worry." Not that she had a chance of proving it, Ewan would freak our hugely if she dared to duel. She figured teaching might not hurt but actually dueling was out, sadly.
"Unless you're hitting me it's just fine," she assured him. "Actually if you tap there a bit, he'llprobably kick you pretty good." Granted they were still prettt small in the grand scheme, but you could feel them at this point. "Insane mum. Never expected one let alone too. I think the gods are having a nice laugh at my expense."
She grinned faintly at the look on his face. "One of them. I think that's the boy. Unless they've switched places since Persy cast the charm last. Omw of the is about there." She patted his hand. "And the other is about... here." She moved her hand and patted the other side a bit higher up.
Draco smirked, nodding his head. “Watch out or I’m going to hold you to that.” He knew damn well he wouldn’t actually try to duel her currently, not when she was pregnant. He saw that a bit like cheating, you couldn’t duel a pregnant woman properly without worrying about the children. Only someone heartless and terrible, he assumed, would be able to do something like that.
“Really?” Babies were all new to Draco and so when she said that he could, he did tap just barely against the spot she had indicated, his grin growing when it had been just enough to get the little thing to kick back. “Looks like they take after you already, don’t let anyone push ‘em around.” He teased, his eyes lifting to find his cousin’s. “It’s amazing, Dora. I’m so excited for you.” It made Draco just a touch sad to know that he wasn’t going to ever experience being a father but he knew that was likely for the best. His own father had been miserable, he didn’t want to follow in those footsteps.
It was then that a generic, new phone, tone could be heard splitting the silence and Draco quickly grabbed his hand back so he could dig his phone from his pocket. It flashed his mother’s name across the screen, before he held up a finger to Dora and answered the phone. A moment later saw him hanging up with a sigh, “She needs me down at the shop, someone needs me to look at a piece and won’t come back later. I’m so sorry, do you mind?” He asked with a frown, clearly not happy about this turn of events. “You’re more than welcome though to go out to the pool? The only thing wandering the grounds that might be even remotely dangerous is well…” He pointed to himself, “So you’re fine, promise. If you need anything, Theo’s definitely home and I think Calypso is too?”
Dora just smirked at him and fiddled with the handle of one of her wands as if she were considering it. Obviously she really wasn't, for one, Ewan would have an absolute fit, no matter how much she missed the action. Plus she would never do anything that would hurt the babies.
"They're bossy little things," she said, cradling her belly for a moment. She knew she'd get much bigger before the time was done. But the babies would be worth it, especially since she as pretty sure it was a fluke at all that she'd gotten pregnant in the first place.
"No, please, go do your job. I'll see myself out after I look at the pond. I know Blaise won't mind." While she and he weren't exceptionally close, they were friends, and she would touch base with him about the pool, though she was under the impression that Draco, as a resident, had pretty much as much say as the others in who got to visit.
She leaned in and kissed his cheek politely. "Don't worry about me, cousin. I'll find my way out."
Once Draco was gone, she did start wandering in the direction of the pool. She wanted to see what all the stuff was about and she'd not had a chance at the party.
Draco shot her a perked brow, his eyes flicking to her wand to let her know that he had seen it. He chuckled though, knowing there was no way. He didn’t even reach for his, he knew if she did really want to hex him today.. Well, he would let her. She was pregnant, he wouldn’t dream of even attempting it right now.
He gave a small sigh of relief when she told him to leave. He nodded his head, “Thanks. I’m sure you might run into him, if you’re here late enough.” He said with a chuckle, Blaise tended to work long hours. He didn’t mind though, he knew how to find his friend should he need him. Draco took off then, apparating right then and there and headed to the shop.
Calypso had just come in from the pool, dressed in just her red bikini with a large black dress tossed over it as a cover. Her short locks were a bit of a poof today and she had not felt like dealing with them just yet. She knew it was just the matter of a simple spell to tame her hair but she was liking the wild feeling lately. She thought it fit very well with her training.
As she was coming around the corner, her head down and face in her phone, she almost ran into someone. “Oh!” She let out a bit of a yelp, emerald eyes wide as she looked at the other woman and smiled a moment too late. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going…” She frowned at her phone, it really was just giving her more and more bad news lately. It was tucked away then, into the breast of her bikini top. She had just a handful of breast, just enough to keep her phone in place. “I’m Calypso,” She offered, since she didn’t recognize the woman immediately.
Her ways of being playful weren't always normal, but she had a feeling that Draco would understand that side of her just like a few others. Her humor tended to be dark and occasionally outright morbid. She did worry about that when it came to the bairns, but she figured she'd learn as she went. She hoped, anyway.
"No, it's all right, you couldn't have expected anyone on the path," Dora said easily, stepping to the side.
At least she wasn't being too shocked to find someone here, or upset that someone was in her home space. "I remember you, but you were much younger last time I saw you," Dora said with a faint grin. "I'm Pandora Montgomery. Draco invited me over but he had to leave before he could show me the pool. He said I could come look at it anyway."
The surprise likely showed on her face for half a second, she supposed she shouldn’t have been too surprised that if she knew Draco that she had known her at some point. Draco and Blaise had been attached at the hip for years, and Callie was always Blaise’s shadow. It just made sense to her. Those bright emerald eyes slipped down to her stomach though, going a bit wider. “I’m going to be incredibly rude but uh…. Is Draco?” She let her eyes lift to meet the other woman’s, “I’m sorry, that’s so rude.. Just not many females that aren’t Daphne come through here having seen him?” And one that was pregnant… Well, she just assumed.
“Oh! The pool, I can show you that? I just came from there. You’re not afraid of deer or anything though, right?” She asked curiously, “Blaise stocked the backyard with wildlife for a view or something.” She knew that it wasn’t for a view, she had watched them hunting last full moon from her room. It had been beautiful, until they had caught their prey. She had turned away then and went back inside.
Dora looked at her with her pale, grey-green eyes, and blinked in surprise. It wasn't often someone could catch her off guard enough like that to actually make her this kind of surprised. And then, as she ran it through her mind again, she burst out laughing, seeing where Calypso was coming from but knowing it was totally, completely wrong.
"No, no. He's most assuredly not the father. Technically Draco is my cousin by marriage only." Not that it mattered, especially when they actually shared little to no blood, not that some purebloods cared even then. "No, he's just a dear friend."
She shook her head. "No, there's very little that scares me that wanders around a place like this." Not even the thestrals would bother her. "But please, I'd love to see the pool. He said I could practice being a whale in it whenever I wanted." Well, those were her words, not his. He knew better than to actually call her a whale.
Calypso let out a laugh of her own, instantly relaxing. “I’m so sorry, I think I’ve been watching Confessions too much. I keep trying to find drama where it isn’t.” She said with a soft laugh, the breakup had really been weird or her and changed a few things. She had become addicted to the ridiculous show when she had binge watched it with Blaise.
Another laugh slipped from her as Dora called herself a whale. “Well, I think you’re very beautiful. A woman is never more beautiful than when they are carrying life inside them. How far along are you?” Since she knew that she was indeed pregnant, she could ask about those sort of things. While Calypso knew that she should never have children herself, she found pregnant women to be the most beautiful. It was something to do with the miracle of life. She only really liked her sister when she was pregnant, once she had the children they would get back to bickering.
She started to lead the way to the back doors that would lead them directly to the pond. “We had it magically heated so that night swims won’t be miserable. It’s about the only thing that’s really kept me from being at the beach all the time.” Which had been part of the reason she had wanted it.
"Oh, gods above and below, you too?" Dora said with a laugh. "I hate loving that stupid show." But it came on after her evening nap and she'd gotten hooked when she'd been so tired and Ewan had wanted her to rest. He'd then had to learn to put up with her yelling at the t.v. sometimes.
Dora rolled her eyes but only a little since it was a compliment even if she didn't believe it. "About 22 weeks, give or take. So I have a little while yet." Just over half, f she made it that far. With twins it was questionable.
"Oh that sounds lovely. Though I'm sure you could do the beach thing every day if you wanted." Calypso had to be well off, she suspected. She could afford to.
“Yeah?” Calypso looked like she was wincing a bit, but her smile was way too big. She was more embarrassed that she did watch that ridiculous show. “After my breakup... I got sucked in. Blaise watched it with me for hours.” She really owed him for that, she really ought to not be telling random people in their house about it either. Her eyes grew wide, “Oh, please don’t ever repeat that. I think that might be one of those secrets where I’m allowed to be murdered or something. Big brother law, I don’t remember the rules. It’s sketchy.” She waved a hand, “Best not to repeat it. I watched it along for hours, no big brother watching and munching on alcoholic ice cream and treats at all.” She smirked a bit, Blaise could be a softie when he wanted to be.
“Merlin’s nuts you’ve got ages to go, you poor thing. You should use our pool often, I hear it’s fantastic when pregnant. You feel weightless, or something. It’s also supposed to be the closest that you can get, though I have no idea and I don’t even know how I have that information..” Callie looked confused a moment, shaking her head with a laugh. “Excuse my mouth.”
“I’ve been wanting to stay home more lately.” Calypso didn’t know why she was admitting to that, but when she had tried to think of an excuse to give as to why she wouldn’t just go to the beach, she had come up empty handed. She loved when other people looked at her, so other people being around wasn’t an issue. She had the ability to go to private beaches and so many options that were open to her. She just wanted to stay home, she was certain the only difference between herself and Theo was that she was still leaving the house still from time to time. “I need to get out more.” She said suddenly, scaring herself then.
“Sorry, I’m supposed to be showing you the pool.” She continued to lead Dora out to the new pool area that they had put in. As the pair grew near, she walked up to the edge and dipped a toe in. “It has lights too that are just beautiful. Blaise has a guy.” He always had a guy.
"It started coming on after the afternoon naps I needed when I first got pregnant. I got hooked. It's a stupid show but I can't help myself." She waved the other woman's embarrassment away. "Don't worry, I won't damage his reputation." It was good he'd do things like that for his sister.
Someone mentioned it recently. It's helping so far, since I haven't been able to really run for a bit." Not only the belly but the joints, and how pregnancy made them stretch, easier to injure. "I need the exercise so it s been a good discovery other than my hair not enjoying it as much."
She shrugged. "Nothing wrong with being a bit of a homebody sometimes. I am a lot more these days but it doesn't bother me much." She made sure she and Ewan got out some and that was all that mattered.
She walked with her down to the pool's edge, looking at it appraisingly. "Yes, I wasn't in the country when he bought this place so I gave him a few leads," she said absently. It was well done work. Her being gone was one reason she had not been here to explore much before now.
Calypso relaxed, instantly liking the other witch. She trusted her oddly enough to keep the ridiculous secret. It wasn’t like it would really damage his reputation but you never knew what someone could twist. She had known Romi long enough to know that, what that woman could do with words was pure art. “Thanks.” She knew it wasn’t needed but it was the polite thing to do.
“You run too?” Callie laughed then, “I mean, when not pregnant. I’ve recently gotten back into it. It’s become every morning sort of routine.” She left off this time that it was with Blaise. She rather loved running around with him, especially the morning they played chase the human.
“You helped find this place? I think I owe you a bit of thanks.” She admitted and then she sat down pool side, slender legs dipping into the water. “This place is gorgeous. You should have come to the house warming, I set the atmosphere. Twinkle lights everywhere, dim lighting. Romance was most definitely in the air, this house is just gorgeous.” Though it had definitely not been in her cards that night, but it had been a romantic night nonetheless. She assumed someone out there had to have taken advantage of it all.
"Big time runner, bfore the pregnancy. At least once a day, if not more. Had to train and stay fit," she said easily. "Besides, running is soothing." It kept her anxiety at bay. Thank goodness she'd started swimming, it was... well, not as good, but it was definitely helping keeping her anxiety down and helping her sleep a little better than she had been.
"I was here when he found it and gave him an assessment on it, but I didn't get to do the charm work. I had to go back on the circuit, the timing was just bad. But I gave him the names I would use, if I didn't do it myself."
She carefully toed off her shoes and joined Calypso by putting her feet in the water with a sigh. Her ankles were starting to suffer a bit, mostly from the way the joints got looser with pregnancy, PErsy and Alicia both said so. So she was careful. "Yeah, I wanted to come, we were going to, but I ended up feeling wretched that night and had to back out. Ewan stayed home with me and made sure everything was all right."
“Train for what?” Calypso’s interests were peaked and she was listening to everything the woman had to say. She idly swung her legs in the water, mostly just moving them through the water as she paid attention. “What did you do before you were pregnant?” She had been looking for something to fill her time, as much as she had opposed getting a job of any sort, she was finding that she was feeling restless. She didn’t like feeling restless. She was enjoying her training, having a purpose to get up daily for and to do. She was itching to get to that end goal, to finally achieve what she had been trying to for weeks, almost a month now.
“The next time that I have a big party, I’ll be sure to get you here.” She flashed her a smile, “This place looks gorgeous all lit up for special occasions.” Calypso already had half a dozen ideas for different parties that she would want to be having over the summer. She knew for sure there would be at least one more party at the end of the summer when they would be headed back to the home. Calypso wasn’t looking forward to leaving the country house, she already enjoyed it there and loved her room. Though she knew that her room at the house was going to be better, with her own seating room to have guests and not feel like she was under everyone’s feet.
“Are you alright though? Was it just normal pregnancy sick?”
Definitely didn't know of her then. Though her ego wanted to be bruised it really didn't matter and a lot of people didn't know her accomplishments just her faults. "I've always been a charms mistress, and done that, but I competed internationally on the dueling circuit. Which of course I can't do right now at all, except for spell crafting, so I am still doing some of that."
She was known for making a fair amount of her spells. Less jinxed and hexes than charms. She twisted charms most excellently to other uses and it often caught people off guard.
"Oh I can tell it does look great even now." She went ahead and relaxed, letting her legs dangle into the pool. It really was quite nice.
"Oh it was just especially bad morning sickness type thing. I just felt too gross to see any one except Ewan. I'm one of the unlucky ones who gets to suffer her entire pregnancy apparently," she said dryly.
It all seemed to click then, a friend of Blaise's that was female, dueled, was pretty fantastic from what she remembered from the few matches that Blaise had taken her to. Emerald eyes grew wide and she gasped, "Oh my Gods! You're her!" Her face lit up with recognition, "Blaise has taken me to a few matches. I've always wanted to try that, it looked like fun. Mother says I should be more concerned with what it would do to my looks." Callie rolled her eyes before she could help herself, "I could careless. I just never really looked into it much." No real drive to, at least until now. Now it sounded interesting and fun, like something to fill her time that wasn't useless.
"That morning sickness can last an entire pregnancy?" Her nose wrinkled in disgust, "I'm so glad that I don't do men." She blurted out before she gave a laugh. "I don't think I could handle being pregnant. The entire world would be doomed, maybe just Blaise's world but an entire world nonetheless."
Dora smirked a bit, gratified to be recognized now and that Blaise had taken his sister to a few of her duels. "It can be dangerous," she said in agreement. "I've plenty of scars, where you can't see them. I've been lucky with my face." And careful. And honestly possibly just a bit vindictive when someone tried a low blow like that, for she did consider it a low blow.
"It takes a lot of practice and a lot of training. I worked for a long time to get to where I was before I was injured the last time. I might have made it back to the circuit this summer, if I hadn't gotten pregnant, but some injuries can be debilitating." Might as well be honest about it. She absolutely loved the sport but it was hard on the body at times.
"Apparently it can, and apparently twins is something that can help it linger," she said dryly. "Though I have to say, definitely not giving up my Ewan because of it." She smirked again, briefly. She enjoyed being with him, very much. She laughed, then. "I never thought I'd be the one to be knocked up and all. But it'll be worth it in the end. The world might not survive me well, but it'll be worth it."
“Lucky with your face?” Calypso asked curiously, her brows perked with interest. She was already starting to roll the idea around in her head, it sounded like fun. Hell, the entire thing had looked like fun when Blaise had taken her to the duels. She was curious though, it might take a lot of practice and training but she was certain that she was up for that. That was definitely not an issue, she rather liked training to be an animagi.
“Is it often that people get hurt? To the point that they can’t continue dueling? Have you ever trained anyone? Are there training centers or do you have to be trained by someone?” Calypso knew her questions were very pointed but she saw no harm in inquiring, it could pan out for her. Even if she never went on to actually dueling, she figured the training might be a fun way to fill her time.
Her nose wrinkled up when she mentioned that twins can make it linger, “You’ve got some terrible luck but it seems that you’re happy, that’s definitely a plus.” She laughed softly, licking her lips as she continued to idly swirl her legs in the water. “You look beautiful, for what it’s worth. I’ve seen some of those pregnant who look like the child is killing them from the inside out. My mother is one of those annoying women that look picture perfect when pregnant, or so I’ve been told.” She had not been witness to it but she had seen the pictures.
"I haven't scarred my face," she qualified. "I have a bunch of scars under my robes, though not all of them are from dueling. Some of them are though. But I'm a very rough and tumble sort of duelist, and I don't mind being hurt if it means I'm going to win." In fact she had pushed herself far too hard more than once.
Dora thought aobut her response for a long moment, chewing lightly on her lower lip. "If you duel in earnest, you're going to be hurt, no matter how good you are," she said. "I'm probably not always the one to ask; I don't mind pain like a lot of people do, when it comes to this stuff. My last injury required a lot of physical therapy -- Not only was my leg injured, but I nearly died from an injury that bisected right here." Dora traced a long scar that went up her side to X with another right under her sternum. "It scarred my diaphragm and left me with a long recovery time, because it made it harder to breathe. Most truly serious duelists have been put in the hospital more than once. We're willing to take the consequences to do what we love doing. I've nearly died of blood loss twice, in part because I honestly didn't realize how badly injured I was, which not everyone has that problem." She also had never had a trainer really go with her, so there was no one to call it for her.
She shook her head. "No, I've never trained anyone, beyond doing sparring matches and such. Not really. Most people don't want to apprentice to me, given my reputation." Her left hand clenched and released slightly, though her arm didn't turn over to reveal her dark mark scar. "I trained under Filius Flitwick and then pretty much designed myself. Most people apprentice under others. Like, I did pay for a brief tutelage for stave training and all, but I'm a rare bird who taught most everything else to herself or I asked Filius." Since he couldn't travel with her, considering he was a teacher, a lot of it had been with visits or correspondence.
"They're Ewan's babies, of course I'm happy," she said quietly. "Ewan has been my heart my entire life, even when we weren't together. So even if they do make my life difficult now, I already love them. So I can't regret them in the least." ESpecially since she'd been told she likely would never be able to have children. "Thank you, you're very nice to say so."
Callie listened, her face was definitely something she didn’t want to scar if she actually took this train of thought seriously. That was a very big red flag, especially since she was sure Oya would kill her if she ever disfigured herself. What good were her children if they weren’t pretty? Callie was almost certain that was her mother’s thought process. She had always wondered what she would have done if one of her children had come out grotesque and deformed in some way. She didn’t love them as it was, what would the chances of a child like that have?
Emerald eyes grew wider when Dora explained just how hurt others had gotten, as well as herself. She had lost so much blood she had almost died? That was definitely different. She had so many questions but she wanted to listen to everything the other woman had to say, before she started to poke at things. She knew that if she wanted to actually try this dueling out, she’d have to definitely talk to other people before finding out about any training places. Though from the sound of it, it sounded like she might need to pay for it unless she could find someone she liked. Then again, she figured she might have to pay that way too, which was of no consequence. Money had never been an issue for her and she knew she’d easily be able to cover the costs.
“Would you ever train someone?” She asked curiously, “I know you say that most wouldn’t want to given your reputation but if I remember correctly, you’re the tops. There’s no way I’d want to train with anyone but you, so those people are ridiculous.” Her shoulders lifted in a lazy shrug, “Is it hard to keep your face from being harmed? I think that would be my only problem with all of it, I’d want to be sure I didn’t damage my face at least.” She knew that she could easily use the same tricks to glamour her face as she would have her body to hide scars, but it wasn’t the same.
Without being able to help herself, she blurted out, “What’s that like?” Her cheeks flushed just barely and she tipped her head to look at her lap. “No one in the house knows what love is like, at least not enough to help me any..” She let out a soft sigh, “I couldn’t even figure out if I loved my girlfriend or not before I…” Before she had cheated with one of her closest friends and ruined that friendship in the process. “made a mess of everything.” She finished with a soft sigh.
Dora hesitated and obviously really thought about the question for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I would. It would be a way to still keep my hand in the game and I think I might be all right at it, at least with the right person."
She shrugged. "I don't think it's hard?" She offered. "But then it's generally thought low to go for that. My aims for the face were pretty exclusively flash bang type things to distract. I have a relatively distinctive style." Aggressive, flashy, and wickedly subtle. "I cant promise you wouldn't do that or get hurt, no one can promise that. But that's why you work on defense as well as offense. I was a very aggressive fighter. But everyone develops a style."
Dora blinked at the question, surprised at the change of subject. She tilted her head, obviously thinjing as she kicked hee feet in the water. "Well, first off if you have to ask if you love someone I think the answer is no," she said quietly. "I'm not sure I have a good answer. I've always loved Ewan. I grew up with him. I didn't fall in and out of love with other people. We were a hot mess in school when dating first came up," she recalled with a fond smile.
"I can say all those years I lived without him, I had a hole inside me shaped like him. I ignored it rather well but I did. I suppose that happens with everyone you love, but he is special." She thought some more. "I call him mo gradh. My heart," she translated. "I joke with people that he keeps my heart in a jar on his desk, the poor black icy thing. But for me, at least, it's like that. He keeps my heart safe and I keep his." She looked over at Callie, a surprisingly soft smile on her lips. "His arms are where I'm safe. His world is a world I can live in and be proud of who I am. His babies are the babies I can have. I could go on, but I'm rather afraid I'm revealing what a sap I am for my fiance already."
Calypso rolled that around, it was a lot of information to take in and she was interested. She needed to talk to other people first, she needed to talk to Kit. Maybe even Romi… Most definitely Blaise. “Do you ever just practice with people?” She glanced over at the other woman then, “I’m just curious. I’ve been doing some training lately and I really enjoy the physical aspect of it all. I want to try different things now though.” She figured being mostly honest was better than a flat out lie, she could remember the truth. She was training, she just had not said what for. It wasn’t important anyhow.
When Dora spoke of her fiancé, there was a warmth there. A special sort of happiness in her features that she hadn’t seen often at all. It was completely unfamiliar to her, it was something very much the way that she saw her brother regard his friends. It was different though, a good different.
“That’s really sweet though, I don’t think you’re a sap.” She was sure though that many would argue that her heart was much colder than Dora’s, potentially even dead. That was such a dreary thought though and Callie wasn’t about to bring the woman down. She was in a very exciting time in her life, she was bringing new life into the world with someone she loved. Calypso couldn’t think of anything better. She wondered for a brief moment if her mother had ever loved any of the men she had been with over the years. She gave a laugh a moment later, shaking her head. “No, you’re most definitely not a sap. You’re experiencing something that most women dream of. You’re bringing new life into this world with your love, it’s an exciting time.”
"Oh, of course. Or I used to at least. Can't really right now," she said, absently patting her belly. "There were some on the circuit I'd regularly practice with, and Filius and whatever apprentice he has at the moment." None of the latest apprentices had gone anywhere wonderful; she was, he'd told her once, possibly his outcome in the past fifty years. She'd been immensely flattered.
"Exciting, dismaying, overwhelming," Dora said dryly. "But as bad as I feel some of the time, with the nausea and all, I am happier than I've been in a very long time." She missed dueling and such of course, a lot at times, but she was coping. While she might not get to go back on the circuit for quite some time -- or ever, depending on Ewan's feelings -- she wasn't going to give up the enjoyment she found in it. Perhaps she could find a student at some point.
“I suppose not.” She admitted looking over at the other woman, which was a pity. Though it did mean she had some time before she would be able to ask the woman to take her on. That meant she could figure out in that time if it was something she really wanted. She would have time to talk to everyone and figure out if it was really what she wanted. She might even talk to Dora again, she was sure that Blaise would know how to find the woman if Calypso needed him to.
It seemed that everything was working out for the duelist. Calypso wondered if she would ever want that someday, not the man no, but maybe the children? She supposed that was still possible, even if they had to get a donor of some sort. She shook her head, those thoughts were ridiculous enough. She didn’t need children in her life. She had her niece and nephew and loved them dearly. “It honestly sounds overwhelming, twins?” She gave a soft laugh, “I just can’t imagine the world would have been able to handle two of me, it’s a good thing I wasn’t made into two.” She knew she wasn’t really that bad though some days…
It was then that Buona appeared next to them, informing Calypso that her guest had arrived. Her eyes grew wide a moment, she had forgotten all about that. She got up then, smiling apologetically at Dora. “I’m so sorry, I’ve got to be off. Do feel free to stay and maybe take a dip in the pool if you like?”
"Wouldn't keep me from helping someone train," she said astutely after watching her face for a moment. A lot of training wasn't sparring though that was part of it.
She snorted softly. "I think we're lucky that there's not two of me too," she admitted. "It's not gonna be easy. But I love them already."
She gave the younger woman an easy smile. "Go ahead. I promise to show myself out shortly."