[B] Tidings of Change (Deep Terror x Serpent of Paradise)

[cashmeresky]

Deep Terror just wanted to have some fun, so when news first broke that he was going to be a father, there was a lot of bitterness. Really, it was fear, but he couldn’t admit that to himself yet. Even so, if this was going to be with anyone, why not a beautiful doe like Blushing Coral? After all, she had done this before. She was probably fine, while he was pacing around alone.

Deep Terror took a deep breath in and sighed. Maybe this was a good thing? Yes! Yes! He picked slowly through the mangroves by the ocean, feeling the waters draw his hooves towards the deep with every step.

If he was going to make this situation worthwhile, he may as well go all in into this fatherhood thing. Perhaps it would be nice to have some little followers latching on to his every word. And of course they would be beautiful, just look at who the parents are. Yes! If anything, Deep Terror should hope that they have even more children. More children to follow his lead! Maybe they can help his pranks and tricks become even more creative. Kids are good at this right? He continued to walk around, lost in his overthinking.

[Beejoux]

The call was always hard to define. It wasn't a physical thing but a tug in the mind, a subtle compulsion, really. Serpent of Paradise had lifted her head from where it'd been resting on the warm flank of one of her children, ears peeking, and after a murmured explanation to Consume the doe had shifted to the form of a fan tailed bird and flown off across the swamp. Towards the smell of salt on the air and the sound of waves.

She found herself on the coast a lot in situations like these, and though she was much more at home in the swamp itself -- or the jungle canapynof her really -- she was becoming quite used to the sand and the surf. It sounded nice out here, she thought.

With a little searching she'd find the pacing buck among the mangroves, and with a curious trill the little bird circled around him once before landing before him. The form of the bird giving way to a pale doe with bright accents. She smiled brightly at him. "I could feel you clear across the swamp," she teased.

[cashmeresky]

As Deep Terror was ruminating over plots and pranks that his kids could get involved in, a flash of rainbow snapped him back to reality. He’d never seen a bird quite like this before, but as quickly as that thought came and went in his mind, the bird transformed into a doe. He squeezed his eyes closed and shook his head. When he opened his eyes again, she was still there.

Deep Terror is not one to object to a pretty doe appearing in front of him, but this seemed like a strange dream after eating the wrong mushrooms. And he already had one pretty doe to handle! This must be one of those ascended kin he had only heard of from stories. Just as much as he felt awe, he felt jealous of her magic. The things he could get up to if he could turn into a bird!

“Am I to know what that’s supposed to mean?” That came out much louder than Deep Terror wanted. Bird-being or not, he did not wish to be rude. But she was abrupt too, was she not? He hoped she would excuse his exclamation of surprise. If she could turn all that doe into a bird, who knows what else she could do, “I have never encountered someone like you before, I’m not sure what you mean.”

[Beejoux]

A scaled brows arched at the buck's initial tone, a little taken aback by his volume and phrasing, but her expression softened again as he continued on. Not aggressive, simply unsure.

"I've been..." She paused, considering her wording. "Blessed, I suppose, by the Motherfather. I can offer a blessing to expectant parents, to help their new babies along, and I can feel when someone is in need. Whether they're aware they're in need, or not." The doe shrugged lightly, tail flicking along the sand.

[cashmeresky]

Deep Terror blinked in confusion. The doe claimed to know when a parent is in need, even if they don’t. It sounded odd at first, how would he have a need and not know it? It would be his need! But he supposed it was something like, a stain you have on your hind pastern that you can’t see and wouldn’t even know to look for. Or, a little spider you would gently put on someone’s flank that they wouldn’t see unless they caught their reflection just right… or until the spider crept up onto their face. The start of a grin started to form until he remembered it was he who apparently has a need he wasn’t even aware of! Or even worse, Blushing Coral, and he would need to break the news to her that she has a need she wasn’t aware of!

“I’m not the one carrying the babies…” Deep Terror trailed off, maybe that was a silly thing to state, “are you looking for the mother? But if you can fly anywhere and you wanted to find her you could’ve found her so…” he trailed off again. How does one make sensible conversation with a being such as this? “Are you here to… bless me with parental advice? The mother has done this before, so perhaps it is I who have the need…”

[Beejoux]

The pale doe chuckled as he spoke. It made her wonder if this was his first clutch. Probably. It didn't matter though, it could have been the fiftieth, and are have come all the same. "I'm here to bless the babies. They're yours, so they're tied to you. The magic will find it's way back to them."

As for why him and not the mother? Well, perhaps it was because she'd done this before, was more comfortable with the idea of having babies to care for.

"Is there something you would how for your babies? Health, happiness, wisdom?" It could be anything.

[cashmeresky]

“Clever!” Deep Terror blurted out as if he only had moments to ask for something. And, technically, he did only have this one chance, though not as fleeting as his exclamation would have one think. But he so wanted his children to have a sharp wit. It would help them out of tricky situations, and make difficult times funny. “Cleverness, and a sense of humor. But yes. Happy, healthy. Is there a limit on this? If there is, and it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to go right up to the edge.”

He paused, but not too long, “If the limit is small, then just the cleverness. And the humor.” He looked around, hoping no one is witnessing this awkward interaction.

“Thank you.”

Wait till Blushing Coral hears about this.

[Beejoux]

Merry smiled a knowing smile that grew into something more excited, like she just couldn't help herself. To his question she merely hummed, not giving him a guess or a no, but letting him carry on with his desires for his children.

When he had finished her smile split into a grin. It lingered a moment before she closed her eyes, expression gone briefly thoughtful. When she opened them again she nodded. "It's done."

She grinned again. "Congratulations on your new children," she offered, endeared by his excitement.