It was a perfectly normal summer day, bright and warm in the city of Genil. The air had the smell of honey suckles and fresh rain, as was the custom on the hot summer days when the soil itself needed to cool off. Never getting unbearably hot in this place, the temperatures stayed mild enough for most people and heat exhaustion was never too prominent. The city itself was bustling with movement, people walking to and fro, up and down most of the streets. Most of the buildings in Genil had been restored, at least those that could be. There was still twisted remains in some places that no one had taken a liking to but soon, the rubble would be gone entirely. The streets themselves were white again and nothing could have been more normal than Genil like this. Crystal Dinaia let out a mildly happy sigh as she moved down the street, graceful despite her swollen stomach, high and hard against her skin. This morning had begun with the residual back ache that she’d had for nearly a month now, but it made her feel as if her spine was caught in a crick and being twisted the longer she’d stayed still. Something told her to get up, to move around and to get out of the dark inside of her house into the sunlight.
The woman gazed down at her stomach and thought of the reason she was wandering into town on one of the days she’d taken off from working at the Palace, unable to sit in her office for very long. To tell the truth, she wasn’t much use when she was feeling like this, but was more of a grouch than anyone had bargained for. The least little thing could make tears well in her eyes and her voice take on a harsh tint. Those around her knew that she was emotional and hormonal, but there were times when Crystal herself didn’t understand why her mood seemed to fluctuate so easily. The soles of her feet ached as she walked the short distance to town, her body still active and thin despite her pregnancy. She’d gained only the weight she’d lost in the past few years in addition to the weight of the child and had turned out merely looking a little more plump in the cheeks. Perhaps not quite as plain as she usually was, one could call the Elder “cute” now, unless of course, they caught her on the day that her back, feet, neck, and stomach hurt.
Crystal’s hair was still slightly damp from her morning bath, slightly wavy and darker than her usual brilliant red. Full and hanging down her slim back, it smelled like her usual vanilla scented shampoo, soft and sweet with the slightest hanging fragrance left behind. Clothing had become a problem lately, none of her clothes fitting her after six months of pregnancy. Her size worried her slightly because she knew that she shouldn’t be this extended three months before she thought she was due to give birth. She tried not to think about it much as she smoothed down the soft fabric of her rich blue cotton dress, hanging to her knees, leaving her legs exposed to the warm summer sun. The Elder’s porcelain skin was untouched by the usual tan people got during this time, prone only to burn, peal, and repeat when it came to the process. The sleeves of the dress itself covered her shoulders but ended very high up on her arms in little half sleeves, just enough to be considered there. Sandals with extremely thin straps left her feet almost bare and unconstrained, but protected from the ground below.
As she entered the town square of Genil, the child in her stomach gave a kick that felt like it had landed in the center of her spine. “Oof,” Crystal felt the air rush out of her a little and let out at soft growl at her stomach, glaring playfully at the unborn baby. “If you’re not going to be a runner or some sort of athlete, I’ll be the first one in this world that’s surprised about it.” A few people glanced toward her, unsure looks on their faces as the Elder seemingly talked to herself, returned her smile weakly before walking off quickly. Rubbing her forehead with a soft grunt, she shook her head and grabbed the basket she’d been carrying with her off the ground where it had fallen only seconds before. Long, curving up slowly on each of the sides, the basket was perfectly shaped for the fresh fruit she so loved lately to be carried home in. If she’d brought one of the leather bags she often carried, the skin of the peaches would be bruised and her grapes squished before she even made away from the open front produce stand she frequented.
Children skittered around the fountain in the middle of the square, laughing as some were dunked in much to their parents’ dismay. Eventually, each one of the little ones in the group took their turn falling into the clear water of the fountain, the water pumping in and upward from the Genil River itself. Long ago, a weak geyser had been in this location, but the Council had it corralled into a fountain that produced a huge, steady stream of water into the air. Crystal admired it for a moment as she neared it, moving gracefully despite her state. Her eyes were slightly wistful and several women across the way smiled at her, knowing her by face. The questioning looks in their eyes were unmistakable. Why now? There was no “Mr. Elder” in the picture. After this long? Why? How? Did it have something to do with the attack on both Crystal and Morrigan that they had only heard of in dark whispers? She brushed her hair behind her ear slightly and blushed, her eyes facing the ground as she stared into the pool that the fountain formed, glittering with coins that had been thrown in and wishes been made. What would she wish for if one would come true?
Would she wish for a father for the child inside of her body? Someone that would pick him up and swing him around in the air carefully, gently, as he squealed with glee would be nice. Someone that could love his son merely because he was his own would be heaven. Someone that-- Her mind traveled back to the night of Eytan’s conception and focused on a pair of eyes, green, not gold, looking into her own. Would she wish for him? As she thought, she closed her eyes, only to feel one of the children from the fountain splash her with a significant amount of water. As she felt her thighs and knees wet, she opened her eyes quickly, only to see that the skirt of her dress wasn’t wet. As water trickled down her legs in a gush, a cramp unlike anything she had felt so far during this pregnancy grabbed the very core of her and twisted. Was that a.. contraction? It couldn’t happen so soon, she’d thought that after her water broke that she would have time to figure out what to do next. No, no. Crystal Dinaia was about to receive a trial by fire as the young half-demon in her body prepared to make his grand entrance. As the Elder slowly felt her legs go rubbery underneath her, she slowly went to her knees and her breathing grew rapid, panicked. He was coming too soon, three months too soon or so she thought. As tears grew in her eyes, for the first time with this child inside her, she felt scared and oh-so alone.
"The white city fell without her. Peace revolved around her, but when the mother left her children, they destroyed one another... She'll never forget that she left--she'll wear the chains of the martyr as she pulls the world's weight behind her, still thinking she's not doing enough." Morrigan Aensland
Maya had taken well to life in this city. It was no replacement for the home that she had long been pining for, but it was nevertheless a pleasant place to live. It was a warm day, and because of this she had spent the last few hours within the river that ran through the city, wishing only for a less narrow and restricting body of water to cool off in. The sight had become an increasingly familiar one to the citizens of Genil in these past months, and where at first they would find it strange many had come to accept the sight of the aquatic girl residing in their river, some going as far as to offer a friendly wave in passing, a guesture which she would happily return with one of her own. Naomi, as well, had taken a liking to living in the city. The two were content here, and there had been little need for Naomi to show herself in these past months.
Maya had climbed from the river, intending now to go on a short walk about the city, leaving in her path a trail of the excess river water as it dripped from her still-wet body.
So what do you intend to do with the rest of the day?
The other self posed a good question. In these last months, Maya had found her niche in this city using her skills as a healer to better serve its citizens as a whole. However, there had been little to do lately; it seemed people just weren't getting themselves hurt very often. Today, Maya had decided to take the day off so that she could relax around town, and that was exactly what she intended to do.
Very little.
Sounds like a good plan.
Hee hee. Maybe I'll stop by and visit Crystal later.
Dry yourself off first. You wouldn't want to go dripping all over the palace, would you?
Maya let out a brief giggle that was quickly stifled to avoid strange looks from the other passers-by. Obviously not. It's not like it takes long to pull the water off me anyway.
As she found herself lost in conversation, Maya noticed that she was headed for the town square. Immediately her eyes were drawn toward the fountain in the middle of the square, the sight bringing a smile to her lips as it always managed to do. Children were playing in the fountain, another sight that would help to amplify the pleasant mood of the day. As she paused some distance away to watch, she saw Crystal approaching the fountain, that ever-present bulge on her front not hindering the grace with which she walked. Staring at the area once again, Maya began to wonder just how long the Elder would carry it until the child would emerge. Suddenly, though, there was a flash of light shining with intensity through Maya's spectacles, telling of a sudden pain coming from the respected woman's lower areas. Automatically, Maya found herself quickly moving forward as the Elder went to her knees. Though she wasn't certain, her question may have just been answered for her.
"Crystal!" she called as she came near, trying to sound as calm as she could as her hand reached for what would hopefully be a reassuring grip on the Elder's shoulder. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Jesus Saves.
The rest of you take damage.
When the jazz man's testifyin', a faithless man believes.
He can sing you into paradise, or bring you to your knees.
Re: Eytan's Debut
Crystal’s eyes were wide, her pupils dilated from the pain that ripped steadily against her spin and lower midsection. Everything seemed to move slowly for a few seconds as panic took hold, the sound of children and people in the distance becoming faint water-like sounds. A hand hit her shoulder and knocked her back into the land of the living and the rush of water from the fountain sounded far too loud in her ears, almost like thunder. Tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes remained there, settling in for the long haul as she looked up at Maya, stuttering out an answer. “I-I-.. I don’t know if I’m okay. The t-timing is all wrong the baby should have been here three months from now and I don’t know what to do can babies live if they come out this early and oh god, I don’t know if I can stand up I can’t have a baby in the middle of the square!” Her sentences came fast and furious, rolled together into one large, fear-filled statement. She began to tremble as the cramping subsided, the pain on her body becoming significantly lessened as it did. Closing her eyes, she attempted to stand up but found that her shaking legs wouldn’t allow her to do so without help. “The contractions are still placed pretty far apart, will you help me stand so that I can at least try to make it somewhere other than .. Than on the street?”
Crystal knew she couldn’t make it home based on the intensity of the twisting pain that would soon come again as the child pushed its way out of the body, but what worried her the most was the fact that the infant would be arriving three months earlier than she had previously scheduled. It wasn’t clear to her that demonic creatures incubated faster than the normal human and the thought had not yet crossed her mind, and probably wouldn’t until she was told otherwise. Her fears were apparent in her eyes but she also was concerned about worrying Maya a little too much, so she began to speak her mind, “As far as I know, the normal human pregnancy lasts nine months from the time of conception until the time of birth. I’m really terrified right now because I’ve only been with child since January, that’s only six months and a couple of days. There’s no way I could have gotten pregnant any time before that night with Fedaf--..” Crystal looked guiltily at the ground for a moment. She had not yet mentioned the name of the child’s father to anyone yet, not even to Morrigan though she expected the succubus had an idea due to the rapid advancement of her pregnancy. She had no contact with any other man than the fox-demon, other than Kentaro and the idea of her and Kentaro having a child together was almost laughable. They would have sooner gone over cases of criminals together naked than had sex. Leaning against Maya, Crystal feared she would fall over onto the slim girl and squish her, but she didn’t have much choice as the pain welled up within her again. Another contraction would be coming, strong, yet not nearly close to the amount of pain that would rack her body when the child itself was fully ready to appear. “We have to hurry, the contractions are far apart now but soon they’ll begin to get closer and closer, within mere moments of another. Then, the baby will come.”
Crystal didn’t know where to go, home was too far away and yet she desired to be there so greatly. In the same bed the child had been conceived in, clean white walls and running water. However, her home away from home was nearer than the almost mile walk back to her cottage. The Blessing was closer than any other buildings located in the town and Crystal was familiar with the owner‘s habits. Krysm would be there, and possibly Sei if he hadn‘t continued his travels, but probably not many more customers. Towels and other necessities were provided to customers that stayed in the Inn and Crystal was certain that her friend would provide a safe place for her now. “Just please, get me to the Blessing. It’s a small inn at the end of this street.”
"The white city fell without her. Peace revolved around her, but when the mother left her children, they destroyed one another... She'll never forget that she left--she'll wear the chains of the martyr as she pulls the world's weight behind her, still thinking she's not doing enough." Morrigan Aensland
Re: Eytan's Debut
Crystal was obviously terrified; it showed well enough through her near-panicked speech that Maya didn't need to be directly told. This brought about sympathetic feelings from Maya, but also brought about a decision: while she was also afraid for the fate of this woman she had come to call her friend as well as her child, this situation called for self-control. It would only worry Crystal more if Maya was also acting in a panic, and she certainly didn't need any more stress than she already had in the situation. Whether it was true or not, she needed to be told that everything would be fine.
Probably realizing how little experience Maya has had with such a thing, the Elder went through an explanation of the situation - primarily, what exactly was wrong with it. She mentioned half a name of what was probably the father, and it had caught Maya's interest, but that would be a question for later. She was caught slightly off-guard when she suddenly found Crystal leaning into her, but reacted by lending her the support that she needed. She nodded her confirmation in response to the woman's words, hoping that they would be able to make it to Crystal's home in time...
'Just please, get me to the Blessing. It’s a small inn at the end of this street.'
...but then there was an alternative, and probably a far better option than taking the much longer walk back to the cottage. "Okay...just lean on me, and we'll be there in no time. Don't worry, you're going to be fine." She spoke with a calm confidence that belied the fear and worry she felt within. Slowly and steadily she rose to her feet, bearing Crystal's weight with just a little more ease than one might think she would. Using one arm to help support her weakened friend, she walked Crystal toward the building that she had indicated. "Just one step at a time..." she said reassuringly, noting their slow pace but not wanting to push to go any faster.
After a short journey that would seem to take an eternity, the two would arrive at The Blessing. Once again finding herself unsure of herself in an unfamiliar situation, Maya quietly spoke a question to Crystal: "Here we are...who do we need to speak to?"
Jesus Saves.
The rest of you take damage.
When the jazz man's testifyin', a faithless man believes.
He can sing you into paradise, or bring you to your knees.
"The white city fell without her. Peace revolved around her, but when the mother left her children, they destroyed one another... She'll never forget that she left--she'll wear the chains of the martyr as she pulls the world's weight behind her, still thinking she's not doing enough." Morrigan Aensland
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