Befana rides tonight
Jan. 5th, 2024 10:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessSo leave her some wine and snacks out and you'll get a gift. If you're really lucky she'll sweep out the bad of the old year and the good of the new year.
Today we packed away even more of Christmas and then I went to meet my brother for dinner and drinks out at a new to me sports bar Rt 22 Bar and Grill (or something like that) it was good wings but the happy hour drink was disappointing. They called it a teddy bear, green apple vodka, triple sec, lime juice and orange juice but basically it tasted like a screwdriver as the orange juice overwhelmed the green apple. So big whup there.
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fandomtrees is doing a bit better but there's plenty more to go. In fact my own tree only has one gift (You can find it here.) Someone I got about 2 paragraphs on now has 2 fills so I'm setting that aside and working on the one I could do who still has nothing.
And I wrote a story today
Title: Testing the Waters (AO3)
Summary: Hunter and Willow have some big news and their young daughter is the first to hear it. They can only hope she takes it well.
Notes: Written forspikesgirl58’s 6 word challenge. The words are: Brown, Jest, Rear, Acceptable, Pepper, Cinema and for the Get Your Words Out challenge for prompt 369. Mom and Dad are delighted because they are expecting. How does their firstborn feel about acquiring a sibling?
Willow brushed her fingers along the ridges of Hunter’s shoulder scars. He wore a sleeveless shirt. The summer heat was blistering but gone were the days he could lie about mostly naked, sweating. Their five year old daughter played with the builders’ set her grandfathers had given her, erecting something large and improbable. She had it set outside the lip of her small pool imported from the human realm. The water had been cool when they started but Hunter was sure it was warm enough to make tea at this point. His child was simply too stubborn to give up on what had started as a cooling device. He couldn’t wait for the temperatures to drop to a more acceptable degree. If he wanted to cook eggs outside, he’d poach some in the Boiling Seas. He didn’t need to be able to fry some on the rocks too.
She leaned close and kissed his cheek. I’ll get her inside if you’re ready to do this.”
Hunter nodded, even though he was anything but. He could imagine all the ways this could go spectacularly bad. Willow rounded up their daughter, marching her inside to get cleaned up. He forced himself to his feet to go inside and pace the living room. He wanted her to be as excited as he and Willow were but there was no guarantee of that. None of his friends, save Amity, had any idea what this would be like. And technically it was Edric and Emira who had been in the same boat as she’d be now.
Waffles settled on his shoulder and his blue jay palisman chittered at him. It will be okay.
“I know,” he whispered because he did know. He had a great kid, after all.
Willow ensconced her on the couch with her favorite stuffed cat before catching up with him to stop his pacing. She slipped a hand around his waist and tucked it into his back pocket. Willow gave his rear a little squeeze making him smile. Some scenarios jogged through his head, all ones that led exactly to where they were now. Willow smiled up at him. “Ready?”
He nodded but let her do the talking like they had discussed.
“Pepper, Daddy and I have something we need to tell you about, something very exciting.”
Pepper’s green eyes widened. “I’m getting my own palisman?”
Hunter stifled a laugh. “No, sweetie, you’re still too young but I promise you, I’ll carve one for you some day.”
She pouted prodigiously as only a child could. If Hunter wasn’t careful, her pouts could get her anything her heart desired out of him.
“How would you feel about being a big sister?” Willow asked.
Pepper shrugged. “It’d be okay I guess but I’d rather have my palisman.”
Hunter exchanged looks with Willow. They had braced themselves for the idea that Pepper might react with jealousy. Edric had regaled them with how he and Em hadn’t exactly been thrilled to learn they were getting a younger sibling but he’d been hoping that was more a twin thing and not wanting someone interrupting that bond. What they hadn’t planned on was vague indifference. Of course we haven’t told her yet that it’s actually happening.
Willow nodded to the couch. She sat on one side of Pepper and he the other. Waffles fluttered from his shoulder to settle on Pepper’s warm brown hair. She giggled and stroked the blue jay’s feathers.
“I hope it’s better than okay, Pep, because Mommy is going to have another baby,” Hunter said, his heart racing hearing it out loud again. He was going to be a dad again! “You’re going to be a big sister and that’s a very special thing.”
Pepper leaned against Willow. “Really, Mom?”
Rubbing Pepper’s back, Willow said, “Yes. Your baby brother or sister will be here by winter. You’ll be the best big sister. You’ll get to help me with the baby if you want.”
Pepper narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t that Daddy’s job?”
Willow and Hunter laughed.
“True but you can help. Your mom and I never got to have siblings so you’re lucky,” Hunter replied. “What do you think about that?”
Lowering her chin against the stuffed cat’s head, Pepper thought long and hard about it. “I think I’m lucky. A sister can be fun!”
“So could brothers.” Willow hugged her.
“Eh, maybe.”
Hunter scooped his daughter up, hauling her into his lap. “He’ll be looking to you to teach him things. I think you’ll like that.”
Pepper snuggled against his chest. “I’m a good teacher! Hmm, I get to be a big sis….and get a palisman.”
Chuckling, Hunter squeezed her tight, making Pepper squirm and giggle. “Not yet, sweetie.”
“Can we get you something other than a palisman to help celebrate you being a big sister?” Willow tickled the bottom of Pepper’s foot, making her giggle louder.
“Wanna go to see Grandma Camila and go to the movies!”
“I’ll ask her what’s out at the cinema for kids when we get there,” Hunter promised. “Disney always has something new out.”
Pepper squirmed out of his arms and onto her feet. She stood there, studying them both. “You’re not kidding? Mommy’s having another baby?”
“No jest, Mommy is having a baby.”
Pepper cocked her head, her long hair spilling over her shoulder. His daughter was so pretty and smart it sometimes left Hunter speechless, unable to believe he had any part in creating such a beautiful life. “Where is the baby now?”
Hunter widened his eyes and patted Willow’s knee. “I think that’s my cue to leave this discussion to you.”
Willow smiled so sweetly at him right up until the vines grew through the opened window to surround him and anchored him to the couch. “Don’t be a duck.”
“I think you mean chicken.” He wiggled but he was going nowhere, not until his wife decided to let him go. Pepper climbed back up onto him and Waffles sat on his head, fluffing his hair until she had a nest.
“The baby is growing here.” Willow pressed a hand to her belly. “As to how, much like the palisman, you need to be older.”
Pepper heaved a huge sigh. “I’ll never be old enough.”
“Oh, you’ll be old enough way before Daddy and I are ready.” Willow took Pepper’s hand and put it on her stomach. “You can’t feel the baby yet but soon you will.”
“Cool.” A wicked grin cut across Pepper’s face. “Know what?”
“What sweetie?”
“Azura is always teasing me because she’s a year older and gets to do everything first. I’m gonna be a big sis first, and she’s gonna be so mad!” Pepper stabbed a fist to the sky.
“We probably better tell Amity and Luz next,” Hunter said. “Pepper’s not going to be able to hold it in once she sees Azura again.”
“Wise.” Willow threw her arms around him and Pepper holding them tight.
Hunter melted against her – and her vines. How he got so lucky to have these ladies in his life, he’d never know. He was sure Pepper would get more and more enthusiastic as the weeks rolled on. She’d be the best, most protective sister she could be. Of that, Hunter had no doubts.
Today we packed away even more of Christmas and then I went to meet my brother for dinner and drinks out at a new to me sports bar Rt 22 Bar and Grill (or something like that) it was good wings but the happy hour drink was disappointing. They called it a teddy bear, green apple vodka, triple sec, lime juice and orange juice but basically it tasted like a screwdriver as the orange juice overwhelmed the green apple. So big whup there.
fandomtrees is doing a bit better but there's plenty more to go. In fact my own tree only has one gift (You can find it here.) Someone I got about 2 paragraphs on now has 2 fills so I'm setting that aside and working on the one I could do who still has nothing.And I wrote a story today
Title: Testing the Waters (AO3)
Summary: Hunter and Willow have some big news and their young daughter is the first to hear it. They can only hope she takes it well.
Notes: Written for
spikesgirl58’s 6 word challenge. The words are: Brown, Jest, Rear, Acceptable, Pepper, Cinema and for the Get Your Words Out challenge for prompt 369. Mom and Dad are delighted because they are expecting. How does their firstborn feel about acquiring a sibling?Willow brushed her fingers along the ridges of Hunter’s shoulder scars. He wore a sleeveless shirt. The summer heat was blistering but gone were the days he could lie about mostly naked, sweating. Their five year old daughter played with the builders’ set her grandfathers had given her, erecting something large and improbable. She had it set outside the lip of her small pool imported from the human realm. The water had been cool when they started but Hunter was sure it was warm enough to make tea at this point. His child was simply too stubborn to give up on what had started as a cooling device. He couldn’t wait for the temperatures to drop to a more acceptable degree. If he wanted to cook eggs outside, he’d poach some in the Boiling Seas. He didn’t need to be able to fry some on the rocks too.
She leaned close and kissed his cheek. I’ll get her inside if you’re ready to do this.”
Hunter nodded, even though he was anything but. He could imagine all the ways this could go spectacularly bad. Willow rounded up their daughter, marching her inside to get cleaned up. He forced himself to his feet to go inside and pace the living room. He wanted her to be as excited as he and Willow were but there was no guarantee of that. None of his friends, save Amity, had any idea what this would be like. And technically it was Edric and Emira who had been in the same boat as she’d be now.
Waffles settled on his shoulder and his blue jay palisman chittered at him. It will be okay.
“I know,” he whispered because he did know. He had a great kid, after all.
Willow ensconced her on the couch with her favorite stuffed cat before catching up with him to stop his pacing. She slipped a hand around his waist and tucked it into his back pocket. Willow gave his rear a little squeeze making him smile. Some scenarios jogged through his head, all ones that led exactly to where they were now. Willow smiled up at him. “Ready?”
He nodded but let her do the talking like they had discussed.
“Pepper, Daddy and I have something we need to tell you about, something very exciting.”
Pepper’s green eyes widened. “I’m getting my own palisman?”
Hunter stifled a laugh. “No, sweetie, you’re still too young but I promise you, I’ll carve one for you some day.”
She pouted prodigiously as only a child could. If Hunter wasn’t careful, her pouts could get her anything her heart desired out of him.
“How would you feel about being a big sister?” Willow asked.
Pepper shrugged. “It’d be okay I guess but I’d rather have my palisman.”
Hunter exchanged looks with Willow. They had braced themselves for the idea that Pepper might react with jealousy. Edric had regaled them with how he and Em hadn’t exactly been thrilled to learn they were getting a younger sibling but he’d been hoping that was more a twin thing and not wanting someone interrupting that bond. What they hadn’t planned on was vague indifference. Of course we haven’t told her yet that it’s actually happening.
Willow nodded to the couch. She sat on one side of Pepper and he the other. Waffles fluttered from his shoulder to settle on Pepper’s warm brown hair. She giggled and stroked the blue jay’s feathers.
“I hope it’s better than okay, Pep, because Mommy is going to have another baby,” Hunter said, his heart racing hearing it out loud again. He was going to be a dad again! “You’re going to be a big sister and that’s a very special thing.”
Pepper leaned against Willow. “Really, Mom?”
Rubbing Pepper’s back, Willow said, “Yes. Your baby brother or sister will be here by winter. You’ll be the best big sister. You’ll get to help me with the baby if you want.”
Pepper narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t that Daddy’s job?”
Willow and Hunter laughed.
“True but you can help. Your mom and I never got to have siblings so you’re lucky,” Hunter replied. “What do you think about that?”
Lowering her chin against the stuffed cat’s head, Pepper thought long and hard about it. “I think I’m lucky. A sister can be fun!”
“So could brothers.” Willow hugged her.
“Eh, maybe.”
Hunter scooped his daughter up, hauling her into his lap. “He’ll be looking to you to teach him things. I think you’ll like that.”
Pepper snuggled against his chest. “I’m a good teacher! Hmm, I get to be a big sis….and get a palisman.”
Chuckling, Hunter squeezed her tight, making Pepper squirm and giggle. “Not yet, sweetie.”
“Can we get you something other than a palisman to help celebrate you being a big sister?” Willow tickled the bottom of Pepper’s foot, making her giggle louder.
“Wanna go to see Grandma Camila and go to the movies!”
“I’ll ask her what’s out at the cinema for kids when we get there,” Hunter promised. “Disney always has something new out.”
Pepper squirmed out of his arms and onto her feet. She stood there, studying them both. “You’re not kidding? Mommy’s having another baby?”
“No jest, Mommy is having a baby.”
Pepper cocked her head, her long hair spilling over her shoulder. His daughter was so pretty and smart it sometimes left Hunter speechless, unable to believe he had any part in creating such a beautiful life. “Where is the baby now?”
Hunter widened his eyes and patted Willow’s knee. “I think that’s my cue to leave this discussion to you.”
Willow smiled so sweetly at him right up until the vines grew through the opened window to surround him and anchored him to the couch. “Don’t be a duck.”
“I think you mean chicken.” He wiggled but he was going nowhere, not until his wife decided to let him go. Pepper climbed back up onto him and Waffles sat on his head, fluffing his hair until she had a nest.
“The baby is growing here.” Willow pressed a hand to her belly. “As to how, much like the palisman, you need to be older.”
Pepper heaved a huge sigh. “I’ll never be old enough.”
“Oh, you’ll be old enough way before Daddy and I are ready.” Willow took Pepper’s hand and put it on her stomach. “You can’t feel the baby yet but soon you will.”
“Cool.” A wicked grin cut across Pepper’s face. “Know what?”
“What sweetie?”
“Azura is always teasing me because she’s a year older and gets to do everything first. I’m gonna be a big sis first, and she’s gonna be so mad!” Pepper stabbed a fist to the sky.
“We probably better tell Amity and Luz next,” Hunter said. “Pepper’s not going to be able to hold it in once she sees Azura again.”
“Wise.” Willow threw her arms around him and Pepper holding them tight.
Hunter melted against her – and her vines. How he got so lucky to have these ladies in his life, he’d never know. He was sure Pepper would get more and more enthusiastic as the weeks rolled on. She’d be the best, most protective sister she could be. Of that, Hunter had no doubts.
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Date: 2024-01-06 05:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-06 05:33 am (UTC)