Not The Best News|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

"No," Locket said. She had hoped he wouldn't ask. She could never seem to withhold things from Nagi when he asked. "I..." Please don't be hurt. "I was afraid of how you'd react when you found out the news."

[Darastrix]

Nagi stopped mid-step. "Locket...." He let go of her hand and stepped closer to wrap his arms around her.

[Kender Bard]

Locket returned the embrace, kissed his temple softly. "I shouldn't have been," she admitted. "And... If this had been anything else, I'd have known there was nothing to worry about. But between the shock of finding out and knowing that you wouldn't feel ready... I panicked. I'm sorry I didn't trust you more, Nagi. You're a good man; you wouldn't do anything to hurt me." She smiled slightly. "Forgive me?"

[Darastrix]

"There's nothing to forgive," Nagi said, and kissed her cheek. "You're scared; we both are." He hoped Crawford hadn't said anything to make Locket worry more. And why him instead of Schul--oh. "You wanted Crawford to See for you? What did he say?"

[Kender Bard]

"That you wouldn't do or say anything that I had reason to fear," Locket answered. "That you'd be scared, flustered, surprised, and so you are. I didn't ask him to See anything more than your reaction..." She gave a sheepish smile. "Maybe I should have asked for something else other than what anyone else could have told me." She took on a speculative look. "Do you think he could tell us if we'll be good parents?"

[Darastrix]

Nagi shook his head. "He wouldn't waste the effort on something that subjective. And the answer could change either way."

[Kender Bard]

"Well, it was worth considering," Locket sighed, a little discouraged. She stepped back out of Nagi's arms, resumed her hunt for Schuldig. "Where is Schu, anyway?"

[Darastrix]

"Good question," Nagi said, and reached out to Schuldig with his mind. "He's in the sitting room down the hall and to the right, 'swanning.' He said one of the maids had a little accident, but he should be done in a moment. Probably by the time we walk down there."

[Kender Bard]

"Swanning," Locket repeated with a smile, liking how the word sounded. "Though coming from him, that almost sounds dirty." She made sure her stroll was leisurely to give Schuldig time to finish his work. "I was thinking, though, perhaps next week you and I should go to the temple for Life Day. Maybe if we ask nicely, one of the priests will show us how to hold one... Or if not that, we can at least watch. I've never had anything to do with a baby either, truth be told." She knocked on the study door, though curious what was wrong with the maid, just walked in anyway.

[Darastrix]

Nagi walked in behind her, saying, "Filly could probably help us with a doll or something if we can't do it the--oh."

Judging by the wrapping on one ankle, the maid, a pretty girl around the age of seventeen, had tripped or twisted her ankle. That did not, however, account for why her face was so flushed or why Schuldig was behind her chair, leaning over to whisper in her ear.

At the royals' entrance, she started and looked ready to bolt, but Schuldig caressed her shoulders, coaxing her to stay in place. "You don't want to make that worse, now do you?" he said, and teleported a cane to his hand. "Use this if you have to walk somewhere, but stay off your feet as much as you can and keep that one propped on a pillow." He lowered his voice and added, "I'll be by to check on it later."

"Yessir," she murmured, blushing, and took the cane. The maid got quickly to her feet and bobbed an awkward curtsy to Nagi and Locket before hobbling quickly out of the room.

[Kender Bard]

Locket beamed widely, almost looking proud, and most certainly pleased. "Good to see you're managing to do homage to both your swan duties and your Lustful ones," she remarked. Before, Schuldig's lecherous activities had merely amused her. Now they were a source of Soahcian pride.

She moved swiftly to try and intercept the chair the maid had just vacated before Schuldig could. "Nagi and I have some news," she announced while doing so.

[Darastrix]

"Hmm?" Schuldig took a different seat and glanced at Nagi, chuckling at how red his face was. And they hadn't even walked in on him doing much of anything. "You two finally getting around to seeing about visiting Maelstrom this season?"

"Er." Nagi glanced at Locket. He wasn't even sure if they could now. "That's not it. Did you want to tell him?"

[Kender Bard]

Locket blinked at the mention of Maelstrom. She had, amidst everything lately, completely forgotten about that. She glanced at Nagi too. We really need to do that. She'd talk about it with him later. Instead, she nodded, reached out a hand towards Nagi and beckoned him closer, and said to Schuldig, "Nagi and I are going to have a baby, Schu."

[Darastrix]

Schuldig blinked and looked between the two of them as Nagi took Locket's hand. "Connnngratulations?" he hazarded. He wasn't really sure what was in order. They didn't seem upset, but they weren't exactly jumping for joy, either.

Nagi gave a small smile. "It is earlier than we wanted by a few years," he admitted. "And we're both nervous, but it doesn't have to be a bad thing."

Better you than me, Schuldig thought. He wasn't sure what he'd do if Filly got pregnant.

[Kender Bard]

Locket squeezed Nagi's hand gently and smiled as well. The whole thing was so much easier to bear now that she had told him and had him to support her.

"You and Filly will help us, right Schu?" Locket asked. "I know you can't offer much advice on child rearing, but would you be opposed to letting us speak through you to my parents and the Flameharts? For advice when we needed it?"