#thread: skai + hale

[gvldntrbl]

Skai + Hale @theartofruling

Location: Paradise Lake, the Divine Forest (Post LM Event 7)

-🥀-

Hale sighed dramatically as they lounged on their river tube in the lake. "Y'know," Hale began, talking to Skai. "You'e one of my favorite people." Hale knew that the water nymph felt their honesty as they spoke. "Hell, I'd love to marry you. But I don't think your husband's cool with that." Hale looked over to where Skai was. "...Whaddya think? Would Bear be cool with me joining your marriage?"

Hale paused, a curious look on their face and a faint smile. "Wait, would you like me to be your second husband?"

[gvldntrbl]

-🥀-

Hale blinked as their features pinched to consider Skai's opinion. She didn't become the formidable Mistress of Mayhem, in her own right, due to only having married the Dark World's leader. The water nymph was a feared and respected leader of her realm. "Eh. What if she's only having chats with me 'cause I'm the only kid of hers to show up and give a fuck about being her heir?" Their shoulders rose with a shrug. That question was one that Hale had been unable to shake. Despite joining Iris in the Forest, being the lone Princex to jump feet first into training and understanding how the Divine Forest operated under her leadership. It was a worry that they were there until a better suited, more desired replacement who their mother really wanted came along. Hell, in their moments of pure honesty, a part of Hale believed that she'd rather it was Viggo who showed any interest than them.

"Joining a marriage doesn't look that bad. I know you're committed 'cause you're already in one. From the looks of things, you two seem to be doing great. So why the fuck not?" Hale wondered aloud with another shrug. "I don't know. If you and Bear have any nymphs, I could officially adopt them into my lineage. Make 'em my heirs. Since you don't wanna be a baby making factory." Hale suggested to Skai. Which was not a bad alternative. The splash of water she'd sent their way reminded Hale of where the pair were. At the lake. Under the warmth of the sun and literally sitting atop of the cool waters. Hale chuckled and their face pulled back in reaction at the splash. "I'm an air nymph. I'll use the air currents and fly over that ocean, Monica." They joked before sending a puff of air blow against Skai's nearest cheekbone. "Of course I'd cross the ocean for my spouse. Go Greek tragedy and pull you from the depths of hell, if I had to. Since when am I not loyal?" Hale asked her. When she mentioned Viggo, they made a face. "Stop ruining this for me. You've already told me hell no after saying I have to ask you husband and married girlfriend." They paused to shake their head before muttering. "Who the fuck even does that?" As if open marriages were not almost common practice for several in Lume Noua.

"Well, I can't try to go kid for kid with my brother. Right now, he's 1-0. But marriage? I can do that. Kids and heirs can come after. It's basic math." Hale surmised. As Skai spoke of her marriage, and Bear's deep belief in her ability to succeed at being a spouse, they couldn't help but nod. "He's done a lot of fucked up things. But he knows his shit. I agree with him. I've never seen you not have each other's back and not be there for each other. Why the fuck do you think I'm trying to be a part of that?" As they felt her lust grow at the idea of a trio honeymoon, Hale smirked. "Nah, all of this?" They pointed along the length of their body, stopping at the hot spots like their face and crotch. "Marriage only benefits, baby. No big Hale for you if you're not meeting me at the end of an aisle in a wedding dress."

"Someone who can give me everything?" Hale repeated before shaking their head. "Nah. I don't think that's in the cards for me." They confessed. "Ah, shit. Yeah, a little Bear? That's a super hell no. Having his baby giant's gonna put you out of commission for a year, minimum. Damn, you sure you don't wanna push that baby back a while? I'd give you that threesome honeymoon..."

“Truth be told, I think you’re your only competition for the throne. But she must be preparing you if she’s having talks with you about it.” Skai’s hand lazily flowed back and forth through the water. Feeling that connection calmed her. She felt as though breathing was easier near the water. “I like you too, but do you think that’s what your mom meant? Join a marriage?” Although it would work, there were a few flaws, one glaring one for her. “I would assume you would need heirs? Would that be my job? As your wife? Because It has taken years for me to come around to trying for a baby with Bear. I can’t be a babymaker for two. I don’t even know how many kids I will be able to push out after one.” 

Skai laughed tossing a few drops of water Hale’s way. “I just feel if you want my hand in marriage you would do anything for me. Including go on a permission tour. Doesn’t matter that Bear’s say is the only one that counts, but to be my spouse you should want to cross an ocean for me. Ask the two most important people in my life for my hand. You’re lucky I didn’t add your brother to the list.” She shrugged. “This is your test. Not mine. Don’t try to give me any pop quizzes.” 

She held out a hand for them. “If this was a sex proposal. Sure. But marriage. I wasn’t marriage material when I got married. Bear just really believed I was worth it. My heart just grew a few sizes when I met him. I don’t know if I can maintain two spouses plus a girlfriend. Besides, I want you to find someone who can give you everything, not just a third of something. You deserve that. I can rock your world. Our honeymoon would be incredible. You, me, and Bear…explosive! But now it’s only a dream that you’ve got me all worked up over. She splashed herself with the water to cool down. “Not a hell no, just…not the right time. We’re working on a little Bear. So there’s already some expansion.”

[gvldntrbl]

Daphne + Skai @theartofruling

Location: Royal Healing Center, the Divine Forest

-🌺-

"Well," Daphne sighed and sent Skai a smile. Nothing was wrong with her or the baby. Thank Goddess. Skai's check-in appointment had gone great. "Everything looks good. You feel good, more tired than you did at your last check-in." The head healer noted, her face lowering briefly as she scribbled updates in Skai's chart. "But that's to be expected as your pregnancy progresses." Dark brown eyes fell onto Skai's noticeably pregnant belly. "Baby Ambrose feels good as well. Happy, even. So whatever you're doing, it's working. Keep it up!" She encouraged as she closed Skai's medical folder and sat it down to address her fully. "Your vitals are good. They're stable and I don't have any major concerns for either of you," Daphne shared, meaning Skai and the baby.

"How have you been feeling? How are your cravings? Any new pain, aches, or soreness? I noticed that you're swelling more." She clocked, having noticed Skai's ankles. "Which, I'm sorry to say, between you, your pre-pregnancy size, Bear's ginormous build, and how Baby Ambrose is growing... I think the swelling will be here til delivery." Already, Skai's unborn child was larger than others based on its percentile group. But Daphne anticipated that. "And I want to talk to you, maybe even Bear too, and solidify a birthing plan. Where do you want it? How do you want it? Do you want it to be in the healing center? More nature centered? Have it outside, in the Forest? Or in the water? Are you leaning more to human based medicine and birthing practices? What about possible what-if scenarios? Other parties to make decisions for you if Bear's unavailable. Things like that." Daphne paused. "It's nothing that I'm too concerned about now. But I want all of us - you, Bear, me and our healers here to be prepared for anything." Gently, she rest a hand on Skai's arm and sent her a soft partial smile. "I don't want anything to happen to either of you. Hell, the three of you, if we're counting Bear. I've not said it often enough but I like you. So I want to do everything I can to help, in anyway I can, okay?"

[gvldntrbl]

-😈-

"...Six or seven months?" A look of complete disbelief and surprised marred Finnian's face at the news. The Master of Mayhem, traitorous guardian faerie that he was, tried to be serious. But fuck if Robin didn't seem happy to finally share this information with him. Especially when she spoke of even more titles, like wife, being thrown around in reference to her and her relationship with Hale. "Oh." Bear let out, blue eyes wide as he looked at the little pickpocket from Haven realm who'd charmed her way into his heart, and his life, decades ago. "You guys are serious." He paused and shared the thread of thought that looped in his mind as a result. "Damn, you really are growing up on me, aren't you, Fiona?" Bear muttered, aware that the werewolf would hear. "Just don't forget about me, will you? When you start your life and future over here?" He asked, honestly unsure if he could even ask for such a claim. But if Finnian Ambrose was one thing - it was bold.

"Wait, he what?" The question left Bear's lips in the form of a hiss as he looked over Robin's form in search of the offensive King's face while she returned his hug. "Of course it upset you." Hell, the sheer thought did little to calm Finnian himself. No one disrespected his kid, not even some green-eared snot of a king. "You still work for that asshole?" Bear asked, unable to stop the question as it wormed through him. Robin's head lowered from where it was, against his chest, when Bear sighed heavily. Moments later, he inhaled deeply and then repeated, in a clear effort to calm himself. Finnian's head lowered with a slight nod when Robin answered his question - somehow, she kept her job in Kings Hill. "I know you don't need me to. Or want me to. But if you ever want things un-settled for you there, you know I'm here." Bear replied. "I've already been one realm's bad guy. For you, I can make it two. Just let me know."

"Me and Skai?" He repeated, glancing down at the young woman in his arms. "Shit, I knew I should've gotten you something for this. But it's good. No bad news. The best news. I know it probably wasn't on your bingo card," Faintly, the faerie realized he was rambling. "But you're gonna be a big sister. We're pregnant. Skai's gonna be showing soon." Bear took a moment and, after taking a breath, continued. "I know you've got the Benoits now. Hell, maybe even the Hales and the Roosas too. But you're right, you're my kid. My wee Fiona. And I know you don't need me to. But I'd like to make this, our chosen family, official too. Paperwork, titles, the works. Hell, even a name change, if you're up for it. What do you say?"

 “For a while about six or seven months.” She tried to bite her cheek to hide a smile. “I wouldn’t be disappointed if that did happen, in fact when we had the official talk, I did say I’d prefer wife, but girlfriend is an acceptable holding place. Official is we’re dating. Exclusively. It’s just the two of us, not open essentially. And we live together now. But that came well before the being official part.” The smile she had been fighting broke out on her face. “Yeah I guess it is.” 

“Sebastian was an ass, wouldn’t let me do my job. Called me collateral damage. It upset me so badly I nearly shifted in the palace so I ran and just ended up here.” She said it all in a rush, not wanting him to have time to get upset by what she said. “I know. I really can’t even explain what led me here. I wasn’t thinking, I just ran and wound up here.” She gave Bear a tight hug. “I’m always going to be your daughter and I know you’re always there. You’ve my first and favorite chosen family.” She nodded at his question. “I still work there and we’re trying to get back on good terms now, so we’re working back to getting everything settled.  Just being here helps. How are you and Skai doing?” 

[gvldntrbl]

-🥀-

Hale blinked and their brows knit on their forehead as they looked at Skai. A dismissive scoff of a laugh shot up the nymph's trachea, and they almost laughed aloud, until they felt it. ...Her emotions. "Wait, you're serious?" Hale asked her, looking Skai over, once more. That time to get a full feel of their fellow nymph's emotions. "You're fucking serious," They replied, answering their own question to Skai moments earlier. Another question perched on the tip of Hale's tongue when, as if she was a mind reader, the Mistress of Mayhem answered them. "A little pass-" Hale stopped. "Nine months?" They shook their head, not out of disagreement but to physically clear their mind. "You're pregnant?" Hale asked in surprise.

"Since fuckin' when? How has that been happening?"

The fact that Skai was sitting out all the fun and exciting activities wasn't usual for her. She was practically first to get wild and become the life of the party. But now, she had a passenger tagging along to worry about. A long awaited baby to finally tagging along. In these early stages she didn't want to do anything that could risk it. and send them back to the drawing board.

She was relaxing on the beach at least getting a little sun on her and playing with the water, pulling just a tag from the ocean and letting it twirl between her fingers and around her hand. When Hale approached her brow rose. She had forgotten that this was something they often did together that would now be off limits. "I can't. I definitely can't drink either. I know you're going to hate it, but I've got a little passenger on board, so drinking and kite surfing have to have a nine month plus pause."

[gvldntrbl]

-🥀 TIMEJUMP 🥀-

Some time had passed since Hale offered Skai their hand in political marriage. Despite the fact that she was already happily married to Bear - one of the Forest's allies. Skai's existing marriage wasn't important. Although, it did nick at Hale's ego for her to give them marriage homework if they wanted to be considered to join her marriage. Still, they missed their fellow troublemaking nymph. She was still their favorite Ambrose. They were excited to see Skai that weekend and aimed to spend time with her.

"Hey," Hale greeted her with a grin as they approached her and the sand crunching under their barefeet and their wetsuit partially on. "You ready to go kite surfing?" They asked, more than excited to fuck up some waves with the water nymph. "The rest of the gear is set up at our spot with the crew. Even got you some drinks ready."

“No matter what, it's still the same result. But instead of twisting yourself in knots, ask her. She’s the only person who can truly answer why.”  Skai felt like Hale and their brother both had that habit of worrying about or assuming how their mom felt without asking the source. 

“How long have you been thinking about joining my marriage? This doesn’t seem like a random plan. But I don’t think Bear would go for you adopting the babies as your heirs. I’m still not certain he’d go for you joining the marriage. Not just you, but anyone. We each have girlfriends so the marriage is pretty crowded.” Their sentiment made her smile. “Yes and while I would do the same for you, you still would have to ask the people I care about most for my hand in marriage. So I do that.” She shrugged. “I didn’t say hell no,” she pointed out. “Just not yes.”

She nodded in agreement on their assessment of what they could bring to the table that Viggo couldn’t. “Who else is on the marriage short list? I understand why you’d want to join when you put it like that.” Skai rolled her eyes. “Why is marriage my only option when I know several people who didn’t get the marriage option. Did you offer marriage only options to kitchen girl? Because you don’t seem to be married.” 

“How do you know it’s not in the cards? It wasn’t in the cards for me and yet I have an incredible husband.” Skai nodded but shook her head at the thought of pushing it back. “We’ve already been trying for a while with no results so, no, pushing it off isn’t going to happen. Even if the prospect of a threesome honeymoon sounds great.”

[gvldntrbl]

-🥀-

"My brother, and only competition to being the realm's heir, just had a kid." Hale paused. "Yeah, I'm the public's favorite and the press' choice for heir, which who could blame 'em? I'm me. But Ma's not declared anything yet. ...What she has done is said I've gotta be thinking big. More macro and less micro when it comes to helping the Forest." Hale cast a look to Skai as they bobbed while lounging on their rivertube due to the ripples of the lake's currents. "Outside of here, you're one of the leaders that I trust the most. Plus, I like you. We get along and hell, you're damned sure easy on the eyes. You and me? We'd be good together. ...Hot as fuck too. Why wouldn't I wanna join your marriage?"

When Skai mentioned Bear's very likely discontent at sharing their marriage, they laughed. "Why do you think I'm asking you and not him? Don't get me wrong, Finn's cool. I like him. I'd go to war for him, if I have to, but I've already told you that you're my favorite Ambrose, Skai." Hale blinked. "Wait a fucking minute. You want me to talk to your husband and your girlfriend? That's bullshit." Their eyes rolled in their sockets. "Since when does Svala have a say in who joins your marriage? You got a say about hers?" Hale volleyed back.

Hale's face scrunched briefly. "Not directly, no. Just thinking. Gotta be wise and keep my options open. Let 'em know I'm interested, if they are. ...Which, for you, sounds like a hell no, at the max. And a straight up no, at the least."

Skai smiled at their words, amused by the sudden mention of marriage. "What's got you thinking about marriage all of a sudden? And marrying me? Yeah I don't think my husband wants to share a marriage. He already shares me with Svala. Then again, I also share him with the fae queen. So I think there's already quite a few people in our marriage." Her nose scrunched in thought. "You would need to ask Svala and Bear about that. I'm spoken for twice. Why? Are you in the market for a wife?"

[gvldntrbl]

-🌺-

"Good," Daphne began, head lowering with another nod of agreement as Skai spoke. "I'm not surprised that you're taking this serious. Giving yourself and your body to get used to the changes it'll go through with pregnancy. You're not one to half-ass anything. I knew you'd take to this the same way." Daphne paused, a light smile on her lips and took one of Skai's hands into hers. She gave it a light squeeze. "It's a compliment, Skai." Daphne assured her before letting go. "No, that's not extreme. Honestly, I wish that all of my pregnant patients could be like you." The former head healer continued taking notes in Skai's chart as the water nymph continued speaking. "Oh yeah, I've not been pregnant myself but I've heard that those cravings are even stronger than menstrual ones. Their intensity are unmatched and are hard to ignore." Daphne sent Skai a look as she chuckled. "Eh, that's not too bad. I've heard of some really interesting cravings. "Do you feel like your body's able to relax more after you satisfy those cravings? Like you're more present to things and people around you afterwards?" She asked her with a curious tilt of her head. Daphne nodded again at the complaint of Skai's swollen ankles. "I have a few masseuse parlors that I can recommend for you too." She noted. "They have nymphs and witches that specialize in moving the water in your body from the most swollen areas. Some form of reductive, non-harmful water re-moving. And they do home visits." Daphne wrote down Skai's choices. "We do have birthing suites that can be reorganized to match a more nature based environment, if you don't want to be directly in nature. For example, we can have you in a birthing pool inside your suite. Bear can join you inside it, if you'd like. We'll still be able to monitor your vitals and administer any medicines to you and Baby Ambrose, if needed inside the pool too. Plus, the temperature's regulated and maintained to your liking throughout the duration of the labor and delivery of the baby." She finished updating her notes in Skai's chart. "Alright, you got it. Any time you want to update or change anything about the plan, let me know. And it'll be done right away, okay?"

Daphne felt the change in Skai's emotions with her. "Okay," She replied, keeping her voice as even and soothing as possible, a hand extending to rest atop of Skai's nearest forearm in wordless support. "It's okay." Daphne's thumb swiped what she hoped were calming motions atop of Skai's skin. "Bear and Robin, I'll add them to that list. And don't worry, I'll do whatever I can to help you all. I swear it." Daphne paused, a partial smile on her face as she regarded Skai. "Can I give you a hug? I promise, I won't bite." There was another short pause. "Not if you don't want me to, that is. At the very least, I won't leave you with a mark." She lightly joked with a gentle smile to Skai. "A pregnant, hormonal, nymph? You're not my first, Skai. Trust me." Daphne nodded again, glad that Skai understood her methodology. "Exactly. That's the goal. Two walk into the birthing suite and the three of you leave. All whole and healthy. That's it." The earth nymph grinned. "And thank you, really, for trusting me with this. I don't know if I've said it aloud yet but I am so honored."

Skai was anxious to hear nothing but good results from this check up. She was glad that was the case. She smiled when Daphne told her to keep up what she was doing. “Well, I took off for the duration of the pregnancy. So I’m mostly focused on eating well, not the best but well, exercising and not stressing. It may sound extreme, but trying was hard enough. I want to be cautious.” She knew not working for the duration of her pregnancy was extremely cautious, but this was important to her, to both of them, and she would help Bear when needed, but for the most part she was out of office until after the baby was born. 

“I’m doing okay. Cravings are another level. Pickles and cheese and sweet and salty combinations are all I want lately. No new pains or aches. The baby started kicking, so that’s a new sensation. Sometimes depending on how hard the kick is there is pain but that’s normal, right?” She looked down at her ankles, which were already getting hard to see below the baby bump. “Yes, my feet and ankles swell. At the risk of not wanting to do anything harmful, I don’t try to transfer the fluid anywhere else.” But she had thought about it. Though her body pregnant held a lot more fluid than it normally did. She read that was normal. “Some of these things I can answer without Bear, but others I want to wait until he’s here. I want it in the Divine Forest. I feel it will be easier with me close to nature. In the healing center yes. I want to be as safe as possible. I want to make sure we’re as successful as possible. We can definitely talk about those other questions but those are the ones I know for sure right now.” 

The question that stirred her emotions was the question of other parties to make decisions for her if Bear isn’t available. She bit the inside of her cheek, but her damn hormones were insistent. “I don’t…there’s only Bear.” The people she’d known the longest weren’t close to her anymore. She wouldn’t dare involve Svala after all she had gone through. Skai didn’t have a big family. She had her husband. “Oh there’s Bear’s daughter. If for some reason Bear isn’t available and I can’t make decisions I trust Robin. She will know what we want.” She angrily swatted at tears that fell without her permission. “Damn hormones. I never know what’s going to set me off.” She sniffled, but nodded. “I think that’s the main goal, successful, safe delivery and a healthy me and baby at the end of this. I wouldn’t trust anyone but a nymph, a Forest nymph with this.” She was sure other healers were fantastic, but she trusted the familiarity of a nymph to deliver the baby.