#renarinofbridge4

notruin

((“What?” Ati asks. Melody blows a raspberry.))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren blows a raspberry back. “You’re… using the door?”))

notruin

((“Well… yeah. I’m not gonna carry the baby up the building.” Ati walks in. Melody grabs at Ren’s hair as they pass them, not letting go.))

renarinofbridge4

((“Hey,” Ren says, softly trying to get Melody to let go. “Silly baby.”))

notruin

((Melody sees this as a game. They start giggling, pulling at Ren’s hard, but not too hard. Ati watches with a smile on his face.))

renarinofbridge4

((“They’re so strong,” Ren says, still trying to get her to let go.))

notruin

((“Well, they are related to two Vessels, the child of a Vessel, and…whatever Hoid is.” Melody lets go eventually, then starts rubbing the hand that was holding Ren’s hair against their cheek.))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren pets Melody’s chubby baby cheek. “Magic baby?”))

notruin

((Melody /loves/ the pressure of the patting. They giggle happily and lean their head into Ren’s hand. “Dunno,” Ati says, keeping a hold on them so they don’t fall over. “I’m sure they have some kind of Investiture. Don’t know what yet.”))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren is so, so in love with this baby. “You’d better not see the future,” they tell Melody sternly. “It’s not fun.”))

notruin

((Melody doesn’t know what in the world they just said, so their response is to start bouncing and flapping in Ati’s arms.))

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((Ren has to take a moment. Beautiful baby. Too beautiful.))

notruin

((Ati laughs, sitting down and setting Melody in his lap. He keeps a hold on them so they don’t fall off. “They really can’t sit still. It could just be happy baby excitement, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they wind up with ADHD like me.”))

renarinofbridge4

((“Just as long as you don’t climb in windows like your dad.” Renarin considers what’s in the apartment that a baby might like to play with.))

notruin

((Melody gets spit on their chin. Ati has to wipe that up, shaking his head and smiling. “I won’t let them do that.”))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren is genuinely teary looking at Ati and Melody. “Do you want cocoa?”))

notruin

((“I’d say yes, but it’ll be hard to drink cocoa and keep Melody from–” Melody starts stroking one of the pillows with their tiny hand, almost falling right out of Ati’s lap because they had to reach for it. “–that.”))

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((“…I can hold them?” Ren asks shyly.))

notruin

((“Yeah, of course.” Ati kisses the top of Melody’s head. “You be good, okay?” He hands them up to Ren carefully.))

renarinofbridge4

((They’re holding the precious child. Everything is right in the world. Renarin slowly sits down, smiling at Melody. “Hey there.”))

notruin

((Melody starts bouncing and laughing. They grab at Ren’s hand, looking up at them for help. They want the hand.))

renarinofbridge4

((“What is it, silly?” Ren offers the hand, giggling a little back. “Milk’s on the left of the fridge, cocoa’s in the cabinet over the coffeemaker between the wall of tea and the cat food, don’t use the blue mug.”))

notruin

((Ati salutes and goes off to make cocoa. Melody immediately takes Ren’s hand and chomps down, which doesn’t hurt since they have no teeth.))

renarinofbridge4

((“Hands aren’t for eating, silly.” Ren laughs and blows a raspberry.))

notruin

((Melody pulls their mouth off and blows a louder one.))

renarinofbridge4

((Well, obviously Ren has to blow another raspberry.))

notruin

((Melody …. howls. This is what doggo taught them.))

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((Renarin takes a moment. They howl back.))

notruin

((Melody really starts laughing. It sounds funny when Ren does it. They laugh so hard that their little face gets red and they’re smiling ear to ear.))

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((“Oh?” Ren is in tears at how pure Melody is. They howl again for the baby.))

notruin

((Theyre losing it. They’re laughing so hard they start hiccuping. Ati comes back in with the cocoa around then.))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren looks up at Ati. “..Wooo?”))

notruin

((Ati sets the cocoa down and sits down in front of them. “Wooo!” Melody isnt going to stop laughing for awhile. They start flapping at the same time.))

renarinofbridge4

((“Oh!” Ren gasps softly. They’re flapping…))

notruin

((“Lilith keeps teaching them to bark,” Ati says, sipping his cocoa. Melody is still bouncing and flapping.))

renarinofbridge4

((“Are you a dog?” Ren asks them. “Are you a puppy?”))

notruin

((Melody howls again, and Ati almost chokes on his hot chocolate. He loves this baby.))

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((“You are?” Ren laughs. “No, you’re a baby! Baby.”))

notruin

((“Baaaa…! Baa!” says Melody, giving Ren a toothless grin.))

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((“A very smart baby.” Ren smiles at them and turns to Ati. Did he… notice? The flapping?))

notruin

((“Oh, you saw it too,” He says, guessing why Ren has that look. “Yeah, they’ve been doing that a lot. Can’t be sure yet, but…” Ati smiles.))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren takes a moment, then kisses Melody on the forehead.))

notruin

((Melody gasps and hits their own forehead. They look happy.))

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((“Don’t do that, silly,” Ren mutters. They’re really crying now.))

notruin

((“You okay?” Ati asks, patting Ren’s hand. Melody is looking around the room now, as if they just noticed it.))

renarinofbridge4

((“I’m in love,” Ren says softly.))

notruin

((Ati squeezes Melody’s hand. “I think we all are.” Melody yawns. All that flapping and laughing was exhausting.))

renarinofbridge4

((“It /is/ late,” Ren agrees. They give Melody another little kiss, and another.))

notruin

((Melody makes more happy baby noises, but do look like they’re drifting off.))

renarinofbridge4

((“What should I do?” Ren asks, looking up at Ati. They’re still crying.))

notruin

((Ati laughs and takes Melody, cradling them in his arms. “I’ve got them, dont worry.”))

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((Ren wipes their face off. “Sorry.”))

notruin

((“It’s okay. They are that cute.” Ati smiles and stands up. “I should probably get them home, though. They’re gonna cry if they dont get their bear and crib.”))

renarinofbridge4

((“I hope the cocoa was good.”))

notruin

((“It’s always good.” Ati grins and leans down to kiss the top of their head. “I’ll bring them back to visit soon.”))

renarinofbridge4

((“Are you all right?” That was why they asked him over. Not to cry over this baby.))

notruin

((Ati nods. “Yeah, I’m fine.”))

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((“You’re sure.”))

notruin

((“Positive.”))

renarinofbridge4

((“…I love you.”))

notruin

((Ati smiles at them, leaning down to give them the best hug he can with a baby in his arms. “I love you too.”))

renarinofbridge4

((Ren gives Ati and Melody both cheek kisses.))

notruin

((Ati gives them a kiss back, and Melody is too sleepy to really notice what’s happening.))

renarinofbridge4

((“Thank you.”))

notruin

((“Of course,” Ati says, smiling and waving. “We’ll see you again soon.”))

renarinofbridge4

gavilarkholin He’s had his phone the entire time

renarinofbridge4 He’s in prison. He’s not supposed to have his phone. It’s illegal.

gavilarkholin He’s Sadeas. He most likely paid someone for the privilege.

renarinofbridge4 It remains illegal.

gavilarkholin You’re correct. He doesn’t seem to care about following the law, though.