「 hope, part ii 」 — open, baby

[HAYLEY]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: calibri; font-size: 8pt; color: #484848; word-spacing: 4px; line-height: 22px;"]

---

☁  hayley had left at dawn.

she was supposed to just be going down to the village for an hour to get some things for dinner, but it wasn't until well past sunset that the front doors of the lodge swung open and hayley walked in, clearly pained but determined to do it herself. rather than holding dinner in her arms, there was a small newborn staring blindly up at her mother's face. the npc who'd helped her with the delivery, jared, entered behind her, but immediately headed for the washroom to clean himself up.

the exhaustion was clear on her face, but she held herself up with a clear determination, not saying a word as she moved to the couch to sit down. after a long minute, staring at the fire, she cleared her throat.

❝she's two months early, but she's alive.❞ she said quietly, before letting tired eyes travel down to her child within her arms, who stared back up at her with vibrant baby blues. ❝her name's hope.❞

---

[ a continuation from the oneshot here. ]

[Gray]

[align=center]

GRAYSON HANSON
Sixteen & Trans Male & Residing in Flintlock Lodge
❝and ever since seventh grade i learned to fire-breathe❞

It was around four-ish when Gray brought in his haul to the kitchen, a little while before the darkness crept in. The few people that were lingering in there all seemed concerned, and when he asked what the problem was they told him that Hayley was supposed to be back by then. He'd nearly marched right back out to try and find her, but one of the staff insisted he stay and not risk himself too. She said that Hayley was probably just staying in the village, that coming down the mountain would have been taxing enough and perhaps coming back up was just too much for one day.

What Gray wanted to know is why Hayley, seven months pregnant, had been the one that went down to the village for supplies.

Back in his old village, his mom would frequently help new mothers with their children, and she'd also bring him along. She said it'd be good for him to start learning all of this young, that it was good experience for what he was older. He always hated it and wished he could do something else instead. That was about the extent of his experience with babies, and he wasn't too keen on getting any more any time soon.

When he saw her come in with a little bundle in his arms, he didn't think that she'd given birth. It was early, so early, that had to be something else. He followed her into the common room, not saying anything just yet because he didn't want to overwhelm her. She looked exhausted, and just before she spoke he realized that she was holding a baby. He inhaled sharply, gaze snapping up to the new mother's weary face. "Jesus." He breathed, pushing a hand through his hair. "Do you need anything? Does she need anything?"

[spoiler=MY CHILDHOOD SPAT BACK OUT THE MONSTER THAT YOU SEE | 12/08]General — biograhpy
▪ Grayson Hanson | Gray | Formerly Aria Rivendare
▪ Masculine presenting | Identifies as male | He/Him | DFAB
[size=7pt]— Almost impossible to tell his birth gender (get Pyre's permission before having y/c know)
▪ 16 years, 10 months | 2/6/22 | Ages primarily real time
▪ Member of the Moorland Riders | Residing in Flintlock Lodge | Ex-Ranger of the Flintlock Lodge

Physical — reference
♦ HUMAN | Health: 100%
— Gray is about medium height at 5'6", and very thin and lanky. He has gray eyes, and off-black hair cropped into an undercut, which has recently been cut a bit closer to the scalp than normal. Under his left eye he has a beauty mark, and there are a few scars on his medium-brown skin, and there are more under the slate gray bandanna, hoodies and jeans the gangly teen tends to wear. There are three pierces in his right ear, two in his lobe and one in the cartilage.
— minor injuries: n/a
— major injuries: n/a

Important Info — roleplayer
▪ In no way shows that he was born female, does everything possible to hide it (such as binding) and wears clothes meant for men. Without him stripping, it's pretty much impossible to tell that he isn't biologically male.
▪ Low-key history nut.
▪ Nearsighted.
▪ Has a blue pit bull puppy named Brianna.
▪ Opinions and motivations are Gray's and Gray's alone and are not shared by his roleplayer.

Personality — personality type
— DETAILED IS STILL A BIG WIP
— Articulate; contemplative; efficient; driven; incisive; intelligent; meticulous; orderly; perceptive; practical; rational; self-sufficient; shrewd; vigilant; witty, enigmatic; frank; neutral; placid; private; stoic, abrupt; aloof; assertive; blunt; calculating; coarse; critical; cynical; distrusting; judgmental; opinionated; pedantic; sarcastic; self-serving; unreliable; vindictive

Relationships — heartchart
▪ Val x Summer Rivendare | Adopted by Diana Hanson
▪ Pansexual | Panromantic | Monogamous
▪ Single | One crush
▪ ½ Graux | ½ Torrson
▪ Generally puts on a friendly front and cares for those around him, but still holds them at arms' length and is very hard to get close to. Very awkward when flirted with and doesn't really like it, but becomes quite flirty when drunk

Interaction — plotting thread
— Medium Physically | Hard mentally
— Still in training
— Prefers to fight with a machete, but can go hand-to-hand
— No kill/capture/maim without permission
— To attack, [member=2027]Gray[/member] and attack in underlined #708090
[/spoiler][/size]

[Shiloh !]

Shiloh gasped and watched from the distance. She had no idea how to act around babies, however she really wished to get a closer look. "I've....never seen one....in real life." She managed to say.

[HAYLEY]

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: calibri; font-size: 8pt; color: #484848; word-spacing: 4px; line-height: 22px;"]

---

☁  she was exhausted. after the baby was born she'd gotten a few hours rest, with jared watching over her and hope to ensure the newborn stayed curled up on her chest, but this exhaustion was less than physical. her daughter, the one she'd dared to almost be excited for despite never really planning on her, was toeing the line between life and death. born too soon, too small, too thin. staring down at her little form, tiny fists tight and wide eyes gazing unseeing at the world, hayley suddenly wished she'd done more. been prepared sooner, ate larger portions, did something more. her heart was weighing heavy with the worry for her child, and she was determined to do whatever she had to for the infants well being.

❝did everyone eat dinner?❞ she directed the question at gray when he posed it, clearly concerned for the wellbeing of the residents, more worried about everyone having food in their bellies then her own predicament.

shiloh and brendan approached the gathering of people, both commenting on hope, and hayley's eyes shifted down to the baby once more, smiling just a bit at the wide eyed, toothless infant, smoothing her fingers down the small wisps of hair on her head. ❝she's supposed to be a lot bigger, but she'll get there,❞ she mused, more to satiate herself than the others. ❝but i'm thinking she'll be doing it on her own schedule. she came in on her own time, and i don't think she'll be letting anyone tell her to stay little or big. or do anything.❞ once more, her words were more for herself and the infant, though they were directed to the group around her.

---

[Shiloh !]

She still stayed staring silently. Hayley's words glossed over her head and were left unheard as her head was already full of thoughts on growing and evoloving from such a small being such as Hope. She didn't understand any of it, but she didn't feel the need to. "Can I...touch her?"

[TOMMY]

Babies, small children... Tommy couldn't say that he was well-acquainted with them. He had younger siblings, yes, but they were all within a relatively similar age-range. He hadn't much experience with them at all. That was one of the main reasons why he never wanted to have any kids, because he would raise them just as shittily as his own step-father did. Tommy knew that he didn't have the time or patience for a child.

Tommy would not move from his spot from around the corner, where it was unlikely to catch a glimpse of him when all of the current focus was on Hayley. He watched with observant eyes, his lips slightly parted as he glued his sight to the small bundle. Maybe he would late run into Hayley and get a chance to congratulate her, but right now, he felt unusually... overwhelmed. Maybe it was the crowd, maybe it was the sight of the newborn herself, maybe it was just everything.

The man looked on quietly for a few more moments before slipping away.