drakenet | [video]

[video]

[ meanwhile, back at the ranch...

the keijen blade concert was televised, for anyone curious to watch, although many of the failboaters had cautioned (including a sign taped to the TV by kat) to keep it on mute, lest they get brainwashed by blade's voice.

the cameras did not last through the entire thing, but what they did see was... disturbing. at one point, in the giant concert hall, a large glass pane lifted between blade and the audience, as he sang a taunting number, at the end of which, the ceiling split open pouring boiling hot lava onto the hundreds of concert attendees, who were boiled alive. Some might know that they had friends away on that mission, friends who had said they were going to be in the crowd as back-up. The last images broadcast before cuts to a live newcast trying to make sense of what was happening as the cameras melted seemed to confirm the deaths of anyone inside.

The panicked reporters spoke of unusual sightings in the area, a horribly darkening sky above the concert hall. Monsters appearing out of nowhere. Chaos.

Los Angeles is burning.

Feel free to play out text or IC reactions to the broadcast here ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's definitely not a great time for this to be happening. In fact, it might be the absolute worst time, but babies straight up don't give a fuck. So here the Dennis-Gatewood parents-to-be come, Andrew pushing his very pregnant wife into the Light wing in a rolling office chair.]

We're here! [He exclaims, as if everyone already knows what's going on.]

[ ana is already waiting, wiping her hands clean in a basin that she's frantically set up. ] Right over here, I'll help you get on the bed. [ she speaks in as soothing of a tone as she can, but she's not oblivious to what's going on outside these walls either, and the strain is evident ]

[Stress seems to be something following all of them around, which isn't all that shocking given the day's events.

Stress might be what kicked this all off in the first place.

She pushes herself out of the chair, wincing as another contraction conveniently starts, and she reaches out to lean against whoever's closest.]

I tried to wait as long as I could.

[Andrew's going to be attached to her hip so it's a toss up for who is closest. He tries to steady her.]

You've been patient enough with this pregnancy, I think. [He gives her arm a reassuring squeeze, trying to bring a little levity into the situation.]

Just a little while longer now. [ she awkwardly tries to help get bo on the bed, but it's going to be mostly on andrew here tbh ]

[I had her roll a dex and she got like a 19 so she luckily doesn't need a ton of help. What a trooper.]

We've waited this long, right? What's another- [She sucks in a breath, clenches her teeth.] -however....long.

[He makes sure she gets on the bed before letting a little of the tension release from his shoulders.]

How bad is it? The pain. Do you hate me yet? [He's only sort of joking. He turns to Ana.]

Do you need me to to do anything?

Keep talking to your wife. I'll take care of the rest. [ i don't know anything about midwifing ok, she's just gonna... finish getting things prepared over here ] Remember your breathing.

The quickest way to that is to keep asking me that question. Just distract me, k?

[And then she'll take that advice and just try to keep breathing as the pain kicks back into high gear.]

[Distraction would probably be easier if the only other thing on his mind wasn't death and destruction on the other side of the ocean.]

Cat videos?

[They fix everything, right?]

Maybe a more active conversation than just watching something. [ she makes the suggestion gently, but firmly, ffs no andrew lmao ]

Just shut up and hold my hand for a second, okay?

[He doesn't have a choice because she grabs for it and....squeezes (str 16) because this shit hurts.

Time to share her pain, hubby. Hopefully, she doesn't break anything in the process.]

[He lets out a small yelp because he's a very tall man with a very low tolerance for pain. But she told him to shut up and he plans on doing just that.]

[ alright time to make a fort save against the pain as we fast forward some of this stuff. KEEP IT TOGETHER BO, you get a +2 from hubby helping, look at that ]

[She's doing pretty damn good over here, honestly. Apparently crushing poor Andrew's hand really helped? (fort save 22)]

[Andrew is here for all your hand crushing needs. Basically if Bo needs anything, he's here for it.]

[ ana is a little flustered through the process, but she sells it pretty well, managing to be a great comfort as she works with a diplomacy 49. for as long as the pregnancy took, the labor doesn't last particularly long. ana uses her healing powers to alleviate a lot of the pain as she works. ] I see a head!

[Bo takes a couple of breaths, her forehead slick with sweat and her body exhausted in general. She still seems in good spirits, though, probably because Ana is basically the best.

Who needs an epidural when you have a cleric, right?]

Brings new meaning to 'Come to Mama,' doesn't it?

[The joke might fall a little flat considering her voice is strained and she's breathing pretty hard, but after a moment of rest, she feels another contraction coming, and her body instinctively starts pushing again.]

[Andrew appreciates the joke okay. He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze and tries to cheer her on.]

Nearly there, babe. You're doing so good.

I see a few dark hairs. [ she smiles reassuringly up at them, as bo pushes through the last of it, and moments later, there's the sound of a baby's cries as anastacia says in an amazed voice ] It's a beautiful boy! [ here you go mama, one completely non-demonic looking baby ;; ]

[Endless relief floods her at the sound of the baby's cry, and she reaches for her child as Ana hands him over.

She pulls his tiny body against hers, brushing his matted hair with her fingers, taking the time to just stare at him for a moment before looking up at Andrew to catch his reaction.]

[If he was being honest, Andrew had prepared himself for the worst. This pregnancy was clearly not like a typical human's and Bo was foggy on what her heritage would mean for a child. Much like he had learned early on to accept his wife for all of who she was, he had prepared himself to love his son that same way.

So when this beautiful child was placed in Bo's arms, he was shocked by how human the boy looked. He knew better than to think that a lack of wings or horns or fangs meant that his son would be as plain as him. But at least he wouldn't need to worry about catching a flying toddler who didn't want to go to bed.]

He's perfect. [Andrew's whispers as he leans in closer and brushes a fingertip on the child's arm.] Look at how perfect you are.

That he certainly is. [ cleaning up over here and wiping off her hands and smiling so proud ] Does he have a name yet?

[They hadn't fully decided on a name; they'd thrown some around together, trying to find something unique and perhaps a nod to Andrew's heritage.

It didn't help that they didn't know the baby's sex at the time, but now he was born and she was staring at him, and picking a name was somehow easier, pulled from a pool of discussed options to match with his gorgeous face.]

Caeden Rider Dennis-Gatewood.

[She looks back up at Andrew, her expression quizzical but glowing.]

Do you like it?

[And just like that, it's as though the perfect name had been sitting in front of them the whole time. He tears his eyes away from the baby long enough to look at Bo. There are tears shining in his eyes and when he speaks, his voice is strained with emotion.]

Couldn't imagine him being called anything else. [He leans down to press a kiss to Bo's forehead.] You did so good, babe.

[He turns a bit to look at Ana.] And you. You've been here from the start. I can't thank you enough for taking care of my family.

dennis-gatewood baby time

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