2022-05-02 - Smurfette's Trauma

(TXT to Deacon) Ava : Hey, we need to move dinner tonight to my place, FYI. I'll order in!

Things have been ordered! Which is good. The table has even been set for when the food arrives. There are candles on the table and around the room. Ava has even dressed up for the date, even though it's in her own place. A flowy purple dress with sharp black heels. How she actually managed to dress up and get anything done today is an actual miracle.

Why? That could have something to do with the sounds that probably strike Deacon's ear the second he gets up to the door. Is that crying? That doesn't sound like Ava, not at all. Because Ava is the one shush softly through the door and quietly pleading. "You were supposed to be asleep by now, little bean. Why won't you sleep? You slept earlier. Don't tell me your kind is nocturnal. Oh god."

He knocks before opening the door. Presumably she knows he's coming so she left it unlocked. Though if not he will wait. Still, when he enters, there is clearly an Ava, and a baby. He did not dress up as much today as Ava did. A simple solid colored white t-shirt and a pair of nice jeans with some of those typical hiking boots he wears. Still, everything is clean and nice and he tends to keep his clothes in rather good condition. It's probably cause during the week he's dressed as a detective. Glancing over though, between Ava, and the baby, then back to Ava, he says, "I mean, I'm not opposed to kids some day but i feel like you and I skipped a few steps?"

Yup, welcome back to funny Deacon. At least, HE thinks as much. He makes his way over to her, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth so as not ot muss up that very pretty lipstick before he looks to her. "Well you look stellar. Just saying." His eyes definitely drop to the dress, then back up to her, hair all done, everything clearly just so. "Need some help?"

Ava looks up as the door opens. So too do the big, impossibly blue eyes of the ...baby? That's not a normal baby. That's a sky-tiger-striped with little webbed toesies kind of baby. The crying stops for a moment as the baby stares at Deacon. "Hilarious," she offers in a tired voice. "I accidentally grew her in my garden." Because that's a one hundred percent normal thing to say, right? "The greenhouse garden." With the highly experimental Veil fruits. "I found her this morning." Those big eyes of hers stay on Deacon.

As he walks over, she leans against him. "Help? Do you know how to get a Veil pod baby to go to sleep? I can't tell what's wrong with her."

"You grew a baby?" He cants his head and asks, "Is garden a metaphor here or do you mean your real garden?" Just to clarify, his gaze drops towards Ava's more intimate areas and then back up, a little brow waggle. He's familiar with the faeries that seem to have taken over her back yard and he says, "Sometimes it's just about being bigger and warmer. Let me try holding him for a bit," he says. Holding out his hands as the baby stops crying long enough to look at him, he lifts the little thing up and he grins. "You're not going to turn me into a mushroom are you? No you're not...not my little cutesie fae baby..." he says in a soft voice.

And then he starts to whistle. Before he sings in a quiet little voice. It's an old Irish lullaby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhVIMAiKZ-A Not that he's a great singer but he's not singing loudly...just for the rhytm, and the pace, and the softly spoken words. He winks over to Ava as he tries, at least....

"Not a metaphor. I mean she was literally inside a pod. I went into the Greenhouse, the pod was there with Kitty Pryde, Ravn's cat just staring at it. I opened the pod, and there was a baby. She's only a couple weeks old as far as I can tell. Loves the water, which I figured from the webs and the coloring. But yeah, I um-- this was the highly experimental fruit I was working on. I mixed the Veil fig with Cryptid blood that I made into fertilizer. Yesterday was Beltane, so I might have left a nice offering for the Faeries as a thank you for taking care of the garden." Ava gently hands the baby towards Deacon. "I think it all kind of mixed up into one big TADA that equaled-- baby."

Her exhausted look fades into a smile as his voice softens. "I don't have a name for her yet. Nothing's come to me. I've just been calling her little bean, so far. Because of the pod." She goes quiet for the song, leaning against the couch to watch him and the baby. Little arms and legs squirm a bit before she starts to settle into his chest to listen. Deacon's wink earns an adoring smile in return.

He continues the song for a bit, even starting it over. He has a feeling Ava wn't mind if it means that she gets to rest and he can keep the little bean happy. Still though, he hears about the experiment and there's a little bit of a frown. Not much, but a little bit. As he looks to the baby though he lets it go for the time being. "Shalott..." he says. "If she likes water then she can be the Lady of the Lake. Maybe even be able to chase away the lake monster some day," he says simply as he looks to her, smiling a bit. "Aren't you going to cause all the stir in school. Yes you are," he whispers quietly, just bouncing gently, rocking back and forth, turning and swaying just a little, keeping gentle motions to keep the baby soothed and calm so that hopefully she drifts to sleep.

As the baby at least seems to settle in to his chest, likely hearing the heratbeat and snuggling into his warmth, Deacon says, "That's a dangerous little experiment. What if you had gotten something...not a baby," he says simply. "Have you asked the current occupants of the garden if they will take her? Because it's going to be tough to explain why your baby looks like Tony the Tiger raped Smurfette."

"Shalott. Mm. Vivien, or Nimue for that matter. All Lady of the Lake names. I like those all." Ava watches still, her smile growing as he rocks and sways the baby, and she fights to keep her eyes open. A losing battle as those dark dark lashes are obvious becoming so very heavy. "She needs to stay away from the lake monster though!" Ava insists with sudden concern. That thing is dangerous. A sheepish look sweeps over Ava's face as she shrugs. "The points was to get something not a baby," she insists. "The figs are supposed to bloom Veil Creatures." She might have left that out before so he wasn't concerned for her safety. Whoops.

"I'm trying to put together a Bestiary." By growing her own beasts, apparently. "I wanted to see if I could grow my own Cryptid by adding it's blood to the fruit." She looks at the baby again. "Instead, baby bean. Which could end up being a one of a kind baby bean, similar to a Cryptid, in that she's the only one of her kind." There's a huff of breath. "I talked to some folks, we're thinking of trying to go into the Veil and see who we can talk to about information on her. Until I have more information, I don't know what I'll do."

Her eyes narrow faintly. "Why's it gotta be rape? Couldn't they have had a consensual love affair? You don't know their love."

He smiles as her eyes start to close and he keeps rocking gently and he says, simply, regarding the lake, "I didn't mean next week, Ava. Down the road...when either we've dealt with it or when she's strong enough to help." He relaxes though as he smiles down at the little bean, and as Ava brings up other names for the Lady of the Lake, he just laughs. She has his attention. "I did not realize you were familiar with Tennyson so thoroughly, m'Lady." There's that smile again as he walks over with the baby, gesturing with his head for Ava to move. "Where should I lay her down?"

Though her comment does almost draw a laugh if he weren't trying so hard to be quiet. "Back to the Veil. You realize there' sa reason people can't just go there at will, all whenever they want to. There's reasons why there is limited access and only so many points to cross. We're not supposed to go there like we're going secret shopping at Walmart, Ava." THere's a little edge in his tone, though he's not yelling. HE isn't even raising his voice. It's easily recognized as being protective of the Veil's version of Dora the Explorer. "And shush. Smurfette is too traumatized from Azrael to ever be able to hold down a real relationship with Tony. Everyone knows that."

Ava gestures for Deacon to follow her upstairs and then guides him up. He knows the house has a few rooms. Hers is the master, Mikaere is staying in one of the rooms until his boat is fixed, and then the closest room to hers has apparently, as of today, been turned into a makeshift nursery. There are boxes scattered everywhere and a few pieces of furniture have already been assembled. A bassinet sits in the center of the room, frilly and white, brand new. "I read a lot as a kid. Lots of fantasy. You don't think poems having to do with Camelot and Ladies of the Lake were a part of that?" Ava scoffs quietly.

"You and I aren't able to go into the Veil whenever we want. That doesn't mean nobody can, Deacon. Ravn's going to take us. Folks like him and Itz are perfectly capable of opening doors in and out of the Veil. That doesn't mean it likes us being in there. But it doesn't mean we can't get there." Which isn't as reassuring sound as she's hoped it would be. It's obvious in the way her face screws up after she says it."

"Hey now. There's nothing that says you have to be in a relationship to have feelings for someone. You leave Smurfette's complicated emotions alone!"

Up the stairs. He is fine to follow, settling the baby down easily enough, laying her on her stomach as he sets the little thing in and makes sure the swaddling is all done u pright. Apparently he's had some experience as a detective with babies. Not all parents are good parents, unfortunately. He looks to the boxes and just shakes his head. "So when Shalott goes back to her people, or new family, whoever they may be, you just going to keep this in here in case you decide to water the garden and grow another baby?"

There is definitely something in his tone there that hints she REALLY oughtn't do that in his opinion but he makes sure the baby monitor is on and leads the way back out in the hall, his hand resting at Ava's hip to only gently guide her, plus it lets him feel the dress she has on and admire it so. "You really do look amazing," he adds, changing gears for a moment away from all the dark and foreboding. "I am glad you're willing to risk all that you do but it doesn't always have to be you. That's all I'm saying," he says, maybe not knowing all the things others are doing and/or having spent enough time with her on the OTHER side of the Veil that it feels like it's too much already by comparison to anyone else he's gone with. Which...by the way...would be no one.

"Smurfette getting with Tony the Tiger would clearly be signs of a toxic relationship. Her feelings wouldn't matter in this case cause she's merely reliving the cycle of abuse with a bigger, badder, far more famous kitty. Next thing you know she'll be going after the lions from Sigfried and Roy."

Ava watches him with a soft smile as he does all the tucking. "I don't know how long she'll be here for. Technically she's mine, isn't she? I grew her. Until I find out more information, and I know what's best for her, I have to treat her that way. But I don't think the garden can grow another baby. Her plant was the only one with that fertilizer. Cryptid blood isn't exactly something you just get your hands on, you know? Or a faerie blessing on Beltane, a day of fertility. Mixed with Veil Figs." Ava blows out a breath. "She's a once in a lifetime kind of thing, I think." The lights go out, but the room isn't dark. There's a small lamp that lightly illuminates around the crib, keeping the baby out of darkness completely.

Clearly Ava's concern over completely darkness is still a thing and it extends out towards the baby.

"I'm leaning towards Nimue," she laughs, leaning into his arm. "This time, I think it does have to be me. Since this one is kind of my fault." There's a smile at his compliment, and she pauses in the hallway at the top of the stairs to tug at his shirt to draw him down for a kiss. "Thank you for helping me with that. It was very sweet." Talk of Smurfette is forgotten for a moment as she tugs him in for a actual kiss, having not had a chance yet.

As the baby is settled and Ava explains, he just shakes his head. "Only you," he says with another grin as they head outside. Indeed a once of a lifetime thing and yet now, there's a new life for this lifetime up in the crib. And it's blue (da boo de da boo da, da boo dee da boo da).

He follows her to the top of the stairs and doesn' thave to be pulled hard for the kiss. Not with the stunning doctor having gone a bit extra today, clearly having put together an outfit meant to make her feel like a million dollars. Like a movie star. His hands slide warmly about her back, keeping her pulled in close and he gladly returns the kiss before leaning back, a bit, to brush his nose to her own before whispering. "We should watch the door downstairs to make sure the delivery driver doesn't ring the bell and wake her. Come on," he says before turning back to the stairs and whispering, "Good night Shalott." Apparently he's giong to fight her over this Nimue thing, even if that name absolutely fits.

He's stubborn. Walking down the stairs he asks, "So besides playing God, what else is going on this week?"

"Only me," Ava agrees, though her tone is far more exasperated than his is. "Hopefully that doesn't change your thoughts on wanting to date me." It's said laughingly, but there may be a hint of fear in there, too. All the sudden Dreams, and blue babies, and Haggleford stuff he's suddenly having to deal with in the time span of less than a month of dating is a lot to deal with. She can recognize that.

The kiss helps sooth some of that away, and she's smiling by the time his nose bumps hers. Those eyes widen at the mention of the doorbell, however. "Oh god." Heeled feet are suddenly hurrying quickly down the stairs and flinging the door open so that it's just the screen. This way they can hear the car pulling up when it comes. "I'm going to be one of those people with the signs on their doors saying that if you wake the baby, I'm going to kill you, aren't I?" she moans.

There's a huff and she turns back around, purple dress spinning lightly. "Oh, there was a barbeque for Beltane. Una made Geoduck cookies that are filled with white cream. Basically they just looked like dicks. I made sure to save you one," she grins.

Deacon doesn't run. He descends the stairs slowly, watching Ava as she makes her way towards the door, running like Cinderella. The only thing missing is the glass slipper for him to pick up as her dress swirls about her in a flash of purple fabric. He grins though as she opens the door and now they can hear outside. "What did you order anyway?"

Not that it matters. He'll eat it. "Geoduck cookies? What is a Geoduck? Is it anything at all close to chocolate chip?" It probably is nothing like it, but Deacon has no idea whether or not you hunt Geoduck or what it is. He does walk over near the door though to stand beside Ava, his smile obvious. "My job is to serve and protect right? I can serve and protect you in the day and in dreams. Or at least do my best. Though I will say you are a menace," though there's teasing humour in his voice in that last statement as he looks back to her now.

"I got Italian. Ordered a few things. Figured it'd be good to have leftovers, since I figured things might be hectic for me the next few days." Her eyes glances up the stairs for a second. Ava looks back to him with a flicker of amusement. "What's a geoduck? You live here! It's a big clam that looks like a dick." She takes out her phone and scrolls for a moment, going to google to find him a good picture. "There you go. Geoduck." That's horrifying.

There's a little hip bump at his sweet comment causes her cheeks to flush slightly. "You might be too good for me, I think. That was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me." Her head rests against his shoulder. "But you're right. I'm absolutely a menace." No argument there.

She can almost hear his stomach growl as she mentions the Italian food. "Garlic bread?" He looks hopeful. Fortunately, neither the fact she keeps getting him into weird life-threatening situations nor the fact that she may not have gotten him garlic bread are reasons that they will have to break up. "Oh, right," he says. "Clam penis. I forgot about that. Imagine if it were crab penis. People would be running to get vaccines and antibiotics but a clam penis, well, that's just...ducky."

He grins, cheekily, clearly pleased with himself. As he rests there and she leans against him, he laughs loudly, the sound carrying out to the street even. "Yes, yes you are and I am glad we agree," he says but hands slip about her waist and he leays quietly against the wall, holding Ava against him as he stands there. That is even with his stomach rumbling just a bit.

"So other than you grew a baby in a plant, anything else going on?" As if anything could follow that...

"Of course garlic bread. What am I, a heathen?" Ava scoffs a little bit at that. The phone gets put back away so that she can tuck herself closer to Deacon as he wraps her arms around her waist. She shakes her head at the terrible joke. "You're the worst," is laughs softly. "Crab penis sounds way worse than clam penis. The fact that people would eat both or either is so gross to me that I can't really even fathom it, to be honest."

"Other than the baby in the plant? You want me to follow that news with other stuff?" There's a look of exasperation. She hmms. "I have Nicassia and Myles checking on mundane background information on Haggleford. Well, they're doing it themselves, but I gave them what information I could to try to help. My neighbor Jules learned how to fight from a talking cougar in the woods recently.

"You could be. I mean you consort with beings that kidnap people. You grow babies on trees. I don't know what your religion is. Not much about you screams Italian so...it stands to reason it is good I do not assume on these things."

He seems to be fairly smug and proud of himself as he grins, looking over as his brow raises just slightly. "Well that's fine, the mundane stuff. Could you back up again though and fill me in on the talking cougar? And who is your friend and why are they learning to fight?" Yeah, see, this is all quite a lot to take in on the heels of little blue peapod baby. He just shakes his head and folds his arms, almost like a father questioning his daughter when he realizes he hasn't gotten the full story yet. Though it seems in this case Ava is a library of things going on, not just one story.

"I don't have a religion, if it makes you feel any better. I feel like things just kind of are. It feels silly to believe in a God when things are the way they are here, if you get what I mean." Ava lifts a hand to smooth fingers over his brow, laughing softly.

"It was a spirit quest, I think. The talking cougar teaching her to fight. She's Native. It was a journey for her to find something of herself if I understand correctly. That's a part of why she won't let me heal the wounds, only treat them. They're a part of her now. I'm not sure why she wants to learn to fight, but I'm sure she has her reasons. Don't we all? I'm not much of a fighter myself. But I have ways of cheating around all of that.

He doesn't continue with the religious talk, just nods his head as Ava explains her thoughts on the matter. "Spirit quest." He lets it hang there for a moment, before just chuckling again, nodding his head. "Yup, makes sense." He sighs as he wraps his arms about Ava's waist and gently pulls her in, letting out a slow exhale. He enjoys that quiet embrace, watching the outside while listening to the inside, glad to see no car yet, as well as no crying to disturb the time he has with Ava just yet.

"You do realize there are times where this all just seems...like it's some silly video game or Netflix show. Like...whoever making this stuff up is a former Grimm or Smallville writer. The fact this is our real day to day is quite a trip at times. But yes, you have developed your skills for cheating," he adds with a smirk. "Though next time I need my coffee warmed I'm coming to you."

Ava reaches up to take his face in her hands, drawing it down towards hers so that she can kiss him softly. It only lasts a couple of seconds before she's chuckling. "Mmm. I could see this as a Netflix show. It'd probably be a really good one, too. Great ratings thanks to all of our trauma. Lots of sexy people, too. So many sexy people." So many.

"Oh, ho. Is that what I'm good for, hm? Warming up your coffee? There are other things of yours I would much rather be warming, thank you very much. Like your heart, and your bed." Lashes give an adorable little flutter at the cheesiness she's displaying. Her fingertips toy at the edges of his smirk before she sees the lights of a car starting to approach. "Speaking of cheating." That's not a good way to start a sentence. "Or not cheating, rather. Have you ever, uh, have you always..." the car pulls to a stop, her eyes watching to and flickering back to him. "Have you always been the monogamous sort?"

"It would only get such good ratings because of the strong, beautiful female lead," he says, giving all the flattery after the kiss, one he gladly returns and lingers there with, a few moments of silence after as he leans back then. "Not all. I imagine you make a wicked smore...and are great on camping trips when it's cold or rainy and it's hard to start a fire cause the wood is damp. You most definitely have multiple purposes." As she mentions warming the bed though he laughs a bit more now, "Well, then there's that. I am a bit of a fan of that as well."

At her question though, seeing the lights as well then looking back to Ava. "Well it's a good thing THAT isn't right out of left field or anything." There's a little shake of his head. "To be fair, keeping one woman satisfied is enough of a challenge. I've never felt the need to have more than that, no. Maybe if I'm ever a Powerball winner then I could consider it but until then, most of my time goes to solving crimes, not keeping more than one woman happy."

"It's so cute that you think I'd be the lead! I don't know about that, but you are the absolutely sweetest, you know that?" Of course, then Ava is learning about her multiple purses, laughing. "Well, it's a little tough to control the fire output. It tends to be a big ass fireball that would risk burning down the park, or a little tiny thing. But I could sure try!" The food delivery is coming up the steps, and Ava pauses for a moment to sign the bill and grab the bags. Two are handed to Deacon while she grabs the third and gives a cash tip to the drivers. "Thank you."

With that, she waves the man off and finally closes the door. "Sorry. There's not really a non-left field for that question to come from, is there?" Her cheeks are a little rosy as she says that, leading the way over to the table as she settles the bag on top with a thoughtful look.

Deacon looks amused as he sets the bag down, starting to go about unpacking and placing them about. He is careful to make sure anything dessert-like gets put in the fridge if it should be. Those who know him know the first part of the menu he looks at is the dessert section. He's obviously fit enough that he doesn't order it all the time, but he definitely checks what is there. So as the food is unpacked he makes sure to protect anything that might be of a sweet or a dessert-like nature.

"Nope, you're not wrong. You ask that one and it's going to draw a bit of surprise," he teases before looking over to Ava. "I imagine there's an important 'why did you ask' that I should be asking so you can tell me what is running through your pretty little head."

Cannoli and cheesecake have been discovered, set aside and placed into the fridge by Deacon. You can't have dinner without proper dessert after all. While he's doing that, she's getting all the food set out. Penne alla vodka is tugged out, followed by some classic lasagna. "I guess. But considering your answer, I don't really know if you want to know what's running through my head," Ava offers honestly with a half smile in his direction. "I'm very big on honestly, especially in a relationship. I just don't want honesty to ruin ours."

To that, Deacon comes over and he steps up behind Ava. His arms slip about her waist and he just pulls her in a moment while standing behind her. "Ava..." he says with a chuckle. "Honesty is not going to ruin any relationship. Philosophical differences? Maybe. Differences of opinion? Irreconcilable differences? I suppose those can possibly all be a reason but honesty is rarely, if ever, going to be the reason a relationship is ruined."

He turns her around after pressing a kiss to one of her lovely, exposed shoulders and then he waits, looking to her as he holds Ava's gaze. "Come on you. What's going through your mind? You're not going to ask me to help make future blue babies are you?"

Leaning back against him, Ava smiles softly, nestling back into those arms. "I do love how you think, you know that? I am a sucker for honesty." Her eyes flicker towards the wall as she thinks. "It's that other stuff you're talking about that has me a little worried." She turns easily and settles against his hips, hands lifting to rest on those toned shoulders of his. Such pretty blue eyes are so hard to gaze into and not just spill your soul to. Perhaps that's why he's such a great cop.

"Hah. I wasn't trying to make the first blue baby! I'm certainly not trying to make more of them." That bottom lip is nibbled for a moment before Ava sighs. "Okay. I don't have enough wine in me for this, though. I-- I had been hoping you were polyamorous. Or at least curious about it. Because -I- am. I like more, but don't want it to make you feel like I don't enjoy us. Because I do."

Deacon's smile is warm as she leans against him and he nods. "Well I get that you're not going to agree with me all the time. I mean everyone else can't be right all the time if I already am. It's a full time job, and only one person can do it," he adds with that little bit of a grin that shows he is joking...probably. It is at least 85% a joke, for sure. As Ava explains what's on her mind though, there's just the hint of a Spock-like brow raise as he looks back to the doctor now. "Aha..." he adds. "Or is it Ah-va...." he teases, playing on her name before he thinks for a moment. "Well I can't say that was what I thought we'd end up talking about today. You're full of surprises. Blue beanie babies...oh my God - you literally made a beanie baby. Sorry...sidetracked. Talking warrior cats...and now this."

He seems to be stalling though, processing through the humor as he kisses Ava's cheek once more and then moves to pull out a chair so they can sit and eat. "I mean...the easy answer is no I'm not but I assume you're asking for a reason then?"

Ava shakes her head, leaning in to kiss his nose as he takes to joking like that. Sure, she's used to the humor. But how much of it is stalling and how much of it is masking actual emotion at the moment? That's what she's trying to sort out right now. "My life makes it pretty easy to get sidetracked with a lot of things. So trust me, I understand." Pulling away from him, she settles into the chair with a deep breath and reaches for some of the food, dishing it out onto her plate.

"Well, the reason is fairly plain in the statement of what I am. Including you I've only had four relationships in my life. Two of them were at the same time, back in med school. One was in high school, and now one with you. I'm not great at them, maybe because I've had so few. Or because I tend to want more than one at once, maybe? I guess I was hoping if you had a little of it in you, too, that you might understand."

"Well..." he nods, as he starts to serve first Ava after she settled and then he starts to serve both plates. "Well...I suppose this is something we will have to talk about then. See what...I'm okay with and then see if that's enough for you. Sounds a bit complicated. I'm usually a more simple guy but if we can keep my life easy and keep you happy...well then...that may not be the worst trade."

And so the pair settle down to chat over dinner...and dessert...and maybe some coffee...and then some more time alone before sleep, Deacon taking the chance to sleep in Ava's far more comfortable bed than his own. And don't get him wrong, his bed is plenty comfortable but Ava's is even moreso...mostly because it has her in it.