The Domestic Meme

[considers]

RULES! ❧ Leave a comment with your character's name, fandom, and any preferences you have. ❧ When replying, RNG for a number between 1 and 15. The number corresponds to the scenario that you will play out in whatever way you want to. ❧ Go from there!

THE LIST! 01] baby Suddenly, there's a new addition to your family! Are you expecting? Adopting? Struggling to find the perfect name for your child? Or maybe you're up at a ridiculous hour in the morning because they're crying like crazy. 02] just married Congratulations! You and your loved (?) one are about to start a whole new life together! It's time for the honeymoon... 03] house hunting Are you seeking out an apartment? A dream house? Or just any old place, as long as you're with your other? Make sure to weigh your options very carefully... 04] household chores It's time to clean/cook/garden/take care of something! Do you work together, or does one of you hide until everything is done? 05] shopping Whether it's for furniture, groceries, or something in between, shopping is something that everybody must do at some point in time! What varies is if they like it or not. 06] family vacation WE'RE OFF TO DIDNEY WOOOOOOOOORL or wherever ... well, as long as the kids are happy, right...? You may not be happy (or maybe you are), but it's mainly about ~family bonding~. 07] romantic retreat It's you and your loved one's anniversary, and you decide it's time to take some time off and take them somewhere nice, where you only have each other. 08] comfort Is somebody sick in bed? Or perhaps they just had a bad day? Sometimes, a good breakfast in bed or a home-cooked meal can really lift the spirits! Or perhaps you want to try medicine, or laughter, or something else? 09] pet Suddenly, you have another addition to the family! Is it a puppy? A kitty? A fierce dragon? Whatever it is, make sure to give it a name and to take good care of it! 10] holiday Happy birthday/New Years/Christmas/Valentine's Day/whatever! It's a very special day that only comes once a year, so make it count! 11] argument Oh, no, who left the stove on... Or maybe it's about why they were out late last night? Either way, there is a lot of tension today, and one of you may or may not be sleeping on the couch tonight. 12] making up It's time to make amends for that fight/divorce/whatever you had before! After all, you love each other... right? 13] surprise, surprise You are feeling rather loving tonight, so you want to remind the other person how much you cherish and appreciate them... if it's by something cute and adorable or hot and sexy is completely up to you. 14] proposal SHUT UP THIS TOTALLY FITS You've been with your other for what feels like forever, and finally you want to tie the knot with them. Will you go down on one knee before them, or get a little creative? 15] other I know I'm forgetting like a bajillion and one different things here, so this is the option for that!

Comments

[charmaign]

[He, after those long years of starvation and deprivation in the coffin, lost faith that they would ever leave here, let alone to something better. He knew they were at mercy and whim more powerful than their own, so powerful, in fact, that it evicted him from the daydreams of their future he had often sought refuge in during the most difficult times.

He was worn out. Tired. Cared little for what he used to and the worst was he knew that and feared Fletcher would turn from the lack if spark in him.

The thought itself was silly but he no longer had it in him to care. ]

You smell of hounds. [ In another time, he would have been excited for the lure of a gift.]

[longanimous]

[This is what troubles Fletcher the most. This isn't the man he's come to know over the course of two centuries. This is barely a shadow among shadows.

He sets the basket on the bed, letting Char feel the solid weight of it against his leg, its contents still under the force of Fletcher's will.]

Perhaps not hounds... open it.

[charmaign]

[ He can feel the movement, feel the life within and it piques his curiosity, along with Fletcher's expectation of Char opening the basket. So he does, a smile of delight playing at one corner of his mouth as the creatures inside- warm and alive- come spilling out in a haphazardly eager pile of ears and too large paws.]

Fletcher- [ He starts but stops to pick up a particularly plump black pup, letting the creature excitedly lick his face ] Why? And so many- but now they're trapped here, too. [ But he doesn't sound sad, rather, faintly happy. ] We shall take care of you, we are all you have.

[longanimous]

[It's the first time he's seen Char smile in what feels like far too long and makes everything he had to do to get these six puppies worth it.

Settling next to Char on the bed, he lets a round-bellied little girl puppy climb over his leg.]

We both need things to think of other than ourselves and it will strengthen us to have our animal to call close and in such numbers. Court will see them as harmless affectations. If I had brought hunting hounds, that might have been seen as a threat.

[Reaching out, he grazes Char's jaw with his knuckles.]

And I wanted to see you smile.

[charmaign]

[He leans into the brush of Fletcher's knuckles, then past that, to press a kiss to Fletcher's jaw, at the space between jaw bone and ear. He closes his eyes for a moment and inhales the scent of his other half.

He pulls back and lifts the puppy to hind legs, waving one little forepaw.] Hunting hounds are not half so charming. [But he knows what the point is, even as he cuddles up half of the little pack into his arms, the others slipping away to sniff at Fletcher and the bed, to bound and tumble and play.]

They shall need names.

[longanimous]

[The point was to bring Charmaign back for both their sakes. If he goes much lower, he will drag Fletcher down with him in their sharing and there will be no coming back.]

Three for you to name, three for me to name. [The little blonde puppy has curled up in his lap and he smiles fondly down at her.] This one is Cariad.

[charmaign]

[It is a small thing, but it will not last, this spike in his mood. No matter how he wishes it would as well. But for now it is enough and Charmaign leans over to stroke Cariad's ears.] Then this one shall be Trique. [And settles a hand back on the black ball of fur in his lap.]

We are going to smell of puppy now, you know. And dog piss. They'll not be able to retain their bladders during the day.

[longanimous]

We are not so low that we cannot have the Court's servants tend to their needs during the day.

[It is a struggle to maintain some sense of purpose when Char has given up so thoroughly. This as much as the Court's brutal politics is why so few vampires live even as long as they have.

The puppies are small and warm, rolling with each other and climbing to investigate their new masters, fearless of the two creatures that most other kinds of animals shy away from instinctively.]

They will need you to come out of our room to take them outside. They will need you to remember to care for them.

[charmaign]

I am unsure I like that idea. [He knows well they could have the Court's servants look after the dogs, but what horrible things could others orchestrate against the animals through the servants? Charmaign is not so naive to think that they are feared above certain others that would take enjoyment out of finding yet more weaknesses against the two.

He takes one of Trique's small paws between finger and thumb and presses lightly at the small claws, the small, soft pads on the bottom of said paw. Trique seems inclined to this and practically wraps himself around Charmaign's wrist.] We can care for them in here.

[longanimous]

[The other puppies leave off their play to come and settle themselves into a small pile across Char's legs, one giving a lazy yawn to expose a tiny pink tongue before whimpering and tucking its nose under a sister.]

We would be poor masters if we cannot train our animals to call to relieve themselves only where we allow.

[Draping an arm over Char's shoulders, he shifts across the bed to hold him and watch their new little pack.]

I want to be gone from here by the time they are grown. I am going to find us a way.

[charmaign]

[The warmth seeps into Char from the small pile of creatures. He pokes the tongue of the one that yawns] Bijou and Precieux. [He taps those he chooses to name in turn.]

They'll never let us leave. [A small shake of his head and he buries his face in Fletcher's neck when Fletcher drapes an arm around him, pressing himself to the solid side of Fletcher's body.] Now they've more to torment us with.

[longanimous]

I don't care if they let us leave. We are going to find something, some reason for her to send us away, some patron she wants to please, some plot she wants to advance, or we will die here.

[Even now, desperate though he is, he doesn't dare to think that there is any force that could be brought to bear to make Belle let them go. It must seem to be her choice or they will never be free. No matter how strong they are together, in vampire society it's not enough if they cannot be just as powerful apart.]

I swear to you, Charmaign.

[charmaign]

As you say, Fletcher. [Charmaign had no want to argue, not anymore and especially not with Fletcher. He did laugh against the skin of Fletcher's neck-] I cannot think of having my way with you when six pairs of eyes are watching, though. Especially not babies.

[With the oath, he pulls away slightly, looking at Fletcher's face, on the tip of his tongue are the words don't make promises you cannot keep, but he doesn't say it. Instead he only draws his hand to Fletcher's hand, twining their fingers.]

[longanimous]

They can go back in their basket, because I did not get them to have them interfere in our one reliable joy in this place.

[He can read the words off Char's face and gives the barest shake of his head. He never makes promises he does not keep. He will find them a way out, or they will die together.]

Remember this night, because I mean what I say.

[charmaign]

You brought us a basket of puppies. [Oh, he will remember this night. It will stay with him forever, the sentimentality of their little pack as well as this vow. And for that he adds-]

We will take them outside tomorrow evening, yes? [For the sake of the small furry creatures as much as for Fletcher.]

[longanimous]

Yes, we will take them out and begin their training properly. [Rolling Cariad onto her back, he rubs her round little belly.]

This is the start of something good for us. We're together again and we are strong.

[charmaign]

[His nails dig into Fletcher's hand, fingers tight.] That can never happen to us again, Fletcher, never. I couldn't, not again. [And he means it. That was terrible enough, but the dread, the pit of black despair that lingers because it could happen again makes things even worse.]

We are strong. They are strong. And they shall need to learn tricks.

[longanimous]

[In unison all six puppies whimper and burrow in against Char except the one in Fletcher's lap, which sits up and gives a tiny howl before Fletch sets her with her litter fellows and gathers Char into his arms.]

I couldn't endure it again. Five years with my heart torn out. [He can't help his full body shudder and buries his face against Char's nape.] No.

And yes.

Yes, we will teach them tricks.

[charmaign]

Babies. [He says, stroking his free hand over Cariad's fuzzy little head until she joins her fellows and Chramaign finds himself in Fletcher's arms. He releases Fletcher's hand and fairly twines around him, straddling his thighs and pressing in close.]

Then yes, yes, I will believe you. We will leave here, somehow you will find a way. [And if they're both shaking now, well, who can blame them with the memory of what happened still fresh, like drops of water clinging to their skin.]