January Catch-All

[tempredmental]

🧙 WHO: Keith, OTA
⚔️️ WHAT: TDM Prompts, Quest Board, Events
🕒 WHEN: Throughout January
🗺️ WHERE: Many places! Will note in prompt.
⚠️ WARNINGS: Potentially things like violence against monsters, bullying from fairies, checking bodies for signs of life, and whatnot. I'll update as needed.

Links to Prompts:

• Winter Solstice - Arrival (Tree), Dance, Inn, Elphame Traders (food)
• Don't Say Neigh - Blessing
• Gravestone Faced - Fight, Search
• Yelling Yetis
• Frosty Forest Glamp - Igloo, Ingredient Search
• They Grow Up So Fast - Egg Baby, Baby Bear, Release Time (own release in Camelot, will assist with releases in Elphame, open to multiple co-parents)

Comments

They Grow Up So Fast

[tempredmental]

Egg Baby

[Okay... waking up with an egg in bed with him was weird enough, but it also had tiny legs and acted like a baby. It was a lot to take in at first even by itself. But, after waking up with one, which, just the act of picking it up to remove it from the bed was enough skin contact to initiate the bond, Keith realized it seemed to be looking for additional parents.

Between feeding it and keeping it happy, it was also getting into a bit of trouble and attempting to attract others to touch it bond. As he chased it about Camelot like it was an errant toddler, he found himself apologizing to people and actually judging potential co-parents, sometimes even trying to guide the egg away if it was someone he didn't know well enough.

Nothing personal... he just was suddenly feeling very protective of this little spacey egg baby...]

=====

Baaaaaby Bear Doo doo do do

[And then... it hatched. At first, it was fine. It was small. It was kind of cuddly and goofy, and it didn't do much because it was young. But it grew fast, and started doing more and more bear-like things, like rooting through trashcans in the street, climbing trees and buildings, and growling at people, and chasing them down.

Keith was exhausted. Caring for the egg baby had been rough enough, but it had at least been small and something that could be corralled with some well-placed objects. But, this? It could climb out and run away, especially as it got bigger.

Hey, co-parents, babysitters! He could use a hand!]

=====

Release Day

[It was time. A decision had been made, and the bears were just not meant to live in a city. So, with the rest of the Camelot parents, Keith, along with any co-parents his bear had bonded with as an egg, were en route to the release point. Someone had mentioned fire lions in the woods and that magic was needed to defeat them. Thankfully, as someone with both elemental and animal magic, Keith didn't feel too worried about it, but he certainly wouldn't turn down an assist. After all, they had a baby bear to protect until it ran off on its own.

Co-parents and other fighters definitely welcome.

Also, as word gets out that there was another group in Elphame doing the same thing, Keith would gladly travel between the two locations to help other parents release their babies into the wild.]

Egg Baby

[chatwithdeath]

[Surprise that Naomi had an existence outside of the hospital and her office. It just so happened that Keith's attempt at capturing his new, wayward egg-toddler nearly resulted in a collision with said doctor.]

[She shakes her head at the apology.]

Don't worry about it. You're not the only one dealing with a rambunctious egg around here.

[Might as well have been every otherworld arrival having encountered or presently dealing with one of their own.]

[tempredmental]

Heh... Yeah. Thanks, though. You got it to stop running, at least.

[Keith gave her a weak smile, clutching the squirming little ovoid in his hands as it tried to escape for more running.]

I have no idea where it came from. It was just... in my bed when I woke up.

[chatwithdeath]

You're welcome for that.

[Meanwhile, turning to face him. If he looks, she may have a similar ovoid companion with her. Just... nestled on her chest somewhere that might be inappropriate to gaze upon too long.]

Yes, I had similar encounter. I was about to inquire around town to see if anyone knew where it came from; and pick up something else to carry it around with.

[tempredmental]

[That sure is an egg in her... Keith looked back up again.]

If I could get mine to sit still long enough, I'd probably want something to carry it in, too, but... I don't know if there's anything that can prevent it from running off.

[chatwithdeath]

[It sure is. Also, she's not going to comment on what might keep his egg still... the containers anyway.]

... It will settle down once you find something it likes. However, that's part of challenge of raising them right now, isn't it?

[She's fortunate for her own methods still working.]

[tempredmental]

Heh... yeah.

[Keith looked down at the little galaxy patterned egg in his hands.]

I have no idea where to start.

[He sighed.]

I'm better with animals. Like... ones that are already hatched...

[chatwithdeath]

Well, start by approaching this more as you're caring for a toddler. Do you have any childcare experience, or have you consulted any books?

[She assumed not, but... who knows. He might surprise her.]

[tempredmental]

Uhh...

[Keith shook his head. He'd been an only child until his dad died, and then he hated the group home so much that he refused to participate in any sort of babysitting responsibilities... to the point of sabotaging himself if he got stuck with it so that they wouldn't stick him with it again.]

Not really.

[chatwithdeath]

... We'll start there then. Come along...

[She'd help him with the basics, and they could pick up a book or two so he started getting an idea of what to do.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded, looking very relieved for the help. Gosh... he was going to owe Naomi big time at this rate. He was pretty sure she'd helped him more than the other way around...]

I really appreciate this.

[chatwithdeath]

Don't worry about it. Besides, I might be helping you, but this will be fairly general. It will still be up to you to know what your egg takes comfort in or will eat, and what it responds to. They can be... selective.

[A polite way to say 'picky'.]

[tempredmental]

[Eat...]

Oh... is that why it rolls around in food? I thought it was just making a mess and playing. I mean, I guess that makes sense? They don't exactly have mouths...

[chatwithdeath]

Yes, it was eating. Though, for a toddler, eating and playing at the same time isn't uncommon. Fortunately for the eggs, they can be put in bowls and other similar containers to prevent a mess.

[tempredmental]

[Oh, hey... a bowl. That would actually help!

Keith nodded.]

Yeah, it was kind of messy this morning when I finally figured out that it was hungry.

[chatwithdeath]

And I imagine until he was fed, he must have been raising a fuss. Be aware that it will cry for other things such as exhausting itself or wanting attention. Try to be patient with it.

[Of course, there's a reason she doesn't work in certain sections off hospitals.]

[tempredmental]

[Uh-oh.]

Patience was never my strong suit.

[chatwithdeath]

[She'd like to say she doesn't know that... but...]

Hm... and how has it been getting them to take a nap?

[tempredmental]

It uh... no. [Keith shook his head.] It's stubborn about that.

[chatwithdeath]

That's not surprising. What have you tried to do in order to get it to sleep?

[Just so alternative methods can be suggested.]

[tempredmental]

Just putting it in the basket I'm using for a bed and hoping it falls asleep eventually?

[Which was why he was looking kind of strung out and stressed.]

[chatwithdeath]

...

[It's... an approach.]

Have you considered rocking it at all?

[tempredmental]

[Keith shook his head.]

Wouldn't that keep it awake?

[chatwithdeath]

A gentle rocking motion can encourage sleep.

[Though now the keyword is 'gentle'.]

[tempredmental]

Oh. [Welp. He'd have to give that a try next time.] Thanks.