[Jasper bows quickly and takes Celestine out into the hallway, leaning against a wall not too far from the door while he drapes the napkin over his shoulder and places her against it. He tries to eavesdrop a bit as he gently pats her back, since... well. This is almost as much for him as it is for his daughter.
He chides himself for feeling so unprepared. The entire problem is that the demon is right there at all times and can show up whenever he damn well pleases, but somehow it's worse when there's someone else around. Even though it should be the opposite.
...well, maybe it's not the demon being in the room with Hendrik he's afraid of. Even after hearing the tiny burp and feeling her, well, drool on the napkin a bit, he finds himself still standing there for a moment or so and gently stroking her hat and her back instead of going back in, almost more to soothe himself than her. He knows nothing will happen, there's no way the demon would make that kind of move in front of everyone, but...
Right, this was about pulling himself together. It'll be fine. Celestine seems content at the moment. Nothing will happen. He can just. Go back in, set her in her bassinet, and maybe focus on her and not the demon hiding in plain sight. He takes a deep breath and... well, alright, he'll adjust her position so that he can look down into her eyes and talk to her first, maybe that'll help.]
So, did you enjoy your dinner, Celestine? You certainly seem like you did.
[Celestine burbles in a way that Jasper will interpret as positive, he thinks.]
Ah, excellent. Later, I will get some dessert, but it is important to let your stomach settle. I am sure you will learn that the hard way sooner or later given that you are my daughter, but you will have to be able to do so on your own.
[More burbling. Is this... helping her language development at all... he hopes so. Well, in any case, it did make him feel a bit better, so he heads back into the dining hall and towards his seat.]
no subject
[Jasper bows quickly and takes Celestine out into the hallway, leaning against a wall not too far from the door while he drapes the napkin over his shoulder and places her against it. He tries to eavesdrop a bit as he gently pats her back, since... well. This is almost as much for him as it is for his daughter.
He chides himself for feeling so unprepared. The entire problem is that the demon is right there at all times and can show up whenever he damn well pleases, but somehow it's worse when there's someone else around. Even though it should be the opposite.
...well, maybe it's not the demon being in the room with Hendrik he's afraid of. Even after hearing the tiny burp and feeling her, well, drool on the napkin a bit, he finds himself still standing there for a moment or so and gently stroking her hat and her back instead of going back in, almost more to soothe himself than her. He knows nothing will happen, there's no way the demon would make that kind of move in front of everyone, but...
Right, this was about pulling himself together. It'll be fine. Celestine seems content at the moment. Nothing will happen. He can just. Go back in, set her in her bassinet, and maybe focus on her and not the demon hiding in plain sight. He takes a deep breath and... well, alright, he'll adjust her position so that he can look down into her eyes and talk to her first, maybe that'll help.]
So, did you enjoy your dinner, Celestine? You certainly seem like you did.
[Celestine burbles in a way that Jasper will interpret as positive, he thinks.]
Ah, excellent. Later, I will get some dessert, but it is important to let your stomach settle. I am sure you will learn that the hard way sooner or later given that you are my daughter, but you will have to be able to do so on your own.
[More burbling. Is this... helping her language development at all... he hopes so. Well, in any case, it did make him feel a bit better, so he heads back into the dining hall and towards his seat.]