guffawsungraciously | psl time: single dad au edition

...right. Of course.

[And yet it feels like he’s showing too much weakness. Perhaps it’s something he could get away with if things were normal, but with the demon’s presence...

...

Perhaps he’ll feel more capable of dealing with this sort of thing after he actually sleeps. He crawls under the covers and huddles down a bit, getting comfortable as he curls up in his blankets. He looks over at Hendrik working on his healing spells and...

...mmm, he feels tired enough that he can’t think of a way to downplay it.]

...thank you, Hendrik. For all you have done for us.

[Hendrik's brows knit together as he focuses on the midheal spell, sighing to himself as the aura of magical mending fades. He then looks over to Jasper, slowly allowing a smile over the bassinet.

Maybe they're fumbling through this. They're both trying to balance their responsibilities.]

Of course. I want the best for you and your family, Jasper.

...mmm. You are... a good...

[...wow, he really did just pass out in the middle of his sentence, huh. Well, it's probably good that he succumbs to exhaustion before his mind can continue spiraling into how he feels Hendrik's so much better at this than him again.

...even so, there's still the warm feeling of knowing that Hendrik's there for him. Despite the other feelings, he's still relieved and content in the knowledge that his friend is the one keeping an eye on his daughter rather than anyone else.

...it's nice, to feel like he can have some certainty again.]

[Hendrik's eyes linger on Jasper after he trails off, something twisting in his gut at the unfinished comment. A good what? "Friend" seems like the most likely answer, but he can't help but think it could be something else.

He carefully reaches to touch the backs of his fingers against Celestine's cheek, testing her temperature even as he continues looking to his childhood friend.]

...I care about you very much.

[It is a laughable thing to say now, when no one can dissect his words. But that is also why he does so.

He only briefly leaves the bedside to search Jasper's bookshelf for something to read, settling in the chair and sighing to himself. Perhaps if he's lucky, both father and daughter will sleep a good while into the night.]

[Celestine's still pretty warm, but at the very least, she seems a little more content and peaceful than she was before the healing spell, so that's something. Jasper... does not respond, because he's Out. He would probably appreciate it if he heard it, but alas! This burn is going to go slowly for a while longer.

He is Out for a good long while... longer than Celestine, anyway, who wakes up in a few hours because she's hungry. Her temperature has gone down a bit by then, at least, which is good to know! But seriously, nap's over, where is the food. Where is dad?? She can look up a little bit, but like, she sees someone else she kind of recognizes and feels good about! But where is dad! With food!]

[Celestine's weak fussiness draws Hendrik out of his fairly dull haze of reading up on Heliodor's local flora and fauna, and he sets aside the book to look her over. He smiles when he checks her temperature, carefully taking her out of the bassinet and standing up.]

It feels like the fever may have finally broken... You gave your father quite the scare, little one.

[Holding the swaddled baby against his chest, Hendrik looks through Jasper's setup for Celestine and finds her milk bottle. He offers her the bottle while walking around a little, body aching as the days of travel start catching up with him but also in need of some movement after sitting in that chair for hours.

Lacking anything else to say to Celestine at the moment, he hums what he remembers of a festival song from his childhood. The accompanying words are mostly forgotten, but the song was how he remembered any of the Zwaardsrust Ondo.]

[Celestine is still kind of woozy, but she does grumble a bit as she manages to look around. She notices a lump in the bed, so maybe...? She can... kind of make that connection, anyway, even though it’s not super strong on account of her being baby.

All is forgiven once she is given a bottle, though. This man’s nice, the song’s nice, and the food’s nice, so she gets a little more cooperative and less wiggly. Wiggling makes her a little more tired, anyway.]

[Once he's satisfied with Celestine latching onto the bottle, Hendrik turns his attention over to Jasper. He'd promised he would wake him as soon as her condition changed, but he also didn't want to disturb him from a much-needed nap.

He's hesitant to do so, but he carefully moves Celestine's bassinet so he can sit on the bed beside Jasper. Then he adjusts Celestine so he can hold both her and her bottle with one arm so he can reach over and touch Jasper's head.

...Er. He probably should have reached for his shoulder, but that would have required leaning over more.]

[Celestine makes a few noises as she’s moved, but is otherwise cooperative. Not that she could do much but wiggle ineffectually out of his grasp and onto the bed, anyway.

Jasper, meanwhile, does not immediately rouse to the touch, and... well... uh... his forehead is pretty warm, so that might... not be a good sign...]

[Hendrik slows himself when he hears Celestine protest a little, worry creasing his brow as he tentatively lays his hand flat on Jasper's forehead for a better feel. At first, he doubts himself, trying to think that perhaps he's warm from being under the sheets, but...

He certainly isn't reacting to his touch. But maybe that's a sign he's really tired--

No. He can't excuse it. It's... Jasper might be sick. Literally sick with worry.

He shifts closer in the bed so he can shake his friend's shoulder.]

Jasper? ...Jasper, can you hear me?

[The only response Hendrik gets at first is a tired, irritated noise and a bit of an attempt to hunker down further into the blankets. Though, it seems after a moment or two Jasper's neurons start firing, and he awkwardly pushes himself up, with a half mumbled but still somewhat urgent question.]

Wh... what happened? Is everything all right?

[He blearily looks at Hendrik, then to Celestine... ah. Nothing bad's happened to her, probably, so his expression relaxes and he flops back down on his pillow.]

[Hendrik withdraws his hand so he can readjust Celestine's milk bottle, and he glances down at her briefly to check how she's doing before turning his attention back to Jasper.]

It may be a little early to say this, but I believe her fever may have broken. Her skin is not as warm and she seems to have an appetite, which are encouraging signs.

[His hand returns to Jasper's forehead without any of the hesitation he had felt before.]

I also wanted to ask how you are feeling.

[Ah, yes, there we go. Now Celestine is happy.

Jasper, on the other hand, is only barely not immediately going back to sleep because... oh. That’s good news, and he props himself up again to try and look at Celestine a little more closely...]

...ah, she even looks better. I suppose she just...

[...

He’s happy she’s doing well, but... of course Hendrik was better at taking care of her than he was. Of course.

Well, it doesn’t matter as long as she’s healthy.

...Hendrik’s really so much better at this than he is. Maybe... wait, why is he touching his head...]

...I am still somewhat tired, and...

[...]

...I must have... put on too many blankets, I...

[...he’s so tired, though, and it’s kind of a struggle to get them off him...]

[Hendrik's hand remains on Jasper's forehead, though he does move it enough to brush aside his fringe for proper skin-to-skin contact. His concern is pretty much overriding any discomfort and embarrassment at this point.]

I would not think you had enough blankets to work up a sweat... You may have caught whatever fever Celestine had.

[He briefly aims a thoughtful frown at the baby, sighing.]

You will have to check with the doctor in the morning.

...oh.

[...that just gets him to weakly flop back down again as opposed to trying to struggle with the blankets any more than he has been.]

Of course this would happen. Why would it not...

[He can’t afford this. Not with his recent promotion, not with the demon on the throne, not with a child who needs him...

...who needs someone, anyway. Probably Hendrik more than him.]

Not to worry. Should you treat yourself well, it should take you about the same time to recover.

[He reaches over to smooth out the blankets on top of Jasper.]

Unlike the little one, you can also voice what you need without everything becoming confusing.

...mmm. I am sure that will be the case.

[...man, you know he's sick because he doesn't immediately throw in a joke about Hendrik being his nurse.

...]

You should likely look after Celestine a bit longer, then. You... will likely do a better job anyway.

[but he is sick enough to let a drop of insecurity leak out of the ziploc bag of his soul.]

...Mm.

[A noncommittal sound is all that Hendrik offers, thoughts churning at the prospect of watching Celestine longer. He's here to help, but...]

I will stay until the morning. Then we can see about a visit from the doctor and nursemaid.

[As much as part of him would like to, he shouldn't stay longer than that.]

You should just concentrate on getting better for your little girl, Jasper.

...mmm, right, you have things to do...

[...it's so strange. He's ashamed to be seen like this, but he doesn't actually want Hendrik to leave.

...it's hard to stay awake. He probably shouldn't. It's only stubbornness keeping him there, but...]

...sorry.

[...he's not sure what part of it he's apologizing for, but he just lets sleep take him anyway.]

[He doesn't know why Jasper is apologizing, but the words make Hendrik glance over at his friend as he starts to doze again. His hand falls away so he can cradle Celestine until she's ready to go back to sleep.]

Your father loves you so much he made himself sick taking care of you, little one.

[Frowning sadly, he pats her growing tuft of blue hair.]

I hope he finds someone who will do the same for him.

psl time: single dad au edition

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