The Magic Guild: Nesting

[gorgonfondness]

Six weeks and two days.

It's hard to concentrate on much of anything when that's all you've got left. And since she's already taken her leave from work so it won't happen in the middle of the semester, that means Mia doesn't have as much to do.

So today has been devoted to cleaning up her living quarters, the nursery in particular. And doing the baby's laundry so it will be ready for him. And making sure the baby's toys are clean. And then Draco's laundry and ironing Draco's work shirts and trousers. And then preparing things for tonight's dinner. And then her laundry while the inner slow-cooks. And then making dessert. And then folding all of those clean clothes and putting them away. And then the kitchen will have to be cleaned up, of course. And then the table should be set. And what about the bed, is it clean?

It sounds like a lot, but magic does help get it done. Though, once it's done, Mia finds she would rather it wasn't done and then does it again the muggle way to make sure it's done right.

At least it hasn't gotten to the point where she's ironing the baby's clothes...

Comments

[xamotomax]

[After this.]

Worlds of magic. They never expected to visit one, but they're turning out to be quick studies of the traits and quirks to be found in this section of one.

We need to see if Extensive can replicate this, and then determine how it ought to be ... applied.
Tomax seems to be particularly impressed, though for him it's all a matter of degree.

Because you'd think they were a couple of excited tourists on their first visit to some exotic land [it is, and they kind of are 8P].



[Dammit I need to make more icons for the boys...]

[gorgonfondness]

The folding done for now, Mia goes to fetch them some tea, only to come back empty handed and with a maid following with the tea service.

"For goodness sake, Majesty Mia, you shouldn't work yourself too hard in your condition. You sit down right now and take tea with your guests and let ME do the work."

[xamotomax]

...but then they recover from Tourist Syndrome and segue into "amused".

It's hard to top Mia and her mother-henning, but the maid is giving it her best effort.

"We did offer—"

"—To help her, but—"

"—She turned us down, too."

Turn downs look to be in everyone's cards tonight, they're positive of it.

[gorgonfondness]

"Ausas are a stubborn lot," the maid says, clearly an older woman who remembers seeing a number of examples of Ausa stubbornness. "Wonderful employers, fantastic leaders, and a work ethic that will be the end of all of them if they're not careful. Now, honestly, sit, Majesty Mia."

Mia finally takes a careful seat in a nearby armchair, idly rubbing her baby bump once she's settled in.

"Now, if you nice boys need anything, you're welcome to ask me," the maid says, pouring tea for everyone and taking her leave, mumbling something about how she wouldn't be surprised if Majesty Mia tried doing the ironing while she was in labor.

[xamotomax]

Oh, so it's the maid who wins this round of the contest.

Bit early to cash in one's chips, though.

Mia can still defy orders. They can still win the [non-existent] wager.

"We will—"

"—Make sure to do that,"
they say, accepting their cups when they're given them.

"This place is—"

"—Truly a marvel, and—"

"—All done with magic, too,"

they remark as they take in their surroundings.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia does take a sip of her tea and realizes how much she's actually done today. Resting, much as she hates to admit it right now, feels good.

"My family founded the city and the Magic Guild millennia ago, though the physical Guild had been remodeled as recently as five years ago."

[xamotomax]

Maids know best, don't they?

"It is like—"

"—The interior of—"
"—A castle of mixed architecture—"

"—Possibly European-inspired—"
"—Or a retro-designed mansion."
Pause.

"The workmanship of—"
"—Your family and those—"

"—Who helped build this—"

"—Is remarkable."

And they certainly know high-end when they see it.

[gorgonfondness]

"Well, unless my ancestors were from Europe when the family lived on the Blue Star and remembered it very well when they came to Lunar, one couldn't really call it European-inspired."

She nods at the compliment, though.

"My family has always been amazing with their skill, one of the many reasons why I was sure I would never fit with them. But a number of people have told me that I've done well at being an Ausa."

[xamotomax]

Or it could be due to an architectural equivalent to convergent evolution. Over time, you get similar styles even without the two ever meeting long enough for cross pollination to take place.

"However would you—"

"—Not fit in with the others?"

[gorgonfondness]

"The others have talent, of course. I never thought I was particularly skilled, nothing above average. And with my mother in particular and her being lauded as one of the Four Heroes, I had quite the reputation to live up to."

[xamotomax]

"And yet you—"

"—Created your own—"
"—Reputation regardless."

Pause.

"Clearly, you did not need to worry over being 'good enough'."

[gorgonfondness]

Mia blushes.

"I'm just a glorified teacher..." she sheepishly says.

Well, nowadays that's true, but she can boast a lot that other teachers don't have in their repertoires.

[xamotomax]

"The maid called you 'majesty'."
"An honorific as that is never given to—"

"—A 'glorified teacher'."

[gorgonfondness]

"You don't have to do anything special to get that title here; in the same way that my son can't help his birth into the Ausa dynasty, I couldn't help mine. What worth is in a title that is inherited?"

[xamotomax]

On Lunar, the caste system is alive, well, and still kicking.

"But admittedly—"

Xamot takes a sip of his tea.

"—Some deserve it more than others?"

[gorgonfondness]

Still kicking indeed. Right into Mia's ribs.

"I don't see how I could have as a mewling infant. And as wonderful as I think my son is going to be, I don't expect him to make a name for himself just by being delivered."

[xamotomax]

"No. That—" Tomax begins, possibly obscurely. And is finished with Xamot's "—Comes later, does it not?"

[gorgonfondness]

"I've been called Majesty for as long as I can remember, surely long before I did anything to merit the title. And everyone is so set in the habit that surely my son will be Master Cepheus just as soon as he is his own person physically."

[xamotomax]

"You earned it in the end," Xamot points out.

"And your son will, too, once he is old enough to."

[creationofwill]

Whether or not Kaworu knew he was coming here is no matter, whether or not she knew is no matter! Because now that he is here, clearly he has the mission of making her sit the hell down.

"If you wash something else it's going to break apart from all the washing."

..oh, but then she would get to wash that.

[gorgonfondness]

It is a worthy mission to undertake!

"Oh Kaworu, welcome! I'm sorry the place is a mess."

Liar! She's cleaned twice already.

She straightens herself up and puts one hand on her back with the other on her belly.

"I was just straightening some things. It's not going to be long before the baby's here, so I might not get another chance before."

[creationofwill]

"First off, Mia, learn the wonder of babysitters and housekeepers." He had enjoyed seeing Joshua run havoc when he probably should have stopped the boy. Erm... oops?

"Secondly, why don't we learn the meaning of a break, together?"

Has she, has anyone, ever seen that true smile of his, the one that almost makes the illusion of green in his eyes? Hmm.

[gorgonfondness]

"But I do have housekeepers. They're tending to the rest of the Guild."

They have attempted Kaworu's mission and failed.

"And I don't think a babysitter can take them so young. A wetnurse could, but I wasn't planning on employing one."

Mia rubs at her belly.

"Seems a lot of people think I could do with a break while I'm like this. It's not like I'm in labor right now and these chores must be done. But if you wish, I could entertain a guest instead."

[creationofwill]

"From what I've heard, small things can push labour when you least expect it."

But he knows it's a waste of breath, really. Birds of a feather, flock together, eh?

"I wish I can spend the most time with you on, and see this home of yours."

Winning tactic y/n?

[gorgonfondness]

"Things like stress, but I don't find this stressful. And it's better than being bored."

He really shouldn't worry. The baby certainly isn't coming early.

"Oh, I'll be glad to show you around. I can walk yet in the Guild and I can make use of my carpet if we wish to go further."