[Negaverse]Ryan C. Bolotnikov // General Witherite

[Kaori_luv]

He took the alley way. It was supposed to be a shortcut home, a way to get there quicker in the middle of winter. Twenty-seven degrees was not something he wanted to spend an unnecessary amount of time in. He knew better, knew the alleys weren’t safe. He lived in Destiny City, a walking nightmare for most. He was just very surprised they hadn’t mandated a city wide curfew. Such a backwards city.

He knew why now, when people could lead dual lives with dual identities. He had met one, a terrorist, so to speak. Benitoite, Alexandre, a general in the negaverse. The man who drafted him unwillingly and also the one who he would report. He was apparently now this generals problem and he fully intended to make the man’s life utter hell. Pumped for a chaos and drafted into a secret war.

WHAT THE HELL!

He said they weren’t the bad guys, but boy did he fall short selling it. He had after all said that he corrupted Ryan. Corrupted him!!! Corruption wasn’t a good thing and neither was chaos. What was this guy's problem. He seemed otherwise normal all things considered, so why then did he think all this was okay.

He sat in a tree, in the park, a place apparently many of them frequented. He could feel someone else now, a faint signature, that reminded him of his. They weren’t close, doubted he’d be enough to peak their interest. He looked to his “weapon” glaring at it. A toy, and nothing more. Closing his hand tightly around it, it bent and twisted. Cheap plastic and nothing more. What good would it do him, how could it possibly serve him in a war.

He was angry. He had not asked for any of this or agreed to any of this, all of this was guarantee he kept the secret. He could feel the unspoken threat of failing to do so. His fist shook thinking on this his death sentence before he reared back and chucked the useless plastic toy away. He had already had a run in with a magic slinger, a senshi.

Once encounter and he found that magic was likely to trump the plastic toy every time, and if he wasn’t careful cause him more damage than a few aches. He shivered violently, which only fueled the fire in him. Decked in a ridiculous purple get up, complete with shorts in the middle of winter, a further reminder of his sentencing. Life in the negaverse, help them remove the senshi and knight infestation.

The only good thing in all this was that he was undoubtedly stronger and fast. He could jump on the roofs of building and he could even pull energy from people. Okay well the latter part sounded somewhat evil, but it was exhilarating and as far as he could tell it didn’t actually hurt them. His corruption hurt, this was more like a tickle, one they could sleep off. Beside it was a requirement, so he didn’t have that much choice in the matter.

It was getting late and he was sitting in a tree. Witherite, the name he’d be given, a lieutenant in the negaverse sitting in a tree and not getting anything accomplished. He doubted anyone would be pleased with that. He jumped down holding out his hand and summoning his toy back to him. Time to go find an unsuspecting idiot out late despite the threat of terrorist. At least he wasn’t inducting them, he was only taking a little off the top, no big deal.

He gave a feral grin … here came an idiot now.

Word Count: 609  

[Kaori_luv]

He was full of excuses these days and he had many people worried. He had been corrupted into the negaverse and in his short time with them had managed to gain so many bruises he looked like a classic abuse case. He spat out a lie about his appearance everyday almost, mostly about how he was constantly getting into fight. He didn’t care for being touched and had a volatile temper.

The college counselor had requested that Ryan come see him. They had talked for what seemed like hours and Ryan thought for sure that if he had to spend anymore time in the office he wouldn’t be able to keep the story straight. At the end of it all, Ryan ended up with a referral with the words anger management scrawled across the top. He tossed the paper in the garbage. He did not have anger management issues, he just needed to stop getting wailed on by magic slingers.

Every kids dream was to have magic, but Ryan found magic sucked greatly and it was pretty much the bane of his existence. There didn't even seem to be a limit to what the magic could be, he swore the one magic slinger might freeze him solid if given the chance. He gained a bit of cautiousness about going after them. Higher power levels were a no go and if they just relied on their magic he didn’t really deal with them.

It wasn’t all bad. He had drained the one guy until he passed out, something that was extremely invigorating and the energy he was able to turn in from it was a bonus. Still he was littered with bruises and so wherever he went at the moment all eyes were on him. His friends were concerned, one even irritating the hell out of him, for suggesting he was allowing someone to beat on him. As if, but at least he’d gotten a card to kickboxing lessons out of that and he would be partaking in the classes. Beni had suggested anyway and as much as he mostly lived to anyone the small man, he knew it would be best if he got a better handle on fighting.

He sighed as he entered the counselor’s office once more taking a seat in front of the man’s desk. “Ryan, how are you? Hopefully better than last we spoke.”

“I’m just about the same, no better, no worse. Maybe managing my anger better.”

“It’s funny that you mention that because I called my friends office to see if you’d been by to discuss some of those anger issues with her and she said you were a no show.”

“With all do respect I’m in college working on a master’s in fine art and I hardly have time to worry about going to see some specialist. So I’ve gotten into a few more scrapes than usual …”

“Much of you appears to be covered in bruises of what I can see. So I would say you need to make time to see a specialist. My friend can help you manage that fuse of yours and help you to get to the bottom of the issues, see the bigger picture.”


“Oh for the love of … that’s a load of bullshit. There’s no bigger picture here. I fight sometimes, I have my whole life, I'm set in my ways and I don’t need help.”

“Ryan ..,” the counselor started but before he had gotten the words out his office door was slamming and the angry young adult was out the door. He sighed knowing he would need to keep an eye on the boy. The bruises were concerning and he just didn’t see how he could into so many brawls. There was just something that he felt didn’t add up about it.

Ryan sighed as she made his way down the hall. The only way to fix this was to make sure he remained bruise free for a while, which meant he would have to cut back on the late night extracurricular.

Word Count: 678  

[Kaori_luv]

Harmony and Dmitry, two of the only friends he really ever had got Ryan to thinking change needed to be in his immediate future. He had been extremely adverse to having his privacy invaded his whole life and and seemingly for no reason. Maybe it was partially because he was an only child, with parents that catered to him and thus gave him a lot of privacy. He had a whole basement to himself fashioned into a personal photography. This also meant however, that he never liked having his personal bubble intruded upon and even the slightest touches had him fighting. Something which put the other person even more into his space. His temper, he needed to better control that, though joining the negaverse and having an enemy to fight certainly helped.

Still Ryan was coming upon a resolve. Now he had officially ‘been’ with both of his friends in the most intimate of ways. It was fun and probably the best invasion of space he’d ever experience, but left him feeling maybe his private was too private. A year back neither person would have even been able to tap him let alone anything more.

He lay back on his bed camera in head thinking about them and himself and everything. Why did gaining friends flip in life, his prospective askew. He knew realistically he needed to loosen up, go out more, meet more people, network and that was hard to do if you barely wanted shake hands with a person. Not only that he had no problems with the reverse as a photographer without a crew he was a one man army. He was always in people's personal spaces, giving direction, making adjustments. He was being a hypocrite.

He dropped the camera onto the bed beside him and grabbed the pillow dragging it over his face and groaning loudly into it. “I hate you too,” he mumbled. The statement was anything, but true. They were probably the best thing that happen to him. They were working to get rid of that bubble, or at least make it so the bubble was less of an issue.

They were his realization. His resolve. “I need to change. For them and for me. Having friends,” he chuckled briefly. “Guilt tripping, personal space invading, question asking friends.”

They cared for him, really actually cared for him. It was less what they could get from and him more about him. It was so weird, he kept people outside of him mom and dad, hell even his mom and dad at arms length. He hugged him mom, the prior day and he thought she would burst into tears. His dad just looked confused, he himself felt awkward and he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it again, but then again his mom was really happy for the rest of the day.

He sat up grabbing his camera and his phone, swinging his legs over the sitting on the edge of his bed for a while before standing and heading out. His phone buzzed and it was one of the banes of his existence, he actually smiled. Dmitry wanted to go shopping, which he thought was odd, but he wasn’t about to turn him down. He definitely liked to be well dressed, so he could go for a small amount of shopping, though he preferred online shopping.

Word Count: 588  

[Kaori_luv]

Oh all the things Ryan thought would happen on his little shopping trip with Dmitry, any of what actually happened was definitely not what he was expecting, buying clothes aside. He was learning a lot of things about himself in a very short time with it seemed every encounter with his friend. Well not his friend anymore, no, Dmitry was his boyfriend now. Oh that was so odd, he was getting use to it. How had they even gone this route, he honestly wasn't sure. He wasn’t even really sure why exactly he agreed.

He had to admit he was spending a lot of time with the guy and Dmitry had confessed an attraction to him some time back. They were sleeping together as well and we was not sleeping with anyone else. Did that make a relationship, hardly not, but he’d also not ever had one. He barely had any friends until recently.

He knew also that he had changed in a short time and the changes were good ones and many were attributed to the time he spent with the childish idiot. He laughed lightly looking around the room, before getting up and heading over to his computer. He picked a fine time to do all this, trying to change, getting a boyfriend, all while trying to finish his Masters. Oh what a fine time. He opened the gallery on his computer intent on doing some photo manipulation. He found himself distracted as he came across a multitude of picture of his boyfriend. They were very similar, but were funny and that he could see the stages of their relationship in them. They went from just friends, to friends with benefits, and just before Dmitry asked him to be his boyfriend. He almost laughed at how all this had transgressed.

He pulled up a picture from his kickboxing class, technically it was Dmitry’s class, the advanced class but his class was there and he was taking pictures for the teacher. He had several shoots lined up for the classes, which was nice because the teacher gave him a discount on his classes and Ryan gave him a good deal on the prints in turn. The job also a result of his relationship with Dmitry, who given him the card when during the time when he decided it was a good idea to go to school covered in bruises. Not doing that ever again.

Dmitry was good for him, and at the moment he couldn’t get his boyfriend off his mind. He sighed and frowned before getting up and heading into his dark room. Maybe if he developed some film he could distract himself and pull his head out of the clouds.

He flicked on the light, a red dim light, perfect for the dark room. He had a few rolls of film on the counter waiting to be developed. He picked up the one furthest in on the counter and turned to check the chemicals and prep everything for developing the film. He had done this a million times since the dark room was finished for him years ago, he could probably do it in his sleep, which was a fortunate thing because his mind still wandered. He wondered if his boyfriend would being getting a mirror and tried to reroute his thought process.

Everything was prepared, but Ryan thought maybe developing film wasn’t the best idea. He would be less than pleased with himself if he managed to ruin the film. Some of the film was from jobs, some was homework, he certainly couldn't afford to ruin any of it. He resorted to putting the film back, turning out the light and heading back to his computer desk. His phone lit up with messages from a few class mates and he decided maybe that would be best way to spend the afternoon.

Ryan didn’t even realize it, but he was well into the cupcake phase of his relationship and well he might be distracted for a bit.

Word Count: 670  

[Kaori_luv]

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[Kaori_luv]

Ryan sat up in bed, early in the morning before dawn, too early for anyone to be up really. There was no light being through the window and he figured it was something close to 4am. He'd awoken with his mind wheeling though, churning through a million thoughts and possibilities. He looked to Dmitry lying asleep next to him, the reason he was up so early. Dmitry was always his reason for some time now, for many things.

He looked to his hand, where a ring would sit later in the day. Dmitry asked him to move in and to marry him last night. Marriage. Moving in, that was a complete no brainer, he rarely went home, except to use the dark room and it was even rarer that he stayed there. No, he was usually here. He'd stolen some of Dmitry’s draws and his some closet space. His school work, everything for his portfolio lay on the desk near the computer or was sprawled across the coffee table.

Ryan chuckled to himself, somehow without trying he found his other half. Marriage though, it was a really big step, one that in the morning he was feeling a little unsure about. It had only been seven month, coming up on eight soon. They hadn’t even been together a whole year. He did love Dmitry, that he knew for sure. They just fit and he would do anything for the man. Compromise, he had finally learned it. Not that he was terribly selfish, he was just extremely spoiled.

Alyonna, Dmitry’s sister was a compromise. The little girl was there a lot and he helped with her and agreed for Dmitry to try to and not be a pain about. They even went jogging the three of them after he'd suggested a jogging stroller. It was a hilarious sight to see.

He smiled, they were so domestic. Heavens how did that even happen. It was really the craziest thing. They fought sometimes, but they always made up. Like last night had started out as a fight, one brought on by the frustration from Ryan basically ignoring Dmitry. He had a good reason. His portfolio for his master's degree was a good reason. He wanted to finish it and get it turned in but he realized he was being a bit unreasonable and could have taken the break his boyfriend wanted him to. He'd barely taken a break from himself or Dmitry for 2 months. Of course there were a few lunches and dinners, but nothing really more than that. It didn't last of course, seeing as how he was now engaged to the man beside him.

He sighed, he didn't think his parents were going to go for this at all. He wasn't sure about Dmitry’s. Sure he was an adult and could do as he pleased, but it would be nice if his parents weren't completely against the union. He would have to convince them most like, though he wasn't exactly certain of the hows. He groaned lightly and pulled at his wavy curls slightly. Dmitry shifted beside him and he tensed not wanting to have accidentally woke him when he himself should have been sleeping as well.

He felt Dmitry hand rub his leg and he turned to look seeing his boyfriend half awake. He shook his head and laid back down. “Go back to sleep. I'm fine, just thinking about nothing really.”

He yawned shifting closer to his fiancé and yawning. His eyes drifted closes intent on going back to sleep, he could think about it later. They could talk about it later.

“It's too early,” he mumbled, “just before dawn.”

Word Count: 615  

[Kaori_luv]

Ryan had been up late the night before putting the last touches on his portfolio, while Mitry slept. He would have liked to go to bed with his fiance, but their was a piece he wanted to add to the portfolio. It was a meaningful piece, to him and it represented a lot in this his last year of college. He’d actually shot it by accident playing around, but it great and interesting.

Mitry had been trying to get the camera from him, they were just playing around and he managed to catch a playful shot of their hands. Ryan’s hand trying to push Dmitry’s away, but what made it special was both engagement rings were in the photo and it was just a really nice shot. He added it because his portfolio, while it might not have been obvious, showed a lot of stages of his relationship with the man. It wouldn’t feel complete without the piece, at least Ryan didn’t fee it would.

Now even though he was tired he parked at the school. Destiny City University, his soon to be alma mater.

He strolled through the hallways, maybe for the last time to turn in his portfolio for his last grade. The experience was surreal, finished with finals and the very last project he would ever have to do for school. He was done and he would be recieving his masters and starting work, well he would be attempting to obtain his current dream job for the Destiny City newspaper, but he would also continue to freelance. He hadn’t taken business classes for nothing.

He knew eventually he was likely to join his fiance’ family business and help with that, taking photo of the finishes architectures as well as the process and help with the paperwork aspect of things. He was okay with that, but that was a ways off and Dmitry himself had a while to go in school.

He looked down to his portfolio, it was his battle feild, growing and changing since he started his college education. It was actually his key to the job he wanted, and despite a lack of actual photo journalism experience, education wise he was over qualified for. He wondered how many 25 year old in the city had a masters degree, in fine arts. He chuckled to himself, even joying the negaverse hadn’t set him back, though it was a battle to keep the counselor off his back and an annoyance he was sure to Alex with his efforts to keep himself bruise free.

“Ryan,” he teacher greeted when he walked into the room. “It’s good to see you. I trust you have brought me your finest. I have been looking forward to seeing the completed portfolio.”

Ryan nodded and placed his portfolio on the table, “I would have been done sooner, but I ended up … well I ended up getting engaged and moving, but I got it done.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations Ryan. And congratulation on finishing your school. This is your last day, if im not mistaken.”

“Yes, the last time I will be here as a student, next time I am here it will be as a graduate. My family and friends are very excited to see me walk across the stage.”

The teacher gave a chuckle, “didn’t walk when you got the bachelor’s, I remember. You’ve never really been one for that kind of spotlight, but its an experience thats worth it.”

Ryan shook his head, “maybe, but it will make my parents happy and I ought to set a good example for me fiance, who is still working through his major.”

“Yes, yes thats a good point. Its a bitter sweet day though, happy to see you graduate, but sad to see one of my best students leaving.”

“I’m sure you say that to all of the graduating or transferring students.”

The teacher looks sheepish, “I do say it frequently, but I certainly mean it. Oh, I have the letter that you asked for, the recommendation letter. You’re trying for one of the open spots at the newpaper, yes?”

Ryan watched as his teacher walked to his desk, before fishing through his breifcase and pulling out the letter for Ryan. He walked over and handed the letter to Ryan, “I wish you the best of luck, I’m sure you’ll get the job, even without my letter. You are more than qualified.”

“Thank you professor. I appreciate this greatly.” He didn’t really know what else to say and just sort of looked at the letter in awe. A step forward is what it signified. “I still have to pass and graduate still. I havent recieved any of my grades. You never know.”

“Ryan, don’t be silly. You’re a good student who does amazing work. I don’t think you need to worry. I’m sure you’ll be fine and regardless the letter stands. I have confidence in your abilities and Ryan you already have a bachelors. It was your choice to keep going straight through without obtaining a job, but you’ve freelanced. I know you have.”

“Thanks. I … thanks a lot.”

“Hello Professor,” came another voice, “oh hey Ryan.”

Ryan looked to his professor and the girl that just walked in, another student, “Thanks again. I’ll see you at the ceremony I assume,” he said making to leave, though he greeted his classmate as he left. “See you around Imarah.”

He left the classroom. He was done, its was the oddest thing, but he was done. He looked to the letter in his hand and sighed rolling his shoulders. Time to go home and start planning the next phase in his life. Applying to the position and getting the job.

“Time to make a real mark in this world I suppose. Get that job and find an angle. I can do this.”

He smirked as he headed over to the parking lot, first however he was going to celebrate with Dmitry. That would certainly make his boyfriend happy.

Word Count: 1005  

[Kaori_luv]

Destiny City Times was the city's largest and most prestigious newspaper the city had to offer and Ryan had his eyes on the prize. Photojournalism. Now that he was done with school it was time to fill out the application and send in his portfolio. He looked around at the mess he had strewn across everywhere. Old newspapers, weeks some even months old. Research, not that he’d never read the newspaper, but wanting to get a feel for the style.

His portfolio was complete, but he didn’t think there was any reason why he couldn’t add things or swap things out to give himself an edge with the paper. Ryan turned back to the computer screen looking over his cover letter, so much went into all this, but it would be worth it. This was the goal he had been working toward for years and even extra duties to the negaverse hadn’t stopped him. Three letters of recommendation lay on the desk beside him, neatly placed together, probably the neatest part of the desk in front of him.

He was really proud of them, having read each one. Two were from teachers, not surprising, but the last from from his kickboxing teacher. He’d done work for the teacher and his work was displayed on the website and in the center. He chuckled again at home much of his life seemed to come full circle from meeting his fiance. How could one person unknowingly make your life so much better? He didn’t know, but somehow it had happened to him and he was engaged. He looked briefly to the engagement ring on his finger before looking back to his screen. Focus, just a few minutes away from a complete application. Swap out of few pictures and burn his portfolio to a disc.

Schooling … overqualified … master’s in fine art, focus on photography, bachelors in journalism. He’d had so much time to focus on school and hadn’t let anything stand in his way. Experience …. Freelancing … did he have a real job ever, nope. Other than summer camp in high school, but that was literally forever ago. Availability, open. It was the same basics no matter what application you filled out. Resumes, good references, he had to fill it out and print it to mail because of the letters, but it would be worth it in the end.

Reaching the end was a breath of fresh air, but he couldn’t get up just yet. He still need to swap of some photos and make sure his photos were fully polished. Opening photoshop, it was easy for him to get absorbed in what he was doing. Hours could go by and he still would be working toward perfection. No one could say he was anything, but focused. Editing the last photo and burning his portfolio to a disk, he got up only to notice it was dark out.

Everything was complete so he printed the application, his cover letter, his resume and grabbed the disc with his portfolio on it, gathering it up and placing it all in a manilla envelope to take to the post office in the morning.

He sighed, wondering where Dmitry was before, starting to clean up, gathering newspapers up, lunch and putting things away or throwing them away. Slowly the living started to look less and less like a natural disaster and more like a living room. He shook his head thinking about how comfortable he was here, that he’d happily destroy the place, like it was nothing. It was an odd thought, but its seemed right.

He walked to the window to look out, looking for his fiance. Where was the man? He decided though that he would make dinner, figuring he would be home soon and hungry. He hoped anyway, this stupid city was dangerous.

Word Count: 641  

[Kaori_luv]

Ryan hurried around his studio at home, gathering everything he needed, putting the finishing touches on the background he had set up. Today, Mirabelle was a week old and that meant it was time for a newborn photography session. He enjoyed doing this so much for his family and he was looking for a studio location to open up a photography studio. It wasn’t what he imagined himself doing when he’d graduated and started on as a photographer for the newspaper, but he enjoyed it. The newspaper job was a thing of the past, as he need not work at all if he didn’t want to.

Ryan just finished, when he heard the thunder of toddler feet and the shushing of Xander, Ai and Yatora. He shook his head and popped his head out the room. “Come on back quietly, please don’t wake the baby.”

Xander scooped up the twins and hurried into the backroom, depositing them and watching them run over to Ryan.

“Unkie Ry Ry,” twins shouts came and Ryan thanked his stars he remembered to add soundproofing to his studio.

“Babies,” the twins shouted and Ryan chuckled.

“Livvie and Nikki are out with Papa, right now, but you can play with them tomorrow,” he said but he was looking at the trio. There were a lot of playdates where all the kids were concerned and Ryan thought briefly about possible seeing if his best friend were up for joining in and being an extra pair of eyes and ears.

When Yatora responded, Ryan gave him a time to drop them off and went to retrieve Mirabelle for Xander as Ai had slipped out. Ryan assumed it was to see Emorlai and he was fine with that, knowing Ai wouldn’t wake him. Even if she did, Ryan figured she could handle him , hopefully.


“Let’s get the family photos and siblings photos out of the way first, since it's pretty warm here for Mirabelles sake. Once we are done with those photos, one of you can take the twins to the playroom and I'll order takeout while I start on Mirabelle solo shots. You guys know from experience this is a long process.”

“So, first I think … Come on Sage, Rowan, let's take pictures with your new sissy.”

Mirabelle was sleeping deeply, so it was easy enough to swaddle her in a wrap that matched the boy and put a little matching flower headband on her. The twins seemed excited as he situated them with sister lying in the middle.

“Okay boys, stay still and look at you sister,” he said, situating their arms over her in a double hug and taking a quick couple snaps from above. It was an adorable shot. “Now give Mirabelle a kiss on the cheek and be gentle.” He snapped a few more pics, before resituating the three.

He was lucky, they seemed really happy to be able to do this with their sister, but he was sure they’d bore soon enough.

He sat them side by side and helped them hold Mirabelle up, keeping the three tightly pressed together so they wouldn’t drop her, despite the pillowed backdrop behind them. The picture was easy enough to get and he was able to move to the next pose sitting Rowan down on the floor with his feet out and putting Mirabelle on his legs. He didn't even need to direct the 2 year old who rubbed his sister's dark curls and then lightly lightly booped her nose with a happy smile moments later. It was clear both boys were enraptured by their sister. Sage was next and it was very cute to watch him lean forward laying gently on his sister's head on her swaddled body, patting her side. Ryan snapped the picture before Sage sat up and gave his sister a little kiss on her cheek.

The last photo he lined them up on their tummies with Mirabelle in the middle, posing each with their chins in their hands, unswaddling Mirabelle to accomplish this. “Okay, good job boys! You did amazing. Want to see the pictures,” he said as he handed the sleeping Mirabelle to Ai to get her into the dress she picked for the family pictures.

Ryan was sure forty minutes had already passed so, he wanted to give a chance to make sure Mirabelle was comfy and changed if she needed changing, feed if she needed feeding. Rowan and Sage pointed at the pictures on the camera screen and babbled away at Ryan, though he didn't understand everything they said.

“Almost done over their Ai, we can start with pictures of you and Mirabelle, then Xander and Mirabelle, the Ya and Mirabelle, if you like. Last the whole lot.” Mirabelle did not need feeding so Ryan was expecting they to get interrupted, but he hoped her nap would last at least through the family portion of the photoshoot, before they got a good break in.

The twins were happy to run around and play with Xander while Ryan shot the photos of Ai. He was showing them to her when he saw Yatora rushing a squirming Rowan out, Ryan assumed, hoping to reach the toilet in time. He wasn’t looking forward to potty training. He had a feeling Nikki was going to be a stubborn one.

He looked back to Ai, “I think this is my personal favorite. Think, I should add it to my portfolio?”

Ryan was surprised to see Xander changing Sage and his face must have said just that, “Rowan won’t keep the diaper on and Sage still seems less than interested in the toilet or pullups. He’ll get there.”

“Not looking forward to it, but also changing three bottoms can suck, so maybe by two I’ll be more than ready for the venture. Anywho, you're up next Xander.”

Ryan didn't even notice when Yatora came back in with Rowan busy posing Xander and Mirabelle. It wasn't terribly hard as Ryan preferred more natural poses and interactions to get more candid photos. It was hilarious when Mirabelle farted and Xander's face turned up. He caught it on film and started laughing, stopping to show everyone. He promised to give them a copy of that one as well before he finished up with Xander and moved to Yatora.

Yatora who seemed to just meld seamlessly into their family and into their little group. He was the chill for sure even more chill than Rose, David and Ciora and Ryan didn't really think that was possible.

“Alright Yatora, you're up. Mirabelle is being such a good sleeper. We are so lucky. Let me tell you … it took like half the day to shoot Silas. Emme boy didn't want to stay asleep.”

He chuckled, guiding Yatora for a few moments before falling into the flow of things. It was another 30 minutes before he had all the shots he needed. The family photo he thought they would like the most is the one where Rowan and Sage are on Yatora and Xanders shoulder’s giggling. Though, he figured Ai’s favorite would be when they were all sitting and everyone was looking at Mirabelle. The twins stood on tippy toes on either side of Ai’s lap looking at their sister with twin smiles. He bet the three were going to have a lot of fun growing up.

In the last few photos he managed to snap,Mirabelle was awake and he managed to capture the dual colored eyes the baby shared with her father, pretty much the only thing she shared with him.

“Alright. Xander, Yatora if you want to take the twins to the playroom so they can have some fun and cool off, we still have quite a while to go. I’m going to order some doordash. Are you guys in for anything in particular?”

---

Once they were all fed and Mirabelle was happily sleeping again Ryan started her newborn photoshoot. He had to redress her in the first little outfit they’d discussed before Mirabelle had even been born. It was a soft white cloth with little fluffy bobbles and a little bear cap. She fused a bit, but Ryan calmed her, running his thumb between her brow and watching her settle. Once she was all wrapped up, he looked up to Ai, setting Mirabelle on a fluffy throw rug he was using in the first pictures. She looked very cute with her little feet out and one hand laying over the other.

Xander was still in the playroom with the twins, but he figured he’d be taking them home for a nap soon. Yatora was sitting reading a book or so it seemed because the book was on his lap when Ryan's eyes wandered over to him, he was watching Ryan. Ryan gave him a thumbs up.

Ryan snapped several photos of Mirabelle, mostly from above and moved to the next outfit and set he had ready to go. None of the rest of the poses required her to be swaddled, nor wear much other than a diaper. It was a slow pace for the rest of the pictures as Mirabelle didn’t sleep as long or as deeply as earlier in the day. Ryan had to settle her and it took a good few moments for the little angel pic with her the cute little wings. He figured either the wings or the handband might be a little uncomfortable or maybe she just wasn't as deeply asleep as when they got here. He used a little white noise machine and was able to get through another outfit change and a few more shots where he narrowly avoided baby pee on the blanket Mirabelle was laying on. It was the chance one took with diaperless photos.

They had to stop for Ai to feed Mirabelle and for Yatora to help soothe her more deeply to sleep before Ryan was able to continue on with the last two photos. Ryan took the opportunity to cuddle his own children, happy his husband was home to help look after Silas, though the 2 month old had been an ace today, which was a rarity. It was quite an endeavor when family photos were also involved, but Ryan didn’t mind. He gained more experience and he further expanded his portfolio for his future studio. He had been thinking about it for a while and as they didn't plan on having any more children any time soon Ryan wanted to get started on his path toward that goal, his business. He wasn’t keen to live solely off his husband's money no matter how much he need not work. Nikolai, Ivanna and Silas being born in the past two years was the first time Ryan hadn’t worked.

“Alright you two, that about wraps it up. As per usual I'll let you know when I have the edited photo and you can come pick them up or I can drop them off. It shouldn’t take more than two weeks. Though you guys are keeping me busy, It won't be long before Rose, Damien, Lyle and their new little boy are in here, not even a whole month away now.”

He chuckled with them and stretched, starting to clean up, waving them off insisting he didn’t need any help. He didn't think they would break anything, but it was a long day and he was sure they’d prefer to get Mirabelle home. He let the photos upload to his computer while he cleaned and let his mind wander. He wondered how much editing he would need to do, he wondered what photos they would want and he thought about what he and Rose discussed for her shoot next month.

He didn’t even notice his husband watching him with Nikki in his arms, who was the picture of misery, throwing his arms out to Ryan as soon as Ryan noticed them. The dramatic cry made Ryan roll his eyes, but he scooped up Nikki anyway.

“Tell me you 're weren't watching scary movies again … you know how Nikki is. He’ll be in our bed all week.” He gave his husband a disapproving look as he tried to calm their son. “I think someone needs a N-A-P … let’s get you a warm bottle and you can tell Daddy all about it.”

WC: 2057
Ryan WC: 2017